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Britain's Princess Kate: Love is the Greatest Christmas Gift

Visitors walk through the 'Cathedral' on the Christmas light trail as it returns for its12th year with a showcase of new installations set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape of Kew Gardens in London, England, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Visitors walk through the 'Cathedral' on the Christmas light trail as it returns for its12th year with a showcase of new installations set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape of Kew Gardens in London, England, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Britain's Princess Kate: Love is the Greatest Christmas Gift

Visitors walk through the 'Cathedral' on the Christmas light trail as it returns for its12th year with a showcase of new installations set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape of Kew Gardens in London, England, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Visitors walk through the 'Cathedral' on the Christmas light trail as it returns for its12th year with a showcase of new installations set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape of Kew Gardens in London, England, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Kate, Britain's Princess of Wales, says love is the greatest gift people can give each other in a message to guests who will attend her annual Christmas carol service next week at London's Westminster Abbey.
The Dec. 6 carol concert, the fourth she has hosted, marks Kate's most prominent return to royal engagements since she underwent a course of preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
In a letter to the 1,600 invited guests, Kate, 42, the wife of heir to the throne Prince William, returned to themes of love and the need for empathy about which she has spoken in previous very personal statements and video updates on her health.
Christmas, her letter said, was not only a time for celebration, but also for reflection and relief from the pressures of daily life.
She said the Christmas story reflected "our own vulnerabilities", and how much people needed each other despite their differences.
"Above all else it encourages us to turn to love, not fear," she wrote. "It is this love which is the greatest gift we can receive. Not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives," Reuters quoted her as saying.
William, who earlier this month said the year had been "brutal" for the royal family with Kate's treatment coming in the wake of his father King Charles' own cancer diagnosis, will give a reading at the service.
Six-time Olympic track cycling champion Chris Hoy, who revealed he had terminal cancer himself in October, will light a candle.
The "Together At Christmas" service will be broadcast on Britain's ITV on Christmas Eve.

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Varieties

Media Minister Opens Fifth Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh

Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary launches the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026 in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary launches the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026 in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Media Minister Opens Fifth Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh

Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary launches the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026 in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary launches the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026 in Riyadh. (SPA)

Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary launched on Monday the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026 in Riyadh.

The minister stressed that the royal patronage of the forum by King Salman is a badge of pride and honor for media professionals, as it grants the forum broader dimensions and a deeper vision and views media as a tool for awareness and a means of development.

Held under the theme “Media in an Evolving World,” the forum is witnessing the participation of more than 300 media leaders and experts from over 20 countries. They will engage in more than 150 specialized dialogue sessions discussing the intersection of media with politics, economy, culture, technology, and innovation, with the attendance of international and regional think tanks, reflecting the Kingdom’s leadership in the media industry.

The forum is accompanied by the creative edition of the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX), with the participation of more than 250 local and international companies.

Al-Dossary stressed the responsibility of media toward younger generations, noting that protecting future generations in the digital age is not achieved through prohibition or isolation, but through creating aware media environments governed by ethics and values and present content as a tool for building awareness rather than a commodity for consumption.

The objective of safeguarding children is to prepare them to interact with the world with confidence without losing their identity or moral compass, he added.

He announced the launch of 12 flagship initiatives at the forum, most notably the Saudi Media Innovation Bootcamp (Saudi MIB) in the fields of augmented journalism, intelligent content creation, and virtual presenters, in partnership with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

Other initiatives include the Tamkeen Initiative to support entrepreneurial ideas and startups, and the Numo Initiative in partnership with the Kafalah Program, to transform media ideas into sustainable business models.

Al-Dossary announced the issuance of the Artificial Intelligence Principles in Media document in partnership with SDAIA, to entrench the principle of responsible use of modern technologies and open the door to advanced stages of activation, support, and empowerment.

The minister announced the hosting of more than 2,000 content creators and influencers from over 90 countries within the Influence Track, as part of the second edition of "The ImpaQ Impact Makers Forum" in Qiddiya City.

He congratulated the winners of the Saudi Media Award 2026, held in partnership with the Human Capability Development Program across four main tracks and 16 categories. The award received more than 500 nominated works from over 20 countries, with international participation growing by more than 200%.

The first day of the forum witnessed several dialogue sessions and the launch of FOMEX, which includes exhibitor pavilions attracting government entities and local and international private companies to showcase their contributions and products in media, radio, and television, as well as a platform that allows exhibitors to present their services and innovations to visitors.

The exhibition includes the Launch Zone, a dedicated space where companies can showcase their latest media innovations and technologies and conclude strategic partnerships that help develop the future media ecosystem.

The FOMEX Theater presents comprehensive insights into the media sector through discussion sessions, dialogues, and workshops featuring leading local and international speakers, while also providing opportunities to sign cooperation agreements and partnerships.

Varieties

Diriyah Art Futures Announces February Program Alongside ‘of the Earth’ Exhibition

The program opens on Thursday, February 12 - SPA
The program opens on Thursday, February 12 - SPA
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Diriyah Art Futures Announces February Program Alongside ‘of the Earth’ Exhibition

The program opens on Thursday, February 12 - SPA
The program opens on Thursday, February 12 - SPA

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the MENA region’s first center dedicated to new media arts, announced the launch of its February public program at its headquarters in Diriyah, Riyadh.

The program aims to deepen dialogue on the relationship between art, technology, and the environment, while offering educational and interactive platforms that explore creative approaches to sustainability and contemporary ecological thinking, SPA reported.

The program is presented alongside “Of the Earth: Earthly Technologies to Computational Biologies,” DAF’s fourth major exhibition, featuring works by more than 30 artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world. The exhibition showcases multidisciplinary artistic practices that examine the material and environmental dimensions of digital technologies, their impact on natural resources, and the evolving relationships between humans, machines, and nature.

The February program includes a series of panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and advanced professional courses designed to engage artists, practitioners, and the wider public. These practical learning experiences explore sustainability concepts from multiple creative perspectives, reflecting DAF’s ongoing commitment to expanding discourse around new media arts and fostering critical and creative thinking at the intersection of art, technology, and ecology, contributing to the enrichment of the local and international cultural landscape.

The program opens on Thursday, February 12, with a panel discussion titled “Living Systems, Living Practices.” The session brings together multidisciplinary artist Mohammed Alfaraj, multimedia conceptual artist Moza Almatrooshi, and senior architect Wiam Kafyah for an in-depth discussion on the relationship between humans, land, and food systems through preservation, sustainability, and creative experimentation.

The discussion is moderated by culinary storyteller and writer Marya Kayyal, who presents ancestral, contemporary, and experimental perspectives that highlight the role of art and design in addressing environmental challenges, promoting cultural knowledge, bio-design, and the care of living systems that sustain life.

The program concludes with a two-day professional masterclass titled “Designing with Mycelium,” held on Friday and Saturday, February 27–28, and delivered in English. The masterclass explores the potential of mycelium in sustainable design and bio-innovation.

Led by Saudi architect Kafyah, founder of a bio-design lab and studio specializing in sustainable construction technologies, the masterclass introduces participants to the fundamentals of mycelium production and its role in contemporary design practices.

The course combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experimentation, allowing participants to design and create their own mycelium-based forms within a framework that connects innovation, sustainability, and responsible engagement with living materials.

Through this program, DAF reaffirms its commitment to advancing contemporary dialogue around new media arts and expanding research and experimentation at the intersection of art, technology, and the environment. It also strengthens the role of culture as a dynamic space for critical thinking, knowledge production, and the development of responsible creative practices that reimagine sustainable visions for a shared human future.

Varieties

Singapore to Launch Space Agency in Response to Global Investment Surge

A general view of the Space Summit at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore February 2, 2026. REUTERS
A general view of the Space Summit at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore February 2, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia
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Singapore to Launch Space Agency in Response to Global Investment Surge

A general view of the Space Summit at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore February 2, 2026. REUTERS
A general view of the Space Summit at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore February 2, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia

Singapore will launch its own space agency on April 1 as it bids to "fully harness the value and opportunities of the growing global space economy", the country's trade ministry announced on Monday.

"Singapore's strengths in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, micro-electronics, precision engineering and artificial intelligence position us well to capture new opportunities in the space technology sector," said the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which will run the new agency, Reuters reported.

Global investment in space technology is expected to climb further after hitting record levels in 2025, according to data from investment firm Seraphim Space.

The announcement was made at an inaugural space summit by Tan See Leng, a minister in charge of energy technology at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The National Space Agency of Singapore will develop and operate the nation's space capabilities and develop legislation and regulations which support innovation and businesses, among other functions, the ministry said.

Singapore currently hosts 70 space companies, employing around 2,000 professionals in diverse roles and activities across the value chain, the ministry said.