Saudi General Entertainment Authority Head Launches ‘City Hub' Project in 7 Cities

The "City Hub" project spans over 20,000 square meters in each city. Photo: GEA
The "City Hub" project spans over 20,000 square meters in each city. Photo: GEA
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Saudi General Entertainment Authority Head Launches ‘City Hub' Project in 7 Cities

The "City Hub" project spans over 20,000 square meters in each city. Photo: GEA
The "City Hub" project spans over 20,000 square meters in each city. Photo: GEA

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA), Turki Alalshikh, launched on Sunday the "City Hub" project, which will travel across seven cities during 2025, staying for 14 days in each city.
The project aims to enhance the quality of life for citizens and residents by geographically distributing entertainment activities across various regions of the Kingdom.
The first stop will be in Jazan on January 23, followed by Al-Khobar, Buraydah, Hail, Al-Baha, Taif, and finally Tabuk in August.
The "City Hub" project spans over 20,000 square meters in each city and features a variety of entertainment zones catering to all tastes and age groups.
The project also includes a diverse market and a selection of local and international restaurants, offering rich options to cater to all tastes and providing visitors with a comprehensive experience that combines shopping and gourmet dining.
The project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities, in addition to supporting investments in emerging areas, making it a valuable addition to the entertainment landscape in the Kingdom and enhancing efforts to achieve the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.



Indonesia's Mount Ibu Erupts More than 1,000 Times this Month

Mount Ibu, on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, has erupted more than a thousand times this month. AZZAM / AFP/File
Mount Ibu, on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, has erupted more than a thousand times this month. AZZAM / AFP/File
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Indonesia's Mount Ibu Erupts More than 1,000 Times this Month

Mount Ibu, on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, has erupted more than a thousand times this month. AZZAM / AFP/File
Mount Ibu, on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, has erupted more than a thousand times this month. AZZAM / AFP/File

A volcano in eastern Indonesia has erupted at least a thousand times this month, according to an official report Sunday as efforts were underway to evacuate thousands of villagers living near the rumbling mountain.

Mount Ibu, on the remote island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, sent a column of smoke up to four kilometers (2.5 miles) into the sky in an eruption on Wednesday, AFP said.

Indonesian officials raised its alert status to the highest level and called for the evacuation of 3,000 people living in six nearby villages.

It was one of 1,079 eruptions by the volcano recorded since January 1 by Indonesia's Geological Agency, sending columns of ash reaching between 0.3 and 4 kilometers above its peak, according to the agency's data gathered by AFP.

The latest big eruption occurred on Sunday at 1:15 am local time as it spewed a towering cloud of ash 1.5 kilometers into the air.

"The ash was grey, with moderate to thick intensity, drifting southwest. A loud rumbling sound was heard all the way to Mount Ibu Observation Post," the agency said in a statement.

It added that the volcano had erupted 17 times on Sunday alone.

Despite deciding to evacuate affected villagers, local authorities had only managed to evacuate 517 residents as of Sunday, pledging to persuade those who remained to stay in safe shelters.

Many have refused to evacuate, arguing that they were used to the situation and were in harvest season.

"There might be economic considerations, as many residents are in the middle of harvesting crops. However, we will continue to educate the community and encourage them to evacuate," said Adietya Yuni Nurtono, Ternate district military commander in charge of a safe shelter.

Mount Ibu, one of Indonesia's most active volcanos, has shown a significant increase in activity since last June.

Residents living near Mount Ibu and tourists have been advised to avoid a five- to six-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano's peak and to wear face masks in case of falling ash.

As of 2022, around 700,000 people were living on Halmahera island, according to official data.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity as it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Last November, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,703-meter (5,587-foot) twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores erupted more than a dozen times in one week, killing nine people in its initial explosion.

Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province erupted more than half a dozen times last year, forcing thousands from nearby islands to evacuate.