Mayor of Riyadh Opens 'FoodSphere' as Part of Riyadh Oases

Spanning 11,000 m², FoodSphere features three indoor zones - SPA
Spanning 11,000 m², FoodSphere features three indoor zones - SPA
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Mayor of Riyadh Opens 'FoodSphere' as Part of Riyadh Oases

Spanning 11,000 m², FoodSphere features three indoor zones - SPA
Spanning 11,000 m², FoodSphere features three indoor zones - SPA

Mayor of Riyadh Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf inaugurated on Wednesday "FoodSphere," a pioneering first phase of the Riyadh Oases project. This collaborative initiative between Riyadh Holding and the Riyadh Region Municipality aims to create vibrant, interactive community spaces centered on food, heritage, and sustainability.
Located on Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street, FoodSphere offers unique, immersive experiences that explore the future of nutrition while celebrating Saudi culinary heritage. Visitors can discover the interconnectedness of food, culture, and environmental responsibility through engaging exhibits and activities, SPA reported.
Spanning 11,000 m², FoodSphere features three indoor zones: The Apiary, The Biosphere, and The Oasis. Outdoor areas include beautifully landscaped gardens, cafes, restaurants, and walk courses.
Riyadh Oases is designed as an edutainment center, making science accessible and engaging for all community members. It fosters partnerships with various entities to develop and showcase practical, innovative models.
This project aligns with the Quality of Life Program, a main pillar of Saudi Vision 2030, demonstrating Riyadh's commitment to cultural preservation and future-forward development.
FoodSphere is the first of eight planned oases, which will be strategically located throughout Riyadh in the coming years. It welcomes visitors on February 26 and 27 from 10 am to 10 pm. Ramadan hours are from 8:30 pm to 2:30 am.



China Reveals New Team of Astronauts for Space Station Launch

Astronauts for China's Shenzhou-20 space mission (L-R) Wang Jie, Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui attend a press conference a day before the launch of the mission, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert, in northwest China on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Pedro Pardo / AFP)
Astronauts for China's Shenzhou-20 space mission (L-R) Wang Jie, Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui attend a press conference a day before the launch of the mission, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert, in northwest China on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Pedro Pardo / AFP)
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China Reveals New Team of Astronauts for Space Station Launch

Astronauts for China's Shenzhou-20 space mission (L-R) Wang Jie, Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui attend a press conference a day before the launch of the mission, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert, in northwest China on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Pedro Pardo / AFP)
Astronauts for China's Shenzhou-20 space mission (L-R) Wang Jie, Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui attend a press conference a day before the launch of the mission, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert, in northwest China on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Pedro Pardo / AFP)

China announced Wednesday the members of a three-person crew that will be launched to its space station as part of its growing exploration of space.
The Shenzhou 20 mission's astronauts are Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie, Lin Xiqiang, deputy director general of China Manned Space Agency. They will replace three astronauts currently on the Chinese space station. Like those before them, they will stay there for roughly six months, The Associated Press reported.
The three will launch for space Thursday evening in China, from Jiuquan, on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China.
The three-person crew were sent in October last year and have been in space for 175 days, said Lin.
Chen Dong, who previously served on the Shenzhou 11 and Shenzhou 14 missions, is the group leader, while his two crewmates will be making their first trips to space. Chen Zhongrui was an air force pilot and Wang Jie, an engineer with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
“I feel incomparable pride and accomplishment to go to space for my country again,” Chen Dong told reporters on Wednesday. “Each journey to space is unparalleled, I'm looking forward to gaining more experience and more breakthroughs through this flight."
Chen Dong led construction of the space station during the Shenzhou 14 mission.
While in space, the astronauts will carry out experiments in space medicine, and space technology; perform extravehicular trips; and make improvements to the space station.
China built its own space station after it was excluded from the International Space Station owing to US national security concerns over the control of the country's space program by the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party.
China's space program has grown rapidly in recent years. The space agency has landed an explorer on Mars and a rover on the far side of the moon. It aims to put a person on the moon before 2030.
The returning astronauts are expected to land on April 29.