Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu delights fans in Jeddah

Kumar Sanu was the star of the show for the two-day music festival at the Equestrian Club in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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Updated 05 February 2023
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Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu delights fans in Jeddah

  • Making his first ever appearance in the Kingdom, Sanu thrilled the audience of mostly Indian expats, serving up renditions of more than 20 songs

JEDDAH: Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu wowed the crowds on Friday night as the latest celebration of Indian culture drew to a close.

Sanu was the star of the show for the two-day music festival at the Equestrian Club in Jeddah’s Al-Frosyah district, which was organized by Good Hope Events in cooperation with the General Entertainment Authority.

Making his first ever appearance in the Kingdom, Sanu thrilled the audience of mostly Indian expats, serving up renditions of more than 20 songs.

“I have been waiting to perform in Saudi Arabia and here we are in Jeddah for the first time,” he told his adoring fans from the stage.

“We have a great crowd and I am happy to see you enjoying the night.”

Also on the bill were Rachna Chopra, Biplab and Afsal, who helped ramp up the crowds with a host of Bollywood numbers.

“I am amazed by the energy that flowed from you guys,” Chopra told the crowd.

Fan Nadia Azmi, who went to the gig with friends, said: “We all are privileged to have Sanu among us in Jeddah today. We all have grown up listening to his songs since the ’80s and ’90s.

“It is wonderful to listen to him live today. I want to thank Saudi Arabia and the organizers for their efforts in making this possible.”

Junaise Babu, chairman of Good Hope Events, said the festival had been a huge success.

“It was a great feeling to see so many men, women, young and old, not only Indian expatriates but also other Asians enjoying the various musicians we brought.”

Amrina Qaiser, who introduced Sanu on stage, said: “It was an amazing experience hosting such a mega event in Jeddah for the first time.

“I felt overwhelmed and I was lucky enough to interact with the king of melody from Bollywood, Kumar Sanu.”

 


KSrelief completes Syria health initiative, continues in Sudan

Updated 01 May 2025
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KSrelief completes Syria health initiative, continues in Sudan

  • Eight volunteer surgeons on the medical team in Port Sudan have already performed eight specialized operations

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian aid agency KSrelief has completed its neurology and urology program in Syria, while continuing a similar initiative in Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

Eight volunteer surgeons on the medical team in Port Sudan have already performed eight specialized operations.

In Damascus, Syria, the Amal volunteer program has concluded.

Twenty-six volunteers in Damascus examined 285 patients and performed 153 neurology and 162 urology operations.

 


First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia

Updated 30 April 2025
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First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia

  • Qualified staff fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology will help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims

Madinah: The first flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Wednesday. The annual Islamic pilgrimage is set to take place this year between June 4 and 9.

Authorities are providing qualified staff who are fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology to help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported, and are ready to assist people arriving by land and sea as well as air.

An estimated 1.8 million pilgrims participated in Hajj last year.


Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution

Updated 01 May 2025
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Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution

  • The session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production

RIYADH: The eighth session of the Digital Communication Conference, titled “Anime in the Digital Space,” explored the transformation of Japanese anime over the past two decades, highlighting the impact of digital innovation and the internet.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production.

Streaming giants such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Funimation were highlighted as pivotal players in the transition, offering translated or dubbed episodes immediately upon release and funding original series such as “Devilman Crybaby” and “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”

Speakers in the session, including Manga Productions CEO Essam Bukhary, said that social media and online forums have opened the door to unprecedented engagement among fans, as well as community and cultural interaction, since audiences now take part in evaluating episodes.

Concerns were raised that heavy dependence on technology could erode the handcrafted aesthetic that defines traditional anime.

Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning interest in manga and anime, which dates back to the 1970s, is helping to usher in a revolution in cultural production.

Japanese art forms have captivated audiences of all ages, gaining significant popularity in recent years. Their ability to combine entertainment, culture and education has made them of great interest to Saudi society.

To support this interest, the General Entertainment Authority has hosted events like the Saudi Anime Expo, drawing international visitors.

In line with these efforts, the ministries of culture and education launched the Manga Education program to nurture student talent, as well as integrate arts and culture into public education.
 


Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

Updated 30 April 2025
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Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

  • Delegation visits International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography
  • Visitors reaffirm support for Palestinian cause, call for end to genocide in Gaza

LONDON: The secretary-general of the Muslim World League, Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, met British Islamic leaders in Madinah on Wednesday to discuss issues facing the UK’s Muslim community.

The visitors praised the MWL’s important role in the Islamic world and among Muslim minorities in Europe and the UK, highlighting its work to preserve cultural and religious identities.

They also noted that King Charles welcomed Al-Issa as the first Arab and Muslim figure from outside the UK to visit Buckingham Palace after his coronation.

The delegation visited the MWL-affiliated International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography, which tells the story of the Prophet Muhammad’s life.

During the talks they reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and called for an “immediate end to the genocide being perpetrated against the people of Gaza by the brutal war machine of the Israeli occupation government.”

Gaza should be a symbol of unity, not division, among Muslim communities, they said, according to an MWL statement.

The delegation commended the 2019 Charter of Makkah, saying it helped foster interaction with non-Muslim audiences and promoted moderation in addressing contemporary issues.


Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh

Updated 30 April 2025
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Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Russian Ambassador Sergey Kozlov in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The pair discussed relations between their countries and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

Also on Wednesday, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki met Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah Al-Yahya in Islamabad, the diplomat wrote on X.

They discussed the importance of digital transformation and other topics of interest.