Saudi Arabia set to send its first woman astronaut to space
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia will send its first woman astronaut on a space mission this year, continuing the effort to change the ultra-conservative image of the Kingdom, as reported by the state media.
Rayyana Barnawi will join Ali Al-Qarni, her fellow Saudi astronaut, on a mission on the International Space Station (ISS), during the second quarter of 2023, the official Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.
The agency added that the astronauts will join the crew of the AX-2 space mission and the space flight will launch from the US.
Saudi Arabia had an earlier space enthusiast in Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, who was an air force pilot and participated in a US-organized space mission in 1985, becoming the first Arab to travel into space.
With the heads of state in the Gulf striving to diversify their economies through a variety of projects, the official leader of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been trying to get his Kingdom to shake off its austere image.
Pushing for reforms since his rise to power in 2017, women have been permitted to drive and also to travel abroad without a male guardian. The proportion of women in the workforce too has more than doubled since 2016, from 17 percent to 37 percent.
In 2018, Saudi Arabia set up a space program and in 2022 launched another program to send its astronauts into space. All of these have been a part of Prince Salman’s ‘Vision 2030’ agenda for economic diversification.
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Goa readies to ring in New Year with massive tourist turnout
Panaji (PTI): Goa is bracing for an influx of tourists in the run-up to New Year's Eve, as at least five lakh visitors are expected to throng the beaches and party hotspots of the coastal state to usher in the festivities, an official said on Sunday.
The state tourism department claimed that the December 6 nightclub fire that killed 25 people in Arpora village in North Goa didn't seem to have impacted the activities.
Talking to PTI Videos, State Tourism Director Kedar Naik said Goa is a safe destination, and people will continue to enjoy their New Year celebrations here.
Popular beaches are gearing up for grand firework displays, while shacks are transforming into high-energy party zones that will keep buzzing late into the night.
The state was fully geared up to receive visitors from India and abroad, Naik said.
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"Goa is all set to welcome tourists for the New Year's Eve celebrations. We have seen a large number of tourists coming into the state this entire year," he said.
While the number of tourists was considerably low due to flight cancellations in the first week of December, things have picked up, and now visitors are crowding the beaches and the hinterland, Naik said.
"Regular chartered flights are coming in from Russia and the UK. Apart from these, new chartered services have been started to new destinations and will continue to come till March," he said.
Tourists were seen soaking in the festive atmosphere at restaurants, flea markets and promenades in Calangute and Baga in North Goa and South Goa's beaches, including Benauli, Majorda, Colva and Palolem.
For domestic tourists, the New Year celebrations make Goa the destination of choice this time of the year.
Vaibhav, a tourist from Kolhapur, said, "We came to Goa during the Christmas season to celebrate the holidays. As you can see, the beaches are very crowded, and it feels really nice to be here in Goa."
Social media influencers and content creators are using the vibrant atmosphere as a backdrop for their work, mixed with leisure.
"I have been coming to Goa for many years, and we love Goa. I love the seafood and everything about the place," said Vrushali Jawale, a content creator from Mumbai.
Fireworks are slated to light up the skies along the shoreline at midnight on December 31, while cruise vessels plan special sailings, and music festivals and club events are expected to continue till dawn.
The state, long known for its easygoing vibe, beach shacks and nightlife, is once again set to transform into a massive open-air party venue for revellers from across the world.
