Day: February 3, 2026

‫الإعلان عن المتأهلين للنهائيات ونصف النهائيات في مسابقة ”Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge“ التي تبلغ جائزتها مليون دولار

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بون، ألمانيا Newsaktuell – 3 فبراير 2026 – تم الإعلان عن المتأهلين للنهائيات لمنح جائزة “Seed Grant„ ونصف النهائي لمنح جائزة “Growth Grant„  والجائزة الكبرى “Seeding The Future Grand Prize„  في النسخة الخامسة من تحدي “Global Food System Challenge„ (GFSC) السنوي، مما يمثل علامة فارقة في التحدي العالمي بقيمة مليون دولار أمريكي الذي يدعم الحلول المؤثرة والمبتكرة لتحويل النظم الغذائية.

وقد جذب التحدي، الذي أنشأته ومولته مؤسسة “Seeding The Future Foundation„ واستضافته لأول مرة منظمة Welthungerhilfe (WHH)، أكثر من 1600 طلبًا من فرق مبتكرة في 112 دولة، مما يؤكد الزخم العالمي المتزايد لتحويل النظم الغذائية.

بعد عملية مراجعة دولية صارمة متعددة المراحل، تقدمت 36 فريقًا عبر ثلاثة مستويات من الجوائز. وتشمل هذه المستويات 16 متأهلاً لنهائيات „Seed Grant“  (يتنافسون على 8 جوائز بقيمة 25,000 دولار أمريكي)، و12 متأهلاً لنصف نهائيات „Growth Grant“  (يتنافسون على 3 جوائز بقيمة 100,000 دولار أمريكي)، و8 متأهلين لنصف نهائيات جائزة „Seeding The Future Grand Prize“ الكبرى (يتنافسون على جائزتين بقيمة 250,000 دولار أمريكي).

وقال يان كيفر، رئيس قسم الابتكار في منظمة „Welthungerhilfe“:

“تنظم منظمة „Welthungerhilfe“ مسابقة GFSC انطلاقاً من التزامها بتسريع الابتكارات الجريئة والقابلة للتطوير في المجالات التي تحتاج إليها أكثر من غيرها. وتؤكد تنوع الحلول المقدمة هذا العام على تعقيد التحديات التي تواجهها النظم الغذائية وإبداع المبتكرين في جميع أنحاء العالم”.

تغطي الابتكارات المقدمة مواضيع وأساليب متنوعة، بما في ذلك الإنتاج الذكي مناخياً، والأغذية الغنية بالمغذيات، والحد من فقدان الأغذية، ونماذج السوق الشاملة، مما يعكس تعقيد وتحديات النظم الغذائية الحالية وطبيعتها المترابطة.

“يهدف تحدي “Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge„ إلى تحفيز الابتكارات المؤثرة والجريئة والقابلة للتطويرالتي تعزز تحول النظم الغذائية. نحن متحمسون للعمل جنبًا إلى جنب مع“ Welthungerhilfe„  كشريك موثوق ومضيف للتحدي، ونشعر بالتشجيع من جودة وتنوع الابتكارات التي ظهرت في هذا العام الأول من التعاون”، قال برنارد فان لينجريش، مؤسس ومدير تنفيذي لمؤسسة “Seeding The Future Foundation„

على الرغم من أن عدد الجوائز محدود، يمكن لجميع المتأهلين إلى نصف النهائي والنهائي، بالإضافة إلى جميع المتقدمين الذين حصلوا على تقدير سابق في مسابقات ابتكار أخرى، الانضمام إلى قاعدة بيانات وشبكة STF Global Food System Innovation Database and Network – التي تخضع حاليًا لاختبار تجريبي مع منظمة الأغذية والزراعة للأمم المتحدة – مما يوسع نطاق ظهورهم وانتشارهم بشكل كبير بين الجمهور العالمي.

قائمة المتأهلين لنصف النهائي لجائزة GFSC لعام 2025 Seed Grant، وجائزة Growth Grant، وجائزة Seeding The Future Grand Prize

تجدون التفاصيل هنا: welthungerhilfe.org/gfsc-finalists

المتأهلون لنصف نهائي جائزة “Seeding The Future“ الكبرى

نصف نهائي منحة النمو

المتأهلون النهائيون لمنحة البذور

نبذة عن مؤسسة “Seeding The Future Foundation (STF) „

STF هي مؤسسة خاصة غير ربحية مكرسة لضمان الوصول العادل إلى غذاء آمن ومغذٍ وميسور التكلفة وموثوق. وهي تدعم الابتكارات التي تحول النظم الغذائية وتفيد الناس والكوكب على حد سواء. المزيد على www.seedingthefuture.org

 

 

نبذة عن “Welthungerhilfe„

WHH هي واحدة من أكبر منظمات الإغاثة الخاصة في ألمانيا، وتسعى منذ عام 1962 إلى تحقيق عالم خالٍ من الجوع. لمزيد من المعلومات، يرجى زيارة: Welthungerhilfe (WHH) – Welthungerhilfe

 

 

Finalists and Semifinalists for $1 Million Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge Announced

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BONN, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 3 February 2026 – The Seed Grant Finalists and Growth Grant and Seeding the Future Grand Prize Semifinalists of the 5th annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge (GFSC) have been announced, marking a key milestone in the USD 1 million global Challenge supporting impactful and innovative solutions to transform food systems.

Created and funded by Seeding The Future Foundation and, for the first time, hosted by Welthungerhilfe (WHH), the Challenge attracted a record 1,600+ applications from innovator teams in 112 countries, underscoring growing global momentum for food systems transformation.

Following a multi-stage, rigorous international review process, 36 teams have advanced across three award levels. These include 16 Seed Grant Finalists (competing for 8 awards of USD 25,000), 12 Growth Grant Semifinalists (competing for 3 awards of USD 100,000), and 8 Seeding The Future Grand Prize Semifinalists (competing for 2 awards of USD 250,000).

“Hosting the GFSC reflects Welthungerhilfe’s commitment to accelerating bold, scalable innovations where they are needed most. This year’s diversity of solutions underscores the complexity of food system challenges and the creativity of innovators worldwide.” said Jan Kever, Head of Innovation at Welthungerhilfe

The submitted innovations span diverse themes and approaches, including climate-smart production, nutrient-dense foods, food loss reduction, and inclusive market models, reflecting the complexity and interconnected nature of today’s food systems challenges.

“The Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge exists to catalyze impactful, bold, and scalable innovations that advance food systems transformation. We are excited to work alongside Welthungerhilfe as a trusted partner and host of the Challenge and are encouraged by the quality and diversity of innovations emerging from this first year of collaboration.” said Bernhard van Lengerich, Founder and CEO of Seeding The Future Foundation

While the number of awards is limited, all semifinalists and finalist applicants plus all applicants with any prior recognition of other innovation competitions can join the STF Global Food System Innovation Database and Network—currently in beta testing with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations—vastly expanding their visibility and reach across a global audience.

List of 2025 GFSC Seed Grant Finalists, Growth Grant and Seeding The Future Grand Prize Semifinalists

Find details here: welthungerhilfe.org/gfsc-finalists

Seeding The Future Grand Prize Semi-Finalists

Growth Grant Semi-Finalists

Seed Grant Finalists

About Seeding The Future Foundation

STF is a private nonprofit dedicated to ensuring equitable access to safe, nutritious, affordable, and trusted food. It supports innovations that transform food systems and benefit both people and planet. More at Seeding the future.

About Welthungerhilfe

WHH is one of Germany’s largest private aid organizations, striving for a world without hunger since 1962. More at: Welthungerhilfe (WHH)

Pakistan to Host Indus AI Week 2026, a Five-Day National Platform Advancing Artificial Intelligence

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Significant milestone in the country’s digital journey, bringing together government leadership, international industry pioneers, academia, and the youth to accelerate AI awareness and practical adoption.

Indus AI Week

MOITT is holding the first ever AI week in Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan, Feb. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pakistan will host Indus AI Week 2026 from 9 to 15 February 2026, a five-day national platform on artificial intelligence led by the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication. The week-long engagement marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital journey, bringing together government leadership, international industry pioneers, academia, and the youth to accelerate AI awareness and practical adoption. The program is designed as a multi layered platform to move artificial intelligence from policy discussion into real world engagement through three strategic pillars: a high level summit, an innovation arena, and nationwide activities.

The programme will commence with the Indus AI Summit, which will convene on 9 February 2026 in Islamabad, as the central national forum for articulating Pakistan’s strategic direction on Sovereign Artificial Intelligence, while engaging global experts on the trajectory and implications of Artificial General Intelligence. The Summit is convened as a closed, execution-focused engagement designed to move beyond conceptual debate toward realistic national choices on AI systems, infrastructure, institutions, and long-term capability.

Indus AI Week 9-15 Feb, 2026

Pakistan will host the five-day Indus AI Week 2026 (Feb 9-15) to advance national AI. It features a high-level summit, an innovation arena, and nationwide activities.

The Indus AI Summit will convene a rare assembly of global leaders shaping the future of Sovereign AI and AGI, with direct experience in building, governing, and operating intelligence at national and planetary scale. Confirmed participants include H.E. Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, a global authority on AI as a national capability, Dr Randolph Goebel, one of the world’s leading experts on AGI and large-scale cognitive systems, Dominic Williams, Founder of the DFINITY Foundation and a leading voice on open and sovereign AI ecosystems, and Dr Michael Sung, a recognised expert on AI platforms, innovation economics, and system-level technology trajectories.

The dialogue will further benefit from senior practitioners operating at the intersection of policy and execution, including Omar Rana, Chair of the Open Mind Institute, Siim Sikkut, former Government CIO of Estonia, Dr Sanjeeva Weerawarana, Founder and CEO of WSO2, and Dr Esther Baldwin, with deep expertise in applied and industrial-scale AI systems. Together with policymakers, system architects, and investors from across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, the Summit will focus on AGI trajectories, sovereign AI choices, national compute and capital pathways, trust and accountability mechanisms, and the institutional architectures required to deploy intelligence responsibly, securely, and at scale.

The Summit will culminate in the issuance of the Islamabad AI Declaration, a concise statement of national intent setting out Pakistan’s principles and execution priorities for Sovereign AI and AGI, including national positions on compute access, data stewardship, trust frameworks, institutional responsibility, and international engagement. The Declaration is intended to guide practical implementation across government and the broader economy, rather than serve as a purely aspirational policy statement.

Following the Summit, Indus AI Week will transition into the Innovation, Learning, and Engagement Arena, taking place on 9 and 10 February 2026 in Islamabad. The Arena is designed as a delivery-focused platform to translate strategic intent into practical capability, hosting a curated suite of eleven flagship programmes spanning skills, innovation, and applied experimentation. Key initiatives include Uraan AI Techathon 1.0, Pakistan’s first national AI-focused techathon, the AI for Her initiative, and the National AI Training Bootcamp, alongside specialised tracks such as the AI Wrapper Competition, Game Jam, and Cloud Credit Sprint. Collectively, these programmes enable participants to move from ideation to scalable solutions across priority sectors including healthcare, agriculture, and fintech.

The Arena will feature strong representation from Pakistan’s domestic technology sector, highlighting the growing maturity and depth of the national AI ecosystem. Participating organisations include Devsinc, Netsol, Snsskies, Zemotify, and WAI Advance Industries. These companies and their leadership will demonstrate Pakistan’s readiness to compete and collaborate within the global AI economy.

Interactive and experiential components will further deepen engagement, including a Technology and Innovation Hub for startups, an Industry Expo, and dedicated GovTech and DefenceTech Showcases. Attendees will also experience the AR, VR, and Robotics Showcase, featuring locally developed hardware and applied innovations, alongside the Indus eSports Championship, highlighting the convergence of AI, gaming, and immersive technologies. In parallel, co-branded activities will be hosted by universities and institutions across Pakistan to ensure broad-based national participation beyond the main venue.

The scale and ambition of Indus AI Week 2026 are supported by a strong ecosystem of sponsors and strategic partners. Jazz and PTCL Ufone lead private-sector participation as primary sponsors, complemented by partnerships with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), P@SHA, the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Ignite National Technology Fund, and the Special Education Department. Technical support is provided by the Special Communications Organization (SCO), Uraan Pakistan, and the Centre for Excellence in Gaming and Animation (CEGA).

Together, these engagements position Indus AI Week 2026 as a national effort to strengthen Pakistan’s AI readiness, build indigenous capability, and enable meaningful collaboration with international partners and investors across the AI value chain, reinforcing Artificial Intelligence as a driver of economic growth, institutional performance, and long-term competitiveness.

Attachments

Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunications
7th Floor, Kohsar Block, Pak Secretariat, F-5, Islamabad, Pakistan. 
Contact: +92519219971 |  [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9647783

Where business travelers are really going in 2026, according to Holafly

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Top business hubs 2026 by Holafly

Top business hubs 2026 by Holafly

DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — After the sharp rebound of 2025, companies are moving into a more deliberate phase of mobility. At this point, everybody knows that travel is no longer about clocking miles or filling calendars; it’s about being in the right place, at the right time, for the right reason, so deals close naturally.

Holafly’s latest global insights revealed a couple of months ago that eight in ten professionals expect to travel internationally in 2026, while only a small minority plan to stay fully domestic. The implication is hard to ignore: business has no barriers anymore.

But in 2026, corporate mobility is gravitating toward a familiar yet powerful set of cities; places where deals are signed, partnerships are formed and decisions move faster simply because the ecosystem is already there. Holafly asked more than 10,000 respondents in its Global eSIM & Travel Report 2025–2026, and the business hubs for 2026 appeared clearly.

Top hubs for European: Top hubs for North American: Top hubs for South American: Top hubs for Asians: Top hubs for Africans: Top hubs for Oceania:
1 US Canada US US UAB US
2 UK UK Spain Japan France Singapore
3 France Germany Argentina Singapore US UK

Business travelers aren’t chasing novelty, instead, they’re reinforcing the routes that already work and the hubs that historically have worked for them, where trust is established, infrastructure is mature and time spent on the ground delivers measurable outcomes.

“At the end of the day, all the signals point in the same direction,” says Alex Bryszkowski, VP of Holafly for Business. “In 2026, business travel isn’t about how often teams fly, but about what happens when they land. The strongest hubs are the ones that allow people to focus on building relationships, moving projects forward and making decisions that actually matter, and where staying connected, secure and at ease is never a concern.”

As business travel becomes more intentional, being able to rely on the same digital tools wherever work takes teams is no longer optional. For global companies, solutions like Holafly for Business play a key role in ensuring professionals arrive ready to work from day one, with the peace of mind required to focus on what really matters.

About Holafly
Holafly is the global leader in eSIMs for travelers, offering coverage in over 200 destinations. With an outstanding 4.6/5 rating on Trustpilot and more than 15 million satisfied users, it has become the preferred eSIM choice for international travelers. Its unlimited data offering ensures peace of mind anywhere in the world.

Contact: [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/edc4f38c-0fd8-40ec-9def-49e24f5871a9

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001161705

CGTN: More than a journey: How Spring Festival travel rush reflects a changing China

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The 2026 Spring Festival travel rush begins on February 2 and will run for 40 days, ending on March 13. Ahead of this annual migration, CGTN published a feature article exploring how the event has transcended its role as a transport phenomenon, becoming a unique lens through which to view China’s social transformation.

BEIJING, Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Under the glow of floodlights at a maintenance base in Nanchang, east China’s Jiangxi Province, rows of silver bullet trains stand in perfect formation. From above, the assembly resembles a fleet of land-based aircraft carriers ready for service.

This is one of the launchpads across China for the world’s largest human migration: chunyun. The 40-day annual Spring Festival travel rush officially begins at the stroke of midnight on February 2, ahead of the country’s most important holiday.

This year, chunyun is set to shatter all previous records. Official estimates predict a staggering 9.5 billion inter-regional passenger trips over the 40-day period, which runs through March 13.

Driven by a nine-day holiday, the longest in recent memory, the 2026 rush is more than a logistical feat; it is a vivid window into China’s social transformation.

Resilience of Chinese logistics
As with every year, the 2026 chunyun stands as a spectacle of logistics. Officials project that self-driving will remain the dominant mode of transport, accounting for roughly 80 percent of all trips. Meanwhile, rail and civil aviation are expected to reach historic peaks, with passenger volumes hitting 540 million and 95 million, respectively.

Behind these numbers lies a sophisticated, multi-tiered infrastructure. To support the surge in electric vehicles, the Ministry of Transport has expanded the highway charging network to 71,500 charging points. Travelers can use a special mini-program to monitor real-time charger availability, while mobile emergency charging units have been deployed during peak hours.

Complementing the highways, China’s railway system – now bolstered by a high-speed network exceeding 50,000 kilometers – utilizes advanced ticketing and extensive infrastructure to ensure a seamless, high-capacity journey.

Safety remains the ultimate priority. As cold fronts threaten northern and central regions with snow and ice, the China Meteorological Administration and emergency departments have pre-positioned de-icing equipment and specialized rescue teams. High-tech tools, including drones and helicopters, stand ready for rapid response. Officials say chunyun coordination is a massive operation involving more than 20 government departments.

Heartwarming service
In a deeper commitment to passenger comfort, this year’s travel rush features more “heartwarming services” catering to the diverse needs of millions, transforming a massive migration into a personalized experience.

A key highlight is the expansion of “quiet carriages.” Now available on over 8,000 high-speed trains, these carriages offer a haven for passengers seeking a peaceful journey. Broadcast volumes are capped at 40 percent, and crew members provide “silent” service, replacing loud announcements with gentle assistance. Staff also offer free disposable earplugs and fun packs, including picture books, to keep young children entertained and calm.

At major airports and rail stations, efforts are underway to close the digital divide. Central to this are “Silver Hair” services, allowing seniors to travel with dignity and ease. At Shijiazhuang Airport in north China, for instance, travelers aged 80 and above enjoy priority check-in and boarding.

Travel is also becoming more inclusive for families, including their four-legged members. In central China’s Henan Province, “Pet Rail” services have expanded from one station to four, allowing travelers to book specialized transport crates via the 12306 app.

The Chinese New Year
The vast movement of people during chunyun is a collective journey home, culminating in the Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, which falls on February 17 this year. Rooted in Chinese culture with celebrations of various forms, the festival marks the first day of the lunar calendar and symbolizes renewal and family unity. It carries a universal resonance of hope and aspirations for a better life.

Core customs – family reunions, red decorations symbolizing prosperity, wishes for good fortune, festive family feasts, and creating traditional crafts such as lanterns – captivate cultural enthusiasts worldwide with their unique approach to welcoming the new year.

Each year, the “Spring Festival Gala,” an annual TV program broadcast live by China Media Group and watched by billions worldwide, epitomizes China’s cultural appeal. With three rehearsals completed, the 2026 gala will continue to take shape in a festive and uplifting atmosphere, vividly reflecting China’s dynamism in a new era.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve, CGTN also presented its flagship live special, “Super Night.” The program offered companion-style commentary on the CMG Spring Festival Gala in five languages – English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian – alongside a range of original features. These segments vividly showcased aspects of Chinese culture that captivate overseas audiences, including Spring Festival customs, intangible cultural heritage and traditional opera, helping global viewers better grasp the essence of Chinese culture and connect with it emotionally.

For more information, please click here:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-02-01/More-than-a-journey-How-chunyun-travel-rush-reflects-a-changing-China-1KptvLAeFPi/p.html

Contact: [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9647583

Jordanian Taekwondo Shines with Four Medals at Fujairah Championship

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Jordan: The Jordan national taekwondo team delivered a strong performance on Monday, capturing four medals on the second day of the Fujairah International Taekwondo Championship, a two-star event on the international calendar.

According to Jordan News Agency, Jaafar Al-Daoud led the charge by clinching the gold medal, while Zaid Halawani added a silver. Further success came through Zaid Mustafa and Mahmoud Tarawneh, who each secured bronze medals.

The Jordanian showing at the championship was further bolstered on Sunday when Fadia Kharfan claimed gold in her category at the same competition.