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Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Financial District sets Guinness World Record for longest pedestrian skywalk
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Financial District sets Guinness World Record for longest pedestrian skywalk

Filipino Times

time10-07-2025

  • Business
  • Filipino Times

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Financial District sets Guinness World Record for longest pedestrian skywalk

The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has officially received a Guinness World Record for having the world's largest continuous pedestrian skyway network. The project spans 15.46 kilometers and connects 95 buildings through 42 interconnected walkways. These skywalks are elevated and climate-controlled, meaning they are cooled and comfortable even during the country's extreme heat. They also connect directly to Riyadh's metro system, making it easier for people to move around without relying on cars or worrying about traffic, while enjoying its iconic architecture. The construction used 30,000 square meters of glass, around the size of four football fields, and more than 3,000 tons of steel, roughly the weight of 10 Boeing 777 planes. A total of 1,200 workers completed the project after logging over five million safe man-hours. 'This recognition by Guinness World Records affirms KAFD as a national platform for transformative urban development,' said Faddy AlAql, Chief Asset Delivery Officer at KAFD DMC. 'Beyond its scale, the skywalk network reflects a future-focused mobility strategy—seamlessly connecting assets, enhancing walkability, and supporting our ambition to deliver a world-class smart city experience.' Guinness World Records noted that KAFD's top-tier infrastructure has drawn over 90 international and local companies, including 19 regional headquarters such as Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company, and PepsiCo. 'First set in Minneapolis in 2016, this record has now been redefined by KAFD. In an era where sustainability drives innovation, KAFD's skyway network sets a new global benchmark for walkable urban design,' Guinness World Records adjudicator Mbali Nkosi said.

Riyadh Skywalk Breaks Guinness World Record
Riyadh Skywalk Breaks Guinness World Record

Gulf Insider

time07-07-2025

  • Business
  • Gulf Insider

Riyadh Skywalk Breaks Guinness World Record

The King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh was awarded a Guinness World Record on Sunday for the world's largest continuous pedestrian skyway network. The network spans 15.46 km, linking 95 buildings through 42 climate-controlled skywalks, allowing year-round pedestrian access. Elevated above ground and connected to Riyadh's metro, the skywalks help workers, visitors, and residents move easily through the district while avoiding traffic and weather. Built with 30,000 sq. meters of glass and more than 3,000 tonnes of steel, the project required more than 5 million safe work hours from 1,200 personnel. The skywalks connect offices, homes, shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues, making it easier to walk between work, home, and leisure. 'This recognition by Guinness World Records affirms KAFD as a platform for urban development,' said Faddy AlAql, chief asset delivery officer at KAFD Development and Management Co. 'The skywalk network reflects a mobility strategy that connects assets, enhances walkability, and supports our goal of delivering a smart city experience.' Mbali Nkosi, official adjudicator for Guinness World Records, said: 'First set in Minneapolis in 2016, this record has now been redefined by KAFD. In an era where sustainability drives innovation, KAFD's skyway network sets a new benchmark for walkable urban design.' The district hosts more than 90 international and local companies and 19 regional headquarters, including Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company, and PepsiCo. Also Read: Saudi Arabia Deports 8,051 Illegal Residents In A Week Source Arab News

‘It became unbearable' - Mbali Nkosi on leaving acting, venturing into DJing and soaring spiritually
‘It became unbearable' - Mbali Nkosi on leaving acting, venturing into DJing and soaring spiritually

News24

time23-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • News24

‘It became unbearable' - Mbali Nkosi on leaving acting, venturing into DJing and soaring spiritually

We last saw her on our screens as Violet on The Queen. While that role left many desiring to see her flex her acting muscle more, Mbali Nkosi was on her way out of the acting space. Being the all-rounded creative that she is, she seamlessly pivoted into the DJing world, taking it by storm. She tells Drum that the DJ hat has been her favourite to wear and embrace. 'There is no better feeling than watching people have a great time and you're vibing to the same frequency, same energy, and same music.' For her, behind the decks 'is a place where you can create, a place where your skill and talent are purely judged on that. It's rather freeing, it's very fulfilling. I feel a lot of people tend to judge easily on many things but with DJing is based on skill which I appreciate,' she adds. Read more | Multi-award-winning vocalist Bassie ventures into pad drive after big MetroFM award victory Many may not realise that her DJ journey began in 2011. After overcoming her fear of what others might say, she decided to pursue her passion and enrolled in TRNS Academy, a DJ school, in 2023. This leap of faith allowed her to flourish and reach new heights, much like an eagle soaring through the sky. The award-winning entrepreneur has set local and international stages on fire with her afro-tech, Gqom and 3-step steps. Although she's worked her way up to cementing her greatness in the DJing industry, questions of why she left the acting industry linger. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mbali Nkosi (@theembalinkosi) Spilling the beans to Drum, she says she had big dreams and aspirations for herself as an actress. 'I had aspirations of playing an action role like in Colombiana, a role that had a story and a journey in it, a villain era as well, I would have also loved to do Broadway, combining dance, music, and acting all in one.' However, she adds, she had an early exit due to the dark truths of the acting industry. 'I left acting because it became a very toxic environment, and I went into a depressive state. I hated going to work, and it became unbearable. I couldn't see my life being filled with negativity and depressive episodes. People were requesting or expecting sexual favours, and the fact that you get minimal pay for long hours and no royalties [wasn't working for me].' Read more | 'Rachel is now stronger than when she left' – Lesego Marakalla makes an abrupt return to Skeem Saam And now that she's a solo rider in her work as a DJ, she couldn't be happier and more fulfilled. Mbali has even leaped further with the release of a debut EP titled Elements. 'I'm so excited about Elements. It's more than just a collection of songs, it's a tribute to the universe, the self, and the powerful forces that connect us all. Rooted in the five African elements: earth, air, water, fire, and spirit - each track embodies the essence of its element, creating an immersive experience that honors both nature and the divine within.' Her music will clearly not end as a stint but as a spiritually woven journey that will give solace through beats and lyrics while she discovers herself poetically in the process.

‘As'phekeleni umyeni wami' sensational cook, Mbali Skosana shares details of abusive marriage
‘As'phekeleni umyeni wami' sensational cook, Mbali Skosana shares details of abusive marriage

News24

time23-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • News24

‘As'phekeleni umyeni wami' sensational cook, Mbali Skosana shares details of abusive marriage

We watched her cook and love her husband loudly and proudly but the reality behind closed doors was far from ideal. The saying 'not all that glitters is gold,' couldn't be truer, mostly when it comes to online relationships. Read more | 'It became unbearable' - Mbali Nkosi on leaving acting, venturing into DJing and soaring spiritually Mbali Skosana, a well-loved personality and content creator, first gained widespread recognition through her cooking videos that captivated viewers with her warm, inviting content and delicious recipes. Her iconic intro, 'As'phekeleni umyeni wami,' quickly became a catchphrase among her fans, and over time, she developed a devoted following who admired her authenticity and the love she so openly shared with her ex-husband. Read more | 'I set very strong boundaries for myself' - Lady Zamar channels life lessons into powerful music However, behind the scenes of this seemingly perfect life, cracks began to form. Reports emerged online of her husband's alleged infidelity and desire to practice polygamy, known as 'isithembu' in some cultures. Things took a dramatic turn when Mbali made a statement confirming that they had separated, signalling the end of their marriage, only to later retract the statement in a live TikTok video, leaving many to believe that they had reconciled and mended their relationship and would continue forward together. Read more | Bullied teen tells mom if perpetrators are not arrested she'll kill herself Unfortunately, the storm was far from over. Recently, an even darker chapter in her journey has unfolded as a disturbing video surfaced showing Mbali being assaulted by her ex-husband's girlfriend, sparking widespread outrage and concern. In the circulating video, Mbali can be seen lying on the floor asking for forgiveness, claiming that the perpetrator is hurting her while she was pressing what can be identified as her thigh on-top of Mbali in an effort to detain her from running away, all this whilst interrogating her with questions. In the aftermath of this incident, Mbali took to her YouTube channel to address the issue and share a harrowing revelation; she alleged that she had been a victim of abuse in the later stages of her marriage. In the deeply emotional 24 minutes and 26 seconds duration YouTube video, Mbali addresses how what began as a relationship built on love and shared dreams came down to navigating a tumultuous marriage which ended in tears and heartache, leaving behind painful echoes of betrayal as her ex-husband turned to being physical with her in an effort to forcefully make her accept his decision for a polygamous marriage. Read more | Soshanguve learners open case against community members after beatings for lateness In the YouTube video Mbali attached the trending assault video and explained reasons for doing so are not to taint the woman in question's image but rather to plead with the public, especially women, as she's seen many of them since the circulation of the video bashing her for enduring that situation. She further states that she has attached the video to break her silence as she's been too quiet about this issue and believes the internet will eventually find out in bits and pieces when she had long moved on from the saga, therefore it's best to talk about it now. 'I got threatened by that video to the point that we went to court, because I was trying to protect my image as I knew if you guys would see it people would judge me. I tried not to expose the girl's name, and if I was someone else, I'd name and shame but because I understand she's a woman and a mother with kids, I don't want her kids to see her differently than who they know now all because of a man,' Mbali cried. Mbali further says what breaks her heart mostly about the video is that her ex-husband stood and did nothing as his girlfriend demeaned her in the most distasteful way and instead, he took her side. 'I didn't have that video, as it was them shooting it. But what hurts mostly with it is the fact that, the man who paid lobola for me was literally standing there and I said sorry, but his response was 'sorry for what?' Mbali breaks down. Mbali concluded the video stating that she's been to counselling sessions and will still attend until she doesn't get triggered by the issue anymore, Moreover, she also pleaded that people refrain commenting about her past on her work videos on Instagram as they are ruining her brand.

From acting to DJing — Mbali Nkosi shares journey to debut EP 'Elements'
From acting to DJing — Mbali Nkosi shares journey to debut EP 'Elements'

TimesLIVE

time21-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • TimesLIVE

From acting to DJing — Mbali Nkosi shares journey to debut EP 'Elements'

Mbali Nkosi is gearing up to release her debut EP titled Elements on May 23. In an exclusive interview with TshisaLIVE, the actress-turned DJ shared her inspiring journey of transitioning from acting to pursuing her passion for music and DJing. 'It's something that's been a long time coming,' she said. 'Through the times, I kept saying I would do it but [you know how it is] with depression, and people don't understand how depression pauses everything. In between my acting I'd take lessons.' With more than two decades of experience in acting, Mbali decided to take a bold step three years ago to enrol in a DJ school and launch her DJ career, but she's always been in the music scene. Despite being part of an industry surge of female DJs, Mbali's journey into music began long before she became a popular actress. She started writing music for artists at a young age and had a Sama-nominated song Free which she co-wrote with Thembi Seete for Lira and Denim. 'When I was younger, before there was female DJ popularity, I was in the music space. 'I was writing for artists to release certain music. We wrote music for different artists, we were in studio. The day before my final maths matric exam I was in studio with Thembi writing Free and I only got home at 6am to go to school at 8am to write my exam. We were putting in the time. There wasn't a platform to show the amount of work we put in at that time.'

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