Jaco Island, also spelt as Jako Island, is an uninhabited island which is located in Southeast Asian Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor.

Jaco Island is too a part of the Nino Konis Santana National Park, just off the eastern end of the island where the whole country lies, separated from the mainland in front of the Valu Beach.

This almost 10 square meters (108 square feet) land area was created from coral deposits and it is surrounded by limestone cliffs and coral reefs.

Even though it is forbidden for people to camp and stay for an overnight on the island, still, with the local fishermen, tourists can go to the island across the shallow channel that separates it from the mainland.

Even though the distance is not that big, there is a significant danger from the swift currents that go through the narrow passage. Nevertheless, once there, the pristine beauty of the island with the clear turquoise waters will win the hearts of every visitor.

There is a possibility for a short hike around the island, where the highest elevation point is around 100 meters (330 feet) above the sea, and covered completely by tropical dry forest, fringed by strand vegetation and sandy beaches.

Considered as one of the sacred places within the country, it receives this title due to the two seas, Banda Sea and Timor Sea, which meet and greet where the island is located. In the past, there was only one erected structure, a 35 meters (115 feet) tall lighthouse which was destroyed in 2010.

Nowadays, many tourists visiting this small nation, if they have the time, they are coming to visit Jaco Island as well, which has become a real sanctuary for the bar-necked cuckoo-doves, the pink-headed imperial pigeons, fawn-breasted whistlers, Timor sparrows, and other birds which are accompanied on the ground bu the native Javan rusa deer, which most likely has become accustomed to drinking salt water since there is no freshwater on the island.

Definitely a place offering solitude and absolute silence to those who would dare enough to come here and enjoy as much as possible in this East Timorese paradise.

The Government of South-east Anambra State through the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has collaborated with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to distribute food crops of various types to about two hundred women in four villages of Umueze Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area of the state.

Handing over the crops to the women, the Anambra state Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs. Ify Obinabo said that as a way to keep supporting those affected by the 2022 flood disaster, the State governmemt wrote to UNICEF for support to all those affected by the last year’s deluge and they obliged, hence the distribution of the farm crops and noted that UNICEF is equally supporting the state government in different other ways.

Mrs Obinabo explained that the various supports Anambra state government is receiving from Development Partners is as a result of their trust in the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, which she said is prudent in the management of the state’s scarce resources.

According to the Commissioner, they will also visit other communites in Anambra West, and that the exercise is designed to cover the seven local government areas that usually experience flooding in the state, and maintained that UNICEF has promised to bring the farm crops earlier next time.

As a means of relaxation after work, Commissioner Obinabo revealed that they built four football goal posts, two volley ball courts among others in Umueze Anam for women to catch fun and urged them to ensure the safety of all the gaming facilities.

In their various remarks, Messrs Theresa Anijah-Obi and Uzochukwu Chinwuba, appreciated the Anambra state government and UNICEF for remembering them, even as they appreciated the efforts of Mrs Obinabo in ensuring that the crops were judiciously distributed.

Distribution of the crops and handing over of the sporting kits to the villagers climaxed the event.

Turkiye is expecting a surge in Saudi tourists following high-level diplomatic visits between the two countries, Ankara’s ambassador to Riyadh has told Arab News.

The diplomatic steps Ankara took last last year as part of the normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia means Turkiye is forecasting more than 1 million Saudi visitors this year, said Fatih Ulusoy.

Fatih Ulusoy is Türkiye’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Ulusoy noted that Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan was in the Turkish capital, Ankara, to attend the ceremony.

Saudi tourists are traveling to a variety of locations across Turkiye, with Istanbul proving the most popular destination, Ulusoy said.

Turkiye’s Black Sea region is also popular among Saudi tourists, offering mild climates across mountains and forests. In the south, beach resorts lining the Mediterranean Sea are also a Saudi favorite.

Bursa, close to Istanbul and rich in history, offers Saudi visitors access to a range of thermal baths, said Ulusoy.

The six hot spring baths on the west side of the city and in the village of Cekirge are famed across the region for their health benefits.

“This year we are also promoting Cappadocia, a region in central Turkiye. This is a very high attraction destination for tourists from around the world. It has a very unique nature. We have boutique hotels inside the caves,” said Ulusoy.