Jordan hosts 1st int'l hot air balloon skydiving event over iconic red desert

Jordan on Friday hosted its first international hot air balloon skydiving competition at the Wadi Rum Reserve, where global athletes jumped off the balloon baskets and flew in wingsuits above the iconic red desert.

At the event site, numerous hot air balloons slowly ascended, revealing the sweeping red landscape below as skydivers prepared for their jump. Professional jumpers then leaped from the baskets, performing stunning free-fall skydives. Some also donned wingsuits, gliding and weaving through Wadi Rum's distinctive rock formations.

"I have jumped before in the desert, but nothing like this, man. The scenery is unbelievable. I am impressed," said Christia Marcel, a skydiver from Romania.

Organizers said such international events are meant to help speed up the recovery of Jordan's tourism sector, a key pillar of the country's economy that has been hit by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

"This is the first time a hot air balloon skydiving event has been held in Jordan. Wadi Rum itself is a distinctive region -- both a nature reserve and home to unique and breathtaking natural scenery. This shows that, despite many challenges, Jordan is continuing to develop its tourism industry," said Thabit Hassan Al-Nabulsi, a tourism and youth affairs commissioner at Jordan's Aqaba Special Economic Zone that supervises Wadi Rum's development.

Jordan hosts 1st int'l hot air balloon skydiving event over iconic red desert

Global food prices rose again in September due to tightened supplies and uncertainty over shipping schedules, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations (UN) secretary-general on Friday.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points in September, up by 1.5 percent from August and 5.8 percent compared with the same month last year, Dujarric said at a press conference.

Sugar recorded the sharpest rise, increasing 6.1 percent to its highest level since April 2025, as global supplies are expected to tighten, said the spokesman.

"Commodity prices rose in September, driven by higher sugar, cereal and vegetable oil prices. Cereal prices were up 5.1 percent on the month, and wheat reached its highest level since August of 2023, largely because of logistical constraints in the Black Sea region. Maize hit a three-year high, as supplies tightened and uncertainty continued over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

For businesses and everyday consumers, these escalating supply-chain disruptions directly fuel rising grocery bills and broader inflation, placing immediate financial pressure on household budgets worldwide and worsening food insecurity risks in import-dependent nations.

Global food prices rise in Sept due to tightened supplies: UN