UNITED NATIONS: The US has formally requested a UN Security Council vote on Monday on tough new sanctions against North Korea despite resistance from China and Russia, as Pyongyang’s state media calls for a nuclear arms buildup.
Washington has presented a draft UN resolution calling for an oil embargo on North Korea, an assets freeze on Kim Jong-Un, a ban on textiles and an end to payments of North Korean guest workers.
Diplomatic sources said Russia and China opposed the measures as a whole, except for the ban on textiles, during a meeting Friday of experts from the 15 Security Council members.
“This evening, the United States informed the UN Security Council that it intends to call a meeting to vote on a draft resolution to establish additional sanctions on North Korea on Monday, September 11,” a statement from the US mission to the UN read.
The statement declined to say what text would be voted on — the original draft Washington first presented Wednesday, an amended text or another version.
In North Korea, which was marking the nation’s founding anniversary Saturday, local media issued fresh calls for a nuclear arms buildup, in defiance of the mounting international sanctions.
“The defense sector, in step with the party’s Byungjin policy (of developing the economy and nuclear weapons at the same time) must make cutting-edge Juche weapons in greater quantities,” the Rodong Sinmun said in an editorial, referring to the national philosophy of “Juche” or self-reliance.
North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test on September 9 last year, and then carried out a sixth a week ago, saying it was a hydrogen bomb that could be fitted onto a missile — prompting global condemnation and calls for further sanctions.
In July, it tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that appeared to bring much of the mainland US into range.
The mouthpiece of the North’s ruling party called for more “miracle-like events” such as the two ICBM tests to deter the United States which it said was bent “decapitating” leader Kim Jong-Un.
In another commentary, Rodong Sinmun said the US would continue receiving “gift packages in different shapes and sizes” as long as it sticks to what it said was a hostile policy against the North.
Kim himself has called the ICBM tests “gift packages” that the North was delivering to the “US bastards.”
One month after a ban on coal, iron and shellfish imports from North Korea, diplomatic sources said council members are seeking new measures to punish Pyongyang for its sixth and largest nuclear test on September 3.
The diplomats expressed optimism for the US-backed measure, despite Russia and China’s reticence.
“I don’t really see a veto at this point, and I think we will reach agreement,” because all members have shown a “willingness to negotiate,” an expert on the matter said on condition of anonymity.
A ban on oil and oil products is the “toughest point,” a source familiar with the discussions said.
“The Russians and the Chinese are categorically opposed.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said it is too early to talk about a vote at the Security Council on new North Korea sanctions, insisting any pressure should be balanced against restarting talks.
“Along with pressure on the North Korean regime to induce it to abandon provocations in the implementation of its nuclear and missile programs, it is necessary to emphasize and increase the priority of efforts to resume the political process,” Lavrov said.
Russia is also opposed to sending back to their country North Korean expatriates who are an important source of revenue for the Pyongyang regime, sources said.
The United States wants tough sanctions to be imposed to maximize pressure on Pyongyang to come to the table and negotiate an end to its nuclear and missile tests.
The proposed raft of sanctions would be the toughest-ever imposed on North Korea.
Britain has given early backing to the measure.
US formally requests UN vote Monday on North Korea
US formally requests UN vote Monday on North Korea
Russia missile suspected in Azerbaijani plane crash, Moscow warns against ‘hypotheses’
The Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau, an oil and gas hub, on Wednesday after going off course for undetermined reasons.
Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board died.
The Embraer 190 aircraft was supposed to fly northwest from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the city of Grozny in Chechnya, southern Russia, but instead diverted far off course across the Caspian Sea.
An investigation is underway, with pro-government Azerbaijani website Caliber citing unnamed officials as saying they believed a Russian missile fired from a Pantsir-S air defense system downed the plane.
The claim was also reported by The New York Times, broadcaster Euronews and the Turkish news agency Anadolu.
Some aviation and military experts said the plane might have been accidentally shot by Russian air defense systems because it was flying in an area where Ukrainian drone activity had been reported.
A former expert at France’s BEA air accident investigation agency said there appeared to be “a lot of shrapnel” damage on the wreckage.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the damage was “reminiscent” of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was downed with a surface-to-air missile by Russia-backed rebels over eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “It would be wrong to make any hypotheses before the investigation’s conclusions.”
Euronews cited Azerbaijani government sources as saying that “shrapnel hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight.”
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said early indications suggested a Russian anti-aircraft system struck the plane.
Kazakhstan news agency Kazinform cited a regional prosecutor as saying that two black-box flight recorders had been recovered.
Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew through a flock of birds, before withdrawing the statement.
Kazakh officials said 38 people had been killed and there were 29 survivors, including three children.
Jalil Aliyev, the father of flight attendant Hokume Aliyeva, told AFP that this was supposed to have been her last flight before starting a job as a lawyer for the airline.
“Why did her young life have to end so tragically?” the man said in a trembling voice before hanging up the phone.
Eleven of the injured are in intensive care, the Kazakh health ministry said.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of mourning and canceled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of former Soviet nations.
“I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash... and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” Aliyev said in a social media post Wednesday.
The Flight Radar website showed the plane deviating from its normal route, crossing the Caspian Sea and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed near Aktau, on the eastern shore of the sea.
Kazakhstan said the plane was carrying 37 Azerbaijani passengers, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz and 16 Russians.
A Kazakh woman told the local branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) she was near where the plane crashed and rushed to the site to help survivors.
“They were covered in blood. They were crying. They were calling for help,” said the woman, who gave her name as Elmira.
She said they saved some teenagers.
“I’ll never forget their look, full of pain and despair,” said Elmira. “A girl pleaded: ‘Save my mother, my mother is back there’.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Aliyev and “expressed his condolences in connection with the crash,” Peskov told a news conference.
Saudi defense minister and Lebanese army chief review military and defense relations
- Prince Khalid bin Salman and Gen. Joseph Aoun discuss latest developments in Lebanon and how the Kingdom can support efforts to protect the security and stability of the country
RIYADH: Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense held talks with Gen. Joseph Aoun, commander of the Lebanese army, in Riyadh on Thursday.
They reviewed military and defense relations between their countries and discussed the latest developments in Lebanon, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Before setting off for the Kingdom, Aoun said the talks would focus on ways to enhance cooperation between the Saudi and Lebanese armed forces, and ways in which the Kingdom can support efforts to protect the security and stability of Lebanon.
Prince Yazid bin Mohammed, an advisor to the Saudi foreign minister on Lebanese affairs, and Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, director general of the defense minister’s office also attended the meeting, as did Gen. Imad Khreish, director of the Lebanese army commander’s office.
Israeli attorney general orders probe into report that alleged Netanyahu’s wife harassed opponents
- Program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organize protests against political opponents
JERUSALEM: Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial.
The Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the “Uvda” investigative program into Sara Netanyahu.
The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial.
The announcement did not mention Mrs. Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment.
But in a video released earlier Thursday, Netanyahu listed what he said were the many kind and charitable acts by his wife and blasted the Uvda report as “lies.”
It was the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus — highlighted by the prime minister's ongoing corruption trial.
Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favors with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media.
Discover Beyond Hail tour wraps up under governor’s patronage
HAIL: The Saudi Tourism Development Fund has concluded a campaign promoting travel in Hail, northwest Saudi Arabia.
The Discover Beyond Hail tour was held under the patronage and presence of Hail Gov. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz.
Hail was the latest stop on the tour, which covered Asir, Al-Ahsa and Taif. The wider scheme is part of a nationwide effort to spotlight untapped investment opportunities across Saudi tourism destinations.
Prince Abdulaziz was briefed about the participating entities and their content. Mohammad Al-Romaizan, chief of staff and corporate governance officer at the TDF, delivered a speech on behalf of the fund’s CEO, Qusai Al-Fakhri, underlining the significance of enhancing tourism investments in Hail.
He said: “At the Tourism Development Fund, we are dedicated to empowering private sector projects in Hail by offering tailored financial and non-financial solutions that support and empower investments in the tourism sector in a sustainable manner.
“By showcasing Hail’s rich heritage and unique cultural identity, we aim to drive sustainable investments in tourism that contribute to the region’s economic development and create a vibrant future for its communities.”
The Discover Beyond Hail tour featured activities including panel discussions on advancing tourism development in Hail, success stories of transformative projects, and inspiring narratives shared by local influencers and content creators in the region.
An exhibition and interactive workshops offered valuable insights into tourism enablement programs and provided one-on-one consultations for investors and stakeholders willing to capitalize on the sector’s investment opportunities.
Why 2024 was a pivotal year for AI adoption and innovation in Saudi Arabia
- AI events and initiatives throughout the year have cemented the Kingdom’s place as a regional tech leader
- Thanks to new investments, Saudi Arabia now ranks 14th globally and 1st in the Arab world in the Global AI Index
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has enjoyed a fruitful year of events and initiatives intended to advance the adoption of artificial intelligence, propelling the Kingdom to the 14th position in the Global AI Index and 1st in the Arab world.
Recently, Saudi Arabia was also ranked third globally in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s AI Policy Observatory, behind the US and the UK. But how did the Kingdom rise to such heights?
The “State of AI in Saudi Arabia” report, unveiled by Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, the president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, detailed the Kingdom’s advancements from 2019-23 during the Global AI Summit held in Riyadh in September.
The report provided a comprehensive overview of the Kingdom’s progress in AI, focusing on seven key pillars: regulations and policies, investment, infrastructure, data, talent development, research and innovation, and adoption.
It also highlighted the Saudi Data and AI Authority’s central role in driving the Kingdom’s digital transformation. According to SDAIA’s forecasts, AI is expected to contribute SR58.8 trillion ($15.6 trillion) to the global economy by 2030 and create 98 million jobs by 2025.
Mohammed Al-Qarni, an academic and consultant on AI for business, believes the rapid pace of the Kingdom’s AI adoption has come at “a critical time.”
“It is now or never,” Al-Qarni told Arab News. “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambition to be a globally competitive nation means that we must proactively utilize the latest technology to our advantage.
“Think of AI as a means to diversify the economy, another Vision 2030 ambition, or to develop globally competitive citizens.
“How rapidly we advance in AI adoption will significantly impact these ambitions. That being said, I think there is a long way to go. As AI is still developing, we must be agile to shape its future, whether in governance and ethics, technical development, or its impact on human lives.”
Al-Qarni said the most impressive advancement in 2024 was the Riyadh Declaration, a document announced during the 19th session of the Internet Governance Forum, hosted by Saudi Arabia and organized by the UN.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the declaration focuses on AI with its inclusive, innovative, and impactful dimensions and emphasizes the need for using AI technologies to enable digital access, enhance digital knowledge, address global challenges, and unlock economic value.
“It asserts Saudi global leadership in AI and focuses on AI’s inclusive, innovative, and transformative potential,” said Al-Qarni.
“The Declaration highlights the importance of leveraging AI technologies to expand digital access, enhance digital literacy, tackle global challenges, and unlock significant economic value worldwide.”
He added: “Nations that embrace AI will win, and those who let fear of AI get the best of them will lose.
“Globally, the next few years will offer as much opportunity as risk. Saudi Arabia has shown that it would be in the first camp. I expect more investment in human capital and technology. I also expect regulations to mature over the next few years, and I hope those regulations will more effectively support AI innovation and adoption.”
The past 12 months have seen a flurry of AI investment activity. The Kingdom recently launched a $100 billion AI initiative, named “Project Transcendence,” to position itself as a global tech hub.
The project, led by the Public Investment Fund in collaboration with Google, aims to support local tech startups, create jobs, and collaborate with technology firms globally.
From fashion to sports, AI is already being utilized in almost every sector imaginable. The boxing rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury in Riyadh on Dec. 21 featured an experimental fourth judge powered by AI, designed to help eliminate bias and human error in scoring.
Technology that supports good sportsmanship has also extended to the digital realm. FACEIT, a platform that uses Minerva, employs specialized AI technology to understand in-game actions and other non-text chat behaviors to improve multiplayer gaming experiences.
DID YOU KNOW?
• The Riyadh Declaration focused on AI’s transformative potential, enhancing digital access, literacy, and addressing global challenges.
• Project Transcendence is a $100 billion initiative led by Saudi Arabia and Google to support startups and create jobs.
• Saudi achievements in the health sector include the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh.
• Generative AI research at KAUST aims to pioneer innovation and address global challenges through training and upskilling.
Saudi Arabia’s health-tech sector is also undergoing a major transformation driven by AI, promising significant economic and operational benefits. A McKinsey & Co. analysis forecasts that by 2030, AI could unlock $15 to $27 billion in economic value for the Kingdom’s medical sector.
The Saudi health sector has made significant strides thanks to AI, such as the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant performed on a 16-year-old patient suffering from end-stage heart failure at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh.
A medical team led by Dr. Feras Khaliel, head of cardiac surgery and director of the Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program at KFSHRC, performed the operation after practicing the procedure virtually.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has also joined the global AI race by accelerating generative AI research through models aligned with the Kingdom’s Research Development and Innovation Authority.
Its Center of Excellence on Generative AI (GenAI Coe) intends to become the premier hub for pioneering generative AI technology to address the most pressing challenges faced by the Kingdom and the world.
The GenAI CoE also intends to focus on making a positive impact through GenAI training and upskilling programs for KAUST researchers, partners, and the general public. Through these training outreach initiatives, the CoE hopes to address the shortage of GenAI talent in Saudi Arabia.
As the Kingdom enters 2025, it is well-positioned to continue its meteoric rise as an AI leader.
