RIYADH: A princess has been named to head a Saudi multi-sports federation, in the latest of a string of such appointments in the Kingdom.
An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan has become “the first woman to lead a federation” covering sporting activities for men and women.
In August 2016, the princess scored another first for women in Saudi Arabia when she was named by the Cabinet to a senior post in the Kingdom's equivalent of a sports ministry.
A daughter of a former Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Princess Reema is a graduate in museology from an American university.
Several women have this year been appointed to top jobs in Saudi Arabia, which is undergoing a huge program of reforms which includes moves to encourage more women into work.
In February three women were appointed to top jobs in Saudi Arabia’s male-dominated financial sector in the space of just one week.
Sarah Al-Suhaimi was named chair of Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange, the Tadawul; Rania Nashar became the CEO of Samba Financial Group; while Latifa Al-Sabhan was appointed chief financial officer of Arab National Bank (ANB).
Other changes introduced this year include the announcement that physical education classes for girls would be introduced in schools, and a review of the guardianship system.
The Kingdom announced last month that it will lift a ban on women drivers from next June.
A poll by Arab News and YouGov found that half of Saudi women who said they want to drive plan to use a car to get to work more easily.
Princess Reema to head sports federation in Saudi first
Princess Reema to head sports federation in Saudi first
KSrelief’s health aid benefits six countries
- The center’s projects supported thousands of people across Turkiye, Yemen, Poland, Nigeria, Sudan and Mauritania
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has health projects supporting thousands of people across Turkiye, Yemen, Poland, Nigeria, Sudan and Mauritania.
In Turkiye, KSrelief recently completed a week-long neurosurgery project in Hatay, delivering 1,062 services to 403 patients.
In Yemen’s Hadramout governorate, a 14-member team provided orthopedic care, examined 152 patients, performed 59 surgeries, and completed 68 physiotherapy sessions in one week.
The Aden governorate had a week-long urology project with nine specialists examining 53 people and performing 109 surgeries.
In Poland, KSrelief fitted prosthetic limbs and provided rehabilitation for 32 Ukrainian refugees in Rzeszow in one week, utilizing innovative Direct Socket technology.
In Nigeria, KSrelief’s Saudi Noor project staff treated 4,000 patients, performed 423 eye surgeries, and distributed 1,000 prescription glasses.
In Sudan, a week-long pediatric surgery project in Port Sudan had specialists treat 36 children and complete 54 surgeries.
In Mauritania, a 10-day urological project in Nouakchott had eight doctors perform 80 specialized surgeries.
Creative writing program to train gifted Saudi students
- The program, involving 182 students from across the Kingdom, takes place in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar, with an e-learning option for broader participation
RIYADH: The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission has launched the second Generation of Literature program to develop creative writing skills among gifted students.
The program, involving 182 students from across the Kingdom, takes place in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar, with an e-learning option for broader participation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
In collaboration with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, or Mawhiba, the program aims to nurture literary talent, refine skills and provide hands-on training in writing.
Focused on middle school students, the program explores genres such as science fiction, detective stories, children’s stories, short stories and essays.
It enhances linguistic abilities like reading comprehension, language adaptation, metaphor interpretation and artistic imagery creation, the SPA reported.
The program also aims to improve research and investigation skills, including observation, comparison and analysis, while fostering problem-solving, critical thinking and self-confidence.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahsa hosts mobile robotics challenge
- The event brought together 40 talented young men and women from across the Kingdom
RIYADH: The Saudi Skills National Competition launched its mobile robotics challenge in Al-Ahsa on Tuesday, bringing together 40 talented young men and women from across the Kingdom.
The participants are from six leading educational institutions. The challenge is organized by the Technical and Vocational Training Corp.
Abdullah Al-Dahilan, senior competition secretary, said that the five-day event serves as a gateway to broader opportunities, with winners qualifying for Gulf, Asian and international championships, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Contestants are being evaluated by certified experts and judges from Saudi Arabia and Russia, the SPA reported.
Successful participants will represent the Kingdom in regional and international competitions in 2025 as part of the WorldSkills Competition framework.
“Our mission is to nurture local and national talents through programs that meet international standards,” Al-Dahilan said.
Similar competitions are taking place at technical colleges, institutes and schools across major cities including Riyadh, Makkah, Qassim, Jubail and Al-Ahsa.
The competitions cover various technical fields, from electrical installations and electronics to graphic design, web design, mobile robotics, fashion design and welding.
Under the guidance of 16 trainers, participants will complete 50 hours of intensive training during the competition.
The event will end with an awards ceremony recognizing three winners in both junior and youth categories.
JIAT finds coalition hit Houthi vehicle in Yemen in 2018
- Joint Incidents Assessment Team said one guided bomb hit a legitimate military target
- Investigation came after allegations the vehicle contained civilians and firewood
RIYADH: The Joint Incidents Assessment Team released a statement on Wednesday regarding a claim that the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen targeted a vehicle in the Sanaa governorate in 2018.
The JIAT investigation found that coalition forces did not target a vehicle carrying five people from two families and a firewood load in the Sanaa governorate on March 21, 2018, as claimed.
However, the JIAT, which was set up in May 2016 to assess Saudi military activity in Yemen, found that the air forces targeted a vehicle belonging to the Houthi militia in the Musawarah area in Nihm district, 40 km east of the capital.
The JIAT stated that the air forces targeted the Houthi vehicle 620 meters away from the coordinates mentioned in the claim regarding the civilian vehicle.
It added the legitimate Yemeni government’s ground forces requested air support to target a Houthi vehicle in Musawarah during armed clashes.
The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen’s air forces then launched an airstrike and used one guided bomb to hit the Houthi target, the JIAT added.
The investigation assessed documents related to the operation, including air mission orders and reports, video recordings, and satellite images.
It also reviewed the coalition’s rules of engagement in light of international humanitarian law, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Based on video recordings of the strike, the JIAT found that the Houthi vehicle was on the road in the Nihm district that connects Marib and Sanaa, the SPA reported.
The JIAT added that the road was free of civilians and other vehicles, and there were no buildings around the military target; neither personnel nor firewood load were seen onboard the vehicle, the SPA added.
Education minister opens Saudi Arabia’s first technical high school for gifted boys
- Students will engage in advanced technical projects, research and specialized training programs
RIYADH: Saudi Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan inaugurated the Technological High School for Gifted Boys at Tuwaiq Academy in Riyadh, the first government school in the Kingdom specializing in technology.
The event was attended by Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdullah Al-Swaha, Tuwaiq Academy Chairman Faisal Al-Khamisi, and other educational and technical leaders.
The school follows a pioneering global model aimed at developing the technological skills and capabilities of students, empowering them to build and innovate groundbreaking projects.
It also focuses on learning and scientific research, preparing students for local and international technological specializations.
By keeping pace with future advancements, the school enhances the Kingdom’s technological education standards. Students from the school will also represent Saudi Arabia in regional and international competitions and exhibitions.
“Technology has become fundamental to daily life and is an essential tool for navigating the future,” said Naif bin Abed Al-Zari, Riyadh’s education director, highlighting the Ministry of Education’s partnership with Tuwaiq Academy.
Abdulaziz Al-Hammadi, CEO of Tuwaiq Academy, called the partnership a cornerstone for advancing technical education.
The new educational establishment focuses on nurturing future talent through an immersive, application-based curriculum complemented by global certifications in specialized programs.
Al-Hammadi said that students at the school have earned more than 120 professional certifications from major global companies in the first semester of operations alone.
During their visit, the two ministers toured the technical school and academy facilities, observing programs, bootcamps and activities while interacting with students to assess the learning environment.
The school offers specialized programs in programming, cybersecurity, digital manufacturing, data science and other fields.
It will prepare students for major competitions like the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Competition and Exhibition, and the National Olympiad for Programming and Artificial Intelligence, showcasing Saudi talent in a range of technical fields.
