JEDDAH: For the first time Saudi Arabia is putting forward a team to take part in the Cyberspace Mathematical Competition (2020 CMC). It will be represented by the King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba).
Sixty-nine teams from various countries are competing remotely in the two-day competition that kicked off on Monday.
Mawhiba, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, qualified a team of students to take part in 2020 CMC. The team members are Hamza Al-Sheikhi, Marwan Khayat and Thanaa Al-Haidari, Mohammed Al-Dubaisi and Nawaf Al-Ghamdi, Jude Bahwaini, Khaled Al-Ajran and Mohammed Al-Shehri.
The Saudi team underwent intensive training – 3,000 hours over four years – by experts and specialists to develop their skills
Each country will have a team of no more than eight people above the age of 19. Teams with six people must have at least one female member, and teams with eight people must have at least two female members.
The competition consists of eight essay-proof problems, in mathematics, algebra, combinatorics, engineering and number theory, held over two days. There will be four problems per day arranged in roughly increasing order of difficulty, with a 5-hour time limit.
CMC is a high-level international competition for high-school students, providing a rich opportunity for young math students in the world to deal with difficult and interesting issues.
All major countries are keen to participate due to the difficulty of the questions in this competition, which is close to the difficulty of the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO). It is also considered one of the qualifying stations for the International Olympics.
Saudi teams will also be taking part remotely in the European Physics Olympiad and the International Chemistry Olympiad in the coming two weeks.
Mawhiba was keen to qualify the participating teams through its International Olympiads program to enable them to compete with students of the world during such international competitions.
Saudi team makes debut in cyberspace mathematical competition 2020
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Saudi team makes debut in cyberspace mathematical competition 2020
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.
Saudi Arabia expresses condolences to Azerbaijan after deadly plane crash
- Kingdom extends sympathies to victims’ families
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in a plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday.
The Kingdom also extended its sympathies to the government and people of Azerbaijan, wishing a swift recovery to the injured, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
On Wednesday morning, a passenger plane traveling from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near Aktau, western Kazakhstan, with 62 passengers and five crew members on board.
Later, Kazakh authorities announced that 28 people had survived and that Azerbaijan Airlines had operated the plane.
Unverified video footage circulating on social media platforms appeared to show the plane bursting into flames as it struck the ground, with thick black smoke rising afterward.
Bahrain’s king receives Saudi minister of state in Manama
- King Hamad conveyed greetings to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
RIYADH: Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa received Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State and Cabinet Member Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz in Manama on Wednesday.
Prince Turki conveyed greetings from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
King Hamad, who welcomed Prince Turki and his delegation at Al-Safriya Palace, highlighted the strong ties between Riyadh and Manama, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
King Hamad also conveyed his greetings to King Salman and the crown prince, the SPA added.
Makkah developing smart solutions to counter natural disasters
- Plan includes improving efficiency and operational capabilities of the city’s control room
RIYADH: Makkah municipality is planning to develop several artificial-intelligence and other smart solutions to help mitigate natural disasters, particularly flooding, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The municipality recently signed an agreement with a specialist company to develop these technical solutions, which includes improving the efficiency and operational capabilities of the city’s control room.
In addition, the plan is to enhance governance frameworks that support quality and sustainability goals, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives within the city.
Key features of this collaboration include the development of a smart system for infrastructure monitoring. The Makkah region has experienced heavy rainfall regularly this year.
By improving service efficiency, boosting infrastructure safety, and leveraging technology, the city aims to significantly enhance the quality of life for both residents and visitors, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the SPA reported.
Earlier this year the municipality expanded e-services and applications, and developed the city’s infrastructure with multi-level parking lots, and technology-operated facilities.
As a result, Makkah is now ranked 52nd in the global Smart City Index, fifth in the Arab world, and second in the Kingdom after Riyadh.
All these services are contributing to a sustainable urban environment in Makkah, according to the municipality.
Makkah’s new developments are also aimed at enhancing services for the increasing number of pilgrims and visitors traveling to the holy city.
