Saudi Arabia elected chair of chemical weapons watchdog’s executive council

Saudi Arabia was elected as president of the executive council of the OPCW for the period 2022-2023 on Wednesday, Saudi Press Agency said. (File/@OPCW)
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Updated 10 March 2022
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Saudi Arabia elected chair of chemical weapons watchdog’s executive council

  • Saudi Arabia was one of OPCW's founding countries and has been member of the executive council since 1997
  • The executive council consists of 41 OPCW member states

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia was elected on Wednesday to the presidency of the executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for 2022-2023.

The council will be chaired by Ziyad bin Maashi Al-Attiyah, the Saudi ambassador to the Netherlands and the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the OPCW.

The council is the executive body of the OPCW, and works to promote effective implementation and compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, which came into force in 1997. 

The executive council consists of 41 OPCW member states that are elected by the conference of the states parties and rotate every two years.

It also supervises the activities of the technical secretariat of the organization and considers the organization’s draft budget, the draft report, and the special reports it submits to the Conference of States Parties to the Convention.

The election of the Kingdom comes in light of its continuous achievements in the field of work with international organizations, and also reflects its pivotal role and unremitting efforts in dealing with transparency and credibility with the data of international events in this field, and the extent to which the member states of the council and the organization appreciate this role.

Saudi Arabia was one of the founding countries of the organization, and has been an elected member of the executive council since its formation in 1997.


Riyadh forum to highlight global social responsibility efforts

Updated 04 August 2024
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Riyadh forum to highlight global social responsibility efforts

  • The forum serves as a global platform for dialogue in social responsibility and reflects the Kingdom’s leading position in this field, as stipulated in Saudi Vision 2030

RIYADH: The International Social Responsibility Forum organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will take place in Riyadh from Oct. 28-29, Saudi Press Agency has reported.

The forum serves as a global platform for dialogue in social responsibility and reflects the Kingdom’s leading position in this field, as stipulated in Saudi Vision 2030.

It aims to enable decision makers in the private sector, government representatives, development organizations and experts to engage, discuss challenges and development opportunities, stimulate innovation, and contribute to shaping the global future of social responsibility.

Its goals are also to promote excellence and competition among participants and foster partnerships between the public and private sectors and the non-profit sector, as well as to open up possibilities for global partnerships.

The event enables all stakeholders to meet and share experiences, success stories and best practices at dialogue sessions, workshops and an accompanying exhibition.

It highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to social responsibility and its growing role on the international stage as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. It also underscores its commitment to addressing global challenges — the Kingdom ranked 16th globally in the Social Responsibility Index in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook.

 


Festival for Asian communities dazzles audiences in Jeddah

Updated 04 August 2024
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Festival for Asian communities dazzles audiences in Jeddah

  • Spectacular celebration of rich cultural heritage, artistic traditions

JEDDAH: The Equestrian Club hosted the Asian Communities Festival over the weekend, featuring special participation from Pakistani and Indonesian communities, as part of Jeddah Season 2024.

The event was a spectacular celebration of the rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions of these countries, creating an atmosphere of joy and interaction among the audience.

Artistic groups from Pakistan and Indonesia took turns to perform on stage traditional dances and melodies, donning traditional costumes while using musical instruments to add ambience and delight the audience.

The festival also included a children’s corner, featuring games and interactive activities that combined entertainment with education. Additionally, a food corner offered traditional dishes from the participating countries, giving visitors the opportunity to taste different flavors from around the world.

Jeddah Season 2024 aims to promote cultural exchange and dialogue through the Asian Communities Festival, highlighting the role of culture in uniting people.

The festival also seeks to support tourism in Jeddah, presenting it as an attractive destination for visitors of various nationalities.

Jeddah Season 2024 will continue to offer diverse cultural performances in the coming weeks, with artistic groups from other Asian countries participating.

These performances will open new horizons for cultural exploration and provide a unique experience, combining the rich heritage of Asian countries with the enthusiasm of the audiences.


Project Masam clears 670 Houthi mines in Yemen

Updated 04 August 2024
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Project Masam clears 670 Houthi mines in Yemen

  • Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 453,968 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018

RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 670 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included five anti-personnel mines, 47 anti-tank mines, 570 unexploded ordnances and 21 explosive devices, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 453,968 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

Project Masam trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.


Saudi AI Olympiad finalists chosen for Oxford scholars program

Updated 04 August 2024
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Saudi AI Olympiad finalists chosen for Oxford scholars program

  • Program will provide a chance to enhance skills in programming, AI
  • Participants will receive a certificate from the British Accreditation Council

RIYADH: Almost 300 Saudi students have been selected to take part in Oxford University’s prestigious Scholars Programme, reported Saudi Press Agency.

In April, the group reached the finals of the National Olympiad for Programming and Artificial Intelligence, an initiative spearheaded by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority. It aims to develop data and AI expertise, especially among young talent, in line with the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The event is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), with sponsorship from the Saudi Technology and Security Comprehensive Control Company (Tahakom).

The Olympiad took place over several months, starting with 260,000 students which was whittled down to 298 for the final stage. Gold medals were awarded to 10 students aged between 14 and 18.

The Oxford Scholars Programme will provide the group with a chance to enhance their skills in programming and AI and offers access to education at one of the world’s leading universities.

Participants will receive a certificate from the British Accreditation Council which could bolster their chances of gaining academic recommendations for future admission to Oxford University.
 


South Korean Embassy hosts K-pop World Festival round in Riyadh

Updated 04 August 2024
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South Korean Embassy hosts K-pop World Festival round in Riyadh

  • Saudi event winners get chance to compete in Changwon finals

RIYADH: Team Everlast, a group of three female dancers, have advanced to the finals of the K-pop World Festival after their performance at the Warehouse in Jax district on Saturday.

The South Korean Embassy in partnership with the Saudi Entertainment Academy hosted the first finals of the festival.  

“I think this is a very meaningful and significant event for both countries,” Choi Byung-hyuk, South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told Arab News.”The K-pop World Festival is on Oct. 13 and will be held in Korea and more than 80 countries will participate in that event.

“Unfortunately for now, talented young Saudi men and women didn’t get a chance to participate there,” he said. 

“That is why we planned this event to select the talented young men and women who want to participate in the Korean K-pop festival,” Choi said. 

The K-pop World Festival is held annually in Changwon, South Korea, and welcomes performers from all around the world including Kuwait, Singapore, the US, Spain, Ireland, Canada and Cuba.

This is the first time the Kingdom will be participating in the festival. The competition held on Saturday was the final round where 10 competitors who made it through the primary rounds performed for the chance to represent Saudi Arabia in the K-pop World Festival in Changwon. 

“I think this a big step forward for the bright future of Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030,” the ambassador said. 

“We try to contribute to Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 and the first chapter is vibrant society.”  

Before the performers took to the stage to show off their singing and dancing talent the ambassador of Korea delivered a speech where he highlighted the strong cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

“South Korea and Saudi Arabia have a very special and friendly relationship for the past 62 years and are important countries for each other. 

“Korea is making many efforts, not only diplomatic and economic, but also in cultural exchange and tourism,” he said. 

After the ambassador’s speech, K-pop guest singer Jenn took to the stage to perform a song. 

The Warehouse in Jax was full, with many people standing on the sides and corners of the room to cheer on the performers. 

The event was hosted by Saudi comedian and MC Khalid Khalifa. 

Besides Team Everlast, other winners included solo performers Selwa, Leana, Eman and Harin Kim

At the conclusion of the event the Warehouse announced that it plans to introduce a new K-pop night at the venue.