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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince offered their condolences on Tuesday to the ruler of Umm Al-Quwain after the passing of Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Rashid Al-Mualla.
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent separate cables of condolences to Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al-Mualla, expressing their sympathy with the family of the deceased and praying that God forgive him.
Sheikh Abdullah passed away on Tuesday morning.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York City.
The meeting reviewed regional and international developments, and the efforts made to establish the foundations of international peace and security, the foreign ministry said.
Senior Saudi officials attended the meeting.
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir met with UN Environment Program Executive Director Inger Andersen at the 79th UN General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance existing cooperation between the Kingdom and UNEP, as well as Saudi Arabia’s initiatives and programs to reduce the effects of climate change, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Jubeir also met with the Netherlands’ Climate Envoy Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme and they reviewed avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation in environmental and climate matters.
RIYADH: A Saudi delegation led by Mazin Al-Kahmous, president of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, is participating in the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities plenary meeting in Beijing, China, from Sept. 24 to 27.
At the meeting, Al-Kahmous thanked China for hosting the event, highlighting the network’s efforts to tackle evolving corruption crimes, including money laundering and the illicit use of virtual currency.
He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enhancing cooperation against transnational corruption, pursuing corrupt individuals, and tracking illicit funds.
Al-Kahmous noted the authority’s benefits from the GlobE Network in collaborating with counterparts and exchanging information on suspected entities.
The GlobE Network, launched by Saudi Arabia during the 2020 G20 Summit, was officially adopted by the UN on Dec. 17, 2021, at the ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption in Egypt.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the Kingdom’s role in establishing the network during the 2021 UN General Assembly special session against corruption.
Spain was appointed chair of the network’s steering committee, with Saudi Arabia serving as vice chair.
Over the past three years, 219 anti-corruption agencies and international organizations from more than 120 countries have joined the network, evidence of the initiative’s success.
RIYADH: The Saudi Local Conference of Youth 2024 took place in Riyadh recently with a focus on equipping young Saudis with tools for sustainable entrepreneurship in climate innovation.
The event was hosted by the Saudi Youth Climate Network in partnership with the Global Shapers Community Jeddah Hub.
“It's amazing to see the excitement among (the) youth to participate in this conference,” said Aishah Alsamdani, representative of the Saudi Youth Climate Network, in an interview with Arab News.
“Connecting youth with environmental experts is crucial; there are many enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia. This conference serves as a hub to bridge ideas between business, the private sector and government, particularly for (young people) starting their careers.”
This year’s theme, “Empowering Climate Entrepreneurship: From Knowledge Capital to Financial Capital,” brought together young, enthusiastic climate advocates and industry experts to foster intergenerational dialogue, explore green technologies and provide pathways to convert knowledge into financial capital.
Alsamdani emphasized the need to involve young people youth in building a sustainable future, stating: “They are the future, bringing innovative ideas and creativity. Addressing sustainability challenges requires fresh ideas, and (the) youth can significantly contribute.”
A panel discussion, “Entrepreneurship and Environmental Knowledge,” featured moderator Faisal Al-Shehri, founder and CEO of learning and employment platform OLO. Alongside him were Batool Albar, general manager of Terraxy, which provides integrated solutions for agriculture and soil sustainability in arid regions, and Sultan Al-Shayie, CEO of atmospheric water harvesting company Airwa.
They discussed cutting-edge technologies such as sustainable water solutions and highlighted the importance of cross-sector partnerships and government support.
Hassan Qadi, curator of Global Shapers Community Jeddah Hub, said: “KSA LCOY 2024 marks a pivotal moment for Saudi youth-led climate action. We are nurturing startups that address climate challenges while aligning with Vision 2030’s goals to diversify the economy and boost non-oil GDP.”
As part of the conference, the Global Shapers Community led the National Youth Statement, gathering input from attendees.
“The youth statement addresses key areas aligned with this year’s theme of entrepreneurship and climate change,” said Alsamdani. “This initiative aims to make youth impact more tangible.”
The statement will be submitted to the MENA Regional Conference of Youth in Amman and the Global Conference of Youth in Baku, amplifying Saudi youth voices ahead of COP29 climate negotiations. Alsamdani will attend the Regional Conference of Youth to share the conference results.
The event concluded with a Memorandum of Understanding signing, aimed at increasing youth involvement in climate action, between the Saudi Youth Climate Network, Prince Sultan University’s Center of Sustainability and Climate, and Vision for Africa.
RIYADH: The STEAM Festival, organized by the King Salman Science Oasis, is highlighting the pioneering work of scientist Mariam Al-Astrolabi and Saudi Arabia’s women.
Running until Sept. 30 under the theme “Fun Chemistry,” the festival aims to instill a sense of pride in the nation’s heritage, raise awareness about the role of women in science, and inspire girls to pursue careers in STEAM.
Al-Astrolabi made significant contributions to science, particularly astronomy, becoming one of the most notable women in Islamic history.
A Muslim scientist, she is renowned for her work in creating and perfecting astrolabes, instruments used in ancient times to determine locations based on the movement of stars.
Al-Astrolabi, an astronomer from the Hamdanid dynasty at the end of the 10th century A.D., excelled in astronomy and engineering.
The astrolabe was also used in marine navigation to explore new routes, and helped to determine the times and direction of prayers for Muslims.
Astrolabes varied in size and design, with some small enough to be carried like a pocket watch before mechanical clocks were invented.
Astrolabes are symbols of the integration of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, known as STEAM.
Skilled engineering was used to design and manufacture the instrument with precision.
Mathematical calculations ensured accurate observations, and some astrolabe designs included artistic elements.
Centuries after Al-Astrolabi’s passing — the exact date remains unknown — her name continues to inspire those working in astronomy.
In 1990, American astronomer Henry E. Holt honored Al-Astrolabi by naming after her one of the asteroids he discovered at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego, California.
