Several young, avid animal rights activists have launched a campaign on social networking sites advocating the adoption of stray cats found on the streets and the opening of government-owned pet shelters with animal protection laws.
The campaign, under the slogan, “adopt, don’t buy,” encourages pet lovers to take in animals without shelters instead of spending money on high-end breeds, while warning of the cruel fate that awaits strays if left unsheltered.
Hussain Al-Dossari, a campaign participant, said that the idea of adopting cats is a wholly new concept within local society no matter how popular abroad.
“The goal of this campaign is to look for homes for stray cats and return lost cats to their owners or find them new homes. Our campaign also encourages residents to be kind to strays they encounter in the street,” he said.
“We also spread awareness on the fact that Islamic law permits the castration of cats whose owners cannot afford having more than one or a few,” said Al-Dossari. “This is pivotal in reducing the number of cats and the likelihood that so many will end up on the streets, some of which are picked up by authorities after receiving complaints from residents and dumped in the desert, where they die of starvation and dehydration.”
“We are appalled by shops that put cats in small cages to force them to mate and then sell the kittens off before they have been weaned because they are in high demand,” he said. “Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is quoted to have denounced taking baby birds away from their mothers after witnessing a newborn flapping its wings for help.”
Some shops do display cats that have been given up by their owners for adoption, he said. “Yet many private residential compounds are guilty of killing cats by drugging them or separating them from their babies, which is inhumane.”
Nada Ahmed, the owner of a profile for animal lovers on a social networking site, said: “I put up pictures of stray cats and animals on my page in a bid to find them homes.”
“I try to raise awareness about our religious obligation to be kind to animals,” she said. “There are many such pages on social networking outlets.”
Muhammad Al-Sofaian, spokesman for the Eastern Province Municipality, said: “We have a program in place to control the number of stray cats and dogs in residential neighborhoods. Residents are urged not to leave food on the street to avoid attracting a congregation of animals.”
Activists campaign to give stray cats a home
Activists campaign to give stray cats a home
Saudi team joins training on rainwater harvesting in China
RIYADH: A Saudi team from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture is taking part in a training program organized by the Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
The team includes 12 specialists from the ministry’s water agency, the Saudi Irrigation Organization, and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The course, being held in Lanzhou, China, from July 3-22, focuses on rainwater harvesting technologies and their applications. It is attended by representatives from China’s Ministry of Water Resources, along with several water experts and specialists.
The ministry said its participation aligns with efforts to implement international agreements and memoranda of understanding with partner countries. The course provides a unique platform for exchanging expertise in water-related fields, particularly rainwater harvesting, it added.
The course also covers the design of harvesting systems in rural and urban areas, improvement of collected water quality management and advanced purification technologies, the SPA added.
Supplementary irrigation techniques, economic evaluation of harvesting projects, concepts of sponge cities, water reuse, and the role of harvesting technologies in combating desertification and promoting sustainability are also explored.
The ministry said that the training features scientific lectures, practical workshops and field visits to innovative projects in several Chinese provinces.
The visits showcase systems for securing drinking water from rain, irrigated agriculture projects, sponge city initiatives, and integrated environmental models linking water technologies with urban and rural sustainability.
The ministry highlighted the importance of strengthening international cooperation and building national capacity in water management, according to the SPA.
This reflects its integrated approach to developing technical competencies, exchanging expertise with leading countries, advancing the water system and promoting sustainable, innovative solutions to water challenges in line with Vision 2030 goals.
Saudi students compete in global chemistry contest
- The event is being held in Dubai until July 14, with more than 300 students from around the world competing for awards
RIYADH: Saudi students are taking part in the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad, the world’s largest high school chemistry competition.
The event is being held in Dubai until July 14, with more than 300 students from around the world competing for awards.
The scientific team has completed the review and translation of the practical exam for the Saudi students, who are preparing to take their first test, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
This year, the Kingdom is represented by four students who have undergone thousands of hours of intensive training under the supervision of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
The students are Rand Al-Hassan Awadhah (Riyadh), Haider Yasser Al-Dubaissi (Eastern Province), Ammar Mohammed Al-Turkistani (Jeddah) and Ali Ahmed Baouzir (Riyadh).
Saudi Arabia has earned 45 awards in past International Chemistry Olympiads, held annually since 1968 in different countries. These include 15 silver medals, 28 bronze medals and two certificates of appreciation.
The olympiad promotes international collaboration in chemistry and encourages young talent to solve complex scientific problems through innovative thinking.
It also serves as a platform for cultural exchange and academic excellence, and supports the development of future leaders in science and technology.
Saudi Arabia reaffirms support for Afghanistan’s security, stability
- Envoy highlights Saudi humanitarian aid, calls for global cooperation at UN session in New York
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, has reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for Afghanistan’s security and stability, emphasizing the importance of respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Speaking during a UN General Assembly session in New York on the situation in Afghanistan, Al-Wasil expressed the Kingdom’s concern over the humanitarian and economic challenges facing the Afghan people.
He called for intensified international efforts to provide urgent relief and essential support to ease their suffering, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The envoy highlighted the Kingdom’s humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people through its aid agency, KSrelief. He underscored the importance of empowering Afghan women by promoting their rights in education, employment, and public life.
Al-Wasil also emphasized the critical need to prevent Afghan territory from being used as a base for terrorist activities or drug trafficking, warning of the threats these pose to regional and global security.
He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continuing its support for political, humanitarian, and development initiatives aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan.
So far, KSrelief has implemented 57 projects worth almost $54 million in Afghanistan, according to the agency’s website.
The projects cover food security, health, education, water and sanitation, as well as humanitarian emergency relief coordination.
Ithra Children’s Festival inspires creativity, curiosity
- The festival combines creativity, learning, play, and exploration in an interactive setting
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Ithra, on Monday launched its inaugural Children’s Festival, themed “What If?”, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The festival combines creativity, learning, play, and exploration in an interactive setting to foster critical thinking, nurture imagination, and develop essential skills.
Running until July 26 at Ithra’s headquarters in Dhahran, the festival offers 50 activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire creative thinking.
These include hands-on workshops, live performances, water and family challenges, art spaces that encourage exploration and questioning, and a book exchange where children can swap books.
An interactive exhibition allows children to transform large white models into colorful artworks using foam tubes, the SPA reported.
The festival will also host the fifth Children’s Book Fair from July 14-19, featuring 20 local and international publishers specializing in children’s and young adult literature.
This year’s fair highlights South Korea as the guest of honor, with book signings, panel discussions, workshops, and opportunities to meet experts.
Riyadh to host major airshow in November
- Prince Sultan said the Sand & Fun exhibition is a national platform combining aerial entertainment, education, and interactive experiences
RIYADH: Prince Sultan bin Salman, founder and chairman of the Saudi Aviation Club, chaired a meeting attended by Ahmed Al-Fahaid, the club’s general supervisor, where the executive plans and airshow programs for the Sand & Fun exhibition were approved.
Prince Sultan said the Sand & Fun exhibition is a national platform combining aerial entertainment, education, and interactive experiences.
The event supports the Kingdom’s role as a regional and global hub for general aviation, aligned with Vision 2030 goals in tourism, education, and local content development, he added.
This year’s edition is special as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Saudi Aviation Club, highlighting the sector’s growth since its founding.
The exhibition will be held from Nov. 25 to 29 at Al-Thumamah Airport in Riyadh. It will include live day and night airshows, youth and children’s zones, innovation pavilions, and investor platforms, aiming to boost local and international aviation collaboration.
Prince Sultan called for stronger national partnerships and engagement with education, training, entertainment, and technology sectors to ensure the event’s success.
The exhibition demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s organizational capabilities and opens new opportunities for future generations in aviation.
Founded in 2000 following a Cabinet decision, the Saudi Aviation Club leads the Kingdom’s general aviation sector, promoting its culture, supporting talent, and organizing educational and entertainment initiatives.
