Day: June 21, 2021

Abu Dhabi, The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has condemned and denounced the Iran-backed Houthi militias’ attempts to target civilians and civilian objects in Khamis Mushait City, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in a systematic and deliberate way through a bomb-laden UAV that was intercepted by the coalition forces.

In a statement, the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reiterated that the ongoing terrorist attacks by the Houthi militias reflect their blatant challenge to the international community and disregard of all international laws and norms.

The ministry also called on the international community to adopt a decisive and immediate stance to stop these recurrent acts that target vital and civilian facilities and the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The UAE renewed its full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding these terrorist attacks, standing in one line with Saudi Arabia against every threat to its security and stability and supporting it in all measures it takes to preserve its security and the safety of its territories.

The statement concluded by stressing that the security of the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is inseparable, and that any threat or danger to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered a threat to the security and stability of the UAE.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, President of Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) Mazin bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous received in Riyadh today the Regional Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States Judge Dr. Hatim Ali.

The meeting discussed strategic partnership and issues of mutual interests between the Authority and the UNODC.

Dr. Hatim Ali praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts in the field of combating corruption and promoting integrity, adding that Saudi Arabia is leading the world through the Riyadh Initiative (Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities).

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, President of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Saadan received here today Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman Aseela Al-Samsami and her accompanying delegation.

Eng. Al-Saadan reviewed the successful experience of the RCJY, which spanned over decades in establishing, managing and operating industrial cities and attracting local and international investments.

For her part, Al-Samsami hailed the achievements of the RCJY, and expressed her desire to benefit from the experience of the RCJY in managing the cities.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance the joint cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman in the fields of investment and industry, as well as other fields.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah, The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has signed a Master Research Agreement (MRA) with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). The agreement, which is open for renewal after five years, follows extensive collaboration between the two organizations on flora and fauna assessments, marine spatial planning, and an international competition called the Brains-for-Brine Challenge. The MRA cements the legal framework for mutually beneficial research projects on topics including, sustainability of marine environments, waste management systems, sustainable food production, energy conservation, and carbon sequestration.

“There is a growing realization that tourism needs to be far more sustainable and even regenerative in its approach. The Red Sea coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the most pristine environments in the world and by working with KAUST, we can not only preserve, but actually enhance this unique treasure for future generations”, said CEO of TRSDC John Pagano.

“Achieving carbon neutrality and enhancing biodiversity in this unique and pristine location is a challenging task, but it is of great importance. By working with some of the world’s greatest scientists at KAUST, it is a challenge that we can rise to”, said Chief Environment Officer at TRSDC Dr. Rusty Brainard.

He added that 11 of the current staff of the TRSDC Department of Environment and Sustainability have roots at KAUST, including seven that earned doctoral degrees at KAUST and two that completed postdoc appointments at KAUST.

A KAUST-TRSDC working group is presently planning for a joint Marine Research and Coral Conservation Center at the Red Sea Project site. The space will act as a base for long-term marine research and monitoring, and in time will be open to future visitors so they can learn about the natural environment and wildlife in the area.

For his part, KAUST Vice President for Research Dr. Donal Bradley said that the Red Sea Project is an important part of the Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the local economy and create new environmentally sustainable opportunities for the Saudi people.

He pointed out that KAUST researchers and scientists supported the development of the destination’s master plan with the delivery of an extensive Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) exercise. As a result, 75% of the project’s islands will be left undeveloped in a conservation-to-development ratio unprecedented in any documented coastal development plan in the world.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been upgraded to the status of fifth-generation (G5) regulator by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency overseeing all matters related to information and communication technologies (ICT). The announcement was made during the Global Symposium for Regulators’ virtual event. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s new G5 classification is a testimony to the Kingdom’s maturity as a world-class digital nation.

The ITU’s ICT Regulatory Tracker is a tool used to classify the maturity of ICT regulatory frameworks across 193 countries. It is made up of 50 indicators divided into four pillars: regulatory authority, regulatory mandate, regulatory regime, and competition framework. The tool tracks countries’ progress from first-generation regulation (G1), in which regulated public monopolies employ a command-and-control approach, to fifth-generation regulation (G5), the highest level of regulatory framework in which regulatory agencies collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders to develop a harmonized approach across sectors now reliant on ICT.

The Communications and Information Technology Commission’s (CITC) recent transformation from a telecom regulator to a digital regulator has paved the way for the next generation of ICT regulation in the Kingdom. CITC has launched several initiatives enabling a cross-sectoral regulatory environment, boosting investments in the sector and supporting innovation and digital transformation across adjacent sectors. The achievement of the “gold standard” for policy and regulatory collaboration came two years ahead of the 2023 target date outlined in the Kingdom’s ICT Sector Strategy 2023, and only one year after being classified as a fourth-generation regulator.

Significant initiatives for collaborative regulation with all stakeholders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s digital ecosystem include the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Digital Economy Policy, the creation of the Digital Government Authority, the launch of pioneering regulatory sandbox projects, the Fixed Broadband Open Access initiative, the adoption of the WiFi-6 becoming the first country in the EMEA region to do so, and the launch of the “CITC Roadmap for Commercial and Innovative Use of Frequency Spectrum 2021-2023”, among others.

“The ITU’s G5 classification is one of the biggest indicators of success for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s digital ecosystem to date, and we thank our partners and stakeholders across sectors for their contributions to this significant achievement and for embracing a spirit of togetherness in this digital era”, said Governor of CITC Mohammed Al-Tamimi. He added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ICT sector has become a significant player regionally and globally, witnessing rapid transformation driven by flexible, incentive-based, innovative regulations, adding that in just five years, we have witnessed internet speeds increase by 1,589%.

The ITU has praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for effectively overcoming digital-related challenges, displaying one of the world’s highest levels of organizational maturity, while supporting proactive innovation, the adoption of emerging technology, and the growth of the digital economy.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Beijing, Syrian plastic artist, Walid Ali, inaugurate his third artistic cultural exhibition in the Chinese city of Nanjing entitled “Syrian Third Step on the Silk Road…Reflections of Light”, which aims to strengthen the Syrian cultural relationship in Chinese society.

In a speech during the opening ceremony, Ali affirmed that the exhibition is a step within the cultural project carried out by his Syrian family in China, which aims to enhance the Chinese society knowledge about the Syrian culture and civilization.

He added that the phrase “Reflections of Light” is nothing but an expression of the reflections of light and the Syrian imprint in his paintings, which mix between memory of Syrian, Damascene, rural and Chinese nature.

Ali hoped that other steps would be achieved in the future on the Silk Road between Syria and China, saying “My family and I always work to be part of the Sino-Syrian cultural exchange bridge, adding that Syria’s message has always been peace.

Artist’s paintings embodied old Damascus and the artist’s village Tallin and paintings of Chinese nature.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Prague, Deputy Head of Czech Moravian Communist Party, Head of the Czech Parliamentary Committee for Friendship with Syria, Stanislav Grospic, said that although Syria has been exposed daily to foreign aggression and international terrorism, the West still imposes coercive unilateral and inhuman measures on the Syrian people.

In a video clip that was broadcast on Monday by the party’s website, Grospic noted that these unilateral measures affected the medicines and the humanitarian aid which the Syrian people are in need for.

He added “if we want to help Syria and its people, then we should send medicines and the necessary humanitarian aid,” asserting that this issue must be on top of the priorities of the Czech Foreign ministry.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency