Oman Online News

Malta, The Saudi Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), represented by the National Center for Assessment (Qiyas), has recently participated in the 57th four-day meeting of the PGB Group of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Malta.

The meeting, chaired by the Executive Director of Qiyas Center, Dr. Abdullah Al-Qatie, aimed to approve new policies and adopt recent updates.

The most important updates include a new analysis of student performance in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and a presentation of an artificial intelligence model called the Collective Intelligence Model for Education (CIME).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been participating in the PISA test since 2018, with the latest participation in the 2021-2022 session.

This session was presented to 8,765 male and female students representing 193 schools distributed across the Kingdom. Additionally, the Kingdom will participate in the upcoming PISA 2025 test cycle.

The OECD G
overning Council holds this meeting twice a year with the participation of more than 60 countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Venice, Italy, A two-day visit to Italy by the Saudi Minister of Culture, Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al-Saud, marks the continued cultural collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Italy.

Highlights of the visit included a meeting with Gennaro Sangiuliano, the Italian Minister of Culture. During the meeting, they discussed enhancing cultural cooperation between the two countries as well as the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding, celebrating the steps taken since signing the agreement to increase cooperative initiatives, the meeting was attended by Vice Minister of Culture Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez and Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim AlTouq.

During his visit, the minister visited the Saudi Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, which is marking the fourth time the Ministry of Culture has participated in the Venice Biennale. This year, Manal AlDowayan will represent the Saudi Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, taking place from 20 April to 24 November 2
024, at the Arsenale, Sale d’Armi, Venice, Italy, with a multimedia installation entitled Shifting Sands: A Battle Song. Curators Jessica Cerasi and Maya El Khalil, and Assistant Curator Shadin AlBulaihed have worked with the artist on the commission.

The minister also visited ‘Wadi AlFann, Journeys in Land Art, Towards Wadi AlFann, AlUla’, a showcase organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. The showcase spotlights the first five commissioned artists that will be exhibited at AlUla’s new destination for contemporary art, Wadi AlFann and takes place at the Abbazia building in Venice between April 16 and 30. The first five artists creating new, large-scale, site-specific commissions for Wadi AlFann are Manal AlDowayan, Agnes Denes, Michael Heizer, Ahmed Mater and James Turrell.

Prince Bader said: ‘Through the Saudi Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and the Wadi AlFann showcase, we are delighted to be able to share a taste of Saudi Arabia’s culture and future pro
jects with Venetian audiences and international visitors during this important moment in the cultural calendar. We are committed to working with our Italian counterparts and will continue this cultural exchange between our two countries.’

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Higher Institute of Music and the Armenian State Conservatory of Music (Komitas) signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim of increasing cooperation between the two sides and exchanging experiences.

Rector of Higher Institute of Music, Adnan Fathallah, and the Dean of the Armenian State Conservatory of Music (Komitas), Sona Hovhannissyan signed the memorandum after a discussion session in the Conservatory ‘s building in Yerevan.

Rector of the Institute, Hovhannissyan , stressed that the importance of signing this document, adding that the Conservatory is ready for cooperation with the Higher Institute of Music at all levels

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Riyadh: – The CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), Dr. Hisham bin Saad Al-Jadhey, has presided over the roundtable discussion between the SFDA and representatives of food and drug companies in Singapore.

At the outset of the meeting, which was attended by the Saudi Ambassador to Singapore Abdullah Al-Madhi, Al-Jadhey presented an overview of SFDA, its scope of work, procedures related to food and drug safety, and registration.

The meeting also discussed the best practices provided by the SFDA to support the private sector and the electronic systems developed for this purpose.

The meeting was organized on the sidelines of the 5th Annual Meeting of the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum (IHFAF), held in Singapore from April 16 to 20, 2024.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: – The Saudi Electronic University (SEU) is participating in 49th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (IEIG), held from April 17 to 21, 2024.

The SEU’s participation includes three inventions that demonstrate its interaction with the international community and open new horizons of cooperation and expertise exchange with other institutions in scientific research and innovation.

As many as 26 Saudi universities are participating in the event

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Washington: The National Competitiveness Center and the World Bank Group announced today in Washington their intention to establish a knowledge centre in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This move is part of both sides’ efforts to spread the culture of economic reforms globally.

The Saudi Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Competitiveness Center (NCC), Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, pointed out during the announcement, which was attended by the Kingdom’s Ambassador to the USA, Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the President of the Bank Group, Ajay Banga, and the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, Dr. Indermit Gill.

This occasion confirms the great progress achieved by the Kingdom in global competitiveness reports and indicators, which resulted from the economic reforms implemented with the support and directives of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Crown Prince and Prime Mi
nister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He added that establishing the knowledge centre would pave the way for further regional and global cooperation in competitiveness. It will allow the Kingdom to benefit from its experience in implementing economic reforms and their impact on enhancing its competitiveness, in addition to the World Bank’s expertise that extends for more than 50 years.

The WB chose the Kingdom as a knowledge centre to spread the culture of economic reforms globally due to its pioneering experience over the past seven years in implementing economic reforms, during which an integrated business model was framed that led to high effectiveness in achieving the goals of the reforms and raising rates of commitment to them, which made the international organization choose it to be a partner. Its experience would constitute a path that would benefit other countries around the world seeking to enhance their competitive capabilities.

The Knowledge Centre, whose preparation work is being undertaken b
y a founding committee that includes the Ministries of Finance, Economy, and Planning and several relevant government agencies, is part of a continuous cooperation between the two sides to develop economic reforms based on the best international business practices and complete the journey of enhancing competitiveness.

The Kingdom, which began in 2019 with the establishment of the National Competitiveness Center, its organizational affiliation with the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and the later establishment of subcommittees focusing on facilitating business in vital and promising sectors, which contributed to the completion of the centre through integration with relevant government agencies of more than 800 reforms.

Dr. Al-Qasabi held meetings with the President of the World Bank Group and the group’s senior experts on the sidelines of the announcement event, which dealt with the latest initiatives led by the WB to facilitate cross-border trade by simplifying trade procedures and customs reg
ulations in addition to discussing ways to benefit from the recommendations and visions included in the reports issued by the Bank improves systems and procedures to enhance the efficiency and attractiveness of the business environment in the Kingdom.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Dammam, The delegation of the Saudi handball team arrived yesterday in the United Arab Emirates to take part in the first edition of the GCC Youth Games, which will be held from 20 to 26 April 2024, at the Bataeh Club hall in the Emirate of Sharjah.

The list of the national team participating in the tournament included 18 players.

Six teams will participate in the tournament: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Foreign Affairs and expatriates, Fayssal Mikdad, received a phone call on Friday from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, during which they discussed developments of the situation in the Middle East and Central Europe regions.

The two ministers stressed the continuation of cooperation between the two countries on various issues of common interest, and continued coordination at the UN and other international forums.

Dacic also expressed his thanks and appreciation for the support provided by Syria to the just causes of the Republic of Serbia at the UN, stressing at the same time his country’s support for Syria and its issues.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Syria called upon the international community and UN to denounce the Israeli aggression that targeted its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and to take all deterrent measures to stop the crimes of this occupation entity.

In the early hours of today, Friday, there was a new Israeli attack on the Syrian territory, as Israel’s missiles targeted military defensive sites in the southern region, fired from northern occupied Palestine, the ministry said in a statement.

Today’s aggression, once again, confirms Israel’s arrogance and its fascist policies that targeted the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, along with the stability of all countries of the region to drag them into a regional war, the ministry added.

Syria condemns in the strongest terms this Israeli aggression along with the attacks that preceded it on Syrian territory, and demand the international community and the United Nations, led by the UN Security Council, to condemn it and take all deterrent measures to stop the crime
s and massacres committed by this occupation entity, and hold it accountable, the ministry stressed.

Syria reiterates its constitutional right to defend the sovereignty, security and integrity of its territory, which is guaranteed by international conventions and laws, the ministry concluded.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Al-Qurayyat, The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Festival, organized by the Reserve Development Authority, concluded on Thursday evening at the Cultural Center in Al-Qurayyat Governorate. The festival aimed to introduce tourists and locals to the reserve’s recreational sites and enhance the participation of the local community in its activities.

The festival provided enjoyable activities and unique experiences for visitors of all ages, combining entertainment with opportunities to learn about the natural diversity and wildlife within the reserve. The event attracted a significant number of visitors to its nine sections, including the craftsmen’s market, folk shows, wildlife area, reserve pavilion, performing arts theater, children’s area, interactive competitions, afforestation and agriculture area, and restaurants and cafes area.

Attendees at the festival had a great time sitting on tent seats and learning how to grow plants and seeds in designated cultivation basins. They also received education
about the wildlife and natural diversity found in the reserve, as well as the conservation efforts to reintroduce endangered creatures to their natural habitats and increase their populations. Additionally, the handcraft path allowed visitors to learn about the contributions of participating craftsmen and craftswomen.
Saudi Horse Archers Bader and Hisham Al-Tamimi Win Gold Medal in Horseback Archery Asian Championship

Riyadh: Students Bader Ali Al-Tamimi and Hisham Ali Al-Tamimi, from the College of Business Administration of Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University in Hotat Bani Tamim, accomplished a national achievement by winning the gold medal in Horseback Archery Asian Championship, which was held in Kazakhstan recently.

This achievement is exceptional for the country and Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University in particular. It is an affirmation of the Kingdom’s superiority in the field of equestrian sports at the Asian level.

#CT#Sports/CT#
Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will participate in the camel parade in Paris on Saturday. The parade is organized by the French Federation for Camel Development in France and Europe. It celebrates the United Nations’ decision to declare 2024 ” the Year of the Camelids.” The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the Camel Club in Saudi Arabia.

Various international organizations and federations specialized in camels, including government officials, camel breeders, and enthusiasts, are set to participate in the parade.

The parade aims to introduce the international community to ” the Year of the Camel 2024″ initiative in the Kingdom and highlight camels as a cultural symbol associated with Saudi society since ancient times.

This year, the parade will take place for the third time and travel through the streets of Paris, passing by the Eiffel Tower. It will conclude in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris.

Over th
irty countries will participate in the parade, and more than fifty camels will be present.

The Kingdom played a significant role in launching ‘ the Year of the Camelids 2024”, initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The initiative aims to highlight the camel sector and its importance in achieving food security and economic growth.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Belgium’s Ingmar De Vos expressed his appreciation to Saudi Arabia for hosting the highly anticipated FEI Jumping and Dressage World Cup Finals 2024. De Vos commended Saudi Arabia’s remarkable efforts in ensuring the resounding success of the finals, which greatly contributed to the exceptional nature of the event. He extended his gratitude to the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation and the operating committee for their unwavering commitment to organizing a world-class sporting event. Furthermore, De Vos applauded the diligent work of the regulating committee and the federation over the past months in guaranteeing an exciting experience for all participants. He highlighted Riyadh’s hosting of the event, marking the first time the Middle East has hosted such a prestigious competition. De Vos praised the distinctive Saudi character and culture, which have made a significant impact on the event’s unique atmosphere. “I am confident that all partic
ipating athletes and their companions felt the utmost care and warm welcome from the people of the Kingdom,’ stated Ingmar De Vos. He underlined the high-quality facilities, meticulously designed to ensure the comfort of both riders and horses, enabling competitors to perform at their very best. He further added that these exceptional efforts have elevated the level of competitiveness among participants and raised the overall standard of the championship.

Source: Saudi Press Agency