Day: October 14, 2023

Paris, The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has organized in Paris a seminar titled “Climate Action” one of Expo’s sub-themes”, with the participation of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Cabinet and Envoy for Climate Affairs Adel Aljubeir, Director of the Climate and Livelihood Initiative at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Matthew McCabe, and CEO of ACWA Power Marco Arcelli. The seminar was attended by several delegates representing member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and global experts.

During the seminar, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Envoy for Climate Affairs,

Adel Aljubeir mentioned that: ”our bid for the Riyadh World Expo in 2030 is not merely a celebration of progress and innovation, but a testament to the role we aim to play in shaping a sustainable future.”

He pointed out that 2030 holds unparalleled significance and will define our collective ambition. It is the year of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which amplifies the importance of Riyadh Expo 2030, as it will be part of a huge global transformation.

Adel Aljubeir added that the Kingdom has come a long way towards a sustainable future through its Vision 2030 and the initiatives, which demonstrate the Kingdom’s commitment and fulfillment of its environmental pledges with local, regional, and international, noting that Riyadh Expo 2030 will be an extension of the Kingdom’s environmental efforts and that will be the first Zero free emissions and environmentally friendly expo. Riyadh Expo 2030 is more than” an event. It’s a pledge from Saudi Arabia to the world. It is a declaration of our dedication to combat climate change and a testament to our unwavering commitment to a shared, sustainable future for all.”

The Director of the Climate and Livelihood Initiative at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Matthew McCabe, stressed the importance of taking action to mitigate the effects of climate change and said:” Today more than 2 billion people live without a safe and secure source of water, and water scarcity is becoming an increasing concern. The United Nations expects that by 2030, up to 700 million people might be displaced due to this impending water crisis and that up to half of the world’s urban populations will be affected by water scarcity by 2050.”

He highlighted the importance of the Kingdom’s ecosystem, noting: “Saudi Arabia hosts some incredibly unique ecosystems, from desert oases to pristine coral reefs. Protecting our terrestrial and marine environments is a cause being championed at the highest levels of government.”

To enhance Riyadh’s readiness to host the Expo 2030 International Exhibition, Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power, said:” I’m proud to be contributing in achieving Saudi Vision 2030, which is one of the greatest visions and policy programs built on strong moral values, to lead a social, cultural, and economical change that is unparalleled in the world. I invite you to learn about this vision, and to witness the transformation that the Kingdom is experiencing with your own eyes. Feel the energy of its youth, and learn about its culture. Opportunities are available to everyone, so be a part of it today, and do not wait another 10 years,

as you may miss out.”

Arcelli added: “As part of the vision realization programs, ACWA Power is a pioneering company in leading the energy transition in the Middle East and North Africa region. It is also the largest private water desalination company in the world, and the first company working in green hydrogen field.”

This seminar comes within a series of seminars organized by the Riyadh Expo 2030 team in the Royal Commission for Riyadh City in the French capital, Paris, to discuss the objectives of the exhibition?

introduce its main theme and sub-themes and establish meaningful connections with participating countries to enhance their importance. The seminar aims to gather ideas, opinions, and inputs from delegates and experts on the relevance of the main theme and sub-themes to them.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit continued in New Delhi with the participation of a Saudi delegation headed by Shura Council Speaker Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh.

The summit was attended by the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Speaker of the Indian Parliament, and the speakers of participating parliaments.

During the second day of the summit, various topics were discussed, as listed on the agenda, which included development under women’s leadership, digital platforms, and the shift towards renewable energy

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah, President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Dr. Muhammad Al-Jasser met today with Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Said on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Marrakesh, Morocco.

The two sides discussed ways to cooperate in strengthening the Tunisian economy and promoting the development of the private sector and small and medium enterprises.

Dr. Al-Jasser also met with Libyan Minister of Finance Dr. Khaled Abdullah Al-Mabrouk.

During the meeting, the Libyan Minister expressed gratitude to the Islamic Development Bank Group for its support during the devastating floods that occurred in Libya. The two parties discussed ways of strengthening the financial sector in Libya, as well as supporting the development of financial and administrative capabilities for sustainable economic and social growth.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Occupied Jerusalem, The Israeli occupation forces continued to unleash a large-scale arrest campaign in the West Bank. They arrested 19 Palestinians concurrently with its unprecedented aggression on Gaza for the eighth day.

In Hebron city, the occupation forces arrested ten Palestinians after breaking into their homes, and five other citizens were arrested from Bethlehem, along with two freed prisoners from the city of Jenin.

The occupation forces continued a series of raids of Palestinian cities and arrested four Palestinians from Ramallah and eight Palestinians from a city north of the occupied Jerusalem.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha, The Doha-based Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Arab League to hold the Israeli occupation to account for its violation of international humanitarian law and stop its schemes aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause.

HE Secretary-General of ANNHRI Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali said that ANNHRI has addressed the Prosecutor of the ICC, along with the Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit on this matter, adding that ICC has immediately responded to ANNHRI’s message and submitted it to the concerned office.

ANNHRI has called on the Prosecutor of the ICC to issue an urgent preemptive statement about the war crimes in the Gaza Strip with the urgent intervention to put an end to the persistent violations and crimes in the Gaza Strip, where simmering humanitarian crisis and war crimes threaten the life of the civilian population, Al Jamali said.

In addition, ANNHRI delivered the deep concern of its member national institutions to the prosecutor over the escalating situation in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli measures caused a dire humanitarian disaster, he added. He pointed to that the recent threats unleashed by the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to cut off electricity and prevent access of essential supplies such as food and fuel pose a major threat to the life of the population in Gaza.

ANNHRI called on the ICC to immediately halt the measures of cutting off electricity, drinking water, as well as medical supplies and equipment to prevent further suffering and loss of lives, Al Jamali pointed out, noting that the address, in question, underscored that such a situation caused a humanitarian disaster that requires immediate attention and intervention, especially that over two million people in Gaza are in desperate need of help.

ANNHRI has called for taking a preemptive measure immediately in the form of a statement from the Prosecutor of the ICC on the war crimes being perpetrated by Israel, in addition to thoroughly studying the acts and threats unleashed by the Israeli Minister of Defense in the context of the international humanitarian law.

In the message addressed to ICC, ANNHRI outlined that depriving people of electricity, food, water and gas as part of an all-out siege of Gaza not only constitutes a violation of international law but also a dangerous violation of the fundamental principles of humanity, stressing that such acts are extremely detrimental to the innocent civilians and it is a moral and legal duty to prevent these crimes and subsequently address them.

In a related context, HE the ANNHRI Secretary-General confirmed that ANNHRI addressed the Secretary-General of the Arab League to clarify the outcomes of the emergency meeting ANNHRI held last Wednesday in the aftermath of the circumstances Palestine is going through that range from a dangerous attack to a new level of Israeli criminality, for the sake of putting the member institutions into spotlight regarding what is happening in Palestine.

He added that ANNHRI is coordinating the efforts for the joint action of human rights institutions to stop the violations perpetrated by the Israeli occupation against international humanitarian law and hold it accountable for its crimes, as well as thwart its plans aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause. The meeting brought together all members of the national human rights institutions in 17 Arab states with a high-level representation.

Al Jamali outlined that ANNHRI has called for convening an emergency meeting of the Arab League Council at the level of ministers of foreign affairs to call for political positions to halt the evacuation of Palestinians outside Palestine and impose humanitarian and relief efforts for Gaza to ensure that the humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip does not collapse, such as the emergence of a new setback for the Palestinian people, along with adverse impacts on the region and the world.

Source: Qatar News Agency

New York, Russia’s permanent representative to UN Security Council, Vasily Nebenzia, announced that his country cannot accept the failure of the UN Security Council to resolve the Palestinian issue.

“Moscow supports a peaceful solution to the conflict in the Middle East and is always ready to be a mediator in resolving the Palestinian issue”, RT website reported the Russian delegate as saying during a meeting of the UN Security Council.

Nebenzia warned against the Israeli occupation threats to displace more than a million Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip and deport them to its south, describing this matter as unacceptable.

He also warned of the danger of escalating the situation on the ground, considering that the region is on the verge of a large-scale war and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

In the same context, the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations submitted a draft resolution to Council members calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed on Friday that the unacceptable siege of Gaza is similar to the Nazis’ siege of Leningrad in the last century.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Doha, The Forum of Journalism Colleges in Arab World, which is organized by the Al Jazeera Media Institute in partnership with Qatar University (QU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), started its activities on Saturday.

During the three-day forum, experts, academics, journalists, and representatives of media and academic institutions from both Qatar and abroad gathered to discuss the challenges facing journalism and plans for advancing the profession. The forum also aimed to address the evolving skills needed in the field and showcase global best practices.

Director of Aljazeera Media Institute Eman Al Amri emphasized the significant role of journalism colleges in shaping a new generation of young journalists who will play a vital role in the future of the profession.

She highlighted the need for a collaborative effort to tackle the challenges faced by those working in the field, pointing to the partnerships between the institute and various journalism colleges to develop the profession, deepen expertise, and enhance the quality of journalistic practices.

QU Head of the Media Department Dr. Wael Abdelal underlined QU’s commitment to developing media curricula, adding that the university developed plans to align knowledge, skills, and practical applications with the ever-changing job market, including the requirements of the digital transformation. Dr. Abdelal stressed the importance of integrating academic curricula with practical experiences. He pointed out that recent developments require upgrading the moral, ethical and cognitive aspects to reduce the negative effects of social media networks and new platforms and applications.

Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen Salah Khalid acknowledged the daily challenges and difficult situations faced by journalists in the Arab world. He explained that journalists often work in unstable environments and conflict zones. He stressed that future journalism students must be well-prepared to navigate the realities of journalistic work, keeping up with opportunities, developments, and challenges. He underscored the importance of linking educational curricula with real-world practice. He pointed out that professional journalists should have continuous access to education and new tools to stay up to date with the latest developments and programs.

During the forum’s first session, experts, academics, and journalists discussed recent trends in journalism and whether the skills of new journalists align with market demands.

The second session focused on showcasing some Arab experiences in future media, including a presentation on video production for digital platforms.

The third session, dedicated to presenting the best global practices in journalism education, delved into how journalism colleges can prepare themselves and their students for the future, emphasizing the role of educators in developing capabilities and prioritizing curriculum updates.

Source: Qatar News Agency