Day: September 25, 2024

Saudi Arabia participated in the United Nations Advisory Board on Artificial Intelligence (AI) meeting in New York City during the Future Summit, alongside representatives from 38 countries. Shura Council member Dr. Latifa bint Mohammad Al-Abdulkareem represented the Kingdom, accompanied by officials from the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

The board discussed key recommendations from a high-level report on building global AI capacity. SDAIA’s involvement is part of the Kingdom’s broader strategy to enhance its leadership in AI, promote its use globally, and solidify its international position in this rapidly developing sector.

Dr. Al-Abdulkareem highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to create an integrated system that fosters cooperation and innovation within the AI and data sectors-crucial components of Vision 2030. The meeting also emphasized AI’s role in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to driving global progress
through technology.

The UN advisory board’s initiatives focus on encouraging the adoption of AI and data technologies, aiming to empower both individuals and institutions in harnessing these tools for societal and economic development.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, in cooperation with Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, Generation Unlimited, and the UNICEF, organized an event on ‘Catalyzing Youth Empowerment through Global Partnerships’, during the Summit of the Future 2024, in the presence of HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York.

The event saw the attendance of HE the Minister of Youth and Sports in the Lebanese caretaker government George Kallas, HE Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations Robert Rae, CEO of EAA Fahd bin Hamad Al Sulaiti, CEO of Silatech Hassan Al Mulla, along with a large number of speakers representing governments, the private and public sectors, and international development organizations.

In her speech during the event, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al-
Thani said that this event emphasizes the crucial role played by partnerships between stakeholders in driving action toward a world that is more concerned with youth. In this context, she stressed the State of Qatars steadfast commitment to investing in quality and comprehensive education and providing young people with the skills needed to build a brighter future.

Her Excellency pointed to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the field of development cooperation signed by the State of Qatar and Canada, on the sidelines of the visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Canada last week, considering the MoU an important step to enhance joint foreign aid policies and promote efforts for economic and social empowerment and poverty reduction, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Her Excellency added that this partnership is a strong testament to the State of Qatars firm belief that investing in youths enhances sustainable development, peace, and security for future generations
.

The speakers at the event discussed strategies aimed at providing young people with the skills required by today’s world, which will contribute to achieving a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The Roads General Authority (RGA) announced an increase in the traffic diversion safety evaluation rate this year compared to last, attributing it to the rise in road maintenance projects across the Kingdom.

This improvement is part of the RGA’s efforts to enhance traffic safety across the road network, in line with the classification of the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP).

The RGA reported that inspection tours of maintenance projects have helped raise the traffic diversion safety evaluation rate on the Kingdom’s roads from 68% at the beginning of 2023 to 95% currently. These evaluations included approximately 590 field visits per month to cover all traffic diversions, alongside the use of the latest technologies, such as drones, to ensure quick and accurate results.

The RGA confirmed its commitment to continuing vital projects and initiatives aimed at upgrading the roads sector. These efforts are part of the broader strategy to achieve the goals of the roads sector strategy, including attai
ning 6th place in the global road quality index by 2030, reducing road deaths to fewer than 5 per 100,000 people, and maintaining high service levels across the road networks.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale struck Bitlis province in southern Turkiye.

Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported on its website that the epicenter of the earthquake was the Tatvan district in Bitlis.

It indicated that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 7 km, without any human or material losses being reported.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visited Columbia University in the United States today, the oldest university in New York State. He was briefed on the latest academic programs supporting the industrial and mining sectors and met with faculty members, as well as Saudi, American, and international students from various parts of the world.

During an interactive discussion with academics and students, Alkhorayef discussed Saudi Arabia’s industrial and mining transformation journey, focusing on promising industrial sectors being developed and localized as part of the national industrial strategy. He emphasized the goals of Vision 2030 to transform the Kingdom into a leading global industrial power by maximizing the economic contribution of the industrial and mining sectors, diversifying income sources, and increasing their contribution to the GDP.

Alkhorayef highlighted the importance of the scholarship program as a vital cultural bridge for fostering civilizational communication am
ong nations. He stressed that the Kingdom relies on and invests in its citizens to shape the future, citing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Scholarship Program and the Human Capacity Development Program, both aimed at developing national talents and equipping them with the skills needed to compete globally across various fields. He noted that the industrial and mineral resources ecosystem is keen on engaging with scholarship students abroad, helping them explore future opportunities in the industrial and mining sectors through various programs and initiatives.

Columbia University, founded in New York City in 1754, is a private research university, the oldest institution of higher education in New York State, and the fifth oldest in the United States. It ranks 34th in the QS World University Rankings for 2025. Over the years, many notable scholars and inspirational figures have graduated from Columbia, including several Nobel Prize winners.

The visit to Columbia University is part of Alkhorayef’s curr
ent tour of the United States, which runs until September 28 and includes stops in New York, California, and Nevada. The tour aims to enhance industrial and mining cooperation, attract quality investments to the Kingdom, and explore mutual opportunities in advanced industrial sectors.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha: The State of Qatar hosted today the 30th Meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) Committee for Under-Secretaries of Post and Telecommunications in Doha.

President of Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) Engineer Ahmad Abdulla AlMuslemani, in a speech while chairing the meeting, said: “Cooperation in postal and telecommunications fields is of critical importance in light of the rapid digital transformations and technological advances the world is witnessing today. We look forward to fruitful discussions and valuable exchange of experiences and ideas that will contribute to achieving the desired goals. This meeting is part of ongoing efforts to enhance economic integration among the GCC States and to realize the shared vision of developing the telecommunications and postal sectors.” Hosting this meeting reflects the State of Qatar ongoing commitment to promoting cooperation among Gulf states. This meeting aims to enhance cooperation in the fields of post and
telecommunications, exchange experiences and ideas to keep pace with the rapid developments in these vital sectors, contributing to digital transformation and sustainable development in the Gulf states.

The meeting discusses ways to develop telecommunications infrastructure and improve the quality of postal services. The meetings agenda also includes following up on decisions from previous meetings, such as roaming and restructuring of the Ministerial Committee for Digital Economy. Additionally, the meeting will explore cooperation in space technology and electronic applications, review outcomes of discussion sessions on digital topics, and formulate recommendations to strengthen cooperation among Gulf states in these vital areas.

HE Head of Economic and Development Affairs Sector at the GCC General Secretariat Dr. Waleed bin Hassan Al Hosani noted the qualitative leap achieved by the GCC countries in the field of communications and post and their advanced positions in the indicators of the communications a
nd information technology sector worldwide.

He pointed out that the committee meeting in Doha was an opportunity to discuss many important topics that are of significance to the Gulf citizen and contribute to advancing the process of cooperation between the GCC countries in this vital sector.

Source: Qatar News Agency

In celebration of the Kingdom’s 94th National Day, the Green Riyadh Program has launched a tree-planting initiative at Shuaib Umm Qasr, a scenic tributary of Wadi Hanifa, under the slogan “We dream to achieve.”

The initiative witnessed a large attendance and interaction from local residents and volunteers, who came together with “Green Riyadh” to plant trees in the Badeia neighborhood.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of afforestation, celebrate Saudi national identity, and highlight the program’s efforts in achieving the sustainability goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The program is keen on fostering strong community engagement by holding several sustainable initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of afforestation for the city, as these events contribute to raising awareness of the importance of greening, and increase the participants’ experience in sustainable practices by teaching them how to plant trees and care for them.

Green Riyadh Program is one of Riyadh’s meg
aprojects, launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud under the initiative of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister on 19 March 2019.

This initiative plays a significant role in achieving the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative. It aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to plant 10 billion trees across the Kingdom.

Green Riyadh Program aims to plant 7.5 million trees in the city, increase vegetation cover to 9% of the city’s area, raise the per capita share of green space from 1.7 square meters to 28 square meters, and contribute to lowering temperatures and improving air quality by reducing pollution and dust.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha: The General Secretariat of the Shura Council, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), organized Wednesday a workshop for the Secretaries-General of the Shura, representatives and national councils in the GCC countries under the title ‘transformations in the work of GCC legislative councils in light of artificial intelligence: opportunities and challenges.” Attended by the Secretaries-General, members of the GCC legislative councils, the GCC General Secretariat, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the workshop came within the framework of the Gulf Councils’ ongoing efforts to enhance the optimal use of modern technology, especially artificial intelligence, in supporting legislative work. A group of experts and AI and cybersecurity specialists presented the workshop.

In his opening speech, HE Secretary-General of the Shura Council Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud stressed the significance of the workshop and its role in highlighting the transformations the wor
ld is witnessing thanks to artificial intelligence.

His Excellency noted that the GCC countries, especially Qatar, have developed ambitious national strategies aimed at adopting AI in various sectors, including the legislative sector, which can benefit from these technologies to increase efficiency and improve performance.

His Excellency pointed out the vital role of legislative councils in enacting laws and legislation that ensure the optimal and safe use of this technology, with a focus on protecting societies from potential risks such as data manipulation and privacy.

HE the Secretary-General added that the use of AI in legislative councils opens up broad prospects for enhancing and accelerating legislative processes, as well as improving the accuracy of procedures and reducing administrative burdens. He stressed the need to keep pace with this development with legislation that ensures the responsible use of AI and limits its negative aspects, which may include cybercrimes and data manipulation.

At the
beginning of the workshop, Director of National Cyber Governance and Assurance Affairs at Qatar National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), Eng. Dana Yousef Al Abdulla gave a brief presentation on AI and its challenges, discussing the expected impact of AI on the work of legislative councils.

Professor of Digital Humanities at Hamad Bin Khalifa University Dr. George Mikros presented a paper titled “the use of AI and information technology to enrich the performance of GCC legislative councils,” while Director of Cyber Security Strategies and Policies at NCSA Eng. Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Shafi discussed in his paper the impact of AI on the protection of privacy and digital rights.

Shura Council Member Dr. Ahmed bin Hamad Al Mohannadi discussed in his paper the role of legislative councils in legislating laws related to AI, while Dr. Khalid Mubarak Al Kuwari, a faculty member at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, presented his paper under the title “laws required to regulate the use of AI in the work of legislative coun
cils.” The workshop concluded with valuable interventions by Their Excellencies the members and the Secretaries-General of the GCC legislative councils.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The Saudi Embassy in Romania hosted a reception to celebrate the Kingdom’s 94th National Day. The event was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Romania Mohammed Abdul Ghani Khayat along with several other Saudi and Romanian officials, as well as ambassadors from various countries accredited to Romania. Additionally, several Saudi citizens residing in or visiting the country were present at the celebration.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha: Qatar Rehabilitation Institute (QRI) of Hamad Medical Corporations (HMC) hosted a workshop to launch its pioneering initiative of a WHO (World Health Organization)-supported Rehabilitation Data System (RDS).

The Rehabilitation Data System (RDS) is a data-driven decision-making platform for rehabilitation that aligns with national-level data collection, providing healthcare professionals with real-time insights for the personalized care of each patient. This provides the right therapy to the right people at the right time, with the correct dosage and duration, while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety and recovery.

The event brought together experts from both public and private sectors, including representatives from HMC, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), and a number of private hospitals. The workshop fostered collaboration across all domains of rehabilitation in Qatar, laying the groundwork for a united effort in transforming healthcare delivery.

The workshop identified ni
ne key rehabilitation indicators to be routinely reported to the WHO, forming the backbone of a Routine Health Information Systems (RHIS) rehabilitation module that will be integrated into the RDS. These indicators will ensure that rehabilitation services across the country are continuously optimized.

Deputy Chief of Rehabilitation, Long Term Care and Geriatric Services at HMC Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, who lead these efforts for the development of rehabilitation services, said: “This new data system marks a turning point for rehabilitation services in Qatar. By integrating WHOs RHIS rehabilitation module, we are creating a system that not only tracks rehabilitation progress but also directly improves patient outcomes. It ensures our services are more accessible, effective and patient-centered, aligning with the National Health Strategy 2024 to 2030 and reinforcing Qatars leadership in global healthcare.” Dr. Wouter De Groote, WHO Rehabilitation Programs resource person, remarked, “By adopting standardized rehabil
itation indicators, Qatar will better understand and address the unmet needs of its population. This system is a game-changer and will serve as an inspiration for other nations in the region.” For her part, WHO Qatar Representative Dr. Rayana Bou Haka commended the initiative, adding, “This is one of the first of its kind in the Middle East and EMRO region. It represents a significant step in aligning Qatars rehabilitation services with WHO global standards, ensuring that healthcare decisions are grounded in reliable data, ultimately enhancing health outcomes.”

Source: Qatar News Agency