Saudi Arabia accepts amendments in 2021 IMO Convention

Saudi Arabia accepts amendments in 2021 IMO Convention
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Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al-Yabis, representing the Kingdom, met Kitack Lim, secretary-general of the IMO, in London to ratify the agreement and discuss future plans
Saudi Arabia accepts amendments in 2021 IMO Convention
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Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al-Yabis, representing the Kingdom, met Kitack Lim, secretary-general of the IMO, in London, to ratify the agreement and discuss future plans. (Supplied)
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Updated 01 June 2023
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Saudi Arabia accepts amendments in 2021 IMO Convention

Saudi Arabia accepts amendments in 2021 IMO Convention
  • Amendments receiving the green light by the Kingdom were adopted at the 32nd session of the IMO assembly
  • Number of member states of the IMO Council will increase from 40 to 52, and the term of council membership will be extended from two to four years

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has accepted the amendments in the 2021 International Maritime Organization Convention.

The amendments to receive the green light by the Kingdom were adopted at the 32nd session of the IMO assembly, and approved by the Council of Ministers.

As a result, the number of member states of the IMO Council will increase from 40 to 52, and the term of council membership will be extended from two to four years.

Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al-Yabis, representing the Kingdom, met Kitack Lim, secretary-general of the IMO, in London to ratify the agreement and discuss future plans, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Yabis said that the step was an important one and emphasized the Kingdom’s enthusiasm to contribute to achieving the goals of the IMO in line with the objectives of the national strategy for transport and logistics services, and in a way that helped achieve the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030.

She added that the efforts were indicative of Saudi initiatives in support of the maritime sector, which were consistent with international moves toward benefiting the global economy and helping the worldwide movement of trade.

Saudi Arabia is the 14th member state of the organization, and has ratified 40 international conventions and protocols of the IMO. It has been an active supporter of the IMO since joining in 1969.

The Kingdom is engaged with IMO initiatives concerning climate, international cooperation, and support structures for seafarers.

It has provided support for maritime employees by creating initiatives for education, woman empowerment, and safety.


World Expo 2030 host country to be elected Nov. 28

World Expo 2030 host country to be elected Nov. 28
Updated 11 sec ago
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World Expo 2030 host country to be elected Nov. 28

World Expo 2030 host country to be elected Nov. 28
  • Saudi Arabia’s candidature is for a World Expo in the city of Riyadh between 1 Oct 2030 and 31 Mar. 2031 under the theme ‘The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow’
  • Host country will be elected by Member States of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) during the Organization’s 173rd General Assembly Nov. 28

PARIS: Three countries are in the running to host World Expo 2030: the Republic of Korea (in Busan), Italy (in Rome) and Saudi Arabia (in Riyadh).

The host country will be elected by Member States of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) during the Organization’s 173rd General Assembly, taking place on 28 November.

• Saudi Arabia’s candidature is for a World Expo in the city of Riyadh between 1 October 2030 and 31 March 2031 under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow.”

• The Republic of Korea’s candidature is for a World Expo in the city of Busan between 1 May and 31 October 2030 under the theme “Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future.”

• Italy’s candidature is for a World Expo in the city of Rome between 1 May and 31 October 2030 under the theme “People and Territories: Regeneration, Inclusion and Innovation.”

During the 173rd General Assembly on 28 November, following Expo progress reports, each of the three candidates will make final presentations of their Expo projects.

Eligible and present Member States of the BIE, represented by government-appointed delegates, will then vote for the World Expo 2030 host country by secret ballot using electronic voting. Each Member State has one vote.

BIE rules stipulate that in the case of more than two candidates, a candidate must gather two-third of votes cast to be elected outright.

With three countries in the running to host World Expo 2030, if no candidate gathers two-third of votes cast in the first round, the third-place candidate is eliminated and the two remaining candidates will immediately move into a second round. The host country of World Expo 2030 will then be elected by a simple majority.

For more information on the candidature process: bie-paris.org/site/en/world-expo-2030

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal challenges of our time. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities.

Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

The most recent World Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai, took place under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” and received over 24 million visits.

The next World Expo, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, will take place between 13 April and 13 October 2025, under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”


Lebanese beauty queens in Riyadh speak about unique nature of Arab beauty

Lebanese beauty queens Maya Aboul Hosn and Yasmina Zaytoun are pictured in Riyadh. (AN photo)
Lebanese beauty queens Maya Aboul Hosn and Yasmina Zaytoun are pictured in Riyadh. (AN photo)
Updated 2 min 15 sec ago
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Lebanese beauty queens in Riyadh speak about unique nature of Arab beauty

Lebanese beauty queens Maya Aboul Hosn and Yasmina Zaytoun are pictured in Riyadh. (AN photo)
  • Aboul Hosn will represent Lebanon at Miss Universe in El Salvador in November, competing with over 130 countries for the prestigious pageant title
  • “Because Arab women are the mix of everything: of being strong, being independent, being beautiful, being smart”: Zaytoun

RIYADH: Lebanese beauty queens Maya Aboul Hosn and Yasmina Zaytoun made a surprise visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as guests at the “Arabian Roots and Routes” event hosted by the Lebanese Embassy in Riyadh.

Aboul Hosn shared with Arab News her first impressions while visiting Riyadh, this year’s host for World Tourism Day, for the first time.

She said: “I love this place. The thing I most love here are the people. They’re very welcoming and very helpful.”

Zaytoun returned only months after she attended the Forbes Middle East Women’s Summit in May, chaired by Princess Noura bint Faisal Al-Saud.

Zaytoun said: “In the past year I’ve visited so many cities and I fell in love with so many places, but it’s rare to find a city where there is a view of the future and culture at the same time.

“And Riyadh has the culture, the history, the future all at the same time.”

The women were spotted during Tuesday’s event, and Lebanese pride was in their eyes as they heard diplomats and ministers give speeches that focused on Lebanon’s natural, cultural, and historical treasures.

Zaytoun and Aboul Hosn became symbols of Lebanese beauty in the 2022 Miss Lebanon beauty pageant — the first to take place since 2018.

The crown of Miss Lebanon 2022 was given to Zaytoun with Aboul Hosn the first runner-up.

Aboul Hosn will represent Lebanon at Miss Universe in El Salvador in November, competing with over 130 countries for the prestigious pageant title.

Zaytoun took part in the 2022 edition of Miss Universe and will go on to compete in India, this time at Miss World, in December.

“Arab beauty, I can say, (is) fierce, strong and very ambitious,” Aboul Hosn said.

Zaytoun added: “What I would do is raise my voice more and more to show them who we really are, how strong we are, how ambitious we are.

“Because Arab women are the mix of everything: of being strong, being independent, being beautiful, being smart. And I really want to show this to the world.”

In the world of beauty pageants, Miss Universe and Miss World are the most iconic.

Aboul Hosn said: “I would advise them (models) to dream big. Embrace your uniqueness. And the most important thing is to break barriers and to create a world where there’s equality and everyone can achieve their dreams.

“I need to tell all the women in the world or the teenagers in the world that they are beautiful just the way they are.

“Just the way you look, with your imperfections in your face, in your body. Just love yourself just the way you are. And don’t let anyone change you.”

The beauty queens are from small towns and the odds were stacked against them rising to the top of their profession.

Aboul Hosn, 25, hails from the small village of Btekhnay in Mount Lebanon while Zaytoun, 21, comes from Kfarchouba in the southern region of the country.

Zaytoun is currently studying journalism while Aboul Hosn is a host of LBCI’s daily show “Morning Talk.”

Optimism in creating a bright future is synonymous with being Lebanese, the women said.

“Lebanon is a place where people are struggling, but they still find hope. They are fighting, but they’re still smiling and being happy,” said Zaytoun.

“The word resilience is the definition of being Lebanese.”

Aboul Hosn said: “Since I was a child I’ve had a very supportive family who always helped me to reach my goals, reach my dreams, and never prevented me from achieving my dreams.”

From Beirut to Riyadh, Aboul Hosn and Zaytoun are joining hands with Saudi women to showcase to the world a new Middle East — a region bursting with ambition, inspiration, and creativity.


Shoura Council glimpses the future at Uruguay forum

Shoura Council glimpses the future at Uruguay forum
Updated 27 min 52 sec ago
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Shoura Council glimpses the future at Uruguay forum

Shoura Council glimpses the future at Uruguay forum
  • The forum aims to further the use of future data and analysis in parliamentary decision making
  • It also seeks to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between parliaments around the world

RIYADH: A delegation from the Saudi Shoura Council took part in the Second World Summit of the Committees of the Future held in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The delegation included council members Ibrahim Al-Nahas, Abdullah Al-Tawi and Latifa bint Mohammad Al-Abdulkarim.
Parliamentary representatives from around the world joined experts, and representatives of international organizations and civil society groups at the summit.
The forum aims to further the use of future data and analysis in parliamentary decision making, encouraging parliaments to develop capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
It also seeks to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between parliaments around the world on possible future issues.
The summit discussed artificial intelligence, the challenges facing global governance, and sustainable development amid climate change and other global issues.
A series of public plenary sessions, seminars and workshops focused on AI and emerging technologies, and support for the implementation of the sustainable development goals.


Radio Rahim, the voice of modern-day boxing

Radio Rahim, the voice of modern-day boxing
Updated 28 September 2023
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Radio Rahim, the voice of modern-day boxing

Radio Rahim, the voice of modern-day boxing

RIYADH: Radio Rahim, known as the voice of record in modern-day boxing, is a critically acclaimed sports journalist and ringside reporter from the US who is also widely recognized in Saudi Arabia.

He has attended many boxing events in the Kingdom, reporting on some big international fights. His debut was the 2019 contest between Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua. He also covered the Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury fight and is set to cover the upcoming match between Tyson Fury and Francs Ngannou, which is scheduled for Oct. 28 in Riyadh.

“When I first came to the Kingdom … the thing that struck me first and foremost was how excited the fans and the citizenry were to have something like that in their backyard. Kids from 7 to 70 … were so thrilled to see superstars in the Kingdom, to see these big events on the big stages, the lights and the cameras,” Rahim said on “The Mayman Show.”

The Saudi events had inspired and fueled him, he said.

“The enthusiasm from the people is unmatched, like they’re enjoying the show, they’re enjoying the visitors … So that kind of energy and excitement and positivity all week long, not just on fight night, is something that when I return, I look forward to experiencing over and over again.”

Rahim said he had seen great progress in the development of all sports, not just boxing, in the Kingdom.

“Saudi is able to bring in other sports, the top of the line, the top competition, to the Kingdom. And on a consistent basis, we’re going to see the best of everything.”

 

 

Local people were seeing “the best of the best all the time, and I want to go over there and get some of that myself,” he said.

“Their trademark is that even the fights that can’t get made around the world, the fights that we’ve been waiting for … Saudi is able to make it happen.”

Rahim also praised the Saudi hospitality and highlighted the country’s great traditions, food, family and friendship bonds and desert activities. He even referenced his favorite restaurant: Smokey Beards in Riyadh.

“The one thing that I can always count on is hospitality from the very common man, from everybody who is there working and the people, who are just walking the streets on their own time in their own lives,” he said.

Rahim is also well known in the world of podcasts and recently launched a new season of his “Til This Day” show. In it he explores the lives of famous people, who talk about their vulnerabilities and discuss the hurdles they have had to overcome to get to where they are now.

 

 

The podcast was born during the COVID-19 pandemic and gave Rahim the opportunity to engage with the people he would typically encounter inside the ring in a different way. The weekly podcast is available on all the usual platforms and YouTube.

“I come honest, I come real,” he said. “I do what it is that I believe is organic … which comes from the spirit, comes from the heart. And I approach every interview that way and I respect the person I’m talking to, but also the situation that they’re in.”

Rahim knew from an early age that he had a passion for radio and boxing.

“I would call … radio stations and talk to the DJ just because I got an opportunity to hear my voice over the stereo,” he said.

Later, he realized how much potential there was in the sector.

“There was a passion. I had to do something that wasn’t being done, which was cover the sport of boxing, create video content out of the environment.”

That initial drive led to him covering boxing on a show called “Gym Wars,” co-hosted with the current editor-in-chief of Ring magazine, Doug Fischer.

Throughout Rahim’s career, Michael Buffer, an American announcer for combat sports, has been a source of inspiration.

“When I saw how he pursued his career and carved out that niche for himself, I thought I would follow suit, follow those footsteps and do the same,” he said.

 


Jeddah gallery at the crossroads of art and technology

Jeddah gallery at the crossroads of art and technology
Updated 28 September 2023
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Jeddah gallery at the crossroads of art and technology

Jeddah gallery at the crossroads of art and technology
  • An opening reception for the exhibitions was held on Wednesday and the displays will remain on view until Dec. 27, 2023
  • Featured artists included Sarah Abu Abdullah, Zahrah Al-Ghamdi, Dana Awartani, Ayman Yossri, Daydban, Sultan bin Fahad and Muhannad Shono

JEDDAH: ATHR Gallery in Jeddah has unveiled three exhibitions featuring contemporary artists who are harnessing technological innovations to push the boundaries of conventional artistic practice.
The exhibitions — the group show “In/Visible: Objects in the Mirror,” Rami Farook’s “An Untitled ” and the technologically innovative “A Way with Light” — include works in varied materials and styles, each offering a unique perspective on the ways in which contemporary artists are working.
An opening reception for the exhibitions was held on Wednesday and the displays will remain on view until Dec. 27, 2023.
In the main gallery, visitors were welcomed by the inaugural display of “In/Visible: Objects in the Mirror,” with artists exploring the significance of objects, both commonplace and abstract, in everyday lives.
Featured artists included Sarah Abu Abdullah, Zahrah Al-Ghamdi, Dana Awartani, Ayman Yossri, Daydban, Sultan bin Fahad and Muhannad Shono.
On the upper level of gallery, visitors were invited to step into “A Way with Light,” an exhibition exploring the possibilities that technology offers art.
In addition to a selection of digital art installations, the exhibition showcases an array of non-fungible token artworks curated from both Saudi and international artists, each making use of groundbreaking digital techniques.
The collection is the result of a partnership between ATHR Gallery and its experimental art mediums division AKTHR, and includes more than 2,000 pieces from artists working at the intersection of art and technology.
Featured artists harness technology ranging from coding and programming to advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence to create artworks that highlight the role of innovation in shaping societies and cultures.
Three Saudi artists— Ayman Yossri Daydban, Daniah Al-Saleh and Ahaad Alamoudi — integrate digital modalities into their existing art practices, offering a local perspective on a global phenomenon.
Meanwhile, featured artists Andres Reisinger, teamLab, Jonas Lund, Random International, Refik Anadol and Quayola pursue careers in the digital realm, molding new and dynamic roles for artists, viewers and collectors.
Commenting on the displays, Pharah Al-Ghalib, exhibition manager said: “In the ever-changing landscape of contemporary art, digital art and NFTs have established a stronghold on the global art market through innovative use of technology. Our goal is to introduce the national audience to novel modes of art-making and inspire a new generation of artists and creatives.”
Among the exhibition highlights is “Take Over series, 2023” by Reisinger, an Argentine artist who foresees a future in which the digital and physical realms increasingly interact.
“An Untitled” is the Emirati artist, curator and producer Rami Farook’s first solo show in Jeddah, a city he describes as his second home.
Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the opening ceremony, Faroook said: “This exhibition is all about my experiments, but instead of making them on the personal level, I am doing these experiments for all as a group.”
In his message to the exhibition’s visitors, he said: “I always focus on educating, informing and entertaining in my work.”