No mpox cases detected in Saudi Arabia: Health authority

No mpox cases detected in Saudi Arabia: Health authority
The Saudi Public Health Authority urged the public to rely on information from official sources and to avoid being misled by rumors or unreliable reports. (File/AFP)
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Updated 17 August 2024
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No mpox cases detected in Saudi Arabia: Health authority

No mpox cases detected in Saudi Arabia: Health authority
  • The Kingdom is prepared to face all types of health threats: Health authority
  • The public was advised against traveling to countries where the mpox has been detected

RIYADH: No cases of mpox Clade 1b have been detected in Saudi Arabia despite the global outbreak, the Saudi Public Health Authority confirmed on Saturday.

The authority stressed that the Kingdom was prepared to face all types of health threats by implementing the necessary measures to monitor and curb the spread of the virus, ensuring the safety and well-being of both citizens and residents.

It urged the public to rely on information from official sources and to avoid being misled by rumors or unreliable reports.

The public was also advised against traveling to countries where mpox has been detected.

The World Health Organization earlier declared that the outbreak of mpox, specifically the more deadly and transmissible Clade 1b, in parts of Africa was now a public health emergency of international concern.

A total of 18,737 suspected or confirmed cases of mpox were reported in Africa since the beginning of the year. The hardest hit country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the new Clade 1b strain was first detected in September 2023, reported 1,005 cases (222 confirmed, 783 suspected) and 24 deaths in one week.

The first cases of mpox outside of Africa were recorded this week, in Sweden and Pakistan.


Saudi and Ukrainian foreign ministers discuss Russia-Ukraine conflict

Saudi and Ukrainian foreign ministers discuss Russia-Ukraine conflict
Updated 50 min 41 sec ago
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Saudi and Ukrainian foreign ministers discuss Russia-Ukraine conflict

Saudi and Ukrainian foreign ministers discuss Russia-Ukraine conflict
  • Discussion came amid escalating hostilities in Ukraine, with Russian forces launching overnight attack involving 87 Shahed drones

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister held a phone call on Sunday with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha to discuss relations and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan and the Ukrainian minister exchanged views on developments in the war and efforts to resolve the crisis, as well as other matters of mutual interest, SPA added.

The discussion came amid escalating hostilities in Ukraine, with Russian forces launching an overnight attack involving 87 Shahed drones and various types of missiles.

The assault followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement of a “victory plan,” which he plans to present at the Oct. 12 Ramstein group meeting, where nations supplying arms to Ukraine will gather.

Zelensky’s plan, which includes Ukraine’s NATO membership and the provision of long-range missiles, was shared with US President Joe Biden last week.

Zelensky praised Ukraine’s troops for their resilience, stating that their capabilities were enhanced with sufficient weaponry. He urged Ukraine’s allies to take more decisive action to accelerate the end of the conflict.

“(The troops) demonstrate what Ukrainians are capable of when they have enough weapons and sufficient range,” he said in a statement on social media.

“We will keep convincing our partners that our drones alone are not enough. More decisive steps are needed — and the end of this war will be closer.”


Saudi FM meets with Solomon Islands officials in Riyadh

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele. (SPA)
Updated 06 October 2024
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Saudi FM meets with Solomon Islands officials in Riyadh

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele. (SPA)
  • An agreement on mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports was signed between the two countries

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received the prime and foreign ministers of the Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele and Peter Shanel Agovaka in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, the officials reviewed relations between the Kingdom and the Solomon Islands and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields.

They also discussed intensifying joint coordination on many issues of interest to the two countries.

An agreement on mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports was signed between the two countries during the meeting.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives  Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)

Prince Faisal also met with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland separately on Sunday.

During the meeting, the officials discussed opportunities to enhance Saudi-Commonwealth cooperation and topics of common interest.


Riyadh hosts forum on Arabic language computing

Riyadh hosts forum on Arabic language computing
Updated 06 October 2024
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Riyadh hosts forum on Arabic language computing

Riyadh hosts forum on Arabic language computing
  • The event drew participants from local, regional, and international institutions, along with researchers from 22 countries
  • he conference aims to foster collaboration between computational experts and linguists

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launched its third international conference on Sunday in Riyadh, called “Arabic Language Computing and Linguistic Data Enrichment.”

The event drew participants from local, regional, and international institutions, along with researchers from 22 countries, who focused on computational linguistics, computer science, and the Arabic language.

The conference aims to foster collaboration between computational experts and linguists, bridging knowledge gaps and showcasing key projects in Arabic language computing.

It seeks to enrich Arabic language datasets to enhance artificial intelligence models and support Arabic language processing.

Abdullah Al-Washmi, the academy’s secretary-general, spoke of the need to improve academic practices in the Arab world and provide a platform for discussing challenges and opportunities in linguistic data quality and accessibility.

Topics include machine learning, speech-to-text conversion, and automated text recognition, as well as the use of computational linguistics in Arabic language learning, digital dictionary techniques, and linguistic corpus analysis.

Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Mahyobi, an associate professor of computational linguistics at Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University, said that research would result in more objective and precise language analysis results.

He noted that automation eliminated subjective guesswork, leading to reliable and verified outcomes.

Al-Mahyobi added that automating language processing could revolutionize machine translation, error detection, speech recognition, and text compression and indexing.

He said that Arabic’s structured morphological, syntactical, and lexical systems made it particularly suited for advanced digital processing.


Saudi woman transforms Arabic learning for children with interactive calligraphy game

Saudi woman transforms Arabic learning for children with interactive calligraphy game
Updated 06 October 2024
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Saudi woman transforms Arabic learning for children with interactive calligraphy game

Saudi woman transforms Arabic learning for children with interactive calligraphy game
  • Lujain Abulfaraj established “Akwan” (universes in Arabic) to enrich language learning for children a

RIYADH: Driven by her passion for the Arabic language, Saudi woman Lujain Abulfaraj has embarked on a mission to make it more engaging for children. After noticing her son’s disinterest in Arabic, she sought a solution.

In 2015, Abulfaraj enrolled in a design program dedicated to exploring the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and its potential as an educational tool, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Realizing its ability to be both entertaining and instructive, she created a game featuring large Arabic letters that could be arranged into words for play.

This led her to establish a venture aimed at enriching language learning for children. In 2020, she introduced “Akwan” (universes in Arabic), a set of magnetic bricks inspired by Arabic calligraphy, designed to make learning interactive and enjoyable for children.

At the Riyadh International Book Fair, Abulfaraj highlighted the boundless creative possibilities “Akwan” offers children, SPA reported.

She praised the Ministry of Culture for its efforts in revitalizing Saudi culture, particularly the language, and for supporting young talent in the country.

In recognition of her dedication, the Ministry of Culture nominated Abulfaraj for the 2023 Cultural Awards in architecture and design, where she became one of the top three finalists in the Kingdom.

Her work also earned the “Designed in Saudi” seal.


Deal signed to promote falconry on Hawi platform

Deal signed to promote falconry on Hawi platform
Updated 06 October 2024
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Deal signed to promote falconry on Hawi platform

Deal signed to promote falconry on Hawi platform
  • The deal was signed on the sidelines of the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition
  • The agreement will help enthusiasts form falconry clubs and produce supplies via the Hawi platform

RIYADH: Saudi Falcons Club’s CEO Talal Al-Shamaisi, and Khalid Al-Baker, the Quality of Life Program’s CEO, have signed a memorandum of cooperation to support falconry and establish amateur clubs through Hawi, the national hobbies portal.

The deal was signed on the sidelines of the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, which is being held in Malham, Riyadh, until Oct. 12, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The agreement will help enthusiasts form falconry clubs and produce supplies via the Hawi platform. It will also facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration to promote falconry and enhance the community’s cultural and recreational life.

Hawi, an initiative of the Quality of Life Program, aims to stimulate the hobbies sector by creating clubs while providing a supportive environment.

The memorandum supports the club’s goals to increase the number of falconry practitioners, preserve cultural heritage, promote environmental awareness, and position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for falconry.

Separately, the Saudi Falcons Club and King Khalid University have signed a memorandum of cooperation to implement awareness initiatives and rehabilitation programs related to falcons and falconry.

The agreement also includes research and training programs in falconry. It aims to attract investors, share data and studies, and collaborate on events, exhibitions, and conferences.