Female officers from Indian Armed Forces praise Kingdom’s transformation, women empowerment
Updated 10 February 2024
Rashid Hassan
RIYADH: A women’s representation from the Indian Armed Forces, which was part of the government’s empowerment initiatives and took part in the World Defense Show in Riyadh, has praised the transformation in the Kingdom, which includes females being admitted into the Saudi defense forces.
The WDS, which was organized by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries, ran from Feb. 4-8 and provided a global forum for innovation and technological discourse within the defense industry: air, land, sea, space, and security.
India sent a three-member delegation of women officers, each of them a holder of a frontline role in the forces, to take part in the event.
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth (air force), Col. Ponung Doming (army) and Lt. Cmdr. Annu Prakash (navy) represented the Indian armed forces at seminars during the WDS.
Fighter pilot Kanth took center stage as a panelist on Feb. 7 at a seminar called “International Women in Defense — Investing in an Inclusive Future,” which was hosted by Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar.
The delegation later said: “We are very happy to be here. From the outside world we have different views; coming over here was a very different experience.
“We are seeing the women, they are excelling in everything. (We are) glad to see women in Saudi Arabia being part of various services, joining Saudi defense forces. Our country is also working towards women empowerment and has sent a tri-service women representation.”
Doming said: “It was good to see women driving cars in the streets, taking leading positions in various sectors, and lots of women sitting in the conference room.
“It is good to learn that the Saudi military launched the first military section for women in the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces in January 2021.”
It was in November 2021 when women candidates in India were first given the chance to take an examination for admittance to the National Defence Academy — the first tri-services training academy in the world — in Khadakwasla, Pune.
With India and Saudi Arabia now engaged in a strategic partnership with closer military ties, the women expressed their hope of future joint military training with their Saudi counterparts.
The trio also delivered an inspirational talk about their experiences at the International Indian School, Riyadh, on Thursday to about 700 children from various establishments.
Kanth spoke of soaring through the skies and becoming part of the revered fighter pilot club in India. Her insights on leadership, resilience and the evolving role of women in modern warfare resonated with the diverse audience, which was impressed to learn about her journey. She took part in the Indian Republic Day parade in 2021 and the flypast this year.
Doming shared her experiences, which include commanding the world’s highest border task force at 15,000 feet in India’s northern sector.
Prakash shared her expertise in maritime security and operations. Her journey illustrated the crucial role women play in safeguarding India’s vast coastline and ensuring regional stability. She also spoke of managing her time between service and married life and family.
Teachers and students at the IISR later told Arab News: “It (the talk) served as a platform in showcasing the diverse talents and leadership skills of Indian women in uniform, inspiring us to follow their dreams and cover new grounds.”
RIYADH: Saudi female falconers expressed their joy at participating in the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, organized by the Saudi Falconry Club.
The festival, held at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh, runs until Dec. 19 and features prizes exceeding SR36 million ($9.6 million) for both the Al-Mellwah racing and Mazayen (falcon beauty pageant) competitions.
Participants expressed their gratitude to the club for dedicating a special round to women, saying that this step is significant as it allows them to pursue their hobby professionally under strict regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported
Huda Al-Mutairi, a falconer, said she has previously taken part in falconry competitions and won first place, noting that she is the first Saudi falconer with a disability.
Al-Mutairi added that she has prepared well to compete for first place in this festival.
The festival is a three-time Guinness World Record holder for hosting the world’s largest gathering of falcons, SPA reported.
It brings together top falconers from around the world to celebrate the cultural heritage of falconry, encourage competition, and ensure its sustainability for future generations.
The club’s CEO, Talal Al-Shamaisi, said the festival’s primary aim was “to advance falconry as a cultural hobby, while preserving and promoting this Arab tradition.”
Riyadh: Saudi authorities arrested 18,489 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
According to an official report, a total of 11,358 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,994 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,479 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,303 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 60 percent were Ethiopian, 38 percent Yemeni, and 2 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 173 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 25 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
KSrelief’s global humanitarian activities continue
Updated 14 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues with its work in various countries, delivering support and services to needy individuals ranging from prosthetics to winter clothing.
KSrelief delivers food and hygiene kits to earthquake-hit northern Syria. (SPA)
In Syria’s northern city of Aleppo, the Saudi aid agency distributed food and hygiene kits to 797 families in earthquake-hit areas, benefiting 4,782 individuals.
In Afghanistan, 100 shelter kits were handed out by KSrelief on Friday in the Yakawlang District of Afghanistan’s Bamyan Province. The kits, benefiting 600 people, are part of this year’s shelter project for those returning from Pakistan and those affected by floods.
KSrelief handed out 100 shelter kits were handed out on Friday in the Yakawlang District of Afghanistan’s Bamyan Province
KSrelief also provided prosthetic limbs to nine Ukrainian refugees in Rzeszow, Poland, as part of a medical mission this week.
KSrelief provides prosthetic limbs to Ukrainian refugees in Poland (SPA)
In Yemen’s Hadhramaut, KSrelief launched a vocational training program with a Yemeni civil-society organization to train 200 young men and women.
The program will train displaced people and host community members in eight vocational skills and help them find jobs.
KSrelief distributes winter vouchers in Lebanon (SPA)
In Lebanon, KSrelief distributed 1,009 winter clothing vouchers in the Beqaa Governorate and Zgharta District. The vouchers allow recipients to choose their own winter clothes from approved stores. The initiative has benefited 1,009 orphans, people with disabilities, Syrian refugees and members of the host community.
KSrelief distributes winter vouchers in Lebanon (SPA)
Why restoring ecosystem balance is crucial for economies, societies, and wildlife
Biodiversity loss weakens ecosystems, driving migration and potential conflict, says UN Environment Programme director
Saudi Green Initiative announces $60 million in environmental projects as 12-day COP16 conference concludes in Riyadh
Updated 14 December 2024
Haifa Alshammari
RIYADH: Imbalanced ecosystems and biodiversity loss, driven by habitat destruction, pollution, or climate change, are key challenges the Saudi Green Initiative is tackling to mitigate their environmental, economic, and social impacts.
The decline of certain species can destabilize food systems, leading to overpopulation of others and resource depletion. This imbalance, whether driven by natural factors or human activities, often degrades habitats as unchecked species overgraze or consume vegetation.
“The highest point of the mountain is connected to the deepest point in the ocean,” said Mohammad Qurban, CEO of the Saudi National Center for Wildlife, explaining how environmental damage in one area is linked to issues elsewhere.
For instance, desertification in mountain peaks leads to soil erosion, which is carried by rain into the seas. Along with the soil, plastics and toxins from land and air pollute the water, destabilizing marine ecosystems, he told Arab News at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification’s COP16, which concluded in Riyadh on Friday.
“Where does this go? It goes to the ecosystem,” Qurban said, referring to the movement of toxins from land to the sea. “So, we start losing coral reefs, seagrass, and we start losing fish.
“We are all part of this system that we call the food web. It is a chain. With each link lost, we lose the next one and the next one.”
As part of its ecosystem management efforts to combat desertification, the Saudi government plans to plant 10 billion trees and rehabilitate 40 million hectares of land by 2030.
The Kingdom also aims to protect 30 percent of its land and marine areas by 2030 through the 30x30 initiative, which Qurban discussed last week during the session “MEAs Synergies for Strengthened Environmental Governance: Insights from the Bern III Conference,” held on the sidelines of COP16.
Qurban said disturbances in one animal population can have consequences elsewhere, such as the overpopulation of another species. In his recent interview with Arab News, he recounted an incident in which a farmer contacted him about a snake species affecting his soil.
“He called me and told me to get rid of all the snakes. I said sure, but you have to promise me that you won’t complain if you witness an increase in rats and mice around the area because (the snakes) feed on them.”
As part of its ecosystem management efforts to combat desertification, the Saudi government plans to plant 10 billion trees and rehabilitate 40 million hectares of land by 2030. (SGI)
The UN has said that a million animal and plant species worldwide are at risk of extinction as a result of human-induced environmental issues.
Biodiversity loss also reduces resilience, making ecosystems more vulnerable to external shocks, such as diseases or climate events.
“Having a balanced ecosystem means the rains will come when we expect them to come, means the cold comes when it’s just right for our crops to get a little of a nip in the air, and means that the sun comes out at the right time when the grains have to ripen and dry under the sun. That is a balanced ecosystem,” Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, told Arab News.
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Restoring balance is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems, which sustain life on Earth, including human communities that depend on these natural systems for resources and services.
“Some people who are living in the cities may not think that they are relying on the ecosystem because they get their food from the grocery store,” Andersen said. “But the reality, of course, is that there is an ecosystem somewhere in the world that provides that food that they purchased. So, we are all relying on that ecosystem.”
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The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority protects 90 percent of the reserve with more than 100 rangers patrolling it.
About 700,000 trees have been planted in the reserve to improve vegetation cover, according to CEO Mohammed Al-Shaalan.
The reserve, which is in the Kingdom’s northeast, spans several regions, including Jawf, Qassim, Hail, Northern Borders, and the Eastern Province.
Furthermore, an unstable ecosystem imposes a financial burden on the government for restoration and ongoing maintenance.
In Asir, in the Kingdom’s southwest, the decline in Arabian leopard populations led to a significant increase in the baboon population. Large troops of baboons, typically found in the southern mountain ranges, have negatively affected local communities. As a result, despite the region’s stunning landscapet, tourism in the area has declined in recent years.
“People lost tourists in Asir because of the baboons,” said Qurban, citing safety concerns. “Some people abandoned their farms; they abandoned their farms completely in Asir and Al-Baha.”
And while some argue that protecting and restoring a sustainable environment is costly to the economy, other business owners believe the cost of sustainable development depends on their objectives.
In Asir, in the Kingdom’s southwest, the decline in Arabian leopard populations led to a significant increase in the baboon population. (SPA)
During a panel discussion at COP16, Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, CEO of the asset management company KBW Ventures, discussed the economics of ecosystems and the real financial costs of implementing green development.
He said that solutions vary by location and must align with the private sector’s objectives to effectively implement sustainable development goals.
“It is not a one size fits all,” he said. “It is a bouquet of opportunities that you have to be customized for it to be actually scalable and profitable for the private sectors and industries in these private sectors to actually flourish.”
During a panel discussion at COP16, Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, CEO of the asset management company KBW Ventures, discussed the economics of ecosystems and the real financial costs of implementing green development. (AN Photo by Huda Bashatah)
Although securing a balanced ecosystem may be costly, the Kingdom made several significant announcements at COP16 over the past two weeks regarding environmental projects.
The Saudi Green Initiative launched five new projects worth $60 million, reflecting the Kingdom’s bold environmental strategy and commitment to sustainable development. This brings the total investment in SGI projects to more than $188 billion.
But Saudi Arabia is not alone in its commitment to green development; many countries share this goal. However, some urban activities can inadvertently harm the environment despite efforts to protect it.
Damage to soil and polluted water sources have also increased social pressure in some communities, prompting people to migrate to regions with better environmental conditions for their families and future.
“If the ecosystem is so imbalanced that I can no longer farm, that I can no longer sustain my family, and I can no longer feed my children, I have only one choice, and it has been the same for thousands of years,” Andersen said. “I will walk.”
Saudi Arabia reaffirms commitment to global humanitarian efforts at high-level UN meeting
Delegation emphasizes Kingdom’s strong advocacy for integration of modern technology to enhance efficiency
Updated 13 December 2024
Arab News
NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has become one of the largest international humanitarian donors, reaffirming its commitment to supporting global efforts, a Saudi official said this week.
Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, assistant supervisor general of planning and development at the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, spoke at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ donor support group in New York on Thursday, where he led the Kingdom’s delegation.
He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s strong advocacy for the integration of modern technology in humanitarian operations to enhance efficiency and better serve vulnerable populations, particularly in conflict-affected regions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Kingdom’s support for OCHA operations, including the provision of unrestricted funding, was underscored as vital for enabling prompt and effective responses to crises.
Al-Ghamdi also outlined KSrelief’s inclusive approach to humanitarian aid, with a focus on supporting women, children, and persons with disabilities. He stressed the importance of designing humanitarian programs that addressed the unique needs of the most vulnerable populations around the world.
The UN meeting reinforced the collective efforts of donor countries to advance humanitarian responses and tackle challenges in delivering aid in complex crisis zones. Saudi Arabia’s ongoing contributions were commended as a model of global solidarity and leadership in addressing pressing humanitarian needs, the SPA added.
