11 Saudi students training for Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad
Kingdom makes debut at Olympiad from Aug. 17-26
Nascent space industry needs engineers and scientists
Updated 11 July 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: A “Summer Forum” is underway in Riyadh to prepare 11 male and female high school students for the 17th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The IOAA Olympiad takes place from Aug. 17 to 26 in Vassouras, Brazil.
Saudi Arabia is making its debut at the annual event, which was held for the first time in 2007 in Thailand.
In its report, the SPA said Mawhiba — known formally as the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity — launched the July 7 to Aug. 1 forum in collaboration with the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission.
“The forum aims to equip students with the necessary skills to participate in the Olympiad and help build a generation proficient in space science and technology,” the report stated.
It also seeks to “inspire future generations to pursue careers in applied scientific and engineering fields,” it added.
Mawhiba and the commission have been involved in various training programs to develop engineers and scientists for the Kingdom’s nascent space industry.
Brazil, which is hosting it for the second time, held the sixth Olympiad in 2012 in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Vassouras.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemns Israel’s confiscation of Palestinian archeological sites
Updated 25 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned on Monday the ongoing Israeli colonial practices, particularly the confiscation of thousands of acres of Palestinian land.
The Jeddah-based organization said the latests of these practices was ceasing archeological sites in Sebastia village in the West Bank.
The OIC said that these practices fall within Israel’s discriminative policy against hundreds of archaeological, historical, scientific and religious sites in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Israel is trying to “erase and destroy the cultural and civilizational heritage of the Palestinian people,” the organization said, adding that these actions are a flagrant violation of a number of international laws and conventions.
The OIC called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to take immediate action to safeguard the tangible and intangible cultural assets in the occupied Palestinian territory.
In early July, Israel approved the largest seizure of land in the occupied West Bank in over three decades, an anti-settlement watchdog group said, a move that could further worsen already soaring tensions linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Peace Now said authorities recently approved the appropriation of 12.7 square kilometers (nearly 5 square miles) of land in the Jordan Valley. The group’s data indicate it was the largest single appropriation approved since the 1993 Oslo accords at the start of the peace process.
Star Saudi food blogger ‘nourished’ by fusion of Middle East, Asia dishes
Flavors of Indonesia sparked love for cooking, says Emad Ramen who has 1.2m followers on TikTok
Updated 29 July 2024
Rahaf Jambi
RIYADH: Star Saudi Arabia food blogger Emad Ramen recently attended Geekcon in Kuwait as a guest alongside other culinary celebrities, where he was able to talk to fellow chefs about his increasingly popular fusion of Middle Eastern and Asian dishes.
“It feels so good to be invited to such an event, especially since my mother is Kuwaiti and we went there for the first time,” said Emad, who prefers to go by social media name “Emad Ramen.”
Prior to the event he noted that he was looking forward to learning “about Kuwaiti cuisine and meet chefs from there.”
Katsu curry and ramen are among the dishes Emad tried after seeing it in anime. (Supplied)
Geekcon was founded in 2023 to celebrate “all things geeky, from anime and comics to comics, video games, movies and more,” according to its website.
At 32, Emad is making waves in the culinary world with his unique blend of Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines. Hailing from Saudi Arabia, Emad’s passion for cooking was first ignited by the vibrant flavors of Indonesian food.
“(It) gave me a great push to discover other Asian and international cuisines,” Emad explained. “And some dishes that I wanted to try from anime movies and cartoons, such as katsu curry and ramen.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• Emad Ramen told Arab News he finds inspiration from a variety of sources, including YouTube cooking channels and films focused on the kitchen.
• He also draws ideas from his interactions with his online following, which currently stands at 1.2 million on TikTok.
His approach to cooking, he said, is all about “continuity and departure from the familiar, trying new and inspiring dishes to share.”
Emad’s culinary journey has been fueled by a deep curiosity and a willingness to experiment. He finds inspiration from a variety of sources, including YouTube cooking channels and films focused on the kitchen.
He also draws ideas from his interactions with his online following, which currently stands at 1.2 million on TikTok.
“As a person who loves films related to the kitchen, my mind is always nourished, and there are many sources of inspiration, such as friends and followers, when they share their amazing recipes with me,” he said.
When asked about cooking tricks he has learned trying new recipes, he said: “One of the secrets I learned is adding soy sauce and vinegar to the chicken after cutting it during the marinating stage, which makes the chicken more able to absorb the spices and enhances the flavor even more.”
To make his dishes more accessible to his Arab audience, Emad has added his own twist to the way he presents his culinary adventures. “By Arabizing it, I change the names of Japanese and Korean dishes to Arabic names without changing the recipe itself,” he said.
He said he mixes “Indomie with different international cuisines” to help bridge the gaps between cultures.
Emad added: “I preserve the traditions of the original dish, but I develop it and present it in a new or trendy way that attracts followers and contributes to disseminating the video.”
When it comes to exploring cuisines from the East, Emad’s advice is simple: “Asian dishes are very diverse, so find what is suitable for you and try it.
“Do not do anything that you are not comfortable with. I know some Asian dishes that are very spicy or very salty. They may not suit some people.”
Emad’s willingness to step outside his comfort zone has resulted in people from other nations asking him to try new recipes.
“For example, a Moroccan asked me to mix a dish from Saudi Arabia with a dish from Morocco, and then the rest of the followers got excited to participate,” he said.
Looking ahead, Emad has ambitious goals: “I aspire to have a TV show, travel around the world and get to know different cooks, try new dishes and transfer them to the Arab world.”
Saudi Arabia signs development agreement with Kosovo
The loan will be used to finance the Pristina-Mitrovica Highway Project
Updated 29 July 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan Al-Marshad on Monday signed a development loan agreement worth over $14 million with Kosovo’s Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers Hekuran Murati in Kosovo.
The loan will be used to finance the Pristina-Mitrovica Highway Project, its official account reported on X.
The scheme will enhance infrastructure, rehabilitate essential road services and improve road safety standards for 27,000 vehicles daily. It will also create job opportunities and support social development, the statement said.
Who’s Who: Samar Nassar, managing director of Healthcare at Accenture in the Middle East
Updated 29 July 2024
Arab News
Samar Nassar is the managing director of Healthcare at Accenture in the Middle East, a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services.
With more than 20 years of industry expertise, she has a track record of driving change and enhancing patient journeys, making her a key player in the region’s healthcare transformation. Her knowledge of healthcare systems in the Middle East is instrumental in driving the implementation of advanced technology solutions tailored to the region’s challenges.
Nassar’s previous roles were as board member of the health sector transformation program for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program and as managing director of healthcare at the Ministry of Investment.
Nassar has also served as the executive director of health care at KPMG Saudi Arabia. Prior to that, she worked as a management consultant at Artery’s, a health tech startup based in Silicon Valley.
During her time at Artery’s, Nassar made space for AI-based diagnostic imaging technologies in the Middle East by leading the company’s expansion into the region’s market.
Nassar also worked as the marketing director at the National Center for Privatization and PPP (public-private partnerships). She was one of the institutionalizing board members of the healthcare PPP committee and managed many of the center’s sectors toward improving public-private relationships in the healthcare sector.
Nassar’s early career included working as regional director at GE Healthcare and as sales product specialist at Johnson & Johnson MedTech.
Following a background in biochemistry, Nassar earned an MBA in international business from the University of Birmingham in 2010, as well as a master’s degree in health care and design from Imperial College London in a joint program with the Royal College of Arts.
Authorities bust drug smugglers across the Kingdom
Updated 29 July 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi authorities recently made several drug-related arrests and confiscations in operations throughout the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Border Guard land patrols in Al-Dayer governorate, Jazan region, arrested seven Ethiopian and Yemeni citizens trying to smuggle 115 kg of qat.
Land patrols in Jazan’s Al-Ardah governorate also thwarted the smuggling of 140 kg of qat.
The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested a citizen in the Northern Borders region for selling amphetamine, while the directorate also arrested two citizens in the Eastern Province for selling 6.8 kg of hashish.
In Asir, a citizen was arrested for selling and smuggling 205 kg of qat.
Preliminary legal procedures have been completed for all the suspects involved and all seized items have been handed over to the relevant authorities.
The Saudi government urges anyone with information related to suspected smuggling operations or customs offenses to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number +966 114 208417, or to email [email protected].
Tips received relating to smuggling and breaches of common customs law are treated with strict confidentiality. Financial rewards are offered for valid tips.
