You are here

  • Home
  • Saudi Arabia condemns Gaza school strike
War on Gaza

Saudi Arabia condemns Gaza school strike

Saudi Arabia condemns Gaza school strike
Palestinians look at damages at the site of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City. (Reuters)
Short Url

https://arab.news/m5c6f

Updated 10 August 2024
Arab News
Follow

Saudi Arabia condemns Gaza school strike

Saudi Arabia condemns Gaza school strike
  • The Kingdom called for an end to the “genocide” taking place in Gaza
Updated 10 August 2024
Arab News
Follow

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has condemned Israeli strike on a Gaza school sheltering displaced people that killed around 100 people on Saturday.

In a foreign ministry statement, the Kingdom called for an end to the “genocide” taking place in Gaza where Israeli violations to the international humanitarian law are bringing an “unprecedented humanitarian disaster.”

Saudi Arabia has also denounced the international community’s failure to hold Israel accountable for its violations.

An independent UN-appointed expert accused Israel of committing “genocide” in its Gaza war after the strike.
“Israel is genociding the Palestinians one neighborhood at the time, one hospital at the time, one school at the time, one refugee camp at the time, one safe zone at the time,” Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights situation in Palestinian territories, said on social media platform X.

Israel claimed that around 20 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants were operating from the school.

Saturday’s attack brings to at least 14 the number of schools struck in Gaza since July 6.

 

Topics: War on Gaza Saudi Arabia

Related

Gaza civil defense says Israel strike on school kills 90
Middle-East
Gaza civil defense says Israel strike on school kills 90
Macron says war in Gaza ‘must stop’
Middle-East
Macron says war in Gaza ‘must stop’

Saudi Arabia foreign minister urges a balanced energy transition at G20 Summit session

Saudi Arabia foreign minister urges a balanced energy transition at G20 Summit session
Updated 57 min 32 sec ago
Arab News
Follow

Saudi Arabia foreign minister urges a balanced energy transition at G20 Summit session

Saudi Arabia foreign minister urges a balanced energy transition at G20 Summit session
  • Prince Faisal outlined three pillars for effective energy transition during a discussion at the G20 Summit
Updated 57 min 32 sec ago
Arab News

RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister highlighted the importance of a balanced, inclusive approach to energy transition while ensuring global energy security and sustainable development at a Group of 20 session on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Faisal was leading the Kingdom’s delegation during a session titled “Sustainable Development and Energy Transition,” SPA added.

Energy security represented a global challenge and an obstacle to development and poverty eradication, the minister said, calling for energy plans that considered each country’s circumstances and development needs.

Prince Faisal outlined three pillars for effective energy transition: Ensuring energy security, maintaining access to affordable energy, and achieving environmental sustainability.

He said that the transition required significant investment and time to maintain market stability while ensuring fairness and inclusivity.

Prince Faisal also highlighted the role of technological innovation in managing emissions and environmental impacts.

He said that Saudi Arabia’s investments in innovative technologies had resulted in one of the world’s lowest emissions intensity rates in oil and gas operations, adding that the Kingdom was also advancing its renewable energy goals, aiming for 50 percent of electricity generation from renewables by 2030.

Prince Faisal added that the Kingdom was also expanding its clean hydrogen production and implementing the circular carbon economy framework to repurpose emissions into valuable products.

During his address, the prince also outlined Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global sustainability through its flagship initiatives, the Saudi Green and Middle East Green programs, which are tailored to the country’s development needs.

He called for enhanced international cooperation to ensure energy transitions were equitable, inclusive and supportive of global development goals.

Prince Faisal expressed Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for Brazil’s leadership of the G20 in 2024 and extended well wishes to South Africa as it assumes the presidency in 2025, SPA reported.

Topics: G20 2024 G20 Summit G20 Brazil Saudi Arabia energy

Related

Saudi Arabia FM calls for peace, addresses global challenges at G20 Summit opening photos
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia FM calls for peace, addresses global challenges at G20 Summit opening
Saudi foreign minister meets with US Secretary of State at Brazil G20
Saudi Arabia
Saudi foreign minister meets with US Secretary of State at Brazil G20

Multi-billion global AI spending transforming business efficiency, SDAIA official tells Riyadh conference

Multi-billion global AI spending transforming business efficiency, SDAIA official tells Riyadh conference
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News
Follow

Multi-billion global AI spending transforming business efficiency, SDAIA official tells Riyadh conference

Multi-billion global AI spending transforming business efficiency, SDAIA official tells Riyadh conference
  • Esam bin Abdullah Al-Wagait highlighted these figures during his keynote address at the 9th National Quality Conference
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News

RIYADH: Global spending on artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency exceeded $120 billion in 2023, with over 72 percent of organizations integrating AI into at least one area of their business, according to data cited by the director of the National Information Center at the Saudi Data and AI Authority.

Esam bin Abdullah Al-Wagait highlighted these figures during his keynote address at the 9th National Quality Conference, held on Tuesday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Wagait emphasized the growing role of AI in enhancing leadership capabilities, referencing a study from the 2024 Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, which found that 97 percent of CEOs believe AI has improved their performance, reduced administrative burdens, and strengthened their ability to lead effectively, SPA added.

Al-Wagait told the conference that AI’s integration across various industries reflected its transformative potential and cited the number of industrial robots deployed in manufacturing operations exceeding 4 million globally in 2023, as reported by the International Federation of Robotics, further underlining AI’s role in operational excellence.

“AI is now a trusted partner for organizational leaders, offering accurate analytics and predictions that enable impactful decision-making,” he said. This trend, he explained, aligned with the concept of AI-augmented leadership, which is reshaping organizational strategies worldwide.

The conference session, themed “Role of Advanced Technologies in Ensuring the Quality of Services and Products,” brought together industry leaders and experts to discuss the role of AI and advanced technologies in improving quality assurance and operational outcomes.

Topics: Saudi Arabia artificial intelligence (AI) Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA)

Related

‘Ethics first, then AI:’ SDAIA President stresses importance of responsible development ahead of GAIN Summit
Media
‘Ethics first, then AI:’ SDAIA President stresses importance of responsible development ahead of GAIN Summit
SDAIA concludes training programs for datathon winners in US, UK
Saudi Arabia
SDAIA concludes training programs for datathon winners in US, UK

Climate change is a key driver of worldwide hunger, according to IFAD

Climate change is a key driver of worldwide hunger, according to IFAD
Updated 19 November 2024
Haifa Alshammari
Follow

Climate change is a key driver of worldwide hunger, according to IFAD

Climate change is a key driver of worldwide hunger, according to IFAD
  • IFAD President Alvaro Lario: Food security is intertwined with the current extreme weather events, as it has impacted the world
  • Saudi Arabia has contributed over $536 million to IFAD since it started and is among the top 10 donors
Updated 19 November 2024
Haifa Alshammari

BAKU: Climate change is dangerously impacting crops and driving worldwide hunger, according to the head of the International Fund of Agricultural Development.

“Food security is intertwined with the current extreme weather events, as it has impacted the world,” IFAD President Alvaro Lario said in an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the COP29 UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

IFAD reported that in 2023, about 735 million people suffered from hunger caused by climate change.

In addition, unusual rainfalls, according to IFAD, caused a decrease in wheat production and food quality in Europe.

Floods and heat waves caused damage to orange crops in Brazil. In Southern Africa, above-average temperatures led to below-average maize harvests, and in parts of West Africa, erratic rains affected cocoa production and cut output by half.

“We are seeing a lot of the crops are fully being impacted in Brazil, which has been hit by a historic drought, or in Ghana, for example, where there has not been enough rain, cutting the cocoa production by half.”

The IFAD is a UN specialized agency as well as a development finance institution. The organization provides concessional funds and grants to countries and invests in the private sector.

The organization’s key focus is to provide livelihoods and raise income as well as production in low- and middle-income countries.

“Our biggest investments are in the Sub-Saharan region. Fifty-five percent of our funding goes to Sub-Saharan Africa, and up to 60 percent into Africa. But we also operate in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. We are currently investing in 90 countries,” said Lario.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the main contributors to IFAD. According to the organization, Saudi Arabia has contributed over $536 million to IFAD since it started and is among the top 10 donors.

In the last 10 years alone, the Kingdom has contributed a total of $96.6 million.

IFAD implemented the first phase of a project to support coffee and mango farmers in the Jazan region.

From 2018 to 2023, the project established 50 model coffee farms and five mango farms in the region, which benefited nearly 30,000 smallholder farmers, according to IFAD.

Furthermore, the project adopted strategic plans through a group of development solutions and pillars that include agricultural sustainability and innovation.

“Small-state islands are among the most vulnerable (to climate change),” said Lario. “We are seeing that sea levels are rising. They are also suffering from hurricanes and long droughts. They suffer from access to potable drinking water.”

Strategies to address the problem and implement adequate solutions have been developed by IFAD according to each country’s climate situation.

“For IFAD, we do have strategies on how we work and how we design our projects. All the strategies are to promote sustainable food systems, also to increase rural non-farm crops, so they can also diversify their income.”

One of the programs the organization is working on is in Belize, in Central America, for heat-tolerant and drought-resistant crops such as maize or beans. Another project involves mixing trees with crops that provide shade to conserve water and combat the rising temperatures in Cuba.

Topics: COP29 Green & Blue International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Related

Developing nations push for action on COP29 financing shortfalls
Business & Economy
Developing nations push for action on COP29 financing shortfalls
COP29: Azerbaijan unveils Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative
Business & Economy
COP29: Azerbaijan unveils Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative

Al-Baha farms offer an escape from busy lives

The farms are committed to sustainability and use eco-friendly practices to protect the environment. (SPA)
The farms are committed to sustainability and use eco-friendly practices to protect the environment. (SPA)
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News
Follow

Al-Baha farms offer an escape from busy lives

The farms are committed to sustainability and use eco-friendly practices to protect the environment. (SPA)
  • There are activities such as cycling and hiking and some farms offer overnight accommodation
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News

AL-BAHA: People seeking a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives are flocking to tourist farms in Al-Baha region.

The centers offer a unique blend of natural beauty, agricultural experiences and recreational activities, where visitors can spend their time picking fruit, helping with crop harvesting or learning about organic farming techniques.

The farms are committed to sustainability and use eco-friendly practices to protect the environment. (SPA)

There are also activities such as cycling and hiking and some farms offer overnight accommodation, enabling guests to experience the beauty of the starry night skies.

The farms are committed to sustainability and use eco-friendly practices to protect the environment.

Fahd Al-Zahrani, director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in Al-Baha, said agritourism was becoming increasingly important in the region as it created jobs, boosted the local economy and helped diversify the tourism sector.

 

Topics: saudi tourism Al-Baha Saudi Arabia

Related

Record 13 Saudi farms join International Falcon Breeders Auction
Saudi Arabia
Record 13 Saudi farms join International Falcon Breeders Auction
Experts explore architecture’s societal impact in Saudi Arabia’s Baha 
Saudi Arabia
Experts explore architecture’s societal impact in Saudi Arabia’s Baha 

Forum focuses on women’s role in Saudi economy

Forum focuses on women’s role in Saudi economy
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News
Follow

Forum focuses on women’s role in Saudi economy

Forum focuses on women’s role in Saudi economy
  • Event features broad participation from experts, officials, academics and professionals, focusing on the women’s business sector
  • Prince Saud bin Naif highlighted the Saudi leadership’s commitment to empowering women across various sectors
Updated 19 November 2024
Arab News

RIYADH: Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif inaugurated the Women’s Economic Forum in Dammam on Tuesday.

The event, organized by the Asharqia Chamber through its Women’s Empowerment Center, features broad participation from experts, officials, academics and professionals, focusing on the women’s business sector.

Prince Saud highlighted the Saudi leadership’s commitment to empowering women across various sectors, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He emphasized the importance of economic programs designed to enhance women’s contributions to the national economy.

The chamber’s chairman, Badr Al-Rizaiza, briefed the governor on the forum’s objectives and the key initiatives supporting Saudi women’s empowerment.

The forum featured four sessions examining the evolving role of Saudi women under Vision 2030.

Topics included women’s contributions to achieving Vision 2030’s goals, opportunities in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, strategies for business sustainability, and the significance of training in preparing women for leadership roles.

On Wednesday, the forum will host four workshops focusing on key areas, including the Dhahran Techno Valley system and its support for entrepreneurship, as well as tourism entrepreneurship.

The workshops will also cover fostering workplace diversity and inclusiveness, and creative leadership as a cornerstone for success in today’s dynamic business environment.

Topics: Prince Saud bin Naif Women’s Economic Forum 2024 Dammam Saudi Vision 2030

Related

Forum organized to boost women’s role in Saudi labor market
Saudi Arabia
Forum organized to boost women’s role in Saudi labor market
KSA to boost women’s role in industry, mining
Saudi Arabia
KSA to boost women’s role in industry, mining

Latest updates

Afghan woman teacher, jailed Tajik lawyer share top rights prize
Afghan woman teacher, jailed Tajik lawyer share top rights prize
UN chief slams ‘systematic’ looting of Gaza humanitarian aid
People queue to receive humanitarian aid, supplied by the World Food Program, in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.
Iraq to hold first nationwide census since 1987
A team from the Iraq Planning Ministry carries out the national population census in Kirkuk, Iraq November 18, 2024. (REUTERS)
Saudi Arabia foreign minister urges a balanced energy transition at G20 Summit session
Saudi Arabia foreign minister urges a balanced energy transition at G20 Summit session
US imposes sanctions on senior Hamas officials
US imposes sanctions on senior Hamas officials

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2024 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.