RIYADH: Nordic Culture Week 2024 is bringing Scandinavian culture to Riyadh with a weeklong festival.
The celebration aims to strengthen ties between Nordic countries and the Kingdom and includes a host of cultural events, including screenings of films from Norway, Sweden and Finland.
On Monday, the Danish Embassy hosted Nordic Joyfest, featuring a demonstration of how to make Danish pastries. The event was held in cooperation with Aysh Academy at Hayy Jameel, a baking institute in Jeddah founded by Sumaia Showail and known for its expertise in Danish pastry-making.
Students from the Higher Institute for Tourism and Hospitality, a long-standing partner of HTMi Hotel and Tourism Management Institute in Switzerland, were among those taking part.
Liselotte Plesner, the Danish ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said the festival was not only a celebration of Nordic heritage but also a reflection of the strong cooperation among Nordic nations.
Saudi Civil Defense warns of heavy rains, flash floods
Authorities advised avoiding valleys, flood-prone areas and swimming in valley streams
Updated 14 min 21 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The General Directorate of Civil Defense urged the public to stay cautious and in safe areas during thunderstorms affecting parts of the Kingdom from Wednesday to Sunday.
It advised avoiding valleys, flood-prone areas and swimming in valley streams, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Makkah is expected to face dust-stirring winds, moderate to heavy rainfall and potential hailstorms.
Baha, Asir and Jazan may also see moderate to heavy rain, while the Eastern Province and Madinah are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall.
The Civil Defense emphasized following safety guidelines shared through media and social platforms.
Autumn in Saudi Arabia is typically rainy, with rapid weather changes, offering relief from the heat, according to the National Center for Meteorology.
Saudi scientists at forefront of gene breakthrough that could boost food security
Researchers at KAUST find particular gene that determines whether pearl millet can resist parasitic weeds
By selectively breeding strains of the grain that do not contain the gene, crops can be developed that better resist the threat
Updated 3 min 35 sec ago
Haifa Alshammari MANAL AL-BARAKATI
RIYADH: Researchers led by experts at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia have identified a gene in a native grain crop that could help to improve food security in the Kingdom and beyond.
The gene affects the level of resistance to a parasitic weed that is one of the major threats to this particular crop.
Salim Al-Babili, associate dean of biological and environmental science and engineering at the university and a professor of plant science, said: “By producing very high-quality genomes of pearl millet, we found a gene that contributes to the susceptibility of pearl millet to the root parasitic plant striga. Striga represents a major threat to global food security.”
Pearl millet, a common crop in Saudi Arabia and other places with a similar climate, can be vulnerable to striga hermonthica, also known as purple witchweed. The researchers found that pearl millet strains that lack the gene “CLAMT1b,” which is responsible for the synthesis of specific hormones, are more resistant to the weed than those in which the gene is present.
The finding is significant because it offers fresh insights into beneficial breeding methods for improved food security, the experts said.
“Pearl millet is a traditional crop in Saudi Arabia,” Al-Babili said. “It is a nutritious and healthy cereal, with pronounced resilience and tolerance for arid environments, making it a promising local crop for the Kingdom's food security.”
Salim Al-Babili, associate dean of biological and environmental science and engineering at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and a professor of plant science.
About 100 million people in Asia and Africa, particularly communities in harsh and dry climates, rely on pearl millet as part of their staple diet because of its high nutritional value. By selectively breeding strains that do not have the CLAMT1b gene, crops can be developed that better resist parasitic threats in Saudi Arabia and other arid regions.
“Our work will help in producing striga-resistant varieties that contribute to global food security,” Al-Babili added. “It also paves the way for improving this important crop and increasing its productivity, toward a wider utilization as a source for food and fodder in the Kingdom.”
This gene-targeted strategy aligns with global agricultural trends that focus on genetic improvements as part of the efforts to address challenges arising from climate change, and offer a potential model for improvements to other staple crops that are vulnerable to parasitic plants.
The researchers found that many varieties of pearl millet breeding stocks, including commercially available ones, contain the CLAMT1b gene. They also discovered that the presence or otherwise of the gene had no significant effect on the symbiotic relationship between pearl millet and arbuscular mycorrhizal, a fungus commonly found on the crop that has many benefits for the plant, including increased uptake of water and nutrients and improved disease resistance.
The researchers’ findings therefore suggest breeding strategies that remove the CLAMT1 gene could help protect the crop from parasitical plants without harming other ecological relationships that benefit its growth and survival.
The ability of art to instill joy in young patients
Sheryan Society collaborates with Bristol Myers Squibb for a very special puppet show
Updated 09 October 2024
Rashid Hassan
RIYADH: A leading hematology patient advisory group based in Jazan has joined forces with a major biopharmaceutical company to brighten up the lives of young thalassemia patients.
Together, the Sheryan Society and Bristol Myers Squibb organized a unique puppet show to engage and entertain youngsters battling the blood disorder as part of the latter’s annual Global Patient Week in Saudi Arabia.
Khaled Dubaiyan Al-Dubaiyan, CEO of the Sheryan Association in Jazan, said: “The puppet show that we organized in cooperation with Bristol Myers Squibb brought a touch of magic to the lives of these children.
“The event was successful in reducing the burden of the hardships they face, drawing smiles on their faces and sparking a sense of joy in their hearts. We were pleased to cooperate with Bristol Myers Squibb for this event, a step that is of utmost importance in raising the morale of young thalassemia patients, and one that provided them with enhanced mental wellbeing and moral support.”
He added: “This initiative serves as an ideal example of an impactful corporate social responsibility effort, as it showcased that collaborations between the private and non-profit sectors can make a palatable difference in patients’ lives. More importantly, this initiative underscores the importance of supporting patients and providing them with comprehensive healthcare.”
Oscar Delgado, general manager for Bristol Myers Squibb in the Middle East and Africa, said: “Entering its tenth year, Global Patient Week has become a cornerstone of our culture, rekindling our commitment to our patients.
“Their profound experiences strengthen our resolve and align(ment) with Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s Health Sector Transformation Program to build a vibrant society. This initiative supports our collective goal of advancing patient care through scientific innovation and contributing to the evolution of healthcare in the region.”
JEDDAH: The NASA International Space Apps Challenge hackathon concluded in Jeddah on Tuesday night, after setting out to raise awareness about Earth and space sciences, NASA’s data, and exploration.
Organized by Geeks Valley with support from the Saudi Space Agency and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, the event brought together top minds in science and technology to tackle real-world space challenges.
Twelve teams, comprising 50 participants, collaborated over two days under the guidance of experts from the University of Business and Technology.
A panel of judges evaluated projects based on innovation, feasibility, impact and execution.
The winners developed “Vitanova,” a story-based game using NASA data to raise awareness about climate change. The game challenges players to use renewable energy and understand the environmental impact of the choices they make.
The second-placed team produced a solution to protect solar panels from dust storms, extending their lifespan in harsh environments.
The third-placed team created “ZeroG Arena,” a game for astronauts to combat boredom during space missions through competitive challenges in a microgravity environment.
The University of Business and Technology honored Ali Mohammed Al-Masari as the youngest participant, recognizing his contributions.
Winners received certificates and mentorship opportunities, paving the way for future collaboration.
Saudi embassy in US issues advisory to citizens on Hurricane Milton
US President urged residents to “evacuate now, now, now.”
Landfall is expected in the next 24 hours
Updated 09 October 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s embassy in the US issued an emergency advisory to Saudis in Florida and neighboring states as Hurricane Milton restrengthened to a Category 5 as it barreled toward the state on Tuesday.
The embassy asked Saudis to follow guidelines by state authorities in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
As of 3 a.m. Saudi time, the storm was more than 700 kilometers southwest of Tampa, with winds of 265 kph, and is expected to make landfall some time on Wednesday or Thursday.
Authorities have told millions to evacuate before it hits land as Milton is said to be the strongest storm in the Gulf of Mexico since 2005.
President Joe Biden, who postponed a foreign trip to Europe and Africa, also urged residents to flee what he said could be the worst natural disaster in the state for a century.
“It’s a matter of life and death, and that’s not hyperbole,” he said.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed the Biden administration had provided all that he had asked for and said thousands of National Guard personnel will be activated to help during the crisis.
Last month Hurricane Helene, Category 4, hit the Big Bend region of Florida, killing more than 200 people and causing nearly $40 billion worth of damage. Helene was the deadliest to hit the US mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The embassy issued the following emergency numbers (202) 746-3555, (202) 746-0666, (202) 746-9777 and (202) 746-2888.
