RIYADH: Women and men working together will drive social and economic change, Joanna Roper, the UK Foreign Office’s Special Envoy for Gender Equality, said in an exclusive interview with Arab News during the Women’s Economic Forum that opened in Riyadh on Monday.
"We talked earlier at the forum about working with men who are our allies and champions, and only together can we really see a change," Roper said.
"I think the changes we are seeing in Saudi Arabia with Vision 2030 are a positive move. I met a few of the delegation on the crown prince’s visit to London. That was my first encounter with Saudi men and women who are looking to change the economy. To bring more women in, and I think this is really positive."
Roper said that the UK was a firm supporter of Saudi Arabia "in whatever way it can be."
She said the UK's foreign secretary had made girls’ education a priority and this was an area of shared interest.
"In terms of specific things we are doing in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, with the British Council and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, is the training of PE teachers for girls, so this is where international cooperation really comes in. Also, in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), there has been cooperation across the border, in supporting women in STEM and helping them become female STEM leaders. That’s something that we are all very passionate about in the UK Foreign Office."
Roper said that many families already recognized the value of education for boys and girls. "If we can build on that and continue to talk about the real value and benefit of education, then the case makes itself."
Roper, who took up her role in April last year, said she saw her job as supporting and helping the British government in its gender equality work. "For example, the Foreign Office has a whole lot of work for, let’s say, women’s peace and security, and international development. They do a lot on our program work: education, economic empowerment, political participation as well.
"What I try to do is support all their work when we are talking to partners overseas. My job is not to tell people what to do, it’s about where can we find a way to work together.
Saudi Vision 2030 is positive move in global campaign: UK envoy for gender equality
Saudi Vision 2030 is positive move in global campaign: UK envoy for gender equality
Saudi Space Agency to launch space futures center with WEF
RIYADH: An agreement between the Saudi Space Agency and the World Economic Forum will see the Center for Space Futures open this autumn, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.
The center will aim to facilitate discussions on space collaboration, incorporating best practices from the forum and its communities into the global space sector, and generating forward-looking contributions to accelerate space technologies.
“The center is committed to fostering a vibrant, prosperous and sustainable space economy globally. By developing principles, expanding knowledge, refining models and cultivating partnerships, we aim to responsibly harness the vast opportunities of space,” said Saudi Space Agency CEO Mohammed Al-Tamimi.
“From monitoring the effects of climate change to increasing human connectivity via satellites, the impact of the global space sector on Earth cannot be overstated,” said Jeremy Jurgens, the WEF’s managing director.
He added the center would be integrated into the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution network due to the importance of topics such as space technological innovation, policies and regulations, as well as sustainability.
The Center for Space Futures will be the first in C4IR to focus exclusively on space.
It will work alongside the Kingdom’s existing center, C4IR Saudi Arabia, to advance Saudi Vision 2030, the country’s roadmap for economic diversification, global engagement and improved quality of life.
Region has a choice of two paths says Blinken, one of war and aggression, the other of peace
- In Riyadh, Blinken is expected to meet with senior Saudi leaders and hold a wider meeting with counterparts from five Arab states
RIYADH: Secretary Anthony Blinken said the Middle East region had two paths moving forward, one of violence and permanent insecurity, the other intergration and and greater peace.
Speaking in Riyadh at a joint US-Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting to advance coordination on regional security on Monday, Blinken said he believed most in the region wanted to follow the path of peace.
“There really are two paths forward for the region as a whole. One driven with division with destruction, with violence with permanent insecurity. The other, greater integration, greater security, greater peace,” Secretary Anthony Blinken said.
“ I think the region today shows that many more of us want to pursue that affirmative path, and I’m grateful to our colleagues in the GCC for working in partnership to advance in that direction,” he added.
During his opening remarks, Secretary Blinken expressed that the meeting serves as an opportunity to advance efforts to promote greater stability in this region.
Blinken arrived in Riyadh Monday morning as a part of a 3-day visit from April 29-May 1 to meet with regional partners.
The secretary highlighted that in the upcoming days as he travels to Jordan and Palestine he will meet with humanitarian groups and the Israeli governemnt to discuss the developments in Gaza.
During his remarks Secretary Blinken highlighted the current U.S. interventions such as the increased value of aid delivered to Gaza and the building of the US maritime corridor.
“It is not enough we still need to get more aid in and around Gaza,” he explained.
During his speech, Blinken underlines that the U.S. will continue to work with its GCC partners to “build just and lasting peace.”
“We are focused on addressing the greatest threat to regional stability and regional security, Iran,”
“ This is the first meeting since Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, The first direct attack from Iran to Israel with more than 300 projectiles including over 100 holistic missiles," Blinken explained.
Blinken underlined that the attacks from Iran stress the importance of working together in integrated defense.
He highlighted that this will be the discussion topic in the upcoming US-GCC meeting in a few weeks on integrated air, militry defense and maritime security.
The other discussion topic underlined by Blinken was the “ ways to preserve freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,”
“The Houthi attacks not only undermine security but they undermine the lives and livelihoods of people throughout the region including in Yeman, the very people they profess they want to represent, The cost of goods have gone up, and it’s harder to get things into Yemen, to the north we’re people so desperately need it,”
“This needs to stop and we are being resolute in doing everything we can to put a stop to it,” Blinken sid.
During his opening remarks, the GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for an international conference on implementing a two-state solution.
He also underlined the need for effective international measures to end the violence in the West Bank.
He also expressed the importance of ensuring the security of relief corridors for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Al-Budaiwi emphasized that the continuous escalation between Iran and Israel threatens the security and stability of the region.
The GCC Secretary General also expressed concern over the Houthi attacks on the Red Sea.
Following his visit to the Kingdom, Blinken will be meeting with counterparts in Jordan and Palestine.
As a part of his visit, the secretary will discuss various topics including the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages.
Other topics in the meetings will include humanitarian aid to Gaza, limiting the spillover of conflict and ongoing efforts to achieve regional security.
A pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel will also be one of the topics of discussion during his visit.
On the sidelines of the meeting, The Saudi Minister of foreign affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Secretary Blinken. The two discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip, the importance of a ceasefire, efforts to ensure entry of urgent humanitarian aid, and joint efforts.
Saudi crown prince receives world officials after WEF special meeting in Riyadh
- Two-day special meeting of the World Economic Forum ended on Monday
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received officials from around the world in Riyadh after a special meeting of the World Economic forum ended on Monday.
The officials included Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif.
The officials attended the two-day special meeting during which the crown prince called for global collaboration to help build a more resilient and integrated global economy.
Blinken is visiting the Kingdom on his seventh trip to the Middle East since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which responded with a relentless offensive in Gaza that has drawn global criticism.
Saudi authorities issue severe weather warning
- Schools, universities in some regions switch to remote learning after storms, high winds forecast
RIYADH: Saudi authorities warned residents that most parts of the Kingdom will experience severe weather until Friday.
The National Center of Meteorology on Monday forecast moderate-to-heavy rain in the Madinah, Makkah, Jeddah, Baha and Najran regions, accompanied by high winds, hail and thunder.
Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense also issued severe weather warnings accompanied by safety instructions as the country braces for heavy rainfall in coming days.
The Civil Defense said that most parts of the Kingdom will experience moderate-to-torrential thundershowers, accompanied by strong winds, until Friday.
Regions to be affected include Asir, Baha, Makkah, Madinah, Jazan, Qassim, Jouf, Hail, Tabuk, Northern Borders, Riyadh and the Eastern Province.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense has urged people to take precautions, remain indoors during stormy weather, and adhere to its instructions.
Schools in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah regions switched to online classes through the Madrasati remote-learning platform on Monday after authorities warned of storms and possible floods this week.
The King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, University of Jeddah, University of Taif, and Umm Al Qura University in Makkah were closed on Monday and postponed scheduled exams until further notice.
Taibah University in Madinah and Saudi Electronic University’s branch in Jeddah also suspended in-person classes on Monday, and switched to remote learning.
Jeddah Municipality implemented a field plan to deal with the weather conditions, and urged residents to show caution and stay away from flooded areas.
Bandar bin Saleh Al-Hadiya, director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in the Northern Border region, inspected dam safety in Arar ahead of the rainy situation.
Riyadh region was also hit by a heavy sandstorm accompanied by high winds on Sunday night, leaving the city skyline enveloped in dust.
On Monday, the NCM issued a red alert for dust storms in parts of the Riyadh region, including the capital, and Al-Aflaj, Al-Sulail and Wadi Al-Dawasir governorates.
Saudi FM discusses two-state solution with French, Turkish counterparts
- The discussions took place on the sidelines of a ministerial consultative meeting to discuss Gaza war
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with his French and Turkish counterparts on Monday.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of a ministerial consultative meeting of the six-party Arab Committee to discuss developments in the Gaza war, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Talks with Hakan Fidan of Turkiye and Stephane Sejourne focused on coordinating efforts to advance the two-state solution and acknowledge the Palestinian state, SPA added.
