RIYADH: Azan Al-Majnooni and Hisham Al-Maliki, of the King Abdul Aziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), won gold and bronze medals respectively at the European Physics Olympiad (EUPHO) 2019, in Riga, Latvia.
The contest ran from May 31 to June 4, and the Saudi duo were praised for their awards by the secretary-general of Mawhiba, Dr. Saud bin Saeed Al-Mathami.
Al-Mathami stressed that the accomplishments were achieved thanks to government support for the sciences and the foundation. This was the first time the Kingdom had taken part in EUPHO, which hosted 26 other nations.
“This comes as an extension to the march toward achieving the targets of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 through improving education and building a solid base for a talented generation, capable of realizing the aspirations of a state able to rely on creativity and innovation as a means to achieve,” he said.
The secretary-general added that Saudi Arabia paid great attention to gifted and talented citizens, catering their needs and requirements, upgrading services and programs supporting them, and creating the right environment to grow and develop their abilities.
Al-Mathami underlined that this victory was the result of fruitful and constructive cooperation between Mawhiba and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.
EUPHO is an international student contest, first held in 2017 in Estonia, and then in Russia 12 months later.
Saudi foundation wins gold, bronze in European Physics Olympiad
Saudi foundation wins gold, bronze in European Physics Olympiad
- EUPHO is an international student contest, first held in 2017 in Estonia, and then in Russia 12 months later.
Iranian ambassador thanks Saudi for not allowing territory to be used during war
- Alireza Enayati tells AFP Iran appreciates Kingdom's pledge not to allow its 'airspace, waters, or territory' to be used in US attacks
- Envoy also denies that his country hit the US embassy in Riyadh this week with drones
RIYADH: Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati said on Thursday his country remained appreciative of Saudi Arabia’s pledge to not allow its airspace or territory to be used during the ongoing war with the US and Israel.
“We appreciate what we have repeatedly heard from Saudi Arabia — that it does not allow its airspace, waters, or territory to be used against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he told AFP.
Before the outbreak of war, Riyadh had thrown its support behind diplomatic efforts to diffuse tensions between Tehran and Washington and vowed that its airspace would not be allowed to be used for attacks against Iran.
Enayati also categorically denied that his country hit the US embassy in Riyadh this week, after Saudi officials said Iran targeted the compound with drones.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Tehran of launching missile salvos and drone attacks at its territory and warned that the kingdom reserved the right to defend itself, including by retaliating.
Iran had earlier denied attacking the sprawling Ras Tanura refinery — one of the largest in the Middle East — which Riyadh had also accused Tehran of targeting twice with drones.
Enayati added to the denial, saying Iran also had no hand in the targeting of the US embassy that triggered a fire at the compound.
“We confirmed that Iran has no role in the attack on the US embassy in Riyadh,” the ambassador told AFP.
“If the operations command in Tehran attacks somewhere, it takes responsibility for it.”
The war in the Middle East has engulfed the otherwise stable Gulf region as Iran retaliates over US and Israeli strikes that killed its supreme leader, launching strikes at Israel, the wider region and beyond.
At least 13 people have been killed in the Gulf, including seven civilians, since Iran began its attacks on Saturday.
Enayati, however, denied that Iran was waging a regional war as retaliation for the attacks on his country by the US and Israel.
“This is not a regional war and it is not our war. It was imposed on the region,” he told AFP.
