Saudi astronauts, aiming to inspire curiosity, speak to students from International Space Station

The two Saudi astronauts make radio contact with a group of Saudi students during the passage of the International Space Station over a ground station in Riyadh. (Twitter: @saudispace)
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Updated 26 May 2023
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Saudi astronauts, aiming to inspire curiosity, speak to students from International Space Station

  • Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni contacted a group of students in Riyadh using amateur radio frequencies
  • Initiative coordinated by Saudi Space Commission, Ministry of Education and Communications, Space and Technology Commission

RIYADH: Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni contacted a group of students in Riyadh using amateur radio frequencies from the International Space Station. 

The initiative was coordinated with the Saudi Space Commission, the Ministry of Education and the Communications, and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission. It aims to engage students in science and inspire curiosity about space technologies.

The students interacted with Barnawi and Al-Qarni, with the two answering questions about living in space and the daily routine at the International Space Station, and sharing their feelings about their journey. 

During their stay in space, the astronauts aim to conduct 20 research projects. Among them are 14 projects developed by Saudi scientists, covering areas such as human physiology, cell biology and technology.


Coalition trains in Niger to combat terrorist financing 

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Coalition trains in Niger to combat terrorist financing 

RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition has concluded an advanced training program in Niger on combating terrorist financing and money laundering.

Held in Niamey, the five-day program aimed to strengthen member states’ capacity to counter financial crimes linked to terrorism, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Some 25 trainees from financial, security, regulatory, and military sectors received theoretical and practical training to enhance their professional readiness and ability to transfer expertise to national institutions.

The program covered international legal frameworks, modern terrorist financing methods, money laundering mechanisms, financial detection and analysis techniques, and compliance governance within financial institutions.

Advanced modules focused on tracking suspicious financial flows, developing proactive investigative skills, and boosting cooperation among financial, regulatory, and security authorities, following recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force.

The program supports the Saudi-backed coalition’s mission to help member states protect their financial systems from exploitation in terrorist financing.