Saudi team wins four international awards at 2024 European Physics Olympiad

The Saudi team won four international awards at the 2024 European Physics Olympiad this week in Georgia. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 19 July 2024
Follow

Saudi team wins four international awards at 2024 European Physics Olympiad

  • The team members were among 275 high-school students from 55 countries competing at the 5-day event in Georgia this week

RIYADH: The Saudi team won four international awards at the 2024 European Physics Olympiad this week in Georgia.

The team members were among 275 high-school students from 55 countries competing at the five-day event, which began on Monday and concluded on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Their success brings the total number of academic Olympiad awards won by Saudi students to 21.

Mazen Al-Shakhs, from Al-Ahsa, won a silver medal, while Wissam Al-Qanbar, from the Eastern Province, and Ahmed Arif, from Jeddah, each won bronze. Ahmed Fadlallah, from Makkah, received a certificate of appreciation.

The students were participating in the contest with the support of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, also known as Mawhiba, and the Ministry of Education.

Amal Al-Hazzaa, the secretary-general of Mawhiba, said she was proud of what the students accomplished, describing it as yet another achievement by talented Saudi individuals in international competitions.

“Mawhiba is dedicated to empowering talented Saudis by developing their skills and competencies using the latest global methods for discovering and nurturing talent,” she added. “This effort aligns with, and contributes to, the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”

The Saudi team members competing at the event underwent intensive preparation, including tuition from an elite group of Saudi and international experts. They took regular tests and developed their higher-level thinking skills by carrying out physics experiments with which they were unfamiliar, that were designed specifically for such local and international competitions. They also used tools tailored to prepare them for the kinds of questions and tasks they would face, which included challenging ideas and puzzles.

The European Physics Olympiad is a competition in which high-school students are presented with problems that require creative solutions. It is open to countries in Europe and beyond, which can send five students and one leader. The inaugural event took place in Estonia in 2017. The concept behind the Olympiad is based on real-world research situations, with problems that allow space for creative solutions.

Mawhiba thanked its partners, including the Ministry of Education and other strategic collaborators, for their help to train and hone the skills of Saudi students for the event. This formed part of the Mawhiba International Olympiad Program which, in a strategic partnership with the ministry, offers students the chance to attend training camps throughout the year. It is one of 20 initiatives that offer advanced curricula and enrichment programs in subjects related to science, engineering and health.


Border Guards hold awareness exhibition in Al-Jouf

Updated 13 sec ago
Follow

Border Guards hold awareness exhibition in Al-Jouf

SAKAKA: The Saudi General Directorate of Border Guards in the Al-Jouf region has organized an awareness exhibition, called “A Nation Without Violators,” at the Cities Mall in Sakaka.

The event, which is being held until Oct. 13, is to help raise awareness about the importance of adhering to border security and residency laws, as well as reporting those violating the rules.

The exhibition is part of the Ministry of the Interior’s media and communication efforts and aims to inform the public about border security regulations and the penalties for those who facilitate the entry of border security law violators into the Kingdom, transport them within the country, provide shelter, or offer any form of assistance.

Separately, land patrols in Al-Raboah, Asir, have foiled an attempt to smuggle 85 kg of qat. Preliminary procedures have been completed and the seized narcotics handed to the authorities.

In addition, authorities in Al-Daer, Jazan, have arrested three Ethiopian border security violators for attempting to smuggle 240 kg of qat. Legal procedures have been initiated against them, and the seized items handed over to the authorities.
 


Madinah Dates Season empowers families in cottage industry

Updated 6 min 51 sec ago
Follow

Madinah Dates Season empowers families in cottage industry

MADINAH: The Madinah Dates Season continues to empower families working in the cottage industry with workshops and seminars presented by industry experts.

These sessions aim to enhance skills in manufacturing and handicrafts related to the dates industry, providing valuable knowledge for participants to develop their projects.

Around 35 families have benefited from this training, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

The Madinah Dates Season will be held until the end of this year, featuring an exhibition, events, and competitions designed to elevate the industry through innovative and creative solutions.


Islamic affairs minister meets mosque staff in Baha region

Updated 11 min 41 sec ago
Follow

Islamic affairs minister meets mosque staff in Baha region

AL-BAHA: Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh met mosque staff in the city of Al-Baha on Wednesday.

The meeting at the Prince Sultan Cultural Center included imams, preachers and supervisors from the Al-Baha region and governorates.

Al-Sheikh stressed the leadership’s support for mosques to fulfill their mission and achieve the highest quality standards in services.

He said that the ministry had employed more than 60,000 staff, both males and females, across the Kingdom, while nearly 2,000 employees were hired to work in the ministry’s branch in Al-Baha’s region and its governorates.
 


Saudi Red Sea Authority issues coastal tourism guidelines

Updated 16 min 18 sec ago
Follow

Saudi Red Sea Authority issues coastal tourism guidelines

RIYADH: The Saudi Red Sea Authority has issued the first four industry-specific codes in the Kingdom with global specifications aimed at elevating the quality of infrastructure for coastal tourism.

The Marina Planning and Design Code, The Cruise Terminal Planning and Design Code, The Marina Operations Code and The Cruise Terminal Operations Code are designed to enhance the quality of the coastal tourism sector and unify technical standards and requirements for marinas and cruise terminals.

The issuance of the codes aligns with the authority’s mandates, which include establishing guidelines, rules, and standards for providing services for navigational and marine tourism activities, along with marinas.

Tasks include their development, management, operation, and supervision in coordination with relevant entities, using the best international practices to position the Red Sea as a leading global tourism destination.

The codes will accommodate yachts, maritime tourism watercrafts and cruise ships within the geographical scope. These codes ensure the quality of infrastructure and target developers, planners, designers, engineers, and technicians in related industries.

The codes outline specific requirements and standards for managing and operating coastal tourism facilities. They will serve as a standardized reference document detailing the minimum requirements for the management and operations of these facilities.

The authority has previously issued eight regulations governing coastal tourism activities, the first of their kind in the Kingdom, to ensure effective management and operation of the facilities and in order to improve public safety.


Mayor of Riyadh participates in ‘Smart Life Week’ in Korean Capital

Updated 32 min 55 sec ago
Follow

Mayor of Riyadh participates in ‘Smart Life Week’ in Korean Capital

SEOUL: Mayor of Riyadh Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf participated in the Smart Life Week activities held in the Korean capital Seoul, aimed at showcasing smart innovations and technologies that contribute to developing cities and enhancing urban sustainability.

During the opening ceremony, Prince Faisal gave a keynote speech, emphasizing that digital transformation in Riyadh was a core part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which includes clear principles and pillars stemming from the ambitions of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He said that Riyadh had massive projects underway in tourism, entertainment, environment, sports and other sectors, all of which enhanced the quality of life in the city and improved its livability.

Prince Faisal then elaborated on the city’s projects, plans and future directions.