Category: News

The Human Rights and Rule of Law Department of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya organized a workshop on the protection of Libyan human rights defenders.

The UN mission said in a tweet that the participants in the workshop emphasized that a thriving civil society is a force for positive change.

Participants stressed the need to support and encourage the valuable work of civil society organizations and human rights defenders, rather than hinder it.

During the workshop, participants noted that enabling and inclusive environments, both online and offline, are essential for the safety and activism of women and human rights defenders in Libya.

They also affirmed the support of the Human Rights and Rule of Law Section of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya for Women and Human Rights Defenders in developing a protection strategy.

Source: Libyan News Agency

DUBAI, 25th June, 2023 (WAM) The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) today announced the winners of the UAE Zero Robotics Programming Challenge (UAE ZRPC), a unique programming competition which took place onboard the International Space Station (ISS) with the participation of Emirati astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi. The UAE ZRPC was developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and NASA. This Challenge provided university students with a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate and develop their programming and critical thinking skills. They achieved this by programming the free-flying robot, Astrobee, to write Arabic letters in the microgravity environment of the ISS. The first place was awarded to the team from Khalifa University for demonstrating exceptional command over the Astrobee’s control in a microgravity environment, with their impressive coding skills leading them to victory. The second and third places were secured by Team 2 and Team 1, respectively, from the UAE University. His Excellency Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General, MBRSC said: “Engaging students in the field of STEM is of paramount importance to the UAE’s vision for a future rich in science and technology. With Sultan’s mission aboard the ISS, we open a new chapter in educational outreach initiatives. This challenge is the kind of inspired learning we aim for at MBRSC nurturing the innovators and explorers of tomorrow and propelling the UAE to the forefront of global space exploration.” On 16 May, AlNeyadi assisted in performing the dry run of the UAE Zero Robotics Programming Challenge on the ISS. During the dry run, Astrobee robots were used to verify various aspects and programming for the final event. This was followed by the final code submission from the teams on May 23. The on-orbit final run was held on Friday with an on-site event organised at MBRSC where participating teams had the opportunity to witness the challenge live. AlNeyadi assisted in performing the final run of the UAE Zero Robotics Programming Challenge. In this session, the teams competed by programming the Astrobee robot to spell out a set of passwords consisting of 3-6 Arabic letters for the crew. The passwords were required for a fictional scenario in which two astronauts, facing technical issues in radio communication, needed to communicate and enter a password to restart a power system. Six teams took part in this challenge, totalling 31 students, representing five esteemed universities, with each team guided by a Lead Professor and a Team Lead. The participating teams included: one team each from American University in Dubai, Higher Colleges of Technology Abu Dhabi, Khalifa University, University of Sharjah, and two teams from UAE University. Over the course of several weeks, the students engaged in an intensive training regimen to prepare themselves for the final code submissions. During the initial rounds of UAE ZRPC, the teams utilised an online simulation to test their code and closely observe the movement of the Astrobee. These codes were then uploaded to Astrobee, bringing their hard work to life as the robot executed the programmed tasks in space. The challenge promoted creative thinking, technical skill, and a keen understanding of real-world applications for programming in space. The UAE Astronaut Programme is one of the projects managed by MBRSC under the UAE’s National Space Programme and funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), which aims to support research and development in the ICT sector in the UAE and promote the country’s integration on the global stage.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

The Libyan Investment Corporation participated in the Africa Energy Forum in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, with a delegation headed by the Chairman of the Corporation, “Ali Mahmoud”.

During the activities of the forum, the Chairman of the Foundation stressed the importance of the participation and involvement of the Foundation team in international forums and keeping pace with the rapid growth, and developments.

“Mahmoud” said that the corporation’s participation aims to explore investment opportunities in the field of producing renewable energies because it is the promising investment that will be focused on in the Libyan market, which the corporation has set as an important strategic path and an investment initiative that achieves financial returns and economic, social and environmental benefits.

According to what the Foundation published on its website, this participation comes within the framework of the Foundation’s interest and direction to invest in the field of renewable energies, especially solar energy, which the Foundation previously announced as part of the investment initiatives that will be implemented internally during the year 2023.

Where the participation focused on the involvement of the (NOC’s oil and gas portfolio) team in discussions centered around the previous experiences of the participating and pioneering countries in establishing renewable energies stations, and the possibility of transferring knowledge and experience from these countries to the Libyan market, so that the Corporation would be a pioneer in the field of investment initiatives related to the production and generation of renewable energies, to meet and absorb the growth of energy demand in the Libyan market, and to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.

In the same context, the Corporation had a prominent presence in the forum, where the oil and gas portfolio manager “Ayman Al-Fakhal” represented as a speaker for the Libyan Investment Corporation in a dialogue session that included representatives of other global sovereign wealth funds.

The forum was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Kenya in the presence of a number of ministers of energy and electricity and heads of sovereign funds from various African countries.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Ministry of Tourism and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) on Sunday concluded a project on “Technical Assistance to Contribute to the Definition of a Strategic Development Plan for Tourism and Human Resources in Jordan”. The project, which was implemented by Italian Politecnico di Milano, under Ministry of Tourism’s supervision with AICS support, aims to promote sustainable tourism development and provide specialized workforce in the Kingdom. During the project’s closing ceremony, which was held in Amman, the ministry’s Secretary-General, Imad Hijazin, said a slew of projects were completed with participation of key experts from Politecnico di Milano, in cooperation with the ministry. As part of this effort, Hijazin said a study to assess size of the supply-demand gap was carried out in relation to academic and professional institutions that provide specializations in the tourism industry and the actual labor market. Hijazin added that this study aimed to draw a map of the current educational situation compared to the labor market’s needs in this sector. Among the projects, he noted another study identified no less than 11 tourist professions and skills, aimed to ensure their update and shift to innovative practices in accordance with local and global markets’ developments and the industry’s efficiency requirements. Regarding business information system project, Hijazin said work was completed to develop an analytical technological platform for this this purpose as an “effective” tool for decision-makers in the tourism field. He noted this effort aims to provide a “full” picture of Jordan’s tourism sector based on related indicators related to the economic, social, environmental and technological impact and tourist destination management. This project, he noted, will help decision makers and policy leaders to take “strategic” decisions to improve economic growth of Jordan’s tourism sector. Hijazin valued support of the Italian government and participating partners in implementing the strategic development plan for tourism and human resources in Jordan.

Source: Jordan News Agency

All pilgrims from the State of Qatar arrived in Makkah on Saturday to perform the Hajj, as 17 approved campaigns work with all their administrative and technical staff in coordination with the Qatari Hajj Mission to serve the pilgrims of the State of Qatar in Makkah and the holy sites.

The Qatari Hajj mission is making efforts through its specialized units in coordination with the relevant Saudi authorities at the airport to facilitate all procedures for the entry of pilgrims from the State of Qatar to quickly receive their bags and to follow up their travel through their campaigns to their residence in Makkah Al Mukarramah with ease and to overcome any obstacles they may face.

Through all its support units and specialized committees, the mission is keen to harness all capabilities and means of support that facilitate the performance of the hajj by the country’s pilgrims in the best conditions.

Upon the arrival of the pilgrims from the State of Qatar at their places of residence, a number of them appreciated the efforts of the mission in guiding them and facilitating their procedures, including facilitating all their affairs in cooperation with Qatar Airways, receiving them in Jeddah upon their arrival in the Holy Land, facilitating exit procedures, receiving bags and boarding private buses, in coordination with the representatives of their campaigns, and following up with them until they reached their residence in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites, Head of Jordanian Hajj missions, Mohammad Khalaileh, on Sunday checked on Jordanian pilgrims camps in the holy sites of Arafat and Mina, to ensure their readiness, before the pilgrims are dispatched on Monday, to perform the ritual of standing in Arafat. Khalaileh toured the pilgrims’ reception and overnight camps in Arafat, to inspect tent equipment that would provide them with means of comfort during their stay in these holy sites, including equipment approved for the first time. Each camp was equipped from the inside with a sufficient number of air conditioners, fans, refrigerators, and water coolers, and a mobile “wool bed” that could be folded and stretched according to the comfort and choice of the pilgrim, in addition to pillows and sheets for sleeping in the shrines of Arafat and Mina alike for the first time, and cold and hot food and drink services. Khalaileh was also briefed on public safety procedures inside the camps, logistic support equipment, health facilities, and ensuring the availability of water and lighting to facilitate the pilgrims to perform their rituals to the fullest. He lauded the available equipment to serve the pilgrims of the Masjid al-Haram (The Sacred Mosque), which was provided by the Saudi authorities in the holy sites, in cooperation with various Hajj missions. He gave directions to members of the ministry’s administrative mission to provide means of comfort for the pilgrims inside each camp and to increase the number of air conditioners to match the number of pilgrims inside each camp. He referred to the complete electrical linkage of camps after they had previously relied on generators, which would ensure that electricity would not be interrupted, lauding Saudi authorities measures under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Source: Jordan News Agency