Saudi Arabia Signs Artemis Accords with NASA to Explore Moon and Mars

The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo
The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo
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Saudi Arabia Signs Artemis Accords with NASA to Explore Moon and Mars

The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo
The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo

Saudi Arabia signed on Saturday the Artemis Accords with NASA to join the international alliance in civil exploration and the use of the moon, Mars, meteorites, and comets for peace and the beneficial use of space for all of humanity, and to bring Man back on the moon.

The Artemis Accords align with the national priorities for innovation that the Kingdom announced end of June, including future economies, in which space is the next trillion opportunity for the world by 2040 and can aid in the growth of a multitude of sectors and create thousands of jobs.

The agreement was signed during the US president’s visit to Saudi Arabia and was attended by Abdullah Alswaha, Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Space Commission, and Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud.

CEO of the Saudi Space Commission Mohammed Altamimi signed the Accords on behalf of the Kingdom, while NASA was represented by Senator Bill Nelson.

The Artemis Accords include 13 items that aim in general to affirm the Kingdom’s international presence and its active contribution to joint international projects, and bolster the Kingdom’s positioning as a leading nation in the “New Space” sector through its contributions to emerging space activities in science and exploration missions, empowering the space economy, and developing research capabilities and human capital.

Joining the Artemis Accords affirms the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable space exploration and the peaceful and responsible use of space exploration, boosts the Kingdom’s ambitions in the space sector and is in line with its plans to diversify the economy, attract foreign direct investments and create thousands of jobs for Saudi youth.

The Accords will launch its three execution phases with the first phase to send unmanned space missions for testing and scientific experiments, followed by the second phase that will focus on sending astronauts to explore and return without landing on the moon.

The third phase will have the astronauts land on the moon’s surface and continue research and exploration. These three phases will pave the way for humanity to explore space and other celestial bodies.



Russian Man Survives Bear Attack as Sightings Near Moscow Increase

A person rides a bike at a park during a warm spring day in Moscow, Russia, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A person rides a bike at a park during a warm spring day in Moscow, Russia, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
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Russian Man Survives Bear Attack as Sightings Near Moscow Increase

A person rides a bike at a park during a warm spring day in Moscow, Russia, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A person rides a bike at a park during a warm spring day in Moscow, Russia, 04 April 2025. (EPA)

A brown bear attacked and badly mauled a Russian man in a forest about 125 km (78 miles) from Moscow, local media and residents said, as sightings of bears become more frequent in the region surrounding the capital.

The man, who apparently survived the attack by managing to play dead, was out collecting antlers shed by elk and deer last week when the bear attacked him from behind, a local news website quoted the man's uncle as saying.

"It began to gnaw at his skull, then turned (him) over and started eating his face," the victim's relative said. "Somehow, (he) pretended to be dead, and the bear left him alone."

Russian media said the injured man called emergency services and waited for hours while emergency crews searched for him on foot in the forest near the village of Yeremeevo. He was then taken to hospital by helicopter.

Bear hunting is allowed in much of Russia, but is banned in the Moscow region.

Some Russians go out in the forest to collect antlers, a pair of which can sell for up to 15,000 roubles ($178), about two-thirds of Russia's minimum monthly wage.