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Tourism Resumes in Saudi Arabia with 'Tanaffas' Initiative

A view of Asir, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A view of Asir, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Tourism Resumes in Saudi Arabia with 'Tanaffas' Initiative

A view of Asir, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A view of Asir, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia launched the Tanaffas (breathe) initiative to that allows local tourists to enjoy 10 destinations in the country without compromising their health as strict safety safeguards have been put in place as the country still grapple with the novel coronavirus outbreak.

In a virtual press conference on Wednesday, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khatib said that internal tourism will become prevalent all over the world because coronavirus fears discourage travel abroad.

“This summer presents a great opportunity for exploring Saudi Arabia’s many tourist destinations and their historical, natural and cultural treasures,” he said. “The campaign also contributes to the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts to rejuvenate the tourism sector, which had been the most affected by the ramifications of the coronavirus crisis.”

Al-Khatib announced that he is planning to set up a tourism development council that will be chaired by himself and include several ministers, primarily in order to coordinate the government’s efforts to overcome all the obstacles preventing private sector investment in tourism, especially since there is an abundance of attractions in the Kingdom.

The Kingdom has 10 registered global tourist sites, a variety of beaches and a distinct climate, especially in the south.

He expects large segments of the citizens of the Gulf states, who usually head to Taif, Abha and Al-Baha to enjoy nature, would flock to the Kingdom if restrictions on travel were lifted.

Fahad Hamidaddin, the chief of investment, strategy and tourism marketing at the Tourism Ministry, said tourism initiatives will focus on mountainous and coastal areas and, in coordination with the Ministry of Sports, the issuance of tourism promotion licenses to private companies will be facilitated.

He also pointed to the formulation of safety protocols in cooperation with the Ministry of Health’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Weqaya), which have been approved by the Ministry of Health and launched by the Ministry of Tourism.

He added: "We have three criteria for choosing tourist destinations, quality, availability and the diversity of activities.”

He pointed out that the Ministry of Tourism has organized the housing through what is referred to as "shared housing", and many companies have been licensed, including My Rest House and Kathir Inn. He pointed out that residents of the regions without hotels can participate by renting out their farms, rest houses or even their homes through organized initiatives to host tourists.

The tourist destinations for the season are spread out across the Kingdom; they include the city of Tabuk in the far north, the cities of Umluj and Yanbu, King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah, Taif, and al-Baha, the mountains in Asir and Abha city, Riyadh and the eastern region.

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Sweden Plans to Jail 13-year-olds for Serious Offences

A Swedish flag hangs outside a store on a busy street as visitors walk past in the background in the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, July 14, 2023 REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo
A Swedish flag hangs outside a store on a busy street as visitors walk past in the background in the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, July 14, 2023 REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo
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Sweden Plans to Jail 13-year-olds for Serious Offences

A Swedish flag hangs outside a store on a busy street as visitors walk past in the background in the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, July 14, 2023 REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo
A Swedish flag hangs outside a store on a busy street as visitors walk past in the background in the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, July 14, 2023 REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo

Sweden's government said Monday it was moving forward with a hotly contested bill to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 for serious offences, potentially allowing prison sentences in certain cases.

Several authorities, including police, prison officials and prosecutors, have opposed the plans.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer told a press conference that it was not "a general lowering of the age of criminal responsibility".

"Rather, we are talking about a lowering for the most serious crimes, such as murder, attempted murder, aggravated bombings, aggravated weapons offences and aggravated rape," Strommer said, AFP reported.

The Scandinavian country has struggled for more than a decade to contain a surge in organised violent crime, linked primarily to settlings of scores between rival gangs and battles to control the drug market.

The networks have increasingly recruited under-15s to carry out bombings and shootings, knowing that they will not face prison time if caught.

A government-ordered inquiry in January 2025 proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

But in September the government announced plans to lower it to 13, and sent out the bill for input from 126 authorities and organizations.

A majority of those that responded were critical of the proposal or opposed it outright.

At the time, the police authority said that lowering the age meant there was a risk that "significantly younger children than today become involved in criminal networks".

Others pointed to the prison system not being equipped to handle such young offenders, and said it risked breaching children's rights.

Strommer said Monday he had taken note of the criticism, but said the situation had become more urgent.

"We are in an emergency situation. The measures we take must reflect the seriousness of the situation," he said.

He added the change would be introduced temporarily, limited to five years to start.

The bill would first be sent to Sweden's Council on Legislation, which scrutinises bills the government intends to put before parliament.

Strommer said they planned for the legislation to go into force this summer.

jll/po

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Second Edition of Space Debris 2026 Conference Kicks Off with Participation from 75 Countries

The conference program includes specialized panel discussions addressing space sustainability and governance, in addition to the technical and regulatory challenges associated with space debris - SPA
The conference program includes specialized panel discussions addressing space sustainability and governance, in addition to the technical and regulatory challenges associated with space debris - SPA
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Second Edition of Space Debris 2026 Conference Kicks Off with Participation from 75 Countries

The conference program includes specialized panel discussions addressing space sustainability and governance, in addition to the technical and regulatory challenges associated with space debris - SPA
The conference program includes specialized panel discussions addressing space sustainability and governance, in addition to the technical and regulatory challenges associated with space debris - SPA

The second edition of the Space Debris 2026 Conference officially commenced today. Organized by the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), the conference is witnessing broad international participation representing 75 countries from around the world, with the attendance of leading experts, decision-makers, and leaders from the global space sector.

The conference is held with the support of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and with the participation of a number of local and international entities.

This reflects ongoing international efforts to strengthen cooperation in addressing space debris challenges and ensuring the sustainability of outer space, SPA reported.

In his opening remarks, SSA Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mohammed Al Tamimi stated that convening the second edition of the conference reflects the Kingdom’s firm commitment to addressing the challenges of space debris management. He noted that the rapid increase in the number of objects and fragments in Earth orbits represents a growing challenge to the safety and sustainability of space activities, underscoring the need to enhance international cooperation and adopt innovative and effective solutions to address this phenomenon.

He also emphasized the importance of unifying international efforts in this field, and the role of the Kingdom, represented by the Saudi Space Agency, in supporting international initiatives and adopting best practices and advanced technologies for space debris management.

UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini affirmed that addressing space debris challenges requires comprehensive global cooperation, stating: “Global cooperation among international organizations, governments, industry, and academia in addressing space debris challenges is no longer merely a desirable objective. It has become an absolute necessity. At the same time, leading spacefaring nations must lead by example and develop concrete plans to address the accumulated legacy debris resulting from their past activities.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union Thomas Lamanauskas stressed the importance of responsible and inclusive management of space resources, stating: “We need to ensure that the opportunities created by the rapid growth of the space economy are accessible to all and can be enjoyed by future generations. Predictable, responsible, and inclusive management of space resources, including satellite orbits, is essential to achieving this.”

The conference aims to raise global awareness of the risks posed by space debris and to support international efforts to protect the future of the space economy. This is achieved through discussions on relevant policies and regulations, the promotion of research and innovation, and the development of effective international governance frameworks that contribute to mitigating the impacts of space debris and ensuring the responsible and sustainable use of orbital environments.

The conference program includes specialized panel discussions addressing space sustainability and governance, in addition to the technical and regulatory challenges associated with space debris. It also showcases innovative operational solutions and international partnerships that contribute to enhancing space security and long-term sustainability.

The conference is accompanied by an exhibition featuring 20 shortlisted projects from the DebrisSolver Competition, presenting innovative solutions and applied projects aimed at addressing space debris challenges. This reflects international innovation efforts to protect outer space as a shared resource for humanity and to ensure its sustainability.

Varieties

World Not Ready for Rise in Extreme Heat, Scientists Say

A security officer looks on as the roof of Rod Laver Arena is closed due to extreme heat during the men's singles match between Italy's Jannik Sinner and USA's Eliot Spizzirri on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2026. (AFP)
A security officer looks on as the roof of Rod Laver Arena is closed due to extreme heat during the men's singles match between Italy's Jannik Sinner and USA's Eliot Spizzirri on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2026. (AFP)
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World Not Ready for Rise in Extreme Heat, Scientists Say

A security officer looks on as the roof of Rod Laver Arena is closed due to extreme heat during the men's singles match between Italy's Jannik Sinner and USA's Eliot Spizzirri on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2026. (AFP)
A security officer looks on as the roof of Rod Laver Arena is closed due to extreme heat during the men's singles match between Italy's Jannik Sinner and USA's Eliot Spizzirri on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2026. (AFP)

Nearly 3.8 billion people could face extreme heat by 2050 and while tropical countries will bear the brunt cooler regions will also need to adapt, scientists said Monday.

Demand for cooling will "drastically" increase in giant countries like Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria, where hundreds of millions of people lack air conditioning or other means of beating the heat.

But even a moderate increase in hotter days could have a "severe impact" in nations not used to such conditions like Canada, Russia and Finland, said scientists from the University of Oxford.

In a new study, they looked at different global warming scenarios to project how often people in future might experience temperatures considered uncomfortably hot or cold.

They found "that the population experiencing extreme heat conditions is projected to nearly double" by 2050 if global average temperatures rise 2C above preindustrial times.

But most of the impact would be felt this decade as the world fast approaches the 1.5C mark, the study's lead author Jesus Lizana told AFP.

"The key take away from this is that the need for adaptation to extreme heat is more urgent than previously known," said Lizana, an environmental scientist.

"New infrastructure, such as sustainable air conditioning or passive cooling, needs to be built out within the next few years to ensure people can cope with dangerous heat."

Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can overwhelm the body's natural cooling systems, causing symptoms ranging from dizziness and headaches to organ failure and death.

It is often called a silent killer because most heat deaths occur gradually as high temperatures and other environmental factors work together to undermine the body's internal thermostat.

Climate change is making heatwaves longer and stronger and access to cooling -- especially air conditioning -- will be vital in future.

- 'Dangerously underprepared' -

The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, projected that 3.79 billion people worldwide could be exposed to extreme heat by mid-century.

This would "drastically" increase energy demand for cooling in developing nations where the gravest health consequences would be felt. India, the Philippines and Bangladesh would be among biggest populations impacted.

The most significant change in "cooling degree days" -- temperatures hot enough to require cooling, such as air conditioning or fans -- were projected in tropical or equatorial countries, particularly in Africa.

Central African Republic, Nigeria, South Sudan, Laos and Brazil saw the biggest rise in dangerously hot temperatures.

"Put simply, the most disadvantaged people are the ones who will bare the brunt of this trend our study shows for ever hotter days," urban climate scientist and research co-author Radhika Khosla told AFP.

But wealthier countries in traditionally cooler climates also "face a major a problem -- even if many do not realize it yet", she added.

Countries like Canada, Russia and Finland may experience steep drops in "heating degree days" -- temperatures low enough to require indoor heating -- under a 2C scenario.

But even a moderate rise in hotter temperatures would be felt more acutely in countries not designed to withstand heat, the authors said.

In these countries, homes and buildings are usually constructed to maximize sunshine and reduce ventilation, and public transport runs without air conditioning.

Some cold-climate nations may see a drop in heating bills, Lizana said, but over time these savings would likely be replaced by cooling costs, including in Europe where air conditioning is still rare.

"Wealthier countries cannot sit back and assume they will be OK -- in many cases they are dangerously underprepared for the heat that is coming over the next few years," he said.