عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

Saudi Greening Forum Draws Broad Int’l Participation

Part of the sponsorship of the National Greening Forum was provided by several Saudi ministers (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the sponsorship of the National Greening Forum was provided by several Saudi ministers (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Greening Forum Draws Broad Int’l Participation

Part of the sponsorship of the National Greening Forum was provided by several Saudi ministers (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the sponsorship of the National Greening Forum was provided by several Saudi ministers (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Riyadh hosted its first National Greening Forum on Monday, organized by Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.

The event aimed to boost participation from government, private, and non-profit sectors in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious goal of planting 10 billion trees under the Saudi Green Initiative.

It also aimed to facilitate communication among stakeholders, provide updates, and encourage collaboration.

The forum, endorsed by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadli, saw broad participation from local, regional, and international stakeholders, experts, and enthusiasts.

Discussions highlighted Saudi Arabia’s $2.5 billion contribution to the Middle East Green Initiative and its significance in combating climate change and fostering regional cooperation.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member, and Envoy for Climate Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir emphasized the importance of afforestation and land rehabilitation for both the environment and regional stability, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to addressing global challenges like drought-induced conflicts and displacement.

The minister underscored that afforestation forms an integral component of the Kingdom's strategy to address climate change and environmental concerns, crucial for achieving the goals outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030.

He reiterated the Kingdom's interconnectedness with the international community, emphasizing that global events impact Saudi Arabia and vice versa. Clean air and a healthy environment are essential for global well-being.

Also, at the National Greening Forum, the “Discover Nature” program launched alongside agreements among various entities.

This initiative, part of the Saudi Green Initiative, aims to increase green areas and combat desertification. It promotes awareness about afforestation and sustainable green environments.

Most Viewed

 
 
Varieties

Gulf States Unveil Efforts to Develop AI Tools to Combat Fake News

Dr. Preslav Nakov (LinkedIn)
Dr. Preslav Nakov (LinkedIn)
TT
TT

Gulf States Unveil Efforts to Develop AI Tools to Combat Fake News

Dr. Preslav Nakov (LinkedIn)
Dr. Preslav Nakov (LinkedIn)

One of the significant challenges facing researchers in artificial intelligence (AI) development is ensuring objectivity amid the rapid and ever-increasing flow of information online. With numerous tools now available to disseminate diverse data and information, it has become increasingly difficult for audiences to distinguish between truth and propaganda on one hand and between objective journalism and biased framing on the other.
This has underscored the growing importance of technologies designed to analyze, detect, and filter vast amounts of data. These tools aim to curb the spread of misinformation, combat rumors and fake news, and make the internet a safer space for sharing and accessing accurate information.
Fake news is defined as media content created and published with the intent to mislead or manipulate public opinion, often for political, economic, or social purposes. The methods for creating fake news range from simple manipulation of facts to sophisticated techniques like deepfakes, further complicating efforts to identify them.
In Abu Dhabi, Dr. Preslav Nakov, a professor and chair of Natural Language Processing at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, is leading innovative efforts to develop AI technologies, particularly in analyzing the methods used in media to influence public opinion.
Among his most notable contributions is the development of FRAPPE, an interactive tool for global news analysis. FRAPPE provides comprehensive insights into the persuasive and rhetorical techniques employed in news articles, enabling users to gain a deeper understanding of diverse media contexts. According to Nakov, FRAPPE helps users identify how news is framed and presented in different countries, offering a clearer perspective on divergent media narratives.
FRAPPE’s capabilities also extend to analyzing media framing methods. Nakov explains that the tool allows users to compare how different media outlets address specific issues. For instance, one outlet in a particular country might emphasize the economic implications of climate change, while another focuses on its political or social dimensions.
AI is the cornerstone of FRAPPE’s functionality, enabling the tool to analyze complex linguistic patterns that influence readers’ opinions.
In a discussion with Asharq Al-Awsat, Nakov highlighted the tool’s capabilities, noting that AI in FRAPPE is fundamental to analyzing, classifying, and detecting intricate linguistic patterns that shape readers’ perceptions and emotions. He explained that the application uses AI to identify propaganda and persuasion techniques such as insults, fear-based language, bullying, exaggeration, and repetition. The system has been trained to recognize 23 subtle techniques often embedded in real-world media content.
Ensuring objectivity and reducing bias are among the main challenges in developing AI tools like FRAPPE. Nakov explains that FRAPPE focuses on analyzing the language used in articles rather than evaluating their accuracy or political stance.
To date, FRAPPE has analyzed over two million articles on topics such as the Russia-Ukraine war and climate change. The tool currently supports content analysis in 100 languages, with plans to expand its capabilities to additional languages and enhance the accuracy of its analyses, further strengthening its ability to comprehend global media patterns.