Saudi woman scientist bags gold medal in Geneva fair

April 24, 2012

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Makkah, April 24: A member of the applied sciences faculty at Umm Al-Qura University has won a gold medal for her innovation at the 40th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, which concluded on Sunday.

Maha bint Muhammad Khayyat’s innovation was based on spatial control in silicon nanowire growth.

Khayyat, a prominent woman physicist and deputy head of the Institute for Scientific Research and Islamic Heritage, was part of the delegation of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for the Gifted (the Mawhiba Foundation) at the fair.

She expressed her delight at winning. “This invention shows the world the level of achievements made by Saudi women in the scientific field. Saudi women are making great strides in scientific and academic fields with the support of our leadership,” she said, adding that winning this international prize would be a great motivation for young Saudi innovators.

She also appreciated the great support extended by Umm Al-Qura University and Mawhiba Foundation that enabled her to score such an achievement. A record number of exhibitors displayed their innovations at the Geneva Innovation Fair that began in Hall 7 of Palexpo on April 18.

A total of 63,925 people went through the doors of Palexpo to discover around 1,000 inventions. With 789 exhibitors from 46 countries, the fair was the most important event in the world, dedicated to innovation and new products.

Of the participants, 15 percent were independent inventors and researchers and 85 percent inventors from companies, research institutes and universities. Nearly 48 percent of the inventions shown were from Europe, 47 percent from Asia and the Middle East and 5 percent from other continents. The event attracted investors and companies from around the world. Increasingly efficient and professional, the exhibition distinguished itself this year by the numerous inventions related to ecology, medicine, environment and safety.


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News Network
May 2,2020

Dubai, May 2: Saudi Arabia has confirmed 1,362 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients in the country to 25,459, the Ministry of Health reported Saturday.

In the daily media briefing, the ministry announced 7 more deaths and 210 new recoveries, raising the total number of fatalities and recoveries to 176 and 3,765, respectively.

Out of the 1,362 new cases reported today, 249 were confirmed in Medina, 245 in Jeddah, 244 in Mecca, 161 in Riyadh, in addition to 126 infections in Dammam, 81 in Khobar and 80 in Jubail.

Dr. Mohammed Al Abd Al Aly, spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health reiterated that so far there was no evidence that hot weather will curtail the spread of coronavirus.

Authorities continue to urge people to stay at home unless necessary despite having relaxed some restrictions and curfews at the start of Ramadan.

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News Network
March 18,2020

Riyadh, Mar 18: Private-sector businesses in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday were ordered to introduce enforced remote working for all employees for 15 days in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Businesses that require staff to be physically present to ensure they continue to operate — including those in vital or sensitive sectors such as electricity, water and communications — must reduce the number of workers in their offices to the bare minimum. This can be no more than 40 percent of the total number of staff.

In such cases precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Health must be followed. At offices, and staff accommodation, with more than 50 workers, an area at the entrance must be provided where temperatures can be taken and symptoms checked.

Employers must also set up a mechanism for workers to report any symptoms, such as high temperature, coughing or shortness of breath, or contact they have had with infected individuals or people who recently returned from other countries without following proper Ministry of Health quarantine procedures.

Inside offices, a safe amount of space between employees must be maintained at all times. In addition, all health clubs and nurseries provided by employers must close.

Pregnant women and new mothers, people suffering from respiratory diseases, those with immune-system problems or chronic conditions, cancer patients and employees above the age of 55 are to be given 14 days compulsory paid leave, which will not be deducted from their annual entitlement.

Businesses that are excluded from the new measures include pharmacies and supermarkets, and their suppliers. Private-sector organizations that provide services to government agencies must contact them before suspending workplace attendance. Any other business that considers it impossible to operate with only 40 percent of staff in the workplace must submit an exemption request to the authority that supervises it.

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Agencies
May 26,2020

Dubai, May 26: An Indian expat, who recently recovered from COVID-19, fell to his death from a building in Dubai, police said.

The 26-year-old Indian national identified as Neelath Muhammed Firdous from Kerala, fell from the seventh floor balcony of his building where he stayed with six others including his uncle, Naushad Ali, 33.

A Dubai Police official confirmed the incident to Gulf News on Monday and said it had been a suicide.

"He was suffering from a mental disorder and there is no criminal suspicions behind his death," said the official.

"The incident happened on Sunday," the official confirmed.

The victim's relative said: "(He) awoke early to perform prayers and everyone was getting on with their daily morning chores when he walked to the balcony and jumped.

"He was suffering from a mental disorder and had been disturbed for some time. He thought everyone was out to attack him and had stopped eating his food as he thought people were feeding him poison. He was refusing to even take water from us."

The victim had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 10. On May 7, he was discharged from a Dubai hospital after clearing all tests.

The relative told Gulf News that he had registered the victim in the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) last month in order to repatriate him, however he was unsuccessful in procuring a ticket.

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