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RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language announced the names of the winners of its awards celebrating efforts to serve the language.

Mahmoud Al-Batal won an award for his work in teaching Arabic in the US, which included carrying out in-depth research into linguistics, much of which has been published in peer-reviewed studies.

The Saudi-based Manahij International Foundation received an award recognizing its development of educational materials and curricula for early years language learning and Arabic for non-native speakers.

Manahij was also highlighted for developing training packages for teachers, and praised for its “originality, methodology and innovation” in the field, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Algerian Ahmed Khorssi was recognized with an award for his contributions to the language by developing more than 30 computer programs including tools for correcting pronunciation.

He has published more than 15 studies in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology won an award for developing systems including an audio database, an automatic speech recognition system in local dialects, and other advanced tools.

Ramzi Mounir Baalbaki, from Lebanon, won an award that recognized his academic career that has spanned four decades

Baalbaki has authored 12 books and more than 80 research papers in Arabic and English in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Saad Abdel Aziz Maslouh, from Egypt, received an award recognizing a lifetime of academic achievements including the publication of 33 books and 29 research papers.

The Arabic Education Training Center for Gulf States, in the UAE, was awarded for developing evaluation tools and other educational content.

Mazen Abdulqader Mohammed Al-Mubarak, from Syria, won an award for his extensive scholarly work including the well-known book “Towards Linguistic Awareness.”

The National Coalition for Arabic Language in Morocco also received an award for promoting linguistic awareness in Moroccan society through lectures, seminars and intellectual forums.

There will be a ceremony honoring the winners held under the patronage of His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, minister of culture and chairman of the board of trustees of the academy, next Sunday in Riyadh.

RIYADH: Cameroon, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia’s national teams arrived in the Kingdom on Sunday to take part in the World Championship in Fire and Rescue Sport, held in Riyadh from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense is hosting the event in partnership with the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers.

The championship marks the first time an Arab nation has hosted the event since the federation’s establishment in 2001, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The event highlights the Kingdom’s growing stature as a global hub for major international sporting events, with participation from 22 countries.

Russian Minister of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief Lt. Gen. Alexander Kurenkov arrived in the Saudi capital to attend the event.

Many national teams from other countries, including China and Kyrgyzstan, also reached out to participate in the fire and rescue sport event.

Firefighting and rescue sports simulate real-life firefighting operations in a competitive framework that tests athletes’ speed, endurance, and teamwork, the SPA reported.

The championship includes four main competitions: hook ladder climbing, the 100-meter hurdles, the 400-meter relay, and the water pump and hose firefighting race.

The Ministry of Interior, through the General Directorate of Passports, has introduced a special stamp marking the championship, available to travelers arriving at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

����ֱ�� joined the federation in 2022 to help develop fire and rescue sports locally and globally, enhance international cooperation, and build human capabilities.

This is achieved through sharing knowledge, expertise, and skills, and introducing new rescue and firefighting technologies, the SPA reported.

Aleksandr Chupriyan, president of the federation, praised the Kingdom’s efforts and expressed confidence that ����ֱ�� will deliver an outstanding championship.