Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas. Al-Bilad newspaper reported in its editorial that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has consistently called on the international community to ensure the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, to face the threat posed by space debris, and for states to implement their activities in outer space in a spirit of responsibility and transparency. This emanates from the Kingdom's recognition of the importance of laying solid and effective foundations to keep pace with the growing interest in the space sector to achieve sustainable development goals in many economic and social fields, in addition to the fields of communications, navigation, broadcasting, climate change monitoring, combating desertification, disaster management and improving the efficiency of natural resource management. The paper added that the Kingdom has been keen on legislating satellite systems, developing technologies for launching transport vehicles into space, implementing infrastructure for the sector and ground stations, and enhancing space security. The Kingdom has also sought from an early time to join countries interested in outer space and ratified the United Nations treaties in this field. It also contributed to establishing the Arab Satellite Communications Organization and founded the Space and Aeronautics Research Institute, the Saudi Center for Remote Sensing and the Saudi Space Commission. The establishment of the Commission is an important step towards a more innovative future that looks forward to the latest technologies and opportunities in line with the Kingdom's aspirations towards quality of life and creating new opportunities that support the national economy. Globally, the Kingdom is keen to strengthen international cooperation in the field of space, enhance international partnerships, exchange expertise and practices, consolidate outer space law, and devote infrastructure to benefit from space science technologies and their applications to provide security, safety and well-being for humans and to maintain the non-militarization of outer space, the paper concluded. Al-Riyadh newspaper reported in its editorial that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has proven to all that Saudi women's empowerment programs and women's participation in the journey of development and reform is an urgent social, economic and cultural necessity that the Kingdom needs in the next stage. The paper added that the Saudi women's empowerment programs culminated with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, as this Vision confirmed to everyone, here and abroad, that women are a major partner in the country's development and progress towards a prosperous future. The paper also said that the Kingdom, through the current major reforms, placed Saudi women in prominent positions, and viewed them as leaders and inspirations. This was reflected in the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud before the Women 20 Engagement Group, which showed the features of the Kingdom's approach to move for the better since the launch of its 2030 vision, and the essential role of women in translating the aspirations of the vision into a living reality. The paper concluded that during the era of the Kingdom's Vision, women's empowerment programs achieved more than expected. For instance, the target was to increase the percentage of women in the labor market to 24 percent during the first quarter of the current year, their share actually reached 27.5 percent, which reflects the success of localization and empowerment plans, and the high level of awareness of the importance of women's participation in all development programs.
