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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.

RIYADH: �������� signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime, joining 64 other countries in endorsing the first UN crime-fighting pact in more than 20 years, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Represented by Majed bin Mohammed Al-Mazyed, governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, the Kingdom’s signing is a continuation of its role in supporting international efforts at enhancing security and stability in cyberspace, and consolidating international cooperation in combating cybercrime.

Approved by the UN General Assembly in December 2024 following five years of negotiation, CAC establishes the first worldwide framework for prosecuting online crimes, ranging from ransomware and financial fraud to the unauthorized distribution of intimate images.

At the signing ceremony, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that while technology had brought “extraordinary progress,” it had also created new vulnerabilities, according to UN News.

“Every day, sophisticated scams defraud families, steal livelihoods and drain billions of dollars from our economies, Guterres said.

“In cyberspace, nobody is safe until everybody is safe. One vulnerability anywhere can expose people and institutions everywhere.”

Guterres said the convention is a victory for victims of online abuse and a clear pathway for investigators and prosecutors to enable justice for transnational crimes where evidence spans jurisdictions.

This multilateral treaty — the first UN crime-fighting instrument in more than two decades — comes as cyber threats escalate rapidly.

It aims to strengthen preventive measures, international cooperation and specialized capacity building.

The convention criminalizes acts including unauthorized system access, data interference or corruption and online sexual assault of children.

The National Cybersecurity Authority, as the Kingdom’s dedicated cybersecurity entity and national reference body, works to safeguard national interests, infrastructure and state security.

The authority also represents �������� in bilateral, regional, and international cybersecurity forums while overseeing implementation of the Kingdom’s global commitments in this domain.