Researchers in Saudi Arabia have developed thin, organic solar cells with a few advantages over others of their type. The new solar cells are more efficient, made using more common elements, and can be inkjet-printed onto surfaces, making them light and flexible enough to power wearable electronics.
Region: Middle East
Kuwait relaxes book censorship laws
Kuwaiti state media reported that the country’s parliament had voted 40 to nine in favor of lifting the Ministry of Information’s control over books imported into the country. Previously, the ministry had blacklisted more than 4,000 books since 2014.
Oman is building a massive 500 MW bifacial solar farm
Less than a decade ago, a 500 MW solar power plant would have been the largest in the world. Oman’s new solar farm stand out in that it uses bifacial colar technology that can collect energy from the front side and the rear side.
Saudi Arabia abolishes “Ta’zir flogging” as punishment
The Saudi Human Rights Commission welcomed the decision, and said: “This decision ensures that those who were once sentenced with floggings, will now receive fines or prison sentences instead.”
Abu Dhabi to build the cheapest solar farm ever
The current cheapest solar farm is owned by the UAE’s other major city, Dubai, which set the cost record in 2015 at 5.98¢/kWh and then broke it again in 2016 at 2.99¢/kWh. Abu Dhabi’s project crushes those marks at 1.35¢/kWh.
Lebanon becomes first Arab country to legalize cannabis farming for medical use
Cannabis has long been illegally farmed in the fertile Bekaa Valley and government now hopes to turn it into a legal billion-dollar trade
Iranian government makes medical services free for all COVID-19 patients
The Iranian Health Minister said that uninsured and underprivileged patients should not pay for the healthcare services and the costs will be compensated by the national health insurance system.
Oceans can be restored to former glory within 30 years, say scientists
The team believes restoring ocean health would require billions of dollars of investments, but the benefits of doing so would likely be 10 times the cost.
Scientists can now accelerate COVID-19 testing by screening multiple samples at the same time
Health care professionals may be able to dramatically speed up COVID-19 testing now that Israeli scientists have developed a technique for screening up to 60 patient samples at the same time.
Women’s rights group eliminates female genital mutilation in Kurdistan’s Garmiyan region
On International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a women’s rights group active in the Kurdistan Region announced that zero cases of GM were reported in the Garmiyan Administration in 2019.