Month: July 2024

Tehran, Iranian News Agency (IRNA) announced the assassination of the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, following the bombing of his residence in Tehran.

In the same context, the Public Relations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement published by Iranian media today, ‘ early on Wednesday, ‘The residence of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement, was hit in Tehran, and as a result of this incident, him and one of his bodyguards were martyred.

The statement added that the causes and dimensions of this incident are being investigated and the results will be announced later.

In turn, the Palestinian resistance movement ‘Hamas’ mourned the head of its political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in a ‘treacherous Zionist’ attack that targeted his residence in Tehran.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Salfit – Ma’an – The occupation authorities issued a decision today, Wednesday, to seize 5 dunams of land from the village of Yasuf, east of Salfit, “for military purposes.”

The head of the Yasuf village council, Wael Abu Madi, reported that the occupation authorities had delivered a military order, ‘in effect,’ to seize those lands from the citizens’ lands in the Jabal Abu al-Suwaid area north of the village, basin numbers (2, 12), under security pretexts and for military purposes.

Abu Madi pointed out that the occupation delivered a notice to seize 30 dunams in that area, so that the number of dunams that will be confiscated will become 35 dunams in the same area, noting that the objection period, as stated in the decision, is for 7 days, adding that the area is adjacent to the ‘Tafuh’ settlement, which is built on citizens’ lands, noting that the objection period is not sufficient, and that it has witnessed expansion operations over the years and the construction of residential units at the expense of ci
tizens’ lands.

Source: Maan News Agency

Jeddah, General Director of National Center of Fisheries Riyadh Al-Fageeh stated that the fish-farming sector in Saudi Arabia plays a crucial role in achieving national food security and providing a safe and healthy food source for citizens and residents.

The sector also contributes to the GDP, Al Fageeh said, highlighting the unprecedented growth of investment opportunities in the sector, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Al-Fageeh stated that the establishment of the National Center of Fisheries is linked to the beginnings of fish farming in the Kingdom four decades ago. He added that this step came as a result of recommendations from international bodies presented to the Kingdom in a study on its fish wealth.

‘This marked the start of steps for cooperation with these international bodies to establish the Fish Farming Center in 1982 in Jeddah,’ he said.

Al-Fageeh added that the establishment of the center took place under the Unilateral Trust Fund Agreement concluded between the Saudi go
vernment, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture at the time, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The National Center of Fisheries has undertaken several pioneering projects in collaboration with various universities and relevant entities, including the project of using seawater and renewable energy in modern agriculture.

The center has supported the aquaculture sector with over 3 million saltwater tilapia larvae, and it has issued more than 80 licenses for aquaculture projects in Makkah, including 18 projects in the first half of 2024.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah, PhD student Wid bint Mohammad Al-Rashidi, at the faculty of science at King Abdulaziz University, won third place in the 2024 Merck Summer Innovation Cup, held in Darmstadt, Germany.

Al-Rashidi developed a platform based on a recently discovered biological phenomenon that targets specific cells, typically cancerous ones, without affecting healthy cells. The platform can be utilized in research and treatment.

Al-Rashidi won third place by participating with the “Synthetic Biology Team,” outperforming seven competing teams from various countries around the world.

Al-Rashidi, a genetics student in the biology department, is the only participant from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the competition and one of only two Arab students.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Ouagadougou, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Burkina Faso Fahad Al-Hathelol held a meeting with the Director of Office for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabe Abroad of Burkina Faso, Désiré Dieudonne Sougouri, on Wednesday.

The discussion, which took place in Al-Hathelol’s office at the embassy, focused on means of strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) has organized a month-long practical training program for students studying aerospace engineering, in collaboration with Boeing, a global leader in the aerospace sector.

Boeing specializes in designing and manufacturing aircraft, space systems, and defense systems, and offers excellent training opportunities for students and graduates in various related fields.

The CST indicated that the training program aims to invest in national talents, acquire practical experience in the space sector, and develop human capabilities in aerospace engineering and sciences.

It added that the program seeks to enhance professional growth and skills development in space technologies, preparing students for the job market by involving them in various projects.

The program is divided into two phases: the theoretical phase, held at a Boeing facility in Texas, which includes NASA architectural design studies from the moon to Mars, and the practical phase, held at
a company site in Alabama, which involves working on applied projects such as the Carbon Dioxide Removal System for lunar and Martian applications.

The initiative is part of numerous training and educational programs launched by the CST in collaboration with local and international partners, leveraging various expertise and competencies.

It aims to develop capabilities in the space sector and sciences, serving as a key contributor to progress and positively impacting the future of the Kingdom and its promising generations.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah, The Muslim World League expressed its sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the families of the deceased and injured, as well as to the entire Republic of India, following landslides caused by heavy rains in the state of Kerala.

The landslides resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries and caused significant material losses to farms and homes.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The Transport General Authority (TGA) has recently conducted the Competency Written and Oral Exam for Marine Engineers and Deck Officers at its headquarters in Riyadh. The exams were in compliance with the International Convention on Standard of training certification and watchkeeping for seafarers 1978 (STCW) to qualify maritime personnel with the highest international standards, TGA said in a news release.

Three main criteria were established to assess applicants’ eligibility to work in the sector. These included obtaining a maritime qualification from an institution accredited by the TGA, having approved maritime service on board ships, and completing specialized maritime courses related to safety and security. Passing a competency written exam was essential for the issuance of a maritime competence certificate for marine engineers and deck officers.

The TGA emphasized that these exams play a crucial role in preparing national cadres for employment in the maritime industry, equipping them with th
e necessary knowledge and skills to operate and maintain marine vessels safely and effectively while adhering to security and safety standards. The initiative aligns with the objectives of the national transport and logistics strategy, aiming to develop the maritime transport sector.

For further information on the maritime sector in the Kingdom, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the TGA’s official website at tga.gov.sa or its social media platforms @saudi_tga.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah confirmed that Saudi Arabia has provided over $130.34 billion in humanitarian and relief aid from 1996 to 2024, benefiting 170 countries globally. He made this statement while participating in a meeting organized by the National Council on US-Arab Relations, where he shared details on the Kingdom’s relief and humanitarian efforts and projects worldwide via video call. The Council’s CEO, Delano Roosevelt, was also present with his accompanying delegation at the meeting.

Dr. Al Rabeeah stated that KSrelief aims to be a leading international center for relief and humanitarian activities, adhering to the highest global standards and best practices related to governance. He emphasized the Center’s core values of neutrality, transparency, quality, professionalism, initiative, creativity, building partnerships, and supporting communities.

He noted that since i
ts establishment in 2015, the Center has implemented around 3,009 projects in 100 countries worldwide, exceeding $6.940 billion, adding that these projects cover various vital sectors and are carried out in partnership with 187 international and UN organizations. Yemen received the largest share of the Center’s projects, accounting for 64% of the total aid, with a value exceeding $4.466 billion.

Dr. Al Rabeeah highlighted that the center has carried out 992 projects dedicated to women, benefiting more than 151 million women, with a value exceeding $653 million, and 926 projects focused on children, benefiting more than 179 million children, with a value exceeding $888 million.

Regarding refugees in the Kingdom, Dr. Al Rabeeah said that Saudi Arabia hosts a large number of refugees, estimated at 1,093,926, including refugees from Yemen, Syria, and Myanmar. The Kingdom provides them with free treatment, education, and opportunities for social integration.

He also mentioned the Kingdom’s efforts in combating
the COVID-19 pandemic internationally, providing more than $824.291 million in medical and preventive aid to over 50 countries globally.

Dr. Al Rabeeah said that KSrelief has launched several specialized programs to support the brotherly Yemeni people, including the Saudi program for demining (Masam), which has so far successfully removed over 453,000 mines from Yemeni territories by more than 400 experts in the field of demining. Additionally, there are projects for prosthetic centers and a project for the reintegration of children formerly associated with armed conflict.

Dr. Al Rabeeah also provided an explanation about the establishment of the Saudi Aid Platform (SAP), the Platform for Assisting Displaced Persons and Refugees, the National Volunteer Portal, the Electronic Donations Platform (Sahm), and the monitoring and documentation initiatives related to humanitarian work. He also reviewed the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts through the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program for separating Siamese twins, which,
he said, has examined 141 cases so far from 26 countries across 3 continents and has successfully performed 61 separation surgeries for conjoined and parasitic twins.

Regarding the aid recently provided to some countries, Dr. Al Rabeeah confirmed that the Kingdom has responded from the very first day of the Gaza Strip crisis, with the total aid provided to the Palestinian people reaching $185 million, besides launching a humanitarian airbridge consisting of 54 planes and a maritime bridge of 8 ships. He also said that the Kingdom has airdropped high-quality food for those affected in the Gaza Strip, aiming to break the blockade imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the border crossings.

He also added that the Kingdom has provided $120 million to Sudan during its current crisis, and has pledged to donate $400 million to Ukraine to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the humanitarian crisis in that country.

Dr. Al Rabeeah also pointed out that the Kingdom has launched the Saudi Sama’a Volunteer Pr
ogram for Cochlear Implantation and Hearing Rehabilitation for earthquake victims in the Republic of Trkiye and Syria, which is considered the largest humanitarian voluntary event for cochlear implants and auditory rehabilitation worldwide. The program aims to conduct 120 cochlear implant surgeries and distribute 375 medical hearing aids to children affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkiye. Throughout all phases of the project, 24 voluntary programs in cochlear implantation will be implemented, benefiting 940 individuals, including intensive rehabilitation programs for the hearing impaired following their surgeries.

He also pointed out the designation of November 24 as ‘World Conjoined Twins Day’ by the United Nations, at the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The purpose is to raise awareness about these humanitarian cases and celebrate achievements in the field of conjoined twins separation surgeries. Additionally, the center will organize an international conference under the patronage of C
ustodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in November in Riyadh, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program. Additionally, the center will hold the fourth edition of the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum in February 2025.

For his part, CEO of the National Council on US-Arab Relations Delano Roosevelt hailed the humanitarian and relief efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noting that they have reached all corners of the world without discrimination.

Source: Saudi Press Agency