Riyadh, Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq met with Republic of Singapore ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia S. Premjith at the ministry’s headquarters in Diriyah.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to expand cultural exchange and collaboration between the two friendly countries, aiming to achieve shared goals.
The undersecretary for international cultural relations, Eng. Abdul Rahman bin Fahd Al-Kanaan, also attended the meeting.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The death toll has risen to 36 following the collapse of part of an expressway in south China’s Guangdong Province, local authorities announced Thursday.
Another 30 people are still receiving treatment in hospital and none of them are in life-threatening condition, authorities said.
The collapse occurred Wednesday on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in Meizhou. Officials said that the collapsed section was 17.9 meters long and covers an area of 184.3 square meter.
Aerial photos show one side of the expressway collapsing, causing vehicles to fall down a slope.
Local authorities in Guangdong said that aftermath work is underway.
Source: Qatar News Agency
Doha: HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met on Thursday with Their Excellencies members of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Presidents Council on the occasion of their visit to the country to participate in the Council meeting, which is being hosted by Doha currently.
A number of regional and international issues were discussed during the meeting, especially developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories and the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, as well as discussing supporting the UN’s efforts to achieve international peace and security.
Source: Qatar News Agency
Cairo – Together – Egyptian media reports reported, today, Thursday, that ‘positive progress’ had been made in the negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement on a truce in the Gaza Strip, amid intensive contacts Cairo is conducting with all parties.
The Cairo News Channel quoted a high-ranking Egyptian source as saying that the negotiations are witnessing ‘positive progress,’ and that ‘Egypt is conducting intensive contacts with all parties’ in this regard.
A source familiar with the negotiations said last Tuesday that a deal between Israel and Hamas is imminent, and may be reached within a few days if some of the problems hindering implementation are quickly resolved.
The source close to the mediators revealed that the Egyptian proposal is accepted by both parties, but the problem relates to the number of prisoners held by Hamas of the age group, and the job nature required to be released within the proposal.
Last Saturday, the Hamas movement announced that it had received the Israeli response to its position, which was delivered to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13, indicating that it ‘will study this proposal, and upon completion of its study, it will submit its response.’
Egypt sent a delegation to Israel last Friday to resume the stalled negotiations, amid the intensification of fighting in the Gaza Strip. The mediators (Egypt, Qatar, and the United States) are trying to reach a new truce agreement in the Gaza Strip after the first agreement, which lasted for a week at the end of last November.
Source: Maan News Agency
Hebron – Ma’an – Large forces of the occupation army and military vehicles stormed the areas of Al-Bayyada, Beit Za’ta and Haret Bahr in the center of Beit Ummar, at dawn on Thursday.
The soldiers raided a number of citizens’ homes and shops, searched them, tampered with their contents, and destroyed their belongings.
Media activist in Beit Ummar, Muhammad Ayad Awad, reported that soldiers detained family members of the homes they raided in single rooms during searches.
Awad added that the occupation soldiers also distributed leaflets warning citizens against continuing shooting operations at the ‘Kermei Tzur’ settlement, and no arrests among citizens were reported.
Source: Maan News Agency
Jeddah, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sent a cable of condolences to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), over the death of Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
HRH Crown Prince extended his sincere condolences and sympathy to UAE President, the family of the deceased, appealing to Allah the Almighty to bestow his mercy upon the soul of the deceased.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
Doha: HE Attorney General Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi issued an order to refer 9 employees to the competent criminal court for punishment related to the crimes attributed to them.
The Public Prosecution said in a statement that it had initiated investigations with the accused, who had previously been apprehended in coordination with the State Audit Bureau after they had inputted attendance and departure data at a government entity. This data was found to be false and not accurate, as they were outside their workplace during these hours. The Public Prosecution also said that they received undeserved wages for these hours, contravening the laws and regulations followed at their workplace.
The Public Prosecution’s investigations revealed that one of the employees in question recorded their attendance and departure from their workplace using each accused person’s work card, which appeared in the official records of the entity as if they were present at their workplace.
The Public Prosecution clarifi
ed that the accused individuals committed crimes of misappropriation of public funds, forgery of official documents, and their use, which constitute offenses punishable by imprisonment and fines under the law.
Source: Qatar News Agency
Baku, The speaker of the Saudi Shura Council, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, met with Republic of Azerbaijan Milli Majlis Speaker Sahiba Gafarova. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the sixth World Conference on Intercultural Dialogue and its accompanying International Parliamentary Conference, held in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku.
The leaders discussed key conference topics, ways to strengthen ties between the Shura Council and the Milli Majlis, and other issues important to both their countries.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The Shura Council participated today in the Inter-parliamentary Conference, which was held as part of the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue hosted by Azerbaijan’s Baku. The conference will conclude tomorrow Friday. Representing the Shura Council at the conference where HE Mohammed bin Mahdi Al Ahbabi and HE Dr. Mohammed bin Butti Al Abdullah, members of the council.
The parliamentary conference dealt with the role of legislative bodies and best practices in protecting cultural heritage. Parliamentarians discussed their perspectives on this topic, presenting best parliamentary practices for protecting cultural heritage and enhancing efforts to achieve this goal.
HE Al Ahbabi emphasized in his speech during the conference the importance of heritage and culture in uniting societies and preserving their identities, affirming Qatar’s interest in enhancing Qatari, Gulf, and Islamic identity and preserving them.
In this context, His Excellency reviewed Qatar’s contributions to promoting cultural and relig
ious coexistence through supporting the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations initiative and establishing the Center for Dialogue among Religions in 2008, aiming to promote peaceful coexistence among cultures and acceptance of others.
His Excellency added that Qatar also established the Qatari Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations to highlight the contribution of Arab and Islamic civilization to other civilizations.
Within the same context, His Excellency highlighted the Shura Council’s focus on enhancing identity and values through various initiatives that contribute to strengthening national identity among school students, pointing out that the council currently presides over the 17th Ordinary Meeting of the Speakers of Shura Councils, discussing during this session the cultural challenges and the role of legislative councils in preserving Gulf identity.
His Excellency touched on the challenges resulting from global changes and their impact on customs and traditions, pointing to the role of legi
slative councils and parliaments in protecting these cultural elements through various legislation and initiatives.
Within the framework of parliaments commitment to protecting cultural heritage and social customs, His Excellency focused his speech on several axes, including exploiting gatherings and platforms to know the trends of public opinion and using them in developing policies.
He addressed the challenges arising from globalization and cultural changes, emphasizing the importance of intellectual security and countering ideologies that threaten social fabric, promoting international initiatives such as the Alliance of Civilizations, and supporting dialogue between religions to enhance peaceful coexistence.
The Shura Council delegation participated in the opening session of the forum, inaugurated by HE President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
The forum is organized by the government of Azerbaijan in partnership with UNESCO, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, UN Tourism, and IS
ESCO.
The conference aims to enhance global peace and security through constructive dialogue, holding several sessions and discussions covering various topics including education, youth engagement in decision-making, climate change, artificial intelligence, protection of cultural heritage, illegal migration, and other related issues.
Source: Qatar News Agency
Doha: The Parliamentary Coordination Committee and Foreign Relations of the Legislative Councils of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries held virtually its 17th meeting on Thursday.
The meeting was chaired by HE Member of the Shura Council Khalid bin Ghanem Al Ali. Several topics were addressed during the meeting, including the General Secretariat’s memorandum on strengthening cooperation with the parliaments of Latin American and Caribbean countries, and the General Secretariat’s memorandum on strengthening Gulf parliamentary relations with the European Parliament. They also discussed the invitation of the heads of the inter-parliamentary groups to the next meeting.
The attendees stressed the necessity of holding coordination meetings in international parliamentary forums, and increasing the momentum of Gulf parliamentary meetings at all levels.
HE Member of the Shura Council and Member of the Parliamentary Coordination Committee Nasser bin Mohammed Al Naimi participated in the meeting, alongside
HE Secretary-General of the Shura Council and Member of Parliamentary Coordination Committee Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud.
The State of Qatar, represented by the Shura Council, chairs the current session of heads of the Shura and Legislative Councils in the GCC countries.
Source: Qatar News Agency