Day: March 28, 2023

Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Governor Prince Faisal bin Salman Al Saud received Bahraini Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Shaikh Ali bin Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Khalifa.

Prince Faisal wished the ambassador success in performing his diplomatic duties, in a way that contributes to strengthening the close historical relations between the two kingdoms.

The ambassador thanked Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah governor for his hospitality. He commended the outcome of the ongoing cooperation between the two kingdoms in various sectors.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Moayad Omar Abdulrahman, and informed him of its deep dissatisfaction with his repeated violations of diplomatic norms.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, informed the Iraqi Chargé d’Affaires of the Ministry’s strong condemnation of his unacceptable behavior that contradicts diplomatic protocols in the Kingdom, and handed him an official protest note in this regard.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today visited the majlis of the Al Asfoor family, the majlis of Faisal Hassan Jawad, and the majlis of the Al Zayani Family.

His Royal Highness highlighted Team Bahrain’s ambitious efforts in turning global challenges into achievements across various sectors, in line with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister exchanged Ramadan blessings with the hosts and guests of the majlises.

His Royal Highness noted the importance of Ramadan majlises in further bolstering societal bonds over generations amongst Bahraini families and residents.

HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad went on to note that the positive economic indicators that have been witnessed recently reflect Bahraini citizens’ determination to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Economic Recovery Plan, aimed at enhancing the Kingdom’s long-term economic sustainability to benefit citizens.

His Royal Highness further highlighted that the positive economic indicators were also achieved through the constructive cooperation between the public and private sectors, forming an economy that delivers to Bahraini citizens. In this regard, His Royal Highness stressed the importance of further strengthening public-private partnerships for the Kingdom’s competitiveness and investment attraction.

In light of the technological advancements witnessed across the Kingdom, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad emphasised the role of artificial intelligence in improving the efficiency and delivery of quality jobs and services to citizens across various economic sectors.

For their part, the majlis hosts and guests expressed their gratitude to HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for the visit. They concluded by celebrating His Royal Highness’s noble engagement with Bahrainis in their Ramadan majlises across the Kingdom and wished the Kingdom continued progress and prosperity under the leadership of His Majesty the King.

During the majlis visits, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister was accompanied by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Charity Educational Charitable Trust, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Minister of Finance and National Economy, HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and several senior officials.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale struck on Tuesday the province of North Sulawesi in Indonesia, without causing a tsunami.

According to a statement from the Indonesia Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, the epicenter of the quake occurred 98 km from the Bolaang Mongondow regency of the province, at a depth of 53 km.

So far, there have been no reports of material or human losses due to the earthquake.

On March 2, a 5-magnitude earthquake struck south of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, at a depth of about 100 km below the surface of the earth.

Earthquakes regularly strike different parts of Indonesia, as it is located on the Pacific belt known as the “Ring of Fire,” where many tectonic plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activity.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations Affairs, Fuad Hussein, has directed to return the Iraqi Chargé d’Affaires in Bahrain to Baghdad, Spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, announced today.

“The Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein has directed to return the Iraqi Chargé d’Affaires to the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s headquarters in Baghdad,” Al-Sahhaf told Iraqi News Agency (INA).

“This measure aims to enhance the status of Iraqi diplomacy, which the Ministry adopts to preserve diplomatic norms,” he added.

It is to be noted that Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Ministry today summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Moayad Omar Abdulrahman, and informed him of its “deep dissatisfaction with his repeated violations of diplomatic norms.”

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, informed the Iraqi Chargé d’Affaires of the Ministry’s strong condemnation of his unacceptable behavior that contradicts diplomatic protocols in the Kingdom, and handed him an official protest note in this regard,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in its statement.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Doha: Qatari newspapers on Sunday touched on an array of topics, most notably Qatar’s leading role in providing continuous humanitarian and development support to the brotherly Sudanese people, as part of its tireless efforts to contain crises in sisterly and friendly countries.

The Qatari dailies also condemned the Israeli occupation’s assassination of US-Turkish activist during her participation in a peaceful protest against illegal settlements south of Nablus in the West Bank, another of episode of the series of the repeated brutal crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against humanity.

In another context, the newspaper shed light on Qatar’s participation in securing the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, as well as the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games which concludes today.

In its editorial entitled “Firm Qatari Support to Brotherly Sudanese People,” Al-Raya highlighted Qatar’s continued support to the brothers in Sudan.

Qatar has been studying investment opportunities in various economic sectors in S
udan, and since May 2023, Qatar has been operating an air bridge to Sudan as part of its full support for the brotherly Sudanese people and their steadfastness amidst the difficult conditions due to the ongoing fighting. In addition, the State provided shelter supplies to those affected by the floods in Sudan last month, Al-Raya said.

Al-Raya stressed Qatar’s keenness on supporting regional and international mediation efforts since the beginning of the crisis in Sudan, based on its belief that dialogue is the only way to end the war in Sudan; pointing to Qatar’s sponsorship of the talks to realize peace in Darfur for more than a year. The talks resulted in concluding the Doha Agreement for Peace in Darfur which achieved peace in the entire region.

Qatar believes in the importance of preserving Sudans sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, preserving its institutions, and achieving the interests of the brotherly Sudanese people, which can be realized by restoring security, and working to achieve the l
egitimate aspirations of the Sudanese people, Al-Raya concluded.

Under the headline “Qatar… Continued Commitment to Supporting Sudanese People,” Al-Sharq said the State of Qatar has continued its leading and ongoing role in providing humanitarian aid to the Sudanese people, and supporting the efforts made to bring peace to Sudan, in commitment to its responsibility as an active partner in the international community, and based on its fraternal responsibility and moral and humanitarian duty towards the brothers in Sudan.

In this context, Al-Sharq noted the meeting held in New York by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, and HE the US Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello. The meeting focused on the latest developments in Sudan, especially the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Since the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023, the State of Qatar has supported the Sudanese people through pledges amounting to $75 million to back the e
fforts of the humanitarian response plan in Sudan. The air bridge operated by the State of Qatar to help the Sudanese people and support their steadfastness amidst the difficult circumstances due to the ongoing fighting has not stopped, the paper added.

In conclusion, Al-Sharq reiterated Qatar’s firm and steadfast position in standing by the brotherly Sudanese people, supporting the unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan, rejecting any form of interference in its internal affairs, and fully respecting the choices of its people for freedom, peace, justice and prosperity. HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani had affirmed that the State of Qatar will spare no effort in supporting the Sudanese people until they overcome this crisis.

Source: Qatar News Agency

A Palestinian youth succumbed to his injuries after being shot by Israeli occupying forces about a month ago in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.

Medical sources announced Tuesday that e Omar Lullah died of his serious injury he sustained during the massacre committed on Feb. 22 by the occupation forces during a raid on Nablus, which resulted in the martyrdom of 11 Palestinians About a month earlier, 11 citizens had been martyred and dozens wounded during a sudden break-in by Israeli occupying forces into the northern occupied West Bank city of Nablus, punctuated by violent armed clashes.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Japan and the United States plan to sign an agreement that will reinforce supply chain resilience for critical minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries that will allow Japanese to receive US tax credits, Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Tuesday.

Under the US Inflation Reduction Act signed into law last August, a certain amount of critical minerals in the batteries must be sourced or processed either domestically or from free trade agreement partners to qualify for the clean vehicle credit. The latest agreement will relax regulations and treat Japan as equivalent to such a trade partner in relation to the minerals, according to Japan’s (Kyodo) News Agency.

Electric vehicles using critical minerals collected or processed in Japan would meet the requirements of US tax credits, the Japanese minister said “The agreement is aimed at building resilient supply chains in cooperation with the United States, as well as like-minded nations, to secure critical minerals indispensable to the production of EV batteries, with demand for them expected to expand significantly further,” Nishimura said.

Japan and European countries had previously protested against being excluded from joining the American Clean Vehicle Credit program, with Tokyo submitting a letter to the US government in November calling for the program’s requirements to be eased.

Source: Qatar News Agency

In its editorial, Al-Watan daily said that the assassination of American-Turkish citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi by Israeli occupation forces during her participation in a peaceful demonstration against settlement in the town of Beita, south of Nablus in the West Bank, is added to the series of brutal crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian cause and human rights.

The editorial emphasized that over the past few months, there have been numerous heinous crimes and urgent calls for investigation by the international community, which have quickly faded, as if the Israeli entity is above the law and accountability. It expressed certainty that the recent crime will be overlooked, as has been the case with the 40,000 crimes since Oct. 7, 2023.

Al-Watan concluded its editorial by saying that the horrific Israeli assassinations have failed to silence the voices of those supporting the Palestinian cause. On the contrary, all those who have killed by the occupation’s bullets have become icons of f
reedom on the path to liberating the occupied Palestinian territories and enabling the Palestinian people to establish their independent state within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.

On the local front, Al-Arab newspaper praised the impressive performance and distinguished capabilities of the Qatari security forces in securing the Paris 2024 Olympics held in the French capital in July. The forces continued their mission by securing the Paralympic Games that began at the end of last month and are concluding today.

The paper affirmed that the Qatari forces worked alongside the French gendarmerie in securing various events, which involved more than 10,000 athletes and attracted over 650,000 tourists to the event areas. The Qatari forces received widespread praise from French officials who commended their expertise in handling major sports events.

In conclusion, Al-Arab said that Qatar’s security capabilities in securing major sports events have become one of the State of Qatar’s arms in deepen
ing international cooperation, adding new achievements to its record of successes in diplomacy, mediation, and humanitarian charitable fields, which form the soft power of the country in its relations with the world.

Source: Qatar News Agency