Day: August 6, 2023

The Egyptian Suez Canal Authority announced a boat sank and a crew member was missing after it collided with a Hong Kong-flagged tanker.

A collision occurred between the tanker and the tugboat , led to sinking of the tugboat, which had a crew of seven on board, six of whom were rescued, while the seventh is still missing, al-Ahram Gate website quoted the channel authority as saying in a statement.

The tanker was on its way from Singapore to the United States carrying 52 thousand tons of liquefied petroleum gas.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

A batch of aid provided by the Pakistani government and people arrived Sunday at Lattakia port.

The batch weights 200 tons of humanitarian, food and relief aid, electric generators and solar panels to support people affected by the earthquake.

Pakistani Ambassador in Damascus, Shahid Akhtar said in a statement that aid has been continuing for six months to the Syrian people since the earthquake catastrophe.

The ambassador underlined the depth of strategic ties between Syria and Pakistan and mutual cooperation in various fields, including trade, education and information technology.

In a related context, Lattakia Governor Amer Hilal discussed with the Pakistani ambassador cooperation in the education, and technology fields, including opening a Pakistani School in Lattakia province and technical center for informatics and artificial intelligence, and training through specialists from the two countries.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

First Lady, Mrs. Asma al-Assad visited the clothing factory within the Muthanna Production Complex in Tartous countryside.

The factory started from a small workshop with a few male and female workers, to become today a large production complex that includes hundreds of those who possessed the profession and skill, mixed with the passion for work and production, so they became truly productive, and this complex became an example which proves that the vision and will are those that create capabilities and not the other way.

Mrs. Asma al-Assad said it was clear during my tour of the departments of this civilized facility that you have a lot of enthusiasm, energy and passion for work and production.. I mean a hive that does not calm down, and this prompted me to ask about the relationship between this scene and the general scene that we live as Syrians, how they are similar and where they contradict.

The First Lady added: “It is true that we live in suffering today, and this suffering takes us in one of two directions, either towards frustration and despair, or towards confrontation and challenge , and you, in this productive work, have chosen the second possibility”.

Mrs. Asma al-Assad continues: “it is possible that when the reflection on this project began, the economic factor was the main factor at the time of implementation. But when we see so much focus and commitment to the general safety of workers, attention to their health and comfort, and emphasis on preserving their dignity and rights, here the humanitarian factor becomes the most important factor”.

“Most things in life are born small and then grow up.. A person is an initiative and an idea, even a project except for ambition, as it starts large and remains so, because its basis is vision and will, and when we got to know each other for the first time three years ago, the project was small in size, but your vision It was clear, your will was firm, and your ambition knew no bounds, today, you are great in stature, experience and ambition. You have grown up, and we have grown through you” Mrs. Asma al-Assad said.

The First Lady concluded by saying: I thank you and salute you for your love for each other, for your devotion to your work, and for your constant desire to give the best, and at the same time I salute the financiers of this project, which is a model for the national economy. These financiers are convinced that individual profit is always part of the collective profit”.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Police officers in the Makkah Region have arrested a citizen for attempting to sell hashish, amphetamine and narcotic tablets. The man was also found in possession of a sum of money. Legal action has been taken, and he was referred to the pertinent authority.

Security authorities call on the public to report any information concerning drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions. Individuals may also contact the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or through email: 995@gdnc.gov.sa. All reports will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Air Connectivity Program (ACP), has launched new direct flights connecting Riyadh and Jeddah with Beijing, further strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and China, and reflecting a commitment to help the two countries deepen their collaboration.

The inaugural flight from Jeddah to Beijing was conducted on August 4, 2023, and the direct flight from Riyadh to Beijing on August 6, 2023. These new routes provide around 165 million people in northern China with direct access to the Kingdom, boosting mutual tourism and strengthening the growing international cooperation between Saudi Arabia and global aviation markets.

Through the efforts of ACP, the Kingdom’s air connectivity facilitator, the new routes have been launched as the country reinforces its commitment to making its travel and aviation sectors further progress.

“The launch of this new route comes shortly after the hugely successful 10th Arab-China business forum in Riyadh and represents an important development in our ongoing efforts to expand air connectivity,” said ACP CEO Ali Rajab.

“By working closely with the ecosystem’s stakeholders, we ensure that every aspect of our visitors’ air travel journey is met with exceptional service and operational readiness. This concerted effort underscores our commitment to creating a truly unforgettable experience for travellers from Beijing and its environs, showcasing the warmth of Saudi hospitality and the remarkable beauty of our country,” Rajab added.

ACP believes additional routes to and from the Kingdom will be launched in the second half of this year and the first half of 2024, further broadening its aviation network and international accessibility. The effort to expand is also reflected in the improved global air connectivity classification of Saudi Arabia by the International Air Transport Association (IATA); the country moved from 27th place in 2019 to 13th in 2022.

SAUDIA CEO Capt. Ibrahim Koshy said: “At SAUDIA, we remain dedicated to expanding our network and contributing to the 250 destinations outlined in the Saudi National Aviation strategy. Partnerships, like the one with ACP, play a crucial role in achieving this goal. Together, we have successfully launched routes, including Birmingham, UK, and Zurich, Switzerland, that have enabled us to connect the world to Saudi Arabia.”

China is a priority growth market for ACP, which also focuses on broader tourism considerations, including the overall travel experience and the quality of airport facilities.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Ministry of Commerce announced blocking 51 fake websites that impersonate the ministry by claiming to receive and promote advertisements through web search engines.

Ministry Spokesperson Abdulrahman Al-Hussein stressed the ministry’s keenness on protecting consumers from fraud attempts and its continued efforts to monitor and block all violating websites.

He also called on consumers to report any fake website through the report centre on 1900 or through Balagh App.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih, on an official visit to the Argentine Republic, and Argentinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Santiago Andres Cafiero signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding concerning cooperation to encourage direct investment between Saudi Arabia and Argentina.

Al-Falih and Cafiero discussed strengthening relations and boosting investment through private sector companies, stressing the need to boost investment in the two countries through important projects in vital sectors.

The Saudi minister of investment reviewed the ministry’s role in attracting investments, enabling sectors to grow, setting up regulations and policies, improving access to services through public-private sectors partnerships, as well as carrying out the social and economic transformation envisaged in the Saudi Vision 2030.

The ministry supports Saudi and non-Saudi private sectors to develop and contribute to the economic development and to make it easy to deal with the relevant authorities in the Kingdom and abroad.

The memorandum was reached in the course of the Saudi delegation’s visit to Latin American countries

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Russian air defenses destroyed a Kiev regime’s drone that tried to enter the airspace of Moscow.

“About 11:27, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack by drone on targets in the Moscow region was thwarted.” Sputnik agency quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense as saying in a statement on Sunday.

The ministry added, “The air defense systems destroyed the drone on the territory of the Podolsk region, and there were no injuries or damages as a result of the failed attack.”

“Today at around 11:00 a.m. a drone attempted to break through to Moscow. It was destroyed on the approach by air defenses. ” Sobyanin wrote on his Telegram channel.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Typhoon Khanun is forecast to hit South Korea later this week, after being expected to travel farther west than initial projections, the South Korean national weather agency said Sunday.

The typhoon passed through the northeast of Japan’s Okinawa and was moving up 240 kilometers off the northeast coast on Sunday, (Yonhap) news agency reported citing the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

It is predicted to head further north toward the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula on Thursday, with the central pressure at 975 hectopascal and the maximum wind speed of up to 115 kilometers per hour, the KMA said.

The KMA said earlier Sunday that the typhoon would hit most parts of South Korea except for the southwestern coast off South Jeolla Province. However, the weather agency said the typhoon will likely move farther to the west as it reaches the peninsula.

Rainfall was expected for the southern regions of Busan and Ulsan, between late Wednesday and Thursday night, with the regions of Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province and the central North Chungcheong Province forecast to experience strong wind under the direct influence from the typhoon.

Source: Qatar News Agency