Day: April 1, 2024

Aleppo, Maghrib Azan (call to prayer) has sounded again in the Grand Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo City, announcing the return of life to this religious and historical hub after 12-year hiatus, and that came follwoing its cleansing of terrorism and its rehabilitation.

That came during a Ramadan Iftar banquet Sunday that brought together 1,400 residents of the neighborhoods of Aleppo City and the workers and craftsmen who have contributed to the rehabilitation and construction of this archaeological landmark.

The banquet came as part of the ‘Share in Goodness’ campaign launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in cooperation with the Syria Trust for Development and the Union of Charitable Societies in Aleppo, according to what the Director of Social Affairs and Labor in Aleppo, Ahmed Hamza, said.

In a statement to a SANA correspondent, Hamza stressed the importance and significance of this banquet and its specialty for the people of old Aleppo, as it gathered them in this great religious edifice and g
ave them the joy of hearing the sound of the call to prayer, which they were deprived of for years, especially in the holy month of Ramadan.

The banquet included religious chanting, in which the artist Tayseer Idris participated, and religious chants from Mawlawiyah.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Kuwait, HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hoped that the National Assembly elections 2024 would establish a stellar council operated by distinguished faces with enlightened thinking, stressing that boycotting the elections would be a relinquish of the constitutional right.

“We are looking forward to participation of citizens of our beloved nation in election, and who boycott it will relinquish his constitutional right, does not perform his duty to select, and has no right after that to blame anyone for the poor outcome nor poor performance and achievement,” HH the Amir of Kuwait said in an address to the nation on the occasion of the last 10 days of Ramadan.

HH the Amir of Kuwait commended and supported all efforts and measures aimed at preserving the national identity, adding that since the national identity represents existence, an issue of rule and a destiny of a nation, so an assault on it is an assault on the structure of the state and its major components, and cannot be ig
nored.

Kuwait is set to hold the National Assembly elections 2024 on Thursday. The total number of male and female candidates for the elections reached 200.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Cairo, The State of Palestine has submitted a request to the General-Secretariat of the League of Arab States to hold an extraordinary session of the council of Arab League at the level of permanent delegates at the earliest.

The request for holding an extraordinary session of the council of the Arab League came to discuss the Arab movement over the continuation of the crime of genocide, the starvation policy and forced displacement of the Palestinians being committed by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip, Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the Arab League Ambassador Muhannad Al Aklouk highlighted on Monday.

Al Aklouk added that the request also came amid the persistent Israeli threats regarding the impending incursion into Rafah city which shelters over 1.5 million displaced people and citizens, along with the Israel’s intransigence and rebuffing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions which called for immediate ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan.

He pointed out that
the council of the Arab League is poised to discuss Israel’s non-compliance with the provisional measures rendered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Jan. 26 and Mar. 28.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held on Monday a telephone conversation with HE Bassirou Diomaye Faye during which HH the Amir congratulated him on winning the presidential elections in the Republic of Senegal, wishing him success and the Senegalese people prosperity and welfare.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: The Ministry of Culture celebrated on Sunday evening the World Theatre Day, which falls on the 27th of March every year.

In honor of this occasion, a Ramadan gathering was organized by the Theater Affairs Center, bringing together Qatari playwrights from different generations. Additionally, a seminar was held at the Social and Cultural Center for Blind to discuss the issue of theater for people with disabilities.

During the Ramadan gathering held at the Diplomatic Club, young artist Mohammed Al Mulla delivered a speech on World Theatre Day, written by Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse, titled “Art is Peace”.

Several playwrights, on the sidelines of the World Theatre Day celebration, emphasized the need to uplift Qatari theater, regain its shine, and revive its illustrious history.

In this context, Abdelrahim Al Sadiqi, Director of the Theater Affairs Center, stated to journalists on the sidelines of the celebration, that the center is keen on annually celebrating this occasion, a longstanding tradition
that brings together Qatari playwrights who were the first to celebrate this event in the Gulf region in 1980.

He noted the cohesion over the past years between the World Theatre Day celebration and the Doha Theatre Festival. However, this year, the festival will be held in May after the conclusion of the Doha Book Fair.

He added that the gathering of playwrights on this occasion, although lacking a theatrical performance this year due to Ramadan, is an opportunity to exchange ideas and bring together different generations to study what contributes to the advancement of Qatari theater, a priority for the Ministry of Culture.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency, theater critic Dr. Hassan Rashid emphasized the early interest of Qatari theater in celebrating World Theatre Day. He stressed the need to revive the spirit of theatrical movement and exert more efforts that contribute to the progress and revival of theater in Qatar through the annual festival, theatrical season, workshops, and courses that polish the art
istic talents of playwrights.

Similarly, renowned artist Ghazi Hussein told QNA that this celebration reflects the Qatari artist’s passion for theater and realization of its importance. He emphasized that theater is the “father of arts” and plays an educational and enlightening role in society, stating his hope that these gatherings will later showcase substantial works on the Qatari theater stage.

Director Saad Burshid, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre Arts at the Community College, stated that the celebration of World Theatre Day reflects the successive generations’ interest in Qatari theater on this day, which Qatar began celebrating in 1980.

He also noted the Ministry of Culture’s interest in engaging with playwrights in line with its vision for a theatrical movement embodied in the Doha Theatre Festival and continuous theatrical activity in the country.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Ramallah, Prime Minister-designate Dr. Mohammad Mustafa officially assumed his duties during a ceremony from Mohammad Shtayyeh Monday in the Prime Ministers headquarters office in Ramallah, Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported.

WAFA added that Shtayyeh handed Mustafa a number of files to follow up and accumulate, involving the Gaza reconstruction and recovery plan, the reform plan, and the emergency plan.

“Today we deliver to you three documents prepared by the government. The first document is the reform plan that was presented to the world, and it is an integrated plan that was approved by donors and was developed. The second document is the governments emergency plan for the year 2024, and the third paper is the lessons regarding Gaza’s reconstruction and economic recovery.” Shtayyeh said.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Riyadh: According to the National Center for Meteorology, strong winds will blow and moderate to heavy rain and hail may fall in parts of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, and Makkah.

Light to moderate rain may fall in parts of Qassim, Riyadh, and the Eastern Region.

Dust-stirring winds will blow in parts of the Northern Borders, Al-Jouf, Tabuk, Hail, and Madinah.

Winds over the Red Sea will be northerly to northwesterly, reaching 20-50 km/h in the northern and central parts, southeasterly to northeasterly, reaching 15-35 km/h and shifting at night to northerly to northwesterly in the southern parts, and southeasterly to southerly, reaching 15-50 km/h towards the Bab Al-Mandab Strait. Waves may range from half a meter to more than two meters; the sea will be calm to choppy.

In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be easterly to southeasterly, at speeds of 15-45 km/h in the northern parts. Waves may reach from half a meter to one and a half meters; the sea will be relatively calm.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has enhanced the role of women’s agencies in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in the last ten days of Ramadan, according to plans made to glorify the virtue of the Holy Month.

These steps would achieve the objectives of the Presidency of Religious Affairs and its plans related to conveying the message of the Two Holy Mosques to the world.

The participation of the female staff at the Presidency of Religious Affairs contributed to strengthening the Ramadan Presidency plan, achieving a qualitative leap in preparing the worshipful environment for female worshipers and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques, enriching their religious experience, and providing high-quality services, especially in the last ten days of the holy month.

The Religious Presidency provided the women’s prayer areas and their seclusion places in the Two Holy Mosques with qualified female cadres able to provide many services, including guidance, awareness, education
, and teaching the correct recitation of the Holy Qur’an.

Through its future strategy, the Religious Affairs Presidency seeks to expand and improve the performance of women’s religious sectors in accordance with the highest standards of quality, creativity, and an environment appropriate for women’s privacy to enable them to carry out their work in serving female worshippers and enriching their experience.

Source: Saudi Press Agency