Category: General

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi met here yesterday with UN Secretary General António Guterres, and stressed that the international community plays an important role in aiding the UN to implement its resolutions, particularly concerning the Palestinian issue.

The two officials, who met on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, discussed ways to boost GCC-UN cooperation and support sustainable development efforts, and addressed the latest regional and international developments, particularly the crisis in Gaza and the rest of the Palestinian territories.

Albudaiwi praised the preparations made by the UN General Assembly for the 79th session, and the significant role it plays in addressing current regional and international issues, supporting peace and development efforts, and boosting international cooperation to tackle crises.

Guterres commended the role played by GCC countries, regionally and internationally, as well as the achieve
ments attained by GCC countries at all levels, which position them among the advanced countries in regard to many international indicators, including sustainability, infrastructure, and development.

Guterres said that “the humanitarian and developmental assistance provided by the GCC countries to those in need is a source of pride for

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Russian Defense Ministry announced Sunday that Russian air defense systems shot down 15 Ukrainian drones Saturday night over the territories of 5 Russian provinces.

“The Kiev regime made attempts overnight to carry out terrorist attacks with fixed-wing drones against sites on the territory of the Russian Federation, which were foiled. On-duty air defenses destroyed 15 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles. Six UAVs were shot down over the waters of the Sea of Azov, four over the territory of the Rostov Region, two over the territory of the Kursk Region, and one over each of the territories of Astrakhan, Belgorod and Voronezh regions,” it said.

For several months, Ukrainian forces have been carrying out almost daily drone and missile attacks on Russian border areas, including Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Voronezh, and Rostov, as well as the Crimean Peninsula.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The Palestinian Civil Defense announced today that it was able to pull out the dead bodies of seven Palestinian civilians, who were slaughtered by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in a bombing that targeted Kafr Qasim School; a school that serves as a shelter for hundreds of displaced Palestinian civilians in Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. The bombing of the shelter has also caused many injuries among civilians (some severe and critical).

According to what was reported by the Palestinian Civil Defense, the IOF aircraft stunned the displaced persons with at least one missile, creating a massacre that can only be added to the series of the IOF’s deliberate targeting of the centers sheltering displaced persons.

In the past few weeks, the IOF has targeted and bombed several shelters housing displaced civilians who had to fled their homes after they were destroyed by the Israeli occupation.

The number of shelters targeted by the IOF since it started its relentless genocide on Gaza has reached 181
centers so far.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings in September will facilitate talks that push for a more peaceful world, said HE Ambassador of the United States of America to the State of Qatar Timmy Davis.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency , His Excellency hailed Doha’s world-wide roles that go beyond mediation efforts to nurture human rights and provide humanitarian relief.

In addition to its yearslong efforts to ensure Palestinians a humanitarian aid access, the State of Qatar has responded to various humanitarian crises in the Horn of Africa, Venezuela, Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere, His Excellency said. He also highlighted the need to bolster Qatar-US partnership to mobilize support to alleviate humanitarian crises around the world.

Qatar has done a really great job in helping and mediating to resolve conflicts around the world, and everyone recognizes Qatars role in working for peace in the Gaza Strip, His Excellency added. expressing
his optimism for the joint statement from HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Joe Biden, on the need to hammer out a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip and release prisoners and detainees.

Qatar has been central in efforts to settle the crisis in the Gaza Strip since October 7 and adopted prominent roles to end conflicts around the world including the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the Horn of Africa, His Excellency added.

He added that the UNGA meetings would help world leaders to truncate weeks-long discussions and engage in direct talks that contribute to finding solutions to many world disputes.

The UNGA meetings primarily offer a unique opportunity for all parties to foster peace and determine the priorities and this inspires optimism and hope for achieving the coveted peace, he added.

This year’s UNGA agenda will cover a wide range of topics including world-wide conflicts, primarily the war in the Gaza Strip and the Russian-Ukrainian crisi
s, human rights and women’s suffering, especially in Afghanistan, he added, underpinning the importance of collaborating with various partners, most notably the State of Qatar, to achieve these specific priorities.

He added that the US-Qatar relations, spanning across trade, energy, arts, culture and security among other areas, are paramount for Washington. These exemplary relations are constantly growing and reflect positively on both parties.

He added that being the US Ambassador to the State of Qatar makes him the luckiest ambassador in the world.

HE Davis added that he closely monitored the Qatar foreign policy baselines and how Qatar positions itself on the global stage through great efforts to contribute to resolving world conflicts, appreciating the State of Qatar’s endeavor to achieve peace in the region and the world as a whole.

Source: Qatar News Agency

In cooperation with the Arab Cultural House (The Diwan) in Germany, QatarDebate wrapped up the Adjudicators Academy on Sunday.

Held in Berlin, Germany for three days, the event is part of ongoing efforts to enhance debating skills in Arabic within Germany and expand the debate community in Europe.

The program prepared participants to become professional debating judges and coaches, and included a range of advanced practical activities and discussions on matters such as managing judging sessions efficiently, addressing potential issues that could pop up during debates, and making sound and objective judgments.

Debate instructor at QatarDebate Center Abdulrahman Alkubaisi said that the event provided rich and carefully tailored training content to enhance individual and collective skills in debate judging and coaching.

Alkubaisi added that participants learned how to analyze debates and assess the arguments and evidence presented by various parties, in addition to being subjected to a practical test in the
form of a mock debate.

In turn, Director General of the Arab Cultural House Dr. Lawrence Al Hanawi stressed the importance of the Adjudicators Academy in cultivating a culture of discussion and dialogue. He encouraged participants from various backgrounds to exchange opinions and perspectives in a civilized manner and to promote constructive critical dialogue on contemporary issues affecting society.

Al Hanawi praised QatarDebate’s pivotal role in promoting dialogue and constructive discussion, adding that through its rich programs, the Center has truly become a haven for free debate and a platform for promoting the Arabic language.

The Director General of the Arab Cultural House expressed his hope for further cooperation in the form of more joint training and qualifying programs for judges and coaches in both Arabic and German, in addition to launching Arab-German cultural and civilizational dialogues under the umbrella of the Oasis of Dialogue. Moreover, he emphasized the importance of investing in the y
outh by expanding their knowledge and developing their skills.

Al Hanawi said that the Arab Cultural House’s vision is to bring the Arabic and German cultures closer together, serving as a platform for constructive dialogue and cultural exchange.

He noted that it offers more than 16 cultural programs, ranging from Arabic language courses and teaching Arabic musical instruments, to films, photography workshops, and theater, in addition to issuing the Der Divan cultural magazine in both Arabic and German which features a selection of academics. Al Hanawi added that the Arab Cultural House also offers various workshops, discussion circles, an audio and podcast library, and translating of Arabic books into German, among others.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent on Sunday a cable of congratulations to his brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of his country’s National Day.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Manama, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), issued Edict (12) of 2024 regarding the name change of the Bahrain Swimming Association.

The edict stipulated that the name of the Bahrain Swimming Association, registered under clause (7) in the sports federation registration record, shall be changed to the “Bahrain Aquatics Federation” wherever mentioned in the Federation’s summary statute and the registration and documentation decisions.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Doha: HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani sent a cable of condolences to HE President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian on the victims of a coal mine explosion in the east of the country, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Meteorological Department expected that the weather on Sunday will be partly cloudy to cloudy, with a drop in temperatures to become 3 degrees Celsius below their annual average, and there will be a chance for scattered showers of rain in various areas. Winds will be westerly to northwesterly, moderate to active in speed, and the sea will be medium in wave height.

In the evening and night hours: The weather will be relatively cold in most parts of the country, and there will be a chance for scattered showers of rain in the northern parts of the country. The winds will be northwesterly, moderate to active in speed, and the sea will have medium waves.

Tomorrow, Monday, the weather will be partly cloudy to cloudy, and temperatures will remain 3 degrees Celsius below their annual average. There will be a weak chance of scattered showers of rain in some areas. Winds will be westerly to northwesterly, light to moderate in speed, sometimes active, and the sea will be light to medium in wav
e height.

On Tuesday, the weather will be partly cloudy to clear, and temperatures will rise to become slightly above their annual average. The winds will be northwesterly, light to moderate in speed, sometimes active, and the sea will be light to medium in wave height.

Next Wednesday, the weather will be partly cloudy to clear, and temperatures will not change, remaining slightly above their annual average. The winds will be northwesterly, light to moderate in speed, sometimes active, and the sea will be light to medium in wave height.

The Meteorological Department warned of the risk of slipping on roads in areas experiencing rainfall.

Source: Maan News Agency

Jerusalem – Ma’an – Israeli President Isaac Herzog denied Israel’s involvement in the pager bombings that took place in Lebanon.

“Israel has nothing to do with the pager attacks that took place in Lebanon,” he said.

“We are not interested in war with Lebanon, but the chances of escalation with Hezbollah are very high,” he added.

Source: Maan News Agency