Day: May 4, 2023

The statements of US officials on Kremlin drone attack are absurd and insolent, affirming that his country will respond at the time it deems necessary.

“The statements of officials in Washington are striking in their cynicism and absurdity,” “The U.S. did not find it possible to recognize the obvious thing – it was a terrorist action planned by the Zelensky regime and an assassination attempt targeting the President of the Russian Federation,” Novosti quoted Antonov as saying.

He noted that Moscow hoped that the US administration “would have the guts and dignity to condemn this terrorist act… But today the United States is shielding the Kiev criminals…and it adopts a policy of encouraging the Zelensky regime to attack the Russian Federation.”

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, TAIF SAMI, DIRECTED ALL THE MINISTRY’S BANKS TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FACILITIES FOR APPROVING POS ELECTRONIC SALES DEVICES IN STATE INSTITUTIONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

A STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY SAID: “IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S APPROACH AND THE DIRECTIVES OF THE PRIME MINISTER, URGING MINISTRIES TO APPROVE POS DEVICES, THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, TAIF SAMI MUHAMMAD, DIRECTED ALL THE MINISTRY’S BANKS TO PROVIDE ALL THE NECESSARY FACILITIES TO APPROVES POS ELECTRONIC SALES DEVICES IN STATE INSTITUTIONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, FREE OF CHARGE AND AT ZERO PERCENT INTEREST FOR A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AND VARIOUS SOFTWARE SUPPORTING THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS TRAINING STAFF WORKING IN THIS FIELD.

THE STATEMENT ADDED, “THE FACILITATION PACKAGE COMES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE’S VISION TO ACQUIRE POS ELECTRONIC PAYMENT DEVICES INSTEAD OF CASH, AND TO GENERALIZE THE EXPERIENCE TO INCLUDE VARIOUS ECONOMIC SECTORS AT THE LEVEL OF IRAQ AS A WHOLE, WHICH IS HOPED TO START FROM JUNE 1, 2023.

THE STATEMENT EXPLAINED: “THE ELECTRONIC POINTS OF SALE ARE DEVICES DEDICATED TO ACCEPTING ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS, WHICH ALLOW MERCHANTS, SHOP OWNERS AND PROJECTS TO ACCEPT PAYMENTS FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO HOLD ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TOOLS, IN RETURN FOR THE GOODS OR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MERCHANT, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CASH PAYMENT

SOURCE: NATIONAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY

THE PRIME MINISTER, MUHAMMAD SHIAA AL-SUDANI, RECEIVED TODAY, THURSDAY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE KURDISTAN REGION, NECHIRVAN BARZANI.

DURING THE MEETING, ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT BY AL-SUDANESE OFFICE, THEY DISCUSSED THE GENERAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND A NUMBER OF FILES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

AL-SUDANESE AND BARZANI STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF INTENSIFYING EFFORTS OF ALL POLITICAL FORCES TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT IN IMPLEMENTING ITS SERVICE AND REFORM PROGRAMMES.

THE PRIME MINISTER REFERRED TO THE PRIORITIES IN THE GOVERNMENT WORK APPROACH, WHICH TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION MEETING THE NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS OF CITIZENS, IN ALL GOVERNORATES OF IRAQ, ACCORDING TO THEIR ASPIRATIONS, AND IN A WAY THAT ENHANCES STABILITY, COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT.

THE MEETING WITNESSED A REVIEW OF PROGRESS AND WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE PATH OF RESOLVING PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES RADICAL SOLUTIONS THAT ULTIMATELY RELIEVE THE BURDENS OF CITIZENS AND SUPPORT JOINT ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE IN ALL PARTS OF IRAQ.

SOURCE: NATIONAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY

THE PARLIAMENT CONTINUED, IN ITS SESSION HELD TODAY, THURSDAY, THE SECOND READING (REPORT AND DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT LAW TO CREATE THE HALABJA GOVERNORATE), WHICH IS THE SEVENTH PARAGRAPH OF THE AGENDA OF THE SESSION, WHICH IS CURRENTLY CHAIRED BY THE SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT, SHAKHWAN ABDULLAH.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECIDED TO ADJOURN ITS SESSION TO NEXT SATURDAY, AFTER IT FINISHED A REPORT AND DISCUSSION OF A DRAFT LAW TO CREATE THE HALABJA GOVERNORATE

SOURCE: NATIONAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY

THE PRIME MINISTER, MUHAMMAD SHIAA AL-SUDANI, CHAIRED TODAY, THURSDAY, THE SECOND MEETING OF THE SUPREME COMMITTEE FOR WATER.

THE MEETING DISCUSSED THE WATER SITUATION, DROUGHT AND SCARCITY OF IMPORTS, ACCORDING TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE WATER YEAR (2022-2023), AND FOLLOW-UP TO PREVIOUS DIRECTIVES ISSUED BY THE PRIME MINISTER REGARDING THE FILE OF WATER SCARCITY AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT FINDINGS IN THIS VITAL FILE, IN ADDITION TO DISCUSSING THE SPECIAL STRATEGIC STUDY WITH WATER RESOURCES.

SOURCE: NATIONAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY

Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat, today discussed with the walis of the governorate and specialists from the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, a project to include one of the wilayays of Muscat Governorate in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities for the year 2023.

During the meeting, a visual presentation was screened highlighting the global network of learning cities, its objectives and strategy, how the basic learning city is being built, the gains that the Sultanate of Oman will achieve by joining the network, and how to join this project, in preparation for the next stage.

At the end of the meeting, the Wilayat of Muscat was chosen as a city for sustainable learning. The step aims to join the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

This project comes in line with the efforts of the Sultanate of Oman to upgrade national indicators in education to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all). The project is concerned with highlighting efforts related to sustainable development; such as empowering youth, promoting a culture of lifelong learning, and the economic and cultural prosperity of cities.

Source: Oman News Agency

Dr. Mahad Said Ba’owain, Minister of Labour met here today with representatives of GCC syndicates participating in the 4th conference of the General Federation of Oman Workers.

The meeting discussed means of enhancing cooperation in labour action between GCC syndicates and dealing with joint issues of GCC countries.

The meeting was attended by Nabhan Ahmed Al Batashi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Federation of Oman Workers and some officials from the Ministry.

Source: Oman News Agency

Delegated by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said will take part in the coronation ceremony of King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Head of the Commonwealth.

During the ceremony, set to take place in London over the next two days, HH Sayyid Theyazin will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi.

Source: Oman News Agency

Vice Admiral Abdullah Khamis Al Raisi, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) met here today with Air Marshal Salim Hamad Aqeel Al Nabit, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Qatar.

Within the framework of the visit, the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Qatar signed memoranda of understanding in areas of joint military cooperation.

The memoranda were signed by Vice Admiral Abdullah Khamis Al Raisi, SAF Chief of Staff and Air Marshal Salim Hamad Aqeel Al Nabit, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Qatar.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed areas of military cooperation and means of enhancing them to serve joint interests.

The signing ceremony was attended by several senior SAF officers and senior officers of Qatar’s Armed Forces.

Moreover, the Chief of Staff of Qatar’s Armed Forces accompanied the SAF Chief of Staff in tour of the Umm Al Houl port.

Source: Oman News Agency

A heavenly horse painting, a national treasure believed to date back to the fifth to sixth century, returned for public display Thursday after nine years.

The “Cheonma” painting is on display as part of a special exhibition of artifacts unearthed from a royal tomb from the Silla Kingdom (B.C. 57-A.D. 935) at the Gyeongju National Museum.

The museum held the exhibition, titled “Return of Cheonma,” to mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Cheonma Tomb in Gyeongju, an ancient tourist city located 277 kilometers south of Seoul. The painting was last seen by the public in 2014, South Korean News Agency (Yonhap) reported.

The painting, created on a saddle flap made of white birch tree bark, depicts Cheonma, a mystical creature in Korean folklore resembling a winged horse. The creature is believed to connect heaven and earth, traveling between the two domains.

It was designated as a national treasure due to its well-preserved condition.

Another painting, also titled “Cheonma,” discovered alongside the well-known national treasure, will also be displayed during the exhibition.

But the two paintings will be shown for a limited time, respectively, from May 4 to June 11 and from June 12 to July 16, due to their fragility.

The exhibition will also include photographs of various artifacts taken by photographer Gu Bon-chang, as well as stunning gold artifacts excavated from the tomb.

Over 10,000 artifacts, including four national treasures and six treasures, were discovered during the excavation conducted from April to December 1973.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Andrew Parsons, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President, said he was confident of the success Bahrain Paralympic Badminton International 2023.

Parsons commended the track record Bahrain has in hosting international key sports events.

Bahrain Paralympic Badminton International 2023, held by Bahrain for the second time, will be on May 17-23. It is organised by Bahrain Paralympic Committee and the Bahrain Badminton and Squash Federation.

Paralympic badminton made a hugely successful debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

IPC has seen the sport flourish, especially across Asia where Paralympic badminton gets more competitive and entertaining with every passing tournament.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will have 16 Paralympic badminton medal events, two more than at Tokyo 2020, and tournaments like this form an important part of the preparation and qualification for the Paris Games.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa left for the United Kingdom at an invitation by His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Head of the Commonwealth to attend the coronation ceremony.

Source: Bahrain News Agency