Category: General

Gaza – Together – The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Monday that the number of victims of the Israeli war on the Strip had risen to 34,151 martyrs and 77,084 injured.

She added that the occupation committed 6 massacres during the past 24 hours, claiming 54 martyrs and 104 injuries.

She pointed out that thousands of citizens are still missing under the rubble and on the roads, and that the occupation is preventing ambulance and rescue crews from reaching them.

Source: Maan News Agency

Riyadh: The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued its monthly classification for air transport service providers “to give passengers information about the performance of air transport service providers and airports”.

The assessment was based on the number of complaints filed with GACA by travelers during March 2024.

According to GACA, 924 complaints were filed by travelers on Saudi air carriers in March. SAUDIA Airlines had the fewest complaints, 10 per 100,000 travelers, and a complaint resolution rate of 85%. Flynas came second, with 13 complaints per 100,000 travelers and a resolution rate of 100%. Flyadeal came third with 14 complaints per 100,000 travelers and a resolution rate of 97%.

The most common complaints were about luggage, tickets and flights.

According to the index, among international airports with more than six million passengers annually, Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah had the fewest complaints, 1, or 0.1%, per 100,000 travelers, and a resoluti
on rate of 100%.

Among international airports with less than six million passengers annually, Prince Naif International Airport in Qassim had the fewest complaints, 1, or 1%, per 100,000 travelers, and a resolution rate of 100%.

Among domestic airports, Bisha Airport had the fewest complaints, 1, or 4%, per 100,000 passengers, and a resolution rate of 100%.

GACA reiterated that the monthly classification reports aim to help passengers make informed choices, promote transparency, demonstrate its credibility and keenness to deal with travelers’ complaints, stimulate fair competition, and develop and improve services.

The authority said it keeps multiple communication channels open around the clock to enable interaction with travelers and airport visitors. They are: Unified Call Center number 1929, WhatsApp service at 0115253333, email: gaca-info@gaca.gov.sa, social media accounts, and GACA’s website.

In support of its partners, the airports, GACA prepared a booklet containing guidelines on how to deal with
traveler complaints. The booklet, which has been circulated among airport operators, sets out service agreements and the rules that must be adhered to for all types of complaints and inquiries.

The authority also trains, through regularly held workshops, employees of national airlines and of ground service companies that deal directly with travelers on how to comply with passenger protection regulations.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Hebron – Ma’an – The occupation forces arrested, at midnight last night, two brothers from the town of Beit Ummar after raiding their house. The occupation forces also raided several homes, and confrontations broke out during that.

Media activist in Beit Ummar, Muhammad Ayad Awad, reported that the two brothers, Muhammad Hussein Mustafa Abu Maria, 27 years old, and Moamen, 22 years old, were arrested after their family home in the town was raided.

Awad added, during the occupation forces’ storming of the Al-Dhahr area, south of Beit Ummar, they fired live bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas. They also raided the home of the citizen Khaled Mustafa Abu Maria, where the occupation soldiers violently beat his family members without any reason, except that the family members were watching. Football match.

Source: Maan News Agency

Manama, Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, received Okai Asako, the newly appointed Ambassador of Japan to Bahrain.

The Speaker wished the ambassador success in performing her new diplomatic duties.

He affirmed the parliamentary support for enhancing Bahraini-Japanese cooperation.

He highlighted the legislative authority’s commitment to supporting economic and investment cooperation, increasing trade exchange, enhancing scientific and cultural collaboration, advancing coordination, and exchanging parliamentary expertise.

The ambassador expressed her great pride in representing her country in the kingdom, emphasising her keenness to strengthen strategic relations and cooperation.

She noted the importance of parliamentary support for bilateral projects.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Mohammed Khalid Al Hazza, Acting Attorney-General, Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Chief, received Emily Belson, the External Affairs Officer at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) at the US Department of State.

They discussed the SIU’s work and its efforts to address human rights grievances and exploring collaborative ways to improve human rights protection mechanisms.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

An international report said that the international community is deeply concerned about North Korea’s human rights violations, so it established a United Nations investigation committee in 2013.

The report stated that the investigation committee assessed that serious human rights violations by North Korea are being committed systematically and on a large scale in six areas, including violations of freedom of thought, expression and religion, discrimination, violations of freedom of residence and movement, the right to food, arbitrary detention and torture, executions, political prison camps, kidnappings and forced disappearances. However, the human rights situation in North Korea has not improved at all.

The report added that the 2023 White Paper on Human Rights in North Korea, which the South Korean government published for the first time publicly based on the testimonies of 508 North Korean defectors between 2017 and 2022, officially confirmed that arbitrary deprivation of life and serious human rights vi
olations by public authority still prevails.

It pointed out that the official meeting of the United Nations Security Council on human rights in North Korea, held on August 17, which resumed for the first time in six years since 2017, was very meaningful, and is expected to be an important opportunity to create new momentum in future discussions on improving human rights in North Korea, partly because there has been a change in the positions of China and Russia. The two countries considered the human rights issue in North Korea to be a political issue and opposed holding the meeting four times in a row from 2014 to 2017. However, this year, as there was no official opposition in either country, an open discussion was held on immediately without a procedural vote.

It continued: The South Korean government, as a direct stakeholder in human rights issues in North Korea, has demonstrated its firm determination not to allow human rights issues in North Korea to be influenced by domestic political decisions. In fa
ct, the primary responsibility for improving the human rights situation in North Korea lies with the South Korean government, which recognizes North Korean residents as South Korean citizens under its constitution. The fact that the political and economic systems are different between South and North Korea, and condoning harm to universal values such as human rights, are two different issues.

It explained that the reason why the human rights issue in North Korea is so serious and deserves special attention is that it cannot be separated from the North Korean nuclear issue, which threatens international peace. In this regard, Hwang Joon-guk, the Korean Ambassador to the United Nations, asserts that ‘the issues of human rights and weapons of mass destruction are intertwined in very real ways. The focus on weapons of mass destruction at the expense of the well-being of its people through the diversion of resources is only possible in a country where all political opposition.’

The international report concluded
by saying that in fact, despite the increasing number of deaths due to malnutrition, disease and lack of medical services due to the prolonged border blockade due to the Corona virus, Kim Jong-un’s regime officially announced the acceleration of nuclear missile development and the preventive use of tactical nuclear weapons in the region and the Eighth Party Congress in January 2021. North Korea conducted as many as 42 missile launches in 2022 alone. This means that North Korea launches missiles every 9 to 10 days. In addition, it was reported that all technical preparations related to the seventh nuclear test have been completed, and all that remains is to make a political decision.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Riyadh: Minister of Justice Dr. Waleed bin Mohammed Al-Samani met with the Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China, Paul Lam.

Both ministers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a general framework for future cooperation between the two ministries, as well as to exchange views and experiences regarding dispute avoidance and resolution. The MoU also aims to provide joint training and organization for conferences or events.

They discussed ways to enhance relations between the two countries in the legal and judicial fields, aiming to achieve effective justice and strengthen rights.

Moreover, Dr. Al-Samani reviewed the reforms taking place in the Saudi judicial and legal sectors, supported by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and follow-up of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. This includes the specialized legislative system announced and directly overseen by HRH the Crown Prince, which has produced the Evidence Law
, Personal Status Law, and Civil Transactions Law.

In this regard, the Saudi minister highlighted the role of these specialized systems in enhancing human rights in the Kingdom, establishing further judicial guarantees, and achieving transparency for parties involved in disputes.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Brasilia, The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed 1.160 kilograms of dates to the neediest families in Amazonas, Para, and Rondonia in the Federative Republic of Brazil, benefiting 580 individuals. This assistance is part of a project to distribute 100 tons of dates across 20 states in Brazil and 12 countries in South and Central America.

This aid is within the framework of a series of humanitarian and relief projects implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to help needy and affected countries and peoples worldwide.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is solidifying its leadership in environmental protection and sustainable development through its participation in the first-ever regional Protected Areas Forum, Hima, held in Riyadh from April 21 to 24.

The forum, hosted by the National Center for Wildlife, serves as a platform for local and international experts to discuss strategies for conserving biodiversity, promoting environmental balance, and expanding protected areas – all in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

Among the prominent participants in the forum and the accompanying exhibition are the Kingdom’s royal reserves, each showcasing contributions to environmental stewardship.

At the forum, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority highlighted its vital role in environmental preservation and community engagement. Its initiatives align with the Saudi Green Initiative’s target of protecting 30% of the Kingdom’s land and marine areas by 2030.

King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development A
uthority participated in a dialogue session focusing on promoting justice in protected areas and showcased its expertise in biodiversity protection, revegetation efforts, and fostering ecotourism opportunities in the reserve.

Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority engaged visitors through an interactive pavilion at the exhibition, where it highlighted its utilization of modern technologies for field operations and its commitment to exchanging knowledge with other entities.

The royal reserves participation in the forum is the result of their commitment to the comprehensive strategic goals of royal reserves for 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative’s vision. Their projects are carried out according to the best international practices in environmental protection and community outreach, contributing to a more sustainable future for the Kingdom.

The Hima forum marks a significant milestone for the region, being the first platform dedicated to discussions concerning protected areas.

This
timely event is in line with the outcome of the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Montreal, which led to the international agreement to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030 (30×30).

Saudi Arabia had already pledged its commitment to this goal in 2021, further solidifying its leading role in environmental conservation.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Buraidah, Special Forces for Roads Security in Qassim arrested a citizen attempting to sell 4 kilograms of hashish and narcotic tablets hidden in his vehicle. Legal procedures were completed and he was referred to the concerned authorities.

Security agencies call on the public to report 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. The public 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

Manama, Export Bahrain and the Creative Business Network organised the first edition of the Bahrain Creative Business Cup 2024, in the presence of Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Chairman of Export Bahrain, in collaboration with Bahrain Development Bank and The Collective Hub.

The event orchestrated by Export Bahrain, marked a pivotal moment in championing the growth and global reach of Bahrain’s vibrant industries and culture. This event is a strategic initiative to bolster Bahrain’s standing on a global scale, encouraging startups to refine their offerings to meet and exceed internationally recognized standards.

By spotlighting Bahraini startups, the event facilitates their inclusion in a global community of startup experts and mentors, fostering invaluable connections that transcend borders. It aimed to catalyze the Bahraini economy, forging pathways to develop projects in collaboration with leading investors, corporations, accelerators, and startups worldwide.

Moreover,
the event is a cradle for innovation, nurturing collaboration between large global corporations and startups to address specific innovation needs, thereby empowering the creative business concepts and competitiveness of Bahrain-based entrepreneurs. The Creative Business Cup has set the stage for Bahraini startups to not only participate in the global market but to thrive and influence it profoundly.

The event provided an unparalleled platform for five local talents from within the Creative Industry, Sustainable Development, and Social impact sectors to showcase their skills and compete to take on the opportunity to qualify for the global finals.

Alongside the competition, several panel discussions and award ceremonies in recognition of the participants’ efforts were held as part of the event’s activities to promote an entrepreneurial spirit within the kingdom.

The startups presented before a judging panel that consisted of a number of esteemed regional and local judges, including Omar Al Shabaan, CEO of Th
e Garage KSA; Suhail Algosaibi, Chairman of Tenmou; Safa Sharif, Co-founder of WSI Consulting; Sam Yearsley, Head of Venture Builiding Spring Studios; and Marwa Aleskafi, Director of Programs and Partnership Development at Tamkeen.

Mohammed Abdellaal from Silent Power stood out to be awarded for the first place, qualifying them the honor of becoming the kingdom’s representative at the CBC global finals in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 2024.

Mohammed Abdellaal expressed their joy at this significant achievement, remarking, “We at Silent Power are honored to have been recognized for our innovation and efforts and we are grateful to have had the chance to participate in such an event, we look forward to competing in the global edition of the Creative Business Cup and anticipate more opportunities such as the Creative Business Cup in the future.”

Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Chairman of Export Bahrain, praised the distinguished efforts and ingenuity of all the participants and co
ngratulated Silent Power for their distinction. He continued to state “We are proud to have such talented entrepreneurs and forward thinkers in the nation. Events such as the Creative Business Cup have proven crucial in creating the space for innovation and showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit of Bahrain.”

Dalal Al Qais, CEO of Bahrain Development Bank Group, saying, “Supporting events such as national edition of Creative Business Cup isn’t just about nurturing startups; it’s about cultivating a thriving ecosystem that fuels innovation, fosters entrepreneurship, advancing the Kingdom’s economy towards sustainable growth.”

Nawaf AlKoheji, CEO of Tenmou and The Collective Hub, congratulated the winners and praised the initiative, stating, “It was an honor to be a part of the first national edition of the Creative Business Cup, which has created an indispensable opportunity for the talented entrepreneurs in the Kingdom to showcase their ability both regionally and internationally. We look forward to more futu
re collaborations in creating an environment that encourages the creativity and ingenuity that will propel the Kingdom of Bahrain as a regional hub for entrepreneurship.”

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Tulkarm – Ma’an – Large crowds in Tulkarm this Sunday afternoon mourned the body of the child Qais Fathi Ibrahim Nasrallah (16 years old), who was martyred on Friday evening by the bullets of an occupation sniper during his aggression against the city of Tulkarm and the Nour Shams camp.

The funeral procession started from the Martyr Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarm, then to his birthplace to bid farewell and pray for him in the Tulkarm Camp Mosque, then to lay him to rest in the Western Cemetery in Tulkarm.

The martyr Nasrallah is among the list of 14 martyrs who were killed by the occupation’s bullets during its aggression against the Nour Shams camp, which lasted more than 50 hours, causing comprehensive destruction and sabotage of everything in the camp.

Source: Maan News Agency