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Over the past 24 hours, National Earthquake Center (NEC) announced that five quakes were recorded.
The center said in a statement that the stations of the National Seismological Network recorded a 2.3 magnitude tremor in the Mediterranean, northwest of Lattakia, a 2.9 magnitude tremor, west of Tartous and another tremor measuring 1.5, southwest of Tartous.
The NEC also reported a quake measuring 2.3 northwest of Cyprus and another one measuring 3.2 in Turkey.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency
The West should not worry about Russia’s national interests; the country has emerged stronger from all troubles, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at an online briefing on Friday.
“Thank you for your concern about our national interests, but you shouldn’t feel worried,” Lavrov said, responding to a question from Reuters. About the attempted mutiny in Russia Lavrov said that “Russia has always emerged stronger from any trouble.”
“This will be the case this time,” he stressed. “Moreover, we already feel that this process has begun.” Lavrov added that the attempted mutiny in Russia brought to mind only one epithet – “much ado” – and could hardly be described in a different way.
Lavrov recalled how last Saturday some Western officials, in their comments on the internal political situation in Russia, said that “the facade of the Russian authorities has cracked” and that they were doing everything right with regard to Ukraine. Lavrov pointed out that in this way the Western officials acknowledged that it was they (and not Ukraine) who were at war with Russia.
Lavrov also recalled the European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s statement that the West was doing the right thing by arming Ukraine and called for stepping up arms supplies to Kiev.
“This is an indirect, but very clear, explicit recognition of who is at war against whom,” Lavrov pointed out. “So, thank you for your concern, but we can handle it ourselves,” he concluded.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency
Hundreds of residents of Maysan governorate organized a protest after Friday prayers in the center of the city of Amarah, to denounce the incident of burning a copy of the Holy Quran in Sweden.
The protesters called on the government to take firm measures to respond to these repeated violations against the monotheistic religions.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received today, Friday, a letter from its Swedish counterpart expressing its regret over the insult to the Holy Quran.
Ministry spokesman Ahmed Al-Sahaf said in a statement, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received, through its embassy in Stockholm, a copy of the message of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its undersecretary Jan Knutsen, addressed to the heads of missions of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, regarding insulting the Holy Quran in Stockholm, in which he expressed his deep regret for what happened on Wednesday, the first day of Eid al-Adha, in front of the Stockholm mosque.
Al-Sahaf indicated that “the letter confirmed that the Swedish government strongly rejects such anti-Islamic actions, and that it does not support or condone in any way the anti-Islamic views expressed by the person concerned during this incident,” adding that “the Swedish government fully understands that Muslims in Sweden and in other countries are offended by what happened.”
He explained, “The police are in the process of conducting an investigation into suspected violations in accordance with the Swedish hate crimes law,” noting that “Sweden has a constitutional right to freedom of assembly, expression, and demonstration, and that the police make decisions to allow demonstrations independently.”
He added, “The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the police of the relevant considerations from its point of view.”
Al-Sahhaf explained that “the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reflects the values and ethics of the Iraqi state and its people, who respect religious sanctities and see a high sensitivity in this matter, and the position of the ministry continues successively to stress the importance of the Swedish side’s response to the Iraqi government’s demand to extradite the perpetrator of this heinous act to be punished according to Iraqi law.”
Source: National Iraqi News Agency
The President of the Republic of Palau, Surangel Wipes Jr. received the credentials of Ahmed Abdullah Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Republic of Palau, residing in Jakarta.
Ambassador Al Hajri conveyed greetings from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
President Surangel Wipes Jr. also extended his greetings to HM the King and to HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Source: Bahrain News Agency
Treating educational staff, especially teachers, with respect is one of our top priorities, said the Ministry of Education in a statement.
The ministry indicated that it is directly concerned with dealing with any defamation of teachers or education employees through official and legal tools.
“Teachers have their status that must be preserved and held in high esteem”, it said, noting that it does not tolerate any targeting of the educational staff.
It noted in this regard that the cyberattacks and allegations that targeted a number of teachers and schools to tarnish their reputation have proved untrue after investigation, and have been debunked through legal and judicial procedures.
“The ministry’s doors remain open to receiving any complaints or remarks about any issues that require follow-up or investigation, through the communication channels available to the public”, said the statement.
The ministry affirmed that it investigates daily the complaints it receives and takes the necessary measures, stressing at the same time that it welcomes objective and constructive criticism that does not target people or affect their dignity.
It expressed appreciation to the Public Prosecution and the impartial Bahraini judiciary, extending sincere thanks to all teachers, and education employees for their efforts, which contributed to the success of the school year and the implementation of plans and projects set by the ministry.
Source: Bahrain News Agency
Mexico’s Ministry of Health has announced that more than 100 people have died over the past two weeks due to a dramatic rise in temperatures approaching 50 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country.
In a statement, the Ministry attributed almost all deaths to sunstroke and drought, noting that most of the deaths occurred in the northern state of Nuevo León. “
More than two thirds of the deaths took place from 18 June to 24 of the same months. “
Although the rainy season has seen a slight drop in temperatures over the past few days, some northern cities continue to see temperatures rise by nearly 49 degrees Celsius. “
The heat wave has increased pressure on the country’s electricity grid and forced the authorities to suspend study in some areas. “
Source: National Iraqi News Agency
The Ministry of the Interior directed today rescue and emergency patrols to roam through alleyways.
According to a ministry statement, “Under-Secretary of Police, General Adel Al-Khalidi directed rescue and emergency patrols to roam through alleyways and residential areas and arrest all illegal cases.”
The statement noted that “Khalidi conducted a field tour for the third consecutive day until the early morning hours in public markets and places of purchasing of citizens and supervising the spread of machinery and foot detachments during the days of Eid al-Adha throughout the capital Baghdad”.
Al-Khalidi asserted that “the Helpline Control Phone (104) is the link between the citizen and the policeman if assistance is requested.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency
The Saudi Riwaq (portico) has contributed to increasing the Tawaf capacity (circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba) during this year’s Hajj season.
Extending to an area of 210,000 square meters, the four-floor Saudi Riwaq can accommodate 287,000 worshippers and 107,000 pilgrims per hour.
The Riwaq extends to the west following extension orders by the late King Fahd bin Abdulaziz when 1500 white marble-covered columns carrying several domes were erected, thus expanding the Riwaq to 365,000 square meters with the capacity to accommodate about 1 million worshipers. After that extension, the Saudi Riwaq included a new gate named after King Fahd.
The Saudi Riwaq grew larger from the northern side under the new expansion project, which started during the reign of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and was completed during the reign of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Under the Mataf expansion project, the area of the Grand Mosque grew to 1 million square meters, accommodating around 2 million worshippers.
Several columns were erected by the new expansion project to the Grand Mosque in addition to a new gate named after King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent a cable of congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, on the occasion of the success of the Hajj season of 1444 AH.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed his sincere congratulations on the success of the Hajj season this year, which was achieved by the grace of Allah Almighty, and thanks to the generous care of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his wise government and its institutions, to ensure that pilgrims can perform the rituals in tranquillity and safety.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, also sent two similar cables to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on the occasion of the success of the Hajj season of 1444 AH.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed their countries’ cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (CSO) and the Group of Twenty, the Kremlin press service said on Friday after their telephone call.
“Special attention was focused on cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Group of Twenty, where India now holds the presidency, as well as within the BRICS format,” it said.
The SCO summit will be held on July 4. India is chairing the organization in 2023. According to the Indian foreign ministry, the SCO summit will be held online. Iran is expected to be admitted to the organization as a new member.
Established in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, the SCO now has eight members: its founders – Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, and India and Pakistan, which joined in 2017.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister, Chairman of the High Committee for Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Nawaf bin Mohammed Al-Maawda, has commended the tremendous efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, to provide the best services to pilgrims.
He indicated that the outstanding success of this year’s Hajj season reflects the integrated services delivered by Saudi authorities to pilgrims to enable them to perform Hajj rituals easily and comfortably, within a secure spiritual atmosphere.
The minister asserted that the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, have enabled Bahraini pilgrims to perform the Hajj rituals easily.
He paid tribute to the Bahrain Hajj Mission, led by Shaikh Adnan bin Abdulla Al-Qattan, for its service to Bahraini pilgrims.
Minister Al-Maawda highlighted the historic role played by Saudi Arabia, led by King Salman, and supported by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, in serving pilgrims and the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques, wishing Saudi Arabia and its people continued progress and prosperity.
He praised the ongoing cooperation between the Bahrain Hajj Mission and the Saudi Hajj and Umrah Ministry to ensure easy procedures for Bahraini Hajj campaigns.
He also extended thanks and appreciation to the various committees representing the ministries of Interior, Health and Education, among others, within the Bahrain Hajj Mission, for their dedication to serving Bahraini pilgrims and following up on their needs.
Source: Bahrain News Agency