Category: General

Riyadh: The mixed naval exercise “Red Wave-7” has kicked off at King Faisal Naval Base in the Western Fleet, with the participation of countries bordering the Red Sea, including Jordan, Egypt, Djibouti, and Yemen, in addition to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, the Royal Saudi Land Forces, the Royal Saudi Air Force, and units of the Saudi Border Guard.

Commander of the Western Fleet Rear Admiral Mansour bin Saud Al-Juaid said that the drill “Red Wave-7” aims to enhance the maritime security of the countries bordering the Red Sea and protect the territorial waters. It implements the assumptions planned in three conferences in which officers from all the relevant countries participated, resulting in the formation of forces and a set of exercises that constitute an important training aspect for all participating countries.

Al-Juaid pointed out that the participating forces will implement over a period of five days all modern military concepts, including strategic lectures and exercises that simulate different com
bat environments resembling reality. The drill will achieve joint and mixed work, such as surface and air warfare, electronic warfare, and countering an attack by speedboats. The forces will also implement maritime security exercises such as protecting shipping lines, combating smuggling, terrorism, piracy, and illegal immigration. He noted that all combat elements will be used through His Majesty’s Ships, helicopters, fast response boats, navy infantry, and maritime special security forces, as well as various types of combat aircraft.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, received Dr. Andreas Eliades, the newly appointed Ambassador of Cyprus to Bahrain.

The meeting discussed Bahrain-Cyprus relations and ways to enhance them in various domains, especially in the economic sector.

The minister wished the ambassador success in performing his diplomatic duties.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Baghdad Al-Karkh Police Command carried out a large security operation within the sector of responsibility.

The Ministry of Interior said in a statement: ‘ Baghdad Al-Karkh Police Command carried out a wide security operation within the area of responsibility of Salhiya Police Station, which resulted in the arrest of 118 foreigners who violated residency conditions.’

It added: ‘They also arrested wanted persons according to judicial arrest warrants, and seized 5 weapons, including two BKC and ammunition and 4 magazines, in addition to seizing 4 stolen motorcycles. The operation is still ongoing and we will provide you with the details later.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

College professors and students at the University of Basra – Karma Ali – organized a solidarity stand in support of student protests at American universities against the practices of the Zionist entity against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The protesters affirmed their support and solidarity for what is happening in American universities from students who reject the United States’ support for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people who demand their rights stolen by the usurping Israeli entity.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

National News Agency correspondent in Tyre reported that the outskirts of the town of Alma al-Shaab in the western sector were subjected to Israeli enemy shelling this morning.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Tulkarm – Ma’an – A comprehensive strike took place today, Sunday, in Tulkarm Governorate, in mourning for the martyrs of the town of Deir Al-Ghusun, who yesterday rose to the occasion of the occupation’s aggression against the town.

The strike, called for by the national and Islamic forces in the governorate, included all aspects of life in the villages, towns, suburbs and camps of Tulkarm, where shops, public and private institutions closed their doors.

Yesterday, Saturday, five young men were martyred after large forces of the occupation army besieged the Badran family’s house in the eastern neighborhood of the town of Deir Al-Ghusoun for more than 13 continuous hours, during which heavy gunfire and ‘Energa’ shells were fired, followed by the complete demolition of the house with heavy bulldozers.

The General Authority for Civil Affairs informed the Ministry of Health of the names of four martyrs detained by the occupation forces: Tamer Raafat Abdel Rahman Faqha (21 years old), from the Shweika suburb,
Alaa Adeeb Abdel Jaber Shreiteh (45 years old), and Adnan Tayseer Kamel Samara (40 years old), who are from the suburb of Shweika. The city of Tulkarm, and Asal Bashir Tawfiq Badran (42) from Deir Al-Ghusun.

Meanwhile, ambulance crews recovered the body of a fifth martyr from under the rubble of the targeted house and transported him to the Martyr Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital without knowing his identity until the moment, due to the severe mutilation of his body.

Source: Maan News Agency

Riyadh: The National Center for Security Operations (NCSO) received 2,635,361 emergency calls across Riyadh, Makkah, and the Eastern Region during April through the 911 hotline as part of the tasks of the Unified Security Operations Centers.

The centers receive calls and transfer them to security entities using automated and advanced systems operated by professional staff in several languages around the clock.

In Makkah, 953,655 calls were received; in Riyadh, 1,170,784; and in the Eastern Region, 510,922.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Seoul, South Korea is in final consultations with China and Japan to hold a long-stalled trilateral summit of their leaders on May 26 and 27, according to the foreign ministry.

“South Korea, Japan and China agreed to hold the summit at the earliest date convenient for all sides,” an official at the ministry said. “We have been in consultations with Japan and China as the current chair country.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are expected to visit Seoul to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol, Yonhap reported.

The trilateral summit was last held in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu in December 2019.

The summit has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Basra Police arrested three accused drug traffickers, who tried to introduce narcotic substances to one of the detainees in a police station.

The Basra Governorate Police Command stated that, through careful inspections, three defendants were arrested for trying to introduce narcotic substances to one of the detainees at Al-Hadi Police Station.

It pointed out, “During the official confrontations with the detainees at Al-Hadi Police Station, the defendants tried to exploit it and introduce drugs by putting them inside the food. When the food was searched, the narcotic substance was found and two defendants were arrested, and in their place the main promoter was arrested.”

It added, “Legal measures have been taken against the accused and referred to the competent authorities.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Ramallah – Ma’an – Data from the Ministry of Finance indicate the seriousness of the financial situation of the Palestinian National Authority, as a result of the Israeli occupation government continuing to withhold the funds of the Palestinian people, and the failure of any Arab or foreign support amounts to reach the government budget until the end of the month of Ramadan.

Looking at the financial data and the type of deductions, the financial crisis that the Palestinian Authority is suffering from is primarily a national crisis, as Israel practices financial blackmail to force us to stop paying the salaries of prisoners and martyrs, and to stop financial transfers to the Gaza Strip.

Overcoming the stifling financial crisis depends on the success of the efforts made by the government with international institutions to pressure Israel to release our money, and stop new deductions for the Gaza Strip’s share of the budget, and other deductions.

Details of Israeli financial deductions from the clearing house

According to Ministry of Finance data, Israel is still withholding about 6 billion shekels to date, from the funds of the Palestinian people, under the pretext of supporting the families of the martyrs and wounded, as well as new deductions from the budget for the Gaza Strip’s allocations.

Although Israel withholds these funds, the Palestinian Authority insists on paying these allocations to those entitled to them, and thus the cost becomes double on the state budget, if the Authority pays them to those entitled to them, while Israel deducts similar amounts from the clearance.

In addition, Israel annually deducts more than a billion shekels from clearance funds under the pretext of deducting electricity and water consumption, especially in the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Finance does not recover any of this money, which the Hamas movement used to collect from citizens and refrains from transferring it to the Ministry of Finance, according to Ministry data in this regard.

On the other hand, the clearance va
lue decreased by 60% during the past months due to Israel increasing the percentage of its deductions from our people’s money, in addition to the decline in the general economic situation, and thus the decline in revenues.

Regarding Arab and foreign support, Ministry of Finance data indicate that no Arab or foreign support amounts have yet reached the government budget, with expectations that some support will arrive soon, and government revenues have also declined due to the economic situation and Israel’s cuts, which has increased the financial burden on the authority. Palestinian.

In order to alleviate the serious financial situation, the government, in its previous session and under the directives of the President, approved a series of austerity steps and reducing government spending, the most prominent of which are: stopping the purchase of new vehicles, overnighting government vehicles in ministries and institutions after work, and stopping public purchase requests. Except for urgent needs, in additio
n to other items to reduce spending and austerity, and the government has plans for financial stability until the end of the year.

International pressure on Israel to release the seized funds

The Palestinian government conducted dozens of meetings and contacts with representatives of countries and international institutions to pressure Israel to release the currently withheld funds. Its contacts, according to government press statements, focused on pressuring the release of one billion and 765 million shekels held in Norway. This amount is equal to the Gaza Strip’s share of the general budget, which Israel deducts. From the clearance since last October, in addition to the crossing fees, which Israel has been collecting for years and does not transfer to the Ministry of Finance, which amount to about 900 million shekels.

In addition to the previous amounts, there are other unspecified amounts due to Israel’s refusal to disclose some details of the seized Palestinian funds.

According to Ministry of Finance
data, the new Palestinian government assumed its duties with a public debt exceeding $11 billion, after adding the debts owed to the Public Retirement Authority and the debts of foreign banking institutions, in addition to arrears to public employees, arrears due to suppliers and service providers, and the debts of local banks.

Source: Maan News Agency

National News Agency correspondent reported that the Israeli warplanes launched a raid targeting the towns of Markaba and Adaisseh this afternoon, as ambulances headed towards the targeted areas

The enemy also raided the town of al-Taybeh – Marjayoun District.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Jericho – Ma’an – Research by the Director of the Jerusalem Governorate Electricity Company in Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Eng. Magdy Harbawi, with the head of the Electricians Union in the governorate, Mohie Balo, discussed a number of issues of common interest.

The meeting, in the presence of the director of the company’s central collection department, Muhammad Sharaka, and his deputy, Hossam Hammad, discussed the challenges facing electricians in the governorate, studied their needs, and how to overcome obstacles and turn them into opportunities.

The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the company and the Electricians Union, with the aim of achieving the best service to society.

The Jerusalem Company continues its series of meetings with the union and community sectors to enhance the concept of partnership in line with the directives of the company’s general management, with the aim of raising the level of service provided to citizens at the level of all concession areas.

Source:
Maan News Agency