Category: General

A specialized surgical team at the Royal Hospital succeeded in eliminating a patient’s cancerous right lung and part of the trachea. The surgery, the first one of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman, was among rare operations in the world.

Dr. Aziza Nasser Al Rawahi, Consultant of Upper Gastrointestinal and Thoracic Surgeon at the Royal Hospital, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the removal of the lung was a major surgical task. She added that the trachea reconstruction surgery was also a delicate, complex and uncommon surgery. The operation took 8 to 9 hours, she said.

The surgery was conducted on a patient who was suffering from a cancerous tumor centred in the trachea and the bronchi of the right lung, she added.

Dr. Aziza explained that the tumor was diagnosed through CT scans and bronchoscopy. The subsequent tests were performed to stem the spread of cancer, she said, noting that lung function tests were conducted to ensure that the patient would be able to survive with one lung.

Dr. Aziza pointed out that, once the case was presented to the Chest Tumor Board at the Royal Hospital, a decision was taken to perform the resection as a radical treatment for the elimination of the tumor.

She affirmed that, after the operation and follow-up treatment, the patient enjoyed good health and later left the hospital, without suffering any complications.

The Royal Hospital is keen on providing the best specialized healthcare informed by the latest medical and therapeutic technology in the world. Its operations are conducted under the supervision of a group of highly skilled and well qualified physicians and surgeons.

Source: Oman News Agency

The Philippines’ most active volcano was gently spewing lava down its slopes today, alerting tens of thousands of people they may have to quickly flee a violent and life-threatening explosion.

More than 12,600 people have left the mostly farming communities within a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius of Mayon Volcano’s crater in mandatory evacuations since volcanic activity increased last week.

With the volcano beginning to expel lava last night, the high-risk zone around Mayon may be expanded should the eruption turn violent, said Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Bacolcol said if that happens, people in any expanded danger zone should be prepared to evacuate to emergency shelters.

Mayon is one of 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines. It last erupted violently in 2018, displacing tens of thousands of villagers. In 1814, Mayon’s eruption buried entire villages and reportedly left more than 1,000 people dead.

Source: Oman News Agency

Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad met his Saudi Counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and conveyed President Bashar al-Assad’s greetings to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud.

This came during Mikdad and the accompanying delegation’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend the Second Ministerial Meeting between Arab Countries and the Pacific Islands Countries.

Both sides discussed means to boost the bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, and the importance of continuing coordination and consultation on various issues.

Mikdad emphasized that the strong relations of the Syrian-Saudi give us great hope for the future and the role of the Arab nation on the regional and international arenas to address common challenges.

The Saudi foreign minister stressed the importance of Syria’s return practice its Arab and regional role.

Mikdad also held a number of meetings with the delegations of participating countries in the ministerial meeting, during which he explained the latest regional and international developments and the Syrian stance about these developments.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Special Adviser at the Presidency of the Republic, Buthaina Shaaban discussed with President of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information (AFLI), Nabhan bin Harith al-Harassi, and an accompanying delegation, the potential of enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise in the field of preserving and documenting the Cultural Heritage.

During a meeting held on Monday at “Watan Document Foundation” headquarters in Damascus, the two sides reviewed modern digital technologies for preserving the cultural heritage and intellectual output.

In addition, both sides discussed the potential of cooperation in various projects related to artificial intelligence, digital transformation, archiving and electronic documentation, and establishing training and qualification courses in the fields of archiving and scientific research documentation.

Dr. Shaaban highlighted the historical solid relations of Syria and Oman, stressing the importance of benefitting from the expertise of AFLI regarding archiving and documentation, especially after the terrorist war whose main objective was to destroy the identity, handicrafts and architectural heritage of Syria as well as its cultural output over the past years.

Dr. al-Harassi, for his part, noted the significance of Watan Document Foundation’s work in documenting and clarifying the events in Syria, stressing the need to keep pace with the current digital environment and access the most effective methods of preserving information.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

The two friendly countries of Iran and Syria discussed means of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the health and higher education domains.

This came during talks held Monday by Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Bassam Ibrahim with Iranian Deputy Ministers of Science, Research and Technology, Hashem Dadashpour and Health, Treatment and Medical Education, Abolfazl Bagherifard.

The two sides agreed to establish joint committees to follow up the activation of the executive program of the MoUs signed by the two parties, Syria and Iran.

Talks also dealt with organizing joint visits by students and professors from universities to participate in the training courses and scientific and cultural events in Iran, especially for students and professors of Persian language departments in Syrian universities.

Additionally, the two sides discussed means of developing cooperation in the medical field, conducting joint scientific research, exchanging of experiences and training in various advanced medical and pharmaceutical specialties, biomedical sciences, stem cells, laser technologies, liver transplantation and others.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

The delegation of Syrian national football team arrived in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi to start a training camp and hold a friendly match with Vietnam national team on June 20th.

This is the 2nd camp conducted by Head coach of the Syrian national football team, Hector Cuper , following the first one which was held in Emirates last April, during which the Syrian team played two friendly matches.

In the first match, the Syrian team beat Philippines counterpart 3-1, while it lost in the second one to Bahrain 0-1.

The Syrian national team is preparing for the Asian Cup finals that will be held in Qatar at the beginning of next year.

The draw put the Syrian team in Group B along with Australia, Uzbexstan and India.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

President Bashar al-Assad received Monday Ali Asghar Khaji, Senior Assistant to Iranian Foreign Minister for Special Political Affairs, and the accompanying delegation.

Talks during the meeting dealt with issues of mutual interest between Syria and Iran, regional and international cooperation and consultation in addition to a common vision in light of the recent developments and changes.

President al-Assad underlined the importance of coordination in the next phase, particularly with regard to quadripartite meetings and Astana track.

His Excellency stressed the need to develop a joint strategy, in cooperation with the Russian and Iranian sides, to define the grounds and clarifies precisely the titles and objectives on which the upcoming negotiations will be built within a time frame and mechanisms to implement these titles.

For his part, Khaji affirmed the correctness of the Syrian vision on the various files that are being negotiated, voicing his country’s satisfaction with the developments in the Syrian foreign relations at the Arab level in particular, considering that this new stage would not have happened without Syria’s steadfastness, resilience and the sacrifices of its people in the fight against terrorism.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

The House of Representatives voted, in its continuing session today, Monday, on Articles 16_17 of the draft federal budget law.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The House of Representatives voted, on Monday morning, to delete Article 42 of the draft general budget law, related to revenues from sales of gasoline, kerosene, black oil and imported fuel.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Presidency of the House of Representatives returned to the deferred articles, after completing the new articles added to the draft federal budget law, as the House of Representatives voted, today, Monday, on Article 43, Paragraph Fourth, which includes the allocation of 200 billion dinars to implement the requirements of the Basra Law, the Economic Capital of Iraq, and 100 billion dinars for the province of Babylon.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, sent a message to the public opinion, in which he said that the Kurdistan region is not only a red line, but also a death line, so either Kurdistan or annihilation.

Barzani said in the letter: It is very unfortunate, what happened in the past few days in the Iraqi parliament of irresponsible and unconstitutional attempts aimed at deepening the problems and violating the legitimate rights of the Kurdistan people.

He added: Everyone realizes that there are dialogues that led to constructive agreements between the constituent parties of the State Administration coalition to remove obstacles and solve problems. The Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government have reached a good and positive agreement to solve dilemmas, in order to consolidate the foundations of stability in the country and serve the people, but what it did Some political parties, unfortunately, are ingratiating and denying in an irresponsible manner with the aim of undermining the entity of the Kurdistan region, but their attempts failed and were neglected.

He stressed that what happened in the past few days in the Iraqi parliament has removed the mask and revealed the true face of the chauvinistic parties and their bargains, and those who do not respect their pledges and signatures, they do not respect the constitution.

He added, now that the draft budget law has been approved in the Iraqi parliament, I hope that its provisions will be implemented in good faith.

He added that we affirm that the Kurdistan region is the property of the Kurdish people, and the product of the blood, sacrifices and struggle of the Kurdish people.

Barzani concluded, “We strongly oppose any reckless attempt that seeks to bypass and undermine the entity of the Kurdistan region.” For us, the Kurdistan region is not only a red line, but also a line of death, so either Kurdistan or annihilation.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Marada Movement Chief, Sleiman Franjieh, called for “putting all the names on one table of dialogue, without any preconditions from any side,” stressing, “I do not impose myself on anyone.” He added: “When a national candidate is agreed upon and there is a national consensus over him, then there is no problem for me.” Franjieh warned against “this abolitionist mentality that was fabricated as with the Ehden massacre.” He stressed that “our relationship with Patriarch Bshara Boutros Al-Rahi is excellent from the first day.” Addressing Lebanese Forces Party Chief Samir Geagea, he said, “I ask Geagea, you are against the opposition candidate and it’s your right, but you have previously allied with Hezbollah’s candidate.” He added, “They only boycotted me while nothing unites them,” considering that “the Free Patriotic Movement does not want a candidate from the system, but it came forth with Jihad Azour from the heart of the system and the impossible acquittal.” He stressed that in his dictionary there is no obstruction in political life, while in the dictionary of others lies the statement of hindrance. Franjieh affirmed that he has a clear vision for all constitutional, economic and other matters at the national level, stressing that he is committed to reforms, the Taif Agreement and the administrative centralization within it. He said, “The president is the one who takes a position during his term and not afterwards,” vowing to be a president for all the Lebanese and not for a specific team if he reaches the presidency. Franjieh stressed on the full national responsibility that is shouldered by all.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon