Day: June 16, 2023

Assistant Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) for Operations and Programs, Eng. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Bayez, met at the center’s headquarters here Thursday with the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, William David Gressly.

During the meeting, they discussed issues of common interest related to relief and humanitarian affairs, and ways to support needy and affected groups in Yemen.

Gressly praised the distinguished professional performance of KSrelief and its vital role in serving the needy and affected people around the world.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

A total of 661,346 pilgrims of different nationalities have arrived in Madinah through Thursday by sea and airports to perform Hajj for this year, 1444 AH.

On Thursday, 75,414 Hajj pilgrims arrived in Madinah, including 31,414 who arrived at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport via 136 flights, according to statistics from the Hajj and Visit Committee.

The immigration center in Madinah received 1,038 flights with 41,004 pilgrims onboard, while the land pilgrims center received 38 flights carrying 2,390 pilgrims.

Also, the Haramain High Speed Railway station in Madinah received 606 Hajj pilgrims on board 16 trains.

According to departure statistics, the number of pilgrims who departed for Makkah today totaled 502,455, while 158,840 pilgrims of different nationalities are still in Madinah.

The hotel occupancy rate in Madinah has amounted to 53 percent, while medical services have been provided to 28,070 Hajj pilgrims.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Industrial Production index (IPI), April 2023 reached to 106.4 points increased by 2.8 percent compared to the previous month (March 2023), and increased by 2.1 percent, when compared to the corresponding month in 2022.

The index for April 2023 has a relative weight of main economic sectors under this indicator are changed also, therefore “Mining” 82.46 percent, “Manufacturing” 15.85 percent, “Electricity production” 1.16 percent, “Water production” 0.53 percent.

The index of the mining sector showed an increase by 3.2 percent compared to the previous month (March 2023), because of the increase in the quantities of “crude oil petroleum and natural gas” with the same percentage, while “Other mining and quarrying” decreased by 1.7 percent.

When compared to the corresponding month of the previous year (April 2022), the IPI of Mining increased by 1.5 percent, and the while “Other mining and quarrying” by 2.1 percent.

For manufacturing the index of this sector showed an increase by 0.5 percent compared to the previous month (March 2023), the groups showed an increase include: “Manufacture of refined petroleum products” by 2.2 percent, followed by “Manufacture of basic metals” by 1.4 percent, “Manufacture of Cement and other non-metallic mineral products” by 0.2 percent, and “Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products” by 0.1 percent.

However, a decrease was recorded in “Manufacture of food products” by 5.0 percent, “Manufacture of beverages” by 2.7 percent, “Printing and reproduction of recorded media by 2.5 percent, and “Manufacture of rubber and plastics products” by 2.3 percent.

On the other hand, in terms of annual change, comparing to April 2022, an increase of 6.5 percent was recorded, due to the increase in “Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products” by 13.6 percent, followed by “Manufacture of food products” by 12.0 percent, “Manufacture of basic metals” by 1.2 percent, and “Manufacture of beverages” by 0.1 percent.

However, a decrease recorded in Printing and reproduction of recorded media by 9.1 percent, “Manufacture of rubber and plastics products” by 8.1 percent, “Manufacture of refined petroleum products” by 4.1 percent, and “Manufacture of Cement and other non-metallic mineral products” by 3.4 percent.

For “Electricity, gas, supply”: An increase of 6.1 percent was noticed in the production of “Electricity” between April 2023 and the previous month (March 2023). Compared with corresponding month (April 2022), a decrease of 14.9 percent was recorded.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The Ministry of Culture was keen to embody the slogan of the Doha International Book Fair 32, “With Reading We Rise,” and to enrich poets so that it becomes a reality through the accompanying cultural events and at the same time serves as a cultural festival parallel to the exhibition.

Dalal Al Dosari, Head of the Cultural Committee of the Doha International Book Fair, said in exclusive statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that since the first moment the exhibition’s slogan was adopted, the Cultural Committee worked to promote this concept “With Reading We Rise” and to activate and enrich the slogan through accompanying events.

Even through the selection of participating guests, noting that the events accompanying the exhibition have become a parallel cultural festival, and book fairs are no longer limited to displaying and selling books, hence the importance of these events, which work to promote ideas and deliver messages sought by the exhibition.

She added that the exhibition this year was different, not only in its timing, but also in its wide participation and the presence of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a guest of honor for this edition, all of which pushes towards achieving the directions and vision of the Ministry of Culture so that culture is a case of society and not an individual case, and to present culture to all and make it an act Societally, it is not an easy matter.

The book fair, with its diversity, the distinction of its activities, and the welcome and acceptance of all segments of society, confirms that the Ministry of Culture is taking confident steps in order for culture to be a growing societal condition that contributes to achieving the comprehensive renaissance of the State of Qatar.

Al Dossary stressed the keenness of the Cultural Committee to present various activities that are able to constitute a real addition inspired by the spirit of the exhibition and its slogan so that the visitor to the exhibition finds what he is looking for.

Focus has also been placed on various activities for different age groups, and presenting a cultural proposal that makes the individual the focus of attention. By increasing interaction between readers and publishing houses on the one hand, or between readers and authors, or even between publishing houses themselves, we have also provided a group of workshops and courses that can contribute to enhancing the skill of individuals.

The head of the Cultural Committee stressed that reading is one of the most important national issues that are always at the forefront of the interests of the State of Qatar, which is what the committee tried to work on various activities related to the exhibition, noting that a daily session was allocated in the main theater, during which specialists from among the great Qatari and Arab intellectuals are hosted.

They shed light on the most important local active issues at the local and global levels, such as Qatars hosting of Expo 2023 and the passage of 20 years since the signing of the UNESCO Convention for the Preservation of Intangible Heritage.

There were also discussion sessions about human rights and protecting the rights of people with disabilities and the impact of artificial intelligence on the publishing and media industry and awareness of cybersecurity in Qatar, in addition to enhancing the spirit of belonging among young people by hosting them and presenting a set of activities.

Source: Qatar News Agency

UK home secretary Suella Braverman discussed with her French counterpart Gerald Darmanin, who is currently visiting Britain, a number of files related to security, combating terrorism and illegal immigration.

UK Home Office said in a statement that the two ministers discussed ways to confront terrorism and agreed to continue working together to preserve the common security of the two countries, as well as the progress that has been made in dealing with the file of illegal immigration, to stop the crossing of small boats in the English Channel.

The two sides agreed on the need to continue close cooperation between the two countries’ authorities before the summer months, with the increased possibility of attempts to cross small boats during warm weather.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed in a statement last week that the security cooperation agreement between Britain and France contributed to stopping 33,000 illegal crossings across the English Channel during the past year.

Source: Qatar News Agency