IOF Murders 13 Palestinians in Bombing on House in Northern Gaza

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) targeted a house today, north of the Gaza Strip, after which their warplanes bombed it, murdering at least 13 Palestinians and injuring dozens of others.

Palestinian news agency (Wafa) reported that the Israeli occupation warplanes bombed the home of the Khalla family in the town of Jabalia Al-Nazla, murdering at least 13 people, including children and women, and wounding dozens more.

Rescue and civil defense crews continue to search for survivors or slain civilians under the rubble after the IOF missiles flattened the house, Wafa added.

The Palestinian death toll from the IOF onslaught since Oct. 7, 2023, has risen to 35,984, the majority of whom are women and children, and at least 80,643 people were wounded, while thousands of victims remain under the rubble.

Source: Qatar News Agency

36th Doha Theatrical Festival Begins

Doha: May 25 – The activities of the 36th edition of Doha Theatrical Festival, organized by the Theater Affairs Center, in cooperation with the Qatar events center, began on Saturday and will continue until June 4 at the U VENUE Theater, which is hosting the festival for the first time.

The festival kicked off with a play written by Tamim Al Burshid and directed by Faisal Al Athba, with the participation of an elite group of actors, including: Maryam Fahd, Munther Thani, Abdullah Al Hajri, Nada Ahmed, Abdullah Al Mulla, Jassim Asheer, Fares Youssef and Ahmed Al Ajmi.

The festival embodies the goals of the Ministry of Culture in activating and developing the theatrical movement by presenting distinguished theatrical performances in which there are many intellectual and directing trends and artistic treatments; developing the theatrical awareness of young theater artists through intellectual and artistic seminars; and supporting and encouraging distinguished local theater experiences.

Director of the Departm
ent of Culture and Arts at the Ministry of Culture Abdulrahman Abdullah Al Dulaimi, in his opening speech, noted the distinguished cultural and artistic movement that matches our capabilities and our brilliant presence, adding this was only due to concerted efforts and complementary work between all sectors and public and private institutions. The Ministry of Culture attaches great importance to that to meet the needs of the theatrical sector and address the challenges it faces, he added.

He noted that theater is a fine art that must be preserved, stressing the Ministry of Culture’s keenness to always support the theatrical movement.

Head of the organizing committee of the 36th Doha Theatrical Festival and Director General of the Theater Affairs Center Abdul Rahim Al Siddiqi told Qatar News Agency that the current session is an opportunity to see and follow the performances that were prepared with great effort by the three national groups (Qatar, Doha and Al-Watan), as well as enjoy the plays presented by p
rivate companies.

He pointed out that the center is accompanying this current session with a number of new releases, celebrating Qatari theater artists who paved the way for new generations.

Source: Qatar News Agency

QNA Holds Training on Major Events Coverage Management

Doha: Qatar News Agency held Sunday a training course on the management of press teams covering major events, as part of its year-round courses aimed at enhancing the national media cadres’ skills and capacities.

Bringing together 17 trainees from QNA and other government agencies, the five-day event aims to raise the efficiency and knowledge of managing media covering teams and highlights the importance of the work of media teams during crises, in addition to training in developing strategies and plans within media plans.

The course topics include the concept of the media team, its tasks and objectives, in addition to topics of press coverage of major events, how to form a media team, as well as other topics related to the modern management of media teams and the adoption of technology in this context.

The course also includes specialized topics in the field of using artificial intelligence in media work, and how to manage journalistic teams in crises, in addition to other topics related to photojournalis
m and multimedia production.

The course is being held at the QNA training halls, which were inaugurated in March of last year, to develop media cadres and keep pace with latest media transformations and developments.

Source: Qatar News Agency

KSrelief Pledges Continued Collaboration on Global Health Challenges


Geneva: Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said in a press statement that the Kingdom allocated more than $1.4 billion to the health sector in the past five years, and that the KSrelief 621 projects in the Middle East and Far East regions were given more than $400 million.

According to Al-Rabeeah, KSrelief recently signed five agreements with the World Health Organization (WHO) for Sudan, Yemen, and Syria, worth more than $19 million, which demonstrate KSrelief’s ongoing collaboration with WHO to jointly address global health challenges and serve vulnerable communities worldwide.

Al-Rabeeah also said that discussions are under way regarding a further set of agreements with WHO.

Established by royal decree on May 13, 2015, KSrelief is the sole channel for Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian and relief assistance abroad. Since its inception, it has carried out 2,890 projects in 99 countries, including Yemen, Syria
, Palestine, Sudan, and Somalia.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Speaker of Shura Council Affirms Qatar’s Keenness to Strengthen Joint Arab Action, Support Stability in Region

HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim affirmed the State of Qatar’s keenness to strengthen joint Arab action, pointing out the country’s prominent role in supporting stability in the region, through mediation efforts, and calling for resolving disputes through peaceful means.

In a speech delivered at the 36th conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) held in Algiers, Algeria, His Excellency stressed that Qatar and the Qatari people stand by the brotherly Palestinian people, support their cause, and affirm their right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

His Excellency underlined the exceptional challenges that the Arab region is facing, including the brutal Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and the systematic genocide and forced displacement to which the Palestinian people are subjected, stressing that these challenges require a firm and effective stance to provide all forms of support.

He affirmed the ne
cessity of taking practical steps to support the Palestinian people, whether by issuing international legislation obligating the occupying state to stop its aggression, or by mobilizing parliamentary diplomatic efforts to demand that governments and human rights organizations exert all forms of pressure on the occupying state, to stop its violations against the Palestinian people and their great sacrifices.

In this context, HE Speaker of the Shura Council hailed the recent announcements made by Spain, Norway and Ireland to recognize the State of Palestine, describing this recognition as the result of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their great sacrifices.

His Excellency pointed out the expansion of student protests around the globe against Israeli practices, underlining the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to halt the attacks on Rafah, and the request of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against the Israeli Prime Minister
and his Defense Minister on war crimes charges, emphasizing that these movements and changes in global positions represent a victory for the Palestinian cause, and confirm broad support and solidarity with it.

HE Speaker of the Shura Council affirmed the State of Qatar’s pivotal role in strengthening Arab solidarity and cooperation between countries, to ensure a better future.

Strengthening joint Arab action represents the cornerstone of facing regional challenges, which requires continuous cooperation and coordination between the parliaments and councils of Arab countries, he added.

HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim stressed that the current conditions require deep thinking and serious work to find sustainable solutions to the economic, social, political, environmental and climate change challenges.

He also pointed out the importance of supporting policies and enacting legislation that promote sustainable development and contribute to consolidating social justice, affirming th
at economic integration between Arab countries constitutes an important tributary to achieving common growth and prosperity.

During his speech, he addressed the 50th anniversary of the founding of AIPU, recalling the achievements it achieved and looking forward to a better future that strengthens the unity of the Arab ranks and strengthens the role of the member councils in serving the nation’s issues.

This occasion represents an opportunity to strengthen Arabs’ union and increase its influence, by examining the challenges and reasons that stand in the way of achieving Arabs’ aspirations, he said, calling on the attendants to form a committee to undertake this matter, to establish a new stage and beginning in the union’s journey.

His Excellency concluded his speech by expressing his aspiration for the conference to come up with recommendations and decisions that contribute to strengthening parliamentary cooperation and supporting the issues of the Arab nation, in a way that achieves stability and prosperit
y for the region.

This edition of the conference addresses the current conditions in the Arab region and the challenges facing joint Arab action, in addition to ways to enhance cooperation between the union’s member states.

The conference will also address developments in the Palestinian cause, as well as all that the Palestinian people face throughout the occupied Palestine, especially the brutal aggression on the Gaza Strip, while the attendants will discuss ways to provide support for the brotherly Palestinian people.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Saudi Ambassador to Brunei Sees Pilgrims off at Airport


Bandar Seri Begawan, Saudi Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Buraithan saw Bruneians heading to the Kingdom to perform this year’s Hajj off at Brunei International Airport.

Al-Buraithen said the Saudi government welcomes pilgrims, and exerts all efforts to ensure that they perform their rituals in an atmosphere of peacefulness and spirituality.

Source: Saudi Press Agency