Category: General

Cairo: The Media and Communication Sector of the Arab League (AL) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) States Broadcasting Union (OSBU) signed a cooperation protocol in the media field today at the headquarters of the AL. The protocol was signed by Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Media and Communication Sector at the AL Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi and President of the OSBU Dr. Amr Al-Laithi.

The protocol encompasses several areas of cooperation primarily focused on training and capacity building in the media field, enhancing media exchange between the Arab League and the OIC, as well as organizing joint media events, conducting training courses, and specialized workshops.

Ambassador Khattabi stated in his remarks after the signing that the protocol represents a confident step in institutionalizing the existing cooperation between the AL and the OIC to serve Arab issues, foremost among them the Palestinian cause. Meanwhile, Dr. Al-Laithi highlighted that the protocol marks the b
eginning of a phase characterized by cooperation, innovation, and striving for excellence by refining the skills of media professionals to effectively represent our countries and deal with all the challenges facing our world today.

Source: Saudi News Agency

Jeddah: On the occasion of Palestinian Prisoner’s Day, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed its concern over the intensification of arbitrary detention campaigns carried out by the Israeli occupation in the occupied Palestinian territory, which led to an increase in the number of prisoners to more than 9,500, including 80 female prisoners and more than 200 children. More than 3,600 are administrative detainees without charge or trial, and about 600 prisoners are serving life sentences. The OIC also renewed its condemnation of the practices of the Israeli occupation, which led to the martyrdom of 16 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons since October 7, 2023, in addition to the martyrdom of 27 prisoners from the Gaza Strip as a result of torture and medical neglect.

The OIC stressed that the plight of the Palestinian prisoners in the prisons of the Israeli occupation embodies the issue of lost justice, stolen rights, and victims who did not find anyone to do justice to them in
the face of the most heinous, systematic inhuman practices committed against them, by depriving them of the most basic human rights, and the Israeli occupation’s practice of collective punishment, abuse, persecution, neglect, and isolation, in addition to subjecting them to physical and psychological torture, in flagrant violation of all standards and rules stipulated in international humanitarian law, the Charter of Human Rights, the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, and other relevant international instruments.

The OIC called on the international community and competent human rights institutions to assume their responsibilities and work to oblige the Israeli occupation authorities to deal with Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, international humanitarian law, and all provisions of relevant international conventions. It also called for an investigation into all crimes of the Israeli occupation against prisoners, reiterating its solidarity and support for
the rights of Palestinian prisoners, support for their steadfastness, and commitment to work to convey their message and suffering to the international community in order to achieve freedom and justice for them.

Source: Saudi News Agency

Doha: Qatar participated in the fourth meeting of the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response at the World Health Organization, which commenced its proceedings in Geneva today.

The meeting, which will last for two days, is conducted in a hybrid format combining in-person attendance with online participation.

The delegation of the State of Qatar is led by HE Minister of Public Health Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, who is also the Chair of the WHO Executive Board, utilizing remote communication technologies.

The meeting discusses several important topics, including updated information on ongoing public health emergencies of international concern. Additionally, the meeting discusses enhancing the WHO Health Emergencies Programme and its oversight, reviewing updated information on health emergency preparedness, response, resilience, including health threats requiring additional preparedness, as well as updated information on the response to ongoing major health emergencies, t
he status of implementation of recommendations by the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, updated information from the Secretariat of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, and the unified procedures for extraordinary meetings of the Standing Committee.

It is worth noting that the Standing Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Response is tasked with several key functions, notably reviewing the WHO Health Emergencies Programme and providing guidance and recommendations to the WHO Executive Board as necessary.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The China Manned Space Agency announced Wednesday that the group consisting of the “Shenzhou-18” manned spacecraft and a “Long March-2F” carrier rocket has been transferred to the launch area in preparation for its launch soon.

According to the Agency, facilities and equipment at the launch site at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China are in good condition, and several pre-launch function checks and joint tests will be conducted as scheduled.

The Shenzhou-17 manned spacecraft was launched last Oct. 26, aboard a Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

Source: Qatar News Agency

Manama, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today issued Edict (23) of 2024, appointing a director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on a proposal by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Article I

Dr. Ali bin Theyab bin Saqr Al Nuaimi shall be appointed Director of the Planning and Projects Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article II

The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall implement the provisions of this edict, and it shall come into effect from the date of its issuance and will be published in the Official Gazette.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, directed the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and the Ministry of Works to assess the flood-related damages to compensate those affected.

His Royal Highness further directed for the identification of areas adversely affected by the rainfall, and the development of sustainable infrastructural and drainage solutions needed, in line with best practices to meet current and future needs.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister commended the efforts of the ministries and concerned authorities that have been responding to the flooding.

Source: Bahrain News Agency