Category: General

Brasilia, The death toll from the floods taking place in Brazil rose to 95, as heavy rains continue to fall on the country, with dozens of people still missing.

The death toll from flooding and landslides caused by massive rainfalls over the weekend in Brazils southern state of Sao Paulo reached 44 as searches continued for dozens still missing.

Local sources reported that flood waters caused a power outage for several days for tens of thousands of people in the city of Porto Alegre, capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southeastern Brazil and its surrounding areas.

Heavy rains also damaged more than 200 areas in Rio Grande do Sul, destroying many roads, bridges and dams.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged to provide significant support for rescue and reconstruction efforts.

Rio Grande do Sul was hit last September by a tropical cyclone causing floods that killed more than 50 people.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Cairo, 2024, The Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, chaired the 117th Executive Council Meeting of the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO) today.

The meeting, held at ARADO’s Cairo headquarters, included the Director-General of the Institute of Public Administration, Dr. Bander Alsajjan, and representatives from member states.

Al-Rajhi stressed Saudi Arabia’s strong support for advancing administrative development throughout the Arab world. He highlighted the need for shared visions and science-based programs to achieve sustainable development, which would allow ARADO to take on initiatives, fulfil goals, and become a global leader in the field.

The meeting primarily focused on approving the 2025-2026 budget, following up on previous Executive Council decisions and developing an internal system aligned with ARADO’s self-financing structure.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser stressed that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud’s sponsoring of the third edition of the Future Aviation Forum, to be held here between May 20 and 22 under the theme “Elevating Global Connectivity”, is part of the unlimited support received by the aviation sector from the wise leadership, and is reflected in the leading position the Kingdom holds in the aviation and air transport industry.

Al-Jasser said: “Holding the forum for the third time in Riyadh highlights the Kingdom’s keenness to empower the aviation industry, its active contributions to the global aviation sector, and its prominent effort to enhance air connectivity, in line with the strategic objectives of aviation derived from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.”

The minister pointed out that the aviation sector in the Kingdom offers unparall
eled economic and investment opportunities to the world. The aviation strategy aims to double the number of passengers, connect the Kingdom to more than 250 global destinations, raise the cargo volume to 4.5 million tons of goods annually, and enhance the Kingdom’s position as an international aviation hub and a global center for logistics services.

The third edition of the Future Aviation Forum 2024, which will be attended by over 5,000 of the world’s top aviation officials and leaders, as well as heads of international airlines, will focus on several issues facing the global aviation sector and discuss ways to address key challenges while highlighting the opportunities for growth, investment, and innovation the Kingdom offers.

The forum will discuss key topics that will redefine the future of the global aviation industry, such as air transportation, advancing environmental sustainability in civil aviation, enabling advanced air travel, enhancing global connectivity, and strengthening supply chains, and wi
ll be a unique platform to discuss the future of the industry and growth opportunities.

The forum will present investment opportunities worth over $100 billion that will help achieve the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which envisages transforming the Kingdom into a leading logistics center in the Middle East.

The General Authority for Civil Aviation is organizing the forum after an exceptional year for air traffic in the Kingdom, in 2023, during which it recorded an unprecedented number passengers, 112 million, or an increase of 26%.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha: Northwestern Qatar, one of the partner universities of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, celebrated the Class of 2024 graduation ceremony, which includes 126 graduates from 31 countries.

In his speech before the graduates, Dean and CEO Marwan Kraidy urged them to apply their strength as evidence-based storytellers to “look beyond differences, geography, and existing ways of knowing.” He added that, as communicators across borders and boundaries, there is an opportunity to make an impact. “We are people of the word; We are people of the image,” he emphasized. “Use the arts, sciences, and crafts of media you have acquired here at Northwestern to bring change and improve the world we live in.” Kraidy reflected on the state of the world and how it has impacted the graduates’ academic journey. “You joined the Northwestern family during a global pandemic, and you are graduating at a time of antagonism and violence,” said Kraidy. In these times of change, he reminded them
“to repair, to heal, to bring peace.” Similarly, graduation speaker award-winning counselor and author Hala Kazim told the audience that humility is key as they prepare to step into the future. “If you are humble, you open the doors to life,” said Kazim.

As they move from classroom to industry and embark on the next chapter of their lives, Kazim encouraged the graduates to “be open to learning” and to lead with curiosity and open-mindedness.

Class speaker Haya Al Kuwari commended her peers for their perseverance and prompted them to embrace the future. “As we celebrate the end of this journey, a new beginning awaits us,” said Al Kuwari. “A beginning filled with opportunity, challenges, and uncertainty. A beginning I encourage you to embrace and welcome with an open heart because, despite our circumstances, our fears, or our doubts, our stories are written within us.” Northwestern University in Qatar is known for its distinguished history, famous programs, and an exceptional faculty. Northwestern Qatar provi
des a framework through which students explore the world and, ultimately, shape its future through its distinguished programs in communication, journalism and strategic communication, and the liberal arts.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: The State of Qatar condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation forces’ bombardment of the Rafah governorate, invasion of the land crossing and threat to displace citizens from shelter and housing centers; calling for an urgent international action to prevent the invasion of the city and the commitment of a genocide, and to provide full protection for civilians in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that forcibly displace civilians from the city of Rafah, which has become a final refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the Gaza Strip, constitutes a serious violation of international laws and would double the worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged Strip.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the State of Qatar’s firm position on the justice of the Palestinian cause, the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, and the establishment of an independent
Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Stockholm, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari took part in the plenary session of the Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development, which was sponsored by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Themed Rethinking Conflict Prevention, the session discussed conflict management strategies, focusing on the conflicts currently taking place in Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Gaza Strip.

Addressing the session, the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson noted the remarkable role played by the State of Qatar as an unconventional mediator in regional and international conflicts, pointing to the success of Qatari mediation in settling several conflicts, defusing tension in a number of regions and facilitating ways to achieve stability and peace.

Dr. Al Ansari mentioned five factors behind the success of the Qatari mediation in a number of files, which are: strategic participation, tactical neutrality, long-term investment, commitment, and partnership.

He said that many of
the current regional and international conflicts, have their roots in unresolved armed conflicts from the past, and conflicts that have been on hold for a century.

He stressed the need for mediations to focus on conflict prevention and how to achieve lasting peace.

Source: Qatar News Agency