Category: General

Madinah, The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program are holding the first edition of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum between April 22 and 24 at King Salman International Convention Center.

The forum is held under the aegis of Governor of Madinah Region Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz who stressed that the wise leadership has given Hajj and Umrah services the prosperous era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

The Madinah governor said that ‘the great honor bestowed by God on this country is a source of pride for all of us, and motivates us to improve the level of services provided to the guests of God, to search for ideas and conduct studies that would advance the Umrah and visit sector and provide maximum comfort for the guests of God, and enrich the visitor’s experience of these holy places from their arrival until their departure from the Kingdom’s lands’.

The governor said that the forum is an opportunity for specialists to communic
ate and exchange experience in the course of dialogue sessions and discussion panels, and come up and recommendations that contribute to enriching the visitors’ experience.

He also expressed hope that the forum will have positive outcomes and thanked Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and ministry employees for organizing the forum.

Prince Salman also visited the exhibition held in parallel with the forum and which houses more than 100 pavilions showcasing the services offered by tourism and travel companies and Umrah agencies, academic and research institutions, small and medium enterprises and service developers, and related sectors, like hospitality, catering, transportation, services sector, healthcare, technology, communications, artificial intelligence, banking, and insurance companies.

Al-Rabiah also delivered a speech at the forum, highlighting the special interest shown by the wise leadership to the two holy mosques and their visitors, and its close monitoring of everything related to
them.

Most important in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, Al-Rabiah said, is the Pilgrim Experience Program, as the two holy mosques are expected to witness the influx of millions of worshippers and visitors, the largest gathering in one place, which needs to be managed by security personnel from the Ministry of Interior and from the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in a complex situation.

One of the main goals, he added, is for the Pilgrim Experience Program to enrich the visitors’ experience. The forum, he said, is a comprehensive platform where the 180 speakers from the Kingdom and abroad have the opportunity to discuss ways to improve this experience.

Al-Rabiah pointed out that over the past two years, more than 19 million visited Al-Rawda Al-Sharifa, as well as a large number of unique historical sites linked to the life of the Prophet Muhammed in Makkah and Madinah, where many historical sites have been rehabilitated.

A documentary about Madinah, an
essential component of the Umrah experience that adds a cultural and enriching dimension, was shown at the forum.

Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili, the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to France and the Principality of Monaco and permanent representative of the Kingdom to UNESCO, also gave a speech about the role of historical and cultural sites and how they enrich visitors’ experience.

The opening ceremony ended with the signing of a number of agreements concerning Umrah and visits to the Kingdom.

The forum consists of six dialogue sessions and 24 workshops in which 29 experts and specialists take part. It also includes several competitions, including the Artificial Intelligence Competition in Umrah and a hackathon on historical sites related to the Prophet’s life.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Beirut, HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Lebanon Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani participated Tuesday in the meeting of HE Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Lebanon Nabih Berri with ambassadors of the Quintet Committee in Lebanon.

The meeting discussed the latest political developments and the Lebanese presidential file.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) launched the Mobile Library on Tuesday in cooperation with Mowasalat Company Karwa, which launched its activities at um Al Amad Model School for Boys.

This lunch marks the World Book and Copyright Day, which falls on April 23 yearly. The activity aims to create an enjoyable educational atmosphere, diversify the introduction and development of reading methods, and enhance social communication among public school students.

Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at MoEHE Maha Zayed Al Ruwaili said that this initiative is aligned with the Ministry’s efforts to promote and encourage reading culture. He added that it aims to maximize leisure time outside school hours by engaging students in purposeful activities, noting that this activity will help enhance their personalities, language skills, and knowledge.

Al Ruwaili highlighted that this initiative will provide a learning environment beyond the classroom walls. It offers an exciting and st
imulating learning experience for students, where they can read for fun and benefit and participate in dialogue sessions, group reading sessions, and other exciting events. These activities create special moments that enhance social cohesion between the student and his peers.

The Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs added that Mowasalat is one of the leading and distinguished companies in the country. She praised its role and cooperation with the Ministry through the implementation of the mobile library initiative. This initiative constitutes a model to be followed in collaboration and community partnership. She thanked the company for supporting the Ministry’s programs and activities that serve the community.

For his part, Acting CEO of Mowasalat (Karwa), Ahmed Hassan Al Obaidli said that the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. He noted that the initiative aims to achieve the common vision of both sides to transform the
learning experience into a distinctive and unique experience. He added that another aim of the initiative is to contribute to the accessibility of learning and enjoyment through the mobile library bus equipped with books, games, teaching aids, and tablets. This initiative enables us to transform every part of Qatar into a fun and distinctive classroom to enrich knowledge per Qatar Vision 2030.

The mobile library bus can accommodate up to thirty students and is divided into two floors. The first floor is equipped with a reading section containing numerous books, learning resources, and interactive games available through smart tablets. The second floor features a viewing area with a smart TV screen displaying interactive questions for students, such as historical questions about Qatar, its landmarks, rulers, World Cup stadiums, and much more.

o achieve the desired interaction of the launch of the mobile library, the bus will rotate to public and private schools, summer camps, the ten best landmarks in Qatar,
and the top three locations for educational zones according to the proposed schedule and distribution plan. The bus can be reconfigured to suit the age stage of the students, whether primary, preparatory, or secondary.

The MoEHE prepared for the pilot launch with Mowasalat Company Karwa in July 2023. Several summer centers were visited to measure the extent of students’ interest in the idea of the bus, to take notes into account, and to work on developing the content in preparation for its official launch.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Kathmandu: HE Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal affirmed that the visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to his country is a testimony to the strength and friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. This visit will broaden relations between Doha and Kathmandu and lead them to new horizons, His Excellency added, describing His Highness’ visit as “historic.” In an interview with Qatar News Agency , HE Dahal expressed his firm belief that the visit of HH the Amir will elevate the relations between the two countries to a new height, adding: “We are equally hopeful that several agreements will be signed during this visit. Furthermore, in-depth discussions on important areas of bilateral cooperation will also be pivotal in enhancing our cooperation in various areas.” His Excellency expressed his confidence that the visit of HH the Amir will herald a new beginning for friendship and that it will set another milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

HE
the Prime Minister of Nepal stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two countries in areas including health, education, infrastructure development, and economic empowerment. He hailed the level of development that the State of Qatar is witnessing at various levels, as it represents an exemplary experience, adding, “We are impressed to see Qatar’s phenomenal development.” Nepal looks forward to learning from Qatar’s experience in this regard, especially since it aspires to achieve better development indicators within a short period of time, he added.

“It is my understanding that we have many avenues in which we can collaborate and learn from each other’s development efforts,” HE Dahal said, adding, “We can forge pragmatic collaboration for developing partnership for assisting in bridging the gap in the developmental processes.” He pointed out the importance of future cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in regional and multilateral forums to serve the general interest o
f humanity, including unifying efforts to confront climate change.

In this regard, HE the Prime Minister of Nepal said that collective voice can be raised, and efforts in regional and multilateral forums can be unified to confront climate change, adding, “It is high time to consolidate our individual efforts into collaborative ones for the benefit of humanity. I have been raising the issue of climate change at different forums, and I look forward to working closely with like-minded countries in the future.” HE Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed appreciation for the humanitarian support provided by the State of Qatar to Nepal, especially during the 2015 earthquake. “Qatar has always lent generous support in the humanitarian sector in Nepal. The government of Qatar has provided invaluable support and goodwill to Nepal in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake as well as in instances of other natural disasters,” he said. He extended his thanks to the government of Qatar for its assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic,
expressing his heartfelt gratitude for taking care of Nepali workers in Qatar during the pandemic.

On the other hand, HE the Prime Minister of Nepal commended the role played by the State of Qatar in resolving conflicts and promoting peace and security around the globe, emphasizing his country’s appreciation for this role that contributes to resolving differences through negotiations and diplomacy. His Excellency underscored Nepal’s belief that peace should prevail for humanity to prosper. Given the turbulent situation in the Gulf region, the diplomatic acumen and leadership exerted by the State of Qatar in thawing the tension is highly commendable, he added.

In a related context, HE Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed his country’s “high regard for Qatar for playing a significant role as a mediator in the ongoing conflict in Gaza,” adding that “the facilitation for negotiations and securing temporary ceasefires in the past has been of great importance.” “I have been keenly following the situation in the Middle Ea
st. We are worried about the scenario of further escalation of hostilities and the worsening plight of the civilian population. We wish for an end of war and restoration of peace in the region as soon as possible,” he added. His Excellency added: “It is indeed heartening to see the leadership pitching hope and arduously trying to bring the warring parties to table to negotiate for peace and humanity.” HE Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal concluded his interview with QNA by saying that the Gulf region has its own political, economic, and cultural significance, adding: “It is my ardent hope that the region will come to a long-term solution while embracing the values of peaceful co-existence.”

Source: Qatar News Agency

Kuala Lumpur, Ten members of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) were confirmed dead in an incident where two helicopters collided and crashed at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Base in Lumut, Perak this morning.

According to Bernama, the Strategic Communications Branch of the Naval Headquarters in a statement said the incident at 9.32 in the morning involved 10 crew members comprising seven crews of the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) and three RMN Fennec crews.

“All the victims were confirmed dead at the scene and sent to the Lumut RMN Base Military Hospital for the identification process,” according to the statement here, today.

The statement said RMN will establish an Investigation Board to identify the cause of the incident.

Earlier, a video went viral on social media showing a helicopter hitting the back of another helicopter before both planes crashed.

It is understood that the incident occurred during the flypass practice for RMN’s 90th anniversary celebration scheduled for early next month.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Riyadh, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the current chair of the 32nd session of the Arab Summit, in Riyadh today.

The minister visited Saudi Arabia as part of a tour including a number of Arab countries.

The two ministers discussed bolstering cooperation and integration between the two countries, within the framework of their solid historical relations and the objectives set by the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council.

They exchanged views on regional developments, including the war in the Gaza Strip. They discussed regional and international endeavours to achieve an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid to them, and support efforts to establish regional peace, security, and stability.

They also discussed preparations for the 33rd Arab Summit, which will be hosted by Bahrain on May 16. They reviewed the summit
‘s programme and the topics and issues to be included on the agenda of the meeting of Arab leaders, that aim to achieve joint Arab action goals and serve the interests of the Arab nation.

Source: Bahrain News Agency