Category: General

Gaza, A number of Palestinian refugees were injured by Israeli occupation forces’ gunfire on Monday as they attempted to return to their homes in northern Gaza.

According to the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA), Israeli naval vessels fired at hundreds of refugees who were trying to return to their homes in Gaza City and the northern governorate via the Wadi Gaza bridge at Rashid Street, resulting in the injury of at least two of them.

WAFA added that a young girl succumbed to her wounds yesterday, sustained when she and her family were targeted by Israeli forces while attempting to return to northern Gaza via Rashid Street.

In a preliminary toll, the number of martyrs since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on Oct. 7, reached 33,729, in addition to 76,371 wounded.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that Israeli occupation forces released two of its crews after a 50-day detention. In a brief statement, the Society explained that the Israeli forces had detained th
em at a military checkpoint in Khan Yunis during a medical evacuation mission from Al-Amal Hospital on Feb. 25.

It pointed out that Israeli forces continue to detain 6 of its crews, and their fate remains unknown.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: Weather inshore tonight until 6:00 am on Tuesday will be scattered clouds partly cloudy with chance of scattered rain maybe thundery and blowing dsut at times, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report, warning of expected thundery rain, strong wind at places.

Offshore, it will be scattered clouds with chance of scattered rain maybe thundery at times, the report added, warning of expected thundery rain associated with strong wind and high sea.

Wind inshore will be northeasterly to northwesterly 10 to 20 knot gusting to 30 knot at places.

Offshore, it will be southeasterly 10 to 20 knot gusting to 30 knot at times, turns to northwesterly later.

Visibility will be 04 to 09/03 kilometers or less at places at times.

Sea state inshore will be 1 to 3 feet rises to 5 feet at times. Offshore will be 3 to 5 feet rises to 10 feet at times.

Area High Tide Low Tide Mini Messaid 04:52 18:38 12:05 26 Wakrah: 04:01 18:06 11:17 23:46 25 Doha: 03:37 17:06 11:15 23:40 25 Al Khor: 03:17 16:20 11
:01 22:42 23 Ruwais 04:59 17:19 11:19 23:51 22 Dukhan: 10:11 22:22 04:06 16:07 23 Sunrise: 05:03 LT Sunset: 18:00 LT

Source: Qatar News Agency

Tashkent: A statement was issued today following the 44th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council Extraordinary Meeting, which reads as follows:

In light of the military escalation and developments in the Middle East region, the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council held its 44th extraordinary meeting on April 15, 2024, at the headquarters of the Qatari Embassy in Tashkent, on the sidelines of the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and Central Asian countries.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and President of the current session of the Ministerial Council Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, was attended by Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Minister of Foreign Af
fairs of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al Yahya, and GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.

The ministers discussed coordination mechanisms between the GCC states and joint action to confront these developments.

The council expressed its deep concern over the recent, [extremely] dangerous developments of military escalation in the Middle East region and their negative impact on regional security and stability, stressing the importance of reducing the escalation immediately to maintain the security and stability of the region, and the need for all parties to make joint efforts and take the approach of diplomacy as an effective mean in resolving conflicts, exercising the utmost levels of self-restraint, and sparing the region and its people the dangers of war.

The council called for the UN Security Council to fulfil its responsibility toward maintaining international peace and security, especially in th
is region that is extremely sensitive to global peace and security, and to prevent the crisis from worsening, which would have serious consequences if it expanded.

The council reiterated the firm position of the GCC regarding the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, demanding an immediate ceasefire and Israeli military operations, ensuring the provision of access to all humanitarian and relief aid and basic needs, and the necessity of operating electricity and water lines and allowing the entry of fuel, food and medicine for the residents of Gaza.

The GCC stresses the need for the international community to adopt effective policies and measures to reach an immediate ceasefire, as the continuation of this aggression has repercussions on the security and stability of the entire region and the continuation of tensions there.

The council called to halt the escalation and acts of violence against the Palestinians in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including the city of Jerusalem and the Islamic holy sit
es, and to stop settlement activity, land confiscation and attempts to displace the Palestinians from their lands.

The council called for an international conference in which all concerned parties participate to discuss all issues related to the Palestinian issue and to reach a solution based on ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Tashkent, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that the second ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the Cooperation Council countries and the countries of Central Asia aimed at strengthening the foundation of joint action for the strategic dialogue and develop mechanisms for consultation and cooperation between the two sides.

This came during the Secretary General’s speech at the second ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC countries and the countries of Central Asia, held in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, and headed by Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar and President of the current session of the Ministerial Council, and Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

Present at the meeting were Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of the Cooperation Council and the Central Asian countries.

Albudaiwi extend
ed his appreciation to the leadership, government and people of Uzbekistan for their generous hospitality and warm reception.

He noted the importance of this meeting, as he said that it is the first of its kind, following the historic summit hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah City in July 2023, which brought together the leaders of the Cooperation Council countries and the leaders of the Central Asian countries to establish the frameworks for future cooperation between both sides.

Additionally, this meeting comes in preparation for the second summit between the GCC countries and the Central Asian countries scheduled to be held in Samarkand next year.

The Secretary General further said that the unprecedented developments and state of uncertainty in many political, economic, security, and even social matters and issues that the international community is facing, required the intensifying of communication and coordination to resolve these issues and confront any negative repercussions that may emerge that could
affect all parties.

He mentioned that the GCC General Secretariat hosted the first ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the Cooperation Council and the countries of Central Asia in September 2022, with the participation of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of the member states and the countries of Central Asia.

Albudaiwi added that the meeting issued a joint statement confirming the commitment of the parties participating in it to establish a strong and ambitious partnership based on common values, interests, and historical ties.

It also mentioned the exchange of views between the two sides on regional and international issues, emphasising the importance of coordinating their positions and addressing common priorities.

A joint cooperation action plan for the period 2023-2027 was approved, which would strengthen cooperation in various fields, such as political and security dialogue, economic, trade, and investment cooperation, as well as cooperation in the fields of e
ducation, health, culture, media, youth, and sports.

During his speech, the secretary general recalled the meetings held by the General Secretariat in implementation of the outcomes of the first strategic dialogue of the GCC and the countries of Central Asia. This included the first meeting of those concerned in the field of economy, trade, and investment, as well as the first meeting of those concerned in the field of culture and media, in addition to the first meeting of those concerned in the health field, besides the first meeting of those concerned in the field of youth and sports between the GCC countries and the countries of Central Asia.

He also pointed out the necessity of consultation on political, regional and international issues, as well as on matters related to trade, investment, culture, education, scientific and technical research, environment and health, to find common visions on these issues.

Albudaiwi highlighted the direction of the GCC partnership with the countries of Central Asia, wh
ich is built on the following foundations and rules: ensuring joint success, establishing effective partnerships, enhancing exchange and communication between peoples, opening markets and elevating economic activities, working to save energy and its flow, and striving towards strengthening the digital economy.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held a telephone call in which they discussed bilateral relations and consolidating joint action across various disciplines to serve the interests of both countries. The call also discussed issues and topics of mutual concern.

His Majesty the King and His Highness the UAE President reviewed the developments in the Middle East region, with a focus on the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The two leaders discussed means to enhance response mechanisms to the situation in Gaza, in addition to maximising efforts to reach a ceasefire, provide full protection for civilians and ensure the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid sustainably through various methods without obstacles.

HM the King and HH the UAE President emphasised the importance of working towards preventing the expansion of the conflict in the region and pushing towards a political solut
ion to achieve fair, comprehensive and permanent peace on the basis of a two-state solution, which would maintain the stability and security of the region.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Today, the Women’s Cultural Authority in Hamdan District in Sana’a Governorate provided a holiday and financial convoy to Almoravids on the front lines on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.

The participants in presenting the convoy emphasized that women’s support to the front lines and strengthening the steadfastness of the Almoravids represents a badge of honor in the process of supporting the battle to confront the forces of invasion and occupation.

They pointed out that supporting the fronts with convoys represents the least duty that Yemeni women can offer in exchange for the sacrifices of the heroes of the armed forces in confronting the enemies of the homeland and defending it.

Source: Yemen News Agency