Day: July 27, 2024

Jeddah, The Royal Court said in a statement today that the mother of Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud had passed away. The funeral prayer will be performed tomorrow, Sunday, 28/07/2024, after the Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Nablus - Ma'an - A citizen was killed and nine others were injured, two of them seriously, when an Israeli drone bombed a group of citizens in the Jammasin neighborhood inside Balata camp, east of Nablus, on Saturday evening. The Ministry of Health announced the martyrdom of the boy, Louay Muhammad Masha (17 years old), while medical teams at Rafidia Governmental Hospital are still dealing with 9 injuries, including two in critical condition, as a result of the occupation's aggression on Balata Camp in Nablus. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that a volunteer field paramedic was injured while working to evacuate the wounded as a result of the occupation's bombing of Balata camp. A large force of the occupation army, reinforced by a number of patrols and armored vehicles, stormed Balata camp this evening, amid heavy gunfire and the sound of explosions. Local sources reported that clashes broke out between the resistance fighters and the occupation forces in the area. Source: Maan News Agency

Jeddah, The Saudi Geological Survey recorded an earthquake in the middle of the Red Sea, 161 kilometers west of Al Lith Governorate in the Makkah Region, at exactly 12:09 a.m. today. Spokesperson for the Saudi Geological Survey Tariq Aba Al-Khail said that the earthquake registered a magnitude of 4.7 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter at a depth of approximately 10.4 kilometers. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Report written by, Youssef Salman: UNESCO has completed a specialized field training for journalists and staff of the Human Rights Commission in the Kurdistan Region, funded by the Dutch Embassy in Iraq, as part of the "Breaking the Silence" project to enhance the safety of journalists. Through this initiative, UNESCO aims to build the capacities of journalists and human rights workers in Kurdistan, leading to the formation of a field team that works to defend journalists in the face of increasing legal prosecutions against freedom of expression, and to help journalists avoid these prosecutions by enhancing awareness and legal knowledge. The intensive training, which lasted for three days in the city of Erbil, and with the help of five experts who have accompanied this project since its launch in 2021 and have become advisory status from the organization, included the integration of artificial intelligence technology into the training curricula to be a helpful factor for journalists and the work team to rep ort harassment, threats and attacks targeting the freedom of expression community in Erbil and Baghdad, and to facilitate the task for categories of journalists within the region to report these harassments. Director of the Information and Communication Sector at UNESCO Iraq, Diaa Sobhi, told the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) that "the training focuses on establishing a specialized field team to follow up on journalists' issues in the Kurdistan Region, monitor violations and abuses, and document basic indicators for measuring freedom of expression, in accordance with UNESCO's internationally approved regulations and guidelines in accordance with its mandate in Iraq." He explained that "the training included monitoring basic indicators for the sectors of journalism and traditional media, digital journalism, and the challenges of the digital world," indicating that "UNESCO seeks to develop areas of freedom of expression through monitoring, advocacy, surveillance, and objective reporting patterns, through i ts international mandate in Iraq." In turn, the head of al-Ayn Foundation for Media Development Indicators, Hussein Al-Saray, stressed the importance of training journalists on the laws and legal procedures related to the journalism profession to protect them from legal prosecutions. Al-Saray said, in an interview with the National Iraqi News Agency /NINA/, that "the journalist's familiarity with the local and international systems, regulations and laws that regulate the practice of the journalism profession will be more able to avoid committing unintended legal errors," noting the need to train journalists on the correct ways to deal with news and information sources to distinguish between fake and misleading news and avoid transmitting news that violates the rights of individuals and institutions. Indicators of freedom of expression and legal safety of journalists in Iraq show an increase in the rates of legal and judicial prosecutions against the press and digital media, according to UNESCO. Iraq has no t submitted its reports to the international community on this issue for two years, while the Kurdistan Region is more than fourteen years behind Baghdad in submitting its reports, leaving silence as the master of the situation regarding the restrictions on freedom of expression in Kurdistan. UNESCO is working in clear partnership with the judiciary in Baghdad to ease the pressure on journalists, social media activists and influencers, with the hope that the Kurdistan Regional Government will respond to achieve similar cooperation. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Farnborough, UK, The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concluded its tour of several events in the United Kingdom (UK) held on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, which took place from July 22 to 26 at Farnborough Airport in the United Kingdom, it was reported today. President of GACA and head of its delegation Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej reviewed the investment opportunities enabled by the National Aviation Strategy and assessed the extent of the developments led by GACA in the system aiming to enable growth and innovation in the aviation industry. During their visit to the exhibition, Al-Duailej and the accompanying delegation were briefed on the latest technologies, innovations, and solutions in the aviation industry, including advanced air mobility, space, and sustainability. They also explored the modern technologies offered by the participating companies in the field of civil aviation. The delegation also visited Cranfield Univer sity in Britain, where they were briefed on the university's research in aviation sciences, including the latest technologies offered by its digital air traffic control center. GACA also held a roundtable meeting with Saudi-British Joint Business Council to discuss investment and cooperation opportunities in the civil aviation sector. The meeting addressed ways to enhance investment relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UK, as well as efforts to develop economic and investment ties between them. It also discussed ways to develop high-quality investments and enable the private sector to benefit from investment opportunities in both countries. On the sidelines of the exhibition, GACA signed a memorandum of cooperation with the German company Lilium, a leading manufacturer of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, with the aim of contributing to the development of the regulatory framework for advanced air mobility in Saudi Arabia. The memorandum strengthens GACA's cooperation with i nternational companies to enable advanced air mobility applications in Saudi Arabia and aligns with its efforts to establish regulations and rules that encourage the growth of this type of mobility while ensuring the highest levels of safety, security, and passenger protection. The Saudi Air Navigation Services Company (SANS) also signed a framework agreement with the British Air Traffic Services (NATS) to enhance airport capacity. In addition, SANS signed a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz University, and Cranfield University, with the goal of developing aviation science research between the two parties and exchanging expertise among specialists. flynas, Saudi Arabia's leading low-cost air carrier, also signed an agreement with Airbus to purchase 160 new aircraft, including 30 wide-body A330neo aircraft and 130 single-aisle aircraft of various models from the A320 family, bringing the total volume of its aircraft purchase orders to 280 w ithin seven years. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ahmed Al-Asadi confirmed that the ministry is following up on the file of illegal foreign labor and those coming to Iraq illegally, pointing out that a set of measures have been taken to prevent the infiltration of illegal labor into the labor market. Al-Asadi explained during his meeting with a number of political analysts today, Saturday, that there is a mechanism to regulate foreign labor in the country in cooperation with the relevant authorities to ensure the implementation of laws and regulations related to labor for various foreign arrivals to the country, especially the labor law, pointing to the importance of the role of the media in supporting the work of the ministry as it is a basic factor in the process of monitoring deserving and violating cases. He added that "the ministry has a series of procedures followed against violators, whether they are companies, workers, or even those who violate social care, noting that there are inspection and control committees on companies operating in the country to follow up on the implementation of laws and instructions related to the employment of foreign workers and their counterparts from national workers, with an emphasis on the implementation of occupational health and safety procedures in all workplaces." Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Riyadh, Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawa and Guidance will hold the Executive Council meeting in preparation for the ninth conference of ministers of awqaf and Islamic affairs in the countries of the Islamic world, held on August 3, 2024. The meeting will tackle the role of the ministries of awqaf and Islamic affairs in promoting the principles and consolidating the values of moderation, which is the theme of the conference. In addition to ministers of awqaf and Islamic affairs, the conference will be also attended by muftis and heads of Islamic councils and associations from more than 60 countries. In 10 working sessions, participants are scheduled to discuss the role of a renewed concept of religious address in promoting the principles and consolidating the values of moderation; how to confront extremism, fanaticism and terrorism; the need to immunize the society against the danger of hate speech and extre mism; how to spread the values of tolerance and coexistence; how to fight Islamophobia; the role of awqaf in increasing the gross domestic product; and the role endowment funds help development and investment. Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawa and Guidance, and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Conference Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh expressed thanks and gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and to HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the great interest shown in this conference. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Baghdad Operations Command issued a clarification today, Saturday, regarding the leakage of chlorine east of the capital. The command said - in a statement: "Some social media platforms circulated news that toxic and deadly gas cylinders resulting from (chlorine) exploded and ambulances transported the injured to hospitals in Al-Zawraa district east of the capital." It explained, "At 18:00 pm, information was received about suffocation cases in Al-Waldaya area, specifically at Sami orchard, east of the capital, Baghdad. Immediately, a force from the Fifth Federal Police Division went to the scene of the accident and it was found that "a toxic gas leaked in the area. After searching and investigating, it became clear that the cause was the leakage of "chlorine" from (a metal smelter/ball), which led to the suffocation of a number of citizens from the residents of the above area. They were transferred to (Imam Ali and Al-Sadr) hospitals and their condition is stable." It added, "The search is still ongoing f or the owner of the "place" to arrest him and take legal measures against him." Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The UAE Embassy in London called on the country's citizens in the United Kingdom today, Saturday, to take caution and avoid gathering areas in some cities. The UAE Embassy advised citizens to stay in contact with the Embassy, in case of emergency, and to follow the social media accounts of the Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Embassy also called on Emirati citizens to register in the "Tawajudi" service so that it can provide appropriate consular services. The reason for the warnings issued by the UAE Embassy in London has not yet been clarified. This comes as Eurostar rail lines in France were attacked, hours before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Eurostar is an international high-speed rail service in Western Europe, linking London and Kent in the United Kingdom, with Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium, and other places. The company announced on Friday that its lines were subjected to widespread attacks that led to major disruption to its flights, confirming that the i ncident affected more than 800,000 passengers in the country. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Amman, Saudi Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi attended today here the opening session of the seventh international scientific conference organized by the College of Business at the Arab University of Amman under the title "Digitization of Business and Scientific Research: Future Visions". The two-day conference is attended by local, regional and international specialists, academics and experts who will discuss research papers from seven specialized fields of knowledge. Source: Saudi Press Agency