Category: General

Doha, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Affairs Minister, held a meeting with his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, on the sidelines of the third session of the Arab Economic and Cooperation Forum with Central Asian Countries and the Republic of Azerbaijan, held today in Doha.

The two ministers discussed the fraternal relations between both countries, and ways to bolster bilateral cooperation in all fields to serve common interests.

They also exchanged views vis-à-vis the current regional developments, and the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population, as well as launch a process to establish peace, security and stability in the region.

The ongoing preparations for the 33rd Arab Summit, set to be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain on May 16, in addition to the Summit’s agenda were also reviewed.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

09:00 am European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides visit Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, then proceed to Ain el-Tineh to meet with House Speaker Nabih Berri.

09:00 am The United Nations Environment Programme – Regional Office for West Asia organizes the “First National Dialogue on Blue Economy in Lebanon” (LBED 2024) conference at the main conference hall of ESCWA – United Nations House, under the patronage and presence of the Minister of Environment in the caretaker government, Nasser Yassin, in partnership with the President of the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development, Bahia Hariri, within the framework of the SwitchMed II project, implemented by the programme with funding from the European Union.

10:30 am Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, receives a delegation from the “Lebanese Forces” at Dar al-Fatwa.

11:30 am The Islamic Educational and Cultural Organization holds a series of the
first central matches for community service, at the main hall of Al-Mahdi Secondary School – Shahed, under the patronage of the Minister of Labor, Mustafa Bayram.

11:30 am The Islamic Educational and Cultural Organization – Directorate of Educational Supervision holds a series of matches in French language, at Al-Sayyed Mohammad Baqir Al-Sadr Hall – Al-Mahdi Secondary School – Hadath, under the patronage of the head of the Baalbek-Hermel MPs Bloc, Dr. Hussein El-Hajj Hassan.

12:30 pm The founding body of the Union of Workers and Employees of Vehicle Inspection in Lebanon carries out a warning sit-in in front of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, “protesting the continued procrastination and indifference towards the fate of this sector and its workers two years after the suspension of work in vehicle inspection, and to raise awareness to reinstate work in this sector.”

5:00 pm Beirut and its Suburbs Orthodox Metropolitan Bishop Elias Audi presides over the service of the Holy Passion
Gospels at St. George’s Cathedral in Nejmeh Square.

Source: National news agency – Lebanon

Baghdad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fouad Hussein, received today, Monday, at his residence in Baghdad, the President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, the Prime Minister, Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, and the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani.

During the meeting, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they expressed their sincere condolences and sympathy to the Minister on the death of his wife – may Almighty God have mercy on her – asking God to grant him and his honorable family patience and solace.

For his part, the Minister extended sincere thanks and appreciation to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the President of the Kurdistan Region for offering condolences, asking God Almighty to preserve Iraq, its people and its fraternal components and spare everyone from all harm, expressing his great gratitude for this generous visit.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) and German Jordanian University (GJU) on Tuesday signed a three-year, renewable memorandum of understanding (MoU), aimed to support and enhance the university students’ culture of entrepreneurship and creativity by turning their “applicable ideas” into “sustainable” projects.

The memo aims to cooperate in assisting the target groups in filling out applications to benefit from JEDCO’s programs and assist the university in facilitating access to funding for “economically viable” projects in all the Kingdom’s governorates, according to a joint statement.

Under the memo, the university organizes a number of workshops to introduce JEDCO’s programs to target groups, while the corporation provides GJU with its studies and research to be published on its website.

JEDCO also enrolls a batch of GJU students annually to receive training at its headquarters to ensure that students are integrated into operational processes and engaged in “appropriate and purposeful” pr
ojects to acquire experience for their future careers.

JEDCO’s Executive Director, Abdel Fattah Kayed, and GJU President, Dr. Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli signed the memo.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Istanbul, The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the killing of five PKK militants in an air strike carried out by Turkish warplanes in northern Iraq.

The Turkish Defense Ministry stated in a statement today, Tuesday, that the Turkish army units stationed in the Hakurk region and charged with the Claw Lock operations in northern Iraq came under fire from militants affiliated with the Workers’ Party, which required the use of warplanes, which resulted in the killing of five of them and the withdrawal of the others.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The foreign affairs committee of the National Council of Switzerland (parliament) has expressed its desire to maintain partial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), but has set conditions.

According to Euronews, the committee asked the Federal Council to make an initial payment to UNRWA, but stipulated that the relief organization must be able to guarantee that Swiss funds will be used only for emergency and humanitarian aid, noting that it will leave it to the Federal Council to determine the amount of the first payment.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Baghdad, The military media of the Yemeni Armed Forces broadcast today evening, scenes documenting the moment the ship (CYCLADES) was targeted in the Red Sea with a Shihab drone, after it violated the decision to ban the passage of ships heading to the ports of the occupied Palestine.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Doha, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Affairs Minister, held a meeting with his Somali counterpart, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, on the sidelines of the third session of the Arab Economic and Cooperation Forum with Central Asian Countries and the Republic of Azerbaijan, held today in Doha.

The two ministers discussed the solid fraternal relations between both countries, and ways to bolster bilateral cooperation across fields to serve common interests.

They also exchanged views vis-à-vis the current regional developments, and the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population, as well as launch a process to establish peace, security and stability in the region.

The ongoing preparations for the 33rd Arab Summit, set to be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain on May 16, in addition to the Summit’s agenda were also reviewed.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Washington – Ma’an – US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said, “If Netanyahu carries out the Rafah raid without a plan that protects civilians, we will oppose it, and the president will determine the consequences.”

He added: We oppose any Israeli military operations in Rafah without a clear plan that ensures the safety of civilians.

“I doubt that the Israelis will be able to transfer all the civilians in Rafah,” he said.

He continued, “We are concerned about the lack of plans to protect civilians in Rafah.”

Source: Maan News Agency

The Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce explored on Tuesday avenues for bolstering both local and foreign investments within the Kingdom.

Ezzedine Kanakrieh, President of the fund, highlighted its national endeavors to amplify local investments. Through engagements with private sector experts, the Fund aims to expand existing ventures and inaugurate new projects adhering to global standards and innovative technologies.

Meeting at the Chamber’s headquarters, Kanakrieh stressed the necessity of fostering an agile environment to swiftly seize promising opportunities, enhancing Jordan’s economic standing.

The fund, with established partnerships across local, Arab, and international sectors, is actively forging new ventures, leveraging available resources to benefit the Jordanian economy and society.

Acknowledging the Chamber’s pivotal role in showcasing Jordan’s economic landscape domestically and internationally, Kanakrieh emphasized the Fund’s commitment to identifying
impactful investment opportunities and fostering genuine partnerships.

Khalil Haj Tawfiq, President of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, lauded the fund’s outreach to the Chamber, affirming its dedication to private sector collaboration. He underscored the fund’s role in strategic investments, ensuring sound decision-making processes and economic growth.

The chamber, representing various governorates, advocated for inclusive investment opportunities and leveraging the Fund’s resources to invigorate economic activity and employment prospects.

Source: Jordan News Agency