Month: March 2024

A source in North Sinai stated that Rafah Border Crossing with Gaza Strip would receive Sunday 452 travelers, including 41 injured and their companions.

That is in addition to 300 Palestinians who have residency permits in Egypt and a number of Arab and non-Arab countries as well as 70 students in tertiary education.

A source at North Sinai stated on March 24 that 54 aid trucks had headed to Gaza Strip through Rafah Border Crossing.

Those, provided by the Egyptian government, include four trucks of cooking gas; 10 food trucks; drinking water truck; two trucks of tents; three flour trucks; diaper truck; three trucks of dates; medical supply truck; cooking oil truck; and, mattress truck.

As for aid donated by charity associations, it is composed of a total of 27 trucks, including nine chicken trucks; frozen vegetable truck; two fish trucks; two trucks of sweets; four candy trucks; garlic truck; cooking oil truck; truck of bed sheets; two diaper trucks; onion truck; biscuit truck; sugar truck; and, a truck o
f various types of aid.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Rabat – Moroccan fencer Houssam El Kord has qualified for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games, the Moroccan National Olympic Committee (CNOM) announced on Saturday.

This is the Moroccan fencer’s second qualification for the Olympic Games after Tokyo-2020.

To date, Morocco has qualified for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games in 13 sports, namely athletics, rowing, boxing, breakdance, canoeing, cycling, football, surfing, taekwondo, shooting sports, equestrian sports, wrestling and fencing.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Amman: Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Public Sector Modernisation Nasser Shraideh, on Sunday evening, sponsored the launch of the Institutional Culture Enhancement Program in the Public Sector, in the presence of secretaries-general and directors-general of ministries and government departments.

In an opening speech, Shraideh said, “The success of modernization initiatives in the public sector requires a supportive institutional culture for the concepts of modernization and development, and one that motivates citizen service and embraces positive change, because its absence is a major obstacle to implementing change initiatives, and thus hinders the desired modernization.”

He indicated that the first change that the public sector will witness in 2024 is the human resources management system that will be approved in the coming weeks, explaining that the secretaries-general and directors-general are the leaders of this change, and they will manage it, with the support of
human resources and institutional development departments.

Shraideh added that the government, realizing the importance of institutional culture and its intersection with all components of the public sector modernization roadmap, has started implementing initiatives to enhance institutional culture in the public sector since the approval of the public sector modernization roadmap, where it designed a model and program for institutional culture.

He pointed out that the priorities of the public sector modernization roadmap for 2024 included a special priority for raising awareness of the desired institutional culture model and the importance of change in 100 ministries and government departments, and another priority for applying the institutional culture program in 50 ministries and government departments.

Source: Jordan News Agency

ABU DHABI: The Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi hosted an awards ceremony on Saturday to honour the winners of the first edition of the Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque Quran Competition, organised in collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (AWQAF).

Thirty-eight male and female contestants from different nationalities were honoured as they competed in five levels of memorisation: the entire Holy Quran, 20 juz’, 10 juz’, 5 juz’, and 1 juz’.

The ceremony was attended by Mohammed Saeed Al Neyadi, Director General of AWQAF, Judge Mohammed Abdul Salam, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Talib Mohammed Al Shehhi, Executive Director of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, along with the winners of the competition and their families

Abdulla Al Shehhi, Acting Operations Executive Director of Abrahamic Family House, said that the competition plays an important role in inspiring young people to memorise the Holy Quran and gain a deep understanding of its meanings.

Ahmed El-Tayeb
Mosque in the Abrahamic Family House organises several activities and events aimed at promoting Islamic understanding among young people and children, introducing the teachings of Islam that call for spreading the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Gaza: Israeli forces Sunday killed four Palestinians and injured 17 others after bombing the tents of displaced persons in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza Strip.

The government media office in Gaza said, “The occupation forces committed a new massacre by bombing several tents for journalists and displaced people inside the walls of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital at the peak time of the movement of patients, wounded and displaced people, killing and wounding several.”

According to a statement, the office condemned in the Israeli warplanes’ attack against a hospital that provides medical and health services to displaced persons, calling on international, regional and local organisations to condemn “this terrible crime” and to urge Israel to stop its aggressive war and protect hospitals.

Source: Jordan News Agency

ABU DHABI: The international offices of the Muslim Council of Elders have emerged as beacons of hope and bridges for communication and coexistence amid the diverse challenges confronting the world.

The Council leverages these offices as a principal means to disseminate the values of dialogue and human fraternity, advancing its engagement with Muslims globally to foster a deeper understanding of their urgent issues and to draw from their experiences in fostering civil peace and coexistence within their societies, which are varied in their religious, linguistic, intellectual, cultural, and social makeup.

Malaysia, celebrated for its cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity that mirrors a rich history of cultural exchange and mutual influences among its populace, was the first nation to host a regional branch of the Muslim Council of Elders. A notable initiative from the Malaysian office in 2022 was the creation of a library housing 4,000 titles focused on moderate thought, Islamic culture, the fight against
extremism, and humanities, attracting scores of students and researchers. Furthermore, some of the Council’s publications were translated from Arabic to Malay, accompanied by numerous radio programs and cultural events designed to promote the values of dialogue, tolerance, and peace.

In last October, the Council has officially opened its regional branch for Southeast Asia in the Republic of Indonesia, the largest Islamic nation by population and a frontrunner in championing diversity and coexistence among different religions and cultures. The establishment of this branch in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, received warm commendation from Indonesian President Joko Widodo and widespread acclaim from the Southeast Asian Muslim community. This branch organised the Religion and Climate Change Conference, attended by approximately 150 esteemed religious leaders, environmental and climate issue-focused academics, officials, and ministers from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian nations. It also spearheaded various
radio programs, seminars, and community and cultural activities, earning the Best Pavilion award at the Indonesia Islamic Book Fair.

In Pakistan, the branch devoted considerable effort to promoting the values of tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity, encouraging respect and acceptance of others through extensive field visits, seminars, and cultural activities. It underscored the critical role that tolerate religious teachings play in fostering peace and hope, not solely within the Pakistani sphere but globally.

To further activate its global role and extend its geographical engagement with Muslims in diverse communities worldwide, the Council inaugurated a branch in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, designated as the Regional Office for Central Asia and the Caucasus. This branch is dedicated to fulfilling the Council’s objectives in promoting and reinforcing the values of coexistence and dialogue, connecting with Muslim communities in the region, translating and disseminating the Council’s publications i
n local languages, revitalizing the intellectual legacy of Muslim scholars and intellectuals in the area, and acquainting the youth with them.

This year, under the leadership of His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Muslim Council of Elders aims to broaden its efforts, opening more offices and branches in various countries to spread and advance the values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and to consolidate its efforts aimed at promoting moderation and combating all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and Islamophobia.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: The Petroleum Derivatives Pricing Committee decided Sunday to reduce the price of diesel to JOD.730 per liter instead of JOD.740 and to raise the selling price of 90 octane gasoline to JOD.940 per liter instead of JOD,930.

It decided to raise the selling price of octane gasoline 95 to JOD1,175 per liter instead of JOD1,170.

The Committee decided to set the price of kerosene for next April at JOD.620 per liter and to keep the price of a domestic gas cylinder (12.5 kg) at JOD 7.

This came during its monthly meeting to determine the selling prices of petroleum derivatives locally for April after reviewing the international prices of crude oil and petroleum derivatives during March and comparing them to February.

Source: Jordan News Agency

DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a number of contracts under a three-year plan to improve 22 bus stations and depots (16 bus stations and 6 bus depots).

The project scope covers carrying out infrastructural works on buildings, providing comprehensive passenger facilities, passenger waiting terminals, driver service offices, bus overnight parking spaces, engine maintenance workshops, and dedicated bus inspections and maintenance bays. The overall objective is to introduce a new, holistic service experience that significantly improves the quality of public transport services.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, stated, ‘Building public bus stations and depots forms a key part of RTA’s strategy to enhance the public transport infrastructure. It aims to encourage the community to opt for public transport in their daily movements. The project goes beyond the traditional function of stations, aiming to not just facilitate passen
ger mobility but to enhance the overall travel experience. This encompasses offering comprehensive services that contribute to passenger happiness, improving accessibility for people of determination, providing bicycle racks, and ensuring seamless connectivity with Dubai Metro and taxi services.’

The project covers enhancing 16 stations designated for public bus passengers including nine stations at Deira and seven in Bur Dubai, namely: Mall of the Emirates, Sabkha, Jebel Ali, Al Quoz, Ibn Battuta, Hatta, Gold Souk, Al Qusais, Deira City Centre, Al Ghubaiba, Union, Al Satwa, Al Rashdiya, Abu Hail, Etisalat, and Al Karama. The bus passenger terminals will be renovated along with building facades, system infrastructure works will be implemented, and prayer rooms will be added at select stations.

The project covers also developing six bus depots at Al Khawaneej, Al Qusais, Al Ruwyyah, Al Aweer, Jebel Ali, and Al Quoz. These will see the revamping of inspection lanes, providing engine wash lanes, drainage syste
m improvements, floor maintenance, and the installation of new system infrastructure and rehabilitating public facilities.

In addition to providing drivers residential quarters at Jebel Ali and Al Quoz Depots, the scope of exterior works across all stations covers installing traffic signals and sidewalks, revamping external lights, infrastructure work for security systems, redesigning the bus parking yards at five stations, and adding initial test zone at Al Khawaneej, Al Ruwyyah, and Al Aweer depots.

In 2021, RTA completed the construction of several public bus stations across key areas in Dubai, including Al Ghubaiba, Union, Al Jaffiliya, Oud Metha, Al Satwa, Etisalat, Al Baraha, International City, and Dubai International Airport (Terminal 3). These stations were designed with an emphasis on integrating transport requirements and standards to enhance city connectivity. The aim was to facilitate safe and smooth access for residents to and from mass transit stations, ensuring pedestrians and cyclists can
easily access these facilities.

Furthermore, these enhancements are aimed at establishing a welcoming and accessible environment for People of Determination, linking various transport modes and development projects, and surrounding attractions through the development of first and last-mile requirements. By offering elements like public bus parking, cycling lanes, pedestrian crossings, gorgeous landscaping, and bike racks, RTA seeks to encourage walking and using of individual mobility options.

RTA has an advanced fleet of public buses, distinguished by their exceptional safety, comfort, and quality standards. These buses adhere to the “Euro 6” European regulations for reduced carbon emissions, setting a precedent in the Middle East and North Africa. They are fitted with comfortable seating and adhere to rigorous safety protocols. The buses have a low-entry feature to facilitate easy access and egress as well as dedicated spaces for People of Determination, to offer exceptional services to public transport u
sers with their elegant interior designs.

Source: Emirates News Agency