News from the Arab World
Israeli enemy warplanes on Thursday executed an airstrike targeting the southern Lebanese town of Yaroun of Bint Jbeil district.
According to information received, the airstrike targeted a house that was completely destroyed.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
The Finance and Budget Committee, led by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, on Thursday addressed the issue of unpaid salaries for Civil Defense volunteers. After the session, Kanaan stated that the committee recommended an emergency loan from the budget to cover the arrears, pending the classification of the volunteers according to the law. He emphasized the need for swift action to prepare the necessary grids for payment, highlighting the importance of ongoing parliamentary oversight.
During the meeting, it was noted that some volunteers had not received their salaries for over 8 months. Kanaan emphasized the importance of finding a solution, stating that “there is no work without pay” and highlighting the sacrifices made by these individuals.
After discussions with the Civil Service Council and the Ministries of Finance and Interior, the committee recommended an emergency loan from the budget to cover the arrears. This recommendation was based on Article 104 of the Public Accounting Law.
In turn, Kanaan stressed the ne
ed for swift action to prepare the necessary grids for payment. He also emphasized the importance of ongoing parliamentary oversight, stating that legislation alone is not enough to solve problems and that official and governmental bodies must fulfill their duties to secure the interests of the people.
The committee’s recommendation was approved unanimously, and it is hoped that the issue will be resolved promptly to alleviate the financial burden on volunteers.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
The following statement was issued on Thursday by the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon:
“In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in Gaza and in solidarity with their courageous and honorable resistance, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted, at 01:45 pm on Thursday, 04-04-2024, the headquarters of the newly formed Liman Battalion with artillery shells.
The Resistance also announced in a second statement that its fighters “targeted at 02:08 pm on Thursday, 04-04-2024, enemy soldiers’ positions behind the Jal Al-Alam site with rocket weapons.”
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
ABU DHABI: H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, honoured the recipients of the tenth session of the Holy Qur’an Tahbeer and its Sciences Award, themed “Year of Sustainability.”
Sheikh Saif extended recognition to the partners, supporters, and media professionals whose contributions were instrumental in the success of this session.
The Minister of Interior conveyed heartfelt congratulations to the winners and their families for their exceptional participation and exemplary performance in upholding the Islamic values and ethics encapsulated within the award.
Emphasising its role in nurturing generations on the moderate and tolerant tenets of Islam, His Highness expressed gratitude to all participants, partners, sponsors, distinguished scholars, and media professionals for their collective efforts in advancing the humanitarian objectives of the award.
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Award for Tahbeer for the Holy Qur’an and its Scie
nces, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed launched the award’s new visual identity, which reflects its main objectives, vision and directions in line with the vision of the United Arab Emirates and its cultural values.
The slogan’s vocabulary and components reflect the future vision towards more achievements, the importance of promoting knowledge, education, advanced science, sustainability, and positive values and ethics let the award remain a global beacon and a good effort in promoting cultural convergence between peoples.
Source: Emirates News Agency
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of congratulation to President of the Republic of the Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye on the occasion of his country’s national day.
In the cable, His Highness the Amir wished President Faye good health and wellbeing, and further development for the people of Senegal.
Source: Kuwait News Agency
DUBAI: ENOC Group, the leading integrated global energy player, has contributed AED 9,839,219 towards its CSR initiatives largely focused on youth development, education and upskilling, health and supporting the less privileged communities during the Holy month of Ramadan. These initiatives benefitted nearly seven million individuals across the UAE during the past five years.
ENOC has forged promising partnerships with government authorities, businesses, NGOs and communities to achieve social, environmental and economic wellbeing. Between 2019 and 2023, ENOC Group ran over 279 campaigns, featuring over 20,000 volunteers that spent more than 23,000 volunteering hours. Every year during Ramadan, the Group supports over 400,000 beneficiaries.
Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO, ENOC, said: ‘Corporate Social Responsibility continues to play an increasingly important role within the ENOC Group. Alongside accelerating the development of the emirate’s energy sector, we are also working towards positively benefitting
the local communities in which we operate. We will continue our efforts to support the community and making a positive difference to the society in the spirit of caring and sharing that reflects the Holy Month.’
The Group partners with Beit Al Khair Society and Al Ihsan Charity Association every Ramadan to deliver iftar boxes to the less privileged; between 2021 and 2023, the Group donated over 23,700 iftar boxes, and in 2024, volunteers from the Group plan to distribute 10,000 boxes around the UAE.
This year too, ENOC Group has organised a series of initiatives during the Holy Month encompassing the packing and distribution of grocery items, as well as the distribution of iftar boxes to over 500,000 beneficiaries in collaboration with Al Ihsan Charity Association in their Annual Ramadan Aman Campaign. The Group will additionally allocate 10,000 iftar meals to labour camps and 25,000 food items to underprivileged families. The distribution activities will be executed by dedicated volunteers from ENOC Group
at various locations around the UAE. For the second consecutive year, the Group will also host an annual iftar initiative for senior Emirati citizens.
Source: Emirates News Agency
SHARJAH: Sharjah Airport is fully prepared to welcome passengers during Eid Al Fitr holiday, with plans to handle the expected increase in flight movement and accommodate the growing demand for travel to and from the UAE.
Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) expects to welcome approximately 550,000 passengers through Sharjah Airport and handle more than 3200 flight movements from 2nd to 15th April, with an average daily movement of over 42,000 passengers.
Sharjah Airport has completed its preparations to accommodate the expected record increase in flight movements and passenger traffic during this season, ensuring a safe, comfortable, and smooth travel experience for airport users.
The team at Sharjah Airport is keen to provide optimal service that meets the expectations of travelers, whether they are arriving in Sharjah or traveling outside the UAE, thus enhancing the fluidity of movement at the airport.
Travel and flight movements through Sharjah Airport connect with over 100 international destinations spann
ing the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, North and East Africa, Commonwealth of Independent States, and Europe.
SAA, along with its strategic partners, will implement a detailed plan to manage the influx of travelers and flight movements, ensuring the highest level of facilities and services, especially for customer service employees, and preparing support facilities for social groups such as the elderly, children, patients, and people of determination.
Source: Emirates News Agency
The severe damage to infrastructure in Gaza and the difficulty to deliver humanitarian aid can have “devastating humanitarian consequences for children,” said UN official.
In a statement late Wednesday, during a UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting on children and armed conflicts, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban said, “It can mean parties arbitrarily restricting access, including through the suspension of essential services, restrictions of movements of civilians to reach assistance and protection, bureaucratic and administrative impediments. It can also mean outright attacks on facilities providing life-sustaining services, including, for instance, water and sanitation installations, attacks on humanitarian and medical personnel, and besiegement tactics.” “Around the world, as conflicts proliferate, grave violations against children continue. The denial of humanitarian access is a particularly pervasive, multifaceted, and complex grave violation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chaiban noted that “in Sud
an, the world’s worst child displacement crisis, the violence and blatant disregard for permission to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance essential to protect children from the impact of conflict in Darfur, in Kordofan, in Khartoum and beyond have greatly intensified their suffering. We are seeing record levels of admissions for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM).” “Insecurity is preventing patients and health workers from reaching hospitals and other health facilities. Assets and staff are still being attacked. The health system remains overwhelmed resulting in a severe shortage of medicines and supplies, including life-saving,” he said.
He urged the UNSC to exert further efforts to protect workers in the humanitarian field while they deliver aid, and allow them to deal with armed group without fear of the consequences.
On her part, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba said that “the Geneva Conventions and the Convention o
n the Rights of the Child contain key provisions requiring the facilitation of humanitarian relief to children in need.” “The denial of humanitarian access to children and attacks against humanitarian workers assisting children are also prohibited under international humanitarian law,” she added.
Unfortunately, data gathered for her forthcoming 2024 report shows “we are on target to witness a shocking increase of the incidents of the denial of humanitarian access globally,” she said, adding, “the blatant disregard for international humanitarian law continues to increase.” “Without compliance by parties to conflict to allow safe, full and unhindered access for the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance, children’s survival, wellbeing and development are in jeopardy, and our calls are mere echoes in this Chamber,” she noted.
Source: Kuwait News Agency
The Minister of Justice and Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Counselor Faisal Al-Gharib, lauded the concerted efforts to ensure the integrity of the elections.
In a statement to KUNA, following his tour to one of the polling stations, the Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Justice had arranged for this day some time ago and formed an advisory committee to prepare and follow up on the election procedures.
He also stated that approximately 759 members of the judiciary, including judges, advisors and prosecutors, were selected to participate in organizing the elections, in addition to selecting 400 reserve members.
Further, he affirmed that 144 accounting experts were hired to play a positive role in collecting votes to assist members of the judiciary.
Minister Al-Gharib touched on the prominent role of all parties in organizing the electoral process.
Source: Kuwait News Agency
Kuwaitis head to polling stations to cast their vote in ’24 Nat’l Assembly elections KUNA
Source: Kuwait News Agency