News from the Arab World
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Tuesday that at least 33,843 people have been killed in the territory during more than six months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants.
The toll includes at least 46 deaths over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 76,575 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
National News Agency correspondent in Marjeyoun reported hostile artillery shelling of the southern Lebanese town of al-Khiyam.
NNA correspondent also reported that an enemy drone targeted Al-Majbal road in the southern town of Ain Baal, Tyre district. Ambulances immediately rushed to the targeted place to inspect it.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
The Islamic Resistance announced in a statement that, ‘In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and in support of their brave and honorable resistance, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted yesterday evening, Monday, April 15, 2024, a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers in the vicinity of the Birkat Risha site with missile weapons.’
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Lebanese Forces Party leader, Samir Geagea, on Tuesday wrote via ‘X’ platform: ‘An additional crime against Lebanon and the Lebanese is committed by anyone who contributes to extending the term of municipalities for a third time. To the axis of resistance and its allies: after depriving the Lebanese of an effective state, after leading them to the depths of hell, and after obstructing the presidential elections, you are now striving to deprive them again and again from local authorities.’
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
9:00 am The Faculty of Engineering at the Antonine University, in collaboration with TICKET Lab and IEEE ComSoc Lebanon, will host an “Open Day For Artificial Intelligence” at the university’s main campus in Hadath – Baabda, under the patronage and presence of the Minister of Telecommunications, Johnny Corm.
1:00 pm Election of 12 members to the Executive Council of the Union of Food, Consumer Goods, and Beverage Importers in Lebanon, at the union’s office in Sin El Fil – Tamer Building 5th floor.
3:00 pm The Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut will receive well-wishers for the election of the president and members of the board, at the Order’s House – Engineers’ House – Bir Hassan (two days).
4:00 pm Opening of the first Beauty and Wellbeing Forum 2024 in Lebanon, at Forum de Beyrouth, under the patronage of the Ministries of Information and Economy, and in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism. The forum, organized by Hanadi Dagher and founding partner Dr. Jad Neama (a pioneer in t
he field of Wellbeing – physical and mental health) and Vice President of the Forum Dr. George Aoun, will continue until April 21.
5:00 pm “Free Patriotic Movement” leader, MP Gebran Bassil, will deliver a speech following a meeting of the “Strong Lebanon” bloc, addressing the current developments.
7:00 pm Musical concert by Italian artists Paolo De Mathaeis, Mario Rahi, Fabio Catania, as part of the events of Tripoli, Capital of Arab Culture, at Deir Fransis Al Assizi – Dour Al Ghroubi – Al Mina – Tripoli, under the patronage and presence of the Minister of Culture, Judge Mohammad Wissam Al Mortada.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
In an attempt to resume the investigation into former Lebanese Central Bank Governor, Riad Salameh, and his associates, Judge Helena Iskandar has waived a previous decision and returned the case to the appointed investigating judge, Bilal Halawi.
Despite being appointed to replace the resigned head judge, Rola Al-Husseini, Judge Habib Mezhar has not yet ruled on the matter, arguing that he lacks jurisdiction.
On March 5, 2024, Mezhar referred the case to the President’s Chamber without the signatures of the appointed counselor judges Carla Shwah and Grace Tayeh. On March 21, 2024, Judge President Ayman Oweidat decided not to consider Mezhar’s decision and referred the case back to him for further action.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
In collaboration with WiDS Worldwide, the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) is organizing the 8th annual Women in Data Science (WiDS) conference, to take place on April 22, 2024 at AUB.
The Women in Data Science conference at AUB aims at providing an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in the field, learn how leading-edge organizations are leveraging data science for success, encourage exchanges of ideas and multi-disciplinary collaboration, and increase opportunities for women and girls in data science.
This year’s event features 25+ international, regional, and national speakers from academic and business organizations including Harvard, MIT, Yale, George Washington University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, IBM, Intel, Google, Nvidia, YouTube, Amazon, Omnicom Media Group, Meta, World Food Programme, Kuhne Foundation, Alan Turing Institute, University of Manchester, and many others. Speakers will discuss how data science can address huma
nitarian challenges in healthcare and supply chains, and its role in combating misinformation, with generative AI being an overarching theme.
The general theme of WiDS this year is Data Science in Humanitarian Crises, and features four tracks that focus on how data science is used to tackle:
Track 1: Truths, Lies, and GenAI: Fake News Fabrication and Detection
Track 2: Data Science for Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chains in Conflict Zones
Track 3: Healthcare in Crises: Augmenting Decision-Making to Optimize Care in Conflict Zones
Track 4: Measuring Data-Driven Impact Assessments
A panel discussion titled Generative AI: What is Beyond the Hype will be held, in addition to many parallel sessions and workshops.
Everyone is invited to register and attend the conference at AUB.
For more information about the WiDS 2024 agenda, committees, speakers, and sponsors, you can visit the website.
The Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference aims to inspire and educate data scientists worldwide, regardless of g
ender, and support women in the field. This technical conference provides an opportunity to hear about the latest data science related research and business developments and applications.
Everyone is invited to participate in the conference.
Networking and connecting with mentors and collaborators plays a pivotal part in the conference agenda.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
The following is a statement by the Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani on the occupied Palestinian territory:
‘UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk urges all States with influence to do everything in their power to halt the increasingly horrific human rights and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, rising violence and targeted attacks in the West Bank, and the heightened risk of wider escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
Resolving the catastrophic situation of civilians in Gaza must remain a priority.
Israel continues to impose unlawful restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance, and to carry out widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure. The High Commissioner repeats that there must be an immediate ceasefire, the hostages must be released, and full, unfettered humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow immediately. Those delivering or trying to access humanitarian assistance must never be attacked.
No area of the Gaza S
trip has been spared from Israel’s bombardment. Nearly 1.7 million people remain forcibly displaced, living in appalling conditions and under constant threat. In the past week alone, fighting has intensified in Middle Gaza leading to the displacement of some 10,000 people from in and around An Nuseirat camp and near Wadi Gaza. We have also received reports that during Eid al-Fitr last week, the Israel Defense Forces attacked at least eight mosques in An Nuseirat and Gaza City, and struck a further three on 14 April. Since October 2023, 534 mosques have been destroyed or damaged according to the Gaza Government Media Office. Places of worship are protected under the laws of war.
On 14 April, Israeli Defense Forces reportedly opened fire on a group of Palestinians on Al Rashid Road who were attempting to return to their homes in northern Gaza, killing at least one Palestinian woman and injuring at least 11 others. Intentional targeting and killing of civilians is a war crime.
In the West Bank, escalating viol
ence over the past few days is also a matter of grave concern. Palestinians have been subjected to waves of attacks by hundreds of Israeli settlers, often accompanied or supported by Israeli Security Forces (ISF). Following the killing of a 14-year-old Israeli boy from a settler family, four Palestinians, including a child, were killed and Palestinian property was destroyed in revenge attacks.
According to information received by the UN Human Rights Office, armed settlers and Israeli forces entered a number of towns including Al Mughayyer, Khirbit Abu Falah, Kufer Malilk, Al Mazra’a Asharqiya, Beitin village in Ramallah, Duma and Qusra in Nablus, as well as the Bethlehem and Hebron Governorates. Dozens of Palestinians were reportedly injured, including through the use of firearms, by settlers and ISF, and hundreds of homes and other buildings, as well as cars, were torched. Three Israeli soldiers suffered injuries after they were hit with stones. It was also reported that settlers established at least two ne
w outposts in the past two days in the Jordan Valley and South Hebron Hills, near Palestinian communities which have been repeatedly attacked by settlers in the past months and are at imminent risk of being forcibly transferred from their homes and land.
Israel, as the occupying power, must take all measures in its power to restore, and ensure, as far as possible, public order and safety in the occupied West Bank. This obligation includes protecting Palestinians from settler attacks, and ending unlawful use of force against Palestinians by the ISF.
The Israeli Security Forces must immediately end their active participation in and support for settler attacks on Palestinians. Israeli authorities must instead prevent further attacks, including by bringing those responsible to account. Those reasonably suspected of criminal acts, including murder or other unlawful killings, must be brought to justice through a judicial process that complies with international human rights standards, following a prompt, impartia
l, independent, effective and transparent investigation.
Neither Palestinians nor Israelis should take the law into their own hands to exact revenge.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
A score of Palestinians today were killed and others injured in Israeli airstrikes that targeted different areas in the Gaza Strip.
Medical sources said that the Israeli warplanes targeted Al-Fakhoura Mosque west of the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, causing several causalities.
The airstrike also caused a massive destruction to the neighboring areas and homes.
In the center of the Gaza Strip, intense artillery and missile shelling continues on the Nuseirat camp for the sixth day in a row, resulting in the at least five casualties and significant property damage.
Meanwhile, the occupation aircraft bombed multiple homes in Al-Mughraqa and the neighboring city of Al-Zahraa.
The occupation artillery also fired a number of shells in the western area of Deir al-Balah.
Additionally, the occupation forces detained dozens of Palestinian men after abusing them.
The heavily-armed soldiers further forced the women and children to leave two shelter schools who seek refugee.
In Khan Yunis, south
of the Gaza Strip, occupation artillery bombed several neighborhoods, especially in the eastern regions, Abasan, Bani Suhaila, and Khuza’a, amid massive destruction of proprieties.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Jerusalem – Ma’an – Yara, in her fourth year of study, has not yet been able to afford her remaining university fees. She obtained a grade of 98.4 out of 100 in high school, and despite her diligence and financial need, she did not obtain a scholarship to support her father who was unable to educate her, as her father worked as a construction worker. On a daily basis, he has been unemployed for seven months, and the one who pays for the family expenses is her 18-year-old brother, who forcibly left university.
Through Ma’an Agency, the student hopes to receive support from good people so that she does not lose her university seat and become a sitter at home. She is now waiting with sad eyes and a broken heart for the hope that grew with her to be fulfilled by her enrollment in the university.
The student’s remaining tuition fees are 4,200 shekels.
To provide assistance and inquiries, please call 0597032595. Thank you.
Source: Maan News Agency
Jerusalem – Ma’an – On Tuesday morning, occupation forces in large numbers stormed the apartment of the family of the Jerusalemite martyr Khaled Al-Muhtaseb in the town of Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem, in preparation for implementing the decision to demolish it “by closing or blowing it up.”
Forces in large numbers stormed Beit Hanina, deployed in its main streets and intersections, and then raided the residential building that included the apartment of the martyr Khaled Al-Muhtaseb.
The entire perimeter of the building was closed.
The occupation forces forced the residents of the building to evacuate and leave, and asked them not to close the apartment doors.
The apartment of the martyr Al-Muhtaseb is located on the first floor, in the three-storey building.
The young man, Al-Muhtasib, died on 10/12/2023, after an armed clash took place at the ‘Salah al-Din Police’ station, in the city of Jerusalem, and his body was detained.
Source: Maan News Agency
The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) intensified its aerial operations on Tuesday to prevent any unauthorized intrusion into the Kingdom’s airspace, said a spokesperson for the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) – the Arab Army, on Tuesday evening.
The JAF spokesperson emphasized that the armed forces are working to safeguard the nation’s borders and maintain its security and the safety of its citizens.
Source: Jordan News Agency