Category: General

DUBAI: H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), today inaugurated the Expo 2020 Dubai Museum at Expo City Dubai.

The opening of the new museum, coinciding with International Museum Day, seeks to underscore the role of museums as dynamic educational hubs that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, enriching Dubai’s thriving museum sector and reaffirming its status as a leader in cultural innovation locally, regionally, and internationally.

Sheikha Latifa said that Expo 2020 Dubai exemplifies Dubai’s global leadership in innovation and serves to highlight its accent on future readiness.

The event showcased the UAE’s rich traditions and heritage, introducing them to a global audience united in shaping a bright future. It also helped celebrate humanity’s potential, fostering global engagement and connecting people everywhere, and inspiring future advancements, she added.

Sheikha Latifa said, ‘Dubai, through the
Expo 2020 Dubai Museum, continues its pivotal role in activating a sustainable intellectual and cultural movement, by documenting the essence of our historic world exhibition and preserving those memories for future generations. The Expo 2020 Dubai Museum takes its place among a group of cultural destinations and experiences that reflect the importance of Expo City Dubai as a hub for culture and learning, enhancing Dubai’s position as a creative and sustainable global city for culture, heritage, arts and literature, empowering these sectors and helping develop innovative creative projects and initiatives to embody Dubai’s ambitious vision in line with the aspirations of its leadership.’

Following the inaugural ceremony, Expo City hosted a private event at the Expo 2020 Dubai Museum that reflected the themes of the World Expo, with thought leaders exploring the importance of sustainability, technology, and culture, and discussing how society can learn from the past with ambition for the future.

The museum wi
ll formally open its doors to the public on Saturday, 18th May, which marks International Museum Day. Dubai is also set to host the International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference in 2025, bringing together the international museum community under the theme ‘The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities’ and further strengthening the UAE’s standing as a capital of culture, creativity and innovation.

Expo City Dubai and Dubai Culture last year established a dynamic partnership aimed at enhancing the emirate’s arts and culture scene. This collaboration focuses on empowering creatives and young talent, highlighting the Emirati heritage, and reinforcing the UAE’s global standing as a creative hub.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Amman: Rwandans were joined by Government officials, Diplomatic Community, Friends of Rwanda in an event to mark the 30th Commemoration of Genocide against the Tutsi.

This is the first commemoration event held in Amman following the recent opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The event was attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired, Wajih Azaizeh, Minister of State for the Prime Ministry Affairs, Ambassadors and Members of Diplomatic Corps, Friends of Rwanda, Business Community, Academicians and Members of the Rwandan Community in Jordan.

The event was attended by about 200 people. In her remarks, Ambassador Urujeni Bakuramutsa emphasized the importance of commemorating the Genocide against the Tutsi.

She highlighted how this solemn occasion of remembrance serves as a means to prevent the horrors of the past from recurring. Ambassador Bakuramutsa mentioned that ”three decades have elapsed since April 7th 1994, a date etched in history as the beginni
ng of 100 days of relentless slaughter, targeting over a million innocent men, women, and children in a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing”.

She called on Rwandans, Friends of Rwanda and the International Community, to honor the memory of the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Ambassador Bakuramutsa reminded the collective responsibility to confront the insidious threat of denialism and hate speech that is currently increasing on a global scale.

She mentioned that ”this resurgence serves as a stark reminder of our duty to stand united against bigotry, discrimination, and prejudice in all its forms”.

She indicated that the Genocide against the Tutsi serves as a harrowing example of the catastrophic consequences when hate speech is allowed to flourish unchecked. She urged participants to recommit to the principles of tolerance, empathy, and understanding in order to build a future where the lessons of the past lead a more just, compassionate, and inclusive world for all.

She concluded by quotin
g the remarks from HE President Paul Kagame: “The most important lesson our country has learnt is to transform challenges into opportunities, and also use so little to do a lot.

There is nothing Rwandans cannot overcome, through unity, hard work, and perseverance. We will forever be very grateful to those friends and partners who stood by our side, and some continue to do so, in the search for justice, as well as in development. We also thank the friends who continue to accompany us on the journey to durable peace and prosperity. Above all, and as always, I thank my fellow Rwandans for the courage they have shown in overcoming impossible odds and working together to build a new and better nation for all of us.” In her remarks, Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, UN Resident Coordinator in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan mentioned that on April 7, 1994, and during the nearly 100 days that followed, one million Tutsi children, women, and men were mercilessly killed by their fellow Rwandans, highlighting that the atrocity
saw families turn against each other and friends become adversaries.

She said that ”we gather not only to reflect on those tragic days, which witnessed the catastrophic loss of up to a million lives, but also to honor the resilience and bravery of those who survived. Their courage and willingness to forgive continue to offer a burst of light and hope amidst one of the most challenging chapters in human history”.

She further said that thirty years on, this catastrophic event should forever shock the conscience of humanity, serving as a grim reminder of the devastating effects of hatred and the critical need for tolerance and peace. She said ”thirty years on, what Rwanda has taught us is invaluable not just the stark realities of how quickly humanity can spiral into chaos if voices for peace and equal rights do not step in, but also the enduring strength of the human spirit to rebuild and renew”.

She indicated that Rwanda’s journey of recovery and transformation demonstrates that through unity and a shar
ed commitment to human rights and dignity, rebuilding is indeed possible”.

In his remarks, Francis Ngarambe, Chairman of the Rwandan Community in Jordan indicated that the Genocide against the Tutsis was carefully and systematically planned and executed, with precision and timeliness. He reminded the audience that while remembering the atrocities that were committed, it is a moment to reflect the resilience that was witnessed by the survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Ngarambe called upon Friends of Rwanda and International Community to join the Rwandans in the fighting for anything that has intention to take back Rwanda to the same evil period of 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. ”I encourage everyone to actively engage in the fighting against genocide ideology and deniers in any form particularly through social media platforms” he added.

He thanked the RPA-RPF soldiers and cadres for stopping the Genocide against the Tutsi when the whole world had turned back on Rwanda and for liberating the co
untry that has now taken a new path of reconciliation and forgiveness as well socio-economic transformation, where Rwanda today is known for good leadership and governance championed by HE President Paul Kagame.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Israeli occupation forces today opened the Jalameh crossing in the northern West Bank for the first time since the onset of the Israeli genocidal offensive on the Gaza Strip on October 7.

The occupation forces opened the permanently staffed Jalameh crossing, northeast of Jenin, enabling Palestinians in the 1948 Territories to access the northern West Bank district of Jenin.

Jenin Governor, Kamal Abu al-Rub, announced that the Palestinian Liaison was officially informed that the major crossing would be open to Palestinians from the 1948 Territories on Fridays and Saturdays every week, whereby it would be open on Fridays from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM and on Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

The head of the Jenin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ammar Abu Bakr, said that at least 1,000 vehicles passed the crossing this morning to the district of Jenin, a step that he considered would contribute to the revival of the markets and economy, that suffered prolonged slump since the onset of the Israeli genocidal offen
sive against Gaza on October 7.

He added that the Jenin Chamber of Commerce and Industry rehabilitated several streets that were destroyed by the Israeli occupation during previous incursions into the northern West Bank, encouraging restaurants and stores to reopen.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

National News Agency correspondent reported that Israeli enemy drones conducted flights over the villages and towns of south Lebanon’s sector west.

Source: National news agency – Lebanon

The Prisoners’ and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs Authority revealed today, Friday, that the Nafha prison administration is deliberately obstructing lawyers’ visits to detainees, using delaying time while bringing them from the prison to the visiting room, creating security pretexts and slowing down procedures.

The authority said in a statement that the process of bringing one detainee takes more than an hour and a half, which enabled the legal team to visit only 4 detainees out of eight during the past two days.

She added that the detainees who were visited were: Kamal Abu Shanab from Jenin, Haitham Salhiya and Malik Hamed from Ramallah, and Nael Al-Najjar from the Gaza Strip, while the legal team was unable to visit the detainees: Hussam Shaheen, Alaa Al-Bazian, Sidqi Al-Zaro, and Nidal Zaloum, This is due to the complexities of prison management.

The Commission stated that its lawyers conveyed the suffering of the detainees and their bad and difficult conditions, as the detainees unanimously agreed on the conti
nuation of the tormenting measures that began since last October 7, including beatings, insults, intimidation, starvation, deprivation, ignoring patients, not providing them with treatment and medications, and separating them from the outside world.

They pointed out that the pace of detention management procedures goes through ups and downs, but in general, the living and health conditions have not changed much from what they appeared since the first day of the start of the aggression.

During the visit, the detainees spoke to the legal team about the overcrowding of the rooms and sections, forcing many of them to sleep on the floor, in light of the scarcity of blankets and clothes, and that the rooms are empty of everything, and that their weights have decreased sharply and this appears on their features, and there is also movement. Daily between departments and rooms, including beatings, cursing, and intentionally insulting and humiliating them.

The Commission warned of the immoral and inhumane treatment
of detainees in Nafha, especially since the majority of them are veterans who have received life sentences and spent many years in detention centers

Source: Maan News Agency

Planning and Economic Development Minister Hala el Said participated on Thursday 17/5/2024 in the opening of the Rise Up Summit in its eleventh edition, held at the Grand Egyptian Museum from May 16 to 18. The summit was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, several ministers, senior businessmen, and a group of emerging companies.

During the gathering, El Said asserted that the government supports entrepreneurship, innovation, startups and small and medium-sized enterprises. El-Said added that the government is supporting the file of entrepreneurship and innovation with a more comprehensive vision.

Hala El Said confirmed that the state is working to develop proposals for reform plans in cooperation with all institutions, the private sector, civil society and the government.

Planning and Economic Development Minister Hala El-Said pointed to the structural reforms program, which focuses on three basic sectors: the communications and information technology sectors, industry and agriculture, as they ar
e sectors of the real economy.

The program aims to make the educational process keep pace with market requirements to achieve a rapidly developing labor market.

Planning and Economic Development Ministry

Source: State Information Service Egypt

ABU DHABI: A 1.9 magnitude earthquake on Richter scale was recorded in Al Halah in Fujairah at 21:57 (UAE time) on 17th May 2024, according to the National Seismic Network of the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

The Centre said that the tremor was felt lightly in the area and had no impact.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Tripoli: The Tripoli Court of Appeal issued a ruling on Thursday, to imprison former officials in the Sahari Bank branch – Omar Al-Mukhtar, who stole two million dinars. The first and second convicts were sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, and the third and fourth convicts were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, they were fined twice the embezzled amount.

According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office today, Friday, the prosecution concluded that, the convicts had accessed the system of accounts of customers of the bank branch and intended to embezzle two million three hundred and eighty dinars, by approving banking operations conducted on the customers’ accounts, and taking two copies of cash withdrawals using bank check numbers not included in the bank’s system, and conducting Internal bank transfers without a request from the account managers.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Kuwait oil price rose 35 cents in Thursday’s trading sessions to reach USD 84.90 per barrel compared with USD 84.55 pb on Wednesday, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said on Friday.

Benchmark Brent crude futures rose 52 cents to USD 83.27 pb and West Texas intermediate crude gained 60 cents to settle at USD 79.23 pb.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Ali Hamieh, on Friday received in his office at the ministry, MP Alain Aoun, with whom he discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the broader region.

Discussions between the pair also touched on developmental dossiers relevant to the ministry, especially those related to the maintenance of roads within the jurisdiction of the ministry, particularly in the Baabda District.

Source: National news agency – Lebanon

On Friday evening, the Israeli occupation forces stormed the Ibrahimi Mosque and prevented the Maghrib prayer from being held.

The Director General of the Hebron Endowments, Ghassan Al-Rajabi, said that the Israeli occupation forces stormed the Ibrahimi Mosque, forced employees and citizens to leave it, prevented them from performing the sunset prayer, and detained them outside the Mosque, in order to secure its storming by ‘a senior official in the occupation army.’

He explained that the raid came despite the decision of the so-called ‘Shamgar’ Israeli Committee, which was formed after one of the colonists committed a massacre against worshipers while they were performing the dawn prayer in the Haram, in February of 1994, which divided the Haram in time and space and prevented the occupation soldiers and colonialists from entering parts of the Haram. The sanctuary on Fridays

Source: Maan News Agency

DUBAI: The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean has honoured Dherar Belhoul Al Falasi, Executive Director of Watani Al Emarat Foundation, in the “Best Youth Support Programme” category.

This accolade recognises the foundation’s exceptional efforts in empowering Emirati youth and enhancing their understanding of parliamentary government work.

The foundation’s notable achievements include launching the “Young Parliamentarians Programme,” which embodies the UAE’s commitment to nurturing youth and fostering their capabilities to become future leaders.

The programme, launched in 2023, aims to cultivate a foundation of young people equipped for parliamentary roles, contribute to political empowerment, and increase political awareness among Emirati youth. It also seeks to elevate the role of Emirati youth in political development, inspire them to become leaders in parliamentary work and encourage field research.

Source: Emirates News Agency