Category: General

THESSALONIKI: As part of its participation in Sharjah’s Guest of Honour Programme at the 39th Thessaloniki International Book Fair in Greece, the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) shared the UAE’s distinguished publishing experience with an international audience.

During the fair, which began on 16th May and concludes today, the association highlighted its efforts in advancing the Emirati and Arab publishing sector, as well as fostering the Emirati-global cultural dialogue, under the visionary leadership of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Honorary President of the association.

The association has curated a comprehensive programme for its participation in the Sharjah Guest of Honour pavilion at the event. Its objective is to represent Emirati publishers, showcase their publications, foster collaboration with Greek and international publishers at the fair, and strengthen ties with the organisers, exploring opportunities for enhanced cooperation in translation to and from Arabic.

A deleg
ation representing the association at the fair includes Abdullah Al Kaabi, President of the EPA Board and co-founder of Dar Al Ramsa, Amira BinKadra, Vice President of the EPA Board and co-founder of Ghaf Publishing House, Fatima Al Khatib, member of the EPA Board and founder of Sidra Publishing House, and Khalid Al-Ali, founder of Bawabat Al Kitab Publishing.

Al Kaabi emphasised the significance of Sharjah’s role as the first Arab Guest of Honour at the fair, representing a new gateway to celebrate Emirati and Arab culture while promoting dialogue between cultures on a global scale. He noted, “Greece’s recognition of Sharjah’s contributions to Arab and human culture reflects the enduring relationship between Sharjah’s cultural institutions and their Greek counterparts. This presents an opportunity to strengthen joint efforts in the cultural sphere, preserving our achievements and promoting literature, arts, and creativity as catalysts for impactful dialogue.”

He pointed out that the association’s participa
tion in the fair constitutes an opportunity to promote Emirati titles, build international cultural relations, and discuss ways of cooperation between the two countries in the literary field.

Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the EPA, highlighted Sharjah’s participation as the first Arab Guest of Honour at the fair as a milestone in enhancing cultural ties between the UAE and Greece, underscoring the country’s rich cultural landscape. He affirmed the association’s commitment to introducing Greek and international publishers to the Emirati publishing market, fostering collaboration, and contributing to the growth of the book industry in the UAE.

The association’s agenda included dialogue sessions highlighting the Emirati publishing experience. Key sessions included “Bridging Cultures through Publishing: Greek and Emirati perspectives,” which featured Abdullah Al Kaabi and Amira Bin Kadra, alongside Greek publisher Argiris Kastaniotis from Kastaniotis Publishing. The participants discussed the pivotal rol
e of the publishing industry in fostering cultural exchanges between Greece and the UAE. They also addressed the challenges and collaborative efforts required to promote intercultural dialogue through literature.

Another session, featuring Ameera BinKadra and Khalid Al Ali, in conjunction with Greek publishers from Entypois Publications, Papadimas Publications, and Nikas Publications, focused on publishing’s vital role in preserving historical and cultural content. Additionally, they discussed its impact on educational resources and information dissemination.

The EPA hosted sessions for buying and selling publishing and translation rights, facilitating collaboration between Emirati and international publishers, and expanding the presence of Arabic literature on the global stage.

Source: Emirates News Agency

The Crossings and Borders Authority in the Gaza Strip warned on Sunday of the repercussions of the continued closure of the Rafah Crossing by the Israeli occupation army.

The Crossings Authority confirmed in a press statement that the closure of the crossing exacerbated the catastrophic humanitarian conditions for citizens in the Gaza Strip as a result of preventing the entry of aid and stopping the travel of the wounded from the ongoing Israeli aggression.

It stressed that more than 11,000 wounded are still on waiting lists for travel and treatment abroad, and their lives are threatened by the continued closure of the crossing, while dozens of wounded who were scheduled to travel during the past days have died as a result of the crossing being closed and preventing them from traveling.

The Authorities called on the international community to put pressure on the occupation army to immediately withdraw from the crossing, reopen it, and resume work in it in order to save what can be saved in light of the tra
gic conditions resulting from the ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

The occupation army continues its ground invasion for the thirteenth day in a row and seizes the Rafah crossing preventing the wounded from traveling and the entry of humanitarian aid.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Economic Affairs Sector at the Arab League Dr. Ali Al-Maliki underlined Sunday that energy security is vital for impacting economic growth, national security, and citizens’ well-being.

In a speech delivered on Al-Maliki’s behalf by Director of the Energy Department at the Arab League Eng. Jamila Matar, during the 12th Arab Energy Efficiency Day, Al-Maliki underscored the strategic importance of energy security in a world driven by interests and conflicting with strife.

He pointed out the challenges in ensuring energy security and transitioning to sustainable sources, encouraging for a comprehensive approach that includes improving energy efficiency, developing renewable energy, protecting critical energy infrastructure, and reducing carbon emissions.

Al-Maliki identified energy efficiency as crucial for energy security, aiming to provide energy services at the lowest cost without compromising quality, which involves managing energy demand through various efficien
cy strategies to reduce consumption in line with national development plans.

The Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity (AMCE) has been tracking energy efficiency progress in the region, developing and tracking national energy efficiency plans, where they also prepared a guide on renewable energy and energy efficiency in Arab countries, providing statistical information on policies and programs aimed at improving energy production and consumption efficiency, he mentioned.

Al-Maliki announced the theme for the 12th Arab Energy Efficiency Day competition: “Best Patent in Energy Efficiency,” following the decision of the 38th session of AMCE of implementing resolution 294, underlining the role of intellectual property in promoting innovation and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

On his side, Executive Director of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) Jauad Al-Kharraz described the day as a celebration of energy, focusing on patents due to the Arab world’s lag
in this area, calling for greater efforts in patent registration, research, and innovation in sustainable energy.

Al-Kharraz emphasized the significant role patents play in economic development, supporting decision-making in research, innovation, and investment, stressing the need for a focus on social responsibility to improve economic, social, and cultural conditions by ensuring reliable and equitable energy supplies for all citizens in the Arab region.

Meanwhile, First Undersecretary for Research, Planning and Authorities Follow Up at the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity Dr. Ahmad Mohina discussed Egypt’s achievements in energy efficiency, including high-efficiency power plants and substantial investments in electricity transmission, clarifying the urgent need for enhanced efforts in energy efficiency across the Arab world.

Approximately USD 10 billion were spent on electricity transmission networks in the past 10 years, he said, noting that Egypt reduced the rate of fuel needed to produce each unit of
electricity measurement by 20 percent, which saved about a billion dollars and led to a reduction in emissions harmful to the environment.

The Arab League Energy Department, in collaboration with RCREEE, organized the 12th Arab Energy Efficiency Day celebration at its headquarters in Cairo, featuring a session on the best energy efficiency patent competition, won by Qatari Eng. Dr. Yousef Mohammad Yousef Al-Horr for his air conditioning system project.

The day also included discussions on the role of research, development, and innovation in achieving energy efficiency goals and the cumulative environmental and social impact of renewable energy projects in the Arab region.

The event, attended by senior officials from electricity ministries, international and regional organizations, and major energy companies, underscored the strategic importance and Arab efforts of energy efficiency.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The Executive Assistant to the Iranian President, Ibrahim Raisi, said on Sunday evening that two people had been contacted aboard the president’s helicopter, which disappeared in a mountainous area in East Azerbaijan province.

The Iranian official added that this reinforces hope that the helicopter accident was not severe.

He explained that the president’s convoy, consisting of 3 helicopters, was heading to the city of Tabriz, and contact with them was cut off half an hour after take-off

Source: Maan News Agency

Doha: The Ministry of Transport announced plans to test the services of the electric air taxi and electric delivery planes in the early 2025.

In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry said that it had applied for all the necessary approvals and coordination matters with the Qatari bodies concerned, to go ahead with such test runs.

This step will contribute to supporting the performance of Qatars transportation sector by introducing the new concept of air mobility, which uses latest global technologies and artificial intelligence (A.I.), thereby enhancing the public transit systems integration, coherence, sustainability, and eco-friendliness, the Ministry said.

The step comes within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to achieve the goals of the Third Qatar National Development Strategy (NDS3) which focuses on benefiting from advanced technologies, and achieving sustainable development and economic diversification, as well as boosting Qatars leading global position on the transportation map, leading to ach
ieving the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Source: Qatar News Agency