Israeli Jewish settlers raid Palestinian village in occupied West Bank

Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank have raided a Palestinian village, accompanied by soldiers.

Dozens of settlers conducted the raid in Et-Tevane, in the Mesafir Yatta area in southern Hebron, according to sources on Saturday.

Settlers set fire to Palestinian-owned vehicles and attacked Palestinians who protested, leading to fighting with residents.

Israeli soldiers intervened and used tear gas and rubber-coated bullets against Palestinians.

Some victims faced suffocation due to the tear gas.

Soldiers also assaulted and arrested a 19-year-old Palestinian, according to the Palestinian official news agency, WAFA.

Israeli violence in Ramallah

In another incident, a group of Jewish settlers gathered at a checkpoint to the entrance to Ramallah and threw stones at Palestinian-owned vehicles, causing damage.

At the entrance to the Turmus Aya district in Ramallah, Israeli soldiers opened fire on a vehicle, causing damage.

Israeli-occupied West Bank has witnessed frequent raids and attacks by Jewish settlers under the protection of Israeli forces throughout the year.

Source: TRTworld.com

Palestine Calls For Listing Right-Wing Israeli Party As Terror Group

A Palestinian official, yesterday, called on the international community, to list the far-right Israeli party, Otzma Yehudit, headed by Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, as a terror group.

Ben-Gvir’s “party has a … history of inciting the killing of Palestinians,” said Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, after a member of Ben-Gvir’s party, Friday night, shot and killed a Palestinian in the village of Burqa near Ramallah.

Qusai Ma’tan, 19, was killed when a group of armed Israeli settlers stormed the Burqa village and clashed with dozens of its residents. Two Israeli settlers have been arrested and five others detained in connection with the killing, according to media reports.

Over half a million Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967. Disputes between the settlers and the Palestinians have often turned into violence. Palestine has accused the Israeli army and police of providing protection to Israeli settlers and covering up their practices against the Palestinians.

Since Jan, 26 people, most of them Israelis, have been killed in a series of attacks carried out by Palestinians, while 200 Palestinians, including children and women, have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers, according to official figures

Source: Nam News Network

Russia Destroys Two Drones over Bryansk Region

Russia’s air defence system destroyed two Ukrainian drones over the Karachevskyi district in the Bryansk region.

“There were no damages or casualties,” Governor of the Russian region that borders Ukraine Alexander Bogomaz said on Sunday.

According to Russian authorities, Kyiv forces are continuously attacking the territories of the Russian region with drones. On Saturday, three civilians were injured.

Source: Qatar News Agency

US Justice Department Requests Protective Order in Trump Election Interference Case to Limit His Public Comments

US Justice Department requested the judge overseeing the 2020 US presidential election interference case to bar former US President Donald Trump from publicly disclosing some of the evidence gathered during the investigation related to the case.

CBS News said that the prosecutors requested that “US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan issue a protective order concerning evidence in the case, a day after Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and block the peaceful transition of power.” The order would limit what information Trump and his legal team could share publicly about the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

Judge Chutkan gave Trump’s legal team until 5 pm Monday to respond to the government’s request.

Protective orders are common in criminal cases, but prosecutors said it’s “particularly important in this case” because Trump has posted on social media about “witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him.” Prosecutors highlighted a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform in which he wrote “if you go after me, I’m coming after you!” Meanwhile, a Trump spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the former president’s post “is the definition of political speech,” and was made in response to “dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs.”

Source: Qatar News Agency

Lafarge Jordan introduces environmentally friendly cement product “Shamel”

Lafarge Jordan, a leading cement company, on Sunday, unveiled its latest eco-friendly cement product, “Shamel,” in a significant step towards sustainable practices. The launch marks a pivotal moment in the company’s journey towards environmental responsibility, as it joins the ranks of businesses committed to green solutions.

In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Jordan, Samaan Samaan, highlighted the company’s successful transformation in adopting an environmentally conscious approach, noting that the entire product range has been revamped to embrace eco-friendly alternatives, a strategic move that resonates with the global vision of its parent company, Holcim Group. This vision is centered on supporting sustainable construction, fostering green urban development, and promoting innovative solutions worldwide.

“Shamel” represents a significant addition to Lafarge’s diverse product portfolio, he said, as it effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an impressive 16% compared to conventional cement products. This achievement solidifies its position as a trailblazer in sustainable practices within the industry.

Speaking about the company’s commitment to excellence, Samaan emphasized the importance of delivering high-performance, top-quality products while prioritizing environmental preservation, adding that Lafarge has earned a reputation for seamlessly integrating these attributes, positioning it at the forefront of the market.

Samaan commended the relentless work of the workforce at the Rashadia factory, the commercial department, and the ready-mix concrete division, stressing that the success of “Shamel” and the company’s broader transformational journey would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of its exceptional team. “Their unwavering dedication to innovation and their ability to meet the diverse needs of the construction sector have further strengthened Lafarge’s standing in the local market. As a result, Lafarge stands as a paragon of industrial prowess and entrepreneurship in the region,” he added.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Sirens Sound in Ukrainian Regions Warning of Russian Air Raids

Ukrainian authorities announced the activation of sirens in several regions to warn of Russian airstrikes.

Ukrainian media outlets reported that air raid alert and sirens sounded in Kyiv, Poltava, Kirovograd, Nikolaev, Cherkasy and Vinnytsia, as well as the part controlled by Ukrainian forces in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Explosions had been heard in Kharkiv and Khmelnytskyi regions, they added.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Ashghal Bags 3 International Awards from Harvard Business Council

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has won three new international awards from the Harvard Business Council (HBC) in the USA, in honor and recognition of Ashghal as one the distinguished organisations worldwide for excellence and best practices in several fields.

Ashghal received the “Gold Award” in the “Customer Care” category for the year 2023, and its Roads Projects Department received the “Diamond Award” in the “Supply Chain” category for the Local Areas Infrastructure Programme. Ashghal has also received an exceptional “Certificate of Excellence” for the year 2022.

The “Certificate of Excellence” was issued to further reward Ashghals excellent practices represented by last years two Diamond Awards in the “Green & Environmental Initiatives” and “Health & Safety” categories as well as the Gold Award for “Dealing with COVID-19”.

According to the Harvard Business Council, “What enabled Ashghal to achieve such a high rank in the Supply Chain Diamond level was its leading position in the construction sector in Qatar, in terms of supporting the local manufacturers and suppliers as well local Qatari product, and its commitment to engaging and encouraging all stakeholders from consulting companies, contractors, suppliers, workers, and others, to adopt best standard performance and engage in sustainable top-quality practices.” Commenting on this achievement, Eng. Saoud Al Tamimi, Ashghals Road Projects Department Manager, stated: “This recent win of three HBC awards is added to the long list of global awards won by the Department. This reinforces the Authoritys position as a global leader and an exemplary of exceptional performance and dedication to providing top quality services, whilst encouraging better practices for better outcomes for the economy, environment, and the society.” On his part, Abdulla Saad Al Saad, Ashghals Public Relations Department Manager, said: “This award confirms that Ashghal has put customer care at the heart of its operations and at the top of its priorities. Ashghal has been successful in implementing a defined strategy and setting clear goals to better serve its customers interests while adopting an agile, open minded and engaging approach with our customers for further enhancements.” Eng. Mooza Al Sowaidi, Head of Doha City Section at the Road Projects Department in Ashghal, attended the ceremony and received the awards on behalf of Ashghal. Eng. Mooza Al Sowaidi stated that she was proud to represent Ashghal at such an esteemed event that was attended by distinguished organisations and renowned figures from the MENA region, and is extremely happy that Ashghal has won 3 of the total granted awards granted among the 2000 applications to the awarding programme.

She explained that Ashghal has demonstrated leadership in different construction-related fields, with the Local Areas Infrastructure Programme being recognised for setting a good example in creating a balance between delivering a full and integrated infrastructure across the country and supporting local Qatari economy as well as small and local manufacturers.

The Harvard Business Councils 2023 International Awards was a highly competitive cycle that began on January 16th. Ashghal emerged as a standout performer, earning prestigious recognition in two categories and a Certificate of Excellence, out of 13 selected nominees who managed to reach the required milestones, out of over 2,000 applications from organizations from around the world.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Conference highlights Jordan’s transition to green economy

The Economic and Social Council of Jordan (ESC), in cooperation with Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) and South Mediterranean Social Dialogue (SOLiD), on Sunday organized a symposium entitled: ” Role of Social Dialogue in the Just Transition of the Green Economy.”

Speaking at the event, Minister of Environment, Muawieh Radaideh, said the government is committed to achieving indicators and international commitments undertaken by the Kingdom.

This effort, he noted, affirms His Majesty King Abdullah II’s vision to address climate change concerns and need to unite all world countries to face this challenge, as expressed by His Majesty’s participation in UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) that issued “Paris Climate Agreement”.

Continuing: “Climate change is the struggle of our generation,” urging collective action with insight, responsibility and determination to face climate change challenges.

Radaideh also said the Kingdom’s international commitments towards the international community and the national climate change policy were approved by the Cabinet, in conjunction with Climate Change Conference (COP 27), which was held in Sharm El-Sheikh.

These Jordan steps came to draw the Kingdom’s climate action roadmap to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, which cannot be realized except with joint national efforts, he pointed out.

The minister added that Jordan, thanks to efforts made by all concerned partners, was among the first countries to update its nationally determined contributions in an “ambitious” manner and raise percentage of emissions reduction from 14% to 31% by 2030.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Egypt is strategic economic partner to Jordan, says JCI chief

Head of the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) Fathi Jaghbir described Egypt as a “strategic partner in various economic fields,” which requires overcoming and addressing some administrative and technical obstacles that affect their trade exchanges.

In a statement to the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on Sunday ahead of the 31st session of the joint Jordanian-Egyptian Higher Committee, Jaghbir stressed the need to remove different non-customs obstacles facing intra-trade and facilitate commercial shipping operations to ensure maximum benefit for the two countries in implementation of the trade agreements signed between them.

Jaghbir called for the implementation and application of cooperation and joint investment projects that require more serious consultation and coordination and transforming them into tangible partnerships, in addition to organizing trade missions and business forums to support joint industrial integration.

He also pointed to the tripartite partnership that brings together Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, which sets great industrial, commercial and investment cooperation through the establishment of joint investment projects in many strategic sectors, especially infrastructure, energy, transportation and electrical interconnection to achieve common interests and economic integration.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Foreign Ministry: Ben-Gvir’s statements are an acknowledgment of Israel’s racism

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned today racist calls by extremist Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to honor the killers of Palestinian martyr Qusai Ma’tan, 19, and to award them a medal and provide them with immunity.

Mi’tan was shot dead in cold blood on Friday evening by a group of Israeli settler terrorist who stormed his hometown village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, firing indiscriminately at local Palestinian civilian residents.

Ben-Gvir tweeted, “My policy is clear. Anyone who defends himself from stone throwers should receive a medal. I expect the police chief Uzi Levy to advance the investigation quickly and conduct a comprehensive investigation also of all the Arab rioters who threw stones and tried to murder Jews.”

In response, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a press statement that Ben-Gvir’s remarks ‘are another call to encourage terrorist settlers to commit more pogroms against Palestinian citizens and to escape punishment later under the pretext of “self-defense.”

The Foreign Ministry affirmed that Ben-Gvir’s remarks are evidence of the hard-right Israeli government’s endorsement and support of settler terrorism, and confirm the extent of racial discrimination committed by the Israeli occupation authorities in the West Bank.

‘The Israeli government is applying two laws in the West Bank: one of which is applied against the Palestinian citizens, who can be arrested for no apparent reason, while the law provides protection for terrorist settlers and their ideas of incitement to murder,’ said the Foreign Ministry.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency

Israeli forces kill three Palestinians near Jenin

Israeli occupation forces opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle, killing three Palestinians, in the village of Arraba, south of the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.

The Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement that the Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, and prevented medical crews from approaching the targeted vehicle.

Israeli forces seize the targeted vehicle with the Palestinians inside of it as the army withdrew from Arraba, according to eyewitnesses.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency

Palestinian child, 4, in critical condition after Israeli settler run him over near Bethlehem

A Palestinian child has been admitted to hospital in a critical condition after an Israeli settler run him over in the village of Kissan, east of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Mousa Ebayat, head of the Kissan village council, told WAFA that an Israeli settler run over a Palestinian child named Jabril Sawarka, 4, and fled the scene.

The 4-year-old was near his father’s house before the extremist settler run him over.

He was taken to the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, where his condition was reported to be critical.

A number of hit-and-run incidents committed by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in Kissan were reported.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency