JEDDAH: The vital work of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) was showcased during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s recent visit to Pakistan.
KSRelief officials took part in an exhibition staged by the Saudi Embassy to promote Saudi-Pakistani relations.
The pavilion display included pictures of KSRelief projects being carried out in Pakistan, in addition to a documentary and videos, and pamphlets about humanitarian and relief programs being run by the center around the world, especially in Yemen.
KSRelief helped in 42 countries in areas including health, food, medicine, protection and care for children and expectant mothers, and the operation of a center for artificial limbs. AN Jeddah
The event was attended by the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, along with ambassadors from other Arab countries, senior officials of the Pakistani government, and media figures.
Work of KSRelief showcased during Saudi crown prince's visit to Pakistan
Work of KSRelief showcased during Saudi crown prince's visit to Pakistan
PM calls for robust cargo scanning system to improve Pakistan’s prospects as regional trade hub
- The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to position itself as a regional trade and transit hub by leveraging its strategic geopolitical position
- This week, UAE’s DP World and Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation launched a feeder service to transport shipping containers from Dubai to Karachi
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed officials to establish a world-class cargo scanning system in the commercial hub of Karachi and other major trade centers in Pakistan to improve the country’s prospects as a regional trade and transit hub, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.
Sharif issued the directives at a meeting to review transit cargo and tracking system in the federal capital of Islamabad, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to position itself as a regional trade and transit hub by leveraging its strategic geopolitical position.
Sharif instructed officials to ensure the implementation of modern technology and abolish the obsolete system of tracking, tracing and scanning cargo.
“Pakistan will become a hub of transit trade for other regional countries due to its integrated communication system and better tracking of cargo,” he was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan.
Pakistan, faced with a prolonged economic meltdown, has witnessed a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity involving officials from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China and Central Asian nations in recent months.
This week, Emirati multinational logistics company DP World, in collaboration with Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation (NLC), launched a feeder service to transport shipping containers from Dubai to Karachi, Pakistani state media reported.
The weekly service promises faster and more reliable container delivery, directly benefiting the business community and boosting economic activity in the region.
Sharif said there had been a significant decrease in smuggling due to Pakistan’s efforts to improve cargo tracking system.
“Due to curtailing smuggling, sugar worth 211 million dollars was exported to Afghanistan this [fiscal] year,” he was quoted as saying.
The prime minister also directed officials to ensure third-party validation of cargo tracking service providers.
Pakistan demands Israel withdraw from Lebanon, Syrian buffer zone and allow UN peacekeepers to operate
- The remarks by Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations followed a briefing by two senior UN peacekeeping officials
- Ambassador Munir Akram says no force except United Nations Disengagement Observer Force should have a presence in the region
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called on Israel to withdraw from Lebanese and Syrian territories, including Golan Heights, and allow United Nations (UN) peacekeepers to freely operate in the region to ensure compliance with international agreements, Pakistani state media reported on Saturday, citing Islamabad’s UN envoy.
The remarks by Pakistan’s permanent representative, Ambassador Munir Akram, followed a briefing by two senior UN peacekeeping officials on recent developments in Lebanon and Syria, and the challenges facing “blue helmets” there.
Speaking at the UN Security Council, Ambassador Akram voiced “deep concern” over the increasing threats faced by peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).
The Pakistani envoy strongly condemned ongoing Israeli “aggression” in Syrian territories and the illegal incursion of Israeli military forces in the separation areas established under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria.
“That agreement remains binding and must be upheld without exception,” Ambassador Akram was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s APP news agency,
“Any unilateral actions that undermine this agreement are unacceptable,” Akram said, that no force except the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) should have a military presence in the territory.
Similarly, Ambasador Akram said, Pakistan recognized the essential role of UNIFIL in maintaining stability in southern Lebanon under the Security Council resolution 1,701.
The Pakistani envoy welcomed a November 26 ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, but voiced alarm over continuing violations of the arrangement by Israeli forces, including airspace violations, airstrikes and restrictions on UNIFIL’s movement.
“Israel must adhere to the 60-day timeline stipulated in the arrangement and complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon,” he said, urging that any security concerns must be reported to appropriate mechanisms, including UNIFIL, instead of resorting to unilateral violations.
“The unrestricted freedom of movement of UNIFIL and full deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are crucial to achieving the security and stability [of Lebanon].’
The Security Council was briefed by UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Maj. Gen. Patrick Gauchat, head of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) who is temporarily in charge of the UN force in the Golan, UNDOF. Lacroix is currently in Lebanon, where the UNIFIL monitors the Blue Line border of separation with Israel. He is accompanying UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the officials visited the mission’s area of operations on Friday.
The Pakistani envoy urged the Security Council to ensure complete implementation of the mandates of both UNDOF and UNIFIL, saying they must be equipped with adequate resources and modern technologies to enhance their operational efficiency.
“Those who attack UN peacekeepers must be held accountable,” he added.
Ambassador Akram also hoped that the Gaza ceasefire “is real and it will be the first step toward a comprehensive solution, including two-state solution and establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.”
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
The South Asian country has so far dispatched several relief consignments for Gaza and Lebanon, besides establishing the ‘Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Gaza and Lebanon’ that aims to collect public donations for the war-affected people.
Russian attack kills four in Kyiv
- The attack came as Kyiv has upped its aerial attacks on Russian energy and military facilities
KYIV: A Russian attack has killed four people and injured three in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the city’s military administration said Saturday.
“We already have four dead in Shevchenkivsky district,” said Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, in a Telegram post, adding that three people were injured.
Hours earlier, Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko warned of a “ballistic missile threat” against the capital and said the city’s air defense was activated.
He later said a building in Shevchenkivsky district had its windows broken, with smoke coming from it, while a water pipeline in the area was damaged.
In addition, a metro station near the city’s center also suffered damage and was temporarily closed, with Kyiv’s trains bypassing that stop, Klitschko said.
The attack – a rare strike on the heart of the Ukrainian capital – came as Kyiv has upped its aerial attacks on Russian energy and military facilities in recent months.
Kyiv’s army has hit several Russian oil depots recently, including two major strikes on a facility near a military airfield in Russia’s Saratov region that triggered days-long blazes.
Also on Saturday, Russian forces “attacked the center” of Zaporizhzhia, injuring two people, according to local governor Ivan Fedorov. An administrative building of an industrial facility was partially damaged, he said.
Swiatek destroys Raducanu as Sinner steps up Melbourne defense
- Iga Swiatek romps to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph in a statement victory as she pursues a first Melbourne crown
- Swiatek is a five-time major winner but she has never gone beyond the semifinals at Melbourne Park
MELBOURNE: Iga Swiatek demolished Emma Raducanu on Saturday to sweep into the last 16 of the Australian Open, where Jannik Sinner will later step up his title defense and young tyro Learner Tien is also in action.
In a one-sided battle of former US Open champions, Swiatek romped to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph in a statement victory as she pursues a first Melbourne crown.
Emma Navarro, the eighth seed from the United States, joined the Pole in the second week of the first Grand Slam of the year with a gritty three-set win over Ons Jabeur. Sixth seed Elena Rybakina also advanced.
“I felt like the ball is listening to me,” Swiatek said after rattling off 11 straight games in a brutal display against Britain’s Raducanu on Rod Laver Arena.
The 23-year-old Swiatek is a five-time major winner but she has never gone beyond the semifinals at Melbourne Park.
She faces “lucky loser” Eva Lys next.
“I feel much more fresh than for the past two years,” said Swiatek.
“The last two years I felt much more fatigue and also a bit more stress.”
Swiatek will be a massive favorite when she faces Germany’s Lys.
The 128th-ranked Lys defeated Jaqueline Cristian of Romania in three sets to become the first women’s singles “lucky loser” to reach the fourth round since the event moved to Melbourne Park in 1988.
Navarro credited her billionaire father for teaching her “toughness” as she clawed through 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 against three-time Slam finalist Jabeur.
Navarro has become a three-set specialist with no WTA player playing through more since the beginning of 2024, with the American 23-9 over the distance since then.
Daughter of billionaire businessman Ben Navarro, founder of the Sherman Financial Group, she praised her dad, who was courtside, for her stamina.
She recalled how he would take her and her siblings on six-hour bike rides when they were kids.
“We made up a term — biking and crying,” Navarro, 23, said.
“I learned a lot of toughness growing up. A lot of thanks goes to him.”
Also on day seven, former Wimbledon champion Rybakina of Kazakhstan needed a medical timeout to treat a back spasm before winning 6-3, 6-4 against Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine.
World number four Jasmine Paolini, who reached two Slam finals last year, faces another Ukrainian in Elina Svitolina later.
American Danielle Collins, who has become the pantomime villain after thanking hecklers for “paying my bills,” is also in action.
The world number 11, runner-up in the 2022 Australian Open final to Ash Barty, gets another chance to wind up the Australians in the crowd when she faces fellow American Madison Keys.
Italian world number one and defending champion Sinner faces American Marcos Giron as he seeks a berth in the last 16 in an evening match on Rod Laver Arena.
Sinner could meet 13th seed Holger Rune in the fourth round if the Dane gets past Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.
There will be intense interest in 19-year-old qualifier Tien, who stunned three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev in a five-set epic.
The youngster wolfed down a pepperoni pizza in celebration following his 4hr 48min marathon against Medvedev that finished at nearly 3:00am on Friday.
He will need to recover fast for the challenge of 69th-ranked Corentin Moutet of France.
Tien’s victory over Medvedev saw him become the second youngest American man in the Open Era to reach the third round in Melbourne — behind only 14-time Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras in 1990.
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz faces timeless French veteran Gael Monfils and remaining home hope Alex de Minaur takes on Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.
Israel to free 737 prisoners in first phase of Gaza truce deal
- Those named by the ministry include men, women and children who it said will not be released before Sunday
JERUSALEM: Israel’s justice ministry has said 737 prisoners and detainees will be freed as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal approved Saturday.
It said in a statement on its website that “the government approves” the “release (of) 737 prisoners and detainees” currently in the custody of the prison service.
Israel’s cabinet voted to approve the ceasefire deal early Saturday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, ending days of uncertainty about whether the truce would go into effect this weekend.
Those named by the ministry include men, women and children who it said will not be released before Sunday at 4:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).
It had previously published a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners, the majority women, to be freed in exchange for Israeli captives in Gaza.
Among those on the expanded list was Zakaria Zubeidi, a chief of the armed wing of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’s Fatah party.
Zubeidi escaped from Israel’s Gilboa prison with five other Palestinians in 2021, sparking a days-long manhunt, and is lauded by Palestinians as a hero.
Also to be freed is Khalida Jarar, a leftist Palestinian lawmaker whom Israel arrested and imprisoned on several occasions.
Jarar is a prominent member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group designated a “terrorist organization” by Israel, the United States and the European Union.
Detained in late December in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, the 60-year-old has been held since then without charge.
Two sources close to Hamas told AFP that the first group of hostages to be released consists of three Israeli women soldiers.
However, since the Palestinian Islamist movement considers any Israeli of military age who has completed mandatory service a soldier, the reference could also apply to civilians abducted during the attack that triggered the war.
The first three names on a list obtained by AFP of the 33 hostages set to be released in the first phase are women under 30 who were not in military service on the day of the Hamas attack.
Justice ministry spokeswoman Noga Katz has said the final number of prisoners to be released in the first swap would depend on the number of live hostages released by Hamas.
