Day: April 1, 2024

Doha: The State of Qatar voiced strong condemnation of the attack that targeted the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus, leaving deaths and injuries; and considered it a blatant violation of international agreements and charters, and diplomatic norms that criminalize attacks on diplomatic missions headquarters.

In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the State of Qatar’s total rejection of targeting of diplomatic and consular missions, and the necessity of providing protection for their employees under the rules of international law; and renewed the State’s firm position rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of the motives and reasons.

The Ministry expressed the State of Qatar’s condolences to families of the victims, and to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: Qatar News Agency

SHARJAH: The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), in collaboration with the Sharjah Volunteer Centre, has announced the opening of volunteer registration to all nationalities in the 15th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF).

Organised by the SBA from 1st to 12th May at the Sharjah Expo Centre, the event will feature a series of workshops and panels on children’s literature and showcase the latest local and international books that enhance children’s relationships with sources of knowledge and learning.

The SBA underscored its dedication to integrating volunteers each year, noting that volunteering has been a pivotal factor in the festival’s success since its inception. Volunteering embodies the spirit of collaboration and partnership between the community and corporations to support Sharjah’s cultural project.

SBA said that volunteering is an authentic social value deeply rooted in Emirati culture. It contributes to nurturing volunteers’ skills in mega event management and fulfilling public n
eeds. Volunteering also allows young women and men to acquire new skills, expertise, and knowledge through direct interaction with the public, exhibitors, and participants.

SBA remarked that individuals aged 18 to 45 years who are interested in volunteering are encouraged to register via the following link: https://sssd-volunteer.shj.ae/volunteers/opportunity_details/15241.

SCRF’s volunteers are expected to commit to the 12-day event, and they can choose between the morning shift from 9:00 to 15:00 or the evening shift from 15:00 to 21:00.

Volunteers will provide support and assistance to the festival’s participants and visitors, addressing the needs of the technical support and finance teams. They will also offer guidance to visitors regarding the festival’s activities, schedule, and venues within the premises of the Sharjah Expo Centre.

The 14th edition of the SCRF welcomed 150 volunteers, and each year the festival features a wide selection of events, including interactive workshops conducted by expert
s specialising in assessing and nurturing children’s talents.

The festival welcomes a host of children’s and young adults’ authors, illustrators, and publishers, It honours the winners of different awards, including the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Award, Sharjah Children’s Book Award, Sharjah Audio Book Award, and Sharjah Books for Visually Impaired Children Award.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Geneva, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, underlined that any effort to distribute aid in Gaza Strip without UNRWA is a failure.

“UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian operation in Gaza. Any effort to distribute aid without them is simply doomed to fail,” Griffiths wrote on X.

“No other agency has the same reach, experience or community trust needed to do the job,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed that the Office of the UN Secretary-General did not receive any document from the Israeli entity that included a proposal to dismantle UNRWA.

Speaking in a press conference, Dujarric affirmed that the UN’s position on UNRWA remains consistent, which is that it is a lifeline of hope and services for millions of Palestinians in the region, including Gaza.

Source: Qatar News Agency

ABU DHABI: Professor Timothy Baldwin has been appointed as the Provost of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

Professor Timothy Baldwin is a distinguished figure in the field of natural language processing (NLP), renowned globally for his ground-breaking contributions. Having served as the Department Chair of the NLP Department, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, and Acting Provost, Professor Baldwin has played an indispensable role in the rapid advancement of MBZUAI during the past two years.

During his tenure, Professor Baldwin has spearheaded numerous initiatives that have significantly contributed to MBZUAI’s growth and reputation. Some of his notable accomplishments include the establishment of three new academic departments namely robotics, computer science, and statistics and data science, broadening the university’s academic purview; recruiting 25 new faculty members, more than doubling the size of the university; overseeing the accreditation of new M.Sc. and P
h.D. programs in computer science and robotics, while leading the development of a new department in statistics and data science, and developing a comprehensive employability strategy, ensuring that MBZUAI graduates are well-equipped to excel in their professional endeavors.

Professor Baldwin also co-led the technical development of Jais, the world’s leading Arabic large language model (LLM), showcasing MBZUAI’s commitment to advancing AI technologies with global relevance, and designed and managed the inaugural cohort of the highly successful Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP), providing students with invaluable research experience.

Alongside his administrative responsibilities, Professor Baldwin has maintained an exemplary academic record, publishing 23 papers in 2023 alone and receiving awards at prestigious conferences such as European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (EACL) 2023 and *SEM 2023, further solidifying his reputation as a leading authority in the field
of NLP.

‘We are confident that Professor Timothy Baldwin’s leadership, dedication, and expertise will continue to propel MBZUAI to new heights of excellence. His appointment as Provost brings an exciting chapter for our university, and we look forward to the continued growth and success with his guidance,’ said Professor Eric Xing, MBZUAI’s President and University Professor.

“I am delighted to formally take on this position, and work alongside the current and future generation of AI frontrunners in leading the academic development of this truly unique institution and contribute to establishing Abu Dhabi as a global leader of AI,’ Professor Baldwin said.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Gaza, Nine Palestinians were martyred and several others were injured in Israeli strikes on central Khan Yunis and east of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip on Monday.

According to sources, four Palestinians were martyred after they were targeted by the Israeli occupation army near Sheikh Nasser roundabout in central Khan Yunis.

Meanwhile, an Israeli air raid targeted a land near tents of displaced people west of Khan Yunis city. Sources reported that five Palestinians were martyred in similar attack east of Rafah.

The Israeli occupation forces have committed six massacres against civilians in the past 24 hours, leaving 63 martyrs and 94 injured.

According to medical sources, the toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has surged to 32,845 martyrs and 75,392 injured, while thousands remain missing under the rubbles.

Source: Qatar News Agency

ABU DHABI: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced that from Monday, 29th Ramadan (8th April 2024) to 3rd Shawwal (or what is corresponding to it in Gregorian calendar) will be a paid holiday for all employees in the private sector across the UAE on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr.

Source: Emirates News Agency