Month: August 2024

Lebanon's Ministry of Energy and Water issued a statement on Saturday, stating that following the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria's kind donation of high-quality fuel oil produced by refineries in Algeria to meet Lebanon's urgent needs, the Ministry of Energy and Water in Lebanon renews its welcoming of this donation and reiterates its appreciation to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for this generous initiative, confirming Algeria's permanent support for Lebanon in its crises especially at this critical stage. "In refutation of all malicious rumors and suspicious news circulating, the Ministry confirms that it has completed all logistical and technical preparations in the oil facilities in Tripoli and has given permission to unload the cargo into the oil tanks; however, high sea waves have prevented the ship from entering and unloading its cargo till the current moment," the statement added. It indicated that the marine teams have confirmed that the tanker is scheduled to enter on Monday at 10:00 am, and that the fuel oil will be unloaded into the tanks starting at 2:00 pm, whereby the unloading process will continue for 48 hours. The statement concluded by renewing the Energy Ministry's gratitude to the sisterly state of Algeria, its president, government, and people, for standing by Lebanon in these difficult and delicate circumstances, while calling on citizens to beware of those fishing in troubled waters and affirming its ongoing contact with the concerned Algerian authorities, represented by the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines, in a way that protects the interests of the two brotherly peoples and contributes to developing their distinguished bilateral relations. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

Lebanon's Ministry of Energy and Water issued a statement on Saturday, stating that following the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria's kind donation of high-quality fuel oil produced by refineries in Algeria to meet Lebanon's urgent needs, the Ministry of Energy and Water in Lebanon renews its welcoming of this donation and reiterates its appreciation to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for this generous initiative, confirming Algeria's permanent support for Lebanon in its crises especially at this critical stage. "In refutation of all malicious rumors and suspicious news circulating, the Ministry confirms that it has completed all logistical and technical preparations in the oil facilities in Tripoli and has given permission to unload the cargo into the oil tanks; however, high sea waves have prevented the ship from entering and unloading its cargo till the current moment," the statement added. It indicated that the marine teams have confirmed that the tanker is scheduled to enter on Monday at 10:00 am, and that the fuel oil will be unloaded into the tanks starting at 2:00 pm, whereby the unloading process will continue for 48 hours. The statement concluded by renewing the Energy Ministry's gratitude to the sisterly state of Algeria, its president, government, and people, for standing by Lebanon in these difficult and delicate circumstances, while calling on citizens to beware of those fishing in troubled waters and affirming its ongoing contact with the concerned Algerian authorities, represented by the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines, in a way that protects the interests of the two brotherly peoples and contributes to developing their distinguished bilateral relations. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

Jenin - Ma'an - Israeli media reported that an Israeli soldier was killed and others were injured on Saturday in battles in the Jabriyat neighborhood south of Jenin camp. Israeli helicopters transported injured soldiers to a hospital in Haifa, sources said. A video documented the transfer of injured soldiers after they were ambushed in Jenin camp. This morning, clashes broke out in parts of Jenin city and its camp, amidst the sound of explosions, clashes and helicopters flying overhead. Source: Maan News Agency

Jenin - Ma'an - Israeli media reported that an Israeli soldier was killed and others were injured on Saturday in battles in the Jabriyat neighborhood south of Jenin camp. Israeli helicopters transported injured soldiers to a hospital in Haifa, sources said. A video documented the transfer of injured soldiers after they were ambushed in Jenin camp. This morning, clashes broke out in parts of Jenin city and its camp, amidst the sound of explosions, clashes and helicopters flying overhead. Source: Maan News Agency

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Youssef Al-Absi, arrived this morning at Princess Alia Airport in Jordan, accompanied by members of the Permanent Synod on a pastoral and official visit to the Diocese of Petra, Philadelphia, and all of Jordan. He was received at the airport by the Acting Chargé d'Affaires at the Lebanese Embassy in the Kingdom, Ambassador Youssef Emile Raji, and a number of priests and servants in the Diocese. Al-Absi had a brief word upon arrival in which he stressed "good cooperation with brotherly Jordan and the necessity of its continuation for the benefit of the two brotherly peoples." He began his first day with a prayer of thanksgiving with the parish priests, shepherds, and believers before moving to the site of the Baptism of Christ to bless the land designated for the Roman Catholic Church on the site. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

Search and rescue teams from the Border Guard in Yanbu, Madinah region, have rescued a child from drowning while swimming. The child was given first aid and transported to the hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition. The General Directorate of Border Guard urges the public to adhere to maritime safety guidelines and instructions, keep a close watch on children while swimming in designated areas, and call 911 in Makkah and Eastern regions or 994 in the rest of the Kingdom in case of emergency. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Damascus - The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned, in a statement today, 'the crimes of genocide practiced by the Zionist occupation in Jenin and its camp in the West Bank, and the killing of Palestinians and the destruction of their homes in the Gaza Strip." It said: 'Syria condemns these Western policies and the crimes of human genocide carried out by the Zionist entity, supported by American and Western colonialism, and demands its immediate cessation. These American and Western policies in support of the entity are not directed only against the Palestinians, but rather are policies that they follow in any part of the world that they are not satisfied with." Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to embark on a significant economic visit to East Asia, led by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef. The delegation will visit China and Singapore from September 1 to 8, 2024, with the objective of enhancing bilateral relations, attracting investments to Saudi Arabia, and exploring joint-venture opportunities in the industrial sector. The tour will include visits to advanced industrial hubs in China, such as Guangzhou and Hong Kong, one of its special administrative regions. This mission aligns with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy and establish the Kingdom as a global leader in industrial development. The delegation will participate in high-level strategic meetings with senior government officials from various ministries in China and Singapore and will meet with leading global companies in the automotive, automation, and technology sectors. Key meetings in Guangzhou will include discussions with GAC Group, General Lithium, and Huawei. In Hong Kong, the delegation will meet with the CEO of Hong Kong, the Trade and Industry Department, the Innovation and Technology Bureau, visit Hutchison Ports, and meet with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI). Additionally, there will be meetings with Cyberport, a global leader in advanced technology solutions, and Johnson Electric, among other significant commercial and industrial companies. In Singapore, the agenda includes meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Trade and Industry, and the Minister of Manpower, as well as discussions with A*STAR, the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), and a visit to Tuas Port, the largest automated port globally, along with other ministries and companies. Saudi Arabia has a robust strategic relationship with China that spans over 80 years, growing rapidly over the past decade across various economic, developmental, and cultural fields. China is the Kingdom's largest trading partner, with trade exceeding $100 billion in 2023. Chinese investments in Saudi Arabia in 2023 included $5.6 billion in original equipment manufacturing for automotive and $5.26 billion in the minerals sector, with semiconductor investments amounting to $4.26 billion. Additionally, there is significant cultural alignment between Saudi Arabia and China, highlighted by the introduction of Chinese language instruction in Saudi schools. Hong Kong, one of China's special administrative regions, also maintains strong economic ties with Saudi Arabia. In 2023, Saudi non-oil exports to Hong Kong reached approximately $267 million, including minerals and medical devices, while imports from Hong Kong were around $1.78 billion, mainly consisting of leather, textiles, and related products. On the other hand, Singapore is a highly advanced and competitive economy, known for its unique model in developing human capabilities and leveraging technology and automation in various sectors. This creates significant opportunities for joint investment between Saudi Arabia and Singapore in technological solutions, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and industrial and logistical automation. The Kingdom's initiative "Future Factories" aims to automate 4,000 factories by transitioning from labor-intensive processes to operational efficiency and advanced industrial practices, enhancing production efficiency and competitiveness. The automotive sector is a key focus of Saudi Arabia's national industry strategy, which emphasizes its development and the incorporation of innovative technologies. The Saudi automotive market is significant in the region, with sales representing 40% of total sales in the Middle East and North Africa. Last year, the Kingdom granted a license to its first Saudi electric vehicle brand, Ceer, and opened its first electric vehicle factory, Lucid, targeting the production of over 300,000 cars annually by 2030. Furthermore, Ceer, a joint venture between Taiwan's Foxconn and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, signed a $1.3 billion a greement to build an electric vehicle manufacturer in King Abdullah Economic City, with production set to begin in 2025. The visit by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources' delegation to China aligns with Saudi Arabia's objective to become a key automotive hub in the region and a leader in innovative, eco-friendly vehicle solutions. The Kingdom has also discussed cooperation with Chile, the world's second-largest lithium producer, to enhance lithium production for electric vehicle batteries. In the field of technology and automation, Saudi Arabia's tech advancements have gained global recognition, making significant leaps over the past decade. Efforts continue to transfer knowledge, innovation, and technological solutions across all sectors. The visit's agenda will include meetings with several leading global companies in automation and technology solutions, including a meeting with officials from the prominent Chinese company Huawei to discuss collaboration opportunities in innovative smart solu tions and to leverage technologies from the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Huawei, founded in 1987, is one of the world's largest companies and a leader in providing information and communication technology infrastructure and smart devices, with its products reaching markets in 170 countries worldwide. Saudi Arabia aims to attract high-quality investments in 12 promising industrial sectors, including automotive, pharmaceuticals, and food, supported by a stimulating investment environment. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has made significant strides in enhancing the industrial sector's regulatory and legislative frameworks to ensure a competitive investment environment, with various support mechanisms provided to ease business operations. Moreover, the Kingdom boasts a large proportion of youth, with two-thirds of the population under 30, a dynamic workforce supported by significant government investment in education and human development, and a strategic location with robust infrastructure a nd attractive investment incentives, making it a leading investment destination for Chinese and Singaporean companies. The visit is expected to result in partnerships that will strengthen bilateral relations, focusing on mutual growth through high-quality investments, sustainable development, and economic diversification, particularly in strategic industrial sectors. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Islamic Resistance issued the a communique this afternoon, indicating that in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and in response to the enemy's attacks on the resilient southern villages and safe houses and the resulting fires, the Resistance fighters launched an air attack with a swarm of drones on the headquarters of the Sahel Battalion in the Beit Hilal barracks, hitting their targets accurately. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

The municipality of Yohmor al-Shqif reported that 'the fire brigades of the Lebanese Civil Defense, the Civil Defense of the Islamic Health Authority, and the Islamic Resala Society are still responding to the fire that broke out this morning on the western outskirts of the town, facing the Deir Saryan and Taybeh areas, whereby field teams are making concentrated efforts to control the fires due to the ruggedness of the geographical area. " Meanwhile, hostile drones continued to repeatedly throw incendiary materials at the fire area. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon