Day: August 22, 2024

The Joint Operations Command announced the destruction of a terrorist hideout and the killing of those inside it, with an airstrike, within Hamrin Mountains. The command said in a statement: "The painful airstrikes continue against the defeated ISIS elements and the aborting of their desperate malicious intentions. Through observation by thermal cameras and with intelligence and technical efforts from the Military Intelligence Directorate and under the supervision and follow-up of the targeting cell affiliated with the Joint Operations Command, F16 aircraft carried out a successful airstrike at 7:00 am on Thursday, during which they targeted a terrorist hideout in Hamrin Mountains within Diyala Operations Sector." It added: "The strike led to the killing of the terrorist detachment and the destruction of what was in the hideout, including a fuel tank, ammunition and logistical materials. Information indicates that this hideout was a point of presence and movement used to provide logistical support to ISIS t errorist gangs. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Gaza - Ma'an - Israeli aircraft continued their bombing of various areas in the Gaza Strip on the 321st day of the war, leaving a large number of martyrs and wounded. The Israeli occupation committed four massacres against families in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, resulting in 50 martyrs and 124 injuries arriving at hospitals. The death toll from the Israeli aggression has risen to 40,223 martyrs and 92,981 wounded since October 7. The occupation army began distributing evacuation orders to residential areas west of Salah al-Din Street in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip after forcing residents and displaced persons to leave the east of the city. The evacuation orders coincided with a series of air strikes that killed a child and injured several others. This morning, the planes launched four airstrikes on different areas of Deir al-Balah. In a related development, six people were killed and wounded as a result of an Israeli bombardment of a house belonging to the Al-Dabaki family in Al -Maghazi camp in the central Gaza Strip. A number of injuries arrived at Al-Awda Hospital after a house belonging to the Al-Judaili family was targeted in the new camp in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip. Seven citizens were martyred, four of them in the bombing of the Abu Rahma family home in Nuseirat, and three were pulled out from near the Wadi Gaza Bridge. Gaza and the North In a new massacre, 11 martyrs and a number of wounded were killed when the occupation aircraft targeted the Hamouda family home in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip. The Civil Defense said that its crews and medical crews were able to retrieve a number of martyrs, in the form of charred bodies, and extinguish a large fire resulting from the Israeli occupation targeting the home of the "Hamouda" family near the Abu Tamam School in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip. Three citizens were killed and one was injured when the occupation bombed a house belonging to the Salman family in Tal al-Zaatar, east of Jabalia camp, north of the Gaza Strip. In Gaza City, four citizens were killed and 18 were injured in the targeting of an UNRWA school on Al-Jalaa Street in the center of Gaza City. Six citizens were killed in two separate raids in the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City. South Gaza Strip 26 citizens were killed in a series of raids on the cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, and their bodies arrived at Nasser Medical Complex. Two martyrs, a child and a woman, were killed at night as a result of the occupation bombing the Abu Daqqa family's house in the town of Al-Fakhari, east of Khan Yunis. The tanks expanded their advance towards Rashid Street, west of Khan Yunis, which led to a new wave of displacement amid fears that the city would be separated from the center of the Strip. The occupation air force launched a series of raids on the tents of the displaced, which led to the martyrdom of six citizens from the Samour family in the Al-Zana area, east of Khan Yunis. Source: Maan News Agency

Najaf Police Command announced the arrest of 70 suspects in connection with the dispute that took place in Zarqa area, north of Kufa district. The police media stated in a statement that: "Various weapons and ammunition were seized, and search operations are still ongoing for all those involved in this incident to bring them to justice." A dispute and exchange of fire took place in Zarqa area, north of Kufa district, last night, which led to the death of one person and the injury of several others, including pilgrims who were heading to Karbala on foot, before the police took control of the situation. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Nablus - Together, the Solidarity Charitable Society provided more medical and charitable relief aid, which coincided with the current difficult economic situation. The direct goal was to meet the needs of citizens from orphan families and families who are going through difficult health and economic conditions. The emergency relief projects department in the society works around the clock and throughout the year to cover the largest possible segment of poor citizens. The implemented projects are divided between medical and therapeutic projects and others that aim to provide furniture and basic supplies, and are implemented through cooperation with charitable people from the country. Within the charitable medical projects provided by the association for medical cases, it provided (5) CEPAP respirators for medical cases in dire need of them to be able to leave the hospital and receive the rest of their treatment at home safely without fear of suffocation. The association also provided (4) BIPAP respirators for patients, most of whom are heads of households suffering from chronic lung diseases, in addition to (3) GENERATOR 5L / 10L respirators for three individuals suffering from lung problems and in dire need of respirators to be able to breathe properly without being exposed to the risk of suffocation. The association also provided an oxygen cylinder for another medical case, in addition to a regular medical chair for a sick woman, and (3) medical mattresses. The association also provided (7) electric chairs for seven people with disabilities, including school students and heads of households who need to continue their lives, leave the house, and rely on themselves. Through The good people of the association contributed to the costs of a surgical operation for a sick child at a cost of 10 thousand shekels, in addition to providing an amount of (3300 shekels) for the cost of performing a genetic test for a 4-month-old child suffering from several diseases and in need of performing a genetic test to determine the ca use and begin treatment. The association also took the initiative to help (5) school students who need eyeglasses, in addition to a hearing aid for an elderly woman who suffers from a hearing problem. This medical assistance was provided according to the medical reports that are extracted from the approved medical authorities. In continuation of the medical projects, the association provided prosthetic limbs for four heads of households who lost their limbs due to illness. The association provided an amount of (14 thousand shekels) to install a prosthetic limb for a head of household who lost his leg above the knee. It also helped another head of household whose leg was amputated by contributing part of the value of a prosthetic limb for him at a cost of (5000 shekels). A young man in the prime of life who needed to support his small family after losing his leg due to diabetes, the association provided him with the price of a prosthetic limb to replace his leg amputated below the knee at a value of (9000 she kels), and another head of household needed (4000 shekels) part of the price of a prosthetic limb. As part of the project to refurnish and restore destitute homes, the association helped a family living in difficult circumstances and who did not have basic furniture in the house. It provided them with a washing machine, a gas heater, carpets, a stove with an oven, a TV screen, a wooden bed, a single mattress, a coffee table, and a sofa set. To another family, the association provided a sofa set and 100 meters of floor tiles, a sofa set, a closet, 6 mattresses, and 6 pillows for another family. It also provided 3 mattresses for another family. The association also used to extend a helping hand to families in need of a source of income and self-reliance, so it provided two employment projects for two families in need of self-reliance in earning their livelihood. The Solidarity Association and the beneficiary families expressed their thanks to the benefactors who participate in charitable work on an ongoing b asis and for their assistance to poor and sick families. Source: Maan News Agency

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) released its July report on the performance of Saudi Arabia's domestic and international airports. The report evaluates airports based on 11 operational performance standards that align with strategic objectives to enhance services and ensure a seamless traveler experience. The report highly ranked King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, Abha International Airport, Qaisumah International Airport, and Qurayyat Airport. GACA categorizes airports into five categories for performance evaluation based on annual passenger numbers to ensure transparency. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah secured the top spot in the category of airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, with an 82% compliance rate. Following closely behind was King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 82%, with King Abdulaziz International Airport outperformed King Khalid International Airport i n terms of achieving the standards. In the category of international airports serving 5 to 15 million passengers annually, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah ranked first with a 91% compliance rate. Similarly, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam also achieved a 91% compliance rate. However, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport outperformed King Fahd International Airport in terms of meeting the standards. In the annual passenger category of 2 to 5 million, Abha International Airport ranked first with a 100% compliance rate, while King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jizan came in second, also with a 100% compliance rate. Abha International Airport outperformed King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jizan in terms of meeting the standards. In the category of airports with less than 2 million passengers annually, Qaisumah International Airport ranked first with a 100% compliance rate, surpassing its competitors in average waiting time for departing and ar riving flights. Qurayyat Airport secured the top spot in the fifth category of domestic airports with a 100% compliance rate, outperforming all other airports in terms of average waiting times for departing and arriving flights. GACA assesses airport performance using 11 key performance indicators. These include passenger waiting times at check-in counters, time spent at baggage carousels, passport control, customs areas, standards for people with disabilities, and other standards based on international best practices. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Salfit - Ma'an - Israeli occupation forces arrested a girl on Thursday at the western entrance to the town of Deir Istiya, northwest of Salfit. Anti-settlement activist Nazmi Salman reported that the occupation forces stationed at the entrance to the town of Deir Istiya arrested a girl whose identity was not known until the news was prepared, and took her to an unknown location, while she was leaving the town. Source: Maan News Agency

Saudi Justice Minister Walid Al-Samaani visited several courts in the Aseer region, including the Aseer Court of Appeals, the Criminal Court, the General Court, and the Abha Commercial Court. During his visit, the minister engaged with clients, listening to their complaints and inquiries. Al-Samaani urged ongoing development of procedures to save time and effort for clients navigating the judicial system. The minister also recognized the efforts of the court presidents and judges in promoting timely justice, commending their dedication to serving the community. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDBI), today launched several initiatives to support and facilitate trade in the Republic of the Maldives. It is utilizing its insurance and financing solutions, including insurance tools and risk mitigation measures worth $130 million for the purchase of strategic commodities and pound 50 million for the Gulhifalhu land reclamation project in the Maldives. ICIEC clarified that it has provided insurance coverage worth $299 million to the Maldives to drive sustainable growth in the tourism, housing, clean energy, and transportation sectors. The corporation emphasized that these initiatives highlight its commitment to driving economic growth in the Maldives. The ICIEC mission is to facilitate trade and investment between member countries of the IsDBI and the world by providing Shariah-compliant risk mitigation and insurance tools. Source: Saudi Press Agency

National News Agency correspondent reported that the outskirts of the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura and the vicinity of Labouneh off the town of Alma al-Shaab were subjected to Israeli enemy artillery shelling of 155 mm caliber from enemy positions in the Western Galilee. This coincided with intensive flights of reconnaissance and drone enemy aircraft over south Lebanon's western and central sectors, far-reaching the coasts of Naqoura and Tyre. Source: National news agency - Lebanon

The Cultural Development Fund (CDF) today announced Cultural Financing, the first program of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support and provide essential financing for projects and enterprises across 16 cultural sub-sectors. The program seeks to drive sustainable growth of the cultural sector, amplify its creative output, and boost its contribution to the Kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP), thereby driving national economic growth. Cultural Financing has been designed to support the development of cultural enterprises through flexible, accessible, and competitive packages that maximize profitability while minimizing risks for both the cultural enterprises benefiting from the program and the local banking partners. The program finances micro, small, and medium-sized cultural enterprises, enabling them to launch and scale their operations through a range of financing products available for both short-term and long-term needs, CDF said in a news release. "The Cultural Financing marks a new ch apter in our mission to empower the cultural sector in collaboration with our local banking partners. This financing solution is designed to meet the diverse and evolving needs of the sector's entrepreneurs and support their aspirations, reaffirming our commitment to building strategic partnerships with the private sector," said CDF Chief Executive Majed bin Abdulmohsen Al-Hugail. "We look forward to seeing the positive ripple effects of this collaboration in revitalizing the cultural sector and, in turn, bolstering the national economy." Today's announcement follows the CDF's signing of partnership agreements with five local banks -- Al-Rajhi Bank, Alinma Bank, BSF, Arab National Bank (ANB), and Bank AlJazira -- to provide financing to cultural enterprises. The partnerships underscore the vital role of the banking sector in the sustainable development of the cultural sector. They also reinforce the CDF's ongoing efforts to spur growth across various cultural sectors in the Kingdom and strengthen partners hips with the private sector to provide attractive financing solutions that support the cultural and creative sector and maximize its impact on economic development and job creation. The CDF was founded in 2021 with the aim of further enhancing the cultural landscape within Saudi Arabia. Organizationally linked to the National Development Fund, its goal is to promote the development of a self-reliant cultural sector. The fund actively supports a variety of cultural activities and projects, facilitates investment, and seeks to improve the domestic cultural sector's profitability in alignment with the National Culture Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030. Source: Saudi Press Agency