Day: August 22, 2024

Several southern Lebanese towns have been subjected to Israeli enemy artillery shelling, our reporter said on Thursday. The town of Khiyam came under fire, followed by the outskirts of Marwahin in the western sector. Around 2:30 pm, the town of Yaroun was also shelled by Israeli artillery positioned inside occupied Palestinian territory. Further shelling targeted the outskirts of Tyre and Marwahin, with the town of Aitroun also coming under attack. Source: National news agency - Lebanon

Jeddah is getting ready to host the first edition of the 2024 women's amateur football league, set to commence in early September with six participating teams. The draw for the league was conducted at the Jeddah Youth Hostel in the presence of Abutaleb Al-Awaji, the secretary-general of the Jeddah football league. Ahmed Al-Sahli, a board member of the Amateur Football League (AFL) overseeing the technical committees, confirmed that preparations for the league's debut are well underway. He noted that technical and administrative committees, along with women referees and match supervisors, are preparing for the upcoming matches. Al-Sahli extended his best wishes to all the participating teams. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Islamic Resistance announced on Thursday that it targeted the espionage equipment in the Israeli enemy post of Jal Alam with a one-way attack drone. Source: National news agency - Lebanon

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka announced that it will exempt citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from entry visa requirements starting October 1, 2024. The Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad, confirmed that the decision aims to strengthen ties between the people of both countries as they celebrate this year the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranks third as a potential market for Sri Lankan tourism in June 2024 and 23rd as a source market for tourists visiting Sri Lanka during the same period, according to a report by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)," the ambassador stated. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Several of civilians were killed and injured as a result of the continuous Israeli airstrikes on different areas in the Gaza Strip. In the town of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, 11 people were killed and others were injured at dawn in an Israeli shelling that targeted a house belonging to the Hamouda family in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip. Most of the victims were children and women and their bodies arrived at Kamal Adwan Hospital charred while others are still under the rubble. In the Tal al-Zaatar area in Jabalia, north of the Strip, three citizens were killed and others were injured as a result of the occupation shelling a residential apartment belonging to the Salman family. As for the city of Khan Yunis, a child and a woman were killed as a result of an Israeli missile shelling that targeted a house belonging to the Abu Daqqa family in the al-Fakhari area, east of the city. Meanwhile, the occupation also opened fire at the tents of the displaced people in Mawasi al-Qarara, northwest of Khan Yunis. A number of citizens were also injured when the occupation forces bombed a house belonging to the Al-Judaili family in the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, while the occupation forces' artillery shelled the northwest of the camp and the Al-Maghraqa area. The occupation forces' artillery fired its shells intensively, coinciding with heavy gunfire on the neighborhoods of Tal Al-Hawa, Al-Zeitoun, and Al-Sabra in Gaza City, amid intense flying of occupation drones. The occupation forces' warplanes launched raids east of the city of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, and blew up residential buildings west of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Source: National news agency - Lebanon

The first pilot vessels under the new support contracts arrived at Jeddah Islamic Port. In a ceremony attended by Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) Chairman Omar bin Talal Hariri, the Saudi flag was raised on these advanced vessels. They are equipped with the latest technologies in the tugboat industry and are specifically designed to tow fifth-generation container ships. These new additions will enhance the operational performance of guidance operations at the port, helping to achieve the targeted performance indicators. The pilot vessels play a crucial role in assisting large marine vessels with safe entry and exit from ports, as well as docking at marine platforms. Earlier, Mawani signed four contracts to provide marine services, involving private-sector investments exceeding 1 billion riyals. The contracts, with Zamil Marine Services and Naghi Marine Works, will deliver a range of services across eight ports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics S ervices and the National Center for Privatization. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, Mazad, a local portfolio company of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company 'Mumtalakat', unveiled a lineup of weekly auctions featuring a blend of premium 24K gold bars and 22K gold jewellery items. In light of the unprecedented peaks in gold prices globally, Mazad's online auction is the perfect opportunity for investors to acquire these coveted assets weekly, starting with the inaugural batch auction from August 21-29. According to industry specialists, global gold prices are expected to rise in the upcoming days, encouraging individuals to buy rather than sell during this period. The weekly auctions on Mazad's Platform will feature a diverse array of 24K gold bars and opulent 22K gold jewellery pieces offered well below market value. Designed to prioritise safety, security, and transparency, these auctions provide a fair bidding opportunity to buyers across the region, creating a trusted environment where investors can confidently participate and acquire high-value assets. Talal Alaraifi, CEO of Mazad, emphasised the company's commitment to offering customers access to premium assets that retain their value and present significant investment potential. He highlighted the introduction of weekly auctions featuring 24K gold bars as a prime example of Mazad's commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for discerning investors and collectors. Interested buyers can visit the official Mazad website at mazad. app or download the Mazad App from the App Store or Google Play Store. Users can easily navigate to the jewellery category and explore the curated collection of 24K gold bars and upcoming 22K gold jewellery items. For further support, users can call 17778887 or email support@mazad.app. Source: Bahrain News Agency

The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) celebrated the tenth anniversary of its International Fellows Program this week in a special event held in the Brazilian capital, Brasília, attended by KAICIID Secretary General Dr. Zuhair Alharthi. The celebration commemorated the significant endeavors aimed at fostering dialogue among religions and cultures worldwide, coinciding with the 2024 G20 Interfaith Forum (IF20) and the Annual Forum on Religion and Sustainable Development by the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD), held in Brasília. The event featured crucial discussions regarding the goals and future plans of the Fellows Program. Underlining the pivotal role of dialogue in building more inclusive and sustainable communities, Alharthi announced the expansion of KAICIID's programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Advisor Rashid bin Muhammad bin Abdulrahman Bunajma, Secretary-General of the Council of Representatives, honoured participants in the second edition of the "Furas" (Opportunities) programme. Furas is an initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS). The programme aims to provide grants and training opportunities for Bahraini youth in various companies and institutions to develop their skills and expertise through specialised courses. The Secretary General expressed his appreciation to the participants, acknowledging their dedication, which contributed to the success of the programme. He emphasised the importance of the Furas programme in preparing national talents for the job market, enhancing their professional and personal skills, and making them ideal candidates for employment. This initiative aligns with Bahrain's Vision 2030 and contr ibutes to national development. The advisor reaffirmed the General Secretariat's commitment to supporting and developing youth programmes that foster innovation and creativity, enabling young Bahrainis to play an active role in the nation's growth and progress. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) Officer-in-Charge Dr. Khalid Khalafalla met today in Jeddah with Maldives Monetary Authority Governor Ahmed Munawar. The meeting discussed strengthening economic cooperation and strategic partnerships that would contribute to economic resilience and growth in the Republic of the Maldives. It also highlighted ICIEC's commitment to supporting the Maldives in attracting foreign direct investment and enhancing international trade opportunities, as the ICIEC plays a key role in mitigating risks and strengthening creditworthiness for member states of the Islamic Development Bank Group. Source: Saudi Press Agency