Day: March 14, 2024

Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, on Thursday welcomed Caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade, Amine Salam, at Dar al-Fatwa.

Following the meeting, Salam stated, “We’ve extended our well-wishes to His Eminence on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, wishing him continued health and well-being. We also briefed His Eminence on the initiatives we are undertaking during Ramadan to assist several charitable associations, and the measures being taken by the Ministry of Economy to combat inflation.”

“Unfortunately, we had hoped for greater awareness during Ramadan, as this is a month of mercy, blessing, and goodness, not a month for exploiting people. We’ve informed the Grand Mufti about the inspections we will conduct during the blessed month at commercial establishments, particularly food outlets, to regulate affairs and ensure that traders are fully informed. The Ministry of Economy is always vigilant in addressing manipulations affecting people’s daily lives,’ Salam added.

“Our di
scussions also touched on various issues, including His Eminence’s recent visit to Qatar, which was very fruitful and will be followed up on. Similarly, following our significant visit to Qatar, we will be engaging with the Ministry of Endowments and several Qatari authorities to support Dar al-Iftaa, Sharia colleges, and numerous charitable institutions in Lebanon,’ Salam concluded.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Authority stated today that 320 Palestinian detainees in the Israeli prison of Gilboa are currently ‘living in a deadly hell.’

The authority explained in a statement that the detainees are enduring a ‘deadly hell’ due to the racist Israeli policies and major changes that occurred after October 7th, which “turned Israeli prisons into real slaughterhouses, where torture and beatings in their worst forms are practiced.”

“This has resulted in dozens of executions among detainees from Gaza, the West Bank, and the 1948-occupied territories,” the authority said in a press statement.

The legal unit of the authority, which managed to visit detainee identified by his initials R.Y., a Palestinian from Tulkarm governorate who is sentenced to life imprisonment, conveyed horrific details of what he endured in the prison over the last few months.

He stated, “On October 8th, the prison was stormed in a provocative manner, we were tied up and all subjected to brutal beatings wi
th batons, helmets, and legs all over the body. They seized all our personal and public belongings, disregarded the health condition of sick detainees and the elderly. They have turned the prison rooms into cells, prevented us from going to the prison yard and smoking, and isolated us from the outside world.”

The detainee added in his testimony, “We have no clothes or blankets, and we are deprived of shaving machines, nail clippers, and cleaning materials. Sanctions and fines are imposed on us, organizational representation has been canceled, and we are rarely allowed to go to the prison clinic to get medication. The reality is harsher than anything we have experienced before.”

The authority warned of Israel’s continued punitive practices against Palestinian detainees, calling for breaking the silence in the face of organized crimes that reveal the true face of the Israeli occupation.

It emphasized that the international institutional absence in protecting Palestinian detainees is evidence of the subordina
tion that the international system has reached in the face of these human rights abuses by the Israeli occupation.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA

The Ministry of Industry in Beirut celebrates a momentous occasion with the successful installation and inauguration of a cutting-edge Photovoltaic (PV) Solar System at its headquarters. This pivotal step, realized through the collaborative efforts under the 2Circular Project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), reflects a shared commitment to advancing sustainable practices and renewable energy solutions within Lebanon’s industrial sector.

The inauguration ceremony, held on March 13, 2024, at the Ministry of Industry headquarters in Beirut, gathered high level officials including the Minister of Industry, Mr. George Bouchikian, the Acting Director General of the Ministry of Industry, Ms. Chantal Akl, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Lebanon, Ms. Alessandra Viezzer, and the UNIDO Representative to Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, Mr. Emmanuel Kalenzi.

The installed PV system is an on-grid system of 44 Kwp, with energy stor
age and fuel saving controller. It is divided into two components:

Component A: A 32.49 kWp On-grid PV system seamlessly operating with Electricité du Liban (EDL) and existing private diesel generators, ensuring uninterrupted power supply even during EDL downtimes.

Component B: A 12.54 kWp hybrid PV system integrated with a 100-kWh lithium battery bank storage system, designed to provide backup power to critical infrastructure such as existing data servers.

Upon completion, the PV system immediately commenced operation, aligning seamlessly with the ministry’s sustainability goals. A hands-on training on the operation and maintenance of the PV was conducted for the relevant staff of the ministry.

This achievement not only signifies a significant step towards the resilience and energy security of the Ministry during the current economic and financial crisis, but also underscores the Ministry of Industry’s commitment to embracing the proper solutions for environmental sustainability. As Lebanon strides f
orward in its renewable energy journey, the Ministry of Industry remains steadfast in its dedication to setting new benchmarks for environmental stewardship and sustainable development.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Israeli military aircraft on Thursday conducted an airstrike at 10:45 am, launching an aerial aggression by targeting the outskirts of the southern Lebanese town of Kounine with precision airstrikes and deploying a number of missiles on the targeted area.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The Gaza Ministry of Health stated on Thursday that Israeli forces caused the death of 69 individuals, wounding 110 people in the past 24 hours.

In its daily report, the Health Ministry said on the 160th day of the conflict that the death toll from the Israeli attacks has risen to 31,341 martyrs and 73,134 injuries since October 7th.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Israeli enemy warplanes have been reportedly flying over southern Lebanon’s Jezzine district at a medium altitude.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

10:00 am The Middle East representation of the International Organization of La Francophonie and the Lebanese Ministry of Information, as part of Francophonie Month, organize a dialogue session titled: “Media and Francophonie: Linguistic Plurality, Challenges, and Opportunities,” in collaboration with the Higher Institute of Business and Francophone Media Colleges in Beirut, at the Higher Institute of Business, Fattal Conference Hall.

4:00 pm Discussion organized by the Engineers Syndicate in Beirut regarding the book “Lebanon: Beginnings in the Biography of a Modern Intellectual” by Captain Jad Tabet, at the Lecture Hall in the Engineers Syndicate – Bir Hassan – Beirut.

9:00 pm The Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development, in collaboration with the Municipality of Sidon, launches the “Sidon Ramadan City” season for the year 2024 with the opening of the Khan Al-Efranj Markets to support small and medium enterprises.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

AL AIN: The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), in collaboration with the Citizens and Community Affairs Office of the Presidential Court, held an awareness-raising lecture on “The Right Parental Relationship” at Majlis Saif bin Maya Al Afari in the Al Amerah area of Al Ain.

The lecture is part of the “Majalisna” initiative launched by the Judicial Department under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of ADJD. The initiative aims to enhance legal awareness among society members, contributing to security, stability, and community well-being.

Delivered by Sultan Alshuweihi, Family Counsellor at the Judicial Department, the lecture covered various topics, including strategies for meeting children’s emotional and educational needs, fostering adaptable personalities capable of navigating life’s challenges, the importance of active parental roles, sharing interests with children, and distinguish
ing between educational and caregiving responsibilities.

The lecture outlined essential criteria and principles for selecting the right life partner, emphasising the importance of careful consideration, taking ample time to get to know the potential partner, avoiding imposing excessive demands or financial burdens before or after marriage, fostering trust, mutual respect, and accountability within the relationship.

Alshuweihi also provided practical advice and positive messages aimed at helping parents strengthen their relationships with their children and cultivate a supportive partnership for the benefit of their family.

Source: Emirates News Agency

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon issued the following statement:

In support of our resilient Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in solidarity with their brave and honorable resistance, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted, at 11:00 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, an assembly of enemy soldiers east of Al-Abbad site with appropriate weapons, inflicting direct casualties.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The Olympic Flame will ignite in ancient Olympia on April 16, heralding the start of its journey to Paris for the thirty-third modern Olympic Games opening on July 26.

The Paris 2024 flame lighting and handover ceremony launches a momentous journey across Greece before reaching France.

After a symbolic handover in Athens the flame will embark on a maritime voyage to Marseille aboard the “Belem,’.

The torch relay across France will engage communities for two months, visiting landmarks like Lascaux, Carcassonne, Versailles, and Mont Saint-Michel.

Over 10,000 torchbearers will carry the flame through 400 towns and cities, including overseas territories like Guadeloupe and French Polynesia, before reaching Paris for the grand opening.

Source: Oman News Agency

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli has stressed that there are positive indications on dollar inflows into the local market.

The premier’s remarks came on Thursday 14/3/2024 during a meeting of the economic ministerial group to discuss a number of economic files.

The meeting was attended by Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt Hassan Abdullah, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Tarek el Moulla, Planning and Economic Development Minister Hala el Saeed, International Cooperation Minister Rania el Mashat, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, Public Business Sector Minister Mahmoud Esmat, Trade and Industry Minister Ahmed Samir and other senior officials.

According to the premier, the government follows up on a daily basis the progress achieved in a number of economic files through cooperation and coordination with the governor of the Central Bank to assess the impact of recently announced measures and decisions that aim at taming inflation and restoring balance to the foreign exchange market.

Since the announ
cement of the new decisions, reports about dollar inflows have been positive and the demand on the dollar has noticeably declined, he said.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

The Olympic Flame will ignite in ancient Olympia on April 16, heralding the start of its journey to Paris for the thirty-third modern Olympic Games opening on July 26.

The Paris 2024 flame lighting and handover ceremony launches a momentous journey across Greece before reaching France.

After a symbolic handover in Athens the flame will embark on a maritime voyage to Marseille aboard the “Belem,’.

The torch relay across France will engage communities for two months, visiting landmarks like Lascaux, Carcassonne, Versailles, and Mont Saint-Michel.

Over 10,000 torchbearers will carry the flame through 400 towns and cities, including overseas territories like Guadeloupe and French Polynesia, before reaching Paris for the grand opening.

Source: Oman News Agency

The Olympic Flame will ignite in ancient Olympia on April 16, heralding the start of its journey to Paris for the thirty-third modern Olympic Games opening on July 26.

The Paris 2024 flame lighting and handover ceremony launches a momentous journey across Greece before reaching France.

After a symbolic handover in Athens the flame will embark on a maritime voyage to Marseille aboard the “Belem,’.

The torch relay across France will engage communities for two months, visiting landmarks like Lascaux, Carcassonne, Versailles, and Mont Saint-Michel.

Over 10,000 torchbearers will carry the flame through 400 towns and cities, including overseas territories like Guadeloupe and French Polynesia, before reaching Paris for the grand opening.

Source: Oman News Agency