Day: July 26, 2024

At least 257 people died and scores of others were reported missing due to two landslides in Gofa region, southern Ethiopia.

Local authorities expect the death toll to top 500 as search and rescue team continue battling to recover more bodies, Cairo News TV reported on Thursday.

When the first landslide occurred, crowds of people rushed to rescue the victims shortly before a second landslide buried them alive, head of the Disaster Risk Management Commission’s (EDRMC) office in the region Marcus Melise said.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malk met today at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad with Pakistani Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed topics of mutual interest.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Fatah movement in the southern region has completed its preparations to receive its imprisoned sons, who will be released next Tuesday, Brigadier General Mahmoud Abu Saleh and Brigadier General Rateb Al-Hreibat, after 22 years of detention in the occupation’s prisons.

The movement had held a series of extensive meetings to set a program, arrangements and reception activities, the last of which was at the region’s headquarters, in the presence of the region’s secretary, Iyad Rayyan, and members of the region, the Dura organizational area, and Dura institutions represented by the mayor of Dura, Muhannad Amro, the Fatah leader Salem Abu Saleh, the families of the prisoners, Abu Saleh and Al-Haribat, the directors of the security services, the Prisoners’ Club, the Prisoners’ Affairs Authority, and the friends of the prisoners.

The reception will be in the courtyard of the Martyrs of Dura Cultural Center after their arrival at the As-Sabaa crossing, passing through the city of Dhahiriya, and then visiting t
he cemetery to recite Al-Fatiha for the souls of their parents and relatives who have passed away to the mercy of God, while they are in captivity and are martyrs of Palestine. After that, they will visit the home of prisoner Mahmoud Dudin, and after that, there will be a grand reception in the courtyard of the Martyrs of Dura Cultural Center with a magnificent official and popular presence in honor of these prisoners and their great sacrifices. Three speeches will be delivered in the name of the Fatah Movement and the Municipality of Dura, and a speech by the prisoners.

The Fatah Movement in the Southern Region called on all its cadres, members, supporters and families of prisoners to adhere to the agreed upon program and to prevent going to the As-Sabaa crossing and to prevent shooting, firecrackers and celebratory manifestations in response to the prisoners’ request, in light of the aggression our people are subjected to in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as the general national orientation in t
he movement and the most heinous types of torture to which prisoners are subjected by limiting activities to reception, away from the festivals and activities followed before the declaration of war on our people in Gaza. The

Fatah Movement called on all media outlets to be present to cover the reception ceremonies and expose the occupation’s practices against what our heroic prisoners are subjected to.

Source: Maan News Agency

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has launched the second version of a program to support and develop women’s teams participating in the Premier League and the first and second divisions for women. Financial support has been increased from SAR50 million last season to SAR60 million for the new sports season 2024-2025 to keep pace with challenges and implement the development program for women’s teams.

Through this support, SAFF aims to raise the level of women’s competitions, establish new teams, develop work in the age groups in clubs, and encourage the development of their organizational and technical performance. The goal is to reach an advanced professional level and develop national teams in all age groups.

The second version of this initiative represents a significant development, as the number of participating clubs has increased from 34 teams last season to 70 teams next season. The structure of the competitions has also been updated in the second edition, including the launch of the Seco
nd Division League and the Futsal League. Additionally, criteria have been added, such as the requirement to contract a coach with an Asian PRO coaching license to raise the technical level in the clubs, as well as criteria related to sports medicine, nutrition, and technology to improve the quality of performance and training within the teams.

The teams have been divided into three categories based on their competitions: (A) Premier League clubs, (B) Division League clubs, and (C) Division League clubs, and Futsal clubs.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

With a mixture of enthusiasm, joy and excitement, the residents and visitors of Shaqra Governorate, affiliated with the Riyadh Region, are set to enjoy a live experience on Sunday when the Fourth Shaqra Pepper Festival opens.

The ten-day event is held on July 28 at the Municipality Gallery for Ceremonies and Conferences, under the patronage of Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz. Pepper farmers in Shaqra governorate, who grow, farm, or cultivate more than 78% of the Kingdom’s pepper production, are set to showcase the finest types of hot pepper.

Organizers of the event endeavour to enable farmers of the governorate to market their products, educate producers, and guide them on healthy practices to produce high-quality crops and create seasonal job opportunities. It also reviews the most prominent investment opportunities related to pepper in the processing industries. The festival’s activities include many programs, events, seminars and lectures presented by a group of specialis
ts in the agricultural field. Competitions are also held to select the best model pepper farm, product, and the largest pepper tree. Hot pepper, also known as Habhar Shaqra , is considered among the finest and most preferred in the Saudi and Gulf markets.

Characterized by its delicious taste and pungent heat, hot pepper is also considered a top cash crop with high economic feasibility. With advanced agricultural practices, hot pepper is grown in open fields and inside greenhouses, yielding large quantities and high-quality output and achieving the best economic returns. Farm pepper is grown in Saudi Arabia in April, October, and November, while it is grown in greenhouses from late August to early September. The harvested season comes after 120 days and lasts for three months. The seed productivity ranges between 150 – 75 grams per acre. The Kingdom’s annual pepper production is 119,700 tons, with a self-sufficiency rate reaching 72%. It is grown in a total area of ??about 3,167 hectares in various regions of
the Kingdom, led by Riyadh region with an annual production of 65,796 tons in Shaqra Governorate, followed by Tabuk Region with a production of 10,484 tons; Qassim Region with a production of 9,045 tons; the Eastern Region with a production of 8,871 tons; Jazan Region with a production of (7,347) tons; Najran’s production is 5,548 tons, Makkah’s production is 4,675 tons; Madinah’s production 3,198 tons; Al-Baha Region 2,331 tons; Hail 1,155 tons; Asir 773 tons; Al-Jouf 357 tons, and the Northern Borders 100 tons. Chilli peppers are used in many ways, including food, especially spicy snacks, and traditional and fast meals in most countries. Capsaicin found in chilli peppers is used in the manufacture of ointments to treat local pain and in skin patches as a topical pain killer, in addition to the manufacture of chemical irritants used for security reasons, while capsaicin is also used in the manufacture of pepper spray used in tear gas. The global pepper market is estimated at $1.61 billion in 2024 and is expe
cted to reach $2.16 billion by 2029. It also has many health benefits, as it provides the body with essential vitamins, helps eliminate cancer, burns fat, lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and helps eliminate harmful bacteria.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Twisted Minds team was defeated by the Falcons team in the exclusive Saudi match conducted in the group stage of the Overwatch 2 tournament, the Esports World Cup. This event is the largest in the history of the gaming and esports industry and offers extraordinary prizes totalling $60 million.

The Qiddiya Arena hosted the heated rivalry between the two teams in front of a huge crowd of esports enthusiasts. The Falcons took the lead with two straight wins, but Twisted Minds rallied for a third-match victory. However, the Falcons ultimately prevailed in the fourth match, ending the match and solidifying their first position as Group B’s undefeated champions. Twisted Minds was relegated to second place.

Sixteen teams, represented by 98 players from 23 countries worldwide, compete for the championship shield and the largest portion of the one million-dollar prize pool. The first-place finisher will receive 1,000 points in addition to their current standing in the esports World Cup standings table.

Source: Sau
di Press Agency

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has prioritised the well-being and support of individuals with disabilities. The authority has provided services to ensure their comfort and ease upon arriving at the Grand Mosque, enabling them to perform their rituals easily.

These carts are designed to transport these individuals to and from the gates of the Grand Mosque.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Ministry of Culture is participating in the 38th Jerash Festival in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s ancient city of Jerash from July 24 to August 3.

The ministry will present a variety of cultural activities through three cultural agencies, reflecting the rich cultural and artistic diversity of the Kingdom. The Theater and Performing Arts Commission will participate with performing-arts groups from several Saudi regions, showcasing traditional arts such as Al-Hajini, Al-Dahha, Al-Samri, Al-Khamari, and Al-Rabash on the festival’s main stage.

The Heritage Commission will have a specialized pavilion for Year of the Camel 2024, a digital photo exhibition showcasing the prominent UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia, and another exhibition showcasing the Kingdom’s architectural heritage sites through virtual-reality technologies. The pavilion will also display traditional crafts by a group of Saudi artisans using innovative methods, including palm crafts, pottery, Asiri weaving, bead making, jewelr
y crafting, and woodworking.

The Music Commission will participate with a pavilion at the international exhibition site, introducing the Saudi Turooq initiative to preserve traditional Saudi performing music and the Saudi Music Memory initiative through interactive screens. The commission will also organize a cultural exchange show titled Turooq Meets the World at the Sound and Light Theater of the festival. The show will feature musical performances that blend Saudi musical heritage with the musical traditions of participating countries.

The Ministry of Culture’s participation in the iconic cultural festival is part of its efforts to highlight Saudi Arabia’s cultural renaissance on regional and global levels, promote the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Kingdom, and strengthen frameworks for cooperation and cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and countries worldwide, in line with the targets of the National Cultural Strategy derived from the ambitious Vision 2030.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Israeli enemy aircraft launched an airstrike after midnight on the outskirts of southern Lebanon’s Aita al-Shaab, targeting an unoccupied house.

Source: National news agency – Lebanon

The occupation forces attacked young men at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday.

The young men explained to Ma’an that the forces were stationed at all the gates of Al-Aqsa, and stopped young men and boys, checked their IDs, and subjected some to body searches and flogging – as every Friday – and also beat a number of young men with batons.

Ma’an learned that one of the young men was injured in the head after being beaten with sticks to prevent him from entering Al-Aqsa.

The forces also set up iron barriers at Bab al-Asbat Road – one of the main roads leading to Al-Aqsa – and turned back dozens of young men and prevented them from entering the mosque.

The forces also pursue young men in the streets of the Old City, to prevent them from reaching Al-Aqsa and praying on its threshold.

Source: Maan News Agency

The police seized firearms used in shooting crimes in the town of Taffuh and the city of Hebron on Friday.

The Public Relations and Media Department of the Police stated that the weapons that were seized had been used during the past period in shooting crimes and terrorizing citizens, as the General Investigations Department was able to arrest two people for their involvement in these crimes in the town of Taffuh and the city of Hebron.

She stressed the continuation of efforts to arrest outlaws and prevent encroachment on citizens’ property.

Source: Maan News Agency

Thousands of Americans are under mandatory evacuation orders out west as widespread wildfires burn hundreds of thousands of acres across Oregon, California, and elsewhere.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “We are grateful for the brave firefighters and first responders who are working to protect people and save lives.” “We urge everyone in the — in the affected areas to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials, especially those who have been ordered to evacuate. “And the president has been briefed on the fires and we are in close touch with the governor’s office — offices in affected States to ensure they have all that they need,” Karine noted.

White House and federal officials are also in close contact with state and local officials on the front lines of these fires and 6800 federal personnel from the US Forest Service and the Department of Interior are on the ground helping to fight the blazes and keep people safe. The Department of
Defense has also mobilized four of its C-130 modular airborne firefighting systems to support fire suppression efforts.

“FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) also issued several Fire Management Assistance grants to help reimburse states for firefighting costs. As always we stand ready to provide further support as needed,” she added.

Source: Kuwait News Agency