Day: July 28, 2024

Beirut, The Lebanese resistance on Sunday, categorically denied the allegations made by some Israeli enemy media outlets and various media platforms about the resistance targeting the town of Majdal Shams in the occupied Syrian Golan.

In a statement, the Lebanese Resistance affirmed that it has absolutely nothing to do with the incident and categorically denying all false allegations in this regard.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Nineteen people have died after the boat carrying them capsized in a river in the Amhara region, Ethiopia.

According to local authorities, the boat was carrying 26 people across the river Tekeze. Seven people, including one child, were rescued.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Gaza – Ma’an – An officer and a soldier from the armored unit were seriously injured today in the southern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army reported that an armored officer and an armored soldier from the 82nd Battalion, Sar Maglan Brigade (7), were seriously wounded earlier today during a battle in the southern Gaza Strip.

Source: Maan News Agency

NEW DELHI: The UNESCO World Heritage Committee have followed advice from International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – as the official advisor on nature – to inscribe five new sites on the World Heritage List and extend one existing World Heritage site.

The announcement came during the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, India.

‘In line with IUCN’s recommendation, the World Heritage Committee has significantly strengthened the protection of these world’s treasures and sources of exceptional bio- and geodiversity,’ said Tim Badman, Director of World Heritage at IUCN.

‘These areas are home to the world’s most impressive dunes, exceptional cave-dwelling species, peat bogs and mires, as well as important bird migratory routes, yet are all under increasing pressure. They will benefit from the international recognition that comes from the UNESCO World Heritage List.’

The sites added to the list are:

Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia

A hotspot for
terrestrial and marine biodiversity, and endemic species in the French Overseas Territory of French Polynesia, these islands are home to more than 305 plant species and an exceptional endemism of coastal fish and marine molluscs. It is also of cultural significance in relation to the historical initial occupation of the Marquesas archipelago by the Enata people between the 10th and 19th centuries.

The Flow Country, United Kingdom

This area protects one of the largest peat bog ecosystems remaining in Europe and is the first World Heritage site focussed on peatlands. Its ongoing peat-forming processes continue to sequester carbon on a very large scale.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

The national park has a breathtaking coastal sand dune system of striking contrasts. The park was inscribed for its unique geomorphological formations shaped by the interactions of climate and ocean, including the seasonal transformation through the formation of temporary lakes within extensive coastal barchan sand du
nes.

Badain Jaran desert – Towers of Sand and Lakes, China

Located in the remote autonomous region of Inner Mongolia, this site is a world-renowned hyper-arid landscape with an abundance of striking interdunal lakes. It exhibits a myriad of colours caused by the varying salinity and microbial communities unique to each lake.

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China

Upon IUCN’s recommendations, around ten new components have been added to the existing site. These new areas include some of the most important habitats for migrating birds along the East Asian- Australasian Flyway. IUCN has recommended a further extension in the future to add additional sites that are vital to support migrating birds.

Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Vjetrenica Cave, one of the longest in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is home to one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots for cave-dwelling fauna, being home to a total of 231 taxa of subterranean biodiversity. Inscribed
onto the World Heritage List, IUCN will work together with the State Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement the recommendations of the Committee to guarantee sufficient water to the cave system and ensure adequate funding.

The World Heritage Committee continues its meeting in Delhi until 31 July 2024.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Gaza – Ma’an – Thirteen citizens, including children and women, were killed and dozens were injured on Sunday evening in the occupation’s bombing of the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Local sources reported that the occupation warplanes bombed a house belonging to the Abu Muslim family in Khan Yunis, which led to the martyrdom of 10 citizens and the injury of dozens, who were transferred to Nasser Hospital.

He added that the occupation targeted a group of citizens in the Al-Sikka area in Khan Yunis, which led to the martyrdom of 3 citizens, who were transferred to Nasser Hospital.

In less than two hours, 17 citizens were martyred, including about 5 children, 4 of whom were beheaded, in three massacres, one west of Al-Mawasi, and another near the Jasser building and the Tahlia area. The number since this morning has reached about 27 martyrs in Khan Yunis.

Source: Maan News Agency

BEIJING: China recorded over 4.36 million inbound tourist arrivals in the first half of this year, a 5.4-fold increase year on year, according to the data from the country’s National Immigration Administration (NIA).

According to a report from China Central Television (CCTV), the National Immigration Administration (NIA) has stated that, during the same period, the number of international travelers entering China through the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policies increased fourfold compared to the previous year.

Under the 144-hour visa-free policy, visitors from 54 countries including the United States, Canada, and Britain can enter China for up to 144 hours exempted from visa requirements for the purpose of short-term activities such as travel and business visits.

Travelers are increasingly taking advantage of the policy to visit China, immersing themselves in the country’s culture, exploring its streets and landscapes.

In addition to the expanded visa-free policies, China has also launched a series of o
ther measures to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals and their stay in China, including relaxed visa application requirements and simplified procedures, exemption of border checks for certain transit passengers and more convenient mobile payment services for foreigners.

“Next, we will further improve and optimize the visa-free transit policy, actively explore the ways to coordinate visa-free durations, increase the number of visa-free ports, expand the areas where foreign nationals can visit, and add new eligible countries. We will work with relevant departments to continuously enhance the convenience for foreign visitors in China. We welcome more foreign friends to come to China,” said He Feng, director of the visa and travel management division of the NIA.

The policy was incepted in January 2013, when a 72-hour visa-free transit policy was implemented at China’s select cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing.

In January 2016, Shanghai and neighboring provinces of Jiangs
u, Zhejiang implemented a 144-hour visa-free policy for visitors from 51 countries, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the country’s north has adopted a 144-hour visa-free policy for foreigners from 53 countries since Dec. 28, 2017.

Northeast China’s Liaoning Province introduced a 144-hour visa-free policy for visitors from 53 countries on Jan. 1, 2018, and many other regions across the country followed suit the year later.

Currently, the 144-hour visa-free policy has been expanded to 37 ports in 16 provinces across China, and applies to visitors from 54 countries.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Gaza – Ma’an – The Qassam Brigades announced targeting an Israeli “Namer” armored personnel carrier south of Gaza City.

The Brigades said in a statement: “The Qassam Brigades targeted a Zionist ‘Nimr’ troop carrier with a ‘Yassin 105’ shell in the vicinity of Al-Baraa bin Azib Mosque in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood, south of Gaza City.”

Al-Qassam Brigades announced in a statement: “Al-Qassam fighters were able to target a Zionist force entrenched inside a building with an anti-personnel shell, killing and wounding its members in the vicinity of Al-Baraa bin Azib Mosque in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood, south of Gaza City.”

Source: Maan News Agency