Month: July 2023

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WATKINS WELLNESS EXPANDS INTO SAUNA CATEGORY THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF SAUNA360

Vista, California, July 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Watkins Wellness, a leader in hot tubs and aquatic fitness systems, today announced the expansion of its portfolio of personal well-being products and entry into the sauna category as a result of the pending acquisition of Sauna360 Group Oy (“Sauna360”) by Watkins Wellness’ parent company, Masco Corporation. Sauna360 is a leading global manufacturer of sauna solutions, and its portfolio of products includes traditional, infrared, and wood-burning saunas as well as steam showers, rooms and generators. These products are sold primarily in the United States, Europe and throughout the rest of the world under the Tylö, Helo, Kastor, Finnleo, and Amerec brands. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to regulatory approval.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sauna360 to our organization and to expand our portfolio of industry-leading products aimed at promoting wellness and helping our customers feel good and live well!” said Vijaikrishna (VJ) Teenarsipur, President of Watkins Wellness. “Sauna360 brings a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise to our business. We look forward to leveraging the synergies between our businesses, which will allow us to better serve our dealer partners, consumers and, ultimately, the growing wellness market.”

“I am very pleased for Sauna360 to become part of Watkins Wellness. Sauna360’s business has grown in recent years, and becoming part of Watkins Wellness will further strengthen our capability and ambition to be a leading sauna player. The dealer distribution strategy, common focus on wellness and similar company cultures make this a true strategic fit,” said Pekka Lettijeff, President & CEO of Sauna360 Group.

Founded in 2008 as a merger between two leading sauna companies, Helo and Tylö, Sauna360 brings decades of industry knowledge and experience resulting from a strong history, with Helo’s origin dating back to 1919 and Tylö’s to 1949. The company is headquartered in Finland and has approximately 180 employees located in Finland, Sweden, the United States, and England.

About Watkins Wellness

Watkins Wellness, established in 1977 in Vista, California, is dedicated to promoting wellness to consumers to help them feel good and live well. The company’s growing portfolio of well-being products for at-home use provides multiple pathways to wellness. Our portfolio of brands includes Hot Spring® Spas, Caldera® Spas, Freeflow® Spas, Fantasy® Spas, and Endless Pools® Fitness Systems, sold predominantly through a specialty dealer network of more than 1,000 dealer partners located in 70+ countries. Watkins Wellness is a wholly owned subsidiary of Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS).

About Masco Corporation

Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, Masco Corporation is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded home improvement and building products. Our portfolio of industry-leading brands includes BEHR® paint; Delta® and Hansgrohe® faucets, bath and shower fixtures; and Hot Spring® Spas. We leverage our powerful brands across product categories, sales channels, and geographies to create value for our customers and shareholders. For more information about Masco Corporation, visit www.masco.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Watkins Wellness is a subsidiary of Masco Corporation. As such, this press release contains statements that reflect views about Masco Corporation’s future performance and constitute “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “outlook,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “appear,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “assume,” “seek,” “forecast,” and similar references to future periods. These views about future performance involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, accordingly, Masco Corporation’s actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in these forward-looking statements. We caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the expected closing of the Sauna360 transaction and the expected benefits and synergies of the acquisition, including the expected impact on future financial and operating results and post-acquisition plans and intentions. Masco Corporation’s future performance may also be affected by the levels of residential repair and remodel activity, and to a lesser extent, new home construction, the ability to maintain strong brands and to develop innovative products, the ability to maintain its public reputation, the ability to maintain its competitive position in its industries, reliance on key customers, the cost and availability of materials, dependence on suppliers and service providers, extreme weather events and changes in climate, risks associated with international operations and global strategies, the ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of its strategic initiatives, the ability to successfully execute its acquisition strategy and integrate businesses that it has acquired and may in the future acquire, the ability to attract, develop and retain a talented and diverse workforce, risks associated with cybersecurity vulnerabilities, threats and attacks, risks associated with reliance on information systems and technology and the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on its business and operations. These and other factors are discussed in detail in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in Masco Corporation’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in Masco Corporation’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in other filings it makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause Masco Corporation’s actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all of them. Unless required by law, Masco Corporation undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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  • Watkins Wellness, a leader in hot tubs and aquatic fitness systems.
Krista Hydar
Watkins Wellness
760-814-0630
Krista.Hydar@watkinsmfg.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8883225

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International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID Facilitates Dialogue Encounters at World Youth Day Lisbon 2023

Lisbon, Portugal., July 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID is delighted to announce its participation in World Youth Day Lisbon 2023, a significant international gathering of young people aimed at fostering unity, faith, and cultural exchange. From 1st to 6th August 2023, the enchanting city of Lisbon will play host to this momentous event, and KAICIID will be at the forefront, organizing Dialogue Encounters that promote understanding and cooperation among followers of different religious traditions, religious leaders, and policymakers.

As a unique intergovernmental organization with a dual governance structure consisting of a Council of Parties comprising States and a Board of Directors made up of religious leaders, KAICIID is committed to bridging the gaps between diverse faiths, nationalities, and generations. The Dialogue Encounters, part of the Youth Festival strand, will encompass a series of activities designed to facilitate meaningful dialogues and genuine acceptance, in line with the message of His Holiness Pope Francis, who calls for “concrete encounters” and understanding of those different from ourselves.

At the heart of KAICIID’s involvement in World Youth Day are three key activities: a panel debate with representatives from five different religions, the launch of the innovative Dialogo board game, and a screening of the poignant documentary, “Justine: A KAICIID Fellow’s Journey.”

Dr. Zuhair Alharthi, Secretary General of the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), expressed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming Dialogue Encounters, stating, “At KAICIID, we believe that dialogue is the key to fostering peace and harmony in our interconnected world. World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 presents an unparalleled opportunity for us to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds, nurturing a culture of dialogue and acceptance. We are excited to be hosting several activities, including a panel discussion with leaders from five different religions, the launch of the Dialogo board game in Portugal, and the screening of our latest documentary, all culminating in an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis.”

The KAICIID Dialogo! board game, designed to encourage dialogue, teamwork, and social emotional learning, will be a highlight of the Dialogue Encounters. This game has already made a significant impact worldwide, being embraced by schools, teams, and learning environments as a tool to promote skills in dialogue and peacebuilding. Dr. Alharthi emphasized, “Dialogo! is for youth and adults alike, for all those who seek to develop their skills in dialogue and inspire others to join the conversation.”

Dr. Alharthi further added, “The Dialogue Encounters we have prepared for World Youth Day will empower young people with the necessary tools to facilitate meaningful conversations and embrace diversity. We believe that by promoting dialogue and empathy, we can build bridges that connect cultures and foster global harmony.”

In a moment of exceptional significance, eight KAICIID Fellows will have the privilege of participating in an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis. During this intimate gathering, the Fellows will share their reflections on how interreligious dialogue can serve as a powerful means to create links between cultures and religions, providing a unique and enriching personal experience for all involved.

As an intergovernmental organization based in Lisbon, KAICIID is uniquely positioned to facilitate meaningful encounters between people of different faiths and cultures. By strengthening capacity at the local, national, and regional level through education on dialogue practices, increasing understanding of religious and cultural diversity through leadership for dialogue training, and promoting dialogue and social cohesion through conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and development policies, KAICIID continues to play a vital role in fostering a more inclusive and peaceful world.

To learn more about the International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID and their efforts to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, please visit www.kaiciid.org.

About International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID:

The International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting peace and understanding through interreligious and intercultural dialogue. By strengthening capacity at the local, national, and regional level through education on dialogue practices, leadership for dialogue training, and promoting dialogue and social cohesion through conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and development policies, KAICIID aims to create a more harmonious and cooperative global community.

For media inquiries, please contact: press@kaiciid.org

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Sandra Coyle
International Dialogue Centre - KAICIID
+351 211 453 501
sandra.coyle@kaiciid.org

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8883716

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PM attends Jordanian Industry Day celebration

Deputizing for His Majesty King Abdullah, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh attended the Jordanian Industry Day celebration, which was held by the Amman Chamber of Industry. The celebration was held to highlight the industrial sector achievements in support of the national economy and honor major industrial exporters. “His Majesty the King always directs us to support the industrial sector, as it is the sector with largest employment rate, recording 20 per cent in Jordan and constitutes a quarter of the size of the national economy, 95 per cent of exports and attracts about 70 per cent of the foreign investments in the Kingdom,” Khasawneh said in the ceremony, which was attended by ministers, officials and representatives of the private sector. “The government is committed to a real partnership with the private sector in our endeavor to serve citizens and find solutions to unemployment, in light of the limited ability of the government apparatus to provide jobs, which range between 10-15 thousand jobs annually only, with inputs to the labor market reaching 120,000 people annually,” Khasawneh added. The Prime Minister pointed out that Jordan has provided an appropriate environment to enable the industrial sector to access global markets via free trade agreements with Arab countries and with major countries such as the United States of America, which have contributed to increasing the volume of Jordan’s exports to the USA to more than $2 billion, which is likely to increase in many pharmaceutical and food industries, He added that many Jordanian companies have begun to provide many US facilities with air conditioning. “We rely a lot on the industrial sector and other Jordanian economic sectors in order to achieve objectives of the economic modernization vision, foremost of which is increasing economic growth rates and providing jobs,” the Prime Minister said.

Source: Jordan News Agency

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PM attends Jordanian Industry Day celebration, 1st add

The Prime Minister noted that the government is finalizing the legislative system aimed at empowering the private sector and supporting investment within the framework of hypotheses of the economic modernization vision, which requires a financing base of up to JD41 billion over ten years, at the rate of JD1.5 billion annually in foreign investments and JD2.5 billion in local investments, in addition to the government allocations from the general budget. He underlined that the economic modernization vision is a very ambitious plan, and that its objectives require a lot of efforts, especially in light of the uncertainty that dominates the global economy and the very high demand on international financing windows and tools as a result of the current international crises, the continued vulnerability to the repercussions of the Covid-19 crisis and the imbalance in the supply chains resulting from the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. He explained that the economic modernization vision and the public sector modernization map are complementary to the political modernization project, which we are moving towards the first practical part of it with the parliamentary elections next year. “Today we are moving towards recovery, and we have completed, in cooperation with the private sector, some legislations such as the investment environment law and we hope to complete the public private sector partnership law during the parliament’s current extraordinary session in terms of eliminating bureaucracy and accelerating the implementation of partnership projects without compromising the rules of governance,” Khasawneh added. “Thanks to the partnership with the private sector, we have overcome many crises and moved to the economic recovery stage, where the economic growth rate reached 2.8 per cent during the past months, which is a better figure than last year, and exports increased by 22 per cent, just as tourism income jumped by 110 per cent compared to the same period last year,” Khasawneh noted. He pointed out that these achievements were realized thanks to government policies that contributed to raising the competitiveness of the various sectors, especially the industrial sector, through structural interventions, including the re-pricing electric energy prices for the purposes of directing the savings achieved to support the economic sectors in order to raise their competitiveness.

Source: Jordan News Agency

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Gold Prices Head for Monthly Gain on Hopes for End to Rate-Hike Cycle

Gold prices were bound for their biggest monthly gain in four on Monday as expectations grew that major global central banks may be nearing the end of current monetary policy tightening cycles.

Spot gold was down 0.2% at $1,954.79 per ounce, while US gold futures slipped 0.4% to $1,953.80 per ounce.

Other precious metals also looked set to post monthly rises, with spot silver down 0.5% on the day at $24.22 an ounce. Platinum dropped 0.9% to $927.38 and palladium eased 0.3% to $1,241.93.

Source: Qatar News Agency

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Qatar’s Producer Price Index Declines 3.24% in June

The Producer Price Index (PPI) of the industrial sector of the State of Qatar for June 2023 is estimated at 108.86 points, showing a decrease of 3.24% when compared to the previous month. On Y-o-Y basis, PPI of June 2023 showed a decrease of 31.33%, when compared to the PPI of June 2022.

The PPI include four main industry sectors: Mining (weight: 82.46%), Manufacturing (weight: 15.85%), Electricity (weight: 1.15%), and Water (weight: 0.52%).

According to data issued Monday by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA), the PPI of June 2023 for the Mining and Quarrying showed a decrease by 3.05% when compared with PPI of May 2023, primarily due to the price decrease on “Crude petroleum and natural gas” by 3.05%, while no change noticed in “Other mining and quarrying”. PPI of Mining of June 2023, when compared with its counterpart in previous year (June 2022) decreased by 31.42%, due to the price decrease on “Crude petroleum and natural gas” by 31.46%, followed “Other mining and quarrying” by 0.28%.

In Manufacturing, a decrease of 4.43% has been noticed in June 2023, when compared with the previous months Manufacturing index (May 2023). The prices decrease is seen in: “Chemicals and chemical products” by 5.34%, followed by “Refined petroleum products” by 4.58%, “Basic metals” by 4.22%, “Rubber and plastics products” by 3.92%, “Cement and other non-metallic mineral products” by 1.02%, and “Beverages” by 0.16%. The increasing prices are noticed in “Food products” by 0.18%. No change noticed in “Printing and reproduction of recorded media” in Jun 2023.

Compared with the index of counterpart in the previous year (June 2022), “Manufacturing” PPI of June 2023 showed a decrease of 33.54%. The major groups which explain this price decrease are: “chemicals and chemical products” by 41.13%, followed by “Refined Petroleum products” by 33.15%, “Basic metals” by 23.54%, “Cement and other non-metallic mineral products” by 1.26%. “Printing and reproduction of recorded media” by 0.84%, and “Rubber and Plastics products” by 0.29%. However, the increasing prices are noticed in “Food products” by 4.11%, and “Beverages” by 1.62%.

The PPI the Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply group showed a decrease of 3.60% compared to May 2023. When compared the PPI of June 2022, the group showed an increase of 0.39%.

With regard to Water supply, the PPI of this group showed a decrease of 0.44% compared to May 2023. When compared the PPI of June 2022, the group showed an increase of 18.02%.

Source: Qatar News Agency

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QSE Index Starts Monday’s Trading in Red Zone

Qatar Stock Exchange index dropped 30.48 points, or 0.28%, at the beginning of Monday’s trading, to reach the level of 10923 points, compared to Sunday’s closing session, weighed down by the Industrials and the Banks sectors.

The negative performance of QSE general index was caused by a decline in four sectors: Industrials by 0.56%, Banks and Financial Services by 0.41%, Insurance by 0.19%, and Real Estate by 0.08%. On the other hand, the index recorded a rise in Telecoms by 0.62%, Consumer Goods and Services by 0.25%, and Transportation by 0.08%.

At 10:00 am, Qatar Stock Exchange recorded 2870 transactions worth QR 75.349 million, distributed to 41.578 million shares.

Source: Qatar News Agency

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Abbas calls for unity against ‘barbaric Israeli aggression’

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called on the leaders of Palestinian factions attending a meeting in Egypt to unite against “Israeli aggression.”

The general secretaries-level meeting taking place upon a call by Abbas kicked off on Sunday in the Egyptian coastal city of El Alamein and is closed to the press, said Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab Allouh.

Noting that it is inevitable for all Palestinians to assume national responsibility against the ongoing “barbaric aggression of Israel,” Abbas said “we must ensure our national unity to fight against the occupation, which targets our rights and sanctities as well as our existence.”

Abbas advised all parties not to be hesitative towards the PLO and its national political agenda, praising the group for paving the way for the country to be able to become a full-time party to 130 international agreements and institutions.

Abbas underlined that the struggle to become a full-time member of the UN will continue.

He stressed that one of the basic principles that will ensure the unity of Palestine is to “adhere to international legitimacy and peaceful popular resistance,” noting they have resorted to various stages of resistance so far, and in today’s conditions, it would be best for the Palestinians to continue their struggle “peacefully.”

He accused Israel of preventing elections from taking place and called on the international community, including the US and the European Union, to put pressure on Israel over the matter.

Great difficulties

The parties will discuss “developments in Palestine, the restoration of national unity, and ways to end divisions in the shadow of the great difficulties facing the Palestinian issue,” Egypt’s official news agency MENA reported.

During initial talks held on Saturday, the leaders of the Palestinian groups stressed that decisions should be made to strengthen national unity and support the resistance of the people in the face of Israeli attacks.

The Palestinian groups also emphasised that their ranks should be strengthened as part of the PLO.

Common ground

Hamas spokesman Hazim Qassim told Anadolu News Agency they were holding talks with most of the Palestinian groups to prepare the ground for the meeting to end successfully and with a resulting statement suitable for all parties.

He said the talks are an attempt to expand the common areas between the Palestinian groups and reach a consensus that will result in practical steps.

Fehmi Sahin, political chief of the Palestinian People’s Party, told Anadolu on Saturday that the meeting would focus on “strengthening and expanding the role of the PLO, the functional role of the Palestinian Authority, and the strategy of resistance to be developed against Israel and its crimes.”

He expressed hope for all parties to find common ground.

Attendees should put aside disagreements and focus on the struggle against occupation and supporting the people’s resistance, he said.

Some Palestinian groups including the Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) and the Vanguard for the Popular Liberation War — Lightning Forces (As-Sa’iqa) have announced that they will not take part in the meeting because they think it will “fail.”

On July 10, Abbas announced the extraordinary meeting of Palestinian groups’ general secretaries in Egypt.

The meeting is expected to address the dangers and challenges facing the Palestinian cause following a 48-hour attack by Israel earlier this month on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

Source: TRTworld.com

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Saudi envoy meets Women’s Union head

Saudi Ambassador to Jordan, Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, on Monday met with President of the Jordanian Women’s Union (JWU), Lana Krishan. The meeting covered the importance of enhancing the role of women’s community participation and empowering them at economic, political and social levels, focusing more on the social action, which helps accelerate their development track.

Source: Jordan News Agency

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Germany suspends support to Niger after coup

Germany on Monday said it had suspended its bilateral cooperation with Niger until further notice and has warned that it might take further steps in response to a military coup last week that saw democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum detained by a group of soldiers. Berlin has “suspended all direct support payments to the central government of Niger until further notice,” Deutsche Welle (DW) cited a Foreign Ministry spokesperson as saying to a press briefing. The suspension of cooperation was confirmed by the Development Ministry. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius later said that Berlin was assessing possible actions to take both with regard to its troops in Niger and its military withdrawal from neighboring Mali, according to DW.

Source: Jordan News Agency

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Under Royal directives, army evacuates injured Jordanian citizen from KSA

Under Royal directives, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, instructed the Director General of the Royal Medical Services (RMS) and the Commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) to dispatch a RJAF Medical Facility aircraft with an aeromedical evacuation team, who supervised the evacuation of a Jordanian citizen to Al-Hussein Medical City after he had a car accident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “A Jordanian citizen was evacuated to Al-Hussein Medical City, after he had a car accident in Saudi Arabia, and his condition will be evaluated in the emergency department, and all necessary laboratory and radiological tests will be performed, and he will be admitted to the relevant department in Al-Hussein Medical City for follow-up,” acting head of the emergency team, Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ashraf Abu Odeh, said. The citizen’s family expressed their deep thanks and appreciation to His Majesty, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) – the Arab Army, for this royal and humanitarian gesture, lauding JAF’s great efforts.

Source: Jordan News Agency

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Newspapers Review: Meeting of the Palestinian factions in Cairo highlight of the dailies

The three Palestinian Arabic dailies published today, al-Ayyam, al-Quds, and al-Hayat al-Jadida, highlighted the meeting of the Palestinian factions in Cairo and the remarks President Mahmoud Abbas made at the meeting as well as the armed clashes in Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon in which six people were killed in clashes between Fatah fighters and Islamic militants. Following are the main headlines of these newspapers: Al-Ayyam The factions meeting: A committee to follow up on the dialogue and the President sets the bases for unity and ending the division Ain al-Hilweh camp: Six dead from Fatah in clashes with Islamic groups Ben Gvir repeals a law that allows for the early release of Palestinian prisoners Wide-scale notifications of demolition and cessation of construction; settlers bulldozing lands in two villages near Nablus The occupation authorities turn a memorial in Sheikh Jarrah into a settlement project Injuries from suffocation during confrontations with the occupiers in al-Mughayyir The occupation forces assaulted a Jerusalemite during his arrest Massive demonstrations in the Gaza Strip under the slogan “We want to live” Netanyahu agrees to recommendations on how to deal with the activities of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon Egypt: Three policemen were killed in an armed attack in al-Arish Russia announces thwarting Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and Crimea Al-Quds: In the final statement: The heads of factions agree to form a committee to follow up on the dialogue with the aim of ending the division Injuries, notifications, detentions, and assaults by settlers Yesh Din: The abolition of the pretext of unreasonableness does not apply to the occupied territories UNRWA warns of famine in Gaza in the coming months Ben Gvir issues instructions to cancel the early release of Palestinian prisoners Netanyahu agrees to recommendations to confront Hezbollah Al-Hayat al-Jadida: The President calls for the formation of a follow-up committee of the factions to continue the dialogue, calls for it to start work immediately to accomplish its mission The President receives the Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence and congratulates the King of Morocco on the Throne Day Presidency: The terrorist massacre of fighters from the National Security Forces in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp crossed red lines Shtayyeh: We highly appreciate the King of Morocco’s affirmation of his country’s stance towards the justice of the Palestinian cause In the framework of the restrictions imposed against them: Ben Gvir instructs to cancel the early release of prisoners The occupation authorities force a Jerusalemite and his son to demolish their apartments in Jabal Mukabber; detentions and demolition notifications in the West Bank Violent clashes in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp following the assassination of the Palestinian National Security commander in Sidon and four of his companions Injuries as a result of Hamas’s suppression of demonstrations demanding a decent life in the Gaza Strip

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA