BEIRUT: Militants in Lebanon launched a rocket barrage at villages across Israel’s northern frontier on Thursday, wounding two people and forcing hundreds to flee to bomb shelters, the Israeli military said.

The attack, one of the heaviest in years, ratcheted up regional tensions a day after Israeli police raided Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israel’s military later said that 34 rockets had been fired from Lebanon in the 15-minute strike, with 25 intercepted, and at least four landing in Israel.

CAIRO: Egypt will host the 12th World Urban Forum, or WUF, in November next year, which brings together leading experts to discuss the globe’s housing crisis.
The hosting venue was announced during the first session this year of the executive board of the UN Human Settlements Program, known as UN-Habitat, in Nairobi, Kenya, which took place on March 28 and 29.
Wael Nasr El-Din Attia, Egypt’s ambassador to Kenya and permanent representative to UN-Habitat, affirmed his nation’s support for the efforts of the program under the leadership of the current executive director.

BEIRUT: Security forces in Lebanon have foiled an attempt to use a drone to smuggle drugs into the central Roumieh Prison.

The administration of the largest prison in Lebanon spotted the drone hovering over the convicts’ ward several days ago. The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces said that a transparent bag containing drugs and a cell phone had been taped to the drone.

After the drone was seized, it was found to contain 74 narcotic pills, a white substance, a cell phone containing a SIM card, a USB flash drive and a pair of earbuds, the ISF said.

KUWAIT CITY: Officials from the UN refugee agency and Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development have inked a deal to assist refugees and internally displaced people throughout the Middle East and North Africa region.
The main aim of the memorandum of understanding will be to promote cooperation between the UN High Commissioner for Refugees organization and the development fund in responding to the humanitarian needs of vulnerable refugees, IDPs, and host communities, the Kuwait News Agency reported on Thursday.

AMMAN: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned on Thursday that it faced growing challenges in running its operations as donors were set to contribute less money this year.
Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini told The Associated Press in an interview that he plans to make a new appeal for donors after the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. He said that if “we are constantly struggling financially, we will become an unreliable partner for the host countries, the communities, for the refugees, but also for our 30,000 staff.”