DAKAR: Hussein Hachem hugged his injured daughter as she arrived in Senegal on a flight repatriating citizens escaping the escalating conflict in Lebanon. His 14-year-old son was not with her — killed, he said, when their home was bombed. As Israeli forces pounded southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs in a broadening offensive against Hezbollah, Hachem’s daughter Mariam, 11, who had suffered a broken foot, was among 117 Senegalese flown to Dakar on a government-organized flight.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is exploring partnerships with Spanish companies in drone technology, automotive components, and geological surveying, as the Kingdom’s industry minister held talks with business leaders in Madrid.  During the meeting, Saudi Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Alkhorayef discussed localizing the production of heavy-duty drones, automotive parts, and shipbuilding supplies, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: Oman’s total credit balance in the banking sector grew 3.3 percent in August, reaching 31.4 billion Omani rials ($81.6 billion), official data showed.  According to figures issued by the Central Bank of Oman, the private sector saw a 2.8 percent increase in credit, totaling 26.3 billion rials by the end of August.