Middle East & North Africa

DUBAI, Aug 31 (NNN-WAM) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will send 140 athletes to the 19th Asian Games, hosted by Hangzhou, China, from Sept 23 to Oct 8.

The UAE National Olympic Committee announced yesterday that, its delegation includes 102 male and 38 female athletes. They will compete in events such as shooting, equestrian, athletics, swimming, cycling, archery, judo, taekwondo, karate, jiu-jitsu, fencing, boxing, wrestling, basketball, rugby, sailing, rowing, chess, golf, esports, and triathlon.

BEIRUT, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Beirut Thursday for an official visit to Lebanon after wrapping up his tour in Syria, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Upon his arrival at the airport, the Iranian diplomat told the press that his country called on the international community to help Lebanon, which has been mired in a major financial crisis and political impasse, according to the NNA.

DAMASCUS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad and his Iranian counterpart Hussein Amir-Abdollahian jointly warned on Wednesday the United States against its reported military buildup along the Syrian-Iraqi border.

In a press conference held in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the two ministers expressed concerns over the apparent U.S. efforts to amass forces and allied rebel groups along the Syrian-Iraqi border, from the northeastern Syrian province of Hasakah to the southeastern region near the U.S. base in al-Tanf.

CAIRO, Aug 30 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, and visiting Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, yesterday discussed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the Sudanese crisis.

An Egyptian presidential spokesman said in a statement that, during the meeting, at the coastal city of New Alamein, Sisi attached great importance to the historical bonds and deep relations between his country and Sudan, at the official and popular levels.

CAIRO, Aug 30 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt is planning to drill 35 new natural gas wells in the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile Delta, in the next two fiscal years, to boost its natural gas production, the Egyptian Cabinet said in a statement yesterday.

The country already drilled ten natural gas wells during the fiscal year 2022-2023, which ended on Jun 30, 2023, the statement quoted Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El-Molla, as saying.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Saudi court has sentenced a man to death over his posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, and his activity on YouTube, the latest in a widening crackdown on dissent in the kingdom that has drawn international criticism.

The judgement against Mohammed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, seen Wednesday by The Associated Press, comes against the backdrop of doctoral student Salma al-Shehab and others facing decadeslong prison sentences over their comments online.

29 August 2023; MEMO: Bahrain has granted an increase in some human rights for those incarcerated within its prison system, amid a mass hunger strike involving hundreds of prisoners in the country.

29 August 2023; MEMO: Algeria is proposing an initiative to resolve the political crisis in neighbouring Niger with a six-month transition period led by a civilian, Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

Attaf, who recently toured West African states, said “most of the countries we have talked to are against military intervention to end the crisis”.

29 August 2023; MEMO: Egypt plans to drill 35 gas wells by mid-2025, according to the country’s Petroleum Minister on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reports.

“The drilling of the 35 wells will cost over $1.5 billion in investments, and aims to increase the country’s production and reserves,” Tarek El-Molla said in a statement.

The drilling of the new well is part of a plan worth $1.9 billion to explore for gas in the Mediterranean and the Delta.

30 August 2023; MEMO: Amnesty International has condemned Israel’s “punitive” demolition of Palestinian child detainee’s home, stressing he is being punished for a fault he did not commit.