Middle East & North Africa

18 Sep 2022; MEMO: Saudi Arabia has announced the discovery of new sites for gold and copper ore deposits in the Madinah region.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday that the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), represented by the Survey and Mineral Exploration Centre said that the discoveries of gold deposits were within the boundaries of the Aba Al-Raha in the Madinah region.

The SGS also announced the findings of copper ore, located across four sites in the Al-Madiq area in the same region.

CAIRO, Sept 18 (NNN-MENA) – The Suez Canal’s transit tolls will increase by 15 percent for all types of vessels, and 10 percent for dry bulk and cruise ships, starting next year, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced in a statement yesterday.

The authority said, rising energy prices, freight rates, and daily charter rates for ships, predicted to continue next year, are the main reason for raising transit tolls along the vital canal, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

RAMALLAH, Sept 18 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammed Ishtaye, yesterday, accused Israel of defying all the signed peace agreements and disregarding international law.

He made the remarks during the annual grape festival, held in the West Bank city of Hebron, urging the Israeli government to stop all its violations in Palestinian territories, according to a Palestinian statement.

“The occupation (Israel), violates all the signed peace agreements with disrespect, and does not respect the law and international legitimacy,” Ishtaye was quoted as saying.

DAMASCUS, Sept 18 (NNN-SANA) – Syria’s Health Minister, said yesterday that, the cholera outbreak in northern Syria is still under control.

Hasan Al-Ghabbash made the remarks, during his meeting with UN representatives and other NGOs in Syria, saying that, due to preemptive measures, the situation is still under control.

Al-Ghabbash said, the ministry has adopted a response plan, starting with securing clean water and raising awareness, in addition to activating early response teams.

DUBAI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Protests persisted on Sunday and #MahsaAmini became one of the top hashtags ever on Persian-language Twitter as Iranians fumed over the death of a young woman in the custody of morality police enforcing strict hijab rules.

Amini, 22, died on Friday after falling into a coma following her arrest in Tehran earlier in the week. The case has put a spotlight on women's rights in Iran.

Police rejected suspicions aired on social media that she was beaten, saying she fell ill as she waited with other detained women.

RAMALLAH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye on Saturday accused Israel of defying all the signed peace agreements and disregarding international law.

He made the remarks during the annual grape festival held in the West Bank city of Hebron, urging the Israeli government to stop all its violations in the Palestinian territories, according to a Palestinian statement.

"The occupation (Israel) violates all the signed peace agreements with disrespect and does not respect the law and international legitimacy," Ishtaye was quoted as saying.

GAZA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The annual Arab financial aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) had declined to 3 percent of UNRWA's budget in 2022, a UN advisor said on Saturday.

Adnan Abu Hasna, the media advisor of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip, told reporters in Gaza City that in 2018, the Arab financial support to the UN agency reached 200 million U.S. dollars.

GAZA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The annual Arab financial aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) had declined to 3 percent of UNRWA's budget in 2022, a UN advisor said on Saturday.

Adnan Abu Hasna, the media advisor of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip, told reporters in Gaza City that in 2018, the Arab financial support to the UN agency reached 200 million U.S. dollars.

Shahjahanpur (UP), Sep 17 (PTI) A court here rejected the plea of former Union minister Swami Chinmayanand Saraswati against his arrest warrant in a case of sexual abuse.

The case was lodged by one of his disciples. Swamy had sought a stay on his arrest warrant, citing his eye operation.

The MP-MLA Court's special advocate Neelima Saxena told PTI on Saturday that the arrest warrant was issued two months ago.

Haripad (Ker), Sep 18 (PTI) The Congress party's Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi resumed its journey on Sunday from Kerala's Haripad with hundreds of party workers and leaders accompanying it.

The yatra, which entered its 11th day, started shortly after 6.30 AM and senior leaders including Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, Kodikunnil Suresh, K C Venugopal and Leader of Opposition, V D Satheesan are walking beside Gandhi in the 13 km-long first leg of the march.