Middle East & North Africa

JERUSALEM, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers have developed a new method for early and rapid diagnosis of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, as well as psychiatric diseases, Ben-Gurion University (BGU) in southern Israel said on Wednesday.

The new technology, developed in a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, could lead to improved personal treatments and help evaluate the efficacy of new drugs, BGU noted.

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Commission on Wednesday emphasized a double burden on health systems across Africa due to a new Ebola outbreak and the still raging COVID-19 pandemic.

The AU Commission, through the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has started discussions with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on how to support its response to the 12th Ebola outbreak declared by the DRC on Sunday in Butembo Area of North Kivu Province, the AU said.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — One of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent political activists was released from prison Wednesday, her family said, after serving nearly three years on charges that sparked an international uproar over the kingdom’s human rights record.

TEHRAN, Feb 10 (NNN-IRNA) – The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, congratulated the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, in a message to his Iranian counterpart, President Hassan Rouhani, on Wednesday (today).

Congratulating the National Day of Iran, Mirziyoyev stressed the historic and cultural links and traditional friendship, as firm foundations of relation between the two countries.

In his message, Mirziyoyev expressed readiness to expand bilateral relations more than ever, and to boost ties to a new level.

10 Feb 2021; MEMO: Food consumption in Egypt has increased threefold since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the country's Supply Ministry announced yesterday. Ministerial adviser Ibrahim Ashmawy told the media that the volume of national consumption during the fasting month of Ramadan in 2020 was double the month's normal rate.

10 Feb 2021; MEMO: Iran's foreign minister has insisted that there is no place for French President Emmanuel Macron in any Iranian-Gulf dialogue. Mohammad Javad Zarif told official Iranian TV yesterday that France was not forced to be a member in the nuclear deal negotiations, although it is "natural for Macron to have concerns" about some of the terms of the agreement.

10 Feb 2021; MEMO: Iran's intelligence minister said persistent Western pressure could push Tehran to fight back like a "cornered cat" and seek nuclear weapons, which the Islamic Republic has for years insisted it has no intention of ever developing, Reuters reports.

The remarks made in a television interview are a rare suggestion that Iran might have an interest in nuclear weapons, which Western nations have accused Iran of pursuing.

10 Feb 2021; MEMO: The Sudanese government declared curfew in three states in light of widespread popular protests against hard living conditions and lack of security in some areas.

Governor of North Kordofan declared a state of emergency in his region, with a 12-hour curfew starting at 6 pm, "to preserve the lives of citizens and secure properties," and closed schools until 14 February, after the escalation of violence and riots, reported the Sudanese newspaper Al-Joumhouria.

10 Feb 2021; MEMO: Russia, Iran, and China will launch joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean in mid-February, the Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing Moscow's Ambassador to Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan.

The Russian diplomat added that the drills are set to include practicing search and rescue operations and measures that uphold the safety of marine navigation.

10 Feb 2021; MEMO: Qatar said Tuesday that it is ready to facilitate dialogue between Lebanese politicians on the formation of a new government, stressing that it does not seek to spoil the French initiative in this regard, Anadolu Agency reports.

"We do not seek to torpedo the French initiative, but rather we are working to complete international efforts to form the Lebanese government," said Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who is in Lebanon for a one-day visit.