Middle East & North Africa

Tehran, IRNA – The secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said that Iran was one of the most important founding members of the entity with a significant role in stabilizing the oil market.

In an interview with Kuwaiti newspaper Al Ra'I on Sunday, Haitham al-Ghais said that Iran and Venezuela were among the most important founding members of OPEC and had a significant role in stabilizing the oil market.

01 August 2022; MEMO: Israel's security cabinet agreed on Sunday to deduct NIS600 million ($176m) from the customs duties it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, Maariv has reported. According to the Hebrew-language newspaper, this is the same amount as the stipends that the PA paid to Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and their families last year.

31 July 2022; MEMO: As part of efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, Qatar has imposed a ban on selected cash transactions exceeding the value of $13,732 (QAR 50, 000).

Transaction values exceeding QAR 50,000 must be made via credit card, debit card, cheque or bank transfer. The new ruling was announced by Qatar's Central Bank (QCB) on Twitter earlier in the week and applies to the sale, purchase and rental of all types of properties, in addition to their modifications.

31 July 2022; MEMO: Morocco's King Mohammed VI has reiterated calls to restore diplomatic ties with Algeria, which severed ties with Rabat last year citing "hostile tendencies" towards Algiers following the kingdom's decision to resume relations with Israel in 2020.

DUBAI, Jul 30 (NNN-WAM) – Seven people were killed yesterday, in floods in northern and eastern United Arab Emirates (UAE), triggered by two days of heavy rain.

The UAE Ministry of Interior, extended its condolences to the families of the victims who are of various Asian nationalities, Al Salem Al Tunaiji, director general of the ministry’s federal operations, said in a tweet.

Al Tunaiji said, 80 percent of those who were evacuated have returned to their homes, noting, the rescue operations are still ongoing in the affected three emirates.

BAGHDAD, Jul 31 (NNN-NINA) – The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the Arab League, yesterday, called for an end to the escalation in the country, during protests against the nomination of Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani for the post of prime minister.

“The ongoing escalation is extremely concerning. Voices of reason and wisdom are critical to prevent further violence,” UNAMI said on Twitter, encouraging all sides to “de-escalate in the interest of all Iraqis.”

CAIRO, Jul 31 (NNN-MENA) – An Italian-Polish archaeological mission, uncovered remains of a mud-brick building, believed to be one of the lost “sun temples,” dating back to the Fifth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (2465 to 2323 BC).

The building was found under the temple of King Nyuserre in Abusir region, south of Cairo, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism, yesterday.

“Preliminary studies indicate that, the new discovery may be one of the four lost sun temples, that date back to the Fifth Dynasty,” the ministry statement said.

KHARTOUM, July 31 (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters marching towards Sudan's presidential palace were blocked by police firing tear gas, as an anti-military campaign entered its 10th month.

Protests have continued weekly since an Oct. 25 military takeover that halted a transition to democracy and plunged the country into turmoil.

Police on Sunday blocked protesters from reaching the kilometre-long road that leads to the presidential palace and chased them into nearby side streets, Reuters journalists said.

BEIRUT, July 30 (Reuters) - Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri said on Saturday he would not call for a session to elect a new president until the legislature passes reforms that are preconditions for an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.

An IMF deal is seen as the only way for Lebanon to recover from a financial meltdown that has plunged the country into its most destabilising crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.

ISTANBUL, July 31 (Reuters) - The possibility of the first grain-exporting ship leaving Ukraine's ports on Monday is high, a spokesperson for President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday.

"If all (details) are completed by tomorrow, it seems like there is a high possibility that the first ship will leave the port tomorrow...We will see ships leaving the ports the next day at the latest," Kalin said.