Saudi woman gets $533k after being swapped at birth, then living in poverty

01 Sep 2021; MEMO: A woman in Saudi Arabia has been awarded at least two million riyals ($533,334) after being accidentally swapped at birth with another baby and being raised by a poor family for over three decades.

The claimant, now aged 35 was born to wealthy parents at a government-run hospital in Makkah, according to local newspaper Al-Watan. However, a nurse who had bathed the new-born babies mistakenly returned them to the wrong mothers.

Armed rebels start surrendering to Syrian army in Daraa amid new deal

DAMASCUS, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- A new deal to defuse the tension in Daraa province in southern Syria went into force on Wednesday, starting with a number of armed rebels surrendering to the Syrian authorities, according to state news agency SANA and a war monitor.

A number of armed men from the Daraa al-Balad area started a reconciliation process with the Syrian authorities, handing over their weapons as part of a new Russian-mediated deal to end months-long tension in that province.

Australia thanks Pakistan for support in transit of its nationals from Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, Sep 2 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Australian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg on Thursday exchanged views on the latest developments in Afghanistan as well as on bilateral relations.

During the telephonic conversation, the Austrian Foreign Minister thanked Pakistan for its support in facilitating transit of Austrian nationals and others from Afghanistan.

Israel: Bennett will not attend Egypt-Jordan-Palestine summit

02 Sep 2021; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett denied on Wednesday that he is going to attend a tripartite summit for the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to be held today in Cairo.

His office denied reports about his participation, and pointed out that he is not even planning to meet with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in the long term.

Russia: Putin kicks off new investment projects in the Far East

VLADIVOSTOK, September 2. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin launched four new investment projects in the country’s Far East on Thursday, which are in the field of agriculture and the automotive industry. The head of state familiarized himself with them via an interactive presentation on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

"Let’s start!" the Russian leader said, marking the launch of the new investment endeavors.

Putin congratulated investors "on the right choice of location for these efforts and for capital investment."

AIIB Approves 250 Million-USD Loan To Jordan

AMMAN, Sept 2 (NNN-PETRA) – Board of directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), authorised 250 million-U.S.-dollar investment in Jordan, to stimulate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank said yesterday.

According to a statement released by the AIIB, the bank’s first loan to Jordan is expected to create more jobs by unleashing the economy’s potential, especially in green growth.

South African President invites investors to explore business opportunities

JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday invited investors to explore vast business opportunities in the country's sectors including mining and agriculture as the government has kept improving the business environment.

Ramaphosa made the remark marks at the Limpopo Provincial Investment Conference held Wednesday and Thursday.

Russia threatens to fine Apple, Google unless they remove Navalny app, Ifax reports

MOSCOW, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Russia's communications watchdog threatened on Thursday to fine Apple and Google unless they removed an app created by Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny from their stores, the Interfax news agency reported.

A Russian court declared the jailed opposition politician's movement extremist this summer in a crackdown ahead of parliamentary elections later this month. Navalny's allies want to use the app to organise a tactical voting campaign.

UN warns food stocks in Afghanistan could run out by month’s end

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 02 (APP): A senior United Nations official has warned that UN food stocks in Afghanistan could run out this month, underscoring a critical need for US $ 200 million to provide food to the most vulnerable.

Speaking to New York-based correspondents from Kabul via video-link, Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov said every effort was being made to bring in more supplies and that Pakistan was helping to meet the grave situation.

India's sugar export to Afghanistan almost comes to halt

New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) India's sugar export to Afghanistan has almost come to a halt with Indian merchants reporting cancellation of orders in the wake of the current situation there, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

The Taliban ousted the government in Afghanistan and took over the control of the country after capturing Kabul last month.

Afghanistan is one of the top three destinations for Indian sugar exports. About 6,00,000-7,00,000 tonne of the sweetener is exported annually.

US senator says Lebanon does not need to rely on Iran for fuel

02 Sep 2021; MEMO: US Senator Richard Blumenthal said yesterday that the Lebanese authorities do not have to rely on Iranian fuel shipments to alleviate the fuel crisis crippling the country.

"Lebanon is in free fall…We've seen this movie before and it's a horror story…, but the good news is it can, should, and hopefully will be avoided," Blumenthal told reporters at the end of a two-day visit to Lebanon as part of a US congressional delegation.

Cyprus on alert as Syrian oil slick spreads across Mediterranean

NICOSIA, Sept 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in Cyprus are monitoring an oil slick that originated from a power plant on Syria’s Mediterranean coast and could soon affect the island.

Syrian state media said last week there had been a spill from the plant, which is inside the Baniyas oil refinery.

Satellite imagery showed that the slick spread north along the Syrian coast before moving westwards towards Cyprus.

Modelling suggests that it will reach the Karpas Peninsula in the Turkish-controlled north on Tuesday.

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