Middle East and Africa

[Nation] The African Union Commission has defended the continental body's decision to grant Israel member status, saying it was at the "express demand of many member states". (AllAfrica)

[African Arguments] Current tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have encouraged a deepening of diplomatic relations between the Saudi government and the transitional authority in Sudan. However, these foreign policy developments have not engendered a shift in the military's approach and attitude towards its civilian counterpart for the benefit of the transition period. (AllAfrica)

[The Herald] Qatar Airways' decision to spread its wings across the Zimbabwean skies beginning today is a momentous indicator to the Second Republic's commitment to mutual engagement and re-engagement with the international community for the common good of all citizens. (AllAfrica)

[Nation] UAE-based business intelligence and investment firm Investera has launched operations in Kenya, which will see it guide foreign investors seeking to invest locally and link local firms to foreign opportunities. (AllAfrica)

[East African] The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) has expressed concern over the potential environmental disaster posed to the Red Sea by the FSO Safer, an aging oil tanker moored off the western coast of Yemen. (AllAfrica)

[This Day] Although small and medium enterprises account for nearly 80 per cent of jobs globally, women own nearly 10 million of the SMEs. However, despite the high participation rate, they continuously face the challenge of accessing information, funds, and financing. To address these, the Women Empowered Leave Legacies through Trade and Investment Initiative was launched by the US government for women in Middle East and Africa. (AllAfrica)

[Ethiopian Herald] ADDIS ABABA- The United Arab Emirates (UAE)has expressed desire to set up a strong partnership with Ethiopia in the climate change and environment frontier that is aligned with the latter's priority to a climate resilient green economyas a primary vision for development. (AllAfrica)

[Tunis Afrique Presse] Tunis/Tunisia -- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Othman Jerandi, Wednesday, had a telephone call with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani (AllAfrica)

[Egypt Online] President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is to participate on Wednesday, via video conference, in an international conference on Lebanon, said Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi. (AllAfrica)

[Vanguard] The United Arab Emirates, UAE, today, announced that with effect from Thursday passengers on transit flights from Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Uganda can now enter UAE. (AllAfrica)

[AIM] Maputo -- The Palestinian ambassador to Mozambique, Fayez Abdul Jawwad, has urged the Mozambican government to oppose the granting of observer status at the African Union to Israel. (AllAfrica)

[Daily Maverick] As the Taliban surges across Afghanistan, threatening provincial capitals, the failure of the West in Afghanistan will not stop at that country's borders. There will, too, be profound implications for Africa, not least in the manner whereby African governments respond to external offers of assistance and deal with their own insurgencies. (AllAfrica)

[Tunis Afrique Presse] Tunis/Tunisia -- Two planes filled with oxygen and medical equipment provided by the State of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) landed at Tunis Carthage Airport on Tuesday afternoon, to support Tunisia's efforts in the fight against the COVID19 pandemic. (AllAfrica)

[Egypt Online] Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry asserted Egypt's unwavering stance in support of the Palestinian cause, and its rejection of anything that could undermine Al Quds (East Jeruslaem)'s Arab, Islamic and Christian identity, as well as the city's sacred places, or change the historical and legal status quo. (AllAfrica)

[LINA] Monrovia -- The Director General of the City Beautification Department at the Monrovia City Cooperation (MCC), P. Edwin Tisdell, has called on residents of the PHP community and its environs to support and serve and as the custodians of the UAE- Liberia Park that is expected to be erected soon in their community. (AllAfrica)

[Nation] As an unwritten rule in all global Internet frauds, no matter the amount of money stolen or the friendships that exist between gang members, all scams end when the scammers turn on each other. (AllAfrica)

[Radio Dabanga] Khartoum / Manama -- Sudan's federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi returned to Khartoum on Thursday, concluding a successful four-day visit to Bahrain, during which she met King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and a number of senior Bahraini officials. (AllAfrica)

[Daily News] THE country's tourism sector continues to open up with a group of 150 tourists from Israel arrival in the country today. The contingent is part of a group of 550 from the Middle Eastern country who will tour the country for tourism purposes in phases. (AllAfrica)

[Citizen] Arusha -- A group of 150 tourists from Israel have today August 2, landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) for a visit to national parks. (AllAfrica)

[Nation] South Africa has described as "unjust, unwarranted and inexplicable" the African Union's (AU) decision to grant Israel observer member status. (AllAfrica)

[The Herald] Qatar is interested in investing in livestock production and mining in Zimbabwe for the mutual benefit of the two countries, the country's new ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Tariq Al-Ansari, has said. (AllAfrica)

[RFI] The South African government has hit out at the African Union's move to grant observer status to Israel. (AllAfrica)

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Kenya and Israel have resolved to widen cooperation ahead of a Joint Trade Committee session in November. (AllAfrica)

[Daily News] TANZANIANS have been invited to invest in Oman including owning properties in ongoing efforts to further strengthen the two countries relations particularly in trade and businesses. (AllAfrica)

[IPS] Hamilton, Ontario, Canada -- In 1995, a highly-respected water expert in South Africa, Bill Pitman, in very concise terms illustrated that the country, already battling a growing lack of water then, would likely run out in 25 years if it did not increase its supply. (AllAfrica)

[Govt of SA] The government of South Africa is appalled at the unjust and unwarranted decision of the AU Commission to grant Israel observer status in the African Union. The African Union Commission has taken this decision unilaterally without consultations with its members. (AllAfrica)

[Nation] Employment agencies taking Kenyans to work in the Middle East have been put on notice for facilitating what Central Organisation of Trade Union (Cotu) on Wednesday termed as "modern slavery". (AllAfrica)

[SAnews.gov.za] The South African government says it is "appalled" at the unjust and unwarranted decision of the African Union Commission (AUC) to grant Israel observer status in the African Union (AU). (AllAfrica)

[RSF] Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the immediate release of a Sudanese journalist and media personality who has been given a four-year prison sentence in Saudi Arabia for criticising the Saudi authorities in tweets and interviews. At the same time, RSF reiterates its call for the release of all journalists imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. (AllAfrica)

[HRW] Beirut -- 4-Year Sentence Based on Vague Charges (AllAfrica)

[Leadership] The chairman of the Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa has said that the federal government is set to evacuate 600 Nigerians who have been stranded in Saudi Arabia for more than seven months. (AllAfrica)