TUNIS: Tunisian police supported by planes and anti-terrorism units arrested hundreds of migrants and seized boats on Saturday in a major crackdown on people smuggling in the coastal region of Sfax — a key departure point for migrants heading to Europe.
The operation, which the government said was ordered by President Kais Saied, came as the Italian island of Lampedusa struggles with a record number of landings by boat migrants crossing from North Africa.

TRIPOLI: Libya’s deadly floods have sparked a surge of solidarity and transcended political differences in a country wracked by division ever since the 2011 revolution that overthrew Muammar Qaddafi.
“As soon as we heard about this awful tragedy, people began a spontaneous campaign in Tajoura to help, with no state backing at all,” said Mohannad Bennour in the eastern suburb of Tripoli, the capital.
He said that since Monday, donations of “nearly 70,000 dinars (13,500 euros) have been sent in, more than 20,000 dinars on Friday alone.”

LONDON: Protests in the Syrian city of Suweida have been going on more than a month now, with crowds usually gathering in the central Al-Karama Square, calling on the government in Damascus to implement economic and political reforms.

On Friday between 3,500 and 4,000 people rallied in the southern city — the largest in nearly a month of anti-regime demonstrations that have intensified as Syrians reel from the economic impact of war.

TEHRAN: Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has met with families of security personnel killed during mass protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini last year, state media reported on Saturday.
Raisi has been holding the meetings since Thursday during a visit to the northeastern city of Mashhad, ahead of Saturday’s first anniversary of Amini’s death.
Iran was gripped by nationwide demonstrations following Amini’s death days after her arrest for an alleged breach of the dress code for women.

MARRAKESH, Morocco: Kuwaiti charitable associations are hard at work in relief operations in Morocco having dispatched teams to earthquake-hit regions to determine survivors’ needs and provide aid.
“Fazaa for Morocco is a humanitarian campaign, in which 14 charitable associations are participating, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs, to help our brothers in Morocco after this earthquake hit various regions,” said Omar Al-Thuwaini, the campaign’s general supervisor, to Kuwait News Agency on Saturday.