LONDON: An Egyptian-British mother on hunger strike in protest against the detention of her activist son in Cairo has been given a glucose drip after being hospitalized in London, a campaign group said on Friday.
Laila Soueif, 68, has been on hunger strike for 152 days and was admitted to London’s St. Thomas’s Hospital late on Monday due to “dangerously new lows” in her blood sugar and sodium levels, as well as her blood pressure.
She had previously turned down artificial glucose, despite being warned there was an “immediate risk to life,” but agreed at the request of her daughters Sanaa and Mona to take one dose “in an effort to extend her life,” campaign group Free Alaa said in a press release.
Soueif has lived on only coffee, tea and rehydration sachets since September 29, 2024, the date that marked five years in detention for her son Alaa Abdel Fattah.
Fattah, 43, a pro-democracy and rights campaigner, was arrested by Egyptian authorities in September 2019 and later given a five-year sentence for “spreading false news.”
His family criticized his trial as a “farce” and has demanded he be released having completed his sentence.
Soueif started the drip on Thursday and the dose was given to her over the course of 12 hours “due to the dangers of the intervention at this stage in her hunger strike,” said the campaign group.
“Doctors at the hospital have stressed that this is a temporary intervention, that they cannot guarantee it will extend Laila’s life, and that if it does it will be for a limited time, possibly only a few hours, and if lucky a few days,” they added.
Soueif has lost almost 30 kilograms (66 pounds) since starting her hunger strike, which she has vowed to continue until her son is released.
For weeks, Soueif braved London’s bitter cold to demonstrate outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Downing Street office each working day since the date she says her son should have been released.
Sanaa Seif called on Starmer to take urgent action.
“When we met Keir Starmer he asked us for more time and promised that he would do all he could to free my brother,” she said.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to convince mum to do this again. So we desperately urge the prime minister to use this time well,” she added.
Hunger-striking mother of jailed UK-Egyptian activist on glucose drip
https://arab.news/yznym
Hunger-striking mother of jailed UK-Egyptian activist on glucose drip
- Laila Soueif, 68, has been on hunger strike for 152 days and was admitted to London’s St. Thomas’s Hospital late on Monday
- She had previously turned down artificial glucose, despite being warned there was an “immediate risk to life“
Saudi project clears 1,171 mines in Yemen
- Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said that 505,466 mines have been cleared since the project began in 2018
RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 1,171 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included 1,124 unexploded ordnances, 46 anti-tank mines and one anti-personnel mines, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said that 505,466 mines have been cleared since the project began in 2018.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
The project trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid.
Seven Umrah companies breach housing rules
RIYADH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recorded offenses by seven Umrah companies for housing pilgrims in unlicensed accommodation, a breach of regulatory guidelines.
The findings were part of the ministry’s oversight efforts to monitor service quality for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The ministry said these incidents affect pilgrims’ safety and comfort and that it has begun legal action against the companies to enforce penalties under the law.
The authority affirmed its commitment to ensuring pilgrims receive their full rights with the highest quality and efficiency.
The ministry said it will not tolerate any entity failing contractual obligations or endangering pilgrims’ safety, the SPA added.
It urged all Umrah companies to comply with laws and provide agreed services on time to support a positive experience for pilgrims during their stay in the Kingdom.
Pakistan cricket team leaves for Dhaka for upcoming Bangladesh T20I series
- Three-match T20I series will be played in Dhaka from July 20 to 24
- Series follows Pakistan’s 3–0 home sweep over Bangladesh in May
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national men’s cricket team has departed for Dhaka via Dubai to play a three-match T20 series against Bangladesh starting July 20, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday.
The series will be played from July 20 to 24 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and will take place just two months after Bangladesh toured Pakistan in May, where they were whitewashed 3–0.
The team traveled to Bangladesh in two separate groups on July 15 and July 16, the board said. The first group comprised captain Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf and members of the support staff.
“The second group of the national squad has also departed from Karachi to Dhaka via Dubai,” the PCB said in a statement.
This group comprised Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasaan Nawaz, Sufyan Moqim, Hussain Talat, Ahmad Daniyal, Salman Mirza and members of the support staff.
The series in Dhaka also offers an opportunity for newer players like Hassan Nawaz and spinner Moqim to gain international experience, while selectors continue testing bench strength ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
The Sher-e-Bangla stadium is known for its spin-friendly conditions, which could suit bowlers like Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz.
The tour comes after Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed to mend bilateral ties last year, paving the way for renewed engagements between the two sides.
Pakistan last toured Bangladesh in November 2021 when they also won a T20I series 3–0.
Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20Is:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.
Team Management:
Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Muhammad Hanif Malik (batting coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Irtaza Komail (security manager), Dr. Wajid Ali Rafai (doctor), and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur).
UAE launches general budget cycle for 2027-2029, state news agency says
DUBAI: The UAE has launched its general budget cycle for the years 2027 to 2029, the state news agency reported on Wednesday.
The total value of the UAE’s federal budget over four consecutive cycles reached 900 billion dirhams ($245 billion), the agency added.
Hamas official denies progress in Gaza ceasefire talks
- A senior Hamas official on Wednesday rejected claims of progress in Gaza ceasefire talks
GAZA: A senior Hamas official on Wednesday rejected claims of progress in Gaza ceasefire talks, adding the Palestinian militant group had not not received maps planning for Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territory.
“(Israel) has not yet delivered any new or revised maps regarding military withdrawals from the Gaza Strip,” Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas political bureau, told AFP, accusing Israel of wanting to “prolong military control” in Gaza for the long term.
