Middle East & North Africa

Islamabad, May 13 (PTI) Pakistan's President Arif Alvi has written to Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, asking him to form a judicial commission to probe the alleged "regime change conspiracy" to oust former prime minister Imran Khan and to prevent a "political powder keg" from igniting in the country.

Khan, ousted through a no-trust vote on April 10, has accused the US of orchestrating the fall of his government after he decided to follow an independent foreign policy over the issue of Ukraine. The US repeatedly refuted Khan's allegations.

13 May 2022; MEMO: A top Irish Cabinet Minister, on Friday, declared himself "shocked" Friday by images of violence emerging from the funeral procession of slain Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh.

Video clips from her funeral procession showed Israeli riot police clashing with mourners and firing tear gas as people carried her coffin outside a Jerusalem hospital.

14 May 2022; MEMO: The site of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh's murder at the entrance to Jenin refugee camp has turned into a memorial for Palestinians.

Since the early hours of Thursday morning, Palestinians have flocked from various places to visit the site where Abu Akleh was shot to lay flowers and pray for her.

Pictures of Abu Akleh were hung on the trees surrounding the area, along with Palestinian flags and a traditional keffiyeh.

14 May 2022; MEMO: Turkey summoned on Friday the undersecretary of the French Embassy in Ankara over a "terrorist attack" on Turkey's Consulate General in Paris that took place on Thursday, Anadolu Agency reported.

Diplomatic sources said that the undersecretary of the French Embassy in Ankara was summoned to the Foreign Ministry building, where Turkey conveyed its discomfort over the attack.

13 May 2022; MEMO: Israeli police, on Friday, assaulted Palestinian mourners in the funeral procession of slain Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh in occupied East Jerusalem, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency that the Israeli police attacked the funeral procession as it started from the French Hospital in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A 21-year-old Palestinian man died Saturday from a head wound sustained last month after Israeli police fired rubber bullets at stone-throwing Palestinian demonstrators during violence at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.

Israel’s Hadassah hospital announced the death early Saturday, saying only that Waleed Shareef had died weeks after being hospitalized with severe head injuries. His family confirmed the death.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rulers in the United Arab Emirates announced Saturday that they unanimously appointed Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the president of this hereditarily ruled nation on the Arabian Peninsula.

The state-run WAM news agency said the rulers of the country’s seven sheikhdoms made the decision at a meeting held in Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi.

ANKARA, May 13 (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday it was not possible for NATO-member Turkey to support plans by Sweden and Finland to join the pact, saying the Nordic countries were "home to many terrorist organisations".

Though Turkey has officially supported enlargement since it joined NATO 70 years ago, its opposition could pose a problem for Sweden and Finland given new members need unanimous agreement.

TUNIS, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly arrived in Tunisia on Thursday to attend a joint committee meeting on boosting bilateral cooperation.

Madbouly, heading a high-level delegation, was received at the airport by his Tunisian counterpart Najla Bouden Romdhane, the Tunisian presidency said in a statement.

During his two-day stay, Madbouly is scheduled to hold talks with Tunisian President Kais Saied, Romdhane and other senior Tunisian officials.

BEIRUT (AP) — In households across Lebanon, it’s likely that one or more family members are planning to emigrate — if they can get a passport. Demand is high but the bankrupt government has not paid the company contracted to issue or renew the documents.

Lebanese spend their days at the banks, waiting to see what meager amounts they will be allowed to withdraw for the month. They install batteries and solar panels at great cost so their family can survive the humid summer months without electricity from the grid.