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 20 Apr 2021; MEMO: Ankara filed a complaint against Riyadh at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the semi-official Saudi boycott of trading with Turkey, Arabi21 reported yesterday.

Reporting the Turkish Sabah newspaper, Arabi21 said that Turkish officials had presented restrictive Saudi trade policies and practices.

(Reuters) --- A British parliamentary committee will summon finance minister Rishi Sunak and former Prime Minister David Cameron to appear before it to answer questions about the ex-leader's lobbying for the now failed supply-chain finance firm Greensill Capital.

Greensill's founder, Lex Greensill, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and the chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, Nikhil Rathi, will also face questions about the collapse of the company and Cameron's actions.

18 Apr 2021; MEMO: Pro-Israel US lawmakers have proposed a bipartisan bill that would provide $30 million over five years to companies that partner with their counterparts in the occupation state. The move is an effort to facilitate joint cybersecurity partnership programmes between the United States and Israel through a grant programme at the Department of Homeland Security to "promote cooperative research and development between the United States and Israel on cybersecurity."

Washington, Apr 20 (PTI) The US has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to India, even if they are fully vaccinated as there is a 'very high level' of COVID-19 in the country.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) on Monday released travel recommendations by destination. It uses science-based Travel Health Notices to alert travellers to health threats around the world and advise on how to protect themselves.

New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI) Looking to ramp up supplies ahead of the opening of Covid-19 vaccination to all citizens over 18 years of age, the government has approved a payment of about Rs 4,500 crore as advance to vaccine makers like Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech against future supplies, sources said.

SII will supply 200 million doses and Bharat Biotech is to supply another 90 million doses to the government by July at a pre-agreed rate of Rs 150 per dose.

New Delhi, Apr 19 (PTI) With the government opening the COVID-19 vaccination drive to everyone above 18 years of age, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting with vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday, sources said.

During the meeting, scheduled to be held through video conference at 6 pm on Tuesday, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will make a presentation and also coordinate with all the participants, sources added.

New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI) To ensure social distancing, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Tuesday temporarily closed entry points of several metro stations.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced a six-day lockdown in Delhi to deal with the rising number of COVID-19 cases as the city's health system was stretched to its limits.

New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at the government over its vaccine policy, alleging it is discriminatory and that there is no vaccine guarantee for the weaker sections.

He also said that there will be no free vaccines for those between the age of 18 and 45 years.

"No free vaccines for 18-45 yr olds. Middlemen brought in without price controls. No vaccine guarantee for weaker sections. GOI's Vaccine Discrimination- Not Distribution- Strategy," he said in a tweet.

18 Apr 2021; MEMO: Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Sunday that the 2nd filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) would be conducted in July and August, Anadolu Agency reported.

18 Apr 2021; MEMO: Israel and Greece have signed a defense deal worth $1.65 billion, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reported.

As part of the agreement, Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems will establish an international training center in Greece to train the Greek Air Force over a period of 22 years.

The exact date the project will commence was not mentioned.