Middle East & North Africa

Israel president slams rising attacks against Christians as a 'true disgrace'

10 July 2023; MEMO: Israeli President Isaac Herzog yesterday condemned the recent attacks against Christians as a "true disgrace".

"I utterly condemn violence, in all its forms, directed by a small and extreme group, towards the holy places of the Christian faith, and against Christian clergy in Israel," stated Herzog.

Saudi Arabia, France sign MoU in energy

11 July 2023; MEMO: Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, met with his French counterpart, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, in Riyadh on 8 July, Gulf Business reports.

According to the report, the two signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their cooperation in energy, with a focus on clean energy from renewable resources.

Palestine: 'Israel must return our money without extortion, conditions'; Shtayyeh

11 July 2023; MEMO: Palestinian Authority (PAA) Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said yesterday that the Israeli occupation authorities "must" return Palestinian money it is withholding "without extortion or conditions."

At the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting, Shtayyeh said: "Israel must return our money withheld without extortion or conditions. Our people are fully aware of the reality of the matter and reject this extortion."

Israel: Protesters storm Knesset ahead of vote on judicial overhaul package

11 July 2023; MEMO: Scores of Israeli protesters stormed the Knesset yesterday ahead of a vote on the judicial overhaul package, local media reported.

Members of the Knesset Guard forcibly removed the protesters who tried to block the entry of MKs to the Knesset plenum.

Scenes caught on camera showed the guards picking up and dragging several demonstrators sitting on the floor and moving them away from the plenum.

Palestine: Fatah says it rejects Israel's security measures disguised as economic support

11 July 2023; MEMO: The Palestinian Fatah movement said yesterday that Israel is attempting to cover up the "failure" of its military operation in Jenin by making "fake allegations" of offering the Palestinian Authority (PA) economic facilitations.

"We stress our rejection of security-oriented solutions and so-called economic facilitations," Fatah spokesman in Gaza, Mundhir Al-Hayek, said in a statement.

Iraq Loses 5,000 Megawatts Of Electricity As Iran Reduces Gas Supplies

BAGHDAD, Jul 10 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity said, Iraq lost 5,000 megawatts of electricity because of a shortage of gas supply from Iran.

The loss of nearly 5,000 megawatts caused by the decline in gas supplies from Iran, and the gap of 10,000 megawatts because of insufficient national gas production, have negatively affected the electricity supply to citizens, the ministry spokesman, Ahmed Musa, said.

Palestinian Authorities Urge Biden To Translate Words Into Practical Measures

RAMALLAH, Jul 10 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestine, yesterday, called on U.S. President, Joe Biden, to interpret his words criticising the Israeli government, into practical measures, that protect the Palestinian people.

In a statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged Biden to “stop the expansion of Israeli settlement” and “to compel the Israeli government to engage in a political track of negotiations to resolve the conflict.”

UAE Plans To Employ AI In Various Fields To Accelerate Digital Transformation

DUBAI, Jul 10 (NNN-WAM) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is committed to embracing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and tools, across various sectors, to accelerate the country’s digital transformation, said Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, the county’s minister of state for artificial intelligence, digital economy, and remote work applications.

Al Olama made the remarks, during a meeting of the UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain held at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in Dubai.

Yemen, Cuba discuss environmental cooperation

ADEN (Yemen), July 10 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Yemen and Cuba on Sunday discussed on several aspects concerning bilateral cooperation in environmental matters, sustainable development and climate actions, the Saba news agency reported. 

According to Saba, the Yemeni Water and Environment Minister Tawfiq Al-Sharjabi and the Cuban Science, Technology and Environment Minister Elba Rosa Pérez Montoya held cordial talks.

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