Middle East & North Africa

Turkiye opens gas link with Bulgaria to diversify Russia gas

14 Apr 2023; MEMO: Turkiye shipped its first cargo of natural gas to neighbouring Bulgaria as part of a deal to diversify south-east Europe's supply mix away from Russia and boost Ankara's credentials as a hub for the fuel, Bloomberg reports.

According to the report, about 55 million cubic metres was sent by pipeline across the border, sourced from a shipment of liquefied natural gas delivered by US exporter, Cheniere Energy Inc.

Egypt parliament strongly condemns Israel attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque

12 Apr 2023; MEMO: Egypt's House of Representatives yesterday strongly condemned the recent Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.

"Last Wednesday, everyone woke up to a reprehensible scene and a picture of the repeated Israeli violations of the sanctity of the holy places,"  Parliament Speaker Hanafy El-Gebaly said at the beginning of the parliament meeting.

Israel has weaponised food to force Palestinians to abandon rights, claim UN papers

13 Apr 2023; MEMO: The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has published two papers in which it is said that food has been weaponised by Israel in order to force Palestinians to abandon their legitimate rights. The papers were prepared by the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) and detail the nature, degree and impact of Israeli violence on Jordanian and Palestinian food systems.

Iran delegation arrives in Riyadh to reopen embassy

12 Apr 2023; MEMO: An Iranian technical delegation, on Wednesday, arrived in Saudi Arabia for the reopening of Tehran's embassy in Riyadh, Iran's official media reported, Anadolu News Agency reports.

According to IRNA news agency, the delegation will later travel to Jeddah to inspect the Consulate office and the Iranian mission to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan hold US, allies responsible for 'disastrous situation' in Afghanistan

13 Apr 2023; MEMO: The foreign ministers of Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan, on Thursday, held the US and its allies, who hastily withdrew from Afghanistan in 2020, responsible for the country's "disastrous situation", Anadolu News Agency reports.

The four officials held an informal meeting on the sidelines of a conference of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

USA: Yemeni man will remain in Guantanamo prison despite court ruling he is no threat

13 Apr 2023; MEMO: A Yemeni man held in Guantanamo Bay for over 20 years without charge or trial will remain in detention despite a US court ruling that he does not pose a threat to the country. In an opinion yesterday over the ongoing case of Abdulsalam Al-Hela, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled that the authorities may not be allowed to keep a man imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay after he is no longer deemed a threat.

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