Middle East & North Africa

Qatar gives China share of landmark natural gas field

13 Apr 2023; MEMO: Chinese oil giant, Sinopec, on Wednesday became the first Asian firm to get a stake in Qatar's expansion of North Field East, the Gulf country's energy company announced.

QatarEnergy said Sinopec will get a five per cent stake in the equivalent of an eight-million-tonne production complex.

Kurdish oil exports stay halted as Iraq negotiates with Turkiye

13 Apr 2023; MEMO: Oil exports from the Kurdistan region of Iraq remain halted as Baghdad negotiates with Turkiye's government to re-open a pipeline linking the two countries, said an Iraqi official, Bloomberg reports.

According to the report, Turkiye has said it is carrying out maintenance work on a stretch of pipeline on its side of the border, along with some oil-storage tanks while the crude flows are halted.

Hamas Haniyeh says 3 variables resolve conflict in favour of Palestinians

13 Apr 2023; MEMO: Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said the Palestinian Resistance monitors three important variables which indicate that the conflict with Israel will be resolved in favour of the Palestinian people.

Haniyeh made the remarks during the commemoration of the International Al-Quds Day in the besieged Gaza Strip.

UN experts urge immediate action to stop Israel forced displacement, annexation of Occupied Territories

13 Apr 2023; MEMO: A panel of United Nations experts have urged the international community to immediately take action to stop forced evictions and displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, as part of Israel's annexation of the city and "de-Palestinianisation" of the city.

Tunisia, Syria to reopen embassies after 11 years

TUNIS, April 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisia and Syria decided to reopen their respective embassies to resume diplomatic ties between the two countries, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday.

“Following the initiative undertaken by President Kais Saied to appoint a Tunisian ambassador to Syria, the Syrian side gave their approval to this appointment,” reads a ministry statement.

“The Syrian side also decided to reopen its embassy in Tunis, and to designate an ambassador immediately,” it added.

Syria, Saudi Arabia Agreed To Resume Consular Services, Flights

DAMASCUS/RIYADH, Apr 13 (NNN-SANA/SPA) – Syria and Saudi Arabia agreed in a joint statement, to resume consular services and flights yesterday, after bilateral ties have been stranded for years.

The announcement came as Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, wrapped up his visit to Saudi Arabia yesterday, the first time since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011.

Iranian team arrives in Riyadh to prepare for diplomatic missions reopening

TEHRAN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's technical team arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Wednesday to prepare the ground for the reopening of its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, said the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The ministry's Spokesman Nasser Kanaani described the visit as a new step in line with the implementation of the Beijing-brokered agreement between Tehran and Riyadh on the resumption of the official bilateral relations and diplomatic activities of their political and consular offices in the two countries, according to a statement on the ministry's website.

Sudan’s military warns of conflict after rival force deploys

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Sudan’s military warned Thursday of potential clashes with the country’s powerful paramilitary force, which it said deployed troops in the capital and other cities.

Tensions between the military and the Rapid Support Forces have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the country’s democratic transition.

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