Middle East & North Africa

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: Lebanon's top Public Prosecutor, on Wednesday, charged the Beirut Port blast investigating judge and ordered the release of those detained in connection with the explosion, after rejecting the judge's surprise resumption of the probe, Reuters reports.

The moves by Ghassan Oweidat signal escalating opposition by Lebanon's ruling establishment to efforts by Judge Tarek Bitar to reopen the probe into the 4 August, 2020, blast that killed more than 220 people.

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: A Turkish-owned general cargo ship was struck by a missile in the port of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, sparking a fire, according to video footage from the scene and shipping sources, Reuters reports.

The missile hit the bridge of the vessel named "Tuzla" on Tuesday, maritime security company, Ambrey, said, causing the fire. Video footage showed flames filling the command room of the ship.

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: Turkiye plans to develop unmanned submarines, Anadolu News Agency reports.

According to the report, Turkish defence firm, STM, puts itself on a new target of developing unmanned submarines after delivering the second of the Agosta 90B class submarines owned by Pakistan's Navy in Turkiye's first and only submarine modernisation export.

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: In a tit-for-tat move, Iran on Wednesday announced fresh sanctions against dozens of individuals and entities affiliated with the European Union and the UK, Anadolu News Agency reports.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said it was placing 22 individuals and three entities from the EU on its sanctioned list, as well as eight individuals and one entity from the UK.

25 Jan 2023; MEMO:The US voiced opposition, Wednesday, to any normalisation measures with the Assad regime, with the deputy UN Ambassador saying the regime has not taken meaningful steps as the civil war nears its 12th year, Anadolu News Agency reports.

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) will sign offshore gas exploration and production deals with Italy's Eni, Reuters reports.

According to the report, the deal would require $8 billion to produce up to 850 million cubic feet a day of gas from the Mediterranean.

The report says Libya is planning to take advantage of demand for North African gas in Europe because of the war in Ukraine.

BEIRUT, Jan 25 (NNN-NNA) – Former Lebanese Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, and two former ministers, were charged with homicide with probable intent yesterday, over the Beirut port explosions in 2020, the local al-Jadeed TV reported.

Tarek Bitar, a Lebanese judge, tasked with investigating the Beirut port explosions, also charged Abbas Ibrahim, chief of Lebanese General Security, State Security director, Major General Tony Saliba, and former Lebanese army commander, Jean Kahwaji, in connection with the blasts.

24 Jan 2023; MEMO: The Israeli economic website, Globes, reported that Saudi Arabia plans to make the islands of Tiran and Sanafir a tourist destination, including hotels and casinos, which Israelis can visit.

The site quoted informed sources as saying that Saudi Arabia will allow the Israelis to spend their holidays in Tiran and Sanafir and plans to build a bridge linking the two islands with Egypt.

24 Jan 2023; MEMO: A twenty-billion-dollar takeover bid (£16bn) by Saudi Arabia to buy Formula One was rejected by the sport's current owners, Liberty Media. The American firm had bought F1 in 2017 for less than a quarter of the amount Saudi Arabia was willing to pay, £3.3 billion pounds ($4.1bn). Nevertheless, talks between the wealthy Gulf State and Liberty Media are said to have broken down.

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: Accusing Israel of committing the crime of apartheid is anti-Semitic, the European Union has said.