Middle East & North Africa

World needs more natural gas in future, Gulf energy ministers say

15 Jan 2023; MEMO: The Qatari and Emirati energy ministers have warned that the world will have more of a need for natural gas in the near future, amid an increasing energy crisis and the ongoing green transition.

Speaking in a panel at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Summit today,

Algeria: 'Mandela joined Algeria revolution to train to overthrow apartheid regime'; Tebboune

14 Jan 2023; MEMO: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune spoke about the strong relationship between South African leader Nelson Mandela and Algeria. This profound relationship was the reason for naming the new stadium in the Algerian capital after Mandela, which will host the African Nations Championship (CHAN) opening.

Turkiye calls for Sweden to fight PKK provocations

14 Jan 2023; MEMO: The Turkish Parliament speaker, foreign minister and other senior Turkish officials slammed Sweden on Friday over allowing a PKK/YPG provocative show in Stockholm.

"We saw another provocation by the PKK/YPG terrorist group in Sweden. In fact, this is an act that includes both racism and a hate crime. Therefore, it is an act that Sweden must also fight against," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu asserted.

Israel: Ehud Barak calls for 'street battles' to oust Netanyahu government

14 Jan 2023; MEMO: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has called for Israelis to become involved in street battles to oust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In an article published by Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday, Barak asserted: "This is an elected government. It is legitimate, but its actions and plans revolve around a coup. This makes it illegitimate."

'Iran has enough enriched uranium to make 4 nuclear bombs,'; Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi

14 Jan 2023; MEMO: Iran currently has enough enriched uranium to make four nuclear bombs, Israel's outgoing military chief informed reporters on Friday.

"Iran today has enough enriched material to produce four nuclear bombs, three at 20 per cent and one at 60 per cent," Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported outgoing Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi telling reporters.

Turkey: Any peace plan for Ukraine to fail unless Russia’s opinion included — Erdogan’s spokesman

ISTANBUL, January 14. /TASS/: Any peace plan for Ukraine should take into account Russia’s opinion, but Europe and the United States should also participate in finding this solution, Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told foreign reporters, among whom was a TASS correspondent, on Saturday.

Lebanese Pound Plunged To New Record Low

BEIRUT, Jan 14 (NNN-NNA) – The Lebanese pound continued its tumble on the parallel market yesterday, hitting a record low of over 49,000 Lebanese pounds against one U.S. dollar, the local newspaper, Lorient Today, reported on its website.

The new record was reached when the dollar was trading at 49,400 Lebanese pounds to buy, and at 49,200 Lebanese pounds to sell, in the afternoon, said the report.

The last record low of 48,000 pounds against one U.S. dollar occurred on Dec 26, last year, down from 40,000 pounds on Oct 14, last year.

Labour ministry exploring opportunities for Kenyan health workers in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH (Saudi Arabia), Jan 14 (NNN-KBC) — The government of Saudi Arabia might open up more job opportunities for Kenyan nurses, doctors and allied health professionals.

The matter shaped deliberations between a Kenyan delegation led by Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore, and officials from Saudi Ministry of Health in Riyadh this week.

Turkey: Erdogan aide says time running out to ratify Sweden, Finland NATO bids

ANKARA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Turkey is running out of time to ratify NATO membership bids by Sweden and Finland before it holds elections expected in May, a Turkish presidential spokesman said on Saturday.

President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said Turkish ratification of the countries' bids depended on how quickly Stockholm fulfils counter-terrorism promises made as part of a deal with Ankara, warning that could take months.

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