Middle East & North Africa

06 April 2022; MEMO: The Central Bank of Morocco, the Foreign Exchange Authority and the Capital Market Authority have called on Moroccans to comply with laws that prohibit the use of cryptocurrency.

The regulators said in a joint statement issued yesterday that "despite previous warnings regarding the risks associated with the use of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, it has been observed that some continue to use this type of operation."

06 April 2022; MEMO: Amnesty International said a number of political activists who have been arbitrarily detained in Egypt's notorious Tora Prison have started a hunger strike to protest the harsh conditions and ill treatment they are enduring.

The rights watchdog said on Twitter that those taking part include Ahmed Douma, Hisham Fouad and Alaa Abdel-Fattah, who also called for authorities to release them.

06 April 2022; MEMO: The United Nations warned on Monday that Sudan's humanitarian needs are increasing to "unprecedented levels", citing the economic crisis, prolonged dry spells, and last year's erratic rainfall, Anadolu reported.

TEHRAN, Apr 5 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran is ready to resume talks with Saudi Arabia, to solve differences, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman announced, yesterday.

“We are ready for the continuation of talks and for the settlement of differences. We have submitted our views in written form to the Saudi side, and they should express their views,” Saeed Khatibzadeh said, in his weekly press briefing.

Repeating Iran’s welcome of a cease-fire in Yemen, he said, this “should be completed with the beginning of intra-Yemeni dialogue and we should wait for the results.”

BEIRUT, Apr 5 (NNN-NNA) – The fourth Consultative Group (CG) meeting of the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF), yesterday warned against an escalating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, a statement by the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon reported.

The group emphasised the need for Lebanon to swiftly embark on a roadmap to exit this unfolding crisis, through an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a comprehensive economic stabilisation and recovery programme.

BEIRUT (AP) — Pope Francis will visit Lebanon in June, the president’s office said Tuesday, in an apparent show of support for the country experiencing an unprecedented economic meltdown.

Francis has held special prayers for Lebanon and has repeatedly said he plans to visit the small country since the economic meltdown began in October 2019.

05 April 2022; MEMO: Human Rights Watch has called on the Ukrainian authorities to immediately release migrants and asylum seekers who are arbitrarily detained and at heightened risk due to military activity in the vicinity.

Up to 15 nationalities are being held in the Zhuravychi Migrant Accommodation Centre in Volyn oblast, including people from Syria, Algeria, and Afghanistan.

05 April 2022; MEMO: Legislation used to crack down on the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign has become the template for efforts to suppress climate change activism, gun control advocacy and other progressive movements, a report by Jewish Currents has revealed.

by Motasem A Dalloul

Tunisia's President Kais Saied announced the dissolution of his country's parliament last week, eight months after freezing the institution, when he "stabbed the Jasmine Revolution in its back" and grabbed the power of most state institutions.

04 April 2022; MEMO: Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, Aviv Kohavi, has approved a decision to accelerate the construction of a new apartheid wall from the Salem area, east of the city of Umm Al-Fahm in Israel to the occupied city of Jerusalem.

The Israeli Radio said the concrete wall is similar to the one built in the West Bank.

The separation wall, which began in the village of Salem in the northern West Bank, is the first phase of a new project aimed at annexing more Palestinian lands.