Middle East & North Africa

Indian nationals advised to relocate to safe areas in Israel a day after missile attack kills 1

Jerusalem, Mar 5 (PTI) The Indian Embassy in Israel issued an advisory on Tuesday, urging its nationals to move to safer areas in the country, a day after a missile fired from Lebanon killed one Indian and injured two others.

India: Desperate Modi govt trying to use SBI to bulldoze SC judgment on electoral bonds scheme

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday attacked the Centre over the State Bank of India moving the Supreme Court to seek more time to disclose electoral bond details, alleging that the Modi government is using the country's largest bank as a shield to hide its "dubious dealings".

Ships entering Yemeni waters must obtain permit, Houthi minister says

CAIRO, March 4 (Reuters) - Ships will have to obtain a permit from Yemen's Houthi-controlled Maritime Affairs Authority before entering Yemeni waters, Houthi Telecommunications Minister Misfer Al-Numair said on Monday.

Houthi militants have repeatedly launched drones and missiles against international commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden since mid-November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Lebanon: Hezbollah vows appropriate response to Israeli aggression

Tehran, IRNA – Head of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc says the Lebanese resistance movement will give an appropriate response to the Zionist regime’s attacks and will ultimately emerge victorious.

According to the Lebanese media, Mohammad Raad said the enemy’s element of surprise does not work anymore, and that Hezbollah has proved its readiness.

“We are fulfilling our duty to the people who are being killed before the eyes of the world amid the silence of the regimes that follow the US,” he said.

Jordan asks Israel to extend water supply deal: Israeli media

04 March 2024; MEMO: Jordan has asked Israel to extend a water supply deal between the two countries by an additional year, according to Israeli media on Monday, Anadolu Agency reports.

The Jordanian-Israeli water agreement is set to expire in May.

According to the Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, Israel has not yet responded to the Jordanian request to extend the deal.

Fresh US-British airstrikes target Houthi sites in Yemen

04 March 2024; MEMO: Yemen’s Houthi group reported fresh US-British airstrikes in the northern province of Saada on Monday, Anadolu Agency reports.

The Houthi-run Al-Masirah television said three strikes targeted Yasnam area in Baqim district in Saada.

There were no reports yet of casualties or damage.

Turkiye inflation climbs to over 67%

04 March 2024; MEMO: Turkiye’s annual inflation exceeded expectations and jumped to above 67 per cent in February, official data showed on Monday, maintaining pressure for tight monetary policy amid strong rises in food, hotel and education prices, Daily Sabah reports.

According to the report, measured in the consumer price index (CPI), inflation surged to 67.07 per cent over 12 months ending in February, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) said.

Hamas ‘does not know’ whether hostages in Gaza are alive or dead

05 March 2024; MEMO: A member of Hamas’s political leadership has said that the movement “does not know” if the hostages held in Gaza are alive or dead.

“We do not know exactly who is alive and who is dead, whether they were killed by bombing or by famine,” Bassem Naim told AFP from Cairo. “There are captives held by multiple groups and in multiple places.”

Houthis insist on entry of aid into Gaza in exchange for salvaging sunken British ship

02 March 2024; MEMO: Yemen’s Houthi group insisted Saturday on bringing relief aid into the Gaza Strip in exchange for allowing the sunken British ship Rubymar in the Gulf of Aden to be salvaged, Anadolu reports.

“We confirm again that the offer is valid to tow the ship (Rubymar) in exchange for bringing relief trucks into Gaza,” Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the group’s Supreme Political Council, said in a statement on X.

Hamas armed wing says seven more hostages killed in Gaza by Israeli bombardment

01 March 2024; MEMO: Seven hostages who have been held in Gaza were killed as a result of the Israeli military’s bombardment of the enclave, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, said on Friday, Reuter’s reports.

It was not immediately clear when the seven died.

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