Middle East & North Africa

Israel steals then sells Palestinian farmer's equipment

6 October 2022; MEMO: The Israeli occupation authorities have sold a Palestinians farmer's equipment after it was stolen from his farm in the occupied Jordan Valley, Wafa has reported. Suleiman Bani Odeh was told by the occupation authorities that they had sold the two water tankers taken from him two months ago. The items were sold at a public auction.

Iraq: Al-Sadr freezes all armed factions in Iraq except one province

6 October 2022; MEMO: Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr today announced the freezing of all his armed factions across Iraq, except the northern province of Saladin.

Saleh Mohamed Al-Iraqi, a leader of the Sadr's movement, said the influential cleric also "banned the use of weapons in all provinces except Saladin and Samarra city."

It was not yet clear why Saladin province was not included in the ban.

Qatar signs deal with US for security at FIFA World Cup 2022

6 October 2022; MEMO: Qatar's Ministry of Defence said yesterday that it has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Defence Department in Washington for US armed forces to contribute towards security at the FIFA World Cup 2022 tournament. The agreement aims to define and organise responsibilities and technical arrangements related to security cooperation, explained the ministry.

Iran State TV airs footage of French couple accused of spying

6 October 2022; MEMO: Iranian State television aired a video, on Thursday, in which two French citizens detained for "spying" in Iran in May appeared to confess to acting on behalf of a French security service, amid weeks of unrest that Tehran has linked to foreign foes, Reuters reports.

France's Foreign Ministry accused Iran of the practices of the "worst dictatorial regimes" over the video confessions and categorically denied that the two were members of the French intelligence services.

Kuwait ministers resign hours after appointment

7 October 2022; MEMO: Kuwait's cabinet ministers submitted their resignations yesterday only hours after Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al Sabah announced his cabinet.

Kuwaiti Al-Qabas newspaper said the ministers resigned following parliamentary discontent with the reappointing of ministers from the previous government of Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, namely Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nasser, Muhammad Rana Al-Faris and Abdul Rahman Al-Mutairi.

Arab League Chief Condemns UK Government Over ‘Illegal’ Jerusalem Embassy Plan

CAIRO, Oct 6 (NNN-MENA) – Arab League Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, voiced deep concern over the recent remarks by British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, about planning to move the country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the pan-Arab body said.

In a statement, the Arab League (AL) rejected “any unilateral move that violates international laws and the historic and legal status of Jerusalem,” noting, Aboul-Gheit has extended his concern via a televised address to the British Conservative Party Conference on Tuesday.

Another Palestinian Killed By Israeli Soldiers In West Bank: Medics

RAMALLAH, Oct 6 (NNN-WAFA) – Another Palestinian was killed yesterday, during clashes with Israeli soldiers, in the village of Deir al-Hatab, north of the city of Nablus, in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Nasser Zaghal, 21, was killed after he was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers, the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement, adding that, another four were injured, including two in moderate conditions and two journalists from the Palestinian state-run television, who sustained hand wounds from live ammunition.

Iran to be regional energy hub through cooperation with Russia: Iranian minister

TEHRAN, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The transit and trade of oil and gas with Russia will make Iran a regional energy hub, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said on Thursday.

Owji made the remarks on the sidelines of the ongoing Caspian Economic Forum held in the Russian capital of Moscow, according to the official IRNA news agency.

He said that as two gas exporting countries, Iran and Russia have a lot of cooperation in the field of energy swaps.

US starts fiscal year with record $31 trillion in debt

Washington, Oct 5 (AP) The nation's gross national debt has surpassed USD31 trillion, according to a US Treasury report released Tuesday that logs America's daily finances.

Edging closer to the statutory ceiling of roughly USD31.4 trillion, an artificial cap Congress placed on the US government's ability to borrow, the debt numbers hit an already tenuous economy facing high inflation, rising interest rates and a strong US dollar.

Iran, Oman and Pakistan to establish joint Maritime Security Centre

5 October 2022; MEMO: Iran will establish a joint Maritime Security Centre with Oman and Pakistan, Chief Commander of the Iranian Army's Navy, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, said in a statement.

Expressing pride in the progress made by his country's naval industry, Irani said that three Iranian-made destroyers were carrying out security missions in the Indian Ocean, as he spoke at the World Navigation Day ceremony on Monday.

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