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Iran, which backs Hamas, refers to regional countries and forces opposed to Israel and the United States as a "resistance front." Diplomatic efforts have concentrated on getting aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the sole route out that is not controlled by Israel. While tens of thousands have fled south, the United Nations says there is no way to move so many people without causing a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the United Nations, a million Gazans have already been driven from their homes. The Kremlin readout of the call did not include any mention of the ceasefire Russia was trying to achieve by putting forward a resolution in the United Nations Security Council.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Israel Russia's Putin, Israel's Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, gunning, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Amirabdollahian, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Israel, Netanyahu, Biden, Adrienne Watson, Khaled Meshaal, Vladimir Putin, Moscow, Putin, Abu Dahoud, Nidal al, Bassam Massoud, Nuha Sharaf, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Trevor Hunnicutt, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Michelle Nichols, David Brunnstrom, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Diplomats, Gaza, U.S, Tel Aviv . Iranian, Zionist, Israel, National Security, Hezbollah, Nations, United Nations, Pentagon, United Nations Security Council, Palestinian Authority, Thomson Locations: Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, WASHINGTON, Israel, Tel Aviv, Iran, Hamas, Israel's, Jerusalem, United States, Lebanon, Tehran, Egypt, Cairo, Rafah, Washington's, Syria, Lebanese, Russian, Russia, Dubai, Razek, Washington

On Monday, rocket-warning sirens sounded in several towns in southern Israel, the Israeli military said. Authorities in Gaza said at least 2,750 people had so far been killed by the Israeli strikes, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement: "There is currently no truce and humanitarian aid in Gaza in exchange for getting foreigners out." Hamas has told people to ignore Israel's message and residents fear Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza too. In southern Gaza, five members a family were killed in Khan Younis refugee camp.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Izzat El Reshiq, Sameh Shoukry, Lisi Niesner, Joe Biden, Gazans, Khan, Suhail Baker, Baker, Abu Ahmed, Antony Blinken, Issam Abdallah, Nidal al, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Michelle Nichols, Angus MacSwan, Miral Fahmy, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Hamas, Authorities, Reuters, United, Palestinian, REUTERS, Washington, U.S, Ambulance Service, United Nations, ISRAEL U.S, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, CAIRO, Gaza, Hamas, Egypt, Rafah, United States, U.S, Lebanon, Al, Quds, Gaza City, Khan Younis, BLINKEN, ISRAEL, Iran, American, Iranian, Jerusalem, Dubai, Razek, Cairo, Washington

☆ Egypt pushes to break impasse over Gaza aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Aid from several countries has been building up in Egypt's Sinai peninsula due to a failure to reach a deal enabling its safe delivery to Gaza along with evacuations of some foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. Israeli bombardments on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing into Egypt, the main crossing out of Gaza not controlled by Israel, have disrupted operations there. There is alarm in Egypt over the prospect that residents in Gaza could be displaced by Israel's siege and bombardment. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told CNN on Saturday that the Rafah crossing was open but the roads leading to it in Gaza were "inoperable" due to Israeli bombardment. He said that if foreign nationals were able to cross the border Egypt would facilitate their departure to their home countries.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Sameh Shoukry, Mohamed Waly, Omar Abdel Razek, Yusri Mohamed, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Adam Makary, Nafisa Eltahir, Aidan Lewis, Louise Heavens, Hugh Lawson, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Hamas, U.S, CNN, United, United Arab, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, ., CAIRO, Egypt, Egypt's, United States, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Tunisia, Sinai's Al Arish

NBC News, citing a Palestinian official, reported the Rafah border crossing would open at 9 a.m. on Monday. Washington is also focused on avoiding a spillover of the conflict, especially with clashes with Lebanon escalating on Israel's border. [1/5]Smoke rises in the air following Israeli bombings in Gaza, as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 15, 2023. Israel's military, which has massed tanks on Gaza's border in preparation for a ground offensive, says it is targeting Hamas and its infrastructure in response. Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting "every place, every commander, every operator."

Persons: Antony Blinken, Abdel Fattah al, Blinken, David Satterfield, Gazans, Joe Biden, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Amir Cohen, Bejamin Netanyahu, Israel's, General Herzi Halevi, Halevi, Netanyahu, Biden, Philippe Lazzarini, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Nidal, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Michelle Nichols, Simon Lewis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Gaza, United Nations, Veteran U.S, NBC, Palestinian, ABC News, Reuters, Authorities, REUTERS, United, State Department, Saturday, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, UN, UNRWA, Thomson Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Gaza CAIRO, WASHINGTON, GAZA, Egypt, Middle East, U.S, Washington, Lebanon, Iran, Tehran, United States, France, Canada, Hamas, Al, Quds, Razek, Cairo, Jerusalem, Dubai

☆ Gaza Border Crossing Set to Reopen as Israeli Troops Prepare Ground Assault
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

NBC News, citing a Palestinian official, reported the Rafah border crossing would open at 9 a.m. on Monday. U.S. government officials say they are mobilizing to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, anticipating a brutal ground offensive. Washington is also focused on avoiding a spillover of the conflict, especially with clashes with Lebanon escalating on Israel's border. Israel's military, which has massed tanks on Gaza's border in preparation for a ground offensive, says it is targeting Hamas and its infrastructure in response. Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting "every place, every commander, every operator."

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Nandita Bose, Nidal, Antony Blinken, Abdel Fattah al, Blinken, David Satterfield, Gazans, Joe Biden, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Bejamin Netanyahu, Israel's, General Herzi Halevi, Halevi, Netanyahu, Biden, Philippe Lazzarini, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Michelle Nichols, Simon Lewis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Mughrabi, Gaza, United Nations, Veteran U.S, NBC, Palestinian, ABC News, Reuters, Authorities, United, State Department, Saturday, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, UN, UNRWA Locations: Mughrabi CAIRO, WASHINGTON, GAZA, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Middle East, U.S, Washington, Lebanon, Iran, Tehran, United States, France, Canada, Hamas, Al, Quds, Razek, Cairo, Jerusalem, Dubai

☆ Hamas critique removed from Palestinians' Abbas comments on Israel attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. The comments, published by WAFA on its website, came during a phone call between Abbas and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Abbas' Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He has long been opposed to Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007 and ousted Fatah party forces loyal to Abbas. Abbas also heads the PLO, the umbrella group that represented the Palestinians in past U.S.-sponsored peace talks with Israel.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Brendan McDermid, WAFA, Abbas, Nicolas Maduro, Fatah, Rami Ayyub, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Deepa Babington, Lisa Shumaker, Sonali Paul Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Palestinian, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Hamas, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Gaza, Israel

☆ President Abbas says Hamas' actions do not represent Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsOct 15 (Reuters) - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the actions and policies of Islamist group Hamas do not represent Palestinian people, according to official news agency WAFA. In a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Abbas also called the Palestine Liberation Organization the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," WAFA said. "The president affirmed his rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides and called for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees on both sides," added the news agency. Reporting by Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Deepa Babington and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Brendan McDermid, Nicolas Maduro, Abbas, WAFA, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Deepa Babington, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Palestinian, WAFA, Venezuelan, Palestine Liberation Organization, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Palestine

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.8 with an epicentre some 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech. "When I felt the earth shaking beneath my feet and the house leaning, I rushed to get my kids out. [1/14]Residents rest in central Marrakesh following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. It was Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960 when a quake was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Marrakech is due to host the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank from Oct. 9.

Persons: Mohamed Azaw, Mohamed Ouhammo, Montasir, Abdellatif Ait, Saida Bodchich, Hannah McKay, Waaziz Hassan, Mohammad Kashani, Zakia Abdennebi, Tarek Amara, Alexander Cornwell, Ahmed Tolba, Jose Joseph, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Adam Makary, Michelle Nichols, Graham Keeley, Josephine Mason, Angus McDowall, Tom Perry, Tomasz Janowski, Frances Kerry, Alexander Smith, Peter Graff, Daniel Wallis Organizations: WHO, Moroccan, Interior Ministry, Geological Survey, Food, High, REUTERS, World Health Organization, UNESCO, . Geological Survey, University of Southampton, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, IMF, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Morocco, U.S, Amizmiz, Asni, Tansghart, Abdellatif Ait Bella, Marrakesh, Huelva, Jaen, Spain, Jemaa, Moroccan, Turkey, Algeria, Tunis, Imsouane, Dubai, Bengaluru, Cairo, New York, Madrid, London

☆ Iraq invites foreign bids for 11 gas blocks in new areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 18 (Reuters) - Iraq on Sunday invited foreign companies to bid for contracts to explore and develop natural gas reserves in 11 new blocks as the OPEC member seeks to produce much-needed natural gas for power stations and cut imports that weigh on the country's budget. Iraq's oil ministry has ended preparation to launch a sixth bidding round to auction off the gas blocks, the ministry said, without setting a date for the bidding process. Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia, flares much of its own gas, extracted alongside crude oil at its fields, because it lacks the facilities to process it into fuel and instead uses Iranian power imports to generate electricity. Baghdad has been under pressure from the United States to reduce its reliance on gas imports from Iran. Reporting by Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: OPEC’s, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Sunday, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Iraq, Anbar, Mosul, Naja, Saudi Arabia, Baghdad, United States, Iran

☆ Kuwait forms cabinet with new oil minister, finance minister re-appointed
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, June 18 (Reuters) - Kuwait formed a new government on Sunday naming Saad Al Barrak as oil minister to replace Bader Al-Mulla and reappointing Finance Minister Manaf Abdulaziz Al Hajri. Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who was re-appointed as prime minister last week, formed the new cabinet announced in a decree carried by the state news agency KUNA. The Gulf Arab state also named a new defence minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. The outgoing government had resigned following parliamentary elections held earlier this month in the Gulf OPEC oil producer. Reporting By Andrew Mills and Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Andrew Heavens and David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Saad Al Barrak, Bader Al, Mulla, Manaf Abdulaziz Al Hajri, Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al, Ahmad Al, Sheikh Ahmad Al, Fahad Al, Ahmed Al, Andrew Mills, Ahmed Tolba, Andrew Heavens, David Evans Organizations: reappointing Finance, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Kuwait, Sabah, Gulf OPEC

☆ Fighting escalates in Khartoum after ceasefire expires
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, June 4 (Reuters) - Residents of Sudan's capital Khartoum reported a sharp escalation of clashes in several areas of the capital on Sunday after the expiry of a ceasefire deal between rival military factions brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States. It had led to some decrease in the intensity of fighting and limited humanitarian access, but like previous truce deals it was repeatedly violated. Among the areas where fighting was reported on Sunday were central and southern Khartoum, and Bahri, across the Blue Nile to the north. "In southern Khartoum we are living in terror of violent bombardment, the sound of anti-aircraft guns and power cuts. Beyond the capital, deadly fighting has also broken out in the remote western region of Darfur, already scarred by a long-running conflict and huge humanitarian challenges.

Persons: Witnesses, Sara Hassan, Khalid Abdelaziz, Ahmed Tolba, Hatem Maher, Aidan Lewis, Frances Kerry Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Sudan's, Khartoum, Saudi Arabia, United States, Omdurman, U.S, Jeddah, Bahri, Darfur, Dubai, Cairo

☆ Fighting escalates in Sudan's capital after ceasefire expires
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The ceasefire between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had started on May 22 and expired on Saturday evening. Beyond the capital, deadly fighting has also broken out in Darfur in the far west of Sudan, already grappling with long-running unrest and huge humanitarian challenges. There was no comment from the army, which has been using war planes to target the RSF spread out across the capital. Fighting in the capital has led to widespread damage and looting, a collapse in health services, power and water cuts, and dwindling food supplies. Hemedti's whereabouts are unclear though he appeared in video footage with his troops in central Khartoum earlier in the fighting.

Persons: Sara Hassan, Witnesses, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Khalid Abdelaziz, Ahmed Tolba, Hatem Maher, Omar Abdel, Aidan Lewis, Frances Kerry, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rapid Support Forces, Darfur Bar Association, Thomson Locations: Khartoum North, Sudan, Khartoum, Darfur, Saudi, U.S, DUBAI, Sudan's, North Darfur, Saudi Arabia, United States, Bahri, Omdurman, Jeddah, Dubai, Razek, Cairo

☆ Benzema leaves Real Madrid after 14 years at club
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MADRID, June 4 (Reuters) - Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema will leave Real Madrid as a free agent in the close season after 14 trophy-laden years, the LaLiga club said on Sunday, with the striker set to move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad. Saudi Arabia's state-run Al Ekhbariya television station reported that Al Ittihad had reached an agreement with Benzema on a two-year contract, with club officials in Madrid to hammer out a "record deal" with the striker. "Real Madrid and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close," the club said in a statement. "Karim Benzema's career at Real Madrid has been a shining example of conduct and professionalism, and he has represented the values of our club." Benzema scored more than 350 goals for Real to sit second on the club's all-time scoring list behind Ronaldo.

Persons: Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al, Al Ittihad, Frenchman, Karim Benzema's, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, REAL'S, Benzema, Ronaldo, Real, Zinedine Zidane, del, Benzema's, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, Florentino Perez, Fernando Kallás, Rohith Nair, Ahmed Tolba, Hugh Lawson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Real Madrid, Benzema, Madrid, Real, Olympique Lyonnais, Juventus, Champions League, Paris St Germain, Manchester City, Frenchman, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Saudi Arabian, Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia's, Madrid, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Chelsea, del Rey, Bengaluru, Cairo

☆ Jordan, Iraq power link to start production on July 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

May 27 (Reuters) - An electricity grid interconnection between Jordan and Iraq will begin supplies to Iraq on July 1, an Iraqi official was quoted as saying on Saturday. A spokesperson for Iraq's electricity ministry told the state news agency that production will start with an initial capacity of 50 megawatts. Reporting by Ahmed Tolba and Hatem Maher; Editing by Andrew CawthorneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Egypt's central bank leaves key interest rates on hold
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 18 (Reuters) - Egypt's central bank kept its overnight interest rates unchanged on Thursday, saying that growth had slowed in the fourth quarter and international commodity prices were easing. As forecast by analysts, the bank left its lending rate at 19.25% and deposit rate at 18.25%, its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) said in a statement. The MPC said inflation had decelerated in part because disruptions to the domestic supply chain, commodity prices and the exchange rate had eased. "On the global front, forecasts for key international commodity prices have been revised downwards compared to those underlying the previous MPC meeting," the MPC said. At its last meeting on March 30, the central bank raised interest rates by 200 bps, saying it aimed to check soaring inflation.

☆ Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers to meet to pave way to re-open embassies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A newspaper with a cover picture of the flag of Iran and Saudi Arabia, is seen in Tehran, Iran March 11, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERSDUBAI, March 23 (Reuters) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, have agreed to meet soon and pave the way for the re-opening of embassies under a deal to re-establish ties, Saudi state news agency SPA said on Thursday. Earlier this month, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to revive relations after years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria. Amirabdollahian emphasized during the call Iran's readiness to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported. The deal between the regional powers, Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and long-time rival Shi'ite Iran, brokered by China, was announced after previously undisclosed talks in Beijing between top security officials from the two countries.

☆ Iraq and Iran sign deal to tighten border security
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Ahmed Rasheed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani looks on as Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji and Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani sign the security agreement that includes coordination in protecting the common borders between the two countries, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 19, 2023. The joint security agreement includes coordination in "protecting the common borders between the two countries and consolidating cooperation in several security fields", a statement from the Iraqi prime minister's office said. Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani signed the deal with Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji, in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, the prime minister office said. "Under the signed security deal, Iraq pledges it would not allow armed groups to use its territory in the Iraqi Kurdish region to launch any border-crossing attacks on neighbour Iran," said an Iraqi security official who attended the signing. Iran has also accused Kurdish militants of working with its arch-enemy Israel and has often voices concern over the alleged presence of the Israeli spy agency Mossad in the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region.

☆ Kuwait court reinstates previous parliament
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Ahmed Hagagy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUWAIT, March 19 (Reuters) - Kuwait's Constitutional Court on Sunday ruled that last September's parliamentary election, in which the opposition made gains, was void and that the previous assembly must be reinstated. Kuwait's crown prince last year dissolved parliament and called early polls in an effort to end prolonged domestic political feuding that has hindered fiscal reform. However, Justice Mohammad bin Naji on Sunday said the court had declared that dissolution of parliament as void and had annulled the early elections held in September. "The constitutional authority of the dissolved parliament shall be restored as of the date of this ruling," he told the court session attended by reporters. "Kuwait does not deserve such farces," MP Saleh Ashour said on Twitter after the court ruling.

At a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said talks with Turkey on the possibility of restoring ties to ambassadorial level would happen at "the appropriate time". Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey would upgrade its diplomatic relations with Egypt to ambassador level "as soon as possible". "There is a political will and directives from the presidents of both countries when they met in Doha ... to launch the path towards a full normalisation of relations," Shoukry said. Consultations between senior foreign ministry officials in Ankara and Cairo began in 2021, amid a push by Turkey to ease tensions with Egypt, the UAE, Israel and Saudi Arabia. As part of that tentative reconciliation, Ankara asked Egyptian opposition TV channels operating in Turkey to moderate their criticism of Egypt.

☆ Lebanon's central bank chief says he will not renew his term
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAIRO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Lebanon's embattled central bank chief Riad Salameh said on Sunday he would leave his post once his latest term ends in July even if he is asked to stay longer. "No one has asked me to continue [as central bank chief] but even if they do, I think this is enough," he said in a televised interview with Egypt's AlQahera News on Sunday. Salameh, who became the head of the central bank in 1993, has come under increased scrutiny both at home and abroad since Lebanon's financial system began unraveling in 2019. The collapse has locked most savers out of their bank accounts and pushed more than 80% of Lebanon's population below the poverty line. The central bank had announced in November 2022 that a "specialized and professional international auditing firm" had completed an audit of the gold reserves but had not announced its value.

☆ Algeria arrests one person who threatened to blast Saudi embassy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Feb 15 (Reuters) - Algerian security forces arrested one person who threatened to blast the headquarters of the Saudi embassy in Algiers, Algerian state TV reported on Wednesday. The Saudi embassy received a call at 3 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday from a person who threatened to bomb its headquarters, the TV added, citing a statement from the capital's security forces. The capital's security forces arrested the suspect after investigations, the report said adding that the person was subjected to medical checks and psychological tests before being prosecuted. There was no immediate comment from the Saudi embassy in Algeria or the Saudi authorities. Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Italy's Eni signs $8 billion Libya gas deal as PM Meloni visits Tripoli
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Gavin Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The deal, signed during a visit to Tripoli by Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, aims to increase gas output for the Libyan domestic market as well as exports, through the development of two offshore gas fields. Output will begin in 2026 and reach a plateau of 750 million cubic feet per day, Eni said in a statement. "This agreement will enable important investments in Libya's energy sector, contributing to local development and job creation while strengthening Eni's role as a leading operator in the country," said its chief executive, Claudio Descalzi. Meloni met Libya's Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, head of the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli for talks that also focused on migration across the Mediterranean. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who oversees the migration issue for Rome, accompanied Meloni to Libya, as well as Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

☆ Oman's drilling services firm Abraj plans March listing on Muscat exchange
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 22 (Reuters) - Oman's oil and gas drilling services firm Abraj Energy Services plans to list up to 49% of its shares on the Muscat stock exchange in March through an initial public offering (IPO), a company statement said on Sunday. The IPO forms part of an exit plan recently announced by sovereign wealth fund, the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), the state news agency said. State energy company OQ, the selling shareholder, is wholly-owned by the OIA, which expects to exit eight investments in 2023 to generate about $1.3 billion. A diversified oil and gas services firm, Abraj is the largest drilling contractor in Oman with a market share of almost 30 percent. States such as Qatar and Oman are now seeking to capitalise on investor appetite for Gulf IPOs and compete with more active regional exchanges.

☆ UAE energy minister: OPEC+ faces oil market volatility in both supply and demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Jan 14 (Reuters) - OPEC+ is facing "volatile prospects" in oil markets both in supply and demand, UAE energy minister Suhail al-Mazrouei told Asharq TV on Saturday. OPEC+ production capacity was down 3.7 mln bpd due to fewer investments in the oil sector, Al-Mazrouei said. He also said UAE is taking preemptive steps to compensate for the reduced oil production capacity in some countries by bringing forward its five million barrel per day oil production capacity expansion to 2027 from a previous target of 2030. Regarding gas, Al-Mazrouei told the Atlantic Council Global Energy Summit earlier that the world would need natural gas for a long time and more investment was required to ensure supply security and affordable prices during the global energy transition. Reporting by Ahmed Tolba and Yasmin Hussein, Editing by Angus MacSwan and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Egypt's currency weakens to 26.49 to the dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Coins of a one Egyptian pound are seen at the Mint Museum, in Cairo, Egypt January 25, 2021. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File PhotoCAIRO, Jan 4 (Reuters) - The Egyptian pound weakened to 26.49 to the dollar on Wednesday, its biggest one-day move since the central bank allowed it to fall by 14.5% on Oct. 27, according Refinitiv Data. Currency flexibility has been a key demand by the International Monetary Fund, which approved a 46-month, $3 billion financial rescue package in October. read moreThe currency has weakened from 19.7 to the dollar in March. Black market currency dealers continued to buy dollars for 29 pounds each on the black market on Wednesday, even after the devaluation.

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