World

Turkmenistan Strikes Natural Gas Deal With China’s CNPC – U.S. News & World Report

From www.usnews.com
2021-08-24 18:15:00

Excerpt:

The government of Nicaragua has sought to shut down the country’s oldest LGBTQ rights group.

Confidencial, an online newspaper that is critical of the government, reported the Interior Ministry has asked the National Assembly to “annul the legal non-profit status” of Fundación Xochiquetzal and 14 other non-governmental organizations. Assemblyman Filiberto Rodriguez on Aug. 18 introduced a bill that would dissolve the 15 NGOs for “holding activities outside the law and acting expressly against the law.”

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Turkey reinforces border to block Afghans fleeing Taliban

From www.brisbanetimes.com.au
2021-08-24 03:19:16

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Migrants who are spotted getting through at the border are returned to the Iranian side, though most return and try again, according to security forces.

“No matter how many high-level measures you take, there may be those who evade them from time to time,” Bilmez said.

Roads leading from the border are lined with checkpoints. Migrants who make it through are hidden by smugglers in houses – often dirty, ramshackle buildings underground or in deep dried riverbeds –waiting to be moved to western Turkey.

Afghan migrants sit in the countryside in Tatvan, in Bitlis Province, eastern Turkey, last week.Credit:AP

On Saturday police captured 25 migrants, mostly Afghans, behind a dilapidated building in Van’s Hacibekir neighbourhood.

“We thought we will have facilities here, we will earn to support our parents. There, there are Taliban to kill us,” said 20-year-old Zaynullah, one of those detained. He said he arrived in Turkey two days earlier after travelling on foot for 80…

 

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Taliban take over some UN premises, curb movement: Report

From timesofindia.indiatimes.com
2021-08-24 17:29:36

Excerpt:

 

NEW YORK: Taliban fighters have taken over some UN compounds in Afghanistan, searching and ransacking offices and in one case demanding the guards provide meals for a commander and his men, according to an internal UN report seen by Reuters.
“We have also been advised by the Taliban to remain in our compound ‘for our safety’ which equates to ‘ask permission before thinking about leaving’,” the Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) wrote in the Aug. 21 risk assessment report.
It said the Taliban has been inconsistent in dealing with United Nations staff and that some Afghan personnel had been prevented from entering some UN premises.
The Taliban did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the UN security report. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference on Tuesday that the Islamist group wished for good diplomatic relations with other countries and wanted foreign embassies to remain open.
The United Nations had some 300 international staff…

 

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Algeria cuts diplomatic ties with Morocco over ‘hostile actions’ | Middle East News

From www.aljazeera.com
2021-08-24 17:55:33

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Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ramdane Lamamra accuses Rabat of ‘hostile actions’ as Algiers breaks ties with its neighbour.

Algeria is cutting diplomatic relations with Morocco, Foreign Minister Ramdane Lamamra said, accusing its neighbour of “hostile actions”.

Morocco and Algeria have had strained relations for decades, mainly over the issue of Western Sahara.

“Algeria has decided to cut diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Morocco from today,” Lamamra said at a news conference on Tuesday.

“The Moroccan kingdom has never stopped its hostile actions against Algeria,” he said.

The cutting of diplomatic relations is effective from Tuesday but consulates in each country will remain open, Lamamra said.

Morocco’s Foreign Ministry could not be immediately reached for comment.

King Mohammed VI has called for improved ties with Algeria.

Algeria last week said lethal wildfires were the work of groups it has labelled “terrorist”, one of which it said was backed by…

 

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17 presumed dead after migrant boat capsizes off Libya

From kwwl.com
2021-08-23 21:03:25

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CAIRO (AP) — A U.N. official says a boat crowded with dozens of migrants capsized off Libya and at least 17 people are presumed dead. The accident happened Sunday night off the western town of Zuwara. The U.N. official says there were around 70 migrants on board the rubber boat and the Libyan coast guard managed to rescue 51 Egyptians. One body was recovered and at least 16 other migrants were missing and assumed to have drowned. It was the latest disaster in the Mediterranean Sea involving migrants seeking a better life in Europe. Libya has emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.

 

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IDF strikes Gaza in response to incendiary balloons – report

From www.jpost.com
2021-08-23 20:49:00

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The IDF struck targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday night after 10 fires were sparked by incendiary balloons launched from Gaza, according to Palestinian reports.

The balloon launches came as Palestinian factions threatened to continue “popular activities,” including border protests, until the blockade on the Gaza Strip is lifted and Qatari funds are transferred into the coastal enclave.

Shortly before the strikes began, a Palestinian merchant was reportedly arrested by Israeli forces at the Erez crossing into the Gaza Strip. The reason for his arrest is as of yet unclear.

 

 

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Russia, Turkey close to signing new S-400 missile contract – Ifax – Arab News

From www.arabnews.com
2021-08-23 07:43:30

Excerpt:

Russia and Turkey are close to signing a new contract to supply Ankara with additional S-400 air defense units in the near future, the Interfax news agency cited the head of Russia’s Rosoboronexport arms exporter as saying on Monday.
Turkey’s initial purchase of S-400s from Russia strained ties with the United States and its NATO allies. Washington sanctioned Ankara and has threatened to impose new sanctions if it buys more major arms systems from Moscow.

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Mark Clouse- Afghanistan could start to run out of food by September, UN warns | Global development

From www.theguardian.com
2021-08-23 20:21:00

Excerpt:

UN agencies have warned of food shortages to Afghanistan as early as September without urgent aid funding, as it emerged first aid supplies, including surgical equipment and severe malnutrition kits, were stuck due to restrictions at Kabul airport.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday the closure of the airport to commercial flights has held up key deliveries.

The World Food Programme (WFP), which brings in supplies by road, said it was getting food through via four different supply routes for the moment, but could start running out of food by next month.

Andrew Patterson, the WFP’s deputy country director in Afghanistan, said they were transporting food through humanitarian crossings, including from Uzbekistan, though which 50% of supplies arrived, as well as via Pakistan and Turkmenistan.

“Winter is coming. We are going into the lean season and many Afghan roads will be covered in snow. We need to get the food into our warehouses where it needs to be distributed,”…

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