Your regional news round-up
- US President Donald Trump warned Iran not to build up its nuclear programme, as he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks in Florida. Mr Netanyahu's visit also comes at another critical moment in Gaza as Mr Trump looks for momentum in the US-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire that is in danger of stalling before reaching the complicated second phase of the agreement.
- Somalia accused Israel of undermining stability in the Horn of Africa by recognising the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation. Abukar Osman, Somalia’s ambassador to the UN, told the Security Council that the “act of aggression” was aimed at encouraging the fragmentation of his country.
- Iraq's parliament elected politician Haibat Al Halbousi as Speaker during its first session. Mr Al Halbousi received 208 votes, while two other candidates for the post, Salem Al Issawi and Amer Abdul Jaber, received 66 and nine votes respectively, the Iraqi News Agency said. There were 26 invalid ballots, and 20 legislators did not attend the session.
- Iran's central bank governor resigned on Monday, state TV reported, as protests erupted in Tehran and several other cities after the country’s currency plummeted to a record low against the US dollar.
- Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has said his country “will not allow any new dams to be built on the Nile” unless agreed to in advance and carried out under international law, marking Cairo’s firmest position in years on the water dispute with Ethiopia.
- The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced on Tuesday a “limited military operation” against weapons and combat vehicles belonging to the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
- Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara and central bank governor Abdulkader Husrieh unveiled the country’s new currency, which will be introduced gradually from January 1.
Other developments
- Three Turkish police officers were killed in a clash with suspected ISIS militants in north-western Turkey. Six militants were killed in the operation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
- Hamas confirmed the death of its armed wing spokesman, Abu Obeida, months after Israel announced he had been killed in an air strike in Gaza. Israel had said it killed him in a strike on Al Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza city on August 30.
- Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shaibani received Maj. Gen. Patrick Gauchat, head of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) mission, in Damascus. During the meeting, both sides underscored the role of the UNTSO mission in documenting Israeli violations in southern Syria and discussed ways to enhance existing co-operation, according to Syrian state media.
- Iran’s military has warned of “costly retaliation” against any attempt to threaten its national security. In a statement carried by state media, Iran's military said it remained on full alert and would not tolerate any “miscalculation” by its adversaries.
- Syrian authorities said that security deployments in the country’s coastal region were aimed at “restoring calm”, but critics have accused these forces of suppressing anti-government demonstrations.
More goings-on
- The Bank of Palestine has received in-principle approval for a full banking licence from Abu Dhabi’s financial hub, the ADGM, as it seeks to expand globally to serve the Palestinian diaspora.
- Lebanon signed a preliminary agreement with Egypt to import natural gas to ease electricity shortages and reduce its reliance on high-cost fuel oil imports.
- Bahrain plans to introduce new fiscal reforms aimed at bolstering public finances, with measures ranging from increasing fuel prices to establishing a corporate income tax law.
- Freed Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, who flew to Britain last week, has apologised “unequivocally” for past social media posts, but said they had been used to question his “integrity and values”.
Happening today
- Netanyahu meets US officials in Florida to discuss Gaza and Iran
Top picks from The National
View from Tehran: Hard strategic lessons drive Iran towards self-reliant deterrence
Comment: Ireland's policy on Palestine is a litmus test for international diplomacy
Editorial: Syria has an opportunity to empty its 'ISIS camps' for good
This newsletter was compiled by Mohamad Ali Harisi, Foreign Editor.
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