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Need for good neighborly ties

The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says his country’s policy is to expand relations with neighbors, calling it a right policy. Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Turkmenistan’s president Serdar Berdimuhamedow. He stressed that the expansion of ties is in the interest of both countries and urged joint commissions to seriously follow up on the implementation of agreements. Earlier, officials from both sides signed over a dozen cooperation documents in different fields. Iranian President Ebrahim Raiesi and his Turkmen counterpart oversaw the signing ceremony. Raiesi said Iran and Turkmenistan enjoy vast capacity to boost their ties and pointed to Iran’s determination to sign a long-term strategic agreement. Raiesi said the Tehran-Ashgabat cooperation would definitely lead to further regional development. Berdimuhamedow, for his part, said his country wants close cooperation with Tehran on issues such as the Caspian Sea legal regime. He also called for enhancing relations with Iran in international bodies.

Gaza children's plight

A humanitarian organization is drawing global attention to the worsening mental status of Palestinian children living under an Israeli blockade in Gaza. A fresh report by the UK-based group Save the Children says four out of five children in the Gaza Strip are suffering from mental issues. It warns that symptoms of depression, grief and fear have risen dramatically in the past four years. According to the report, nearly half of Gaza's population of two million is made up of children who have never known life without the blockade. The group is calling the current state in Gaza more critical than ever and urging the international community to take immediate steps. Israel's land, air and sea blockade of Gaza has been in place since 2007. It has also launched four main wars against the coastal territory, killing and injuring thousands. The most recent one took place last year.

EU-UK post-Brexit row

The European Commission has launched legal proceedings against Britain after London introduced plans to override some post-Brexit trade rules. The official said the UK’s move to unilaterally change some of the Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade agreement has no legal justification. The EU has begun three legal proceedings in response to what it claims to be Britain’s failure to implement the protocol governing Northern Irish trading. A spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Britain is disappointed with the EU’s decision. Britain maintains that its plans do not violate international law. On Monday, the UK introduced legislation which would remove customs checks on some goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of Britain. London says the changes are necessary to improve trade and reduce bureaucratic red-tape. 

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