Middle East & North Africa

CAIRO, Jul 19 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt’s Health Ministry announced yesterday that, some villagers in Upper Egypt’s province of Qena have tested positive for the dengue virus.

The dengue fever cases were reported in the Al-Ilayqat village of Qena Province last week, the ministry said in a statement.

So far, no death has been reported from the mosquito-borne virus, as the symptoms of the patients, who were treated at home, were mild, it said.

RABAT, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Israel has decided to “recognise Morocco’s sovereignty” over the disputed Western Sahara region, the royal office in Rabat announced on Monday, citing a letter from the Israeli prime minister.

According to the letter, Benjamin Netanyahu informed Morocco’s King Mohammed VI of “the State of Israel’s decision to recognise Morocco’s sovereignty” over the mineral-rich desert region, the royal office said in a statement.

ISTANBUL, July 18 (Reuters) - The Turkish lira weakened more than 2% to a fresh record low against the dollar on Tuesday over market concerns that the central bank might raise interest rates this week by less than previously expected.

The lira hit a record low of 26.9 against the U.S. currency, sliding from Monday's close of 26.3505. It has weakened 30% so far this year.

ALGIERS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Despite the blistering sunshine in July, the construction site of the East-West Highway in Algeria's easternmost province of El Tarf is buzzing with activity.

Chinese and Algerian workers are braving the extreme heat, busy laying asphalt and making final preparations for the opening of the road to traffic.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli protesters blocked highways and gathered outside Tel Aviv’s stock exchange and military headquarters on Tuesday in the latest countrywide demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned judicial overhaul.

The latest “day of disruption” came as longtime allies of the prime minister pushed a contentious piece of legislation through a parliamentary committee ahead of a vote expected next week.

New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) A Delhi court on Tuesday granted two-day interim bail to outgoing WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in case of alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh granted relief to Singh on a personal bond of Rs 25,000.

The court also granted bail to Vinod Tomar, the suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), in the case.

17 July 2023; MEMO: Iran and Pakistan have agreed to enhance defence cooperation and coordinate on border security following a meeting on Saturday in Tehran between the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), General Hossein Salami, and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir.

17 July 2023; MEMO: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today embarked on a visit to Saudi Arabia to enhance relations with the Gulf kingdom.

Erdogan will be welcomed by Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz with an official ceremony in Jeddah city.

They will hold one-on-one talks, followed by inter-delegation meetings.

Bilateral relations, regional and international issues will be on the agenda.

17 July 2023; MEMO: Saudi Arabia is reportedly seeking to raise $2.7 billion (10bn riyals) to proceed with the development of its ambitious smart megacity project, Neom, according to Bloomberg.

17 July 2023; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, pledged to crack down on Monday against threatened no-shows for military reserve duty by opponents of his judicial overhaul plan, saying such actions were anti-democratic and risked emboldening the country's foes, Reuters reports.