Middle East & North Africa

Egyptian Prez Sisi visits Saudi Arabia in search of support to face economic crisis

03 Apr 2023; MEMO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, today, to meet Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and discuss expanding the scope of investment in the North African state.

The visit comes in light of a severe economic crisis in Egypt, especially the lack of US dollars available to pay for necessary imports and settle debt instalments.

Iran retains right to respond to Israel at 'appropriate time and place,' says official

03 Apr 2023; MEMO: Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said that his country retains the right to respond to Israel's "state terrorism" at the appropriate "time and place", Anadolu has reported, quoting the official Iranian News Agency.

"The blood of Iranian military advisors will not go in vain," said Nasser Kanaani on Sunday after the killing of two Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps members in an Israeli air strike in Syria on Friday.

Erdogan to 'teach America a lesson' over apparent US support for Turkiye opposition

03 Apr 2023; MEMO: Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has said that his government will "teach America a lesson" in the upcoming Turkish elections next month, taking aim at Washington after its Ambassador visited the leading opposition candidate.

Turkiye on track to complete first nuclear power plant this year

03 Apr 2023; MEMO: Five years after breaking ground on the first unit of Turkiye's first nuclear power plant (NPP), Akkuyu, the country is now counting down the days to its operation, Anadolu News Agency reports.

With the delivery of the first fresh nuclear fuel to the plant site on 27 April, the Akkuyu plant will become a nuclear power facility.

Israel threatens to fire pilots refusing service amid rift on judicial overhaul

03 Apr 2023; MEMO: Israeli Air Force chief, Tomer Bar, threatened to fire reservist pilots refusing to join training or service amid a rift over controversial judicial overhaul plans, according to Israeli media on Monday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Bar was quoted by Israeli Channel 12 as saying that reservist pilots not showing up for duty will be met with sanctions and possibly being removed from operational activity.

Strategic projects to be launched soon with Turkiye: Iraq Premier

03 Apr 2023; MEMO: Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, has said new strategic projects with Turkiye will be launched soon, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"We have many partnerships and interests with neighbouring Turkiye. There are some problems in terms of water and security, but there are great opportunities to solve these problems. We are grateful for Turkiye's efforts to provide Iraq's water share," Al-Sudani told Al Jazeera network.

Israel demolishes Palestine village of Al-Araqeeb for 215th time

03 Apr 2023; MEMO: The Israeli Occupation authorities demolished today Al-Araqeeb village, based in the Negev (Naqab) Desert for the 215th time since 2010, and the 4th time this year.

Israeli forces raided the village and forced the residents, mainly women and children, out of the village to demolish what the residents had rebuilt using wood and plastic sheets to re-shelter their families since the last demolition.

Israel National Guard 'militia for fighting Palestinians': Rights group

03 Apr 2023; MEMO: A human rights group has termed Israel's National Guard as an armed militia designed for fighting Palestinians, calling for its abolition, Anadolu News Agency reports.

In a statement, the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (ADALA) said it has sent an urgent letter to the government's judicial adviser, Gali Baharav-Miara, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir demanding the abolition of the so-called National Guard.

Subscribe to Middle East & North Africa