Middle East & North Africa

Israeli intelligence officer negotiates with Morocco on Sahara position

28 Jan 2023; MEMO: Reliable Moroccan media sources revealed the efforts made by Israel to raise its representation in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, to the level of an embassy. It noted that Rabat's condition for this is Israel's official and open recognition of Morocco's claim to the Sahara Desert.

Israel to legalise dozens of illegal settlements in occupied West Bank

28 Jan 2023; MEMO: An Israeli newspaper confirmed that the right-wing occupation government led by Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to proceed with the "legitimisation" of existing settlements and outposts in the occupied Palestinian territories, which are not yet recognised by Israeli law.

India: Sensational theft case comes to light in Kanpur zoo

Kanpur: A sensational case of theft has come to light in Kanpur Zoo here. Thieves took away a 250 kg safe kept in the Regional Forest Officer's room in the zoo.

It has been reportedly said that there was a cash of Rs 5.95 lakh in it.

Police claim to have been enquiring about nine employees. filing A report against the unknown on the complaint of the cashier of the zoo has been filed.

It has also been reported saying that one of the employees is missing.

Archaeologist hails possibly 'oldest' mummy yet found in Egypt

CAIRO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Egyptologists have uncovered a Pharaonic tomb near the capital Cairo containing what may be the oldest and "most complete" mummy yet to be discovered in the country, the excavation team leader said on Thursday.

The 4,300-year-old mummy was found at the bottom of a 15-metre shaft in a recently uncovered group of fifth and sixth dynasty tombs near the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, Zahi Hawass, director of the team, told reporters.

The mummy, of a man named Hekashepes, was in a limestone sarcophagus that had been sealed in mortar.

Arab League, Egypt condemn deadly Israeli raid in West Bank

CAIRO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Thursday condemned in the strongest terms an Israeli raid on Jenin city and Jenin refugee camp that killed at least nine Palestinians.

Aboul Gheit follows the development in the occupied territories with great concern and calls for the international community to protect the Palestinian people, said an Arab League statement.

The state of indifference encourages the occupying forces to commit more crimes under the leadership of a government with hardline plans, he added.

Türkiye says NATO dialogue with Sweden, Finland "meaningless" after protests in Stockholm

ANKARA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- It is "meaningless" to hold a trilateral meeting with Sweden and Finland to discuss their NATO accession process after recent protests in Stockholm, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

"In this environment, a trilateral meeting is meaningless. It has been postponed because the current environment will overshadow this," Cavusoglu explained at a joint press conference with visiting Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

UAE: Gunman kills security chief at Azerbaijan Embassy in Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A man armed with a Kalashnikov-style rifle stormed the Azerbaijan Embassy in Iran’s capital Friday, killing the head of security at the diplomatic post and wounding two guards, authorities said.

Tehran’s police chief, Gen. Hossein Rahimi, blamed the attack on “personal and family problems,” according to Iranian state television. However, the assault comes as tensions have been high for months between neighboring Azerbaijan and Iran.

Israel: Jerusalem, West Bank on edge after outbreak of violence

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s defense minister signaled Friday that the military would stop its airstrikes if Palestinian militant groups halted rocket attacks, a day after the deadliest Israeli raid in decades raised the prospect of a major flare-up in fighting.

After a limited exchange of Palestinian rockets and Israeli airstrikes on Gaza overnight, residents of Jerusalem were on edge Friday morning as they waited to see what comes next.

Israel’s defense minister instructed the military to prepare for new strikes in the Gaza Strip “if necessary.”

Palestine: Khan Al-Ahmar residents pledge not to leave their homes

26 Jan 2023; MEMO: Despite calls by extremist Israeli officials to evacuate Khan Al-Ahmar, Palestinians gathered on Wednesday in the village east of occupied Jerusalem and vowed to support its residents who have pledged not to leave their homes. Palestinian officials said that the Israeli occupation is to demolish Khan Al-Ahmar in order to proceed with the Israeli settlement plan known as E1.

Lebanon: lira falls to record low against US dollar

26 Jan 2023; MEMO: The Lebanese lira has fallen to a record low against the US dollar, it has been reported. The currency has lost more than 95 per cent of its value since the beginning of the country's economic crisis in 2019. On Wednesday, it hit a low of LL57,000 against the US dollar on the black market.

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