Middle East & North Africa

04 Nov 2022; MEMO: The Deputy Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Ibrahim Munir, passed away today in London aged 85.

Munir became the caretaker supreme guide of the Brotherhood after the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Ezzat the first deputy supreme guide of the group in August 2020.

Munir, who lived in London, was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood's Guidance Council and spokesman for the movement in Europe.

04 Nov 2022; MEMO: Palestinians yesterday mourned Fatima Bernawi, the first woman to be imprisoned by Israel, who had died in Egypt at the age of 83 yesterday, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

The Fatah movement in Egypt issued an official statement mourning Bernawi, saying she had died following years of resistance during which she was an exceptional model for Palestinian women.

04 Nov 2022; MEMO: Pope Francis arrived in the Bahraini capital Manama yesterday in the first visit to the Gulf kingdom by the supreme pontiff.

King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa welcomed the pope as his four-day visit began in an official ceremony, according to Bahrain's public broadcaster.

Pope Francis is scheduled to address in the "Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence" today, which started yesterday under the auspices of the Bahraini monarch.

RAMALLAH, Nov 3 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammed Ishtaye, yesterday said that, the results of the Israeli parliamentary elections, would not produce a peace partner with the Palestinians.

In a statement from the prime minister’s office, Ishtaye said, the rise of extremist religious right-wing parties in the Israeli elections, “is a natural result of the growing manifestations of extremism and racism in Israeli society, from which the Palestinian people have been suffering for years.”

TEHRAN, Nov 3 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iran has arrested three individuals, linked with the recent unrest in the country, who were sponsored by “the United States and Saudi Arabia.”

The three persons were actively involved in the recent “riots” in Iran, in the guise of citizen journalists.

The source said, the three arrestees “cooperated with American institution, Tavana Tech and Saudi-sponsored television, Iran International.”

ALGIERS, Nov 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — The 31st Arab League (AL) Summit concluded here on Wednesday with the adoption of the Algiers Declaration which calls for joint action to tackle the regional and global challenges.

The declaration warned of the risks brought by changing international situation posed to Arab national security and stability, stressing the importance of unifying efforts to preserve Arab common interests.

It also called for cooperation in ensuring food and energy security, confronting climate change, as well as ending the crises in some Arab countries.

BEIRUT, Nov 3 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanese Agriculture Minister, Abbas Hajj Hassan, yesterday launched a national strategy for wheat cultivation, amid concerns of a wheat crisis in the country, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to evolve.

“We developed a plan for distributing seeds to farmers and monitoring the seasons by seeking support from Lebanese and foreign experts,” said Hajj Hassan, hoping the plan could help Lebanon achieve high-quality production and build a solid agricultural sector.

ISTANBUL, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Turkish annual inflation climbed to a new 24-year high of 85.51% in October, official data showed on Thursday, slightly below forecast, after the central bank cut its policy rate despite surging prices.

Inflation has surged since last year, when the lira slumped after the central bank began cutting its policy rate in an easing cycle long sought by President Tayyip Erdogan.

TEHRAN, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has destroyed a "terrorist team" in western Ilam city, Tasnim news agency reported.

"The members of the team who, during the recent riots, attempted to carry out anti-security measures such as the preparation and supply of war grenades and incendiary bombs for use in sabotage activities, were arrested during an operation in Ilam city," the report cited a statement as reading by the IRGC's base in Ilam province.

AMMAN, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi held here on Thursday a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which the two sides discussed, among others, bilateral ties and the Syrian crisis.

The Russian foreign minister said at a joint press conference that his meeting with Safadi was "fruitful," expressing the hope for more cooperation in economic, commercial, educational, and agricultural fields between the two countries.