Middle East & North Africa

22 Nov 2019; MEMO: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is making a push to develop high-tech military hardware that would give it control over critical defence capabilities and lessen reliance on imports.

Wary of threats from rival Iran, and concerned over moves by some allies to hold up arms sales, the UAE is reshaping a military industry already seen as the region’s most sophisticated.

22 Nov 2019; MEMO: Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said his country did not use any banned ammunition or chemical weapons during Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria.

“Turkey didn’t use and will not use any ammunition or chemical weapons prohibited by international law and agreements. The Turkish army does not have the means and equipment to launch chemical weapons,” Akar told parliament.

22 Nov 2019; MEMO: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree on Thursday to increase salaries for Syrian government workers and pensioners amid the collapse of the Syrian Pound. The order provides an increase of 20,000 Syrian Pounds (about $28) on the monthly salaries and wages of the military and civilian employees.

JUBA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Tuesday that warring parties need to be given a benefit of patience to complete the outstanding issues within the signed revitalized peace agreement.

David Shearer, head of UNMISS, told journalists that both President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar need the 100 days to resolve the outstanding issues and that the international community and African Union should give them a benefit of patience.

22 Nov 2019; MEMO:  On Thursday, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin instructed the Knesset to choose one of its members to form a government after the failure of Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz in this task.

Speaking in a press conference with Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Rivlin said that the leader of the “Blue and White” party, Benny Gantz, was unable to form a government either.

He added that “this is the first time we have reached this stage.”

22 Nov 2019; MEMO: Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Wednesday called on the European Union and Russia to revoke the citizenship of Israeli settlers who live in settlements built illegally on Palestinians land.

22 Nov 2019; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Israeli Attorney General’s decision Thursday to criminal indict him, calling it an attempted coup, Anadolu reports.

In a televised speech shortly after the indictment was announced, Netanyahu claimed the investigation was biased by the police and investigators.

JERUSALEM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israel's attorney general officially announced on Thursday that he has decided to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges after months of speculation.

The announcement comes as Israel finds itself in muddy political waters, after two inconclusive elections that have left the country with an interim government for almost a year.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — As the internet was slowly being revived across Iran on Friday after a dayslong, government-imposed shutdown amid demonstrations, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for Iranians to send the U.S. videos “documenting the regime’s crackdown” on protesters.

“The U.S. will expose and sanction the abuses,” Pompeo tweeted early Friday, as pockets of Iran saw internet over landlines restored.

BAGHDAD (AP) — The images are both haunting and inspiring, transforming a once dreary, grim underpass into a vivid, colorful wall of art.

“We want a nation, not a prison,” says one painting that depicts a man bursting free from behind bars. “Plant a revolution, and you will harvest a nation,” reads another showing a hand flashing the victory sign over protesters heads.

Some of the messages are less sentimental. “Look at us, Americans, this is all your fault,” declares one.