Middle East & North Africa

14 Nov 2019; MEMO: Turkey will not give up on Russian S-400 air defense system to acquire US Patriots, the Turkish president said on Wednesday, stressing his country “can buy Patriots too”, Anadolu Agency reports.

“It is out of question to completely leave Russian S-400 to buy US Patriots. We can buy Patriots too. However, we will buy S-400 as well,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in his flight en route to Ankara from Washington.

15 Nov 2019; MEMO: Egypt’s unemployment rate rose to 7.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2019, compared to 7.5 per cent in the previous quarter, state-run Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced yesterday.

Unemployment in Egypt amounted to 10 per cent of the total labour force in the third quarter of 2018.

15 Nov 2019; MEMO: Syrian regime forces yesterday launched their second military operation against the southeast of Idlib, aiming at regaining full control over the war-torn province.

Russia’s Sputnik reported that the Syrian forces were able to take control of Idlib’s Tal Khaznah and Lobidiyah towns following “heavy air strikes backed by the Russian air forces.”

15 Nov 2019; MEMO: Lebanese President Michel Aoun has expressed his hope for the formation of a new government in the coming days, after overcoming the obstacles which may hinder its composition. “The demands made by the protesters in the squares are being followed-up,” tweeted Aoun. “These will be one of the government’s first objectives, following its formation, which we are working to achieve in the near future.”

14 Nov 2019; MEMO: Russia has announced the arrival of new combat helicopters and the establishment of an airbase at a site which was formerly a US-controlled stronghold in northern Syria, the state-run TASS news agency reported today.

BEIRUT, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese political parties agreed on Thursday to appoint former parliament member Mohammad Safadi as new prime minister, local TV Channel LBCI reported.

LBCI said that Hezbollah, Future Movement, Free Patriotic Movement and Amal Movement agreed on appointing Mohammad Safadi as next prime minister.

Former prime minister Saad Hariri resigned on Oct. 29 after the nationwide protests started on October 17 due to the incapability of the cabinet to implement structural reforms to save Lebanon's ailing economy.

ALGIERS, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The campaign of the presidential election will officially start on Sunday in Algeria, the official APS news agency reported Thursday.

President of Algerian Independent Election Monitoring Authority Mohamed Chorfi said on Thursday that all technical and human resources were mobilized to ensure the smooth running of the presidential election campaign before the voting on Dec. 12.

He added that all these means will ensure "equity among all candidates in coverage of their activities and statements" and they will guarantee voters "free choice."

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Residents say the airstrike came without warning: With fighting raging between Israel and Islamic Jihad militants throughout Gaza, two loud blasts shook the night, destroying the Abu Malhous home and killing eight members of the family in a split second.

AMMAN, Nov 14 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, said that, the Israeli occupation was the root cause of conflict and violence.

“War on Gaza would not bring security to Israel. Resolving the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, under international law, will guarantee the right to security for all,” Safadi said.

“The international community must act to end aggression and create horizons for the two-state solution,” he added.

KUWAIT, Nov 14 (NNN-KUNA) – Kuwait expressed utter rejection and condemnation of Israel’s raid on the Palestinian Gaza Strip, the Foreign Ministry said.

Israel’s ongoing airstrikes on the Palestinian territory, is a continuation of Israeli crimes against defenceless Palestinians, constituting a flagrant violation of international laws and norms, the ministry said.

This will only lead to more violence and undermine any chance for peace, the statement added.