Middle East & North Africa

18 June 2023; MEMO: US chipmaker Intel Corp INTC.O will spend $25 billion on a new factory in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, calling it the largest-ever international investment in the country, reports Reuters.

The factory in Kiryat Gat is due to open in 2027, to operate through 2035 at least and to employ thousands of people, Israel's Finance Ministry said. Under the deal Intel will pay a 7.5% tax rate, up from the current 5%, the ministry added.

18 June 2023; MEMO: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the enemies of Muslims, above all Israel, are opposed to the growing relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, reported state media.

18 June 2023; MEMO: Turkish Customs officials seized 76 tarantulas in a cargo sent from Poland to Marmaris, southwestern Turkey, Ministry of Commerce reported on Sunday, reports Anadolu Agency.

Security teams found large and hairy spiders after examining the cargo, a statement by the ministry said.

Declared as "aquarium plant" in documents, the cargo was found "suspicious" and subjected to examination.

18 June 2023; MEMO: US President Joe Biden's top adviser Brett McGurk arrived in Riyadh to discuss a possible normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, according to a US news portal, reports Anadolu Agency.

McGurk's talks with Saudi officials "will focus on the administration's efforts to reach a normalization agreement between Israel and the kingdom as well as other issues," Axios reported.

19 June 2023; MEMO: An Israeli court yesterday ruled that the Umm Qassah mixed primary school in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron must be demolished within a week.

The school's principal, Youssef Al-Basaita, told Palestinian media that Israeli authorities had notified him of the demolition last year, adding that they had prevented the school from adding new classrooms.

19 June 2023; MEMO: Israel's High Court of Justice issued an interim injunction on Sunday against the proposed law which would expand the power of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over the police, local media have reported. According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israeli government has 90 days to explain why the law is necessary and should not be cancelled.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli helicopter gunships struck targets Monday in the occupied West Bank as a gunbattle raged in the city of Jenin between Israeli troops and militants, killing three Palestinians, including a 15-year-old boy, officials said.

The violence marked a rare use of Israeli airpower in the territory. During the clashes, Palestinian militants detonated a roadside bomb next to an Israeli military vehicle. At least 29 Palestinians were wounded, six seriously, and Israeli media said a number of Israeli soldiers were hurt.

RIYADH, Jun 18 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabia and the United States announced yesterday, in a joint statement that, Sudan’s two warring factions have agreed on a new 72-hour cease-fire.

The cease-fire takes effect from 6:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) today.

The two rival parties agreed to refrain from seeking military advantage and initiating mutual attacks during the cease-fire, said the statement.

They also agreed to allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country, it added.

CAIRO, Jun 18 (NNN-MENA) – A supply ship loaded with hundreds of tonnes of relief aid from Egypt, had arrived in conflict-torn Sudan, the Egyptian military announced, yesterday.

The military spokesman, Gharib Abdel-Hafez, said in a statement that, the Egyptian navy ship had arrived at Port Sudan and unloaded hundreds of tonnes of foodstuffs, medical supplies and other aid material.

The supplies, sponsored by the Egyptian ministries of defence and social solidarity, as well as, some local associations, would be sent to most needy areas in Sudan, the spokesman said.

JERUSALEM, June 18 (Reuters) - U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp (INTC.O) will spend $25 billion on a new factory in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, calling it the largest-ever international investment in the country.

The factory in Kiryat Gat is due to open in 2027, to operate through 2035 at least and to employ thousands of people, Israel's Finance Ministry said. Under the deal Intel will pay a 7.5% tax rate, up from the current 5%, the ministry added.