Middle East & North Africa

TEHRAN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sunday condemned an Israeli missile attack earlier in the day on Syria's capital Damascus.

In a statement published on the ministry's website, Nasser Kanaani said the continuation of the attacks by Israel proves that it seeks to aggravate the Syrian people's pains and suffering who are still grappling with the consequences of the deadly and destructive quakes.

TEHRAN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on Saturday strongly condemned the "brutal" attack by the Islamic State (IS) group in eastern Syria that killed more than 50, blaming the United States for the "continued insecurity" in the Arab country.

In a statement published on the ministry's website, Nasser Kanaani expressed his condolences to the "brotherly and friendly" Syrian government and people over the tragic incident.

ANKARA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from two major earthquakes that struck southeastern Türkiye on Feb. 6 has risen to 40,642, the country's disaster agency said Saturday.

Search and rescue efforts will be largely completed as of Sunday evening, Yunus Sezer, head of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said at a press conference.

The emergency work was concentrated in southern Hatay province, which was hit hardest in last week's quakes, he said, adding that the disaster agency had nearly 13,000 personnel working in the area.

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Comorian President Azali Assoumani on Saturday took over the rotating African Union (AU) chairmanship at the opening of the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly.

Assoumani replaces the outgoing chairman, also Senegalese President Macky Sall. In his acceptance speech, the Comorian president emphasized the need to exert concerted efforts toward the betterment of Africa and its people.

ISTANBUL (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took a helicopter tour Sunday of one of the provinces worst-affected by the Feb. 6 earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria and pledged a further $100 million in aid to help the region.

“This is going to be a long-term effort,” Blinken said at Incirlik Air Base, a joint U.S.-Turkish facility that has coordinated the distribution of disaster aid. “The search and rescue, unfortunately, is coming to an end. The recovery is on, and then there will be a massive rebuilding operation.”

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — President Kais Saied of Tunisia ordered Europe’s top trade union official to leave the North African country after she addressed protesters at a demonstration organized by an influential labor union.

Authorities accused Esther Lynch, the Irish general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, of making statements that “interfered with Tunisian internal affairs” during a Saturday protest against Saied in the port city of Sfax.

19 Feb 2023; MEMO: Russia is to propose a partnership with the Gulf States to produce its cutting-edge fighter jet Su-75, also referred to as Checkmate, Russian media reported on Thursday.

"Rosoboronexport is considering options for joint design and manufacture of cutting-edge high-tech products, including a fifth-generation fighter based on the Checkmate light tactical aircraft," shared Rosoboronexport's Director General Alexander Mikheev.

19 Feb 2023; MEMO: Finland has announced that it still wants to join the NATO alliance alongside its neighbour Sweden, despite chances that Turkiye will approve Helsinki's bid separately.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference today, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin stated that "We have sent a very clear signal and a very clear message to Turkiye and also to Hungary…that we want enter NATO together and this is in the interest of everyone".

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - A senior Israeli diplomat was on Saturday removed from the African Union's annual summit in Ethiopia, as a dispute over Israel's accreditation to the bloc escalated.

Images posted online showed AU security personnel confronting the diplomat during the opening ceremony of the summit, before she left the auditorium.

ANKARA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from two major earthquakes that struck southeastern Türkiye on Feb. 6 has risen to 40,642, the country's disaster agency said Saturday.

Search and rescue efforts will be largely completed as of Sunday evening, Yunus Sezer, head of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said at a press conference.

The emergency work was concentrated in southern Hatay province, which was hit hardest in last week's quakes, he said, adding that the disaster agency had nearly 13,000 personnel working in the area.