06 Apr 2021; MEMO: The family of an outspoken Egyptian asylee living in Chicago has just appeared in court following more than two months of forcible disappearance.
Aly Hussin Mahdy's father, uncle, and cousin were arrested in Egypt at the beginning of February following a series of videos Aly posted online speaking out about human rights abuses committed by the Egyptian government.
06 Apr 2021; MEMO: The Palestinian Authority (PA) yesterday urged the international community to take immediate action against Israel's settlement expansion and "ethnic cleansing".
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the PA said: "Israeli settlement practices are part of official Israeli plans to evacuate the Palestinian territories from their original residents and make it a deep background for the strategic Israeli colonial project."
06 Apr 2021; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his power "made illegitimate use of the great governmental power entrusted to him" to serve his "personal affairs", lead prosecutor Liat Ben-Ari told judges yesterday.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s president said Tuesday that no party leader has enough support to form a governing majority but handed that job to embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid his corruption trial.
Reuven Rivlin’s announcement in Jerusalem nudged forward the twin dramas over the country’s future and Netanyahu’s fate, giving Israel’s longest-serving premier a fresh chance to try to salvage his career. Netanyahu holds the most support — 52 seats — in Israel’s splintered Knesset, but that is still short of a 61-seat majority.
BAGHDAD, Apr 5 (NNN-NINA) – Two rockets, yesterday, landed near an Iraqi military air base, in Iraq’s Salahudin province, north of the capital, Baghdad, the Iraqi military said.
A statement by the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said that, the rockets landed at 12:15 p.m. local time (0915 GMT), at the edge of Balad air base, some 90 km north of Baghdad, without causing casualties.
JEDDAH, Apr 5 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabia’s critical COVID-19 cases rose in the past weeks, prompting calls from relevant authorities for the public to adhere to measures designed to limit the spread of the virus.
At a press conference yesterday, Interior Ministry spokesman, Lt. Col. Talal Al-Shalhoub, said, the “unfortunate rise in daily cases” is due to “individuals who have been lax in following precautionary measures.”
He added, “Each violation adds to the frightening rise in numbers.”
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli prosecutors accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday of trading favours like “currency” at the opening of a corruption trial which, along with an inconclusive election, has clouded his prospects of remaining in office.
Netanyahu, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud, came to Jerusalem District Court in a dark suit and black protective mask. He huddled with lawyers as protesters for and against him could be heard yelling outside.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Former pro-Kurdish party leader Selahattin Demirtas, jailed since 2016 despite Western calls for his release, said the Turkish opposition should unite against rising oppression and moves to divide them, including a court case to ban his party.
Demirtas told Reuters that opponents of President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party (AKP) and his nationalist allies should agree shared democratic principles and form an alliance now rather than wait until elections scheduled for 2023.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has arrested an “Israeli spy” and a number of other people who were in contact with foreign intelligence services, Iranian state media reported on Monday, without giving the nationality of those arrested.
“An Israeli spy has been arrested in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province ... also other spies who were in contact with several countries’ intelligence services have been arrested as well,” it quoted an Intelligence Ministry official as saying.
Israeli officials did not immediately comment on the report.
Amman (Reuters) - Jordan’s estranged Prince Hamza said in a voice recording released on Monday that he would disobey orders by the army not to communicate with the outside world after he was put under house arrest and accused of trying to destabilise the country.
The half-brother of King Abdullah and former heir to the throne said in the recording released by the country’s opposition that he would not comply after being barred from any activity and told to keep quiet.
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