Middle East & North Africa

Libya's Haftar appears before US court via video link on war crime charges

07 Nov 2022; MEMO: Libyan Major General Khalifa Haftar has appeared before an American court to respond to a war crimes lawsuit against him, Libyan researcher and head of the US-based Foundation for Democracy and Human Right, Imad El-Din Zuhri Al-Muntasir told Arabi21.

UN shouldn't be 'trapped' by 'weaponised' definition of anti-Semitism, say scholars

07 Nov 2022; MEMO: Almost 130 scholars of Jewish history and Holocaust Studies from around the world have issued a stark warning in a letter to the UN not to adopt the highly controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.

Sudan army sets conditions for elections

07 Nov 2022; MEMO: Sudan's tripartite mechanism yesterday said it was hoping that the consultations between the country's army and civilians would end "within two weeks."

The demands by the United Nations, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) came after Sudanese army leaders announced the conditions to approve a draft transitional constitution proposed by the country's Bar Association.

Oman posts $2.9bn budget surplus

07 Nov 2022; MEMO: Oman recorded a budget surplus of $2.92bn (OR1.12), the country's Finance Ministry says, local media reports.

According to the report, the high price of oil and an increase in gas revenue contributed to public revenue, according to the monthly report by the Finance Ministry.

There was a 43.4 per cent increase in revenue, as OR10.64bn ($27.6bn) was measured against OR7.4bn ($19.2bn).

Algeria officially applies to join BRICS bloc

08 Nov 2022; MEMO: Algeria has officially applied to join the BRICS economic group, Anadolu News Agency reports.

The bloc of emerging economies includes Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa.
Foreign Ministry official, Leyla Zarruki, said the North African country has requested membership of the economic bloc, the State radio reported.

US citizen killed in central Baghdad - police sources

08 Nov 2022; MEMO: A US citizen was killed on Monday in central Baghdad, after a failed attempt to kidnap him, Iraqi police sources said, Reuters reports.

The body was taken to a hospital in the capital's Karrada district, and an initial hospital report indicated that the death was caused by a bullet, the sources added.

A police source said the victim was carrying an identity card showing his job was an English teacher.

Tunisia Ennahda stands with Qatar against 'racist defamation campaigns'

08 Nov 2022; MEMO: Tunisian Ennahda Movement expressed its solidarity with Qatar which has been facing "racist defamation campaigns" as its preparing to kickstart World Cup 2022.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Ennahda said: "Brotherly state of Qatar has been subject to a racist defamation campaign as it is preparing to kickstart the World Cup 2022, football tournament."

Pakistan revises budget estimates due to flood relief, rehabilitation: PM

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov 7 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that due to relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people, Pakistan has revised its budget estimates.

He expressed these views during the meeting with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieve held here on the sidelines of COP-27 Summit.

The Prime Minister said that saving people’s lives and rehabilitation of the flood affected masses was the first priority of government.

Rarely-travelled Venezuelan Pres Maduro lands in Sharm El-Sheikh to participate in COP27 climate summit

CAIRO (Egypt), Nov 7 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, who rarely travels abroad except to friendly countries, Sunday landed at the Egyptian port city of Sharm el-Sheikh to participate in the COP27 Climate Summit.

Maduro pointed out through Twitter that “we will have an extensive working day to present Venezuela’s firm position against the destructive and polluting onslaught of the capitalist system on our planet Earth.”

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