Business

10 March 2022; MEMO: The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Shamkhani, said that nuclear talks are becoming more "knottier by the hour" due to the "absent US political decision."

"US approach to Iran's principled demands, coupled with its unreasonable offers and unjustified pressure to hastily reach an agreement, show that US isn't interested in a strong deal that would satisfy both parties," he wrote on Twitter.

10 March 2022; MEMO: Turkish President, Tayyip Erdogan, told US President, Joe Biden, in a phone call on Thursday that it was past time to lift all "unjust" sanctions on Turkey's defence industry, Reuters reports.

According to a statement from Erdogan's office, he also told Biden that Turkey expected its request to purchase 40 new F-16 fighter jets and modernise its existing fleet to be finalised as soon as possible.

10 March 2022; MEMO: Turkey will continue to buy Russian oil and gas, the country's Deputy Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said yesterday.

Ankara relies on Russia for 45 per cent of its demand for natural gas, 17 per cent for oil and 40 per cent for gasoline, Bayraktar explained.

"The world needs more oil. It should come from somewhere, from the US, from Venezuela, from Iran, Saudi Arabia, or from anywhere we want," he noted.

9 March 2022; MEMO: Sudanese banks yesterday sold US dollars at a rate of 530 pounds, down by 19 per cent compared to the previous rate, after authorities moved to counter a slide in the value of the currency.

The central bank said in a statement that banks and currency exchanges would set their own buying and selling rates without the central bank's intervention.

An emergency economic committee led by Sudan's ruling council said it would unify official and black market exchange rates.

9 March 2022; MEMO: Parties trying to revive the Iran nuclear deal scrambled on Wednesday to resolve last-minute Russian demands that threaten to scupper negotiations, diplomats said, with the United States appearing unwilling to engage with Russia on the matter, Reuters reports.

10 March 2022; MEMO: Israel has said that it will not tolerate criticism from Ukrainian officials who accuse the occupation state of accepting money "soaked in Ukrainian blood" in reference to ongoing flights to Russia by national airline El Al.

According to Channel 12, Israel warned Ukraine that it will not continue its attempts to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow if officials continue to attack Tel Aviv publicly.

08 March 2022; MEMO: At least seven rented private jets are suspected of carrying wealthy Russian oligarchs to Israel in an effort to escape sanctions imposed on Moscow.

According to the Times of Israel, the planes originate from a company in Turkey that provides jets for hire in Europe.

Tracking data showed the planes made trips to Moscow and St. Petersburg, then from those cities to Tel Aviv.

Washington, Mar 10 (AP) The House overwhelmingly approved legislation Wednesday night that would ban Russian oil imports to the United States, an effort to put into law the restrictions announced by President Joe Biden in response to the escalating war in Ukraine.

Going further than Biden's import ban on Russian oil, the bill making its way through Congress would also encourage a review of Russia's status in the World Trade Organization and signal U.S. support for sanctions on Russian officials over human rights violations, as the U.S. works to economically isolate the regime.

09 March 2022; MEMO: Tunisia announced that it had received $112 million in loans from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance the construction of the country's roads.

Economy minister, Samir Saied, said the agreement was signed during a meeting with Director of the AfDB Tunis office, Mohamed Al-Azizi.

09 March 2022; MEMO: Meat prices are expected to rise about 50 per cent in Egypt, the head of the Egyptian Farmers' Syndicate announced yesterday.

Hussein Abu Saddam told local media that Egypt imports more than 50 per cent of its meat, poultry and fish and this was causing prices to increase.