First Independent Mena Newspaper
Negotiations are underway for the launch of a direct air route between Morocco and China by the end of 2019, head of Morocco’s tourism promotion office ONMT said. The new link will depart either from Morocco’s economic hub Casablanca or from Marrakech, the Kingdom’s tourism hub towards either Beijing or Shanghai, the ONMT chief said. […]
Germany’s transport ministry Monday notified Mahan Air, Iran’s second largest carrier, to halt flights to German cities as part of Berlin’s sanctions over Tehran-linked practices to muzzle dissent in the EU bloc. The Iranian airline received notification from the Federal Aviation Office (LBA) “ordering the immediate suspension of its authorization to operate passenger flights from […]
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Monday laid into the country’s judiciary for expanding tight control of internet, noting that the move will not achieve anything. The judiciary dominated by anti-west hardliners have banned several social media networks including Facebook and Twitter over “immoral content” and for political reasons. Despite the ban, millions of Iranians use VPNs […]
King Salman of Saudi Arabia has dismissed Abdul Hakim bin Mohammed Bin Sulaiman Al-Tamimi, the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). Saudi state-run news agency SPA said the king has instructed relevant authorities to replace Tamimi who has held the position since June 2017. His replacement is yet to be announced. Tamimi, […]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno at the presidential palace in N’djamena on Sunday, during a visit his office described as a “historic breakthrough”. According to Netanyahu, the visit to a very large Muslim country with borders with Libya and Sudan is part of the revolution “we are leading […]
Qatar Sunday pledged to invest $50 million in the Middle East countries, with youth being the main target, in a move to increase its profile at a time it is boycotted by major powers in the region. The pledge was announced by Qatar’s Finance Minister Ali al-Emadi at the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit […]
Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco will build an oil refinery in South Africa part of the pledge made by Riyadh last year to invest $10 billion in the African country, Bloomberg reports. According to Bloomberg, an agreement of intent was signed Friday by South Africa’s Energy Minister Jeff Radebe and his Saudi counterpart Khalid Al-Falih. […]
Malaysia Wednesday said in solidarity with the Palestinian cause will no longer host any international event involving Israel after barred Israeli athletes to take part in July para swimming event, reports say. Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah Times of Israel reports told a group of Muslim organizations seeking the Asian country’s tougher stance on banning Israelis […]
Jordanian monarch Abdullah II Monday paid a historic visit to Baghdad after nearly 11 years in a move that heralds Iraq’s return to the international in the wake of the Islamic State group (ISIS) defeat in 2017. King Abdullah II, AFP reports met with President Barham Saleh in Baghdad including Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi. […]
An Iranian cargo, Boeing 707 carrying from Kyrgyzstan crashed on Monday after skidding off on the runway at an airfield during an emergency landing near capital, Teheran, leaving 15 people dead except one crew member, reports say. The narrow body jet dating back to 1979 crashed into residential area after making an emergency landing at […]