First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Italian government has donated €1.5 million ($1.7 million) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) to provide health services for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon while Russia has pledged $10 million. UNRWA has been raising money to support refugees in Palestinian territories after the U.S., known as the largest contributor […]
Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki laid into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that he said had plotted to destabilize the North African country. Marzouki, speaking to local HTV, said a “UAE operations room” was behind the alleged conspiracy, Middle East Monitor reports. “We reaffirm that we sense the existence of a conspiracy against Tunisia aiming […]
Jordan Tuesday announced the re-establishment of ties with Syria with the appointment of a Chargé d’affaires as relations between the war-torn country and several Arab States are warming up. The Jordanian foreign ministry has appointed an “unnamed Jordanian diplomat with the ranking of counsellor” for its mission in Damascus, Arab News reports. “The decision is […]
The European Council added eleven prominent businessmen and five entities to the list of those subject to restrictive measures against the Syrian regime and its supporters. These businessmen and companies are involved in luxury estate development and other regime-backed projects, and as such support and/or benefit from the Syrian regime, the Council said in a […]
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 […]