Middle East & North Africa

RAMALLAH, Mar 21 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammed Ishtaye, yesterday said, Israeli measures, including settlement expansion, undermine any chances of establishing a Palestinian state.

The reality on the ground is gradually deteriorating, and the two-state solution will not be achieved through negotiations, “because the Israeli government doesn’t want to,” said Ishtaye, during a meeting with Singaporean Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to an official statement.

DOHA, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) –Germany and Qatar have reached a long-term energy partnership, a German official has said, as Europe’s biggest economy seeks to become less dependent on Russian energy sources.

Russia is the largest supplier of gas to Germany and German economy minister Robert Habeck has launched several initiatives to lessen Germany’s energy dependence on Russia since it invaded its neighbour Ukraine.

TUNIS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 72 people were injured when two trains collided on Monday morning in the south of Tunisia's capital Tunis, according to an official from Civil Defense Department.

In the collision that took place in the Jebel El Jloud area, just near the main station of Barcelona located in the heart of Tunis, a long-distance train hit another train running on the same rail track, said Samir Oueslati, acting regional director of Civil Protection in Tunis, private radio station Mosaique FM reported.

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s Central Bank raised its key interest rate Monday for the first time since 2017, citing inflationary pressures triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine, which hiked oil prices to new records.

The move saw the Egyptian pound slip, trading 17.5 to the dollar — from an average of 15.6 pounds for $1 — after the bank’s decision. That is likely to have a heavy toll on poor and middle-class Egyptians.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s supreme leader on Monday signaled support for Tehran’s nuclear negotiations to secure sanctions relief, a rare reference to the still-halted talks as world powers near a diplomatic turning point.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stressed the importance of Iranian economic self-sufficiency during a lengthy televised speech on the occasion of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. But he quickly added:

“I do not say that you should not seek to lift the sanctions. Those who are trying and working in that field, there is no problem.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia said on Monday that it “won’t bear any responsibility” for a shortage in global oil supplies after a fierce barrage of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels affected production in the kingdom, the world’s largest oil exporter.

The unusually stark warning marked a departure from the giant oil producer’s typically cautious statements, as Saudi officials remain aware that even their smallest comments can swing the price of oil and rattle global markets.

Washington, Mar 21 (AP) The US has transferred a significant number of Patriot antimissile interceptors to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks as the Biden administration looks to ease what has been a point of tension in the increasingly complicated US-Saudi relationship.

A senior administration official confirmed Sunday night that the interceptors have been sent to Saudi Arabia.

21 March 2022; MEMO: The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said that retired Major General Khalifa Haftar agreed, during his visit to Moscow, to send Libyan "volunteers" to Ukraine to participate "in combat in Russia's ranks."

The ministry revealed in a statement that the Russian mercenary company Wagner will transport mercenaries from Libya using planes owned by the Russian Air Force.

20 March 2022; MEMO: Houthi rebels in Yemen on Sunday claimed drone and missile attacks on facilities run by oil company Aramco in Saudi Arabia, Anadolu Agency reports.

Rebel spokesman Yahia Sarei tweeted that the attacks targeted Aramco facilities in the capital Riyadh and a number of Saudi regions.

He said the rebel group also struck a number of "vital targets" in southern Saudi Arabia, including the city of Khamis Mushait.

20 March 2022; MEMO: Gunmen opened fire on a security facility in Tunisia's central Kairouan city on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reported the National Guard as saying in a statement, Anadolu Agency reported.

The statement said the attackers had fled the scene unscathed.

No injuries or damage were reported.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, but local media suggested that the attackers were likely members of a terrorist cell.

The Interior Ministry has yet to comment on the report.