Middle East & North Africa

27 Feb 2020; MEMO: PLO has called for the EU to urgently interfere in order to stop Israeli settlement expansion and the annexation of the occupied West Bank, Palestinian media reported yesterday.

In a letter to the EU Envoy to Palestine, the PLO called for the European body to put pressure on Israel to stop its settlement plan in the E1 area.

AMMAN, Feb 27 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan on Wednesday, launched the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance National Project, the largest water project in the country.

The first phase of the project will annually generate 130 million cubic metres of water, while the project’s maximum annual capacity will be 350 million cubic meters upon completion, according to the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

TUNIS, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisia’s parliament approved a new coalition government in a confidence vote, after months of political wrangling that has slowed the north African country’s efforts to tackle looming economic problems.

There were 129 votes in favor, 77 against.

Elyes Fakhfakh, who was designated prime minister last month by President Kais Saied, has brought parties from across the political spectrum into his cabinet – and they continue to disagree on several big policy areas.

CAIRO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Egypt is committed to the course of negotiations sponsored by the United States and the World Bank regarding on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) despite Ethiopia's announced non-participation, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

"Egypt's two ministers of foreign affairs and water resources and irrigation will take part in the ministerial meeting invited by the U.S. administration," said Egypt's Foreign Ministry's spokesman Ahmed Hafez in a statement.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Thursday halted travel to the holiest sites in Islam over fears about a viral epidemic just months ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage, a move that came as the Mideast has over 220 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.

26 Feb 2020; MEMO: In a letter sent to a resident who was born in Tel Aviv, a municipal mayor in France has referred to the city as “former Palestine”. The Mayor of Marseille, Jean-Claude Gaudin, sent the letter on 5 February to inform the resident that he is registered on the electoral list for Marseilles, but called his birthplace “Tel Aviv – Ex-Palestine”.

26 Feb 2020; MEMO: The Likud party has reportedly “given up on attempts to persuade Itamar Ben Gvir, the leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, to withdraw from the election race”, according to sources cited by the Kan broadcaster yesterday.

26 Feb 2020; MEMO: Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) has given companies listed on the country’s stock exchange, known as Tadawul, until the end of March to disclose its annual reports for 2019.

Local media recently reported that Saudi Aramco – world’s largest oil producer – was yet to announce its business and financial reports, while most of the country’s energy companies have incurred heavy losses, according to analysts.

ANKARA, Feb 26 (NNN-ANADOLU) – A Turkish Airlines plane, departing from Tehran in Iran and due to arrive in Istanbul, was diverted to Turkish capital, Ankara on Tuesday, over the suspicion of COVID-19 infection and passengers on board have been taken under quarantine.

A total of 132 passengers and crew will be kept under observation for 14 days, the Turkish Minister of Health, Fahrettin Koca, said, in a written statement.

The plane was bound from Tehran to Istanbul and was carrying Turkish nationals, local daily, Hurriyet reported.

KUWAIT, Feb 26 (NNN-KUNA) – Kuwait celebrated on Tuesday (yesterday), the 59th National Day, which coincided with the 14th anniversary of the Amir’s, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, assumption as ruler of Kuwait, amid celebrations of patriotism and loyalty.

Kuwait’s celebrations first started back in 1962, when the country began establishing its political system, with a constitution that would organise governmental work, based on democratic principles, compatible with the reality of Kuwait and its goals.