Middle East & North Africa

Hundreds protest against corruption in Kuwait

7 Nov 2019; MEMO: Hundreds of protestors gathered yesterday evening in front of Kuwait’s parliament against poor public services and the state’s perceived unwillingness to fight corruption.

Reports suggest that the protest was called by a former lawmaker, Saleh Al-Moulla, who mobilised Kuwaitis on social media under the slogan “That’s enough”. The demonstration was organised with the permission of the authorities.

Global activists plan mass hunger strike in support of Egypt political prisoners

7 Nov 2019; MEMO: Activists across the world are planning a mass hunger strike this weekend in solidarity with the 60,000 political prisoners currently being detained in Egypt.

In Egypt political detainees are systematically tortured and deprived of basic rights such as family visits and medical care. They live in squalid conditions, overcrowded cells, are often only allowed to use the toilet just once a day.

PLO Slams Israeli Cable Car Project In East Jerusalem

RAMALLAH, Palestine, Nov 7 (NNN-WAFA) – Member of Palestine Liberation Organisation executive committee, Hanan Ashrawi, slammed Israeli plan to build a cable car in East Jerusalem.

“The Israeli cable car project is an obscene violation of cultural, historical, spiritual, geographic demographic character of Jerusalem. It is also an illegal assault on the occupied Palestinian city & its people, who have been living there for centuries,” she said.

Erdogan says U.S. not fulfilling Syria deal ahead of Trump talks

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday the United States was not fulfilling its pledge to remove a Kurdish militia from a Syrian border region and he will raise the issue when he meets President Donald Trump next week.

A month ago, Turkey launched a cross-border offensive with Syrian rebels against Kurdish YPG fighters. After seizing control of a 120-km (75-mile) swathe of territory, it reached a deal with the United States to keep them out of that area.

Jordan reaffirms two-state solution as only way to solve Palestinian issue

AMMAN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Wednesday reaffirmed a two-state solution as the only way to resolve the Palestinian issue and to create comprehensive peace.

At a meeting in Amman with Thomas Greminger, secretary-general of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called for intensified efforts to achieve regional security, stability and peace, said a ministry statement.

Safadi also called on the international community to continue abiding by its commitment to the Syrian refugees.

Indian investors ready for electrifying Tehran-Tabriz train

Tabriz, Nov 6, IRNA – Indian investors, visiting Rabe Rashidi of Innovation and Technology Exhibition (Rinotex), voiced their readiness for undertaking rail projects, especially electrifying Tabriz-Tehran train, said East Azarbaijan deputy governor general for coordinating developmental affairs on Tuesday.

Javad Rahmati told IRNA on Wednesday, "If the investors accept risk of investment, we are ready for cooperation with them based on build-operate-transfer (BOT)."

Rouhani declares start of gas injection to 1044 centrifuges

Tehran, Nov 6, IRNA - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a message referred to Iran'd 4th step of reducing JCPOA commitments and , saying gas injection to 1044 centrifuges will start on Wednesday.

"Iran’s 4th step in reducing its commitments under the JCPOA by injecting gas to 1044 centrifuges begins today," Rouhani wrote in his Twitter account on Wednesday.

"Thanks to US policy and its allies, Fordow will soon be back to full operation," he added. 

Turkey welcomes Trans-Caspian China Express Train

6 Nov 2019; AA: Turkey's Foreign Ministry Wednesday announced it welcomed China's Railway Express to Ankara.  

The first freight train departing from Xi'an, China, which will travel to Europe using Marmaray [Istanbul's sub-sea tunnel] has made it to its destination in Turkey.

"This development is the latest example of our vision of enhancing the connectivity between the East and the West.

Syrian Army Reaches Oil Fields In Kurdish-Held Areas

DAMASCUS, Nov 6 (NNN-SANA) – The Syrian army, on Tuesday, deployed in new areas, rich in oil fields, in the countryside of Hasakah province in northeastern Syria, the latest progress in the overall deployment of the Syrian army, in Kurdish-held areas near the border with Turkey.

The Syrian army entered the area between Qamishli city and the Rmelan area, that is rich in oil and gas, in Hasakah countryside.

Meanwhile, a military officer said, the army’s entry to the oil fields is the first, since losing the area in 2012.

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