Middle East & North Africa

AMMAN, Nov 9 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan yesterday, warned against the continued absence of serious and effective negotiations, to achieve a just and comprehensive peace, based on the two-state solution.

There is no alternative to the two-state solution that guarantees an independent, sovereign Palestinian state, Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, said, during a meeting in the capital, Amman, with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland.

Safadi said that, Jordan will continue to exert efforts to reach the two-state solution.

CAIRO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - A Sudanese court ordered the country's three main telecommunications providers to restore internet access, as the country entered its sixteenth day of a blackout following a coup by military leaders on Oct. 25.

While some Sudanese users have managed to find a connection, the blackout has made it difficult for most people to communicate, particularly with those outside the country.

TEHRAN, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's army intercepted two U.S. drones and warned them to stay aloof from the zones where it was carrying out the Zolfaqar-1400 military drills, the army's media bureau said in a statement on Tuesday.

The U.S. aircraft, including MQ-9 and RQ-4 drones, intruded into the country's Flight Information Region and Air Defense Identification Zone during the drills, according to the statement.

The drones were approaching to gather intelligence, but they changed their course and flew away after receiving decisive warnings, it said.

TEHRAN, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his German counterpart Heiko Maas have called for removing barriers to enhancing bilateral ties and cooperation in diverse international issues, an Iranian Foreign Ministry report said Tuesday.

During the telephone conversation, Amir Abdollahian drew upon the historical ties between Tehran and Berlin and underlined the significance of their expansion.

09 Nov 2021; MEMO: Several pictures of billboards advertising Al Jazeera are back in the streets of Cairo and are circulating around social media.

09 Nov 2021; MEMO: The French train manufacturer Alstom has secured a $1 billion contract to upgrade Cairo's oldest metro line.

Cairo Metro line 1 carries passengers between El Marg and Helwan on the eastern side of the River Nile.

09 Nov 2021; MEMO: Miles of Smiles has coordinated the entry of a fleet of ambulances into the Gaza Strip.

Dr Essam Yousuf said that some 37 fully equipped ambulances arrived in the Strip following a campaign which brought together a number of global organisations under the banner 'Egypt and Palestine…Hand in Hand for life'.

09 Nov 2021; MEMO: The head of the Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, has said that the dismissal of Information Minister George Kordahi is the only way to solve the crisis in Lebanon-Gulf relations.

In an interview with MTV aired on Monday, the veteran Druze leader added that he is very patient with Hezbollah. The movement has, he said, "destroyed the homes" that Lebanese people have in the Gulf States. He also described Prime Minister Najib Mikati's performance as "excellent at this stage."

09 Nov 2021; MEMO: The Egyptian government yesterday issued directives to all ministers and governors to implement a law that prevents smoking in public buildings.

In an official statement, Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, called on all government bodies "to take the necessary measures to activate the mechanisms required for implementing the law."

09 Nov 2021; MEMO: Lebanon's Hezbollah rejected a proposal on Monday put forward by the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League to help end the crisis in relations with the Gulf States sparked by comments made by Information Minister George Kordahi.