Middle East & North Africa

RAMALLAH, Aug 21 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, yesterday, condemned Israel’s closure of seven Palestinian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the West Bank.

Abbas made the remarks in a meeting with the NGOs’ representatives and directors.

On Thursday, the Israeli army stormed the West Bank city of Ramallah and closed these Palestinian NGOs.

Israel has outlawed six of these NGOs, which were labelled as “terrorist” organisations, in Oct, 2021.

KHARTOUM/ABU DHABI, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed ordered $6.8 million (AED 25 million) of humanitarian aid to Sudan after floods killed at least 79 and destroyed over 14,500 houses.

“The directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed to provide such assistance are an expression of the solidarity of the UAE and its people with the Sudanese people in such dire circumstances,” Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Saturday.

The aid is expected to alleviate the suffering of those who were displaced by the floods.

KERBALA, Iraq, Aug 21 (Reuters) - At least four people were killed after a landslide demolished a Shi'ite Muslim shrine in the central Iraqi province of Kerbala, the health ministry said on Sunday.

Rescue workers pulled out six survivors from the rubble after the landslide, which occurred on Saturday, the statement said. The search and rescue operation was continuing in case more people remained buried under the rubble, it said.

The Qattarat al-Imam Ali shrine is located in the western desert, about 28 km (17 miles) from the centre of the holy city of Kerbala.

NICOSIA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus will oppose a proposal which is expected to be made by some member states of the European Union (EU) to impose a ban on visas for Russian citizens, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.

The ministry's Permanent Secretary Kornelios Korneliou told the state-run Cyprus News Agency that the proposal is expected to be put forward by Baltic countries during the informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers (Gymnich) in Prague on Aug. 30 and 31.

New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) Former Lok Sabha member and prominent OBC leader Haribhau Rathod is all set to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday.

Rathod, who was the Lok Sabha member of the BJP from Yavatmal in Maharashtra, told PTI that he would join the AAP on Sunday in the presence of the party's National Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

20 August 2022; MEMO: Nine European countries on Friday expressed their "deep concern" after the Israeli army closed the offices of Palestinian NGOs in the occupied West Bank, accusing them of being "terrorist" organisations.

20 August 2022; MEMO: The Ennahda Movement in Tunisia on Friday criticised the 2022 Constitution as being "illegitimate" and: "An attempt to legitimise a coup against the revolution's Constitution, institutions and gains."

20 August 2022; MEMO: The Arab League on Friday rejected the German "campaign of bullying" against Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas following his "50 Holocausts" remarks.

A statement issued by the Arab League asserted that it: "Expresses its rejection and surprise at what appeared to be a German campaign of bullying against Palestine and President Mahmoud Abbas."

20 August 2022; MEMO: The United Nations (UN) announced on Friday that it is continuing contact with Israel regarding its army storming seven Palestinian NGOs in the city of Ramallah in the West Bank on Thursday.

20 August 2022; MEMO: Berlin police have opened an investigation into Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas for stating that the Israeli occupation has committed "50 Holocausts" against Palestinians, news agencies reported on Friday.