Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, March 1

TEHRAN -- All Iranian businesses are prohibited from registering their import orders using the U.S. dollar, Financial Tribune reported Thursday.

The policy was issued Wednesday by the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade and will not apply to registrations before the aforementioned date, the report said. (Iran-U.S. Dollar-Import Registration)

- - - -

DAMASCUS -- A Pakistani couple became the first civilians evacuated from the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus, a well-informed source told Xinhua Thursday.

They were evacuated by the Syrian Red Crescent from Eastern Ghouta to the Pakistani embassy in Damascus on Wednesday, half an hour after the daily five-hour-long humanitarian pause ended, said the source on condition of anonymity. (Syria-Eastern Ghouta-Evacuation of Pakistani Couple)

- - - -

ANKARA -- A total of 2,222 militants have been "neutralized" since the beginning of Turkey's "Operation Olive Branch" in Syria's Afrin region, the military said in a statement Thursday.

The Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in reference to enemies who surrendered, captured or killed. (Turkey-Afrin-Operation)

- - - -

JERUSALEM -- Britain's Prince William will visit Israel and Palestine in the summer, marking the first official visit by a British royal member to the region, British and Israeli officials said Thursday.

"The Duke of Cambridge will visit Israel, Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories in the summer," Kensington Palace said on Twitter. (Israel-Palestine-UK) Enditem