Middle East & North Africa

01 July 2023; MEMO: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia in Jerusalem Archbishop Atallah Hanna stressed: "It is painful and shameful nowadays for someone to burn the Qur'an in Sweden and to believe that this is heroism and freedom of expression. It is also unfortunate that the Sw

JERUSALEM, Jun 29 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israeli researchers found in a study that, adequate iodine intake during pregnancy may reduce the risk of oversized newborns, the Barzilai Medical Centre in southern Israel said, in a statement yesterday.

Previous studies showed, newborns with a large body size are at an increased risk of hyperglycemia, birth trauma, cesarean delivery, bone fracture, and in extreme cases death.

Meanwhile, having a large infant also increases a mother’s risk of postpartum hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding at birth.

AMMAN, Jun 29 (NNN-PETRA) – The Jordan Armed Forces said yesterday that, its eastern regional forces shot down a drone coming from Syria, the third drone intercepted this month.

The Jordanian forces downed the drone within the kingdom’s territory, after its illegal border crossing from Syria was detected by the Jordanian border guards, anti-narcotics department, and military intelligence, a military source said.

The report added that, items carried by the drone were seized, without detailing.

BAGHDAD, Jun 30 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Foreign Ministry, yesterday summoned the Swedish ambassador, over the burning of the Muslim holy Quran, as Muslims worldwide marked the festival of Eid al-Adha.

The ministry voiced its strong protest against the Swedish government’s permission, for an extremist, to burn a copy of the Quran in the the Swedish capital, Stockholm, the ministry said, in a statement.

The ministry also called on the Swedish government to take necessary measures, to stop the repeated insults to the Quran, the statement added.

TEHRAN, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Friday condemned the Quran-burning in Sweden, according to the official news agency IRNA.

In an address to worshippers in the southeastern Iranian province of Kerman, he said the desecration insulted the "most valuable divine book" and hurt the feelings of 2 billion Muslims, which global Muslim community will not condone.

SANAA, Jun 29 (NNN-YPA) – A fire broke out yesterday, in a camp for displaced people in western Yemen, destroying 11 houses, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

The fire was caused by fireworks used in the Eid al-Adha celebration, in the Al-Qanawis district of Hodeida province, according to a Houthi official. Furniture, food, and livestock were consumed by the flames, but no one was injured.

TEHRAN, Jun 29 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Foreign Minister said yesterday that, the West has kept harming Iranian victims of chemical warfare through sanctions, that block access to essential medicine, more than three decades, after Iraq dropped chemical bombs at Iranian cities.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a message to mark the 36th anniversary of Iraq’s chemical attack at Iran’s Sardasht, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website.

JENIN REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank (AP) — At the funeral for Sadeel Naghniyeh, 15, her closest friends hoisted her dead body over their small shoulders. Wearing their school uniforms — tight black hijabs and oversized striped shirts — they staggered through the Palestinian refugee camp, crying and choking out the Islamic funeral prayers.

27 June 2023; MEMO: The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a strong condemnation on 26 June, expressing its deep concern over the Israeli government's recent approval of the construction of approximately 5,700 new residential units in the Occupied West Bank, Anadolu News Agency reports.

27 June 2023; MEMO: Turkiye will continue standing against any action that could harm sanctity and status of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem, the country's President said on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reports.

In a phone call, Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his greetings to Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, for the Muslim holiday Eid Al-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, according to a statement by the Turkish Communications Directorate.