Middle East & North Africa

BAGHDAD, June 6 (NNN-NINA) – Iraq signed a two-year contract to extend the import of electricity from neighbouring Iran, the Ministry of Electricity said, Friday.

According to the agreement, Iraq will continue to import electricity from Iran, for the remaining period of 2020 and 2021, said Ahmed al-Abadi, the ministry’s spokesman, in a statement.

Earlier, Iranian Minister of Energy, Reza Ardakanian, said, an Iranian delegation signed, on Wednesday, in Baghdad, an agreement with Iraqi Electricity Ministry, to extend exporting electricity to Iraq.

BEIRUT, June 6 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanese Industry Minister, Imad Hoballah, said on Friday that, the government will inject 400 million U.S. dollars, to support the country’s industry and agriculture.

This support will come in cooperation with the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon.

Lebanon’s economy has for long been dependent on the services sectors, such as tourism and the banking sector, causing problems to the country, that has to rely on importing foreign products for consumption.

RAMALLAH, Palestine, June 6 (NNN-WAFA) – A senior Palestinian official, on Friday, said, ending the Israeli occupation is an international responsibility.

Ending the Israeli occupation is a responsibility that rests with the international community, which must enable the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination, Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Executive Committee, said in a press statement.

05 June 2020; MEMO: Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoglu, said yesterday that Ankara will gradually resume international flights to 40 countries from 10 June.

In a statement, the minister said the first international flights will transport passengers to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Qatar and Greece.

05 June 2020; MEMO: Forces fighting for Libya’s UN-supported government said today they entered the city of Tarhuna, the last major stronghold of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, and  liberated the city shortly after.

The Government of National Accord (GNA)’s operations room said its forces reached the centre of the key city after entering it from four sides, Reuters reported.

05 June 2020; MEMO: The official Twitter account for Israel has questioned Jesus’ Palestinian roots, claiming he was Jewish and not linked to a nationality.

05 June 2020; MEMO: Kuwait’s Cabinet has agreed to cut government budgets by at least 20 per cent during the 2020-2021  fiscal year, it announced in a tweet yesterday.

According to the announcement, the cabinet ordered the ministry of finance to coordinate with all governmental departments to review public services and the value of government subsidies.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Seizing on Donald Trump’s conciliatory tone after Tehran released an American Navy veteran, Iran’s foreign minister challenged the U.S. president on Friday to return to the nuclear deal that Washington abandoned two years ago.

Iran freed Michael White on Thursday as part of a deal in which the United States allowed Iranian-American physician Majid Taheri to visit Iran.

Trump tweeted on Thursday of White’s release: “Thank you to Iran, it shows a deal is possible!”

05 June 2020; MEMO: Israel Police yesterday extended an order banning Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the president of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque for four months.

BEIRUT, June 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The ministry of labour in Lebanon says it will give shelter to Ethiopian domestic workers abandoned without pay by their employers.

An initial group of 35 Ethiopian women camping outside their consulate in Beirut has been housed in a hotel by the Lebanese authorities after a public outcry over their plight.

But more are continuing to arrive outside the consulate as the Lebanese economic crisis intensifies.

The authorities have promised to take action against their employers.