Middle East & North Africa

CAIRO, Mar 18 (NNN-MENA) – Iran reported 1,178 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 135 more deaths from the virus, with the death toll edging towards 1,000.

Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education announced that, the total number of COVID-19 cases increased to 16,169, as the death toll reached 988. A total of 5,389 people have recovered.

Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, called for a global campaign to disregard the U.S. anti-Iran sanctions, so to help Iran, the worst-hit country in the Middle East by the virus, to fight the epidemic.

RAMALLAH, Mar 18 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestine welcomed a letter by 64 U.S. Congress members, to Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, concerning Israel’s home demolition against the Palestinians.

Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s Executive Committee, said, this letter is an “overdue” oversight of U.S. military aid to Israel.

18 Mar 2020; MEMO: Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that mosques would no longer be open for the customary five daily prayers or Friday congregations, an exceptional move to limit the spread of the coronavirus which has infected 171 people in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia, which chairs the Group of 20 major economies, announced an extraordinary virtual leaders summit next week “to put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy.”

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel have jumped by 40 percent to 427 in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday, predicting a steeper rise as mass-testing is implemented, reports Reuters.

18 Mar 2020; MEMO: A 103-year-old Iranian woman successfully recovered after contracting the deadly coronavirus, which has claimed thousands of lives worldwide since early this year, reports Anadolu Agency.

According to Nevid Danayi, the rector of Semnan University of Medical Sciences, the old lady was discharged from the hospital, becoming the second oldest person ever to recover from the disease known as COVID-19.

BAGHDAD, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi President Barham Salih on Tuesday called on the new prime minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi to hold early elections and carry out comprehensive reforms to meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people.

A statement by the Iraqi Presidency said that Salih asked al-Zurfi to form a new cabinet when he received the latter in his office in the Presidential Palace in central Baghdad.

TEHRAN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday said U.S. "unlawful" anti-Iran sanctions have impaired its ability to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

"Unlawful U.S. sanctions (have) drained Iran's economic resources, impairing its ability to fight COVID-19," Zarif said on Twitter.

The sanctions "literally kill innocents," he wrote.

"Join the growing global campaign to disregard U.S. sanctions on Iran," Zarif added.

ISTANBUL, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Turkey, Germany, France, and Britain discussed issues, including the latest situation in Syria's northern province of Idlib and the COVID-19 outbreak, at a televised meeting on Tuesday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the humanitarian aid to Idlib, the last rebel-held stronghold in Syria, said the state-run Anadolu agency.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran issued its most dire warning yet Tuesday about the new coronavirus ravaging the country, suggesting “millions” could die in the Islamic Republic if people keep traveling and ignore health guidance.

A state TV journalist who also is a medical doctor gave the warning only hours after hard-line Shiite faithful on Monday night pushed their way into the courtyards of two major shrines that were finally closed due to the virus. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a religious ruling prohibiting “unnecessary” travel.

17 Mar 2020; MEMO: Scores of Israeli Jewish settlers violated measures taken to fight the coronavirus and raided Al-Aqsa Mosque yesterday, provoking Muslim worshippers, Arab48 reported.

According to the news website, the Jewish settlers were protected by Israeli occupation forces who arrested four Palestinians inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compounds claiming they had violated Israeli sovereignty.