Middle East & North Africa

JERUSALEM, Jan 1 (NNN-MA’AN) – The National Insurance Institute of Israel (NII), said that, about 30 percent of Israeli children, up to the age of 18, or 841,700, live in poverty.

In addition, about 21.2 percent of the Israeli population live in poverty, while 469,400 households, or 18 percent live in poverty, according to an annual report released by NII.

The incidence of poverty among elderly-headed households (women over 60 and men over 65) is 23.4 percent, while the incidence of poverty among elderly people is 18.8 percent.

BAGHDAD, Jan 1 (NNN-ANADOLU) — Outraged Iraqi protesters on Tuesday stormed the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad, protesting Washington’s attacks on armed battallions belong to Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi forces. 

At least 25 people were killed in weekend U.S. airstrikes on positions of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia group, in Iraq and Syria.

Hundreds of Iraqi protesters gathered early Tuesday near the embassy to show their anger at the U.S. attacks.

31 Dec 2019; MEMO: Gaza still needs $280 million to rebuild homes demolished during Israel’s 2014 offensive on the enclave, head of the Popular Committee Against the Israeli Siege on Gaza, MP Jamal Al-Khodari, said yesterday.

In a statement reported by the Safa News Agency, Al-Khodari said that the reconstruction of these homes is a “humanitarian, ethical and legal issue”, noting that women, children and men who used to live in these homes “are currently homeless”.

31 Dec 2019; MEMO: Egypt’s regime must stop its “repressive practices against dissidents”, Egyptian expatriates said yesterday, calling for the overthrow of what they described as “military rule”.

31 Dec 2019; MEMO: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday that his country will witness positive economic growth next year, Russia’s Sputnik news agency reported.

Speaking during a visit to an exhibition of petrochemical industries in Tehran, Rouhani said the sector provides Tehran with about 20 per cent of its foreign currency needs.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish Airlines (THYAO.IS) has agreed a compensation deal with planemaker Boeing Co (BA.N) over the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX following two fatal crashes, the carrier said on Tuesday.

It did not specify the size of the payment but Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper reported that it was worth $225 million including $150 million in compensation and $75 million covering things such as spare parts and training.

31 Dec 2019; MEMO: More than 19 Palestinian families have taken refuge in caves in the Al-Mufqara village near Hebron to escape Israeli aggression.

Fifty-year-old Mohammed Hassan said he moved to the cave last year with seven members of his family after Israeli occupation forces demolished their home.

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Iran on Tuesday for “orchestrating” an attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and said he will hold Tehran responsible.

“Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified,” Trump said in a Twitter post.

31 Dec 2019; MEMO: Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem yesterday warned of what he said were “attempts to besiege” the Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab in an effort to force Lebanon into a political vacuum, the Anadolu Agency reported.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Protesters attacked the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday and the ambassador and other staff were evacuated as anger over U.S. air strikes on Iraq erupted into violence.

In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the unrest and said Tehran would be held responsible.

The protesters and militia fighters stormed and burned a security kiosk at the entrance of the U.S. Embassy but did not breach the main compound as security forces and embassy guards fired tear gas and stun grenades, Reuters witnesses said.