Middle East & North Africa

BAGHDAD (AP) — The shoes are coming off again in Iraq.

In years past, Iraqis have beaten their shoes against portraits of Saddam Hussein in a sign of anger and insult. In 2008, an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at a ducking President George W. Bush during a news conference to vent his outrage at the U.S.-led invasion.

Now protesters in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square are using their shoes again — slapping them against banners depicting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.

ANKARA/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday the Kurdish YPG militia had not withdrawn from some Syrian border areas and that U.S. forces were still carrying out joint patrols with the group, contrary to an agreement between them.

He was speaking as Turkish and Russian soldiers in armored vehicles held their second joint ground patrol in northern Syria near the town of Kobani, under a deal to push the YPG some 30 km (19 miles) away from Turkey’s border.

TEHRAN, Nov 5 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iran said, President Hassan Rouhani, sent letters to Saudi Arabia’s king, for cooperation on regional peace.

“The theme of the letters has been regional peace and stability,” Ali Rabiee, government spokesman, was quoted as saying.

“We believe multiple bilateral ties could be shaped in the region, and the U.S. pressures should not cause a distance between neighbours,” Rabiee added.

On Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that, Iran had forwarded its Hormuz peace plan to regional states.

AMMAN, Jordan, Nov 5 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordanian Prime Minister, Omar Razzaz, asked on Monday, all ministers to resign, ahead of an upcoming cabinet reshuffle.

The reshuffle is expected in the next few days, according to Razzaz.

The prime minister thanked all ministers, for their service, saying, the reshuffle is meant to address current issues in the country.

The upcoming cabinet reshuffle will be the fourth, in the government of Razzaz, who was appointed in 2018, following the resignation of former Prime Minister, Hani Mulki.

JERUSALEM, Nov 5 (NNN-ARAB NEWS) – Israel’s Justice Ministry said, it will soon decide whether to file charges against a former policewoman, who allegedly shot an unarmed Palestinian man in the back, following possible new video evidence.

The case draws new attention to frequent but hard-to-prove Palestinians’ claims, that Israeli security forces use excessive or unnecessary force against them.

ABU DHABI, Nov 5 (NNN-WAM) – The Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC), the highest energy decision-making authority of the United Arab Emirates, announced major increases in Abu Dhabi oil and gas reserves.

The SPC also announced “an historic decision,” to list on Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) Murban crude oil, on “an exchange” in the future.

Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who presided over the SPC meeting, held at ADNOC headquarters, said, these announcements are “strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global energy player.”

5 Nov 2019; MEMO: Saudi Aramco’s profits have fallen by seven per cent in the first nine months of 2019, the company reported yesterday.

In September, Aramco achieved $68.2 billion of profit, up from $83.3 billion in the same period in 2018.

The oil company’s announcement came following its decision on Sunday to go public and offer shares in the stock market after approval by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

5 Nov 2019; MEMO: Remittances from Egyptians living abroad have risen to $4.4 billion in July and August 2019, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced yesterday.

In May, Egyptian expatriates’ remittances were reported to have risen by 42.8 per cent, reaching $3 billion. In 2018, remittances stood at $4.2 billion.

Remittances are one of the primary sources of foreign currency into Egypt.

5 Nov 2019; MEMO: The Moroccan BDS movement called on Sunday evening to boycott a youth conference, which will possibly witness the participation of Israel in its activities.

The movement said in a statement that the fifth session of the Forum of Young Leaders to be held in the city of Essaouira, in the middle of the current month, is likely to host Israeli participators after the French embassy invited Israel to take part in the forum.

5 Nov 2019; MEMO: Saudi Arabia warned on Monday morning that foreign workers who violate their residency and labour regulations might face the risk of prison and fines.