Middle East & North Africa

DAMASCUS, Aug 14 (NNN–ABNA) – Amid reports that the US military is systematically smuggling basic commodities out of Syria, a convoy of three dozen tankers, carried thousands of litres of Syrian crude oil from Hasakah, to the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, in northern Iraq.

Local sources told Syria’s official news agency SANA, that, 30 tankers laden with stolen Syrian oil, entered Iraqi territories, on Thursday, after crossing al-Waleed border post.

BEIRUT, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Lebanon's central bank governor said nobody was running the country, hitting back after government criticism of his decision to halt fuel subsidies that have drained currency reserves.

In an interview broadcast on Saturday, Riad Salameh said the government could resolve the problem quickly by passing necessary legislation.

He denied he had acted alone in declaring an end to the subsidies on Wednesday, and said it was widely known that the decision was coming. 

14 Aug 2021; MEMO: Tens of Palestinians from Israel performed Friday prayer in front of Ramon Prison in solidarity with Head of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Raed Salah, Arabi21 reported.

According to the news website, the Palestinians expressed their support for Sheikh Salah, who is being held in solitary confinement.

14 Aug 2021; MEMO: UN human rights experts today called on the Israeli government to immediately return confidential documents and office equipment its military seized from the offices of an NGO fighting for children's rights in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu Agency reports.

"We are deeply concerned by the Israeli military's interference with the human rights work of a well-known and well-regarded NGO," said the experts.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran says it will impose a six-day-long “general lockdown” in cities across the country after being hit by what it describes as its fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, state media reported Saturday.

The lockdown includes all bazars, markets and public offices, as well as movie theaters, gyms and restaurants in all Iranian cities.

The lockdown will begin on Monday and will last through Saturday.

The national coronavirus taskforce, which issued the decision, also ordered a travel ban between all Iranian cities from Sunday to Friday.

ISTANBUL (AP) — The death toll from severe floods and mudslides in coastal Turkey has climbed to at least 40, the country’s emergency and disaster agency said Saturday.

Torrential rains that pounded the Black Sea provinces of Bartin, Kastamonu and Sinop on Wednesday caused flooding that demolished homes, severed at least five bridges, swept away cars and rendered numerous roads unpassable. Turkish disaster agency AFAD said 34 people were killed in Kastamonu and six in Sinop.

EILAT, Israel (AP) — The Red Sea reefs off the Israeli resort of Eilat host some of the greatest coral diversity on the planet.

A symphony in splendid technicolor, the reefs are among the world’s most resilient coral colonies against warming seas. They have also become an unlikely battleground, caught between Israeli diplomatic and business interests, and ecological groups that fear this natural treasure could be in danger.

CAIRO, Aug 13 (NNN-MENA) – The Arab Parliament (AP), yesterday stressed the importance of intensifying Arab and international efforts, for promoting the safety and security of marine navigation in the Arabian area.

In a statement, the AP said, “navigation threats in the Gulf and the Arabian Sea, impact the regional stability and security and the international economic security.”

It explained that the transfer of the energy resources, depends basically on the sea routes in the region, which constitute the main artery to the international economy.

TRIPOLI, Aug 13 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Libya launches its largest COVID-19 vaccination centre in the capital Tripoli, in an effort to speed up inoculations and catch up with the rising number of cases.

Established in the gymnasium of the City sports venue in Tripoli, the vaccination centre “is open to everyone without an appointment and can receive between 2,000 to 3,000 people in a day.

13 Aug 2021; MEMO: A roadside bomb yesterday struck a convoy of trucks carrying logistics equipment belonging to the US-led coalition forces in southern Iraq, Anadolu reported.

The agency quoted a police officer as saying that the attack took place on the highway linking the provinces of Babil and Diwaniyah and caused material damage to one of the vehicles. No casualties were reported.