Middle East & North Africa

TEHRAN, Jun 12 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran reported yesterday, 9,966 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country’s total infections to 3,013,078.

The pandemic has so far claimed 81,796 lives in Iran, up by 124 in the past 24 hours, the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education said, in a briefing.

A total of 2,624,802 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country, while 3,494 remain in intensive care units, the ministry said.

The report added that, 21,313,589 tests have so far been carried out across the country.

BEIRUT, Jun 12 (NNN-NNA) – The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and the Lebanese Armed Forces, concluded yesterday, a five-day live firing exercise near the UNIFIL’s headquarters, in the southern city of Naqoura, according to a statement by UNIFIL.

The Steel Storm drill, led by UNIFIL’s Force Commander’s Reserve, and conducted between the two forces twice a year, involved armoured assets, machine guns and small arms live fire, the statement said.

(Reuters) --- The former speaker of the Iranian parliament Ali Larijani demanded on Saturday an explanation from an election watchdog on why he was barred from running in next week’s presidential vote.

Last month, the hardline Guardian Council approved just seven hopefuls to stand in Friday’s poll and disqualified several prominent candidates, including Larijani and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. 

Tehran, June 12, IRNA – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a message termed US economic terrorism amid COVID-19 pandemic as "a crime against humanity".

"Trump is gone, but his unlawful & murderous sanctions are still there. No need for crocodile tears when US efforts to immiserate 82 million Iranians are ongoing," Araghchi wrote in his Twitter account on Saturday.

"Economic terrorism amid a PANDEMIC, is a crime against humanity," he added.

Tehran, June 12, IRNA – Iran began importing electricity from Azerbaijan Republic on Thursday to alleviate electricity supply limitations, the spokesman for Iran's Power Generation, Distribution, and Transmission Company (Tavanir) said.

Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi said on Saturday that the electricity grid of Mughan in northwest Iran has been synchronized with that of Azerbaijan Republic so that 73 megawatts of electricity is injected to Iran’s power grid.

The imported electricity has the capacity to increase to 130 megawatts in the peak, he added.

12 June 2021; MEMO: Turkish scientists are seeking to use bacteria to strengthen the flooring and extend the life span of historical buildings.

Scientists discovered that the bacteria, Viridibacillus Arenosi, produces enzymes that fill up soil -- making it stick together.

A team of scientists from various universities found out that the bacteria increased the strength of the ground making it suitable for construction. It also strengthens concrete.

12 June 2021; AA: Prior to the NATO summit, a high-level delegation from Turkey will visit Libya upon the instruction of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to an official statement on Friday.

12 June 2021; AA: A 1,800-year-old statue of a woman was unearthed in Turkey’s western Izmir province, Turkish officials announced on Saturday.

In a Twitter post, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Department of Excavations said the statue was found in the ancient city of Metropolis located in Izmir’s Torbali district, and noted: “Our excavations will continue in 2021.”

It also shared a 39-second video showing the process of unearthing the ancient statue.

11 June 2021; MEMO: A Palestinian teenager was killed on Friday when Israeli soldiers dispersed protests against illegal Israeli settlements, eyewitnesses said, Andadolu Agency reports.

Also, multiple Palestinians were injured in the demonstrations held in the West Bank cities of Nablus, Qalqilya, and Ramallah.

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algerians vote Saturday for a new parliament in an election with a majority of novice independent candidates running under new rules meant to satisfy demands of pro-democracy protesters and open the way to a “new Algeria.”

Tension surrounded the voting in the gas-rich North African nation, with activists and opposition parties boycotting.