Middle East & North Africa

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian authorities indicted a French tourist on charges of spying and spreading propaganda against the system, his lawyer said Sunday. It was the latest in a series of cases against foreigners amid heightened tensions between Iran and the West.

Benjamin Berier was arrested in May last year after taking pictures in a desert area where photography is prohibited and asking questions “in the media” about Iran’s obligatory Islamic headscarf for women.

BAGHDAD, (Iraq) May 29 (APP): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing and friendly ties with Iraq and expressed Pakistan’s desire to further enhance existing bilateral ties in all spheres of cooperation.  

The foreign minister called on President of the Republic of Iraq Dr. Barham Salih, here.  

The foreign minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq.  

SANAA, May 29 (NNN-SPA) – At least 31 Houthi rebels were killed yesterday, in airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition, in Yemen’s central province of Marib, a military source from the Yemeni government, said.

“The airstrikes killed the militants in the desert, while they were moving in three groups towards positions of the Yemeni army, in the western district of Sirwah,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported, 15 coalition airstrikes on the Houthi positions in Sirwah, without providing further details.

(Reuters) --- An Iranian-flagged tanker seized by Indonesia in January over the suspected illegal transfer of oil has been released, an Indonesian official and Iranian state media said on Saturday.

Wisnu Pramandita, a spokesman for the Indonesian coastguard, said the Iranian-flagged tanker, the MT Horse, was released on Friday after a court decision earlier in the week.

The court ruled the vessel could leave Indonesia, while the captain would be subject to a two-year probation without any fine, the spokesman said.

(Reuters) --- Saudi Arabia is lifting a ban on travelers arriving from 11 countries that it imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Saudi state news agency said on Saturday, but will still require quarantine procedures.

Travelers from the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United States, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Japan, will be allowed entry from Sunday, SPA reported, quoting an Interior Ministry source.

28 May 2021; MEMO: Russia's Defence Ministry announced that three Tu-22M3 bombers arrived at the Hmeimim Air Base in Syria on Tuesday, Associated Press (AP) reports.

As a result, Russia has the ability to operate long-range strategic nuclear-capable bombers from its air base in Syria, expanding its capabilities and allowing such planes to train in new regions.

28 May 2021; MEMO: Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan visited a recycling bazaar organized by a Turkish NGO in order to raise funds for Palestinian children living in East Jerusalem under Israeli occupation, Anadolu Agency reports.

The event, which was organized by Social Development Centre Education and Social Solidarity Association (TOGEM-DER) in Baglarbasi Congress and Culture Center in Istanbul, aimed at "utilizing unused items to support Zero Waste Project."

28 May 2021; MEMO: The US deputy secretary of state today appreciated Turkey's continued support to refugees.

Describing her meeting with Turkey's deputy foreign minister, Sedat Onal, in Ankara productive, Wendy Sherman on Twitter said: "We appreciate Turkey's continued support to over 4 million refugees."

The importance of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law as well as Afghanistan, Syria and regional issues were also discussed in the meeting, Sherman noted.

29 May 2021; MEMO: The World Health Organisation has called for access to patients in the Gaza Strip and free passage to evacuate them for medical treatment, Reuters reported on Friday.

29 May 2021; MEMO: Chief of Hamas Political Bureau in Gaza Yahya Sinwar has defied Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz as he posed for the media, calling for Gantz to carry out his pledge to assassinate him.