Middle East & North Africa

TEHRAN, June 13 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry, on Friday, dismissed the recent UN report about Tehran’s “involvement” in the missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities last year.

On Thursday, Western media said that UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, told the UN Security Council in a recent report that, the cruise missiles and drones used in attacks on Saudi oil facilities in 2019, were of “Iranian origin.”

MUSCAT, June 13 (NNN-ONA) – The Omani Ministry of Health, announced on Friday, 1,117 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number in the country to 21,071.

According to a statement, issued by the ministry, all new cases, including 470 Omanis, are related to community contact.

The statement also said, 866 patients of COVID-19 have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 7,489.

Seven new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 96.

12 June 2020; MEMO: The Libyan army of the internationally backed Government of National Accord (GNA) announced yesterday that it had taken control of a major supply line used by militias loyal to opposition figure Khalifa Haftar.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the army said: “Full control of a main supply line … between southern and western Libya which has been used throughout the year by the terrorist Haftar militia.”

12 June 2020; MEMO: Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab called an emergency cabinet session this morning after a night of escalating protests over the dire economic situation and currency collapse. According to Naharnet, Diab cancelled all appointments to hold the meeting to discuss the financial crisis.

12 June 2020; MEMO: Egyptian TikTok star Haneen Hossam has been re-arrested and referred to the Criminal Court following her release on bail earlier this week.

12 June 2020; MEMO: Some 32 doctors in Yemen have died as a result of the coronavirus, the Yemeni Physicians and Pharmacists Syndicate announced yesterday.

Doctor Mohammed Ahmed Seif was the latest fatality, he died in the southern province of Taiz.

“Seif is the 32nd martyr from coronavirus,” the syndicate said in a statement.

12 June 2020; MEMO: Over a hundred jurists and law scholars from around the world, including scores from Israel, have said Israel’s plans to annex the occupied West Bank would “constitute a flagrant violation of bedrock rules of international law, and would also pose a serious threat to international stability in a volatile region.”

12 June 2020; MEMO: The death toll from a ship packed with African migrants that sank off the Tunisian coast this week has risen to 46 after Tunisia recovered more bodies on Thursday, a civil protection official told Reuters.

On Tuesday 20 bodies were found off Tunisia’s Mediterranean coast near Sfax. A total of 53 people had set out on the boat at the weekend aiming to reach Italy.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel cannot expect to normalise relations with the Arab world if it annexes land in the occupied West Bank, a United Arab Emirates envoy wrote in Israel’s top newspaper on Friday.

Some Israeli officials have dismissed the notion that applying sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank would slow a discreet opening between Israel and Arab countries - particularly with Gulf states who share Israeli concerns over Iran.

TEHRAN, June 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 180,000 people have been infected in Iran’s coronavirus outbreak since it first emerged nearly four months ago, an official said.

As the figures were announced, President Hassan Rouhani called on Iranians to stick to guidelines aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19.

“If everyone follows the health instructions exactly, then all jobs can be reopened,” he said in remarks broadcast on state television.