Middle East & North Africa

JERUSALEM, Aug 1 (NNN-PNA) – Israel decided yesterday, to withhold 600 million shekels (176 million U.S. dollars) in tax revenues it has collected for the Palestinian Authority, to offset the latter’s compensation for “attackers” against Israelis.

The Israeli security cabinet voted to deduct in phases, the same amount from the tax revenues, as the Palestinian Authority has paid to the families of killed or wounded attackers, the state-owned Kan TV news reported.

JERUSALEM, Aug 1 (NNN-PNA) – A large fire started near a military base, and was raging near the central Israeli city of Modiin, the regime’s fire and rescue services said.

The military base of the Israeli Defence Forces, named Mitkan Adam, is located about 11 kilometres north of Modiin.

Strong winds were spreading the fire towards the nearby Neot Kedumim nature reserve, said the services, adding that 21 firefighting teams have been sent to battle the blaze, along with four airplanes and a helicopter.

Aug 1 (Reuters) - Valvoline Inc (VVV.N) is selling its unit that makes lubricants, coolants and other automotive products to state-owned Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) for $2.65 billion in cash to sharpen focus on its retail services business.

The deal announced on Monday builds on the company's plan to separate the two units, with the sale proceeds set to fuel an expansion of the vehicle service center business Valvoline operates across the United States.

LAGOS, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Dubai's Emirates plans to reduce flights to Nigeria this month due to troubles repatriating revenue from Africa's most populous nation, according to a letter sent to the government and seen by Reuters.

Emirates plans to cut the number of flights to Lagos to seven from 11 by mid-August, the letter said, adding it had $85 million stuck in the country as of July, a figure that had been rising by $10 million per month.

ANKARA, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Defense Minister on Monday said his country would "be glad" to help the shipments of foodstuff and fertilizers waiting at Russian ports in the Black Sea.

"There are also food and various chemicals in Russia's ports. The transfer of these is a separate issue apart from our work on Ukrainian grains. But if we can make a contribution, we would be pleased to do so as well," Hulusi Akar told the semi-official Anadolu Agency.

TEHRAN, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's nuclear chief on Monday said although Iran has the technical capability to build an atomic bomb, it is not on the agenda.

"Iran has the technical ability to build an atomic bomb, but such a program is not on the agenda of the Islamic republic," Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told semi-official Fars News Agency.

Some Western countries have been making "false accusations" to "deceive the public," he added.

BEIRUT (AP) — It’s been two years since his 3-year-old daughter, Alexandra, was killed in a massive explosion at Beirut’s port — and Paul Naggear has lost hope that outrage over the disaster will bring justice and force change in Lebanon.

The investigation into one of the world’s biggest non-nuclear explosions has been blocked for months by Lebanon’s political powers. Many blame the Lebanese government’s longtime corruption and mismanagement for the tragedy, but the elite’s decades-old lock on power has ensured they are untouchable.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain set off from the port of Odesa on Monday under a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that is expected to release large stores of Ukrainian crops to foreign markets and ease a growing food crisis.

The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni left Odesa carrying over 26,000 tons of corn destined for Lebanon.

Tehran, IRNA – Farajollah Cha'ab, the ringleader of the terrorist and separatist grouplet of Harakat al-Nazal, admitted on Sunday that he has been receiving support from Swedish government and intelligence agency.

Cha'ab, who was arrested by Iranian security forces some two and a half years ago, made the confession during a court hearing in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

He is responsible for a terrorist attack in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran, on September 22, 2018.  

Tehran, IRNA - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a message on Saturday thanked the authorities for their rapid presence in the flood-hit areas and called for the efforts of aid groups to help the flood victims and compensate for the damages.

In a condolence message to the victims in the wake of the flood damage in many parts of the country, Ayatollah Khamenei called for the efforts of aid groups to help the flood victims.