BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Friday reported 4,013 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase since the outbreak of the disease, bringing the total nationwide infections to 168,290.

The ministry's health teams and institutions have used 20,446 testing kits across the country during the day, raising the total testing kits used to 1,245,355, said in the ministry's statement. (Iraq-COVID-19)

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TEHRAN -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Friday "strongly" condemned the establishment of diplomatic ties between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel, according to a statement published by the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website.

"It (the agreement) is a strategic act of stupidity by Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, which will undoubtedly result in strengthening the axis of resistance in the region," according to the statement. (Iran-UAE-Israel)

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ISTANBUL -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkey might suspend its diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), or call back its ambassador over UAE's deal with Israel.

"We stand with the Palestinian people. We have not let Palestine be defeated, or let it be defeated," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. (Turkey-Israel-UAE)

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GAZA -- A senior Palestinian official warned on Friday that closure of the sole Israeli-controlled commercial crossing point of Kerem Shalon is threatening 400 factories in the Gaza Strip.

Sami al-Amassi, president of the General Federation of the Palestinian Trade Union, said in a press statement that his union warns of the repercussions of the closure. (Gaza-Crossing-Closure)