Middle East & North Africa

RIYADH, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-led coalition involved in a war in Yemen announced on Wednesday the interception of a bomb-laden boat in the Red Sea, Al Arabiya TV reported.

The boat was launched by Houthi militia and a merchant vessel was slightly damaged, the coalition said, adding that the "terrorist acts" threaten navigation and global trade.

The incident happened a few days after a Houthi attack that created an explosion and caused the fuel tank fire in the oil facility in the north of the port city Jeddah.

BAGHDAD, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) urged on Wednesday the Iraqi authorities to end violence against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), as COVID-19 restriction measures increase the risk of violence against the vulnerable people.

AMMAN, Nov 24 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yesterday, denounced Israel’s authorisation to build some 540 more new settlement units, in East Jerusalem.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Daifallah Fayez, said, these settlements are considered a violation of international law and UN resolutions, mainly the UN Security Council Resolution 2334.

Israel’s settlement policy hinders the process of peacemaking and conflict resolution, “destroying” any opportunity for the two-state solution, the spokesperson added.

DAMASCUS, Nov 25 (NNN-SANA) – An Israeli missile attack hit military sites in the southern countryside of Damascus last night, causing damage only.

Just before midnight, the Israeli missile strike was launched from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, a military source was quoted as saying.

The exact targets of the strike have not been revealed.

The strike is the latest one among a series of attacks targeting military sites in Syria, including those of the militias.

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates has stopped issuing new visas to citizens of 13 mostly Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to a document issued by a state-owned business park.

A source briefed on the matter told Reuters the visas had temporarily stopped being issued to Afghans, Pakistanis and citizens of several other countries over security concerns, but did not provide details of those concerns.

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday a jailed Kurdish leader has “blood on his hands”, scotching any hopes that a reform plan could lead to wider liberties for the opposition and dissidents.

Erdogan promised a slate of judicial and economic reforms two weeks ago, leading to expectations of the possible release of politicians, including Kurdish ones, and human rights advocates from jail.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned on Wednesday the deadly explosions that occured on Tuesday in the Afghan city of Bamiyan as "terrorist attacks."

"Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh condemned yesterday's terrorist attacks in Bamyan that killed and injured dozens of civilians, including innocent women and children," the ministry said in a statement published on its official website.

The note also expressed condolences to the government and people of Afghanistan.

25 Nov 2020; MEMO: Iran's supreme leader dismissed the prospect of new negotiations with the West on Tuesday, even as the Tehran government spoke optimistically about the return of foreign companies in "the absence of Trump" and his sanctions.

President-elect Joe Biden's victory has raised the possibility that the United States could rejoin a deal Iran reached with world powers in 2015, under which sanctions were lifted in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear programme.

25 Nov 2020; MEMO: Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Daifallah Al-Fayez yesterday condemned Israel's approval of 540 new settlement units in the illegal settlement of Har Homa in occupied East Jerusalem, Safa news agency reported.

Al-Fayez stressed that these settlement activities are "completely rejected" as "they amount to violations to international law and the UN resolutions on top of which Resolution 2334."

25 Nov 2020; MEMO: Hamas yesterday criticised  its rival Fatah movement after it decided to resume security cooperation with the Israeli occupation.

On Facebook, Hamas official spokesman Abul-Latif Al-Qanou wrote: "Palestinians do not trust the party which undermines their institutions," referring to Fatah's disregard for the Palestinian National Council (PNC)'s decision to stop security cooperation with Israel.