Middle East & North Africa

JERUSALEM (AP) — A settlement watchdog group said Sunday Israel is moving ahead with new construction of hundreds of homes in a strategic east Jerusalem settlement that threatens to cut off parts of the city claimed by Palestinians from the West Bank.

The group, Peace Now, said the Israel Land Authority announced on its website Sunday that it had opened up tenders for more than 1,200 new homes in the key settlement of Givat Hamatos in east Jerusalem.

TRIPOLI, Nov 15 (NNN-INA) – Libyan authorities announced reopening of the country’s border crossing with Tunisia, after months of closure over the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The border has been reopened, in coordination with all efforts in both countries. It is now open for movement of travellers of both countries,” said Abu-Rabee Makhlouf, security director of the Ras Ajdir Border Crossing with Tunisia.

14 Nov 2020; MEMO: Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez has revealed that the third Turkish drillship Kanuni has set sail from Istanbul on Friday en route to the Black Sea, Turkish media reported.

Dönmez noted that the ship is to have some maintenance work at the Port of Filyos on the sea's coast, before starting its mission at the Sakarya gas field.

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates has approved granting “golden” visas allowing 10-year residency to certain professionals, specialised degree-holders and others, Dubai’s ruler said on Sunday.

All holders of doctorate degrees, medical doctors and also computer, electronics, programming, electrical and biotechnology engineers are eligible.

14 Nov 2020; MEMO: Tunisia and Libya will start an air travel bubble November 15, an official statement said Friday, Anadolu Agency reports.

Flights will resume after being halted for eight months because of the novel coronavirus, Tunisia's Ministry of Transport and Logistics said in a statement.

They will be arranged within the framework of measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with a health protocol agreement reached Wednesday between the two countries.

15 Nov 2020; MEMO: The Israeli military bombed eastern Gaza early Sunday after it said two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip, Anadolu Agency reports.

"In response to rockets fired from Gaza at night, army helicopters and tanks bombed some Hamas-owned positions," Israel said in a statement.

Israeli army combat helicopters bombed the southern city of Rafah and tanks bombed areas in the East, as well as the western resort of Beit Lahye, according to data received by Anadolu Agency.

14 Nov 2020; MEMO: Turkey and Cuba have signed an agreement to bolster cooperation and reduce bureaucracy in the maritime field, Turkish authorities revealed on Friday.

The agreement was signed by Selim Dursun, the Turkish deputy transport and infrastructure minister, and Luis Alberto Amoros Nunez, the Cuban ambassador to Ankara.

14 Nov 2020; MEMO: The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 29 asylum seekers Saturday who were stranded in the Aegean Sea, Anadolu Agency reports.

A Coast Guard vessel in northwestern Balikesir province was sent to the coast of Altinova district when a sailing boat was stranded at sea and called for help, according to an official statement.

Turkey has been a key transit point for migrants wanting to reach Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

14 Nov 2020; MEMO: Israel, Greece and Greek Cyprus agreed on Thursday to reinforce military cooperation amongst one another, Israeli media and news agencies reported.

Defence ministers from the three countries confirmed that the agreement would keep their armed forces better prepared, as well as creating more jobs for their citizens and improving security in the region.

10 Nov 2020; MEMO: Iran is to introduce air taxis which will become operational by early next year according to the head of Iran Aviation Industries Organisation. The taxi fleet has already obtained an operational flight permit with the first routes already devised including a separation of air taxi lines from commercial flights.