Middle East & North Africa

TEHRAN, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chief of Staff of Iran Armed Forces Hossein Baqeri said Thursday that the Islamic republic has achieved self-sufficiency in building military equipment needed to defend the country.

Iran is becoming less dependent on foreigners in producing defense-related hardware thanks to its universities as well as knowledge-based companies, which are actively designing and manufacturing military equipment, Baqeri was quoted as saying by Press TV.

TEHRAN, Dec 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chief of Staff of Iran Armed Forces Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said that the Islamic republic has achieved self-sufficiency in building military equipment needed to defend the country.

Iran is becoming less dependent on foreigners in producing defense-related hardware thanks to its universities as well as knowledge-based companies, which are actively designing and manufacturing military equipment, Baqeri was quoted as saying by Press TV.

BAGHDAD, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Crowds backing a paramilitary force close to Iran flooded the Iraqi capital’s main protest camp on Thursday, rattling anti-government demonstrators who have denounced Tehran’s role in their country.

Their flash-protest hinted at a new effort to delegitimize or intimidate the regime change movement and came after the apparent torture and death of a 19-year-old girl taking part in the rallies.

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — The United Nations center in Libya was opened as an “alternative to detention,” a last, safe stop for migrants before they were resettled in other countries. Now, just a year later, it looks increasingly like the notorious Libyan lockups it was supposed to replace.

05 Dec 2019; MEMO: Sudanese authorities have arrested Issam al-Bashir, the former religious advisor to ousted President, Omar al- Bashir, on charges of money laundering, abuse of power as well as abusing the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments’ properties.

Sudan’s Akher Lahza newspaper reported that al-Bashir was stopped by anti-money laundering units upon his return to the country.

05 Dec 2019; MEMO: Greece said on Wednesday it opposed an accord reached by Turkey and Libya to define their maritime boundaries, but said it and Ankara – both members of NATO – were committed to talks on confidence-building measures, Reuters reports.

05 Dec 2019; MEMO: The UN General Assembly yesterday officially asked Israel to leave the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

The request was made after the resolution was adopted after 91 UN member states voted in favour, nine rejected and 65 abstained.

MUSCAT, Oman, Dec 5 (NNN-ONA) – Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman and visiting Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, on Wednesday discussed bilateral relations.

The British prince is currently in Oman for a three-day visit.

“The meeting took place at the Bait Al Baraka Palace, in the Omani capital, Muscat.”

During the meeting, they reviewed the strong ties of cooperation binding Oman and Britain.

TEHRAN, Dec 5 (NNN-IRNA) – Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Hossein Baqeri and visiting Azeri Deputy Prime Minister, Shahin Mustafayev, discussed defence and security cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides vowed to do their best to deepen bilateral relations, especially in defence and security.

Baqeri said that “some of the regional and trans-regional players cannot tolerate friendly relations between Iran and Azerbaijan.”

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Officials in Libya’s U.N.-supported government say they plan to confront Moscow over the alleged deployment of Russian mercenaries fighting alongside their opponents in the country’s civil war.

Libyan and U.S. officials accuse Russia of deploying fighters through a private security contractor, the Wagner Group, to key battleground areas in Libya in the past months.