Middle East & North Africa

Digital sovereignty is needed to counter external threats - State Duma speaker

ISTANBUL, October 13. /TASS/: Provision of the digital sovereignty is a critical aspect of countering current threats, particularly interference in internal affairs of countries, Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said at the 3rd conference of parliament speakers on combating terrorism and strengthening regional cooperation.

Russia will support any deal that will reconcile Palestine and Israel - Putin

DUBAI, October 13. /TASS/: Russia is ready to back any deal that will iron out the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with RT Arabic, Al Arabiya and Sky News Arabia TV channels on Sunday.

"We will support any deal that will bring peace," Putin said.

Speaking on the US-proposed "deal of the century," Putin said Washington has been pretty vague about the details of the deal. "Washington has kept in the dark the global and domestic public, the Middle East, and Palestine."

Syria exempts Jordanian trucks from transit fees

12 Oct 2019; MEMO: In a presidential decree, the Assad regime in Syria has decided to exempt Jordanian trucks from transit fees, Jordanian MP Tariq Khouri, who is close to Syria, told mass media on Thursday.

According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Khouri explained that this decree lifts the sanctions imposed on the ground transportation movement between the two countries.

Israel closes Gaza, West Bank crossings

13 Oct 2019; MEMO: The Israeli occupation authorities on Sunday morning shut down Karam Abu Salem and Beit Hanoun crossings, southeast and north of the Gaza Strip, for Jewish holidays, Palestine Information Center reported.

The administration of Beit Hanoun crossing announced that it would be closed on Sunday for Palestinians, except for emergencies and VIPs, until 2:00 pm.

Khamenei tells Iran's Guards to develop more advanced, modern weapons

DUBAI (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards on Sunday to develop more advanced and modern weapons, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, amid rising regional tensions.

“The Guards should have advanced and modern weapons ... Your weapons should be modern and updated. It should be developed at home. You need to develop and produce your weapons,” Khamenei said in a speech at Imam Hussein Military University in Tehran.

Kurdish-led authority: 785 IS-affiliated foreigners escaped Syria camp on Sunday

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Kurdish-led administration in northern Syria said 785 foreigners affiliated with Islamic State managed to escape a camp where they were being held following Turkish shelling on Sunday.

In an apparent reference to Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, the administration said in a statement that “mercenaries” had attacked the camp where “Daesh elements” - a reference to Islamic State - in turn attacked camp guards and opened the gates.

Putin says a new Syrian constitution should guarantee all groups' rights: Arabiya

DUBAI (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said any new constitution that is drawn up for Syria should guarantee the rights of all ethnic and religions groups. Putin was speaking in an interview with Arab broadcasters, including Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, on his first visit to Saudi Arabia in over a decade.

Putin says Russia has 'very friendly' relations with Saudi crown prince

DUBAI (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said Russia has “very friendly personal relations” with Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.

Putin was speaking in an interview with Arab broadcasters, including Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, ahead of his first visit to Saudi Arabia in over a decade.

He also said Russia was studying new investments in Saudi Arabia. Russian company Sibur Holding was looking at building a petrochemical complex in Saudi with investment worth more than $1 billion, Putin told Al Arabiya.

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