Middle East & North Africa

31 Jan 2019; IRNA: The unmanned jet, showcased in the Eqtedar 40 Exhibition, is named ‘Khodkar’ (automatic) and is the pilotless version of T-33 training aircraft suitable for conducting reconnaissance and combat operations.

The drone has been equipped with two cameras, one on the front of the fuselage for cockpit view, and one beneath the fuselage for landing and takeoff.

Iran's the Eqtedar (authority) 40 Exhibition opened in southwestern Tehran on Thursday.

KHARTOUM; 31 Jan 2019; AA: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday announced that his country’s eastern border with neighboring Eritrea would reopen after one year of closure, according to Sudanese state television.

“I announce here, from Kassala, that we are opening the border with Eritrea because they are our brothers and our people,” he said.

ANKARA; 31 Jan 2019; AA: Istanbul police Thursday seized some 1,350 kilogram (2,976 pounds) of illegal drugs including heroin and skunk weed in separate operations across the city, governor said.

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said on Twitter that at least five people were arrested during the large-scale bust.

JERUSALEM; 31 Jan 2019; AA: An Israeli rights group said Thursday that Saleh Barghouthi, a Palestinian taxi driver killed by Israeli forces last month, was shot at point-blank range in what appeared to be an “extrajudicial killing”. 

In a statement, B’Tselem, an Israeli rights NGO, said that -- contrary to assertions by Israel’s Shin Bet security agency and the Israeli army -- Barghouthi had not tried to resist arrest or run anyone over in his car.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — At St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai, an effort to transcribe the Bible in the native tongue of its flock saw the holy book presented in 52 languages — a sign of the cosmopolitan welcome awaiting Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the United Arab Emirates.

The diversity among its parishioners can be seen in its pews and heard in the sermons of St. Mary’s priests, who celebrate Mass and offer prayers in Arabic, English, French, Tagalog, Tamil, Urdu and other languages.

31 Jan 2019; DW: When opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself Venezuela's interim president last week, Recep Tayyip Erdogan was one of the few state leaders to call Nicolas Maduro to express his unwavering support for the embattled leader. In a sense, the Turkish president was paying his respects to Maduro, who came out in support Erdogan after the failed coup in Turkey in July 2016.

SANAA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Visiting UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths on Wednesday welcomed the handover of seven captured Yemeni Houthi rebels by Saudi-led coalition (SLC) to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"The SE (special envoy) welcomes the SLC's decision to release 7 Ansar Allah (Houthi group) prisoners. The ICRC transferred the prisoners from Riyadh to Sanaa today (Wednesday)," Griffiths said in Twitter, just a day after the rebels released a sick Saudi soldier.

29 Jan 2019; DW: Iran says it is working to improve the precision of its missiles for defense purposes. At the same time, the German-governed plan with France and the UK for payments to Iran despite US sanctions is moving ahead.

Iran on Tuesday said it had no plan to increase the range of its missiles, but would continue to work on its satellite technology to improve accuracy.

29 Jan 2019; DW: The move has been seen as a possible bid by President Mahmoud Abbas to isolate his political rivals, Hamas. The next government is likely going to be comprised of members of Abbas' Fatah movement.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah submitted his government's resignation on Tuesday, in a step that would likely end stalled attempts at reconciling with the rival Hamas movement.

TEHRAN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian security official said here Tuesday that the Islamic republic has no plan to boost the range of its missiles, official IRNA news agency reported.

"Iran has no scientific and operational limits to increase the range its missiles, however, it has no intention to boost the range of missiles only because of its defense doctrine," Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said.

Meanwhile, Iran continuously work to enhance the accuracy of its missiles, Shamkhani was quoted as saying.