Putin invites Erdogan to Russia amid Syria offensive: Kremlin

The call was initiated by Turkey, the Kremlin said. (File/AFP)
Updated 16 October 2019
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Putin invites Erdogan to Russia amid Syria offensive: Kremlin

  • Putin invited Erdogan “for a working visit in the coming days. The invitation was accepted,” Putin’s office said in a statement late Tuesday

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict in Syria in a phone call with Recep Tayyip Erdogan and invited the Turkish leader to soon visit Russia, the Kremlin said.

Putin invited Erdogan “for a working visit in the coming days. The invitation was accepted,” Putin’s office said in a statement late Tuesday.

It said the two leaders emphasised “the need to prevent confrontations between units of the Turkish army and Syrian armed forces.”
The call was initiated by Turkey, the Kremlin said.

Putin raised concerns in the call about “terrorists attempting to break free and infiltrate neighboring countries” amid Ankara’s offensive against Kurdish-held areas of northern Syria.


Israel approves upgrade to 4G mobile services to Palestinians in West Bank

Updated 5 sec ago
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Israel approves upgrade to 4G mobile services to Palestinians in West Bank

  • The ministry said the two Palestinian mobile operators — Jawwal and Ooredoo — and Swedish infrastructure firm Ericsson signed management agreements that were approved by Israel on Sunday
JERUSALEM: Israel has approved an upgrade to fourth-generation (4G) mobile services for Palestinians in the West Bank, ​the Israeli Communications Ministry said on Tuesday.
The ministry said the two Palestinian mobile operators — Jawwal and Ooredoo — and Swedish infrastructure firm Ericsson signed management agreements that were approved by Israel on Sunday.
Palestinian ‌cellular providers ‌launched high-speed data services ‌in ⁠the ​occupied ‌West Bank based on 3G in 2018, narrowing a technological gap with Israel after a lengthy Israeli ban on the operation of local 3G networks.
The ministry said its ⁠approval came as part of a ‌2022 framework deal between Israel ‍and the Palestinian ‍Authority aimed at allowing 4G and ‍5G cellular technologies. The agreement was delayed by the Gaza war, according to Israeli media, which also said the ​process to upgrade to 4G would take up to ⁠six months.
The Palestinian providers compete with Israeli cellular firms, which operate faster on much faster 5G mobile frequencies.
Israel is in the process of shutting down older 2G and 3G technologies and has advised the public to equip themselves with devices that support 4G and 5G.
In Gaza, ‌however, only 2G networks are available.