PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), Sept 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia has secured over RM37.4 billion (US$7.98 billion) in investment commitments in the digital technology sector as of August 2023, promising the creation of at least 15,895 high-value jobs, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said that this remarkable achievement reflects foreign investors’ confidence in Malaysia Digital (MD), the national strategic initiative driving the digital economy.

ANKARA, September 25. /TASS/: Azerbaijan was forced to conduct its counterterrorism operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday after talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev.

HONOLULU (AP) — From just outside the burn zone in Lahaina, Jes Claydon can see the ruins of the rental home where she lived for 13 years and raised three children. Little remains recognizable beyond the jars of sea glass that stood outside the front door.

On Monday, officials are expected to begin lifting restrictions on entry to the area, and Claydon hopes to collect those jars and any other mementos she might find.

MANILA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday said it has approved a loan of 500 million U.S. dollars to support Indonesia's development agenda and business reform priorities.

The Manila-based bank said Indonesia has undertaken various actions to improve the investment climate, including enabling environment for investments, easing trade barriers, and upscaling enterprises.

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/: CEO of Russia’s Rosatom state nuclear corporation Alexey Likhachev and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi have agreed to continue communication as part of their working relationship, Rosatom press service said on Monday.

"Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on the sidelines of the 67th IAEA General Conference. The sides agreed to continue maintaining regular working contacts," it said.

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt will hold a presidential election over three days in December, officials announced Monday, with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi highly likely to remain in power until 2030.

Waleed Hamza, the chairman of the National Election Authority, said the vote will take place on Dec. 10-12, with a runoff on Jan. 8-10 if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. Egyptian expatriates will vote on Dec. 1-3, and in the runoff on Jan. 5-7, he added.

RAMALLAH, Sept 25 (NNN-WAFA) – Two more Palestinians were killed and an Israeli soldier wounded, during exchange of fire in the West Bank city of Tulkarm yesterday, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources.

“Osaid Abu Ali, 21, and Abdul Rahaman Abu Daghash, 32, were killed, after being shot in their heads with live bullets by the Israeli soldiers, who stormed the Noor Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm,” said Ameen Khader, the director of Tulkarm Hospital.

PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron announced Sunday that France will end its military presence in Niger and pull its ambassador out of the country as a result of the coup that removed the democratically elected president.

Niger’s junta said in response that the announcement signals a “new step towards the sovereignty” of the country.

“Imperialist and neo-colonialist forces are no longer welcome on our national territory. The new era of cooperation, based on mutual respect and sovereignty is already underway,” it said in a statement.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian workers in the Gaza Strip have found dozens of ancient graves, including two sarcophagi made of lead, in a Roman-era cemetery — a site dating back some 2,000 years that archaeologists describe as the largest cemetery discovered in Gaza.

Workers came upon the site last year during the construction of an Egyptian-funded housing project near Jabaliya, in the northern Gaza Strip. Since then, crews have worked to excavate the 2,700-square-meter (2/3 acre) site with the support of French experts.

RIYADH, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Monday launched a plan to turn the kingdom's highest peak into a tourism destination.

The plan aims to develop the southwestern mountainous region of Soudah and parts of Rijal Almaa governorate into "Soudah Peaks" -- a luxury mountain tourism destination 3,015 meters above sea level, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/: Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev held Russian-Omani security consultations while visiting Muscat.

"A detailed discussion of prospects for the Russian-Omani relationship and cooperation in information security, as well as interaction between [the two countries’] law enforcement agencies, special services and financial intelligence was held," the Russian Security Council said. "In addition, the implementation of some economic projects was discussed," it noted.

24 September 2023; MEMO: Turkiye on Saturday strongly condemned “despicable attacks” against the Muslim holy book, the Quran, outside the embassies of some member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, including the Turkish Embassy, in the Netherlands.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Ankara condemns the spread of these “provocative attacks,” which are allowed to be carried out in European countries under the guise of freedom of expression.