Jordan’s interior minister reveals daily coordination with Syria to combat smuggling

Abdullah Al Hamed, president of the National Media Authority, launched the ‘Smart Media Agents’ challenge as part of the eighth edition of the Arab Media Leaders Programme for Young People in Dubai, calling for the development of artificial intelligence solutions to improve the efficiency and credibility of media organisations. He stressed that trust built on accuracy, verification and transparency remains the media’s real capital.

Saudi Minister of Information Salman Al-Dosari announced the launch of the Lions Riyadh festival, scheduled to take place at the King Abdullah Financial District from 6 to 8 December 2027. The event will bring together marketing executives, creative leaders, agencies, brands and emerging talent in a programme focused on marketing effectiveness and the future of the creative industries.

The 24th Arab Media Summit is continuing in Dubai with a programme examining the sector’s future, content creation, and film and drama production. The second day’s agenda includes a session on the credibility of medical content on social media platforms and a specialised workshop on using artificial intelligence in newsrooms.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honoured the winners in the Arab Media Award categories at a ceremony held in Dubai on the first day of Arab Media Summit 2026. The honours included Waleed Abdul Latif Al-Nisf as Media Personality of the Year and Inam Kachachi as Best Columnist, along with television programmes and Arab journalistic works.

Jordanian Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said Amman and Damascus coordinate daily to combat smuggling and train Syrian security agencies, announcing that 15,342 drug cases had been recorded this year. He also discussed overcrowding in rehabilitation centres, border-crossing development, the return of Syrians, conditions in the West Bank and the impact of unemployment on security and society.

Four Palestinians were killed in strikes targeting separate areas of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, while the Israeli military announced the killing of Saqr al-Qaisi in Khan Younis, accusing him of belonging to Hamas’s elite unit. The escalation coincided with the announcement of the closure of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip crossings on 5 and 7 October.

The family of the late Tunisian painter and sculptor al-Tayyib Belhaj Ahmed is completing legal procedures to have his home and private museum listed as national heritage, paving the way for their inclusion in the tourist routes of Sousse governorate. The house contains works made by the artist from assorted discarded materials, as well as architectural details bearing his mark.

Eritrea’s Foreign Ministry accused the Ethiopian government of seeking to expand its regional influence and undermine the sovereignty of neighbouring states, saying Addis Ababa’s talk of access to the sea conceals territorial demands. The position came days after diplomatic ties between the two countries were severed, amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia and international warnings that the confrontation could widen.