Russia’s Putin and Syria’s Sharaa Discussed Deepening Ties, Kremlin Says

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmad al- Sharaa on Wednesday spoke by phone ‌and ‌discussed deepening ‌political ⁠dialogue and cooperation in ⁠trade and other areas, the Kremlin said. It said ⁠in a ‌statement ‌that the ‌two leaders ‌had noted the importance of an August 9 ‌memorandum of understanding to settle the ⁠future ⁠of Russia's bases at Tartous and Hmeimim after 18 months of negotiations. Three decomposing bodies were spotted off Tunisia by a migrant charity boat, Italy's coast guard said Wednesday, in what are presumed to be the latest migrant deaths in the Mediterranean. The coast guard said it had received a report from an aid grou... [10521 chars]