Japan and Turkey are considering joint development of tank engines as they aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense-related technology, Kyodo News Agency reported Tuesday, citing a Japanese government source.

A Russian warship has docked in Egypt’s port of Alexandria in a move that officials said was aimed at bolstering Cairo’s relations with Moscow ahead of one of the highest level visits by Russian officials to the country in decades.

Activists say clashes have flared up between Syrian troops and rebels on the southern outskirts of Damascus as part of a weeks-long government push to advance on opposition-held areas.