logo
Syrian FM will head a delegation to Moscow: Sources

Syrian FM will head a delegation to Moscow: Sources

Al Arabiya2 days ago
A Syrian ministerial delegation headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani will travel to Russia, sources told Al Arabiya on Wednesday.
Russia was a strong backer of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Moscow played a vital role in consolidating al-Assad's rule in Syria in the aftermath of the country's civil war where it intervened in the war to his favor.
Russia has been seeking to retain its naval base in Tartous and its Hmeimim air base near the port city of Latakia.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov visited Damascus in January after al-Assad's fall where he met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Developing
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pakistan wraps up UNSC presidency for July after helping refocus attention on Gaza, Middle East
Pakistan wraps up UNSC presidency for July after helping refocus attention on Gaza, Middle East

Arab News

timean hour ago

  • Arab News

Pakistan wraps up UNSC presidency for July after helping refocus attention on Gaza, Middle East

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has wrapped up its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of July, the country's UN mission said on Friday, after Islamabad helped refocused global attention on Gaza and the Middle East amid Israeli military actions. Pakistan assumed the UNSC presidency at a time of a spiraling hunger crisis in Gaza due to Israel's blockade of the territory, which did not allow any humanitarian aid to get through to war-torn Palestinian people, as well as Tel Aviv's military actions elsewhere in the Middle East. The South Asian country hosted an open debate at the Council and called for an immediate ceasefire and deliver of relief items to Gaza. It also backed an 'inclusive' political process to stabilize a Syria rocked by clashes between the Druze minority and Bedouin clans that killed over 250 people. Speaking at the wrap-up session, Pakistan's envoy, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, expressed his deep appreciation to all UNSC members for their cooperation, collegiality and active engagement throughout his country's presidency last month. 'Pakistan approached its presidency with a sense of humility, deep commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and focus on Council's core mandate for maintaining international peace and security,' he was quoted as saying by Pakistan's UN mission. 'Constructive spirit and support by the Council members went a long way in ensuring that our work remained focused, effective and inclusive.' Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar pushed for 'universal recognition' of the state of Palestine and its full membership at the UN at a high-level UN conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, which was co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. During its presidency, the UNSC adopted five resolutions that covered dispute resolution, Red Sea reporting, Yemen, Haiti, Central African Republic (CAR) sanctions, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) elections, according to the Pakistani UN mission. The country also hosted a briefing on UN–OIC cooperation, a meeting on adapting peace operations in light of major UN reviews. Ambassador Ahmed congratulated Panama on assumption of the presidency for the month of August and assured it of Pakistan's full support, the Pakistani mission said.

Australia spy boss warns of Russia threat
Australia spy boss warns of Russia threat

Al Arabiya

time4 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

Australia spy boss warns of Russia threat

Australia's spy chief has singled out Russia as an 'aggressive espionage threat,' saying several Moscow-linked intelligence officers have been caught and expelled in recent years. Intelligence boss Mike Burgess used a speech on Thursday night to warn of the mounting threat posed by foreign actors such as Russia and China. Burgess said 24 major espionage operations had been dismantled since 2022 — more than the previous eight years combined. 'A new iteration of great power competition is driving a relentless hunger for strategic advantage and an insatiable appetite for inside information,' he said. 'Russia remains a persistent and aggressive espionage threat,' added Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Without providing details, Burgess said a number of Russian spies had been expelled from Australia in recent years. He also mentioned China and Iran as nations actively trying to pilfer classified information. 'You would be genuinely shocked by the number and names of countries trying to steal our secrets,' he said. Repeating a warning sounded earlier this year, Burgess said foreign actors were targeting Australia's fledgling nuclear-powered submarine program. Australia plans to deploy stealthy nuclear-powered submarines in a pact with the United States and Britain known as AUKUS. 'In particular, we are seeing foreign intelligence services taking a very unhealthy interest in AUKUS and its associated capabilities,' said Burgess. Australian police last year charged a married Russian-born couple with spying for Moscow. The couple — accused of trying to steal military secrets — had lived in Australia for more than 10 years.

Trump calls Russia's actions in Ukraine ‘disgusting,' threatens new sanctions
Trump calls Russia's actions in Ukraine ‘disgusting,' threatens new sanctions

Al Arabiya

time4 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

Trump calls Russia's actions in Ukraine ‘disgusting,' threatens new sanctions

US President Donald Trump threatened fresh sanctions Thursday while slamming Russia's military actions in Ukraine as 'disgusting,' as strikes on Kyiv killed at least 16 people. 'Russia — I think it's disgusting what they're doing. I think it's disgusting,' Trump told reporters. Trump also said he would send his special envoy Steve Witkoff, currently in Israel, to visit Russia next. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow, before Trump's efforts to mend ties with the Kremlin came to a grinding halt. Washington has given Moscow until the end of next week to cease hostilities in Ukraine, under threat of severe economic sanctions. Trump reiterated the deadline on Thursday. 'We're going to put sanctions. I don't know that sanctions bother him,' the US president said, referring to Putin. Trump has previously threatened that new measures could mean 'secondary tariffs' targeting Russia's remaining trade partners, such as China and India. This would further stifle Russia, but would risk significant international disruption. The US president began his second term with his own rosy predictions that the war in Ukraine — raging since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022 — would soon end. In recent weeks, Trump has increasingly voiced frustration with Putin over Moscow's unrelenting offensive.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store