logo
Saudi Foreign Minister Speaks with US Secretary of State

Saudi Foreign Minister Speaks with US Secretary of State

Asharq Al-Awsat2 days ago

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a telephone call on Monday from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Saudi Press Agency said Tuesday.
The two foreign ministers discussed the bilateral relations between their countries, strategic partnerships, and the latest regional developments.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Saudi Press Agency launches Saudi Photo Platform to expand global access to visual archive
Saudi Press Agency launches Saudi Photo Platform to expand global access to visual archive

Arab News

time2 hours ago

  • Arab News

Saudi Press Agency launches Saudi Photo Platform to expand global access to visual archive

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia's minister of media and chairman of the Saudi Press Agency, Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari, on Wednesday launched the Saudi Photo Platform, a new digital initiative designed to offer free access to SPA's vast archive of authenticated images. Unveiled during the second edition of the Hajj Media Forum at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Exhibition and Events Center, the platform will allow users worldwide to browse, use, and share images under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. The forum was attended by local and international media representatives. Acting SPA President Ali bin Abdullah Al-Zaid said the platform reflected its strategy to make its visual archive more widely available to content creators around the globe, while preserving intellectual property rights and promoting creativity in a regulated digital environment. He added that launching the platform from Makkah held symbolic significance, reinforcing the city's historic role in conveying Saudi Arabia's message to the world, and said it marked an important step toward enhancing the Kingdom's visual presence in the digital space. The Saudi Photo Platform, which can be reached on features high-resolution images, sorted by category and accompanied by detailed metadata, including event descriptions and publication dates. The archive is continuously updated to document key national and international events, and the site is fully supported in both Arabic and English. The initiative is part of SPA's broader digital transformation agenda, aimed at modernizing publishing tools and fostering new partnerships with media outlets and online users worldwide, it said.

IAEA head in Damascus to discuss nuclear power
IAEA head in Damascus to discuss nuclear power

Arab News

time2 hours ago

  • Arab News

IAEA head in Damascus to discuss nuclear power

DAMASCUS: UN nuclear watchdog head Rafael Grossi said Wednesday his agency and Syrian authorities would begin 'exploring the possibility of nuclear power,' on his first visit to Damascus since the ouster of Bashar Assad. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly been at loggerheads with Syria in the past over what it says are 'unresolved issues' regarding suspected nuclear activities. On his visit, the IAEA chief met with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani. 'Honoured to meet Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Damascus. I recognize his courage in cooperating with full transparency to close a chapter of Syria's past that diverted resources necessary for development,' Grossi said in a post on X. He said the two sides 'will also begin exploring the possibility of nuclear power in Syria.' 'Our cooperation is key to closing outstanding issues and focusing on the much needed help IAEA can provide Syria in health and agriculture,' he added. The IAEA has urged Syria repeatedly to cooperate fully with the agency in connection to a suspected nuclear reactor at the Deir Ezzor desert site. Israel in 2018 admitted carrying out a top-secret air raid in 2007 against what it said was a nuclear reactor under construction at the site in eastern Syria. Syria had denied it was building a nuclear reactor. Grossi visited Damascus in March last year, meeting then president Assad who was overthrown in December after nearly 14 years of civil war. Grossi told an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in March this year that he had requested Syria's cooperation to 'fulfil our obligation to verify nuclear material and facilities' and to 'address unresolved issues.' 'Clarifying these issues remains essential to Syria demonstrating its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and international peace and security,' he said at the time.

US confident in Syrian partners to prevent ISIS resurgence amid troop withdrawal
US confident in Syrian partners to prevent ISIS resurgence amid troop withdrawal

Al Arabiya

time3 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

US confident in Syrian partners to prevent ISIS resurgence amid troop withdrawal

A US defense official told Al Arabiya English on Wednesday that Washington's vetted Syrian partners are well-trained, well-equipped, and prepared to prevent any resurgence of ISIS in Syria, even as American forces continue to withdraw from the country. Earlier this week, US officials confirmed to Al Arabiya English that at least 500 American troops had been withdrawn from Syria in recent weeks, and several military bases were either shut down or handed over to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, noted that the US would maintain a presence at one of its eight long-standing bases in Syria. The defense official emphasized that the ongoing consolidation of forces is being carried out in a 'safe, deliberate, and professional' manner. 'This consolidation reflects the significant steps we have made toward degrading ISIS's appeal and operational capability to carry out attacks both regionally and globally,' the official said, reaffirming Washington's commitment to ensuring the group's enduring defeat. The official also expressed cautious optimism about Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. 'So far, the Syrian government… is saying and doing the right things in going after ISIS,' the official said. 'We will continue to vigilantly monitor the new government and their behavior.' 'We also appreciate Syria's efforts to cooperate with other regional partners who share our desire to extinguish ISIS.' Acknowledging the persistent threat posed by ISIS, the official underscored that US efforts to prevent a resurgence remain steadfast. 'After nearly a decade of partnership with us, [our Syrian partners] are a strong and capable force that will keep ISIS suppressed. Their expertise and previous sacrifices in combatting ISIS are widely known, and they will continue to play a critical role in protecting Syria from ISIS and Al-Qaeda in the future,' the official said. The official also pointed to ISIS's significantly weakened state as a justification for the drawdown. However, US forces will continue to conduct targeted operations against remaining ISIS elements and work closely with local partners to carry out essential counterterrorism missions, including the security of ISIS detention facilities and camps.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store