HH Sayyid Asa'ad arrives in Malaysia
Upon HH Sayyid Asa'ad and his accompanying delegation's arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, they were received by Fahmi Fadzil, Malaysia's Minister of Communications, Dato Yubazlan bin Haji Yusof, Malaysia's Chief of Protocol, Sheikh Al Abbas Ibrahim Al Harthy, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Malaysia, several members of the embassy and a number of Malaysian officials.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
17 hours ago
- Times of Oman
What European leaders achieved on Ukraine at Washington summit?
Washington, DC: The mood at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday appeared quite different from the debacle earlier this year when US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance scolded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of the cameras. On Monday, Zelenskyy walked into the Oval Office in a crisp navy suit, not his trademark olive fatigues, and handed Trump a personal letter from his wife, Olena, to First Lady Melania Trump. The letter, thanking her for raising the plight of Ukraine's abducted children with Putin, seemed to set a more diplomatic tone. European leaders were determined to support him. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were among those who made the trip to Washington on short notice. They sat in a protective semicircle around Zelenskyy, keen to ensure that another Oval Office humiliation was avoided and that the trans-Atlantic alliance held. 'This was a meeting where Europeans had the chance to show their unity and determination,' said Almut Möller, Director of European and Global Affairs at the European Policy Centre, to DW. Progress on security guarantees The European leaders' clearest goal of the White House talks was Trump's public endorsement of security guarantees. The US president delivered; standing beside Zelenskyy, he pledged that the US would 'coordinate' with Europe on protections for Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte described them as 'Article 5-type guarantees' without NATO membership. Article 5 is the alliance's mutual defense clause, stating that an attack on one member nation is an attack on all. That reassurance mattered in Europe, as fear had risen that Trump might again lean towards Russia after he met President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Yet the details of the security guarantees remain undefined. Trump equally pushed back on Europe's call for a ceasefire as a starting point. After the meeting, Rutte told Fox News, a US news broadcaster, that there are currently 30 countries in the mix in the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing.' Their defence ministers could meet as early as this week to begin ironing out the details of these security guarantees. Zelenskyy was hopeful, telling reporters the guarantees will 'be formalised on paper within the next week to 10 days.' In an interview with DW, researcher Tinatin Akhvlediani at the Brussels Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) evaluated these announcements of security guarantees as an essential step, 'especially if the United States is engaged in backing them up.' However, she warns that this backup is essential 'because, as we know, the United States currently provides the military equipment and weaponry that the EU cannot replace.' Land concessions off the agenda but not off the table Equally important was what did not happen. During the meeting, there was no mention of Ukraine ceding territory. The Financial Times reported that one European official who was part of the delegation to Washington said that Trump explained, 'That is not my business, that is a matter for Ukraine,' effectively ruling out forcing land swaps. Akhvlediani maintained that the risk remains. 'We will have to see what happens next, as we don't know what exactly happened behind closed doors.' As of now, Putin continues to demand Ukrainian withdrawal from parts of Donetsk and Luhansk. French President Macron openly voiced doubts about the Kremlin's intentions: 'His ultimate goal is to take as much territory as possible,' the French president warned. A pivotal meeting ahead? According to the Kremlin, Trump interrupted the talks with Zelenskyy and the European leaders to conduct a 40-minute call with Putin. The US president then moved the process forward by proposing a trilateral summit with himself, Zelenskyy and Putin, possibly within weeks. While no date and location have been set, European leaders said they would support such a meeting if it reinforced Ukraine's sovereignty and avoided concessions imposed from outside. Both analysts agree that such a meeting is of utmost importance. 'Putin now has to show that he wants peace,' Möller said. For Europe, direct talks between Ukraine and Russia carry both opportunity and risk. It could mark the beginning of a genuine peace process or open the door to renewed pressure on Ukraine to compromise, this time without European leaders by his side. Europe's new role For the European leaders in attendance, the summit went beyond its outcomes. The talks showed that Europe can be more than a bystander and is willing to go the extra mile regarding security guarantees, Möller said. 'This is about each and every European leader sitting in this room, knowing that there is a threat out there that this threat might affect their own country. This has brought them together,' he said. German Chancellor Merz echoed that in an interview after the meeting. 'This isn't just about Ukraine's territory; it's about the political order of Europe. Germany has a major interest and a major responsibility.' The mood in Europe was cautiously optimistic after the summit. 'Since Trump returned to the White House, the trans-Atlantic alliance has never been as strong,' Akhvlediani argued, stressing that European leaders had succeeded in steering him back toward historical allies. The outcome of the talks also remains provisional. 'Trump can change his views very quickly,' Möller notes. 'This is an evolving situation, and I am hesitant to think of this as a very important moment in this process towards finding peace for Ukraine and territorial integrity for Ukraine.' More steps will be needed, yet one lesson stood out: Europe has no choice but to stand united. The challenge is immense, Möller added, but 'Europe has no alternative but to try, and they are doing the right things.'
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
Trump apprises Putin on "good meeting" with EU leaders, Zelenskyy
Washington DC: US President Donald Trump said on Monday (local time) that he had a very good meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in the Oval Office. Trump added that he also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and apprised him of the events unfolded in Washington. In a post on Truth Social, he said, "I had a very good meeting with distinguished guests, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron, of France, President Alexander Stubb, of Finland, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of Italy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, in the White House, which ended in a further meeting in the Oval Office. During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America. Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine," the post read. The post further said, "At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" The White House, too, in a statement said, "We have had a very successful day so far. We are all working for the same goal. We want to stop the killing and resolve this." Zelenskyy said that the group touched upon several sensitive matters. "I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump... it was really good. We spoke about very sensitive points," he said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte thanked Trump for his initiative to broker peace in the region. "I really want to thank you, President of the United States, dear Donald, for the fact that you, as I said before, broke the deadlock basically with President Putin by starting the dialogue... From there, here we are today," he said. President of Finland, Alexander Stubb noted that they have had more progress on the Russia-Ukraine war than they had in the last three-and-a-half years. "I think in the past two weeks, we've probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three-and-a-half years," he said. In a post on X, he said, "Today, I participated in a meeting of heads of state and government from the Coalition of the Willing in support of Ukraine. There is a strong consensus among the Coalition countries on the need to continue supporting Ukraine. Europe and the United States are further strengthening their common position. We will continue our joint efforts with Ukraine, our European colleagues, and the United States tomorrow in Washington DC." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni noted the shift in the situation. "It is an important day -- a new phase -- after three years that we didn't see any kind of sign from the Russian side that they were willing for dialogue, so something is changing -- something has changed -- thanks to you," she said. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer thanked Trump for bringing all the bigwigs to the negotiating table. "I think today will be seen as a very important day in recent years in relation to a conflict which has gone on for three-and-a-bit years, and so far, nobody has been able to bring it to this point -- so I thank you for that," he said. In a post on X, Starmer said, "Ukraine's future matters to us all." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that after the good meeting, the path opened for far more complicated negotiations. "This is extremely helpful that we are meeting and hearing that the two of you are having such a good meeting today ... The path is open. You opened it last Friday -- but now the way is open for complicated negotiations," he said. French President Emmanuel Macron said that everyone is in favour of peace. "Thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this meeting and for your commitment... everybody around this table is in favor of peace... this is why the idea of a trilateral meeting is very important because this is the only way to fix it," he said. In a post on X, he said, "Alongside Ukraine, for the peace and security of Europe and France." President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said that stopping the killing was in the common interest. "We had a fantastic NATO Summit... We had the largest trade deal ever -- agreed. And now, we are here to work together with you on a... lasting peace for Ukraine. Stop the killing. This is really our common interest," she said. In a post on X, she said, "We are here, as allies and friends, for peace in Ukraine and in Europe. This is an important moment, as we continue to work on strong security guarantees for Ukraine and a lasting and durable peace."
Times of Oman
04-08-2025
- Times of Oman
Philippine President Marcos arrives on 5-day state visit to India
New Delhi: Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr arrived in the national capital on Monday for a five-day state visit to India, aimed at further strengthening the India-Philippines relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. This is the first visit by the President of the Southeast Asian country to India since he assumed office back in 2022, marking a significant milestone, as his visit aligns with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. According to a post on X by the MEA, Marcos was welcomed with a warm reception by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. "Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President Bongbong Marcos has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. India & the Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations," the MEA stated on X. He was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation including several Ministers from his Cabinet. According to a statement by the MEA, during his visit, President Marcos will be holding talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other officials. He will also be meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. On August 5, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat, and following that, he will hold talks with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House. Exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and Press Statements will take place thereafter. The Philippine President will then meet Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda and thereafter President Droupadi Murmu. He will then travel to Bengaluru and meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Ghelot. His visit came following an invitation by PM Modi, an MEA statement stated on Thursday. Diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949. Both countries have since developed a strong partnership across a broad spectrum of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and digital technologies. The two countries also engage closely at the regional level, including through India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. The statement added that India's relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our 'Act East' Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The visit will act as an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest, as per the statement. India and the Philippines share warm and multifaceted bilateral relations rooted in historical ties and shared democratic values. Cooperation spans various sectors, including defence, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
