
King and Syrian President Hold Phone Call on Bilateral Relations and Current Developments - Jordan News
King and Syrian President Hold Phone Call on Bilateral Relations and Current Developments His Majesty King Abdullah II and Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara discussed bilateral relations and current regional developments during a phone call on Thursday. اضافة اعلان During the call, His Majesty emphasized the need to expand cooperation between Jordan and Syria and to capitalize on available opportunities in a way that serves the interests of both countries and their brotherly peoples. King Abdullah highlighted the importance of the Higher Coordination Council between Jordan and Syria in institutionalizing and enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as water, energy, and trade. His Majesty reaffirmed Jordan's support for the Syrian people in rebuilding their country and expressed the Kingdom's commitment to Syria's security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. For his part, President Al-Shara praised Jordan's supportive stance—under the leadership of His Majesty the King—toward Syria and its efforts to restore its international standing. Both sides stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to stabilize southern Syria and enhance the security of the two countries' shared borders.
— (Petra)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Ammon
14 hours ago
- Ammon
Nepalese President receives credentials of Jordan's Ambassador
Ammon News - Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel received on Monday the credentials of Yousef Abdul Ghani as Jordan's accredited and non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Nepal, during a formal ceremony held at the Presidential Residence in Kathmandu. Ambassador Abdul Ghani conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Abdullah II to President Paudel, along with his wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the Nepalese people. For his part, President Poudel asked that his greetings and appreciation be conveyed to His Majesty King Abdullah II. He praised the King's leadership and the strong relations between the two countries, expressing Nepal's interest in enhancing bilateral cooperation across various fields. He also wished Jordan and its people continued growth and prosperity. Petra


Jordan News
14 hours ago
- Jordan News
Reopening of the Damascus Securities Exchange - Jordan News
Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad Yassar Baranieh officially announced the reopening of the Damascus Securities Exchange after a six-month suspension. The announcement was made during a high-level ceremony attended by a wide range of economic figures, investors, and traders. اضافة اعلان Trading had been suspended since December 5, 2024, due to the need to reassess the operational and financial status of listed companies, ensure full disclosure of damages and losses, and mitigate risks of market manipulation and capital flight. During the ceremony, Minister Baranieh stated: 'The reopening of the Damascus Securities Exchange sends a message that the Syrian economy is beginning to move and recover.' He added that the exchange would operate as a private company and a central hub for developing Syria's economy, emphasizing plans to embrace digital advancements. Baranieh noted that Syria's economic vision is based on justice, fairness, private sector leadership, and investment attraction. He affirmed the government's commitment to facilitating business operations and highlighted the existence of promising investment opportunities. Dr. Basel Asaad, CEO of the Damascus Securities Exchange, described the reopening as a historic day for Syria. 'We are ready to resume our role in the coming period, and investments will be larger and more expansive in the new Syria,' he said. Despite limited resources, the exchange has fulfilled its responsibilities with transparency and safeguarded investors' rights, he added. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Al-Qassem, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Securities and Financial Markets Authority, stated that the resumption of trading marks a new chapter in Syria's financial sector. He expressed optimism that, following the lifting of sanctions and increased international investment, Syria would become fertile ground for economic opportunities. Fadi Jleilati, Chairman of the Damascus Securities Exchange Board, emphasized that Syria is on the threshold of a new economic era. 'The Damascus Securities Exchange will not just be a platform for trading stocks and bonds; it will play an active role in reconstruction, economic growth, attracting both local and international investments, stabilizing the national currency, and integrating Syria's economy with global markets,' he concluded.


Roya News
15 hours ago
- Roya News
Leaked files confirm Assad regime held missing US journalist Austin Tice
For over a decade, the fate of American journalist Austin Tice remained one of the most enduring mysteries of the Syrian conflict. Now, previously unseen intelligence documents obtained by the BBC provide the first concrete confirmation that Tice was held by Syrian authorities under the leadership of Bashar Al-Assad. The classified materials, verified by both the BBC and law enforcement sources, include internal communications between Syrian intelligence branches. They explicitly name Tice and detail aspects of his imprisonment following his 2012 abduction near Damascus. The findings, along with corroborating testimony from former Syrian officials, offer long-sought clarity about what happened to him in the early days of his disappearance. Tice, a freelance journalist and former US Marine, vanished in August 2012 near Darayya, a suburb of the Syrian capital, just days after turning 31. He had entered the country to report on the escalating civil war. Roughly seven weeks later, a video surfaced online showing Tice blindfolded and reciting an Islamic declaration while surrounded by armed men. Though the clip suggested extremist movements' involvement, US analysts at the time raised doubts about its authenticity, with one official stating the video "may have been staged." Despite years of speculation, no entity ever claimed responsibility for holding Tice. The Syrian government, under Assad, repeatedly denied having any knowledge of his whereabouts. That narrative has now been definitively challenged. One of the documents, stamped 'top secret,' places Tice in a government-run detention facility in Damascus in 2012. Sources familiar with the site identified it as Tahouneh prison. A former high-ranking Syrian intelligence officer confirmed to the BBC that Tice was held there by the National Defence Forces (NDF), a pro-Assad paramilitary group. A Syrian official told the BBC that Tice remained in custody at least until February 2013. During that time, he reportedly suffered from stomach problems and underwent medical treatment, including blood tests that revealed a viral infection. A visitor to the detention center who saw Tice recalled, "He looked sad, and that the joy had gone from his face," though he was said to be treated more humanely than Syrian inmates. In a rare account, a former NDF member with direct knowledge of Tice's detention said that his captors recognized his strategic value, stating that "Austin's value was understood" and that he was viewed as a "card" for potential diplomatic negotiations with the US. Tice allegedly made a brief escape attempt by climbing through a window, but was quickly apprehended. He is believed to have been interrogated at least twice by Syrian intelligence. The BBC's investigation is part of a long-running project that began over a year ago for a Radio 4 podcast. Reporters were granted access to a Syrian intelligence archive while working alongside a Syrian war crimes investigator. The documents they found are the first hard evidence to support long-standing US claims that Tice was in Syrian custody. When Bashar Al-Assad was deposed in December 2024, former US President Joe Biden expressed belief that Tice was still alive. Two days before, his mother Debra Tice shared that a 'significant source' had confirmed her son's survival and claimed he was being 'treated well.' Yet, when prisons across Syria were emptied following the regime's collapse, Tice was not among those released, and his current whereabouts remain unknown. The Tice family, who have led a relentless campaign for answers, are aware of the newly surfaced files, as are US officials and a Syrian group documenting human rights abuses under Assad. Tice, who once served in Iraq and Afghanistan before pursuing a law degree at Georgetown University, is now believed to be one of the longest-held American hostages. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, around 100,000 people were forcibly disappeared during Assad's rule. Tice's case, long marked by silence and uncertainty, now stands as a confirmed chapter in that broader tragedy.