General

Damascus, Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Fayssal Mikdad, described Thursday relations between Syria and India as deep and strong.Mikdad, meeting Indian Ambassador in Damascus, Hifzur Rahman, and director of international operations at Jaipur Center for artificial limbs, Satish Mehta, welcomed the Indian generous assistance to the Syrian people who lost their limbs in the terrorist war on Syria.For his part, the Indian Ambassador stressed his country's support to Syria in its war against terrorism and providing aid to the Syrian people.Meanwhile, Mehta briefed Mikdad on the progress made in implementing a project of prosthetic limb fitment in Syria for those who lost their limbs in the terrorist war on the country.The two sides also discussed expanding that humanitarian project to...

BRUSSELS - The European Union on Thursday condemned renewed fighting around a rebel stronghold in northwest Syria, demanding an end to "unacceptable" air strikes that have killed civilians.The regime of President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia, is tightening the noose around Idlib, the last major rebel-held bastion in Syria's civil war, with air strikes killing at least 23 civilians on Tuesday."The renewal of the offensive in Idlib, including repeated air strikes and shelling targeting civilians are unacceptable and must cease," an EU spokesman said in a statement."The EU will keep the sanctions against the Assad regime under review as long as these brutal attacks continue."Most of Idlib and parts of Aleppo province are still controlled by factions opposed to Assad.The Damascus regime, ...

ISTANBUL - Turkey is accusing the European Union of reneging on its commitments to a migrant deal. The accusation comes ahead of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit Friday to Istanbul. The future of the EU deal, which curtailed an exodus of migrants into Europe, is expected to be an essential part of talks between Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In an interview with the German Bild newspaper, published Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu sent a clear message to Merkel. "Now it is 2020, and we still have not received the first 3 billion euros [$3.3 billion] in its entirety," Cavusoglu said. Under the 2016 EU migrant deal, Ankara was to receive $6.6 billion in two payments to help accommodate and support the 4 million Syrians who had fled the civil war...

Former Information Minister, Jamal El Jarrah, on Thursday said during the handover ceremony at the Ministry of Information that media has an important national role and responsibility. The outgoing Minister highlighted the state-run Lebanon Television (TL) and Radio Lebanon (Radio Liban) as a joint neutral national milieu that played a positive role, wishing wellbeing for mediamen who were exposed to violence. Referring to the archive of the state-run Television of Lebanon, Jarrah said, "It is the memory of Lebanon and it is considered one of the assets that we can benefit from as revenue for the Ministry." For her part, newly appointed Minister Manal Abdel Samad stressed the need for developing media laws and studying the existing conditions at Tele Liban and the National News Agency. Min...

Makkah, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat received at his office here today the Executive Secretary of Tanzanian Endowments and Islamic Affairs Authority.During the meeting, they discussed issues pertaining to pilgrims affairs and facilities provided for them. Then, the two sides held an official meeting to discuss early arrangements and preparations to serve pilgrims from Tanzania during Hajj season 1441H.The two sides signed an agreement that organizes the arrival of pilgrims coming from Tanzania and arranges services to be provided for them during their stay at the Holy Sites.Source: Saudi Press Agency

Monrovia, Saudi Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Subaie met here today with Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gbehzohngar Findley.During the meeting, Ambassador Al-Subaie presented a copy of his credentials as a non-resident ambassador to the Republic of Liberia.Source: Saudi Press Agency

Monrovia, Saudi Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Subaie met here today with Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gbehzohngar Findley.During the meeting, Ambassador Al-Subaie presented a copy of his credentials as a non-resident ambassador to the Republic of Liberia.Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) Dr. Khaled bin Saleh Al-Sultan has received here Finnish Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Antti Rytovuori and a delegation of Wartsila Power Company.During the meeting, they reviewed the company's capabilities and projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in addition to a proposal for working with KACARE in the field of renewable energy.Source: Saudi Press Agency

Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received a phone call today from Jordanian King Abdullah II during which they discussed means of enhancing bilateral relations.They also reviewed the latest regional and international developments and issues of common interest.Source: Saudi Press Agency

Prague, Head of the Czech Parliamentary Group for Friendship with Syria Stanislav Grospic affirmed that the presence of U.S. troops in Syria aims at looting the resources of the Syrian people and protecting terrorists, calling for condemning that on the international level.In a statement to SANA correspondent in Prague, Grospic noted that the only task for the U.S. troops in Syria is to try to undermine the sovereignty of the Syrian people, and later looting their underground wealth.Grospic added that all know what the U.S. forces are doing of stealing the resources and providing protection for terrorist groups, which will later threaten the security of Europe.He underlined the necessity to withdraw all the U.S. occupation troops from Syria, noting that the U.S. doesn't represent any guara...