Saudi Arabia

Basketball: Lebanon Unveils Its Squad for the 2025 Asia Cup

On Tuesday evening, the Lebanese Basketball Federation officially announced the list of 12 players selected to represent Lebanon at the 2025 Asia Cup, which will take place in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) starting on August 5. Coach Miodrag Perisic opted for a mix of experience and youth, with the eagerly awaited return of Wael Arakji and the inclusion ...

Portugal's Felix Joins Ronaldo at Al Nassr in Saudi

Portuguese forward Joao Felix has signed a two-year deal with Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr, where he will join Cristiano Ronaldo, the club announced Tuesday. Felix, now 25, made a blockbuster move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019, but has since seen his fortunes decline. "I'm here to spread joy. Let's win together," said Felix in a video ...

Thomas Barrack: When Diplomacy Moves in Circles and Lebanon Follows

Listening to Thomas Barrack, one might think Lebanon is close to redemption or on the edge of a cliff, perhaps both at once. For months now, the American special envoy has issued statements that are sometimes hopeful, sometimes threatening, often confusing, and always repetitive. With every tweet and announcement, the same message comes through: ...

US Dismisses UN Israel-Palestinian Conference as 'Publicity Stunt'

The United States on Monday dismissed a French-Saudi-sponsored conference at the United Nations on promoting a two-state solution to the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis as a "stunt." The US State Department labeled the three-day event "unproductive and ill-timed," as well as a "publicity stunt" that would ...

Saudi Arabia Commits $6.4 Billion to Syria in Reconstruction Deals

Saudi Arabia on Thursday signed major investment and partnership deals with Syria, valued at $6.4 billion, to help rebuild the war-ravaged country's infrastructure, telecommunications and other major sectors. Saudi Arabia has been a major backer of the new Syrian government, which seized power after an Islamist-led offensive toppled longtime ...

Saudi Announces $5 Billion in Syria Investments

A Saudi delegation visiting Damascus on Wednesday inked investment and partnership deals valued at $5 billion to help rebuild war-battered Syria, the oil-rich Gulf kingdom announced. Saudi Arabia has been a major backer of the new Syrian government, which seized power after Islamist-led rebels toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December ...

Syria says Local Factions to Secure Violence-Hit Sweida

The Syrian government announced Thursday that local leaders would assume control over security in the city of Sweida in an attempt to end violence that has claimed hundreds of lives and prompted Israel's military intervention in support of the Druze minority. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and eyewitnesses  told AFP on Thursday ...

Agriculture at a Crossroads: Rich Lands, Closed Borders

Lebanon’s land still gives, but the market no longer answers. At a recent Cabinet meeting, Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani issued a stark warning: Lebanese agriculture is at a breaking point. With distribution in crisis, export routes to the Gulf shut down and a stifling economic climate, the sector is being pushed to the edge. “Maritime ...

Numbeo: Lebanon Among Arab Countries Most Affected by Food Prices

Lebanon ranks among the Arab countries most affected by skyrocketing food prices, according to a new cost-of-living index published by global data platform Numbeo. In a nation still gripped by a severe and prolonged economic crisis, securing basic nutrition has become a daily struggle for much of the population. To meet the minimum nutritional ...

Saudi Arabia and Iran Hold Talks After Tehran’s Truce With Israel

Iran's foreign minister has held talks with Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, the Saudi foreign ministry said, two weeks after a ceasefire between regional rivals Iran and Israel began. Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman said his country hoped the truce would contribute to regional stability, and emphasised Riyadh's position "in ...

MBS Receives Araghchi to Discuss Regional Stability and Ceasefire Efforts

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Tuesday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his accompanying delegation at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to address them. The ...

866 Kg of Captagon Seized in Joint Lebanon-Saudi Drug Operation

The Lebanese Customs Directorate announced the seizure of 866 kilograms of Captagon concealed in a shipment of glass and porcelain tableware, following a coordinated operation with Saudi authorities. In a statement released on Monday, the directorate said the bust was made possible through close collaboration between the Anti-Narcotics Division ...