Russia, Syria to hold further talks on Russian military bases in Syria, TASS reports

The Assad regime was overthrown in early December. (AFP)
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Updated 29 January 2025
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Russia, Syria to hold further talks on Russian military bases in Syria, TASS reports

DAMASCUS: Russia and Syria will hold further talks regarding Russian military bases in Syria, Russia’s news agencies reported late on Tuesday, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as telling journalists after his talks with Syrian officials.
“This issue requires additional negotiations,” TASS news agency cited Bogdanov as saying. Bogdanov is heading Russia’s delegation to Damascus for the first time since Moscow’s ally President Bashar Assad was toppled.
He added that so far there have been no changes to the presence of Russian military bases in the country.

 

 


Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard confident ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier against Australia

Updated 2 min 14 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard confident ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier against Australia

  • Green Falcons are guaranteed at least a play-off spot but could still secure automatic qualification, though it would take a 5-goal victory

JEDDAH: On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s crucial closing match against Australia in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers, head coach Herve Renard expressed confidence in the readiness of his squad and stressed the importance of victory, despite the heavy odds against securing automatic qualification for the finals in North America next year.

Speaking during the prematch press conference at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Monday, alongside striker Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, Renard said: “We are in third place, and while 99 percent believe we are headed to the play-offs, we still have a chance (of automatic qualification).

“We have nothing to lose and are doing everything we can to make our fans happy. The most important thing for us is to win.

“We’re excited for this match. Some think we’re already in the play-offs but we still have hope. It’s very important to win (on Tuesday).”

Australia, led by coach Tony Popovic, sit in second place in Group C on 16 points, three ahead of the Saudis, and their superior goal difference means they need only avoid a five-goal defeat to confirm their seventh-consecutive appearance at the World Cup.

Japan top the group and have already secured qualification. Saudi Arabia and fourth-place Indonesia are guaranteed places in the play-offs, in which six teams will fight it out for the last three qualification spots.

Renard emphasized the need for focus and preparation ahead of Tuesday’s game.

“We have to approach the Australia game like any other, showing determination and being fully prepared,” he said. “I’ll do my best to select the best 11 players and the most effective approach heading into the match.”

The Green Falcons take on Australia at Al-Inma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, and fans were invited to take up the offer of free entry to the match.


NATO chief calls for ‘quantum leap’ in defense and says Russia could attack in 5 years

Updated 09 June 2025
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NATO chief calls for ‘quantum leap’ in defense and says Russia could attack in 5 years

  • Rutte said Russia is outpacing the far bigger NATO in producing ammunition

LONDON: NATO members need to increase their air and missile defenses by 400 percent to counter the threat from Russia, the head of the military alliance said Monday, warning that Moscow could be ready to attack it within five years.

Secretary-General Mark Rutte said during a visit to London that he expects the 32 NATO members to agree to a big hike in military spending at a summit in the Netherlands this month.

Speaking at the Chatham House think tank, Rutte said Russia is outpacing the far bigger NATO in producing ammunition, and the alliance must take a “quantum leap” in collective defense.

“Wishful thinking will not keep us safe,” Rutte said. “We cannot dream away the danger. Hope is not a strategy. So NATO has to become a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance.”

Rutte has proposed a target of 3.5 percent of economic output on military spending and another 1.5 percent on “defense-related expenditure” such as roads, bridges, airfields and sea ports. He said he is confident the alliance will agree to the target at its summit in The Hague on June 24-25.

At the moment, 22 of the 32 members meet or exceed NATO’s current 2 percent target, which was set in 2014. Rutte said he expects all to reach 2 percent by the end of this year.

The new target would meet a demand by US President Donald Trump that member states spend 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense. Trump has long questioned the value of NATO and complained that the US provides security to European countries that don’t contribute enough.

Rutte said he agreed that “America has carried too much of the burden for too long.”

Rutte said NATO needs thousands more armored vehicles and millions more artillery shells, as well as a 400 percent increase in air and missile defense.

“We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,” he said.

“Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years,” Rutte added. “We are all on the eastern flank now.”

Rutte also held talks Monday with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and praised the UK’s commitment to increase defense spending as “very good stuff.” Starmer has pledged to boost military spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2027 and to 3 percent by 2034.

Like other NATO members, the UK has been reassessing its defense spending since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

European NATO members, led by the UK and France, have scrambled to coordinate their defense posture as Trump transforms American foreign policy, seemingly sidelining Europe as he looks to end the war in Ukraine.

Last week the UK government said it would build new nuclear-powered attack submarines, prepare its army to fight a war in Europe and become “a battle-ready, armor-clad nation.” The plans represent the most sweeping changes to British defenses since the collapse of the Soviet Union more than three decades ago.


King Abdullah II urges global ocean action at UN conference, holds key talks on Middle East stability

Updated 09 June 2025
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King Abdullah II urges global ocean action at UN conference, holds key talks on Middle East stability

  • Jordanian ruler highlights threat to ‘vital shared resource’ from climate change, overexploitation, biodiversity loss
  • King warns of dangerous consequences of further escalation in West Bank and Jerusalem, and calls for renewal of ceasefire

LONDON: King Abdullah II delivered Jordan’s national address at the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice on Monday, underlining the urgent need for global action to protect oceans and marine life, the Jordan News Agency reported.

The week-long conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, has brought together hundreds of international leaders, officials, and experts to address the pressing environmental challenges facing the world’s seas.

In his remarks, King Abdullah described oceans as “a vital shared resource, sustaining billions of lives,” but warned that they are increasingly threatened by climate change, pollution, overexploitation, and biodiversity loss.

“This is a critical moment in time for action,” the king added, stressing the need for international collaboration to preserve marine ecosystems.

King Abdullah highlighted Jordan’s embrace of science as a tool for transformation, noting that the Gulf of Aqaba’s coral reefs show exceptional resilience to extreme temperatures. This unique feature, he said, positions Jordan as a global hub for marine research that could help save coral reefs worldwide.

To advance this vision, he announced the launch of two key initiatives: Aqaba Blue Ventures and the Global Center for Ocean Regeneration.

These projects will provide platforms to test new technologies that can be scaled up for global application, he added.

On the sidelines of the conference, King Abdullah held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which he affirmed Jordan’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with France across various sectors, JNA reported.

King Abdullah held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. (JNA)

The leaders stressed the importance of maintaining coordination on regional issues and called for immediate international efforts to reinstate a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid.

The king warned of the dangerous consequences of continued escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem, reiterating that granting Palestinians their full legitimate rights remained the only path to lasting regional stability.

He also commended France’s role in promoting peace in the Middle East, particularly through its upcoming international conference in New York from June 17-20, organized in partnership with Saudi Arabia.

The meeting was attended by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Jordan’s ambassador to France Lina Al-Hadid.

Also on Monday, King Abdullah held additional high-level meetings with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

King Abdullah also held additional high-level meetings with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides. (JNA)

The talks were part of the king’s broader diplomatic efforts to mobilize international support for the rights of the Palestinian people.

During the discussions, King Abdullah again stressed that a two-state solution was the only viable route to regional peace and highlighted the importance of the forthcoming New York conference.

He also reiterated the need to restore the ceasefire in Gaza, guarantee unimpeded delivery of aid, and put an end to unilateral measures in the West Bank and Jerusalem.


Songs of healing: Karachi’s blind musician uplifts young patients at kidney hospital 

Updated 50 min 48 sec ago
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Songs of healing: Karachi’s blind musician uplifts young patients at kidney hospital 

  • For over two decades, Zainab Imran has used music to bring comfort to children battling chronic illnesses
  • SITU is a highly regarded hospital for its urology and transplantation services, particularly kidney transplants

KARACHI: In the waiting area of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), soft music drifted through the corridors earlier this month.

Children began to gather, some sitting beside a woman at the keyboard, others nestled quietly in their parents’ laps. 

The melodies bring calm, even joy, to an otherwise tense space filled with long waits to see doctors and the dread of the difficult treatments that follow. 

At the heart of this daily ritual is Zainab Imran, a 44-year-old blind singer known among staff and patients as the “nightingale of SIUT.” 

For more than 20 years, she has been performing for young patients at SIUT, a leading health care facility in Karachi, highly regarded for its urology and transplantation services, particularly kidney transplants. 

“If these children find happiness through my singing, then nothing is greater than that,” Imran said as she prepared for another session of singing. “I cannot see, but I truly feel their pain, what they’re going through, how hard it must be. When they smile, even briefly, it brings me deep inner peace.”

Her journey with SIUT began in February 2004, when she met Javed Mir, a musician with polio who hosted children’s music programs on national television. 

“He used to sit with me and sing for the children. He encouraged me and taught me so much,” she recalled.

During her first performance at SIUT’s children’s ward around two decades, Imran played national songs on a keyboard. 

The response was overwhelming — clapping, smiles, and laughter filled the room. But behind the joy, there was also visible pain.

“Many children were crying, they were in such pain,” she said.

Her mother, who had accompanied her to the hospital, gently urged her to continue and to be strong for the children who needed her.

Imran also credits the support of SIUT founder Professor Dr. Adib ul Hasan Rizvi as a defining moment. 

“He placed his hand on my head and said, ‘You are our daughter, and you can do anything.’ That gave me strength.”

Imran has since become a beloved fixture at SIUT. To her, music is not just art, it is also medicine. 

“It’s often said that music is food for the soul,” she said with a smile. “If you’re upset or sad, even humming a tune can help you feel better. That’s exactly how I see music as well.”

“NEVER LOSE HEART”

Founded in 1974 as a 12-bed ward within a public hospital, SIUT has grown into a 2000-bed hospital with multiple units. In 2024 alone, it treated 4.2 million patients, including over 600,000 outpatient visits and more than 500,000 dialysis sessions.

Professor Dr. Ali Asghar Lanewala, head of the Pediatric Nephrology Department, said the facility’s outpatient pediatric clinic saw 300 to 400 children on each of its four weekly working days, with families often waiting three to four hours to see a doctor. 

“Her very melodious voice creates a vibrant atmosphere, and she engages the children by singing familiar songs with them,” he told Arab News. “This way, the long three to four-hour waiting period becomes a bit easier for the children.”

Imran hopes she can carry on singing for as long as life allows her. 

“Never lose heart. Insha’Allah, everything will be fine,” she told the children as she started to tap the keys of her keyboard. 

“Children must stay brave and strong, and keep reminding themselves, ‘No, I have to get better’.”


Pakistan expects 2.7% economic growth in FY25 amid weak farm and industrial outlook

Updated 09 June 2025
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Pakistan expects 2.7% economic growth in FY25 amid weak farm and industrial outlook

  • Current account swings to $1.9 billion surplus after record remittance inflows and stronger exports
  • Some analysts expect industrial and services sectors to post decent growth due to lower interest rates

KARACHI: Pakistan’s economy is expected to grow 2.7 percent in the outgoing fiscal year, missing the government’s 3.7 percent target due to what analysts called weaker-than-expected performance in the agriculture and industrial sectors, as Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled the annual Economic Survey on Monday.

The survey, released ahead of the national budget on June 10, serves as a pre-budget document assessing the economy’s trajectory over the past year.

It outlines key indicators and policy challenges facing the country, which remains under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program and is navigating a fragile recovery after a prolonged financial crisis.

“This has been a gradual recovery,” Aurangzeb told a televised news briefing in Islamabad, adding that the country’s economic performance must be viewed in the larger global context.

The finance minister said after contracting by 0.2 percent in FY23, Pakistan’s economy grew 2.5 percent last year and is expected to expand slightly to 2.7 percent in the outgoing year.

“We plan to stay the course to ensure that we remain on the sustainable growth trajectory,” he added.

Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing IMF-backed structural reforms to transform the fundamentals of Pakistan’s economy.

“The DNA of Pakistan’s economy has to be fundamentally changed through tax and energy reforms that have started showing remarkable results,” he said.

The minister maintained staying in the IMF program would help Pakistan bring permanence to its hard-earned macroeconomic stability and reduce its economic vulnerability.

“Implementing a 37-month, US$7 billion IMF Extended Fund Facility (IMFEFF) has bolstered policy credibility and provided essential financial support to promote inclusive and reform-driven growth,” the Economic Survey also proclaimed.

Analysts said Pakistan targeted 3.7 percent economic growth for the outgoing fiscal year but was forced to revise it to 2.7 percent last month due to underperformance in the agriculture sector.

“The government did fall short of its 3.7 percent GDP growth target for FY25 and primarily it was due to a major setback in the agriculture sector,” said Sana Tawfik, head of research at Arif Habib Limited.

“The agriculture sector posted a growth of just 0.6 percent so the situation was especially concerning in major crops,” she added.

According to the survey, the agriculture sector is expected to grow by 0.56 percent, while the industrial and services sectors are likely to expand by 4.77 percent and 2.91 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, inflation has eased significantly, giving room for monetary easing.

Aurangzeb called the inflation trend a “fantastic story” for Pakistan, with the pace of price hikes slowing to a record low of 0.3 percent in April. Inflation is expected to settle at 4.3 percent in the outgoing financial year.

The State Bank of Pakistan also cut its benchmark interest rate by over 1,000 basis points to 11 percent in FY25, with more easing likely ahead.

“This is the domain of the State Bank and the monetary policy committee so I don’t want to comment on that,” Aurangzeb said. “But I do expect where our core inflation is, where headline inflation is, there is room to do more.”

On the fiscal side, the survey showed that the government managed to contain the deficit at 2.6 percent of GDP for July-March, compared with 3.7 percent during the same period a year ago.

Revenues rose sharply, with tax collections increasing by 26.3 percent to Rs9.3 trillion ($32.9 billion), while total revenues stood at Rs13.4 trillion ($47.5 billion). Primary surplus also improved to 3.0 percent from 1.5 percent.

Government expenditure during this period rose to Rs16.3 trillion ($58 billion), with current and development spending increasing by 18.3 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

On the external front, Pakistan recorded a sharp turnaround in its current account, moving from a $1.3 billion deficit to a $1.9 billion surplus, driven by improved exports and record remittance inflows.

“The industry also struggled. If you look at the manufacturing sub-sector so LSM [large scale manufacturing] remained in the negative territory,” said Tawfik, noting that weak domestic demand, high inflation and elevated interest rates had weighed on performance.

“In short both demand and supply side factors combined dragged down the overall growth across key sectors of the economy,” she continued.

Aurangzeb said the government was working to further reduce energy costs for local investors.

“On the energy side, as I said one-third of the tariffs, seven rupee is not a small amount and Mr. Leghari [power minister] is working on it day in and day out,” he said.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal last week said the government was targeting 4.2 percent growth in the next fiscal year starting July. Aurangzeb echoed this target, noting that growth would be driven by a rebound in agriculture and industry.

“This target would be achieved through growth in industries and agriculture that are expected to rebound on the back of government’s favorable financial, tax and energy policies,” he said.

Pakistan’s multilateral and bilateral partners, including the IMF, World Bank, China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, remain supportive of the country’s reform path.

“With respect to the Fund and multilateral partners I’ve already mentioned we are in a good place with them both in terms of the mission and the senior management of the Fund,” Aurangzeb said. “The monetary institutions and our bilateral partners are standing by us as we move forward.”

Shankar Talreja, an economist and director at Topline Research Ltd., expressed optimism about the outlook.

“There will be some natural rebound in important crops under the agriculture segment,” he said. “Similarly, due to lower interest rates, industrial and services sectors will also post decent growth.”