Riyadh governor receives Cuban ambassador in Riyadh
Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Monday, the Saudi ambassador wrote in a post on X.
The parties held friendly talks and discussed issues of common interest.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Argaam
2 hours ago
- Argaam
Encroachments on over 39M sqm govt land in Riyadh removed
Field campaigns carried out by competent committees removed encroachments on government-owned land spanning 39.867 million square meters (sqm) in Riyadh. According to the state-owned SPA, Riyadh city came on top in the second quarter of 2025, with 657 cases of encroachment removed, on a total area of 9.8 million sqm. Meanwhile, Wadi Al-Dawasir Governorate ranked first in terms of land area, with a single encroachment removed over 24 million sqm. In Murat Governorate, 5.6 million square meters of encroached land were cleared, in addition to other locations including the governorates of Dawadmi, Afif, Huraymila, Al-Quwaiiyah, Ar-Rayn, Ad-Dilam, and Al-Muzahmiyah.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan deputy PM says hopeful of finalizing US trade deal ‘in days'
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said on Friday that his country was hopeful of finalizing a trade deal with the United States 'in days.' Pakistan and the United States (US) have been engaged in talks after Washington announced a 29 percent 'reciprocal tariff' on Pakistani exports in April. Islamabad said the move, paused in June for a 90-day period, may undercut its fragile, export-led recovery. The US is Pakistan's top export destination, with shipments totaling $5.44 billion in fiscal year 2023-2024, according to official data. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports rose 10 percent from a year earlier. Speaking at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, the Pakistani deputy premier said both sides have recently held discussions relating to textiles, digital trade and agriculture. 'Pakistan seeks better market access in the US. On our part, we are working toward granting greater market access to the US products in the large Pakistani markets,' he said. 'We hope to conclude a mutually beneficial trade agreement at the earliest, hopefully in days not in weeks.' Under US President Donald Trump, Washington has attempted to renegotiate trade agreements with many countries that he threatened with tariffs over what he calls unfair trade relations. Many economists dispute Trump's characterization. Dar also met Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday. 'Met with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister @MIshaqDar50 today to discuss expanding bilateral trade and enhancing collaboration in the critical minerals sector,' Rubio said on X. 'I also thanked him for Pakistan's partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability.' The Pakistani foreign ministry also said Dar 'appreciated the pivotal role' by Trump and Rubio 'in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India by facilitating a ceasefire.' The State Department statement did not mention India. Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire he announced on social media on May 10 after Washington held talks with both sides. India disputes Trump's claims that the ceasefire resulted from his intervention and trade threats. An April 22 militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 men and sparked heavy fighting between the nuclear-armed Asian neighbors in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry. India struck Pakistan on May 7 and the two nations exchanged hostilities, killing dozens across three days. The ceasefire was declared on May 10. New Delhi blamed the April attack on Pakistan, which denied responsibility and called for a neutral investigation. Washington condemned the attack but did not blame Islamabad.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran Envoy: Jareesh is Part of Our Culture, I Prefer It to Mandi
With a warm smile and a calm tone, Dr. Alireza Enayati, Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, reflects on nearly two years in Riyadh, describing a personal journey shaped by culture, cuisine, and diplomacy. 'I've visited different regions and tasted traditional Saudi dishes,' Enayati told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview. 'Jareesh –a dish made from cracked wheat and cooked with meat, spices, and vegetables– has become my favorite—I choose it over mandi and other dishes on any occasion.' According to the Iranian envoy, the two countries share more than just geography. 'There are many common dishes between Saudi Arabia and Iran,' he said. But food is only one layer of the ambassador's experience. Enayati, who has spent over two decades immersed in Middle East diplomacy, sees deep historical ties binding the region's peoples together. 'I recently read Al-Hadaqi, a novel about Al-Jahiz—Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr—and his life between Baghdad, Basra, and Iran. It left me with a strong sense that the relationships among peoples in this region go far back in history,' he said. 'Reading it felt like tracing our steps backward to better understand the present.' 'These are not new connections,' he added. 'We're not creating the relationship—we're nurturing what has always existed. The cultural and civilizational dialogue has never ceased.' His comments come against the backdrop of a thaw in relations between Tehran and Riyadh, after both sides agreed in March 2023—under Chinese mediation—to restore diplomatic ties following a seven-year rift. The ambassador pointed to culinary overlaps as another reflection of cultural convergence. 'Stews, for example, are common in both countries,' he said. 'Jareesh is part of Iranian culture too, as are lamb and camel meat. And as everyone knows, kebab originated in Iran, but it's also very popular here in the Kingdom.' Enayati has built his career around the region. 'I've spent more than 20 years working on regional affairs and never served outside this part of the world,' he said with a smile. 'I'm not sure if that's a strength or a limitation, but my focus has always been here.' Appointed to Riyadh as part of a diplomatic breakthrough, Enayati said he is proud to represent Iran in Saudi Arabia. 'It's a great honor. I dedicate my efforts to enhancing bilateral ties and supporting regional peace and stability.' Looking ahead, Enayati hopes to help build stronger cultural bridges—not only between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but across the broader region. 'Arabic and Persian cultures both occupy a distinguished place,' he said. 'We must deepen mutual understanding between them.' He concluded with a nod to Tehran's long-term vision for cooperation with Riyadh. 'Iran and Saudi Arabia are both pillars of regional stability,' he said. 'This region belongs to its people, and we view our relationship with the Kingdom through that lens.'
