Category: News

Russian forces have intercepted a Ukrainian sea drone attack on the Novorossiysk naval base in south Russia, the country’s Ministry of Defense said on Friday.

Ukrainian forces used two drone boats to attack the Russian naval base, but there was no damage, sources of the ministry were quoted by the Russian Tass news agency as saying.

The sources said that the Russian forces had destroyed the Ukrainian boat.

It is the third drone attack by Ukrainian forces over the past couple of weeks, the sources added.

Russian authorities had accused Ukrainian forces of having targeted Russian ships in the Red Sea.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Thailand hosted more than 15 million tourists between January and July this year, increasing by 384 percent as compared to the figure recorded in the same period of last year, the deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said in a statement on Friday.

Revenues secured from the incomers, including Thai and foreign visitors, during the period were estimated at USD 32 billion, she said, indicating that the government strategic target was to draw a total of 25 million tourists this year.

Bulk of the tourists came from Malaysia, South Korea, India and Russia

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The State of Kuwait has affirmed that the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) constitutes “corner stone” of the world security and disarmament as well as nonproliferation of mass destructions arms.

The renewed declaration was made by Ambassador Talal Al-Fassam, the head of the State of Kuwait delegation participating in the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), scheduled from July 31 to August 11 2023, at the Vienna International Centre in the Austrian capital.

Ideal avenue to rid human race of nuclear arms’ scourge is through ensuring their non-proliferation and total disposal as soon as possible, in line with the sixth term of the treaty, Ambassador Al-Fassam said in his address to the session.

Al-Fassam said the State of Kuwait dedicates utter concern for all issues related to disarmament, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and ensuring peaceful usage of nuclear energy; these issues constitute three fundamentals of the NPT.

He renewed Kuwait’s principled and unwavering stand towards these subjects, its absolute adherence to the relevant international treaties and conventions as well as its advocacy of the necessity to boost and maintain these accords.

The State of Kuwait, he continued, has affirmed necessity of attaining the global status of the the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), facilitating its implementation as soon as possible and that is through its endorsement by the states that have not done so particularly those that possess nuclear arms.

The State of Kuwait, through his statement, affirmed its adherence to the establishment of a Middle East free of nuclear arms and weapons of mass destruction, in line with of Resolution of 1995 convention for revising the NPT and outcomes of the identical conferences held in 2000 and 2010.

The 1995 resolutions, upon which the treaty has been indefinitely extended, has to remain effective until attaining its objectives, Ambassador Al-Fassam said, adding responsibility of executing the resolutions hinges on all states parties of the NPT particularly those that has nuclear arsenals, Also in this respect, he affirmed necessity that Israel join the NPT and subject all its nuclear installations to the IAEA examination.

Ambassador Al-Fassam expressed regret that the latest two conferences for reviewing the treaty lacked consensus on the final outcome, re-affirming that Arab States continued to push for clearing the Middle East of the nuclear arms and the weapons of mass destruction according to the UN General Assembly Resolution 73/546.

The State of Kuwait has applauded the holding of the first session of the conference for establishment of the nuclear-free region in November 2019 under Jordan’s chairmanship, the second and third sessions in 2021 and 2022.

Al-Fassam affirmed states’ right to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

He also emphasized “we are in bad need for affirming credibility of the treaty and maintaining its effectiveness,” hoping that the sessions would be capped with consensus and resolutions affirming the non-proliferation option for sake of the globe’s peace

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The UAE’s ADNOC oil company announced Friday possessing 30 percent of Azerbaijan’s Absheron gas field, with the aim of enhancing its presence and development in the global gas markets.

In a news statement, the company said the move also aims to boost strategic partnership between the UAE and Azerbaijan.

The deal is subject to the customary regulatory approvals, it said.

When the deal is done, the company will possess 30 stake of the field, while the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, known as SOCAR, and TotalEnergies both have 35 percent shares in the field.

The transaction seeks to contribute to boosting and expanding strategic partnership in energy field between the two countries, as natural gas will play a key role of transitional fuel in the period of transmitting to low-carbon energy, it noted.

Meanwhile, Musabbeh Al-Kaabi, executive director of low carbon solutions and international growth at ADNOC, said the company continues its contributions to meeting the world’s energy needs through developing and producing natural gas from some international sources like Absheron

Source: Kuwait News Agency

More than 150 UK personnel have joined troops from 13 other nations for Exercise Talisman Sabre, which took place across Australia and in adjacent waters, to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. Ministry of Defence statement said Friday.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said security and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific is essential.

Exercise Talisman Sabre demonstrates the UK’s commitment to the region and the strength of our ties with friends and allies.

Talisman Sabre, which began on 22 July and ends today, is the largest military exercise between Australian, UK and US Armed Forces and is designed to strengthen partnerships and interoperability among key allies.

It tests joint capabilities across land, sea, air, space and digital domains.

More than 34,000 troops took part in this 10th iteration of Talisman Sabre, which involved forces from Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga, the UK and United States.

This year marks the UK’s largest contribution to Talisman Sabre, with capabilities from across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force (RAF).

As part of Talisman Sabre, the UK Royal Marines Commando Force embarked on HMAS Adelaide, Australia’s largest warship, and conducted ship to shore landings, a capability that is essential for high-readiness crisis response

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Her Excellency Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations, has concluded a working visit to the Russian capital, Moscow.

Her Excellency held consultations with His Excellency Sergey Vershinin, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, at the House of Receptions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two sides discussed enhancing ties and also reviewed recent international developments, existing cooperation at the UN and on the UN Security Council, and regional files on the Council’s agenda, including the situations in Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Sudan, the Middle East Peace Process, and UN Security Council reform.

HE Ambassador Nusseibeh and HE Deputy Foreign Minister Vershinin also discussed advancing climate action around the world. The meeting was also attended by His Excellency Sergey Kononuchenko, Special Envoy of the Secretary of State for Climate Affairs.

During her visit, HE Ambassador Nusseibeh also met with Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives of the two countries discussed bilateral relations, international and regional issues, and developments in the region.

HE Ambassador Nusseibeh also met with His Excellency Zamir Kabulov, the Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan. The two sides discussed the situation in Afghanistan and stressed the need for coordination to effectively address the pressing regional and international concerns, including security, drug trafficking, the humanitarian crisis, and the situation for women and girls.

HE Ambassador Nusseibeh was accompanied in her meetings by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, and Abdulrahman Al Neyadi, Acting Director of Policy Planning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation