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Saudi Crown Prince, Canadian PM Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meet in Jeddah on Thursday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meet in Jeddah on Thursday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, Canadian PM Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meet in Jeddah on Thursday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meet in Jeddah on Thursday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held official talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Jeddah on Thursday.

Discussions focused on regional and international developments and efforts exerted towards them.

They also tackled bilateral ties between their countries and opportunities to develop them in various fields.

Carney’s office had previously said talks will address bilateral relations with focus on energy, critical minerals, investment, infrastructure, advanced technologies and defense cooperation.

The visit reflects the strength of relations between Saudi Arabia and Canada and the keenness of their leaderships on bolstering political coordination and expanding economic cooperation and investments amid the regional and international changes.

The visit underscores Saudi Arabia’s political and economic standing and its pioneering role on the international stage. It reflects Ottawa’s desire to bolster consultations with Riyadh on issues of common interest and elevate bilateral ties.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, receives Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. (SPA)

Crown Prince Mohammed and Carney also witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoUs): 

First: An MoU between the Saudi Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources Canada, signed by Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand. 

Second: An MoU between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Canada on establishing the Saudi-Canadian Coordination Council as a platform to implement a joint action document serving as a roadmap for the next phase of bilateral relations, signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Anand. 

Third: An MoU between the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, on artificial intelligence investment and skills development, signed by Saudi Data and AI Authority President Dr. Abdullah Alghamdi and Anand. 

The meeting of talks was attended by Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, and Saudi Ambassador to Canada Amal Almoallimi. 

The meeting was also attended by Canadian Minister of Finance and National Revenue François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, Minister of National Defense David McGuinty, Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jean-Philippe Linteau, Member of Parliament Sameer Zuberi, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Marc-André Blanchard, Foreign and Defense Policy Advisor at the Privy Council Office Jennifer May, Chief Executive Officer of the Defense Investment Agency Doug Guzman, and Prime Minister's Senior Advisor on Foreign, Defense, and Security Policy Scott Gilmore. 

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Gulf

Oil Spill off Oman Reportedly Reaches Mainland, Says UN Agency

A satellite image shows an oil spill off the coast of Oman, August 11, 2026. (European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-3/Handout via Reuters)
A satellite image shows an oil spill off the coast of Oman, August 11, 2026. (European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-3/Handout via Reuters)
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Oil Spill off Oman Reportedly Reaches Mainland, Says UN Agency

A satellite image shows an oil spill off the coast of Oman, August 11, 2026. (European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-3/Handout via Reuters)
A satellite image shows an oil spill off the coast of Oman, August 11, 2026. (European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-3/Handout via Reuters)

An oil spill from a tanker that ran aground off Oman's coast has reportedly begun reaching the mainland, as monsoon winds obstructs containment efforts, the United Nations' maritime agency said Wednesday.

An AFP investigation had earlier found that the ship had been stranded for weeks near Oman's al-Qibliyyah island after it was rocked by explosions.

"The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is closely monitoring the oil leakage from the crude oil tanker CAROLINE BEZENGI, which grounded off the coast of Oman on 30 June 2026 and is currently around 22 nautical miles offshore of Sharbithat, Oman," a spokesperson for the agency said.

"Oil is drifting offshore to the northeast of Al-Qibliyyah Island with some oil reported to be reaching the mainland," the spokesperson said, adding that "the seasonal monsoon has limited access to the vessel and delayed salvage operations".

The Oman News Agency (ONA) meanwhile quoted authorities as saying that "today's monitoring results showed that some beaches in the Ras Madrakah area were affected by oil pollution", on the sultanate's southeastern coast.

Oman on Monday said it was working to contain the spill, which had affected roughly 390 square kilometers (150 square miles), according to the most recent analysis from the country's environment agency.

The slick was concentrated around Oman's Hallaniyat archipelago off the country's southern coast, where a marine reserve was established last year to protect sensitive ecosystems home to diverse marine life, including rare sea turtles.

Omani authorities have not yet identified the cause of the spill. But British maritime security company Vanguard told AFP last week that the tanker was rocked by explosions in early June as it sailed off the coast of Yemen, causing water to enter several sections of the vessel.

Advocacy groups Greenpeace and PAX told AFP that the spill was on the verge of causing an "environmental disaster", saying the tanker was carrying around one million barrels of crude.

The ship is believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet", which Moscow uses to circumvent Western sanctions on its oil exports.

The fleet includes ageing vessels that have faced criticism over maintenance, insurance and safety standards.

Tankers have been frequently targeted in the Gulf region over recent months as the US exchanged fire with Iran and its allied proxies.

Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister Discusses Regional Developments with Egyptian Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Discusses Regional Developments with Egyptian Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Badr Abdelatty, SPA reported.

During the call, they discussed the latest developments in the region and efforts to enhance its security and stability.

Gulf

Kuwait Foils Terrorist Plot Targeting Vital Facility

Kuwait City (KUNA)
Kuwait City (KUNA)
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Kuwait Foils Terrorist Plot Targeting Vital Facility

Kuwait City (KUNA)
Kuwait City (KUNA)

Kuwait's Ministry of Interior announced Wednesday that it had foiled a terrorist plot targeting a vital facility in the country and arrested a Kuwaiti national affiliated with the terrorist organization ISIS before he could carry out the plot, following security monitoring and surveillance operations.

The ministry said in a statement that security investigations revealed that the suspect had received training in the manufacture of explosives and drones and had built a drone for use in carrying out his terrorist plot and targeting a vital facility in the country, SPA reported.

It said security authorities had taken the necessary legal measures against the suspect and referred him to the competent authorities to complete the investigation and take the measures prescribed by law.

The Ministry of Interior affirmed that its security agencies would continue to carry out proactive operations to monitor and counter any activities or plots that could threaten the country's security and stability. It stressed that it "will not tolerate anyone who seeks to undermine national security or the safety of citizens and residents."

The ministry stressed that security agencies would deal firmly with any suspicious activities within the framework of the law, reaffirming their continued efforts to thwart security threats before they develop into acts targeting the country's security and vital facilities.