King Salman, Russian Premier Hold Talks

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and President of Russia Hold Session of Official Talks (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and President of Russia Hold Session of Official Talks (SPA)
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King Salman, Russian Premier Hold Talks

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and President of Russia Hold Session of Official Talks (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and President of Russia Hold Session of Official Talks (SPA)

Moscow- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz held talks on Thursday with the Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev, said the Saudi state-owned news agency (SPA).

Immediately after the arrival of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the venue, he was received by the Russian premier and then, they took memorial pictures.

During the talks, the premier expressed happiness with the historic visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to Russia, stressing his country's keenness to promote and develop joint cooperation between the two countries and push them to a wider perspective, as the Kingdom has the potential to be an important partner of Russia, in various fields.

He praised the constructive discussions that took place between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Russian President on Thursday and its great role in promoting and developing cooperation between the two countries, across all fields.

"We would like to pay tribute to the fruitful discussions with President Vladimir Putin, in which it was agreed to strengthen cooperation between our two countries, in various fields," said King Salman in his speech.

"We have stressed the need to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for the Palestinian cause."

"We also stressed that the achievement of peace and stability in the Gulf region and the Middle East and the crises in Yemen, Syria and others requires Iran to stop its expansionist policies and abide by the principles of good neighborliness, respect for international norms and laws and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries."

"Saudi Arabia is living a historic and pivotal stage of comprehensive development and this phase has been translated into Vision 2030," King Salman added.

"We look forward to the participation of your friendly country in cooperating to implement the programs of this vision in the interest of our common interests."

"The efforts of our two countries in the field of oil have resulted in a reduction of production agreement, balancing the interests of consumers and producers and we confirm our concern for the stability of the global oil market."

"In conclusion, we appreciate the warm welcome and good reception of the Russian President, your country and the friendly Russian people and We wish you continued success and prosperity and the Russian people to be more prosperous."

Later on, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations, means of strengthening and developing them and prospects for cooperation between the two friendly countries.

The meeting was attended by the Saudi top level accompanying delegation and senior Russian officials.



Iran's Supreme Leader Urges Iranians to Show 'Resolve' against Foreign Pressure

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).
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Iran's Supreme Leader Urges Iranians to Show 'Resolve' against Foreign Pressure

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Monday called on his compatriots to show "resolve" ahead of the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution this week.

Since the revolution, "foreign powers have always sought to restore the previous situation", Ali Khamenei said, referring to the period when Iran was under the rule of shah Reza Pahlavi and dependent on the United States, AFP reported.

"National power is less about missiles and aircraft and more about the will and steadfastness of the people," the leader said, adding: "Show it again and frustrate the enemy."


UK PM's Communications Director Quits

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS
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UK PM's Communications Director Quits

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's director of communications Tim Allan resigned on Monday, a day after Starmer's top aide Morgan McSweeney quit over his role in backing Peter Mandelson over his known links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The loss of two senior aides ⁠in quick succession comes as Starmer tries to draw a line under the crisis in his government resulting from his appointment of Mandelson as ambassador to the ⁠US.

"I have decided to stand down to allow a new No10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success," Allan said in a statement on Monday.

Allan served as an adviser to Tony Blair from ⁠1992 to 1998 and went on to found and lead one of the country’s foremost public affairs consultancies in 2001. In September 2025, he was appointed executive director of communications at Downing Street.


Road Accident in Nigeria Kills at Least 30 People

FILE PHOTO: A police vehicle of Operation Fushin Kada (Anger of Crocodile) is parked on Yakowa Road, as schools across northern Nigeria reopen nearly two months after closing due to security concerns, following the mass abductions of school children, in Kaduna, Nigeria, January 12, 2026. REUTERS/Nuhu Gwamna/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A police vehicle of Operation Fushin Kada (Anger of Crocodile) is parked on Yakowa Road, as schools across northern Nigeria reopen nearly two months after closing due to security concerns, following the mass abductions of school children, in Kaduna, Nigeria, January 12, 2026. REUTERS/Nuhu Gwamna/File Photo
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Road Accident in Nigeria Kills at Least 30 People

FILE PHOTO: A police vehicle of Operation Fushin Kada (Anger of Crocodile) is parked on Yakowa Road, as schools across northern Nigeria reopen nearly two months after closing due to security concerns, following the mass abductions of school children, in Kaduna, Nigeria, January 12, 2026. REUTERS/Nuhu Gwamna/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A police vehicle of Operation Fushin Kada (Anger of Crocodile) is parked on Yakowa Road, as schools across northern Nigeria reopen nearly two months after closing due to security concerns, following the mass abductions of school children, in Kaduna, Nigeria, January 12, 2026. REUTERS/Nuhu Gwamna/File Photo

At least 30 people have been killed and an unspecified number of people injured in a road accident in northwest Nigeria, authorities said.

The accident occurred Sunday in Kwanar Barde in the Gezawa area of Kano state and was caused by “reckless driving” by the driver of a truck-trailer, Gov. Abba Yusuf said in a statement. He did not specify what other vehicles were involved.

Yusuf described the accident as “heartbreaking and a great loss” to the affected families and the state. He did not provide more details of the accident, said The Associated Press.

Africa’s most populous country recorded 5,421 deaths in 9,570 road accidents in 2024, according to data by the country’s Federal Road Safety Corps.

Experts say a combination of factors including a network of bad roads, lax enforcement of traffic laws and indiscipline by some drivers produce the grim statistics.

In December, boxing heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was in a deadly car crash that injured him and killed Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, two of his friends, in southwest Nigeria.

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, Joshua’s driver, was charged with dangerous and reckless driving and his trial is scheduled to begin later this month.

Africa has the highest road fatality rate in the world despite having only about 3% of the world’s vehicles, mainly due to weak enforcement of road laws, poor infrastructure and widespread use of unsafe transport.