Putin to discuss Middle East with Syrian president

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa shake hands during their first Kremlin meeting in October. (AFP/File)
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Updated 27 January 2026
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Putin to discuss Middle East with Syrian president

  • ‌Ahmad ‌Al-Sharaa will meet the Russian president on Wednesday and discuss relations and the Middle East

MOSCOW: Russian President ​Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Syrian President ‌Ahmad ‌Al-Sharaa ‌in Moscow ⁠on ​Wednesday, ‌the Kremlin announced.
"It is planned to discuss ⁠the state ‌and ‍prospects ‍of bilateral relations ‍in various areas, as well ​as the current situation in the ⁠Middle East," the Kremlin said.
The meeting comes as Moscow seeks to secure agreements to maintain its two military bases in Syria, and as Al-Sharaa pushes for the extradition from Russia of Bashar Al-Assad.

Al-Assad, who was supported by Russia during Syria's civil war, was driven from power more than a year ago by opposition fighters led by Al-Sharaa.
Russia withdrew troops and equipment on Tuesday from an airport in Kurdish-held northeast Syria where its forces were based, according to an AFP correspondent.

*With AFP and Reuters


World Governments Summit launches Tuesday, to focus on future challenges

Updated 4 sec ago
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World Governments Summit launches Tuesday, to focus on future challenges

  • WGS takes place at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah from Feb. 3-5

DUBAI: The World Governments Summit begins its 2026 edition in Madinat Jumeirah on Tuesday under the theme “Shaping Future Governments.”

The annual event held in Dubai explores global governance, and focuses on harnessing innovation and technology to solve problems facing humanity.

Speaking at a recent event, WGS Foundation Chairman Mohammad Al-Gergawi said the summit will attempt to foster partnerships between various sectors of society to overcome challenges.

“The success of the summit depends on the presence of governments, international organizations and the sector that shapes the future, the private sector,” he said.

This year, the areas of discussion will be global governance, societal wellbeing, economic prosperity and opportunities, urban futures and evolving demographics, and future realities.

Among the most notable speakers are Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Sabah, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

“The World Governments Summit gathers everyone because the challenges of the future cannot be tackled alone,” Al-Gergawi said.

The summit takes place at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah from Feb. 3 to 5.