Amidst the active diplomatic efforts underway in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, received today (Sunday) the United States Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack. This meeting is part of a series of ongoing consultations between the Kingdom and the United States aimed at strengthening regional stability.

During the meeting, the latest developments in Syria were discussed, along with international and UN efforts related to the situation. Both sides addressed ways to advance the political process in a manner that guarantees Syria's security, stability, and territorial integrity, and contributes to its safe return to its Arab and international environment, thus fulfilling the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people.

The importance of Saudi-American coordination on the Syrian issue

This meeting is of particular importance given the pivotal role Saudi Arabia plays in the region and its consistent commitment to finding sustainable political solutions to the crises in the Middle East. Observers note that Saudi-American coordination on the Syrian issue is a cornerstone for supporting humanitarian efforts and combating terrorism, as well as for advancing the political process in accordance with relevant international resolutions.

In a related development, and with regard to strengthening relations with Latin American countries, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his counterpart, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Guatemala, Carlos Ramiro Martinez. The meeting addressed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways to support and develop them in various fields.

Strengthening international partnerships

The Saudi and Guatemalan sides discussed opportunities for joint cooperation and reviewed regional and international developments of mutual interest. These talks come at a time when the Kingdom, under its Vision 2030, seeks to diversify its international partnerships and open new avenues for economic and political cooperation with various countries around the world, including those in Central and Latin America.

These successive meetings in Riyadh reflect the Kingdom’s status as a center of political and diplomatic gravity, and its ability to manage complex issues and build bridges of communication with various international powers to serve its national interests and promote international peace and security.

In a significant security and diplomatic move, the State of Kuwait officially announced the inclusion of eight Lebanese hospitals on its national list of entities designated as terrorist organizations. This decision, issued today (Sunday) by the Committee for the Implementation of Security Council Resolutions of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is based on Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter concerning combating terrorism and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

List of hospitals covered by the decision

Kuwaiti state media clarified that the decision encompassed medical institutions located in various geographical areas of Lebanon, specifically in the south, the Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut. The list included the following names:

• Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital: Located in the city of Nabatieh.
• Salah Ghandour Hospital: Located in the city of Bint Jbeil.
• Al Amal Hospital: Located in Baalbek.
• St. George Hospital: Located in the event area.
• Dar Al Hikma Hospital: Located in Baalbek.
• Al-Batoul Hospital: Located in Hermel in the Bekaa region.
• Al-Shifa Hospital: It is located in the Khaldah area.
• Al-Rasoul Al-A'zam Hospital: Located on Airport Road in the capital, Beirut.

Legal action: Immediate freezing of assets

Under Articles 21, 22, and 23 of the Committee's Implementing Regulations, this listing entails strict and immediate financial measures. Article 21 stipulates that every person must freeze the funds and economic resources owned or controlled by these entities, whether directly or indirectly, "without delay and without prior notice.".

Article 23 also prohibits any person within Kuwait, or any Kuwaiti citizen abroad, from providing any financial services or economic resources to these hospitals, whether directly or through intermediaries. The prohibition encompasses all financial transactions except for the addition of accrued interest on frozen accounts, effectively isolating these institutions financially from the Kuwaiti banking and financial system.

Context of the decision and its international dimensions

This decision comes within the framework of the State of Kuwait's strict commitment to international standards for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The committee implementing Security Council resolutions operates under the auspices of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the application of international and national sanctions against entities suspected of involvement in or support for terrorist acts.

The reliance on Chapter VII reflects the seriousness of the situation, as this chapter obligates UN member states to implement resolutions related to maintaining international peace and security. Observers note that targeting this specific group of hospitals is linked to efforts to cut off funding sources for entities designated as terrorist organizations, since oversight of service and financial institutions is a key component of global counter-terrorism financing strategies.

This decision is expected to have direct effects on the financial dealings of these hospitals with donors or financial institutions that have ties to the Kuwaiti and Gulf banking system, increasing international financial scrutiny of the health sector in the regions where these institutions are located.

In a dramatic development reflecting the depth of the crisis facing one of the world's most prestigious newspapers, The Washington Post announced the departure of its publisher and CEO, Will Lewis. This sudden move comes just days after the newspaper implemented one of the most severe restructurings in its history, laying off nearly a third of its workforce and sparking widespread outrage within media and union circles.

Details of the administrative change and temporary replacement

The newspaper confirmed in its statement that Jeff D'Onofrio, currently the chief financial officer of the company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, will assume the roles of publisher and acting CEO. This appointment comes at a critical time as the newspaper attempts to regain its financial and administrative stability following a period of turmoil.

In a farewell letter to staff published by Matt Feiser, the newspaper's White House bureau chief, Lewis defended his tough decisions, stating that the steps taken during his tenure were necessary to ensure the newspaper's "sustainable future." He emphasized that the goal was to maintain the organization's ability to provide high-quality, nonpartisan journalism to millions of readers for years to come, despite the pain those decisions caused.

Background to the crisis: Financial losses and a decline in subscriptions

The appointment of Will Lewis, the former CEO of Dow Jones, in 2023 was nothing more than an attempt to rescue the newspaper, which was suffering severe financial losses. Lewis succeeded Fred Ryan at a time when the paper was facing existential challenges related to declining advertising revenue and the digital transformation. During his tenure, the paper experienced successive waves of cost-cutting and staff layoffs.

The newspaper’s crisis has worsened significantly recently, especially after the controversial decision to stop the tradition of endorsing candidates for the US presidency, which many considered a shift in the newspaper’s identity. This led to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of digital subscriptions in an angry reaction from readers, which increased the financial pressure on management.

Union reactions: “Destroying a great institution”

Lewis's departure was met with a cautious welcome mixed with sharp criticism from the unions representing Washington Post employees. The union described Lewis's tenure as an attempt "to destroy a great American newspaper," noting that his resignation was overdue but necessary. The union called on owner Jeff Bezos to intervene immediately to reverse the recent layoffs or find a new buyer willing to invest in the future of journalism, rather than shrinking it.

General context: The crisis of traditional media in the digital age

What is happening at The Washington Post cannot be separated from the broader context of the global media landscape. Major newspapers are facing unprecedented challenges due to the dominance of large technology platforms in the advertising market and the shift in reader habits towards fast-paced digital content. The Washington Post, renowned for its landmark coverage of the Watergate scandal and its exposé of the Pentagon Papers, exemplifies the struggle between preserving its journalistic legacy and the imperatives of economic survival in a volatile market environment.

Experts point out that these administrative shake-ups could have a long-term impact on the newspaper's ability to retain its outstanding journalistic staff, putting its reputation and credibility at risk at a time when the world needs strong and independent investigative journalism.