Author: Steven Sahiounie

UN agencies warned Monday that Libya’s flood-stricken city of Derna, where thousands were killed a week ago, faces the threat of disease outbreaks that could bring “a second devastating crisis.”The massive flash flood that has killed over 3,000 people and left thousands more missing came as the war-scarred North African country was lashed by the hurricane-strength Storm Daniel on September 10.Traumatized residents, 30,000 of whom are now homeless, badly need clean water, food and basic supplies amid a growing risk of cholera, diarrhea, dehydration and malnutrition, UN agencies warn.“Teams from nine UN agencies have been on the ground delivering aid…

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan took part in the joint Gulf-American ministerial meeting in New York on Monday, Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Faisal was joined at the meeting by ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as the GCC Secretary General and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly. Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz, ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the US, was also in attendance at the meeting. https://x.com/KSAmofaEN/status/1703803984224330190?s=20 The meeting discussed ways to enhance and develop cooperation between the Gulf states and the US in addition…

The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the exchange of prisoners with the US will take place today. Speaking to reporters at a press conference on Monday, Nasser Kanaani said the implementation of an agreement on the release of Iran’s frozen assets and the exchange of prisoners with the US has been going on step by step at a good pace. Expressing hope that the unfrozen assets would be transferred to Iran’s bank account in one of the friend countries today, the spokesman said the exchange of prisoners will take place afterwards and five Iranian citizens…

Budapest does not need an ally that accuses it of democratic failings, the parliamentary speaker has said A leading Hungarian MP has questioned whether his country should ratify NATO membership for Sweden, after Stockholm accused the Eastern European nation of a crackdown on democracy. In an interview with the HiR TV broadcaster on Friday, Hungarian parliamentary speaker Laszlo Kover rebuked Stockholm over a film released by the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company (UR) in 2019, which criticized what it described as the poor state of democracy in Hungary. “It is not certain that we have to vote on this [membership ratification…

Israeli occupation forces Monday shot and injured a Palestinian young man with live bullets before they detained him near the town of Azzun, east of the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya. Eyewitnesses told WAFA that the occupation forces fired bullets at a number of youths while they were near the western entrance to the town, on Qalqilya Street – Nablus, injuring a youth. The same sources added that the occupation soldiers detained the injured youth, but his identity and the nature of his injury remain unknown. Source: WAFA

According to Wang Yi, relations between the two countries are characterized by “eternal friendship,” “comprehensive strategic coordination” and “mutually beneficial cooperation” Beijing and Moscow are pursuing an independent foreign policy and their cooperation is not aimed against other countries, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the beginning of talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday. “China and Russia are conducting an independent foreign policy. Our cooperation is not aimed against anyone and it is not impacted by other countries,” he said. According to the Chinese diplomat, relations between the two countries are characterized by “eternal friendship,”…

Also, the Turkish leader pointed to the “window of possibilities to invigorate relations between Turkey and the European Union” Turkey will pay priority attention to diplomacy to reach peace in Ukraine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday. “Turkey is making efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian war and establish fair peace and will pay priority attention to diplomacy in order to reach lasting peace in all conflict zones and increase the number of Turkey’s friends,” he said. He pointed to the “window of possibilities to invigorate relations between Turkey and the European Union.” However, in his words, of paramount…

The president of Iran called on the United Nations to avoid discrimination and injustice in making its decisions and not to fall under the influence of big world powers. Speaking to reporters before leaving Tehran for New York for participation in the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, President Ebrahim Raisi described interaction with the other countries as well as the regional, extra-regional and international organizations as one of the key policies of Iran. “As a member of the United Nations, Iran has always expected this organization to play a decisive role in development, security, peace and justice in…

Annalena Baerbock’s words were an “open provocation,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry has said Beijing has “made serious inquiries” to Berlin over comments made by the country’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday, after the top diplomat referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator” last week. China is “extremely dissatisfied” with these remarks, the foreign ministry’s spokesperson, Mao Ning, told a regular news briefing. Mao believes the “absurd” comments “violate China’s political dignity” and are tantamount to an “open political provocation.” The German Foreign Minister made her remarks in an interview with Fox News released last Thursday. When asked about her take on the ongoing…

Even fewer believe that the president has the mental capacity to serve, a CBS News survey has found Just over a third of registered US voters think that President Joe Biden would complete a second term in office if reelected next year, according to a CBS News poll published on Sunday. The poll is the latest in a series of surveys showing low public confidence in Biden’s mental and physical health. According to the poll, 34% believe that Biden would see a second term to its conclusion, while 44% think he would step down before 2029. Some 22% said that…