Author: Steven Sahiounie

Iran and Saudi Arabia posted ambassadors to their respective diplomatic missions on Tuesday in a sign of warming relations that follow seven years of bitter rivalry. Iranian Ambassador Alireza Enayati and Saudi Ambassador Abdullah bin Saudi Al-Enzi arrived, respectively, in Riyadh and Tehran, elevating ties between their countries to the ambassadorial level, the state news agencies of the two countries reported. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said over the weekend that Ambassador Enayati was hosted by Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian before his departure for Riyadh for talks about his vision of future ties between the two countries. The regional powers reached a China-brokered agreement in March…

Ukrainian Foreign Minister also said that Ukraine expects to receive details of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin from the Turkish side Ukrainian authorities do not plan to change their position on the grain deal, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said. Speaking on TV, he also said that Ukraine expects to receive details of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin from the Turkish side. He underscored that Kiev will defend “all principal positions, including in regards to the sanctions pressure on Russia.” Speaking at the joint press conference with Vladimir…

“The right to veto is not merely a working method, it is the cornerstone of the entire architecture of the Security Council and a guarantee of balanced decisions within the council,” Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya stressed Western countries use a tacit veto in the UN Security Council by means of their allies’ votes so there is no need to expand the organization by adding more Western nations, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said on Tuesday. “The right to veto is not merely a working method, it is the cornerstone of the…

Speaking at a joint press conference with Putin in Sochi, the Turkish President said that Ankara, in cooperation with the UN, has prepared a new set of initiatives to restore the Black Sea grain initiative Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi was productive and was praised in the entire world. “We had a comprehensive and a very productive meeting with Putin in Sochi. I believe that this meeting was highly praised by the world, when we discussed that grain corridor and many humanitarian issues,” the Turkish leader said after…

The 3rd ministerial meeting on the Arab-Japanese Political dialogue was held on Tuesday in Cairo with the participation of Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad. Mikdad, in a speech at the meeting, said the forum is a precious opportunity to promote the Arab-Japanese cooperation, adding “we appreciate Japan stance that kept its diplomatic presence in Syria and met its moral and human commitments to help the Syrian people face attempts of starving adopted by well – known countries.” “In Syria, terrorism with all its forms, poses a main danger, and this requires support to combat it and end any foreign…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Turkey and France are not far apart on a map of the Mediterranean Sea; however, they are miles apart on political views and culture, even though both are NATO members, and Turkey’s army represents the largest, and strongest of all NATO members. Turkey has been at odds with France over policies in Syria, Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as over the publication of cartoons of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad in France. Paris has led a push for EU sanctions on Turkey. France has backed the Radical Islamic terrorists supported by the US,…

RIYADH: In an effort to bolster cooperation and promote mutual development, the Saudi Tadawul Group and the Shanghai Stock Exchange have signed a memorandum of understanding. The agreement includes a focus on dual listings of exchange-traded funds, initiatives related to investor relations and infrastructure development, as well as fintech, environmental and social practices There’s also support for family businesses and small-medium enterprises, corporate governance, and data exchange and research, according to a press release. The agreement was signed by Khalid Abdullah Al-Hussan, CEO of STG, and Cai Jianchun, president of the SSE, during a visit by a high-level delegation from…

RIYADH: The UAE will give $4.5 billion to Africa’s clean energy initiatives, COP28 President-designate Sultan Al-Jaber said on Tuesday as he urged the continent to set out long-term transition plans. Speaking at the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, the high-ranking UAE politician revealed the money would come from the country’s public and private sector, with Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Etihad Credit Insurance, Masdar, and AMEA Power notable contributors. The funds will be distributed in collaboration with Africa50, an investment platform established by African governments and the Africa Development Bank. In his keynote address announcing the money, Al-Jaber called on the continent’s…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector continued its growth momentum as the Kingdom’s Purchasing Managers’ Index hit 56.6 in August, a business tracker revealed. According to the latest Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia PMI report, compiled by S&P Global, the month of August witnessed an improvement in operating conditions across the Kingdom’s non-oil private sector. Saudi Arabia’s index, however, dipped slightly in August, as the Kingdom secured a PMI of 57.7 in July. Any PMI readings above the 50 mark show non-oil private sector growth, while those below 50 signal contraction. “The Kingdom’s non-oil activities have managed…

Russia was the top exporter in 2022–2023 with 46 million tonnes and may be responsible for a quarter of the world’s wheat trade this year, according to US Department of Agriculture. Only a dozen countries supply the global market with the essential commodity needed to create bread, the most important foodstuffs in the world, and Russia dominates the grain export market. The major wheat-producing and importing countries are represented by the International Grain Council (IGC), which anticipates a 2.4% decline in world wheat production to 784 million tonnes in the 2023–2024 growing season. There are only a dozen nations that…