Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Between Tuesday and Wednesday, 32 people were killed and about 4,000 injured by exploding handheld devices, including pagers, walkie-talkie radios, mobile phones, laptops, and even solar power cells across Lebanon, with two children among the dead. Many of the injured lost fingers, hands, and eyes, with some 300 in critical condition according to the Health Ministry’s press briefing on Thursday morning. Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah, gave a televised address on Thursday evening. Nasrallah explained how Israel had sent direct and indirect messages on Tuesday threatening the Lebanese resistance that more attacks would…

Kristiana Barsone Arzdiakono, the Hungarian woman linked to the “exploding pagers” incidents in Lebanon, is currently under the protection of Hungarian intelligence agencies, according to her mother, as reported by the Associated Press. Her mother explained that Kristiana received unspecified threats and now stays in a secure location. Hungarian intelligence protects her and advised her to avoid media contact. Hungarian national security authorities have yet to comment, and the Associated Press has not independently verified these claims. Reuters reports that Kristiana, 49, holds Italian and Hungarian citizenships. She speaks seven languages and earned a PhD in particle physics. Her Budapest…

Hezbollah announced on Saturday that it had launched a barrage of Katyusha rockets at an Israeli battalion stationed with the Golani Brigade. In a statement, Hezbollah declared, “In support of the resilient Palestinian people in Gaza, and backing their honorable resistance, as well as in response to the enemy’s attacks on southern Lebanese villages and civilian homes, our fighters have targeted the 631st reconnaissance battalion of the Golani Brigade in the Ramot Naftali barracks with a volley of Katyusha rockets.” Israeli Army Radio reported that 25 rocket volleys were launched from Lebanon, hitting multiple locations, but there were no reports…

The spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Health, Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, announced on Saturday that initial tests conducted on water stations and homes in Aswan have shown no signs of bacterial contamination or microbiological changes in the water supply. Rise in Hospital Visits Due to Gastrointestinal Symptoms Abdel Ghaffar noted a recent increase in the number of patients visiting hospitals in Aswan, reporting symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. In response, the Prime Minister directed all relevant state agencies to investigate the source of these symptoms and provide support to affected individuals. Decline in Hospitalized Cases The health spokesperson highlighted…

Lebanese Health Minister, Firas Al-Abiad, announced on Saturday that the death toll from the Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut has risen to 31. Breakdown of Casualties During a press conference, Al-Abiad revealed that among the 31 casualties were 3 children, 7 women, and 3 Syrians. Additionally, 68 people were injured in the attack. He emphasized that the strike caused an entire building to collapse, most of the victims being civilians. Rescue Efforts Rescue and civil defense teams worked through the night to recover the bodies and help the wounded. The total death toll from the recent attacks…

The Pentagon doesn’t have enough weapons in stock to keep up with Kiev’s demands, a report saysWeapons stockpile shortages will likely force Washington to delay shipments of promised military aid to Ukraine, CNN reported on Friday, citing two US officials familiar with the matter. The report comes as Kiev has been asking its foreign backers to speed up the delivery of arms and to lift the restrictions on the use of long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory. According to the Pentagon, the US has $5.9 billion left in the special congressionally approved mechanism (PDA) aimed at fast-tracking aid…

CERN will end its cooperation agreement with Moscow on December 1, the journal Nature has reported Hundreds of Russian researchers working at the CERN particle physics laboratory in Switzerland will have to leave the Alpine country later this year, the journal Nature reported on Wednesday. The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) plans to end its cooperation agreement with Russia on December 1, banning all scientists affiliated with the nation from its premises, the journal said. The scientists will also be stripped of any French or Swiss residency permits they currently hold, according to the report. CERN announced its plans to…

According to The Wall Street Journal, US President Joe Biden is unlikely to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas before the upcoming election, despite months of negotiation efforts. American officials revealed that the chance of reaching a deal soon appears slim, contradicting previous optimism from the administration. US Mediation Efforts The US, alongside mediators from Qatar and Egypt, has been pushing for an agreement that would see Hamas release Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. This would also involve Israel halting its military operations in Gaza. Despite these efforts, both sides have blamed…

The UK’s national debt stands at 100% of the country’s annual economic output and is at its highest level since the 1960s, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed on Friday. Government borrowing surged to £13.7 billion ($18.2 billion) in August, equaling to the annual value of total economic production, according to the ONS. “Borrowing was up by over £3 billion last month on 2023’s figure, and was the third highest August borrowing on record,” ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said. The data reflects the alarming state of public finances left by the Conservatives, according to Treasury Chief Secretary Darren Jones.…

Germany’s GDP could stagnate or even decline in the third quarter, Bundesbank has warned The German economy has been shrinking over the past two years and will remain stagnant for the rest of the year as it continues to grapple with economic malaise, Bloomberg reported on Friday. According to a survey conducted by the outlet, the EU’s top economy has been stalling in the three months through September, marking a deeper-than-expected decline. Economists have already started downgrading their forecasts for this year, with some now seeing protracted stagnation or even another downturn. “While we expect the market to see a…