Author: Steven Sahiounie

Javan, who was Iran’s national representative to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is replacing Amir Hossein Zamaninia. He is a member of the scientific board of the Institute for International Energy Studies (IIES), SHANA reported. Afshin Javan was born in 1966 in Tehran and holds a PhD in Oil and Gas Economics from Allameh Tabataba’i University. From 2015 to 2020, he served as the chairman of the OPEC Scientific Committee in Vienna. Besides, he has held posts in the National Iranian Gas Export Company, the International Affairs Department of the National Iranian Oil Company, the International Affairs Department of the…

One man drowned and dramatic bolts of lightning struck Makkah as the city was lashed by thunderstorms overnight on Tuesday and early on Wednesday. Mohammed Al-Twaim, a teacher at Mina Elementary School, lost his life trying to escape from his car after it was engulfed by floodwater. As pilgrims tried to circumambulate the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, lightning hit the landmark Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower hotel, illuminating the night sky. The storm brought gale force winds exceeding 80 kph and 45 millimetres of rain within 24 hours, said National Center for Meteorology spokesman Hussein Al-Qahtani. Pilgrims outside the…

Boeing Co. discovered that its largest supplier improperly drilled holes in a component that helps maintain cabin pressure of the 737 Max jet, threatening to derail delivery targets for its best-selling model. The latest issue for Boeing’s cash-cow jet isn’t a safety threat, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday. But it’s another complication for Boeing as it speeds the manufacturing pace of the 737 family while dealing with supply-chain strains and the aftermath of a strike at Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., the supplier that builds about 70 percent of the narrowbody jet frames. “During factory inspections, we identified fastener holes…

During the meeting, plans to strengthen and develop relations in various fields to achieve common goals were discussed Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan met with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on Thursday on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.During the meeting, plans to strengthen and develop relations in various fields to achieve common goals were discussed. The two sides tackled ways to intensify bilateral and multilateral coordination on regional and international issues of common concern, and support efforts aimed at enhancing international peace and security.The bloc announced this week in Johannesburg its plan to invite…

US occupation took out a new column of tanks loaded with hundreds of tons of stolen Syrian oil from al-Jazeera fields towards Iraqi territory. Local sources from al-Yarubiyah countryside told SANA reporter that a convoy of 60 tanks of US occupation, loaded with crude oil, exited through the illegal al-Walid crossing towards its bases in Iraqi territory. The US occupation forces stole dozens of tanks loaded with Syrian oil from al-Jazeera fields in the areas it occupies during the current month in partnership with QSD militia , along with dozens of tankers loaded with barley and bran in the context…

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President & CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: “The diversity of our members’ export and re-export markets reflects their flexibility in responding to rapidly evolving global market conditions and is supported by our efforts to provide international investment opportunities.”Lootah highlighted the vital role of Dubai International Chamber’s representative offices and the introduction of various commercial investment opportunities, which have been instrumental in increasing the value of members’ exports and re-exports by 7 percent during the six-month period to reach a total of Dh 137.6 billion.He added: “Dubai Chambers remains committed to achieving the goals of the Dubai…

After visiting today the town of Burqa and Ras al-Tin community near Ramallah, European diplomats condemned settler violence and the Israeli demolition of nearby Ein Samiya school. Representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Canada and Norway visited the Palestinian community of Burqa and the site of the recently displaced community of Ras al-Tin amid accelerating rates of settler violence and following the demolition by Israeli authorities of donor-funded humanitarian structures, including a school in the nearby community of Ein Samiya. In Burqa, diplomats learned how the community has endured harassment and intimidation from settlers.…

The Milliyet newspaper reported earlier today, citing sources, that Turkey, Russia, and the UN may hold a meeting in Istanbul to discuss the grain deal. Sputnik reported on Thursday, citing sources close to the matter, that there are still no specific dates set for the purported talks between Turkey, Russia, and the UN on the Black Sea Grain Deal in Istanbul, though Ankara expects them to take place in the near future. “No, there are no specific dates yet. But we hope that a series of high-level contacts that are planned between the parties [Turkish and Russian] will lead to the…

The Israeli occupation authorities today forced Ayman Dabash, a Palestinian resident of occupied Jerusalem, to demolish his own home in the neighborhood of Sur Baher, located in the southeastern region of the occupied capital. The occupation authorities cited unauthorized construction as a pretext for the demolition. Local sources said Dabash had no choice but to embark on the demolition on his own to avoid the hefty financial penalty imposed by the occupation forces. This preemptive action was taken to evade the financial burden that would have been imposed if Israeli military machinery had carried out the demolition. The incident sheds…

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his India counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in a telephone conversation late on Wednesday discussed bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest. The two sides exchanged views on a host of issues regarding mutual ties and regional and international developments. In addition, the Iranian and Indian foreign ministers talked about the BRICS+ Summit that is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and issues on the agenda of the Summit. The status of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s membership in BRICS and the priorities raised at the meeting of leaders of this group of emerging economies for the acceptance of new…