Author: Steven Sahiounie

RIYADH: Riyadh and Beijing have inked a dozen cooperation agreements worth over $1.33 billion on the sidelines of the Saudi-Chinese Business Forum, bolstering collaboration in key sectors such as infrastructure, financing and housing. The developments at the event, being held in Beijing, signifies the deepening ties between the two countries, paving the way for enhanced growth and shared progress, Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail said in a tweet. These partnerships are set to foster advancements in key areas, including five focused on real estate developments, signaling a promising trajectory for the mutual growth of the Kingdom and…

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Fayssal Mikdad, received on Thursday a phone call from his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez, where the two sides discussed means of strengthening bilateral relations. Minister Mikdad affirmed Syria’s permanent and unconditional support for Cuba in the face of the unjust economic blockade imposed on the country by the USA. Minister Rodriguez called for strengthening the existing friendship ties between the two countries, and increasing bilateral coordination in international forums. The two ministers also discussed the preparations for Syria’s participation in the G-77 and China meeting, which Cuba will host in mid-September. Source: SANA

Syria and Tunisia discussed relations of joint cooperation between the two brotherly countries in various domains, particularly in the security domain. This came during a meeting held on Wednesday between Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Mohammad al-Rahmoun, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tunisia to Syria, Mohamed Al-Mahdhabi. During the meeting, Maj. Gen. al-Rahmoun expressed the Interior Ministry’s keenness on caring for the interests of the Tunisian community in Syria and provides facilitations to the Tunisian people residing in Syria. He described the relations linking the two fraternal countries as “deep-rooted”, referring to the importance of developing and enhancing those relations in various domains. The Tunisian…

An invitation for the group’s summit in New Delhi has not been extended to Kiev, the Indian foreign minister has said Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has reiterated New Delhi’s position on Ukraine’s potential participation at the G20 summit in September. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Jaishankar stated that Ukraine had not been extended an invitation to the high-profile gathering of leaders of the world’s major economies, which includes Russia, a permanent member of the G20. The foreign minister said that in addition to G20 member states, India had sent invitations to Spain, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mauritius, Egypt, the Netherlands, Oman,…

The United Nations reveals that the IOF demolished and seized Palestinian homes between July 25 and August 7 under the pretext of not having construction permits, which are almost impossible to obtain. A UN report revealed that 56 Palestinian-owned structures, including six homes, were either seized or demolished by the occupation in occupied Al-Quds and Area C of the West Bank in just two weeks. During this week, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that the demolitions and seizures took place between July 25 and August 7, under the pretext of not possessing construction permits, noting that they…

In total, since the beginning of the day, the Ukrainian forces have reportedly shelled the territory of the DPR 42 times, firing more than 120 shells The Ukrainian armed forces shelled Donetsk six times in one hour, firing 18 shells, including two with cluster warheads, the DPR mission to the Joint Control and Coordination Center on issues related to Ukraine’s war crimes (JCCC) reported. According to the mission, from 3:25 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. Moscow time, the Ukrainian forces fired 18 shells of 155 mm caliber at Donetsk’s Kiev, Kirov, Kuibyshev and Petrovsky districts. In total, since the beginning of…

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy says Europe should “clarify its strategy” and seek a settlement with Russia rather than pursuing its “strange idea” of funding a war. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy considered that “diplomacy, discussions and talks” are “the only ways” to end the Ukraine war, French media reported. In an interview for Le Figaro published on Wednesday, Sarkozy pointed out that Europe should “clarify its strategy” and seek a settlement with Russia rather than pursuing its “strange idea” of funding a war without conducting one. “Without compromise, nothing will be possible and we run the risk that the situation will degenerate at…

Turkiye is directing its efforts towards resuming the grain deal and not finding alternative routes to deliver grain, a Turkish newspaper reported on Thursday, citing sources in the countyr’s Defense Ministry. On Wednesday, Russian Ambassador to Turkiye Aleksei Erkhov said that Moscow was actively exploring alternatives to the Black Sea Grain Initiative in contacts with partners. “About 33 million tonnes of grain were shipped to the countries in need during the year under the grain deal, which has proven its success and benefits. Our efforts are aimed at resuming the grain deal and no other work is being done except this,” the source was…

Iranian Prime Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will head to Riyadh on an official visit this Thursday following an invitation from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday following an invitation from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. During this diplomatic encounter, the two sides are anticipated to engage in discussions encompassing matters of both regional and global significance, along with economic affairs. This comes just a few days after the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to visit Riyadh following an invitation from his Saudi…

Israeli repression units stormed today section 3 in the Israeli prison of Naqab, which is allocated for Palestinian political prisoners, and forcibly moved a number of Palestinian prisoners to another section, according to a joined statement by Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) and the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs. The statement added that this comes after a series of raids by the Israeli repression units, the latest of which was a few days ago in section 26. PPS and the Commission held the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) fully responsible for the prisoners in the Naqab prison. The Israeli occupation authorities are incarcerating more than…