Author: Steven Sahiounie

Russia is satisfied with how its relations with Saudi Arabia have been developing, the Russian foreign minister said Moscow welcomes Riyadh’s growing interest in solving regional issues and problems on the global agenda, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. Opening talks with his Saudi counterpart Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud in Moscow, Lavrov said, “We welcome the recently increased interest on the part of Saudi Arabia in playing an active role in solving not only regional issues, but also those problems that stand high on the global agenda.” Russia is satisfied with how its relations with Saudi Arabia…

Only a well-trained intelligence service could have carried out the Nord Stream sabotage, Putin’s spokesman says Western media reports claiming that a “pro-Ukrainian group” was behind the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines last year are not plausible and must not distract from an investigation into the actual perpetrators of the sabotage, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. “As for a pro-Ukrainian ‘Dr. Evil’ who organized this, it’s hardly believable. The task was too difficult and was only within the scope of abilities of a well-trained, state-run intelligence service, and there aren’t too many of those in the world,” Peskov told…

Sudan has been under sanctions by the UN Security Council, including an arms embargo, since 2005. While the conflict in the Darfur region, which served as the reason for the sanctions, is being resolved as envisaged by the 2020 Juba agreement, the restrictions in 2023 have remained in place without being reviewed. During the United Nations Security Council vote on the issue of extending sanctions against Sudan, First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy said the Russian Federation is in favor of Council’s sanctions being justified and amended until they are lifted. It is unacceptable to…

Ministry of Transport announced the resumption of air transport through Aleppo International Airport as of tomorrow morning, Friday. “The staff of the General Organization for Civil Aviation, in cooperation with national companies, repaired the damage caused by the Israeli aggression that targeted the Airport last Tuesday,” The ministry said in a statement. The statement called on the air carriers operating through the airport to return their flights as of this date. Source: SANA

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian visited earthquake-stricken areas in Syria, stating that Iran will remain a friend of the Syrian people and government during these difficult times. He also expressed his wishes for the survivors and prayed for the deceased. Amirabdollahian commended the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and other Iranian organizations for providing relief from the first day and pledged to continue efforts to aid the earthquake victims. The Iranian top diplomat and his delegation inspected damaged sites in the coastal city of Jableh, south of Latakia and visited affected families residing in shelters. He…

 Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, criticized Western officials for using the International Women’s Day as a tool for political exploitation. In a post on Twitter, the spokesperson argued that instead of reflecting on the appalling record of Western culture in its interaction with women and family rights, the day has become a tool for unjustly claiming the position of women’s rights advocates while accusing and blaming other countries and nations, despite their cultural and civilizational diversity. In another post, the spokesperson also highlighted the dark record of several arrogant European countries and the United States in violating fundamental human and women’s…

Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeed Iravani highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and warned against withholding humanitarian aid to the country for political purposes. “The situation (in Afghanistan) remains dire, with an estimated 28 million people projected to require humanitarian and protection assistance in 2023,” the envoy said before a United Nations Security Council briefing on the situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday. “However, we must be cautious of the politicization or exploitation of humanitarian aid for political purposes,” Iravani asserted, noting, “Such practices would harm the Afghan people who depend on this aid…

In an interview with an Italian newspaper, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offers Italy gas and requests it recognizes Al-Quds as the capital of “Israel”. La Repubblica, an Italian newspaper, published an interview on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of his trip to Rome, where he underscored significant interest in offering economic support to Italy by supplying it with natural gas. “I would like to see more economic cooperation,” the PM said, citing Italy and “Israel.” “I believe a closer relationship with your companies will be positive for both sides,” Netanyahu argued before adding, “we have natural gas:…

FTX’s investment arm, Alameda Research, has struck a $45 million cash deal to sell its interest in Sequoia Capital to the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, according to court documents filed Wednesday. The deal, subject to approval by Delaware bankruptcy judge John Dorsey, is part of the bankrupt company’s attempts to sell its investments in early stage crypto and tech ventures in a bid to repay creditors. FTX “decided to enter into the Agreement with Purchaser based on its superior offer and ability to execute the Sale Transaction within a short time frame,” after receiving indications of interest from four parties…

“We’ve also stepped up surveillance and vigilance,” the South Korean military said in a statement North Korea has launched one short-range ballistic missile toward the Yellow Sea, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. Accroding to the agency’s information, the missile was launched at about 6:20 p.m. local time (12:20 a.m. Moscow time) from the Nampo area. “We are maintaining full readiness in close cooperation with the US. We’ve also stepped up surveillance and vigilance,” the South Korean military said in a statement. The North Korean General Staff said on Tuesday that artillery firing took place on South…