Author: Steven Sahiounie

TOKYO: Oil prices rose in early trade on Monday as investors keep a lookout for signs of a rate-cut cycle expected to begin as soon as September, according to Reuters.

Belgium will always stand up for the respect of international law, Minister of Foreign Hadja Lahbib affirmed, commenting on the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that “Israel’s” decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory was “illegal” and needed to end as soon as possible. “The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory does not comply with international law and that settlement activity must cease,” she posted on her account on X. The ICJ said on Friday that it “has found… that Israel’s continued presence in the Palestinian Territories is illegal.” ICJ presiding judge Nawaf Salam indicated that…

RIYADH: Saudi giga-project NEOM and hospitality firm Equinox Hotels have announced plans to open a resort on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba as part of the recently unveiled Magna development.

Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Hussein Al-Sheikh discussed with the Russian Foreign Minister’s special envoy to the Middle East, Vladimir Safronkov, the latest developments on efforts to stop the devastating aggression and the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. During the meeting, which was attended by the official presidential spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, and the Russian representative to Palestine, Ambassador Gocha Boachidze, the two sides discussed the Israeli escalation in the West Bank, the latest of which was the Knesset’s recent decision to reject the establishment of a Palestinian state, which heralds more…

RIYADH: Industrial and logistics asset demand in Dubai and Abu Dhabi surged 185 percent year-on-year to 18 million sq. feet in the first half of 2024, a new report showed. 

RIYADH: Middle Eastern sovereign investors are following their global counterparts by prioritizing India and other emerging markets amid concerns over geopolitical tensions, an analysis said. 

The European Union’s High Representative Josep Borrell said today that the foreign ministers of the EU countries are set to discuss during their meeting in Brussels following the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on the ‘unlawful’ Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. Borrell said ICJ’s advisory opinion must be terminated immediately. He said in a statement before the start of the meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Belgian capital, Brussels, that “the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which clearly expresses the supported position of the EU that the occupation of the Palestinian territories and the West Bank is completely illegal…

Russian President has congratulated his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, on the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and reassured him of Russia’s support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. “I would like to reiterate that Russia will continue supporting the Syrian government in its efforts to defend the country’s state sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, ensure national security and political stability. We are convinced that the further development of the entire spectrum of Russian-Syrian ties is in the interests of our peoples and will help consolidate peace and stability in the region and the entire word,”…

Independent experts have warned that the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab, her family, and two paramedics could constitute a war crime. The experts condemned Israeli claims that its troops were not present in the area at the time as “unacceptable”. They also called for an immediate halt to the attacks on Gaza’s civilian population, which have resulted in the killing of over 38,000 Palestinians, including 13,000 children, cautioning that the widespread nature of these attacks might amount to a crime against humanity. “The absence of proper investigation and accountability, more than five months after the tragic killing of Hind and six other members…

President Mahmoud Abbas today received at the presidential headquarters in the city of Ramallah, Russian Special Envoy for the Middle East Vladimir Safronkov, in the presence of the Russian Ambassador to Palestine, Goche Buachidze. The Russian guest conveyed the greetings of Russian President Vladimir Putin to President Abbas, stressing the firm positions of the Russian Federation towards the Palestinian issue and supporting the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and independence. President Abbas conveyed his greetings and appreciation to President Putin, for Russia’s firm positions towards the Palestinian people, stressing the historical relations that bind the two friendly countries. The President briefed…