Author: Steven Sahiounie

US President Joe Biden has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. “Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms,” Jean-Pierre said. The spokeswoman added that Biden will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The president’s personal doctor informed that the US leader is experiencing runny nose, non-productive cough and general malaise. “He felt okay for his…

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a call on Wednesday from French President Emmanuel Macron, the Saudi Press Agency said. During the call they discussed the situation in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war, in addition to efforts aimed at achieving security and stability. The pair also reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as the latest regional and international developments. Source: Arab News

Hamas has condemned the “storming” of the courtyards at Al-Aqsa Mosque by the far-right Israeli national security minister this morning. The group said the move by Itamar Ben-Gvir is a “dangerous escalation” and called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League to take “serious action to stop these systemic violations” of the holy site. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) said the Israeli minister “violated the sanctity” of the mosque. Like Hamas, it said it believes this is an effort towards extending Jewish control over the area. It condemned what it called “Islamic and Arab silence” over Israeli crimes, along with countries…

Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa met today with visiting US Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen and discussed with him the efforts to achieve a ceasefire that would halt the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. During the meeting, Mustafa briefed the US senator on the government’s preparations to launch several initiatives aimed at improving service quality and governance, including energy security, healthcare, education, finance, digital transformation, economic growth, and development. The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of the role of UNRWA and the necessity to preserve it, ensuring the continuity of its services to Palestinian refugees amidst the…

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Saudi Press Agency said early Thursday. The pair discussed ways of enhancing bilateral relations in all fields. The call also reviewed issues of mutual interest. Source: Arab News

Extremist Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed on Thursday morning the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the occupation police. Local sources said that Ben-Gvir stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque from al-Maghrabi Gate, and wandered around the eastern square, accompanied by a large number of occupation police officers. The sources indicated that the occupation prevented worshipers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, coinciding with Ben-Gvir’s raid of the holy mosque. It is noteworthy that this is Ben-Gvir third raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque in less than a year. Source: WAFA

Iran’s acting foreign minister has called for immediate decisive action by the United Nations Security Council to bring Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza to a halt. Ali Baqeri Kani made the remarks as he was addressing the Security Council in New York on Wednesday. The Iranian minister highlighted the crimes of Israel in Gaza over the past nine months, which have resulted in the massacre of innocent people, mostly women and children. “Over the past 285 days, the Israeli-occupying regime has been committing extensive international crimes in Gaza. This regime, through a campaign of brutality and terror, continues to massacre innocent…

Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, says Israel’s war crimes in Gaza have been committed “openly, brazenly, and repeatedly” with soldiers sharing videos on social media. “What is happening in Gaza is going down as the most documented genocide in history,” Mansour told a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East. “When will the world denounce the crimes and stop tolerating their reoccurrence? He asked the council why international laws and norms continue to be violated by Israel, but nothing is ever done to stop it. “What is a rule that’s not enforced? What do these rules…

Nakashima Yoichi, Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine, visited Awarta and Burin villages in the Nablus governorate to celebrate the completion of projects funded by the Government of Japan through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). The Government of Japan extended a grant of $89,212 to Awarta Village Council to improve the educational environment for the students in Awarta Basic Mixed School by adding three new classrooms. Seventy-six students will directly benefit from the project. Also, the Government of Japan extended a grant of $92,500 to Burin Village Council to improve the medical…

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call on Tuesday with Hamas’ political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the latest in cease-fire negotiations, according to diplomatic sources. During the conversation, Fidan addressed the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and concerning developments resulting from increasing hunger and diseases in northern Gaza. Additionally, Fidan and Haniyeh discussed the latest developments in cease-fire negotiations with Israel. Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gazasince an Oct. 7, 2023 attack…