Author: Steven Sahiounie

Lebanon’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amal Mudallali, has filed a complaint with the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council’s President regarding the Israeli occupation granting Halliburton an offshore drilling contract in the contested zone, known as the Karish field. Lebanon demanded the Security Council to ascertain that no work takes place in the contested zone, in order to avoid any violation of Lebanon’s rights and sovereignty. It also demanded that future drilling be prevented in that zone, so as to preserve international peace and security. Lebanese Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, announced on Saturday that the Israeli entity making drilling…

The Israeli occupation forces announced at dawn, Sunday, the re-arrest of the last two prisoners who broke out of the Gilboa occupation prison, Ayham Kamamji and Munadel Nafi’at. A spokesperson for the Israeli occupation forces said that “in a joint operation between the army, the Yamam forces, and the Shabak, the last two prisoners who escaped from Gilboa prison were arrested in the Jenin area and brought in for questioning.” Israeli media reported that two people who helped the two prisoners were also taken into custody and brought in for questioning. Al Mayadeen correspondent confirmed that “the youth of Jenin confronted…

China has launched a wide range of measures to combat white pollution. According to a document by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China will cut down on disposable plastic products and enhance recycling. China produces over 60 million tonnes of plastic a year, placing it among the world’s top plastic polluters, while only recycling around 30% of its plastic. Over the next five years, China plans to enhance plastic recycling and incineration capabilities and to promote “green” plastic alternatives. The initiative aims to find solutions to the use of plastic in agriculture and packaging. “The essence of plastic…

Madagascar’s vast southern tip cries in hunger as droughts transform the fields into dust bowls. There is nothing to eat, nothing to plant, and the people are aflicted with famine. A desolate countryside with nothing to reap, leaves more than a million Malagasy weighed down, struggling to move because they are famished. “I feel sick and worried. Every day I wonder what we’re going to eat,” expressed a 60-year-old mother of 6. Turning to harmful food alternatives Locals were seen boiling pots of cactus in front of their homes. However, the concoction has so little nutritional value but is known…

A Harris Poll study which was conducted between 10 to 12th September showed that 33% of US citizens are now cutting off relationships with their unvaccinated family members, friends, and acquaintances. The poll published in Forbes indicates that a new phenomenon is being sighted among US citizens – an issue that will certainly have an impact on everyday life. This not only will affect social relationships among family and friends, but it will certainly affect job status, workplace, and even how a person will spend the upcoming holidays, in particular, Christmas and New Year. 1,920 US adults were questioned about how the vaccination would…

The US Food and Drug Administration’s scientific advisory committee unanimously recommended against approving a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for people aged 16 and up. After a day-long public debate on whether booster shots are necessary and, if so, for whom, the committee voted 16 to 2. Biden’s administration had hoped that the FDA would approve a third shot of the Pfizer vaccine in time, for booster shots to be distributed to Pfizer recipients next week. A committee member and official at the National Institutes of Health Dr. Michael G. Kurilla said, “It’s unclear that everyone needs to be boosted,…

Working from home during the pandemic has forced Australians to spend more time online – this caused cyber crimes to shoot up. Governmental bodies reported that cyber crime rates have increased 13% over the past year, with over 25% of all cyber crime incidents targeting infrastructure and services. Every 8 minutes over a year to June 30, 2021, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) would report one cyber crime. According to the Assistant Minister of Defense, Andrew Hastie, hackers have diverted their focus to target citizens working remotely online and used fear inspired by the pandemic to aim for vulnerable…

After mosquitoes began to disrupt tourism in Hyères, France, more than 300 mosquito-catching machines were installed. The Qista machines imitate human breathing in order to attract mosquitos and trap them in a net, according to BBC. The devices reduce the prevalence of mosquitoes by about 80%, according to the company. “Qista’s eco-friendly, easy-to-use solution using smart technology has revolutionized mosquito control by creating mosquito traps which pose no danger to people or our ecosystems,” adds the company’s website.

US cigarette manufacturing company Philip Morris International took over Vectura, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures breathing inhalers. The takeover was deemed incredibly controversial and was faced with heavy opposition from medical groups. PMI invested some $1.4 billion in July as part of its push into the healthcare market. It said Thursday that since that payment, it obtained the necessary support from investors and gained regulatory approvals. This acquisition came as part of the Marlboro-maker’s expansion plans, under which they plan to move into the healthcare business, rather than only adhering to nicotine and tobacco. The group’s CEO, Jacek Olczak, said…

According to a report by Reuters, despite US stringent sanctions, Iranian fuel and petrochemical exports continued to boom in recent years. This will be “leaving Iran well placed to expand sales swiftly in Asia and Europe if Washington lifts its curbs,” trading sources and officials said. In 2018, the United States imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic’s main energy sectors: oil and gas industries. The aim of these sanctions was to “choke off the Islamic Republic’s main source of revenues in a dispute with Tehran over its nuclear work”, the report added. Since it is more difficult to trace fuel and petrochemicals,…