Author: Steven Sahiounie

Global health has become “geopolitical,” France’s president said Thursday, stressing the importance of cooperation in this area. “Global health has become geopolitical and health cooperation is a proof of mutual trust,” Emmanuel Macron told the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation in Paris. Macron noted that France’s contributions to international solidarity had increased 50% in seven years, “with a sharp focus on health.” Expressing pride in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which helped vaccinate a billion children, Macron criticized those who consider aiding countries in need as “unnecessary,” and emphasized that this partnership is important for Africa. He also hailed…

Former Czech Ambassador to Syria, Eva Filippi, said that Western sanctions imposed on Syria, which affected all the country’s sectors, cause suffering for the Syrian people and they must be lifted. In an interview with Czech Rádio Universum, Filippi underscored the necessity to boost diplomatic and economic relations with Syria and work to provide it with aid for the purpose of reconstruction and improving the situation there. Filippi stressed that improving the situation in Syria is a European and regional interest, noting that Europe contributed, along with the US, in destroying the country. Source: SANA

Iran’s Interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has praised growing political and economic relations between Iran and Qatar as he underlines the Islamic Republic’s strategic policy of consolidating ties with neighboring countries. Bagheri Kani made the remark in a meeting with Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in the capital Doha late on Wednesday. Bagheri Kani said the visit of a high-ranking Qatari delegation to Tehran to pay tribute to late president Ebrahim Raeisi and to offer condolences to the Iranian government and nations was a sign of sympathy and indicative of deep bonds between the two countries. Describing…

US Senator Elizabeth Warren will not attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s presentation before Congress on July 24 due to the “humanitarian catastrophe he created,” referring to the war in Gaza. Warren slammed Netanyahu’s dismissal of US policy regarding a two-state solution while responding to reporters, saying, “He has also made clear that he does not support US policy for a two-state solution that will let the people of Israel and Palestinians develop their own nation self-determination, live with dignity.” She further stressed the need for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal, the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and constructive negotiations to…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived at the Presidential Palace in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. Vietnamese leader To Lam welcomed Putin who is on a state visit to the Southeast Asian country. Hanoi greeted the Russian president with sweltering heat. By midday, the temperatures rose to 35 degrees. Even the cloudy weather did not help the situation. However, the heads of state wore formal dark suits. Putin was accompanied by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, and a number of other senior Russian officials. Source: TASS

The Palestinian nation’s struggle against the Zionist regime needs to go beyond armed resistance and encompass legal, political and diplomatic resistance outside the occupied territories, Caretaker Foreign Minister of Iran Ali Baqeri said. The Iranian diplomat held talks with Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas’ political bureau, in Doha on Wednesday. Lauding the Palestinian nation’s “heroic resistance” against the Israeli regime, Baqeri expounded on Iran’s recent diplomatic endeavors in support of Gaza. It is necessary to employ all capacities to force the Zionists to pay a price for the acts of aggression and crimes against Gaza,…

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) now estimates 65,000 people remain in Rafah, the UN secretary-general’s deputy spokesperson has said. “The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, says that people continue to be displaced amid active fighting and bombardment,” Farhan Haq told reporters. “Currently … UNRWA estimates that 65,000 people remain in Rafah. This is in stark contrast to six weeks ago we when Rafah hosted 1.4 million displaced people before the Israeli evacuation orders and military operation.” Source: alJazeera

The program “Good Morning Egypt,” presented by journalist Mohamed Abdo on Channel One and the Egyptian Satellite Channel, aired a report on the ongoing delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Mamdouh Jameel, Channel One’s correspondent from Arish, reported that the situation remains largely unchanged on the Israeli side concerning the entry of aid. There is a continued scarcity of aid trucks entering Gaza through Karam abo Salem crossing for the third consecutive day, due to ongoing Israeli restrictive measures. Jameel noted that on the first day of Eid al-Adha, Karam abo Salem crossing received only 100 trucks, with…

Europe must host children impacted by the war in Gaza for as long as it continues, Greece’s Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis told Reuters on Wednesday. Reportedly, Gerapetritis was actively searching for partnerships for a project that would temporarily transport Gazan children to countries within the European Union. The idea was proposed and discussed with Palestinian Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa throughout the week. He stressed that the “tragedy” must be faced sooner rather than later, saying “Europe should be open to injured people from [Gaza] but also to children who are now facing famine or other sorts of dangers.” Gerapetritis also highlighted the “tremendous” psychological trauma kids…

Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, Igor Sergeyenko, praised the historical Palestinian-Belarusian relations, stressing that his country stands by the Palestinian cause in all international forums. Sergeyenko’s statements came during his meeting today with the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Belarus, Ahmad Al-Mazbouh, at the Parliament headquarters in the center of the capital, Minsk. Sergeyenko expressed his appreciation for the active role of the Embassy of the State of Palestine and its effective contribution to the development of Belarusian-Palestinian relations, stressing the importance of the detailed reports that the embassy continuously sends about the latest…