Author: Steven Sahiounie

Pope Francis has issued a fresh appeal for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, denouncing the killing of aid workers in an Israeli air strike. The pontiff expressed profound sorrow for the volunteers who lost their lives while engaged in humanitarian efforts in Gaza, stating, “I pray for them and their families,” during his address. Pope Francis reiterated his plea for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all captives, and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, cautioning against the irresponsible escalation of hostilities. Meanwhile, the American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), among other humanitarian organizations, has opted to suspend operations…

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s allegations that Russia is planning another mobilization. Earlier, Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying that Russian authorities were allegedly “preparing the mobilization of 300,000 additional military personnel” by June 1. “This is not true,” Peskov told TASS. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that there is no need for a new wave of mobilization in Russia. In addition, Putin drew attention to the large number of volunteers, emphasizing that “the stream of our men who are ready to defend the interests of the Fatherland with weapons in hand…

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi says Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was a turning point in the history of the Palestinian cause. The region and the wider world, the Iranian president stated, will not be the same after the glorious operation. Raeisi made the remarks in an address to the virtual Al-Quds Pulpit ceremony, which was held simultaneously in Tehran, Damascus, Sana’a, Beirut, and Baghdad on Wednesday ahead of the International Al-Quds Day. Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was a reaction to years of Israeli devastation, oppression, and savagery amid the indifference and silence of human rights organizations, the president said. “Al-Aqsa Storm is a turning…

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the Israeli regime will receive a slap in the face for an attack on the premises of the Iranian embassy in Syria’s capital earlier this week. In an address to officials of the Iranian administration and other branches of government on Wednesday, the Leader said the attack would fail to save Israel from its defeat in Gaza where it has been engaged in nearly six months of aggression against the Palestinians. “The cowardly efforts by the Zionist regime like the one they carried out in Syria will not save them from…

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu has spoken by phone with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, the French Defense Ministry said in a statement. “During the conversation, Lecornu strongly condemned the terrorist attack that took place in the Moscow Region on March 22, and also expressed solidarity with the families of the victims,” the statement said. “Lecornu stated France’s readiness to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and called for expanding bilateral exchanges to maximize the effectiveness of countering this threat.” The statement said that France has no information that would establish a link between the terrorist attack and Ukraine. Lecornu…

Humanitarian assistance provided by Türkiye to Gaza since last October has reached 42,000 tons, the country said Wednesday. “Türkiye’s humanitarian aid to Gaza has reached 42,000 tons,” the Foreign Ministry said on X, adding that the country, as the second-largest contributor of aid to Gaza, accounts for nearly a quarter of the total aid. It stated that “an average of 127 tons of drinking water is delivered from Türkiye through Egypt to Gaza every week,” stressing that more than 400 Gazan patients and wounded individuals are also getting medical treatment in Türkiye. It added that Ankara “will continue to stand…

Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoko Kamikawa, announced on Wednesday the resumption of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), with $35 million to be released. Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said $35 million of the originally planned funding will be released for Gaza. “The humanitarian situation in the Palestinian Territory of Gaza continues to worsen. It is our country’s responsibility to respond to the crisis as a member of the UN Security Council,” she said. Kamikawa cited the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza as the reason for Japan’s decision, emphasizing Japan’s responsibility as…

Canada joined multiple allies including the United States, Poland and Australia in demanding a full investigation Tuesday after an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed food in the Gaza Strip. The workers, including a dual Canadian-American citizen, were in a convoy leaving a World Central Kitchen warehouse in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza on Monday night. They had just delivered 100 tons of food shipped in via boat from Cyprus. World Central Kitchen identified the dual Canadian-U.S. citizen as 33-year-old Jacob Flickinger. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it is “absolutely unacceptable” to attack aid workers.…

The aid workers were part of a US-based charity organization called World Central Kitchen and were sent on a mission to deliver food to civilians in the Strip. The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed outrage on Tuesday over the killing of seven foreign aid workers in Gaza, who died as a result of a targeted airstrike by Israeli forces. The aid workers were part of a US-based charity organization called World Central Kitchen and were sent on a mission to deliver food to civilians in the Strip. “How many more lives will be lost…

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Taiwan on Wednesday morning, damaging buildings and prompting a tsunami warning. The earthquake hit Hualien county at 7:58 am local time and was felt across the island, including its capital Taipei, officials said. At least seven people have been killed and hundreds are injured, Taiwan’s National Fire Agency said. Local media reported that some people may still be trapped in their homes. Wu Chien-fu, the head of the Central Weather Administration’s Seismological Center, said it was the strongest earthquake to hit Taiwan since 1999. Several tall buildings have partially collapsed. In…