Author: Steven Sahiounie

US President Joe Biden has been told to stop supplying offensive weaponry to Israel by senior members of his own party. Seven Democratic senators — including Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley, Tina Smith and Ben Ray Lujan — alongside independent Sen. Bernie Sanders have written to Biden telling him his government’s current policy contradicts the US Foreign Assistance Act. The terms of the act prevent the supply of weapons to foreign states that restrict humanitarian aid from reaching civilians. For months, the UN and other aid organizations have said Israel has not provided safe passage for convoys, or has actively…

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has announced his candidacy to replace Jens Stoltenberg as NATO’s secretary general. Iohannis entered the race despite the bloc’s leading members already backing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the role. “I have decided to enter the competition for the position of secretary general of NATO,” Iohannis said in a video statement on Tuesday. “This decision is based on Romania’s performance, the experience accumulated during my two mandates as president of Romania, [and] my deep understanding of the challenges faced by NATO, Europe, and especially our region,” he stated. Iohannis’ interest in the position was revealed last month by…

Russia hails China’s initiative calling on nuclear powers to sign a treaty on the non-use of nuclear weapons first, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said. “We are studying this proposal. It is obvious for us that in a situation when the collective West has embarked on a path of non-stop escalation of the international situation and is disregarding the risks stemming from a direct armed confrontation between nuclear powers such ideas present some common sense,” he said. According to Ryabkov, Russia wants to clarify the West’s position on this matter to know whether it is ready “to consider such…

RIYADH: Jordan-based fintech Numa will collaborate with Visa to fuel its expansion plans into Saudi Arabia, signifying the Kingdom’s financial sector embracing international expertise. Visa will be incorporating an investment to fuel Numa’s transition into the Saudi and UAE markets. This alliance is set to broaden Numa’s service offerings to its clientele across various markets, enhancing the financial landscape for independent professionals in the region. Established in 2021 by Loay Malahmeh and Issam Najm, Numa aims to bridge the financial services gap for freelancers and solo entrepreneurs, providing specialized digital banking solutions like virtual International Bank Account Numbers and prepaid…

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have announced their successful recapture of the national radio and television headquarters in Omdurman from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) on Tuesday announced that it regained control over national radio and television headquarters in the city of Omdurman from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. “Your armed forces and other regular forces and sons of this country that are working alongside with the army have today succeeded in forcing the headquarters of the national cooperation for television and radio (a history and love of the Sudanese people) from…

RIYADH: Saudi Public Investment Fund subsidiary Jada Fund of Funds has entered venture debt, investing in Partners for Growth, which has SR3.75 billion ($1 billion) in assets under management.

President Mahmoud Abbas and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi discussed today the latest developments in the Gaza Strip. During a telephone call, the two leaders tackled efforts to end the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and emphasized the importance of increasing humanitarian, relief and medical aid to the Strip and accelerating its entry. They categorically rejected the displacement of any Palestinian, whether in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, affirming that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian state. The two Presidents stressed that the Israeli occupation’s plans to separate the Gaza Strip from…

Russia says Israel is deliberately obstructing investigations into crimes it has committed in the besieged Gaza Strip. In a speech delivered at the United Nations Security Council on Monday, Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Maria Zabolotskaya said Moscow would “welcome any efforts aimed at shedding light on the crimes committed during the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” Israel began the campaign of death and destruction in Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. Since then, the regime has killed…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he hopes that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will pay a visit to his country after municipal elections in Turkey scheduled for March 31. “We continue our dialogue with both of our Black Sea neighbors. Last Friday (on March 8 – TASS), we received Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Istanbul. And after the elections [in Turkey] we will receive Russian President Vladimir Putin,” he said at a Ramadan iftar dinner, addressing foreign ambassadors. Erdogan also said that peace plans for the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict that do not take into account Russia’s…

The spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry maintains an optimistic outlook although a deal on a ceasefire in Gaza seems far-fetched. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, expressed optimism despite the absence of a finalized captive and ceasefire agreement, stating that Doha remains hopeful. “We are not close to achieving a Gaza ceasefire deal, the situation is very complicated on the ground,” he added. During a press conference in Doha, he said, “We are not seeing both sides converging on language that can resolve the current disagreement over the implementation of a deal.” All sides were “continuing to work in the negotiations to…