Author: Steven Sahiounie

Those that have decided to maintain operations have done so due to favorable market conditions, according to Japan’s trade body  

The troubled aircraft has seen a new wave of groundings and safety checks in light of last month’s midair blowout

Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, China’s representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, has said that a ceasefire in Gaza is an “urgent imperative to save innocent lives and to prevent a wider war”. He criticised the US for exercising its veto on Wednesday on a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and called on Washington to show a “responsible attitude” and “respect the established consensus”. “An immediate ceasefire is the common wish voiced by the international community and the consensus of the council’s overwhelming majority,” he said. source: AlJazeera

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met on Thursday with his French counterpart Stephane Segournet on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Rio de Janeiro. They discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported. They also reviewed the latest regional and international developments, particularly Israel’s war on Gaza. The Kingdom’s Ambassador to Brazil Faisal Ghulam and Walid Al-Smail, assistant director general of the Saudi foreign minister’s office, were also present at the meeting. source: Arab News

The Palestinian Detainees Affairs Authority and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) confirmed today the death of a Palestinian detainee from Gaza in the Israeli prison of Ramla, with ongoing efforts to inform his family prior to officially declaring his name. According to available information, the detainee had a pre-existing mobility disability prior to his arrest. He was transferred to Ramla prison about a month ago, arriving in critical health due to torture by Israeli occupation forces. The torture caused severe wounds to the detainee’s body, as reported by one of the lawyers who recently visited Gaza detainees at Ramla prison.…

Trump lawyers argue that he “made this decision while he was still in office,” thus presidential immunity. A federal court in the US was asked by lawyers of the former President and current front-runner for the 2024 elections, Donald Trump, to dismiss the charges of the illegal concealment of classified documents. They argued that he is protected by presidential immunity. In a 20-page motion, lawyers for Trump argued that “President Trump made this decision while he was still in office. The alleged decision was an official act, and as such is subject to presidential immunity,” the motion states. Trump has already pleaded not…

Armenia has suspended its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Prime Minister of the Republic Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with France 24 TV channel. “The collective security agreement, in our opinion, was not implemented in relation to Armenia, especially in 2021-2022. This could not remain without our attention. We suspended our participation in this agreement. Let’s see what happens next,” he said. Answering a question about the possible closure of the Russian military base in Armenia, the prime minister said that “at the moment this was not the case.”. source: TASS

In response to Netanyahu’s so-called day-after plan for Gaza, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas, said today that “Gaza will only be part of the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.” He added, “Any plans to the contrary are destined to fail. Israel will not succeed in attempts to alter the geographic and demographic reality in the Gaza Strip.” “If the world wants security and stability in the region, it must end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and recognize the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” Abu Rudeineh stressed. The Presidential spokesman continued, “Netanyahu’s…

President Mahmoud Abbas called this evening for immediate international intervention to stop the Israeli war of genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, including the war of starvation waged by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people there. The President condemned the policies of killing and attacks by the Israeli occupation forces and colonists in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. He also demanded the provision of desperately needed food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip, especially to the northern region. He further called for permitting the Palestinian Red Crescent, the UNRWA, and all relevant international organizations to…

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned Thursday it has reached a critical juncture as it struggles to cope with the war in Gaza. “It is with profound regret that I must now inform you that UNRWA has reached a breaking point,” chief Philippe Lazzarini said, as donors freeze funding, Israel exerts pressure to dismantle the agency and humanitarian needs soar.“The Agency’s ability to fulfill the mandate given through General Assembly resolution 302 is now seriously threatened,” he said in a letter to the assembly.That is the resolution under which the UN agency was founded in 1949, following the creation…