Author: Steven Sahiounie

The Israeli army’s “systematic and widespread” targeting of universities is eliminating the “last manifestations of life in the Gaza Strip”. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Observatory added such attacks “perpetuate the crime of genocide”. The continuing Israeli assault on the besieged Strip has led to a “complete disruption” of the educational system, the rights organisation said in a statement. Since Israel’s bombing began, three university presidents and more than 95 university deans and professors have been killed, according to Euro-Med. Some 88,000 students have been deprived of completing their university education At least five universities are partially or completely destroyed. “The Euro-Mediterranean…

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Germany on Thursday to head the Kingdom’s delegation at the Munich Security Conference. Prince Faisal is expected to discuss the most prominent international issues and ways of enhancing multilateral action to strengthen international peace and security, the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said. The Saudi delegation will also hold bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from several countries, and the most prominent figures attending the conference. Source: Arab News

Hakan Fidan to attend Munich Security Conference which will address international conflicts, geopolitical challenges, transatlantic relations Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Munich late Thursday to attend an annual security conference. Fidan will attend the 60th Munich Security Conference on Friday in Germany, where political leaders from 50 nations will discuss international conflicts, geopolitical challenges and transatlantic relations. On the sidelines of the conference, Fidan is expected to hold bilateral talks, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. The conference will begin with the opening speech of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, where he is expected to renew demand for an immediate…

This morning, Israeli colonists set fire to a house, a vehicle, and two livestock pens in the wilderness of the village of Kisan in the southern West Bank province of Bethlehem, according to local sources. The head of the Kisan Village Council, Musa Ebayat, informed WAFA that a group of colonists from the Ma’ale Amos colony, illegally built on stolen Palestinian lands, attacked the village and set ablaze a house, a vehicle, and two livestock pens used for breeding livestock and storing fodder. The targeted properties belonged to Ibrahim Sawarkeh, a local Palestinian resident. No injuries were reported in the…

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and discussed the importance of resuming a peace process in the Middle East. Lula was on an official state visit to Cairo, celebrating 100 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It was his second visit to Egypt, the first having been in 2003. “At a time when we should be talking about increasing food production for the world, about economic growth, about income distribution, we are talking about war. War does not benefit anyone. It brings death, destruction,…

The foreign ministers of Iran and Algeria condemned the Israeli regime’s relentless strikes on Gaza, calling for immediate action by the international community to stop the massacre of civilians and provide relief aid to Palestinians in northern Gaza and Rafah. In a telephone conversation on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Algeria ‘s FM Ahmed Attaf discussed the latest developments in Palestine and the region. They strongly condemned the ongoing crimes the Zionist regime commits against the defenseless people of Gaza and the dire humanitarian situation in the region. The two ministers also emphasized the need for immediate and…

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva on Thursday visited the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, where he was welcomed by Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Brazil’s President recalled that Brazil was the first Latin American country to receive observer status in the organization, and said he is proud of the historical and cultural ties that unite Brazil and the Arab world.  The Arab League’s “commitment to promoting stability and development makes this organization a voice to be listened to attentively on the great issues of our time,” he added. “We want to revive and deepen our partnerships with the Global South,…

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed Jordan’s efforts to airdrop humanitarian aid to Gaza, his office said in a readout on Thursday following a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah at Downing Street.A video released by Jordan’s state-owned broadcaster showed the monarch on board a plane and participating in dropping supplies to field hospitals in the enclave.“The Prime Minister welcomed Jordan’s innovative efforts to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza by land and air, and he set out the UK’s work to unblock aid access and alleviate the humanitarian crisis,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.Earlier, Sunak told Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu…

RIYADH: Saudi firms were recognized for their contributions to local content development, with the Ministry of Energy achieving first place among 535 entities at an award ceremony in Riyadh.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s inflation remained stable at 1.6 percent in January, compared to 1.5 percent in December 2023, official data showed.