Author: Steven Sahiounie

On Monday, the U.S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting high-profile political figures, revealed new information regarding the alleged assassination attempt on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Roth (58), who was arrested on Sunday, did not fire a weapon. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Roe stated that Roth was armed when a Secret Service agent discovered him and fired a warning shot. However, Roe confirmed that Roth did not fire at the former president. Jeffrey Feltre, an FBI official handling the investigation, clarified during a press conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, that there is…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly close to firing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. He faces pressure from right-wing coalition partners to replace Gallant with Gideon Sa’ar, a former ally now in the opposition. Maariv, an Israeli newspaper, reports that coalition leaders have approved Netanyahu’s plan to add Sa’ar to the government. Channel 14 cites sources saying all obstacles to Sa’ar’s appointment have been cleared. The delay in the formal announcement is due to security concerns. According to Israel’s public broadcaster, the official announcement about expanding the government and Gallant’s dismissal is expected soon. Sa’ar will reportedly assume the role…

Washington announced on Monday that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Egypt this week to discuss efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. Egypt has played a crucial role in ongoing talks aimed at securing a truce. According to a statement by U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Blinken’s visit, scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday, will include meetings with Egyptian officials. “During his visit, Blinken will discuss ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza that ensures the release of all hostages, alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian people, and contributes to broader regional security,” said Miller. Additionally,…

Israel may need to prepare for a long and extensive military campaign on its northern border, according to an unnamed Israeli security official quoted by Channel 12. The official warned that the price of this campaign, aimed at securing the border with Lebanon, will be “high.” These comments followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement on Monday, where he emphasized the need for a “radical change” on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Netanyahu relayed to U.S. Middle East envoy Amos Hochstein that Israel is seeking such a shift in border security. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav…

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately finalize a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. This statement came during his meeting with U.S. officials in Washington on Monday. After meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Lapid said, “I believe all political interests should be set aside for this. It is far more important.” He emphasized the need for national recovery, stating, “Israel, as a nation, will only heal once we bring them [hostages] home.” He added, “This is crucial for our existence” and insisted that an agreement is achievable. As a former prime minister,…

Sigrid Kaag, the UN’s Senior Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in Gaza, praised the UAE for its efforts in evacuating 252 patients from Gaza for medical treatment. The evacuation helped provide urgent care to those in need. Ongoing Vaccination Campaign in Gaza During a UN Security Council briefing, Kaag mentioned the ongoing vaccination campaign in Gaza. This campaign, jointly conducted by the World Health Organization, UNRWA, and UNICEF, recently completed its first phase. The second phase is scheduled to begin in four weeks. Humanitarian Action in Difficult Conditions Kaag highlighted the success of the polio vaccination campaign. She stated,…

The U.S. State Department announced on Monday that Washington continues to work with regional partners, particularly Egypt and Qatar, to develop a new proposal aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitating a hostage exchange. According to Reuters, the U.S. is actively engaging in dialogue to revise the ceasefire proposal. The goal is to ensure that the plan can push all parties involved toward reaching a final agreement. However, there is no set timeline for introducing this new proposal. For a long time, Washington has emphasized that a diplomatic solution is the key to calming the situation in northern…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that Israel requires a “radical change” on its border with Lebanon. Meeting with U.S. Envoy According to Agence France-Presse, Netanyahu informed U.S. Middle East envoy Amos Hochstein of his desire for a significant shift regarding the Israeli-Lebanese border. Hochstein is visiting Israel amid ongoing exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military. Security and Displaced Residents During their meeting, Netanyahu emphasized that “it will not be possible to return displaced residents without a radical change in the security situation in the north,” according to a statement from his office. Israel’s Commitment…

Fitch Ratings upgraded Tunisia’s credit rating to CCC+, reflecting increased confidence in the government’s ability to meet its substantial financing needs. External Support and Debt Repayment Fitch noted that “continued external support and a reduction in external debt repayments are expected to enable Tunisia to balance its net external financing by 2026.” Local Banking Sector’s Role The agency also mentioned that “the local banking sector is likely to help meet Tunisia’s financing needs, with state-owned banks expected to bear a larger share of the financing burden due to the cautious approach of some private banks.”

According to data from Kepler and a shipping agency, Libyan crude oil exports reached approximately 550,000 barrels per day last week. This represents a threefold increase compared to the previous week’s rate, as reported by Reuters. Oil Tankers and Destinations The data revealed that oil tankers, including Flavin, Pacific Pearl, Jebli, and Delta Atlantica, departed from various Libyan ports heading towards European destinations during the week starting September 9. Political Crisis Impact This increase in exports comes amid ongoing political turmoil in Libya, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which has previously hampered oil production.