Author: Steven Sahiounie

According to the Central Election Commission, the number of authentic and valid voter signatures stands at 314,909, “which is enough for the candidate’s registration” Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has formally registered incumbent head of state Vladimir Putin as a self-nominated presidential candidate to be on the ballot in the upcoming election on March 15-17. “[The decision] has been adopted unanimously,” CEC Chairperson Ella Pamfilova announced. CEC Secretary Natalya Budarina, in turn, confirmed that, as required by law, 60,000 voter signatures had been randomly selected for verification out of the 315,000 signatures gathered in support of Putin. “As a result…

Tasnim news agency reported that ‘Israel has attacked an Iranian military advisory center’ in Syria

Omani Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, and his Cypriot counterpart, Constantinos Kombos, both stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and the urgent entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. During a meeting in the Omani capital, Muscat, the two ministers reiterated the necessity of launching a serious process to establish a two-state solution in order to achieve a just and comprehensive peace for the Palestinian cause. Meanwhile, the two ministers affirmed the repercussions of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, and the horrific humanitarian conditions. Source: WAFA

RAFAH: Israel said “significant gaps” remain after ceasefire talks Sunday with the United States, Qatar and Egypt but called them constructive and said they would continue in the week ahead, a tentative sign of progress on a potential agreement that could see Israel pause military operations against Hamas in exchange for the release of remaining hostages.

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh Monday stressed the need for Israel to adhere to everything stated in the decision of the International Court of Justice. At the beginning of the weekly Cabinet session held in the city of Ramallah, the Prime Minister described the court’s decision as “important,” legally, politically, and humanitarianly, as bringing in aid requires a ceasefire, stopping the aggression, and enabling people to return to their homes. He also welcomed the decision of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to refer the court’s decision to the Security Council, and demand an end to the aggression against Palestinian people.…

JERUSALEM: An Israeli intelligence dossier that prompted a cascade of countries to halt funds for a UN Palestinian aid agency includes allegations that some staff took part in abductions and killings during the Oct. 7 raid that sparked the Gaza war.

The European Commission said it will send no more funds to UNRWA until the end of February as the UN investigates allegations that staff took part in the October 7 attack on Israel. “The Commission will review the matter in light of the outcome of the investigation announced by the UN and the actions it will take,” the 27-member body said in a statement. It also said it expects the UN agency for Palestinian refugees to undergo a European-led audit, which will focus on “control systems needed to prevent the possible involvement of its staff in terrorist activities”. “Finally, a review…

Iranian and Syrian sources say air strikes in Syria were a failed Israeli attempt to killed more members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) in the Sayyida Zeinab neighbourhood of Damascus. The semi-official Tasnim news agency and other IRGC-linked media say the two people reported killed were Syrian civilians who worked at the targeted building. More Syrians near the site may also have died. Images were released of the purported site of the strike, which shows it was located on farmland. The Syrian defence ministry also released a short statement saying an Israeli air strike launched from the occupied…

LONDON: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday he was concerned about tensions in the Middle East and urged Iran to de-escalate, after an attack that killed three US service members in northeastern Jordan near Syria’s border.

A number of Palestinian civilians have been killed and dozens more injured after Israeli artillery bombed a school housing displaced people in the southern Gaza Strip.