Author: Steven Sahiounie

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health’s Emergency Operations Center reported a significant rise in casualties from Israeli airstrikes, which have continued since October 8, 2023. As of Friday, the total death toll has reached 3,136, with 13,979 people injured. In its Saturday daily report, the center noted that Friday alone saw 19 fatalities and 91 injuries. During the last 24 hours, there were 68 airstrikes and bombardments across various Lebanese regions, with 34 targeting Nabatieh and 19 in southern Lebanon, bringing the total attacks to 12,475 since the start of the conflict, according to the government’s Emergency Committee coordinator, caretaker…

Qatar announced late Saturday that reports claiming its withdrawal from mediation efforts for a Gaza ceasefire are “inaccurate.” The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, clarified that Qatar informed parties involved in the latest negotiations over ten days ago that it would suspend mediation efforts if an agreement was not reached. Al-Ansari explained, “Qatar has communicated that mediation efforts will resume with partners only when the necessary seriousness to end the brutal war and alleviate civilian suffering in Gaza’s dire humanitarian situation is present.” He also emphasized that when the time is right, Qatar will lead positive efforts…

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed on Friday that France will host the upcoming UEFA Nations League match against Israel as planned, despite concerns following violent clashes between Israeli and Arab fans in Amsterdam. In a post on the social platform X, Retailleau stated, “France will not back down; doing so would be a concession to violence and anti-Semitism.” Tensions have risen in France due to the intensifying conflict in Gaza, as the country is home to the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe. Paris is set to host the France-Israel match next Thursday evening, with a significant turnout…

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed on Saturday that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons. In a post on the social platform X, Araghchi stated, “Iran does not seek nuclear weapons. This policy is based on Islamic teachings and our security assessments. Trust-building requires both sides—it’s not a one-way path.” Araghchi also addressed accusations from the United States linking Iran to an alleged plot to assassinate U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. He dismissed these claims and called for mutual trust-building between the two nations. “A new scenario is being fabricated now. Since no actual assassin exists, screenwriters are being brought in…

A sense of apprehension has been growing among several Israeli officials about potential moves U.S. President Joe Biden could make before leaving office that may not align with Israel’s interests—particularly concerning the ongoing Gaza conflict and other regional issues. A senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Yedioth Ahronoth that Netanyahu had been hoping for a Trump victory, seeing it as a preferable outcome for Israel. He suggested that the Democratic administration had sought to undermine Netanyahu, positioning Trump as the more reliable ally for Israel. What Are Israel’s Concerns? The Israeli publication noted that, until Trump’s inauguration…

It’s hard to predict what the 47th US president’s term will be like, but the main conclusions can already be drawn By Glenn Diesen, professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway and an editor at the Russia in Global Affairs journal. Follow him on Substack. Donald Trump’s election victory should not have been a surprise. The era of liberal hegemony has already come to an end, and a correction was long overdue. Put plainly, the liberal hegemony is no longer even liberal, and the hegemony is exhausted.Trump is often denounced for being transactional, yet the de-ideologization of America and return to pragmatism is…

Kiev must embrace a “realistic vision for peace” to end the conflict with Russia, a senior member of the US president-elect’s campaign has said The second administration of US President-elect Donald Trump will focus on achieving peace in Ukraine rather than enabling it to take back all the territory it has lost to Russia, Bryan Lanza, a senior campaign advisor to the US president-elect, has said. Lanza, a veteran Republican party strategist who has worked on campaigns with Trump since 2016, made the remarks to the BBC on Saturday. While he expressed respect for the Ukrainian people, Lanza said the US priority would be…

Moscow has ratified the bilateral strategic security treaty with Pyongyang Russian President Vladimir Putin has finalized the ratification of a strategic partnership agreement that he and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed during his visit to Pyongyang in June. The Russian State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, unanimously ratified the treaty late last month, and the upper chamber, the Federation Council, approved it on November 6. Putin gave his final stamp of approval on Saturday, according to the official portal of the country’s legislature. “Ratify the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,…

The US authorities earlier charged a Tehran resident with laying the groundwork for an attack on the president-elect Iran has denied US accusations that it attempted to orchestrate a plot to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump before the November election. It has dismissed the allegations as a hoax orchestrated by pro-Israel actors in a bid to exacerbate tensions between Washington and Tehran. On Friday, the US Department of Justice claimed that Iranian officials had asked a man named Farhad Shakeri to “provide a plan” to kill Trump, adding that he was also tasked with carrying out assassinations of US and Israeli…

At least 24 people have been killed in a blast at Quetta Railway Station in Balochistan, local media reports A powerful explosion has rocked Quetta Railway Station in Balochistan province, southwestern Pakistan on Saturday morning, killing at least 24 people, Samaa TV reported, citing officials. Around 60 more people have been injured in the blast, some critically. The blast occurred near a ticket booth at the platform just as two trains were scheduled to arrive, including the Jaffer Express heading to Peshawar, railway officials said. A large number of passengers were present on the platform at the time, and the…