Browsing: Region
The World Bank has approved USD 200 million in funding to implement a project aimed at strengthening the social safety net and building systems in Lebanon.A statement issued by the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs indicated that this funding reflects the Lebanese government’s commitment to protecting the poorest and most vulnerable groups, enhancing the sustainability of the national social protection system, and supporting the economic inclusion of women, youth, and the most needy groups, given the delicate economic and social conditions Lebanon is experiencing. Source link
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, discussed developments in the Iranian nuclear issue in a phone call on Saturday.In a press release, the Egyptian presidency stated that El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s deep concern regarding the escalating tensions in the region, emphasizing the need to avoid further escalation and rejecting military solutions. He stressed that diplomatic solutions are the only and best way to resolve the crisis, thus sparing the Middle East region further tension and instability. For his part, the Iranian President affirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening political consultation and coordination with Egypt in order to support regional stability. Source link
The Muslim World League (MWL) expressed condemnation of the attacks that occurred in various areas of Balochistan Province of Pakistan, which resulted in a number of casualties. In a statement, the league’s Secretary General Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa reaffirmed the League’s total rejection of all terrorist and extremist acts. The Secretary General reiterated the League’s support for Pakistan in confronting threats to its security and maintaining the safety of its territory. Source link
His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met in Tehran on Saturday with the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Larijani. During the meeting, they reviewed ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region. HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the State of Qatar’s support for all efforts aimed at reducing tensions and achieving peaceful solutions that enhance security and stability in the region. He also stressed the need for concerted efforts to spare the peoples of the region the consequences of escalation and to continue coordination with brotherly and friendly countries to address differences through diplomatic means. Related Story Source link
A man sells newspapers in a street, following an attack on the international airport in Niamey, Niger, yesterday. Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on the airport in Niger’s capital Niamey in a statement yesterday, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militant activity and communications worldwide.The Islamic State affiliate in the region has been linked to high-profile attacks in Niger in recent months, killing over 120 people in the Tillaberi region in September and abducting an American pilot in October.The attack on the airport began on Wednesday night and involved gunfire and loud explosions before calm returned on Thursday morning.Niger’s military ruler, Abdourahamane Tiani, accused the presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast on Thursday of sponsoring the attack, without offering any evidence. He also vowed retaliation. Security forces control traffic in a street,…
South Africa ordered Israel’s top diplomat to leave the country within 72 hours yesterday, citing a “series of violations” and prompting the Israeli government to expel Pretoria’s own diplomatic representative.Ties between the nations are already strained by South Africa’s case before the UN top court in 2023 to argue that Israel’s war on Gaza amounts to genocide.The South African foreign ministry said it had informed Israel that its charge d’affaires, Ariel Seidman, was “persona non grata” and “required to depart from the Republic within 72 hours”.”This decisive measure follows a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty,” it said.Breaches included “the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks” on President Cyril Ramaphosa, the statement said.The foreign ministry also accused the embassy of a “deliberate failure” to inform South Africa of visits by senior Israeli officials.The Israeli foreign ministry swiftly responded that South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative, Shaun Byneveldt, “is persona non grata and must leave Israel within 72 hours”.South African officials were angered by a tweet from the Israeli embassy in November that commented: “A rare moment of wisdom and diplomatic clarity from President Ramaphosa.”The post was in reaction to a news story citing Ramaphosa as saying “boycott politics doesn’t work”, in reference to US President Donald Trump’s decision to not attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg.South African government officials also condemned as a breach of protocol a visit by an Israeli delegation this month to the Eastern Cape province where delegates reportedly offered to provide water, healthcare and agriculture expertise.South Africa is sharply critical of Israel and largely supportive of the Palestinian cause.The government filed a case against Israel with the International Court of Justice in 2023 saying that its war on Gaza — which followed the October 2023 storming of Israel by fighters from the Palestinian group Hamas — breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.Israel has denied that accusation.When more than 150 Palestinians flew into South Africa in November without departure stamps from Israel on their passports, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said there appeared to be “a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank”.There have been regular protests in South Africa against the Israeli government’s and military’s actions in Gaza, including calls for the embassy in Pretoria to be closed.South Africa’s ties with the Trump administration — a strong ally of Israel — have also deteriorated over the past year, with the case before the ICJ a major sticking point. Source link
A satellite image shows trucks amassed at the Rafah border crossing, between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The head of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) Ali Shaath yesterday announced that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will reopen next Monday. In a post on his social media account, Shaath stated he is officially announcing the reopening of the Rafah crossing after the completion of the necessary arrangements between the relevant parties for its operation in both directions, starting next Monday.He explained that tomorrow will be a trial day for testing the crossing’s operational procedures. Earlier yesterday, the Israeli occupation authorities officially announced the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt next Sunday, provided that travellers and those returning undergo Israeli security checks, after nearly 20 months of complete closure.They stated that travel from the Gaza Strip will be fully co-ordinated with Egypt and subject to Israeli security approval, and that return to Gaza will be limited to those who left the Strip during the war.The Israeli occupation army completely closed the Rafah crossing on May 7, 2024, following its invasion and occupation of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip.The army seized control of the only land crossing connecting the Strip to the outside world, before later destroying all its buildings and facilities. Its reopening was one of the provisions of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, but the occupation refused to implement it.The closure of the Rafah land crossing throughout the past period has posed a major dilemma for residents of the Gaza Strip. It prevented the entry of humanitarian and medical aid during and after the war. According to the ministry of health, its closure resulted in the deaths of more than 1,000 patients and wounded individuals who were waiting to travel for treatment outside Gaza.Meanwhile, approximately 20,000 others are waiting to travel urgently for treatment. The closure has also shattered the dreams and futures of thousands of students who received scholarships to study at Arab and international universities. (QNA) Source link
People inspect one of the tents, housing displaced Palestinians in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza Strip, following Israeli strikes. Two Palestinians were martyred and six injured yesterday as Israeli forces struck Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza and Khan Yunis in the south. A woman…
The death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 71,769 martyrs in addition to 171,483 wounded since October 7, 2023.Medical sources reported today that a total of 17 martyrs have arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals in the past 48 hours, including 12 new martyrs since dawn today, and 49 wounded. A number of victims remain under the rubble and in the streets, as ambulance and rescue teams have been unable to reach them.The sources indicated that the total number of martyrs since the ceasefire on October 11 has risen to 509, and the total number of wounded to 1,405, while 715 bodies have been recovered.She noted that 85 martyrs were added to the cumulative statistics of martyrs, whose data was completed and approved by the Martyrs Approval Committee from January 23 to January 30. Source link
Egypt has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), including an understanding on initiating a phased integration process.In a statement issued today, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Egypt’s steadfast position on the necessity of preserving Syria’s unity and supporting its national institutions.The statement also expressed Egypt’s continued support for all efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive and sustainable political settlement that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people for security, stability, and development, and paves the way for recovery and reconstruction. Source link