Thursday, March 28, 2024

Media Wire

Lavrov: US propaganda on ‘Russian aggression’ against Ukraine provocative

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a telephone talk with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday that Washington propaganda campaign on Moscow’s alleged aggression against Ukraine pursued provocative goals.

Iranian, Russian top negotiators hold talks in Vienna

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani met with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Ulyanov in the Austrian capital on Saturday.

Manama confirms Israeli officer to be stationed in Bahrain

Bahrain's Foreign Ministry confirmed media reports on Saturday that an Israeli officer will be stationed in the tiny Persian Gulf country, according to the state news agency.

Advocates call US freezing Afghan assets “theft”

Activists describe US President Joe Biden’s decision to seize the Afghan central bank’s funds in the United States as “theft”.

Russian diplomats leaving Ukraine amid escalation of tensions

Diplomats and employees of the Russian consulates have started leaving Ukraine, an informed source told Sputnik on Saturday.

Many killed, injured in blast outside mosque in Afghanistan

At least eight people have been killed and 20 others wounded in an explosion in front of a mosque in Afghanistan’s northwestern Badghis Province on Friday, according to the Aamaj news agency.

U.S. says major issues in nuclear talks remain unresolved

As the nuclear negotiations aimed at salvaging the 2015 Iran deal have reportedly reached their final stage, an American official says that major issues still remain unresolved.

U.S. says to help UAE refill missile defense interceptors

Washington will help Abu Dhabi fill up interceptors it uses to knock down incoming missiles following a series of [retaliatory] attacks by Yemeni forces, an American general confirms.

Report: Yemen civilian casualties double since end of UN monitoring

Civilian deaths and injuries in the Saudi-led war on Yemen have almost doubled since UN human rights monitors were controversially removed in October, according to a report.

Report: Biden under pressure as Vienna talks resume

US President Joe Biden is in a tough spot as the Iran nuclear talks resume in Austria. The American leader is facing growing bipartisan concern that even if a deal is reached, it may be insufficient to curb Tehran's nuclear program.

Germany: Nuclear talks entering ‘final phase’

Germany’s foreign minister says nuclear negotiations are entering a “final phase”. Annalena Baerbock added, despite Israeli reservations, a return to the agreement would make the region safer.

Palestine’s Abbas accused of power grab after new appointments

Major Palestinian groups have slammed new appointments to top positions in the PLO as illegitimate and a power grab by President Mahmoud Abbas. They claim the 86-year-old Abbas is trying to secure his favoured successor.

Many injured by Yemeni ‘drone shrapnel’ in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi-led coalition announced that 12 civilians at Abha airport were lightly injured by shrapnel from a destroyed drone launched by Yemen's Houthis, which fell nearby.

Turkey rules out change to Palestine policy due to normalization with Israel

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says normalizing relations with Israel would not mean a change in Ankara's Palestinian policy. He was speaking ahead of an expected visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog next month.

Iran police seize around 1k kilograms of illegal drugs

The police of Kerman Province in southeastern Iran confiscated over 900 kg of various illegal drugs.

Biden pledges US support for Saudi Arabia amid Yemen attacks

US President Joe Biden says Washington supports Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war that recently saw Yemenis retaliatory attacks against Riyadh.  

White House holds meeting over re-designating Yemenis as terror group

The White House National Security Council is more open to redesignate the Houthis as a terrorist organization, while the US State Department supports targeting specific Yemeni leaders with sanctions, informed sources told Axios.

Rights activists blast Israel for ‘enforcing apartheid’ on Palestinians

At least 277 human rights groups and civil society organizations have denounced Israel for committing what they call the crime of apartheid against Palestinians. They say Tel Aviv must be held accountable for such a practice.

Report: Next Daesh leader to emerge from battle-hardened Iraqis

The next leader of the Daesh terror group is likely to be from the circle close to battle-hardened Iraqi militants who emerged in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S. invasion, two Iraqi security officials and three independent analysts say.

Biden administration says to cooperate with Congress over Iran

The White House has reached out at all levels to members of US Congress as well as their staff to discuss Washington’s approach to Iran, an American diplomat confirms. It comes after dozens of senators from the Republican Party called on the administration to relay the terms of any new deal with Tehran to the Congress for approval.

US says it has until end of Feb. to salvage JCPOA

Washington believes it has until the end of February to salvage the Iran nuclear agreement, otherwise the US will have to change track and launch aggressive efforts to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, according to three administration officials. Iran has repeatedly said it will not accept any deadline, while seeking a good and prompt agreement.

Iran’s leader appoints new advisor on army affairs

Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has issued a decree appointing former Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami as his advisor on army affairs.

Poll finds majority of Israeli settlers ready to exit WB

Many Israeli settlers say they are ready to evacuate their settlements if Israel reaches a peace agreement with the Palestinians, according to a recent study carried out by Israel's Bar Ilan and Richman universities.

US says Russian invasion of Ukraine could create instability in ME

The U.S. Army general tapped to take over as top commander in the Middle East has warned if Russia invades Ukraine, it could create broader instability in the Middle East, including Syria.

EU optimistic about resolving differences over JCPOA

European diplomats are optimistic about efforts by Iran and the US to close remaining differences on steps to revive the 2015 nuclear deal in the near future, EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell says.

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