Category: Politics

MUSCAT, Omani Foreign Minister Bader Al-Busaidi discussed on Tuesday a ceasefire arrangement with Hamas’ chief of political bureau, Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, a ceasefire suggestion.

In a statement, the Ministry mentioned that the ceasefire is a step towards ending the bloodshed, allowing for the return of displaced people, and releasing captives.

This is achieved through stages and objectives adhered to by all parties, including lifting siege and allowing for the flow of aid to Gaza.

Al-Busaidi voiced Oman’s appreciation for Egyptian and Qatari efforts in that regard, in cooperation with the American administration.

On his part, Haniyeh hailed Oman’s supportive position by the Palestinian case, and stressing the importance of continuous communication, constructive dialogue and boosting international efforts.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Baghdad, The Federal Supreme Court issued today, its decision No. (86 / Federal / 2024) ruling that paragraph (2) of the House of Representatives’ decision taken in the second session on 27/1/2024, which included postponing the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives until a decision is made on Cases pending before the judiciary.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed, by telephone, with the head of the Hamas Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, developments in the war on the Gaza Strip and the efforts made for a ceasefire.

Erdogan said in a post on the ‘X’ platform: ‘Before the presidential government council meeting, I made a phone call with the head of the political bureau of the Hamas movement, Ismail Haniyeh, and during the call with Haniyeh, we discussed the efforts made to end the clashes and acts of violence in the Gaza Strip.’

Erdogan added: “We also discussed the Hamas movement’s approval of the ceasefire proposal it received from the mediators.”

He went on to say: ‘During the call, I expressed my welcome for Hamas to accept a ceasefire based on our recommendations, and I stressed the need for Israel to also take steps for a permanent ceasefire.’

The Turkish President also called on all parties, especially Western countries, to put pressure on Israel to cease fire in the Gaza Strip.

Yesterday, Monday, i
n a speech after chairing a government meeting, the Turkish President welcomed the Hamas movement’s announcement of its acceptance of a ceasefire, and called on Western countries to pressure Israel to take the same step.

Yesterday, Cairo News Channel quoted an unnamed high-level source as saying, ‘The terms of the agreement between Hamas and Israel include three stages and include an agreement to exchange prisoners and detainees and a humanitarian truce.’

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

KUWAIT, Kuwaiti Ambassador in Belgium Nawaf Al-Enezi has restated his country’s support for a political settlement to the Yemeni crisis as per the Gulf Initiative and its Executive Mechanisms, National Dialogue Conference Output and UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2216.

Al-Enezi, who doubles as chief of Kuwait’s diplomatic mission at the European Union (EU) and NATO, made the remark on Tuesday during the sixth Senior Officials Meeting on Yemen, held in Brussels upon request from the EU and Sweden.

He commended UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg’s efforts to uphold the truce, which came in the context of the initiative that was announced by Saudi Arabia in March 2021 to resolve the Yemeni crisis.

The Kuwaiti diplomat also reviewed Kuwait’s humnaitarian contributions to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Yemen, the last of which was five million US dollars offered by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) in 2023.

He voiced sincere thanks to Sweden and the EU for co-organizing t
his meeting and their endeavor to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Meanwhile, the European Commission announced 125 million euro (USD 134.59 million( in new EU humanitarian funding to address the most pressing needs of people in Yemen amidst the ongoing crisis and escalating tensions in the region.

The announcement came on the occasion of the sixth Senior Officials Meeting on Yemen, chaired by Commissioner Janez Lenarcic in Brussels.

The funding will be channeled exclusively through the EU’s humanitarian partners, including UN agencies and NGOs actively involved in the response, supporting vulnerable communities affected by Yemen’s decade-long conflict, displacement, and climate emergencies, the commission said in a press release.

Aid will support food security and assistance for malnutrition, health and specialized protection services and demining activities among others. Dedicated programs for education and child protection will also be supported, it added.

To respond to the urgent health
crisis triggered by outbreaks of infectious diseases in Yemen, since February this year the EU has also organized 13 Humanitarian Air Bridge flights and is in the process of launching another operation this month consisting of 24 flights. These aid deliveries have amongst others helped tackle the cholera outbreak in the country , it noted.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

MOSCOW, Kuwait’s Ambassador to Russia, Rashed Al-Adwani, representing His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, took part in Russian President’s Vladimir Putin, inauguration ceremony for the fifth term.

The inauguration and oath-taking ceremony, held on Tuesday, took place in the Kremlin.

Kuwait’s Embassy in the capital, Moscow, mentioned in a statement received by KUNA, that the ceremony was attended by high officials and foreign diplomats.

Ambassador Al-Adwani relayed the greetings and well wishes of His Highness the Amir to President Putin and wished the friendly nation of Russia everlasting progress and prosperity.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Al-Amara, The University of Maysan organized solidarity stands to support the global protests towards the Palestinian issue under the slogan (Palestine, supporting religion and the path of Hussein), and in cooperation with the Loyal Elites Gathering in Maysan, in the presence of political figures, intellectuals, academics, artists, writers, and journalists.

Vigils were held in the gardens of the corridors of the College of Education in solidarity with the Palestinian people, support the brave resistance, and denounce the Zionist practices aimed at exterminating the Arab people in Gaza.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

TEHRAN, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday (IAEA) agreed to push forward a joint statement released in March of 2023, which sought to allow greater inspection of Tehran’s nuclear program.

Hailing the deal struck last year as a “solid foundation” for greater cooperation, Iranian nuclear program chief Mohammad Eslami told a press conference alongside IAEA head Rafael Grossi, that the two held talks to examine the progress of the statement, underlining the aim of pushing forward the “path” set by the deal.

The Iranian official warned of “hostile actions” against Tehran, saying he hoped such behavior does not “affect the interactions between Iran and the agency,” he said, while lashing out at the “Zionist regime” for its “manipulations.” On the talks he held with his Iranian counterpart, the IAEA chief said the meeting was significant in the sense that it could lead to “concreate measures” to make the aforementioned deal “operational” in a bid to reach its objectives.

While the fresh ta
lks did not yield a new deal, the IAEA chief said that the joint statement released in March of 2023 should serve as a “path forward” for more bilateral cooperation.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

NEW YORK, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his appeal for the Israeli occupation forces to avoid any escalation in Gaza, and engage, instead, in constructive talks on ceasefire.

“The closure of both the Rafah and Karm Abu-Salem (Karem Shalom) crossings is especially damaging to an already dire humanitarian situation. They must be re-opened immediately,” he said at a press encounter at the UN HQ in New York on Tuesday.

He underscored the need for an agreement between the Government of Israel and the leadership of Hamas to stop the “unbearable suffering” of both Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli hostages and their families.

“It would be tragic if weeks of intense diplomatic activity for peace in Gaza, yield no ceasefire. No release of hostages. And a devastating offensive in Rafah,” he warned.

“I reiterate my appeal for both parties to show the political courage and spare no effort to secure an agreement now,” he stressed.

The UN chief further emphasized that a full-scale assault on Rafa
h will be a “human catastrophe”.

“Countless more civilian casualties. Countless more families forced to flee yet again – with nowhere safe to go. Because there is no safe place in Gaza.

“Attacking Rafah will further upend our efforts to support people in dire humanitarian straits as famine looms,” Guterres went on.

Guterres also warned that the repercussions of an attack on Rafah will be felt far beyond the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and the wider Middle East region.

“Even the best friends of Israel are clear: An assault on Rafah would be a strategic mistake, a political calamity, and a humanitarian nightmare.

“I appeal to all those with influence over Israel to do everything in their power to help avert even more tragedy,” he added.

In the far south of the Gaza Strip, the town of Rafah bordering Egypt has been hosting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians driven from elsewhere in the besieged enclave due to the ongoing Israeli military operation.

There are also grave concerns that
humanitarian aid stocks are fast running out across the war-torn Strip, and fuel reserves will run out by the end of the day.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: As long as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) finds an outlet for itself in northern Iraq and Syria, we cannot feel safe.

Erdogan added in a speech to the Turkish people last night: ‘Certainly, when the time and hour come, we will complete our work in Syria, which was left incomplete due to the promises made by our allies and they have broken them.’

He stressed that “terrorists in Qandil Mountains and in northern Syria will continue to interfere against Turkey, its policy, and its citizens at every opportunity,” explaining that “no country will accept this matter.”

The Turkish President touched on his visit to Iraq last April 22, and the important results it achieved, especially after his meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, Abdul Latif Rashid, and Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani.

Erdogan indicated that they discussed in detail the issues on their joint agenda, especially security, transportation, energy and water, and stated that the visit cul
minated in the signing of 27 agreements in various fields.

The Turkish President confirmed that their goal is to raise the volume of trade with Iraq from $20 billion to higher levels.

He praised the Iraqi government’s declaration of the PKK as a terrorist organization, and considered the step “important” in the context of the war on terrorism.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

RIYADH, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, received Tuesday a telephone call from his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

In a statement, Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two sides discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and issues of mutual interest.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

NEW DEHLI, Millions of Indians are voting on Tuesday in the third phase of the largest General Elections in the world, more than 170 million are eligible to vote in 93 Constituencies across 11 states and Union Territories.

The general elections have seven phases, to elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha (the Indian Parliament), the remaining four phases will continue until June 1st and results would come out June 4th.

The third polling phase is taking place in 26 constituencies in Gujarat, 14 in Karanataka, 11 in Maharashtra, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, eight in Madhya Pradesh, seven in Chhattisgarh, five in Bihar, four in Assam and West Bengal, two in Goa, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu. The ruling coalition under the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the main contestant, while the INDIA alliance led by the opposition Indian National Congress, which ruled the country for decades, is giving a tough competition.

Modi’s party is increasingly facing several challenges due to
price rises of essential commodities including oil and gas, rampant unemployment, exorbitant tax, farmers protests, autocratic behavior, suppression of opposition and communal tension.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Istanbul, The Emir of Kuwait, Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, arrived in Ankara this afternoon on an official visit to Turkey on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Emir of Kuwait and his accompanying delegation were received at Ankara International Airport by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Semsek, and the Governor of Ankara, Vasip Sahin.

The Emir of Kuwait’s visit to Turkey is the first outside the Arab countries after assuming office on December 16 of last year.

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, during the meetings that will be held within the framework of the visit of the Emir of Kuwait, bilateral relations and regional developments will be discussed, especially the situation in Gaza and the Israeli attacks on it, in addition to discussing important bilateral files such as trade, defense industries, tourism and investment.

The two countries aim to strengthen exist
ing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, construction, health, tourism, energy and defense industries, and in this context new agreements will be signed between the two parties.

It is noteworthy that the volume of trade between Kuwait and Turkey last year, according to official sources, reached approximately 700 million dollars, and the two countries aim to increase mutual trade and investments through sectoral diversification and new cooperation mechanisms.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency