Author: Web Desk

Maronite Patriarch, Cardonal Beshara Boutros Al-Rahi, considered, at the Palm Sunday Mass, that the best politicians are those who are committed to telling the truth and realizing that the power entrusted to them is for service, not for domination. He stressed that “the true politician is a servant, and when the opposite is the case, he is a bad politician.” Addressing the Lebanese politicians, especially deputies, he pointed out that the guarantor of good politics is through the election of a President of the Republic, in order to regulate the work of the constitutional institutions. Rahi pointed out that Bkerki is preparing for a spiritual retreat on April 5, for the sake of Lebanon and its salvation from crises.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Saudi Arabia’s officials have been seeking aid from the United States to develop nuclear power for years to no avail and are currently exploring options to work with other countries, including China and Russia, The New York Timesreported on Saturday, citing sources. Unnamed officials with knowledge of the discussions told the newspaper that nuclear partnership talks between Saudi Arabia and the US have dragged on primarily due to Riyadh’s refusal to agree to the terms that would prevent it from developing nuclear weapons or helping other countries in this field. Therefore, Saudi officials are reportedly exploring options for cooperation with other countries, including China, Russia, or some ally of the US, the report indicated. It added that at the same time, Saudi officials are renewing pressure on Washington by offering to normalize relations with “Israel” in exchange for its cooperation in the construction of nuclear reactors and other guarantees, the report claimed. This comes a couple of days after Saudi Arabia’s King Salman authorized during a Cabinet session a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to grant the Arab country the status of a dialogue partnerin the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). King Salman also approved the signing of an MOU between the Kingdom and China on technical and vocational training. The decision came one day after Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, during which Xi said that China plans to maintain strong collaboration with Saudi Arabia on matters important for both countries, strengthening practical cooperation and humanitarian exchange. In January, Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud said that his country was intending to use its uranium reserves to produce low-enriched uranium and increase international cooperation in the nuclear sector. In 2018, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman said that the Kingdom would begin to develop its own nuclear weapons if Iran allegedly came into possession of nuclear arms.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Damascus and Cairo are in advanced discussions to restore diplomatic ties and a top-level meeting is expected, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. The newspaper reported that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al Sisi are set to meet in the future after the Islamic holy month of Ramadan ends. Syrian and Egyptian officials are expected to discuss Syria’s possible return to the Arab League over the weekend, according to the sources, adding that the Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in 2011. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Cairo on Saturday to hold talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry. The two officials held a closed-door meeting and had talks with the countries’ delegates, discussing a boost in bilateral communication channels. Mekdad’s visit to Cairo is the “first in more than 10 years” for a Syrian top diplomat and saw a closed-door meeting between the two ministers followed by discussions between the two countries’ delegations, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said. Several Arab countries rushed to Syria’s aid after the February 6 earthquake that killed tens of thousands in the war-torn country and neighboring Turkey. At the time, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called his Syrian counterpart Bashar Al-Assad in unprecedented support since El-Sisi took office in 2014. Shoukry then visited Damascus and met with Al-Assad on February 27 on the first trip of its kind in more than a decade. Discussions on Saturday focused on “supporting the Syrian people to restore (the country’s) unity and sovereignty over its whole territories,” the Egyptian Ministry said in a statement. Shoukry called for a “comprehensive political settlement to the Syrian crisis,” while reiterating Cairo’s backing for the United Nations special envoy’s efforts to resolve the conflict.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Russian army has thwarted a missile attack by the Ukrainian forces, destroyed two reconnaissance groups and downed three drones.

“Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems repelled joint missile strikes by Ukrainian forces towards southern Donetsk which included two missiles from US HIMARS missile launcher system and three projectiles,” spokesman for Russian Defense Ministry was quoted by Sputnik as saying Sunday, adding that all targets have been destroyed

The spokesman went on saying that Russian forces downed three Ukrainian drones and thwarted two hostile attempts to conduct reconnaissance by force, as a reconnaissance group was destroyed, and up to 20 militants were eliminated.

He said that in direction of Zaporozhe, an attempt by the Ukrainian forces to send a sabotage and reconnaissance group was thwarted as five militants were killed.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

The Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyanskiy, stated that Russia will be an honest mediator during its presidency of the UN Security Council, and that attempts to provoke it are doomed with failure, according to “Russia Today” news agency. Polyanskiy pointed out that “the United Nations is committed to international law and the rules of procedures that have been developed for decades, and does not adhere to the system founded on rules that the collective West is trying to impose in place of international law.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Al-Baath Arab Socialist Party in Yemen has strongly condemned the continued attacks of Zionist entity on Syria which target civilian airports and residential areas in a flagrant violation of international laws.

“These attacks confirm the aggressive approach of this entity and its violation of international law,” the Regional Leadership of the party said in a statement.

The statement called on the international community to assume its responsibilities in deterring the Israeli entity and obliging it to comply with the international laws and the UN Charter.

The statement stressed the failure of the Israeli occupation entity and its terrorist tools in the region to undermine the steadfastness of the Syrian people and the victories achieved by the Syrian Arab Army and its leadership against terrorism and its supporters.

It considered that the attacks of this entity on Syria constitute revenge for the defeat of its terrorist tools and its project against it, in light of the escalating indications and evidence confirming the return of Syria to play its pivotal role at the Arab, Islamic and international levels.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency