The Saudi Press Agency reported that the Crown Prince and the President of Russia held a detailed meeting in the presence of representatives from both countries.

At the beginning of the meeting, Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivered a speech in which he welcomed the Russian president to Saudi Arabia, noting the historic and strong ties between Saudi Arabia and Russia, noting that Russia was the first country. Recognizing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after the establishment of the third Saudi government.

He said: “Today we share many interests and many files that work together for the benefit of Russia, Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and the world,” “referring to the greatest achievements achieved in the past. Seven years between the two countries as an energy sector, agriculture sector or exchange.

He praised the coordination and political work between the two countries, which has helped to remove many tensions in the Middle East, and contributed to improving security and future coordination in political and security aspects, which will increase the country’s security. The security of the Middle East and the entire world, noting the present and future opportunities, calling them “great opportunities”, we must work together in the interests of our people, the region and the world.

The Crown Prince renewed his welcome to the President, describing him as a special guest and very dear to the government and people of Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, in a speech delivered by the Russian President, he noted the depth of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and thanked the Crown Prince for the invitation to visit the Kingdom.

Expressing his desire to meet the Crown Prince in Moscow, he praised the achievements and achievements and successes achieved between the Kingdom and Russia during the seven-year period.

President Putin pointed out that the Soviet Union was the first country to recognize the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noting the great development and qualitative leap in the quality of relations and their capabilities, and this was achieved due to the leadership of the two protectors. Holy Mosques and Crown Prince.

The Russian President noted the close cooperation between the two countries at many levels and sectors, such as politics and economy. He reiterated his gratitude to the Crown Prince for his invitation.

During the extended meeting, aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries, opportunities for joint cooperation and its development in various fields, recent developments in regional and international situations and efforts to do so were discussed. .

The Crown Prince and the Russian President also held a bilateral meeting during which they explored a number of common interests.

Today (Wednesday), the Israeli army has besieged the large city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, where heavy clashes have been taking place on the ground since the start of the war two months ago, between it and the Hamas movement.

Thousands of civilians were seen fleeing the area on foot, on motorcycles and in vehicles loaded with their belongings. They are now trapped near the border with Egypt in an area that is shrinking by the day and face a catastrophic humanitarian situation, according to Agence France-Presse.

The Israeli ground offensive began on October 27 against Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, but the Israeli military expanded the scope of its operations to cover the entire area two months after the start of the war. Hamas movement into Israel on October 7.

Israeli army chief Herzey Halevi said in a statement carried by Agence France-Presse: “Our forces have besieged Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. We have tightened security in many of Hamas’ strongholds in the northern Gaza Strip and are now carrying out operations against its strongholds in the south.

He added: “Our forces have found weapons in almost all buildings and houses and terrorists in many houses and are confronting them.”

Sources from the Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements told Agence France-Presse that they are facing violent clashes with Israeli forces to prevent access to Khan Younis and areas east of the city, as well as nearby refugee camps.

Hamas state media reported that “violent artillery attacks on civilian homes in the cities of Qusa, Abasan, al-Qarara and Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Yunis, left dozens of martyrs and wounded.”

Bombs were also dropped in other parts of the Gaza Strip.

The Ministry of Health in the government of Hamas announced that “6 martyrs and 14 others were injured in an Israeli airstrike on two houses in the Nusirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, in addition to killing the director of Gusa. His son was also killed in an Israeli attack on his home, Ramez al-Najjar, a government hospital.”

“We have no shelter.”

The Israeli military confirmed in a statement that it had killed “most senior leaders” in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. , specifically referring to the five leaders, said it had been “disbanded”.

Since fighting resumed on December 1 after a seven-day ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of people who had taken refuge in the south of the Gaza Strip have been forced to flee again to escape the bombing and the fighting that is spreading south. .

As Khan left Yunis en route to Rafah on the Egyptian border, Umm Mahmoud told Agence France-Presse: “Here we are wandering in God’s vast lands seeking refuge. “Looks like we have nowhere to shelter.”

Martin Griffiths, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator, said in a statement: “There is no safe place in Gaza. Not hospitals, shelters, refugee camps, children, medical staff or humanitarian workers. “This blatant mockery of the foundations of humanity must stop.”

The World Food Program stressed that the delivery of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip is “almost impossible” and that a resumption of fighting would “intensify the catastrophic humanitarian crisis that threatens the civilian population.”

Assisted Interruption

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that Rafah has become the only area in the Gaza Strip where humanitarian aid is distributed in the least amount. Northern areas are not possible.

The Israeli army drops leaflets on Khan Younis daily, warning of imminent bombings and urging residents to evacuate their neighborhoods. However, the United Nations, which estimates that 28 percent of the Gaza Strip is covered by these orders, deems it “impossible” to establish safe zones for civilians, as defined by Israel.

On Tuesday, scenes of chaos were repeated at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the largest hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, where patients are being treated on the ground. Video clips from Agence France-Presse showed the injured in ambulances, others in vehicles or being carried by their relatives.

The fighting in the Gaza Strip has displaced 1.9 million people, or 85 percent of the population, and more than half of their homes have been destroyed or damaged, according to the United Nations.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that 16,248 people have been killed since the war began on October 7, and more than 70 percent of them were women and children. In Israel, Hamas attacks killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and Israeli officials.

Israel said 138 hostages taken to the Gaza Strip on the day of the attack were still being held after 105 hostages were released during the ceasefire, including 80 released in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners by the Hebrew government.

The army says 82 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of the war in Gaza.

The Korean leader broke down in tears when he was told that mothers are willing to sacrifice themselves for the future of their children.

This is not the first time Kim has cried during a speech. Last October, Kim broke down in tears while speaking about the country’s hardships, forcing her to stop speaking and take off her glasses in the middle of a crowd. of the people.

In a speech during the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party, the North Korean leader spoke of the difficulties the country was facing, and he also announced at the time that his country had recorded “zero” infections with the coronavirus. , I wish health to the Koreans.

North Korea held a meeting to hand out gifts to participants of a recent national mothers’ conference, in an apparent move to bolster their loyalty amid a declining birth rate, state media reported Wednesday.

North Korea last held a national conference for mothers in 2012, while the first was held in November 1961.

The Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party awarded participants large gifts “associated with intense paternal affection” for leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim called for measures to stem North Korea’s declining birth rate during the Fifth National Mothers’ Conference.

According to data published on the website of the United Nations Population Fund, North Korea’s total fertility rate, the number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime, will reach 1.8 in 2023.

This ratio is well below the alternative level of 2.1, which would have kept North Korea’s population stable at 26 million.