Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The world’s largest producer of the illicit drug Captagon was put out of business on December 8, 2024, when Maher al-Assad flew out of Syria to exile in Russia. Maher and his brother, President Bashar al-Assad, and all the extended Assad family clan, fled the country at the same time to Russia and various places. This is the first part of a two-part investigation into the Assad family drug business, and the international connections to the Sicilian Mafia. On December 8, 2024, local residents in Latakia broke into Mounzer Assad’s car showroom and attached…

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the Russians “have the cards” in any negotiation to end the war in Ukraine, after branding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” who refuses to hold elections.The Ukrainian leader, who has exchanged barbs with Trump since he initiated a dramatic shift in Washington’s stance on the war, was due to meet US special envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv on Thursday. The United States has provided essential funding and arms to Ukraine, but Trump has rattled Kyiv and its European backers by opening talks with Moscow they fear could end the war on terms…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On February 27, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Palestinian representatives will meet in Riyadh to discuss a plan they are developing to counter the plan proposed by US President Donald J. Trump. Trump had floated a plan for the US to own Gaza and deport all the Palestinians while the prime seaside property is turned into a tourist destination. The plan was well received by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Israeli government has always wanted the original inhabitants of Palestine to be evicted, and over the decades has…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Lebanon has rejected any extension of the Israeli occupation of its territory. On Thursday, President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed that “Lebanon is intensifying diplomatic efforts to ensure Israel’s withdrawal by February 18.” Aoun said that the country was actively engaging with influential global powers, particularly the US and France, to secure a sustainable resolution. On Thursday, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer announced that Israel would retain control over five strategic high points inside Lebanon following the expiry of the ceasefire next Tuesday, and added “The army will not withdraw in the near future.” Steven…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator A new government will be formed in Syria on March 1. Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, announced the upcoming changes on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in the United Arab Emirates on February 12. “The government that will be launched March 1 will represent the Syrian people as much as possible and take its diversity into account,” Shaibani said. Last month, Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the armed rebel group HTS was appointed interim president. Shaibani said the new cabinet would be representative of the multi-ethnic, multi-confessional nature of the country, in line…

By: Mohamed Salton, IT engineer and AI expert. In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, a new rivalry has emerged, capturing the attention of tech enthusiasts, businesses, and researchers alike. The clash between DeepSeek and ChatGPT represents more than just a competition between two AI models—it’s a battle for dominance in the rapidly expanding AI industry. This exclusive article delves into the origins of this rivalry, the strengths and weaknesses of each contender, and the implications for the future of AI .– **The Rise of the Titans** The story begins with the meteoric rise of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a language model…

A performer at Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show unfurled a flag emblazoned with the words “Sudan” and “Gaza” in a protest over the two wars that are roiling the Middle East. Security at the stadium detained the performer shortly after waving the flag atop a car used as a prop in the performance. The New Orleans police said they are working out if any charges would be raised against the performer. The NFL said the person would be banned for life from NFL stadiums and events, while the company behind the halftime show said it was not part of…

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday no one had the power to remove Gazans from their war-devastated homeland, dismissing Donald Trump’s plan to expel the Palestinians and let the US take control.“No one has the power to remove the people of Gaza from their eternal homeland that has been around for thousands of years,” he told a late-night news conference at Istanbul airport before flying to Malaysia.For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page.“Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem belong to the Palestinians.” Trump’s proposal to oust more than two million Palestinians living in…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator When you ask a luxury hotel and casino developer to solve a land issue, you have to expect the solution will be to build a resort. It is not a surprise that an experienced and successful hotel and casino owner like President Donald J. Trump would propose his plan to turn Gaza into a tourist destination. Trump announced his plan for Gaza while standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, following their talks about the Gaza ceasefire and Iran. Netanyahu could not stop beaming while listening to the leader of…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On February 6, US President Trump’s deputy special envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, met with newly-elected President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Lebanon. The US delivered a strong and clear message that Trump will not tolerate influence of Hezbollah and its ally Amal over the formation of a new government. Salam was tasked more than three weeks ago with forming a government. Salam had allowed them to nominate four out of five Shi’ite ministers in his new cabinet, including the key role of finance minister.…