Author: Steven Sahiounie

By:Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Palestinian resistance group Hamas attacked Israel with rockets coming from South Lebanon on April 6. The resistance was responding to the repeated attacks on Palestinians praying inside the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan. Extremist Jewish settlers had insisted on going to the Mosque, against long standing traditions, which provoked tensions and the Israeli police used brutal tactics on the Palestinians praying, including beating women and arresting 400. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s extremist government opposes the creation of a Palestinian state and supports the expansion of Jewish settlements…

Maria Zakharova stressed that Moscow views this decision by Oslo as a “deliberate escalation of animosity toward Russia” Norway, by announcing the expulsion of 15 Russian diplomats, has confirmed its status as a country hostile to Russia and this decision will be followed by a tough response, a commentary by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova published on Friday said. “A serious blow was dealt to Russian-Norwegian relations. Again and again, Norway confirms its status as a country hostile to Russia. These actions won’t be left without a reaction on our part, we will provide a tough response,” the diplomat…

Former US president asked for a delay after it transpired plaintiff Jean Carroll’s defense had been funded by a Democratic donor A federal judge has refused to postpone Donald Trump’s trial involving a lawsuit by former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, who is accusing the former US President of rape in the mid-1990s. The Trump defense asked for deferment after finding out that a major Democratic Party donor had covered some of Carroll’s legal fees. Judge Lewis Kaplan did, however, allow Trump’s attorneys on Thursday to gather more information as to who exactly is picking up the tab for…

The top diplomat recalled that Poland had amassed major military contingents on the border with Belarus Russia in its military-political and diplomatic planning takes into account attempts by the West to foment conflicts near its borders, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference following his visit to Uzbekistan on Friday. “We stay on guard, we see this (Western attempts to provoke conflicts near Russia’s borders – TASS), and we take it all into account in our planning in political, military, diplomatic and other respects,” he said. The West has tried to drag the Georgian leadership into creating a…

Israel has closed the airspace near its northern and southern fronts out of fears of new attacks by Iran’s allies on Quds Day. The Airports Authority informed civilian pilots on April 13 that flying is prohibited within six kilometers of the borders of Syria, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip. The ban, which will remain in effect until April 16 afternoon, applies primarily to agriculture and other light aircraft, as airlines never fly in such close proximity to the two fronts. Last week, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) deployed additional Iron Dome air defense batteries across the country following warnings received…

Mass marches started in the capital city of Tehran to commemorate the International Quds Day, and to express support for the Palestinian people and rejection of the Israeli occupation. The march in Tehran began with the massive participation of Iranian citizens, and carried the slogan “Palestine is the focus of the unity of the Islamic world, Jerusalem is on the threshold of liberation “, IRNA news agency reported . Participants raised Palestinian flags and banners praising the Palestinian cause, calling for supporting Palestinian people, and denouncing the Zionist crimes. The Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in a press statement, “The…

Jack Teixeira was charged with unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information Jack Teixeira, the US airman suspected of leaking hundreds of classified documents online, appeared for the first time in a Boston court on Friday. The alleged leaker faced formal charges of unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information. Teixeira, an enlisted airman first class and member of the 102nd Intelligence Wing based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was arrested at his home by the FBI on Thursday. The leaked Pentagon documents had been circulating online for weeks already before drawing the attention of…

Mikhail Mishustin extended words of appreciation to everyone participating in the preparation of measures to counter sanctions The West did not introduce restrictions against Russia on the fly, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Friday at the joint meeting of boards of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development. “Colleagues, thank you. Exactly we together managed under the guidance of our President to withstand in this challenging time, when more than a myriad of sanctions was adopted against our country with a single goal: to ruin its economy and actually deprive the population of opportunities for normal…

It is noted that talks between Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and his Chinese colleague are planned during the visit China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu will visit Russia on April 16-18 on his first official visit abroad following his appointment and meet with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. “Defense Minister of the People’s Republic of China Colonel General Li Shangfu will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation from April 16 to 18, 2023. This is his first trip abroad following the appointment as the head of the Chinese military agency in…

Reuters said earlier citing secret Pentagon documents leaked onto the Internet that the Serbian government was looking at possibly supplying lethal weapons to the Ukrainian army Serbia will not supply a single bullet either to Ukraine or Russia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday. “I want to strengthen our army and our defense industry. We will never send a single bullet either to Ukraine or to Russia,” he vowed. Reuters said earlier citing secret Pentagon documents leaked onto the Internet that the Serbian government was looking at possibly supplying lethal weapons to the Ukrainian army. According to the documents,…