Author: Steven Sahiounie

The value of trade exchange between the United States and China in the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 13.1%, to reach $161.587 billion. This came according to data released today, Thursday, by the General Administration of Customs in China. Despite the decline in trade exchange, the United States ranked in the first three places among China’s main trading partners, along with ASEAN and the European Union. The data showed that exports from China to the United States fell from January to March of this year by 17 percent year on year, amounting to $115.237 billion. Meanwhile, the United States exported…

Oil prices fell slightly, in Thursday’s trading, after a recent rise, and the decline comes amid the market’s anticipation of the “OPEC” monthly report, which is scheduled to be issued today. And by 10:58 Moscow time, US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell by 0.04%, to $83.23 a barrel. While Brent crude futures fell by 0.05% to $87.33 a barrel, according to Bloomberg data. The OPEC monthly report gives an indication of the situation in the global energy markets, through which experts and analysts try to derive indications of the direction of demand and supply in the future. This article…

The volume of trade exchange between Russia and China in the first quarter of 2023 increased by 38.7% and amounted to $53.845 billion, according to data from China’s Main Customs Administration. In the period covered by the data, China exported goods to Russia worth $24.073 billion, an increase of 47.1% compared to the same period in 2022, while imports from Russia increased by 32.6%, reaching $29.772 billion. Separately, last March, the level of trade between the two countries reached $20.064 billion, as Russia exported $11.02 billion worth of goods and goods to China, while it imported $9.044 billion worth of…

The Turkish newspaper Dunya, which specializes in economic affairs, revealed that a leading Turkish company in the reinforcing steel sector will enter the Egyptian market during the coming period. The newspaper indicated that the company will sign an agreement next week to start production in Egypt with a local partner, and indicated that a delegation from the Turkish Rebar Union will visit Egypt during the coming period. The head of the Turkish Rebar Union, Gokhan Turhan, said that choosing Egypt as the first country to be visited by a trade delegation from the union will be an important step in…

The Italian government has approved the sale of the ISAB refinery in Sicily, which is owned by Russia’s largest private oil company, Lukoil, to Cyprus’ GOI Energy, a branch of private equity group Argus, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources. In January, Lukoil reported that it had reached a preliminary agreement with the company for the sale of the plant. However, the transaction had to be approved by the Italian authorities as it fell under the ‘Golden Power’ regulations, due to being part of an industry considered to be of strategic importance. The plant is one of the largest industrial…

The former VP of EU’s parliament has been accused of accepting cash to lobby the bloc on behalf of Qatar. Greek MEP Eva Kaili has been released on Wednesday following a ruling by a Belgian judge to transfer her from custody into house arrest until she is put on trial, AFP reported. “She is under house arrest in Belgium and placed under electronic surveillance. The investigating judge has just made the decision,” Antoon Schotsaert, a magistrate at the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office, told AFP. Kaili was charged last December for “corruption allegations involving Qatar” at the World Cup and was placed in custody since.…

Syria and Saudi Arabia welcomed the resumption of consular services and air flights between the two countries, affirming the necessity of boosting security and combating terrorism with all its forms and organizations. “In the framework of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the Arab causes, and to boost the interests of the Arab countries and people, and in response to an invitation by his highness, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Syrian Foreign Minister, Fayssal Mikdad visited the Kingdom today,” A joint press statement said at the conclusion of the visit of Mr. Mikdad to Saudi…

Ivica Dacic stressed that “the Republic of Serbia adheres to its policy of military neutrality and complies with the conclusions of the National Security Council of February last year” Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic dismissed as groundless allegations that Serbia is making deliveries of weapons to Ukraine, the Balkan country’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday. “Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic refutes the allegation about deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine published by the British Reuters news agency and reproduced by some Serbian media outlets. Minister Dacic has stated that Serbia respects domestic and…

The Prisoners’ Information Office says the prisoner will undergo surgery to extract a part of his lung after his health condition deteriorated. The Prisoners’ Information Office confirmed that cancer-stricken Palestinian prisoner Walid Daqqa will undergo surgery on Wednesday in the “Barzilai” hospital to extract a part of his lung as a result of severe infection and contamination. In a statement, the Office said Daqqa will undergo surgery after his health condition deteriorated. A few days ago, the prisoner’s wife, Sanaa Salameh, said, after visiting him for only a quarter of an hour, that her husband was still in critical condition.…

Doubting their authenticity, Russia warns that the leak could be part of the “hybrid war” the US is engaged in against Russia. Following the leak of US “top secret” documents, CBS News reported, on Wednesday, that the Pentagon significantly reduced the number of government-employed officials that receive classified information. According to a US official that preferred to remain anonymous but was cited by the news outlet, the leaked papers were first printed and then photographed before being circulated online. This suggested that it had to be someone who had access to such classified information, which is limited to about 1,000 people. Moreover, a limited…