Author: Steven Sahiounie

The River Mersey is one of Europe’s most iconic waterways. On top of being a major hub for shipbuilding and industry, it’s been a source of inspiration for a host of writers, artists and musicians over the years. If all goes to plan, the Mersey could also play a major role in the U.K.’s sustainable future. Authorities in Liverpool want the river to be home to a huge tidal power project which, they say, could power as many as 1 million homes, generating thousands of jobs for the region in the process. If built, the facility would have a capacity of at…

The Russian army shot down four Ukrainian missiles that were targeting the Russian region of Belgorod. “Our air defense system over the city of Belgorod and the Belgorod region shot down 4 missiles, and the damage is currently being determined on the ground,” the district governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, wrote on his Telegram channel, according to Tass Agency. He added  “There is also damage from rocket debris in two residential buildings.” Source: SANA

The Israeli occupation forces detained 18 Palestinians this morning in raids at their homes in the occupied territories, according to various sources. Nine people were detained from the Hebron governorate in the south of the West Bank, including two siblings from the town of Tarqoumia, and two other siblings from the town of Dura. Four were from the town of Beit Kahel and the ninth was from Hebron city. In Bethlehem, also in the south of the West Bank, the Israeli forces detained a 16-year-old child from Aida refugee camp and a 23-year-old former prisoner from the town of Nahalin.…

Trade between the countries has been cratering amid Washington’s increasing sanctions against Moscow Exports of American goods to Russia have continued to tumble, dropping to a record low of $44.6 million in January 2023, data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis shows. According to the report, which was issued last week, exports have more than halved compared with the previous month, when deliveries amounted to $112.8 million. In annual terms, the volume of exports crashed nearly 90% from $396.8 million in January 2022. Data shows the export figure was lower only in January 1992, at $1.3 million, a figure…

China and the United States must cooperate for the common good, since deterrence and oppression does not benefit either side, Premier of China’s State Council Li Qiang said on Monday. “China and the US can cooperate, China and the US must cooperate, China and the US have great potential for cooperation, while deterrence and suppression will not benefit anyone,” Li Qiang at a press conference after the first session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) The head of the Chinese government emphasized that the issue of severing economic ties between Beijing and Washington is regularly aggravated, however, it is unclear…

A full investigation, not ludicrous leaks to the press, is needed in the high-profile case, Nikolay Patrushev said Russia does not know who blew up the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines last year, and wants to see a thorough investigation to get the answer, its most senior security official has said. Nikolay Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, also dismissed a claim that Western intelligence services suspect a private “pro-Ukrainian group” of blowing up the pipelines as being meant for people lacking in critical thinking skills. “The narrative that the US and the UK were not involved in this terrorist…

Moscow is reportedly using ship-to-ship transfers to shorten routes and boost exports to new customers Saudi Arabia has ramped up imports of Russian diesel by both direct and ship-to-ship (STS) transfers, Reuters reported on Friday, citing tracking data and traders. The Gulf state received its first cargoes totaling 190,000 tons of Russian fuel in the ports of Ras Tanura and Jeddah last month, the outlet said. Russia started exporting diesel to its OPEC+ ally after the EU and G7 embargo on seaborne imports of Russian refined products went into effect on February 5. Two cargoes with a total…

Trading companies say Washington “actively encouraged” them to re-engage in shipping crude, the outlet reported. The US administration called on the world’s largest commodity traders to shed concerns over deals with price-capped Russian oil in an effort to ensure global supplies, the Financial Times reported citing sources familiar with the matter. Last year, G7 countries and the EU banned imports of seaborne Russian oil, but sales to countries that haven’t joined the sanctions are still permitted at a price limit of $60 per barrel. While the White House hasn’t opposed trading Russian crude in compliance with the price cap, major…

“Ukrainians keep on supplying endless reserves” Prigozhin said The situation is Artyomovsk (known as Bakhmut in Ukraine) is very difficult, with the Ukrainian army receiving “endless reserves,” Wagner PMC founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Sunday. “The situation in Bakhmut is difficult, very difficult, with the enemy fighting for each meter. And the closer we are approaching the city center the fiercer fighting is growing, the more artillery and tank being used against us. Ukrainians keep on supplying endless reserves. But we are moving forward and will continue to move forward and we will not cover the glory of Russian arms…

The agency quoted the Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying that the South Korean military had detected an unspecified missile fired near the coastal city of Sinpo North Korea on Sunday fired two cruise missiles, Yonhap reported, citing North Korean media. What the news agency said was “strategic cruise missiles” were fired from a submarine. Also, Yonhap quoted the Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying that the South Korean military had detected an unspecified missile fired near the coastal city of Sinpo. Source: Tass