Author: Steven Sahiounie

It is stated that a firm position against NATO is only achievable if the Turkish armed forces take full control of the Incirlik and Kurecik bases and the country pulls out of NATO Turkey’s Patriotic Party has called for shutting down the Incirlik and Kurecik military bases in the wake of a memorandum signed by Ankara, Helsinki and Stockholm, which makes it possible for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. “We would like to reiterate a decision that the Patriotic Party made on February 5, 2022. A firm position against NATO is only achievable if the Turkish armed forces take…

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that Abu Hamzah al-Yemeni, a senior leader of al-Qaeda-affiliated Horas al-Din, was killed in the June 27 drone strike on the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, but Jihadi sources are denying this claim. The strike targeted a man who was traveling alone on a motorcycle on a road linking Idlib city center with the town of Qmenas, some four kilometers to the southeast. The man was killed on the spot. Just a few hours after the strike, a statement by the CENTCOM identified the man as al-Yemeni without elaborating on his role within…

The country becomes second to acknowledge the Donbass republics’ independence, after Russia Syria has recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR, respectively), which announced their intention to break away from Ukraine in 2014 and were officially recognized by Russia in February. Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) announced the decision on Wednesday afternoon, citing sources within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Damascus. “Embodying the common will and desire to establish relations in all fields, the Syrian Arab Republic has decided to recognize the independence and sovereignty of both the Lugansk People’s Republic and the…

Estonia set to prohibit export of certain goods to Russia, even for individuals, with fines, jail terms for violators Russia on Tuesday warned citizens against traveling to neighboring Estonia, where stringent curbs on the movement of goods and heavy penalties are set to kick in starting next week. From July 10, Estonia will ban the export of certain goods to Russia, even for individuals, with strict punishments for violators, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The goods include some types of food products, furniture, thermal imagers, drones, bags, shoes, and electronics that cost more than €750, as well…

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday urged the United States to strictly abide by the One-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and cease any form of official exchanges with Taiwan. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to a query on the so-called U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade. “China firmly opposes all forms of official interaction with the Taiwan region by countries having diplomatic ties with China, including negotiating or concluding agreements with implications of sovereignty and of an official nature. This position is consistent and clear,” Zhao told Xinhua. There…

It is stated that Russia has always respected host countries’ actions Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is happy to address any forum, but Russia couldn’t care less about whether he will attend the upcoming G20 summit in Indonesia or not, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. “Zelensky is an indispensable part of any gathering now,” Lavrov told a news conference after meeting with colleagues from the Caspian countries. “Apparently, in the intervals between receiving instructions from Washington, he is happy to deliver tearful speeches whatever the format,” of a gathering “might be”. “Russia couldn’t care less” about whether he…

Scandinavian countries will become NATO observers at the upcoming summit Turkey will support inviting Finland and Sweden into NATO at the alliance’s upcoming summit in Spain, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto announced on Tuesday after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. The three countries signed a memorandum of understanding at the meeting, organized with the support of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. “The concrete steps for our accession to NATO will be agreed among NATO allies over the next two days, but that decision is now imminent,” said Niinisto. “I am pleased that this stage…

The diplomatic mission staff being kicked out are accused of working for “foreign intelligence” Bulgaria will expel 70 employees of Russian diplomatic missions, the country’s Prime Minister Kirill Petkov told journalists on Tuesday, claiming that many of the staff members worked “for foreign intelligence services.” The prime minister refused to provide any further details about the decision, citing confidentiality. “I can say that a large part of [the diplomats] have worked for foreign intelligence services and their diplomatic role was just a cover,” Petkov said. He stressed that the measure should not be considered an act of aggression against the Russian people.…

Foreign Minister Ann Linde states that Sweden and Turkey have progressed in their talks regarding the country’s NATO accession. Sweden and Turkey have made progress in discussions on the Nordic country’s NATO membership, according to Foreign Minister Ann Linde on Tuesday. In an interview for Svenska Dagbladet daily, Linde stated, “We expect that something positive could happen today, but it might also take longer,” explaining that further progress can be made at the current Madrid summit. Yesterday, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson expressed hope that Ankara’s objections to Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO would be resolved prior to the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid.…

At least 50 people were found dead inside a tractor-trailer in San Antonio on Monday after a presumed migrant smuggling attempt, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has detained three individuals who are “believed to be part of the smuggling conspiracy,” the spokesperson said Tuesday. President Biden said in a statement Tuesday that “the tragic loss of life in San Antonio, Texas that took place yesterday is horrifying and heartbreaking.” “While we are still learning all the facts about what happened … initial reports are that this tragedy was caused by smugglers or human traffickers who…