Author: Steven Sahiounie

The initial hopes that vaccine development would be the remedy against Covid-19 are fading, blown up by the spread of the Delta variant. RT asks experts whether this outcome could have been foreseen and avoided. It’s been well over a year since the global fight against the coronavirus started, but matters of concern are still mounting. The growing number of infections has led to new lockdowns and mass testing, while plans to make vaccination compulsory have been causing tensions and protests. Is the fight against Covid-19 in trouble? “I think we rushed in lifting restrictions like mask mandates, as we…

An official in the Iraqi oil sector revealed that Baghdad signed contracts with foreign oil companies to drill 131 new oil wells as part of Iraq’s future plan to expand crude oil production capacities to 8 million barrels per day by the end of 2027. The Director-General of the Iraqi Drilling Company at the Ministry of Oil, Bassem Abdul Karim, said Iraq has signed contracts with foreign oil licensing companies to drill 131 new oil wells and reclaim scores of wells currently operating in the Kirkuk, Baghdad, Basra, Maysan, and Nasiriyah oil fields. The official stated that the Iraqi drilling…

The Maariv newspaper revealed yesterday, Saturday, that the number of martyrs from the “Hamas” Movement was “much less” than they estimated at the end of the “Guardian of the Walls” Operation. MK Zvi Hauser and former Head of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee said that “it should be acknowledged that the factor of eliminating the enemy, which the chief of staff established as an essential element in the process of deterrence, did not achieve its motives.” He added, “It cannot be evaded that, because of the scope of fire targeting ‘Israel’ and the war resources expended by the Israeli army, the…

Russian Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, announced that the “Taliban” Movement announced that it will guarantee the security of the Russian embassy and the other embassies in Kabul. “We have had such guarantees for a long time, but this is not just about Russia. It guarantees everyone’s safety,” Kabulov said. He stressed that Moscow has “no plans to evacuate the Russian embassy in Kabul”, adding that the members of staff are “calmly carrying out their duties”. Russia is working with other countries to hold an emergency UN Security Council session on Afghanistan as the Taliban completes its military takeover…

The Tunisian Tayyar Chaabi party expressed its absolute rejection of any foreign intervention in the country, seeing that Ennahda Movement’s actions in this regard are “conclusive evidence of insisting on national treason.” In its statement, the party stressed the need to prepare the military for a sovereignty battle. The party renewed its call to all countries and the United States in particular, to respect the Tunisian people’s sovereignty and not meddle in Tunisia’s internal affairs. According to the statement, Tayyar Chaabi also warned against the Turkish role which “mastered” in exploiting the internal crises of Arab countries and tried to…

Today, Sunday, a delegation from the “Taliban” Movement arrived at the Presidential Palace in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to hold talks with the Afghan Presidency regarding a transfer of power, according to Reuters. The Afghan Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal confirmed earlier today that a “peaceful transfer of power” would take place. “Afghans should not worry (…) There will be no attack on Kabul. There will be a peaceful transition of power,” Mirzakwal said in a video message. For his part, an official at the Afghan Presidential Palace said, “President Ashraf Ghani is holding emergency talks with US diplomat Khalilzad and…

Washington has begun to evacuate its Embassy staff in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Sunday, following news of the “Taliban” capturing parts of the city, according to Reuters. One official told the news agency that a small number of people are leaving the embassy now and others are preparing to leave. The embassy is still operational, however. Embassy staff had been told on Friday to begin “destroying sensitive material,” according to Bloomberg. The US airforce also announced yesterday that they were sending aircraft to Afghanistan to move “thousands” of US civilians before Kabul “falls to the Taliban” and salvage US equipment, which they are worried…

An Afghan presidency source said Sunday President Ashraf Ghani agreed to resign in light of the deteriorating situation in the country. He clarified that rumors of appointing former Minister of Interior Ali Ahmad Jalali as interim Prime Minister are “rumors.” President Ghani agreed to resign, the source added to Sputnik. He said it is improbable for fighting to break out in Kabul because the Taliban did not intend to take Kabul “by force,” as per a statement issued on Sunday. He also denied news about Abdul Ghani Baradar being appointed as president, labeling them as “rumors.” The source said the…

The Iraqi Armed Forces started, along with the Popular Mobilization Forces, a large-scale search operation for ISIS remnants throughout Nineveh in northern Iraq. Additionally, the Iraqi Armed Forces and the PMF started the second day of Muharram Operations to search and secure Tarmiyah, a town in Salah al-Din Governorate. The joint forces made advances backed by the Iraqi armed forces’ aircraft to secure the northern Baghdad areas from ISIS remnants, which were aiming to launch attacks on the areas during Muharram to target pilgrims. The Iraqi Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee declared its intention to discuss six issues, the most…

The Taliban ordered its forces Sunday to enter Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, as per a statement it published on its official site. According to the statement, the Taliban mobilized its forces to Kabul to prevent looting after local police deserted their posts. “The people of Kabul should not fear the mujahids, and no mujahid is allowed to enter someone’s house or harass them,” the statement added. A Taliban spokesman said the police and officials in Kabul fled, “which poses a problem for maintaining law and order.” Earlier today, the Taliban captured its 30th province, leaving only four under the Afghan government’s control.…