Author: Steven Sahiounie

Despite US sanctions and obstructions, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is 98% done. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is expected to be done in August Matthias Warnig, Executive Director of Nord Stream 2 AG, the contracting company responsible for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that is set to transfer gas from Russia to Europe, predicted that the project should be done by late August. In a statement to German Handelsblatt on Sunday, he stated that 98% of the work is done. The Nord Stream 2 project oversees the building of a 55 billion cubic meter-per-year pipeline from the Russian coast…

A joint statement by Saudi Arabia and Oman affirms the “continuation of their efforts to find a solution to the Yemeni crisis and to alleviate the human suffering of the Yemeni people.” Both sides vowed to increase the pace of economic cooperation Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman released a joint statement, affirming that they will “continue their efforts to find a comprehensive political solution to end the Yemeni crisis and alleviate the human suffering of the Yemeni people.” The statement also stressed the importance of cooperation on the “Iranian nuclear and missile file, dealing seriously and effectively with…

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov points out that the Sudanese Authorities are “ready to begin procedures to ratify an agreement for Russia to establish a Russian naval base in Sudan.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated that the Sudanese authorities are “ready to begin the procedures of ratifying an agreement for Russia to establish a logistic center for the Russian Navy in Sudan.” Following the discussions with the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, on Monday, Lavrov pointed out that the process “will be performed following the established procedures of the Sudanese Parliament.” Lavrov indicated that,…

Thousands of citizens of Cuba, which has been under a US embargo for almost 60 years, preventing the arrival of humanitarian aid to the island nation during the pandemic, took to the streets on Sunday in protests driven by food shortages, high prices, COVID-19 restrictions and a lethargic vaccination rollout. As images have surfaced showing thousands of Cubans flooding the streets in protest against poor economic conditions and the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez called for international intervention led by the United States “to protect the Cuban people from a bloodbath.” Suarez attended a demonstration in the Little Havana…

The Gulf sheikdom unexpectedly rejected an OPEC+ proposal to extend current oil production cuts until the end of 2022 earlier this month, calling its current production quota “unfair” and suggesting the market was in “dire need of higher production.” Abu Dhabi’s rift with its traditional Saudi partners and other OPEC powers on keeping previously agreed upon production cuts in place until the end of next year is connected to the sheikdom’s realization that oil demand won’t last forever, and that it may be a ‘now or never’ moment to try to maximize profits while prices are strong, sources briefed on…

The previously unknown holes in Estonia’s wreck, discovered in 2020, spurred the Swedish Accident Investigation Board to reconsider its stance and launch new dives to what is formally considered an underwater grave for 852 passengers to re-examine the fateful ferry. A ten-day joint study at the sinking site of the Estonia ferry, one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century, has been launched in search of answers given newly emerged circumstances, national Swedish broadcaster SVT reported. The new study featuring Swedish and Estonian vessels spearheaded by the Swedish Accident Investigation Board will determine whether further measures are necessary to…

Cubans took to the streets on Sunday to protest food shortages and poor economic conditions that have deepened inside the Communist state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel called the demonstrations an attempt to destabilize the Caribbean nation by “anti-revolutionary mercenaries.” The New York Times is facing backlash for equating a “freedom” call among Cuban protesters with “anti-government slogans” following its Sunday piece. “Shouting ‘Freedom’ and other anti-government slogans, hundreds of Cubans took to the streets in cities around the country on Sunday to protest food and medicine shortages, in a remarkable eruption of discontent not seen in nearly…

In a temporary shift in policy, the UK government announced in its Spending Review last November that 2021 overseas aid expenditure would be 0.5 percent of national income – a 29 percent reduction on the 0.7 percent target that was met annually from 2013 to 2020. A group of philanthropists has announced a move to offset the fallout from the UK government’s decision to reduce this year’s spending on overseas aid from 0.7 percent of national income to 0.5 percent, according to the Sunday Times. An emergency funding bill to the tune of £93.5mln ($129.8) will be footed by the…

A Haitian-born doctor with decades-old ties to Florida has been detained as a suspected mastermind behind the murder of President Jovenel Moise. Meanwhile, Washington has sent an expert team to Haiti to help with the probe. Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, was arrested and named the “central figure” in the case, becoming the third US-linked suspect in the alleged plot. It is unclear if he actually holds US citizenship, but according to the Miami Herald, a man with that name who “identifies” as a medical professional has over a dozen various businesses registered in his name in Florida over the past 20 years. Haitian police believe Sanon…

Beijing has once again called on the US to desist from provocative behavior after an American warship entered the waters around the Paracel Islands on the fifth anniversary of a court ruling against Chinese claims to the region. In a statement on Monday, the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army said it had dealt with an American warship, the USS ‘Benfold’, which had entered the waters around the Paracel Islands without China’s approval. “We urge the United States to immediately stop such provocative actions,” it said in a statement, adding that the US must refrain from further moves that…