Author: Steven Sahiounie

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro showed optimism about talks with the opposition, saying that “the discussions are off to a good start.” Maduro showed an agreement signed by the government and the opposition delegates at talks hosted by Mexico on August 30, expressing his willingness to make a proposal for direct talks with the United States, two years after cutting diplomatic relations with it. The Venezuelan President spoke at the end of the first phase of the Mexico talks, which will resume in 3 weeks. Yesterday, Maduro said in a press conference that he will propose “opening direct talks with the…

China, which shares a border with Afghanistan, accused the US today of leaving a dreadful mess in its wake after withdrawing from Afghanistan. She recalled footage that has been widely circulated in the media, showing Afghan citizens attempting mass escapes at Kabul Airport. The death toll from the United States’ two-decade intervention in Afghanistan was strongly denounced by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. Chunying went on to say that what China saw in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan was that the US Army left behind troubles, divisions, and distressed families, as well as others who were exterminated as it withdrew. The…

Major General Fayez Al-Maamouri, the director of the Directorate of General Military Intelligence in Iraq, announced Tuesday that the Iraqi forces thwarted two terrorist attacks meant to be carried out on the tenth of Muharram against pilgrims. “The attacks were to be carried out in Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad, as well as areas in the Babylon Governorate,” Al-Maamouri clarified. Moreover, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that two global coalition convoys were attacked, revealing that the attack was carried out using improvised explosive devices in Babylon and Al Diwaniyah in southern Baghdad. In Diyala Governorate, the spokesman for the Iraqi Armed Forces, Yahya…

Israeli occupation forces began sudden drills to “check their readiness on the northern border with Lebanon, in case of a sudden event.” The spokesman for the Israeli occupation forces, Avichai Adraee, said: “The drills come within the framework of a series of tests by the Commander-in-Chief to examine the readiness of the Israeli forces.” Adraee added that “the drills were arranged in the annual plan for the current year.” On August 6, the military media showed scenes of the response of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon to the Israeli raids on open lands in al-Jarmaq and al-Shawakir. The resistance announced…

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg delivered Tuesday a press briefing on Afghanistan in Brussels. Stoltenberg described the situation in Afghanistan as “extremely serious and unpredictable.” “NATO’s focus right now is to ensure the safe departure of personnel from allied and partner countries and of the Afghans who have helped us,” he added. Stoltenberg also said the Taliban must respect and facilitate the safe departure of all those who wish to leave, adding that the Taliban have the responsibility to ensure that international terrorists do not regain a foothold in Afghanistan. He also claimed that “NATO allies and partners went into Afghanistan…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Vietnam are all examples of American attack, destruction and occupation. In each case, the countries were left in devastation, and only Vietnam has survived to rebuild and be restored. The Taliban have won the war, and the US has lost. Arm-chair quarterbacks are blaming everyone, including the American people for not wanting to continue an endless war. President George W. Bush made the decision to invade, with a two-pronged mission: to degrade the capability of Al Qaeda, and to bring western style democracy to a central eastern nation with…

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi exchanged congratulatory messages on the 50th anniversary of Chinese-Iranian diplomatic relations. “Since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between the two countries in 2016, mutual political trust has been strengthened and cooperation has increased,” divulged Jinping in his letter. The Chinese president also expressed his optimism for the future of Chinese-Iranian relations and his country’s willingness to “cooperate with the Iranian president to strengthen friendship and enhance cooperation in the interest of both countries.” On his end, Raisi stressed that Iran and China are “ancient civilizations,” and their friendship…

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday that Russia is satisfied with the peaceful transition of power in Afghanistan. Russia, through a Foreign Ministry statement, expressed its hope that future Afghan authorities would respect basic human rights. The statement indicated that it will make all efforts possible to help in terms of a settlement in Afghanistan. Regarding removing the Taliban from the list of designated terrorist groups, Russia said they must first verify that the new authorities are acting civilly, noting that the chaos at Kabul airport was caused by the Americans during their evacuation. Vladimir Jabbarov, the Russian First Deputy…

The Tunisian Ennahda movement announced today, Monday, that its Executive Office met and discussed the dangerous ramifications of President Kais Saied’s extraordinary measures, as well as his actions’ negative political and economic impacts on Tunisia’s democratic experience. The Movement’s executive office met to discuss a number of domestic and foreign issues, according to its statement. The first was that President Saied must lift the blockage on Parliament, allowing it to resume its regular function in accordance with the constitution. Second, the President should stop the violations he is committing, as they are endangering Tunisia’s long-standing democratic experience. Furthermore, Ennahda’s statement reminds President Saied…

The destructive earthquake that struck Haiti on Saturday left 1,297 victims so far, with 5,700 reported injured. The search for missing people is ongoing. The 7.2-magnitude earthquake left the Caribbean nation heavily damaged, with 13,694 homes and structures turned into rubbles and damaging another 13,785, displacing thousands of Haitians. Les Cayes, southwestern Haiti, has been especially damaged by the disaster. The scarcity of medical assistance only made matters worse as multiple hospitals were struck, leaving the remaining functional hospitals struggling with a large number of wounded citizens. This disaster comes with the threat of Tropical Depression Grace looming around, a hurricane…