Author: Steven Sahiounie

The trade agreement between economic superpowers China and the United States will lead to the growth of global trade disputes in the next two years, says Russian presidential adviser Maksim Oreshkin. In an interview with Russia 24 TV channel, the former Russian economic development minister said the trade deal raises a number of questions. “We see the Europeans’ reaction to the US-China deal, we see that the Chinese pledge to increase purchases of American goods causes very serious concerns,” said Oreshkin. He added that there is a question about China’s switch to American products, and whether it means additional barriers on…

A recent survey of over 5,000 Afghans has concluded that more individuals favor than oppose the total removal of both US and NATO troops from the country after a peace agreement is reached concerning the structure of post-war Afghanistan. The American Institute of War and Peace Studies polled 5,038 Afghans in 34 provinces and found that approximately 46% of those surveyed were in support of US and NATO troops exiting Afghanistan once a deal is agreed upon, while only 33% would prefer the troops to remain. According to the Associated Press, 61% of participants responded to the poll online, and…

By Paul Antonopoulos With Turkey failing to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power in their drive to forge a regional hegemonic order under their rulership, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has set his eyes on other Eastern Mediterranean issues, primarily aggression against Cyprus, Greece and Libya. With the Turkish military publishing maps that show Greece’s eastern Aegean islands belonging to Turkey and the Turkish Defense Minister demanding 16 of these islands be demobilized of the Greek military, the Turkish Defense Ministry publishing maps of Cyprus belonging to Turkey on their social media cover photos, and redrawing the maritime borders of the Eastern Mediterranean so that…

Syrian and Russian warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes on militants’ positions in the so-called Greater Idlib region in the country’s northwest. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Russian warplanes carried out 40 airstrikes, while Syrian warplanes and attack helicopters conducted 54 airstrikes. The Syrian and Russian airstrikes targeted the following areas: The towns of Hass, Maarrat Dibsah, Abu Jurif, Khan Assubul, Sarjah, Talmenes, Hantoteen, Ehsim, Deir Sunbul, Ma’ar Shoreen, Kafar Roma, al-Ghadfa, Benin as well as the cities of Saraqip and Ma`arat al-Nu`man in the eastern and southeastern Idlib countryside.The towns of Mansoura, Khan…

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued its advance in southeast Idlib, penetrating terrorists ’ defenses and capturing several new towns in the late hours of January 24. Pro-government sources said that the army captured the towns of Deir Gharbi, Tqana and Ma’ar Shimmareen following clashes with al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies. Syrian and Russian warplanes provided army troops with close air support. On another direction, to the west of Abu Duhur Air Base, the army advanced, allegedly imposing control of the towns of Abu Jurif and Kursiyan. A few hours ago, the SAA resumed its large-scale ground operation in…

Yemeni army forces, backed by allied fighters from the Popular Committees, have reportedly seized strategic areas in the country’s capital province of Sana’a from Saudi-backed militiamen loyal to former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. Lebanon-based Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, citing Yemeni military sources, reported on Friday that Yemeni soldiers and their allies have managed to wrest control over key areas in the Nihm district, which lies east of the capital Sana’a. The sources added that the areas cover an expanse of some 3,000 square kilometers, and oversee regions in the neighboring Ma’rib province. The report added that Yemeni army soldiers and fighters the…

Iraqis have rallied in Baghdad in massive numbers to call for an end to US military presence in the country following high-profile assassinations and airstrikes targeting anti-terror forces. Sayed Sadiq al-Hashemi, the director of the Iraqi Center for Studies, said more than 2.5 million took part in the demonstrations on Friday. Since the early hours on Friday, huge crowds of men, women and children of all ages converged on the Jadriyah neighborhood near Baghdad University. The protesters were seen carrying banners and chanting slogans calling for the expulsion of US forces. “Get out, get out, occupier!” some shouted, while others chanted, “Yes to…

Thirty-four US service members have been diagnosed with concussions and traumatic brain injuries after Iran conducted ballistic missile strikes on two bases in Iraq with half of them still undergoing medical treatment, Department of Defence spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a press briefing on 24 January. “With regard to the number of recent injuries here is the latest update 34 total members have diagnosed with concussions and TBI [traumatic brain injury]”, Hoffman told reporters. According to Defence Department data, eight service members arrived on Friday morning in the United States for continued medical treatment, another nine are treated in Germany…

In the last eight months, US troop levels in the Middle East have increased by one-third, and new arrivals can expect to be there “for quite a while,” a top US general said earlier this week. “You’re here because I requested that you come,” US Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, who commands US Central Command (CENTCOM), told sailors and Marines aboard the USS Bataan in the Red Sea on Thursday, according to AP. “I’m not sure how long you’re going to stay in the theater. We’ll work that out as we go ahead. Could be quite a while, could be less than that,…

By: RICHARD SILVERSTEIN Facebook has a problem on its hands: its Whatapp messaging service (which was originally an Israeli startup) has become the go-to app for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his efforts to smear and sabotage his enemies, who are legion. The Guardian reported today that Jeff Bezos and MBS had been carrying on a Whatsapp conversation in the weeks since they’d first met each other in California. You’ll recall that Bezos also employed Jamal Khashoggi, one of the Saudi regime’s deepest irritants, as a columnist. In one of their conversations, MBS sent Bezos a message containing a link to a…