Author: Steven Sahiounie

Russia has announced plans to send two nuclear-capable Tu-160 bombers to South Africa in what observers say would be the first such deployment on the African continent. The Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber, nicknamed the White Swan in Russia, is a supersonic Soviet-era aircraft capable of carrying up to 12 short-range nuclear missiles and of flying 12,000 kilometers non-stop without refueling. Cited by Interfax on Monday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it will fly two Tu-160s, an Ilyushin Il-62 passenger jet and an Antonov An-124 military cargo plane to South Africa. Russian news agencies reported after midnight that the An-124 and Il-62…

The US State Department has given the go-ahead to upgrade and modernize the US Navy frigate Robert G. Bradley to be operated by the Emirate of Bahrain, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a press release on Wednesday. “The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain to refurbish the Oliver Hazard Perry Class ship, ex Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) with support for an estimated cost of $150 million,” the release said. The government of Bahrain requested refurbishment of the ship as well as spares, support, training, publications and other related elements for…

Earlier, the US president warned that although he was “trying to get out of wars,” if Iran did “something” they would be “hit like they’ve never been hit before.” Iranian Defence Minister Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami has brushed off President Trump’s threat of “looking at” a possible attack against Iran, saying the remarks sounded like another “bluff.” “If they [the US] make a mistake, they will receive a response that will make them more ashamed than the previous measures which brought about humiliation to them,” Hatami said, referring to the alleged string of US ‘defeats’ in the region, including the destruction…

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has expressed his readiness for dialogue with anti-graft protesters to put an end to nationwide demonstrations and save the country from financial collapse. In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Aoun promised he would fight state corruption as demanded by thousands of angry demonstrators. “My call to demonstrators: I am ready to meet your representatives that carry your concerns to listen to your specific demands. You will hear from us about our fears over financial collapse,” he said. “We will discuss what we can do together to achieve your objectives without causing collapse and chaos…

By Michael Jansen Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets and squares across Lebanon to call for the fall of the country’s political class, which they accuse of looting the country. They also demand an end to the sectarian model of governance imposed on Lebanon by France, the former colonial power. This gives the presidency to the Maronite Christian community, the premiership to the Sunnis and the post of parliamentary speaker to the Shias, and allocates other offices to figures in the 18 religious communities. Therefore, when Lebanese call for the fall of the regime, they do not…

By Pepe Escobar The negotiations in Sochi were long – over six hours – tense and tough. Two leaders in a room with their interpreters and several senior Turkish ministers close by if advice was needed. The stakes were immense: a road map to pacify northeast Syria, finally. The press conference afterwards was somewhat awkward – riffing on generalities. But there’s no question that in the end Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan managed the near impossible. The Russia-Turkey deal establishes a safe zone along the Syrian-Turkish border – something Erdogan had been gunning for since 2014. There will be…

Steven Sahiounie, political analyst and journalist The Lebanese government has read the writing on the wall.  The protesters had spray-painted graffiti to a cement wall: “Down with the rule of the mafia” was painted next to “revolution” and the word “thieves” was a reoccurring theme of the Lebanese citizens who have had enough, and the day of reckoning has come to face those who are in power and have abused that power, according to those hundreds of thousands protesting in the streets from Tripoli to Tyre. “This is the first time that all the Lebanese citizens are all united around…

By Eva Bartlett DAMASCUS PEACE, BUT SYRIA STILL UNDER STRANGLING WESTERN SANCTIONS, EMBASSY CLOSURES A morning drive and walk through Damascus, from the Old City to Midan to the artisan area, Tikkiyeh, near the National Museum. We discuss Canada’s obscene preventing of Waseem Ramli from taking his post as honourary consul. [Support Waseem: https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-re-open-syrian-consulate-in-montreal%5D Lulwa talks about how Canada’s (shameful) closure of Syrian embassies/consulates years ago affect Syrian Canadians in a variety of ways, as well as prevented many Syrians in Canada from voting (democratically) in their presidential elections. Lulwa also mentions a near-miss she and her mother had in 2011, when…

UK lawmakers have rejected Boris Johnson’s “programme motion” in a major blow to the PM’s plans to fast-track his Brexit withdrawal agreement through all stages of the House of Commons by Thursday. UK MPs passed Johnson’s WAB at the second reading stage in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening by 329 votes to 299. The UK government’s joy at that result, however, was short lived, as crucial program motion was voted down with 308 for and 322 votes against minutes later. Speaking after the second vote, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Johnson was the “author of his own misfortune.” “Work with us…

Heads of African countries have flocked to Russia for a first of its kind summit, where Moscow will be offering business ties and security arrangements alternative to ‘colonial-style’ relations with the West. Over the past decade, the African continent has become a battleground for geostrategic competition involving China, the US, and the EU, which compete with each for military access, economic superiority, and soft power supremacy. Countries like India, South Korea, and Gulf monarchies have interests in Africa too. So does Russia, which has the advantage of old ties in the region and touts itself as an ideology-free pragmatic partner…