Author: Steven Sahiounie

Alexander Levchenko, international commentator The withdrawal of the US from the international agreement on the Iranian nuclear program and introduction of new anti-nuclear sanctions are just the tip of the iceberg representing Washington’s far-reaching strategic goals in Eurasia and Central Asia. The goal of the new restrictions introduced by the US against Tehran is destabilizing the country as a minimum and regime change as a maximum. It doesn’t really try to conceal this. However, Washington does not need a different, loyal or even friendly Tehran just for the sake of it. The goals are much broader and long-term: the US…

The Syrian army repelled an attack by the Nusra Front terrorist group on its positions in the Qasabiyeh village in Idlib’s southern countryside, recently retaken by the government forces, the SANA news agency has reported. Terrorists used suicide bombers and several armoured vehicles to carry out the attack but were repelled by the Syrian army units, the SANA news agency says. The military killed several terrorists and destroyed their equipment, the media outlet added. Syria has remained in the grips of a civil war since 2011, with fights taking place between President Bashar Assad’s government forces, various opposition groups and terrorist organizations.…

Economic analysts have indicated that the largely young population in Middle Eastern countries presents a lucrative opportunity for tech companies, but at the moment they lack Arabic-language content to effectively capitalise on this. Apple has made an Arabic-only AppStore available to platform developers and participants of the Beta Software Program in a move that is viewed as preparation for a release to a broader public, The New Arab reported. According to the media outlet, the full-fledged launch will coincide with the release of the iOS 13 operating system. The localised AppStore will feature applications in Arabic, but the number of…

Begum, 19, fled Britain to join the terror group in February 2015, but absconded as coalition forces closed in on its last stronghold in Baghuz, northern Syria. She’d hoped to be repatriated back to Britain, but the Home Office revoked her British citizenship leaving her stuck at the camp. A footage has been released showing the Daesh flag being raised by the occupants of the northern Syria refugee camp where British-born ‘Daesh bride’ Shamima Begum is currently living, the Sun reported. In the clip, women and children cheer as a young boy scales a lamp post in the al-Hawl camp and unfurls…

At least 56 people, including 21 children, were taken to a hospital over suspected food poisoning in Turkey’s eastern city of Erzincan, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported on Saturday. The Cumhuriyet newspaper reported that people called the ambulance after farewell celebrations held for conscript soldiers in the city center. Those affected said they had fever, nausea and dizziness. Ambulance cars took those ill to the hospital where they received medical assistanceand are staying under doctors’ supervision.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed efforts to achieve a political solution to the crisis in Syria during a telephone conversation on Thursday.

China’s Commerce Ministry said on Thursday that Beijing and Moscow are discussing ways to increase bilateral trade, particularly by increasing imports of Russian soybeans and other agricultural products. Commerce Minister Zhong Shan met with Russian Minister for Economic Development Maxim Oreshkin this week. They agreed to “deepen trade in soybeans” as China looks to diversify supplies away from the United States. The agreement follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement last year that Russia will increase its production and export of soybeans to China. Putin explained that Russia will fill China’s gap in the market, which was left by the protracted trade war…

Russian Expert and diplomat for the Middle Eastern affairs Viacheslav Matuzov affirmed that Damascus International Fair is one of most important economic events in the region. ” A lot of Russian and European companies show interest to work in Syria, whether in regards to reconstruction process or in the field of energy and agriculture,” Matuzov told SANA correspondent in Moscow on Thursday. In a similar interview, Economic Researcher Gregory Lukyanov said that economic exhibitions and conference, particularly Damascus international Fair, play a key role in finding good economic environments, adding that the Fair will witness a wide participation from Russian…

The world Heritage Committee at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) agreed to lift “old Damascus” from the list of endangered heritage. The step came during UNESCO’s 43rdsession being held in the Azeri capital of Baku. Due to the terrorist acts which targeted old Damascus and a number of Syrian archaeological sites, the UNESCO decided in 2013 to include these sites in the list of endangered heritage to draw attention to the dangers that encircle this world human heritage. “The UNESCO’s decision included dispatching a fact-finding committee to investigate the situation of the city and discuss technical and…

Sarah Abed, an independent journalist and political commentator After years of deprivation and financial turmoil farmers across the most fertile parts of Syria and Iraq were looking forward to a much-needed return on their investment. Unfortunately, before that could happen, their hard work went up in flames, literally. The devastation and pain that these fires have caused a countless number of families is heartbreaking and immeasurable. Recently, tens of thousands of acres of agricultural land have been set on fire in the northern and eastern regions of Syria. 0ver 84,000 acres of wheat and barley crops have been destroyed, estimated losses are…