Author: Steven Sahiounie

Al-Sisi Meets Jordanian Crown Prince to Discuss Palestinian Issue On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II in Cairo to discuss several issues, primarily focusing on the future of Gaza and the ongoing developments in the West Bank. The meeting addressed Egypt’s efforts towards the reconstruction of Gaza, alongside hosting the upcoming Arab Summit scheduled for February 27. Discussions also covered bilateral relations between Egypt and Jordan, exploring ways to enhance cooperation across various fields, with a particular emphasis on regional issues, notably the Palestinian cause. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to…

Hafez Assad Promises to Reveal Truths and Secrets in New Podcast In a series of tweets from his account on the platform “X”, Hafez Bashar Assad, son of the former Syrian President Bashar Assad, has committed to revealing truths and secrets through a new podcast series. This follows his family’s exit from Syria, a move that has sparked much speculation and interest. Assad’s tweets read, “Every event has its narratives, and every era its secrets. The aim isn’t to stir controversy but to tell the story as it was, far from tension and accusations. What was once in the shadows,…

Liverpool Overcomes Wolverhampton, Salah Sets New Record Liverpool managed to overcome the challenge posed by Wolverhampton Wanderers, securing a 2-1 victory at Anfield in the 25th round of the English Premier League on Sunday. The Reds took the lead with goals from Luis Diaz in the 15th minute and Mohamed Salah in the 37th. Wolverhampton’s Matheus Cunha managed to pull one back in the 67th minute, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the match. With this win, Liverpool now tops the league table with 60 points, extending their lead over Arsenal to seven points. Meanwhile, Wolves remain…

Netanyahu Announces Sending Israeli Negotiation Team to Cairo On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that an Israeli negotiation team will be dispatched to Cairo on Monday. The purpose of this visit is to further discuss the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the team aims to negotiate the continuation of the ceasefire’s initial phase. Last Saturday, the sixth batch of this phase concluded with Hamas and Islamic Jihad releasing three Israeli hostages, in exchange for Israel freeing 369 Palestinian prisoners. Since the ceasefire began, 19 Israeli hostages…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On February 27, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Palestinian representatives will meet in Riyadh to discuss a plan they are developing to counter the plan proposed by US President Donald J. Trump. Trump had floated a plan for the US to own Gaza and deport all the Palestinians while the prime seaside property is turned into a tourist destination. The plan was well received by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Israeli government has always wanted the original inhabitants of Palestine to be evicted, and over the decades has…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Lebanon has rejected any extension of the Israeli occupation of its territory. On Thursday, President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed that “Lebanon is intensifying diplomatic efforts to ensure Israel’s withdrawal by February 18.” Aoun said that the country was actively engaging with influential global powers, particularly the US and France, to secure a sustainable resolution. On Thursday, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer announced that Israel would retain control over five strategic high points inside Lebanon following the expiry of the ceasefire next Tuesday, and added “The army will not withdraw in the near future.” Steven…

Freed Israeli Prisoner: “We almost died from the Israeli army’s shelling, but we were saved at the last moment.” In a significant critique, four Israeli female soldiers, who were held captive for over 15 months by Hamas in Gaza, have voiced harsh criticisms against the Israeli Forces following their release. These soldiers, who served as observers, were captured on October 7, 2023, during a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel and were released in January under a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. According to Channel 12 in Israel, a tense meeting occurred this Friday between the freed soldiers and…

Surge in Syrian Refugees Willing to Return Home A recent survey conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has revealed a significant increase in the number of Syrian refugees expressing a desire to return to their homeland. The data shows that 27% of Syrians are now planning to go back within the next year, a stark contrast to just 1.7% who expressed similar intentions before the fall of Assad’s regime. According to a report by Syrian TV on Saturday, the UNHCR highlighted that three-quarters of Syrian refugees still do not have clear plans to return, showing hesitation…

German Advisor Rejects Foreign Interference in Democracy Amidst Controversial Support for AfD In a pointed critique at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, German advisor Olaf Scholz lambasted comments made by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who had voiced support for Germany’s far-right “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) party. Scholz, a member of the Social Democratic Party, firmly rejected any outside influence in the German electoral process. Scholz stated that the AfD party downplays the severity of Nazi crimes and atrocities. He emphasized that Vance’s commitment to “never again” allow such historical atrocities to repeat, made during his visit to the…

Zelensky’s Conditions for Meeting Putin On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the only Russian official he is prepared to speak with is President Vladimir Putin, but this will only happen after Ukraine agrees on a joint plan with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky revealed that Trump had given him his personal phone number, assuring him that he could call at any time. Zelensky, speaking in English, said, “I will meet with one Russian official, that is Putin, (and that will happen) only after we reach a joint plan with…