Author: Steven Sahiounie

Pedersen in Damascus to Push Comprehensive Political Process in Syria In a significant development for Syrian politics, Geir Pedersen, the United Nations Special Envoy to Syria, has made his second visit to Damascus since the fall of the Syrian regime on December 8th of the previous year. He met with Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the head of the interim Syrian administration, focusing on advancing a comprehensive political process in the country. During Pedersen’s visit to the Syrian capital in mid-December, discussions revolved around the current political landscape, the challenges faced by Syrians, and economic and developmental issues. The talks highlighted the need…

With Trump Returning to the White House, How Will Markets Move? Investors are bracing for Donald Trump’s second inauguration as the President of the United States, anticipating benefits from his business-friendly agenda, yet remaining cautious about his protectionist trade policies, particularly his stance on tariffs. Trump returns to office with an ambitious agenda that includes trade reform, immigration crackdowns, tax cuts, and easing regulations on cryptocurrencies. Investment managers are adjusting their portfolios across various asset classes, keenly watching his inaugural speech for clues that might lead to near-term market movements. Sam Stovall, Chief Market Strategist at CFRA Research, stated, “Uncertainty…

Russian Welcome for Trump’s Desire to Prevent World War III In a notable gesture before his inauguration as the President of the United States, Donald Trump received commendations from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin expressed his welcome for Trump’s inclination to engage in direct dialogue with Russia and his commitment to avoiding a third world war. “Trump’s desire to establish direct communications with Russia and prevent a third world war is something we welcome,” Putin stated. “We always want peace in Ukraine.” Concurrently, the Kremlin announced that Putin had informed the Russian Security Council of Moscow’s openness to dialogue with…

France and the EU Warned of Being “Crushed” by Trump’s Policies In a stark warning, French Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed concerns that both France and the European Union could be “crushed” by the policies of Donald Trump if they fail to act decisively. Bayrou highlighted that the United States has decided to pursue an incredibly dominant policy through the dollar, industrial policy, and by monopolizing research and investments. “If we do nothing, we will be subjected to domination, crushed, and marginalized… It is up to us, the French and Europeans, to regain control,” he stated. Speaking to municipal employees…

Trump’s “Five Promises”: Which Will He Begin With? During his 2024 presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump made over ten promises about what he would accomplish on his first day back in office. His inaugural day plans are broad, touching on immigration, trade, and energy policy with potentially profound impacts. Mass Deportation Program Trump has consistently made immigration a focal point of his campaigns, pledging to initiate the largest deportation program in U.S. history on his first day. In a rally in New York on October 27 before the election, he stated, “On the first day, I will launch the…

Iraqi Kurdistan’s Prime Minister Visits UAE and Jordan The Prime Minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, embarked on significant diplomatic visits to the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, highlighting the region’s commitment to fostering regional stability and cooperation. Visit to UAE: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, welcomed Masrour Barzani at the Qasr Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi. According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), discussions between Sheikh Mohammed and Barzani focused on enhancing the relations between the UAE and Iraq, particularly with the Kurdistan Region. The talks aimed at broadening the horizons of…

Insight into the Current State of Petroleum Derivatives in Syria The Public Relations and Media Director of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Ahmed Suleiman, shared recent insights into the state of petroleum derivatives in Syria: On the Status of Homs and Banias Refineries: Fate of Companies Previously Dealing with the Ministry: Arab Concerns Regarding the Situation in Syria The Health Impact of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: No Nutritional Value

The Syrian caretaker government’s Defense Minister, Merhaf Abu Qasra, rejected the idea of the “SDF” forces maintaining a separate unit within the Syrian Army. Abu Qasra, in an interview with Reuters on Sunday, stated: “This talk does not make sense,” clarifying that the integration of “SDF” elements into the armed forces should be “within the structure of the Ministry of Defense, and they should be distributed in a military manner.” However, he added, “for them to remain as a military bloc within the Ministry of Defense, meaning a bloc within a larger institution, is not correct.” Reports on the ground…

Trump Hopes US Will Own 50% Stake in TikTok On his first day as President, Monday, Donald Trump announced he would issue an executive order allowing the operation of the popular app TikTok. Trump expressed his hope that the United States could own a 50% stake in the app as part of a joint venture. TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, ceased operations for its 170 million American users earlier on Sunday after a law came into effect, banning the app over fears that U.S. user data could be misused by Chinese authorities. Reuters quoted the President-elect, stating, “I…

Arab Concerns Regarding the Situation in Syria The situation in Syria remains a significant concern for Arab nations, as articulated by Egypt’s Foreign Minister. In a recent appearance on the Egyptian TV program “Ala Mas’uliyati” on Sada El Balad channel, the Foreign Minister emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive political process in Syria. He stated, “It’s crucial that this process excludes no one and reflects the diversity within Syrian society.” The minister, Abd El-Atti, highlighted the importance of acknowledging the role of the Syrian national opposition that did not take up arms, which has been significant since 2011. He stressed…