Author: Steven Sahiounie

Israel to Release Over 1,890 Palestinians in First Phase of Gaza CeasefireEgypt, acting as a mediator in the truce between Israel and Hamas, announced on Saturday that Israel will release more than 1,890 Palestinian detainees in exchange for the liberation of 33 Israeli hostages in the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that these releases will occur during the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire, which is scheduled to commence on Sunday at 8:30 AM local time. The ministry emphasized the mediators’ commitment to ensuring the implementation of the agreement in its three phases within…

Chinese Centenarian Reveals Secret to Long Life In January 2025, Chinese centenarian Xiu Caishi celebrated her 124th birthday, revealing that the secret to her long life lies in early sleep, eating three meals a day, and maintaining an optimistic outlook. Born in 1901 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Xiu now resides in the city of Nanchong in Sichuan Province, southwest China. On January 1, 2025, she turned 124 years old. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, her birthdate is officially recorded in one of China’s civil offices, although her age has not been internationally verified by…

Trump’s Treasury Secretary Nominee Supports Tougher Sanctions Against Russia In a recent development, Scott Besent, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of U.S. Treasury Secretary, has expressed his support for intensifying sanctions against Russia. This statement came during his confirmation hearings before the Senate Finance Committee, where he outlined his stance on international policy regarding Russia. Besent emphasized: “If any Russian officials are watching these hearings, they should understand that, upon my confirmation, should President Trump request it as part of his strategy to end the war in Ukraine, I would fully endorse tightening sanctions, especially against senior…

France Refuses to Repatriate Citizens Held in Northeastern Syria France has announced it will not repatriate its citizens detained in northeastern Syria on charges of affiliation with the terrorist group ISIS for trial in France. This declaration came during the French Foreign Ministry’s weekly press conference on Thursday, where Anadolu Agency’s correspondent posed a question to spokesperson Christophe Lemoine regarding the fate of detained French nationals. The correspondent inquired whether France was considering bringing back its citizens who joined ISIS and are currently held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), where the PKK/YPG terrorist organization holds significant influence. Responding to…

Three Potential Futures for Egyptian Star Mohamed Salah With Mohamed Salah’s current contract with Liverpool set to expire at the end of this season, and no agreement yet reached on renewal, the French newspaper “L’Equipe” has outlined three potential scenarios for the Egyptian star’s future. Recent reports suggest that the Saudi club, Al-Hilal, Is fiercely pursuing Salah, aiming to secure his services in the upcoming summer transfer window. According to “L’Equipe,” in a report published on Thursday, Al-Hilal officials have been in intense communication with those close to Salah over the last few days to persuade him to join their…

Israel and the US are the Main Beneficiaries of the Situation in Syria Ismail Hakki Pekin, the former head of the intelligence directorate in Turkey’s General Staff of Armed Forces, has commented on the balance of power in Syria, Israeli maneuvers in the region, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attack on the TurkStream gas pipeline. General Pekin stated: “The two main beneficiaries of what is happening now in Syria are Israel and the United States; in my opinion, Turkey does not benefit from anything from this situation.” He further elaborated, “Regarding the attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the…

Historic Meeting Between Kurdish Leader Masoud Barzani and SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi Hoshyar Zebari, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s Political Bureau, announced on Thursday that the meeting held today between Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and General Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is a significant achievement towards enhancing Kurdish unity. On Wednesday, the American news site “The Monitor” revealed that a meeting, described as “very soon,” would take place between Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and SDF commander General Mazloum Abdi. Just days before, General Mazloum Abdi welcomed Dr. Hamid Darbandi, a representative of Kurdish leader…

US State Department Official: Continued Partnership with SDF and Monitoring New Syrian Administration On Wednesday, Nicholas Granger, Director of the Syria Regional Platform at the U.S. Department of State, stated that the United States “continues its partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).” He also emphasized that they are closely monitoring the new Syrian administration and are in contact with a broad range of Syrians across the country. In an interview with Rudaw TV, Granger stressed the importance of the SDF and the interim authorities engaging in serious dialogue regarding the future shape of Syria. Granger added that: “The United…

Citizens of all countries are allowed to enter Syria except for citizens of Israel and Iran. New Entry Requirements for Traveling to Syria via Turkish Airlines Turkish Airlines has announced a set of new entry rules for passengers wishing to travel to Syria, following directives from the Syrian Arab Republic’s authorities. Here’s what you need to know: Citizens from All Countries Allowed Except Israel and Iran: Travelers from around the globe are permitted to enter Syria, with the notable exception of citizens from Israel and Iran. Syrian Citizens: Syrian nationals only need to provide documentation proving their Syrian citizenship to…

Conditions Set by SDF for Handing Over Oil Fields to Damascus and Integrating Forces with Syrian Defense Ministry In a significant development within the Syrian conflict, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, has outlined the conditions under which his forces would consider surrendering control of oil fields to the Syrian government and merging with the Syrian Defense Ministry. SDF’s Stance on Autonomy and Integration Mazloum Abdi affirmed in an interview with “Al-Sharq” TV channel that the SDF has no current intention to dissolve itself. He highlighted that any potential agreement to transfer oil fields to the…