Author: Steven Sahiounie

The reopening of the Vladivostok-Chennai shipping route will boost economic ties between the two countries The Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC), which connects major logistics hubs in Russia’s Far East with India’s southeastern coast, has become operational, Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Monday. The maritime link is expected to serve as a cheaper and faster alternative for shipping vital commodities, including oil and coal. “The Eastern Maritime Corridor between Vladivostok and Chennai is operational now. Container ships carrying crude oil, metal, and textiles have started coming to Indian ports,” Sonowal said, according to PTI news…

Alex Soros, who inherited his father’s empire last year, criticized US President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary SpaceX and Tesla boss Elon Musk has ridiculed a claim made by Alex Soros, son of billionaire financier George Soros, that Americans would be “screwed” if there was another pandemic. The comment appeared to target President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for the next US health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Soros, who inherited control of his father’s business and philanthropic empire last year, suggested that the plans for health agencies announced by RFK Jr. “could weaken…

U.S. Aid to Kurdish Forces in Syria and Iraq During 2024 The third quarterly report of the U.S. Department of Defense for the year 2024 revealed that the United States provided over $57 million in aid to Kurdish forces in Iraq and Syria. The U.S.-led coalition published a report detailing the financial and logistical support given to Kurdish forces in Iraq and Syria, which amounted to more than $57 million during the third quarter of 2024. According to “Middle East News”, during this period, the United States allocated $14.3 million to its allied forces in Syria, with $7.4 million going…

Russia’s Strategy to Circumvent International Sanctions Since the onset of the conflicts in Ukraine and even prior, Russia has been wary of Western and NATO encroachment on its vital space and strategic geography. This concern escalated after the Ukrainian war and NATO’s expansion towards Russia, pushing Russia into complex circumstances requiring diverse measures to navigate out of this situation. One such measure includes enhanced cooperation with Latin American countries. In the context of breaking geopolitical strategic pressures, Russia attempts to put pressure on the U.S. government by increasing its presence and expanding its influence in America’s backyard, namely Latin America.…

Russian Forces Strengthen Presence in Quneitra and Daraa by Establishing 9 Observation Posts Russian military units deployed in Syria have intensified their presence near the “disengagement zone” at the edge of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights by setting up nine new observation posts in the countryside of Quneitra and Daraa. General Alexander Rodionov, Deputy Commander of Russian Forces in Syria, confirmed in a press statement that these posts were established in coordination with the Syrian Arab Army. Their aim is to carry out air and ground surveillance operations. He clarified that the Russian forces, which began their mission in Syria…

Missile Falls Near Ship 60 Miles Southeast of Aden, Yemen The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported an incident where a missile fell near a vessel approximately 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen. According to a statement on their official website, “A vessel approximately 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen, reported a missile splash in its close proximity.” They confirmed that “the vessel and its crew are safe.” Authorities are currently investigating the incident, urging maritime traffic in the area to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. The Houthi militia has been targeting over 100…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a war with Iran, on the US tax-payers and voters expense, he had better attack quickly. On January 20, President Donald Trump takes office, and he was elected on an anti-war platform. We don’t know what Trump will do after assuming office, and we don’t know if Netanyahu will remain in office. His extremist ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, have shackled Netanyahu to a policy of genocide in Gaza, and they are advocating annexing the Occupied West Bank. Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon are…

Kremlin Comments on Biden’s Alleged Permission for Deep Strikes into Russia In a significant geopolitical development, the Kremlin has responded to reports suggesting that U.S. President Joe Biden has permitted Ukraine to target deep Russian territory with American-supplied missiles. Dmitry Peskov, the Russian presidential spokesperson, addressed these allegations by stating that the outgoing U.S. administration seems intent on escalating tensions in Ukraine. Peskov, in response to inquiries from journalists about any confirmation from the Kremlin regarding Biden’s decision, noted, “As you know, this matter is only published in Western media so far, but it’s clear that the administration in Washington…

Hezbollah has confirmed the death of its Media Relations official, Mohammad Afif, in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. According to a statement by the group, Afif was killed in the strike, which targeted a location in the Ras al-Nabaa neighborhood. Reuters, citing two security sources, also confirmed that Afif died in the attack. A security source reported that the airstrike hit an apartment housing the office of the Baath Party in Beirut. Multiple sources corroborated that the primary target of the Israeli strike was Mohammad Afif. Media outlets noted that the strike on Ras al-Nabaa came without prior warning from…

The Lebanese Army announced on Sunday that two of its soldiers were killed in an Israeli strike. The army accused Israel of directly targeting one of its military sites in southern Lebanon, where clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah are ongoing. In a statement, the army reported, “The Israeli enemy directly targeted an army position in the town of Al-Mari – Hasbaya, resulting in the death of one soldier and the injury of three others, one critically.” A subsequent statement confirmed the death of a second soldier who had been critically injured during the same strike on the military…