Author: Steven Sahiounie

Arab Barometer, a foreign affairs nonpartisan research firm, conducted a survey in Tunisia and found far more Tunisians today want the Palestinians to resolve their conflict with Israel via force rather than with a peaceful settlement. The poll said only 10 percent of Tunisians held a positive view of the United States. Eighty-seven percent, by contrast, had an unfavourable impression. Source: AlJazeera

 Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh stressed today the importance of France’s pressure to push for ceasefire and an end to the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The prime minister made these remarks during a meeting in Ramallah with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Riyad Al-Malki, and the French Consul General in Jerusalem, Nicolas Kassianides. Shtayyeh affirmed the necessity of opening all crossings with the Gaza Strip to bring in relief and medical aid as well as fuel, especially to the areas north of…

The transit line through Ukraine remains the only route to supply Russian gas to western and central European countries MOSCOW, December 17. /TASS/. Gazprom supplies gas for Europe through Ukraine in the volume of 42 mln cubic meters per day via the Sudzha gas pumping station in Russia’s Kursk Region, a Gazprom representative told reporters. “Gazprom supplies Russian gas for transit through Ukrainian territory in the volume confirmed by the Ukrainian side via the Sudzha gas pumping station of 42 mln cubic meters as of December 17. The request for the Sokhranovka gas pumping station has been rejected,” a Gazprom…

News reports suggest the US government is seeking a revamp of the Palestinian Authority (PA), particularly its American-trained security forces, as one possible solution to the post-war governance of Gaza. US news site Axios reports the Biden administration is “proposing the Palestinian Authority re-activate members of its security forces in Gaza to prepare a local security and police force for the enclave after the conflict, US officials say”. Axios – citing a source “with direct knowledge of the issue” – reported the PA recently contacted former security officers still at an eligible age for service to see if they were potentially interested in…

Gaza’s main telecom companies say mobile and internet services have gradually been restored in the centre and south of the besieged Palestinian territory after four days. “We would like to announce the gradual restoration of telecom services… Our field teams were able to reach and repair the main damaged site after numerous attempts in the past days,” telecommunication companies Paltel and Jawwal said in a statement. Communications were cut on Thursday – the sixth blackout in the Gaza Strip since October 7. Source: AlJazeera

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has asked his US counterpart Antony Blinken for Washington to use its influence over Israel to halt Israeli attacks on Gaza and the occupied West Bank, a Turkish diplomatic source says. In a phone call, Fidan told Blinken the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories is worsening because of attacks, the source said, adding Israel should be made to sit at the negotiating table to discuss a two-state solution after a full ceasefire takes hold. Source: alJazeera

The company noted that supplies are made under a bilateral long-term gas purchase and sale agreement between Gazprom and CNPC MOSCOW, December 17. /TASS/. Gazprom set a new historical record for daily gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline on December 16, the company said in a statement. “On December 16, China’s application for the supply of Russian gas through the Power of Siberia gas pipeline once again exceeded the daily contractual obligations. Gazprom delivered all the requested volumes and set a new historical record for daily gas supplies to China,” the statement said. Supplies are made…

At least eight ships have been assaulted in recent weeks in the key waterway linking the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea Two global shipping majors, Denmark’s Maersk and Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, halted their vessels’ passage through the Red Sea on Friday, citing security risks. In their statements, both companies said the measure comes in response to a string of attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels on ships traversing the area. “We are deeply concerned about the highly escalated security situation in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The recent attacks on commercial vessels in the area are alarming and…

Exports of light sweet crude have surged with increased deliveries by rail, data shows Russian oil companies have boosted exports of ESPO (Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean) grade crude to China through the port of Kozmino, with deliveries hitting a record high this month, Kommersant reported this week citing tracking data. Shipments of Russia’s ESPO grade oil from the Far Eastern port reached an all-time high of 925,000 barrels per day (bpd) in December, 85% of which is headed to China, the outlet said, citing energy analytics firm Kpler. Industry experts attributed the surge in exports of this type of crude to increased railway…

Packages will be confiscated if they contain sanctioned goods Germany may confiscate gift parcels sent from Russia ahead of this year’s festive season, the country’s Federal Customs Service announced in statement on its website this week. According to the statement, gift parcels are regulated by the same sanctions legislation as any imports, as they may contain sanctioned goods such as paper, pulp, precious stones and metals, cigarettes, chemical and plastic products, cosmetics, etc. “There is no exception to the prohibitions covered by an Annex XXI to the Sanctions Regulation for gift consignments sent from a private individual in Russia to another private…