The secretive Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which develops high-tech weaponry for the US military, is attempting to create a purpose-built unmanned warship. Observers have noted it bears a curious resemblance to the wedge-shaped Imperial Star Destroyers from the “Star Wars” franchise.
Read More »After Being Delayed by White House for Almost a Year, Transcripts from House Intelligence Committee Russia Investigation Released
Transcripts Reaffirm Mueller’s Findings That Russia Interfered to Hurt Clinton and Help Trump, the Campaign Invited and Made Full Use of Illicit Russian Help, and Trump Lied to Cover It Up White House Would Not Allow Release of All Transcripts for More Than a Year By Holding Up Declassification Process …
Read More »Mismanagement is driving Saudi Arabia towards bankruptcy
On 6 March, the OPEC+ cartel failed to agree on a cut in oil production in the light of reduced demand due to the coronavirus pandemic affecting almost every country in the world. All of this came in the middle of a global financial crisis. Saudi Arabia proposed the cut, …
Read More »Syria says Russian missile defence system ‘ineffective’
The Syrian military has criticised the Russian S-300 missile defence system, saying that it is largely ineffective against Israeli air strikes, Avia.pro reported yesterday. A Syrian military source told the Russian outlet that the radar used on the S-300 and the Pantsir-S systems has proven to be incapable of detecting …
Read More »Report: Russia, Turkey, Iran agree to remove Syria’s Assad
The Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) expects that Russia, Turkey and Iran will reach a consensus to remove the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar Al-Assad, and establish a ceasefire in exchange for forming a transitional government that includes the opposition, members of the regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces …
Read More »Turkey’s PKK Conflict: A Visual Explainer
Context: Turkey’s conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – recognised as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU – continues in south-eastern Turkey and northern Iraq. In northern Syria, Ankara and the PKK’s Syrian affiliate, the People’s Protection Forces (YPG), remain pitted against each other. On …
Read More »The US and Iran are still perilously close to conflict
Even amid the coronavirus crisis, the countries are trading threats. A de-escalation hotline is desperately needed.
Read More »Washington needs to find a new way of dealing with Lebanon
For too long, Washington has been an accomplice of the rampant corruption in Lebanon, choosing to look the other way as it deals with officials known to be implicated in various corrupt schemes. Over the years, Lebanon has continued to run up unsustainable debts, only to be bailed out by …
Read More »Talking about water pipes: The fraught reconstruction of Syria’s Yarmouk camp
Toward the end of last year, officials in Damascus announced they were about to release reconstruction plans for Yarmouk camp and several other bombed-out suburbs of the Syrian capital.
Read More »Russia signals growing dissatisfaction with Syria’s Assad regime
In recent weeks, a flurry of commentary from prominent voices and publications in Russia has seen a wave of criticism directed at Syria’s Assad regime. From RIA FAN to Pravda, Kommersant and the Valdai Club, accusations have been leveled against the regime of corruption, warlordism, and incompetence, as well as …
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