• Syria halts imports from Russia, Iran, and Israel

    Syria's Finance Ministry has banned the import of goods originating from Russia, Iran, and Israel, a development reported by outlet Al Arabiya.

    The mandate includes a strict policy of confiscating any products found to originate from these countries.

    The government aims to bolster the economy by allowing dollar transactions and implementing a new set of unified customs duties with reductions ranging from 50% to 60%, according to Al Arabiya.

    Following this decision, Syria has opened its doors …

  • U.S. Sanctions threaten to cripple Russia's oil exports as India and China seek alternatives

    The latest round of U.S. sanctions could effectively halve Russian oil exports, as key buyers India and China seek alternative suppliers.

    Russia's oil industry finds itself in dire straits following the introduction of new U.S. sanctions that have intensified restrictions on the transport and sale of Russian oil. As Bloomberg reports, tankers initially destined for Russian cargo are now turning back at sea, with major customers like China and India beginning to source from other suppliers in …

  • Ukraine warns Trump: premature peace talks with Russia could have dire consequences

    Ukraine has issued a stark warning on the eve of Donald Trump's inauguration, cautioning that premature talks with Russia could have catastrophic consequences.

    Kyiv insists that Moscow should engage in negotiations out of necessity rather than choice. Ukrainian officials are cautioning that forcing Kyiv into talks with Russia before Ukraine gains a battlefield advantage would be a catastrophic mistake, as Donald Trump prepares to take office as the next U.S. president.

    Fearing a potential …

  • Slovakia's PM threatens to block EU aid to Ukraine over gas dispute

    Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has made headlines with his threat to veto further European Union financial aid to Ukraine. The announcement came in response to Ukraine's decision to halt the transit of Russian gas. Fico expressed this bold stance in a Facebook video statement, emphasizing his role as Slovakia's prime minister and not, as he put it, a "Ukrainian servant."

    The gas transit, critical to European energy supply, came to a standstill on January 1, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. Kyiv time. …

  • Estonian Intelligence: Russia grapples with artillery shortage

    According to Estonian intelligence head Ants Kiviselg, Russian forces are encountering increasingly critical issues with artillery, their primary weapon on the battlefield. The appearance of North Korean artillery systems among Russian units on the front line indicates such problems, said the intelligence chief.

    Col. Kiviselg noted that the Russian military is becoming more reliant on foreign weaponry.

    Describing the current situation on the front lines, Kiviselg pointed out that while …