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Ukraine and its Western allies have repeatedly claimed that Russia is using Iranian-made drones in the war in Ukraine without providing any evidence. Tehran and Moscow have vehemently rejected the allegation. This is while the US and its European allies have been fanning the flames of war by providing Kiev with arms and weapons since the onset of the conflict.

Despite two decades of American military presence in Africa on the pretext of combating extremists and terrorists, the security situation in the region is an absolute nightmare. Statistics show that US arms and training have not only failed to contribute to a reduction in terrorism and militancy in Africa but have rather prepared the ground for the persistence and thriving of terrorism across the continent.

Incumbent Chinese President Xi Jinping has made history as he eased through securing an unprecedented third term as General secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. This makes Xi Jinping the most influential ruler in Chinese history since Mao Zedong.

A UN Rights Commission has concluded as unlawful the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories under international law. Thus, the commission is pushing for the issue to be referred to the International Court of Justice. It remains doubtful whether this report will change Israel’'s behavior when it comes to violating Palestinian rights.

Australia has reversed its recognition of West Al-Quds as the capital of Israel, saying its embassy remains in Tel Aviv. Canberra expressed its regret about the decision made by the previous administration to recognize West Al-Quds as the capital of Israel in 2018. Australia was one of the few countries with embassies in al-Quds.

Twice a decade, the Chinese Communist Party, or the CCP, holds a conference. The latest happened more than a week ago with a speech by President Xi Jinping. In it, he lauded his government's zero-COVID policies, called for fast military growth, and refused to rule out the option to use force when discussing Taiwan's reunification with China.

In yet another hostile move, the European Union following in the footsteps of the US, Canada, and the UK, announced new sanctions against Iranian authorities and entities in a show of support for rioters, accusing Iran of violating human rights. In December 2020, the bloc adopted a global human rights sanctions regime to address serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. However, to do so, the EU would crucially need to comply with human rights itself. That’s while many people are suffering and their rights are threatened inside EU borders.

The Russian flag now flies over Donetsk, as Moscow claims this region is now part of the Russian Federation. Ukraine continues to bomb the city but the streets in the center are quiet. The frontline is only six kilometers away. In order to find out how people here feel about their new nationality, I headed down the road to the adjoining city of Makeevka. There are more people on the streets as it’s safer here.

US President Joe Biden has delivered his national security strategy. He has again said that China remains the biggest threat to US national security and the world order, also stating that Russia needs to be contained. Even though it said China is the biggest competitor to the US, why then does the US take a militaristic approach to China in order to contain it, threatening the world's peace and stability in the process?

Tensions are escalating between Washington and Riyadh after OPEC and other oil-producing countries decided to ramp down output. The cartel’s move was a large blow to the administration of Biden, who visited oil-rich Saudi Arabia on a July trip to appeal to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Now US President Joe Biden says there will be consequences for Saudi Arabia’s behavior.

The US calls it a new strategy of high-tech containment, but in essence, it is an effort to prevent China from advancing. In other words, a technological blockade. This is the US's way of flexing its muscle, the same way that it imposes sanctions. And instead of welcoming competition, it is doing all that it can to stop China. The products the US is targeting are chips and not edible ones.

The headlines couldn't be more alarming when it comes to the Ukrainian conflict. “Russian’s being prepared for nuclear war, according to Zelensky. Yet the White House says there is no indication of immediate Russian plans. There appears to be a contradiction here between the Ukrainian side and the American side. Just like when Zelensky called for strikes on Russia, which he then retracted and urged instead for pre-emptive sanctions as if enough sanctions were not imposed on Russia already.

OPEC Plus’s decision to cut production was a major sign of how the organization made a political decision while simultaneously executing a technical one. It wanted to maintain its profits by executing this move, but it was viewed as a major snub to the West, in particular Europe and the US. This was viewed by the US as an unnecessary step, at a time when the world needs oil more than ever before.

Iran’s Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei has spoken for the first time after the recent riots broke out in Iran. He was very clear about one thing: the violent unrest following the death of a young woman in Iran was planned by the US and the Zionist regime. For years, Iran’s adversaries have been trying to stop Iran’s progress by any means and the death of Mahsa Amini was an opportunity for them to use it as a pretext to instigate rioting in the country.

When it comes to the relationship between Israel and Palestinians, the EU has always condemned Israel when it comes to illegal violations, like settlements or human rights. But in practice, the EU’s support for Israel is iron-clad. The EU's disregard for human rights and democracy becomes even more blatant, which shows how their words of condemnation are not representative of their notion of human rights.

The Prime Minister of the UK is considering a controversial move to move the UK embassy from Tel Aviv to Al-Quds. This will surely anger the Palestinians, who have long held Al Quds as their capital. Liz Truss however has made no bones about her pro-Israel stance. But why she is putting this potential move at the top of her list is questionable, given that the UK is grappling with so many economic problems at this point in time.

The protests in Iran have reached levels where they no longer can be called protests due to the high level of rioting that has taken place. From the destruction of property, like religious sanctities, to the gruesome killing of police officers, there are suspicions about the perpetrators of this violence, especially the organizers, and their backers, especially when it comes to anti-Iran social media. The usual suspect, the US, and anti-Iran terrorist cults like the MKO.

When it comes to Europe’s economy, the 27-nation bloc is in crisis mode. The energy crunch is one of the reasons which has led EU countries' economies to contract.

Schools in Al-Quds in the occupied territories went on a strike recently over Israeli-imposed books. This is a serious matter since Israel is trying to distort the facts in its favor. But this futile effort will not yield the results that Israel wants, because Palestinians are much smarter than that. Furthermore, it is this type of action that adds to the friction that already exists between Palestinians and Israelis, making co-existence much harder.

The Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has touched down in New York City for his first attendance at the UNGA. He is due to speak at the UN later this week. The significance of this trip is not just about Iran’s presence at the UN, but rather Iran addressing the world from a position of strength. Perhaps at no other time in history has the West appeared to be in a weak position, compared to Iran, which has placed diplomacy at the heart of its foreign policy.

Another damning report on big oil: Major oil companies have been found guilty yet again regarding their climate commitments. Although this does not surprise anyone, it questions the oversight of these energy conglomerates, from emissions to their green energy commitments. And now that they are making record profits, the heat is on for them to be held accountable and to follow through in preventing global warming.

When it comes to Russia, the US is increasing pressure in the form of sanctions. But now, it has gone a step further and has said to the South African President not to associate with Russia at all. The South African President has hit back, saying it is not for the US to decide who South Africa can or cannot do business with. This may further alienate the US when it comes to Africa as a whole.

Taiwan has long been inhabited by Chinese people and administered by China’s central governments. Historically, there had been little question about the island’s political status until a civil war broke out in China. Foreign powers, particularly the US, interfered in the affairs of China, and so Taiwan became a flashpoint. A recent controversial visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Beijing's reaction have fueled the already high cross-strait tensions and brought fears of a major conflict amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine is approaching its seventh month, and there seems to be no end in sight. The US's unwavering support, especially in the form of weapons, continues unabated. But one thing not mentioned or covered as much is the use of private military contractors. The notorious Blackwater now renamed Academia is the most well-known, accused of participating in the Ukraine conflict. The firm was also responsible for the Nisour Square massacre in Iraq 15 years ago, our starting point in the following report.

Clashes between Azarbaijan and Armenia have occurred again. Casualties have mounted on both sides, in which restraint has been called for from the international community. Even though the flare-up has been due to the age-old conflict over the Nagorno Karabakh region, there may be more behind these clashes.