US pushes back against claims it eased West Bank settler sanctions
Washington, US--The US Treasury Department pushed back on Friday against claims it had eased sanctions against West Bank settlers after...Geostrategy
US census to include Middle Eastern or North African category
The next US census and federal government forms will include new options for race and ethnicity including a category for...Culture & Society Geostrategy Global
Video: Key takeaways from World Economic Forum
This year's event, held in the Swiss resort of Davos, was an intense and inspiring, and had brought together prominent...This year's event, held in the Swiss resort of Davos, was an intense and inspiring, and had brought together prominent leaders from government, business, and social institutions
The discussions and insights shared during the World Economic Forum in Davos provided a unique opportunity to address global challenges and identify innovative solutions
Tunisia swears in new defanged parliament
State television broadcast the proceedings and only official media were permitted to cover the session, with representatives of Tunisia's private...The new assembly was elected in two rounds in December and January, with a voter turnout of just over 11 percent
It has 161 members but only 154 seats have so far been filled - with just 25 female representatives among them
Lebanon central bank chief summoned in European probe
A Lebanese judge has asked central bank chief Riad Salameh to appear before visiting European investigators, a judicial official said...Lebanon central bank chief Riad Salameh denies all accusations against him and has rarely appeared before the judiciary.
If he shows up, it would be the first time Salameh, 72, appears before European investigators probing suspected financial misconduct.
UAE, Qatar least corrupt Arab nations
The 2022 Corruption Perception Index says corruption is undermining democratic processes and fueling violence in the Middle East and North...The CPI ranks180 countries and territories around the world by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
With a score of 90 and 87 respectively, Denmark and Finland top the CPI, while Somalia and Syria hit rock bottom with a score of 13 and 12 respectively.
Russia agrees to grain export deal extension for 60 days
Russia has agreed to extend the Ukraine grain export deal following talks with the United Nations - but only for...The grain export deal has helped ease the global food crisis triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The invasion saw Ukraine's Black Sea ports blocked by warships until a deal signed in July allowed for the safe passage of exports of critical grain supplies.
Enforcement alone is no fix for cross-channel migration woes: UN
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron last Friday agreed a new pact worth over 500 million...More than 3,000 migrants have arrived in Britain in small boats across the Channel so far this year, and the backlog of asylum claims now exceeds 160,000.
The deal will see Britain step up funding to France to allow hundreds more French police to patrol the Channel and also establish a new detention cent as a further deterrent.
Tunisia swears in new parliament with truncated powers
Tunisia inaugurated a new parliament largely stripped of its powers, after a vote that saw a paltry turnout amid boycotts...The new parliament was elected after a new constitution was passed in a July 25, 2022 referendum granting President Kais Saied unchecked powers.
The referendum was held exactly a year after he froze the previous legislature and dismissed Tunisia's government, before assuming wide-ranging powers.
Would welcome restoration of ties with Bahrain, says Iran
Iran said it would welcome restoring ties with Bahrain to end seven years of ruptured relations, following the China-brokered deal...Iran and Saudi Arabia support rival sides in several conflict zones including Yemen.
Some of Saudi Arabia's Gulf Arab allies have already sent envoys back to Iran.
UN investigators hit out at lackluster help for Syria quake victims
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The world failed to act quickly enough to rush life-saving aid to Syrians in desperate need following the...Almost 6,000 people were killed in Syria by the 7.8-magnitude tremor that struck the country and neighboring Turkey.
The UN estimates that five million people need basic shelter and non-food assistance in the quake-hit part of Syria.
UNHCR urges more support for Turkey, Syria earthquake survivors
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) president Filippo Grandi concluded a five-day visit to earthquake-devastated areas...UNHCR president reviewed and discussed the immediate humanitarian response with authorities in Turkey and Syria.
UNHCR has delivered tens of thousands of tents, beds, mattresses, thermal blankets to the quake survivors in the two countries.