US, Russia negotiations on partial Ukraine ceasefire end after 12 hours in Saudi Arabia
The US-Ukraine and US-Russia talks were originally planned to take place simultaneously to enable shuttle diplomacy, with the United States...Geostrategy
Tens of thousands in France protest against racism and far-right
Tens of thousands of people in Paris and other French cities on Saturday rallied against racism and the rise of...Geostrategy
EU puts 37 more Iran officials and entities on asset, visa blacklist
The EU has already imposed sanctions on more than 60 Iranian officials and entities over the crackdown on protestors, including...The bloc targeted the minister of sports and the command of the Revolutionary Guards in 12 regions of Iran in its fourth round of sanctions.
Hard-line lawmakers, senior state media officials and the head of the body setting the country's strict "morality" rules were also added to the list.
WHO seeks $2.5bn for health emergency responses in 2023
The World Health Organization appealed for US$2.54 billion for its work in 2023 to help millions of people facing health...The WHO was currently responding to 54 health crises around the world, 11 of which were ranked as the highest-possible level emergency.
The United Nations has estimated that a record 339 million people worldwide will need some form of emergency assistance in 2023.
Rights group warns West Bank could be new Gaza with Israeli restrictions
"By making it harder for people to spend time in the West Bank, Israel is taking yet another step toward...The regulations, which have faced waves of condemnation from the European Union and United States, have also been clouded by uncertainty.
Israeli has said the rules, which came into force in October, are aimed at clarifying the procedures surrounding West Bank entry.
Beirut blast probe suspended due to political pressure restarts
The August 4, 2020 explosion at the Beirut port killed more than 200 people and destroyed swathes of the capital...."Judge Tarek Bitar has decided to resume his investigation," the official told AFP, adding that he ordered the release of five detained suspects.
Among those charged by Bitar were Lebanese general security director Abbas Ibrahim and state security chief Tony Saliba.
Lebanon population set to decline in 2023
A survey published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia says poverty levels can reach 36 percent...The combined population of the 22 Arab countries in 2021 was around 407-420 million.
Most of this population is concentrated in and around major urban areas.
Iran arrests three female journalists, say reports
Iranian authorities have arrested three female journalists in the past two days, local media said, amid protests triggered by the...Authorities say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands arrested.
A media report said the three women had been transferred to Evin prison, where many of those arrested in connection with the protests are being held.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni begins Algeria visit
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and several ministers arrived in Algeria on Sunday, state media reported, ahead of meetings with...Meloni's predecessor Mario Draghi sealed a string of deals with Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in July
Tebboune said the July deal was worth $4 billion, while an Algerian official said the country would also increase gas exports to Italy
Erdogan announces elections for May 14 in Turkey
The Turkish leader said that they had agreed on an adjustment to the timetable with its junior right-wing coalition partner...The election campaign is due to start on March 10, which would give the Turkish opposition even less time to prepare
Erdogan had on Wednesday spoken of his intention to bring the election date forward to May 14, recalling the day Turkey held its first free election in 1950
Lawyers call off strike in Egypt to protest jailing of colleagues
The Egyptian Bar Association has called off a days-long strike held in protest against the jailing of six colleagues, according...The move came after an appeals court on Sunday ordered the six be released and scheduled a verdict for February 5
The association had earlier claimed there was "a clear intention" by authorities to keep the six lawyers in detention "without real justification",
Building collapse in war-damaged Syria city kills 16
ALEPPO, SYRIA - A building collapsed Sunday in Syria's war-damaged second city of Aleppo, killing 16 people including children, authorities and...Video footage shared on state television showed dozens of rescue workers at the site.
Much of Aleppo was destroyed during Syria's conflict that began nearly 12 years ago and left many of the remaining structures in a decrepit state.
