Russia, Ukraine agree to halt Black Sea strikes in US-brokered talks in Saudi Arabia
With President Donald Trump pushing for a rapid end to the war that has killed tens of thousands of people,...Geostrategy
Israel PM accuses security chief of investigating minister without his consent
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday accused Israel's internal security chief, whose dismissal was blocked by the supreme court, of...Geostrategy
WHO member states agree to develop draft of pandemic accord in early 2023
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Thursday agreed to develop the first draft of a...This zero draft of the pandemic accord, rooted in the WHO Constitution, will be discussed by member states in February 2023.
The agreement by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, comprising WHO’s 194 member states, was a milestone in the global process to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Netanyahu secures parliament majority, closer to forming govt
Some Israeli political analysts had forecast that Netanyahu would move to announce a coalition days after receiving his mandate from...In Israel's fifth election in less than four years, held on November 1, Netanyahu's right-wing alliance triumphed with ease
Although a final coalition agreement has not yet been signed, the agreement with Shas gives Netanyahu control over 64 of the 120 seats in the Knesset
Two killed in Iraq clashes after activist given prison term
Riot police confronted the crowd in the central Habboubi Square with "brutal" force and "fired live ammunition", said demonstrator Mohammed...Haidar al-Zaidi, 20, was sentenced to three years over a tweet of disputed origin deemed insulting to a pro-Iran ex-paramilitary force
The protesters deplored the jail term and also demanded compensation for demonstrators wounded by security forces in late 2019
Nuclear tensions ‘rising’ but Moscow won’t deploy first: Putin
Russian forces have missed most of their key military goals since February, raising fears that the battlefield stalemate could see...Speaking more than nine months after his forces launched their military operation, Russian President warned the conflict could be "lengthy"
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared that the risk of nuclear weapons being used in the Ukraine conflict has lessened thanks to international pressure on Russia
Foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Iraq hold tripartite meeting
The ministers agreed to maintain "institutional" communication to follow up on the implementation of the trilaterally agreed upon projects and...The ministers agreed to maintain "institutional" communication to follow up on the implementation of the trilaterally agreed upon projects and coordinate future steps
They also agreed to hold upcoming meetings within the framework of the tripartite cooperation mechanism in preparation for the fourth summit in Egypt next year
Xi visit marks 34 deals between Saudi, Chinese firms ahead of China-Arab meeting and China-GCC summit
The Chinese president's visit to Saudi Arabia aims at 'qualitative leap' in bilateral ties and the 'largest-scale diplomatic activity between...The Chinese president's visit to Saudi Arabia aims to enhance bilateral relations in several fields, including energy, security, transportation, infrastructure and investment
The trip -- only Xi's third overseas since the coronavirus pandemic began -- comes after US President Joe Biden's visit in July, when he pleaded for higher oil production
Xi Jinping reaches Saudi as China seeks energy cooperation
The trip -- only Xi's third overseas journey since the coronavirus pandemic began, and his first to Saudi Arabia since...Oil markets are expected to be a top agenda item for talks between China and Saudi, especially given the turbulence the markets have experienced since Russia invaded Ukraine.
China is the top customer for oil from Saudi Arabia, the leading exporter of crude, and both sides appear keen to expand their relationship.
Germany busts far-right ‘terror cell plotting to overthrow state’
Around 3,000 officers including elite anti-terror units took part in the early morning raids and searched more than 130 properties,...Suspects include alleged members of "Citizens of the Reich" movement, suspected of "having made concrete preparations to violently force their way into the German parliament.
The Reichsbuerger movement includes neo-Nazis, conspiracy theorists and gun enthusiasts who reject the legitimacy of the modern German republic.
Chinese flags flutter in Saudi capital as Xi visits kingdom for first time since 2016
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia---The Saudi capital was bedecked with Chinese flags ahead of President Xi Jinping's visit on Wednesday that is...The red-and-gold Chinese emblem alternated with the green flag of Saudi Arabia along major roads in Riyadh, while Xi was pictured on the front pages of newspapers.
China, the world's second-biggest economy, is the top customer for oil from Saudi Arabia, the leading exporter of crude, and both sides appear keen to expand their relationship.
Iraq’s Mosul healing slowly, five years after IS defeat
Signs of reconstruction dot the city of 1.5 million, with workers constructing a new bridge, and cafes and restaurants buzzing....Like in much of oil-rich but war-ravaged Iraq, ramshackle public services and deep economic difficulties continue to hamper people's daily lives
Iraqi forces with the help of a US-led coalition wrested back Mosul in July 2017 after gruelling street fighting
