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
Moqtada Sadr’s group refuses to join new government in Iraq
Iraqi firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr's movement announced its refusal to join a new government being formed by prime minister-designate Mohammad Shia...The announcement of not joining the government came two days after lawmakers elected Abdul Latif Rashid as Iraq's new president.
Snap elections were held last year in Iraq following nationwide protests that erupted in October 2019.
Iran refutes allegations of providing weapons to Russia
Iran has rejected allegations that it has supplied Russia with weapons "to be used in the war in Ukraine", its...Kyiv and many of its Western allies have accused Moscow of using Iranian-made drones in attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Iranian drones were used in Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
New UN Libya envoy Abdoulaye Bathily starts work in Tripoli
Tripoli, Libya—The United Nations' new Libya envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, took up post in Tripoli Friday, vowing to work towards elections in...The envoy's inauguration comes months into a power struggle between two rival governments in the latest constellation of Libya's complex conflict
Prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, a tycoon who took office in 2021 as part of a UN-led peace process that followed the last major fighting, is based in Tripoli
Tunisian protestors clash with police after young man’s death
Tunis, Tunisia— Tunisian mourners clashed with security forces on Friday after the death of a young man from injuries sustained during...Protestors threw rocks at security forces after Malek Sellimi's funeral in the working-class neighborhood of Upper Omran on the edges of Tunis
The Tunisian Human Rights League says 14 young men have been killed in recent years in incidents involving the police, adding that officials rarely face justice
Israeli troops kill three Palestinians in West Bank incidents
The United States said there had been an "alarming increase in Palestinian and Israeli deaths and injuries, including numerous children"....Some 66 people were injured around the city of Nablus, also in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Red Crescent said
Dozens of Palestinians have been shot dead in recent months during near daily Israeli raids across the West Bank
Russia’s Rosneft sues Germany over refinery seizures
Russian oil giant Rosneft has filed a complaint against the German government for taking control of its German-based refineries, a...Berlin in September took control of Rosneft's German subsidiaries, which account for about 12 percent of oil refining capacity in the country.
Germany said the dramatic move last month was necessary to counter "a threat to the security of energy supply", as relations with Russia deteriorate.
Turkey introduces jail terms for ‘fake news’
Most Turkish newspapers and television channels fell under the control of government officials and their business allies during a sweeping...The new rules cement the government's already-firm grip on the media eight months before a general election
The legislation comprised of 40 amendments that each required a separate vote was proposed by Erdogan's Islamic-rooted AKP party
US ‘deeply concerned’ about clashes in West Bank
Hady Amr also reiterated the Biden administration’s commitment to rebuilding bilateral relationship with the Palestinian people and to a two-state...Hady Amr also reiterated the Biden administration’s commitment to rebuilding bilateral relationship with the Palestinian people and to a two-state solution
He also urged Israeli and Palestinian counterparts to work cooperatively to lower tensions and discourage armed conflict
Braving rockets, Iraq MPs elect president who names PM after year of deadlock
The 52-year-old Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who has the backing of influential pro-Iran factions, vowed to form a government "as quickly...Abdul Latif Rashid, a 78-year-old Iraqi Kurd, was elected as head of state, replacing Barham Saleh
The new president swiftly named Shiite politician Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as prime minister-designate
Lebanon approves sea border deal with Israel: President Michel Aoun
It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Wednesday said the agreement would make conflict with Lebanon's Iran-backed militant...The deal had faced hurdles, with a major source of friction being the Karish gas field, which Israel insisted fell entirely within its waters and was not a subject of negotiation.
Lebanon reportedly claimed part of the field and Hezbollah, which holds huge sway in Lebanon, threatened attacks if Israel began production at Karish.
