Biden warns Israel not to use Gaza aid as ‘bargaining chip’
Using his annual State of the Union address to deliver some of his strongest comments yet about the five-month-long war,...Geostrategy
Israeli troops ‘likely’ fired on journalist in Lebanon, says report
Paris, France - An Israeli tank crew who killed one journalist and wounded six others in Lebanon in October then "likely"...Geostrategy
Iran to cut oil output, prioritize defense in new budget
The 2022-2023 budget allocates about $5 billion to boost "defense capacities and strategic research", up from $4 billion the previous...Iranian news agencies reported that the draft, presented Sunday, projects GDP growth of eight percent.
President Ebrahim Raisi submitted the draft to parliament for a vote expected by the end of 2021.
G7 issues warnings on Iran nuke program, Russia’s Ukraine plans
The G7 on Sunday said time was running out for Iran to agree to a deal to curb its nuclear...Foreign ministers from the world's richest nations have held a two-day meeting in Liverpool, England, seeking to present a strong, united front against global threats.
Biden earlier this week held a virtual summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to voice Western concerns.
Libya defers list of presidential election candidates
Libya’s election commission delayed publication of a final list of candidates for a presidential election scheduled in less than two...It is just the latest twist in a UN-led effort targeting December 24 presidential polls intended to help the oil-rich North African country move past a decade of violence
Publication of the final candidate list is supposed to mark the formal start of the election campaign, but the election commission did not give a new date for issuing the list
Reasons behind shortening UAE’s workweek
This week's TRENDS Explainer video tries to find the rationale behind curtailing the number of days in the UAE's workweek...The Gulf country is transitioning to a 4.5-day workweek. Now, weekends will consist of Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday
The move makes the UAE the first nation to formalize a workweek shorter than five days. It also brings the country more in line with Western schedules
Hamas says short circuit caused fire in oxygen depot
An electrical short circuit in a store containing oxygen supplies for Covid patients caused the blast that rocked a Palestinian...One man died of his injuries in Friday night's explosion that left a few people wounded
The explosion, which blackened the walls and shattered windows of a nearby mosque, was caused by an electrical short circuit
US hits Chinese, North Korean firms with sanctions
Timed for International Human Rights Day and supported in part by Britain and Canada, the sanctions took aim at officials...The US Treasury Department said China's artificial intelligence company SenseTime took part in the sweeping oppression of Uyghurs
The sanctions and blacklisting can prevent individuals from obtaining visas to the United States and block assets under US jurisdiction
Palestinians in West Bank villages hold municipal polls
No legislative or presidential election has been held in the Palestinian territories for 15 years.No legislative or presidential election has been held in the Palestinian territories for 15 years
Of the 367 villages in the West Bank, 60 had no candidates standing and another 162 had a single list
Iran-Saudi cooperation could set up new regional system: Johns Hopkins Prof
Negotiation is the first and foremost step, but not the last one, Nasr said, noting that there should be considerable...Negotiation is the first and foremost step, but not the last one, Nasr said, noting that there should be considerable agreements and outcomes to let the trust grow
He said that the Biden administration is not willing to start a new hostility in the region, as the US has withdrawn from Afghanistan and is talking about evacuating from Iraq
Turkey pledges to protect Mediterranean Sea
Turkey, the last G20 country that ratified the Paris climate agreement, faces criticism for how it treats its water.Microplastics pollution in the Mediterranean Sea poses a threat to marine life
Turkey’s southern shores on the Sea of Marmara has witnessed the largest outbreak of ‘sea snot’
Rules to obtain a Saudi passport, explained
Holders of Saudi passports can travel to up to 34 countries without a visa, and may obtain a visa at...Applicants must get at least 23 points to be considered for the Saudi citizenship
Resident for 10 consecutive years in Saudi Arabia are eligible to apply for the passport
