Israel says ‘eliminated’ Hizbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut strike
"Fuad Shukr was the commander responsible for the Majdal Shams massacre, in which 12 children were murdered after Hizbollah fired...Geostrategy
Gaza mediators, Israel spy chief to meet in Rome: Egypt media
"A four-way meeting between Egyptian officials and their American and Qatari counterparts, in the presence of Israel's intelligence chief, will...Geostrategy
World powers urge Libya to reschedule presidential vote ‘swiftly’
The authorities overseeing Libya's first presidential election said earlier this week holding it on Friday as scheduled would be "impossible"....Speculation of a delay had been mounting for weeks, with bitter disputes over the vote's legal basis
Disputes also raged over the powers the winner would have, and the candidacies of several divisive figures
IMF extends Covid emergency funding by 18 months
The emergency funding was set up to help nations that have been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.The IMF in April 2020 eased access to such aid, including raising the level of funding that countries could obtain
The programs have already been extended twice, in September 2020 and again in March this year
Talks to revive Iran nuclear deal will resume next week: EU chair
Officials have said the deal would become obsolete within weeks if Iran continued to step up its nuclear activities as...Negotiations restarted in November after a five-month hiatus to try to restore the deal, which was to offer Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
Diplomats from parties to the deal -- China, Britain, France, Germany and Russia -- are in talks in Vienna with Iran and the US, with the two sides refusing direct contact.
World Bank pledges $37 million to help Lebanon teachers
The World Bank on Thursday said it agreed with its partners to repurpose $37 million in funds to help Lebanon's...The "exceptional" financing, which is valid only for the 2021-2022 academic year, came at the request of Lebanon's government, the bank said.
Public school teachers who were already underpaid before the onset of the economic crisis two years ago have since been pushed deeper into poverty.
UN will support Iraq’s efforts for development, prosperity: Official
The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, has said the UN will continue supporting...Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, says 2021 was an important year for Iraq.
Hennis-Plasschaert said many challenges remain although there have been achievements too.
Libya delays long-awaited election seen as key to peace
The election, intended to go hand-in-hand with parliamentary polls, was part of a United Nations-led peace process.The election, intended to go hand-in-hand with parliamentary polls, was part of a United Nations-led peace process.
The political uncertainty has raised tensions on the ground across Libya, which is controlled by an array of armed groups
Iran announces anti-missile system for its tanks
On Tuesday, Iran's military fired several missiles from land and sea as part of the five-day exercise.On Tuesday, Iran's military fired several missiles from land and sea as part of the five-day exercise
The United States said it was preparing "alternatives" in case negotiations to revive a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme collapse in Vienna
Morocco sees room for ‘return to normal’ in German ties
Berlin's foreign ministry called Morocco an "important link between North and South, politically, culturally and economically".It also said Morocco "plays...Rabat in March said it was suspending contacts with the German embassy in the North African kingdom over "deep misunderstandings" on "issues fundamental for Morocco"
Germany's criticism of former US president Donald Trump's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara was among the apparent points of friction
Morocco marks anniversary of renewed ties with Israel
Morocco and Israel have marked the first anniversary of the US-sponsored resumption of diplomatic relations between them.The rapprochement was part of a string of normalization deals between Israel and several Arab countries
It was brokered by the administration of then US president Donald Trump and known as the Abraham Accords
US top official confers with Israel, Iran on nuclear deal
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government has called for a halt to international efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal....Negotiations to restore the pact known as the Joint Collective Plan of Action resumed in November
Washington was a party to the original agreement, but withdrew under president Donald Trump in 2018
