Jeddah Talks: Ukraine accepts US proposal of 30-day ceasefire with Russia
The positive response from Ukraine prompted President Donald Trump's administration to lift a freeze on military aid and to predict...Geostrategy
UNRWA warns Israel’s West Bank operation aligns with annexation ‘vision’
The Israeli operation, which the military says targets militants in the northern West Bank, was launched shortly after a truce...Geostrategy
Qatar suspends leave for healthcare staff amid Covid surge
Qatar's main healthcare provider has suspended leave for all medical and administrative staff dealing with Covid, as infections surge across...Since the pandemic began, Qatar has recorded more than 248,000 infections, including 616 deaths. Monday's tally of 343 infections was the highest since May.
The six members of the GCC have recorded more than 2.5 million cases, among them over 19,000 deaths.
Lebanon president calls for end to government boycott
President Michel Aoun has called for national dialogue on matters including a defense strategy.Lebanese president hinted at friction with the Hezbollah for blocking Cabinet meetings since October
The Hezbollah is spearheading a boycott of the Lebanese govt over demands to replace a judge
Libya’s parliament refuses to fix date for delayed polls
The vote, set for Friday, was meant to be the culmination of United Nations-led efforts to drag Libya out of...On Monday the parliamentary committee charged with overseeing the election presented a report saying it would be risky to set a new date at this stage
That was a direct rebuff to the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC) which had suggested holding the vote on January 24
Iraq’s top court rejects fraud claims, ratifies election results
The ruling will allow parliament to meet and pave the way for the election of a president who will then...Judge Jassem Mohamed Aboud of the Federal Supreme Court rejected a complaint of irregularities filed by the pro-Iran Hashed al-Shaabi former paramilitary alliance.
The Hashed had also organized protests over the preliminary election results. One protester was killed and more than 100 injured in November.
Kuwait and UNHCR agreement to provide $2 million aid to Yemen
It is also meant to provide basic building materials for temporary shelters, to rehabilitate and improve sites' and water sources...The agreement is a result of Kuwait’s commitment during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The grant targets at improving living conditions of almost 200,000 internally displaced persons in cities of Yemen.
UAE residents can recycle used cooking oil at Bee’ah Tandeef machines
Waste management and environment company Bee’ah Tandeef has launched a service that allows people to recycle used cooking oil so...Bee’ah Tandeef will turn the waste cooking oil into biodiesel that will be used to run its fleet of waste collection trucks.
The collection machine also dispenses a new empty bottle whenever a bottle is deposited.
Iran seeks assurances on sanctions as nuclear talks resume
Iran said nuclear talks that are set to resume Monday in Vienna should focus on lifting sanctions on the Islamic...Negotiations to salvage the 2015 Iran nuclear deal resumed in late November, after a five-month hiatus following the election of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi.
The talks seek to bring back the United States, after it withdrew from the accord in 2018 under president Donald Trump and began imposing sanctions on Iran.
What were the top geopolitical events of 2021?
The year 2021 was, despite the dampened activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, chock-full of landmark events.Globally, the world is still talking about the January 6 incident where supporters of then US President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol
Also, the annual climate conference COP26 was held in Glasgow, with observers still divided on whether it was a success or a failure
UAE extends $2m grant to Costa Rica in flood response
The UAE has extended a grant of $2 million to Costa Rica to help the Central American country battle its...The money is expected to help Costa Rica build capacity in its National Emergency Commission to address flooding throughout the country
This comes against the backdrop of two previous aid flights sent by the UAE to Costa Rica carrying critical medical supplies to fight Covid-19
France arrests man for shipping chemical components to Syria
France detained a 60-year-old French-Syrian man on suspicion of conspiracy to commit crimes against humanity.France has arrested a man under formal investigation on suspicion of supporting the Syrian army
Syria denies the use of chemical weapons, insisting it handed over its stockpiles under a 2013 agreement
