The kingdom flexed its market muscle in a surprise move that signals its fear that the Covid-19 pandemic will further hit the global economy. ( read original story ...)
Saudi Arabia Will Cut Its Oil Production, Allowing Russia’s to Grow
Oil prices rose to levels not seen since February. The two major oil producers had been moving in lock step since an April agreement to cut output. ( read original story ...)
Biden’s Afghanistan task is to deal with reality: The US cannot pacify it
U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has one of the toughest tasks in the diplomatic world: facilitating the Afghan government and the Taliban across the peace process finish line. ( read original story ...)
UNICEF-Supported Vaccinators Won’t Stop Until They Eradicate Polio In Afghanistan
After the wild poliovirus was officially eliminated in Africa in August, Afghanistan and Pakistan became the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic. A highly infectious, paralyzing ... ( read original story ...)
Iran is playing war games in Iraq
Hadath TV on Christmas Eve, Zafer al-Aani, a senior member of the Iraqi Parliament, blamed the recent rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad squarely on Iran. ( read original story ...)
Death of toddler sparks outrage in South Korea
South Koreans are petitioning for a heavier sentence for a couple charged with involuntary manslaughter and negligence after the death of a toddler. ( read original story ...)
South Korea demands release of Gulf tanker seized by Iran
Seoul said it had dispatched an anti-piracy unit to the sensitive waters near the Strait of Hormuz after the Korean-flagged Hankuk Chemi and its crew of 20 were captured by Iranian guards. ( read original story ...)
Iran denies seized Korean ship and crew are being held as hostages
Iran denied on Tuesday it was using a South Korean ship and its crew as hostages, a day after it seized the tanker in the Gulf while pressing a demand for Seoul to release $7 billion in funds frozen ... ( read original story ...)
Iran seizes tanker, ramps up uranium enrichment in new escalation with West
Tensions between the United States and Iran have been simmering in the last days of President Donald Trump's administration. ( read original story ...)
Turkey arrests students protesting Erdogan’s university head pick
Police raided the homes of at least 17 students after they protested the Turkish president's appointment to lead a top university in what supporters say was a blatant and violent attempt to crush ... ( read original story ...)