Highly anticipated talks between the US and Russia ended Monday following a seven-and-a-half-hour consultation in Geneva between the State Department’s number two diplomat and her Russian counterpart.Military officials were also present as tensions simmer over Moscow’s threats to invade Ukraine.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Washington and Europe, led by NATO, have warned that there would be severe consequences if Russia followed through. Tens of thousands of Russian troops are lined up on the border; Moscow claims it has no intentions of military escalation.“One country cannot change the borders of another by force or dictate the terms of another country's foreign policy, or forbid another country from choosing its own alliances,” Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said in a call after Monday’s meeting.While US officials have said that Monday’s talks were a continuation of the “Strategic Security Dialogue,” which started last summer between US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the recent discussions focused primarily on Ukraine.“We came up with a number of ideas where our two countries could take reciprocal action that would be in our security interest and improve strategic stability,” Sherman said on Monday.Before the talks, Russia released a list of demands, which guaranteed that Ukraine would not be admitted to NATO. But the US issued a strong response, voiced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, last week saying some of the demands were absolute “non-starters.”NATO also said it was up to each country to make sovereign decisions.Nevertheless, Blinken said the best way forward was through dialogue and a diplomatic solution.The US has proposed suggestions to ease Russia’s fears include limiting US and NATO military exercises near Russian borders in Eastern Europe. US officials have said that the presence of specific missile systems in Ukraine could also be discussed.The Biden administration has turned its attention to threats from Russia and China as the most pressing issues facing US national security interests.Read more: Biden, Putin hold second call this month as US-Russia tensions escalate
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Russia is causing a renewed crisis for all of Europe: Senior US diplomat
High Court violates own deadlines to dodge IDF haredi draft issue- analysis
Doing so tells the current political class that it might be able to ignore other issues of legality if it poses too great a threat to the coalition.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: High Court violates own deadlines to dodge IDF haredi draft issue- analysis
Warsaw sacks envoy who lambasted law against blaming Poles for Holocaust
The Polish Foreign Ministry fired its envoy to Jewish communities, Jarosław Marek Nowak, after he described a law against holding the country responsible for its role in the Holocaust as 'stupid.'
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Warsaw sacks envoy who lambasted law against blaming Poles for Holocaust
KKL plants trees on Negev property, Arab leaders protest
Disputed land belonging to a Bedouin family in the Negev has been in the spotlight due to KKL-JNF's act to plant trees on it.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: KKL plants trees on Negev property, Arab leaders protest
Designated children’s COVID facility opens in Qatar as numbers hit record high
On Sunday, Qatar has reocrded the highest daily reported Covid-19 cases, many of which are kids, since the start of the pandemic..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Designated children’s COVID facility opens in Qatar as numbers hit record high
Lack of plan underpins Israel COVID strategy – analysis
The lack of a comprehensive pandemic strategy by the government grows in relevance every day.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Lack of plan underpins Israel COVID strategy - analysis
UN seeks record $4.4 bln in aid for Afghanistan’s future
UN agencies on Tuesday asked donors for $4.4 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan in 2022, calling the funds an “essential stop gap” to ensure the country’s future after a period of turmoil marked by the Taliban’s seizure of power and a hasty US exit.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The United Nations says the appeal, which amounts to nearly a quarter of the country’s GDP, is the largest ever sought for a single country and is triple the figure it received in 2021 when the US-backed government collapsed.“This is a stop gap, an absolutely essential stop gap measure that we are putting in front of the international community today,” UN aid chief Martin Griffiths told reporters in Geneva.“Without this being funded there won’t be a future, we need this to be done otherwise there will be outflow, there will be suffering.”The abrupt withdrawal of foreign aid last year following the Taliban victory in August left Afghanistan’s fragile economy on the brink of collapse, with food prices rising rapidly and causing widespread hunger.Western sanctions aimed at the Taliban also prevented the passage of basic supplies of food and medicine, although this has since eased after exemptions were passed by the UN Security Council and Washington in December.Griffiths, who has been meeting with Taliban officials, said the humanitarian plan had been “carefully calibrated” so that aid will go directly to people in need and not to authorities.Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said that improved security presented an opportunity to entice millions of people displaced by the long conflict back home, adding that since the Taliban seized power, 170,000 had returned already.“The conflict between the Taliban and the previous government is over and that has opened up some space of security which I think we need to take advantage of,” Grandi said.“But to do that we need those resources that are part of this appeal.”Read more: Taliban official meets son of ‘lion of Panjshir’ in IranTaliban foreign minister in first trip to IranNo trips for Afghan women unless escorted by male relative, Taliban issue guidance
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UN seeks record .4 bln in aid for Afghanistan’s future
Social media users who mock UAE COVID-19 rules face jail time
People who mock the United Arab Emirates’ COVID-19 regulations face jail time, federal prosecutors said in a statement on Monday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Social media users could be punished under new laws which allow at least two years’ jail and $54,000 (200,000 AED) fines for sharing misleading information, the Federal Emergency Crisis and Disasters Prosecution said in a statement carried by the official WAM news agency.The UAE has introduced a number of measures to tackle a wave of omicron variant cases that have pushed daily COVID-19 numbers to the highest levels since last March.The warning followed “the recent circulation of photos and videos on social media... accompanied by comments and songs mocking the precautionary measures and calling on others to flout them”, the Federal Emergency Crisis and Disasters Prosecution explained in a statement carried by WAM.“We, therefore, call upon members of the community to refrain from this behavior, which is punishable by the law,” warned the statement, which was released on Monday.Testing requirements have increased in recent weeks with many employers demanding regular negative PCR results, putting pressure on test centers.Residents of the capital, Abu Dhabi, need a negative PCR result every fortnight and tests are also needed to enter government buildings.The UAE has also barred foreign travel for citizens who haven’t had a vaccination booster shot.Dubai Expo is currently being hosted within the Emirates. The six-month world fair that has attracted more than nine million visits so far. The country reported 2,511 new cases on Tuesday.With AFPRead more: Saudi Arabia records 4,652 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, two deathsNew COVID treatment shows efficacy against omicron: Spain's PharmaMarPoland’s total COVID-19 death toll passes 100,000 amid fourth wave
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Social media users who mock UAE COVID-19 rules face jail time
World gov't officials attend meetings on sustainable future minerals held in Riyadh
Delegates from around the world convened in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to participate in the inaugural Ministerial Roundtable on Sustainable Future Minerals.As part of the meeting, Khalid al-Mudaifer, the Kingdom’s Vice-Minister of Mining Affairs, hopes to “establish a common framework and share best practices to ensure the reliable and responsibly sourced supply of critical minerals for the global transition to net-zero,” according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.More than 32 ministers, government representatives and nine international organizations are participating in the Riyadh event that comes ahead of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF).“We are convening the Ministerial Roundtable to further regional collaboration on the sustainable development of the mining and minerals industry,” said the Saudi official.Among those attending the closed-door meeting are ministers from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen, as well as high-level delegates from Algeria, Australia, China, France, Japan, Palestine, Pakistan, Mauritania, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, UK, and the US.According to SPA report, discussions were held to mine valuable minerals following “responsible sourcing” as outlined by Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) standards.These guidelines seek to manage the environmental footprint, minimize emissions, encourage a positive societal impact and maintain transparency.“Responsible sourcing is a critical and part of our holistic approach that is supplemented globally by an increase in the recycling and reuse of critical minerals and the improvement of technology,” added al-Mudaifer.Officials from the Arab League, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank are some other global conglomerates taking part in the event.Database to produce mineral oresAnother meeting held on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) discussed the establishment of a database to produce mineral ores in the region, establish a geological and mineral portal, and quantify local capacity building in the mining sector.It was held in the presence of Arab ministers and officials in the global mining sector, representing more than 30 countries.The meeting was organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, in partnership with the Arab Industrial Development, Standardization and Mining Organization (AIDSMO).According to the SPA report, both meetings will “provide an opportunity for investors, miners and mining sector stakeholders worldwide to explore all the potentials and opportunities of the mining sector in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa regions.”Read more:EIG-led investors in Aramco oil pipelines hire banks for dual-tranche bondsSaudi Arabia FM meets Chinese counterpart to discuss regional security
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: World gov't officials attend meetings on sustainable future minerals held in Riyadh
Iranian FM visits Qatar in bid to strengthen ties with GCC
Talks aimed at restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action are currently taking place in Vienna, while Saudi Arabia and Iran look at ways of solving some of their differences. Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Tuesday during the diplomat’s visit to the Gulf ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iranian FM visits Qatar in bid to strengthen ties with GCC