Germany’s New Chancellor Olaf Scholz Facing Challenges
Center-left leader Olaf Scholz has been sworn in as Germany’s ninth chancellor since World War Two, but he faces significant challenges.
Russia
Iran, Syria to take center stage when Russian FM arrives in Israel next week
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to visit Israel on Sunday, marking the official’s first such excursion in three years.
Russian Invasion Fears After Biden, Putin Talks
After two hours of talks on the crisis between presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, it was unclear Wednesday whether a feared Russian invasion in Ukraine had been averted.
New German Government Signs Deal
The leaders of the Social Democrats, Greens, and the Free Democrats who pledged to phase-out coal and legalize soft drugs have signed their three-party coalition deal.
Biden, Putin To Discuss Feared Russian Invasion in Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden was preparing for talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin amid mounting concerns that Russia’s military will invade Ukraine.
UK, US and allies call on Russia to de-escalate tensions with Ukraine
Leaders of the United States, Germany, Italy, France and Britain on Monday emphasized the need to provide a united front in the face of Russian threats and hostility.
Kremlin Says Biden and Putin to Discuss Ukraine Crisis Next Week
U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to discuss rising tensions Tuesday along the Russian-Ukranian border, where a Russian troop buildup is seen by the West as a sign of a potential invasion.
Israel Warns As Iran Could Have Nuclear Bomb Within Weeks (Worthy News In-Depth)
Revelations that Iran may have a nuclear bomb within weeks overshadowed Hanukkah feasts in Israel, but Israel’s spy chief warned Iran it would not be allowed to become a nuclear power.
Russia Will Soon Have New Hypersonic Missile With Maximum Speed of Mach 9, Putin Says
Vladimir Putin said that the hypersonic weapon with maximum speed of Mach 9 will appear in Russia in the near future.
Europeans See ‘Problem’ if Iran Is Not Serious in Nuclear Talks This Week
Iran must show seriousness this week about reviving a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, European diplomats said on Tuesday, saying otherwise they had a “problem” and it remained unclear if Tehran would resume talks where they left off in June.
Putin warns West: Moscow has ‘red line’ about Ukraine, NATO
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday sternly warned NATO against deploying its troops and weapons to Ukraine, saying it represents a red line for Russia and would trigger a strong response.
Iranian demands raise fresh doubts as nuke talks resume
Iran refused to meet face-to-face with American diplomats as talks over the Islamic republic’s suspect nuclear programs resumed Monday in Vienna following a five-month hiatus — a period in which a hardline new government has come to power.
52 Killed In Russia’s Worst Mine Accident In Decade
A devastating explosion in a Siberian coal mine deep beneath the service left at least 52 miners and rescuers dead, Russian officials said Thursday.
Israel launches diplomatic blitz ahead of renewed Iran nuclear talks
Israel will make its position heard ahead of the return to nuclear talks with Iran by world powers on Monday, with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid scheduled to visit London and Paris next week.
CIA Warns Russia Over ‘Havana Syndrome’
The director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency reportedly warned Russia’s secret services of “consequences” if they are behind health incidents known as “Havana Syndrome” afflicting U.S. diplomats and spies worldwide.
Abbas meets Putin, seeks Quartet role in peace process
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for talks on reviving the peace process with Israel, in the context of Russia’s support for the two-state solution.
Top US, Russian Generals Speak as Tensions Mount
The top U.S. and Russian generals spoke by phone Tuesday, as tensions along the Russian-Ukrainian border appeared to reach new highs.
US, Ukraine Scrutinize Russian Troop Buildup as Moscow Dismisses Invasion Fears
Russia’s troop buildup along the Ukrainian border is drawing alarm from U.S. officials who are warning of a potential new invasion. Ukrainian officials estimate 90,000 Russian troops are now positioned along the border and in Russian-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine.
Putin: ‘Peculiar’ Western Countries Aren’t Taking Our Security ‘Red Lines’ Seriously
Rebuking Western nations for holding military exercises in the Black Sea and supplying Ukraine with lethal weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday these countries –“to put it mildly” – are not taking Moscow’s warnings about crossing its “red lines” seriously.
Mideast Quartet expresses concern over West Bank violence, PA financial crisis
The so-called Quartet of Middle East mediators urged Israel and the Palestinians on Thursday to address an array of challenges — ongoing violence in the West Bank, the advancement of new settlement units in Palestinian territories, and “the untenable fiscal crisis within the Palestinian Authority.”