Russia's economy is heavily dependent on its energy industry, and President Vladimir Putin is playing a long, complex game to combat low oil prices.

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu called a vote in parliament on his new government for Thursday Dec. 29, the speaker of the Knesset said on Monday, after almost two months of coalition wrangling.  Netanyahu's bloc of right-wing and religious parties won a clear victory in parliamentary elections last month, but the veteran leader has had a harder time than expected in finalizing deals with his partners.  Despite campaigning together, Netanyahu has struggled to meet the demands of his allies, who have demanded a significant slice of power in exchange for their support.   Ahead of the vote in parliament and a formal swearing in of the new government, Netanyahu will have to officially present the members of his cabinet.  Israel's longest serving prime minister has vowed to govern for all Israelis but he will head one of the most right-wing governments in the country's history with key ministries in the hands of hardliners.  Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party will have authority for police as security minister while Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party will have broad authority to allow the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.  Both oppose Palestinian statehood and support extending Israeli sovereignty into the West Bank, adding another obstacle to a two-state solution, the resolution backed by Palestinian leaders, the United States and European governments.  The finance ministry is expected to be shared by Smotrich and Aryeh Deri, from the religious Shas party, with each man serving for two years. Deri's appointment will depend on parliamentary support for a legal amendment allowing him to serve despite a conviction for tax fraud.  Liberal Israelis have also been alarmed by statements from a number of other members of coalition parties against gay rights and in favor of allowing some businesses to refuse services to people based on religious grounds.  President Isaac Herzog, the head of state who stands outside day-to-day politics, said on Sunday that any threat to the rights of Israeli citizens based on their identity or values would be counter to Israel's democratic and ethical traditions. 

Huge crowds of antigovernment protesters Saturday encircled the Serbian state television building in downtown Belgrade to press their demand for autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic to ease his tight grip on the mainstream media and allow alternative voices. Tens of thousands of opposition supporters, some chanting slogans urging Vucic's resignation, streamed into the rain-drenched streets a day after the president's followers staged an equally big rally in the capital. Most of his supporters were bused into the capital from all over Serbia and some neighboring states. Outside the RTS TV headquarters, the crowds blew whistles and booed loudly. They say that according to the laws, state TV should be unbiased as a public broadcaster, but that it has been openly pro-government. Held for the fourth time since the early May shootings, the opposition-led protests appear to be shaping up into the biggest revolt against Vucic's autocratic rule during his over 10 years in power. The rallies initially erupted in response to two back-to-back mass shootings earlier this month that left 18 people dead and 20 wounded, many of them children from an elementary school. Other protest demands include the resignations of top officials and the revoking of licenses for pro-government media that air violent content and host crime figures and war criminals. Vucic has accused the opposition of abusing the shooting tragedy for political ends. Earlier Saturday, he stepped down from the helm of his populist party amid plans to form a wider political movement. Vucic named his close ally, Milos Vucevic, the current defense minister, as his successor. Holding umbrellas amid heavy rain Saturday, the protesters walked slowly around the RTS television building in central Belgrade, completely covering the streets in the entire area. Many held flowers in memory of the slain children and wore badges reading "vulture" or "hyena," mocking the expressions that officials used to describe the protesters. Vucic has said the new, national movement will be formed in June to include other parties, experts and prominent individuals and promote unity. Analysts say it is a bid to regroup amid mounting public pressure. Critics say the movement could lead to single-party rule, more or less as the case in Vladimir Putin's Russia, which Vucic supports. During the rally Friday, Vucic offered dialogue as he seeks ways to ease mounting public pressure. Opposition parties have pledged to press on with the demonstrations until their demands are fulfilled. They include the ouster of the interior minister and the intelligence chief; the revocation of nationwide broadcast licenses for two pro-government TV stations; and the dismissal of a media-monitoring body. "If they don't fulfill (the demands) we are not leaving from here," said Milica Tomic, a Belgrade resident. "We will be here, if it need be, every day, every week, whenever."

An anti-normalization boycott of educational organizations in Israel and Palestine is making much-needed education and dialogue more difficult.

A string of U.N. successes against rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo may not last unless the underlying cause of the conflict is addressed.

At the table: Maintaining the massive 12,000-square-foot compound amounts to many thousands of shekels a month, and the owners are eager for a return to normalcy.

Lita Cohen said she was "very upset with that recent Trump ad that stereotypes Jewish people.”

Noem, once seen as a possible running mate for Trump, is currently serving her second term as South Dakota's gov after a reelection in 2022

The Battle of al-Qadisiyyah was a crucial victory for Arab Muslim forces of the Rashidun Caliphate over the Sasanian Empire.

MDA team from Karnei Shomron sped to southern Israel on October 7 to save lives

Israel showcases climate tech at COP29 but misses deeper environmental focus.

By staying silent, these bystanders betray themselves, their communities, and democratic ideals—abandoning Amsterdam’s Israeli and Jewish guests.

Speculation spiked after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu replaced Gallant with Katz that the attempts to draft Haredim would be halted, given Netanyahu and the haredi coalition parties' opposition.

[Lesotho Times] Damning revelations have emerged over the "corrupt" recruitment process for 3400 temporary staff at the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police.

[Nile Post] Energy Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa, has called for sustainable clean cooking solutions to support Uganda's extensive refugee population and safeguard the country's forests.

[The Conversation Africa] The dramatic loss of power by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had governed Botswana since independence in 1966, will go down in history as one of the biggest electoral upsets in Africa.

A similar proposal was slated for refusal by a case officer who described the proposal as objectionable in principle in 2023

According to reports, Amir Nasr-Azadani, a soccer player from Iran may face execution for participating in ongoing anti-government protests in the country.

"We’re playing with fire, but there can be no more playing for time. We’re out of time," says UN Secretary General António Guterres

Mukhtiar Hussain KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh General Secretary Dr. Masroor Ali Siyal was arrested at Al-Asif Square on his way to the Swabi rally, along with MPA Raja Azhar, two other MPAs, and a large number of officials and … read more

At the end of the first week at the 16th Conference of Parties on Biodiversity (COP16), finance emerges as the biggest issue but also shrouded in controversies. On Saturday, as the COP moved closer to its most crucial phase of negotiations, resource mobilization—listed under Target 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)—took centerstage, with […]

The students and the common people of Bangladesh dared to do something in 36 days of July-August that was considered simply impossible by most people just days before August 5, 2024. They said ‘enough is enough’ to an old order that outraged their humanity, robbed their dignity and the rulers imagined that their citadel of […]

Social protection systems are essential to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, social protection is insufficient across Asia and the Pacific, and the region is at risk from megatrends: climate change, demographic shifts and digitalization. Tens of millions of people have been pushed into extreme poverty since COVID-19, reversing past gains, and many […]

New institutional economics (NIE) has received another so-called Nobel prize, ostensibly for again claiming that good institutions and democratic governance ensure growth, development, equity and democracy. Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson (AJR) are well known for their influential cliometric work. AJR have elaborated earlier laureate Douglass North’s claim that property rights have been […]

The conclusion that Donald Trump is a fascist has gone mainstream, gaining wide publicity and affirmation in recent weeks. Such understanding is a problem for Trump and his boosters. At the same time, potentially pivotal in this close election, a small proportion of people who consider themselves to be progressive still assert that any differences […]

Race is central in this year's race for the White House and the struggle for racial justice and voting rights are inextricably linked.

Cases of beer were wheeled into the Capitol after the House narrowly passed a health care bill on May 4, 2017, that would repeal and replace major parts of the Affordable Care Act. Every Democrat voted no, joined by 20 Republicans.

TACLOBAN CITY — A soldier was killed while three others were wounded during an encounter on Tuesday, Nov. 12, between government troops and suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Gamay, Northern Samar. The soldiers, from the 52nd Infantry Battalion based in Jipapad, Eastern Samar, were conducting military operations in the area when they encountered nine NPA rebels in Barangay Malidong. A firefight lasted about 10 minutes, resulting in the death of Corporal Benjie Tamor, 28. Three of Tamor’s colleagues were also wounded in the skirmish, though their identities were withheld by the 8th Infantry Division based in […]...

Keep on reading: Soldier slain, 3 others hurt in NPA-AFP clash in Northern Samar

Malik Beasley made a go-ahead technical free throw with 1.1 seconds left in overtime and the host Detroit Pistons escaped with a wild 123-121 victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA Cup opener for both teams on Tuesday night. Tyler Herro, who scored the last nine points of regulation, all on 3-pointers, to force overtime, gave the Heat a two-point lead on a bank shot with 1.8 seconds left in overtime. An alley-oop dunk by Jalen Duren off an inbounds pass Cade Cunningham tied the score. READ: NBA Cup set to begin with eight group-play games The Heat called […]...

Keep on reading: NBA Cup: Pistons beat Heat in OT, aided by technical FT

NEW YORK — It looks like the 2025 Grammy Awards may be a different kind of award show. Beyoncé leads the nods with 11, bringing her career total to a record-breaking 99 nominations. There’s an incredible diversity of genres represented across the major categories, and women continue to succeed. So… who didn’t make the cut? What were the best surprises of all? Let’s take a look. Country’s cool again… and it looks a little different. Country music has bled into other prominent genres and the Recording Academy has taken note. Country hybridists — like Beyoncé, Post Malone and first-time nominee […]...

Keep on reading: The Beatles, 'BRAT' summer, and other 2025 Grammy nomination snubs, surprises

The government has brushed aside reports of former finance minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong making the cut as new chairman of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) board, saying nothing has been made official yet.

The widespread use of Thai nominees by foreign businesses in Thailand is a growing concern among hoteliers, who fear that low prices and quality could destroy the tourism reputation of the country, according to the Thai Hotels Association's (THA) monthly sentiment index.

[VOA] A senior Somali official insisted Saturday that Ethiopia will not participate in a new African Union peacekeeping mission starting in January.

While reports in Israel assess that Hezbollah may have lost 80 percent of its rocket arsenal and also lost 2,000 fighters, Hezbollah is putting on a brave face, claiming Israel is far from its goals.

Sullivan laid the blame squarely on Hamas, clarifying that the issue was that the group simply didn’t want to make a deal under any terms.

Security sources have previously said the pagers carried the name of a Taiwan-based company that has asserted that it did not make them.

Erdogan urged Muslim nations at an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia to unite against Israel

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner speaks to TML about the state of war after 400 days, including the UN Security Council 1701 Resolution and additions that would allow Israel to secure its borders.

Ukraine and Russia barrage each other with dozens of drone attacks

Slackliners set world record, balancing at 2,500 metres high between hot air balloons

Protesters at COP29 call for an end to war in Gaza

Tyrannosaurus Rex of London's Natural History Museum, a model like no other

German auto and engineering workers to get 5.5% wage rise after union negotiations

US says it will not limit arms transfers to Israel after some aid improvements to Gaza

  Matthias Schmale is the Assistant Secretary-General, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine. Schmale brings more than 30 years of experience in humanitarian and development work. He previously served as Senior Adviser to the UN Development Coordination Office’s regional team for Africa, as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (a.i) in Nigeria, and in several high-level […]

Holding this year’s presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) large industrial and emerging economies is allowing Brazil to push forward the dream of creating a global biofuels market without the current trade barriers. Brazil is trying, at least since the beginning of this century, to free up global trade in ethanol, but so far […]

Would God redeem sinners at the cost of His own Son’s blood, then cast those same blood-bought believers aside? Having brought us to salvation at so great a price, would He then withhold any grace from us? Won’t He finish what He started? Romans 8:32 provides us with a clear and emphatic answer.

I remember listening to a Christian radio station when a caller asked, “What should I look for in a church?” The host responded by saying, “The thing I look for is fellowship. That’s the most important thing in choosing a church.” That may be a good feature of a church—but that is not the right answer.