Focus Washington - Page 34 of 118 from

Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Corruption Authority Arrests 65 as Crackdown Continues

February 12, 2021 Focus Washington

The Kingdom’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) has arrested 65 Saudis and expats while 411 are still under investigation as the agency continues its crackdown against fraud, bribery and other crimes, Arab News informed. Among […]

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EU Ready to Work With Biden Administration to Settle Trade Disputes

February 12, 2021 Focus Washington

The European Union on Thursday acknowledged a move by the new U.S. government to refrain from imposing additional tariffs on EU goods in a long-running dispute over aircraft tariffs, and said it was ready to […]

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Kremlin Critic Navalny Back in Court for Slander Trial Amid Tensions With West

February 12, 2021 Focus Washington

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny returned to court on Friday for a trial on slander charges he calls politically motivated amid mounting tensions between Russia and the West over his jailing, Reuters reported. Navalny, President Vladimir […]

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Qatar Working for Return to Iran Nuclear Accord

February 11, 2021 Focus Washington

Qatar is working to de-escalate tension in the region by advocating for a return to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, state media quoted its foreign minister as saying, Reuters writes. “The State of Qatar is […]

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Suu Kyi Aide, Electoral Officials Arrested in Myanmar, Biden Approves Sanctions

February 11, 2021 Focus Washington

A close aide to ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in a new wave of arrests following last week’s military coup, a party official said on Thursday, as Washington moved a step […]

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Two U.S. Carrier Groups Conduct Exercises in South China Sea

February 9, 2021 Focus Washington

Two U.S. carrier groups conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea on Tuesday, days after a U.S. warship sailed near Chinese-controlled islands in the disputed waters, as China denounced the United States for damaging […]

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South Korea’s New Top Diplomat Says Confident about U.S. Coordination over North Korea

February 9, 2021 Focus Washington

South Korea’s new foreign minister said on Tuesday he was confident about coordinating North Korea policy with the United States despite earlier signs of differences, Reuters reported. Chung Eui-yong, 74, took office as South Korea’s […]

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Netanyahu Pleads Not Guilty to Corruption as Trial Resumes

February 8, 2021 Focus Washington

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded not guilty on Monday to corruption charges at the resumption of his trial, six weeks before voters again head to the polls to pass judgment on his leadership, Reuters […]

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Biden Administration Moves to Rejoin U.N. Human Rights Council

February 8, 2021 Focus Washington

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration will reengage with the United Nations Human Rights Council, three years after former President Donald Trump withdrew over what his administration called bias against Israel and a lack of reform, […]

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Biden Ends U.S. Support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen

February 5, 2021 Focus Washington

President Joe Biden on Thursday declared a halt to U.S. support for a Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen, demanding that the more than six-year war, widely seen as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia […]

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Russia to Try Jailed Kremlin Critic Navalny for Slander Amid EU Talks

February 5, 2021 Focus Washington

Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is due back in court on Friday for a slander trial despite Western calls for his release and on the same day as the European Union’s top diplomat is in […]

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South Korea Urges U.S. Flexibility on Sanctions to Restart North Korea Talks

February 3, 2021 Focus Washington

The United States should flexibly enforce sanctions aimed at curbing Pyongyang’s nuclear programmes to revive denuclearisation talks, South Korea’s point man on North Korea said on Wednesday, Reuters writes. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un […]

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Kushner, Berkowitz Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for Israel Deals

February 1, 2021 Focus Washington

Former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and his deputy, Avi Berkowitz, were nominated by a friendly attorney on Sunday for the Nobel Peace Prize for their role in negotiating four normalization deals between Israel […]

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Foreign Troops to Stay in Afghanistan Beyond May Deadline

January 31, 2021 Focus Washington

International troops plan to stay in Afghanistan beyond the May deadline envisaged by the insurgent Taliban’s deal with the United States, four senior NATO officials said, a move that could escalate tensions with the Taliban […]

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U.S. Military Slams Chinese Flights Over South China Sea

January 30, 2021 Focus Washington

The U.S. military said on Friday that Chinese military flights in the past week in the South China Sea fit a pattern of destabilizing and aggressive behavior by Beijing but posed no threat to a […]

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Biden’s Pause on Gulf Weapons Sales Foreshadows a Tougher U.S.-Saudi Relationship

January 29, 2021 Focus Washington

The administration of President Joe Biden is pausing weapons sales to Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as part of a broader review of multibillion-dollar arms agreements made under the Trump administration, […]

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Former Obama Aide Malley Named Biden’s Top Envoy on Iran

January 29, 2021 Focus Washington

President Joe Biden has named Robert Malley as special U.S. envoy for Iran, a senior official said on Thursday, giving the veteran diplomat a leading role in one of the most daunting and politically divisive […]

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U.S. Stands With SE Asian Countries Against China Pressure, Blinken Says

January 28, 2021 Focus Washington

The United States rejects China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea beyond what it is permitted under international law and stands with Southeast Asian nations resisting its pressure, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken […]

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Russian Parliament OKs New START Nuclear Treaty Extension

January 27, 2021 Focus Washington

The lower house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday quickly approved the extension of the last remaining nuclear arms control pact days before it’s due to expire, The Associated Press reported. The State Duma voted […]

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Israel’s Top General Says Its Military Is Refreshing Operational Plans Against Iran

January 27, 2021 Focus Washington

Israel’s top general said on Tuesday that its military was refreshing its operational plans against Iran and that any U.S. return to a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran would be “wrong,” Reuters writes. The remarks […]

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Biden to Reinstate COVID Travel Rules, Add South Africa

January 25, 2021 Focus Washington

President Joe Biden on Monday will formally reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions on non-U.S. travelers from Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom and 26 other European countries that allow travel across open borders, according to two White […]

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Iran Asks Indonesia to Explain Seizure of Tanker Accused of Illegal Oil Transfer

January 25, 2021 Focus Washington

Iran has asked Indonesia to provide details about the seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday, a day after Jakarta said it had seized Iran and Panama-flagged tankers […]

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Japan Likely to Hit COVID-19 Herd Immunity in October, Months After Olympics

January 25, 2021 Focus Washington

Japan is likely to achieve herd immunity to COVID-19 through mass inoculations only months after the planned Tokyo Olympics, even though it has locked in the biggest quantity of vaccines in Asia, according to a […]

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China Says U.S. Military in South China Sea Not Good for Peace

January 25, 2021 Focus Washington

The United States often sends ships and aircraft into the South China Sea to “flex its muscles” and this is not good for peace, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday, after a U.S. aircraft carrier […]

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Japan Says It Is Committed to Host Olympics, Denies Reports of Cancellation

January 22, 2021 Focus Washington

Japan doubled down on its commitment to host the Tokyo Olympics this year and flatly denied reports on Friday of a possible cancellation, in a move that is unlikely to temper public fears of holding […]

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Biden Seeks Five-Year Extension of New START Arms Treaty With Russia

January 22, 2021 Focus Washington

U.S. President Joe Biden will seek a five-year extension to the New START arms control treaty with Russia, the White House said on Thursday, in one of the first major foreign policy decisions of the […]

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Joe Biden's social spending bill approved by House Dems

World Leaders Welcome U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

January 21, 2021 Focus Washington

Leaders from around the world reacted to the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, CNBC informed. The reactions ranged from offerings of congratulations, pitting their countries and economies […]

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White House Reveals Which Global Leader Will Be First to Hold a Call With President Biden

January 21, 2021 Focus Washington

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday told reporters that President Joe Biden’s first world leader call would be to Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, CNBC reported. “His first call, foreign leader call will […]

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Iran’s Rouhani Says “Ball in U.S. Court” Over Nuclear Dispute

January 20, 2021 Focus Washington

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the incoming U.S. administration on Wednesday to return to a 2015 nuclear agreement and lift sanctions on Tehran, while welcoming the end of “tyrant” President Donald Trump’s era, Reuters informed. […]

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Saudi Arabia Says It Executed 27 People in 2020, the Lowest Number in Years, Rights Groups Say

January 19, 2021 Focus Washington

Saudi Arabia said Monday that 27 people were executed in the kingdom last year, the lowest number since at least 2013, according to two human rights organizations that track the use of the death penalty […]

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