The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians that began in the mid-20th century amidst the greater Arab–Israeli conflict. Various attempts have been made to resolve the conflict as part of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. Most Recently by Donald J Trump resulting in the historic Abraham Accords.
Tag: Joe Biden

Ukraine — The Donbass War 2.0
The outcome of the Minsk talks will be war. This week the situation deteriorated in the Donbass region. The Minsk Protocol is essentially a tool to stop the open confrontation between Donbass and Ukraine. However, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) is preparing for war and clearly Russia will be backing the endeavor.

Israel – US Relationship: It’s Complicated
The change of leadership in the US has caused a dramatic change in the US – Israeli relationship dynamics. The dynamics between US president Donald Trump, and the Israeli government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Joe Biden couldn’t be more opposite.

Biden Issues Executive Order on Supply Chains
American President Joe Biden ordered an urgent overhaul of the supply chains for semiconductor chips, advanced batteries, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and other strategic products. The lack of these things is causing damage to the country’s industry.

Uri — Biden to Visit Houston on Friday
The White House announced that President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will travel to Houston on Friday, where they are expected to meet with local leaders to discuss the ongoing recovery from last week’s winter storm. Most businesses and homes across the state were affected since many of them were left without power and clean water for days.

Bibi Warns Biden About Rejoining Iran Nuclear Deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned about the unfolding US–Iranian nuclear-talk developments. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister, Israel remains committed to deterring Iran from having nuclear weapons. This is despite talks with the US.

Russia — ‘NATO Threat to Whole World’
The Russian Gosduma made a statement pertaining the NATO actions, which pose political and military threats not only to Russia, but also to the whole world. Moscow naturally wants to weaken the alliance. The statement was made by the First Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on the International Affairs Dmitry Novikov.

Russia Boots Three Diplomats
The Kremlin announced that three diplomats were ordered to leave Russia on February 5th after participating in protest. The diplomats expelled are from the Kingdom of Sweden, Republic of Poland and Germany. That was the date, when Alexei Navalny and his team urged the public to take to the Russian streets and protest.

China — Pressures Alibaba to Bring Ant Group Under China Central Bank Oversight
Alibaba’s Ant Group is looking to sell its EyeVerify a biometrics firm venture in 2021. Also referred to as Zoloz, EyeVerify uses ISO/IEC standard presentation attack detection (PAD) technology for identity verification. The EyeVerify software is presently used by US banks, and other financial institutions to verify user identity.

Israel Extends Lockdown, Gets to Know Biden
This week, on Wednesday, Holocaust Remembrance Day was observed around the world. Of course, the commemoration could not be like every year, but the message of remembrance of the Holocaust is necessary to be repeated every year. There is always the fear of genocide, which, after the Holocaust, can never be accepted.

Chinese Firms have Been Buying Venezuelan Crude Oil Despite Sanctions
Some unscrupulous Chinese oil-dealing companies have been buying Venezuelan crude oil and mixing it with additives to disguise its true origin. This is according to a new Bloomberg report. It reveals a range of crafty methods used by guileful dealers to skirt US sanctions imposed on the Venezuelan oil industry.

Germany — The Cost of the Nord Steam 2 Pipeline
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is almost complete. According to the German Minister of the Environment and Nuclear Safety of Svenja Schulze the project construction was started by adhering to all the laws and regulations. The discussion pertaining the Nord Stream 2 took place during the interview on the January 24, 2020.

Amazon Offered Biden Help with Coronavirus Vaccination Campaign
Amazon, the Seattle based company congratulated Biden and Kamala Harris and assured that “Amazon is ready to help in their efforts to address climate change, control the spread of Covid-19, restart our economy and promote common sense immigration reforms that honor America’s diversity.

Iran Urges Biden to Back Nuclear Deal
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has implored the Joe Biden administration to get back to the Iran nuclear deal that was signed by the Obama administration in 2015. Under the agreement, Iran would adhere to uranium enrichment restrictions in exchange for a sanctions reprieve.

Israel Extends Lockdown, Settlements
The lockdown in Israel against the Coronavirus has been extended for another two weeks. The lockdown has not been successful in getting down the number of daily infections. Instead, Israel has seen a change in the number of younger people that have become hospitalized from the Coronavirus in the last two weeks.

North Korea Showcases New SLBM During Military Parade
North Korea has showcased a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It was on display was during the military parade held this week marking the end of the Workers’ Party congress. KCNA news, the country’s state-run news agency, said the advanced weaponry will help to deter the nation’s adversaries.

Russia Withdraws From Open Sky Treaty
The Russian government decided to withdraw from the Open Sky Treaty. The Open Sky Treaty is an important tool for the intelligence gathering purposes by the signatory nations, which include military inspections from the air. The Treaty was signed in Finland in the 1992 by the 27 members.

Biden Announces $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Plan
Joe Biden announced a proposal for economic stimulus in the United States aimed at boosting the economy and accelerating the United States’ response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Biden campaigned last year with a promise to take the pandemic more seriously than President Donald Trump.

Biden Avoids Firm Trump Impeachment Decision
Joe Biden has refrained from making any decisive statements regarding the current impeachment motion against outgoing US President Donald Trump. Speaking about the situation, Mr. Biden has indicated that he has no interest in taking part in the impeachment plans.

Biden Backs Burns as CIA Boss
On Monday, Joe Biden proposed diplomat William Burns as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Burns has held, among other positions, that of Ambassador to Russia. He has worked in the service of five administrations, both Democrats and Republicans and he commands high respect from his former work stations.

Will Trump Start a War With Iran on His Way Out?
The President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, used the events that unfolded on January 6th in the US as an opportunity for propaganda to the Iranian populous. This week, four Americans lost their lives in the process. Amongst the deceased were a police officer and a female US military veteran.

Merkel “Sad, Furious”; Rouhani Faults “Western Democracy”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said that she was “sad” and “furious” at the invasion of the Capitol in Washington by supporters of President Donald Trump, and reiterated that the outgoing president should be held responsible for the fracas. The German chancellor spoke to news reporters yesterday.

Congress Rejects Objections to Biden Victory
The Senate rejected, by overwhelming majority, the objection of some Republican senators to the victory of Joe Biden in the state of Arizona. The objection to the results in Arizona– led by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)— was dismissed by 93-6 on Wednesday night, local time.

Iran — Uranium Enrichment and War
The Iran addressed the Coronavirus pandemic this weekend during the National Committee meeting. The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani said: “Coronavirus infection is not a common disease, but a historic test for the peoples and leaders of the world.”

China — US Relations at New Crossroads
In an interview with official media, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned the Trump administration’s actions to contain China and provoke a new Cold War, saying that this has brought harm to the world. He also hoped that the new administration led by Biden would “regain rationality and reopen dialogue.”

Joe Biden Transition Head Laments Transitional Barriers
Yohannes Abraham, the head of Joe Biden’s transitional team has admonished the Office of Management and Budget for putting up barriers aimed at frustrating the process. “(We) have encountered obstruction from political leadership at various agencies, most notably at the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget.

Biden Appoints Hicks, Kahl to Defense Posts
Joe Biden continues to build his incoming cabinet. In his latest series of appointments, Mr. Biden has appointed former Pentagon official Dr. Kathleen Hicks as Deputy Secretary of Defense in his incoming administration. If confirmed, she would make history as the first woman to hold that position.

2021 to be Challenging Year for Ukraine
This year has been tumultuous for Ukraine. The Coronavirus pandemic and the rampant corruption has lead to an economic collapse in the country. Furthermore, the situation with Russia will not be resolved. Ukraine may get its wish with newly elected US president Joe Biden.

Biden Nominates Cardona as Secretary of Education
Joe Biden has chosen Connecticut Commissioner of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, as the nation’s next Secretary of Education. Mr. Biden, in making public his next choice for cabinet secretary, stated that Dr. Cardona is an experienced and dedicated public school teacher who will play a pioneering role in the Department of Education.

How Russia is Using the SolarWinds Hack as Propaganda
The US government experienced a massive hack this month. According to the experts the hacked networks would have to be burned. The Washington Post immediately accused Russia of the hack. There are have been reports that hackers also gained access to Microsoft. Most strongly believe that Russia is behind the hack.

Biden, López Obrador Phone Call, Promise to “Work Together”

United States- Pompeo Accuses Russia of Cyber Attack
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has directly blamed Russia for launching the worst cyber-espionage attack on the US government so far. Pompeo accused Moscow of being behind the recent cyberattacks. In Friday’s statements, he added that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains a real danger.

Will Biden Swap Whelan for Russian Prisoners?
The lawyer for American Paul Whelan, who was convicted in Russia for espionage, believes that the newly-elected US President, Job Biden, will advocate on behalf of Mr. Whelan. In reality, Mr. Whelan has multiple citizenships and very questionable professional interests.

Biden Backs Buttigieg for Transportation Secretary
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden announced Tuesday he was nominating former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation. “Mayor Pete” was Mr. Biden’s former rival in the Democratic Party’s presidential primaries. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Buttigieg would be America’s first LGBT cabinet official.

AMLO, Bolsonaro Congratulate Biden
Congratulations are in order for Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden. Some top world leaders, who initially went mum on his victory, have finally recognized the Democrat as the US President-Elect. Just hours after Russia’s Vladimir Putin recognized and congratulated Joe Biden on his victory, the presidents of Brazil and Mexico followed suit.

Putin Congratulates Biden on Election Victory
Russian President Vladimir Putin has finally congratulated Joe Biden for his apparent victory in the US presidential election Monday. It has been over a month since the US held its presidential elections, subsequently won by the Democrat, Mr. Biden. It is worth noting that several world leaders already congratulated Mr. Biden within days of the election.

Putin Congratulates Biden on Winning U.S. Election
The Kremlin announced Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on his election victory, in a move that followed Mr. Biden receiving a majority of votes from the Electoral College. The ritual Monday formally determines who will be the next President of the United States.

Electoral College Vote Signals Last Call for Barr
US Attorney General William Barr resigned Monday, and is scheduled to step down on December 23. This is less than a month before his term ends and Joe Biden takes office as President on January 20. Mr. Barr’s departure was announced by President Donald Trump on Twitter.

Electoral College Confirms Biden Win
The 538 members of the Electoral College voted on Monday and confirmed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s victory, dealing incumbent President Donald Trump a big blow in his maneuvers to have his apparent defeat overturned. President Trump has alleged electoral fraud, albeit without tangible proof.

Iran — Netanyahu Warns “Return to Normalcy” a Mistake
It would be a “mistake” to return to normalcy with Iran,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a joint news conference with US National Security Adviser, Robert O’Brien on Sunday. Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke of Israel’s resistance to the usual approaches of the past regarding the international nuclear dispute with Iran.

Coronavirus — US to Begin Distributing Vaccines
The United States began shipping the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines to all states in the United States at low temperatures from December 13, and is expected to be distributed to 636 distribution centers across the United States before the 16th. Pfizer and BioNTech have obtained emergency authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for the vaccine.

Biden- Says He Will Return US to Paris Agreement
Joe Biden assured on Saturday that the United States will return to the Paris Climate Agreement “on the first day” of his government. He also said he plans to convene a world summit on the topic in his “first 100 days” at the White House.

”Don’t Give Up” Thousands of Trump Supporters Urge Him On
President Donald Trump’s supporters gathered in their thousands on Saturday in various cities across the United States to protest US court decisions on Republican requests to overturn election results and to ask the President not to give up in his quest for ‘justice’.

US Elections- Electoral College Scheduled to Vote on Monday
On Monday, each of the 50 US states brings together the group of electors who will vote for the next US President. The US Electoral College is the group of electors mandated by the US Constitution to elect the country’s President and Vice President, after the state elections that take place every four years.

Fifth Year of Paris Climate Agreement Amid Fears
The UN Climate Summit is being held online with the participation of more than 70 world leaders as the effects of fossil energy use, deforestation, forest burning, ocean pollution and human conflict with nature become more apparent than ever. During this pandemic, they are also saving carbon emissions by conducting their meeting online.

The Possible SWIFT Disconnection and the Russian Economic Impact
The experts predict new sanctions will be laid against Russia within a year. The predictions are based on Joe Biden favoritism to the Ukraine. Ukraine has been vocal to remove Russia from the Swift payment system. SWIFT is a vast messaging network used by banks and other financial institutions to quickly, accurately, and securely send and receive information, such as money transfer instructions.

Big Blow to Trump as Supreme Court Dismisses Texas Complaint
US President, Donald Trump on Friday suffered a big blow in his spirited maneuvers to prove that the recently concluded US elections were fraudulent after the country’s Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit filed by Texas to overturn Joe Biden’s victory on the grounds that it lacked standing.