Domestic Politics

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, "underlined the vital importance of Georgian political parties finding common ground on the current political situation" in a meeting on Thursday (21 January) with visiting Georgian president Salome Zurabishvili.

In a ceremony full of symbolism, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. In his inaugural speech Biden emphasised unity. Unity he said, is the path forward.

Tunisia's capital, Tunis, witnessed a fourth straight night of street protests, in what doesn't seem to be a short-lived moment of unrest. Youth, in mostly working-class neighbourhoods, clashed with riot police as protestors took to the streets in about 15 locations. There are calls for further protests on social media as more than than 600 had been arrested. 

There has been widespread international condemnation after the Russian authorities arrested opposition politician Alexei Navalny when on Sunday he returned back to Moscow after receiving medical treatment in Germany. Mr Navalny, 44, was detained by police at Moscow Sheremetyevo airport soon after his flight from Germany landed.

For the first time in the modern time of the Sultanate, Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman, introduced amendments on the transfer of power, naming the Sultanate’s first Crown Prince. The new decree came at the first anniversary of Sultan Haitham’s rule. Dhi Yazan bin Haitham bin Tariq, son of the current Sultan, is the first crown prince of the Sultanate of Oman.