Jordan
UN agency slashes cash aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan, raising the alarm on its funding crunch | AP News
The United Nations food agency says it will reduce monthly cash aid for almost 120,000 Syrian refugees living in two camps in Jordan.
The Muslim World
Morocco's king invites Israeli PM for official visit after Western Sahara recognition | Reuters
Morocco's king invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an official visit, the prime minister's office said in a statement on Wednesday, two days after Israel recognised the kingdom's sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara.
Protesters storm Swedish Embassy in Baghdad ahead of Quran burning in Stockholm | AP News
Iraq’s prime minister has ordered the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Iraq and the withdrawal of the Iraqi charge d’affaires from Sweden on Thursday after a man desecrated of a copy of the Quran in Stockholm with permission from Swedish authorities.
Turkey's Erdogan signs $50 billion in deals during UAE visit | Reuters
The United Arab Emirates and Turkey inked on Wednesday several deals estimated to be worth $50.7 billion during a visit by President Tayyip Erdogan to Abu Dhabi as he toured wealthy Gulf Arab nations for investment and funds.
In a refugee camp in Kenya, food shortages left kids hungry even before Russia ended grain deal | AP News
One of the world's largest refugee camps offers a stark example of the global food security crisis. Thousands of people have fled Somalia in recent months to escape drought and extremism but have found little to eat when they arrive at the Dadaab camp in neighboring Kenya.
Pakistan's interior minister accuses Imran Khan of exposing official secrets for political gains | AP News
Pakistan’s interior minister has accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan of “exposing an official secret document” last year to falsely claim he was ousted from power in a plot by Washington.
The Best of Frenemies: Saudi Crown Prince Clashes With U.A.E. President - WSJ
The Saudi leader has pulled away from his former mentor as they compete to dominate the Gulf, where U.S. power has waned.
Secular Winter
The Taliban use tasers, fire hoses and gunfire to break up Afghan women protesting beauty salon ban | AP News
Afghan women protesting a beauty salon ban say the Taliban used tasers, fire hoses and gun shots into the air to break up their demonstration.
The Political Rise of Ultra-Orthodox Jews Shakes Israel’s Sense of Identity - WSJ
Fast-growing group of religious conservatives allies with Netanyahu to take on Supreme Court, spawning mass protest movement.
Finance and Economy
Russia bombards Ukraine ports, threatens ships, jolting world grain markets | Reuters
Russia jolted world grain markets with an escalation in the Black Sea, mounting a third straight night of air strikes on Ukrainian ports and issuing a threat against Ukraine-bound vessels to which Kyiv responded in kind.
Markets Cheer U.K. Inflation Slowdown but Pain Remains for Households - WSJ
The data provides a glimmer of hope for Britons who still face a bigger squeeze on their spending power than consumers in most other large advanced economies.