2016 was not a good year for Saudi Arabia. Sharply lowered oil prices sparked a domestic financial crisis that is forcing the country to restructure its economy. Saud Arabia’s bitter struggle with Iran for regional hegemony has embroiled it in wars and political conflicts which it has been unable to win, leaving Saudi Arabia no alternative but to admit failure or compromise. If 2016 was bad, 2017 threatens to be worse.

I belong to a generation that used to do well with a monthly allowance of EGP 3 in the 1980s during the first years of preparatory school. Once I enrolled in university, this allowance reached EGP 30, and it was enough for us to enjoy life. This generation had not imagined it would witness a day on which foreign currencies would fiercely attack the Egyptian pound. It witnessed the queues for subsidised “popular clothing” (a governmental campaign that used to sell garments at lower prices to families), and “consumer complexes” (governmental outlets that sell commodities at lower prices). The queues for bread and for food supplies. However, this generation had an easier life back then than today. Employees, no matter how meagre their income, were able to meet their household needs and sometimes even save some money. The homes of our neighbours who had daughters were gradually filled with the bride’s dowry, for if the groom appeared, having purchased some items would alleviate the burden on the couple. That is how we used to live—a dignified life among our people in our industrial societies. We had not known the meaning of subsidising; we used to see our families deal with the price changes of basic commodities wisely and through a slight change in the level and way of spending.

Donald Trump loves to imagine himself as the best dealmaker in America. But many Democrats are not buying it. When they look at the new White House, they see little room for finding common ground. The President-elect ran a campaign that was antithetical to their party values, in addition to, they believe, consistently lying and spreading falsehoods. And now he has assembled a right-wing cabinet, which makes many Democrats' skin crawl.

If the new US administration decides to fulfill its promise to transfer the US embassy to Jerusalem it would be an accomplice with Israel in breaching international law, the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions.

Modern history has been marked by various industrial revolutions, and the one taking place currently—the fourth Industrial Revolution, so to speak—is bringing about the most sweeping changes since manufacturing was first transformed centuries ago.

Whether we like it or not, the world is grappling with this question under the current wave of terrorism under the Islamic State (IS). Many democratic countries have adhered to the saying: “No negotiations with terrorists or those threatening to use violence against peaceful citizens.” We will continue fighting, chasing, and imprisoning them until we eliminate them. In other words, democracies should neither give concessions when facing terrorism or those using violence or threatening to do so, nor should they be giving any rewards to terrorists regardless of their reasons or justifications.

The United States’ abstention from voting on the UN security council’s anti-settlement resolution is a serious blow to prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policy of annexation in the West Bank. The bureau of Israel’s prime minister said that “Israel rejects the contemptible, anti-Israel UN resolution and will not subordinate itself to it.” The decision to abstain from voting is the first openly critical and possibly effective action ever taken by the US against Israeli policy. It came too late, however, to be of any long-term significance and is unlikely to advance the prospect of peace in the region.

A new Russian-led, China-backed Eurasia-centred world order may be in the making against the backdrop of alleged Russian cyberwarfare against the United States and Europe. Analysts see a pattern in Russian moves that could serve China’s interests should US president-elect Donald Trump adopt a more confrontational approach towards Beijing.

On Monday in the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market in Berlin, while families enjoyed the last Sunday before Christmas and the scent of cinnamon, sugar, and cardamom filled the air, a stolen lorry pierced the tranquil environment killing nine people and injuring dozens more. At the time of writing this everything was still uncertain, however social media is rife with speculation and accusations of terrorism carried out by a Muslim Pakistani man. We know at least that the lorry was originally owned by a Polish man, and the lorry was driven by his cousin who was found dead in the passenger seat.

What happened to the new associations’ law approved by the House of Representatives on November 29 and sent to the president for ratification? Why haven’t we heard a word about it the last three weeks? I suspect this isn’t due solely to plodding administrative procedure.

You see, I can’t speak to those who died to tell them that they are in a better place. By the same token, I can’t comfort the father who held his fatally wounded infant child as he wept profusely. I can’t console the mother who leaned on the coffins of her two beautiful daughters unable to let go. I can’t say or do anything to relieve the pain of the families that lost one and two of their family members, sisters, mothers or daughters.

From what we hear and already known that the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the office is to be a place in which there are angels relief And stand with the human against the injustice and suffering of the reprieve and the opening of the energies of hope in his life, especially if in case children are also victims of that extended situation. That's what they all say in the whole world... but unfortunately The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner Kuwait CKD broke all these standards and all these customs and he became the Evil which harms oppressor humans and is now the place that increases the torment on these oppressed ones.

The Muslim Brotherhood is a fundamentalist group, and subsequently they believe they possess the absolute truth. They are ultra-conservative. They were founded on fundamentalist approaches. They base everything on religion. They consider the Qur’an, Haddith, and Sunna to be the ultimate sources of all types of knowledge. Brotherhood founder Hassan Al-Banna highlighted the importance of following the Islamic approach; however, he mentioned that they “may use new things”, without specifying what he meant by that.

Everyone is in one boat and instead of moving forward, some parties are insisting on remaining at square one. These contradictions and disparities among Arabs have today become commonplace. Naturally, differences in approach on issues do not mean the end of the world. What is a topic of difference and dispute today could become a beneficial matter where interests and principles converge in the future. What is important is for differences not to escalate into sanction and miscalculation.

My deepest condolences go out to the families of those murdered in the heinous act of terrorism which last Sunday targeted the Church of St. Peter, worshippers, and all of Egypt. I wish the injured a speedy recovery and all Egyptians peace, harmony, and the capacity to overcome this tribulation. This is a truly taxing time, with much pain and serious consequences. But if the goal of Black Sunday’s crime is to fracture the unity of the Egyptian people, spur domestic turmoil, and inflame sectarian strife, this goal will not be realised. In fact, it has become even more unattainable.

Egypt has struggled in the five years since the Arab Spring, as political uncertainty and economic instability erode investor confidence and limit growth. Its economy has expanded a modest 2.5% annually between 2011 and 2015. Foreign exchange reserves have dipped to precariously low levels. An overvalued currency has hurt Egypt’s export competitiveness. Foreign currency shortages have kept domestic and foreign businesses from fully participating in the economy.

Back in 1959, Fidel Castro departed Santiago de Cuba in a victorious caravan across his country to Havana. Almost six decades later, his remains were carried on the same journey, in reverse. Castro's most enduring legacy will inevitably be one of David vs. Goliath. He was the young, bearded revolutionary from a small island who took on the enormous Goliath of US capitalism and American hegemony. That is the stuff of dreams. But it wasn't a dream for everyone. And, indeed, not everyone would agree on whether Castro was David or Goliath.

Rules don't apply to Russia. But Russia applies rules to other people. That, put crudely, is the Kremlin's outlook on life, exemplified by the latest bombshell from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In a sense, it's no surprise.

The political leanings of those who President elect Donald Trump picked for his national security team in the new American administration point out his intention to exploit the state of fear created by the recent election campaign amid the clear and antagonistic discourse towards Islam and Muslims.

In May 2010, Time magazine tells us, Barack Obama invited a group of America's most distinguished presidential historians to dinner at the White House. He was searching for ideas, examples and "lessons from his predecessors." "But as the conversation progressed," Time reported, "it became clear to several in the room that Obama" was most interested in the accomplishments of Ronald Reagan.

Hope springs eternal. Steven Mnuchin, Donald Trump's campaign finance chairman and now his nominee to serve as secretary of the treasury, made headlines Wednesday by claiming that there would be no "absolute" tax cut for the wealthy.