According to the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Waszczykowski, major challenges in 2016 will be the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and expanding of the influence of the Islamic state.
Sanctions prohibiting the supply of oil from Iran to the EU were lifted from January, 1. It will lead to a sharp increase in supply and with a high probability to further decrease in fuel prices.
The Vatican has recognized sovereign state of Palestine in the bilateral agreement governing the status of the Catholic Church on its territory. Israel called the agreement a hasty, unilateral, and one that does not account for the unique historical status of the Jewish people and Jerusalem. Palestine is recognized by more than 130 countries, including Ukraine.
The new head of the OSCE, German Foreign Minister Steinmeier pleased with the ceasefire in the Donbass, and hopes to further improve the situation.
47 people were executed in Saudi Arabia on charges of terrorism, including well-known Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Large riots erupted on the east of the country, to suppress which troops and hundreds of armored vehicles were sent. Iran stated that the death of the preacher would be costly to the authorities of Saudi Arabia. Its embassy was ransacked in the Iran's capital.
