Briefly

ISRAEL

PM back in dock as graft trial ramps up

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in court on Monday to formally respond to corruption charges, as his trial enters an intensified phase six weeks before he faces reelection. Netanyahu, the first Israeli premier to be indicted in office, was charged last year over allegations that he accepted improper gifts and sought to trade regulatory favor with media moguls in exchange for positive coverage. He pleaded not guilty. This marks the last pretrial hearing with upcoming sessions focused on testimony.

ECUADOR

Two liberals lead in presidential election

Progressive candidate Andres Arauz and indigenous leader Yaku Perez are leading the presidential election, an official quick count released by the National Electoral Council showed late on Sunday. The quick count showed Arauz of the Union for Hope Alliance had won 31.5 percent of the votes, and Perez representing the Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement had gained 20.04 percent. If these preliminary results are confirmed, Arauz and Perez will go on to a second round of the election scheduled for April 11.

IRAN

'Final' stance taken on nuclear agreement

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that Teheran's "final and irreversible "decision was to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal only if Washington lifts sanctions on the Islamic republic, Iranian state TV reported. The comment and a statement by US President Joe Biden that the country would not lift sanctions simply to get Iran back to the negotiating table appeared to be posturing by both sides as they weigh whether and how to revive the pact.

UNITED STATES

Biden moves to rejoin UN rights council

The administration of US President Joe Biden is set to announce this week that it will reengage with the much-maligned UN Human Rights Council that former president Donald Trump withdrew the country from almost three years ago. US officials said on Sunday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a senior diplomat in Geneva were scheduled to announce on Monday that Washington will return to the Geneva-based body as an observer.

Agencies - Xinhua