Tunisian Jewish pilgrimage sees low turnout amid security fears
Djerba, Tunisia - Only a dozen pilgrims turned up Friday at this year's Jewish pilgrimage on Tunisia's island of Djerba...
India publishes election donation data after court order
The BJP had received slightly less than 48 percent of all election bonds cashed by parties up to March 2023,...
Geostrategy
Tunisia swears in new parliament with truncated powers
Tunisia inaugurated a new parliament largely stripped of its powers, after a vote that saw a paltry turnout amid boycotts...
- The new parliament was elected after a new constitution was passed in a July 25, 2022 referendum granting President Kais Saied unchecked powers.
- The referendum was held exactly a year after he froze the previous legislature and dismissed Tunisia's government, before assuming wide-ranging powers.
Geostrategy
Key Iran opposition figure calls for fundamental change
TEHRAN, IRAN - One of Iran's main opposition figures, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has called for the "fundamental transformation" of a political...
- Mousavi proposed holding a free and healthy referendum on the need to change or draft a new constitution.
- An unsuccessful presidential candidate in 2009, Mousavi made allegations of large-scale fraud in favor of populist incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Geostrategy
Beirut blast victims’ relatives rally for probe judge
Families of victims killed in the 2020 Beirut blast rallied to support the judge probing the disaster, after he was...
- The August 4, 2020 blast destroyed much of the Lebanese capital's port and surrounding areas, killing more than 215 people and injuring over 6,500.
- Relatives of the victims and rights groups have blamed the disaster on an entrenched political class.
Economy
Sharjah Consultative Council approves DVA policy recommendations
SHARJAH, UAE - The Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC) has approved its recommendations regarding the Districts and Villages Affairs Department (DVA)...
- The recommendations touched on the importance of providing social and psychological specialists in the suburb councils.
- They also called for expanding the establishment of a suburb festival to include various cities and regions of Sharjah.
Geostrategy
Tunisia president’s former top aide jailed in absentia, say media reports
TUNIS, TUNISIA - Tunisian President Kais Saied's former chief of staff was sentenced in absentia on Tuesday to prison over audio...
- Nadia Akacha had been a key aide to Saied until she quit in January last year, citing "fundamental differences of opinion" over the national interest.
- A constitutional lawyer like the president, she was appointed as Saied's legal adviser in late 2019 before becoming his chief of staff in January 2020.
Geostrategy
Iran releases celebrity chef held in crackdown, say activists
PARIS, FRANCE - Iran has released a prominent chef and Instagram influencer who was detained earlier this month in its crackdown...
- Navab Ebrahimi, known for his videos promoting Persian cooking, was arrested in Tehran on January 4 and taken to the city's Evin prison.
- Iran has arrested at least 14,000 people in protests sparked by the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman.
Economy
Tunisians protest against government as economy deteriorates
Hundreds of Tunisians, including supporters of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, marched Saturday after opponents of President Kais Saied called for...
- "The people want what you don't want. Down with Saied," chanted the activists, including supporters of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party
- Saturday's protests were staged in the capital Tunis by two different opposition groups and were held far apart with a heavy police presence
Geostrategy
Iran executes two more men in connection with protests
PARIS, FRANCE - Iran on Saturday executed two men for killing a paramilitary force member during unprecedented protests sparked by the...
- The latest hangings double the number of executions to four over the nationwide protests.
- Two men were put to death in December, sparking global outrage and new Western sanctions against Iran.
Geostrategy
Iran protester on death row granted retrial, says judiciary
TEHRAN, IRAN - Iran's top court has ordered the retrial of a third man reportedly sentenced to death over nationwide protests,...
- The Islamic republic has been rocked by protests since the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini.
- Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in the unrest, including members of the security forces, and thousands have been arrested.
Geostrategy
Benjamin Netanyahu sworn in as Prime Minister of Israel
Israel's hawkish veteran Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as prime minister after a stint in opposition, heading what analysts call...
- Netanyahu, 73, who is fighting corruption charges in court, already served as premier longer than anyone in Israeli history, leading the country from 1996-1999 and 2009-2021
- Netanyahu was ousted in June 2021 by a motley coalition of leftists, centrists and Arab parties headed by Naftali Bennett and former TV news anchor Yair Lapid.
Tunisian Jewish pilgrimage sees low turnout amid security fears
Djerba, Tunisia - Only a dozen pilgrims turned up Friday at this year's Jewish pilgrimage on Tunisia's island of Djerba...
Company News
Latest News
Israel refuses to give more time for Gaza evacuation
Jerusalem - The Israeli military said on Saturday that Gaza City residents must not delay their departure before a military...
Geostrategy
Heeding ‘people’s call,’ Sisi announces run for third term
Cairo, Egypt - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced Monday his candidacy for a third term in office, ahead of December...
Israel top court hears appeals against rules for removing prime minister
Israel's top court debated appeals against a law restricting how a prime minister can be removed from office, as current...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Egypt jails opposition activist ahead of next year’s presidential polls
CAIRO, EGYPT - An Egyptian court has sentenced prominent dissident Hisham Kassem to six months in prison, his lawyer and political...
- Hisham Kassem was also slapped with about $650 fine after being found guilty of defaming a former minister.
- Kassem’s lawyer Nasser Amin wrote on Facebook that the verdict would be appealed in a court hearing on October 7.
Geostrategy
Libya flood toll is partly due to years of division, say analysts
TRIPOLI, LIBYA - Over a decade of bloody power battles in Libya have resulted in vital infrastructure falling into disrepair, culminating...
- Libya has been wracked by conflict and division ever since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
- Tripoli-based prime minister blamed the tragedy on the absence of adequate development plans and the "effect of the years" on the dams.
Geostrategy
Palestinian fighters in Lebanon camp agree on truce
SIDON, LEBANON - Palestinian fighters agreed a new ceasefire on Thursday after more than a week of deadly violence in Lebanon's...
- At least 17 people have been killed and around 100 wounded in the fighting in Ain al-Helweh refugee camp, on the outskirts of Sidon, Lebanon.
- Previous ceasefires had collapsed when the warring parties failed to honour commitments to hand over fighters wanted by the other side.