Who will staff Trump’s Govt? A look at top contenders, with Elon Musk among the likely picks
Tesla CEO Elon Musk could head a new "Department of Government Efficiency," promising $2 trillion in federal budget cuts and...
Geostrategy
Algeria’s Tebboune re-elected president for second term
That year, Tebboune became president after widely boycotted elections and mass pro-democracy protests from 2019 that died out under his...
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.
Who will staff Trump’s Govt? A look at top contenders, with Elon Musk among the likely picks
Tesla CEO Elon Musk could head a new "Department of Government Efficiency," promising $2 trillion in federal budget cuts and...
Geostrategy
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195 die in Israel strikes on Gaza camp, hundreds wounded
The Hamas government in Gaza said that 195 people had been killed in Israeli strikes this week on Jabalia refugee...
Geostrategy
Tunisian opposition leader to spend more time behind bars
Tunis, Tunisia - The leader of Tunisian opposition party Ennahdha, Rached Ghannouchi, 82, had his jail sentence on terrorism-related charges raised...
Geostrategy
Israel army orders evacuation of northern city after Lebanon clashes
KIRYAT SHMONA, ISRAEL - The Israeli military announced plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona on Friday, after days...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Russia ready to discuss Turkey’s idea about guarantors for Israel, Palestine, says Lavrov
PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA - Russia is ready to discuss and consider Turkey’s initiative to establish a guarantor system in the...
- According to the Russian foreign minister, the initiative is driven by the intention to de-escalate things and bring the situation back to normal.
- He said that the Turkish initiative is rooted in the desire to ensure a balance of interests, rather than favoring one party.
Geostrategy
Iran says time running out for political solution in Gaza war
TEHRAN, IRAN - Iran on Monday said time was running short to reach a political solution in the Israel-Gaza conflict, warning...
- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday held phone calls with his Russian and Turkish counterparts.
- During his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Raisi warned of a "possibility of expanding the scope of war and conflict to other fronts".
Geostrategy
Aid meant for Gaza stuck in Egypt as Rafah crossing is closed
ISMAILIA, EGYPT - Convoys of humanitarian aid stacked up near Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip on Sunday, unable to enter...
- Witnesses said concrete blocks installed by the Egyptians to fortify the border following Israel's bombings were still in place.
- The Rafah crossing - the only passage in and out of the Gaza Strip not controlled by Israel - has been closed since Tuesday.