Opposition retains majority in Kuwait parliament post elections
Kuwait City, Kuwait - Opposition lawmakers maintained a majority in Kuwait's parliament, results showed Friday, after the Gulf state's third parliamentary...
Geostrategy
Trump, Biden clinch enough delegates for US presidential nomination
The results in four statewide elections Tuesday, the latest in the months-long march to determine the Democratic and Republican party...
Economy
High stakes: France braces for Le Pen-Macron showdown
President Emmanuel Macron is the favorite to win re-election in the run-off ballot on Sunday, and there are indications he...
- If Le Pen wins, she becomes modern France's first far-right leader and first female president
- Macron’s victory would make him the first French president to win re-election in two decades
Kuwait government resigns amid dispute with parliament
Kuwait's government resigned on Tuesday, three months after it was sworn in, state media reported, amid escalating disputes with parliament....
- The Gulf emirate's prime minister, Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah, submitted the cabinet's resignation to Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah
- Oil-rich Kuwait has been shaken by disputes between lawmakers and successive governments dominated by the ruling Al-Sabah family for more than a decade
Tunisia summons speaker for ‘conspiracy against state security’
Tunisia has summoned for questioning the speaker of the dissolved parliament for "conspiracy against state security" after lawmakers met online...
- Rached Ghannouchi, who also heads the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, received a summons on Thursday "to question him about the holding of a plenary meeting"
- President Kais Saied dissolved parliament on Wednesday, dealing another blow to the political system in place since the North African country's 2011 revolt
Economy
Syria approves law tightening freedom of speech
The latest move follows months of growing discontent in Syria over a spiraling economic crisis.
- Syrians living in the country will be jailed for 6 months if they publicize news that could improve an enemy state's image and damage the state's reputation
- The new law, signed by President Bashar Al Assad, prohibits citizen of Syria from the cession of Syrian territory with a punishment of one-year imprisonment
Economy
Palestine elects West Bank councils in rare exercise of democracy
Central Elections Commission chief Hanna Nasser said a number of candidates had been arrested for political reasons.
- Saturday's second round of vote in West Bank was held in 50 towns; the first round in December covered 154 villages
- Because of the constant delay, Presidential elections have not been held for 15 years in Palestine
Economy
Libya armed groups step back after Tripoli escalation
Libya has had rival administrations since the eastern-based assembly swore in a prime minister earlier this month in a challenge...
- Libya has been riven by conflict since the 2011 revolt that toppled dictator Moamer Gadhafi
- It has had two rival governments before: from 2014 till Abdulhamid Dbeibah was sworn in last year
Economy
UN warns of clashes in Libya as armed groups mass near Tripoli
On Thursday, the US ambassador in Libya, Richard Norland, also expressed fears over an escalation.
- Tensions have simmered since the parliament swore in a prime minister earlier this month despite interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah
- Dbeibah has refused to hand over power to Fathi Bashagha, and says he is the country's rightful steward until elections are held
Economy
Erdogan replaces agriculture minister of Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appointed Vahit Kirisci as minister of agriculture and forestry after the resignation of Bekir Pakdemirli.
- A rapid succession of floods and wildfires engulfing Turkey killed some 100 people in July and August last year
- Turkey was criticized over the lack of firefighting planes, and accepted help from Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, and Ukraine
Geostrategy
EU to send observers to Lebanon for monitoring parliamentary elections
The European Union will send election observers to monitor Lebanon's May 15 parliamentary polls, at the invitation of Beirut's government,...
- The team's chief observer, Gyoergy Hoelvenyi, said in a statement it will be the fourth time the EU has sent observers to Lebanon, after previous missions in 2005, 2009 and 2018.
- Lebanon is in the grip of an economic crisis that has generated public fury against its politicians, many of whom are seen as corrupt.
Economy
West Libya defends naming of new PM
An influential figure in western Libya, Mechri accused Dbeibah's government of "fueling a campaign against the parliament and the HCS".
- Libya's western-based upper house defended lawmakers' decision that "unanimously approved" former interior minister Fathi Bashagha as new prime minister
- Abdulhamid Dbeibah's interim government had to lead the country to the presidential poll on December 24 but it was cancelled due to the candidacies of controversial figures
Opposition retains majority in Kuwait parliament post elections
Kuwait City, Kuwait - Opposition lawmakers maintained a majority in Kuwait's parliament, results showed Friday, after the Gulf state's third parliamentary...
Geostrategy
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Nobel Foundation withdraws invitation to Russia, Belarus envoys
Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Facebook that the foundation should support efforts to isolate Russia and Belarus...
Geostrategy
Iran’s BRICS membership to strengthen group, says XI
TEHRAN/ JOHANNESBURG, IRAN/ SOUTH AFRICA - The Iranian and Chinese presidents stressed the need to bolster bilateral cooperation and the...
Geostrategy
Vignettes from first US election debate in Republican party
MILWAUKEE, US - A crowded stage of talkative Republican politicians produced a messy debate in the race to be the party's...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Saudi Crown Prince and Iran foreign minister discuss bilateral relations
Iran's foreign minister met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his first visit since the Middle East rivals...
- The Iranian foreign minister called the 90-minute meeting a "direct, frank, and productive conversation".
- The Iranian minister said the success of the region is possible by strengthening dialogue and cooperation.
Geostrategy
Another Trump indictment looms as grand jury hears election case
Atlanta, United States - Prosecutors investigating Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the US state of Georgia were...
- The case would be the fourth brought against Trump this year -- it could lead to the first televised trial of a former president
- Donald Trump posted a number of messages to his Truth Social platform, and called the matter "ridiculous"
Geostrategy
Nearly 14m children in Sudan need aid, says UNICEF
NEW YORK, US - Two senior UN humanitarian officials have called for more funding and fewer bureaucratic impediments to support...
- The crisis in Sudan recently passed the 100-day mark and overall, 24 million people across the country require aid.
- Chad is one of several neighboring nations hosting some 900,000 people who fled the violence in Sudan.