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...
Modi’s struggling rivals to vote as India election resumes
New Delhi, India - India's six-week election resumes Saturday, with top rivals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to vote in...
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
Geostrategy
Lebanon bars Bahrain opposition from holding Beirut events
On Thursday, Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said he was banning ‘two events’ organized by Bahraini opposition figures.
- The decision comes weeks after Lebanon ordered the expulsion of members of Bahrain's leading opposition party, Al-Wefaq
- The party had held a news conference in Beirut that had irked authorities in the Gulf kingdom, where it is banned
Economy
Libya parliament names second PM to rival existing one
Libya faced the challenge of two prime ministers on Thursday after parliament named a rival to the existing unity government's...
- The House of Representatives, based in Libya's east, ‘unanimously approved’ former interior minister Fathi Bashagha ‘to head the government’
- On Thursday evening Bashagha flew to Tripoli from the eastern city of Tobruk, promising ‘to open a new chapter’ and ‘reach out to everyone’
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...
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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...
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...
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...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Dozen injured after skirmish between Israeli police, Eritrean protestors
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL- A dozen Eritrean asylum seekers were wounded by Israeli police gunfire here on Saturday after a demonstration against...
- Clashes began outside a south Tel Aviv venue that was set to host a pro-regime event organized by the Eritrean embassy in Israel.
- Protestors "hurled rocks and wooden planks" at officers, who used riot dispersal means and mounted forces to clear the Eritreans.
Geostrategy
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...
- In 2022, the Nobel Foundation decided not to invite the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors to the Stockholm award event because of Ukraine war.
- The Swedish foundation however said Thursday it was returning to its previous practice of inviting ambassadors from all countries represented in Sweden.
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...
- The BRICS heads of state held their 15th annual summit in Johannesburg.
- The heads of state called for the use of local currencies to facilitate trade.