Saied re-elected Tunisia president with 90.7% of the vote
Tunis, Tunisia - Kais Saied has been re-elected president of Tunisia with 90.69 percent of votes cast, electoral authority ISIE said...
Erdogan visits opposition party headquarters first time in 18 years
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the opposition CHP party headquarters on Tuesday, the first time in 18...
Geostrategy
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
Saied re-elected Tunisia president with 90.7% of the vote
Tunis, Tunisia - Kais Saied has been re-elected president of Tunisia with 90.69 percent of votes cast, electoral authority ISIE said...
Company News
Latest News
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
Israel congratulates Saudi Arabia on national day
JERUSALEM - Israel offered its congratulations to Saudi Arabia on the kingdom's national day on Saturday as the two countries...
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...
Geostrategy
Most Read
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.
Geostrategy
Normalization of Israeli-Saudi ties hit Palestine, security barriers
Despite Israel's strong determination and increasing US mediation efforts, the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tel Aviv-Riyadh still face serious...
- The Chinese-mediated restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran served as a catalyst for US efforts to advance Tel Aviv-Riyadh ties.
- For Israel, the normalization of relations with Arab countries has remained an important strategic goal for years.
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.