Oil-rich Iraqi Kurdistan votes, shadowed by economic struggles
The KDP is the largest party in the outgoing parliament, with 45 seats against 21 for the PUK. The KDP's...
Geostrategy
Arab-American mayor warns Biden has not ‘earned my vote’
Hammoud sidesteps the question of whether he could ultimately endorse Biden under the right circumstances, emphasizing that whatever he might...
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".
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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.
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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...
- Israel has faced calls from the United Nations, United States and European Union to delay an expected full offensive to give civilians time to leave.
- The Israeli military has indicated that Gaza city will be the focus of its operations because this is the base for the Hamas leadership.
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...
- State-aligned television showed thousands of people celebrating the announcement across the country
- A year after deposing Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, Sisi won 96 percent of the vote in 2014
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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...
- The legislation says that a prime minister can be declared unfit for office due to health reasons.
- The law says a two-thirds majority in cabinet is required to take such a step, before the move is approved by at least 80 of the parliament's 120 members.
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...
- "We send our sincere congratulations to the king, government and people of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the 93rd national day," the Israeli foreign ministry said.
- "May Allah bring you goodness and blessings, security and prosperity with our wishes for an atmosphere of peace, cooperation and good neighborliness," it added in the statement.
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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...
- 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.
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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.
Oil-rich Iraqi Kurdistan votes, shadowed by economic struggles
The KDP is the largest party in the outgoing parliament, with 45 seats against 21 for the PUK. The KDP's...
Geostrategy
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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...
Iran declares 41 percent voter turnout in key elections
Tehran, Iran - Iran on Monday announced a turnout of 41 percent in last week's elections for parliament and a key...
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Polls for Iraq Kurd parliament postponed to June
Iraqi Kurds announced that polls to elect a new parliament in the autonomous region would be held in June, after...
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Leftist Galloway wins MP seat in UK amid anti-Semitism allegations
London, UK- Controversial left-wing firebrand George Galloway was elected to the UK parliament on Friday after tapping into anger over the...
- Galloway, 69, first became an MP in 1987 and will return to the House of Commons for the first time since 2015 after winning the seat of Rochdale.
- Galloway put the Gaza conflict front and center of his campaign in Rochdale, north of England, which has a 30 percent Muslim population.
Iran gears up for elections dominated by conservatives
Conservative daily Vatan-e-Emrouz hailed what it called the population's "interest in the candidates' electoral campaigns", which began on February 22....
- The vote comes amid mounting economic difficulties in Iran, which has also been grappling with the fallout of mass protests triggered by the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini
- The Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is due to be the first to cast his ballot on Friday at 8:00 am (0430 GMT) at one of the 59,000 polling stations
Geostrategy
Hawkish economic approach on China has bipartisan support in US, say analysts
WASHINGTON, US - In a shift from tit-for-tat tariffs and strong-arm tactics to tech restrictions and investment curbs, US policy towards...
- Despite differences between Democrats and Republicans, analysts expect Washington's approach to Beijing will only become tougher.
- Biden has largely maintained Trump-era tariffs, rolled out export control restrictions to curtail China's ability to buy and make certain high-end chips.