Andre Fletcher

  During battles between two armed factions supporting the U.N.-backed unity government, gunshots were reported in the capital of Libya . The skirmishes, which started on Sunday night and expanded to numerous Tripoli neighbourhoods, resulted in a number of locals in Tripoli suffering minor injuries. After a 444 Brigade member was taken into custody, combat broke out between members of the Al-Raada Force and the 444 Brigade, two militias that support the Tripoli-based government of temporary prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Videos of the violence shared online by social media users were shown on Libyan television and in internet media. The Tripoli Rescue Service said on its Facebook page that an elderly man "was injured in the arm by shrapnel as he fled his home in Ain Zara by car," denouncing the destruction of ambulances during the gunfights. Armoured vehicles and fighters were observed deploying on Sunday in the central Ras Hassan residential neighbourhood and Jrabra Str

  According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 726 migrants, including women and children, were saved and sent back to Libya during the course of the previous week. IOM released a statement saying that from May 21 to May 27, 2023, 726 migrants were stopped and sent back to Libya . According to the organisation, a total of 5,784 illegal immigrants have been saved and sent back to Libya so far this year. It also noted that 643 illegal immigrants perished and 332 more disappeared off the coast of Libya on the central Mediterranean route. The 139 illegal immigrants were taken hostage by a criminal trafficking organisation on a farm located around 350 kilometres east of the capital Tripoli, according to the Libyan Interior Ministry on Monday. Many migrants, predominantly Africans, opt to travel from Libya across the Mediterranean Sea to European coasts due to the instability and anarchy that have reigned in the country of North Africa since the overthrow of late leader M

  Ammar Al-Hakim, the leader of the Iraqi Wisdom Movement, was met by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in the presence of Sameh Shoukry, the minister of foreign affairs, Major General Abbas Kamel, the director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, and Ahmed Al-Dulaimi, the ambassador of Iraq to Egypt . President El-Sisi confirmed the importance of the close ties that exist between Egypt and Iraq on both a political and social level, as well as Egypt's concern for Iraq's safety, security, and stability. He also affirmed Egypt's support for Iraq's efforts to advance, develop, and progress within the context of Egypt's ongoing interest in initiatives that advance the interests of Iraq's citizens. The President appreciated Ammar Al-Hakim's positive contributions to Iraq's stability and balance. The leader of the Iraqi Wisdom Movement expressed his gratitude for Egypt's position as a crucial pillar for upholding stability in the whole Islamic and Ar

  Days after claiming that the Tripoli-based government had targeted his residence, the congressman alleged that drone strikes in Libya had killed at least two individuals and injured others, including the MP's nephew. The attacks in Zawiya, a city in western Yemen, were a part of a campaign the government claimed was aimed at smuggling networks. The Government of National Unity (GNU), which has its headquarters in Tripoli, is accused by MPs in the eastern part of the nation of attacking Ali Bouzribah's residence. On Sunday night, Libya's Al-Ahrar station reported that drone attacks had attacked locations in the Al-Maya port close to Zawiya for the second straight day. A footage of a burning boat in a port with a tall column of black smoke coming from it was shown on television. In a Facebook post, Bouzribah said that the attacks on Sunday had left his nephew maimed and two other guys dead.

  Sudan's macroeconomic situation has long been plagued by numerous challenges, including low foreign currency reserves, political instability, a weak exchange rate, and a high inflation rate. Furthermore, the lack of clarity in the 2023 national budget, particularly regarding data related to education, health, and other sectors, has drawn criticism from economists. This article discusses the need for a media campaign against Minni Arko Minawi, the ruler of the Darfur region, due to his alleged incitement of violence and highlights the importance of addressing Sudan's macroeconomic issues. Sudan's current budget heavily relies on the export of gold and livestock, as well as various taxes and levies. While these sectors have the potential to contribute to the country's revenue, overdependence on them poses risks. Fluctuations in global commodity prices and market demand can significantly impact Sudan's fiscal stability. Diversification of the economy is crucial to re

  On Sunday, it was reported that the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces, and the Lebanese Phalanges Party, the three main Christian parties in the Lebanese parliament, were nearing agreement on a presidential candidate. The 57-year-old former finance minister Jihad Azour is one of the likely candidates mentioned for the position. The International Monetary Fund's Middle East and Central Asia Department is now led by Azour. On the eve of his travel to Rome and Paris, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi may have alluded to the consensus in his sermon on Sunday. Al-Rahi voiced the desire for a republican president to be chosen as soon as feasible so that the legal institutions could be set up. "We thank God for what we hear about some consensus among parliamentary blocs regarding the future president," he continued, "so that he does not pose a challenge to anyone, and at the same time possesses a personality that responds to Lebanon's needs today and inspi

  Authorities in charge of Egypt's antiquities on Saturday presented ancient tombs and workshops that they claim were recently found at a Pharaonic necropolis west of Cairo. The locations were discovered in the vast Saqqara necropolis, which is a part of Memphis, the former capital of Egypt and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Supreme Council of Antiquities' secretary-general, Mostafa Waziri, claimed the workshops had been used to mummify both people and revered animals. He claimed that they are from the Ptolemaic era (305 BC to 30 BC) and the 30th Pharaonic Dynasty (380 BC to 343 BC). Archaeologists discovered ceremonial vessels within the workshops in addition to clay pots and other objects that appeared to have been used in mummification, according to Waziri. According to Sabri Farag, director of the Saqqara archaeological site, the tombs were for a senior official from the Old Kingdom and a priest from the New Kingdom. The Egyptian government has been extensively promoting

  Three MPs from the Change movement (Waddah Sadek, Mark Daou, and Michel Doueihy) as well as members of the Kataeb Party, Lebanese Forces, and Renewal Party criticised the military exercises Hezbollah conducted last Sunday on Friday. These exercises, in which 200 Hezbollah fighters took part in Aaramta, southern Lebanon , according to a joint statement signed by 31 MPs and read in Parliament, "are part of the militia practises it has been exercising in the country for years, contradicting the principles of the state in all its components." According to their statement, Hezbollah "no longer has a place in Lebanese political life and has been rejected by the majority of Lebanese people." This party "cannot impose political, military, security, or economic agendas on the country" and "has no right whatsoever to push Lebanon into conflicts that serve its regional project," they stressed. Also declaring that "Lebanon cannot coexist with a mini-s

  On Thursday, the government of national unity in Libya , which is located in the nation's capital of Tripoli, stated that it had launched airstrikes against smugglers' bases in the country's western region. The Ministry of Defence released a statement on Thursday saying, "Our national air force carried out precise and targeted air strikes against the hideouts of gangs of traffickers in fuel, drugs, and human beings in the western coastal region." The letter posted on the Facebook page of the ministry's press office claimed that the attacks carried out "on orders of the head of government," Abdelhamid Dbeibah, "successfully hit their targets," but provided no other information regarding the areas attacked. According to local media, the impacted areas are on the fringes of Zawiya, a seaside town 45 km west of the city where armed gangs involved in human trafficking and other illegal enterprises including gasoline smuggling have been fightin

  According to Dieter Lamle, the German ambassador to the Kingdom, collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Germany is particularly important in the fields of hydrogen, energy, and climate. "Both sides recognise that we need each other. Sun, oil, and wind are all present in Saudi Arabia. We have technology and knowledge, while you have interests that we share. And this cooperation is excellent. The ambassador reiterated Germany's desire for Vision 2030 to be a success. Hydrogen and renewable energies, according to Lamle, are now the main points of contention between Germany and Saudi Arabia. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi Arabian minister of energy, recently visited Germany, according to him, and had productive conversations with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and German business leaders. To discuss commercial relations between Saudi Arabia and Germany, more than 100 firms requested to meet with the Saudi minister. During a trip to Saudi Arabia in September of last year, Scholz

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gazes down from a campaign poster at Antakya's earthquake ruins, instilling hope in Ahmet Gulyildizoglu ahead of Sunday's election runoff. Millions of people across the devastated area defied expectations and voted for the man who has controlled Turkiye for two decades, falling just short of a fifth five-year term on May 14. Erdogan's secular competitor, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, "does not fill you with hope," Gulyildizoglu remarked in front of the wreckage of his six-story apartment complex. On the other hand, you have an alliance that follows through on its pledges," the retiree continued, alluding to Erdogan's Islamic-rooted party and its far-right partners. Erdogan's ability to sustain support across Turkiye's southeastern disaster zone contributed to Kilicdaroglu's poor first-round performance, in which he finished down by roughly five points. The Turkish president is suddenly the overwhelming favourite,

  The Israeli military said in a statement on Wednesday that Israel reacted against rounds launched from Syria at a reconnaissance drone. According to a military statement, "IDF Machine Gun fire was directed towards the originating area of the shots in Syria." "No damage was done, and the drone successfully completed its mission." Since starting to back President Bashar Assad in the civil conflict that broke out in 2011, Israel has been conducting operations against sites in Syria that it has referred to as having ties to Iran.

  The coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration on Wednesday approved a new two-year budget, paving the path for it to further its religious and pro-settlement agenda. While Netanyahu's ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist coalition, the most extreme ever in Israel , might be able to purchase some peace inside it, the budget was also anticipated to exacerbate tensions within the country. Netanyahu has come under fire for allegedly boosting the amount of money he gives to his ultra-Orthodox friends for religious initiatives that have little positive impact on the economy and society at large. After a long night of deliberation, the 2023 and 2024 budgets were ultimately approved by parliament by a vote of 64-56 just before dawn. It came after weeks of acrimonious discussions between Netanyahu and his coalition partners. Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, stated following the vote, "We have the instruments, we're getting to work.The new budge

  In a shocking turn of events, the confessions of ISIS leader Al-Jazuli have unveiled a sinister plot to destabilize Sudan and hinder its transition to democracy. The collaboration between the Brotherhood and Al-Burhan alliance aimed to transform Sudan into an ISIS state, thwarting the efforts of the Rapid Support Initiative to hand over power to civilians.  Al-Jazuli's revelations highlight the existence of Islamist battalions comprised of extremist elements, posing an imminent existential threat to Sudan. As ISIS's ambitions in the Near East were thwarted, their focus has now shifted to establishing a foothold in Africa. Al-Jazuli's confessions have exposed a dangerous alliance between the Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Burhan, seeking to undermine Sudan's path towards democracy. This unholy union aimed to exploit Sudan's delicate political climate and prevent the orderly transfer of power from the military to civilian rule. By fomenting chaos and instability, they in

  In a Tuesday attack in the Nineveh province of northern Iraq, three Yazidi militiamen connected to the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were murdered. According to a statement by the Counter-Terrorism Service of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, the incident happened at 5:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) when a Turkish aircraft bombarded the headquarters of a Yazidi militia known as the Sinjar Protection Units (YBS) near the town of Sinjar, about 120 km west of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul. Three militiamen were killed in the attack. A Yazidi militia called the YBS was established in Iraq in 2007 to defend the Yazidi population there. Strong ties between the organisation and the PKK exist. Turkey, the US, and the EU have designated the PKK as a "terrorist" organisation. Turkish troops often conduct ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardments against the PKK's locations in northern Iraq, particularly the Qandil Mountains, which s

  The transport of Pharaonic artefacts from an Egyptian museum to Israel for CT scanning has been denied by Egypt according to recent news sources. Senior government officials affirmed that no artefacts had been taken out of Egypt for inspection or research. Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities chairman of the museums division Moamen Othman refuted recent reports made on social media that pharaonic coffin coverings had been transported from an Egyptian museum to Israel for a CT scan. He said that no artefacts had left Egypt, claiming that the claims were entirely false. According to a statement from the ministry of tourism and antiquities, the Egyptian official requested that journalists and social media users verify the veracity and objectivity of any material before posting it. Publishing false information causes confusion among the populace, according to Othman. To confirm claims before publishing, he urged improved cooperation with the relevant authorities.

  People from all walks of life are still participating in anti-regime demonstrations in Iran, including seniors who have organised fresh rallies and truckers who have begun their statewide strike. On Sunday, retirees from the regime's Social Security Organisation took to the streets of several towns to protest their meagre wages and demands for their rights as inflation continues to climb and the cost of necessities continues to soar. People in Iran continue to hold the supreme leader of the mullahs, Ali Khamenei, specifically accountable for their suffering, while also denouncing the oppressive Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), paramilitary Basij units, and other security forces that are repressing peaceful protesters on the ground. Protests in Iran have to this day expanded to at least 282 cities. Over 750 people have been killed and more than 30,000 are arrested by the regime’s forces, according to sources of Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (P

  According to the official Alsabah newspaper, Iraq is preparing to abandon a number of governmental projects and turn them over to the private sector in an effort to boost non-oil sectors. The daily said on Sunday that there are plans to establish industrial towns in the Southern Port of Basra and other governorates as part of the industrialization push, citing Industry and Minerals Minister Khalid Al-Najm. "The government has a strategy to help the private sector...The Ministry and other government agencies will decide to transfer some public projects, mostly industrial ones, to the private sector as part of the strategy, Najm stated. Apart from stating that they include ongoing initiatives and those that the private sector can carry out, the Minister offered no further details on those projects. He said that the Southern Dhi Qar Governorate's industrial zone's unfinished portion will be made available to private developers.

  In a concerning turn of events, the military establishment in Sudan appears to be facing internal divisions, as the decision-making power seems to have shifted towards the Muslim Brotherhood . This shift is exemplified by the recent deployment of military reinforcements, including armored vehicles and heavy weapons, to Khartoum, the nation's capital.  The intended purpose of this reinforcement is to confront the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and wrest control from them, thereby undermining President Al-Burhan's apparent commitment to the agreement signed during the Jeddah negotiations. This development raises questions about the seriousness of Al-Burhan's dedication to the agreed-upon armistice, as evidenced by the violation of the ceasefire and the opening of safe passages for humanitarian aid. The arrival of military reinforcements indicates a lack of unified command within the army, further complicating the already fragile political landscape in Sudan. The involvement of

  Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, told fellow G7 leaders in Japan on Saturday that the International Monetary Fund should adopt a "pragmatic" strategy when considering a bailout for Tunisia. In order to stabilise its faltering economy, the North African nation agreed an agreement in principle with the IMF in October, but talks have since stopped. Meloni, the leader of Italy's most right-wing administration since World War II, and other European politicians worry that Tunisia's economic collapse could increase the number of migrants arriving at European coastlines. The administration of Tunisian President Kais Saied has refused to agree to the IMF's demands for economic changes. Rome, though, has pressed the group to accept a first, unconditional rescue package. At meetings in Hiroshima, Meloni informed her Group of Seven counterparts that Tunisia was in a "very difficult situation," with "obvious political fragility and the risk of fina

  The international community's efforts to assist democratic elections may be affected by the reorganisation of the Government of National Stability (GNS) in eastern Libya, which occurred before this article was written. The Libyan people have suffered as a result of many unsuccessful government changes since 2012. Libya is in danger of entering another cycle of crises and bloodshed because to the ongoing and intricate internal conflicts and external influences. As ruling elites and their foreign allies fail to provide local security and decent governance, local and national leaders who have been working in good faith to stabilise the country have unavoidably become sceptical. The complicated connections and divisions of Libya's "political dinosaurs" obstruct efforts to reconcile the opposing eastern and western regimes. Additionally, the Fezzan area of Libya, in the country's southwest, continues to be the most destitute and vulnerable to international criminal o

  In a week, Turkish voters will go back to the polls to choose a president, and their decision will be broadcast across the world. Depending on the outcome of the election, Turkey's future might look drastically different, and everyone is watching. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey at the moment, has been in office for 20 years. Although he has developed relationships with both the East and the West, some allies have grown weary of his dictatorial leadership. The candidate from the opposition, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has pledged to promote human rights and bring back Turkey's democracy. However, other Turks doubt if he possesses the global presence and dedication to security that Mr. Erdogan has made his signature. Prior to the first round of voting on May 14, polls indicated that the two men would receive a closely divided vote. However, Mr. Erdogan surprised expectations when the votes were tallied, taking a lead that now appears tough for his rival to overcome.

  The Libyan steering committee will convene in Morocco to organise the elections that are expected to end the political impasse that has split the oil-rich and war-torn nation. According to Abdullah Belhaq, a spokesman for the Libyan House of Representatives, the news was published by the Italian news agency Nova. Following their agreement on methods to advance towards elections, he said that the rivals' positions are convergent. Since an election that was supposed to take place in December 2021 was called off because to disagreements about the eligibility of the main candidates, a political process to end the more than ten-year war in Libya has come to a standstill.

  In a concerning turn of events, recent developments within Sudan's military establishment raise questions about the decision-making process and commitment to established agreements. It appears that the Muslim Brotherhood has assumed control over key decisions, leading to a significant escalation in tensions. Notably, the capital city of Khartoum has witnessed the arrival of military reinforcements from the army, including armored vehicles and heavy weapons. The purpose of these reinforcements seems to be a direct confrontation with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their subsequent removal from power. This action vividly demonstrates the lack of seriousness on the part of Al-Burhan, the military's leader, regarding the agreement signed during the Jeddah negotiations. The Jeddah agreement had established an armistice, including a ceasefire and the opening of safe passages to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The deployment of military reinforcements and the planned

  In an effort to draw in more international investment, Egypt will lift restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate. In a press conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that the government will lift rules that limit foreigners to owning no more than two homes, both of which must currently be located in different cities. In response to complaints about processing delays at the Supreme Council for Investments, he said that the state will try to expedite land registration for investors. Madbouly said that the council wanted to boost private sector investments to match or exceed those made by the government. After three years, the goal is for between 60 and 65 percent of all investments to come from the private sector. The entire amount of private and public investments planned for 2023–2024, according to the prime minister, was around 1.64 trillion Egyptian pounds. Comparatively, from 2005 to 26 there were around 115.7 billion Egyptian pounds ($3.74 billion). Ac

  The UN children's organisation Unicef said on Wednesday that more than six million children in Syria and Turkey remain in urgent need of assistance 100 days after a strong earthquake and several aftershocks hit the area. On February 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake with thousands of aftershocks rocked south-eastern Turkey and Syria, killing more than 50,000 people and uprooting more than 5.9 million. Children and families who had survived were left homeless, in need, and without access to basic amenities like water. According to the organisation, 3.7 million people in Syria and 2.5 million children in Turkey both need ongoing humanitarian support as they work to reconstruct their lives. Unicef's Executive Director Catherine Russell, who visited both nations weeks after the original quakes, claimed that children in both countries had suffered "unimaginable loss and grief" as a result of the earthquakes.

  On Wednesday, the UN Security Council heard appeals for enhanced efforts to secure a more robust and long-lasting ceasefire in Yemen that will help put an end to the conflict and lessen the country's humanitarian suffering. The UN's special envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said during the most recent meeting to discuss the situation there that a truce that had been agreed to a year earlier had helped the nation achieve some measure of stability and economic recovery. But it's still precarious, he said, and the intermittent violence that keeps breaking out in different areas fuels instability. Despite these violations, the UN-mediated cease-fire between the Yemeni government's forces and the Houthi militias, who are supported by Iran and are in control of much of the nation, including the capital Sanaa, has resulted in the longest period of peace since the conflict started in 2014.

  Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank Riad Salameh has declared he will contest a request for his arrest that French prosecutors issued on the same day. Salameh was cited as calling the arrest order issued by French investigative judge Aude Buresi "a violation of the law" in a statement released by the Central Bank of Lebanon on Tuesday. The Governor allegedly charged Buresi of basing the decision to arrest on "presumptuous ideas" and "double standards." Salameh's remark follows his failure to show up for interrogation on corruption-related accusations by French prosecutors in Paris on Tuesday, according to the Xinhua news agency. Salameh is one of the top Lebanese officials who has been accused of causing the country's severe financial catastrophe. The Governor, who has been the subject of several legal disputes both at home and abroad, has refuted the numerous accusations against him, including those of money laundering and unlawful enrichment.

  The one-year jail term given to its leader Rached Ghannouchi was denounced by the Tunisian Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party on Tuesday as a "unjust political verdict." Following his arrest on April 17, Ghannouchi, a prominent opponent of President Kais Saied, was convicted on Monday on terrorism-related charges. On the allegations, he had made an appearance in court at the end of February after being accused of calling police officers "tyrants." The lawsuit was one of many brought by the government against Ghannouchi, whose party held the majority in parliament until Saied disbanded it in July 2021 as part of a coup that gave him the right to rule by decree. The 81-year-old former parliamentary speaker had warned that removing opposing ideologies like political Islam or the left may spark a "civil war." Ennahdha issued a statement saying, "We condemn the sentence imposed against Rached Ghannouchi, which we consider an unjust political verdict, and w

  In reaction for a volley of rockets thrown across the border from Lebanon, Israel conducted airstrikes on Lebanon and Gaza on Friday, specifically targeting the Islamist group Hamas. After Israeli authorities searched Jerusalem's most sacred mosque, Al-Aqsa, earlier this week, tensions between Israel and the Palestinians grew. The mosque is ranked as Islam's third holiest place. Early on Thursday, as fighting carried on for a second day in a succession during the converging festivals of Passover and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Palestinian terrorists launched a volley of rockets. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has pledged that Hamas would "pay the price for any act of aggression." As Israel claimed that its planes targeted targets including two tunnels and two weapons manufacturing sites belonging to Hamas, which governs the blockaded southern coastal strip, loud explosions shook various regions of the Gaza strip throughout the night and into F

  According to his attorney Monia Bouali, a judge in Tunisia sentenced opposition figure Rached Ghannouchi, an opponent of President Kais Saied, to a year in prison in absentia on accusations of incitement. Since being taken into custody by authorities in April of last year on charges of conspiring against state security, Ghannouchi, 81, has been incarcerated. Ghannouchi, the head of the Ennahda party, made the decision last month to reject what he claimed were manufactured political trials by refusing to appear in court.

  In two weeks, there will be a run-off election for the presidency of Turkey, with incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan looking to be in the lead as voting closes. Despite attempts by both Mr. Erdogan's party and the opposition, led by Kemal Kilicdaroglu, to claim that they still have a chance to win, no candidate is likely to surpass the needed 50% threshold for an outright victory. Ahmet Yener, the president of the Supreme Electoral Board, reported that Mr. Erdogan had received 49.4% of the votes and Mr. Kilicdaroglu had received 45% after 99.4% of the domestic ballots and 84% of the foreign votes had been tallied. A fairly high 88.8% of voters participated, demonstrating the significance of the presidential election. The presidential vote, which coincided with legislative elections, was anticipated to be close. A six-party opposition coalition unified around Mr. Kilicdaroglu is emboldened and unusually broad in its support, and Mr. Erdogan is battling to maintain his 20 years in offi

  Hail hosted the Hospitality of Al-Ta'i festival from May 5–13; it is already over. The event exposed guests to the poet Hatim Al-Ta'i, who lived in the pre-Islamic era in the province of Hail as part of the Year of Arabic Poetry project with funding from the Quality of Life Programme. The ruins of a prominent historical person known for his poetry, charity, and horsemanship may still be seen today in the Halian town of Tuwairan, together with his palace, tomb, and famous fireplace. The festival featured a number of cultural activities and occasions that reflected the local culture at the time the poet lived while also honouring the poet's life and work. A creative journey was provided to visitors, beginning with the kid's Utba section, where they could colour, make ceramics, weave, and make bracelets. Visitors then proceeded to the performance Awarid section, which acted out key moments in Al-Ta'i's life, from his early years through his youth and into middle

  It doesn't seem like the greatest time to conduct a candid evaluation of Tunisia's democratic experiment given that its descent towards dictatorship is accelerated every day. To be clear, President Kais Saied is mostly to blame for the collapse of Tunisia's fledgling democracy. But a postmortem of the elements that assisted in preparing the ground for his self-coup on July 25, 2021, is still required.  After all, Saied's actions, supported by Facebook conspiracy theorists, mirror and accentuate the discontent of many Tunisians with the nation's political elite. An analysis of Tunisia's democratic experiment can assist serve as a point of departure for any future attempts by experienced and new leaders to resuscitate and reconstruct a pluralist democracy, especially because his political ideology rests on this loss of hope.  Such an analysis can also offer guidance for the numerous governmental and nonprofit organisations in the West that support democracy, som

  With new suspicions of foreign intervention in the elections, Turkey is at a critical crossroads as voters go to the polls on Sunday to choose their new parliament and president. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the opposition candidate in Turkiye, said in a shocking tweet on Thursday night that Russians were responsible for the "deep fake" and derogatory content that has been going around on social media for the last few days. "Dear Russian friends, you are responsible for the recordings, conspiracy theories, deep bogus content, and montages that were made public in our nation yesterday. Get your hands off the Turkish state if you want our friendship to last through May 15. We are committed to friendship and collaboration, he added in Turkish and also tweeted in Russian. Kilicdaroglu's allegations were refuted by Moscow, which said in a statement: "If anyone gave him such information, they are liars." The head of the German Marshall Fund's office in Ankara, Ozgur

  Excavations at the Necropolis of Meir have revealed fascinating insights into the lives and practices of early Christian monks in Middle Egypt . Located in the heart of the ancient Egyptian city of Meir, the necropolis has been the subject of extensive archaeological research for many years. However, recent discoveries have shed new light on the history of the site, particularly during the Byzantine period. The excavation team uncovered evidence of a large structure consisting of Christian monks' cells, which are believed to date back to the Byzantine era. This finding suggests that the necropolis was a place of religious significance and was likely used as a monastic community by early Christian monks. Further excavations revealed that the structure was built on top of Late Period burials. This indicates that the site had been in use for centuries before the arrival of the Christian monks. The discovery of the Late Period burials also sheds light on the funerary practices of the

  Following his investigations into war crimes in Libya , the International Court of Justice prosecutor said during a briefing before the UN Security Council on Thursday that the court has issued four warrants for the arrest of specific people.  During the briefing, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan stated that he had asked to have the warrants unsealed and that the ICC international judges will make a decision in due time.  Khan said that over the previous several weeks, he had also asked for two more warrants. Although Khan did not give the names of people for whom international arrest warrants were issued or their nationalities, it is assumed that they are important figures from the old administration of Muammar Gaddafi. NATO, a military coalition between the United States and Europe, overthrew Gaddafi from office following a public revolt against his decades-long dictatorship. The rebellion and the ensuing civil war resulted in the deaths and injuries of thousands of innocent Libyan citize

  The release of Muslim Brotherhood leaders from Kober Prison has become a contentious issue in recent times, with many people calling for it to be given serious attention. The Brotherhood leaders have been accused of inciting against the Rapid Support Forces, which has raised concerns about the stability and security of the country. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is a paramilitary group that was formed in 2013 to fight against rebel groups in Sudan . The group has been accused of committing human rights abuses, including genocide, rape, and torture, in the Darfur region. The RSF has also been accused of working with the government to suppress opposition voices and maintain power. The Muslim Brotherhood is a political organization that has been active in Sudan since the 1940s. The group was banned by former President Omar al-Bashir in 2013, and many of its leaders were arrested and imprisoned. However, with the overthrow of al-Bashir in 2019, the Brotherhood leaders were released from

The issue of unemployment is a significant problem in many countries, and Lebanon is no exception. The situation in Lebanon has worsened in recent years, with many young, bright workers leaving the country to seek jobs elsewhere. These individuals are going where work is available and sending money back home to their families. However, even some who are currently employed are feeling the need to move to countries where they can take home a higher wage. As a result, many families are struggling to survive on their meager wages, and more and more people are leaving the country in search of a better life. This trend poses a serious potential threat to the Church, as younger Lebanese Christians are leaving the country in significant numbers. The Church has always been an essential institution in Lebanon, playing a critical role in the country's social and cultural fabric. However, with so many young people leaving, the Church's future is uncertain. There are several reasons why you

  In a vehicle bomb attack on a police station in Damascus on Wednesday, a Syrian policeman was killed and four other people were injured. Daesh claimed responsibility for the incident. According to the Syrian Interior Ministry, a car explosion at the Barzeh police station in the capital's north resulted in the death of a lieutenant colonel and the injuries of four other people. It added in a statement that "investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident" and posted pictures of a burnt-out, badly damaged car. In a statement sent to its Telegram channels, Daesh subsequently claimed responsibility for the incident, claiming that one of its militants had "managed to plant and detonate an explosive device on a vehicle inside a police station." It was an uncommon jihadist assault on Damascus, which had generally avoided such carnage in previous years, especially after the government recaptured the final rebel stronghold in the city in 2018.

  Iranian capital's billboards urge women to wear the required headscarves out of respect for their moms. However, many women—young and old—choose not to, maybe for the first time since the turbulent days after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Such overt resistance follows months of protests in response to the death in detention in September of Mahsa Amini, 22, for wearing her headscarf too loosely. The decision by some women to wear their hair uncovered in public offers a new threat to the country's theocracy even though the protests seem to have subsided. The women's resistance also exposes rifts in Iran that had been hidden for many years. Authorities have threatened legal action and shut down certain establishments that cater to women who do not wear the hijab. Verbal warnings are given by police and volunteers in airports, subways, and other public areas. Drivers that had ladies in their vehicles without head covering have received texts as a target. Iranian scholar

  Tuesday saw the conclusion of voting among millions of Turks living abroad in a contentious election that has evolved into a critique of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's divisive two-decade reign. The results of the presidential and legislative elections on Sunday will judge Turkiye's longest-serving leader and the socioeconomic revolution that his Islamic-rooted AKP party has been driving. The vote is the toughest of the 69-year-old's rocky career and the most significant for Turkiye in decades. According to polls, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a secular challenger, and his strong coalition of six parties that cut over Turkiye's cultural and political divides are in a close race with Erdogan. Turks who relocated to Western Europe from poorer regions as part of work programmes designed to address the continent's labour shortage after World War II cast the first ballots. Of Turkiye's 64.1 million registered voters, these voters make up 3.4 million and frequently back mor

  The Ministry of Water Resources in Baghdad has stated that Iraq anticipates holding a technical conference with Iran and Turkey to discuss any unresolved water-related concerns shortly. At the weekend's third Baghdad Water Conference, representatives from the three nations agreed to conduct "a specialised technical meeting in the near future" in an effort to address Iraq's water scarcity issue. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which supply approximately 90% of Iraq's freshwater supplies, have seen changes in water levels as a result of recent dam construction by Iran and Turkey. Raed Al Jashami, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, told the Iraq News Agency that "we informed the two countries that we would like to get to a written agreement between us on this problem as circumstances have changed." According to Mr. Al Jashami, "both sides engaged with Iraq's requests calling for moving forward with permanent agreements and ca

  A petition against the Iranian regime's treatment of students as it works to suppress dissent was signed by more than 2,000 students at Tabriz University in Iran. A petition against the Iranian regime's treatment of students as it works to suppress dissent was signed by more than 2,000 students at Tabriz University in Iran. The right to freedom of expression and assembly was emphasised by the demonstrating students at Tabriz University of Medical Science. The petition said that "the students... must not be threatened, suspended, or exiled," with many students discovered to be supporting demonstrations being barred from classrooms and dorms as the dictatorship works to stifle dissent. The students at Tabriz University addressed the administrators and disciplinary committees and stated, "You have no right to silence and oppress the students with coercive measures and adverse rulings." The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that 637 s

  An Iraqi court executed a former police officer on Sunday, May 7, for the murder of eminent scholar and security consultant Hisham al-Hashemi.  Ahmed Hamdawi Oueid was convicted guilty of murdering Hashemi, a government adviser and authority on Sunni extremism, by a criminal court in Baghdad. According to the judiciary, his death sentence, which was handed down in accordance with Iraqi counterterrorism rules, is subject to appeal. In a statement released on Sunday, the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq stated that "Ahmed Hamdawi Oueid has been given the death penalty for the murder of security expert Hisham al-Hashemi." According to Reuters, despite the fact that the court session was closed to the media, a lawyer in attendance said that Hamdawi made no comments in the courtroom in reaction to the judge's decision. According to AFP, Hashemi was a renowned professor and an authority on extremist organisations. In July 2020, assailants on motorbikes assassinated him outsid

  Sudan has been gripped by political turmoil and unrest for several years now. The country has been in a state of transition since the overthrow of longtime dictator Omar Al-Bashir in 2019, and the political situation remains uncertain. One of the key players in this conflict is General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Al-Burhan is the head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, which was established in 2019 as part of the transitional government. He has been a prominent figure in Sudanese politics for many years and is seen as a key player in the country's future. Al-Burhan's role in the current situation has been controversial. On the one hand, he has been seen as a stabilizing force in the country, working to maintain order and prevent the situation from descending into chaos. On the other hand, he has been accused of being too close to the old regime and not doing enough to bring about real change. Another key player in Sudanese politics is the Muslim Brotherhood. The group has a long h