POLITICS
Kurdistan Region of Iraq denounces Baghdad’s suspension of salaries amid escalating tensions
ATBA’ILO, Kurdistan Region of Iraq / BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Finance has halted the disbursement of salaries for public employees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), triggering a fresh wave of tension and raising fears of an escalating financial and humanitarian crisis in the semi-autonomous region. The Kurdistan…
Read More »Netanyahu backs US-brokered Gaza ceasefire as Macron calls for stronger European stance and recognition of Palestinian State
GAZA / TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved a US-proposed ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported. The initiative, presented by US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, aims to halt hostilities and initiate humanitarian measures in the region. The proposed ceasefire includes a 60-day…
Read More »Egyptian court affirms state ownership of Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint Catherine sparking Greek concerns over heritage and autonomy
CAIRO / ATHENS — An Egyptian court has ruled to transfer ownership of the Monastery of Saint Catherine to the state, a decision that has raised concerns in the Greek Orthodox Church and Greek Government. In response, Egypt’s presidency issued a statement emphasizing that the ruling affirms the monastery’s legal…
Read More »Lebanese President Aoun declares war on corruption: “Lebanon’s issue is not insolvency but theft”
BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed his commitment to combating corruption, asserting that Lebanon is not bankrupt but “robbed.” Addressing a delegation from the Egyptian-Lebanese Businessmen Association, Aoun emphasized that 90% of his efforts are directed toward fighting corruption, which he identified as the root cause of Lebanon’s crisis.…
Read More »EU sanctions Turkey-backed Syrian National Army militias Sultan Sulaiman Shah Brigade, Hamza Division, and Sultan Murad Division for human rights abuses
BRUSSELS — The Council of the European Union has added three armed militias and their commanders, operating under the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), to its sanctions list. The groups include the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade, led by Muhammad Hussein al-Jasim, the Hamza Division, commanded by Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr,…
Read More »TURKEY: DEM Party and AKP hold talks on democratic transition framework
ANKARA — Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (Halkların Eşitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi, DEM Party) Co-Chairs Tulay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırkhan engaged in talks with representatives of the ruling Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) on advancing a new democratic and legal framework for Turkey. The discussions come…
Read More »European delegation visits Executive Council of Democratic Autonomous Administration of Region of North and East to discuss governance and cooperation
BETH ZALIN, North and East Syria — A European delegation visited the headquarters of the Executive Council of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) in Beth Zalin (Qamishli) to explore governance practices and opportunities for cooperation. The delegation was welcomed by Executive Council…
Read More »Suraye national political parties meet with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Political Bureau in Arba’ilo (Erbil), Kurdistan Region of Iraq
ARBA’ILO, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Political representatives of the Suraye (Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian) community in Iraq met with the Political Bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Arba’ilo (Erbil) to discuss pressing issues affecting their community and the broader region. The meeting focused on the general political situation in…
Read More »Lebanese Forces Head Samir Geagea stresses imperative to disarm Hezbollah during LBCI interview
MAARAB, Lebanon — During an interview on LBCI’s Dialogue of the Stage with journalist Rula Haddad, Lebanese Forces Party leader Samir Geagea stressed that no single faction should impose its will on others in Lebanon. His remarks were a pointed critique of Hezbollah, which he described as an “Iranian militia.” Geagea dismissed…
Read More »Delegation from Administration of North and East Syria heads to Daramsuq to cement landmark agreement with Syrian Transitional Government
DARAMSUQ — A high-level delegation from the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) is preparing to visit Daramsuq (Damascus) on Friday to finalize a historic political and military agreement reached in March between head of the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) Ahmad al-Sharaa and Syrian…
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