Category: Politics

KABUL, April 17 – Urban warfare has caused a spike in deaths and injuries among women and children in Afghanistan this year as the Taliban intensifies their campaign against the Kabul government, the United Nations said on Sunday. In all, 161 children were killed from January to March and 449 were injured, a 29 percent… Continue reading Afghan Child Casualties Soar as Urban Warfare Intensifies

BAGHDAD, April 5 – The United States and Iran have formed an unlikely tacit alliance behind Iraq’s prime minister as he challenges the ruling elite with plans for a non-political cabinet to fight corruption undermining the OPEC nation’s economic and political stability. Local calls for Haider al-Abadi’s removal — including one by his predecessor as… Continue reading U.S., Iran Keep Iraqi PM in Place as He Challenges Ruling Elite

BAGHDAD, April 11 – A rallying cry to Iraqi Sunnis from former President Saddam Hussein’s top surviving aide aims to bolster the old ruling Baath party’s appeal with Sunni Muslims fearing new reprisals by Shiite militias, experts said. They said the video released on Thursday could also contain a message to Iraq‘s Shiite-led government that former party members… Continue reading Former Saddam Aide Seeks to Reshape Iraq’s Sunni Insurgency

Donald Trump tests positive for every medical ailment. All of them. Supposedly, that’s what his doctor says—or at least, that’s what the Trump campaign portrays him as saying. On Monday, Trump opined that Hillary Clinton did not have the mental or physical stamina to be president. This was playing off of a conspiracy theory that… Continue reading Donald Trump Tests Positive for Everything, According to His Own Doctor

BEIRUT, Oct 31 – The Lebanese parliament elected former army commander Michel Aoun as president on Monday, ending a 29-month presidential vacuum as part of a political deal that is expected to make Sunni Muslim leader Saad al-Hariri prime minister. Aoun, who is in his 80s, secured the presidency by winning the support of 83… Continue reading Lebanon’s Aoun Elected President, Ending 29-Month Vacuum

At a time when the world is suffering “horrendous” terrorist attacks, Qatar continues to harbor wanted terrorists, providing them with “financial” and logistical aid, a thing which “has to stop immediately,” said Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Culture and Information Dr Awwad Alawwad. In an emailed statement to Newsweek Middle East, Dr Alawwad said the “details… Continue reading Doha’s Actions May Destabilize the Region: Saudi Minister

The single largest military deal in American history signed on Saturday, May 20th in Riyadh may have appeared as a foreign policy coup for U.S. President Donald Trump. However the deal was a coup for Saudi Arabia as its military has been undergoing a major renewal and upgrade of its equipment. The majority of the… Continue reading Behind the Scenes: The Saudi-U.S. Arms Deal

The resignation of one the Arab world’s leading secular politicians has surprised politicians and analysts across North Africa. The sudden resignation of Ilyas El-Omari the head as the head of Morocco’s main opposition party the Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM) was announced at press conference on August 7th. Ilyas El-Omari will retain his presidency… Continue reading Resignation of Moroccan Opposition Figures Sends Shockwaves

Jordan is getting ready for one of its most important conferences in recent years. The World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa (WEF MENA) will be held betwee May 19-21, 2017. Jordanian Armed Forces are preparing road blocks around the King Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre at the Dead Sea in order to protect… Continue reading King Abdullah: “My friends, we will solve the problems of our region!”

KARACHI, Pakistan, Aug 23 (Reuters) – Pakistan rejected on Wednesday U.S. criticism of its efforts to fight terrorism saying it should not be used as a scapegoat for the failure of the U.S. military to win the war in Afghanistan. U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his policy for Afghanistan on Monday, committing to an open-ended… Continue reading Pakistan Says U.S. Must Not Make it a “Scapegoat” for Afghan Failures

RIYADH, July 27 – Saudi Arabia said on Thursday King Salman had been in contact with the United States and other world powers to try to prevent Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City being closed to Muslims and to defuse political and religious tensions. Israel overnight removed all security infrastructure it had put in… Continue reading Saudi Arabia Says King’s Contact with U.S. Helped Ease Al Aqsa Mosque Tensions

ANKARA, June 7 – Turkey’s parliament is expected to fast-track on Wednesday a draft bill allowing its troops to be deployed to a Turkish military base in Qatar, officials from the ruling AK Party and the nationalist opposition said. The move appears to support the Gulf Arab country as it faces diplomatic and trade isolation… Continue reading Turkey to Fast-Track Draft Bill Approving Troop Deployment in Qatar

If Khaled Ali is worried, he isn’t showing it. Sitting behind a wooden desk in his office in downtown Cairo, the prominent human rights attorney is discussing his case with the calm remove of a lawyer defending his client. Only this time, Ali is the one on trial. In May, Egyptian authorities arrested Ali, a… Continue reading Egypt’s President Sissi is Bullying Rivals Ahead of His Re-election Bid

ISTANBUL, July 4 – Turkey’s main opposition leader launched a European court appeal on Tuesday over an April vote that granted President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping powers, stepping up his challenge to the government as he led a 425 km (265 mile) protest march. Erdogan accuses the protesters, marching from Ankara to Istanbul, of “acting together… Continue reading Turkey’s Opposition Leader Launches Court Challenge As He Marches To Istanbul

Democratic Congressman Al Green called for impeaching President Trump on Monday, saying Congress must prove to the country that the laws apply to everyone. “President Trump is not above the law. He has committed an impeachable act and must be charged,” said Rep. Al Green, Texas “To do otherwise would cause some Americans to lose… Continue reading Congressman Calls For U.S. President Donald Trump’s Impeachment

June 9 – DUBAI (Newsweek Middle East) – Qatar may soon find itself vulnerable in the face of regional and global threats, stripped from the protection of its Arab Gulf counterparts, if it decides to continue with its current policies, especially that the United States is also fed up with those policies, according to a… Continue reading Qatar is in Denial, Needs to Make a U-Turn: UAE Minister

PARIS, Dec 10 – Backers of the Syrian opposition appeared resigned to the fall of eastern Aleppo on Saturday, with the United States pleading Moscow to show “grace” when officials meet in Geneva to try to reach a deal for civilians and fighters to leave the city. Syrian government and allied forces have in the… Continue reading John Kerry Urges Russia to Show “Grace” in Geneva Aleppo Talks

February 26 2027 England and Wales submit application for EU Membership Almost nine years after withdrawing from the European Union, Sadiq Khan, the Prime Minister of the Union of England and Wales yesterday submitted an official request to Brussels to join the European Union. Last November the English and Welsh public overwhelmingly voted to reinstate… Continue reading 2027: England and Wales Submit Application for EU Membership

WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD, July 19 – Dozens of defense and foreign ministers will meet in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday to take stock of the fight against Daesh, their focus increasingly on a major prize: the militant group’s bastion in Mosul, Iraq. The battle for Mosul is expected to be difficult, but the aftermath could be tougher,… Continue reading Ministers Prepare to Retake Daesh Stronghold of Mosul

YEREVAN, June 25 – Pope Francis urged Armenia and Turkey on Saturday to seek reconciliation and to shun “the illusory power of vengeance” a century after 1.5 million Armenians were massacred in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire. Francis made the appeal in an evening prayer service with leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church… Continue reading Pope Urges Armenia and Turkey to Reconcile, Shun Vengeance