Tunisia’s Islamist opposition party Ennahda on Wednesday accused the authorities of attempting to intimidate opponents, saying police had opened a new investigation into its leader Rached Ghannouchi. The party said Ghannouchi was being investigated on …
OPEC+ agrees small oil output rise despite Biden plea
The OPEC+ oil cartel agreed to a tiny increase in production Wednesday, an amount analysts say will disappoint US President Joe Biden after he personally lobbied Saudi leaders for help to tame soaring energy prices. The cartel led by Saudi Arabia and R…
Iraq’s government ‘not doing enough’ to heal Yazidi genocide
Eight years since the Yazidi genocide by Islamic State group militants, the vulnerable religious and ethnic minority remain locked in dire conditions and suffering from negligence from the Iraqi government towards their plight, community leaders say. T…
Egypt efforts to curb Gaza tensions could see prisoner swap
Egypt is intensifying diplomatic efforts to end military tensions between the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Israeli army around Gaza, a senior Palestinian official said on Wednesday. The Egyptian push comes after the PIJ threatened to respond…
Syrian Kurdish forces stop escape attempt from al-Hol camp
Kurdish-led forces in northeastern Syria have thwarted an escape attempt by 56 people from the notorious Al-Hol refugee camp. The camp currently houses around 56,000 people, including families of former IS militants as well as displaced people from Ira…
Palestinians react to testimonies exposing Israel’s COGAT
Palestinians affected by Israel’s punitive tactics against the civilian population of the occupied territories are speaking out in reaction to testimonies published by dozens of Israeli ex-soldiers who served in the Israeli occupation’s Coordinator of …
UN experts, NGOs urge international probe into Beirut blast
United Nations experts and top NGOs urged the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday to launch an international investigation into the deadly Beirut port blast, on the eve of its two-year anniversary. The August 4, 2020 mega-blast killed more than 200 pe…
Beirut blast: Can an international probe achieve justice?
Two years ago, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded in Beirut’s port, killing over 220 and wounding 7,000. Then Lebanese Interior Minister Mohammed Fehmi promised those responsible would be held to account “within five days”. Two years later, no one…
Taliban leaders discuss potential response to US strike
Top leaders of Afghanistan’s Taliban were holding discussions on Wednesday about how to respond to a US drone strike in Kabul that the United States said killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, three sources in the group said. The United States kille…
Umrah pilgrims flock to Kaaba as Saudi removes barriers
The barriers placed around the Kaaba during the Covid-19 pandemic were taken away by Saudi authorities on Tuesday. The move came as Muslim faithful flocked to Mecca to perform Umrah, the minor optional pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of th…