Author: Alex MacDonald

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to contact Pope Francis to address what he considers “immorality” at the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony. The controversial event, which featured a scene resembling Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” received backlash from Christian and Muslim groups. Organizers clarified that the scene depicted Greek gods, not Jesus Christ, though many religious figures condemned it as blasphemous. In a statement at an AKP meeting, Erdogan criticized the ceremony for promoting LGBTQ imagery and declined an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron after his granddaughter warned him of a potential LGBT demonstration. Erdogan emphasized the…

According to Islamabad’s minister for religious affairs, nearly 50,000 Pakistani pilgrims have gone missing in Iraq. Chaudhry Salik Hussain shared this startling statistic at a Pakistani Senate committee meeting without providing further details about the disappearances. Each year, millions of foreign pilgrims visit Iraq for religious festivals like Arbaeen and Ashura, with the Arbaeen pilgrimage being one of the largest gatherings globally, drawing up to 22 million attendees. Some of these pilgrims are members of Pakistan’s Shia minority. In response to the reports of the missing pilgrims, Ahmed al-Asadi, Iraq’s labour and social affairs minister, stated that the government would…

Amid escalating tensions and intense military pressure following the Hamas-led attack on 7 October, Israel has witnessed a series of tragic events involving Israeli captives in Gaza. Despite efforts to free the hostages, many have lost their lives, fueling demands for an immediate ceasefire and raising questions about Israel’s military actions. From Alex Dancyg and Yagev Buchshtav to Itay Svirsky and Yossi Sharabi, the stories of these captives highlight the human cost of the conflict. The deaths of prominent figures like Arye Zalmanovich, Eliyahu Margalit, and Sahar Baruch have deeply impacted the Israeli community and raised concerns over the circumstances…

The far-right national security minister of Israel, Itamar Ben Gvir, caused controversy by claiming that Jewish prayer is allowed in Al-Aqsa Mosque. Speaking at a conference titled “Israeli Return to Temple Mount”, he asserted that the political leadership supported Jewish prayer at the holy site, despite longstanding restrictions. The site, believed to be the location of ancient Jewish temples, is currently off-limits for Jewish prayer according to the status quo in Jerusalem. However, religious Zionist groups have advocated for changing this policy, prompting debate and criticism. Ben Gvir’s comments were met with backlash, even within the ruling coalition. His stance…

Over the weekend, Iraqis took to the streets in protest of frequent power cuts during scorching summer days. Demonstrations erupted in cities like Diwaniyah and Najaf, with activists burning tires and clashes with police. Locals in Diwaniyah complained of unfair distribution of power, leading to protests on Sunday. Ammar al-Khazaaly, an activist in Diwaniyah, reported ongoing protests despite security forces repressing them with tear gas and live bullets. The demonstrations, though smaller than past ones, drew attention to deteriorating services and power outages. With footage showing chanting protestors, the unrest reflects deep-seated frustrations with corruption and infrastructure challenges in Iraq.…

The city of Bremen in Germany has recently banned the “silent fox” gesture commonly used in schools to signal for quiet in classrooms. The decision was made due to concerns that the gesture closely resembles the Turkish nationalist “wolf sign”, particularly associated with the far-right Grey Wolves organization. Authorities in Bremen cited the political significance of the hand gesture as incompatible with the city’s values and also deemed it pedagogically outdated. The controversy around the Turkish nationalist symbol intensified when Turkish football player Merih Demiral used it to celebrate a goal, resulting in a two-match ban. The wolf sign, linked…

The alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has sparked widespread condemnation from both supporters and opponents. Leaders in the Middle East, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed concern and denounced the attack, emphasizing the need for peaceful election campaigns. Even Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, despite previous tensions with Trump, condemned the attempt, reaffirming a commitment to rejecting violence and extremism. However, not all responses were as measured, with some extremist groups and individuals celebrating the incident. The attack has also prompted comparisons to Trump’s own orders for high-profile assassinations in the…

The Labour Party secured a majority in the UK general election as shown by an exit poll, with Labour projected to win 410 seats compared to the Conservative Party’s 131. Reform UK, an anti-immigration party, also made gains with 13 seats, while the SNP faced losses with only 10 seats predicted. The election results are a blow to the Conservatives, who have been criticized for their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and other issues. Despite initial predictions of a Conservative wipeout, the party fared better than expected in the exit poll. Labour leader Keir Starmer is set to become the…

A recent report by the Higher Education Policy Institute indicates that students could have a significant impact on unseating dozens of Conservative MPs in the upcoming general election on 4 July. As thousands of students return home for the summer holidays, they have the opportunity to vote in either their term-time address or their parents’ constituency, potentially leading to 35 seats changing hands. Despite the crucial student vote, both the ruling Conservative Party and the opposition Labour Party have shown limited support or engagement. The issue of Israel’s assault on Gaza has been particularly contentious on university campuses, with students…

A controversial rapper, Toomaj Salehi, faced a death sentence in Iran for his outspoken views and support for protests. However, following global outcry, the Supreme Court has overturned the ruling and ordered a retrial for Salehi. Salehi’s arrest in 2022 after criticizing the government and advocating for justice in the case of Mahsa Amini sparked international condemnation. Despite the initial death penalty verdict in April 2024, Salehi’s lawyer announced the reversal of the decision, citing a judicial error. The court also deemed a previous prison sentence against Salehi as excessive. His detention was part of a broader crackdown on dissenters…