Transnational Islamist movement with a long, contested history
Progressive candidates endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani have won three key Democratic primaries in New York, expanding the left’s influence in Congress. Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez have defeated establishment-backed rivals in the 10th, 13th and 7th districts, with open seats in play and a broader shift underway.
Israel has moved to recognise the Armenian genocide in a cabinet-backed proposal, a measure that still requires Knesset ratification. The move comes as Israel-Turkey ties deteriorate over Israel’s Gaza war, with commentators calling it a cynical bid to pressure Ankara. Several European and regional voices have weighed in on the implications for regional diplomacy.
Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have swept primaries in New York City and beyond, signaling a growing movement that now confronts rural areas and state legislatures.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has died at 74, Qatar's Amiri Diwan has announced. He has been credited with transforming Qatar into an energy and diplomatic power by expanding LNG production, founding Al Jazeera, building sovereign investment vehicles and stepping down voluntarily in 2013 to hand power to his son.
Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau, succeeding Yahya Sinwar who was killed in 2024. The vote follows a wartime leadership transition and reflects tensions between Gaza-based leadership and diaspora factions, with al-Hayya seen as aligned with Tehran and a continuing hardline stance.
Arab party Raam will run on an anti-crime platform with Yoav Segalovitz, a Jewish former police official, joining the list. Abbas says cooperation is possible; poll projections place Raam at five or six seats in the Knesset. The move signals a shift toward coalition politics but is met with criticism from Likud.
A wave of crackdowns on Tunisian civil society has intensified, with arrests, detentions, and financial probes targeting NGOs and activists. Rights groups warn this strategy aims to close civic space ahead of or after political power maneuvers, while some authorities defend the measures as anti-corruption and security efforts.
The UAE has granted a presidential pardon to Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who faced a 10-year prison sentence and a 200,000 dirham fine in Abu Dhabi. The pardon follows extensive international scrutiny and his extradition from Lebanon in 2024-2025.
A Cairo criminal court has sentenced Sarah Khalifa, 39, and 11 co-defendants to death for forming an organised gang that imported raw materials to manufacture synthetic drugs; nine others received life terms and seven were acquitted. The ruling followed consultation with Egypt’s Grand Mufti and is subject to appeal to the Court of Cassation.