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3 weeks ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
Britain’s highest court handed down a landmark ruling that legally defines a woman as a “biological woman,” which excludes transgender women, a move with broad repercussions for how equality rights are enforced, CNN reported on April 16th. Five judges ruled that transgender women holding gender recognition certificates (GRC), would not be covered under the definition of a woman by the UK’s Equality Act 2010.
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3 weeks ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
The head of the US military base in Greenland has been dismissed for condemning Washington’s plans for the Arctic territory in the aftermath of JD Vance’s visit a fortnight ago, The Guardian reported on April 11. Col Susannah Meyers, the commander of the Pituffik space base was fired after she pushed back against the vice president’s comments in an email she sent to the space base.
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1 month ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
Near Meiktila in the centre of Myanmar, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck on April 13th, the second recent quake to take place in the country, sparking panic among locals, The Independent reported. The earthquake’s epicentre was situated roughly halfway between Mandalay, the second-biggest city in the country and Naypyitaw, which is the capital. The latest quake, weakens the recovery and relief process in what is an environmentally volatile country.
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1 month ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned about the harrowing humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has blocked the flow of aid and reignited its offensive against Hamas, Al Jazeera reported on April 8th. ‚ÄúAs aid has dried up, the floodgates of horror have re-opened, Gaza is a killing field – and civilians are in an endless death loop‚ÄĚ Guterres said.
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1 month ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
Businesses in the Middle East are getting ready for higher costs and price hikes despite analysts predictions that they will experience smaller direct impacts in response to America’s reciprocal tariffs, The National reported on April 3rd. The rate of tariffs imposed on the region fluctuates to a large degree. Syria and Iraq will be the worst hit, receiving tariffs of 41% and 39%, respectively, while Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Iran and Sudan were handed the lowest tariff rate of 10%.
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1 month ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
Istanbul’s jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu appeared before a court on numerous cases made against him on April 11th, as his supporters congregated outside. As the hearing began which involved allegations Imamaglu intimidated a public prosecutor, hundreds of his supporters convened outside Silivri prison, where the hearing is happening, in west of Istanbul, AP News reported on April 11th. The case is one out of six that precede his jailing, which sparked countrywide protests.
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1 month ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
A Paris Court has blocked Marine Le Pen from running for elections for the next five years after it found her guilty of embezzling European Union finances, shattering her chances of a 2027 French Presidential election victory. The French far-right figurehead was handed a four-year prison sentence, CNN reported on March 31st. Her lawyer has said she will appeal the ruling. Her party, National Rally has been fined âŹ2 million for the âŹ4.1 million it was indicted of embezzling.
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1 month ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
Israel’s military launched fresh airstrikes on southern Lebanon on March 22nd, after it said it intercepted three rockets from Lebanon, threatening a fragile truce, Politico reported. The Israeli military claimed in a statement that the strikes had targeted dozens of rocket launchers. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed political group, has denied responsibility and reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire. Two people are confirmed to have been killed and eight others have been injured by the strikes.
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1 month ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
Israel is due to form a government agency to supervise the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. A spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu verified that the agency is being established after the Israeli security cabinet’s approval of Defence Minister Israel Katz’s plan on the weekend, Al Jazeera reported on March 24th. Saudi Arabia has denounced Israel’s declaration of an agency which intends to displace Palestinian people.
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2 months ago | 
levantis.me | Tahlia Kraefft
Israel has stepped up its military operations in the occupied West Bank after three empty buses exploded near Tel Aviv on the night of February 20th, according to The New Arab. No casualties were reported, but explosive devices were found on other vehicles. Defence Minister Israel Katz has called for the ramping up of military activities in the West Bank, including a crackdown on refugee camps, especially in Tulkarm.
