Many Iran-backed militias participated in 2018 general elections via independent lists or general lists. There are increasing demands in Iraq for political parties with armed wings to be barred from participating in general elections scheduled for next summer in order to ensure participants have an equal opportunity at the polls, …

The Arab coalition is very much concerned over the expansion of the Qatari and Turkish sphere of influence within the legitimate government’s institutions and its political and partisan components.

Japan will not accept China’s proposal to ease bilateral tensions over the sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands, the government’s top spokesman said Thursday, dismissing it as part of an attempt to advance Beijing’s claims to Tokyo’s territory.