Although he is the first American pope and President Donald Trump was quick to express enthusiasm over his election, many expect Cardinal Robert Prevost—now Pope Leo XIV—to prove a thorn in the side of the U.S. administration.

As the Israeli government signals a possible escalation of its “military operation” in Gaza, the debate over drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) has resurfaced; a highly divisive and politically sensitive issue in Tel Aviv.

The relentless rise of the populist right in Europe has been confirmed by results of elections held this week in three different countries: Poland, Portugal and Romania.

To better assess the scale of Israeli destruction of Gaza, its impact on municipalities, and the emergency plans to salvage what remains, Al-Estiklal interviewed Deputy Head of the Union of Gaza Municipalities and Khan Younis Mayor Alaa el-Din al-Batta.

In an interview with Al-Estiklal, Turkish political analyst Yasin Aktay discussed the implications of Abdullah Ocalan’s call to lay down arms, the future of the Kurdish issue in Turkiye, and the impact of recent developments in Syria on regional stability.

With the announcement of Pope Francis's death at 88, Iraqi Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako (76) emerged as a potential successor, gaining official endorsement from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani for the papacy.

For days during Eid, Mishaan al-Khazraji—the head of Iraq’s Sunni Endowment—dominated headlines and social media after sparking what became known as the “crescent crisis” among Iraqi Sunnis.

Opponents of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk rallied across the U.S. this week to protest the administration’s actions on government downsizing, the economy, human rights and other issues.

Despite political difficulties and distribution challenges, the film ‘No Other Land’, directed by Israelis and Palestinians, was able to achieve a historic achievement by winning the Oscar for best documentary.