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AdvertisementMiddle EastWorldMiddle EastIraq PM Sudani claims election win after early results show decisive leadThe incumbent prime minister’s candidate list is in the lead with more than 1.3 million votes, about 217,500 more than the next closest list
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 7:39am, 13 Nov 2025Incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani claimed victory for his coalition on Wednesday in Iraq’s general election after preliminary results showed it had secured a decisive lead.
AdvertisementSupporters of Sudani, who is vying for a second term, flocked late in the evening to Tahrir Square in Baghdad to celebrate with fireworks and music.
Casting the victory as one for all Iraqis in a televised speech, Sudani congratulated the country “on your coalition winning first place in the parliamentary elections”.
“Our coalition, ‘Reconstruction and Development’, is first,” Sudani said separately on social media, expressing “deep gratitude to t..

Kyle Seraphin claimed Kash Patel's foundation is behind the lawsuits that his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins filed against MAGA influencers for 'Israeli spy' narrative. Kyle Seraphin, Sam Parker and Elijah Schaffer have been sued by Kash Patel's girlfriend Alexis Wilkins for spreading malicious lies about Alexis that she works for the Israeli spy agency and 'honeytrapped' FBI director Kash Patel. Wilkins sought $5 million from each of them in damages after relentlessly fighting the rumor, claiming she has no connection with Israel. But MAGA has now drawn a line and stood by the conspiracy theorists as they are all MAGA voices, and condemned Wilkins' action against 'freedom of speech'. Though FBI director Patel is not involved with the lawsuits filed by his musician girlfriend, MAGA claimed that Patel's foundation, 'Kash Foundation', is behind the lawsuits. Kyle Seraphin, a former FBI agent who has been targeting Patel and his girlf..

Image Via “X” Twitch is under fire after streamer Tectone accused the platform of hypocrisy over its Veterans Day tribute. The controversy began when Twitch posted a message honoring U.S. service members, only for Tectone to respond angrily, alleging that he had been banned for defending veterans in the past. In a post from his verified X account, Tectone claimed he was punished for insulting a woman who allegedly said that “all American soldiers deserved PTSD,” while, according to him, Twitch took no action against her. His tweet quickly went viral, sparking debate over Twitch’s moderation policies and priorities.The post, filled with frustration and disbelief, resonated with many streamers and viewers who believe Twitch often enforces its community guidelines inconsistently. Tectone’s sharp criticism, dropped on the same day Twitch attempted to celebrate Veterans Day, amplified the backlash, with many accusing the platform of double standards. Supporters rallied behind Tectone, calli..

AdvertisementJapanThis Week in AsiaHealth & EnvironmentJapan caught in web of woe as over 3,500 venomous spiders found at US baseThe record number of spiders – including redbacks, black and grey widows – highlights Japan’s struggle in containing invasive species
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPJulian RyallPublished: 8:00am, 12 Nov 2025More than 3,500 venomous spiders – including black widows and redbacks – have been exterminated at a US military base in western Japan, alarming residents and officials already struggling with a rise in invasive species across the country.AdvertisementThe record number of spiders, found between July and October at the US Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, included three known venomous species and prompted local authorities to demand urgent action to prevent the infestation from spreading beyond the base’s perimeter.
Experts believe the arachnids likely arrived aboard aircraft operated by the US Marines or Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force,..

AdvertisementUnited StatesWorldUnited States & CanadaUS Supreme Court lets Trump continue cuts on Snap food aid, even as shutdown nears endReopening the government would restart the programme that helps 42 million Americans, but it’s not clear how soon full payments can resume
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAssociated PressPublished: 7:49am, 12 Nov 2025The US Supreme Court on Tuesday extended an order blocking full Snap payments, amid signals that the government shutdown could soon end and food aid payments resume.
AdvertisementThe order keeps in place at least for a few more days a chaotic situation. People who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme to feed their families in some states have received their full monthly allocations, while others have received nothing.
The order will expire just before midnight on Thursday.
The Senate has approved a bill to end the shutdown and the House of Representatives could vote on it as early as Wednesday.
Reopening..