Latest in Tag: politics Highlight
Latest in Tag: politics

World Bank watches unfolding of political situation with great concern: Bank president
World Bank has helped finance several projects in various sectors during the past year

Iran says not considering alternative UN pick
AFP- Iran signalled its defiance Saturday over America’s refusal to grant a visa to its chosen UN ambassador, saying it does not plan to pick an alternative envoy. Tehran also said it was examining its legal options over the row, which has undermined a cautious thaw in relations after decades of enmity following the storming …
Saudi end to girls’ sports ‘welcome’: HRW
AFP- Human Rights Watch welcomed Saturday a recommendation by Saudi Arabia’s consultative Shura Council to lift the ban on sports in girls’ state schools. On Tuesday, the council recommended that the longstanding ban, relaxed in private schools last year, be ended altogether, state media in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom reported. It is now up to …

Jewish settlers attack Israel soldiers for second night
Rosenfeld said there had been no casualties but that two settlers had later been arrested.

Egypt court rejects new judges for Morsi trials
The court is now expected to set a date for the resumption of each of the two trials involving jailbreak and espionage charges
Egypt economic growth to remain slow: IMF
AFP – Growth in Egypt’s economy is expected to remain sluggish this year as political uncertainty keeps tourists and foreign investors away, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday. The economy of the Arab world’s most populated country was forecast to grow by 2.7% this year after expanding by 2.1% in 2013, the IMF said in …

Triumphant Turkey PM renews pledge to crackdown on rivals
The scandal has played out with a spate of wiretaps and social media leaks implicating Erdogan in graft and exposing high-level security talks weighing military action in Syria.

Iran, world powers seek to intensify nuclear talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday that he has formed a group of legal experts to help in the “complicated, difficult and slow work” of drafting a deal.
Syria presidential candidacy to open this month: Minister
AFP – Candidates for presidential elections in Syria this year will be able to submit their applications during the last 10 days of April, state media reported, quoting Information Minister Omran Al-Zohbi. The minister also insisted that the elections would proceed on time, despite a raging civil war that has killed more than 150,000 people. …

Afghan presidential hopefuls raise fraud concerns
Voiced concern that voting was tainted by fraud

Without political support? (Part One)
There are many questions concerning running for presidency and whether it is possible to do such a thing without political backing or support. For instance, can a real campaign be created and run without political support? The same question applies concerning running the country. These questions stem from some statements made by supporters of Field …

A predictable summer
Last month we spoke about the challenges facing the new Egyptian government. At the time of his appointment, Mr Mehleb proclaimed that his two main objectives were to wipe out militant violence and improve the economy. In the weeks that have followed his appointment, the prime minster has been very active, clearly adopting a management …

Sisi’s covert clues
By Philip Whitfield Gettysburg 1863: Government of the people, by the people, for the people. Ashen, sick as a dog, Abraham Lincoln barely lasted another 15 months on earth. The wireman was away supping. Missed the iconic two minutes: 271 words of epigrammatically pithy eloquence: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth …

Kerry scrambles to save his torpedoed peace effort
The top US diplomat, who has made the quest for a long-elusive peace treaty his personal holy grail, was blindsided late Tuesday as minutes before a press conference at the NATO headquarters, both sides went rogue.

Election posters adorn Baghdad as campaigning begins
Posters went up around Baghdad and across the country as candidates vie for one of 328 parliamentary seats.
Iran director screens film to save man on death row
AFP – An Iranian film director is to hold a private screening of his latest movie on Saturday to raise funds to save the life of a 26-year-old on death row. Mostafa Kiaei, director of “Special Line”, said he had learnt by accident of the young man’s case and wanted to help raise the “blood …

Turkey PM claims victory, warns rivals ‘will pay price’
“Those who attacked Turkey got disappointed,” Erdogan told a jubilant crowd of thousands, speaking from the balcony of his party’s Ankara headquarters

Are there serious doubts regarding the integrity of presidential elections?
Some friends and relatives are surprised at those who question the integrity of the coming elections and wonder why they keep raising doubts concerning their democracy. And if so, what is the available evidence that the elections will be conducted in an undemocratic atmosphere? The truth is, there is serious doubt-raising evidence concerning the coming …

Russia vows no Ukraine invasion as leaders seek solution
Ukraine is now entering a crucial phase in its development after the fall of pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych in February, as the clock ticks down to 25 May presidential elections which are expected to cement Kiev’s pro-West course.

Turkish PM in fight against shadow enemy
Out on the campaign trail ahead of Sunday’s local elections, there are few doubts about who Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has in mind when he vows to “liquidate” his foes.

Egypt army extends power by taking charge of Gulf aid
Bread is a politically-explosive issue in Egypt – failure to deliver it at an affordable price has triggered major riots in the past and the government wants to boost its storage capacity to reduce its reliance on international markets.

Twitter ban widens rift between Turkey’s leaders ahead of vote
Turkey’s 10 million Twitter users were banned Thursday from accessing the site after Erdogan vowed to “wipe out” the messaging service, which has been used by to publish damaging allegations against his government.

Does Egypt need to use more muscles or more brain?
By Mohammed Nosseir Egypt is certainly facing a political crisis. Whether you perceive 30 June to be a revolution or a coup, its consequences have, undeniably, driven the country in an unpleasant direction. The nation is polarised, split into two main political groups, and numerous terrorist acts are being committed across the country, hindering political …

Op-ed review: A citizen, a writer and a politician
Ezzedin Choukri Fishere Al Masry Al Youm Newspaper Writer Ezzedin Choukri Fishere begins his article by explaining what it means to be a free citizen. “A free citizen does what he likes. He can boycott elections if he feels that they are predetermined or unfair or that it will not make a difference in his …

Whispers of dissent in Kremlin-ruled Crimea
Ukraine’s government estimates there are 25,000 people in Crimea like Anastasiya who want to flee the region after its Russian takeover.

Egypt investors believe Sisi presidency will bring stability
Sisi offers the hope of relief from three years of political turmoil that began with the Arab Spring uprising, even though he was the man who toppled Egypt’s first freely-elected president, Islamist Mohamed Morsi.

What are the justifications for Al-Sisi’s nomination? Part 3: Possible reform movement
In the previous articles, we highlighted three groups that are supporting Al-Sisi’s nomination. The first one is the popular movement, which expresses the general mood in the Egyptian streets. The second one if the old state movement, which encompass several groups with different goals and directions that believe in the old regime’s way and completely …

Is politics about dirt or values?
By Mohammed Nosseir ‘Politics is a dirty game!’ is a phrase often used to justify the behavior of politicians. If you are a believer in this maxim, please vote for the most corrupt politicians you know and bring them into government or parliament. This will ensure that, ultimately, Egypt’s governing authority and legislative council will …

Swiss-Listed Orascom warns on profit amid Egyptian instability
Specific factors hitting Orascom include lower capitalisation of financing costs, the devalued Egyptian currency, but also impairments on investments and a review of its taxation
Israel strikes kill one, ‘threaten region’s security’: Syria
AFP– Israeli air raids on Syria on Wednesday killed one person and injured seven, Syria’s army said, warning that the strikes endangered regional security and stability. In a statement, the army command warned that “these desperate attempts… endanger the security and stability of the region.”