Latest in Tag: politics Highlight
Latest in Tag: politics
BREAKING: Saudi closed Libya embassy, evacuates diplomats
AFP – Saudi Arabia closed its embassy in Tripoli on Monday and evacuated all its diplomats over “security” concerns in Libya, the SPA state news agency reported. The Saudi ambassador to Libya Mohammed Mahmud al-Ali told SPA the kingdom’s consulate in Libya was also closed “due to the current circumstances and the security situation.” He said all diplomats in …
Press Release: Baseera Poll Results on âWhat do Egyptians want from the next president?â
Only one third of Egyptians know correct date of elections
Restoring security and providing job opportunities are the most significant demands Egyptians want the next president to satisfy.
Brahimi departure, election double blow to Syria peace hopes
The international standoff was underlined Wednesday with Damascus reacting to Lakhdar Brahimi’s announcement that he will step down on May 31 by accusing him of bias and interference in domestic politics.
Race to save trapped miners after Turkey blast kills 232
Most of the deaths have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning
Kidnapped Jordan envoy freed in swap for jihadist
A plane carrying Aitan touched down at Marka military airport in Amman, and he was greeted by relatives and officials led by Prince Faisal bin Hussein, the brother of King Abdullah II.
Syria rebels to free 1,500 families for food, prisoners: Report
While the edges of Adra are under government control, the interior of the town, which has Sunni, Alawite and Christian communities, is in rebel hands.
Israel closes Golan zone adjacent to Syria
Rebels in southern Syria set up earlier this year the so-called Southern Front, including some 30,000 fighters from more than 55 mainstream rebel groups, and have claimed successes, notably in Quneitra.
Egypt students jailed for 4 years over violent protests
The 36 students were found guilty of holding a violent protest in December, rioting, blocking roads in front of the university and showing aggression against the security forces, the sources said.
IMF says Lebanon economy to grow by 4% in medium term
Reuters – The International Monetary Fund forecasts Lebanon’s economy will grow by 2% in 2014 and a “modest 4% over the medium term,” despite two years of violence, political paralysis and a huge refugee influx. But with heavy pressures weighing on the economy, the IMF also said in a report published on Friday that Lebanon …
Pakistanâs Sharif set to visit Iran amid strained ties
Relations between the neighbours hit a low following the kidnapping by Pakistani Sunni extremists of five Iranian border guards from Iranâs Sistan-Baluchestan province in February.
Libya assembly speaker confirms Miitig as premier
AFP – The speaker of Libyaâs General National Congress confirmed Ahmed Miitig as the countryâs prime minister Monday, after approving his appointment following a chaotic session of the interim parliament. âAhmed Omar Miitig was appointed head of the transitional government, and asked to form his cabinet and present it to the GNC for a confidence …
Editorâs letter: Europe and those Arabs (1): Is the EU having an affair with The Muslim Brotherhood?
A few weeks ago I called an old friend to say goodbye before heading to Brussels after winning an EU award for my work in the past couple of years. I briefly explained what I would be doing in the capital of Europe and the fact that I would be having a series of meetings …
Egypt, Turkey and Iran: Exchanging roles in a tumultuous Middle East
By Fadi Elhusseini After less than a year of exceptional Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement, the events of 30 June 2013 ruptured this relationship. Similarly, when Egyptian and Iranian statesmen began to decrease tensions and a thaw in relations resulted, events returned things to square one. As these scenes, by and large, have been repeating themselves over and …
My liberal times in Oum al Dounia â (Part One)
By Dr Ronald Meinardus After nearly eight years at the helm of the Cairo Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF), Germanyâs liberal think tank, Dr Ronald Meinardus, who has, on and off, also contributed to the editorial page of this newspaper, is leaving Egypt shortly. The following is the first of three …
Who is responsible for the disbanding of the national partnership?
I have no problem with replacing the 30 June alliance term with the national partnership. Recently, I have used the term 30 June alliance to refer to the alliance formed between the old state supporters, the democratic entities and the army. This alliance went through many stages and attacks leading me to believe that it …
Too hoarse race
By Philip Whitfield Too cute? You try. Twoâs company, threeâs a crowd (corny); Spin doctors (better); Whispering campaign (true); Rope a dope (scurrilous). Whatâs being spoon-fed? Battle lines drawn, littered through copy with adjectival innuendo: Al-Sisiâs campaign headquarters in the âupper classâ Al-Tagammu (New Cairo) districtâŠ(snooty?). Worse: Sabahy, youngest of a peasant farmer’s 12 children …
North Korea âmay be close to nuclear testâ warns Seoul
North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests â in 2006, 2009 and 2013 â all at the Punggye-ri site in the northeast of the country
Rising from the ashes
Twenty years after genocide, Rwanda makes huge development strides
Mortar fire on Syria schools kills child, hurts 40: Media
AFP – Mortar rounds fired on schools in the Syrian capital on Tuesday killed a child and wounded more than 40 people, among them more children, state media said. Rebels fighting to oust President Bashar Al-Assad hold some territory on the outskirts of Damascus from which they have regularly launched mortar and rocket attacks targeting …
UNâs Iran rights watchdog slams case of death-row woman
AFP- A UN human rights monitor on Monday urged Tehran to halt the planned execution of an Iranian woman for the alleged murder of a former intelligence official, saying her trial had been deeply flawed. The case of Reyhaneh Jabbari, who claims she acted in self-defence after a sexual assault, raises concerns because of her …
Saudi Arabia imposes fines, jail terms for visa lapses
Punishment ranging from fines and jail terms to confiscation of assets and deportation may be imposed, escalating a year-long crackdown on visa irregularities that have been overlooked for decades.
Israel minister warns Kerry over âsurrenderâ to Iran
AFP- Israelâs intelligence minister Monday slammed as unacceptable comments by US Secretary of State John Kerry on negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme which he said indicated a âsurrenderâ to Tehran. âThe things Kerry said in the Congress are worrying, they are surprising and they are unacceptable,â Yuval Steinitz, who is also strategic affairs …
Algeria presidential campaign winds up with recriminations
AFP- Â Final campaign rallies were held for Algeriaâs presidential election on Sunday after the incumbent Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his only real rival Ali Benflis waged a war of words. The 77-year-old Bouteflika, despite ailing health and not even appearing in person on the campaign trail, remains favourite to win a fourth term in Thursdayâs poll …
Hezbollah shifts tactics, narrative for Syria fight
Shedding its guerrilla tactics to fight alongside an army
Revolution-proofing
As demonstrated on Thursday, when some protesters held a rally downtown demonstrating against the Protest Law and demanding the release of prominent activists, we are looking at a country which is becoming starkly different from what it was in 2011. Of course, while I am not here to bury the 25 January Revolution nor to …
Islamists boycott Algeria vote as North African tide turns
AFP – Algeriaâs Islamists â once the countryâs leading political force â are boycotting this monthâs presidential election, chastened by recent poor performances at the polls and setbacks for ideological soulmates across North Africa. The three main moderate Islamist parties have forged an unlikely alliance with the fiercely secularist Rally for Culture and Democracy to …
Without political support? (Part two)
In the previous article, I highlighted the importance of belonging to a political party or movement when it comes to presidential candidates. The presidential candidate that emerges from a party has a certain framework within which he works along with thousands of other members and volunteers. However, a presidential candidate who does not belong to …
Athletes and artists show Gaza still occupied
Recent cases involving athletes and musicians show how much Gaza is still under Israeli occupation By Hussein Ibish, Now I recently participated in a debate in New York City where two noted American pro-Israel advocates, Rabbi Shmuely Boteach and Wall Street Journal columnist Bret Stephens, both kept insisting that there is no Israeli occupation in Gaza. Tell …
The case for Donald Rumsfeldâs prosecution
By Dr Cesar Chelala I have just finished watching the film âThe Unknown Knownâ by Errol Morris, which is a long interview with Donald Rumsfeld, the former Secretary of Defence during the Iraq war, and cannot stop thinking about Rumsfeldâs role in the use of torture, for which he was widely condemned. In 2009, Manfred Nowak, …
Moodyâs downgrades Turkey outlook to ânegativeâ
Putting the countryâs investment-grade rating at risk