Israel appeared to be headed on Tuesday toward an early election after right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his major centrist coalition partner failed to patch up differences. Netanyahu’s government, which is dominated by the right and came to power early last year, has been unraveling over a range of issues including the 2015 budget. […]
Tunisia set for runoff in landmark election
TUNIS: The battle for an expected runoff for the Tunisian presidency got under way on Monday before the first round results were even in from the landmark post-Arab Spring election. Veteran politician Beji Caid Essebsi, whose party placed first in a parliamentary election last month, looked set to fall short of the 50 percent threshold […]
Bahrain: opposition boycotts the first election since the 2011 protests
ON THE face of it, voting has never been easier in Bahrain. Citizens can use a smartphone app to register to vote in the parliamentary elections on November 22nd, and ballot boxes have been organised for citizens abroad. But it will be a skewed event with a pre-ordained result: while the government is laying on […]
Cardinals could meet sooner to choose new pope: Vatican
The cardinals who must pick a successor to Pope Benedict XVI after he steps down on February 28 could meet to make the decision sooner than thought, a Vatican spokesman said Saturday. The conclave, the meeting which will bring together the 117 cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, could start before March 15 if all […]
US, UN chief slam Syria election
The United States said on Monday Syria’s parliamentary election “borders on ludicrous” while UN chief Ban Ki-moon slammed the Syrian government for holding a national election while violence is still raging and for failing to involve all parties. “It’s not really possible to hold credible elections in a climate where basic human rights are being […]
Israel’s early vote may shelve any attack on Iran
Israel’smove toward early elections is the latest sign that its threatened attack againstIran’snuclear facilities is unlikely to take place in the coming months. Though no final decision has been made about moving up national elections slated for next year, the Knesset, or parliament, is talking about dissolving this month
Russian protesters fear Putin resorting to force
Russia’s opposition expressed concern on Tuesday that Vladimir Putin was resorting to old tactics to crush dissent after riot police detained hundreds of protesters challenging the legitimacy of his presidential election victory.
A Syrian-American governor thinks he could beat Obama
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels a prominent Syrian-American says he thinks he could beat President Barack Obama in 2012. He just hasn’t decided whether he’ll try. The Republican governor said Tuesday his chances of beating Obama would be “quite good,”
Egypt: Election sweep boosts Mubarak
With the results of Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Egypt, the regime of President Hosni Mubarak sent a powerful message that it will brook no dissent as the country moves toward a potential presidential transition as early as next year. By sweeping almost all the seats, Mubarak’s National Democratic Party paved the way for the octogenarian […]
Lebanon minister:March 14 won 75% of Mukhtar elections in Beirut 1
Lebanon’s Minister of State Michel Pharaon said during an interview with LBCI television that March 14 alliance won 75-percent of the votes in Sunday’s Mukhtar elections in Beirut’s first district, which comprises of the Ashrafieh, Rmeil and Saifi neighborhoods. March 14 won all 12 Mukhtar seats in Ashrafieh as well as all four seats in […]