Fatah and Hamas leaders appear to be moving closer to setting up a unified list that will be the basis of a Palestinian coalition government, a draft agreement between the rival factions reveals. The agreement, seen by Arab News, was a key factor in the decision to hold elections — …
Read More »Constitutional crisis in Kuwait with mass cabinet resignation
Kuwaiti ministers handed in their resignations to the prime minister on Tuesday, the government communications office (CGC) said, days after lawmakers submitted a motion asking to question the premier over issues including the makeup of the cabinet. Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah must submit the resignations to the OPEC …
Read More »Libya denies it is taking orders from Erdogan’s Turkey
Libya’s House of Representative Speaker Aguila Saleh has denied dispatching an envoy to Turkey ‘to beg and take orders,’ according to a statement on Saturday. Saleh said that the House of Representatives ‘[does] not receive orders from Turkey or anyone,’ adding that they are working ‘for the stability and security …
Read More »All Turkish factions unite against US sanctions
Turkey’s parliament showed rare near unity on Tuesday in condemning U.S. sanctions over its procurement of Russian defence systems, and said the country will not hesitate to protect itself in the face of threats. On Monday, Washington imposed the sanctions targeting NATO member Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industry (SSB), its …
Read More »UPDATE – Diab probe lambasted by political allies in Lebanon
Leading Lebanese parties lambasted charges brought against the prime minister and three former ministers over the Beirut port explosion on Friday, highlighting the political minefield facing the investigation. The heavily armed, Shi’ite Muslim Hezbollah movement said the charges smacked of political targeting, joining a wider pushback by influential parties against …
Read More »Iran uses assassination to harden nuclear stance, opposition suspected
A draft bill requiring Iran’s government to pursue uranium enrichment of 20%, and to disregard other restraints put on its nuclear programme by an accord reached with foreign powers in 2015 cleared its first hurdle in parliament on Tuesday. The legislation was proposed in the wake of the assassination of …
Read More »Protesters go on anti-government rampage in Iraq
Protesters in the southern Iraqi city of Basra set fire to parliament’s local office on Friday as security forces fired live rounds in the air to disperse them, a Reuters witness and security sources said. The protesters had gathered to demand that Iraq’s parliament sack the provincial governor after two …
Read More »Rouhani foils attempt at impeachment
A group of Iranian parliamentarians has abandoned an attempt to impeach President Hassan Rouhani, the Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday, marking the end of a move sparked by growing economic hardship. Approximately 10 parliamentarians who were seeking to impeach the president, and rally other members of the 290 seat …
Read More »Nabih Berri wants expats back during corona crisis
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri threatened on Saturday to suspend his support for Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s government if it did not act to bring home expatriates stranded abroad during the coronavirus pandemic. Berri is one of Lebanon’s most powerful figures and named the finance minister and others in a …
Read More »President Mirziyoyev to pay an official visit to Japan
On December 18, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Japan, Taro Aso, at Akasaka residence, in Tokyo. Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted with deep satisfaction the consistent strengthening of Uzbekistan – Japan friendship and strategic partnership, as well as expanding …
Read More »LEVANT EXCLUSIVE – Tunisians to elect new parliament
More than seven million eligible voters both in Tunisia will head to the polls Sunday to elect a new parliament in a fiercely contested election. By Arthur Blok* Despite a lingering economic crisis Tunisia has worked hard in the past years to remain an island of political openness in …
Read More »US sactions three Hezbollah figures
The U.S. Treasury added three top Hezbollah figures to its list of sanctioned individuals on Tuesday, including two members of the Lebanese Parliament and a security official responsible for coordinating between Hezbollah and Lebanon’s security agencies. It was the first time the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control had …
Read More »Iran charges Trump with toying with Palestinian dignity
Iran’s parliament speaker said on Sunday a U.S. Middle East peace plan was “toying with a nation’s dignity” and would lead to stronger resistance against Israel by Palestinian militant groups, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported. U.S. President Donald Trump has dubbed the plan “deal of the century”. As …
Read More »Iraq’s parliamentary speaker in UAE for talks
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received on Friday, Mohamed al-Halbousi, Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Iraq. His Highness welcomed the Speaker, exchanging Eid al-Fitr greetings at the Beach Palace in Abu …
Read More »Bahrain bars opposition from parliamentary elections
Bahrainis vote on Saturday in a parliamentary election from which opposition groups have been barred, in a crackdown on dissent in the small Sunni-led, Western-allied kingdom. Activists have called for a boycott of the vote, which they say is a “farce”. The government says the election is democratic. The Sunni …
Read More »Parliamentary cooperation between UAE and China
A Federal National Council, FNC, delegation has reached China for an official working visit. The UAE contingent, headed by Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the FNC, will hold discussions with various Chinese officials and representatives until 10th November 2018. Dr. Al Qubaisi said that the purpose of the …
Read More »Iran MPs summon Rouhani as U.S. pressure squeezes economy
Iranian lawmakers have given President Hassan Rouhani one month to appear before parliament to answer questions on his government’s handling of Iran’s economic struggles, state media reported on Wednesday. It is the first time parliament has summoned Rouhani, who is under pressure from hardline rivals to change his cabinet following …
Read More »European Parliament slams UAE for ‘destabilizing’ Somalia over Qatar crisis
The European Parliament has condemned the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia for cutting financial support to Somalia for its neutrality on a rift between a Saudi-led quartet and Qatar. The Belgium-based parliament said in a resolution passed on Wednesday that Somalia has “sought to remain neutral” on the …
Read More »Iraq holds first parliamentary election since Daesh defeat
Iraq began voting Saturday in its first parliamentary election since declaring victory over Daesh, with the country hoping to shore up a fragile peace and rebuild. Polling stations opened around the conflict-scarred nation under tight security as fighters still pose a major security threat despite a sharp fall in violence. …
Read More »Hezbollah, allies set for gains in Lebanon parliament: unofficial results
The Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah and its political allies looked set to win more than half the seats in Lebanon’s first parliamentary election in nine years, according to preliminary results cited by politicians and Lebanese media. The result, if confirmed by the final count, would boost Hezbollah politically, with parties …
Read More »Kuwait parliament’s committee approves fees on expat remittances
Kuwait Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee approved bills on Sunday stipulating fees on expatriates’ financial remittances to parties outside the country. Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) quoted MP Salah Khorshed, the committee chairperson, as saying in a statement that the commission approved the bills with consent of two-thirds of the members …
Read More »Lebanon approves first budget in a decade
Lebanon’s parliament approved the country’s first budget in more than a decade, restoring control over state finances and easing a long-standing political deadlock that has stifled development. After three days of deliberations, 61 members of parliament voted to pass the budget while four voted against and eight abstained, state-run National …
Read More »Iran votes to boost military defence by $500m
Iran’s parliament has voted in favour of boosting investment in its missile defence and foreign operations programmes by more than $500m (£386m). The bill, which received overwhelming approval, is in response to the latest round of US sanctions against Tehran. The US imposed sanctions after a ballistic missile test in …
Read More »Kerry Launches ‘Battle of the Constitution,’ Damascus Wants President Elected in Parliament
By Ibrahim Hamidi for al-Hayat –US Secretary of State marks August as the date for a new constitution following his meeting with the Russian president, accelerating the political battle between the Syrian sides Kerry Launches The Syrian political battle is now centered on the constitution, which is one of the …
Read More »Lebanese Protests Continue
A protester holds a ball to be thrown towards a blocked street leading to the parliament building, where the third session of the national dialogue talks aimed at discussing ways out of a political crisis is taking place, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon Sept. 22, 2015.
Read More »International Observers: No Serious Violations in Ukrainian Elections
THE LEVANT EXCUSIVE – By Julia Lugovska from Kiev – Ukraine – Canadian, US, EU and OSCE mission observing early parliamentary elections held in Ukraine on Sunday, 26 October, stated that the voting process was clear, legal and transparent, and there were no serious violations during the elections. Thus, Canadian …
Read More »Iraqi Shi’ite coalition close to nominating prime minister
THE LEVANT – A bloc comprising Iraq’s biggest Shi’ite parties is close to nominating a prime minister, the deputy speaker of parliament said on Monday, directly challenging Nuri al-Maliki who has refused to give up his bid for a third term. Haider al-Abadi’s comments in a tweet came after police sources …
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