أرشيف الوسم : government

The Libyan Supreme Court on Thursday discredited the internationally recognized Libyan parliament, laying the groundwork for more political chaos in the violence-wrecked North African country. The ruling, which can’t be appealed, prompted triumphant gunfire in capital city Tripoli, which has been under rebel-militia control since August. The Tripoli court also invalidated a constitutional amendment which led to elections on June …

French lawmakers are planning to submit a motion to their parliament, asking their government to recognize the state of Palestine, weeks after British parliamentarians successfully passed a similar vote. The move follows the collapse of the peace process between Palestine and Israel after the conflict in Gaza, in which over 2,000 Palestinians were killed. “The (lower house National) Assembly asks …

US Republicans stormed the Senate by thumping Democrats in the mid-term elections on Tuesday, and now control both houses of Congress, virtually assuring a testy final two years in office for President Barack Obama. Riding on a frustration among voters with Washington’s politicians and policies, Republicans captured at least 7 seats from Senate Democrats in the poll. This will be …

A Shiite rebel leader on Friday warned Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi to form a new government in ten days or a “national salvation council” will take its place. Ansarullah rebels, also known as Huthis, have taken advantage of a lack of stability since Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s overthrow in 2011 to capture capital city Sana’a on September 21st. …

On Thursday, Sweden became the first major European nation to officially recognize the state of Palestine, as Palestinians were quick to hail the “historic” move while the Israelis denounced the announcement. “Today the government takes the decision to recognize the state of Palestine. It is an important step that confirms the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. We hope that this will …

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has asked for greater access to a Palestinian refugee camp near Damascus where refugees have had to live without water for 40 days. Deputy Commissioner General for the UNRWA Margot Ellis said that increased access to Yarmuk camp was top priority. “In the conversations we had with the government, we were imploring them, …

By David Hearst – The Middle East Monitor Nothing illustrates the free-wheeling chaos of the Middle East better than what is going on in Yemen. A small Iranian-backed North Yemeni militia, modeled on Hezbollah and from an offshoot of Shia Islam, has walked into the capital Sanaa, taken over Hodeida, Yemen’s main port on the Red Sea, and is now …

Journalist and author Glenn Greenwald, the award winning journalist who published Edward Snowden’s US government surveillance programs, on Thursday said that Canada cannot be surprised by the recent violence in the country. “Canadians shouldn’t allow this week’s violent attacks in Ottawa and St-Jean-sur-Richelieu to scare them into giving up more freedoms and privacy to the government in the name of …

The Australian government has drawn flak from various quarters over its current media campaign against undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers, seemingly sending the message that they are not welcome. The government hopes that the rhetoric will discourage immigrants from settling in the country. The latest government-approved poster in the hard hitting campaign, already printed in 17 languages, says “No way. …

Houthi rebels reportedly stormed the Yemeni Interior Ministry headquarters In Sana’a on Wednesday, expelling employees from their offices. According to sources, the militants arrived in cars to premises broke in many offices, including the office of Mohamed al-Sherafi, the Undersecretary for Financial Affairs. The incident came on the heels of the Yemeni government failing to meet the deadline on the …