News

 Political attention in Malaysia has turned to an imminent Cabinet reshuffle, with three incoming federal ministers and two deputy ministers following the recent elections.

Two ministerial posts in the Prime Minister's Department are vacant - one in charge of the government's performance unit called Pemandu, and the other in charge of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).

Prime Minister Najib Razak is also set to name a new plantation industries and commodities minister.

Albania is expected to open a NATO excellence centre this year that will conduct studies into foreign terrorist fighters.

The project got the green light from the alliance's military committee in May and Albanian Defence Ministry officials are now discussing modalities with alliance counterparts.

Colonel Bardhyl Kollcaku, director of the Defence Intelligence and Security agency, AISM, told BIRN that Albania pitched the initiative after spotting a vacuum in NATO over this phenomenon.

Parliament approved the new government structure, which will have two new committees and two ministries will be renamed.At least 96 deputies voted for project, presented by the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov today at the session of the Parliament. 

The assembly of Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity, Republika Srpska, on Tuesday held an emergency session on decision of the state statistical agency to publish the results of Bosnia's 2013 census - without first agreeing on a shared methodology with Bosnian Serb experts.

After a heated debate, the assembly asked Bosnian State Statistical Agency to withdraw its decision to publish the results of the 2013 census, and asked the government of the entity to prepare a draft law that would allow publication of the census results by Republika Srpska autonomously.

Authorities in South Sudan’ Western Lakes state, have imposed a curfew in the capital, Rumbek from 7:00pm to 7:00am [local time] every day.

The move, a senior state official said, is part of a new security measure aimed at controlling revenge killings and lootings in Rumbek town.

The state council of ministers, in a security briefing to the governor, said Rumbek was to be divided into four zones. Each zone has a commander to quell down insecurity.

The council of minister also sanctioned travelers and those who often walked at night to avoid risks during curfew time.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz yesterday said as new alignments were emerging in the regional and global arenas, the present government was pursuing a suitable foreign policy with futuristic approach.

Non-interference, balanced approach, ensuring its security, protecting sovereignty and growth of trade and economy were among the main objectives of the government’s foreign policy and its positive results would be seen in future, he said in an interview with a private television channel aired on Monday night.

The leader of South Sudan’s opposition People’s Liberal Party (PLP), Peter Mayen Majongdit said the young nation was at the verge of collapsing unless the international community rescues it.

“External intervention is necessary before it is too late,” warned the outspoken opposition party chairman.

“Am appealing to the leaders of government of national unity to harmonize their leadership and forget the past, only spirit of cooperation and harmonization on the leadership shall pave ways for reconciliation which is powerful tool in rebuilding the country,” he added.

President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev nominated the candidates for the election by the members of the Central Election Commission. The Information Policy Department of the Presidential Administration reported.

According to it, the President, in accordance with Paragraph 2 Part 5 of Article 64 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic has made the following nominations for the election by the CEC members: Almaz Asanaliev, Gulnara Baatyrova, Bakhtiyar Kadyrov, Nurzhan Shayldabekova.

Suyunbek Shamshiev