News

Tehran drags Moscow deeper into Syria

Jun 20 2016
Syria
Source: 
Al Monitor

For Iran, the ongoing war in Syria is no longer a matter of regional security. The conflict now has direct effects and implications for Iran's national security. This perspective is clear in the daily statements coming from Tehran, from the images of slain Iranian soldiers and high-ranking officers laid to rest in the Iranian capital and most recently the appointment of Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, as military and security coordinator of the joint cooperation group on Syria with Moscow and Damascus. 

Lawmaker urges Jokowi to sign new elections bill into law

Jun 17 2016
Indonesia
Source: 
The Jakarta Post

A lawmaker is pushing the government to immediately sign the bill containing revisions of the 2015 Regional Elections Law so that it can be used for public purposes.

The House of Representatives had passed the draft revision of the Regional Elections Law on June 2. However, the bill has not yet been signed into law and numbered by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration.

Another hurdle for elections in 2016: MPs reject presidential decree on electoral commissions

Jun 17 2016
Afghanistan
Source: 
Afghanistan Analysts

Had MPs approved the presidential legislative decree ‘reforming’ the electoral commissions, Afghanistan would now be significantly closer to holding parliamentary and district elections. (And the National Unity Government could have claimed to be pushing forward on electoral reform, something required by the agreement that established it.) However, after three days of ill-mannered discussion, MPs roundly rejected the decree. AAN’s Salima Ahmadi, Ali Yawar Adili, Lenny Linke and Kate Clark report on what happened and why – and what could happen next.

Lebanon fails to reach agreement on state security agency

Jun 17 2016
Lebanon
Source: 
Gulf News

Although Nouhad Al Mashnouq, the Minister of Interior, tried to quell security concerns in the aftermath of the BLOM Bank headquarters bombing on June 12, the cabinet once again postponed a discussion of the sorely contentious fate of the State Security agency that became an orphan institution after senior government officials abandoned it.

Karzai meets PM Sharif in London

Jun 17 2016
Pakistan
Source: 
The Nation

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai met the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and enquired after his health.

Karzai expressed best wishes for early recovery of Sharif. Both the leaders discussed situation at Torkham border, bilateral relations and stressed the need for peaceful solution. Nawaz Sharif thanked Hamid Karzai for good wishes.

The Nation

Lawmaker urges Jokowi to sign new elections bill into law

Jun 17 2016
Indonesia
Source: 
The Jakarta Post

A lawmaker is pushing the government to immediately sign the bill containing revisions of the 2015 Regional Elections Law so that it can be used for public purposes.

The House of Representatives had passed the draft revision of the Regional Elections Law on June 2. However, the bill has not yet been signed into law and numbered by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration.

IEC Says it will Announce Election Date Amid Reform Controversy

Jun 16 2016
Afghanistan
Source: 
ToloNews

The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) said Thursday that the election management body is preparing to announce the schedule for the parliamentary and district council's elections.

This comes a week after the Afghan parliament rejected a presidential legislative decree on electoral reforms, a decision that has sparked strong reactions among the election monitors.

The IEC said the it has been trying to start talks with the government and international donors to secure the budget for the elections.

IEC Says it will Announce Election Date Amid Reform Controversy

Jun 16 2016
Afghanistan
Source: 
ToloNews

The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) said Thursday that the election management body is preparing to announce the schedule for the parliamentary and district council's elections.

This comes a week after the Afghan parliament rejected a presidential legislative decree on electoral reforms, a decision that has sparked strong reactions among the election monitors.

The IEC said the it has been trying to start talks with the government and international donors to secure the budget for the elections.

Western Diplomats Urge Bosnia to Join NATO; Serbs Say 'No'

Jun 16 2016
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Source: 
ABC News

Western diplomats urged Bosnian leaders Thursday to continue moving toward NATO membership, saying it could bring security and improve people's lives. But a Bosnian Serb leader says Serbs will not let Bosnia join until the alliance resolves its differences with Russia.

The ambassadors of the U.S., Britain and NATO issued a joint statement saying, "If you want positive change ... moving toward NATO is a great way to do it."

Kerry tells Russia US patience on Syria 'very limited'

Jun 16 2016
Syria
Source: 
Al Jazeera

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has warned the Syrian regime and its main military backer Russia to respect "frayed" ceasefire and said that its "patience was not infinite" amid mounting death toll.

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not [Bashar] al-Assad is going to be held accountable," Kerry said on Wednesday after meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.

Prime Minister: Israel is Waging Water War against Palestinians

Jun 16 2016
Palestine
Source: 
Wafa

 Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah issued a statement decrying Israel's national water company Mekorot's decision to cut off water supplies to several Palestinian cities and villages.

“Israel wants to prevent Palestinians from leading a dignified life and uses its control over our water resources to this end; while illegal Israeli settlements enjoy uninterrupted water service, Palestinians are forced to spend great sums of money to buy water that is theirs in the first place,” Hamdallah said.

Israeli Official Warns Hizbullah against Another War

Jun 16 2016
Lebanon
Source: 
Naharnet

Israel's head of military intelligence has said that Hizbullah should be wary of another war with Israel.

Marking 10 years since the monthlong 2006 summer war with Hizbullah, Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Wednesday that Israel is more prepared than ever and that Hizbullah would suffer a great deal if it initiated another battle.

Speaking at the Herzliya Conference, Halevi said that if Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah "knew our abilities, our knowledge, our preparedness, he wouldn't risk another conflict."

Tunisian parliament passes gender parity bill for local elections

Jun 16 2016
Tunisia
Source: 
Middle East Eye

Tunisia’s parliament overwhelmingly passed a bill on Wednesday that will greatly help the country to increase female representation across the country at next year’s March 2017 local elections.

The new laws will see parties or blocks put forward an equal number of male and female list leaders, which should step up representation.

Report accuses UN of loss of impartiality in Syria

Jun 15 2016
Syria
Source: 
Al Jazeera

A report released by rights group The Syria Campaign accuses the United Nations of delivering 99 percent of its aid to government-controlled territories, and calls on the UN to "restore its impartiality". 

The report, based on interviews with aid workers, including current and former UN staff, finds the UN in Syria in breach of its humanitarian principles and at risk of fuelling the conflict.

Pro-Reform MPs Blame Circles in Govt For Decree Rejection

Jun 15 2016
Afghanistan
Source: 
ToloNews

Pro-reform MPs and members of election monitoring groups on Wednesday claimed that certain elements within the government and the Independent Election Commission (IEC) plotted to disrupt the approval of President Ashraf Ghani's legislative decree on election reforms.

The statements come two days after parliament failed to vote on a crucial presidential legislative decree on election reforms in the wake of continued calls both by the Afghan people and the international community.

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