News

Sali Berisha’s government spent taxpayers’ money on a smear campaign in the US and in Albania directed against his political opponent, Edi Rama, which played well in the hands of the US Republicans and led to calls for an FBI investigation against US President Barack Obama.

Documents obtained by Balkan Insight under the US Justice Department Foreign Agents Registration Act, FARA, show that the Podesta Group, which the Berisha government engaged for over two years, appears to have been behind three negative articles against Rama.

Five ministers representing the Justice and Construction Party (J&C) in the current government officially resigned today at the second cabinet meeting of of 2014.

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Council for Understanding or Shura-i-Tafahum, aiming to reduce the number of presidential candidates through consensus, on Wednesday acknowledged its failure to bring the hopefuls together for a discussion, despite efforts spanning three months.

Abdellah Djaballah « ne voit aucun intérêt » à participer à la présidentielle du 17 avril prochain. Dans un entretien au quotidien arabophone Al Hadath (www.alhadath-dz.com), ce mardi 21 janvier, le chef du Parti pour la justice et le développement (PJD) affirme qu’il est prêt à appeler au boycott de ce scrutin.

The Rohani administration has announced that the newly drafted Carter of Citizens’ Rights will be finalized by the end of February.

IRNA reports that the public still has the opportunity to submit ideas regarding the draft, adding that more than a thousand emails about the charter have been sent in so far, and they will be processed and incorporated in the final draft.

He added that more than 120 legal experts have also submitted their review of the draft along with their respective recommendations.

QUETTA: By-elections for 98 seats of local bodies in 12 districts of Balochistan were held in a peaceful atmosphere on Sunday.

However, voting could not take place for another 331 seats in several districts, including Awaran and Kalat, as no one had filed nomination papers there.

The Somali federal government and Somaliland regional administration concluded their latest round of talks in Istanbul Sunday (January 19th), signing an agreement to hold another meeting in 90 days and to form a secretariat in Istanbul that will oversee the ongoing negotiations.

The agreement outlines the agenda for future talks, including the peaceful resolution of any and all future disagreements through dialogue, according to a communique signed by Somali Minister of Interior and National Security Abdikarim Hussein Guled and Somaliland Foreign Minister Mohamed Bihi Yonis.

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Hamid Karzai on Monday said Afghanistan could hold transparent elections due on April 5 if foreign interference was not allowed in the process.

The president was addressing a meeting attended by Interior Ministry officials and police chiefs from all the 34 provinces at the Presidential Palace, his office said.

Karzai praised Afghan security forces for their sacrifices in the line of duty and defending the country and the people, a statement issued from his office said.