Politics

Political news headlines, in-depth politics coverage and political opinion, plus breaking news on Egypt, Africa, MENA region, and world affairs.
Latest Politics News
United Nations Human Rights envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana talks to journalists during a press conference at the Yangon international airport on 4 August AFP PHOTO / YE AUNG THU
Asia

Myanmar press freedom protests

The censorship that dominated during Burma’s long history of military rule still…

Basil El-Dabh
Basil El-Dabh
Onlookers gather at the scene of a suicide bombing in the restive southern province of Abyan on 5 August. The suicide attack blamed on Al-Qaeda in Jaar, one of a string of towns in Abyan province that were retaken by government troops in June after being held by Al-Qaeda loyalists for more than a year, killed 45 people, local officials said, as residents voiced fears that a lack of security personnel on the ground will allow the jihadists to return AFP PHOTO / STR
attack

Bomb blast underlines fragile security in Yemen

This latest bombing in Yemen highlights the fragile state of Yemen’s security

Luiz Sanchez
Luiz Sanchez
Patient receives treatment in the El-Mounira hospital (Hassan Ibrahim)
cairo

Hospital security continues to crumble

Doctors unable to treat patients at public hospitals for fear of safety

Connor Molloy
Connor Molloy
An Egyptian Copt monk burns incense prior to the Coptic Easter celebration mass (File photo) AFP PHOTO / CRIS BOURONCLE
cabinet

Coptic leaders criticise new cabinet

“This cabinet is unjust for Copts" said Bishop Pachomious

Basil El-Dabh
Basil El-Dabh
Lebanese farmers harvests cannabis plants at a place somewhere in the Bekaa Valley (File photo) AFP PHOTO / Ramzi Haidar
Agriculture

Bekaa Valley ablaze with protests

Towards the end of July resistance grew violent as farmers took up…

Ahmed Khalifa
Ahmed Khalifa
An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube on 5 August 2012 allegedly shows footage of Iranians (background) kidnapped in Damascus, in which a rebel fighter alleges the hostages are elite Revolutionary Guards
Assad

Effects of Syrian uprising ripple throughout region

The Syrian uprising is causing a ripple of effects felt across the…

Rana Muhammad Taha
Rana Muhammad Taha
President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed meeting traditional elders and leaders of Balad, Middle Shabelle regionAFP PHOTO / AU-UN IST/ STUART PRICE
africa

Somalia seals Arab world’s newest constitution

Somalia's Constituent Assembly overwhelmingly approves draft

Connor Molloy
Connor Molloy
A screengrab from a youtube clip shows the Estelle, a ship voyaging to break the Gaza blockade from Sweden
activism

International flotilla sets sail to break Gaza blockade

Swedish based organisation begins voyage hoping to raise awareness for plight of…

Hend Kortam
Hend Kortam
Bahraini policemen arrest protestors during an anti-government demonstration in the village of Bani Jamrah, West of Manama, on August 2, 2012. AFP PHOTO/MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH
bahrain

US praises Bahrain for report, as clampdowns continue

Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry Report: the country is more stable, despite…

Moustafa Ayad
Moustafa Ayad
A handout image made available by the Egyptian presidency on August 2, 2012, shows Egyptian President Mohammed Morsy (8th L) following the swearing in ceremony of the new Egyptian cabinet at the presidential palace in Cairo (photo: AFP PHOTO/EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY)
cabinet

Qandil cabinet is more Islamist than it appears

In addition to the five Muslim Brotherhood ministers, the cabinet also includes…

Ahmed Aboulenein
Ahmed Aboulenein