Russia’s lower house of parliament has approved Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister after he was nominated by newly inaugurated President Vladimir Putin. Lawmakers voted to confirm Mr. Medvedev 299 to 144. He has swapped jobs with Mr. Putin, who, until his inauguration Monday, was prime minister for four years. The job swap has angered many […]
Russian Duma Confirms Medvedev as PM
Posted May 8th, 2012 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
Russia’s lower house of parliament has approved Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister, after he was nominated by newly inaugurated President Vladimir Putin. Lawmakers in the State Duma approved Mr. Medvedev with a vote of 299 to 144, sealing a job swap with Mr. Putin, who until his inauguration Monday had served as prime minister for […]
Putin Asks Russian Duma to Confirm Medvedev as PM
Posted May 8th, 2012 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, to approve Dmitry Medvedev for the post of prime minister. President Putin submitted Mr. Medvedev’s candidacy after the presidential inauguration on Monday. Although the Communist Party, the second largest in the lower house, said it would oppose the nomination, Mr. Putin’s […]
Israel’s Early Elections Postponed: Media Reports
Posted May 7th, 2012 at 10:25 pm (UTC-5)
Israeli media reports say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has struck a surprise deal with the opposition Kadima party to form a unity government, effectively canceling an early election. The reports said that Israel’s parliament announced it would not hold a final vote on whether to break up. The decision came after hours of debate that […]
Israeli PM Calls for Early Parliamentary Polls
Posted May 6th, 2012 at 6:25 pm (UTC-5)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the dissolution of his coalition government and early parliamentary elections in September, more than a year ahead of the next national vote scheduled for October 2013. Mr. Netanyahu told his Likud party members Sunday he did not want a year-and-a-half of instability that harms security, the economy […]
Bahrain Ratifies Changes to Constitution; Opposition Unimpressed
Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 3:50 pm (UTC-5)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Thursday approved changes to the country’s constitution aimed at ending a nearly 15-months-old popular revolt in the Gulf state. The amendments include giving parliament more powers to question and remove government ministers. During a ceremony in Manama, King Hamad said that “the door of dialogue is open […]
Nepal PM Plans New Unity Government
Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 4:45 am (UTC-5)
A spokesman says Nepal’s prime minister will dissolve his Cabinet and form a unity government in a bid to break years of deadlock in crafting the country’s new constitution. Ram Rijan Yadav, an aide to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, said Thursday final details were still being decided, but that the new government would include the […]
Gingrich Suspends US Presidential Campaign
Posted May 2nd, 2012 at 4:50 pm (UTC-5)
Former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich has officially suspended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, after winning just two state primaries and amassing more than $4.3 million in campaign debt. Gingrich made his announcement Wednesday outside Washington, telling supporters this has been “an amazing year” for him, his wife Callista and family. Gingrich also […]
Russian President Signs Election Reform Law
Posted May 2nd, 2012 at 12:15 pm (UTC-5)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed into law a bill restoring the direct election of regional governors, part of a series of political reforms promised after mass protests following disputed parliamentary elections in December. Under the law signed Wednesday, Russian citizens will be able to elect their own regional governors independently, a practice Russia abolished […]
Gingrich Set to Officially End US Presidential Bid
Posted May 2nd, 2012 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
Former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich is due to officially suspend his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, after winning just two state primaries and amassing more than $4 million in campaign debt. Gingrich thanked his supporters in a video message ahead of Wednesday’s announcement, but did not mention presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney. He […]
