Elections loom despite Greek opposition’s efforts to form government
Greece's president Prokopis Pavlopoulos has asked the main opposition party on Friday to try and form a new government after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned and called on early elections next month. The move is aimed to deal with a governing party rebellion over Greece's third bailout deal. Tsipras is widely tipped to win the vote, though if he fails to secure an outright majority he will have to seek a new coalition that could hamper his ability to govern. Hardline lawmakers in Tsipras' radical left Syriza party announced on Friday they were splitting from the party and forming their own anti-austerity movement. "The step by Prime Minister Tsipras isn't surprising" considering he has lost his majority in parliament, said Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "What's important is that the bailout program, which the German Parliament and other European parliaments just voted on, is a bailout program that was agreed with the Hellenic republic. It sets the course for the next three years and nothing has changed on that," he added.
Barack Obama promises to keep pressure on Iran
President Barack Obama has promised Democratic lawmakers that the U.S. will continue to keep economic pressure and also keep military options open for Iran. In a letter addressed to New York Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler, Obama said, “If Iran rushes to build a nuclear weapon, all of the options available to the United States including the military options will remain available.” He further said that the US will uphold sanctions targeting Iran’s non-nuclear activities, such as its support for Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. He also emphasised US support for Israel, saying he views the country’s security as sacrosanct and added that he was committed to deepening missile defense funding and other military cooperation with Israel.
Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as prime minister of Sri Lanka
United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Friday sworn in as prime minister for the fourth time. President Maithripala Sirisena administered oath of office to Wickremesinghe at a brief ceremony attended by leaders of various parties including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. On the occasion, general secretaries of the UNP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Kabir Hashim and Duminda Dissanayake, signed an agreement to form a national government. Wickremesinghe has been a Member of Parliament since 1977 and became the prime minister for the first time in May 1993.
First Saudi women register for voting
According to news reports on Friday, Safinaz Abu al-Shamat and Jamal al-Saadi created history by becoming the first Saudi women to register for voting. For the first time in the kingdom's history, women will be able to vote, register as candidates and run for office in the municipal elections to be held on December 12. Voter registration begins on August 22, but started a week earlier in Mecca and Medina. The municipal council's limited responsibilities include approving annual budgets, suggesting planning regulations, and overseeing urban and development projects. An estimated 70 women are planning to register as candidates, and an additional 80 as campaign managers, according to local media. "I think there is the realisation from different groups, including the conservative groups, that what happened in the past, where their voice was the only representative in society, would no longer continue," Fawzia Abu Khalid, a political sociologist at King Saud University said.
China opens cargo train service from northwest city to Germany
A freight-train service between Hamburg, Germany, and Gansu Province in northwest China opened on Friday. The first train left Gansu's capital city Lanzhou at 10.50am on Friday. It will take 13 days to travel the 8,900 kilometers of track to Hamburg. The train is carrying machinery and electrical appliances, much of it manufactured in east China. On its return journey, it will carry advanced machinery made in Germany, according to Niu Xiangdong, vice mayor of Lanzhou. "This service will help Lanzhou establish a reputation as a hub for foreign trade, which will help develop the industry here," he added.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
Greece's president Prokopis Pavlopoulos has asked the main opposition party on Friday to try and form a new government after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned and called on early elections next month. The move is aimed to deal with a governing party rebellion over Greece's third bailout deal. Tsipras is widely tipped to win the vote, though if he fails to secure an outright majority he will have to seek a new coalition that could hamper his ability to govern. Hardline lawmakers in Tsipras' radical left Syriza party announced on Friday they were splitting from the party and forming their own anti-austerity movement. "The step by Prime Minister Tsipras isn't surprising" considering he has lost his majority in parliament, said Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "What's important is that the bailout program, which the German Parliament and other European parliaments just voted on, is a bailout program that was agreed with the Hellenic republic. It sets the course for the next three years and nothing has changed on that," he added.
Barack Obama promises to keep pressure on Iran
President Barack Obama has promised Democratic lawmakers that the U.S. will continue to keep economic pressure and also keep military options open for Iran. In a letter addressed to New York Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler, Obama said, “If Iran rushes to build a nuclear weapon, all of the options available to the United States including the military options will remain available.” He further said that the US will uphold sanctions targeting Iran’s non-nuclear activities, such as its support for Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. He also emphasised US support for Israel, saying he views the country’s security as sacrosanct and added that he was committed to deepening missile defense funding and other military cooperation with Israel.
Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as prime minister of Sri Lanka
United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Friday sworn in as prime minister for the fourth time. President Maithripala Sirisena administered oath of office to Wickremesinghe at a brief ceremony attended by leaders of various parties including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. On the occasion, general secretaries of the UNP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Kabir Hashim and Duminda Dissanayake, signed an agreement to form a national government. Wickremesinghe has been a Member of Parliament since 1977 and became the prime minister for the first time in May 1993.
First Saudi women register for voting
According to news reports on Friday, Safinaz Abu al-Shamat and Jamal al-Saadi created history by becoming the first Saudi women to register for voting. For the first time in the kingdom's history, women will be able to vote, register as candidates and run for office in the municipal elections to be held on December 12. Voter registration begins on August 22, but started a week earlier in Mecca and Medina. The municipal council's limited responsibilities include approving annual budgets, suggesting planning regulations, and overseeing urban and development projects. An estimated 70 women are planning to register as candidates, and an additional 80 as campaign managers, according to local media. "I think there is the realisation from different groups, including the conservative groups, that what happened in the past, where their voice was the only representative in society, would no longer continue," Fawzia Abu Khalid, a political sociologist at King Saud University said.
China opens cargo train service from northwest city to Germany
A freight-train service between Hamburg, Germany, and Gansu Province in northwest China opened on Friday. The first train left Gansu's capital city Lanzhou at 10.50am on Friday. It will take 13 days to travel the 8,900 kilometers of track to Hamburg. The train is carrying machinery and electrical appliances, much of it manufactured in east China. On its return journey, it will carry advanced machinery made in Germany, according to Niu Xiangdong, vice mayor of Lanzhou. "This service will help Lanzhou establish a reputation as a hub for foreign trade, which will help develop the industry here," he added.
