French President Francois Holland was honoured at a lavish White House state dinner, confirming the partnership between the two long standing allies.
Ukraine government released all 234 protestors that were arrested since the protests began in December last year. However, the charges against them remain. These releases were marked to broker a truce between the government and the protestors. However, the truce did not last long, as fighting broke out between protestors and the police, in which 18 people, including 7 policemen were killed in Kiev, Ukraine.
Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez were hit by police during a protest against Nicolas Maduro’s government in Caracas. Consequently, Mr. Lopez, of the opposition Popular Will Party, was arrested on charges of inciting violence following a wave of anti-government protests.
The campaign for Afghanistan’s presidential election has been formally launched, with rallies for key candidates in the capital, Kabul. Security will be the main issue during and after the campaign.
The Khalida-Zia Bangladesh National Party (BNP) has put up a strong show in the country-wide local, sub-districts elections. BNP’s partner Jamat-e-Islami, which was deregistered by the court as its charter contravened the Constitution, claimed 12 upazila chairman posts. In some places local Jamat leaders won against both the Awami League and BNP candidates.
Egypt named Ibrahim Mahlab as new minister. Ibrahim Mahlab is a former member of the overthrown President Hosni Muburak’s political party. He is largely hailed by the media and the political class.
Ukrainian parliament has named speaker Olexhander Turchynov as interim president. Mr. Turchynov is a close associate of freed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenk.
Italy elected its youngest ever Prime Minister, Matteo Ranzi, to head the government. Renzi, 39, became the youngest head of government in post-World War II. Matteo Renzi hails from Florence, where he has been elected as the Mayor since June 2009.
The Maldivian Democratic Party of the former President Mohmed Nasheed has alleged that the Maldivian parliamentary elections could be postponed. According to Mr.Nasheed, the incumbent government is trying to pressure the country’s Election Commission to conduct elections in a manner that would significantly benefit the party. He also made an appeal to the international community, specifically India, to ensure free and fair elections in the country, and to save it from slipping into the hands of authoritarianism again.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has expanded his cabinet to include members from his Nepali Congress Party and key coalition partner the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists-Leninists.
The United Nations have come in favor of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade. The UN claims that Devyani Khobragade’s status as Special Advisor to UN entitled her to diplomatic immunity. Ms. Khobragade was strip searched and held with criminals after her arrest, triggering a diplomatic row between India and the U.S.
Politicians in Kampala, Uganda celebrated the passing of the anti-gay bill.
