By Geneive Abdo
Iran Analyst, The Century Foundation

In Iran’s dynamic political landscape, few issues unite conservative and reformist leaders, and even fewer topics inspire broad-based public enthusiasm. But Iran’s nuclear program has proven to unify a country that is habitually – some might say, congenitally – divided.

By Kaveh-Cyrus Sanandaji
Middle East Center, St. Antony's College, University of Oxford

PML-N Vice President Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah has called for quotas for tickets for general election for women in national/provincial elections in addition to seats already reserved for women. 

• “There are no restrictions and no law on the nomination and assessment of women candidates.”
  – Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaye, Guardian Council spokesman, quoted by Mehr News Agency, April 11

Stigma, misinformation and denial have impeded efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic that afflicts more than 20 percent of the population in some countries in Southern Africa. With powers to oversee spending, pass laws and influence government priorities on behalf of citizens, members of parliaments are well placed to make an impact.

But a survey by NDI and the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) found that legislators were “not taking full advantage of their constitutionally mandated powers to address the HIV/AIDS crisis.”