Thursday, September 28, 2017

#SAUDIARABIA: King Issues Ruling Allowing Women To Drive By Next Summer

[world politics news]


Saudi Arabia's King Salman has issued a decree allowing women to drive for the first time. Government ministries are to prepare reports within 30 days and the order will be implemented by June 2018. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world to forbid women from driving.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

#IRAQ: Kurdish Regional Leader Says Voters Said "Yes" In Independence Referendum

[world politics news]


Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani said on Tuesday that Kurds had voted "yes" to independence in a referendum held in defiance of the government in Baghdad and which had angered their neighbors and their U.S. allies. Only Israeli Prime Min. Benjamin Netanyahu offered public support for a "Yes" vote. The Kurds, who have ruled over an autonomous region within Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, consider Monday's referendum to be a historic step in a generations-old quest for a state of their own.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Monday, September 25, 2017

#GERMANY: Political Earthquake As Merkel Wins, But Anti-Immigrant Party Wins 3rd Slot With 13% Of Vote

[world politics news]


Sending a message to Chancellor Angela Merkel (who nonetheless won a fourth term in office) the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Sunday became the first openly anti-immigration party to enter parliament with so many seats since World War II, despite calls to stop the alleged "Nazi" Party. Exit polls showed the AfD with around 13% of the vote, making it the third biggest political force in Germany - a stunning result for a party that was founded just four years ago.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Saturday, September 23, 2017

#GERMANY: Traditional Parties Set To Lose Votes To Right-Leaning Parties

[world politics news]


A poll published by public broadcaster ZDF on Friday shows that both the major parties are likely to suffer major losses, while the small right-wing parties are on the rise.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Friday, September 22, 2017

#SPAIN: Gov"t Arrests 14 Catalan Leaders Promoting Secession

[world politics news]


The Spanish government had arrested 14 members of the Catalan government for promoting the October 1st independence referendum in the region. The arrests prompted mass demonstrations in Barcelona and elsewhere, both for and against the vote.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Thursday, September 21, 2017

#THEPHILIPPINES: Duterte Says He'll Have Son Killed If In Drug Trade

[world politics news]


Philippine Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has said he will have his son killed if drug trafficking allegations against the younger politician are true, and that the police who carry out the hit will be protected from prosecution.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

#MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi Addresses Human Rights Complaints Against Gov't

[world politics news]


Aung San Suu Kyi said she "feels deeply" for the suffering of "all people" caught up in conflict-torn Rakhine state in her first comments on the crisis since the latest violence began last month.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Monday, September 18, 2017

#IRAQ: Kurdish Lawmakers Move Ahead With Controversial Independence Referendum

[world politics news]


Iraqi Kurdish lawmakers have voted to move ahead with a controversial independence referendum. The vote comes amid international opposition and internal political disputes within Kurdish ranks.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Friday, September 15, 2017

#CHINA: Gov't May Set Timetable To End Production Of Internal Combustion Engines By 2040s

[world politics news]


China will set a deadline for automakers to end sales of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, becoming the biggest market to do so in a move that may accelerate the push into the electric car market. Xin Guobin, the vice minister of industry and information technology, said the government is working with other regulators on a timetable to end production and sales, mostly likely in the 2040s. The move will have a profound impact on the environment and growth of China’s auto industry, said Xin.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Thursday, September 14, 2017

#GHANA: Parliament Ready To Vote On Creation Of Special Prosecutor's Office

[world politics news]


A bill is being readied in Parliament to create an Office of the Special Prosecutor, which backers say will enable the government deal with issues of corruption, especially among state officials. Under the bill, an independent prosecutor will head the office and prosecute corruption offenses by state officers. It was one of the major promises made by Pres. Akufo-Addo as part of his plans to deal with corruption in government. One of the bill's few critics is former Attorney General Martin Amidu, who says a clause limits the number of crimes covered, and future presidents may interfere with the office. Backers say the bill is deliberately limited to prevent overreach.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

#SOUTHAFRICA: Bill Passes That Would Implement Demerits For Drivers Who Break Traffic Laws

[world politics news]


Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi is welcoming the passage of a bill which would ensure that a demerit points system for drivers will be implemented. The demerit points system docks points from the licences of drivers who break traffic rules. This will result in the cancellation of driving licences for repeat offenders. The bill will become law once it has been signed by President Jacob Zuma.


[FULL STORY HERE]

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

#UGANDA: Women's Rights Group Petitions Parliament To Approve Revised Marriage Bill

[world politics news]


Women activists under Women and Rural Development Network have kicked off a nationwide drive of gathering signatures to petition Parliament to discuss and pass into law the Marriage Bill 2017. A clause regarding cohabitation was removed from the bill after cultural and religious groups opposed it, says organizer Laureen Karayi Nabimanya.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: House Speaker Rebecca Kadaga

Monday, September 11, 2017

#CANADA: Ontario First Province To Set Rules For Legal Pot Sales: Thru Gov't Stores Only

[world politics news]


Ontario is the first province or territory in Canada to lay out its plans for how cannabis will be sold and regulated in response to federal legislation that will legalize recreational use by July 2018. According to details announced at a Friday press conference, the province will set the minimum age at 19, the same as alcohol. The federal Cannabis Act gives provinces the ability to set the age as low as 18, although some medical groups have argued for a higher minimum age due to the effects of cannabis use on brain development.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Thursday, September 07, 2017

#USA: House Approves Self-Driving Car Bill, Allowing Up To 100,000 Autonomous Vehicles On The Road

[world politics news]


The U.S. House has unanimously approved the SELF-DRIVE act which would, if approved by the Senate, make it possible for companies working on self-driving cars to field a lot more vehicles per year – as many as 100,000 autonomous test cars annually.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Wednesday, September 06, 2017

#NORTHERNIRELAND: Parties Believed To Be Close To Compromise On Restoring Assembly

[world politics news]



The government believes there are fresh hopes of reaching an agreement between the two main political parties in the North and restoring the power-sharing executive after months of deadlock. Despite public grandstanding by Sinn Fein after the Democratic Unionist Party's offer of an olive branch on the Irish language act last week, government sources say Gerry Adams's party is willing to reach a compromise.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster

#UK: Conservative Politician Gets Irish Passport To Protest #Brexit

[world politics news]


Conservative Charles Tannock, an MEP for London, has acquired an Irish passport in a protest over Brexit, saying "I am quite ashamed to be British in many ways." He told the Irish Times he was a "pretty angry pro-European Tory" and a "passionate remainer" who had applied and received his Irish passport after the EU referendum last year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Tuesday, September 05, 2017

#ISRAEL: Wife Of PM Netanyahu Set To Be Indicted On Expenses

[world politics news]


Sara Netanyahu is expected to be indicted, pending a hearing, on charges of fraudulently receiving items worth 400,000 shekels ($111,851), Haaretz has learned. Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit is expected to inform Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of the charges against her in a few weeks. Sara Netanyahu is suspected of ordering chef’s meals at the prime minister’s official residence, which is against regulations, and concealing the fact that she did so.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Monday, September 04, 2017

#INDIA: Cabinet Reshuffle Brings India Its Second Woman Defense Minister

[world politics news]



Nirmala Sitharaman, who just took oath as the new Cabinet member, has been given the Defense Ministry portfolio, becoming first dedicated woman defense minister of India and only the second woman to hold the crucial ministry after Indira Gandhi. Modi, in his third Cabinet reshuffle, swore in 13 new ministers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Saturday, September 02, 2017

#HUNGARY: PM Bills EU For Walk Construction

[world politics news]


Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, is set to send the EU a bill for €400 million, in order to help pay for the fence it built to keep illegal migrants out.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#KENYA: Supreme Court Nullifies September Presidential Elections

[world politics news]


Kenya's Supreme Court has annulled the result of last month's presidential election, citing irregularities, and ordered a new one within 60 days. The election commission had declared incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta the winner by a margin of 1.4 million votes. Raila Odinga, Kenyatta's opponent, said the commission was "rotten" and demanded resignations and prosecutions. President Kenyatta said he would respect the court's decision but also branded the judges "crooks".

[FULL STORY HERE]

Friday, September 01, 2017

#CANADA: Alberta MP Leaves Liberal Pty Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

[world politics news]


Calgary MP Darshan Kang is resigning from the Liberal caucus amid allegations that he repeatedly sexually harassed a young female staffer in his office.

[FULL STORY HERE]