#JORDAN: Senate Pres. Fayez Rejects Idea Of Parliament Appointing Civil Servants

[world politics news]

Senate President Faisal Fayez on Sunday affirmed his “absolute” rejection of giving the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament the authority to appoint employees outside the scope of the Civil Service Bureau.

Fayez said that enhancing the values ​​of transparency, fairness, integrity and competitiveness on a government level requires giving the CSB the responsibility of appointing people to positions in the various ministries and governmental institutions according to “clear and transparent standards”.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SPAIN: Negotiations Nearly Complete To Re-Install Socialist PM Sanchez

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A deal between the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) that would pave the way for caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to be voted back into office by Congress in early January nearly done.

The PSOE won the repeat general election in November, but as at the April polls fell well short of a majority.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ISRAEL: Prime Minister Netanyahu Wins Landslide Victory In Primary Challenge

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday scored a landslide victory in a primary race for leadership of the ruling Likud party, giving the embattled leader an important boost ahead of the country’s third election in less than a year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#MONTENEGRO: New Law Would Force Churches To Prove Ownership Of Pre-World War One Properties

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The Montenegrin parliament passed the controversial Freedom of Religious Law amid chaotic scenes on Friday, despite fierce objections from the Serbian Orthodox Church, its supporters and pro-Serbian opposition parties.

Under the law, religious communities will have to provide clear evidence of their Pre-World War I ownership in order to retain their properties, a provision that the Serbian Church says is designed to allow the government to strip it of its holdings, since surviving documentation from that era is nearly non-existent.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Gov't Plans National Drone Registry Amid Rise In Incidents

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The Japanese government plans to introduce a drone registry system amid a rise in drone-related incidents. A decision on the plan was made at a meeting of senior officials from the transport ministry, the police and other government agencies.

The small, unmanned flying object is becoming more widespread in Japan. The decision comes amid growing concerns that drones could be used in terrorism. Officials also hope that such a system would help reduce drone-related incidents.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAQ: Parliament Approves Election Reforms After Protests

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Iraq's parliament has approved a new electoral law aimed at giving political independents a better chance of winning seats, a key demand of protesters to make elections fairer.

The new law redraws each of the country's 18 provinces into several electoral districts, with one legislator elected per 100,000 people.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#NIGERIA: Lawmakers Seek To Place Presiding Members On National Security Council

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A bill seeking to include presiding officers of the National Assembly in composition of the National Security Council (NSC) has passed the second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.

The Council advises the president on matters relating to public security, including matters relating to any organisation or agency established by law to ensure the security of the federation. Lawmakers say presiding members of the legislature should be included on the NSC to help give them more information about security matters in the nation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Parliament Allows Teachers More Extended Holidays

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Parliament has introduce a new working-hour system that will enable public school teachers to take extended holidays, as part of work style reforms.

The system is designed to enable teachers to take some five consecutive days off and add other days, such as Saturdays and Sundays, during school breaks in the summer so that they can have a longer holiday, in exchange for increasing regular work hours in busy periods.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CROATIA: Pres. Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic To Face Runoff

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Croatia's tight presidential race will go to a runoff vote in two weeks, after exit polls and initial returns indicated that none of the 11 candidates had won the office outright.

Left-wing politician Zoran Milanovic led the first round of voting with nearly 30% support. President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic had almost 27%, followed by nationalist singer Miroslav Skoro in third place with around 24%.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: New Budget Features Record Spending, Closer To 2% NATO Goal Urged By Trump

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The German parliament has passed a record budget for 2020, including defense spending that will bring it closer to the NATO 2% goal - something urged by US Pres, Donald Trump.  Next year's defense budget is expected to put Germany at 1.42%. The new budget also includes the first measures in the government's "climate package."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Parliament Votes To Leave The EU On January 31st

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By a majority of 124, Britain's parliament has voted to leave the European Union on January 31st. The vote comes after an election largely on the issue of Brexit, held up for three years by a deeply divide parliament after the 2016 referendum.  Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was now "one step closer to getting Brexit done."

With a strong Conservative majority committed to implementing the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the EU this fall, the measure had little trouble passing this parliament. The UK Labour Party suffered its worst defeat in over 70 years in the Dec. 12th election, after months of delaying tactics and a muddled message on how to proceed with the issue of Brexit.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#LEBANON: Hezbollah-Backed Former Education Minister Tapped As New PM

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Lebanese President Michel Aoun has asked former Education Minister Hassan Diab to form the country's next government as its prime minister after the Hezbollah Party and its allies nominated him during long-awaited talks with members of parliament.

Lebanon has had a caretaker government since October 29, when Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned amid a mass uprising against the ruling elite.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BRAZIL: Lawmaker, Son Of Pres. Bolsonaro, Assures Israel Embassy Will Move To Jerusalem

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Brazilian lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of president Jair Bolsonaro, told lawmakers in Israel that a move of its country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a matter of "when, not if" and signaled other pro-Israel moves to come, including declaring Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

He made the comments on a trip to Israel to open a trade office in Jerusalem, a move other nations have made rather than (or in anticipation of) moving their full embassies there. He said Brazil's trade office signaled a move of its embassy to Jerusalem within a year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Nation's Economy Is "Sound And Growing," Says Finance Minister

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Despite a global manufacturing slump and rising world trade tensions, Canada's economy is "sound and growing" at a solid pace, according to an economic update delivered by Finance Minister Bill Morneau.

The optimistic update points to low unemployment, growing wages and solid business profits as signs the national economy remains strong despite international challenges. His update offered no new plans to reduce the growing national deficit.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SCOTLAND: SNP Leader Says Scotland Won't Be "Imprisoned" Within UK

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Scottish National Party Leader Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland cannot be “imprisoned in the UK against its will” and warned that Boris Johnson’s continued refusal to grant her the powers to hold a second referendum can only increase support for Scottish independence.

In the December 12th UK election, the SNP, campaigning on the promise of a second independence referendum, increased its share of the vote to 45% in Scotland, winning a greater proportion of the votes there than the Conservatives did across the UK, and also increased its number of MPs at Westminster to 47.

In contrast, the Conservatives – whose campaign in Scotland was focused on opposition to a second independence referendum – lost more than half their Scottish MPs, dropping from 13 to six.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Former Justice Minister Questioned About Halting Malfeasance Investigation

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Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk appeared at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning Monday.

While in charge of the Blue House# civil affairs and justice office, Cho is accused of wrongly suspending an internal investigation of former Busan Vice Mayor Yoo Jae-soo in 2017, then a senior official at the Financial Services Commission. In detention, Yoo was indicted Friday. Cho denies any wrongdoing.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#PAPUANEWGUINEA: Bougainville Votes For Independence In Referendum

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The South Pacific region of Bougainville voted overwhelmingly to become the world’s newest nation by gaining independence from Papua New Guinea.

More than 98% of valid ballots favored independence. The other option in the vote was greater autonomy from Papua New Guinea.

The referendum is nonbinding, and independence will need to be negotiated between leaders from Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. The final say would then go to lawmakers in the Papua New Guinea Parliament. The process of becoming a separate nation could take years to achieve.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Andrew Scheer Stepping Down As Conservative Party Leader

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Andrew Scheer is stepping down as the Leader of the Conservative Party. He has told his caucus in parliament that he will step down when a new leader is chosen.

The resignation comes as a surprise, as Scheer has repeatedly said he would stay on - despite the disappointing loss in October's federal election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: PM Boris Johnson And His Conservatives Win Huge Electoral Victory

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to deliver Brexit and repay the trust of voters after he led the Conservatives to an historic general election win and yesterday's UK election.

The prime minister - who has met the Queen to ask to form a new government - has a House of Commons majority of 78, with one seat still to declare. His party has won 365 of 650 seats in parliament, with Labour holding only 203, a devastating loss of 59 seats.

He said he would work "flat out" and lead a "people's government," and said that he was grateful for all the Labour Party voters who crossed the aisle to vote for him and the Conservatives.

Jeremy Corbyn said he would not fight another election as Labour's Party Leader, amid recriminations over the party's defeat.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Britain Goes To The Polls To Elect A Parliament; Will Determine Future Of Brexit

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Millions of Britons go to the polls today to elect a new parliament. At stake is the future of Brexit, the exit of the UK from the European Union, supported by the Conservative and Brexit parties and oppose by the Liberal Democrats and many in the Labour Party, who would call for a second referendum to put the question before voters a again.

The Conservatives lost their majority in the General Election on June 8, 2017 - and now Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be hoping to restore his party's dominance against Jeremy Corbyn's Labour. In the past two years, the Conservatives have been hampered by opposition parties in bringing Brexit to a conclusion, despite over 17 million people voting for it in 2016.

The Labour Party has trailed in most polls, with Leader Jeremy Corbyn facing low personal approval ratings. But the upstart Brexit Party could split the pro-Brexit vote and hand Labour some victories today.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#INDIA: Cabinet Approves Restrictions On Muslim Immigration

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Thehe Union Cabinet has signed off on a legislation that stands to give citizenship to certain religious minorities who fled from neighboring countries before 2015, but does not include Muslims.

The 1955 citizenship act's naturalisation clause currently allows resident immigrants to get citizenship if they have lived in the country for more than 11 years - along with other terms and conditions.

The bill, if passed, would change a key part in the category for illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan - Muslim-majority states that were once part of the undivided India.

The residency requirement would also be reduced from 11 years to 6 years, for Hindusddhists, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and Parsis fleeing persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but not for Muslims.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Gov't Will Tax Cryptocurrency Capital Gains From 2020

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The South Korean government is preparing legal tools to tax capital gains from the sale of crypto assets. Specialized legislation to target digital asset deals is expected to arrive from the tax season for 2020.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#FINLAND: Transportation Minister, 34, To Be Nation's Youngest Ever PM

[world politics news]

Sanna Marin, Finland’s 34-year-old transportation minister, has been selected as the country’s prime minister, making her the youngest leader to ever hold the job, and the world’s youngest sitting PM. M

She will be taking over from Antii Rinne, who resigned from the position last week after just six months on the job, following controversy over his handling of a postal strike.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHAFRICA: Citing Nigerian Author's TED Talk, High Court Says Child Abuse Victims Cannot Be Named While Minors

[world politics news]

Child offenders, child victims and child witnesses may not be named - even in adulthood, the Constitutional Court has ruled.

To sum up their majority ruling, the judges quoted Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who during a TED talk in 2009 said: “Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanise. Stories can break the dignity of people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.”

The case was between the Center for Child Law and some of South Africa’s biggest media houses — Media24 and Independent — on if and when child offenders, child victims and child witnesses, can be publicly identified. The mass media houses argued that the prohibition violated freedom of speech and open justice principles.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#RUSSIA: Parliament Votes To Allow Bloggers, Journalists, To Be Labeled "Foreign Agents"

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The lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, has overwhelmingly passed legislation that would allow the government to label journalists, bloggers, and social media users as foreign agents.

The bill, which still needs approval from the Federation Council, the upper chamber, and President Vladimir Putin’s signature to become law, expands on existing “foreign agent” measures already targeting select foreign media and Russian Non-Governmental Organizations..

The laws have been criticized by human rights groups as highly restrictive but lauded by Kremlin loyalists as essential to protect Russian sovereignty.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.