#UK: MP Sentenced To Three Months In Prison Hopes To Remain In Parliament After Serving Time

[world politics news]

A member of parliament has been given a three-month jail sentence for lying to avoid a speeding ticket, and is expected to try to remain in office after her sentence is completed, despite calls to resign.

Fiona Onasanya, the MP for Peterborough and a former Labour Party whip, was sentenced on Tuesday for perverting the course of justice following a retrial. Onasanya, the first serving MP to be jailed in 28 years, is believed to be planning to serve as an MP once she leaves prison. She will continue to be paid while in prison.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: New Political Party Introduces Revolutionary "Direct Democracy" App

[world politics news]

The new Israeli political party Yashar has developed a first-of-its-kind mobile app to facilitate communication between party members and their Knesset representatives. Bills submitted to the Knesset will be loaded onto the app so that party members can decide whether to vote yea or nay. Yashar (which means "straight" in Hebrew) was founded by Eran Etzion, a former deputy national security adviser. It was registered in December as a party. A twitter post says the party offers "a real alternative, a democratic and cooperative mechanism that enables you to participate in decisions on a daily basis, in a way that prevents corruption."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: Loyalty Of The Kremlin To Venezuela May Last As Long As Debt Payments Continue; And They Might Not

[world politics news]

How seriously should the US take Russian determination to stand by Venezuelan strongman Maduro? Perhaps not very strongly. Their loyalty may last as long as they continue to make payments on Russian loans.

Reports are circulating that Russia expects Venezuela to make its next scheduled debt repayment to Moscow on schedule at the end of March. Venezuela has sunk into economic and political turmoil under Maduro, with inflation seen rising to 10 million percent this year, leading to food shortages, protests and mass emigration.

The opposition disputes the legitimacy of Maduro's re-election to a second term last year, and opposition leader Juan Guaido, 35, proclaimed himself interim president this month. The US, along with Canada and several neighboring Central and South American nations, have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader, while Russia has continued to back Maduro.

When asked if the new Venezuela may have trouble making payments on Russia's loans, Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak said  "There will probably be problems. Everything now depends on the army, on the soldiers and how faithful they will be to their duty and oath. It is difficult, impossible to give a different assessment."

For its part, the Russian Finance Ministry issued a separate statement saying it still expected the next payment to be made on time.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: PM May To Seek Changes To Brexit Withdrawal Agreement With EU After Her Plan Hits The Wall In Parliament

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May will seek to re-open and make changes to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union, after running up against a brick wall in Parliament. Specifically, she will seek changes to the "backstop" between the UK's Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland that don't violate the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which allows for free passage between the two regions agreed to by the UK and Ireland ending years of conflict. Ireland would remain in the EU after Brexit, causing a "hard border" and restricted movement, unless other arrangements are made.

That is the feeling of Parliament, which on Tuesday backed an amendment from Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady, which supports the PM's deal on condition that "alternative arrangements" are found to replace the Northern Ireland backstop. The vote was 317 to 301. May on Tuesday insisted she "listened" to Parliament and is seeking to alter the now-defeated deal, to which the EU had already approved.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRELAND: Fianna Fáil And Northern Ireland's Social Democratic and Labour Party Announce "Partnership"

[world politics news]

Ireland's Fianna Fáil Party and Northern Ireland's Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) have announced a "policy partnership" that stops just short of a full merger between the cross-border parties.

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood says there will be a program of public engagement and common policy proposals put forward on economic development, Irish unity, Brexit, education, health, and housing. The SDLP party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom. The two parties won't be putting forward joint candidates in May’s local elections in Northern Ireland.

Pictured: Colum Eastwood of the SDLP and Micheal Martin of Fianna Fáil

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Gov't & Opposition Criticize Labor Minister; False Stats Caused 20 Million To Be Underpaid Benefits

[world politics news]

Ruling and opposition lawmakers joined forces to criticize the labor ministry for releasing faulty jobs data for more than a decade in the first Diet discussions held on the issue since the scandal broke in December.

Labor Minister Takumi Nemoto apologized for the debacle, which led to more than 20 million people being underpaid on work-related benefits and cast doubt on the accuracy of government statistics.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THAILAND: Parties Launch Campaigns After Announcement Of March 24th Election Date

[world politics news]

Thai parties began to announce their candidates this past week and to roam the nation unveiling policies and platforms after an election date of March 24th was announced this week. The royal decree calling the general election was published last Wednesday, giving the green light to start campaigning on the same day.

Pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party leader Uttama Savanayana says the party is likely to approach Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to be its prime ministerial candidate. Party Leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit of the upstart Future Forward Party says it will field candidates in all 350 election districts and would champion "low-income earners who have never seen real change."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SPAIN: Conservatives Take Control Of Andalusia, Formerly A Solid Bastion Of Socialism

[world politics news]

With the backing of the right-leaning Vox Party and center-right Ciudadanos Party, the candidate of Spain's mainstream conservative Popular Party, Juan Manuel Moreno, was invested as the head of the regional government in Andalusia, a former Socialist bastion.The Socialists had ruled Andalusia in the country's deep south for 36 years before last month's regional elections tipped the balance rightwards. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TAIWAN: Gov't Condemns Chinese "Bullying" Of Companies To Use "Taiwan, China" On Promo Materials And Websites

[world politics news]

Taiwan's government has condemned a proposal by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences that 66 foreign companies who have failed to label Taiwan as part of China's territory on their websites should be punished, saying the move demonstrates Beijing's "evil intent" to downgrade the nation's sovereignty. China considers Taiwan as part of China, despite decades of separation following the rise of Communism on the mainland.

In its 2018 annul report, the research institute in China noted that 66 of the world's top 500 companies in 2017 list Taiwan as "Taiwan" instead of "Taiwan, China." Companies the institute suggested be punished include Apple, Nike, and Amazon.  Taiwan's foreign ministry called the threat "bullying," and an effort to "blatantly interfere with private-sector commercial activities and international business operations with political means" to suppress Taiwan's status in the world community.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Former UKIP Party Leader Farage Plots Return To Politics If Brexit Exit Date Of March 29 Is Missed

[world politics news]

Nigel Farage is making a comeback to politics - as head of a new Brexit Party. The former UK Independence Party leader has decided to end months in the ­wilderness to fight against what he and many believe to be a "betrayal" of the 2016 referendum that was supposed to take the UK out of the European Union. Organizers will also fight the European elections in May if the PM decides to extend Article 50 and keep Britain in the EU after the departure date of March 29.  Farage predicts the party will be a rallying point for 17.4 million disaffected Brexit voters - and could cause devastation to the Conservative and Labour Parties.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: Populist Leaders Attack Merkel And Macron's French-German Treaty As A Surrender Of Sovereignty

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Populist leaders in Germany and France are attacking the Treaty of Aachen signed yesterday as a surrender of sovereignty for both nations. The treaty, which will "twin" their two economies, militaries and even political systems was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Both hailed the treaty as a reaffirmation of the European Union, but some see in it a reassertion of Germany and France as the major superpowers within the EU. According to Merkel, the agreement is a step towards a common European army, which sets off alarm bells for many. It also appears to be a virtual economic, social and political merger of the two nations.

The treaty represents nothing short of "high treason,"  said French Euroskeptic Member of European Parliament Bernard Monot. Macron’s true aim is to deliver "Alsace and Lothringen, Judas-like, to the foreign power," said Monot. The leader of France’s National Rally, Marine Le Pen, accused Macron of "an act that borders on treason." She said the treaty opens the door to forcing children in France's border regions to speak German at school.

Alternative for Germany Party leader Alexander Gauland said Merkel and Macron are trying to create "A Super-EU" within the European Union. "We populists insist that both take care of their own country first."

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE AND HERE]

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

#SPAIN: Far-Left Podemos Party Faces Top-Level Power Struggle; Co-Founder Quits Parliament

[world politics news]

A rift at the top of Spain's far-left Podemos threatens to further erode the influence of the party that once terrorized the establishment. Leader Pablo Iglesias and co-founder Íñigo Errejon spent Podemos' fifth birthday earlier this month engaged in a power struggle, leading to Errejon giving up his seat in parliament Monday, The party - a key ally of the ruling Socialist Party - has descended into disarray before May's national election.

Pictured: Podemos Leader Pablo Iglesias, right, and co-founder Íñigo Errejón

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Chief EU Negotiator Verhofstadt Says UK Will Eventually Return To EU "Where It Belongs" After Brexit

[world politics news]

The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt has sparked outrage after saying that Brexit may only be temporary and said, "I have no doubt that one day a young politician will lead the UK back into the EU, where it belongs." He said he believes Britain’s departure from the bloc will have a "negative" affect on business, young people and EU citizens. The Belgian politician has been a member of the EU's parliament since 2009.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: Mayor Of Village Who Welcomed Illegal Immigrants Says Human Traffickers Are Also "Victims"

[world politics news]

The mayor of an Italian village known for openly welcoming illegal immigrants has sparked outrage by calling those who traffic in migrants "victims."

Domenico Lucano, mayor of Riace, said, "To alleviate the shameful media of its serious responsibilities, the Italian government said that the responsibility lies with the traffickers, but I say that they, too, are victims." His comment comes after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that he wants to stop the smuggling of immigrants at all costs by directly hitting those who work to make this flow possible: the traffickers of migrants.

This week, a judge said he cannot reside in his home town while he awaits trial. In October 2018, Italian police put Lucano under house arrest for allegedly helping illegal migrants to stay in the country by organizing "marriages of convenience." He has been suspended from office, as well.

[FULL STORY HERE, HERE AND HERE]

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

#CHINA: Solar Power Loses Gov't Subsidies, Must Compete With Coal On Price From Now On

[world politics news]

China will only approve new solar and wind power capacity if it matches the country’s coal benchmark on price. The requirement for price matching with coal is part of a new set of conditions drafted by China’s National Development and Reform Commission, which will be in effect until 2020 in a bid to handle all the problems resulting from the fast growth in solar and wind capacity installation in recent years, such as energy waste because of grid logjams.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THENETHERLANDS: Dutch "Yellow Vest" Protesters Vowing To Weed Out The Politicians Among Them

[world politics news]

"Yellow Vest" protesters in the Netherlands say they are taking action to exclude "political infiltrators" from joining their marches and protests, in an attempt to be more "apolitical."  The movement's spokesman in Luxembourg Province, Zoran Starcevic, said, "If politicians want to come into our group, let them say so publicly, but not by infiltrating it with little parliamentarians or little aldermen."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Boris Johnson Kicks Off Campaign To Kick Out PM May And Leave EU With A "No Deal" Brexit

[world politics news]

Former British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson ripped into Theresa May yesterday as he kick starts his leadership bid to become Prime Minister. The "No Deal" Brexiteer used a barnstorming speech this morning to rally the country in favor of leaving with a clean break following Theresa May's plan for Brexit going down to overwhelming defeat in parliament earlier this week. Johnson attacked May's agreement for bending to Brussels' rules and tying the UK to the European Union by the "apron strings."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDONESIA: President Seeks Islamist Votes; Meanwhile, Attacks On Christian Burial Sites Rise

[world politics news]

Police are investigating the desecration of 11 Christian tombs that were desecrated at a public cemetery in Giriloyo, in a perceived attack against Christians. The graveyard had wooden crosses removed from burial stones, and burial stones were smashed with a hammer, destroying parts of the burial site.

This is one of several incidents signaling deeper divisions between Indonesian Christians and the country's President, Joko Widodo, who is running for re-election next April against Islamist political parties who have accused him of not being a “good Muslim.” Fears of a worldwide crackdown against Christianity are rising.

 [FULL STORY HERE]

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

#QATAR: New Law Seeks To Draw In Foreign Investment, Diversify Economy; Limits Foreign Ownership To 49% In Ventures

[world politics news]

The new year brought a new law in the Gulf state of Qatar regulating investment of non-Qatari capital invested in the emirate. The law seeks to promote economic development, attract foreign investment in all economic activities, and lure 100% foreign capital inflows, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release.

The law also aims to accomplish economic diversification in the oil-rich nation in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, as well as facilitating foreign investors’ access to the market and bolstering the country’s confidence and investment security index.

The law allows non-Qatari investors to own a percentage not exceeding 49% of the share capital of listed companies, provided that the ministry approves the proposed percentage. A non-Qatari investor may also hold a higher percentage after the approval of the Council of Ministers

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Ethnically Chinese Candidate Drops Out Of Special Election After Singling Out Indian Opponent's Race

[world politics news]

Liberal Party candidate Karen Wang has pulled out of a special election race in Burnaby South, a riding southeast of Vancouver, British Columbia, after it was revealed she used her ethnicity to try to win voters. Wang, a daycare operator, sparked controversy after posting a message on the social messaging app WeChat that urged voters to support her as the only candidate of Chinese origin and singled out NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who is also running in the riding election next month, as being "of Indian origin."

On Wednesday, she asked her party to reconsider her resignation, saying she's "not a racist," but party leaders reportedly refused.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GREECE: PM Tsipras Narrowly Wins Confidence Vote Following Minister's Resignation Over North Macedonia Renaming

[world politics news]

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday won a confidence vote in parliament, just days after the country's governing coalition collapsed. Tsipras received the minimum 151 votes he needed from the parliament for his government to survive. The vote came after a key minister in the Greek government quit last week over the Macedonia name dispute. Macedonia, the nation to the north, renamed itself last week "North Macedonia" to placate the Greek region of Macedonia, which lies to the nation's south. Prime Minister Tsipras said he would put the ratification of the Macedonia name-change agreement on the agenda.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HAITI: Accused Death Squad Leader And Elected Senator Denied New Trial In Miami

[world politics news]

Guy Philippe, a convicted money launderer and an elected Haitian senator, has lost another bid for freedom in a Miami federal court. A federal judge last week dismissed Philippe’s appeal for a new trial, concluding his claims that his defense attorneys were "ineffective" and “working for both sides" weren’t credible.

Philippe - who was also at various times a law student, a police commander, a coup leader accused of leading death squads - pled guilty to a money laundering conspiracy in April 2017 and was sentenced to nine years in prison. The original indictment accused him and others in the Haiti National Police of accepting bribes from cocaine traffickers in exchange for protecting their shipments from Colombia to Haiti to the United States. Haitian lawmakers passed a resolution condemning his arrest, which remains controversial, since he had been elected to the senate, but had not yet been sworn in.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: Putin's United Russia Party Adopts New Ethics Rules; Requires Public Response To Accusations

[world politics news]

The United Russia Party has adopted a new set of ethic rules for its members, requiring them to publicly respond to accusations of wrongdoing and immediately resign from the party if the allegations are proven to be true. While "most of the party’s members already stick to rules of ethics," Duma deputy Andrey Krasov said, the set of rules targets certain individuals who, "might tarnish the image of the whole United Russia party with their actions and statements."

The pro-Putin party is the largest party in Russia and as of 2018 it holds 335 (or 74.44%) of the 450 seats in the State Duma, the national legislature. The party's chairman is former President and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BREAKING #UK: Theresa May's Brexit Plan Soundly Rejected In "Devastating" House Of Commons Vote

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal has been rejected by 230 votes - the largest defeat for a sitting government in history. Parliamentarians voted by 432 to 202 to reject the deal, which sets out the terms of Britain's exit from the EU on March 29.

In response, May called a vote of "no confidence" in her government, preempting Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who also tabled a vote, which could trigger a general election. The confidence vote is expected to be held at about 7 pm London time on Wednesday. The defeat is a devastating blow for May, who has spent more than two years hammering out a deal with the EU. It is unclear whether she will stay on as prime minister after the defeat.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TAIWAN: Because Of Surplus, Pres Announces Increases In Monthly/Hourly Minimum Wages And Exception From Income Taxes

[world politics news]

Pres. Tsai Ing-Wen has announced increases in the minimum monthly and hourly wages and said that those who earn monthly salaries of NT$30,000 (US$975) per month will be exempt from paying personal income taxes this May.

She also said that because of the strong economic growth over the past two years, the government has accrued a surplus in tax revenues and indicated that her administration is looking into ways of "making low-income citizens a priority in enjoying the benefits of economic growth."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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