#CANADA: Russians Accused Of Smearing Foreign Minister; Grandfather Edited Pro-Nazi Paper In Poland DuringWWII

[world politics news]

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland knew for more than two decades that her maternal Ukrainian grandfather was the chief editor of a Nazi newspaper in occupied Poland that vilified Jews during the Second World War.

Freeland's family history has become a target for Russian forces seeking to discredit one of Canada's most vigorous defenders of Ukraine.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: "Stand Your Ground" Style Legislation Gets Final Senate Approval

[world politics news]

The Italian Senate has given final approval to the government's bill expanding the right to self defense, modeled on American "stand your ground" laws.

It was approved by the Upper House on its third reading with 201 votes in favor, 38 against and six abstentions.

Lawmakers from the parties supporting Premier Giuseppe Conte's government, the League and the 5-Star Movement, supported the bill, which expands the right to self-defense from intruders, was crafted by Interior Minister and League Party Leader Matteo Salvini.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Parliament Rejects PM May's Withdrawal Agreement On Day Of Brexit

[world politics news]

The UK's parliament has rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s European Union's withdrawal agreement on the day the UK was due to leave the EU.

The government lost by 344 votes to 286, a margin of 58.

It means the UK has missed an EU deadline to delay Brexit to 22 May and leave with a deal.

The prime minister said the UK would have to find "an alternative way forward", which was "almost certain" to involve holding European elections.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Gov't Cutting Value-Added Taxes In April; Tax Cuts Seek To Spur Economic Growth

[world politics news]

Starting next month, China's massive reduction of value-added tax will take effect, with manufacturing sector VAT dropping by 3% from the current 16%, to lower burdens on enterprises and boost the economy.

The move was first announced by Premier Li Keqiang in his Government Work Report to National People's Congress deputies when the annual session of the top legislature kicked off on March 5. It is expected to cut 2 trillion yuan (US$297 billion) in taxes for more than 30 million enterprises in China.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CZECHIA: Pres.Zeman Says Turkey Is An "Ally" Of The ISIS Terror Group

[world politics news]

President Milos Zeman has called Turkey an ally of Islamic State.

Czech Television reports that President Zeman called Turkey a de facto ally of the terror organisation, the Islamic State.

He alleged that Turkey had supported the Islamic State by selling its oil and providing logistical support when the group controlled parts of Syria and Iraq.

He added that Turkey was no longer the secular state founded by Kemal Ataturk, having aligned itself with radical Islam under Pres. Recep Erdogan.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRELAND: Commission Urges Major, Comprehensive Update In "Out-Of-Date" Election Laws

[world politics news]

Current electoral laws are out-of-date, incoherent and have a serious lack of teeth when it comes to enforcement, the State’s ethics and electoral watchdog has said. The Standards in Public Office Commission made a detailed critique of the Electoral Act in a submission to the Government on a proposed electoral commission.

The commission highlighted a large number of what it describes as “gaps and challenges” in the current laws. It argued that if the long-promised electoral commission is to be established, it should first involve a "comprehensive review of the Electoral Acts," and noted that elections had not kept up with technology.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BRAZIL: Rio State Government Takes Control Of Former Olympic Stadium, Cancelling Private Contract

[world politics news]

Rio de Janeiro's state government says it is taking over the running of Brazil's Maracanã stadium, cancelling the contract of a private consortium. Gov. Wilson Witzel said the decision would take effect in April but would not disrupt football matches. Rio's state assembly earlier said it would investigate the contract of the Consorcio Maracanã, saying there were signs of mismanagement and corruption. The consortium said it was "surprised" by the state authorities' decision.

Last year, former Rio Governor Sergio Cabral was sentenced to 12 years in prison, accused of manipulating bids and overinflating contracts for the Maracanã. The stadium was used in the 2014 Fifa World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: European Union's Leaders Say Italy's "New Silk Road Deal" With China Is "Naive"

[world politics news]

EU leaders displayed a united front towards China on Friday (22 March) and warned the Italian government of the consequences of signing a bilateral deal with Beijing to become part of the new ‘Silk Road." The warnings came from both more protectionist-minded countries and free trade champions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Italy on Friday and Saturday to sign a memorandum of understanding with Rome to become part of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, China’s ambitious plan to finance infrastructure projects connecting Europe, Asia and parts of Africa.

Italy would not be the first EU member state to sign up, but it would be the largest European economy to sign the deal, and the first G7 nation. The initiative has become controversial given the strict conditions imposed by Chinese authorities. African nations have been threatened with confiscation of nationally-owned assets if they don't repay loans in a timely manner.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: PM Abe Won't Seek Party Rule Change To Seek Fourth Term In 2021

[world politics news]

Already the nation's longest serving leader, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he has no intention of serving another four-year term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party when his third term expires in September 2021. Abe’s remarks came after some in the party hinted at the possibility of changing a party rule to make it possible for him to remain in the post beyond the current limit of three terms.

"Seeking a fourth term is prohibited by a party regulation. It is a matter of course to abide by the rule," said the 64-year-old prime minister, who was returned to power in late 2012. "As this is my last tenure, I will concentrate on achieving results with full might.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THENETHERLANDS: Populist Party Stuns Establishment In Election; PM's Party Loses Senate Majority

[world politics news]

The governing center-right coalition of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has lost its senate majority after a populist party surged in provincial elections.

Forum for Democracy won most votes and secured more seats in the upper house than Rutte's People's Party. The party holds two seats in parliament after entering politics just three years ago. It will have 13 seats in the Senate, one more than Rutte’s party.

Forum for Democracy Party leader Thierry Baudet, 36, has bitterly criticized Rutte's immigration policies. The party Forum is projected to win 12 percent of the Dutch votes in the European Parliament election in May.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#DENMARK: Member of Parliament Scolded For Bringing Her Child Into Chambers

[world politics news]

A Danish politician has been ejected from parliament for bringing her five-month-old daughter into the chamber.

“You are not welcome with your baby in the parliament’s chamber,” Pia Kjaersgaard, the speaker who is a former leader of the Danish People’s Party, reportedly told Mette Abildgaard.

The Conservative MP explained it was the first time she had brought her daughter to work, as the baby’s father could not step in to look after her.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BELGIUM: Council Of State Rules Climate Law Unconstitutional; Violated Constitutional Powers Of Regions

[world politics news]

The Council of State says climate legislation  proposed by the federal parliament is unconstitutional. The special law supported by several left-leaning and environment parties proposed a reduction of 55% in greenhouse gases based on 1990 levels, and sought to harmonize state, federal and regional policies.

The Council of State, which scrutinizes acts of government, ruled that the law's attempt to create one single cohesive policy would usurp the powers granted to the regions by the constitution and its amendments. The federal government could not take for itself by legislative act powers that are granted to another forum, in this case the regions. That would require an amendment to the constitution, the Council said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Alberta Premier Calls April 16th Provincial Election

[world politics news]

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has called for an election to be held on April 16th.

Notley's New Democratic Party will face Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party, a new party established in July 2017 after a merger of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta and the Wildrose Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PALESTINIANAUTHORITY: Pres. Abbas Slams US Move To Remove "Occupied Territories" Label From Annual Human Rights Report

[world politics news]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has criticized a US move to no longer refer to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights as "occupied territories" in its annual human rights report.

A spokesman called it "a continuation of the hostile approach of the American administration toward our Palestinian people and... contrary to all UN resolutions." In a statement carried by official Palestinian news agency WAFA, he said the change was part of Pres. Trump’s plan to "liquidate" the Palestinian cause.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Merkel Endorses Key Planks Of Her Successor's Platform; Including Joint European Union Aircraft Carrier

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel has endorsed some of the key European reform ideas put forward by her successor to the Christian Democratic Union leadership Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, including a joint EU aircraft carrier. Kramp-Karrenbauer, who succeeded Merkel as leader of the CDU in December, etched out her vision in a weekend response to French President Emmanuel Macron's proposals for European Union reform. Her essay included a call for a stronger EU border force, a pan-European climate pact and a common market for banking.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UGANDA: Finance Min. Says China Won't Seize National Assets Over Debt Repayment Concerns

[world politics news]

China will not take over Uganda's assets because of failure to pay back loans, Finance minister Matia Kasaija has said.

Kasaija says Ugandans shouldn't be worried because all the money owed to China shall be serviced thanks to the government's smart investment decisions. Uganda owes China $1.6 billion. Kasaija said Uganda's economy is growing at a fast pace, adding that unless there is a catastrophe, nothing will stop Uganda from servicing the Chinese loans.

A June 2018 report showed public debt amounted to $10.7 billion, 41.5% of the country's GDP. The international standard is 50% or higher.

Last year, China took over Sri Lanka's port for 99 years over failure to service loans. There are reports that China may take over Zambia's airport and national power distributor, and Kenya's Mombasa port, due to these countries' failure to service their loans.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ALGERIA: New PM Says His Temporary Gov't Will Work For Change After Weeks Of Street protests

[world politics news]

Algeria’s new prime minister said on Thursday he would form a temporary government of technocrats and others to work towards political change in response to weeks of street protests, and he urged the opposition to join in a dialogue. Noureddine Bedoui laid out his plans at a news conference in Algiers three days after ailing President Abelaziz Bouteflika announced his decision not to run for a fifth term that would have extended his 20 years in power.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Brexit Delayed Until June 30, Giving PM May Time To Reach a Deal; Unpopular Second Referendum Soundly Defeated

[world politics news]

British MPs on Thursday voted decisively against delaying Brexit in order to hold a second referendum, dashing the hopes of pro-European campaigners who want a new public vote. Three years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, only 85 MPs voted in favor of the amendment and 334 voted against, with most lawmakers from the main opposition Labour Party abstaining from the vote. Parliament then voted 412 - 202 in favor of delaying Brexit to June 30, extending Article 50 to give Prime Minister Theresa May more time to break the deadlock.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HUNGARY: Leftist, Right-Leaning Parties To Unite Against Ruling Fidesz Party For Municipal Elections

[world politics news]

Several very different opposition parties will work together, fielding single candidates in three important municipal elections in October.

The disparate parties, which include the Hungarian Socialist Party, the liberal Democratic Coalition Party, the Left-leaning Politics Can Be Different Party, the Momentum Party, and the Right-leaning Jobbik Party, have struggled to come together in the past, but opposition to the ruling Fidesz Party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Pictured: Adam Mirkoczki of the Jobbik Party, who will run for mayor as part of an opposition unity ticket.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Conservative Party In Chaos After Second Crushing Defeat Of May's Brexit Plan

[world politics news]

The House of Commons last night voted against the Prime Minister's Brexit deal for the second time - by a margin of 391 votes to 242.

Following this crushing defeat, Theresa May will reportedly give Members of Parliament a free vote on a backbench plan for a so-called “managed no deal” after warnings that Brexit-backing ministers could resign en masse if she ordered them to vote down the plan.

This plan would allow leaving the European Union without a deal, signing up to a two-year “standstill agreement” with the EU and then moving to World Trade Organization terms. However, the EU has repeatedly ruled out such a transitional period, and the opposition Labour Party is actively seeking a new national referendum on leaving the EU, a so-called "People's Vote."

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

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

#ITALY: Deputy PM Salvini Condemns Bank Corruption, Calls For Break-Up Of Central Bank

[world politics news]

Italy’s coalition government is in sharp disagreement over protecting the independence of the Bank of Italy, after senior politicians threatened to remove its leadership.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, head of the Eurosceptic League Party, said the central bank and Consob, the country’s stock market regulator, should be “reduced to zero, more than changing one or two people” and that “fraudsters” who inflicted losses on Italian savers should “end up in prison for a long time."

Such language is rarely heard from politicians, and reminded some of the jail sentences and recriminations doled out to Bankers in Iceland after the financial crisis of 2008.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: PM Netanyahu Says Israel Is A State For "Jews Alone"

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is stirring controversy by asserting that the State of Israel, "belongs to the Jewish people alone." His comments, just weeks before facing voters, were in response to a comment by Israeli actress Rotem Sela, who wrote on social media that, "Israel is a country of all its citizens."

Later on, Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot, an Israeli citizen, rebuked his comments, as did President Reuven Rivlin.

Palestinian Arab citizens are about a fifth of Israel's population and often face discrimination and accusations of disloyalty.

In an Instagram post, Netanyahu responded to the actress, saying, "Dear Rotem, an important correction: Israel is not a state of all its citizens. According to the Nation-State Law that we passed, Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish People - and them alone."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Bill In Parliament Could Suspend Criminal Records For Pot Possession

[world politics news]

Canada could suspend criminal records for marijuana possession under a bill introduced in Parliament, fulfilling a promise to ease offenses made when adult-use cannabis was legalized in October 2018. Liberal Party Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale has introduced C-93 on March 1st in the House of Commons to offer free and expedited record suspensions for Canadians with a conviction for simple possession of cannabis on their criminal record.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CZECHIA: Social Democrats Add New Faces, Policies To Boost Popularity

[world politics news]

The Czech Republic Social Democrats met this past weekend to add new faces and new platform planks designed to boost it from its current fourth place in national polling.

In 2017, only 15 of their candidates were elected to the lower house of Parliament – the worst result in party history. They are junior partners in the current government of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s technocratic-populist ANO Party.

The Social Democrats define themselves as far-Left vanguards against a slide towards illiberalism. Their newly outlined top priorities include boosting citizens’ participation in political decisions and cutting working hours without lowering salaries.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#KUWAIT: Legislators Weighing Debt Forgiveness Plan To Tackle Rising Consumer Debt

[world politics news]

Members of parliament have launched an investigation into the rise in consumer debt and its causes, with some openly considering forgiving consumer debt. MPs blame the rise in personal debt on the rising prices of commodities as a result of the country’s failure to diversify sources of national income. MP Mohammed Hayef has submitted questions to Finance Minister Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf about the consumer loan policies of the Central Bank of Kuwait and the level of compliance among local banks. He says some banks are incorrectly raising interest rates on consumer loans, increasing consumers' financial burdens.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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