#ISRAEL: Netanyahu Fails To Form Gov't; New Elections Called For September

[world politics news]

Exactly one month after the 21st Knesset was sworn in, a majority of the Knesset voted late Wednesday night to disperse and initiate an unprecedented repeat election on September 17. It was the first time in Israeli history that a candidate for prime minister failed to form a coalition after being given the task by the president after an election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BELGIUM: Foreign Affairs Minister Publicly Reveals €11,000 Monthly Gov't Salary

[world politics news]

Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders unveiled his salary on television, shocking a citizen with whom he was grocery shopping on-screen when he told her his monthly net earnings averaged €11,000.

Reynders revealed his monthly wages as he was standing in the poultry aisle of a budget supermarket with 47-year-old Barbara, a Belgian citizen who appeared alongside the federal minister on the television show, “Un Politique à la Maison” (A Politician at Home.)

The minister responded candidly when he was caught off-guard by a curious Barbara, who, after deciding on which chicken tray the pair should buy, asked the minister to disclose his salary.

“Do you mind if I ask what your salary is?” Barbara asked cautiously.

“My salary? Oh, well there are —like with many jobs— allowances, etc.,” Reynders said, pausing briefly before adding: "It goes up to… about €11,000 — per month."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BRAZIL: Judge Gives President 15 Days To Apologize, Pay Fine, For 2014 Election "Rape" Taunt

[world politics news]

A judge has ruled that Pres. Jair Bolsonaro must publicly apologize and pay a fine for the "moral offense" of saying, during the 2014 campaign, that a legislator was "too ugly" to rape.

Judge Tatiana Dias da Silva Medina, of the 18th Civil Court of Brasília, set a deadline of 15 days for Bolsonaro to pay R$10,000 (US$2,486) for his comments against federal MP Maria do Rosário. The president will also have to apologize in a newspaper of wide circulation and on social networks.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRIA: Chancellor Kurz Forced From Office Following Russia Influence Scandal

[world politics news]

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was forced from power Monday when his government lost a parliamentary no-confidence vote, paving the way for a new caretaker administration to take charge ahead of elections expected in September.

The 32-year-old's ouster follows a tumultuous week after a video emerged apparently showing the head of the far-right Freedom Party - Kurz’s coalition partner - offering valuable government contracts to a woman posing as a Russian investor in return for political influence.

Social Democrats were joined in their no confidence vote by the Freedom Party, who feels abandoned by Kurz.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHAFRICA: Cyril Ramaphosa Inaugurated President

[world politics news]

Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the oath of office as president of South Africa in front of a crowd of thousands, including African dignitaries at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

His African National Congress Party won elections earlier this month with s majority of 7.5%, the smallest since the party came to power 25 years ago. Ramaphosa was then unanimously elected president by Parliament.

He became deputy president in 2014, and has served as president since the resignation of Pres. Jacob Zuma in February, 2018.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: Traditional Parties Trounced In EU Elections, Right And Left, Small Parties Surged

[world politics news]

The traditional center-right and center-left blocs in the European Parliament have lost their combined majority amid an increase in support for liberals, the Greens and nationalists in the EU's parliamentary elections.

Pro-EU parties are still expected to be in a majority but the traditional blocs will need to seek new alliances.

The liberals and Greens had a good night, while nationalists were victorious in Italy, France and in the UK, where the new Brexit Party dominated.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Resolution Urges Resignation Of Opposition Legislator Who Urged War With Russia To Regain Disputed Islands

[world politics news]

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito have jointly submitted to the Diet, Japan's parliament, a resolution rebuking an opposition lawmaker who suggested that Japan wage war with Russia to regain control over a group of disputed islands.

In the resolution, the ruling coalition said the comment made by lawmaker Hodaka Maruyama “runs counter to pacifism” and “significantly undermines Japan’s national interest,” describing it as “absolutely intolerable.” The parties closed their resolution by urging him to “reflect seriously on” what he said. Japan Innovation Party expelled him for his comments.

For his part, Marumara said he "could not" resign, and said the Diet, as a place for free speech, is "signing its own death warrant" with the motion.

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

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

#SINGAPORE: Law Gives Gov't Sole Discretion To Define, Ban, "Fake News"

[world politics news]

Singapore's Parliament has voted 72 to 9, with three abstentions, to pass the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill.

Heated debate focused primarily on the definition of what constituted as false or true, with critics such as the Asia Internet Coalition saying the legislation gave the government "full discretion" and this level of "overreach" poses as a significant risk to freedom of expression in Singapore.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDIA: PM Modi, BJP Party, Win Landslide Victory, Five More Years

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked the people of India for giving him a "historic mandate" of five more years in office, after a landslide victory in the general election for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

 The BJP is projected to get about 300 of the 543 seats in parliament. It is likely to take a larger share of the vote than in the 2014 elections. The main opposition alliance, which is headed by Rahul Gandhi's Congress party, has admitted defeat.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Prime Minister Theresa May Resigns After EU Election Disaster

[world politics news]

The day after European elections in which her Conservative Party was likely was completely wiped out by voters, Prime Minister Theresa May resigned in a tearful speech outside of her official residence on Downing Street in London , insisting: "I've done my best."

The PM was forced to resign after she failed to deliver Brexit, a voter-approved exit from the European Union, and lost the support of her own MPs - but will continue in office as a lame duck until July. A leadership contest will take place in early June to replace her as both party leader and prime minister.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: Planned Cryptocurrency Legislation Stalled By Int'l Regulator

[world politics news]

The Russian government has postponed the introduction of its planned cryptocurrency regulations – laying the blame for the delay at the feet of the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The legislation – which had been slated for a second reading in the Russian parliament in the weeks ahead – is now “stuck.” Anatoly Aksakov, the head of parliament's financial committee, confirmed that the terms of the FATF’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism guidelines (issued in October last year) have forced Moscow to reconsider its plans.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Pressure Mounts On PM May To Resign As Disastrous EU Election Looms

[world politics news]

Conservative Members of Parliament are said to be counting down the hours until Prime Minister Theresa May quits as she is said to have 'barricaded' herself in her official residence at 10 Downing Street.

Whether that is literally true is uncertain, but she is certainly isolated from many in her party at this point.

This state of affairs follows the surprise resignation today of Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, on the eve of the European elections that will likely see the party wiped out by the new Brexit Party.

All polls have shown an extremely high level of anger at Theresa May's conservatives over the party's failure to deliver an exit from the European Union as they promised in the last election.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UKRAINE: Pres. Dissolves Parliament, Calls For July Elections

[world politics news]

Ukraine's newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has signed a decree disbanding the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament and calling for new elections.

Zelensky, a TV actor who was overwhelmingly elected on an anti-establishment platform, said he used the "extremely low trust" in parliament by the public- 4% in polling - as the "main argument" for dissolving the body.

Under the document, the early parliamentary elections shall be held on Sunday, July 21, 2019

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRIA: Chancellor Calls For New Elections After Corruption Scandal

[world politics news]

Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has announced fresh elections after explosive revelations from a hidden camera sting forced his deputy, far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache, to resign, bringing an end to his coalition.

“I have suggested to the president of the republic that new elections be carried out, at the earliest possible date,” said Kurz.

Media reports emerged on Friday alleging that Strache promised public contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer he met on the island of Ibiza a few months before 2017’s parliamentary elections in Austria.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: Four Leaders Of 2014 Umbrella Protest Movement Jailed

[world politics news]

Hong Kong reopened one of the most emotional and divisive chapters in its history this week as four of nine democracy leaders and key activists convicted on public nuisance charges over the 2014 Occupy protests were jailed for up to 16 months.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#KENYA: Budget Office Warns Of Overspending By Gov't Departments

[world politics news]

A parliamentary office that advises lawmakers on financial, budgetary and economic matters has raised the red flag over a 78 billion shilling (US$770 million) increase in the budget for the financial year starting July above parliament-approved spending limits.

The Parliamentary Budget Office has warned that such an upward adjustment may widen the deficit in the budget resulting in increased borrowing or growth in pending bills and stalling of budgeted projects. The office noted that many government departments were overspending their allocated budget estimates.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: PM Morrison Defeats Labor's Shorten, Defying Polls

[world politics news]

In a victory some are comparing to Donald Trump's, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defied years of opinion polls and public expectation to lead the right-leaning Coalition to a shocking election victory Saturday.

Morrison's Liberal Party will form a government in parliament with the help of one or more smaller parties.

The result is a crushing defeat for the Labor Party, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten immediately announcing he will step down as the party's leader.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Scottish National Party Leader Says "Real Chance" Scotland Remains In EU

[world politics news]

Nicola Sturgeon says there's a "real chance" for Scotland to stay part of the EU as she launched her Scottish National Party's manifesto for the European elections.

The SNP Party Leader said voting for her party in next Thursday's election would be an opportunity to "make Scotland's voice heard." The party is fielding six candidates.

She claimed the UK parliament in London had "ignored the overwhelming vote in Scotland" to remain in the EU.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TAIWAN: Legislature Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage; First In Asia

[world politics news]

Taiwan has become the first jurisdiction in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage after the legislature approved legislation today.

Starting next Friday, gay couples in Taiwan will be able to register their marriages with government agencies. [FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Trudeau Government Plans List Of "Reliable" News Media Outlets

[world politics news]

The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to release what they call an “A-list of newspapers and websites" deemed reliable under a multi-million dollar subsidy program. This list will reportedly be determined by federal agencies.

Senator Raynell Andreychuk of Saskatchewn pointed out that “Selection committees appointed by the government [means] we’re intruding on the freedom of the press.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Welsh Assembly Members Join Brexit Party, First National-Level Members

[world politics news]

Four Welsh Assembly members have sensationally joined the Brexit Party “with immediate effect” to give Nigel Farage’s party their first political representation at a national level. Some members are protesting to Assembly leadership, noting that the four members didn't run as Brexit Party candidates.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ESTONIA: New Coalition Hopes To Hammer Out Deal With Russia Over 2005 Border Treaty

[world politics news]

Estonia's new ruling coalition, which now includes the rising populist Conservative People's Party, is seeking to hammer out a deal with neighboring Russia over borders that has been at a stand-still for over a decade.

Centre Party Prime Minister Jüri Ratas says that while there are differences of opinion in the current coalition between his party, the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) and Isamaa (Pro Patria) on the question of the ratification of the border treaty with Russia, he is ready to move discussions on it forward if the Kremlin is. At the same time, he noted a need for pragmatism on the matter.

In March's election, the nationalist Conservative People's Party tripled its 2015 election result, forcing centrist Prime Minister Jüri Ratas to include them in a three-party coalition.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Shock Polls Show Brexit Party Beating Labour And Conservatives In EU Election

[world politics news]

The Brexit Party is headed towards earning more votes than Labour and the Conservatives combined in the May 23 European Parliament elections, and could even earn more votes than the Conservatives in a General election, two extraordinary polls showed this weekend.

In an Opinium poll in the Observer, focused on this month's European elections, Nigel Farage's new party is predicted to take 34% of the vote. The same poll gave Labour 21% and put the Tories in a miserable fourth place with 11%.

But an even more extraordinary poll, commissioned by a Brexit Party donor and published in the Sunday Telegraph, said for the first time the Brexit Party would take more vote than the Conservative Party in a General Election.

The ComRes survey of voting intentions put Brexit on 21 per cent to the Conservatives' 20, which would see Farage's team win 49 seats, becoming the UK's second biggest party after Labour, with 137.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHAFRICA: Hotelliers Seek To Regulate Airbnb; Say Unregistered Accommodations Are Unfair Competition

[world politics news]

Major entities in the hospitality industry in South Africa have called for government to step in an regulate Airbnb.

The house-sharing service has seen impressive growth in South Africa, but local hotels are concerned that the unregistered accommodation establishments listed on the platform are taking away business from established bed-and-breakfasts and hotels.

The Federated Hospitality Association of SA called for government to crack down on Airbnb, and smaller organisations have echoed this call.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Legislation Seeks To Tighten Control Over Production, Sale Of Prescription Drugs

[world politics news]

China has tightened control over the production and sale of drugs in revisions made to an amendment of the Drug Administration Law. The measures were made public as the draft revisions are under review at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The draft requires individuals and entities who have become medicine marketing authorization holders (MAHs) be responsible for the drugs' clinical and non-clinical trials, manufacturing, selling, and the analysis, report, and response of adverse reactions.

The MAHs should sign agreements with manufacturers, sellers, transporters, and keepers of the drugs to make sure they are capable of maintaining the quality of drugs and managing risks, the draft says.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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