#IRELAND: Facebook Pulls Party's Ads For Failing To Carry "Paid For" Disclaimer

[world politics news]

Facebook has removed ads by the Renua  Ireland Party after they were found to have breached the social media site's policies on political advertising.

Facebook reportedly told party officials the ads failed to have a "paid for by" disclaimer. The party's treasurer said the omission was unintentional.

The social media giant is under pressure from the political left to ban political advertising on the platform, as Twitter has already done. Renua Ireland is a populist political party contesting this month's election. Facebook said content was not a factor in his decision to pull the ads.

The ads, which were running on the platform until Wednesday night, detailed immigration and crime policies and a promise to “restore the green passport” as “a symbol of our independent policy direction within the EU." European Union passport covers are blue.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Scottish Parliament Votes To Hold A Second Independence Referendum

[world politics news]

Scotland’s Parliament voted Wednesday to hold a new referendum on Scottish independence, a move intended to increase political pressure on the British government as the UK leaves the European Union.

Lawmakers in the Edinburgh-based legislature voted 64-54 to call for holding a referendum "so that the people of Scotland can decide whether they wish it to become an independent country.”

However, the vote will have little immediate effect. A binding referendum can’t take place without the British government's agreement, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson this month turned down the Scottish government's request for one on the independence question.


[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Mayor Says He'll Fine Uber Drivers $500/Day For Illegally Operating In City

[world politics news]

Surrey, British Columbia Mayor Doug McCallum says he'll start issuing $500 tickets each day to Uber drivers caught operating in the Vancouver suburb. McCallum cites the fact the city has not granted any ride-hailing companies municipal business licences as the reason behind their actions.

"A business licence is required to operate in Surrey – or any other municipality,” he said. “Until that happens, Uber is operating illegally in Surrey," he said. McCallum’s comments follow a statement he made this past Friday in which he also said he opposed ride-hailing in his city’s boundaries, and said he was acting to protect the city's cab drivers.

Experts note that provincial law allows ride-sharing services and there is no legal authority to ticket Uber drivers. The tickets are being issue by "by-law officers."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#LEBANON: Former Foreign Min. Grilled Over Lack Of 24-Hour Electricity

[world politics news]

Former Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil was grilled on his government’s record by fellow panelists at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Fellow panelists Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag and CNBC anchor Hadley Gamble challenged Bassil’s former role as electricity minister and the Lebanese government’s continued failures to provide basic infrastructure, including electricity.

When asked by Gamble what had happened to Bassil’s plan to provide 24-hour electricity, Bassil said that the Lebanese system was hampered by immigration and confessionalism - the unique merger of religious and political system that keeps governments in the country unstable.

He's currently the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, the largest bloc in parliament, which includes Hezbollah.

Bassil's attendance at the elite conference drew criticism in his home country, which is currently experiencing widespread anti-government protests amid corruption and economic crises. He denies the protesters are targeting him and his party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: #Quebec Politician Praises #Coronavirus For Reducing Carbon Footprint Of Chinese City

[world politics news]

Quebec Green politician and radio talk show host Luc Ferrandez has suggested that the coronavirus has had one “positive” outcome for the city of Wuhan, China—it’s reduced the carbon footprint.

On Saturday, the environmental activist tweeted: “Wuhan. No automobile traffic. No air flights. The only city on the planet that will meet its GHG reduction targets. The way to this necessary degrowth will happen when all the debates have been in vain.”

Some on Twitter suggested that he move to the afflicted Chinese city. He previously stoked controversy by suggesting suicide as a way to mitigate Climate Change.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THENETHERLANDS: Deputy Prime Minister Calls For "New Limits" For Immigration

[world politics news]

The next general election may be over a year away, but the government is starting to posture on what will be a major issue: Immigration. Christian Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Hugo de Jonge said he backed new limits on immigration.

De Jonge said in an interview that the Netherlands needs extra skills and workers, and that it should continue to take in refugees. The Netherlands, he said, does extremely well when it comes to solidarity ‘but, if we want to continue in this way, we have to set limits."

De Jonge declined to give exact figures, preferring instead to talk about ‘targets’. Allowing in 80,000 migrants a year is too many, he said ‘if you calculate how that adds up over time’.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHAFRICA: Inkatha Freedom Party To Propose "Hire Natives First" Bill

[world politics news]

The Inkatha Freedom Party is set to propose a bill proposing the rationing of jobs where businesses will be forced to prioritize South Africans over foreign nationals.

The bill would ensure that a percentage or a quota for certain skills should go to people from outside the country who are in the country legally, but the majority of the jobs should be reserved for South Africans.

The party suggested that the proposed quota would be 80%/20% with businesses obligated to ensure that at least 80% of those employed by them are South Africans.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EGYPT: Public Debt Shrank From 108% Of GDP To 90% In First Half Of 2019, Says Finance Minister

[world politics news]

 Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait says Egypt was able to decrease the public debt from 108% of the GDP in June 2017 to about 90% of GDP in June 2019. This means that financial control reached 18% of the GDP in only two years. Egypt achieved the highest real GDP growth in the Middle East and North Africa, recording 5.6% of GDP.

Maait said the public treasury made an early payment between July and December, recording about EGP 33bn in favour of pension funds, which represent the full interest dues to funds for the whole year instead of paying them in June 2020

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UKRAINE: Bill Before Parliament Would Guarantee Children's Enrollment In Schools

[world politics news]

A bill before parliament would guarantee the enrollment of children in primary school without any competition, and that the institution should be geographically accessible to children regardless of their social status or place of birth. Children in long-term inpatient treatment will get the right to receive education in medical institutions.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Cabinet Minister Approved Taxpayer Funding For Gun Club Where She Is A Member

[world politics news]

Federal Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie approved a $36,000 taxpayer-funded grant for a clay target shooting club in regional Victoria without publicly disclosing she was a member.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#LITHUANIA: Parliament Drafts Bill Absolving Nation, Leaders Of Holocaust Crimes

[world politics news]

A Lithuanian parliament committee is drafting legislation declaring that neither Lithuania nor its leaders as participating in the Holocaust, a lawmaker working on the bill said last month at a conference.

“The Lithuanian state did not participate in the Holocaust because it was occupied, just as the Lithuanian nation could not participate in the Holocaust because it was enslaved,” said Arunas Gumuliauskas, a member of Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis’ Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union Party.

About 95% of the country’s 250,000 Jews were killed the Holocaust after Nazis invaded in 1941.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FINLAND: Women Dominate Politics With Coalition Of Four Women-Led Parties

[world politics news]

In December, 34-year-old Social Democrat Sanna Marin was sworn in as prime minister, heading a coalition and a national cabinet dominated by women.

She is the youngest serving premier in the world, mother to a toddler, and heads a coalition of four other parties that are all led by women. Three of them, like her, are under 40.

Marin is expected to be elected Leader of the Social Democratic Party in June.

The woman-dominated cabinet is unprecedented, even in a Nordic nation that prides itself on gender equality, and goes further than even Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, who ensured a 50/50 gender balance in his cabinet since he became that nation's leader in 2015.

Pictured, left to right: Li Andersson (Leader of the Left Alliance,) Katri Kulmuni (Leader of the Centre Party,) Sanna Marin and Maria Ohisalo (Leader of the Green League) (L-to-R)

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRELAND: Violent Crime Becoming Major Election Issue

[world politics news]

Violent crime has jumped to the centre of the general election campaign following further gangland shootings in Dublin and a stabbing in Cork city.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar paid a visit to the family of a victim, but his claim that “Fine Gael is the party of law and order” was ridiculed by opposition leaders, while local people told reporters they were scared to go out on the streets.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHKOREA: Healthcare Reforms Include "Points" To Urge People To Adopt Better Lifestyles

[world politics news]

The government says it will provide mileage points to people who improve their lifestyles for better health so that people can use them for the payment of medical bills or health examinations.

To enhance the public health, the government will adopt a health management service certification system so that consumers can choose to take the health management service and launch a pilot program to offer incentives for those who manage their health better in the second half.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: Obscure Tax Service Head Named New Prime Minister By Parliament

[world politics news]

The little-known head of Russia's tax service is taking over after the government's shock resignation. The overhaul fueled speculation about President Vladimir Putin's plans for maintaining power after his term ends.

Russian lawmakers approved Russian President Vladimir Putin's nomination for a new prime minister on Thursday, following a series of bombshell announcements including constitutional changes and the resignation of the government.

The State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, voted in favor of Mishustin with 383 votes out of the 424 cast. 41 members abstained.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Former Justice Minister And His Wife Deny Wrongdoing In Vote-Buying Scheme

[world politics news]

A former justice minister and his wife said they will not resign from the ruling party or the Diet after investigators searched their home and offices for evidence in a vote-buying scandal.

Katsuyuki Kawai apologized to reporters on Jan. 15 in his first public appearance since he stepped down as justice minister on Oct. 31 over allegations that his wife, Anri, overpaid her campaign staff members in the Upper House election in July last year.

He insisted he would not leave the ruling Liberal Democratic Party nor step down as a Lower House member.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: PM And Gov't Resigns, Putin To Reorganize Gov't Structures To Hold Onto Power

[world politics news]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a major restructuring of government four years ahead of the end of his current term in office. The proposed changes will face a national referendum.

The move to restructure government will be seen as a way for Putin to hold onto power after his term ends in 2024. He has held power in various positions in Russia since 1999.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that the entire government is resigning in a surprise statement released shortly after Putin delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address.

It is believed that Putin will accept the position a leader of the security council, which will have greatly expanded powers under the reforms he's proposing. Medvedev will serve as the council's deputy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GREECE: Electoral Law Would Award "Bonus Seats" To Parliament

[world politics news]

A proposed law would award "bonus seats"  to the winning party in elections, helping to avoid hung parliaments.

Under fthr bill, the winning party receives 25% of the vote it will get a bonus of 20 seats, and an additional seat for every additional half a percentage point.

If it wins more than 40%  then it will receive a maximum of 50 bonus seats.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TAIWAN: Beijing Critic Tsai Ing-wen Wins Re-Election

[world politics news]

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has secured a second term after sweeping to victory in an election dominated by the island's relationship with China.

Tsai secured just over 57% of the ballot - a record 8.2m votes - well ahead of her rival Han Kuo-yu.

Tsai opposes closer ties with China, with Mr Han suggesting they would bring economic benefits.

In her victory speech, Ms Tsai told China to abandon its threat to take back the island by force.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ICELAND: Parliament Extends Parental Leave To 12 Months

[world politics news]

Iceland's Parliament has passed legislation extending parental leave to twelve months. Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir discussed the new law on Facebook, saying that it was a huge step forward for Icelandic families, and also an important step toward greater equality. Parental leave laws in effect today were passed in 2000, when Parliament extended the leave from six months to nine in three phases, she wrote. "Another twenty years passed without any extension, or until the time of our current government." Both fathers and mothers are entitled to paid family leave, under the new and the old laws.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THENETHERLANDS: Cabinet Supports Fireworks Ban, Citing Numerous New Years' Injuries

[world politics news]

The governing cabinet in the Netherlands plans to implement new limits on fireworks after this past New Year's period saw thousands of incidents requiring first responders. Millions of euros worth of damages to private personal property were estimated, with even more damage caused to commercial property.

Security and Justice Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus said he proposed a ban on firecrackers and flares to other ministers at their weekly meeting.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SPAIN: Left Coalition Wants To Roll Back Competitive Economic Reforms Of Previous Gov't

[world politics news]

Without a majority in Parliament, Spain's new left-wing coalition faces a struggle to deliver on its promise to unpick a landmark 2012 labor reform that drove wages lower and made it easier for companies to shed workers.

The Socialists led by Pedro Sanchez and the hard-left Unidas Podemos have committed, in a 50-page government agreement, to undo some significant reforms carried out by conservative leader Mariano Rajoy under a 2012 deal with eurozone partners in return for a financial bailout.

Pictured: Podemos Party Leader Pablo Iglesias, left, and Socialist Party Leader Pedro Sanchez

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: US Travel Ban Against Top Officials Sees Duterte Retaliate By Banning US Senators Behind It

[world politics news]

A proposed United States travel ban against top Philippine officials, including members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s inner circle accused of rights abuses, threatens to torpedo bilateral strategic ties in 2020.

The targeted sanction, included as a provision in the US’ Fiscal Year 2020 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, was signed into law in December by Trump and will come into force later this year.

The proposed sanctions are the initiative of several senior Democratic senators, including Edward Markey (Massachusetts) Patrick Leahy (Vermont) and Richard Durbin (Illinois), who have openly criticized human rights abuses related to Duterte’s lethal drug war and assaults on democratic institutions during his three-year-old tenure.

In retaliation, the three Democratic Senators have been banned from travelling to the Philippines.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CROATIA: Leftist Candidate Defeats Conservative Incumbent President

[world politics news]

Zoran Milanović, the candidate for Croatia's Leftist Social Democratic Party, has won the country's presidential race, beating incumbent Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović on a run-off.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRAQ: Parliamentary "Expulsion" Of US Troops Has Open-Ended "Timetable"

[world politics news]

A non-binding resolution by Iraq's Parliament called for the departure of American troops.
Sunni and Kurdish members of parliament boycotted the session, and the resolution passed with 170 votes of the body's 328 members, just over a quorum.


The resolution said the withdrawal would occur on a "timetable," which was undefined. Kuwaiti journalist and analyst Husain Abdul-Husain notes that in Middle Eastern countries, "timetables mean 'indefinitely.'"

In a letter to Parliament, outgoing Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi stated that it's in the Iraqi interest is to maintain neutrality between America and Iran, and that if Iraq antagonizes America, it risks losing its international status. Despite this, the American media viewed the vote as an affront to the U.S.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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