BREAKING: #MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi, Others Arrested By Military In Apparent Coup

[world politics news]

Myanmar state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other government officials are being held in custody by the military - according to multiple sources. 

"We have to assume that the military is staging a coup," a spokesman for Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy Party says after the arrests.

The arrests come amid escalating tensions between the civilian government and the powerful military, triggering concerns of a coup.

The 75-year-old former civil rights campaigner, Aung San Suu Kyi, won national elections in 2015, and was allowed to form a government with the military's approval, which prompted some to call her a sell-out to the military government. Other parties also questioned the fairness of the 2015 elections.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: Second Wave Of Demonstrations Set To Demand Opposition Leader Navalny's Release

[world politics news] 

Thousands are expected to take to the streets across Russia on January 31 for a second weekend in a row to demand the release of jailed Kremlin critic Alexsei Navalny amid a crackdown on his supporters.

Russian authorities are bracing for the protests, with police issuing warnings that participants in the "illegal" rallies will face criminal charges for violating coronavirus restrictions. Moscow police have said they will close down much of central Moscow from iconic Red Square to Lubyanka Square, including seven subway stations in the area.

A week earlier, almost 4,000 were detained in demonstrations in Moscow and more than 110 other cities nationwide in some of the largest anti-government rallies in years to demand that the Kremlin free Navalny from detention.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Gov't Considers "Quarantine Hotels" For Returning Air Passengers

[world politics news] 

The Canadian government of Justin Trudeau is considering a mandatory quarantine in hotels for returning travellers as the country's top doctor warns that easing COVID-19 restrictions too quickly could cause case numbers to shoot up again.

The federal government says it is looking at options that would make it harder for people to return from foreign trips, after several returnees have tested positive for the Coronavirus in recent weeks.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said the tools already in place must also be fully utilized. That includes more police enforcement of two-week quarantine rules for arriving travellers.

Canadian citizens are required to pay for the expensive the hotel confinement.

Christine Van Geyn, litigation director at the Canadian Constitution Foundation, took to Twitter to voice her opposition to what she labelled, "prison hotels."

"Just my opinion, but the PM should spend more time getting the vaccine to Canada and less time creating prison hotels.

She said some are "terrified about how they will manage this new cost and isolation. None of this makes sense when the government already required quarantine at home."

The Foundation's Twitter feed also condemned the proposal as going against Canada's Constitution, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"Forcibly confining Canadians at their own expense is an unjustified infringement on our fundamental mobility rights. This is pandemic theatre and not sound policy."

On January 20, World Politics News reported on the German state of Saxony's plans for a Corona prison to house quarantine patients who refused to stay quarantined.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Google Will Block Searches In Aus. If Legislation Goes Thru

[world politics news] 

Google says it will block Australians from being able to use Google search if the government goes ahead with plans for a media code that will make the search giant pay for news.

Google is playing a costly game of chicken with the government, considering Google Australia's nearly $5 billion dollars in revenue last year.

Google argues that it helps publishers by delivering a huge audience from links with search results. But democracy advocates say that with 95% domination of internet search in Australia, the company poses a threat to democracy. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Poll Shows Right-Wing Candidate Marine Le Pen Within 4 Points Of Pres. Macron

[world politics news] 

A new Harris Interactive poll for the 2022 French Presidential election shows that, in a run-off between the incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and nationalist opponent Marine Le Pen, Macron would receive 52% of the vote. 

This is the lowest number from Macron that's ever been recorded by a pollster.

Macron has had historically bad poll numbers for years, though. His handling of the "Yellow jacket" protests and his conservative economic reforms were largely to blame.

Le Pen has served as president of the National Rally political party (previously named National Front) since 2011. She has been the member of the National Assembly for Pas-de-Calais's 11th constituency since June, 2017.

In 2012, she placed third in the presidential election with 17.90% of the vote, behind François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.

She launched a second bid to become President of France at the 2017 presidential election. She finished second in the first round of the election, with 21.30% of the vote, and faced Emmanuel Macron of centrist party En Marche! in the second round of voting. On May 7, 2017, she conceded after receiving approximately 33.9% of the vote in the second round.

She is the daughter of former National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who headed the party for nearly 40 years, and who also sought the presidency repeatedly. 

She has sought to distance herself from his more controversial positions and statements, which opponents characterized as anti-Semitic and racist.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: PM Conte Resigns, New Elections Possible

[world politics news] 

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has resigned - and it is not clear if he will be able to form and lead a new coalition government.

Parties are divided over spending in the coronavirus crisis, in which more than 85,000 Italians have died.

Conte met President Sergio Mattarella, who may ask him to form a stronger government. Last week he lost his Senate majority.

But someone else could become Italy's PM, or a snap election could be called.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: Michaeli Wins Labor Party Primary In Landslide

[world politics news] 

Knesset Member Merav Michaeli has won the Labor Party primaries and will lead Israel’s historic faction ahead of March’s general election.

Michaeli won in a landslide, with 7,483 of the votes out of 9,651 in total, media reported. She beat six other competitors.

The total vote turnout stood at 26%, a fairly low figure as most polls in the recent year have shown the party crash below the threshold.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PORTUGAL: Pres. Rebelo de Sousa Easily Wins Re-Election

[world politics news] 

Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was easily re-elected Sunday, winning just under 61% of the vote, clearing the 51% threshold needed to avoid a run-off.

Ana Gomes, from the governing Socialist Party, came in second with nearly 13%, just one percentage point higher than the candidate from the populist Chega Party, André Ventura.

The 72-year-old was first elected in January 2016 with 52% of the votes, also in the first round. He represents the center-right Social Democratic Party. 

In Parliamentary elections last year, Social Democrats won 79 seats in the 230-seat Parliament, the second highest behind the ruling Socialist Party, which took 108, just 10 short of a majority.

Six candidates competed for the presidential election Sunday. Early polling had predicted the president's easy victory.

De Sousa is on record as saying that relations with China are "exceptional," and the country has been accused of "playing both sides" of the US and China rivalry.

Almost 250,000 voters reportedly took part in the early vote for Portugal's presidential election on Sunday, Jan. 17, a record number of early voters.

Two weeks before the election, the 72-year-old head of state had returned an "asymptomatic" positive test for the Coronavirus, and he went into isolation in the presidential palace in Lisbon.

However, just two days later, officials reported that, "the result "of the test undergone during the night... is negative."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: Angered By Crackdown, Parliament Calls For Sanctions Against Hong Kong's Leaders

[world politics news]

 

The European Parliament has condemned the crackdown on the democratic opposition in Hong Kong, calling member states to introduce targeted sanction against Hong Kong and Chinese mainland officials.

The European Parliament has passed a resolution by the lopsided vote of 597-17, demanding an “immediate and unconditional release” of the democratic opposition and activists arrested and detained on “politically motivated charges,” during the recent political crackdown, including Joshua Wong, Ivan Lam, and Agnes Chow.

Members of Parliament also expressed regrets about the text of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, stating that it did not reflect the Parliament’s desire to preserve Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy it negotiated under the one country/two systems policy agreed to when Britain handed over the city to mainland China in 1997.

It further warned that, “by rushing to reach this agreement and not taking concrete action against the serious and ongoing human rights violations, the EU risks undermining its credibility as a global human rights actor.” 

In addition, the Parliament urged EU member states to consider introducing targeted sanctions against individuals in Hong Kong and China, including Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, under the EU Human Rights Global Sanction Regime.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Award For 1970's Tennis Star Who Condemns Gays Has Politicians Fuming

[world politics news] 

Australian 1970s tennis star Margaret Court, who was once ranked number one in the world, is set to be honored by induction as a Companion of the Order of Australia on Australia Day, this Tuesday, the 26th. 

But the 78-year-old's more recent claim to fame is her denunciation of homosexuality and same-sex marriage, which has made her immanent reciept of the honor controversial Down Under. 

Liberal Party Prime Minister Scott Morrison was eager to sidestep the issue, saying he had “no official knowledge” of the Australia Day honors process, after reports were leaked that Court would receive the nation’s highest award.

“I can’t comment on an award that’s done through an independent process that hasn’t been announced or I have no official knowledge of those,” the Prime Minister told media.

Opposition Labor Party Leader Anthony Albanese said in a tweet that the decision had “nothing to do with tennis.”

"Margaret Court has already been honoured for her tennis prowess. She’s already an Officer of the Order of Australia.

I think it’s clear for everyone to see that making her a Companion of the Order of Australia has nothing to do with tennis." 

Margaret Court has already been honoured for her tennis prowess. She’s already an Officer of the Order of Australia."

The state of Victoria's Premier, Daniel Andrews, slammed the decision to honor her, saying he was “sick of talking about that person every summer." 

"I don't want to give this person's disgraceful, bigoted views any oxygen," he tweeted. 

"But when others insist on rewarding them with this country's highest honour – I think it's worth saying again:

Grand Slam wins don't give you some right to spew hatred and create division. Nothing does."

Green Party Senator Janet Rice also condemned the decision, calling Court an “enemy” of Australian values.

"Reminder (because apparently we have to go over this every year): Margaret Court has said that being LGBTIQ+ is the work "of the devil". She’s compared homosexuality to Hitler. She is an enemy of the values Australians stand for and must not receive our highest honour," fumed Rice, whose anger is explained somewhat by her Twitter profile, which notes that she identifies as "Queer."

But Labor Party member Patrick Gorman, a member of Parliament representing Perth, suggested something constructive.

"Don’t get angry, get active. Nominate someone who *does* deserve an Order of Australia 🇦🇺" and he provided a link to the Governor General's office webpage, where citizens could nominate award recipients.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Controversial MP Expelled From Conservative Party After Taking Donation From White Nationalist

[world politics news] 

Controversial MP Derek Sloan was kicked out of the Conservative caucus this week, a move party leader Erin O'Toole said was due to a “pattern of destructive behavior” that had become a distraction.

O'Toole's, who defeated Sloan for the party leader position last summer, said Sloan's dismissal was not solely over a $131 donation he'd taken from a white nationalist, and came after hours of heated debate within caucus that saw MPs castigate both Sloan for his record and O'Toole for how he'd handled the issue. The donation to Sloan was made during the leadership campaign, in which Sloan came in fourth place.

In a seven-part tweet, Sloan responded to his expulsion and attacked O'Toole.

"My ejection from caucus shows an absolute cowardice and failure to address real issues that animate much of our base?" he said. "This party does not belong to Erin O’Toole it belongs to the members."

Sloan's backers note that the donation went through the Conservative Party itself, which took a 10% cut, and that it was so small that his treasurer (who might have seen it, not Sloan himself) likely never saw it. 

Some have also suggested that the leak about the donation might have come from O'Toole himself.

The Ontario MP said he will now sit in the Federal Parliament as an Independent and will continue to fight for conservatives voices.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SWITZERLAND: Chief Vaccination Officer Insists: "Switzerland Has Not Failed"

[world politics news] 

After weeks of criticism of the Swiss vaccination campaign, it is slowly gaining momentum after the approval and shipment of the Moderna vaccine.  

But the Swiss vaccination campaign came under heavy fire in recent weeks after too few doses of vaccine had been ordered and some said, too late.

But Nora Kronig, Vice Director of the FOPH and responsible for the Swiss vaccination strategy, categorically denies there has been a failure when it was farmed as such.

"No, on the contrary," she said. "We are on track.  We already started preparing the vaccination campaign in March 2020.  Switzerland secured exactly the three vaccines that came onto the market first.  In comparison, we were even very early on with the purchase agreements."

[FULL STORY HERE] (in German)

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

#GERMANY: State Of Saxony Builds Jail For Quarantine Breakers

[world politics news] 

The German State of Saxony is planning a state-wide corona facility for "compulsory accommodation" in Dresden. The facility will act as a "corona jail" for repeated quarantine breakers and refusers.

A former high-security court and reception facility for refugees, built in 2017, is being converted to house the facility.

Last Spring, Health Minister Petra Köpping wanted to place quarantine breakers in psychiatric hospitals. Those plans were dropped, as were considerations to hold quarantine objectors in hotels (which were deemed to be not secure) or hospitals (which were overloaded.)

[FULL STORY HERE] (in German)

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

#HONGKONG: Rules May Be Changed To Keep Pro-Democracy Candidates Out Of HK Legislature

[world politics news]

 

The mainland Chinese Communist Party may radically change the election methods of the Hong Kong Legislative Council in an attempt to bar pro-democracy candidates from entering the legislature, according to lawmaker Cheng Chung-tai, reports the HK Apple Daily newspaper.

Speaking on a RTHK radio talk show, pro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung said she has yet to hear anything about the speculated changes, but agreed that the changes may help excluding “low quality” people from entering politics, to ensure the implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle.

Since pro-democracy lawmakers have proven they can win at least 117 members in the 1,200-member legislative body, Beijing was rushing to implement the reforms to stop the opposition from using the elections to mobilize, said Cheng, a lawmaker from the Civic Passion Party.

Pro-Beijing officials disqualified nearly all pro-democracy candidates in the last regional elections last year, and this month, more than 60 dissidents have been rounded up by police in Hong Kong in a crackdown on pro-democracy activists.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Armin Laschet Elected To Lead CDU Party

[world politics news] 

Ever since Angela Merkel's protege, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, resigned as minister of defense and Merkel's hand-picked successor as leader of the CDU 11 months ago after defying Merkel's ban on working with the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) party (the two parties worked together to install a conservative, pro-business candidate as premier), Germany, and its European allies, have been eagerly anticipating the election of her successor.

The wait is now over. On Saturday, Armin Laschet, prime minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, has officially been elected to lead the CDU. 

With Merkel set to retire at the end of the year, Laschet has roughly 10 months to convince Germans that he could be a responsible steward, since - as he made clear in his first post-election remarks - "continuity" is the name of the game.

Foreign Policy magazine reports that "Laschet has warned against demonizing Putin for his annexation of Crimea, criticized Washington for supporting rebels trying to overthrow Assad, and voiced support for deepening the relationship with Beijing."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UGANDA: Pres. Museveni Wins Sixth Term In Disputed Election

[world politics news]

Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni has won his sixth term with almost 60% of the votes cast. In the election, his main rival, Bobi Wine, said he was hurt by fraud and violence. The Election Commission announced on Saturday.

The veteran leader, who came to power in 1986, was one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents and faced a fierce battle with a 38-year-old former Ragga singer. His turn to politics stimulated the young population.

When the results were announced, wine was on the alert at his home on the outskirts of Kampala. His party said he was under “effective house arrest”, but the government said it was merely providing him with security.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: PM Conte Faces Crisis As Coalition Partner Withdraws Support

[world politics news] 

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's government was plunged into crisis on Wednesday after the Italia Viva Party pulled out of the ruling coalition.

In a long-threatened move, former premier Matteo Renzi announce Wednesday evening that ministers from his Italia Viva party would withdraw, leaving Conte without a formal majority in the Senate.

The withdrawal of Renzi's party's 18 senators leaves Conte's coalition without enough support in the upper body, but it still has a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, the country's lower House of Parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THENETHERLANDS: Gov't Of PM Rutte Resigns Over Child Benefits Scandal

[world politics news] 

The Dutch government has resigned amid an escalating scandal over child benefits in which more than 20,000 families were wrongly accused of fraud by the tax authority.

The move came less than a month before parliament was due to break up ahead of general elections scheduled for March 17. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s cabinet is to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new coalition is formed after that vote. Rutte said "mistakes were made" in handling the scandal, and took full responsibility.

It remains to be seen whether opposition parties can take advantage of the scandal.

Polls suggest Rutte’s People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy will win a fourth term in the election, with public opinion still largely backing him. The center-right party is polling at just under 30% of the vote, more than twice that of the second-place party, Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam Freedom Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Scottish Labour Party Leader Quits, Polling Not Looking Good For May Elections

[world politics news] 

The Labour Party of Scotland's push for May's rapidly approaching elections in Scotland was thrown into chaos this week,  when the party's leader quit less than four months from polling day.

Voters are set to cast ballots May 6 to elect the 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament.

But Labour languishes in polls and the nationalists are set for another majority – reviving the divisive argument about independence.

Richard Leonard, who led Labour in Scotland for three years and was seen as close to former UK-wide Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn, was widely blamed for failing to reverse the party's fortunes in what was once its traditional stronghold.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NORTHKOREA: Kim Jung-Un Takes New Title At Party Congress

[world politics news] 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been  given a new title, "general secretary" of the ruling Workers' Party, formerly held by his late father and grandfather, state media reported Monday, in what appears to a symbolic move aimed at bolstering his authority amid growing economic challenges.

The party's ongoing congress, the first of its kind in five years, announced Kim's new title during its sixth-day session.

Since inheriting power upon his father's death in late 2011, Kim, 37, has gradually consolidated his grip on power through a series of high-profile executions and purges that removed potential rivals.

The Kim family has ruled North Korea with a strong personality cult that elevated key family members to a god-like status since Kim Il Sung founded the country in 1948.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRELAND: Head Of Gov't To Apologize For 70-Year Unwed Mother Child Abuse Scandal

[world politics news] 

Ireland confronted one of the darkest chapters of its past this week with the publication of a report detailing how 9,000 children died in state-run homes for youngsters born out of wedlock.

The 3,000-page report was the result of an inquiry into "appalling" levels of mortality at Ireland's "mother and baby" homes between the 1920s and 1990s.

The Taoiseach/Prime Minister Mícheál Martin, is expected to make a formal apology to survivors of the homes today. Roughly 15% of the 57,000 children who passed through the homes over the decades died, a figure far higher than wider norms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Merkel Calls Trump Ban From Twitter "Problematic"

[world politics news] 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has concerns that Twitter's “problematic” suspension of Donald Trump's account, in the wake of last week's assault on the Capitol, is an encroachment on freedom of opinion, her spokesman said.

Steffan Seibert said on Monday that it was right for social media companies not to “stand back” when content inciting violence was posted online, such as by ‘flagging’ it, as Twitter has previously done to several of the US president's tweets.

Merkel’s spokesman stressed, however, that the right to freedom of opinion is a “fundamental right of elementary importance,” which can be interfered with through the law and legislation, “not according to the decision of the management of social media platforms.”

“From this point of view, the chancellor considers it problematic that the accounts of the US president have been permanently blocked,” he told reporters in Berlin.

Merkel's office made the comments despite her and several other European leaders having a troubled and complicated history with Trump, who often bluntly attack them for not paying their fair share in NATO.

Other world leaders also spoke out on the Twitter ban, for instance French president Emmanuel Macron also expressed reservations.

Mexico’s president criticized the social media censorship of President Trump.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador slammed the blocking of President Trump online. He noted everyone has the right to free speech on social media.

“I don’t like anyone to be censored and for them to have their right taken away to send a message on Twitter or on Facebook," he said.

Perhaps the most honest, and humorous, response came from the son of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s president, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who called Twitter “authoritarian” and tweeted: “A world where Maduro is on social media, but Trump is suspended cannot be normal.”

On Sunday, he announced that he would be “permanently” using Trump’s profile picture for his own account.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: Foreign Ministers From Across the Globe Condemn Arrest Of Hong Kong Democracy Advocates

[world politics news] 

Foreign ministers from the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia condemned last week’s arrest of over 50 democracy activists in Hong Kong in a joint statement on Sunday, calling on China to respect the freedom of the people on the island.

Hong Kong police made the arrests on Wednesday in dawn raids, the biggest crackdown since China imposed a security law in 2020, which opponents say is aimed at quashing dissent in the former British colony.

The statement, posted on the foreign ministry page of the UK government, and elsewhere, read, in part:

The National Security Law is a clear breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and undermines the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework. It has curtailed the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. It is clear that the National Security Law is being used to eliminate dissent and opposing political views.

We call on the Hong Kong and Chinese central authorities to respect the legally guaranteed rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong without fear of arrest and detention. It is crucial that the postponed Legislative Council elections in September proceed in a fair way that includes candidates representing a range."

The US State Department had already released a statement condemning the Chinese Communist Party and the arrests in Hong Kong.

"Arrests of more than 50 politicians and pro-democracy advocates by local authorities in Hong Kong is an outrage, and a reminder of the Chinese Communist Party’s contempt for its own people and the rule of law. Those arrested are guilty of nothing but exercising the democratic rights promised to them by treaty, and due to them through virtue of their humanity. They should be released immediately and unconditionally.

Pompeo said Washington may sanction those involved in the arrests and will send the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to visit Taiwan, which is likely to be interpreted as a sign of US displeasure with the Beijing regime's involvement in the arrests.

Hong Kong ceased to be a colony of Britain in 1997, when an agreement was reached with mainland, Communist China for a "one nation, two systems" approach to the island city-state's status, in which it would keep its capitalist economy, independent legal system, and free elections until 2047, at which time it would be fully merged back into mainland China.

However, a new security law past last year by the Hong Kong parliament aligned its legal system with that of the mainland, and political dissidents, many of whom had opposed the security law and the closer ties with communist China, began to be arrested.

Pro-Communist party Hong Kong officials argue that increasingly violent demonstrations over the past few years necessitated the new security law, and many of the dissidents who were arrested were advocating outright Independence for the city-state, an allegation many deny.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: Leading Democracy Advocate Joshua Wong Arrested In Crackdown On Dissenters

[world politics news] 

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been arrested in jail on a new charge, 1 of more than 50 pro-democracy political figures in Hong Kong who have been arrested in a recent crackdown on political dissent in the city-State.

Wong, 24, was arrested on suspicion of violating the controversial national security law imposed on Hong Kong last June, his friends and family said.

The leading activist, who is already serving a 13-month prison sentence for organising and participating in an unauthorised protest in 2019, was taken away to give a statement on the new charge, a post on his Facebook page said.

On Wednesday, 53 activists and Democrat Party members were arrested over their organisation and participation in last July's unofficial primary election for the since-postponed 2020 Legislative Council election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: BLM-Supporting City Council Candidate Mocks Dead Police Officer

[world politics news] 

An Edmonton, Alberta city council candidate and Black Lives Matter advocate celebrated the death of slain Calgary police officer Sgt. Andrew Harnett on Twitter earlier this week, only days after his passing. 

According to the Post Millennial, in a reply to a Tweet eulogizing the young officer’s passing, Abdulhakim Dalel called the young Sgt. a “corrupted Police Officer!” [sic] before posting laughing emojis. 

Dalel has been quoted by multiple news outlets over the years to talk about issues pertaining to racism, including in the Toronto Star and BlogTO.

Dalel is now running for Edmonton City Council for Ward 7. He also ran for the NDP's nomination in the Federal riding of Edmonton Griesbach in 2015, but lost to Janis Irwin, who subsequently lost to Conservative MP Kerry Diotte.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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