Friday, April 30, 2021

#FRANCE: Radical Islamists Risk Bringing Civil War, Say Retired Generals

[world politics news]


Twenty retired generals and a thousand lower ranked officers have signed an explosive open letter warning that France is on the verge of civil war because it is “disintegrating" because of Islamist terror.

They go on to suggest that Pres. Emmanuel Macron’s failure to act could lead to “an explosion and then intervention by our comrades on active service in the dangerous mission of protecting our civilised values and the safety of our compatriots.”

“There is no time to waffle,” they say, “or tomorrow civil war will put an end to this growing chaos and the dead, for whom you will bear responsibility, will be counted in the thousands.”

The comments come in the wake of the brutal murder of a female police officer last week as a Tunisian migrant screaming “Allahu Akbar” slashed her throat at the entrance of a police station.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Thursday, April 29, 2021

#NORTHERNIRELAND: Foster Steps Down As DU Party Leader After Internal Revolt

[world politics news]


Arlene Foster has announced her resignation as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and as Northern Ireland's First Minister after an internal revolt.

Foster said she would step down as DUP leader on 28 May and as first minister at the end of June.

It comes as she was facing a revolt among her party's representatives.

More than 20 DUP Northern Ireland Assembly members and four MPs had signed a letter voicing no-confidence in the leadership.

Mrs Foster became party leader in December 2015.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

#FRANCE: Legislators Consider Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia Bill

[world politics news]


The French Parliament is debating a bill that protects the right to assisted suicide. The bill was proposed by centrist MP Olivier Farloni, who serves as deputy for the parliamentary splinter group Libertes et Territoires, a party made up of both center-left and center-right politicians.

The bill would include the right to active assistance in dying in the public health code and specifies that it shall be carried out in the form of assisted suicide or euthanasia.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

#USA: John Kerry Under Fire For Revealing Israeli Attacks On Iran After Tapes Leaked

[world politics news]


John Kerry, who has been acting as Pres. Biden's special envoy for climate change, is facing calls for his resignation from Republican lawmakers and pundits for reportedly discussing Israeli military operations with Iran's foreign minister when he served as then-President Obama's secretary of State.

Republican blowback is running the gamut from calling for Kerry to leave his position as the top official addressing climate change to calling for an investigation and his prosecution.

The New York Times and other outlets reported on Monday that leaked audio recorded in March captured Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying that Kerry told him Israel had attacked Iran's interests in Syria at least 200 times. 

Zarif reportedly expressed astonishment at the revelation. Zarif did not say when Kerry, who served as secretary of State between 2013 and 2017, made the admission. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Monday, April 26, 2021

#CUBA: Pres. Diaz-Canel Chosen To Lead Communist Party

[world politics news]


Cuba’s president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, will become the leader of country’s communist party, two days after Raul Castro said he was retiring from the position.  

The announcement makes it the second time Miguel Diaz-Canel, 60, has followed in the footsteps of Raul Castro. The first time as president and now with more influential position of becoming the leader of the party. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Sunday, April 25, 2021

#GERMANY: Merkel Given Controversial New Coronavirus Powers Stripped From States

[world politics news]


The German parliament has approved changes to the Infection Protection Law meant to give Berlin more power over the country’s coronavirus restrictions, overruling vocal criticism from opposition parties, who accused Merkel of seeking dictatorial powers, akin to those not seen since World War II in Germany.

The measure would strip state capitals of certain decision-making abilities over measures like restricting private gatherings, closing schools and shops, imposing nighttime curfews and requiring employers to either offer coronavirus tests or ask employees to work from home.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Saturday, April 24, 2021

#UKRAINE: New Rule Includes Jail Time For Those Who Fail To Disclose Cryptocurrency Holdings On Tax Forms

[world politics news]


The Ukrainian parliament has approved new legislation that takes a tough stance against people who don’t disclose their cryptocurrency holdings on the tax fillings.

The measure comes in the wake of a recent publication that showed alleged mistakes in declarations from public servants.

Offenders Could Spend up to Two Years in Jail for not disclosing their crypto holdings.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Friday, April 23, 2021

#UK: Labour Party Leader Pulls Out Of Ramadan Event Sponsored By Group Boycotting Israel

[world politics news]


Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour Party, has pulled out of a Ramadan event after the controversial anti-Israel views of the CEO of the sponsoring organization emerged in the media.

The Jewish Chronicle reported that Starmer was set to attend a virtual Iftar event marking the meal breaking the Ramadan fast, held by a group called the Ramadan Tent Project.

The Labour Party in the UK has struggled in the past with members who have expressed anti Israeli views, some of which have seemed to border on anti-semitism.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Thursday, April 22, 2021

#RUSSIA: Putin Gets Approval For Two More Terms As President

[world politics news]


Russia's lower chamber of the parliament -- the State Duma - recently adopted a bill allowing acting President Vladimir Putin to run for two more terms.

Putin has been either president or prime minister of Russia since 2001.

Apart from resetting previous terms of acting presidency, the bill sets requirements for presidential nominees -- such as Russian citizenship and a minimum age of 35. The nominees must have permanently resided in Russia for at least 25 years, and never had citizenship or a residence permit of another state.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

#IRELAND: New Law Allows Press To Name Murdered Children

[world politics news]


A law to allow the media identify murdered children has passed all stages in the Seanad and will now go to the President for early signature.

The legislation will also allow parents to publicly remember their child, while allowing for the identification of the person accused of their child’s murder or manslaughter.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said she was aware of the profound impact of the ruling on parents, some of whom were left unable to publicly remember their deceased children’s names or legacies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

#CANADA: Alberta Premier Signs Agreement With Other Provinces To Develop Small Nuke Power Plants

[world politics news]


Alberta Premier Jason Kenney formally signed a memorandum of understanding with Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick to support the development of small-scale nuclear power technology Wednesday.

The joint announcement with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs saw the release of a feasibility study with proposals for developing the technology.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Monday, April 19, 2021

#CUBA: Raul Castro Stepping Down As Leader Of Communist Party

[world politics news]


Raul Castro is resigning as head of Cuba’s Communist Party, ending an era of formal leadership by he and his brother Fidel Castro that began with the 1959 revolution.

The 89-year-old Castro made the announcement Friday in a speech at the opening of the Eighth congress of the ruling party, the only one allowed on the island.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Sunday, April 18, 2021

#KENYA: Officials Say China Can't Seize Port If It Defaults On Debts

[world politics news]


Authorities in Kenya have allayed fears that China will seize the Port of Mombasa if the country defaults on loans procured to finance the loss-making Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). 

The project is part of China's worldwide "Belt and Road Initiative," meant to facilitate World trade, and some say, to entrap poor Nations in debt and seize their assets when they inevitably cannot pay to loans back.

Many have speculated that China could seize the valuable Mombasa port if the country fails to make payments.

But National Treasury cabinet secretary Ukur Yatani said Kenya did not offer the strategic national asset as collateral for the $3.2 billion loan sourced from the Export Import Bank of China to finance the project.

“The port of Mombasa has no adverse exposure to any lender or category of lenders through existing loan agreements with the government,” said Yatani.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Thursday, April 15, 2021

#SOMALIA: President, Parliament, Extend Terms Two Years; US, EU Condemns

[world politics news]


The United States and European Union have condemned the move by Somalia’s parliament to extend the terms of the president and members of parliament by two years amid concern it could deepen divides in the country.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was “deeply disappointed” by the approval of the legislation

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

#AUSTRALIA: Parliament Staffer Says She Was Drugged, Raped, In Parliament House In 2019

[world politics news]
 

A former political adviser who alleges she was raped by a senior colleague in Australia's Parliament House, says she will make a formal complaint.

Brittany Higgins spoke out in a TV interview that has prompted shock and outrage over her treatment.

In the interview, she said she feared losing her job after the alleged assault in 2019 and had little support from her bosses.

Higgins has urged a "comprehensive investigation."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Monday, April 12, 2021

#CANADA: Justice Group Sues Over Saskatchewan Ban On Protests Over 10 People

[world politics news]


The Justice Centre, a civil rights and freedom defending organization, has filed a constitutional challenge in the Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench on behalf of two anti-lockdown protesters who were ticketed for attending peaceful outdoor protests that exceeded Saskatchewan’s 10-person outdoor gathering limit.

On December 19, 2020, these individuals participated in a peaceful protest at the Vimy Memorial in Kiwanis Park in Saskatoon, against the Government’s lockdown measures.

The Justice Centre alleges in the filed court document that prohibiting outdoor protests in excess of 10 people violates the freedoms of thought, belief, opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Sunday, April 11, 2021

#UK: Poll Shows London Mayor Handily Winning Re-election

[world politics news]


London Mayor Sadiq Khan is coasting towards a clear victory in the battle for re-election against Conservative challenger Shaun Bailey, an exclusive new poll shows today.

The sitting Labour mayor is ahead of his Conservative rival by 47% to 26% with a month to g in the campaign, the YouGov research for the Mile End Institute (MEI) revealed.

But two minor candidates have picked up support from standing starts.

Laurence Fox, the actor and activist running for mayor for the new Reclaim Party, has overtaken other minor candidates to notch up to 4% after just four weeks of campaigning.

Former Wall Street banker Brian Rose, whose social media videos and animated billboards have grabbed attention, is just behind him at 3%.

But the pair are lagging behind Green Party candidate Sian Berry, in third place with 9%, and Liberal Democrat Luisa Porritt, who comes in fourth at 7%.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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


Saturday, April 10, 2021

#GERMANY: Vice Chancellor Supports Controversial EU Army Proposal

[world politics news]


The Vice Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, who might succeed outgoing leader Angela Merkel after September’s federal elections, has revealed that he backs the creation of a European army controlled by the European Parliament and other EU organs.

In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagzeitung, Scholz, who is the leader of Germany’s Social Democratic Party, confessed: “For me, a common army is part of the idea of European sovereignty.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Friday, April 09, 2021

#UK: Labour Party Leader Strikes At Conservative Claim To "Law and Order" Title Ahead of Local Elections

[world politics news]


Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer has said it is “ridiculous” to call the Conservatives “the party of law and order” amid rising crime and falling conviction rates.

Starmer said during a visit to South Yorkshire, his party would put enforcing criminal justice at the center of its local election campaign and make sure that “people feel safe in their own environment."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Thursday, April 08, 2021

#JORDAN: Attempted Coup Was Likely Just Family Squabble, Misunderstanding

[world politics news]


The coup attempt in Jordan this past weekend may well have been simply a family dispute and a series of misunderstandings between the king and his half-brother.  

Mediation between Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his outspoken half brother, Prince Hamzah, successfully de-escalated one of the most serious political crises in the kingdom in decades, the palace and a confidant of the prince said.

The apparent resolution of the unprecedented public feud capped a weekend of palace drama during which the king had placed Hamzah under house arrest for allegedly plotting with foreign supporters to destabilize Jordan, a key Western ally.

On Wednesday, the king issued a statement saying, in part, "Prince Hamzah pledged before the family to follow in the steps of the ancestors, remain loyal to their mission, and to put Jordan’s interest, Constitution, and laws above all considerations." 

He also said an investigation into other aspects of the would-be insurrection have been launched.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Wednesday, April 07, 2021

UK: PM Johnson Signals Vaccine Passport Coming For Int'l Travel, Labour Party, Pubs, Oppose

[world politics news]


Prime Minister Boris Johnson has delivered his strongest hint yet that British citizens will need a vaccine passport to go on holidays abroad as he faces a Labour Party revolt - and one in his own Conservative Party, too - over the documents being used domestically.

The Prime Minister said during a visit to Middlesbrough that there is 'definitely going to be a world in which international travel will use vaccine passports'. 

He insisted 'there's a logic' to such an approach on travel as he also said proof of vaccination and having had a test could help provide 'maximum confidence to businesses and customers in the UK'.

The latter comment is likely to be viewed as a sign that the Government does intend to proceed with some sort of domestic 'Covid status certification' which could be used to determine access to things like hospitality venues. Pubs have warned that they do not support this move, however.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Tuesday, April 06, 2021

#FRANCE: PM Defends Month-Long Lockdown

[world politics news]


France’s prime minister is defending tough new nationwide measures to combat a resurgent coronavirus in France that include closing schools for at least three weeks and putting in place a month-long domestic travel ban. Jean Castex says the government has acted “consistently and pragmatically."

The National Assembly, France’s lower house, is voting on the new measures which are expected to be marked by a massive boycott by opposition parties.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon of the leftist La France Insoumise Party ("Unsubmissive France") denounced the vote as a “bad April fool’s.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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


Monday, April 05, 2021

#JORDAN: Attempted Coup Against Abdullah II Foiled

[world politics news]


Jordan said it uncovered a plot to destabilize the kingdom that involved King Abdullah II’s half-brother and extended beyond the country’s borders.

The sibling, former Crown Prince Hamza Bin Hussein, worked in concert with foreign entities, Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi said Sunday, in a first official explanation of a string of arrests a day earlier. 

More than 16 people, including at least one other royal, were taken into custody, he said at a news conference in the capital, Amman.

Jordan has been a staunch ally of the USA, and a stabilizing influence in the region. King Abdullah attended school in the US. He has encouraged stable ties with Israel.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Sunday, April 04, 2021

#HONGKONG: Seven 2019 Anti-Gov't Protest Organizers Convicted

[world politics news]


Hong Kong newspaper owner Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and six former opposition lawmakers have been convicted of organising and taking part in an unauthorised anti-government protest in 2019.

The ruling followed a four-week trial that centred on an unauthorised procession on August 18, 2019, during the social unrest of that year sparked by the since-withdrawn extradition bill.

Prosecutors accused the seven of turning an approved assembly in Victoria Park into an illegal march to Central under the pretext of crowd control.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

Friday, April 02, 2021

#CANADA: Liberal Party Wins Majority In Newfoundland and Labrador Election

[world politics news]


The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador will form a majority government in the Atlantic province after a chaotic election season postponed by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to results, the Liberals won 22 seats, an increase of two from the previous election, with PC Party leader Ches Crosbie and NDP leader Alison Coffin losing their seats to Liberal candidates.

The original February 13th election date was postponed due to an outbreak of covid-19 in the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador faces the both the highest rates of unemployment and highest per-person debt in Canada.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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