#ISRAEL: Opposition Parties In Talks To Unite To Try To Oust Netanyahu

[world politics news]

Yamina Party Leader Naftali Bennett delivered his long-awaited announcement Sunday that he would attempt to create a unity government with Yesh Atid Party Leader Yair Lapid and seek to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he accused of leading Israel to national suicide for his own personal reasons.  

Yesh Atid and Yamina began negotiations immediately following the announcement Sunday night in an effort to reach an agreement by Wednesday’s deadline.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Party Leader Singh Apologises After Breaking Covid-19 Rules

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Jagmeet Singh has issued an apology for breaking COVID-19 protocols, weeks after claiming that anti-maskers are connected to far-right extremism. 

The leader of Canada's federal New Democratic Party apologized during a interview with Global News after the organization obtained an exclusive video of Singh sharing an unmasked hug with his brother's executive assistant.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#IRAN: Seven "Hard-Liners" Approved To Run For President; Six "Moderates" Disqualified

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Iran’s Guardian Council has disqualified all non-hardliner candidates for the upcoming June 18 presidential election, including the country’s vice president and a former parliamentary speaker, shocking the country.

Iran expert Raz Zimmt  of the INSS (Institute for National Security Studies) and Meir Amit Intelligence Center, said this level of disqualifications was an unprecedented “political earthquake” even in comparison to the council’s standard interference with elections.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#SAMOA: First Female Prime Minister Denied Entry To Parliament By Former Prime Minister

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Fiame Naomi Mata'afa arrived at parliament on Monday to be sworn into office as Samoa's first female Prime Minister. She wasn't allowed inside. The former prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, and his supporters had locked down the building before Mata'afa's arrival. Malielegaoi has so far ignored a court order to step down from his position.

In the meantime, Mata'afa has been sworn into office in the parliament's gardens under a marquee, along with other members of her Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (Fast) party.

The country has been in a political deadlock since the April 9 election, when the opposition Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST party) and the incumbent Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) won 25 seats each.

HRPP has dominated Samoa's politics for nearly 40 years, and its leader, 75-year-old Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has held office for more than 22 years — making him one of the world's longest-serving leaders.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SRILANKA: Land Reclaimed From The Sea Will Become A Special Economic Zone

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The Sri Lanka Parliament has passed the Port City Economic Commission Bill, which officially declares hundreds of acres of land reclaimed from the ocean and annexed to the city of Colombo as the country’s first special economic zone for services-oriented industries.

The bill was passed with 149 votes in favor and 58 against.

Under the legislation, a President-appointed commission will be established to govern the SEZ.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#LITHUANIA: Parliament Votes To Not Debate Bill Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage

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Lithuania’s parliament on Tuesday voted narrowly against debating a bill legalizing same-sex civil partnerships, but supporters said they would adjust the proposal and eventually resubmit it to the assembly.

In a razor thin vote, 63 lawmakers voted in favor and 65 against accepting the measure for discussion, with some opponents declaring same-sex partnerships to be a gateway to same-sex marriage, a status they reject.

A representative poll in April commissioned by the president’s office found 70% of adult Lithuanians against same-sex partnerships.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDIA: Gov't Protests Use Of "Indian Variant" Language On Social Sites

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India’s government has sent notices to social media platforms ordering them to take down content that refers to an “Indian variant” of the COVID-19 virus. 

The letter from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology sent Friday was not made public, but was viewed by several news outlets.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PERU: Congress Unanimously Overrides Pension Payout Bill Veto

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Peru’s Congress forced through a pension funds drawdown bill that the government had partially vetoed.

The draft legislation, which lawmakers approved by a vote of 109-0, will result in another outflow of savings from the country’s private pension fund (AFP) system.

Under the rules, members can pull out up to 17,600 soles (US$4,600). Those in favor of the plan argued that people need the funds to help mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. 

The economy ministry said it would propose challenging the law in the constitutional court.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#POLAND: Schools To Teach EU Is An "Unlawful Entity"

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Students in Polish schools will be taught that the European Union is an “unlawful entity," says Eucation Minister Przemysław Czarnek. He also wants history classes to focus more on teaching pride in Poland’s past rather than, as before, “shame” about it.

Czarnek said the changes are part of the government’s new “Polish Deal” program, which was unveiled last Saturday. As well as bolstering social spending and introducing a more progressive tax system, the plan also contains elements intended to strengthen Polish identity, such as more history teaching in schools.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ROMANIA: Parliament Adopts 5G Use Restrictions

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Romania's Chamber of Deputies has adopted the so-called 5G bill, which stipulates that communications providers will be able to use in 5G networks only technologies, equipment and software from manufacturers previously authorized by the decision of the prime minister, based on the approval of the national defense council CSAT.

The bill was eventually voted on by all parties except AUR, a party suspected by some of acting in favor of Russia. The AUR deputies abstained from voting.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: European Parliament "Freezes" China Investment Deal Over Sanctions

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The European parliament has voted overwhelmingly to “freeze” any consideration of a massive investment deal with China, following recent tit-for-tat sanctions over Beijing’s treatment of its Uyghur population in Xinjiang province.

According to the resolution, the parliament, which must ratify the deal, “demands that China lift the sanctions before parliament can deal with the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI)”.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: Brothers Of Italy Party Surges In Poll

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The conservative Brothers of Italy Party, which is in opposition to the government of Italian prime minister Mario Draghi, have surged in support in a poll.

The party, which is the only member of Italy’s centre-right coalition of parties which has not participated in the current “technical government”, is polling at 17%, less than a percentage point behind the left-wing Democrats, which remains the second-largest party in the country.

Despite its name, the Euroskeptic Brothers of Italy Party is led by a woman, Giorgia Meloni, who could become Italy's first woman prime minister.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Gov't Adopts New Anti-Corruption Sanctions Program

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The government of the UK has  adopted new sanctions program designed to more closely resemble that of the US, rather than the EU, which UK left recently.

The new regulations are designed to target individuals involved in serious corruption and prevent them from entering the UK or using the UK financial system. To date, 22 individuals have been designated. 

The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021 enable the UK government to designate persons where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they are, or have been, involved in "serious corruption", which covers bribery involving foreign public officials and misappropriation of property by foreign public officials.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ARMENIA: Parliament Condemns Azerbaijan Military Incursion

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Armenia's Parliament has unanimously condemned the military incursion of its borders by Azerbaijani troops.

On May 12, Azeri soldiers crossed the Armenian state border and advanced into Armenia's territory for up to 3.5 kilometers.

Negotiations are underway to settle the situation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Parliament Approves Gender Quotas For Corporate Boards

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France’s Parliament this week voted to introduce gender quotas on the Executive Teams and leadership pipelines of companies over 1,000 people. The targets set are 30% minimum of either gender by 2027, 40% by 2030.

After quotas on corporate boards spread across Europe in recent years, countries are now pointing their legislation at Executive leadership. Germany started the move in 2020. 

President Emmanuel Macron has had made gender quotas a priority for his five-year term.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRAN: Hard-line Cleric To Seek Presidency

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Iran’s judiciary chief, a hard-line cleric linked to mass executions in 1988, registered on Saturday to run in the Islamic Republic’s presidential election next month, a vote that comes as negotiators struggle to resuscitate Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Military Upset With Second Letter From Soldiers Warning Of Civil War

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The French army's chief of staff has called on a group of soldiers who signed an open letter warning about the risk of "civil war" in France to quit the armed forces.

The letter by the soldiers had warned of unrest in the country because of what they called "concessions" to Islamism by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The document, posted on the website of the right-wing Valeurs Actuelles magazine late Sunday, echoes a letter published by the same publication last month but appears to have been written by an unknown number of younger troops still in active service.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Pres. Macron's Climate Change Bill Watered Down By Parliament

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President Emmanuel Macron's promise to enshrine the fight against climate change in the French constitution via a referendum appeared moribund on Tuesday after the upper house watered down the ambitious wording of a government-sponsored bill. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Ontario MP Diane Finley Resigns From House Of Commons

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Longtime Conservative Member of Parliament  Diane Finley has resigned her seat in the Canadian House of Commons.

The Ontario MP announced last summer that she would not seek re-election.

She told the Commons earlier this week that she is resigning, effective immediately.

Finley has represented the Ontario riding of Haldimand-Norfolk since 2004.

She held multiple cabinet posts under former prime minister  Stephen Harper. In 2015, she made a bid to become the Conservatives' interim party leader.

In Opposition, she was also the liaison between MPs and the national party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BRAZIL: Pres. Bolsonaro Says Covid-19 May Have Been "Biological Warfare" On The World

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Pres. Jair Bolsonaro says the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) may have been made in a laboratory to wage "biological warfare," in the latest comments likely to strain Brazil's relations with China.

"It's a new virus. Nobody knows whether it was born in a laboratory or because a human ate some animal they shouldn't have," said the South American nation's leader.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Backs out Of Debate With Former Supreme Court Judge

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After challenging retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio to a debate on the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte has backed out and tapped his spokesman to debate with the magistrate instead after cabinet members raised concerns.

There was a sense from the Cabinet that Duterte might make irreversible policy declarations, posing big consequences to government initiatives.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque was slated to attend the Friday debate instead.

"Everything the President will say in that debate will affect the policies of government. He can't take back what he says in that debate apart from the fact that there is what we call executive privilege," said Roque in Filipino.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#SOUTHAFRICA: Marriage Law Overhaul By 2024 Will Ban Child Marriage, Include Multiple Genders

[world politics news]

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has published a paper on marriages for public comment, with the goal of submitting an official bill to parliament by 2024.

The "green paper" aims to work towards the development of a new single marriage bill and will align the country’s marriage laws with the constitutional principle of equality.

It includes proposals on unions of people from all sexual orientations, religious and cultural persuasions. It also proposes the complete removal of child marriage from the nation's laws.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Labour Party London Mayor Khan Re-Elected

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London's Labour Party Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to “build bridges” between City Hall and the national government after being re-elected as Mayor of London in a closer contest for England's capital city than many had predicted.

Despite opinion polls suggesting his Conservative rival Shaun Bailey would be a distant second in the race for City Hall, there was a late increase in support for the Tory candidate.

Khan's victory will provide a glimmer of hope to the Labour Party after it received a drubbing in local elections in England, losing control of a host of councils and a humiliating defeat in the Hartlepool by-election.

When first preference votes were counted, Khan had 1,013,721 votes, compared to Bailey with 893,051.

Green Party candidate Sian Berry took 197,976 first preference votes, while former actor Laurence Fox, who founded the Reclaim Party, received 47,634 votes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Labour Party Suffers Losses Nationwide In Local Elections

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A ballot box meltdown across England for the Labour Party saw voters switch to the Conservatives in local council elections following 11 years of Conservative rule nationwide – prompting another round of Labour soul-searching and tough questions for Leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has only been in charge of the party for 13 months.

Starmer's party suffered losses in a swathe of English council seats as voters shrugged off Tory "sleaze" accusations to back Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

In a particularly stunning loss, Labour lost the north England city council in Hartlepool, which has been a Labour stronghold. Observers speculated that the party is having trouble holding traditional workers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: EU Suspends China Investment Deal After Diplomatic Issues

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The European Commission said efforts to win approval for the EU's massive investment deal with China were effectively "suspended" given the soured diplomatic relations between both sides after tit-for-tat sanctions.

"We now in a sense have suspended... political outreach activities from the European Commission side," EU Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told AFP in an interview.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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