#BRITISHVIRGINISLANDS: PM Arrested On Drug Smuggling Charges

[world politics news]

The leader of the British Virgin Islands has been arrested for alleged drug smuggling and money laundering in the US.

Premier Andrew Fahie was detained in Miami by US agents posing as cocaine traffickers from a Mexican drug cartel.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Gov't To Start Shipping Illegal Immigrsnts To Rwanda

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The UK government's announcement that it plans to send migrants illegally entering the UK to the East African nation of Rwanda for processing has outraged many from politicians and charities to the Church of England.

The UK will reportedly pay Rwanda £120m and refugees could be sent to east Africa within weeks.

The government has defended the policy, with Foreign Minister Priti Patel stating in the House of Commons that the current dispersal system is "unfair" and overwhelmed, with local authorities sharing the burden "disproportionately". Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was the "morally right thing to do."

Little reported is the fact that for several days straight, migrant crossings in the English channel have completely stopped.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Parliament Unanimously Calls Russian Invasion Of Ukraine "Genocide"

[world politics news]

Canadian lawmakers voted unanimously on Wednesday to call Russia's attacks in Ukraine a "genocide", with members of parliament saying there was "ample evidence of systemic and massive war crimes against humanity" being committed by Moscow.

The Canadian House of Commons' motion said war crimes by Russia include mass atrocities, systematic instances of willful killing of Ukrainian civilians, the desecration of corpses, forcible transfer of Ukrainian children, torture, physical harm, mental harm, and rape.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDIA: Gov't Blocks YouTube Channels, Facebook Acct, For Misinformation

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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Monday issued directions for blocking 16 YouTube news channels and one Facebook account, a statement said.

Of the 16 news channels, six are from Pakistan and 10 from India, it said. The statement alleged that the YouTube channels, with a cumulative viewership of over 680 million people, were spreading disinformation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TURKEY: Opposition Leader Has Power Cut Off After Electricity Protest

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Turkey's main opposition leader said that his power supply had been cut at home after he stopped paying electricity bills to protest sharp utility bill hikes.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the secular Republican People's Party (CHP) has seized on Turkey's social and economic turmoil to try and mount a serious challenge to veteran President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in elections due by June 2023.

The 73-year-old former civil servant announced in February that he would stop paying "inflated" bills that had shot up by at least half for most households as a result of inflation and a sharp currency depreciation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Macron Wins Reelection Over Populist Le Pen

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French President Emmanuel Macron cruised to a second term Sunday, beating back a stronger-than-expected challenge from a far-right populist who has attacked the European Union and NATO and expressed support for Russia.

In a rematch of the 2017 presidential election, Macron led Le Pen with more than 58% of the vote, according to projected results from the French news media, working with national pollsters

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: 16/17-Year-Old Voters In Wales Say They Need Better Voter Education

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Children should be taught about politics in school to encourage them to vote, according to young people about to vote for the first time.

Those aged 16 and 17 were able to vote for the first time in the Welsh Senedd, the region's parliament, in May 2021, although turnout was low among this age group.

Despite being given the right to vote for the first time in last May's Welsh Parliamentary elections, figures showed 50% of that group registered to vote, with an estimated 60% of those actually voting.

This age group can also vote in Scottish parliament elections, but not for the UK parliament.

A previous report on Welsh votes at 16 said work engaging youngsters needed to start earlier.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ALBANIA: Parliament To Elect New President May 5th

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The first round of voting to elect Albania’s new president will take place on May 4, according to Taulant Balla, leader of the Socialist majority’s parliamentary group.

In a press conference on Monday, Balla announced he had forwarded the request to Speaker of Parliament Lindita Nikolla, and will soon begin bipartisan consultations to reach “consensus.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: London Park Named For Prime Minister Could Be Renamed After Black Politician

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A London park named after William Gladstone could be rebranded Diane Abbott Park as part of a slavery review by a Labour-run council in the capital.

Gladstone Park, in north west London, got its name from the former prime minister in 1899.

But now the London park’s name could be changing after Brent council asked schoolchildren aged five to 13 to come up with a shortlist of ideas for a rebrand.

The name of the black Labour Party politician was raised by the children.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: Religious Zionist Party's Withdrawal From Coalition May Force New Elections

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Religious Zionist Party leader Betzalel Smotrich sent a request to Knesset speaker Mickey Levy on Monday to hold a special plenum session after the Passover holiday next week in order to vote on dissolving parliament and holding new elections.

Parliament is currently in recess and is not due to reconvene until May 9.

The far-right opposition lawmaker’s request came after the Islamist Ra’am party’s temporary withdrawal from the government and parliament on Sunday, which left the beleaguered coalition in a minority in the Knesset.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: PM Johnson To Face House Of Commons Committee Investigation Into Lying To Parliament Over "Partygate"

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MPs have been allowed to table a motion for debate to decide whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over assurances Covid rules were followed in Downing Street.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who has been involved in ongoing discussions with the opposition parties over what censure motion would be brought against the Prime Minister in the wake of the Partygate fine, has given the green light for the motion to take place.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Macron/Le Pen Enter Final Leg of Campaign

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President Emmanuel Macron and challenger Marine Le Pen both have relatively gentle schedules on Monday, pacing themselves until Wednesday's TV face-off, which could turn out to be the key to the campaign.

In 2017, when the pair clashed at this stage of the campaign, it was clear that Macron emerged as the more convincing candidate. He won the election comfortably a few days later.

This time however, Le Pen insists she is better prepared. "In my head, I'm ready to exercise power," she told TF1 television Sunday night.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HUNGARY: Landslide Victory For PM Orbán's Party

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The final results of Hungary's parliamentary elections have been published, confirming a landslide victory of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition.

The Fidesz-KDNP coalition will take 135 of the 199 seats in Hungary's parliament, NVI informed on Saturday, after counting the last votes cast in the Parliamentary elections held on April 3.

The opposition alliance, consisting of the Democratic Coalition, Jobbik, LMP, Momentum Movement, Hungarian Socialist Party and Dialogue for Hungary, received 57 seats.

While some have said that Orbán's victory is a victory for Russia's Putin, due to Orbán's refusal to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and his long-standing support for Putin, others have attributed the victory to purely national and local issues.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Labor Party Will Not Make Republic Referendum A Priority In Election

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Australia's Federal Labor Party is no longer committed to holding a vote on whether Australia should become a republic within its first term of government. 

The party is instead prioritizing a referendum to create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which would allow First Nations people a say on policies and laws affecting their communities.

During the last election, the Labor Party set aside $160 million for a plebiscite to determine support for a republic, before a referendum on what model that should take at a later date.

Pictured: Uluru, a large rock formation in Australia's Northern Territory, is sacred to indigenous peoples.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PAKISTAN: Parliament Appoints Sharif As New Prime Minister Following Khan Ouster

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Shahbaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League – North and little brother of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been elected prime minister by parliament. With 174 out of 342 votes in Parliament’s vote on Monday, he is set to serve as prime minister until the next general election, which is expected to take place in 2023.

In a speech to Parliament before being sworn in, Sharif spoke of unity across the country, including in his coalition government. He said he would introduce a 10% increase in pensions and raise the minimum monthly wage rate to 25,000 rupees – equivalent to $136 a month.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Residents In Shanghai Blame Communist Party For Brutal Lockdown

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In Shanghai, where millions are under lockdown, shortages of food and a lack of access to medical care are fueling anger and frustration against the government and the Communist Party of China.

Widely shared videos showed residents stuck at home yelling at Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan when she visited the city recently, saying they were "running out of rice and oil".

The city’s COVID lockdown was extended indefinitely earlier this week after staggered restrictions failed to contain infections. City officials had promised the staggered lockdown would end on 5 April, leaving many residents of the Chinese megacity unprepared to be indefinitely housebound.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SWEDEN: PM Signals NATO Membership App Submitted "Within Weeks"

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Sweden has signalled it will apply for NATO membership as fears that Russia, emboldened by its invasion of Ukraine, might see to attack Sweden and neighboring Finland.

Sources told Sweden's SVD newspaper about the move on the same day that fellow neutral neighbour Finland started its debate on joining NATO after days of speculation it would do so. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Environment Minister Opposes Cutting Gas Taxes

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Claiming that “climate change is killing people in Canada,” Liberal environment minister Steven Guilbeault has said that he opposes the Alberta in Ontario provincial governments reducing the cost of fuel by cutting gas taxes, because it “goes against our efforts to fight climate change,"

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Macron/Le Pen Will Face Off In Runoff

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NATO and the European Union face a nervous two weeks after Marine Le Pen on Sunday qualified for the second round of the French presidential election to challenge Emmanuel Macron on April 24.

The French president won 27.6 percent of the vote at the end of the first round of voting. His rival Le Pen, a longtime admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, garnered 23.4 percent of the vote. It is Le Pen’s third appearance —and her highest ever showing — in the first round of a presidential election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRELAND: Truckers Stage Mass Fuel Price Protest In Dublin

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The Tom Clarke Bridge/East Link Bridge in Dublin is blocked at both ends due to a fuel prices protest by truckers who are demanding Transport Minister Eamon Ryan resign and want diesel capped at €1.20 a litre and petrol at €1.10. 

Fuel is currently selling for around €2 a litre amid spiralling inflation and the protesters say they won’t move until their demands are met.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister Morrison Calls May 21 Federal Election

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Australians will head to the polls on May 21, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison telling voters "this election is about you".

Mr Morrison flew to Canberra this morning, where he made the journey to Government House to request Governor-General David Hurley dissolve parliament to trigger the election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PAKISTAN: Imran Khan Ousted After Losing Confidence Vote

[world politics news]

 

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has been ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership.

The vote was held past midnight after opposition parties brought a motion against him, which was upheld by the Supreme Court.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SPAIN: Popular Party Elects New Leader

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Alberto Núñez Feijóo, a centrist, was elected this past weekend as president of the conservative Spanish People's Party at the extraordinary congress held by the first opposition formation in Seville.

He was unopposed in his bid for the leadership of the party, which faces an uphill battle to regain power from Spain's Socialist Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TURKEY: Parliamentary Threshold For Parties Lowered To 7%

[world politics news]

The Turkish parliament on March 31 approved amendments to the election law, lowering the election threshold for political parties to earn seats in Parliament from 10 to 7 percent.

The military government in the aftermath of the 1980 coup d’état had introduced the 10% election barrier, which is the highest in the European continent, in a bid to maintain political stability.

The alliance the opposition are part of already garners more than 7%.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Ontario MP Lewis First To Qualify For Conservative Leadership Ballot

[world politics news]

Dr. Leslyn Lewis has become the first Conservative Party of Canada leadership candidate to officially when a place on the party's ballot.

The Ontario member of the federal Parliament also ran for the conservative leadership in 2020.

Candidates have until April 19 to enter the race and until April 29 to submit their nomination papers, 500 signatures from members of the party as well as a total of $300,000. That includes a leadership registration fee of $200,000 and a compliance deposit of $100,000.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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