#NIGERIA: Presidential, Parliamentary Elections Held

[world politics news]

Nearly 90 million people are eligible to cast a ballot to elect the country’s next president and choose their representatives in Parliament.

The vote comes at a time when Africa's most populous democracy grapples with a security crisis, a sluggish economy and cash and fuel shortages.

Around 400,000 police and troops will be deployed to protect voters. Polling stations are set to close at 1:30 PM GMT but all voters on queue before 1 can vote the electoral commission said .

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#DJIBOUTI: Nation Votes, But Opposition Boycotts

[world politics news]

Voters in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti were choosing a new parliament on Friday in an election boycotted by the main opposition parties.

The election is being held amid speculation over a potential successor to President Ismael Omar Guelleh, one of Africa's longest serving leaders, who has ruled the nation with an iron fist since 1999.

Guelleh's ruling Union for Presidential Majority (UMP) is one of only two parties taking part and is certain of victory.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GHANA: MP To Introduce Anti-Gay Legislation In March

[world politics news]

The bill on Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values is set to be laid before Parliament by the end of March this year.

This was revealed by a proponent and sponsor of the bill and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Prampram Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Sam Nartey George.

His revelation comes after the committee yesterday held a closed-door hearing with the State Attorney on his Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) raising some human rights challenges with the bill.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Queensland Toughens Domestic Abuse Laws

[world politics news]

A package of domestic violence reforms passed in the Queensland state parliament will strengthen protection for victims.

The changes will expand the definition of domestic and family abuse to include a "pattern of behavior" and will strengthen the offense of stalking.

The amendments also strengthen the court's ability to consider previous domestic violence or criminal history and to award costs to avoid further abuse to victims.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: Law Mandates 100% EVs In EU By 2035

[world politics news]

The European Parliament has approved a law that will phase out combustion engine cars -- a move that will drastically reshape the bloc's auto industry.

The regulation will require that by 2035 automakers must achieve a 100 percent cut in CO2 emissions from new cars sold, which will make it impossible to sell new fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the 27-country bloc.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: Netanyahu "Open To Talks" On Controversial Judicial Reforms

[world politics news]

 
Addressing the public amid increasingly rancorous political divisions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said he was open to talks on his government’s efforts to radically restructure the judicial system, while blaming his rivals for the lack of negotiations — but signaling at the same time that the coalition would continue with its legislative push, despite President Isaac Herzog calling for the process to be temporarily halted.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHKOREA: Interior Min. Impeached Over Halloween Crowd Incident

[world politics news]

South Korean politicians have voted to impeach interior minister Lee Sang-min over his responses to a deadly Halloween crush last October, setting the stage for him to become the first cabinet member removed by the legislature.

As many as 159 people were killed and 196 injured in the October 29 incident, when revellers flooded narrow alleyways in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon to enjoy the first coronavirus mask-free Halloween festivities in three years.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

 

#MALTA: MP Proposes Menstrual Cycle Leave Bill

[world politics news]

Parliament should consider introducing menstrual cycle leave, Labour MP Roasianne Cutajar said. 

Speaking in Malta's parliament, the former parliamentary secretary for civil rights said that many women were unable to go to school or work because of period pains. 

Cutajar said she chose to raise the topic after speaking to a young woman from Qormi who lost her job because she had to miss work owing to pain.  

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK:Calls To Revoke Parliamentary Clearance Of Ex-MP Hosting Iranian TV Show

[world politics news]

Parliamentary authorities are facing calls to consider revoking a security pass held by a former Labour MP who now hosts a show on Iranian state TV. 

Chris Williamson was MP for Derby North between 2017 and 2019 and served as a shadow minister under former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. 

He continues to enjoyed privileged access to Parliament by holding one of more than 300 passes doled out to former MPs. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

China Seeks Free Trade Deal In "America's Backyard"

[world politics news]

A proposed free-trade agreement between China and a group of South American nations, which includes Argentina and Brazil, will benefit all sides economically, but will further increase competition between Washington and Beijing in the so-called backyard of the United States, according to analysts.

New leftist Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that the proposed deal between China and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), which also includes Uruguay and Paraguay as full members, will modernise and open up the South American trade bloc to other regions.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: New York Times Sues EC Over Pfizer Texts With President

[world politics news]

The New York Times is taking the European Commission to court over the executive institution’s failure to release text messages between its president Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Govt To Remove Hundreds Of China-Mad f Closed Circuit TV Cams

[world politics news]

Australia's Defence Department removed all Chinese manufactured surveillance cameras after an audit detailed the number of Hikvision and Dahua devices installed in various government facilities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#USA: House overrules DC Council Bills On Crime, Voting

[world politics news]

The House of Representatives on Feb. 9 approved two measures that overturn bills passed by the Council of the District of Columbia.

Specifically, the legislation would block a pair of laws recently approved by the D.C. City Council. The US House has constitutional oversight of DC, which is not a state.

One of these measures, the Revised Criminal Code Act, would lessen penalties for violent crimes even as Washington is experiencing a record-breaking crime wave. That proposal was vetoed by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser; the D.C. City Council later overruled Bowser’s veto in a 12–1 vote.

The other measure, the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act, would allow noncitizens in Washington to vote.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Former Labour MP Headed To Prison For Fraud

[world politics news]

 

Former MP Jared O'Mara has been jailed after being convicted of six counts of fraud. The disgraced politician was convicted alongside his former chief of staff of plotting to submit fake expense claims. This is how he went from obscurity to criminality via Westminster.

As one observer put it, Jared O'Mara looked "like a rabbit in headlights" when he was declared Sheffield Hallam's new MP in the early hours of 9 June 2017.

His sudden catapulting into politics that election night surprised his party, his defeated rivals and even himself.

In 2019, he was banished from the labor party after allegations of abuse, and homophobic posts to social media.

But worse was to come as a former aide alleged that when he was an MP, O'Mara build taxpayers over  £52,000 for jobs that did not exist and employees that did not exist. Now he is headed to prison after a jury convicted him of fraud, after using the funds to fuel an extensive cocaine habit.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NORWAY: PM Proposes $7.3 Billion Aid Package For Ukraine

[world politics news]

Norway's prime minister proposed on February 6 that his country should provide aid to Ukraine of some 75 billion Norwegian krone ($7.3 billion) over a five-year period. "We aim to secure a unified agreement on this in parliament," Labor Party Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told a news conference after meeting Norwegian opposition leaders.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UKRAINE: Parliament Extends Martial Law, Mobilization During Russian Attack

[world politics news]

The Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, has prolonged Ukraine’s martial law and mobilization on Feb. 7, for the sixth time since the start of Russia’s all-out war, according to lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak.

Both measures are extended for 90 days.

Zhelezniak said 348 and 344 lawmakers voted in favor of extending martial law and mobilization, respectively.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Former Health Sec. Posts TikTok Video Ironing

[world politics news]

  

Matt Hancock has shared a video on social media of him ironing a shirt in a bid to “de-crease the number of comments” he gets about them.

The former health secretary has used his TikTok account to post videos of himself in a variety of different situations, including weighing in on American politics and whether there are more wheels or doors in the world.

(Full story HERE.)
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#STLUCIA: House Speaker Will Face Confidence Vote

[world politics news]

Speaker of the House of Parliament Claudius Francis welcomes the Micoud South MP, Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet, to table a no-confidence motion against him, calling the Presiding Officer's actions irresponsible.

In October 2022, Francis announced that Chastanet should appear before the Privileges Committee of the House to answer contempt complaints by two government Ministers, Tourism and Investment Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire and Housing Minister Richard Frederick.

Francis,64, is a former television talk show host, former president of the Senate, and was previously leader of the Labour Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SINGAPORE: Bill Would Reform Presidential Elections

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is set to introduce two Government Bills tabling legislative amendments to the presidential elections, when Parliament sits for a session on Monday.

A presidential election must be called by Sep 13, with President Halimah Yacob’s six-year term expiring on that day.

It will be open to candidates of all races, as opposed to the reserved election in 2017 where only members of the Malay community were allowed to contest. 

A Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill debated in Parliament in 2017 introduced changes to how such polls are run, across areas like campaigning and rallies. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Online Streaming Bill Goes To House of Commons

[world politics news]

On Thursday, Canada's Senate approved the Liberal government's Bill C-11, otherwise known as the “Online Streaming Bill,” which has drawn a variety of criticisms, including from leading Canadian novelists and tech giant YouTube.

Bill C-11 will now head back to the House of Commons, where members vote over passing it into law. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: BC Legalizes Hard Drugs For 3 Years

[world politics news]

On Tuesday, British Columbia will begin a three-year decriminalization experiment, allowing drug users 18 and over to carry a up to 2.5 grams of opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl, as well as cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA.

It’s an experiment that’s likely to influence drug policy across Canada.

The approach is a “monumental shift” in drug policy, says Carolyn Bennett, the federal minister of mental health and addictions, adding that it’s meant to foster “trusting and supportive relationships” rather than criminalization.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Parliament Relaxes Crypto Regulations

[world politics news] 

France is set to revamp the regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, which is hoped will trigger the industry’s growth.

The French National Assembly has voted in favor of rules that will make the licensing requirements easier for cryptocurrency companies while extending relief to the sector.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: The UK Government Vetoes Scotland's Gender Reform Bill

[world politics news]

Scotland’s parliament voted to pass its Gender Recognition Reform bill in December, following in the footsteps of 18 other countries that have removed barriers for transgender people to legally change their gender.

After months of debate and scrutiny, the bill was met warmly, passing through parliament 86 to 39, and called “a big step forward” by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.

That was until earlier this month, when the U.K. government vetoed the bill. This marks the first time in Scotland’s history that the government has exercised such power.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THENETHERLANDS: Dutch-made Microchips Found In Russian Weapons in Ukraine

[world politics news]

Dutch-made microchips have been found in captured Russian weapons, sold to them by the Chinese for use in it's invasion of Ukraine, an investigation by a Dutch newspaper has found.

Millions of microchips made by Dutch companies reportedly ended in Russia since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, despite heavy sanctions on technological goods, an investigation by Dutch newspaper Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) showed.

Hundreds of deliveries have gone to three Russian companies linked to the defense industry, meaning that Dutch chips have also been used in Russian weapons.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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