MEXICO: Pres. Warns Trump On Tariffs

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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday she would seek dialogue and cooperation with President-elect Donald Trump following his renewed threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on goods from both Canada and Mexico over illegal immigration and drugs.

Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump threatened to issue a 25 percent tariff on goods coming from Mexico if it did not comply with his demands on curbing illegal immigration. On Monday, he warned Mexico and Canada that he would quickly impose tariffs on imports unless they cracked down on illegal immigrants as well as fentanyl and other drugs coming across their respective borders into the United States.

Responding to the president-elect’s latest warning, Sheinbaum suggested that Mexico would respond with a retaliatory tariff against the United States.

[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"

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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.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Duterte Terminates Military Agreement With US

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Pres. Rodrigo Duterte will end the Visiting Forces Agreement that underpins U.S. military training exercises with the country's troops.

That choice is another blow to the relationship between the United States and the Philippines, which has suffered for years from disputes over Duterte’s human rights record.

He announced the plan terminate the deal, which provides legal protection to U.S. troops who visit the island for military drills, after the State Department reportedly canceled the visa of a political ally and former police chief who is suspected of involvement in extrajudicial killings, connected  with his War on drugs

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: US Travel Ban Against Top Officials Sees Duterte Retaliate By Banning US Senators Behind It

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A proposed United States travel ban against top Philippine officials, including members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s inner circle accused of rights abuses, threatens to torpedo bilateral strategic ties in 2020.

The targeted sanction, included as a provision in the US’ Fiscal Year 2020 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, was signed into law in December by Trump and will come into force later this year.

The proposed sanctions are the initiative of several senior Democratic senators, including Edward Markey (Massachusetts) Patrick Leahy (Vermont) and Richard Durbin (Illinois), who have openly criticized human rights abuses related to Duterte’s lethal drug war and assaults on democratic institutions during his three-year-old tenure.

In retaliation, the three Democratic Senators have been banned from travelling to the Philippines.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Ambassador's Exposed Secret Cables To UK About Trump Cause Uproar

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Britain's Ambassador to the USA has described Donald Trump as 'inept', 'insecure' and 'incompetent' in a series of explosive memos to the Prime Minister.

Sir Kim Darroch, one of Britain's top diplomats, used secret cables and briefing notes to impugn Trump's character, warning London that the White House was 'uniquely dysfunctional' and that the President's career could end in 'disgrace'.

The revelation is already creating political shock waves on both sides of the Atlantic. Brexit Party Leader Nigel farage has called or Darroch's immediate firing. "Farage calls for UK’s US Ambassador to be sacked. “Kim Darroch is totally unsuitable for the job and the sooner he is gone the better," he said, in a tweet.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Pres. Xi Uses Summit To Send Signals To Trump On Trade Issues

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US/China trade talks weighed heavily on Chinese President Xi Jinping's mind at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on April 25-27, attended by leaders from 37 countries around the world.

And while Pres. Trump wasn't in attendance, Xi's speech seemed aimed at addressing concerns raised by him.

Xi vowed to "expand market access for foreign investment in more areas," "enhance protection of the lawful rights and interests of foreign intellectual property owners," "stop forced technology transfer" and "improve protection of trade secrets."

He also said China "will increase the import of goods and services on an even larger scale," "will not resort to the beggar-thy-neighbor practice of yuan devaluation" and "will overhaul and abolish unjustified regulations, subsidies and practices that impede fair competition and distort the market."

These are all central topics in the U.S.-China trade talka, and observers noted that Xi's previous confrontational tone has disappeared.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Oppo Leader Corbyn Says "No" To Attending June State Dinner During UK State Visit

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The leader of the official opposition will snub Pres. Trump with he makes his second state visit to the United Kingdom in June. Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn says he won't attend a state dinner with the Queen and Prime Minister May at Buckingham Palace with Trump when he visits from June 3-5, because he doesn't want to "honor" him with "a red carpet."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PALESTINIANAUTHORITY: Pres. Abbas Slams US Move To Remove "Occupied Territories" Label From Annual Human Rights Report

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has criticized a US move to no longer refer to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights as "occupied territories" in its annual human rights report.

A spokesman called it "a continuation of the hostile approach of the American administration toward our Palestinian people and... contrary to all UN resolutions." In a statement carried by official Palestinian news agency WAFA, he said the change was part of Pres. Trump’s plan to "liquidate" the Palestinian cause.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PAKISTAN: Desperate, Cash-Strapped Nation Cannot Afford To Boycott Saudi Conference, Says Prime Minister

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Newly installed Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan says his country must continue its good relations with Saudi Arabia, despite the killing of Jamal Khashoggi because of its dire economic crisis.

Khan was slated to travel to the Saudi capitol of Riyadh Tuesday to attend an investment summit that has been boycotted by many western officials and companies following the murder of the journalist. In an interview with foreign journalists, Khan admitted that he could not afford not to attend.

He said the Pakistani government needed urgent access to Saudi loans to avoid defaulting on record levels of debt within months. "We’re desperate at the moment," Khan said. He also blamed Pres. Trump with stoking conflict in the region with continued sanctions on neighboring Iran, which he says is hurting Pakistan's economy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SAUDIARABIA: Gov't Says It Will Respond With "Bigger" Actions If US Imposes Sanctions Over Alleged Khashoggi Murder

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Saudi Arabia rejects political and economic "threats" over missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reports the BBC. The country would respond to any punitive action "with a bigger one," the unnamed senior source said. Khashoggi vanished October 2nd after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkey's president has said his government has proof that he was killed while inside the building, allegedly on orders of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, who is the nation's de facto ruler.

Pres. Trump said last week he would "punish" Saudi Arabia if it were found responsible for killing him. Khashoggi, a Saudi has been a critic of the Saudi monarchy, has been living in the US in self-imposed exile and writing for the Washington Post about the king's tactics against his enemies.

WHY IT MATTERS TO US:
You could feel any stoppage of oil flowing from Saudi Arabia to the US at the gas pumps, as prices would rise almost immediately after an embargo was announced (and it may happen even before then, just on the threat of a cut-off.) Stocks could plunge this week, because the Markets hate uncertainty.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHKOREA: Politicians Angered By Trump's Statement About Getting "Approval" Before Lifting Sanctions

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Pres. Trump’s statement that South Korea would not lift sanctions on North Korea without America’s “approval” has not gone down well in South Korea, prompting criticism from activists and politicians from across the political spectrum.

Trump’s comment came after South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha hinted that sanctions put in place on Pyongyang after the North’s torpedo attack on the country’s Cheonan warship could be lifted, a remark that she has retraced.

Trump said Wednesday, “They won’t do it without our approval. They do nothing without our approval,” a comment that has been widely branded as “condescending” and “an infringement of sovereignty.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Blogger Reveals London Mayor Khan's Staff Lobbied To Get "Trump Baby" Blimp Over London; Khan Had Denied Involvement

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A blogger covering UK politics has uncovered emails detailing the staff of London Mayor Sadiq Khan actively lobbying the Greater London Authority to allow a protest balloon, the "Trump Baby," to fly over Parliament during the US president's visit in July.

Despite his long-running feud with Trump, Khan had insisted in interviews at the time that the decision was solely in the hands of the city's ruling Greater London Authority as a “corporate body” and that he had not personally approved the blimp. Khan as mayor is a member of the GLA. In fact, emails obtained by Guido Fawkes' "Order-Order" blog reveal that the GLA initially rejected the proposal outright, only reversing their decision after a concerted campaign from Sadiq’s closest advisers including his Director of Communications Patrick Hennessey.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SPAIN: Gov't Announces Doubling Aid To UN Agency Helping Palestinians

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The Spanish government will double its humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, following the United States' decision to pull funds from the UN agency that allocates material assistance to five million Palestinians. The announcement came from Spanish Foreign Minister José Borrell at a press conference in Madrid with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Maliki. Borrell said it is a, "symbolic gesture" because, "our contribution, going from one million to two million, is still very far from what the United States brought." Maliki said, "The United States have shown that they wish to be part of the problem, not the solution."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#USA: New Mexico Land Commissioner Halts Discussion With Feds Over State Land Near Proposed Border Wall

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New Mexico's State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn says he has ended negotiations with the Federal Government to settle a dispute over a piece of state trust land along the border with Mexico. The Federal Government already has constructed a fence as well as a road at the property, but Dunn, who this year switched from Republican to Libertarian, said the Feds do not have a right of way to use the state trust land, and is holding out for more than $54,000 from them to use the land. It has offered just over $8,700. For now, he's placed a "No Trespassing" sign on the state trust land.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#USA: Lawyer For Porn Star Suing Trump Says He'll Run For President In #2020 If Trump Runs; Would Potentially Join #Oprah, #Bloomberg, #AlecBaldwin In #WhiteHouse Race

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Politico reports that Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing adult-film actress Stormy Daniels (who is suing Pres. Trump) said Wednesday he will run against President Donald Trump if he seeks reelection, but only if he thinks there isn’t another candidate that could beat the president.

“IF (big) he seeks re-election, I will run, but only if I think that there is no other candidate in the race that has a REAL chance at beating him. We can't relive 2016. I love this country, our values and our people too much to sit by while they are destroyed. #FightClub #Basta," Avenatti tweeted.

The tweet came after Avenatti, who resembles Vladimir Putin, was asked on Twitter when he would announce his 2020 bid.

It is unclear whether he would run as a Republican, Independent or Democrat. Others who have floated a run for president in 2020 are TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey, former NYC Mayor, gun control advocate and large soda banner Michael Bloomberg, and liberal Trump impersonator Alec Baldwin.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: For The First Time, Whistleblower Snowden Calls Russia's Gov't "Corrupt"

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For the first time, National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden has explicitly described his host, the Russian government, as being “corrupt." Some view his comments as putting his freedom at risk at a US-Russia summit in Helsinki on July 16, where Donald Trump may request Vladimir Putin to hand him over.

[FULL STORY HERE]

MEXICO: Leftist Pres. Candidate Lopez Obridor Wins In Landslide, Calls Trump With Deal

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Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has claimed victory in Sunday's presidential election. He will be the country's most left-wing government in decades. Lopez Obrador wasted no time calling Pres. Trump, offering to stem the tide of migration to the north in exchange for more aid, directed towards job creation within Mexico. Trump said he was encouraged by the call, and said he looked forward to good relations with Mexico's new president.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MEXICO: Leading Pres. Candidate Calls For Mass Migration To US; Migration "A Human Right"

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Mexican presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador has called for mass immigration to the United States during a speech Tuesday declaring it a “human right” for all North Americans. “And soon, very soon — after the victory of our movement — we will defend all the migrants in the American continent and all the migrants in the world,” Obrador said, adding that immigrants “must leave their towns and find a life in the United States.” He then declared it as “a human right we will defend,” eluniversal.com reports.
[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Chancellor Merkel Visits China To Seek "United Front" Against Trump's "America First" Trade Policies

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Chancellor Angela Merkel has made a visit to China, reportedly seeking to "close ranks" with the world's biggest exporting nation and find "a common strategy" with the Communist nation to ward off a trade war. Ahead of the visit, China's envoy to Germany, Shi Mingde, pointed to a "protectionist trend in Germany," and complained about toughened rules protecting German companies from foreign takeovers. It was Merkel's 12th visit to China as chancellor.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Prog. Conservative Leader Doug Ford Attacked For "Trump-Style" "Lock Her Up" Chants At Rally

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Two Ontario party leaders are condemning Progressive Conservative party leader Doug Ford for his supporters' "Trump-style" chants. Ford says he doesn’t condone chants of "lock her up" reportedly directed at Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne at a Progressive Conservative rally on Monday. She said the rhetoric is a "disturbing trend." New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath joined in the condemnation, calling the chants "unfortunate."

[FULL STORY HERE]