#IRAQ: Law Would Lower Age Of Consent To 9

[world politics news] 

A controversial proposed age of consent law would allow old men in Iraq to marry children as young as nine years old, and "legalize child rape" activists claim. 

Ultra-conservative Shia Muslim parties have launched a bid to pass a new law that would slash the existing age of consent in the nation in half from the existing limit of 18. The changes, proposed by the dominant Shia parties in Parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Law Makes Condoning Hamas A Crime

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Government authorities are stepping in to draw the line as to where freedom ends and condoning terror begins, as pro-Hamas demonstrations sweep the globe. French co1urts have ruled that public speech condoning the Oct. 7 attack or legitimizing Hamas as a resistance movement amounts to condoning terrorism—a crime under French law, punishable by up to seven years in prison. 

French prosecutors are investigating politicians on the far-left, union officials and hundreds of other people for allegedly condoning terrorism and inciting antisemitism since October.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

ISRAEL: Netanyahu Bans Aljazeera TV; Biden Condemns

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The Biden administration lashed out Monday, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that he will ban Aljazeera, a Qatari government-controlled news channel, in Israel because of the lies it has told about the October 7 terrorist attack and because some of its journalists are said to have participated in the attack.

Israeli lawmakers in the Knesset passed a measure in a lopsided, 71-10 vote Monday, giving Netanyahu the authority to ban the organization.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: High Court Rules Draft Deferrments For Seminary Students Must End

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Israel's High Court of Justice has issued an interim order barring the government from providing funds to ultra-Orthodox seminary students eligible for military enlistment — as the legal framework for deferring their military service will no longer exist.

A government resolution from June 2023 instructing the Israel Defense Force to temporarily not draft Orthodox seminary students despite the expiration of a law governing the matter will itself expire at midnight on March 31.

The controversy of student deferrals ending could break apart Netanyahu's wartime coalition, which consists of Orthodox political parties.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

USA: Sen. Schumer's Anti-Netanyahu Speech Stuns Israel

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) speech calling for a new government in Israel landed like an earthquake Thursday, delivering a huge shock to the already tense U.S.-Israel relationship.

In addition to being the most senior Jewish elected official in the country, Schumer has had one of the longest and closest relationships with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of any U.S. politician.

Schumer's speech, calling for new elections in Israel, stunned officials and observers in both Washington and Jerusalem because he has been the Democratic Party's most avid supporter of Israel in decades.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

IRAN: Low Turnout In Parliamentary Election

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Iranians are voting for a new parliament in an election marred by frustration over economic woes and restrictions on political and social freedoms.

The election on Friday is the first formal measure of public opinion since antigovernment protests in 2022-2023 spiralled into some of the worst political turmoil since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TUNISIA: Bill to Cut Off All Relations With Israel Considered

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Tunisia’s parliament is scheduled to consider this week a draft law effectively cutting off diplomatic relations with Israel as pro-Palestinian protests continue in the country amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

This comes after 97 members of parliament out of a total 154 called on the Freedom Committee to expedite consideration of the bill by the full legislature.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SAUDIARABIA: Saudi Amb. To UK: After Palestinian State, Peace With Israel

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Saudi Arabia is interested in normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel following the conclusion of the Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza (in retaliation for Hamas' attack on Isreal October 7) the Saudi ambassador to the UK, Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, said in an interview with the BBC.

However, the envoy said, Saudi Arabia had one condition - the creation of a Palestinian State.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EGYPT: Pres. Sisi Wins Another 6-Year Term

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has ruled with an unquestioned grip for the past nine years, won reelection to a third, six-year term in office, election authorities announced Monday. Sisi recorded a landslide victory, securing 89.6% of the vote, the National Election Authority said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: Netanyahu, Gantz Form Emergency Wartime Gov't

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Unity party leader Benny Gantz announced a landmark agreement on Wednesday to establish an emergency wartime government, after Hamas launched a brutal and unprecedented assault on Israel early Saturday that claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israelis, the single deadliest day in the country’s history.

The establishment of the new “national emergency government” — an unthinkable prospect mere days ago amid long months of bitter national divisions over Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plans — underscored the extent of the shock the nation has suffered and the degree to which politicians and the entire country have been unnerved by the sudden severe threat to national security.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JORDAN: "Draconian" New Law Regulates Online Speech

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The King of Jordan approved a bill Saturday to punish online speech deemed harmful to national unity, according to the Jordanian state news agency, legislation that has drawn accusations from human rights groups of a crackdown on free expression in a country where censorship is on the rise.

The measure makes certain online posts punishable with months of prison time and fines. These include comments “promoting, instigating, aiding, or inciting immorality,” demonstrating ”contempt for religion” or “undermining national unity.”

King Abdullah II has an recent years faced increasing unrest from his subjects, and even rumblings of a coup attempt by a relative of the king that was later diffused without bloodshed.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: Lawmakers Limit Supreme Court Powers, Violence Erupts

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Israeli lawmakers voted Monday to limit the Supreme Court’s ability to strike down government actions, delivering a long-sought goal of the country’s ascendant right-wing movement. 

The measure was pushed through despite months of civil unrest, international condemnations, and pleas from business and security leaders to seek consensus in a deeply divided society on the verge of chaos.

Lawmakers methodically voted down 140 amendments from the opposition, just as they had shouldered through more than 1,000 objections in a week of preliminary maneuvering and more than six months of nationwide protests.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#LEBANON: Parliament Fails To Elect President For 12th Time

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A months-long crisis continues as Lebanon’s parliament has – for the 12th time – failed to elect a president and break a political deadlock that has gripped the country many times before.

Lawmakers in the Middle Eastern democracy's legislature held a session last Wednesday to pick a replacement for former Pres. Michel Aoun, whose term ended last October, but disagreements prevented them from reaching the required thresholds.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JORDAN: Dignitaries Celebrate Wedding Of Crown Prince Hussein to Saudi Woman

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Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and Saudi Arabia's Rajwa Alseif tied the knot during ceremonies in the Jordanian capital Amman Thursday.

Prominent royals and political dignitaries from around the world took part, including Britain's Prince William and Princess Kate, as well as US First Lady Jill Biden and US climate envoy John Kerry.

The royal wedding is being celebrated across the kingdom, with the palace declaring a public holiday and arranging an array of celebrations and concerts.

Analysts view the royal wedding as a way for Jordan's royals to project stability following a 2021 palace feud and as the country struggles with economic issues and unemployment.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TURKEY: Erdoğan Wins Third Term After Winning Runoff

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Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has thanked voters after unofficial results showed him winning Turkey’s first-ever presidential election run-off.

The head of the Supreme Election Council said that Erdogan had won a third term, after the state-run Anadolu Agency had earlier given Erdogan a decisive lead over his rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, with nearly all of the votes from Sunday’s election counted.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PAKISTAN: Former PM Khan Arrested

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Imran Khan, Pakistan’s 5former prime minister, has been arrested by military police  during a court appearance in the capital, Islamabad, to face corruption allegations.

Video of the arrest shared by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party showed security forces in riot-control gear whisking the 70-year-old away in a van. The PTI urged supporters to take to the streets.

A controversial and polarizing figure, Khan has been a vocal critic of the military and his opponents since his ouster from office late last year. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JORDAN: Lower House Strips Member Of Immunity From Prosecution

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The Lower House of Parliament voted to strip MP Emad Adwan of immunity from prosecution shortly after he returned to the Kingdom Sunday morning following a two-week detention in Israel, Where he had been arrested We're attempting to swaggle 200 guns and gold into the West bank.

House Speaker Ahmad Safadi told reporters following a closed House session that the move to strip Adwan of parliamentary immunity followed a request by the State Security Court which was submitted to the legislature by the government.

[FULL STORY HERE and HERE.)

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

#PAKISTAN: PM Sharif Wins Confidence Vote

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Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has won a vote of confidence from the national assembly, in a major victory for the country’s governing coalition amid persistent opposition calls for a general election.

[FULL STORY HERE]


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

#ISRAEL: Netanyahu Decides To Keep Defense Minister

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Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reversed his decision to fire defence minister Yoav Gallant, amid deteriorating security that has left the country battling threats on multiple fronts.

Netanyahu originally said two weeks ago he would sack Gallant after the defence minister spoke out against the government’s controversial plans to weaken the powers of the judiciary. The minister warned that the deep polarisation caused by the proposals was undermining Israeli security.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRAQ: Provincial Election Set For November

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Iraq’s provincial council elections are set to take place on November 6 after parliament approved the date for the vote.

A showdown over a controversial new national election law, however, has been delayed.

After the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime, parliamentary and provincial council elections were introduced as the main pillar for democracy. The last provincial election was held in 2013.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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