#ICELAND: Proposal To Ban Circumcision Rite Has Jewish Groups Raising Religious Freedom Concerns

[world politics news]

Jewish groups have strongly criticized a move by five different groups in the Icelandic parliament parliament to ban circumcision. They have warned the proposed ban would make Iceland one of the only countries in the world 'to ban one of the most central, if not the most central rite in the Jewish tradition in modern times.' The proposal to prohibit circumcision  has been put forward by Progressive Party MP Silja Dogg Gunnarsdottir and is backed by several other Icelandic politicians.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ICELAND: Four-Party Coalition Talks Break Down

[world politics news]

The center-left government coalition talks that begun on Friday have been abandoned. The formal talks were initiated on after the leaders of the Progressive Party, the Left-Green Movement, the Social Democratic Alliance and the Pirate Party agreed to make an attempt to form a majority government following the October 28 general elections. According to our sources, the Progressive Party decided to abandon the talks due to the small majority in parliament. The four party coalition would have had 32 MPs in Iceland’s 63 member parliament, the smallest possible majority.

[FULL STORY HERE]