#JAPAN,: Former PM Shinzo Abe Assassinated

[world politics news]

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated at a campaign stop yesterday by a lone gunman. He was 67 years old. 

Abe, who stepped down in 2020, was shot moments into a speech in Western Japan. He was immediately airlifted to a hospital, but was later pronounced dead. 

Police arrested suspected gunman, a 41-year-old former member of the Japanese Naval Defense Force, who used a homemade shotgun to shoot Abe twice, was easily apprehending him at the scene.

World leaders reacted with shock at the news.

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

[world politics news]

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.

#RUSSIA: Thousands March In Moscow To Commemorate Assassination Of Opposition Leader

[world politics news]

Thousands marched through central Moscow on Sunday to commemorate murdered Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, calling for President Vladimir Putin to be ousted just three weeks before a presidential election. Nemtsov, one of Putin’s most vocal critics, was shot dead on Feb. 27, 2015 as he walked across a bridge near the Kremlin.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#BURUNDI: Environment Minister Assassinated

Burundi's environment minister has been shot dead while on his way home on New Year's Eve.
Emmanuel Niyonkuru, 54, was killed at about 00:45 local time by "a criminal with a gun," a police spokesman tweeted. A woman who was with Mr Niyonkuru had been detained for questioning, say police. Pres. Pierre Nkurunziza said the crime would not go unpunished. Hundreds, including high-ranking army officials, have been killed in unrest since Nkurunziza ran for a third term in 2015, a move opponents say was unconstitutional.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: EU Referendum Remains On Hold Following Murder Of Parliamentarian

[world politics news]

EU referendum campaigning remains suspended, less than a week before polling day, following the murder of Labour Party MP Jo Cox by a crazed constituent yesterday. Parliament, which was on a break for the referendum, is to be recalled on Monday for tributes to Cox.

Pictured: PM David Cameron, center, and Opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn, right, attend a tribute for Cox in London Thursday.

#VENEZUELA: Regional Oppo. Ldr. Luis Manuel Diaz Assassinated During Rally

[world politics news]

The Democratic Action party says Luis Manuel Diaz was killed by attackers in a car as he was holding a public meeting in central Guarico state. Opposition leaders blamed militias supporting the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela. The party of President Nicolas Maduro has so far made no public comment.

#TUNISIA: 24 To Stand Trial Over 2013 Assassination Of Oppo. Ldr.

[world politics news]

The trial of 24 people suspected of involvement in the Feb., 2013 murder of opposition leader Chokri Belaid, whose death triggered a political crisis, will open on June 30. Belaid, who was gunned down outside his home, was a staunch critic of the then ruling Ennahda party, often seen as Tunisia's branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.

#KENYA: Police Seeking Leads in Gangland-Style Murder of Member of Parliament

[world politics news]

Police are hoping for video footage to help solve the murder of a member of parliament in Nairobi early Saturday morning. The scene of murder, opposite Nyayo House, is about 20 meters from closed circuit television surveillance cameras installed last year.

TUNISIA

Thousands Protest After Opposition Leader Mohamed Brahmi Assassinated [world politics news]