#UGANDA: Online Protest Targets Gov't Corruption

[world politics news]

Abuse of public funds. Failing hospitals. Potholes in the streets of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

These and other issues feature in an online protest campaign that is rattling government officials and others in this East African country where street protests are practically outlawed — and where corruption is widespread and often deadly.

The campaign has been trending on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, as #UgandaParliamentExhibition. It relies on leaks of official documents and has been cast as an "exhibition" — in a sequence of postings — about controversial issues.

President Museveni, 79, Blames "foreigners and Western pro-gay activists" for criticism of the government, calling them "enemies of the people." Uganda has passed some of the most restrictive anti-gay laws in the world, drawing condemnation and causing homosexuals to literally flee for their lives. 

[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

[world politics news]

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.

#AUSTRIA: Chancellor Kurz Resigns Amid Corruption Probe

[world politics news]

 

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has stepped down, after pressure triggered by a corruption investigation.

He has proposed Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg as his replacement.

Kurz and nine others were placed under investigation after raids at a number of locations linked to his conservative People's Party (ÖVP), including his own office.

He denies claims he used government money to ensure positive coverage in a tabloid newspaper.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

 

#AUSTRALIA: New South Wales Premier, Deputy Premier, Resign

[world politics news]

 

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced she will quit as NSW Premier after the Independent Commission Against Corruption revealed she was being investigated.

Berejiklian read a prepared statement and did not take any questions. She was advised about the ICAC investigation on Thursday afternoon.

Berejiklian has been mentioned as a possible future Prime Minister of Australia.

New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro reportedly followed his leader Monday by resigning from politics. He was a strong advocate for vaccine passports, a notion that has sparked riots in the country.

Barilaro's departure will trigger a by-election in Monaro, adding to the other two by-elections scheduled for Berejiklian’s seat in Willoughby and Constance’s seat in Bega.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: Prime Minister Netanyahu's Trial Resumes

[world politics news]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  told judges in a Jerusalem court Monday that he was innocent of fraud and bribery charges.

Netanyahu, 71, pleaded not guilty on Monday to corruption charges at the resumption of his trial just six weeks before Israeli voters again pass judgment on his leadership in a national election.

He is the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israeli history.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ZIMBABWE: Health Minister Arrested For Awarding Dodgy Contract

[world politics news]

Health minister Obadiah Moyo has been arrested, accused of awarding a US$42 million contract to Drax International for the supply of COVID-19 drugs and personal protective equipment fully aware the company was not a pharmaceutical but a consultancy firm.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHKOREA: Former Justice Minister Questioned About Halting Malfeasance Investigation

[world politics news]

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk appeared at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning Monday.

While in charge of the Blue House# civil affairs and justice office, Cho is accused of wrongly suspending an internal investigation of former Busan Vice Mayor Yoo Jae-soo in 2017, then a senior official at the Financial Services Commission. In detention, Yoo was indicted Friday. Cho denies any wrongdoing.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PERU: Protests After Court Orders Release Of Oppo Leader Fujimori From Prison

[world politics news]

Peru's Constitutional Tribunal has voted 4-3 to release opposition leader Keiko Fujimori from prison, sparking protests in capital Lima.

The daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori was jailed last year for money laundering and receiving illegal contributions from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.

Her populist, conservative party,  Fuerza Popular (Popular Force) controlled parliament but had huge losses after Fujimori's 2018 conviction. It now holds 54 seats in the 130-member national parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#LEBANON: Mass Protests Over Government Corruption

[world politics news]

Hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied Sunday across Lebanon to condemn official corruption and demand the government resign, on the eve of a deadline for politicians to accept a reform package.

The capital Beirut, second city Tripoli in the north and the southern port of Tyre all came to a standstill, with streets filled with protesters waving the national flag, chanting “revolution” or “the people demand the fall of the regime” — a common refrain of demonstrations in other parts of the Arab world.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PERU: Former Pres. Toledo Arrested In California On Corruption Charges; To Be Extradited

[world politics news]

Former Peruvian Pres. Alejandro Toledo has been arrested in the U.S. on corruption charges. The former leader is wanted in home country for allegedly taking US$20 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company. Toledo, who has lived in California in recent years, was arrested by US Marshals following extradition request from Peru.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#MALAYSIA: Stepson Of Disgraced Former PM Arrested For Money Laundering

[world politics news]

Riza Aziz, the stepson of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, has been charged with money laundering linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad global corruption scandal that saw billions siphoned out of the state wealth fund by his stepfather.

Aziz, 43, is co-founder of US film company that made The Wolf of Wall Street. He faced court after being detained by Malaysia’s anti-corruption watchdog.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Former Pres. Sarkozy Loses Final Appeal To Avoid Corruption Trial

[world politics news]

France’s former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, will go on trial facing charges of corruption and influence peddling after losing his final bid to avoid appearing in court. The Court of Cassation, which rules on questions of law, says a trial is justified for Sarkozy as well as his lawyer Thierry Herzog and former judge Gilbert Azibert.

 [FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CZECHIA: Mass Protests Against PM Babis Calls For Resignation

[world politics news]

Czechs turned out in their thousands on Sunday in Prague to call for the ousting of prime minister Andrej Babis in the biggest show of public discontent since the 1989 Velvet Revolution which overthrew communism.

The rally in Letna park was the culmination of a series of demonstrations in recent weeks against Babis, 64, who has faced investigations over alleged fraud and conflicts of interest, claims he vehemently denies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDIA: Watchdog Group: India Is Slightly Less Corrupt Than Last Year

[world politics news]

As India gears up for national elections, a watchdog group noted little significant movement in its Corruption Perceptions Index score, which moved from 40 in 2017 to 41 in 2018. Its neighbor, China, lagged far behind, according to the annual index released by anti-graft watchdog Transparency International.

India rose by three points to 78 in the list of 180 countries in the world, while China ranked 87 and Pakistan 117 in 2018.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#MOZAMBIQUE: Former Foreign Min. Arrested In S. Africa Over Secret Loans

[world politics news]

A South African judge has ruled in favor of the arrest of Mozambique's former finance minister, Manuel Chang, who was detained at Johannesburg airport over alleged secret loans to Mozambican state companies totaling $2 billion. The loans caused the country to default on its loans.

Chang’s lawyers argued that his detention by South Africa on a U.S. extradition request was illegal. But Judge Sagra Subroyen dismissed the application at Johannesburg’s Kempton Park magistrates court, saying “this court agrees with the state to consider that the arrest warrant is valid”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PERU: Opposition Leader Fujimori Ordered Back To Jail On Corruption Charges

[world politics news]

A court has granted prosecutors' request to detain former presidential candidate and congresswoman Keiko Fujimori for up to three years while she awaits a trial for corruption. Fujimori, who is the daughter of former Pres. Alberto Fujimori, was arrested Oct. 10th and charged with receiving illegal payments from a construction firm. She was later released due to a lack of evidence. Prosecutors resubmitted the evidence to court and she was arrested again, after arguing she was a flight risk.

In 2011, she launched a political party, Fuerza Popular ("Popular Force") with her father's supporters. The  party is now the largest in Peru and holds nearly half the seats in parliament. Fujimori has been defeated in two presidential elections, the latest, in 2016, coming within .25% of victory in a run-off.

In 2017, her party led an impeachment vote against Pres. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, which failed to come up with the necessary votes to remove him from office.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRAQ: Basra Residents Angered Over Corruption, Iran, Burn Gov't Buildings

[world politics news]

Angry over the lack of basic services such as water and electricity, residents of the Iraqi city of Basra took to the streets Friday, torching Iran's consulate, along with party  and government headquarters. Several protesters have died in clashes with security forces. Residents say they've been driven to the streets by corruption and misrule that allowed infrastructure to collapse, and over Iran's influence in Iraq.

[FULL STORY HERE and HERE]

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

#ARGENTINA: Court Set To Rule Whether Pres. Macri Had The Right To Seek IMF Loan To Stabilize Economy

[world politics news]

Argentina's President Mauricio Macri has been accused of 'abuse of power' over a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF.) A federal judge will decide if President Macri's administration had the authority to request the IMF loan. Argentina has been plagued by economic instability that threatens to spillover into the political arena.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Second Senior Education Ministry Official Indicted On Bribery Charges

[world politics news]

A second senior official of Japan's education and science ministry has been arrested on bribery charges. Kazuaki Kawabata, the ministry's director-general for international affairs, allegedly accepted gifts in exchange for giving a favor to a medical consulting firm in Tokyo. Kawabata is suspected of being wined and dined to the tune of $12,600 from August 2015 to March 2017. During that period, he was on loan to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MALAYSIA: PM Asks For, Receives, Resignation Of Sovereign Wealth Fund's Board; Accused Of Rewarding Politicians

[world politics news]

The entire governing board of a sovereign wealth fund has resigned at the suggestion of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The prime minister had accused the fund, which he created when he was previously prime minister, had deviated from its original objectives, and had become a convenient vehicle for the previous government to reward politicians and non-professionals with positions and lucrative compensation packages.

[FULL STORY HERE]