#USA: Philly Appoints A "Night Mayor"

[world politics news]

Investing in nightlife — in this economy? Yes, actually. With an eye on arts and culture as a job creator and magnet for young people moving to the area, Philly is on a quest to become a 24-hour city.

Enter the night mayor.

OK, that’s not Raheem Manning’s actual title. Officially, he’s Philadelphia’s night time economy director, working under the Department of Commerce. But “night mayor” is what the position is called in a lot of other cities around the country, and the world.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Merkel Endorses Key Planks Of Her Successor's Platform; Including Joint European Union Aircraft Carrier

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel has endorsed some of the key European reform ideas put forward by her successor to the Christian Democratic Union leadership Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, including a joint EU aircraft carrier. Kramp-Karrenbauer, who succeeded Merkel as leader of the CDU in December, etched out her vision in a weekend response to French President Emmanuel Macron's proposals for European Union reform. Her essay included a call for a stronger EU border force, a pan-European climate pact and a common market for banking.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Premier Li Calls For "Opening Up," And "Deepening Reform" To Help Business In China

[world politics news]

Premier Li Keqiang has called for greater efforts in deepening reform and opening-up, as well as unleashing market vitality in pushing the country's high-quality development. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, speaking during a symposium in East China's Zhejiang Province, said the country needed to "do more to heed the voice of market entities." He also stressed the need to get a better handle on the nation's growing unemployment problem. "We are confident and capable of tackling the challenges and maintaining sustained and steady development of our economy," he said. "China owns a huge market and a vast potential of human resources."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Pres. Macron Comes Under Fire For Comments "Mocking France" During Denmark Visit

[world politics news]

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has unsuccessfully tried to reform the French economic system, is being criticized for taking out his frustrations while visiting Denmark. "These Lutheran (protestant) people (Danish) who have experienced transformations in recent years are not exactly the Gauls, who are resistant to change," said Macron, using a term for the ancient term for France.

Opposition politicians pounced on him for showing "contempt" towards France. "The 'Gauls' will be happy to respond to his arrogance and contempt", said Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally Party. Far-left populist Alexis Corbière, who accused him of having “not only shown contempt towards his own people: but also of displaying "an astounding level of stupidity." Last year on a trip to Romania, Macron noted that the French "hated reforms."

[FULL STORY HERE and HERE]

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

#VENEZUELA: Economic Reforms Include Plan To Knock Five Zeros From Currency

[world politics news]

The beleaguered regime of Nicolas Maduro is launching a "new" currency Monday, in a desperate attempt to stem inflation and tackle its economic crisis. The new 'sovereign bolivar' will enter circulation on Monday, which has been declared a national holiday so that the population can get used to the new banknotes. Inflation in Venezuela is forecast by to hit a million per cent this year, with a cup of coffee now costing around two million bolivars.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#BULGARIA: Nation Is Close To Joining The Euro Common Currency

[world politics news]

Bulgaria, the European Union’s poorest country, has moved closer to adopting the European common currency, the Euro, after a meeting of Eurozone finance ministers in Brussels. The European Commission and the European Central Bank said an evaluation could be completed in “around a year." "The European Commission welcomes Bulgaria’s efforts to join the eurozone," Latvian Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice President of the European Commission told a news conference.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SAUDIARABIA: New Bankruptcy Law Seeks To Empower Loaners, Preserve Debtor's Rights, Improve Int'l Standings

[world politics news]

A new bankruptcy law will come into effect in August that seeks to empower loaners, while also preserve the rights of debtors. Majed al-Rasheed, secretary general of the bankruptcy committee at the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, says the law will also improve Saudi Arabia's standing in international reports dealing with insolvency. The Kingdom currently ranks at 168 out of 190 countries.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EGYPT: Economic Reforms Bring #IMF Investment, But End Of Subsidies Causes Consumer Prices To Soar

[world politics news]

The International Monetary Fund has approved the fourth installment of a $12 billion, three-year loan for Egypt, which now totals just over $8 billion. It's part of an aid deal signed in 2016 to support Cairo's economic reform program, which the Washington-based lender has repeatedly praised. Since then, the government has imposed harsh austerity measures and started to phase out subsidies on many goods and services, causing fuel prices to rise as much as 50%, and electricity rates by about 25%. The nation's deficit rose to 12.5% of GDP in the 2015-2016 tax year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#DENMARK: PM Rasmussen Refuses To Drop "Socialist" Home Loan Plan Despite Internal Opposition

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has denied rumors of a spilt within the Venstre (Liberal) party after a minister called a proposal for a state loan system “socialist." The plan calls for the government to take over issuing home loans. According to a news report, Venstre's political group chairman Søren Gade said that he considered the proposal to reflect socialist policy. Rasmussen said that he would move ahead with the proposal, despite the party's internal disagreement over it.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHAFRICA: Pres. Zuma Seeks To Replicate Zimbabwe By Taking White-Owned Lands

[world politics news]

Pres. Jacob Zuma says he will lead an effort to take "land back to the people," and part of this plan involves taking white-owned properties without compensation. It's a policy reminiscent of Pres. Mugabe's Zimbabwe, whose actions have made that nation an economic ruin, but Zuma insists it will transform the economy, and recently sent the Land Expropriation Bill back to Parliament for further consideration. The bill was passed by Parliament in May last year, but requires the government to purchase property on reasonable terms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Pres. Xi Defends Marxism, Says It's Still Relevant

[world politics news]

The Communist Party of China should adapt Marxist principles to the current realities of China, with innovation in both theory and practice, said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee during a rally marking the 95th anniversary of the founding of the party. Socialism has been practiced in China for only a few decades and is still in its primary stage, Xi said, adding that China should not waver in its Marxist and socialist ideals.  In the 1990s, China largely embraced capitalism but is still a centrally-run one-party state.

#SWITZERLAND: Guaranteed Basic Income Plan Defeated Soundly By Voters

[world politics news]

Switzerland has become the first country in the world to hold a nationwide vote on introducing an unconditional basic income. Despite a spectacular pro campaign, there was no hope of it winning a majority. Official final results show the proposal winning 23.1% of the vote and all the country's 26 cantons coming out against.

#JAPAN: Legislation Would Equalize Pay For Part-Time Workers

[world politics news]

In his policy speech, Abe also unveiled a plan to realize, "equal pay for equal work" as part of efforts to address wage gaps between full-time and part-time workers. The plan, which will be included in a government blueprint to be compiled this year, represents the government's efforts to achieve, "a society in which all citizens are dynamically engaged," a key policy project for Abe.

#GREECE: BREAKING: As Bailout Talks Near An End, PM Tells Parliament EU Proposals Are "Extreme"

[world politics news]

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told the Greek Parliament today that the bailout proposals put on the table by Europe's institutions and the IMF this week were "extreme" and "cannot be accepted." He went on today say Greece's demands are the "only realistic proposal." His call for a united front with other parties was immediately rejected.

#UK: Scottish Nationalists To Seek Full Taxing, Spending Powers From UK Gov't

[world politics news]

Scottish nationalists will try to wrestle full control over taxation and spending from the British government if they win kingmaker position in the May 7 general election, the leader of the Scottish National Party. Polls show the SNP will likely win 35-50 of the 59 Scottish seats in the UK House of Commons.

#GREECE: Frmr. #EU Official Says Greek Gov'ts Election Promises To Increase Spending "Completely Unrealistic"

[world politics news]

Greece's left-wing government made "completely unrealistic promises" to voters that it cannot now fulfill, says former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Greece's demands have been "completely unacceptable to other countries", he told the BBC.

#BRAZIL: Teen Leads Fight For Free Market Reforms Against Pres. Rousseff's Leftist Gov't

[world politics news]

Kim Kataguiri, 19, is leading the most effective movement of demonstrations since the 1980s pro-democracy movement. His pro-free market and low-tax Free Brazil Movement is gaining a huge following among the nation's youth, hit hard by rising taxes and slow economic growth.

#FRANCE: PM Valls Pushes Pro-Business Economic Reforms Through Parliament Without A Vote

[world politics news]

France's prime minister will push a key package of pro-business economic reforms through parliament without a vote, in a move that could spark a confidence vote in the government, which is the only way the action can be overturned. Socialists in his own party say the measure are too pro-business.

#CHINA: Pres. Xi Urges Poverty Program For Historic "Revolutionary Base Areas"

[world politics news]

Touring "Revolutionary Base Areas" - regions used by Mao's army during the Chinese Revolution as military strongholds in difficult terrain - Pres. Xi Jinping said he wants to end poverty in these areas and improve local people's standard of living.

#FRANCE: French Legislators To Consider Allowing Shopping on Sundays 12 Days/Year, Other Measures, to "Unblock" Economy

[world politics news]

French MPs are set to debate a contentious series of reforms aimed to "unblock" France's struggling economy, including plans to extend Sunday shopping hours from five days a year to twelve.