#SOUTHSUDAN: Gov't Shuts Schools, Gov't Offices Amid Heatwave; Blames West

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Blaming "climate change" and the West, Joseph Africano Bartel, undersecretary for Environment in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, has announced the closure of schools and government businesses in this war-torn and poor African nation amid a severe heatwave. 

Yolanda Awel Deng, minister for Health, said heatwave like the current one hits cities the hardest, and reduce productivity. She urged people to remedying indoors as much as possible. She said the government is monitoring the situation for disease outbreaks.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TURKEY: Ailing President Campaigns By Remote Video

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Turkey's ailing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday will try to offset his absence from the campaign trail for the May 14 election,  by unveiling a Russian-built nuclear plant by video link.

Erdogan is also expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he attempts to project health and vigour at one the more vulnerable moments of his two-decade rule.

The dominant 69-year-old leader has laid low since getting sick while conducting a live television interview on Tuesday evening.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NEWZEALAND: Lifetime Ban On Cigarette Sales For Those Born After 2008

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New Zealand last week passed extensive legislation aimed at preventing minors from becoming smokers, including a lifetime prohibition on cigarette sales to everyone born after 2008.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: New Democrats Call For investigation Of Government 's Handling Of Pandemic

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The health critic of the New Democratic Party is calling for an investigation into the government's handling of the covid-19 crisis  

In a press release, the party says, "In order to ensure accountability and transparency for Canadians, today NDP Health Critic Don Davies called on the federal government to launch an independent public inquiry into Canada’s COVID-19 preparedness and response under the federal Inquiries Act,’"

An independent commission of inquiry is already investigating Trudeau's use of the Emergencies Act during the pandemic.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Scottish Emergency Rooms See 10x Increase in Wait Times

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Official figures showed the number of patients enduring extreme waits in Scottish emergency rooms has risen around 10-fold since the COVID pandemic.

In September 2019, the number of patients waiting more than eight hours for treatment was 1,618 (1.1%) and more than 12 hours was 369 (0.3%).

In September this year, the figures were 13,506 (10.6%) and 5,296 (4.2%) respectively.

Pictured: Scottish National Party Health Secretary Humza Yousaf

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Poll: Majority Want COVID Restrictions To End

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A majority of Canadians now say it is time to end COVID restrictions, according to an Angus Reid poll, a sharp increase from when the same question was asked in early January.

The latest poll, taken Jan. 27-28, found 54% want restrictions to be lifted compared to just 39% who wanted restrictions lifted when the same question was asked two weeks earlier.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRIA: High Court Questions Covid Count

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There are explosive questions that the Constitutional Court is now asking the Ministry of Health. The supreme judges want to know how justified regulations such as lockdown and the 2G rule were. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein's department has until February 18 to respond.

The Constitutional Court is asking for information as to whether the hospitalization or death numbers given in the ordinance files "include all people infected with SARS-CoV-2 who are housed in hospitals on normal or intensive care units or who are 'on or with' SARSCoV-2 died? If so, why is this counting chosen?"

Meanwhile, the nation's Conservative-Green coalition government lifted the lockdown for the unvaccinated on January 26.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CZECHIA: Plan For Mandatory Vaccinations Dropped By New Gov't

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The Czech Republic's new government on Wednesday dismissed the previous government’s plan to require older adults and people in some professions to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The nation's new government, headed by five parties and led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, said the previous plan, which was going into effect in March, has been dropped.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Ontario Health Minister Decries Doctors Spreading "Misinformation" About Vaccines

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Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott has addressed reports that doctors are spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, calling it “unacceptable.” 

In a news conference, Elliot said she would be sending a letter to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario “urging them to do everything that is possible to put an end to this behavior.”

Some doctors are sharing unverified information on blood clots and myocarditis side effects, while others have been accused of issuing false medical exemptions for wearing a mask or receiving a vaccine. Several have claimed the vaccine “kills children.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: PM Johnson Lifts All Covid Restrictions

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Starting next Thursday, all COVID restrictions in the UK will be lifted, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Parliament.

Vaccine passports, the wearing of face masks and the mandatory at home work orders by government workers will be lifted. Johnson said private businesses may still require masks or working from home at their discretion.

The lifting of restrictions comes at a time when Johnson's Conservative Party is polling far behind the UK's Labour Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: New Brunswick Gov't Reverses Itself, Won't Allow Vax Passports In Grocery Stores

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After sustained public pressure, the New Brunswick government has announced it is no longer allowing grocery stores to bar unvaccinated Canadians.

The announcement came in a government news release on interim COVID measures directed at slowing the Omicron variant.  

“An option allowing stores that sell groceries to ask patrons 12 and over for proof of vaccination, instead of implementing distancing requirements, is being removed from the province’s mandatory order.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Gov't Urges Businesses Not To Discriminate Against Unvaccinated

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Japan is bucking the trend of vilifying vaccine refusers and instead urging its citizens not to intimidate anyone into getting the jab.

The move flies in the face of efforts by the Biden administration, the Trudeau government, and Australia’s regime to vilify and criminalize vaccine-hesitant individuals. Japanese government officials have advised citizens to “not discriminate against those who have not been vaccinated.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: PM Johnson Says "National Conversation" Needed Over Mandatory Vaccinations

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Conservative Party Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that there needs to be a " national conversation" about Covid vaccines in the UK.

Speaking at a press conference from 10 Downing Street tonight, he admitted that there was no prospect of mandatory vaccinations but said that the government needed to protect the public, particularly those who choose not get vaccinated for any reason.

However, a Covid passport will now be mandatory to access venues where large crowds gather, such as nightclubs.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Gov't Ditches Plans For Vax Passports In England

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Plans to introduce vaccine passports for access into nightclubs and large events in England will not go ahead, the health secretary has said.

Sajid Javid told the BBC: "We shouldn't be doing things for the sake of it."

It was thought the plan, which came under criticism from venues and some MPs, would be introduced at the end of this month.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Ontario Unveils Vaccine Passports For Sept. Rollout

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced a vaccine passport program to take effect later this month.  

Beginning Sept. 22, proof of vaccination will be needed for restaurants, bars, gyms and other indoor settings in Ontario where masks cannot be worn for the duration of the visit.

For the first month, proof of vaccination will be the receipt issued when getting vaccinated or downloaded from the government website. Another piece of government identification, such as a driver’s licence, will be required.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Quebec To Introduce Vax Passports As Infections Spike

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Quebec plans to adopt a vaccine passport given a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the province, Premier François Legault announced Thursday.

The premier said Quebecers are on the cusp of a fourth wave of the pandemic and that a vaccine passport will be implemented as a response. 

On Thursday, the province recorded 305 new coronavirus cases — the highest daily increase since May 30, 2021 — but stated that 72 are "under investigation."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: PM Morrison defends MP's Right to Organize Anti-Lockdown Rallies

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has sought to defend government MP George Christensen for anti-lockdown activism in Queensland, stating Australians have “free speech” and can attend rallies where public health orders allow, while condemning rally-goers in Sydney as “selfish."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: PM Bennett's Cabinet Approves Vaccine Passports As Of Aug 8

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Israel's "coronavirus cabinet" has approved the return of the “Green Pass” at events with more than 100 people. The pass was discontinued in May.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he was taking the action to safeguard Public health, and in a public address, said those who were refusing to get a vaccination were endangering the freedom of other Israeli citizens. About a million Israelis, mostly the young, have not yet been vaccinated.

Ministers voted to bring back the regulations, beginning August 8, requiring those attending events with more than 100 people to present either a certificate of vaccination or recovery, or a negative COVID test from the past 72 hours.

The new “Green Pass” will affect sporting and culture events as well as gyms, restaurants, conferences, tourist attractions and synagogues.

Other nations, including Italy and France, have mandated a similar certification processes in which residents and visitors must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Double Vax Proof To Be Mandatory To Enter Nightclubs As Of Sept. 1

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Bar hoppers in the UK will have to be doubled vaccinated to enter nightclubs from the end of September, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced.

In a big change of tone, the PM said vaccine passports will be needed to hit the dance floor in a bid to boost vaccinations among 18-30-year-olds.

The PM made the announcement at a Downing Street press conference amid fears not enough youngsters are getting the shot.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Macron: Vax Passports Likely Required For All Public Places August 1

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Vaccine passports for bars, restaurants, and public transport will become mandatory in France starting next month, President Emmanuel Macron announced in a national address on Monday evening. 

The proof of vaccination will be required to enter bars, restaurants, and even supermarkets according to the media reports, beginning August 1st.

The announcement start mass demonstrations in Paris and other cities throughout grants opposing the move. But it was also reported that over a million people made appointments to have a vaccination in the first 48 hours after Macron's announcement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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