#UK: Labour Party's Opposition Equalities Minister Calls Criticism Of Trans Athlete "Lazy Transphobia"

[world politics news]

A Labour Party Member of Parliament has provoked a furious controversy after claiming criticism of swimmer Lia Thomas is "lazy transphobia".

Lia became the first transgender woman to win an NCAA Division I title.

She originally competed in the male division before racing against women after she transitioned.

Rival Reka Gyorgy complained to the athletics association about its decision to let Lia race against "biological women", and this complaint has been shared by a number of athletes and experts.

But Labour's Opposition Equalities Minister Charlotte Nichols leapt to the swimmer's defense and congratulated her on her achievement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: European Parliament Ends Bullfighting Subsidies

[world politics news] 

The European Parliament has voted to remove funding for fighting herds of bulls from the Common Agricultural Policy. The vote, sponsored by a Spanish political party and the European Greens was won by 335 votes in favor, 297 against and 60 abstentions.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BRAZIL: Legal Sports Betting Faces Hurdle After Regulatory Shift

[world politics news]

Brazil’s agency regulating fixed-odds sports betting has signalled a major shift in its approach to regulation of the market which will likely delaying the launch of legal sports betting in the South American country.

They are calling for public comment on a shift to a concession model, where a fixed number of licences are put up for tender. This marks a sharp turn from the original plan of a qualitative model, in which any operator able to meet the licence conditions would have been able to secure approval to operate.

The change is the result of an intervention from the Attorney General’s Office of the National Treasury (PGFN), which consults on legal matters within the Ministry of Finance.

The PGFN argued that a concession model would give the government more control over the Brazilian sports betting industry, both to crack down on wrongdoing by licensees and to tackle illegal operators targeting the market.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BRAZIL: Rio State Government Takes Control Of Former Olympic Stadium, Cancelling Private Contract

[world politics news]

Rio de Janeiro's state government says it is taking over the running of Brazil's Maracanã stadium, cancelling the contract of a private consortium. Gov. Wilson Witzel said the decision would take effect in April but would not disrupt football matches. Rio's state assembly earlier said it would investigate the contract of the Consorcio Maracanã, saying there were signs of mismanagement and corruption. The consortium said it was "surprised" by the state authorities' decision.

Last year, former Rio Governor Sergio Cabral was sentenced to 12 years in prison, accused of manipulating bids and overinflating contracts for the Maracanã. The stadium was used in the 2014 Fifa World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: Parliament Gives Initial Approval For Anti-Doping Legislation

[world politics news]

Russia's parliament has backed legislation making it a crime to incite an athlete to use doping, as the country lobbies to overturn a doping-related ban against its athletes. The bill, which 436 lawmakers backed in the first of three readings, would punish trainers and medical staff for inciting athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs. It makes forcing an athlete to take drugs without their consent punishable by up to five years in jail.

#KENYA: MP Wesley Korir Leads Runners In Sit-In, Calls For Doping Crackdown, Resignations

[world politics news]

For two days, Professional Athletes Association of Kenya members and officials occupied the athletics federation building for two days, among them Boston Marathon winner and Member of Parliament Wesley Korir. Fearing a ban on participating internationally (as happened to Russia recently) they are demanding the resignations and more attentiveness to doping and corruption allegations.

#JAPAN: Gov't Scraps Plans For Controversial, $2 Billion Stadium Design For 2020 Olympics

[world politics news]

The Japanese government has scrapped the controversial design for a 2020 Tokyo Olympic stadium. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his government would "start over from zero." The cost of the project, designed by British architect Zaha Hadid, had doubled, reaching $2 billion. Abe says the new stadium will still be completed in time for the games, but not for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

#FRANCE: PM Valls Takes Heat For Using Gov't Jet To Attend Berlin Soccer Match With Sons

[world politics news]

France’s PM Manuel Valls was already taking heat over his decision to attend a soccer match in Berlin on the French government's jet, but it has now emerged that he took his two sons with him. The Spanish-born PM is a fan of the Barcelona team that was competing.

#KENYA: Marathoner Wesley Korir, Now In Parliament, Seeks #Doping Ban, Targets Doctors, Agents

[world politics news]

Wesley Korir, professional runner and winner of the 2012 Boston Marathon, now a member of Kenya's parliament, has introduced a bill to criminalize doping in sports, targeting not only athletes but also their agents and doctors.

#GERMANY: Pols Seek to Take 2018 World Cup from Putin's Russia

[world politics news]

#BRAZIL: Anti-Gov't Protests Threaten to Cripple World Cup

[world politics news]