#GERMANY: Anti-Migrant Party Parliamentary Candidate Circulates Hitler's Photo, Calls For His "Return"

[world politics news]

The Alternative for Germany Party is investigating a regional chairwoman for circulating a photo of Adolf Hitler, in which she called for his return. Parliamentary candidate for the Nüremberg area, Elena Roon, sent a photo of Adolf Hitler to members on an AfD group Whatsapp chat last summer. The photo was accompanied with the phrases: "Missed since 1945", and "Adolf please get in touch! Germany needs you! The German people!"

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: School Operator Tied To PM Abe Bought State-Owned Land At A Discount, Alleges Panel

[world politics news]

A Japanese private school operator linked to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bought state-owned land for 134 million yen, some 800 million yen lower than the appraised value, according to government statements during a parliamentary panel session Friday.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Labour Party Sinks To Third Most Popular Party Amongst The Working Class

[world politics news]

The British Labour Party is now the third most popular party among working-class voters, a new poll has revealed, suggesting it could lose upcoming by-elections in Stoke and Cumbria. The YouGov survey showed blue collar workers are now less likely to vote for Labour (20%) than they are for the Conservative (39%) or UK Independence Party (23%.) The results may further bolster calls for a shake-up in the Labour Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: Pres. Cand. Provokes Firestorm After Apologizing For France's Colonization Of Algeria

[world politics news]

Presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron has drawn a storm of criticism from his rivals after calling France's colonization of Algeria a "crime against humanity." In a TV interview in Algiers this week, the centrist said French actions in Algeria, which achieved independence in 1962 after eight years of war, were "genuinely barbaric, and constitute a part of our past that we have to confront by apologizing."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SERBIA: Vast Majority In New Poll Wouldn't Support Military Effort To Reclaim Kosovo

[world politics news]

A new survey shows that 74% of Serbs wouldn't go to war to reclaim Kosovo as a Serbian province if it was proposed. Three-quarters of those polled support the EU-facilitated negotiations to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Only eight percent oppose it.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MYANMAR: Parliamentary Committee Suggests Lowering Tax On Gold To 1%

[world politics news]

The Parliament's Joint Bill Committee is recommending that sales taxes on gold be reduced from 3% to 1%, citing the culture of the working classes in Myanmar to collect and save gold to be passed down to children. The tax had earlier been reduced from 5%, but gold dealers say that even 3%, combined with fees, remains too high.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHAFRICA: Pres. To Deploy Troops In Parliament During Annual Address

[world politics news]

South African Pres. Jacob Zuma will deploy troops inside parliament tomorrow during his State of the Nation address to "maintain law and order," following scuffles and fights during last year's address. The move has been condemned by the Opposition Democratic Alliance Party as a "declaration of war."

#FRANCE: Embattled Pres. Cand. Fillon Faces Internal Calls From Party To Step Down

[world politics news]

About 40 members of the French center right on Tuesday called on embattled presidential candidate François Fillon to consider dropping out of the race over a financial scandal they say has damaged his campaign beyond repair. The elected officials, from his Republican Party, told him in parliament to find a "political solution" to his problems, which has resulted in his on-the-ground campaign nearly grinding to a halt. He faces allegations that he paid his wife and children hundreds of thousands of euros in public funds for work they did not do or for which they were unqualified.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#VENEZUELA: USA Sanctions VP El Aissami For Involvement In Narcotics Trafficking

[world politics news]

The U.S. government added Venezuelan Vice President Tarek El Aissami to its sanctions list Monday, saying he “played a significant role in international narcotics trafficking” and freezing his access to a fortune estimated at $3 billion after a lengthy investigation of his alleged links to drug traffickers and Muslim extremists.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Social Democrats Surging In New Poll, Popular With Discouraged Non-Voters

[world politics news]

Voters who stayed away from the polls in the 2013 election could swing the September Parliamentary election towards the Social Democrats, who are surging in the polls according to a recent survey. The center-Left party, headed by Martin Schulz, benefits most from these "non-voters," says the Bild newspaper survey. Chancellor Angela Merkel's popularity has taken a hit because of her "open door" policy towards Syrian immigrants.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MONGOLIA: Parliament Votes To Nationalize Natural Resources After Scandal

[world politics news]

Mongolia’s parliament approved a resolution to nationalize copper, gold and iron-ore assets in the country following a probe that found a $400 million transaction with a closely held company was illegal.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: MP Peter Julian First To Enter New Democratic Party Leadership Race

[world politics news]

With the campaign phrase “seize the moment,” MP Peter Julian has become the first to enter the race to lead the New Democratic Party, giving a 25-minute, bilingual announcement at the Columbia Theater in New Westminster, B.C. this past Sunday. We have an appointment with destiny in the fall of 2019, just 33 months from now,” Julian said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ISRAEL: Knesset Legalizes West Bank Settlements In Symbolic Vote

[world politics news]

Israel’s parliament passed a law on Monday retroactively legalizing about 4,000 settler homes built on privately-owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. The legislation is largely symbolic because the Supreme Court has ruled many of these settlements to be illegal. Opposition leader Yitzhak Herzog denounced the measure as "an acute danger to Israel" that could lead to prosecution at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: Sen. Cory Bernardi Leaves Liberal Party, Founding "Australian Conservatives"

[world politics news]

Sen. Cory Bernardi says he has resigned from the Liberal Party and has formed a new party, the Australian Conservatives. He says he resigned because respect for values has been replaced by political expediency, and because the "political class" is failing Australia. Liberal leaders anger over the defection was muted by the fact they'll rely on Bernardi's vote for their future legislation. He does not believe in man-made climate change, takes a hard line against Muslim immigration, and is against gay marriage.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SINGAPORE: Pres. Election Pushed Back A Month, New Rules Announced In Legislation

[world politics news]

This year's presidential election will be pushed back to September, to avoid the campaigning period coinciding with National Day celebrations in August, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing, who announced a new bill in parliament featuring several new election rules. In the past, Polling Day typically fell in the last week of August. Presidential hopefuls will get more time to submit their papers, and the committee which assesses whether they are eligible to run for election will also have more time to go through applications. President Tony Tan Keng Yam's term expires on Aug 31.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Chan Chun Sing

#NORTHERNIRELAND: Ban On Smoking In Cars With Children Being Planned

[world politics news]

Plans to ban smoking in private vehicles carrying children are to be discussed, the health minister has announced. Michelle O'Neill said it was "inconceivable that we continue to allow children to be exposed to such harm." In February 2016, Assembly members voted in favor of introducing the ban.
Similar legislation came into force in England and Wales in October 2015 and in Scotland in December 2016. In the Republic of Ireland, a ban took effect last year.

[FULL STORY HERE]  

#CANADA: Alberta Gov't Will Spend $600 Million To Educate Kids About Climate Change

[world politics news]

Alberta’s New Democratic Party-led government is spending $600,000 on a new grant program to fund climate education and literacy initiatives. Non-profit community and youth groups will be able to access the grant, which will be funded by revenues from the carbon tax - the funding of which is itself controversial.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Shannon Phillips, center, the Alberta minister responsible for climate change policy.

#KENYA: Bill Would Force Alcohol Manufacturers To "Insure" Drinkers, Pay Survivor's Families

[world politics news]

A legislator is proposing a bill that would force manufacturers of alcohol and beer to "insure" users and pay out benefits to families harmed by alcohol use. The bill would make leading brewers and distillers responsible for the "consequences" or aftermath of drinking consumers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Syrian Refugee Suing Over Use Of Famous Merkel Selfie By "Fake News" On Facebook

[world politics news]

Syrian refugee Anas Modamani took one of Germany's most emblematic selfies in Sept. 2015, with him alongside Chancellor Angela Merkel. But his photo has been posted with language suggesting he was part of the Brussels and Berlin Christmas attacks, and posted on Facebook with these false stories. Now, in a case that will have long-ranging implication for social media, Modamani is taking Facebook to court, demanding that they ban the photo permanently from the site.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: PM Turnbull Lobs Verbal Assault On Oppo Ldr Shorten After Week Of Attacks On Wealth

[world politics news]

A fired-up Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has let loose on the leader of the opposition, Bill Shorten, in a withering attack in Parliament, accusing him of being "a social climbing sycophant" of billionaires, a "parasite" and of being a corrupt union leader when he headed a union. The spirited attack after a week of attacks from Shorten on Turnbull for being wealthy, which Turnbull conceded. Twitter users said they were glad Turnbull finally found his voice and went on the attack. He said, in part:

"There was never a union leader in Melbourne that tucked his knees under more billionaire’s tables than the leader of the opposition. He lapped it up, yes, he lapped it up. He was such a sycophant, a social-climbing sycophant if ever there was one. There has never been a more sycophantic leader of the Labor Party than this one and he comes here and poses as a Tribune of the people. He likes harborside mansions, he is yearning for one, he is yearning to get into Kirribilli House, because somebody else pays for it! Just like he loved knocking back Dick Pratt’s Cristal and looked forward to living at the expense of the taxpayer, this man is a parasite and has no respect for the taxpayer!

[Video HERE. Turn on "Captions"]

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce laughs heartily during Turnbull's attack.

#CANADA: Conservative Pty Ldr Cand. O'Leary Refuses To Attack Opponents In Halifax Debate

[world politics news]

TV star and candidate for Conservative Party Leader Kevin O'Leary refused to attack his 13 opponents during a Halifax debate this past weekend, saying he instead said he had gotten a "wonderful welcome," and thought there was "no need" to fight back against the many barbs sent his way.  The debate touched on corporate taxation, the economy, mandatory minimum sentencing and the carbon tax. O'Leary, a perceived front-runner, was criticized for the amount of time he spends in the U.S., for giving money to the Liberal party and for being a "celebrity" candidate.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: Leftist Pres. Candidate Appears In Two Cities At Once Using A Hologram

[world politics news]

French far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon held simultaneous presidential campaign rallies Sunday in two cities that are nearly 500 km apart – appearing in the flesh in Lyon and as a three-dimensional ghost in suburban Paris. He accomplished this impossible feat using a hologram, a 21st century technology perhaps meant to demonstrate a "modern" image for the Communist-aligned candidate.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: House Of Commons Speaker Opposes Trump Address To Joint Session Of Parliament

[world politics news]

House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has come out against US President Donald Trump addressing the Houses of Parliament on a state visit this year in an extraordinary intervention. More than a quarter of MPs have already signed a motion stating that Trump should not be offered the chance to make such a speech during his time in the UK.

[FULL STORY HERE]

BREAKING: #FRANCE: Pres. Candidate Francois Fillon Defiant, Won't Quit Race Amid Legal Troubles

[world politics news]

Saying that "the media are not a tribunal," former French prime minister and conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon fought back today in a defiant news conference against a 10-day "media campaign," an "assassination" and an "institutional coup d'etat" against him. Fillon faces a criminal probe after allegedly giving his wife a "fake" job. He said he will not drop out of the race, citing the trust primary voters put in him. "They elected me because I have a program that broke from the past. Their choice will be respected. Nobody can deprive them of that choice." He urged all candidates to be treated fairly and the same way by the media, and attacked the "elite class." He says electing the far Left or Marine LePen's far Right parties would be dangerous. He said he would re-launch his campaign with "renewed energy and determination, Nothing will divert me from my will to restore France's position and give them hope."

[ORIGINAL REPORTING]

#ROMANIA: Gov't Scraps Controversial Prison Amnesty Bill After Mass Protests

[world politics news]

Romania's government has scrapped a controversial decree that would have shielded many politicians from prosecution for corruption. The decision came at an emergency meeting on the issue, following days of large street protests. The government had argued that the changes were needed to reduce prison overcrowding and align certain laws with the constitution. But critics saw it as a way for the governing Social Democrats to absolve officials convicted or accused of corruption.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: Personal Feud Over Party's Future Direction Threatens Unity Of Far-Left Podemos Party

[world politics news]

Podemos chief Pablo Iglesias and his deputy Íñigo Errejón are engaged in a high-profile duel over how to steer the party towards taking power that will culminate on February 11 and 12 at a key party meeting. Iglesias, 38, and his 33-year-old political secretary start their separate campaigns on Saturday ahead of the congress which will vote a new leadership council in, and may see one of them evicted from their post.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#DENMARK: 27 "Child Brides" Among Asylum-Seekers Prompts Ban On Marriage Under 18 Years Old

[world politics news]

The Danish parliament has approved a bill that will prohibit people from under the age of 18 from getting married. The bill also states that minors who were married abroad will not have their marriages recognized by Denmark. The action is in response to an Integration Ministry report that revealed that there are 27 minors in the Danish asylum system who have spouses or registered partners. Female asylum seekers as young as 14 had entered the country married to men who are ten or more years their elder.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SWEDEN: PM Presents Bill To Bind All Future Gov'ts To "Credible" Climate Targets

[world politics news]

Sweden has presented a new climate law designed to ensure all future governments have a "credible climate policy" as well as announcing an ambitious target of achieving a net level of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Presented by Swedish PM Stefan Löfven and Climate Minister Isabella Lövin, the new law, if adopted when it is put to the Riksdag in March, will enter into force in 2018 and is designed to ensure all future governments make a credible effort to achieve emissions targets like the one set for 2045.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EU: Europe Pays Libya 200 Million Euros To Better Control Its Borders, Curb Immigration

[world politics news]

EU leaders have rubber stamped a plan to curb migration from Libya at an informal summit in Malta offering Tripoli €200 million to better control its borders. The deadly route across the Central Mediterranean is now the main gateway to Europe, with some 181,000 arrivals in 2016. It is run by smugglers who operate with impunity in Libya, which slid into chaos after the overthrow of Mummar Gaddafi in 2011

[FULL STORY HERE].

#KUWAIT: Trump-Style Ban Issued On Entry From 5 Muslim-Majority Nations

[world politics news]

Citizens from five Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East will no longer be able to obtain Kuwaiti visas, after reports the Gulf state issued tight entry restrictions that mirrored US President Donald Trump's. Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians, Pakistanis and Afghans will not be able to obtain visit, tourism or trade Kuwaiti visas under the ban, issued by Kuwait's parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#TURKEY: First High-Level Diplomatic Talks With Israel In Six Years Set To Begin

[world politics news]

Turkish and Israeli foreign ministry officials met recently in Ankara in the first high-level meetings between the two nations in six years. The discussions were made possible as the result of the reconciliation agreement that culminated in December with an exchange of ambassadors. The talks will focus on areas of economic, cultural and security concerns.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Parliament Votes Overwhelmingly To Support Triggering Brexit With "Article 50"

[world politics news]

Parliament has voted by a majority of 384 to allow Prime Minister Theresa May to get Brexit negotiations under way. They backed the government's European Union Bill, supported by the Labour leadership, by 498 votes to 114. But the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats opposed the bill, while 47 Labour MPs and Tory ex-chancellor Ken Clarke rebelled. The bill now faces further scrutiny in the Commons and the House of Lords before it can become law.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EGYPT: Following Court Ruling, Parliament Set To Amend Law to Require Court Order To Ban Protests

[world politics news]

The House of Representatives will soon debate changes to the 2013 protest law following a Supreme Constitutional Court's ruling requiring the Interior Ministry to seek a judicial order before banning street protests. Changes to Article 10 of the protest law would require the government to obtain a court order to cancel a protest or transfer it to another area if they believe it poses a security threat. The article also gives the organizers of protests the right to know the judge's reasoning for approving the ban, and they will have the right to file an appeal against the decision.

[FULL ARTICLE HERE]

#GERMANY: Greens Suggest Banning Entry To Trump For G20 Summit; Alternative For Germany Party Praises Him

[world politics news]

Germany's Green party has suggested that the German government block Donald Trump’s trip to the G20 summit in Hamburg in July if his temporary travel ban isn't revoked. The ban blocks entry for refugees and citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, and may impact tens of thousands of German citizens who also hold, for example, Iranian passports - Iranian citizens cannot revoke their citizenship. But one of the founders of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD), Alexander Gauland, praised Trump's policy. "Trump did it right, he showed us how to do it,"

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: New Democrats Want Ethics Watchdog Strengthened Following Trudeau Accusations

[world politics news]

Federal New Democrats slammed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for potentially violating ethics rules when he vacationed with the Aga Khan and said they will seek to give Parliament's ethics watchdog new tools to investigate possible breaches by members of parliament. The NDP announcement comes after Trudeau's admission that he vacationed on an island in 2014 in the Bahamas owned by the billionaire spiritual leader, the Aga Khan, in addition to his December vacation there.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Former Minokamo City Mayor Fighting Bribery Conviction Re-Elected

[world politics news]

The former mayor of a central Japan city who stepped down after being convicted of bribery was re-elected Sunday, although he could be forced to leave office again depending on a Supreme Court decision on his conviction appeal. Hiroto Fujii, 32, resigned last month as mayor of Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture, after the Nagoya High Court in November overturned a lower court acquittal and found that he had received 300,000 yen ($2,600) in bribes in 2013 while he was a local assembly member.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: Parliament Backs Bill That Lessens Penalties For Domestic Abuse

[world politics news]

Russia's parliament has voted to back a bill that would ease some penalties for domestic violence. Women's rights campaigners fear it will encourage abuse. The bill reduces the crime of battery of a relative to a civil offense instead of a criminal offense when the victim "has suffered no serious harm." It stems from a Supreme Court ruling to decriminalize battery that doesn't inflict bodily harm.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Labour In Revolt, Shadow Cabinet Members Resign, Over Leader Corbyn's Support For Brexit Article 50 Vote

[world politics news]

Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn is facing a serious revolt by grassroots Labour supporters who backed him to be leader after he said he would support the Conservative government's plans to leave the EU, but would seek amendments when it comes before parliament. Two members of Corbyn’s front bench, shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens and Early Years shadow minister Tulip Siddiq both resigned from the shadow cabinet late last week and the local party members are reportedly furious at his support for Prime Minister Theresa May's plan to trigger the Article 50 process.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Two Candidates With Same Name Running For City Assembly

[world politics news]

Two men with the same name have filed as candidates in the city assembly election in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, prompting the election board to take the unusual step of asking voters to differentiate between the two by writing something beside their name when they vote on Jan. 29. Both men are named Shigeru Aoki, which is written using the same three kanji (茂青木). One is a 56-year-old incumbent assembly member and the other a 43-year-old challenger. The election board will ask voters to write either their age, or "incumbent" or "challenger," beside their name if voting for one among the 32 candidates running for office.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#IRELAND: Head Of Fine Gael Pty Criticized By His Party For Saying Sinn Féin Coalition "Unlikely"

[world politics news]

Ireland's head of government (Taoiseach) and leader of the Fine Gael Party is taking heat for suggesting that a coalition government with Sinn Féin would be unlikely "in  the near future." Officials in his own party said such an unlikely coalition wasn't impossible, however, and some took him to task for even speculating, one legislator pointing out that since Kenny won't lead Fine Gael into the next election, he wouldn't be involved in any coalition talks. Others said his comments were justified considering that his party's ruled out a coalition with the Fianna Fáil Party.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#GAMBIA: Barrow Takes Office As President After Jammeh Accepts Election Results, Flees

[world politics news]

Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow, has held his first press conference in the capital Banjul on Saturday, calling for democratic reforms and a free media. He took office Thursday after Pres. Yahya Jammeh left for exile in Equatorial Guinea. Jammeh had earlier refused to recognize the Dec. 1 election in which Barrow was elected by a small margin. He had ruled Gambia for 22 years. Barrow has called for unity and reconciliation to reform and develop the country through democratic means.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Pres. Adama Barrow

#HAITI: Newly-Elected President Questioned By Judge Over Corruption Allegations

[world politics news]

An investigating judge in Haiti has spent four hours questioning the president-elect, Jovenel Moise, about fraud allegations. Moise - who is due to be sworn into office next month - says he went to the court voluntarily without a lawyer. The former banana exporter denies accusations of money laundering and receiving favorable loans before he entered politics.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THAILAND: Government Urges "No Judgment" Over Big Tumble In Corruption Ranking

[world politics news]

The government has failed to improve the country's latest corruption ranking but Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has appealed for no judgment to be passed on the regime's ability to tackle graft.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SWITZERLAND: After 3 Years, "Anti-Mass Immigration" Referendum Greatly Watered Down by Legislature

[world politics news]

After nearly three years, the Swiss parliament has finally decided how to deal with the February 2014 ‘against mass immigration’ referendum, even if its solution bears little resemblance to the text of the initiative voted for by the public back then. The legislation amends rules giving unemployed domestic workers  preference over EU nationals for jobs in Switzerland.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: Police Open Investigation Into Pres. Candidate's Wife's "Fake Job" As Parliamentary Aide

[world politics news]

French police have opened an investigation over revelations that French presidential candidate François Fillon paid his wife €500,000 as a parliamentary aide. Investigators want to find out whether Penelope Fillon actually carried out any work.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Vice-Chancellor Makes Surprise Announcement: Won't Challenge Merkel In Election

[world politics news]

Vice Chancellor and leader of Germany's Social Democrats, Sigmar Gabriel, made the surprise announcement this week that he would not run against Chancellor Angela Merkel in September's general election. Gabriel told Die Zeit newspaper that he would recommend that former European Parliament president Martin Schulz take his place as SPD party chairman and candidate for chancellor.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Unloads On Catholic Church, Accuses Priests Of Corruption, Homosexuality

[world politics news]

Despite a recent blessing from Pope Francis, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has launched an angry attack on priests and bishops critical of his drug war, accusing them of homosexuality, corruption and child abuse. Furious over concerns by the Catholic Church of alleged extra-judicial killings during his crackdown, Duterte attacked clergymen for denouncing him instead of using their influence to get people off drugs. He challenged the church to a "showdown" and threatened to expose priests and bishops for a litany of abuses. "You expose me, fine. I expose you. Why? Your mistake is just all right, but ours is not? Bullshit. That is a big joke," he said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: High Court Could Rule Soon On Constitutionality Of Controversial Anti-Missionary Law

[world politics news]

Russia's Supreme Court could rule in the coming weeks on the legality of a controversial law banning evangelism by Western missionaries. Don Ossewaarde, a Baptist American Missionary charged and fined for holding a Bible study, appealed his $600 fine, imposed after a police raid. The law, which makes certain “religious activities” like distributing Bibles, evangelizing and holding house churches, potentially illegal, has been widely condemned as a violation of Russia's Constitution.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EGYPT: Pres. Al-Sisi Tells Disaffected Lawmakers Cabinet Reshuffle Coming "Very Soon"

[world politics news]

Pres. Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi says there will be a reshuffling of the cabinet "very soon." The announcement comes as many MPs have expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the government of Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, accusing it of adopting radical policies - such as signing a deal with the IMF and floating the Egyptian pound - without first consulting parliament. In a letter to Al-Sisi many MPs threatened to withhold confidence from the government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Supreme Court Rules That Parliament Must Get A Vote On Brexit

[world politics news]

Britain's Supreme Court has ruled that Parliament must get a vote before the government triggers a "Brexit" from the European Union. The government of Prime Minister Theresa May had hoped to avoid the vote, but observers say vote, which will likely pass easily, will happen within two weeks. May hopes to trigger an exit from the economic union, which was approved by voter last year, in the Spring.

[FULL STORY HERE]