#CANADA: O'Toole Out As Conservative Leader

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The Conservative Party of Canada has named Candice Bergen as interim leader following a private vote late Wednesday evening.

Bergen, who had the role of deputy party leader, finished tops among nine candidates in a private preferential ballot.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDIA: Gov't To Introduce Cryptocurrency, Tax Them All At 30%

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India has announced plans to launch a digital currency by next year and tax cryptocurrencies and NFTs as the country moves closer to recognizing cryptocurrencies as legal tender in the world’s second largest internet market.

Income from the the transfer of any virtual assets will be taxed at 30%, the nation’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Tuesday. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BARBADOS: PM Mia Mottley's Party Wins Landslide Re-Election to House of Assembly

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Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has secured a second term in office after a landslide victory in the country’s first elections since becoming a republic. Preliminary results from the election this past Thursday reveal that the Barbados Labor Party (BLP), led by Mia Amor Mottley, secured all 30 seats in the House of Assembly. This is the party’s second clean sweep victory, the first being in the 2018 elections.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Saskatchewan Will End COVID Restrictions

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Following an international trend, Premier Scott Moe says his Saskatchewan Party government will soon end COVID-19 measures that he says restrict people’s rights and freedoms.

“COVID is not ending, but government restrictions on your rights and freedoms — those will be ending, and ending very soon,” Moe said in a four-minute video posted Wednesday night on social media.

It’s no longer necessary for the public to assess every activity, including going to a movie, watching children’s sporting events or dining out, said the governor of the western Canadian province, which lies just north of the US states of Montana and North Dakota.

The announcement comes after massive demonstrations across the country against Covid and vaccine mandates.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NORTHERNIRELAND: DUP Ag Minister Ends Border Inspections For UK Food

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Irish Sea border checks on British agricultural food exports to Northern Ireland have been ordered stopped by the Democratic Unionist Party, undermining the hard Irish border.

Agriculture minister Edwin Poots, also the party's Leader, has called on his officials to halt the checks, which are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political

events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#NORWAY: All Lockdown Measures Ended By Prime Minister

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Norway will scrap most of its remaining Covid-19 lockdown measures with immediate effect as an ongoing spike in coronavirus cases is unlikely to jeopardize health services, the prime minister said on Tuesday.

Restaurants will again be allowed to serve alcohol beyond 11 o’clock at night, working from home will no longer be mandatory and the current limit of 10 visitors in private homes is removed, Jonas Gahr Stoere told a news conference.

[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.

Poilievre Calls out Media Coverage Of Trucker Convoy

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Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre blasted the “liberal media” for generalizing the Truckers For Freedom convoy as extremists, based on a small number of individuals who have attached themselves to the convoy instead of focusing on the broad issues opposed by the group. 

Upwards of 500,000 truckers from across the country headed towards the national capital of Ottawa this past weekend to protest vaccine mandates and lockdowns.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Scotland Poll Shows 90% Oppose Gov't Gender ID Bill

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A Scottish Express reader poll suggests mounting opposition to the SNP's plans to enforce gender self-ID laws in Scotland.

Of 608 members of the public sampled, an overwhelming majority of 90 per cent said they opposed the Scottish Government's controversial proposals to push forward reforms to the Gender Recognition Act (GRA).

The poll, hosted on the Scottish Express Twitter account, asked Do you support the SNP's plans to allow people to self-identify their own gender without medical or legal evidence?

The results are in line with the previous, scientific poll, which should 71% of Scottish voters opposed the bill.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Google Urges Caution As Gov't Explores New Internet Curbs

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As Canadian MPs prepare to debate a wave of government proposals aimed at imposing new limits on web giant Google, a senior Google official is asking them not to go too far. Kent Walker, Google’s president and chief legal officer for worldwide affairs, said the firm is prepared for the new standards in a recent interview.

However, he warned that some of the offers currently broadcasting in Canada and other countries could have a significant negative impact on people’s online experiences.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CROATIA: Senior Arrested After Threatening Prime Minister With Rotten Egg Attack Online

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A 72-year-old has been arrested for insulting Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, more precisely for saying that the Prime Minister should be hit with rotten eggs.

The insult happened on the eve of the Prime Minister's visit to Zadar County.

The senior, who was not thrilled with the impending arrival of the Prime Minister, took to the internet, writing, "He should be greeted with rotten eggs, him and his minions. No one has humiliated and betrayed Croats so much, the narcissist," the man wrote on Thursday. He was arrested the following day.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Pres. Candidate Zemmour Convicted Of "Hate Speech" For 2020 Remarks

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A French court has convicted the far-right French presidential candidate Éric Zemmour of inciting racial hatred and fined him for remarks he made in 2020, according to reports.

During a September 2020 TV appearance, Zemmour, now a candidate for president, had made comments about unaccompanied migrants.

"They are thieves, they are murderers, they are rapists, that's all they are, they must be sent back," Zemmour said at the time, referring to "unaccompanied minors" who "have nothing to do in France," according to Politico. 

[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.

#UK: Conservative MP Defects To Labour Party

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Tory MP Christian Wakeford has defected to the Labour Party and called on Boris Johnson to quit as prime minister.

Wakeford took the Bury South seat from Labour at the 2019 general election by just 402 votes.

But he will now sit as a Labour MP, with his new party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, offering him a "warm welcome."

Some conservatives suggested he should have resigned, triggering a by-election, but others have "crossed the floor" in Parliament before, establishing precedent.

[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: London Mayor Wants To Tax Miles Driven In City

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Mayor Sadiq Khan has said London needs to charge motorists by the mile to hit climate change targets.

Khan wants road pricing to be implemented to encourage people who drive petrol or diesel cars in the British capital city to switch to public transport, walking, cycling or electric vehicles “where necessary."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: European Parliament Elects Youngest President

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Center-right Malta lawmaker Roberta Metsola, chosen this week as only the third woman to head the European Parliament, is viewed as a political moderate despite controversy over her anti-abortion stance, a rarity in European politics.

Elected on the day she turns 43, the politician from the European Union’s smallest nation becomes the youngest president ever to run the chamber.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: NDP Leader To Reimburse Company For $1,895 Rocking Chair Gift

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The New Democratic Party of Canada says it is working with the Federal ethics commissioner and intends to file a formal disclosure report on a $1,895 rocking chair given to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's wife in exchange for posting about the item on her Instagram account.

On Dec. 10, Singh's wife posted an image of the Grand Jackson Rocker by Canadian furniture company Monte Design on her Instagram account, mentioning the company. The party said Singh would repay the cost of the chair after CBC reported it was given to him and his wife as a gift.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Scotland To Lift Covid Restrictions Next Week

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Scotland's government has announced that it will lift the COVID-19 restrictions that were put in place during the Christmas holidays, starting next Monday.

In a speech to the Scottish Parliament, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that the additional restrictions imposed in late December could be lifted as the country has “turned the corner” on the Omicron wave.

[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: Federal Gov't Sets Up Solar Panels In Sunless Arctic Region

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The Federal government spent $1.4 million setting up solar panels in the most sunless region of Canada.

Records show the Department of Northern Affairs thought the climate change program would help small Arctic towns that have to rely on diesel generators for heat and light in winter.

However, the department acknowledged to the committee in a followup report that between 2019-2022, it spent $1,436,726 setting up solar panels in remote places like Nunavut where daylight hours total as little as four hours or less in the winter.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: European Olympic Committees Warn Athletes Not To Bring Smartphones To Beijing

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The Belgian, Dutch and British Olympic committees have warned their athletes against bringing their personal laptops and smartphones to the upcoming Beijing Games, out of cybersecurity concerns.

Matthias Van Baelen and Geert Slot, spokesmen for the Belgian Interfederal Olympic Committee and the Dutch Olympic Committee respectively, told local media and Reuters that cybersecurity is a risk in their assessment for the trip to China.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Vaccine Passports Pass Parliament

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France’s parliament has approved a law that will exclude unvaccinated people from all restaurants, sports arenas and other venues as the central measure of government efforts to protect hospitals amid record numbers of Covid-19 infections driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

The National Assembly adopted the law by a vote of 215-58. President Emmanuel Macron had hoped to push the bill through faster, but it was delayed by resistance from politicians both on the Right and Left.

More than 91% of French adults are already fully vaccinated, and some critics have questioned whether the “vaccine pass” will make much of a difference.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Poll Shows Labour Well Ahead Of Conservatives

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The Conservative Party has recovered some of its lost lead against the opposition Labour Party, an opinion poll showed last Saturday, but Boris Johnson's personal ratings remain deeply negative as he faces ongoing ethics questions.

Polling company Opinium said Labour's poll rating held at 39% in a January 5-7 survey, unchanged from late December, while support for the Conservatives rose two percentage points to 34%. The Liberal Democrats were on 11% and the Green Party was on 5%.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: Crackdown On Free Press Intensifies

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Life as an independent journalist in Hong Kong, long hard, is becoming impossible. On December 29th Stand News, the territory’s leading pro-democracy news outlet, was forced to shut after hundreds of police raided its office, froze its assets and arrested seven people. 

The current and former editors were charged with conspiracy to publish seditious content and denied bail. 

Fearing for their reporters’ safety, two other news sites, Citizen News and Mad Dog Daily, halted operations on January 4th.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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