#UK: PM MAY CALLS JUNE 8 GENERAL ELECTION SEEKING STRONGER BREXIT MANDATE

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to call a snap general election on June 8th, seeking a stronger mandate for Brexit. She said Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership following the EU referendum. Explaining the decision, May said: "The country is coming together but Westminster is not."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#TURKEY: Pres. Erdogan Wins Referendum Vastly Expanding His Presidential Powers

[world politics news]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has narrowly won a referendum to expand presidential powers, which could keep him in office until 2029. With over 99% of ballots counted, the "Yes" campaign had won 51.37% and "No" 48.63%. Erdogan supporters argued that replacing the parliamentary system with an executive presidency will modernize the country. Turkey's two main opposition parties said they would challenge the results. The Republican People's Party (CHP) demanded a recount of 60% of votes. They criticized a decision to accept unstamped ballot papers as valid unless proven otherwise.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#IRAN: Analysts Divided On Whether "Moderate" Pres. Rouhani Can Win Re-Election May 19

[world politics news]

On May 19, Iranians will head to the polls once again. Will they re-elect Rouhani, who had pulled the country out of stifling sanctions, but who, observers say, has yet to deliver on wider political, economic and social reforms? Analysts agree the president is "well-positioned" for another term, but in Iran's atmosphere of political surprises, some hesitate to make definitive predictions before the ballots are even cast.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EU: Parliament Passes Resolution Calling For Ban On Imported Palm Oil By 2020

[world politics news]

The European Parliament has approved a resolution to introduce a single certification scheme for palm oil entering the European Union and phase out the use of vegetable oils that drive deforestation by 2020.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#KOSOVO: Oppo. Parties Hope To Gain Enough Votes For No Confidence Motion Against PM Mustafa

[world politics news]

Kosovo's opposition parties are urging members of parliament to back their new motion to overthrow Isa Mustafa's government in their latest attempt to oust the ruling coalition. Initiated by the opposition Initiative for Kosovo, Nisma, Kosovo opposition parties are trying to attract MPs from all parties to support a new no-confidence motion in Isa Mustafa's coalition government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#HONGKONG: No Room For Independence Talk, Says Incoming Beijing-Backed Leader

[world politics news]

Hong Kong leader-elect Carrie Lam says there is no room for moves toward independence for the former British colony, which she says needs the support of the central government in Beijing to boost economic development over the next five years. Lam was in Beijing this week after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presented her with the official letter of appointment as chief executive, paving the way for her to take office on July 1.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#NIGERIA: Allies Of Pres. Buhari Already Laying Groundwork For 2019 Re-Election Bid

[world politics news]

Associates and supporters of Pres. Muhammadu Buhari are making plans for his re-election bid in 2019, despite some opposition among critics and opposition legislators. His associates are creating campaign structures outside of the president's All Progressives Congress Party to highlight his achievements in fighting corruption, insurgency and his policies for economic recovery. He was elected to a four-year term in 2015. Presidents are entitled to two terms in Nigeria.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Gov't Seeks To Choke Off Federal Funding For Small Neo-Nazi Party

[world politics news]

The German government is taking steps to choke off state campaign finance for the far-right National Democratic Party after a failed court bid to outlaw the small group. The plan aims to deprive the party of taxpayers' money, to which German political parties are generally entitled, before the September elections. In January, Germany's highest court rejected a bid by the parliament's upper house to ban the 6,000-member party, ruling that although it held a similar ideology to the Nazis, it was too small to endanger democracy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHAFRICA: Nationwide Protest Marches Call For Pres. Zuma's Ouster

[world politics news]

Protesters have marched in cities across South Africa including Cape Town, Durban, and the capital, Pretoria calling for the removal of Pres. Jacob Zuma. The demonstrations came after Zuma fired a respected finance minister, which led to the country's credit rating being cut to junk status, adding uncertainty to South Africa's already embattled economy.

[FULL STORY HERE and HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Orders Military Occupation Of Disputed Islands

[world politics news]

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has instructed the military to occupy and claim islands located in the disputed South China Sea, which he says are within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. China has recently surveyed the islands.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#IRELAND: Former Taoiseach Ahern Warns Of Post-Brexit Border Crossings With N. Ireland

[world politics news]

Former Prime Minister/Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is warning that if Britain leaves the customs union some form of Border checkpoints between Ireland and Northern Ireland will be inevitable. Ahern will testify before parliament that the status of the State as an EU border frontier will present a challenge in terms of keeping access as open as possible between Northern Ireland and the Republic, as well as the islands of Ireland and Britain.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: Parliament Approves Probe Of PM Rajoy's Popular Party Over Alleged Illegal Funding

[world politics news]

Spain's parliament will probe the alleged illegal funding of the conservative Popular Party, an accusation that has long plagued Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's party but hasn't ever been proven. Lawmakers in the lower house, including those in the PP, have voted to create an investigative commission into the allegations, as proposed by the Socialists and two other opposition parties.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Opposition Social Democrats Want To Pass Gay Marriage Law Before Sept. Election

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel's biggest rivals in the upcoming national election in September are set to put pressure on her conservative party to pass same-sex marriage ahead of the vote. The Social Democrats are set to push for marriage rights for same-sex couples at a meeting with their coalition partners, Merkel’s conservative Union parties - who have long opposed such legislation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: PM Abe Denies Family Donated To Controversial School Land Purchase

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has denied that he or his wife had any involvement in the controversial sale of state-owned land in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan. The plot was sold last year to school operator Moritomo Gakuen at a price far below the appraised value. The operator had planned to open an elementary school on the site.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ARGENTINA: Ex-President Kirchner And Family Indicted On Money-Laundering Charges

[world politics news]

An Argentine court on Tuesday prosecuted ex president Cristina Fernandez and her children, Maximo and Florencia, as alleged heads of an illicit organization to launder money in association with public works contractors. The ruling includes the seizure of family assets equivalent to US$ 8.5 million and handing over their passports.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SWEDEN: Russian Foreign Min. Lavrov Mocks Fears Of Russian Interference In 2018 Election

[world politics news]

Sergey Lavrov has labelled Sweden's prime minister "childish" for expressing fears over Russian influence in Sweden's election next year. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven said in January he could not rule out the possibility that Russia may try to influence the Swedish general election in 2018.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ECUADOR: Leftist Candidate Lenin Moreno Wins Presidential Race

[world politics news]

Lenin Moreno, a progressive candidate and renowned disability activist from the ruling Alianza Pais Party, won the Ecuadorean presidential election Sunday. With 99% of the vote in, Moreno defeated former banker Guillermo Lasso, candidate for the right-wing CREO-SUMO alliance, with 51.16% to 48.84%, according to results issued by the country’s National Electoral Council.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHAFRICA: Pres. Zuma's Cabinet Shuffle Causes Turmoil In Markets, Within His ANC Party

[world politics news]

South Africa's government is in turmoil after Pres. Jacob Zuma fired the finance minister and his deputy and shuffled 18 other cabinet members in a dramatic midnight move on Mar. 31. The removal of Finance Min. Pravin Gordhan followed months of animosity between Zuma and Gordhan. Markets reacted badly to the shuffle and Zuma's party, the ANC, is rife with infighting.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Co-Leader Of Anti-Refugee Party Openly Muses About Quitting Politics

[world politics news]

Frauke Petry has become the face of a growing political movement in Germany. But only months before a national election, the co-leader of the Alternative For Germany Party, has openly said that she is considering quitting politics. “Neither politics nor the AfD are things that I can’t do without," she said. Petry told a newspaper that it makes sense from time to time to consider “re-calibrating” one’s life. The AfD was founded as an anti-Euro party in 2013, but lurched to the right two years later, taking a staunchly anti-immigration stance during the refugee crisis of 2015.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Conservative Cand. Kevin O'Leary Says He'd "Coerce" Provinces To Adopt Policies As PM

[world politics news]

Conservative leadership candidate Kevin O’Leary says if he becomes prime minister he will do everything in his power to "coerce" provinces into adopting his preferred economic policies. In an interview Monday, the TV star and businessman - who is leading in the polls to be the Tory's new leader - said he wants a "new form of federalism" that would prioritize federal targets, including tying equalization payments to specific priorities.

[FULL STORY HERE]