#THENETHERLANDS: PM Angrily Denies Cover-Up Over Downing Of Plane Over Ukraine

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Mark Rutte has reacted angrily to opposition politicians accusing the government of secrecy and a cover-up in the wake of the downed MH17. The Malaysia Airlines flight was shot down in eastern Ukraine in July, 2014, during its conflict with Russia-backed separatists. All 298 people on board died.

#SPAIN: Socialist Pty Fails Again To Form Gov't; New Elections Loom

[world politics news]

The leader of Spain's Socialists has again failed to win the confidence of parliament to become prime minister, opening a new round of talks between parties who now have just two months to break a 10-week deadlock and avoid a fresh election. Leader Pedro Sanchez lost his second vote, securing the support of only 131 members of the 350-strong assembly for his proposed coalition which sets the country on course for its second election in six months.

#GERMANY: Top Green Party MP Steps Down After Drug Arrest

[world politics news]

Volker Beck, one of the Green party's top-ranking MPs, has stepped down from all his political offices after being arrested for drug possession in Berlin, allegedly .06 grams of crystal meth.

#CANADA: #Manitoba New Democrats Demand Liberal MP Cand. Drop Out Over Alleged Sexist Comments

[world politics news]

Manitoba's New Democratic Party is demanding that the Manitoba Liberals drop MP candidate Jamie Hall over online comments about women. Hall tweeted referring to a female friend as a "skank" and ruminated whether a whore can truly be a whore "if no one hears her scream."

#JAPAN: Ambassador To US Says Hillary Clinton "Incorrect" About Currency Criticism

[world politics news]

Japan's ambassador to the United States has reacted to criticism of Japan by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Clinton criticized China, Japan and other Asian countries in a local newspaper article, saying they kept their goods artificially cheap for years by holding down the value of their currencies. Ambassador Ken-ichiro Sasae told reporters that including Japan in the statement is "incorrect."

#EGYPT: Parliament Investigates Police After Murder Of Citizen

[world politics news]

In the wake of last week’s murder of a citizen by a policeman in the Cairo district of Al-Darb Al-Ahmar parliament is conducting a review of the performance of the Interior Ministry. While MPs warn that individual abuses by low-ranking policemen should not be exploited to tarnish the image of the security apparatus as a whole, they seek reform of the Interior Ministry and a radical overhaul of its attitude towards human rights..

#CANADA: Kevin O'Leary Takes Ontario Premier To Task For Cap And Trade "Slush Fund"

[world politics news]

TV personality Kevin O'Leary, a star of "Shark Tank" and potential political candidate, criticized Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne in an open letter to the editor for her creation of a new $1.9 billion cap and trade fund that Wynne and Finance Minister Charles Sousa will be overseeing. In it, he called for transparency in how the funds would be used.

#USA: Hawaii Congresswoman Steps Down From Dem. Pty Posts, Endorses Sanders

[world politics news]

Hawaii Congresswman Tulsi Gabbard has stepped down from her post as vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee to endorse Bernie Sanders' presidential bid. She says Hillary Clinton's views on interventionism and "regime change" prompted her endorsement.

#CHINA: Communist Party Punishes Tycoon Who Criticized Media Clampdown

[world politics news]

Communist Party officials in Beijing have pledged to "seriously punish" a retired property developer who criticized President Xi Jinping’s state media clampdown, urging other party members to learn from his example. Ren Zhiqiang was known for airing outspoken views to his more than 37 million Weibo followers before Internet regulators ordered his social media accounts closed Sunday.

#AUSTRALIA: Sen. Must Pay Back $15k In Travel Expenses She Overspent

[world politics news]

Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young of the Green Party has to repay $15,186 to taxpayers - almost twice the debt she was originally thought to have - after blowing her electorate staff travel budget. has previously come under scrutiny for the use of charter flights and overseas trips to environmental meetings and refugee camps.

#SWITZERLAND: UN To Renovate 1930s-Era Euro HQ With Help Of Swiss Loan

[world politics news]

The government is asking parliament to approve a loan of $440 million for renovation projects to refurbish the Palais des Nations, the European headquarters of the United Nations, which was built in the 1930s. The complex hosts about 10,000 UN employees, more than its official headquarters in New York. Renovations will be completed by 2023.

#IRAN: Reformists, Moderates Make Surprising Gains In Elections

[world politics news]

Pres. Hassan Rouhani has earned an emphatic vote of confidence and reformist partners secured surprise gains in parliament in early results from elections that could accelerate the Islamic Republic's emergence from years of isolation.

#SWEDEN: Liberal Party Youth Suggest Legalizing Sex With Corpses & Incest; Adults Scoff

[world politics news]

The youth wing of the Swedish Liberal party has filed a motion to legalize incest, sex between two consenting siblings over the age of 15, and sex with a corpse if there is a written permission made before the person died. Adult party leaders condemned the "nitwits" who made the suggestions.

Pictured: Stockholm, Sweden

#ARMENIA: National Assembly Approves New Ombudsman, Vows To Meet Imprisoned Activist

Armenia’s National Assembly, by a secret ballot, elected Arman Tatoyan as Armenia’s fourth Ombudsman in a 96 to 7 vote. Tatoyan, 34, until now served as deputy minister of justice. The Western-educated lawyer was nominated for the post by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. He promised to visit Vardges Gaspari, an imprisoned human rights activist, and Gevorg Safaryan, a member of the opposition New Armenia movement.

#BOLIVIA: Socialist Pres. Morales Loses Referendum To Seek Fourth Term

[world politics news]

Socialist Pres. Evo Morales of Bolivia has admitted defeat in a referendum that denied him the right to seek a fourth term as president, in yet another defeat for South America's Leftist leaders. Morales has been one of the most outspoken critics of the United States and capitalism.

#CANADA: Saskatchewan Premier Rejects Federal Carbon Tax Proposal

[world politics news]

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says he wants nothing to do with Ottawa’s plan for a national minimum price on greenhouse gas emissions as he raises the political heat ahead of the First Ministers climate summit scheduled for Vancouver in two weeks.

#CANADA: Parliament Votes To Reject Anti-Israel Divestment Campaigns

[world politics news]

Parliament has voted 229 to 51 to condemn an international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign being waged against Israel for what is alleged to be the Jewish state’s failure to accord equal rights to Arabs in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Opposition Conservatives introduced the resolution, supported by most Liberals.

#JAPAN: PM Abe Wants to Reduce Size Of Lower House By 10 Seats

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he wants to push through electoral system reform of the House of Representatives during this session of the Diet, the nation's parliament, which ends June 1.
He wants to reduce the vote-value disparities between single-seat constituencies of the Lower House to less than two times by redrawing electoral districts, which will cut the number of Lower House seats by 10 from the current 475.
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#BRAZIL: Pres. Rousseff's Election Adviser Charged In Corruption Probe Of Her Party

[world politics news]

Prosecutors investigating Brazil’s state-run oil company on corruption charges have issued an arrest warrant for the strategist who engineered embattled Pres. Dilma Rousseff’s 2014 re-election. Police say that João Santana - a consultant for Rousseff and a former treasurer for Rousseff’s ruling Workers’ Party - accepted $3 million in bribes from engineering firm Group Odebrecht as compensation for Petrobras construction contracts.

#GERMANY: Merkel's Colleagues Accused Of 'Stabbing Her In Back' By Demanding Migrant Quotas

[world politics news]

Two senior members of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party have been accused of stabbing her in the back, after publicly criticizing her refugee policy in the run-up to crucial state elections. Julia Klöckner and Guido Wolf demanded in an open letter that the government implement daily quotas for the number of migrants allowed into the country and set up processing centers at the border.