#SWEDEN: Prompted By Russian Exercises, Global "Threats," Legislators Hold Military Drill

[world politics news]

The Swedish parliament has rehearsed what it would do in event of war, amid increasing concerns over global politics. Citing specific threats from Russia, and military exercises nearby conducted by that nation, officials say a group of 50 legislators have participated in the first secret emergency drills since 1997. The nation hasn't had military conflict within its borders in over 200 years.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#VENEZUELA: Oppo. Denounces "Coup" As Maduro-Friendly Court Disbands National Assembly, Seizes Control

[world politics news]

Venezuela's opposition is calling the Supreme Court's move Thursday to dissolve the opposition-controlled Congress and assume full control over all branches of government a "coup." The court is the virtual puppet of Socialist Pres. Maduro. There was swift and widespread international condemnation of the annulment of the National Assembly. The head of the Organization of International States, Luis Almagro, said the Venezuelan court had dealt the final blows to democracy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#NIGERIA: Gov't Refuses To Disclose Cost Of President's Medical Trip To London

[world politics news]

The government of Pres. Muhammadu Buhari said it would not disclose to the legislature the costs incurred by the president for his medical trip to London, saying the information was too sensitive. But it did form a committee to interface with the National Assembly to mend the seemingly frosty relationship between the executive and the legislature.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: It's Official: PM Theresa May Notifies The EU That UK Is Leaving In Two Years

[world politics news]

Britain's departure from the EU is "an historic moment from which there can be no turning back", Theresa May has said. She was speaking after Britain's EU ambassador formally triggered the two year exit process by handing a letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk, who said it was not a "happy day" for him or the EU. The European Parliament warned security cooperation was not on the table as it fired its opening salvo in what are expected to be tough negotiations.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Scotland To Ask UK Gov't For 2nd Independence Vote, But UK PM May Already Said "No"

[world politics news]

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's plan to call a second referendum on independence for Scottish independence has been formally backed by the Scottish Parliament. Members voted MSPs voted by 69 to 59 in favor of seeking permission for a referendum before the UK leaves the EU. But the UK's government, led by Prime Minister Theresa May, has already said it will block a referendum until after the Brexit process has been completed.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Trudeau's Gov't Sets Date For Full Marijuana Legalization: July 1, 2018

[world politics news]

The Liberal Party government of Justin Trudeau will announce legislation next month that will legalize marijuana in Canada by July 1, 2018. Trudeau's party had long promised they would have legislation ready by the spring. The new regulations would basically follow recommendations released in December by a federally-appointed pot task force.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#HONGKONG: Crackdown On Dissent, A Day After Pro-Beijing Chief Elected

[world politics news]

The day after a pro-Beijing Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, was elected in Hong Kong, police launched a crackdown, arresting dozens of pro-democracy protesters and politicians.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Trump Gave Merkel A $374.5 Billion "Bill" For NATO Expenses During Visit

[world politics news]

After Donald Trump met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier in March, he made a big deal about the fact that Germany has not been spending the necessary 2% of GDP on defense as required by NATO. It turns out Trump's complaints weren't limited to just Twitter, as he actually gave Merkel a $374.5 Billion "bill" for NATO defense funds that he believed Germany "owed" to the US.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Only UK Independence Party Member Of Parliament Resigns

[world politics news]

Douglas Carswell, the only sitting member of  the UK Independence Party in Parliament, has resigned, saying the party accomplished what it set out to do with Brexit's victory last year. Members of the party, however, say he resigned before he was forced out, having had squabbles with former party leader Nigel Farage and a donor to the party who is a long-time rival who will now run for his seat in 2020.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Douglas Carswell, left, with former party leader Nigel Farage.

#NIGERIA: Senator Melaye Says He Will Prove He Earned Bachelor's Degree in Libel Lawsuit

[world politics news]

Determined to prove that he was awarded a Bachelors Degree by the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Senator Dino Melaye says he will produce his certificate before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama, as part of a libel suit against an online publication that claimed he did not receive the degree.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#KENYA: Clerics, Pols, Urge Pres. Kenyatta: Don't Reopen 2007 Election Violence Wounds

[world politics news]

Clerics and opposition party politicians have called on Pres. Uhuru Kenyatta not to reopen old wounds following his statement he made linking opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to election violence in 2007, in which Odinga was a presidential candidate. Bishops Mwai Abiero of the Anglican Church of Kenya and Washington Ogonyo Ngede said Odinga was not involved in the violence.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Anglican Bishop Mwai Abiero of Maseno South diocese at St Stephen's Cathedral in Kisumu

#TURKEY: Pres. Erdogan Says Ties With EU Will Be Reviewed After April Referrendum

[world politics news]

Turkey will review all political and administrative ties with the European Union after an April referendum, including a deal to curb illegal migration, but will maintain economic relations with the bloc, Pres. Tayyip Erdogan said. Ties have been strained after several nations have refused entry to Turkish politicians to campaign at rallies with Turks living in Europe, with Erdogan calling some nations "Fascist" and "Nazi" for restricting officials' attendance at the rallies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: Interior Minister Le Roux Resigns Over "Fake Jobs" Admission, Denies Wrongdoing

[world politics news]

France's Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux has resigned over a "fake jobs" row involving work he gave his daughters when they were teenagers. Le Roux told a news conference that he felt it was his "responsibility" but denied wrongdoing. It is alleged that his daughters were being paid for work while involved in other activities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Top Police Authority Issues New Guidelines For Protecting Good Samaritans

[world politics news]

China's top police and security authority has announced new guidelines to ensure that Good Samaritans who are injured while helping someone in need are to be better protected. The Ministry of Public Security issued the draft guideline on how to protect and reward good Samaritans, stipulating that medical fees should be paid for by the person responsible for an accident or by those being helped.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: PM Theresa May Says March 29 Will Start Process Of Leaving the European Union

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May says she will invoke "Article 50" on March 29, which will start the two-year process of the  UK leaving the European Union. She said she would write a letter to the European Council, adding that it hoped negotiations on the terms of exit and future relations could then begin as quickly as possible. An EU spokesman said it was "ready and waiting" for the letter.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Merkel, Japanese PM Praise Free Trade During Abe Visit

[world politics news]

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has met with Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss a free trade deal being negotiated between Japan and the European Union. Merkel's defense of free trade in a speech during a trade show in Hanover was apparently an attempt to rebuke US Pres. Donald Trump's "protectionist" rhetoric. "In these times of inter-connectedness, we want to link together our societies and work together in an equitable way. That's what free trade is about," she said.

[FULL STORY NEWS]

#SWEDEN: Opposition Moderates Slide In Recent Polling

[world politics news]

New polling shows Sweden's largest opposition party, the Moderates, sliding to only 17.6% backing from voters, the worst they've polled since the 2014 election, and less than the 23.3% they won in the last election. The Moderates dropped 2.2% in the poll between February and March, following it announced it would be willing to form a coalition with the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Moderate leader Anna Kinberg Batra.

#GERMANY: Social Democrats Unanimously Choose Martin Schulz To Run Against Merkel

[world politics news]

Gaining every one of over 600 votes during this weekend's Social Democratic Party conference in Berlin, Martin Schulz officially became Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief challenger in Germany's September general election and will lay out his plans for unseating the world's most powerful woman. Schulz is already credited with giving his ailing party a strong shot in the arm.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Leader Of Japan's Democratic Party Gets "Cold" Reception At Party Conference

[world politics news]

At only six months on the job as the Democratic Party's president, Renho Murata reportedly got a "cold" reception at her party's conference, and observers say poor election results in July could put her job in jeopardy. She told her party she will draft legislation to phase out the nation's nuclear reactors by 2030 at a party convention, but her audience was skeptical she could raise the party's standing with the public - which is hovering at 10% - before the Tokyo city Assembly elections. One lawmaker attending said the convention's atmosphere was "frighteningly cold" to her, with only a smattering of applause. It was the first convention for the nation's main opposition party, which was formed last March as a result of a merger.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Former Conservative Party Chancellor Named Editor Of Major London Daily Paper

[world politics news]

Former Chancellor George Osborne is to become editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper, while saying he plans to keep his seat in parliament representing Cheshire. That's angered opposition members of parliament. But he is facing calls to quit politics altogether, with Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn calling the appointment a "joke." What may explain his career move is that Osborne's district is slated to be eliminated this May.

[FULL STORY HERE]