Tag: parliament

Taiwan parliament passes controversial bills despite protest

TAIPEI, May 29, 2024 (AFP) – Taiwan’s parliament passed a package of controversial bills on Tuesday to expand its power as thousands of disapproving protesters rallied outside and chanted “defend democracy”. Proponents say expanded parliamentary powers are needed to curb corruption but critics fear the laws could weaken the self-ruled island’s democracy against the influence of China, which claims it as part of its territory. New Taiwan President Lai Ching-te represents the Democratic Progressive Party […]

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President Marcos: Philippines on ‘frontline’ of maritime disputes, ‘will not yield’

CANBERRA, Feb 29, 2024 (AFP) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos told Australia’s parliament his country was on the “frontline” of a battle for regional peace Thursday, pledging resolve as he sought support in maritime disputes with China. With Beijing’s warships loitering in waters off his country’s coast, Marcos told Australian lawmakers that “the Philippines now finds itself on the frontline against actions that undermine regional peace, erode regional stability, and threaten regional success”. He vowed […]

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Sanchez gets new term as Spanish PM despite amnesty row

By Daniel SILVA MADRID, Nov 16, 2023 (AFP) – Pedro Sanchez won the backing of Spain’s parliament on Thursday for another term as prime minister, with the country divided over his decision to grant Catalan separatists an amnesty in exchange for their crucial support in a vote of confidence. Sanchez, in office since 2018, won the backing of 179 lawmakers, three more than the absolute majority of 176 in the 350-seat parliament after an often […]

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Socialist Paulette Lenert could be Luxembourg’s first woman PM

By Matthieu Demeestere LUXEMBOURG, Oct 6, 2023 (AFP) – Socialist leader Paulette Lenert could become Luxembourg’s first woman prime minister following Sunday’s elections in the country wedged between Belgium, France and Germany. No stranger to a challenge, the 55-year-old rose to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic, steering the country’s response as health minister from February 2020. Lenert remained coy about her ambitions in an interview with AFP, insisting she did not see herself taking over […]

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South Korea parliament clears way for opposition leader’s arrest

SEOUL, Sept 21, 2023 (AFP) – In a surprise move, South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Thursday to strip the leader of the opposition of his parliamentary immunity, potentially allowing his arrest over corruption allegations. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, has been accused by prosecutors of bribery in connection with a firm that is suspected of illicitly transferring $8 million to North Korea. He is also accused of breaching his duties, which allegedly […]

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Thai parliament elects Srettha Thavisin as PM: AFP count

BANGKOK, Aug 22, 2023 (AFP) – Thai lawmakers approved tycoon Srettha Thavisin as the kingdom’s new prime minister on Tuesday, ending three months of political deadlock on the day former premier Thaksin Shinawatra returned from exile. Srettha easily secured a majority across the two houses of parliament to be approved as Thailand’s 30th prime minister, despite his Pheu Thai party coming second in the May election. He sailed past the 374 votes needed for a […]

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Singapore plans extensive law to fight online crime

  SINGAPORE, May 8, 2023 (AFP) – A bill which will allow Singapore authorities to remove apps was introduced in parliament Monday to provide police with broad powers to combat malicious online crime and scams. If passed, the “Online Criminal Harms Bill” could among other things require app stores to remove an app from Singapore storefronts as well as demand online service providers to disable specified content. Such orders could be given “when there is […]

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Swiss parliament fumes over Credit Suisse collapse

by Nathalie OLOF-ORS Agence France-Presse BERN, Switzerland (AFP) — The Swiss parliament voiced its fury on Tuesday at the collapse of Credit Suisse and how the rules intended to prevent such a major bank from getting itself into trouble completely failed. At an extraordinary session of parliament called to debate the implosion of the bank and its takeover by larger rival UBS, Swiss President Alain Berset defended orchestrating the merger, saying a bankruptcy would have […]

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Malaysian MPs vote to axe mandatory death penalty

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | AFP | Monday 4/3/2023 Malaysia’s parliament passed a bill Monday to remove mandatory death sentences, with rights groups welcoming the vote as an “important step” that could have a knock-on effect elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Convictions for several offences, including murder and drug trafficking, previously came with automatic death penalties, giving judges no leeway. The bill does not scrap death sentences, but grants judges the option to instead impose lengthy prison […]

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Germany busts far-right cell plotting to ‘overthrow state’

  Frankfurt, Germany (AFP) by Michelle FITZPATRICK German police staged nationwide raids on Wednesday and arrested 25 people suspected of belonging to a far-right “terror cell” plotting to overthrow the government and attack parliament. Around 3,000 officers including elite anti-terror units took part in the early morning raids and searched more than 130 properties, in what German media described as one of the country’s largest police actions ever against extremists. The raids targeted alleged members […]

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India’s parliament begins voting for new president

  NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — India’s parliament began voting Monday for a new president, with a female politician from the country’s marginalised tribal community the favourite for the post. Droupadi Murmu, from the Santhal tribe, has been nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for the largely ceremonial position. If elected, she would be India’s first tribal president and second female president. The incumbent, Ram Nath Kovind, is the country’s second […]

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UK PM fires ally and digs in despite calls to quit

by Jitendra JOSHI / James PHEBY Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain’s scandal-hit Prime Minister Boris Johnson attempted a rearguard offensive late Wednesday against a cabinet and Conservative party revolt, firing a top ally and vowing to “fight on” despite dozens of government members resigning. The dismissal from the cabinet of Communities Secretary Michael Gove — Johnson’s right-hand-man in Britain’s 2016 Brexit referendum campaign — dramatically showed that the Conservative leader was not […]

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