Global

French lawmakers vote to condemn 1961 massacre of Algerian protesters

French lawmakers on Thursday condemned an infamous 1961 police crackdown on Algerian protesters in Paris as a “bloody and murderous repression,” marking another step in the country’s recognition of the massacre that authorities sought to cover up for decades. The National Assembly, parliament’s lower house, voted 67-11 in favor of a nonbinding resolution that condemned

READ MORE
Global

France lawmakers consider bill that would ban hair discrimination

French lawmakers are debating a bill aimed at banning discrimination based on hair texture, length, color or style. The bill would make France the first country to recognize hair-based discrimination at a national level. The bill has support from President Macron’s centrist party and left-wing parties, with a vote expected in the National Assembly. French

READ MORE
Global

Thailand Lawmakers Pass Bill to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Thailand’s House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage, bringing the measure a significant step closer to becoming law. The legislation now goes to the Senate. If it passes there, and if Thailand’s king approves it, the country will become the first in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex marriages.

READ MORE
Global

Togo lawmakers adopt new constitution

Togolese lawmakers adopted a new constitution on Monday, moving the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system and giving parliament the power to elect the president of the small West African country. The president will be chosen “without debate” by lawmakers “for a single six-year term”, and not by the public, according to the

READ MORE
Global

U.K. to Accuse China of Cyberattacks Targeting Voter Data and Lawmakers

The British government is expected to publicly link China to cyberattacks that compromised the voting records of tens of millions of people, another notable hardening of Britain’s stance toward China since its leaders heralded a “golden era” in British-Chinese relations nearly a decade ago. The deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden, will make a statement about

READ MORE
Global

U.S. lawmakers head for holidays, leaving Ukraine in lurch

The U.S. Congress heads out on a two-week break this weekend with no clear plan to provide desperately needed military aid requested by the White House to help pro-Western Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that his country is in dire need of support to replenish dwindling ammunition stocks,

READ MORE
Global

Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously pass controversial security law

Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously approved a new national security law aimed at granting the government more power to suppress dissent. The Safeguarding National Security Bill is set to take effect on Saturday. Critics fear the law will further erode civil liberties guaranteed under the 1997 handover agreement. Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously approved a new national

READ MORE
Global

Canada Lawmakers Back Motion Meant to Help Bring Peace to Gaza

Still, over the past several weeks, Mr. Trudeau has taken a much more critical tone toward Israel, a stance that has opened divisions within the Liberal Party. Three Liberal Party lawmakers voted against the motion. And from his left, Mr. Trudeau has been criticized by the New Democrats, whose votes he relies on to pass

READ MORE
Global

Gambia’s lawmakers consider lifting ban on women’s genital cutting

Lawmakers in Gambia are set to vote on Monday regarding legislation aiming to repeal a 2015 ban on women’s genital cutting. The bill is supported by religious conservatives, citing religious purity and cultural values, with Gambia’s top Islamic body endorsing the practice as a virtue of Islam. Jaha Dukureh, who underwent the procedure herself and

READ MORE