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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: parliament

parliament stories: 17 news summaries

After 3 Decades, Iran Names Female Cabinet Minister

Health appointee heralds achievement of 'long-standing dream'

Sep 3, 09 1:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - Iran has named its first female cabinet minister since the dawn of the Islamic Republic in 1979, the Guardian reports. “I think today women reached their long-standing dream of having a woman in the cabinet to pursue their demands,” said new health minister Marzieh Vahid Dastgerdi. “This... More »

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Iran • Mahmoud Ahmadinejad • parliament • cabinet minister • Marzieh Vahid Dastgerdi

Mali's President Bails
on Women's Rights Law

Protests force him to send it back for review

Aug 27, 09 8:27 AM CDT
(Newser) - Mali's president says he won't sign a controversial new law that gives more rights to women, the BBC reports. President Amadou Toumani Toure says he supports the so-called family law, which Muslim leaders have denounced as the devil's work, but is sending it back to parliament for review. "I... More »

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Africa • women's rights • marriage • protests • Muslim • parliament • Mali • Amadou Toumani Toure

Berlusconi Irate Over Pesky Media Questions

Italian PM walks out of interview when asked about teen model

May 24, 09 10:39 AM CDT
(Newser) - Silvio Berlusconi owns nearly half of Italy’s television stations—but not La Repubblica, the Italian daily that has incensed the PM with questions about his connection to an 18-year-old model, the Guardian reports. When a reporter asked about Berlusconi's appearance at her birthday party, Berlusconi took offense, saying... More »

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media • newspaper • Italy • prime minister • parliament • authoritarianism • Silvio Berlusconi • La Repubblica • investigative journalism • Noemi Letizia

 Sri Lanka Prez: 
 We're 'Liberated' 

Body of rebel leader said to be found

May 19, 09 8:10 AM CDT
(Newser) - Sri Lanka’s leader celebrated the country’s “liberation” from the Tamil Tigers after 26 years of war in a speech to parliament today, the BBC reports. “Today we have been able to liberate the entire country from the clutches of terrorism," said Mahinda Rajapaska. "We... More »

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Sri Lanka • Tamil Tigers • parliament • speech • ethnic conflict • Mahinda Rajapaksa • Tamils • Velupillai Prabhakaran

UK Expenses Scandal Claims House Speaker

House of Commons speaker Michael Martin steps down

May 19, 09 6:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - The ongoing controversy surrounding British MPs' lavish expenses has claimed its biggest victim: the speaker of the House of Commons. Michael Martin, who presides over the country's main legislative body, will announce his resignation today after losing the support of party leaders, including Gordon Brown—not for cheating on his... More »

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United Kingdom • British Parliament • Gordon Brown • parliament • inappropriate expenses • expenses • Michael Martin

(Newser) - The South African parliament elected Jacob Zuma president today, and the country’s new leader will be inaugurated on Saturday, Reuters reports. Zuma’s ANC routed the opposition in last month’s election, and today’s election was expected. The new president will name a cabinet on Sunday; international watchers... More »

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South Africa • parliament • Jacob Zuma • African National Congress • election • Winnie Madikizela-Mandela • Trevor Manuel

 Sweden Legalizes Gay Marriage 

Parliament passes law 261-22

Apr 2, 09 6:53 AM CDT
(Newser) - Sweden’s Parliament legalized gay marriage yesterday, becoming the fifth European country to do so, CNN reports. Registered partnerships were already permitted in the country, but the new law will allow same-sex couples to officially tie the knot starting May 1. The only party to oppose was the Christian Democrats,... More »

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gay rights • gay marriage • Sweden • parliament

 Thai Protesters 
 Shut Down Parliament 

Vow 'final battle' for control of nation

Nov 24, 08 6:07 AM CST
(Newser) - Tens of thousands of raucous Thai protesters surrounded parliament today, forcing officials to shut it down, reports the BBC. Spokesmen for the pro-monarchist People's Alliance for Democracy vowed that the current action marks the "final battle" for the nation's government. Other groups marched on police headquarters and the foreign... More »

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Thailand • Bangkok • Thaksin Shinawatra • parliament • People's Alliance for Democracy • Somchai Wongsawat

Russia Paves Way for Return of Putin

Parliament extends term of president; early elections could follow

Nov 21, 08 12:04 PM CST
(Newser) - Russia's lower house of parliament approved a change to the constitution that extends the term of the president from four to six years, CNN reports. The move is widely seen as a bureaucratic maneuver that will lead to the return of Vladimir Putin as president. The upper house of parliament... More »

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Russia • presidency • Vladimir Putin • Duma • parliament • Russian parliament • term limits

In World First, Women Form Majority in Rwanda Assembly

Boosted by quota system, females take 44 of 80 of parliamentary seats

Sep 17, 08 2:19 PM CDT
(Newser) - The second parliamentary election in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide has ushered in the only majority female parliament in the world, the BBC reports. Of 80 seats, 44 went to women—and that 55% could go higher after additional voting. Under the constitution drafted after the genocide, 30% of MPs... More »

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Africa • genocide • Rwanda • parliament • election • women in office

 Japanese PM Resigns

Fukuda hopes move will clear parliamentary gridlock

Sep 1, 08 11:42 AM CDT
(Newser) - Yasuo Fukuda has resigned as Japan’s prime minister, the AP reports. Fukuda said he was stepping down to ensure that a special session of parliament to address the economy runs smoothly. Fukuda, whose approval rating is at 29% after less than a year in office, has presided over a... More »

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Japan • resignation • prime minister • food prices • Yasuo Fukuda • parliament • Japanese economy • fuel costs

Power-Sharing Talks Stall in Zimbabwe

Mugabe will grant PM role but no power, opposition says

Aug 31, 08 5:41 PM CDT
(Newser) - Zimbabwe’s rival parties stopped talks today without progress on forging a unified government, BBC reports. President Robert Mugabe offered to make opposition leader Morgan Tsvanigrai prime minister without any authority. Tsvanigrai wants Mugabe to stay president but cede executive power. “Nothing was achieved in the latest round,"... More »

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Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • Morgan Tsvangirai • dictatorship • parliament • Movement for Democratic Change • Zanu-PF

 Mugabe Heckled by Parliament

MDC MPs tired of deferring to embattled president

Aug 26, 08 11:43 AM CDT
(Newser) - Members of the Movement for Democratic Change heckled President Robert Mugabe today as he addressed the parliament, the Times of London reports. Having defied him by electing an MDC speaker instead of one from his own Zanu-PF, the MDC representatives chanted “Zanu is rotten” throughout Mugabe’s address. “... More »

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Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • Morgan Tsvangirai • dictatorship • parliament • Movement for Democratic Change • Zanu-PF

 Teen Rapes Reported
 at Mugabe Torture Camps 

Pregnancy spike among victims as militia crushes Mugabe opposition

Jul 6, 08 8:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - Teenage pregnancy rates have spiked after youth militia members began raping Zimbabwean girls in President Robert Mugabe's torture camps, human rights workers tell the Times of London. The stigma against rape victims has kept the victims mostly silent, but a single hospital saw a spike of 16 expectant teenagers, and... More »

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torture • Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • rape • militia • parliament • teen pregnancy • Movement for Democratic Change • MDC

 Spain Passes Ape Rights Bill 

Seriously, parliament moves to protect 'non-human hominids'

Jun 26, 08 1:14 PM CDT
(Newser) - Spanish Parliament passed a resolution promising fundamental “human” rights to the great apes, the Guardian reports. The bill enjoys wide support and would ban scientific experimentation involving higher-level primates. Zoo exhibition will still be legal, but supporters say living conditions will improve significantly. The legislative body was inspired by... More »

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Spain • animal rights • chimpanzees • gorilla • apes • orangutans • parliament

Pope Appeals for Lebanon Peace

Pontiff calls for end to infighting, election of 'president for all'

Feb 17, 08 11:40 AM CST
(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI expressed concern today over the escalating tensions in Lebanon, calling on its people to find a “president for all Lebanese” to end the months of infighting that have stalled elections. After his noontime blessing, the pontiff told the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square that... More »

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Lebanon • Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • Beirut • parliament • St. Peter's Square • faithful • Lebanese presidential elections

Japanese Party Scrambles to Keep Boss
to Dodge Chaos

Opposition chief to quit amid deadlock mess

Nov 5, 07 2:30 AM CST
(Newser) - Members of Japan's opposition party are pleading with their leader to rethink his announced resignation, fearing the move will break up the party and hurt its chances at the polls. The head of the Democratic Party of Japan said he would resign yesterday after the party leadership resoundingly voted to... More »

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Afghanistan • Japan • Liberal Democratic Party • America • resignation • Indian Ocean • Democratic Party of Japan • refueling • Yasuo Fukuda • Ichiro Ozawa • parliament

17 Stories


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