Sweden’s first ever female prime minister has resigned just hours after she was appointed. Magdalena Andersson, was announced as leader on Wednesday but resigned after her coalition partner quit the government and her budget failed to pass. Instead, parliament voted for a budget drawn-up by the opposition which includes the anti-immigrant far right. “I have told the speaker that I wish to resign,” Ms Andersson told reporters. Her coalition partner, the Greens Party said it could not accept a budget “drafted for the first time with the far-right”. Ms Andersson said that she hoped to try to become prime minister … Continue reading Sweden’s first female PM resigns hours after appointment

The White House is calling Vice President Kamala Harris a “key partner” after a report detailed tension between her and the commander in chief. Press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday shut down rumors that President Joe Biden and Harris’s relationship is in disarray. “The president selected the vice president to serve as his running mate because he felt she was exactly the person you wanted to have by his side to govern the country,” Psaki told reporters. “She is a key partner. She’s a bold leader. She is somebody who has taken on incredibly important assignments.” CNN reported Sunday that many people in Harris’ inner circle … Continue reading White House denies tension with Kamala Harris, sidesteps question on 2024 and 2028 endorsement

Democrat Eric Adams breezed to victory in Tuesday’s mayoral election, becoming just the second Black man in history to get picked for the city’s top job after running a campaign centered on public safety and his deep experience in New York politics. Adams, the Brooklyn borough president and a born-and-bred New Yorker, was declared the winner of the mayoral race as early results from the city Board of Elections showed him holding a commanding lead over long-shot Republican contender Curtis Sliwa. In a city as deeply Democratic as New York, Adams’ win was expected. Carried by a diverse coalition of … Continue reading Eric Adams elected NYC mayor

Japan’s ruling party has held on to their single-party majority, in a big win for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who took power just a month ago. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secured more than 233 lower house seats – enough to govern without its coalition partner Komeito. Mr Kishida, 64, became leader of the LDP earlier this month. The party has dominated Japanese politics for decades but was criticized for its handling of the pandemic. Mr Kishida’s predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, stepped down in September after just a year in office. The resignation came amid plummeting poll ratings for the LDP … Continue reading Ruling Japanese party LDP retains single-party majority

A former close aide to Hillary Clinton has reportedly written in a new memoir how she was sexually assaulted by a US senator. Huma Abedin said the unnamed politician pounced on her on a couch in the mid-2000s after inviting her into his home, according to the Guardian. She says she rebuffed him as he tried to kiss her and escaped. The claim is detailed in her new book, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, which is being published next week. Ms Abedin was one of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee and former Obama-era secretary of state Mrs Clinton’s most trusted … Continue reading Clinton aide details sex assault by US senator

The leader of Germany’s conservatives, Armin Laschet, has announced a party congress next week, indicating he is ready to step down. Mr Laschet was picked to replace Angela Merkel as chancellor, but presided over their worst ever election defeat. The new personnel of the party would be tackled quickly, he said, “from the chairman through the party leadership to the federal executive committee”. The conservatives lost to the centre-left Social Democrats 11 days ago. The victorious SPD, led by Olaf Scholz, started coalition talks with two “kingmaker” parties on Thursday. SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil said he was not even … Continue reading Update: Merkel heir Laschet prepared to resign after election loss

Fumio Kishida has won a race to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), putting him on course to become the next prime minister. Mr Kishida will succeed Yoshihide Suga, who decided to step down after just one year in office. His first mission as prime minister will be to lead the LDP to victory in an upcoming general election. The party saw a drop in popularity after it pushed to host the Tokyo Olympics despite public opposition. Mr Kishida, a former foreign minister, beat out Taro Kono, who was widely regarded as the most popular candidate, to win the … Continue reading Fumio Kishida wins race to become Japan’s next prime minister

Germany’s centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have narrowly won the country’s federal elections, beating the party of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to preliminary results. The SPD secured 25.7% of the vote, while the ruling conservative bloc gained 24.1%. The Greens achieved the best result in their party’s history, coming in third with 14.8% of the ballot. A coalition must now be created to form a government. SDP leader Olaf Scholz earlier said his party had a clear mandate to rule, as his party started to edge into the lead. Exit polls predicted a dead heat, but this election has been … Continue reading Centre-left narrowly wins against Merkel’s party in German elections

Canadians gave Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party a victory in Monday’s parliamentary elections, but his gamble to win a majority of seats appeared to have failed. The Liberals were on track to win the most seats of any party. The 49-year-old Trudeau channeled the star power of his father, the Liberal icon and late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, when he first won election in 2015 and now appeared to have led his party to the top finish in two elections since. The Liberals were leading in 148 ridings, the Conservatives in 103, the Quebec-based Bloc Québécois in 28 and … Continue reading Breaking News: Trudeau’s Liberals win Canada election, but miss majority

Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has replaced the country’s justice minister, days after firing a chief public prosecutor who had called for Henry to be charged in connection with the July assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The latest fractures in a deepening political crisis in the Caribbean nation also included the resignation of the secretary-general of Haiti’s Council of Ministers, Renald Luberice, who said in a letter on Wednesday he could not remain under the direction of a prime minister who “does not intend to cooperate with justice, seeking, on the contrary, by all means, to obstruct it”. The resignation came as … Continue reading Update: Haiti PM Henry replaces justice minister after sacking prosecutor

California Governor Gavin Newsom appears to have survived a rare state-wide vote to remove him with a clear majority, US media report. Republicans launched the election over his handling of the pandemic. The Democrat, currently in the third year of his four-year term, had faced a field of 46 candidates, and was expected to win by a large margin. Both President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris campaigned with Mr Newsom ahead of the contest. “I’m humbled and grateful to the millions and millions of Californians that exercised their fundamental right to vote,” Mr Newsom said in a victory speech … Continue reading California democratic governor survives bid to oust him

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been hit by gravel thrown by protesters during a campaign stop. He was returning to his bus after visiting a brewery when he was struck by small stones. He was not injured. Mr Trudeau called a snap election in mid-August, in the hope of gaining a majority government for his left-of-centre Liberal party. But his campaign has been disrupted by demonstrations against Covid-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions. Just over a week ago, the Prime Minister was forced to cancel an election rally after a crowd of angry protesters ambushed the event. Speaking to journalists … Continue reading Justin Trudeau hit by stones on campaign trail