Truss’s Government on the Brink as Tories Agitate for Her to Go
Francis Higgins
?? International Business Strategist | Expert in Driving Global Expansion and Market Penetration
Liz Truss’s premiership looked close to imploding after she fired one minister over a security breach and two others were heard resigning amid the fallout from a chaotic parliamentary vote before agreeing to stay in their posts.
Many Conservative lawmakers now want Truss to resign immediately, a sudden reversal from a widely-held view that a leadership change should wait at least until a new economic plan is announced on Oct. 31 to calm financial markets.
Late on Wednesday cabinet ministers were holding private conversations about whether the prime minister should quit, according to two people with knowledge of those talks. Asked if Truss’s government can survive the night, one Tory MP replied: “I hope not.”
Malaysia Plans Early Polls as PM’s Party Wants New Mandate
Malaysia will hold elections on Nov. 19 with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s party looking to capitalize on a string of victories from local polls and consolidate power in the Southeast Asian country.?
The Election Commission fixed nomination day for Nov. 5, Chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said at a briefing Thursday. A total of 222 parliament seats will be contested, plus the state seats for Perak, Pahang and Perlis.?
A national vote isn’t due until September next year but key members of Ismail’s United Malays National Organisation wanted to bring forward?elections?to capitalize on a weaker opposition and regain the mandate following a shock defeat in 2018. UMNO clawed back into power after the collapse of Mahathir Mohamad’s government but has led a very fragile coalition since.
The elections will involve multi-cornered contests, with several coalitions including UMNO-led Barisan Nasional and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan alliance vying for votes. That makes it tricky for any party to win an outright majority needed to ensure political stability.
Adding to the uncertainty is the impact 5.8 million new young voters would have in shaping the outcome of the election, following the government’s move to lower the minimum voting age to 18 from 21. There’s already widespread unhappiness over holding polls during the annual monsoon season that starts in November and could affect voter turnout.
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Chad declares state of emergency as flooding affects over a million people
Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby declared a state of emergency on Wednesday over flooding that is affecting more than a million people in the central African country.
Floods are not uncommon during?Chad's rainy season, which usually runs from May to October in its southern regions. But this year the rains came early and were the heaviest in decades.
"Starting now, a state of emergency will be instituted to better contain and manage this?natural disaster," said Deby in a televised address to the nation.
The flooding has affected 636 localities in 18 out of 23 provinces in the country, he said. The worst affected are the southern provinces of Mayo Kebbi Est, Logone Occidental, Tandjile, Moyen Chari and Mandoul.
Even in the capital, N'Djamena, hundreds of people have?fled their homes?due to flooding in the last few days.
Iran Athlete Gets Hero’s Welcome at Airport After Removing Hijab
An Iranian climber was greeted by crowds of cheering supporters at a Tehran airport after she returned home from competing in a major international tournament without wearing a head scarf in contravention of the country’s Islamic laws.
Elnaz Rekabi officially represented the Islamic Republic without covering her hair -- something that’s been mandatory for all Iranian female athletes since 1979 -- at the Asian climbing championships in Seoul on Oct. 16.
She did so following a month of widespread anti-government protests in Iran that were triggered by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested last month for allegedly flouting the nation’s strict Islamic dress codes. ?