Latest Democracy News
Mass protests against Israeli government's plans to change legal system enter 21st week
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered on Saturday for the relentless weekly protests against their government’s plans to overhaul the legal system. The mass protests entered their 21st week. This week’s rallies come days after Prime Minister Benjamin...
Hong Kong's 2nd largest pro-democracy party disbands amid political crackdown
HONG KONG (AP) — One of the few remaining pro-democracy parties in Hong Kong voted to dissolve itself on Saturday, joining a growing list of organizations that have disbanded as authorities crack down on dissent. Civic Party chairman Alan Leong told reporters that the dissolution...
Minnesota governor signs ‘One Minnesota Budget’ as Democrats celebrate their top goals becoming law
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — As hundreds of people cheered on the lawn around him, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed a document to symbolize the passage of his $72 billion “One Minnesota Budget” at a celebratory ceremony on the front steps of the State Capitol Wednesday morning. ...
East Timor's opposition party wins most seats in parliamentary election
DILI, East Timor (AP) — East Timor’s opposition party won Sunday’s parliamentary election, meaning independence fighter Xanana Gusmao is likely to return as prime minister in Asia’s youngest democracy. The final vote count released by the National Elections Commission on...
Spy chief warns authoritarian states stoking anti-government mood in Germany
BERLIN (AP) — The head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency warned Monday of a rise in anti-government extremism - fueled by authoritarian states such as Russia - that seeks to divide society and topple the government. German security agencies have disrupted several plots in...
G7 urges China to press Russia to end war in Ukraine, respect Taiwan's status, fair trade rules
HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — The Group of Seven wealthy democracies united in urging China to pressure its strategic partner Russia to end its war on Ukraine and resolve territorial disputes peacefully, and China lashed back. In a joint statement, the G7 leaders emphasized they did not...
G7 'outreach' an effort to build consensus on global issues like Ukraine, China, climate change
HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have joined their counterparts from other countries during their summit in Japan to try to expand the G7’s sway and to include voices from the so-called Global South. From South America to South Asia,...
Hong Kong court dismisses pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai's legal bid to fight for UK lawyer
HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court rejected an activist publisher’s latest effort Friday to use a British lawyer to defend him against national security charges as Beijing tries to crush a pro-democracy movement. Jimmy Lai, the 75-year-old founder of the now-defunct newspaper...
Hong Kong leader defends removing politically sensitive books from public libraries
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's leader said Thursday the city's public libraries would not recommend books featuring “bad ideologies" to residents after they pulled titles related to the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and certain political figures, further shrinking the city's freedoms. ...
Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss warns of China threats during Taiwan visit
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss warned of economic and political threats to the West posed by China during a visit Wednesday to Beijing's democratic rival Taiwan. Truss is the first former British prime minister since Margaret Thatcher in the 1990s to...
