MPs vote to try to find majority on Brexit deal
In an unprecedented move, the British House of Commons voted an amendment that severely reduces Prime Minister Theresa May’s authority over the Brexit process. The amendment was brought in by MP Sir Oliver Letwin and passed by a cross-party majority of 27.
According to the amendment, the legislature can now bring in alternative motions in the House to test whether a majority exists on any Brexit deal other than the one brought in by Prime Minister May. These votes will not be binding, but just indicative of the legislature’s wishes.
While the votes are only effective, this is seen as a major blow to May’s authority over her control of the Brexit process. Albeit just temporarily, but the executive has lost operational autonomy over Brexit to the legislature. This is seen as a massive blow to executive power in a parliamentary system.
May’s government was further weakened as three of her ministers also resigned on the same day. Over the past weekend, there were reports regarding alleged attempts of a coup in the Conservative Party. The idea was that by replacing May with an interim prime minister might lead to several MPs backing the Brexit deal.
The official deadline for the UK to leave the European Union is just three days away, and we are far from getting a concrete sense of what might happen on the day of the deadline.
Israeli forces target Gaza after rocket hits house in Tel Aviv
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out strikes on the Hamas controlled Gaza strip after a rocket hit a house in north of Tel Aviv. The IDF believes that the Gaza militant group, Hamas, had launched the rocket.
The IDF conducted strikes in the Gaza strip, targeting the office of the political leader of Hamas and the headquarters of its military intelligence, among others.
Over the past few days, the IDF and Hamas had been exchanging fires. The two managed to reach a ceasefire on Monday, but they violated it with the recent fire-exchanges.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently in the US, is cutting short his trip and returning back home.
Italy’s 5-Star Movement faces election setback third time
The 5-Star Movement lost its third consecutive regional election in Italy. The recent election held in southern region of Basilicata was won by a centre-right collation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini’s League party.
Currently, the 5-Star Movement and the League party are in a coalition that runs the central Italian government. Since the coalition happened last year, the League party has been gradually gaining ground and is currently more popular than its coalition partner, the 5-Star Movement.
As the League party gains political momentum, it is expected to perform well in the upcoming European Parliament elections due in May.
In other news:
China played the long game to see who ‘blinks first’ when US trade war spiralled out of control in 2018, central bank’s ex-adviser says, South China Morning Post
Global carbon dioxide emissions hit record high, Financial Times