European Union

Submitted by Martin Armstrong via ArmstrongEconomics.com,

In a victory for Prime Minister Theresa May, the UK Parliament's House of Commons voted overwhelmingly to trigger Britain's exit from the European Union, defeating attempts by pro-EU lawmakers to attach extra conditions to her plan to start divorce talks by March 31. 494 to 122 lawmakers voted in favor of a law giving EU nationals the automatic right to remain in the UK as the first piece of legislation to authorise Brexit made its way through the Commons, ending days of intense debate which have tested May's slim parliamentary majority.

In a mostly quiet Wednesday session, Asian stocks rose overnight along with European bourses, which were led higher by miners after Rio Tinto posted higher profits for the first time in three years and a bigger-than-expected dividend, while India’s Sensex extended declines after the central bank unexpectedly left rates unchanged. US futures were little changed as oil continued to fall after API reported a huge inventory build in the last week.

European Union leaders have promised to take over the role of being the world’s Superpower after America collapses following Donald Trump’s presidency.  According to Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat, Trump’s isolationist policies will give Europe the “opportunity for leadership it has always craved” on the world’s stage. Express.co.uk reports: He claimed countries around the world will be “looking” to Brussels for leadership in the aftermath of Mr Trump’s shock victory, which has been followed by a slew of controversial policy announcements.

Submitted by Soren Kern via The Gatestone Institute,