general elections

Turkey is on the verge of a full military coup under Erdogan’s rule, experts have warned.  The situation in Turkey is rapidly deteriorating. Private debt is spiralling out of control, tourism is at an all-time low and Turkey’s currency continues to decline. Syrian Free Press reports: The 2013 Gezi protests and corruption charges against the government, the 2014 presidential election and two general elections in 2015 have put the Turkish economy under stress. Turkey’s annual growth rate, which for 50 years had averaged 4.5%, remained at an average 3% in the past four years.

A reader, bless him, sent in this excellent essay from West Virginia native Jedediah Purdy, analyzing the primary election results from his home state, which voted for Trump and Sanders. Excerpts:

Submitted by Emad Mostaque via GovernmentsAndMarkets.com,

“Erdogan once said that democracy, for him, is a bus ride … ‘once I get to my stop, I’m getting off’ ”

Jordan’s King Abdullah recalling a conversation with the Turkish President

Jamaica have announced plans to fire Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state, and legalize cannabis, in a radical new constitutional amendment. Lawmakers are discussing the plans as part of the new government’s 2016-2017 legislative agenda. The proposals would see the Queen being replaced with a Non-Executive President, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen announced to Parliament on Thursday.

Lawmakers in Jamaica are to debate a constitutional amendment that would replace Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and make the island a republic. The legislative agenda also includes a proposal to fully legalize marijuana for “specified purposes.” The Independent reports: The proposal is a “major action item” on the new government’s 2016-2017 legislative agenda, and would replace the Queen with a Non-Executive President, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen said Thursday in a speech to parliament posted on the government’s website.