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With his coalition government splintering, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sacked two senior Cabinet ministers, said parliament should be dissolved and called for early elections.

The Israeli media reported that new elections could be held as early as March.

Netanyahu has been prime minister for the past five years — an extremely long tenure in a country marked by fractious politics and unstable coalition governments. He has more than two years left in his current term before new elections are required in 2017.

However, his five-party coalition, made up mostly of conservatives, had become increasingly unwieldy and could not carry on given the current divisions.

In a televised speech Tuesday, the prime minister said, "I turn to you, the citizens of Israel, this evening because under the current situation, from within the current government, it is impossible to lead a state."

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The prime minister added: "Swift elections must be held, and a new, united and strong government must be formed."

Before the speech, Netanyahu dismissed Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni. Both are political centrists who have been openly critical of the prime minister.

"I will not tolerate any opposition in my government," Netanyahu said.

Israelis have been waging a heated debate in recent weeks over a controversial "Jewish nation-state" law. Supporters say it would codify and strengthen the Jewish character of Israel, while critics argue that it will weaken the country's democracy and could harm minorities.

As NPR Jerusalem correspondent Emily Harris told Morning Edition:

"The main point in Netanyahu's proposal is that while individuals retain their individual rights, only Jewish people have the right to national self-determination in Israel. This means things like the state valuing and preserving the heritage of Jewish residents, not others. Muslims, or Christians, or Arab speakers, would not have collective, community rights on the national level."

Netanyahu's coalition has run into sharp differences on issues that range from economic policy to housing bills.

In addition, Israel's relations with the United States, Israel's most important ally, have been rocky. Peace talks with the Palestinians collapsed earlier this year and Israel fought with Hamas in the the Gaza Strip for seven weeks this summer.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel

By a 44-5 vote, Chicago's City Council set a minimum wage target of $13 an hour, to be reached by the middle of 2019. The move comes after Illinois passed a nonbinding advisory last month that calls for the state to raise its minimum pay level to $10 by the start of 2015.

The current minimum wage in Chicago and the rest of Illinois is $8.25. Under the ordinance, the city's minimum wage will rise to $10 by next July and go up in increments each summer thereafter.

The legislation includes several findings of a focus panel that examined the wage issue in Chicago earlier this year.

The bill states, "rising inflation has outpaced the growth in the minimum wage, leaving the true value of lllinois's current minimum wage of $8.25 per hour 32 percent below the 1968 level of $10.71 per hour (in 2013 dollars)."

It also said that nearly a third of Chicago's workers, or some 410,000 people, currently make $13 an hour or less.

The timing of the vote reflects a political reality, as Emanuel and other Chicago leaders are maneuvering ahead of the next election cycle.

"Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to pre-empt state action on local minimum wages," Northern Public Radio reports, adding that among those who approve the pay hikes, "Officials are worried business groups will push for Springfield legislation that prohibits municipalities raising their minimum wage higher than the state's."

As NPR's Marilyn Geewax reported after the midterm elections, voters in Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota approved binding referendums that raise their states' wage floor above the federal minimum.

Chicago

minimum wage

An Indian television host and actress was slapped during the filming of a talent show by a man who said her dress was too short.

Police arrested 24-year-old Akil Malik for allegedly slapping Gauhar Khan on Sunday during the filming of India's Raw Star, a televised singing contest that she hosts. Security guards overpowered Malik before summoning the police.

Police quoted Malik as telling Khan that "being a Muslim woman, she should not have worn such a short dress." Malik, like Khan, is Muslim.

"He attacked my integrity and tried to camouflage his cowardice by his rubbish claims of wanting to send out a message that he thought the youth of Indian needed today," Khan said. "Who allowed the moron to decide what the world should be doing? Why doesn't a loser like him have the fear of the law before he decides to attack a girl who is unarmed, unprepared and someone who is trying to do her work to the best of her ability?"

And she added: "This loser doesn't represent my beautiful faith which in itself means peace and submission."

In a tweet, Khan later thanked her supporters.

I thank all my fans...loved ones n imp voices of personalities tat hav supported me in dis traumatic time..May almighty bless us all.

— GAUAHAR KHAN (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) December 2, 2014

Indian women are often the target of attacks by men, and the issue has gained prominence in recent years amid several much-publicized rapes.

India

The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Bargain hunters heading to Walmart, in addition to looking for holiday deals, may find workers participating in Black Friday Strikes.

Since 2012, Our Walmart, which is an employee labor group, has been staging strikes on the day after Thanksgiving.

Employees at stores in six states and Washington, D.C., plan to participate and more locations are expected to join in.

Our Walmart says it is standing up for better jobs. Members of the group would like to see more full-time work and an hourly wage of $15.

Its website BlackFridayprotests.org is trying to gather momentum for the movement. It also encourages people to participate in the strikes and has information where they can find a protest near them.

The AFL-CIO Tweeted: "Skip shopping and join a #BlackFriday protest in solidarity w/ #WalmartStrikers.

In a statement, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said, "The entire labor movement will proudly stand with the brave workers at Walmart as they lead the largest mobilization to date for better wages and schedules."

Walmart employs 1.3 million people in the United States. A statement on its website reads: "About 75% of our store management teams started as hourly associates, and they earn between $50,000 and $170,000 a year — similar to what firefighters, accountants, and even doctors make. Last year, Walmart promoted about 170,000 people to jobs with more responsibility and higher pay."

our walmart

walmart