#NORWAY: Integration Min. Says Further Asylum Restrictions May Be Needed

[world politics news]

Integration Minister Sylvi Listhaug of the anti-immigration Progress Party warned that further immigration and asylum restrictions may be on the way. Just months after a number of immigration reforms aimed at making Norway a less attractive destination for refugees and migrants were pushed through parliament, Listhaug says further restrictions may be needed.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#VENEZUELA: Mass Opposition Protests Planned After Referendum On Maduro Recall Denied

[world politics news]

The opposition coalition in Venezuela is planning sustained street protests after a ruling by the National Electoral Council not to allow a Referendum on the Presidency of Nicolas Maduro this year. Instead, they are requiring the high hurdle of the signatures of 20% of all voters in each state, and would only allow a referendum late next year. The opposition is seeking the removal of the Maduro's leftist regime as the economy endures a full collapse.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#LEBANON: For The 45th Time, Parliament Fails To Elect A President; Next Try Oct 31

[world politics news]

Lebanese parliamentarians met once again Wednesday to attempt to elect a president, but a quorum wasn't present so the vote was delayed until Oct. 31st. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri says 51 MP's showed up, but 35 more members were needed to make a quorum in the 128-member body. Lebanon has been without the head of a state since 2014, when the term of then-President Michel Suleiman ended.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#INDIA: PM Says India Won't Attend Conference In Pakistan, Cites Terror Concerns

[world politics news]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he won't attend a November conference in Pakistan, citing terrorism concerns in the region. Modi's government blames "cross-border terror attacks"  for creating an environment that is "not conducive" for the meeting of the eight-nation group. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation may have to be relocated from Islamabad after Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan also signaled that they will not attend the meeting.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Indian PM Narenda Modi, right, Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, left.

#CANADA: Montreal City Council Bans The Pitbull Breed

[world politics news]

In a decision that has caused reactions far beyond its city limits, Montreal city councilors have voted to ban pit bulls. Thirty-seven councilors approved the amendments to the city's animal control bylaw, with 23 voting against the measure. Proponents, including Mayor Denis Coderre, said it was a "balanced approach between placing reasonable restrictions on current owners, and keeping citizens safe."

#SWITZERLAND: Parliament Votes To Ban Wearing Burkas In Public

[world politics news]

The Swiss parliament has voted to ban Muslim women from wearing the Burka in public. The National Council passed the vote 88 to 87, with 10 abstentions. The ruling stated that "no person shall cover his face in public places and in places or hide in the public domain or the provision of public services (excluding sacred sites)."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: PM Abe To Focus On Passage of TPP Trade Deal, Economic Reform In Parliament

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed Monday at the start of a 66-day session of the Diet to swiftly ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact and find new avenues for economic growth.
In a policy speech, the Japanese premier pitched the session as a chance to accelerate his "Abenomics" package of monetary and fiscal stimulus and structural reforms.

[FULL STORY HERE] 

#SPAIN: PM Rajoy's Party Advances In Elections, Signalling Poss. End Of Stalemate

[world politics news]

The center-right People's Party is projected to win an overall majority in Galicia's regional parliament. Meanwhile, the Basque Nationalist Party looks set to win the vote in its region. Spain has not had a functioning government for almost nine months. The regional elections are expected to help break the political stalemate.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THENETHERLANDS: Parliament Vote To Close All Coal-Fueled Power Plants By 2030

[world politics news]

In a close 77-72 vote, parliament has supported government plans to close all of the nation's coal-fired power plants by 2030. The move seeks to cut CO2 emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels. The move seeks to meet Paris climate change targets. Economics Minister Henk Kamp, of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, said the nation would be "crazy" to shut down the stations, which he says are the cleanest in Europe.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: PM Trudeau Aides Reimbursing Some Moving Expenses After Uproar

[world politics news]

Justin Trudeau's two top aides are repaying a "significant portion" of the $207,000 they received for moving expenses, hoping to douse a controversy that has plagued the Liberal government since the outset of the fall parliamentary sitting.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: PM Justin Trudeau, right, with aide Gerald Butts, screenshot from HuffPost.ca video.

#UK: Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn Holds Onto Position After Challenge

[world politics news]

Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected as the Labour Party's leader, defeating his challenger Owen Smith. Corbyn won 61.8% of the vote, a larger margin of victory than last year. More than half a million party members, trade unionists and registered supporters voted in the contest. The election was a result of a revolt against the left-leaning leader among Labour members in parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Possible Merkel Rival Makes Ill-Timed Visit To Moscow, Say Critics

[world politics news]

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who has struggled to escape Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s shadow in his bid to challenge her in next year‘s election, wants to build bridges between Russia and Germany. But his latest visit to Moscow has come under fire at home, since it came at the same time as a Russian attack on an aid convoy in Syria.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Top Aides Of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Billed Taxpayers $200,000 For Moves

[world politics news]

Canadian taxpayers were billed more than $200,000 in moving expenses for two of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s top aides. Gerald Butts, the prime minister’s principal secretary, and Katie Telford, his chief of staff, were reimbursed for moving their families from Toronto to Ottawa. Costs were mostly for legal and real estate fees covering the sale of their million-dollar homes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#IRAQ: Parliament Removes Kurd Finance Minister, Alleges Corruption

[world politics news]

The Iraqi parliament Wednesday voted 158-77, with 14 abstaining, to remove finance minister Hoshyar Zebari, voting in a secret ballot in a "confidence" vote. Zebari, who is a Kurd, was finance minister since October 2014. Before that, the 62-year old veteran politician held the post of Iraq's foreign minister from 2005. Lawmakers, in particular from the Shiite Daawa Party, had accused Zebari of mismanaging the country's finances, which the minister denies. Last month, the former Iraqi defense minister, Khaled al-Obeidi, was ousted by lawmakers in a similar vote.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: Putin Promises To Bring Back KGB Spy Agency; Could Quell Dissent Before 2018 Election

[world politics news]

Just hours after a stunning victory this week in parliamentary elections, Russian Pres. Vlaidmir Putin has pledge to bring back  the oppressive KGB spy agency, which was eliminated in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: Putin's Party And Allies Win Big In Low-Turnout Legislative Elections

[world politics news]

A record low number of voters bothered to show up for Russian legislative elections this week as the result - a victory for Pres. Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party and its allies - was a foregone conclusion. Apathy and some voter fraud contributed to the turnout. Putin's party won 54.2% of the vote, taking 343 seats in the 450-member parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Prime Min. Dmitri Medvedev, left, with Pres. Vladimir Putin

#UK: PM Theresa May Tells UN Nations Must Control Their Borders

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May has called for a global clampdown on "uncontrolled migration", saying it is the right and the duty of countries to control their borders. At the UN summit in New York, May said the migration crisis had been "exacerbated" by "unprecedented" numbers of economic migrants. She urged a change in approach, saying refugees should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. The UN says a record number of people have been displaced by conflict.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Anti-Muslim Party Wins First Seats in Berlin Regional Election; Merkel's Pty. Slips

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel faced damaging losses at the hands of Germany’s anti-immigrant party for the second time in two weeks in regional elections in Berlin. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party will enter its 10th regional assembly after winning 14.1 per cent of the vote, according to initial projections. Merkel's Christian Democrats

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Diane James Elected New Leader Of UK Independence Party

[world politics news]

Diane James has been elected the new leader of the UK Independence Party, after winning the contest to succeed Nigel Farage. Once a Conservative supporter, she distanced herself from the party and became an independent councilor in 2007, before joining UKIP. One of UKIP's most fluent media performers, James, 56, has held several high profile roles in the party, including the deputy chairmanship and spokeswoman for justice and home affairs.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#NIGERIA: Pres. Apologizes For Plagiarizing Obama's Speech Ahead Of Obama Meeting

[world politics news]

Pres. Muhammadu Buhari has apologized for plagiarizing Pres. Barack Obama’s 2008 victory speech and says he will punish those responsible. The announcement comes as Obama is set to meet Buhari, the leader of Africa’s largest economy and most populous country, next week in New York.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Jason Kenney Committed To PC Party Even If Merger Fails

[world politics news]

Alberta MP Jason Kenney says he will still pursue a unity agenda even if he wins the Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership race but fails to get support from party members to merge with the right-center Wildrose party, a merger which he is actively pursuing. He says he will gladly lead the PC Party through the 2019 election even if the party rejects a union with Wildrose.

FULL STORY HERE

#NEWZEALAND: Frmr. Conservative Pty. Ldr. On Trial For Defamation, Sexual Harassment

[world politics news]

Former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig is facing sexual harassment charges during his ongoing trial for allegedly defaming the director of the Taxpayer's Union. Jordan Williams says Craig defamed him at a press conference, and then again in a pamphlet mailed to more than 1.6 million New Zealand households. The allegations came from Craig's former press secretary, Rachel MacGregor, who has also alleged Craig sexually harassed her.

#SOUTHAFRICA: Dem. Alliance Says Pres. Zuma "Clueless" After He Blanks On 9-Point Plan

[world politics news]

The opposition Democratic Alliance Party is calling Pres. Jacob Zuma "Clueless" about his own 9-point plan to stimulate the economy after Zuma failed to list the points when questioned about it in parliament. Zuma said people were aware of the plan, but failed to list them, saying, "One of them is agriculture. There are many."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SEYCHELLES: Oppo. Coalition Wins Election For First Time In 20 Years

[world politics news]

A coalition of opposition parties has won a three-day election in Seychelles, putting it in control of the National Assembly for the first time in two decades. The opposition coalition of the Seychellois Democratic Alliance (known by its creole acronym LDS) won 15 seats. The Parti Lepep, which has been in power since 1977, took the remaining 10.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EGYPT: Parliament Makes Female Genital Mutilation A Felony

[world politics news]

Egypt's parliament has approved a bill submitted by the cabinet which amends the current law criminalizing the practice of female genital mutilation. The new law considers it a felony and will be punished with tougher penalties.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Oppo. Democratic Party Elects First Woman As Leader

[world politics news]

Japan's largest opposition Democratic Party has chosen its acting president Renhō Murata as its new leader. The 48-year-old Renhō - who is widely known by her first name - is the first female leader in the party's history, including the years of its predecessor, the Democratic Party of Japan.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Senator Accuses Pres. Duterte Of Ordering Murders As Mayor; Calls Duterte A "Pablo Escobar"

[world politics news]

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has compared Pres. Rodrigo Duterte compared Duterte to notorious Colombian drug lord and trafficker Pablo Escobar after hearing the testimony of witness Edgar Matobato that Duterte had ordered the murder of several individuals in Davao when he was city's mayor.

Pictured: Pres. Duterte, left, Sen. Trillanes, right

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Faulty Envelope Glue Forces Delay Of Pres. Election Until Dec 4

[world politics news]

Austria's main political parties on Tuesday proposed holding the country's presidential election re-run on December 4, after it was delayed because of a problem with the glue on postal votes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

NOTE: Google, which owns Blogger, has gone back to showing HTML in the post title line of posts, which means links show up awkwardly when shared on Facebook and Twitter. Therefore, as of this post, we have been forced to bring links down below the short summary (which does continue to show up) for aesthetic reasons. We would have preferred to link directly to the stories in the headline, but Google has forced us to make this change. We are looking at new platforms at this point.

#FRANCE: Frmr. Pres. Sarkozy Won't End Comeback Campaign, Despite Looming Trial

[world politics news]

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy says he is a victim of "manipulation" and vowed nothing would stop him running for re-election, despite prosecutors recommending he stand trial over alleged illegal campaign financing. Analysts call the looming trial a major blow to his hopes to return to office in next year's elections.

#EU: Moves To Extend Longest-Serving EU Parl. Ldr Sparks "War"

[world politics news]

Moves to let European Parliament head Martin Schulz extend his tenure are sparking fresh infighting in the crisis-hit EU, with his opponents warning it would be akin to a declaration of war. Schulz has been in office for five years, longer than anyone else since the parliament held its first international elections in 1979.

#BRAZIL: Former House Speaker Who Led Rousseff Impeachment Expelled

[world politics news]

By a lopsided 450 to 10 votes, Eduardo Cunha, the former speaker of the lower house who led the impeachment of former Pres. Dilma Rousseff, has lost his seat and has been barred from politics for eight years amid perjury and corruption claims. He has now lost parliamentary immunity and may be charged in a bribery and kickback scandal.

#CROATIA: Ruling Conservatives Win Snap Election, But Not Decisively; Oppo. Ldr. Resigns

[world politics news]

The ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union, or HDZ, won a snap parliamentary election Sunday, but unlikely by enough to form a government on its own. HDZ won 61 seats in the 151-member parliament, while left-leaning Peoples' Coalition won 54. The Bridge Party won 13 seats and may decide the winner. The Human Shield populist group won eight seats. Zoran Milanovic, whose Social Democrats - the main party in the Peoples' Coalition - were projected to win, said he'd resign.

#UK: End Of An Era: Former Prime Minister David Cameron Resigns As MP, Triggering By-Election

[world politics news]

Former Prime Minister David Cameron, who retained his seat in parliament after he resigned as PM and head of the party in June, is stepping away from politics to avoid being a "distraction." The resignation triggers a by-election to fill his seat in Oxfordshire. Cameron said he did not want to be a "distraction" for new PM Theresa May, whom he praised. Cameron, 49, has represented the city of Witney since 2001, became Conservative leader in 2005, and prime minister in 2010.

#KENYA: Parliament Bans "Party Hopping" Of Failed Candidates; Pols Must Choose A Party & Stick With Them

[world politics news]

Aspiring politicians will be required to choose their parties at least three months prior to elections, banning the practice of "party hopping," in which losing primary candidates join other parties in the general election. Parties must also now submit party lists 90 days before elections, and primary candidates must be submitted 21 days before their nomination. In the USA, many states have "sore loser" laws that forbid failed primary candidates from running in general elections as independents.

#KAZAKHSTAN: Parliament Considers New Anti-Terror Legislation

[world politics news]

The Kazakh parliament has begun considering proposed amendments concerning the country's counter-terrorism legislation aimed against arms trafficking and the regulation of migration.

#EGYPT: Law Governing Rebuilding Churches Finally Passed By Parliament

[world politics news]

Egypt's parliament has approved a long-awaited law that governs building and renovating churches, an issue that has led in the past to attacks on members the country's Christian minority by Muslim militants.

#UZBEKISTAN: Parliament Names PM Interim Pres. After Death Of Long-Term President

[world politics news]

Uzbekistan's parliament has appointed Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev as interim president following the death of strongman leader Islam Karimov, setting him up as the clear front-runner in the election to a full five-year term in December. The constitution actually called for the chair of the upper house of parliament to be appointed interim president, but he deferred to Mirziayaev.

#SOUTHAFRICA: Diplomat Approved As New Top Anti-Corruption Chief

[world politics news]

Parliament has approved high-level civil servant Busisiwe Mkhwebane's nomination to replace outgoing Thuli Madonsela as Public Protector, the nation's top anti-corruption position whose findings have dogged Pres. Jacob Zuma. Mkhwebane, 46, a lawyer whose most recent job was with the State Security Agency (SSA), has also worked as a director at Home Affairs and as an immigration official in China.

#CANADA: Premier Wynne Seeks "Reboot" Of Her Agenda; Restarts Legislative Session

[world politics news]

Premier Kathleen Wynne is giving her Liberals a mid-mandate reboot with a Monday throne speech aimed at "everyday" concerns like high electricity bills after a steamy summer. Wynne, who prorogued the Legislature Thursday - stopping short of dissolving it and calling new elections - will outline the government’s agenda for the 20 months leading up to the spring 2018 election in an address to be read by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

#GABON: Oppo. Pres. Cand. Challenges Election Defeat With Constitutional Court

[world politics news]

Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping has lodged a challenge with the country's Constitutional Court, contesting the result of a presidential vote whose validity has been questioned at home and abroad. Election results announced last week showed incumbent Ali Bongo beating Ping by a slender margin of fewer than 6,000 votes, sparking days of deadly riots in the capital Libreville.

#AUSTRALIA: Turnbull Gov't Embarrassed As It Loses Three Votes In A Row In Parliament

[world politics news]

The Turnbull government has suffered an embarrassing blow to its narrow majority after it lost three consecutive votes in the lower house. It's believed to be the first time in five decades that a majority government has lost a vote in the House of Representatives.

Pictured: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Defense Industry Minister Christopher Pyne and Treasurer Scott Morrison in parliament.

#CROATIA: Parties Hope "Snap" Election This Weekend Breaks Governing Stalemate

[world politics news]

Croatia votes this weekend in an early general election – the second in less than a year as the EU’s newest country grapples with a political crisis that has revived divisions from the 1990s Balkan wars. Neither the right-wing Croatian Democratic Union, nor the People’s Coalition, led by the Social Democrats have been able to rule on their own.

Pictured: Andrej Plennkovic, Leader of the Croatian Democratic Union

#CANADA: New Democratic Party Insiders Said To Be Planning Ouster Of Leader Tom Mulcair

[world politics news]

Upset with party leader Tom Mulcair's low profile after the New Democrat's crushing defeat last year, party insiders are said to be planning to oust him soon or force his resignation. He had previously agreed to resign next October, but some inside the party said he has "gone missing" and his low profile is hurting the party's image. His pleasant, grandfatherly demeanor and lack of passion - especially during national debates - are blamed by some for his poor showing and that of his party last year against the young, charming Justin Trudeau.

#EGYPT: New Legislation To Tackle Human Smuggling, Illegal Immigration

[world politics news]

New legislation tackling human smuggling is in the pipeline. The law being drafted is said to be in line with international standards, safeguarding the rights and addressing the needs of smuggled migrants. It will also contain hefty penalties for people smugglers, including life imprisonment and fines of $22,500 if the smuggling results in the death or disability of migrants.

#FRANCE: Newcomers, Veteran Pols, Launch 2017 Presidential Campaigns

[world politics news]

Former Pres. Nicolas Sarkozy, 61, has announced his long-expected attempt to return to the presidency in next year's French presidential election - something no president has ever done in modern times. He hopes to draw voters away from two other leaders on the right, both of them veterans of French politics. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front, is riding high in the polls as discontent over Muslim migrants and terror fears have risen. Former Prime Minister and current Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppe, 71, is also in the race. Also running is France's rebel Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, a Rothschild banker who stepped down to run last week. Pres. Francois Hollande is deeply unpopular but has hinted he may run again.

Pictured: Pres. Francois Hollande, left, and Former Pres. Nicolas Sarkozy.

#GERMANY: Anti-Merkel Party Crushes Merkel's Party In Her Home State

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel has suffered a sobering defeat in regional elections in her constituency of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with her Christian Democratic Union coming third behind the Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Alternative For Germany Party.

Pictured: Leif-Erik Holm and Alexander Gauland of the Alternative For Germany Party react after exit polls in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

#LEBANON: Parliament Will Try (For the 44th Time) To Elect A President Tomorrow

[world politics news]

The Lebanese parliament will meet again tomorrow, and for the 44th time in a row, will seek to elect a president to replace Michel Suleiman, whose term ended on May 25 , 2014. Parliament failed in August to reach a quorum because the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group and its ally MP Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc MPs boycotted the session, because they could not guarantee Aoun’s election as a president.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Says He Will Swear At Obama If He Raises Killings During Oct. Summit; Obama Cancels G20 Meeting

[world politics news]

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte warned President Barack Obama on Monday not to question him about extra-judicial killings, or "son of a bitch I will swear at you" when they meet in Laos during a regional summit. Obama, at the G-20 meeting this week in China, canceled a meeting with Duterte scheduled for today. Duterte said before flying to Laos that he is a leader of a sovereign country and is answerable only to the Filipino people. He was answering a reporter’s question about how he intends to explain the extra-judicial killings to Obama. More than 2,000 suspected drug pushers and users have been killed since Duterte launched a war on drugs after taking office on June 30.

#BRAZIL: Pres. Dilma Rousseff Impeached, Removed From Office

[world politics news]

Brazilian senators have voted by 61 to 20 to permanently remove the president from office. Lawmakers accused her of breaking budget responsibility rules. Decision ends the 68-year-old's five-and-a-half-years in power, and more than a decade's dominance by her leftist Workers' Party. She had been suspended in May, pending a trial in the Senate.

#CANADA: New Party Rules May Thwart Cand. Hoping To Merge With Wildrose

[world politics news]

Jason Kenney, the man campaigning for leader of Alberta's Progressive Conservatives and merge them with the Wildrose Party, is facing new rules designed to thwart his plans. Rules include a requirement that 5 of 15 delegates in each riding (district) now have to be party insiders sitting on local PC party boards. PCs have their own version of unelected superdelegates, including former PC members of the legislature. Kenney says he is "disappointed" the party leaders decided to reduce rather than increase the role of grassroots members.