#DENMARK: Seeking Support For Budget, PM Invites 2 Ptys To Form 3-Way Coalition

[world politics news]

After months of wrangling over a budget, and a weak position for his own party, Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has begun talks with leaders of the Liberal Alliance and the Conservatives to discuss the creation of a new three-party coalition government. Rasmussen's centre-right Liberal Party holds only 34 out of 179 seats in parliament and needs the support of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party, the libertarian-leaning Liberal Alliance and the Conservatives to govern.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHKOREA: Pres. Park Offers To Resign Over Influence-Peddling Scandal

[world politics news]

Embattled South Korean President Park Geun-hye says she will allow the National Assembly to determine her fate, and would resign over a corruption and influence-peddling scandal if lawmakers so demanded. Relinquishing her previously defiant tone, Park struck a chastened note in her third televised address to the nation over the scandal, which has angered South Koreans and created a political vacuum.

#TURKEY: Pres. Erdogan May Continue State Of Emergency Beyond January End Date

[world politics news]

Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey‘s state-of-emergency could be extended by an additional three months when the current period expires in January. The emergency laws, which grant his administration sweeping powers, have been in effect since a failed coup attempt by a faction in the military in July. Under the laws, some 75,000 civil servants and members of the security forces have been purged and more than 37,000 arrested. Hundreds of associations and media outlets have been shuttered.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MALAWI: New Law Offers Greater Compensation For Land Taken By Eminent Domain

[world politics news]

Malawi's parliament has passed a land acquisition bill designed to benefit poor Malawians whose lands are subject to be taken by the government by eminent domain for developmental projects and urbanization. The new legislation will offer affected families better compensation than the current law, which only takes into account how land will be developed and how many trees are on the property.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: Lower House Votes To Lower Retirement Ages

[world politics news]

Poland‘s lower house of parliament has voted to lower the age of retirement from 67 to 60 for women and 65 for men, placing Poland at odds with a broader trend to raise the bar in other European countries. The bill, a brainchild of President Andrzej Duda, is a boon to his former party, the Law and Justice Party, and its promise to improve social welfare. Joanna Augustynowska of the opposition Nowoczesna Party said a lower retirement age would place a heavy burden on caring for the elderly.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Blogger's #TrudeauEulogies Hashtag Mocking PM's Castro Tweet Goes Viral

[world politics news]

Canadian political writer J.J. McCullough, a conservative commentator and cartoonist, started the hashtag #Trudeaueulogies as a way to parody Trudeau’s statement following Fidel Castro's death. The statement, which merely called Castro "controversial," was widely criticized as fawning and uncritical of Castro's bloody rein.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Click to enlarge

#IRAQ: Parliament Legalizes Controversial Shiite Militias, Sunnis Boycott Vote

[world politics news]

In a sign that Iraq may be dividing along religious sectarian lines, parliament has given legal recognition to Iran-backed Shiite militias, in a vote boycotted by Sunni Muslims in parliament. Disagreements over the paramilitary units are complicating efforts to pull Iraq together as forces battle to defeat Islamic State, the ultra-hardline Sunni group that overran a third of the country in 2014, proclaiming a “caliphate” that spans parts of Syria.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Bloc Quebecois MP Censured For Using Foul Language In Parliament

[world politics news]

Bloc Québécois MP Simon Marcil was censured by the Speaker of the House of Commons for using the word “bullshit” in the chamber as Marcil slammed Ottawa for failing to provide enough support for Quebec cheese-makers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#DENMARK: Facebook Temporarily Bans Danish MP Over Two Nude Photos

[world politics news]

Danish MP Uffe Elbæk was temporarily banned from Facebook for violating the social media giant's nudity policy. Elbæk, the leader of The Alternative, said on Monday that he was banned for posting two photos that contained nudity. One was from Copenhagen's Culture Night while the other was a famous photo from 1969 that shows Danish artist Lene Adler Petersen walking nude through the Copenhagen Stock Exchange carrying a cross.

#EGYPT: Parliament, Gov't, Fight Over Dueling Draft Laws On NGOs

[world politics news]

Egypt’s parliament has taken non-governmental organizations by surprise by opening a debate on a tough new NGO law. The 89-Article Law, drafted by head of parliament’s Social Solidarity Committee Abdel-Hadi Al-Qasabi and 203 MPs, triggered a quick response from Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali, who asked parliament to wait, “because the government also has its own draft law on NGOs." The new parliamentary law tightens government oversight of foreign money funding non-governmental organizations.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Medical Experts Call For Emergency Action On Opiates

[world politics news]

Members of the medical community and front-line soldiers in Canada's opioid crisis are pressing the federal government to declare a national public health emergency. Dr. David Juurlink, head of pharmacology and toxicology at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, says the opioid problem is so dire it demands an urgent response at the highest levels of government.

#ISRAEL: Arab Knesset Members Protest E. Jerusalem Call To Prayer Ban

[world politics news]

A controversial bill being considered in the Israeli Knesset would bar mosques from using loudspeakers for delivering call to prayer (azan) in occupied East Jerusalem. Many Palestinians calling it a blatant violation of their freedom to worship. Two Arab Knesset members attempted to make the call to prayer inside the Knesset, with one succeeding.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: House Of Lords Approves Bill Giving Sweeping New Spy Powers To Gov't

[world politics news]

The House of Lords has passed the Investigatory Powers Bill, putting the huge spying powers on their way to becoming law within weeks. The bill – which forces internet companies to keep records on their users for up to a year, and allows the Government to force companies to hack into or break things they've sold so they can be spied on – has been fought against by privacy campaigners and technology companies including Apple and Twitter.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#PAKISTAN: Pres. Welcomes Home Nat'l Geographic's "Green-Eyed Girl"

[world politics news]

Afghan Pres. Ashraf Ghani has welcomed home Sharbat Gulla, National Geographic’s famed green-eyed "Afghan Girl," just hours after she was deported from Pakistan, the latest in the odyssey of the globally recognized refugee. Gulla’s deportation came after a regional court in the Pakistani city of Peshawar convicted her on charges of carrying a forged Pakistani ID card and staying in the country illegally. She appeared on the cover of a 1985 National Geographic magazine, highlighting the plight of refugees.



[FULL STORY HERE]

#ISRAEL: Oppo Pty Ldr Calls For Investigation Into German Sub Purchase Deal

[world politics news]

Yesh Atid Party Leader Yair Lapid has called for Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to order a criminal investigation into a multi-billion shekel deal for Israel to purchase German submarines, which was pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and in which his personal lawyer David Shimron is alleged to have an interest.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#KOSOVO: Autopsy Of Opposition Activist: Committed Suicide In Prison

[world politics news]

An autopsy on the body of a Kosovo opposition activist who died in prison found that he committed suicide, authorities in the Balkan nation said, after his death drew protesters onto the streets. Medical student Astrit Dehari, 26, died in jail earlier this month in the southeastern city of Prizren, where he had been detained since August along with five fellow members of the opposition Self-Determination Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Ontario Premier Wynne Admits "Mistake" Of Higher Electric Bills

[world politics news]

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is calling high electricity prices her "mistake," sounding a note of contrition on one of the major issues threatening the Liberals’ re-election bid in 2018. Amid the usual rallying of the troops at the Ontario Liberals’ annual general meeting, Wynne addressed her poor popularity numbers, which she called the "elephant in the room."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: National Front Leader Opens Campaign HQ Near Presidential Palace

[world politics news]

National Front Party Leader Marine Le Pen has opened her party's headquarters at a building just 1.7 kilometers from the Elysée presidential palace. The proximity of the palace to the new headquarters - located at 262 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré - would "make the move easier in May," Le Pen's campaign treasurer told Le Figaro newspaper, after her planned presidential election victory.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#FRANCE: Frmr. Pres. Sarkozy Eliminated in Republican Primary

[world politics news]

Former French prime ministers François Fillon and Alain Juppé will vie for the center-right Republican Party nomination in a run-off after handing controversial former president Nicolas Sarkozy a shock defeat on Sunday. With three-quarters of votes counted, Sarkozy (21.7%) was lagging well behind Fillon (43.7%) and Juppé (27.8%.) Sarkozy endorsed Fillon, who leads in the polls to take on Marine Le Pen’s anti-European platform in next year's presidential election.

#SOUTHKOREA: Special Prosecutor To Investigate Pres. Park's Ties To "Manipulator"

[world politics news]

The National Assembly has voted to allow a special prosecutor to investigate a corruption scandal threatening the presidency of Park Geun-hye. She has 15 days to reject or accept the prosecutor's appointment. The opposition-controlled body also voted for a parliamentary investigation into allegations that Park allowed a secretive confidante to manipulate power from the shadows and amass an illicit fortune.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Frmr. PM Harper Supports Jason Kenney's Plan To Unite Alberta's Conservative Parties

[world politics news]

Former prime minister Stephen Harper says he’s joined the Progressive Conservative party in order to back Jason Kenney and he’s urging Wildrose members to do the same.

#JAPAN: Cabinet Approves Limited Weapon Use For Peacekeepers

[world politics news]

Japan's cabinet has granted its peacekeepers in South Sudan the limited use of weapons in rescue operations.  The government will send a Ground Self-Defense Force engineering unit to the African country later this month. It will replace a Self-Defense Forces unit taking part in United Nations operations. The government has concluded that the situation in South Sudan meets its criteria for sending peacekeepers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: Two Unions Reject Budget Demanded By European Union Officials

[world politics news]

Spain's two biggest unions that they "firmly oppose" measures demanded by the European Union to reduce the public deficit, and instead demanded a hike in the minimum wage.

#GERMANY: Greens Torn About Possible Alliance With Merkel's Conservatives

[world politics news]

A year before elections, Germany's Greens are torn by an identity crisis, split on whether joining forces with Angela Merkel's conservatives would be a great idea or a betrayal of their ideals.

Pictured: German Green Party leaders Simone Peter and Cem Özdemir.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: Putin Creates Joint Russian-Armenian Military Force

[world politics news]

President Vladimir Putin has approved a government proposal to create a joint Russian and Armenian military group. Putin has ordered the Russian Defense Ministry and the Foreign Ministry to hold talks with Armenia on reaching an agreement, based on a proposal from the Russian government on creating a joint military group consisting of Armenian and Russian forces.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MOLDOVA: Pro-Russian, Anti-EU Pol Wins Presidency

[world politics news]

A pro-Russian politician has won Moldova's presidential election, according to final results released on Monday. In the full count, Igor Dodon won 52.2 percent of Sunday's vote. His opponent in the race, Maia Sandu, who ran on an anti-corruption ticket, had 47.8 percent.

#AUSTRALIA: Gov't Will Send Island Refugees To US Under New Deal

[world politics news]

Australia is on the brink of signing a breakthrough deal with the United States on asylum seekers after months of protracted negotiations. Under the deal the US will resettle detainees on Manus Island and Nauru found to be refugees . Australia and the US would sign an agreement to resolve the fate of almost 2,500 asylum seekers in detention centers on Manus Island and Nauru.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ISRAEL: PM Netanyahu Tells Cabinet: Restrain Public Comments Over Trump Win

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for cabinet ministers to refrain from comment on Donald Trump’s victory after right-wing politicians said he will put an end to a two-state solution with the Palestinians. While Netanyahu sent congratulations to Trump, other right-wing politicians have gone further, calling for the end of the idea of a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: New Cyber Security Law Criticized For Restricting Speech

[world politics news]

China's parliament has adopted a controversial cyber security law designed to counter growing threats such as hacking and terrorism, but the law has triggered concerns among foreign business and rights groups, who say it threatens to shut foreign technology companies out of various sectors deemed "critical." The legislation, passed by China's largely rubber-stamp parliament and set to take effect in June 2017, is an "objective need" of China as a major internet power, a parliament official said. Overseas critics of the law

[FULL STORY HERE]

#KOSOVO: EU Will Hold Up Kosovo Visa Deal Until Montenegro Border Normalization

[world politics news]

Unless Kosovo approves a border demarcation deal with neighboring Montenegro, it can’t enjoy EU visa liberalization, says an EU official. Opposition lawmakers, who are against the deal, have disrupted parliamentary work by using tear gas canisters, blowing whistles and throwing water bottles. Street rallies by opposition supporters routinely turn into violent clashes with police. EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn says its political polarization is negatively affecting its integration path into the 28-nation bloc.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#BULGARIA: Nation Goes To The Polls In Second Round Of Voting

[world politics news]

Bulgarians vote Sunday to choose a new president in a contested runoff that has become a referendum on the fate of the country's center-right government. In the first round, Gen. Rumen Radev, 53, a former non-partisan chief of Bulgarian Air Force came in first with 25 percent of the vote and leads polls in the second round. The speaker of Parliament, Tsetska Tsacheva, a 58-year-old lawyer and member of Prime Minister Borisov's center-right party won 22 percent. For the first time, voting is compulsory.

#SINGAPORE: Law Requires Racial Diversity For Nation's Future Presidents

[world politics news]

Parliament has passed changes to the Constitution to raise the bar for presidential candidates and ensure all races are represented from time to time in the office. It means Singapore's next president is likely to be Malay, as next year's election will be reserved for Malay candidates. The amendments also raise the maximum number of Non-Constituency MPs from nine to 12, and give them the same voting rights as elected MPs. The changes were in line with the recommendations of an independent Constitutional Commission, and added that the entire review process lasted more than 10 months.

Pictured: Dep. PM Teo Chee Hean

#GERMANY: Parliament Votes To Allow Expanded Dementia Research

[world politics news]

Germany's parliament has passed a controversial law on dementia treatments that will allow doctors to conduct more expansive clinical research on patients suffering from dementia. Lauded by medical experts, the new law has attracted criticism from elderly care groups and religious institutions.

#CANADA: Ottawa Tries To Ban Trucks, Bans Tractors Instead

[world politics news]

A computer coding error is to blame for the mysterious signs that popped up around the village of North Glover, a part of the city of Ottawa. Councillors planned to ban trucks from town roads, but an outside vendor got it wrong.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Fire On Roof Of Parliament Causes Alarm, But Minor Damage

[world politics news]

The pictures of an early morning fire on the roof of Austria's parliament in Vienna caused alarm among passers-by, but only minor damage on Friday, Nov. 4. It started in the roof's ventilation system.

#HONGKONG: Mainland Acts Against Two HK Lawmakers Who Refused To Swear Allegiance To "One" China

[world politics news]

Two newly-elected young pro-independence lawmakers have prompted a constitutional crisis after they refused to swear allegiance to Communist China's "one nation, two systems" policy during the Oct. 12 swearing-in ceremony. Mainland China has acted to nullify the two's election, a move that raises issues of the island's freedom. The island's political leaders were outraged by their refusal, and said they wished the courts had been able to handle the issue without the Mainland's interference.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MYANMAR: Legislator Says Nation's Largest City Becoming A Lawless "Ruin"

[world politics news]

Yangon city is a “ruin” in every sector, with law and order being mostly ignored, according to MP Sandar Min, a legislator from the Seikgyi Khanaungto constituency.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: PM Drops Foreign Min. From Cabinet; Loudest Critic of UK In Gibraltar

[world politics news]

José Manuel García-Margallo, who sparked regular spats with Gibraltar due to his vocal desire to see the Rock returned to Spain, has been replaced as foreign minister by a career diplomat in Mariano Rajoy's new cabinet.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: PM Theresa May Could Force Early Elections After Brexit Court Ruling

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May is threatening to call an early "snap" parliamentary election after a court ruled that parliament must vote on whether to institute "Article 50" which would start the "Brexit" procedure for the UK to leave the European Union. Threat of a new election might force those in parliament who opposed the Brexit referendum to re-think their strategy.

#JAPAN: Lower House Committee Approves Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal

[world politics news]

A special committee of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, approved a proposal on Friday to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, along with relevant bills.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UKRAINE: Legislators Restructure Energy Companies' Debts

[world politics news]

Parliament has passed a bill restructuring the debts of heating supply companies for consumed energy. Legislators stressed that the debts have not bee waived, but were only rescheduled, with only fines completely written off by the agreement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: Duma Passes Stiff Penalties For Coaches In Wake Of Doping Scandal

[world politics news]

Parliament has passed a bill imposing new sanctions, including prison terms, for coaches found guilty of coercing athletes into doping. The bill was adopted by the State Duma unanimously in the run-up to the publication of a fuller version of the Word Anti-Doping Agency report into doping in Russia. Coaches or sports officials could be liable for a fine up to 300,000 rubles ($4,700) or up to a year in prison in cases where young athletes are coerced into using banned performance-enhancing substances.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Kurds In Colonge, Hold Mass Protests Against Turkish Leader Erdogan

[world politics news]

Several thousand Kurds marched in the western Germany city of Cologne this past weekend in support of pro-Kurdish politicians jailed in Turkey the previous day. The demonstrators - numbering 6,500 according to Cologne police and up to 15,000 according to the protest's organizers - carried flags and banners promoting the People's Democratic Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#NEWZEALAND: Parliament Allows Police To Recover Security Vetting Costs

[world politics news]

Police are now in a position to recoup the costs they face from the 500,000 security vetting applications they process every year. Parliament has passed the third reading of a costs recovery Bill, which allows police to charge for services that are defined as being demand services.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Police Minister Judith Collins

#CANADA: Parliament Passes Anti-Islamophobia Motion Amid Rising Attacks

[world politics news]

Parliament has passed a symbolic anti-Islamophobia motion amid increasing attacks on mosques and Muslim communities in the country and throughout the world.

[FULL STORY HERE]