#ISRAEL: US Put Pressure On Israel To Delay Jerusalem Settlement Annexation Bill

[world politics news]

Under pressure from the United States, Israel has delayed a bill that would connect a number of settlements in the West Bank to Jerusalem. The "Greater Jerusalem Bill" aims to solidify the city's Jewish majority, but stops short of formal annexation, making the practical implications unclear. The bill says the communities would be considered "daughter municipalities" of Jerusalem.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EU: Euro Parliament Sets Up Committee To Investigate Numerous Sexual Harassment Claims

[world politics news]

European Parliament lawmakers have voted for a motion condemning sexual harassment and calling for a "task force of independent experts" to examine allegations of sexual harassment and abuse within the Parliament. The vote comes a day after lawmakers debated sexual abuse within the EP following media reports detailing a number of rape, assault and harassment allegations against MEPs.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Anti-Immigrant AfD Party Enters Parliament, Proclaims "New Era" In Germany, Invokes Goering

[world politics news]

The far-right Alternative For Germany Party vowed a “new era” as it made its debut yesterday at the first sitting of Germany’s newly-elected parliament, where it immediately sparked an outcry by comparing itself to an MP once targeted by Nazi Hermann Goering. The party filed a motion to challenge a change in parliamentary rules that thwarted one of its lawmakers from making the opening speech in the lower house. Other members pointed out the comparison was inaccurate.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ICELAND: Gov't Coalition Loses Ground, New Parties Enter Parliament

[world politics news]

Parties that made up the right-of-center coalition government have lost majority in Iceland’s parliament. The incumbent coalition government had the slimmest possible majority, or just 32 seats in Iceland’s 63 seat parliament. The Prime Minister’s Independence Party lost four of its 21 seats, but retains its position as Iceland’s largest political party with 26.8%. The other two coalition partners lost seats. The Restoration Party has currently received 6.7% of the votes, compared to 10.5% last year. The third coalition Partner, Bright Future, got 1% and lost all its parliamentary seats. The Center Party, a new political party founded by former Prime Minister and Progressive Party leader just weeks before the elections, is coming in with 11% of the votes

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Former Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson has made a comeback with his new Center Party. Incumbent Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson, leader of the Independence Party in the background.

#SPAIN: Central Gov't In Madrid Fires Catalan Gov't; Catalan Leader Vows Peaceful Resistance

[world politics news]

Catalonia is now theoretically under the direct control of the Spanish national government in Madrid after the area’s regional parliament voted in favor of an independent republic on Friday. In a televised address on Saturday, the separatist leader said Madrid’s decision to suspend the autonomy of the province and appoint the Spanish Deputy Prime Minister as its provisional head goes against the will of the people.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: BREAKING: Violence Feared As Catalonia Declares Independence, 40 Minutes After Direct Rule Imposed By Spanish Senate

[world politics news]

Spain is on the brink of descending into violence as Catalonia faces being imminently taken over by direct rule after the region's parliament declared independence. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy began a meeting with his cabinet at 5 pm local time to discuss exactly how the national government will take control of the region. During that meeting, article 155 of the country's constitution will be enacted - meaning the entire Catalan government will be dismissed and replaced by Spanish nominees, the regional police force will come under national control and public broadcasters will start taking their orders from Madrid.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: Catalan Pres. Rules Out Snap Election As Senate Moves To Impose Direct Rule

[world politics news]

Catalonia’s president has said he will not call a regional election that could have defused tension with Spain. Carles Puigdemont said he had considered calling a snap election, but was choosing not to because he had not received sufficient guarantees that the government's "abusive" moves to take control of Catalonia would be suspended. In a hastily-called address from his palace in Barcelona and with the eyes of the world watching, the separatist leader said the regional parliament now will decide how to respond to the Spanish authorities' takeover plan.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Communist Party Congress Unveils New Leaders, Tightly Controlled By Xi Jinping

[world politics news]

China's Communist government has unveiled a new generation of leaders, following the end of its Communist Party congress. The seven members of China’s most powerful body - the Politburo Standing Committee - have been confirmed, Xi Jinping remains the dominant force, however, in China's government, and none of the members are young enough to succeed him.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EU: Euro Parliament Votes To Ban Glyphosate, Top Ingredient In Round-Up Weedkiller

[world politics news]

The European Parliament has called for the controversial weedkiller glyphosate to be banned by 2022 amid fears it causes cancer, a day before EU states vote on whether to renew its licence. MEPs approved the non-binding resolution, which will add fresh pressure on the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, which has recommended the licence for the herbicide be renewed for 10 years. The chemical is a key ingredient in Monsanto Co’s top-selling weedkiller, Roundup.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CZECHIA: Billionaire's Party Wins Big In Election, "Czech Trump" Set To Be Prime Minister

[world politics news]

Andrej Babis, often called the "Czech Trump," and his anti-corruption and anti-euro ANO (Yes) party won with 29.7 per cent support (78 parliament seats) in a victory that represents a shift to the right for the country. Despite scandals connected to EU subsidies his companies have received, he is expected to be asked to form a government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Babis with his wife Monika

#JAPAN: PM Abe's Hard Line Against N. Korea Pays Off In Strong New Election Mandate

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has secured a strong mandate for his hard line against North Korea and room to push for revision of the country’s pacifist constitution after his party crushed untested opposition parties in Sunday’s general election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UKRAINE: Oppo Forces Stage Demo Demanding Lawmakers Lose Prosecutorial Immunity

[world politics news]

Thousands of people from all over Ukraine gathered early on Oct. 17 near Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, for a rally to demand that parliament pass a law that will strip the Ukrainian lawmakers of their immunity from prosecution. The protesters also demanded the creation of anti-corruption courts and the adoption of a new electoral law. The rally was attended by members of numerous political forces: Mikheil Saakashvili’s Movement of New Forces, Batkivshchyna, Svoboda, National Corps, Samopomich, AutoMaidan, Reanimation Package of Reforms, and Donbas volunteer battalions. Ex-Governor Saakashvili, a fierce critic of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, spoke at the rally.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GREECE: Parliament Passes Gender Identity Law Over Orthodox Church's Objections

[world politics news]

Greece’s left-wing government has passed legislation enabling citizens to determine their gender identity amid fierce condemnation from the Orthodox church and accusations the law would “destroy human beings." After two days of highly charged debate, the prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, rallied parliament to endorse policies that would permit people to legally change their gender on all official documents without undergoing sterilization
.
[FULL STORY HERE]

#NEWZEALAND: Jacinda Ardern New PM After Coalition Deal With NZ First Party

[world politics news]

Labour Party Leader Jacinda Ardern has become New Zealand’s prime minister 26 days after the country’s electorate cast their votrs. Kingmaker Winston Peters announced that his New Zealand First party would throw its support behind Ardern’s Labour party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Parliament Votes Unanimously To Delay Roll-Out Of Universal Credit Plan

[world politics news]

Parliament has voted, by 299 votes to 0, a Labour Party motion for a pause in the roll-out of Universal Credit in order for problems in the system to be fixed.  It is a symbolic victory for Labour. Conservative MPs abstained, thanks to a three line whip, and the vote is not binding on the government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Conservatives Win Majority, Sebastian Kurz, 31, Set To Be World's Youngest Leader

[world politics news]

Austria's conservative People's Party, led by 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, is set to win the country's general election, projections suggest. Kurz is on course to become the world's youngest national leader. The People's Party was set to win more than 31%. It is so far unclear whether the Social Democrats or the far-right Freedom Party will finish second. Short of a majority, Kurz's party could seek an alliance with the anti-immigration Freedom Party.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Duterte Warns Diplomats Could Be Expelled In 24 Hrs If They Oppose Drug War

[world politics news]

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has warned the EU and UN that he could throw out their ambassadors within 24 hours if they continue to “interfere” in his brutal and controversial war against drugs. "You think that we are a bunch of morons here... The ambassadors of those countries learn a lesson now. Because we can have the diplomatic channels cut tomorrow, you leave my country in 24 hours, all of you,” he said during an expletive-filled tirade against colonialism in the capital, Manila.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#PAKISTAN: Senate Rejects Raising Minimum Marriage Age From 16 To 18; Says "Un-Islamic"

[world politics news]

Pakistan’s Senate has struck down legislation governing the minimum age girls can marry, saying a Bill to increase the legal age from 16 to 18 was un-Islamic. The Child Marriage Restraint Bill was rejected after Senator Sehar Kamran, the lawmaker driving the proposal, had her request for a deferment denied on the grounds that she would not be present.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CZECHIA: Head Of Party Leading In Polls Charged With Fraud Ahead Of Oct. 20 Election

[world politics news]

With just days to go before a Czech parliamentary election that his populist Ano party is expected to win, billionaire Andrej Babis has been charged with fraud over the alleged misuse of European Union funds. Babis – whose wealth and anti-establishment rhetoric have seen him compared to US president Donald Trump – is accused of illegally accessing some €2 million for a farm and conference center known as the Stork Nest. Jaroslav Faltynek, the deputy leader of Ano, has also been charged in the same case.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SWEDEN: Moderate Party Picks Pragmatic New Leader After Election Disappointment

[world politics news]

Sweden’s biggest opposition party, the Moderates, have a new leader, after Ulf Kristersson was picked to follow Anna Kinberg Batra. The former Minister for Social Security has been the party's economic policy spokesperson in opposition. He was the only candidate chosen by a nominating committee and was unanimously backed for the top job. He replaces Kinberg Batra, who was leader from January 2015 until she was ousted by her party in August following poor performances in polls. In his first speech as leader, Kristersson promised to be pragmatic in order to solve Sweden’s challenges, calling his approach "values-based pragmatism."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#BARBADOS: Gov't Raises Taxes 400% Amid Stagnant Economic Growth

[world politics news]

The Democratic Labour Party government is confident it can close a fiscal gap in its budget with a 400% tax hike that has already raised $25 million in one quarter. But their "National Social Responsibility Levy" has come under heavy criticism from private sector business groups and Unions alike for raising the cost of living during a period of stagnant economic growth.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: DLP MP and Finance Min. Christopher Sinckler.

#CATALONIA: Pres. Declares Independence, Calls For Talks With Central Gov't In Madrid

[world politics news]

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said Tuesday he would act on what he called a popular mandate to declare independence from Spain but first wanted dialogue with Madrid to ensure it is a peaceful process. "The ballot boxes say Yes to independence and this is the path I am determined to follow,” the regional president told the Catalan parliament. “I assume the mandate of the people for Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic." However, he immediately asked the Catalan parliament to suspend the act of independence for some weeks to allow for a period of negotiation with the Spanish government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Merkel Prepared To Enter Coalition Talks With Greens, Liberals

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel says she will start talks with liberals and Greens to try to form a new coalition government after last month's election. Merkel won a fourth term in the September 24th vote but the far-right Alternative for Germany poached one million votes from her conservative bloc, leaving her without an obvious coalition. Her party's former coalition partners were crushed in the polls in September. She had already announced that she would seek exploratory talks on forming an alliance between her CDU/CSU bloc and two smaller parties, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the ecologist Greens.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#PALESTINIANAUTHORITY: Gaza, PA Gov't Unites To Form "Consensus Gov't" Brokered By Egypt

[world politics news]

Out of the sight of the world, the Palestinian Authority has taken over governing authority in the Gaza Strip from Hamas, in a deal brokered by Egypt. Gaza and the West Bank have been ruled separately since 2007. The Palestinian national consensus government is headed by PA Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah, who says the government had already formed committees to oversee the administration of Gaza and, in accordance with the Cairo agreement. In his first visit to Gaza, he described Hamas’ decision to respond to Pres. Mahmoud Abbas’ call to dissolve its Administrative Committee as "an important step."

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Egyptian General Intelligence Minister Khaled Fawzi (left) and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah.

#SPAIN: The Empire Strikes Back: Pro-Spain Protesters Demonstration Against Catalan Independence

[world politics news]

Hundreds of thousands of people are marching in Barcelona to demand Catalonia rejects independence and stays with Spain. March organizers, the anti-independence Union movement Societat Civil Catalana, claimed 930,000 people turned out, but Barcelona police put the total at around 350,000. The demonstration comes a week after the Catalan government held a referendum on secession that was condemned as illegal and unconstitutional by the Spanish government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Tokyo Mayor's New Party Threatens To Change Political Landscape In Nation

[world politics news]

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike's new party has issued a direct challenge to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, receiving a show of support from Japan's leading opposition Democratic Party, whose chief Seiji Maehara said that he will pursue a de facto merger with Koike in the upcoming snap election.
If the two parties unite, it would mark the largest political reshuffle since 2003 when the previous Democratic Party merged with the Liberal Party to try and oust the powerful LDP.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#NORWAY: Christians Democrats Withdraw From Coalition Talks With Solberg Gov't

[world politics news]

Christian Democratic Party withdrew from coalition talks with the government yesterday and has left the right wing- conservative cabinet as a minority government. The decision will surely make it more difficult for Prime Minister Erna Solberg and her partner party to get support on both financial and social policy proposals. Even lack of the majority in this scenario can end up with early ending of the coalition.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: Gov't Creates Committee To Determine German War Reparations

[world politics news]

Poland's governing conservatives have set up a parliamentary committee tasked with looking into the extent of World War II reparations they claim is owed by Germany. A member of the governing Law and Justice Party says there is no set date for the committee to produce its results. The issue of war reparations, for decades considered as settled, was revived in July by party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski. Earlier this month Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said Warsaw "has the right" to ask for reparations. Germany disagrees, saying the issue was settled in the 1950s.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: BREAKING: Police Seize Ballot Boxes, Attack Voters, To Stop Catalan Independence Referendum

[world politics news]

Spanish riot police beat voters, fired rubber bullets and seized ballot boxes from polling stations in Catalonia Sunday as thousands flooded the streets to vote in an independence referendum banned by the central government in Madrid. Below is a video story about the violence.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Islamic Veil And Other Face-Concealing Items Banned As Of Today

[world politics news]

New restrictions come into force in Austria on Sunday banning the wearing of the full Islamic veil and other items concealing the face in public places and buildings. Exemptions "under certain conditions" include items like clown disguises "at cultural events," work wear such as medical masks, and scarves in cold weather, the government says. The restrictions are aimed at "ensuring the cohesion of society in an open society," it says. Violations will be punished with a fine of up to 150 euros ($177).

[FULL STORY HERE]