#CANADA: Amid Soaring Deficits, #Alberta's Premier Notley Will Unveil Budget Balancing Plan

[world politics news]

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says 2018 will focus on Alberta's fragile economy, specifically a road map to get back to budget balance in five years. This year's deficit is pegged at $10.3 billion, with a long-term debt that will spike above $42 billion in the spring. Opposition parties say Notley is optimistic, but not realistic. United Conservative leader Jason Kenney says Alberta spends 20 per cent per capita more than B.C. and that the deficit can be eradicated in six years with a spending freeze coupled with moderate economic growth.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#IRAN: Major Protests Spread Across Nation Against Corruption, Interventionism, Clerical Rule

[world politics news]

Anti-government demonstrations in Iran has spread to many major cities. Large numbers reportedly turned out in Rasht, in the north, and Kermanshah, in the west, with smaller protests in Isfahan, Hamadan and elsewhere. Protests began this week against rising prices but have spiraled into a general outcry against clerical rule and government policies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#LIBERIA: Former Soccer Star George Weah Wins First Democratic Presidential Election Since 1944

[world politics news]

Former soccer star George Weah has won Liberia’s presidential election, defeating the vice-president, Joseph Boakai, in a runoff with 61.5% of the vote. Weah will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as Liberia’s president next month, after an election fraught with accusations of fraud and irregularities. It will be the country's first democratic transition since 1944 and follows two devastating civil wars.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Nearly Half Of Germans Say They Want Merkel To Resign Before Her Term Ends

[world politics news]

A new survey shows that Germans are losing patience with Chancellor Angela Merkel, after she has failed to form a new government three months after the national election. The poll, conducted by YouGov for the German Press Agency, shows that 47 percent of respondents want Angela Merkel to step down from her office as German Chancellor before the next national election, scheduled to take place in 2021.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: Catalan Separatists Maintain Majority In Regional Assembly Elections

[world politics news]

Catalan separatists retained their absolute majority in the regional parliament in an election this past week that followed a chaotic referendum, a unilateral declaration of independence and Madrid stepping in to take control of the region.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: Opposition Ldr Alexei Navalny Barred From Running For President In 2018

[world politics news]

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been formally barred from competing in next year's presidential election. The Central Electoral Commission has said Navalny is ineligible because of a corruption conviction which he says is politically motivated. He has urged his supporters to boycott the March vote.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#IRELAND: Euro. Commission Taking Action Against Ireland Over Non-Compliance With Seafarer Regs

[world politics news]

The European Commission is taking action against Ireland for allegedly failing to comply with EU law on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ qualifications.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Ethics Commission Says PM Trudeau Broke Multiple Federal Ethics Rules

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau broke multiple federal ethics rules when he accepted a ride on the Aga Khan’s private helicopter and stayed on his private island over the holidays in 2016, the ethics commissioner has ruled.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: EU Starts Process Of Stripping Poland Of Member State Voting Rights Over Court Reforms

[world politics news]

The European Union has triggered a process that could ultimately see Poland stripped of voting rights in Brussels in an unprecedented step designed to force the country’s conservative government to drop reforms the bloc regards as a threat to the country’s democracy. The country's fellow 27 member states have been advised by the European commission that the legislative program of Poland’s government is putting at risk fundamental values expected of a democratic state by allowing political interference in its courts.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#INDIA: Sonia Gandhi Hands Over Congress Party To Her Son, Rahul

[world politics news]

Rahul Gandhi has taken over as the president of the Congress Party from his mother Sonia Gandhi. He used the occasion of the long-awaited hand-over to launch a frontal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling BJP, calling on Congress Party workers, especially the youth, to stand up to the challenge "the BJP rule is posing to the country and the party."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Leaders Of Anti-Muslim Party Arrested At Hearing On Charges Of "Stirring Up Hatred"

[world politics news]

The deputy leader of far-right group Britain First has been re-arrested after appearing in a Belfast court over a speech she gave in the city. Jayda Fransen, 31, of Anerley, south-east London, was in court over two charges relating to "behavior intended to or likely to stir up hatred." Her lawyer told the court that she intended to plead not guilty. Britain First leader Paul Golding, 35, was also arrested outside the courtroom before the hearing. Golding was accompanying Fransen to the hearing.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#INDIA: BJP Will Remain In Control Of Gujarat State Assembly, Say Exit Polls

[world politics news]

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is projected to win between 99 and 117 seats and the Congress between 64 and 82 in Gujarat state Assembly elections. Exit polls predicted a victory for the BJP, giving it a clear majority. It is the home of BJP Prime Minister Narenda Modi. Soon after voting ended in the second and final phase of the election, an exit poll gave the BJP 115 of the total 182 seats and the Congress 65. Another exit poll gave the ruling dispensation 108 seats and 74 to the opposition Congress.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRIA: Freedom Party Blocks Looming 2018 Smoking Ban In Hotels, Restaurants

[world politics news]

Austria’s Freedom Party has announced that a planned ban on smoking in all bars and restaurants that was due to come into force in 2018 will be scrapped. Party chief Heinz-Christian Strache said the reversal was agreed in ongoing talks to form a coalition with the conservative People’s Party following elections in October.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: House Of Commons To Translate Debates Into Indigenous Languages

[world politics news]

The Canadian government is considering hiring Indigenous language interpreters in the House of Commons, even as MPs grapple with whether to move beyond the chamber's two official languages, English and French. An extra interpretation booth has already been added to the new Commons chamber in the West Block, slated to open next fall as the existing chamber gets a 10-year makeover. From there, specialists will be able to interpret Indigenous languages like Cree and Ojibway, as well as other languages, in real time.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#LIBERIA: Supreme Court Rules Pres. Run-Off Election Can Move Forward; No "Re-Do" Of First Round

[world politics news]

Liberia's Supreme Court announced Thursday that the runoff round between the top two vote-getters of October's poll will go ahead and that there will be no rerun of the first round. That means current Vice President Joseph Boakai and perennial challenger, former football star and current Senator George Weah will face each other in a national poll.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: Pres. Putin Makes It Official: He's Seeking Re-Election In 2018

[world politics news]

Pres. Vladimir Putin says he will seek another term as president in next year's election. He made the announcement in a speech to workers at a car factory in the Volga city of Nizhny Novgorod. Putin has been in power since 2000, either as president or prime minister. If he wins the March election he will be eligible to serve until 2024.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Social Dems Would Rather Support Merkel Minority Gov't Than Enter Into Coalition

[world politics news]

As members of Germany’s Social Democrats prepare to vote on possible coalition talks with Angela Merkel’s conservatives in Berlin later this week, a new poll says most of the party’s supporters don’t want another "grand coalition."  The poll, published by Spiegel Online, asked supporters of both the SPD and Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union bloc which potential government SPD leaders should back. Among SPD voters, just 28% opted for a grand coalition. However, more than half (57%) said the SPD should support a Merkel-led minority government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: Dep. PM Barnaby Joyce Easily Wins By-Election Triggered By Dual-Citizenship Crisis

[world politics news]

Australia’s deputy prime minister has easily won a crucial by-election triggered by a dual-citizenship crisis that threatened the ruling coalition’s grip on power. Barnaby Joyce’s emphatic re-election in the poll brought relief to a government that lost its slim parliamentary majority over the citizenship saga, and as it battled falling voter support and internal division.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Gov't Approves Plan For Abdication of Emperor On April 30, 2018; First Abdication In 200 Years.

[world politics news]

A special panel chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday set April 30, 2019, as the date for Emperor Akihito’s abdication, the first retirement of a sitting Emperor in 200 years. The Chrysanthemum Throne is considered the world’s oldest monarchy. Akihito is 83 years old. The decision, expected to be approved by the government later this month, will pave the way for Crown Prince Naruhito, the eldest son of Emperor Akihito, to ascend the throne the following day, May 1, ushering in a new era that would end the Heisei Era, which started in 1989.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EGYPT: Former PM Shafiq "Deported" From UAE After Claiming He Was Prevented From Leaving; Returns To Egypt

[world politics news]

UAE officials on Saturday took former Egyptian premier and presidential hopeful Ahmed Shafiq from his Abu Dhabi home to be deported back to Egypt. The move comes days after Shafiq, in exile in the UAE since 2012, announced his candidacy in next year's election and then said he was being prevented from leaving the country, angering his Emirati hosts.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#HONDURAS: 4-Day Delay In Pres. Election Vote Count Leads To Vote-Rigging Fears, Rioting

[world politics news]

Honduras is teetering on the brink of its worst political crisis since the 2009 military coup after the beleaguered electoral commission failed for the fourth day to declare a winner in the presidential race amid mounting irregularities and allegations of vote rigging.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#STLUCIA: Marijuana Decriminalization Bill To Be Introduced In Parliament Before Christmas

[world politics news]

A bill that will allow residents to possess and use small quantities of marijuana will go before parliament on December 12 for the first time. According to the country’s latest cabinet notes, the Marijuana Bill will be read a first time and distributed when parliament convenes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: National Health Exec. Wants To Ban Red Coca-Cola Truck Visits Over Kids' Sugar Intake Fears

[world politics news]

The National Health Service's public health boss is urging local councils and shopping centers to ban visits from Coca-Cola’s promotional Christmas trucks because of sugar’s key role in rotting children’s teeth and making them fat. Duncan Selbie, the chief executive of Public Health England, has criticized the soft drink giant’s annual PR stunt, in which 14-ton trucks decorated with fairy lights and fake snow visit towns, cities and landmarks around the UK to advertise its products.

[FULL STORY HERE]