#ITALY: Two Male Members Of Parliament - Of Different Parties - Caught Having Sex In Parliament Restroom

[world politics news]

Two male members of the Italian lower house of parliament were filmed on a cellphone's camera having sex in a public restroom in Italy's parliament. One of the lawmakers is reportedly from the Lega Nord (Northern League) and the other from the Five Star Alliance.

A journalist says she has the video and knows their identities, but won't release the names, citing privacy concerns.  Another member of the media said that the two MPs were "tall, beautiful men." Francesco D’Uva, the Five Star group leader in the Chamber of Deputies, reportedly forbade fellow party members in a text message from divulging the sordid details of the story.

(Note: The gladiators in the photo are not the MPs in question.)

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BANGLADESH: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wins Election In Landslide

[world politics news]

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appeared headed for a landslide win in a general election that was marred by opposition claims of rigged voting as 17 people were killed in clashes between rival supporters.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CHINA: Police Officers To Be Given Exemption From Prosecution For Damage To Property During Arrests

[world politics news]

Starting in February, Chinese police officers will no longer be held legally responsible for damage to the property of individuals or organisations caused during the performance of their duty. Guo Lin, a spokeswoman for the public security ministry, says the regulation was necessary to enable officers to do their work without fear of retribution.

In the event of an officer damaging the legitimate rights or interests of a citizen or institution, the injured party would, however, still be entitled to compensation from the relevant public security authority, she said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Cutting Alberta Oil Production Will Raise Gas Prices, Help Address Province's Fiscal Crisis

[world politics news]

When gas prices suddenly rise again in January all across America, they will have Alberta Premier Rachel Notley to blame, in part.

The head of government for Canada's oil-rich province says cutting provincial oil production will push up the price of Alberta crude, which she says will help to temporarily address the province’s economic crisis.

It's the province's first cut in output of oil since 1980, by about 325,000 barrels per day.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ISRAEL: Former IDF Chief Launches New Political Party To Challenge Netanyahu In Snap Election

[world politics news]

Former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benjamin "Benny" Gantz launched his own political party ahead of the April, 2019 snap election Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called. Polls predict Gantz will garner up to 16 seats in the Knesset, positioning him as a threat to Netanyahu, who has publicly dismissed Gantz's party, which was apparently ready to launch the day the prime minister announced the rare snap election. The party is called "Hosen L'Yisrael" (Israel's Resilience). No other details have been released.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#FRANCE: Sec. Of Digital Media Accuses Yellow Jacket Protesters Of "#FakeNews," Conspiracies, Disinformation

[world politics news]

France's State Secretary for Digital Media, Mounir Mahjoubi, has criticized those using online media to spread the popular Yellow Vest uprising for using "fake news" and disinformation in their continued protests against the country's social policies. "What's dangerous about conspiracies is that it hampers sincere mobilization," Mahjoubi, who cited researchers who claim ties between the protests and the "Alt-Right" in the US and in European nations. It's been widely reported that the protesters come not only from the conservative Right, but also from France's Socialists and hard Left.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ISRAEL: Facing Indictment, PM Netanyahu Calls For Early Elections

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government decided Monday to hold snap elections on April 9, seven months early, as his Likud Party and its affilated parties struggles to pass legislation with only a one-seat majority in parliament.

Israel's parliament, or Knesset, must still formally vote to dissolve itself and set the election date. A first vote was scheduled for today.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Opposition Leader Scheer Says Detention Of Canadians in China Retaliation For Huawei Exec's Arrest

[world politics news]

Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer says he believes the detention of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in China is retaliation against Canada for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. The Liberal-led government says it has not yet made that connection.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ITALY: Senate Passes 2019 Budget; Compromise With EU Staves Off Disciplinary Action

[world politics news]

The European Commission reached a deal with Italy over the national budget this week, after months of disagreements, narrowly avoiding disciplinary action by the European body. The budget grows the deficit by 2.04%, down from the deficit of 2.4% of GDP proposed budget originally Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's government. The final text of the budget arrived at the Italian senate after a series of extensive changes, which angered opposition lawmakers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#NEWZEALAND: Bill Requiring Governments To Spell Out Plans To Tackle Childhood Poverty Passes Parliament

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's bill seeking a reduction in child poverty has been passed by Parliament. The legislation requires the current and future governments to measure and report on child poverty and sets out plans to reduce it. The recent Child Poverty Monitor report concluded one in five New Zealand children were living in homes without access to enough food or adequate healthy food.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#DENMARK: New Citizens To Be Required To Shake Hands With Female Mayors (Including Muslim Citizens)

[world politics news]

New rules require people who have been awarded Danish citizenship to shake hands when they tak part in citizenship ceremonies. The rule, supported by the Conservative and Danish People's Party, as well as Social Democrats, is said to be squarely aimed at Muslims, many of whom don't shake hands, especially with women. Participants are also required to sign a document promising to respect Danish values.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ISRAEL: Australia Announces It Will One Day Move Its Embassy To West Jerusalem; Palestinians & Israelis Both Displeased

[world politics news]

Australia has formally recognized "west Jerusalem" as Israel's capital, reversing decades of Middle East policy, but will not move its embassy there immediately, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. "Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel," Morrison said. The announcement pleased neither Israeli nor Palestinian officials. Israelis were taken aback by the "west Jerusalem" language, since Israel recognizes all of Jerusalem as its unified capitol. Palestinians were more clearly unhappy, since they view a united Jerusalem as their future capitol.

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CUBA: Same-Sex Marriage Language Dropped From Constitutional Revision After Evangelical's Objections

[world politics news]

Cuba's National Assembly has removed language opening the way to the legalization of same-sex marriage from the draft of the country's new constitution to "respect all opinions." The move comes despite the pledge by President Miguel Diaz-Canel to "eliminate all kinds of discrimination from society."

A parliamentary commission responsible for drafting the constitution proposed to omit proposed language defining marriage as the union of "two people ... with absolutely equal rights and obligations." Evangelical churches in the country protested the proposed change and launched a campaign against the new wording. The new constitution will be submitted to a referendum in February next year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#BELGIUM: PM Michel Resigns Over Support For UN.Migration Pact After Violent Protests

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Charles Michel has resigned after losing a Socialist-led vote of no confidence amid a political crisis over the controversial UN migration pact. Michel told parliament he would take his offer to quit to the king. 

He was forced to reshuffle his government to avert its collapse after the New Flemish Alliance party pulled their support in protest over Belgium’s decision to adopt the United Nation’s Global Compact on Migration, a decision which sparked violent protests in the nation's capital.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Parliament Forced By Courts To Add Third Gender, "Diverse," To Official Documents

[world politics news]

The German parliament has been forced by the courts to make "diverse" an option on the birth register. Critics are split on whether the law goes too far, or not far enough. The Bundestag was forced to act after the country's highest court ruled last year that people must be allowed to register as neither male nor female, ordering lawmakers to create a third gender identity or scrap the entries altogether. Germany joins Austria, Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada and Portugal in recognizing an "intersex" category for gender.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#FRANCE: Generals Accuse Pres. Macron Of "Treason" For Signing UN Migration Compact

[world politics news]

A group of French generals have sent an open letter to Pres. Emmanuel Macron accusing the him of "treason" over the UN Global Migration Compact, which was signed in Marrakesh, Morocco by 164 nations this past week, including France.

Detractors allege that the agreement undermines the sovereignty of nation-states, by encouraging unlimited migration and open borders by focusing on the human rights of migrants while any criticism of mass migration they assert will be treated as "hate speech."

The signers include top level figures, including an admiral, a colonel, and former Minister of Defense Charles Millon. The generals warned Macron that the deal will provide yet another reason for “an already battered people" to "revolt."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Opposition Leader Corbyn Makes "No Confidence" Motion In PM May

[world politics news]

Opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn made a motion of "no confidence" in Theresa May’s leadership following a fiery debate over her Brexit deal in the British House of Commons today. The motion came after May announced that a vote on her Brexit deal would happen on January 14th, a date Corbyn called "bad" and "unacceptable." He has been under pressure from his own party to make such a motion following May's delay last week of the Brexit vote in parliament.

A motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister, personally is only symbolic, and non- binding. However, Corbyn reportedly will change the motion to a much more dramatic no confidence vote in the government as a whole if May refuses to schedule the vote before Christmas recess next week. That would trigger a new election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Alberta Threatens To Pull 28 Private Schools' Funding Over Students' Right To Join Gay-Straight Alliances

[world politics news]

Alberta Education Minister David Eggen is directing 28 privately run schools to post rules affirming the rights of LGBTQ students or risk having their funding pulled by next school year.

Those rules include the provision that students can set up a gay-straight alliance in the school. Private schools receive as much as 70% of their funding from the province.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Scottish Parliament's Coffee Shop Bans "Gingerbread Men" To Avoid "Sexism"

[world politics news]

Gingerbread men have been replaced by "gingerbread persons" in the Scottish Parliament’s coffee shop in case the traditional name causes someone to be offended. The renaming comes just as a strategy aimed at stamping out sexual harassment and sexism was introduced at the parliament after a survey found 30 per cent of women working there believed they had been sexually harassed. It hasn't gone over well with everyone. Annie Wells, the Equalities spokesman for the opposition Scottish Conservative Party said, ‘Surely the Scottish Parliament has got better things to do than worry about what to call gingerbread men? This is an utterly pointless gesture which simply trivializes the real issues of gender equality." A spokesman for parliament is on record as calling the treats "delicious" and have "sold out."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Prime Minister May Slams Former PM Blair For Anti-EU Activism: "Insult" To Office He Once Held

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May has angrily lashed out at former Prime Minister Tony Blair's attempts to stop Brexit, speaking in a manner rarely seen from May. Blair, along with other pro-EU politicians, have made many comments, both in the UK and on the Continent, seeking to slow down and stop Brexit. May responded to Blair's latest statements by saying, “For Tony Blair to go to Brussels and seek to undermine our negotiations by advocating for a second referendum is an insult to the office he once held and the people he once served. We cannot, as he would, abdicate responsibility for this decision. Parliament has a democratic duty to deliver what the British people voted for."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#VATICANCITY: Top-Ranking Vatican Official Convicted Of Child Sexual Abuse In Australia

[world politics news]

A top adviser to Pope Francis has been convicted of child sex abuse in Australia, the highest-ranking official convicted in the long-running Catholic Church scandal. An jury found Cardinal George Pell, 77, guilty on five charges of "historical child sexual offenses" that go back decades. The 12-member jury gave their unanimous verdict in the County Court of the State of Victoria in Melbourne on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Cabinet Divided Over The Way Forward On Brexit; Works & Pensions Sec. Rudd Says May Must "Try Something Different"

[world politics news]

Members of Parliament across the political divide should attempt to build a Brexit consensus, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said,warning Britain's departure from the EU is "in danger of getting stuck." Amber Rudd said it is possible Theresa May will ultimately be unable to persuade enough of her own MPs to back her deal, suggesting it is time to "abandon outrage and accusations" and "try something different."

Theresa May's cabinet is said to be split between several options, including pushing forward with the current plan - which sees little hope of being passed - seeking a new referendum, or building a coalition with Labour MPs on a compromise plan.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: Banned Pro-Independence Party Leaders To Appeal To Three-Member Panel In January

[world politics news]

The leaders of the outlawed Hong Kong National Party will get to appeal against the ban before a three-member committee of Executive Council members next month. Andy Chan Ho-tin and Jason Chow Ho-fai will appeal to the panel, comprised of attorney Martin Liao Cheung-kong, former stock exchange chairman Chow Chung-kong and former Monetary Authority chief Joseph Yam Chi-kwong. Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu banned the party under the Societies Ordinance on September 24, saying it was a "threat to national security and public order."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: As EU Leaders Say "No" To May On Renegotiating Brexit, DUP Leader Warns Prime Minister She Must "Stand Up To" EU

[world politics news]

BREXIT ROUND UP:
During her visit to Brussels today, UK Prime Minister Theresa May was told that the EU would not renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which would allow the UK to leave the EU trading bloc. At the same time, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, said May must "stand up to" the EU, and not "roll over" as she previously has done, instead making it clear that a "backstop" with Northern Ireland - allowing a "hard border" and EU rules to remain in effect, even after Brexit - must not happen.

That part of the May's deal has rankled Conservatives as well as the DUP, a party that holds the key to May remaining in power. Foster could be a "kingmaker" after May leaves office, and is already suggesting replacements for her when she steps down, or is forced out by a Labour Party motion of "no confidence." Analysts say the DUP may vote with Labour to remove May and force new elections.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ARMENIA: Interim Prime Minister Wins By A Landslide In Snap Election

[world politics news]

Armenia's acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has won a convincing victory in Sunday's snap parliamentary election, consolidating his authority. His bloc won more than 70% of the vote, the country's election commission said. A journalist turned politician, Mr Pashinyan spearheaded a peaceful revolution in April.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.