#CANADA: Ontario Premier Doug Ford Denounces "Neo-Nazi" Faith Goldy After Controversial Podcast

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford is distancing himself from a candidate for mayor of Toronto after a podcast surfaced in which she cited what some called "extremist" and "white supremacist" views.  Faith Goldy appeared on a podcast repeated the "14 Words," which the Anti-Defamation League labels "hate speech." The New Democratic Party, the opposition in the provincial parliament, called on Ford to condemn her views, on on twitter, he wrote, "I have been clear. I condemn hate speech, Anti-Semitism and racism in all forms - be it from Faith Goldy or anyone else."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#UK: Conservative Heavyweights Johnson And Rees-Mogg Launch Attacks On PM May Ahead Of Party Conference

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Former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and popular member of parliament Jacob Rees-Mogg have launched a two pronged Brexit attack on Theresa May ahead of the Conservative Party conference. Johnson has repeatedly refused to rule out challenging May for the leadership of the party at the Birmingham event. Both Johnson and Rees-Mogg are attempting to scrap May's so-called Chequers Plan for the UK to leave the EU, a plan on which she has staked her legacy as Prime Minister. Johnson laid out his "Better Plan for Brexit" in a column in the UK's Telegraph newspaper.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Labour Party Proposes Taxing Second "Vacation" Homes To Pay For Homeless Proposal

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Plans for a new tax on tens of thousands of second homes have been drawn up by the UK's Labour Party in a plan to ease the housing crisis and generate funds to cut homelessness. Second properties used as holiday homes would be the target of an annual tax if the Labour Party wins the next election, with each property facing an average tax of about £3,000 a year. The Guardian newspaper says, "It is the latest sign that Labour is prepared to back radical policies to show it is preparing for government and willing to target new taxes on wealth."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Ontario's Gov't Set To Release Details On How It Will Regulate Legal Cannabis Sales

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Ontario's government is set to release details outlining how it will manage the sale of recreational cannabis in the province. A full framework will be introduced in the legislature as early as this week. The plan may cap the number of cannabis retail licences that any single entity can own at 10% of the total available allocation, in a move that would limit the amount of stores one organization can own and prevent it from dominating the market.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Poll Shows Anti-Migrant Party Alternative For Germany, Now Ranked Ahead Of Ruling Coalition Partner

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Germany's populist Alternative for Germany Party, which has strongly opposed Chancellor Angela Merkel's open migration policy, has overtaken the co-ruling Social Democrats (SPD) in voter popularity to become the second-strongest party behind Merkel's conservatives, according to a recent poll. The AfD moved up 2% since the last survey on September 9, bringing it to 18% - 1% more than the junior coalition partner SPD, which lost a point. Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU bloc, which has led German governments since 2005, also slipped a point to 28%, its worst result since the survey was launched in 1997.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JORDAN: Town Hall "Charm Offensive" Backfires As Anger Over Income Tax Law Proposal Boils Over

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Controversial plans to reform the national income tax brought down the last government three months ago, and it's still a "tough sell" to the public, government officials are finding. In Town Hall meetings, government ministers have met tough questions, ridicule, frustration and all-out anger from citizens. Citizens raged at one town hall that they should not "pay the price" of officials' mismanagement of the nation's debt. Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said, "it is not easy to sell the law to the public" when he unveiled the draft law, which the government hopes will cut the nation's high debt level. Some citizens are angered that, in coming years, the draft law severely lowers the income level at which residents are exempt from taxation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SWEDEN: Gov't Of Prime Min. Stefan Löfven Ousted By "No Confidence" Vote Following Election

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Sweden’s center-right parties and the populist Sweden Democrats have united to oust the country’s prime minister, Stefan Löfven, in a mandatory no-confidence vote after elections that left neither main political bloc with a majority. That means that Löfven, whose center-left bloc won 144 seats in parliament on September 9 to the center-right’s 143, will have to step down eventually but will stay in office temporarily until a new government can be formed. That process could take several weeks. It's up to the speaker of parliament Andreas Norlén will ask another party leader to try to form a government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#MALDIVES: Oppo. Candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Declares Victory In Presidential Election

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Opposition presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, a longtime but little-known lawmaker, declared victory at his party’s campaign headquarters in the capital city Male.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: New Laws Passed By Victoria's State Parliament Gives Renters Right To Modify Apartments, Have Dogs Without Owner's Consent

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Tenants in the Australian state of Victoria will be able to make minor modifications to their rental homes and own pets without landlord consent, after new laws were passed the state's parliament. The reforms, which also include the introduction of "basic standards," and limit rent rises to once a year, mark “the biggest reforms to renting in Victoria’s history”, according to the state government. The laws won't come into effect until July 1, 2020, allowing 18 months for "consultation with stakeholders."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THENETHERLANDS: Anti-Muslim MP Geert Wilders' Proposal To Ban Islam In Holland Fails To Gain Support

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A proposal from the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party to ban Islam in Holland failed to gain any support in parliament recently. Geert Wilders, an outspoken campaigner against Islam in Europe, spoke passionately on the proposal, which would have banned all forms of Islamic expressions in the Netherlands, including mosques, Islamic clothing, and public prayer. He said Prime Minister Mark Rutte had "lost his mind" by allowing 400,000 "non-western immigrants into the Netherlands." Others noted that the proposal violated religious freedom. The debate included a vulgar exchange, in which Wilders and a Turkish-born member of Parliament reportedly told each other to "F--- off." Wilders told the MP, "your country is Turkey."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: PM May Demands "Respect" From EU After Brexit Plan Rebuffed

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Prime Minister Theresa May has made a dramatic speech on TV in which she decried the EU's terse rejection of her plan to take the United Kingdom out of the European trade area.

May said the UK "demands respect" from the EU, and said talks had reached an "impasse" that needs "serious engagement" from the EU side. Following a conference in Salzburg, Austria, European Council President Donald Tusk said a "compromise" was possible but the UK proposals had to be "reworked."

May's plans had already come under fire by her own party as being too much of a compromise with the EU.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Labour Party Supports Ban On Pre-Natal Testing For Gender; Says It Would Prevent Abortions Of Girls

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The UK's Labour Party is calling for a ban on parents-to-be being told the sex of their baby after early blood tests, amid fears it may lead to abortions of girls. The Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) is used by the National Health Service to test for genetic conditions, but people can pay for it privately to discover a baby's sex. Labour MP Naz Shah said it was morally wrong for people to use the test to abort pregnancies based on the outcome. The Department of Health said it would continue to review the evidence.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDIA: Cabinet Passes Ordinance Banning Practice Of Muslim "Instant Divorce" After Law Stalls In Parliament

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The government has passed an ordinance making "instant divorce" among Muslim couples a criminal offence, punishable by a jail term of up to three years and a fine. Instant "triple talaq," the Islamic practice that allows men to divorce their wives immediately by uttering the word “talaq" ("divorce") three times, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last August. A law seeking to ban the practice failed to make it through parliament, even after watering it down significantly, prompting the cabinet to pass the ordinance. The practice has been largely practiced in India, by Sunni Muslims.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#POLAND: Pres. Duda Calls EU "Imaginary Community" And "Irrelevant"

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Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has called the European Union, of which Poland is a member, an “imaginary community” of little relevance to Poles. “When our affairs are resolved, we will deal with European affairs,” Duda said in a speech. “For now let them leave us alone and let us fix Poland, because this is the most important thing.” Duda and the ruling Law and Justice Party have been in conflict with the EU over an overhaul of the Polish judicial system which the EU sees as violating the rule of law. Duda's government says the reforms as making judges more accountable.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#MALAYSIA: High Speed Rail Project With Singapore Delayed "Until Economy Improves," Says Economic Affairs Minister

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Malaysia’s Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali says the country has reached an agreement with Singapore to postpone a High-Speed Rail project until 2020 without any compensation or fines. Speaking to reporters Azmin said the Malaysian government would defer the project, "for a period where we are confident that the Malaysian economy would improve by then." The project had ballooned in costs from US$17.7 billion to over $27 billion. Azmin signaled in July that the project had become too costly as the country faced a national debt of US$246 billion.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CROATIA: Pres. Says "Europe Has Failed Miserably" Handling Migration Crisis

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In an interview with the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung, Croatian Pres. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic admits that Europe "has failed miserably" in handling the vast numbers of migrants arriving within its borders in the past decade. She said that while "everyone in the world" has a right to seek asylum, she admits that "Europe can not bear the misery of the world... Europe's responsibility can not be exhausted in receiving and distributing a certain number of people." She said the problems causing the migration crisis are complex, and Europe, "must fight the causes of flight within our means. We have the tools for it. But Europe has failed miserably. We have turned our attention in the wrong direction, not the causes of the flight, but its consequences." (translated by Google Translate)

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CUBA: Pres. Diaz-Canel Says He Favors Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage

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Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has publicly spoken out in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in the Communist Caribbean nation. The Cuban leader, who took over from Raúl Castro in April, said he was in favor of recognizing "marriage between people without any restrictions." In an interview with TV Telesur, he said doing so was, "part of eliminating any type of discrimination in society." It comes as Cuba is in the process of updating its constitution, which had defined marriage as between "a man and a woman."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HUNGARY: PM Orban Considers Legal Action After EU Imposes Sanctions Over "Undemocratic" Practices

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says his government is considering launching a legal challenge against the European Union, after the EU's legislative body imposed sanctions against it, citing "undemocratic" practices by Orban's government. In turn, Orban claims the vote - in which a two-thirds majority of MEPs voted to start so-called Article 7 disciplinary proceedings against Hungary - is “invalid” because it did not take into account abstentions. Hungary has clashed with the EU repeatedly, because it has resisted many attempts by the EU to take in its share of migrants being allowed into Europe. Orban said the European Parliament has a "clear pro-migration majority."


[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDONESIA: Pres. Widodo And 2019 VP Runningmate Undergo Mandatory Med Exams

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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his running mate, Ma'ruf Amin, concluded mandatory medical checkups as part of a verification process in preparation for next year's presidential election. Jokowi, 57, and Ma'ruf, 75, were subjected to medical examinations at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta for around 12 hours.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#TAIWAN: Former Pres. Chen Calls For Independence Referendum On Remaining Separate From Mainland China

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Taiwan's former president, Chen Shui-bian, has called for a referendum on whether the self-ruled island wants to be a part of Communist China. Chen said that the current president, Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, should push for a referendum to let the world know that, "Taiwanese people do not want to be a part of China." Chen noted that mainland, Communist-led China has stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure on the island, targeting it in various ways, ranging from peeling away its remaining diplomatic allies to demanding private businesses like airlines and international organisations refer to Taiwan as part of China in an effort to make it accept that Taiwan is simply a rogue province of China.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SWEDEN: Dalai Lama Shocks Audience, Saying "Europe Belongs To Europeans," Urges Migrants To Return Home

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Speaking at a conference in Sweden's third-largest city of Malmö, home of a large migrant population, the Dalai Lama shocked his audience by telling them that he believed that "Europe belongs to the Europeans," and that he believed recent migrants from other nations should return to their home countries and help to rebuild them. The Tibetan spiritual leader said Europe was "morally responsible" for helping "a refugee really facing danger against their life." He continued, "Receive them, help them, educate them… but ultimately they should develop their own country." The anti-migrant Sweden Democrats made large gains in the recent parliamentary election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Top Official Says Labour Party Will Vote Against Any #Brexit Deal, Hoping To Prompt New Elections

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Britain’s opposition Labour Party is set to vote against any Brexit deal reached by Prime Minister Theresa May and the lack of a viable exit from the European Union will force May from office before Christmas, a senior Labour Party lawmaker told the Financial Times. The United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union on March 29 and yet little is clear. There is, so far, no full exit agreement and some rebels in May’s Conservative Party have threatened to vote down a deal if she clinches one.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Former Conservative Maxime Bernier Founds New "People's Party of Canada"

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Quebec Member of Parliament Maxime Bernier is launching a new party, The People’s Party of Canada. Bernier says the name fits a party that represents people who are tired of Canadian politics being hijacked by special interest groups, cartels and lobbyists. The maverick MP left the Conservative Party last month after spending much of the year butting heads with party Leader Andrew Scheer and says the new party will be registered with Elections Canada over the next several weeks.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Health Minister Wants People To Have To "Opt Out" Of Donating Their Organs

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Health Minister Jens Spahn believes Germany should change its laws on organ donation, adopting an "opt-out" plan to increase the number of organs available for transplantation. A double opt-out solution," Spahn believes, is the only way to make organ donation "the norm." Spahn admitted that a new law of this kind would represent an intrusion by the state "into the freedom of the individual." But he argued that all previous attempts at a political level to increase the declining number of organ donors had "unfortunately been without success."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Warns Of Possible Coup By Opposition, Maoists, And Military Officers; "Tipped Off" By "Foreign Power"

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday revealed what he said was a plot to unseat him hatched by the opposition, Maoist rebels and a group of former soldiers who had mounted failed coups in the past. In a conversation with his lawyer, shown on national television, Duterte said he had asked the military to “declassify” information about the plot which he said was gathered by a third country he did not identify.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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