#SERBIA: Pres. Vucic Claims Failure Of Kosovo To Gain Entry Into INTERPOL As A "Victory"

[world politics news]

Serbian Pres. Aleksandar Vučić says the rejection of Kosovo's INTERPOL membership application this month was a success of Serbia, “a small, defiant and proud country." He says he hopes the defeat leads Kosovo to return to negotiations on a compromise, ending years of animosity between the two regions.

After two rounds of voting, 68 member countries voted in favor of admitting Kosovo, 51 were against and 16 abstained, so that the former Serbian province failed to get the required two-thirds support of the member states. Kosovo broke away from Serbia in 1999, precipitating a civil war. In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia but Serbs don't recognize it, nor do five EU member states: Spain, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, and Slovakia.

Pictured: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, foreground, and Foreign Ministar Ivica Dačić 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRIA: Arrest Of Accused Russian Spy Strains Relations Between The Two Allies

[world politics news]

The arrest of a suspected Russian spy in Austria has caused a rare diplomatic dust-up between Austria and Russia. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said a probe had been launched into a colonel suspected of spying for Russia for several decades. Russia says Austria's "unfounded accusations" in a spy scandal were unacceptable, after the suspect in the case was taken into custody. Russia has strong ties with Austria, one of its few European allies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Gov't Official In Charge Of CyberSecurity For 2020 Olympics Has Never Touched A Computer

[world politics news]

The man in charge of cybersecurity for 2020 Olympics has never touched a computer. Yoshitaka Sakurada was questioned by opposition party members in the Japanese Diet last month. In one particular exchange with Constitutional Democratic Party member Masato Imai he made a surprising revelation. “From the time I was 25 I ran my own businesses, so I always had secretaries and employees, and so I never touched a computer personally," Sakurada admitted. The 68-year-old minister’s remarks came at about the same time that Microsoft Japan warned of a heightened risk of cyberattacks to Olympic host countries.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#POLAND: "Visegrad" Nations And Croatia Seek To Form Central European Army In 2019

[world politics news]

The Visegrad Four countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) will form a joint European army group that will become operational in the second half of 2019, Hungarian Defense Minister Tibor Benko told Hungarian media after a meeting with his V4 counterparts. Benko said the Hungarian government considers paramount the safety of Europe, a position shared by all the members of the Visegrád Group.

Benko also said Croatia - not a member of the group - has offered to join the initiative and the offer was accepted by the V4. Croatia will participate in this group with a dozen staff officers. The new military force comes at a time when Germany and France are speaking more strongly about creating an "EU army," something the more Euro-Skeptical and independence-minded Central European nations reject.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Ontario Premier Doug Ford Hopes To Balance Budget In Final Year Of Term Without "Slashing And Burning"

[world politics news]

Premier Doug Ford said his government "may" balance the province's budget in the final year of its four-year mandate. During the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party's policy convention in Toronto, he told media that eliminating the province's $14.5 billion deficit would take some time. "We're not going to go in there and start slashing and burning," he said. "We're going to do it responsibly. We will balance. It may be in year four, but we're going to balance."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: Law Would Require Films On Netflix To Delay Theater Release By 105 Days To Protect Film Industry

[world politics news]

Italy's parliament is set to introduce legislation to require a "window" between the release of a streaming film in movie theaters in a bid to protect its film industry. The move comes after the simultaneous release of the film "Roma" at the Venice Film Festival, which was released at the same time as it streamed on the US-based streaming service Netflix.

The law would require a 105-day window between a film’s first theatrical screening and its availability on other platforms. Limited-release and under-performing titles would have shorter lag periods – as little as 10 days. The law will apply to Italian films only.

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

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

#UK: Spain Demands, And Gets, Assurances Over Separate Deal On Gibraltar As Final Brexit Summit Nears

[world politics news]

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has given in to Spain's demands over the future of the British territory of Gibraltar after the Spanish prime minister threatened to “veto” the Brexit deal due to be signed off by EU leaders on Sunday. On the eve of Sunday’s Brexit summit, the British ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, wrote to concede that Gibraltar would not necessarily be covered by a future trade deal with the EU.

The decision gives Spain a veto over Gibraltar benefiting from a future trade and security agreement between the EU and the British government. The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said the UK would now have to open talks on “joint sovereignty” of Gibraltar, which Spain has claimed since the Francisco Franco era.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Concerns Raised After Revelation That Premier's Chief Of Staff Ordered Police To Raid Illegal Pot Shops

[world politics news]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's chief of staff ordered senior political aides to direct police to raid outlaw cannabis stores the day marijuana became legal in Canada, and to show "people in handcuffs," according to a report in the Toronto Star.

Dean French reportedly made the demand in two conference calls on Oct. 17. He was met by stiff resistance from staff in the community safety ministry and the attorney general's office. Reports have also surfaced of conservative party officials expressing concerns about a government official ordering police to conduct operations.

Pictured: Doug Ford, left, and his chief of staff, Dean French.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SWITZERLAND: New Poll Says Initiative To Put Swiss Law Ahead Of International Law Headed For Defeat

[world politics news]

A survey suggests a referendum that would put Swiss national laws above International Law is headed for defeat. The Nov. 25th referendum, the "Swiss law, not foreign judges" initiative, put forward by the Swiss People's Party, has the support of 37% of voters, while 61% say they're "against" or "definitely against" the proposal, which would see the role of international law in Switzerland greatly reduced so the country has more control over its own affairs. Switzerland puts more initiatives and legislation before the people for a direct vote than any other nation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#DENMARK: Pro-Environment "Alternative Party" Spokeswoman Labeled "Carbon Pig" And Hypocrite For Frequent International Flights

[world politics news]

The flying habits of members of Danish environmentalist party, "The Alternative," has come under fire by opposition parties. The Alternative positions itself as Denmark’s "greenest" party, even encouraging Danes to cut down on meat consumption and avoiding flying because of the carbon emissions of air travel.

But Alternative's political spokeswoman Carolina Magdalene Maier was the subject of scrutiny after the right-wing Free Speech Blog called her "parliament’s biggest carbon pig," and documented her many travels. The blog revealed she took 20 flights between November 2015 and October 2018 to 13 different countries.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BELGIUM: Coalition Partner Says It Will Not Support Gov't Signing UN Migration Accord; Gov't Insists It Will Still Sign It

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Charles Michel had promised to sign a new UN migration pact back in September, but that seemed in doubt this week after the Reform Movement Party's coalition partner, the New Flemish Alliance, expressed concerns about the proposal."We will not sign off on this text," said a spokesman for Theo Francken, secretary of state for asylum and migration, and prominent Alliance Party member.

The spokesman said the Global Pact for Migration is in conflict with the Belgian government’s own governing accords, established in 2014. Michel later reportedly "firmly" made known to his government partners that Belgium will sign the pact. Government officials argue that the pact is non-binding, but opponents disagree, saying it infringes on national sovereignty.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#POLAND: Gov't Announces It Will Not Sign UN Migration Pact; Joining Israel, US, Hungary, Others

[world politics news]

World Politics News reported on Oct. 22 that Poland would likely not sign the UN Global Migration Pact. Today the Polish government announced that indeed it will not sign the United Nations Global Compact for Migration. In doing so, Poland joins the United States, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia and Austria.

In a statement released today, the government said: "The Polish government has decided that Poland will not support the Global Compact … neither in Marrakesh nor during the subsequent vote at the UN General Assembly." Earlier in the day, Israel refused to support this migration pact.

Pictured: Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: Gov't Defiant After European Commission Rejects Budget; EU Must "Treat Us With Respect" Says Dep. PM Salvini

[world politics news]

Italy's Euroskeptic government remains defiant after the European Commission rejected its proposed annual budget. Italy missed a deadline last week to reply to the Commission's objections to its budget, which increases borrowing and spending past the EU's limits.

The Commission, worried by the impact of high spending on Italy's high levels of debt, had told Rome to revise the budget or face possible fines. The warning to Italy, the eurozone's third-biggest economy, is an unprecedented move with regard to an European Union member state.

Populist Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini complained to reporters about the EU's actions, saying, "Seeing as we pay for our membership of this club we want this club to treat us with respect."

Pictured: Italy's co-Deputy Prime Ministers Luigi Di Maio (left) and Matteo Salvini.

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Bill Would Allow Up To 47,000 More Foreign Workers Into Japan To Ease Labor Shortage

[world politics news]

Japan's government has projected up to 47,000 foreign workers could come to the country in fiscal 2019 under proposed revisions to the immigration law. A bill to amend the Immigration Control law would allow the entry of more foreign workers starting next April. Government officials said a labor shortfall of more than 600,000 people is expected in fiscal 2019.

If the bill passes, from 33,000 to 47,000 workers from other countries could be accepted during the period. In the 5 years from fiscal 2019, officials have projected a labor shortage of between 1.3 and 1.35 million people and the arrival of about 260,000 to 340,000 foreign workers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHAFRICA: ANC Defends Process Of Amending Constitution To Take White-Owned Lands

[world politics news]

The ruling African National Congress is dismissing accusations by opposition parties that the process which led to the adoption of a draft report by members of Parliament on changing the Constitution to explicitly provide for land expropriation without compensation was "a sham."

The Constitutional Review Committee adopted recommendations that Section 25 of South Africa's founding document be amended to allow for white-owned lands to be confiscated by the government and redistributed to the majority black population.

Calling land being taking away from blacks by historically white majority governments the nation's "original sin, ANC MP Vincent Smith denied the process was a sham. "It's not about electioneering," he said. "It's about listening to the voices of South Africans and by doing what we doing we actually meeting the expectations of South Africans."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: Netanyahu Hopes To Avoid Early Elections, Despite Resignation Of Defense Minister Leaving One-Seat Majority In Parliament

[world politics news]

Nearly all of the Likud Party's coalition partners have called to go to an early election as soon as possible, following the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman this past week. The resignation left Netanyahu's party with a one-seat majority in the Knesset, but he has publicly stated that he still hopes to hold elections in November, 2019, as planned.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Manitoba Parliamentarian Under Fire For Holding Fundraisers In Men's-Only Club

[world politics news]

Manitoba government backbencher is once again holding a fundraising event at a squash club that doesn't allow women to become members. The constituency association for Scott Johnston, a Progressive Conservative, is planning an evening of "whiskey, wine and ale-tasting" next week at the Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club.

The event is open to men and women, but the Opposition New Democrats say it's wrong for the Tories to support a club that only allows men to become members. The squash club’s board of directors has said that while there are some coed tournaments and special events that include women, the club lacks the space required to be fully coed.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#DENMARK: Development Minister Withholding Aid To Tanzania Over "Homophobic" Comments By Public Official

[world politics news]

Denmark is withholding US$9.8 million in aid to Tanzania after "unacceptable homophobic comments" from a senior politician, a minister says. Development Minister Ulla Tornaes did not name the official but said she was "very concerned" by the comments.

Last month, Paul Makonda, commissioner for the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, called on the public to report suspected gay men to the police. He said he would set up a surveillance squad to track down gay people. The government stressed at the time that Makonda was expressing his personal opinion, not government policy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: PM Theresa May's Cabinet Remains In Crisis As Junior Minister Becomes Brexit Secretary

[world politics news]

Environment Secretary Michael Gove was last night offered the Brexit Secretary job in Theresa May's cabinet, but refused because he didn't want the responsibility of promoting May's controversial deal with the EU for the UK to leave the Union. Instead, a little-known junior minister, Stephen Barclay, was appointed to the position, as May's support for remaining as PM and head of the Conservative Party seemingly withers. Conservative Members of Parliament are said to be close to the number needed for the 1922 Committee to call for a "no confidence vote," which would trigger a leadership contest. The committee has not revealed the number of formal letters it has received thus far, but many, including prominent Brexit supporter and former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, have not yet sent letters.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRELAND: Opposition Criticizes Failure To Roll Out Medical Cannabis Program; Lack Of Reliable Supply Blamed

[world politics news]

The government has been criticized for failing to roll out a medical cannabis program, which was announced two years ago. The delay is being blamed on the government running into problems finding a quality assured supplier of cannabis and a supplier that can export its products to Ireland.

Health department officials recently visited Denmark for meetings with a number of government regulatory bodies and other stakeholders in the medical cannabis production and supply chain.

The health department says the difficulty is compounded by the fact that only two countries, Canada and the Netherlands, currently permit export of such cannabis products, which meet acceptable quality control standards, beyond their borders.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: The Day After Brexit Deal Revealed, Several Resignations From Theresa May's Cabinet

[world politics news]

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has resigned his position in Theresa May's cabinet over "fatal flaws" in the UK's draft Brexit agreement with the EU. He said the UK should be ready to risk a no-deal Brexit in the face of EU "blackmail."  Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman have also quit.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: Defense Minster Resigns Over "Surrender" After Ceasefire

[world politics news]

Israel's defence minister has resigned over the cabinet's decision to accept a ceasefire ending two days of fighting with Palestinian militants in Gaza. Avigdor Lieberman denounced the move as "surrendering to terror."

 He also said his Yisrael Beiteinu party would leave the governing coalition, which could lead to an early election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: PM May Presents Draft Brexit Deal To Cabinet In 5-Hour Meeting; Opponents Argue Against "Bad Deal"

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May has presented a final draft of the Brexit Deal to her cabinet in meetings at 10 Downing Street that lasted five hours today. The deal postpones a full break with the EU, allowing for a transition period in which some EU trading rules and practices would remain in place. This would allow for Northern Ireland - a British region neighboring EU member Ireland - to continue having an open border with the Irish state.

But opponents in her own party and the Labour Party say the deal leaves much to be desired, and leaves the UK's final status with the EU in limbo indefinitely. Troubling for May is that among her opponents seems to be her Northern Ireland allies the Democratic Unionist Party, on which she relies for votes in Parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Pres. Macron's Approval Rating Sink To New Low In Latest Poll: 19%

[world politics news]

Just 19% of French people approve of President Emmanuel Macron's performance since he took office in May 2017, according to a new poll reported by Bloomberg. The figure is consistent with earlier polling that shows Macron's approval rating has hit an all-time low as he faces backlash over labor market reforms and a scandal in which his bodyguard was caught on camera beating a protester.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Boris Johnson Warns Of "Colony" Status For The UK Under PM May's Brexit Plan

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Former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson took to twitter Tuesday to warn that Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan could lead to "Colony" status for the United Kingdom. "No one is fooled by this theatre," Johnson wrote, "Delay after staged managed delay. A deal will be reached and it will mean surrender by the UK. We will be doomed to remain in the customs union and under Brussels’ regulatory control. People did not vote for colony status."

"We still have time to go for something better - a SuperCanada free trade deal that will allow the UK to benefit from brexit and actually respect the referendum. The future can be bright if only we change course now." Johnson is seen a potential rival for May to become the next Prime Minister. He resigned earlier this year from her cabinet to protest her plan, the Chequers Agreement, which has divided the Conservative Party by seeking a period of transition in which many of the EU's rules and regulations would still apply to British trade.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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