#GERMANY: Social Democrats Consider "Wealth Tax" To Fund Infrastructure, "Climate Change" Initiatives

[world politics news]

Germany's ailing Social Democrats are mulling a move to push for the introduction of a wealth tax that would be used to fund public infrastructure and climate protection measures, according to the party's interim leader.

Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel, one of the SPD's three interim leaders, told regional newspaper Rheinische Post on Friday that he envisages levying an extra 1% tax on millionaires, billionaires and big corporations.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Former Prime Minister Kim Campbell "Rooting" For Direct Hit From #Dorian On Trump's Mar-A-Lago Resort

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Canada's former Prime Minister, Kim Campbell, has tweeted that she is "rooting" for Hurricane Dorian to have a direct hit on Pres. Trump's Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago. Campbell, who served briefly as the nation's leader and Conservative Party Leader in late 1993, later clarified her comments, saying, "I know Palm Beach well and am sorry if it gets a big hit. I wish I cd believe that it wd shake up Trump’s climate change denial!" Campbell's tweet met with much negative reaction on social media. Responding to her original tweet, Canadian People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier tweeted, "This woman is a disgrace." Canadian YouTuber and Conservative columnist J.J. McCullough said Campbell "continues to be a national embarrassment." 

There were also a torrent of comments, mostly negative, on her facebook page, which hasn't been updated since September. Many called her comments "hateful," one saying it was "in need of an apology... from the heart, not just a political statement."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SCOTLAND: Scottish Conservative Party Ldr Ruth Davidson Resigns, Citing Personal Toll Of Job

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Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Leader Ruth Davidson has resigned, citing her desire to spend more time with her family, including her newborn baby. In a letter posted on twitter, Davidson said that while she will remain a member of the Scottish Parliament, she didn't wish to lead the party into the 2021 election cycle.

"Having led our party through seven national elections and two referenda, I know the efforts, hours and travel required to fight such campaigns effectively. ... The thought of spending hundreds of hours away from my home and family now fills me with dread."

Davidson is the first openly lesbian party leader in the UK. In her autobiography, "Yes She Can," she spoke openly about her struggles with depression.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NEWZEALAND: Assoc. Transport Minister Sought Total Ban On Non-Electric Car Imports By 2035

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New Zealand's Associate Transportation minister demanded an investigation into a total ban on internal combustion engines by 2035, documents reveal. A Green Party member, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter ordered an investigation into a total ban on gas car imports by 2035 among a range of options to reduce emissions in the national transport fleet.

A Ministry of Transport report from September last year showed officials had been instructed to "progress an initiative to regulate an end-date of 2035 to the import of light vehicles that are unable to be driven without fossil-fuels."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Local Governments Ban Controversial Weed Killer, Defying National Government

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Some 20 French mayors have banned glyphosate from their municipalities, defying the national government, which is now taking legal action to impose national legislation which allows the controversial weedkiller’s continued use for now. The chemical is commonly found in the US brand "Roundup" and has been banned in several nations throughout the world.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#OMAN: Gov't Plans To Implement Value Added Tax By 2021

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Oman’s Finance ministry said its plans to introduce a value-added tax are on track as it works on completing legislation procedures to issue the new tax law..

No date was given for the implementation of the new tax but a document seen by Reuters showed that Oman plans to introduce the VAT in 2021, further delaying a measure that economists say could be politically sensitive at a time of sluggish growth and high unemployment.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Parliament Spokesman Rules Out Gay Marriage Legislation

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A spokesman for China's parliament has ruled out expanding the nation's marriage laws to include gay and lesbian couples.

Zang Tiewei, spokesman for parliament's legal affairs commission, made his remarks at a press conference on Wednesday.

He said that Chinese marriage law only recognizes the relationships of heterosexual couples.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: France, Ireland Threaten To Block EU/South American Trade Deal Over Rainforest Destruction

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Members of the European Parliament from France and Ireland are threatening to block a trade deal between the Europe and South America's trading blocs over rampant destruction of the rainforests in Brazil.

Environmentalists accuse Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro of cutting protection to the area deemed crucial to combating climate change. The rainforests are being clear cut for farming at a record pace, say environmentalists. NASA, however, has said that overall fire activity across the Amazon basin this year has been close to the average compared to the past 15 years.

For now,E officials are defending the deal, which has taken 20 years to hammer out with the Mercosur trading bloc, because they say it ties them into honoring the Paris Agreement's environmental rules.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Parliamentary Committee Says Car Ownership Must End To Meet Climate Change Target

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People will have to abandon car ownership  if the UK is to meet its climate change targets, says a Parliamentary committee.

The Science and Technology Select Committee says technology alone cannot solve the problem of greenhouse gas emissions from transport.

It says the government cannot achieve sufficient emissions cuts by swapping existing vehicles for cleaner versions.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Gov't Brags "Social Credit" System Kept 90k From Traveling In July

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The Communist Chinese government is bragging about its social credit system preventing 2.5 million “discredited entities” from purchasing plane tickets and 90,000 people from buying high speed train tickets in the month of July alone.

“China restricted 2.56 million discredited entities from purchasing plane tickets, and 90,000 entities from buying high-speed rail tickets in July,” tweeted the Global Times, a Chinese government mouthpiece.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SINGAPORE: Retirement Age Set To Rise To 65 By 2030

[world politics news]

The statutory retirement age will go up to 63 in 2022, and eventually to 65 by 2030.

The re-employment age will also go up from 67 now to 68 in 2022, and eventually to 70 by 2030.

Workers in Singapore cannot be dismissed on the grounds of age before they reach the retirement age. Employers must also offer eligible staff work up to the re-employment age but with the flexibility to adjust contract terms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: Prime Minister Conte Resigns, Blames Coalition Partner Salvini

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Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has resigned following a blistering attack on coalition partner Matteo Salvini.

Conte said Salvini had been "irresponsible" in creating a new political crisis for Italy for "personal and party interests."

Salvini, the leader of the populist League Party, had tabled a no confidence motion against Conte, and earlier said his party could no longer work with Five Star.

The League and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement formed a coalition to govern just 14 months ago with Conte as an independent as prime minister.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHKOREA: Pres. Moon Jae-in Offers Olive Branch In Trade Talks

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in offered an olive branch to Japan to end an ongoing trade dispute Thursday, saying Seoul will "gladly join hands" if Japan wants to talk.

Moon's government has been accusing Japan of weaponizing trade to target its export-dependent economy and retaliate against South Korean court rulings calling for Japanese companies to offer reparations to South Koreans forced into labor during World War II. Tokyo's measures struck a nerve in South Korea, where many still harbor resentment over Japan's ruthless colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

After threatening stern countermeasures and declaring that South Korea would "never lose" to Japan again, Moon has taken a more conciliatory tone over the past week as there was relief in Seoul that the impact of Japan's trade measures might not be as bad as initially thought.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Corbyn Appeals To Oppo. Parties, Cons. Rebels, For "No Confidence" Vote In Johnson Gov't

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Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn has urged the leaders of the other opposition parties and Tory rebels to install him as caretaker PM in order to stop a no-deal Brexit.

If he wins a no confidence vote in the government, the Labour leader plans to delay Brexit, call a snap election and campaign for another referendum.

But Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said she would not support making Corbyn prime minister.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHAFRICA: High Court Hears Case Arguing Requiring Candidates To Be In Political Parties Violates Constitution

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The nation's Constitutional Court is hearing a case arguing that requiring candidates to be members of political parties violates their rights. Plaintiffs led by New Nation Movement and the Indigenous First Nation Advocacy South Africa argued that the Electoral Act was unconstitutional for barring people from standing for public office without joining political parties.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THENETHERLANDS: Controversial Ban On Burkas And Face Veils In Gov't Buildings Comes Into Effect

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A ban on wearing face-covering garments such as a burka or niqab face veil in government buildings, schools and on public transport came into effect in the Netherlands this month. The ban has been 13 years in the making and dates back to the time Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam Party for Freedom propped up a minority government formed by Mark Rutte’s People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Christian Democrats.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NORTHERNIRELAND: Sinn Fein Mayor's Tweet Praising IRA Hunger Striker Draws Criticism

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A Sinn Fein Party regional councilor's post on Twitter praising the memory of an IRA hunger striker has prompted a call for him to resign. Sean Bateson, Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, a region covering the northern part of Northern Ireland, praised Thomas McElwee on the 38th anniversary of his death in prison after a 62-day hunger strike. He was in prison for murder after his conviction.

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann called on Bateson to resign, saying his comments showed Bateson could not be a "mayor for all the citizens." But Bateson, a 26-year-old history teacher, said he would continue to honor IRA members who died during the Troubles era, and noted on twitter (post below) that the right to remember one's dead is protected under the Good Friday Agreement which brought peace to the region.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: Five Star Movement May Splinter As Coalition Ends

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Some members of the Five Star Movement could break away from the party, choosing instead to support populist League leader Matteo Salvini, according to reports.

As Italy faces new elections following calls from Matteo Salvini last week over disagreements between his party and his coalition partners in the Five Star Movement Party, Italian newspaper Il Giornale has claimed that some Five Star members may leave the movement to join the populist leader.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: 21 Knesset Members Reject US House Resolution Calling For 2-State Solution

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Twenty-one right-wing Israeli lawmakers rebuffed a US House bill that had endorsed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while rejecting efforts to boycott the Jewish state.

In a letter addressed to U.S. Reps. Brad Schneider, Lee Zeldin, Jerry Nadler and Ann Wagner, the co-sponsors of the bill and staunch supporters of Israel, the Israeli lawmakers asserted that a Palestinian state is “far more dangerous to Israel” than the boycott movement against Israel.

A neighboring Palestinian State would “undoubtedly be a dysfunctional terrorist state” which would “undermine stability” in the region and “severely damage the national security of both Israel and the United States."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.
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#CANADA: Northwest Territories Assembly Has Two Weeks To Debate, Decide On, 16 Bills

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Members of the Northwest Territories' Legislative Assembly have a jam-packed agenda as they head into their last scheduled sitting before an Oct. 1 territorial election. There are 16 bills on the agenda and only two weeks to debate and vote on all of them.

The 18th Legislative Assembly reconvenes for two weeks starting on Monday. There are 16 pieces of legislation on the order paper, and only ten working days set to debate and vote on all of them. Among them is a bill that would lay the groundwork for a carbon tax.

The 19-member Assembly is non-partisan, and meets in Yellowknife, NWT.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TUNISIA: Openly Gay Man To Run For President, First In Arab World

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Liberal Party leader Mounir Baatour, an openly gay lawyer, announced on Thursday he would run in Tunisia's presidential elections next month, marking a first for the Arab world.

Baatour's candidacy marks "a first which will without doubt be a benchmark in history," his party said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ITALY: Dep. PM Salvini Will Call Snap Election After Differences With FIve Star Party Partners

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Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's League Party, has called for a snap election, citing differences with coalition partners over taxation and other issues

A failed attempt by the Five Star Movement to derail plans for a high-speed rail link was the final straw showing that the coalition could no longer govern together,  said Salvini, Italy's Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. He compared the differences to a marriage, and called for a quick separation, "without slapping, for the children," he joked, at a party rally.

Salvini's right-leaning wing party is well ahead in opinion polls, due mainly to his stance against illegal immigration.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: Street Battles Becoming More Violent, Even As Fewer Participating

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Months of social unrest in Hong Kong moved into a new phase Saturday, with both anti-government protesters and police using fresh strategies.

Fewer people were taking to the streets, but some were shouting "revolution," and spitting rage-filled epithets against Mainland China, rather than just opposition to an unpopular Mainland extradition bill, which the government has "shelved" but not cancelled permanently.

Police again used tear gas, and petrol bombs were thrown by demonstrators, who once more had gathered illegally across the city in defiance of protest bans issued by the authorities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Green Legislators Urge Higher Meat Taxes To Fight Global Warming

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Some German politicians are speaking out in favor of raising the Value Added Tax on meat in a bid to improve animal welfare and cut CO2 emissions.

The decision makers want to raise the tax to the standard VAT, or 19%, up from the current 7% that consumers are currently required to pay for meat products.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: New Tax On Food In Theme Parks Taxed Less If Consumed While Walking

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With two months to go before the consumption tax hike, the government released a document Thursday spelling out cases regarding food and drinks purchased at theme parks, saying they will be taxed at 10% if consumed at tables, but 8% if consumed while walking.

The government will raise the tax from the current 8%  to 10% from Oct 1, but daily necessities such as food, nonalcoholic beverages and newspapers delivered to homes will be exempt from the hike. Dining out will incur a 10% charge, but food purchased and taken out from restaurants will be taxed at the current 8%.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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