#RUSSIA: Opposition Communist Party Protests Duma Election's Use Of Online Voting

[world politics news]

More than 1,000 Russian demonstrators, angered by the official tally from online voting during last week's parliamentary elections, defied warnings from authorities on September 25 to protest in central Moscow.

The protest was organized by several Russian politicians, most of them Communists, who said they were cheated of victory by an online voting system.

Calling for the online voting system to be scrapped, the protesters held up posters with slogans, such as "bring back the elections."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Merkel Era Ends As Social Democrats Win Election

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Germany's center-left Social Democrats (SPD) have claimed victory in the federal election, telling the party of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel it should no longer be in power.

SPD leader Olaf Scholz said he had a clear mandate to form a government, while his conservative rival Armin Laschet remains determined to fight on.

The two parties have governed together for years. But Scholz says it is time for a new coalition with the Greens and liberals.

Such a coalition is likely to continue dismantling Germany's nuclear and coal fired plants in favor of arguably less reliable renewable energy sources.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Conservatives Debate O:Toole's Future After Election Loss

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Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole's failure to end Justin Trudeau's government is inspiring some frustrated partisans to call for his replacement.

O'Toole promised to make inroads in the Greater Toronto Area and fell well short of the mark; the party actually lost seats in this vote-rich region. O'Toole's attempt to shift the party closer to the political centre also alienated some more right-wing small-c conservative supporters — some of whom voted for the People's Party of Canada (PPC).

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Deputy Labour Party Leader Calls Top Conservative Party Leaders "Scum"

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Deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner refused to apologize for describing senior Tories as “scum” as Sir Keir Starmer distanced himself from her comments.

Rayner’s attack, delivered at a reception for activists at the Labour Party conference, has outraged members of the Government, with one minister accusing her of “talking crap."

But Rayner said she would only apologize if Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was sorry for past comments he made “that are homophobic, that are racist, that are misogynistic."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: New Jersey Threatens To Opt From Pension Fund Over Ben & Jerry's BDS Stand

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Following in Arizona’s footsteps, the state of New Jersey announced Tuesday that it could divest funds from Ben & Jerry’s, along with its parent company, Unilever, over the ice cream firm’s decision to cease sales in Israeli settlements, becoming the second US state to do so.

The director of the New Jersey Division of Investment penned a letter to Unilever CEO Alan Jope earlier this month notifying him that the state’s review of Ben & Jerry’s July boycott decision reached a preliminary conclusion that the company had breached local laws requiring divestment from firms that boycott Israel.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HUNGARY: PM Orban Defies EU Over Blocking Funds

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused the European Commission of blocking funds over the country's LGBT policies.

Orban has claimed that the EU had failed to approve Hungary's coronavirus recovery plan because of their disagreements over gay rights.

"The funds are loans that Brussels does not want to give us because of the debate on our LGBT policy," he said in an interview with state media.

In June, the Hungarian parliament banned the "promotion and portrayal of homosexuality" to citizens under the age of 18. 

Orban presented the legal amendment as a child protection tool.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Gov't Minister Says "Too Many" EV Companies, Signalling Consolidation

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China’s minister for industry and information technology, Xiao Yaqing, has told reporters that the country’s electric vehicle (EV) sector is too fragmented and in dire need of consolidation.

“Looking forward, EV companies should grow bigger and stronger. We have too many EV firms on the market right now,” Xiao said during a press conference, adding that the firms involved in China’s EV sector are “mostly small and scattered.”

The Communist Chinese government has often ignored the free market and use the concept of the command economy to consolidate industries.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#USA: Biden Announces Partnership With UK, Australia, To Share Tech, Counter China

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Pres. Joe Biden has announced a new working group with Britain and Australia to share advanced technologies — including the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines by Canberra — in a thinly veiled bid to counter China, four U.S. officials said.

The trio, which will be known by the acronym AUKUS, will make it easier for the three countries to share information and know-how in key technological areas like artificial intelligence, cyber, quantum, underwater systems, and long-range strike capabilities.

Missing from the group are Canada and New Zealand, team members with the others in the "Five Eyes" technology organization designed to keep an eye on China and its expansionist agenda.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Trudeau Re-Elected, Will Lead Minority Gov't

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Justin Trudeau’s Liberals won a third straight election on Monday, but fell short of the majority they sought in the snap vote and will return to government with what will effectively be a status quo Parliament.

The Liberal victory left Erin O’Toole’s leadership of the Conservative Party in jeopardy. The Tory leader rose to the helm of the party last year promising to deliver in seat-rich Ontario but he struggled in the campaign with questions on how he would handle the pandemic and wavered on key platform pledges.

The People's Party of Maxime Vernier also failed to take off, despite crippling lockdowns that angered many Canadians.

As of Tuesday morning, the Liberals were leading or elected in 158 ridings, the Conservatives were at 119, the Bloc Québécois at 34, the NDP at 25 and the Green Party was at two seats.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Gender & Equality Minister Loses Seat, Called Taliban "Our Brothers"

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A Liberal Party cabinet minister who had called the Taliban "our brothers" in a news conference lost her seat in Parliament in Monday's election.

Conservative candidate Michelle Ferreri is now projected to defeat Liberal Minister Maryan Monsef, after 130 polls being counted.

The now-former Liberal Minister for Gender Equality received major backlash after she referred to the Taliban as "our brothers" during a press conference providing updates on the situation in Afghanistan, just days after the election was called.

Monsef, an Afghan Canadian, said: "I want to take this opportunity to speak to our brothers the Taliban; we call on you to ensure the safe and secure passage of any individual in Afghanistan out of the country. We call on you to immediately stop the violence, the genocide, the femicide, the destruction of infrastructure, including heritage buildings."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Scottish MP Says Scottish Entry To EU Would "Put Rocket Boosters" On Economy

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Joining the European Union as an independent nation would “put rocket boosters” on Scotland’s coronavirus recovery, a senior SNP MP has claimed.

Alyn Smith, the party’s foreign affairs spokesman, said that currently firms were having to try to survive the Covid-19 pandemic at the same time as coping with the fallout from Brexit.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Victoria State Shuts Down Construction Industry Following Anti-Vax Riot

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The Victorian government will forcibly shutdown all construction sites in metropolitan Melbourne and all other locked down local government areas for two weeks in response to violent protests against mandatory vaccinations.

Protesters rallied against the Victorian government's mandate requiring all construction workers to have at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose by September 23.

Construction workers rioted in front of their Union headquarters in Melbourne.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CROATIA: Parliament Debates Copyright, Electronic Media Bill

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The Croatian Parliament's Information and Media Committee has endorsed the Copyright and Related Rights Bill and the Electronic Media Bill after debating copyright protection and user comments.

Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek said the biggest contribution of the Copyright Bill was that it eliminated legal uncertainties concerning exceptions and restrictions.

It ensures a broader approach to protected content as well as equitable compensation for stakeholders in the digital environment.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Violent Anti-Lockdown Protest In Melbourne, 200 Arrests

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Capsicum spray was used by police to subdue protesters at an anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne Sunday, which resulted in several arrests.

After the protest location was changed at the last minute to avoid authorities, approximately 1000 demonstrators gathered in Richmond to protest the city’s COVID restrictions.

The march started out peacefully, but quickly became out of control.

There were minor scuffles as well as a violent clash involving a small group of protesters.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Social Democrat Leader Scholz Holds Lead After Strong Debate Performance

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Who will succeed Angela Merkel as Germany's chancellor? The candidates to become Germany’s next leader faced off in a TV debate, and Social Democrat Olaf Scholz produced a solid performance to maintain his hold as the front-runner. 

Early snap polls suggested that Scholz did enough in the three-way debate to maintain a slim but solid lead over his rivals in the final debate of the election campaign. 

Just moments after the 90-minute debate ended on Germany's public broadcasters, an Infratest dimap poll found that 41% of the 1,500 viewers asked found Scholz the most convincing, a long way ahead of the Christian Democratic Union's (CDU) candidate Armin Laschet and the Green party's Annalena Baerbock, on 27% and 25% respectively. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: Teacher's Union Disbanded After Attacks By Pro-Beijing Forces

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The Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union announced its disbandment on September 11. Established in 1973, the group has been the largest and oldest teachers' union in the city.

The group's pro-democracy stance has been attacked by pro-Beijing media funded by the Chinese Communist Party government and attacks were picked up by the Hong Kong government.

Source: Stand News

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: US Senators Want Chinese Tech Firm Sanctioned

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Three US senators are calling for a Chinese "Internet of Things" platform operator to be added to a list of sanctioned Chinese companies, citing national security concerns. 

US senators want Tencent-backed Internet of Things firm Tuya sanctioned, calling the Chinese platform a security threat.

Three Republican senators say Tuya is required by law to turn Americans’ data over to Beijing, a frequently cited concern in the US.

Tuya denied the claims, saying its user data is regionally isolated and has never been requested by foreign governments.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THAILAND: Parliament Amends Electoral System

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Thailand’s parliament has approved a constitutional amendment bill to change the election system which analysts said could favor bigger parties including one backing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha while proving advantageous to the opposition Pheu Thai Party as well. 

The joint session of the parliament voted for the bill 472 to 33, while 187 lawmakers abstained.

“The constitutional amendment bill which the parliament has passed will change the electoral system from a one-ballot system to a two-ballot system,” said Jurin Laksanawisit, deputy prime minister and leader of the Democrat Party. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UKRAINE: Parliament Approves Use Of Cryptocurrency

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The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has adopted Bill No. 3637 "On Virtual Assets," which establishes in Ukraine a mechanism for the legal regulation of virtual assets, such as cryptocurrencies.

According to Ukrinform, 276 MPs voted for the document at its second reading and in its entirety in a Sept. 8 session.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Gov't Ditches Plans For Vax Passports In England

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Plans to introduce vaccine passports for access into nightclubs and large events in England will not go ahead, the health secretary has said.

Sajid Javid told the BBC: "We shouldn't be doing things for the sake of it."

It was thought the plan, which came under criticism from venues and some MPs, would be introduced at the end of this month.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Trudeau Defends Calling Election During Pandemic

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Responding to critics, Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau said he “absolutely” does not regret calling the federal election during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he pledged to be “ferocious” in the last week of the campaign, as his main competitor, Erin O’Toole, pitched a changed Conservative Party ready to earn voters’ trust.

The leaders began their final bids for votes on Friday, a day after the last leaders’ debate and with just 10 days to the Sept. 20 election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Chinese Firm's Takeover Of UK Chip Company Investigated

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The Chinese firm behind the purchase of Britain's largest chip manufacturing facility earlier this summer has admitted that the acquisition could be unwound as the U.K. government reviews the takeover.

Shanghai-headquartered Wingtech Technologies warned shareholders in a note this week that "domestic and foreign industry policies" present a risk to the takeover of Newport Wafer Fab, which is located in South Wales. The news was first reported by The Telegraph newspaper.

The warning comes after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Stephen Lovegrove, the U.K.'s national security advisor, to investigate the deal. A decision could be announced in the coming days.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#MOROCCO: Half Of Registered Voters Head To Polls

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Moroccan voters have headed to the polls to choose a new parliament and local leaders in elections that have been reshaped by the pandemic, amid widespread disillusionment with the political system. Only about half of registered voters appeared at polling stations.

About 18 million people cast their ballots on Wednesday, the third time since a new constitution was introduced in 2011 in the wake of the February 20th Movement, the local version of the Arab Spring.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: PM Johnson Faces Rebellion In His Party Over Vax Passports

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Vaccine passports still haven't been ruled out for pubs and restaurants, the UK's Vaccines Minister suggested in parliament this week.

Nadhim Zahawi would only commit to not making a Covid ID compulsory for "essential" services as he clashed with furious Tory MPs.

He was lambasted by conservative  backbenchers over the "pointless policy" and accused of starting a "needless fight" with his own party.

Zahawi defended the introduction of vaccine passports which he said would "reduce transmission and serious illness."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is already facing a major rebellion over the plans, with more than 50 Tories expected to mutiny.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: PM Takes Heat For Holiday Trip

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The Prime Minister has defended traveling from Canberra to Sydney during COVID-19 lockdowns, arguing criticism of the trip is nothing more than a "cheap shot."

Scott Morrison took an RAAF VIP jet to Sydney last Friday and spent several days in his home city, including Father's Day,  which was celebrated on Sunday, before returning to Canberra, the national Capital. 

The Prime Minister's office said he had received approval from ACT Health to return to the capital, with a number of conditions. 

They included restricting his movement while in the ACT and taking frequent COVID-19 tests. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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