#CANADA: Alberta Asserts Its Sovereignty

[world politics news]

New Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s administration kicked off with the introduction of Bill 1: the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, the opening salvo in her fight against the Federal government in Ottawa. The flagship policy promise and the source of heated debate for months passed in just over two weeks, receiving Royal Assent by Lt.-Gov Salma Lakhani and coming into force earlier this month.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#OMAN: Lower House Expands Israeli Boycott Rules

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Oman’s lower house of parliament voted to expand its Israel boycott law on Monday, amid speculation in Israeli press that certain restrictions could be lifted.

The Majlis al-Shura, or Consultative Assembly, voted to amend the first clause of its Israel boycott law to include any sports, cultural or economic contact. The amendment also specifically bans in-person or online interaction with Israelis.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: Euro Parliament Bans Lobbying By Qataris After Suspected Bribery Attempts

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Members of the European Parliament voted on Thursday to suspend access to the body's premises to Qatari representatives as the Gulf country is suspected of having offered "large sums of money" and "substantial gifts" to MEPs and assistants in a bid to influence European decision-making.

Lawmakers also decided to halt all pending legislation involving Qatar.

The investigation by Belgian police into undue influence by a Persian Gulf state widely believed to be Qatar has sent shockwaves through Brussels and thrown into question the parliament's transparency and lobbying rules.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Tax Group Slams Edmonton For Bike Lanes

[world politics news]

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says Edmonton city council is “blowing” $100 million on bike lanes for a handful of winter cyclists.

Councillors voted on Friday to give $100 million to implement the city-wide bike lane network.

Kris Sims, Alberta Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says city politicians should “read the room.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NEWZEALAND: Lifetime Ban On Cigarette Sales For Those Born After 2008

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New Zealand last week passed extensive legislation aimed at preventing minors from becoming smokers, including a lifetime prohibition on cigarette sales to everyone born after 2008.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FIJI: Parliament Elects New Prime Minister After Elections

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People's Alliance Party Leader Sitiveni Rabuka was elected Fiji's next Prime Minister on Saturday after receiving 28 votes in a secret ballot in parliament.

The vote ends coup leader Frank Bainimarama's reign as leader of the country after 16 years. Bainimarama received 27 votes on Saturday.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Govt Suspends Business Incentives For Iran Trade

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Germany's government is suspending state measures designed to foster business with Iran due to the repression of nationwide protests in the Islamic Republic, the economy ministry said on Friday.

The suspension will affect export credits and investment guarantees as well as Germany's manager training and trade fair programs in Iran, the ministry said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#USA: Senate Bill Seeks Transparency of Social Media Giants

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A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill Wednesday aimed at increasing transparency for Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies as lawmakers debate whether to ban TikTok.

The Platform Accountability and Transparency Act is intended to make the companies' internal data more accessible to the public by requiring the submission of necessary data to independent researchers. The bill is sponsored by Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law; Rob Portman, R-Ohio, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Bill Cassidy, R-LA.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Controversial Scottish Gender Bill Vote Delayed

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The final vote on controversial proposals to make it easier for people in Scotland to change their legally recognised gender will be held later than planned.

The Scottish Parliament had been due to vote on the legislation on Wednesday.

But with MSPs still debating proposed changes to the bill late at night, a decision was taken to delay the vote until Thursday afternoon.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PERU: Parliament Calls Early Election Amid Turmoil

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Peru has been gripped by nationwide unrest since the impeachment and arrest of President Pedro Castillo on December 7. The demonstrators protest against Castillo's disempowerment and demand the resignation of his successor Boluarte.

They are also demanding that Parliament be dissolved and that new elections be held immediately. More than 20 people were killed during the protests. The snap elections now scheduled by parliament for May, 2024 are an attempt to contain the crisis.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Citing Threats, Gov't Set To Expand Military

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The Japanese government has unveiled plans to drastically expand its defense capabilities. 

In what would be the biggest military build-up since World War II, Tokyo aims to double its defense spending over the next five years and install missiles capable of striking an enemy launch site. 

It's a controversial move, marking another major step away from the country's pacifist constitution that severely limits the use of military force. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Scotland Set To Enshrine Gender Pronouns Into Law

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The UK Equalities Minister will use a dramatic eleventh-hour intervention ahead of the Scottish parliament’s gender reform vote to implore the SNP to delay the changes. 

Kemi Badenoch will meet Shona Robison, an ally of Nicola Sturgeon and the person steering the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill through parliament, tomorrow – only 24 hours before final talks on the divisive law begin. 

It is understood Ms Badenoch will call on the Scottish Government to explain how it has reached the conclusion that allowing people to self-identify as a different gender is the right path for Scotland, its people and the rest of the UK. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TUNISIA: Election Draws 8% Turnout

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Polls closed at 6pm after controversial parliamentary elections in Tunisia, the first vote since the opposition-controlled chamber was suspended by President Kais Saied in July 2021 and later dissolved.

The elections were marked by low voter turnout, with 8.8 percent according to the electoral commission.

The opposition has boycotted Saturday’s election, calling the vote the latest step in Saied’s consolidation of power, which included the passage of a new constitution in August that did away with the country’s hybrid parliamentary democracy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDIA: MP Introduces Financial Literacy Education Bill

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Bengaluru South Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya (BJP Party) urged the government to consider introducing financial literacy as a subject in schools and colleges to help the young generation plan their financial future better

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

CANADA: Alberta AG Says No prosecutions Under Federal Gun Ban

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Alberta Attorney General Tyler Shandro issued a stern notice to the Trudeau Liberals, announcing the province is seizing back constitutional power from the feds to protect legal gun-owners from being persecuted under Bill C-21.

“Albertans have had enough. So today we are taking action,” Shandro said.

“First, as Alberta’s attorney general, I have directed that the Alberta crown prosecution service takeover the handling of charges involving the Firearms Act starting January 1st 2023.”

He said as things currently stand, the federal government handles these matters. 

Shandro’s announcement Thursday effectively protects legal gun owners from suddenly becoming criminals if Bill C-21 comes into force.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Parliament Considers Taxing Coal Export Profits

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New research reveals Australian coal export revenue reached $112 billion in 2021-22, an increase on the previous year of $73b or 186%, as Federal Parliament reconvenes to legislate price caps on coal and gas companies making windfall profits, according to a new report From Russia With Love by leading public policy think-tank the Australia Institute.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Commissioner Says Trade Minister Violated Conflict Of Interest Rules

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Canada's federal conflict of interest and ethics commissioner says Trade Minister Mary Ng broke the rules when her office awarded a contract to one of her friends.

Commissioner Mario Dion released a report Tuesday after the federal Conservatives filed a complaint back in the spring, raising concerns over the fact that Ng’s office awarded media training contracts to the firm Pomp and Circumstance.

The firm was co-founded and run by Amanda Alvaro, a friend of Ng’s.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHAFRICA: Parliament Votes Against Impeaching President

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South Africa's parliament voted against starting impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over a report that says he held undeclared foreign currency at his farm in 2020.

The lawmakers voted 214 to 148 against the move to impeach Ramaphosa. The ruling African National Congress party, which holds a majority in the parliament, largely stood with Ramaphosa, preventing the motion from getting the two-thirds vote needed to proceed with impeachment.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PORTUGAL: Parliament Again Passes Euthanasia Bill

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Portugal’s parliament voted for the third time in almost two years Friday in favor of allowing euthanasia, though as happened in the previous attempts the country’s Constitutional Court or president could stop the bill becoming law.

Left-of-center parties in the mostly Catholic country were the driving force behind the bill, as they were with laws allowing abortion in 2007 and same-sex marriage in 2010.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GHANA: Censure Vote Against Finance Minister Fails

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A vte of Censure motion against Ghana Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta has failed after a majority walked out of Parliament. Despite the walk out, the secret vote process still happened on the floor of parliament with all 136 minority lawmakers participating. At the end of the voting process, they secured 136 votes in support of the removal of Atta.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Bills Filed To Strip Royal Titles From Harry, Meghan

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Amid growing fury at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Netflix documentary, a new bill in parliament today would, if passed, grant Charles III and politicians greater powers to remove ranks of nobility. 

Labour Party MP Rachael Maskell tabled the Removal of Titles Bill to target a different royal, the Duke of York, over his association with late American paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

But the Private Members Bill could also be used to remove the Sussex dukedom from Harry and Meghan. 

It came as a Tory MP for Sussex demanded the couple finally lose their titles due to their 'lack of respect' for the Royal Family and the UK.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NIGERIA: ATM Withdrawals Limited To $45/Day

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has capped daily ATM withdrawals at $45 in order to encourage electronic payments, including the eNaira digital currency.

The central bank has sent out a circular to lenders cutting the daily cash machine withdrawal limit from 150,000 naira to 20,000 naira, according to Bloomberg. Weekly cash withdrawal limits of 100,000 naira for people and 500,000 naira for corporations have also been set.

The limit is the latest effort by Nigeria to discourage cash usage. The country is set to redesign high-value notes and is giving people until January to switch out their old paper money.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PERU: President Removed From Office, Arrested

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Peru's Congress voted to oust President Pedro Castillo in an impeachment trial on Wednesday, shortly after he attempted to dissolve the legislative body and install an emergency government.

[Full story HERE]

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

#INDONESIA: New Law Bans Sex Outside Of Marriage

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Indonesia's parliament has approved a new criminal code that bans anyone in the country from having extramarital sex and restricts political freedoms.

Sex outside marriage will carry a jail term of up to a year under the new laws, which take effect in three years.

The raft of changes come after a rise in religious conservatism in the Muslim-majority country.

Critics see the laws as a "disaster" for human rights, and a potential blow to tourism and investment.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SWITZERLAND: Parliament To Tighten Rape Laws

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The lower house of Switzerland's parliament voted Monday to dramatically broaden the country's limited definition of rape to include all sex without consent, but a law-change is still a long way off.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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