#MOROCCO: Parliament Votes To "Reconsider" EU Relations After Human Rights Criticism

[world politics news]

The Moroccan parliament voted unanimously on Monday to reconsider its ties with the European parliament after a non-binding resolution was approved last Thursday that condemned Morocco and urged the kingdom to respect media freedom.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Pres. Macron Says Strategy Is To Take Freedoms From Unvaxxed, Whom He Calls "Non-Citizens"

[world politics news]

 

French President Emmanuel Macron admitted Tuesday that part of his “strategy” on tackling COVID is to “piss off” the unvaccinated as much as possible by limiting their freedoms and coercing them into taking shots.

Macron made the comments in an interview with the Le Parisien newspaper, noting “As for the non-vaccinated, I really want to piss them off. And we will continue to do this, to the end. This is the strategy.”

Macron referred to the unvaccinated as "non-citizens," a notion that French courts may take issue with.

Macron's opponent in the presidential race, Eric Zemmour, called his comments "cynical."

"Emmanuel Macron knew what he was doing. He cynically exploited COVID to make it a subject of the presidential election so that his record and especially the identity of France are not addressed."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: In Secret, Parliament Rushes Through Law To Counter Foreign Sanctions

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China’s parliament rushed through a law on Thursday designed to counter sanctions imposed by foreign governments against Chinese officials and companies, escalating its legal battles with the US and the EU.

The law was passed in secret by the National People’s Congress standing committee after two readings, rather than the usual three, and built on earlier measures unveiled by China’s commerce ministry in January. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BULGARIA: Gov't Angered By EU's Resolution Praising Anti-Gov't Protesters

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Bulgaria's ruling coalition has reacted with irritation to a sharply worded European Parliament resolution adopted on October 8 that has cheered the street protesters demanding the government’s resignation.

The resolution cited high levels of corruption, deterioration in media freedoms and lack of diversity in media ownership, Bulgaria’s failure to ratify the so-called Istanbul convention on gender-based violence, or to prevent hate speech on sexual and gender grounds and against Roma people and asylum seekers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NORTHERNIRELAND: China Consulate Removes Alleged Praise Of National Security Law By NI Leaders From Website

[world politics news]

A report from the Chinese authorities claiming Stormont’s leaders said they respected new security laws in Hong Kong has been amended to remove the controversial statement.

The comments were initially attributed to Northern  Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill during a teleconference with Chinese consul general in Belfast Madame Zhang Meifang last month.

A translated version of a report which appeared on the consulate’s website claimed the ministers stated that the Northern Ireland Executive “understands and respects Hong Kong’s national security legislation”.

Mrs Foster and Ms O’Neill moved to distance themselves from the comments after an Irish News report on the website account

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHAFRICA: Citing Nigerian Author's TED Talk, High Court Says Child Abuse Victims Cannot Be Named While Minors

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Child offenders, child victims and child witnesses may not be named - even in adulthood, the Constitutional Court has ruled.

To sum up their majority ruling, the judges quoted Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who during a TED talk in 2009 said: “Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanise. Stories can break the dignity of people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.”

The case was between the Center for Child Law and some of South Africa’s biggest media houses — Media24 and Independent — on if and when child offenders, child victims and child witnesses, can be publicly identified. The mass media houses argued that the prohibition violated freedom of speech and open justice principles.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: Parliament Votes To Allow Bloggers, Journalists, To Be Labeled "Foreign Agents"

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The lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, has overwhelmingly passed legislation that would allow the government to label journalists, bloggers, and social media users as foreign agents.

The bill, which still needs approval from the Federation Council, the upper chamber, and President Vladimir Putin’s signature to become law, expands on existing “foreign agent” measures already targeting select foreign media and Russian Non-Governmental Organizations..

The laws have been criticized by human rights groups as highly restrictive but lauded by Kremlin loyalists as essential to protect Russian sovereignty.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#VENEZUELA: Maduro Regime Wins Seat On UN Human Rights Commission

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The government of President Nicolás Maduro won a seat Thursday on the U.N. Human Rights Council, a controversial victory for a regime accused of using intimidation, torture and murder to cling to power.

The Maduro government, no longer recognized as legitimate by the United States and around 50 other countries, had sought a return to the 47-member panel to counter an image of international isolation - and thwart investigations into its own alleged abuses.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: UN Human Rights Commission To Probe Duterte's Controversial Drug War

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The United Nations Human Rights Council approved a resolution seeking action into Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs" that critics say has killed over 27,000 over the last three years and say has turned police and citizens into vigilantes. The resolution calls for a "comprehensive report on the human rights situation" in the Philippines by June 2020, and asks Duterte to cooperate.

Speaking shortly before the resolution was approved, Duterte called the resolution “crazy” but said he would consider allowing UN staff into the country. "Let them state their purpose and I will review it," he said.

The Philippines' UN delegation called the resolution "ill-advised" and "politically motivated" and therefore it "can never be balanced." Members of the Council voted 18 in favor of, and 14 against, the resolution, which was submitted by Iceland and 27 other European countries on July 4. Fifteen other nations abstained from voting.

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: UN Testimony By Singer/Activist Interrupted By Chinese Delegation

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China's delegation to the UN Human Rights Commission twice interrupted Hong Kong singer-activist Denise Ho's speech in Geneva, Switzerland, on behalf of UN Watch, protesting Hong Kong's bill enabling extradition of citizens to China and interference in democracy on the island.

"Will the UN convene an urgent session to protect the people of Hong Kong? Will it suspend China from this Council?" she asked.

Delegates from China interrupted her two times during her 90 second speech.

Read the [FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAMAICA: Gov't Produces Resource Manual For Victims Of Human Trafficking

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The Government is taking steps to enhance its anti-human trafficking profile through the development of a Human Trafficking Survivors’ Handbook and Human Trafficking e-Learning platform.

The tools were produced by the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons and the Office of the Children’s Advocate, partnership with the British High Commission in Jamaica. The handbook provides information on the rights of persons affected by human trafficking. It also provides a directory of providers of relevant and easily accessible information on services available in Jamaica to address the varying needs of victims.

Pictured: National Security Minister Hon. Dr. Horace Chang

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PALESTINIANAUTHORITY: Pres. Abbas Slams US Move To Remove "Occupied Territories" Label From Annual Human Rights Report

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has criticized a US move to no longer refer to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights as "occupied territories" in its annual human rights report.

A spokesman called it "a continuation of the hostile approach of the American administration toward our Palestinian people and... contrary to all UN resolutions." In a statement carried by official Palestinian news agency WAFA, he said the change was part of Pres. Trump’s plan to "liquidate" the Palestinian cause.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Official Communist Gov't "Social Credit" Blacklist Restricts Travel, Trading

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Millions of Chinese citizens and businesses have been labelled as "untrustworthy" on an official government blacklist, banning them from any number of activities, including accessing financial markets or travelling by air or train.

The government’s "social credit system" is part of the Communist government's efforts to boost “trustworthiness” in society and is expected to give each of its 1.4 billion citizens a personal score.

Its goal is to pressure citizens to avoid bad behavior, although human rights advocates argue it does not take into account individual circumstances, or rights and freedoms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: Gov't Official Defends City-State's Human Rights Record After UN Panel's Criticism

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Hong Kong’s second-ranking government official defended the city’s human rights record at a United Nations review session – a response non-governmental organizations have criticized as “evasive and disappointing." Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung spoke at the Universal Periodic Review for China in Geneva.

At the three-hour long session, representatives from around 150 countries gave comments and recommendations on the human rights situation in China, Hong Kong and Macau. The group condemned the government’s “irresponsible, wholesale denial” of human rights problems in Hong Kong.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Says Nation's Re-Election To UN Human Rights Council Vindicates Controversial Drug War

[world politics news]

Granting the Philippines another three-year term on the UN. Human Rights Council has vindicated President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on drugs and shown his detractors to be "morally corrupt," senior officials said. Human rights activists say Duterte's "war" on drugs after taking office in June 2016 – since when the police have killed more than 4,800 people – made his government unfit for a seat at the body. But the Philippines was re-elected to the 47-seat council by secret ballot at the UN. General Assembly last Friday, winning 165 out of 193 votes, with one abstention.

[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.

#CANADA: Saudi Arabia Expels Canadian Ambassador, Freezes Trade, After Gov't Tweet Urged Activists' Release

[world politics news]

Saudi Arabia ordered Canada's ambassador to leave the country and froze all new trade and investment transactions with Canada in a spat over human rights. The ministry added that Saudi Arabia is recalling its ambassador to Canada. Both the Saudi and Canadian ambassadors were away on leave at the time of the announcement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GREECE: Parliament Passes Gender Identity Law Over Orthodox Church's Objections

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Greece’s left-wing government has passed legislation enabling citizens to determine their gender identity amid fierce condemnation from the Orthodox church and accusations the law would “destroy human beings." After two days of highly charged debate, the prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, rallied parliament to endorse policies that would permit people to legally change their gender on all official documents without undergoing sterilization
.
[FULL STORY HERE]

#MYANMAR: Aung San Suu Kyi Addresses Human Rights Complaints Against Gov't

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Aung San Suu Kyi said she "feels deeply" for the suffering of "all people" caught up in conflict-torn Rakhine state in her first comments on the crisis since the latest violence began last month.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Gov't Issues "Human Rights Report" On USA Pointing Out Prison Population, Economic Woes

[world politics news]

The Chinese government issues a human rights report highlighting failures of the United States. The report, titled "The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2016," was released in response to "the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016" issued by the U.S. State Department on March 3rd. The US report notes China's "Repression and coercion of organizations and individuals involved in civil and political rights advocacy." The Chinese report cites America's high incarceration rate and surveys showing Americans believe the middle class is shrinking. The US has 2.14 million people behind bars among 322 million people. China, by contrast, has 1.64 million incarcerated among its 1.6 billion citizens.

[FULL STORY HERE]