#POLAND: Justice Minister Signals Pull-Out From Istanbul Convention Due To Gender Definition

[world politics news]

Zbigniew Ziobro, Minister of Justice, announced that he will file a motion to the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy to take formal steps in order to denounce the Istanbul Convention.

Ziobro said that there are provisions in the convention that are of an ideological nature which Poland does not accept and considers harmful. In this context, the Minister of Justice spoke about, among others, the construction of the so-called socio-cultural gender in opposition to biological sex.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ICELAND: Parliament Extends Parental Leave To 12 Months

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Iceland's Parliament has passed legislation extending parental leave to twelve months. Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir discussed the new law on Facebook, saying that it was a huge step forward for Icelandic families, and also an important step toward greater equality. Parental leave laws in effect today were passed in 2000, when Parliament extended the leave from six months to nine in three phases, she wrote. "Another twenty years passed without any extension, or until the time of our current government." Both fathers and mothers are entitled to paid family leave, under the new and the old laws.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Sex Worker Decriminalization Bill Defeated In Parliament

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A campaign to decriminalize prostitution in the state of South Australia has failed, with the state's Parliament voting against the bill this morning. The House of Assembly voted 24 to 19 to defeat the bill, in a conscience vote of all members of parliament. Sponsored by a Green Party member, it was the 13th attempt by sex workers and supporters to change the law in South Australia in the past two decades.

[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.

#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.

#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.

#BELGIUM: City Of Brussels Considers Confiscating Cars For Traffic Offenses

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The Belgian city of Brussels is considering confiscating the cars of drivers who repeatedly violate traffic rules, following the lead of cities like Antwerp and Mechelen.

There has been a string of accidents in Brussels involving pedestrians in recent weeks. Schaerbeek has seen several hit-and-runs, and just last weekend, a pedestrian was killed in an accident at Place Charles Rogier. Confiscating cars is seen as one way to prevent these accidents.

Over a one year period, Mechelen has taken four cars. The process is gradual; first drivers are told they are breaking the rules, then they get a visit from a police officer before having their cars confiscated.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GIBRALTAR: Parliament Approves Legal Abortion; Goes To Voters In 2020

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The Gibraltar Parliament last night approved an amendment to Gibraltar's crimes legislation that will allow abortion under certain circumstances. The legislation was approved by 10 votes in favour and seven votes against, but will not come into force immediately. Instead, the legislation will be put to the community in a referendum on March 19, 2020.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Parliament Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage, Abortion For N. Ireland During Assembly Deadlock

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Parliament has voted resoundingly to extend same-sex marriage and access to abortion to Northern Ireland, bringing the region into line with the rest of the UK on the two significant social issues.

UK legislators voted on the Labour MP's bill because of a months-long deadlock that has rendered Northern Ireland unable to form a government in the region's devolved Assembly.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Cabinet Moves Forward To Ban Parents From Spanking Children After High-Profile Abuse Cases

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The Japanese cabinet has approved legislation banning parents from inflicting corporal punishment upon their own children, an effort intended to curb child abuse at home in light of recent high-profile cases where children were fatally mistreated in the name of discipline. If passed by the ongoing regular Diet session, the amendment would take effect next April.

[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.

#HUNGARY: Swedish Cabinet Minister Suggests Hungarian Family Policies Resembles Nazis', Sparking Diplomatic Incident

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Hungary’s foreign ministry summoned the Swedish ambassador for consultations after a Swedish cabinet member compared the Hungarian government’s recent family assistance measures with those of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

In a tweet, Annika Strandhall, the Swedish minister for social affairs, said that Hungary’s “alarming” policies were “reeking of the 1930's." She suggested Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who she said seeks to promote the birth of "more true Hungarian" babies, was a "right-wing populist trying to obscure the consequences of those policies to the independence women have fought for."

At a press conference, Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó said the Swedish ambassador had been told at the ministry that Strandhall’s comments were unacceptable and had used an "unacceptable tone."

In 2016, Strandhall also got into trouble after proclaiming on social media that all men should have their right to vote withdrawn following the election of Donald Trump.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#DENMARK: New Citizens To Be Required To Shake Hands With Female Mayors (Including Muslim Citizens)

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New rules require people who have been awarded Danish citizenship to shake hands when they tak part in citizenship ceremonies. The rule, supported by the Conservative and Danish People's Party, as well as Social Democrats, is said to be squarely aimed at Muslims, many of whom don't shake hands, especially with women. Participants are also required to sign a document promising to respect Danish values.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CUBA: Same-Sex Marriage Language Dropped From Constitutional Revision After Evangelical's Objections

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Cuba's National Assembly has removed language opening the way to the legalization of same-sex marriage from the draft of the country's new constitution to "respect all opinions." The move comes despite the pledge by President Miguel Diaz-Canel to "eliminate all kinds of discrimination from society."

A parliamentary commission responsible for drafting the constitution proposed to omit proposed language defining marriage as the union of "two people ... with absolutely equal rights and obligations." Evangelical churches in the country protested the proposed change and launched a campaign against the new wording. The new constitution will be submitted to a referendum in February next year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Parliament Forced By Courts To Add Third Gender, "Diverse," To Official Documents

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The German parliament has been forced by the courts to make "diverse" an option on the birth register. Critics are split on whether the law goes too far, or not far enough. The Bundestag was forced to act after the country's highest court ruled last year that people must be allowed to register as neither male nor female, ordering lawmakers to create a third gender identity or scrap the entries altogether. Germany joins Austria, Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada and Portugal in recognizing an "intersex" category for gender.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Scottish Parliament's Coffee Shop Bans "Gingerbread Men" To Avoid "Sexism"

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Gingerbread men have been replaced by "gingerbread persons" in the Scottish Parliament’s coffee shop in case the traditional name causes someone to be offended. The renaming comes just as a strategy aimed at stamping out sexual harassment and sexism was introduced at the parliament after a survey found 30 per cent of women working there believed they had been sexually harassed. It hasn't gone over well with everyone. Annie Wells, the Equalities spokesman for the opposition Scottish Conservative Party said, ‘Surely the Scottish Parliament has got better things to do than worry about what to call gingerbread men? This is an utterly pointless gesture which simply trivializes the real issues of gender equality." A spokesman for parliament is on record as calling the treats "delicious" and have "sold out."

[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

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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.

#CANADA: Ontario's Gov't Set To Release Details On How It Will Regulate Legal Cannabis Sales

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Ontario's government is set to release details outlining how it will manage the sale of recreational cannabis in the province. A full framework will be introduced in the legislature as early as this week. The plan may cap the number of cannabis retail licences that any single entity can own at 10% of the total available allocation, in a move that would limit the amount of stores one organization can own and prevent it from dominating the market.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: New Laws Passed By Victoria's State Parliament Gives Renters Right To Modify Apartments, Have Dogs Without Owner's Consent

[world politics news]

Tenants in the Australian state of Victoria will be able to make minor modifications to their rental homes and own pets without landlord consent, after new laws were passed the state's parliament. The reforms, which also include the introduction of "basic standards," and limit rent rises to once a year, mark “the biggest reforms to renting in Victoria’s history”, according to the state government. The laws won't come into effect until July 1, 2020, allowing 18 months for "consultation with stakeholders."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Labour Party Supports Ban On Pre-Natal Testing For Gender; Says It Would Prevent Abortions Of Girls

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The UK's Labour Party is calling for a ban on parents-to-be being told the sex of their baby after early blood tests, amid fears it may lead to abortions of girls. The Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) is used by the National Health Service to test for genetic conditions, but people can pay for it privately to discover a baby's sex. Labour MP Naz Shah said it was morally wrong for people to use the test to abort pregnancies based on the outcome. The Department of Health said it would continue to review the evidence.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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