#FRANCE: Gov't Forces Economic Reforms Through Parliament Without A Vote, Again

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Manuel Valls has pushed an economics package through parliament designed to spur growth. The reforms, which include allowing shops in tourist areas to remain open Sundays, was adopted without a vote, using a procedure Valls has used twice before, over objections from hard-line Socialists in Valls' own party.

#TAIWAN: New President Will Be A Woman; Both Parties Select Female Nominees

[world politics news]

Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang picked its second-highest-ranking lawmaker, Hung Hsiu-chu, to run for president, setting the stage for the island to elect its first female leader in January. Hung, 67, will run against Tsai Ing-wen, 58, chair of the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, the first time both major parties have nominated women for the top office.

Pictured: Hung Hsiu-chu, Taiwan's deputy parliamentary speaker.

#RUSSIA: Anti-Gay Head Of TV Network Voices Support For Gay Civil Partnerships

[world politics news]

Dmitry Kiselyov, the head of Russia's pro-Putin Rossiya television channel, surprised many last week when he advocated civil partnerships between homosexuals. Saying it was for reasons of "guardianship" he added, "After all, love can work miracles. Who is against that?" Kiselyov has said organs donated by gays should be burned.

#JAPAN: Gov't Scraps Plans For Controversial, $2 Billion Stadium Design For 2020 Olympics

[world politics news]

The Japanese government has scrapped the controversial design for a 2020 Tokyo Olympic stadium. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his government would "start over from zero." The cost of the project, designed by British architect Zaha Hadid, had doubled, reaching $2 billion. Abe says the new stadium will still be completed in time for the games, but not for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

#UKRAINE: Parliament Adopts Rules For Oct 25 Elections; Won't Be Held In Russian-Occupied Territories

[world politics news]

Noting that the rules for Ukrainian elections cannot be properly conducted in Crimea or in other Russian-held territories in the east, parliament has pragmatically passed a law stating that local elections on Oct. 25 won't be conducted in those areas. The law also says 30% of candidates must be women.

#GREECE: PM Tspiras Purges Leftists In Cabinet Who Opposed #EU Austerity Deal

[world politics news]

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has expelled leftists in his cabinet who voted against more austerity and reforms demanded by international creditors in return for a new rescue deal. Despite the revolt within his Syriza party, parliament approved the bailout, opening the way for European action to stave off Grexit, at least for now.

#SERBIA: Parliament Adopts Law Requiring Police To Start Investigating Missing Persons Immediately

[world politics news]

The Serbian parliament adopted on Thursday the amendments to the Law on Police which require that a search for missing persons begin immediately, rather than after 48 hours, as previous policy dictated. The law was prompted after a series of brutal murders of teenagers.

#SINGAPORE: Announcement Of Electoral Boundaries Review Committee Formation Signals Early Election

[world politics news]

Election observers say the announcement that the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee signals a likely general election in 2015, a year ahead of schedule. The committee is likely to recommend more Group Representation Constituencies for minorities and more Single-Member Districts.

#CANADA: Vancouver Liberal MP, First Nations Newspaper, Apologize for "Sobriety" Comment In Ad Congratulating Native Grads

[world politics news]

Liberal MP Joyce Murray and a First Nations (native Indian) newspaper are both apologizing after publishing an ad in which Murray congratulated aboriginal high school graduates and referred to sobriety as a key to success. Both say Murray never saw the ad copy. Native First Peoples are sensitive to stereotypes about heavy drinking.

#JAPAN: Diet Passes Military Reform Bill Allowing Expanded Role Amid Protests

[world politics news]

The Diet has passed a military reform bill amid anger from opposition lawmakers. The bill expands the scope of Self-Defense Forces' missions overseas, which has been restricted since the end of World War II. Earlier, lawmakers mobbed committee chairman Yasukazu Hamada during a committee hearing seeking to halt the voting.

#CANADA: New Democrats Launch Online Ad Campaign Offensive Ahead Of Oct. 19 National Election

[world politics news]

The New Democratic Party has launched a series of ads on social media ahead of the federal election campaign to convince voters it's the main alternative to the Tory government. The paid ads, in French and English, are being targeted at voters in ridings in Ontario and across the West where the NDP believes it can win against the Conservatives.

Pictured: NDP Leader Tom Mulcair

#SPAIN: Catalan Pro-Independence Parties Form Alliance Ahead of Sept. Regional Elections

[world politics news]

Catalonian pro-independence parties have forged an alliance for September regional elections. Leaders of the center-right CDC party and left-wing ERC will run on a joint ticket. Spain's conservative national government fiercely opposes independence for the rich northeastern region, which wants to follow Scotland's example by voting on its political future.

#VENEZUELA: Maduro Condemns Spanish Security Law As "Fascist"

[world politics news]

Pres. Nicolás Maduro has denounced Spain’s controversial Citizen Security Law, saying it violates human rights and resembles a dictatorship. Maduro himself has faced criticism for his own security forces' violence against protesters and opponents. He has jailed his two main opposition leaders. Spanish-Venezuelan diplomatic relations have deteriorated in recent months.

#UK: Labour Leader Candidate #AndyBurnham Apologizes For Labour Spending Before '10 Credit Crunch

[world politics news]

Andy Burnham has issued his fullest apology yet for Labour overspending before the 2010 election, saying, "the deficit was too high when the crash came," and the party needed to be willing to admit its mistakes to regain voter's trust and credibility.

#UK: Gov't Minister Asserts #ClimateChange Is A "Greater Threat" Than Nuclear War

[world politics news]

In a dire warning Baroness Joyce Anelay, minister of state at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, wrote in a recent report that the chaos caused by rising sea levels would be as bad as that resulting from a thermo-nuclear conflict between the East and West.  The senior Tory figure claimed that global warming could trigger a series of natural disasters.

#NEWZEALAND: Green Pty Chooses "Rising Star" Julie Ann Genter As Finance Spokesperson

[world politics news]

The Green Party has announced a new portfolio line-up, with second-term MP Julie Anne Genter taking over as finance spokesperson, a nod from party hierarchy she's seen as a "rising star".

#GERMANY: Alternative For Germany Party Fractures As Rebels Back Ousted Leader

[world politics news]

Supporters of deposed Alternative for Germany Leader Bernd Lucke have confirmed their intention to establish a new political party, citing a drift into "right-wing populism" by tapping into anti-Muslim sentiment. The turmoil has lowered its polling to 2%, below the 5% needed for seats in the Bundestag.

Pictured: Former AfD leader Bernd Lucke (l) and current leader Frauke Perty. 

#UK: Leadership Candidate Liz Kendall Backs Labour Leader In Supporting Tory Welfare Cuts

[world politics news]

Labour Party leadership candidate Liz Kendall is the only candidate to back temporary Labour Leader Harriet Harmon in her support of the Conservative government's plan to cut child tax credits from the budget. She said "we have to listen to have people have said to us, that they didn’t trust us, and we have to change as a party."

#CANADA: Senate Committee Recommends Criminalizing Speech "Glorifying" Terrorism; "Certifying" Imams

[world politics news]

A Senate committee is urging a range of tougher anti-terror measures to fight the "Islamist fundamentalist menace" through criminal bans on radical speech, preachers, charities and those who "glorify" terrorism. The 38-page report also suggests "certifying" and "training" Imams.

#MACEDONIA: #EU Envoys Say Gov't Leading Nation To "Catastrophe;" Lack Of Trust After Tapes Expose Corruption

[world politics news]

European Union envoys warn that the Balkan nation of Macedonia is headed toward a "catastrophe" because of mistrust between the government of Prime Minister Grievski and the Socialist opposition. A source of mistrust is the release earlier this year of wiretapped conversations revealed cronyism, corruption, vote rigging and autocratic practices.

Pictured: PM Nikola Gruevski in Brussels in 2013

#GREECE: Tough Deal For #EU Bailout Could Cause Tsipras' Party To Rebel, Force New Elections

[world politics news]

Just a week after a nationwide vote to reject more austerity and reforms in exchange for more bailout money from the EU, a deal struck Sunday to give Greece billions more Euros demands exactly what voters rejected. The PM's  Syriza Party may put up resistance and fracture, forcing new elections.

#JAPAN: Justice Ministry Panel Drafts Tougher Sex Crimes Laws

[world politics news]

A Japanese Justice Ministry panel has drafted a report calling for toughening penalties for sex crimes and allowing prosecutions for them with or without petitions from victims. Eight of the 12 panelists are women.

#BAHRAIN: Foreign Min. Attacks Iraqi Gov't For Criticism Of Sentence Of Man For "Denigrating Institutions"

[world politics news]

Bahrain’s foreign minister reacted negatively after Iraq "expressed  concern" about the conviction of a man for "incitement to divisions." Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa tweeted: "I am bewildered as how a country...where terrorism and sectarianism are widespread... issues a statement about a man being tried legally in another country."

#BRAZIL: Petroleum Scandal, Sluggish Growth, Fuel Impeachment Talk Around Pres. Rousseff

[world politics news]

An economy likely to decline 1.5% this year, along with a corruption scandal at state-controlled energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro are contributing to a feeding frenzy among Pres. Dilma Rousseff's opponents which, say observers, may lead to her impeachment and removal from office.

#NORTHERNIRELAND: Frmr. Unionist Fin. Min. Blasts Sinn Fein Praise Of Greeks

[world politics news]

Sinn Fein EU Parliament member Martina Anderson said the people of Greece had "stood up for Ireland, Spain, Portugal and all of Europe." But former Democratic Unionist Party Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said Anderson's praise of Greece, "should send a shiver down the spine of every sensible person in Northern Ireland."

Pictured: Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson.

#EGYPT: Election Law Changes Pave Way To Parliamentary Elections Delayed Four Months

[world politics]

Four laws declared unconstitutional just weeks before scheduled March 21 Parliamentary elections have been passed, signalling new elections soon. The laws regulate the workings of the House of Representatives, the exercise of political rights, the division of electoral constituencies, and amend the workings of the Supreme Constitutional Court.

#BOLIVIA: Socialist Pres. Morales "Politicizes" Papal Visit With "Communist Crucifix" Gift; Pope: "This Is Not Okay"

[world politics news]

Pres. Evo Morales has sparked outrage by giving visiting Pope Francis a "Communist Crucifix" during his visit to Bolivia. The hammer and sickle symbol, upon which the crucified Christ appears, was designed by a Catholic missionary who was killed in 1980. The pope was heard to utter, "This is not okay" when receiving it.

#IRELAND: German Anti-Muslim Group Moves Into Ireland; Opposes Kerry Mosque, Plans Celtic People's Party

[world politics news]

An Irish branch of the German anti-Muslim group PEDIGA is collecting signatures to stop a mosque in Tralee (located in County Kerry) and plans to form a "Celtic People's Party," according to a group spokesman. Kerry has the highest number of Muslims outside of Cork, Dublin and Limerick. Islam is now Kerry’s third largest religion.

#THAILAND: PM Gen. Prayut Denies Embezzlement Rumors; Military Says Anti-Junta Students Started Rumor

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday rejected rumours he and his wife had wired tens of billions of baht to Singapore. "If I had that amount of money, why would I have to stand here?" said Gen Prayut. He said students at Thammasat University had started the rumors. Students there rallied for the release of 14 students detained over anti-junta protests.

#RUSSIA: #Putin's Party Proposes Ad Ban Against Fast-Food Restaurants, Sugary Drinks

[world politics news]

A proposed bill would make it almost impossible to promote food with high sugar, salt and saturated fat content,, in an attempt to encourage healthy food habits. MP Vasiliy Shestakov of the majority United Russia Party says he views fast food and alcohol ads as equal threats.

#JAPAN: Hashimoto Considers Launching New Regional Party

[world politics news]

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who also serves as senior adviser to the Japan Innovation Party he helped found, has expressed interest in forming an all-Kansai region party as early as September, which could split the party into eastern and western Japan factions.

#RUSSIA: Former PM Kasyanov To Lead Party Of People's Freedom; May Seek Presidency

[world politics news]

Former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov has become the sole leader of the newly reorganized PARNAS Party ("Party of People’s Freedom") and said he may run for president in 2018. The 57-year-old had co-chaired the party with Boris Nemtsov, who was gunned down in Moscow ni February.

#IRELAND: Dublin Elects First Sinn Féin Party Mayor

[world politics news]

Críona Ní Dhálaigh, Sinn Féin councilor and "Dub, born and bred," has been elected as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin by the city's 63-member council. Ní Dhálaigh replaces Christy Burke after an agreement was made that a Sinn Féin councilor would take over the position during the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

#TRINIDADANDTOBAGO: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar Calls For Commonwealth Observers To Monitor Elections

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has requested an observer team from the Commonwealth for the September 7 general election. The request comes on the heels of a similar one by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley requesting Caricom observers. Rowley says the Persad-Bissessar-led government has "interfered with" a number of state institutions.

#UK: After Winning Nearly 4 Million Votes, UK Independence Pty May Not Get Any Appointments to Lords

[world politics news]

It may be 2020 before the UK Independence Party adds to its three peers in the House of Lords, said PM David Cameron, despite winning nearly 4 million voters in the recent general election. The Liberal Democrats, which were all but wiped out, could add more to their 102 peers.

#UK: Left-Leaning Unite Union Latest To Back Socialist Labour Leadership Candidate Corbyn

[world politics news]

Several Labour MPs supported Jeremy Corbyn's entry into the party's leadership race at the last minute last month "to broaden the debate," but are possibly regretting their kindness after five labor unions have now thrown their support behind him. The latest is the largest, Unite.

#VENEZUELA: John Kerry Urges Maduro Gov't And Opposition To Find "Peaceful Resolution" Before Dec. 6 Elections; Oppo Ldr Remains Jailed

[world politics news]

US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Venezuela's government and opposition to find a "peaceful resolution" to their disputes before a Dec. 6 parliamentary election. Opposition Leader Leopoldo López remains jailed by the Socialist regime, and ended a month-long hunger strike June 23 after elections were announced.

#GREECE: Finance Min. Varoufakis Ousted After Winning "No" Vote; Pressure From Eurozone Ministers

[world politics news]

Greece's Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has quit, citing pressure on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras from Eurozone political leaders and banking interests. Varoufakis infuriated Eurozone leaders recently by comparing Greece’s creditors to terrorists. He wrote on his blog:  "I shall wear the creditors’ loathing with pride."

#IRELAND: Bill Would Garnish Wages, Welfare Benefits, Of Those Refusing To Pay Water Fees

[world politics news]

A bill to force payment from those refusing to pay controversial new nationwide water utility fees has been introduced in parliament. The bill allows a court to order deductions from social welfare payments and the attachment of their wages. Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said it also abolishes imprisonment of debtors.

#TUNISIA: Pres. Declares State Of Emergency In Wake of Beach Massacre; Assumes More Powers, Limits Assembly Rights

[world politics news]

Pres. Beji Caid Essebsi declared a state of emergency Saturday to give his government more powers following an Islamic militant attack on a beach hotel, in which 38 foreign tourists, including 30 Britons were killed. The state of emergency gives security forces more powers and limits the right to public assembly.

#PALESTINIANAUTHORITY: Abbas Gov't Works With Israel To Arrest Over 100 Hamas Supporters

[world politics news]

In a sign of the Palestinian Authority's latest attempts to separate itself from Hamas, Pres. Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the arrest of Hamas leaders and sympathizers, arresting over 100 and charging them with "threatening the general security" and stability of the West Bank.

#UKRAINE: Pro-Russian Rebels Plan August Elections; Central Gov't Warn They'd Violate Peace Accord

[world politics news]

Pro-Russian separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine say they will hold their own elections in October. The announcement drew a sharp rebuke from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who said any election that did not occur with oversight from Kiev could violate last February’s Minsk peace accord.

Pictured: Alexander Zakharchenko, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine.

#MALAYSIA: PM Najib Rejects Accusations He Pocketed US$700 Million As "Political Sabotage"

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Najib Razak says a report that over US$700 million was wired to his personal account from banks, government agencies and companies linked to the debt-laden state development fund is "political sabotage." The fund, which was founded by Najib and is under investigation, denies giving him any money.

#GREECE: #Athens Mayor Says "No" Vote Risks "Isolation" Within Europe; Criticizes EU Handling of Greece

[world politics news]

Ahead of Sunday's referendum on an EU bailout, Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis warned that a vote against the creditors’ proposals would isolate Greece. Kaminis is heading up the national "Yes" vote to accept the EU bailout and austerity it will bring. He also critiqued the EU's handling of the crisis.

#UK: European Commission VP "Terribly Annoyed" By How Often EU Critic Farage Is Correct

[world politics news]

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans says he is "terribly annoyed" how many times UK Independence Party Leader Nigel Farage correctly diagnoses problems with the European Union, especially on the issue of migration. "I get terribly annoyed when he's right. And on some issues he is right too often."

#RUSSIA: Legislators Reject "Walking While Drunk" Fines

[world politics news]

The Russian Lower House has rejected a suggestion to introduce fines for pedestrians who refuse to undergo medical sobriety tests, but will continue to work on the bill that punishes those who refuse to allow themselves to be checked for illegal drug use.

#GREECE: Fin. Min. Varoufakis Vows To Resign If Greeks Vote "Yes" To EU Austerity

[world politics news]

Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said Greece won’t "extend and pretend" that it can pay its debts, vowing to resign as finance minister if voters don’t support him in Sunday’s referendum. He said he would "prefer to cut my arm off" rather than sign an agreement without debt being restructured.

#FINLAND: Russia Withdraws From European Meeting After Duma Member Denied Entry

[world politics news]

Finnish authorities are refusing to allow Sergei Naryshkin, chair of the lower house of Russia's parliament entry to attend a Helsinki meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, citing a travel ban. Russia has pulled all delegates from the meeting. The ban is due to Russian intervention in Ukraine.

#BURUNDI: Tens Of Thousands Flee Election-Related Violence

[world politics news]

Tens of thousands refugees fled Burundi ahead of parliamentary elections this past week. Pres. Nkurunziza, who has been in office since 2005, is now seeking a third term in a July 15 election but had been warned that it would be widely viewed as unconstitutional. Nearly 144,000 have fled to neighboring countries since political turmoil began in April.

(Photo: UN Refugee Agency)

#RUSSIA: Duma Rejects New Parliament Building Design; "Too Many Windows"

[world politics news]

The lower house of the Russian parliament has rejected a design for a new parliament building because its many windows would be "too cold" in the long, harsh Russian winters. The new location outside of the city's center was chosen to ease traffic congestion. A new contest will be held in the fall for a different design.