#AUSTRALIA: Trade Minister Says Trans-Pacific Partnership With USA, Others, Could Be Signed Within Days; If Not, It's Dead

[world politics news]

The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal could be signed within days, according to Trade Minister Andrew Robb. But he says if it's not, "the chances are it will fall apart". Under negotiation for a decade, the deal would tie together the Pacific-facing nations of Australia, the United States, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Vietnam, who between them account for 40 per cent of the world's economy.

Pictured: Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb

#NORWAY: Legislation Would Penalize Those Who Rent to Illegal Immigrants; Allow Private Evictions

[world politics news]

Norwegian Progress Party politician Erlend Wiborg plans to introduce harsh penalties for citizens who provides housing to illegal immigrants. The legislation would allow land owners to remove illegal immigrants residing in their property without a court order. Those who do not remove immigrants could risk up to five years in prison.

#BRAZIL: Pres. Rousseff Vetoes 10% Mandatory Tipping Law

[world politics news]

Waiters in Brazil usually expect a 10% tip for good service, but Congress's plan to make the payment  of a tip mandatory - regardless of the quality of the service - has been vetoed by Pres. Dilma Rousseff, who said it was unconstitutional, since it made payment of a fee mandatory.

#ARGENTINA: Pres. Fernandez Dominates Pres. Campaign, Even While Not A Candidate

[world politics news]

Cristina Fernandez isn't on Sunday's presidential primary ballot, yet the influence of Argentina's leader is all around it. The populist president known for fiery rhetoric is barred from seeking a third consecutive term, but she's making clear she will wield her clout through the Oct. 25 election and possibly beyond.

#STLUCIA: Gov't To Offer Citizenship to 'Significant' Investors In The Country

[world politics news]

St. Lucia is set to become the fifth Eastern Caribbean nation to introduce a Citizenship by Investment program, and the country’s Attorney General has suggested a regional body be established to constantly examine these types of initiatives. St. Lucia joins Grenada, Dominica St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda in offering citizenship to the wealthy in return for substantial investment.

#UK: Scottish Ministers Seek Ban On Growing Genetically-Modified Food

[world politics news]

Scottish ministers are planning to formally ban genetically modified crops from being grown in Scotland, widening a policy divide with the Conservative government in London. Ministers in Edinburgh will apply recent EU powers that allow devolved administrations to opt out of more relaxed standards allowing use of GM crops in the EU.

#CANADA: New Democrat Candidate Stirs Controversy By Saying #Alberta's Oilsands Oil "May Have To Stay In The Ground"

[world politics news]

Toronto New Democratic Party candidate Linda McQuaig has drawn criticism for her comment that "a lot" of oilsands oil will have to be left in the ground for Canada to meet its emissions targets. Her own party's leader, Tom Mulcair, has said Alberta's oilsands should be open for development if there is rigorous environmental protection and legislation to force oil companies to pay for pollution they create.

#HUNGARY: Migrants Cut Through New Border Fence; Higher Fence Planned As 110,000 Illegally Enter

[world politics news]

Nearly two dozen illegal migrants have cut through a hastily-constructed wire fence that Hungary is building on its border with Serbia in an attempt to stop the flow of migration into the country. Nearly 110,000 have fled from Africa through Serbia and into Hungary. Most go on to Western European nations.

#INDONESIA: Election Officials Fear "Puppet Candidates" Running To Avoid Delays As National Politicians Banned From Running

[world politics news]

Parties are finding themselves without candidates for December's regional elections are turning to "filler" or "puppet" candidates after a new law banned those serving in national offices from seeking regional seats. If a region fails to find candidates (and it's happened in two regions) elections could be postponed until 2017.

#SLOVAKIA: Small Town Votes 97% Against Hosting Refugees; Defies Gov't Deal With Austria To Share Burden

[world politics news]

The small southwestern Slovak town of Gabčíkovo voted 97% against placing a refugee camp within its borders. The Slovak government recently made an agreement with Austria on placing 500 refugees seeking asylum in Austria on a temporary basis at the Gabčíkovo branch of the Slovak University of Technology.

#SPAIN: #Catalonia Calls Sept. Vote That Could Set Secession For Region In Motion

[world politics news]

Catalan president Artur Mas will set September 27 as the date for the vote in the wealthy northeastern region, and if an alliance of pro-secession parties wins a majority, they will aim to split from Spain within 18 months despite opposition from the central government in Madrid.

#CANADA: Leaders Of Four National Parties Debate Energy, Senate Reform, Quebec Separatism, Terrorism

[world politics news]

Leaders of Canada's four major parties met Thursday to debate Canada's role in fighting terrorism at home and abroad, Quebec separatism, the economy, and the XL pipeline and other energy transportation plans. New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair was taken to task for introducing the volatile issue of Quebec separatism into the campaign, while Prime Minister Stephen Harper defended his handling of Canada's unpopular appointed Senate.

#JAPAN: PM #ShinzoAbe Seeks Improved Working Conditions For Women

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he wants to reform working conditions in Japan to make it easier for women to actively participate in the workforce. Abe told an international conference of business women in Tokyo that long working hours discourage women from getting jobs, and that shorter working hours are needed to help resolve the issue of Japan's declining population.

#GREECE: PM #AlexisTsipras Warns Rebels In His Party Opposing Deal Of Early Elections

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has warned rebels in his Syriza Party that he could be forced to call early elections if he no longer has a parliamentary majority. Many left-wingers in his party are angry that bailout terms negotiated with the EU are more stringent than those rejected by voters in the recent referendum.

#CANADA: PM #StephenHarper Officially Calls Oct. 19 Federal Election; Longest In History

[world politics news]

Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has officially called the next Federal election for October 19, kicking off the longest election campaign in Canada's history. he hopes to be the first PM since 1908 to win a fourth consecutive term. The New Democrats and Liberals have an equal shot of winning, say observers.

#SCOTLAND: MP Accused Of Assaulting Voter At Polling Station Walks Free After "Blunder"

[world politics news]

A Labour MP charged with attacking a woman at a polling station on the day of Scotland's Independence referendum has walked free. Marie Rimmer allegedly kicked a woman outside a Glasgow polling station last September, the trial was stopped when it was realized prosecutors hadn't included the word "Glasgow" in the charges.

#EU: Air Quality Legislation Called "Ambitious" And "Unrealistic" By Conservative EU Parliamentarians

[world politics news]

The EU parliament's environment committee has backed ambitious air quality legislation, requiring binding national targets on six toxic pollutants. But members of the European Conservatives and Reformists group say the targets are unrealistic and counterproductive.

#ITALY: Five Star Party, Founded in 2009 By Comedian, "Ready To Govern" With New, 29-Year-Old Leader

[world politics news]

Italy's anti-establishment Five Star party, founded in 2009 by former comedian Beppe Grillo, is itching to govern. The movement won a shocking 25.5% of the vote in 2013's election, becoming the second-largest party. Party Leader Luigi di Maio, 29, is the youngest deputy president of the lower house of parliament in Italian history.

#PUERTORICO: U.S. Commonwealth Defaults; Gov. Says Island In "Death Spiral"

[world politics news]

Puerto Rico just went into default for the first time in its history. The commonwealth paid a mere $628,000 toward a $58 million debt bill due Monday to creditors of its Public Finance. The default is a historic moment in Puerto Rico's economic "death spiral," a term used by the island's governor, Alejandro Garcia Padilla.

#SWITZERLAND: Politician Suggests Greece Give Up One Of Its 300 Islands To Settle Debts To The Swiss

[world politics news]

National Council member Pierre Rusconi has suggested that Greece sell one of its islands to Switzerland to settle its debts with the landlocked nation. Pierre Rusconi, a member of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party said Switzerland could put one of 300 islands that Greece up for sale as payment for loans, "Switzerland will probably never see again."

#KOSOVO: Parliament Debates Special Courts To Deal With KLA War Crimes During 1999 War With Serbia

[world politics news]

Kosovo's national assembly is debating a constitutional amendment to set up a special court to deal with war crimes committed by the KLA during Kosovo's war for independence from Serbia in the late 1990s. The debate took place in a nearly empty hall, after Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and then Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci left. Most LDP members of the assembly also left the sitting, Thaci strongly supports the amendment.

#TURKEY: Nationalist Party Slams People's Democrats For Seeking Votes From "Dishonorable, Whiskey-Drinking Rich People"

[world politics news]

A dust-up between two Turkish parties is gaining attention because of an insulting tit-for-tat among their leaders. Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli attacked the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), criticizing the "dishonorable, whisky-drinking rich people" who voted for the HDP instead of the MHP. The word "dishonorable" can be interpreted in a vulgar way in Turkish.

Pictured: Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli

#GERMANY: Chancellor #AngelaMerkel Will Seek Fourth Term, Reports Der Spiegel Magazine

[world politics news]

According to Germany's most influential political magazine, Der Spiegel, Angela Merkel has decided to run for a fourth term in power and has already started talks on who will run her campaign. The magazine says Merkel has already met with Christian Democratic Union Party secretary to discuss who will coordinate her push for re-election in 2017.

#YEMEN: Exiled PM Bahah Returns to War-Weary Capitol of Aden To Rebuild Gov't"

[world politics news]

Yemen's Prime Minister Khaled Bahah flew into the devastated port of Aden from Saudi exile Saturday, two weeks after loyalist forces ousted Shiite rebels from the city, an airport source said. He was followed by several more officials, whose task will be to restore normality and public services to a city battered by four months of ferocious combat.

#GERMANY: Justice Minister Seeks To Eliminate "Nazi Language" Left In German Laws

[world politics news]

Some laws in Germany still bear traces of the Nazi past, 70 years after the fall of Nazi Germany. The criminal code descriptions of murder and manslaughter were written in 1941 and parts of the original text still remain today, judging crimes based on the character of those committing them. Justice Minister Heiko Maas wants to change this.

#UK: PM #DavidCameron Pledges Action Against Migrants "Swarming" France/UK Channel Tunnel

[world politics news]

The illegal migrant crisis in the UK has hit a new milestone as thousands of migrants from North Africa attempted to enter the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France this week. PM David Cameron said this "Swarm" migrants must be stopped from entering illegally, and called a high-level cabinet meeting to deal with the crisis.

#LIBYA: Islamist-Backed Rival Parliament Rejects Peace Deal, But Will Keep Talking

[world politics news]

The Islamist militia-backed rival parliament in Tripoli has rejected a UN proposal to resolve Libya's political crisis but the General National Congress said it wanted to press on with talks with the internationally-recognized parliament in Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya. UN envoy Bernardino Leon had appealed to both sides to endorse his proposals for a merged administration during talks in Morocco.


Pictured: Libyan protesters set a portrait of United Nations envoy Bernardino Leon on fire during a demonstration outside the General National Congress in Tripoli. 

#UK: Lib. Dem. Ldr. Tim Farron Apologizes for "Hacked" Tweet Suggesting Homosexuality Can Be Cured Like "Fish And Frogs"

[world politics news]

Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party leader Tim Farron has apologized for a tweet coming from his Twitter account saying gay people can be cured and comparing them to fish and frogs. The tweet responded to another citing a study saying some health workers believe homosexuality is curable. Farron says his account was hacked.

#AFGHANISTAN: Parliament Rejects First Woman Nominated As Supreme Court Justice

[world politics news]

The first female to be nominated for Afghanistan's Supreme Court by Pres. Ashraf Ghani, Anisa Rasouli, has been rejected by the Parliament, the latest hurdle for the government. Ghani has struggled to move his agenda forward after nine months in office, and has been unable to complete the cabinet.

#UK: Lord Sewel Resigns From House Of Lords After Paper Releases Video Of Cocaine-Snorting With Prostitutes

[world politics news]

A member of the House of Lords has resigned after a paper released video allegedly showing the Labour peer, Lord Sewel, snorting cocaine with prostitutes and apparently calling Asian women "whores." He had been the House of Lords' deputy speaker and chaired the Lords privileges and conduct committee.

#INDIA: Parliament Committee Rejects "Radical" Overhaul Of Environmental Laws; Says Would "Dilute" Green Laws

[world politics news]

The government's efforts to 'streamline' Green laws has run into trouble with Parliament's standing committee on science and technology and environment seeing red. The Congress Party committee Chairman, Dr Ashwani Kumar, said the committee believed the changes would be a "complete dilution" of the nation's environmental laws.

#UK: Labour Pty In Turmoil; Coup Threatened If Poll-Leading Leftist Corbyn Elected Leader In Sept.

[world politics news]

Far-left leaning MP Jeremy Corbyn is leading the Labour Party's leadership contest, but party leaders say he will be ousted in a coup of MPs if he wins, and will not be allowed to lead the party into the 2020 elections. Extreme Left-leaning unions are "infiltrating" the party, some assert.

#DENMARK: New Populist Gov't To Start "Border Controls" To Reduce Smuggling, Immigration

[world politics news]

While stopping short of re-instituting physical borders, which would violate EU rules on the free movement of peoples within the Union, the Danish government, spurred by the Danish People's Party, will begin increased controls at the border after talks with the EU. The controls are aimed at reducing smuggling and illegal immigration.

#EU: European Council Pres. Tusk Warns Of "Pre-Revolutionary" Europe, Left/Right Anti-EU Coalition

[world politics news]

European Council Pres. Donald Tusk says he fears "political contagion" from the Greek crisis far more than its financial fallout, arguing that common cause between far-right and far-left groups has been a precursor to a pre-revolutionary atmosphere that Europe has not seen since 1968.

Pictured: EC Pres. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland.

#JAPAN: PM To Admit "Remorse" For WWII In Highly Charged Anniversary Statement

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will incorporate the word "remorse" over World War II in a statement he will issue in August to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the war's end. The "future oriented" statement will also praise the country's policy of "proactive contributions to peace." The highly anticipated, much debated statement is being submitted to a committee for review.

#RUSSIA: Legislation Would Allow Seizure Of Foreign Assets Within Russia "Without Warning"

[world politics news]

The Russian government has approved a draft bill that would allow it to seize foreign state assets, without warning. The move is seen as a tit-for-tat gesture, following Western court cases involving Russian firms.

#UKRAINE: Unstable Tax Policies, High Taxes, Burden Businesses, Says Dep. Fin. Min. Makeyva

[world politics news]

Nearly 88% of Ukrainian companies say the instability of tax legislation is the most serious problem for business development, and 75% cite a high tax burden. Deputy Minister of Finance Olena Makeyeva says various tax reform measures are being debated by the government, including a moratorium on tax code changes.

#BURUNDI: Pres. Nkurunziza Wins Third Term After Oppo. Parties Boycott Election

[world politics news]

Pres. Pierre Nkurunziza has won a third term, winning 69% of the vote. Opposition parties boycotted the elections, leaving former general Agathon Rwasa, who took 19% of the vote, as Nkurunziza’s only opponent. Rwasa's called for the formation of a national unity government with several opposition parties to prevent a possible coup attempt.

#GERMANY: Anti-Refugee Rage Erupts At Town Hall Meeting; Pro-Refugee Voices Shouted Down

[world politics news]

Freital, the town that became famous last week for irate anti-refugee protesters outside a new home for asylum seekers, saw a fresh confrontation as local people gathered for a town hall meeting. Markus Ulbig, interior minister of Saxony, said that he was disappointed by the people who shouted down pro-refugee voices at the meeting.

#SPAIN: Marriage Age Raised from 14 To 16, Bringing It In Line With EU Standards

[world politics news]

Spain has raised the minimum age for marriage from 14 to 16, having had the lowest marrying age in Europe. Before the age was raised, boys and girls could marry at the age of 14 with the permission of a judge. It is now level with most European countries. The change comes only months after the government raised the age of consent from 13 to 16.

#CANADA: #JustinTrudeau Donates Child Welfare Benefit To Charity

[world politics news]

Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau says the Conservative government’s newly enhanced universal child care benefit shouldn't go to wealthy families that don’t need help raising their kids. And to underscore that point, he's going to give his own family’s $3,400 windfall to charity.

#ISRAEL: Knesset Increases Penalties For Rock-Throwing Up To 20 Years

[world politics news]

The Knesset has passed a bill Monday that would send rock throwers to prison for up to 10 years, without having to prove harmful intent in their actions, or a maximum of 20 years if it can be proven the throwers intended to inflict harm.

#FINLAND: New Law Allows Concert-Goers To Get Refunds If The Show "Sucked"

[world politics news]

Concert-goers in Finland will now be able to get at least half of their money back from a concert that is widely agreed to be substandard.The law was sparked by a complaint to the nation's Consumer Disputes Board (CDB) who was so displeased with a performance of Chuck Berry’s that he filed to get his money back.

#NEWZEALAND: Parliament Rushes Through Fix For Speed Limit Law Blunder

[world politics news]

Parliament has rammed through law changes in just hours to validate tens of thousands of potentially illegal speeding tickets. The tickets were issued in up to 25 local governments that may have failed to renew their speed limits from 2004, meaning all tickets issued on roads other than the open road for the last 11 years may have been invalid.

#GREECE: PM #Tsipras Rallies His Reluctant Party Ahead Of #EU Vote On #Bailout Deal

[world politics news]

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is trying to rally his Syriza Party late Tuesday before a Wednesday vote in parliament on the second package of measures demanded by international creditors to open talks on a new bailout deal.

#GERMANY: Ousted Alliance For Germany Leader Founds "Alliance For Progress And Renewal"; Less Focus On Immigration

[world politics news]

Bernd Lucke, the founder of the euroskeptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party who was ousted in a recent leadership vote, set up a new party, The Alliance for Progress and Renewal, which is, like the AfD, critical of the European Union, but less focused on immigration than AfD.

#IRELAND: Bill Passes Upper House Allowing Debt Collection For Non-Payment Of Water Bills

[world politics news]

Legislation to allow for the court-ordered attachment of earnings or social welfare payments of "won't pay" debtors now goes to the President for signing after the Seanad accepted it yesterday evening by 20 votes to 13. Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has described the legislation as "balanced,", but Sinn Féin's Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said it was a "wolf in sheep's clothing."

#GERMANY: Chancellor #AngelaMerkel Opposes Gay Marriage, But Supports Civil Unions

[world politics news]

While making it clear that she opposes discrimination against homosexuals, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a YouTube interview, said she opposes Gay Marriage, reserving marriage for "a man and a woman." She does support civil partnerships for people of the same sex.

#BURKINAFASO: Ex-President Charged With Treason For Troop Crackdown On Demonstrators

[world politics news]

Former prime minister Luc Adolphe Tiao, who signed an order authorizing the army to crush an October uprising, has been charged with assault and battery, murder and complicity to murder demonstrators. The demonstrations were sparked by his desire to amend the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.