#SWEDEN: Gov't Of Prime Min. Stefan Löfven Ousted By "No Confidence" Vote Following Election

[world politics news]

Sweden’s center-right parties and the populist Sweden Democrats have united to oust the country’s prime minister, Stefan Löfven, in a mandatory no-confidence vote after elections that left neither main political bloc with a majority. That means that Löfven, whose center-left bloc won 144 seats in parliament on September 9 to the center-right’s 143, will have to step down eventually but will stay in office temporarily until a new government can be formed. That process could take several weeks. It's up to the speaker of parliament Andreas Norlén will ask another party leader to try to form a government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#MALDIVES: Oppo. Candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Declares Victory In Presidential Election

[world politics news]

Opposition presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, a longtime but little-known lawmaker, declared victory at his party’s campaign headquarters in the capital city Male.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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#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.

#THENETHERLANDS: Anti-Muslim MP Geert Wilders' Proposal To Ban Islam In Holland Fails To Gain Support

[world politics news]

A proposal from the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party to ban Islam in Holland failed to gain any support in parliament recently. Geert Wilders, an outspoken campaigner against Islam in Europe, spoke passionately on the proposal, which would have banned all forms of Islamic expressions in the Netherlands, including mosques, Islamic clothing, and public prayer. He said Prime Minister Mark Rutte had "lost his mind" by allowing 400,000 "non-western immigrants into the Netherlands." Others noted that the proposal violated religious freedom. The debate included a vulgar exchange, in which Wilders and a Turkish-born member of Parliament reportedly told each other to "F--- off." Wilders told the MP, "your country is Turkey."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: PM May Demands "Respect" From EU After Brexit Plan Rebuffed

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Theresa May has made a dramatic speech on TV in which she decried the EU's terse rejection of her plan to take the United Kingdom out of the European trade area.

May said the UK "demands respect" from the EU, and said talks had reached an "impasse" that needs "serious engagement" from the EU side. Following a conference in Salzburg, Austria, European Council President Donald Tusk said a "compromise" was possible but the UK proposals had to be "reworked."

May's plans had already come under fire by her own party as being too much of a compromise with the EU.

[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

[world politics news]

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.

#INDIA: Cabinet Passes Ordinance Banning Practice Of Muslim "Instant Divorce" After Law Stalls In Parliament

[world politics news]

The government has passed an ordinance making "instant divorce" among Muslim couples a criminal offence, punishable by a jail term of up to three years and a fine. Instant "triple talaq," the Islamic practice that allows men to divorce their wives immediately by uttering the word “talaq" ("divorce") three times, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last August. A law seeking to ban the practice failed to make it through parliament, even after watering it down significantly, prompting the cabinet to pass the ordinance. The practice has been largely practiced in India, by Sunni Muslims.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#POLAND: Pres. Duda Calls EU "Imaginary Community" And "Irrelevant"

[world politics news]

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has called the European Union, of which Poland is a member, an “imaginary community” of little relevance to Poles. “When our affairs are resolved, we will deal with European affairs,” Duda said in a speech. “For now let them leave us alone and let us fix Poland, because this is the most important thing.” Duda and the ruling Law and Justice Party have been in conflict with the EU over an overhaul of the Polish judicial system which the EU sees as violating the rule of law. Duda's government says the reforms as making judges more accountable.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#MALAYSIA: High Speed Rail Project With Singapore Delayed "Until Economy Improves," Says Economic Affairs Minister

[world politics news]

Malaysia’s Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali says the country has reached an agreement with Singapore to postpone a High-Speed Rail project until 2020 without any compensation or fines. Speaking to reporters Azmin said the Malaysian government would defer the project, "for a period where we are confident that the Malaysian economy would improve by then." The project had ballooned in costs from US$17.7 billion to over $27 billion. Azmin signaled in July that the project had become too costly as the country faced a national debt of US$246 billion.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CROATIA: Pres. Says "Europe Has Failed Miserably" Handling Migration Crisis

[world politics news]

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung, Croatian Pres. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic admits that Europe "has failed miserably" in handling the vast numbers of migrants arriving within its borders in the past decade. She said that while "everyone in the world" has a right to seek asylum, she admits that "Europe can not bear the misery of the world... Europe's responsibility can not be exhausted in receiving and distributing a certain number of people." She said the problems causing the migration crisis are complex, and Europe, "must fight the causes of flight within our means. We have the tools for it. But Europe has failed miserably. We have turned our attention in the wrong direction, not the causes of the flight, but its consequences." (translated by Google Translate)

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CUBA: Pres. Diaz-Canel Says He Favors Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage

[world politics news]

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has publicly spoken out in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in the Communist Caribbean nation. The Cuban leader, who took over from Raúl Castro in April, said he was in favor of recognizing "marriage between people without any restrictions." In an interview with TV Telesur, he said doing so was, "part of eliminating any type of discrimination in society." It comes as Cuba is in the process of updating its constitution, which had defined marriage as between "a man and a woman."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#HUNGARY: PM Orban Considers Legal Action After EU Imposes Sanctions Over "Undemocratic" Practices

[world politics news]

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says his government is considering launching a legal challenge against the European Union, after the EU's legislative body imposed sanctions against it, citing "undemocratic" practices by Orban's government. In turn, Orban claims the vote - in which a two-thirds majority of MEPs voted to start so-called Article 7 disciplinary proceedings against Hungary - is “invalid” because it did not take into account abstentions. Hungary has clashed with the EU repeatedly, because it has resisted many attempts by the EU to take in its share of migrants being allowed into Europe. Orban said the European Parliament has a "clear pro-migration majority."


[FULL STORY HERE]

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#INDONESIA: Pres. Widodo And 2019 VP Runningmate Undergo Mandatory Med Exams

[world politics news]

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his running mate, Ma'ruf Amin, concluded mandatory medical checkups as part of a verification process in preparation for next year's presidential election. Jokowi, 57, and Ma'ruf, 75, were subjected to medical examinations at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta for around 12 hours.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#TAIWAN: Former Pres. Chen Calls For Independence Referendum On Remaining Separate From Mainland China

[world politics news]

Taiwan's former president, Chen Shui-bian, has called for a referendum on whether the self-ruled island wants to be a part of Communist China. Chen said that the current president, Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, should push for a referendum to let the world know that, "Taiwanese people do not want to be a part of China." Chen noted that mainland, Communist-led China has stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure on the island, targeting it in various ways, ranging from peeling away its remaining diplomatic allies to demanding private businesses like airlines and international organisations refer to Taiwan as part of China in an effort to make it accept that Taiwan is simply a rogue province of China.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SWEDEN: Dalai Lama Shocks Audience, Saying "Europe Belongs To Europeans," Urges Migrants To Return Home

[world politics news]

Speaking at a conference in Sweden's third-largest city of Malmö, home of a large migrant population, the Dalai Lama shocked his audience by telling them that he believed that "Europe belongs to the Europeans," and that he believed recent migrants from other nations should return to their home countries and help to rebuild them. The Tibetan spiritual leader said Europe was "morally responsible" for helping "a refugee really facing danger against their life." He continued, "Receive them, help them, educate them… but ultimately they should develop their own country." The anti-migrant Sweden Democrats made large gains in the recent parliamentary election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Top Official Says Labour Party Will Vote Against Any #Brexit Deal, Hoping To Prompt New Elections

[world politics news]

Britain’s opposition Labour Party is set to vote against any Brexit deal reached by Prime Minister Theresa May and the lack of a viable exit from the European Union will force May from office before Christmas, a senior Labour Party lawmaker told the Financial Times. The United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union on March 29 and yet little is clear. There is, so far, no full exit agreement and some rebels in May’s Conservative Party have threatened to vote down a deal if she clinches one.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Former Conservative Maxime Bernier Founds New "People's Party of Canada"

[world politics news]

Quebec Member of Parliament Maxime Bernier is launching a new party, The People’s Party of Canada. Bernier says the name fits a party that represents people who are tired of Canadian politics being hijacked by special interest groups, cartels and lobbyists. The maverick MP left the Conservative Party last month after spending much of the year butting heads with party Leader Andrew Scheer and says the new party will be registered with Elections Canada over the next several weeks.

[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

[world politics news]

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.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Warns Of Possible Coup By Opposition, Maoists, And Military Officers; "Tipped Off" By "Foreign Power"

[world politics news]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday revealed what he said was a plot to unseat him hatched by the opposition, Maoist rebels and a group of former soldiers who had mounted failed coups in the past. In a conversation with his lawyer, shown on national television, Duterte said he had asked the military to “declassify” information about the plot which he said was gathered by a third country he did not identify.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SPAIN: Gov't Announces Doubling Aid To UN Agency Helping Palestinians

[world politics news]

The Spanish government will double its humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, following the United States' decision to pull funds from the UN agency that allocates material assistance to five million Palestinians. The announcement came from Spanish Foreign Minister José Borrell at a press conference in Madrid with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Maliki. Borrell said it is a, "symbolic gesture" because, "our contribution, going from one million to two million, is still very far from what the United States brought." Maliki said, "The United States have shown that they wish to be part of the problem, not the solution."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: European Parliament Passes Strict New Copyright Rules That Could Change The Way The Internet Handles Uploaded Content

[world politics news]

The EU parliament has approved new copyright rules that activists have warned could be "catastrophic" for the internet. MEPs voted for the controversial rules, known as article 11 and 13. The most criticized of those is the latter, which stipulates that technology platforms must filter the things people post on them, and check for copyright infringement. Internet freedom advocates warn that could probably force internet companies to introduce stringent new automated checks that content must pass before they are posted to platforms like Twitter and Facebook. That could reject anything that even possibly infringed copyright – leading to potentially banning memes that use screen grabs from films, for instance, according to activists.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: EU's Chief #Brexit Negotiator Hopeful About Deal With UK By November

[world politics news]

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, says a Brexit deal is possible within six to eight weeks. if both sides are "realistic" there could be an agreement on the terms of the UK's exit by early November. His comments come amid unconfirmed reports a one-off summit of EU leaders could be convened in the middle of November to sign off the agreement. Analysts say his conciliatory comments are designed to assist UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who is facing a rebellion in her own party among those wishing to take a hard line with the EU in negotiations.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#SAUDIARABIA: Prosecutor Warns: Those Who Post Satire Of Religion, Morality, Or "Public Order" On Social Media Risk Five Years In Prison

[world politics news]

Those who post satire on social media in Saudi Arabia could risk up to five years in prison, the Arab News reported. In a tweet, the Kingdom's public prosecutor said, "Producing and spreading content through social media that ridicules, makes fun of, provokes and disturbs public order, religious values and public morality will be considered a cyber crime punishable by up to five years in prison".

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Boris Johnson Launches Blistering "Suicide Vest" Brexit Attack On PM May; Some Conservatives Upset By Imagery

[world politics news]

Boris Johnson has launched an attack on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit strategy, claiming she has ‘wrapped a suicide vest’ around Britain. The former foreign secretary accused the Prime Minister of handing ‘the detonator’ to Brussels’ chief negotiator Michel Barnier. His comments – just hours after he announced he would be divorcing his wife of 25 years, Marina Wheeler – have exposed deep divides within the Conservative Party, prompting a backlash from some senior colleagues.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SWEDEN: Populist Sweden Democrats Do Well In Sunday's Election; Could Play Kingmaker Role

[world politics news]

As predicted, the populist Sweden Democrats did well in Sunday's national election, taking 17.6% of the vote to finish third, up almost five points and 14 seats over the last election. It's forecast to take 63 seats in the new parliament, enough to prevent either mainstream left or right blocs forming a new government outright. Prime Minister Löfven’s once-dominant Social Democratic party fell to 28%, its lowest level of support in a century, while the main centre-right Moderates slid to 19.8%. All this sets up the Sweden Democrats to becoming "kingmakers" in the process of setting up a new government.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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