#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.