#GREECE: New Gov't Wants To Replace Previous Leftist Gov't Appointment To Commission

[world politics news]

The newly elected New Democracy Party government is due to pass a law providing for the dismissal of members and staff of the competition commission if they have recently served in government offices.

This  means that the current competition boss, Vassiliki Thanou, will have to be replaced.

Thanou, a former supreme court chief justice, was nominated by the previous leftist government and before that, she was a non-paid adviser of former premier Alexis Tsipras.

The opposition Syriza Party is accusing the government of interfering in the operation of the commission, which regulates business.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHKOREA: National Assembly Urges Japan To Withdraw Export Restrictions As Trade Dispute Widens

[world politics news]

South Korea's National Assembly has sent Japan a parliamentary resolution calling on Tokyo to withdraw its export curbs on the neighboring country, as a trade dispute between the two nations escalates.

The resolution was adopted unanimously Friday, hours after Japan's Cabinet approved a bill which would remove South Korea from a list of trusted trade partners. The move followed its July 4 restriction of exports to South Korea of high-tech materials vital in making chips and displays.

Pictured: South Korea House Speaker Moon hee-sang.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THENETHERLANDS:Ousted Party Founder Vows To Sue Party Over Financial Accusations

[world politics news]

Forum For Democracy Party founder Henk Otten has accused his former party of making ‘very substantial’ undocumented payments to leading members, in the latest stage of an increasingly bitter fight played out on Twitter. The senator and former party treasurer was thrown out of the party last week for allegedly making unauthorised payments to himself, a former colleague and his lover.

Otten has vowed to sue the party leadership for libel and claims to be the victim of ‘character assassination.’

His war against his former party began after he gave an interview critical of its new leader, accusing him of moving the party too far to the right.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PERU: In Attempt At Fresh Start, President Calls For 2021 Elections To Be Moved Up To 2020

[world politics news]

Pres. Martin Vizcarra made a surprise, and drastic, announcement at the end of his address to Congress on July 28. Given the continuous tensions over the past year between the Executive and the majority opposition in Congress, and the rampant corruption within the Congress and its protection of a corrupt judiciary, Vizcarra called for 2021 elections to be moved up to next year, 2020. This would have the effect of ending his term a year early.

Vizcarra became president when corruption-tainted Pres. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned last year.


[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Wales Special Election Loss For Conservatives Narrows Majority To One Seat

[world politics news]

The Liberal Democratic party has won a special election in Wales, giving Boris Johnson his first loss just days into his term as prime minister.

Welch Liberal Democratic party leader Jane Dodds defeated Conservative Chris Davies by just over 5%, or 1,425 votes.

Davies was ousted last month after nearly 20% of his constituents signed a petition in uproar at his conviction for faking expenses claims.

His loss means that the Conservatives have a majority of just one seat in the House of Commons. The pro-EU Liberal Democrat has vowed to oppose Johnson's "no deal" Brexit plans.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TRINIDADANDTOBAGO: Parliament To Take Up Marijuana Decriminalization In Sept. Session

[world politics news]

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said legislation to decriminalize marijuana is scheduled to be in Parliament by September. Speaking at the post-Cabinet media conference last week at the Diplomatic Center, Port of Spain he said the draft legislation has nearly been completed and, following Cabinet approval, will be laid in Parliament during the sittings in September.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Sydney Officials Deny Additional Park Safety Lighting Over "Carbon Footprint" Concerns

[world politics news]

Sydney's city council has refused to install more lighting in a city park to make women feel safer because it would add to their “carbon footprint."

The proposal for more lighting was put forward after several women said they were afraid to exercise in Prince Alfred Park at night or early in the morning because it isn’t adequately lit.

The city council declared a "climate emergency" last month.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#BRAZIL: Pres. Bolsonaro Threatens Journalist With Jail After Online Paper Publishes Leaks

[world politics news]

Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, has threatened a U.S. journalist with jail for publishing damaging leaks about the country’s historic Car Wash anti-corruption investigation.

Bolsonaro made the threat against Intercept journalist Glenn Greenwald even as he acknowledged that a new measure by his government to facilitate the expulsion of foreigners from Brazil could not apply to the U.S. citizen because he has a Brazilian husband and children.

His threats have been condemned by Brazil's leading journalist organization as potentially stifling freedom of the press in the country

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#MALAYSIA: State Legislature Requires Members To Reveal Assets

[world politics news]

The Perak state legislative assembly has approved a motion which compels all assemblymen and their immediate family to declare their respective assets.

The state assembly is the first to follow a similar move by Malaysia's national parliament, where all members, as well as their families, are required to declare their assets.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: 1,400 Anti-Gov't Protesters Detained In Moscow

[world politics news]

Nearly 1,400 people were detained in a violent police crackdown on an opposition protest in Moscow, a Russian monitoring group said on Sunday, adding that was the largest number of detentions at a rally in the Russian capital this decade.

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested and sentenced on Wednesday to 30 days in jail for calling for Saturday’s protest against election authorities who barred some opposition candidates from running in the September 8 vote for Moscow city council.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SERBIA: Ruling Party Says Poll Identifying Supporters As "Low Education" Voters Unfairly Labels Citizens As "Third-Grade Losers"

[world politics news]

A large number of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s (SNS) voters are pensioners, poor and those with low education or with high school degrees, according to the poll conducted by Birodi. The results of the research have provoked harsh reactions by SNS officials, including its leader and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The poll has also showed that those who vote for SNS regularly watch the television networks Pink and Happy, which are widely regarded as ruling party’s propaganda tools.

In his op-ed for Politika daily, Vucic said the poll is part of a campaign, “in which is Serbia is being insulted, degraded and its citizens labeled as third-grade losers." The head of SNS parliamentary group Aleksandar Martinovic (photo) has called on the prosecutor’s office to intervene, claiming that Birodi poll was “dangerous phenomena”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THAILAND: Future Forward Party Leader Says Court Doesn't Have Authority To Dissolve Party

[world politics news]

Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said the Constitutional Court does not have the authority under Section 49 of the charter to dissolve his party, which has been accused of trying to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

Last Friday, charter court judges voted 5-4 to accept a petition filed by lawyer Natthaporn Toprayoon, who accused hanathorn and his party executives of trying to bring an end to the monarchy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#PERU: Former Pres. Toledo Arrested In California On Corruption Charges; To Be Extradited

[world politics news]

Former Peruvian Pres. Alejandro Toledo has been arrested in the U.S. on corruption charges. The former leader is wanted in home country for allegedly taking US$20 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company. Toledo, who has lived in California in recent years, was arrested by US Marshals following extradition request from Peru.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: PM Abe's Party Wins Election, But Opposition Makes Gains In Upper House

[world politics news]

Opposition parties saw mixed results in the upper house election on Sunday, with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan making big gains while others struggled to attract support in a crowded field.

The CDPJ, which ran on promises to postpone a planned consumption tax hike and raise the minimum wage to 1,300 yen ($12), won 17 of the 124 contested seats, gaining eight seats compared with its pre-election level to solidify its status as the leading opposition force in parliament.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UKRAINE: Pres. Zelenskiy's Party Wins Outright Majority In Parliamentary Election

[world politics news]

Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s Servant of the People party appears to have secured a majority in Ukraine's parliamentary elections, solidifying his mandate for change.  For the first time in modern history, a president will be able to form the government of his own without relying on opposition parties.

 With 91 percent of the ballots counted early on July 23, the comedian-turned-president's party was in the lead in around 129 out of 199 constituencies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: Mob Attacks Demonstrators In Train Station, Injures 45

[world politics news]

At least 45 people were injured in unprecedented late-night violence at a Hong Kong railway station on Sunday, as a rampaging mob of men in white T-shirts attacked protesters who oppose a controversial extradition law to mainland China.

No police officer was in sight as dozens of men, who witnesses suggested were triad gangsters, stormed into Yuen Long train station at around midnight by forcing open closed entrances. They hurled objects at protesters and travelers alike, and assaulted members of the public, including journalists.

Some people protected themselves with umbrellas, while others tried to fight back by hurling helmets at them. By the time riot police arrived, local residents were furious and accused them of deliberately letting the assailants run wild.

Hong Kong has seen millions pour into the streets in often violent demonstrations against the extradition law, which would allow Hong Kong residents to be tried in mainland China, which some say could lead to political repression.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Boris Johnson Is New Conservative Leader And Prime Minister, Inherits Brexit Mess

[world politics news]

Boris Johnson today declared himself "The Dude" after Conservative voters elected him as their party's leader and the next Prime Minister after defeating Foreign  Minister Jeremy Hunt in a landslide.

The new Tory leader will have just 100 days to deliver on his do-or-die promise to take Britain out of the EU on October 31 - after winning twice as many votes as his rival.

[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

[world politics news]

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.

#IRELAND: High Court's Citizenship Ruling Called "Absurd"; May Invalidate Many Applications

[world politics news]

Ireland's high court has ruled that nobody can be granted Irish citizenship if they have spent a single day outside the country in the past year.

The unexpected judgment, handed down by Mr Justice Max Barrett, could affect thousands of people applying for Irish citizenship on the basis of residence in the country.

Experts called the ruling “absurd”, pointing out that the law on citizenship has never been interpreted so strictly before.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: In Debate, PM Abe Says Sales Tax Hike Will Go Ahead In October

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during a debate with opposition leaders that he will go ahead with the planned sales tax hike in October but vehemently denied there will be further increases while he remains in power.

Although rumors that Abe might postpone the tax hike have died down, with an Upper House election in less than three weeks, questions have been raised over whether there might be further tax hikes.

Japanese voters go to the polls tomorrow to elect the House Of Councillors, the upper house of the Diet, the nation's parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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