#HONGKONG: Gov't Seeks Mask Ban To Deter Anti-China Protesters

[world politics news]

The Hong Kong government is expected to push through legislation under a colonial-era emergency law Friday, banning people from wearing masks at protests or public gatherings.

But the law, meant to deter anti-government protesters, would be difficult to enforce in the streets and could be challenged in the courts as a rights violation, police officials and legal experts say.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRELAND: Opposition Sinn Féin Party Proposes New Wealth Tax, €3.4 Billion In New Spending

[world politics news]

The opposition Sinn Féin Party has proposed a battery of new taxes including a wealth tax and a high income tax in its alternative budget which proposes to spend €3.4 billion more than the € 2.8 billion of the government.

In a clear signal the party is positioning itself firmly to the left, the budget  document argues for new taxes on high earners and high net worth individuals in a package that would increase revenue by €2 billion. The party’s finance spokesman, Pearse Doherty, said its budget would be balanced and "Brexit-ready."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TURKEY: Erdogan Reacts Coldly To Proposal To Lower Vote Threshold To Elect Presidents

[world politics news]

Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is reacting coldly to the idea of lowering the percentage of votes required to elect a president from 50% to 40%, saying voters want to see "serious politicians" elected to the office. The next presidential election is in 2023.

The issue was raised by former minister Faruk Çelik who suggested that the presidential elections should allow just 40% of support in the first round to be elected.

In April 2017, the Turkish people voted to switch Turkey from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system of governance.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Consumption Tax Rate Rises From 8% To 10% Today

[world politics news]

The Japanese national consumption tax rate rose from 8% to 10% on Tuesday as a way to secure a source of funding for ballooning social security costs and promote fiscal reform, marking the third increase since the levy was introduced in 1989 and the first hike since April 2014.

The increase to 10% was initially scheduled for October 2015, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe postponed the hike twice due to concerns about the impact on the Japanese economy.

The government has prepared a series of measures to soften the blow to consumers, including the introduction of a reduced tax rate of 8% for certain goods, and of a point program for cashless payments.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRIA: Kurz's People's Party Wins Sunday's National Election

[world politics news]

Austria's conservative People's Party, led by former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, has won a clear victory in Sunday's general election.

With nearly all the votes counted, Mr Kurz's party has more than 38% of the vote, up from 31% in the last election.

His former coalition partners, the anti-migration Freedom Party, have received 17.3%, a sharp decline, after a scandal. Still, either they or the Greens could form a coalition with Kurz' party. Long negotiations to form a government now begin.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SPAIN: Angry Words, Walk-Out, In Catalan Parliament Over Treatment Of Jailed Independence Activists

[world politics news]

A political debate inside the Catalan parliament descended into a tremendous row over the recent arrests of radical separatists who are facing terrorism charges that include possession of bomb-making materials.

At the most heated session in recent years, politicians supporting the region's independence from Spain led by regional premier Quim Torra began chanting “freedom,” alluding to the seven members of the Committees to Defend the Republic, a grassroots group that has carried out actions such as roadblocks to defend Catalan independence.

After separatism-supporting lawmakers expressed support for the suspects, Carlos Carrizosa, a representative of the non-separatist Ciudadanos (Citizens) Party was expelled from the chamber after repeatedly telling pro-independence parliamentarians that “we feel threatened by those who back terrorism.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#EU: Euro Parliament Rejects Commission Candidates From Romania, Hungary

[world politics news]

The European parliament has rejected EU commissioner candidates from Hungary and Romania over alleged conflicts of interest, in a blow to the incoming president, Ursula von der Leyen.

The unprecedented move by MEPs ratchets up pressure on Von der Leyen, who must get her team of 26 EU commissioners approved next month if her new commission is to be ready for its launch day on November 1st.

The rejections will be seen by many in Hungary and Romania as politically motivated. Hungary in particular has been highly critical of the EU, which has voted in the past to restrict the country's voting rights over its legal reforms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Parliament Votes To Move E. German Secret Police Records Into National Archives

[world politics news]

Germany's parliament has voted to move the vast files of the former East German secret police, the Stasi, into the nation's Federal Archives, despite the concerns of and objections from some historians and dissidents of the former East Germany.

The Bundestag vote came just a week before German Unity Day, which commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of the east and west in 1990.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#IRELAND: Varadkar Announces End Of Oil, Natural Gas Exploration

[world politics news]

Ireland will pursue a policy of ending fossil fuel exploration on foot of scientific advice about its climate impact, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has announced – though the search and extraction of gas will be permitted for some time as the country transitions to a carbon-free economy.

“In the last week, on foot of a request from me, our independent Climate Change Advisory Council recommended that exploration for oil should end, as it is incompatible with a low-carbon future,” he told the UN Climate Summit.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: Green Party Website Used Photoshopped Photo Of Leader Holding Reusable Cup, Metal Straw

[world politics news]

In an era of “fake news” controversies, photoshopping a reuseable metal straw and a reuseable cup into the hand of Green Party Leader Elizabeth May would not be the greatest idea.

But that’s what the Green Party did and then prominently displayed it on the party website.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#INDONESIA: Vote On Bill Banning Pre-Marital & Gay Sex Delayed After Mass Protests

[world politics news]

Thousands of students protested at rallies across Indonesia on Monday against a new criminal code that would outlaw sex outside marriage and gay sex, as lawmakers met the president to discuss how to proceed with a bill that has divided Indonesians.

President Joko Widodo on Friday ordered a delay in a planned vote on the controversial bill – originally slated for Tuesday – and said 14 articles needed further review before it was deliberated by a new parliament, whose term begins next month.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRIA: Hofer Elected Head Of Freedom Party

[world politics news]

Austria's anti-immigrant populist party has formally elected Norbert Hofer to lead it into national elections later this month.

Hofer took over the Freedom Party's leadership in May after Heinz-Christian Strache resigned, both as party head and Austrian vice-chancellor, in the wake of a corruption scandal.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#UK: Labour Party Sinks To Third Place In Latest Polling; Reflects Brexit Turmoil

[world politics news]

The UK's Labour Party has been pushed into third place in the polls after Jeremy Corbyn suggested he won’t pick a side in another EU referendum, the latest in a series of policy changes that reflects internal party turmoil over how to deal with the UK's exit from the European Union.

A YouGov poll showed the Liberal Democratic Party at 23% – two points ahead of Labour – following the Lib Dem's change of policy to reverse Brexit without even holding a referendum. Both parties still trail the Tories, who remain at 32%
.
[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#NEWZEALAND: Prime Minister Confuses China And Japan On Arrival In Japan

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has made an awkward faux pas after touching down in Tokyo - muddling Japan with China in her first media standup in the country.

Ardern said it was an "incredibly exciting time for New Zealand in its relationship with China - excuse me sorry, with Japan".

She reportedly blamed jetlag for her mistake, which comes at a sensitive time in relations between New Zealand and Japan, as New Zealand pursues greater trade with China.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: After Days-Long Count, Election Results "Almost" In; Show Opposition Beat Netanyahu

[world politics news]

Israel's Central Election Committee says it has "almost" completed final results from last weekend's election. Results so far confirmed that opposition leader Benny Gantz’s Blue and White Party had won 33 seats in the Knesset while Prime Minister  Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud had won 31 seats.

The committee explained that the results cannot be considered official, since official results will only be presented to President Reuven Rivlin and published on September 25.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: 2001 Photo Of Justin #Trudeau In #BrownFace Rocks The Nation's Politics

[world politics news]

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, wore brownface makeup to a party at the private school where he was teaching in the spring of 2001. TIME magazine has obtained a photograph of the incident.
The picture was taken at an “Arabian Nights”-themed school party. It shows Trudeau, then the 29-year-old son of the late former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, wearing a turban and robes with his face, neck and hands completely darkened.

Trudeau, facing re-election next month, apologized and said it was "a dumb thing to do." “It was something that I didn’t think was racist at the time, but now I recognize it was something racist to do and I am completely sorry."

OPPOSITION REACTION: Opposition party leaders pounced on this latest scandal for the prime minister, just weeks before the October election.

Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer said he was, "extremely shocked and disappointed when I learned of Justin Trudeau's actions. It was just as racist in 2001 as it is in 2019." He said Trudeau had demonstrated that he was, "not fit to govern this country." New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh said, "It's troubling. It's really, it's insulting."

People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier had perhaps the most caustic reaction, Tweeting, "I’m not going to accuse Justin Trudeau  of being a racist. But he’s the master of identity politics and the [Liberal Party] just spent months accusing everyone of being white supremacists. He definitely is the biggest hypocrite in the country."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CANADA: #Ontario's Gov't Lost $42 Million Selling Marijuana

[world politics news]

Ontario Cannabis Retail Corp. lost C$42 million in the latest fiscal year, according to newly released public documents.

The government-run provincial Crown corporation tasked with online sales and wholesale distribution of recreational pot reported revenues of $64 million for the year ended March 31, 2019. However, Ontario's consolidated financial statements show the OCRC, which operates as the Ontario Cannabis Store, racked up expenses totaling $106 million during the period.

Canada legalized cannabis for adult use on Oct. 17 last year, and the rollout was mired by supply chain issues and product shortages, which largely have been resolved in recent months.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#ISRAEL: Election Re-Run Ends With Deadlock Again; Opposition Makes Historic Gains

[world politics news]

The election that was supposed to break a national political deadlock has ended in another deadlock, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party coming up short in parliamentary seats to form a majority government, and Benny Gantz's Blue and White Party tying him in seats.

Now, both must seek a coalition with smaller parties to try to form a government. Netanyahu promised  he would build the next government in a speech to his supporters at Expo Tel Aviv, after 3 a.m. early Wednesday morning. Benny Gantz vowed to do the same.

Amid chants of "no to a unity government," (with Gantz's party) the prime minister said all of the Likud’s current coalition partners want to build a coalition.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SOUTHAFRICA: President Apologizes On Behalf Of His Country For Xenophobic Violence

[world politics news]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the heckling he received while paying tribute at the memorial service of late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was aimed not at him, but the entire country, following weeks of violence aimed at foreign residents in South Africa.

Ramaphosa was addressing a clothing worker's union meeting at the Durban International Convention Center, when he said he was the target of collective anger towards South Africa. 

“The people of Zimbabwe, in unison, expressed their unhappiness against South Africans and they saw me as representing all of us in South Africa. The whole stadium booed me. It was only after I said I regret what happened in this country that they then responded positively. I have apologized on your behalf and I hope it sinks into our consciousness,” said Ramaphosa.

He said South Africa's image and standing had been “negatively affected” in the eyes of the international community and that the country would have to work hard to reverse perceptions.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#THAILAND: Tourism Minister Wants Western Tourists Back; Avoiding Due To Political Instability, Lack Of Democracy

[world politics news]

In another example of how politics affects every aspect of a nation's economy and daily life, Thailand's tourism minister says Westerners are steering clear of his country due to its political difficulties and an absence of democracy.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has predicted that 2019 will be a record-breaking year for Thailand’s tourism industry as he presented details of a ฿120 million stimulus package to give a boost to the industry as it heads towards the end of the year. The minister, however, admitted that high spending western tourists have been avoiding the Southeast Asian nation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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