#FRANCE: Pres. Macron Comes Under Fire For Comments "Mocking France" During Denmark Visit

[world politics news]

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has unsuccessfully tried to reform the French economic system, is being criticized for taking out his frustrations while visiting Denmark. "These Lutheran (protestant) people (Danish) who have experienced transformations in recent years are not exactly the Gauls, who are resistant to change," said Macron, using a term for the ancient term for France.

Opposition politicians pounced on him for showing "contempt" towards France. "The 'Gauls' will be happy to respond to his arrogance and contempt", said Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally Party. Far-left populist Alexis Corbière, who accused him of having “not only shown contempt towards his own people: but also of displaying "an astounding level of stupidity." Last year on a trip to Romania, Macron noted that the French "hated reforms."

[FULL STORY HERE and HERE]

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

#NORWAY: Six Left-Wing Extremists Arrested For Plotting To Disrupt Annual Multi-Party Political Festival

[world politics news]

Six left-wing extremists have been arrested at the Arendalsuka ("Arendal Week") political festival accused of plotting attacks on two populist parties, Stop Islamization of Norway (SIAN) and Alliance. Among the plotters arrested was the leader of a Communist group which had encouraged activists to disrupt the event The annual festival, held in the city of the southeastern city of Arendal, "is an annual national forum where delegates from politics, NGOs, industry and the public meet to debate and develop politics for the present and the future," says the event's website.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Tasmania Labor Party Wants To Raise Legal Age To Purchase Tobacco Products To 25

[world politics news]

The Tasmanian state's Labor Party will consider a motion to ban the sale of cigarettes to thoe under 25 at its conference next month. Labor members living in the Kingborough municipality will seek support for its motion to raise the age that tobacco products may be sold to 25 and "to regulate the content and engineering of tobacco products – including filters and additives." Issues as diverse as puppy farming, housing, recycling, seat belts on buses, and a motion to allow members to elect the parliamentary leader are among the issues to be debated during the meeting, which will be held on Sept. 8 and 9.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#RUSSIA: PM Medvedev Warns Of "Economic War" Between US & Russia If Sanctions Legislation Is Passed

[world politics news]

Russia has warned the United States it will regard any US move to curb the activities of its banks as a declaration of economic war which it would retaliate against, stepping up a war of words with Washington over spiraling sanctions. The warning, from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, reflects Russian fears over the impact of new restrictions on its economy and assets, including the ruble. Moscow's strategy of trying to improve battered US-Russia ties by attempting to build bridges with Pres. Trump is backfiring after US lawmakers launched a new sanctions drive earlier this month because they fear Trump is too soft on Russia.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#GERMANY: Record Trade Surpluses Spark Criticism From Trump, Domestic Unions

[world politics news]

Germany is on track to record the world's largest trade surplus for a third consecutive year. The country's $299 billion surplus is poised to attract criticism, however, both at home and internationally. Pres. Trump singling out the country as one of the main culprits for America's $460 billion trade deficit, and has threatened to slap tariffs on foreign automobiles in the US, Germany's most important export item. Germans counter by saying that German firms are estimated to employ a million people in China and more than 850,000 in the US. Domestically, trade unions have called for using the surplus for a hike in wages.
[FULL STORY HERE]

#GHANA: With New Calculation Method, Gov't Statistics Office Prepares To Release Data Showing 40% Higher Growth Estimates

[world politics news]

Government officials have told local media that the economy will grow 40% more than previously estimated when it releases its economic in September. Ghana’s $47 billion economy ranks eleventh in Africa after Tanzania, according to IMF estimates for 2017. A 30% expansion will move it up one spot. The statistics office plans to also release second quarter Gross Domestic Product growth in September. The economy expanded 6.8% in the first three months, it said in June. The economy of the cocoa and gold producer expanded by 60 percent in 2010 when the country revised (rebased) the way it viewed its national GDP, leaping into middle-income status.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#HONGKONG: City's Leader "Speechless" After Separatist Party Leader Sends Letter To US Urging City-State To Be Expelled From World Trade Org

[world politics news]

Hong Kong National Party leader Andy Chan Ho-tin last Saturday published an open letter calling for both the city of Hong Kong and mainland China's membership in the World Trade Organization to be revoked, citing a "rapid deterioration of freedoms" in the city and a loss of autonomy under Chinese rule. The letter drew a strong rebuke from Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the elected leader of Hong Kong, saying she could "not find the adjectives" to describe how inappropriate it had been. Last month, police recommended that the Security Bureau ban the The Hong Kong National Party under the Societies Ordinance as a threat to national security.



[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: New Alliance Of Groups Seeks To Force PM May Into "Full Brexit" Break With European Union

[world politics news]

A newly formed alliance of campaign groups and think tanks will attempt to force Prime Minister Theresa May into changing course and delivering a full break with the European Union. The Brexit Advance Coalition will unite nine organisations including several with close links to the Conservative Party. Get Britain Out, the Bow Group and the Campaign for Conservative Democracy are among those backing a joint declaration of principles. Supporters are planning to raise the call for shift in government policy towards a more decisive break with the EU than was promised by the Prime Minister's Brexit plan agreed to by the cabinet last month at her Chequers country retreat.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Controversial MP Maxime Bernier Leaves "Morally Corrupt" Conservative Party To Form A New Party Of His Own

[world politics news]

Controversial Quebec MP Maxime Bernier has made a scorched-earth exit from the Conservatives, while announcing plans to start his own federal party. Bernier, who represents the riding of Beauce, made the announcement just as the party's policy convention kicked off in Halifax. Bernier has caused waves for recent tweets questioning Canada's policies promoting diversity, which opponents called "xenophobic," and Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer distanced himself from the tweets, a move some called "weak." Scheer narrowly defeated Bernier for the leadership of the Conservative Party last year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister Turnbull Ousted By Party; Scott Morrison Is New PM

[world politics news]

In a tumultuous intra-party battle lasting a week, the Liberal Party has voted to elect a new leader, Scott Morrison, who has become prime minister, taking the place of Malcolm Turnbull. A social conservative and Evangelical Christian, Morrison has a reputation as a hardworking man of good character. Morrison’s appointment will be seen as a continuation of the Turnbull Government. The weakened party, however, could face calls for an early election.

Pictured: Prime Minister Morrison, right, with former Prime Minister Turnbull.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#SPAIN: Gov't Under Fire For Border Fence Proposal After Violent Attack By Migrants Leaves Dozens Of Border Agents Injured

[world politics news]

Spain's Socialist government is under pressure to reverse its position on making border fences "safer" after a violent attack by hundreds of illegal migrants left border guards severely injured. Over 600 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa stormed the border in the region Ceuta. Dozens were injured as migrants bombarded agents with quicklime, sticks, stones, bags of excrement as well as aerosols used as flame throwers. Despite the attack, the Spanish government is sticking to its plans to remove the controversial razor-sharp blades on the border fences. The removal should be "immediate," said Home Secretary Fernando Grande-Marlaska.  Opposition parties say the Spanish immigrant reception system is facing collapse, given the sharp rise in numbers of refugees in recent months.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#NEPAL: New Law Seeks To Stop Christian Conversions; Protects Against "Hurting Religious Feelings"

[world politics news]

A law criminalizing religious conversions and the "hurting of religious feelings" has gone into effect in Nepal, a year after the bill was passed. Nepal's Christian minority fears the new law will be abused by those seeking to settle scores, as has happened frequently in neighboring India. Nepal’s 2007 interim Constitution declared the country a secular state that maintained neutrality in religious affairs. That language was included in the 2015 Constitution, despite protests from Hindu nationalists, who wanted a return to Hindu statehood and who continue to protest over the word “secular” – a word they say is inappropriately adopted from the West.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: PM Morawiecki Kicks Off Municipal Election Campaign

[world politics news]

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has kicked off the ruling party's municipal election campaign with a rally in the ancient city Sandomierz. He spoke about new policies for farmers such as subsidies on fuel and measures to stop price fixing by foreign companies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHAFRICA: Chaos Among White Farmers As Gov't Begins "Test" Land Seizures

[world politics news]

There is chaos building among white South African landowners, as the ANC government begins large-scale seizures of land at a fraction of their value. The seizures are a test, of sorts, ahead of a constitutional amendment that would allow the government to seize white owned property at no cost, and redistribute it to black South Africans. The government's action has caused panic in the country's stock market, and fear among the white minority.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Neo-Nazis Take To The Streets To Celebrate Rudolf Hess, Wave Monarchist German Flags

[world politics news]

More than 600 neo-Nazis took to the streets of Berlin this weekend to commemorate the death of leading Nazi-era figure Rudolf Hess, as counter-demonstrators clashed with them. Bottles and stones were thrown during the clashes.  The neo-Nazi supporters held a banner reading 'I regret nothing' as they marched, waving the red-white-and-black flag of the pre-World War I German monarchy (the red and white Swastika flag of the Nazi era is banned in Germany.) They were protected by police in riot gear as they chanted and marched in the streets.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Statue Of Canada's First Prime Minister Removed From Victoria, BC City Hall Steps

[world politics news]

The City of Victoria took down a bronze statue of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister and an architect of the country’s residential school system, from the steps of its city hall on Saturday, calling it a gesture of reconciliation toward Indigenous groups that have long called for its removal. City Councillors voted seven to one in favor of removing the statue earlier this week, a decision that has inflamed debate about how best to reconcile Macdonald’s role in shaping the country and his legacy of mistreatment of Indigenous peoples.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#VENEZUELA: Economic Reforms Include Plan To Knock Five Zeros From Currency

[world politics news]

The beleaguered regime of Nicolas Maduro is launching a "new" currency Monday, in a desperate attempt to stem inflation and tackle its economic crisis. The new 'sovereign bolivar' will enter circulation on Monday, which has been declared a national holiday so that the population can get used to the new banknotes. Inflation in Venezuela is forecast by to hit a million per cent this year, with a cup of coffee now costing around two million bolivars.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: Government Wants Permanent Base Of US Troops On Its Soil - And Offers To Pay $2 Billion To Bring Them!

[world politics news]

Poland wants a permanent U.S. military presence — and is willing to pony up as much as $2 billion to get it, according to a defense ministry proposal obtained by Polish news portal Onet. The Polish offer reflects a long-standing desire in Warsaw to build closer security relations with the U.S. and put American boots on the ground. The push dates back to Poland’s entry into NATO in 1999, but has taken on added urgency in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region four years ago and aggressive posture toward the alliance.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#INDIA: Gov't Considers Sweeping New Data Privacy Law Based on European Union's #GDPR

[world politics news]

The government is considering a sweeping data privacy law which would mean significant changes for foreign companies doing business in India. The Personal Data Protection Bill was prompted in part by a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of India last year calling privacy a “fundamental right” under the Indian Constitution and calling on the Indian government to develop a comprehensive data protection law. The bill is closely modeled after the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). Key provisions include granting four key rights:  (1) the right to confirm whether and how their data is being used; (2) the ability to correct misleading or false data; (3) data portability, and (4) a “right to be forgotten," or the authority to restrict companies from using data they previously shared.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHAFRICA: Group Says It Has List Of 195 White-Owned Farms Government Plans To Take Without Compensation

[world politics news]

AfriForum, a lobby group which mainly represents white South Africans, says it has obtained a list of 195 farms which the government is planning to seize from white farmers without compensation. The chair of the African National Congress is on record as saying the government should take land from those who own more than 3,000 acres of land. The Rand, South Africa's currency, fell on financial markets after ANC chair Gwede Mantashe, an ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa, said this week that major landowners should have their land taken without compensation. Ramaphosa, for his part, has publicly denied the existence of the list.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Simon Wiesenthal Center Condemns German Left Party's Anti-Israel Resolution; Part Of "Tradition" Of "Hating Jews"

[world politics news]

The head of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Jerusalem office, Dr. Efraim Zuroff, on Thursday meted out scathing criticism at the executive board of the German Left party for blaming only the Jewish state in its resolution against the Israeli Defense Force's measures in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The anti-Israel resolution is part of the “antisemitic, anti-Zionist elements” of the German Left and is “fulfilling a long tradition of hatred of Jews,” Zuroff told The Jerusalem Post in a telephone interview.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Conservative MP Maxime Bernier Under Fire For His Tweets Against Liberal's "Extreme Multiculturalism," "Victimhood"

[world politics news]

Conservative MP Maxime Bernier of Quebec has come under fire for accusing the governing Liberal Party of pursuing a policy of "extreme multiculturalism" and the "cult of victimhood." He made the accusation in a series of tweets that have been attacked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as being "divisive." Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer - who narrowly defeated Bernier to leader the party last year - coldly said Bernier "speaks for himself" and refused to say whether he'd remove him from his party positions. Bernier was dumped from the party's shadow cabinet earlier this year after clashing with Scheer.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#USA: New Mexico Land Commissioner Halts Discussion With Feds Over State Land Near Proposed Border Wall

[world politics news]

New Mexico's State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn says he has ended negotiations with the Federal Government to settle a dispute over a piece of state trust land along the border with Mexico. The Federal Government already has constructed a fence as well as a road at the property, but Dunn, who this year switched from Republican to Libertarian, said the Feds do not have a right of way to use the state trust land, and is holding out for more than $54,000 from them to use the land. It has offered just over $8,700. For now, he's placed a "No Trespassing" sign on the state trust land.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHKOREA: Governor Faces Arrest For Manipulating Online Opinion Polls

[world politics news]

Special investigators are seeking to arrest Kim Kyoung-soo, the incumbent governor of South Gyeongsang Province, over his involvement in an online opinion-rigging scandal. Kim is suspected of colluding with a blogger to use illegal software to manipulate public opinion ahead of last year’s presidential election.  Kim was grilled twice by the special counsel investigating the case, on Aug. 6 and 9.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#TUNISIA: President Proposes Law To Allow Equal Inheritance Rights For Women

[world politics news]

Tunisian president Beji Caid Sebsi says he will push for a new law to ensure equality in inheritance between men and women, in a first for the Arab world where legislation derived from Islam gives male descendants twice the share of females. In a nod to religious feeling in the Muslim country, he said any legislation – which would have to be debated and approved by parliament – should allow those who wanted to apply Islamic rules instead to pass down their property according to their wishes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#MEXICO: Newly Elected Congresswoman Kidnapped

[world politics news]

A newly elected Mexican Congresswoman, Norma Azucena Rodríguez Zamora, has been kidnapped at gunpoint on a highway in central Hidalgo state. Two men shot at Rodríguez's car, injuring an assistant and the driver and causing the vehicle to flip over. The gunmen pulled Ms Rodríguez from the car and forced her into their vehicle.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: In Diplomatic Fight, Saudi Arabia Launches Campaign To Defame Canada's Treatment Of Women

[world politics news]

Within hours of Saudi Arabia expelling Canada’s ambassador after Canada's foreign minister criticized the jailing of dissidents in the Kingdom, the country’s broadcasters and pro-government social media accounts launched a propaganda campaign against Canada, in part, attempting to argue that Canada is the "world's worst oppressor of women." This despite PM Trudeau's cabinet being composed of 50% women, and the fact that Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, who leveled the charges, is herself a woman. They also asserted that best-selling Canadian author Jordan Peterson is a political prisoner (he is not) and that the streets of Canada are full of homeless people.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#NORWAY: Deputy Progress Party Leader Per Sandberg Will Resign After Controversial Iran Visits With Young Iranian Girlfriend

[world politics news]

Fisheries Minister and as the Progress Party deputy leader Per Sandberg, 58, is resigning after weeks of attacks, from the media, opposition politicians and even from within his own party, after he visited Iran in July with his new Iranian girlfriend. He alerted neither his own ministry nor the Prime Minister’s office before the trip, and he brought his official cell phone.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Labour Party Leader Laid Wreath At Ceremony Honoring 1972 Munich Terrorists

[world politics news]

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbin laid a wreath during a Tunisia ceremony in commemorating the terrorists who took part in the 1972 Munich Olympics attack on the Israli team. When questions were raised, Corbyn initally said he only was "present" at the 2014 event. But later, a newspaper published a photo of Corbyn participating in the event by laying the wreath.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#HUNGARY: Party of PM Viktor Orban Moves To Ban Gender Studies Programs

[world politics news]

Fidesz, the conservative party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has introduced legislation to shut down accredited gender studies programs offered by universities in Hungary. The ban will primarily impact students at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest - the only institution in Hungary, other than Central European University, to offer gender studies at the graduate level, and the only one to provide this program in Hungarian. Numbers of students affected would be low. Only 11 students have applied for the program this year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EGYPT: Parliament To Consider "Temporary" 30% Progressive Income Tax On Businesses

[world politics news]

The Egyptian parliament is drafting a law to impose a progressive tax of at least 30 percent on annual incomes exceeding 1 million Egyptian Pounds, in order to reduce the financial burden on the poor. The bill will be discussed in autumn, according to Legislative Committee MP Moustafa Bakry. Bakry believes that "not too many" businessmen would object to the bill, arguing that the role of “social capital” – the economic benefits of a fair and stable distribution of wealth – was understood by many in Egypt’s business elite, particularly as it encourages social peace in the period of economic reforms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: Government Wants Permanent Base Of US Troops On Its Soil - And Offers To Pay $2 Billion To Bring Them!

[world politics news]

Poland wants a permanent U.S. military presence — and is willing to pony up as much as $2 billion to get it, according to a defense ministry proposal obtained by Polish news portal Onet. The Polish offer reflects a long-standing desire in Warsaw to build closer security relations with the U.S. and put American boots on the ground. The push dates back to Poland’s entry into NATO in 1999, but has taken on added urgency in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region four years ago and aggressive posture toward the alliance.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Gov't Considers Splitting Massive Health, Labor & Welfare Ministry

[world politics news]

The Japanese government is considering splitting the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, concluding that the mammoth bureaucracy with an extensive portfolio is incapable of responding to the complex needs of an aging society. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will submit a proposal as early as this month recommending a split, which will be part of a broader government review of its 13 agencies and ministries created through a reorganization 20 years ago.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#INDONESIA: New Anti-Terror Law Seeks To Protect Churches After Attacks

[world politics news]

Weeks after a radicalized Muslim family committed suicide attacks on churches in the city of Surabaya, Indonesia, the country passed an anti-terror law meant to prevent more attacks and foster the majority-Muslim country’s tolerant culture.

[FULL STORY HERE]

PICTURED: Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, visits the scene of a church attacks in Surabaya, Indonesia, in May.

#BULGARIA: Nation Is Close To Joining The Euro Common Currency

[world politics news]

Bulgaria, the European Union’s poorest country, has moved closer to adopting the European common currency, the Euro, after a meeting of Eurozone finance ministers in Brussels. The European Commission and the European Central Bank said an evaluation could be completed in “around a year." "The European Commission welcomes Bulgaria’s efforts to join the eurozone," Latvian Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice President of the European Commission told a news conference.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#URUGUAY: Former Pres. Jose Mujica Resigns From Senate, Considers Presidential Bid

[world politics news]

Uruguay's former President Jose Mujica has announced he will retire from the Senate on August 14, but has no plans to abandon political life – and may yet run for the presidency again in 2019. Speaking to local media, 83-year-old Mujica – who ruled from 2010 to 2015 and was immortalized as 'the world's humblest head of state' for donating 90 percent of his US$12,000 monthly salary to charity – said he was stepping down due to his advancing years and international travel plans. Still, he held out the prospect of running for president next year as an independent.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CANADA: Saudi Arabia Expels Canadian Ambassador, Freezes Trade, After Gov't Tweet Urged Activists' Release

[world politics news]

Saudi Arabia ordered Canada's ambassador to leave the country and froze all new trade and investment transactions with Canada in a spat over human rights. The ministry added that Saudi Arabia is recalling its ambassador to Canada. Both the Saudi and Canadian ambassadors were away on leave at the time of the announcement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Second Senior Education Ministry Official Indicted On Bribery Charges

[world politics news]

A second senior official of Japan's education and science ministry has been arrested on bribery charges. Kazuaki Kawabata, the ministry's director-general for international affairs, allegedly accepted gifts in exchange for giving a favor to a medical consulting firm in Tokyo. Kawabata is suspected of being wined and dined to the tune of $12,600 from August 2015 to March 2017. During that period, he was on loan to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHSUDAN: Rebel Leader To Return As Vice President As Part Of Power-Sharing Deal To End Civil War

[world politics news]

A power-sharing deal has been signed between South Sudan Pres. Salva Kiir and his deputy-turned-rebel leader Riek Machar, who will return to his position as one of the nation's four vice presidents, in the latest attempt to end a bloody civil war. The unitary government the two men will form together is the second attempt since 2013, when the Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup, triggering a civil war. The last attempt, in 2015, collapsed when intense clashes broke out in Juba, the capital, a year after a similar deal was signed.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Party Head Calls For Term Limits For German Chancellor; Says Merkel Looks "Tired" After 4 Terms

[world politics news]

A chancellor in Germany should stay in power no longer than eight or 10 years, Christian Lindner, the head of the Free Democratic Party, said recently in an interview. Lindner said Chancellor Angela Merkel, 64, who has been the chancellor since 2005, looks "exhausted," and Germany needs a "boost" of youthful leadership. Parliament elects a chancellor for four year terms, but there are no limits on how many terms they may serve. Merkel, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, is currently in her fourth consecutive term.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SPAIN: Newly Elected Leader Of Spanish Popular Party Calls Out Prime Minister's Call For "New Blood" With Migrants

[world politics news]

The recently-elected leader of Spain's Popular Party, Pablo Casado, has promised to "defend the borders” against the millions of undocumented migrants who want to enter Spain. This comes at a time when Spain's Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has openly welcomed migrants, saying they are "new blood" for a nation that isn't procreating. Casado accused Sánchez of incites more migrants to make the dangerous journey.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: War of Words Over Deportations Of New Zealand Citizens Further Sours "Special" Relationship

[world politics news]

A war of words over Australia's policy of deporting New Zealanders is souring the "special relationship" between the two nations. Australia has deported more than 1,000 New Zealand citizens in the past two years but the recent detention of a 17-year-old New Zealander in an adult detention facility prompted New Zealand Justice Minister Andrew Little to say such deportations had a “venal, political strain” to them. Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton responded by saying Australia did a lot of the "heavy lifting" in screening regional refugees, and that Little should "think more carefully before speaking."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Polling Shows Approval Of Merkel's Coalition Reaches A 12-Year Low Of 29%; Mass Demonstration Planned For Sept.

[world politics news]

Approval for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and its sister party, Bavaria’s Christian Social Union, has plunged to its lowest level since 2006, according to a new poll. Support for Merkel’s coalition dropped to just 29%, down from 33% in last September’s election. Her conservatives have been embroiled in an internal dispute over whether to turn back migrants at the German border who have registered elsewhere in the European Union. Mass demonstrations are planned against her leadership in September.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#BELGIUM: King's Brother Compares Hefty Fine For Attending Diplomatic Reception To "Persecution Of The Jews"

[world politics news]

Prince Laurent of Belgium - King Phillipe's brother and 12th in line to the throne - says being fined by parliament for attending a Chinese embassy reception without permission violates his rights akin to the "persecution of the Jews." He is suing parliament after it fined him 15% of his annual state allowance. The government had previously warned the eccentric prince not to attend diplomatic events without permission after previous breaches of protocol. He has made unsanctioned visits to Libya to meet Muammar Gaddafi, and to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a former Belgian colony.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Police Break Down Door Of Professor During Radio Interview Criticizing Chinese Foreign Aid Spending

[world politics news]

A retired professor had his door broken down by police and was forced to abandon a live radio interview in which he was criticizing the government's foreign aid spending. Wenguang Sun, a retired Shandong University professor, was speaking on a Voice Of America program Wednesday, when police stormed his home. He has recently written an article criticizing China's foreign aid policies, was reportedly discussing Beijing's relationship with African countries, when six officers entered his home and took him away. He is reportedly now under house arrest.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#THENETHERLANDS: Foreign Minister Under Fire For Criticism of Multicultural Nation-States; Comments About Singapore, Suriname

[world politics news]

Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok is under fire after making controversial comments about immigrants as well as saying he is unaware of any successful multicultural societies. Cell phone video of the comments, made by Blok at private meeting with Dutch nationals working for international groups, was leaked to the media. "Give me an example of a multi-ethnic or a multi-cultural society, in which the original population still lives," he said. "I don’t know one." When one member of the audience suggested Suriname, Blok described the former Dutch colony as a ‘failed state." Singapore was also discounted by Blok.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#LEBANON: Bill Introduced In Parliament Seeks To Legalize Production Of Cannabis

[world politics news]

A bill has been introduced in Lebanon's parliament that would allow cultivation and use of cannabis for medical purposes. That's big news for residents of the nation's fertile Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, which has long been known as one of the world's major growing regions, producing some of the finest quality cannabis, mostly processed into hashish. Today, the country is the third biggest producer in the world, according to the UN. After decades of crackdowns, growers in the valley hope to reap greater benefits and profits from the crop.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHAFRICA: Taking Land From Whites Without Compensation Must Be Law, Pres. Ramaphosa Tells Parliament

[world politics news]

Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the ruling African National Congress to amend the constitution to allow land grabs from white farmers without compensation. Ramaphosa was making good on a campaign promise to return the lands owned by the whites since the 1600s to the country's black population. Economists fear a food production crisis if large commercial farms are seized, similar to one that gripped neighboring Zimbabwe when land appropriation plan was imposed in 1999.

[FULL STORY HERE]