#CANADA: High Court Says Canada-US immigration Agreement Constitutional

[world politics news]

The Supreme Court of Canada on Friday ruled that  the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States is constitutional.

The Court in its decision noted that the agreement does not violate Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom – the right to life, liberty and security of a person.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#FRANCE: Pres. Macron Angers Ukraine, Bulgaria With "Insulting" Comments About Its Citizens Working In France; Prefers Africans

[world politics news]

French President Emmanuel Macron provoked a diplomatic scandal following a Nov. 4th interview with the media site “Valeurs actuelles" in which he seemed to insult Bulgarian and Ukrainian workers.

The government has been in a damage-control mode since then, answering to criticism both internally and externally.

"I prefer people who came from Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire [Ivory Coast] who are here and do the job (legally), rather than Bulgarian or Ukrainian trafficking networks," Macron said, triggering harsh reactions in Bulgaria and Ukraine.

Macron was referring to the fact that in France, it is allegedly difficult to find French people willing to wash dishes in restaurants. Many interpreted that France preferred immigrants from its former colonies, rather than from Europe.

After Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said the statement was “offensive," Bulgaria summoned the French ambassador to its capital, Sofia, to provide an explanation. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said Macron, “will find it hard to achieve EU leadership with such unmeasured comments."

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned the French Ambassador in Kyiv. He reportedly explained that there were “no claims against citizens of Ukraine who travel to France” and that the President’s words were taken out of context.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#JAPAN: Bill Would Allow Up To 47,000 More Foreign Workers Into Japan To Ease Labor Shortage

[world politics news]

Japan's government has projected up to 47,000 foreign workers could come to the country in fiscal 2019 under proposed revisions to the immigration law. A bill to amend the Immigration Control law would allow the entry of more foreign workers starting next April. Government officials said a labor shortfall of more than 600,000 people is expected in fiscal 2019.

If the bill passes, from 33,000 to 47,000 workers from other countries could be accepted during the period. In the 5 years from fiscal 2019, officials have projected a labor shortage of between 1.3 and 1.35 million people and the arrival of about 260,000 to 340,000 foreign workers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#POLAND: Interior Minister Recommends Opting Out Of UN Migration Deal, Due To Be Signed In December; Hungary Already A "No"

[world politics news]

Poland should not sign the United Nations new migration pact, says Joachim Brudzinski, Poland's minister of internal affairs. Brudzinski cites the lack of guarantees for "Poland's safety," and says it may encourage illegal immigration to Europe. He says he will recommend that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki opt out of the Global Compact deal, which is due to be signed in December in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Hungary has already announced it will not sign the Global Compact For "Safe, Orderly and Regular” Migration, which was approved in July. The United States pulled out already, arguing that it interfered with America's immigration laws. Eastern European nations have been increasingly skeptical of both European and UN's regulations of migration.

[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.

#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.

#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: #Merkel, #EU Leaders Hammer Out Deal On Migrants; But Will It Satisfy Her Coalition Partner?

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel's has met with EU leaders in Brussels, where they laid out a common European Union plan on keeping out more asylum-seekers. It's unclear, however, if Merkel has made a deal that would appease her Bavarian coalition partner, the Christian Social Union, which precipitated a government coalition crisis in the past few weeks by insisting that asylum-seekers who had already registered in other countries be turned away at the German border.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Merkel Makes Impassioned Plea To Parliament Ahead Of Crucial EU Asylum Meeting

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel has told the German parliament that a European solution to the problem of asylum applications has not yet been reached, and dampened expectations that a conclusive solution would be reached at this week's European Union summit. If the question of how to distribute asylum applications among EU nations isn't solved, the pressure on her, particularly from her conservative coalition partners in Bavaria, the Christian Social Union, could break apart the coalition and force new elections.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: Home Affairs Min. Dutton Says Australia Should Open Doors To White S. African Farmers

[world politics news]

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he was exploring giving South Africa's white farmers access to fast-track visas on humanitarian grounds, after that nation's parliament had begun discussing taking white farmer's land without compensation. The new South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has faced a torrent of criticism for earlier remarks about taking land by force. He seeming backtracked after severe international criticism, saying this week, "We will not allow land grabs. We will not allow land invasion - because it is illegal. It begins to violate rights of other South African citizens."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#TURKEY: Foreign Min. Signals Turkey May Release Flood Of Migrants If EU Fails To Grant Turks Visas

[world politics news]

Turkey could walk away from its promise to stem the flow of illegal migrants to EU if the European Union fails to grant Turks visa-free travel to the bloc in October, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a German newspaper.

#GERMANY: Tens Of Thousands Of Turk-Germans Rally For Turkish Leader Erdogan After Coup Attempt

[world politics news]

Tens of thousands of supporters of Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan rallied in the German city of Cologne this past Sunday as tensions over Turkey's failed coup put authorities on edge. Waving the Turkish flag and chanting "Turkey", the demonstrators turned the rally site next to the River Rhine into a sea of red as they began the demonstration by singing the Turkish and German national anthems. Some held banners saying "Erdogan, fighting for liberty".

#UK: EU Proposal Responding To Cameron's Reform Plea "Not Good Enough" Say Critics

[world politics news]

While Prime Minister David Cameron says he is "making progress" in a renegotiation with Brussels over the UK's relationship with the European Union, he's under heavy criticism from opponents. Nigel Farage, leader of the U.K. Independence Party, said the changes Cameron hoped to achieve were minor. The EU recently proposed that benefits would only be available to those who have earned over a certain figure. John Redwood, a former Conservative Cabinet minister, told the BBC the plan was "an insult" and "a sick joke".

#CANADA: Trade Min. Spars With US TV Host Bill Maher, Defends Islam & Migration Plan

[world politics news]

Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland found herself defending Islam on "Real Time" with Bill Maher last week. Maher said a majority of Americans don't feel that Syrian refugees share American values. Freeland challenged Maher when he said it's nonsense to suggest that all religions are alike and share values.

#GERMANY: #AngelaMerkel Sees Poll Numbers Dip As Refugee Euphoria Meets Fiscal Reality

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s bold open-door policy for refugees has sparked a backlash in her conservative ranks, and a rare dip in her popularity ratings. After the party-like atmosphere, in which many euphorically welcomed Syrians at train stations, lawmakers in her own coalition are questioning the economic costs of Germany's generosity.

#CANADA: Federal Party Leaders Focus On Refugees, Values, In Fourth Debate

[world politics news]

The policy mechanics of trade negotiations, climate change, immigration and refugee measures and security legislation led Monday night to a spirited battle of emotions and values. The Ottawa debate featured Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.

#GERMANY: Two Police Injured As Anti-Islam Pegida Group Resumes Rallies In Leipzig, Dresden

[world politics news]

Demonstrations organized by the anti-Islam group Pegida have resumed across Germany in the wake of mass migration of Syrian refugees to Germany, with over 5,000 attending a Dresden rally and 500 in Leipzig. Two police officers were injured in the Leipzig rally when protests turned violent as counter-protesters showed up.

#GERMANY: Gov't Introduces Temp. Border Controls As Refugees Overwhelm Southern Germany

[world politics news]

Germany is planning to temporarily reintroduce border controls, beginning with the border to Austria, in view of the massive influx of refugees. The government of Bavaria called for help from federal police to help monitoring those trying to enter Germany. Nearly 10,000 entered Austria just on Sunday.

#GERMANY: #AngelaMerkel To Unveil Plan To Deal With 800,000 Asylum-Seekers Entering Germany

[world politics news]

Angela Merkel's government will assemble a “comprehensive” package to confront tide of refugees on Sept. 24. Merkel said Germany must help the more than 800,000 seeking asylum and fleeing war as Europe this year. It's the biggest refugee crisis since World War II.

#EU: Member States Balking At New EU Quota System For N. African Refugees

[world politics news]

The European Commission wants EU nations to accepts quotas as a fairer way to distribute asylum seekers, but many are balking at the proposed numbers. A bloc of nations - Poland, Hungary, the Czech  Republic and Slovakia - rejected the plan outright, while France and Germany sought "corrections" to the quota figures.

Background: Italy's PM Matteo Renzi is pushing the commission hard for the new quotas because it has taken the brunt of most migrants in the past few years, due to its proximity to north Africa.