# data[].attributes.headline
The 'ex-X-Men': Xenophon friends turn foes with new political party

# data[].attributes.subject
The 'ex-X-Men': Xenophon friends turn foes with new political party

# data[].attributes.body
https://indaily.com.au/news/politics/2017/09/15/xenophon-friends-turn-foes-new-political-party/https://indaily.com.au/news/politics/2017/09/15/xenophon-friends-turn-foes-new-political-party/

Nick Xenophon says he hopes a pair of spurned former allies are “subject to the same level of scrutiny as I am” after they today unveiled their own political party, with plans to take on the influential senator’s fledgling SA Best at the March state election.
Long-serving Legislative Councillor John Darley – who replaced Xenophon in the state’s upper house when he quit to launch his senate bid in 2007 – sensationally split from the Xenophon Team last month, calling its high-profile leader dictatorial.

That followed Xenophon’s humiliating slapdown of longtime ally and retired lawyer Peter Humphries, who publicly stated in April he was set to represent SA Best as a Legislative Council candidate at the state election.

# data[].attributes.headline
Merkel and the refugees: How German leader emerged from a political abyss

# data[].attributes.subject
Merkel and the refugees: How German leader emerged from a political abyss

# data[].attributes.body
Germans should be proud of the warm welcome they gave hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, many of them fleeing war and persecution in the Middle East, she told an audience of over 1,000 gathered in the fishing village of Steinhude.

Then she shifted gears: “What happened in 2015 cannot, should not and must not happen again.”

It is a phrase she has used repeatedly in market squares across Germany as she campaigns for a fourth term in a federal election on Sept. 24 that she is widely expected to win.

There are many factors behind her comeback. But few are as important as her skill at spinning a narrative about the refugee crisis that many Germans can support, whether they cheered or condemned her actions of 2015.

“Merkel is not running on a policy of open borders and that fits perfectly with the mood in the country,” said Robin Alexander, author of a best-selling book on the German government’s handling of the refugee crisis.

“Many people like the image of Germany as a model of humanitarian virtue. At the same time they know the country could not continue to welcome refugees like it did. It is this set of feelings that Merkel is appealing to.”

By the end of 2015, 890,000 asylum seekers had entered Germany, many without proper identity checks, overwhelming local communities.

Merkel’s actions divided Europe and led to a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment. The hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party seems sure to enter parliament for the first time.

A year after her decision, and following a series of small-scale attacks in Germany by Islamist militants, her popularity ratings had plunged 30 points to 45 percent and she faced questions about whether she would run for chancellor again.

Yet today, 63 percent of Germans say she is doing a good job and, according to a Bertelsmann Foundation survey this week, 59 percent believe the country is on the right track.

“It has been a long, difficult road back,” said one of her top aides. “But we have gotten to a point where the refugee issue is no longer a negative for Merkel in the election campaign.”Merkel’s actions divided Europe and led to a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment. The hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party seems sure to enter parliament for the first time.

A year after her decision, and following a series of small-scale attacks in Germany by Islamist militants, her popularity ratings had plunged 30 points to 45 percent and she faced questions about whether she would run for chancellor again.

Yet today, 63 percent of Germans say she is doing a good job and, according to a Bertelsmann Foundation survey this week, 59 percent believe the country is on the right track.

“It has been a long, difficult road back,” said one of her top aides. “But we have gotten to a point where the refugee issue is no longer a negative for Merkel in the election campaign.”

'No alternative'

Merkel has been helped by external events such as Britain’s vote for Brexit last year and Donald Trump’s election victory in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, both of which reinforced her appeal as a guarantor of stability.

A decision by Macedonia in early 2016 to shut its border with Greece stemmed the flow of refugees, easing pressure on Germany. And the country has not suffered a large-scale Islamist attack, an event which might have triggered a voter backlash.

But Merkel’s knack for understanding how Germans tick has also been crucial.

At many of her public appearances, she is confronted by anti-immigration protesters who try to drown out her speeches with whistles and chants of “Merkel must go!”.

In Steinhude, a woman held up a sign showing Merkel’s diamond-shaped hand pose over a German flag with a blood-spattered bullet hole in the middle. “I offer you terror, death and chaos”, the sign read.

But the dozen or so protesters were dwarfed by supporters who applauded her message.

“I‘m not sure if there was another way to handle the refugee crisis. Those refugees had to go somewhere,” said Willi Kordes, 70, who runs a sewage treatment firm in nearby Vlotho. “I don’t trust anyone to do it better.”

Working in her favour in the election is the fact that many of Germany’s other established parties, including the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), led by her main challenger Martin Schulz, backed her open-door policy.

The AfD, running a racially-tinged campaign that has put off some voters, has come off its 2016 highs in the polls. The one mainstream party that has offered a hardline alternative, the Christian Social Union (CSU), is the Bavarian sister party to Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). A vote for the CSU is akin to a vote for Merkel.

Dirty work

A crucial factor behind Merkel’s rebound has been the decline in asylum seekers entering Germany. About 280,000 arrived in 2016, with another drop likely this year.

Merkel takes credit for this, pointing to a deal she brokered between the European Union and Turkey, under which Ankara has cut the number of migrants crossing into Europe via its territory.

But critics say the closing of Balkan borders -- which Merkel publicly opposed -- was the real driver.

Some see parallels with her behavior in the euro zone financial crisis, when European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s pledge to do “whatever it takes” to keep the currency bloc together, allowing her to stick to a hard line towards euro states such as Greece without fear of consequences.

In the refugee crisis, it has been countries like Macedonia, Turkey and Hungary - which shut down routes the refugees used - that have done Merkel’s “dirty work”, allowing her to maintain the image of a caring leader who helped people fleeing war.

The approach has helped Merkel extend her control over the political centre. Some right-wing voters may have fled for the AfD but polls suggest young, urban voters who traditionally lean left could fill the gap.

Germany’s economy has been strong enough to absorb the influx of refugees without big cracks emerging in society. In reaction to its Nazi past, Germany has emerged as a more open, tolerant country than many assumed when the crisis hit.

A survey published this month ranking the top fears of the Germans put terrorism at the top. But a separate poll for the Bild newspaper showed they do not see curbing immigration as a priority.

“Germans are astonishingly global, liberal and open to the world,” said Menno Smid, head of the Infas Institute for Applied Social Sciences, which released a survey last month showing broad acceptance of refugees in Germany. “We are the winners from globalisation. The economic factors that led to Trump simply don’t exist.”

# data[].attributes.headline
Support for same-sex marriage falling and 'no' vote rising, advocate polling shows

# data[].attributes.subject
Support for same-sex marriage falling and 'no' vote rising, advocate polling shows

# data[].attributes.body
Support for same-sex marriage has crashed ahead of the Turnbull government's postal survey, and only two-thirds of voters are inclined to take part, according to the latest polling from same-sex marriage advocates.

At the start of a two-month campaign, the confidential research provided to Fairfax Media shows support for a "no" vote has risen, as has the number of people who say they don't know how they will vote.

And alarmingly for "yes" campaigners, turnout could be very low, with just 65 per cent of voters rating themselves as very likely to participate – falling to 58 per cent among those aged 18 to 34.

It prompted a concerned campaign veteran to declare: "There is every chance we can slip behind and lose this."

The research was conducted for the Equality Campaign by Newgate Research pollster Jim Reed between August 28 and September 6, with a sample size of 800 and a 3.5 per cent margin of error.

It showed that 58.4 per cent of those surveyed said they would back a "yes" vote, down six percentage points from two weeks earlier, while support for a "no" vote rose two percentage points to 31.4 per cent. The "unsure" vote rose three percentage points to 10.2 per cent.

# data[].attributes.body
A little-known visa category has become a "new frontier for unscrupulous employers" looking to exploit cheap foreign labour at the expense of Australian workers.

The 400 visa, designed to parachute international specialists into short-term roles, has emerged as a "sleeper" category with looser restrictions than the 457 foreign worker visa, which was recently abolished by the Turnbull government in a high-profile "Australians first" crackdown.

In the past decade, hundreds of thousands of workers have been employed on short stay visa categories, including the 400's predecessor the 456, with at least 11 cases before the Fair Work Ombudsman. But experts warn despite the examples of exploitation, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection has little detail on the employment of these workers.

Among them, Chinese labourers flown in to dismantle the former Mitsubishi car plant in the Adelaide Hills paid $1.90 an hour, Filipino metal fabricators paid $4.90 an hour to install animal feed mills in NSW, and nine Indonesian timber workers flown into Tasmania and promised bonuses when they returned home.

Documents seen by Fairfax Media show 400 visas are sometimes approved within 24 hours with seemingly minimal oversight. Despite the government's requirement that the work be "highly specialised", the visa has been used to fill semi-skilled positions for which apparently qualified Australian applicants were available.

In 2015, Australia hosted the Cricket World Cup but local camera crews with decades of broadcasting experience were snubbed by the International Cricket Council for a crew from Singapore. In the same year the Spirit of Tasmania employed 44 per cent of its workers on 400 visas for a $31.5 million refurbishment.

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/category-5-hurricane-irma-smashes-caribbean-islands-and-charts-path-for-florida/news-story/85590ce60589006e3af7d8ad43ef7b55

Hurricane Irma has wrecked havoc across the Caribbean, destroying major amounts of infrastructure. Antigua and Barbada has claimed that over 90% of their island of Barbada and 60% on Antigua. Over 900,000 people have been left without power so far on the island of sint martin alone, with 6 peope dying. It is a category 5 cyclone and it is still on path towards America.

# data[].attributes.body
The Central Asian country of Tajikistan has become the first muslim majority country to ban the burqa, being interpreted aa mkve fromitionalaway from tradition islamic clothing. Dushanbe has cited national security as a reason, saying that no one feels secure around them. This could however have reprecussions with the religious leaders being against the government. This could potentially end up like Iran with what is effectively a secular religious government achieving power through a coup d'etat.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/m.timesofindia.com/world/rest-of-world/tajikistan-bans-women-from-wearing-veils/amp_articleshow/60333423.cms

# data[].attributes.body
www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-31/trump-renews-tough-rhetoric-as-north-korea-talks-more-missiles/8857840

Donald trump has taken a hardline stance on North Korea, splitting the US administration between pro and anti-intervention sides

# data[].attributes.headline
Australian military to help Philippines for the IS fight

# data[].attributes.subject
Australian military to help Philippines for the IS fight

# data[].attributes.body
The Australian military has offered to help the Philippines in fighting the IS. They will be helping through providing training and support.
To start Australia has already sent 2 surveillance planes to the Philippines to help avoid the conquest of ISIS.

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2017/08/29/aust-offers-philippines-help-in-fighting-i-s.html

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-28/hurricane-harvey-is-really-really-big/8848238

Houston has been hit by a major hurricane that has resulted in devastating flooding with houston being drenched in 80 cm of water with a meter more on the way. 80 000 people have been left without power, with millions having to be rescued. The US economy has also taken a major hit, with an expected $15 billion going to have to go towards repair efforts. Unfortunately, only 15% of people affected had insurance.

# data[].attributes.headline
German police raid suspects over leftist 'kill list'

# data[].attributes.subject
German police raid suspects over leftist 'kill list'

# data[].attributes.body
German police have raided the homes and workplaces of two people, one of whom is a policeman, suspected of planning to capture and kill left-wing politicians because of their views on immigration, according to authorities.

The suspects, who feared Germany's refugee policies would impoverish the country, had begun to stockpile food and ammunition and plan attacks, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement on Monday.

The searches, which took place in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, were carried out by national police and federal criminal investigators.

No arrests were made or any arrest warrants issued yet.

# data[].attributes.body
On August 12, 2017 the alt-right organs a protest in the attempt to try and stop a statue of Confederate General, Robert E. Lee. The Protest, called Unite the Right, was being accused of fascism and racism, being called a gathering of fascists and white supremacists this is seemingly correct with the protesters carrying the Confederate and Nazi flags, along with signs with slogans such as “Communism=Judaism” along with many other anti-semitic sentences. In order to combat this “second rise of fascism” the left began to counter-protest. Another confederate statue was torn down in North Carolina, along with marches being held against the alt-right in Charlottesville. These protests devolved into riots, with a car, driven by a supporter of the alt-right slamming into one of the counter-protests of the left. This attack killed one person and injured nineteen others. This attack was not condemned by the alt-right, and was actually condoned in many groups, leading to many more protests of this fascist movement. The president of the United States, Donald J. Trump took days to actually condemn these riots and in doing so split divided the country even further, with him condemning both sides. This has put racial tension to recent high, with what looks like a return in force of the racist south and white supremacy.

# data[].attributes.body
Indian politicians consider universal basic income following successful trials

Talks were held in Delhi to consider the controversial proposal – which has economists and politicians fiercely divided.

Under UBI, all citizens – regardless of income – are given a basic amount to live on without being taxed, claiming benefits or having to meet other conditions.

# data[].attributes.headline
'Not Ecuadorian by descent': Labor's Katy Gallagher denies dual citizenship JOSH JOE CLAUDE

# data[].attributes.subject
'Not Ecuadorian by descent': Labor's Katy Gallagher denies dual citizenship JOSH JOE CLAUDE

# data[].attributes.body
Labor senator Katy Gallagher has rejected claims she is implicated in Parliament's growing dual citizenship crisis, saying she is not – and never has been – an Ecuadorian citizen.

Senator Gallagher's office said on Tuesday an internal ALP investigation had cleared her in 2014, as part of the vetting process undertaken when she quit as the Australian Capital Territory's chief minister to join Labor's Senate team.

# data[].attributes.headline
Pualine Hanson "Burqa Stunt - Luke N. Group

# data[].attributes.subject
Pualine Hanson "Burqa Stunt - Luke N. Group

# data[].attributes.body
ASIO head Duncan Lewis says it until he's blue in the face. His predecessor David Irvine was just as staunch.

Australia's Muslim communities are the best ally our security agencies have in their fight against violent Islamist extremism. Alienating them only severs a vital conduit of intelligence and potentially breeds more angry, isolated people vulnerable to corrupted views. Rightly so. Senator Brandis, who is a liberal rather than a conservative, has spent the past four years wrestling with how to balance liberty with security.

That is why Attorney-General George Brandis' thundering condemnation of Pauline Hanson's burqa stunt in the Senate on Thursday afternoon was not just a moment of fine moral and political clarity, it was also bloody common sense.

"And to ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments, is an appalling thing to do and I would ask you to reflect on what you have done."

Senator Brandis was so angry his voice was actually wobbling with emotions

He knows it is absurd to argue we would be safer by banning the burqa on the grounds people would be compelled to show their faces at all times, when weighed against the damage that would be done by infringing the religious rights of a targetted group of Australians.

Yes, Australians. That's what they are and that's what Senator Brandis called them in his short but impassioned speech that earned a standing ovation from Labor and the Greens.

# data[].attributes.headline
India and China withdraw Troops from Doklam

# data[].attributes.subject
India and China withdraw Troops from Doklam

# data[].attributes.body
India and china have a contested area in the Doklam Plateau and have recently agreed to withdraw troops from the disputed area, although China claims that it will still patrol the area, and no claims have yet been relinquished. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/india-withdraws-troops-from-disputed-himalayan-region-defusing-tension-with-china/2017/08/28/b92fddb6-8bc7-11e7-a2b0-e68cbf0b1f19_story.html

# data[].attributes.headline
Brie and Deynna present updates on the end of the world:

# data[].attributes.subject
Brie and Deynna present updates on the end of the world:

# data[].attributes.body
Updates on the angle and rate at which the North Korean missile hit the water show that it was never meant to hit Japanese land but was instead intended to spread fear amongst the people as well as provoke the U.S. Military.

# data[].attributes.headline
Chile's Bachelet sends gay marriage bill to Congress

# data[].attributes.subject
Chile's Bachelet sends gay marriage bill to Congress

# data[].attributes.body
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has sent legislation to Congress seeking to legalise gay marriage, a move that follows a string of social reforms in one of Latin America's most conservative nations.

The bill submitted on Monday would allow gay couples to adopt children and would denote marriage as a "union between two people" rather than between a man and a woman, according to reports.

# data[].attributes.headline
EU, African leaders back new plan over migrant crisis

# data[].attributes.subject
EU, African leaders back new plan over migrant crisis

# data[].attributes.body
The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Spain have agreed to help Chad and Niger with border controls to help stem the flow of migrants and refugees into Europe from northern Africa.

They made the pledge on Monday at a summit in the French capital, Paris, aimed at reducing the numbers of people undertaking a dangerous journey along the so-called central Mediterranean route.

# data[].attributes.headline
Kerala's political murders tarnishing image of India's 'God's country'

# data[].attributes.subject
Kerala's political murders tarnishing image of India's 'God's country'

# data[].attributes.body
In late July, Hindu right-wing activist Rajesh Edavakode, 34, was hacked to death reportedly by left-wing Marxist workers in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

# data[].attributes.headline
Jakub Nowak, Johan Widing, Nicholas Brown

# data[].attributes.subject
Jakub Nowak, Johan Widing, Nicholas Brown

# data[].attributes.body
Australia ready to support Japan following North Korean missile launch: Julie Bishop

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australia-ready-to-support-japan-following-north-korean-missile-launch-julie-bishop-20170828-gy64km.html

# data[].attributes.body
Kim ups the ante in game of nuclear brinkmanship — but how far is too far? - ABC News

https://apple.news/A-8_TKOZdRPq5O4svmWfTPw

North Korea fires missile over Japan, lands in sea

http://aje.io/au2md

# data[].attributes.headline
This week in Politics..... post a summary of your group's political news so that we are all up to date. If another group has already posted your story - you will have to find another interesting news story. 5 bonus points to be won :)

# data[].attributes.subject
This week in Politics..... post a summary of your group's political news so that we are all up to date. If another group has already posted your story - you will have to find another interesting news story. 5 bonus points to be won :)