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☆ Just How Dangerous Is Europe’s Rising Far Right?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Roger Cohen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Jordan Bardella, 28, is the new face of the far right in France. Mr. Bardella, the son of Italian immigrants and a college dropout who joined the National Front party (now National Rally) at 16, is the protégé of Marine Le Pen, the perennial hard-right French presidential candidate. Moderate in tone if not content, he is also the personification of the normalization — or banalization — of a party once seen as a quasi-fascist threat to the Republic. Across Europe, the far right is becoming the right, absent any compelling message from traditional conservative parties. Not only have the parties of an anti-immigrant right surged, they have seen the barriers that once kept them out crumble as they are absorbed into the arc of Western democracies.

Persons: Jordan Bardella, Victor Hugo, “ Jordan, Jordan, —, Bardella Organizations: National Front Locations: France, Paris, Montbéliard, Republic, Europe

☆ Aya Nakamura: The most streamed female Francophone artist has become a target in France’s culture wars ahead of Paris 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Bea Adeleke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Aya Nakamura was born in the former French colony of Mali, raised in France and is widely considered the most streamed female Francophone artist in the world. However, ahead of Paris 2024, Nakamura finds herself at the center of France’s culture wars. Aya Nakamura attends the Kenzo Menswear Fall-Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 20, 2023 in Paris, France. “I think that the people who criticize her actually don’t accept that she embodies France,” French activist Rokhaya Diallo told CNN. Politicians such as Le Pen hailed the legislation as an “ideological victory” whilst French health Minister, Aurelien Rousseau resigned in protest.

Persons: Aya Nakamura, Nakamura, Edith Piaf, Piaf, “, ”, I’m, Rachida, Kenzo, Pascal Le Segretain, Marion Maréchal, Marine Le, Rokhaya Diallo, ” Nakamura, ’, le, Geoffroy Van Der, Emanuel Macron, Nakamura “, Le Pen, Vincent Martigny, Thomas Samson, Marion Marechal, Emmanuel Dunand, Martigny, Diallo, Zinedine Zidane, ” Diallo, ‘, Oliver Roy, Reynaud Julien, Macron, Aurelien Rousseau Organizations: CNN, France’s, of Culture, Rally, Blacks, Rassemblement National, Getty, Olympic Aquatics, France Inter, Science, University of Nice, National Assembly, soccer team, Paris Olympic, Le, Palais des Sports, EUI, of Transnational Governance, Twitter, APS, France, BMFTV, RMC Locations: Mali, France, French, Paris, Bamako, Europe, ”, Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt, AFP, Rassemblement, Ukraine, North, Carhaix

☆ Russia relishes NATO disarray after hasty denials of plan to deploy ground troops to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The United States, Germany, the U.K., Spain, Poland and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg were among those denying that sending ground troops into Ukraine was an option. She claimed NATO countries' denials that they planned to send their ground troops into Ukraine showed the West had "betrayed Ukraine and will continue to use and betray it," repeating Moscow's baseless claims that Western countries are using Ukraine to destroy Russia. After the conference, Macron said discussions had also covered the possibility of deploying ground troops, although he said there was no agreement on the issue. France was left looking increasingly isolated throughout the day Tuesday, with the White House also distancing itself from Macron's comments. When asked about Macron's comments, Kirby said "well, that's a sovereign decision that every NATO ally would have to make for themselves.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Mikhail Metzel, Emmanuel Macron, Jens Stoltenberg, Dmitry Medvedev, Macron, Vyacheslav Volodin, Volodin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon, Maria Zakharova, Macron's, Stephane Sejourne, John Kirby, Kirby, General Stoltenberg, —, Biden, Timothy Ash, Ash Organizations: Defence, Sputnik, Reuters, NATO, Russian, Russia's Foreign Ministry, Ukraine —, Russian Foreign, Tass, Chesnot, Getty, White, . National Security, Kremlin Russia, Kremlin, Russia, BlueBay Asset Management Locations: Nazi Germany, Moscow, Russia, Reuters Russia, Ukraine, United States, Germany, Spain, Poland, NATO, Russian, France, Canada, Paris, France's, Republic, U.S

Macron's opponents are seizing on the farmers' demonstrations to bash his government's record ahead of European elections in June. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose National Rally party is polling strongly, blamed free-trade agreements, imports and bureaucracy for farmers' economic woes. Roads hit Thursday morning by drive-slows included a highway west of the French capital and seat of power. “We are getting progressively closer to Paris,” farmer David Lavenant said to broadcaster BFM-TV. In recent weeks, farmers have staged protests in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.

Persons: Gabriel Attal, Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le, ”, David Lavenant, Ursula von der Leyen, von der Locations: Paris, Agen, France, Brussels, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Romania

The unrest in France is also likely tied to how some French people feel about the country’s political atmosphere more broadly. The National Rally also garnered the highest percentage support among France’s political parties in a mid-December poll. In 2022, nearly half of France’s immigrant population had been born in Africa, with the top source countries being Algeria and Morocco, according to INSEE. The French president said in December that the immigration law is “what the French wanted.” And at least one recent poll appears to echo this. And nearly three-quarters (73%) thought the law was inspired by the ideas of the National Rally party.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Pen, –, Élisabeth Borne, Le Pen’s, Macron –, “, Macron Organizations: Republicans, National, Constitutional, Ministry, People, AP, Le, National Institute of Statistics, Economic Studies, National Rally Locations: France, Europe, Germany, Western Europe, Africa, Algeria, Morocco, North Africa

☆ Advance of far-right parties is the ‘biggest concern’ for Western democracies, Spain’s Prime Minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Vicky Mckeever | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Spanish acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during the investiture debate at the Spanish Parliament on Nov. 15, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. The rise of far-right political groups is the "biggest concern" for Western democracies, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told CNBC. "I think that not only the [political] fragmentation, but the advance of the far-right, it is something … I would say [it is] the biggest concern for Western democracies," Sanchez said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His comments come in a year set to bring voters to the polls in several countries worldwide, which will include European Parliament elections in June. In France, Marine Le Pen's National Rally party has grown in popularity in the polls, while Geert Wilders' Freedom Party recorded a decisive victory in Netherlands' general elections in November.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Pedro Sánchez, Sanchez, Geert Wilders Organizations: Spanish, CNBC, Economic, Freedom Party Locations: Madrid, Spain, Davos, Switzerland, France, Netherlands

☆ Far-right parties eye gains in next year's EU parliament elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Alvise Armellini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ROME, Dec 3 (Reuters) - European far-right parties met in Italy on Sunday vowing to reshape the European Union after next year's European Parliament elections, toughening the bloc's approach on immigration and softening its climate policies to protect jobs and industry. Parties from around a dozen countries gathered in Florence, galvanised by last month's general elections in the Netherlands, which handed a surprise win to Geert Wilders' anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV). The far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group is now the sixth-largest in the EU assembly, also behind liberal, green and conservative groups, but current polling data place it in fourth position. Salvini, who has failed to include in his alliance Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her poll-leading Brothers of Italy party, fronted a previous unsuccessful push in 2019 for a far-right breakthrough in EU elections. Wilders hailed Salvini, leader of the League party, as an inspiration and his "number one Italian friend."

Persons: Geert Wilders, Matteo Salvini, Salvini, Giorgia Meloni, Wilders, Tino Chrupalla, Jordan Bardella, righters, Chrupalla, Harald Vilimsky, Vladimir Putin, Chizu Organizations: European Union, Party, League, Marine, Austrian Freedom Party, Thomson Locations: Italy, European, Florence, galvanised, Netherlands, Europe, Germany, Africa, Austrian, Russia, Ukraine, Israel

☆ US overturn of Roe v. Wade prompts France to embed abortion rights in constitution
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Maya Szaniecki | Claudia Colliva | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Paris CNN —When the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, French women were paying close attention. Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty ImagesProtesters voice their support for abortion rights during a debate at the Senate in Paris. According to backers of the bill, therefore, constitutionalization would safeguard abortion rights even if a pro-life majority were to be voted into office. Just last week, Argentina elected a far-right president who has pledged to reverse the abortion rights the country acquired in 2020. ‘Now or never’In France, recent polling data suggests 86% of people are now favorable to the constitutionalization of abortion rights.

Persons: Paris CNN —, Roe, Wade, France, ”, Mélanie Vogel, Vogel, Emmanuel Macron, Stephanie Hennette, Ludovic Marin, Jordan Bardella, ” Bardella, Laurence Rossignol, Malagré, “, Enora Malagré, Pierre, Stephane Cardinale, Corbis, Rossignol, Sarah Durocher, it’s, Marine Le, Le Pen, that’s “, Lafargue Raphael, Durocher, Vauchez, ” Vogel, “ It’s Organizations: Paris CNN, United States, Atlantic, CNN, Senate, Getty, Popular, Law, Justice, National Rally, “ Locations: France, French, Paris, AFP, United States, Popular French, Poland, Argentina, Versailles

"Many people have taken sides,” says Sandrine, who didn't feel comfortable providing her last name given the sensitivity of the topic. Immediately following the Oct. 7 attacks, Macron condemned Hamas and supported Israel’s right to defend itself. “The explicit prohibition of Palestinian demonstrations is something very recent and, in my opinion, a massive political mistake,” Lazar says. The RN, which denounces mass immigration to France from largely Muslim countries, also views Israel as a beacon of democracy in the Arab world. "He needs to defend what [Hamas does] without saying he supports them directly" as part of the Palestinian cause, says Lazar.

Persons: ”, Sandrine, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Marc Lazar, ” Lazar, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel, Marc Hecker, “ That's, Hecker, David, Goliath, Joe Biden, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Marie Le Pen’s, “, Le, Le Pen, ‘, ’ ”, Yves Camus, Luc Mélenchon, –, Lazar, Mélenchon, they’re Organizations: Hamas, Montaigne Institute, Sciences Po, West Bank, Center for Security Studies, French Institute of International Relations, French Institute of Public, Palestinian Authority, U.S, National, La France, National Assembly, National Front, Israel, FN, Marine, Rassemblement, Institute of International Relations, Strategic Studies, European Jewish Congress, ” Locations: Paris, Israel, France, Gaza, Western Europe, Egypt, Jordan, Syria

[1/2] Supporters of Dutch far-right politician and leader of the PVV party Geert Wilders react to the exit poll and early results in the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Netherlands November 22, 2023. The historic election victory that the PVV achieved on Wednesday exceeded all expectations," Dutch center-right daily NRC said. Congratulations to Geert Wilders on winning the Dutch elections," Orban said late on Wednesday. CONCERNIslamic and Moroccan organisations expressed concerns about Wilders' victory. "The distress and fear are enormous," Habib el Kaddouri, who heads an organisation representing Dutch Moroccans, told Dutch news agency ANP.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Yves Herman Acquire, Viktor Orban, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Pieter Omtzigt, Robert Fico, Giorgia, Orban, Pen, Rutte's, Habib el Kaddouri, party's Omtzigt, Dilan Yesilgoz, wouldn't, Bart Meijer, Charlotte van Campenhout, Anthony Deutsch, Ingrid Melander Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hungary's, Freedom Party, Labour, Green, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, NRC, VVD, Dutch, ANP, Thomson Locations: Dutch, The Hague, Netherlands, EU, Europe, Ukraine, Hague, Slovakia, Italy, France, Moroccan

His party more than doubled in size in parliament to tower over mainstream parties that long specialized in marginalizing him. Suddenly on Thursday, there was hope in the air again for nationalist conservative populists, especially with an European Parliament election coming up in June. Earlier, Slovakia had already turned populist with Robert Fico’s Smer party winning a general election and setting up a coalition government with an ultranationalist party. Wilders calls for a “Nexit” referendum — a Dutch version of Brexit which saw the United Kingdom leave the EU. By nature, Dutch politics rely on coalitions between several parties and no other suitable party has followed Wilders on that.

Persons: Geert Wilders, firebrand Wilders, “, Alice Weidel, Wilders, Robert Fico’s Smer, Viktor Orbán, behemoth, Le Pen, ”, Hendrik Vos, Vos, Matteo Salvini Organizations: Party for Freedom, Law, European Union, EU, France, Inter, Ghent University, League Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe, Poland, Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungarian, France, United Kingdom, Italian, Italy

☆ Geert Wilders: A ‘Trump moment’ in the Netherlands shows that Europe still has a populist problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The shock election results in the Netherlands have taken Europe by surprise, and left many onlookers unsure exactly what happens next. Far-right populist Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party (PVV) are now seeking to form a government after an unexpected win in Wednesday’s national vote. It would be very unusual for a party that comprehensively won the most seats to be locked out of government. Beyond those immediate concerns, there are questions as to what Wilders’ victory means for the direction of Dutch and European politics more broadly. Congratulations to Geert Wilders on winning the Dutch elections,” Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said late on Wednesday.

Persons: Geert Wilders, “, Donald, Trump, ” Catherine de Vries, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Robert Fico, Giorgia, Tiziana Fabi, Viktor Orban, Marine Le Pen, Carl Court, Emmanuel Macron, Le Pen, Giorgia Meloni, Nigel Farage, Farage Organizations: CNN, Freedom Party, Wednesday’s, Italy’s Bocconi University, European Union, Democracy Party, VVD, New, Labour, Green, Italy's, Albania's, Edi, Getty, –, EU, ”, Conservative, firebrand, Conservatives, Conservative Party Locations: Netherlands, Europe, Ukraine, Italy, Slovakia, Rome, AFP, EU, Brussels, ” Hungarian, France, United Kingdom

☆ Dutch shock points to tremors in Europe’s core
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Rebecca Christie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Dutch far-right politician and leader of the PVV party, Geert Wilders speaks to the press following the exit poll and early results in the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Netherlands November 22, 2023. The results add to the sense that Europe’s core is starting to rot. Even if Wilders drops his most radical ideas, mainstream conservatives, who won 24 seats, may have reservations about supporting his cause. The Dutch results, combined with German political turmoil, likely put paid to hopes of a deal on Europe’s fiscal rules by year-end. Europe’s core, the bloc’s lynchpin during the euro zone crisis, is now a shaky foundation.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Yves Herman, Mark Rutte, Wilders, won’t, Giorgia Meloni, ’, Rutte, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, EU, Party, Freedom Party, Labour, Italian, Green, People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, Rights BRUSSELS, Wednesday’s, Hague, Europe, Ukraine, Israel, France, Germany, Dutch, Belgium

☆ Far-Right's Wilders Seeks to Form Dutch Govt After Shock Election Win
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The historic election victory that the PVV achieved on Wednesday exceeded all expectations," Dutch center-right daily NRC said. Wilders' win comes two months after the return to power of the equally anti-EU populist Robert Fico in Slovakia, who has pledged to halt military aid to Ukraine and cut immigration. Last year, Italy formed its most right-wing government since World War Two after the election victory of Giorgia Meloni. CONCERNIslamic and Moroccan organisations expressed concerns about Wilders' victory. "The distress and fear are enormous," Habib el Kaddouri, who heads an organisation representing Dutch Moroccans, told Dutch news agency ANP.

Persons: Bart H, Meijer, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Ingrid Melander AMSTERDAM, Geert Wilders, Viktor Orban, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Pieter Omtzigt, Robert Fico, Giorgia, Orban, Pen, Rutte's, Habib el Kaddouri, party's Omtzigt, Dilan Yesilgoz, wouldn't, Bart Meijer, Charlotte van Campenhout, Anthony Deutsch, Ingrid Melander Organizations: Hungary's, Freedom Party, Labour, Green, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, NRC, VVD, Dutch, ANP Locations: EU, Netherlands, Europe, Ukraine, Hague, Slovakia, Italy, France, Moroccan

☆ Praise, fear after Dutch populist Wilders' election win
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dutch far-right politician and leader of the PVV party, Geert Wilders reacts to the exit poll and early results in the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Netherlands November 22, 2023. Congratulations to Geert Wilders on winning the Dutch elections!" BELGIAN FAR-RIGHT LEADER TOM VAN GRIEKEN:"I would like to congratulate Geert Wilders on this victory. ITALIAN FAR-RIGHT LEADER MATTEO SALVINI:"Congratulations to our friend Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV and historic ally of the League, for this extraordinary electoral victory. CONSERVATIVE, PRO-BUSINESS VVD PARTY LEADER DILAN YESILGOZ:"It is up to Wilders to show he can form a majority.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Yves Herman Acquire, VIKTOR ORBAN, Geerts Wilders, TOM VAN, SANTIAGO ABASCAL, MATTEO SALVINI, HABIB, KADDOURI, Wilders, FRANS TIMMERMANS, DILAN YESILGOZ, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Bart Meijer, John Irish, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Freedom Party, MARINE, PEN, League, INTERNATIONAL, CONSERVATIVE, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, EU, Europe, BELGIAN, Flanders, Paris

☆ Europe's far right joins rallying cry against antisemitism, unsettling some Jews
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Sandrine Rousseau, a Green lawmaker, said Le Pen's presence had made her uncomfortable. "Marine Le Pen was given rounds of applause several times in the march," a source close to her told Reuters. "For me, the DNA of the far right is antisemitism. But analysts say Le Pen and her party are succeeding in shifting public discourse and perceptions. "Voters are led to believe that the danger no longer comes from the far right, but from political Islam."

Persons: –, Le Pen's, Jean, Marie, Le, Pen, Le Pen, Daniel Levy, Sandrine Rousseau, Giorgia, Marie Le Pen's, Serge Klarsfeld, Yonathan Arfi, Richard Sulzer, Olivier Veran, pollster Levy, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Juliette Jabkhiro, Angelo Amante, Sarah Marsh, Rachel Armstrong, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, Rassemblement, National Front, pollster Harris Interactive, Reuters, Rassemblement National, Conservative Party, Le Figaro, Voters, Thomson Locations: France, Israel, Palestinian, Paris, PARIS, Europe, Italy, Germany, Britain, EUROPE, Nazi, constituencies, Rome, Berlin, London

Israeli strikes hit near hospitals in Gaza City as the military pushed deeper into dense urban neighborhoods in its battle with Hamas militants. The number of Palestinians killed in the war has risen to over 10,800, including more than 4,400 children, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said. In the occupied West Bank, more than 160 Palestinians have been killed in the violence and Israeli raids. Basel Zalabani, Mohammed’s father, said that Israeli forces had arrested him and his other 18-year-old son Yazan ahead of the demolition. Since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, at least five Romanian citizens have been confirmed killed.

Persons: Gaza’s, Marine Le, JERUSALEM, Mohammed’s, Yazan, ”, Australia — Francesca Albanese, Israel, ” Albanese, “, they'll, ” CloudFlare, NETANYAHU, ISRAEL, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “ Writers Bloc ” Organizations: Hamas, Nations, Ministry, West Bank, —, United States Office, Palestinian Affairs, Bank, Basel, UN, won’t, Romania — Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates, UNITED, . Development, Social Commission, West, Fox News, The New York Times, “ Writers Bloc, New York Times, The Associated Press, of Liberty and Grand Locations: Gaza City, Gaza’s, Israel, Gaza, Hungary, israel, ISRAEL, Jerusalem, West, Jenin, ADELAIDE, Australia, Adelaide, GAZA BUCHAREST, Romania, Egypt, Rafah, Cairo, Bucharest, YEMEN, DUBAI, United Arab, Yemen, YemenNet, Saudi, Red City, Hodeida, Syria, Ukraine, West Asia, Palestinian, GAZA Israeli, deradicalized, Manhattan, New York

☆ The EU is stuck with its one-trick refugee policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Barring an influx of younger people from Africa and Asia, the EU will become increasingly old, weak and irrelevant. Instead, the EU is focussing on stopping irregular migrants crossing the Mediterranean. To be fair, each EU country has procedures for dealing with migrants who arrive through legal routes. That’s a long way short of the height of the Syrian crisis in 2015, when about 1.8 million refugees crossed EU borders. The hope is that the Mediterranean countries will then process asylum seekers when they arrive - and the EU’s internal borders will stay open.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Marine Le, Italy don’t, Martinez, Peter Thal Larsen, Katrina Hamlin, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Eurostat, EU, Reuters Graphics, Italian, Centre, European, Bank, Thomson Locations: Africa, Asia, EU, Spain, Europe, Turkey, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Lampedusa, Tunis, West Balkan, United Kingdom, That’s, Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, Hungary, Saharan Africa, Latin America

Since 1949, all female recruits have gone through boot camp at the South Carolina base; the 4th Battalion was created in 1986 as the women's unit. Inside the pool, men and women struggle side by side, jumping off a platform and swimming to the other end. Some measure of all-male companies would be necessary no matter what because there just are not enough female recruits to go around. The split, she said, divided them into “male Marines” and “female Marines,” and that shaped the men’s view of the women and made it more difficult for them to work together as they moved along. Young female recruits, who usually come from high schools where there is little separation, acknowledge the differences but voice no complaints.

Persons: Marine Base Parris, “, —, It's, Ash Carter, Carter, stridently, it's, Walker Field, ”, We’re, Aixa Dones, Dones, Maria Torres, Erin Kirk, Kirk, Nicole Momura, Nubia Delatorre, “ We’re, Delatorre Organizations: Marine Base, Marine Corps, Marines, Recruit, 4th Battalion, Marine, Corps, Brig, Marine Recruit, “, Bravo Company Locations: PARRIS, Parris, South Carolina, Gen, San Diego

☆ TV presenter under fire for 'racist' comments, suggesting that bloodsucking bedbugs of Paris are linked to immigrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A right-wing TV host in France linked the Paris' bedbug outbreak to immigrants. A government minister called Praud's comments on CNews, likened to Fox News, as "hate speech." AdvertisementAdvertisementA right-wing pundit in France is under investigation by Arcom, the country's audiovisual regulator, for making "racist" comments about the current bedbug infestation in Paris, The Times reports. Pascal Praud, a TV host on right-wing channel CNews, asked Nicolas Roux de Bezieux, the founder of a pest control firm, whether immigrants had caused the onslaught of bedbugs. David Belliard, Paris' Deputy Mayor, called the comments "stupid and racist," and added that CNews' views could be summarized in the clip.

Persons: Pascal Praud, —, Arcom, Nicolas Roux de Bezieux, Praud, Roux de Bezieux, Le, Emmanuel Macron's, Bérangère Couillard, David Belliard, Euronews, CNews, Eric Zemmour, Louis, Ferdinand Céline Organizations: Fox News, Service, Times, Charles, Rugby, Agence France, AP, France Insoumise, Gender Equality Locations: France, Paris, Gaulle

☆ Opinion: The US Congress, Slovakian voters just threw Ukraine under the bus
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( David A. Andelman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

David A. Andelman CNNBoth appear to have thrown Ukraine and its war with Russia under the bus. Nationwide, Fico himself was the largest single vote-getter, while three of the top five are members of his anti-Ukraine party. They said they’re going to support Ukraine in a separate vote,” Biden said. Only 52% of French voters and 49% of German voters are in favor of offering EU membership to Ukraine. Quick action by Congress is needed to stem further erosion — or even the possible collapse — of determined support for Ukraine across the western democracies.

Persons: David A, CNN —, Vladimir Putin, Robert Fico, Fico, Michal Šimečka, Volodymyr Zelensky, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin —, Zelensky, Joe Biden, Republicans –, ” Biden, “, Viktor Orban, “ Guess, ” Orban, Tomas Benedikovic, ” Fico, Orban —, Mateusz Morawiecki, ” Poland’s, Donald Tusk, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin, Marine Le, Turkey, Hungary’s Orban, Slovakia’s Fico, waffling Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, Russian, Russia, Nationwide, Ukraine Progresivne, Ukraine, United Nations General Assembly, Republicans, Putin, Slovak, Getty, European Union, NATO, Law, Justice Party, Polsat, European Council, Social Democratic, National Rally, Kremlin, Congress Locations: Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Fico, Washington, New York, Bratislava, Hungary, AFP, Luhansk, Poland, Europe, Germany, France, Sweden, United States

☆ Ukraine's counteroffensive raises doubts about whether the US and Western militaries are training their troops for the right kind of war
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Some Ukrainian troops said the training didn't reflect the kind of fighting they faced against Russian forces. That has raised doubts about whether Western militaries are training themselves for the right kinds of operations. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe slow progress of the counteroffensive Ukraine launched in early June led to criticism that Ukrainian troops were failing to apply properly the training they received from Western militaries. But what if the problem isn't with the Ukrainians but rather with Western tactics? Ukraine eventually junked those Western tactics in favor a playbook from the Western Front circa 1917.

Persons: —, HENRY NICHOLLS, Klaus, Dietmar Gabbert, insurgencies, openDemocracy, hasn't, Scott Peterson, it's, Michael Peck Organizations: Western, Russian, Service, NATO, Royal Marine, Ukrainian Army, Getty, Bradley, Getty Images, New York Times, Pentagon, US Air Force, Ukrainian Territorial Defense, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, England, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, Ukrainian, Iraq, Afghanistan, Zaporizhzhia Region, Forbes

☆ French centre-right keeps control of Senate, far-right wins three seats
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] French Senate President Gerard Larcher arrives to attend a state dinner in honor of Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Chateau de Versailles (Versailles Palace) in Versailles, near Paris, on the first day of their State visit to France, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Acquire Licensing Rights Read morePARIS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - France's centre-right Les Republicains (LR) party maintained its majority in the Senate after Sunday's vote, in which three senators from Marine Le Pen's far-right party were elected. The Senate is indirectly elected by France's mayors as well as regional, departmental and municipal councillors. Le Pen's Rassemblement National had been widely expected to make a new breakthrough in the Senate but the score of three wins was above expectations. Under France's Fifth Republic, the Senate has less influence over legislating than the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.

Persons: Gerard Larcher, Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Hannah McKay, Les Republicains, Le Pen's, Sonia Backes, Emmanuel Macron's, Macron, Michel Rose, Sybille de La, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Chateau, REUTERS, State, France's Fifth, National Assembly, Socialist, Thomson Locations: Versailles, Paris, France, PARIS, Marine, Rassemblement, New Caledonia, France's Fifth Republic

Marine Le Pen, member of parliament and president of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, speaks during the questions to the government session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The Paris prosecutor's office said on Friday that far-right leader Marine Le Pen and 23 other members of her party should stand trial over alleged misuse of EU funds, escalating a seven-year-old probe. The prosecutor's office said some 49 assistants' situation had been examined over a period of time spanning three EU parliament terms of office, from 2004 to 2016. She faces a potential 10-year jail sentence, a one million euros fine, and - as she's an elected official - ineligibility to hold public office for 10 years, the prosecutor's office said. Judges will have to decide whether or not to accept the prosecutor's office petition for trial.

Persons: Stephanie Lecocq, Marine Le, Le Pen, Emmanuel Macron, Juliette Jabkhiro, Dominique Vidalon, Elizabeth Pineau, Charlotte Van Campenhout, William Maclean Organizations: National Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Rassemblement, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Le Pen's

Von der Leyen’s spokesman, Eric Mamer, confirmed on Saturday that she would make the trip at the invitation of Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. About 7,000 migrants arrived on Lampedusa from Tunisia this week, and the Red Cross said that 3,800 remained on the island on Friday. A representative told the official that islanders have run out of patience after three decades of coping with arrivals. “Obviously, Italy and Europe can't welcome this massive influx of people, especially when these migrant flows are being managed by unscrupulous traffickers,” she said. As Meloni hosts von der Leyen in Lampedusa, Salvini on Sunday has invited French far-right leader Marine Le Pen to an annual League rally in the northern Italian town of Pontida.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Italy’s, Von der, Eric Mamer, Giorgia, “, ”, Matteo Salvini, Meloni, Salvini, Marine Le Organizations: MILAN, —, Cross, Media, Residents, SKY TG24, League, EU, der, Sunday Locations: Lampedusa, North Africa, Italian, Tunisia, Meloni, Europe, Italy, French, Pontida

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