Latest news with #FarRight
France 24
6 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Europol-coordinated global operation takes down pro-Russian cybercrime network
05:02 16/07/2025 EU proposes 100-bn-euro fund for Ukraine alongside 2028-2034 budget Europe 16/07/2025 'Inheritance unequally distributed': Advanced economies all experiencing 'great wealth transfer' Europe 14/07/2025 Excavations begin at child mass grave site in Ireland Europe 14/07/2025 Far-right groups and migrants clash in southeastern Spain town Europe 14/07/2025 Nine arrests in Spain after anti-migrant unrest Europe 14/07/2025 EU top diplomat says Trump's 50 day Russia ultimatum 'a very long time' Europe 14/07/2025 Trump threatens Russia with tariffs and boosts US weapons for Ukraine Europe 14/07/2025 Trump threatens Russia with tariffs if war on Ukraine isn't resolved Europe
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Trump slams 'stupid' Republicans as Epstein row grows
US President Donald Trump blasted "foolish" Republican supporters Wednesday as he went on the attack against anyone questioning his administration's handling of the case of dead sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. After days of struggling to brush off what he now claims is a Democratic hoax, Trump took his most combative tone yet to try and shut down the issue. "It's all been a big hoax, it's perpetrated by the Democrats. And some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net and so they try and do the Democrats' work," Trump told reporters when asked about Epstein. But Trump is facing the most serious split in his loyal right-wing base since he returned to power, over claims that his administration is covering up lurid details of disgraced financier Epstein's crimes to protect rich and powerful figures. Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 -- during Trump's first term -- after being charged with sex trafficking in a scheme where he allegedly groomed young and underage women for abuse by the rich and powerful. The Trump-supporting far-right has long latched on to the scandal, claiming the existence of a secret list of Epstein's powerful clients and that the late financier was in fact murdered in his cell. Trump supporters expected the Republican to answer their questions on his return to office this January but now find themselves being told the conspiracy theories are false. Trump, 79, began on Wednesday by dismissing what he called "my PAST supporters" in a post on his Truth Social network. He said they had "bought into this 'bullshit' hook, line and sinker." He doubled down when he faced repeated questions on the issue in the Oval Office during a visit with Bahrain's visiting crown prince, pinning the blame for the wild conspiracy theories on his opponents. He then sought to deflect, rattling off what he said were a list of his economic and foreign policy achievements and complaining that people were instead "talking about a guy who obviously had some very serious problems who died three, four years ago." "And the sad part, it is people that are really doing the Democrats work. They're stupid people." Asked if his post describing supporters who questioned the White House's line as "past" was effectively disowning them, Trump replied: "No but I lost a lot of faith in certain people." - Trump's changing tune - Trump -- who was one of the many currently famous people who were formerly friends with Epstein, but denies having gone to his notorious US Virgin Islands home -- said ahead of his election he would have "no problem" releasing files on the case. But the Justice Department and FBI said in a memo made public earlier this month there is no evidence that the disgraced financier kept a "client list" or was blackmailing powerful figures. They also dismissed the claim that Epstein was murdered in jail, confirming his death by suicide, and said they would not be releasing any more information on the probe. However, reports that nearly three minutes had been cut from prison security camera footage released in an effort to prove the absence of foul play only triggered new speculation. Beyond angering supporters, the issue has opened a schism within his administration, sparking a fiery blow-up between Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who is said to be considering resigning. Trump on Wednesday reiterated that Bondi could release "whatever's credible" in the files.
Local France
6 days ago
- Business
- Local France
OPINION: Bayrou's budget has infuriated everyone and may force France into fresh elections
A freeze on all public spending, except on defence; no inflation-linked rise in pensions or welfare payments; a tax on the super wealthy; and - just to make sure the whole country was furious - the abolition of two public holidays . This was an ambitious programme for a powerful prime minister with a large parliamentary majority and several years to impose his will before the next election. Bayrou is the most unpopular Prime Minister for 60 years. He heads a quarrelsome coalition with a minority of seats in the National Assembly. His chances of surviving the Autumn as France's fourth prime minister in 20 months are small – and smaller after Tuesday's speech. What was he trying to achieve? To end his 40-year career in French politics guns-blazing as the man who was right but ignored? Advertisement Bayrou's office rejects that interpretation. They say Tuesday's speech was aimed over the heads of politicians at an 'ordinary France' which understands that a proud, independent country can no longer afford to add to its Himalaya of €3.3 trillion of public debt. The Prime Minister believes, they say, that the predictable rejection of his plan by oppositions of both Left and Far Right was just the beginning of a long negotiation. Bayrou plans to take no summer holiday. He believes that public opinion will come to his rescue. His maximalist plan to cut the 2026 budget by €43.8 billion can be sold in amended form, he believes, to the Socialists if not the Far Right. The abolition of Easter Monday and May 8th as public holidays was intended to concentrate minds but fall away in the final negotiation. This is the theory. There were no clear statements of support from the parties of the minority Centre and Centre-right coalition, other than Bayrou's own Modem. This is the Prime Minister's strategy alone. His days are probably numbered and two numbers will decide his fate. The first number is €43.8 billion. The Prime Minister is right to say that France needs to cut a large chunk from its deficit next year. But how can he or any other Prime Minister hope to correct 50 years of profligacy with no majority in the National Assembly? The second number is 289. How can Bayrou avoid a censure motion in the Assembly in the autumn – 289 votes out of 577 are needed – when the mutually-detesting opposition groups of Left and Far Right seem determined to bring him down? Bayrou's predecessor Michel Barnier survived only three months before he was toppled by his attempts to pass a deficit-cutting budget for 2025. Bayrou's career as PM will almost certainly be terminated by his attempts to pass a budget for 2026. What will President Emmanuel Macron do then? He could call a new parliamentary election but that would solve little. He is more likely, I believe, to appoint a new Prime Minister – the fifth in less than two years – to try to pick a new way through the parliamentary-budgetary morass. Advertisement Only if that fails will Macron feel obliged to call a new legislative election late this year or in the spring (disrupting the important, municipal elections due in March). None of the main players - whatever they may say - wants a new national election before the Presidential poll of April-May 2027. President Macron was badly burned politically by his calamitous decision to hold a snap election last June and July. He thought he was going to be forced into an election within a couple of months anyway by the manoeuvres of the centre-right group in the National Assembly. He recovered his power to dissolve the assembly last week after a constitution-imposed 12 months delay. He will be very reluctant to use that power again but may eventually have little choice. The Left does not want a new election, whatever they may say. It would be difficult for them to reassemble their successful electoral alliance, the New Popular Front. They would risk losing many of the seats that they won last year. Both Jean-Luc Mélenchon's hard left La France Insoumise and the divided Socialists would rather concentrate on the local elections of 2026 and presidential elections of 2027. Advertisement So why risk an election by censuring Bayrou and whoever succeeds him? The hard left is addicted to censure motions and its extreme anti-Macron rhetoric. Compromise is not in their nature. The Socialists made a temporary deal with Bayrou to allow the 2025 budget to pass in February. Bayrou believes that he can appeal to their patriotism and good sense. The more radical wing of the party won its leadership election last month. They are not in the mood to rescue Bayrou - and face up to France's profound budgetary problems – again. Marine Le Pen's Far Right might do well in a new election. She does not want one all the same. She would be banned from running again for her seat in Hénin-Beaumont near Lille after her five-year suspension from electoral office for embezzling EU funds last March. She would rather wait for the outcome of her appeal next summer. A parliamentary election before then might tilt the balance of power within the Rassemblement National towards her Number Two, Jordan Bardella. So why would Le Pen risk an election by censuring Bayrou and whoever succeeds him? She has painted herself into a corner. She has rejected in advance almost all workable means of cutting France's budget deficit. She wants no freeze in pensions or social spending; no tax rises; no cuts which effect the middle classes. Her parliamentary party and electoral base would be furious if she crossed these red lines. In sum, no one wants a new parliamentary election so close to 2027. Not the politicians. Not the electors. We may sleep-walk into one all the same. To solve a budgetary problem which is a half-century in the making needs either a courageous government with a parliamentary majority or an opposition ready to negotiate on the deficit in good faith. France has neither.
France 24
15-07-2025
- Business
- France 24
China condemns 'coercion' after Trump floats tariffs on Russia allies
03:08 15/07/2025 Israel strikes military tanks in southern Syria 15/07/2025 Syria: 'Sweida has been a real focal point of violence' Middle East 15/07/2025 'Whole range of factors: environmental, human and societal, contributing to worsening of disasters' Environment 14/07/2025 Excavations begin at child mass grave site in Ireland Europe 14/07/2025 Markets shrug off Trump tariff threat against EU Economy 14/07/2025 'It's simply horrific that a family would risk their life to find food and water for their beloved' Middle East 14/07/2025 Far-right groups and migrants clash in southeastern Spain town Europe 14/07/2025 New Gaza-bound aid boat leaves Italy Middle East
Times
14-07-2025
- Times
Anti-migrant rioters attack homes of ‘foreigners' in Spanish town
Nine people have been arrested after three days of anti-immigrant clashes in a town in southeastern Spain following an attack on a pensioner. Police reinforcements have been deployed to Torre-Pacheco, in the Murcia region, where five people have been injured and nine detained in the disturbances, officials said on Monday. Far-right groups and residents have fought against youths of north African origin several times since a 68-year-old Spaniard was attacked on Wednesday. Public anger mounted after a photograph of his badly bruised face and a video purporting to show the attack were posted online. The man, Domingo Tomás, told Spanish media that the incident occurred as he took his usual early morning walk at 5.30am. He came across two young people of Maghrebi origin, he said, when a third ran at him and hit him with a stick, knocking him down before beating him again. 'I didn't understand what they were saying as it was in another language. I didn't say anything to provoke them,' he told El Español news website. 'I had my watch and house keys with me, and that young man didn't even take the watch — he just hit me to hurt me. He hit me for fun. 'In town, they say the young kids are doing a dare, hitting someone to see who hits harder, and I think that's why they did it — to film everything.' Two of the three suspects have been arrested, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the interior minister, said on Monday. Police were still looking for the main perpetrator. Six others — five Spaniards and one north African resident — were arrested for assault, public disorder, hate crimes or damage to property, the interior ministry said on Monday morning. Later in the day, a ninth person was detained in connection with an attack on a kebab shop. The local mayor, Pedro Ángel Roca, called on the 'migrant community not to leave their homes and not to confront rioters', telling the national broadcaster, TVE: 'Confrontation achieves nothing and ultimately makes us all afraid.' Tomás said that the video purporting to show the attack was not of him, prompting media to report that it had been circulated by far-right groups hoping to whip up anger. One group, named 'Deport Them Now', posted a message on social media calling for attacks against people of north African origin. • Police should disclose ethnicity of suspects, says Met chief On Friday, the city council had called a peaceful demonstration to condemn the attack, but tensions were already running high. A handful of youths of Maghrebi origin arrived, as did members of far-right groups who attacked them despite the presence of police officers. Videos posted on social media showed men dressed in clothes bearing far-right symbols and migrants carrying Moroccan flags hurling objects at each other in Saturday night's violence, which came after lower intensity unrest. Several dozen youths from far-right groups, some hooded, hurled glass bottles and objects at riot police in Torre-Pacheco on Sunday night. Police fired rubber bullets to quell the unrest. Groups of violent individuals, many of them from outside the municipality, roamed the town's streets armed with sticks and went to homes where they knew foreigners lived, according to the local newspaper La Opinión de Murcia. Police intercepted more than 20 vehicles attempting to enter the town, with some occupants carrying sticks and batons, Grande-Marlaska said. The Murcian town has 40,000 inhabitants, 30 per cent of whom are of Maghrebi origin. The area surrounding the town also hosts large numbers of migrants who work as day labourers in agriculture, one of the pillars of the regional economy. Politicians have appealed for calm. Grande-Marlaska blamed far-right groups and the populist right-wing Vox party. 'It's a consequence of the far-right's rhetoric, endorsed by the right, which doesn't question it. It's Vox's fault and its rhetoric,' he said. He criticised the political party's association of illegal immigration with crime when interior ministry data 'doesn't support it'. The Vox leader, Santiago Abascal, denied any responsibility for the incidents and said the government's migration policies were to blame. Abdelali, a north African resident who declined to give his surname, said he was now afraid of being attacked on the streets. He said: 'We want peace. That's what we want, we don't want anything else. I ride my scooter and I'm afraid of being hit by a bottle.' In 2000, violent anti-immigration protests broke out in the town of El Ejido in southern Spain after three Spanish citizens were killed by Moroccan migrants.
