Does LR risk getting swallowed up by center or losing themselves, clinging ever closer to far right?

France’s Les Républicains face incredible challenges to “articulate some difference and find themselves a role” in such a volatile political landscape. All the while, Sarkozy remains “very influential player in background of French politics, moving the chess pieces on the board for the center-right.” For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the major challenges … Read more

China allows Sweden, Finland, Germany, Denmark to board ship in cable violation case

Copenhagen, Denmark – Denmark has allowed representatives of Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to board a Chinese bulk carrier at the center of an investigation into Baltic Sea cable violations, Denmark’s foreign minister said on Thursday. yi peng 3 The ship is wanted in Sweden for questioning over the severing of two undersea fiber-optic cables … Read more

US faces possible government shutdown after Trump rejects stopgap bill

US President-elect Donald Trump has increased bipartisan efforts to avert a government shutdown, after he rejected a stopgap bill and pressed Republican legislators to either renegotiate it or risk their political careers. The new bill would have kept federal funding running at the current level until March after the current short-term spending plan expires on … Read more

New US law ends decades-long Havana Club trademark battle – DW – 12/19/2024

The new law, signed into law by outgoing US President Joe Biden in early December, prevents US courts from recognizing trademarks that were “illegally seized” by the Cuban government without the consent of the original owners since 1959. 1959 was the year when Fidel Castro’s revolutionary forces overthrew Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista and established a … Read more

Guilty verdicts in France’s mass rape trial ‘sends powerful message’

A French court on Thursday found 51 men found guilty of participating in the mass rape of Gisèle Pelicot during decades of abuse orchestrated by her ex-husband. Many of the men had denied the charges against them saying that they thought Gisèle Pelicot had consented to the encounters, despite being drugged unconscious. The guilty verdicts … Read more

Canada: Expats worried as Quebec freezes immigration programs

In Canada, Quebec’s provincial government has just announced, without prior warning, a freeze on permanent immigration. Two major programs are impacted: the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) and the graduate component of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). The opposition is denouncing a “lack of planning”, while immigrant rights’ organizations accuse the authorities of making thousands … Read more