Rise of the right in Europe as Austria Freedom Party set to take power
After doubling their votes and winning the September 2024 election, Austria’s far right Freedom Party (FPÖ) now has a shot at governance and the chancellorship. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said on Monday, Jan. 6, that the FPÖ had a greenlight to try its hand at forming a coalition government after the second place party’s bid for a coalition failed over the weekend.
The FPÖ was founded by a former Nazi SS officer in the 1950s, and has maintained third or fourth place in most elections since then. In 2017, the party formed a coalition with the ruling People’s Party, which fell apart in 2019. The FPÖ then garnered nearly 29% of the vote in the most recent election.
The party called for an end to sanctions on Russia and expressed criticism of Western support to Ukraine. Austria has a longstanding policy of neutrality, and could join other skeptical nations like Slovakia and Hungary in opposition to continued aid to the country.
“I do not think that it is in America’s interest to continue to fund an effectively never-ending war in Ukraine,” Vance said in May 2024.
In 2022, Vance also said that he “did not care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.”
Back in Austria, the FPÖ has called for a more “homogenous” country and for more border controls. While not all right-wing leaders in Europe call for an immediate end in European aid to Ukraine, Austria may be on the verge of doing so.
Why Macron fears Iran’s nuclear program is nearing ‘point of no return’
French President Emmanuel Macron warned the world on Monday, Jan. 6, that Iran is nearing “the point of no return” when it comes to procuring potential nuclear weapons. Macron said during his address to French ambassadors that Tehran has enough enriched uranium to power a handful of nuclear warheads, and called Iran the biggest strategic threat that Europe faces.
It’s not just Macron who said Iran is increasing its enriched uranium stockpile. The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said in December that Iran was “dramatically” accelerating enrichment, and roughly 90% of its uranium stockpile was at bomb-grade level.
France was part of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which fell apart in 2018 when the first Trump administration withdrew the United States. Under that deal, Iran had agreed to pull back on its nuclear program in exchange for international sanctions being lifted.
As a result of the U.S. backing out, Iran began enriching uranium at higher levels, which reportedly shortened the time needed to make a nuclear device from months to weeks.
President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20, is also reportedly raising fresh concerns after he drew a hardline with Tehran during his first term.
Macron said he is still debating whether more sanctions may be the answering to deterring Tehran from further enhancing its nuclear program and will talk with the incoming Trump administration about the “Iranian question.”
Trump’s trip to Notre Dame ceremony gives leaders chance to build closer ties
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is reopening the weekend of Dec. 7. And while the ceremonies will be an emotional moment for the French public, the events will also be a major opportunity for world leaders to meet.
With President-elect Donald Trump being among the roughly 50 world leaders to attend, it’s a chance for other countries to try to curry favor. It’s his first trip abroad as president-elect. Trump will attend events in Paris this weekend, as will First Lady Jill Biden.
Domestically, Macron is facing trouble after the resignation of prime minister Michel Barnier and collapse of the parliamentary government. However, Macron may be able to strengthen ties between France and President-elect Trump. The two overlapped as leaders during Trump’s first term.
Trump has met or spoken with a number of leaders since winning last month’s election, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to the president-elect’s residence at Mar-a-Lago for talks last weekend. Trump has warned he will implement tariffs on many goods from Canada because of concerns about U.S. border security.
The first ceremony occurs Saturday afternoon. The archbishop of Paris will start things off by knocking on the doors to reopen them. The ceremony will include prayers, songs and remarks by President Macron to a crowd including the dozens of world leaders who accepted his invitation.
Trump to travel to Paris for reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral
President-elect Donald Trump announces plans to travel to Paris, his first trip overseas since winning the election. And a judge rejects Elon Musk’s bid to restore his $56 billion pay package. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
Trump to travel to Paris for reopening of Notre Dame cathedral
Trump posted his travel plans to his Truth Social platform Monday night, Dec. 2, saying in part, “President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!”
A massive fire broke out at the cathedral in April 2019 and although it is not yet fully restored, visitors will be allowed back beginning Dec. 7. According to Paris police, Saturday’s reopening is expected to draw some 50 heads of state. Sources told CNN Trump was invited to the event by the French government.
https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yoJMyjEyQXJQ
Macron is slated to deliver remarks at the ceremony. The French president was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump on his victory last month, posting on X that he was ready to work with Trump again for peace and prosperity.
The news of Trump’s trip to Paris comes just days after the president-elect selected real estate mogul Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father, to serve as the ambassador of France during his second administration.
In 2020, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, who had pleaded guilty in 2005 to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign donations. He served 14 months in prison.
Trump’s visit to Paris would be his first known trip outside of the U.S. since he visited his golf courses in Ireland and Scotland in May 2023.
Biden makes history as first US president to visit Angola
Biden’s visit is centered on the U.S.-backed Lobito corridor railway redevelopment project in Angola, Zambia and Congo. It’s meant to counter China’s influence on the continent.
This morning, I met with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva of the Republic of Cabo Verde to discuss our growing relationship, the vibrant Cabo Verdean diaspora in the U.S., and ways we can work together to support democratic freedoms and climate resilience. pic.twitter.com/gMQQDKphsD
The goal is to increase the U.S.’ presence in the region which is rich in the critical minerals used to make things like electric vehicle batteries and other electronic devices, as well as clean energy technologies.
On his way to Angola, Biden stopped in the island nation of Cape Verde for a short, closed-door meeting with that country’s prime minister.
Raskin challenges Nadler for top Democratic House Judiciary Committee spot
Raskin is a former constitutional law professor who served as the Democrats’ lead prosecutor in the Trump impeachment trial after the Jan. 6 attack. Nadler has held the top job on the committee since 2019 and is currently serving in his 17th term in Congress.
Raskin, who is the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement Monday that come next year, the Judiciary under his leadership would become “the headquarters of congressional opposition to authoritarianism.”
Judge rules Elon Musk’s $56B Tesla pay package can’t be reinstated
On Monday, a Delaware judge ruled Tesla failed to prove its fiscal plan for the CEO was fair, saying the board was under too much influence from Musk when it approved the massive payout in the form of stock options. The package was the largest compensation plan in U.S. history for a public company executive.
In a post on X, which Musk also owns, Tesla said it plans to appeal the decision.
A Delaware judge just overruled a supermajority of shareholders who own Tesla and who voted twice to pay @elonmusk what he’s worth.
The court’s decision is wrong, and we’re going to appeal.
This ruling, if not overturned, means that judges and plaintiffs’ lawyers run Delaware…
2,500 giant panda sculptures on display in Hong Kong
It was “panda-monium” at the Hong Kong International Airport on Monday as 2,500 giant panda sculptures were on display. It was all part of a launch ceremony for the panda-themed exhibition called “PANDA GO! FEST HK.”
Starting Saturday, the sculptures will be on the move throughout Hong Kong visiting various landmarks. The designs of six special editions were inspired by the half-dozen giant pandas currently living in Hong Kong.
What is “brain rot?” According to Oxford, the definition is the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material — particularly online content — considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”
Oxford says it selected “brain rot” after a vote of 37,000 people, public discussion, and analysis. The publisher said “brain rot” has gained new prominence this year as a term used to reference the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content.
French president tours Notre Dame as cathedral prepares to reopen after fire
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is reopening to the public. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on Friday, Nov. 29 to workers and donors who helped restore the nearly 1,000-year-old cathedral over the last five-and-a-half years, calling their efforts “the project of the century.”
“Don’t forget that you repaired, that you contributed to reinvent, that you loved this place and that you rebuilt it,” Macron said. “Don’t forget that during these five years of your life, you shared together, without a doubt, the most beautiful project of the century.”
Macron also toured the cathedral, where he had a chance to look at the new oak roof and the restored windows. He said that it felt like they were “rediscovering” it.
Notre Dame caught fire in April 2019. The blaze severely damaged the building and nearly took down its main bell towers.
In the years since, the cathedral has been closed to the public. But after firefighters contained the blaze, construction and restoration workers have worked on rebuilding the Paris landmark.
The effort focused on using construction methods that would align with the way the cathedral was first built in the 12th century.
French authorities still don’t know the cause of the fire, but think either an electrical issue or a burning cigarette may have started it.
The cathedral will reopen to the public after a ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 7. It will host a series of special masses in the first few days afterward.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
President-elect Donald Trump said Mexico has agreed to stem the tide of migrants flowing into the United States, but Mexico’s president is now saying that’s not quite accurate. And Amazon workers are using Black Friday to make a statement about their labor situation. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
As President-elect Donald Trump gets ready to return to office, he’s already making moves to follow through on some of his biggest campaign promises. After announcing this week his plans to impose tariffs on goods from China, Canada and Mexico, he turned his attention to another hot-button issue: immigration.
It’s a bit of a case of “he said, she said” after Trump had a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday, Nov. 27. President-elect Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the call saying Sheinbaum agreed to stop migration into the U.S. through Mexico, “effectively closing our southern border.”
Sheinbaum appeared to contradict Trump in a post of her own on X, saying in part, “Mexico’s position is not to close borders…”
She did, however, lay out Mexico’s “comprehensive strategy” for addressing the migration issue. In a separate post on X, Sheinbaum said during the call, she told President-elect Trump, “No caravans are arriving at the border because they are being attended to in Mexico.”
En nuestra conversación con el presidente Trump, le expuse la estrategia integral que ha seguido México para atender el fenómeno migratorio, respetando los derechos humanos. Gracias a ello se atiende a las personas migrantes y a las caravanas previo a que lleguen a la frontera.…
The two leaders also talked about how they’re addressing the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
The call was scheduled after Trump unveiled plans to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico to the U.S. as part of the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. through Mexico.
Not only would that impact the prices of avocados and agave — both very popular in the U.S. — Mexico’s economy secretary said Wednesday 88% of all North American pickup trucks come from Mexico. Sheinbaum then suggested Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own.
“I hope he rethinks it,” Biden said. “I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do. You know, one of the things you’ve heard me say before is that we are – we have an unusual situation in America. We’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies: Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships.”
Economists forecast Trump’s planned tariffs would increase prices for American shoppers, costing the average U.S. household about $2,600 per year, according to an estimate from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Israel and Hezbollah both claim ceasefire violations
Barely three days into a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, both sides are claiming violations.
Yesterday, Hezbollah had a precision-guided missile manufacturing site—today, they don’t.
Hezbollah’s largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site, 1.4km wide and 70m underground, was struck and dismantled by IAF fighter jets yesterday.
Lebanese authorities also said two people, who were trying to return to southern Lebanon, were shot and wounded by Israeli forces. Lebanon’s health ministry said they were civilians, but the IDF claimed they were suspected of violating terms of the truce.
The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month ceasefire during which Hezbollah militants will withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border.
Thousands of Amazon workers to strike from Black Friday to Cyber Monday
Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., are on strike on some of the busiest pre-Christmas shopping days across the world. It started on Black Friday, Nov. 29, a day for bargain hunters to score some of the biggest discounts from stores across the country as holiday shopping kicks into high gear.
Organizers told the United Nations the so-called “days of resistance” are to hold Amazon accountable for alleged labor abuses, as well as “environmental degradation and threats to democracy.” According to ABC News, the strike could delay holiday deliveries.
The organizers said this is their fifth year of labor action against Amazon during the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
In a statement, Amazon said the group that organized the strikes is being “intentionally misleading” and promoting a “false narrative.” Management said the company offers great pay and benefits.
Canada sues Google over control of online ads
Canada’s antitrust watchdog said it is suing Google over alleged anti-competitive conduct in the company’s online advertising business. They’re calling for Google to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty.
The Competition Bureau said it’s necessary because an investigation into Google found the company “unlawfully” tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. Google insists the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector and is fighting the allegations.
This comes just a week after the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser, saying it continues to crush the competition through its dominant search engine.
America facing a live Christmas tree shortage again
As millions of Americans get ready to begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree, growers are having historic challenges getting them to sale lots, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The day after Thanksgiving is usually the biggest day for live tree sales, but since Thanksgiving came so late this year, it’s a very short selling season. On top of that, a nationwide shortage is expected thanks to severe weather across the country this year, such as a northeastern drought and North Carolina floods caused by Hurricane Helene. North Carolina is the second-biggest supplier of Christmas trees in the country.
Shoppers bought roughly 21.6 million real Christmas trees in the U.S. last year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The Department of Agriculture said the number of trees harvested in the U.S. has declined 30% since 2002, while the American population has grown 16% over the same period.
Alaska native air drops Thanksgiving turkeys to families in remote areas
In the most remote parts of Alaska a Thanksgiving turkey is hard to come by. So, one woman made sure families in roadless parts of the state had their holiday feast.
Pilot Esther Keim calls it “Alaska Turkey Bomb.” She flies in a small plane to off-the-grid homes and air drops frozen turkeys for families to enjoy for Thanksgiving.
Keim said it’s a tribute to a family friend who did the same thing for her family when she was growing up.
She started the tradition in 2022 after somebody that she knew told her they did not have much of a holiday dinner — and no turkey at all. Since then, she has delivered 30 to 40 turkeys every year to families living in remote areas of Alaska.
Cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah holding so far
The cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah marks a step toward peace in the Middle East, but what happens now in Gaza where Israel is still at war with Hamas? And rain or shine — but not wind — revelers get ready to celebrate in New York City at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.
Cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah holding so far
A cease-fire deal between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon is holding, so far.
President Joe Biden announced the deal — which the United States and France helped broker — on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Israel and Hezbollah have agreed on an initial 60-day cease-fire, which sets the stage for a lasting truce.
Already, long-displaced residents of parts of Lebanon have started returning to their homes, hopeful the tenuous agreement will be extended beyond two months. That’s despite the Israeli military warning people to stay away from previously evacuated areas.
Israel has said if Hezbollah breaks the cease-fire agreement, it will attack.
Following the directive of the political echelon, the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon took effect at 04:00 today, and the IDF has been operating accordingly. IDF troops are stationed at their positions in southern Lebanon.
Over the past hour, the IDF identified a vehicle with…
During the 60-day truce, Hezbollah fighters are to retreat at least 25 miles from the border with Israel and Israeli forces will withdraw from Lebanese territory.
The agreement does not address the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, another Iran-backed militant group, in Gaza. However, Hamas has said it is ready for a truce.
“So, now Hamas has a choice to make,” President Biden said on Tuesday. “Their only way out is to release the hostages, including American citizens, which they hold. In the process, bring an end to the fighting, which would make possible a surge of humanitarian relief. Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Biden told reporters he’s hopeful he’ll help achieve a cease-fire in Gaza before the end of his term in January. If not, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, though he has not yet said how.
Trump picks nominations for NIH, trade
President-elect Trump has kept busy this holiday week. On Tuesday night, he announced new picks to join his administration.
Among them, Trump nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to serve as the director of the National Institutes of Health. As head of the NIH, the Stanford University professor would work alongside Trump’s pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Bhattacharya, who also has a doctorate in economics, became known for opposing lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 27, 2024
Trump also selected Jamieson Greer to lead the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Greer is no stranger to the department, having served as chief of staff to the trade representative during Trump’s first term — which saw tariffs imposed on Chinese goods and the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement.
Greer served as a lawyer in the Air Force and is currently a partner in international trade at the law firm King and Spalding.
Both of these nominations will need Senate confirmation.
Australia’s House passes bill to ban kids under 16 from social media
The bill would make platforms such as Tiktok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to $50 million ($33 million USD) for failing to prevent young children from holding accounts.
Australia’s communications minister Michelle Rowland introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges. pic.twitter.com/K0zui1wHLv
The legislation passed 102-13 in Australia’s House of Representatives and now moves on to the Senate. If the bill becomes law, social media companies would have one year to figure out how to implement the age restrictions before they are enforced.
More than 3,000 fake name-brand electric guitars seized in California
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it seized more than 3,000 fake electric guitars in Southern California. CBP said the knockoffs were destined for the e-commerce market, just in time for holiday gift shopping.
CBP said if the guitars were real, they would be worth about $18 million. Most of the fakes look like Gibson brand guitars, but some were supposedly from other well-known companies such as Fender.
Federal authorities would not release any details about suspects in the investigation or where the counterfeit guitars came from.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to go on, rain or shine
A Macy’s spokesperson told the New York Post the parade will proceed regardless of wet weather — good news for the expected 3.5 million people who will be along the parade route and the estimated 30 million watching at home. However, wind could pose a problem.
The spokesperson told the Post, “Based on the city’s guidelines, no giant character balloon will be operated when there are sustained wind conditions exceeding 23 miles per hour and wind gusts greater than 34 miles per hour on the parade route.”
So far, according to weather reports, the winds should not be a problem, and all 32 balloons should be able to fly. New ones this year include Minnie Mouse and Spider-Man, which is marking its return to the parade for the first time in a decade.
Happy Thanksgiving from Straight Arrow News
With Thursday being Thanksgiving, as you get ready to gather around the table with your family, we wanted to take this time for you to get to know ours a little better. In the video above, members of our Straight Arrow News team have special messages about what they’re thankful for this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
France, UK weigh military support for Ukraine as US commitment wavers
France and the United Kingdom are discussing the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine as part of a European coalition. French officials say all options remain under consideration, particularly as U.S. aid to Kyiv faces uncertainty with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in January 2025. Talks between London and Paris have intensified, focusing on forming a European defense coalition to bolster Ukraine’s position and counter the risk of further Russian advances.
NATO reported that Russia’s ground forces have grown since the war began, even as the quality of equipment and training has declined. Moscow ramped up aerial attacks and missile launches, underscoring escalating tensions.
In response, the U.K. announced its largest sanctions package yet, targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers allegedly used to evade Western restrictions. British leaders are calling on allies to ensure Ukraine receives sufficient resources to maintain its defenses through 2025.
NATO is now preparing for emergency talks as the situation grows more volatile. France has signaled it may send long-range weapons capable of striking targets in Russia.
Meanwhile, France has completed training for a newly formed Ukrainian brigade under its “Champagne” task force. Known as the “Anne of Kyiv” brigade, the unit is named after a Ukrainian princess who became a queen of France.
The brigade, which will eventually comprise 4,500 troops, underwent more than two months of rigorous training in battlefield tactics, coordination and the use of advanced weaponry. Equipped with French-supplied light tanks, artillery and missile systems, the soldiers are now better prepared for the intense combat scenarios they are likely to face.
Paris deploys thousands of police officers before France-Israel soccer match
Police reportedly used tear gas against protesters as officers in riot gear pushed back demonstrators. Activists accuse Israel of war crimes as the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 43,000 Palestinians have now been killed in the war. One activist declared, “We are not afraid of the police.”
At least one pro-Palestinian protest is expected to be held about 1.5 miles from the match on Thursday. The group leading the demonstration called Urgence Palestine is calling on the Israeli soccer team to be banned from competition over the war in Gaza.
Paris police say 4,000 officers will be working with 2,500 police officers around the event, and 1,500 officers in positions across the city.
Authorities also said only French and Israeli flags will be allowed inside the stadium.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to attend the match as a symbol of “fraternity and solidarity” in the wake of the violence in Amsterdam. Attendance is expected to be low with reportedly only around a quarter of the 80,000-seat stadium to be filled.
French newspapers sue Elon Musk’s X over content payments
Multiple French news organizations sued X, accusing Elon Musk’s social media platform of running their content without paying them. The eight media groups including Le Monde and Le Parisien said X violated what’s known as European neighboring rights, which is a law that requires payment after social media platforms republish news content.
This new lawsuit comes after another French news outlet, AFP, sued X last week over the same issue.
All of the newspapers already asked for an emergency injunction against X, but said X failed to negotiate.
In May, a Paris court agreed with the media companies, giving X two months to hand over data that would reveal the income it earns from their content.
But the newspapers said X hasn’t provided the data and is “demonstrating its continued intent to avoid its legal obligations.”
France’s fight for fairer action from tech companies goes back to 2019 when the neighboring rights law went into effect. That was followed by a legal battle with Facebook then ended with a payment agreement in 2021.