Elections 2024: Taiwan chooses … target Houthi … revolution in Macronland … tell it to the world court … the richest woman … oops: money meltdown in Paris … cartoonist Le Hic imagines the Élysée.
By the way, I loved the trivia notes about Bettencourt and her family, and the Affaire des centimes. The latter will surprise no one in Europe -- couldn't they have just coined a 'sample set'? French functionaries are straight out of Vaclav Havel, have always been.
I recall the days in N. Italy, when small change at the cashier was made in telephone tokens (jettoni), and candies (called caramele), and 100 lire was paid in private notes called assegni. Everyone ran around with pockets 8-inch heavy in crazy bills.
Some day, you ought to tackle a bit of the history of European Zionism, from 1880-1948, with perhaps focus on French anti-Semitism and the Dreyfus Affair. Especially, how the latter is bowdlerized by partisan writers. It was always both deeply rooted, but affiliated with particular strains of monarchism, militarism, paleo-Catholicism, and the post-ancien-régime struggles for power. It still is. At any rate, there's a mythico-political narrative and a more sober one to tell.
Great roundup, especially on the French news. Just a note on the following:
'It’s also the first time they have gone into offensive action since the outbreak of the Gaza war....'
It should not be forgotten that the US has also unleashed strikes against Iranian-aligned Militias in Iraq and Syria over the past few months in retaliation for attacks on coalition forces; the last one was a direct assassination of a high-ranking PMF commander in Baghdad. I don't think the Iraqi/Syria theatre of this crisis is always getting the attention it probably deserves, though I realise that most news agencies and commentators have limited bandwith and there is a LOT going on atm...
Excellent map of Yemen showing in detail where British and American strikes hit. It also indicates to what extent Houthi hegemony prevails in Yemen and how much is still in non-Houthi hands.
Thanks for the excellent roundup, David. esp. the reports from the French press. With regard to le Hic and "8 lawsuits for defamation of character and insulting the president ..." helps to know that getting sued for defamation, esp. if one is a journalist etc., is excessively easy in France, and used to result in a fine of 1 NF (in today's currencies, about $0.50).
The bluster from Israel's defense lawyer at the Hague is sinister, esp. regarding how he uses the word 'weaponizing'. One weaponizes something that wasn't created as a weapon, e.g., a judicial agency of gov't . You can't 'weaponize' a law, which is written as a weapon against lawbreaking. Any judge would throw the indictment out if the law itself was grossly defamed by the accusers.
SO true, Walter....and so very much appreciate your comments ... esp with 5 others 'disabling' me after this post ! .... sad !!!
anyway, yes, you are right on all counts ... so i'm making this a 'note' !
And spread the word !!
By the way, I loved the trivia notes about Bettencourt and her family, and the Affaire des centimes. The latter will surprise no one in Europe -- couldn't they have just coined a 'sample set'? French functionaries are straight out of Vaclav Havel, have always been.
I recall the days in N. Italy, when small change at the cashier was made in telephone tokens (jettoni), and candies (called caramele), and 100 lire was paid in private notes called assegni. Everyone ran around with pockets 8-inch heavy in crazy bills.
Some day, you ought to tackle a bit of the history of European Zionism, from 1880-1948, with perhaps focus on French anti-Semitism and the Dreyfus Affair. Especially, how the latter is bowdlerized by partisan writers. It was always both deeply rooted, but affiliated with particular strains of monarchism, militarism, paleo-Catholicism, and the post-ancien-régime struggles for power. It still is. At any rate, there's a mythico-political narrative and a more sober one to tell.
Truly .... maps like these are so essential in understanding the parameter and stakes involved !
Thank you for noticing, professor !!
Great roundup, especially on the French news. Just a note on the following:
'It’s also the first time they have gone into offensive action since the outbreak of the Gaza war....'
It should not be forgotten that the US has also unleashed strikes against Iranian-aligned Militias in Iraq and Syria over the past few months in retaliation for attacks on coalition forces; the last one was a direct assassination of a high-ranking PMF commander in Baghdad. I don't think the Iraqi/Syria theatre of this crisis is always getting the attention it probably deserves, though I realise that most news agencies and commentators have limited bandwith and there is a LOT going on atm...
Excellent map of Yemen showing in detail where British and American strikes hit. It also indicates to what extent Houthi hegemony prevails in Yemen and how much is still in non-Houthi hands.
Thanks for the excellent roundup, David. esp. the reports from the French press. With regard to le Hic and "8 lawsuits for defamation of character and insulting the president ..." helps to know that getting sued for defamation, esp. if one is a journalist etc., is excessively easy in France, and used to result in a fine of 1 NF (in today's currencies, about $0.50).
The bluster from Israel's defense lawyer at the Hague is sinister, esp. regarding how he uses the word 'weaponizing'. One weaponizes something that wasn't created as a weapon, e.g., a judicial agency of gov't . You can't 'weaponize' a law, which is written as a weapon against lawbreaking. Any judge would throw the indictment out if the law itself was grossly defamed by the accusers.
Shades, words, and tones of Donald Trump.