#84: AFD LEADER HOSPITALIZED AFTER SUSPECTED ATTACK
Massive spending by Emmanuel Macron at official residence + Migrants charged with piracy after attacking rescuers + Hungary and Poland refuse EU's migrant pact + MORE!
RIGHT-WING AFD LEADER HOSPITALIZED AFTER ALLEGED ATTACK
Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Tino Chrupalla was hospitalized after an alleged assault during a campaign rally in Ingolstadt on Saturday.
According to sources from the party and the police, two suspects were detained at the scene and are being questioned. A syringe was reportedly found near the incident.
Chrupalla was speaking at the rally when he suddenly felt unwell and pointed to two young men in the crowd, who were then apprehended by the police.
The party's top candidate for the state election, Katrin Ebner-Steiner, said that Chrupalla may have suffered an "anaphylactic shock", a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. He was taken away by an ambulance for immediate medical care.
The rally was met with a counter-protest organized by several parties, including the CSU, the Left Party and the SPD. The protesters were chanting slogans and holding banners against the AfD, which they accuse of being anti-democratic.
The police spokesman said that the operation was still ongoing and that they were investigating the motive and the circumstances of the alleged attack.
The AfD is a right-wing populist party that has been gaining support in Germany in recent years, especially among voters who are dissatisfied with current immigration policies.
MASSIVE SPENDING BY EMMANUEL MACRON AT OFFICIAL RESIDENCE
The Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French president, faces a budget deficit of 12.4 million euros for 2023, according to a document attached to the finance bill for 2024.
The document, which was reported by Politico, attributes the gap to the "unavoidable increase in spending" and the "very strong presidential activity" that marked the year.
The budget for 2023 was initially set at 115 million euros, but the document estimates that the actual expenditure will reach 127.4 million euros by the end of the year. This represents a 12% increase compared to 2022.
The document cites several factors that contributed to the higher spending, such as the rising costs of energy, food, and salaries. The Élysée also faced "an increasing number of requests for price revisions in the context of its public procurement", the document says.
Another major source of expenditure was the frequent travels of President Emmanuel Macron, especially by plane.
The document notes that the presidential agenda is hard to predict in advance, and that the travel costs are subject to constant adjustments by all parties involved. The document also mentions that the fuel prices for the aircraft have increased significantly.
The budget deficit comes at a time when France is struggling with inflation and economic recovery amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The finance bill for 2024 aims to reduce public spending and debt, while supporting growth and social justice.
MIGRANTS CHARGED WITH PIRACY AFTER VIOLENT THREATS TOWARDS RESCUERS
A tense situation occurred on Monday night when a group of migrants who had been rescued by a Dutch tugboat in Moroccan waters rebelled against the crew and demanded to be taken to the Canary Islands, Spanish authorities said.
The migrants, numbering 78, were traveling in two boats that had sent a distress signal. The tugboat, which was nearby, responded and took them on board.
However, when the migrants realized that they were heading to Tan Tan, a Moroccan port, they became aggressive and threatened the crew with knives, according to Spanish rescuers.
They forced the tugboat to change course and sail towards Fuerteventura, one of the islands in the Spanish archipelago. The tugboat's owner, Vroon Offshore Services, confirmed that some of the migrants were violent and that the crew had to lock themselves in a safe room.
The tugboat arrived in Fuerteventura on Tuesday morning, where it was met by the Civil Guard and local police. Nine of the migrants were arrested and charged with piracy, a crime that carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison in Spain.
The rest of the migrants were taken to a reception center. The nationality of the migrants was not disclosed.
Spain is one of the main destinations for illegal migration to Europe, especially through the Canary Islands, which are located close to the African coast. The number of arrivals to the islands has increased by almost 20% this year compared to 2022, according to official data.
TRANSGENDER WOMEN REFUSE FAIR “OPEN CATEGORY” COMPETITION
A fresh attempt by World Aquatics, the global body governing swimming (formerly known as FINA), to introduce a special category for transgender swimmers at the upcoming World Cup opening event in Berlin has hit a snag.
World Aquatics had aspired to create history by offering two events, the 50- and 100-meter races, under this new "open" category, tailored for transgender swimmers who transitioned after the age of 12.
Berlin was picked as the venue for this pioneering initiative due to its reputation as a "city of tolerance."
However, the registration deadline for these events came and went without any swimmers enrolling in the open category. Consequently, World Aquatics decided to quietly remove these races from the Berlin competition.
They clarified that they would keep exploring the possibility of including this category in future senior swimming competitions since there was no interest at the elite level at present. To facilitate this exploration, they established the International World Aquatics Open Category Working Group.
The German Lesbian and Gay Association expressed its disapproval of the concept of a separate category for transgender swimmers, considering it a "step backward for the acceptance and equality of trans individuals."
The association argued that this open category might compel swimmers to publicly disclose their transgender status by participating in an event exclusively designated for transgender athletes.
HUNGARY POLAND REFUSE TO SUPPORT EU MIGRANT PACT
A dispute concerning migration policy has cast a shadow over the EU summit in Granada. Hungary and Poland have declined to endorse a collective declaration regarding the EU's new asylum pact and Ukraine's EU aspirations.
These two countries have asserted their unwillingness to concede any further ground on this matter. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary has accused the EU of subjecting Hungary to what he termed "legal rape," asserting that the EU's migration plan would result in a "flood in Budapest."
Similarly, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki rejected the EU's migration pact.
The EU's asylum pact aims to fortify the security of the EU's borders, yet many question whether the EU possesses the political determination and capability to translate this into reality.
Furthermore, the pact envisions a swifter return of illegal asylum seekers, but historical experience indicates that this is an impractical proposal. The EU has attempted to alter the language of the asylum pact to portray it as more stringent on migration, when it is in fact now.
Nonetheless, Poland and Hungary harbor reservations about the EU leadership's competence to enforce a strict migration policy, as conveyed by diplomats.
Additionally, the EU's enlargement strategy, encompassing an invitation to Ukraine for potential future membership, encountered resistance from Budapest.
