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Category: World
March 5, 2024
William Upton
Culture
World

France Removes Christian Cross From 2024 Olympic Promotional Art.

The Christian cross adorning some of Paris’s most recognizable buildings has been removed from the official poster promoting the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games, which are being held in the French capital. Designed by the Parisian illustrator Ugo Gattoni, the surrealist poster features the Dôme des Invalides sans the cross, which sits atop its spire.

Gattoni’s poster was unveiled on Monday and displayed in Paris’s historic Musée d’Orsay. The design is actually two illustrations, one for the Olympic Games and another for the Paralympics, which can be combined into a single surrealist image of the city.

Paris 2024 poster

“It’s a new, key moment in the Paris 2024 story,” said Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet at the unveiling of the poster before continuing: “We’ve tried to be different and imagine posters that look like us, posters that go beyond a mere logo.”

Once considered “the eldest daughter of the Church,” the French nation became increasingly secular following the French Revolution in the 18th century. Subsequent governments in France have, at times, engaged in aggressive — and even violent — anti-Christian actions. The current French Republic, led by President Emmanuel Macron, has seen several ancient churches demolished — including one dating to the 12th Century, which was torn down last year. Over the last several years, incidents of vandalism and arson have destroyed many medieval Christian churches around the country.

Christians have not been alone in being persecuted for their religion in France. Following Hamas’s barbaric October 7 terrorist attack against Israel, Jewish neighborhoods around France saw upticks in anti-semitic attacks.

This week, France became the first country in the world to enshrine the murder of unborn babies into its constitution.

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The Christian cross adorning some of Paris’s most recognizable buildings has been removed from the official poster promoting the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games, which are being held in the French capital. Designed by the Parisian illustrator Ugo Gattoni, the surrealist poster features the Dôme des Invalides sans the cross, which sits atop its spire. show more
March 5, 2024
William Upton
War
World

‘Ukraine is Definitely Russia’ – Medvedev Unveils Map Showing Ukraine Shrunk to Kiev and Its Suburbs.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev unveiled a map proposing the partition of much of Ukraine among its neighbors during a speech on Monday. Standing in front of his map, the Russian politician and ally of President Vladimir Putin declared that Ukraine is historically part of the Russian state.

“Our geostrategic space has been indivisible since the time of the ancient Russian state,” Medvedev, currently serving as deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said. He added: “This concept must disappear forever. Ukraine is definitely Russia.”

The map shows Russia’s territory expanded to comprise almost all of Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions, including its entire Black Sea coast. Poland and Romania would each receive territory in Western Ukraine. The latter would receive the Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi Oblasts to act as a buffer between Poland, a NATO member, and Russia. Medvedev’s map reduces Ukraine to just Kiev and its surrounding suburbs.

Historic parts of the country need to come home,” Medvedev explained, continuing: “All our adversaries need to understand once and for all a simple fact: that the territories on both banks of the Dnipro River are an integral part of Russia’s strategic and historical borders.”

Russia’s military has recently seen a degree of success with renewed efforts to push further into Eastern Ukraine. Two weeks ago, Russian forces captured the city of Avdeyevka, located to the northwest of Donetsk. Currently, the Russian military only controls a fraction of the territory Medvedev believes should be ceded to his country.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron refused to rule out the possibility of the Western nations putting troops on the ground in Ukraine. These comments, along with continued efforts to supply military equipment to the Ukrainian army, prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to warn he’d consider the use of nuclear weapons if NATO commits troops to the conflict.

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Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev unveiled a map proposing the partition of much of Ukraine among its neighbors during a speech on Monday. Standing in front of his map, the Russian politician and ally of President Vladimir Putin declared that Ukraine is historically part of the Russian state. show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
Sounds like the opening position in a negotiation, doesn’t it? Sounds like they’re preparing for a President who invented the Art of the Deal
for exclusive members-only insights
Sounds like the opening position in a negotiation, doesn’t it? Sounds like they’re preparing for a President who invented the Art of the Deal show more
for exclusive members-only insights
March 5, 2024
World

France Becomes First Country to Make Abortion a Constitutional ‘Right.’

The French Parliament has overwhelmingly voted to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right, making France the first country on Earth to guarantee the “right” to murder unborn babies.

The government of Emmanuel Macron introduced the measure in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and to shore up support electoral support in the face of resurgent right-wing populist movements and parties throughout Europe, including France’s National Rally. National Rally is leading in French polls ahead of the European elections in June, dominating the pro-Macron bloc by 12 points.

Enshrining abortion rights is a way of “uniting against conservatives and reactionaries,” Christopher Weissberg, a Pro-Macron MP, told POLITICO. “It helped build consensus and show ourselves under a progressive light.”

But whether the move will be enough to take votes away from the far-left socialist bloc in the French parliament remains to be seen. Mathilde Panot, head of the left-wing France Unbowed group, claimed that Macron only introduced the measure because of far-left feminist groups and parliamentarians. “He can boast, but it’s first and foremost our victory,” she said.

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The French Parliament has overwhelmingly voted to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right, making France the first country on Earth to guarantee the “right” to murder unborn babies. show more
March 4, 2024
Politics
World

U.N. Human Rights Chief Lectures America on Discrimination.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, demanded that the United States undertake efforts to ensure a “non-discriminatory” presidential election this year, noting concerns voiced by the U.N. Human Rights Committee about specific state-level elections laws last year.

According to the U.N. bureaucrat, issues like partisan gerrymandering and state laws restricting mail-in voting — as well as voter I.D. requirements — undermine American voting rights. Turk urged federal and state lawmakers to implement the committee’s recommended safeguards.

Turk’s comments came amid the re-election bid by former President Donald Trump, whose 2020 election loss to current President Joe Biden was mired in controversy. The U.N.’s human rights chief emphasized policies like non-discriminatory suffrage, equality, and universality during his address to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. “In a context of intense political polarization, it is important to emphasize equal rights and the equal value of every citizen’s vote,” Turk stated.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has a history of trying to intervene in the affairs of member states. As previously reported by The National Pulse, the commissioner lashed out at France for banning headscarves ahead of the 2024 Olympics. The U.N. commission has also argued that minors are capable of consenting to sex and demanded that anti-transgender activism be criminalized.

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The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, demanded that the United States undertake efforts to ensure a “non-discriminatory” presidential election this year, noting concerns voiced by the U.N. Human Rights Committee about specific state-level elections laws last year. show more
March 4, 2024
William Upton
Economy
World

Russia Sanctions Spark Foreign Gold Flight From U.S.

The sanctions regime enacted by the Biden government against Russia is driving a concerning flight of foreign gold reserves from the United States. The move comes amid rising concerns among foreign governments over the potential weaponization of the global financial system.

An Invesco survey in 2023 found that many central banks were uneasy with how the U.S. and its allies froze approximately half of Russia’s $650 billion gold and forex reserves. In light of these concerns, almost 68 percent of banks surveyed asserted their plans to keep gold reserves within their national borders, a significant uptick from 50 percent in 2020.

Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) questioned the Federal Reserve in December last year regarding the extent of foreign gold removals from U.S. shores. On Friday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell responded to Rep. Mooney and declined to disclose information about the status of the bank’s gold holdings.

Powell’s letter in response to the West Virginia Republican’s inquiries provided no direct answers, stating that the Federal Reserve only serves as a custodian for gold belonging to other entities. He suggested that queries about the government’s gold should be directed towards the Treasury Department.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) has disclosed that it holds 507,000 gold bars weighing 6,331 metric tons as of 2024. This data represented an increase from the listed 497,000 gold bars, weighing about 6,190 tons as of 2019. The upward trend may be due to FRBNY taking possession of the gold from Ukraine’s central bank, which reportedly airlifted its gold reserves to the U.S. in 2014.

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The sanctions regime enacted by the Biden government against Russia is driving a concerning flight of foreign gold reserves from the United States. The move comes amid rising concerns among foreign governments over the potential weaponization of the global financial system. show more
March 4, 2024
World

Kamala Demands Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza… Does She Realize She’s VP?

Vice President Kamala Harris demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept a proposed ceasefire deal.

“Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire, at least for the next six weeks,” Harris said during an address in Selma, Alabama, on Sunday.

Harris also demanded that Israel do more to allow the flow of humanitarian aid. “People in Gaza are starving,” she said. “The conditions are inhumane, and our common humanity compels us to act,” she continued. “What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating,” Harris said. “We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal feed. Women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no medical care. And children dying from malnutrition and dehydration. As I have said many times, too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.”

Harris’s comments came a day before she was set to meet with Israeli Minister Benny Gantz and represent the most forceful call for a ceasefire — and strongest condemnation of Israeli actions — yet to come from a Biden regime official. Harris also defended “the right of the Palestinian people to dignity, freedom, and self-determination,” suggesting she may support a unilateral declaration and creation of a Palestinian state without Israeli involvement or approval.

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Vice President Kamala Harris demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept a proposed ceasefire deal. show more
March 1, 2024
William Upton
War
World

Senate Approves F-16 Sale to Islamist Country to Boost Support For Ukraine.

Late Thursday, the United States Senate greenlit the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey despite also adopting a substantial censure of the Islamic country’s actions as an ally. The decision comports with a prior agreement that Turkey would receive the jets if they ceased opposing Sweden’s induction into NATO. Sweden’s admission to the defense alliance is allegedly critical for Ukraine’s ongoing defense against Russia’s invasion.

“A deal’s a deal,” said Sen. Jim Risch (R-Ind), who also serves as the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky), who brought forth a resolution to halt the sale, referred to the situation as a “quid pro quo” scenario. The U.S. sale of the fighter jets follows Turkey’s decision to end its opposition to Sweden’s NATO membership, which in turn boosts NATO support for Ukraine. The Senate voted 79 to 13 to defeat Paul’s resolution.

Despite expressing dissatisfaction with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamist government, Senators argued the importance of Sweden’s addition to NATO outweighed the costs. “What I am here to do is defend the importance of NATO,” Sen. Risch said.

The State Department approved the $23 billion F-16 sales to Turkey and an additional $8.6 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets to Greece in January. Biden government officials announced their intent to proceed with the sale immediately after Turkey officially approved Sweden’s entrance into NATO.

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Late Thursday, the United States Senate greenlit the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey despite also adopting a substantial censure of the Islamic country’s actions as an ally. The decision comports with a prior agreement that Turkey would receive the jets if they ceased opposing Sweden’s induction into NATO. Sweden’s admission to the defense alliance is allegedly critical for Ukraine’s ongoing defense against Russia’s invasion. show more
March 1, 2024
World

Election Blow for Italy’s Meloni Ahead of EU Vote.

Alessandra Todde of the Five-Star Movement claimed victory in the regional elections in Sardinia. The result marks a significant setback for the reigning right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Todde triumphed over Paolo Truzzu of Fratelli d’Italia in a close election, snaring 45.4 percent of the votes against Truzzu’s 45 percent. Todde will become the first female leader of Sardinia.

The election day was tense, with only a gap of around 3,000 votes between Todde and Truzzu. Alongside casting their ballot for the presidency, citizens were asked to vote for a party. Votes for parties that support Truzzu outnumbered those for Todde-supporters. Nonetheless, the Democratic Party emerged at the forefront with 13.8 percent of the vote, slightly besting Fratelli d’Italia’s 13.6 percent. This result sparked momentum for a potential alliance between the Five-Star Movement and the Democratic Party ahead of June’s European elections.

Tensions ran high among Meloni‘s center-right coalition, which has been grappling with challenges, including its stance on the European stage. Meloni had earlier imposed Paolo Truzzu as the coalition’s candidate, which sparked allegations from Lega of internally obstructing their candidate.

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Alessandra Todde of the Five-Star Movement claimed victory in the regional elections in Sardinia. The result marks a significant setback for the reigning right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Todde triumphed over Paolo Truzzu of Fratelli d'Italia in a close election, snaring 45.4 percent of the votes against Truzzu's 45 percent. Todde will become the first female leader of Sardinia. show more
March 1, 2024
William Upton
World

Russian Military Expands Former Wagner Mercenary Group Base In Mali.

New satellite imagery reveals renewed Russian construction at a military base previously used by the Wagner Group at the Modibo Keita International Airport, Mali. The images present the first detailed visuals of the site since the August 2023 death of the Wagner Group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Since Prigozhin’s death, the Russian Defense Ministry has absorbed Wagner Group’s functions, and the leftover elements of the organization are reportedly being run as Russia’s “Expeditionary Corps.” This spurred speculations about the future of Russian military presence and influence in Africa, given the pivotal role the Wagner Group fulfilled by backing aligned regimes across the continent.

The construction images suggest Russia remains committed to maintaining its military presence in Mali. In recent months, the construction has facilitated the completion of new roads and buildings, ground clearing, and the initiation of excavations in two locations. The images also showed the detailed development of what Janes, a defense intelligence agency, believes to be a possible new administrative building and a covered storage zone.

Compared to a few vehicles in July, over 40 vehicles of different sizes are now located at the site, indicating a considerable increase in activity. Moreover, Russia appears to be aiming to increase its presence in Africa further, as evidenced by recruitment advertisements for Russia’s Africa Corps appearing in recent months on Telegram. The ads offer “high payments, free medical care,” and “service under the competent commanders’ leadership,” signifying Russia’s expanding relations with numerous Sahel region regimes where it seeks to fill areas of declining Western influence.

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New satellite imagery reveals renewed Russian construction at a military base previously used by the Wagner Group at the Modibo Keita International Airport, Mali. The images present the first detailed visuals of the site since the August 2023 death of the Wagner Group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin. show more
February 29, 2024
Ed Kozak
NatSec
World

Biden Explores Weapons Shipments to Ukraine WITHOUT Replenishing U.S. National Stockpile.

Officials from the Biden government are considering drawing from American weapon stockpiles for Ukraine without replenishing them, putting U.S. military readiness at risk. Officials, who met at the Pentagon on Tuesday, are also considering purchasing weapons without congressional funding.

Using stockpiled artillery and ammunition is viewed as a last resort, but momentum is growing for this potential and controversial solution. One congressional official warned that “to do it now would absolutely kill us.”

U.S. aid to Ukraine has already diminished U.S. weapons stockpiles. “The DoD continues to urge Congress to pass a supplemental to support Ukraine in its time of need and to replenish our stocks,” a Pentagon spokesperson said in an official statement.

House action on Ukraine aid is not anticipated until late March, and despite having about $4 billion in congressionally approved Presidential Drawdown Authority funding, the Pentagon does not have sufficient approved funding to replace deployed weapons and equipment.
It is unlikely that Ukraine can sustain its war effort for long without U.S. assistance. Only 10 percent of Europeans currently think Ukraine can win against Russia, and Putin’s forces have recently made significant advances.
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Officials from the Biden government are considering drawing from American weapon stockpiles for Ukraine without replenishing them, putting U.S. military readiness at risk. Officials, who met at the Pentagon on Tuesday, are also considering purchasing weapons without congressional funding. show more