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French President Macron Defends Decision To Call Snap Election, Urges Voters To Defeat The Far-Right

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Macron | AP News Image

PARIS —French President Emmanuel Macron defended his decision to hold snap elections following his party’s catastrophic defeat in the European legislative election, asserting on Wednesday that voters will ultimately choose the “progressive bloc” against the far right.

A somber-looking Macron said his decision to hold early legislative elections, which will take place in two rounds on June 30 and July 7, demonstrates his “confidence” in the French people. He urged moderate politicians on the left and right to join forces with his centrist alliance to oppose the far-right.

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Macron | AP News Image

French President Macron Defends Decision To Call Snap Election, Urges Voters To Defeat The Far-Right

“I think the French are intelligent, they see what’s being done, what’s coherent and what’s not, and they know what to do,” Macron stated. He continued, “I don’t believe the worst is possible. You know, I am an indefatigable optimist.”

The 46-year-old president addressed French voters in a news conference for the first time since his stunning decision on Sunday to dissolve the National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament, following Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party’s victory in the European Parliament election.

Macron sought to allay the fears of those who believed the risky move would result in the French far-right running a government for the first time since World War II.

Since the general elections were announced on Sunday evening, people have gathered daily in Paris and across the country to oppose the National Rally.

Macron was emphatic in his belief that voters would reject the excesses of both major parties. He reassured that he was not succumbing to defeatism and would complete his second presidential term regardless of the outcome of the legislative vote.

Macron explained that his choice is about “allowing political forces chosen by the French to govern.” He also stated that it is “awkward to believe that it must be the extreme right or political extremes. Or perhaps you’ve transmitted the spirit of loss everywhere.”

“If that’s what people are afraid of, it’s time now to take action,” he stated.

Macron rationalized his choice by stating that he couldn’t ignore the new political reality after his pro-European party suffered a humiliating defeat and received less than half the support of the National Rally, led by Jordan Bardella.

macron

Macron | AP News Image

French President Macron Defends Decision To Call Snap Election, Urges Voters To Defeat The Far-Right

Unlike in his recent national addresses, in which Macron focused on Russia’s war in Ukraine and how Europe should forge a common defense policy independent of the United States and strengthen trade protections against China, the French president stuck to internal issues favored by the rising right, such as immigration control, crime prevention, and Islamic separatism in France.

Macron, who has three years left in his second presidential term, thinks that voters can unite to keep the far right at bay in national elections, as they did in European ones. He encouraged “men and women of goodwill who were able to say ‘no’ to extremes on the left and the right to join together to build a joint project” to benefit the nation.

“Things are simple today: we have unnatural alliances at both extremes, who quite agree on nothing except the jobs to be shared, and who will not be able to implement any programme,” Macron stated.

While he appeared to exude the same excitement that helped him win the presidency in 2017, observers believe French voters are more worried about their future and regard Macron as increasingly disconnected from real-life and financial issues.

The French president admitted some flaws in his pro-business centrist party while strongly criticizing some conservatives who have elected to align with Le Pen’s National Rally, which has a history of racism and xenophobia. He scathingly described an alliance established by left-wing groups as “unusual and incoherent” when it included Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s hard-left France Unbowed, which, Macron claimed, “justified anti-Semitic policies” in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war.

“We’re not perfect, we haven’t done everything right, but we have results… and, above all, we know how to act,” Macron said of his Renaissance party, adding that the “far-right (is) the main danger” in the forthcoming elections.

“The question is, who will govern the country tomorrow?” asked the man. “The far right and a few allies, or the democratic, progressive bloc? That is the main question.

macron

Macron | AP News Image

French President Macron Defends Decision To Call Snap Election, Urges Voters To Defeat The Far-Right

Potential alliances and France’s two-round voting procedure in national elections make the outcome exceedingly unpredictable.

Opposition groups on the left and right have been hurrying to create coalitions and field candidates in the early legislative elections.

While major divides between parties persist on both sides of the political spectrum, prominent politicians pushing for a united front appear to have one thing in common: they do not want to work with Macron.

Despite their disagreements, left-wing groups decided late Monday to form an alliance that includes the Greens, Socialists, Communists, and the far-left France Unbowed.

Le Pen attempts to consolidate authority on the right to turn the European triumph into a national one and move closer to grabbing power. Her party will likely win the most French seats in the European Parliament, maybe up to 30 of France’s 81.

 

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Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

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Trudeau, Montreal

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

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Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

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Baby Gorilla, Calgary Zoo
The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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Canada’s Lotto Max jackpot Climbs to $80M

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Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

  1. Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
  2. Numbers cannot be repeated
  3. Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
  4. Each play buys 3 lines
  5. Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)

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