Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
French Protests Want More Brioche and Less Croutons In a democracy, legality, electability and accountability are the foundation of a political party. By Abdennour Toumi French President Macron, in a conciliatory tone on Monday night, offered a minimum wage rise, tax-free bonuses and reversal of pension charge, yet the majority of the “Yellow Vests” protests…
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From a Social Movement to an Urban Insurgency in France The anger is not about simple social demands for a decent and a better life, it has become for a large majority of the protesters a personal fight with President Macron. By Abdennour Toumi The anger and determination of the “Yellow Vests” protests against rising…
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Grand Pardon or Repentance! The evaluation of the past should not stop with memory alone, and spectacle bold decisions in a local political tempest. By Abdennour Toumi Then-candidate Macron speaking from Algiers in February 2017, described French Republic atrocities in Algeria as “crimes against humanity,” which sparked outrage from the far-right and the right political…
Migrants Asking for Protection, Aid not Five-Star lodging Migrants are not looking for “five-star” lodging, once accosted safely they need protection and aid in norms with these countries’ human, egalitarian and fraternal values. By Abdennour Toumi Tragic images showing coffins containing bodies of those who drowned in the Mediterranean assembled in the Tunisian coastal city…
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“Olive Branch” Paris Position: Reticence and Opacity Ankara’s Operation “Olive Branch” in Afrin indicates a new orientation to reinstate Paris’ position in the Syrian civil war by trying to be a major player in the process of Syrian peace talks negotiations. By Abdennour Toumi Turkey’s current military foray Operation “Olive Branch” in Afrin, a northwestern…
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How Soccer is Becoming a Major Player for Qatar Soft Power France football/soccer, a new direction for Doha to seed influence and international presence By Abdennour Toumi Neymar’s transfer from F.C Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain is good news for the club, the city, and the Qatari Royal family, according to the French media and political…
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Political Tsunami in France, how to stop the waves The majority of the Arab/Muslim communities are not voting homogeneously because of their societal, social, cultural and intellectual background differences. By Abdennour Toumi The first round of the presidential elections in France has provoked a historical duel in the run-off election on May 7th. Mr. Emmanuel…
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Politics on the French Beach. The French are afraid for their Christian identity, hence the Muslims and the Arabs seem to threaten changing France’s rich political culture, its custom and societal fabric. By Abdennour Toumi The question of the “Burkini” and what a woman has to wear on the beach and in the French public sphere…
The elimination of the banlieusards provokes effectively the revolt of the banlieue subculture and confirms the rebous (Arabs’) political message of resistance and existence. It is also a statement of identity, the reality is, there is a constant influx, don’t assimilate and acculturate. By Abdennour Toumi All these manners of speaking appropriate foreign language can…
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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy losing popularity as he pursues a possible return in 2017, but his book (France for Life) is topping the popularity charts. Sarkozy just cannot stay away from the “limelight” of politics — but he certainly stands to make some money from this book! By Abdennour Toumi Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy…
Terrorism and the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment is changing France and fueling extremism like the Le Pen political movement By Abdennour Toumi The Le Pens’ political ascension in French mainstream politics and societal-change behavior has been exponentially increased since the Battle of Paris, attacks on Muslims and anti-immigrant sentiment. The National Front extremist-right party has…
By Abdennour Toumi This law of exception was never repealed in spite of numerous criticisms leveled at its questionable constitutionality and its relevance to personal liberty. A week after the murderous attacks, which resulted in 130 deaths and 352 wounded in Paris and Saint-Denis, President Hollande delivered a speech on November 16th before in joint…
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Why is there a difference between the coverage by the mainstream Western and American news media of the terrorism in Paris on Friday Nov. 13 compared to the absence of media coverage of the terrorism in Beirut the day before? The reasons involve a twisted form of journalism applied by Western journalists that distinguishes between…
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In my weekly column at Creators Syndicate, this week, I analyze the factors that may be driving what I believe is the racism that is driving the Western response to terrorism in Paris and Beirut. Why is Daesh/ISIS terrorism in Paris different from Daesh/ISIS terrorism in Beirut? By Ray Hanania It’s a hot topic these…
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By James M Dorsey Zouhair, a security guard of immigrant background, was one of several security officers, who on Friday prevented three of the Paris suicide bombers from entering the city’s Stade de France stadium. The bombers were forced to blow themselves up outside the stadium and at nearby McDonald’s. Little is publicly known about…
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The horrific atrocities committed by ISIS (Daesh) in Paris this week are outrageous acts of terrorism that must be confronted by the world. The world needs to understand the true nature of this terrorist group and look at it beyond the normal madness of stereotypes and religious racism By Ray Hanania This week, in what…
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By Ray Hanania While the Middle East and issues related to Arab countries dominate the attention of Americans through news media and national security, most Americans are avoiding travel to Middle East countries. A recent study by Hotels.com shows that of the top 50 destinations where Americans are traveling, only one Arab Middle East destination, Dubai in…
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As world’s most wanted woman, Hayat Boumeddiene is the subject of manhunt of every intelligence service in the world,looking for clues to find her . The last known whereabouts of Boumeddiene was in Turkey where she crossed from France a day before the attacks last week on French Satire Magazine Charlie Hebdo. Boumeddiene is now…