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Germany: Far-right celebrate beating Scholz’s party

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Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), expressed on Monday that there is a growing demand for a vote of confidence and new elections, stating that the public is frustrated. The AfD is celebrating their unexpected success in the European Parliament elections, where they secured 16%, surpassing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left SPD.

Despite facing numerous scandals, including allegations of money laundering, connections to the Kremlin, and espionage for China, the AfD’s campaign managed to perform well. Their two lead candidates, Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron, were sidelined due to investigations into these allegations, with Krah further tarnishing the party’s image by downplaying Nazi crimes. Consequently, France’s hard-right leader Marine Le Pen distanced herself from the AfD.

In an effort to rehabilitate the party’s image, Weidel has excluded Krah from the AfD’s EU delegation. The party attributes the scandals to a “media campaign” and criticizes the judiciary and intelligence services for being politically biased. This narrative of victimization seems to have resonated with voters.

The AfD’s effective use of social media and direct slogans contrasted with the government’s more abstract campaign messaging about “defending democracy.” Co-leader Tino Chrupalla emphasized addressing real issues over engaging in mutual insults, which appeared to appeal to the electorate, especially in eastern Germany and among younger voters.

Meanwhile, the governing coalition is grappling with the poor election results, described as a “painful humiliation” by an SPD leader. Although the conservatives led with 30%, their performance was not seen as particularly strong given the government’s unpopularity. In eastern Germany, the AfD outperformed them, and the results complicate the formation of a stable coalition in the national parliament.

This outcome bolsters CDU leader Friedrich Merz’s efforts to steer his party towards a more conservative stance and supports his ambition to become Germany’s next chancellor. However, the real beneficiaries of the election are the populists.

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Magali Berdah: Dozens jailed in France’s largest cyberbully case

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In France’s most significant cyberbullying case to date, twenty-eight individuals have been sentenced to jail terms of up to 18 months for harassing influencer Magali Berdah. The harassment, orchestrated partly by French rapper Booba’s campaign against “thieving influencers,” had severe impacts on Berdah’s mental well-being, as stated by the court in Paris.

Booba, also known as Élie Yaffa, faces his own legal proceedings for aggravated harassment, which he denies. Berdah, renowned as “the queen of influencers” in France, has faced relentless online abuse encouraged by Booba’s posts, according to her lawyers.

The court emphasized that each defendant willingly participated in the cyberbullying, resulting in jail sentences ranging from four to 18 months, with some terms suspended. Berdah, expressing relief at the verdict, described it as a “beautiful victory,” highlighting the anguish the bullying caused her over two years.

The convictions, according to Berdah’s legal team, underscore the accountability of individuals for their actions online, emphasizing that nobody is immune from consequences behind a keyboard. In addition to fines and court costs, the defendants were ordered to pay a total of 54,000 euros in compensation to Berdah.

Booba has denied leading an online “mob,” despite accusations. Notably, he has been involved in previous controversies, such as a 2018 brawl at a Paris airport with fellow rapper Kaaris, resulting in both receiving suspended jail sentences.

Separately, Berdah faces legal proceedings for money laundering, with her marketing company Shauna Events under investigation for fraud.

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Italian culture minister probed over stolen painting

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Italian Junior Culture Minister Vittorio Sgarbi is facing accusations of possessing and displaying a stolen 17th-century painting, “The Capture of Saint Peter,” which was reported stolen in 2013. Sgarbi, a well-known art critic and TV personality, is under investigation for laundering stolen goods as he included the painting in a 2021 exhibition. The artwork, by Rutilio Manetti, a follower of Caravaggio, used to be in a castle in Piedmont. Sgarbi is also accused of altering the painting by adding a candle to conceal its origin. He claims to have found the original while restoring a villa owned by his mother over 20 years ago, asserting that the stolen painting was a copy.

The allegations emerged in an investigation by Italian TV broadcaster Rai’s program ‘Report.’ The owner of the castle reported the theft, stating that the canvas was cut from the frame in 2013. It was revealed that a friend of Sgarbi had shown interest in buying the work before the theft. Another friend allegedly sent a damaged painting of “The Capture of Saint Peter” to a restorer, matching the cut piece from the stolen canvas. When displayed by Sgarbi in 2021, the painting had the added candle.

Sgarbi is also facing accusations related to another seized painting attributed to Valentin de Boulogne, valued at €5m (£4.3m), with investigations for illegal export. Sgarbi claims it’s a copy and not his property. Opposition parties are calling for his dismissal, and the Five Star Movement plans to present a motion in parliament. This comes as the second embarrassment for the Italian government this year, following an MP being investigated for taking a handgun to a New Year’s Eve party. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspended the MP. As the European elections approach, political tensions may rise, and scandals could impact Italian politics.

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Cardinal Becciu: Vatican court convicts former Pope adviser of financial crimes

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Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a former trusted adviser to Pope Francis, has been handed a five-and-a-half-year jail sentence by a Vatican court, marking a historic moment as the most senior Vatican official ever to face such charges. The trial centered around a controversial London property deal that resulted in substantial financial losses for the Catholic Church. Becciu, once considered a potential papal candidate, vehemently denied allegations of embezzlement and abuse of office throughout the proceedings. The verdict also involved nine other defendants, each facing convictions on some charges and acquittals on others, highlighting the complex nature of the case.

The trial, spanning two and a half years, laid bare internal conflicts and intrigue within the highest ranks of the Vatican. The focus of the proceedings was a building located not in the Vatican or Rome but in affluent Chelsea, London—60 Sloane Avenue, a former Harrod’s warehouse. The Vatican’s Secretariat of State invested over €200 million in acquiring a 45% stake in the property in 2014, with plans for luxury apartments. By 2018, the decision was made to purchase the property outright, involving an additional €150 million investment. Cardinal Becciu, as the Vatican’s Substitute for General Affairs at the time, allegedly approved the entire deal. The charges against Becciu and others included various financial crimes such as fraud, money laundering, and abuse of office, creating a complex narrative of financial impropriety within the secretive world of the Holy See.

Becciu’s lawyer, Fabio Viglione, promptly announced plans to appeal the verdict, reiterating his client’s innocence. Despite the conviction, Becciu maintains his denial of any wrongdoing. The trial not only underscores the unique circumstances of a Cardinal facing such legal scrutiny within the Vatican but also serves as a pivotal test for Pope Francis’s ongoing efforts to reform and address financial irregularities within the Catholic Church. The outcome may carry significant implications for Pope Francis’s legacy as a reformer, as he seeks to navigate and cleanse the Vatican’s finances of longstanding scandals that have plagued previous papacies.

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Binance chief Changpeng Zhao pleads guilty to money laundering charges

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Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of Binance, has stepped down from his position after pleading guilty to money laundering violations. In a statement on the platform X, Zhao acknowledged his mistakes, stating, “I made mistakes, and I must take responsibility. This is best for our community, for Binance, and for myself.”

The U.S. Justice Department has imposed penalties and forfeitures of $4.3 billion on Binance, citing the exchange’s involvement in helping users bypass sanctions worldwide. Binance is accused of facilitating transactions totaling nearly $900 million between U.S. and Iranian users, as well as enabling transactions involving users in Syria and the Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk.

The Justice Department highlighted Binance’s role in making it easy for criminals and terrorists to move money. It revealed that between August 2017 and April 2022, approximately $106 million in bitcoin was directly transferred to Binance.com wallets from Hydra, a popular Russian darknet marketplace associated with criminal activities.

As part of the settlement, Binance is now required to report suspicious activity to federal authorities, aiding criminal investigations into cybercrime and terrorism financing. Richard Teng, the head of regional markets at Binance, has been appointed as the new CEO.

Changpeng Zhao, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency industry, expressed the emotional difficulty of letting go in his farewell post on X. Earlier in March, U.S. regulators sought to ban Binance, alleging illegal operations in the country. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) accused Binance of breaking U.S. financial laws, including rules against money laundering.

In June, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed another lawsuit against Binance, accusing the company and Zhao of disregarding investor protection rules to continue operating in the U.S. Binance vowed to defend itself vigorously against these allegations. The legal actions against Binance come amid increased scrutiny of the cryptocurrency industry by U.S. authorities.

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