A far-right party in Germany has secured a historic victory in a state election, sending shockwaves through Europe and reigniting debates about the rise of nationalist movements across the continent. Meanwhile, clashes between police and masked vigilantes opposing migrant arrivals have escalated in southern England, raising concerns over organized resistance to immigration policies. The UK government is set to announce a major shift in its approach to Israel-Palestine relations, signaling a more assertive stance on supporting Palestinian rights. Separately, Nepal has demanded financial compensation from the world’s largest polluters for recent catastrophic floods, framing the disaster as a direct consequence of global climate inaction.
In today’s newsletter: The AfD’s local election triumph has shocked Europe, and raised questions about how to counter the rising far rightGood morning. Across Germany – and Europe more widely – there has been a palpable sense of shock and disbelief after the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) swept to a historic state election victory in the early hours of Monday.It was, according to France’s European affairs minister, Benjamin Haddad, “a very grave moment for Europe”. The resonance was stark in the UK too: as the results came in, hundreds of black-clad activists intent on blocking migrant arrivals were battling with police for a second night along England’s south coast.UK news | Batons and synthetic pepper spray were used to repel hundreds of masked, black-clad vigilantes in Portsmouth on Sunday, it has emerged, as the policing minister said officers had been injured as they repelled organised “aggression”.Israel | Ed Miliband will announce what he has described as a broad reset of the UK’s relations with Israel on Tuesday, promising the government will take a more active approach in supporting the Palestinian cause.US | The Trump administration has raised “serious concerns” over Downing Street’s plan to force digital platforms to hand more prominence to established broadcasters, warning the move risks “facilitating censorship”.Climate crisis | Nepal is demanding $20m in climate compensation for the recent devastating floods, as a senior minister called on the world’s most polluting countries to “wake up” and accept shared responsibility.UK politics | There is little appetite for cuts to disability benefits even among Conservative and Reform voters, and proposals to reduce spending could prove politically risky, according to an authoritative national survey. Continue reading...
