Morning Bird: Americans lost the right to the Statue of Liberty, the French want it back. Fiala faced protests as well as applause in Brno
Some French politicians are demanding the return of the Statue of Liberty from the USA, labeling Trump as a tyrant who has lost the right to keep a 140-year-old gift from France in his country. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) received applause for his cultured response to protests against his performance during a discussion with Masaryk University students. China is being flooded with Russian propagandistic goods. King Charles warmly welcomed the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during his visit to Buckingham Palace.
According to a French politician, Americans are no longer worthy of the Statue of Liberty
A French politician has made the front pages of newspapers in his country by stating that the USA is no longer worthy of the monument that France gave them almost 140 years ago. As a Member of the European Parliament and co-chair of a small left-wing party in France, Raphaël Glucksmann cannot claim to speak for all his compatriots.
But his assertion in his speech this weekend that some Americans "have decided to side with tyrants" reflects the broad shocks caused by the radical changes in foreign and domestic policies of US President Donald Trump in France and elsewhere in Europe. "Give us back our Statue of Liberty," said Glucksmann in a speech to followers of his Public Place party, who were applauding and whistling, according to AP agency.
Petr Fiala was applauded and attacked by protestors during his lecture at the University of Brno
During a discussion at the Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University in Brno, the Prime Minister, Petr Fiala (ODS), had to face a protest mainly objecting to the visit of the former founder and dean of the faculty during an upcoming election campaign. Fiala invited his critics to a discussion, which they rejected.
"So you protested and now you could let those who came to discuss ask something,"
Fiala responded to one of the protesters according to ČTK and received a thunderous applause from the vast majority of those present.
Russian flags flooded the Chinese market
In China, pop-up stores specializing in Russian-made goods are increasingly appearing. Some residents are confused and many are asking on Chinese social networks why these stores appeared overnight. In recent years, thousands of such stores have been opened across the country, taking advantage of the Chinese public's fondness for Russia and deepening trade relations between Beijing and Moscow since 2022, when Vladimir Putin commenced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
China has become a critical economic lifeline for sanctions-hit Russia, with mutual trade reaching record values year after year. While cheap Russian oil, gas, and coal dominate Chinese imports, the popularity of Russian food products - such as ice cream, sweet biscuits, and dried milk, has also sharply increased, CNN reported.
British King Charles III welcomed the new Canadian Prime Minister with open arms
King Charles warmly welcomed the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on his visit to Buckingham Palace. It was another symbolic gesture of support for Canada from the King, who must transmit more coded signals than stating his views directly, because Canada is facing threats from US President Donald Trump.
However, the King tried to show his commitment to Canada and, were it not for his diagnosed cancer, according to the BBC he would have embarked on a planned visit there in 2024. There are also indications that once the elections in Canada are over, his priority will be visiting Canada, where he could further demonstrate his support. Charles III remains the formal head of Canada as a British dominion, the BBC reported.
Sources: BBC, CNN, AP, ČTK
