French President Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism after making controversial remarks targeting the New Popular Front, a left-wing alliance, ahead of the upcoming legislative elections.

Macron accused the alliance of promoting policies he described as "completely crazy," specifically citing their proposal to allow gender changes at town halls.

The New Popular Front, which includes groups ranging from Socialists to Communists, has emerged as a significant challenger to Macron's ruling alliance.

Macron on Tuesday (June 18) said,&nbsp;"They see well what is on offer. The RN and its allies offer things which may make people happy but in the end we are talking 100 billion (euros) a year."

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"And on the other side, with the extreme left it's four times worse – there is no more secularity, they will go back on the immigration law and there are things that are completely farcical like changing your gender at the town hall," he added.

His remarks, intended to discredit opponents, have instead ignited a broader debate over inclusivity and the treatment of minority rights in political discourse.

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The left-wing coalition's manifesto includes a proposal to enable the modification of civil status at town halls. Currently, changing the gender marker on legal documents necessitates a judicial process.

However, the requirement doesn't mandate gender-affirming surgery, but applicants must demonstrate that their legal sex doesn't align with their gender identity or social life, as per reports.&nbsp;

With opinion polls forecasting a third-place finish for his party in the elections, Macron's comments drew backlash from opposition leaders as well as from his own party.&nbsp;

In response to Macron's remarks, Clement Beaune, an openly gay MP from Macron's party, expressed, "For trans people, for LGBT people, for everyone... we must reject all stigmatization in political discourse and advance rights."

Criticism also came swiftly from opposition leaders from the Socialist Party as well.

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Party's Olivier Faure likened Macron's leadership to that of Nero, known for his tyrannical rule.

"We were waiting for Jupiter but we got Nero." Faure questioned Macron's shift towards rhetoric resembling that of the extreme right.&nbsp;

Similarly, Fabien Roussel of the Communist Party accused Macron of "losing his nerve".

The organization Progressistes LGBT+ said that they "deeply regret comments aimed at stigmatising transgender people."

The controversy underscores Macron's increasingly precarious position as he faces a challenging electoral fight seeking to regain momentum amid a resurgent left.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

French President Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism after making controversial remarks targeting the New Popular Front, a left-wing alliance, ahead of the upcoming legislative elections.

French President Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism after making controversial remarks targeting the New Popular Front, a left-wing alliance, ahead of the upcoming legislative elections. Macron accused the alliance of promoting policies he described as "completely crazy," specifically citing their proposal to allow gender changes at town halls. The New Popular Front, which includes groups ranging from Socialists to Communists, has emerged as a significant challenger to Macron's ruling alliance. Macron on Tuesday (June 18) said, "They see well what is on offer. The RN and its allies offer things which may make people happy but in the end we are talking 100 billion (euros) a year." Also Read | At least 68 Indian nationals die in Hajj pilgrimage amid scorching temperatures: Diplomat "And on the other side, with the extreme left it's four times worse – there is no more secularity, they will go back on the immigration law and there are things that are completely farcical like changing your gender at the town hall," he added. His remarks, intended to discredit opponents, have instead ignited a broader debate over inclusivity and the treatment of minority rights in political discourse. Also Read | House Ethics Committee interviews women witnesses in Gaetz sex trafficking probe The left-wing coalition's manifesto includes a proposal to enable the modification of civil status at town halls. Currently, changing the gender marker on legal documents necessitates a judicial process. However, the requirement doesn't mandate gender-affirming surgery, but applicants must demonstrate that their legal sex doesn't align with their gender identity or social life, as per reports. With opinion polls forecasting a third-place finish for his party in the elections, Macron's comments drew backlash from opposition leaders as well as from his own party. In response to Macron's remarks, Clement Beaune, an openly gay MP from Macron's party, expressed, "For trans people, for LGBT people, for everyone... we must reject all stigmatization in political discourse and advance rights." Criticism also came swiftly from opposition leaders from the Socialist Party as well. Watch | White House cancels high-level Israel-US meeting on Iran × Party's Olivier Faure likened Macron's leadership to that of Nero, known for his tyrannical rule. "We were waiting for Jupiter but we got Nero." Faure questioned Macron's shift towards rhetoric resembling that of the extreme right. Similarly, Fabien Roussel of the Communist Party accused Macron of "losing his nerve". The organization Progressistes LGBT+ said that they "deeply regret comments aimed at stigmatising transgender people." The controversy underscores Macron's increasingly precarious position as he faces a challenging electoral fight seeking to regain momentum amid a resurgent left. (With inputs from agencies)

Macron faces backlash for 'transphobic' remarks amid electoral struggle

Women, especially in the public eye, have become targets of gendered disinformation, a mix of misogyny and fallacy that spoils their reputations, damages their credibility, and hurts their professions.

Women, especially in the public eye, have become targets of gendered disinformation, a mix of misogyny and fallacy that spoils their reputations, damages their credibility, and hurts their professions. AFP's global fact-checkers have discredited fake news attacking women in politics. They have revealed multiple online campaigns featuring fake news or manipulated photos, often sexually charged. In 2022, a fake picture of Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska, lying topless on an Israeli beach took Facebook by storm. The manipulated image triggered criticism that she enjoyed her vacation while the war-struck Ukraine suffered. However, AFP revealed that the woman in the photo was a Russian television presenter. Many prominent political figures have been targets of false online posts and transphobic remarks, including the USA's former first lady Michelle Obama, France's first lady Brigitte Macron, and New Zealand's former prime minister Jacinda Ardern. ALSO READ | Explained: Who is Stormy Daniels, the porn star who could send Trump to jail Global battle against falsehood & misogyny A study titled 'Monetizing Misogyny' by Lucina Di Meco, a gender equality expert, said, "Building on sexist stereotypes and disseminated with malign intent, gendered disinformation campaigns have a chilling effect on the women they target." She added that gendered disinformation leads to "political violence, hate and the deterring of young women from considering a political career." UNESCO held a dialogue to 'advance effective response' to online gendered disinformation on January 25, 2023, on the affair of the International Day of Women. WATCH | Judicial reform bills: Protesters PARALYZE Israel with roadblocks, rallies Gendered disinformation: A national security threat Many researchers said gendered disinformation is a national security threat as autocratic states can exploit it to exercise foreign influence. Moreover, gendered disinformation is a tool to subdue the opposition. "When autocratic leaders are in power, gendered disinformation is often used by state-aligned actors to undermine women opposition leaders, as well as women's rights," Di Meco's report warned. Facebook stated to the US media, recognising the online abuse of women as a 'serious issue' and vowed to work with policymakers on their concerns. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Women battle misogyny as cases of gendered disinformation and fake news increase globally

Clara Sorrenti and her supporters are the faces of a campaign that attempts to take down Kiwi Farms, an internet forum that doubles as an image-sharing website where the users troll and harass anyone they like. However, over the years, the site has become a den of anti-trans harassment campaigns, forcing the likes of&nbsp;Sorrenti to launch a&nbsp;campaign to take down the fringe website.

Sorrenti is a Canadian trans Twitch streamer who Kiwi Farms and its deranged users targeted by releasing her personal information. Before Sorrenti, a Republican senator from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene, was&nbsp;targeted in a 'swatting' incident linked to the website.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amtraks-one-word-tweet-has-started-a-trend-and-we-cannot-get-enough-of-it-512385">Amtrak's 'one-word tweet' trend picks up: Biden, NASA, Tendulkar, and more hop on&nbsp;</a>

Sorrenti and other trans activists have been calling upon&nbsp;Cloudflare, one of Kiwi Farms' internet security service vendors to drop the site. However, the company has so far refused to take any action.&nbsp;

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Statement from the Drop Kiwifarms campaign on our intent to protest at the Cloudfare Connect conference in Sydney, Australia. Please share widely. <a href="https://t.co/Ip5c4ZDdfD">pic.twitter.com/Ip5c4ZDdfD</a>
— keffals #DropKiwifarms (@keffals) <a href="https://twitter.com/keffals/status/1565568008424247296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In a blog post <a href="https://blog.cloudflare.com/cloudflares-abuse-policies-and-approach/">shared</a> earlier this week, Cloudfare CEO Mathew Prince and vice-president of public policy, Alissa Starzak wrote a feature-length article where they mentioned that the company will not drop security services for any of its customers. While the duo did not mention Kiwi Farms anywhere in the&nbsp;write-up, it was clear that the company was responding in light of the recent incidents.

“Just as the telephone company doesn’t terminate your line if you say awful, racist, bigoted things, we have concluded in consultation with politicians, policymakers and experts that turning off security services because we think what you publish is despicable is the wrong policy,” read the blog post.&nbsp;

Notably,&nbsp;Kiwi Farms or CWCki forum, as it was known then was launched in 2009 by its founder&nbsp;Josh Moon,&nbsp;a former administrator of 8chan.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-aviation-regulatory-body-to-allow-transgender-pilots-to-fly-the-planes-issues-guidelines-505786">India's aviation body to allow transgender pilots to fly planes; issues guidelines</a>

The site has a section called&nbsp;"lolcows" (wordplay of 'lol' and 'cows') where anyone can be 'milked' for laughs. However, the section has become a cesspool of constant hate campaigns against certain individuals belonging to the trans community.

Moreover, the site is a platform for hyper-right propagandists to peddle their misinformation and cult-like ideas.

The site has been banned in New Zealand after it hosted the ghastly&nbsp;Christchurch terrorist video. For the same reason, it was banned in Australia. However, after the site removed the video, it was allowed to operate.&nbsp;

According to a Vie report, at least three people have died by suicide after becoming targets of Kiwi Farms harassment campaigns.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Clara Sorrenti and her supporters are the faces of a campaign that attempts to take down Kiwi Farms, an internet forum that doubles as an image-sharing website where the users troll and harass anyone they like.

Clara Sorrenti and her supporters are the faces of a campaign that attempts to take down Kiwi Farms, an internet forum that doubles as an image-sharing website where the users troll and harass anyone they like. However, over the years, the site has become a den of anti-trans harassment campaigns, forcing the likes of Sorrenti to launch a campaign to take down the fringe website. Sorrenti is a Canadian trans Twitch streamer who Kiwi Farms and its deranged users targeted by releasing her personal information. Before Sorrenti, a Republican senator from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene, was targeted in a 'swatting' incident linked to the website. Read more: Amtrak's 'one-word tweet' trend picks up: Biden, NASA, Tendulkar, and more hop on Sorrenti and other trans activists have been calling upon Cloudflare, one of Kiwi Farms' internet security service vendors to drop the site. However, the company has so far refused to take any action. Statement from the Drop Kiwifarms campaign on our intent to protest at the Cloudfare Connect conference in Sydney, Australia. Please share widely. pic.twitter.com/Ip5c4ZDdfD — keffals #DropKiwifarms (@keffals) September 2, 2022 × In a blog post shared earlier this week, Cloudfare CEO Mathew Prince and vice-president of public policy, Alissa Starzak wrote a feature-length article where they mentioned that the company will not drop security services for any of its customers. While the duo did not mention Kiwi Farms anywhere in the write-up, it was clear that the company was responding in light of the recent incidents. “Just as the telephone company doesn’t terminate your line if you say awful, racist, bigoted things, we have concluded in consultation with politicians, policymakers and experts that turning off security services because we think what you publish is despicable is the wrong policy,” read the blog post. Notably, Kiwi Farms or CWCki forum, as it was known then was launched in 2009 by its founder Josh Moon, a former administrator of 8chan. Read more: India's aviation body to allow transgender pilots to fly planes; issues guidelines The site has a section called "lolcows" (wordplay of 'lol' and 'cows') where anyone can be 'milked' for laughs. However, the section has become a cesspool of constant hate campaigns against certain individuals belonging to the trans community. Moreover, the site is a platform for hyper-right propagandists to peddle their misinformation and cult-like ideas. The site has been banned in New Zealand after it hosted the ghastly Christchurch terrorist video. For the same reason, it was banned in Australia. However, after the site removed the video, it was allowed to operate. According to a Vie report, at least three people have died by suicide after becoming targets of Kiwi Farms harassment campaigns. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Activist wages battle against fringe website Kiwi Farms targeting trans genders

JK Rowling's new book is courting controversy even before its release. Rowling's new book 'The Ink Black Heart' has been termed transphobic with one of the main characters&nbsp;bearing eerie similarities&nbsp;to Rowling.&nbsp; 
 
The author has now denied that the character has been written inspired by her own experience. The character in the book dies after being persecuted online by trolls after one of the cartoons he has created is termed as racist, ableist, and transphobic. Rowling has written the book under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.&nbsp; 
 
During a recent online session, Rowling denied that the controversial character was based on her own experience. Rowling has in the past been termed transphobic by LGBTQ+ advocates and multiple stars from the 'Harry Potter' franchise. She claimed to have received death threats even. Rowling stated that the concept for the book came long before she was criticized for her views.&nbsp;

"I have never created a book – and this book certainly isn’t created from my own experience – you know, with a view to talking about my own life," she wrote online. "That doesn’t mean, of course, that your own life experience isn’t in the book."<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-jk-rowlings-new-books-plot-may-seem-too-familiar-to-readers-heres-why-511585">JK Rowling's new book's plot may seem too familiar to readers. Here's why</a> 
 
Answering as her pen name, Rowling wrote, "With this book – I had been planning this book for so long and then a couple of the things that happen in this book have since happened to me. And so, I would like to be very clear that I haven’t written this book as an answer to anything that happened to me.&nbsp; 
 
"Although I have to say when it did happen to me, those who had already read the book in manuscript form were – are you clairvoyant? I wasn’t clairvoyant, I just – yeah, it was just one of those weird twists. Sometimes life imitates art more than one would like." 
 
But, no, it’s not – this isn’t about my experience of – as being a creator. My experience – if I wrote about my experience as a creator, it would look very different. And I have to say, for example – which I think will be a question readers would ask: the Potter fandom, by and large, has been amazing to me. Incredibly supportive and I still receive tonnes of love from the Potter fandom.&nbsp;

"So, the fandom in this book is very much not a portrait of the fandom. It is of a very – I think a very different kind of fandom," Rowling added.&nbsp;

In the recent past, Rowling has claimed that the similarities between her and the character in the book are mere coincidences.&nbsp;

Rowling spoke to Graham Norton last week and said, "I should make it really clear after some of the things that have happened the last year that this is not depicting (that)."

"I had written the book before certain things happened to me online," she continued. "I said to my husband, 'I think everyone is going to see this as a response to what happened to me,' but it genuinely wasn't. The first draft of the book was finished at the point certain things happened."

JK Rowling's new book is courting controversy even before its release. Rowling's new book 'The Ink Black Heart' has been termed transphobic with one of the main characters bearing eerie similarities to Rowling.

JK Rowling's new book is courting controversy even before its release. Rowling's new book 'The Ink Black Heart' has been termed transphobic with one of the main characters bearing eerie similarities to Rowling. The author has now denied that the character has been written inspired by her own experience. The character in the book dies after being persecuted online by trolls after one of the cartoons he has created is termed as racist, ableist, and transphobic. Rowling has written the book under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. During a recent online session, Rowling denied that the controversial character was based on her own experience. Rowling has in the past been termed transphobic by LGBTQ+ advocates and multiple stars from the 'Harry Potter' franchise. She claimed to have received death threats even. Rowling stated that the concept for the book came long before she was criticized for her views. "I have never created a book – and this book certainly isn’t created from my own experience – you know, with a view to talking about my own life," she wrote online. "That doesn’t mean, of course, that your own life experience isn’t in the book."JK Rowling's new book's plot may seem too familiar to readers. Here's why Answering as her pen name, Rowling wrote, "With this book – I had been planning this book for so long and then a couple of the things that happen in this book have since happened to me. And so, I would like to be very clear that I haven’t written this book as an answer to anything that happened to me. "Although I have to say when it did happen to me, those who had already read the book in manuscript form were – are you clairvoyant? I wasn’t clairvoyant, I just – yeah, it was just one of those weird twists. Sometimes life imitates art more than one would like." But, no, it’s not – this isn’t about my experience of – as being a creator. My experience – if I wrote about my experience as a creator, it would look very different. And I have to say, for example – which I think will be a question readers would ask: the Potter fandom, by and large, has been amazing to me. Incredibly supportive and I still receive tonnes of love from the Potter fandom. "So, the fandom in this book is very much not a portrait of the fandom. It is of a very – I think a very different kind of fandom," Rowling added. In the recent past, Rowling has claimed that the similarities between her and the character in the book are mere coincidences. Rowling spoke to Graham Norton last week and said, "I should make it really clear after some of the things that have happened the last year that this is not depicting (that)." "I had written the book before certain things happened to me online," she continued. "I said to my husband, 'I think everyone is going to see this as a response to what happened to me,' but it genuinely wasn't. The first draft of the book was finished at the point certain things happened."

JK Rowling new book termed transphobic, author denies character based on her life experience

Netflix employees are storming out of their own offices in protest of a controversial Dave Chappelle comedy special that featured jokes at the expense of trans people.

Transphobic show provokes protest, Netflix employees storm out of office

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