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Pete Hegseth and J D Vance #crackpot #psycho #racist bbc.com

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticised European nations over migration for allowing what he described as an "invasion" on their shores, during a D-Day anniversary speech in France.

Hegseth was speaking in Normandy 82 years after allied forces stormed French beaches to liberate Nazi-occupied north-western Europe in 1944.

"Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies," Hegseth said. "Beaches in Spain, in Italy, in Greece and Bulgaria. Boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion?"

Migration has become a major political issue across Europe, with parties supporting hardline immigration policies surging in the polls.

Hegseth's comments mark a further criticism of European migration policy by senior members of the Trump administration.

On Friday, US Vice-President JD Vance blamed the death of the 18-year-old British student Henry Nowak, who was fatally stabbed last year in Southampton by Vickrum Digwa, on the "mass invasion of migrants" and said the "only response" was "righteous anger".

Downing Street responded by criticising "people trying to interfere in our democracy," adding that the Nowak family had "said they do not want his death to be used to create further division".

The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that Digwa was born British.

MP Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, President John Dramani Mahama and Parliament of Ghana #homophobia #biphobia #transphobia bbc.com

The parliament in Ghana has approved a new bill criminalising homosexuality and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities

It proposes that identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer be punished by up to three years' imprisonment. The bill also introduces a "duty to report" prohibited acts to police

Religious leaders have pressured President John Dramani Mahama, who still needs to ratify the legislation, to strengthen anti-gay laws since he came to power last year

The ban has been sharply criticised by international organisations, including Human Rights Watch, which said it placed LGBTQ+ peoples' lives at risk while also "encouraging citizens to surveil and denounce one another"

Same-sex relationships have been banned in Ghana under laws dating from the British colonial era

In an address to parliament, the bill's sponsor Reverend John Ntim Fordjour said it would protect Ghanaian family and cultural values

He said the new bans would make existing laws "more robust, more encompassing and more stringent in dealing with the practices of LGBTQI"

Anyone who identifies as an "ally", a general term for a supporter of LGBTQ+ people, could also face a prison sentence

Exemptions were included for legal, media and healthcare professionals who report on LGBTQ+ issues or provide medical treatment or other services for gay people[…]
Ghana passed a similar bill in 2024 but it did not become law after former President Akufo-Addo failed to sign it amid legal challenges

The current President Mahama has indicated he would support the bill's passage, saying shortly after he took office that "I believe in the principles and values that only two genders exist – man and woman - and that marriage is between a man and a woman"