UNITED STATES: Scandal-hit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a hysterical speech yesterday to the annual policy conference of zionist lobby organisation Aipac.

In line with warnings by Israeli leftwingers that he would resort to extreme measures to distract from corruption investigations, Mr Netanyahu alleged that “darkness is descending” on the Middle East because of a “radical tyranny” in Iran.

Labelling the country “more extreme and belligerent,” Mr Netanyahu declared: “We must stop Iran, we will stop Iran.”

ITALY: Austerity fan and liberal darling Matteo Renzi blasted the duelling victors of the Italian election — the chauvinist Five Star Movement and the far-right League — yesterday.

It appeared Mr Renzi feared that supporters of his Democratic Party, which limped in with less than 23 per cent of the vote, would jump ship to the Five Star Movement, which has emerged as the largest party.

He said he would only resign as party secretary once a government is formed — in effect, ruling out a Five Star-Democrats coalition.

SOUTH AFRICA: Several countries, including Zambia, Mozambique and Swaziland, have recalled South African meat products believed to be contaminated by bacteria that causes listeriosis.

The processed meats, from a factory in Polokwane in the north-east, are believed responsible for the deaths of 180 people in South Africa since early last year.

South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said there had been a total of 950 cases of the disease since January 2017.

FRANCE: Broadcast watchdog CSA said yesterday that it would try to reduce sexist advertising.

In the spotlight particularly is the use of women as props to sell products and advertisers and broadcasters will face unspecified sanctions for “excessive” ads.

CSA official Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette said the plan was part of a larger effort to tackle violence against women.