The largest anti-immigration protest to date took place in Dublin yesterday, with protesters carrying “Irish Lives Matter” signs. Meanwhile, an illegal immigrant was arrested in Florida over the weekend for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.
In other news, Mohammed is now the most popular baby boy’s name in Berlin and Hamburg.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, Dora, JW, LP, McN, MM, Reader from Chicago, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.
Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.
Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. I check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.
Canadian Financial Confidence Plummets to Historic Low: Nanos Study
Nanos Research has been monitoring Canadians’ confidence in their finances since 2008 and it’s at an all-time low.
Only 10% of Canadians reported that their finances are better than a year ago, the lowest reported score since the company began keeping track. Conversely, over 50% of Canadians say their personal finances are worse off than the prior year, according to Nanos.
Regarding the upcoming year, 14.2% of Canadians think the economy will become stronger. 45.2% of Canadians feel it will weaken, while 32.8% said there will be no change.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Art Institute of Chicago No Longer Pursuing Charges Against 68 Arrested at Pro-Palestinian Protest
CHICAGO (WLS) — After a weekend pro-Palestinian demonstration at the Art Institute of Chicago ended with dozens of arrests, there is a new twist on Monday night.
ABC7 has learned that the Art Institute is no longer pursuing criminal trespassing charges.
However, there is some concern that the incident could be a precursor to what police might face with demonstrators during the Democratic National Convention.
When demonstrators took over a garden area at the Art Institute on Saturday, they shoved a security guard, stole her keys and radio and blocked an emergency exit, according to the school and police.
When officers ordered protesters to disperse and they refused, 68 people were arrested.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
WASHINGTON — President Biden gave his most forcefully pro-Israel speech in months Tuesday, slamming the “absolutely despicable” rise of antisemitism inside the United States and chiding pro-Hamas protesters on college campuses for “forgetting” that terrorists’ Oct. 7 slaughter of hundreds had triggered war in the Middle East.
The 81-year-old president pledged his “ironclad” support to the Jewish state at an event hosted by DC’s Holocaust museum at the US Capitol — just before reports emerged that his administration is halting shipments of precision bombs to deter an Israeli offensive against Rafah, the final major area of Hamas control.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A group of Antifa militants attacked journalist Johnathan Choe and his security guard on the campus of University of Washington near a tabling event with Charlie Kirk. The Antifa carried umbrellas and were dressed in black bloc. Police were called to the scene and began an investigation.
Kirk had a scheduled speech at the university which had been protested by Gaza camp activists who had been calling for intifada in Israel. Choe was on campus covering scheduled protest against Kirk, which was relatively nominal. Patriotic students challenged the Antifa militants to a push-up contest. The militants declined.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A 48-year-old Chicago man has been arrested after allegedly kidnapping a 15-year-old girl and holding her captive in his basement for months, where he repeatedly drugged and raped her.
Derek Swift, who has 52 prior arrests, was subsequently charged with aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, criminal sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
According to CBS News, the victim was walking home on December 6, 2023 when Swift pulled up beside her and offered a ride. Once inside the vehicle, he allegedly forced her to drink alcohol and take pills.
After falling unconscious, the girl woke up in Swift’s bed; she was naked.
Over the following five months, he allegedly locked her in the basement of his home on Chicago’s south side and continued the cycle of abuse.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A 45-year-old Columbia University facilities worker who went viral for shoving an anti-Israel protester against a wall during last week’s campus chaos told The Free Press that the school “failed.”
Anti-Israel protesters invaded Hamilton Hall last week and facilities worker Mario Torres, who was on duty at the time, was photographed trying to “protect the building” but hasn’t returned to campus since.
“We don’t expect to go to work and get swarmed by an angry mob with rope and duct tape and masks and gloves,” Torres told The Free Press reporter Francesca Block.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Outraged New Yorkers on Tuesday blasted the “disgusting” anti-Israel protesters who desecrated a historic World War I memorial in Central Park and torched a US flag — insisting the unruly mob was “anti-American” and just spreading even more hatred.
Several Upper East Side locals stopped by to see the carnage for themselves after the latest wave of protests descended into mayhem late Monday as the star-studded Met Gala took place nearby.
“These people are just nuts and violent,” said Michael Skol, who has lived in the tony Manhattan neighborhood for 25 years, to The Post.
“Burning the flag is anti-American. It’s stupid,” he added. “It definitively doesn’t help Palestinians or the peace process. These are people who are not in the tradition of believing America is a good place. It’s disgusting.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Explosives to Free Dali From Key Bridge Wreckage, Crew Will Shelter in Place on Board
BALTIMORE — Unified Command will use explosive charges to free the Dali container ship from the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and the ship’s crew will shelter in place on board while the explosives are detonated, 11 News Investigates has learned.
When detonated, the explosives will separate a large piece of the Key Bridge that’s lying on top of the Dali’s bow, according to Unified Command’s Petty Officer Ronald Hodges. Unified Command has determined the crew can safely stay on board the Dali and does not need to evacuate prior to detonation, Hodges said.
Hodges said he could not say where the crew would be kept on the ship while the explosives are set off. The explosives used to extricate the Dali from the bridge truss will be similar to the explosives that were used to demolish the historic Gov. Harry W. Nice Bridge in March 2023, he said.
Placing the precision explosives on the truss is a multiday process, a source told 11 News Investigates. The source said the day and time of the explosion will depend on weather, tides and safety conditions.
| — Hat tip: Dora | [Return to headlines] |
House Judiciary Committee to Investigate FBI’s ‘Manipulated’ Evidence in Trump Classified Docs Case
House Republicans are launching an investigation into the handling of classified documents found in Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence after it was revealed that the evidence was tampered with.
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution team recently admitted that the government mishandled the classified documents discovered in Trump’s home that are to be used as evidence in the former president’s case.
Initially, Smith’s team claimed that the evidence remained in its original condition following the FBI raid on Trump’s residence in August 2022. However, prosecutors later admitted that the evidence had been altered, with the documents not matching their original order.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
How a Maine Man’s Humorous Tweet Sparked a Secret Service Saga
The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project has shed light on a Secret Service investigation into a Maine man for posts on Twitter that showed what was described as “unusual interest” in President Joe Biden’s family. Despite these posts being seemingly non-threatening and satirical, the Secret Service launched a formal inquiry in summer 2022, led by Senior Agent John Mazza.
This probe into the Army veteran’s social media activity commenced approximately 18 months after Biden’s presidential inauguration. Originating from a request by a regional office, the Secret Service deemed it necessary to start a “preliminary protective intelligence investigation” without clear evidence of any threat. The content that caught their attention included a post where the man humorously claimed he wanted to “invade the White House and get pics of Biden in his ‘Depends,’“ a reference to a type of adult diaper.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Judge Postpones Trump’s Classified Document Trial Indefinitely — Likely Until After Election
A federal judge in South Florida scrapped a planned May 20 trial start date in former President Donald Trump’s classified document case — a move that will likely push proceedings back until after the Nov. 5 election.
In a five-page scheduling order handed down Tuesday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon wrote that fixing a trial date at this time “would be imprudent and inconsistent with the Court’s duty to fully and fairly consider the various pending pre-trial motions … and additional pretrial and trial preparations necessary to present this case to a jury.”
Lawyers for Trump, 77, and prosecutors led by special counsel Jack Smith have been bogged down in sniping over issues including what evidence can be used against the 45th president, the rules governing a jury, procedures governing the presentation of classified material as evidence, and more.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The judge at Donald Trump’s hush money trial scolded prosecutors about the “degree of detail” Stormy Daniels went into as she delivered racy, animated testimony in Manhattan court Tuesday.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan sustained an objection by Trump’s lawyers to the graphic testimony from Daniels — born Stephanie Clifford — noting “the degree of detail” was “unnecessary.”
Jurors struggled to keep a straight face as Daniels described once spanking the former president with a magazine, but they did not visibly react when she recounted having sex with Trump, 77, on a hotel bed in “the missionary position” in 2006.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Man Arrested for Allegedly Stabbing 5 on Juneau Cruise Ship
JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) — A South African citizen was arrested by the FBI in Juneau Tuesday after he allegedly stabbed a cruise ship passenger and several employees who attempted to stop him.
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alaska said 35-year-old Ntando Sogoni was employed on the cruise ship and was observed by other staff attempting to launch one of the ship’s lifeboats. He was then taken by security to the ship’s medical facility for an evaluation.
Once in the medical center, Sogoni reportedly physically attacked a nurse and a security guard before entering an examination room and attacking a woman there and stabbing her in the arms, hand, and face with a pair of medical scissors. When two security guards intervened, he stabbed one in the head and one in the back.
Once he was under authority’s control, Sogoni was held in the ship’s jail before being taken into custody and being charged with assault with a deadly weapon in maritime and territorial jurisdiction. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine total sentencing.
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
Most College Students Reject Pro-Terror Protest Antics: Poll
Few American college students view the Israel-Hamas war as a major issue in their lives while most shun the excesses of pro-terror protesters on campuses across the country, a new poll shows.
Just 8% of students say they have taken part in pro or anti-Israel demonstrations that began at Columbia University April 17 and spread across America — and 81% want universities to hold protesters accountable who destroy property, vandalize, or illegally occupy campus buildings, per the survey carried out by Generation Lab for Axios.
In addition, two-thirds of students (67%) said that occupying campus buildings was an unacceptable form of protest, while 58% said the same of refusing orders to disperse.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
NBA Star Darius Morris Dies Suddenly at 33
Former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Darius Morris has died suddenly, his family has revealed.
The retired basketball pro was just 33 years old.
The story was first reported by TMZ.
The outlet said the NBA star’s body was found in the Los Angeles Area.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
More than two dozen anti-Israel protesters were busted in the latest unrest to plague the Big Apple — including a Brooklyn bartender and serial demonstrator who once allegedly refused to serve a Jewish patron and a liberal arts grad who likes “thinking about vegetables.”
At least 27 people were collared late Monday as demonstrations near the star-studded Met Gala on the Upper East Side descended into chaos, with a mob vandalizing a historic World War I memorial in Central Park and burning an American flag.
Among those nabbed was serial protester Alvin Dan, 32, of Staten Island, who was arrested for disrupting last year’s iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade during an anti-Israel demonstration, according to police sources.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
An Ohio doctor has had her medical license reinstated after it was stripped for raising concerns about the risks associated with Covid mRNA shots.
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny drew national attention in 2021 when she told state legislators that Covid shots posed a risk to public health.
Her warning led to an investigation by Ohio State Medical Board and she was smeared as a “conspiracy theorist.”
In August 2023, Tenpenny was stripped of her medical license over claims she was refusing to cooperate with the investigation.
Finally, the Ohio State Medical Board has now voted to restore Tenpenny’s license.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
One Third of Stanford Students OK With Violence to Shut Down Speech; Report
Authored by Samantha Swenson via The College Fix,
More than one third of Stanford University students say using physical violence to stop a speech is acceptable in at least some circumstances, according to a new report.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression conducted the survey after federal Judge Kyle Duncan’s speech on campus was shouted down last year. The report evaluated students’ perspectives about free speech on campus and protests in the aftermath of the event.
FIRE Chief Research Advisor Sean Stevens told The College Fix the research found “considerably higher” support for canceling a speaker among Stanford students when compared to their peers nationwide.
The survey found 54 percent of Stanford students believed Duncan’s speech to the law school’s Federalist Society chapter should have been canceled by the administration. Additionally, 75 percent said shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking was acceptable in some circumstances.
Meanwhile, 36 percent said the same about using physical violence to stop a speech, the report found.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Pediatrician Blows Whistle: Doctors Get Kickbacks to ‘Vaccinate Your Children’
A pediatrician has come forward to blow the whistle by warning the public about a kickback scheme where doctors are “paid to vaccinate your children.”
Dr. Paul Thomas, a celebrated Dartmouth-trained pediatrician, has revealed that doctors across the country receive a huge cash influx for making sure their patients follow the vaccine schedule as specified by Democrat President Joe Biden’s administration.
According to Thomas, a prominent pediatrician in Oregon, the kickbacks have become so systemic that doctors “cannot stay in business” if they don’t keep their patients fully vaccinated.
Dr. Thomas alleges that doctors are rewarded financially if they strictly follow the vaccine schedule dictated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Thomas, author of “The Vaccine-Friendly Plan: Dr. Paul’s Safe and Effective Approach to Immunity and Health-from Pregnancy Through Your Child’s Teen Year,” said he refused to only follow the CDC schedule.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Police Clear University of Chicago Pro-Palestinian Encampment
CHICAGO (WLS) — Police cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park Tuesday morning.
Campus police came in and dismantled the pro-Palestinian camp set up by students shortly before 5 a.m.
The raid was swift. Officers dressed in riot gear piled into the pro-Palestinian encampment in the early hours of the morning.
Crews came in with trucks, and removed the dozens of tents and cardboard signs that have decorated the U of C quad for nine days now.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Red State Governor Signs Bill Cracking Down on Squatters: ‘Best Dwelling’ for Them ‘Is a Jail Cell’
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, signed into law on Monday a bill that strengthens the rights of homeowners against squatters who illegally occupy their property.
The measure, House Bill 182, was sponsored by state Rep. Craig Lipscomb and creates harsher penalties for individuals who occupy property they do not own. Additionally, the measure enhances penalties for those who falsify real estate documents — such as a lease or deed — in an effort to show they have a right to occupy the property.
The new law, which received bipartisan support in the state legislature and will become enforceable on June 1, also establishes a process administered by local law enforcement officials to rapidly remove individuals who are wrongfully occupying property they do not own.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
TikTok Fights Back Against Ban
On Tuesday, TikTok, together with its parent company ByteDance, took legal action in the US federal court to challenge a new law endorsed by President Joe Biden.
This legislation mandates that ByteDance either sell TikTok by January 19 or cease its operations in the US. The suit, filed in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, claims that the law infringes on several constitutional grounds, particularly violating the First Amendment’s free speech protections.
We obtained a copy of the lawsuit for you here.
TikTok, immensely popular among 170 million Americans, faces an existential threat under this law, enacted on April 24. The filing emphatically states that divestiture is unfeasible — “not commercially, not technologically, not legally.” It warns of an inevitable shutdown, which would “silence the 170 million Americans who use the platform to communicate in ways that cannot be replicated elsewhere.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Edges Out Biden in Pennsylvania Poll From AARP After Losing Swing State in 2020
Former President Donald Trump holds a narrow lead over President Biden in the incumbent’s birth state of Pennsylvania, a new poll has found.
Trump, 77, gets 49% support among likely Keystone State voters while Biden, 81, has 45% with fewer than six months to go until Election Day, according to the survey conducted by Fabrizio Ward & Impact Research for the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
Trump’s advantage over Biden, 81, was even more pronounced among voters aged 50 and up, with the former president getting 52% support in the demographic while his successor got 42%.
According to AARP Pennsylvania, 50 and older voters made up more than half (55%) of the commonwealth’s electorate in 2020, when Biden defeated Trump by a little more than 80,000 votes out of more than 6.8 million ballots cast.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Porn star Stormy Daniels confronted a dour Donald Trump with salacious details about their alleged tryst in Manhattan court Tuesday — delivering testimony that was so tawdry, even the judge warned her to tone it down.
Jurors in the hush money trial struggled to keep a straight face as the adult film actress — talking fast and gesturing wildly — described spanking the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee with a rolled up magazine that had his face on the cover.
“I took it and turned him around and swatted him,” Daniels, 45, testified, causing at least two jurors to break into a smirk and Trump, 77, to reportedly mouth “That’s bulls**t” to his lawyers.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Could Use Covert Special Forces Teams to Take Out Leaders of Mexican Cartels: Report
Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering deploying special-ops units into Mexico to target the leaders of major drug cartels if he is elected president again.
Three sources close to Trump told Rolling Stone magazine that Trump endorsed this idea in conversations with allies, including a Republican lawmaker. Trump is reportedly contemplating this strategy whether or not the Mexican government approves it. He allegedly questioned why such a mission has not been pursued before, stating that the US military possesses “tougher killers” than the cartels.
Trump reportedly likened the proposed covert operations to the raid that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019. The former president also suggested in these conversations that the US government should have a “kill list of drug lords” that it strategizes to eliminate.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Quotes CNN, NBC, ABC, Saying Prosecution in Stormy Daniels Trial Has Not Proved Their Case
President Donald Trump spoke to reporters outside the courthouse in New York City on Tuesday during a break in the testimony of Stormy Daniels, the woman at the center of the case. She had been telling one-liners on the witness stand as she answered prosecutor’s questions about her alleged past involvement with Donald Trump.
In discussing the case, Trump read quotes from CNN and other news outlets, giving their view, and not his own. Trump has been issued a gag order in the case that prevents him from discussing witnesses, judiciary, or prosecutorial staff. He has already been threatened with jail time for alleged violations of those orders, in the form of social media posts of articles and the like, and has been fined $10,000.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is cautioning professors and faculty members against withholding students’ final grades after students expressed concerns some professors were going to do so in an apparent protest against the university.
After anti-Israel demonstrations sprang up on the campus, university administrators took action to restore order on the campus. Students who participated in the unrest faced disciplinary action. Professors at UNC-Chapel Hill reportedly planned to show support for those students who were allegedly suspended from the university by organizing an effort to withhold all students’ final grades.
On Tuesday, UNC-Chapel Hill Provost Chris Clemens and Graduate School Dean Beth Mayer-Davis sent a letter to deans and department chairs addressing the apparent protest.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Union Repping Columbia University Custodians Plans to Sue Over Anti-Israel Protest Violence
A powerful union representing some of Columbia University’s custodians plans to sue the Ivy League school after a handful of staffers were allegedly mistreated when an unruly mob of anti-Israel protesters took over an academic building during last week’s on-campus unrest.
The Transport Workers Union, which counts university workers among its 155,000 members, ripped Columbia’s embattled president Minouche Shafik for failing to better protect employees when masked pro-terror rioters broke in and barricaded themselves inside the historic Hamilton Hall last Tuesday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Wannabe Jewel Thief Foiled by Gun-Wielding Army Vet Storeowner: ‘Keys, Wallet, Firearm’
A would-be thief’s plans for a jewelry heist were thwarted Saturday night when he was chased out of the Nebraska store at gunpoint by the owner — an on-his-toes US Army veteran.
“I typically carry a firearm on my waist, even after hours,” Garrett Peddicord told KETV.
“It’s just one of those things: keys, wallet, firearm.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Man Wearing Israeli Flag Attacked at U of T “People’s Circle for Palestine”
A 24-year-old Jewish man was attacked for waving an Israeli flag outside of the University of Toronto’s pro-Palestine protest encampment Saturday evening.
After seeing a rise of anti-Israel hate in Canada and the US on university campuses, Ukrainian-Israeli immigrant Moshe Zelig decided to stand up for Israel and Jewish students on campus outside of the protest.
In an interview with True North, Zelig shared his experience of what it was like as a supporter of Israel in what he says was a hostile protest.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Molotov Cocktails Discovered Under Equipment at Quebec EV Battery Plant
Unknown individuals trespassed Northvolt’s construction site at their future battery plant in Quebec, placing Molotov cocktails under some of the construction equipment.
“Fortunately, the devices didn’t go off. There is no damage,” said Northvolt CEO Paolo Cerruti.
The Swedish battery manufacturing giant previously began clearing land and destroying wetlands to build its new EV battery plant, sparking public outcry and raising questions about the environmental cost of green technologies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Kyle Kemper is the half-brother of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — or as Kemper likes to put it, “Justin Trudeau is the half-brother of Kyle Kemper.” He believes that the prime minister is merely a “champion spokesperson” for globalists.
They have the same mother in Margaret Trudeau but they share few of the same ideological values and political objectives. Kemper has been a staunch supporter of the Freedom Convoy, a severe critic of the Trudeau government, and is currently driving a bus for the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presidential campaign.
When asked in a wide-ranging interview on Thursday about how House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus ejected Official Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre on Apr. 30, Kemper said it illustrates the decline of democracy in Canada. “It seems to me like Canadians do not have representation in the House of Commons and this is a nice example of just the theater that has become our House of Commons where, like you said, it’s kind of hypocritical in that whatever words he used in probably like, you know, chose a poor word but whatever, he’s trying to get a point across and, you know, to be expelled from the house for saying that.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The first Black female to serve as superintendent with the Toronto Police Service has pleaded guilty to seven counts of professional misconduct for her role in providing six Black constables with answers to cheat on their promotions exam.
Supt. Stacy Clarke believed her efforts were justified because of the slow pace she saw in promoting Black candidates for promotions within the Toronto Police Service, her lawyer Joseph Markson argued during the tribunal hearing.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Austria Grapples With Surge in Antisemitic Attacks
Austria has been hit by a disturbing wave of antisemitic attacks since October 7, coinciding with the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Jewish Community in Austria has reported a notable increase in antisemitic incidents across the country, with Vienna being particularly affected. Recent graffiti bearing slogans like “Death to Zionism” and “Victory to Palestine” has appeared on the facades of Jewish businesses in Vienna’s second and 20th districts.
Responding to these troubling developments, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka, alongside Israel’s Ambassador to Austria David Roet and President of the Israelite Religious Society Austria Oskar Deutsch, took proactive measures in Vienna-Leopoldstadt, a central hub of Jewish life in Austria. They joined forces to paint over the antisemitic graffiti, symbolizing their united stance against hatred and bigotry.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgian Telecom Watchdog Tasked With Monitoring Telegram Amid EU Concerns
The European Commission has tasked the Belgian Institute of Post and Telecommunications (BIPT) with overseeing the messaging platform Telegram, known for its popularity among political extremists, criminals, and terrorists.
With over 700 million active users worldwide, including an estimated 40 million in Europe, Telegram has faced criticism for its limited content moderation. BIPT’s new role grants it EU-wide jurisdiction over Telegram, empowering it to address concerns regarding illegal content on the platform. Mathias Vermeulen of the data law firm AWO highlighted the importance of this move, stating that individuals across the EU can now file complaints with BIPT if Telegram fails to act on reports of violent incitement against religious institutions.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgian PM Wants European Boycott of Israeli Business From Occupied Territories
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the Council of the EU’s rotating six-month presidency, is pushing for an EU ban on imports of products from Israeli-occupied territories.
The move would block agricultural products like dates, olive oil, and wine from the Occupied Territories from entering the EU.
Speaking to Radio 1, the Belgian PM said, “I think it’s difficult to say, in the current circumstances, that trade with Israel —especially concerning products coming from occupied territories— where the violence is increasing, and it’s not only in Gaza where the safety conditions are dramatic, that we as European countries can pretend that there is nothing wrong.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Commission Floats EU-Wide Sanctions Against Voice of Europe
The European Commission is moving to widen Czech sanctions against Voice of Europe, an alleged pro-Russian propaganda network, to be enforced across the European Union.
Voice of Europe is listed as one of four entities to be added to the sanctions list as part of the bloc’s 14th sanctions package against Russia, according to a document dated May 3 and seen by POLITICO.
The three others are Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti and Russian news outlets Izvestija and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
The news website Voice of Europe as well as Viktor Medvedchuk, an ally of Vladimir Putin, and Artem Marchevskyi, another person involved, were all sanctioned by the Czech Republic at the end of March for an alleged pro-Russian influence operation believed to be aimed at interfering in the EU’s June election.
In mid-April, the Czech Republic and Belgium issued a joint call to have the Czech sanctions widened to the whole of the EU.
Commission Vice President Vera Jourova had already hinted on Sunday in a Czech television interview that Voice of Europe would be included.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Donald Tusk Believes That the EU Should Create a Common Missile Defense System
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged the European Union to allocate no less than 100 billion euros for defense and establish a common missile defense system. He made this statement during a speech at an economic conference in the city of Katowice.
Tusk noted that the long debates on strengthening the EU’s defense capabilities should be concluded with a decision in the near future.
“Many funds, wisely spent on the security of Europe, will keep war away from European borders for a long time. Perhaps forever,” the Polish Prime Minister pointed out.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
During a Planned Off-Site Meeting of the Polish Government, Listening Devices Were Discovered
In the venue in Katowice, where the off-site meeting of the Polish government was scheduled to take place on May 7th, devices resembling listening equipment were found. As reported by RMF24, this was announced by a representative of the minister-coordinator of the intelligence services, Jacek Dobzynski.
The State Protection Service, in cooperation with the Internal Security Agency, discovered and dismantled devices that could have been used for eavesdropping in the Katowice venue, where the government meeting was supposed to take place.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Issues Stern Warning to China, Signals Readiness for Trade Defense Measures
European Commission President Von der Leyen delivered a stark warning to China, signaling the European Union’s preparedness to utilize trade defense tools to safeguard against China’s aggressive trade practices.
Von der Leyen’s remarks, made following a meeting with French President Macron and Chinese President Xi, underscore the EU’s resolve to counteract China’s heavily subsidized manufacturing sector and unfair trade tactics, which pose a threat to Europe’s domestic industries.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Resolves Standoff With Poland Over Democracy Concerns
The European Union’s executive has announced its decision to bring an end to a six-year-long dispute with Poland, citing Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s initiation of necessary reforms to address the bloc’s concerns regarding democratic principles.
The EU’s move to withdraw its case concerning rule of law grievances comes after a decision in February to unfreeze billions of euros that had been held in the dispute. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the development as a pivotal moment for Poland, attributing the breakthrough to the country’s steadfast commitment to reform efforts. She emphasized that the ongoing restoration of the rule of law in Poland is beneficial not only for its citizens but also for the entire European Union.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
European Nationalists Are ‘Hidden Brexiteers’, Claims Macron
“All European nationalists are hidden Brexiteers,” according to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron’s Eurosceptic opponents, both in France and beyond, have been selling the public the “same lies” as those who campaigned for the United Kingdom to leave the EU, the French President said in an interview with The Economistpublished on May 3.
The antidote lay in “being bold enough not to think that their rise is inevitable”, he said. “I say to Europeans, Wake up. Wake up!”
For a leader who has sought to revive his party’s flagging fortunes ahead of June’s European Parliament elections, Macron has now presented himself as the antidote to Euroscepticism.
Marine le Pen’s Rassemblement National garnered 32 per cent in an Ipsos poll published on April 29, solidly ahead of Macron’s coalition on 17 per cent.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU’s Unused Rescue Fund Could Shift to Defense Spending
In a strategic maneuver, influential figures within the European Union are advocating for the repurposing of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), originally designed as an emergency bailout fund, to address pressing defense needs.
With €422 billion at its disposal, the ESM could potentially transition from rescuing economies to funding military investments, according to sources familiar with ongoing discussions. The proposal gains momentum amidst growing concerns over Europe’s security landscape, exacerbated by Russia’s ongoing aggression and the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House, with his demands for increased defense spending among NATO members.
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Finland Has Started Storing Military Equipment in Norway
Finland has begun storing military equipment in Norway and will soon do the same in Sweden, as well as looking into other countries further from its borders, said Lieutenant General Mikko Heiskanen, deputy chief of staff for armaments and logistics of the Finnish Defence Forces, in an interview with the Financial Times.
“We plan to store equipment in other countries. It’s a matter of supply security, distribution of stocks. We have already started this partially. We plan to do this, especially with Sweden and Norway, as well as with more distant countries. We are talking about equipment, ammunition, and possibly spare parts,” Heiskanen said.
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French MEP Claims He Was Targeted by China-Linked Hackers
French right-wing MEP François-Xavier Bellamy says he has been targeted by hackers linked to China.
“I learned through an alert from the American Government that I had been targeted by a hacker operation close to the Chinese regime,” he said.
On May 6, Bellamy warned that “the future of our economies, but above all of our democracies, is threatened by Europe’s naivety” regarding the issue of foreign interference.
He publicly targeted Beijing during the current visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to France.
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German Politicians Grill Chancellor Olaf Scholz Over Surging Doner Kebab Prices
As the cost of doner kebabs continues to soar in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz finds himself fielding questions about the affordability of the beloved street food during public appearances, The Guardian writes.
The issue has become so prominent that his government has taken to social media to address concerns, attributing the price hikes to rising wage and energy costs. The debate over doner kebab prices has now reached the political arena, with the far-left Die Linke party advocating for a Dönerpreisbremse, or doner kebab price cap, similar to rent controls in certain regions. Die Linke’s proposal suggests capping prices at €4.90, with a reduced rate of €2.90 for young people, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
Sales of kebabs, a staple introduced to Germany by Turkish immigrants, amount to an estimated €7 billion annually. With approximately 1.3 billion kebabs consumed each year nationwide, implementing a subsidy program to maintain affordability could cost around €4 billion annually, according to Die Linke’s calculations.
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Germany: Bundesbank Chief Opposes Joint EU Borrowing Beyond NextGenEU
Germany’s central bank chief voiced doubts over the need for joint European Union debt issuance.
“I do not see much merit in giving incentives on the fiscal side to increase subsidies and state aid,” Joachim Nagel said in Frankfurt on Tuesday. “And you won’t be surprised that the Bundesbank is skeptical about extending the scope of joint borrowing beyond the NextGenerationEU program.”
The EU is looking to jump-start its defense industry after years of underspending following the Cold War. Some officials have suggested joint borrowing could be used for this, though the German government is among those opposing such a move.
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Germany: Mohammed Most Popular Baby Boy’s Name in Berlin and Hamburg
Sophie and Noah were the most popular baby names in Germany last year, but in several regions including the national capital strong local variations exist, including the primacy of Mohammed for boys.
Germany’s state funded language institute has revealed its baby name statistics in 2023, and said Mohammed is the most popular boy’s name in a group of cities. The German statistics combine homophones, meaning Mohammed is counted alongside Mohamed, Muhammed, Mohammad, Muhammet, Muhamet, and others, in the same way it counts Sophia and Sofia together, which is the most popular girls’ name for 2023.
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In Estonia, Military Exercises Involving 15 Countries Are Starting
In Estonia, large-scale military exercises called “Spring Storm” are starting on Monday, which will last until May 17 in the western part of the country and on the islands, according to Estonian broadcaster ERR. The exercises will be divided into several stages. From May 6 to 12, units will be formed and cooperation will be practiced.
From May 13 to 17 in Western Estonia, including the islands, the main training battles will take place. About 14,000 participants from 15 countries will be involved in the exercises, including from Canada, Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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Many Germans ‘Disappointed by Von Der Leyen Presidency’
Many in Germany have been left disappointed by the European Commission presidency of Ursula von der Leyen, the lead candidate for the German Liberal party has said.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann — the spitzenkandidat for both the German Free Democratic Party and the continent-wide Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party — said that many voters had high hopes for the EC head, who was the first woman to head up the organisation.
“Everybody in Germany especially thought she would be much more successful than she ended up being,” Strack Zimmerman remarked.
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Netherlands: PVV Negotiator Seen With Notes Citing ‘Strictest Asylum Package Ever’
A negotiator in the Dutch government formation talks was photographed with a draft coalition agreement in his hands, thereby leaking key elements of the negotiations.
The proposed agreement aims to implement “the most stringent asylum admission regulations ever”, along with a reduction in financial burdens for citizens starting in 2025.
Parliamentarian Gidi Markuszower, from Geert Wilders’s PVV party, carried the document as he waited for a lift, in front of a group of journalists.
Dirk Hol from the Dutch news agency ANP was able to take a picture of the document.
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Poland: Pictures: Palestine Protesters Disrupt Memorial Ceremony at Auschwitz
An annual remembrance of the Holocaust at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps was protested on Monday by Palestine flag-flying activists, who confronted and shouted at attendees.
Thousands of people attended the 36th ‘March of the Living’ event on Monday, a normally silent march from Auschwitz to Birkenau, the German death camps built in occupied Poland during the Second World War, key sites of the Holocaust. Among those at Auschwitz yesterday, Germany’s Die Welt broadsheet newspaper reports, were 55 survivors of the Holocaust, survivors of the October 7th Israel massacre, and relatives of those taken hostage by Hamas.
The march was protested by Palestine activists, with slogans shouted and some marchers confronted. Organisers of the march say the counter protesters saw the event as a ‘perverse’ opportunity to “express their hatred against Israel and the Jewish people”. This serves as a “timely reminder of the importance of Holocaust eduction and remembrance”, they said.
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Police Raid Far-Right German MEP’s Office in China Espionage Probe
BRUSSELS — Belgian and German police on Tuesday conducted searches at the European Parliament offices of a far-right MEP and his aide as part of an investigation into suspected Chinese espionage.
An investigating judge of Germany’s Federal Court of Justice ordered the search of the offices of MEP Maximilian Krah, top candidate for next month’s EU election from the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) and his aide Jian G., who is suspected of “of secret service agent activity,” according toGerman public prosecutors.
The search was delayed, according to one of Krah’s employees — granted anonymity to speak freely — because police had a warrant to search Jian G’s desk and when they arrived, another staffer was sitting there, despite Jian G.’s name being on the nameplate. It took more than two hours to get a new search warrant for Jian G.’s actual desk.
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Polish President Sees Recognition of Silesian Language as Thin End of a Separatist Wedge
Polish president Andrzej Duda is expected to veto the legislation recognising Silesian as a regional language, siding with the Conservative (PiS) opposition which views the proposal as encouraging separatism.
In April, Poland’s parliament passed legislation recognising the Silesian dialect “godka” as an official regional language.
The three parties that make up the ruling majority— Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO), the centrist Third Way Alliance and the Left party— all supported the measure.
The KO, led by the Donald Tusk who himself is a Kashubian (a small population on the Baltic coast near Gdansk), has been the legislation’s most vocal supporter.
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Revolutionizing Work Hours: Czech Labor Code Embraces Self-Scheduling
The Czech Republic is on the brink of a labor revolution as the state prepares to introduce a groundbreaking amendment to the Labor Code, granting employees the autonomy to determine their own work hours.
This innovative move aims to foster a healthier balance between work and family life, offering workers greater flexibility in managing their schedules. Under the proposed amendment, employees will have the option to self-schedule their work hours, a concept dubbed “self-scheduling,” which is set to reshape traditional workplace dynamics. Dana Rouckova, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, unveiled this progressive change at a recent seminar, emphasizing that workers will have the freedom to tailor their schedules according to their individual needs.
However, this newfound flexibility comes with conditions.
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Systematic Review Reveals Many COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients Experienced New-Onset Psychosis
Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
Individuals who took COVID-19 vaccines were found to have later suffered from psychosis, with Pfizer and AstraZeneca shots linked to most of the cases.
The peer-reviewed systemic review, published in the Frontiers in Psychiatry journal on April 12, examined cases of new-onset psychosis among people who took the vaccines. Psychosis refers to symptoms that occur when an individual has difficulty differentiating between reality and fantasy, with hallucinations and delusions being two key types. The review looked at 21 articles describing 24 cases of psychosis symptoms following vaccination. The researchers concluded that “data suggest a potential link between young age, mRNA, and viral vector vaccines with new-onset psychosis within 7 days post-vaccination.”
“Collecting data on vaccine-related psychiatric effects is crucial for prevention, and an algorithm for monitoring and treating mental health reactions post-vaccination is necessary for comprehensive management.”
Out of the 24 cases, 13 were female. The median age of participants was 36 years. Twenty-two patients (91.2 percent) had no specific history of somatic illness and comorbidities.
In 33.3 percent of the cases, administration of the Pfizer mRNA vaccine “potentially induced adverse psychiatric events,” the study said. The viral vector AstraZeneca vaccine was linked to psychotic symptoms in 25 percent of cases.
In 45.8 percent of incidences, psychotic symptoms were reported after the first shot and in fifty percent after the second dose.
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The EU Calls on Companies to Transfer Weapons Production to Ukraine With Financial Support
Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, urged European companies to actively collaborate with Ukraine in the defense industry. Speaking at a conference on cooperation in this area, which involved 140 companies from 25 EU member states, Borrell stated that relevant projects would receive funding from the EU.
“Take advantage of this opportunity to combine your capabilities with Ukraine, and we will finance your joint work,” he noted.
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The Number of Anti-Semitic Crimes in France Has Increased by 300%
The number of incidents of anti-Semitism in France in the first quarter of 2024 was four times higher compared to the same period last year. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced this while speaking at a meeting of the Council of Jewish Organizations in France (CRIF).
“In the first three months of this year, 366 cases of anti-Semitic incidents were recorded in France, which is 300% more than in the first three months of last year,” said Attal, whose speech was broadcast on the French government’s X page.
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Top German Conservative Partly Blames Germany and EU for Brexit
Berlin and Brussels should share some of the blame for Brexit, German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz said.
In an interview with the Financial Times, the leader of Germany’s main opposition party hinted the former German chancellor — fellow Christian Democrat Angela Merkel, although he did not mention her by name — could have done more to help the U.K.’s then-Prime Minister David Cameron win the vote.
“I remember that David Cameron asked for changes to EU social policy and came back to London empty-handed,” Merz said, adding that “the continental Europeans were not entirely blameless when it came to Brexit.”
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In a foreboding sign of the future that likely awaits the United Kingdom, Muslim activists have issued a series of 18 demands to the Labour Party after dozens of local council seats were won by candidates who ran on the single issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
While the left-wing Labour Party was the clear victor of Thursday’s local elections in Britain, it saw many races in typical strongholds flip to independent candidates bringing their sectarian message to the Muslim community. Such was the scale of the defections, that Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement to British Muslims: “I am determined to meet your concerns and to gain your respect and trust again in the future.”
Sensing blood in the water, a group called Muslim Vote, which claims to have 24 Islamic organisations in the UK behind it, issued a list of 18 demands to the Labour Party if it wants to count on the support of one of its key voting blocs in the upcoming general election, in which Labour hopes to return to power after being relegated to the opposition benches for 14 years.
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UK: More Than 4,500 ULEZ Camera Vandalisations Since March 2023
There have been more than 4,500 counts of vandalisation of ULEZ cameras in little over a year, according to data crowd-sourced by the minds behind one of Facebook’s biggest anti-ULEZ groups.
With each camera believed to be worth up to £10,000, the total cost to TfL to repair the vandalism could be as high as £45m, with 4,536 cameras damaged.
TfL said they are not disclosing the costs incurred by camera vandalism to avoid giving further publicity to those engaging in dangerous acts, but that it is “significantly lower than £45m”.
According to data sourced by the activists working under the title of Julie’s map, Bexley, Bromley, Havering, Hillingdon, and Croydon have seen the most vandalism.
Bexley alone has seen 717 vandalisations since March 2023, with only half of cameras currently active.
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EU Council Approves €6 Billion Plan to Accelerate Western Balkans Enlargement Process
The EU Council has greenlit a comprehensive plan, allotting 6 billion euros to bolster the Western Balkans region and hasten its integration process into the EU. This initiative, spanning from 2024 to 2027, earmarks up to 2 billion euros in grants and 4 billion euros in loans, contingent upon reforms aligning with EU standards, as reported by AP.
This financial package aims to catalyze socio-economic and institutional transformations, prioritizing reforms concerning the rule of law and fundamental rights. The Western Balkans, comprising Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, exhibit varying progress in their EU membership bids, prompting frustration among their populace due to the sluggish pace.
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Israeli Forces Seize Rafah Border Crossing, Choking Off Vital Aid
RAFAH, Gaza Strip/CAIRO, May 7 — Israeli forces seized the main border crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza on Tuesday, shutting down a vital aid route into the Palestinian enclave that is already on the brink of famine.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas accused Israel of trying to undermine efforts to secure a ceasefire in the seven-month-long war that has laid waste to Gaza and left hundreds of thousands of its people homeless and hungry.
Israeli army footage showed tanks rolling through the Rafah crossing complex and the Israeli flag raised on the Gaza side.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said seizing the crossing was a “very significant step” towards its stated aim of destroying Hamas’s military capabilities.
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UN General Assembly Set to Vote on Palestinian Statehood, Prompting Concerns Over US Funding
The United Nations General Assembly is poised for a significant vote that could recognize Palestinians as full members, potentially impacting US financial support and statehood considerations.
Scheduled for Friday, the vote revolves around a draft resolution recommending Palestinian eligibility for full UN membership and urging the Security Council to reassess the matter positively.
The impending vote serves as a global gauge of Palestinian support, following the recent US veto of their Security Council bid. Approval hinges on Security Council and General Assembly endorsement.
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US Pauses Bomb Shipment to Israel Over Rafah ‘Concerns’
The United States halted a shipment of bombs to Israel last week after it failed to address Washington’s concerns over plans to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a senior US official said Tuesday. Read our liveblog for all the latest developments on Israel’s war on Gaza.
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An Assassination Attempt Was Made on Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman
An assassination attempt has been made on Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to the Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak, an assassination attempt on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia was carried out in Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred in Jeddah. One of the Saudi princes attempted to kill the crown prince.
“Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself is alive, he was not harmed. There are many casualties among the royal guards,” the statement said.
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CBI Arrests 4 for Pushing Indians Into Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi: The CBI has arrested four people including a contractual translator in the Russian Defence Ministry for their alleged involvement in the human trafficking network that pushed Indians into the Russia-Ukraine war zone, officials said Tuesday.
The agency arrested two recruiters, Arun and Yesudas Junior alias Priyan, from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on Tuesday, while two other accused, Nijil Jobi Bensam, a contractual employee in Russian Defence Ministry, and Anthony Michael Elangovan, a resident of Mumbai, were arrested on April 24.
Bensam and Elangovan are in judicial custody, the CBI said in a late night statement.
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French and British Ambassadors Summoned in Moscow
The Russian foreign ministry headed by Sergei Lavrov summoned the British and French Ambassadors in Moscow over the ongoing Ukraine conflict on May 6.
Ambassadors Nigel Casey of the UK and Pierre Levy of France were separately seen arriving at the ministry’s headquarters in central Moscow.
As the Russian news agency Tass reported, both officials declined to comment to the press gathered outside.
The Russian Government has also remained tight-lipped about the meetings, merely confirming that the envoys had been summoned due to recent statements.
Earlier on the same day, the Russian defence ministry announced plans for a military exercise to test the deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons.
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Polish Judge ‘Seeks Asylum in Belarus’
Tomasz Szmydt, a Polish judge with the Regional Administrative Court in Warsaw (WSA), has reportedly sought “protection” with the Belarusian authorities and asked Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko for “asylum”, at a specially organised press conference in the country.
Szmydt claimed his decision to leave his job and Poland was due to political persecution there based on his opposition to the Government, which he accused of “leading the country to war under the influence of the United States and Great Britain”.
The judge on May 6 gave a press conference at the Minsk headquarters of BelTA, the state-owned Belarusian news agency that functions as a mouthpiece for Lukashenko regime.
Szmydt described Belarus as an “open and friendly country” and praised Lukashenko as a “very wise leader” who has “done a lot to keep peace in our region”. He also accused the West of “trying to destroy Belarus”.
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Report: Russia Doubles Oil Revenue Year-on-Year in April
A report published on Monday by Bloomberg, citing the Russian Finance Ministry, found that Moscow generated over double the amount of revenue in April 2024 from oil sales and taxes compared to April 2023.
The report suggested that part of the increase was the result of the value of the national currency, the ruble, declining significantly, but an increase in oil prices and Russia’s continued ability to sell oil outside of Europe, to friendly countries such as India and China, also contributed to the change.
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Ukraine Arrests 2 Rogue Colonels Over Secret Plot to Murder Zelenskyy, Kyiv Says
KYIV — Ukraine’s security service said Tuesday it had foiled a plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by undercover Ukrainian security officials who were working for Russia.
Two unnamed colonels from the Ukrainian State Security Department, the SBU — the main organization protecting top officials including Zelenskyy — were part of a group of covert agents helping Russia’s security service, the FSB, to plot the assassination, Kyiv said.
The colonels were arrested and Kyiv said the conspiracy included plans to also murder SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk and Military Intelligence boss Kyrylo Budanov.
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Ukraine Arrests Two Officials for Treason Over Alleged Russian Plot to Kill Zelensky
(CNN) — Ukraine has detained two security officials allegedly involved in a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky, which Kyiv’s state security service (SBU) said it foiled.
Two colonels in Ukraine’s government protection unit were accused of carrying out “subversive activities against Ukraine in exchange for financial compensation,” Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s office said Tuesday.
Both colonels were charged with treason; one was also charged with preparing a terrorist act.
The prosecutor’s office said one of the suspects received two drones and ammunition from Russia’s state security service (FSB), which they intended to transfer to another accomplice to carry out an explosion.
The SBU said it had “foiled” the “actively developing plans” to assassinate Zelensky and other senior Ukrainian officials, including the head of the SBU, Vasyl Maliuk, and the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov.
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German Warships Are Heading to the Indo-Pacific Region Amid Tensions With China
On Tuesday, Germany deployed two military vessels to the Indo-Pacific region in an attempt to bolster its military presence amid increasing tensions between China and Taiwan, Reuters reported.
The tension is putting pressure on freedom of navigation and free passage through trade routes, said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at the German Navy base in Wilhelmshaven. About 40% of Europe’s external trade passes through the South China Sea.
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Rescue Efforts Underway After Building Collapse in South Africa
In the aftermath of a tragic building collapse in George, South Africa, rescue teams are diligently working to locate survivors amidst the rubble. The structure, still under construction, crumbled unexpectedly, claiming the lives of at least six individuals, as reported by Reuters.
Utilizing a combination of heavy machinery, such as cranes and drills, alongside manual efforts, rescuers are navigating through the debris in search of the approximately 48 workers who remain missing as of Tuesday. While communication has been established with 11 individuals trapped beneath the wreckage, families anxiously await updates, grappling with the fear of devastating loss.
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How Bolsonaro and Musk Defied Brazil Government’s Censorship From Deep in the Amazon
The suppression of voices, endorsed by certain factions within Brazil, is becoming increasingly contentious.
A notable episode in this ongoing conflict occurred during an X Spaces session hosted by podcaster Mario Nawfal, featuring Elon Musk and Jair Bolsonaro, the former President of Brazil. Musk, a vocal advocate for freedom of expression, had prefaced the discussion on social media, emphasizing the Brazilian public’s right to hear Bolsonaro, regardless of personal opinions about him.
However, this stance was directly challenged by the Brazilian authorities. The Brazilian Supreme Court intervened to block the live broadcast, forcing listeners to resort to VPNs to access the conversation. Musk criticized this move, underscoring the infringement on free speech rights.
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During a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on Brazil’s censorship demands to American social media companies, Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski, American investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger, and Brazilian investigative journalist Paulo Figueiredo highlighted the troubling censorship demands and pressure they had been subject to from countries outside the US.
In his opening statement, Pavlovski, whose company is known for its staunch support of free speech, warned that the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression are being threatened by government censorship demands and provided a detailed account of the censorship pressures faced by Rumble. He drew attention to the alarming requests from various countries to suppress content that, although unpopular, did not violate Rumble’s guidelines.
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Asylum Seekers Are Paying Thousands of Euros to Enter Ireland Via Cruise Ships From the UK…
— as migrants say they feel ‘much safer’ in country ‘because in England they want to send us to Rwanda’
Undocumented asylum seekers are paying thousands of euros to enter the country via cruise ships from the UK, according to some of the new arrivals living in tents on the Grand Canal in Dublin.
There were a total of 85 tents lined up between Mount Street Bridge and Huband Bridge yesterday afternoon — a figure that has doubled in less than a week.
And one man from Egypt told the Irish Daily Mail that he feels safer here as ‘in England they will send him to Rwanda’.
While some of the homeless asylum seekers came from the former encampment outside the International Protection Office (IPO) on nearby Mount Street, others arrived in Ireland just days ago from the UK.
Taoiseach Simon Harris yesterday vowed that the encampment would not be allowed to remain in place for ‘weeks and weeks’.
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‘Irish Lives Matter’ — Thousands Protest Against Mass Migration in Dublin
One of the largest anti-mass migration protests to date took place in Dublin on Monday as protesters decried the open borders agenda of the neo-liberal Irish government.
Bearing signs reading “Ireland belongs to the Irish”, “Irish Civil Rights”, “Mass deportations”, “Economic Migrants are not refugees”, and “Irish Lives Matter”, among others were seen as thousands took to the streets of Dublin as anti-migration sentiment continues to grow across the Emerald Isle, The Journal reports.
The crowd hailed demonstrators from local protest movements such as in Newtownmountkennedy, Gript media reported, who gained national attention after Irish police used shields and pepper spray to break up a protest against reported plans to create a migrant camp in the small County Wicklow town.
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North Carolina Student Sues School Board After Suspension for Using the Term ‘Illegal Alien’
A 16-year-old North Carolina student suspended for using the term “illegal alien” in class is officially taking legal action against the school district for “harsh punishment” and “false accusations of racism.”
According to the student’s mother, Leah McGhee, in April, an English teacher at Central Davidson High School in Lexington gave a vocabulary assignment that involved the word “alien.” In response, her son Christian asked if the teacher meant “like space aliens or illegal aliens without green cards?”
Another student allegedly took offense to the term and threatened to fight Christian, forcing the teacher to contact the assistant principal. The staff later deemed the term to be offensive to Hispanic students and punished Christian with a three-day suspension.
After the story went viral, the Liberty Justice Center announced Tuesday that they would be representing McGhee in a lawsuit against the Davidson County Board of Education.
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Poland: Surge in Illegal Border Crossings Sparks Security Concerns
The Polish Border Guard informed that from Thursday to Sunday, 943 attempts of illegal crossing of the Belarusian-Polish border in Podlaskie were recorded, as reported by RMF24. Incidents occurred where migrants threw stones and branches at Polish patrols.
Migrants attempted to illegally enter Poland in border areas monitored by Border Guard units in Bialowieza, Narewka, Dubicze Cerkiewne, and Czeremcha.
On Thursday, 190 attempts were noted, on Friday — 186, on Saturday — 259, and on Sunday — 308.
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The Home Office has started revealing how many migrants have been prevented from leaving France as dozens more arrive in Dover today.
The changes to the website were made last week in a move to highlight unity between British and French authorities in dealing with the issue of illegal immigration.
New sections titled ‘Migrants prevented’ and ‘Events prevented’, which MailOnline understands is data coming directly from French Police details how many boats have been stopped from getting in the water and how many people were in those dinghy’s.
The latest data reveals that 98 migrants arrived on small boats yesterday, while 71 migrants in three small boats were stopped from leaving France.
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Undocumented Migrant Arrested in Florida for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting 11-Year-Old Girl
An undocumented migrant who was cut loose in the US after illegally crossing the border was arrested in Florida over the weekend for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in his van.
Marvin Perez Lopez, a 20-year-old Guatemalan native, allegedly confessed to snatching the girl from outside her home in Lake Worth and forcing her into his vehicle last week, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.
The girl’s mom allegedly found Lopez attacking the girl when she went looking for her daughter outside their apartment building.
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Americans Overwhelmingly Want Disney to Bring Back Family-Friendly Content: Rasmussen Poll
Americans overwhelmingly want Disney to return to family-friendly content and stop pushing sexualized content, according to a new poll.
A new survey by Rasmussen Reports revealed that 71 percent of American adults say Disney should go back to creating “wholesome programming” and let parents decide if and when their “children are taught about sexuality.”
Only 22 percent of those surveyed disagreed.
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Boy Scouts of America Changes Name to be More ‘Inclusive’
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is set to change its name for the first time in its 114-year history.
The name change is part of an effort for the organization to become more “inclusive.”
BSA revealed that rebranding will go into effect on February 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th anniversary.
From then onward, the organization will become known as Scouting America.
Officials say the name change aims to make “everyone feel welcome.”
The move is also being seen as an attempt to move on from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims.
Last year, BSA agreed to pay $2.46 billion to settle claims by some 82,000 former Boy Scouts.
The accusers said they had been sexually abused by BSA officials and volunteers when they were children.
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Czech Republic’s Top Court Abolishes Gender Surgery Requirement for Official Gender Change
In a landmark decision, the Czech Republic’s highest court has overturned a portion of legislation mandating gender-affirming surgery, including sterilization, for individuals seeking to officially change their gender. The Constitutional Court considered these requirements as “unconstitutional” and conflicting with the fundamental rights of transgender individuals to preserve their physical integrity and personal autonomy, which are intrinsically tied to their human dignity, as reported by AP.
With only two out of the court’s 15 judges opposing the ruling, and with no option for appeal, jurisdictions are now tasked with amending the relevant sections of the law by the middle of next year.
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In the Belgorod region, a native of Tajikistan raped an Alabai of his employers. The family that allowed the worker into their house notes that the man used to behave decently and even performed namaz.
Employers became suspicious after they saw traces of blood in the dog’s anus. Then they decided to study the CCTV footage. It turned out that the man violated the Alabai near the garage. At the same time, the man was not afraid to use the dog’s mouth for dirty purposes.
We could not even imagine that this was possible. Nasheed was a modest and decent guy, he always performed prayers, was friendly to our family and did his job properly,” the family said.
https://news.ru/regions/pod-belgorodom-migrant-iznasiloval-alabaya-svoih-rabotodatelej/