A 39-year old Polish man has been remanded in custody for twelve days for assaulting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen on Friday. The prime minister reportedly suffered a minor “whiplash” injury from the attack.
In other news, PVV leader Geert Wilders was the surprise guest at a Vlaams Belang meeting in Flanders today.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, JW, LP, McN, MM, Reader from Chicago, Roger, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.
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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.
EU Banks Face Uncertainty Ahead of Parliamentary Elections
Despite a stellar performance by EU banking stocks, the sector faces potential challenges amid upcoming EU elections, with the unresolved joint deposit insurance policy casting a shadow.
European banks have seen significant growth, buoyed by a surge in deal-making and high investment banking revenue. The Euro Stoxx banking index (SX7E) has risen 19%, outperforming the Euro Stoxx 600 Index (SXXP), which is up nearly 9% this year. This growth also surpasses the performance of the US SPDR Select Sector Fund (XLF), which has climbed 9% year-to-date.
Key to this sector’s outperformance were the first-quarter earnings of major banks, which exceeded modest market expectations, potentially paving the way for further valuation upgrades. However, the approaching EU Parliamentary Elections introduce uncertainty. The new leadership will need to address the long-debated joint deposit insurance policy, which was revisited by the current ruling party.
In April, the European Parliament approved a plan for a joint deposit insurance pool for EU banks, responding to increased banking system risks following the collapse of US regional banks and Credit Suisse’s failure last year. The proposed European Deposit Insurance Scheme aims to enhance joint deposit protection.
European leaders recognized the necessity of a banking union post-2008 global financial crisis to strengthen the stability and integrity of the EU banking system, particularly within the Eurozone. The joint deposit insurance scheme, one of three pillars in the European Banking Union, alongside the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM), has been contentious since its introduction in 2015.
While the SSM and SRM were implemented in 2013 and 2014, the deposit insurance scheme has faced opposition, hindering the unification of cross-border banks. The scheme is designed to provide liquidity support to participants, with all contributors obliged to lend funds if required. It grants authority to the single resolution board to manage the fund. Critics, including bank lobbyists, argue that a shared insurance scheme might reduce incentives for banks and national regulators to manage risks prudently, relying instead on the collective safety net. This controversy is intensified by the rise of right-wing parties, which are generally critical of the EU.
European banks have made notable strides since the European debt crisis of 2008-2012. According to Bloomberg, 71% of European banks surpassed market expectations in their first-quarter earnings this year. Spanish banks, in particular, have benefited from higher interest rates, boosting their lending income. Over the past decade, they have improved efficiency by reducing staff and branches.
Spain’s Santander saw a 10% year-on-year revenue increase in the first quarter, driven by rising lending income due to high interest rates. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA reported an 18% rise in gross income in the same period. Both banks are on track to meet their annual targets, with their shares up 22% and 14% respectively. Santander reclaimed its position as the EU’s largest bank by market valuation, surpassing BNP Paribas.
Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, posted an 18% annual increase in net income, bolstered by higher fees from wealth management and insurance divisions. Intesa’s shares have surged 32% this year. Deutsche Bank in Germany reported a 10% year-on-year net profit increase, driven by a recovery in investment banking, with its shares up 21% in 2024.
In contrast, French banks have seen modest gains due to their reliance on fixed-rate mortgages. BNP Paribas, France’s largest financial institution, reported a 2.2% decrease in net income and a 0.4% revenue decline in the first quarter. Despite these results exceeding analyst expectations, BNP Paribas’s shares have only risen 5% year-to-date. However, its investment banking segment, particularly deal advisory and financing, is viewed as a growth driver, with a 6.1% increase in global banking revenue.
As EU elections approach, the banking sector awaits clarity on the joint deposit insurance policy, a pivotal issue that could shape the future of European banking stability and integration.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Bundesbank Warns of Persistent Inflation and Wage Pressures
The Bundesbank issued a warning about stubborn inflation in Germany, attributing it to a significant rise in wages, particularly in the services sector. This caution comes a day after the European Central Bank’s decision to cut interest rates, indicating improving price growth prospects.
Although inflation has decreased from double-digit levels observed in late 2022, the Bundesbank highlighted the challenges in achieving further disinflation, especially in services. The sustained growth in wages and resulting cost pressures are identified as primary contributors to this persistent inflation.
While the ECB’s decision to cut rates was in line with expectations, policymakers indicated a likelihood of keeping rates unchanged in July. Market expectations suggest only one or two more rate adjustments this year, indicating that elevated ECB rates could continue to impede growth well into the following year.
Of particular concern to the Bundesbank is the rapid expansion of wages observed in the first quarter, prompting apprehension about future wage trends. This emphasis underscores the importance of monitoring wage dynamics closely amid the ongoing economic recovery.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Is Fast Food Affordable Anymore? a Detailed Look at Menu Prices Over the Years
Authored by Josh Koebert via FinanceBuzz
Whether it’s for speed, convenience, or price, it’s no secret that Americans love fast food. Convenience aside, fast food has also been considered one of the most budget-friendly options to feed your family outside of cooking at home.
However, fast foodies claim menu prices have skyrocketed in recent years, prompting backlash online and on social media.
Have fast food prices really changed so dramatically? And if so, by how much? To find out, our team at FinanceBuzz collected pricing data for a dozen different chain restaurants over the last decade. We then calculated how much prices have risen in that timeframe and compared it to the overall inflation rate in the same period.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Nearly Two-Thirds of Middle-Class Americans Say They Are Struggling Financially: ‘Gasping for Air’
A majority of middle-class Americans are experiencing financial hardship that they expect will continue for the rest of their lives, according to a new poll.
Findings published by the National True Cost of Living Coalition show that 65% of Americans whose incomes are 200% above the national poverty line — which is about $62,300 for a family of four, often considered middle class — said they are struggling financially.
Respondents include those with high school diplomas and graduate degrees as well as blue— and white-collar workers who live in both rural and urban America.
While many of these people said they are able to afford the most basic expenses, they expressed concern about their inability to save for the future. Tellingly, about 40% of Americans said they are unable to plan beyond their next paycheck, while another 46% said they do not have $500 saved for emergencies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Alec Baldwin Should be in Jail, Convicted ‘Rust’ Armorer Says
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armor convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie “Rust,” has said that actor Alec Baldwin should be jailed.
According to court documents filed in April by one of the special prosecutors in Baldwin’s case, Gutierrez-Reed expressed her desire to see Baldwin “in jail” during recorded prison phone calls. Although the calls were not transcribed, summaries of the conversations were included in the court documents, as reported by People.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
America Facing Worst Heart Failure Crisis in History, Experts Warn
Experts are warning that America is facing a trillion-dollar-per-year heart failure crisis as cardiac-related deaths and illness continue to soar.
As Slay News has reported, heart failure and related deaths have surged over the last three years.
Cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been soaring around the world since the Covid injections were rolled out to the public in early 2021.
Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammatory conditions of the heart and are generally considered to be rare, especially among children.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Antisemitic hate is thriving in some of the city’s most elite public high schools.
At Brooklyn Tech, Stuyvesant and Bronx Science — three of the city’s nine specialized high schools — students have been tormented by peers giving Nazi salutes and accusing them of being part of a “genocide” of Palestinians, while school administrators and teachers also spew pro-Palestine propaganda, according to students and evidence obtained by The Post.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: California Trump Supporters Flood Streets of Newport Beach Ahead of Fundraiser
Supporters of President Donald Trump lined the streets in Newport Beach, Californiaahead of the 45th president’s exclusive fundraiser event at Harbor Island on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the crowd lined up to greet Trump’s motorcade as he was driving past to get to the location. Since the conviction in the NYC trial, Trump’s campaign has reportedly raised over $400 million, and the fundraiser in California will be adding to that on Saturday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Costco’s Bid to Turn Customer Data Into Profits
Costco, which ranks among the three largest retailers in the US (and globally), is joining the club of big corporations with access to massive amounts of customer data, who are launching various schemes to monetize that data.
Costco’s plan, still in the testing phase, is to develop a way to target ads at customers both on its website and in stores. The numbers are staggering and draw from the retailer’s loyalty program: the shopping behavior of people in 75.5 million households. And — a membership card is a requirement for anyone shopping at Costco.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Free Speech Video Platform Odysee Finds New Life With Arweave Integration
Forward Research has announced its acquisition of Odysee, a crypto-based censorship-resistant video platform. With this strategic acquisition, Forward Research aims to weave Odysee’s seven million-strong user base into the fabric of the Arweave network, a decentralized data storage solution heralded as the “permaweb.”
Arweave is a decentralized storage network that leverages blockchain technology to create a permanent and immutable data storage solution. Designed to store data permanently, it enables users and developers to pay a one-time fee for perpetual data storage, making it a revolutionary alternative to traditional cloud storage services that require ongoing payments. This innovative approach is aimed at preserving valuable information indefinitely, fostering a sustainable and censorship-resistant web infrastructure.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Chicago’s progressive mayor Brandon Johnson spent a jaw-dropping $30,000 in campaign finance funds on personal grooming since launching his bid for office, according to a report.
Johnson used the money his supporters contributed to his Friends of Brandon Johnson campaign fund to pay for makeup and hair appointments, The Chicago Sun Times reported.
Nearly all of the money went to makeup artist and “skincare enthusiast” Denise Milloy, who operates Makeup Majic from a home in the south side, according to a campaign finance report.
Between 2023 and 2024 he made more than 30 payments to the business.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The St. Louis, Missouri couple who went viral for defending their home in an armed confrontation of Black Lives Matter protestors on their property in 2020 has demanded that the city give them back their guns. Mark and Patricia McCloskey,both of whom are personal injury lawyers, recently had their misdemeanor convictions scrubbed from their criminal records, however their firearms remained in state custody.
After being pardoned by Gov. Mike Parson in 2021, the McCloskeys sued for the return of their weapons, however a judge denied that request, and the ensuing appeal. Mr. McCloskey has warned that if the city doesn’t give them back, he will be left with no other option but to file another lawsuit.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Neighbors’ Argument Over Young Girl’s Football Leads to West Palm Beach Shooting
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — An argument between neighbors in West Palm Beach over a young girl’s football led to one of them being shot.
The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) received a call about a shooting on Thursday around 8:00 p.m. Deputies reported that when they arrived, they found a man with two gunshot wounds to the arm and chest.
The suspected shooter’s sister, who also lives there, told deputies that a neighbor had taken her younger sister’s football, and she went to their door to retrieve it, which resulted in a heated argument.
The sister told PBSO that as the argument got more aggressive, she called her brother, Julian Lucky Lezama, for help.
When Lezama, 24, arrived at the apartment, he immediately charged at the neighbor, the affidavit stated. It was reported that the neighbor tried to punch Lezama but failed, and during the scuffle, Lezama shot him in the arm.
In a statement from the victim’s girlfriend, she said that after her boyfriend was shot in the arm and fell to the floor, Lezama moved the neighbor’s arm from his chest and shot another bullet into his chest.
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
New Texas GOP Platform Calls for Secession Vote, Resistance to Federal Infringements
Reflecting plummeting patience with overstepping federal overlords, the Texas Republican Party has adopted two platform planks that call for legislators to assert state sovereignty, and to schedule a secession referendum in the next general election after November’s.
“This historic vote at the 2024 Republican Party of Texas Convention represents a substantial shift towards enhancing state sovereignty and exploring the potential for Texas to operate as an independent nation,” said the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM) in a statement. “It reflects the growing sentiment among Texans for greater autonomy and the protection of our rights against federal overreach.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ohio Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Make Rioters Pay for Property Destruction: ‘You Break It, You Fix It’
(The Center Square) — In the wake of recent protests on college and university campuses in Ohio and nationwide, an Ohio senator wants to make rioters pay for property damages while breaking the law.
Senate Bill 267, which is awaiting a committee assignment, would also stop government officials from interfering with law enforcement officers during a riot.
“This legislation is pretty cut and dry. You break it, you fix it,” said Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Oil Tanker Erupts in Huge Fire, Local Texas Residents Evacuated
A 5000-gallon oil tanker has burst into flames in Texas, triggering an evacuation of nearby residents.
Video of the incident shows fire crews battling the massive fire as thick black plumes of smoke fill the sky.
The tanker appeared to suffer a small fire which ignited the diesel it was carrying while traveling through DeSoto, a Dallas suburb.
The incident occurred at the intersection of South Cockrell Hill and West Parkerville roads, Fox Dallas reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
President Biden’s Longtime Aides Linked to Family Business Dealings: Report
Despite President Joe Biden’s repeated claims that he is not involved in his family’s business dealings, a recent Politico report has found that many of the staffers and advisers who work closely with him have also had business associations with his family members, both during and after their tenure with Biden.
Politico’s investigation revealed a pattern of overlap between the president’s political and family spheres, dating back to Biden’s first Senate campaign, which was primarily run by his parents and siblings. This “all-in-the-family” approach has persisted over the years, with political patrons forming business ties with Biden’s relatives, who have, in turn, also converted some business partners into campaign supporters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Renowned Expert: COVID Shots Are ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’
A world-renowned professor who drafted America’s laws on bioweapons has signed a sworn affidavit asserting that Covid mRNA shots are “weapons of mass destruction.”
Dr. Francis Boyle is a Harvard-educated law professor who drafted the 1989 Biological Weapons and Antiterrorism Act.
The landmark legislation passed both houses of Congress unanimously.
It was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on May 22, 1990.
Dr. Boyle has now provided a signed affidavit stating that Covid mRNA injections violate the law he wrote.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Thousands of Anti-Israel Protesters Descend Upon White House
A massive pro-Hamas protest marking eight months since Israel’s war in Gaza began — and blasting the Biden administration’s support of the Jewish state — descended outside a girded White House Saturday.
An estimated 30,000 pro-Palestinian protesters started arriving outside the Executive Mansion around noon.
Members of the Answer Coalition, one of the activist groups taking part in the mass demonstration, unveiled a “two-mile long” red banner, in reference to the “red line” they say President Biden let Israel blow past during its invasion of Rafah.
The banner “lists the over 40,000 Palestinians martyred by Israel since Oct. 7,” the group posted on X.
Other footage posted to social media showed some of the protesters igniting smoke bomb flares they then tossed onto the White House lawn.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Utah Governor Spencer Cox oversaw an initiative to push DEI into Utah schools. Under Biden’s Covid-era policies for school aid, Cox and those in the in the Utah education department pushed DEI far beyond what was required per the conditions of the funding.
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Utah secured funds for the state from the Trump administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Later in 2021, the Biden administration made funds available through the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Utah received over $550,000,000 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief or “ESSER” funds from the ARP.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Venture Capitalist David Sacks Goes All in on Trump
A new wave of enthusiasm is emerging for former President Trump among VCs and business leaders across America. While some (or much) of this may be simply reading tea leaves and staying nimble, it’s worth noting that many former Democrat defenders are now on team Trump.
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see how disastrous economic policies (Bidenomics), failed foreign policies (Ukraine), a chaotic southern border, lawless cities, and the weaponization of the judicial system against political opponents are all contributing to sliding support for the left. And of course, Silicon Valley’s political elites just want stability and prosperity — not this uncertainty and inflation delivered under Biden.
To that end, famed investor David Sacks, who previously gave $33,400 to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and, more recently, backed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Ron DeSantis, joined the growing list of notable money managers who have gone ‘all-in’ by endorsing President Trump.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
World War II Vet: “I Feel Like a Foreigner in My Own Country”
Authored by Paul Joseph Watson via Modernity.news
To mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, a World War II veteran appeared on Fox News to assert, “I feel like a foreigner in my own country.”
Ronald ‘Rondo’ Scharfe lied about his age to be able to join the military aged just 16-years-old and ended up fighting in the battle of Iwo Jima.
Scharfe, who is now 97-years-old, said he was grateful for having the chance to raise a family and enjoy life whenever he visits his fallen comrades in the cemetery.
“I was just lucky, a lot of the guys wasn’t as lucky as I was and I appreciate every day of it,” said Scharfe.
The veteran was then asked by the interviewer, “What do you feel about the state of our country today? How do you feel about the country you worked so hard to stay free, to keep free?”
“The real truth? I feel like a foreigner in my own country lots of times and I don’t like it, makes my heart real heavy,” responded Scharfe.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Caught on Cam: Air Canada Boeing Catches Fire Moments After Takeoff, Lands Safely
A Paris-bound Air Canada Boeing flight experienced a frightening incident on June 5 when it burst into flames shortly after take-off from Toronto Pearson Airport.
The incident occurred thirty minutes into the flight, with video footage capturing the right engine emitting a flash before the tail became engulfed in flames due to a small explosion. No crew member or the 389 passengers onboard were injured and the plane made a safe landing back at the airport.
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
Packed Boeing Passenger Jet Bursts Into Flames Shortly After Takeoff
A packed Air Canada Boeing passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing after it burst into flames shortly after takeoff in Toronto.
Shocking videos have emerged that show huge flames erupting from the plane’s engine.
The plane was carrying 389 passengers onboard when the incident occurred.
Terrifying video shows flames shooting from the Boeing jet as it took off, forcing it to abruptly turn around for an emergency landing.
The caught-on-camera terror unfolded after Flight AC872 took off from Toronto late Wednesday.
The plane was en route to Paris, France.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czech Republic Set to Train Another 4,000 Ukrainian Troops This Year
The Czech Republic is set to train up to 4,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its soil this year, continuing its support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova confirmed this in an interview with Czech News Agency this weekend.
Cernochova added that the Czech Republic will not send its instructors directly to Ukraine, despite considerations by other countries led by an initiative launched by French President Emmanuel Macron.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
David Cameron Duped Into Prank Call With Imposter Ex-Ukraine President, UK Admits
The British government admitted that Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron was duped into accepting a prank phone call from a hoaxer purporting to be a former Ukrainian president, in the latest example of a cabinet member being tricked in such a manner.
The UK Foreign Office said on Friday that David Cameron, the former British prime minister who now serves as the nation’s top diplomat, had exchanged a “number of text messages” and had a “brief video call” with a man pretending to be Petro Poroshenko, the former president of Ukraine, who led the country between 2014 and 2019.
Lord Cameron reportedly became wary of the prankster after the imposter Poroshenko had asked for the contact details of other senior British ministers upon which the foreign secretary ended the call, which is said to have occurred within the past few days, The Telegraph reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Elections: The Final Countdown
TEC TV’s Inside Brussels host Zsófia Tóth-Biró sits down with Mick Hume and Scarlett Karoleva to look at the stakes in the European elections, the importance of voting, and what exit polls in early voting countries tell us.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
European Parliament Elections: A Trend Towards Right-Wing Parties?
On Sunday, 9 June, the European Union will host the main day of elections to the new convocation of the European Parliament. The main intrigue of the vote is how the growing popularity of right-wing and conservative forces will affect the composition of the legislative body. Voice of Europe tells how EU politics may change.
Migration issues are the right-wing’s calling card
The number of deputies in the European Parliament is determined before each election and should not exceed 750 seats. After the UK leaves the EU, 720 seats will be up for grabs in the 2024 elections.
The number of candidate MPs depends on the population and territory of the country. Thus, Germany will get the most seats — 96. The least, six representatives each, will come from Luxembourg, Malta and Cyprus.
The mandates are distributed among the factions, in which the parties participating in the elections to the European Parliament are members. According to Politico, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) will win 172 seats, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats 130 seats, the conservative-right party European Conservatives and Reformists could win 86 seats, the liberal party Renewing Europe 75 seats, and the right-wing populist Identity and Democracy 67 seats. The Greens, who are experiencing an electoral crisis due to energy and fuel prices, could lose 30 seats — it is predicted that they will have 41 in the new convocation. The European Left may gain 32 seats.
The number of independent MPs may increase to 58 from the current 50. Parties that have not yet joined any of the factions may get 59 mandates.
According to opinion polls, far-right parties, conservatives and Eurosceptics opposed to migration policy are strengthening their positions and will be represented in the new European Parliament in greater numbers.
Right-wing parties are regularly linked to Russia or Beijing, but this does not mean that a Conservative victory will bring Europe closer to dependence on Eastern countries. According to trends, voters in different European countries do not vote for a specific political force or ideology, but for solutions to problems they feel are relevant in their country.
This is what accounts for the popularity of the right-wing in Europe, where after the influx of migrants in 2014-2016, crime began to increase. Thus, according to Destatis, at the end of 2022 in Germany lived about 84.4 million people, including 12.3 million foreigners.
The head of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Holger Münch, spoke about the crime problems.
“The share of foreigners in the German population is 15 percent, and if you subtract the offenses that only they can commit — illegal border crossing or illegal stay in the country — the share of foreigners among all offenders has now risen to 37 per cent. So it is more than twice their share of the German population,’ he said.
Some of the right-wing politicians attract the electorate with their categorical nature and prefer to act immediately. On 16 May, for example, the new Dutch government announced that the country intends to significantly tighten its asylum policy. The published coalition agreement stated that the cabinet’s goal would be to create ‘the strictest asylum regime in history’.
This includes tighter border controls and stricter rules for asylum seekers.
At the same time, the new coalition, which will be formed by four right-wing parties led by Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV), intends to try to circumvent EU immigration rules.
‘A position on the withdrawal from the European asylum and migrant policy will be presented to the European Commission as soon as possible,’ the document said.
Pro-Russian or not?
Returning to ideology, centered on specific politicians, the information field has formed the belief that right-wing forces are ‘pro-Russian’ and ready to undermine the integrity of the European Union.
However, the approach of most right-wingers to the war between Russia and Ukraine is to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity while calling for the war to end diplomatically.
For example, in 2022, after a coalition led by current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who won the Italian parliamentary elections, the media predicted that the country would turn towards Russia because of Silvio Berlusconi’s (who was also in the coalition) ties to Vladimir Putin.
There were fears that Italy would become the first country to categorically refuse aid to Ukraine and dictate a pro-Russian agenda on the mainland.
However, almost two years after her victory, Meloni continues to support Kyiv (the prime minister has traveled to the Ukrainian capital several times) and has become the central politician to unblock financial aid for Ukraine, leveraging her diplomatic ties with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
As a demonstration of the right-wing’s ‘plurality politics’, Italy, despite being one of Ukraine’s donors, opposes Western arms strikes on Russian Federation territory.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made the statement, Le Monde reports.
‘This is a very delicate moment, we must not take any erroneous steps and must avoid any impulsive measures or statements’, he emphasized.
The minister added that Italy was preparing ‘in the coming weeks’ to send more aid to Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized that Rome was not going to send its contingent to Kyiv.
‘We will not send a single Italian soldier to fight in Ukraine because we are not at war with Russia,’ Tajani said.
The trend for right-wing politicians has been touring Europe for the past few years, starting its ‘tour’ with Eastern Europe and, in particular, Poland, where they are traditionally popular. Five years ago, Portugal, as the westernmost country in the EU, was represented in parliament by only one far-right politician. Now, the Chega party is the third most popular party in the country.
“Portugal is no longer avoiding the trend of some European countries where there is a growing influence of populists, radicals and the extreme right. I don’t know if all those who voted for the Chega party — 1.1 million — genuinely share the values of this extreme right-wing political family and reject the Socialists forever. But this election outcome is certainly an expression of protest and dissatisfaction with their country,’ Ricardo Borges de Castro of the Centre for European Policy said after the parliamentary elections in March, Euronews reported.
Portugal is represented by 21 deputies in the European Parliament. According to the expert, there is a high probability that for the first time the far-right from the Chega will take their seats in this body.
“I expect Chega to put forward its candidates for MEPs, which it has not had so far. It will become a force that EU countries will have to reckon with. It also reflects the trend we have seen in recent years in the European Parliament: a weakening of the centre-right and left, with a gradual strengthening of the edges of the political spectrum,’ he said.
What are the prospects?
European Parliament elections started on 6 June and will run until 9 June. According to polls, right-wing populists have a good chance of winning in nine EU countries — Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia. In Germany, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Finland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and Spain they could come second and third.
The European Parliament is the only one of the three main institutions of the European Union to be elected by direct vote. Although MEPs do not have the right of legislative initiative, they influence the process of adopting legislative resolutions, approve the composition of the European Commission and the candidate for the EC presidency nominated by the EU leaders, and can also declare a vote of no confidence in the head of the EC.
Each member of the EU votes separately, forming one or more constituencies. Citizens vote for national parties, which subsequently unite into European political parties and form the factions of the European Parliament.
The mandate of an MEP is for five years. The upcoming elections will be the tenth since 1979 and the first since Brexit — the UK’s exit from the European Union. Changes in the electoral procedure this year have affected Germany, where the voting age has been lowered from 18 to 16. The same rules apply in Austria, Belgium and Malta.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The farmer movements are leading the charge against the “degrowth” agenda of the far-left and neo-liberal elites which has used the green agenda as a pretence to impoverish the people of Europe, a French Member of the European Parliament said.
Speaking to Breitbart London ahead of the European Parliament elections this week, Patricia Chagnon, an MEP for the populist National Rally (RN) party in France, said that the people are “waking up” to the realities of the green agenda, with the farmer movements leading the charge against the Brussels technocrats pushing it down the throats of the rest of Europe.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The European Parliament elections represent an existential battle between the open borders agenda of elites in Brussels and those who wish to reclaim national sovereignty and save their countries and cultures from being subsumed by mass migration, a French MEP told Breitbart News.
In an exclusive interview before the French public heads to the polls on Saturday to select their next representatives in the EU Parliament, National Rally Member of the European Parliament Patricia Chagnon said that the “crucial” vote will see people decide whether they want to continue being under the thumb of the centralised “imperialistic management” of EU technocrats or citizens taking back control of their own destinies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
BUDAPEST, Hungary — President Joe Biden is “playing with fire” by letting Ukraine use U.S.-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russia, a top Hungarian foreign policy expert told Breitbart News in a recent interview.
“It’s clearly an escalation,” said Zoltan Koskovics, geopolitical analyst at the Center for Fundamental Rights.
Biden on Thursday pushed back against concerns he was getting the U.S. directly involved in the Ukraine War with the decision, arguing he only authorized that the weapons be used close to the Ukraine-Russia border where Russian forces are striking into Ukraine.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
NATO Declines to Allocate $100 Billion to Ukraine
NATO countries have refused to consider Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s proposal for a plan to allocate $100 billion to Ukraine, Bloomberg reports, citing sources.
Stoltenberg presented a plan in which NATO countries would commit to providing this amount into a special fund over five years. However, the Secretary General “faced refusal from members of the Alliance.” Now, a different plan is being considered—to allocate at least $43 billion per year, with half of this amount contributed by the United States. This would include both military and non-lethal support.
This proposal may gain support from NATO defense ministers in Brussels next week. It appears that the five-year plan was abandoned because the contribution would have to be made over those five years regardless. In contrast, annual appropriations would need to be approved each time separately, allowing the option to discontinue them if necessary.
Previously, it was reported that Stoltenberg would ask allies to provide an additional €40 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron seeks to form a European coalition of military instructors working in Ukraine.
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was declared the victor of Friday evening’s UK general election debate, having trounced his Tory rival, who even lost to “none of the above”.
Despite a large section of the BBC audience clearly being antagonistic towards the Brexit leader, demonstrated by large applause breaking out for an anti-Brexit comment and the broadcaster’s cameras often panning to a young man shaking his head in disapproval when Mr Farage spoke, the audience at home was apparently much more favourable towards his message of political revolt against the Westminster establishment.
According to a snap survey of 1,031 viewers by the More in Common polling firm, 25 per cent thought that Nigel Farage was the winner of the debate, followed by Labour Party deputy leader Angela Rayner at 19 per cent.
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Occasional Dialogues: Alvino-Mario Fantini Interviews Vaclav Klaus
Vaclav Klaus is an economist and former president of the Czech Republic. He served as the second president of the Czech Republic from 2003 to 2013. From July 1992 until the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in January 1993, he served as the second and last prime minister of the Czech Republic while it was a federal subject of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic, and then as the first prime minister of the newly independent Czech Republic from 1993 to 1998.
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Polish Man Held in Custody After Danish PM Frederiksen Assault
COPENHAGEN, June 8 (Reuters) — A 39-year old Polish man was remanded in custody for 12 days on Saturday over an assault the previous day on Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, which authorities said caused her to suffer a minor neck injury.
Frederiksen sustained a minor whiplash injury from the alleged assault, which occurred in a square in Copenhangen’s centre when a man walked up and hit the politician.
“Thank you for the many, many, many greetings with support and backing. It’s incredibly touching,” the prime minister told Ritzau news agency in a written statement on Saturday.
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Rutte Deeply Shocked by Attack on Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen
Prime Minister Mark Rutte is “deeply shocked” by the attack on Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, a spokesman for him stated. Frederiksen was beaten by a man on the street in Copenhagen on Friday evening. The perpetrator was arrested.
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Soros-Backed University Ends Hungary Era With New Vienna Campus
(Bloomberg) — A university founded by George Soros that was kicked out of his native Hungary has found a new home in Vienna, marking the culmination of a years-long battle between the billionaire and Hungary’s right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The Central European University has picked a site near Vienna’s main train station for its campus after setting up in a temporary location in the Austrian capital in 2019, according to a letter sent to alumni and seen by Bloomberg.
The shift involves closing down Kozep-europai Egyetem, the eponymous entity registered in Hungary that will see its last students graduating in July. Some research institutes will remain in Budapest.
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Swedish Police Detained 19 Pro-Palestinian Activists Who Barricaded Themselves Inside a University
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Swedish police detained 19 pro-Palestinian activists who barricaded themselves in the country’s main technical education and research university on Friday.
After two hours, police carried out the masked activists from the third floor of a Royal Institute of Technology building in Stockholm. They are likely to be prosecuted for trespassing and disobeying the police, according to police.
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The Netherlands is Building 180 Armored Personnel Carriers for Ukraine
The Netherlands, together with Sweden and Denmark, will build infantry fighting vehicles for Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense announced. Some 180 of the 230 CV90 armored combat vehicles will be manufactured in the Netherlands, according to a spokesperson.
The Netherlands will contribute 400 million euros to their construction. The ministry said it is equivalent to “several dozen” armored vehicles. The amount of money Denmark and Sweden will contribute was not disclosed.
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Voting in the European Parliament Elections Has Begun in Latvia, Slovakia, and Malta
On Saturday, three more EU countries—Latvia, Malta, and Slovakia—are electing their members of the European Parliament. In Latvia, voting is taking place from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The country will send nine representatives to Brussels, with 16 parties and political alliances, totaling 271 candidates, vying for these seats.
Latvian citizens, as well as citizens of other EU countries registered in the local voter registry, had the opportunity to vote early in the European Parliament elections: last Monday, Thursday, and Friday. According to the Central Election Commission of Latvia, 128,938 voters, or 8.37% of those eligible to vote, took advantage of early voting.
Maltese voters are also heading to the polls today to elect six members of the European Parliament and hundreds of local councilors. Polling stations opened at 7 AM and will close at 10 PM. Voters must present identification proving their right to vote in order to cast their ballots.
Slovakia is also electing its members of the European Parliament on Saturday. Polling stations in the country opened at 7:00 AM and will remain open until 10:00 PM. Voters have 22 parties and one coalition to choose from in the European elections. Slovaks are electing 15 members of the European Parliament, and the elections are taking place three weeks after an assassination attempt on the country’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico.
On Friday, June 7, residents of the Czech Republic and Ireland began voting in the European Parliament elections. Voting continues in the Czech Republic on Saturday. Later in the afternoon on Saturday, voting will also begin in Italy. Italy, like the rest of the EU countries, will also vote on Sunday.
Voting has already taken place in the Netherlands. According to exit polls, Geert Wilders’ party has moved into second place. This result marks a significant success for the political force, as it did not hold any seats in the previous European Parliament elections, and now it is projected to win seven.
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Voting for European Parliament Elections Begins in Italy
Italy has become the seventh EU country to start voting in the European Parliament elections, reports La Stampa. Polling stations in Italy opened at 3:00 PM. Voting will continue today until 11:00 PM and tomorrow from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with vote counting beginning immediately after the polls close.
In Italy, over 51 million citizens are eligible to vote to elect 76 out of the 720 Members of the European Parliament. Five years ago, voter turnout for the European Parliament elections was 54.50%, lower than in 2014 (57.22%). Some sociologists believe there is a risk that this year’s turnout might drop below the 50% threshold.
On Saturday morning, voting for the European Parliament elections also began in Latvia, Slovakia, and Malta. On Friday, June 7, residents of the Czech Republic and Ireland started voting in the European Parliament elections. Voting in the Czech Republic continues on Saturday.
Voting has already concluded in the Netherlands. According to exit polls, Geert Wilders’ party has secured second place. This result signifies a significant success for the party, which did not have any seats in the previous European Parliament elections but is now projected to gain seven seats.
A recent Politico forecast indicated that after the European Parliament elections, the number of MEPs from right-wing parties is expected to surpass those from the center-right and pro-Ukrainian European People’s Party.
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Wilders Visits Radical Right-Wing Party Vlaams Belang Before EU Election in Belgium
PVV leader Geert Wilders was the surprise guest at a meeting of the Flemish radical right-wing party Vlaams Belang in Aalst on Saturday, causing a large police presence in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported that more than a hundred agents were present. Wilders arrived in Aalst around 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Roads leading to the election event location are closed. A water cannon, a dog brigade, mounted police, and special units are also ready. The local police work with the national and Dutch police services to ensure security. Around 128 police officers were deployed to ensure safety for Wilders and the Flemish radical right-wing party members, Het Laatste Nieuws reported. Furthermore, only invited guests were allowed to enter the building where the candidates breakfast took place, according to the newspaper.
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Four Hostages Rescued From Gaza, as Hospitals Say Scores Killed in Israeli Strikes
Four hostages kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival on 7 October have been rescued in a daylight raid in central Gaza, as scores of Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks in the same area.
Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrei Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, were freed during a “high-risk, complex mission” from two separate buildings in the Nuseirat area, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The IDF said the released hostages were all in good health, and they were later pictured embracing family members at a medical centre near Tel Aviv.
It comes as dozens of Palestinians, including children, were killed on Saturday in the area where the operation took place.
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Four Israeli hostages were rescued from central Gaza today by Israeli forces. All of them were captured by Hamas during the Nova music festival on Oct. 7.
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Israeli Government Funded Covert Influence Campaign Targeting US Lawmakers: NYT
Authored by Edward Carver via Common Dreams
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs organized and paid for a digital campaign to influence US lawmakers, especially Democrats who are Black, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
The ministry allotted $2 million to the operation in October and hired Stoic, a Tel Aviv-based political marketing firm, to carry it out. Stoic established fake news websites and hundreds of fake accounts on X, Instagram, and Facebook that posted pro-Israeli messages, trying to push lawmakers such as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the House minority leader, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) to fund Israel’s military and support its war efforts, the Times reported.
The influence campaign had been reported by a few news and nonprofit organizations in recent months, but the Times article, which drew from operation documents and interviews with current and former diaspora ministry officials, was the first to show that Israel’s government was behind it. Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, published a related story one hour later on Wednesday.
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Two Killed in Southern Lebanon as Hezbollah-Israel Fighting Soars
At least two people have been reported killed in southern Lebanon as cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel continues amid the threat of wider war.
The two killings were the result of Israeli attacks on the outskirts of the town of Aitaroun, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported on Saturday. The agency said Israeli missiles targeted a cafe at a petrol station.
In a statement, Hezbollah accused Israel of “targeting civilians”, while Israel’s military later said its forces had targeted a Hezbollah fighter in the area. The identities of those killed were not immediately known.
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Putin Ally Vows to be ‘More Ruthless and Deadly’ Against Ukraine’s Backers
Russian politician Dmitry Medvedev, an ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, vowed on Saturday to be “more ruthless and deadly” to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) supporting Ukraine in its fight against Moscow’s invasion.
In an online post, Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia who previously served as the president and prime minister of Russia, attacked NGOs like the International Criminal Court (ICC) as well as philanthropist George Soros, whose organization Open Society Foundations recently urged the international community to respect the authority of the ICC.
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Putin is ‘A Saviour Sent by God to Stop WW3’, Says Fan of Nuclear War
Vladimir Putin would like you to believe he’s a saviour sent by God to rescue humanity.
That was the image projected by Professor Sergei Karaganov, a former advisor to President Putin, who spoke at the Kremlin-organised ‘Russian Davos’ on Friday.
He’s hawkish, even next to Putin, having previously urged the president to launch tactical nuclear strikes against the West to warn them off supporting Ukraine.
Karaganov echoed that again at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, where he suggested holding a ‘nuclear pistol’ to the head of the West.
But it was his description of Putin that was perhaps most revealing of the 71-year-old Russian president’s worldview.
Addressing Putin onstage, Karaganov, 71, said: ‘I clearly remember 1998-99 when our country was on the edge… of falling apart. The situation was dire.
‘I remember me and my comrades fighting without any hope left. And at some point, God Almighty took pity on us [and Putin arrived].
?’Now Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] you have a difficult task. Not only to win but also to save the world which is sliding and being pushed into a World War.’
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Russia Puts Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Its Wanted List
Russia has put former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on its wanted list, Russian state media reported, citing the Interior Ministry’s database.
Russian state news agency Tass said Tymoshenko was listed as wanted on unspecified criminal charges.
She reportedly joins Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, on the same list, which also includes scores of officials and lawmakers from Ukraine and NATO countries.
Tymoshenko and her Batkivshchyna (the Fatherland) party did not immediately comment Saturday.
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A U.S. State Department-tied Ukrainian online outlet has published an “enemies list” of American activists, media personalities, news outlets, and politicians who oppose providing more taxpayer money for the war, listing among them former President Donald Trump and Breitbart News.
A report published by the Ukraine-based DATA Journalism Agency (TEXTY), titled: “Roller Coaster: From Trumpists to Communists. The forces in the U.S. impeding aid to Ukraine and how they do it“ has accused numerous figures on the populist right and anti-war left in the United States of echoing “key messages of Russian propaganda aimed at depriving Ukrainians of the ability to defend themselves with Western weapons and funds.”
The website claims to be “independent” and that its project into supposed anti-Ukrainian sentiment in America was funded “exclusively by the readers”. However, TEXTY is listedas a partner of the Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services (TAPAS) Project in Ukraine, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UK International Development (UK Dev).
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Bukele Has El Salvador Poised to Prosper After Stopping Murder, Migration Cold in First Term
MEXICO CITY — El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele started his second-term as the country’s leader, having captured 85% of the vote. The outspoken leader has gained global attention for his tough stance and actions against the country’s notorious gangs, and slashing murder rates.
While Bukele’s war on the gangs has drawn criticism from U.N., NGOs and the Biden administration over alleged human rights abuses and also criticism over political interference in the judiciary, his out-of-the-box thinking has produced some highly impressive results, taking his country from being the world’s murder capital into one of the safest in the Americas, with only Canada having a lower rate, according to Salvadoran officials, Reuters previously reported.
According to the country’s National Civil Police, 2023 was the safest year in the history of El Salvador, noting the total number of homicides at 154, a homicide rate per thousand inhabitants of 2:24 while noting that 94.8% of homicides were solved.
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Mexican Authorities Dismantle Large Migrant Tent Encampment in Mexico City’s Downtown Area
Mexican federal immigration authorities announced on Thursday that they have cleared one of Mexico City’s largest downtown tent encampments occupied by migrants. According to the National Immigration Institute, migrants were coerced into paying bribes ranging from $12 to $35 to an unidentified official for the right to set up tents in the congested area, as reported by AP.
Of the 432 migrants present at the camp, the majority possessed some form of visa permitting them to stay in Mexico and willingly agreed to vacate the premises. Additionally, there were Mexican individuals at the camp, likely homeless individuals. Approximately 99 migrants were relocated to immigration offices or shelters, with over half of them originating from Haiti and the remaining from Venezuela or Central America.
Previously, there was a Mexican Commission on Refugee Aid (COMAR) office nearby, but it was closed on May 29. Residents of the upscale yet bohemian Juarez neighborhood, situated near the city center, had voiced longstanding grievances regarding the encroachment of the predominantly paved pedestrian zone by the camp over the years. They argued that it heightened crime risks, posed health hazards, and deprived them of one of their few recreational areas.
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Seven individuals have been charged in southern Texas after authorities discovered nearly two dozen migrants crammed into a concealed trailer compartment, enduring sweltering conditions with limited access to water. One person remains hospitalized, as reported by AP.
Acting on a tip about a smuggling operation, deputies from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office found 26 migrants in a makeshift residence near San Antonio, described by Sheriff Javier Salazar as a “shack” with floor holes and no water.
Salazar indicated uncertainty about the migrants’ border crossing but suggested they were transported from Laredo, approximately 160 miles away.
The migrants had endured three hours in the trailer’s concealed compartment, exposed to high temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with forecasts suggesting it could surpass 100 degrees, as per the National Weather Service.
Seven men, aged 21 to 45, were arrested and face state felony charges, including human smuggling, involvement in organized criminal activity, operating a stash house, and evading arrest.
Initially, twelve individuals were hospitalized for minor and heat-related injuries, with only one remaining hospitalized by Friday due to dehydration and cardiac issues, according to a news release.
The migrants hailed from Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, and Guatemala, spanning ages from 18 to 54, with six being women.
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American Pediatric Group Demands Major Medical Orgs Reject Child Sex Changes
The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) has issued a statement condemning multiple medical associations by name for supporting sex change practices for minors who identify as transgender.
The “Doctors Protecting Children Declaration,” authored by the ACPeds and endorsed by several other medical groups, calls on media organizations to cease promoting practices such as social transition, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for children identifying as the opposite sex.
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Biden’s DOJ Indicts Texas Doctor Who Spoke Out Against Child Sex Changes
A Texas surgeon who disclosed that his hospital was conducting sex changes on minors, despite the procedures being prohibited in the state has been indicted on felony charges by Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ).
The Justice Department accused Dr. Eithan Haim, 33, of violating HIPAA laws and indicted him on four felony charges, Christopher Rufo at City Journal reports. Dr. Haim completed his residency at the Texas Children’s Hospital and vowed to fight Biden’s “corrupt” DOJ.
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DEI Programs Could Soon Face Supreme Court
Authored by Eric Lundrum via American Greatness
The controversial business practice known as “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) could soon see its legal challenges take it all the way to the Supreme Court.
According to Axios, the case that could spark Supreme Court action was filed by the same group that successfully saw the practice of affirmative action overturned by the court last year.
The current case saw an appeals court ultimately rule that a venture capital firm had to shut down its grant program that was exclusively for black women.
The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) filed a lawsuit against Fearless Fund in 2023, arguing that the black-only and women-only grant program was discriminatory. The group initially tried to have the program halted while the case played out in the courts, but a district judge ruled in favor of the company and allowed the program to continue.
Then, on Monday, a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit overturned the district judge’s ruling, thus ordering Fearless Fund to cease its grant program. The two judges in the majority were appointed by former President Donald Trump, while the lone dissenter was an Obama appointee.
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Instagram Bans “Gender-Critical” Charity Ahead of UK Elections
Instagram has permanently banned the account of Sex Matters, a UK-based charity that advocates for the preservation of single-sex services to ensure privacy, dignity, safety, and choice, especially for women and girls.
Founded to maintain clarity regarding sex in law, policy, and language, Sex Matters uses its social media presence, notably an Instagram account under the handle @SexMattersOrg, to spread its message and uphold what it describes as human rights based on “gender critical” principles. These principles assert the immutability and importance of biological sex.
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Congratulations to Israel for rescuing some hostages.
Personally I had already assumed all the hostages were dead. I am glad that some were not.
Nevertheless, I still say…
Islam must be wiped off the face of the Earth!
Time for a new crusade!