Gates of Vienna News Feed 3/25/2019

In response to a rocket attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians, the Israeli air force struck targets in Gaza. Among the locations targeted was the secret headquarters of the supreme leader of Hamas.

In other news, the latest polls say that Britons prefer Brexit over remaining in the EU by a 15-point margin.

To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.

Thanks to C. Cantoni, Dora, Insubria, JD, MC, 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. We 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.

USA
» Abolishing the Electoral College is Unconstitutional and Wrong
» Blankenship is Right: Sue the Mainstream Media Out of Existence
» ‘Greed’: Feds Say Avenatti Tried to Extort Nike, Swiped Client Funds
» Hackers Hijacked Asus Software Updates to Install Backdoors on Thousands of Computers
» Jussie Smollett Hires Michael Jackson’s Attorney Mark Geragos: All His Famous Past Clients
» The Truth About ‘Russian Collusion’
» Thomas Sowell is Right to Predict a Socialist America
» Trump Administration Sends List of Russian Collusion Liars to TV Producers
» ‘Welcome to Neo-Stalinism’: Google Promptly Vanishes Greenpeace Co-Founder Dr. Moore From Enviro Group’s History After Trump Tweets His Skeptical Climate Views
 
Europe and the EU
» Catholic Bishop: Muslims No More ‘Prone to Terrorism’ Than Christians
» ‘Easy Meat’ Freely Available in PDF Format
» EU Gas Deal Papers Over Cracks in East-West Spat
» EU Ready for ‘Increasingly Likely’ No-Deal
» Facebook Informs Swedish Journalist That She Was Suspended Because “Tribute and Support” For the “Hateful Leader” Tommy Robinson Violate Their Community Standards
» France: Activist, 73, Injured During Gilets Jaunes Protest
» Italy Wikipedia Page Shut Ahead of EP Copyright Vote
» Italy: Those Who Covered Battisti Should Apologise — Salvini
» Italy: League-M5S Together Still Have Majority — Salvini
» Italy: Baby Dies After Home Circumcision
» Italy: Centre Right Wins in Basilicata, Bardi New Governor
» Palestinian Cleric: “France Will Become an Islamic Country Through Jihad”
» Pope: Water Shortage One of the ‘Inevitable Consequences of Climate Change’
» UK: Admirals and Generals Warn Entanglement With EU Military Post-Brexit Will Harm Security
» UK: Boris Says Govt Has ‘Chickened Out’ On Brexit, May Should Tell EU Pharaohs, ‘Let My People Go’
» UK: Child Rape Victim Claims Bradford, Rotherham, Rochdale Gangs ‘Linked’
» UK: Leftists Back Second Referendum, Hammond Says it Should be ‘Considered’
» UK: MPs Vote for Remain-Dominated Parliament to Take Control of Brexit From Govt
» UK: Public Now Back Brexit Over Remaining in EU by 15 Points, Poll Finds
» UK: Police Crack Down on Pro-Brexit Truckers for ‘Go Slow’ Protest, Vow Prosecutions
» UK: There Almost Certainly Weren’t a Million People on the People’s Vote March
» ‘We Should Not Back Down!’ Panic for Brussels as Orban Launches New Anti-EU Campaign
 
Israel and the Palestinians
» Hamas: Rocket Launch May Have Been Caused by ‘Bad Weather’
» IDF Destroys Hamas Leader’s Office, Secret Terror Headquarters
 
Middle East
» Erdogan Moots Renaming Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia a Mosque
» Erdogan Floats Reverting Hagia Sophia to a Mosque
 
Far East
» In Sri Lanka, The New Chinese Silk Road is a Disappointment
» New Species of Sardines Found in Manila Bay, Other Areas in Philippines
 
Australia — Pacific
» Christchurch Used to Silence Questioning on Global Scale
» New Zealand Caller Claims Govt Has Been Turned Over to United Nations
» NZ on Edge: Festival Evacuated Over ‘Far-Right’ Tattoo; Crime to Download, Distribute Manifesto
» Researchers Discover New Species of Extinct Australian Mammal
 
Sub-Saharan Africa
» The Deadly Truth About South Africa
 
Immigration
» TV Ad in Migrant’s Native Language Enrages Swedish Social Media
 
Culture Wars
» Colorado College Speaker Advocates ‘Legal Rights’ For Mother Earth
» San Antonio Bans Chick-Fil-a From Its Airport for Seven Years
» The Truth About Hipsters
» University of Colorado Denver Politics Course Removes White Authors From Curriculum
 

Abolishing the Electoral College is Unconstitutional and Wrong

The Electoral College was established to try to balance the popular vote with the need for states rights. There are 538 electors in the electoral college. Each state is given one elector for each member of the House of Representatives (435 in total) plus one additional electors for each of the two senators (100 in total). The District of Columbia gets three electors.

If the Electoral College was abolished and the president elected simply by a majority in the national vote, the majority of people from smaller, less populated states would lose their voice in presidential elections. A number of states have already considered having their electors vote for the candidate who gets the majority of the national vote. This would mean candidates would campaign mostly in densely populated states while ignoring the less populated states.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Blankenship is Right: Sue the Mainstream Media Out of Existence

Don Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy and GOP candidate for West Virginia’s U.S. Senate seat last year, filed a massive defamation lawsuit against several mainstream media outlets this past Friday…

What Blankenship and the Covington Catholic boys’ respective sagas prove is that the mainstream media — particularly legacy media such as the Washington Post and CNN — hold an inordinate amount of power in our society: the power to decide what constitutes reality and what constitutes fantasy.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

‘Greed’: Feds Say Avenatti Tried to Extort Nike, Swiped Client Funds

Lawyer Michael Avenatti was hit with a one-two punch of federal charges on Monday: an allegation in New York that he tried to extort Nike for up to $25 million and an accusation in California that he misappropriated a client’s settlement money.

“The case paints an ugly picture of lawless conduct and greed,” Nick Hanna, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, said at a news conference to announce wire fraud and bank fraud charges that could land Avenatti in prison for up to 50 years.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Hackers Hijacked Asus Software Updates to Install Backdoors on Thousands of Computers

Researchers at cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab say that ASUS, one of the world’s largest computer makers, was used to unwittingly to install a malicious backdoor on thousands of its customers’ computers last year after attackers compromised a server for the company’s live software update tool. The malicious file was signed with legitimate ASUS digital certificates to make it appear to be an authentic software update from the company, Kaspersky Lab says.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Jussie Smollett Hires Michael Jackson’s Attorney Mark Geragos: All His Famous Past Clients

Jussie Smollett has hired high-powered criminal defense lawyer Mark Geragos to represent him against the 16 felony charges he is facing in Chicago following his alleged orchestration of a staged homophobic and racist attack.

Geragos, 61, is no stranger to controversial defendants. He has previously defended the likes of Chris Brown, Michael Jackson, and Scott Peterson.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

The Truth About ‘Russian Collusion’

The same media that lobbies Big Tech to censor “fake news” conspiracy theories.

Just promulgated the biggest, most harmful fake news conspiracy theory in a generation.

What will their punishment be?

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Thomas Sowell is Right to Predict a Socialist America

By Steven Kessler

Recently, Thomas Sowell appeared on the Fox Business Network. The host, David Asman, asked Sowell whether America will go down the dark and dangerous road of socialism:

The future of America — do you think that we are destined to go through a period of socialism, a period where these ideas that have not worked wherever they have been tried and will not work here, will be tried here, and could bring down our country?

Sowell responded by offering sober and troubling thoughts:

I do have a great fear that, in the long run, we may not make it. I hate to say that. … And so, we may make it, but I wouldn’t bet on it. (March 6, 2019)

To understand Sowell’s pessimism as to how and why America, a nation built on capitalism, would adopt socialism, the wisdom of Alexis de Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America, offers a cogent explanation.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Trump Administration Sends List of Russian Collusion Liars to TV Producers

The Trump administration has sent a memo to TV producers which contains a list of Russian collusion liars, advising networks to challenge individuals like Rep. Adam Schiff on their “false claims” in future.

The memo, sent by Trump’s Director of Communications Tim Murtaugh, was sent a day after the Mueller investigation’s conclusion which completely vindicated President Trump.

It lists Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Eric Swalwell, DNC Chairman Tom Perez and former CIA director John Brennan.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘Welcome to Neo-Stalinism’: Google Promptly Vanishes Greenpeace Co-Founder Dr. Moore From Enviro Group’s History After Trump Tweets His Skeptical Climate Views

‘Welcome to Neo-Stalinism’

Google, with the help of Greenpeace, is revising Greenpeace’s history to erase Dr. Moore from his role in co-founding the environmental group. But Greenpeace’s own website has previously featured Moore as one of its “founders.”

Moore: “Google has removed my photo and name from the ‘Founders of Greenpeace’. It was still there 2 days ago but now I am erased. Tech Tyranny!!”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Catholic Bishop: Muslims No More ‘Prone to Terrorism’ Than Christians

An Irish bishop has come out against Catholics who “demonize” Muslims, insisting that followers of Islam are no more likely to commit terror attacks than Christians.

“To define a whole category of people, or a whole nation, or a whole religious group as being in some way more prone to terrorism than any other group is irresponsible,” Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin told the Irish Catholic late last week.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘Easy Meat’ Freely Available in PDF Format

Peter McLoughlin spent years believing the Leftist narrative, namely it was ‘a racist myth’ that organised Muslim groups in Britain and the Netherlands (‘grooming gangs’) were luring white schoolgirls into a life of prostitution. But in 2009 he first encountered people who said their children had been groomed like this. These informants had non-white people in their immediate and extended family, and were thus unlikely to be racists. So McLoughlin dug deeper and what he found shocked him: there were mounds of evidence that social workers, police officers, Muslim organisations, journalists and even some Members of Parliament must have known about these grooming gangs for decades, and they had turned a blind-eye to these crimes.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

EU Gas Deal Papers Over Cracks in East-West Spat

It was not spectacular, but then EU decisions rarely are. Fudge is often top of the menu in Brussels. But its effects may have long-term consequences both for Europe’s energy sector and its geopolitical position between the US and Russia.

“The new rules ensure that … everyone interested in selling gas to Europe must respect European energy law,” EU Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said in a statement on February 13. This meant that existing EU legislation — the so-called Third Energy Package — thus applies to the controversial Nord Stream II gas pipeline that is being built between Russia and Germany.

Owners of pipelines linking EU and non-EU countries, Canete continued, will be required to allow access for their competitors and Brussels will also have more power regarding transparency and tariff regulations…

           — Hat tip: C. Cantoni [Return to headlines]
 

EU Ready for ‘Increasingly Likely’ No-Deal

The EU has today completed its preparations for a no-deal Brexit in view of the fact this is ‘increasingly likely’ to occur on April 12.

While a no-deal is not desirable, it is prepared for it, a statement from the European Commission says. It has confirmed and clarified its no-deal plans and produced a new series of factsheets and provided a free helpline (see below).

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Facebook Informs Swedish Journalist That She Was Suspended Because “Tribute and Support” For the “Hateful Leader” Tommy Robinson Violate Their Community Standards

When Katerina Janouch contacted Facebook and asked why she was suspended, she was told that “tribute or support” for Tommy Robinson is prohibited.

Facebook’s policy states, among other things, that so-called “hate organisations” and their leaders or prominent members are not allowed to have accounts on Facebook.

And “tribute or support” for such individuals is not allowed either.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

France: Activist, 73, Injured During Gilets Jaunes Protest

Genevieve Legay suffered skull fractures in incident at demonstration, daughter says

Relatives of a 73-year-old gilets jaunes demonstrator who was injured in a police charge are to file a complaint, the family’s lawyer has said.

Genevieve Legay, described as ‘someone who fights for peace’ by her daughter, was hospitalised after the incident in Nice’s Garibaldi Square during a gilets jaunes’ protest on Saturday.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Italy Wikipedia Page Shut Ahead of EP Copyright Vote

Fears freedom of expression may be affected

(ANSA) — Rome, March 25 — The Italian Wikipedia page was shut down Monday ahead of Tuesday’s European Parliament vote on a new copyright directive.

“From 08:00 today the Wikipedia items in the Italian language will not be accessible, but will send viewers to an information banner on the reform of copyright, in view of the vote at the European Parliament tomorrow,” Wikimedia said.

There are fears the new directive may affect freedom of expression, it said.

           — Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]
 

Italy: Those Who Covered Battisti Should Apologise — Salvini

‘Leftwing pseudo-intellectuals defended squalid character’

(ANSA) — Milan, March 25 — The “leftwing pseudo-intellectuals” who allegedly “covered for and defended” former leftist terrorist Cesare Battisti should now apologise, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said after Battisti admitted four murders committed in Italy’s terror ‘Years of Lead’ and apologised for them Monday.

“Cesare Battisti has apologised a few decades after the fact.

Now I expect those leftwing pseudo-intellectuals who covered for and defended this squalid character to apologise too”, said Salvini.

“It’s better to say sorry late than never”, he said.

           — Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]
 

Italy: League-M5S Together Still Have Majority — Salvini

My opponent is the PD says League leader, interior minister

(ANSA) — Milan, March 25 — Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Monday that he was happy for his League’s coalition with the 5-Star Movement (M5S) at the national level to continue after Sunday’s regional elections in Basilicata. The League was the driving force of the centre right’s victory in the southern region while the candidate for the M5S, which ran alone, came third. “The sum of the votes for the League and the 5 Stars is still the absolute majority in this country, so we both have cause to be happy,” Salvini said. “My opponent is the (centre-left) PD (Democratic Party)”.

           — Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]
 

Italy: Baby Dies After Home Circumcision

Another child died near Rome in Dec due to illegal circumcision

(ANSA) — Rome, March 25 — A five-month-old baby died in the night between Friday and Saturday in Bologna’s Sant’Orsola hospital followed a botched circumcision by his parents of Ghanaian origin, sources said.

The child was already in a critical condition when he arrived in hospital after being taken there from Scandiano, in the province of Reggio Emilia.

The child’s mother and father are under investigation for culpable homicide.

Another small child died in December due to an illegal circumcision performed at Monterotondo, near Rome.

It is estimated that 4,000-5,000 foreign children undergo circumcisions in Italy every year and around 35% are carried out illegally.

Yassine Lafram, the head of Bologna’s Islamic community, on Monday condemned the practice of subjecting children to illegal circumcisions.

“We learn of the terrible news of the death of a five-month baby following an illegal circumcision with dismay,” said Lafram.

“It’s a death that could certainly have been avoided and pains us deeply.

“We firmly condemn these irresponsible gestures and we hope that they never happen again”.

           — Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]
 

Italy: Centre Right Wins in Basilicata, Bardi New Governor

M5S top individual group with around 20.53% of the vote

(ANSA) — Rome, March 25 — Centre-right candidate Vito Bardi is set to become the new governor of the southern region of Basilicata.

With the lion’s share of the ballots counted after Sunday’s regional election, Bardi has around 42% of the vote. He is followed by centre-left candidate Carlo Trerotola with around 32%. The 5-Star Movement’s Antonio Mattia was third with around 20.6%, although the anti-establishment group, which ran alone without alliance partners, looks set to be the individual party with the most votes. The M5S was followed by Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini’s League, which is the driving force of the centre right and is on course to get close to 19% of the vote.

Although the M5S and the League are partners in the coalition government at national level, they are not allied in regional and local votes. The result continues a long string of victories for the centre right in regional elections in a vote that was also seen as an important gauge of public feeling ahead of May’s European elections.

“THANK YOU!” Salvini said via Facebook.

“The League has trebled its votes, victory in Basilicata! 7-0 (to us), goodbye to the left, now Europe is going to change”. Fellow Deputy Premier and Labour and Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio dismissed talk that M5S had performed badly, given that its share of the vote was down significantly with respect to the support it got in the region in last year’s general election.

“The 5-Star Movement is the top political group in Basilicata,” said Di Maio. “Most of the press are talking about the number of votes (for the M5S) being halved in a year and a ‘collapse,’ but the truth is that we beat all the other lists”. He said that the real losers were the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right Forza Italia, which look set to get around 9% and 8% respectively.

Trerotola said that his alliance had lost with “dignity” in a region that is traditionally a centre-left stronghold while admitting that he had hoped to get more votes.

           — Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]
 

Palestinian Cleric: “France Will Become an Islamic Country Through Jihad”

In an address to Al-Aqsa mosque-goers, Palestinian cleric Abu Taqi Al-Din Al-Dari said that France will become an Islamic state because it will mostly be inhabited by Muslims by 2050.

“France will become an Islamic country through jihad; the entire world will be subject to Islamic rule,” the cleric said.

Al-Dari said that this would happen because young European natives are not getting married, settling down and having children whereas Muslims have a high fertility rate and have lots of children.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Pope: Water Shortage One of the ‘Inevitable Consequences of Climate Change’

Pope Francis tied a lack of water in different parts of the world to global warming Sunday, calling it one of the “inevitable consequences of climate change.”

In his message for World Water Day 2019, the pope called for education of future generations in a greater respect for the environment and a greater awareness of the suffering caused by climate change.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Admirals and Generals Warn Entanglement With EU Military Post-Brexit Will Harm Security

Senior officers of the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force have warned that the United Kingdom is being entangled in the European Union’s military integration schemes, and that Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal with the bloc will undermine national security long into the future.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Boris Says Govt Has ‘Chickened Out’ On Brexit, May Should Tell EU Pharaohs, ‘Let My People Go’

Brexiteer heavyweight Boris Johnson has slammed the Government’s lack of “gumption”, accusing it of having “chickened out” on Brexit and urging the prime minister to “channel the spirit of Moses in Exodus, and say to Pharaoh in Brussels — LET MY PEOPLE GO.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Child Rape Victim Claims Bradford, Rotherham, Rochdale Gangs ‘Linked’

The victim of a Bradford grooming gang has said that most girls at the children’s care home where she lived were being sexually exploited and has called for an inquiry, alleging that child rape gangs across the country — including in Rochdale and Rotherham — are linked.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Leftists Back Second Referendum, Hammond Says it Should be ‘Considered’

The left-wing Labour Party and Tory Chancellor Philip ‘Remainer Phil’ Hammond are backing different forms of a second referendum on Brexit, in efforts to frustrate Britain’s exit from the EU.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: MPs Vote for Remain-Dominated Parliament to Take Control of Brexit From Govt

The House of Commons has voted on a series of amendments to a Government motion, allowing Remain MPs to take control of the Brexit process from the Prime Minister.

This came after Theresa May postponed a third vote on her Withdrawal Agreement — which might never be held at all now.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Public Now Back Brexit Over Remaining in EU by 15 Points, Poll Finds

A new ComRes poll from over the weekend has found a huge lead when it comes to Brits who now back Brexit compared to those who want to remain in the European Union. Looks like the hardline Remainers who protested at the weekend represent a shrinking fringe, as we have long said.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Police Crack Down on Pro-Brexit Truckers for ‘Go Slow’ Protest, Vow Prosecutions

Police have vowed they “will be prosecuting” British truckers who staged a “go slow” protest after the Government broke its promise to deliver Brexit on March 29th and asked the EU to push the date back.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: There Almost Certainly Weren’t a Million People on the People’s Vote March

Last Saturday, protestors marched in London to call for a ‘People’s Vote’ on the final Brexit Deal. The organisers claimed that 1 million people marched, and that figure was repeated by a number of news outlets. We’ve been asked by readers to check this claim.

The reality is that it’s hard to precisely measure crowd sizes at non-ticketed events. That said, experts in crowd estimation have said the crowd on Saturday was less than half the size estimated by its organisers.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘We Should Not Back Down!’ Panic for Brussels as Orban Launches New Anti-EU Campaign

HUNGARIAN Prime Minister Viktor Orban has threatened to restart his anti-EU campaign ahead of the European elections.

Mr Orban’s nationalist Fidesz party is gearing up for the European Parliament elections in May and he has warned that Hungary could once again target the bloc in media campaigns. Mr Orban said: “People are a bit angry with us in Brussels because, at the start of the European Parliament election campaign, we ran an information campaign in Hungary, essentially exposing what Brussels was up to.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Hamas: Rocket Launch May Have Been Caused by ‘Bad Weather’

A Hamas official denied Israel’s accusation that it was behind Monday’s rocket strike on a town in central Israel, north of Tel Aviv, Monday morning which wounded seven Israelis and led Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to vow a strong response.

“No one from the resistance movements, including Hamas, has an interest in firing rockets from the Gaza Strip towards the enemy,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, evoking the possibility that it may have been caused by “bad weather”…

           — Hat tip: MC [Return to headlines]
 

IDF Destroys Hamas Leader’s Office, Secret Terror Headquarters

Israeli forces on Monday struck targets across the Gaza Strip, including the offices of Hamas’ supreme leader, in response to a surprise rocket attack from the Palestinian territory, as the military bolstered its troops and rocket-defense systems in anticipation of a new round of heavy fighting with the Islamic terror group.

Israel opened public bomb shelters in most major cities and civil defense authorities canceled sports events and public transportation in southern Israel. The Israeli army said air raid sirens wailed in southern Israel late Monday night, with one rocket fired into the country, but it provided no further details.

“Israel will not tolerate this. I will not tolerate this,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared during a White House meeting with President Donald Trump…

           — Hat tip: Dora [Return to headlines]
 

Erdogan Moots Renaming Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia a Mosque

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday mooted the possibility of renaming Istanbul’s Hagia Sofia museum as a mosque, in comments during a television interview.

Asked whether the entrance fee to the city landmark might be waived, he said: “It’s not impossible… but we would not do it under the name ‘museum’ but ‘Hagia Sophia mosque’.”

           — Hat tip: C. Cantoni [Return to headlines]
 

Erdogan Floats Reverting Hagia Sophia to a Mosque

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan floated the idea of turning Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia back into a mosque in an interview Sunday.

“It is not an abnormal proposal. It is not something impossible, it could be done easily. We could even name it as the Hagia Sophia Mosque instead of a museum so that everybody can visit it without charge,” Mr. Erdogan replied to the question whether the museum could be opened free of charge for Turkish citizens.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

In Sri Lanka, The New Chinese Silk Road is a Disappointment

Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched the French leg of his European tour to try to drum up cooperation for his global infrastructure project.

Xi Jinping arrived in France on Sunday for a three-day trip in which he hopes to gain French cooperation for his new Silk Road initiative. He already has one European success under his belt, having signed an agreement with Italy a day earlier, in which the euro-zone’s third largest economy formalised its support of China’s vast programme of infrastructure investment in more than 70 countries.

           — Hat tip: C. Cantoni [Return to headlines]
 

New Species of Sardines Found in Manila Bay, Other Areas in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — A new species of sardines has been discovered in the waters of Manila Bay and other parts of the country.

A peer-reviewed journal article by Japanese taxonomists Harutaka Hata and Hiroyuki Motomura said the new species of sardines called Sardinella pacifica can be only found in the Philippines—in Quezon, Sorsogon, Samar and the Manila Bay.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Christchurch Used to Silence Questioning on Global Scale

Self-described ‘eco-fascist’ admired Communist China, wanted to sow division in US over gun rights

As New Zealand makes asking questions a crime, Infowars reporter Greg Reese looks at all the suspicious and anomalous details that the world has been discussing in regard to the recent Christchurch mosque shooting.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

New Zealand Caller Claims Govt Has Been Turned Over to United Nations

Gun confiscation plan part of larger global government project

During a broadcast by UniteAmericaFirst.com a caller called in to inform Americans that New Zealand has been taken over by the United Nations and is ushering in the New World Order.

Since the shooting a week ago, the government has arrested three people that shared the killers Livestream and are facing up to 14 years in prison.

The government has also demanded that citizens turn in a military type assault weapons.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

NZ on Edge: Festival Evacuated Over ‘Far-Right’ Tattoo; Crime to Download, Distribute Manifesto

“Never let a good crisis go to waste” applies in New Zealand.

New Zealand is on edge following the March 15 terror attacks at two Christchurch mosques that left 50 dead.

On Saturday, around 5,000 concertgoers were evacuated from the Homegrown Music Festival in Wellington because a festival worker reported someone with a ‘far-right’ tattoo.

After the roughly 30 minute evacuation, the tattoo was discovered to be “traditional” instead, according to the New Zealand Herald (h/t Cassandra Fairbanks of Gateway Pundit)

“Some of the Homegrown crew identified a person that they were concerned about and police made the call that person needed to be found,” said Homegrown spokeswoman Kelly Wright, adding that the incident was an “innocent misunderstanding.”

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Researchers Discover New Species of Extinct Australian Mammal

A team of researchers at the Natural History Museum in London and the Western Australian Museum have discovered a new species of very small, incredibly fast, extinct Australian Pigfooted Bandicoot.

The pig-footed bandicoot was unique, and unlike any other mammal due to its ability to walk on two toes on its front legs, and one toe on its hind legs. They are believed to be amongst the smallest grazing mammals that ever lived, and their speed for their size was remarkable.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

The Deadly Truth About South Africa

By Don Boys

The corruption in South Africa is so bad, it’s like a noxious fog that has settled on a once peaceful, prosperous, and prejudiced nation. South African’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is being pilloried, pulled, and pushed from many sides, and many of the political players are more radical than he. He is busy trying to stay in power and get reelected later this year, but he has to deal with many warring factions inside and outside the African National Congress (ANC), plus the murder for hire of wayward members and multiple acts of sabotage in many major cities. Everyone seems to carry guns or has bodyguards even low-level provincial (state) leaders.

The ANC no longer stands for African National Congress but for Accumulation, Nepotism, and Cronyism. Corruption is one of the most used words by South Africans. Of course, this does not surprise anyone since one-party rule always results in cronyism, chaos, and corruption.

The corruption is ubiquitous, especially in the ANC, the political party that has been controlled by Communists from its earliest days and has governed South Africa since the end of the white minority government in 1994. The ANC is infamous for sabotage in earlier years and now that there are many factions within, it has returned to sabotage plus assassinations—of longtime comrades. It is now a fractured party with occasional episodes of the “Shoot Out at the O.K. Corral.” It seems every member in the national government and in the provinces has his hand out or worse—even putting out contracts on fellow members with whom they serve!

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

TV Ad in Migrant’s Native Language Enrages Swedish Social Media

A Swedish TV commercial showing a man, presumed to be a migrant, reading his daughter a bedtime story in his native language instead of Swedish sparked social media uproar, RT.com wrtites.

Many Swedish TV viewers were left baffled last week after a local broadcaster ran a commercial in a language that most of the viewers could not grasp — and it didn’t even have subtitles.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Colorado College Speaker Advocates ‘Legal Rights’ For Mother Earth

A Colorado college hosted a Native American activist Wednesday to discuss the idea that nature and “Mother Earth” should be given rights, allowing the Earth to also be given legal protection.

Fort Lewis College’s Pi Sigma Alpha chapter invited Tom B.K. Goldtooth to talk about environmentalism and social justice.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

San Antonio Bans Chick-Fil-a From Its Airport for Seven Years

By now you’ve heard the news: San Antonio, Texas, has banned Chick-fil-A from San Antonio International Airport. The ban, passed by the city council in the form of a vendor contract, is based on a hit piece by the left-wing Think Progress. This the latest attempt by some on the left to ostracize and demonize Chick-fil-A over statements made by its founder or for its charity work — matters that have nothing to do with its business competence.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

The Truth About Hipsters

A new study proves that hipsters are the ultimate conformists.

Turns out wearing the same uniform, facial hair & spouting the same opinions as everyone else doesn’t make you unique.

Imagine my shock!

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

University of Colorado Denver Politics Course Removes White Authors From Curriculum

A politics course at the University of Colorado Denver has intentionally removed all white authors from its syllabus.

According to a report from The College Fix, a professor at the University of Colorado Denver has intentionally removed texts by white authors from his class on American politics. The course, which is called “American Political Thought,” will specifically focus on texts by non-white authors.

[Comment: Universities are filled with so much garbage courses these days that it is better to go to trade school and learn an employable skill.]

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

15 thoughts on “Gates of Vienna News Feed 3/25/2019

  1. As Chick-fila-A goes, so goes this nation. Who hates Christianity!?

    • “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”

      There is nothing better out there to replace it once it’s driven underground.

  2. “Catholic Bishop: Muslims No More ‘Prone to Terrorism’ Than Christians” oh he’s just following his pope’s example. My question is: where’s the outrage of believers?

    • There are none left. The believers were aborted because it was the cool thing to do. Now this bishop wants to retire in peace and is doing what Christ did: to the fishermen appear like a fisherman.

      • And this essay, also from Powerline, addresses the idea that Hungary has decided to come down on the side its own citizens:

        The real objection to Hungary pushing for more births is that the left wants Hungary to populate itself with immigrants from African and the Middle East, a point the Post makes through Mary Alice Carter of a group called “Equity Forward.” But considering the disruption, crime, and terrorism experienced by countries that have opted to admit large numbers of immigrants from these areas, Hungarians can be excused for not deeming this “best practice.”

        https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2019/03/hungary-for-the-hungarians.php

    • The people are “stepford robots” repeating their own phrases over and over. There is no news. There is only endless echoes of fakery.

  3. From Financial Times UK (machine translated … some clumsy phrases but the drift is clear)

    Twilight News / done.

    The German campaign aims to encourage the spread of a “local version of Islam”.

    Said Marcus Kerber, a senior German official.

    That the differences have occurred between the two governments, German and Turkish, against the background Play a big role in Turkey.

    The authorities see in Germany.

    The issue of the integration of Muslims into society has increased after one million additional Muslim refugees arrive in Germany in 2015-2016

    Turkey plays a major role in the lives of Muslims in Turkey, overseeing 900 of the 2,400 mosques.

    The newspaper says that imams in the European Moslems are delivering speeches in Turkish.

    And cause Turkish influence in Europe.

    ***** my comments***

    What makes you feel sad in Europe? Why?
    Who is trying to control the sick Continent?
    Is it sick because the rulers have the attitude ” I cannot do anything?
    Are you sad because one muslim member of parliament directs the whole body as the muslim wishes, and can stop any motion that is abgainst invasion?

    Are you sad because from time to time Hamas provokes Israel to rejoice the western condemnation of Israel. The Media never mentions that Hamas started the aggression first. The media never mentions the destruction of Israel in Hamas Constitution?

    Yesterday Turks and Germans were friends, nay brothers-in-arms. Is it sad to see friends turn into enemies, or we must be happy to end that unholy alliance between Germany and Turkey first and then between Turkey and Europe.

    To end that unproportional influence of Turkey on the whole of Europe and unreturned love by Turkey.

    The struggle will never end because either Turks will rule Germany or Germans will start a war of independence in 2068. Yes that long because Europeans are in a coma. And we hope that things will get so sour between Europe and Turkey until Turkey is kicked out of NATO. But even then Britain will never allow that. As we can see today.

    Turkey is looting all natural gas and oil from the Mediterranean even from under other’s EEZ. Boldened by nato and esp. Britain, it has become so reckless and a bully.
    Just as every whim of the muslims in the west is fulfilled so every whim of Turkey is met by NATO.

    Turkey gets and gets from infidels jyzya. The last one, but not the least, was the building of the world’s largest airport in Constantinople for Turkey, to ease the flying of Turks to Europe to invade it. Europeans are so proud of their achievement. NATO is utilized for the interests of Turkey.

    • It’s been said before, but Germans of Turkish descent should NOT be allowed to keep dual citizenship, and vote in both countries. If they choose Turkish, and are found to have broken the law, they can then be deported.

      • To deport needs courage: something unbeknownst in the westL replaced by booze and sex. The problem is not dual citizenship or voting or integration. The problem is inviting invaders.

  4. What can I say?

    “Any connection between the Christchurch attacker and members of the Identitarians in Austria needs to be comprehensively and ruthlessly investigated,” Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted, adding that he had spoken to Justice Minister Josef Moser about the issue.
    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111572559/austrian-activists-home-searched-over-ties-to-christchurch-mosque-shooting-suspect

    Only NZ truth’s can be said.

  5. What can I say?

    Knight-Wagener said while talking about the shooting he digressed to mention what he had seen in news reports about the behaviour of Muslims living in the United Kingdom that “had been shown to be violent and destructive”.

    “I elaborated on the current state of the UK in regards to the growing Islamic community and the crimes against the people in these communities,” he said.

    “I said no swear words and was not abusive or aggressive in my manner. I was simply stating facts, of which no one wanted to hear obviously.”

    He then shut the conversation down and carried on with his work. ……

    ….. “But we have clear company values which include being respectful of our fellow employees, customers and the community. Expressing or spreading prejudiced views against any religious or ethnic group does not fit with our culture.”

    Only New Zealand’s truths are allowed.

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