Gates of Vienna News Feed 1/11/2021

Twitter’s shares lost another 6.41% of their value on the stock exchange today. Shares for Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc. (owner of Google) also declined.

In other news, after months of enforcing some of the strictest COVID regulations in the nation, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has done a 180-degree turn, saying that the state must reopen because the cost of staying closed is too high.

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

Thanks to Dean, Insubria, Reader from Chicago, SS, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.

Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.

Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. I check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.

USA
» After Forcing Thousands of Businesses to Shut Down, Cuomo Now Says the ‘Cost’ of Staying Closed is ‘Too High’
» Antifa Forces Evacuation of Portland Bookstore in Protest of Andy Ngo’s Book
» Attorney: Trump Impeachment Sets Precedent Presidents Are Responsible for Actions of Their Supporters
» Biden Says He’ll Take Oath Outdoors as National Guard Floods DC for Inauguration
» Bill Gates Bids for Largest Private Jet Firm Weeks Before Publishing His Climate Change Book
» Bill Belichick Rejects Donald Trump’s Medal of Freedom
» Colin Powell Formally Announces He Has Left the Republican Party
» Cumulus Media Threatens to Fire Hosts Who Contest Election Results
» Facebook Censors Libertarian Ron Paul Amid Big Tech Purge
» Facebook Bans the Phrase “Stop the Steal”
» FBI Warns of Armed Protests by Trump Supporters in All 50 States
» Financial Company Stripe No Longer Allowing Payments to Trump’s Campaign Site
» Firefox Maker Mozilla Calls for “More Than” Deplatforming
» Melania Trump Issues Statement on the Capitol Riot: “I Am Disappointed and Disheartened”
» NYPD Officer Under Investigation for Participation in U.S. Capitol Riot
» Old, Tired and Out of Breath — Biden Struggles to Answer One Question From Reporter After Getting Second Dose of COVID Vaccine (Video)
» Parler Goes Dark After Amazon Suspends it From Cloud Hosting Services
» Parler Sues Amazon With Emergency Filing for Shutting Down Site, Cites Antitrust Violations
» Rep. Devin Nunes Calls for Federal Investigation Into Big Tech Companies Over Parler Ban
» Social Media Site Gab Says it is Gaining 10,000 Users Per Hour Since Trump Kicked Off Twitter
» State Department Website Falsely Announces Trump’s Resignation
» Texas Lawmakers Consider Secession Over Life Under Democrat Marxism — Several States Interested in Movement (Video)
» Top Conservative Commentators Limbaugh, Bongino, And Levin Leave Twitter Over Trump Ban
» Trump Approves Emergency Declaration for DC Ahead of Biden Inauguration
» Twitter Shares Sink After Trump’s Account Deleted
» Two Irvington Women Arrested for Maintaining an Illegal Alcohol Establishment in Newark
» Update: Lawless US — Supreme Court Refuses to Consider GOP Post-Election Fraud Cases Before Biden Inauguration
» UT Chattanooga Assistant Coach Fired Over Anti-Stacy Abrams Tweet That Alleged Voter Fraud
» Wall Street Journal Retracts Claim That Alex Jones Incited Capitol Riots
» Woman Remains in Critical Condition After Being Shot During Saturday Rampage in Chicago, Evanston
 
Canada
» Canadian Proud Boys in ‘Panic’ As Platforms Go Offline and Government Talks of Terror Listing
» Montreal Police Hand Out Nearly 200 Tickets for Illegal Outings in the First Weekend Under Curfew
» Three Fined $880 Each for Gathering at Lindsay Home During COVID-19 Lockdown
 
Europe and the EU
» Animal Group Appeals to Pope Over Vatican Pet Ban
» Defying Project Fear Claims, Nissan Welcomes Brexit Deal, Doubles Down on UK Plant
» Denmark Introducing COVID ‘Vaccine Passport’
» French Government “Shocked” at Twitter Banning of Trump
» Hungary Attracted €4.65 Billion in Foreign Investments Last Year
» Merkel Says Big Tech Shouldn’t Have Power to Decide Who Has Free Speech
» ‘Operation Bleach’: Boris Johnson Orders the Removal of Any References to the EU in British Laws
» Poll: Plurality of Britons Think Boris Should Resign, Labour Leads Tories
» Rule of Law Conflict Points Toward Transformation of EU Into European Superstate, Says Polish Political Author
» Sweden: Trio of Middle Eastern Men Beat Victim Unconscious as He Protected His Girlfriend
» Swedish Government Gets Mandate to Enforce Coronavirus Measure
» Swedish Court Jails Two for Attempted Hammer Murder of Blogger Critic of Muslim Leader
» There is No Miracle Vaccine, Says Former Czech President Klaus at Protest Against COVID-19 Measures
» UK Divorces Expected to Surge in Post-COVID 2021
» UK Government May Only Let People Out Once a Week
» UK Police Boast About Fining Person Eating a Kebab, Alone, In a Car
 
Middle East
» Turkish ‘Sex Cult’ Leader Who Preached Islamic Sermons While Surrounded by Glamorous Women Dubbed His ‘Kittens’ Is Jailed for 1,000 Years for Child Abuse, Rape and Leading a Criminal Gang
 
South Asia
» India: Police Arrest Over 100 From Illegal Dance Bars
 
Sub-Saharan Africa
» South Africa: Sebokeng Churchgoers Arrested for Allegedly Breaking Lockdown Rules, Throwing Chairs at Cops
 
Immigration
» Former Italian Admiral Blasts Mass Migration Pull Factor Created by NGO ‘Slave Ships’ Breaking International Law
» Three More Migrant Children Are Rescued From the English Channel as Border Force Sends Out Boat to Stop Crossings After 160 Arrived Over Weekend
 

After Forcing Thousands of Businesses to Shut Down, Cuomo Now Says the ‘Cost’ of Staying Closed is ‘Too High’

After forcing thousands of small businesses to shut down — with some closing permanently — Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said “the cost is too high” to remain closed much longer.

“We simply cannot stay closed until the vaccine hits critical mass. The cost is too high. We will have nothing left to open,” the governor tweeted. “We must reopen the economy, but we must do it smartly and safely.”

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

Antifa Forces Evacuation of Portland Bookstore in Protest of Andy Ngo’s Book

On Monday, a crowd of Antifa activists gathered outside Powell’s Books in downtown Portland, to demand that the book Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy by The Post Millennial’s Editor-at-Large Andy Ngo, be pulled from the store’s website.

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

Attorney: Trump Impeachment Sets Precedent Presidents Are Responsible for Actions of Their Supporters

Attorney Jonathan Turley has warned that the impending impeachment of Donald Trump over the storming of Capitol Hill sets the precedent that presidents can be impeached for the actions of their supporters.

Top Democrats say they “have the votes” to introduce articles of impeachment against Trump for “inciting an insurrectionist mob” during last week’s incident.

The text of the resolution accuses Trump of “willfully inciting violence against the Government of the United States.”

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

Biden Says He’ll Take Oath Outdoors as National Guard Floods DC for Inauguration

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday declared he was unafraid to take the oath of office outside as the National Guard announced it would deploy 10,000 troops to Washington, D.C. for his inauguration in the wake of the Capitol siege.

“I’m not afraid of taking the oath outside,” Biden told reporters in Delaware after receiving his second jab of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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

Bill Gates Bids for Largest Private Jet Firm Weeks Before Publishing His Climate Change Book

Microsoft founder Bill Gates is facing criticism for entering a bid to purchase Signature Aviation, the world’s largest private jet operator, just weeks before his book on the perils of climate change drops.

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

Bill Belichick Rejects Donald Trump’s Medal of Freedom

Bill Belichick has just rejected Donald Trump … the Patriots head coach says he will NOT accept POTUS’ Presidential Medal of Freedom — and it’s all because of the riots at the U.S. Capitol.

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

Colin Powell Formally Announces He Has Left the Republican Party

Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State for George W. Bush, announced on Sunday that following the riots at the Capitol building last Wednesday, he no longer considers himself a Republican.

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

Cumulus Media Threatens to Fire Hosts Who Contest Election Results

National radio company Cumulus Media informed the employees of its 416 stations last Wednesday that any staff who dispute the results of the 2020 presidential election will be terminated.

In addition to its local hosts, Cumulus Media releases programs made by popular conservative hosts Ben Shapiro, Dan Bongino, and Mark Levin.

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

Facebook Censors Libertarian Ron Paul Amid Big Tech Purge

Former Texas congressman Ron Paul says he’s been blocked from using his Facebook page for unspecified violations of “community standards” as Big Tech purges users following last week’s Capitol riot.

Paul, a libertarian leader and critic of President Trump, tweeted a screenshot of his temporarily restricted Facebook page.

“With no explanation other than ‘repeatedly going against our community standards,’ @Facebook has blocked me from managing my page. Never have we received notice of violating community standards in the past and nowhere is the offending post identified,” Paul tweeted.

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

Facebook Bans the Phrase “Stop the Steal”

In another aggressive crackdown on election-related conversations, Facebook has banned all mentions of “Stop the Steal” on Facebook and Instagram.

The phrase started gaining traction on social media in November 2020 as social media users and protest groups used the slogan to share their concerns about the irregularities surrounding the 2020 US.

But now, Facebook has decided that because the term was used “by those involved in Wednesday’s violence in DC,” the mere mention of the phrase by anyone, regardless of whether they were at the US Capitol or involved in violence, is prohibited.

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

FBI Warns of Armed Protests by Trump Supporters in All 50 States

Armed protests are expected at all 50 state capitols plus the US Capitol, from this week through Inauguration Day, a new FBI memo reportedly warns.

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

Financial Company Stripe No Longer Allowing Payments to Trump’s Campaign Site

Payment processing service Stripe has announced it will no longer process transactions made on President Trump’s campaign website.

Stripe joins fellow e-commerce company Shopify in the move, along with other financial services such as GoFundMe.

The company told media outlets that the decision was a reaction to the U.S. Capitol riot last week and alleged Trump encouraged violence, which is a breach of its policies.

Other financial institutions that have paused payments or denounced Trump include American Express, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Visa, and Paypal.

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

Firefox Maker Mozilla Calls for “More Than” Deplatforming

The way Mozilla has swerved away from its founding values of openness and freedom in recent times has been a spectacle for many in the tech community, and a recent statement from the company’s chairwoman only adds to the confusion as to purpose of Mozilla in a word where it its values sometimes align more with Big Tech and corporate interests.

Deplatforming is not enough, according to the Mozilla Foundation, the creator of the Firefox browser. It asserted that the January 6 riots would have happened if more was done to tackle disinformation online.

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

Melania Trump Issues Statement on the Capitol Riot: “I Am Disappointed and Disheartened”

First Lady Melania Trump released a statement Monday detailing her grief at the violence in Washington, D.C., last week and calling for national unity.

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

NYPD Officer Under Investigation for Participation in U.S. Capitol Riot

The New York Police Department is investigating an officer who allegedly participated in the riots in Washington, D.C., last Wednesday.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea confirmed there is one open investigation on an officer within the department.

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

Old, Tired and Out of Breath — Biden Struggles to Answer One Question From Reporter After Getting Second Dose of COVID Vaccine (Video)

78-year-old Joe Biden looked old, tired and out of breath after he got his second dose of the Covid vaccine on Monday.

Biden’s handler tried to shoo away the press but old Joe decided to answer a softball question from a sycophantic reporter.

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

Parler Goes Dark After Amazon Suspends it From Cloud Hosting Services

Social media platform Parler — often used by Republicans and conservatives as an alternative to Twitter — went dark early Monday after Amazon Web Services suspended the site’s cloud hosting service.

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

Parler Sues Amazon With Emergency Filing for Shutting Down Site, Cites Antitrust Violations

Social platform Parler filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon on Monday after the latter removed the site from its cloud-hosting service, AWS.

“AWS’s decision to effectively terminate Parler’s account is apparently motivated by political animus,” Parler said in the filing. “It is also apparently designed to reduce competition in the microblogging services market to the benefit of Twitter.”

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

Rep. Devin Nunes Calls for Federal Investigation Into Big Tech Companies Over Parler Ban

Ranking Republican for the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) called Sunday for the Department of Justice to open a racketeering investigation into the technology companies that removed Parler from their platforms, stores, and servers over the last week.

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

Social Media Site Gab Says it is Gaining 10,000 Users Per Hour Since Trump Kicked Off Twitter

Following the decision by Twitter to ban President Trump from its platform, the CEO of the conservative-friendly alternative platform Gab said the site was gaining 10,000 new users an hour.

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

State Department Website Falsely Announces Trump’s Resignation

If you’re still reading my blog posts in January 2021, you probably know that almost 11 years ago, I was struck down while legally crossing a D.C. street by a State Department security SUV that made an illegal left turn. I ended up being crippled for life and it’s been a pretty bad time, but that’s another story. The point is that I really hate the State Department and I’m always glad to see bad news about them. It’s deeply satisfying to watch them being humiliated, so I really got a kick out of this next item.

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

Texas Lawmakers Consider Secession Over Life Under Democrat Marxism — Several States Interested in Movement (Video)

Texas Rep. Kyle Biedermann joined Chris Salcedo on Newsmax TV on Monday.

Kyle is leading an effort to save Texas from the Democrat Marxists who stole power in Washington DC in the 2020 election.

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

Top Conservative Commentators Limbaugh, Bongino, And Levin Leave Twitter Over Trump Ban

Three of the nation’s top conservative commentators deleted their Twitter accounts in protest of the ban on President Trump, blasting the tech platform for its censorship.

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

Trump Approves Emergency Declaration for DC Ahead of Biden Inauguration

President Trump on Monday issued an emergency declaration for Washington D.C. to boost security ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20.

The order, which is in effect from Monday to January 24, allows the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to work with local authorities as needed.

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

Twitter Shares Sink After Trump’s Account Deleted

Twitter Inc. shares were under pressure Monday after the social-media platform deleted President Trump’s account in a move the company said was done to prevent further violence.

Shares of the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company fell more than 10% at the opening bell, erasing more than $2.5 billion from Twitter’s $41 billion market capitalization. Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc. were also lower after Trump’s accounts were removed from their platforms.

[Comment: Twitter closed for the day down 6.41%.]

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

Two Irvington Women Arrested for Maintaining an Illegal Alcohol Establishment in Newark

Police in Newark reported the arrest of Ms. Rosa E. Mainato, 23, and Ms. Fanny Camas, 27, both of Irvington, for maintaining an unlicensed liquor establishment at separate large parties held at the same location this weekend.

“It’s incredible how once again people put wealth over health,” Director Ambrose said. “It’s selfish people like this who perpetuate the spread.”

According to police, on Saturday, at approximately 11:45 p.m., police responded to 223 Verona Avenue, on a report of a COVID-19 violation. Responding police observed several people at the location, not wearing masks and drinking beers.

Officers also observed a full soccer game, with separately uniformed players and spectators, occurring.

Police arrested Rosa Maintano who was serving beer from a concession stand in exchange for money without a license. Police confiscated 720 Bud Light Lime beers and 272 Corona beers.

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

Update: Lawless US — Supreme Court Refuses to Consider GOP Post-Election Fraud Cases Before Biden Inauguration

This is how democracy dies.

Despite the incredible amount of historic fraud in this year’s presidential election, the US Supreme Court on Monday announced they will not hear any cases until Joe Biden is inaugurated.

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

UT Chattanooga Assistant Coach Fired Over Anti-Stacy Abrams Tweet That Alleged Voter Fraud

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, a public college, fired its assistant football coach for an online post disparaging Georgia politician Stacey Abrams and containing claims of voter fraud in the state of Georgia. The university, including the head coach, condemned the tweet.

According to a since-deleted bio on the university’s website, Chris Malone was an assistant and offensive line coach for the school’s football team, Mocs. He had been at the school for two years.

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

Wall Street Journal Retracts Claim That Alex Jones Incited Capitol Riots

The Wall Street Journal had previously claimed that Alex Jones was encouraging violence prior to the storming of the US Capitol on Jan. 6. They have now rescinded that claim.

The WSJ recently published the retraction in this article, where they talk about the circumstances surrounding the ensuing riot and storming of the Capitol grounds, which left five people dead.

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

Woman Remains in Critical Condition After Being Shot During Saturday Rampage in Chicago, Evanston

At least four victims remain in critical condition after Saturday’s shootings, according to authorities.

A woman who was shot Saturday after being taken hostage at an Evanston IHOP during a shooting rampage remains in critical condition as of late Monday, police said.

At Evanston’s city council meeting Monday evening, the police chief said one of the city’s resident died in the shooting rampage. In the following hours, however, the Evanston Police Department tweeted “the victim’s condition has not changed, and she is currently critical…

           — Hat tip: Dean [Return to headlines]
 

Canadian Proud Boys in ‘Panic’ As Platforms Go Offline and Government Talks of Terror Listing

The bulk of the online platforms used by the Canadian branches of the Proud Boys were gone on Monday, as the group faced mounting pressure in the wake of last week’s violence in the U.S. capital.

The Proud Boys Canada page, as well as those of the Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and three other regional chapters, were all on the social media platform Parler, which went offline.

The Edmonton Proud Boys website, which is used for recruitment, also went down over the weekend but then resurfaced Monday afternoon.

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

Montreal Police Hand Out Nearly 200 Tickets for Illegal Outings in the First Weekend Under Curfew

MONTREAL — Over the first weekend under curfew, police officers across Quebec handed out 750 tickets worth thousands of dollars in fines to people caught out after 8 p.m.

In Montreal, the police department said they delivered 185 tickets for at least $1,000 each.

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

Three Fined $880 Each for Gathering at Lindsay Home During COVID-19 Lockdown

LINDSAY — Three people are facing $880 fines after being charged under the Reopening Ontario Act with not abiding by COVID-19 lockdown safety regulations by having an illegal gathering.

City of Kawartha Lakes Police were called to a home in Lindsay at 1:17 p.m. Sunday and found several people who did not live at the home were at the home, contrary to the stay-at-home rules.

Three people were issued provincial offence tickets with a set fine of $880, police said.

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

Animal Group Appeals to Pope Over Vatican Pet Ban

‘Sure’ Francis’ sensitivity will spell end of anachronistic norm

(ANSA) — VATICAN CITY, JAN 7 — Italian animal protection group ENPA on Thursday appealed to Pope Francis to lift a ban on cats and dogs as pets on Vatican property.

The pet ban stems from current condominium rules.

ENPA chief Carla Rocchi wrote to the pope to “bring to the attention of His Holiness this problem that provokes the forced separation from loved ones, above all in this sad time of pandemic”.

She said that she was sure the pope’s “sensitivity” and his taking St Francis of Assisi’s name would spell the end of this “anachronistic” norm.

           — Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]
 

Defying Project Fear Claims, Nissan Welcomes Brexit Deal, Doubles Down on UK Plant

The UK’s managing director of Nissan, Andrew Humberstone, has said that he is “satisfied” with the UK-EU trade deal agreed last month, and doubled down on the Japanese company’s commitment to building cars in Britain, even despite the lockdown.

Mr Humberstone said that the bilateral free trade agreement “finally gives us some certainty and enables us to plan for the future success of our collective operations across the region”.

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

Denmark Introducing COVID ‘Vaccine Passport’

Denmark is the latest country to announce that it is rolling out a ‘Covid passport’, to allow those who have taken the vaccine to engage in society without any restrictions.

Reuters notes that the immunity passport is being developed by the Danish government.

“It is expected that there may be requirements from other countries to present vaccine documentation upon entry. A Danish vaccine passport can be used here,” the Danish Health Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

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

French Government “Shocked” at Twitter Banning of Trump

The French government has echoed Angela Merkel’s sentiment in saying it is “shocked” at Twitter’s banning of President Trump, asserting that Big Tech is a threat to democracy.

Junior Minister for European Union Affairs Clement Beaune said the decision to silence Trump proved the need for Big Tech platforms to be tightly regulated.

“This should be decided by citizens, not by a CEO,” he told Bloomberg TV on Monday. “There needs to be public regulation of big online platforms.”

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire also said that “the digital oligarchy” was “one of the threats” to democracy and should be reigned in by the state.

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

Hungary Attracted €4.65 Billion in Foreign Investments Last Year

Last year, the Hungarian state investment incentive system managed an unprecedented 1,433 investments totaling 1,676 billion forints (€4.65 billion) to Hungary during the pandemic, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjartó said on Sunday in an interview on national station Kossuth Radió.

Szijjartó added that before investing, companies consider aspects such as labor, political stability, financial factors, and the logistics and infrastructure issue.

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

Merkel Says Big Tech Shouldn’t Have Power to Decide Who Has Free Speech

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticized Twitter for banning President Trump, saying that social media networks shouldn’t have the power to decide who is allowed to exercise free speech.

Twitter banned Trump on Friday night after blaming him for inciting the storming of Capitol Hill by some of his supporters, despite Trump himself calling on those responsible to “go home.”

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

‘Operation Bleach’: Boris Johnson Orders the Removal of Any References to the EU in British Laws

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has quietly embarked on a campaign to remove any reference to the European Union throughout tens of thousands of Britain’s laws, in what is being described in Whitehall as “Operation Bleach”.

In an attempt to cement the effect of Brexit into the laws of the land, civil servants have been ordered to scan through regulations and statutory instruments (SIs) spanning the four decades in which the UK was a member state of the EU.

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

Poll: Plurality of Britons Think Boris Should Resign, Labour Leads Tories

More people think Boris Johnson should resign than think he should stay in post and Labour has a narrow lead over the Tories, according to polling.

Polling by Opinium of 2,003 people online from January 6th to January 7th for the left-wing Observer — sister paper to the Guardian — found 43 per cent of respondents think Prime Minister Johnson should step down — not an outright majority but more than the 40 per cent who believe he should stay in post.

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

Rule of Law Conflict Points Toward Transformation of EU Into European Superstate, Says Polish Political Author

In the interview for portal Dorzeczy.pl, Rafal Ziemkiewicz commented on the recent attempts to realize the goal of transforming the European Union into a European state, which he warned could end with the European Union’s dissolution.

Ziemkiewicz said he believes that the conflict over Brussels tying EU funds to rule of law is the most serious manifestation of this new push.

“I see it as an external expression of something truly dangerous — an attempt to transform the EU from an international organization into a European state. The creators of this project, the socialists with Martin Schulz at their head, have spoken of this for years,” he said.

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

Sweden: Trio of Middle Eastern Men Beat Victim Unconscious as He Protected His Girlfriend

Three Middle Eastern men have been convicted by a Swedish court for beating a man unconscious after he attempted to protect his girlfriend and her friend from their sexual harassment, according to local media.

The attack took place outside an arena in Helsingborg on August of 2019 as the victim, a prominent 26-year-old soccer player, was leaving the premises with a friend and their girlfriends.

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

Swedish Government Gets Mandate to Enforce Coronavirus Measure

After almost a year of doing very little to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag) approved on Friday the country’s pandemic law, giving wide latitude to the government which almost immediately announced further restrictions.

The law — approved by all but one of the parliamentary parties — gives the cabinet extraordinary authority to make regulations to curb the coronavirus epidemic. In the debate over the law, the opposition has only asked for compensation to be included for businesses, while at the same time allowing the government to have virtually full power over epidemic issues.

For the first time in almost a year, breaches of restrictions will be punishable by fines, even for individuals, stores and other public businesses can be closed if the epidemic situation so requires or if they breach the restrictive measures.

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

Swedish Court Jails Two for Attempted Hammer Murder of Blogger Critic of Muslim Leader

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A Swedish court on Monday sentenced a man and a woman to 10 years and eight years in prison respectively for attempted murder and accessory to attempted murder in a February hammer attack on a blogger and critic of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

The pair, who were not named by the Gavle District Court, assaulted Tumso Abdurachmanov on Feb. 26 in his home in Gavle, 170 kilometers (106 miles miles) north of Stockholm.

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

There is No Miracle Vaccine, Says Former Czech President Klaus at Protest Against COVID-19 Measures

On Sunday, people, including former Czech President Vaclav Klaus, met at Prague’s Old Town Square to protest against coronavirus measures introduced by the government. Police estimated that there were about 2,500 to 3,000 people. Many of them did not wear face masks, nor did they comply with the physical distancing rules. However, police stated that the rally was peaceful.

The demonstration called Open Czechia was convened by the initiative that strives for the opening of restaurants. The crowd chanted that the government should resign. Participants of the protest held Czech flags and banners with slogans “Stop the COVID tyranny. Let’s stop totalitarianism in the name of COVID!”, “We are not sheep”, “Back to school on Monday!” and “Stop the Coronaterror”.

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

UK Divorces Expected to Surge in Post-COVID 2021

Divorces in the U.K. are expected to surge heading into 2021 as Covid lockdowns continue to force couples to actually stay at home and be in each others’ presences — something they apparently didn’t know they were signing up for when they got married to begin with.

A slight dropoff in divorces in 2020 across the pond belies a “wave of stored-up cases” to come in 2021, according to the Telegraph. Many couple who otherwise would have split in 2020 have stayed together due to “the threat of a jobs crisis and forecast house price crash”, the report notes. As things go back to “normal”, in 2021, many of those who had put off splitting may wind up going their separate ways.

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

UK Government May Only Let People Out Once a Week

The British government has reportedly discussed upping COVID restrictions even further by only allowing people to leave their homes once per week.

Claiming that the National Health service is at breaking point, the government is said to be considering implementing stricter rules, including compulsory mask-wearing outdoors, and banning so called ‘extended bubbles’, where people are allowed to meet one person from another household.

Most chilling, however, is the revelation that cabinet ministers have privately debated preventing people from talking to each other in the street and in supermarkets, and even preventing people from leaving home more than once per week, and introducing curfews.

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

UK Police Boast About Fining Person Eating a Kebab, Alone, In a Car

As the crackdown on lockdown ‘violators’ is being amped up by the authorities in the UK, police were criticised for boasting about fining a person who they witnessed eating a kebab in their car, alone.

Avon and Somerset Police tweeted about the incident which occurred over the weekend at Cheddar Gorge, a place of natural beauty in the South West of the country.

The issue, police say, is that the person drove 20 miles from Bristol to eat the kebab.

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

Turkish ‘Sex Cult’ Leader Who Preached Islamic Sermons While Surrounded by Glamorous Women Dubbed His ‘Kittens’ Is Jailed for 1,000 Years for Child Abuse, Rape and Leading a Criminal Gang

Adnan Oktar was found guilty in Turkey of 10 charges including child sexual abuse, leading a criminal gang, rape, blackmail, fraud, political and military espionage and causing torment.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

India: Police Arrest Over 100 From Illegal Dance Bars

The Delhi Police’s special team, which was formed earlier this month to crack down on illegal dance bars here, has made over 100 arrests till now.

The team was formed after getting numerous complaints regarding illegal dance bars here, a senior officer said.

He added: “We either send a decoy visitor or act on specific information before conducting the raids at illegal bars. We have arrested visitors, staff and performers from such places.”

In January first week, the team conducted raids in Paharganj, Rani Bagh and other places. During the raids, 110 people, including dance performers, were arrested and booked under IPC section 294 (Obscene acts and songs) and relevant provisions of the Epidemic Act for violating social distancing guidelines.

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

South Africa: Sebokeng Churchgoers Arrested for Allegedly Breaking Lockdown Rules, Throwing Chairs at Cops

Pretoria — Gauteng police have arrested three church goers in Sebokeng for contravening Covid-19 lockdown restrictions under the Disaster Management Act.

Police arrested two male church leaders aged 47 and 69 on Sunday and a 62-year-old woman on a similar contravention and an additional charge of public violence, South African Police Service (SAPS) spokeswoman Mathapelo Peters said on Monday.

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Former Italian Admiral Blasts Mass Migration Pull Factor Created by NGO ‘Slave Ships’ Breaking International Law

Retired Italian Rear Admiral Nicola De Felice was the head of Italy’s naval command in Sicily in the years 2015-2018 at the height of the migrant crisis. Among other tasks, he had to coordinate the rescue of 700 migrants from a boat which drowned off Libya’s shore in April 2015. Before that, he was the Italian Defense Attaché in Tunisia from 2007 to 2010. Since having retired from active service in 2018.

Now, De Felice is a senior fellow at the Centro Studi Machiavelli where he has been denouncing European NGOs for cooperating with human traffickers and breaking international law at sea.

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

Three More Migrant Children Are Rescued From the English Channel as Border Force Sends Out Boat to Stop Crossings After 160 Arrived Over Weekend

Three children have been rescued from the English Channel after Border Force sent out a boat to stop crossings following the arrival of 160 migrants on the weekend.

They were among 30 people picked up in French waters, after their boat was spotted by a ferry.

Border Force officers were also active off the UK coast on Monday.

It comes after at least 160 migrants successfully crossed to Kent and Sussex over the weekend.

Calm winds at the coast saw several small boats make it into UK waters across the two days despite the cold weather.

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7 thoughts on “Gates of Vienna News Feed 1/11/2021

  1. Regarding the above story on the arrest of Adnan Oktar, it has come to my attention that resultant to this, there has been the abandonment of multiple, helpless “kittens”. If you are interested in adopting one of these unfortunate creatures, please contact the Barron@GOV/kittens. Think of the loving home you could provide for each and every one.

    (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9134681/Sex-cult-leader-preached-surrounded-glamorous-women-jailed-child-abuse-rape.html)

  2. The Terminal Madness of the Branch Covidians is just getting warmed up.
    The CPUSA won’t stop until they deliver the prize known as North America to their CCP comrades.
    Report to the Sino-American Friendship Center comrade, your freedom has been a lie, we are here to liberate you, we are your friends.
    Forward! The Great Reset Leap Forward.

  3. A reminder of the past. Protesters occupied the WI capitol from Feb 20 to march 3 2011. They walked in through open doors as I recall and the police did not resist or try to remove them for weeks, and by then most left on their own but returned .

    The MSM and Dems are trying to say the WI occupation was way different from the recent DC protest. The way it was handled and reported sure was.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Wisconsin_protests

  4. “Western civilisation is commiting a long drawn out self destruction. What comes after it will be worse. Sometimes I grieve and despair, other times I think let’s just sit back and laugh at the show.”

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