The “Ensemble” coalition — which includes the party of French President Emmanuel Macron — lost its absolute majority in today’s legislative elections in France. The biggest winners were the parties that comprise the left-wing coalition, but the right-wing group — which includes Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and Éric Zemmour’s Reconquest — also did well in the vote.
In other news, an official Swedish government report determined that the death of the artist Lars Vilks — who gained international attention for his depiction of “The Prophet as a Roundabout Dog” — was an accident.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, DV, JAS, LP, MM, Reader from Chicago, Roger, 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.
A Perfect Storm in Banking is Brewing
Now that interest rates are rising with much further to go, the global banking system faces a crisis on a scale like no other in history. Central banks loaded with financial securities acquired through QE face growing losses, and their balance sheet liabilities are now significantly greater than their assets — a condition which in the private sector is termed bankruptcy. They will need to be recapitalized urgently to retain credibility…
Bank credit is contracting into a perfect storm.
Jamie Dimon’s recent warning that his bank (JPMorgan Chase) faces hurricane conditions confirms the timing. Central banks, bankrupt in all but name, will be tasked with rescuing entire commercial banking networks, bankrupted by a collapse in bank credit…
In the days of metallic coin standards, the central bank stood ready to redeem its notes for specie to members of the public on demand; specie being gold or silver coin and no one’s liability. Hence the words on a Bank of England ten-pound note, “I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of ten pounds”, signed by the Chief Cashier. Though with every new issue of banknotes, the promise’s script gets smaller and smaller.
| — Hat tip: JAS | [Return to headlines] |
At $10 a Gallon, Norway’s Motorists Feel the Fuel Pinch
(Bloomberg) — While US drivers despair over gasoline topping $5 a gallon, spare a thought for motorists in oil-rich Norway, where prices sit at $10.
Gas stations in Oslo were selling the unleaded fuel for about 27 kroner a liter, or about $10.30 a gallon, on Friday. That makes it the most expensive European country to fill up and second only to Hong Kong globally. Almost half of the pump cost in the Nordic nation is made up of road, carbon and sales taxes, according to the Norwegian Automobile Federation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czechia Records Largest Drop in Real Wages in Nearly Three Decades
Plus: ANO polling ahead of ODS, Imagine Dragons salute Ukraine in Prague, Constitutional Court rejects Charles Bridge graffiti case appeal.
In the first quarter of 2022, the average gross monthly full-time wage in Czechia reached CZK 37,929, according to the Czech Statistical Office (CSÚ). This was an increase of 7.2 percent year on year, but due to consumer prices rising by 11.2 percent, wages fell in real terms by 3.6 percent. Wages rose the most in the financial and insurance sector, up 15.9 percent, real estate activities, up 13.9 percent, and accommodation and food service, up 11.2 percent. Prague has the highest average wage in Czechia, at CZK 48,498. Lukas Kovanda, chief economist at Trinity Bank, in mid-May said that Czechia was experiencing its largest decline in living standards since the start of the country in 1993 due to the gap between wage increases and inflation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Economy in Poor State Think Most Poles
The majority of Poles believe the country’s economy is in poor health, according to the results of a new survey published on Friday.
The Kantar poll found that in early June, 69 percent of respondents said that the economy was in crisis while only 23 percent voiced the opposite opinion, and 8 percent were undecided.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Powell: “Rapid changes are taking place in the global monetary system that may affect the international role of the dollar.”
A US central bank digital currency is being examined to “help the US dollar’s international standing.”
| — Hat tip: JAS | [Return to headlines] |
Inflation in Norway Highest Since 1998
New figures show a stark cost of living rise over the last 12 months in Norway. Here’s the facts and figures behind the startling news.
Norwegian government agency Statistics Norway (SSB) has announced inflation in Norway has hit its highest level since 1998.
What this essentially means is that the cost of living in Norway has risen. Specifically, the consumer price index (CPI) rose 5.7% from May 2021 to May 2022. This is the highest 12-month growth measured by SSB since December 1988.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Leveraged $10 Billion Crypto Hedge Fund Misses Payments
The co-founders of an influential multi-billion-dollar crypto hedge fund have suddenly gone MIA right at the moment that people want their money…
The platforms had no choice but to liquidate their positions, causing the markets to further dump…
The question is whether 3AC is a canary in the coal mine for crypto hedge funds, or just an overzealous fund that took too many risks. Mike Novogratz, the founder of Galaxy Digital Holdings, for one, has said he expects two-thirds of crypto hedge funds to soon fail.
| — Hat tip: JAS | [Return to headlines] |
Massive Inflation, Bank Troubles Predicted as US Sanctions vs Russia Backfire
UST [U.S. Treasury] international holders have been net sellers since 2020, but really late 2021, and the bond markets crashed… The biggest Fed headache is that they need to raise rates while not collapsing the bond markets [further].
BUT, if international bond holders keep selling and bonds keep crashing, the US dollar is completely screwed.
Banks are over-leveraged from QE.
While Fed rate hikes affect lending prices, commercial banks get the cash for mortgages from US bond markets (and not only in the US, Canadian banks do as well).
They also never fixed the real cause of 2008 which is adjustable mortgages, so we are in the same exact situation.
Now the Fed did a massive bailout of corporate America in 2020 via the corporate bond markets (that after a Q4 2019 bailout of the banks via the repo markets), essentially causing a 20% devaluation of the USD in 6 months with 5 trillion+ in new debt created…
The Fed thought they could use the petrodollar system to export the inflation, but… [thanks in large part to incompetent and corrupt U.S. politicians who sanctioned Russia] everyone started bailing out on the USD outside the West.
| — Hat tip: JAS | [Return to headlines] |
Poland: May Core Inflation Rate at 8.5 Pct — Central Bank
Poland’s core inflation, excluding the prices of food and energy, measured 8.5 percent year on year in May 2022, up from 7.7 percent in April, the National Bank of Poland (NBP) said on Friday.
Core inflation, excluding fixed prices, amounted to 14.0 percent year on year in May, up from 12.2 percent in the previous month.
Core inflation, excluding the most volatile priced items, measured 10.4 percent year on year in May, against the 9.3 percent level a month earlier.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Precious Metals Expert Who Predicted Current Meltdown Thinks it Will Get Much Worse
Precious metals expert and financial writer Bill Holter said in early April that he thought we did not have much time until the financial meltdown started. He gave it 60 days. Two months later, the meltdown started in earnest right on time.
The world is at debt levels never seen before, and Holter contends rising interest rates are the key driver here and now. Holter explains, “… Mortgage rates started the year just over 3%. In the fourth quarter of last year, we had mortgage rates as low as 2.75%. What that tells you is if you qualified for a $1 million mortgage at the end of last year, you only qualify for a $500,000 mortgage now.”
| — Hat tip: JAS | [Return to headlines] |
We Are in a Global Liquidation Mode
Bulls, it turns out that in 2022 you were fed a big load of bull shit.
What was supposed to be an imminent Fed bailout turned out to be record tightening in a recessionary bear market…
Reminder: The Fed will only admit to a recession once we’re already deep in it…
More than 90% of stocks in the S&P 500 declined today. It’s the 5th time in the past 7 days.
Since 1928, there have been exactly 0 precedents. This is the most overwhelming display of selling in history…
Christine Lagarde, ECB President, earlier sounded the alarm that the European economic community could be heading back to dark economic days, with the bank warning of “resurgent fragmentation risks” in a statement. Following the emergency meeting on Wednesday, the ECB pledged fresh measures to limit sell-offs in the bond market.
| — Hat tip: JAS | [Return to headlines] |
2 Men Charged in Home Explosion That Killed 4
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV) — Two men are facing charges in connection to a fatal home explosion involving fireworks.
Authorities said Terrell Cooks, 37, and Seneca Mahan, 43, manufactured fireworks in the garage at a home in the 6600 block of Parker Road in north St. Louis County.
KMOV reported the garage exploded early Friday morning.
Four people died as a result of the explosion. Authorities identified them as William Jones, 21, Demario Cooks, Christopher Jones, 17, and Travell Easton, 16.
A 12-year-old who lived in the home suffered minor injuries.
Cooks and Mahan were arrested and charged with second-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to authorities.
Police said both suspects admitted to manufacturing fireworks that were more explosive than the state law permitted. They also admitted the victims would help them in manufacturing the fireworks…
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
When you see you see
A lot are talking about the new 2022 Quarter.
Washington now has his back turned to “In God We Trust”.
[It also looks like he is now frowning, and instead of the colonial British hair style, he now sports more of a traditional Native American hairdo.]
| — Hat tip: JAS | [Return to headlines] |
CIVIQS Poll: Biden Approval Lowest of Presidency — 32% Overall
President Joe Biden’s approval rating is down to the lowest in his presidency, at only 32 percent approval and 57 percent disapproval, according to the CIVIQS rolling job-approval average as of Saturday.
While 11 percent of survey participants did not approve or disapprove, Biden’s approval rating is underwater in 48 states, including the typically dark blue California and his home state of Delaware. The only two states in which he is above water are Hawaii and Vermont.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Journalism Professor Suggests Young Reporters Fabricate Stories Because of Racism, High Standards
In a long Twitter thread on Thursday, a Marquette University assistant professor of journalism suggested young reporters may fabricate stories because newspaper journalism standards are too high and because minority reporters might feel racism on the job.
“In my few years as a journalism educator, I’ve found that the younglings engage in unethical practices (ie, fabricating quotes, etc.) mostly out of desperation mixed with inexperience,” wrote Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares, who describers herself as a “Critical/Cultural and Feminist Media scholar” in her Twitter biography.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
NBC Finds Golf More Interesting Than the Jan. 6 Hearings
Lester Holt on Thursday announced that NBC would cut away from the Jan. 6 hearings and instead cover the U.S. Open.
“We’re going to have to end our coverage of this Jan. 6 hearing on the NBC network. My colleagues and I will continue our coverage on the hearings on our streaming platform,” Holt said. “U.S. Open golf begins momentarily.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Noah Settles Wanted in Tysons Corner Center Mall Shooting, Fairfax Co. Police Say
TYSONS, Va. (7News) — Fairfax County Police are looking for Noah Settles, who is wanted in a shots fired incident at Tysons Corner Center Saturday.
According to police, Settles got into a dispute with another group, displayed a firearm and fired multiple rounds.
He fled in a black Cadillac with DC tags — GK0174.
Police say he’s considered armed and dangerous.
Call 703-691-2131 or 911, if you see him.
Tysons Corner Center mall was closed for much of the day on Saturday, after Fairfax County police say shots were fired during a fight inside the mall at about 2:45 p.m.
The shooting set off a chaotic scene, with some shoppers running for the mall exits and others sheltering in place inside stores that were quickly locked down by mall employees…
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
Police Identify Elderly Man Killed in Vet Clinic Break-in
SAN DIEGO — Authorities have identified the 88-year-old man who was killed by an intruder at a San Diego veterinary clinic this week.
Clark Kelly, a San Diego resident, was found suffering from a head wound inside the clinic on El Cajon Boulevard near 70th Street, just east of the College Area, the San Diego Police Department said in an updated news release.
That’s when they found Kelly, who was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead a short time later, police said.
While the exact circumstances remained under investigation this weekend, detectives believe the 88-year-old somehow interrupted a burglary inside the clinic, leading to a fight with the intruder. Officials did not say whether they had determined the murder weapon, saying only that during the fight, Kelly “sustained injuries, including the head wound.”
Police identified the man they arrested at the scene as 37-year-old San Diego resident Patrick O’Brien. He was booked into jail and is formally suspected of Kelly’s murder, authorities said. They made no mention of burglary charges…
| — Hat tip: MM | [Return to headlines] |
Police: Shooter Fired in Self-Defense After Violent Assault at Grocery Store
DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines police say a violent assault led to a shooting inside a Hy-Vee grocery store in Des Moines on Sunday morning.
Police say the shots rang out around 10 a.m. inside the store at East 26th Street and East Euclid Avenue.
Police say Kapri Lashawn Francis, 30, of Des Moines, violently assaulted a woman without provocation. The woman who was assaulted, who lawfully possessed a handgun, fired once in self defense. She shot Francis in the leg.
Another male customer was shot in the foot by the bullet when it ricocheted.
Police want to emphasize that the shooting was not an active shooter situation. It was a targeted incident that took place in a public space.
“This was something spontaneous that unfortunately happened in that grocery store where a lot of people were grocery shopping this morning,” said Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department…
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
Hawaii teacher Alden Bunag was arrested for having sex with a 13-year-old former student and sharing the pictures and video with a Pennsylvania teacher, according to federal prosecutors.
Bunag’s first court appearance was on Thursday, and he will remain in custody until his next hearing, according to local Honolulu news.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ron DeSantis Campaign Introduces ‘Students First, Protecting Parents’ Rights’ Education Blueprint
Ron DeSantis’ reelection campaign introduced a “Students First, Protecting Parents’ Rights” education blueprint this week to assist school board members and leaders advance the administration’s freedom-first policies at the local level.
The entire initiative is “focused on setting Florida’s children up for success, ensuring parental rights in education, and combatting woke agendas from infiltrating public schools,” according to the press release. The campaign listed ten central tenets on the agenda, which include:
| 1. | Keep Schools Open and Reject Lockdowns | |
| 2. | Educate, Don’t Indoctrinate | |
| 3. | Ensure Parental Rights in Education and Keep Woke Gender Ideology Out of Schools | |
| 4. | Support Robust Civics Education | |
| 5. | Expand Workforce Development and Technical Education | |
| 6. | Reject the use of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the Curriculum | |
| 7. | Increase Teacher Pay | |
| 8. | Continue Support for School Security and Mental Health Initiatives | |
| 9. | Protect the Right of Parents to Petition School Boards and Districts for Redress of Grievances | |
| 10. | Guarantee the Right of Parents to Curriculum Transparency |
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
University Pays $30k in Free Speech Lawsuit
The University of Houston settled a lawsuit brought by the non-profit organization Speech First that accused the school’s harassment policy of having “unconstitutionally chilled student speech” due to its “overbroad” interpretation.
“This is a huge win for the First Amendment,” said Speech First Executive Director Cherise Trump in a press release. “It sends a message a message to the University of Houston and other universities that they will be held accountable if they enact unconstitutional policies on campus.”
Per the settlement, UH will pay $30,000 to Speech First in fees. The amount equates to three years worth of tuition at the public institution.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Uvalde Police Never Tried to Open Door to Classroom Where Children Were Being Massacred: Texas Paper
Over the weekend, it was revealed that Uvalde police officers didn’t attempt to open the door to the two classrooms where children were trapped during a May 24 shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
WA Gov. Predicts Summer Full of ‘Blackouts, Destruction, And Death’
Governor Jay Inslee (D-Washington) sent an eerie letter to his supporters on Monday predicting that they are in for a summer of “blackouts, destruction, and death” over the alleged climate crisis.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Commission Supports Ukraine & Moldova as EU Members
The European Commission has expressed its support for Ukraine and Moldova’s European aspirations, declaring that both countries should be candidates for EU Membership, which will be decided in the next European Council on June 23 and 24.
The application assessment by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia is based on three main criteria; political, economic and EU Acquis, which is the ability of the country to assume the obligation of EU Membership, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Finland Urges NATO to Unblock Accession
Berlin, Jun 19 (EFE).— Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin on Sunday called for Turkey to stop blocking Finland and Sweden’s accession to Nato.
In a radio interview, Marin said the move was up to Ankara and that there was not much the Nordic countries can do if it wants to “hold Sweden and Finland hostage.”
“I hope that a solution is found and that the situation does not freeze,” she said, adding that she believed most of the defense alliance member states expect the issue to be resolved before the Nato summit in Madrid at the end of June.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Lyon, France. May 17, 2022. A district called La Duchère. René Hadjadj, an 89-year-old Jew, was thrown off a 17th floor balcony — an act quickly revealed as a murder. The murderer was Rachid Kheniche, a 51-year-old Muslim Arab, with a Twitter account containing many antisemitic messages. The public prosecutor, who has since partially reconsidered his position, immediately declared that the murder was not an antisemitic crime. The mainstream media never reported the murder; only local Jewish newspapers did. Hadjadj’s family, who live in the same neighborhood, said they preferred to remain silent.
Journalists have analyzed the situation of Jews in districts such as La Duchère. The responses from the families with whom they meet are always the same: constant Muslim harassment and threats. The families add that the situation of Christians and non-Muslims is pretty much the same: non-Muslims who have the means to leave, flee to safer districts. Those who remain are those who could not afford a move. Jews in particular are at risk. One journalist, Noémie Halioua, recently published a book on the subject, Les uns contre les autres, (“Against Each Other”).
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France’s Nuclear Power Industry is Struggling Just When Europe Needs it the Most
The EU has been trying to end its reliance on Russian energy as quickly as possible. As Ed noted last month, the clamp down on Russian oil imports had a lot of loopholes. Cutting off the supply of Russian gas wasn’t really an option for Germany but earlier this week Russia’s Gazprom announced it would be cutting supplies by 60%, allegedly because of needed repairs.
While all of this is going on, France would seem to be in a good position because about 70% of its electricity is generated by nuclear power. In theory, France could continue to export power to other European countries to help make up for some of what was lost because of all the sanctions against Russia. Unfortunately, that’s not how it’s working out. At the moment Europe needs it most, France’s nuclear industry has been hit with a string of problems.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
French Election: Macron Loses Absolute Majority in Parliament in ‘Democratic Shock’
PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) — French President Emmanuel Macron lost control of the National Assembly in legislative elections on Sunday, a major setback that could throw the country into political paralysis unless he is able to negotiate alliances with other parties.
Macron’s centrist Ensemble coalition, which wants to raise the retirement age and further deepen EU integration, was on course to end up with the most seats in Sunday’s election.
But they will be well short of the absolute majority needed to control parliament, near-final results showed.
A broad left-wing alliance was set to be the biggest opposition group, while the far-right scored record-high wins and the conservatives were likely to become kingmakers.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ireland: Lockdown Forever! Health Minister May Reintroduce Forced Mask-Wearing
Ireland’s pro-lockdown health minister has said that he may reintroduce forced mask-wearing lockdown measures ostensibly to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Stephen Donnelly, Ireland’s pro-lockdown Minister for Health, has said that he may reintroduce forced mask-wearing ostensibly to curb the spread of the Chinese coronavirus, telling the public to “never say never” in regards to the restrictions.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Russian Warship Violated Danish Territorial Waters in Baltic Sea — Denmark
A Russian warship early on Friday twice violated Danish territorial waters north of the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm where a democracy festival attended by senior lawmakers and business people was taking place, the Danish Armed Forces said.
Denmark called the action an unacceptable provocation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Spain’s Conservatives Strike Huge Win in Southern Andalusia
BARCELONA, Spain — Spain’s traditional conservatives scored a huge win in southern Andalusia on Sunday, claiming an absolute majority in the legislature that will save it from needing the support of the far-right to govern the nation’s most populous region.
With 99% of the votes counted, the Popular Party headed by Juanma Moreno will keep his regional presidency of Andalusia’s government by securing 58 seats in the regional parliament, three more than the 55 needed for the absolute majority. That was up from just 26 seats won in 2018 when Moreno came to power via a coalition that ended over three-decades of Socialist rule.
The commanding victory will ensure that Moreno does not have to rely on the far-right Vox party, which had said it would support Moreno if it were given a share of the government.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Spanish government has used military aircraft to spray the population with potentially dangerous biocides during the “pandemic” — allegedly for disinfection purposes.
Since the beginning of June 2022, the news has been circulating in various blogs and social media that the Spanish government had the population sprayed with biocides during the “pandemic” , allegedly for disinfection. The Spanish government conducted a scandalous “military chemtrail program”.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sweden Saved Children From Lockdown
It’s been more than two years since the world went into lockdown and schools, like most institutions, closed their doors. But the most devastating consequences of this policy are only just coming to light. Thousands of disadvantaged children have fallen behind.
It didn’t have to be this way. One country did it differently.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sweden: No Foul Play in Death of Cartoonist Lars Vilks, Officials Say
Art historian and cartoonist Lars Vilks died in a police car crash last year. He had faced threats over controversial drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, prompting suspicions he was killed in a terror attack.
A police car crash that resulted in the death of cartoonist Lars Vilks and two others last year was an accident, Swedish authorities confirmed Wednesday.
What did the Swedish government say?
The Swedish government determined the crash in October in Markaryd was a “tragic accident” and authorities ended the probe into the event following “extensive analysis, with technical investigations on the spot and the questioning of witnesses.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Swedish Police Feared They Were Going to Die During Easter Qur’an Riots
Swedish police officers offering testimony during a trial for those who participated in the Easter riots claimed they feared for their lives from the violent mob who reacted to the burning of the Islamic Qur’an by anti-Islam activists.
The police officers spoke in court about their experiences during the riots in the city of Örebro over Easter weekend, which saw 71 of the 135 police officers deployed during the rioting being injured as a result of the violence.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Summer of Cultural Enrichment
5 years ago, this would have been a top international news story.
Now it’s become so common, it passes virtually unnoticed.
We need to talk about what happened in Italy.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK Army Commander Tells Troops to Prepare for a Land War in Europe
The incoming commander of the British Army has reportedly told his troops to prepare to fight a land war in Europe, citing Russia as a significant threat to peace on the continent.
General Sir Patrick Sanders, the British Army’s newly appointed overall commander, is said to have told his troops to prepare for potential deployment in Europe in order to counter the threat of Russia.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: ‘Stalin, Che Guevara, Ho Chi Minh’: Antifa Marches in London Praising Their Heroes
Thousands of left-wing protesters gathered in London on Saturday to march against the rising costs of living, and among those in attendance included members of Antifa who chanted the names of communist leaders and dictators that they idolize.
Members of the radical group paid homage to notable communist leaders including Joseph Stalin, Che Guevara, and Ho Chi Minh, all of which whose policies have killed millions of people.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ukraine Latest: Russia Reports Missile Strikes; Harvest Warning
Russia said it hit military targets in Ukraine with sea-launched cruise missiles, including a strike on a planning meeting of Ukrainian commanders.
Ukraine warned its grain harvest may shrink by more than 40% this year because of Russia’s invasion. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine “will do everything possible” to ease a global food crisis as long as it can get security for vessels to enter its ports. Amid international efforts to reach a deal, harvests are getting under way with silos still loaded with last year’s crops.
The war “could last for years,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Germany’s Bild am Sonntag, saying the military alliance “must not let up on supporting” Kyiv. The new head of the British Army said his troops must be ready to “fight in Europe once again,” the Sun newspaper reported.
[Comment: The article is regular length.]
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Nigeria: Imo Prison Escapee Stabs Pregnant Woman to Death
The police officers from Iheagwa Division, Imo State, have arrested an Imo prison escapee identified as Justice Anokam, for allegedly stabbing a pregnant woman to death with a dagger at Umuejechi Nekede autonomous community in Owerri West Local Government. DAILY POST gathered that the unidentified victim was a tenant in the area but an indigene Imo prison escapee stabs pregnant woman to death…
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
Former EU Border Force Chief Claims Some Trying to Turn Agency Into ‘Humanitarian’ Group
Fabrice Leggeri, the former head of the European Union border agency Frontex, has claimed that some want the agency to behave as a humanitarian group, rather than act in their mandate as a policing force on the EU border.
Leggeri, who resigned as the head of Frontex over an investigation by the Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) into alleged migrant pushbacks, spoke earlier this week to the French Senate, claiming that the agency had investigated allegations of pushbacks and that Frontex had found no evidence its agents were involved in violations of fundamental rights.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Frontex: 5.7 Million Ukrainian Refugees Have Fled to EU Countries Since the War Started
More than 5.7 million Ukrainian refugees have fled to European Union countries since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
At the same time, according to a statement issued today by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), about 2.8 million Ukrainians have left the EU for their country during the same period, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poland Accepts 4.17 Mln Refugees Since War in Ukraine Started
Since February 24, when Russia invaded Ukraine, 4.17 million people have crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border into Poland, the Border Guard (SG) tweeted on Sunday morning.
According to the SG, on Saturday, Border Guard officers carried out around 26,000 border checks on people entering Poland from Ukraine, and by 7:00 a.m. on Sunday the number of arrivals had reached around 7,000 people.
The Border Guard also said that on Saturday 24,700 people had left Poland for Ukraine.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Bishop Revokes School’s Catholic Status After They Refuse to Stop Flying BLM and LGBTQ+ Flags
A Massachusetts bishop revoked a middle school’s Catholic affiliation on Thursday after they refused to take down their Black Lives Matters and LGBTQ+ pride flags.
As Fox News reports, The Nativity School of Worcester began flying the two flags in January of 2021, with Worcester Bishop Robert J. McManus requesting that the school to take them down in March of 2022.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
California School District Doubles Down on Gender Identity Indoctrination After Parents’ Complaint
A California family in the Conejo Valley Unified School District was horrified to learn that their daughter had been exposed to harmful gender ideology in her third grade classroom, against their wishes and without their being notified. They only found out about it when the little girl came home and told her parents that a little boy in her class had been reintroduced to the students with a new, girl’s name. The teacher had read the class a book about a “trans child” to help explain things.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Fairfax Schools Pass Plan to Punish Students for ‘Malicious Misgendering’
Virginia’s Fairfax County School Board amended its student code of conduct to give schools more power to punish students who “misgender” or “deadname” students who identify as transgender.
Students who violate the new policy could be punished with suspension and referrals to local law enforcement.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
FIFA Plans to Drop Testosterone Measurement for Biological Men Who Self Identify as Women in Soccer
The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has drafted framework that will make it easier for biological men who identify as women to compete in women’s football. FIFA is the world’s largest football association and organizes the World Cup every four years.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The radical pro-abortion group, Jane’s Revenge, is planning more acts of domestic terrorism when the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade is revealed, dubbed a “Night of Rage: An Autonomous Call to Action Against Patriarchal Supremacy.”
The group posted its plans on the Anarchists Library website at the end of May in expectation of the ruling, expected sometime in June.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Lia Thomas Banned as FINA Votes to Restrict Transgender Women From Competitions
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — World swimming’s governing body has effectively banned transgender women from competing in women’s events, starting Monday.
FINA members widely adopted a new “gender inclusion policy” on Sunday that only permits swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s events. The organization also proposed an “open competition category.”
“This is not saying that people are encouraged to transition by the age of 12. It’s what the scientists are saying, that if you transition after the start of puberty, you have an advantage, which is unfair,” James Pearce, who is the spokesperson for FINA president Husain Al-Musallam, told The Associated Press.
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Nolte: Disney’s Big, Gay ‘Lightyear’ Is the Latest Woke Box Office Flop
Lightyear, the latest piece of child grooming media from the predators at the Walt Disney Co., is looking like a box office catastrophe, which is only a surprise to those who don’t live in the real world.
Gee, what do you think will happen when you add some high-profile homosexuality to a kiddie movie?
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UK: Man Turned Away From Giving Blood After He Refused to Say if He Was Pregnant
A 66-year-old man from the United kingdom, a lifelong blood donor, was turned from donating in June because he refused to state on his pre-donation form whether he was pregnant or not.
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‘Zie/Zim/Sir: ‘ Michigan State U. Application Offers 13 Sets of Pronouns and ‘Other’
A question on the application for Michigan State University’s Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior program asks prospective students what their “preferred pronouns” are, offering 13 options to select from. The application also includes the category “Other” for students whose pronouns are too cutting-edge for the university to recognize.
The Twitter account Libs of TikTok shared a purported screenshot of the program application on Thursday.
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“Czechia Records Largest Drop in Real Wages in Nearly Three Decades”
I don’t know the future, and I may be wrong, but at the moment I think that this is a setup to make blackouts in Germany happen this winter.
– The Czech Republic makes twice as much electricity that it needs, sells it to German “energy stock market”, and average Czechs then buy that same electricity for 10x the price it’s beeing sold from the Czech Republic to Germany
– Czechs are some 90% dependent on heating by Russian gas, which The Czech Republic buys from German Stock Market at 3 times the price German consumer pays for that same gas
– Czechs are simply made to pay for energy 3-4 times as much than the Germans, on a quarter average wage.
Now if this goes on like this, and the winter comes and the Czechs get cut off from Russian gas for heating, the natural thing to do would be to “disconnect Germany” from the Czech power grid -> blackouts in Germany.
This is the scenario that I think could be in the making. The way the Ukrainian Goverment of the Protektorat treats the Czechs these days is simply outrageous, too much “in your face”, very much like President Brandon in the USA…
Well, I can categorically state that when I was a blood donor, I was never, ever pregnant!