Gates of Vienna News Feed 1/1/2023

A 19-year-old man named Trevor Bickford attacked police officers with a machete last night in Times Square during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Police then shot the attacker, and a rookie cop was sent to the hospital along with his assailant. Mr. Bickford was known to the FBI after one of his relatives reported that he had been radicalized by jihad ideology.

In other news, only 690 carbecues took place in France on New Year’s Eve, a reduction of 21% from last year.

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

Thanks to Dean, DV, JW, Reader from Chicago, Roger, Seneca the Elder, SS, Vlad Tepes, 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.

Financial Crisis
» Bleak Brits Believe Cost of Living Crisis Will Worsen in 2023, Poll Reveals
» Canada Posts $174 Million Deficit Over First Seven Months of 2022-23 Fiscal Year
» Canada: Consumers Spent Less on Christmas Gifts This Year, Prefer ‘Second-Hand’ Alternatives With Recession and Tax Hikes Looming
 
USA
» 8-Year-Old North Texas Boy Stabbed to Death by Grandfather, Police Say
» At Least 18 States Have Put Restrictions or Banned TikTok Over National Security Concerns
» Biden Frequently Rages About Trump: ‘F***ing A**hole’
» Biden Signs Countering Human Trafficking Act of 2022
» Booster Shots Increase Risk of Death, Investigation Suggests
» Classmate: Suspect Appeared More Animated After Idaho Students’ Killings
» Elon Musk Teases Fauci Files Will be Released This Week on Twitter
» Fauci Stepping Down as Head of NIAID After 40 Years
» Idaho Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger’s Family Issues Statement After His Arrest: ‘Presumption of Innocence’
» Kathy Hochul Legalizes Human Composting of Dead Bodies in New York
» Looters Take Advantage of ‘Storm of the Century’ In US
» NYC Machete Attacker Expressed Militant Support for Islam, Officials Say
» Officers Follow Blood Trail to East Side Apartment, Find Man Stabbed, SAPD Says
» Philadelphia New Year’s Day Violence Leaves at Least 9 People Shot, Including Teen: Police
» Revealed: Times Square ‘Jihadi’, 19, Was on an FBI ‘Watchlist’ After Being Radicalized and Vowing to Fight in Afghanistan Before Stabbing Rookie NYPD Cop in the Head on New Year’s Eve: ‘Terrorist’S’ Brother is in US Army
» Scalise Reveals First Legislation for Republican House, Vows ‘Bold Agenda’
» This US Lab is Bioengineering Pig Livers to One Day Transplant Them Into Humans Amid Organ Shortage
» Trump Teases 3rd-Party Run Should He Lose 2024 GOP Nomination
» Twitter Sued Over San Francisco Office Rent
 
Canada
» Canadians Donate Less to Charity, Citing COVID-19, Inflation, And Declining Religiosity
» Documentary: Ungovernable: Alberta’s Quest for Independence
» Freedom Convoy’s Tom Marazzo on the Price to Pay for Speaking Out, What His Plans Are Now
» Poilievre Says Trudeau Sentencing Changes “Make Life More Dangerous”
» Police Shootings in Canada Up to 87 in 2022 From 70 in 2021
» Statement Regarding Charge Laid Against John Carpay
» Viva Frei: ‘If Bill C-11 Passes, it Will be Impossible for Rumble to Operate in Canada’
 
Europe and the EU
» Andrew Tate Trolled by Greta, Musk, British Police After Detention in Romania
» Der Spiegel Suggests Non-Liberal Governments Should be “Tamed”
» European Energy Crisis: France Close to Electricity Rationing Over Problems With Local Nuclear Plants
» Extinction Rebellion to Stop Disruptive UK Protests
» France Says 690 Cars Torched on NYE
» Italy Plans an Energy U-Turn, A Comeback to Nuclear Power as Green Energies “Far From Sufficient”
» Most Poles Believe Ukraine War is a Threat to National Security — Poll
» Most Poles Proud of Aiding Ukraine
» Nearly 50 Shops Closed Their Doors Every Day in UK Last Year — Survey
» Poll: Germans No Longer Feel Free
» The Year Trump Was Vindicated on the EU’s Green Agenda
» Top UK Health Official Blames ‘Pandemic’ For Soaring Heart Attacks
» UK: Farage: ‘Time for All Good Men to Desert the Conservative Party’
» UK: Peter Hitchens: Why Do We Stir Up Trouble in Foreign Countries But Can’t Even Run Our Own?
» UK: Westminster Reports Reveal Deliberate Damage Including ‘Sexually Explicit’ Graffiti on Parliament Toilet Door
» You Don’t Have to be a Conspiracy Theorist to be Worried About the World Economic Forum
 
Russia
» Adik the Pitbull Terrier Stolen by Russian Soldiers and Given to Chechen Leader Kadyrov as a Trophy is Finally Returned to Ukrainian Servicewoman in New Year Prisoner Exchange
» NATO Chief Urges Western Allies to ‘Ramp Up’ Arms Production to Support Ukraine as Russia Continues Bomb Attacks
» Ukraine War: Zelenskyy and Putin Both Promise Victory in New Year Speeches
» Zelenskiy and Putin Signal Desire to Break War’s Deadlock in New Year
 
South Asia
» Several Dead, Injured in Blast Outside Military Airport in Kabul: Report
 
Latin America
» Brazil’s Lula Sworn in as President for Third Time
» Colombia Announces Six-Month Ceasefire to Negotiate With Five Armed Groups
» Mexican Authorities Find 4 Human Skulls in Package Bound for US
 
Immigration
» Biden Blamed by Own Ex-Border Chief for Soaring Asylum Cases, Record Immigration Court Backlog
» Border Hunters Take Over the Protection of Hungary’s Southern Border
» French Court: Non-Ukrainians Leaving Ukraine Not Eligible for Refugee Protection
» Hungary: Migrant Smuggler Hits Police Car During Serious Car Chase in Budapest
» Is the UK Turning Into Something Extremely Different?
» UK: More Than 45,700 Migrants Crossed the Channel by Small Boat in Record Breaking 2022 — Including 90 on Christmas Day and 1,295 in One Day Alone
» Ukraine War: Europe Must Brace for 100,000s of Ukrainian Refugees This Winter, Says Jan Egeland
 
Culture Wars
» California ‘Sanctuary State’ Law for ‘Trans Kids’ Takes Effect
» Controversial Trans Influencer Invited to White House by Joe Biden Shows Off Bruised and Scarred Face After Having ‘Feminization Surgery’: Operation Sees Bones Cut Off and Sanded Down
» General Motors Funds Effort to Embed Pro-Transgender Books in Classrooms
» Pro-Trans Organization Pushes Transgender ‘Inclusive’ Math
» UK: Sadiq Khan Politicises London Fireworks With LGBT Propaganda

Bleak Brits Believe Cost of Living Crisis Will Worsen in 2023, Poll Reveals

A deeply pessimistic British electorate expects the cost of living crisis to continue to hamper the country in the calendar year to come with seven in ten Brits having little faith in the ability of Rishi Sunak’s administration to improve their fortunes in 2023, latest polling reveals.

A PeoplePolling survey, commissioned by GB News, revealed as few as 1 percent of respondents were completely confident the government would effectively tackle the cost of living crisis which has seen inflation sky-rocket due to record-high energy prices.

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

Canada Posts $174 Million Deficit Over First Seven Months of 2022-23 Fiscal Year

Canada has posted a budget deficit of $174 million for the first seven months of the 2022/2023 fiscal year, with higher debt charges playing a significant factor in the number, the finance ministry said on Friday

As a point of comparison, during the same April to October period in 2021, Canada posted a $72.25 billion deficit, Reuters reports.

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

Canada: Consumers Spent Less on Christmas Gifts This Year, Prefer ‘Second-Hand’ Alternatives With Recession and Tax Hikes Looming

According to Poshmark’s 2022 Canada Holiday Trend Report, 38% of shoppers said they “intend to purchase a gift second hand” this year.

“Shoppers are poised to make more budget-friendly buying choices this holiday season, with an eye toward the best deals and the lowest prices driven by ongoing concerns about the economy and rising costs,” writes Poshmark.

Almost half (44%) of respondents indicated they would give homemade presents, with most (82%) citing financial constraints this year. Overall, 61% are stressed about the cost of living rising caused by 6.9% inflation.

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

8-Year-Old North Texas Boy Stabbed to Death by Grandfather, Police Say

RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — A North Texas man is accused of killing his 8-year-old grandson on New Year’s Day.

Police said they got a 911 call from someone at a home on Labadie Drive in Richland Hills around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

Responding officers found an 8-year-old boy who had been stabbed to death.

The boy’s grandfather, 62-year-old Phillip Hughes, was located a few blocks away from the home and arrested. That arrest was captured on a neighbor’s doorbell camera.

An edged blade weapon, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered, police said.

Police are still working to determine a motive for the stabbing.

           — Hat tip: DV [Return to headlines]

At Least 18 States Have Put Restrictions or Banned TikTok Over National Security Concerns

Following South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem’s lead, nearly half of U.S. states have put restrictions on or banned the use of Chinese-based social media app TikTok.

At least 19 states have banned TikTok on government-issued devices — Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utha, Virginia and West Virginia.

Other states are considering suing the social media app for its data policies. Indiana was the first to do so this month, alleging TikTok exposes minors to inappropriate content and makes user data accessible to China.

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

Biden Frequently Rages About Trump: ‘F***ing A**hole’

Joe Biden frequently rages about President Donald Trump in front of staffers, a new book has claimed.

According to author Chris Whipple’s new book, “The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Biden’s White House,” the Democrat president often becomes triggered by reminders of Trump in the White House.

The Daily Mail reported that Biden is repeatedly outraged when reminded of Trump and typically unloads with expletive-laden outbursts.

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

Biden Signs Countering Human Trafficking Act of 2022

President Joe Biden signed a bi-partisan bill on Dec. 27 that codifies and expands the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT).

The Countering Human Trafficking Act of 2022 provides $14 million to the CCHT. Part of that money will be used to staff the organization with “at least 45 employees to carry out the Department’s critical work to combat human trafficking,” according to a DHS press release.

The bill also requires public transportation and hubs—which include buses, planes, and trains—to post the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888).

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

Booster Shots Increase Risk of Death, Investigation Suggests

A new investigation has suggested that booster shots may increase the risk of illness and death in recipients.

The investigation was conducted by The Epoch Times which examined data from multiple U.S. states.

The study was carried out to identify any benefits of the boosters in protecting against COVID-19.

However, the study found that people who were “fully vaccinated” and received the “booster” shot were more likely to get ill, and even die, than those who had just received the initial vaccine.

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

Classmate: Suspect Appeared More Animated After Idaho Students’ Killings

The Washington State University Ph.D. student accused of the November 13 killings of four University of Idaho students reportedly attended a class discussion on the case.

Suspect Bryan Kohberger was reportedly more animated following the slayings until they became the focus of conversation during a criminal justice class, classmate BK Norton recently told the New York Post.

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

Elon Musk Teases Fauci Files Will be Released This Week on Twitter

Elon Musk, on Sunday, teased that this week’s Twitter Files report would focus on the now former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, in what could be known as the Fauci Files.

Musk turned to Twitter to tell users, “Hope you’re having a great day 1 2023! One thing’s for sure, it won’t be boring.”

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

Fauci Stepping Down as Head of NIAID After 40 Years

Dr. Anthony Fauci was slated to step down from heading the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases by Dec. 31, though the agency has not officially confirmed it yet.

Earlier this year, both Fauci and NIAID said that he would be stepping down from his federal positions by the end of December. As of Sunday, NIAID’s website still listed Fauci as the director of the agency.

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

Idaho Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger’s Family Issues Statement After His Arrest: ‘Presumption of Innocence’

The family of the suspect in the Nov. 13 fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students have finally spoken out after his arrest on Friday.

Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, was taken into custody by local police and the FBI at 1:30 a.m. Friday in eastern Pennsylvania on a warrant charging him with four counts of murder and burglary for the deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21.

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

Kathy Hochul Legalizes Human Composting of Dead Bodies in New York

On Saturday, the governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, signed a bill into law that legalized terramation, which is the natural organic reduction of a person’s body into fertilizer, also known as human composting. When the bill was introduced, its sponsors noted that human composting helps reduce carbon emissions.

According to the Guardian, “the deceased is placed into a reusable, semi-open vessel containing suitable bedding — wood chips, alfalfa or straw — ideal for microbes to go about their work. At the end of the process, a heaped cubic yard of nutrient-dense soil, equivalent to 36 bags of soil is produced that can then be used as fertilizer.”

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

Looters Take Advantage of ‘Storm of the Century’ In US

As extreme cold descended on the northern United States for several days, shopkeepers in the city of Buffalo, New York, also had to endure the onslaught of looters and other vandals who robbed their shops as temperatures reached as low as —40° Celsius.

“I was able to see the robbery of my diner live on my closed circuit TV,” one restaurateur told Spectrum News One, a local TV station. “But I was stuck at home in the storm, unable to respond and the police were overwhelmed. They destroyed my restaurant looking for cash, they smashed the cash registers but when they couldn’t open them, they took them away and destroyed the whole computer system…”

The looting was widespread. “All the grocery shops and shops in the neighbourhood were looted, so even if people had been able to get to the shops, everything was empty,” said another resident. The only supermarket in the area had closed as soon as the storms started.

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

NYC Machete Attacker Expressed Militant Support for Islam, Officials Say

Three officers assigned to New Year’s Eve celebrations in New York City’s Times Square area were injured by a machete-wielding teenager who expressed militant support for Islam, law enforcement officials said.

The attack happened shortly after 10 p.m. at West 52nd Street and 8th Avenue, just outside checkpoints for the high-security zone set up for celebrants, officials said at a news conference early Sunday.

The suspect approached an officer and tried to strike him over the head with the machete, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said. He then struck two officers in the head with the blade before he was shot in the shoulder and apprehended by police, Sewell said.

Authorities identified the suspect at the news conference only as a 19-year-old man. Four senior law enforcement officials said the man is Trevor Bickford of Wells, Maine.

The suspect was known to federal agents, who interviewed him in mid-December after a relative alerted them to his revolutionary support for Islam, four law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation said.

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

Officers Follow Blood Trail to East Side Apartment, Find Man Stabbed, SAPD Says

SAN ANTONIO — Officers responding to a fight discovered a blood trail that led to a man who was stabbed inside an East Side apartment, according to San Antonio police.

The stabbing happened at 4:30 a.m. in the 3200 block of East Commerce Street.

SAPD officers responded to the location for a fight when they found a blood trail to an apartment.

The victim told officers he had gotten into a fight outside that led to him getting stabbed.

           — Hat tip: Roger [Return to headlines]

Philadelphia New Year’s Day Violence Leaves at Least 9 People Shot, Including Teen: Police

Within hours of Philadelphia ringing in the New Year, the city experienced a spate of gun violence that left at least nine people shot — including one teen, according to police.

A domestic dispute in the city’s Frankford neighborhood escalated to the city’s first reported shooting of 2023 within an hour of the clock striking midnight. Authorities told the outlet a woman twice shot a 30-year-old man allegedly attacking her. The man suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to a hospital where he was placed in stable condition. Police later arrested him.

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

Revealed: Times Square ‘Jihadi’, 19, Was on an FBI ‘Watchlist’ After Being Radicalized and Vowing to Fight in Afghanistan Before Stabbing Rookie NYPD Cop in the Head on New Year’s Eve: ‘Terrorist’S’ Brother is in US Army

The alleged Islamic extremist who stabbed a rookie NYPD cop with a machete near Times Square on New Year’s Eve was on an FBI ‘watchlist’ after being radicalized and vowing to fight in Afghanistan.

Trevor Bickford, 19, from Wells, Maine, does not have criminal record according to a preliminary investigation, but police sources say the Bureau in Boston have an open case on him.

Bickford is on a ‘guardian list’ because of his radicalization, and The New York Post reports he made statements to his aunt about a desire to go fight in the Middle East, which prompted her to tell the authorities.

It comes after Bickford allegedly slashed two officers with a machete on 8th Avenue near Times Square around 10pm last night.

Another officer shot him in the shoulder and he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, along with the two cops. They are all expected to survive.

The attack happened just outside of the high-security zone where thousands of revelers were screened for weapons as they prepared to ring in 2023.

           — Hat tip: Seneca the Elder [Return to headlines]

Scalise Reveals First Legislation for Republican House, Vows ‘Bold Agenda’

Incoming House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) revealed a list of legislation that he will bring up for Republicans to consider on the House floor when they assume control of the lower chamber in mere days and loosen the Democrats’ grip on power in Washington.

In a letter to his GOP colleagues, Scalise listed eight bills and three resolutions that he will be scheduling for Republicans to take up in their first two weeks of work after the 118th Congress begins at noon on Jan. 3.

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

This US Lab is Bioengineering Pig Livers to One Day Transplant Them Into Humans Amid Organ Shortage

Scientists in a US lab are hard at work on an ambitious and certainly unusual mission: modifying pig livers in the hope of one day transplanting them into human bodies.

Miromatrix, a company based in Minnesota, plans to start testing its bioengineered livers on patients in 2023.

“To the average person, this may sound like science fiction, but I can tell you that even to the average transplant surgeon, or maybe not-so-average transplant surgeon, it still sounds a little bit like science fiction,” says Dr Sander Florman, a transplant chief at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital.

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

Trump Teases 3rd-Party Run Should He Lose 2024 GOP Nomination

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday shared an article which argued in favor of him running as a third party candidate if the Republican Party doesn’t nominate him in the 2024 election.

In a post to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump linked to an article in American Greatness titled “The Coming Split,” in which writer Dan Gelernter said he has “no intention of supporting a Republican Party” that doesn’t nominate the 45th president for a second term, promoting a run outside of the two-party system instead.

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

Twitter Sued Over San Francisco Office Rent

Twitter is being sued for allegedly failing to pay $136,250 in rent on its San Francisco office space.

The landlord, Columbia Property Trust, said in the complaint filed Thursday in a state court in San Francisco state court that it demanded on Dec. 16 for Twitter to pay rent within five days or risk defaulting on its lease, Bloomberg reported. The social media giant Twitter did not comply with the request, the landlord said.

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

Canadians Donate Less to Charity, Citing COVID-19, Inflation, And Declining Religiosity

“The holiday season is a time to reflect on charitable giving, and the data shows Canadians are consistently less charitable every year, which means charities face greater challenges to secure resources to help those in need,” said Jake Fuss, senior policy analyst with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Generosity in Canada: The 2022 Generosity Index.

The think tank uses federal income tax records to calculate how many Canadians make tax-deductible donations yearly. Notably, the report found vast regional disparities in charitable contributions.

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

Documentary: Ungovernable: Alberta’s Quest for Independence

In February 2022, producer Kian Simone watched as RCMP officers starved out peaceful pro-freedom protesters during a week-long standoff at the Coutts, Alberta-Sweet Grass, Montana, border crossing. It was unclear whether that order came directly from Ottawa.

This incident is reminiscent of a familiar theme, one that has encapsulated the past 115 years of Alberta’s history. Since Confederation, Albertans have felt ignored and mistreated by bureaucrats in central, or Laurentian, Canada.

In 1947, oil was discovered in the province, bringing new hope and optimism for Alberta’s economic future. It was the world’s third largest reserve, turning the province from Canada’s breadbasket to an energy-producing powerhouse.

That is, until Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau came along to cripple Alberta’s growth and reverse its economic trajectory.

In 2015, Alberta suffered another loss. A second Trudeau came to power, once again subjugating the province to the whims of the Laurentian elite.

The federal government’s malicious meddling has led to the rise of an independence movement that has slowly grown in strength and resolve. Over the past two years, pandemic lockdowns have only served to fan the flames of the independence movement — sparking a fire that may never be extinguished.

In this documentary, Kian Simone travels across Alberta to explore the province’s rich history and meet the people behind the growing independence movement as he investigates what caused a passive anger to reach a tipping point.

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

Freedom Convoy’s Tom Marazzo on the Price to Pay for Speaking Out, What His Plans Are Now

On last night’s episode of The Gunn Show, host Sheila Gunn Reid was joined by one of the key participants of the Freedom Convoy, Tom Marazzo, to look back on the top stories of the year.

Sheila asked Tom what his core motivation was to get involved in the Freedom Convoy. He said that he was keeping quiet for a while about the vaccine mandates, in part because of fear of backlash on his family, and also because he wasn’t sure what action he needed to take.

“When the convoy rolled through, something told me that that was my opportunity to come out of being the ‘gray man,’ and to get involved and do something meaningful for this country.”

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

Poilievre Says Trudeau Sentencing Changes “Make Life More Dangerous”

In the aftermath of the shooting death of an Ontario police officer, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is slamming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for Liberal legislation that softened rules around bail conditions.

“Trudeau brought in C-75. No one forced him to do it,” Poilievre said during an interview with True North. “He passed it and he stood by it ever since. Trudeau has introduced laws to reduce sentences for violent gun offences, and that too will make life more dangerous.”

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

Police Shootings in Canada Up to 87 in 2022 From 70 in 2021

between January and November 2022, a 25 percent increase over the previous year. Of those struck by bullets fired by law enforcement, forty-six died.

The rise in officer-involved shootings comes as Canada is seeing a surge in violent crime. According to the National Post, “there was a noticeable rise in the numbers of Canadians being raped, harassed, stabbed or assaulted” in both 2021 and 2022. Despite the rise in crime, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has continued to go after legal gun owners, the vast majority of whom use their weapons safely and only when absolutely necessary.

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

Statement Regarding Charge Laid Against John Carpay

Calgary: Today, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms issued the following statement concerning the charge laid against John Carpay by the Winnipeg Police:

During the height of Covid restrictions and lockdowns, it was reported that key members of Manitoba’s leadership were breaching public health regulations. As was already reported at the time, John Carpay made the unilateral decision to hire an investigator to ascertain the credibility of these claims in June 2021.

The Justice Centre’s statement on these events in June 2022 stated:

“Mr. Carpay’s decision to conduct surveillance of Manitoba government officials followed a number of high-profile instances where those who imposed and enforced lockdown restrictions were themselves found violating their own rules, partying on rooftops, ignoring rules about face masks and social distancing, and jetting off to exotic holiday locations to countries without Covid restrictions. This flagrant flaunting of standards took place while Canadians faced unprecedented restrictions on their Charter-guaranteed freedoms to travel, assemble, associate with others, and worship.”

Mr. Carpay took full responsibility without reservation for his actions and apologized to Chief Justice Joyal in a public court hearing on July 12, 2021.

On Friday, December 30, 2022, the Justice Centre was made aware of a warrant for the arrest of John Carpay. This warrant was apparently issued in connection with the events that took place in 2021 and alleges obstruction of justice. When he was made aware of this warrant, Mr. Carpay immediately turned himself into Calgary Police Services.

This charge is unexpected and without explanation. The events at issue took place over 18 months ago, and police have not previously contacted Mr. Carpay nor the Justice Centre. Mr. Carpay has been cooperating with the investigation of this matter by the Law Society of Manitoba. At the time of the events, the Justice Centre Board of Directors also took appropriate steps to strengthen governance and oversight of the organization while Mr. Carpay took a seven-week leave of absence

The Justice Centre is deeply disappointed by the decision of Winnipeg Police to lay a criminal charge for events that took place more than 18 months ago and that are already being dealt with appropriately. It is doubly disappointing that it was decided that these actions should take place during the holiday season when Mr. Carpay is spending time with his family. Oddly, Mr. Carpay’s sole bail condition states that he cannot contact Chief Justice Joyal, an individual that Mr. Carpay has not had any communication with apart from the apologies that he issued in 2021.

Despite these proceedings, the work of the Justice Centre will continue unhindered to defend citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by providing legal representation to Canadians free of charge. The Justice Centre’s work is focussed on defending Canada’s free society, including Canadians’ freedoms of conscience, religion, expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as their right to life, liberty, and the security of the person. In particular, the Justice Centre has been active in response to governments’ severe Covid lockdowns and restrictions which stopped Canadians from gathering, worshiping, associating, working, traveling and peaceful assembly.

           — Hat tip: Vlad Tepes [Return to headlines]

Viva Frei: ‘If Bill C-11 Passes, it Will be Impossible for Rumble to Operate in Canada’

On last night’s episode of The Ezra Levant Show, Ezra was joined by David Freiheit, a Canadian lawyer and YouTuber better known as ‘Viva Frei.’ The two discussed Viva’s difficult decision to move to Florida, as well as his new job as a lawyer for Rumble, and the future of the censorship-free video platform.

Viva talked about how some Canadians think it was traitorous for him to leave his country, and not stay and fight. He spoke about his reasons for doing so and explained that he loves Canada and that the move to the ‘land of the free’ isn’t permanent.

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

Andrew Tate Trolled by Greta, Musk, British Police After Detention in Romania

Right-wing influencer Andrew Tate is being trolled by Greta Thunberg, Elon Musk, and, bizarrely, the British police following his detention by the Romanian authorities.

Tate, a 36-year-old British-American former kickboxer who built a huge online following by adopting a somewhat comedic alpha male persona and dispensing life and relationship advice, was detained by the Romanian authorities on Friday amid an investigation into alleged human trafficking.

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

Der Spiegel Suggests Non-Liberal Governments Should be “Tamed”

Der Spiegel has once again written in an arrogant, lecturing tone that is becoming increasingly characteristic of the German mainstream press.

In a recent article, “How to tame the right-wing populists,” the author states at the very beginning that “for years, autocrats and populists were on the rise, but democracy is stronger.”

The author argues that “right-wing populists” such as the Sweden Democrats (SD), Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and former US President Donald Trump can be “tamed.” French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban would “advance in the strongholds of democracy” alongside Trump, he said, but the autocrats’ winning streak has been far from unbroken this year.

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

European Energy Crisis: France Close to Electricity Rationing Over Problems With Local Nuclear Plants

France is uncomfortably close to energy rationing as a result of issues it is having with some of its nuclear power plants, a report by The Times has claimed.

The UK newspaper has alleged that Emmanuel Macron’s France is currently coming close to having to ration energy due to a number of its nuclear power plants being taken offline over the last number of months.

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

Extinction Rebellion to Stop Disruptive UK Protests

The British arm of the Extinction Rebellion environmental group said on Sunday it would take a break from acts of public disruption in order to bring more people on board its campaign for urgent action to counter climate change.

The grassroots group’s protests have previously included closing key roads and bridges in central London, blockading oil refineries, smashing windows at Barclays bank headquarters and spraying fake blood over the finance ministry building.

In a statement entitled “We quit”, Extinction Rebellion UK said that in the four years it has been taking direct action, very little had changed, with emissions continuing to rise.

“As we ring in the new year, we make a controversial resolution to temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic,” the group said.

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

France Says 690 Cars Torched on NYE

Rioters set fire to 690 cars in France over New Year’s Eve, 21 per cent less than last year, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has told broadcaster BFMTV.

More than 90,000 police officers were deployed across the country and authorities said the turn of the year passed peacefully and without any major incidents.

A total of 490 arrests were made across France.

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

Italy Plans an Energy U-Turn, A Comeback to Nuclear Power as Green Energies “Far From Sufficient”

Italy is planning an energy U-turn reports, the Berliner Morgenpost:

“So while Germany is saying goodbye to the use of nuclear energy, the technology is making a comeback in Italy, where people turned away from it almost 40 years ago. This is more than noteworthy, since Italy is so far the only major European country besides Germany that has abandoned the use of nuclear energy. Under the pressure of the energy crisis, however, the Italians have suddenly become painfully aware of their heavy dependence on electricity from abroad. The issue is moving citizens because they are clearly feeling the inflation of their electricity bills, despite government aid.”

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Most Poles Believe Ukraine War is a Threat to National Security — Poll

More than three out of four Poles feel that the war in Ukraine threatens Poland’s security, a new survey has found.

According to the CBOS poll, 78 percent of the respondents said that the war endangered the country’s security (up 3 percentage points compared to last year), while 16 percent felt the opposite.

Moreover, 29 percent believed the war would spread to other countries (up 1 pp), and 43 percent said it would not escalate (up 1 pp).

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Most Poles Proud of Aiding Ukraine

Sixty seven percent of Poles in a survey for the wpolityce.pl website said they were proud of the aid Poland has extended to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Eighteen percent said they felt no pride in Poland’s aid to Ukraine, and 15 percent could not say.

Pride in Polish aid to Ukraine was voiced by 85 percent of supporters of Poland’s ruling United Right coalition and 84 percent of voters for the main opposition grouping, Civic Coalition (KO).

The computer-assisted survey was run by the Social Changes pollster on December 23-27 on a sample of 1,054 Poles.

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Nearly 50 Shops Closed Their Doors Every Day in UK Last Year — Survey

Some 17,145 shops on high streets and other locations across the country closed in 2022, according to new analysis.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]

Poll: Germans No Longer Feel Free

There are slightly more people in the East and fewer in the West who miss freedom of expression. The result of a survey of 1006 representatively selected people aged 16 and over in Germany in November and December 2022 is in obvious contradiction with the official political position of the Scholz administration.

It has always been maintained that the Federal Republic of Germany was the freest state that ever existed on German soil. But this poll result evidently showed that some things do not add up.

The editor-in-chief of the German daily Welt, Anna Schneider described the problem in a nutshell: “Anyone can say anything, but he takes the risk of dying a social death.”

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

The Year Trump Was Vindicated on the EU’s Green Agenda

This year, former President Donald Trump was proven right in his critiques of the green agenda of the EU and its reliance on Russian energy.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]

Top UK Health Official Blames ‘Pandemic’ For Soaring Heart Attacks

Britain’s top government health official has claimed that restrictions during the Covid pandemic are to blame for soaring numbers of heart attacks and related sudden deaths.

Sir Chris Whitty is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, the UK government’s Chief Medical Adviser, and head of the public health profession.

Over the past two years, heart attacks have been soaring around the world and are still way above normal numbers.

In the UK alone, there are currently 800 more people dying each week over normal levels, and only half of that is due to Covid, London’s The Times reported.

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UK: Farage: ‘Time for All Good Men to Desert the Conservative Party’

Brexit champion Nigel Farage has argued that now is the time for “all good men” to abandon Britain’s governing Conservative (Tory) Party as it hikes taxes and fails on immigration, with little sign that change is on the horizon.

“Big article in today’s Daily Telegraph by Lord [David] Frost saying, ‘look, I know we’re not really conservative, but we could become conservative,” Farage said in a video posted to social media responding to Boris Johnson’s former Brexit negotiator.

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UK: Peter Hitchens: Why Do We Stir Up Trouble in Foreign Countries But Can’t Even Run Our Own?

PETER HITCHENS:It is no longer clear if anyone is governing the country at all, so busy are we putting other nations to rights.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]

UK: Westminster Reports Reveal Deliberate Damage Including ‘Sexually Explicit’ Graffiti on Parliament Toilet Door

The word “Dave” scratched into stonework and the remnants of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil protests were just some of the damage the House of Commons and surrounding parliamentary areas suffered in the past 12 months, a Freedom of Information request revealed through The Independent.

Raising most eyebrows was a piece of vandalism, mentioned in the maintenance reports dating from December 2021 to December 2022, was of an x-rated nature. The ‘sexually explicit graffiti’ appeared on a toilet door opposite the Strangers’ bar inside parliament.

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You Don’t Have to be a Conspiracy Theorist to be Worried About the World Economic Forum

Toby Young

Daily Sceptic

Samuel Greg, a Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy at the American Institute for Economic Research and author, most recently, of The Next American Economy: Nation, State, and Markets in an Uncertain World, has written a good piece for the Spectator about the WEF on the eve of Davos 2023.

He argues that if you care about liberty, democracy and national self-determination, it’s perfectly rational to be concerned about the influence of Klaus Schwab and his followers. Not because they are the puppeteers controlling politicians across the West, but because they’re ideas permeate the upper echelons of the global elite. In particular, Schwab’s belief in the top-down, technocratic form of government exemplified by the EU.

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Adik the Pitbull Terrier Stolen by Russian Soldiers and Given to Chechen Leader Kadyrov as a Trophy is Finally Returned to Ukrainian Servicewoman in New Year Prisoner Exchange

American Pit Bull Terrier Adik stolen by Russian soldiers and given to Chechen leader Kadyrov as a ‘trophy’ has been freed and returned to a Ukrainian servicewoman in a prisoner exchange.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]

NATO Chief Urges Western Allies to ‘Ramp Up’ Arms Production to Support Ukraine as Russia Continues Bomb Attacks

Jens Stoltenberg said the war between Ukraine and Russia is using an ‘enormous amount’ of munitions, with signs suggesting President Vladimir Putin is digging in for the ‘long haul’.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]

Ukraine War: Zelenskyy and Putin Both Promise Victory in New Year Speeches

The leaders of Ukraine and Russia both vowed to push for victory in New Year speeches, but while Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of gratitude and pain, Vladimir Putin urged duty to Russia, casting the war as a near-existential fight.

Zelenskyy, recalling some of the most dramatic moments and victories of the war, filled his emotional 17-minute video message with footage of Russia’s attacks on the country and words of pride for Ukrainians withstanding attacks, darkness and cold.

“We were told: you have no other option but to surrender. We say: we have no other option than to win,” said Zelenskyy, dressed in his trademark khaki outfit and standing in darkness with the Ukrainian flag fluttering behind.

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Zelenskiy and Putin Signal Desire to Break War’s Deadlock in New Year

There has been little movement in the frontlines for weeks, and there are signs Russia lacks offensive combat power

Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its second calendar year at a delicate point. It is six weeks after the liberation of Kherson and there has been little movement in the frontlines either way since. There is not yet any sign of a full, renewed counteroffensive by the Ukrainians, not helped by the weather which has been above freezing, leaving muddy ground not conducive to military manoeuvre.

“The situation is just stuck,” Ukraine’s head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, told the BBC last week, which, if an accurate assessment, is not helpful to Kyiv, badly needing to retain momentum in the run-up to spring. But the political leadership of both countries clearly signalled a desire to try to break the deadlock with new goals for the new year.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s new year address emphasised, predictably enough, a long-term goal of victory in the war. Twice, notably, he referenced liberating Melitopol, the most obvious target city, whose capture would cut off the land bridge without which Crimea cannot easily be resupplied. Zelenskiy said Ukrainian grandchildren would one day be able to “eat watermelons” in the recently liberated Kherson “and the cherry in Melitopol”.

All this may be too obvious, of course, and Ukraine has repeatedly shown it is willing to be tactically flexible, to probe Russia’s lines for weakness and seek a breakthrough. But the other areas where Ukraine has been pressing, near Kreminna and towards Svatove in northern Luhansk, are simply not as strategically significant; while in the Donbas region, around Bakhmut, Ukraine remains on the defensive, soaking up Russian bombardment as its forces make incremental gains in and around the frontline.

           — Hat tip: Dean [Return to headlines]

Several Dead, Injured in Blast Outside Military Airport in Kabul: Report

An explosion outside the military airport in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul left several people dead and injured, local media reported on Sunday.

Abdul Nafay Takoor, the spokesman for the Interior Ministry of the interim government, said that several people were dead and injured in the explosion, without giving the exact figures, according to Tolo News.

“The incident took place at 8:00 in the morning. There were casualties among civilians. There were some injuries. However, officials showed up and intervened,” Mohammad Fahim, a witness, was quoted as saying.

It was the first explosion in Afghanistan in 2023.

           — Hat tip: JW [Return to headlines]

Brazil’s Lula Sworn in as President for Third Time

Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as president in the capital, Brasilia, assuming office for the third time after thwarting outgoing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro’s reelection bid.

Lula was president from 2003-2010, and his return to power marks the culmination of a political comeback that is both thrilling supporters and enraging opponents in a fiercely polarised nation.

His presidency is unlikely to be similar to his previous two mandates, coming after the tightest presidential race in more than three decades in Brazil and resistance to his taking office by some of his opponents.

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Colombia Announces Six-Month Ceasefire to Negotiate With Five Armed Groups

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a leftist and former guerilla militant, announced a six-month ceasefire with five armed groups to support peace talks.

“This is a bold act,” Petro tweeted, as translated, late Saturday evening. “The bilateral ceasefire obliges the armed organizations and the state to respect it.”

Colombia’s ceasefire includes the leftist guerrilla organization the National Liberation Army as well as groups run by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, also known as the FARC, Reuters reported.

The conflict, which has lasted nearly six decades, has left at least 450,000 dead from 1985 to 2018.

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Mexican Authorities Find 4 Human Skulls in Package Bound for US

Mexican authorities discovered four human skulls wrapped in tin foil inside a cardboard package headed to the United States on Sunday.

The Mexican National Guard says they found the package after it went through a security checkpoint at the Queretaro Intercontinental Airport. The package came from the western Mexican state of Michoacan and was destined for Manning, South Carolina, Reuters reported.

Authorities have offered no further details regarding the identities, age or gender of the skulls.

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Biden Blamed by Own Ex-Border Chief for Soaring Asylum Cases, Record Immigration Court Backlog

The Biden administration is to blame for soaring asylum cases that have created a record years-long backlog in U.S. immigration courts, according to President Joe Biden’s own former Border Patrol chief.

“Several factors have contributed to this backlog, but the massive increase that we’re seeing today can be directly attributed to the Biden administration’s border and immigration policies,” said Rodney Scott, who headed the Border Patrol in both the Trump and Biden administrations.

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Border Hunters Take Over the Protection of Hungary’s Southern Border

The Hungarian Armed Forces ended active service on the Hungarian-Serbian border on Thursday and were replaced by the border hunter units that were set up this year (as part of the police force), MTI reports.

Bence Rétvari, State Secretary of the Interior Ministry, said at the handover at the Hercegszantó army base that more than 263,000 illegal entry attempts were thwarted this year on that border section alone.

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French Court: Non-Ukrainians Leaving Ukraine Not Eligible for Refugee Protection

France’s Council of State, the country’s top administrative court, has ruled that non-Ukrainian foreigners leaving Ukraine are not eligible for the same refugee protection in France as Ukrainian nationals.

The Council of State validated a prior move by French authorities that saw non-Ukrainian nationals who left Ukraine refused the same temporary protection that had been granted to Ukrainian nationals, given they could simply go back to their home countries.

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Hungary: Migrant Smuggler Hits Police Car During Serious Car Chase in Budapest

Human smugglers transporting migrants through Hungary have caused a huge number of road accidents this year, and the latest incident is a perfect example of the seriousness of the situation. During a car chase in the capital, a smuggler hit several cars, including a police cruiser.

Budapest Police Headquarters announced on Wednesday that a car chase took place on Tuesday evening in Budapest on the Buda side. At around 9 p.m. on the M1 motorway near Budapest, patrol officers wanted to check the driver of a van with Polish plates, but he did not stop at the police signal and continued driving towards the capital.

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Is the UK Turning Into Something Extremely Different?

On December 1, 2022, Britain’s Office for National Statistics released the latest 10-yearly census, carried out in 2021, showing that the fastest-growing population in England and Wales is Muslims. According to the census:

“For the first time in a census of England and Wales, less than half of the population (46.2%, 27.5 million people) described themselves as ‘Christian’…”

“It’s not a great surprise that the Census shows fewer people in this country identifying as Christian than in the past,” the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said in response to the findings, “but it still throws down a challenge to us not only to trust that God will build his kingdom on Earth but also to play our part in making Christ known.”

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UK: More Than 45,700 Migrants Crossed the Channel by Small Boat in Record Breaking 2022 — Including 90 on Christmas Day and 1,295 in One Day Alone

Nearly 46,000 migrants crossed the Channel by small boat in 2022 — with 1,295 of those arriving in one day, according to official government figures.

A total of 45,728 asylum seekers made the perilous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in 1,104 boats in 2022 — an average of 41 people per vessel.

August saw 8.641 people arrive in Britain by inflatable dinghy or other small craft — the most migrants to reach the UK in one month.

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Ukraine War: Europe Must Brace for 100,000s of Ukrainian Refugees This Winter, Says Jan Egeland

Europe must get ready to accept hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees this coming winter, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said in an interview with Euronews.

“It is really a choice between freeze or fleeing”, Jan Egeland, NRC Secretary General, said. “Therefore very many people are voluntarily fleeing.”

“Europe has to prepare for hundreds of thousands of new refugees this winter from Norway in the north to the southern European countries.”

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

California ‘Sanctuary State’ Law for ‘Trans Kids’ Takes Effect

On Sunday, a bill that designates California as a sanctuary for teens and children who want medicalized gender transitions, went into effect.

On Saturday, state Senator Scott Wiener, who originally brought the bill forward, tweeted, “Tonight at midnight, SB 107 goes into effect & California officially becomes a state of refuge for trans kids & their families. As red states pursue 100s of laws criminalizing LGBTQ people — with incitement to violence all too common — CA stands strong as a beacon of hope.”

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

Controversial Trans Influencer Invited to White House by Joe Biden Shows Off Bruised and Scarred Face After Having ‘Feminization Surgery’: Operation Sees Bones Cut Off and Sanded Down

TikToker Dylan Mulvaney, 26. posted a video on December 21 with bandages around her head and gauze covering her face following facial feminization surgery.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]

General Motors Funds Effort to Embed Pro-Transgender Books in Classrooms

General Motors (GM) donated to an LGBT organization that supplies kindergarten and elementary classrooms with pro-transgender children’s books.

General Motors provided a grant to the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to fund the organization’s “Rainbow Library” Program, according to the corporation’s 2021 Social Impact Report.

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

Pro-Trans Organization Pushes Transgender ‘Inclusive’ Math

A pro-trans organization is pushing for “trans and non-binary”-inclusive math curriculums that advance gender ideology.

The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) exists to try adding radical gender theory into school policies and curriculums. But the organization is not just focused on health and history classes or policies surrounding sports and bathrooms but is now pushing for “trans and non-binary”-inclusive math curriculums.

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

UK: Sadiq Khan Politicises London Fireworks With LGBT Propaganda

Sadiq Khan used the fireworks for New Year’s Eve to push the woke agenda, with the display featuring the rainbow colours of the LGBT movement.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]

5 thoughts on “Gates of Vienna News Feed 1/1/2023

    • Clayton Morris is a scam artist who sold rundown properties to his followers. He knew that the police were looking to arrest him so he escaped to Portugal where there are no deportion laws

      Clayton Morris is really an evil liar and criminal.

      • Interesting. I had no clue about that. I had wondered other things about them from their redacted show other than selling “Established Titles”.

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