Ukrainian drones penetrated deeply into Russia today, with at least one of them coming within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of Moscow before being shot down. The drones caused no significant damage, and no injuries were reported.
In other news, North African migrants beat a Ukrainian woman with an iron bar in an asylum center in Germany.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, DV, LP, Reader from Chicago, Roger, SS, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.
Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.
Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. I check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.
UK Food Inflation Hits Record High of 17.1%
Food inflation in the United Kingdom has hit a record high of 17.1%, which could push the average annual household grocery bill up to $1,000, UK data analytics and consulting company Kantar said on Tuesday.
“Grocery price inflation rose again to reach 17.1% in the four weeks to 19 February 2023, the highest level ever recorded by Kantar,” a statement from the company read.
The British have been facing a steady increase in prices for a year now as the level of food inflation exceeded 4% last February and has not fallen below this figure since then, the consulting company said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
77% of Americans Aged 17-24 Aren’t Fit for Service: DoD
An overwhelmingly majority of Americans aged 17-24 are unfit for military service, according to a Department of Defense report.
The U.S. Armed Forces increasingly struggle to meet their recruiting targets for the nation’s volunteer military, an issue in part attributable to the ever shrinking pool of eligible recruits. A colossal 77% of Americans aged 17-24 are unfit for military service, the Pentagon has concluded, a figure which has risen 6% since 2017.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Alec Baldwin Faces NEW Lawsuit by Rust Crew Members Claiming ‘Blast Injuries’
On Monday, three former Rust crew members filed a lawsuit against Alec Baldwin, claiming that when he allegedly shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set in October 2021, they suffered “blast injuries.”
Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin, and Reese Price witnessed the shooting, and are seeking compensatory and punitive damages from Baldwin, as well as Rust Movie Productions, LLC and El Dorado Pictures, for “hearing loss, temporary deafness, and vibrational shock,” among other things.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The possibility of a secession from the city of Atlanta became a little more likely this week as the affluent area of Buckhead continues its attempt to peel off from the crime-ridden inner city.
Two bills that would allow Buckhead to secede from the city passed a Georgia Senate committee Monday and could be up for a floor vote as soon as Wednesday (tomorrow).
If both chambers of the legislature approve the bills, and they are subsequently signed by Governor Brian Kemp, residents of Buckhead — the 24-square-mile area on the edge of Atlanta — would be able to vote in the November 2024 election about whether to leave Atlanta and form their own city.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
On Tuesday, President Biden nominated Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su to become the next Secretary of Labor, replacing former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh.
Su, the former California labor secretary, was confirmed by the Senate in July of 2021 to serve as deputy secretary of labor in a party-line vote, according to The Hill.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden Administration Bans TikTok From All Federal Agencies’ Devices
The Biden administration on Monday reportedly instructed government agencies to ensure they do not have Chinese-owned TikTok app on federal systems and devices within 30 days.
Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young told agencies in a guidance memorandum obtained by Reuters that all federal agencies must remove TikTok from phones and systems and prohibit internet traffic from reaching the company in an effort to keep US data secure.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Marjorie Taylor Greene Says She Was Attacked in a Restaurant by an ‘Insane Woman’
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said she was attacked in a restaurant by ‘insane woman’ on Monday night.
The Republican congresswoman posted on Twitter that she was “…attacked in a restaurant tonight by an insane women and screamed at by her adult son.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Elon Musk Looking to Develop a Non-Woke AI Rival to Counter ChatGPT: Report
Elon Musk is looking into ways he could create a rival OpenAI’s “woke” ChatGPT, according to one report.
Several AI researchers have been approached by Musk, including Igor Babuschkin who formerly worked at Alphabet’s DeepMind AI, The Information reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Train Derailment in Florida, Hazmat Teams Deployed
A trail derailed in Manatee County, Florida on Tuesday, causing five cars to overturn.
According to WFLA, the trains were transporting rocks, metal sheets, and at least one cart contained propane.
No evacuations were ordered. Hazmat teams have been deployed.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Chicago Mayoral Election Results May be Delayed Days Due to Mail-in Voting
Paul Vallas, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools is the first candidate for Chicago mayor to advance to the April 4th runoff election. The AP announced Vallas’ victory at 7:45pm EST. If no candidate wins 50% or more, the April 4th will be necessary.
Local News ABC 7 reports that an initial slow turnout “may be due to a surge in voters choosing to mail in their ballots — which could lead to a dayslong delay in learning who makes the runoff.” As a result of this, the results of the election may not be known for days
ABC adds: “While this will not go down in history as the worst turnout in a mayoral election in Chicago, the headline might be that older voters carried the day.”
At 8:01 pm EST, Democrat incumbent Lori Lightfoot was trailing in distant third place with only 58,807 vots to Vallas’ 134,844. In second was Teachers’ Union-backed Brandon Johnson.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Public Square, an anti-woke digital marketplace, is set to merge with Colombier Acquisition Group in a $200 million deal that will also see the company go public. The San Diego-based company hosts over 50,000 individual vendors.
According to the Daily Mail, the site has gained the attention of Donald Trump Jr., who advises the company, and former Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: James O’Keefe to Speak at CPAC
CPAC founder Matt Schlapp has announced on Monday that Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe, who was ousted after what appeared to be a Board of Directors coup last week, will be speaking at this week’s CPAC in Washington, DC.
Schlapp was speaking to War Room’s Steve Bannon, when he made the announcement, “James is gonna come,” he said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
National testing capacity is also being built-up in case the H5N1 strain that has devastated bird populations around the world spills over into people, the US CDC said Monday.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Chicago Mayor Lightfoot Ousted; Vallas, Johnson in Runoff
CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago after voters on Tuesday denied incumbent Lori Lightfoot a second term, issuing a rebuke to a leader who made history as head of the nation’s third-largest city.
Vallas, a former schools CEO backed by the police union, and Johnson, a Cook County commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, advanced to the April 4 runoff after none of the nine candidates was able to secure over 50% of the vote to win outright.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
CNN Ratings Plunge as Coveted 25-54 Age Demo Tunes Out
CNN’s ratings are on track to end its February viewership with the smallest audience in the 25-to-54 age demographic since June of 2014.
The New York Post reports, “Under CNN boss Chris Licht, the network has slumped” and the Don Lemon-led CNN This Morning is set to end February with its lowest 25-to-54 age viewership since the show launched in November, after Lemon was ousted from his former primetime slot. In the first 24 days of February, the morning show averaged 361,000 total viewers.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
FBI Director Chris Wray Says COVID-19 Virus Likely Came From a Lab Leak in China
FBI Director Chris Wray joined Fox News’ “Special Report” with Bret Baier where he stated that the COVID-19 virus likely came from a lab leak in China.
“The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan,” Wray said during the interview. “Here you are talking about a potential leak from a Chinese government-controlled lab.”
Wray noted that the Chinese government attempted to “thwart and obfuscate” the FBI investigation into the leak, but the bureau is continuing its work.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Fetterman’s Wife Grabs Children, Drives to Canada for ‘Joy and Fun’ As Husband Remains in Hospital
Gisele Fetterman, wife of Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, decided to “run away” with her kids to Canada for some “joy and fun” after her husband checked himself into Walter Reed medical center to receive treatment for “clinical depression.”
The Post Millennial reported John Fetterman, 51, checked himself into the hospital on Monday, February 13 on the recommendation of Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress. According to Gisele Fetterman, she left with their children for Canada on Valentine’s Day, February 14, after Fetterman was hospitalized.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A 17-year-old Florida high school student accused of beating a teaching assistant unconscious earlier this month will be charged as an adult.
Brendan Depa, who allegedly assaulted Joan Naydich, 57, after she took away his video game, is facing one count of aggravated battery of a school board official, a first-degree felony in Florida punishable by up to thirty years in prison.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
House Votes to Kill Biden’s ‘Woke’ ESG Investment Rule That Props Up ‘Phony Climate Movement’
The House voted Tuesday to kill the Biden administration’s controversial rule that encourages private retirement plan fiduciaries to consider environment, social and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions for tens of millions of Americans.
The Department of Labor rule is widely seen by Republicans as part of the Biden administration’s push to inject “woke” ideology into all aspects of government. Under the rule, fiduciaries who make investment decisions for the retirement plans of more than 150 million people would be explicitly permitted under federal guidelines to consider companies’ approach to climate change and other social issues, instead of focusing on only profitability and return on investment for retirees.
Republicans say that’s a recipe for tanking millions of investment accounts, and on Tuesday, House GOP leaders called up a resolution aimed at killing the rule, which passed 216-204. Only one Democrat voted for it.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Justices Question Biden Lawyer on President’s Authority to Forgive Student Loans, Sidestep Congress
Justices at the Supreme Court on Tuesday sharply questioned whether the White House has the authority to wipe out hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt unilaterally and without any congressional involvement, suggesting the high court could deal a fatal blow to what is arguably President Joe Biden’s highest-profile initiative thus far in his presidency.
At issue is the Biden administration’s attempt to erase huge quantities of student debt by executive order. The White House has argued that the president maintains that authority under existing education statute.
On Tuesday several of the justices questioned whether the Biden administration has the legal ability to forgive such a large debt.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Kansas Man Gets 25 Years for Shooting at Officers During 2020 George Floyd Protest
WICHITA, Kan. — A Wichita man will serve 25 years in prison for shooting at police officers in riot gear and armored vehicles during a nighttime protest at 21st and Arkansas in June 2020.
A Sedgwick County jury in July found Henry E. Parker, 30, guilty of 18 counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and one count of criminal possession of a firearm in what prosecutors have said was a targeted attack on Wichita cops trying to disperse an unruly crowd early on June 2, 2020. The unrest followed a mostly peaceful protest calling for an end to police brutality after the May 25, 2020, killing of George Floyd.
Prosecutors at trial said Parker left an overnight shift at his gas station job, drove to the protest and opened fire on police before heading back to work. Snapchat footage of the shooter and witness statements helped investigators solve the case.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A San Diego courthouse crime reporter and contributor to The Post Millennial is being targeted by the defense attorney of an accused violent Antifa ringleader in an attempt to get her reporting censored.
Eva Knott, who also contributes to local weekly newspaper San Diego Reader, was the target of a legal motion by far-left San Francisco attorney John Hamasaki on Friday. Hamasaki asks the judge to strip her of her reporting and photography privileges inside the courtroom and to ban her because she works under a pen name. For safety reasons due to past coverage on gang-related criminal trials, Knott uses a pen name.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
On February 9, Nike sent a letter to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and city officials asking for more police at their MLK Community Store, which has been closed for months because of ongoing retail theft, with the shoe brand even proposing to pay law enforcement directly if it would bring them the protection they were requesting.
According to KGW8, Nike proposed two options. The company was open to creating an “intergovernmental agreement” with the city of Portland to directly fund full-time police officers who would be selected to police the store. A second option would be to pay off-duty Portland Police Bureau officers as contracted security.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Over 3/4 of Voters Say Activities at Chinese-Owned Properties Near U.S. Bases Should Stop, Poll
Most American voters say the United States should halt any construction at Chinese-owned property near U.S. military facilities and stop deliveries to and from such locations , according to a poll released Tuesday.
The Convention of States Action poll, in partnership with The Trafalgar Group, showed that 76.3% of likely American voters answered “Yes” to the question: “In light of the Chinese spy balloon, do you think the United States should put a freeze on any construction on or deliveries to/from Chinese owned property near U.S. military installations?”
When broken down by political party, Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to favor ceasing activities at Chinese-owned properties at 89% to 64%.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Pure Evil: Homeless Man Shot in Head Point-Blank in St Louis, Video Shows
A man was killed in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday morning, police told a local news outlet. Video of the shooting appears to show the man approaching the victim from behind as he sat on a curb before placing the gun to the victim’s head.
The broad-daylight shooting took place at around 10 am near Tucker and Lucas street. Police said that the witness told them there was some form of altercation before the shooting took place. The victim was found dead on the street with a bullet wound to his head.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Republican leaders and pro-reparations activists spoke out against a recent proposal in San Francisco that Black residents of the city would receive $5 million each in reparations for policies designed to uphold the “legacy of chattel slavery,” according to a committee report.
The proposal carries a huge potential price tag for the city. In 2021, with an estimated population of 815,201, the city’s population was 5.7% Black, according to Axios San Francisco. As a result, giving $5 million to all Black residents of San Francisco would cost the city a total of roughly $232,332,285,000.
Under fire for the potentially multibillion-dollar proposal and facing questions on where the money would come from, some activists said the finances were not as important as the movement, according to The Washington Post.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Republicans Plan to Expand the Hatch Act to Stop Biden Administration’s Censorship Collusion
As if the First Amendment isn’t enough, Republicans in the House Oversight Committee plan to introduce two bills aimed at making sure the federal government does not collude with social media platforms to limit free speech under the guise of fighting “misinformation.”
Committee chair James Comer (R-KY) will introduce a bill that would expand the Hatch Act, a law that prevents federal employees from taking part in political activities in their official roles.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ron DeSantis Chooses Rumble, Welcomes the Company to Florida
During an address welcoming the company to the state, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took the time to tell the public that he has chosen Rumble as his video sharing service of choice.
The high-profile Republican’s office released a video of DeSantis who at the same time congratulated Rumble — formerly a Canada-based company — for choosing Florida for its US headquarters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Seattle Police Department Busted Using AI Software to ‘Spy’ On Officers
The command staff of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) was busted using artificial intelligence (AI) software to spy on its officers and the public without their knowledge.
The department has been using Truleo’s software since 2021. The Chicago-based startup company told GeekWire that the software was first developed to analyze phone calls and text messages between Wall Street bankers.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Soros-Backed DA Cuts Deal Giving No Jail Time to ‘Wasted’ Bus Driver Who Killed Cyclist in Crash
A progressive district attorney in Austin, Texas was slammed after he cut a no-jail deal with a bus driver accused of fatally hitting a bicyclist while high on prescription drugs.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza’s plea deal with former Austin CapMetro bus driver Mindi Stafford was cited by a retired police officer and local lawyer as another example of the George Soros-backed prosecutor not standing up for crime victims.
Garza’s office agreed earlier this month to allow Stafford to plead down from manslaughter to criminal negligent homicide which had her avoiding time behind bars with a deferred adjudication for seven years and community service, Fox 7 Austin reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Suspect in Florida TV Crew Attack Faces More Murder Charges in Shooting That Killed 3
Orange County officials say Keith Moses fatally shot a 38-year-old woman, then returned later and killed a television news reporter and a 9-year-old girl.
FORT LAUDERDALE — A 19-year-old Florida man is now facing three first-degree murder charges related to a shooting last week that killed a television news reporter, a 9-year-old girl and a 38-year-old woman, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.
Orange County Sheriff’s officials released an arrest warrant Tuesday morning that included two new murder charges against Keith Melvin Moses in the attack in an Orlando neighborhood last Wednesday.
Investigators said Moses fatally shot Nathacha Augustin seconds after the car she was riding in stopped to offer him a ride. A witness in the car described Moses as “acting strange” and sweating before the shooting.
Moses ran after the shooting and hours later returned to the scene while television crews were working on a story about the shooting, authorities said.
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
The ‘Meetings’ Between Polish Opposition Politicians and US President Lasted Less Than a Minute
Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Warsaw where he met with President Andrzej Duda and participated in the Bucharest Nine meeting. The American leader also thanked the Poles for their support for Ukraine.
After the speech in the Royal Castle gardens, Biden was also supposed to meet with the leader of the Civic Platform (PO), Donald Tusk, and the mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski.
After the U.S. president’s speech, Radoslaw Sikorski, an MEP of the Civic Coalition, announced on Twitter that the “meeting has started.” However, it quickly transpired that the “meeting” between Biden and Polish opposition politicians was extremely short.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Twitter Announces ‘Zero Tolerance Policy Towards Violent Speech’
Twitter rolled out a new policy on “violent speech” Tuesday that prohibits threats, wishes of harm, incitement of violence and glorification of violence.
“Twitter is a place where people can express themselves, learn about what’s happening, and debate global issues,” Twitter Safety wrote in an update in the social media platform’s help center.
“However, healthy conversations can’t thrive when violent speech is used to deliver a message. As a result, we have a zero tolerance policy towards violent speech in order to ensure the safety of our users and prevent the normalization of violent actions.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
US Marshals Service Hit by ‘Major’ Cyberattack: Report
US law enforcement officials disclosed Monday that the US Marshals Service suffered a security breach over a week ago that compromises sensitive information.
In a statement to NBC News, US Marshals Service spokesperson Drew Wade said, “The affected system contains law enforcement sensitive information, including returns from legal process, administrative information, and personally identifiable information pertaining to subjects of USMS investigations, third parties, and certain USMS employees.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Washington Teacher Claims Schools Need to Keep Students Safe ‘From Their Christo-Fascist Parents’
A public-school teacher in Washington state complained on Friday that her school district’s “guidelines and laws” have not helped keep students’ information secret from “Christo-fascist” parents.
“Parents-check your school districts’ policy regarding keeping info about YOUR child secret from you,” an account called The Principle’s Office posted on Twitter. “There are some scary policies out there. Schools should not have a right to keep info about your child from you unless abuse by you is suspected. There I said it and mean it.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Zuckerbucks: Trump Blasts Zuckerberg for Giving $2 Million to Georgia Election Board
On Sunday, former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to say Facebook founder and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg should be prosecuted after reports emerged that a group he donated millions to, the US Alliance for Election Excellence, recently gave money to an election board in Georgia, despite a ban on such funding after the 2020 election.
Trump said, “He cheated on the Election(s). The whole system is RIGGED. Why isn’t he being prosecuted? The Democrats only know how to cheat. America isn’t going to take it much longer!”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Trudeau ‘Lucky and Happy’ To Have Accused CCP-Backed Candidate in His Party
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked to explain his decision to ban government employees and equipment from accessing TikTok, following revelations that he ignored recommendations from Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) that the Liberals allow a Toronto-area MP to run for office, due to alleged connections to the Chinese Communist Party.
Despite calls from the CSIS to rescind Han Dong’s nomination, the Liberals allowed him to run. He now represents Don Valley North in Parliament.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Christine Anderson Addresses Racism Accusations, Voices Support for Convoy
German European Parliament Member Christine Anderson responded to accusations of racism and hate made by Canadian political figures in an interview with True North. She also voiced her support for Canada’s Freedom Convoy movement.
Anderson, who has become both a popular and controversial figure in Canada, held a cross-country tour with sold-out events in Calgary, Cambridge, Toronto, Whitby and Montreal.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Government Needs to Push for Stable Family Environments for Kids, Think-Tank Recommends
A child’s family structure should be part of the equality conversation, according to a new report.
A report from Cardus, a Canadian think tank, using newly released 2021 Census data shows 60% of Canadian children live with married parents, and asserts that equality-minded governments should increase that number.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Here’s What We Know About China’s Election Interference So Far
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing growing calls to launch an independent inquiry into recently surfaced leaks about how China allegedly influenced Canadian elections over the past several years.
The allegations which have been reported by various media outlets over the past few weeks range from direct donations to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation to China bussing out sympathetic supporters to specific candidates’ nomination meetings.
Trudeau has since cast shade on the claims, even suggesting that the allegations are rooted in anti-Asian racism.
True North has compiled all of the major claims about Chinese election interference from the past month below.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Live Explosive Device Safely Removed From Busy Kelowna, B.C., Shopping Area
KELOWNA, B.C. — Traffic is back to normal through central Kelowna, B.C., after RCMP detonated an explosive device found near a busy route in the Okanagan city.
A stretch of Highway 97N, also known as Harvey Avenue, was closed in both directions for more than seven hours on Monday.
Police say a suspicious package was spotted at around noon and the highway, which runs past restaurants, businesses and busy malls, was closed as a precaution.
A bomb disposal unit was sent from Vancouver to assist.
It arrived shortly before 6 p.m. and detonated the device about an hour later.
RCMP say more information is expected later as investigators try to determine who planted the explosive and what the motive might have been.
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
The Halton District School Board (HDSB) has released a draft of its highly anticipated professionalism policy in response to a biological male teacher showing up to teach shop class wearing obscenely large fetish breasts, but the policy does not contain anything specific regarding a staff dress code.
The HDSB became the focus of intense international scrutiny last September when photographs surfaced online of a male teacher at Oakville Trafalgar High School, identified as Kayla Lemieux, wearing a blond wig, short shorts, and a tight top stretched to breaking point over enormous prosthetic breasts, the likes of which can only be purchased from specialist fetish stores.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Report Alleges China Facilitated $1 Million Donation to Help Trudeau
A new shocking report alleges that China had aimed to influence Justin Trudeau after he became the Liberal Leader in 2013 by facilitating a $1 million donation that in part went to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
The Globe and Mail wrote on Tuesday that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) intercepted a dialogue in 2014 between a political adviser to the Chinese government, Chinese billionaire Zhang Bin, a member of China’s foreign promotion networks and an official with China’s Canadian consulates.
During that conversation it is alleged that the topic of the 2015 election came up and that the Chinese diplomat told Zhang to donate $1 million to the Trudeau Foundation with the promise that he would later be reimbursed by Beijing.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trudeau Bans TikTok on Government Devices
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that Canada would be banning Chinese social media app TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices.
US Congress is currently debating allowing TikTok’s parent company from doing any business in the US. Trudeau said that the step was one of many that may or may not happen.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
100 MEPs May be Involved in Qatargate Corruption Scandal Engulfing EU Parliament, Says Polish MEP
More and more EU politicians are getting dragged into the Qatargate bribery investigation, said Dominik Tarczynski, an MEP from Poland’s ruling conservatives, while speaking with public Polish Radio 3.
“As many as a hundred MEPs could be involved,” said Tarczynski.
The corruption scandal, which shocked Europe and made headlines across the world, has seen a number of MEPs and former EU officials land in handcuffs after Belgian police raided offices and residences, where they reportedly found €1.5 million in bribe money stuffed in papers bags and suitcases.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
3 Natural Gas Deposits Discovered in Hungary
Researchers from Hungary’s oil and gas group MOL have discovered three new gas deposits in the country’s eastern plains near the Romanian border, financial news portal Portfolio reports.
The three new wells can meet the gas needs of up to 20,000 average family homes for a few years, according to a press release from MOL. The energy company launched its shallow gas program in 2019, targeting fields closer to the surface, with many of them typically small in size but requiring less investment and drilling to access. In recent years, 16 out of 18 wells have been successful, with shallow gas currently accounting for roughly 5 percent of the company’s 1.4 billion cubic meters of gas production in Hungary each year.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
An overwhelming 83 percent of respondents in a recent poll published by the De Telegraaf newspaper believe Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte should resign after a parliamentary inquiry concluded on Friday that his administration put profits before people and ignored the risks of gas production in Groningen for years, causing misery for people living in the area.
The damning report described how the Rutte government had permitted multinationals like Shell and ExxonMobil to extract natural gas at what is the largest gas field in Europe located in the Groningen province, and had gravely underestimated the devastating impact the practice would have on the community.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Color Revolution? US Funneling Millions Into Hungary’s Left-Wing Opposition Media
There is a proliferation of U.S.-funded, supposedly free journalism organizations and training courses linked to various left-wing opposition newspapers in Hungary, according to the Hungarian civil rights group, Tuzfalcsoprt (Firewall Group).
One of the largest foreign-funded press outlets — news portal Telex — has recently announced that it is launching a training program funded by the U.S. government called Telex Academy, to supposedly train young people and teachers in independent, objective journalism. The Telex Academy project is led by three Hungarian journalists who all work for opposition media.
According to a report from Magyar Nemzet, the Hungarian public has been shocked by the level of U.S. support, which shows signs of “open interference.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Greta Storms Wind Turbines in Norway
Greta Thunberg is apparently no longer fighting for renewable energy. The planned wind farms in Norway is the latest quixotic battle in which the “Fridays for Future” initiator is engaged.
The Swede, together with other climate protectors, blocked access to the Norwegian Ministry of Energy in Oslo. They are protesting against the construction of wind turbines in the west of the country, reported the AFP news agency.
The reason for their resistance is the indigenous peoples who live in the area. “We cannot use the so-called climate change as a cover for colonialism,” said Thunberg, according to TV2, outside the ministry’s doors. “A climate transition that violates human rights is not a climate transition worthy of the name.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Protestors glued their hands to glass doors at the entrance to the offices of asset management company Blackrock, in Ballsbridge, Dublin yesterday over the company’s investments in fossil fuels.
Up to 20 members of the Extinction Rebellion climate change action group rallied at the head offices of the company calling for divestment, claiming that the firm is escalating the environmental crisis.
Demonstrators carried large banners and placards saying “Blackrock Divest from fossil fuel ecocide” and spilled fake oil on the ground at the front of the building, along with red paper to represent blood.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
NATO Membership: Finland Takes Step Towards Joining Alliance Without Waiting for Sweden
Finland begins its final debate in parliament on Tuesday on NATO membership, without waiting for the approval of Turkey and Hungary.
Nor is Helsinki waiting for neighbouring Sweden, which has also been a candidate since last year but is currently facing a Turkish veto.
The government of outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin wants to avoid any potential political vacuum, with elections due on April 2.
“We would have hoped to become members of Nato already. Finland and Sweden fulfil all the criteria, as has been mentioned, and we are yet waiting. And of course, this strains the open-door policy of NATO; it’s also to do with Nato’s credibility,” Marin said.
The 200 members of the Finnish parliament, the Eduskunta, are due to begin debating the NATO accession bill on Tuesday, with a vote expected by Wednesday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Spanish Populists Try to Force Early Election With Censure Motion of PM
Spanish populist party VOX has put forth a motion of censure directed at Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in an effort to force an early election and topple the current leftist coalition.
Santiago Abascal, leader of VOX, announced the motion of censure against Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, calling for the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) leader to be replaced by Professor Ramón Tamames, a former member of parliament and economist
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Tony Blair Praises Estonia for Its Digital ID System, Where Babies Are Given a Digital ID at Birth
The small northeastern European country of Estonia — which supporters of its policies consider “Europe’s most tech-savvy nation” — is being cited as a role-model that the UK should look up to while introducing digital IDs.
This idea is pushed by none other than former PM Tony Blair, while if you believe centralizing your entire person into a digital ID, and making sure newborns are “opted-in” from the very moment they are born to be the markings of “tech-savviness” — then Estonia is that.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK Greenhouses Shut Down Due to High Energy Costs
In Great Britain, a particularly depressing facet of the crisis is now showing its first contours — and thus anticipating what is likely to happen in other European countries in the near future: because of the exploding energy prices, agriculture is being strangled and fresh produce has to be rationed.
High energy prices in the UK have meant that many farmers have made limited use of greenhouses to plant winter crops. According to a BBC report, this is leading to the first supermarkets to ration various types of vegetables. Field crops such as tomatoes, peppers, lamb’s lettuce, cauliflower or cucumbers are sometimes only sold in limited quantities.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: 80 SUVs in Clifton Have Their Tyres Let Down by Environmental Campaigners
An environmental campaign group targeted 80 vehicles in Clifton last night by letting down their tyres. Tyre Extinguishers held a night of action across Europe, with cars targeted in the UK, France, Italy and Germany.
Cities targeted by the the international climate group last night include London, Paris, Toulouse, Berlin and Milan. The action was held to mark a year since the launch of the Tyre Extinguishers. On March 7 last year, the first TE actions took place across the UK, later spreading internationally.
Action took place last night in:
- Clifton, Bristol, UK (80 vehicles targeted)
- Clapham, London, UK (42)
- Clapham South, London, UK (16)
- Milan, Italy (30)
- Toulouse, France (72)
- 16th Arrondissement, Paris, France (72)
- Nancy, France (21)
- Friedrichshain area, Berlin (22)
- Werden, Essen, Germany (12)
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Extinction Rebellion Chain Themselves to Entrance of Multinational Law Firm in Cardiff
Members of protest group Extinction Rebellion (XR) chained themselves to the entrance of a law firm in Cardiff.
The group, who campaign against the lack of action by policy makers to tackle the unfolding climate crisis, set up a blockade outside law firm Eversheds Sutherland at One Callaghan Square in Cardiff on Tuesday afternoon. Demonstrators wrote “defending climate criminals” in graffiti on the glass at the front of the building. A black liquid, seemingly used to represent oil, was poured on the front steps of the law firm, and other banners have been placed alongside.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Partially-Sighted Pedestrian With Cerebral Palsy Convicted of Manslaughter After Cyclist Killed
Retired midwife died after she veered from the pavement into the path of a car after she was shouted at to get off the pavement
A partially-sighted pedestrian with cerebral palsy has been convicted of manslaughter after a 77-year-old cyclist fell into the path of a car after being confronted about riding on a pavement.
Auriol Grey, 49, gestured in a “hostile and aggressive way” towards retired midwife Celia Ward who then fell into the path of an oncoming car.
A video shown to Peterborough Crown Court, Cambs, captured the moment Grey shouted at Mrs Ward to “get off the [expletive] pavement”.
Moments later Mrs Ward appears to wobble off the pavement into the carriageway at Huntingdon, Cambs, where she is struck by a VW Passat. Grey, of Huntingdon, Cambs, was convicted of manslaughter and will be sentenced on March 2.
The court heard the two women passed each other in opposite directions on the pavement of the town’s ring road pavement on October 20, 2020.
The prosecution claimed Grey was “angered by the presence of a cyclist on a footpath”.
Prosecutor Simon Spence KC said Grey shouted at Mrs Ward and “gestured in a hostile and aggressive way towards” her, causing her to fall off the bike and into the road where she was hit by an oncoming car.
Jurors heard the vehicle had no chance to stop or take avoiding action and Mrs Ward died at the scene.
The court heard Grey left prior to emergency services arriving and went to Sainsbury’s where she bought groceries.
In a police interview, Grey, who has cerebral palsy, told officers she was partially sighted and described the pedal cycle as travelling “fast” in the centre of the pavement.
She stated she was “anxious that I was going to get hit by it”, adding she “may have unintentionally put” out her hand to protect herself.
But after being shown the CCTV footage, interviewing officer Det Sgt Mark Dollard asked her why she said what she said, to which she responded: “I don’t know.”
The court was told police could not “categorically” state whether the pavement was a shared cycleway.
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
Vatican Newspaper Urges Catholics to Fast From ‘Fossil Fuels’ for Lent
ROME — The Vatican’s official newspaper L’Osservatore Romano has appealed to Catholics to “fast from gas” and other fossil fuels during Lent in solidarity with those suffering “cold in Ukraine.”
Lent is “a time for reflection and concrete actions such as ‘fasting from gas’ and limiting the use of heating,” the newspaper proposed, “not only as a sign of solidarity with Ukrainians and other afflicted peoples, but also to defund the war economy.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
ISIS-Affiliated Moroccan Jailed for Beheading European Hikers Kills Himself in Prison
A Moroccan convicted of belonging to an Islamic State-affiliated ring and sentenced to death for the beheadings of two Scandinavian tourists has killed himself in prison, Moroccan officials said.
The facility where he was held in the eastern city of Oujda said in a statement that staff found his body early Tuesday.
The prisoner was among convicted ring members jailed in 2019 over the gruesome killings of two young Scandinavian women, Louisa Vesterager Jespersen from Denmark and Maren Ueland from Norway. They were killed in December 2018 while on a backpacking trip in the Atlas Mountains, near the city of Marrakech.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belarus Tightens Controls at Border in Response to Alleged Drone Attack on Russian Plane
A Russian surveillance A-50 plane was allegedly blown up in a drone attack in Belarus on Sunday, according to the Belarusian opposition.
The attack on the plane was allegedly conducted by partisans, which was damaged and “will not be flying any time soon.”
“They were drones (that carried out the attack). The participants of the operation are Belarusians,” Aliaksandr Azarov, leader of Belarusian anti-government organization BYPOL, was quoted as saying on Sunday on the organization’s Telegram and on the Polish Belsat news channel.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Front-Line Ukrainian Soldiers Only Survive 4 Hours, Says US Volunteer Fighting Outside Bahkmut
A Ukrainian soldier will only survive for four hours on the eastern front of the war in Ukraine, according to a former U.S. marine now serving as a volunteer in Ukraine, Hungarian Magyar Nemzet reports.
The former Marine, Troy Offenbecker, describes the area around Bahkmut as a veritable “meat grinder” and said that shelling in the area is “non-stop.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
NATO Yields to Ukraine: Promises Membership ‘In the Long Term’
Ukraine’s long-standing pleas for NATO membership received an affirmative response Tuesday with the promise of it joining “in the long term” sure to infuriate Moscow.
The secretary-general of the Western military alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, stressed the immediate challenge is Ukraine remaining an independent nation free from the invading forces of neighbor Russia as he flagged the future membership.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Top Defense officials insisted that Ukraine will not fall to Russia and they have no reason to believe US dollars and equipment are being ‘diverted’ for unintended purposes.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Ukraine War: Drone Strikes, Military Drills and Concert Cancellations
Putin orders border restrictions after drone attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to tighten control of the border with Ukraine after a spate of drone attacks on Tuesday.
A flurry of drone attacks on Monday night and Tuesday morning targeted regions inside Russia along the border with Ukraine and deeper into the country, according to local Russian authorities.
While Putin didn’t refer to any specific attacks in a speech in the Russian capital, his comments came hours after drone attacks targeted several areas in southern and western Russia.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ukrainian Drones Fly Deep Inside Russia, Breaching Defences
Kyiv: Drones that the Kremlin said were launched by Ukraine flew deep inside Russian territory, including one that got within 100 kilometres of Moscow, signalling breaches in Russian defences as President Vladimir Putin ordered stepped-up protection at the border.
Officials said the drones caused no injuries and did not inflict any significant damage, but the attacks on Monday night and Tuesday morning raised questions about Russian defence capabilities more than a year after the country’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
China Warns Elon Musk After COVID Lab Leak Comments
China is warning Twitter CEO Elon Musk against sharing posts that promote the lab leak theory of the coronavirus, suggesting that such commentary could hurt Tesla’s relationship with the company’s second-largest market.
The cryptic warning came on a social media post by the state-run Global Times newspaper. The writer was reacting to Musk commenting on a tweet mentioning the Department of Energy’s conclusion that COVID-19 originated at a lab in Wuhan, China.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has had to rule out a capital gains tax on the family home after his Treasurer Jim Chalmers repeatedly refused to rule it out in an interview with David Koch on Sunrise.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
The Aussie eshay rapper — who built a successful online persona speaking about his troubled past — went on an Instagram tirade as tens of thousands marched in the Sydney Mardi Gras.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Ashlyn Nassif, 27, the daughter of Sydney property developer Jean Nassif — spent the night behind bars after being charged over her alleged involvement in a multimillion fraud plot.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Father-of-three Ben Clark revealed how he tried to calm the ‘screaming’ teenager down outside his home in Emu Park, Queensland.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
The man, Thomas Matthews, hit Detective leading senior constable Alun Mills and constables Melanie Miller and Alyce Mueck outside the National Arboretum, in Canberra’s west, on July 11 2021.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
The Aurora Australis, Southern Lights, were spotted halfway up NSW on Monday night is an extremely rare event.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil said the men had taken turns to approach her brother and his boyfriend to spit at them and then make ‘gagging’ sounds towards them.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
CCTV captured the large stack of toilet paper rolls bursting into flames at a Spudshed store in Perth’s Innaloo on Monday night — with police charging a 13-year-old girl over the incident.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Footage shows a taxi driving off when the driver spotted the performer — who goes by the stage name Penny Tration — leaving her on the street struggling to get home while carrying bags.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Victorian Police officers responded to reports of a stabbing at Reservoir High School in Reservoir, Melbourne’s north, at 10.50am on Tuesday.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Danish Socialists Felt Heat, Saw Light on Immigration
The valuable Remix website, which focuses on European news, has posted has posted 10 ways Denmark’s left-wing government reduced asylum applications by 82% and dramatically cut immigration, by John Cody, February 1, 2023.
For Immigration Patriots, there is a great deal of food for thought in this essay:
The Danish left-wing government…continues to be unique in all of Europe, featuring the only ruling left-wing bloc seriously opposed to mass immigration.
The numbers speak for themselves, with an 82 percent drop in asylum applications recorded and overall immigration falling 28 percent.
While the Remix article is focused on how this has been achieved, the more important question is: Why has this happened?
A great deal of credit is due to the much-reviled Danish People’s Party, which established immigration as an election issue more than 20 years ago. Steve Sailer marked their zenith in 2015: “Anti-Immigrant Party Gains in Denmark Elections” saying of their platform proposals
Those sound like normal issues for the normal voters of a normal country to democratically debate, but in the U.S. such discussion is considered scandalous.
Not only did the main leftist party, the Social Democrats, promptly steal their policies, but when coming to power in 2019 they actually implemented them!
Why did this happen?
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Approximately 500 local residents in the German city of Greifswald attended a demonstration on Monday evening against the district council’s decision to spend €9 million on the construction of a container village to accommodate asylum seekers.
A large police presence was deployed at the site of the planned accommodation where a meeting among local authorities was taking place. A counter-demonstration by 50 pro-refugee activists caused tensions to rise, and verbal altercations between the two groups were reported, as was an allegation of one counter-protester being physically assaulted.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
North African Migrants Beat Ukrainian Woman With Iron Bar Inside German Asylum Center
After two Moroccan migrants and an Algerian migrant became involved in an argument with a Ukrainian woman inside an asylum center in the southwest German town of Bensheim, they began to beat the woman, with one of them hitting her in the head with an iron bar.
At that point, a large confrontation involving 50 residents of the asylum center ensued, which resulted in them throwing stones and other objects. Private security called police to the scene after being overwhelmed by the violence.
The Moroccan attackers, aged 16 and 23, and an Algerian aged 16 were reportedly arrested by police, along with other suspects.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Presence of NGO Ships Off Italian Coast is Fueling Migration Crisis, Warns Intelligence Report
Pro-refugee rescue boats operating off the Italian coast are only exacerbating Europe’s migration crisis and are being used by people smugglers to guarantee success, a report by the Italian intelligence services has claimed.
In its annual report to the Italian parliament on Tuesday, Italy’s intelligence services warned the Ionian Sea may well become the new route of choice for people smugglers, indicating an increase in the number of boats leaving Turkey’s east coast destined for Italy.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK Border Force Told to ‘Deprioritise’ Gun and Drug Searches to Keep Lines Flowing: Report
Britain’s Border Force has reportedly been ordered to “deprioritise” searches for guns and drugs entering the UK in order to keep immigration lines flowing.
A leaked email sent to Border Force officials stationed at Manchester Airport earlier this month reportedly ordered staff to “deprioritise” routine searches for contraband, such as drugs, illegal firearms, or other offensive weapons in order to prevent delays for those looking to enter Britain.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
An Eye-Opening New Report on Women’s Views of Trans Athletes
By a wide margin, elite female athletes have rejected the idea of allowing male-bodied athletes to compete in their women’s sport.
This comes from a Sport Canada commissioned report which the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) think tank managed to obtain via an Access to Information request.
Ottawa’s initial attempts to obstruct the release of the report so critical of its policy is likely due to this blatant rejection by female athletes.
The report, Canadian High-Performance Female Athletes’ Voices: Transgender Inclusion in Elite and Olympic Sport Guidelines, was the first attempt in Canada to consult the women living with the consequences of the new policies that “rank transgender inclusion as more important than safety, fairness, and equality of the sexes.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biological Male Runner Wins Women’s 1,500m Event in Canada
A biological male has won a masters division female running event in Canada.
50-year-old Tiffany Newell came in first place in the W50 1,500m race at the Canadian Masters Indoor Championships over the weekend, with the race being open to women aged 50 to 54, according to the Daily Mail.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Florida Bill Aims to Strengthen ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law’s Restrictions on Sexual Topics in Schools
Florida Republicans on Tuesday filed legislation to expand state restrictions on the discussion of sexual and gender-related topics in public schools.
The state’s Parental Rights in Education law, which critics have labelled a “Don’t Say Gay” measure, bars discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in public school classrooms from grades kindergarten through third.
Republican State Rep. Adam Anderson’s measure would expand the restrictions through to the eighth grade, The Hill reported. The bill would absolve students, employees and contractors of any obligation to address individuals by their preferred pronouns should they misalign with one’s biological sex.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Irish Government Abandons Plan to Teach Children Gender is a ‘Spectrum’
The plan to teach children that gender resides on a “spectrum” has been abandoned, a report on Sunday has claimed.
A planned rework of Ireland’s Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum that aimed to teach children that “gender identity” was on a “spectrum” has reportedly been abandoned by the government, a report on Tuesday has claimed.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Los Angeles County deputy district attorney suspended for misgendering a trans child molester fired back at District Attorney George Gascon on Monday, accusing him of endangering children with “misguided” progressive policies after trying a trans woman as a juvenile.
Shea Sanna, 34, who had been the lead prosecutor in the case that garnered national attention, told Fox News on Monday that he was unjustly punished by Gascon because he did not use the preferred pronouns of convicted child molester Hannah Tubbs when raising concerns that Tubbs was attempting to use gender identity to game the justice system. Sources say Sanna’s ruse claim, which was supported by jailhouse phone calls between Tubbs and her father, made others in Gascon’s office uncomfortable and resulted in his five-day suspension.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Children in Southampton, Essex and Blackpool have all launched wild protests and posted footage on the social media platform, after similar demonstrations in Yorkshire, Cornwall and Lincolnshire in recent days.
Videos have circulated of students disrupting school activities over rules they dislike, including toilet and uniform policies.
Students at Weston Secondary School in Southampton protested over rules that mean boys and girls can use the same toilets.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
PA School District Requires Teachers Keep Students’ Gender Identity Secret From Parents
A Pennsylvania school district has been revealed to require that its staff withhold information from parents about their child’s gender identity, and recommends that teachers speak privately with students who identify as transgender to find out how they would like to be addressed in communication with their parents.
The Lower Merion School District (LMSD) policy to ensure “equity and nondiscrimination” for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) students advises school personnel not to “disclose information about a TGD student’s gender identity and expression to others, including the student’s parents/guardians…unless legally required to do so.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Psychiatrist Says Mental Health Profession Has Been ‘Brainwashed’ About Trans ‘Affirmation’
A psychiatrist with decades of experience working with transgender people has outlined what he believes to be 13 scientifically false assumptions which serve as the foundation of affirmation-only therapy for children and adolescents suffering from gender dysphoria.
Dr Stephen Levine was testifying before a Florida House Health & Human Services Committee on Feb 21 in favour of a ban on medical sex changes for minors. Levine was part of a panel of experts invited by Rep. Randy Fine who afterwards announced plans to pursue legislation to ban medical interventions such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and sex change surgeries for under 18s in the state, according to Florida Politics.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A landmark gender-versus-sex test case is underway in Australia where a trans-identified male has brought legal action against the founder of a female-only social networking app after being barred from using the platform.
Roxanne Tickle, a biological male who identifies as a woman, is suing Giggle app owner Sall Grover alleging unlawful discrimination under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act, reports the Daily Mail. Tickle was removed from Giggle in 2021 by Grover on the grounds of being male. Giggle was created for the purpose of giving women and girls an online space to gather away from the presence of males.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Uganda Accuses Western Governments of Pushing Pro-Gay Agenda
Uganda is resisting international pro-gay propaganda by putting forward new legislation to protect its “cherished values and culture” according to Annet Anita Among, the speaker of the Ugandan parliament.
Among has pledged to the country “that a Bill will be introduced as soon as possible to deal with Homosexuality and lesbianism,” she wrote on Twitter. “We shall Jealously protect our cherished values and culture.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sex-ed classes have been suspended in Isle of Man schools and a formal investigation launched after a drag queen allegedly taught 11-year-olds that there are 73 genders, and other Grade 7 groups were taught about anal sex and sex change surgeries.
According to The Telegraph, the Isle of Man government launched an independent review of its sex-ed curriculum in response to parent complaints about the “graphic, disproportionate, indecent presentation” involving descriptions of sexual acts and discussion about gender identities in lessons.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Washington State House bill was voted out of committee last week that would create a 13-member commission within the office of the Attorney General to develop a data collection process on incidents of “domestic violent extremism (DVE).”
Domestic violent extremism is not defined in the legislation but according to State Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s description, it would include noncriminal activities and speech.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
WHO Moves Forward With Plans to Target “Misinformation” and “Disinformation” Under International Law
The global unelected health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) is marching forward with its plans to make amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) which would give it new far-reaching powers to counter “misinformation and disinformation.”
The plans to amend the International Health Regulations (IHR) were set in motion in January last year when the Biden administration quietly proposed sweeping changes to the IHR.
Currently, the IHR are a legally binding instrument under international law. They require 196 countries to build capabilities to detect and report potential public health emergencies worldwide and respond swiftly to a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) whenever it’s declared by the WHO.
The amendments being pushed by the Biden administration sought to increase the WHO’s powers to declare “potential” health emergencies and empower the WHO to develop new global surveillance and data-sharing mechanisms.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Re: “UK: Partially-sighted pedestrian…”
Like running red lights, or ignoring one-way streets, cycling on the pavement has been illegal in the UK since I was young, and dinosaurs roamed the Thames Valley, and the police in this case should have known this.
Some likely causes: far fewer cops on foot patrol; ignorance of the law from cyclists, pedestrians (who might otherwise assert themselves more often) and the police themselves; increased disrespect of others’ rights; and especially cyclists’ seeing themselves as “virtuous”, and therefore victims.