Russian President Vladimir Putin held a four-hour press conference in which he said that the war in Ukraine will continue until Russian objectives are reached. Meanwhile, Russia bombarded Kyiv with ballistic missiles, wounding dozens of people.
In other news, Pope Francis said that Italians should welcome immigrants as “sons and daughters”.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, DV, Fjordman, JW, LP, McN, MM, Reader from Chicago, SS, Upananda Brahmachari, 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.
Biden Administration Runs Record November Budget Deficit
Authored by Michael Maharrey via SchiffGold.com
The Biden administration just ran the largest November budget deficit in history.
And it managed this feat even with a 9% increase in government receipts.
The November budget shortfall came in at $314.01 billion, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement. That was 26% higher than the November 2022 deficit.
Just two months into fiscal 2024, the federal government has run up $380.58 billion in red ink. This follows on the heels of the third-largest annual budget deficit in history.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Institutes Predict a Significant Slowdown in the Pace of Germany’s Economic Growth for the Year 2024
The German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) anticipates a notably slower economic recovery in the country over the next two years than initially expected. For the upcoming year, the DIW now forecasts an economic growth of 0.6 percent with a growth of 1.0 percent projected for 2025. The institute stated on Thursday in Berlin that this prediction takes into account the German government’s plan to make savings in the coming years and not carry out all the promised or envisaged expenditures, as reported by Spiegel.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
After Affirmative Action Win Over Harvard, Group Takes on West Point
Authored by Michael Washburn via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
The group that triumphed in a landmark Supreme Court case that struck down affirmative action policies at Harvard University earlier this year hopes to build on the victory with a lawsuit targeting similar policies at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Appeals Court Orders New Election in Controversial Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Race
(The Center Square) — The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s race remains undecided and may head to the Louisiana Supreme Court following an appeals court ruling this week.
A five-judge panel with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling ordering a new election on Tuesday in a 3-2 decision on Tuesday, finding Republican candidate John Nickelson proved two people voted twice and four others who cast ballots were ineligible.
Democrat Henry Whitehorn was initially declared the winner in the sheriff’s race with a one-vote margin in a Nov. 18 runoff with more than 43,000 votes cast. A recount on Nov. 27 did not change the result.
Nickelson filed a lawsuit with allegations of irregularities that convinced a lower court to order a new election, a decision upheld by the majority on the appeals court panel on Tuesday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Blue State Democrats Demand Jail Time for People Caught Using Gas-Powered Gardening Tools
Democrats in the state of Washington are pushing for members of the public to be jailed for up to one year if they are caught using gas-powered gardening tools.
According to State Reps. Amy Walen and Liz Berry, jailing law-abiding citizens over their lawn mower’s power source will help to fight “climate change.”
Last week, the Democrat lawmakers introduced House Bill 1868.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Defends Excluding White City Council Members From ‘Electeds of Color’ Party
Boston, Massachusetts, Mayor Michelle Wu (D) is defending her holiday party that excluded white city council members after receiving backlash when an invitation leaked online.
Seven out of the 13 council members are white and were “uninvited” from Wu’s “Electeds of Color” gathering after they were mistakenly emailed an invitation, the New York Post reported.
Wu admitted that white council members were accidentally invited to the party, which was meant to exclude them, but said it was an “honest mistake.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Blaze Journalist Who Covered Jan 6 to be Charged by Biden DOJ
Journalist for The Blaze Steve Baker has been notified by the FBI that he is going to be charged by Biden’s Department of Justice for his work covering the protest and riot at the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. He was told to surrender to authorities on Tuesday and has not yet been made aware of the charges.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Capitol Police Commander Who Ordered Evacuations of Senate and House: ‘J6 Was Not an Insurrection’
In an X post on Thursday, former US Capitol Police Lieutenant Tarik Johnson said that he has been stating publically that “J6 was not an insurrection, but not many people would listen,” reflecting on Vivek Ramaswamy’s comments during a CNN townhall event in Iowa on Wednesday evening.
“Vivek Ramaswamy got a lot right in this interview,” Johnson began. “I’ve been saying publicly for a year that J6 was not an insurrection but not many people would listen.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Congress Extends Mass Surveillance Program
On Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed a funding bill for next year’s defense expenditures, which controversially incorporates a short-term extension of certain surveillance authority.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House, passing with a vote of 310 to 118. This count far exceeded the two-thirds majority needed for approval. Following its passage, the bill is now headed to the White House, where it awaits President Joe Biden’s signature to become law.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Contempt of Congress Proceedings Initiated Against Hunter Biden, Potential Imprisonment and Fine
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) initiated contempt of Congress proceedings against Hunter Biden after the president’s son failed to appear for a subpoenaed closed-door deposition Wednesday.
If prosecuted and convicted for contempt of Congress, Hunter Biden’s punishment could be up to a $100,000 fine and imprisonment.
A deposition is a standard procedure used by congressional investigators. Democrats used depositions in their investigations regularly, including the Adam Schiff (D-CA) impeachment inquiry and the partisan January 6 Committee.
House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) emphasized the importance of standard, closed-door depositions.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
DoorDash Driver Carjacked by 11-Year-Old at Gunpoint in Virginia
A female DoorDash driver has been carjacked at gunpoint by an 11-year-old child in Virginia, according to police.
The alleged victim, Deon Smith, was robbed at gunpoint by the young boy.
She was making a delivery in an apartment complex in Richmond, according to the New York Post.
Smith told Scripss New Richmond that the incident occurred along the 400 block of Westover Hills Boulevard.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Elise Stefanik, Other Republicans Call for Harvard to be Stripped of Billions in Federal Funds
Republicans including Rep Elise Stefanik (R-NY) are calling for Harvard to be stripped of billions of dollars in federal funding and tax breaks over the Ivy League institution’s “antisemitism shame.” Stefanik explains, “We must defund the rot in America’s higher education.”
Harvard, which benefits from hundreds of millions of dollars in federal payments, as well as sweeping tax breaks — which have helped to make the school the world’s richest academic institution — is now being investigated by the Department of Education over whether it has violated the civil rights of its Jewish students.
Meanwhile, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) told the New York Post, “We must defund the rot in America’s higher education.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
First Lady Jill Biden Blasted Over ‘Bizarre’ White House Christmas Video: ‘United States of Bananas’
First lady Jill Biden was blasted Wednesday night after posting a video to X showing dancers tapping around the holiday-decorated White House, whose theme this year is “Magic, Wonder and Joy.”
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the first lady shared the video from the official @FLOTUS account, along with a caption.
“A bit of magic, wonder, and joy brought to you by the talented tappers of Dorrance Dance, performing their playful interpretation of The Nutcracker Suite. Enjoy!” the first lady’s post read.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hunter Biden Worried He’ll Have to Flee the Country if Trump Wins in 2024: Report
A new report detailing Hunter Biden’s legal troubles revealed that President Biden’s son is worried about his fate if former President Trump returns to the White House.
Politico’s Jonathan Lemire reported Wednesday that the younger Biden may be forced to leave the U.S. if Trump is re-elected, amid Republican lawmakers’ investigations into him.
The piece stated, “Hunter Biden knows he is in the political crosshairs. In recent conversations with family friends, he has worried that he might have to flee the country if Trump were to be elected president again, according to two people who have spoken to him.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Judge Strikes Down Challenge to Texas Banning TikTok on Government Devices
A U.S. district judge struck down a legal challenge to a Texas law banning the Chinese app TikTok from government devices in the state.
Judge Robert Pitman struck down the challenge on Monday, saying, “the ban is a reasonable restriction on access to TikTok in light of Texas’s concerns” about the Chinese-owned platform, according to a report by HuffPost.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Legal Group Demands Records for Failed Natural Gas Deal Between Biden Family and Chinese Oligarchs
An American legal group has filed an official request for public records related to the failed Louisiana natural gas deal between members of Democrat President Joe Biden’s family and Chinese oligarchs.
Through the House Republican investigation of alleged Biden family influence-peddling, evidence has been uncovered of the questionable but unsuccessful proposed deal.
The deal between Biden family members and Chinese business associates involved Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) in Louisiana.
The America First Legal organization has now filed a public records request with the office of Louisiana’s Democrat Gov. Jon Bel Edwards.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
—that also describe the chaotic scene as agents scrambled to save him
Newly-released records from the Secret Service show the chaotic early moments as agents scrambled to try and rescue Barack Obama’s personal chef in Martha’s Vineyard, struggling to get a motor boat into the murky water with just 15 minutes of daylight.
Agents tried but failed to get two motorboats on the property working, at least one of them belonging to the Secret Service, before they successfully started a third boat belonging to the groundskeeper.
But it was already too late. Tafari Campbell, 45, never surfaced the night of July 23, and his body was pulled from Edgartown Great Pond the following day.
Judicial Watch, a conservative activist group, successfully sued the Department of Homeland Security to obtain incident reports written by agents and related materials.
The 33 pages are heavily redacted and basically mirror accounts already given by state and local police — that Campbell drowned while paddle boarding.
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
Oakland Coffee Shop Fires Employees Amid Antisemitism Accusations
Authored by Micaela Ricaforte via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
A coffee shop in Oakland, California, fired several employees for denying a Jewish woman access to its restroom after she complained it had been tagged with antisemitic graffiti.
Farley’s coffee shop last week became the center of a controversy after a video surfaced on social media showing several employees blocking a woman from using the restroom.
In the video, the woman states that she wants to take a video of antisemitic graffiti in the restroom.
At the end of the video, the employees let the woman into the restroom, and the woman held up the camera to show that the words “zionism = fascism” were written on the restroom’s mirror.
Additionally, the words “your neutrality/apathy is enabling genocide” as well as “free Palestine” were written on another wall.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Oklahoma Governor Signs Executive Order Effectively Banning DEI in All State Institutions
Following the meltdown on Capitol Hill by “Ivy League” Presidents from Harvard, MIT and Penn, on Wednesday of this week Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2023-31, effectively banning diversity, equity and inclusion bureaucracies in state institutions.
Standing in front of a podium which read “DEFUNDING DISCRIMINATION”, Stitt announced: “In Oklahoma, we’re going to encourage equal opportunity, rather than promising equal outcomes.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Pentagon Falls 41,000 Short of Reduced Military Recruitment Goals
The Pentagon came up short on its recruitment goals.
The Defense Department’s senior officials testified Wednesday about shortfalls in Army, Navy and Air Force recruiting in the fiscal year that ended in September at a hearing of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee. The Marine Corps and Space Force made their recruiting goals.
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Ashish Vazirani said that during fiscal year 2023, the military services together missed goals by about 41,000 recruits.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poll: About 20% of Democrats Want Donald Trump Executed, Exiled, Jailed for Life
Some Democrats wish the worst for former President Donald Trump, even though his presidency successfully created prosperity for the nation’s citizens.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poll: Donald Trump Trounces Joe Biden in 7 Swing States Heading Into Election Year
Former President Donald Trump has the edge over President Joe Biden in seven crucial swing states in hypothetical match-ups with the 2024 general election less than a year away, according to a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll.
The poll, released on Thursday, shows Trump leading Biden in head-to-head races and in deeper fields in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. However, some of the advantages are within the margin of error.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Republicans Introduce Plan to Verify U.S. Citizenship for Mail-in Voters
Republicans on the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, led by Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), have introduced legislation that would give states the power to verify the American citizenship of applicants registering to vote via mail.
This week, Britt and fellow Republicans introduced the “Citizen Ballot Protection Act” which would give states the ability to more accurately verify that only American citizens are being approved for voter registrations.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Republican Senator Calls Out Companies for Remaining on TikTok While Boycotting X
Authored by Frank Fang via The Epoch Times
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) criticized companies including Comcast and Disney for having a double standard, over their recent decision to boycott American social media app X but not Chinese-owned TikTok.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Rocker Rod Stewart Fleeing Los Angeles and Its ‘Toxic Culture’
British rock and pop singer Rod Stewart has become the latest celebrity seeking to flee the Democrat-run city of Los Angeles, as he has relisted his mansion.
Stewart, who is fed up with LA’s “toxic culture,” relisted his mansion with $10 million price increase, according to a report by New York Post.
The 78-year-old rocker had initially listed his home for $70 million six months ago, but upped the price to $80 million in his new listing.
Not too long after Stewart listed his mansion the first time, sources told Daily Mail that he sought to return home to London after becoming sick of the “toxic culture” in Los Angeles.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sen. Ted Cruz Says Elon Musk’s Purchase of X is One of the Most Crucial Victories for Free Speech
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Thursday that Elon Musk purchasing the social media platform X, formerly called Twitter, was a major victory for free speech.
The GOP lawmaker explained on the “Just the News, No Noise” TV show that one of the best ways to take back institutions that are run by left-leaning individuals is for conservatives and libertarians to invest in major platforms of ideas.
“The example I use on this is Elon Musk’s buying Twitter, which I think is the single most important step for free speech in decades,” Cruz said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Supreme Court Allows Illinois Semiautomatic Weapons Ban to Stay in Place
The Supreme Court has allowed an Illinois law banning high-powered semiautomatic weapons to remain in place.
In a Thursday order with no noted dissents or explanation of its decision, the Supreme Court denied a request from the National Association for Gun rights, which asked for a preliminary injunction.
The ban, signed by Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in January, includes penalties for individuals who, “carries or possesses… manufactures, sells, delivers, imports, or purchases any assault weapon or .50 caliber rifle.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ted Cruz Lays Out Three Steps to Fight Cultural Marxism: Transparency, Change the Ledger, Influence
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, says that there are three ways to combat cultural marxism that has taken over American institutions: transparency, changing the ledger and investing in transmission of ideas.
“I lay out three different buckets of tools we can use to fight to take these institutions back,” Cruz said on the Thursday edition of the “Just the News, No Noise” TV show. “Number one is sunlight and transparency, because the ideas of the radical left are wildly unpopular. When you expose them, the people reject them.”
Cruz recently published a book titled “Unwoke: How to Defeat Cultural Marxism in America.” The book goes into detail about steps conservatives can take to win America back from leftist ideologies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Watch: Palestinian Protesters Tell Jews Leaving Israeli Embassy ‘We Will Kill You All, Occupiers’
A cadre of pro-Palestinian protesters told Jews leaving a Hanukkah celebration at the Israeli Embassy, “We will kill you all.”
Video of the horrifying incident went viral on social media on Tuesday, which showed a Jewish man walking down the street as a car drove past him with two people waving a Palestinian flag out the window while shouting, “We will kill you all, occupiers.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Zelensky Meets With Defense Contractors in D.C. During Bid for U.S. Taxpayer Money
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with defense contractors during his visit to Washington, DC, this week, amid a bid for $61 billion in U.S. taxpayer support for Ukraine, according to a video he posted on social media.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Liberal members of a Parliamentary committee assessing whether House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus violated the terms of his office reportedly tried to pass off letters from prominent Liberals as “anonymous letters” supporting Fergus.
“Liberals wanted everyone watching to know that members of our committee received ‘anonymous letters’ supporting Greg Fergus as Speaker,” opposition MP Eric Duncan (CPC-Stomont-Dundas-South Glengarry) posted on X Monday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Revealed: Trudeau Government Paid Twitter ‘Influencers’ to Promote COVID Vaccines
The Trudeau government has paid out $682,000 to “influencers” on Twitter, now known as X, since 2021 to try to convince Canadians to take the Covid-19 vaccine and embrace Liberal policies.
According to Blacklock’s Report, Health Canada has been a major contributor to this stealth paid advertising campaign.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Climate Crazies Wage Coordinated Attacks on Christmas Trees in Seven Cities in Germany
Radical climate activists launched a series of coordinated strikes against public Christmas trees throughout Germany on Wednesday morning in response to the supposed climate “catastrophe”.
The so-called ‘Last Generation’ green activist group sprayed public Christmas trees with orange paint in Berlin and six other German cities on Wednesday morning, including festively adorned trees in Potsdam Square and the tree outside the nearby Federal Council building in Berlin.
The climate crazies also claimed to have similarly smeared Christmas trees with paint in the cities of Keil, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg, Rostock, and Oldenburg. The attacks were all coordinated to occur simultaneously at 10 am local time.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Court Rules Amazon Doesn’t Have to Pay $270 Million Back Taxes Demanded by EU
LONDON (AP) — Amazon won’t have to pay about 250 million euros ($273 million) in back taxes after European Union judges ruled in favor of the U.S. e-commerce giant Thursday, dealing a defeat to the 27-nation bloc in its efforts to tackle corporate tax avoidance.
The ruling by the EU’s top court is final, ending the long-running legal battle over tax arrangements between Amazon and Luxembourg’s government and marking a further setback for a crackdown by antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czech Republic Glassworks Ends Production After 230 Years, Laying Off Majority of Employees
The historic Kvetna Glassworks, situated in the Strani municipality of the Uherské Hradiste region in the Czech Republic, is set to halt its handmade glass production in January next year, marking the end of a tradition dating back to 1794, CTK reports.
The decision comes as a result of soaring energy prices over recent years, rendering the export-focused business uncompetitive in the market. Marek Miklas, the director of the glassworks, cited a 14 million crown annual increase in energy costs since 2022. This lead to a loss of competitiveness globally, particularly in Europe, where it faces stiff competition from countries subsidizing energy costs for similar industries.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Leaders and law enforcement officials in Israel, Denmark and Germany are expressing alarm after arresting multiple individuals across Europe allegedly linked to a Hamas-affiliated terrorist cell.
The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — in conjunction with German and Danish law enforcement — revealed Thursday the details of an operation that arrested multiple individuals in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands accused of plotting terrorist attacks
“Thank.s to an intensive and comprehensive intelligence investigation, today Denmark security and enforcements [sic] arrested 7 terrorist operatives acting on behalf of the terrorist organization Hamas, and thwarted an attack aimed at killing innocent citizens on European soil,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Digital Transactions Drive 30% Drop in Armed Robberies in the Netherlands
A decline in armed robberies has been observed in the Netherlands, as digital transactions gain preference over cash, according to a report by the Telegraaf.
By the end of November, there were 467 recorded robberies, marking a significant 30% decrease compared to the same period in 2022. This noteworthy reduction, which is the most substantial in a decade, contrasts sharply with the nearly 2,000 incidents reported in 2012.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU to Begin Membership Talks With Ukraine, Moldova, and Grants Candidate Status to Georgia
European Union leaders have agreed to open membership talks with Ukraine, marking a significant political development for Kyiv amid uncertainties about future financial aid from the US and Europe.
The decision was described by European Council President Charles Michel as a “clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent.” EU leaders also agreed to initiate accession talks with Moldova and granted candidate status to Georgia.
The decision faced opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who argued that Ukraine was not ready for membership talks. However, the decision requires unanimous approval from EU member states, and nobody objected to the move. Orban was reportedly not in the room for the final vote.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
European Court Upholds Ban on Strikes for German Civil Servant Teachers
Following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the ban on strikes for civil servant teachers in Germany remains in effect. As reported by Der Spiegel, the decision was made on the grounds that the Federal Republic did not violate the right to freedom of association, according to the judges in Strasbourg.
Although a general ban on strikes for all civil servants raises human rights questions, the judges emphasized that there are sufficient avenues for civil servants and unions to effectively advocate for their professional interests. The imposed fines were considered within the state’s discretionary powers.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Four Arrests as Denmark Foils Alleged Attack Plot
Danish authorities say they have foiled a planned major attack.
Three people were arrested in Denmark and one in the Netherlands during dawn raids on Thursday, police said at a press conference.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the threat was “as serious as it gets”.
Security around Jewish sites would be reinforced and police patrols in Copenhagen made more frequent, he added.
| — Hat tip: Fjordman | [Return to headlines] |
The incident at the creche came just hours after a 12-year-old schoolgirl was restrained by staff and detained by police after threatening her English teacher with a knife in Rennes (knife pictured).
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
France: Outrage as Macron Plans to Replace Historic Stained Glass Windows of Notre Dame Cathedral
French President Emmanuel Macron is facing public outrage over plans to replace historic stained glass windows in the Cathedral of Notre Dame with modern versions amid reconstruction efforts after the devastating fire of 2019.
More than 62,000 people in France have signed a petition launched on Sunday by the La Tribune de l’art website against efforts from Emmanuel Macron to replace 19th-century stained glass windows designed by French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in six of the seven chapels on the south aisle of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany Shifts Focus: Plans to Train Local Imams, Ends Acceptance From Turkey
Germany has decided to cease the acceptance of imams sent from Turkey and will instead undertake the training of Muslim clerics within the country to foster better integration, according to an announcement from the interior ministry, as reported by Al Arabiya News.
A deal has been established with the Turkish-Islamic organization DITIB to gradually phase out foreign imams. The plan involves training 100 imams annually in Germany to take over their roles, as outlined in the ministry’s statement.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Left-Wing Extremists Attack Frankfurt Police With Feces and Urine
During the evacuation of the Dondorf printing works in Frankfurt, left-wing extremists targeted security forces with feces and urine, as reported by the Frankfurt Police Department on the short message service X (formerly Twitter). Fortunately, no one has been hit thus far.
Around 70 individuals were involved in the occupation, with more than 15 still on the roof displaying a banner in the early afternoon. Security forces provided them with an opportunity to abandon their operation and exit the site using an escape route.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany to Slash Domestic Green Spending to Avoid Budget Crisis But Backs Billions More for Ukraine
Germany’s leftist coalition government struck a deal to avoid a budget crisis with massive cuts to its domestic green agenda projects, however, the government refused to reduce funding for the war in Ukraine.
The so-called traffic light coalition government, comprised of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the pro-business neoliberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), have come to an agreement to solve the €17 billion ($18.3 billion) hole in the federal budget on Wednesday, German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
During a session in the Bundestag, SPD representative Leni Breymaier delivered an inflammatory speech, comparing the AfD party to abnormally growing uterine lining, specifically referencing endometriosis.
This derogatory analogy not only insulted the AfD but also discriminated against thousands of women affected by endometriosis. Breymaier’s comments sparked laughter and jeering from party colleagues and like-minded individuals, while causing outrage from the AfD ,the German press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: CSU Boss Söder Against AfD Ban
Bavaria’s Minister President Markus Söder (CSU) has spoken out against a ban on the AfD, but simultaneously called for the party to be classified as “confirmed right-wing extremist.”
“It would be helpful if the Federal Office for the Protection of Constitution classifies the AfD as confirmed right-wing extremist on a national level,” he expressed to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group. According to Söder, this is because the AfD despises democracy and severely harms security and prosperity, the German press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Greens Block Scholz’s Proposed Law to Increase Deportations
The impending expiration of the law on increased deportations, as announced by the traffic light coalition, is facing obstacles. As reported by Bild newspaper, the Greens are obstructing the draft of the “Repatriation Improvement Act,” which had previously received cabinet approval.
Reportedly, the party insists that every foreigner in deportation custody should be provided with a taxpayer-funded lawyer to contest the deportation. This stance implies a reduction in deportations rather than an increase. The draft law aimed to extend the maximum period of deportation detention from ten to 28 days, preventing rejected asylum seekers from evading return by going into hiding, the German press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany Continues to Record a Large Uptick in Excess Mortality
The latest statistics from the Federal Statistical Office reveal ongoing excess mortality in Germany. In November 2023, deaths were 12% higher than in 2019, totaling 88,017.
While lower than January and March 2023, it marks the third-highest month for deaths. Compared to 2022 and 2021, fewer deaths occurred, but more than in 2019 and 2020, with a difference of 508 deaths from the monthly average of 2019-2022 for November, the German press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hungary: PM Orban: We Will Take Over the EU
“We’re not going to leave the European Union; we’re going to take it over.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conveyed this sentiment in a recent interview with Mandiner.
During the interview, Orban expressed skepticism about expediting Ukraine’s EU membership, emphasizing the importance of adhering to established accession procedures.
He proposed a strategic partnership with Ukraine instead of immediate membership, citing the complexity and risks associated with altering the accession process.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
South Wales: Treforest Fire: Body Found After Industrial Estate Explosion
A body has been found at the site of an explosion on an industrial estate in Treforest, south Wales.
The person was located after a search by South Wales Police following Wednesday night’s blaze.
Formal identification has not taken place and officers are supporting the family of a person who had been missing.
Det Supt Richard Jones said the force would now begin investigating the cause of the explosion and fire.
Emergency services remain at the scene on Severn Road on the estate in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
At least one building was destroyed and a major incident was declared for several hours after the explosion at about 19:00 GMT on Wednesday.
The fire service said a two-storey building was at risk of collapse and it had seven pumps at the scene, along with an incident command unit.
The fire was in a 60,000 sq ft (5,574 sq m) warehouse called Rizla House.
It houses 13 commercial units including a gym, a towel manufacturer, a food laboratory and a telecoms service company.
| — Hat tip: McN | [Return to headlines] |
State Secretary Hungary: 98% Oppose Ukraine’s EU Entry
State Secretary Hungary Csaba Dömötör shared that preliminary findings from the National Consultation survey indicate a resounding 98% of respondents believe Ukraine hasn’t fulfilled requirements for EU accession.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sweden: High School Teacher Suspended for Assigning Students to Plan Theoretical Terrorist Attacks
A high school teacher in Sweden has been suspended after assigning students a task to plan a theoretical terrorist attack.
The assignment at a high school in Jönköping asked students to imagine themselves as terrorists planning an attack using a chemical or biological agent to maximize casualties. The students were encouraged to plan the attack in detail, including the choice of agent, method of release, location for maximum impact, and optimal time for the attack, the Swedish press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sweden’s Finance Minister Calls for Action to Combat Rise in Criminal Economy
In response to a concerning surge in gang-related firearm killings and the entrenchment of criminal activities, Sweden’s Finance Minister, Elisabeth Svantesson, has emphasized the need for a collaborative effort involving the government, authorities, and banks to curb the criminal sub-economy fueling the violence.
The unprecedented rise in gang-related incidents, involving teenagers as both victims and perpetrators, has raised alarm in the Nordic country. Finance Minister Svantesson, acknowledging the societal impact, highlighted the urgency to disrupt the criminal economy that facilitates such violence. Law enforcement estimates suggest that criminal revenues could reach up to 150 billion kronor ($14.3 billion), equivalent to 2.5% of the country’s GDP.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘There Are No Exceptions!’: Orban Rejects Ukraine Membership at EU Showdown Summit
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has restated his position that Ukraine is not, by the EU’s own accession rules, ready to join the bloc and that no exception should be granted for this process ahead of a crunch meeting of European Union member heads of state (EUCO) today.
The presidents, prime ministers, and chancellors of European nations are meeting in Brussels today, with the enlargement of the bloc with new members, the war on the bloc’s borders in Ukraine, and the Israel-Gaza war all on the agenda. While many top European figures repeatedly express their desire to move on Ukraine’s potential future membership of the bloc, the EUCO meeting is set to feature a showdown between those pro-expansionist leaders and Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who preaches caution and warns the bloc’s own rules shouldn’t be set aside to expand into Ukraine at any cost.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Revealed: Hundreds More Middle-Aged Adults Are Dying Every Month Since COVID Ended
Hundreds more middle-aged Brits are dying every month than expected, with experts blaming unhealthy lifestyles and the NHS crisis for the surge in excess deaths.
An extra 28,000 deaths, or more than 1,000 a week, were logged across the UK in the first six months of the year, according to fresh analysis of official figures.
The spike in mortality is especially stark among people aged 50 to 64, with 15 per cent more dying than usual.
| — Hat tip: Fjordman | [Return to headlines] |
International Coalition Urges EU to Lift Sanctions on Kosovo Amidst Rising Tensions
Twelve nations, including Germany and the United Kingdom, are urging the European Union to revoke its temporary political and economic sanctions imposed on Kosovo, POLITICO writes.
In a letter addressed to the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell, and other officials, concerns are raised about Serbia’s potential involvement in recent violent incidents, particularly the attack in Banjska where ethnic Serb gunmen stormed a village in September.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The EU Has Postponed Membership Negotiations With Bosnia and Herzegovina
The European Union has not approved the start of membership negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, awaiting the country to achieve the necessary level of compliance with EU criteria. The decision was made at the summit in Brussels, where EU leaders, including European Council President Charles Michel, discussed the issue of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union.
Charles Michel stated that the EU will commence negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the required level of compliance with membership criteria is reached. The European Council has instructed the European Commission to submit a report by March 2024 for the purpose of making a final decision.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Gaza War to Take ‘Months’, Israel Tells White House
Israel’s war in Gaza may take “more than several months”, the country’s defence minister has told US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Mr Sullivan arrived in Israel earlier on Thursday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials.
Earlier this week, Joe Biden said Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza was costing it support globally.
The UN this week warned of a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
During a meeting with Mr Sullivan on Thursday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that “Hamas is a terrorist organisation that built itself over a decade to fight Israel”.
“They built infrastructure under the ground and above the ground and it is not easy to destroy them,” Mr Gallant said. “It will require a period of time — it will last more than several months, but we will win and we will destroy them.”
| — Hat tip: JW | [Return to headlines] |
How Much Environmental Damage is Israel’s War on Gaza Causing?
Israel’s military onslaught has devastated built and natural environments in Gaza.
Palestinians continue to suffer in Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza — thousands killed and tens of thousands of others wounded.
One of the most intense bombing campaigns since World War II will leave not just a legacy of grief for Gaza’s people, but one of lasting physical damage to the environment.
| — Hat tip: MM | [Return to headlines] |
Top Hamas Official Warns America Will ‘Pay the Price’ for Supporting Israel
A top official with the terrorist group Hamas has put out a threat to Western nations and warned that America will “pay the price” for offering support and aid to Israel.
Sami Abu Zuhri, the head of the political department of Hamas abroad, called for violence against the allies of Israel, specifically attacking American and British “interests.”
In the threat, he specifically named U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
America Shouldn’t Insist on a Strategic Defeat of Russia
by Michael O’Hanlon & Caitlin Talmadge
The Biden administration has done a generally solid job on Ukraine policy — first warning the world about Russia’s intentions, then helping Ukraine survive the invasion, and subsequently marshalling unprecedented NATO assistance. Along the way, America has avoided provoking Russia escalating to attacks on NATO territory or nuclear weapons use. Today, Ukraine controls more than 80 percent of its pre-2014 territory and is holding its own against Russia in the south and east.
But the war is far from over. Russia aspires to expand its territorial holdings and wants to keep Ukraine permanently destabilized, unable to integrate with the West. Ukraine wants to win back all of its territory, including Crimea, and to pursue its own future economic and security relationships outside Russia’s strategic orbit.
The two sides are so far apart in their goals that negotiations currently seem pointless and, for President Zelensky, politically impossible. Meanwhile, Putin likely believes he can simply wait out Western support and throw more bodies at the front until he exhausts an abandoned Ukraine
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
In a 4-Hour Press Conference, a Confident Putin Vows the Ukraine War Will Go On
MOSCOW — In a year-end, televised event, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in Russia’s ultimate victory over Ukraine — insisting Russia would press on with the war until Kyiv either bowed to Russian demands of neutrality or faced defeat on the battlefield.
“Either we get an agreement” with Kyiv, said Putin, “or we solve this by force.”
Putin’s comments came amid a marathon four-hour press conference that the Kremlin leader combined with a so-called “direct line” call-in program for Russians.
The event was the first time Putin has fielded extended questions from either journalists or the public since he launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Putin also made his first public comments about Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been in Russian custody since March.
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
Russia Bombards Kyiv With Ballistic Missiles, Injuring Dozens
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s capital came under another ballistic missile attack early Wednesday, injuring at least 53 people on the ground, including six children, and damaging buildings, officials said.
A series of loud explosions could be heard in Kyiv at 3 a.m. local time as the city’s air defenses were activated for the second time this week. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 10 ballistic missiles toward the capital and all were intercepted by air defenses.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A 46-year-old man from Volyn has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Ivanychevsky District Court for refusing to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine on religious grounds.
Identifying himself as a Jehovah’s Witness parishioner, the accused, who had a prior conviction in 1995 for a similar refusal, cited religious beliefs as the basis for his objection. The court documents reveal that he declined a summons to report for military service, leading to the initiation of a criminal case, the Ukrainian press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Zelensky Tells U.S. Lawmakers He is Willing to Raise Military Conscription Age Above 40: Report
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly told lawmakers in the United States that his government is considering raising the military conscription age to over 40 years old in an apparent attempt to allay concerns about Kyiv’s ability to stand up to the much larger population Moscow can draw on to fight the war.
Upon his latest lobbying trip to Washington D.C. to beseech Congress to back President Biden’s request for an additional $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine, Zelensky reportedly told sceptical Senators that his government is considering conscripting men above the age of 40 to increase troop levels along the frontline with Russia, according to Bloomberg.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
India: Bareilly Teacher Neha Asmat Adopted Sanatan Hindu Dharma Rejecting Islamic Bondage
Asmat chose a new way of life in Sanatan Dharma by becoming Neha Singh, she says that Lord Shiva has been worshiped by her since the beginning…. Her family was trying to settle her marriage with a Talak and Halala habituated man. Neha sought protection by writing a letter to UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
Sudhira Dutta | HENB | Bareilly | Dec 13, 2023:: In Bareilly, UP, another girl from the Muslim community has adopted Sanatan Dharma while returning home. Neha Neha Asmat, a teacher by profession, worships Lord Shiva for a long time and has attended the court of Mahakal in Ujjain. The fear of triple talaq and Halala was troubling her, so she has voluntarily chosen a new way of life according to Hindu faith. When the family of Neha filed a false report of kidnapping, Neha has revealed the truth to the media and has demanded protection from the administration and police, saying that there is a threat to her life from the fundamentalist family being hard core Muslim.
By adopting Sanatan Dharma, Neha Asmat became Neha Singh, a teacher and is a resident of Muslim dominated Faik Enclave Colony of Bareilly. Father Asghar Ali was an accountant in Seed Development Corporation, who is no more in this world. Neha told that she was in love with Sanatan Hindu Dharma from the beginning. After graduating from Bareilly College, she is currently studying B.Ed. Has also started teaching work. She is educated and employed and knows her good and bad very well.
Neha told that her sister Shabana, Ghazala, brother-in-law Dr. Asif and Tanveer Ahmed along with mother Rani Begum were conspiring to marry her to a middle-aged man who had performed Halala after divorcing his wife. She did not accept such a bad decision of the family, so she protested against it. The family started harassing her regarding this and started putting all kinds of pressure on her. She was afraid about the future due to the evils prevalent in Islam. Thinking about her future, she voluntarily left home and abandoned Islam and adopted Sanatan Dharma according to Vedic customs. She worships Lord Shiva and has also taken the blessings of Mahakaal to live the rest of her life in peace and divinity.
According to Neha, due to her becoming a Hindu, the fundamentalist family, Ulemas and Muslim clerics have panicked and with a conspiracy have filed a false report of kidnapping against her colleague Mohit Singh, resident of Sanjay Nagar, in Baradari police station of Bareilly. Whereas there is no truth at all in the story of kidnapping. Neha said that she left home willingly and adopted Sanatan Hindu religion without any pressure. She is now facing a threat to her life from her own family. Those people can get her killed any time. Neha has sent a letter to the DM and SSP of Bareilly along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and requested for her own protection from the family she belonged earlier. Neha Asmat now converted as Neha Singh has also said that if she faces any problem regarding security, her parental family will be responsible.
| — Hat tip: Upananda Brahmachari | [Return to headlines] |
1,200 Tons of Dead Fish Wash Ashore in Japan: ‘I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’
Hundreds of tons of dead fish have been washing ashore in Japan as officials struggle to explain the issue.
The Japanese government has admitted that it doesn’t have any answers as to why the fish have started dying in unprecedented numbers.
An estimated 1,200 tons of sardines and mackerel were found floating on the surface of the sea off the fishing port of Hakodate in Hokkaido.
The dead fish formed a silver blanket stretching for almost a mile.
This issue isn’t just limited to one location, however.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
CNN Blames Climate Change for ‘Record’ Bear Attacks in Japan
The latest fallout from the global “climate crisis” is an uptick in bear attacks in Japan, if CNN is to be believed.
Citing “experts,” CNN said that climate change has reduced the availability of food, pushing bears further from their traditional habitats toward human civilization and resulting in more bear attacks.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Godzilla Minus One: This Terrific Monster Epic Should Give Hollywood Pause
At once frightening and desperately moving, the latest in the Japanese franchise is proving a roaring success despite its shoestring budget
When Godzilla makes an entrance, no-one expects the big lug to quietly slip in at the back. But this time, Toho Studios’ lumbering mascot has done himself proud. With little in the way of advance warning, the latest in a near-70-year string of Japanese Godzilla films has just roared and crunched its way into the record books: last weekend it became the most successful live-action Japanese feature ever to play north American cinemas after 10 days on release. Accordingly, the film’s UK rollout this weekend has been supersized at the last minute to 400 screens — far more than the 17 that showed his last outing, the satirically-inclined Shin Godzilla, in 2017.
Pundits have ascribed the surprise Western success of Godzilla Minus One to a renewed hunger for novelty, now that cinema-goers are tiring of brands such as Marvel and DC. But there’s nothing especially new about Takashi Yamazaki’s film: rather, it hauls Godzilla right back to his post-war nuclear-allegory origins. This avowedly old-fashioned monster movie has far more in common with Ishiro Honda’s 1954 original, and Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, for that matter, than any 21st century visual effects epic. And the fact it was all achieved on a Jaws-like budget — less than $15 million, according to its writer and director, Takashi Yamazaki — should give Hollywood pause.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Parents and neighbours say children at Melbourne’s Richmond West Primary School are constantly exposed to drugged-up ‘zombies’ from the medically supervised injection room (MSIR)
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Overwhelmingly, politicians who have expressed strong convictions either way represent communities which are more directly invested in the conflict.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Albania’s Top Court Delays Approval of Italy Migrant Pact Over Constitutional Concerns
Albania’s highest court has temporarily halted the approval of the migrant pact between Albania and Italy, which involves the construction of reception centers for migrants awaiting asylum decisions in Italy, as reported by Info Migrants.
Following opposition requests, the constitutional court’s decision obliges the Albanian parliament to suspend the ratification process. The opposition raised concerns about procedural errors during the negotiation, prompting the court to review the constitutionality of the deal. The court’s ruling automatically suspends parliamentary ratification until the final decision in January.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Chicago Mayor Accused of Prioritizing Illegal Migrants Over Black Citizens, Homeless Veterans
Chicago’s radical Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson has been accused of prioritizing illegal migrants over his “sanctuary” city’s community of black citizens and homeless veterans.
Johnson has been facing the fury of his constituents amid calls to recall Chicago’s so-called “sanctuary city” status.
Residents blasted the mayor during a special council meeting on Thursday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Cyprus Urges EU to Reconsider Approach to Syrian Migration Amid Rising Refugee Numbers
As Cyprus faces a surge in Syrian refugees arriving on its shores, the Nicosia government is calling on the European Union to explore the possibility of designating certain areas in their war-torn homeland as safe for repatriation, according to the Cypriot interior minister, as reported by Reuters.
Minister Constantinos Ioannou told in an interview that initiating a discussion to reassess the situation in Syria is crucial for Cyprus, and the foreign ministry is preparing to formally raise the matter with Brussels. The Mediterranean island is anticipating an increased influx of refugees and asylum-seekers due to escalating conflict in the Middle East, putting additional strain on resources.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Plans to Increase Refugee Intake From Third Countries
A senior official from the European Union announced on Thursday that the bloc is set to admit slightly over 60,000 of the most vulnerable refugees from third countries in 2024-25. This marks a modest uptick from previous years and comes amidst criticisms suggesting a preferential treatment for Ukrainian refugees, as reported by Reuters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Liberal Globalists in Berlin to Spend Half a Million Euros on Monuments for Migrants
Amidst rising inflation and economic challenges, Berlin’s CDU-SPD coalition government plans to spend half a million euros on two monuments dedicated to migrants.
One monument will honor Turkish guest workers from the 1960s, and the other will commemorate East Germany’s foreign contract workers. The SPD MP, Sevim Aydin, argues that the monuments are relevant to the current migration and labor discussions, German media reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In an exclusive interview with Voice of Europe, Ladislav Ilcic, a Member of the European Parliament, spoke about the diminishing geopolitical role of the European Union (EU). According to him, demographic decline, migrant issues, and a struggling economy are contributing factors to the reduction of the EU’s influence on the global stage.
Regarding the ongoing migration situation, Ilcic praised the efforts of the Croatian police but criticized some humanitarian organizations, which he claimed complicate border control. He advocated for a stricter border policy to deter illegal migration, stating that many migrants seek countries like Germany and Sweden due to the promise of greater social assistance.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netherlands: Parliament Approves “Historic Motion” to Opt-Out of EU Asylum and Migration Policy
The Netherlands will have the option to deviate from strict adherence to European asylum and migration policies, following a decision by the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV party, hails this as a “historic motion.”
The motion, submitted by PVV, NSC, BBB, and VVD on Tuesday, advocates for an opt-out arrangement similar to Denmark’s, which has effectively managed mass immigration for two decades. The opt-out scheme allows a Member State to withdraw from a specific area of EU policy if it chooses not to participate, the Dutch press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Pope Francis: Italians Should Welcome Immigrants as ‘Sons and Daughters’
ROME — Pope Francis said Monday that immigrants are helping to replace Italy’s falling population and urged Italians to welcome them as their own children.
“Immigrants help when they fit in well,” the pontiff told a group of government officials gathered in the Vatican. “Italy is a land where there is a lack of children, and migrants come.”
In his address, the pope repeated his concern over Italy’s low birthrate, lamenting that Italians “don’t have children.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Record Number of Foreign Residents in the Czech Republic Reaches 1.1 Million
The Czech Statistical Office (CSÚ) revealed that the population in the Czech Republic reached a record-breaking 10.88 million people in the first nine months of the year, primarily driven by migration.
The data was released on Tuesday, highlighted a significant demographic shift with over 1.1 million foreigners living in the country by the end of the previous year, constituting 10.3% of the total population.
Of the foreign residents, one-third held permanent residence in the Czech Republic, while the rest had temporary residence permit with a minimal 0.2% classified as asylum seekers. Notably, the number of foreigners with temporary residence surged by 132% in 2022, attributed to war in Ukraine.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The family reunification of migrants in Germany is expected to reach a new record this year. By the end of November, the Foreign Office, led by Green Party politician Annalena Baerbock, issued over 120,000 visas to non-EU foreigners, the German press reported.
When considering the approximately 300,000 initial applications recorded so far this year, it suggests that at least 500,000 additional foreigners will have immigrated to Germany by year-end.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s popularity among the public has collapsed to its lowest level since being installed in Downing Street last year, with a staggering 70 per cent of voters disapproving of his performance.
A survey conducted on Monday and Tuesday ahead of the contentious vote on the Rwanda Bill by YouGov has found that Rishi Sunak only has 21 per cent favourability, compared to 70 per cent who have an unfavourable view of the prime minister. The poll means that with a net negative of 49, Sunak’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level at any point since a globalist-backed palace coup against short-termed former PM Liz Truss put him in Number 10.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
European Court Condemns Polish Abortion Verdict, Citing Violation of Woman’s Rights
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that a Polish court’s decision, which compelled a woman to seek an abortion abroad due to a fetal anomaly, breached her right to private and family life.
The verdict was delivered on Thursday, highlights the impact of Poland’s 2021 constitutional court decision banning terminations for pregnancies with fetal defects. Despite widespread protests, the then-nationalist government implemented conservative policies in one of Europe’s most devout Catholic countries.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘Nudify’ Apps Using AI to Make Deepfake Porn of Women Skyrocket in Popularity
Apps that use AI to generate images — popularly known as deepfakes — making clothed women appear to be naked are reportedly soaring in popularity.
In September alone, 24 million people visited websites offering “Nudify” AI tools, researchers with the social network analysis company Graphika found, according to a report by TIME.
Moreover, many of these AI undressing apps reportedly use popular social media platforms to market their products, with the number of links advertising apps with “Nudify” tools increasing more than 2,400 percent on social media since the beginning of this year.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Report: Christian Former Military Officer Beheads Satanic Statue at Iowa State Capitol
Michael Cassidy, a Christian and former military officer, beheaded the Satanic Temple statue erected at the Iowa State Capitol, the Sentinel reported Thursday.
The report said Michael Cassidy first pushed the Baphomet statue over before he decapitated it. The statue had been erected in the Iowa State Capitol after the Satanic Temple received permission. The decapitated head was then thrown into the trash.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Virginia Supreme Court Puts School Boards on Notice: Preferred Pronoun Mandates Won’t Fare Well
AFrench teacher tried to stop a transgender student from walking into a wall. He got fired for inadvertently referring to the wayward student as “her” and consistently refusing to refer to the female with male pronouns, even when the student was not present, citing his Christian beliefs.
The Virginia Supreme Court is giving teacher Peter Vlaming another shot at holding the West Point School Board accountable for allegedly violating his rights under the state constitution, Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act and “common-law contract principles.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
WEF Demands $3.5 Trillion Per Year to ‘Decarbonize’ Earth
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is demanding that taxpayers around the globe pay $3.5 trillion per year in order to meet the globalist organization’s “Net Zero” goal for “decarbonizing” the planet.
The WEF insists that the staggering bill is necessary as it will fund the noble global power elite’s alleged efforts to “reach Net Zero and restore nature.”
Achieving the WEF’s “Net Zero” goals is part of the globalists’ green agenda that allegedly seeks to “save the planet” from the so-called “climate crisis.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
I wanted to look on Google to see what products this glass factory made. Stunningly beautiful. Especially the jugs produce a feeling of joy.
Once I saw a still life from the Renaissance, it depicted a glass Roman cup, very similar in design to these vases. It’s a pity. An amazing tradition is being lost.
I somehow feel it appropriate to have a statue of Baphomet in state capitols. It’s the pretense of morality displayed by Christmas trees that should be offensive to Christians.
Plants take in CO2 and give O2 back. We can restore nature by growing more plants and stop covering farmland with solar panels and windmills. Plants and animals can’t exist without carbon. The WEF plan to decarbonize the planet means death for you and me.
I would love to de carbonise the WEF, blackrock the EU, UN, WHO,and the British parliament : if only they would stop breathing out CO2 we would all be so much happier and the world would be more peaceful.
Well, the UK parliament does produce plenty of hot air!
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While, as usual, Sweden’s unwitting multimillion-headed symbolic gravediggers, unaware of this manifestation, sit in the warm corner of their home and on TV admiringly follows the disenchanted power elite’s partying in the City Hall on December 10, this takes place just a few hundred meters away. Shall the stupid masses never dare to start taking an interest in the real & cruel reality and maybe start taking a stand?
𝑵𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒍 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 – 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒕
𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒎
https://swebbtube.se/w/oyKD4gm8BB7K2jjvkEhetW
pARTY MoD – 𝑵𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒍 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 –
𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒕 𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒎
the Nobel Prize is meaningless because obama was awarded one for being black.
Also hoax artist Al Gore was awarded one for his gloBULL Warming lie.
“the Nobel Prize is meaningless because obama was awarded one for being black. Also hoax artist Al Gore was awarded one for his gloBULL Warming lie.”
Well stated.
O’Hanlon and Talmadge are willfully blind, to state it as politely as I can.
The Biden administration has done a generally solid job on Ukraine policy? What a joke.
Crimea and the Donbas would be sovereign Ukrainian territory at this moment if the US hadn’t engineered the ouster of the then duly-elected president, insisted that Ukraine comply with the Minsk Accords (instead of using them as a delaying tactic to ramp up the Ukrainian army), turned a blind eye to the Ukrainian artillery war on the Donbas (14,000+ dead), trained and supplied the AFU, and given the Russians the middle finger salute when they quite reasonably proposed that a new security arrangement for central Europe be discussed.
These two are a disgrace. A 16-y-o at the local school would float the idea that “Russia aspires to expand its territorial holdings.” Sure. Did they hear about the radar and missile batteries the US installed in Romania and Poland. Some 400 miles from Moscow? Or did they not know that Russia has survived four major invasion from the West with horrific human losses? Russia’s the largest country on earth with huge untapped resources but the want to add to their territory with all the aggro of dealing with a hostile local populace, the massive cost of rebuilding, and risking further lunacy from the NATO imperialists?
Where did these savants get their sociology degrees? A summer correspondence school program sponsored by the Atlantic Council?
Good summary of the bloodbath that didn’t need to happen.
Thank you kindly.