The man accused of stabbing two tourists from Paraguay in Grand Central Station has stabbed a fellow inmate at Rikers Island prison. Steven Hutcherson, a.k.a. Esteban Esono-Asue, attacked the detainee, prompting a correction officer to step in and subdue Mr. Hutcherson.
In other news, a Russian ally of President Vladimir Putin was found dead under mysterious circumstances Wednesday after he fell from the third floor of his home.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Daniel Greenfield, Dean, DV, JW, LP, McN, MM, 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.
Finland’s Economy on the Decline: 78% of Citizens Express Concern
According to the latest survey conducted by the statistical office, 73% of Finnish consumers reported a deterioration in the country’s economic situation.
Approximately 73% of respondents claim that Finland’s economy is in a more challenging position compared to the previous year, while only 6% of those surveyed see signs of improvement. Furthermore, 43% of consumers believe that the situation will continue to worsen in the near future.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Finnish Consumer Confidence Remains Low in December 2023
According to Statistics Finland, the consumer confidence indicator was at —13.3 in December, a decrease of 0.9 points from November. Consumers are troubled by worries about their personal finances, the national economy and the risk of unemployment.
The long-term average for the indicator is —2.4. Statistics Finland emphasized that consumers are currently more pessimistic about their financial situation than at any time since 2000, with over a third feeling that their finances are weaker than a year earlier. While expectations about the general employment situation remain negative, the assessment of personal risk of unemployment has risen to levels higher than usual.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Survey: German Businesses Pessimistic About 2024 Economic Outlook
Based on a survey conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW), the majority of leading associations express pessimism regarding the upcoming year. Out of the 47 business associations surveyed, 23 anticipate a further decline in production or business among their member companies, while 15 expect these levels to remain stagnant compared to this year.
Only nine sectors foresee a slight increase in production. Notably, none of the associations expect significantly higher production for 2024, as emphasized by the IW.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
17-Year-Old Murder Suspect Accused of Shooting 2 Teens at His Home
One victim died from his injuries and the other is in critical condition.
A Texas teenager accused of shooting two people at his home, one fatally, allegedly told police that he wanted to “commit a homicide for a long time,” according to newly released court documents.
The suspect — 17-year-old Connor Hilton — was showing the two victims a revolver at his Friendswood home Saturday night when he allegedly shot them both in the head, according to a complaint charging the teen with murder.
A third person who was at the house that night called 911 while hiding in the bathroom and reported hearing two gunshots, according to the complaint.
Responding officers found Hilton outside the home appearing “visibly distraught,” the complaint stated. When asked by police if anyone was hurt, Hilton nodded yes then held up two fingers, motioned toward the house and said there were two teenagers inside he believed to be dead, according to the complaint.
Once inside, an officer found two male victims — identified as Ethan Riley, 18, and Benjamin Bliek, 19 — lying on the floor with gunshot wounds as well as a revolver on a table, according to the complaint.
A second officer located the 911 caller, who “reported hearing Hilton walk by the bathroom door crying and stating, ‘What have I done,’“ the complaint stated.
The shooting victims were transported to local hospitals in critical condition. Riley succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, while Bliek remains in critical condition, police said.
Hilton was brought in for questioning following the shooting and was initially charged by the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office with two counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.
He was released after posting $1 million bond before being arrested again at his home on Monday for murder, police said. He is currently being held at the Galveston County Jail on no bond.
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
About a Third of Republicans Believe Votes Won’t be Counted Correctly in 2024
Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
An Associated Press-NORC survey released this week found that some 32 percent of Republican voters believe votes likely won’t be counted correctly ahead of the 2024 primaries and election.
About a third of GOP voters told pollsters that they have a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence that votes in the Republican primary elections and caucuses will be counted correctly. Around three in 10 Republicans have a “moderate” level of confidence, while 32 percent said they have either “only a little” confidence in elections or “none at all.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
All But 3 of More Than 100 High Dollar Donations From Harvard Employees Go to Democrats: Report
Harvard University’s faculty and leadership donations skew heavily toward Democrats, according to donor data from the 2024 cycle.
The decision to keep Harvard President Claudine Gay in her post prompted scrutiny of the institution’s political affinity by The Center Square, which was the first to report on the Open Secrets political donation records.
The Center Square noted that “the university’s insular culture and one-sided politics are under the microscope” as it found Harvard employees “flood” Democrats with donations.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced on Thursday afternoon that Trump will remain on the state’s ballot unless the Supreme Court affirms the state-level high court’s ruling that disqualified him from being on the ballot.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Daughters Swatted
On Thursday, Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene said the houses of her two daughters were swatted, coming just days after Greene’s house herself was hit.
“Both my daughters’ houses just got swatted today,” Greene wrote on Twitter. “Big thanks to the police who responded! We appreciate you and support you! Whoever is doing this, you are going to get caught and it won’t be funny to you anymore.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Colorado Secretary of State Will Include Trump on 2024 Primary Ballot
The Colorado secretary of state, Jena Griswold, will include former President Donald Trump on the 2024 Colorado primary ballot following an appeal by Republicans to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The appeal comes after the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to remove Trump from the primary ballot, which was contested by the state GOP, Fox News reported. Griswold stated that unless the U.S. Supreme Court affirms the lower court’s ruling or declines to take up the case by the Jan. 5 certification deadline, Trump will be included on the ballot.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Georgia Federal Judge Upholds Republican-Drawn Congressional Map, Securing GOP Majority
A US federal judge in Georgia has upheld a congressional map drawn by Republicans, delivering a victory to the party, as reported by Reuters. The judge, Steve Jones, dismissed claims from Democrats and voting rights groups that the recently established district lines unlawfully diluted the voting influence of minority residents in the vicinity of Atlanta.
The ruling by Judge Jones is expected to solidify the Republicans’ 9-5 majority among Georgia’s 14 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The judge stated in the order that the general assembly had fully complied with the court’s directive to create Black-majority districts in areas where vote dilution was identified.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones Says Home Was ‘Swatted’ Before a Bomb Threat Was Made to His Office
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones appears to be the latest Republican lawmaker to become the victim of “swatting,” he said in a social media post on Thursday.
The alleged “swatting” case — a term for when law enforcement responds to false allegations of a violent incident at an unsuspecting person’s home — follows several other reports of false 911 calls involving mostly GOP politicians since last week.
“Last night, my home was ‘swatted’. This morning, a bomb threat was called to my office. Thankfully everyone is safe, and I commend our local law enforcement officers for their professionalism,” Jones wrote on X.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Trump campaign event scheduled to take place at Iowa’s Dordt University, a private evangelical Christian school, on January 5 is reportedly no longer taking place after the school’s administration canceled the event contract.
A source revealed the cancelation to the Iowa Standard. The University hosted an event earlier in December featuring fellow GOP primary candidates Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ryan Binkley.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The career criminal accused of stabbing two teen girls visiting New York City from South America has reportedly slashed a fellow inmate at Rikers Island.
Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that 36-year-old Steven Hutcherson allegedly got up from his cot at 8 am on Thursday morning at the Eric M Taylor Center and attacked a 43-year-old man who was lying just feet away from him.
Hutcherson reportedly used a 1.5-inch ceramic blade in the attack, leaving the fellow inmate with slashes across the left side of his face and head.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New York Times Sues OpenAI, Microsoft Over Alleged Copyright Infringement
On Wednesday, the New York Times filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI, claiming that the technology giants had engaged in copyright infringement by using articles written by the outlet to train their artificial intelligence-powered chatbots, which then in turn were used to provide users with that information.
The suit does not specify the exact amount of money being sought, though it suggested that the companies should be on the hook for “billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Nikki Haley Claims Democratic ‘Plant’ Asked Question That Led to Civil War Gaffe
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley defended failing to mention slavery as the cause of the Civil War Thursday morning, accusing a town hall attendee who asked her the question the previous night of being a Democratic “plant.”
The Republican presidential candidate faced immediate blowback for her response after she was asked about the cause of the conflict at the Berlin, NH, event Wednesday evening.
Haley initially responded that the war broke out due to disagreement on “how the government” was going to run, and became defensive when the attendee said he was astonished she didn’t mention slavery in her answer.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ramaswamy Insists He’s Not Interested in Joining Trump Administration
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has again dismissed the idea of joining President Donald Trump’s next administration.
Should Trump win the presidential election in 2024, many have suggested that Ramaswamy could play a key role in his administration.
However, Ramaswamy insisted during a recent appearance on Fox News that it isn’t part of his plan, according to the Washington Examiner.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Rep. Mike Lawler Second NY Lawmaker to Have Office Vandalized for Pro-Israel Views
Hudson Valley GOP Rep. Mike Lawler became the second New York lawmaker this week to have his district office defaced in response to his support of Israel after Democratic South Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres suffered a vandalism incident involving a “bloody” baby Jesus doll.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Saving Democracy by Eliminating Elections
Sometimes you have to kill democracy to save democracy.
“What we are seeing right now is the all-out assault on democracy,” Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold claimed in 2021.
“Everything we do every single day to ensure the American people can elect, freely choose their election officials,” the chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State held forth in 2022. “We believe that democracy literally is on the ballot.”
In 2023, democracy is no longer on the ballot in Colorado because Griswold, who had spent every single year warning about an “assault on democracy”, launched an actual assault on democracy to ensure that people in Colorado would not be able to freely vote in elections.
After Colorado’s Democrat justices ruled that, on their say-so, former President Trump couldn’t appear on the ballot in Colorado, the state’s GOP proposed to move to a caucus system.
And Griswold responded by warning that the Colorado GOP couldn’t change its own primary so that voters can’t actually vote for the candidate they choose, only those that Democrats choose.
But as the Mills Brothers sang, “you always hurt the one you love.” And sometimes you love democracy so much that you have to kill it to save democracy from itself…
| — Hat tip: Daniel Greenfield | [Return to headlines] |
Seattle Closes Black Lives Matter Garden Amid Rampant Homelessness, Drug Use and Vandalism
Members of Seattle, Washington’s Parks and Recreation department, along with city police, removed a community garden planted in Cal Anderson Park as part of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 on Wednesday.
City officials said in a statement that the “makeshift,” temporary garden was being removed because of public health and safety concerns, as well as for maintenance reasons including reseeding and turf restoration.
The efforts on Wednesday also included the removal of tent encampments located near the garden and outside the park along E. Olive Street, which city officials said was to ensure the public spaces remain clean and open for everyone.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sen. Rick Scott is Third GOP Lawmaker ‘Swatted’ During Holidays
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) became the third GOP member of Congress to be “swatted” during this week’s holiday recess, following earlier false reports to law enforcement of incidents at the homes of Reps. Brandon Williams (R-NY) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
“Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards ‘swatted’ my home in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family,” Scott posted Thursday on X.
The Republican senator also thanked the Naples Police Department and the Collier County Sheriff’s Department “for all they do to keep us safe.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Suspect in Grand Central Tourist Stabbings Slashes Inmate at Rikers Island
The man accused of stabbing two tourists in Grand Central Terminal on Christmas struck again, this time attacking a fellow inmate at Rikers Island on Thursday, officials said.
Steven Hutcherson attacked the detainee around 8 a.m., prompting a correction officer to quickly step in and subdue the Hutcherson, according to a Department of Correction spokesperson.
The victim was taken to Elmhurst Hospital with multiple stab wounds to the face and head. Hutcherson, 36, is set to be rearrested for the Thursday morning incident and charged.
Following an arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, Hutcherson was transferred to Rikers Island and was being held at the jail’s West Facility, records show.
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Disqualified From Maine 2024 Republican Primary Ballot
Maine’s Democratic secretary of state on Thursday disqualified former President Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot.
In her ruling, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which bans from office those who “engaged in insurrection.”
Bellows made the ruling after some state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, challenged Trump’s position on the ballot.
Trump’s lawyers requested Bellows disqualify herself over tweets that they believed showed bias. In the tweets, Bellows, a lawyer and former executive director of the ACLU, called the U.S. Capitol attack an “insurrection” and bemoaned that Trump wasn’t convicted by the U.S. Senate after being impeached by the U.S. House.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Drops Hammer on ‘Corrupt’ Jack Smith Amid New Legal Challenge: ‘Go to Hell’
President Donald Trump has delivered a brutal holiday message for Special Counsel Jack Smith that the partisan prosecutor most certainly will not want to hear.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump told Smith to “go to HELL.”
This followed Trumnp’s Christmas Day message in which he instructed Smith and others arrayed against him to “ROT IN HELL,” according to The Guardian.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The National Citizens Inquiry was a completely independent assessment of how governments in Canada reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic. It received no money from large corporations or pharmaceutical companies. The commission was almost entirely funded by small donations.
Inquiry Commissioner Ken Drysdale told The Post Millennial that he believes there has never been an inquiry conducted like this before — at least in Canada, where a national crisis sometimes prompts a Royal Commission that spends hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and issues a report when the urgency has abated.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Brussels Court Sentences Migrant to 15 Years for Gouging Countryman’s Eyes Out
In Brussels, a Djiboutian migrant, Idriss Awaleh, has been handed a 15-year prison sentence for brutally gouging out the eyes of his compatriot, Liban Moustapha Hassan, in 2016, allegedly stemming from a political dispute.
The Brussels Court of Appeal convicted Awaleh on charges of “torture resulting in the loss of an organ” for the vicious attack that left Hassan severely injured, French media reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czech Republic: Already the 260th Child Placed in Babyboxes for Unwanted Children
The mother placed a boy, aged between two and three months, in a babybox (a safe place where mothers can anonymously leave their babies without fear of prosecution.) in Tabor, Czech Republic and subsequently attempted to reclaim the child, according to Novinky.cz.
The mother, who has challenging social conditions, abandoned the child on Tuesday at the G-center in Tabor. Later, she called the facility requesting the return of the child. Ludvik Hess, the founder of the babybox network, informed Novinky that it would not be straightforward.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
December Poll: Growing Concerns and Slight Optimism in Polish Public Sentiment
In December, there were slight improvements in the assessment of the situation in Poland compared to the previous month, as reported by RMF24. However, the percentage of people anticipating a worsening situation in the next year has increased by three percentage points, reaching 30 percent, according to the December CBOS survey.
Currently, 40 percent of Poles (an increase of 2 percentage points) believe that the overall situation in the country is heading in the right direction, while 37 percent (compared to 38 percent in November) think it is heading in the wrong direction. The percentage of undecided individuals remains higher than usual at 23 percent.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Dutch Army Chief Fears Direct Conflict With Russia; Urges Public to Stockpile Food
The Dutch Army’s outgoing commander, Martin Wijnen, has expressed concerns about the war in Ukraine potentially escalating and urges the public to stockpile food and drinks in preparation.
With the conflict ongoing for almost two years and waning Western support, the Ukrainian army contemplates sending its own refugees to the front, De Telegraaf reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France Records Large Surge of Hate Crimes in 2023
In 2023, France witnessed a concerning surge in hate crime cases, marking a 15% increase compared to the previous year, as reported by General Jean-Philippe Reiland of the Central Office for the Fight against Crimes Against Humanity and Hate Crimes (OCLCH) in an interview with Le Figaro.
This trend, particularly notable since October 7, indicates a potentially tense year ahead in 2024 in the realm of hate crimes.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Concrete Factory in Berlin Set Alight by Left-Wing Extremists
In an incident in Berlin-Kreuzberg, left-wing extremists have asserted responsibility for igniting a fire at a concrete manufacturer’s premises.
The blaze, which erupted on the A100 city motorway site, impacted trucks, a bulk materials conveyor system, and a technical building, as confirmed by the Berlin fire department. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and emergency services, consisting of 44 personnel, were on the scene, according to a report from the German mainstream press.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Support for AfD in Thuringia Nears 40%
Thuringia is on the brink of a forthcoming state parliament election in just over eight months, and recent survey results from the Constituency Forecast Institute have revealed the AfD is maintaining a robust standing at 36.5 percent.
This indicates a significant increase of 6.5 percent since the last survey in May. Conversely, the Left party is poised to gain 2 percentage points, projecting an expectation of 27 percent for the second votes. However, other political entities experience a waning of voter support, with the Greens at 3 percent, falling short of parliamentary representation, and the FDP at 4 percent, remaining below the 5 percent threshold. The SPD, securing 7 percent, emerges as the sole governing party making its way into the state parliament. The survey anticipates a 2024 state election outcome of 14 percent for the traffic light coalition and 16 percent for the CDU, reflecting a 1.5 percent decrease.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
German BKA: Anti-Semitic Crimes Predominantly Motivated by “Foreign” or “Religious” Ideology
The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Germany has reported a significant rise in anti-Semitic crimes, particularly attributed to the religious or foreign-motivated spectrum.
Between October 7th and November 27th, around 4,700 crimes related to the Middle East war were registered. In the category of politically motivated crime (KPMD-PMK), about 700 crimes were classified as anti-Semitic, showing a notable increase compared to the previous quarter, German media reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany Set a Record for Arms Exports in 2023
The German government approved arms exports totaling at least 11.72 billion euros this year, establishing a new record. The previous peak of 9.35 billion euros, set in 2021, was surpassed by 25 percent by mid-December. Compared to the previous year, the growth was 40 percent, as reported by the ZDF channel.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In Thuringia, there is widespread concern as the AfD is poised to emerge as the dominant political force. Faced with this prospect, the SPD Interior Minister, Georg Maier, is advocating for constitutional amendments to thwart the AfD from securing key positions in the state parliament or even the role of prime minister.
Surveys indicate a significant lead for the AfD in the central German state on September 1st. Under the current constitutional framework, the AfD would be entitled to the presidency of the State Parliament in the event of victory.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hungary Receives First Batch of Unfrozen EU Funds
Hungary has received €779.5 million from the European Union’s so-called REPowerEU Plan, Hungarian Finance Minister Mihaly Varga announced on Thursday, December 28th. This initial payment follows the European Commission and EU finance ministers’ recent approval of Hungary’s amended Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) plan.
REPowerEU was introduced last year in response to the hardships and global energy market disruption following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the intention of helping the EU make energy production clean and efficient while diversifying its energy supplies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Lithuania May Introduce a Defense Tax Next Year
According to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, despite the Seimas (parliament) not reaching an agreement on tax reform in 2024, there is a possibility of implementing a defense tax, as reported by the Delfi portal.
Nauseda emphasized that after introducing such a tax, a compensatory mechanism must be implemented to protect vulnerable segments of society.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Marriage Rates Increase in Austria as Divorces Decline
In Austria, couples are increasingly coming together with marriage becoming a trend. There has been a notable rise in marriages and a decrease in divorces. According to a family status report cited by the Kronen Zeitung newspaper, mothers are giving birth to their first child at an average age of 30.3 years.
The number of marriages rose from 41,111 in 2021 to 47,482 in the previous year, marking a 15.5% increase. Meanwhile, divorce rates continue to decline, with 13,997 marriages dissolved in 2022, a 3.5% decrease compared to 2021.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
PM Orban: Soros-Backed Politicians Want EU Funds Owed to Hungary Sent to Ukraine
The EU politicians working to block the €32 billion owed to Hungary are connected to billionaire oligarch George Soros, warned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Hir TV’s political talk show.
“All these politicians are linked by the fact that they are all Soros’s people, which is why they are trying to get the €32 billion Hungary is owed to Ukraine. Hungary has now secured €10 (billion) of these €32 billion, but it still has to get another €22 billion,” Orban said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poland Receives €5 Billion Advance From REPowerEU Program
The Polish government has received 5 billion euros from the REPowerEU program, which is part of the National Reconstruction Plan, as reported by Rzeczpospolita.
Katarzyna Pelczynska, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, announced on social media that these funds constitute an advance payment for the REPowerEU program, aimed at accelerating the financing of the energy transformation, especially in the context of the situation in Ukraine.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Polish Government Dissolves Public Broadcasters Amid Media Row
The Polish government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has dissolved public television, radio, and the news agency in response to President Andrzej Duda’s veto of legislation providing subsidies to state-run media.
Culture Minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz announced the liquidation of Telewizja Polska SA, Polskie Radio SA, and Polska Agencja Prasowa SA due to a “suspension in financing” resulting from the president’s veto. The move aims to efficiently restructure public media and avoid layoffs amid a lack of public funding.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Radical Islamic TikTok Star: Soon We Will Bring Sharia Law to Germany
“Breezy the Don El Jefe,” a TikTok personality who espouses radical Islamic views in live streams, is threatening to impose Sharia law in Germany.
With 50,000 followers, the 31-year-old Muslim from Turkey, residing in Tenerife, gains attention for his videos expressing hostile intentions towards Germany. In a recent livestream, he declares, “The Germans will experience their blue miracle. We will take their West.”
And when we’re done with Germany, Austria will come.” Beyond verbal threats, he mentions “mustard gas” and advocates violence against Germans. In other videos, he boasts about exploiting German taxpayers’ money for vacations, claiming immunity due to dual citizenship. The videos emphasize his intent to bring Sharia law
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Residents of Germany Fear Disorder on New Year’s Eve — Survey
43% of Germans are concerned about disorder on New Year’s Eve, according to the results of a survey by the INSA sociological institute conducted specifically for BILD.
On the last New Year’s Eve, several cities in Germany, especially in Berlin, experienced disturbances involving fireworks. The incidents were particularly intense in the capital’s district of Neukölln, where many people from the Middle East reside. A year later, citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany are divided on whether to expect new New Year’s clashes.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Spain: Sanchez Dodges Press in End of Year Appearance
Spain’s media has been left with no other word than “farce” to describe the grand end-of-year press conference held by the country’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
More than fifty accredited journalists came to the event which, in theory, is the head of government’s annual big date with the press, and by extension, with the wider Spanish public. However, Sanchez left only 20 minutes to field questions from the accredited journalists in attendance.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Spain Has Trained 3.5 Thousand Ukrainian Military Personnel
The Ministry of Defense of Spain has announced the completion of training for approximately 3.5 thousand Ukrainian military personnel on its territory. This confirms Spain’s status as the third-largest European provider of training services for Ukrainian military personnel.
During this initiative, the Spanish Armed Forces provided over 80 training modules through the Training Center in Toledo. This ensured comprehensive training and preparation for Ukrainian military personnel in various areas, including combat skills, medical assistance and military technology.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Survey Reveals High Incidence of Violence Against Volunteer Firefighters in Germany
According to a survey by the German Firefighters Association and the Statutory Accident Insurance, almost 50 percent of volunteer firefighters have experienced violence in the form of insults, verbal abuse, threats or physical attacks in the last two years, as reported by Der Spiegel.
The most frequently reported incidents were verbal abuse and insults; while physical attacks were less common. Approximately 35.9 percent stated that they had been threatened with being hit by a vehicle during a response. Additionally, 14 percent reported being attacked with fireworks and 16 percent said they had been insulted or verbally abused through social media.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sweden: 2023 Sees New Record Year for Acts of Violence
Police statistics reveal that Sweden has experienced an unprecedented surge in explosions and shootings in 2023, with 496 recorded incidents of violence so far.
This marks the highest figure since 2018, when authorities began tracking such statistics. Jale Poljarevius, the head of intelligence at police region Mitt, draws parallels to a state of war when describing the intensity of these events.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Age of Affordable Energy in Germany is Over, National Energy Grid Chief Declares
The era of affordable energy for everyone in Germany is declared to be over, according to Klaus Müller, the President of the Federal Network Agency.
In an interview on December 27, Müller cautioned the public not to expect prices to return to pre-Russo-Ukrainian war levels anytime soon. While wholesale electricity prices have decreased compared to 2022, they remain higher than before the conflict.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Catholic School Set Alight by Teenage Arsonist
In a dramatic incident on Wednesday, a 16-year-old boy was apprehended on suspicion of arson following a fire at the renowned London Oratory School in Fulham, southwest London.
The Metropolitan Police reported the arrest, indicating that the suspect, believed to be a student at the school, was taken into custody at 11:15 am, the UK press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A motorist has blasted Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ scheme as ‘the worst in Britain’ after he was mistakenly charged five times for three different cars despite living 100 miles from London
Partab Singh, 35, has seen money deducted from his bank five times since setting up an account to drive his grey BMW 5 series from his home in Leicester to a funeral in London in October.
Despite not returning to the capital since, he has been automatically billed for two other motors despite photos showing they are clearly different cars with different number plates.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Israeli Military: Troops Who Shot 3 Hostages ‘Should Not’ Have Opened Fire. Live Updates
Israeli troops who accidentally shot three militant-held hostages should not have opened fire because the shooting “did not match the risk” they faced as a firefight unfolded, according to a conclusion issued Thursday by the Israeli military.
The shooting took place in Gaza less than two weeks ago, shocking the Israeli nation and fueling protests aimed at pressuring the government to make a deal with Hamas for release of the remaining hostages.
“The shooting of the hostages should not have been carried out, this shooting did not match the risk and the situation,” Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi wrote. “However, it was carried out under complex circumstances, and under intense combat conditions under prolonged threat.”
| — Hat tip: McN | [Return to headlines] |
NY Native Held Hostage in Gaza Has Been Killed — Hamas Terrorists Still Holding Body
A New York native who was believed to be held captive by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip was killed during the initial Oct. 7 attack, and her body is still being held by the terrorists, it was confirmed Thursday.
Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, was on a morning walk with her husband when armed Hamas militants invaded Kibbutz Nir Oz and ambushed them, the kibbutz announced. She died as a result of injuries.
“She was a poet and an entrepreneur who loved to create and was dedicated to working for peace and friendship,” the kibbutz’s statement read.
News of her death comes just one week after officials confirmed her husband, Gadi Haggai, 73, was killed in captivity.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
As Gaza War Grinds on, Tensions Soar Along Israel’s Volatile Northern Border With Lebanon
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli officials are stepping up threats against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, warning that Israel is running out of patience as the two sides continue to trade fire along Israel’s volatile northern border.
Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s War Cabinet, said Wednesday that if the international community and the Lebanese government don’t restrain Hezbollah, Israel will. Israel’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said the military is in a state of high readiness and has approved plans in case it decides to open a second front in the north.
The fighting along Israel’s northern border broke out when Hezbollah began firing rockets shortly after the Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas triggered the war in Gaza.
| — Hat tip: MM | [Return to headlines] |
US Imposes Sanctions on Financial Network Linked to Houthi Attacks on Shipping
The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of financial services in Yemen and Turkey, accusing them of supporting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels responsible for attacking commercial ships in the southern Red Sea, as reported by AP News.
The sanctions target the head of a financial intermediary in Sana’a, Yemen, and three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey. The U.S. Treasury alleges that these entities facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars to the Houthi rebels under the direction of sanctioned Iranian financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Kremlin is losing more tanks than it can replace.
Starting on Oct. 10, a powerful Russian force—a dozen regiments and brigades with around 40,000 people—attacked toward Avdiivka, a key Ukrainian stronghold just northwest of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian garrison, anchored by the 110th Brigade and later reinforced by the 47th and 57th Brigades, was ready for the Russians. In 10 weeks of costly attacks, the Russian force advanced a mile or so north and south of Avdiivka. In the north, the Russians captured the village of Stepove.
But then, this week, the Ukrainians counterattacked. It’s possible they’ve liberated Stepove. At the very least, neither side controls the village. And in pushing back, the Ukrainians provoked a hasty countercounterattack that ended in disaster for the Russians.
In just a day or so, the Ukrainian 47th Brigade dismantled the lead Russian formation, reportedly a reinforced battalion with dozens of tanks and fighting vehicles and probably more than 500 people. “Preliminary reports are indicating that over half the Russian force failed to return to its starting positions,” analyst Donald Hill wrote in fellow analyst Tom Cooper’s newsletter.
Open-source intelligence analyst Andrew Perpetua’s rolling tally of Russian losses seems to confirm the disaster. On Wednesday alone, Perpetua verified the destruction of 21 Russian tanks as well as 14 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers.
| — Hat tip: JW | [Return to headlines] |
Putin Ally Dies Falling From House Window, Latest in Spate of Mysterious Russian Deaths
A Russian lawmaker and ally of President Vladimir Putin was found dead under mysterious circumstances Wednesday after falling from the third floor of his home, Russian state media has reported.
Vladimir Egorov, 46, who was a member of Putin’s ruling United Russia party, plunged 30 feet to his death at his home in the town of Tobolsk, located in the western Siberian region of Tyumen Oblast. Media outlet Baza reported on its Telegram channel that Egorov’s body was discovered Wednesday afternoon in the courtyard of a house and that police are investigating what caused his death.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK Defense Ministry Confirms Ukrainian Strike “Completely Destroyed” Russian Landing Ship
Ukraine’s missile strike on the Russian landing ship Novocherkassk on Dec. 26 “completely destroyed” the vessel, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its intelligence update on Dec. 28.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Dec. 26 that the ship, which had been docked at Feodosia in Russian-occupied Crimea, had been “damaged” in the strike.
The ship is one of three Landing Ship Tanks (LST) that Russia has now lost since the start of the full-scale invasion, the U.K. Defense Ministry said.
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
Ukraine War Will Not End in 2024, Warns Hungarian Security Analyst
Top Hungarian security expert Péter Tarjanyi predicted in an interview with Hungarian news outlet Index that the war in Ukraine will not end in 2024, as both sides remain evenly matched.
Tarjanyi says that both sides are playing a waiting game, and that the big question will be whether the West can and will continue to finance the Ukrainians. He said, however, that this will depend heavily on the outcome of the U.S. elections next year.
He also predicted that the coming years could see armed conflicts that will force the United States and Europe to fight on different fronts at the same time.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ukrainian Governor Calls for All 40 Million Citizens to Fight
by RT
Ukraine should mobilize its entire population to fight against Russia instead of the 500 thousand recently proposed by President Vladimir Zelensky, the governor of the Nikolaev region, Vitaliy Kim, has said.
Kim’s comments in a TV interview came after Zelensky stated last week that Ukraine’s military command had asked to conscript half a million men over the coming year. The secretary of Ukraine’s parliamentary national security committee, Roman Kostenko, explained that the mobilization drive is needed to cover casualties and form new units.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ukraine Warns of Pension and Salary Delays Without More Foreign Aid
by RT
The Ukrainian government could be forced to delay paying pensions and salaries to millions of citizens if the US and the EU do not provide more financial support, Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko has warned.
The country is facing a “huge risk of underfunding of certain social sectors” as it prioritizes defense and debt servicing amid the conflict with Russia, Sviridenko, who is also the economy minister, told the Financial Times on Wednesday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Pakistan Bans New Year Celebrations
Pakistan has decided to cancel all New Year’s celebrations throughout the country in a demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinians, as reported by Geo News. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, in a televised address, declared the ban, emphasizing the nation’s somber state and urging Pakistanis to stand united in support of the oppressed Palestinians.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
This week The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy investigative article titled “American spies confront a new, formidable China,” which highlights setbacks and difficulties of the CIA’s ability to spy on China even as the Biden administration has called the country a top ‘pacing threat’.
A main theme of the report is seen where the WSJ quotes a former US intelligence official who acknowledged, “We have no real insight into leadership plans and intentions in China at all.” The report reviews what led up to this state of things, namely the CIA’s catastrophic failure in China about a decade ago, and the agency’s struggle to rebuild its network in the tightly controlled Communist surveillance state.
The 2012 incident refers to when dozens of US spies were reportedly caught red-handed in China. Very likely this major bust-up of an alleged CIA network was a key trigger for President Xi Jinping’s anticorruption drive, given that government corruption left Beijing exposed to vulnerabilities by Western spy agencies. Dozens of CIA assets were reportedly imprisoned between 2010 and 2012, and others reportedly executed.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Chaos as 2,300 Construction Companies Go Bust — and the ‘Perfect Storm’ of Reasons Why
A ‘perfect storm’ of high interest rates, soaring material costs and an ongoing worker shortage across the Aussie industry have sent tradies into freefall.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Media Blames Christmas Massacre of Nigerian Christians on ‘Climate Crisis’
An attack on Christians in Nigeria over Christmas has left nearly 200 people dead. While Muslim herders are thought to be behind the violence, some major media outlets have blamed climate change for the killings, appearing to downplay existing religious conflicts.
The massacre took place on Christmas Eve in 26 different villages across the central Plateau state in the country’s interior. Locals said that bands of men armed with guns and machetes attacked villagers, killing 198 and wounding a further 300 in some of the worst anti-Christian violence seen in Nigeria in years, according to the Catholic News Agency.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
More Than 40 Killed in Fuel Tanker Explosion in Liberia, Authorities Say
Many victims were unrecognizable due to severe burns, West African officials said
A leaking fuel tanker exploded as people gathered to collect the gasoline, leaving more than 40 dead, authorities in Liberia said Thursday.
The blast on Tuesday also injured at least 83 people in Totota town in the central part of the West African country, health officials said.
Bong County health official Dr. Cynthia Blapook said many of the dead were buried in a mass grave on Wednesday because their remains were unrecognizable. Health authorities said an exact death toll was difficult because of how badly the bodies were burned.
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
Argentina’s Javier Milei Sends Giant Deregulation ‘Omnibus’ Bill to Congress
Argentine President Javier Milei presented a massive omnibus bill to the nation’s Congress on Wednesday that, if passed, would implement sweeping reforms to the Argentine state in a wide variety of sectors.
The Office of the President of Argentina stated that the 351-page, 664-article long bill — titled “Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines” — will “restore the economic and social order” as perceived through the nation’s constitution. The office stressed its “firm will to undertake, immediately and with suitable instruments, the fight against the adverse factors that threaten the freedom of Argentines; that prevent the proper functioning of the market economy; and are the cause of the impoverishment of the nation.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The 30-year-old man held in Germany on suspicion of planning to launch Christmas terror on Germany’s most-visited cathedral is a Tajikistan-heritage Islamist who did recon on the church to prepare the attack, reports state.
An alleged Islamist suspected of being involved with the Islamic State in Afghanistan performed hostile reconnaissance at Cologne Cathedral, one of the largest and most visited churches in the world, security sources cited in German newspapers asserted on Thursday. The 30-year-old man, who is an immigrant to Germany from Tajikistan in Central Asia, is said to be the only individual kept in custody after “several” people were arrested by police over a plot in the run-up to Christmas.
The plot was said to have considered both Cologne Cathedral and St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria as potential targets, and the arrested man is reported by Welt as being suspected as having conducted reconnaissance on the Cologne church.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Asylum Applications in the Netherlands Approach 50,000, Surpassing Last Year’s Figures
The tally of asylum applications in the Netherlands has surged to nearly 50,000 this year, reaching a significant milestone that could still be surpassed in the final week of the year. This indicates a higher number of applications compared to the previous year, as reported by NL Times.
In the first 51 weeks of 2023, approximately 49,600 applications were submitted. In contrast, during the entire 52 weeks of the previous year, around 48,600 asylum seekers arrived in the Netherlands.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
On Thursday’s “CNN News Central,” Chicago Alderman Brian Hopkins said that the city simply can’t handle any more migrants, and as a result of the migrant influx in the city, “We’re seeing crime go up, property values go down” and “We’re seeing communities destabilized.” Hopkins further stated, “I’m a Democrat, but I’ll say the Biden administration has absolutely dropped the ball,” and “every day that goes by while we let the border remain open and while we let cities try to address this humanitarian crisis, it gets worse by the day.”
Hopkins said, “We’re seeing communities destabilized. We’re seeing an influx of new residents who simply don’t have a place to reside. The impact of the local shelters is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life for local residents. We’re seeing crime go up, property values go down. It’s creating a political crisis, as well as stress between communities. … We desperately need decompression in Chicago. We’ve got 30,000 migrants. We simply can’t handle any more. We’re not equipped for it.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Biden administration on Thursday threatened to sue Texas if it moves forward with a new anti-illegal immigration law signed this month by Gov. Greg Abbott — but the Republican governor says he is prepared to take the fight to the Supreme Court.
Abbott signed the legislation, SB 4, this month, which allows law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants and allows state judges to order them removed from the country.
In a letter to Abbott, first reported by the Houston Chronicle, the Department of Justice says it will “pursue all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Texas does not interfere with the functions of the federal government.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France: Macron Hits Pause on Immigration Reform
Barely a week after its adoption in the National Assembly, France’s immigration reform bill has been referred by President Emanuel Macron for review by the Constitutional Council.
The proposed law includes annual caps on immigration, denying children born in France to immigrant parents the automatic right to French citizenship, and would also make it harder for immigrants to receive state benefits.
For some on the Right, the bill did not go far enough. Yet even as the French parliament was adopting it, Macron began expressing his doubts.
Now Macron, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet, and more than 60 deputies have seized the bill and sent it to the Constitutional Council for review.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Illinois NAACP President Calls Illegal Immigrants ‘Savages, ‘ is Suspended From Position
During a meeting with fellow leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People earlier this month, the president of the organization’s Illinois branch referred to the hordes of illegal migrants arriving in Chicago from the southern border as “savages.”
Teresa Haley was subsequently suspended over her words, which drew backlash from many, including Governor JB Pritzker, and has since apologized.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In Bratislava, Ukrainians Have Formed a Queue at the Passport Replacement Service
On Thursday, Ukrainian citizens lined up in a 60-meter queue at the passport replacement service in Bratislava. In Bratislava, a branch of the State Migration Service of Ukraine was previously opened on the territory of the bus station in the Nivy shopping center, allowing Ukrainian citizens to obtain a passport or driver’s license without leaving Slovakia.
The document processing takes place in mobile complexes, which are equipped white minibuses with the inscription: “Passport Service.” On Thursday, the queue of Ukrainian citizens wishing to use the service stretched for 60 meters. The majority of those waiting are men. People bring water, tea in thermoses, as well as folding chairs and blankets, preparing for a long wait.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New York City’s mayor is introducing restrictions on migrant buses entering the city after 14 arrived in one day.
Eric Adams on Wednesday held a virtual press conference with the mayors of Chicago and Denver, and all three Democrats called on the Biden administration to do more to help, accusing the federal government of failing them.
Adams said his city — which since August 2022 has received more than 161,000 migrants sent north in buses from the border — was following Chicago’s lead, and imposing restrictions.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Samnytt: Muslim Migrants Call Swedish Female Police Officer a “F***ing Dog”
Over the Christmas holiday, a video clip depicting a gang of Muslim migrants humiliating a policewoman during a routine check has gained widespread attention on social media.
The gang disregards the woman’s attempts to communicate, instead engaging in derogatory language, suggesting she should be publicly shamed on social media. In the video, she is referred to, among other things, as a “f***ing dog.”
“I will embarrass you. You will see wallah (swear by Allah ed. note). “You are a little dog! “I will publish you on all platforms. F***ing dog, I swear on my mother!”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sea Watch Arrives in Marina Di Carrara With 119 Migrants
The migrant rescue ship ‘Sea Watch 5’ operated by the German NGO of the same name arrived in the Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara on Thursday carrying 119 migrants and refugees rescued in waters off Libya on Sunday.
The group, rescued in two separate operations, includes 26 unaccompanied minors.
The youngest person on board is aged three.
The new arrival takes to around 1,100 the number of migrants and refugees that have been disembarked in Marina di Carrara in nine landings following rescue in the Central Mediterranean under the ‘distant ports’ policy involving instructing NGO ships to disembark far from the rescue zone.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Spain: 94 Million Euros Spent on Illegal Migration Costs in Canary Islands
The expenses incurred by the Government of the Canary Islands due to illegal immigration this year total 94 million euros. These costs are distributed among the Ministries of Education, Health, and Social Welfare.
The Canary Islands Government plans to discuss this matter during the Sectoral Migration Conference meeting scheduled for Thursday in Madrid, the Spanish press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Texas authorities have arrested nearly 10,000 people who crossed the border illegally in just two years — but the threat of legal action has not deterred the asylum seekers who are still entering the US in record numbers.
“They’re still coming through here,” Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber said of the ongoing flow of new arrivals who cross the Rio Grande only to be taken into custody in cities such as Eagle Pass.
In 2021, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star, which he hoped would curtail the number of new arrivals. Part of the mission allowed state authorities to arrest migrants who had just crossed the border on misdemeanor trespassing charges.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Chicago Mayor’s Hat Trick of Dreadful Policies
Authored by Charles Lipson via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
When your city elects a mayor whose main job qualification is “organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union,” you get what you paid for, or rather what the powerful CTU paid for. With Mayor Brandon Johnson, you get a special bonus, an unwelcome one. His proposed policies are unworkable, unaffordable, and deeply unpopular in the city that elected him less than a year ago.
Three policies stand out for particular ridicule. Mayor Johnson wants to:
| 1. | Start city-owned and —operated groceries in some underserved areas. The government that wants to take on these difficult new tasks is already failing at such basic services as fixing potholes and policing dangerous neighborhoods. | |
| 2. | Ticket the buses bringing illegal immigrants to Chicago, mostly from Texas. He calls them “rogue buses” because they are not “coordinating” with the city. Giving them a ticket or even impounding the vehicles is his solution. The bus companies’ own solution is to drop off the passengers in the suburbs, which immediately send them to Chicago. Johnson then rages at the Texas governor and never mentions President Biden. | |
| 3. | Close down all the selective-enrollment (magnet) schools in Chicago, the only ones where students actually read above grade level. If we judge by the likely outcome, Johnson’s policy is really designed to drive middle-class families with kids out of the city. The teachers union backs the plan, enthusiastically. They must know how good the other schools are since the president of the CTU sends her own child to a private school. Meanwhile, she is working with Gov. JB Pritzker to kill school choice for everyone else. |
The local joke about Mayor Johnson is that his only success has been to lower the price of downtown Chicago real estate.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
One day after Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited with Mexican President Lopez Obrador, former President Donald Trump slammed the paltry efforts of the Biden administration as well as the conditions at the border. Blinken’s visit came as a caravan of over 15,000 migrants surged toward the southern border.
“Our border is out of control like no border in history,” Trump posted to Truth Social, “from any country, has ever been. We are being extorted by Mexico and other countries, when it should be the other way around. We truly are a nation in decline, a failing nation, with leadership that is not respected and doesn’t have a clue… and just 3 years ago, we had the strongest and safest border in our history, by far. Make America great again!”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Officials should consider providing separate prayer rooms for Sunni and Shia Muslims living on the Bibby Stockholm to avoid sectarian clashes, a government report has found.
The split between the two main sects of Islam is a major cause of conflict in the Middle East and can lead to unrest at sites where migrants are being housed in the UK, according to a Home Office equality impact assessment.
The document says that this can cause ‘adverse behaviours’ and ‘consideration should be given to separate worship areas’. It adds that interactions between the two groups ‘should be monitored’.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
College Pays Fired Conservative Professor $185,000 to Avoid Free Speech Lawsuit
A political science professor and former police officer effectively fired by St. Philip’s College earlier this year after allowing debate on topics such as gender ideology and police brutality has received a $185,000 settlement.
The college’s agreement with Will Moravits also included a neutral job recommendation, and in turn he agreed to not work for any Alamo Colleges District schools in the future, he said. The San Antonio-based St. Philip’s is one of five in the community college district.
Moravits, in an interview last week with The College Fix, said the settlement was reached in September and warded off a federal lawsuit he was prepared to file against the district that alleged its leaders infringed on his constitutionally protected free speech rights and academic freedom.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Morgane Oger, a transgender woman, was given a Meritorious Service Medal by Canadian Governor-General Mary Simon years after getting Vancouver Rape Relief defunded.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
States Allocate Over $250M to Anti-Abortion Centers in Post-Roe Surge
Following the overturning of Roe v Wade by the US Supreme Court, at least 16 states have committed more than $250 million in taxpayer dollars to support anti-abortion facilities and programs aimed at persuading individuals to continue their pregnancies, as reported by The Guardian.
The funds, distributed throughout 2023 and extending into 2025, primarily target anti-abortion counseling centers, commonly known as crisis pregnancy centers, as reported by the Guttmacher Institute and Equity Forward, organizations advocating for abortion rights. This marks a notable increase from the funds allocated in 2021 and 2022, which amounted to approximately $217 million for crisis pregnancy centers and “alternatives to abortion” programs.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: BBC Blasted for Feeding Viewers ‘A Steady Diet of Woke Bias’ in Damning Report
The BBC has been accused of feeding viewers “a steady diet of woke bias” after new research uncovered scores of examples of the broadcaster failing to abide by its own impartiality rules.
The corporation’s news and drama departments both came in for criticism in a new report by The Campaign for Common Sense.
It found that in 2023 the BBC News website published on average more than one article per week on the slave trade.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A US attorney has claimed that Disney has a “left political agenda” after they lost the Florida debate.
The major corporation has been ensconced in a legal battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and labeled “woke” after they opposed the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Austria-high marriage rates would be the non Europeans now being higher in number. Statistics can seem good when in reality they are very bad. Readers assume things in Austria are improving, WRONG, they are probably getting worse.
Poland – all that 5 billion Euros is being spent on Siemens wind turbines to prevent Siemens from being bankrupt. Polish people will in fact receive nothing but green energy junk from Germany. Poland is pursuing a nuclear future NOT a wind turbine future. Again media makes it sound like a good thing when it is in fact a disaster and Tusk is corrupt. He doesn’t care about the Polish people,he is using them to support Germany. This info is from sovereignty.pl
Russia is starting to move west,dont be fooled by fake news. Russia can make hundreds of tanks per month. I have watched BITCHUTE video of long trains carrying tanks to the west like they did during WW2.
Arestovich latest comment was that press ganging 300,000 unwilling people into service and giving them each a gun is a very stupid idea. Only takes one of them to take control and lead the other 2999,999 into full scale revolution. It will be interesting how long it will take these unwilling fighters to realise they have all the power now.
“press ganging 300,000 unwilling people into service and giving them each a gun is a very stupid idea. Only takes one of them to take control and lead the other 2999,999 into full scale revolution.”
Sara knows her history..
Correction 299,999 unwilling fighters.