The French security services are monitoring about 20,000 individuals who espouse “radical” Islamic positions. In possibly unrelated news, the French government reported a record decline in the math test scores of school students.
In other news, former Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly farted during a climate-related speech in which he called for the elimination of coal-fired power plants.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Daniel Greenfield, Dean, DV, JW, MM, Reader from Chicago, Roger, 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.
Czech Labor Landscape: Despite Nominal Salary Gains, Inflation Undermines Real Wages
The average salary in the Czech Republic rose nominally by 7.7 percent in the second quarter of this year, reaching 43,193 Czech crowns, according to data from the Czech Statistical Office (CSÚ). However, due to inflation, real wages have declined, creating a nuanced landscape in the labor market, iDNES.cz reports.
Dalibor Holý, director of the labor market and equal opportunities statistics department at CSÚ, highlighted the diverse wage dynamics across industries. The energy sector stood out as an exception, experiencing a real increase of 2.3 percent despite a nominal increase of 13.7 percent.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Insolvencies Up 23% in 2023
According to a report released by a German economic research institute on Monday, insolvency filings by German companies surged by more than 20 percent in 2023.
The study from Creditreform Wirtschaftsforschung revealed that 18,100 companies in Germany had to declare bankruptcy in 2023, marking a significant 23.5 percent increase compared to the previous year, the German press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Survey: Most View Biden Unfavorably as 8 in 10 Say They Have Been Impacted by Inflation
Most voters view President Joe Biden unfavorably, and much of this appears to be linked to his dour economic policies, as eight in ten Americans say they have been impacted by inflation, a McLaughlin & Associates survey reveals.
Overall, 55 percent of likely general election voters disapprove of Biden’s handling of his job, and among those, 39 percent “strongly” disapprove of him. Notably, 61 percent of independents, as well as 21 percent of Democrats, disapprove of the 81-year-old president. His net approval has not been positive in well over a year, according to the survey.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Bidenomics: Zero Electric Vehicle Chargers Built So Far With $7.5 Billion Allocated by Congress
Despite Congress having allocated billions to building electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the United States at the behest of President Joe Biden, not a single charger has been built so far with the funds.
“Congress at the urging of the Biden administration agreed in 2021 to spend $7.5 billion to build tens of thousands of electric vehicle chargers across the country, aiming to appease anxious drivers while tackling climate change,” Politico reports. “Two years later, the program has yet to install a single charger.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Trump Leads Biden in EVERY Swing State: Poll
A new poll released on Tuesday revealed that 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump is leading in all six swing states less than a year out from the election.
The poll, conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies in partnership with the Telegraph, found that Trump was leading over Biden 40 to 33 percent in Arizona, 44 to 34 percent in Florida, 45 to 35 percent in Georgia, 39 to 38 percent in Michigan, 44 to 35 percent in North Carolina, and 44 to 37 percent in Pennsylvania.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
California Governor Gavin Newsom has cancelled the annual Christmas tree lighting in Sacramento as a protest against Israel was scheduled by the Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights had declared their intention to hold a protest on Tuesday during the tree lighting.
The group has been calling for a ceasefire, which had been in effect for a few days until Hamas refused to abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreement. The group also said they wanted to “out Gov. Gavin Newsom for hiding from the public because he doesn’t want to face their anger at his shameful stance in regard to the genocide in Gaza.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Cause Sought in Explosion That Leveled an Arlington, Virginia, Home as Police Tried to Serve Warrant
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Hours before a massive explosion destroyed a duplex and shook a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C., a suspect inside his home fired a flare gun 30 to 40 times into the neighborhood, drawing a large police response, officials said Tuesday.
All officers escaped serious injury but it was unclear what happened to the suspect who was inside when the building was leveled by the explosion Monday night, Arlington County, Virginia, police spokesperson Ashley Savage said.
Officers went to the home about 4:45 p.m. after receiving reports of shots fired. The preliminary investigation showed that a suspect discharged the flare gun from inside his home, but no property damage or injuries were reported, police said in a statement.
While police investigated, they obtained a search warrant for the home and tried to make contact with the suspect by telephone and loudspeakers, but he remained inside without responding, police said.
As officers tried to execute the warrant, police said the suspect discharged several rounds from what is believed to be a firearm inside the home and, subsequently, around 8:30 p.m. there was an explosion, shooting flames and debris into the air. An investigation into the circumstances of the explosion were ongoing, police said.
Savage said police don’t have any evidence that others were in the duplex but can’t rule out the possibility.
The fire was under control around 10:30 p.m., but Arlington County Fire Department crews continued to battle small spot fires, police said early Tuesday. Three officers reported minor injuries, but no one was taken to the hospital.
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
Cheney: GOP Walked Away From the Constitution, We May ‘Need to Build a New Party’
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) said Tuesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that she believed the Republican Party has walked away from the Constitution, so it “may be that we need to build a new party.”
Co-host Joe Scarborough said, “I’m curious how you assess the future of the Republican Party. If there’s no room for Liz Cheney, for goodness sakes, Mitt Romney, if John McCain is going to be trashed by this current version of the party, if they defy, as you write in the book, everything Ronald Reagan stood for, what does the Republican Party look like going forward as you see it?”
Cheney said, “Certainly, right now, it’s abandoned those principles. I joined the party during the era of Ronald Reagan. Today, the party looks much more like a cult of personality, frankly.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Chicago Alderman: Democrats, Which Are ‘My Party’, Are Harming Their Own Base
On Monday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez stated that “the Democratic Party vocalizes all kinds of things and then does not deliver. It actually does quite the opposite and continues to harm its own voting base while still saying that they are caring about their issues and worrying about their families and basically being hypocritical to all those values that we espouse on a daily basis.” And anger towards the party is getting worse with the increasing migrant crisis in the city.
Lopez said, “The anger and animosity that’s been brewing on the streets of Chicago runs deep. And we’ve seen that grow exponentially worse with the ever-growing migrant crisis as we’ve seen 23,000 individuals bussed to the city of Chicago, when you see the black community — which should be the core of the Democratic Party — feel as though they’ve been abandoned…that they are no longer feeling the love from Uncle Joe. And they are going to use the world stage when it is here in their backyard to let their anger be known, to let people see that they do not have the full faith and confidence of the Democratic Party, my party, that they gave their unconditional love to anymore.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Senator John Kennedy grilled FBI Director Christopher Wray in the Senate on Tuesday, demanding to know why the agency did not come out and say that Hunter Biden’s laptop “was real” when it was reported on by the New York Post in October 2020. The FBI had known about the existence of the laptop for nearly a year before the contents were made public. Despite this, the FBI had warned Twitter execs to be on the lookout for potential Russian disinformation, such as a hypothetical Hunter Biden laptop.
“Why didn’t the FBI just say ‘hey, the laptop’s real?’ Why didn’t you just tell everybody ‘the laptop’s for real. We’re not vouching for what’s on it, but it’s real. This isn’t a fiction.’“ Kennedy asked Wray.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
DeSantis Campaign Slams Haley for Democrat Mega-Donor Money
The presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is attacking former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, his fellow Republican primary challenger, over a report that Democrat megadonor Reid Hoffman gave $250,000 to a PAC supporting her presidential bid.
According to a report from the New York Times, Hoffman, who cofounded LinkedIn, donated $250,000 to the pro-Haley super PAC SFA Fund Inc. His team checked prior to giving the donation, and the PAC agreed to accept the money despite Hoffman’s support of President Biden. It is far from Hoffman’s first time giving to causes viewed as anti-Trump; he financially supported E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit against the former president as well.
DeSantis’s team, which has dealt with drama and departures from the pro-DeSantis PAC Never Back Down, was quick to respond to the news.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Privacy issues have come into the spotlight once again with a significant data breach incident at 23andMe, the leading genetic testing company.
We recently reported that the company acknowledged that a security breach had compromised the personal data of about 14,000 customers. In what seemed to be a ripple effect, the hackers gained access to “a substantial amount of files with ancestral profile information of additional users.”
However, despite the serious nature of the breach, the extent of the damage was not fully disclosed by the company earlier in October when the breach came to light.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A former Washington state economist has filed a legal claim against Democrat Governor Jay Inslee and two state agencies for allegedly retaliating against him after he refused to stay quiet about a new carbon tax supported by Democrats that he predicted would spike gas prices.
According to KING 5, Scott Smith was a transportation planner for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) tasked with forecasting fuel consumption, pricing, and revenues from gas taxes and fees.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ex-Capitol Police Officer Releases Audio Proving J6 ‘Cover-Up’
Last week, former U.S. Capitol Police Lieutenant Tarik Johnson announced his plan to release audio from the January 6 Capitol riot, which he says proves that the entire incident was a “set-up” and that the proof was covered up.
“I spoke to my lawyer and I told him what my plans are as it relates to releasing information on X about the J6 set-up and the cover-up that ensued after,” he wrote on X/Twitter last week. “I wanted to see what if any legal ramifications I’d be facing when I do. He stated he didn’t see any and if something arose we would deal with it together. So it’s a go!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Johnson continued, “With that said, I ask for everyone to be patient as I’m going to do this right and I have to make another post before I load the 12-hour radio run to my page. Additionally, I am not a tech person so I will also have to learn to load large documents and audio files from my computer to X so I’m going to need a little more time. I still have to work in the middle of all this and I’m dealing with family stuff at the same time but you have my word I will get everything done by next week. Hopefully by Wednesday.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and a non-profit are coming together in the hope of devising what they call a governance infrastructure of the internet — via something called Applied Social Media Lab (ASML).
For those wondering, who even asked for the internet to receive a “governance infrastructure” and what it’s goals and results are supposed to be?, some hints as to the answer to that question can be found in the fact this above all concerns Big Tech and its platforms (i.e., the highly influential segments of the internet), and then, there’s the issue of who’s bankrolling the effort.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Joe Biden: ‘If Trump Wasn’t Running, I’m Not Sure I’d be Running’
President Joe Biden told donors in Weston, Massachusetts, Tuesday that if former President Donald Trump were not running for reelection in 2024, he would probably not seek another four years.
Biden suggested in 2019 that he would not run for reelection if he won the 2020 election, but according to his Tuesday remarks, it seems Biden believes he is the only Democrat who can defeat Trump.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
During an impassioned rant on the use of coal in the world, former presidential candidate John Kerry emitted some gas of his own.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Las Vegas Teen Arrested After He Threatened ‘Lone Wolf’ Terrorist Attack, Police Say
A 16-year-old Las Vegas boy suspected of threatening a “lone wolf” terrorist attack online had reportedly amassed ISIS propaganda and components to construct a bomb, according to authorities.
The teen was arrested Nov. 28 within hours of posting the threat on social media, which made reference to his devotion to the Islamic State terrorist organization, also known as ISIS, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release Friday.
The post stated the teen’s intention to commit “lone wolf terrorist attacks” and included anti-Semitic language, Deputy Chief Dori Koren said during a Dec. 1 press conference.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Leftist Outlets Stoke Fear of Second Trump Administration
Leftist media outlets — the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Atlantic — are stoking fear about a second Trump administration as former President Donald Trump leads President Joe Biden in key polling.
On Friday, Washington Post Editor-at-Large Robert Kagan wrote an op-ed titled “A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. We should stop pretending.” That was followed by a Monday excerpt labeled “The Fear of a Looming Trump Dictatorship” by columnist Ishaan Tharoor in the Post’s Today’s WorldView Newsletter.
“In just a few years, we have gone from being relatively secure in our democracy to being a few short steps, and a matter of months, away from the possibility of dictatorship,” wrote Kagan.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Retired Louisiana Supreme Court justice Joseph Bleich made a decision on Tuesday that the election results of the Caddo Parish Sheriff race are now null and void.
This decision came following a Nov. 18 runoff election where Democrat candidate Henry Whitehorn emerged victorious against Republican opponent John Nickelson, winning by just one vote, KTAL NBC 6 reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Macy’s Security Guard Who Was Stabbed to Death is Identified as Eric Harrison, 27
Police have arrested Tyrone Tunnell, 30, who remains in custody.
The 27-year-old Macy’s security guard stabbed to death Monday morning has been identified as Eric Harrison of Frankford, according to police records and family members.
Harrison had worked in “loss prevention” at the Center City department storefor more than two years, his mother, Dawn Harrison, said Tuesday morning. He worked two full-time jobs — first, he would sort mail overnight at the USPS on Byberry Road in the Northeast, then drive downtown to open the Macy’s on Market Street.
The customers loved him, his mother, 43, said. He called the older ladies at the store his “aunties.”
He was saving up to move out of his mom’s place in Frankford, she said, and get an apartment of his own.
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
Man Believed to Have Fired Shots at Officers Before Virginia House Explosion Presumed Dead
The man believed to have fired shots at officers from a duplex in Arlington, Va., that later exploded is presumed dead, local authorities confirmed Tuesday.
Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn on Tuesday identified the suspect as James Yoo, 56, the owner of the duplex that exploded.
Penn told reporters authorities were called to the duplex around 4:45 p.m. on Monday for reports of shots fired. Yoo is believed to have fired a “flare-type gun” from inside of the home over 30 times, Penn said.
Authorities tried to engage with the suspect, but were unsuccessful, prompting a search warrant to secure weapons at the residence, according to Penn.
When authorities tried to enter the home and execute the warrant later on Monday, multiple gunshots were fired from inside the home and shortly after around 8:30 p.m., the duplex exploded, Penn said.
Penn confirmed Yoo was inside the home at the time of the explosion and is presumed to be deceased. Human remains were found at the scene and the Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the individual and determine the cause of death.
Three officers reported minor injuries but no one was taken to the hospital and no other serious injuries were reported, police said.
| — Hat tip: JW | [Return to headlines] |
Mike Lee Blasts FBI Director Chris Wray Over Warrantless Surveillance of Americans
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) drew attention at a fiery congressional hearing on Tuesday when he pressed FBI Director Christopher Wray on the agency’s alleged warrantless surveillance of the American people. Lee blasted Wray over the FBI’s conduct regarding its searches, even suggesting he had no regard for the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution.
“FBI and other agencies searched Americans’ communications over 200,000 times, only 16 of which were evidence of the crime that returned information,” Lee said at the beginning of his question pertaining to searches on American citizens.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Officials Reveal New Details About the Bizarre D.C. Area House Explosion
At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Arlington County, Va., officials shared additional information about the bizarre home explosion that occurred in the Ballston neighborhood last night.
According to Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn, the individual who was in the home at the time of the explosion is deceased. Fire officials found human remains in the house and believe that they belong to the suspect, James Yoo, 56, who owns the home. However, DNA tests have not yet confirmed the identity of the remains. “All factors point to that is this individual, but that has to be confirmed, and it’s going to take time to confirm that as well.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Soros Flooded Big Tech Censorship Pressure Group With Millions During Midterm Elections
Democratic megadonor George Soros poured millions of dollars into a foreign group pressuring social media companies to fight “disinformation” and “misinformation” online in 2022, a midterm election year, records show.
Global Witness is investigating the likes of Google, X, Facebook, and TikTok for not removing purportedly “outright false” and “misleading” content while calling on governments to legislate against “hate speech,” according to documents on its website. That same British charity, which has an affiliated research arm in Palo Alto, California, received $2.65 million last year from Foundation to Promote Open Society and Alliance for Open Society International, two organizations in the Soros-backed Open Society Foundations dark money grantmaking network, newly released financial disclosures reveal.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Speaker Mike Johnson Tables Move to Slip Deep State Reauthorization in Defense Bill
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Tuesday reportedly tabled a move to slip a deep state reauthorization into a defense bill.
“BREAKING NEWS —@SpeakerJohnson has nixed an extension of FISA authority as part of the NDAA,” Punchbowl News’s Jake Sherman wrote
As Breitbart News has reported, Johnson and other congressional leaders have wanted to temporarily reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Section 702 is a controversial government surveillance law, and the proposed move received strong backlash from 54 bipartisan House lawmakers and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).
“Keeping FISA out of the NDAA is a victory for the American people who demand the end of warrantless government surveillance. I applaud Speaker Johnson’s decision to not cave to the Biden admin, Christopher Wray, and the entire intel community,” Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) told Breitbart News in a written statement.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Supreme Court Case That Could Upend Parts of the Tax Code
Authored by Matthew Vadum via The Epoch Times
The Supreme Court on Dec. 5 will take up an important but little-noticed case about “unrealized” income that considers the constitutional limitations on federal taxing power.
The case is significant because the court could use it to strike down the Mandatory Repatriation Tax (MRT), also known as the Section 965 transition tax, which was part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act approved by the Republican-controlled Congress in 2017 and signed into law by then-President Donald Trump.
Conservative constitutionalists say if the Supreme Court finds that the MRT violates the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, such a legal precedent could prevent Congress from enacting legislation to tax wealth.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
US Army Enlists University of Arkansas at Little Rock to Fight Online “Misinformation”
The US Army has announced a “combat” partnership (effective through 2025) with the publicly-funded University of Arkansas at Little Rock — and what they plan to “combat” together is none other than whatever is deemed to be online disinformation, but also, something defined as “cognitive threats.”
And by that, they don’t mean all manner of government and formally or otherwise government-associated entities falling over themselves trying to pass off various forms of speech suppression and censorship as fighting “disinformation.”
But there’s no denying that this, too, could fall under the definition of misinformation and cognitive threats offered here — namely, the goal is “to detect and combat bad actors online who are trying to manipulate how and what populations think.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
We’re Learning More About the Owner of the House That Exploded Near D.C. — And it’s Disturbing
On Monday evening, we reported on an explosion in the 800 block of Burlington Street in Arlington, Virginia. The Arlington County Police Department said they were at the house to serve an arrest warrant when the suspect inside fired “flares” prior to the blast. The massive explosion was caught on video.
We’re now learning more about the owner of the house, who believed his neighbors, his ex-wife, his sister, the FBI, and the Department of Justice were out to get him.
Now, I want to caution you that law enforcement authorities haven’t verified this information, and none of this is proof that Yoo committed any crimes or was responsible for the blast that leveled his home.
Arlington County property records show that James W. Yoo, who was described by a neighbor as being a recluse who had aluminum foil covering the windows, has owned the Burlington Street home since 1992 and is behind on his property taxes—to the tune of $3,700. I’m blurring out the home’s address, even though it’s widely available on social media, because there is much we don’t know about the explosion.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
YouTuber to Serve 6 Months After Crashing Plane Into Mountain Just for the Clicks
YouTuber, pilot, and former Olympic snowboarder Trevor Daniel Jacob was sentenced to six months in federal prison after he intentionally crashed an airplane and hid the subsequent wreckage.
On June 30, the 30-year-old Jacob pleaded guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation after he ejected from a plane and allowed it to plow into a California hillside, the Daily Mail reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activist Flees to Canada — CCP Officials Say They Will Pursue Her for Life
A prominent pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong who fled to Toronto while on bail after spending time in jail for organizing “unauthorized assembly” during the 2019 protests has vowed to never return to her home country.
Agnes Chow has instead opted to remain in Canada, where she has been studying for the past three months, to enjoy the freedom the nation offers. The move has angered the Chinese territory’s Communist Party-controlled government, who have since vowed to pursue her “for the rest of her life.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Must Watch: Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante Suddenly Collapses During Press Conference
Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante collapsed suddenly during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Plante was taking reporters questions during a weekly news conference in city hall’s Hall d’honneur, reports The Gazette, when she paused while responding to a question and then fell to the floor.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
State-Funded Canadian Broadcasting Corp to Cut 600 Jobs
On Monday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/Radio-Canada announced a number of programming and jobs cuts in response to “budget pressures.” Around 600 current positions will be done away with, and while some of the changes are expected to take effect immediately, others will phase in over the next year.
Canada’s national broadcaster received around $1.3 billion in government funding in the 2022-23 fiscal year, making it the most heavily subsidized media company in the nation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Ukrainian Citizen Who Stole 30 Bicycles in Denmark Has Been Detained in Poland
A Ukrainian citizen, sought by Danish authorities for the theft of 30 bicycles, has been detained in Poland at the Korczowa border crossing on the Polish-Ukrainian border. The 39-year-old Ukrainian woman was en route to her homeland.
According to a spokesperson from the Beskids Border Guard Department in Poland, Petra Zakelazh, the detained individual was being sought by Danish police who had issued a European arrest warrant against her.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Antifa Interior Minister Calls on German Companies to Boycott AfD
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), who previously wrote for an Antifa publication with links to far-left extremism, has called on German companies not to engage in discussions with AfD politicians and to publicly distance themselves from the party. Faeser emphasized the need for businesses to take a clear stance, stating, “It is now also up to business to take a clear stance here.”
This comes in response to dairy entrepreneur Theo Müller confirming meetings with AfD chairwoman Alice Weidel and expressing intentions to continue such engagements. Faeser warned about the divisive climate created by the AfD, deterring highly qualified workers from abroad. She urged businesses to distance themselves to prevent a further normalization of right-wing populist and extremist positions, the German press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Bulgaria and Romania: Progress Towards Schengen Membership
EU Commissioner Ilva Johansson insists on Bulgaria and Romania’s entry into the Schengen zone this year, as reported by Novinite.
The EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs confirmed her support for integrating Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area this year. Following a successful fact-finding mission in Bulgaria, Johansson expressed confidence in both countries’ readiness to join Schengen.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Official Warns of Elevated Terrorist Threat in Europe Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
The European Union’s home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, has issued a stark warning about the heightened risk of terrorist attacks in Europe during the Christmas holiday period due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Johansson expressed concern over the polarization within European societies caused by the conflict and the potential for this to lead to terrorist incidents.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Summit Nears: Debate on Ukraine’s Membership Talks Faces Opposition and Conditions
According to Reuters, EU member states are set to commence discussions on Ukraine’s potential membership talks on Tuesday. Representatives from the 27 EU nations will convene to consider the initiation of negotiations, a matter Hungary has indicated it might oppose, and others may subject to additional conditions.
The European Commission has proposed that the summit endorse the commencement of negotiations with Ukraine, potentially in March or upon Kyiv meeting specified conditions.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Finnish Companies May Have Violated EU Sanctions by Exporting Thousands of Drones to Russia
Finnish Customs suspects that products worth over three million euros, including nearly 3,500 drones, exported by two Finnish companies, have ended up in Russia in violation of EU sanctions.
The investigation suggests that the activity was directed from Russia, and a network of international companies facilitated financing from Russia. The companies allegedly made false export papers, claiming the goods were going to Kazakhstan when they were intended for Russia, Finnish media reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France Records Historic Decline in Math Level of Students
While France grapples with a concerning decline in student performance, Asian countries dominate the latest Program for International Student Assessment (Pisa) ranking.
The report reveals a significant drop in the level of French students, with results hitting some of the lowest ever measured, according to a report from Le Figaro.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France: Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony on Seine River: No Backup Plan Amid Security Concerns
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera affirmed on Monday that there is no alternative plan for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which is scheduled to take place on the Seine River.
As reported by France24, Oudea-Castera stated in an interview with French radio that while the plan remains fixed on the river flotilla concept, adjustments could still be made within this framework. Reports suggest that security forces are expressing serious concerns about the vulnerability of the ceremony to potential attacks.
Remind, the recent incident involved a man, known to authorities as a radical Islamist with mental health issues, who killed a German tourist near the Eiffel Tower along the Seine River. Authorities are investigating the incident as a suspected act of terror.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France is Monitoring 20 Thousand Supporters of Radical Islam for National Security Purposes
In France, surveillance of citizens adhering to radical Islam has intensified. Gerald Darmanin, the head of the French Ministry of the Interior, stated that around 20 thousand people are on the list of individuals posing a real threat, of which five thousand are considered “active” and pose a particular danger.
In an interview with the RMC radio station, Darmanin reported that more than 500 of them are illegal foreigners in France and two-thirds are already in prison or temporary detention centers. However, over 300 people among the convicted radicals have been released since 2018, creating additional challenges for security services.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The suspected Islamist behind the Paris terror stabbing attack that left one dead and another two injured has reportedly confessed to French police, claiming he was motivated by the “persecution” of Muslims throughout the world.
Iranian-heritage Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, 26, the alleged ‘Allahu Akbar’ knifeman who is suspected of stabbing a German-Filipino tourist to death and injuring two others with a hammer near the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Saturday evening has reportedly taken full “responsibility for his actions” while in police custody.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Berlin Faces Deepening Crisis as Federal Audit Court Criticizes 2023 Supplementary Budget
Germany’s ruling coalition is grappling with an escalating crisis as the federal audit court issued a stern warning on Monday, describing the proposed supplementary budget for 2023 as “extremely problematic under constitutional law,” POLITICO reports.
This warning, delivered just before a crucial parliamentary budget committee hearing on Tuesday, adds to the challenges faced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Housing Crisis Looms for Millions in the Czech Republic as State Assistance Falls Short
According to the Ministry of Regional Development, over a tenth of the Czech population is at risk of experiencing a housing crisis. The government is relying on assistance but it is evidently insufficient.
Rising prices, coupled with limited housing supply and slow construction, have significantly worsened housing affordability in the Czech Republic in recent years. According to the Deloitte Real Estate Index, the country ranks among the worst in Europe in this regard.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hungary and Poland: Key “Fraternity” in Foreign Policy
Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjartó, emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties with Poland, describing their relationship as more than just friendship or an alliance, reports About Hungary.
He underscored that despite disagreements, sustaining this connection remains a pivotal element in Hungary’s foreign policy strategy. According to him, Hungary values its partnership with Poland, and despite differing views on certain issues, they will continue to strive for cooperation and respect each other’s decisions.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hungary Rejects Involvement in Ukrainian Political Disputes
Zoltan Kovacs, State Secretary for International Relations and Communications, stated that Ukrainian “political disagreements” highlight Ukraine’s unsuitability for joining the European Union, reports About Hungary.
Kovacs emphasized that Hungary has no intention to interfere in Ukrainian political disputes involving President Zelensky.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hungary Declares Compliance With EC Demands on Judicial Reform, Anticipates EU Fund Arrival
Hungary’s Justice Minister, Bence Tuzson, announced that the country has successfully met all demands put forth by the European Commission regarding judicial reform, as reported by About Hungary.
Speaking to journalists during a break in the EU justice ministers’ meeting, Minister Tuzson confidently stated that Hungary now considers the discussions on judicial reform within the European Union as officially closed.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hungary: Orban: Prosperity Without the EU Possible
Prime Minister Viktor Orban refutes the myth that EU member states cannot thrive without EU funding, reports About Hungary.
He stated that in 2024, economic growth will return regardless of EU funding. Orban expressed confidence that the country can sustain its economic growth through its own resources and market financing. He also noted that the government does not intend to forgo the funds that should be provided by Europe.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ireland: UFC Fighter Conor McGregor Hints at Presidential Run
UFC fighter Conor McGregor, who has become a notable figure in Irish politics in recent weeks by supporting Irish Lives Matter protests addressing concerns about insecurity linked to uncontrolled immigration, has hinted at a presidential bid.
Apart from endorsing the demonstrations and criticizing the head of the gardai for labeling protesters as “far-right hooligans,” McGregor has suggested a potential run in the 2025 presidential race. The Notorious, his moniker in mixed martial arts, posted a photo of three potential competitors, emphasizing their long-standing ties to specific political parties.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Italian Police Arrest Two Individuals for Disseminating Islamist Propaganda
On Monday, police in the northern city of Brescia announced the arrest of two individuals in Italy involved in spreading terrorist propaganda online, as reported by Reuters.
The suspects, identified as a Pakistani national and an Italian citizen of Pakistani origin, were taken into custody as part of an investigation initiated in October 2022.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Leftist EU Politicians Took Millions in Bribes From Islamic Nations for Influence Peddling: Report
Leading leftist lawmakers from the European Union allegedly accepted up to €4 million in bribes to use their influence to advance the aims of the Islamic nations of Morocco, Mauritania, and Qatar.
A year after one of the largest corruption scandals in the history of the bloc rocked Brussels as socialist EU parliamentarians were discovered with literal suitcases full of cash allegedly from the Sharia state of Qatar, leaked documents seen by the POLITICO website have shed light on the potential scale of the suspected influence peddling scheme.
According to the report, former Member of the European Parliament Pier Antonio Panzeri and his aide Francesco Giorgi kept detailed spreadsheet accounts of their activities allegedly working on behalf of the Islamic governments of Morocco, Mauritania, and Qatar over four years, during which they and their leftist cohorts reportedly raked in approximately €4 million in bribes.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Michel to Cut Short China Visit Amid Orban’s New Statement on Ukraine’s EU Bid
European Council President Charles Michel will cut short his trip to Beijing and return prematurely to Brussels in response to a statement made by the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban.
During the first in-person EU-China summit since 2019, an EU official informed POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook that Michel would return to Brussels to continue discussions with leaders on the way forward.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Only One in Ten Germans Considers Chancellor Scholz to be Strong in Leadership
Olaf Scholz’s image has dramatically worsened in the last six months. Forsa regularly conducts a personality profile survey for Stern on the Chancellor. Only ten percent of Germans consider the head of government to be strong in leadership.
This represents a decline of 13 percentage points compared to May 2023 and even a decrease of 22 percentage points compared to May 2022. Particularly alarming for the SPD, which is already struggling in polls: Even the remaining party voters now consider the head of government to be strong in leadership by only 21 percent.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
PM Orban: Hungary Must be the Master of Itself
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized the need for Hungary to pursue a radical foreign policy with clear goals and visions during a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Institute of Foreign Affairs.
Orban stated that Hungary aims to be the master of its own destiny, emphasizing a radical tactical stance in negotiations. He expressed his preference for a foreign policy based on national interest, combining elements of both value-based and interest-based approaches, the Hungarian press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Gun-toting Albanian gangsters have seized control of Britain’s drugs market and are filling up our prisons so fast the government is sending some back home early.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Survey Reveals Concerns Over English Dominance in Finland
The survey, which involved 1,338 respondents representing the adult population of Mainland Finland, revealed that a significant number of Finns, approximately 85%, are uneasy about English gaining ground at the expense of Finnish and Swedish, as reported by The Helsinki Times.
According to the survey, a majority of respondents, around 85%, believe that companies should primarily serve consumers in Finnish or Swedish. Only about 10% disagreed with this sentiment. Additionally, 82% of respondents considered the use of English as the sole language of service to be discriminatory, while 16% did not view it as discriminatory.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, in an interview with standard.sk, mentioned that under current conditions, he cannot imagine Ukraine in the European Union, and the potential membership of the country in the union is “very, very far away.”
“This is indeed a serious question. But under current conditions, I cannot envision Ukraine’s membership in the EU. I am curious myself about how, for example, Ursula von der Leyen would justify the proposal for membership or the opening of discussions on Ukraine’s EU membership and how we can start negotiations with a country that is in a state of armed conflict… Personally, I think Ukraine’s membership in the European Union is very, very far away,” Blanar said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK Considers AI-Based Age Verification to Safeguard Children From Online Pornography
According to Reuters, UK authorities are considering new measures to prevent children from accessing online pornography with a focus on utilizing AI technology to determine if a viewer is legally of age.
The recently enacted Online Safety Act mandates that websites and apps displaying adult content implement safeguards to prevent children from encountering explicit material. The legal age for viewing pornography in the UK is 18.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK Government Warns Citizens to Stock Up on Candles and Battery-Powered Radios
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has advised households to stock up on candles and battery-powered radios to prepare for potential catastrophes that could disable digital gadgets.
Dowden highlighted the need for resilience in the digital age, suggesting that people have become overly reliant on the internet. He emphasized the importance of retaining analogue capabilities, such as battery-operated radios, in case of power outages or disasters, the UK press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Tory Panic as Farage-Founded Reform UK Party Surges to Double Digits in Polls
The list of ever-mounting issues for the governing globalist Tory Party of Rishi Sunak as it faces a potentially historic electoral wipeout next year now includes being outflanked to the right by the surging populist Reform UK party as it has begun to consistently poll in the double digits.
Amid mounting rage at the Conservative in-name-only Party’s failure to deliver on its promises to the public, notably on mass migration, the Nigel Farage-founded Reform UK has risen to third place in national polls with double-digit support.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Viktor Orban to Hold Talks With Macron Ahead of EU Summit
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday, as confirmed by Orban’s press chief, as reported by Reuters.
The meeting precedes an upcoming EU summit where discussions on Ukraine’s potential accession to the bloc and financial assistance for Kyiv are expected to face opposition from Orban.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Winter Weather Wreaks Havoc in Germany: Fatalities, Road Closures, and Travel Disruptions
In various parts of Germany, winter conditions have led to hazardous road conditions, as reported by Der Spiegel. On the A8 in Bavaria, there was a collision between a car and a jackknifed truck. Additionally, a school bus had an accident in the Erzgebirge region.
Two individuals lost their lives in a collision between a car and a semi-truck on Autobahn 8 in Upper Bavaria. The car slid under the rear of the jackknifed truck near Odelzhausen in the Dachau district during the night. The road was extremely slippery at that time due to freezing moisture.
The occupants of the car, the driver and the passenger, suffered fatal injuries, and the identity of the victims was not disclosed. The 64-year-old truck driver sustained minor injuries. The Autobahn towards Munich was closed for several hours.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
IDF Chief Suggests Israel May Flood Hamas Tunnels With Seawater
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi suggested Tuesday that it might be a “good idea” to flood the Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza with seawater, commenting on a report in the Wall Street Journal that Israel was thinking about it.
The Journal report stated: “Israel has assembled a system of large pumps it could use to flood Hamas’s vast network of tunnels under the Gaza Strip with seawater, a tactic that could destroy the tunnels and drive the fighters from their underground refuge but also threaten Gaza’s water supply, U.S. officials said.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Israeli Army Surrounds Khan Younis as Southern Gaza Attacks Intensify
Israel is intensifying its attacks in and around Gaza’s second-largest city as the United Nations expects one million to flee to Rafah in the coming days.
Israeli forces are surrounding the city of Khan Younis, Israel’s top military commander has said, as the ground offensive spreads to the south of the Gaza Strip.
“Sixty days after the war began our forces are now encircling the Khan Younis area in the southern Gaza Strip,” said Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Israeli army’s chief of general staff, on Tuesday.
“We have secured many Hamas strongholds in the northern Gaza Strip, and now we are operating against its strongholds in the south,” Halevi said, according to the Times of Israel newspaper, as he announced the next phase of Israel’s ground offensive against the Palestinian group.
“Anyone who thought that the IDF [Israeli army] would not know how to resume the fighting after the truce was mistaken,” he added of the pause in hostilities that collapsed on Friday, and that enabled the exchange of captives held in Gaza for Palestinians in Israeli jails.
Hamas’s Osama Hamdan said there would be “no negotiations or a [prisoner] swap” before the Israeli assault comes to an end.
| — Hat tip: MM | [Return to headlines] |
Israeli Security Minister: We Are Approving ‘Up to 3,000’ Gun License Applications a Day
Israel Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says his ministry is now approving “up to 3,000” gun license applications a day.
The Times of Israel quoted Ben Gvir saying, “When the war started, we knew that we were right when we said that every place that has a weapon can save a life.”
He went on to say, “My policy within the office was to permit as many people as possible to get a weapon…[and] in a short period of time, we were giving up to 3,000 approvals a day.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
by Daniel Greenfield
In the 6 days of the truce with Hamas, the Islamic terror groups targeted Israeli soldiers with two IED attacks and murdered a pregnant woman and a 73-year-old Rabbi in Jerusalem.
And the latest truce, ceasefire or whatever you want to call it is still young.
So far the death toll from the truce includes Liba Dickman, a 24-year old preschool teacher pregnant with her first child, Chanah Ifergan, a 67-year-old principal and Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, a 73-year-old rabbi. Who knows what more deaths the bloody truce will bring.
3 dead and at least 11 wounded after only 6 days of truce.
That’s what truces, ceasefires and peace agreements with Islamic terrorists amount to.
Wait two years, the way Hamas did before Oct 7, and the ceasefire will kill a thousand people. After 30 years of the Oslo Accord peace deal with the PLO, it’s around three thousand.
The one thing sure to happen after negotiating with terrorists is that the body count will go up. Reaching agreements with Islamic terrorists doesn’t end the violence because they never stop wanting to kill you. All it does is give them the time and space to plan their next attack…
| — Hat tip: Daniel Greenfield | [Return to headlines] |
Saudi Arabia Says ‘Absolutely Not’ to Fossil Fuel Phase Down Demand by Climate Crazies
Saudi Arabia’s energy minister rejected any phase down of fossil fuel now or in the future on Monday, using an interview at the U.N.’s COP28 conference to reject the increasingly strident demands of climate activists.
AFP reports a tentative “phasedown/out” was included in a first draft of an agreement on climate action delegates are haggling over during talks that are scheduled to finish on December 12.
If successful it will end all new oil, gas, and coal projects.
But Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, a half-brother of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, told Bloomberg that Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, rejects the proposal outright.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
TikTok Outlines Funding to Curb Climate “Misinformation”
As TikTok’s platform experiences a supposed surge in climate-related content, there are growing demands to censor the spread of what is deemed “misinformation” or “disinformation.” Ian Gill, TikTok’s Global Head of Sustainability, voiced these worries during the COP28 conference in Dubai. TikTok’s response? A $1 million initiative specifically for COP28 to counter this so-called misinformation, partnering with Verified for Climate — a joint project of the United Nations and Purpose.
But here’s the catch: This initiative hinges on a controversial premise. By assembling a group of “Verified Champions” — experts and scientists from Brazil, Spain, and the UAE — TikTok is essentially curating a specific narrative on climate change. These Champions guide selected TikTok creators to produce educational content that challenges what TikTok labels as climate misinformation.
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Kyiv Mayor Klitschko: Zelensky Failed to Prepare for Ukraine War
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that he failed to adequately prepare Ukraine for the conflict with Russia and will “pay for his mistakes.”
In an interview with Swiss news outlet 20 Minuten, Klitschko accused Zelensky of making mistakes that allowed Russia to gain an advantage in the early months of the conflict.
He criticized Zelensky for being slow to react to Russian attacks on Kyiv and questioned why the country wasn’t better prepared for the war.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
U.S. Imposes New Round of Sanctions Over Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on a Belgian involved in procuring electronics for the Russian military, his companies and a group of Belarusian firms and people tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
WASHINGTON — The U.S. on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a Belgian involved in procuring electronics for the Russian military, his companies and a group of Belarusian firms and people tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control targeted a network led by Belgium-based Hans De Geetere, which included nine entities and five people across Russia, Belgium, Cyprus, Sweden, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands. They are accused of being involved with procuring military-grade equipment for Russia.
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
Zelensky to Plead Directly With U.S. Senators for Funding, Military Equipment Boost
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will appeal directly to U.S. senators on Tuesday as he seeks assurances on approval for delivery of the next tranche of aid and lethal military equipment to his embattled country.
The personal entreaty will take place via secure video as part of a closed, classified briefing on the war in Europe, UPI reports.
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer announced he extended the Biden administration’s invitation to Zelensky on Monday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ghaziabad Gang Rape: A Hindu Woman Was Raped by Three Muslims One by One Behind a Bush
A Hindu woman in Ghaziabad was allegedly raped by three Muslim men when they intercepted her while she was driving a scooty on an isolated stretch. She was overpowered and dragged to the bushes by the men who committed the crime. Five accused are arrested in the related case.
Sonam Singh | HENB | New Delhi | Nov 5, 2023:: A Hindu woman in her 20s was allegedly raped by a group of men while she and her friend were riding a scooty on a deserted road in Ghaziabad, police said. Five accused were arrested in connection with the incident. Two of the accused were arrested after sustaining injuries during a police encounter.
The incident took place on November 30 when the victim was learning to ride a scooty with her friend on an isolated stretch when the accused, Junaid, called his friend, Imran, another accused Tausif, and two of his associates, police said. The men overpowered the girl and dragged her to the bushes where they took turns to rape her, they added.
The accused also dragged the victim’s friend and tried to commit the crime on her. But she was saved as a vehicle passed by the area, prompting the men to flee. A case was filed against the accused persons…
| — Hat tip: Upananda Brahmachari | [Return to headlines] |
China has initiated collaboration with Finland to investigate the causes of the destruction of the Balticconnector gas pipeline connecting Estonia and Finland.
The official spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin, stated that China supports continuous cooperation with all parties interested in establishing the circumstances of the incident.
This move by China comes after a three-week wait for a response to calls from Helsinki and Tallinn for Beijing to engage in the investigation. In November, it was revealed that the Chinese vessel NewNew Polar Bear was involved in damaging the gas pipeline, causing concern for Estonia and Finland.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Alleged senior Alameddine gang member Masood Zakaria (pictured) touched down at Sydney airport about 6pm on Tuesday.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass on Wednesday tabled the second iteration of her report into the alleged politicisation of the state’s public sector (pictured Daniel Andrews).
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Human Rights Commission deputy general counsel Graeme Edgerton boasted to colleagues about the High Court’s ruling that indefinite immigration detention was unlawful.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
The independent Senator has lodged a formal complaint about Michael Mansell over his repeated inferences she is not Indigenous to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
The disturbing incident saw up to 30 people targeting unmarked police vehicles about 2.30pm on Sunday, November 26 in the remote community of Mareeba in far north Queensland.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
A climate protest organised by Extinction Rebellion has brought traffic to a standstill with promises to continue disrupting commuters all week.
The hard-line environmental movement’s Australian faction organised to have about two dozen protesters ‘slow march’ down King Street in Melbourne’s CBD at about 7:15am on Wednesday.
They were seen wearing high-vis vests while holding up a banner that blocked one side of the street, prompting frustrated drivers to lay on the horn.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
252 Migrants Arrived at the Shores of Cyprus Over the Weekend
Over the weekend, Cypriot authorities recorded 252 migrants arriving on three different boats near the shores of Cyprus. The boats are believed to have departed from Libya, Syria, and Lebanon, as reported by Infomigrants.
The Cypriot coast guard assisted these boats transporting migrants off the eastern coast of the island. One vessel carrying 97 migrants was discovered by the police on Saturday in the eastern part of the island. Another boat with 101 migrants aboard arrived from Tripoli, Libya, encountering engine issues and was rescued near Cape Greco. A third boat carrying 54 migrants was spotted early Saturday near the coastline.
All migrants were registered and taken to Cyprus’ main migrant camp. Three of them were arrested on charges of human smuggling.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
More than 29,000 migrants have crossed the Channel by small boat so far this year, the second highest annual figure on record.
A total of 29,090 people have made the perilous journey in 585 dinghies — an average of 50 people crammed into each vessel.
Today’s figures show Turkish nationals now account for more than one in 10 arrivals, while Albanians represent three per cent compared to nearly a third last year.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Freed detainee Emran Dad, 33, was arrested in Dandenong, south-east of Melbourne, on Tuesday morning for allegedly making contact with minors and breaching his reporting obligations.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has lashed critics who accused her of ‘botching’ the release of immigration detainees and demanded she apologise to the Australian public
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Black residents of Chicago’s Brighton Park are suing Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson over the construction of his massive tent city for illegal border crossers — but not before state authorities shut construction down over a report that the site may be a toxic landfill.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plans to build a tent encampment for up to 1,400 illegal aliens has been under fire since it was first proposed, and residents quickly organized to oppose the plan to put hundreds of illegal immigrants right in the middle of their neighborhood without so much as a community meeting or a discussion with their alderman.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
British Interior Minister Heads to Rwanda to Resume Asylum Strategy
UK Interior Minister, James Cleverly, arrived in Rwanda to finalize a new treaty aimed at reviving the government’s contentious policy of sending asylum seekers to the East African country. This move follows a recent UK Supreme Court decision deeming the policy a violation of international human rights laws, as reported by Reuters.
The revised agreement seeks to address concerns by including a binding treaty preventing the expulsion of asylum seekers to Rwanda, a key point of contention raised by the court.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Democratic Senator Wants Illegal Immigrants to Join the Military
Authored by Paul Joseph Watson via Modernity.news
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) wants illegal immigrants to be given the opportunity to join the U.S. Military in return for citizenship.
Durbin made the comments during a recent Senate speech.
Noting how low enlistment levels represent a “grave threat to our national security,” Durbin and that these shortfalls could be met by recruiting illegal aliens.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
ECJ Rules Member States Must Provide Migrants With Leaflets on Asylum Procedures
The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that member states must provide migrants with a common information leaflet on asylum procedures and conduct a personal interview for both first-time and subsequent asylum applications filed in another EU Member State.
The directive aims to ensure that applicants can inform authorities in the second member state about factors preventing their transfer, justifying the latter member state’s responsibility for examining their asylum application, European media reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany Plans Extension of Border Controls With Poland, Czech Republic and Switzerland
Germany intends to prolong its border controls with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland in an effort to manage a surge in migration and counteract people-smuggling, as reported by Reuters.
The extension is set to last until December 15, as stated by a spokesperson for the interior ministry during a regular news conference in Berlin on Monday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Berlin Authorities Spend €1.5 Million Daily on Refugee Accommodation
Data obtained by BILD reveals the daily expenditures incurred by the authorities in Berlin for accommodating refugees in the city. Asylum seekers in the German capital can expect three types of accommodation.
The camp at the former Tegel airport costs €1.17 million per day and has space for 7,100 individuals. Currently, it houses 3,408 Ukrainians and 1,333 people from other countries. A recent mass brawl involving around 100 men, primarily Turkish Kurds and Syrians, occurred during dinner distribution. The conflict escalated at night, turning into a brawl in the communal hall where temporary beds are located. Three men aged 18, 22 and 36 were injured. Up to 100 police officers responded to the scene and isolated clashes continued until Tuesday. Law enforcement officers continue to maintain order on-site.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Amidst a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment, Ireland has declared a lack of accommodation for asylum seekers, Financial Times reports.
This potentially is forcing them to sleep on the streets and raising fears of increased vulnerability to anti-immigrant violence, as highlighted by human rights groups. The Dublin government, having previously cautioned about limitations in housing capacity, stated on Monday that it can no longer provide shelter for asylum seekers.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Must Watch: 168 Chinese Illegal Immigrants Cross Into US in California Carrying Suitcases
A large group of migrants, most of whom are Chinese men, were caught illegally crossing through the US southern border in Jacumba Hot Springs, California.
News Nation’s Jorge Ventura shared video showing 168 Chinese men standing in a line with backpacks and suitcases, some of whom were talking to US law enforcement. Also among them were Chinese women as well as people of other nationalities.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
OECD Study: Migrant Children Face Decline in Academic Performance in Austria
According to the latest PISA study, Austria continues to be among the OECD countries where the educational and occupational background of parents, as well as material prosperity, have a more pronounced impact on the achievements of adolescents than the average of other OECD nations.
As reported by oe24, students from the quarter with the highest socio-economic status scored 106 points more in mathematics than those from the lowest quarter. This represents a performance difference of several years and is significantly larger than the OECD average (93 points).
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The UK Introduces Stringent New Regulations Aimed at Reducing the Influx of Immigrants
On Monday, the British government unveiled stringent immigration regulations with the objective of significantly lowering the annual number of individuals allowed to relocate to the UK by hundreds of thousands, according to AP News.
Home Secretary James Cleverly asserted that he is implementing decisive measures to decrease sanctioned immigration, which reached a record high of nearly 750,000 individuals in 2022. Critics argue that these actions will place considerable strain on sectors like health and social care, potentially pushing them to a breaking point.
According to the new regulations, immigrants will be required to have a higher income to qualify for a work visa and will encounter increased challenges in bringing family members to the UK.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Outrage erupted after two male-born competitors took the gold and silver medals at a Chicago women’s cycling championship on Sunday.
The Illinois State Cyclocross Championships, held in the Windy City on December 3, featured over a dozen competitors across several divisions, both men’s and women’s.
But the finish line saw a pair of biological men racing as transgender women win the top two slots in the women’s singlespeed division, according to Reduxx.
Trans racers Tessa Johnson and Evelyn Williamson placed first and second, leaving third-place winner Kristin Chalmers as the only actual female winner in the female category.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Outspoken advocate for women’s sports Riley Gaines and Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon have promised to compensate women who lose prize money because of trans athletes competing in women’s sports. As a former University of Kentucky swimmer, Gaines knows what it’s like to lose races, awards, and prizes to men who say they are trans, and she backs women who refuse to compete against trans-identified male athletes in female divisions.
Gaines has been fearless in her fight against biological males who take opportunities away from women in sports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘You Are a Misogynist’: Riley Gaines Turns Tables on Squad Dem Calling Her Transphobic
Speaking before the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Health and Financial Services on Tuesday, NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines explained why the Biden administration’s proposed changes to Title IX regarding women’s sports would harm female athletes.
While concluding her opening statement, Gaines took aim at Rep. Summer Lee, who in her own opening statement claimed that the subcommittee would hear “transphobic bigotry” from Gaines and others.
“Ranking Member Lee, if my testimony makes me transphobic, then I believe your opening monologue makes you a misogynist,” Gaines said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
“A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. We should stop pretending…In just a few years, we have gone from being relatively secure in our democracy to being a few short steps, and a matter of months, away from the possibility of dictatorship.” —Robert Kagan, Washington Post Editor-at-Large
Today’s Rhetorical Question: Whaddya call a [humourless] fish that keeps getting hooked by the same [wise ass] fisherman? (hint: OMG…the cluelessness of these [vulgar intensifier] ‘toddlers just kills me)
fredthreethreethree: Well, if we had a Trump dictatorship, at least that wouldn’t be as awful as having a constitution, right?
“Well, if we had a Trump dictatorship, at least that wouldn’t be as awful as having a constitution, right?”
If the Constitution was currently in force, we wouldn’t need Trump.
Sadly, the Constitution was jettisoned the day President Affirmative Action was elected.
Washington Poot is a liberal lying fake news that twist the facts on purpose.
EU pledges €30bn to protect mosques and synagogues amid hate crime rise
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/06/eu-spends-30bn-to-protect-mosques-and-synagogues-amid-rise-in-hate-crimes
Driving these cults to the Middle East, back home to where they came from, could save a lot of money.
“Driving these cults to the Middle East….could save a lot of money.”
Driving ’em into the ground would save alotta time.
Bullets, rope and bayonets are far cheaper, until none are left.