According to a new survey, 69% of German citizens support the farmers who have been staging protests. Meanwhile, climate activists have joined in with the farmers’ protests in Dresden, but their demands diverge from those of the farmers.
In other news, Europe may see a new surge in migration after the new leader of Niger lifted restrictions on emigration.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, DV, JW, McN, Reader from Chicago, Roger, Vlad Tepes, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.
Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.
Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. I check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.
Record-Low Unemployment in EU for 2023 Amidst Labor Shortages
In 2023, the European Union experienced a historic low in unemployment, according to data from Eurostat, as reported by The Brussels Times. The unemployment rate in the eurozone dropped to 6.4% in November, down from 6.5% in October and 6.7% in November 2022. Similarly, the overall EU unemployment rate decreased from 6% in October to 5.9% in November, compared to 6.1% in November 2022. These are the lowest figures recorded since monitoring began in April 1998.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Supreme Court Win is in the Cards for Jan. 6 Defendants, Lawyers Predict
Authored by Matthew Vadum via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
The Supreme Court will strike down the use of a key federal law in the Biden administration’s ongoing prosecutions of Jan. 6 defendants and in the process shut down the government’s case against hundreds of defendants, legal experts predict.
If the top court finds an Enron-era obstruction law—18 U.S. Code Section 1512(c)—is being used improperly against the defendants, their charges are likely to be thrown out.
At issue is the evidence-tampering provision that appears in the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act of 2002, which was part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act aimed at curbing wrongdoing on Wall Street.
President Trump was indicted under the same federal statute and also stands to benefit if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the defendant, sources told The Epoch Times.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Armed Woman Guns Down ‘Raging’ Thug Trying to Break Her Front Door Down
An armed woman has exercised her Second Amendment right to defend herself by gunning down a “raging” thug who was trying to violently break into her home.
Arizona homeowner Jenele Williams says she was forced to fire shots through her front door to protect herself and her 16-year-old son when a violent home invader tried to break it down.
The incident occurred over the weekend as Williams and her son tried to leave their apartment.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Bay Area Woman Stabbed Mother to Death on Facebook Live, Police Say
A San Rafael woman was arrested Monday on suspicion of stabbing her mother to death and broadcasting the horrific act on Facebook Live, police said. Tonantzyn Oris Beltran, a 28-year-old San Rafael resident, is being held at the Marin County Jail without bail and could face homicide charges, according to jail records.
The San Rafael Police Department was called to the scene of the stabbing at a Terra Linda apartment complex on Cresta Way just before 5 p.m. Monday. “We received quite a few phone calls from both eyewitness accounts and those who observed it on Faebook Live,” Sgt. Justin Graham, a public information officer for the police department, told SFGATE.
On the rear balcony of an apartment in the complex, police found Beltran’s 55-year-old mother with multiple stab wounds, according to a news release. Beltran was standing above her mother, holding a knife, and her clothes were “soaked in blood,” the police said. The mother was transported to a local hospital and was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival. Beltran was detained at the scene.
Of what was shown on Facebook Live, Graham said he didn’t “know what people were exactly able to see and not see.”
In the preliminary investigation, police said they learned that Beltran is active on social media and “produced content on many social media platforms.” On the day of the stabbing, she posted a video of herself standing in the lobby of the Santa Rosa Police Department, according to police. “We are working with the Santa Rosa Police Department on this portion of the investigation, and they are reviewing what occurred,” San Rafael police said in a statement.
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
President Biden and Sen. Bob Casey were leading both of their expected opponents in a new Pennsylvania poll released Wednesday, a rare bit of good news for Democrats heading into the 2024 election.
A Quinnipiac University survey found Biden ahead 49% to 46% with Pennsylvania registered voters in a hypothetical matchup against his chief political opponent, former President Donald Trump, in a race described by the pollster as “too close to call.”
Casey, 63, is leading by an even wider 10-point margin (53%-43%) in the state against GOP challenger Dave McCormick than in October, the last month the poll was conducted by the university.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Blue States Just Can’t Stop Taxing
Authored by Stephen Moore via The Epoch Times
The latest Census Bureau data on population changes in America should have been a wake-up call to lawmakers in blue states and cities. The Census data provide even further evidence that “soak the rich” tax policies have incited a blue-state meltdown.
California, New York, and Illinois all lost the most population last year.
These states have nearly lost a combined 5 million people over the past decade.
California and New York could both lose another three congressional seats by the end of the decade, and Illinois another two.
Did I mention that these are the three states with the highest taxes?
Is this just a coincidence?
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Vivek Blasts Biden Over J6 Persecution of Journalists, Haley as ‘Controllable Puppet’
Appearing on Timcast IRL on Wednesday evening, GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the prosecution of independent journalists who covered January 6.
“The corporate press piece is interesting,” Ramaswamy said, noting that there were members of the press there that day that “now they’re not going after.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Vivek to Submit Amicus Brief to SCOTUS in Favor of Keeping Trump on Colorado Ballot
Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy annouced on Wednesday’s stream of Timcast that he would be submitting an amicus brief to the Supreme Court arguing to overturn the Colorado decision taking former President Donald Trump off the 2024 Republican primary ballot.
Ramaswamy said in the livestream that he had not planned to make his intentions known, but that “it’s the right thing to do” for America.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
California Bill That Bans Contact Football for Minors Passes in State Assembly Committee
A Democrat-backed California bill banning contact football for youth under the age of 12 has passed in the State Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism.
Proponents of the bill argue safety concerns and the risk of traumatic brain injuries, while critics of the bill say it is discriminatory and tramples on parental rights.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Doocy Questions Potential Cover-Up Over Biden’s Health
Authored by Paul Joseph Watson via Modernity.news
Fox News reporter Peter Doocy reacted to the revelation that the Pentagon had kept secret details of the Defense Secretary’s cancer treatment by asking if there could be a cover-up surrounding Biden’s health.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Disgraced New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez’s ex-girlfriend allegedly participated in orgies with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and underage girls, newly released court documents claim.
Gwendolyn Beck, 65, a longtime associate of Epstein who dated Menendez in 2010, was singled out by his victim Virginia Giuffre in a January 2016 deposition, a transcript of which was finally released to the public on Tuesday.
As part of the deposition, Giuffre was provided with a list of names and was asked which ones she was not trafficked to as a teenager.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Embattled District Attorney Fani Willis has been subpoenaed to testify in the divorce case of the special prosecutor handling the Trump election interference case, who she stands accused of having an “improper relationship” with.
Furthermore, it has emerged the attorney, Nathan Wade, wasn’t even approved by the relevant board before being hired by the Willis who presides over Fulton County in Georgia.
Willis hired Atlanta-based private attorney Nathan Wade as a special prosecutor in the case against Trump and 18 of his associates over their alleged actions following the 2020 election.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Fauci Admits COVID Lab Leak Theory is ‘Not a Conspiracy Theory’ During Congressional Grilling
Former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci acknowledged in a Congressional hearing on Wednesday that there is credibility to the lab leak Covid origin theory, in addition to maintaining that he is “not convinced” that school closures backed by his agency harmed children, particularly in regard to their education.
During a second day of being grilled by Congress, the former Chief Medical Advisor said that the notion that the Covid virus was designed by people and then emerged from a Wuhan lab was “not a conspiracy theory,” the Daily Mail reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hunter Biden Storms Out of House Hearing After Showing Up Unexpectedly in Chaotic Capitol Hill Scene
Now you see him, now you don’t.
Hunter Biden triggered bedlam Wednesday with a surprise — and brief — appearance at a House Oversight Committee hearing where members were debating a resolution holding him in contempt of Congress.
The first son, 53, showed up with his lawyer Abbe Lowell and “sugar brother” Kevin Morris and sat in the front row of the hearing room, causing an uproar among the panel’s Republicans, before leaving 17 minutes after he arrived with what appeared to be the camera crew for a long-promised documentary in tow.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Judge Blocks Trump From Making His Own Closing Statement in NYC Civil Fraud Trial
Donald Trump won’t deliver his own closing statement at his New York civil fraud trial after all — after the judge said he needed to stick to “relevant, material facts.”
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron emailed Trump attorney Christopher Kise Wednesday saying he was assuming the 77-year-old former president wouldn’t agree to the “lawful limits” and “therefore, he will not be speaking in court tomorrow.”
Kise first notified the judge in a January 4 email that after the lawyers give their arguments in the $370 million case on Thursday, “President Trump plans to present argument at closing as well,” court records show.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Judicial Watch Uncovers 426 Pages of Records in Lawsuit for Biden Email Alias
Judicial Watch released hundreds of pages of records on Wednesday related to President Joe Biden’s alias email account, providing a window into his frequent communication with Hunter and James Biden about his official schedule, meetings, and travel plans.
The emails, hundreds of which are under Joe Biden’s aliases, are relevant to the impeachment inquiry into the president because:
- The alias accounts raise concern because they are unusual, suspicious, and “shady,” experts and lawmakers previously told Breitbart News.
- Joe Biden used four aliases: “Robert Peters,” “Robin Ware,” “JRB Ware,” and “auks.”
- The use of a private email for official business is discouraged by law.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
An attorney has put out a call for people to contact him who were trapped in a 6-mile freeway backup to begin legal action against the anti-Israel activists who shut down a Seattle freeway for holding them against their will.
Ted Frank, a lawyer with the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, on Monday, wrote on X, “If you were trapped on I-5 because of the illegal acts of pro-Hamas protestors, you have legal rights for civil damages. You should consult with an attorney. The attorneys at @HamLincLaw, including me, would love to bring this kind of suit. My DMs are open.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Man Accused of Hitting His Daughter With Truck Before Police Crash, Shooting Facing First Charge
TROTWOOD — The man accused of hitting a woman with his truck before leading police on a chase that ended in a crash and shooting is now facing charges.
James Skirvin, 54, was charged with one count of felonious assault Wednesday morning, according to Montgomery County Municipal Court records.
Court records also indicate that a bond for Skirvin has been set at $1.5 million.
The charge is connected to the pedestrian strike that started a string of events on Monday.
Skirvin is accused of purposefully hitting his daughter with his white truck, according to a statement of facts filed Wednesday.
As News Center 7 previously reported, Skirvin allegedly ran over his daughter at Voyager Village on Monday morning. She sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.
While first responders were there helping the victim, police said Skirvin sped out of the park shouting and pointing a gun at them and firefighters as he pulled onto US 35.
From there, police started the chase of the truck which ended with Skirvin crashing into a police cruiser and then gunfire.
Police said Wednesday that Skirvin and the Trotwood officer injured in the crash on US 35 were currently in stable condition at a local hospital.
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
Pfizer Attempts to Dismiss Texas Lawsuit That Accused it of Working to Censor Vaccine Criticism
It is no exaggeration to say that one of Big Pharma’s biggest players, Pfizer, has had an excellent pandemic — over $100 billion in revenue in 2022 alone.
The rate at which this growth has been declining since Covid apparently made a disappearing act and the number of people willing to be vaccinated against it decreased dramatically, speaks clearly to how important the jab it produced in record time has been to Pfizer.
It logically follows that the giant would plausibly have done a lot of marketing “cackling” to protect this “golden goose.” And that is what a lawsuit brought by Texan authorities pretty much alleges — that Pfizer went as far as to use false and deceptive marketing to sell its vaccine and pushed for online censorship of criticism.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Rep Clay Higgins: ‘Easily 200 FBI Undercover Assets’ Dressed as Trump Supporters on Jan 6
Republican Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) has claimed that there were “easily 200 FBI undercover assets” dressed as supporters of President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021.
During a new interview with independent news anchor Tucker Carlson, Higgins asserted that the FBI assets were instigating trouble and helped those who entered the Capitol navigate the building.
Higgins dropped the bombshell during an appearance on “The Tucker Carlson Encounter.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Says He Has Decided on 2024 Running Mate But Refuses to Name Them: ‘Can’t Tell You’
Former President Donald Trump revealed Wednesday that he’s already settled on a running mate for his 2024 general election campaign if he were to win the Republican nomination for president.
Trump, however, refused to say who it is when asked during a televised town hall in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Well, I can’t tell you that really,” Trump, 77, told Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the event moderators.
“I mean, I know who it’s going to be,” he added.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘Unexpected’ Deaths of Young Americans Soared in 2023
The number of “unexpected” deaths of young Americans soared to unprecedented levels in 2023, according to official data.
In the first nine months of 2023, 158,000 additional “unexpected” deaths were recorded among young people, when compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
The shocking number was revealed in official data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Canada Backs WHO’s Push for Global ‘Climate Lockdown’ Powers
Canada has thrown its full support behind the World Health Organization’s (WHO) power grab that seeks to gain control over sovereign nations under its new “Global Pandemic Treaty.”
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is now lobbying other nations to also back changes to the WHO’s treaty to expand the definition of a pandemic to include “climate change.”
If approved, the move would grant the WHO sweeping global powers to override the laws of individual nations to enforce “climate lockdowns,” travel limits, bans on private car ownership and use, and restrictions on meat and dairy consumption.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
69% of Germany’s Residents Support Farmers Who Staged Protests
On Monday, January 8, thousands of German farmers blocked roads and took to the streets to protest against the cancellation of subsidies for diesel fuel.
A sociological survey conducted by the INSA institute for BILD revealed that 69% of Germany’s residents support the farmers’ protests. The approval rating for their actions remains high, despite the fact that the day before, every fifth respondent was affected by road closures.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgian Police Chief: Complete Elimination of Terrorist Attack Risk ‘Impossible’
The Chief of Police acknowledges that completely eliminating the risk of a terrorist attack in Brussels is “impossible,” as reported by The Brussels Times. The Federal Police of Belgium is revising its operational strategy in the aftermath of last year’s terrorist incident in Brussels.
During a hearing before the House Committees on Justice and Home Affairs, individuals, including senior police officers, provided insights into the attack that occurred on October 16. Abdesalem Lassoued, a Tunisian national, targeted two Swedish football fans near Place Sainctelette.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Britons Brave the Cold: Majority Opt to Cut Heating Amid Energy Bill Worries
A significant number of Britons are choosing to endure colder temperatures this month, prioritizing concerns about soaring energy bills over the discomfort of the chill.
According to a survey conducted by Aira, a Swedish clean energy-tech company, approximately 65% of respondents plan to reduce their heating with 7% opting to turn it off entirely. The survey results underscore the ongoing financial challenges faced by households due to high energy prices and dependence on imported fossil fuels.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Brussels Seeks Taylor Swift’s Help to Mobilize Young Voters for EU Elections
In a surprising move, Brussels has appealed to American superstar Taylor Swift to play a role in mobilizing young voters ahead of the European Parliament elections, Euronews writes.
The request came as Margaritis Schinas, one of the European Commission’s vice-presidents, discussed the European Year of Youth during a presentation on Wednesday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The President of the German Farmers’ Association (DBV) accused the government of living in the “Berlin bubble” and being out of touch with the real issues facing the country.
Joachim Rukwied made this statement on the ZDF channel, describing the concessions made by the government on certain points as a “lazy compromise.” He believes that the population supports the farmers because politicians no longer listen to the people.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czech Public Opinion Shifts Towards Neighbors, While Russia and Ukraine Face Growing Disapproval
A recent survey conducted by the Center for Public Opinion Research affiliated with the Academy of Sciences has revealed a notable shift in the sympathies of Czech residents towards different countries, Seznam Zpravy writes.
While Slovakia and Austria enjoy the greatest favor among Czechs, followed closely by Poland, Ukraine, China and Russia find themselves at the bottom of the list.
The survey reflects a change in sentiment since the wave of solidarity that emerged in the Czech Republic nearly two years ago in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Ukraine, once a recipient of Czech sympathy, now joins China and Russia in being perceived unsympathetically.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czech Republic Grapples With Soaring Discount Trends as Standard of Living Takes a Hit
In a record-setting year for retail, the Czech Republic is witnessing a surge in discounts, turning the nation into a discount kingdom, Seznam Zpravy writes.
The political landscape struggles to adapt to the economic implications of a declining standard of living for Czech citizens, with the share of discounted goods in drugstores and grocery stores skyrocketing from 61 to 66 percent.
Retail statistics for the previous year, compiled by the analytical company NielsenIQ, reveal a remarkable increase in the share of discounted goods. Supermarkets, hypermarkets and drugstore chains like Rossmann or Teta saw 65.9 percent of their products sold at a discount, compared to the 61 percent recorded at the beginning of the previous year.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czech Republic May Tighten Firearm Laws Following University Shooting
Czech legislators are set to meet with representatives from the Ministry of Interior and experts on Wednesday to discuss potential tightening of firearm laws in the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Charles University, as reported by Euractiv.
The government and parliament are considering the adoption of new firearms legislation with subsequent amendments to make it more stringent. In view of the fact that the shooter at Charles University legally owned eight pistols.
The proposed legislation aims to reduce the mandatory periodic medical examination period for firearm owners from 10 to five years. It also grants additional powers to the Czech police, specifically the authority to confiscate weapons from owners in case of identified security threats or to demand health checkups.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Finland to Prolong Closure of Russian Border
Finland is planning to extend the closure of its border crossing points with Russia, which was initially scheduled to conclude on January 15, as reported by Reuters.
Last year, Finland took the decision to temporarily close its border with Russia to curb the rising influx of asylum seekers into the Nordic nation. The move was attributed to concerns that Moscow was orchestrating the surge, a claim vehemently denied by the Kremlin.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany Anticipates Suspension of Unemployment Benefits for Thousands, Including Ukrainian Refugees
The German government is estimating that at least 150,000 individuals, including Ukrainian refugees, could lose their unemployment benefits.
This could lead to a potential savings of around 150 million euros in the first two months. This announcement follows the decision to suspend the Bürgergeld, a monthly allowance of 563 euros, for a minimum of two months for those rejecting suitable job offers.
The cancellation of the allowance takes effect one month after refusing employment, potentially resulting in the loss of payments for up to eight months out of the year. Ukrainian refugees, who currently receive Bürgergeld, may also face benefit suspension after the initial two months.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
German Chancellor Scholz Pressures EU Allies for Increased Military Support to Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to address the issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine at a special summit of EU leaders on February 1, intensifying pressure on member countries, particularly France, to bolster their contributions, POLITICO writes.
The summit will be held in Brussels and it aims to adopt a €50 billion financial aid package for Kyiv, providing an opportune moment for Scholz to initiate a broader discussion on military support.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In 2023, the Berlin police recorded a significant increase in acts of violence, with schools, families, and refugee shelters being particularly affected. There was a rise of approximately twelve percent in acts of physical aggression compared to the previous year, reaching a “ten-year high,” as reported by Der Spiegel.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: After Farmers’ Potest in Oldenburg, Police Investigate 134 Cases
Police in Lower Saxony are forced to address numerous complaints after local farmers blocked part of the roads. The total number of cases under investigation is 134, according to Bild.
In several instances, there are reports of drivers who collided with protesters while attempting to navigate around the barricades. Following one of the incidents, the police even initiated an investigation into an attempted murder.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Climate Activists Unilaterally Join Farmers’ Protests in Dresden, But Diverge on Demands
In an unexpected turn of events in Dresden, climate activists affiliated with the Extinction Rebellion movement took to the streets, blocking roads in solidarity with ongoing farmer protests.
However, it quickly became apparent that the climate activists were not aligned with the farmers’ demands.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany on Lockdown: Massive Train Strikes Combine With Road-Blocking Tractor Protests
BERLIN (AP) — A union representing many of Germany’s train drivers started a nearly three-day strike early Wednesday in a rancorous dispute with the country’s state-owned main railway operator over working hours and pay.
Train travel across the country and in many cities came to a near standstill with commuters and other travelers struggling to find alternatives involving long-distance bus or car travel or flights.
State-owned Deutsche Bahn said only around 20% of its long-distance trains were running and commuter trains in cities like Berlin were also not in operation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Gibraltar Hopes for Resolution in Relations With EU After Brexit This Year
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, has assured that the future relations between the British Overseas Territory and the European Union will be determined in the first half of the year, according to Euractiv.
In his New Year’s message, Picardo noted that “2024 is the year when an agreement might finally be determined” with Brussels, an anticipation that has been ongoing since the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on December 31, 2020, post-Brexit.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poland’s Minister of Agriculture, Cheslav Sekersky, wrote in a letter to the EU Commissioner for Trade that he is “principally against” the continuation of duty-free trade with Ukraine. The letter from the Polish minister was reviewed by the radio station RMF FM.
Brussels is currently working on regulations that would extend trade liberalization with Ukraine until June 2025. According to Sekersky, the full liberalization of trade introduced by the EU after the start of the war had the “opposite effect.” He emphasizes that issues with excessive imports apply not only to cereals but also to “sugar, poultry meat, eggs, soft fruits (especially frozen raspberries) or apple concentrate.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In the Polish Sejm, there is a desire to interrogate the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau, and his deputy, Piotr Wawrzyk, regarding the so-called visa scandal, according to the head of the committee, Deputy Michal Szczerba, as reported by PAP.
According to him, the committee session is scheduled for the third week of January. Committee members are currently preparing a work schedule, evidence proposals and a list of witnesses, added Szczerba. When asked whom he wants to invite as witnesses, the committee chairman replied that he has a long list.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netherlands Faces Escalating Drug Crisis: Annual Ecstasy Production Hits $19 Billion
Netherlands is becoming a country with a growing drug problem, with the annual production of ecstasy reaching a value of 19 billion dollars, as reported by Rzeczpospolita, The Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, believes that the Kingdom has become a drug state, a sentiment supported by almost two-thirds of the residents.
A report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicates that the Netherlands and Belgium are major entry points for illegal drugs into Europe.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poland’s Obstruction in Nord Stream Pipeline Probe Raises Alarm for Investigators
At this point, one might be forgiven for thinking that the Nord Stream pipelines sabotage is already ancient history. After all, mainstream media and prime time TV news coverage has by and large ‘moved on’ as soon as it became clear that Russia had nothing to do with it.
At this point, the consensus even among Moscow’s vehement enemies is that the September 26, 2022 series of blasts which disabled the Russia to Germany NS-1 and NS-2 natural gas pipelines had Ukrainian and/or Western involvement. While MSM sources have favored the theory that it was a mystery group of pro-Ukraine operatives on a small yacht, legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has reported that it was a CIA and US Navy special operation with help from Norwegian intelligence services.
Since then, the ongoing investigation by Germany, Denmark and Sweden into the details of what happened has continued to yield very interesting, incremental developments. The latest was revealed in a Wall Street Journal report this week, and involves apparent Polish obstruction of the probe, which has been deemed by officials to be highly suspicious.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poland Mini-Coup: Police Enter Presidential Palace to Arrest Former Government Ministers
Police entered the Presidential Palace of Poland to arrest politicians of the recently dethroned right-wing government, after a fresh ruling by a court friendly to the new government.
Former Polish Home Affairs Minister Mariusz Kaminski and deputy Maciej Wasik were arrested by police on Tuesday, apparently part of a push to tie up loose ends by the newly installed globalist-centrist Donald Tusk government. The pair were taken by officers at the Presidential Palace after President Andrej Duda himself had left the building to attend a meeting.
Duda has expressed his outrage at the “brutal” arrest of politicians at the official building, saying “I won’t rest until Minister Mariusz Kaminski and his colleagues are free people again, as they should be, until they are released from prison”. The President says the arrests were illegal.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium Faces Cargo Decline Amidst Rising Threat of Organized Crime
Cargo handling at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium experienced a 5.5% decline from 2022 to 2023, with organized crime identified as the primary challenge confronting the port, as reported by The Brussels Times.
The geopolitical and economic complexities in the first quarter of 2023 contributed to the ongoing reduction in cargo operations at the port, which plays a central role in Flanders’ economy and European supply chains. The total cargo throughput reached 271 million tons, marking a 5.5% decrease compared to 2022.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Record High Rent Prices in German Cities
Rent prices in big cities reach record highs. The situation in the rental market remains tense, especially in major cities. Compared to the previous year, square meter prices have significantly increased, especially in Berlin, as reported by Der Spiegel. It is expected that the real estate purchasing market will also experience a resurgence.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Reynders Receives Belgian Backing for Council of Europe’s Top Position
Belgium’s Justice Commissioner and current European Commission representative, Didier Reynders, has secured the support of the Belgian government in his bid for the position of Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. The announcement was made by a Belgian official on Wednesday.
Reynders, initially considering another mandate in the European Commission, reconsidered his options after Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, declared his candidacy as the top candidate for their party in the upcoming European Parliament election in June. Both Michel and Reynders belong to Belgium’s French-speaking Reformist Movement party.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Spain Reinstates Mask Mandate in Hospitals Due to Surge in Influenza and COVID-19 Cases
Starting from January 10, Spain has reintroduced the requirement for workers and visitors in healthcare facilities across the country to wear masks due to a seasonal spike in influenza and COVID-19 cases, as reported by Reuters.
The Ministry of Health has mandated that masks are once again compulsory in clinics and hospitals and “recommended” in private clinics, pharmacies, and dental offices.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In Sweden, concerns about a potential conflict with Russia are growing, prompting authorities in Stockholm to warn citizens and create “ situational awareness,” as reported by RMF24. Swedish Minister of Civil Defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, officially stated that there is a real risk of war breaking out in the country.
In May 2022, Sweden and Finland, previously neutral, declared their accession to NATO. Despite some difficulties, such as resistance from Turkey and Hungary, Sweden aims to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The European Union Has Promised Ukraine That it Will Provide Funding No Later Than March in Any Case
The European Union has promised Ukraine that it will provide funding by March at the latest, according to sources cited by Euractiv. Leaders of the EU will hold an emergency summit in Brussels on February 1 to reconfirm the bloc’s budget and a financial assistance package of 50 billion euros for Ukraine over the next four years.
While the preference remains for the approval of the 50 billion euros aid package, sources indicate that several contingency options are under discussion. Politico also confirms that Hungary has proposed dividing the 50 billion euro package into tranches, subject to annual voting.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trial Begins for Three French Police Officers Accused of Excessive Force in Black Man’s Arrest
Three French police officers went on trial on Tuesday, facing allegations of deliberately using excessive force during the arrest of a young Black man, resulting in his disability and triggering widespread protests. The incident involving Theodore Luhaka occurred in 2017 when he was 22, becoming one of several cases that brought attention to accusations of systemic racism within the police, leading to demonstrations in Paris and its suburbs, as reported by Reuters.
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Two-Thirds of Germans Want to Change Chancellor Scholz — Poll
Almost two-thirds of surveyed Germans would prefer Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to become chancellor instead of Olaf Scholz. A quarter of respondents are against this, and approximately one in ten people (eleven percent) do not have an answer to this question, according to the Kronen Zeitung newspaper.
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Imam Qari Abassi claims he believed Harvinder Singh was a discarded briefcase or dustbin lying in the road when he ran over his head as he drove to mosque in London, a court has heard.
A man was killed and two men who were trying to protect him believed they had to jump out of the road “to save their lives” as a speeding motorist tried to drive to a London mosque to early lead morning prayers on the 4th of May 2021.
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London is the world’s slowest city for drivers with traffic crawling at an average of just 10mph — because of its widespread 20mph speed limits, a study claimed today.
Drivers took 37 minutes and 20 seconds to cover just 6.2 miles (10km) in the city last year — a minute longer than in 2022, according to satellite navigation firm TomTom.
It comes amid London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) last year and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, which can land drivers with fines.
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UK: Vaccine-Injured Woman Censored From Sharing Her Story With Friends on Facebook
A woman, who suffered chronic health complications after receiving a Covid injection, has been censored by Facebook for trying to share her story with her friends.
52-year-old Caroline Pover, from Gloucestershire, England, received the shot in March 2021.
Within nine hours of receiving the injection, Pover experienced convulsions, shivering, breathing difficulties, and low blood pressure.
Pover says she was hospitalized when her condition escalated to “stroke-like” symptoms, in addition to exhaustion, breathing difficulties, a racing heart, and migraines.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Escalations in North Prove Hezbollah Should be Moved Far From the Border
A noticeable escalation in the fighting along Israel’s northern border has been seen since the elimination of Hamas’ deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut last week. Hezbollah is attempting to target strategic military objectives in Israel, while the IDF is focusing on hitting key military infrastructure where the terror organization operates.
In the last two days, Lebanese media has also attributed attacks on senior Hezbollah commanders and operatives to the IDF. Israel’s main goal in these alleged operations is to hit at Hezbollah’s strategic presence, not just to push the threat away from the border fence.
In addition, targeted attacks on Hezbollah assets have also been blamed on Israel. Despite the clear escalations, the situation in the northern border is still kept under control by both sides, who seem reluctant to unintentionally launch into a full-scale war that would harm civilians in both Beirut and Tel Aviv.
Either way, fighting on the northern front has turned into more than a light skirmish. Tens of thousands of residents from both sides of the border have been forced or chose to leave their homes. Hezbollah facilities and military positions in southern Lebanon are being struck, and Israel is also suffering damages.
| — Hat tip: Vlad Tepes | [Return to headlines] |
Gaza War Taking Heavy Mental Toll on Arab World, Poll Shows
A new poll shows Israel’s war on Gaza is taking a heavy mental toll on people across the Middle East and North Africa.
The Qatar-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies announced on Wednesday the results of the survey of 8,000 men and women from 16 Arab countries, carried out from 12 December to 5 January.
A staggering 97 percent of respondents said they have experienced psychological stress during the war on Gaza, with 84 percent reporting feeling this to a great degree.
Almost four in five said they follow news about the brutal campaign every day or several times a week. Israel’s war has so far killed more than 23,350 people in Gaza, mostly women and children.
| — Hat tip: JW | [Return to headlines] |
Israeli Hostages Could be Freed and Hamas Leaders Exiled Under New Qatari Proposal
Israel could see the more than 130 hostages being held by Hamas finally freed and the terror group’s leaders exiled in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza under a new deal drafted by Qatar, reports said.
Israel’s war cabinet is set to meet on Wednesday to discuss a new proposal submitted by Qatari negotiators that calls for Hamas’ permanent exile from Gaza to restore peace to the Palestinian enclave, according to local Channel 13 News.
The deal allegedly includes provisions for Hamas to gradually release all the remaining hostages in Gaza so long as Israel agrees to withdraw entirely from the Strip.
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USN and Royal Navy on Defence as Houthis Launch Largest Attack on Red Sea Shipping Yet
U.S. and British warships and aircraft shot down “the largest attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea to date” overnight, taking down every drone, cruise missile, and ballistic missile, preventing damage to warships and merchant shipping.
Eighteen ‘suicide attack’ drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile were launched by Iran-backed Shiite Houthi fighters in Yemen towards the Red Sea overnight on the 9th of January, part of an ongoing effort to attack the economy of Western nations by destroying merchant ships and closing the crucial Red Sea route to trade.
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New Survey Finds Most Russians See Ukrainian War as Defense Against West
CHICAGO, January 9, 2024 — Most Russians see the war in Ukraine as a defense against threats from NATO and the West and report little personal effect from the conflict. A recent poll of the Russian public conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago finds little material improvement in the quality of life for many Russians since the war, but not a significant deterioration in overall economic conditions despite international sanctions.
Most Russians approve of President Vladimir Putin’s job performance, and a majority plan to vote for his reelection this year. The survey’s findings underscore the complex interplay between geopolitical considerations and domestic concerns, as Russians grapple with the ramifications of the conflict in Ukraine.
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
Japanese Hit Out at ‘Completely Crazy’ Ukraine Aid in Deadly Japan Earthquake’s Aftermath
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa’s surprise visit to Ukraine on Sunday saw her assure President Volodymyr Zelensky of Tokyo’s continued support in the war with Russia — but in her homeland there is a growing sense that the Japanese people are shifting away from unconditional backing for the besieged European nation.
Kamikawa’s visit, during which she promised Japan would provide Ukraine with US$37 million for an advanced drone-detection system and additional generators, was covered extensively by the Japanese media. It followed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledging US$4.5 billion to Ukraine last month, including US$1 billion in humanitarian aid to support recovery efforts.
As recently as October, a survey released by international consultancy GlobeScan showed that 77 per cent of Japanese people agreed with their government supporting Ukraine. But dissent appears to be growing after the latest pledges.
Those criticisms appear to have worsened significantly in the aftermath of the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that struck the Noto peninsula on January 1 , leaving at least 202 dead and more than 100 still missing.
An online article by Jiji Press on Tuesday attracted a number of negative comments, with one asking: “What is the Japanese government doing in a place like this when so many people on the Noto peninsula are fighting cold and hunger? The US has begun withdrawing from Ukraine. Japan has been left behind and forced to look after Ukraine instead of the Noto peninsula.”
Another wrote: “Delivering aid money to Ukraine, which is refusing to stop a war that kills people while ignoring the helpless people of Noto, who are trapped in the rubble! It is clearly harmful to the national interest.”
| — Hat tip: McN | [Return to headlines] |
Islamist Militants Kill 14 Nigerian Christians in January Raids
Islamist militants carried out coordinated attacks on Christian communities in northeastern Nigeria on New Year’s Day, killing at least 14, Barnabas Aid reported Tuesday.
The Islamists, dressed as soldiers, stormed into Gatamarwa and Tsiha villages in Chibok Local Government Area in Borno State, riding motorcycles and trucks fitted with machine guns.
The jihadists opened fire on residents of Gatamarwa, including a group of Christian mourners returning from a funeral. They also torched a number of homes after looting food supplies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Dutch Councils House 30,600 Refugees in 2023, Amsterdam Faces Housing Challenges
Last year, Dutch municipalities provided permanent housing for 30,600 refugees holding residency permits, a slight increase from 2022, as indicated by recent figures from the justice ministry, as reported by Dutch News.
This signifies a notable reduction in the number of refugees awaiting housing compared to the beginning of the previous year when only 12,000 refugees secured a permanent residence. According to an analysis by Volkskrant, 91 out of 343 local authorities either met or came close to meeting their housing targets based on local populations and available homes.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Elon Musk Warns ‘Open Borders Will Kill America’
On Tuesday, Elon Musk warned that unless the Biden administration takes action to crack down on the crisis at the southern border, the United States will be on a path toward destruction.
He suggested that allowing an unlimited number of illegal immigrants to enter the country virtually unchecked will “kill America.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Europe Faces Potential Surge in Migration as Niger’s New Leader Lifts Restrictions
The recent shift in leadership in Niger, led by General Tiani, raises alarming prospects for Europe as the new ruler no longer intends to retain citizens within the country, posing potential dire consequences for Western nations, as reported by About Hungary.
The West African nation experienced a violent coup last summer, resulting in General Tiani assuming power. Shortly thereafter, the new government repealed the law prohibiting migrant smuggling, previously a strong deterrent against the escalation of migration from Africa.
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House Democrat Admits Open Border is an Election Strategy
A House Democrat has admitted that flooding the country with illegal aliens across an open border is all part of the Democratic Party’s election strategy.
Like much of the country, New York is currently facing an illegal migrant crisis due to Democrat President Joe Biden’s border policies.
New York City is shelling out tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer money to address the problem.
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House Republicans are set to host a momentous first hearing to debate impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday.
The hearing, which begins at 10 a.m., is set to bring President Biden’s border policy to the center stage, just as lawmakers on the Senate side try to salvage a sprawling immigration and foreign aid deal.
Top law enforcement witnesses from across the country are expected to blame Mayorkas for the negative effects of fentanyl and increase in crime due to illegal crossings at the border into their communities.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Mayor With No Shame: Adams Boots Out Poor Children From Their School to House Migrants…
— then, astonishingly, poses proudly with the new arrivals. So now we know his REAL priorities, says DAVID MARCUS
A screaming woman stood in the dark, in near-freezing pouring rain, outside a New York City high school.
‘How do you feel? Do you feel good?’ she yelled, as people filed off yellow school buses in her working-class Brooklyn neighborhood.
There were so many buses that they sat idle, engines running, in a line stretching around the block.
Ludicrously, there were no students on board.
The kids had all been sent home for the day and told not to come back the following morning. They’d be ‘learning’ remotely.
Why? Because desperate illegal immigrant men, women and children — being shunted from one temporary housing facility to the next, no doubt exhausted, possibly drenched, surely scared — were sleeping in the gymnasium.
James Madison High School was being turned into a migrant shelter.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Canadian LGBTQ Pride Board Member Charged With Child Pornography, Sexual Exploitation of Minors
The president of an LGBTQ Pride organization in Vancouver, Canada, has been arrested and charged with multiple sex crimes against children under the age of 16. He was immediately removed from his position.
Sean Gravells, 39, of British Columbia, has been charged with touching a person under 16 for sexual purposes, sexual interference of a person under 16, possession of child pornography, and importing or distributing child pornography, according to the BC Prosecution Service, CBC reports.
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Almost half of the couples wishing to legalize their relationships and filing applications at the Tallinn Registry Office in the first days of 2024 turned out to be same-sex. In total, out of 79 electronic applications in Estonia, 30 came from same-sex couples, stated Prime Minister Kaya Kallas. The first registration of such a marriage is scheduled for February.
Since 2016, Estonia has had cohabitation agreements that regulate the legal status of unregistered cohabiting couples regardless of their gender composition. In the same year, the country officially recognized the legitimacy of same-sex marriages contracted abroad. Last summer, the Estonian parliament passed a law granting the right to marry between two adults regardless of their gender, which came into effect on January 1, 2024.
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The proliferation of violent pornography easily accessible on smartphones is contributing to a significant increase in child-on-child sex assaults and rapes, according to a police chief, as reported by The Telegraph.
Of the 107,000 reported child abuse offenses in 2022, more than half involved perpetrators aged between 10 and 17, with 8,020 sex assaults and 6,813 rapes recorded. Ian Critchley, the national policing lead for child abuse protection and investigation, emphasized the gender-based nature of these crimes, primarily involving boys committing offenses against girls. He expressed concern that the accessibility to violent pornography is normalizing such behavior among young individuals. This is leading them to replicate what they see online.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ohio House Overrides GOP Gov. Mike Dewine’s Veto of Ban on Gender-Changing Services for Minors
The Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to override Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of legislation that would have outlawed gender-changing services for minors and barred transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
DeWine vetoed the comprehensive bill — House Bill 68 —last month after it passed the state legislature by wide margins, opting instead to issue an executive order that simply bans gender-reassignment surgery on minors.
HB 68 sought to go further, by prohibiting doctors from prescribing hormones and puberty blockers for minors, as well as banning them from performing gender reassignment surgeries on people under 18.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Scotland Considers Seven-Year Jail Term for Parents Opposing Children’s Gender Change
Scottish National Party (SNP) is proposing a law that could lead to parents facing up to seven years in jail if they refuse to allow their children to change gender, as part of an effort to ban “conversion therapy,” as reported by The Telegraph.
The proposed legislation, revealed on Tuesday, aims to make actions intended to “change or suppress” someone’s gender identity illegal, as this would cause physical or psychological harm. The measures could criminalize parents who resist their child’s declaration of being transgender, even if the parents believe they are acting in the child’s best interests. Such as, preventing them from dressing in a way reflecting their sexual orientation or gender identity.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Tennis Bodies Are Monitoring Social Media, Aiding in Speech Removal
The tennis world has had a few very rough years.
From banning, and even attempting to humiliate, the best player in the game’s history, Novak Djokovic, as he tried to participate in major tournaments, all because of his decision not to get the Covid jab — to having to deal with geopolitics creeping into the sport to ostracize athletes based on their ethnicity.
Djokovic weathered his storm and is still the world No. 1 — not thanks to any kind of support from the tennis governing bodies, but rather despite them; and tennis lovers might have thought that by now, a lesson (or a few) has been learned.
But, as ever, optimists will have to think again.
The latest we are hearing from the tennis organizations is that they are actively getting on the (online) content surveillance and suppression bandwagon. Ironically, this time it’s supposedly to “support” athletes.
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Posted on January 9, 2024
A Special Relationship: Comparing US and UK Immigration
Mark Gullick, American Renaissance, January 9, 2024
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https://www.amren.com/commentary/2024/01/a-special-relationship-comparing-us-and-uk-immigration/
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The phrase “special relationship” to describe the links between the US and the UK came to prominence in the 1980s, when the countries’ heads of government were Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. The expression was in fact coined by Winston Churchill in the 1940s but resonated once again due to the obvious historical links between the two nations at a time of relative economic prosperity.
Now, in more precarious times, the US and the UK have more in common than a mutual language and shared values: Both have an escalating illegal immigration crisis. In the US, Donald Trump apparently represents the only possible antidote, while neither of the two main British parties are likely to stem the flow of illegal and undocumented immigrants.
The American invasion comes via Latin America, although the various caravans and flotillas are becoming increasingly diverse, with ethnicities from outside the Americas growing in number both at the southern border and by sea from Cuba and Haiti. Chinese migrants are showing up in Florida and the southwestern border states, and I have seen waiting rooms crowded with African blacks at the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Britain’s influx comprises migrants who have travelled across Europe — mostly Muslims from the Middle East and, increasingly, Africa, who cross from Tunisia to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa. From there, they are processed in Sicily and proceed to mainland Italy. Italian prime minister Georgia Meloni was elected on an anti-immigration ticket but has been unable to secure her country’s borders. A large number of those migrants have no interest in Europe except as a waystation, and are intent on getting to Britain — specifically England.
While migrants from Latin America can wade across the Rio Grande into the land of the free, migrants into England must cross the somewhat deeper waters of the English Channel, often on motorized dinghies. There was a time when England’s maritime defense was the greatest in the world. Now, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), whose remit is supposed to be to save those in peril at sea, has become a taxi service for illegal immigrants.
Migrants land on a beach in Dungeness, Britain on Nov. 24, 2021. (Credit Image: © Steve Finn/Xinhua via ZUMA Press)
The French coastal authorities make no attempt to prevent the dinghies from leaving their shores. Instead, they escort them into English waters, and the RNLI does the rest. The migrants typically arrive in Kent, on the south English coast. Although the migrants keep their documentation to get across Europe, they ditch it once on the water. Doing so prevents British authorities from determining their country of origin and thus makes them more difficult to remove. If the English Channel were trawled tomorrow, more passports and cellphones would be netted than fish. Similarly, illegal migrants coming into the United States often discard their documents at the border as well.
This constant stream of undocumented migrants means that neither nation really knows if it has let the “right” ones in. As in America, the UK suffers from what the US Border Patrol calls “gotaways” — those illegals who cross the border or make landfall on the coast and simply vanish. Donald Trump famously charged that Latin America was not sending its best to the US. In Britain, though Muslim countries may well be sending their “best,” these arrivistes are not the best at useful occupations, although they might well be their countries’ best terrorists and drug dealers.
As for terrorism, a Syrian terror cell was recently on the run in Britain, while drug dealing is widespread among Albanian migrants. Europe’s “white Muslims” — as Albanians are called — are not coming to open smoothie franchises or work in care homes; they are coming to deal cocaine in London.
There is probably significant ideological unity among America’s new arrivals, many of whom share a common Latin identity as defined by such groups as La Raza. In the UK, however, although Muslims seem to be a united, monolithic bloc in the same way as Catholic Hispanics, Islam is fiercely sectarian, and the West is importing internecine warfare as well as the natural antipathy many Muslims have toward Western culture.
Although both countries must inevitably reach a demographic tipping point, that will impact Britain long before it does the US. Mark Twain advised everyone to buy land because they have stopped making it, and physical space is obviously finite. It is especially limited in Britain, which currently receives a million immigrants a year, both legal and illegal, with around half a million people leaving (can anyone blame them?) for a net increase of half a million. This is expected to rise to an annual figure of 700,000 — a 1 percent yearly increase in the UK population. Great Britain is already one of Europe’s most overcrowded land masses, with a current population officially at 68 million.
Figures from 2018 ranking the world’s roughly 200 countries by population density place the United Kingdom in thirty-fourth place, with the US way down the list at 148. Americans seem to have a talent for turning apparently uninhabitable land into livable space, and there is a lot more of that land. Give a bunch of Arabs a desert and you’ll probably end up with a desert. Leave a desert in the hands of Americans and it’s “Viva Las Vegas!”
The crises in migrant accommodation have developed at a different pace in the US than in the UK. New York City has suddenly and vocally woken up to the influx, while Britain has been placing migrants in high-end hotels for some time. Some American cities have — in British slang — “made a rod for their own backs” by proclaiming themselves “sanctuary cities,” perhaps never expecting it was a pledge they would have to honor. In Britain, London’s Muslim mayor Sadiq Khan has made it clear that he still wants more migrants.
The problem in Britain is not simply the immigrants themselves and the stress they place on public services and infrastructure. It is also the lawyers who obstruct every attempt to remove the illegals once they are in the UK. Despite the Brexit vote of 2016, the UK remains shackled to the European Convention on Human Rights, which is making it almost impossible to deport immigrants regardless of any crimes they may have committed aside from their original illegal entry. The latest of many cases saw a Somalian gang-rapist finally deported after five years. He was taken off his original deportation flight after sympathetic passengers protested as the plane was taking off. The process of removing this one criminal is estimated to have cost the British taxpayer £1 million (around $1.25 million).
Politicians like to distract the media, and by extension the public, in the same way as magicians gesture with one hand while producing or hiding a card or coin with the other. In Britain, the latest distraction is Rwanda, which agreed to take immigrants waiting for UK asylum decisions in return for money. This was never a good deal, as the government downplayed the fact that for every immigrant sent to Rwanda, a Rwandan would come to the UK, like some bizarre hostage exchange. What this could mean is Rwanda will empty its jails and hospitals and send them to Britain. To date, though, there have been no deportations to Rwanda due to legal obstructions. Rwanda, however, still got the money.
Governments give themselves away when they so blatantly fail to protect their own borders. America is importing fentanyl mules, cartel desperadoes, and any other criminal-minded migrant who can jump on a caravan, while Britain is allowing Muslims who despise Western freedoms to land at the seaside like day-trippers and then vanish. Both countries have native populations who will be pushed only so far. If the governments of both our nations wanted to stoke civil strife, it is difficult to see what they would be doing differently.