EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson warned that “without immigration, we will starve.” Meanwhile, the European Union recorded the highest number of illegal migrants since 2016.
In other news, an Australian hospital is offering gender-affirming care to children as young as three, as long as they have a referral from a GP.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, Diana West, DV, LP, McN, MM, Reader from Chicago, Roger, SS, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.
Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.
Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. I check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.
Bidenomics: New York Manufacturing Unexpectedly Collapses
The business conditions index falls to the lowest level since the pandemic-stricken months of 2020.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Commentary: As Billionaires Gather at Davos, it’s Worth Examining What’s Become of Their Dreams
Among the findings of the report entitled Inequality Inc are that billionaires own US$3 trillion more than they did three years ago, meaning their wealth has grown at three times the rate of inflation. Even in Australia, the wealth of billionaires has climbed 70 per cent.
Meanwhile, five billion other people can’t afford what they could three years ago.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Finland Sees Significant Spike in Unemployment Claims and Layoffs in 2023
In 2023, Finland saw a significant uptick in claims made to the unemployment fund, primarily attributed to a surge in layoffs across various industries, as reported by the Helsinki Times. The Open Unemployment Fund (Avoin työttömyyskassa) reported an 18.9% increase in individuals receiving unemployment benefits compared to the previous year, totaling 55,092 claimants.
In December 2023 alone, 25,208 applicants received unemployment benefits, indicating a 40.9% increase from the same period in 2022. This constituted over 11% of the fund’s members, reflecting a 3.4 percentage point rise from December 2022.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘A Bunch of Dead Robots: ‘ Frigid Chicago Temps Turn EV Charging Stations Into ‘Car Graveyards’
A surge of stranded electric vehicles, predominantly Tesla cars, has overtaken the Oak Brook Supercharger station in Chicago, as a severe cold snap renders many EVs powerless and immobile.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Advocacy Group Seeks EPA Records on Facebook Censorship of East Palestine Train Derailment Posts
The Government Accountability Project, which bills itself as a leader in whistleblower protection, including advocacy and litigation, has announced a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request aimed at shedding light on alleged censorship involving online posts concerning the Norfolk Southern train derailment.
The accident happened in East Palestine, Ohio, in early February 2023, and attracted attention online considering that as many as 38 train cars loaded with “hazardous” materials were involved — and some of them kept burning for several days. Finally extinguishing these poisonous flames brought trouble — the fumes released prompted the authorities to evacuate people from within a mile radius.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Another New Hampshire Poll Gives Trump Monster Lead Over Haley, Leaves DeSantis in Single Digits
Former President Donald Trump leads former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley by double-digits in the New Hampshire primary, according to a poll released Wednesday, which also shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with only single-digit support in the Granite State.
The Saint Anselm College poll was conducted after Trump’s landslide victory in Monday’s Iowa Caucus and factors in the recent departure of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy from the 2024 campaign trail.
The Siena survey was the second poll released on Wednesday that showed the 77-year-old former president maintaining a double-digit edge over Haley in New Hampshire.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Antony Blinken’s Davos Return Foiled by Boeing Plane Malfunction
Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s return to Washington from the World Economic Forum at Davis, Switzerland was delayed by a critical malfunction in his Boeing 737 business jet — the latest bad news for the troubled airplane manufacturer.
Blinken’s plane suffered from an oxygen leak that could not be mended, the State Department confirmed Wednesday.
By the time of the mechanical issue, first reported by Bloomberg, Blinken had already traveled from Davos to Zurich, the first leg of his journey back to Washington, department spokesperson Mathew Miller explained during a press conference.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden’s DOJ Finally Confirms Hunter Biden’s Laptop is Authentic
In a Tuesday court filing, special counsel David Weiss confirmed that Hunter Biden’s laptop, that was abandoned at a Delaware repair shop, is in fact real, and the information discovered on it matched already obtained information from the Biden son’s Apple iCloud account. Joe Biden had said on the debate stage in 2020 that the laptop was “Russian disinfo.” This was echoed by his staff.
“In August 2019, IRS and FBI investigators obtained a search warrant for tax violations for the defendant’s Apple iCloud account. In response to that warrant, in September 2019, Apple produced backups of data from various of the defendant’s electronic devices that he had backed up to his iCloud account,” Weiss wrote.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Bob Iger’s Pay Doubled in 2023 as Disney Laid Off 7,000 Employees, Released Box-Office Bombs
Disney CEO Bob Iger saw his compensation more than double last year as the once-great studio continued to struggle financially and creatively, laying off 7,000 employees and releasing an unprecedented string of box-office flops.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Boy Protects Family From Father’s Violent Armed Rampage by Shooting Him Dead
Every American citizen has a God-given right to defend themselves against violent aggression
However, exercising those rights does not come easy for most and commands real bravery.
Thankfully, a Pennsylvania boy knew of his self-defense rights when his father went on an armed rampage, threatening the safety of the child and the rest of his family.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Trump to Announce He Will NEVER ALLOW the Fed to Create a Central Bank Digital Currency
In campaign speech remarks prepared for his Portsmouth, New Hampshire appearance on Wednesday, President Donald Trump vows to never allow the Fed to create a Central Digital Bank Currency.
In the speech, obtained by The Post Millennial, Trump emphasizes the dangers of debanking and political weaponization that accompany such an undertaking.
“As your president, I will never allow the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency. Such a currency would give the federal government absolute control over your money.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
After being arrested on a slew of charges, an Illinois man allegedly told a person who was waiting for him while he was taken into custody that he would be out in no time thanks to the state’s Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, which, among other things.
Erik Chandler Jr faces two counts of aggravated assault, one count of fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, one count of endangering the life or health of a child, and one count of resisting a peace officer related to an incident that took place on Dec. 27 in Joliet, a town about 45 miles southwest of Chicago.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
CDC Drafted Alert for Myocarditis and COVID-19 Vaccines, But Never Sent it
Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prepared to alert state and local officials to an emerging connection between heart inflammation and COVID-19 vaccines, but ultimately did not send the alert, according to a new document obtained by The Epoch Times.
All four COVID-19 vaccines that are or have been available in the United States can cause the heart inflammation, or myocarditis, according to studies, experts, and agencies like the CDC. The first cases were reported shortly after the vaccines became available in late 2020.
The CDC sends alerts to federal, state, and local public health officials and doctors across the nation through a system called the Health Alert Network (HAN). Messaging through the system conveys “vital health information,” according to the CDC.
In May 2021, CDC officials drafted an alert on myocarditis and the two most widely used COVID-19 shots, according to the newly obtained document, which is being made public for the first time by The Epoch Times.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
DNA Contaminants in COVID Vaccines Are ‘Beyond the Pale’: Florida Surgeon General
Authored by Marina Zhang and Jan Jekielek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
On Jan. 3, the office of Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued a statement calling for the halt in the use of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, citing the recent discovery of DNA contaminants in the vaccine vials.
On the Jan. 12 episode of EpochTV’s “American Thought Leaders,” Dr. Ladapo explained why he called for a halt, saying that while there are also safety concerns with the COVID mRNA vaccines linking them to a multitude of adverse events, the recent discovery is “beyond the pale.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Former Space Force Commander Tells House He Was Fired for Criticizing DEI
Former Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, a man who was kicked out of his position at the United States Space Force in May 2021 after he voiced concerns over Marxist-inspired critical race theory teachings in the military, appeared before Congress on Wednesday to testify about “the ongoing Marxist inspired efforts to subvert and weaken our military and broader American society.”
Lohmeier said during his testimony that he was fired from his command “for writing a book trying to reverse the trend of the overt politicization of the uniformed services.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Jewish Students File Antisemitism Claim Against American University: ‘Shunned and Marginalized’
American University has been rocked with a federal civil rights complaint alleging it has discriminated against Jewish students by condoning rising antisemitism on its D.C. campus.
The Brandeis Center for Human Rights filed the complaint with the U.S. Education Department on behalf of Jewish students on AU’s campus who have experienced “persistent and threatening anti-Semitic rhetoric and conduct,” according to the complaint.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Judge Threatens to Kick Trump Out of Courtroom; Trump Says He Would ‘Love it’
A Manhattan judge overseeing the defamation case against Donald Trump warned that he would toss the former president out of the courtroom if he kept making snarky comments that the jury could hear.
“Mr. Trump has a right to be present here,” said Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. “That right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which is what has been reported to me, and if he disregards court orders.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Kamala Harris Admits She Fears Trump’s Return to White House: ‘I’M Scared as Heck’
Vice President Kamala Harris has admitted that she’s living in fear of the Democrats losing control of the White House after this year’s presidential election.
Speaking during a Wednesday appearance on the ABC propaganda show “The View,” Harris admitted that she’s “scared as heck” about President Donald Trump winning a second term.
The VP told the co-hosts that she has genuine fears that Trump will beat Democrat President Joe Biden in November.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Maine Judge Punts Trump Ballot Question to Supreme Court
A Maine state judge said Wednesday that she would not decide whether the state can bar former President Donald Trump from its primary ballot until the Supreme Court rules on a similar question out of Colorado.
Trump had challenged Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ unilateral Dec. 28 decision that he was ineligible to seek the presidency.
Maine Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy remanded the decision to Bellows’ office pending a ruling by the high court following Feb. 8 oral arguments.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Man Stabbed During Clash on Brooklyn Subway Platform
A man was stabbed on a Brooklyn subway platform by a fellow straphanger who started screaming at him for no reason, police said Wednesday.
The 31-year-old victim was waiting for the shuttle train at the Franklin Ave. stop when the attacker stormed up yelling and cursing about 6 a.m. Christmas morning, provoking a fight that turned physical, cops said.
The clash ended but minutes later more harsh words were exchanged and the two men grappled again.
The victim didn’t realize he was stabbed in the back and torso during the clash until he left the station. Medics took him to Kings County Hospital in stable condition.
His attacker ran off and has not been caught.
On Wednesday, the NYPD released surveillance footage of the suspect and asked the public’s help identifying him and tracking him down.
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
New George Soros-Backed, Democratic PAC Aims to Turn Texas Blue
A new group, run by alums of Beto O’Rourke’s 2022 campaign and funded by Democratic megadonor George Soros, has emerged this election cycle to take on the age-old challenge of turning Texas blue.
Texas Majority PAC has kept a relatively low profile since forming over a year ago in the wake of the 2022 election. But it raised $2.25 million through last year, and campaign finance reports due Tuesday are expected to show how the group — and Soros — have been spreading their money around the state.
Working with the PAC, Soros made six-figure donations to three county parties — Dallas, Cameron, and Hidalgo — and a few other groups that have a regional focus, according to figures first shared with The Texas Tribune.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
NFL Star Ronald Powell Dead at 32, Cause Unknown
Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Ronald Powell has died unexpectedly at just 32 years old.
Powell’s tragic untimely passing was announced by the NFL Players Association.
However, the cause of Powell’s death, along with any other details about his sudden passing, have been withheld from the public.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Nikki Haley Insists She’s Not Interested in Being Trump’s VP
Republican presidential candidate and Democrat favorite Nikki Haley has insisted that she does not want a role in President Donald Trump’s next administration.
Her denials come despite speculation that she could be on the shortlist for Trump’s vice president.
Haley made the comments a day before her underwhelming third-place finish in the Iowa Caucuses.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Nolte: Washington Post Buries Inconvenient Facts of EV Trip to South Pole
Driving an EV from the Arctic to the South Pole is like Charles Lindbergh paddling a canoe across the Atlantic.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Ozempic has experienced a boom in popularity as a weight-loss drug over the past year, and critics say this easy way to cut pounds is threatening the body positivity movement.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Poll: 65% Unlikely to Buy Electric Cars as They Strand Drivers in Winter Freeze
The overwhelming majority of Americans say they are unlikely to consider buying an electric vehicle (EV), a poll revealed Tuesday.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
A Manhattan judge on Wednesday rejected former Marine Daniel Penny’s motion to dismiss the charges against him in the subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely — in what an attorney for the slain homeless man’s family called a “big win.”
Judge Maxwell Wiley batted down Penny’s attorneys’ October motion to can the manslaughter case because of alleged issues with prosecutors’ instructions to the grand jury and claims that the medical examiner didn’t establish that Penny’s actions killed Neely.
But Wiley ruled that the ME’s testimony and Neely’s death certificate — which said the former Michael Jackson impersonator died from “compression of the neck (chokehold) — was more than enough to “establish that defendant’s actions caused the death of Neely.”
He also wrote that the court reviewed the grand jury presentation and found it had been properly done.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A revelation by the House Judiciary Committee has raised concerns about federal investigators’ intrusion into individuals’ private financial transactions. According to the committee, federal investigators instructed banks to filter customer transactions using politically related terms such as “MAGA” and “TRUMP.”
This move, part of an investigation into the events of January 6, 2021, was exposed by the House Judiciary Committee.
The potential alarm does not end here, as even purchases of “religious texts” are seen as indicative of extremism in the eyes of the investigators.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Texas Man Kills Self After Fatally Shooting Four, Including His 8-Year-Old Niece
RICHMOND, Texas — A man fatally shot his estranged wife and three other relatives, including his 8-year-old niece, at a home in suburban Houston over the weekend before killing himself, authorities said Wednesday.
Alrick “Shawn” Barrett, 46, opened fire at the home just before 7 a.m. Saturday after returning his young child from a visit, Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan said at a news conference. Fagan said that after arriving at the home, Barrett told his estranged wife that he wanted to reunite, but she refused.
Deputies responded to the home after getting a call from a 13-year-old boy in the home, Fagan said. The sheriff’s office said the teen is Barrett’s nephew.
The sheriff’s office said that the 13-year-old and Barrett’s 7-year-old child hid during the shooting and were not harmed. The mother of Barrett’s estranged wife was also in the home and was unharmed.
In addition to killing his niece and estranged wife, who was 44, Barrett also killed her 43-year-old brother and 46-year-old sister, according to the sheriff’s office. Fagan said he was not immediately releasing the names of those killed.
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
She added that this opens up the opportunity for significant shifts in the search for great talents, individuals who possess a computer and an interest in artificial intelligence. Such people “can lead the world,” concluded Erdoes.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Think Twice Before Snapping a Photo on a Las Vegas Strip Pedestrian Bridge, or Risk Jail Time
LAS VEGAS — Standing or stopping is now banned on pedestrian bridges on the Las Vegas Strip where visitors often pause to take photos amid the glittery casino lights or to watch street performers.
Violators of the ordinance that took effect Tuesday could face up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.
Clark County commissioners voted unanimously this month to approve the measure prohibiting people from “stopping, standing or engaging in an activity that causes another person to stop” on Strip pedestrian bridges. That also includes up to 20 feet (6 meters) surrounding connected stairs, elevators and escalators.
| — Hat tip: MM | [Return to headlines] |
Top Biden DOJ Prosecutor Represented Qatar and Foreign Banks Accused of Financing Terrorism
The top-ranking Justice Department prosecutor in Washington, D.C., worked on behalf of Qatar and numerous foreign banks that have been accused of bankrolling terrorism, documents show.
As the U.S. attorney in the nation’s capital, Matthew Graves has come under the spotlight for supervising a sprawling investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and faced the wrath of GOP lawmakers for allegedly refusing to partner with federal prosecutor David Weiss on charging Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, in Washington with tax crimes. But before this, Graves was a partner at the global law firm DLA Piper, where he represented controversial Qatari-based entities, including its Hamas-linked government.
These prior foreign clients are listed in financial disclosures filed by Graves with the Office of Government Ethics, along with other then-DLA Piper clients, such as the Coca-Cola Company, Nike, General Electric, and even ex-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. And though the disclosures were filed in 2021, the overseas clients are on the radar of GOP congressional investigators and pro-Israel lawyers, who hold that law enforcement in Washington is not doing enough to thwart violence, including in connection to recent pro-Palestinian protests after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
“Matthew Graves’s ties to the terrorist harboring state of Qatar are disqualifying,” Mike Davis, a conservative lawyer being floated in the inner circle of former President Donald Trump as a potential pick for attorney general, told the Washington Examiner. “This revelation might explain why there have yet to be any charges against the Hamas supporters who terrorized the White House.”
Meanwhile, to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, “It is extremely concerning that a Biden DOJ official is closely connected with entities that have funded terrorism.”
| — Hat tip: Diana West | [Return to headlines] |
Trump’s ‘Bombshell’ Motion Seeks to Expose Evidence of Biden’s Collusion
President Donald Trump’s legal team has filed a motion to compel the discovery of documents that allegedly expose collusion at the upper echelons of the federal government.
Trump’s attorneys filed the “bombshell” motion to uncover a potential cover-up between Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution team and the White House.
The motion filing was reported Tuesday night by Real Clear Investigations reporter Julie Kelly.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Jordan Peterson has been ordered to go re-education training under the auspices of the Ontario College of Psychologists or face the loss off his professional license in Canada. After his appeal was denied, and the final legal avenues were closed to him, he wrote his plans in the National Post.
“I think I’ll fight a little longer,” he said. “Bring it on, you bloody pikers: take your next steps, bureaucrats: write me, and tell me how exactly we are to conduct my re-education. I’ll play along, find out exactly what you will do, now that you’ve been emboldened to do whatever it is that the darkest resentful demons lurking in your evil little low-level administrative hearts most truly desire, even to your own detriment.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
BlackRock Chief Warns Trump Win Poses ‘Fundamental’ Challenge to Europe
Donald Trump back in the White House poses a “fundamental challenge” to Europe, leader of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, warned.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Davos Attendee Calls for AI Regulation to Prevent Chatbots From “Potentially Spewing Misinformation”
The World Economic Forum (WEF) annual gathering of elected and unelected elites from around the world is once more under way in Switzerland’s Davos, and this year AI is unsurprisingly garnering a fair share of attention.
More precisely, how to harness its power, including through new regulation, but as one participant, DeepLearning.AI founder Andrew Ng put it, not of the tech itself, but rather of its “applications.”
A natural stance, some may say, for a person selling some version of AI.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Confirms Italy’s Progress in Meeting Recovery Fund Targets
The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Italy is successfully fulfilling the necessary obligations to access aid from the European Union’s recovery fund, crucial for boosting Italy’s struggling economy, according to the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Unveils Strategy to Eliminate Industrial Carbon Emissions by 2050
The European Union has outlined a comprehensive plan to capture and sequester hundreds of millions of tons of CO2 emissions by 2050, aiming to ensure that industries align with Europe’s climate objectives, according to a preliminary document. Achieving the EU’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will necessitate a transition to green energy and the adoption of sustainable production methods by companies. For sectors lacking the necessary technologies, the draft proposes capturing the remaining emissions to prevent their release into the atmosphere, thereby mitigating global warming, as reported by Reuters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
European Parliament Members Clash Over Support for Ukraine
Members of the European Parliament (EP) engaged in mutual insults during debates on the need for further support to Ukraine.
Several European Parliamentarians accused advocates of continuing military assistance of madness and called for an end to arms shipments during debates in the EP’s plenary session in Strasbourg.
“Now it is openly acknowledged that this war could have been stopped in the first months if the West had not vetoed the peace agreement in April,” said Irish MEP Clare Daly. “And you have the audacity to claim that this is assistance to Ukraine. The only ones you are helping are the shareholders of arms companies. Don’t expect the citizens of the EU to support you in this; you speak like crazed maniacs.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered an alarming pro-censorship proclamation at the annual Davos World Economic Forum. She expressed her concern that “misinformation” and polarization in societies pose a serious threat to the international business community.
“For the global business community, the top concern for the next two years is not conflict or climate,” she said in her speech to elites. She argued that the bigger problem is “disinformation and misinformation, followed closely by polarization within our societies.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Finnish Government Reveals Plans to Ban Russians From Buying Real Estate
The Finnish government has revealed plans to implement a ban preventing Russians from engaging in property transactions in the country. The ban will extend to renting housing to Russians and aims to establish tighter regulations and potential limitations on such transactions.
In late 2023, the Ministry of Defense halted three property purchases in eastern Finland due to the buyers’ ties to Russia, as reported by Yle.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France Records Lowest Births Since World War Two
France experienced the lowest number of births since World War Two last year, according to the national statistics agency INSEE, delivering a blow to its historically robust demographic profile. The annual census report reveals that France recorded 678,000 births, marking a 7% decline from 2022 and a 20% drop since its peak in 2020, as reported by Reuters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France to Revise Parental Leave Policies Amidst Record-Low Births
French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans on Tuesday to revamp parental leave, addressing concerns over the country’s lowest birth rate since World War Two. With 678,000 births recorded last year, marking a 7% decline from 2022 and a 20% drop since its peak in 2020, France is grappling with a demographic setback, as reported by Reuters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Paris — Angry French farmers dumped piles of manure in front of city buildings in the southwest city of Toulouse Tuesday, a pungent protest against the government’s agricultural policy which they say is leaving them to face increased hardships. Nearly 400 tractors and 1,000 farmers from across southwest France converged on the city after rallying before dawn at meeting points across the region.
They headed for Toulouse in the early morning light, honking horns and pulling trailer-loads of hay and manure as they moved in on the ancient city center, blocking entire lanes on some roads and causing massive traffic jams.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany’s Climate Minister at Davos: European Arrogance to Blame for EU Economic Crisis
Germany’s climate change minister, Robert Habeck, pointed to European “arrogance” as a contributing factor to the continent’s economic challenges during a World Economic Forum panel discussion in Davos on January 16.
While acknowledging the notion of Europe’s “naivety” in expecting politics to consistently align with economic interests, Habeck resisted labeling past actions as “mistakes.” He cited the dependency on Russian gas as an example, highlighting the initial hope for a peaceful relationship with Russia.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Bundestag to Consider Whether AfD Thuringian Chief Björn Höcke Will Lose Fundamental Rights
The upcoming deliberations in the Bundestag will revolve around the potential deprivation of basic civil rights for Björn Höcke, the AfD leader in Thuringia.
The left-wing organization “Campact” has initiated a petition to strip Höcke of both his passive and active voting rights, preventing him from participating in elections and holding public office. With 830,000 signatures already gathered, the petition needs only 50,000 more to prompt parliamentary consideration, according to reports from the German press.
The basis for this initiative is Article 18 of the Basic Law, which stipulates that anyone who exploits freedom of expression and other freedoms to undermine the democratic order forfeits these fundamental rights, a decision made by the Federal Constitutional Court.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Poll: Support for Scholz’s Left-Globalist SPD Sinks to New Nationwide Low; AfD in 2nd Place
In the latest Forsa survey, the SPD has reached a new low with only 13 percent, marking a two-percentage-point decrease from the previous week. The CDU/CSU maintains a significant lead with 31 percent, showing a one-percent increase.
The AfD retains its position as the second strongest force with an unchanged 22 percent. The Greens have moved into third place with 14 percent, surpassing the SPD. This marks the lowest point for the Social Democrats in approximately three years, coinciding with a decline in party membership, according to reports from German media.
In a direct election for chancellor, Scholz would narrowly lose to Söder, Wüst, or Merz, reflecting a challenging political landscape for the SPD.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Sahra Wagenkecht’s New Party Declares War on Climate Hysterics in EU
The Sahra Wagenknecht alliance, known as the Bürgerlich Soziale Wende (BSW), has outlined its plans to reshape the European Union if it achieves success in the upcoming elections.
One of the key proposals involves phasing out the existing climate protection policy, including the elimination of CO2 certificate trading, the German press reported. The party’s European election manifesto draft criticizes certificate trading as ineffective in meeting climate policy objectives. Additionally, the BSW advocates for unrestricted use of combustion engines and a resumption of oil and gas imports from Russia.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: SPD Has Lost Around 30,000 Members Under Chancellor Olaf Scholz
The SPD faces a continued decline in support, reflected in recent polls showing only 14 percent nationwide, while thousands of members have left the party.
In 2023 alone, over 14,500 members resigned, marking the highest number of departures since 2019, totaling around 30,000 under Olaf Scholz, according to a report from German media. Despite the internal challenges, SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert attributes their downfall to “anti-democratic” efforts, particularly pointing to the AfD.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: AfD Co-Leader Weidel Dismisses Aid Over Meeting With Austrian Identitarian Leader
In a recent development, former Bundestag member Roland Hartwig, aged 69, faced dismissal from his position as the personal aide to AfD party leader Alice Weidel due to his involvement in a meeting with Martin Sellner, the head of the Identitarian Movement in Vienna.
The meeting took place in a villa in Potsdam in November and included the AfD parliamentary group leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, as entrepreneurs, the German press reported.
The media company Correctiv uncovered details of the meeting, where discussions reportedly included topics such as the expulsion of millions of people with an immigration background.
The Identitarian Movement, to which Sellner belongs, is listed as incompatible with AfD membership. Initially, Hartwig claimed ignorance about Sellner’s participation, despite Sellner being announced in the invitation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Munich Judiciary Takes Tougher Action on Pro-Palestinian Supporters
The Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated legal proceedings against a supporter associated with the “Palestine Speaks” group.
During a meeting on October 9, just two days after the Hamas attack on Israel, the individual stated that Palestinians possessed a legitimate “right to resist.” The public prosecutor has deemed this statement to be covered by Section 140 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the endorsement of a crime. A subsequent house search was conducted on the suspect, as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Habeck Addresses Consequences of Rejecting Russian Gas for German Economy
Vice Chancellor and Green Party leader Robert Habeck delivered a speech in parliament discussing the economic repercussions of Germany’s decision to reject Russian gas.
Habeck acknowledged that the German economy is facing a challenging situation due to its historical dependence on Russian gas, which provided a competitive advantage in the past. However, with the refusal of Russian gas, Germany has lost that edge and struggles to compete with other nations in the energy sector.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In Eastern Germany, There Are Plans to Close the Largest Solar Panel Manufacturing Plant in Europe
The largest solar photovoltaic panel producer in Europe has announced a downturn in the market conditions in Europe and plans to shut down the factory by early April, according to Bild.
The facility, operated by the Swiss company Meyer Burger in the Saxon city of Freiberg, was inaugurated in 2021, creating around 500 jobs. It stands as the largest solar photovoltaic panel producer in Europe. However, the owner has now stated a deterioration in market conditions in Europe and plans to close the factory by early April. Meyer Burger intends to shift its focus to the U.S. market. A final decision by the Swiss company is expected by mid-February.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Only a small number of Poles show interest in starting their own businesses, according to a study conducted by SW Research, Intermarché and Bricomarché, according to Rzeczpospolita.
The first edition of the Entrepreneurship Index reveals that only 15% of individuals aged 25-55, with a developed business plan and prepared to invest at least 10,000 PLN, expressed a desire to launch their own company within the next six months. This represents just 2.7% of all those declaring the intention to establish a business. The main barriers cited include bureaucracy, excessive risk and a lack of capital.
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New EU COVID Vaccination Plan Allows Countries to Opt Out of Purchasing Requested Doses
In a fresh approach to Covid vaccination strategies, the European Union has unveiled a plan that grants member countries the flexibility to decline the purchase of initially requested vaccine doses, POLITICO writes.
Despite previous controversies, the EU remains committed to Covid vaccination efforts, orchestrating a tender for nearly 150 million doses of mRNA Covid vaccines tailored to the prevailing variant. Moderna is widely expected to secure a new contract through this initiative.
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Orban Declares He Will Block EU Aid to Ukraine Over Budget Allocation Dispute
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has once again promised to block EU aid to Ukraine if it is allocated from the overall EU budget. As reported by The Guardian, Orban commented on this issue after a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The Hungarian Prime Minister proposed a model in which each EU country would allocate funds to Kyiv separately, according to its GDP. According to him, this option has already been suggested by the EU.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Persecution of Christians Increased Dramatically in 2023
The Open Doors Germany organization has reported a significant increase in the persecution of Christians worldwide, based on their faith. Markus Rode, the head of the organization, expressed alarm at the escalated violence faced by Christians globally.
The World Persecution Index, covering October 2022 to September 2023, revealed distressing figures, including nearly 5,000 Christians killed, approximately 43,000 experiencing physical violence or death threats, and a surge in attacks on Christian homes.
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Rising Crack Consumption Poses Challenges in German Cities
While official statistics are lacking, the street scene in Berlin is troubling in certain areas, as reported by Der Spiegel. Heide Mutter, the Berlin state addiction commissioner, notes that there is “a significant amount of crack consumption in public spaces” at specific locations in the capital, such as Leopoldplatz in Wedding and Görlitzer Park in Kreuzberg.
The specific collection of data proves difficult, according to the addiction commissioner. Even in facilities where drug dependents can consume substances under medical supervision, addiction support initiatives like Fixpunkt observe an increase.
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Romanian Farmers and Hauliers Intensify Protests, Disrupt Ukraine Border Access
On Wednesday, hundreds of Romanian farmers and truck drivers escalated their week-long protest against soaring business costs, obstructing access to a border crossing with Ukraine and demonstrating on the outskirts of the capital, Bucharest, as reported by Reuters.
The protests, initiated eight days ago, involved blocking highways and impeding traffic with convoys of tractors and trucks adorned with Romanian flags. Participants are expressing discontent over the steep expenses of diesel, insurance rates, European Union environmental protection measures and the impact of imported Ukrainian agricultural goods on the domestic market.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sweden: Traces of Cocaine Discovered in Parties’ Toilets in Parliament
A recent investigation conducted by Aftonbladet involved swabbing the toilets of seven Riksdag parties using “cocaine wipes,” revealing traces of cocaine in four of them.
The parties in question suggested that these traces might have been left by casual visitors rather than members of their staff.
Despite several parties expressing concerns about partygoers and advocating for stricter drug legislation, the test results indicate the presence of cocaine in the toilets of various Riksdag chancelleries. Aftonbladet’s reporter utilized “cocaine wipes” that change color when they react to cocaine or other chemicals.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Polish Sejm voted to establish an investigative commission to examine the legality and justification of operational and intelligence activities using the Pegasus spyware by the government, intelligence agencies and police during the period from November 16, 2023, to November 20, 2023, while the “Law and Justice” party was in power, according to RMF24.
During the morning session on January 17, the Sejm supported the creation of the investigative commission to determine the legality and justification of the operational and intelligence activities using Pegasus by the government, intelligence agencies and police. The commission was also tasked with identifying those in power at the time responsible for the purchase of Pegasus and similar software by Poland.
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UK Civil Servants Directed to Disregard European Court Injunctions
Ahead of a crucial vote on Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda asylum plan, U.K. civil servants have been instructed to prioritize ministers’ decisions over so-called “pajama injunctions” issued by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), POLITICO reports.
This new guidance, disclosed in letters from senior officials in the Cabinet Office and Home Office, emerged three hours before Sunak faced a pivotal vote on his proposed asylum scheme.
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Bristol’s ULEZ-style Clean Air Zone made more than £26 million in its first year, the council has revealed, but the city’s Mayor has insisted ‘it was never about making money’.
The CAZ was launched in November 2022 by Bristol City Council to reduce air pollution — which is now down by 10 per cent across the entire city, a new report shows.
Motorists driving vehicles which do not meet the CAZ emission standards are given a fine which is set at £9 for most private vehicles — of which £2 is paid to Westminster.
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Watch: The Most Ridiculous 75 Seconds of Bulls**t From Davos Yet on “Ecocide”
Just when you thought you had heard it all…
This lady (we are presuming she/they is/are a lady) — who looks like she has not missed a meal in her life — explains — with no sense of irony or shame — that farming the land, fishing for food, and worse still ‘making money’ is now on par with mass murder or genocide.
Jojo Mehta — founder of ‘Stop Ecocide Now’ — explains in her upper-class English accent to her ultra-rich peers in Davos that:
“We have this cultural, very ingrained habit of not taking damage to nature as seriously as we take damage to people or property.”
Her goal is to have “mass damage and destruction of nature” legally recognized as “a serious crime.”
“With human rights, mass murder and genocide are serious crimes, but there is no equivalent in the environmental space.”
“Unlike an international crime like genocide that involves a specific intent, with ecocide, what we see is that people are trying to do is make money, is farm, is fish… and what’s missing is an awareness of the side effects and collateral damage that happens…”
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At the World Economic Forum, Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University, complained about what she said is the spread of disinformation on social media, notably attributing a significant part of this issue to social media companies and even President Trump and certain business entities.
Her proposed solutions raise alarming implications for free speech and highlight the dangers of censorship.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The U.S. Has Reinstated the Terrorist Designation for the Houthi Rebels
On January 17, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced that the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has reinstated the global terrorist status for the Shiite group “Ansar Allah,” commonly known as the Houthi rebels, who currently pose a threat to navigation in the Red Sea.
Sullivan explained that re-imposing the terrorist designation on the Houthis “is a crucial tool to impede terrorist financing for the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.”
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Former Zelenskyy Advisor Says Ukrainian Nationalism More Dangerous Than Putin
Zelensky’s former advisor, Oleksij Arestovych, asserts that Ukrainian nationalism poses a greater threat to the country than the Russian invasion.
Arestovych, who served as an advisor during the invasion and later became a critic, emphasizes that this nationalist ideology, embraced by less than 20% of Ukrainians, risks dividing the nation and causing the loss of Russian-speaking territories.
He argues that Ukrainian nationalism is more dangerous than Russian military aggression, as it alienates 80% of Ukrainians who do not want to be second-class citizens in their own country.
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Russia Says Targeted French Mercenaries in Ukraine Strike
Russia said Wednesday it had targeted a group of French fighters in a long-range strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, an attack authorities said injured several civilians.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city lying close to the Russian border, has been under persistent shelling since Russia launched large-scale hostilities in Ukraine in February 2022.
“On the evening of 16 January, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a precision strike on a temporary deployment point of foreign militants in the city of Kharkiv, the core of which were French mercenaries,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry claimed to have killed dozens of foreign militants in the attack and injured many more but did not provide evidence.
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
An Explosion at a Fireworks Factory in Rural Thailand Kills About 20 People
An explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand has killed about 20 people, though the devastation at the scene has made the death toll uncertain
BANGKOK (AP) — An explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand killed about 20 people on Wednesday, according to provincial officials, though the devastation at the scene has made the death toll uncertain.
The information office of the Suphan Buri provincial government initially announced that 23 people had been killed in the mid-afternoon blast, but on Wednesday night revised its figure to 19 dead and three missing. The national Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation’s earlier preliminary figure had been least 20 people killed.
Suphan Buri is about 95 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Bangkok, in the heart of Thailand’s central rice-growing region.
Photos posted on social media showed a thick plume of black smoke over the scene. Photos posted online by local rescue workers showed the factory site virtually leveled.
The office of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, distributed a video showing him being told over the phone by the regional police commander that there were 20 to 30 workers at the factory at the time of the explosion and that none of them could be found.
Rescue workers at the scene said there were no survivors. None were mentioned by provincial authorities, contradicting the disaster department’s statement that wounded people had been found.
Kritsada Manee-In, a rescue worker with the Samerkun Suphan Buri Rescue Foundation, who earlier estimated that around 15 to 17 people had been killed, said an exact count was difficult because the bodies were in pieces.
| — Hat tip: McN | [Return to headlines] |
China Gives Zelenskyy the Cold Shoulder at Davos
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned home from Switzerland without securing a desired meeting with Chinese officials, dealing a setback to Kyiv’s hopes for direct talks.
Despite ample opportunities during the World Economic Forum in Davos, China’s delegation did not engage with Ukrainian counterparts. Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, emphasized the importance of China joining peace talks, but no progress was made on that front.
China’s decision to avoid meetings with Ukraine raises concerns, with some suggesting it aligns with Russia’s desire to halt diplomatic encounters. While Ukraine disputes the characterization, a senior U.S. official claims Beijing rejected a meeting request, according to reports.
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Chinese Lab Had COVID-19 Mapped Two Weeks Before Global Outbreak: Documents
A Chinese researcher isolated and mapped out COVID-19 — and submitted it to a US-run database — at least two weeks before Beijing officially identified the virus which has claimed more than 3 million lives worldwide, according to bombshell new documents.
The documents, obtained from the US Department of Health and Human Services by House Republicans and first reported by the Wall Street Journal, show virologist Dr. Lili Ren uploaded nearly the entire sequence of COVID-19’s structure to a US government-run database on Dec. 28, 2019.
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Tesla Stock Pounded by Bad News and Cold Weather Killing Elon’s Cars
Elon Musk’s Tesla has faced a steep $94 billion reduction in market valuation in the initial weeks of 2024, based on bad news in China, Hertz fleeing the EV market, and reports of Tesla charging stations turning into “car graveyards” due to cold weather disabling electric cars.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
A young Australian woman was devastated to realise something ‘grim’ about Sydney after her cousin asked for help making a travel itinerary.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Australian Soccer Star Stephen Laybutt Found Dead at 46
Australian Olympic soccer star Stephen Laybutt has been found dead at just 46 years old, police have confirmed.
Laybutt played soccer for Australia in the 2000 Olympics and on the Socceroo professional team from 2000 to 2004.
He was found dead Sunday in the bushland after a police search that lasted more than a day.
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A group of Australian lawmakers wrote a letter to the U.K. government pleading with it to make an independent assessment of whether the safety and well-being of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could be ensured if he is extradited to the U.S. to face charges for publishing classified military cables.
The parliamentary letter to U.K. Home Secretary James Cleverly is signed by the co-convenors of the Australian Bring Julian Assange Home Parliamentary Group: Members of Parliament Andrew Wilkie, Independent; Bridget Archer, Liberal; Josh Wilson, Labor, and Sen. David Shoebridge, Greens.
The letter cited the 2023 U.K. Supreme Court decision in AAA v Secretary of State for the Home Department, which found that courts in the U.K. cannot solely rely on third-party assurances by foreign governments and must make independent assessments of the risk of persecution to people before an order is made to remove them from the U.K.
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A long-range road test of equivalent electric and petrol-fuelled vehicles on one of Australia’s most travelled highways has revealed the surprising result that the conventional car was cheaper to run.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Scientist Mick O’Leary bragged to worried Tiwi Islanders how he had stopped a massive Woodside Energy project by finding ancient proof of Aboriginal songlines — but his claims were a lie.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
The developers of a 900-home apartment development have been ordered to immediately fix a number of serious defects, with concerns the building could be at ‘threat of collapse’.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Steve Price has slammed comments from Justin Smith that labelled Australian tennis legend Margaret Court a ‘second-class human being’, saying the columnist is ‘out of line’.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Woolworths could soon be flying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags outside of its stores as part of the supermarket giant’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Ibadan Explosion in Nigeria: ‘The Roof Fell on My Mother in Bed’
A deadly blast that rocked the Nigerian city of Ibadan overnight was caused by explosives stored by illegal miners, the Oyo state governor has said.
Two people were killed and 77 others injured in the explosion that has affected seven suburbs of Nigeria’s third most-populous city.
Crowds have thronged the site of the blast as rescue efforts continue.
A man whose mother’s home was destroyed says she was in bed at the time of the blast and is now in hospital.
“The roof and everything went down. She was inside in her bed when it happened. She was rushed to the hospital naked and I’m going there now,” he told the BBC as he was rushing to see her.
Buildings have been reduced to near rubble at the site of the blast and vehicles destroyed. Further away from the blast zone, windows have been blown out of houses and rooftops damaged.
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
“The Western World is in Danger”: Milei Warns of DEI Doom, as Dimon Touts Trump on ‘Critical Issues’
Argentina’s President Javier Milei had a warning for those attending the annual WEF meeting in Davos, Switzerland; ‘the Western world is in danger’ from ‘collectivist experiments’ such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and has called on the world to reject socialism and instead embrace “free enterprise capitalism” to end global poverty.
“Today, I’m here to tell you that the Western world is in danger,” Milei toild the audience. “And it is in danger because those who are supposed to have to defend the values of the West are co-opted by a vision of the world that inexorably leads to socialism, and thereby to poverty,” he added.
The self-described “anarcho-capitalist” criticized Davos itself for its “socialist agenda, which will only bring misery to the world,” according to Reuters.
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Argentina’s Javier Milei Warns Davos to Abandon Socialism: ‘The West is in Danger’
Argentine President Javier Milei delivered an address fiercely condemning socialism at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
DHS Chief Alejandro Mayorkas Refuses to Appear Before Congress Alongside Angel Moms
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is once again refusing to appear before the House Homeland Security Committee, this time alongside Angel Moms, who have lost their children to illegal alien crime as well as fentanyl poisoning.
On Wednesday, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) revealed that Mayorkas had turned down the chance to appear before the committee at its January 18 hearing.
“The committee has given Secretary Mayorkas chance after chance to appear and explain his actions, decisions, and statements to us and to the American people,” Green said.
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EU Records Highest Number of Illegal Migrants Since 2016
In 2023, approximately 380,000 people crossed the external border of the European Union, marking the highest figure since 2016 and a 17% increase compared to the number of illegal arrivals in 2022. The preliminary data was reported on January 16 by the EU Border Protection Agency (Frontex).
The Central Mediterranean route was the primary path for illegal migration to the EU last year, accounting for over 40% of all illegal migrants during that period. It was followed by the Western Balkans (26%) and the Eastern Mediterranean (16%).
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Finland Braces for Possible Influx of Asylum Seekers From Russia
Finnish border authorities are gearing up for a potential surge in undocumented asylum seekers attempting to enter the country from Russia, as reported by Yle News.
The exact number remains uncertain with conflicting reports suggesting 2,000-3,000 people on the Russian side of the border, according to a group of Syrian asylum seekers. However, authorities, including Heikki Ahtiainen, Deputy Commander of Southeast Finland’s Border Guard, consider these figures unreliable.
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Germany: Bavaria Urges Scholz’s Failing Government to Adopt Stricter Migration Policies
Bavaria has announced a significant shift in its migration policy, indicating a “fundamental change of course.” Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann emphasized the need for an integration limit and alterations to asylum laws.
Prime Minister Markus Söder highlighted the importance of humane treatment while opposing uncontrolled immigration. Bavaria seeks greater flexibility for nation-states in shaping subsidiary protection independently of EU regulations. The call includes a demand for legal changes from the federal government, Die Welt reported.
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Globalist EU Commissioner Claims EU “Will Starve Without Migration”
EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson recently visited Athens, discussing the EU’s migration pact with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
During a panel discussion on migration issues, Johansson asserted the necessity of migration for Europe’s survival, stating, “Without immigration, we will starve.” While acknowledging the historical challenges of addressing migration, she emphasized the recent shift from “chaos to order.”
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Italy Extends Border Controls With Slovenia Until June Due to Security Concerns
Italy has announced the extension of border controls with Slovenia until June, according to the country’s interior ministry on Wednesday. The decision will be effective from January 19, is attributed to concerns about the potential presence of terrorists among migrants using the Balkan route, as reported by Reuters.
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Migration is the Primary Issue for the Irish Public in Upcoming EU Elections
A recent poll conducted by Ireland Thinks indicates that migration is set to become the primary concern for Irish voters in the upcoming European elections scheduled for June this year.
The survey, commissioned by the Rockwood Public Affairs agency, revealed that 37% of respondents identified “tackling migration” as the most critical issue for the EU elections. Following closely were concerns about reducing carbon emissions (21%), lowering energy costs (17%), safeguarding jobs from competition with EU or China manufacturing (9%), and regulating artificial intelligence, according to media reports.
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Netherlands: Wilders: Coalition Talks Facing Difficulties Due to Asylum Plan
Dutch MP Geert Wilders has raised concerns about ongoing coalition talks for a new government after the caretaker authority in the Netherlands decided to proceed with legislation mandating the forced relocation of asylum seekers across the country.
Wilders, known for his skepticism towards migration, expressed the need to address this issue during negotiations. The caretaker government gained crucial support from the VVD-party faction in the Dutch Senate for the plan, the Dutch press reported.
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Portugal: Rise in Lisbon’s Homeless Population, Majority Immigrants, Over Last Five Years
The homeless population in Lisbon has witnessed significant growth over the past five years, particularly between Gare do Oriente and Cais de Sodré stations, as reported by Portugal Resident. In this area, makeshift shelters and tents made of cardboard are clustered together, with immigrants outnumbering Portuguese individuals living on the streets.
Undocumented homeless immigrants, who have left jobs in the greenhouses of the Alentejo region, hail from various countries, including Brazil, India, Nepal, Morocco, Gambia, Senegal, Angola and more. Some can only communicate in English, and despite the challenges of life in Lisbon, especially during winter with harsh weather conditions, many are reluctant to return to their home countries. They believe they can find employment and stabilize their lives in Lisbon.
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Ahead of a meeting at the White House, Speaker Mike Johnson threw cold water on the Senate’s sprawling immigration and national security deal and said he would only accept strict border security measures.
House Republicans have expressed skepticism at the negotiations led by their Senate counterparts — insisting they will only accept the hardline border bill, H.R. 2, passed in the House last year.
‘I don’t think now is the time for comprehensive immigration reform because we know how complicated that is,’ Johnson told reporters on Wednesday.
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Surge in Irregular Migrant Arrivals to Spain in January
Official data revealed on Tuesday that the number of migrants arriving irregularly in Spain by sea has almost quadrupled in January compared to the same period in 2023, with the majority making their way to the Canary Islands. These seven islands, located approximately 100 km (60 miles) off Africa’s northwestern coast, have become the primary destination for migrants from Senegal and other African nations seeking a better life or escaping conflict, as reported by Reuters.
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A bus company in Texas is suing Chicago after the city banned the unannounced drop-off of migrants in a bid to get control of the crisis.
The Windy City has seen more than 34,000 asylum seekers arrive on at least 600 buses in the last 18 months, mostly from Texas.
The Illinois city passed an ordinance in December to deter buses from dropping off migrants unannounced and companies that do not comply face fines or risk having their buses impounded.
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Australian Hospital Offering Gender Affirming Care to Toddlers as Young as Three
Psychiatrists and specialist gender identity clinicians will work alongside children aged three to 17 as long as they have a referral from a GP.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Camp Indigo for ‘Trans Kids’ Bars ‘Cis,’ Gay Teens From Summer Program
A transgender-only youth summer camp for children has barred “cis” and “gay” kids from attending, raising questions and concerns about “grooming” behaviors.
The summer camp called “Camp Indigo,” which markets itself as “Trans Joy Every Day,” is limited to transgender and non-binary youth between the ages of 5 and 17.
All campers and employees must be transgender or identify as non-binary, according to its website. The only way so-called “cis” kids can go, or kids who do not feel like they were born in the wrong body, is if their “trans” siblings want them there.
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A pro-life diaper company is quoting X owner Elon Musk as part of its new ad campaign featuring a billboard in Times Square.
EveryLife has officially kicked off its “Make More Babies” campaign on Wednesday in the heart of the Big Apple ahead of Saturday’s March for Life in Washington, DC.
The two-part billboard features a post Musk, who has 11 children, made in September reading, “Having children is saving the world.”
The ad will run for 30 minutes straight on Wednesday and have regular appearances over the next five days.
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FBI Arrests Oregon Trans ‘Nazi’ Who Threatened Blacks, Jews
The FBI arrested a trans-identified Oregon woman on Friday who allegedly made a series of credible violent threats towards minority groups, including Jews, black people, and immigrants.
Elizabeth Ballesteros West, 56, of Cottage Grove, has been taken into custody and is being held at the Lane County Jail, according to the Oregonian.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Go Woke Go Broke: Disney’s Pixar to Undergo Significant Layoffs in 2024
Disney’s once legendary animation studio that has turned woke in recent years, Pixar, is set to experience significant layoffs in 2024 as part of a larger strategy by Disney to enhance streaming profitability.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
‘Non-Binary’ Club Q Shooter Charged With 50 Federal Hate Crimes in Colorado
The gunman who shot and killed five people and injured 40 others in a mass shooting at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs has been charged with more than 50 federal hate crimes.
Anderson Lee Aldrich pleaded not guilty to the additional charges on Tuesday, according to ABC News.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Cianán Russell, a bearded, female-born, non-binary human rights lawyer, posts about their bizarre and explicit interactions with suitors on the dating and hookup app Grindr.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
I hope all those Fr’s at Davos contract AIDS.
Maybe a brand new variant dreamt up by the mislem pig Gebrayesous, or however you spell the little [epithet’s] name.
A new version of AIDS for the very elite.
Which kills in ten days…
But , this is probably wishful thinking. …
Nevertheless, this is what I will pray for to Odin the All- Father.
“I hope all those Fr’s at Davos contract AIDS.”
I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.
That said, considering the sexual “confusion” that abounds amongst the ‘toddler set—the primary gene pool that infects Davos yearly—I reckon AIDS’s already rampant there.
According to an article in the news it was said that the Ladies of the Night (you can buy them) in Davos and surrounding area are all booked for the entire Davos meeting.
And even the article says (not directly of course) that all those Ladies are high-class even the lower class of them are ahem “occupied”. And no, I dont want them to suffer, but I believe that according to the law of statistics at least one of them must have a STI.
Lets hope for the best.
I like to see an avalanche bury the whole lot of them !
Just a note: Diana West’s website is no more. I believe there was some kind of issue with her provider, so she decided to wrap it up. (I think she’s still on Patreon.)