One person was killed and 22 other people, including at least nine children, were wounded when one or more gunpersons opened fire after the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade today. Police chief Stacey Graves said that three people have been detained.
In other news, the Swiss capital of Bern has declared itself a “safe harbor” for asylum seekers, saying that it is ready to accept more migrants than currently allowed by the federal government.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, DV, JW, LP, McN, Reader from Chicago, 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.
Bloodbath at Paramount Claims 800 Jobs Including CBS News Journalists Embroiled in Controversy
Several CBS News reporters were caught up in layoffs at Paramount Global that claimed 800 jobs, including one who is embroiled in a high-stakes First Amendment fight — and another who has reportedly weathered HR probes over his workplace behavior, The Post has learned.
Catherine Herridge — an award-winning senior correspondent whose First Amendment case is being closely watched by journalists nationwide — was among the hundreds of employees at CBS parent Paramount who got pink slips on Tuesday, sources told The Post.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
23-Year-Old Manassas Man Stabbed to Death at Virginia Training Facility
Investigators identified the man killed as Elijah Islam Safadi.
MANASSAS, Va. — Prince William County Police have identified those involved in a stabbing that left one man dead and another hurt at a Manassas training facility Tuesday. Responding officers shot and killed the knife-wielding man.
A preliminary investigation has found that at around 3:30 p.m., officers responded to an apprenticeship training center located at 7016 Infantry Ridge Road for a stabbing in progress. Police learned that two men had been stabbed by a man armed with a knife.
Officers arrived on scene and approached the building, where they say they encountered the armed man at the entrance door. Officers told the man, later identified as 26-year-old Philip Austin Brant of Woodbridge, to drop the knife. Police say Brant moved toward the officers, and the two officers opened fire.
As officers assessed Brant’s condition, other officers began searching for the people who were stabbed.
A preliminary investigation found that the stabbing occurred in a classroom within the training center. Brant was in the classroom with one of the victims and several other students. For reasons that are still under investigation, Brant pulled a knife from his backpack and began stabbing the victim several times. Others in the classroom ran out, and Brant continued to stab the man. That man collapsed inside the classroom.
At one point, Brant left the classroom and stabbed a second person in another classroom. That man was able to get outside, where he collapsed in the parking lot.
Both men were taken to the hospital in critical condition. One of the men, identified as 23-year-old Elijah Islam Safadi of Manassas, died from his injuries.
The other man, a 23-year-old from Fairfax, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Brant was pronounced dead on the scene.
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
85% of Independents Would Vote for Trump Over ‘Unfit Puppet’ Biden, NYT Focus Group Reveals
The results of a New York Times focus group will be sending shockwaves through the Democratic Party over its current nominee for 2024, President Joe Biden.
According to the NY Times, independent voters who took part in the focus group overwhelmingly stated that they chose President Donald Trump over Biden.
A staggering 85 percent of independents said they wouldn’t vote for Biden because he’s a “puppet” who is “unfit” to serve.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
AI is Inflaming Workplace Surveillance
As our workplaces continue to integrate with digital technology, employee privacy might be at a higher risk than ever before. Significant American corporations, like Walmart, Delta Air Lines, T-Mobile, Chevron, and Starbucks, have reportedly enlisted the services of the Ohio-based tech startup, Aware. This firm uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze employee communications through popular apps such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. The invasion of worker privacy happening is no longer mere conjecture.
Known insights about a company’s staff that were previously gained through annual or twice-per-year surveys have been replaced by ongoing monitoring of employee messages via AI.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Armed Thug Shot Dead After Breaking Into Truck With AR-15-Packing Owner Sleeping in Back
An armed thug was fatally schooled on the true meaning of “Don’t Mess with Texas” after breaking into a truck while the owner was sleeping in the back.
Unbeknownst to the would-be robber, the truck’s sleeping owner was armed with an AR-15 and was ready to take out the trash.
When the owner awoke to find the crook inside the vehicle with him, he grabbed his rifle and shot the intruder dead.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Around 50 Protesters Demanding Cease-Fire Briefly Shut Down Golden Gate Bridge, CHP Says
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Both directions of the Golden Gate Bridge were shut down for a short period of time by protesters in response to Israel’s bombing of Rafah, bringing the Wednesday morning commute to a halt.
CHP says just before 8 a.m. about 50 protesters unrolled a banner across the southbound lanes. Emergency crews also closed northbound lanes for about 20 minutes while they cleared the protest.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Love was in the air Wednesday night at the White House — except between President Joe Biden and the press.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Tulsi Gabbard Held Meeting With President Trump
It has been revealed that 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump and top advisors have spoken with Tulsi Gabbard about foreign policy as well as how the Department of Defense should run under a second Trump White House term.
According to the Washington Post, the talks with the former Hawaiian Democrat representative are part of conversations on how Trump would manage the DoD in a different way if he wins in November.
Trump has met with Gabbard at least once in the past year in person.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Calls for AG Merrick Garland’s Removal Mount Over Special Counsel’s Biden Report
Calls have begun to mount for the removal of Democrat President Joe Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland.
In a stunning turn of events, the U.S. Department of Justice has cast a shadow over Biden’s handling of classified documents, though stopping short of prosecution.
The special counsel’s report questions Biden’s mental fitness, igniting a firestorm of criticism and debate over the implications for his presidency and the DOJ’s impartiality.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Chiefs Parade Shooting: 1 Confirmed Dead, 3 Detained, 22 Gunshot Victims Per Kansas City Police
One person was killed and 22 other people were injured by gunshots in a shooting after the conclusion of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade on Wednesday afternoon, according to Kansas City Police.
“Shots were fired west of Union Station near the garage and multiple people were struck,” the police posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) at around 2 p.m. local time. “We took two armed people into custody for more investigation.”
In the second news conference of the day, police chief Stacey Graves provided the update that three people have been detained.
Authorities initially announced one person had died. Another death is being reported by the Kansas City Star. When asked about the news, Graves said she couldn’t confirm.
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
Climate activists targeted one of America’s founding documents Wednesday, dumping pink powder on the bulletproof case that protects the US Constitution.
The shocking incident took place at around 2:30 p.m. at the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, DC, which was forced to close to the public as a result of the mess.
“We are determined to foment a rebellion,” one of the activists, covered in the pinkish red dust, said shortly after the substance was poured on the 237-year old document, video taken of the aftermath shows.
“Joe Biden needs to declare a climate emergency,” he later said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
On Sunday, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold claimed it would be “confusing and potentially suppressive” to keep Donald Trump on the ballot.
She argued that the former president “cannot assume office,” despite the fact that the Supreme Court has not yet handed down a ruling on the matter.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Don Jr. Calls for Replacing All of the Pro-Ukraine Senate GOP Leaders
Donald Trump Jr. on Tuesday called for Republican Senate leaders who voted for the Ukraine aid bill to be replaced, after the Senate voted to pass the $95 billion bill that contained $61 billion for the Ukraine War.
Trump Jr. in a post on X listed those who voted against the bill and those who voted for it, saying “they need to be replaced”.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Elon Musk Says Passing Basic Cognitive Test ‘Should Not be Optional’ for US Presidents
On Monday, the White House confirmed that Joe Biden will not be taking a cognitive test as part of his upcoming physical exam, a move that has sparked criticism from many.
Among those voicing their disbelief was Elon Musk, who said anyone with access to the sort of weaponry granted to the commander-in-chief should be forced to take part in regular mental fitness assessments.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Epstein Victims Accuse FBI of Enabling Sex Trafficking in New Lawsuit
A dozen victims of Jeffrey Epstein sued the U.S. government Wednesday, accusing the FBI of allowing and enabling his sex trafficking for two decades.
The anonymous victims alleged that the FBI had received credible tips about Epstein’s sex trafficking operation as early as 1996 but did not investigate them.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
George Soros is poised to take a massive stake in the nation’s second-largest radio company, which owns more than 220 stations nationwide, according to court filings and sources close to the situation.
The left-leaning billionaire’s Soros Fund Management has bought up $400 million of debt in Audacy — the No. 2 US radio broadcaster behind iHeartMedia with stations including New York’s WFAN and 1010 WINS, as well as Los Angeles-based KROQ, according to bankruptcy filings.
One insider close to the situation, noting that he was a Republican, said he believed it was possible Soros was buying the stake to exert influence on public opinion in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Indiana Man Who Converted to Islam Charged With Threatening to Kill Pro-Israel US Officials
An Indiana man who converted to Islam has been arrested after threatening to kill Jews and pro-Israel government officials.
Jeffrey “Zayed” Stevens, 41, of Fort Wayne has been charged with interstate communication of a threat. Stevens allegedly issued violent death threats in posts on social media and through comments and direct messages on government websites.
On Tuesday, the US District Court in Fort Wayne unsealed the documents in the case which was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. He has been booked into the Huntington County Jail, according to WISH 8.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Just in: House Intel Chairman Warns of ‘Serious National Security Threat’
On Wednesday, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee alerted members of Congress about a “serious national security threat.”
Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) issued a statement on the matter and urged President Biden to declassify information related to the alleged threat so that Congress and the Biden administration can take the “necessary” actions to “respond to the threat.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New York City Lawsuit Accuses Social Media Companies of Fueling Youth Mental Health Crisis
NEW YORK (WABC) — Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday that New York City is suing four of the nation’s largest social media companies and accusing them of fueling a national and local youth mental health crisis.
The lawsuit was filed to hold TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube Accountable for their damaging influence on the mental health of children, Adams said.
The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, alleged the companies intentionally designed their platforms to purposefully manipulate and addict children and teens to social media applications. The lawsuit pointed to the use of algorithms to generate feeds that keep users on the platforms longer and encourage compulsive use.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Rachel Dolezal, most famous for pretending to be a black woman and losing her spot at an NCAAP chapter president after the revelations came out, has been fired from her teaching gig in Arizona after the school administration became aware of her OnlyFans account.
According to News 4 Tucson, Dolezal, now known as Nkechi Diallo following a name change in 2017, was fired after the district became aware of the account on Tuesday afternoon.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Obama’s White House Doctor: It’s Time to Remove Biden With 25th Amendment
A former White House doctor has called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to remove Democrat President Joe Biden from office.
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), who served as the White House physician under Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush, is raising the alarm over Biden’s obvious mental struggles.
During an interview Monday on Fox Business’s “Mornings With Maria,” Jackson said he thinks it’s time to use the 25th Amendment to force Biden to step down as president.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Obama Administration Directed Foreign Allies to Target Trump, Associates: Report
A new report released on Tuesday has revealed that under the Obama administration, the United States Intelligence Community (IC) mobilized foreign agencies long before the summer of 2016 to target Trump, before the FBI began its “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation into debunked Trump campaign collusion with Russia.
In a joint report by Michael Shellenberger, Matt Taibbi, and Alex Gutentag, sources close to a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HSPCI) investigation revealed that the US IC asked the “Five Eyes,” which constitutes the nations of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, to surveil and share intelligence gathered on Trump associates with US agencies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
One Dead, 22 Shot — Including 9 Children — at Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl Parade
One person was killed and 22 others injured after a shooting near the Kansas City Chief’s Super Bowl parade route following the festivities on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Panicked crowds raced for cover as gunfire erupted west of Union Station at the end of the victory parade — attended by thousands of fans.
The Kansas City Police Department said that one person died and a total of 22 were injured by gunfire. Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City told KSHB that the hospital is treating nine kids who have gunshot wounds.
Several suspected shooters were taken into custody by police, according to KSHB.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Jewish student at Columbia University is suing the school over what she claims was an “explosion” of antisemitism since the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, according to reports.
Mackenzie Forrest, a 23-year-old graduate student, filed the lawsuit against the Ivy League institution claiming she faced discrimination because she’s an Orthodox Jew and Sabbath observer, Bloomberg News reported. Forrest said protests calling for the genocide of Jews and antisemitic manifestos in the School of Social Work where she studied created a “virulently hostile” environment after the Hamas attack against the Jewish state.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Park Avenue Bank Ran Chinese Communist Cell, Ordered Workers to Follow Party Rules: Lawsuit
A Chinese Communist Party cell operates out of the Park Avenue headquarters of one of China’s largest investment banks, one of its top bankers claimed in an explosive court case.
China International Capital Corporation, the US branch of the Beijing-based multinational investment firm, was accused of requiring allegiance to the CCP and “adherence to the Party beliefs” by top executives, according to a federal discrimination suit filed against the bank in 2022.
American trader Andrea Bischof alleged she was denied promotion because she was not a member of the CCP or a Chinese national.
And she accused the bank of giving employees eight rules in Chinese — with the top one that they “must not violate the party and state policies” — and setting up party committees in the office.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Polling Shows Trump Crushing Nikki Haley in Her Home State of South Carolina
President Donald Trump is crushing his GOP “challenger” Nikki Haley in her home state, according to the results of a poll conducted on Monday.
The South Carolina roots of former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley are irrelevant to the vast majority of the state’s potential Republican primary voters when they are evaluating whether or not to support their former governor in the nomination process that will take place the following week.
According to a study conducted by CBS News and YouGov, only twenty percent of South Carolinians believe that the fact that Haley is from the state makes them more inclined to vote for her, as The Daily Caller reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Rachel Dolezal, who pretended to be a black woman and was president of a chapter of the NAACP, is now employed by a Catalina Foothills School District and has an Only Fans profile.
A post from Libs of TikTok made the revelations known on Tuesday. After Dolezal was outed in 2015 for falsely identifying as black, she then changed her name to Nkechi Diallo. Diallo’s name appears on employment records of the school that were obtained by Libs of TikTok.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Revealed: A Whopping 882 Private Jets Left Las Vegas After the Super Bowl Including Taylor Swift’s…
— with one flying just 29 minutes and another 81 heading just an hour to Los Angeles!
Not only was Super Bowl LVIII the most watched in television history , but the biggest event on the NFL calendar also attracted a near-record number of private planes to Las Vegas over the weekend.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
The upcoming hearing on February 16 before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit represents a pivotal moment in the fight for free speech online.
This court session will address the significant concerns raised by Eugene Volokh, a renowned First Amendment professor and legal blogger, alongside social media platforms Rumble and Locals.
These parties have joined forces with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a leading national group advocating for free speech, to challenge a contentious New York law.
This law, enacted in December 2022, has been a point of contention for its mandate requiring websites to actively engage with speech considered “humiliating” or “vilifying” toward any group based on race, color, religion, or other protected characteristics.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Slave Descendants Say They’re Owed $74B in Reparations From St. Louis University
Descendants of slaves that were forced to build St. Louis University say the Jesuit school owes them more than $70 billion in reparations.
The figure was calculated by economists, based on 70 people identified as slaves of the Jesuits earning a low wage of $0.05 an hour between 1823 and 1865, and adjusted for inflation, according to a PBS article posted on the website of Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved last week.
DSLUE consists of 200 people that trace their lineage to the slaves, and have called on the university to come up with a plan to compensate them “what they are rightfully owed” for the sins of its founders.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Staffers Flee RFK Jr.’s Presidential Campaign in Droves Over ‘Lavish’ Spending, Poor Leadership
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign has been hit with an exodus of staffers reportedly fed up with the campaign’s inept leadership, extravagant spending and poor organization.
Since the start of the year, 14 members of Kennedy’s fledgling campaign have quit, reported Mediaite, citing multiple sources speaking to the outlet anonymously.
One source close to the campaign cast the blame for the chaos on Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, campaign manager and Kennedy’s daughter-in-law, and on Del Bigtree, the campaign’s anti-vaxxer communications director, who were both slammed as “self-serving” and acting for “their own personal advancement.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Anti-Israel demonstrators unlawfully blocked traffic in Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday evening. During the protest, the Salt Lake Police Department (SLCPD) responded in a post that drivers should expect “traffic delays in the area” and instructed locals to “use detours” instead. The protest took place in response to an Israeli military operation that rescued two hostages on Monday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Rips ‘Foolish’ GOP Candidate After Dems Flip Santos’ House Seat
Former President Donald Trump jumped into the fray this week after former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi won a closely watched special election for a vacant House seat once held by former Republican Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from the chamber in December.
Trump slammed Republican candidate Mazi Pilip after she lost to Suozzi, claiming it was because she did not endorse him.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Tucker Carlson Warns ‘Dangerous’ WEF Elites ‘Think They’re God’
Independent journalist Tucker Carlson has warned that members of the World Economic Forum (WEF) are “very dangerous” because they “think they are God.”
At the World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai, Carlson called out globalist elites.
Without mentioning him by name, Carlson referenced previous comments made at the event by WEF founder and chairman Klaus Schwab.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
WA Officials, Lawmakers Blame Democrat-Passed Legislation for Spike in Child Deaths
Washington lawmakers and officials are blaming Democratic-passed legislation for the death of a baby and are demanding changes to protect children.
A new law called the “Keeping Families Together Act” went into effect in July and allows the drug-addicted and homeless to maintain custody of children because, according to state Democrats, circumstances such as substance abuse or inadequate housing don’t constitute imminent physical harm to a child.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Washington State Senate Passes Strippers’ Bill of Rights
Adult performers in Washington state are demanding a “Strippers’ Bill of Rights” for workplace protections, such as keypad codes on dressing rooms, required training at establishments that have strippers, and procedures if customers become violent.
Senate Bill 6105, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, passed in the legislature on Feb. 7 with a 29-20 vote and has become known as the “strippers’ bill of rights.”
The proposed law would require a number of trainings for establishments that employ adult entertainers that would include but not be limited to, “education about the rights and responsibilities of entertainers,” “reporting of workplace injuries, including sexual and physical abuse and sexual harassment,” and “financial aspects of the entertainer profession.” Other regulations are added to prevent sex trafficking.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration now says it is being “vigilant” about risky scientific research in China after a study there found a coronavirus variant killed 100% of “humanized” mice.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Wednesday the heightened vigilance is because viruses can “come back and harm Americans” if they are mishandled in labs.
“We’ve documented in the past over many years concerns about biosafety, biosecurity practices of a number of countries, China being one of them,” Sullivan said at the regular White House briefing when asked about the controversial study, which was described in a preprint paper released last month.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Class-Action Suit Says North America’s Major Junior Hockey System Violates US Antitrust Law
A class-action suit was filed Wednesday in federal court in New York arguing that the major junior hockey system in North America violates U.S. antitrust law.
The lawsuit, brought by divisions of the World Association of Icehockey Players Unions and two individual former major junior players, takes aim at the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey that make up the Canadian Hockey League, as well as the NHL. The plaintiffs allege the leagues exploit teenagers in the sport by restricting their ability to pick where to play and, as a result, limiting their compensation.
The NHL is named as a defendant for its role in supporting and financing the CHL. Lawyers allege in the complaint that the NHL and its teams “exert substantial influence and control over major junior defendants, thereby facilitating major junior defendants’ conspiracy.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Danielle Smith Promises Ban on Electronic Vote Tabulators in Alberta Elections
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has promised to stop using tabulators in Alberta elections.
Smith’s base has long called for more election transparency and decried the use of electronics in the ballot-counting process, believing tabulators increase the potential for tampering with results.
The premier promised to rid provincial elections of tabulators while speaking at a United Conservative Party fundraiser in Bonnyville on January 26.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
During a press conference on Monday, a reporter with the Canadian Press accused the Conservatives of wanting to hand over $100 million in taxpayer funded “regulatory relief” to the mainstream media.
Party leader Pierre Poilievre made it clear that under his watch, not a single cent of Canadians’ money would go to propping up outlets that fail to deliver “real news to the Canadian people.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Conservative leader Pierre Polievre said Tuesday that he has asked the RCMP to “expand their criminal investigation” into the Trudeau government’s ArriveCAN app which cost taxpayers almost a thousand times the expected cost.
“After yesterday’s auditor general revelations of corruption, waste and mismanagement, I have written to the RCMP asking them to expand their criminal investigation into the Prime Minister’s ArriveSCAM. He has a track record of blocking criminal investigations. He tried to protect SNC Lavalin from prosecution, he blocked the RCMP from investigating his illegal vacation to billionaire island. Will he stay out of the way or really again try to block the RCMP criminal investigation into Arrive Scam,” Poilievre asked at the beginning of Tuesday’s Question Period in the House of Commons.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
RCMP Officer Arrested After Leaking Secrets to “Foreign Actor”
A national security investigation has led to an Alberta RCMP officer being charged with sharing “non-top secret RCMP records systems “ with a “foreign actor.”
“The RCMP is committed to combatting foreign actor interference at all levels and is actively leveraging all tools at its disposal,” said national police service in a press release Tuesday.
The Integrated National Security Investigation Team, a centrally controlled agency which investigates criminal and terrorist activities, arrested front-line RCMP officer Const. Eli Ndatuje on Tuesday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czech Farmers to Join Coordinated Border Blockade With EU Colleagues
Czech farmers will join an international protest organized by agricultural organizations from Central and Eastern Europe next week, expressing discontent with the European Union’s agricultural policies and the import of cheap products from Ukraine, Novinky reports.
As part of the mass action scheduled for February 22nd, they will stage protest marches to border crossings to meet colleagues from other countries. Additionally, some farmers plan to bring heavy machinery to Prague on Monday, February 19th, aiming to block the highway.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany’s left-globalist activist Interior Minister Faeser is proposing radical measures aimed at curbing right-wing actors, raising concerns about potential infringements on civil liberties.
The proposals include heightened surveillance, financial controls, and travel restrictions, signaling a significant shift in government policy, according to a report from Junge Freiheit.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Jeannette Gusko, the managing director of “Correctiv,” had undisclosed meetings with federal government representatives prior to the alleged “secret gathering” in Potsdam. According to reports from Nius, these encounters occurred twice in November at the Federal Chancellery, totaling eleven exchanges over four years.
On November 17th, Gusko met Chancellor Olaf Scholz, reportedly during the East Germany 2030 Conference, just eight days before the Potsdam meeting. Earlier, on November 7th, she engaged in discussions with Carsten Schneider, the Federal Government’s Eastern Commissioner, at the Federal Chancellery, German media reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
German Citizen Receives Threatening Note From Bank After Donating to AfD
The bank Sparkasse Mittelfranken-Süd has sent a threatening letter to one of its customers after he transferred a three-digit sum donation to the federal office of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, raising questions as to whether banks might begin—or perhaps have already started—blocking transfers to the right-wing opposition party.
A copy of the letter, obtained by the newspaper Junge Freiheit, reads: “The recipient of the payment has a right-wing extremist orientation. Sparkasse Mittelfranken-Süd does not accept such payments. In your own interest, please stop such payments.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Greek Government Makes Further Concessions to Address Farmer Protests
In response to weeks of protests by farmers over escalating energy costs and international competition, Greece’s conservative government unveiled additional support measures on Tuesday. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, meeting with representatives of farmers’ unions, expressed optimism in finding common ground to address their legitimate concerns, as reported by Reuters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New Front in EU Farm Wars: Now Tractors Block Roads Across Spain
On Wednesday morning in Spain, farmers had several roads and highways around a dozen cities from the north to the south of the country blocked. Caravans of tractors cut off highways in both directions, blocked entrances, and caused traffic jams in Burgos, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Jaén, Malaga, Palencia, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Toledo, Valladolid, the port of Motril in Granada, and Mercamadrid, the largest logistics center in Spain.
It is the ninth consecutive day of demonstrations by farmers, whose sector has been stretched to the limit by low prices, rising costs, drought, imports from outside the EU, environmental regulations, and bureaucracy. They are demanding immediate action from the government to begin addressing the issues.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poland’s Tusk Plays Down WWII-Era Reparations Claim in Attempt to Forge Reset With Germany
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and declared that although Germany has a moral obligation to “do something,” he did not want Polish losses during the Second World War to cause hostility between the two nations.
Tusk visited both Macron and Scholz on Monday, and at a joint press conference in Berlin with his German counterpart, the Polish prime minister answered questions on the issue of reparations for Second World War damages for Poland, with a report from the previous conservative government estimating these losses at $1.3 trillion.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Polish Farmers Have Announced a Complete Blockade of Ukrainian Transportation
On February 20th, Polish farmers will block all border crossings between Poland and Ukraine, as well as access roads to railway transshipment stations and seaports. This was announced by the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union of Individual Farmers “Solidarity,” as reported by RMF FM.
“Not only border crossings will be blocked, but also transport hubs, access roads to railway transshipment stations, and seaports,” the union’s statement says.
On February 9th, “Solidarity” declared a 30-day general strike of farmers. The farmers say they are protesting against the uncontrolled influx of goods from Ukraine to Poland due to the decision of the EU. According to them, the lack of regulation puts the profitability of agriculture, processing, and other agricultural-related industries into question.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Polish President Urges Government Action on Key Investment Projects and Weapons Procurement
Polish President Andrzej Duda is urging the government to move forward on key infrastructure projects such as the transportation hub outside Warsaw as well as complete weapons contracts signed by the previous government.
On Feb. 24, Polish President Andrzej Duda hosted members of the government at a meeting of the Cabinet Council, a body the meetings of which are called by the head of state with him setting the agenda.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Polish Conservatives Want Senior PiS MEP to be Candidate for EU Commission President
Poland’s former ruling Conservatives (PiS) is pushing for the European Conservative Reformers (ECR) to adopt senior MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski as its candidate for the post of president of the European Commission.
PiS wants Jacek Saryusz-Wolski as the candidate, in recognition of the fact that PiS makes up the majority of the ECR political grouping in the European Parliament, which also consists of a number of other conservative European parties, such as Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy. During the last process of electing the European Commission president, PiS MPs in the European Parliament backed current President Ursula von der Leyen.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘Recession for the Rest of Our Lives’ — CEO Warns EU Against Phasing Out Combustion Engines by 2035
The EU’s decision to ban the production of cars that run on diesel and gas in 2035 represents a major economic threat to Europe, warns Lars Carlstrom, CEO of battery manufacturer Italvolt. Despite his company’s role in producing batteries for electric vehicles, he said such a ban could bring about a “recession for the rest of our lives.”
“Regarding the end date for combustion engine cars in Europe of 2035, I am worried about the European car industry, I don’t think everyone will have time to adjust,” he said to the automobile website Recharge.
“If we lose millions of jobs, we will have a recession for the rest of our lives. I think we need to have a smoother transition, maybe from 2040 to 2045?” he continued.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sweden Democrats Push Purge of EU From National Constitution
If the Sweden Democrats (SD) have their way, Sweden could remove all its constitutional references to the European Union in a shift designed to give Stockholm greater flexibility when negotiating thorny issues such as migration or climate policy. This is a calculated move by the populist Sweden Democrats, signalling that Sweden could eventually choose to leave the bloc.
The idea of a “Sweden First” approach was floated by party leader Jimmie Åkesson and leading MEP Charlie Weimers in a Swedish press op ed this week, stating that “Sweden is prepared to leave as a last resort, and Brussels cannot afford to lose more net payers,” potentially strengthening Stockholm’s negotiating hand in the EU.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Effect? 18 NATO Members Hit Defence Spending Target
Eighteen out of thirty-one NATO member states will reach the target of spending 2% of their GDP on defence this year, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday. Although Stoltenberg did not mention which countries fulfilled the NATO membership pledge to invest at least 2% of GDP annually on defence, there would be seven new additions compared to last year when only eleven states reached the threshold: Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Who Will be Hungary’s Next President?
Following the resignation of outgoing President Katalin Novak, the Hungarian government is racing to fill the position, while the Hungarian public is eager to know who will serve as president next.
With this in mind, Hungarian polling agencies began on Monday to gauge the popularity of potential candidates. The poll, which will be conducted on a sample of thousands of people, will cover both public and economic issues, news portal Index reports. The results will be available by the middle of next week, so that a decision on the candidate can be taken at the parliamentary group meeting on Feb. 21. However, it is unclear if the results will be made public or used by the government to gauge the popularity of select candidates.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
FBI Director Makes Unannounced Visit to Israel
The director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation made an unannounced trip to Israel to meet with the country’s law and intelligence agencies as it fights a bloody war in Gaza, the FBI said Wednesday.
Christopher Wray also met with FBI agents based in Tel Aviv, according to a statement from the bureau, stressing the importance of their work on Palestinian militant group Hamas and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
He reiterated the FBI’s support of Israel in the wake of the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
“The FBI’s partnership with our Israeli counterparts is longstanding, close, and robust, and I’m confident the closeness of our agencies contributed to our ability to move so quickly in response to these attacks, and to ensure our support is as seamless as possible,” Wray was quoted as saying in the statement.
| — Hat tip: JW | [Return to headlines] |
After Explosions Hit Iranian Natural Gas Pipeline, Offical Blames ‘Sabotage and Terrorist Action’
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Explosions struck a natural gas pipeline in Iran early on Wednesday, with an official blaming the blasts on a “sabotage and terrorist action” in the country as tensions remain high in the Middle East amid Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Details were scarce, though the blasts hit a natural gas pipeline running from Iran’s western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea. The roughly 1,270-kilometer (790-mile) pipeline begins in Asaluyeh, a hub for Iran’s offshore South Pars gas field.
Saeed Aghli, the manager of Iran’s gas network control center, told Iranian state television that a “sabotage and terrorist” action caused explosions along several areas of the line.
There are no known insurgent groups operating in that province, home to the Bakhtiari, a branch of Iran’s Lur ethnic group. Aghli did not name any suspects in the blasts.
Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji, also speaking to state TV, compared the attack to a series of mysterious and unclaimed assault on gas pipelines in 2011 — including around the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tehran marked the 45th anniversary of the revolution on Sunday.
| — Hat tip: McN | [Return to headlines] |
Putin Signs Law That Will Confiscate Assets From Critics of Armed Forces
Associated Press — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law Wednesday that will allow authorities to confiscate money, valuables and other assets from people convicted of spreading “deliberately false information” about the country’s military.
The bill sailed through the lower and upper houses of the Russian parliament, and was unanimously endorsed by the upper house last week.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Putin Says a Biden Presidency is Better for Russia Than a Trump One
(CNN) — A Joe Biden presidency would be better for Russia than a Donald Trump one, Russian President Vladimir Putin told pro-Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin in an on-camera interview Wednesday.
Asked by Zuribin about the upcoming US presidential election, Putin said Biden would be better for Russia “because he is a more experienced person, he is predictable, he is a politician of an old formation.”
However, he added that Russia would “work with any leader of the US that gains the trust of the American people.”
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
Russia Has Likely Lost 3,000 Tanks in Ukraine, But Can Sustain Such Losses for Years More Says IISS
Russia has now lost more tanks in the Ukraine war than it had at the start of the conflict, but its ability to regenerate through deep reserves means it can survive these levels of attrition for several more years, a top military think tank warns.
Ukraine has destroyed “around 1,120” Russian tanks in the past year, the International Institute For Strategic Studies (IISS) says. The military think tank, one of the world’s oldest, says these losses take Russian tanks destroyed since 2022 to some 3,000 units.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Russia Wants to Deploy a Nuclear Weapon in Space to Destroy Western Satellites, US Fears
WASHINGTON — Russia wants to put nuclear weapons in space to obliterate Western satellites, according to alarming new US intelligence.
The frightening possibility was revealed hours after House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner publicly said Congress had information on a “serious national security threat” — sparking intense speculation.
The Kremlin has not yet launched nuclear weapons into orbit, but is interested in doing so, the ABC, New York Times and Washington Post reported Wednesday afternoon, citing current and former officials.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The U.S. Senate has approved a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine, at a time when Americans are less and less convinced that their country should continue to maintain its position as the “world’s policeman.” One Hungarian expert Balazs Martonffy, director of research at the John Lukacs Institute from the Eötvös József Research Centre at the National University of Kecskemét, said this stance is driven by the U.S.’s intractable battle with Russia.
“The United States is on a fixed track, as it is a stated policy of the Biden administration that Russia cannot win. That is what this package is about. The U.S. is so entrenched in this war that a possible defeat of Ukraine on the international stage could mean the defeat of the U.S.,” the expert said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ukraine Claims Sinking of Russian Landing Ship in Black Sea Off Crimea
Russia’s landing ship Caesar Kunikov has been sunk off the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine’s armed forces claimed Wednesday.
The BBC reports powerful explosions were heard in the early pre-dawn hours, according to local social media, which suggested the landing ship had been hit not far south of the town of Yalta.
Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence published a video of what it said were Magura V5 naval drones striking the Soviet-era ship.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Zelensky Demands US House Vote for Ukraine Funding Bill
Following the Senate’s passing of a $95 billion foreign aid package on Tuesday, the leader of the bill’s main beneficiary, Ukraine, called on the House of Representatives to follow their colleagues’ lead and vote yea.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said passing the latest round of funding for the war-torn nation was the “moral” thing to do.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Over 100 Chinese Websites Pose as Local News Outlets in 30 Countries: Report
Authored by Frank Fang via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
At least 123 Chinese websites are disguised as local news outlets in 30 countries to disseminate pro-Beijing disinformation, according to a recent report from Citizen Lab, a digital watchdog at Canada’s University of Toronto.
“The campaign is an example of a sprawling influence operation serving both financial and political interests, and in alignment with Beijing’s political agenda,” Alberto Fittarelli, senior researcher at Citizen Lab, wrote in his Feb. 7 report.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Australia’s authorities are once again putting pressure on social media, X this time, threatening that the company will face big fines and “big trouble” in general — unless “mis— and dis-” information is censored.
And, it is Australia’s new laws, when they come into force this year, that will represent the legal grounds for such actions.
The fines would run up to $3 million or 2 percent of annual turnover for “voluntary code of conduct” violations, and $7.8 million or 5 percent of annual turnover in case of lack of compliance with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) “standards.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Commonwealth Bank Chief Executive Matt Comyn Makes Shock Cash Confession
The Commonwealth Bank, under Matt Comyn’s watch as chief executive, has closed a third of its branches and removed more than half its ATMs. Now the CEO has made a shocking admission.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Argentinian President Milei Voices Support for Spain’s Right-Wing Vox Ahead of Regional Election
Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, voiced his support for VOX ahead of the forthcoming elections in Galicia. These elections hold significant importance for voters registered in the Electoral Census of Absent Residents (CERA), particularly those residing in Argentina.
Milei, an ally of VOX led by Santiago Abascal, conveyed his endorsement during his visit to Italy, reaching out through social media to Galicians living in Argentina. The party’s publication urged Galician Milei supporters to cast their ballots for VOX.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
“Rapes, Robberies, & Shootout” at Darién Gap as Biden’s Border Crisis Spreads Chaos
As migrants from Central America surge north in hopes of reaching the US southern border, there’s a dangerous stretch of border between North and South America that legacy media outlets refuse to cover horror stories.
Let’s begin with data from an independent, non-profit newsroom, The New Humanitarian that shows a record number of migrants crossed the treacherous jungle corridor connecting Colombia and Panama — known as the Darién Gap — in 2023. These figures also show that Darién Gap migrant crossings have exponentially surged under President Biden’s first term.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Austria Begins Deportation of at Least 6,000 Migrants to Bulgaria With Daily Flights
On Tuesday, two charter planes from Austria landed in Sofia, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Eight to 10 migrants reportedly arrived on the morning flight and 18 on the afternoon one, but the exact number has not been revealed.
According to a terse statement from the Bulgarian Interior Ministry, there is nothing unusual about this, the flight was “routine” and the refugees were arriving in accordance with the Dublin Convention. The plane was reportedly on its way from Sofia Airport to Georgia, where most of the migrants on board will return.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Mike Johnson Shuts Down Senate’s Foreign Funding Bill
On Wednesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson shut down the $95 billion foreign aid package recently passed by the Senate.
Johnson remained steadfast in his, and most of his party’s, belief that no bill that doesn’t include funding to solve the crisis at the southern border should be considered by the House.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
China’s Infiltrators: ‘They Are Coming Here to Kill Us’
Chinese attackers are already in America, more are arriving by the day, and they are armed.
Videos posted to X (Twitter) show Chinese migrants firing pistols. One video is of a Chinese female with a sniper rifle.
There is no Second Amendment in China, and Chinese citizens are not permitted to possess firearms. So is it possible that the shooters in the videos are merely taking advantage of a new-found freedom in their new home country?
Unlikely.
One of the migrants videoed was in America for only three weeks and arrived in the country with no money and no identification.
If you had just landed somewhere as a migrant with nothing to your name, you would undoubtedly be preoccupied with finding your next meal, getting a place to live, making a livelihood.
You would not, within weeks of entering your new homeland, be sharpening your skills to kill.
You would not be thinking of killing unless… that is what you came to do.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Contemplating Extension of Poland-Germany Border Controls: Insights and Speculation
The decision to implement permanent border controls in the country, including at the border with Poland, aims to prevent illegal border crossings, as reported by RMF FM. According to the Minister of Interior of Brandenburg, Michael Stuebgen, this strategy will be necessary for the next two to three years.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson said that investing $17 million in “18 black and brown small businesses” to feed illegal immigrants is what captures the “soul of Chicago.”
In a press conference, Johnson is seen telling reporters, “The $17 million investment for these 18 black and brown small businesses… really captures what I call the ‘soul of Chicago’.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Eric Adams Says New York is ‘Out of Room’ for Illegal Immigrants
New York City Mayor Eric Adams didn’t mince words when recently asked about the unprecedented number of illegal immigrants making their way into town, saying there was simply no more room left.
He warned that if the influx of newcomers doesn’t slow down soon, people may be forced to sleep out on the streets.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In order to protect Europe’s future, a radical change is needed in Brussels’ migration policy, which should respect international law and not punish those who act in accordance with it, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjartó said in Madrid on Tuesday.
“Given that the terrorist threat in Africa is more serious than ever and economic development is struggling to keep pace with population growth, we can see that illegal migration pressure will continue to increase in Europe,”Szijjartó warned.
“If Brussels’ pro-migration policy is maintained, there is a real risk that Europeans will lose Europe, because Brussels’ migration policy is attracting people here,” he added.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Finland Plans to Expedite Processing of Unfounded Asylum Applications
Finland is considering expediting the processing of asylum applications deemed to lack merit, according to YLE News. Under the proposed reforms, certain migrants could face restrictions on their movement while their applications are under review.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s administration aims to swiftly reject unfounded applications through changes in asylum legislation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A migrant from Morocco stood trial in France on Monday on suspicion of raping a young woman returning to her parent’s home with whom he had arranged to carpool on the popular BlaBlaCar app.
The Corrèze Criminal Court heard the plight of a 23-year-old known as Julie, who told the court about how she had suffered at the hands of 30-year-old Redouane Er Rachdy, a Moroccan and French dual-national with a long rap sheet dating back to when he was a minor.
The incident occurred on Jan. 18, 2022, when the victim had arranged through the carpooling app to travel from Toulouse, where she was a business school student, to her parent’s home in Clermont-Ferrand — just over a four-hour drive.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Joe Biden Shields Palestinians From Deportation, Vows to Give Them U.S. Jobs
President Joe Biden is shielding Palestinians in the United States from deportation while authorizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to loosen work requirements to funnel them into American jobs.
On Wednesday, Biden issued a memorandum to DHS and the State Department, providing most Palestinians in the U.S. with “Deferred Enforced Departure” for at least 18 months amid war in Israel with Hamas terrorists.
Ultimately, the memorandum ensures that most Palestinians cannot be deported from the U.S. over the next year and a half — a plan that was first pitched to Biden by the far-left Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Just in: Georgia to Send National Guard to Aid Texas in Securing Border, Constructing Command Post
On Tuesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that he would be sending additional troops to help Texas secure the southern border.
The group of highly skilled soldiers is expected to arrive in the Lone Star State in the spring.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Left Demands Rule-of-Law Procedure Against Greece Over Alleged Migrant Mistreatment
Leftist members of the European Parliament, during a Wednesday debate, demanded that the European Commission open an infringement procedure (Article 7) against Greece over the alleged mistreatment of illegal migrants and asylum-seekers. The MEPs accused Athens of “massive and sustained” human rights violations as well as neglect leading to the death of hundreds in the Pylos shipwreck last year.
The behavior of Greek authorities toward migrants, extreme-Left MEP Cornelia Ernst said, is part of a “deep-rooted culture of violence at the EU’s borders,” as she urged the Commission to launch legal action against Athens before the EU elections, which are less than five months away.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Massachusetts woman has started hosting a family of Hiatian illegal immigrants in her apartment and told reporters it is like having their own “personal chef” in the house.
The illegal immigrants started living with the Brookline, Massachusetts family a few weeks ago. Lisa Hillenbrand told Boston 10, “It’s a delight, and it’s really fun having them. What I realized is there’s so much prejudice against refugees mostly because people don’t know them.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Migrant Teen Accused in Times Square Attack on Cops is Arrested Again for Macy’s Robbery
One of the migrants allegedly involved in a mob assault on a pair of cops in Times Square has been arrested again — this time for participating in a coordinated robbery of a Macy’s store in Queens.
Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with robbery and petit larceny, police announced.
He is one of four people charged for allegedly entering the Queens Center Mall around 5:33 p.m. Tuesday and “acting in concert” to steal clothes that they tried to hide in bags.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Munich Report: Mass Migration More Worrying Than Russia
A report released on Monday, February 12th, just in time for the start of the Munich Security Conference on Friday, reveals that Russia is no longer perceived as the biggest security threat by people living in the largest economies in the world, while issues like mass migration, terrorism, climate change, and cyber attacks rank high on the list of perceived threats.
While the threat posed by Russia—which invaded Ukraine almost two years ago—was cited as the top concern in surveys conducted in the previous two years, it has dropped to fourth place in the latest Munich Security Index. The index assesses answers given by people in the so-called G7 countries—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States—as well as Brazil, China, India, and South Africa.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Revealed: Biden Admin Diverts Veterans Affairs Resources to Illegal Immigrants
It has been revealed that the Biden administration has been diverting resources from the Veterans Affairs (VA) organization to help illegal immigrants around the country.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke about the matter with Fox Digital in an interview reported on Tuesday morning. The Alabama senator recently introduced a bill titled the “No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act” in order to prevent it from happening again.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Swiss capital of Bern has declared itself a “safe harbor” for asylum seekers and indicated its readiness to accept more migrants than currently allocated by the federal government.
Local councilors adopted the “safe harbor” declaration initiated by the far-left Seebrücke organization, which seeks to pressure national governments into receiving even greater numbers of migrants heading to Europe by sea.
The city’s executive council — dominated by Greens and Social Democrats — has called for local governments across Switzerland to have a greater say in the number of migrants they can receive, claiming the municipality is capable of taking in larger numbers of those rescued at sea and insisting it has a moral duty to do so.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK Trades in ‘Unused’ Channel Patrol Vessels for Catamarans
While close to 30,000 migrants crossed the Channel to arrive illegally in England last year, none of the government-owned cutters and patrol vessels were used to deal with the evermore embarrassing crisis.
Home Office officials have “quietly” revealed that the five cutters and six coastal patrol vessels were used a grand total of zero times in 2023. Incidents were instead dealt with using commercial transfer vessels and lifeboats. The government department said in a statement that larger vessels, such as cutters, “are not suitable for rescue and recovery operations.” So it is spending millions of pounds on a fleet of private catamarans instead.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Fines for employers who allow illegal migrants to work for them are being tripled from today as ministers seek to clamp down on illicit working in Britain.
Those who hire an illegal migrant can now be given a civil penalty of £45,000 per worker for a first breach, up from £15,000. And repeat breaches can incur a £60,000 fine, up from £20,000.
In its efforts to tackle the Channel migrant crisis, the Government is also significantly increasing penalties for landlords who allow illegal migrants to rent their properties.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Our Council Tried to Force US to Sell Our £200,000 Home to Make Room for Asylum Seekers…
— Elderly couple’s horror after strongly-worded letter lands on their doorstep
An elderly couple who had just moved into their £200,000 house were horrified to receive a letter from their council suggesting the property could be subject to compulsory purchase and used to house asylum seekers.
Jose and Ted Saunders said they were ‘insulted and shocked’ when the strongly-worded letter from North Northamptonshire Council — which has never balanced its own books — dropped on their mat last month.
It said their neat mid-terraced house in Rushden, near Wellingborough, was deemed to be an empty property, or was ‘derelict’ and the council could even force them to sell it.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Florida Driver Accused of ‘Intentionally’ Doing Burnouts on LGBTQ Pride Crosswalk Mural
A Florida man is accused of intentionally doing multiple burnouts on an LGBTQ pride-painted intersection with his truck earlier this month before he surrendered after a week-long search.
Dylan Brewer, 19, was caught on surveillance video in his lifted pickup truck, with LED underbody lights and a flag attached to the back, revving his engine and making a hard left turn at the intersection of NE 2nd Avenue in Delray Beach on Feb. 4.
As the truck peeled out of the area, two curved tire marks were left behind as the smoke created by the spinning wheels dissipated in the air, according to the video released by the Delray Beach Police.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Rather than just borrowing the aesthetic, 18 to 25-year-olds from around the world are fully embracing religion and favour the full Latin mass and lace mantillas.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Top Cardinal: Vatican Must Stop Bowing to ‘LGBT and Woke Ideology’
ROME — Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the former head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, has slammed the Vatican’s opening to blessing gay couples as “relativizing the truth and cheapening grace.”
In an interview with the National Catholic Register published Monday, Cardinal Müller lamented the Vatican’s Dec. 18 publication of the declaration Fiducia Supplicans, which allowed for the blessing of same-sex couples for the first time in the Church’s history.
“You can betray yourself, you can betray the others, but nobody can betray God,” the German cardinal stated.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trans Activists Occupy Iowa State House to Protest Legal Definitions of Man and Woman
On Monday night, hundreds of activists descended upon the Iowa state Capitol in Des Moines to protest a new bill that, if passed, would codify a biology-based classification of gender into law.
Opponents have been vocal in their desire to see HSB 649 nixed; however, it already passed the committee process and is set to be debated in the House of Representatives.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
_________________________________________________________
The penis battle
14/2-2024
by Lars Hedegaard
A single mother from Västervik in Sweden says she spent years trying in vain to find the right man to start a family with. But time ran out and by the time she was 36, she had to take matters into her own hands.
In other words, there is a shortage of real men who are being replaced by someone who can masturbate and deliver their sperm to the fertility clinic.
I don’t think the world has ever seen anything like it. Is this development to be explained as a feminist victory – remember the old slogan: A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle? If that’s the case, then there is no need for men other than as sperm producers.
Instead of men, women have come to love the state – their new father who takes care of everything and saves them from having to think for themselves.
The state also provides real men in the form of desert warriors who won’t listen to nonsense and who, to the delight of the left, demonstrate their virility during noisy demonstrations in Europe’s major cities.
You understand the women, who predominantly vote for parties that want more Islam – and thus more rough sex.
Why the men bowed to the prevailing madamocracy is the real mystery? Could it have something to do with the ‘consent law’ introduced in Sweden and soon to be introduced throughout Europe?
Apparently, the shooting in Kansas City was done by no one and none of the victims had any identifiable characteristics. All we have heard is that someone shot some people.
“One person was killed and 22 other people, including at least nine children, were wounded when one or more gunpersons opened fire after the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade today.”
I don’t normally quote Roberts, but, in this case, I think he’s spot-on..
“I am coming to the conclusion that I am writing in defense of a country, a Constitution, and a civilization that exists only as a demonized ruin.” —Paul Craig Roberts (14 Feb 2024)
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2024/02/14/where-are-advocates-for-western-civilization-for-white-ethnicities-for-the-constitution-for-christian-morality-for-peace/
Adding to yesterday’s post re J6 pipe-bomb..
“Blaze Media investigates the January 6 footage of a robot destroying the “explosive” device found outside the DNC that the Capitol Police tried to hide.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaoD1ScnJL8
“A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. We should stop pretending.” —The Washington “Democracy Dies in Darkness” Post (30 Nov 2023)
“I’M MAKING SURE HE [Trump]…DOES NOT BECOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT AGAIN.” —Prince Aricept (9 Nov 2022)
“Today’s Inspirational Twit-fer-[epithets]—Those things they’re afraid to say, but I’m not. Pay attention and you’ll actually learn something.
The actions that motivate people are based on their perceptions of reality, regardless of whether that reality’s right or wrong. Most tend to be less concerned with FACTS and more preoccupied with self interests. By controlling peoples’ perceptions, they’re more susceptible to drawing unfounded conclusions, thereby simplifying their manipulation. The objective of a manipulator, say, The Party and their media drools, is to program people into dismissing FACTS as delusions in spite of the conspicuous. Gaslighting.” —posted to fb (May 2021)
“[Repeat] Prediction: The question will be: Is Joe Biden [mentally] competent to stand trial?” —posted to fb (April 2020)”
Questions?…Peanuts?…Popcorn?
“Several CBS News reporters were caught up in layoffs at Paramount Global that claimed 800 jobs, including one who is embroiled in a high-stakes First Amendment fight — and another who has reportedly weathered HR probes over his workplace behavior, The Post has learned. Catherine Herridge — an award-winning senior correspondent whose First Amendment case is being closely watched by journalists nationwide — was among the hundreds of employees at CBS parent Paramount who got pink slips on Tuesday, sources told The Post.” —New York Post (13 Feb 2024)
These layoffs—and I think it worth reiterating the axiom: “unemployment’s a lagging indicator”—should NOT be news to anyone who’s AWARE of the world around them.
Which spawns a sincere question: Why are so many economic IDIOTS able to foresee problems so long before the REAL business experts? Are the REAL business experts stupid, afraid to admit the truth or just honestly [repeatedly] unable to see the forest for the trees (i.e., too distracted by the day-to-day operation of their own businesses to see what’s going on beyond the confines of that operation)? This divergence’s been happening for so long and with such laser-like consistency that I can’t believe it’s just a series of lucky guesses on the part of the IDIOTS.
“The so-called BRICs alliance…have set out on a deliberate course to dethrone the dollar. If that happens…THE LIVING STANDARDS WE ALL ENJOY TODAY ARE GOING TO BE A THING OF THE PAST.” —Fred Smith, CEO FedEx (13 Feb 2024)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjkYU_lf_LA&t=199s
“Prediction: Recently, China’s been amassing an unusually large quantity of gold. Additionally, they’ve been working to create a “members-only” cryptocurrency, possibly, in tandem with Russia. Watch for China to use this gold-backed cryptocurrency as a new trading standard in an attempt to devalue the dollar, which has been the trading standard since WWII.” —posted to fb (Nov 2019)
“[Repeat] Prediction: Whilst The Prince and The Party effervesce over “climate change”, “equity”, “white supremacy” and “pronouns”….for the past several years, China’s been quietly amassing a HUGE stockpile of gold. Why? I think they, along with the other BRICS nations, may be planning to back the Chinese digital yuan with their gold, making it the only gold-backed global reserve currency, leaving the US dollar flapping in the breeze….and quickly deflating in value—both monetary and political. Watch this space..” —posted to fb (July 2022)
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DNA-testing the KEBAB?
The gang-raped GB girl is believed to have been ground down to a kebab – now the case is reopened.
14-year-old was raped by up to 100 men from the Middle East. The kebab league has previously been acquitted for lack of evidence.