Gates of Vienna News Feed 2/15/2024

Two of the three suspects who were detained by Kansas City police over the Super Bowl parade mass shooting are juveniles. Investigators believe the shooting was triggered by a personal dispute.

In other news, a 13-year-old boy has been accused of fatally shooting a man whose leg was blocking the aisle on a Denver public bus. He has been charged as a juvenile with first-degree murder.

To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.

Thanks to Dean, JW, LP, 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.

Financial Crisis
» Central Banker Admits EU Green Agenda Won’t Make People Richer, Predicts European Energy to Cost Five Times More Than in America
» ECB Warns of Impending Mortgage Rate Hikes, Cautioning Homeowners Across Europe
» European Commission Downgrades Growth Forecast, Expects Decline in Inflation
» Fuel Prices in Czech Republic Continue Steady Rise, Reaching New Heights
 
USA
» 13-Year-Old Charged With Murder in Shooting of Man Whose Leg Was Blocking Bus Aisle
» 60% of Firearm Homicides Each Year Involve Black Americans
» Andy Ngo Reports: So Cal Antifa Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Assaulting Woman and Child at San Diego Riot
» Biden Orders Diplomatic Engagement With Russia on National Security Threat — Kirby
» Biometric Entry for Major League Baseball Games is Becoming More Prevalent
» ‘Bombshell’ Witness Testimony May Lead to Fani Willis’ Disqualification From Case: Civil Rights Atty
» Breaking: Biden DOJ Arrests Former FBI Informant Who Said Biden Took Bribes From Ukrainian Energy Company
» Breaking: Kansas City Shooting Was ‘Dispute That Ended in Gunfire’, 2 of 3 Arrested Were Juveniles
» Elon Musk Moves SpaceX HQ to Texas
» Explosion in Wilmington Injures 9 Firefighters, Including 2 Critically
» Fani Willis’ Testimony Was ‘Belligerent’ and Could Damage Her Credibility, Former Prosecutor Says
» Fani Willis Raises Eyebrows With Wink on the Stand, Labels Former Lover Nathan Wade a ‘Southern Gentleman’
» Fani Willis’ Lover Nathan Wade Testifies About Taxpayer-Funded Trips With Anti-Trump DA
» Fire Department’s Marxist DEI Training Halted After White Firefighters Told They Cause ‘Racial Harm’
» Former Penn State University Professor Accused of Crimes Involving Animals Facing Additional Charges
» Joe Manchin Suggests Mitt Romney, Rob Portman as Potential Running Mates as He Flirts With Third-Party Ticket
» LA Private School Closes After Drug Users, Naked Homeless People Loiter on Campus
» Moose Lake Votes to Disband Police Force
» Plan to Blend Predominantly Black and White DC Schools Leads to Tense Debate in Liberal Neighborhood
» Scandal Surrounding US Military Aid to Ukraine: Pentagon Auditor Uncovers Corruption and Arrests Suspects
» Seattle English Students Told it’s “White Supremacy” to Love Reading, Writing
» Special Counsel Robert Hur to Testify Publicly on Biden Age & Memory Issues
» ‘The Big Guy’: Hunter Biden Letter Raises More Questions About China Deals During Father’s Vice Presidency
» Two Kansas City Chiefs Parade Shooting Suspects Are Juveniles Who Were Having a ‘Personal Dispute’: Ten Questioned Over Gun Chaos That Killed One, Injured 21, and Shamed the City on Its Big Day
 
Canada
» 42% of Canadians Want Assisted Suicide for the Mentally Ill
» Alberta Slams Ottawa’s “Act of Desperation” to Rebrand Carbon Tax
» CSIS Admits to Monitoring Parental Rights Activists, Compares Them to Neo-Nazis
» Tamara Lich, Chris Barber, 18 Other Freedom Convoy Protesters Sue Trudeau Government for $2 Million Each Over ‘Illegally Invoking’ Emergencies Act
 
Europe and the EU
» Belgium: Rising Gang Conflict Over Drug Territory Plagues Brussels
» Economics Minister: German Economy is Developing “Dramatically Poorly”
» France Accelerates Defense Spending, Set to Meet NATO Target in 2024
» France: Jewish Man Stabbed Six Times in the Back During Paris Antisemitic Attack
» French Populists Set to Trounce Macron in EU Parliament Elections as Support Hits Record High
» Germany: Regional Leftist SPD Leader Calls Bavarian Minister-President Marcus Söder a Right-Wing ‘Threat to Democracy’
» Germany: Left-Wing Anti-Globalist Sahra Wagenknecht Calls ‘Traffic Light’ Coalition the Most Dangerous Government in Europe
» Germany: CDU Leader Merz Booed in Thuringia by Own Party Members
» Germany: Globalist Interior Minister Faeser Looks to Mobilize Family Members Against ‘Conspiracy Ideologies’
» Germany: Creating EU Nuclear Forces Seen as Unrealistic in Bundestag
» Germany: CSU Leader Söder Rejects Coalition Deal With Greens in Next Government
» Germany’s Unpopular Globalist Establishment Enlist Mainstream Press to Campaign Against the Right
» German Minister Proposes Expanded Role for UK and France in Europe’s Nuclear Defense
» Germany: Suspects Released After Görlitzer Park Gang Rape Trial Collapses
» Germany: Economics Minister Booed at Craft Fair
» Germany: FDP Vice President Says the “State Does Not Have the Task of Ensuring Diversity”
» Greek Farmers Escalate Protests, Plan Athens Rally Over High Production Costs
» Hungary Blocks New Sanctions Package Against Russia — FT
» In Germany, the Number of Extremist Incidents in Schools Has Increased
» Policing Crisis in Poland: The Police Force Lacks Over 13,000 People
» Polish Farmers Staged a Protest in Wroclaw With 500 Tractors
» Residents of the Czech Republic Have More Firearms on Hand
» Survey: 23% of French Support Military Governance; Say ‘Democracy’ Isn’t Working for the Majority.
» Sweden Anticipates Hungary’s Imminent Approval of NATO Membership
» Ten-Day Eco-Protest Begins Outside British Parliament
» The EU Wants to Create the Position of European Commissioner for Defense
» The UK Government to Toughen Penalties for Men Killing Partners During ‘Rough Sex’
» UK: Doctor, 41, Who Invented a Fake Landlord and Bogus Tenancy Agreement to Claim £12,000 in Housing Benefits for Home That Didn’t Exist Walks Free From Court
» UK: Husband and His Parents Jailed After Bride Left in Vegetative State by Abuse
» UK: Judge Who Let Off Terror-Convicted Protesters Scot-Free ‘Liked’ Israeli Terror-Claim Post
» UK: London’s Underground Commuter Rail Lines Are Getting Woke Names
» UK: Probe Unveils Large-Scale Qualifications Fraud Among NHS Nurses
» UK: The Failed Chances to Save Ambreen: Worried Family of Bride Left in a Vegetative State by Her Husband’s Relatives Tipped Off Police But Cops Bungled Welfare Checks — After Letting Her Abuser be Present During Them
» UK: Tories ‘As Popular as Prince Andrew’: Pollster Delivers Scathing Analysis as Sunak Braces for by-Election Disaster
» UK: ULEZ Fines Issued to Retired Nurse on a Daily Basis… Despite Being Granted Exemption
 
Balkans
» US Secretary of State Visits Albania, a Key Regional Ally Seeking European Union Membership
 
North Africa
» Egypt Erects 8-Square-Mile Walled Enclosure in Sinai Desert for Rafah Refugee Spillover
 
Israel and the Palestinians
» Israeli Forces Storm the Main Hospital in Southern Gaza, Saying Hostages Were Likely Held There
 
Russia
» Kremlin Dismisses U.S. Warning About Russian Nuclear Capability in Space
» Russia Again Hammers Ukraine With Cruise and Ballistic Missiles, Killing at Least Four
 
Far East
» Revealed: US is Collaborating With Chinese Scientists to Make Bird Flu Strains More Infectious and Deadly as Part of $1m Project — Despite Fears Similar Tests Unleashed COVID
 
Australia — Pacific
» Queensland Town at War Over Plans to Transfer Massive Plot of Land to Aboriginal Group Without Consultation
 
Immigration
» At Least Two Migrants Charged Over Brutal Times Square Cops Beating Are Identified as Members of Barbaric Venezuelan Super-Gang Tren De Aragua Whose Gangsters Are Hiding Among Refugees to Cross US-Mexico Border
» Austria: The Number of Refugee Interceptions in Burgenland Has Decreased by More Than 95 Percent
» EP LIBE Committee Approves Migration Pact
» Germany: In Hamburg, Special Bank Cards for Refugees Have Begun to be Issued
» Germany: North African Migrant Brutally Attacks and Urinates on Female Train Conductor
» Greek Coast Guard Rescues 84 Migrants and Apprehends Traffickers Over the Weekend
» Illegal Immigration to Increase House Seats From ‘Sanctuary’ States
» Illinois Gov. Who Pledged $182 Million Toward Migrant Emergency Passive Aggressively Calls Out Chicago’s Progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson for Snubbing Crisis Meeting Over Remaining $71 Million in Funding
» Just in: Biden Admin Takes Texas to Court Over Law Making Illegal Border Crossing Arrestable Offense, Denies ‘Invasion’ on Border
» Migrant Who Brutally Beat NYPD Cops is BAILED After Activist Brooklyn Priest Stumps Up $15,000 and Claims There is ‘A Politically Charged Context’ Around the Case
» Migrant Gang Rape of Child in Italy Prompts CNN to Worry About “Far-Right”
» The Italian Senate Has Finally Approved the Agreement With Albania on Migrants
» UK Security Services Have Some Channel Migrants Under Daily Surveillance Because They Are a Threat, Says Ex-Minister Robert Jenrick
» Virginia Senate Passes Bill to Give Medicaid-Style Health Insurance to Illegal Immigrants
 
Culture Wars
» ACLU Sues Children’s Hospital for Halting Adult Transgender Surgeries
» Drag Queen Pattie Gonia Named ‘Traveler of the Year’ by National Geographic
» Elderly California Woman, 90, FIRED From Her Volunteering Position of 60 Years at Ms Nonprofit Because She ‘Did Not Understand Pronouns’ Despite Previously Winning Multiple Awards
» NCAA Official Hands in Resignation Letter Over ‘Regressive Policies’ on Transgender Athletes
» Race Alarmist: Michelangelo’s Creation of Man is ‘White Supremacist’
» Study Pushes for “Fact-Checks” to be Rebranded as a “Confirmations”
 

Central Banker Admits EU Green Agenda Won’t Make People Richer, Predicts European Energy to Cost Five Times More Than in America

European lawmakers should level with the public about the economic costs of “greening” the economy which will come with similar supply shocks to the energy crises of the 1970s, the head of Belgium’s central bank said this week.

Appearing before the European Parliament in Brussels this week, Governor at the National Bank of Belgium Pierre Wunsch urged Eurocrats to be honest about the negative ramifications of the bloc’s climate agenda so they won’t have to face the anger of disappointed voters when they find out that the promises of a green economic miracle do not materialise.

“This transition is not going to make us collectively richer,” Wunsch said in comments reported by POLITICO. “We should be more candid… don’t lure people into thinking that greening carries positive opportunities that could augment GDP and create millions of well-paid jobs.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

ECB Warns of Impending Mortgage Rate Hikes, Cautioning Homeowners Across Europe

European Central Bank (ECB) Chief Economist Philip Lane has issued a stark warning, indicating that homeowners across Europe will soon face higher mortgage payments as the delayed impact of elevated interest rates begins to materialize, POLITICO writes.

Speaking at an event in Florence, Lane highlighted the impending expiration of fixed-rate mortgage deals, which have shielded many homeowners from the recent string of interest rate hikes. However, approximately 30 percent of these fixed-rate mortgages are set to expire this year, exposing borrowers to potential repricing.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

European Commission Downgrades Growth Forecast, Expects Decline in Inflation

The European Commission has revised its growth forecast downwards for both the European Union (EU) and the euro area, while anticipating a faster decline in inflation rates than previously projected.

Despite hopes for a gradual economic resurgence in the latter part of 2024, challenges persist amid uncertainties. The latest Winter Economic Forecast reveals a tempered outlook for economic growth in the EU, now projected at 0.9%, down from the initial forecast of 1.3%. Similarly, the euro area’s growth forecast has been adjusted to 0.8% from an earlier estimate of 1.2%.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Fuel Prices in Czech Republic Continue Steady Rise, Reaching New Heights

Fuel prices in the Czech Republic have been steadily climbing since mid-January, with significant increases observed over the past week. Gasoline and diesel prices have surged, marking a notable deviation from prices seen a year ago.

Gasoline prices, now averaging around 37.68 CZK per liter, have risen by five halers per liter compared to the same period last year. Conversely, diesel prices, currently averaging 37.78 CZK per liter, reflect a substantial increase of 61 halers per liter compared to a year ago.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

13-Year-Old Charged With Murder in Shooting of Man Whose Leg Was Blocking Bus Aisle

DENVER — A 13-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting a man whose leg was blocking the aisle on a Denver public bus has been charged as a juvenile with first-degree murder and other felonies, prosecutors said Thursday.

The Denver District Attorney’s Office is still considering whether to try to prosecute the boy as an adult, a decision which would ultimately be up to a judge, said office spokesperson Maro Casparian.

His name has not been released because he is a juvenile.

According to police, their investigation found the teen apparently got into a “verbal exchange” with a 60-year-old man before shooting him on the bus in southwest Denver on Jan. 27. A second person suffered a minor injury, police said.

The charges filed against the boy, which were first reported by The Denver Post, include two different kinds of first-degree murder charges alleging that he both killed someone after deliberation and by showing extreme indifference to human life.

The charges also include counts such as assault and endangering a public transport crew, which are felonies, and possessing a gun as a juvenile, which is a misdemeanor.

           — Hat tip: Roger [Return to headlines]
 

60% of Firearm Homicides Each Year Involve Black Americans

It has been revealed that black Americans account for 60 percent of all firearm homicides, which is vastly disproportionate considering the group makes up only 14 percent of the US population.

The data comes from a recent study conducted by The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The organization analyzed firearm deaths documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2017 and 2021.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Andy Ngo Reports: So Cal Antifa Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Assaulting Woman and Child at San Diego Riot

A violent So Cal Antifa member was sentenced to five years in state prison by a San Diego County court after admitting to assaulting a woman and boy during an Antifa riot at Pacific Beach three years ago.

At the sentencing on Feb. 13, a handcuffed Jesse Merel Cannon, 33, received two years for the 2021 Antifa riot case, plus three more years for a separate violent felony assault case that was included in the plea deal. While out on bail on separate violent charges, Cannon committed new assaults at the Antifa riot on Jan. 9, 2021, leading to the sentencing enhancement.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Biden Orders Diplomatic Engagement With Russia on National Security Threat — Kirby

US President Joe Biden has instructed his team to initiate direct diplomatic contacts with Russia in connection with a “national security threat” related to Russia’s ongoing development of anti-satellite capabilities, Strategic Communications Advisor John Kirby said on Thursday.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

Biometric Entry for Major League Baseball Games is Becoming More Prevalent

The Major League Baseball (MLB) biometric system known as Go-Ahead Entry will this season be used at stadiums, including by “early adopter” Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

The use of biometric facial recognition surveillance tools at sporting venues around the world started some years ago, and got sped up — or exacerbated, as opponents of the trend might say, with the pandemic.

Incidentally, a key reason organizations like MLB and other leagues give for using such systems is to “speed up entry into stadiums.” This means that instead of a ticket, fans will be showing their faces to the cameras and feeding their biometric data into the system.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘Bombshell’ Witness Testimony May Lead to Fani Willis’ Disqualification From Case: Civil Rights Atty

Civil rights attorney Leo Terrell said Thursday witness testimony may have provided the key evidence to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade from Trump’s trial in Fulton County, Georgia.

Willis verbally sparred with lawyers for hours at an evidentiary hearing regarding her relationship with the lead prosecutor she hired to bring the case against Trump.

Co-defendant GOP political operative Michael Roman alleged in court filings last month that Willis should be disqualified from the case, claiming that she financially benefited from hiring Wade because of their personal relationship.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Breaking: Biden DOJ Arrests Former FBI Informant Who Said Biden Took Bribes From Ukrainian Energy Company

On Thursday, special counsel David Weiss charged a former FBI informant who claimed President Biden was bribed by Ukrainian oil and gas company Burisma. The indictment claims the informant lied about Biden’s alleged role in the business dealings.

Alexander Smirnov, 43, was arrested on Thursday at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, per CNN.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Breaking: Kansas City Shooting Was ‘Dispute That Ended in Gunfire’, 2 of 3 Arrested Were Juveniles

It has been reported that two of the 3 suspects detained in the Kansas City shooting at the Super Bowl parade were juveniles. The shooting started as a dispute among several people, police have said.

Police have reported that they detained three suspects after the shooting which injured at least 22 people and killed one other. Charges have been filed yet and two of those detained were juveniles. Firearms were recovered by police after the arrests

It appeared to be that the shooting stemmed from a dispute that took place, according to Kansas City authorities.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Elon Musk Moves SpaceX HQ to Texas

Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire entrepreneur, has relocated the official headquarters of his space exploration company SpaceX from Delaware to Texas.

This move comes as Musk expresses frustration over a Delaware judge’s refusal to approve a share package valued at approximately $56 billion for his electric car company Tesla, which he also oversees.

In response to this legal setback, Musk has announced plans to transfer other companies associated with him away from Delaware, a state renowned for its popularity as a corporate hub in the United States. Documents released by Musk and Texas authorities confirm SpaceX’s official relocation to Texas as of Wednesday.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Explosion in Wilmington Injures 9 Firefighters, Including 2 Critically

Nine Los Angeles County firefighters were injured Thursday morning while trying to extinguish a semi-truck with pressurized natural gas tanks that caught fire in Wilmington, authorities said.

Fire crews responded to the blaze just before 7 a.m. at 1120 N. Alameda St. in Wilmington, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

At the scene, they found semi-truck on fire that contained two 100-gallon compressed natural gas cylinders on it.

Several were working to put out the flames when one of two tanks exploded minutes later, authorities said.

Video captured on a neighbor’s camera shows a plume of white smoke rising in the sky and then a large fireball erupts.

Nine firefighters were injured in the blast, with two suffering critical injuries, and eight of them were taken to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, authorities said. The other firefighter was airlifted to a burn center in Los Angeles. The other firefighters suffered injuries ranging from moderate to minor, authorities said.

Fire officials said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured and is cooperating with investigators, Capt. Erik Scott told reporters during a press conference outside the hospital.

           — Hat tip: MM [Return to headlines]
 

Fani Willis’ Testimony Was ‘Belligerent’ and Could Damage Her Credibility, Former Prosecutor Says

A former Atlanta prosector says embattled District Attorney Fani Willis was “belligerent” in her testimony Thursday against allegations she had an “improper” affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

John Malcolm, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Atlanta, told Fox News Digital in a statement the “highlight” of the “wild” evidentiary hearing on Thursday was Willis’ testimony.

“She has been belligerent and argumentative. It is hard to tell what impact this will have on Judge McAfee as he evaluates her credibility,” Malcolm said.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Fani Willis Raises Eyebrows With Wink on the Stand, Labels Former Lover Nathan Wade a ‘Southern Gentleman’

Embattled Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis called her former lover, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a “southern gentleman” when she took the stand Thursday in a court hearing.

As Willis took the stand, she appeared to wink at the audience and smirked at the lawyers and spectators in the room.

Willis, who was notably adverse to defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, said she “had some choice words about some of the things” Merchant and her client, Michael Roman, said in their motion, calling it “dishonest.” Roman alleged in court filings last month that Willis should be disqualified from the case, claiming that she financially benefited from hiring Wade because of their personal relationship.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Fani Willis’ Lover Nathan Wade Testifies About Taxpayer-Funded Trips With Anti-Trump DA

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s lover Nathan Wade has taken the stand to testify about his “improper” relationship with the anti-Trump Georgia prosecutor.

Wade, a special prosecutor hired by Willis for the Democrats’ case against President Donald Trump, testified in a Thursday court hearing.

The hearing sought to hash out evidence on allegations that Willis engaged in an “improper” relationship with Wade.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Fire Department’s Marxist DEI Training Halted After White Firefighters Told They Cause ‘Racial Harm’

A county in Washington State has been forced to halt its Marxist “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) training program after white firefighters and medics were told that they are causing “racial harm” because of their race.

The DEI program was suspended on Tuesday following a widespread backlash from employees, according to a report.

“Critics, including several King County firefighters, challenged the training’s political undertones and its potential infringement on personal beliefs, particularly regarding gender identity,” radio host Jason Rantz revealed in a report.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Former Penn State University Professor Accused of Crimes Involving Animals Facing Additional Charges

A former Penn State University professor who is already facing bestiality charges involving a dog was slapped with additional charges on Monday after investigators discovered dozens of videos of him engaging in lewd acts at a public park.

Themis Matsoukas, 64, was caught last summer exposing himself and performing lewd acts with a dog at Rothrock State Forest in Huntingdon County.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Joe Manchin Suggests Mitt Romney, Rob Portman as Potential Running Mates as He Flirts With Third-Party Ticket

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he’d pick Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, or former Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman as potential running mates in a hypothetical third-party presidential run.

“Hypothetically, if I was picking my running mate… really, who I would ask right now is Mitt Romney,” Manchin said Thursday at the City Club of Cleveland breakfast forum.

“Maybe Rob Portman would be right there, too,” Manchin added. “Rob is a dear friend of mine. What a good man, what a good man.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

LA Private School Closes After Drug Users, Naked Homeless People Loiter on Campus

A private school in downtown Los Angeles set up to serve children of the city’s black and Latino communities has been forced to shut down after students were repeatedly exposed to drug-abusing, and sometimes nude, homeless people.

Dana Hammond, the founder, principal, and CEO of the Academy of Media Arts, explained that the decision was not made lightly, and that he has since filed a lawsuit against the LA Grand Hotel, the first three floors of which the school occupies, accusing the owner, Chinese billionaire Wei Huang, of breaching their contract by failing to prevent the incidents from happening on campus.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Moose Lake Votes to Disband Police Force

DULUTH — Moose Lake is the latest Minnesota city to go without a police department, after a Wednesday City Council vote to contract with the county for law enforcement.

Mayor Ted Shaw was one of the two dissenting votes.

He’ll work to make a smooth transition, he said, “but I am disappointed.”

A contract with the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office is expected to include four deputies who will work out of Moose Lake. It is a cheaper option that covers more shifts, in lieu of a three-person police force. The City Council chose to reduce the size of a five-person force last fall in order to fund the department, opting against replacing two of the officers who had resigned. Two others resigned in January, leaving one on the force.

Moose Lake, 40 minutes southwest of Duluth, is one of many smaller cities struggling to keep up with public safety demands amid increasing costs and a shortage of officers throughout the state.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Plan to Blend Predominantly Black and White DC Schools Leads to Tense Debate in Liberal Neighborhood

A plan to integrate two nearby Washington, D.C., schools with vastly different racial backgrounds is sparking fierce debate among parents in the predominantly liberal community.

Nearly 6 in 10 of the 500 children at Maury Elementary School are White. At Miner Elementary School, 80% of the kids are Black, many of whom are in foster care, receive public assistance or are homeless. Enrollment at the school has been declining, according to The Washington Post.

District officials have put together a plan where children would spend their early education at one school and later transfer to the other. Their goal is to improve diversity at both institutions by pairing previously separate demographics together.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Scandal Surrounding US Military Aid to Ukraine: Pentagon Auditor Uncovers Corruption and Arrests Suspects

In the report by the Pentagon’s Inspector General, it is noted that providing aid to Ukraine has encountered issues of corruption, resulting in criminal investigations and arrests.

A structure established to investigate corruption crimes in Ukraine involving representatives of the US Department of Defense and the State Department has identified 57 cases requiring scrutiny. During the investigations, cases of grant fraud, corruption, theft, program violations, and illegal dissemination of technology and weapons were uncovered.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Seattle English Students Told it’s “White Supremacy” to Love Reading, Writing

Authored by Jason Rantz via KTTH (emphasis ours)

Students in a Seattle English class were told that their love of reading and writing is a characteristic of “white supremacy,” in the latest Seattle Public Schools high school controversy. The lesson plan has one local father speaking out, calling it “educational malpractice.”

As part of the Black Lives Matter at School Week, World Literature and Composition students at Lincoln High School were given a handout with definitions of the “9 characteristics of white supremacy,” according to the father of a student. Given the subject matter of the class, the father found it odd this particular lesson was brought up.

The Seattle high schoolers were told that “Worship of the Written Word” is white supremacy because it is “an erasure of the wide range of ways we communicate with each other.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Special Counsel Robert Hur to Testify Publicly on Biden Age & Memory Issues

Special Counsel Robert Hur is preparing to be grilled by House lawmakers over his recent damning report that highlighted serious concerns with Democrat President Joe Biden’s age and mental fitness.

As Slay News reported, Hur last week released his report on his investigations into Biden’s mishandling of classified documents.

While the conclusion of the report was already controversial, it was Hur’s rationale for not pursuing charges against Biden that caused the biggest stir.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘The Big Guy’: Hunter Biden Letter Raises More Questions About China Deals During Father’s Vice Presidency

A letter dating to Joe Biden’s vice presidency has raised fresh questions regarding the Democrat president’s family business deals with Communist China.

The letter, provided to House impeachment investigators, shows Hunter Biden engaging in business with China.

The letter was shared by Rob Walker, a former Hunter Biden associate.

Walker admitted that Hunter Biden’s “interesting” last name would “open doors.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Two Kansas City Chiefs Parade Shooting Suspects Are Juveniles Who Were Having a ‘Personal Dispute’: Ten Questioned Over Gun Chaos That Killed One, Injured 21, and Shamed the City on Its Big Day

Two of the three suspects currently detained by Kansas City cops over the horror Super Bowl parade mass shooting are juveniles, officials revealed Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference outside the city’s police headquarters, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said investigators believe the shooting was triggered by a personal dispute between a small group, and the parade was not the target.

The mass shooting on Wednesday saw at least 21 people shot and one killed, and the press conference confirmed the death of a beloved Kansas City radio DJ.

           — Hat tip: LP [Return to headlines]
 

42% of Canadians Want Assisted Suicide for the Mentally Ill

A majority of Canadians aren’t sold on the idea of granting assisted suicide to those who want it solely on the basis of suffering from mental illness, according to a recent Leger survey.

Under the current rules, only Canadians who suffer from an incurable physical illness, disease or disability or are enduring intolerable pain are eligible to receive euthanasia from a medical professional.

While the majority of Canadians, 77%, do support the regulations as they are, only 42% would like to see the program expanded to include people who are suffering exclusively from mental illness.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Alberta Slams Ottawa’s “Act of Desperation” to Rebrand Carbon Tax

Alberta government calls on Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault “to end his relentless pursuit of a more expensive Canada.”

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz issued a joint statement rejecting the rebranded federal carbon tax.

“The federal government, in its flawed environmental activism, imposed a punitive carbon tax that did not reduce emissions, but instead, raised the cost of everything,” said the province.

Previously known as the Climate Action Incentive Program, the Liberals have renamed the carbon tax the Canada Carbon Rebate. The announcement of the rebate program’s new name initially came from a Finance Canada press release, which highlighted the reimbursement amounts for Canadians this year.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

CSIS Admits to Monitoring Parental Rights Activists, Compares Them to Neo-Nazis

Canada’s top intelligence agency admitted it is closely monitoring the activities of activists and groups associated with the parent’s rights movement, particularly those opposing radical gender ideology.

Recent reports from CBC shed light on a document from the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre, responsible for preventing terrorist activities in Canada.

The report lumped together the “Freedom Movement” with extremist groups like neo-Nazis and QAnon.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Tamara Lich, Chris Barber, 18 Other Freedom Convoy Protesters Sue Trudeau Government for $2 Million Each Over ‘Illegally Invoking’ Emergencies Act

Two years after Prime Minister Justin invoked the Emergencies Act to crush the Freedom Convoy protest against Covid-19 mandates, Tamara Lich, Chris Barber and others have brought a lawsuit against the Trudeau government for doing so.

Twenty convoy participants have joined the action with lawsuits of $2 million each.

Trudeau announced he would be using the Emergency Act to stifle the trucker protest on Valentine’s Day in 2022.

On Wednesday, lawyer Keith Wilson announced the lawsuits from 20 Freedom Convoy demonstrators.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Belgium: Rising Gang Conflict Over Drug Territory Plagues Brussels

Brussels is witnessing a surge in gang violence as rival drug dealers battle for control of territory, turning the city into a hub for cocaine and crack distribution, as reported by AP News.

Shootouts between competing factions are escalating, with incidents occurring near the city center. Law enforcement efforts to curb drug trafficking are met with continuous challenges as arrests and drug seizures occur almost daily, yet the drug trade persists.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Economics Minister: German Economy is Developing “Dramatically Poorly”

Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has expressed deep concerns about the state of the German economy following the government’s decision to drastically lower its growth forecast for the year.

Habeck revealed that growth is now expected to be a mere 0.2 percent, down from the previous forecast of 1.3 percent, describing this development as “dramatically bad” and emphasizing the urgent need for reform, German media reports.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

France Accelerates Defense Spending, Set to Meet NATO Target in 2024

France is ramping up its military expenditure with plans to achieve NATO’s defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP by 2024, announced French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

This acceleration means France will hit the goal sooner than previously anticipated, signaling a significant commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

France: Jewish Man Stabbed Six Times in the Back During Paris Antisemitic Attack

A man was arrested by French police Monday after he attacked a Jewish man from behind in the French capital and stabbed the victim six times.

The Jerusalem Post reports the 35-year-old victim was stabbed by a knife-wielding man while he was walking with his partner in the 14th arrondissement.

During the attack the assailant reportedly yelled anti-Jewish insults and slander as he repeatedly targeted the back of his target.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

French Populists Set to Trounce Macron in EU Parliament Elections as Support Hits Record High

French populist parties are on pace to see record support in the European Parliament elections and deal a major blow to President Emmanuel Macron’s standing at home and abroad.

According to a survey from the consultancy firm Portland Communications seen by the POLITICO website, the National Rally (RN) party of Marine Le Pen is on pace for its best-ever result in the EU Parliament elections in June.

The survey, which polled 1,034 people in late January, projected that the National Rally would secure 33 per cent of the vote, far outpacing the neo-liberal Ensemble! coalition that includes Macron’s Renaissance party, which is on pace to pick up just 14 per cent of the vote.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: Regional Leftist SPD Leader Calls Bavarian Minister-President Marcus Söder a Right-Wing ‘Threat to Democracy’

During his address on political Ash Wednesday, CSU leader Söder took aim at Green Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, drawing criticism from former SPD leader in North Rhine-Westphalia, Thomas Kutschaty, who branded him as an “enemy of democracy.”

Söder’s remarks, particularly his comparison of Lemke to former GDR figure Margot Honecker due to the Greens’ regulatory stance, sparked outrage. Kutschaty accused Söder of undermining democracy with his rhetoric, declaring him a right-wing threat.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: Left-Wing Anti-Globalist Sahra Wagenknecht Calls ‘Traffic Light’ Coalition the Most Dangerous Government in Europe

Former leftist figure Sahra Wagenknecht and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock are unlikely to have a friendly gathering anytime soon. The clash between them on Ash Wednesday, where Wagenknecht criticized Baerbock sharply, made reconciliation doubtful.

The Öller inn in Schalding, situated on the left bank of the Danube near Passau, witnessed a bustling crowd for Wagenknecht’s political Ash Wednesday event. Despite Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder’s nearby gathering, a considerable number attended Wagenknecht’s gathering.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: CDU Leader Merz Booed in Thuringia by Own Party Members

During the political Ash Wednesday event in Apolda, CDU leader Friedrich Merz faced backlash from his own party members after denouncing the AfD as a “national disgrace.”

Despite the negative reaction, Merz pressed on, emphasizing the need for the CDU to strengthen its position in the upcoming federal election to ensure it cannot be sidelined in governance.

Acknowledging the discontent among CDU members, Merz stressed the importance of fostering cooperation across the political spectrum, including with the SPD and Greens if necessary. He reaffirmed his willingness to explore coalition options, including with the Greens, to prevent any party from gaining undue influence, German media reported.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: Globalist Interior Minister Faeser Looks to Mobilize Family Members Against ‘Conspiracy Ideologies’

Germanys Interior Minister Nancy Faeser of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has unveiled her latest initiative aimed at combating so-called ‘right-wing extremism,’ which really is a front for a blatant power grab and oppression of the right-of-center opposition.

In her “Action Plan against Right-Wing Extremism,” Faeser proposes aggressive measures to counter the spread of conspiracy theories, which she views as a gateway to extremism.

Central to Faeser’s strategy is the establishment of advice centers to provide support and guidance to individuals affected by radicalization or conspiracy beliefs. These centers would serve as a resource for those seeking assistance in breaking away from extremist ideologies, particularly among family members and close associates, German media reported.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: Creating EU Nuclear Forces Seen as Unrealistic in Bundestag

Mari-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee, believes that the European Union should not rely on nuclear weapons as a deterrent but rather focus on developing other defense spheres. Her words are cited by Politico.

Discussions about creating a EU’s own “nuclear umbrella” intensified following former US President Donald Trump’s controversial statement, where he suggested that he would encourage Russia to attack NATO member states with insufficient defense spending.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: CSU Leader Söder Rejects Coalition Deal With Greens in Next Government

CSU leader Markus Söder has firmly declared that the Greens will not be part of the federal government after the upcoming election, significantly narrowing the Union’s potential coalition avenues.

Speaking at a political event in Passau, Bavarian Prime Minister Söder emphasized, “We do not want Greens in the next federal government, no black-green coalition.” He asserted that the Greens are unfit to govern, according to German press reports.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany’s Unpopular Globalist Establishment Enlist Mainstream Press to Campaign Against the Right

As a part of the globalist establishment’s push to combat the rising popularity of the AfD, prominent mainstream German newspapers, including “Zeit,” “Handelsblatt,” and “Süddeutsche Zeitung,” have joined forces in a new campaign aimed at fighting so-called ‘right-wing extremism’ and promoting ‘diversity,’ meaning mass immigration.

This initiative, titled “#Togetherland — Diversity makes us strong,” sees the participation of approximately 500 companies, foundations, and associations, the German press reported.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

German Minister Proposes Expanded Role for UK and France in Europe’s Nuclear Defense

As Europe grapples with escalating security concerns stemming from the perceived threat posed by Russia and the uncertainty surrounding the future of NATO under a potential Donald Trump presidency, a senior German minister has put forth a bold proposal.

Christian Lindner, Germany’s finance minister and leader of the Free Democratic Party, has suggested that the United Kingdom and France could play a more significant role in Europe’s nuclear defense architecture.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: Suspects Released After Görlitzer Park Gang Rape Trial Collapses

The trial surrounding the alleged gang rape in Görlitzer Park, which stirred significant controversy last year, has abruptly concluded with the defendants released from custody.

Surprisingly, it was the alleged victim who failed to appear in court, leading to the trial’s suspension, as reported by Die Welt. The Georgian woman, unable to testify in person, expressed readiness for a video interrogation from her home country, but this will delay proceedings for several months.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: Economics Minister Booed at Craft Fair

At the Leipzig craft fair, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck faced public outcry and derogatory remarks, including booing and criticism from Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer.

Habeck’s brief appearance at the fair was met with audibly negative reactions, with onlookers openly expressing dissatisfaction. The visit followed earlier remarks by Habeck regarding the state of the German economy, including a downward revision of economic forecasts, German media reported.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: FDP Vice President Says the “State Does Not Have the Task of Ensuring Diversity”

Wolfgang Kubicki, Vice President of the pro-business Free Democrat Party, has said that it is not the job of the democratic state to mandate social diversity, condemning any attempt to legislate diversity as a pursuit of power rather than democracy protection.

Alongside his statement he strongly denounced the proposed “Democracy Promotion Act,” labeling it a peril to democratic principles, according to a report from German media.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Greek Farmers Escalate Protests, Plan Athens Rally Over High Production Costs

Greek farmers, frustrated with soaring production expenses, have intensified their protests by announcing plans to expand roadblocks and bring their demonstrations to Athens.

After rejecting government concessions, farmers are mobilizing for a rally in the capital next Tuesday, following a nationwide meeting near Larissa.

Rizos Maroudas, a union organizer, emphasized the importance of solidarity among Athenians, highlighting how reducing production costs could benefit all households. Farmers intend to block highways, harbors, and border crossings across Greece on the rally day, aiming to amplify their message.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Hungary Blocks New Sanctions Package Against Russia — FT

Hungary has blocked the approval of the latest EU sanctions package against Russia. This was reported to the Financial Times by unnamed officials.

According to sources, at yesterday’s EU ambassadors’ meeting, Hungary was the only country that did not support the 13th sanctions package, aimed at nearly 200 individuals and organizations from Russia, China, and other countries believed to be aiding Moscow in its military actions.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

In Germany, the Number of Extremist Incidents in Schools Has Increased

Swastika graffiti on school buildings, extremist content in class chats: In 2023, significantly more cases of extremism were recorded in schools in Saxony than in previous years, according to Spiegel.

Last year, authorities in Saxony registered a total of 149 incidents related to extremist views in schools. This information was obtained from a response by the Ministry of Education to a minor inquiry by state parliament member Kerstin Köditz.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Policing Crisis in Poland: The Police Force Lacks Over 13,000 People

In Poland the demand for new officers is urgent, especially in large cities where the biggest shortages are observed, according to Rzeczpospolita. Currently, the police force lacks over 13,000 people, meaning that unfilled positions reach one-third of the entire staff.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Polish Farmers Staged a Protest in Wroclaw With 500 Tractors

Hundreds of Polish farmers took to the streets of Wroclaw, Poland, to express their concern about the current situation in agriculture. Under the banners of protest, around 500 pieces of agricultural machinery, mostly tractors, occupied the city’s central streets, emphasizing their demands.

Farmers claim that their production has become impossible due to a range of problems, including high costs and market weakening.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Residents of the Czech Republic Have More Firearms on Hand

In 2023, the number of officially registered firearms owned by ordinary residents of the Czech Republic increased by 27,438 to 1,016,786 units. This figure exceeded one million for the first time in the modern history of the republic. This statistic was published by the police.

The number of holders of firearms possession permits (zbrojni prukaz) increased by 2,820 to 316,859 people over the year.

In recent years, interest in firearms in the Czech Republic has been steadily growing. This is vividly demonstrated by the statistics. In 2020, 307,372 residents legally owned firearms in the republic, and the number of registered firearms was 900,087 units.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Survey: 23% of French Support Military Governance; Say ‘Democracy’ Isn’t Working for the Majority.

According to the latest Cevipof barometer survey, there’s a notable increase in French people’s support for military governance, with 23% expressing a preference for army rule, marking a 4% rise from the previous survey.

This sentiment reflects a broader trend of growing disillusionment with traditional politics, as highlighted by the survey’s findings: 68% of respondents believe democracy is failing, with 43% advocating for less democracy in exchange for greater efficiency.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Sweden Anticipates Hungary’s Imminent Approval of NATO Membership

In a recent development, Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Tobias Billstrom, has expressed optimism regarding Hungary’s forthcoming approval of Sweden’s NATO membership application, as reported by Al Arabiya News.

Addressing parliament on Wednesday, Billstrom conveyed his expectation that Hungary will soon follow Turkey’s lead in ratifying Sweden’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Ten-Day Eco-Protest Begins Outside British Parliament

Hundreds of Christian environmental activists have launched a continuous 10-day protest with prayers outside the British Parliament, demanding government action on climate change, the Evening Standard reports.

According to the publication, hundreds of climate activists began a 240-hour vigil with protests and prayer outside Parliament in an attempt to fight for “climate justice.”

[Comment: Fanatics of the religion of environmentalism.]

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

The EU Wants to Create the Position of European Commissioner for Defense

The European Union is considering the possibility of creating a new position of European Commissioner for Defense, who will deal with the industrial aspects of defense policy. Officials of the European Commission told Politico about this.

It is expected that von der Leyen will announce her intention to run for a second term during a political meeting with her party, the CDU, in Germany on Monday.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

The UK Government to Toughen Penalties for Men Killing Partners During ‘Rough Sex’

In a bid to combat violence against women and girls, the UK Ministry of Justice is set to introduce legislation that will lead to longer prison sentences for men who kill their partners during ‘rough sex’. The proposed law would classify rough sex as an aggravating factor if it results in the death of the victim, as reported by The Telegraph.

According to the new legislation, judges will have the authority to extend the punishment of offenders who cause the death of their sexual partners through “abusive, degrading or dangerous” sexual behavior. This means that individuals convicted of involuntary manslaughter could face additional prison time beyond the standard sentence.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Doctor, 41, Who Invented a Fake Landlord and Bogus Tenancy Agreement to Claim £12,000 in Housing Benefits for Home That Didn’t Exist Walks Free From Court

Nigerian Olubunmi Adeagbo-Sheikh, 41, made the fake claim while training to work as a medic in the UK, from September 2018 to September 2019.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Husband and His Parents Jailed After Bride Left in Vegetative State by Abuse

Ambreen Fatima Sheikh will never recover consciousness after she was given medication at her home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Judge Who Let Off Terror-Convicted Protesters Scot-Free ‘Liked’ Israeli Terror-Claim Post

Impartiality questions have been raised over “Israeli terrorist” post-’liking’ UK judge who sentenced people for “racist” private WhatsApp messages but let off terror-convicted Palestine march protesters.

A former Home Secretary, the Campaign Against Antisemitism, and the Jewish Leadership Council have called for the decision not to punish three women convicted under terror laws for wearing or carrying images of paragliders at a Palestine demonstration in London to be reviewed. Alleged social media activity by the presiding judge has led to accusations of “bias”, reports the Jerusalem Post, and demands for the case to be examined by the court of appeal.

Judge Tan Ikram convicted three women under the Terrorism Act 2000, but in sentencing remarks told Heba Alhayek, Pauline Ankunda, and Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo they’d already learned their lesson and consequently needed no punishment. He gave them conditional discharges, which meant as long as they committed no further crimes for another 12 months, they would face no punishment and would not get a criminal record.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: London’s Underground Commuter Rail Lines Are Getting Woke Names

London’s urban transport authority, Transport for London (TfL), has announced plans to rename its commuter rail lines, citing reasons of local history and cultural diversity.

The rebranding, set to take effect in August, will honor various aspects of the city’s heritage, including the Windrush generation, with one line named after the naval ship “Empire Windrush” that brought Caribbean immigrants to Britain in 1948. Additionally, a line will pay tribute to the England women’s football team, named “The Lioness line” after their European Championship victory in 2022.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Probe Unveils Large-Scale Qualifications Fraud Among NHS Nurses

An inquiry is underway regarding UK’S NHS nurses involved in widespread qualifications fraud, described as ‘industrial-scale’. The scheme reportedly implicates over 700 healthcare workers who utilized proxies to pass exams in Nigeria, enabling them to work in the UK, as reported by the Guardian.

Despite the ongoing investigation, numerous frontline NHS staff members are currently providing patient care. The situation has raised concerns about potential risks to patient safety, according to Peter Carter, a former leader of the Royal College of Nursing. He emphasized the necessity of properly qualified nurses, particularly given their critical responsibilities in drug administration and emergency response.

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UK: The Failed Chances to Save Ambreen: Worried Family of Bride Left in a Vegetative State by Her Husband’s Relatives Tipped Off Police But Cops Bungled Welfare Checks — After Letting Her Abuser be Present During Them

Ambreen Sheikh, who was brought to the UK from Pakistan in 2014 for an arranged marriage, was doused with chemicals, force-fed pills and left in a vegetative state by her husband’s family.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Tories ‘As Popular as Prince Andrew’: Pollster Delivers Scathing Analysis as Sunak Braces for by-Election Disaster

A top pollster says the Tories are “as popular as Prince Andrew” as the party readies itself for tricky by-election results.

The Government is desperately bidding to avoid a double defeat in Wellingborough and Kingswood.

But they face an uphill task with Tory MP Philip Davies conceding on GB News it would be a “miracle” were they to hold onto either seat.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: ULEZ Fines Issued to Retired Nurse on a Daily Basis… Despite Being Granted Exemption

A former nurse has received Ulez fines every day, despite being granted an exemption due to his disability.

Frankie McDonald says his blue badge exemption came into force on February 1, but has since been sent four Penalty Charge Notices.

Transport for London told the 67-year-old from Edmonton, north London, that a fifth charge is set to be delivered.

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US Secretary of State Visits Albania, a Key Regional Ally Seeking European Union Membership

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Albania on Thursday to reaffirm relations with a key partner in the Balkans and an ally…

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

Egypt Erects 8-Square-Mile Walled Enclosure in Sinai Desert for Rafah Refugee Spillover

In a press briefing earlier this week IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi said, “We know that it is more difficult for us to fight in an environment where there are over a million people and another 10,000 Hamas operatives” — as we highlighted previously.

There are now some 1.5 million people crammed into the far southern city, which is more than six times its pre-war population, according to UN estimates. Egypt is now fearing the crisis will spill over its border, and is racing to erect a large walled compound to physically keep refugees from Gaza out, amid fears a bigger Israeli ground assault is imminent.

Egyptian officials have said they are constructing an 8-square-mile walled enclosure in the Sinai Desert close to the border, in an anticipation of at least some Gazans getting into Egypt. It appears this a ‘plan B’ of sorts in order to contain the anticipated swarms of refugees coming into the Sinai desert, but without allowing them freedom of access to the rest of Egypt.

According to the The Wall Street Journal, this would be a massive military guarded camp of sorts, which could see over 100,000 people settle there.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Israeli Forces Storm the Main Hospital in Southern Gaza, Saying Hostages Were Likely Held There

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces stormed the main hospital in southern Gaza on Thursday, hours after Israeli fire killed a patient and wounded six others inside the complex. The Israeli army said it was seeking the remains of hostages taken by Hamas.

The raid on Nasser Hospital came after troops had besieged the facility for nearly a week, with hundreds of staff, patients and others inside struggling under heavy fire and dwindling supplies, including food and water. A day earlier, the army ordered thousands of displaced people who had taken shelter there to leave the hospital in the city of Khan Younis, the focus of Israel’s offensive against Hamas in recent weeks.

           — Hat tip: JW [Return to headlines]
 

Kremlin Dismisses U.S. Warning About Russian Nuclear Capability in Space

MOSCOW, Feb 15 (Reuters) — The Kremlin dismissed on Thursday a warning by the United States about Moscow’s new nuclear capabilities in space, calling it a “malicious fabrication” and a trick by the White House aimed at getting U.S. lawmakers to approve more money to counter Russia.

The United States has told Congress and allies in Europe about new intelligence related to Russian nuclear capabilities that could pose an international threat, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

           — Hat tip: Dean [Return to headlines]
 

Russia Again Hammers Ukraine With Cruise and Ballistic Missiles, Killing at Least Four

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia fired cruise and ballistic missiles at a broad area of Ukraine early Thursday, hitting multiple regions hours after a midnight strike in the country’s northeast killed four people in an apartment building, authorities said.

Five others were injured in the nighttime attack on the city of Chuhuiv, in the Kharkiv border region, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.

Hours later, missiles the targeted the capital Kyiv, the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Lviv in western Ukraine, among other places. The Ukrainian air force said it intercepted 13 of the 26 missiles fired across the country.

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Revealed: US is Collaborating With Chinese Scientists to Make Bird Flu Strains More Infectious and Deadly as Part of $1m Project — Despite Fears Similar Tests Unleashed COVID

The US government is spending $1million of American taxpayer money to fund gain-of-function experiments on dangerous bird flu viruses in collaboration with Chinese scientists.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

Queensland Town at War Over Plans to Transfer Massive Plot of Land to Aboriginal Group Without Consultation

Residents in Toobeah, a town of just 300 people located about four hours south-west of Brisbane , have spoken out after they recently learned about the transfer.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

At Least Two Migrants Charged Over Brutal Times Square Cops Beating Are Identified as Members of Barbaric Venezuelan Super-Gang Tren De Aragua Whose Gangsters Are Hiding Among Refugees to Cross US-Mexico Border

At leas two of the those charged with the brutal beating of two cops in Times Square have been identified as alleged members of a notorious Venezuelan gang.

Wilson Juarez, 21, and Kelvin Servita-Arocha, 19, have been charged in the attack that happened last month.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have since confirmed that the two men allegedly belong to the Tren de Aragua gang.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Austria: The Number of Refugee Interceptions in Burgenland Has Decreased by More Than 95 Percent

During “Operation Fox,” 188 smugglers have been arrested in Hungary since December 1, 2022, in cooperation between Austrian police and Hungarian authorities. Despite smuggling activities persisting in other countries, the number of interceptions in Burgenland has significantly declined, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior (BMI). Compared to the international trend, interceptions have decreased by more than 95 percent over the course of a year, as reported by Kurier.

In the last three months, only about 100 interceptions were recorded, sometimes even fewer. In comparison, nearly 8,000 and 5,000 people were intercepted per month in November and December 2022, respectively. In January 2023, there were about 2,300 interceptions, representing a decrease of over 95 percent.

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EP LIBE Committee Approves Migration Pact

On Wednesday, February 14, a significant development occurred regarding the European Pact on Migration and Asylum. The Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament endorsed ten reform texts, marking a milestone in the EU’s asylum policy overhaul.

These texts stem from a political consensus reached in December between negotiators from the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament after lengthy discussions, the European Press reports.

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Germany: In Hamburg, Special Bank Cards for Refugees Have Begun to be Issued

While in other federal states, work is still underway to introduce payment cards for refugees, in Hamburg they have already started issuing them to the first applicants, writes Bild.

The blue-green Visa card is called the SocialCard: from now on, those who apply for refugee status in Germany will receive it. This card is different in that it has no credit balance, meaning you can only spend the amount that is on the account. Only a small amount of money can be withdrawn in cash — up to 50 euros per month and an additional 10 euros per child.

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Germany: North African Migrant Brutally Attacks and Urinates on Female Train Conductor

A disturbing incident unfolded during a routine ticket check aboard a regional train traversing Baden-Württemberg on Tuesday afternoon, with witnesses reporting a violent assault on a train conductor by an individual believed to be around 35 years old and of North African descent.

At Graben-Neudorf station in the Karlsruhe district, the assailant allegedly subjected the 57-year-old railway employee to a brutal attack involving punching, kicking, and choking, as confirmed by a police spokesperson, BILD reported.

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Greek Coast Guard Rescues 84 Migrants and Apprehends Traffickers Over the Weekend

Over the weekend, the Greek coast guard rescued a total of 84 migrants and detained four individuals suspected of human trafficking, according to InfoMigrants.

One significant rescue operation unfolded approximately 46 nautical miles off the southern coast of Crete, where a distressed boat, crippled by mechanical failure, was spotted. Responding swiftly, a Greek Navy frigate intercepted the vessel, ensuring the safe rescue of 72 individuals, including 14 minors. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of two individuals, aged 30 and 18, on charges related to human trafficking.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Illegal Immigration to Increase House Seats From ‘Sanctuary’ States

Experts warn that the increase in illegal immigration could have a significant impact on US elections, specifically representation in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College.

The influx of illegal immigrants could sway the apportionment of House seats, which would impact electoral votes for presidential elections.

President Biden made this potential outcome possible after signing an executive order in 2021 that requires the US Census Bureau to factor in all residents, including noncitizens, as part of the US population.

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Illinois Gov. Who Pledged $182 Million Toward Migrant Emergency Passive Aggressively Calls Out Chicago’s Progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson for Snubbing Crisis Meeting Over Remaining $71 Million in Funding

Progressive Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker appear to be feuding over tens of millions of dollars both will need to fund a solution to the city’s migrant crisis.

The Windy City is struggling to care for more than 34,000 asylum-seekers bussed in from the border by Texas Governor Greg Abbott over the past 18 months. It has spent $156 million on the crisis and still has 14,200 migrants in its 28 shelters, and is fighting with the state of Illinois about where to build more.

Pritzker, alongside Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, pledged to find another $250 million to fund their response. However, that’s $71 million shy of what officials say will be needed in 2024 alone.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Just in: Biden Admin Takes Texas to Court Over Law Making Illegal Border Crossing Arrestable Offense, Denies ‘Invasion’ on Border

Lawyers with President Joe Biden’s Department of Homeland Security faced off against Texas attorneys in court on Thursday with DHS attempting to take down a Texas bill that makes it a state crime to cross the border illegally. The DHS lawyers argued that there was no “invasion” at the border.

Senate Bill 4, which Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law in December in an attempt to slow the border crisis is being challenged in court by the Biden administration. Arrests have already been made in Texas in accordance with the law.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Migrant Who Brutally Beat NYPD Cops is BAILED After Activist Brooklyn Priest Stumps Up $15,000 and Claims There is ‘A Politically Charged Context’ Around the Case

A migrant accused of being part of a gang who battered two cops in Times Square has been released on bail after an activist priest stumped up $15,000 bail.

Yohenry Brito, 24, was being held at Rikers Island charged with assault over the January 27 attack.

He walked out of jail on Tuesday after the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Brooklyn posted his bail, pastor Juan Ruiz said.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Migrant Gang Rape of Child in Italy Prompts CNN to Worry About “Far-Right”

Authored by Paul Joseph Watson via Modernity.news

After a group of migrants gang-raped a 13-year-old girl in Italy, CNN responded by expressing concern about how it might help the “far-right.”

Yes, really.

The girl was raped in front of her boyfriend in a public park in the Sicilian city of Catania.

The seven suspects are all Egyptian migrants and three were under the age of 18.

In reporting the story, CNN’s main focus was to worry about how the incident, which is just “the latest in a string of shocking sexual attacks in the country,” might increase political support for the right-wing.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

The Italian Senate Has Finally Approved the Agreement With Albania on Migrants

Italy’s Senate has given its final approval to a pact with Albania aimed at accommodating migrants during the duration of their asylum procedures, as part of the Italian government’s strategy to distribute the responsibility of migration across Europe, according to AP News.

The measure, passed with a 93-61 vote, follows prior approval from the lower Chamber of Deputies. Now, the agreement awaits review by the Albanian parliament, following clearance from the country’s Constitutional Court last month.

According to the terms of the five-year agreement, Albania will host up to 3,000 migrants at two centers while Italy accelerates their asylum applications.

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UK Security Services Have Some Channel Migrants Under Daily Surveillance Because They Are a Threat, Says Ex-Minister Robert Jenrick

UK security services have some Channel migrants under daily surveillance because they are feared to be a threat, it was claimed today.

Former Home Office minister Robert Jenrick referred to the monitoring as he highlighted the national security risks posed by the small boats crisis.

Speaking on a visit to the US, Mr Jenrick insisted the risk of terrorism and organised crime had to be taken ‘seriously’ because the authorities know ‘little, if anything, about these people’.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Virginia Senate Passes Bill to Give Medicaid-Style Health Insurance to Illegal Immigrants

A bill in the Virginia Senate passed entirely along party lines on Tuesday to give illegal immigrant children access to the state-funded comprehensive health care coverage. The “Cover All Kids” plan still needs to be approved by the Democrat majority House of Delegates before it will head to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk, where he will have the opportunity to approve or veto the plan. Virginia has about 251,000 illegal immigrants.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi of Richmond, who said that health care is a right for everyone. “We want to make sure that Virginia is living up to its promise to its children,” she said. “Currently, 88,000 children in Virginia currently lack access to healthcare coverage. Virginia stands at the 25th position in the country concerning uninsured children, this is a statistic that must be altered.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

ACLU Sues Children’s Hospital for Halting Adult Transgender Surgeries

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO), alleging discrimination against transgender patients for halting gender-transition surgeries for adults.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of an 18-year-old Denver transgender patient who was on track to receive “chest masculinization surgery” before the Aurora hospital discontinued certain gender surgeries for adults in July 2023, the lawsuit states.

This change only included chest reconstruction surgery for transgender patients, the Denver Post reported. Trans patients can still receive other transition treatment, including counseling, puberty blockers and hormone therapy at the hospital.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Drag Queen Pattie Gonia Named ‘Traveler of the Year’ by National Geographic

Drag queen Wyn Wylie with the stage name “Pattie Gonia” has been named a “Traveler of the Year” by corporate media organization National Geographic.

The article published in January named several different individuals as “Travelers of the Year.” Atop the list was “Pattie Gonia.”

National Geographic described the drag queen as an “artist [and] environmentalist” who “helps LGBTQ+ youth discover the wonders of the outdoors.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Elderly California Woman, 90, FIRED From Her Volunteering Position of 60 Years at Ms Nonprofit Because She ‘Did Not Understand Pronouns’ Despite Previously Winning Multiple Awards

Fran Itkoff, 90, had been volunteering for the MS Society, a nonprofit support group for multiple sclerosis patients, for 60 years before she was removed.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

NCAA Official Hands in Resignation Letter Over ‘Regressive Policies’ on Transgender Athletes

William Bock III resigned from his position on the Division I Committee on Infractions last week, claiming in a resignation letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker that the organization’s current policy on transgender athletes harms women and deprives them of “competitive opportunities.”

Bock, who previously served as the general counsel for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for nearly 14 years, raised his concerns about “competitive fairness” in a resignation letter sent to Baker on Friday.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Race Alarmist: Michelangelo’s Creation of Man is ‘White Supremacist’

ROME — Robin DiAngelo, the woke white author of White Fragility, has called Michelangelo’s painting of the creation of man in the Sistine Chapel an icon of “white supremacy.”

DiAngelo recently spoke with Jalon Johnson on his “Not Your Ordinary Parts” podcast, in which she slammed Michelangelo’s portayal of God creating Adam as “white supremacist.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Study Pushes for “Fact-Checks” to be Rebranded as a “Confirmations”

A study published this month in Nature looks into how reframing a “fact-check” as a “confirmation” helps those behind this activity increase engagement with their output, what’s termed “corrections of information.”

In other words, what effect does different framing — as confirmation or refutation — have on the likelihood that people will share, like, or comment on the handiwork of “fact-checkers.”

According to the paper that included research done in four South American countries — Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia — the increase of engagement with “reframed fact-checks” is statistically significant. Respondents were given Facebook posts edited to express either confirmation or refutation as samples to react to.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

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