Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the key town of Avdiivka, ceding the position to Russia. The Ukrainian command said the action was taken to save Kiev’s troops from being encircled by advancing Russian forces.
In other news, during an event hosted by the German public broadcaster ZDF, Beatrix von Storch of the AfD and Sahra Wagenknecht of the BSW found themselves in broad agreement on issues concerning the migration crisis.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, DV, JW, McN, 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.
It’s a Scorcher: Producer Price Inflation Rips Higher
A key gauge of inflation surged higher in January, confirming earlier data showing that the prices of goods and services in the U.S. rose at a faster clip as the new year began.
The producer price index for final demand, a broad measure of the prices paid for goods and services produced by U.S. business, rose 0.3 percent from a month earlier, the Department of Labor said Friday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
“F**k Around & Find Out”: Truckers Warn Loads to NYC Will be Rejected Starting Monday
Truck drivers transport between 70% to 73% of all freight in the United States. Therefore, when truckers begin discussing plans on social media to boycott loads to progressive hellhole New York City, it’s important to pay attention.
X user Chicago1Ray, who appears to be a Midwest truck driver, shared a video late Friday night detailing that a number of truck drivers will begin denying loads to NYC on Monday.
“I don’t know how far across the country this is — or how many truckers are going start denying loads to NYC — but I’ll tell you — you f**k around and find out,” Chicago1Ray said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden’s Doctor Called on to Explain President’s Cognitive Exam Exemption
Joe Biden’s doctor has been called on to explain exactly why the 81-year-old Democrat president will not be undergoing a cognitive exam as part of his upcoming medical examination.
Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) is demanding answers from Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, over the decision.
Hunt made the request in a letter that he sent to O’Connor.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden Unveils New Proposal to Wipe Student Debts of College-Educated Voters
Democrat President Joe Biden’s administration has just unveiled new plans to use taxpayer money to pay off the debts of college-educated voters as the critical 2024 election looms.
Biden’s initial broad plans to cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in outstanding student loan debts for millions of borrowers were blocked last year by the Supreme Court.
Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped the Biden admin from continuing its efforts to forgive massive amounts of student loan debt through other smaller and more targeted programs.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
On Saturday, former President Donald Trump took to the stage at SneakerCon to an enthusiastic crowd.
As the former president was walking up to the stage the crowd began to chant, “F*** Joe Biden.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
CMPD: Protesters Pepper Sprayed After Shutting Down Road in Southeast Charlotte
CHARLOTTE — A road in southeast Charlotte has reopened after being shut down due to a protest Saturday afternoon.
The incident occurred around noon on private property on the 4300 block of Monroe Road.
According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, nearly 200 people took part in a civil rights protest in response to a cultural festival.
Monroe Road was then shut down between McAlway Drive and Alliance Drive as orders to disperse were given by police.
Shortly after 3 p.m., police said protesters who remained in the area were pepper sprayed for blocking the street.
The pepper spray hit a few protesters, as well as a few officers, according to police.
Police said those who were hit with pepper spray were treated at the scene.
The protest was deemed unlawful, according to police.
Channel 9’s Glenn Counts spoke with participants who said there were two groups present.
One of those groups was those who supported the government of the tiny African nation of Eritrea. The other consisted of those who claimed the president of that nation was a brutal dictator.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A controversial proposal that dedicates $150,000 to a Colorado Attorney General-led study on online “disinformation” and “misinformation” sparked animated discourse centered on the challenges to free speech.
This move was accompanied by criticisms concerning the budgetary implications of the proposed legislation, particularly in light of Colorado’s delicate financial situation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Convicted Child Sex Predator Welcomed at Human Rights Campaign Gala in North Carolina
A convicted child sex predator was invited to attend the Human Rights Campaign of North Carolina’s annual gala last week, Reduxx reports.
Chad Severance-Turner was welcomed by the organization despite his criminal convictions. Photos show him in attendance at the “Without Exception” gala on Feb. 10, which was sponsored by Bank of America.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Just in: Trump Golden High-Top Sneakers Sell Out Within Hours of Release, $400 a Pair
President Donald Trump’s golden Never Surrender high-top sneakers sold out within hours of their release on Saturday.
After Trumped appeared at SneakerCon earlier on Saturday to make the announcement of the shoes, the crowd went wild for the former president. Trump also took time to autograph sneakers of those in the crowd at the event.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Left-Wing New York DA Alvin Bragg Downgraded 60 Percent of Felony Cases in 2023: Report
In 2023, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg downgraded 938 of the most serious felony charges and brought 834 our them down to misdemeanors.
According to the Daily Mail, the percentage of felonies that the district attorney has downgraded sits at 60 percent, higher than his predecessor at 53 percent. He has also decided to not prosecute 14 percent of all arrests since he took office in January 2022.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New York Moves to Begin Vaccinating Children Without Parental Consent
Democrat lawmakers in New York State are pushing new legislation that will allow for children to be vaccinated or put through surgical procedures without their parents’ consent.
The lawmakers behind deeply misleading legislation argue that minors should be able to make their own decisions about medical treatments.
However, it has long been established in law that children are not able to consent for themselves and, as such, their parents must make decisions on a number of issues for them.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New: Kansas City Mayor Accuses Governor of Racism for Calling Super Bowl Mass Shooters ‘Thugs’
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said on Friday that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson used a racial “dog whistle” when the governor said “thugs” were responsible for the shooting.
He made the comments while speaking to KCUR host Steve Kraske on the radio program “Up to Date.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
One Firefighter Killed, 10 More Injured in ‘Catastrophic’ House Explosion in Virginia: Officials
(STERLING, Va.) — A firefighter was killed and 10 others injured when a house in Virginia exploded while they were responding to a gas leak, authorities said.
Firefighters responded to the home in Sterling around 7:48 p.m. Friday after a resident reported smelling gas, according to Keith Johnson, chief of the Combined Fire & Rescue System in Loudoun County.
A 500-gallon underground propane tank on the side of the house was leaking gas into the home, he said.
Nearly 40 minutes after arriving at the scene, there was a “catastrophic explosion” while firefighters were inside the house working the emergency, Johnson said.
“That was somewhat chaotic as we tried to figure out how many firefighters were trapped under the debris,” Johnson said at a press briefing on Saturday.
A volunteer firefighter was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as Trevor Brown, 45, with the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company.
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
Pennsylvania Judge Sonya McKnight Charged With Shooting Ex-Boyfriend After He Told Her to Move Out
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A suspended judge in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania has been criminally charged after police say she shot her ex-boyfriend in the head while he was sleeping last weekend.
Tests showed Magisterial District Judge Sonya M. McKnight, 57, had gunshot residue on her hands an hour after Michael McCoy was shot in the bed of his home in the Harrisburg area early Saturday, Susquehanna Township Police wrote in an arrest affidavit.
McKnight is now charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault.
McKnight was in the Dauphin County Prison on Friday with bail set at $300,000. No lawyer was listed for her in court records. A lawyer who had represented her previously said he did not currently represent her and declined comment. A message was left on McKnight’s cellphone.
Authorities say McCoy is now blind in his right eye.
Police wrote that McCoy, 54, had tried “numerous times” to get McKnight to move out after he ended their one-year relationship. On Friday, Feb. 9, McCoy came home to find McKnight in pajamas on the couch. When he returned from a restaurant he told her he planned to get McKnight’s mother’s help to get her out of the home.
“Michael McCoy stated that it was like she finally understood that it was over,” police said. He went to bed at about 11 p.m.
McCoy awoke to “massive head pain” and was unable to see, police said, and when he began to scream McKnight told him, “Mike what did you do to yourself?” He had suffered a gunshot wound to the right temple that exited his left temple, police said. McCoy told police at the scene and later at the hospital that he did not shoot himself.
When McKnight called 911 shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday, she “could not explain what happened and stated that she was sleeping and heard him screaming,” police said in the affidavit.
Investigators found doorbell videos from neighboring homes that contradicted McKnight’s claim that she did not leave the home the night of the shooting. McCoy suspected she had checked on him at the tavern. Detectives wrote in the affidavit that the gun was registered to McKnight and both of them said no one else was in the home at the time of the shooting.
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
‘Repeated Dangerous Incidents’: California Library Closing Due to Criminal Activity
A California library is shutting down because rampant criminal activity has threatened patrons and employees.
The Contra Costa County Library said Friday that the decision to close the Antioch Community Library branch on Saturday was made after “repeated dangerous incidents,” NBC Bay Area reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
RFK Jr: The Wuhan Cover-Up & the Rise of the Biowarfare-Industrial Complex
Authored by Debbie Lerman via The Brownstone Institute
The Wuhan Cover-Up and the Terrifying Bioweapons Arms Race (Skyhorse Publishing, December 3, 2023) is a crucial book for understanding how the Covid catastrophe happened.
I would even go so far as to argue that RFK, Jr.’s new book is the most important Covid chronicle to date, although it ends at the beginning of 2020, before most of us were even aware that a “novel coronavirus” was circulating among us.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
RFK Jr. Wins Injunction Against Biden Administration Censorship
In a crucial anti-censorship case standing up for free speech rights, Judge Terry A. Doughty of the US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a preliminary injunction that prevents high-ranking officials within President Biden’s administration, as well as their respective federal agencies, from coercing or heavily influencing social media entities to suppress or mute content that is protected under free speech rights. This marks a significant milestone for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Children’s Health Defense (CHD), as this partial decision brings them one step closer to achieving their objective.
This landmark lawsuit came about due to allegations that the Biden administration conspired with social media giants to unlawfully suppress online speech. However, despite the win, this injunction is on hold until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on the closely related Murthy v. Missouri, another critical censorship case. The case by Kennedy and CHD aims to protect the free speech rights of over 80% of Americans who source their news from social platforms.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Seattle Area Elementary School Teaches ‘Antisemitic Views and Propaganda’ to Second Graders
A Seattle area elementary school taught children as young as 7 years old to make calls of “from the river to the sea” and to “protest” in anti-Israel demonstrations.
According to a letter from the StandWithUs Center for Combating Antisemitism (CCA), during a December social studies class taught at Syre Elementary school in Shoreline, Washington, “seven and eight-year-old children” were taught “deeply bigoted, antisemitic views and propaganda in a ‘lesson’ that amounted to indoctrination.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Seattle, Washington restaurant owner said Thursday that he has lost faith in city leadership after his business suffered what he claims is its 23rd break-in since the “defund the police” movement started three years ago.
“I have lost all faith in the city of Seattle, SPD, Council members, and state elected officials,” he told the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH.
The owner of the establishment asked to remain anonymous over fear that activists would target him, according to Rantz’s report, which said he was previously inundated with a slew of negative Yelp reviews after speaking out against the crime crisis in the city.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘Serial Bank Robber’ Hits Another Florida Bank One Day After Prison Release, Feds Say
A man is accused of robbing a Florida bank one day after being released from an eight-year prison sentence on bank robbery charges, federal officials said.
The man, a 60-year-old from Orlando, was released from Putnam County Correctional Facility on June 1, 2022, after serving eight years, according to a Feb. 14 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
He was accused of robbing a Wells Fargo on Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando years ago, the attorney’s office said.
He also had previous robbery convictions in 1995, 2006 and 2013, officials said. The attorney’s office called him a “serial bank robber.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump’s NY Civil ‘Fraud’ Trial Ruling Triggers Backlash: ‘UN-American’ — ‘Banana Republic’
On Friday, radical New York Judge Arthur Engoron delivered his ruling on the Democrats’ civil “fraud” trial against President Donald Trump.
Unsurprisingly, Engoron hit Trump with a grotesquely partisan verdict.
Engoron found Trump liable for over $350 million in damages and barred him from running his businesses in the state for three years.
However, the judge’s decision triggered an immediate backlash on social media and was slammed as “blatantly un-American” and “more fitting in a banana republic” than in this country.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Wisconsin Legislature Passes Laws Restricting AI-Produced Deepfake Campaign Materials
Ahead of the general election, more states are proactively introducing new bills to regulate the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) created “deepfakes,” or digitally altered videos or images, in their campaign materials.
Advanced generative AI tools, ranging from voice-cloning software to image generators, have swiftly become fixtures in election cycles both domestically and internationally.
In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential race last year, a wave of innovation saw the integration of AI-generated audio and imagery in campaign ads, alongside ventures into AI chatbots to cultivate voter engagement.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Conservative MP Pushes for Study on Campus Antisemitism
A Conservative member of parliament wants to tackle antisemitism on university and college campuses.
Conservative MP Rachael Thomas tabled a motion before the House of Commons Canadian Heritage to deal with the scourge that has become especially apparent since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas last fall.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Meet the Canadian Lawyer Blacklisted by Mainstream Media
She cross-examined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Public Order Emergency Commission.
She represented former premier Brian Peckford in a lawsuit challenging the government’s restrictions on mobility rights for over 5 million unvaccinated Canadians.
She filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lethbridge mom-of-three Carrie Sakamoto, who was severely injured by the COVID vaccine.
And just last week, she launched a proposed class action lawsuit against the Alberta government over pandemic business restrictions.
Despite her high-profile legal work, lawyer Eva Chipiuk has never been interviewed about these cases by the legacy media.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
AI Revolutionizes Stroke Care in Hungary With EU Grant
Cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology funded by the EU is transforming the landscape of post-stroke care in Hungary. With a grant of HUF 1.286 billion (EUR 3.3 million), the National Institute of Mental Health, Neurology, and Neurosurgery (OMIII) has pioneered the implementation of an AI-driven central decision support system, according to Hungary Today.
Annually, around 27,000 individuals are hospitalized in Hungary for suspected stroke, with over 10,000 succumbing to the condition. This underscores the critical need to enhance access to urgent treatment and care for stroke patients.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgium: PM De Croo Supports EU Defense Bonds in Light of Increasing Security Tensions
Belgian Prime Minister De Croo, representing the Open VLD party, has thrown his support behind the concept of European defense bonds as a means to enhance security across the continent, reports The Brussels Times.
De Croo joins a cohort of EU leaders advocating for this strategy, notably amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and growing uncertainty regarding US support. This endorsement echoes sentiments expressed by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, French President Emmanuel Macron, EU Council President Charles Michel, and Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt from Open VLD — Renew.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgium: Farmers in Flanders Reach Agreement, Protests Continue in Wallonia
Farmers in Flanders have come to an agreement with the Flemish Government, leading to the lifting of blockades in that region. However, in Wallonia, particularly in the Liège province, farmers have initiated new protests by blocking several motorways, as reported by the Brussels Times.
Despite the resolution reached between farmers’ organizations and the Flemish Government late Thursday, demonstrations continue in Wallonia. In Liège, farmers utilizing tractors have established filter blockades on various motorways.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Has Allocated Only Half of the Promised Funds to Assist Kyiv
The Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel) has presented data indicating a significant discrepancy between the promises made by the European Union and the funds actually allocated to assist Ukraine.
According to the report, instead of the expected 144 billion euros, the EU and its members allocated only 77 billion euros.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Overlooking the banks of the Vltava River—with Prague’s iconic Charles Bridges visible from the windows—distinguished parliamentarians, academics, and other dignitaries from across Europe met for a conference organized by the Institute for Geostrategic Studies Geopolitikon. The conference, whose topic was “Violations of International Law in Kosovo and Ukraine,” marked the 25th anniversary of the Kosovo War.
Among the high-ranking political figures who gave addresses were Czech President Milos Zeman, Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) leader Tomio Okamura, Alternative for Germany (AfD) Bundestag member Petr Bystron, Czech MP Jaroslav Foldyna, and Czech MEP Dr. Ivan David, who formerly served as the Czech Minister of health. Several academics from pertinent fields were also present.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Left-Liberal Economics Minister Booed by Crowds for the Second Time in Days
In a continuation of recent events, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck faced another round of boos and protests, this time in Nuremberg.
Following a similar reception at the craft fair in Leipzig, Habeck encountered discontent from demonstrators during a citizens’ dialogue on Thursday evening, German media reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
German-Ukrainian Security Cooperation Pact Lacks the Word “Guarantee”
Germany and Ukraine have made public the contents of their “security cooperation agreement,” despite the absence of the term “guarantee” within its text.
Officially titled the “Agreement on cooperation in the field of security and long-term support between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Germany,” the document outlines provisions for potential security threats.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hungary’s PM Orban Suggests Imminent Ratification of Sweden’s NATO Bid
During a crucial address to his supporters on Saturday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban disclosed that the Hungarian parliament aims to finalize Sweden’s NATO membership during its forthcoming spring session.
According to Reuters, Orban expressed optimism about resolving the dispute with Sweden and emphasized the progress made in rebuilding trust between the two nations, without specifying the exact measures taken.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In Switzerland, There is a Proposal to Lift the Ban on the Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants
In Switzerland, there’s a proposal to lift the ban on the construction of new nuclear power plants. Participants of the “Electricity for Everyone, Always” campaign in Switzerland handed over a petition signed by 130,000 people to the country’s Federal Council on Friday, February 16, urging the lifting of the ban on the construction of new nuclear power plants, Swissinfo reports.
Since September 2022, campaign participants have been collecting signatures for a referendum that proposes to include in Switzerland’s constitution a provision stating that “any form of climate-safe electricity production is permitted.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Italian Farmers Stage Three Rallies in Rome, Joining EU-Wide Protests Against EU Regulations
Over a thousand Italian farmers converged in Rome on Thursday, staging three rallies across key locations in the city to voice their discontent with European Union regulations affecting their industry.
The demonstrations, held at the historic Circus Maximus, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Palazzo Chigi offices, and the European Union offices, aimed to highlight the challenges faced by farmers amidst a backdrop of falling incomes and escalating costs.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netherlands: New Formation Leader Determined to Find Cabinet That “Does Justice to Election Results”
Kim Putters, the new informant that will lead Cabinet formation talks in the coming weeks, is determined to find a “Cabinet variant” that “does justice to the election results.” He will talk to all party leaders in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, after next week. “That will be a marathon week, so to speak,” he said during a press conference on Thursday, AD reports.
PVV leader Geert Wilders nominated Putters as the new formation leader on Wednesday after the previous round of talks under Ronald Plasterk collapsed when Pieter Omtzigt and his NSC suddenly withdrew.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Extinction Rebellion (XR) interrupted the opening of the Rijksmuseum’s first Frans Hals exhibit on Friday to protest against ING as one of the museum’s main sponsors. Activists posed next to the paintings in the exhibit with AI replicas showing the masterworks, but with the climate disasters that await if global warming isn’t limited.
XR’s version of Johannes Vermeer’s Het straatje, for example, shows the Delft street Vermeer painted, but under half a meter of water. A couple painted by Frans Hals poses to a background of fires, a refugee camp, and other disaster-related items. Melchior d’Hondecoeter’s Het drijvende veertje is completely unrecognizable without the pelican and other birds, because they all face extinction.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netherlands: Record Number of Teenage First-Time Offenders
In 2022, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) disclosed that more than 17,000 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 were implicated in criminal activities, as reported by NL Times. Among them, 11,000 were facing legal repercussions for the first time, marking a historical high. The majority of these first-time offenders were boys, constituting three-quarters of the total.
According to CBS, there has been a noticeable rise in the proportion of young individuals getting involved in criminal behavior for the first time in recent years. In 2022, 83 percent of the 4,000-plus girls suspected of crimes were first-time offenders, a significant increase from 72 percent in 2014. Similarly, 60 percent of the nearly 13,000 boys suspected of crimes in 2022 were first-time offenders, up from 53 percent in 2014.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New EU Internet Constitution: Impact on Users and Platforms
With the implementation of the European Digital Services Act (DSA), commonly referred to as the “Internet constitution,” users can expect better protection and increased consumer rights, as stated by Rzeczpospolita.
Starting from Saturday, fraud and manipulations in online purchases will become more difficult to carry out, and internet platforms will be subject to new moderation rules for comments and opinions.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
PM Orban: “Europe Too Weak to be Taken Seriously by Russians”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed concerns about Europe’s current lack of strength and its implications in the context of the Ukraine conflict during a discussion with former Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel.
Orban emphasized that Europe’s weakness makes it difficult to achieve its goals regarding Ukraine and diminishes its credibility in the eyes of Russia. He argued that Europe needs to demonstrate strength and assert its interests more clearly in negotiations with Russia.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poland: Farmers’ Strike to Cause Disruptions in Pomerania
Scheduled for Tuesday, February 20th, these demonstrations are expected to result in blockades and traffic disruptions along major national routes in Poland, as well as localized disturbances in the Tricity area.
The farmers’ grievances stem from what they perceive as an uncontrolled influx of agricultural and food products from Ukraine, coupled with discontent over the European Union’s Green Deal policies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Scholz of Germany Urges European Allies to Increase Their Defense Expenditures
Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized Germany’s commitment to long-term increases in defense spending and called on European allies to match its assistance to Ukraine, reports Politico.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Scholz highlighted the imperative for Europe to enhance its security efforts, asserting Germany’s readiness to play its part.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Official Data Exposes Deadly ‘Pandemic of the Vaccinated’
Official data from the UK government has exposed a disturbing “pandemic of the vaccinated” that has caused an estimated one million sudden deaths between 2021 and 2023.
The shocking trend was revealed in data from the UK government’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
According to UKHSA, there have been approximately 61,000 unvaccinated deaths from 2021 to 2023.
However, during the same period, a staggering one million vaccinated people died suddenly.
The mortality data out of the UK exposes a pandemic of the vaccinated and provides evidence of crimes against humanity.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Militant Just Stop Oil activists are plotting a sinister nationwide blitz to ‘occupy’ MPs’ homes ahead of the General Election, a Mail on Sunday investigation has found.
Hardcore eco-zealots are also planning to target politicians’ offices and disrupt speeches and party conferences in a chilling campaign of intimidation and harassment that strikes at the heart of the democratic process.
Protesters describe their plans as a ‘total departure’ from previous operations, and told an undercover reporter they were ready to look a ‘bit loony’ in their flagrant attempt to ‘get attention’ for their cause.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
US Senators to Lobby Hungary for Support of Sweden’s NATO Membership Bid
A bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress is set to visit Hungary on Sunday, intensifying efforts to persuade Budapest to endorse Sweden’s NATO membership bid when parliament resumes sessions following its winter recess, as reported by Reuters.
Hungary stands as the sole NATO member yet to ratify Sweden’s application, a pivotal step requiring unanimous support from all member states. This delay has strained relations between Budapest and Washington while raising concerns among NATO allies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Von Der Leyen Aims to Appoint an EU Defense Commissioner
If she secures a second term, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to establish a dedicated commissioner for defense within the Brussels authority, reports eXXpress.
However, the origin of this commissioner, i.e., which member state they would represent, remains to be determined, as von der Leyen mentioned during the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks ‘Not Really Promising’, Qatar PM Says
Talks between Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza were “not really very promising” in recent days, the prime minister of Qatar, a key mediator for the negotiations, said on Saturday.
“I believe that we can see a deal happening very soon,” Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said at the Munich Security Conference.
“Yet the pattern in the last few days is not really very promising. We will always remain optimistic, we will always remain pushing,” he added, speaking in English.
“Time is not in our favour”, he said, casting forward to beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 10.
| — Hat tip: McN | [Return to headlines] |
Israeli Defense Minister: 18 of 24 Hamas Battalions Have Been Destroyed
Israeli Defense Minister Joav Galant has announced significant progress in neutralizing Hamas battalions.
In a statement on Friday, Galant revealed that out of the 24 regional battalions in Gaza, 18 have been disbanded. Each battalion typically consists of around 1,000 fighters, according to reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netanyahu Halted Gaza Truce Talks Over ‘Delusional’ Hamas Demands
JERUSALEM, Feb 17 (Reuters) — Israel has sent negotiators for truce talks in Cairo as requested by U.S. President Joe Biden but they did not go back for further talks because Hamas’ demands were “delusional,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday.
Netanyahu also said Israel would not give in to “international dictates” regarding a statehood agreement with the Palestinians, which he said could only be reached through direct negotiations without preconditions.
The Egyptian and Qatari-mediated talks to try to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of over 100 Israeli hostages being held in the Hamas-ruled territory have yet to produce results. A round of inconclusive talks in Cairo ended on Tuesday.
Asked during a press conference on Saturday why Israeli negotiators did not return for further talks, Netanyahu said: “We got nothing except for delusional demands from Hamas.”
Those demands, he said, included ending the war and leaving Hamas as it is, freeing “thousands of murderers” from Israeli jails, and even demands regarding a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem known as the Temple Mount in Judaism and the Noble Sanctuary in Islam.
He said Israeli representatives in Cairo “sat and listened and there was no change. I wanted to say not a millimeter — but there was not a nanometer of change.”
| — Hat tip: JW | [Return to headlines] |
Major Victory for Russian Army as Ukraine Forces Flee Eastern City
Following a year that saw little change in control of territory, the Russian army has secured a major victory in its war in Ukraine as Ukrainian forces have retreated from the eastern city of Avdiivka.
Shortly after midnight Saturday in Ukraine, the country’s newly-installed top commander, General Oleksandr Syrsky, announced that he had ordered troops to evacuate the city. Surrounded in three directions by the Russian army, Ukrainian soldiers in the city found themselves in a rapidly-tightening noose.
“Based on the operational situation around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defense on more favorable lines,” said Syrsky in a Facebook post.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Russia’s Pursuit of Orbital Nuclear Weapons Signals the Beginning of a Fresh Space Competition
This week, American congressmen reported a serious security threat from Russia, but without any specifics.
After several days of uncertainty, US President Joe Biden stated that Russia is developing anti-satellite space weapons, but they do not pose a “nuclear threat” to the inhabitants of planet Earth, as cited by Bloomberg.
“We have found that there is a possibility to launch into space a system that theoretically can cause harm. This has not happened yet,” Biden said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ukraine Withdraws From Devastated Town of Avdiivka, Handing Russia Key Victory
Ukrainian troops on Saturday withdrew from the devastated eastern town of Avdiivka after a year-long battle, Kyiv’s new military chief said, all but handing a victory and key position to Russia.
The decision was made to save Kyiv’s troops fighting in the bombed-out town from being encircled by Russians, according to Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who took his post last week following a major reshuffling in military leadership.
“I decided to withdraw our units from the town and move to defense from more favorable lines in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen,” Syrskyi said.
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
Zelensky Suggests Regime Change in Russia and Assassination Awaits Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that assassination awaits Russian strongman Vladimir Putin while backing the “destruction of his regime” in an address to the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
Appearing before world leaders as they converged to Munich, Germany for the annual security conference, President Zelensky said that the only “two options” left for Putin, either face a war crimes trial at The Hague or be assassinated.
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China’s Premier Automaker Plans EV Factory in Mexico to Flood U.S. Market
The CCP premier automaker, BYD, is reportedly planning to build a new factory in Mexico for the sole goal of flooding the U.S. market.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Asylum Seekers Occupy a ULB Building in Belgium
On Friday night, asylum seekers took over an empty building located on the Solbosch campus of ULB in Ixelles, only to be ejected later.
According to The Brussels Times, over a hundred asylum seekers, along with members of the collective Stop Crisis Shelter, unilaterally decided to occupy the building. While ULB expressed support for providing dignified shelter to all asylum seekers without discrimination, it reminded political authorities of their international obligations.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Austria: Anti-Globalist Freedom Party Chief Kickl Says “Remigration” is Necessary
Austria’s anti-globalist Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl has issued a firm statement: Austria should not harbor illegal migrants, and strict deportations are necessary.
He advocates for what he calls “remigration,” a concept he previously addressed in a similar tone during his Ash Wednesday speech, the Austrian press reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Austria Prolongs Border Controls With Czech Republic
Vienna’s Ministry of the Interior announced Austria’s decision to extend border controls with the Czech Republic for an additional two months, stretching until mid-April.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner underscored the measure’s focus on tackling illegal migration, smuggling, and terrorism, reports Expats.cz.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Facing Community Pushback, NYC Mayor Reverses Plan to House Migrants in Luxury Building
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has done a U-turn on plans to convert an abandoned luxury apartment complex into a shelter for illegal migrants after the community in Harlem opposed the proposal.
Adams turned up unannounced at a community meeting in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood Thursday where locals were gathering to discuss rumors the building on the corner of 130th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. was quietly being prepared for immigrants, according to CBS News.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A five-time deported illegal alien has been arrested and charged with killing a 10-year-old Texas boy during a fatal drunk driving hit-and-run incident.
It has been argued by some that Democrat President Joe Biden’s “open borders” policies and lax enforcement of existing border security and immigration laws have placed innocent American citizens at grave risk of being injured or killed by criminal illegal immigrants.
That argument was sadly bolstered last week when a 10-year-old Texas boy was struck and killed in a hit-and-run car accident by an illegal migrant from Mexico.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France: In Paris, a Man Wielding a Butcher’s Knife Was Fatally Shot by Police
Identified as a 40-year-old Sudanese man, he menaced both bystanders and law enforcement with the weapon, leading the officers to discharge their firearms approximately twenty times.
Reports from police and judicial sources, as obtained by Le Figaro, indicate that the incident unfolded on a Parisian tram in the vicinity of the “Butte du chapeau” station on the T3b line, located at 13 boulevard d’Indochine. Just before 3 a.m., the individual, garbed in a traditional Moroccan robe known as a djellaba, requested a lighter from a fellow passenger. Upon the refusal of this request, he brandished the butcher’s knife and attempted to strike the individual.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Police Arrest Migrant Youth Gang Suspected of Murdering 17-Year-Old Ukrainian
Following the tragic death of a 17-year-old Ukrainian, Essen’s criminal police have apprehended three individuals who are allegedly part of a migrant youth gang.
The individuals in question, a 14-year-old Greek and two Syrians aged 14 and 15, stand accused of joint murder and grievous bodily harm, as confirmed by both the public prosecutor’s office and the Essen police, German media reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany’s Anti-Globalist Right and Left Agree Migration Crisis Must be Dealt With Promptly
A unique encounter unfolded on the German public broadcaster ZDF, as Beatrix von Storch of the AfD and Sahra Wagenknecht of the BSW engaged in a discussion on the migration crisis, accompanied by SPD General Kevin Kühnert and other political figures. The backdrop was Maybrit Illner’s show titled “Germany in Crisis — Longing for Simple Answers?”
The dialogue took an unexpected turn when the participants delved into the complexities of migration policies. Wagenknecht, seizing the spotlight, emphasized the shared concerns between the AfD and BSW regarding migration issues, leading to a surprising alignment of viewpoints despite their ideological differences, German media reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Illegal Alien Arrested for Child Molestation After Being Released by ‘Sanctuary City’
An illegal alien has been arrested for molesting a child in Rhode Island and the dangerous foreign national was previously detained and released under “sanctuary city” laws last year.
Immigration authorities announced Friday that a Guatemalan man illegally living in the United States was arrested earlier this month for child sex abuse charges.
However, the criminal alien was previously detained on separate child sex abuse charges last year but was released under so-called “sanctuary” policies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Migrants stuck in shelters on the southern border say they are worried about the prospect of Donald Trump becoming president in November, fearing a second term would make it impossible to reach the United States.
José Maria Garcia Lara, director of the Juventud 2000 shelter in Tijuana, told KSWB the community thinks ‘the moment he wins the presidency, the doors will close’, citing Trump’s efforts to return migrants to countries they were trying to flee from.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Police officers in The Hague used tear gas in an attempt to quell rioting after a brawl broke out between two groups of Eritreans at the Opera conference hall on Fruitweg. A police car was also set on fire near the scene on Saturday evening. It is was not immediately known whether there were any injuries.
It is not yet known what caused the confrontation. Rioters pelted the police with large rocks, bicycles and traffic signs. According to Omroep West, bicycles, branches and fireworks were also thrown.
The windows of the conference center were smashed. The rioters were also trying to break inside, according to a reporter at the scene. The police were trying to protect the building. The fire brigade was dispatched to the scene, but left the area.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netherlands: Calm Returns to the Hague After Extensive Riots Outside Eritrean Community Party
Calm returned to the Fruitweg in The Hague on Saturday evening, where riots broke out during an event for the Eritrean community present in the Netherlands. The unrest happened after a confrontation between supporters of the Eritrean government and opponents who arrived at the Opera conference center. Eritreans who were present inside were enjoying a “very peaceful party” in the conference hall, and were unaware of the disturbances outside, said a spokesperson for the association of Eritrean communities in the Netherlands.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A second group of asylum seekers has landed undetected in Australia and shocked locals by wandering into a remote campsite.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Texas to Build Military “Base Camp” on Mexico Border to House 1,800 Soldiers
In the latest signal of his resolve to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States, Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday announced that the Lone Star State will build a military base along the Rio Grand at the border city of Eagle Pass.
Spanning 80-acres, “Forward Operating Base Eagle” will house upwards of 1,800 Texas National Guard soldiers supporting Operation Lone Star, and will be expandable to house 2,300. Texas Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer said the camp will have 300 beds by mid-April, and will add another 300 beds every month after that.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Convicted Child Sex Offender Flees After Posting Bail, Co-Defendant is Trans-Identified Male
Oregon authorities are on the search for a convicted child sex offender who failed to show up to his sentencing hearing on Thursday after previously posting bail.
A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of 51-year-old Gary Coomer, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in Albany.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Protesters held signs, banners and placards emblazoned with slogans such as ‘rapists have more rights than women’ and ‘trans units for trans prisoners’ in Edinburgh today.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Greek Parliament Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
The Greek Parliament, after a two-day debate and 30 hours of political statements, has approved a new law legalizing same-sex marriages, as reported by RMF FM. This decision makes Greece the 16th country in the European Union and the 37th in the world, as well as the first Orthodox country, to endorse such legislation.
The new regulations pave the way for same-sex couples to adopt children, but do not include provisions for surrogate motherhood for these couples. In the roll-call vote, 176 out of 300 lawmakers supported the law.
The Orthodox Church expressed strong opposition to the draft law, and Archbishop Hieronymus II of Athens and all Greece called for a roll-call vote so that voters could track their representatives’ positions.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Archdiocese of New York which operates the St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City said that it shares the “outrage over the scandalous behavior at a funeral” earlier in the week for a trans activist and offered “an appropriate Mass of Reparation” to reconsecrate the cathedral. The funeral proceedings celebrated blasphemy, whoredom, and had prayers for access to sex changes.
According to the statement, the Archdiocese “only knew that family and friends were requesting a funeral Mass for a Catholic, and had no idea [its] welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Rep. Chip Roy Says DOJ is Hiding Data About Face Act Prosecutions Targeting Pro-Lifers
On Friday, Congressman Chip Roy (R-TX) issued a letter to the Department of Justice after the federal agency failed to comply with legislators’ requests for data regarding the criteria used to prosecute Americans under the FACE Act, or Freedom of Access to Clinical Entrances.
Kristen Clarke, the DOJ’s Assistant Attorney for Civil Rights, informed the House Judiciary Committee in December that they would receive the requested data, yet no data has been received.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The ‘Liberal Gap’ Opening Up Between American Men & Women
According to conventional wisdom, how conservative or liberal someone is would largely be determined by their age.
However, as Statista’s Katharina Buchholz details below, while this used to be the case, a major shift has taken place in the United States and elsewhere.
As of 2023, gender is a better indicator of U.S. political leanings — as seen in data collected by Gallup.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Transgender Muslim in Prison for Child Murder Sues for Being Denied a Headscarf
Autumn Cordellioné, formerly known as Jonathan C. Richardson, has filed a lawsuit against Branchville Correctional Facility in Indiana, seeking $150,000 in damages.
Cordellioné, a transgender individual and practicing Muslim, asserts that his constitutional rights were violated when he was prohibited from wearing a headscarf in accordance with his religious beliefs, Reduxx reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
[Have carnal knowledge of] your headscarf! How about a bullet in it instead?
I just want to see how far I can push my comments before I get arrested and thrown in jail.
For exercising my right to free speech.
“Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the key town of Avdiivka, ceding the position to Russia. The Ukrainian command said the action was taken to save Kiev’s troops from being encircled by advancing Russian forces.”
Nonsense, this is not the reason, but that they were mortally frightened by the possibilities of Russian technological advances (according to data from kgb channels that are available to me). This brings us to the heart of Tucker’s famous interview, the interview of the year, the essence of which no one understood.
The entire interview was to officially announce – and to the Russian, but especially to the Western audience – that Putin and Russia are not against brain chips and genetic modifications “but we need formalization and regulation” (see the part with Tucker’s question about “AI empire”) + at the same time to consolidate “the reality of the real war in which Russia is right”, thus confirming that Russia is against the plan for the world of Western elites. What happened just a week after the interview?
Russia, shortly after Tucker’s interview, has officially announced that she is joining the “race” for brain chips and gene mods of humans, but none of the Western mainstream and alternative media reported this. (How did it happen?)
pre-story background with curious connections and synchronicities (for Trump, Mike Adams, Alex Jones, Musk, Tucker and the brain chips..)
(*only the comments of this user, without his answers to other users)
https://expose-news.com/2024/02/15/catherine-austin-fitts-trump-put-10-billion-dollars-into-a-programme-to-depopulate-the-us/#comment-130447
https://expose-news.com/2024/02/15/catherine-austin-fitts-trump-put-10-billion-dollars-into-a-programme-to-depopulate-the-us/#comment-130448
https://expose-news.com/2024/02/15/catherine-austin-fitts-trump-put-10-billion-dollars-into-a-programme-to-depopulate-the-us/#comment-130450
https://expose-news.com/2024/02/15/catherine-austin-fitts-trump-put-10-billion-dollars-into-a-programme-to-depopulate-the-us/#comment-130453
…and the rest of this user’s comments down (there is a slight break from some conversation of another user with the author of the article, scroll down)
Only valid links to sources.
While in every Russian media there are at least 50-100 articles/reports about it, in the Western – almost nothing. How do you like that? About a WEF, DARPA, Musk and the other transhumanists has (as it should be) billions of articles and videos. About Russia – NOTHING. (Including absolutely nothing by Riley Waggaman.) Why?
Little quote (TASS, 14 January):
“The expert [Vasily Popkov] predicted a “race of neural implants” due to the loss of technological unipolarity
[in the session “Why Does the Brain Need to Connect to a Computer?” in Future Technologies Forum 13-14 Feb, 2024, Moscow]
..
“All ethical issues related to the development of neural interfaces will fade into the background, and an analogue of the “space race” of the last century will begin, which this time will be aimed at expanding human capabilities. Unlike microelectronics and many other technologies, we are not hopelessly behind in this area, and with proper investment of funds and efforts, we will be able to reduce this gap and compete in this regard with the leading participants in this race,” Popkov summed up.”
Ah, Baron, I have finally arrived. I’ve made noises about this before. To check my favorite sites like NCRenegades and WRSA and a few others has become too painful to inflict upon myself every morning. HYSTERIA rising. The only thing missing is impending cannibalism. If this is what being in opposition means, we’ve already been infiltrated and taken over.
Too bad. I will still check for memes, though the funny ones have become rare and the bitter ones have pretty much taken the field.
I thank everyone working so soooo hard to keep us all informed. But hysteria wins clicks, and you have caved.
This is not implying criticism of Vlad and GoV who have stayed mostly level headed (though grim).
Just sayin.’ Blessings be upon those who — while being aware — have taken another road.
“The only thing missing is impending cannibalism.”
Remember: You don’t have to be the fastest one in the herd….you just have to be faster than the slowest one..
😀