A police motorcycle squad was escorting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to the airport in Stuttgart when a woman driving a BMW turned into the intersection and hit a police motorcycle. The officer riding the motorcycle was killed, and another officer was seriously injured. Mr. Orbán was unhurt.
In other news, Tommy Robinson was arrested on an outstanding immigration warrant immediately after speaking at an event in Calgary last night. He was later released from custody, but must remain in Alberta during the legal proceedings.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Conservative Tree House, Dean, JW, McN, MM, Reader from Chicago, Roger, 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.
German Company Bankruptcies Surge by Nearly 30% in First Half of 2024
The number of company bankruptcies in Germany has surged by almost 30% in the first six months of 2024, marking the highest figure in nearly a decade.
According to statistics from the Association of Economic Researchers Creditreform, around 11,000 company bankruptcies were registered during this period.
“In the first half of 2024, companies continue to struggle with the consequences of the 2023 recession, ongoing crises, and weak economic development. All of this is undermining the state of many companies,” explained Patrick-Ludwig Hantzsch, head of economic research at Creditreform.
Creditreform analysts predict that the insolvency trend will persist throughout the year, attributing the rise in bankruptcies to lingering issues from past crises. Researchers have observed that a significant number of medium and large companies have been forced to file for bankruptcy, with notable cases including Galeria Karstadt and FTI-Touristik.
The bankruptcies registered from January to June 2024 impacted about 133,000 employees, compared to 125,000 in the same period last year.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Atlanta Judge Removed From Office Following Arrest at Atlanta Nightclub
The Georgia Supreme Court ordered the removal of Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson from her judicial position, effective Tuesday, Fox News reported.
The Supreme Court decision follows a recommendation from the Judicial Qualifications Commission, which found Peterson guilty of “systemic incompetence” among other ethical breaches, according to Fox News. The investigation into Peterson’s conduct revealed several instances of misconduct, including a case where she allegedly improperly jailed a naturalized U.S. citizen from Thailand who was attempting to correct her father’s name on her marriage license.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden Admin Moves to Allow Deployment of US Military Contractors in Ukraine: Report
The Biden administration is reportedly moving toward allowing American military contractors to be deployed to Ukraine to aid the country in maintaining and repairing weapons systems provided by the US.
The policy is still being worked on, four US officials familiar with the matter told CNN, and has not been signed off on by Biden.
One administration official told the outlet, “We have not made any decisions and any discussion of this is premature. The president is absolutely firm that he will not be sending US troops to Ukraine.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Speaker Johnson Says House to File Amicus Brief for Steve Bannon’s Appeal
House Speaker Mike Johnson said that the House plans on filing an amicus brief in Steve Bannon’s appeal for his contempt of Congress case that was brought after Bannon ignored a subpoena from the January 6 Committee.
In an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday, Johnson was speaking to Sean Hannity when he announced the amicus brief for Bannon’s appeal to the Supreme Court.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
CNN’s Crackdown on Presidential Debate Commentary Sparks Backlash
CNN has threatened to take legal action against any creators and streamers who attempt to broadcast and add commentary to their upcoming debate stream. As the host of the upcoming first presidential debate this Thursday, CNN has notified livestreamers that live-streaming the debate with additional commentary is not permissible.
CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will host the Thursday debate.
The network has made it clear that they will not allow the use of their debate footage outside of their own network, claiming copyright infringement.
The decision has been met with criticism from many who argue that commentary and criticism of the debate fall under the fair use doctrine, which allows for the use of copyrighted material under certain circumstances.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Barry Loudermilk intends to file an amicus brief Wednesday with the Supreme Court and also file a resolution in the House that would invalidate the Jan. 6 Select Committee’s report against former White House Chief Strategist Bannon, the Daily Caller has first learned.
Loudermilk states that House rules required the Jan. 6 Select Committee to consult with the “Ranking Member of the Minority” to take a deposition, which was not possible as there was no Republican Ranking Member on the Select Committee. The Jan. 6 Select Committee held Bannon in contempt for “failing to appear for a deposition” which the Select Committee could not conduct because there was no ranking member to notify, Loudermilk’s office told the Caller.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Exclusive: DNC Sent Millions to Law Firms Behind ‘Unprecedented Lawfare’ Campaign Against Trump
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has sent millions of dollars to law firms that are intimately involved in an “unprecedented lawfare” campaign against former President Donald Trump, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records reviewed by the Daily Caller.
The DNC has paid close to $2 million since August of 2021 to Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP for “legal services,” according to the DNC’s FEC filings. Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP founding partner Roberta A. Kaplan represented E. Jean Carroll in her sexual assault and defamation suits against Trump. The New York Times previously reported that Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn, helped pay for Carroll’s lawsuits.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ex-Intelligence Officials Who Undermined Hunter Biden Laptop Story Included Active CIA Contractors
Former intelligence officials who wrote a controversial public statement casting doubt on Hunter Biden’s laptop data ahead of the 2020 presidential election included active contractors working for the CIA, a reportpublished Tuesday reveals.
The report, released by two Republican-led House committees, provides the most direct link yet between the government’s premier intelligence agency and the infamous statement. It also shows several internal emails about the matter, which include two CIA employees expressing reluctance about the political nature of the statement.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden admin special counsel Jack Smith on Monday filed a motion urging the judge in the Mar-a-Lago documents case to throw out Trump’s motion to dismiss the case based on “spoliation of evidence in violation of due process.” The Trump motion from early June alleged that the FBI, during its 2022 raid of Trump’s Palm Peach estate, destroyed “important exculpatory evidence relating to the locations of the allegedly classified documents at issue.”
The filing from Smith stated that during the execution of the search warrant, “At approximately 9:55 am, the CCTV servers were turned off to prevent recording, at the request of the FBI, out of concern for agent safety.” Independent journalist Julie Kelly, who has done extensive reporting on the cases against Trump and J6 defendants, noted the section on X. “At approximately 10:20 am, recording resumed, at the direction of Trump attorneys.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Federal Lawsuit Challenges Georgia Law That Limits Many People or Groups to Posting 3 Bonds a Year
A new federal lawsuit challenges a Georgia law that expands cash bail and restricts organizations that help people pay bail so they can be released while their criminal cases are pending.
Senate Bill 63, which was signed into law last month by Gov. Brian Kemp and which takes effect July 1, includes a section that limits people and organizations from posting more than three cash bonds in a year unless they meet requirements for bail bond companies. That means passing background checks, paying fees, holding a business license, securing the local sheriff’s approval and establishing a cash escrow account or other form of collateral.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center filed the lawsuit last week. They represent Barred Business Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit whose activities include facilitating campaigns to pay cash bail, and two people who live in Athens and run a charitable bail fund in association with their church.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
House Judiciary Committee Report Recommends Contempt for Joe Biden Ghost Writer
The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday published a report recommending that President Joe Biden’s ghost writer be cited for contempt of Congress after he failed to produce documents and other materials as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry.
The ghost writer, Mark Zwonitzer, is in possession of recordings of his interviews with Biden in which the former vice president allegedly made reference to classified information, the committee says in its report.
After the release of Justice Department special counsel Robert Hur’s separate report on Biden’s mishandling of classified documents, the House Judiciary committee subpoenaed Zwonitzer for documents, audio recordings and transcripts in his possession related to his interviews of Biden for his memoir.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Inside the Million-Dollar Campaign to Smear the Supreme Court Ahead of 2024 Election
A left-leaning group announced this week the start of a million-dollar campaign to attack the legitimacy of the Supreme Court as the 2024 presidential race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump heats up.
Stand Up America, a group funded primarily by Democratic political action committees, began its campaign on June 24, the same day of the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and give states broad authority to set gestational limits on abortion procedures. The campaign also comes just days before the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle, which is sandwiched between the three remaining days where the high court is poised to release its most consequential opinions of the 2023-24 term.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Jamaal Bowman Loses Costly New York Primary: AP
Democratic New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman lost a tough primary on Tuesday night that exposed divisions in the Democratic party, defeated by his affluent pro-Israel challenger George Latimer, the Associated Press has projected.
Latimer narrowly defeated Bowman, after entering the race with political clout as the popular county executive for Westchester County. Latimer was also supported by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which targeted Bowman for his pro-Palestinian views on the war in Israel.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Tuesday that former President Donald Trump still faced a “chilling effect” despite the partial lifting of a gag order in his Manhattan case.
New York Judge Juan Merchan partially lifted an expanded gag order imposed onApril 1 Tuesday, which allows Trump to talk about witnesses and the jury, but maintains prohibitions on Trump talking about the prosecution team and court officials. Turley said that Trump would be hurt by the inability to criticize former Justice Department official Matthew Colangelo, who was part of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s team, during the June 27 debate with President Joe Biden on CNN.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Kennedy to Hold Dueling Event During Debate That Gives ‘Americans the Debate They Deserve’
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign announced Tuesday that it will host a dueling event that will air online at the same time President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump take their stage.
Biden and Trump are expected to debate for the first time this election cycle on Thursday, in Atlanta, Georgia. The debate will air live at 9 p.m. EST and will be moderated by CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
Kennedy’s campaign said the new debate will give “Americans the debate they deserve,” after CNN determined Kennedy failed to meet its criteria, which included candidates polling at at least 15% in four national polls. Kennedy only polled at or above 15% in three national polls the outlet recognized, according to Mercury News.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
LA Mayor Considering Mask Ban After Violent Gaza Protest Outside Synagogue
Following an attack outside a California synagogue by violent-pro-Palestinian agitators, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that the city would be looking into banning the wearing of masks at protests.
Bass announced at a Monday press conference that her office would be contacting the city attorney “to talk about several things that we need to examine, for example, permits for protests, the idea of people wearing masks at protests, and establishing clear lines of demarcation between what is legal and what is not.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
MasterCard to Expand Digital Biometric ID and “Behavioral Biometrics”
When it comes to privacy and overall security of some of people’s most sensitive (financial, but also, “behavioral”) biometric data, massive global banks and payment processors, and burgeoning biometric surveillance was always going to be that perfect “match made in hell.”
And that reality is gradually taking shape. Not only is biometric tech and its ubiquitousness increasing (still in most countries without proper legal protections or proper “disclosure” of how and why it is being) — but behemoths like Mastercard and Visa are realizing they have access to massive amounts of highly monetizable people’s data.
The nature of the personal information that the likes of Mastercard get with every transaction you make is not only the number but also the location, the content of a purchase… and then behavioral patterns start emerging. But it doesn’t stop there.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Nolte: Biden Campaign Chair Surrenders Florida’s 30 Electoral Votes to Trump
Joe Biden’s campaign chairwoman, Jen O’Malley Dillon, has already conceded Florida’s 30 electoral votes to former President Donald Trump.
During a podcast interview with the far-left Puck, O’Malley Dillon was asked if the campaign considered Florida a legitimate battleground state His Fraudulency would contest in the coming months. Her answer was a flat, “No.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Senate Committee Advances Bill to Draft Women Into US Military
Members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee have advanced a bill that, if passed, paves the way for requiring women to register to be drafted into the U.S. military.
The committee passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act on June 13 by a vote of 22-3. It authorizes $923 billion for fiscal 2025 funding for national defense, including a 4.5% pay increase for all troops.
It also includes a provision to amend the Military Selective Service Act to require women to register with the Selective Services System (SSS), the database that is used for a draft.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Springfield Woman Allegedly Stabbed Man Who Urinated on Her Floor
A Springfield woman was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly stabbing a man who urinated on her living room floor.
Hailey McRell, 19, of Springfield, was arrested at about 2:20 p.m. June 24 on charges of first-degree assault in connection with an altercation earlier that day, according to court records.
According to a probable cause statement written by a Springfield police officer, McRell met the man who was stabbed on Sunday. McRell told officers the man had been drinking heavily prior to coming over to the apartment that McRell and another tenant share.
McRell told officers the two of them were lying on a couch and had been making out. McRell asked the man to leave, but the man refused, according to the statement. McRell told police she asked the man to leave several times, to which he responded by standing up and urinating on the floor.
“Who would do that?” McRell asked police officers during an interview, according to the statement. “What kind of person would do that?”
McRell said she was scared of the man, after he said that she could go ahead and hit him, according to the statement. Greene County Jail records show McRell is 5-foot-1, 120 pounds.
McRell reportedly said the man did not threaten her. She allegedly stabbed him once on the back, and when the man appeared to be unbothered, stabbed him several more times until he finally left the apartment.
According to the probable cause statement, McRell called 911 to get the man medical help. The man was taken to a Springfield hospital for treatment of “several stab wounds to his back and body.”
| — Hat tip: Roger | [Return to headlines] |
Top RFK Jr. Aide is Soros-Linked Climate Activist Who Praised China’s ‘War on Coal’
She has said China’s “war on coal” is “awesome,” celebrated climate protesters occupying government buildings, and consulted for a left-wing diversity, equity, and inclusion group funded by Democratic megadonor George Soros.
Meet press secretary Stefanie Spear for the 2024 campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmental lawyer turned independent presidential candidate. To those close to former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, Spear’s climate activism over the years is a window into how Kennedy is far to the left on energy even as he works to distance himself from the Democratic Party and surrounds himself with like-minded aides who could have a seat at the table in a hypothetical Kennedy administration to oversee a sweeping crackdown on fossil fuels.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Advisers Plan to Halt US Military Aid to Ukraine Unless Kyiv Sues for Peace With Moscow
Keith Kellogg and Fred Fleitz, two key advisers to US presidential hopeful Donald Trump, have presented the former president with a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine based on telling Kyiv it will only get more US weapons if it enters into peace talks.
Washington would at the same time warn Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would result in increased support for Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg said in an interview with Reuters published on June 25.
The pair presented their strategy to Trump who responded favourably, Fleitz said.
“I’m not claiming he agreed with it or agreed with every word of it, but we were pleased to get the feedback we did,” he said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Leads Biden by 5 Points in Georgia Among Likely Voters Ahead of Atlanta Debate: AJC Poll
Donald Trump leads Joe Biden by five points in the state of Georgia ahead of the Thursday’s presidential debate in Atlanta, according to a new poll. This comes as Trump has been leading in several swing states that are key to winning the 2024 presidential election.
According to a new Atlanta-Journal Constitution/University of Georgia poll, after Trump’s conviction in the NYC trial and leading up to the first debate with Biden, Trump leads 43 to 38 points. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 9 percent support from likely voters in the state, however, he is not expected to qualify for the ballot.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Tommy Robinson Arrested by Canadian Police After Speaking at Calgary Free Speech Event
Immediately after speaking at an event organized by Rebel News in Calgary on Monday evening, Tommy Robinson was ambushed by police and arrested. The group of uniformed and plain-clothed officers placed him in the back of a cop car as the British activist’s supporters watched in awe.
Robinson was detained on an outstanding immigration warrant, but was later released from custody. He said that he was informed that he must remain in southern Alberta and cannot leave Canada during the legal proceedings.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trudeau in Trouble After Conservative Upset in Toronto “Must-Win” Special Election
Two years ago, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared war on conservatives — invoking the Emergencies Act to punish protesting truckers in a move that was ruled flatly unconstitutional in January.
Now, his political future is on the line after the ruling liberal party lost a key ‘safe seat’ in the Toronto-St. Paul’s special election.
In an upset victory, Conservative candidate Don Stewart beat Liberal Leslie Church by a slim, but hugely significant 590 votes, dislodging a seat that the governing Liberals have held for more than 30 years.
In response to the win, Conservative leader Pierre Poilivere demanded Trudeau call a snap election following what he called a “shocking upset” on social media Tuesday morning.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Census “Reduced” Germany’s Population by 1.4 Million People
The population census in Germany recorded that its population is 82.7 million people, which is 1.4 million less than previously estimated. This was reported by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, according to DW.
The German population census determines how many people live in all 10,786 municipalities. As of May 15, 2022, the census found that at least 1% fewer people lived in 56% of German municipalities than expected. The discrepancy was particularly noticeable in Cologne, where the population was 5.6% less than anticipated.
The census also found that there are more women (42.05 million) than men (40.72 million) in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 71.8 million residents of Germany have German citizenship, while 10.9 million are foreigners. At the same time, 18.14 million residents of Germany have migrant backgrounds.
Overall, the German population grew by approximately 2.5 million between the 2011 and 2022 censuses. However, the largest decrease is among the foreign population — about one million fewer than expected.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Denmark to be the First in Europe to Tax Agricultural Emissions
Denmark’s government agreed early Tuesday, June 25, to introduce Europe’s first tax on carbon dioxide emissions from agriculture, Politico reports.
The agreement on taxing harmful emissions from agriculture in Denmark was reached after five months of negotiations with farmers’ and environmental groups.
According to the agreement, starting in 2030, farmers will have to pay 120 Danish kroner (€16) per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, and by 2035, the rate will increase to 300 kroner (€40).
The Danish government will also allocate €5.3 billion for reforesting 250,000 hectares of agricultural land by 2045, setting aside 140,000 hectares of lowland by 2030, and buying out certain farms to reduce nitrogen emissions.
Denmark’s Minister of Economy, Stephanie Lose, stated that the agreement “will serve as the foundation for a historic reorganization and restructuring of land resources and food production in Denmark.” The agreement still needs to be approved by the parliament, which will convene after the summer break.
Denmark is one of the world’s largest exporters of pork and dairy products. It is projected that by 2030, agriculture will account for 46% of the country’s emissions.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Emmanuel Macron Warns of ‘Civil War’ in France if Public Votes for Populists
An increasingly desperate Emmanuel Macron has warned the public that “civil war” awaits France if they fail to vote for his brand of centrist neo-liberalism in the upcoming legislative elections.
Voting for either of the “two extremes” of the populist right-wing National Rally or the leftist-socialist New Popular Front will lead to “civil war”, Macron said in an interview in which he castigated the leadership of the two main opposition parties “and those who follow them”.
The embattled French leader, who’s party is trailing in third place in the snap elections he called, said that the “response of the extreme right” to France’s current problems would lead to insecurity “because it refers people to a religion or an origin, that is what divides them and pushes them towards civil war,” Le Figaro reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU to Fund Aid to Ukraine With €1.4 Billion of Frozen Russian Assets
European Union governments have agreed to allocate €1.4 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets for arms and other aid to Ukraine.
The decision has led Hungary to accuse its fellow EU members of a “shameless” rules breach to circumvent its objections.
According to diplomats, EU governments had previously agreed in May to utilise profits from frozen assets within the bloc to assist Ukraine, allocating 90 per cent of them for military aid.
Still, approval of the required legal measures had been delayed by Hungary.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
European Pessimism Peaks: Britons Concerned, French Most Gloomy, Survey Reveals
A recent survey by YouGov has uncovered widespread pessimism across Europe regarding the current state and future prospects of their respective countries.
Britons stand out as the most disheartened among seven nations surveyed, with 80% expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. However, it’s the French who appear the most bleak about the future, with 50% expecting conditions to worsen over the next year.
The survey, conducted in late May and early June, also highlighted significant discontent in Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Denmark. While Denmark remains relatively optimistic, with only 25% believing their country is in a bad state, other nations, including Germany and Spain, also showed high levels of dissatisfaction.
In the UK, where elections are imminent, 43% feel their country fares worse than most other Western nations. This sentiment is echoed by 41% of Italians and 40% of Spaniards. Meanwhile, the French, despite their concerns, anticipate political instability ahead of their upcoming elections.
Despite varying degrees of discontent, there is a shared lack of optimism about the future across Europe. In Germany, where the far-right has gained ground, 43% foresee further deterioration. Similarly, Britons and Spaniards express considerable doubt, with 39% and 35% respectively expecting conditions to worsen.
These findings underscore a broader disillusionment with European political leadership, a sentiment likely to influence upcoming elections and policy decisions across the continent.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
European Investment Bank to Boost Defence Spending
The European Investment Bank (EIB) said it plans to increase its investments in European defence, focusing on elements such as drones, satellites and cybersecurity.
The lender aims to inject a further €6 billion into the sector, EIB President Maria Calviño said on June 25.
The announcement illustrates a growing readiness in Europe to finance defence companies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which shifted the long-held belief that the region could depend on the United States for protection.
During the US presidency of Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021, Europe had been warned it needed to invest in its own defence.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
First Ammunition Shipment From Czech Initiative Arrived in Ukraine, Says PM
PRAGUE (Reuters) — The first shipment of ammunition from a Czech initiative has arrived in Ukraine, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in a post on social media platform X on Tuesday.
The Czech Republic has led an effort to buy ammunition, with funding from NATO allies, to make up for shortage on the frontlines with Russia.
“The first shipment of ammunition from our initiative arrived in Ukraine some time ago,” Fiala said on X. “We are doing what it takes.”
The Czechs said in May that the first 50,000 to 100,000 artillery shells would reach Ukraine in June.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
French Assembly Faces Political Deadlock, Forecast Suggests
French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call a snap election could lead to deadlock.
According to an IFOP projection published on June 24, no political party would win enough seats to have a clear majority in the next French Parliament.
Some 577 elected members will make up the French National Assembly. If a political party or coalition obtains at least 289 deputies, it has an absolute majority.
The hard-right party National Rally (RN) with allies including Eric Ciotti’s To the Right! movement could secure up to 260 seats. The New Popular Front left-wing alliance is projected to win up to 215 seats. Macron’s Renaissance party is forecast to win 100 seats.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
French PM Refuses to ‘Promise the Moon’, Clashes With Far-Right in Debate
PARIS, June 25 (Reuters) — French prime minister Gabriel Attal accused his far-right and leftwing political opponents of “promising the moon” in a three-way televised debate on Tuesday ahead of next Sunday’s first round of early parliamentary elections.
In a muddled, confusing TV debate between leaders of the three top-polling blocs, Attal came under pressure from his far-right opponent, Jordan Bardella, who repeatedly interrupted him and accused him of “lecturing” and lacking credibility.
“The difference between my competitors and me is that, as prime minister, I don’t want to lie to the French. I don’t want to promise them the moon,” Attal said in the 90 minute debate that produced no major policy announcements.
Opinion polls show the far-right National Rally (RN) winning the two-round election on June 30 and July 7, but without an absolute majority, potentially sharing power with centrist President Emmanuel Macron, who surprised the country by calling snap elections earlier this month.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany Plans to Order Artillery Shells Worth €15 Billion
The German Ministry of Defense plans to order over 2 million artillery shells to replenish Bundeswehr stockpiles, with the procurement cost potentially reaching a record €15 billion. This information comes from Spiegel, citing its sources.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has reportedly submitted a draft agreement with manufacturers Diehl Defense and Nammo Raufoss to the Bundestag’s budget committee. The document outlines the procurement of up to 2.35 million 155mm artillery shells, with the maximum value of the deal potentially reaching €15 billion, which Spiegel describes as a “record.”
These volumes are to be produced by 2030. Initially, however, Germany intends to order 200,000 shells to replenish stockpiles. The document also states that under this agreement, NATO members can order additional quantities, with the overall framework allowing for the purchase of 2.3 million shells.
Pistorius aims to ensure that manufacturers are incentivized to build additional production lines and increase production in Germany. The Ministry of Finance shares this approach.
This is the second large-scale ammunition procurement deal, following a contract with Rheinmetall worth up to €8.5 billion, which is intended to stimulate the launch of new production in Lower Saxony.
The budget committee is expected to discuss the proposal in the near future. The coalition parties generally support such large orders but may have questions about the Defense Ministry proposing another deal without exact funding guarantees.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany Faces Prison Crisis: Staff Shortages, Violence, and Drug Problems
The head of the Association of Prison Employees of Germany, Rene Müller, has raised an urgent alarm about the severe crisis facing the country’s prison system. Representing 38,000 employees, Müller highlighted several critical issues plaguing German prisons.
Since 2016, around two thousand positions in the prison system have remained unfilled. In some facilities, there is only one staff member for every 70 inmates. “It is impossible to provide good care for inmates under such conditions. If politicians do not respond, everything will collapse,” says Müller.
Müller pointed out that threats and insults from inmates have become a daily reality for prison staff. “Some inmates even go as far as to threaten families. In such cases, we advise pressing charges against them. But many colleagues do not even report such incidents, like verbal abuse, because proceedings in the prosecutor’s office often end without appropriate sanctions,” he shared.
Additionally, Müller reported a severe drug problem in almost every prison. “Synthetic drugs, which are smuggled into prisons in the form of paper solutions, are now a real problem. Their number has increased in recent years. After using them, inmates suddenly become unpredictable,” he explained.
Müller also highlighted the challenges posed by the high number of foreign inmates. In cities like Hamburg, two-thirds of all inmates are foreigners, many of whom do not speak German and struggle to communicate their needs to the staff. Some migrants deliberately attack officers, knowing that “a new crime will delay their deportation.”
Müller’s warnings underscore the critical need for immediate political action to address staffing shortages, improve safety for prison employees, and tackle the growing drug problem within the prison system.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
HUNGARIAN President Viktor Orban has been involved in a horror crash, killing a police officer and seriously injuring a second.
The crash took place at around 11.15am in the district of Degerloch in Stuttgart, Germany, when the Hungarian leader was being escorted to the airport.
Yesterday evening Mr Orban watched as the Hungary defeated Scotland in dramatic fashion in their Euro 2024 match.
The Stuttgart traffic police motorcycle squad were escorting the Hungarian president to Stuttgart Airport on Löffelstrasse.
However, a woman, 69, driving a BMW reportedly drove through an intersection that had been closed off by the police for Orban’s convoy at Albplatz.
She is understood to have turned left at the Rubensstrasse intersection and hit the motorcycle of a 61-year-old male officer who was accompanying Orban’s car.
Due to the force of the impact, the police vehicle was thrown onto the motorcycle of a 27-year-old colleague who had used his motor to block the intersection for traffic.
Both police officers were seriously injured in the collision and were rushed to hospital, reports Bild.
But despite the best efforts of paramedics, the 61-year-old cop died of his injuries shortly afterwards.
| — Hat tip: Conservative Tree House | [Return to headlines] |
Hungarian Government Bypassed as EU Allocates 1.4 Billion Euros for Ukrainian Weapon Deliveries
Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjartó, confirmed that due to a previous abstention, Hungary will be bypassed regarding EU aid for Ukraine.
The EU plans to allocate 1.4 billion euros from seized Russian assets for Ukrainian weapon deliveries, a move Szijjartó vehemently opposes. Speaking during a break at the EU Council meeting, Szijjartó criticized the decision, emphasizing Hungary’s objection to using EU funds for direct military support.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, noted that a legal loophole allowed the decision to proceed despite Hungary’s abstention in an earlier vote. Politico reported that no member state opposed the decision by the deadline, enabling funds to be earmarked for ammunition, air defense systems, and support for the Ukrainian defense industry.
According to Politico, unanimity was not required for this decision, preventing Hungary from blocking it. Szijjartó had previously described Hungary’s abstention as a “constructive” stance to avoid political and financial implications. However, the decision to allocate funds without Hungary’s consent has raised concerns about EU decision-making processes and legal implications.
Szijjartó criticized the EU’s disregard for Hungary’s position, calling it a “clear red line” and accusing decision-makers of ignoring rules and excluding Hungary unjustly. He warned against further escalation, particularly objecting to proposals for EU military trainers to operate in Ukraine, which he views as a risky escalation of the conflict.
The Hungarian government is exploring legal options in response to what Szijjartó termed a “serious breach” of EU decision-making protocols. He emphasized Hungary’s opposition to actions that could intensify the conflict in Ukraine and underscored Hungary’s commitment to its own foreign policy decisions.
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Ireland Has Decided on Its Candidate for the New European Commission
Irish Finance Minister Michael McGrath will be nominated for the position of European Commissioner from Ireland, Reuters reports.
The leaders of Ireland’s three ruling parties agreed yesterday to nominate McGrath for the new European Commission. The official announcement of his candidacy for the position of European Commissioner is expected on Tuesday.
This move will require the government to appoint a new finance minister to finalize the budget before elections, which are scheduled to take place in a few months. The national broadcaster RTE reported that McGrath’s replacement will also be announced on June 25.
On June 11, the Latvian government officially nominated Valdis Dombrovskis, the current European Commissioner for Trade and Vice President of the European Commission responsible for trade, as its candidate for the new commission.
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Ireland Fears Revenge From Ursula Von Der Leyen Over Opposition for Second Term
Irish government sources feared Ursula von der Leyen would punish its next Brussels Commissioner with a poor appointment, after statements by Fianna Fail MEPs during European elections they would not vote for her for a second term.
An aide to a Fianna Fail MEP admitted to Brussels Signal June 24 it was a “sensitive” matter.
Ireland hoped for a senior economics appointment for its next European Commissioner, with its cabinet set to agree June 25 that Fianna Fail’s Michael McGrath, who is currently finance minister, will take the place of Mairéad McGuinness.
McGrath will step down from cabinet immediately, even though the Commissioner role does not come available until November 1.
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Norway Government Begins Stockpiling 30,000 Ton Emergency Grain Reserve
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The Norwegian government on Tuesday signed a deal to start stockpiling grain, saying the COVID-19 pandemic, a war in Europe and climate change have made it necessary.
The deal to store 30,000 tons of grain was signed by agriculture and food minister Geir Pollestad and four private companies. The wheat, that will belong to the Norwegian government, will be stored by the companies in facilities across the country.
In a statement, Norway’s ministry for agriculture and food said “the building up of a contingency stock of food grains is about being prepared for the unthinkable.”
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Russian Saboteurs ‘Suspected’ Over German Factory Fire
A fire at a factory in Berlin was possibly started by Russian saboteurs, according to security experts.
Intelligence agencies informed Germany authorities that the fire at the start of May at a factory owned by Diehl Metal Applications, a subsidiary of defence company the Diehl Group, was thought to have been caused by Russia.
Initially, the blaze was presumed the result of a technical malfunction but a NATO partner informed German officials that there were concrete indications of Russian State involvement, The Wall Street Journal reported on June 23.
Investigators said they suspected that Russian secret services hired criminals to carry out the attack and potentially paid them using cryptocurrency.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Surge in Anti-Semitic Incidents in Germany Signals Alarming Trend
Last year, Germany witnessed a stark rise in incidents of anti-Semitism, with the Federal Association of Research and Information Centers on Anti-Semitism (Rias) documenting 4,782 cases.
This marks an increase of over 80% compared to the previous year. The spike, according to Rias, was predominantly observed following the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Berlin, Felix Klein, the federal government’s commissioner for combating anti-Semitism, characterized the figures as “absolutely catastrophic.” Klein emphasized that the Hamas attack served as a “catalyst” for the surge in anti-Semitic acts.
“Jewish life in Germany is facing greater threats than at any time since the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany,” Klein stated, underscoring the severity of the situation highlighted in the Rias report.
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Sweden’s Youth Homes Fuel Rise in Gun Violence, Despite Social Safety Net
Recent reports shed light on Sweden’s struggle with escalating gun violence, exacerbated by a system of youth homes meant to rehabilitate troubled youth but increasingly exploited by criminal gangs.
The alarming trend was underscored by a tragic incident involving a 14-year-old boy, raised in state-run youth homes since the age of eight, who became embroiled in a gang-initiated murder. After being supplied with drugs and shelter by a gang, he was coerced into a fatal shooting, marking a disturbing escalation in Sweden’s gang-related violence.
Sweden, known for its robust social welfare programs, is now grappling with the highest per capita rate of gun violence in the EU. In 2023 alone, the country reported 55 gun-related deaths in 363 separate incidents, starkly contrasting with its Nordic neighbors.
Critics argue that the youth homes, designed to provide care and rehabilitation, have instead become breeding grounds for criminal activity. Gangs recruit vulnerable youths within these facilities, exploiting lax security measures and inadequate supervision.
The Swedish government, facing mounting pressure, has initiated reforms aimed at separating hardened criminals from vulnerable youths in state care. These efforts include stricter immigration policies, harsher penalties for gun crimes, and enhanced police powers.
However, challenges persist, as the system struggles to rehabilitate gang-affiliated youth effectively. According to a recent audit, the majority of gang-involved youngsters in youth homes eventually relapse into criminal behavior, perpetuating a cycle of violence that continues to grip Swedish society.
The situation has not only sparked political turmoil but also prompted soul-searching about the efficacy of Sweden’s progressive social policies in tackling rampant youth crime and gang violence.
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Shortly before a crucial EU summit, the heads of state and government of the largest European political families agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission. This information was obtained by the DPA agency from negotiation circles, as reported by Handelsblatt.
The agreement also includes the appointment of the liberal Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, to the position of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Former Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, will be elected President of the European Council for an initial period of two and a half years.
In this role, the socialist will be responsible for preparing EU summits and chairing working sessions. The President of the European Commission and the EU’s chief diplomat are appointed for one legislative term, which is roughly five years.
The basis for the agreement, which still needs to be formalized at the EU summit on Thursday and Friday, is the results of the European elections held just over two weeks ago.
The main negotiators for the European People’s Party were Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, while the negotiators for the Social Democrats were German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The liberals rely on French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is stepping down, as their lead negotiators.
After the expected nomination of von der Leyen at the EU summit, she still needs to be elected by a majority in the European Parliament. For this, the German will have to secure the support of the deputies in the coming weeks. The vote will take place no earlier than the third week of July and is considered the biggest hurdle on the path to a second term as president. This is because the election will be held by secret ballot, and von der Leyen has relatively many critics in the European Parliament.
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UK: Exclusive: Farage: Capitalism is Dead, We’re Living in Corporatism
Economic growth is being strangled by an “unholy alliance” of big business, big banks, and big government and protecting blue-collar workers means standing up for true capitalism, Nigel Farage tells Breitbart London.
Thatcherism is no longer a relevant or useful political approach for post-capitalism Britain, Nigel Farage told Breitbart at a campaign stop on Monday evening, as he unpicked what the emerging Faragism of pro-”little guy” populism means. Apparently putting aside the Thatcherism that was so clearly the preferred model of his predecessor in the party leader’s seat, Richard Tice, Mr Farage said a different approach was needed to fix the problems of 2024, not 1975.
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Five Just Stop Oil activists paid over £1,000 for four nights in an AirBnB as a ‘safe house’ while they attempted to bring the M25 ‘to a standstill,’ a court heard.
The protesters caused over £500,000 worth of damage and delayed 480,000 rush hour journeys by scaling gantries over the motorway.
While creating mayhem, the demonstrators rented accommodation through Airbnb, with one letting in south east London costing them £1,034.93.
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UK: Nigel Farage Snags Best News Presenter Industry Award for Second Year Running
Weeks after stepping down from his nightly talk show on GB News to return to frontline politics, Brexit leader Nigel Farage has again won the Television and Radio Industries Club award for best news presenter.
Nigel Farage was booed at the 55th Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) awards ceremony on Tuesday afternoon as he collected the best news presenter prize the second year in a row. GB News, the broadcaster that had carried Farage’s show until he returned to politics earlier this month reported that he responded to the jeers from industry outsiders who, typically for the legacy media, are not Farage fans: “Thank you! It’s like a crowd at a wrestling event, isn’t really! I notice much less hostility than we had last year!”.
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UK: Video Shows Man ‘Defecating in Lake’ at Rishi Sunak’s Constituency Home as Four Arrested
A video has been released by protest group Youth Demand that appears to show a young man entering the Prime Minister’s constituency property and defecating in a lake.
The group said the action was a “parting gift” for the Prime Minister and the Conservative Government.
It came as North Yorkshire Police said four men have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass at the Prime Minister’s constituency home in Kirby Sigston.
The force said in a statement on Tuesday: “We have arrested four people in the grounds of the Prime Minister’s constituency home this afternoon.
“Our officers were with the four men within one minute of them entering the grounds.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Victims ‘Taunted’ as Scotland Releases 500 Inmates Early to Relieve Packed Jails
Victims are being taunted by criminals who are being released early from Scotland’s prisons today under emergency plans to tackle overcrowding, Sky News has been told.
Jails across the UK are in crisis with governors in England and Wales warning they could run out of space within days.
From this morning, the SNP government in Edinburgh is allowing more than 500 Scottish inmates, serving short term sentences, out early in a bid to tackle the issue.
Prisoners inside for under four years who have 180 days or less left to serve are being released in waves over the coming weeks across all Scottish prisons.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Israeli Air Strike Kills 10 Family Members of Hamas Chief Haniyeh in Gaza
An Israeli air strike has killed 10 members of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh’s family in northern Gaza’s Shati refugee camp, according to the Palestinian group and the enclave’s civil defence agency.
Confirming the attack on the Haniyeh family and the number of the dead, Hamas said on Tuesday that it held the administration of US President Joe Biden responsible for the continuation of the war of “extermination” against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
| — Hat tip: JW | [Return to headlines] |
Israeli Supreme Court Says Ultra-Orthodox Must Serve in Military
In a move that could undermine the stability of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s government, the Supreme Court in Israel on Tuesday agreed to end draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. Making up around 13 percent of the country’s population, it is estimated that nearly 70,000 future soldiers would be eligible. But with two ultra-Orthodox parties in the ruling coalition, the government is divided over the issue.
Israel’s top court ruled unanimously on Tuesday that the state must draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into military service, potentially destabilising Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.
The High Court of Justice’s decision on the politically charged issue comes as calls grow for ultra-Orthodox men, historically exempt from mandatory service, to enlist as Israel wages war on Hamas in Gaza and prepares for potential fighting in Lebanon.
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UN to Aid Operations Across Gaza Will be Suspended Without Improved Safety
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior U.N. officials have warned Israel that they will suspend the world body’s aid operations across Gaza unless Israel acts urgently to better protect humanitarian workers, two U.N. officials said Tuesday. The ultimatum is the latest in a series of U.N. steps demanding Israel do more to safeguard aid operations from strikes by its forces and to curb growing lawlessness hindering humanitarian workers.
A U.N. letter sent to Israeli officials this month said Israel must provide U.N. workers with a way to communicate directly with Israeli forces on the ground in Gaza, among other steps, the officials said.
They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations with Israeli officials. The U.N. officials said there has been no final decision on suspending operations across Gaza and that talks with the Israelis were ongoing.
| — Hat tip: McN | [Return to headlines] |
US Pushing Israel to Avoid War With Hezbollah
Washington (AFP) — The United States is pressing Israel to avoid a major war against Lebanon’s Hezbollah, with top American officials urging a diplomatic solution in order to prevent another Middle East crisis.
Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah are exchanging fire on a near-daily basis, and the Israeli army said last week that plans for an offensive in Lebanon were “approved and validated.”
Washington is working to lower the temperature, but those efforts — which come on top of disagreements between the administrations of US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — may further add to tensions between the two leaders.
…
| — Hat tip: MM | [Return to headlines] |
Poland Has Significantly Reduced the Issuance of Visas to Foreigners
Due to Donald Tusk’s policies, the number of all types of visas to Poland has sharply decreased. According to Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the reduction ranges from 50% to 90%, depending on the type of visa. From the beginning of the year until June 14, Poland issued 98,211 work visas.
As of June 14, 32,233 Belarusians, 47,257 Ukrainians, and 3,659 Georgians arrived to work in Poland. For comparison, in the entire year of 2023, 284,786 work visas were issued, with Belarusians receiving 114,598, Ukrainians 107,354, and Turks 8,257.
There has also been a noticeable decrease in humanitarian visas. In 2023, 4,539 such visas were issued to citizens of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Yemen, Mexico, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Syria, and Tajikistan. This year, 542 visas have been issued to citizens of Afghanistan, Belarus, Palestine, Russia, Syria, and Ukraine. The number of Schengen visas has also decreased: 105,223 were issued in 2023 compared to 40,316 this year.
Poland has suspended the Poland Business Harmony program, which allowed IT specialists from the East to obtain special visas. At the same time, the fee for accepting and processing applications for national visas has increased to 135 euros. These actions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aim to minimize the number of foreigners whose actual purpose of arrival to Poland differs from their stated intentions.
Currently, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration is working on defining priorities for Poland’s migration policy, which could result in strengthening the visa issuance system.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Turkey Claims Closer Ties With BRICS Due to Disappointment With EU Talks
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Ankara has drawn closer to the BRICS group of countries, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, due to disappointment over the lack of progress in negotiations for EU membership. He said this in an interview with Haberturk TV channel, Bloomberg reports.
According to him, Ankara has relationships with BRICS countries that “are also undergoing evolution,” and it is negotiating with them.
“If the EU had a desire to take a step forward, our perspective on certain issues could have been different,” Fidan noted.
Turkey has been unable to make progress in negotiations with the European Union since the start of accession talks in 2005. The EU has attributed this to deficiencies in Turkey’s democracy.
“Within NATO, there is a military alliance, but an economic alliance has not materialized. Therefore, we continue to search,” Fidan said regarding the EU.
The Foreign Minister’s words were possibly aimed at pushing the European Union to expedite negotiations with Turkey.
“The distinctive and beautiful feature of BRICS compared to the EU is that it includes all civilizations and races. If BRICS becomes a bit more institutionalized, it will bring significant benefits,” he concluded.
The day before, it was suggested in Turkey that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan might meet with Kremlin head Vladimir Putin in Kazakhstan “in the next few days.”
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New Russian “Glide Bombs” Proving Highly Effective as Summer Offensive Begins
A new weapon (outfitted using old weapons) has been used increasingly by Russia in the past two months and it’s proving to be highly effective as the Russian forces in Ukraine ramp up what looks to be the beginning of a long anticipated summer offensive. Dubbed the “glide bomb,” they are actually Soviet era FAB bombs retrofitted with glide technology and rudimentary laser/GPS guidance. The FABs can weigh up to 6600 pounds and have a deadly shrapnel radius of at least 200 yards.
The glide bombs are launched from Russian air assets well away from Ukrainian anti-aircraft positions and the weapons “glide” up to 40 miles to front line targets with relative precision. The cost of retrofitting FAB bombs is far cheaper than building modern laser guided weapons like ATACMS. The bombs give Russia the ability to provide air support to offensive troops without putting aircraft in the way of NATO missiles. Meaning, they are the perfect weapon to enable a new Russian offensive action. European tacticians are calling the glide bombs “wonder weapons.”
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Russia to Block Dozens of EU Media Outlets in ‘Retaliatory’ Move
Russia said Tuesday it was blocking access to dozens of European media outlets, including AFP websites, in response to the EU slapping broadcasting bans on several Russian outlets last month.
France’s Le Monde, Germany’s Der Spiegel and Spain’s El Mundo were among the media outlets Russia named, as was the website of digital newspaper Politico.
The announcement comes after the European Union unveiled a ban on four Kremlin-controlled media outlets in May, accusing them of being “instrumental in bringing forward and supporting” Moscow’s Ukraine offensive.
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Shocking New Video Shows ATACMS Bomblets Raining Down on Russian Beachgoers
Unbelievable new footage has emerged of the Sunday Ukrainian missile strike on a busy Sevastopol, Crimea beach as tourists were lounging in the sun.
Russian authorities said that a missile launched from a US-supplied MGM-140 ATACMS system by Ukrainian forces exploded overhead and released bomblets across the area — in the water and on land — killing five and injuring 124people, including children. The CCTV footage captures the moment when the missile’s submunitions rain down over the crowded beach, appearing to confirm Russia’s allegation that a cluster bomb warhead was used.
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The EU Adopts the 14th Sanctions Package Against Russia
The European Union has adopted the 14th package of sanctions against Russia due to the military actions in Ukraine, as reported by the EU Council. The new sanctions target Russian energy, the financial sector, and trade. They include restrictions on the transit of LNG through European ports and measures against the Russian equivalent of SWIFT.
According to the EU Council, the new package includes:
- Restrictions on the transit of Russian LNG through European ports.
- Europe will continue to purchase it but will prohibit re-export to third countries. These restrictions will come into effect in nine months.
- Restrictions on the “shadow” Russian fleet, affecting 27 vessels.
- A ban on European media, political parties, and analytical organizations from receiving funding from Russian sources.
- Personal sanctions against 116 individuals and legal entities.
- Sanctions against companies from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and the UAE for circumventing sanctions.
- A ban on selling cultural and historical valuables to Russia that could be suspected of having Ukrainian origins.
In addition, European companies will have the right to claim compensation for damages caused by the Russian side “as a result of the imposition of sanctions and expropriation.” This refers to the Russian decree from April 2022 “On Temporary Management of Certain Property,” adopted in response to the “unfriendly and contrary to international law” sanctions imposed by the US and other countries on Russian individuals and legal entities, including property rights restrictions.
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Ukraine, Russia Complete Fifth Prisoner Swap This Year Via UAE
Ukraine and Russia completed a large prisoner swap Tuesday, a rare deal between the nations at war since 2022 that was brokered by the United Arab Emirates.
Ninety Ukrainian soldiers, captured during Russia’s invasion, have been returned home, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram. Russia’s Defense Ministry revealed the same number of Russians released by Kyiv.
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The European Union is threatening to “close the door” to Georgia and reduce financial aid if the ruling party continues its current policies. This statement was made by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, before the start of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
“The road to the European Union is open for the people of Georgia. However, if the government continues to do what it is doing, this road will be closed. Today, the EU countries are not making any concrete decisions; it is a discussion about the situation and possible measures. But soon, financial support from the European Peace Facility, high-level political contacts, and financial support could be restricted,” Borrell said.
He added that such measures “should not affect the population.”
It is worth noting that Tbilisi has clashed with the West over the “foreign agents” law. Previously, several EU countries called for sanctions against Tbilisi, including the suspension of the visa-free regime.
In turn, the United States has imposed visa restrictions on several dozen Georgian citizens for “undermining democracy” in the country. This primarily concerns members of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party, who initiated the bill, as well as parliamentarians and law enforcement officials.
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Malaysia Foils Terror Plot Against Prime Minister and King, Detains Eight Suspects
Malaysian police have detained eight individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State (IS) militant group, thwarting potential threats against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the nation’s king, and other dignitaries. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution announced the arrests on Monday.
The detainees, comprising six men and two women aged between 25 and 70, were apprehended without trial in four states during a police operation over the weekend. Among them were a former university lecturer, housewives, and a construction worker. These arrests follow several operations conducted in May.
Malaysia has a history of strict measures against militant cells linked to IS, with numerous detentions occurring before 2020. However, such arrests have been less frequent in recent years.
Saifuddin revealed that the suspects posed threats to Prime Minister Anwar, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who holds the country’s rotating monarchy, top police officials, and other prominent figures. He assured the public that police actions had mitigated any immediate danger but urged vigilance due to the misuse of modern technology and social media to spread extremist ideologies.
Earlier this month, a related incident saw a man charged with inciting terrorism within his family after his son attacked a police station, resulting in the deaths of two officers and the son’s subsequent fatal shooting. The man’s Singaporean wife and three other children were also charged in connection with the incident.
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South Korea Detects 350 Waste Balloons From North Korea Amid Rising Tensions
South Korea’s military reported detecting 350 North Korean balloons overnight, believed to be carrying waste, escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The Joint Chiefs of Staff observed one such balloon flying in northern Gyeonggi Province near Seoul around 9 p.m. local time.
Approximately 100 of these balloons landed in South Korean territory, mainly in northern Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, with no hazardous substances found so far. The Seoul Metropolitan Government issued a push notification advising residents to avoid contact with the balloons and to report any sightings to authorities.
In response, the South Korean military has indicated it might resume loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts at the border, a practice paused in recent years. “Our military is ready to immediately start anti-North Korea propaganda broadcasts, and will operate with flexibility according to the strategical and operational situation,” stated the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday.
Since May, North Korea has sent over 1,000 balloons to the South, in retaliation for South Korean activists sending anti-regime leaflets and USB sticks with South Korean entertainment into North Korea. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, warned of “trouble” following such actions.
A South Korean analysis of balloons sent between late May and early June found soil containing parasites, including roundworms and whipworms, suggesting the soil may have originated from human feces. Other waste materials included cloth, wastepaper, and damaged clothes from South Korean brands, which signaled hostility towards South Korean goods. Clothes with imitations of Disney characters were also found.
This balloon activity coincides with heightened tensions and stalled inter-Korean diplomacy. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a defense agreement with North Korea, while Kim Jong Un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal and threatened its use against the South.
Amid these developments, a US Navy aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea for trilateral exercises with South Korea and Japan. This move is part of a series of US military actions to affirm its commitment to its South Korean ally. Additionally, US and South Korean officials signed a memorandum of understanding on diplomatic intelligence sharing and analysis, and Japanese, South Korean, and US officials issued a joint statement condemning the deepening security cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
“The United States, ROK, and Japan condemn in the strongest possible terms deepening military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including continued arms transfers from the DPRK to Russia that prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people, violate multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and threaten stability in both Northeast Asia and Europe,” the statement said.
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Australia to Limit Vape Sales to Pharmacies Starting Next Week
Australia will implement some of the world’s strictest regulations on vapes starting next week, restricting their sale exclusively to pharmacies. Health Minister Mark Butler announced the move, stating it would make vapes available as therapeutic products primarily intended for helping smokers quit, as reported by AP.
The legislation, expected to pass this week with amendments from the Greens party, mandates that from Monday, it will be illegal to supply, manufacture, import, or sell vapes outside of pharmacies, regardless of nicotine content.
Previously, there were no specific restrictions on where vapes could be sold, with concerns over undisclosed nicotine content. Under the new law, adults will not need prescriptions to purchase vapes from pharmacies, a compromise reached to ensure accessibility while preventing youth access.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia opposed the decision, arguing against pharmacies being required to sell what they consider harmful products without sufficient evidence of their effectiveness in smoking cessation.
Australia has been at the forefront of tobacco control measures since 2012, when it introduced plain packaging laws for tobacco products and banned tobacco advertising, contributing to a drastic reduction in smoking rates nationwide.
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Australia’s eSafety Chief Doubles Down on Anti-Encryption Push Despite Industry Backlash
Australia’s chief censor, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, by her own admission already lives in “a dystopia.” Namely, in an era of the internet where allegedly, and to sum her sentiment up, “nobody’s thinking of the children.”
And so to make both the dystopia and the internet worse, Grant is sticking to her guns, at least when it comes to continued anti-encryption rhetoric. This, is despite the fact that Australia’s proposed new rules have seemingly gotten “watered down” after strong pushback.
It’s a dangerous game Grant and her ilk are playing, considering that encryption is the best currently known protection people of any age (and businesses and governments) currently have on the internet.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy After 5 Years in Prison
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, ending a yearslong legal battle and allowing him to return home a free man for the first time since 2012.
He entered the plea at a court in Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth north of Guam, on Wednesday morning, The Associated Press reported around 9:45 a.m. local time (7:40 p.m. ET Tuesday).
The U.S. Department of Justice has said Assange is expected to travel to Australia, where he was born, after the hearing.
The concession from Assange, who published a trove of classified documents that embarrassed several governments and which the U.S. government says threatened national security and aided adversaries, comes as part of a plea deal that was expected to sentence him to 62 months — time he has already served.
A plane carrying Assange landed around two hours before the scheduled plea hearing, the AP reported from the Northern Mariana Islands.
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Part of Kenya’s Parliament on Fire as Thousands of Protesters Enter
Part of Kenya’s parliament building was on fire Tuesday as thousands of protesters against a new finance bill entered and legislators fled, in the most direct assault on the government in decades. Journalists saw at least three bodies outside the complex where police had opened fire.
The protesters had demanded that legislators vote against the controversial bill imposing new taxes on a country where frustrations over the high cost of living have simmered for years.
The protesters outmaneuvered police to enter parliament shortly after legislators voted to pass the bill. Lawmakers fled through a tunnel, but protesters allowed opposition legislators who voted against the bill to walk out of the besieged building.
The office of the Nairobi governor, a member of the ruling party, also was on fire. The office is located near parliament. Police water cannons were being used to extinguish the fire.
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50 Immigrants Brought to US Through an ISIS-Tied Smuggling Ring Are Unaccounted for by DHS: Report
Three Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials told NBC News on Tuesday that 50 out of 400 illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States through a human smuggling network connected to the Islamic State are still unaccounted for.
The revelation comes after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested eight men from Tajikstan in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles this month over suspected ties to the Islamic State of Iran and Syria (ISIS).
Another illegal immigrant from Uzbekistan was arrested in Maryland in April over a suspected affiliation with ISIS.
The officials told NBC News that 150 of the 400 illegal immigrants have been arrested, but that 50 remain missing, and that ICE agents are looking to arrest those migrants on immigration charges.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Dutch Asylum Committee Chairman Resigns Citing ‘Not Normal’ PVV-Led Government
Rutger Groot Wassink, chairman of the asylum committee of the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), resigned from his post, refusing to work with the new right-wing Dutch government led by the Party for Freedom (PVV).
Groot Wassink, a member of the GreenLeft party, said on June 25 he did “not want to normalise what isn’t normal”.
“I consider the PVV a far-right party that poses a threat to democratic order and the rule of law,” Groot Wassink told newspaper Het Parool.
He will remain as an Amsterdam alderman but will delegate communications between his department and the national government to his officials.
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EU Border Agency to Help Serbia Combat Illegal Migration
On Tuesday, June 25, Serbia signed an agreement with the European Union’s border agency, Frontex, to enhance “operational cooperation” aimed at countering illegal migration through the Western Balkans into the EU. This was reported by the European Commission.
The agreement was signed in Belgrade by EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic after negotiations that lasted more than a year.
Under the agreement, Frontex will now have the right to conduct joint operations and deploy EU border guards and coast guards on Serbian territory, including its borders with neighboring non-EU countries.
“Strengthening border surveillance along the entire migration route is crucial for reducing the number of illegal migrants, considering the evolving methods of smugglers, as well as the risks of firearms trafficking and organized crime,” stated the European Commission.
Frontex has already deployed nearly 500 personnel in the Western Balkans and is conducting joint operations with border guards in Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro.
Serbia is located along the so-called Balkan route, which migrants use to enter the European Union. According to Frontex, nearly 100,000 migrants used this route in the first 10 months of 2023.
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‘Expel Unemployed Ukrainians,’ Says Prominent German Christian-Democrat
Alexander Dobrindt, Chairman of the Christian Social Union (CSU) parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, wants Ukrainians without work to return “to safe areas of western Ukraine”.
Speaking to Bild am Sonntag in an interview published on June 23, Dobrindt said it was time to change how Germany helped Ukrainians.
“Now, more than two years after the start of the war, the principle must apply: Taking up work in Germany or returning to safe areas of western Ukraine.”
In addition, Dobrindt criticised the citizen’s allowance [financial aid for those in need] that he said kept too many people on social welfare.
“We need stronger obligations for asylum seekers to co-operate when it comes to taking up work. There must be an offer of work and this must be part of an integration service.”
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Illegal migrants are ‘queuing up in Calais waiting for a Starmer government’ so they can come to Britain and stay here, Rishi Sunak said last night.
The Prime Minister tried to create a clear dividing line with Labour on immigration, claiming Sir Keir would reverse his Rwanda deportation flight policy if elected and did not have a plan to deal with Channel boats.
It came as migrants themselves admitted they were waiting in northern France for the election to take place before attempting the perilous journey across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
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‘Sanctuary’ State Released Illegal Immigrant Accused of Kidnapping Despite Detainer, ICE Says
Rhode Island law enforcement officials released an illegal immigrant charged with domestic kidnapping and other offenses despite a detainer request lodged against him, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Deportation officers apprehended Carlos Sebastian Natera-Santa, a 22-year-old Dominican national accused by local authorities of domestic kidnapping, fraudulent use of credit cards and violating a protection order on May 25, ICE announced Tuesday. The agency lodged the detainer following his arrest by the Rhode Island State Police on March 12 for violating a “no contact order,” but the sheriff’s office “refused to honor the detainer.”
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‘Sanctuary’ State Governor Tells Illegal Immigrants Not to Come: ‘Lack of Shelter Space’
The governor of Massachusetts deployed state officials to border communities to warn illegal immigrants not to go to her state because the migrant shelters are already full, according to a report from Politico.
Democratic Gov. Maura Healey is sending five state officials to several Texas communities from Sunday through Wednesday to inform non-governmental immigration organizations and other border officials that her state’s emergency system is too overwhelmed and cannot accept any more migrant families, accordingto Politico. The actions come despite state and local policies that largely qualify Massachusetts as a “sanctuary” jurisdiction.
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Seattle Recruiting Non-Citizens, DACA Recipients to Become Police Officers
Seattle officials have opened up city police jobs to illegal aliens in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
With the Seattle Police Department (SPD) at its lowest staffing level in decades, officials in city hall are looking to take advantage of a recently passed state law that allows jurisdictions to hire non-citizens as police officers.
The Democrat-dominated state legislature recently passed Senate Bill 6157, a law that allows jurisdictions to give DACA recipients police powers. One reason the bill was needed is because so many liberal cities have wiped out their police departments with Black Lives Matter (BLM) policies, defund the police schemes, and other policies that generally undermine their departments, making it difficult to find recruits.
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UK: Farage Calls for Royal Navy to Push Back Boat Migrants to France as 50,000 Cross Under Sunak
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for the Royal Navy to intervene in the migrant crisis as he took to the English Channel once again on Tuesday as 50,000 illegals reached British shores since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak came into power.
With a little over a week left before Britons head to the polls for the July 4th early general election called by Prime Minister Sunak, his government’s failure to “stop the boats” was put on full display as populist challenger Nigel Farage filmed 45 migrants packed in a small rubber dinghy making their way into British territorial waters to be escorted ashore by the Border Force and brought into the country.
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This is part of an exclusive series reporting on the So Cal Antifa cell.
A convicted violent So Cal Antifa member awaiting sentencing has suddenly announced he is transgender. Jeremy Jonathan White, of Los Angeles, was convicted of felony conspiracy to riot last month in San Diego County along with his co-defendant Brian Cortez Lightfoot Jr., who was also convicted of an additional five violent felonies.
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Elon Musk branded Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy as “super bigoted against men” after the release of “The Acolyte,” which features an all-female witch coven, on Disney+.
“She’s more deadly than the Death Star!” Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in response to a post with images of Empire death machines that labeled Kennedy as the “Franchise Killer.”
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An Idaho man and member of the Satanic Temple has been found guilty of being in possession of “very disturbing child abuse and child pornography” material.
Jason Russell, 22, pled guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and will be sentenced, according to a Valley County Sheriff’s press release.
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LEGO Wishes Happy Pride to Children With Mini-Figures Decked Out as Drag Queens, Furries
Lego wished its fans, many of which being children, “Happy Pride” in a Thursday Instagram post featuring a clip with Lego furries, drag queens, and other LGBTQ identities celebrating Pride and LGBTQ activist activities.
The video promotion was posted on the company’s Instagram last week with the caption, “These dazzling minifigures are ready for Pride with their very own spectacular Pride celebration!”
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People Surprised and Worried by UK Army Ad Showing Exclusively White People
Authored by Paul Joseph Watson via Modernity.news
People have expressed ominous surprise that the British military is once again targeting white men in recruitment ads, with some seeing it as a sign that war is coming.
“After being totally dismissed from adverts for years now, the lesser spotted white male is now seemingly making quite the comeback for UK Military Ads,” commented an X user.
The UK Army clip in question appears to feature exclusively white people and features no diversity whatsoever, despite previous military ads and TV commercials in general being full of it.
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Ali Miles, a biological male felon who identifies as a Muslim woman, has been awarded $350,000 in a settlement after suing New York City over officials’ decision to hold Miles in pre-trial detention on Rikers Island with male inmates. Miles spent one month in the facility before being transferred back to Arizona, where Miles was found guilty on numerous charges.
Miles, formerly known as Dylan Miles, alleged in the lawsuit that the inmate had informed the court that Miles was transgender, and that the refusal to house Miles with female inmates amounted to “gender identity discrimination.” As part of the settlement, the city maintained that Miles’ allegations were untrue, and did not accept any blame.
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