The New York City Pride March through Greenwich Village was shut down today by protesters from Queers for Palestine, who threw red paint and blocked the street. Meanwhile, Hamas supporters shut down the Toronto Pride Parade, prompting police to cancel the remainder of the event.
In other news, in today’s French parliamentary election, exit polls indicate that Rassemblement National received 34% of the vote, while President Emmanuel Macron’s party pulled in just 20%. It’s still possible that RN may gain an absolute majority after the second round of voting on July 7, although that seems unlikely.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Conservative Tree House, Dean, DV, JW, LP, MM, Reader from Chicago, WRSA, 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.
Canada: Annual Inflation Continues to Rise, Up to 2.9% in May
Inflation in May accelerated once again, with the costs of services and groceries ticking upward, a new Statistics Canada report released Tuesday said.
The annual rate of inflation was 2.9 percent in May, an increase from the 2.7 percent rate in April, the agency said.
Statistics Canada reported that the increase in the Consumer Price Index “was largely due to higher prices for services, which rose 4.6% in May following a 4.2% increase in April. Faster price growth for services was led by cellular services, travel tours, rent and air transportation. Prices for goods (+1.0%) grew at the same rate as in April.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Anti-Israel demonstrators busted through barricades at New York City’s NYC Pride parade Sunday, threw fake blood at a Human Rights Campaign float and temporarily blocked the march, videos show.
The disrupters — including some in masks — included about a dozen people who ended up cuffed by cops.
Red paint could be seen splattered all over Christopher Street in Greenwich Village as the group sat cross-legged blocking the roadway at the intersection of Waverly Place.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Yet another major newspaper urged President Biden to step down after his disastrous debate against Trump — saying “Retirement is now necessary.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published a front-page editorial Saturday asking Biden, 81, to pass the torch to another, more competent candidate, following the lead of The New York Times.
“The unfortunate truth is that Biden should withdraw from the race, for the good of the nation he has served so admirably for half a century,” the AJC Editorial Board wrote.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Billionaire Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker failed to deliver jobs promised for black workers in the emerging cannabis and green energy industries, an economic advocacy group said in a scathing report.
Pritzker — considered a potential replacement for President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket — will be hosting the Democratic National Convention on his Chicago turf in August.
“Governor Pritzker wants the DNC to celebrate his leadership of the state. However, it would be an injustice to do so without acknowledging the deteriorating state of affairs for Black communities, especially in Chicago,” said Darius Jones, senior advisor of the National Black Empowerment Action Fund.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Blue Earth County Officials Buy, Demolish Beloved Rapidan Dam Store
BLUE EARTH COUNTY, Minnesota (WCCO) — Blue Earth County officials on Friday bought and demolished the iconic Rapidan Dam Store to prevent it from falling into the Blue Earth River.
The nearby home collapsed into the river earlier this week as the raging waters caused an abutment of the 114-year-old dam to partially fail. Jim Hruska bought the store in 1972, and for more than 50 years, it was a place for pie and making memories.
After the river swallowed the home, the family told WCCO that officials believed the store would be next, as the river carved out the ground around it.
On Thursday, Blue Earth County officials said they worked with the Hruska family to remove the bar, chairs, tables, booths and memorabilia from the building. The county then bought the building from the family on Friday so it could be removed from the site, lessening the environmental impact to other properties downstream.
“My family has lost their home, they’ve lost their business, their livelihood and their land will be gone,” said Shannon Whittet of the Hruska family earlier this week. “This feels like a death in our family.”
“The Dam Store was an integral part of the community and remains embedded in the memories of many residents,” wrote the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office. “Our thoughts are with the Hruska family and everyone close to them.”
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
Body Cam Video Shows Utica, N.Y., Cops Fatally Shoot 13-Year-Old Boy Armed With Pellet Gun
Body cam video of an upstate Utica police officer fatally shooting a 13-year-old boy was released Saturday night by authorities.
Officers believed the teen, identified as Nyah Mway, was carrying a handgun as he sprinted away from police. Body cam video showed the teen holding the supposed weapon.
However, after Officer Patrick Husnay killed Nyah Mway, investigators discovered the teen was only carrying a pellet gun.
Cops described the gun as “a realistic-appearing firearm with Glock markings, signatures, detachable magazine and serial numbers.” But, they noted, “Ultimately it fires only pellets or BBs.”
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
Eye-Popping 72% Don’t Think Biden Has the Mental and Physical Strength to be President: Poll
A jaw-dropping 72% of registered voters do not believe President Biden has the “mental and cognitive health necessary to serve as president” — as he continues to trail Donald Trump, two new polls show.
Only 27% of respondents in a CBS News/YouGov poll felt that Biden, 81, possesses the necessary mental strength needed for the grueling duties of the commander-in-chief, marking a drop in the finding from just over two weeks ago (35% “does,” to 65% “does not”).
The prior survey was taken June 9. The new one was conducted between June 28-29 to gauge the aftermath of the debate against former President Donald Trump that over 51 million watched.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Federal prosecutors are meeting with planemaker Boeing and the relatives of victims killed in two 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 ahead of a July 7 deadline for the Justice Department to decide whether the company will face criminal charges, according to a report by Reuters.
In its report, Reuters cited two people familiar with the matter as well as correspondence the outlet said it reviewed. According to one of Reuter’s sources, Justice Department (DOJ) officials met with Boeing lawyers on Thursday about the government finding that the company violated a 2021 agreement with the agency.
The deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) had protected Boeing from facing criminal charges over the two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Girl, 17, Shot After Stabbing Woman Near 31st Street Beach
BRONZEVILLE — A teenaged girl was shot after stabbing a woman near 31st Street Beach Saturday, hours after a vigil was held to pray for peace at the beach that has seen violent episodes this summer.
Around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, a 17-year-old girl and a 26-year-old woman were in the 3000 block of South Fort Dearborn Drive just north of 31st Street Beach when they began arguing with each other, police said. The teen took out a sharp object and stabbed the woman in her right arm, police said.
The woman, a licensed concealed carry holder, then pulled out a gun and shot the girl in her shoulder, according to police.
The woman was taken to Insight Hospital in good condition while the girl was taken to University of Chicago Hospital, where she was treated and released, police said.
The teen was arrested and charges were pending, police said Sunday.
| — Hat tip: MM | [Return to headlines] |
Google is Piloting Facial Recognition for Some Employees and Won’t Let Employees Opt Out
Google is testing facial recognition on one of its campuses, and refusing to be subjected to this is not an option for the giant’s employees.
In other words, opt-out is not a feature of the surveillance scheme — the only possibility available to employees is to fill out a form and declare they don’t want images recorded by security cameras, taken from their company IDs, stored.
Reports are saying that this is happening in Kirkland, a suburb of Seattle, where facial recognition tech is used to identify employees using images on their ID badges, in order to keep those unauthorized from entering the premises.
And while in the testing phase badges are being used, that won’t be the case in the future, Google representatives have said, but reports quoting them do not clarify what type of ID — or images — might be used instead.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Jewish Students Sue UCLA, Claim School Allowed Anti-Israel Protesters to Block Them From Campus
On June 5, three Jewish UCLA students sued the university for not shutting down pro-Palestinian encampments, alleging discrimination against Jews. They are seeking an injunctive and monetary relief for various constitutional and civil rights violations, like Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The plaintiffs contend that the UCLA administration failed to adequately protect Jewish students on campus in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack against Israel and the subsequent surge in anti-Semitism at American institutions of higher education.
“The University of California, Los Angeles, once considered among the most prestigious public institutions in the world, has deteriorated into a hotbed of antisemitism,” the lawsuit alleges.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
More questions about President Biden’s cognitive state are emerging as a new poll showed a jaw-dropping 72% of registered voters do not believe he is mentally fit for the job.
While many Democrats were left flabbergasted and sent into a tailspin by Biden’s debate debacle last week, the 81-year-old president’s cognitive slips have been nothing new to his inner circle.
White House aides have been meticulously working behind the scenes throughout his presidency to minimize his exposure to situations where his cognitive slip-ups could flare up in public and to adapt the day-to-day of the presidency to the needs of an octogenarian.
The commander-in-chief is seen as prone to absent-minded gaffes and fatigue outside of six hours a day — between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. — and while traveling abroad, Axios said in a new report.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Philadelphia Inquirer Calls for Trump to Drop Out of Race After Biden’s Poor Debate Performance
The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board has called for former President Donald Trump to drop out of the presidential race following his recent debate performance, which they described as a “bombastic litany of lies.”
In the aftermath of the debate, President Joe Biden’s performance has sparked significant media speculation and calls for him to withdraw from the race from within his own party. Critics highlighted Biden’s poor cognitive state during the debate, where he appeared dazed, confused, and lost his train of thought multiple times. Many Democrats have expressed concern that Biden’s continued presence on the ticket could result in a loss to Trump.
Despite this, the Inquirer editorial board argued that it is Trump, not Biden, who should exit the race.
“The debate about the debate is misplaced. The only person who should withdraw from the race is Trump,” the editorial board stated in a piece published on Saturday. The board also criticized the decision to include Trump in the debate, questioning why he was given a platform.
[Comment: Um, because Trump is the candidate of a major political party?]
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Replace Biden With Gavin Newsom? Polls Show Democrats Would Still Lose
Remember when it was “conspiracy theory” to question Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities? After Joe Biden’s dismal debate performance in Atlanta this week, the media-sphere is swirling with conjecture over a potential replacement for the doddering candidate. The Biden team continues to insist that he won’t drop out of the race by the time the Democratic National Convention launches in Chicago this August. That doesn’t mean the DNC won’t consider picking another candidate to run, though.
Convention rules are not legal requirements, they are simply rules dictated by the DNC and by tradition. Delegates that already voted for Biden are supposed to continue their support, but there are avenues by which they can change their minds and trigger an open nomination process on the convention floor. It’s telling that far-left media outlets like Time Magazine and Politico are already war-gaming the possibility of Biden stepping down; that’s how poorly received his debate performance was.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Supreme Court Ruling Isn’t the End of the Online Free Speech Battle
The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) civil rights group is not giving up on the free speech fight it has been conducting on behalf of the respondents/plaintiffs in the Murthy v. Missouri case. The tactic is now to go for expanded discovery, aimed at demonstrating direct harm caused by government censorship.
A statement to this effect comes after the US Supreme Court voted 6-3 to lift a preliminary injunction that prevented the White House and several powerful agencies (CDC, FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Surgeon General’s Office) from interacting with social media companies by “encouraging” (or coercing) them to carry out censorship of lawful and protected speech.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
President Donald Trump has called for the immediate release of individuals arrested over the January 6 protests at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.
This follows a pivotal Supreme Court decision that may alter the legal landscape for many involved.
In a significant legal and political development, a Supreme Court ruling might change the basis of charges against numerous January 6 defendants, Politico reported.
During a rally in Virginia on Friday, Trump voiced strong support for those arrested over Jan. 6.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
White House Denies Rumors Biden is Heading to Camp David to Discuss Dropping Out of Race With Family
The White House has refuted reports suggesting that President Joe Biden is contemplating withdrawing from the presidential race and allowing another candidate to be the Democratic Party’s nominee. If elected for a second term, Biden would be in the White House through 2028 and would leave office at 86 years old.
A Saturday report from NBC News indicated that President Biden was expected to travel to Camp David on Sunday with his family to discuss the future of his re-election campaign. This report followed Biden’s lackluster performance at the recent presidential debate, which raised concerns among many, particularly Democratic pundits, about his age and cognitive ability to continue serving as president.
In response to the NBC report, a White House official stated, “The premise of the story is not accurate.” The White House clarified that the trip to Camp David had been scheduled for weeks and added, “There is nothing more to it.” The Biden family is also planning to take a family photo during their visit to Camp David.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
7 in 10 Canadians Agree With Poilievre That Canada is ‘Broken’
A new study by Ipsos on behalf of Global News found that seven in 10 Canadians think Canada is “broken.”
Compared to just five years ago, over one-third of respondents said that they are less likely to feel proud to be Canadian while just 16% said they were more likely.
Three in 10 say they aren’t likely to attend Canada Day events or display a Canadian flag during the holiday, while over a quarter (27% each) say they are more likely or less likely to speak positively about Canada.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Antifa ATTACKS Rebel News Reporters as Police Refuse to Help
On Saturday, June 22, anti-Israel protesters brazenly set up a new encampment in Victoria Square in Montreal. There, the statue of Queen Victoria was outrageously defaced with paint, graffiti, and Palestinian flags. This appalling act occurred in broad daylight, right under the noses of the Montreal police (SPVM), who stood by and watched without taking any action.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Carbon Tax to Cost Economy $12 Billion This Year: Report
The carbon tax is expected to cost the Canadian economy at least $12 billion this year, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF).
“The government’s own data shows the carbon tax costs our economy billions of dollars every year,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should immediately make life more affordable and help the economy by scrapping his carbon tax.”
Data modelling by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) estimates per capita costs at $295 per person. The department mapped out costs of the carbon tax from 2018 through 2030.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Feds Compensate $14M to Victims of COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign
The Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP) was born from the Canadian government’s 2020 decision to fast-track novel COVID-19 mRNA vaccines to market. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had already assured Canadians that a vaccine was necessary to get back to normal in April of that year.
In this month’s update that reflects reporting up until June 1 2024, the program has now paid out over $14 million to the victims of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine marketing mantra.
Yet this $14 million has been paid to a fraction of all claimants.
A total of 2,628 people have filed claims, with a meagre 183 of them being officially approved by the VISP gatekeepers — the government’s medical review board.
That means that out of just over $14 million in compensation paid, each approved claimant would have received an average of $78,000.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Toronto Synagogue Attacked, Windows Smashed as Antisemitic Violence Continues
In yet another antisemitic act of violence in Toronto, the Pride of Israel synagogue in North York was targeted by anti-Israel criminals early this morning.
The synagogue, located south of Bathurst and Steeles, had its front windows completely smashed and destroyed. Broken glass littered the entrance to the synagogue.
Rebel News CEO Ezra Levant was on the ground at the synagogue today, and noted the lack of mainstream media on the scene and small police presence.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Montreal police (SPVM) cleared a homeless encampment near the city’s Chinatown following a request by city officials, police say.
A spokesperson for the SPVM told Global News two people were arrested for armed assault during the clearing.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
As it Happened: French Legislative Election First Round
France is preparing for a political big bang after Marine Le Pen’s National Rally made big gains on Sunday in the first round of the snap parliamentary election.
On the line is the country’s leading role in the EU and NATO — as well as the French economy.
Here are the main takeaways :
- The National Rally came first with 34 percent of the vote and improved on its already historical score in the European election. Winning an absolute majority next week is now within reach.
- French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance suffered staggering losses, coming third with 20.3 percent of vote.
- The left-wing alliance made a strong showing with 28.1 percent of the vote, but likely won’t be in a position to form a majority.
[Comment: Other articles about the French election follow this one, which I think is worth reading.]
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czech Government Secretly Prepares New Tax Hikes — Former Finance Minister
According to former Finance Minister Alena Šillerova, the Czech government is secretly preparing a series of measures that will increase the income tax for citizens.
The most “interesting” of these measures, according to Šillerova, is the obligation for property owners who rent out their properties to pay an “astronomically high” tax. For example, if a person rents out a flat worth 4 million crowns, the tax would be 400,000 crowns.
What’s even more astonishing, according to Šillerova, is that this is being done “behind the scenes”, without any transparency, and parliamentarians will only learn the details at the last minute.
Šillerova’s comments come as a surprise to many, as the current government has been touting its commitment to fiscal responsibility and reducing the tax burden on citizens. The former finance minister’s warning has sparked concerns among opposition parties and critics of the government, who are calling for more transparency and accountability in the budget-making process.
The exact details of the planned tax hikes are still unknown, but Šillerova’s revelations have raised suspicions that the government may be trying to quietly sneak in new taxes under the radar. The situation has sparked widespread debate about the need for greater transparency and accountability in Czech politics.
Some experts have criticized the government’s approach, saying that it lacks democratic legitimacy and undermines trust in institutions. Others have argued that the measures are necessary to address pressing economic challenges and ensure fiscal sustainability.
As the debate continues, citizens are left wondering what other surprises might be hidden in the budget and what consequences these changes might have for their wallets.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
European officials reacted to President Joe Biden’s performance at the presidential debate, noting they’ve seen warning signs of his deteriorating age for awhile.
Several officials in countries such as Poland, Germany, and Slovenia expressed concerns about 81-year-old Biden’s age and his ability to serve a second term as President of the United States, according to the Wall Street Journal.
This comes after Biden appeared to look confused and appeared to freeze during the presidential debate on Thursday against former President Donald Trump. Biden also spoke with a hoarse-sounding voice and appeared to mumble.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
France: Macron Wipeout in Snap Election He Called, Le Pen Surges and Could Take Outright Majority
The Parliamentary faction of President Emmanuel Macron has been utterly destroyed in the unexpected snap election he called just three weeks ago, with Le Pen’s Party looking to nearly treble its seat holding.
Polling has closed in France for the first round of this week-long Parliamentary election. While actual seat distribution won’t be fully known, the exit polls following this knock-out round have given a confident answer that Marine Le Pen’s nationalist-populist National Rally (RN) won the day. Per the exit polls, her faction gained 34 per cent of the vote, while the left-wing coalition founded for the purpose of this election picked up 29 per cent, and President Macron’s Ensemble looks at just 20 per cent.
In terms of seats, any one party or group would need 289 seats in the 577 seat house. A series of exit polls suggest that by the end of next Sunday, RN could have as few as 250 seats, but could get as many as 310 depending on second round voting. This is a simply enormous leap for RN, given Le Pen’s party had just 88 Members of Parliament last time.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany’s Arms Exports Surge by 30% in the First Half of 2024
The volume of export licenses for military equipment issued by the German government in the first half of 2024 amounts to at least 7.48 billion euros. This is according to a response from the German Ministry of Economics to a query from Bundestag deputy Sevima Dagdelen from the ultra-left party “Alliance Saraya Wagenknecht” (BSW).
According to official data, from January 1 to June 18, the German government approved exports of military goods worth at least 7.48 billion euros. Of this, 5.52 billion euros was for weapons and 1.96 billion euros for other military equipment.
The overall figure represents a 30% increase compared to the value of arms exports in the first half of 2023. Additionally, almost two-thirds of the export, or 65%, or 4.88 billion euros, is destined for Ukraine.
The top five recipients of German arms exports also include Singapore (1.21 billion euros), India (153.75 million euros), Saudi Arabia (132.48 million euros — for the first time in a long time), and Qatar (100 million euros).
Last year, Germany’s arms exports reached a historic high of 12.2 billion euros.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Marine Le Pen’s Far-Right National Rally Party Leads in First Round of French Election
Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party will get the biggest vote share in the first round of France’s parliamentary elections, according to exit polls.
As polls closed on the first round of voting on Sunday, National Rally had a strong lead at 33%, followed by the left-wing New Popular Front coalition on 28.5%.
President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party are polling third with an estimated 22%.
Addressing supporters in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Ms Le Pen said: “For the moment nothing is won, and the second round will determine the outcome.”
She warned voters to “be careful” in the coming days, and urged them to “mobilise” ahead of the second round on 7 July.
| — Hat tip: WRSA | [Return to headlines] |
Netherlands: Farmers in Brabant Must Adapt Their Stables to Nitrogen Emission Regulations
Farmers protested against it, and a coalition broke down in the provincial government building. But after seven years of discussion and postponement, many Brabant livestock farmers will have to comply with the stricter regulations on nitrogen emissions from stables starting Monday, July 1. A final attempt to give farms more time to adapt failed on Friday. The coalition parties VVD, GroenLinks, PvdA, SP, D66, and Lokaal Brabant stuck to the plan, which was intended to help “take the province off the hook,” prevent further damage to nature and make road and housing construction projects possible again.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netherlands: PM Rutte Says Goodbye: Regrets Over Groningen Earthquake & Childcare Benefits Scandals
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte used his farewell speech to once again express his regret over two major scandals that involved the national government: the handling of natural gas extraction and the damages caused by the resultant earthquakes in Groningen, and the childcare benefits scandal. “A lot went wrong under my watch and I take personal responsibility,” the outgoing prime minister said in a speech from the Torentje, his office in The Hague.
But he calls the disaster of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, “perhaps the most drastic and most emotional event of my entire premiership.” Rutte became “even more convinced than before” of the need to cooperate in international contexts such as the European Union and NATO.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘Patriots for Europe’: Orban, Kickl, and Babis Present Manifesto
On Sunday morning, Herbert Kickl, the chairman of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), along with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban and former Czech PM Andrej Babis, the chairman of the ANO party, announced that their parties would join forces in an alliance: Patriots for Europe.
At the Vienna press conference, the chairman of the Freedom Party of Austria described the new, patriotic alliance as aimed at “ensuring a better future for Europe.” He went on to say that European public administration must be streamlined and that they were not “passively watching the emergence of a European superstate.” He emphasized “peace, freedom, and prosperity for all citizens of the continent.” Kickl said that other parties are also expected to join this alliance.
PM Viktor Orban declared, “This is the day European politics will change.” He noted that he has followed political events of the past 25 years:
A new era in European politics began in 1989, which has now ended with the elections. Today, a new faction will be created that will change European politics .… [It] will very quickly become the largest faction of the European Right. It will happen within days.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Several US Military Bases in Europe on Heightened Alert Amid Possible Terrorist Threat
Several U.S. military bases across Europe were put on a heightened state of alert over the weekend, with the level of force protection raised to its second-highest state amid concerns that a terrorist attack could target U.S. military personnel or facilities, according to two U.S. officials.
The bases, including the U.S. Army garrison in Stuttgart, Germany where U.S. European Command is headquartered, raised their alert level to Force Protection Condition “Charlie” on Sunday, the officials said.
That status “applies when an incident occurs or intelligence is received indicating some form of terrorist action or targeting against personnel or facilities is likely,” according to the U.S. Army.
One of the U.S. officials, who is stationed at a base in Europe, told CNN they haven’t seen this threat level “in at least 10 years,” and said it usually means the military has received an “active-reliable threat.”
Asked about the shift, a spokesperson for U.S. European Command, Cdr. Dan Day, declined to comment on specific force protection levels. But he told CNN that USEUCOM is “constantly assessing a variety of factors that play into the safety of U.S. military community abroad. As part of that effort, we often times take additional steps to ensure the safety of our service members. For operational security reasons we will not get into specific measures, but we remain vigilant.”
| — Hat tip: Conservative Tree House | [Return to headlines] |
Thousands for Farage: Mr Brexit Addresses Largest Rally of UK General Election
With four days to go before the election, Reform UK is performing better than “anyone in the media, in politics, even dares to imagine in their worst nightmares”, Nigel Farage told one of the largest political rallies in modern British history.
A spectacle more like a Trump rally than anything in British politics, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK packed out the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham on Sunday. Mr Farage said 5,000 people attended the event, making it easily the largest event of this general election campaign and one of the largest formal political events in recent decades in the United Kingdom.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
U.S. Military Bases in Europe Placed on Heightened Security Alert
Several U.S. military bases in European countries such as Germany and Italy were placed on an increased security alert over the weekend.
Bases such as the U.S. Army Garrison in Stuttgart, Germany, the U.S. Army’s Rheinland-Pfalz base, and the U.S. Army’s Ramstein Air Base were among the bases that were placedon a threat level of “Charlie,” according to Stars and Stripes.
This came after the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), which is headquartered in Stuttgart, issued an increased threat level to “Charlie.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: TikTok Says it Was an “Error” to Shut Down Reform Party’s Speech
On Sunday, a significant disruption occurred during a Reform Party rally when TikTok unexpectedly suspended its livestream. The event, held at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre in England, featured key speeches from Reform Party leader Nigel Farage and other prominent figures, including Ann Widdecombe.
The suspension, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, was later attributed to a “moderation error,” according to a TikTok spokesperson.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
What Are Marine Le Pen’s Plans for France?
After Marine Le Pen’s National Rally walloped Emmanuel Macron in the first round of voting in the French elections, there is a real chance France could be governed by a hard-Right party for the first time since the Second World War.
Then, France’s collaborationist Vichy regime claimed authority over the country in an armistice deal with Nazi Germany.
Ms Le Pen has spent more than a decade trying to detoxify her National Rally party and turning it from a movement that once celebrated Nazi collaboration to a genuine electoral force.
On Sunday evening, the National Rally was seen winning around 34 per cent of the vote, according to early exit polls from Ipsos, Ifop, OpinionWay and Elabe.
Although the final result will depend on days of horse-trading before next week’s run-off, it’s evident her message is resonating with voters.
She is predicted to win the largest number of seats in France’s National Assembly.
If that happens, here is a look at what to expect from a National Rally-led government.
Immigration
At the centre of Ms Le Pen’s policy platform is a promise to toughen France’s immigration policy. First, the National Rally has vowed to end birthright citizenship, under which children born to two foreign parents in France automatically obtain French citizenship at the age of 18. To be eligible they must also be living in the country at the time they turn 18 and have lived in the country for a minimum of five years since the age of 11.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ultra-Orthodox Protest Against Order to Enlist in Israeli Military Turns Violent
JERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of Jewish ultra-Orthodox men clashed with Israeli police in central Jerusalem on Sunday during a protest against a Supreme Court order for them to begin enlisting for military service.
The landmark decision last week ordering the government to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition as Israel wages war in Gaza.
Tens of thousands of men rallied in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood to protest the order. But after nightfall, the crowd made its way toward central Jerusalem and turned violent.
Israeli police said protesters threw rocks and attacked the car of an ultra-Orthodox Cabinet minister, pelting it with stones. Water cannons filled with skunk-scented water and police mounted on horses were used to disperse the crowd. But the demonstration was still not under control late Sunday.
| — Hat tip: JW | [Return to headlines] |
Russia Attacks Ukraine’s Two Largest Cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv
June 30 (Reuters) — Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s two largest cities on Sunday, with missile fragments falling on a suburban Kyiv apartment building and a guided bomb killing one person in Kharkiv.
More than 28 months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces maintain regular attacks on Ukrainian cities as well as on energy infrastructure.
Attacks on Kyiv are less frequent than other cities, although the capital endured a series of assaults in March. Kharkiv has come under regular attack, but military analysts say the frequency has dipped since the United States authorised Ukrainian use of its weapons on certain Russian targets.
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Top Scientists Confirm COVID Shots Cause Heart Attacks in Children
A comprehensive study by leading pediatric scientists has confirmed that the devastating surge in heart failure among children is caused by Covid mRNA shots.
The peer-reviewed study, published in the prestigious journal Med, was conducted by scientists at the University of Hong Kong.
The team, led by Dr. Hing Wai Tsang, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, uncovered evidence to confirm that Natural Killer (NK) cell activation by Covid mRNA injections causes the pathogenesis of acute myocarditis.
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that restricts the body’s ability to pump blood.
The inflammation causes strokes, and cardiac arrest, and can ultimately cause sudden death.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A doorbell camera caught the moment an illegal immigrant from Ecuador who is accused of killing a 21-year-old girl carried out her limp body from a house.
Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, also 21, can be seen walking into the Airbnb they met at around 4:20 pm on June 18 in the footage with a still-alive Joselyn Toaquiza.
Three hours later, the clip shows carrying Toaquiza on his back, with her arms and legs limp. It’s unclear from the footage whether she’s still alive, but she would end up buried in a shallow grave a few feet away in Lincoln Park, right across the street.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Dozens of Migrants Who Violently Stormed El Paso Border Crossing Were Released Into the US: ICE
They took part in a riot at the border — and then were welcomed into the US.
Dozens of migrants who were accused of violently storming the border at El Paso, Texas on March 21 have been released into the country, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson confirmed to The Post.
It’s the latest shocking gut-punch to accountability after 211 migrants were caught on video by The Postrushing toward the US border and attacking Texas National Guardsmen who tried to turn them back to Mexico.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl who was tragically murdered by two illegal immigrants in Texas, received a “shock” phone call from former President Donald Trump just before he went on stage to debate President Joe Biden.
Victoria Galvan, the best friend of Jocelyn’s mother Alexis Nungaray, with whom Alexis has been staying, said that Trump expressed his condolences and shared that there was no one he preferred to speak to more prior to the debate than her.
“He was like, ‘I’m actually about to come on for a debate’… He gave his condolences, and he said that he would be reaching back out to her,” Galvan explained to the New York Post.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A federal report has found that support for current immigration quotas is falling sharply. The Department of Immigration memo states that one-third of Canadians, and a majority of Ontarians, say there are too many immigrants.
“Canadians’ support for immigration levels decreased substantially during 2023,” said a Deputy Minister Transition Binder, reports Blacklock’s. “The proportion of Canadians who say the number of immigrants coming to Canada is ‘too many’ rose by 13 percentage points between March and November.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: ‘Queers for Palestine’ Block NYC Pride Parade
The NYC Pride March through Greenwich Village was shut down by Gaza protesters on Sunday afternoon. The protesters blocked the street and prevented LGBTQ revelers from continuing on their march to celebrate their LGBTQ rights. They covered floats in red paint.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
US Women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe was th Grand Marshall of Seattle Pride on Sunday where she was confronted by The Post Millennial for her advocacy of boys playing girls sports. Rapinoe and her team were famously beaten in a match against the FC Dallas under-15 boys squad in against the US Women’s National Team in 2017.
“Your US Women’s soccer team famously lost to high school boys, do you really think it’s fair for these same boys to be competing in girls’ sports?” Rapinoe would not respond, instead picking up her red Solo cup and allowing her security guard to get between her and reporter Katie Daviscourt.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Breaking: Far-Left Palestine Agitators Shut Down Toronto Pride, Police Announce Parade Cancelled
The Toronto Pride Parade was shut down by Palestinian activists on Saturday who sat in the roadway on Yonge and Wellesley Streets. “Free, free Palestine, free, free, free Palestine,” they chanted in a refrain that has become familiar in recent months.
The action prompted police to cancel the remainder of the parade entirely. “The remainder of the parade has been cancelled by @PrideToronto,” the police said. “Officers are on the ground to facilitate the safe movement of people and vehicles/floats.” A street fair and stages were still “operational.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Google’s Jigsaw Expands Efforts to Combat Online “Toxicity” and Invest in Censorship Tools
Google’s Jigsaw started out as Google Ideas — and Eric Schmidt’s idea back in 2010 was for it to serve as a way of researching “issues at the intersection of technology and geopolitics.”
But that was a little too “open and honest” — so fast-forward, and Jigsaw is an Alphabet (Google) division that has rebranded as a way for the tech juggernaut to tackle things like “misinformation,” “toxicity,” and create “a safer internet.”
A new initiative is to “identify and mitigate toxicity that frequently reduces participation in online debates” and “protect online spaces from hate and toxicity.”
The promise of more investment in “moderation” tools at that point almost goes without saying.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New York Bill ‘De-Whitifys’ State by Reclassifying North Africans, Middle Easterners as ‘Non-White’
A new bill in New York is being pushed by state lawmakers to reclassify Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) residents separately from the “white” category used by the US Census.
On Thursday, the New York State Senate unanimously passed the legislation, which is sponsored by Assemblywoman Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and Senator Michael Gianaris. The legislators argued that MENA individuals do not benefit from “white privilege” and face discrimination, particularly due to false associations with 9/11. They also contend that categorizing MENA individuals as white excludes them from qualifying for minority-owned business grants and other government aid.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Tenet Media reporter Tayler Hansen conducted a series of interviews at a San Francisco Pride event, which included a rally and march, revealing widespread public nudity and explicit material despite the presence of numerous children.
Footage from the event showed individuals participating in the festivities while fully nude. When questioned by Hansen, nearly all of the nude attendees dismissed concerns about children being present at these sorts of events. One such participant, a man with his face painted, defended public nudity when questioned by Hansen.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
I guess those Rebel News reporters should start carrying a six- pack of Colt 45 beer.
Yes, this is one of our brands of beer up here.
Colt 45.
That’s the beer that I drink.
Great to see them eating their own! It’s hard to fix brainwashed and stupid. Our “social warriors” are so duped to believe Islam/Palestinians are part of their causes. They are laughing at the useful idiots. I’m glad that they are overplaying their hand by not being able to control their violence.