Two people were killed and 19 wounded in a shooting this morning at a block party on Detroit’s east side. Meanwhile, At least 87 people were shot, 16 of them fatally, by Sunday morning in this July 4th weekend in Chicago.
In other news, the left-wing alliance in France appears to be on course to win the most seats in parliament, with Emmanuel Macron’s party coming in second and Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National in third place.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, Fjordman, LP, McN, MM, Reader from Chicago, 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.
Bidenflation: California Dad Spends $444 at Trader Joe’s to Feed Six Children
A man in California spent more than $400 dollars at Trader Joe’s to feed his six children for a week and a half, as Americans struggle to survive in President Joe Biden’s (D) economy.
The father shared a video online that showed a receipt from the store in Westlake Village in Los Angeles County, Fox Business reported Saturday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Canada’s Household Debt Surpasses 100% of GDP, Third Highest Globally: Report
Canada has the third-highest household debt in the world, trailing only Switzerland and Australia and far exceeding any other G7 country, according to a Desjardins report.
Canada’s household debt as a percentage of GDP exceeded 100% by the end of 2023, with Australia near 110% and Switzerland around 125%. On the lower end of the spectrum, France had just under 65% of its GDP as household debt, with the United States at nearly 75%.
Household debt to GDP compares the total debt held by households to the country’s GDP. A high ratio means that a large portion of a country’s residents’ income is tied up in debt repayments, limiting consumer spending and economic growth.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Canada: Unemployment Rises to 6.4% as Jobs Remain Stagnant Amid Population Growth
Canada’s economy saw little change with jobs remaining relatively stagnant while the working population skyrocketed leading to higher unemployment.
Canada’s unemployment rate climbed to 6.4% in Jun., up from 6.2% in May, continuing its rise of 1.3% since Apr. 2023, according to Statistics Canada.
Despite rising unemployment, average hourly wages increased by 5.4% since last Jun.
Meanwhile, Canada’s working population grew by almost 100,000 between May and Jun. 2024.
While Canada’s working population grew by 98,700, there were 42,000 new unemployed Canadians.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Japan Sees Largest Wage Hike in 33 Years, 2024 Pay Deals Conclude With 5.1% Gain
Japan’s annual pay negotiations have concluded with the highest raises in more than three decades. According to the final tally by the country’s largest union group, Rengo, members achieved a 5.1% gain in wages for 2024.
This result, slightly down from the initial 5.28% increase reported in March, remains the largest hike since 1991. Rengo, representing around 7 million workers or roughly 10% of Japan’s workforce, confirmed this upward trend in wages aligns with the central bank’s objectives.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) aims to boost consumption and ensure stable price growth, with wage momentum playing a critical role. The central bank raised interest rates in March for the first time in 17 years, following Rengo’s initial wage increase report. The next BOJ policy meeting is scheduled for the end of this month, with a Bloomberg survey indicating one in three analysts expect another rate hike.
The final wage figures revealed a notable gap between large and small firms. Businesses with fewer than 300 employees secured a 4.45% salary increase, indicating a greater disparity compared to last year. These smaller businesses, which employ 70% of Japan’s workforce, remain a focus for both the BOJ and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Despite the strong wage negotiation outcomes, it remains uncertain when wage growth will lead to positive monthly real wages and whether increased disposable income will boost consumer spending amid ongoing inflation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
“Traitors” — Musk Blasts Democrats Voting Against Republicans’ Election Integrity Bill
Authored by Matt Margolis via PJMedia.com
Back in May, House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled legislation designed to ensure that only American citizens vote.
The unfortunate reality is that Joe Biden has let in millions of illegal immigrants, and the risk that these immigrants could influence our elections is extremely high. Legislation like this is absolutely necessary.
Johnson was pushing for the bill before the Independence Day recess with a thread explaining what the legislation does to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
2 Dead, 19 Injured After Shooting at Block Party on Detroit’s East Side, Reports Say
Two people are dead and 19 injured after a shooting Sunday morning at a block party on Detroit’s east side.
The shooting took place Sunday at a block party in the 13000 block of Rossini Drive, near the intersection with Reno Street, according to a release from the Detroit Police Department. An earlier release from Michigan State Police said there were 19 injured victims and two fatalities.
A 20-year-old woman, who was shot in the head, and a 21-year-old man who was shot in the back were killed, according to WDIV-TV (Channel 4), which also reported the woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the man pronounced dead at the hospital.
Among the injured is a 17-year-old girl in critical condition, 13 people in temporary serious condition and three in stable condition, according to WDIV.
| — Hat tip: LP | [Return to headlines] |
Americans Aren’t Buying EVs: Electric Vehicle Adoption Continues to Stall Out
The electric vehicle revolution is encountering significant hurdles as consumers grapple with high costs, infrastructure challenges, and geopolitical tensions, potentially slowing the transition from traditional gas-powered cars, according to a report by Fast Company.
Fast Company reports the automotive industry has undergone a significant transformation with the push towards electric vehicles in recent years. However, the road to widespread EV adoption is proving to be bumpy, with several obstacles threatening to stall progress.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
At Least 87 Shot by Sunday Morning During July 4th Weekend in Chicago
At least 87 people were shot, 16 of them fatally, by Sunday morning of July 4th weekend in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) Chicago.
Breitbart News reported at least 58 people were shot in the city during the first portion of the holiday weekend, Wednesday night to Friday night alone.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Bernie Sanders: ‘Biden is Old, He is Not as Articulate as He Once Was’
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that President Joe Biden was “old” and “not articulate as he once was,” so Democrats have to focus on policy.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
President Joe Biden’s staffers have been meticulously preparing him for speeches and public appearances by providing detailed documents with large photos and text that show exactly where he needs to walk to reach the podium.
According to a report by Axios, Biden’s staffers prepare short documents with large print to help him navigate events. These documents include photos of the stage, marked with instructions such as “view from podium” and “view from audience.” Additionally, the documents contain separate pages with pictures labeled “walk to podium” to guide the President to his speaking spot, per Axios.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden ‘Committing’ to Debate Trump Again ‘Whether He’s in or Not’
President Joe Biden has confirmed his commitment to participating in a second debate with former President Donald Trump, addressing reporters directly on the matter.
“I hope he’ll debate me,” Biden said in response to questions. Biden continued by sounding like he was about to say he wouldn’t be surprised if Trump refused to debate, but was interrupted by reporters for a follow-up question.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The radio host who interviewed President Joe Biden and admitted to using pre-approved questions provided by the Biden campaign has “mutually agreed to part ways” with her station after it condemned her for using the questions.
Andrea Lawful-Sanders, host of “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia, revealed on CNN last Saturday that Biden officials had sent her a list of questions to ask the President in an interview conducted the previous Wednesday. Lawful-Sanders explained that she approved four of these questions and posed them to Biden during the interview.
Following this disclosure, WURD released a statement announcing that Lawful-Sanders and the station have “mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Brutal Attack Caught on Video as Black Man Beats Up, Robs Elderly Asian Woman in Oakland
A black male suspect brutally assaulted and robbed an elderly Asian woman in a recent unprovoked attack in Oakland, California, according to video surveillance footage.
This assault comes after news broke out earlier this week that violent thieves have been targeting Asian senior citizens near their Westlake Christian Terrace senior living facility. The suspect has not yet been identified, per the Daily Mail.
At least 13 elderly asians reported to Oakland police that they had been attacked, but the facility president, Sister Marie Taylor, told ABC 7 that she documented nearly 30 incidents, all of which have occurred over the past month. Leaders at the facility said that not all victims have reported their attacks due to fear and shame.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Comer Seeks Docs, Interview With White House Physician Who Obviously Lied
White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor — who for years has been giving President Biden a clean bill of health despite obvious signs of cognitive and physical decline — has some ‘splainin’ to do.
On Sunday, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer demanded to interview O’Connor, and has suggested that the doctor’s involvement in a Biden family business dealing “may have” influenced his medical assessments of the president — who was found to be too cognitively impaired to prosecute for mishandling classified documents.
Specifically, O’Connor counseled James Biden in connection with alleged work he was performing for Americore Health, LLC — which paid James Biden $200,000 the same day James turned around and wrote Joe a check for $200,000 for an undocumented “loan repayment.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
E. Jean Carroll’s Lawyer Tried to Bounce Juror From Trump Case Because He Watched Timcast IRL
The attorney for E. Jean Carroll tried to get a juror removed from their defamation case against former President Donald Trump in Manhattan because he watched the popular podcast Timcast IRL.
Lawyer Roberta Kaplan said she was shocked to find out that the juror got his news from the podcast, calling its host Tim Pool a “right-wing, conspiratorial, conservative incel guy.” Kaplan asked the judge to remove the juror from the bench, but Judge Lewis Kaplan told her it was too late.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
DETROIT, Michigan — Former 2024 GOP presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy told Breitbart News exclusively at the Turning Point Action People’s Convention in June that he sees a coming debate within the America First future of the GOP about the size, scope, and level of control of the government.
Ramaswamy, who believes the old neocon vision of globalist Republicans is mostly a thing of the past and would be finished by a November victory from former President Donald Trump, told Breitbart News that he thinks this debate will be a healthy disagreement between differing worldviews.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Homeless Camp Sets Up in New Hampshire Family’s Backyard
A violent homeless encampment has sprung up in the backyard of a historic New Hampshire home, leaving the family terrified as they have had to deal with death threats and the sound of gunfire. Despite this, the family dealing with the crisis are progressive voters who said they are “compassionate” to homeless folks and believe evicting the vagrants wouldn’t be effective without services in place.
The Bach family of four, which includes two children aged 8 and 11, said vagrants erected a large encampment in the woods directly behind their home in Concord. Robin Bach, the wife and mother, explained that her kids have been unable to play in their backyard due to extreme criminal activity and active death threats.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Lindsey Graham: Both Trump, Biden Should Take ‘Neurological Exams’
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden should take “neurological exams.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘Lioness’ Actor Mike Heslin Dies at 30 After ‘Unexpected Cardiac Event’
Actor Mike Heslin, best known for his role on Taylor Sheridan’s Special Ops: Lioness, has died after an “unexpected cardiac event.” He was 30.
The Independent reports Heslin was admitted to hospital for a week-long stay after the medical episode before he died on 2 July.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Mob of 200 Rowdy Teens Lighting Fires, Setting Off Fireworks Forces LA-Area Mall to Shut Down
A swarm of 200 teenagers caused a California mall to shut down over the weekend after they mobbed the building, setting fire to a trash can and igniting illegal fireworks, police said.
The “large scale disturbance” incident occurred at the SouthBay Pavilion Mall, in Carson, at around 5:20 p.m on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies quickly arrived at the scene, ordering the large group to disperse, with officers detaining 60 to 70 teens when they refused.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Police: Chicago Man Burglarizes Woman While on Pretrial Release for Prior Robberies
A 12-time convicted burglar has been arrested yet again after allegedly committing another burglary while out on pretrial release, Chicago police say.
A woman picked Sherwin Degraffenreid out of a police photo lineup after seeing a man leaving her apartment in the Edgewater neighborhood on May 16, CWBChicago reported. Police apprehended him in June as he was driving, at which time, according to investigators, they discovered “a bag of burglary tools in his car.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Police: Chicago Man Shoots at Cops While on Pretrial Release for Gun Cases
An 18-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, has been charged with shooting at two off-duty police officers while he was out on pretrial release for two felony gun cases in the juvenile court system, officials said.
Two cops were in a car in the 1200 block of West 13 Street on the evening of June 3 when multiple gunshots were fired in their direction, court documents that CWBChicago obtained state.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Renowned Scientist Warns ‘99.9% Chance’ AI Will Destroy Humanity
A world-renowned computer scientist has raised the alarm over the growing threat that is emerging from the rise in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
As companies around the world seek to cut costs by replacing their human workforce with AI-driven machines, part of the threat to society is already apparent to many.
However, experts are warning that the threat to human civilization goes beyond the loss of jobs.
In a landmark survey conducted earlier this year, more than half of the 2,778 researchers polled expressed concerns about the existential threat posed by superhuman AI.
The survey indicated a five percent chance that humanity could face extinction or other “extremely bad outcomes” due to the rise of super-intelligent AI systems.
One of the prominent voices raising the alarm is Roman Yampolskiy.
Yampolskiy is a respected figure in AI research and a distinguished computer science lecturer at the University of Louisville.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Alberta NDP Trail UCP by 14 Points, New Poll Reveals
The Alberta NDP elected a leader in a landslide victory last month, but the rest of the province appears unconvinced in his ability to lead, a new poll suggests.
Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi won the Alberta NDP leadership contest on the first ballot on June 22.
In the days following that victory, polling from Abacus Data reveals that the Alberta NDP trails the United Conservative Party by 14 points.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Antifa Extremists Take Hold in Montreal as Police Look the Other Way
On last night’s episode of The Ezra Levant Show, Rebel News journalist Alexa Lavoie joined the show to discuss her recent experience being attacked by Antifa extremists in Montreal.
While reporting from an anti-Israel protest in downtown Montreal, several masked Antifa demonstrators holding umbrellas charged at Lavoie aggressively. Lavoie had paint sprayed on her by masked protesters during the encounter.
Police stood by idly during the incident and according to Lavoie no arrests were made after she was assaulted.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Montreal Police Dismantle Victoria Square Anti-Israel Encampment
Montreal police dismantled a controversial anti-Israel encampment that had been occupying the city’s iconic Victoria Square for the past two weeks.
As previously reported by True North, the “Al-Soumoud popular camp” was set up by far-left activists in a bid to pressure the province’s pension fund to divest from the Jewish state and to force the Quebec government to close its Tel Aviv office.
The encampment differed from others seen in Canada, as it did not take place on a university campus.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievere says he would repeal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, after learning it would cost an additional $200 million for government employees to monitor alleged “hate crime offenses” according to the latest report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).
The bill has passed first reading in the House of Commons but could potentially die on the order paper before the next federal election, slated for October 2025.
The Online Harms Act, while ostensibly seeking to “protect all people in Canada from hatred,” would create a definition of “hatred,” increase existing penalties for “hate propaganda offenses” and promulgate a unique Criminal Code entry for a “hate crime offense” while offering new “remedies” for violating online hate speech within the Canadian Human Rights Act.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Streaming Giants File Court Challenge Against CRTC Over Forced Subsidy of Legacy Media
A group of U.S. streaming companies have asked a Canadian court to halt their financial obligations under the Online Streaming Act, which would force them to fork over 5% of Canadian sales to support Canadian news broadcasting.
The request was made by the Motion Picture Association Canada, an industry group representing major American companies who produce and distribute content in Canada, specifically Netflix, Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount Global. The group says CRTC “acted unreasonably” in imposing the requirement.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
University of Waterloo Alleges Habitual Aggressive Behaviour From Encampment Activists
The University of Waterloo told a court there’s been a pattern of aggressive behaviour from pro-Palestinian encampment protesters, and that its campus has been vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti.
As previously reported by True North, the university is suing encampment organizers for $1.5 million worth of damages from encampment organizers, including for trespassing, damaging property, intimidation and enactment.
The university is also asking the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to order encampment protesters to “immediately dismantle and remove any encampment or obstructions erected, built, created, or imposed by them.”
Waterloo is in the process of mediation with protesters.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Yes, Pfizer and Moderna Can be Sued for Vaccine Injuries — Here’s How
Despite popular belief, pharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca can be sued, at least if the legal action is brought on by Canadians. During his speech at the Reclaiming Canada Conference, Umar Sheikh, a Victoria-based human rights lawyer, explained how despite being told the vaccine makers had liability immunity, his firm has taken on cases against the jab makers.
“The U.S. granted Pfizer immunity; Canada did not, so I was able to exploit that hole,” stated Sheikh, which caused the audience to cheer. In contrast, gasps were heard throughout the audience when Sheikh described the tragedies fueling the suits.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Church of England Scrambles to Defend £1 Billion for Slavery Reparations
Leaders of the Church of England have been scrambling to assure the faithful that their proposed £1 billion fund for slavery reparations will not come from donations to parishes.
Last year the Church of England announced it was establishing a £100 million fund for slavery reparations but later acknowledged there were plans afoot for the far larger target of £1 billion.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czech Finance Minister Proposes Abolishing Windfall Tax Amid Revenue Surplus
Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura (ODS) aims to discuss the potential abolition of the windfall tax with coalition partners, citing higher-than-expected state revenues from the tax on unexpected profits.
Stanjura noted that the revenue generated from banks and energy companies now surpasses the recent crisis-related expenditures, making the continued imposition of the tax unnecessary. However, three government parties remain cautious about this proposal.
Current budget results indicate that the state has already recouped what was spent last year on energy assistance for households and businesses through the windfall tax, though a detailed analysis is pending.
“In my opinion, the extraordinary revenues from the windfall tax and levies from excessive income of electricity producers should more or less balance with the state’s expenditures on helping households and businesses with high energy prices. If this is the case, there is no reason for the windfall tax to last the full three years,” Stanjura communicated to Czech Television via SMS.
The Ministry of Finance’s budget for this year anticipated revenues of 17.2 billion crowns from extraordinary taxes, aimed to cover the remaining extraordinary expenses from the previous year. By June, collections had already reached 18.2 billion crowns. Last year, the windfall tax and related levies generated 57.9 billion crowns. Revenue for 2025 was estimated at ten billion crowns. Consequently, Stanjura expects a political debate within the coalition on the next steps. Jan Jakob, chairman of the TOP 09 parliamentary club, remarked, “If we ignore those challenges and crisis parameters, then such a measure probably doesn’t make sense.”
The coalition initially passed the windfall tax for the 2023 to 2025 tax periods, with discussions about its potential early abolition emerging after just one year. Three coalition parties—STAN, Pirates, and KDU-CSL—expressed caution, concerned about the potential drop in revenues. Jakub Michalek, chairman of the Pirates’ parliamentary club, stated, “We agreed on a certain duration. If it were to change, it would only be with other proposals that we will discuss, including recommendations from NERV (National Economic Council).”
KDU-CSL Vice-Chairman Jan Bartosek echoed this sentiment, “At present, there is no coalition consensus, and I will wait for this discussion. We will see how it develops.”
The opposition underscores that the windfall tax has been crucial in reducing the state budget deficit, which stood at 178.6 billion crowns mid-year. Alena Schillerova, chairwoman of the ANO parliamentary club, commented, “When it was being discussed, I proposed: let’s do it for a year and then evaluate it, and if necessary, do it better. I think the windfall tax was set up very poorly.”
Despite the opposition movement’s lack of support for the tax during its initial discussions, Stanjura currently lacks the majority needed for its early abolition, even within the coalition.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Dutch Patriot Air Defence System Deployed to Lithuania for Military Exercise
A Dutch Patriot air defence system has been deployed to Lithuania as part of the annual international military exercise, Baltic Connection 24. This deployment aims to enhance the protection of Lithuania’s population and infrastructure against potential threats from aircraft, drones, and missiles.
Russia’s escalating aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities have underscored the need for more robust air defence systems. The Dutch air defence battery arrived at Klaipeda port on Saturday morning and is set to be relocated to the Siauliai air base, where it will operate for the next two weeks.
Lithuania shares a border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, where, according to the Polish government, Russia may have stored approximately 100 nuclear weapons.
Lithuanian officials view this deployment as the initial step towards implementing the rotational air defence model agreed upon during the NATO summit in Vilnius last year. “It’s important in a way that we will be able to test and prepare for this rotational model, which means we know what to do and how to do it. The only thing left is to test it out,” said Ovidijus Pilitauskas, Commander of Lithuania’s air defence battalion.
The Lithuanian military stated that the exercise would focus on improving readiness for force movements and integration, unified command and control, and execution of air defence operations.
Sweden and the Netherlands are among only seven NATO countries in Europe that field Patriot systems, alongside Germany, Greece, Poland, Romania, and Spain, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
French Left Set to Beat Le Pen’s Far Right in Election Shock — Politico
PARIS — The left-wing alliance in France is on course to win the most seats in parliament in a dramatic election upset, dealing a surprise blow to the far-right party of Marine Le Pen.
Le Pen’s National Rally came top in the first round of voting a week ago and was aiming to secure the most seats in France’s legislature for the first time in the party’s history. But tactical voting and collaboration between Le Pen’s opponents in an effort to keep her party out of power appeared to have paid off, forecasts from pollsters suggested.
President Emmanuel Macron called a snap vote after a stunning defeat in last month’s European Parliament election, promising “a clarification” of the French political landscape. Instead, the country appeared on track towards greater uncertainty, with no single party holding a majority.
Macron’s own position as president was not at stake in the election: He is due to remain in office until 2027.
According to early estimates by polling institute IFOP — replicated by other pollsters — the left-wing alliance is on course to have between 180 and 215 MPs in France’s 577-seat National Assembly. That puts it ahead of Macron’s liberals on 150-180 seats, with the far-right National Rally and its allies forecast to have 120-150 MPs in the new legislature.
In the minutes after the first seat projections were announced, the far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon took to the stage in front of his jubilant supporters. “[We] wrested a result that everyone said was impossible in a wonderful leap of civic spirit … The people have avoided the worst,” he said.
The seat projections for the final, second round of the election are based on early estimates and a lot could could change as official results are announced from the vote-counting in the hours ahead.
| — Hat tip: MM | [Return to headlines] |
he socialist-communist New Popular Front alliance has come out on top in the final round of snap legislative elections called by French President Emmanuel Macron, who sided with the far-left to thwart Marine Le Pen’s populist party.
UPDATE 2140: Former French President Hollande Rejects Premiership
Former socialist President François Hollande said he would not be a candidate to become the next prime minister of France. , saying per Le Figaro: “I am not a candidate to lead the government. We are not there… There are too many painful topics in our country at the level of public services and security.”
The former President of the Republic, who served as the head of state prior to Emmanuel Macron from 2012 to 2017, joined the far-left New Popular Front alliance last month and has been sent back to the National Assembly as a socialist deputy (MP).
UPDATE 2040: Far-left Leader Mélenchon Issues Demands to Macron
After winning the most seats of any party in Sunday’s second round legislative elections, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the principal leader of the socialist-communist New Popular Front, has called on President Emmanuel Macron to either resign from office or to “appoint a prime minister from our ranks”. Mélenchon has previously argued for himself to be installed as PM, however, it is not clear if Macron would be willing to do so.
UPDATE 2030: Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Announces Resignation, Le Pen Vows to Fight On
Emmanuel Macron’s second in command, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced he would tender his resignation tomorrow morning to the head of state, saying: “This evening, the political group that I represented in this campaign does not have a majority, I will submit my resignation to the President of the Republic tomorrow morning.
With no party obtaining an absolute majority, it is possible for Attal to be reinstated as PM, however, it is more likely that President Macron will likely have to cede the position to a candidate from the far left if he wishes to form a parliamentary alliance with the New Popular Front to govern the country.
Following the disappointing results, the leader of the populist National Rally in the French parliament, Marine Le Pen said: “I have too much experience to be disappointed by a result where we double the number of our deputies… The tide continues to rise… our victory is only delayed”.
“If there were not this unnatural agreement between Macon and the far left, the National Rally would be in an absolute majority,” she claimed. “The situation is untenable. Will Jean-Luc Mélenchon become prime minister?”
The original story continues below…
According to the initial Ipsos exit poll, the New Popular Front, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon — often dubbed France’s Bernie Sanders — will win between 172 and 192 seats, the most of any parliamentary group. The far-left did not secure enough votes for an absolute majority of 289.
Meanwhile, President Macron’s coalition is projected to win between 150 and 170 seats, meaning that he will likely have to pair with the far left to continue governing the country.
In a disappointing result, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN), which won the first round of voting last week, was relegated to third place, with between 132 to 152 seats. Finally, the centre-right Les Républicains are projected to have won between 57 to 67 seats, Le Figaro reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Meta Defends Charging Users for Privacy
Meta last fall came up with an idea of how to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) (not to be confused with the Digital Services Act (DSA) — considered by critics to be a “censorship law”).
Namely, Meta announced at the time that in order to adhere to DMA, and allow an ad-free “experience” in the EU (but also in the European Economic Area, EEA, and Switzerland) Facebook and Instagram would offer subscriptions to privacy-minded users.
The problem with what Meta calls “a free, inclusive, ad-supported” internet is not just that ads are annoying — it’s that people actually do pay what turns out to be a pretty hefty price, i.e., with their sensitive personal data monetized by the giant for “personalized,” aka, targeted advertising.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Spain: Thousands Protest Over-Tourism in Barcelona, Urging Economic Reforms
More than 150 organizations and social movements took to the streets of Barcelona, Spain’s most visited city, to protest against over-tourism. Around 3,000 people participated in the demonstrations on Saturday evening, symbolically sealing off hotels and restaurant terraces, according to local authorities.
The protests in Barcelona follow similar actions in the Canary Islands and Mallorca, highlighting the growing concern over tourist overcrowding across Spain. Demonstrators chanted “tourists, go home” and called for measures to reduce tourism before the anticipated record-breaking summer season in Catalonia.
Marti Cusó, spokesperson for the Association of Neighbours of the Gothic Quarter, stated, “We want the city’s economic model to prioritize other much fairer economies. And for that, we consider that we have to decrease tourism.”
Barcelona, which attracts an average of 32 million visitors annually, many arriving on cruise ships, has been struggling with the impact of mass tourism. In response, the city council has voted to increase the tourist tax to €4 per person starting in October.
A local resident expressed concerns about the housing market, stating, “What worries me is what tourism and speculation entail, the speculation they are doing with the housing of the Spaniards. Spaniards have the right to decent housing.” The city council recently announced a plan to eliminate approximately 10,000 tourist flat licenses over the next five years, aiming to alleviate the national housing crisis, which is particularly severe in tourist-heavy cities like Barcelona.
This move reflects a broader trend of cities worldwide taking steps to mitigate the negative effects of mass tourism on local communities and infrastructure.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: COVID-Vaxxed Children 4423% More Likely to Die Than Unvaxxed
Alarming official government statistics have revealed that children who received Covid mRNA shots are at a massively elevated risk of dying.
The shocking figures were revealed in a UK government report which quietly confirmed that the Covid injections have been killing children at an unprecedented rate.
The admission was buried in an official report compiled using data from the UK government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The data shows that children who received the shots are 4423%/45x more likely to die of any cause than unvaccinated children.
Additionally, vaxxed children are 13,633%/137x more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who didn’t receive an mRNA injection.
The stunning figures were revealed in recently published ONS data regarding deaths by vaccination status in England.
The latest dataset from the ONS is titled “Deaths by Vaccination Status, England, 1 January 2021 to 31 May 2022.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Farage Party Would Have Won 94 Seats Under Proportional Voting System: Report
The British general election result has been described as the most disproportionate in history. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK won over four million votes but only secured five seats in the House of Commons, sparking calls for a change to the electoral system.
According to the Electoral Reform Society, this week’s election in the UK saw “the biggest difference ever between how we voted and the MPs that now represent us.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Just Stop Oil and pro-Palestine protesters are plotting to cause mayhem for Keir Starmer and King Charles at the State Opening of Parliament.
Youth Demand, a new organisation formed of different protest groups, have warned they plan to target Starmer as Labour’s new Prime Minister.
The group, which sparked outrage for protesting outside his home, are rallying members to cause disruption at the huge event on July 17.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Starmer Dispatches Anti-Brexit David Lammy to ‘Reset’ Ties With European Union
Britain’s new top diplomat, David Lammy, was dispatched to Europe on Sunday to “reset ties” with the European Union as the left-wing Labour Party government of Sir Keir Starmer seeks to forge closer alignment with Brussels.
Starmer and his anti-Brexit government have claimed that it will not seek to reverse the will of the British people to withdraw from the European Union, however, seeking closer ties with the EU appears to be at the top of the agenda for the leftist government.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Watch: Leftist Radicals Riot in France Despite Victory for Far-Left in Snap Elections
Despite the far-left New Popular Front winning the second round of elections, riots broke out in France after leftist radicals had gathered in anticipation of a potential victory of Marine Le Pen’s populist National Rally.
Ahead of the second round of voting on Saturday, the government mobilised 30,000 police officers, including 5,000 in Paris, in expectation of riots from the far-left if the populist right repeated its success in the first round of the snap elections called by French President Macron.
Black bloc Antifa-style radicals were filmed setting fire to street furniture and bicycles, as well as shooting fireworks and other projectiles at police as they ran ruff shot through the French capital. Demonstrators were seen waving Palestinian and Antifa flags.
Protests and riots have also broken out in Rennes, Lyon, Marseilles and other cities across France, Le Figaro reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netanyahu Issues List of ‘Non-Negotiable’ Demands as Hostage Talks Slated to Restart
Ahead of the Israeli negotiating team’s departure for further hostage deal talks in Cairo and Doha later this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a list on Sunday evening of what he said were non-negotiable Israeli demands, including a guarantee that Israel could resume fighting, which would need to be met in the event of a hostage release and ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Netanyahu’s statement, at a crucial phase ahead of the resumption of talks, sparked anger, both in Israel and among mediators, with some accusing him of attempting to sabotage hard-won progress.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
One Killed, One Seriously Injured in Brawl Between Rival Eritrean Groups in Tel Aviv
One person was killed and another was seriously injured in a violent brawl that broke out between pro-regime and anti-regime Eritrean migrants in south Tel Aviv on Sunday night.
Police were called to the scene of a violent argument, according to a statement, in which warring groups of migrants and asylum seekers pelted each other with stones, and people were attacked with spikes and clubs.
The police initially said that two people had been taken to the hospital, one in critical condition and the other seriously injured, but updated a short while later that one of them had died of his wounds.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Ukrainian Drone Triggers Warehouse Explosions in Russia as a War of Attrition Grinds on
KYIV, Ukraine — A village in a border region of western Russia was evacuated Sunday following a series of explosions after debris from a downed Ukrainian drone set fire to a nearby warehouse, local officials said.
Social media footage appeared to show rising clouds of black smoke in the Voronezh region while loud explosions could be heard in succession.
Gov. Aleksandr Gusev said that falling wreckage triggered the “detonation of explosive objects.” No casualties were reported, but residents of a nearby village in the Podgorensky district were evacuated, he said. Roads were also closed with emergency services, military and government officials working at the scene.
A Ukrainian security official told The Associated Press that a strike had been carried out on a warehouse storing ammunition in the village of Serhiivka in the Voronezh region.
| — Hat tip: McN | [Return to headlines] |
Bombshell NYT Expose Details War Crimes by American-Led Volunteer Force in Ukraine
The last many weeks (or even months) of Ukraine coverage by mainstream media has seen a major shift. One might observe that Western reporters are actually starting to do their jobs for a change, and digging into to ‘inconvenient’ truths and stories which a year ago no outlet would have touched amid the general pro-Kyiv euphoria.
A military correspondent with The New York Times has issued the newest bombshell report this weekend which shines a spotlight on not just Ukrainian troops but American and foreign fighters who’ve volunteered with pro-Kyiv forces and have committed potential war crimes. The report, titled Killings of Surrendering Russians Divide an American-Led Unit, reveals how US troops are participating in units which conduct extra-judicial killings of Russians who have legitimately surrendered.
Much of the eyewitness accounts come from a German volunteer identified as Caspar Grosse, a medic in an all-foreign unit led by an American who says he witnessed clear war crimes and that his conscience has forced him to speak out.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Russian Village Evacuated After Downed Ukrainian Drone Sparks Warehouse Fire
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A village in western Russia’s border region was evacuated Sunday following a series of explosions after debris from a downed Ukrainian drone set fire to a nearby warehouse, local officials said.
Social media footage appeared to show rising clouds of black smoke in the Voronezh region while loud explosions could be heard in succession.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Russia Vows to Respond After Ukrainian Drone Attack Sets on Fire Alleged Munitions Warehouse
(CNN) — Moscow has vowed to respond to Ukrainian attacks within its borders after a drone set on fire a warehouse allegedly storing munitions, prompting a state of emergency in Russia’s south-western Voronezh region.
The drone attack took place in a settlement in the Podgorensky district, Voronezh governor Aleksandr Gusev said Sunday. Ukrainian sources said the warehouse was targeted because it was being used to supply ammunition to Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
“Several UAVs were detected and destroyed by on-duty air defense forces over the territory of the Voronezh region last night. A fire broke out at a warehouse due to the fall of their wreckage. Detonation of explosive items began in the Podgorensky district,” Gusev said.
He did not identify the settlement where the attack took place, but said a state of emergency had been declared there. No one was injured in the attack, but two elderly women were taken to hospital for checks, he said.
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
Rise in Stolen Singaporean ID Data Shows the Dangers of Digital ID
A recent advisory published by the Resecurity cybersecurity vendor exposes a trend now developing on the dark web — more and more stolen biometrics-based data is ending up in this corner of the internet.
These revelations, describing the increase in activity of this type as “significant,” highlight the case of Singapore, including its SingPass scheme.
At the same time, they confirm that the fears of the digital ID and age verification push sooner or later turning into a privacy nightmare.
In Singapore, every citizen and resident has a SingPass (Singapore Personal Access) digital ID account, which is touted by the authorities in the city-state as their “trusted digital identity” — not to mention a “convenient” one.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Watch: Klaus Schwab Says Humanity Must be “Forced Into Collaboration” With Globalist Elites
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab told delegates at a conference in China this week that humanity needs to be “forced into a collaboration” with globalist entities.
Speaking at the WEF’s ‘Annual Meeting of the New Champions’, often dubbed the “Summer Davos,” in China, Schwab stated that in order to drive the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” forward, elites must aggressively drive their agenda home.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hundreds in Canary Islands Protest Against Influx of Migrants
Hundreds protested on Saturday in the Canary Islands against an influx of migrants to the Spanish archipelago, which has welcomed more than 19,000 migrants since the beginning of 2024.
Located off the coast of north-west Africa, the Canary Islands have become an increasingly popular destination for people braving the perilous Atlantic crossing in the hope of finding a better life in Europe.
Carrying “Defend our neighbourhoods” and “Stop illegal immigration” placards, the demonstrators took to the streets of towns including Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with local media putting their numbers at several hundreds.
“This situation in the Canaries is unbearable,” Juan Manuel Garcia, who took part in the demonstration in Tenerife, told AFPTV. “The Canaries don’t have the means to support those who arrive,” the 70-year-old added.
Rudy Ruyman, who helped organise the demonstration, said the situation had become “a traffic in human lives”, warning that “the mafia is profiting from all the deaths at sea”.
| — Hat tip: Fjordman | [Return to headlines] |
Report: 99% of Illegal Aliens, Border Crossers Living Freely Across American Communities
Roughly 99 percent of illegal aliens and border crossers are living freely across the United States as President Joe Biden’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) monitors fewer than 1.5 percent of the nation’s illegal population, a report states.
The federal data, compiled by the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE) and circulated by several House and Senate Republicans, looks at the overall illegal population living in American communities — estimated at nearly 17 million today.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Texas Arrests 12 Dangerous ‘Criminal Illegal Immigrants’ From Most-Wanted Lists
Texas Department of Public Safety officials announced the arrest of 12 dangerous “criminal illegal immigrants” from the State’s most-wanted lists.
Texas DPS officials reported the arrests of a dozen “criminal illegal immigrants” from the State’s lists of most-wanted fugitives, according to a DPS report. The list includes migrants who entered the U.S. illegally and committed additional crimes while in the state of Texas.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Vows to End ‘Citizenship Tourism’ in US to ‘Deter More Migrants From Coming’
Former President Donald Trump has announced a plan to tackle “citizenship tourism” if he secures a second term in office. In a video posted on social media, Trump outlined his intention to issue an executive order that would deny automatic citizenship to children born in the United States to illegal immigrants.
“As part of my plan to secure the border on day one in my new term in office I will sign an executive order, making clear to federal agencies, that under the correct interpretation of the law, going forward the future children of illegal immigrants will not receive automatic citizenship,” Trump declared.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Peoples Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier says the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieut.-Gen. Jenny Carignan, is a poor choice to lead the Canadian Armed Forces given her record of “promoting gender identity nonsense.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Carignan as the first female CDS this week. She will be promoted to full general rank when she assumes her new role.
“The new boss of the Canadian Armed Forces appointed by Trudeau yesterday is the woke apparatchik who brought DEI rules and diversity hiring quotas, turned the CAF into an organization promoting gender identity nonsense, and introduced an ‘inclusive’ dress code so ridiculous it just had to be made more restrictive again,” Bernier posted.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
This so call”snap election is a big scum , Macron He can burn in hell , , Good night France !, soon it will be point with no return in France , this filth from third countries illegally keep coming and coming.. sad ..
Putin’s migrants are raping TV channel employees near the Ostankino TV tower. Soon they will start raping near the Kremlin and the State Duma.
Match TV employee raped by three migrants near Ostankino.
https://pledgetimes.com/match-tv-employee-raped-by-three-migrants-near-ostankino-kandelaki-and-bastrykin-react-to-the-incident/
An employee of the Match TV channel reported a rape by three migrants; the men were detained on suspicion of committing the crime.
The victim said that the attack took place near the Ostankino television center at around 2:30 a.m. on the night of Saturday, July 6, when she finished work, left the television center building and walked toward the Ostankino pond.
One of the suspects was detained 40 minutes after the attack, and later his accomplices. They turned out to be citizens of Uzbekistan aged 22, 24 and 25, who had come to Moscow to earn money. A criminal case was opened against them under the article on rape committed by a group of people.
So, Russia is not this pure Slav/caucasian nation everybody is making out it to be and Putain is importing scum from its former republics. Who would have guessed this was a thing? ///s
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Radical Betrayal: How Liberals & Neoconservatives Are Wrecking American Exceptionalism
Paperback – December 1, 2023
by Anders W. Edwardsson (Author)
For many, the election of Donald Trump in 2016 was a dream come true. Millions saw him as a redeemer destined to make America great again. For others, his election came as a shock and established forces and institutions immediately began to conspire to wreck his presidency. Now, years after leaving the White House, the frenzy to lock Trump up is turning the U.S. into a banana republic.
How can a single event provoke such strong reactions and dangerous outcomes? This book goes beyond the banalities of Trump haters, media bias, and academic prejudice to explain this phenomenon and answer underlying questions. It shows that to understand modern America, we must recall what the Founding Fathers wanted the country to become and compare it with what it has become.
In detail, this book identifies the origin of American Exceptionalism and tracks its role in the nation’s rise from a handful of breakaway colonies to a superpower surpassing the Roman Empire in wealth and influence. It also shows how America’s greatness is crumbling as the Founders’ vision has been corrupted by forces on both the left and the right.
Radical Betrayal is a must-read for everyone who wishes to understand the crisis happening in today’s America.
Things must be getting bad if there are shootings in Detroit!
I checked the article about the guy spending $444 for a week and a half food. Firstly, Trader Joes is a kind of luxury grocer, expensive. Secondly every item was a ready meal of some sort, not one ingredient to made a dish from scratch. This is a particularly spoiled member of society who needs to learn to cook.
Trader Joes is NOT a luxury grocer and it is not expensive. I have small income and TJ’s Is the place where I can find gourmet food at a low price. The have inported food from many countries. It does not have GMO food.
It is delicious and I can afford their prices.
Furthermore, Cassie, it is not YOUR business to demand anything from people who are just going about their day to shop for their food. They don’t need to learn to cook at all. YOU just have a bad attitude toward others.
Not pro-vax, but kids that had serious pre-existing medical conditions were more likely to get the jab.