A deputy U.S. Marshal tasked with protecting Supreme Court justices’ homes shot an alleged armed carjacker near the Washington residence of Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The unfortunate youth was hospitalized with wounds that were not considered life-threatening. The misguided youngster has been charged with attempted carjacking and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon.
In other news, the Singapore Food Agency has approved 16 species of edible insects for sale and consumption.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Conservative Tree House, Daniel Greenfield, Dean, Dora, JW, Reader from Chicago, Roger, SS, Upananda Brahmachari, 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.
Bidenomics? Business Bankruptcies Jump 34% in First Half of 2024
Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times
Bankruptcy filings by commercial entities grew by more than a third this year as businesses struggled under an environment of high costs and interest rates, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI).
A total of 3,016 commercial Chapter 11 bankruptcies were filed in the January—June period this year, up 34 percent from last year, said a July 3 ABI press release. Small-business filings rose by 61 percent. Total bankruptcy filings rose by 15 percent, with individual filings increasing by 15 percent.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Illinois is a Drag on US Economy, Continues to be a ‘Taker’ From Federal Govt; New Report Shows
Authored by Mark Glennon via Wirepoints.org
If you think Illinois’ problems only amount to Illinois voters getting what they deserve, you are mistaken.
A new report says Illinois, with the fifth largest state economy in the nation, is helping pull the country down.
It should come as no surprise, therefore, that other new reports continue to show that Illinois is a “net taker” in terms of its balance of payments with the federal government. Five years ago, Illinois gave up its long-held claim that it sends the federal government more than it gets in return, and that “net taker” status continues today.
Succinct evidence of Illinois’ underperformance is in the June report by COGFA, Illinois’ bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. In that report, COGFA set out to compare Illinois’ economic performance to the rest of the nation since the start of the COVID pandemic. They chose four metrics to do so: 1) Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 2) Total Nonfarm Payroll Employment, 3) Unemployment Rate, and 4) Total Personal Income.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In the Czech Republic, the Number of Financially Disadvantaged People is Growing
The Ministry of Statistics of the Czech Republic has presented new data on the population’s material well-being. According to the latest data, 30% of families in the Czech Republic do not have the money to replace worn-out furniture with new items. Additionally, 20.3% of people cannot afford a week-long vacation for all family members, and 19.7% do not have money for unforeseen expenses.
According to the ministry, the number of financially deprived people is increasing. This group includes those who cannot afford to pay for at least five out of 13 basic necessities: replacing worn-out furniture with new items; paying for at least one week-long vacation outside the home per year for all family members; covering unforeseen expenses (set at 14,100 CZK in 2023); eating meat every other day.
The list of basic necessities also includes: adequately heating the home; spending a small amount on oneself every week; regular paid leisure activities; owning a car; making regular payments related to housing; regularly buying new clothes; meeting with friends and relatives once a month; having internet access; and having at least two pairs of shoes per family member for each season.
This statistics highlight the growing financial problems faced by many citizens of the Czech Republic.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
OAK BROOK, Ill. — Pre-trial release has been denied for two women accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from two stores in Oak Brook before striking four vehicles, including two police cruisers during their attempted escape.
Martasia Barney, a 26-year-old Chicago resident, and Psy’che Hayes, a 35-year-old Dubuque, Iowa resident, have each been charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of criminal damage to government-supported property, two counts of criminal damage to property, and one count of aggravated assault, according to DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.
The charges were handed down following an investigation that began in late June after a woman’s wallet was stolen.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden Displays Parkinsonian Symptoms: Dr. Drew Pinsky
(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden displays Parkinsonian symptoms, but it is wrong to conclude that he has the disease, according to Dr. Drew Pinsky.
“It’s never fair to speculate about the diagnosis, but we are certainly at our liberty to describe what we see,” Pinsky said Monday on NewsNation’s “On Balance with Leland Vittert.”
He explained that, in medical school, observation through videos and images is paramount in identifying diseases in the field.
“A video that would be exemplary of movement disorder would be watching Joe Biden walk, watching his arms swing, watching his lack of facial expression,” Pinsky said. “These are a constellation of symptoms that are called Parkinsonian.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
President Joe Biden avoided a near disastrous slip-up during his welcome speech to NATO leaders on Tuesday as the eyes of the world watched him to judge his fitness to serve four more years in the White House.
The president, visibly reading from the teleprompter, read a three-word instruction to himself as he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg — but was saved from utter embarrassment by the audience applause.
‘Ask the military aide,’ Biden said while preparing to award Stoltenberg the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Biden then quickly caught himself, while the crowd drowned up the flub with cheers.
‘Military come forward,’ he said. He proceeded to award the medal, hanging it around Stoltenberg’s neck, without incident.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Bodyguard for Anti-Gun Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Shoots at Would-be Carjacker
Bodyguards for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor fired shots at an attempted carjacker on Friday outside her northwest DC home, according to a spokesperson for the US Marshals Service.
The perp, 18-year-old Kentrell Flowers, suffered non-fatal injuries and was taken to a local hospital following the incident.
“The Deputy U.S. Marshals involved in the shooting incident were part of the unit protecting the residences of U.S. Supreme Court justices. As a general practice, the U.S. Marshals don’t discuss specifics of protective details,” said US Marshals Service spokeswoman Abigail Meyer in a statement.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
California Homeowner Shoots Intruder Trying to Burglarize House
An armed California homeowner shot at a group of would-be burglars who broke into his house in a Los Angeles neighborhood Monday, police say.
Police say that at least two suspects entered a home in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Valley Village at around 3 p.m. when they were confronted by the homeowner who opened fire and struck one of the perpetrators twice with a semi-automatic handgun.
The other suspect fled before police arrived on the scene a short time later.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
CNN Analyst Says Dems Likely to Lose Both White House and Congress if Biden Stays in Race
If President Biden remains at the top of the Democratic Party ticket, it will be more likely that Republicans will not only win the White House this November but sweep both houses of Congress, according to CNN’s senior data reporter.
Harry Enten appeared on the network on Tuesday with a rundown of the latest polling data, which show that Biden’s down-ballot effect on Democrats is jeopardizing the party’s chances of winning the House and keeping control of the Senate.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
CNN Host Plays Montage of Biden Being ‘Not Coherent, ‘ Says President Has Not Assuaged Age Concerns
CNN host and presidential debate moderator Jake Tapper criticized President Biden in a lengthy monologue Monday after Biden gave multiple interviews defending himself and his mental acuity.
“The reality is that the Democratic elites are mostly late to acknowledge these age and ability issues compared to the rest of the public,” Tapper said of Biden’s age concerns.
Tapper is one of multiple influential political commentators, media figures and talk show hosts whose criticism of Biden has sharpened after his debate performance.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Confidence in Higher Education Wanes Among Americans, Poll Shows
A recent Gallup and Lumina Foundation poll reveals a significant decline in Americans’ confidence in higher education, with only 36% expressing a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in the system. This marks a sharp decrease from 57% in 2015 and underscores growing skepticism about the value and direction of U.S. colleges and universities.
Key points from the survey highlight widespread concerns across demographics, including gender, age, and political affiliation. Particularly noteworthy is a dramatic 36 percentage point drop among Republicans over the past decade, far surpassing declines seen among Democrats and independents.
Many Americans cited reasons for their diminished confidence, ranging from the high cost of tuition to doubts about whether colleges adequately prepare students for employment. Randy Hill, a 59-year-old registered Republican from Connecticut, expressed skepticism, noting the burden of student debt and the perceived disconnect between education and job prospects.
The survey also reflects a broader sentiment that college may not be worth the investment, with nearly one-third of respondents attributing their lack of confidence to cost concerns and 24% feeling that students are not receiving the necessary education to succeed.
Courtney Brown of Lumina expressed disappointment over the stagnant confidence levels and the increasing number of Americans who express little to no confidence in higher education. This sentiment could exacerbate labor shortages in critical fields and perpetuate income disparities between college graduates and those without degrees.
While confidence in four-year institutions has waned, the poll found that confidence in two-year programs remains comparatively higher, suggesting varying perceptions about different levels of education within the U.S. higher education system.
Overall, the findings underscore a challenging landscape for colleges and universities, prompting calls for reflection and potential reforms to restore public trust in higher education.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Democrat Strategist James Carville Calls on Obama & Bill Clinton to Find Biden Replacement
Veteran Democrat strategist James Carville has called on Barack Obama and Bill Clinton to lead efforts to find President Joe Biden’s replacement.
Carville is one of a growing number of Democrats who have lost faith in Biden’s ability to beat President Donald Trump in November.
Even before the disastrous debate last month, Carville, who led Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign, admitted that he was disappointed that Biden was running for re-election.
Now, Carville is leading the calls for Democrats to find a new candidate to replace Biden on the party’s 2024 ticket.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
George Stephanopoulos Says ‘I Don’t Think’ Biden Can Serve 4 More Years After ABC Interview
ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos admitted Tuesday that he does not believe President Biden can serve out a second term — days after conducting a closely watched interview with the commander in chief following his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month.
Stephanopoulos, 63, was recorded by TMZ answering a question from a passer-by in midtown Manhattan about Biden’s political future.
“Do you think Biden should step down?” the anonymous interrogator asked the “Good Morning America” co-host and “This Week” moderator. “You’ve talked to him more than anybody else has lately.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Harris Defends Anti-Israel College Protests as Speculation Mounts She Could Replace Biden in Race
As calls mount for President Biden to drop out of the 2024 race, his most likely replacement, Vice President Kamala Harris, spoke to the media in defense of the controversial anti-Israel protests that rocked college campuses over the spring.
“They are showing exactly what the human emotion should be, as a response to Gaza,” Harris told The Nation magazine in an article published Monday, which focused on the possibility of Harris replacing Biden in the presidential race. “There are things some of the protesters are saying that I absolutely reject, so I don’t mean to wholesale endorse their points. But we have to navigate it. I understand the emotion behind it.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
House Dems Join Republicans to Pass Crackdown on Biden Rules on Dishwashers, Fridges
A handful of House Democrats joined Republicans on legislation aimed at blocking new Biden administration energy efficiency standards for refrigerators and dishwashers.
The Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act by Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., and Refrigerator Freedom Act by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, passed along party lines Tuesday evening.
Seven House Democrats voted for each bill. The dishwasher standards legislation passed 214-192 with no GOP dissent. The refrigerator bill passed 212-192, with one Republican voting against it.
Both bills are aimed at prohibiting the Secretary of Energy from enacting and enforcing “energy efficiency standards for residential refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers that are not technologically feasible and economically justified,” the House GOP has said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
President Joe Biden is seemingly vowing to block legislation, known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, that would require proof of American citizenship before an applicant is registered to vote in federal elections.
The SAVE Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and co-sponsored by more than 100 House Republicans, would require state election officials to mandate voter registration applicants provide proof of American citizenship before they are added to the nation’s voter rolls.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Judge Cannon Refuses to Dismiss Charges in Trump’s Classified Documents Case
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has denied a request to dismiss charges against Walt Nauta in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s classified documents case against President Donald Trump.
Nauta is a close associate of Trump, the Associated Press reported.
Aileen Cannon’s decisive ruling came amidst allegations of hidden classified documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
The legal landscape surrounding Trump recently thickened as Judge Cannon issued a four-page order.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Meta Tightens the Reins on Anti-”Zionist” Terminology
Meta, the owner of both Facebook and Instagram, has taken a further stance in censoring content that uses the term “Zionists,” particularly in a way that conflates the term with Jewish or Israeli identities.
Previously, the term was tightly regulated only in very explicit instances. However, the revised guidelines now include a broader array of phrases where neither “Jew” nor “Israeli” are specifically mentioned, signaling a significant shift in policy.
The impetus for this policy enhancement came in the aftermath of the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. This event has catalyzed several changes in Meta’s content moderation practices.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New Republic Savaged for Its ‘Trump is Literally Hitler’ Cover
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news
The New Republic has received massive backlash for using a cover image of Donald Trump as Hitler for a piece that argues America will be plunged into fascism if he wins the election.
The outlet claimed that they used the image to highlight the similarities between how Hitler used the “tools of democracy to destroy it.”
Basically, they’re arguing Trump is Hitler, a tired trope.
The backlash was swift.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New White House Digital Staffer Cheered Social Media Ban on Trump: ‘What Took Them So Long?’
FIRST ON FOX: A newly hired White House digital staffer celebrated social media companies “finally, mercifully” banning President Trump on their platforms and asked “What took them so long?” in a 2021 blog post days before President Biden took office.
Andy Volosky, who posted a picture on social media Monday in front of the White House with the caption “Started the new gig today,” joined the White House’s Office of Digital Strategy as the “deputy director of platforms,” according to his Linkedin profile.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New York Times Doubles Down on Telling Biden to Drop Out: ‘He is Embarrassing Himself’
The New York Times again called on President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 White House race and protect his legacy in a blistering editorial on Monday, saying he was “embarrassing himself.”
“From the grass roots to the highest levels of the party, Democrats who want to defeat Mr. Trump in November should speak plainly to Mr. Biden,” the editorial board wrote Monday. “They need to tell him that his defiance threatens to hand victory to Mr. Trump.”
Political commentators, longtime media allies and even some fellow office-holding Democrats have urged Biden to step down from the nomination amid concerns about his age and mental acuity, which were exacerbated by his weak debate showing and subsequent media interviews.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The New York Times chief White House correspondent admitted to using “translation headsets” to help decipher President Biden during public speaking events.
After a series of high-profile verbal mishaps, concerns have been raised about Biden’s cognitive ability and mental fitness for the presidency. Opinion columnist Maureen Dowd penned a piece, “Joe Biden, in the Goodest Bunker Ever,” that continued to put a spotlight on the president’s articulation issues. She offered a tidbit about the trick her colleague, chief White House correspondent Peter Baker, uses to help understand Biden.
“The Times’s chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker, told me he has started using translation headsets on overseas trips, even when he is 20 feet away from the president, because they offer a magnified volume when Biden starts to mumble,” Dowd wrote.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Only Killing Democracy Can Save Democrats
“Democracy begins with each of us,” Joe Biden, shadowed by two teleprompters and multiple off-stage handlers declared on the beaches of Normandy.
Biden wasn’t celebrating winning WWII so much as the end of the Democrat primaries a day earlier which had handed him Guam and the Virgin Islands. The artfully rigged primaries which had boosted South Carolina while banishing New Hampshire had made Biden the nominee.
All he had to do was get through a debate and a convention. How hard could that be?
Biden and his people loved the idea of democracy much more than the actuality of it. The party had suppressed Rep. Dean Philips, Biden’s one opponent, and No Labels, a group that had fought for ballot access to launch a bipartisan alternative ticket, while running on democracy.
“This MAGA threat is a threat to the brick and mortar of our democratic institutions,” Biden had warned at a tribute to the late Sen. John McCain. At an earlier tribute to the late Sen. Harry Reid, he had preached that “protecting democracy requires vigilant stewardship.”
But now Biden’s own party is searching for ways to get rid of him. And the party’s best odds lie with supplanting the two democratically chosen candidates, Biden and Kamala Harris, with Gov. Gavin Newsom or some other last minute usurper who wasn’t chosen by anyone.
The Democrats have to kill democracy to save the Democratic Party.
Biden’s people are arguing that it would be undemocratic to remove the democratic choice of the voters, but there was little democratic about how he was chosen. When you’ve rigged an election once, why not also twice and then maybe a third time in the general election?
| — Hat tip: Daniel Greenfield | [Return to headlines] |
Orban Praises Trump as ‘The Man of Peace,’ Says Biden Will Likely Lose Election
Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary effectively endorsed Donald Trump for president in an interview and, on the eve of this week’s NATO summit, blasted the United States for having a “war policy” in Ukraine rather than a strategy for achieving peace.
Orban contrasted U.S. policy unfavorably with what he described as a credible “peace plan” from China. The Hungarian leader met recently with Vladimir Putin and defended his outreach to the Russian autocrat as a practical necessity during the war.
Orban’s comments came in an interview Sunday with Axel Springer media outlets. POLITICO is owned by Axel Springer.
In the interview, Orban commented extensively on Trump and U.S. politics, predicting there was a “very, very high chance” that President Joe Biden would not be reelected and describing that as a positive outcome.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poll: Donald Trump Opens Up Six-Point Lead Over Joe Biden in Wisconsin
Former President Donald Trump has taken a six-point lead over President Joe Biden in a deeper field in Wisconsin, according to an AARP/Fabrizio Ward/Impact Research poll.
The poll, conducted after Biden’s disastrous debate performance in late June and published Tuesday, finds that 44 percent of the likely voters sampled in Wisconsin back Trump in a five-way race, while 38 percent support Biden.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Online Commentator’s Censorship Suit Against California
Authored by Matthew Vadum via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
The Supreme Court denied commentator Rogan O’Handley’s bid last week to appeal a lower court’s decision dismissing his lawsuit that claimed California pressured Twitter to censor his election-related posts.
Mr. O’Handley’s account on Twitter, now called X, had been suspended after he claimed the 2020 presidential election was rigged. California officials flagged his posts as election misinformation. He sued the social media platform and the state in federal court and lost.
The new action by the Supreme Court came after it ruled on June 26 in Murthy v. Missouri that individuals challenging the federal government’s efforts to influence social media platforms lacked legal standing to do so. The court found the individuals couldn’t show they were directly harmed by the government’s outreach to the platforms.
Standing refers to the right of someone to sue in court. The parties must show a strong enough connection to the action to justify their participation in a lawsuit.
After the events that gave rise to Mr. O’Handley’s lawsuit, Elon Musk purchased Twitter in October 2022 and began reforming its moderation policies. The social media platform rebranded as X in July 2023.
Mr. O’Handley, a conservative, is active on X under the handle @DC_Draino. He has 1.5 million followers.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Suspected Carjacker Shot Outside Home of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
A deputy U.S. Marshal tasked with protecting Supreme Court justices’ homes shot an alleged armed carjacker near the Washington residence of Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor last week, authorities said Tuesday.
The suspect, 18-year-old Kentrell Flowers of Southeast D.C., allegedly pulled a handgun on the marshal, who was in a parked car in the Northwest section of the city around 1:15 a.m. ET on Friday, the Metropolitan Police Department said in a press release.
The marshal drew his own gun and “fired several shots at the suspect,” the MPD said. Another marshal in a separate vehicle also fired at Flowers, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Police recovered a gun from the scene.
| — Hat tip: Conservative Tree House | [Return to headlines] |
A suspected Jihadist from Queens who was caught near LaGuardia Airport armed to the teeth has been indicted on over a dozen weapons charges, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Judd Sanson, 27, was pulled over just blocks away from the airport on June 12 for allegedly driving with his license plate covered. Inside the vehicle officers discovered a frightening cache of weapons and body armor, according to police.
Prosecutors on Tuesday revealed the laundry list of weapons they found in his car, including guns, knives, axes and a black baton with the words “Left Me No Choice,” “You Gon Learn Today” and an Arabic expression that means, “Ask In God For Forgiveness.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Railey Greeson, left, and Brooklyn Shuler, 23, right, were well-known ‘boy-crazy flirts’ who cozied up to the teenagers and their fathers at the Georgia high school where they worked.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Three men accused of killing a woman tourist during a robbery outside an upscale shopping mall in Newport Beach, CA, refused to leave their jail cells and go to court to face murder charges.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
As the US presidential election draws closer, Republicans and Donald Trump have come out with some key policy pledges, with the big picture message described as “a return to common sense” when it comes to tech.
Among problems like the economy in general, geopolitics, and a variety of trends influencing society, the platform mentions central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), cryptocurrencies, freedom of speech, government involvement in censorship, and AI development.
This party platform was adopted by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and offers promises of reversing some of the most controversial policies endorsed and executed by the current White House.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
“We need to give them retribution,” attorney Mike Davis recently said on a right-wing YouTube show, calling payback “a big part of justice”
One of Donald Trump’s rumored attorney general candidates is warning of a criminal probe into the former president’s prosecutors if Republicans take back the White House in November.
Attorney Mike Davis, the founder of an organization advocating for conservative judicial nominees, said in an interview on Benny Johnson’s YouTube channel that if Trump is elected to a second term, there will be “severe” consequences for those involved in the criminal charges against the former president, including Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Drops Major Hint on His Running Mate, and Timing of Announcement
With the Republican National Convention set to kick off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in less than one week, speculation is soaring regarding whom former President Trump will name as his running mate, and when he’ll make the announcement.
And the former president is giving some hints.
“I’d love to do it during the convention,” Trump said during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity.”
But Trump, in his Monday night interview, added that “my people say that’s a little complicated.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Canadians Begin Hiring ‘Guardian Angels’ to Protect Hospital Patients From Euthanasia
Canadians are now taking the unprecedented steps of hiring people to protect vulnerable hospital patients from being euthanized by government doctors.
As Slay News has reported, Canada’s Liberal government is increasingly pushing to euthanize citizens who are considered a burden on the state’s taxpayer-funded healthcare system.
However, concerns are now growing that vulnerable patients are being railroaded into the country’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program to cut costs and relieve the supposed burden.
In response, an organization called the Delta Hospice Society (DHS), one of Canada’s only fully pro-life hospices, has now launched a service offering “Guardian Angels” who will protect patients from being euthanized.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Over 800 Cars Are Stolen Every Month in Canada Only to End Up Overseas
The rampant level of car theft in the Great White North has now become an international concern. Interpol announced in late May that over 200 stolen vehicles from Canada every week are being identified in other countries, typically at ports of entry. The international organization began this in February when it integrated the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s stolen vehicle database.
The RCMP’s database contains information on 150,000 stolen vehicles, and not even members of the Canadian government are untouched by the waves of thefts. The Justice Minister had his government-issued car stolen three times over the past three years, according to the CBC. David Lametti’s Toyota Highlander XLE was lifted in February 2021 and never found. Lametti was given another Highlander XLE, which was taken in February 2023 but was recovered that same month. That same Highlander was stolen from his successor, Arif Virani, in November 2023.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Pride in Economy Plummets, While Canadians Remain Proud of Flag: Poll
Canadians are most proud of the Canadian flag and least proud of the Canadian economy, according to a new survey.
The survey, conducted by Research Co. between 2008 and 2011 and again from 2019 to 2024, asked Canadians which institutions and features of Canada elicited the highest feelings of pride.
During the survey’s first iteration in 2008, 62% of Canadians took pride in the Canadian economy. This feeling of pride rose to and peaked at 78% in 2011. Canadians’ pride in their country’s economy has since plummeted to 34% in 2024.
The Canadian flag has remained the institution or feature that Canadians remain most proud of in every iteration of the survey since 2008.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
China Conducts Military Drills Near Polish & Ukrainian Borders
China and Belarus kicked off ultra-rare joint military drills near the Polish border inside Belarusian territory on Monday. It is unprecedented given Chinese troops are now deployed so close to a raging war zone in Eastern Europe.
The Belarusian armed forces pointed specifically to “Ukrainian provocation” as a key reason to hold the drills. Vladimir Kupriyanyuk, the deputy head of the general staff of the military, said the exercises are a response to the “West’s aggressive foreign policy towards Belarus” and to “Ukrainian provocation.”
days, until July 19. The drills are being staged near the city of Brest on the Belarus-Poland border, and which is some 40 miles from the Belarusian border with Ukraine to the south.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Concerns Mount Over Potential October Port Chaos Due to EU Biometric Plan
UK government officials are increasingly concerned about potential chaos at UK ports in three months unless the EU delays its new biometric travel registration scheme, which requires facial and fingerprint scanning.
Starting October 6, all non-EU nationals will need to undergo biometric and fingerprint checks under a new European entry/exit system. This marks a significant change for British citizens, highlighting the impact of the end of free movement on daily life. However, an app developed by the EU and Frontex, intended to streamline the registration process, is not yet confirmed to be ready.
The app aims to allow non-EU citizens to register their details before travel rather than at the border. The new system could also test the UK government’s attempts to foster a more cooperative relationship with the European Commission. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had pushed for UK citizens to have full access to the EU’s e-gates, but this proposal was not accepted.
From the EU’s perspective, the scheme will help combat illegal migration and ensure non-EU citizens do not exceed their permitted stay. It will also eliminate the need for passport stamping.
Initially scheduled to launch in 2021, the scheme has faced multiple delays, the latest pushed to October after a request from France to postpone until after the Paris Olympics. The October start date, just three weeks before the half-term holiday, raises concerns about potential travel disruptions.
Upon first registration, travelers must submit fingerprints and a facial biometric. For subsequent visits within three years, a facial biometric test at automated gates will suffice. Each new visit extends the validity for another three years, tied to the passport’s expiration date.
UK officials worry that potential border chaos at crossings like Folkestone and Dover could lead to public backlash against the current government rather than Brexit advocates within the Conservative party. While the UK supports the scheme in principle and acknowledges previous delays, it stresses the importance of an efficient rollout. A Department for Transport survey revealed that 69% of the UK public is unaware of the scheme, and 15% might reduce travel due to it.
Getlink, which operates the Channel tunnel, is constructing multimillion-pound processing centers at Folkestone and Calais. However, the Port of Dover is expected to face the most significant challenges due to high traffic and limited space. Kent council leader Roger Gough and Port of Dover CEO Doug Bannister recently warned the UK government that the system’s implementation could disrupt supply chains.
By mid-2025, UK travelers to the Schengen area will also need to apply online for entry permission. The Schengen area includes most of the EU (excluding Cyprus and Ireland), as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Construction and Industry Deepen Decline in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic’s construction and industrial sectors experienced significant declines in May, according to the Czech Statistical Office.
Construction production saw a year-on-year decrease of 6.8%, accelerating from a slowdown in April, while monthly construction production fell by 5.1%. Similarly, industrial production declined by 3.2% year-on-year, following a 0.4% drop in April, and decreased by 2.2% in a monthly comparison.
Civil engineering, which encompasses infrastructure projects like roads and telecommunications, experienced a 6.3% drop compared to May of the previous year. Building construction, including the erection of structures, fell by 7.1%.
“In May, 2,905 apartments were completed, marking a year-on-year decline of 2.1 percent. This decline was contributed to by the categories of conversions of apartment buildings and non-residential buildings, while more new family and apartment houses were completed,” stated Drahomíra Dušková from the construction and housing statistics department of the Czech Statistical Office. Additionally, construction began on 2,819 apartments in May, an 18.2% decrease from the previous year.
The value of construction works also decreased, with permits issued in May totaling 52.5 billion crowns, down 9.2% year-on-year.
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Czechs Face Insulin Shortage Amid Summer Holidays, Experts Advise on Alternatives
The holidays have begun, and Czechs are dealing with a summer insulin shortage. Diabetics are encountering issues with a shortage of insulin for pumps, which they want to stock up on due to vacations and the heat. Experts reassure that there’s no need to panic, and there are various solutions. Insulin can be bought in a different packaging, for instance.
The first holiday week of this year turned into a nerve-wracking hunt for insulin for Darina from Prague 6. “After four years with type 1 diabetes, we’re going abroad for the first time and to the sea for the first time,” she explains the main reason why she wanted to stock up on insulin.
“In the heat, it’s like he’s drinking the insulin. Suddenly, he needs a huge amount. And I started to fear that we wouldn’t have enough insulin abroad,” she continues.
Her doctor sent her an e-prescription, and since they were in the Brno area, she went to the hospital pharmacy in the Moravian metropolis. According to her, she learned at the pharmacy that they did not have the Lyumjev medication in the required pump packaging in any of the hospital pharmacies, and they advised her to try another hospital. But she was unsuccessful there as well.
“We even visited a pharmacy chain that specializes in diabetics, and they told me that they were sold out across all of Brno. I thought to myself: That’s great… So I picked up the phone and called the hospital pharmacy in Breclav. They only had it for pens. In Hodonin, the same scenario, and in Znojmo, they didn’t have it either. That triggered my panic attacks,” she describes. She didn’t want an alternative, saying it would mean several sleepless nights during the vacation, monitoring how her son would react.
“My husband reassured me that we would manage with the supplies we had. I had dark scenarios that the insulin could spoil, could overheat…” Darina describes.
On the Thursday before the holidays, she finally got the required medication, but only thanks to a relative who works in one of the hospitals.
The State Institute for Drug Control, which manages the overview of possible drug distribution outages, currently informs that there is indeed an insulin pump shortage. However, it is for a different type than what Ms. Darina was looking for. Specifically, it concerns Novorapid in ten-milliliter packages.
According to the institute, the outage is expected to last from June 25 to August 24. The notice warns that it is a difficult-to-replace medication, and its administration in another form must always be done under medical supervision. Both a diabetologist and the chairman of the Diabetes Patients Alliance reassure that diabetics do not need to panic, as the same medication can still be obtained, albeit in a different packaging meant for pens.
“There is an alternative. The shortages are for the ten-milliliter vials, and it can be drawn from smaller vials. There is definitely an alternative. No panic,” emphasizes Kamila Kocurkova, deputy head of endocrinology and diabetology at the Ceské Budejovice Hospital.
She describes that she has reports from her 160 patients that they managed to stock up for the summer. “It is not life-threatening in the sense that it can be replaced with an available preparation,” says Vlastimil Milata, chairman of the Diabetes Patients Alliance of the Czech Republic. He again mentions that diabetics can transfer insulin from another packaging into the pump. “It is not standard, but it is essentially just about the packaging.”
He adds that in case of a shortage, it is necessary to consult with your doctor. “A doctor can switch a patient to something they used in the past or prescribe the mentioned insulin for pens, and the patient can transfer it. It is always about an agreement,” says the chairman of the patient alliance.
He also advises that diabetics should have an insulin stock, just as it is recommended to have financial reserves. “For two to three months at least. Insulin lasts two years. Having some in the fridge is not such a problem,” he says.
The Seznam Zpravy editorial team also contacted large hospitals in the Ústi region, Prague, and Brno, asking if they currently have enough insulin, for which the State Institute for Drug Control warns of possible shortages.
Specifically, the Brno University Hospital reports that they still have the medication in stock. The General University Hospital in Prague (VFN) also reports that they have a spectrum of insulin medications, thanks to pre-stocking. “However, since demand has increased — patients are coming to us from all over Prague and the surrounding area — our supplies will last until the beginning of this week. Unfortunately, this doesn’t only concern this insulin but also others,” said Michal Janu, head pharmacist at the VFN hospital pharmacy.
“As for stock levels in pharmacies, we have a limited quantity available, but the stock situation changes over time and can vary between pharmacies,” warns Miloslava Kucerova from the press department of Krajska zdravotni, which operates hospitals in the Ústi region, adding that the specific medication Novorapid for pumps is no longer available from the distributor.
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Dutch Intelligence Services Help the US to Disturb Russian Interference
Dutch intelligence and safety services AIVD, MIVD, and the National Police cooperated with American services to disrupt an interference attempt that most likely came from the Russian government at the end of last month. The services think it is “very likely” that the Russian government is involved with the development of the software used to create troll accounts that get involved in public debates.
This concerns just under a thousand artificial intelligence-generated fake accounts developed in a so-called troll factory. These accounts spread fake news and disinformation. The Russian campaign was allegedly aimed at the American presidential elections, which will be held this autumn. “There is no indication that the offensive cyber campaign was set up to influence the public debate in the Netherlands or Europe,” said ministers Judith Uitermark (Interior Affairs) and Ruben Brekelmans (Defense).
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‘EU Ammunition Production Vastly Overstated, ‘ Report Finds
European Union promises for increased ammunition production to support Ukraine have been vastly overstated, an investigative report has claimed.
Journalists working with The Investigative Desk collective looked at production numbers put forward by the European Commission and concluded that Brussels is overestimating the capacity of European ammo production.
Their research indicated a substantial discrepancy between the EU’s reported figures and the actual increase in munitions manufacturing capabilities.
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EU Bureaucracy, Taxes and Energy Costs Forces Major Auto Manufacturer Abroad
Germany’s second-largest automotive supplier, ZF Friedrichshafen, is planning to close plants in Europe and cut up to 12,000 jobs.
The company said it was looking to expand its operations in what it described as the more business-friendly nation of Turkey.
The multinational manufacturer is struggling with high debt and the EU’s decision to abandon combustion engine vehicles.
In addition, costs of research and development are rising, while ZF Friedrichshafen’s group sales are dropping.
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EU Reportedly to Issue “Final” Warning to X Under Censorship Law; Risks 6% Revenue Fine
According to anonymous sources cited in the press, the European Union (EU) is continuing with enforcement of its Digital Services Act (DSA) (known among opponents as the censorship law) — and the target this time is X.
Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton is expected to issue “a final warning” to X before EU bureaucrats go on their summer vacations. Failure to comply with the warning, according to the sources, could result in the social media company having to pay fines amounting to 6 percent of its global revenue.
The issue that the EU has with X in this particular case is the platform’s alleged failure to combat what the DSA designates to be “dangerous” content. If the formal warning is given, the EU will move to make a decision on whether to punish X at some point later in the year.
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Europol Seeks to Break Mobile Roaming Encryption
EU’s law enforcement agency Europol is another major entity that is setting its sights on breaking encryption.
This time, it’s about home routing and mobile encryption, and the justification is a well-known one: encryption supposedly stands in the way of the ability of law enforcement to investigate.
The overall rationale is that police and other agencies face serious challenges in doing their job (an argument repeatedly proven as false) and that destroying the internet’s currently best available security feature for all users — encryption — is the way to solve the problem.
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European Parliament Wants to Create Another Right-Wing Group
Tomio Okamura, the leader of the Czech right-wing party “Freedom and Direct Democracy” (SPD), has announced the creation of another group in the European Parliament called “Europe of Sovereign Nations”, which will unite right-wing forces, according to Politico.
At a press conference in Prague, Okamura hinted that the German party “Alternative for Germany” will join the new group.
“This is a good deal for us,” said the Czech politician, adding that the group’s program is aimed against “the Green Course”, against migration” and against “Islamization of Europe”. “We want to see Brussels’ powers returned to the national level,” he added.
SPD has only one member in the European Parliament, who previously belonged to the right-wing group “Identity and Democracy”. According to Politico, negotiations on joining are also underway with Slovak right-wing MEP Milan Uhrik, three MEPs from Bulgaria’s “Vazrazhdane” party, French MEP Sarah Knafo, Lithuanian MEP, and some members of Poland’s Confederation.
It is unclear whether “Europe of Sovereign Nations” can secure the support of at least 23 MEPs from seven EU countries — this is the minimum condition for forming a group in the European Parliament.
Earlier this week, another new group was created — “Patriots for Europe”, which includes MEPs from Viktor Orban’s parties and Marine Le Pen. Currently, this is the third largest force in the parliament, with 84 members.
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Farage Enters Parliament: Reform UK Team Arrive in Westminster for First Time
Nigel Farage made history on Tuesday as he entered Parliament as head of the group of five newly elected members of Reform UK, 30 years after he first challenged a UK election.
The UK Parliament’s House of Commons will elect a speaker and then swear in members on Tuesday afternoon, its new cohort having been summoned to meet for the first time after last week’s General Election. For the first time that body of 650 will include a Nigel Farage-led bloc, his first Parliamentary seat since the United Kingdom left the European Union, terminating the Brussels seat Mr Farage had represented for over 20 years.
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France’s Leftist Coalition Demands the Right to Form a Government After Fractured Parliament Vote
PARIS (AP) — The leftist coalition that won the most seats in France’s National Assembly in surprise results demanded on Tuesday the immediate right to form a government, even though no grouping won a majority of seats.
It is unprecedented in France’s modern history to have a fractured parliament. Sunday’s vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Union’s second-largest economy. The legislature is split between the New Popular Front leftist coalition, President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist allies and the far-right National Rally.
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France: National Rally Base Blames Leaders for Election Defeat
Local members of the hard-right National Rally are unhappy with the party’s July 7 election results, with the grassroots reportedly blaming its national leaders for the defeat.
Speaking to news outlet Le Monde and referring to the party’s controversial candidates, RN MP Bruno Bilde said: “We can’t go on like this. We need to reassure. We’ve had some extremely divisive, and sometimes even worrying, profiles.
“The management is going to have to get to grips with this problem right away, which has parasitized the entire campaign, and especially the period between the two rounds.”
During the campaign, it was revealed that the RN chose candidates deemed unfit to run and controversial individuals who had made outrageous comments.
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France: Paris Prosecutor Goes After Marine Le Pen Over Campaign Financing
Marine Le Pen’s National Rally has been hit with a judicial investigation into suspicions of illicit financing of her presidential campaign in 2022.
According to French broadcaster BFMTV, which broke the news, the probe was opened on July 2 and involves several alleged infractions of French law.
Le Pen is allegedly implicated in improper campaign financing through loans from legal entities, misuse of public office for personal gain, fraud against public institutions and document forgery, a judicial source told BFMTV, which was subsequently confirmed by the prosecutor’s office.
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France: Left Pressures Macron to Appoint Left-Wing PM, Demands ‘Cordon Sanitaire’ Against RN
As the pressure to form a new French government is increasing, the Left has pushed French President Emmanuel Macron to appoint a left-wing prime minister as well as continue to marginalise Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN).
Although the French President is under no legal obligation to choose a person from the largest group in the National Assembly, to do so is seen as common practice.
Macron has so far failed to do so, refusing to accept an attempt by current Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to resign as Prime Minister, prompting backlash from the president’s left-wing allies.
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New Dutch and UK Prime Ministers to Sneak Out of NATO Summit to Watch Euro Semi-Final
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, plan to find a way to break out of the NATO Summit in Washington D.C. on Wednesday to watch the Netherlands-England European Championship football match together. Schoof grinned, saying that would “of course be extremely” agreeable.
The semi-final of the Euro match falls right in the middle of the first real day of the summit in Washington D.C. Political leaders are scheduled to take part in almost constant talks that day. Schoof said he assumes he “will have to miss the first half.” He added, “I might still get a memo every now and then. But the second half, if I see it correctly, I can watch it together with the newly-elected Prime Minister of the UK.” He is hoping a television screen will be set up in a side room of the conference center where the summit is being held. The 75th anniversary summit will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
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New Leftist UK Govt Looks to Set Criminals Free Early to Reduce Prison Overcrowding
The newly elected leftist Labour Party government is reportedly considering a scheme to release some prisoners after they serve just 40 per cent of their jail sentences in a bid to reduce prison overcrowding.
In its general election manifesto, Sir Kier Starmer’s Labour Party declared that “prisons should not be academies of crime” and it appears that his left-wing government has a novel way of preventing this, by simply releasing criminals back onto the streets early.
According to a report from the progressive Guardian newspaper, the new government is looking to set prisoners free after serving just 40 per cent of their term, down from the already lax 50 per cent time served requirement. This would reportedly not include violent criminals, sex offenders, or terrorists, however.
[Comment: H.L. Mencken wrote, “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.”]
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Norway Orders Artillery Shells Worth Over 87 Million Euros From Nammo
The Norwegian government has signed a contract with the defense company Nammo for the purchase of artillery shells worth more than 1 billion Norwegian kroner (87.1 million euros), according to NTB. The contract was signed by Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram and Nammo’s CEO Morten Brandtzæg in the United States.
The funding will allow the defense company to invest in a new production line, enabling Nammo to produce “ten times more” artillery shells for the defense sector. The exact number is not disclosed due to security concerns.
According to Brandtzæg, the creation of the new production line will take one and a half to two years, but significant work has already been done. The company will also be able to double its production capacity for other artillery ammunition and rocket engines.
Brandtzæg emphasized that the government’s investments primarily concern replenishing Norway’s stockpiles of shells, which Ukraine urgently needs. At the same time, Nammo has contracts with other countries as well.
Nammo (Nordic Ammunition Company) is a joint Norwegian-Finnish company specializing in ammunition production. The company’s shares are divided equally between Norway’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and Finland’s defense corporation Patria.
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Novak Djokovic is Still Being Booed Over His Campaign Against Mandatory Vaccines
Authored by Paul Joseph Watson via Modernity.news,
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic is still being booed by a small section of fans at major tournaments, with speculation that part of it is driven by his stance against the mandatory COVID vaccine stretching back years.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion accused the Centre Court crowd of “crossing the line” and disrespecting him after he beat Dane Holger Rune in three straight sets last night.
The crowd repeatedly chanted “Rune” throughout the match, which Djokovic claimed was an attempt to antagonize him because the word sounds like “boo!”
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Poland Requests Green Tax Exemption to Help Fuel Ukraine
Poland is to seek an exemption from European Union emission fees so that it can burn extra coal to supply Ukraine with electricity this winter.
After a meeting with Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed his government was planning to burn coal mined in Poland for the benefit of the war-torn country, and would soon seek an EU green exemption to help with the project.
Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure has suffered damage from Russian attacks, with the country expecting to face a serious energy crisis this winter. According to the Financial Times, Ukraine has lost more than half of its power generation capacity since the start of Moscow’s invasion in 2022.
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Poland Mulls Shooting Down Russian Missiles Over Ukraine
A security agreement signed by Poland and Ukraine has laid out plans for Polish air defences to shoot down Russian missiles suspected of approaching Poland even when they are in Ukrainian air space.
On July 8, Poland became the latest country to sign such a deal with Ukraine, pledging to maintain long-term support for Kyiv’s defence against Russian aggression. The US and Japan signed similar agreements in June.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met in Warsaw in advance of the NATO summit starting on July 9 in Washington. The pair signed the security agreement which included measures on training a “Ukrainian legion” in Poland as well as bringing down Russian missiles and drones heading for Polish airspace.
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UK: 2000 Doctors & Scientists Demand ‘Immediate’ Ban of COVID Shots
A whopping 2000 plus doctors, scientists, and academics have signed a declaration demanding governments around the world order an “immediate” ban on Covid mRNA shots.
The unprecedented statement, called “The Hope Accord,” has also been signed by over 2700 other healthcare professionals.
In total, the document has now gained over 33,000 signatories.
As Slay News previously reported, The Hope Accord was first launched last week and has quickly gathered a huge amount of support.
At the time of publishing, the statement has gained 33,265 total supporters, including 1028 medical doctors, 2,703 other healthcare professionals, and 1063 scientists and academics.
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UK: BBC Chooses ‘Racially Diverse Cast’ to Play Characters in Drama About 1066 Battle of Hastings
Authored by Paul Joseph Watson via Modernity.news
The BBC has chosen a “racially diverse cast” to play the characters in its upcoming historical drama about the Battle of Hastings, which occurred in 1066, leading one historian to decry the “bizarre notion that there were black earls in Anglo-Saxon England.”
The eight-part series King and Conqueror, which is a CBS Studios co-production, will feature numerous non-white characters, including one taking the role of a real 11th-century leader.
Black actor Jason Forbes will play the fictional character Thane Thomas, “with the “thanes” being a layer of nobility in the ethnically homogeneous society of Anglo-Saxon England,” reports the Telegraph.
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It wasn’t until he found soil on a bedroom floor that Charles realised the tenants in his home had turned it into a cannabis farm. ‘We had so many memories in that house. We feel utterly violated.’
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UK: Keir Starmer Seeks Better Brexit Trade Deal
New U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his desire for a better trade agreement with the European Union during his first visit to Northern Ireland’s cross-community government in Belfast on Monday.
Addressing Northern Ireland’s politicians at the Stormont parliament, Starmer emphasized the need to improve upon “the botched deal Boris Johnson brought home” from the previous Conservative administration’s Brexit negotiations.
Starmer acknowledged the complexities and disruptions caused by post-Brexit trade arrangements, particularly the original Northern Irish protocol within the 2020 U.K.-EU Withdrawal Agreement. This protocol, which required Northern Ireland to enforce EU goods laws, has been a contentious issue, especially for the British unionist community, as it maintained barrier-free trade with the Republic of Ireland but imposed restrictions on goods from Britain.
Efforts to mitigate these restrictions through the 2023 Windsor Framework and the January 2024 Safeguarding the Union agreements by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had limited success. However, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which had previously obstructed Stormont in protest, eventually allowed a new Sinn Féin-led coalition to take office in February.
Starmer expressed hope that his administration could negotiate a new SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) agreement to align U.K. veterinary and plant health standards with the EU. “We think we can get a better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnson brought home. We will work on that,” Starmer stated in the Great Hall of Stormont’s parliamentary building.
However, Starmer underscored the importance of honoring existing agreements on Northern Ireland border controls to rebuild trust with Brussels. This includes the continued implementation of the Windsor deal, which mandates the establishment of proper border control posts at Northern Irish ports.
“We do have to get on with implementing the important changes that are necessary under the existing arrangements,” Starmer said. “We’re not going to be able to get a better relationship unless we demonstrate a commitment to the agreements that have already been put in place.”
Accompanied by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and Chief of Staff Sue Gray, Starmer received commendation from across the political spectrum in Belfast. DUP Leader Gavin Robinson expressed confidence in Starmer’s understanding of Northern Ireland issues and his commitment to the union with Britain, noting that Starmer had dismissed the idea of a border poll on Irish unification.
Irish nationalists and republicans also welcomed Labour’s return to power. Matthew O’Toole of the Social Democratic and Labour Party praised the shift away from the previous Conservative government’s approach, while Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald contrasted the positive engagement with Starmer and Benn to the previous administration.
Following his visit to Northern Ireland, Starmer is scheduled to continue his tour of the U.K. with visits to Wales later on Monday and Scotland on Tuesday.
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A son stabbed his elderly mother to death before climbing onto her conservatory roof and trying to get police to shoot him, a court heard today.
Shaun Emmerson, 51, is said to have been suffering from delusions when he attacked Christine Emmerson, 71, at her home in the small village of West Ashby, near Horncastle, Lincs on Thursday, August 3.
She was found in a pool of blood having been stabbed dozens of times.
A judge has ruled that Emmerson, who lived with his mother and father, David, 71, was not fit to enter a plea or stand trial because he is suffering from a mental disability.
Instead, jurors at Lincoln Crown Court will have to decide if Emmerson, who is not present in court, carried out the act of killing his mother at a trial of facts.
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A terrified young woman has revealed why she’s leaving London for good and returning to the safety of Australia.
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UK: TfL Slams Vandalism as ‘Unacceptable’ as Surbiton ULEZ Camera Cut Down
TfL has issued a statement after a ULEZ camera was cut down in Surbiton.
The camera was vandalised on Hook Road, with a picture showing it cut in half with the camera on the ground.
TfL has slammed vandalism as “unacceptable”, adding that damaging these cameras will not stop ULEZ from operating.
According to TfL, any ULEZ cameras destroyed are repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
There are more than 3,700 ULEZ cameras in place across London.
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UK: Watch: Farage Booed During First Westminster Speech as He Slams Brexit Blocker Speaker Bercow
Nigel Farage didn’t come in peace to Britain’s Parliament for his first ever speech this week, and was booed by some members as he criticised past conduct of the house for trying to overturn Brexit.
Britain’s House of Commons elected its speaker on Tuesday afternoon at its first sitting after electing new members in the national General Election last week, and that work dispensed with every party leader in the House was given the opportunity to make a short speech welcoming the new speaker to his place.
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US Announces Second $2 Billion Military Loan Deal for Poland
The United States announced a second $2 billion foreign military financing direct loan deal with Poland on Monday, as part of a significant modernization program that includes purchasing U.S. defense equipment. This new loan follows a previous $2 billion deal signed in September 2023, according to the State Department.
Poland is set to acquire F-35 aircraft, Patriot missile systems, and Abrams tanks through this deal. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the rapid progression of these agreements is seen as a success for both NATO and the U.S. defense industry.
“We’re happy with the process. We see it as a success. We’re happy that they’ve been able to move out quickly — not only does it help NATO, it helps the US defense industry as well, the US economy. So, we’re definitely happy with the process,” an official told Breaking Defense.
The funds are provided through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, which mandates spending on US-made weapons. Unlike traditional FMF dollars, which are grants, this loan includes interest that Poland will have to repay to the U.S. government. Washington allocated $60 million to cover fees and guarantee the loan.
Details of the allocation of the first loan remain mostly undisclosed, but it is known that roughly half of the funds have been used to purchase four aerostat-based early warning radar systems. Further specifics on the spending of the new loan are expected to be announced in the future, though not during this week’s NATO summit.
In its statement, the State Department highlighted Poland’s significant contributions to American security interests: “Poland is a leader in NATO, currently spending four percent of GDP on defense, the highest in the Alliance. Poland hosts thousands of U.S. and Allied forces, including U.S. V Corps Headquarters (Forward) in Poznan.”
The loan-based FMF structure, which is relatively new, offers flexibility in getting FMF funding to foreign allies without waiting for the appropriations process. Congress recently extended the authority for such loans through the end of fiscal 2025. This raises the question of whether other countries might receive similar loans in the future.
“We are looking at it, and there are other countries that remain competitive,” the official said, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine as a factor in Poland’s priority status. “So we are in conversations with multiple countries, but there are of course bureaucratic process of moving things out. Poland is sort of the tip of the spear on this for us right now.”
When asked about the possibility of a third loan, the official did not rule it out, emphasizing ongoing communication with Warsaw and noting that Poland remains competitive for future loans.
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These Corporations Are the True “Winners” of the War on Gaza
There is no victory to be achieved by Israel, or by its American sponsor, in its merciless devastation of Gaza. This was evident as far back as October, when many of us began warning that Israel’s onslaught bore all the hallmarks of America’s forever wars, but the horror and chaos of the last few weeks should convince any remaining doubters.
Hamas itself made a mockery of Israel’s stated ambitions when, despite Israeli assurances that the southern city of Rafah was the group’s final stronghold, it initiated guerrilla attacks in May on the Israeli military in the north, heralding the insurgency that likely awaits Israel the longer it remains in Gaza. Despite this, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to insist on “total victory,” evading a clear response to President Joe Biden’s cease-fire proposal, while the Israeli right simply rejected it. Biden remains snared in the mess he helped make: As this article went to press, he was still shopping a cease-fire proposal that seemed as unlikely to bring peace as it was to save his reelection campaign or head off what his director of national intelligence warned may be a “generational impact on terrorism.” And all the while, Palestinians have continued to suffer, enduring starvation and bombs that have killed more than 37,000 people.
Still, just because a war cannot be won does not mean that it lacks for winners.
On May 14, days after Israel moved forward with its invasion of Rafah, Biden informed Congress that his administration would also move forward with providing Israel another $1 billion worth of weapons. It was part of more than $12.5 billion in military aid the US had given to Israel since October 7, and it was a full reversal of Biden’s earlier decision to pause a weapons shipment to Israel over its imminent move on Rafah. “This is just another example of [the Biden administration] muddying their message and undermining any real strength behind the hold,” an arms-export expert told the Wall Street Journal.
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G7: Saudi Arabia Threatens to Sell European Bonds if Russia’s Assets Are Confiscated
Saudi Arabia has threatened to sell European bonds if G7 decides to confiscate Russia’s frozen assets, according to Bloomberg. The agency reports that this occurred at the beginning of the year. Saudi officials specifically recalled bonds issued by the French Treasury.
In May and June, G7 studied different options for Russia’s Central Bank assets. In the end, the group agreed to use the received profit and leave the assets untouched.
Despite the fact that the US and UK advocated for more bold options, including direct exclusion, some eurozone countries opposed this idea, fearing it could destabilize the currency. Saudi Arabia’s stance likely influenced European countries’ position, sources say.
The kingdom’s assets in euros and French bonds could total tens of billions of euros, but they are not significant enough to greatly impact the situation if sold.
However, European officials remain concerned because other countries may follow Saudi Arabia’s example.
One Saudi official said that this is not the government’s style to make threats of this kind, but Saudi Arabia has outlined possible consequences of any confiscation to G7 members.
Saudi Arabia’s position changed after G7 accepted a proposal that did not provide for asset expropriation.
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Defence Minister Urges Ukrainians Throughout Europe to Join New Legion
(Reuters) — Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov urged his compatriots throughout Europe on Tuesday to sign up for a Ukrainian legion to be based in neighbouring Poland, describing it as a key step in improving battle readiness with Western help.
The creation of the unit, part of a security agreement with Poland, appeared to be a means to boost the ranks of Ukraine’s military against numerically superior Russian forces. It was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Warsaw on Monday.
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Russia has successfully rebuilt its “war-stage” economy much faster than expected, and it is now cranking out far more artillery ammunition than it was prior to the beginning of the Ukraine war, a NATO defense chief said Tuesday.
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow was producing up to 400,000 152mm rounds per year. These can be fired from Soviet-era towed howitzer cannons. But that figure has since swelled to 2 million rounds annually, according to Laurynas Kasciunas, Lithuania’s minister of national defense.
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Russia Said it Prevented a Ukrainian Attempt to Hijack a Missile-Carrying Strategic Bomber
Russia’s Federal Security Service said it thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to hijack a missile-carrying strategic bomber.
“The FSB has stopped another Ukrainian special services attempt to carry out an operation to hijack the Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber,” it said in a statement on Monday, per a translation by The Moscow Times.
According to the FSB, Ukrainian intelligence promised an unnamed Russian military pilot money and Italian citizenship in exchange for him taking off and landing the plane in Ukraine.
Instead, according to the report, the pilot told his commanders everything.
Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti published a video of the purported pilot as well as an alleged chat between him and someone from Ukrainian special services, which claimed to show the pilot and his family being threatened.
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Zelenskyy Says World Cannot Wait Until November Election in US to Take Action to Repel Putin
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that the world must not wait for the November presidential election in the United States to take action to repel Russia’s offensive against his country.
“It’s time to step out of the shadows to make strong decisions to act and not wait for November or any other months to descend. We must be strong and uncompromising all together,” Zelenskyy said in a pivotal address during a NATO summit four months before an American election beset by new tumult following incumbent President Joe Biden’s shaky debate performance two weeks ago.
He added that the president of the United States must be “uncompromising in defending democracy, uncompromising against (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his coterie.”
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
EU Freezes 30 Million Euros in Aid to Georgia
The European Union’s ambassador to Georgia said on Tuesday that the bloc had frozen 30 million euros in military aid to Georgia amid what he said was “a low point” in relations between the two.
Georgia’s parliament in June passed into law a bill requiring groups that receive funding from abroad to register as foreign agents, criticised by the domestic opposition and some Western governments as a Russian-inspired measure to crack down on dissent.
The country has repeatedly denied these claims.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
India: Convert Non-Muslims to Islam by Preaching the Quran: Kolkata Mayor
Satyajit Bose | HENB | Kolkata | July 5, 2024:: The Islamic conversion agenda of a Muslim political leader in the ruling party of West Bengal has been exposed in a recent programme. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has made a public statement encouraging Muslim people to convert the non-Muslims to Islam, expressing his belief that those who haven’t been born into the religion are unfortunate.
Thus, WB CM’s very close aide and senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim stirred a massive controversy after he openly called people to convert to Islam and said non-Muslims are unfortunate and need to bring Iman (faith) in them to make Allah happy. This has exposed the Islamic agenda of Firhad Hakim to spread Islam by converting the non-Muslim through the preaching of the commentaries of Quran.
Hakim made the contentious remarks during the ‘All India Quran Competition’. The event took place on July 3 at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata.
Those who are not born in Islam are unfortunate! They are born with misfortune. We have to bring them under the fold of Islam,” the Kolkata Mayor said during the event.
“We need to spread Islam among non-Muslims. If we can bring someone on the path of Islam, then, we will prove to be true Muslims and will ensure the Jannat (Islamic paradise),” Hakim added.
Notably, this is not the first time when the Mayor of Kolkata has grabbed the headlines for the wrong reasons. In April 2016, he had called a Muslim-dominated area of Kolkata as “Mini-Pakistan”…
| — Hat tip: Upananda Brahmachari | [Return to headlines] |
Singapore Approves 16 Species of Edible Insects for Consumption
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has approved 16 species of edible insects for sale and consumption in the country. The decision took effect immediately, allowing for the importation of insects and products made from them that have been deemed safe for consumption by the CNN.
The approved species include scorpions, stick insects, mealworms, and several species of beetles. These insects can be used for human consumption as well as for animal feed. However, it is not allowed to collect insects in the wild. To implement this, documentation must be provided to confirm that they are raised in regulated conditions.
CNN sought additional comments from SFA regarding the new rules. Eating insects is a novelty in Singapore, like in many other countries around the world.
Researchers have identified over 2,100 species of edible insects rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein, which are a stable alternative to traditional livestock that produces methane. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2022 report, “insects are an underrated source of protein and a way to combat climate change.”
In some countries, such as Mexico, Thailand, and Cambodia, insects are already a popular delicacy. In Singapore, live insects are usually sold as food for domestic animals, but now they can become a new and exciting option for humans.
Local chefs and restaurants are experimenting with different ways to present insects in dishes, such as salted crab roe with superworms and products like protein bars.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
China: Xiaomi Launches “Dark Factory” With Only Robots, Producing 1 Smartphone Per Second
Xiaomi’s general director, Lei Jun, announced that the company has launched a new smartphone production plant in Changping, Beijing, which has already started operating. The new factory is described as a “dark factory” that can run 24/7 without human workers.
Moreover, the machines on the factory floor can interact with each other. The factory can maintain cleanliness by removing dust at a micron level. Quality control will be ensured by intelligent machines developed by Xiaomi.
According to Xiaomi, the factory can produce one smartphone per second. The company stated that this is just a small step for Xiaomi on its path to the future, which has just begun.
Xiaomi invested $330 million in developing the new production process. The 81,000-square-meter factory was certified as a “national benchmarking intelligent manufacturing enterprise” with an annual production capacity of 10 million flagship smartphones.
The factory will be responsible for producing future foldable phones such as the Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 and Xiaomi MIX Flip. The factory has installed 11 production lines for mobile phones and lines for automotive electronic components.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Clandestine Hospitals in the Philippines Offering New Faces to Criminals
Clandestine hospitals in the Philippines have been providing plastic surgery services to fugitives and scam center workers to help them evade arrest, according to authorities. Two such illegal hospitals are expected to be shut down “in the coming weeks” following a police raid on the first one in Manila’s southern suburbs in May, a police spokesman told the BBC.
During the raid on the hospital in Pasay City, hair transplant tools, dental implants, and skin whitening IV drips were seized. “You can create an entirely new person out of those,” said Winston John Casio, a spokesman for the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC).
Authorities believe that the two illegal hospitals under surveillance are four times larger than the one in Pasay. Their clients reportedly include workers from online casinos operating illegally in the Philippines. These online casinos, known as Pogos (Philippine Online Gaming Operations), cater to players in mainland China, where gambling is illegal. However, police claim Pogos have been used as cover for criminal activities such as telephone scams and human trafficking.
In the Pasay raid, three doctors—two from Vietnam and one from China—a Chinese pharmacist, and a Vietnamese nurse were arrested. None were licensed to work in the Philippines. Authorities also found a hemodialysis machine, suggesting that the 400-square-meter facility offered various medical treatments in addition to plastic surgery.
“They look like regular clinics on the outside, but once you enter, you’ll be shocked by the type of technology they have,” Mr. Casio said. “These Pogo hospitals don’t ask for the proper identification cards… You could be a fugitive, or you could be an illegal alien in the Philippines.”
Authorities were tipped off about the illegal hospital in Pasay City. Pogos flourished under former President Rodrigo Duterte, who sought friendly ties with China during his six-year term that ended in 2022. However, his successor Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has launched a crackdown on Pogos, citing their criminal links.
“The president does not want the Philippines to be painted as a ‘scam hub’ and has given us a directive to go after scam farms because of how they have been targeting large numbers of people from all over the world,” Mr. Casio said.
In December 2022, immigration officials arrested a suspected Chinese mafia member who allegedly underwent plastic surgery to evade detection. Such cases may be linked to the underground hospitals, Mr. Casio noted.
The mayor of a small town north of the capital, Alice Guo, recently faced criticism after a Pogo scam center was busted near her office. She has also been accused of being a spy for China following questions about her birth records.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Australians may catch a glimpse of a stellar explosion in the next few months — if predictions are correct.
T Coronae Borealis, aka “the Blaze Star”, last lit up the sky 80 years ago, and astronomers believe it’s ready to go off again.
While scientists are divided on exactly when it will explode, they agree it will be an exciting event, and have their telescopes trained on it.
“Pretty much a hydrogen bomb explodes on the surface [of a star],” Tanya Hill, an astronomer and curator at the Melbourne Planetarium says.
“I think that’s pretty neat.”
Whether or not we’ll be able to see it will come down to timing.
Here’s what you need to know about this astronomical event, and how to maximise your chances of seeing it in Australia.
| — Hat tip: Dora | [Return to headlines] |
Senator Fatima Payman announced her resignation during a press conference in Parliament House on Thursday, citing unresolvable tensions within the Labor Party .
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
New Caledonia Elects Pro-Independence MP After Anti-France Riots
New Caledonia elected its first pro-independence MP in decades after anti-French riots erupted on the South Pacific archipelago earlier this year.
A proposed voter reform regulation spearheaded by Paris had sparked violence in the territory in May, with clashes between police and the native Kanak population leading to the deaths of several people.
Those on the island have now opted to elect nationalist candidate Emmanuel Tjibaou as one of its two representatives to the mainland French Parliament.
The son of the late Kanak independence movement leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, who was assassinated in 1989, Emmanuel is the first separatist MP to be elected to the French legislature since 1986.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Woolworths is Called Out Over Australian Flag Backflip
Woolworths to stock Aussie flags just months after Australia Day controversy
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Argentina’s Milei Secures Political Pact to Drive Economic Reforms
Argentine President Javier Milei signed a long-awaited pact with provincial governors early on Tuesday, aiming to broaden support for economic reforms and strengthen his nearly seven-month-old minority government.
The deal, signed soon after midnight with 18 governors, aims to address market doubts about Milei’s ability to manage the worst economic crisis in decades, which has pushed half the population into poverty and sent inflation surging to near 300%.
“Argentina finds itself at an inflection point,” Milei, a radical libertarian economist, said in a speech later in the northern city of Tucuman, where Argentina declared independence from Spain more than two centuries ago.
“The people demand a change of direction.”
Bonds and the peso currency have come under renewed pressure after an initial strong market rally when Milei took office in December, as the economy has since slid into recession and political tension has bubbled. Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party lacks a parliamentary majority and has no provincial governors, so it must bargain with other political parties to carry out its agenda.
Among the 10 items covered by the pact, Milei’s government highlighted a non-negotiable balanced budget, sharp cuts in public spending, as well as tax and labor reforms.
“This pact shows that governors from different political parties can join forces so that the national government can manage this commitment,” Martin Llaryora, governor of the central province of Cordoba, told reporters late on Monday.
In late June, Argentine lawmakers passed two major legislative reforms backed by Milei and aimed at kickstarting the economy, slashing public spending and attracting private investment. But markets have fallen back in the last week.
On Monday, the peso weakened some 2% in the parallel informal market, to hit a record low of 1,450 to the dollar. The signing of the deal was delayed from May 25. It is known as the “May Pact,” for Argentina’s May Revolution against colonial ruler Spain, and was signed in the historic building where independence was formally declared in 1816.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
— days after Keir Starmer scrapped Rwanda scheme
Dozens of Channel migrants including children arrived in Dover today after a group were seen scrambling from a French beach into dinghies bound for the UK — just days after Sir Keir Starmer axed the Tories’ Rwanda plan.
For the second day in a row, people were brought ashore at the Port of Dover despite persistent wet and windy weather.
Pictures showed youngsters among the group of migrants wearing life jackets, with some wrapped in blankets, as they came into the Kent port on Border Force and RNLI lifeboats.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netherlands: Senate Chair Cuts Off Discussion About Asylum Minister’s Controversial Past Statements
A debate in the Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate, was cut short by the chair when the topic of controversial past statements made by Asylum and Migration Minister Marjolein Faber were brought up by Senator Farah Karimi. The Senate was discussing a new law that would make it easier to reject a foreign person’s residency application if they have a serious criminal history.
The GroenLinks-PvdA politician was given the floor, and used her time to bring up Faber’s past stances. Prior to becoming a minister last week, the PVV politician was simultaneously a senator and provincial council member for nearly 15 years. Her position changed after the PVV formed a ruling coalition with the VVD, BBB and NSC.
Senate Chair Jan Anthonie Bruijn from the VVD intervened and urged her to stop. The debate should be about that law and not about the personal background of the minister, Bruijn argued. He stepped in after complaints were raised by the BBB, PVV and Ja21.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
New York City leaders from both parties slammed a move by Mayor Eric Adams’ administration to distribute another tranche of thousands of prepaid debit cards to migrant families.
While Adams’ office claimed at its February inception the program would save the city as much as $7.2 million per year, some city lawmakers decried the latest allocation of 7,300 cards as a signal for more border-crossers to come.
Councilman Robert Holden, a Democrat from Glendale, Queens, said the “gravy train for migrants has to stop.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Rwanda’s government has dismissed suggestions it could hand back any of the £290million committed to the now-junked migrant deportation deal with Britain.
The African country’s administration insisted it had ‘fully upheld its side’ of the agreement ‘including with regard to finances’.
In one of his first acts as PM, Sir Keir Starmer branded the UK’s deal with Kigali ‘dead and buried’ as he confirmed he was scrapping the Tory scheme.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Swedish Government Aims to Tighten Family Migration Laws
Sweden is to review policy regarding migrant family reunification, looking to implement more stringent procedures to lower the number of arrivals.
Migration minister Maria Malmer Stenergard of the Moderate party and Ludvig Aspling, the migration policy spokesperson for the Sweden Democrats, outlined their plans at a press conference on July 9.
They said an investigator would now examine two key aspects of family-member immigration — maintenance requirements for family members and health insurance.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
J.K. Rowling Sounds Alarm on New Leftist UK Govt Minister for Women Who Doesn’t Know What a Woman Is
Britain’s incoming left-wing government has appointed a new minister for women, but Harry Potter creator and now powerful women’s advocate J.K. Rowling has been quick to point out the politician isn’t sure what a woman even is.
Downing Street, now the bailiwick of left-wing lawyer-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, announced the appointment of Anneliese Dodds to be Minister of State for Women and Equalities, as well as a Minister of State for Development, on Monday. Dodds has previously made clear she would make transgenderism a priority in government, sayingthe subject needs “reform and leadership”.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
_________________________________
For a change, read a book by one
other wise Swede!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The Failure of American Conservatism: ―And the Road Not Taken Hardcover – April 17, 2023
by Claes G. Ryn (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars
An impressive burst of creativity gave rise to a vigorous conservative intellectual movement in the United States after the Second World War. Yet, according to Claes Ryn, the great potential of the movement was not realized because of major flaws. The movement became preoccupied with politics to the neglect of academia, history, philosophy, religion, morality, the arts, and entertainment. In the 1980s when Ronald Reagan won great political victories the movement celebrated “the triumph” of conservatism, but this reaction confirmed a superficial understanding of what most fundamentally shapes society. Developments in “the culture” were actually radicalizing the American mind and imagination and eroding America’s constitutional order. Conservatism also resisted intellectual discourse of the most rigorous kind and failed to make crucial distinctions. Paradoxically, it even made room for abstract universalist ideology, including Straussian anti-historicism and neoconservative imperialistic democratism. Ryn was a very early critic of all these weaknesses.
The Failure of American Conservatism analyzes these weaknesses in depth. It explains the current disorientation of conservatism and why “cancel culture” and Woke were predictable. Mixing new and previously published writing, the book bristles with provocative ideas. It sets forth its own strongly argued view of how to understand and address America’s crisis.
Apropos that, Looks like Trump will pick RINO Marco Rubio for VP. Someone who disappeared from the room when the vote for or against an extreme radical judge was taking place, naturally she was confirmed – for life. If that is an example of his picks we will probably go through russiagate 2.0… ooops, looks like we already are…
NO. I do not believe that Trump will chose Rubio.
He has interviewed several candidates and two of them are very popular. Vivek Ramaswamy and Tulsi Gabbard.
I hope choses one of them. There was no russiagate with Trump. You need better sources, Cassie, because YOURS seem very flawed,.
In uk, the Prime Jellyfish, has commenced starmergeddon by letting out muslim rapists from orison but keeping English guys who put stickers on street furniture and walls, in prison.
https://youtu.be/OWQ7pUdEm28?si=A2_CAuuhlUwtCAtk
EU Freezes 30 Million Euros in Aid to Georgia
Why? Because Georgia passed a law that required foreign news outlets to declare their sources of finance and acknowledge that they had foreign influence.
Why is that a problem? Isn’t it good to have transparency in such matters?
EU hates it because it interferes with their ability to brainwash the people of Georgia.
This tells you everything you need to know.