A Ukrainian employee at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine has been killed in a car bomb attack. Ukrainian military intelligence issued a statement saying it had punished a “war criminal”.
In other news, nearly half of all recipients of welfare in Germany are non-citizens, according to new government data.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, DV, McN, MM, Reader from Chicago, SS, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.
Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.
Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. I check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.
Global Food Prices Jump Most in 18 Months as Supermarket Inflation Storm Worsens
The world could be on the cusp of another food inflation shock as the benchmark for world food commodity prices recorded the fastest monthly increase in 18 months in September.
A perfect storm of war in Eastern Europe and broadening conflicts in the Middle East, snarled maritime supply chains, extreme weather across croplands, de-growth climate change policies pushed by the far-left in the West, and rogue central bank money printing have all contributed to sticky food inflation.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ Food Price Index, which tracks the international prices of a basket of globally traded food, averaged 124.4 in September, up 3% from August and 2.1% higher versus the same month one year ago.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
U.S. Job Creation Roared Higher in September as Payrolls Surged by 254,000
The U.S. economy added far more jobs than expected in September, pointing to a vital employment picture as the unemployment rate edged lower, the Labor Department reported Friday.
Nonfarm payrolls surged by 254,000 for the month, up from a revised 159,000 in August and better than the 150,000 Dow Jones consensus forecast. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, down 0.1 percentage point.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
After the Flood: Feds Criticized for Putting America Last
After Hurricane Helene swept over the southeastern United States, wiping out entire towns, washing roads away, and leaving thousands stranded without access to necessities, the federal government’s attempts at disaster aid are being faced with a barrage of criticism.
Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that measured more than 700 km across at its largest, caused death and widespread destruction in six southeastern states following its rapid intensification and landfall on Sept. 26, with winds hitting 225 km/h. Before the storm made landfall, a predecessor rain event dumped large amounts of rain across the area, with significant parts of North Carolina getting 200-300 mm and the township of Busic reporting 751.3 mm of rain in just over 48 hours.
What the situation actually looks like on the ground in the six states worst affected by the hurricane is difficult to assess, as media reports differ significantly from online reports from locals.
While the official death toll on Friday topped 200, locals on social media claim the total number of dead is likely to be worse than when Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005, killing over 1,300.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A radical cop-hating Portland leftist has been convicted at trial of dozens of felonies for burning down an occupied apartment building and killing animals inside as revenge for being evicted.
Following a nine-day trial in Portland, Ore., Garrett Allen Ray Repp was found guilty by the jury of 28 felony counts of first-degree arson, two counts of felony first-degree criminal mischief, 21 counts of recklessly endangering another person and four counts of first-degree animal abuse.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden Gets Emotional While Accepting ‘Global Citizen’ Award, Tells Hillary Clinton ‘I Love You’
Lame-duck President Joe Biden became emotional while accepting the Global Citizen Award during the Clinton Global Initiative Summit.
Biden gushed over presenters Bill and Hillary Clinton, telling the former first lady, “I love you.”
The president attended the summit with his wife, Jill Biden, in New York City, Breitbart reported.
He was not set to speak but was only there to support the first lady who had to witness her husband make such an overture to another woman.
The president made sentimental remarks on stage while accepting the award from the Clintons.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
President Joe Biden, for the first time during his presidency, appeared in the White House briefing room. When asked about the coming election, he offered concerns that the election may result in violence. He told reporters on Friday that he was not sure if the election will be “peaceful” and suggested that the things GOP nominee Donald Trump has said are “dangerous” ahead of November.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has informed America First Legal that the legal representatives of President Obama and President Biden have requested an extension under the Presidential Records Act to delay the public release of records from Joe Biden’s time as vice president, including those related to Hunter Biden and his foreign business dealings.
America First Legal filed a lawsuit against the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in 2022 after the agency refused to comply with multiple FOIA requests seeking records related to the Biden family’s alleged illicit foreign business dealings. NARA was expected to release the public records last week but was blocked by Biden’s Justice Department following the invocation of the Presidential Records Act, which pushed the release of the documents to Nov. 6, 2024, the day after the presidential election.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Biden-Harris Admin Sends 1,000 Soldiers to Aid North Carolina One Week After Hurricane Helene Hit
The Biden-Harris administration has authorized the movement of up to 1,000 active-duty troops in order to support in the response to the disaster left byHurricane Helene a week after the storm made landfall. This comes after many have been critical of the administration’s responses to the natural disaster.
A statement from the Pentagon released on Wednesday stated, “At the request of FEMA, the Secretary of Defense has authorized the movement of up to 1,000 active-duty Soldiers to support the delivery of food, water, and other critical aid ‘over the last mile to the point of need’ to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Black Lives Matter Leader Jailed for 4 Years for Stealing Donation Money
A Black Lives Matter (BLM) leader has been sentenced to four years in prison after he was found guilty of stealing donation money to fund his lavish lifestyle.
Sir Maejor Page, real name is Tyree Conyers-Page, was convicted of money laundering and wire fraud charges involving BLM donations, according to local outlet WGTV.
The Ohio-based activist was using donations to the Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta (BLMGA) Facebook page for personal expenses, according to WGTV.
Like many who donated to BLM, people thought they were donating to help fight racism.
However, black communities never received a dollar of the money and it was all used to pay for Page’s extravagant lifestyle.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Florida judge has ruled that CNN must hand over financial records to attorneys for US Navy veteran Zachary Young, who filed a defamation lawsuit against the network on allegations that it smeared his company during a segment on the Biden administration’s 2021 botched withdrawal for Afghanistan, as reported by Fox News.
Young, the owner of security consulting company Nemex Enterprises Inc., filed a lawsuit against CNN in 2021 after the network implied it illegally profited when it helped people evacuate from Afghanistan after the United States botched its pullout. According to the suit, Young claims that CNN “destroyed his reputation and business by branding him an illegal profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Curbing Global Censorship: House Republicans Take Aim at US-Funded Speech Crackdowns Abroad
A new bill introduced by House Republicans, the No Funding or Enforcement of Censorship Abroad Act (HR 9850), aims to prevent the US government from bankrolling censorship in other countries of content that is legal under US laws.
Chris Smith, Jim Jordan, and Maria Elvira Salazar are behind this draft that they say would protect and promote American values abroad — and those include free speech.
The bill’s authors hope to stop the use of foreign assistance funds to support censorship abroad, as well as US law enforcement from cooperating with authorities abroad conducting such policies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Doctors Warn of ‘Alarming’ Surge in Heart Attacks Among Healthy Young Americans
Doctors are warning of an “alarming” surge in heart attacks among healthy young Americans as new data shows the numbers are skyrocketing.
New data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics shows heart attacks among 18-40-year-olds spiked massively in 2021.
The numbers have continued soaring through this year.
When compared to 2020, before the spike started, heart attacks among young people in 2023 were a staggering 60% higher.
In 2019, roughly 0.3% of Americans aged 18-44 had a heart attack.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Elon Musk and Pete Buttigieg Discuss Hurricane Assistance Amid Allegations of Aid Being Blocked
Elon Musk and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Friday discussed allegations that the federal government was blocking flights trying to bring Starlinks to Hurricane Helene victims, after a source of Musk’s claimed the airspace was “shut down.”
The issues first arose on Wednesday, after former first daughter Ivanka Trump handed out Starlinks, hot meals and critical supplies in North Carolina.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Elon Musk to Attend Trump Rally at Site of Attempted Assassination
Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times
Elon Musk said on Oct. 3 that he will attend former President Donald Trump’s upcoming rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“I will be there to support!” Musk wrote on X, the social media platform that he mostly owns.
Trump has a rally scheduled for Saturday at the Butler Farm Show, where he was struck by a bullet during an event in July.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
George Soros Revealed as $1 Million Backer of House GOP Counterpunch Group
EXCLUSIVE — Democratic megadonor George Soros is a top funder of a group that has coordinated with lawmakers this Congress to push back on House GOP-led investigations, newly released financial disclosures reveal.
The billionaire’s Open Society Action Fund donated $1 million in 2023 to the Congressional Integrity Project, a group that received nearly all of its war chest in prior years from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a Democratic dark moneyorganization in Washington, D.C., the records show. The grants were earmarked “to support nonpartisan advocacy on congressional accountability,” according to the funding database for the Soros-funded Open Society Foundations philanthropy network.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
GOP Rep. Demands Answers Over Whistleblower Reports Alleging FEMA Misappropriated Funds
Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz on Friday sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding answers on alleged reports from Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) whistleblowers that FEMA misappropriated funds.
Gaetz claimed the whistleblowers told him that FEMA has serious mismanagement issues and used taxpayer funds marked for disaster relief on non-disaster-relief programs that housed and supported illegal immigrants on the country’s southern border.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Harris Campaign Takes Huge Hit as Hispanic Support for Democrats Plunges
New polling data have exposed a major plunge in support for Democrats among Hispanic voters.
The news is a major blow for Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s campaign as her rival President Donald Trump makes significant gains among the voter demographic.
The Cook Political Report’s database of crosstabs from polls shows that Harris currently leads Trump among Hispanic voters by an average of 12 points.
However, this is a significant drop from President Joe Biden’s 23-point lead among Hispanics in 2020.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Las Vegas Homeowner Shoots and Kills Intruder
A Las Vegas resident recently shot and killed an intruder attempting to break into their home in the morning hours of Thursday, September 26th. Police say the shooting occurred while the homeowner was on the phone with authorities reporting the man had already broken a window and was acting “extremely irrational.”
It was around 7:40 am when the 20-something-year-old resident of the Spring Valley neighborhood in Southwest Las Vegas dialed 911 to report the home was being broken into. Las Vegas Metro Police Department officers rushed to the scene but did not arrive before the dispatcher heard a shot fired.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Man Arrested in Random Sucker-Punch Attack on 81-Year-Old Woman Has 21 Prior Arrests
NEW YORK (WABC) — The 37-year-old man accused of knocking out an 81-year-old woman in a random sucker-punch assault has 21 prior arrests — including alleged crimes against children.
Hansel Esparragoza was arraigned Friday and held on $75,000 cash bail after police say he is the suspect who punched an elderly woman on the Upper West Side last month.
Of his 21 prior arrests, Esparragoza’s criminal record includes three prior arrests for acting in a manner injurious to a child under 1.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Most New Yorkers Want Democrat Mayor Eric Adams to Resign Over Corruption Scandal, Poll Shows
Most New York City residents say they want their scandal-ridden Democrat Mayor Eric Adams to resign after he was indicted on federal criminal corruption charges, a new poll has revealed.
Adams under federal indictment for corruption, over allegations he took bribes from foreign nationals.
New Yorkers now say they’ve had enough and want Adams to step down, according to a new Marist poll.
The vast majority of NYC residents, 69%, say the mayor should resign from office.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Naperville Woman Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity in Stabbing of Two Children
A woman who stabbed two young girls in their Lisle home last year was found not guilty by reason of insanity Friday.
Jennifer Kouchoukos, 52, of Naperville, believed the girls were spying on her, and obeyed an auditory hallucination that told her to kill them, according to a psychiatric evaluation Judge Brian Telander accepted. The report stated her mental status made her unable to appreciate the criminality of her conduct, Telander said.
Telander acquitted her of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery, after a stipulated bench trial that lasted about 30 minutes.
Kouchoukos was babysitting the girls, ages 1 and 4, on Nov. 17, 2023. She stabbed and cut them with a chef’s knife, a bread knife and another kitchen knife. One of the stabs punctured a lung in one of the girls. They spent several days in Comer Children’s Hospital.
| — Hat tip: DV | [Return to headlines] |
Nolte: Two Marvel Movies Delivered Nearly $300 Million Loss for Disney
Two 2023 Marvel superhero movies resulted in a $296.4 million loss for the Disney Grooming Syndicate.
Per just released financial statements, we now know that the total “cost of making The Marvels and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania came to a staggering $762.4 million,” reports Forbes. Government incentives saved the groomers about $125 million on both features, but that’s still about $640 million to produce only two movies.
Combined, both movies went on to gross an anemic $682.2 million worldwide. When you do the accepted math assuming the theaters and studios split the box office gross almost exactly in half, that means Disney earned just $341 million from both movies, which leaves a combined loss of almost $300 million on both movies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Only 28% of Americans Think Country on Right Track One Month Until Election Day: Polling Data
CNN analyst said it’s a “bad sign” for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, that just 28% of Americans think the country is on the right track one month before the general election takes place.
“Simply put, it would be historically unprecedented,” if Harris wins, said CNN analyst Harry Enten on Friday during a live segment about the poll.
“There is no historical precedent for the White House party winning another term when just 28% of the country thinks that we’re on the right track,” he added.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Open-Source vs Profit: WP Engine Takes Automattic to Court in Power Struggle Over WordPress
A legal battle has erupted between WP Engine and Automattic, along with WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, following accusations from WP Engine of extortion and an abuse of power by the defendants. This lawsuit is the climax of an ongoing dispute concerning trademark infringement and the governance of contributions to the WordPress open-source ecosystem.
We obtained a copy of the lawsuit for you here.
In a recent court filing in California, WP Engine has presented claims against Automattic and Mullenweg, criticizing their management of WordPress open-source projects. The filing states, “Matt Mullenweg’s conduct over the last ten days has exposed significant conflicts of interest and governance issues that, if left unchecked, threaten to destroy that trust. WP Engine has no choice but to pursue these claims to protect its people, agency partners, customers, and the broader WordPress community.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Shopping Malls Implementing Curfews and Teen “Waiting Zones” to Try and Curb Chaos, Theft and Fights
Tired of seeing unruly teens running amok and causing chaos inside of your local shopping mall? So are the residents, vendors and security at Moreno Valley Mall in California.
It is one of many malls on a list that includes New Jersey’s oldest mall, Westfield Garden State Plaza, that is implementing new rules to try and cut back on unruly and sometimes illegal behavior from teenagers.
At Westfield Garden State Plaza, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult after 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, according to KIRO Newsradio. The mall has also set up “waiting zones” for teens needing a ride after curfew, the report says.
The KIRO Newsradio report also notes that a Pittsburgh mall has implemented similar policies, where both teens and their adult chaperones face bans if a violation occurs. In Atlanta, some retailers have seen a drop in sales after enforcing such rules.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Social Media Star Lucas Coly Dies Suddenly at 27
Social media star Lucas Coly has reportedly died suddenly at the age of 27.
Coly’s unexpected death was confirmed by his manager in a social media post on Instagram.
The manager confirmed the star’s death Thursday in an Instagram post.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Soros-Backed Dark Money Network Paid New York Dem Candidate’s Salary: ‘Incredibly Problematic’
FIRST ON FOX: A top Democratic House recruit drew a salary worth tens of thousands of dollars from a left-wing dark money network heavily bankrolled by George Soros’ political empire, Fox News Digital has learned.
New York congressional candidate Laura Gillen, a town supervisor in the Long Island town of Hempstead, drew a $40,000 “fellow” salary with the group Our American Future Foundation (OAFF) in 2023, according to her financial disclosures. The group and a sister nonprofit, Our American Future Action, help pay expenses for individuals—overwhelmingly Democrats—who plan to run for office in the future.
According to the Open Society Foundations, the umbrella of groups founded by Soros, its Open Society Action Fund has donated more than $18 million to Our American Future Action “to support non-partisan policy advocacy and civic engagement.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Challenge to Mexico’s Lawsuit Against US Gun Makers
Authored by Matthew Vadum via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
The U.S. Supreme Court decided on Oct. 4 to hear U.S. gun makers’ appeal in Mexico’s ongoing $10 billion lawsuit against the firearms companies.
In the lawsuit, Mexico is seeking $10 billion from U.S. gun companies for allegedly flooding that country with firearms. Mexico blames the companies for a violent crime wave, saying their actions benefited criminal cartels.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump: “Liz Cheney is a Stupid Warhawk” Who Wants to “Shoot Missiles at People”
Donald Trump mocked the Harris campaign for rolling out Liz Cheney and frequently boasting of its Dick Cheney endorsement during a rally in Michigan on Thursday.
Liz this week appeared by Vice President Harris’ side at a Wisconsin event, where the two also praised Dick, who will go down in history as the nation’s most notorious neocon warmonger who was a chief architect of the disastrous 2003 invasion and occupation of Iraq. This despite that in years prior he was absolutely reviled by the left.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Claims Military COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Was a ‘Mistake’
Former President Donald Trump on Friday night claimed that a vaccine mandate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced thousands of United States service members out of the military, should never have happened.
The Defense Department in 2021 required that all service members get the vaccination, or face consequences that included being discharged from their respective military branch if they were not granted exemptions for medical, religious, or administrative reasons. The mandate resulted in over 8,000 service members being discharged.
Trump admitted that the mandate made the military lose some of its best people, and promised to get accountability for the mistakes that were made during the pandemic.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump-Vance Ticket Has Done 63 Interviews Compared to 23 for Harris-Walz: Fox News Analysis
Fox News analysis released on Friday found that former President Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance have done a combined 63 interviews compared to 23 for Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn.
Harris has not done a formal news conference in 75 days since emerging as the presumptive Democratic nominee after Biden left the 2024 race.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
US Secret Service Struggling to Keep Staff — NYT
By RT
The US Secret Service went into 2024 having lost almost a fifth of its veteran agents, with the rest overworked, underpaid, inadequately trained, and lacking the latest technology, the New York Times has reported.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in July after an assassin nearly killed former President and current Republican candidate Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“The service was not ready,” the Times noted on Thursday.
The attempt on Trump’s life “revealed deep problems in the Secret Service,” from lack of technology to “failures in command” and communication. For instance, the Butler shooter scouted the venue with a drone, while the protective detail did not have one and their radios did not work properly.
The biggest problem, however, has been “an exodus of the best-trained people,” the Times reported, citing current and former agency employees. At least 1,400 of 7,800 Secret Service employees left in the fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the biggest loss in two decades.
While the agency has expanded its workforce to 8,100 — the highest level ever — by this summer, this was still short of the numbers it said it needed. There were concerns about the fitness of new hires and the problems with how to train them and where.
The main training facility is so “decrepit” that it often floods in heavy rains, according to the Times. The agency has resorted to using a scale model of the White House built in Atlanta by filmmaker Tyler Perry, because Congress would not authorize funds to build their own.
The chief reason most veterans quoted for leaving was “crushing amounts of overtime work,” sometimes for no pay, because of a federal salary cap. In a survey conducted by a federal police association 68 of the 153 agents who responded said they had “maxed out” on their overtime last year, missing as much as $30,000 in pay.
“You ride your horse until it dies, and then you eat it,” Jonathan Wackrow, who left the Secret Service after 14 years, told the Times about management’s view of their workforce.
Another former agent, Louis Fitzig, claimed that “nepotism, favoritism, [and] corruption” are part of the agency’s culture.
Meanwhile, a scheme to make up the attrition by rehiring recently retired agents backfired spectacularly as agents rushed to retire early, so they could get both a pension and a salary, while not serving in the field where bodies were needed the most.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A group of teens attacked a 13-year-old girl in Kelowna, British Columbia on Sept. 27, allegedly beating her until she was unconscious. The group reportedly lured her to a beach at night and swarmed her. The girl’s father says his daughter has been traumatized by the incident and is afraid to leave the house unaccompanied. Five of the teens were arrested but were released on “strict conditions.”
The 13-year-old girl was expecting to meet her friend at Boyce-Gyro Beach Park in the medium-sized resort city in BC’s interior, per the New York Post. When she arrived at 8:30 pm, it was apparent that something was wrong as there were about 30 teens present, and some began recording the event.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
“We Are at Risk, “ Says Macron in a Wake-Up Call to Europe
We are at risk,” French President Emmanuel Macron announced at the Berlin Global Dialogue this past Wednesday.
Many are reporting on Macron’s dire warnings for the EU, but what was perhaps most noteworthy were his statements about the U.S. and the implications for Europe.
“When both the U.S. and China are not following WTO rules, France should not be the only one in the room to play by the book,” Macron said, urging Europe to “preserve a level playing field.”
“Our former model is over… This is not the same world, and on top of that, we are making the same mistakes. We are overregulating and underinvesting,” Macron insisted, adding that the EU would be “out of the market” if changes are not made.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Almost Half of Dutch People Are Optimistic About the European Union
Dutch people are more optimistic about the European Union (EU) than the average EU inhabitant. Almost half of the Dutch people (48 percent) are positive about the European Union, while the average among EU voters has a 42 percent approval rate.
Almost one in five Dutch people are fully disappointed with the EU, and about a third are neutral, according to the Eurobarometer presented on Thursday by the European Parliament. The election survey was conducted after the European Parliament elections in June.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgium: Police Patrol Fired Upon in Anderlecht in Possible Link With Another Shooting
A police patrol from the Brussels-Midi zone came under fire Wednesday evening while attempting to stop a suspicious vehicle on rue Dante in Anderlecht.
The Brussels prosecutor’s office revealed the incident Thursday evening, indicating a potential connection to another shooting that occurred the same night near the Aumale metro station, which left one person injured.
The confrontation began around 7:15 p.m. when officers attempted to pull over a vehicle due to suspicious behavior and traffic violations, news outlet RTBF reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Criminals Rake it in as Violent Crimes Soar in Sweden
Economic crime has grown strongly in Sweden in recent years, and Swedish society is paying the price.
According to estimates, criminals earn SEK 100 billion to 150 billion (€8.8 billion to €13.2 billion) annually in Sweden, reports Swedish state television SVT. A new police report says the crime economy is taking a huge toll on society.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Czechia: Prague Police Detain Student Threatening to Shoot Up School Class
Police in Prague have detained an 18-year-old student who allegedly threatened to carry out a shooting at his school in the Prague 8 district. During a search of his home, officers found airsoft guns, air rifles, and knives in his possession, according to a statement released by Prague police today.|
The student had also publicly stated his intention to obtain a firearms license and repeatedly expressed approval of last December’s tragic shooting at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University (FF UK) in front of his classmates.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Dutch Resistance Hero Denied Bridge Naming Honour Due to Lack of ‘Diversity’
The city of Amsterdam is refusing to name a bridge in honour of one of the most famous Dutch resistance heroes who fought the Nazis in World War II because the responsible commission prefers selecting names from women and people of non-Dutch descent.
A special advisory board from the city rejected to name a bridge in honour of Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, because it would not fit within the diversity policy.
Roelfzema was a student when the Nazis invaded and became involved in the Dutch underground. He escaped to England and flew with the elite RAF Pathfinder Force whose job it was to guide the Bomber stream of the RAF night bombers. He completed 72 operational sorties, including 25 missions over Berlin.
[Comment: Being anti-Nazi is not good enough.]
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Court: Police Can Access Mobile Phone Data for Minor Crimes
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that police can access mobile phone data in connection with minor crimes as well as serious crimes. The ruling, published on Friday, October 4th, states that although police access to personal data stored on a mobile telephone “may constitute a serious, or even particularly serious interference with the fundamental rights” of the owner of the phone, access should “not necessarily” be “limited to the fight against serious crime.”
The ruling goes on to say that police—except in urgent cases—should only be able to gather the information stored on a mobile phone once they receive authorisation by a court or an independent authority, and the owner of the phone must be informed of the reasons for the investigation.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Governments Face Pivotal Vote on Chinese EV Tariffs
European Union members face a pivotal vote on October 4 on whether to impose tariffs of up to 45 per cent on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles in the EU’s highest-profile trade case, which risks retaliation from Beijing.
The European Commission, which oversees the EU’s trade policy, proposed final duties for the next five years to counter what it sees as unfair Chinese subsidies after a year-long anti-subsidy investigation.
The EU’s proposal can be blocked if a qualified majority of 15 EU members, representing 65 per cent of the EU population, vote against it. But that is a high hurdle.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Greenlights Tariffs on Chinese EVs, Escalating Trade War
The EU has potentially escalated its trade conflict with Beijing, with the European Commission getting the blessing of member states to implement tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.
The decision is likely to have broader implications for the automobile industry, as well as EU-China trade more generally, with many fearing that the communist state could retaliate over the perceived slight.
Brussels has however insisted in a statement that the tariffs are “necessary” in order to protect European companies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
EU Slaps Up to 45% Tariff on Chinese-Made EVs as “Economic Cold War” Risks Soar
Bloomberg reports that EU member states have voted to slap tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese-made electric vehicles, ignoring warnings from some members that this dangerous move risks sparking an “economic cold war” with Beijing.
The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, recently concluded its anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese imports of battery electric vehicles. The findings supported the Commission’s move to implement the duties, which would last for five years.
Sources familiar with the voting told Bloomberg that ten member states voted in favor of the duties, while Germany and four others voted against — and 12, including Spain, abstained.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
European Commission Refers Hungary to EU Court of Justice Over ‘Sovereignty Law’
The European Commission has referred Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union, claiming its legislation on the Defence of Sovereignty was in breach of EU law.
According to the Commission on October 3, the legislation risked violating fundamental human rights and was designed to “silence” the opposition.
Hungary claimed that it did not infringe EU law and that the concerns raised were unfounded.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Europe Braces for Riots and Terror Attacks as October 7th Anniversary Approaches
Across Europe, authorities are bracing for a wave of protests and violence as the first anniversary of the October 7th Hamas terror attacks on Israel approaches. Ministers and security forces in several countries have warned of heightened unrest in major cities as Islamists and their left-wing allies celebrate the attack and protest Israel’s response.
Demonstrations are planned across various European cities through next week, with the largest gatherings expected from October 5th to 7th. Demonstrators will converge in cities such as London, Berlin, Paris, and Rome, with events peaking on October 7th itself.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Far-Left ‘Agents of Change’ Armed With Crowbars Sabotage F-35 Parts Factory in UK
UK-based anti-Israel organization Palestine Action sent several of its far-left radical members to attack the Teledyne CML Composites factory in Bromborough, UK, which it claims supplies critical parts for F-35 stealth fighters.
Palestine Action’s X account posted a viral video on Tuesday showing its ‘Actionists’ — or ‘agents of change’ — conducting a rooftop entry into the factory, breaking through the ceiling panels, and comprising what the group claims is a ‘clean room’ for F-35 jet part production.
“According to a senior Teledyne manager, contamination of their clean rooms could stop production for up to 12 months. Actionists just got through to the clean room for Israel’s F-35 fighter jet parts,” Palestine Action said.
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FIFA Loses Landmark Case on Football Transfers in European Court
Astronomically high football player transfer fees typically seen in Europe’s top leagues might soon become a thing of the past, with some FIFA rules on international transfers being ruled illegal by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
The ruling comes after FIFA, the International Federation of Association Football, was challenged in a Belgian court by French former professional football player Lassana Diarra, with the court opting to refer the matter to the EU body.
According to the European court, current transfer rules upheld by FIFA impede the free movement of professional footballers and restrict or even prevent cross-border competition.
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French Jihadist Peter Cherif Sentenced to Life in Prison for Ties to Charlie Hebdo Terror Attack
A jihadist with close links to the perpetrators of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre was sentenced by a French court to life imprisonment on Thursday.
Peter Cherif, a 42-year-old Parisian-born militant was found guilty of “belonging to a criminal terrorist association” following his involvement with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) spanning from 2011 to 2018.
The court’s decision was made following a trial that began in mid-September.
During his time with AQAP, Cherif is suspected of training Cherif Kouachi, one of the two brothers who carried out the deadly attack on Jan. 7, 2015, at the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in which 12 people were killed.
The terrorist attack was later claimed by AQAP, citing the magazine’s portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad as justification.
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Photos show a small child — seemingly a little girl — being held by one arm while reaching down to a man on a ladder in a desperate bid to escape the smoke and flames in Essen, Germany.
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Germany’s Green Minister Targets Algorithms: Baerbock’s Latest Bid to Suppress Populist Rise
Even in the world of the EU’s often perplexing politics, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (of the Greens) stands out. And while she may “excel” at political gaffes — a passion for protecting free speech doesn’t seem to be among her strong suits.
Instead, with a seemingly straight face, Baerbock is now joiningthe legion of politicians urging for even more social media censorship, as a distinctly counter-intuitive way to “protect” democracy.
Baerbock wants the EU to do the heavy lifting on behalf of Germany’s current authorities this time as well, and one of the arguments the minister uses is that what she considers to be “disinformation” is allowing what she calls populist parties to grow in — popularity.
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A Syrian suspect has been arrested following chaos in Germany, with fires tearing through two blocks of flats, leaving 30 people hurt, including eight children., in the city of Essen.
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Netherlands: Schoof I Cabinet Already Nearly Collapsed Once: Report
Less than two months after its inception, the Schoof I Cabinet nearly collapsed at the end of August. During a night-time meeting about the national budget, coalition parties VVD and NSC were diametrically opposed to the point that VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz proposed announcing the Cabinet’s collapse, sources close to the coalition told Nieuwsuur. PVV leader Geert Wilders managed to keep everyone together.
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Poland Now Has More Gold Reserves Than the UK
Adam Glapinski, president of the National Bank of Poland, announced at a press conference on Thursday that “on behalf of all Poles,” the bank now has 420 tons of gold, making it part of the “exclusive club of the largest holders of gold reserves in the world,” reports Do Rzeczy.
Glapinski also commended the manner in which the gold was purchased, in particular the prices the gold was purchased at.
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Poland Sets Condition for Ukraine’s EU Accession
Poland will block Ukraine’s European Union accession until Kyiv solves the issue of exhuming the victims of the Volhynia massacre, which has been a contentious issue between the two countries, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance announced plans to allow field research in 2025 into the Volyn massacre in the western Rivne region, a dark episode of massacres by Ukrainian nationalists during the Second World War.
Poland has praised Ukraine’s decision to pave the way for the exhumation of some victims of World War II-era massacres after a dispute over the issue soured relations between the neighbours.
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Daejaun Campbell had cried out ‘I’m 15, don’t let me die’ after being knifed in the leg on Eglinton Road, Woolwich at around 6.35pm on 22 September.
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‘Ukrainian Legion’ Has Only Attracted 300 Volunteers — Poland
By RT
Not enough Ukrainians living abroad have volunteered to undergo military training in order to return home and fight for their country, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists on Friday. Only about 300 people have agreed to join in almost three months, the minister said.
The formation of what was dubbed the ‘Ukrainian Legion’ was first announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Vladimir Zelensky in early July.
The unit was set up to “unite” Ukrainian volunteer troops permanently living in Poland with those from other EU nations, according to the local media. They would then to be trained by the Polish Army and sent to fight for their country.
At the time, volunteers were promised better training and gear provided by Kiev’s Western backers, as well as some legal and financial benefits from Warsaw. Polish officials initially claimed that thousands had applied to join the unit.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said that training was scheduled to begin from September 1, but there were simply not enough people to work with.
“I’ve heard about 300 people,” the minister said when asked about how many volunteers had expressed their desire to join the legion’s ranks. According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the target size of the unit was one brigade. A standard NATO brigade consists of approximately 5,000 troops.
According to the minister, the situation with the legion could improve now that Kiev has taken “actions related to the information, recruitment and promotion of this process.” The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced it was establishing an enlistment center for the legion in the Polish city of Lublin earlier this week. The Ukrainian Consulate has reportedly begun recruiting volunteers in the city.
Over 4 million Ukrainians who have fled their country since 2022 had temporary protection status in EU countries as of July this year. Adult men make up slightly more than a fifth of the total, according to data provided by the bloc’s statistics bureau, Eurostat.
Kiev launched a general mobilization soon after the conflict with Moscow broke out, but has been struggling to replenish troops on the battlefield. The draft campaign has also been marred by widespread avoidance and allegations of corruption.
Ukraine has sought to bring draft-eligible men back to the country by denying them consular services abroad and the ability to update their documents. Senior Ukrainian officials have also called on Western nations to send draft-dodgers back home.
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In a speech delivered on the Day of German Unity, Chancellor Olaf Scholz sparked controversy by accusing a significant portion of Eastern German voters of supporting authoritarian and radical parties.
Speaking at the Mecklenburg State Theater in Schwerin, Scholz expressed his concerns about the political climate in East Germany, claiming that one-third of voters in the region were turning away from liberal democratic values.
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Court of Justice Rules EU-Morocco Trade Agreements Illegal Over Western Sahara
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on October 4 that the European Commission breached the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara by concluding trade deals with Morocco without their consent.
This ruling reaffirms the court’s 2021 decision after several appeals by the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, which had signed fishing and agricultural agreements with Morocco in 2019 that included products from Western Sahara.
The court declared that the consent of the people of Western Sahara is a necessary condition for the legality of these agreements.
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Iran: Ayatollah Khamenei Clutches Rifle, Threatens to Hit Israel’s Energy Sites if it Retaliates
Iran on Friday issued its own counterthreats in the wake of several reports saying Israel is readying a major response to the Oct.1st Iranian ballistic missile attack. The Biden administration is said to be in consultations with Israel’s security cabinet on the potential of taking out the Islamic Republic’s oil and gas sites and vital infrastructure. Nuclear sites could be on the table, but President Biden is objecting to this, at least on a public level.
“The resistance in the region will not back down even with the killing of its leaders,” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared while leading Friday prayers in Tehran. “The brilliant action of our armed forces a couple of nights ago was completely legal and legitimate,” he said defiantly in the rare appearance.
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Israel’s UN Ambassador Warns Iran’s Nuclear Program Must be ‘Stopped’ Before it’s ‘Too Late’
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon has issued a chilling warning about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
During a CNN interview Wednesday night with Kaitlan Collins on “The Source,” Danon warned that Itan’s nuclear program must be “stopped” before it’s “too late.”
Danon said Israel will not risk Iran’s Islamic regime obtaining nuclear weapons.
He noted that Irsael’s long-held pledge has taken on renewed priority after Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at the Jewish state this week.
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Oil Tanker Guards Open Fire on Houthi Drone Boat Before Explosion Engulfs Side of Boat
Shocking pictures show an oil tanker exploding into flames after crew members opened fire on a drone boat piloted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The remote boat — which was carrying explosives — tore a huge hole in the Panama-flagged Cordelia Moon.
Flames engulfed the tanker, previously owned by a British company, as it travelled through the Red Sea on Tuesday.
The blast broke through its port side as huge plumes of smoke were seen billowing into the sky.
The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack.
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US Launches Fresh Strikes on 15 Houthi Rebel Targets in Yemen
The US has conducted strikes on 15 targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen amid intensified attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.
Officials from the US Central Command said the strikes were launched “to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer”.
It comes after an oil tanker was engulfed in flames after being targeted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Tuesday.
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Violent Explosions Rock Yemeni Capital Sana’a Amid US-UK Airstrikes
Friday evening, the Yemeni capital Sana’a, controlled by the Houthis, was shaken by intense explosions resulting from airstrikes carried out by American and British fighter jets.
Similar airstrikes targeted the coastal governorate of Al Hudaydah and Dhmar, south of Sana’a.
Local residents reported hearing the sound of four powerful and consecutive explosions throughout the city due to the airstrikes. Houthi media confirmed that American and British forces conducted four airstrikes on the Al-Sayyana area (a military camp) in the Al-Thawrah district, located north of Sana’a.
Additionally, reports indicated that seven airstrikes targeted Al Hudaydah Airport and the Al-Kathib area (a Houthi naval forces camp) in the coastal governorate, which had previously been struck by “Israeli” airstrikes in July and September.
Houthi media also mentioned that another airstrike hit the city of Dhmar, located south of the capital.
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Could Russia Have Dropped the ‘Father of All Bombs’ on a Ukrainian City?
According to videos circulating on social media, Russian forces may have dropped a massive vacuum bomb, known as the “father of all bombs,” on the Ukrainian city of Vovchansk. The Ukrainian InsiderUA news agency shared the footage on its Telegram channel, citing Russian military bloggers’ claims that the spectacular explosion in the footage could have been caused by the ODAB-9000, a 7,100-kilogram glide bomb, also known as the “father of all bombs.”
The bomb is so massive, that the thermobaric explosion caused by the aerosol charge equates to the destructive power of 44 tons of TNT.
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Moldova Alleges Pro-Russian Vote-Buying Scheme Ahead of Key Vote
Pro-Kremlin forces are meddling in Moldova’s upcoming presidential election by paying off tens of thousands of voters in a sweeping plot to derail Chisinau’s bid for closer European Union ties, police said on Thursday.
Incumbent Maia Sandu has portrayed the October 20 contest as a test of her pro-European politics. It will be held alongside a referendum asking voters whether Moldova should be able to join the bloc.
Sandu, who is seeking a second term, has long accused Russia of attempting to overthrow her government through various means, a charge Moscow denies.
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Russia Calls Current Confrontation With West More Dangerous Than the Cuban Missile Crisis
The current confrontation between Russia and the West over Ukraine is unparalleled in history and a mistake could lead to catastrophe, a senior Russian diplomat said on Thursday when asked about comparisons to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
The 2-1/2-year-old Ukraine war, the biggest land war in Europe since World War Two, has triggered a major confrontation between Russia and the West, and Russian officials say it is now entering its most dangerous phase to date.
Russian diplomats have previously invoked comparisons to the 1962 crisis when the Cold War superpowers are considered to have come closest to intentional nuclear war after Moscow secretly put missiles on Cuba.
But Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters on Thursday: “What is happening has no analogues in the past.”
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Russia Reveals Important Condition for Joining BRICS
By RT
BRICS applicants can’t join in sanctions against any of the economic bloc’s member states, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday, outlining one of the conditions for joining the club.
The group that started as an informal association of Brazil, Russia, India and China has since expanded to nine member states and is expected to discuss further enlargement at its summit in Kazan, Russia later this month.
“One needs to pursue a sovereign policy, have a significant role in international and regional affairs, build good-neighborly and friendly relations with the BRICS countries, and not join in illegitimate sanctions against members of the association,” Ryabkov said at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday, when asked about conditions for aspiring members.
Moscow considers the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies over the Ukraine conflict illegal and illegitimate.
Russia will host the association’s annual summit in Kazan later this month, being the current holder of the revolving chair of the group. Among the countries currently seeking membership are Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Palestine, Senegal, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam.
“The doors to BRICS remain open,” Ryabkov told reporters, but expansion should not become an end unto itself. Russia’s objective this year has been to “ensure organic and full integration” of the recently accepted members into the “multifaceted architecture of the BRICS partnership,” while maintaining the dynamics and effectiveness of the international association’s mechanisms and formats, he explained.
Enlargement should always be aimed at increasing the capabilities and international authority of BRICS, Ryabkov added, reminding reporters that all decisions in the association are made by consensus.
Founded in 2006, the organization admitted South Africa in 2011 At the start of 2024, BRICS also welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE, although it decided to retain the founders’ original five-letter acronym.
Current BRICS member countries account for about 46% of the world’s population and over 36% of global GDP, according to estimates by global financial institutions. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that at least 34 countries have expressed interest in joining the organization.
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Ukraine Assassinates Ukrainian ‘Collaborator’ Who Oversaw Security at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
A high ranking official who oversaw security operations at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was killed Friday morning in a car bombing conducted by Ukrainian military intelligence GRU.
Both sides confirmed the killing of Andriy Korotky, a Ukrainian, described as “head of physical security” at the nuclear site. But Kiev dubbed him a “collaborator” and “traitor” for working for Russia. There has been a series of such assassinations of pro-Russian Ukrainians throughout the war.
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Ukraine War Briefing: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Employee Killed in Ukrainian Car Bomb Attack
An employee at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine has been killed in a car bomb attack that Ukrainian military intelligence said punished a “war criminal”. Russia’s investigative committee, which probes serious crimes, said Andrei Korotkiy died after a bomb planted under his car went off near his house in the city of Enerhodar, where the plant is located, on Friday morning. Korotkiy worked in the plant’s security department, the committee said, adding a criminal case was opened into his death. Ukrainian military intelligence published a video of his car exploding and in a statement called Korotkiy a “war criminal” and collaborator, accusing him of repressing Ukrainians and of handing Russia a list of the plant’s employees and then pointing out people with pro-Ukrainian views. Authorities at the plant — Europe’s largest, with six nuclear reactors — condemned Ukrainian authorities for orchestrating the killing.
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U.S. Warned Britain Not to Give Away Indian Ocean Islands Over China Spy Base Fears: Report
The U.S. government put on a brave face and publicly welcomed the British decision to give away an archipelago of strategic islands this week, but Washington privately warned of the danger of China using them to establish listening stations, a report claims.
Britain’s newspaper of record The Times cites unnamed government sources to substantiate its claims that officials in Washington D.C. and London counselled the UK’s fledgling left-wing government against giving away the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), as was announced yesterday. The archipelago includes Diego Garcia, its largest island, a volcanic atoll upon which perches a strategically vital military base.
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Censorship Allegations Resurface as New Ad Coalition Takes Shape
A new organization has emerged, seemingly as a successor to the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), which disbanded in early August under a cloud of controversy and accusations of corporate censorship, according to a new letter.
This new entity dubbed the “Dentsu Coalition,” was formed by Dentsu, a major Japanese PR firm and original GARM member, alongside The 614 Group, a prominent ad consulting firm. Their stated mission is to bolster “credible news” and foster a thriving journalistic environment through the collective effort of leading advertising industry figures.
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Taiwan: Children 6 Times More Likely to Die After COVID ‘Vaccine’
A damning study has identified a shocking 500% surge in deaths among children who have been “vaccinated” for Covid with mRNA shots.
The alarming study of 64,000 children and teenagers found that kids are six times more likely to die after receiving a Covid “vaccine” when compared to unvaccinated.
The finding was buried in a study published earlier this year that identified Covid shots as the cause of increasing cases of new-onset asthma in children.
However, the disturbing discovery of increased deaths among kids went largely unreported as it was only quite mentioned toward the end of the study’s paper.
The study’s note about death rates among vaccinated children was highlighted by Alex Berenson.
Led by Professor Chiao-Yu Yang, the study was conducted by top researchers from Taiwan’s Institute of Public Health and the Chung Shan Medical University Hospital in Taichung City.
The findings were published in the Springer Medical Journal.
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Bombshell Twist After Coward Poured Hot Coffee on Baby in Brisbane
A 33-year-old Chinese national on a student visa has been identified as the suspect, but police have refused to release his name.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Brazil: 28-Year-Old Journalist Dies of ‘Turbo Brain Cancer’
Thais Belém, a prominent Brazilian journalist and model, has tragically died at just 28 years old.
Belém, a devout Christian from Para in northern Brazil, also worked with the Cristo Alegria project as a Catholic missionary.
The popular social media influencer passed away after battling against an aggressive brain tumor that was diagnosed in early 2023.
Belém’s death was confirmed by her husband, Gabriel Rodrigues.
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G7 Commits to End Migrant Trafficking
The Group of Seven (G7) will establish specialized police units to investigate human trafficking, Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced on October 4.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to address the growing issue of illegal immigration.
Piantedosi shared details of the plan at the conclusion of a three-day meeting of G7 interior ministers, which also centred on the security threats stemming from the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
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Images of Arabs dancing and acting in a jubilant manner in Germany after Iran bombed Israel with nearly 200 rockets sparked widespread debate in Germany, and now Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said she is shocked and will take “tough action” against these people, claiming they are committing a crime.
However, experts interviewed by Bild say there is no reason for shock or surprise, as many of Germany’s Arab population hold extremely unfavorable views of Israel.
The renowned ethnologist Susanne Schröter, a professor at the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, told the Bild newspaper it was a “taboo subject” to address the ties between immigration and anti-Semitism.
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Half of German Welfare Recipients Non-Citizens, Data Reveals
Nearly half of all recipients of welfare in Germany are non-citizens, government-sourced data has disclosed.
Documents provided by the federal government upon the request of the left-populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) party revealed that of the 5.6 million people recorded as being on welfare as of May 2024, 2.7 million were not German citizens.
The figure has prompted outrage from both the left and right, with Alternative for Germany (AfD) MEP Siegbert Droese warning that the stat was yet more evidence that the country’s immigration system is no longer fit for purpose.
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Migration Concerns Drove Germans to Vote in EU Election Ballots
Germany’s border restrictions have recently dominated political discussions within the country, triggering similar debates across the EU, however, a newly published Eurobarometer survey reveals that this issue has been on the public’s mind for some time.
In response to a deadly knife attack in Solingen, western Germany, and the pressures of state election campaigns, threatening the federal government coalition, Germany adopted a tougher stance on migration. A topic that resonated with voters during the European elections.
During the EU elections, 44% of surveyed German voters cited migration and asylum as their main concerns influencing their vote, making Germany the only EU country where this was the top concern, according to a Eurobarometer survey by the European Parliament. This contrasts with the previous European elections in 2019, where 55% of Germans identified combating climate change as their main reason for voting.
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Minister to Put “We’re Working on Sending You Back” Signs at Dutch Asylum Centers
Asylum Minster Marjolein Faber (PVV) wants to place warning signs at Dutch asylum seekers’ centers reading something along the lines of: “We’re working on sending you back,” sources told RTL Nieuws.
The PVV Minister wants the signs to make clear that asylum seekers can only temporarily stay in the Netherlands.
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Netherlands: Two Far-Right FVD Campaign Videos Violate Hate Speech Laws, Says Prosecutor
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) in Amsterdam has determined that two campaign videos made for far-right political party Forum voor Democratie (FvD) are criminally punishable. It concerns a commercial in which the party tried to draw attention to the consequences of the law mandating the distribution of asylum seekers across Dutch regions, and another about non-binary and transgender people, the OM said on Friday.
The OM said it considers the video about the asylum law to be an expression intended to incite hatred towards asylum seekers, and also should be categorized as being derogatory towards asylum seekers as a group. The other video is an expression that incites hatred against LGBTIQ+ people and as a “discriminatory insult of a person.”
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The Brunswick Landing apartments in Maine sparked controversy earlier this year when it was discovered that homeless migrants in the area were getting the opportunity to live in the units rent-free for up to two years. Migrants living in the apartments shared that not only is the rent-free, the utilities are paid and we got an inside look at the furnished apartments that would run the average American about $2,300 dollars.
An inside look at the units at Brunswick Landing revealed that the apartments, which are currently set to house 60 migrant families, come fully furnished with migrants receiving a couch, table and chair, a flat-screen TV, and even photo frames on the walls for ambiance. “We don’t pay anything,” one woman from the Congo stated, “but after two years we have to pay the rent,” she finished.
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Sex Offender Given Refugee Status in France After Claiming to be Transgender
An Algerian refugee sex offender has been allowed to stay in France after claiming to be “transgender,” despite being sentenced to four years in prison in 2019.
In the midst of the debate on lax immigration policy following the rape and murder of 19-year-old Philippine by a Moroccan illegal immigrant, the recent decision by the Council of State concerning the Algerian refugee sex offender has caused controversy.
On Monday, September 30th, the Council of State (Conseil d’État), one of France’s highest administrative bodies, validated the renewed refugee status of the Algerian national.
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‘The European Economy Will Die, But Before That, it Will Fall Apart Due to Migration, ‘ Orban Warns
The European Union is engaged in an economic cold war that will see the European economy die, but not before it falls apart due to Brussels’ commitment to mass immigration, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed in a new interview.
Orban emphasized his government’s focus on economic neutrality and its need to address both foreign and domestic challenges on Friday in an interview on Kossuth Radio’s ‘Good Morning, Hungary!’
Following a key government meeting, Orban laid out several priorities, ranging from economic policy to migration and national security.
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UK: More Migrants Arrive in Dover After Crossing the Channel on Small Boats…
— bringing 2024 total to 25,244 with more than 11,000 since Keir Starmer took office
Dozens of migrants have been intercepted after crossing the English Channel, bringing the total this year to 25,244 — including more than 11,000 since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.
The group of mainly men could be seen wearing orange life jackets as they disembarked at the Port of Dover in Kent.
They were ushered up the gangway at the Port’s western docks and taken into the immigration processing centre.
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Visualized: Is the Czech Population Growing or Shrinking?
As the dynamics of Czechia’s population shift, questions arise: Is the population growing or shrinking? Recent statistics reveal that more people are leaving than arriving and deaths exceed births. With a current population of approximately 10.88 million, new population data from the Czech Statistical Office sheds light on the factors contributing to this demographic change.
Only 62,700 people immigrated to Czechia in the first half of 2024, a 13,800 decrease from last year. Meanwhile, around 55,500 people died during the same period, 3 percent fewer than the previous year. This means that more people are leaving the country than are coming in, and more people are dying than being born.
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France: LGBT Activist Charged With Sexual Abuse of Disabled 4 Year Old
A Nantes court has indicted a former candidate for a far-left party for the rape and torture of a 4-year-old disabled girl.
Pierre-Alain Cottineau (32), a prominent LGBTQ activist and former departmental election candidate in France, is being investigated by authorities in Nantes after videos of his alleged abuse of a 4 year old disabled child came to the attention of authorities.
Cottineau is a member of far-left political party La France insoumise from which he has now been expelled with a party spokesperson saying the charges against him were discovered “with horror.”
Known for his activism on behalf of the LGBT movement, Cottineau was elected president of The Rainbow Shelter (Le Refuge Arc-en-ciel) in 2018 before hosting its first “forum” for the purposes of combatting homophobia and transphobia.
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UK Push Towards Government-Sanctioned Assisted Dying Moves Ahead
Legislative proposals to give terminally ill people in England and Wales the choice to end their life are to be introduced at Westminster this month following the progress Thursday of an assisted dying bill in Parliament.
Left-wing Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is putting forward the bill and said “now is the time” to debate euthanasia, after MPs rejected a bill on the issue by 330 votes to 118 in 2015, the BBC reports.
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— as they tell history teachers not to use ‘medieval’
Woke exam chiefs have removed ‘problematic’ words such as ‘immigration’ and ‘homosexuality’ from papers — and advised history teachers to avoid the term ‘medieval’.
Exam boards across the UK have stripped out what they consider to be ‘outdated terminology’ and ‘decolonising’ syllabuses to make them more inclusive.
One of England’s biggest boards, Edexcel, has branded a series of words, including ‘immigration’, ‘slave’, ‘native Indian’ and ‘gypsy’, as ‘problematic’.
ts sanitised GCSE history syllabus — which covers early Elizabethan England, the USA and Nazi Germany among other topics — replaces ‘slaves’ with ‘enslaved people’ and ‘native Indians with ‘indigenous people’.
Meanwhile, mention of ‘gypsies’ has become ‘Roma and Sinti’ and ‘Jews’ has been altered to ‘Jewish people’.
It also replaces ‘immigration/immigrant’ with ‘migration/migrant’, even though they are generally understood to mean two different things, with the former applied to permanent settlement and the latter denoting a temporary resident.
Examiners have also erased references to tensions caused by immigration to the UK.
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