Events are being held across Scotland this weekend to observe the one-year anniversary of the current Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London.
In other news, an Egyptian man was arrested in the Italian city of Bergamo on Friday for allegedly planning to blow up a church in the center of the city.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to Dean, Insubria, MM, Reader from Chicago, SS, TN, 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.
China’s Stimulus Rally Has Already Sent Stocks Up 25% and There Could be More to Come
China stocks will keep rising after markets in the mainland reopen following the Golden Week break, analysts predicted.
Beijing’s announcements of economic support last week have fueled China’s CSI 300 blue-chip index to rally over 25% in a nine-day winning streak. On Monday, it popped over 8% to its best day in 16 years and the Shanghai Composite Index surged 8.06%, before the markets closed for a week-long holiday.
[Comment: A Chinese stock market index went up 25 percent in a 9-day period. Incredible.]
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
68 Alleged White Supremacist Gang Members Hit Over Dealing Fentanyl, Illegal Guns: AG
Sixty-eight alleged California white supremacists have been charged with drug trafficking, weapons violations and COVID-19 loan fraud, according to a federal indictment.
The members of the San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods, a California-based white supremacist street gang, were hit with a 76-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday, dealing their years-long criminal enterprise a “decisive blow,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
Garland claimed the club is responsible for “trafficking deadly fentanyl and other drugs, committing robberies and perpetrating financial fraud to fund both their criminal enterprise and that of the Aryan Brotherhood.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Addicts Shoot Up, Poop on Bronx Street Just Feet From Courthouse: ‘Neighborhood is Barbaric’
A residential street in The Bronx has become a regular haunt for homeless heroin addicts who shamelessly shoot up and masturbate in broad daylight, just a stone’s throw from the county courthouse and Borough President Vanessa Gibson’s office, fed-up neighbors told The Post.
Glass from broken bottles and shattered syringes crunched beneath the dress shoes of attorneys walking along the stonewalled western portion of Franz Sigel Park last week, as they made their way down Walton Avenue toward the Bronx County Courthouse on nearby Grand Concourse.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Alex Jones Creditors Target Future Assets — Which Could Include His Name
Lawyers targeting Alex Jones over a $1.4 billion judgement to Sandy Hook families have asked a Texas court to appoint a receiver to manage assets he acquired after his recent Chapter 7 bankruptcy conversion.
The move seeks to control any new ‘non-exempt’ assets or endeavors that Jones might generate in the future. If the receiver deems that Jones’ name, as a business entity or brand, holds value — they could seize control of any profits or business activity generated under it to satisfy the debt.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Columbia Donations Drop Nearly 29% to $21.4M in Wake of Anti-Israel Protests
Columbia University saw donations at its annual fundraiser drop nearly 29% after the spate of anti-Israel protests on campus earlier this year.
The annual “Giving Day” event brought in $21.4 million in 2024, compared to $30 million in 2022, the last time the event was held, according to campus newspaper Columbia Spectator. Giving Day was postponed in 2023 due to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and the ensuing protests.
The Ivy League university also saw a nearly 28% drop in the number of gifts, falling from 19,229 in 2022 to 13,870, the lowest since 2015, the paper said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
BUTLER, Pa. — An undaunted former President Donald Trump returned Saturday to a hero’s welcome at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Pennsylvania to finally finish the rally where he came within a quarter inch of death 12 weeks ago.
“A very big thank you to Pennsylvania. We love Pennsylvania, and as I was saying —,” Trump joked to thunderous applause while standing in front of bulletproof glass at the exact spot where he was shot nearly three months ago.
“Tonight, I return to Butler in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache to deliver a simple message to the people of Pennsylvania and to the people of America.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Elon Musk took the stage at former President Donald Trump’s triumphant rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday — three months after the first assassination attempt on his life there — where he offered his full-throated support for the Republican candidate and implored people to register to vote.
Musk, 53, joked he’s “not just MAGA, I’m dark MAGA” as he took the stage to loud cheers from the 20,000-plus crowd dressed in all black — including a custom black MAGA hat.
“President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America,” Musk stressed to the audience.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Entire Chicago School Board to Resign Over Teachers Union Dispute With Dem Mayor: ‘Deeply Alarming’
The entire Chicago Board of Education have announced their resignations after reportedly resisting a pressure campaign from the city’s Democrat mayor to fire the public schools CEO during contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union.
Sources tell Fox32 Chicago that several of the board members grew agitated by an effort from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office for them to get rid of Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez and approve a high-interest, short-term loan aimed at plugging a budget gap and paying for a new teachers union contract.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ex-NY Governor and Stepson Turn Into Dynamic Duo to Fight Off Attackers
Former Gov. David Paterson and his stepson, Anthony Sliwa, turned into the dynamic duo as they fought off ruffians who pounced on them during a spat on the Upper East Side, the 70-year-old recounted Saturday.
“I got punched in the face a couple of times and I got punched on the shoulder, but the person who punched me on the shoulder, I threw them against the McDonalds window myself,” Paterson, who is legally blind, said of the 8:30 p.m. Friday night attack.
Sliwa, 20, son of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, is trained in martial arts and was holding off as many of the attackers as he could around near East 97th Street and Second Avenue, Paterson said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Flames Shoot Out From Frontier Airlines Jet as it Landed in Las Vegas
Harrowing video shows the moment massive flames shot out from a Frontier Airlines jet as it landed at a Las Vegas airport Saturday.
The fire shot out from the mid-to-rear end of Flight 1326 upon its landing at Harry Reid International Airport in Las, Vegas Nevada, according to reports.
The fire appeared to break out near the planes landing gear.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Former Ukraine Impeachment Witness Gordon Sondland Flips, Declares Support for Trump
Gordon Sondland, one of the witnesses who testified against President Donald Trump during the Ukraine impeachment saga, has just made a major political U-turn.
Sondland has now declared that he is supporting Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024.
Trump’s former ambassador to the European Union shared his stunning endorsement with MSNBC.
The surprise revelation left liberal anchor Ari Melber visibly agitated.
Democrats insist that the January 6, 2021, protest was a threat to democracy that disqualifies Trump from ever holding public office again.
But Sondland, who previously condemned Trump over Jan. 6, said he sees much bigger threats after four years of President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Helene’s Death Toll Reaches 232 as One Decimated North Carolina Town Still Awaits FEMA Help
The feds forgot this town but Helene did not.
Hurricane Helene rocked the Southeast over a week ago killing an estimated 232 people, yet some of the hardest hit are still waiting for the federal government to show up.
In North Carolina, where nearly 75,000 people are still without power, the isolated Appalachian town of Bat Cave — with a population of just 180 — has been left stranded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hillary Clinton Calls for More Censorship of Americans on Social Media or ‘We Lose Total Control’
Hillary Clinton has called for social media companies to take stronger actions in censoring content on their platforms, warning that without moderation, “We lose total control.”
During a recent discussion on CNN, Clinton stated, “We need national action and sadly, our Congress has been dysfunctional when it comes to addressing these threats to our children. So you’re absolutely right. This should be at the top of every legislative, political agenda.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Homeschooling Rates Surge Across the Country in the Wake of COVID: Report
Homeschooling is growing across the country following the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report.
The Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy’s Homeschool Research Lab reported its analysis of the homeschooling rate for 21 states for the 2023-2024 academic year. The report also noted that only 30 states keep track of their homeschooling numbers.
Among the 21 states that reported their homeschooling participation for the 2023-2024 school year, only two showed a decline. The other 19 states showed increases, ranging from slight to significant.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Ahead of the second rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, changes for better security by the US Secret Service (USSS) have been made. The changes are an attempt to not have a repeat of July 13, when Trump was shot in a failed assassination attempt.
Since the July 13 rally and a second assassination attempt on the GOP nominee since then, USSS has been roundly criticized for not being prepared to protect those under their responsibility. Ahead of the second Butler rally on Saturday, USSS spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement, “Since the attempted assassination of former President Trump on July 13, the U.S. Secret Service has made comprehensive changes and enhancements to our communications capabilities, resourcing, and protective operations.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours)
The IRS said it is preparing a tax-enforcement crackdown after a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) audit revealed that more than $1.4 billion in taxes may have gone uncollected from individuals who won large sums in gambling.
The report from TIGTA’s audit, released on Sept. 30, found that nearly 150,000 Americans with gambling winnings exceeding $15,000 between 2018 and 2020 failed to file tax returns, leaving potentially significant amounts of unpaid taxes.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Standing on the very stage where his running mate narrowly avoided death, Republican vice presidential hopeful JD Vance admonished former President Donald Trump’s critics for stoking animosity against him.
Vance, 40, called out Vice President Kamala Harris by name as well as the media for trafficking in “inflammatory rhetoric” against Trump that he contended has culminated in political violence.
“With all the hatred they have spewed against President Trump, it was only a matter of time before somebody tried to kill him,” Vance bellowed out to a packed venue at the Butler Farm Show grounds Saturday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Jill Biden Withdraws From Campaigning for Harris as Resentment Lingers Over Democrats’ Betrayal
The betrayal of President Joe Biden by several top Democrats has opened a deep rift that doesn’t show any signs of healing.
Moves by Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi to force Biden to end his reelection campaign don’t appear to be sitting well with the first lady.
President Biden and his wife “Doctor Jill” have largely withdrawn from the national spotlight following his humiliating decision to end his re-election bid.
As the presidential matchup between President Donald Trump and Democrat nominee Kamala Harris enters the final stretch, Jill Biden “has largely withdrawn from campaign events, and Harris’ team hasn’t pushed for her to do them,” Axios reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Kamala Harris Campaign Still Mandating Employees Get COVID Vax
Vice President Harris is still insisting that employees of her 2024 presidential campaign be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus — even as most other institutions in American life have abandoned vaccine mandates.
“Harris for President requires all employees to be ‘up to date’ on COVID-19 vaccination status as prescribed by the CDC as a condition of employment, unless otherwise prohibited by applicable law,” reads the fine print of a job posting for a senior designer in Wilmington, Del. Anyone seeking a “reasonable accommodation” must plead their case to human resources.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A pension investigator has found the books of Minnesota’s state retirement system under Gov. Tim Walz’s oversight “blatantly cooked” and cloaked in secrecy — prompting teachers in his home state to beg the vice-presidential candidate to tell the truth about lackluster investment performance and massive hidden fees.
Edward Siedle, an ex-US Securities and Exchange Commission lawyer privately hired by worried educators, has just published a bombshell 113-page report titled, “Minnesota Mirage: Sleight of Hand.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
MPD Arrests Man for Alleged Temple Israel Threats, Extra Patrols Announced
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) — Minneapolis police say they arrested a man accused of saying he would “shoot up” Temple Israel in threatening phone calls made last month.
Terroristic threats arrest
The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) said a 21-year-old man was arrested on Friday after making threatening phone calls to Temple Israel on Sept. 11.
MPD said an officer working on a special detail for Temple Israel on Thursday was told that security reported seeing the man outside the temple with a firearm.
The man reportedly fled from police, but was found and arrested on Friday for suspected terroristic threats. Police say they did not recover a firearm.
Charges were submitted to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, but are still pending as of Saturday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Seattle Approves $20.76 Minimum Wage in 2025; Will be Highest in the U.S.
Seattle employees making the minimum wage will see a mandatory raise starting next year, making them the highest paid minimum wage workers in the country.
Starting at the beginning of 2025, all employers regardless of size will be required to pay their employees at least $20.76 an hour.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell sees this increase in minimum wage for all employers as a positive for workers and the local economy.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Secret Service officials are strained and stretched “to the breaking point” as the 2024 presidential campaign enters its final month, according to a report.
Growing workloads and staff shortfalls have left the agency in “a state of crisis,” a dozen current and former USSS agents told NBC.
“The US Secret Service is killing their people, and worse they are supposed to have a zero-fail protective mission on zero rest/sleep,” one former agent told the network. “I love my agency but they are setting themselves up for another incident.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Soros-Linked Dark Money Group Props Up Nebraska Independent Candidate in Key Senate Race
A Nebraska Senate race has emerged as one to watch with only weeks until the election, as an independent candidate with controversial backing vies to unseat Sen. Debbie Fischer, R-Neb.
Dan Osborn, a mechanic and union leader, is running as an independent against Fischer, and has prompted two prominent political handicappers to change their ratings of the race, indicating heightened competition.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump Pays Tribute to Corey Comperatore and His Family During Second Rally in Butler
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Saturday paid tribute to slain Trump supporter Corey Comperatore who died at the previous Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
“Corey Comperatore was an incredible husband and father, a devout Christian, a veteran and a proud former fire chief,” Trump said. “Very respected within the town. Everybody knew him.”
Trump returned to Butler for a rally on Saturday where he held a moment of silence for Comperatore while “Ave Maria” was sung live in memory of him.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Trump to Hit Campaign Trail ‘Almost Every Single Day’ During Month Before Election Day
Former President Donald Trump is expected to hit the campaign trail “almost every single day” in the month before Nov. 5 — doing rallies, small speaking engagements, interviews and retail stops, a person familiar with his schedule told The Post.
“We’re going to be on the road almost every single day between now and Nov. 5,” the Trump campaign rep said.
Trump, 78, will put particular emphasis on the seven critical swing states of Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Wiretap Systems in US Were Targeted in Cyberattack Linked to China: Report
U.S. wireless providers such as AT&T and Verizon were targeted in a hacking incident that was linked to China, according to reports.
The hackers have potentially had access for months to network infrastructure that has been used to cooperate with lawful, court-authorized network wiretapping requests for communications data, a clear major national security risk, according to an exclusive report from The Wall Street Journal.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Cancer Patients Report Miraculous Recoveries From Ivermectin Treatment
Cancer patients have been leaving doctors stunned after making miraculous recoveries from taking ivermectin.
Renowned oncologist, radiologist, and immunologist Dr. William Makis has revealed that one patient made an amazing recovery from stage 4 prostate cancer.
The patient said they have been secretly taking ivermectin along with other treatments and left their doctors stunned by recovering “quite quickly.”
They told Makik that they followed his protocol for ivermectin without telling their own doctor.
As a result, the patient saw his PSA scores fall to remission levels “quite quickly” after taking ivermectin.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgium: Greta Thunberg Blocks Brussels Boulevard in Fossil Fuel Protest
Dozens of demonstrators on Saturday blocked a key road in the city of Brussels, calling on the European Union to end subsidies for oil and gas.
Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and a group of Extinction Rebellion activists padlocked their arms to the ground in front of the Rogier metro station, a few kilometers from the European Parliament and European Commission buildings. Quickly surrounded by police, the protesters chanted a chorus of “the oceans are rising and so are we.” Arrests have since been made.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Some 500 Officers Police Rival October 7 Anniversary Events in Berlin
Close to 500 police officers have been deployed for rallies in Berlin on Saturday as the one-year anniversary of the Gaza war approaches, police said on X.
Authorities are preparing for a large-scale operation throughout the weekend, as numerous gatherings have also been announced for Sunday.
In front of the Humboldt University in Berlin’s central Mitte district, numerous people gathered early in the afternoon for a pro-Israel rally. Some participants waved Israeli flags, while a large banner condemned anti-Semitism.
The demonstrators moved along the famous Unter den Linden street towards the north of the city.
Members of the left-wing radical Antifa movement also participated. One placard read, “Reclaim Antifa. Emancipation instead of anti-Semitism.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Anti-Israeli Chants and Desecrated Flag at Berlin Demonstrations
Police intervened at pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Berlin’s central Alexanderplatz due to anti-Israel chants and actions, resulting in 10 temporary arrests on Friday evening, according to police reports.
One incident involved a man tearing paper Israeli flags during a “Vigil for Gaza” rally.
At another gathering titled “Stop the War,” which saw a peak attendance of about 100 participants, police reported that anti-Israel or slogans demeaning Israel were repeatedly chanted. The rally’s leaders were urged to moderate the participants.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
German Carmakers: EU Electric Car Tariffs on China Will Raise Prices
prices after the European Union paved the way for punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Friday’s decision could significantly damage Germany’s automotive industry, said Thomas Peckruhn from the German Association of Motor Vehicle Trades (ZdK).
The EU tariffs of up to 35.3% on battery-powered electric vehicles from China could now potentially come into force in early November, although they could still be dismissed if Brussels reaches a solution with Beijing at the negotiating table.
Germany voted against the measure, which Peckruhn said could further hit business confidence. For car dealers who have invested in Chinese brands, the tariffs would distort competition, he suggested.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Berlin Authorities to Crack Down on Anti-Semitism at October 7 Events
Berlin Interior Senator Iris Spranger has announced a crackdown on anti-Semitism ahead of the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel.
“My position is clear: hatred, defamation and anti-Semitism do not belong on the streets of Berlin,” Spranger told dpa on Saturday, as the city prepared for rival demonstrations, prompting a large-scale police operation to keep the peace.
Police officers in the German capital have been instructed to pursue any criminal offences at the rallies.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Germany: Anti-Israeli Chants at October 7 Anniversary Demonstrations in Berlin
Hundreds of people in Berlin staged rallies and demonstrations on Saturday ahead of the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Nearly 500 police officers were on duty, the police said on the online platform X. Officers are preparing for a major operation throughout the weekend, as numerous gatherings have also been announced for Sunday.
The number of participants was relatively low initially.
Demonstrations are also planned in other parts of Germany. In Hamburg, hundreds of demonstrators gathered and initially protested peacefully against the war in Gaza.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Italy: Rome Locked Down for Pro-Palestinian March
Turin bans October 7 demo, must be put off
Rome is locked down for a formally banned pro-Palestinian march Saturday with police controls at major checkpoints in the Italian capital.
Among the measures are checks in railway stations and motorway toll booths and a special security device with concentric circles around the area of ;;Piazzale Ostiense.
In Turin, meanwhile the police headquarters on Saturday banned a Pro-Pal demonstration on Monday 7 October, the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, saying the date must be changed and it must be a stationary demo and not a march.
| — Hat tip: Insubria | [Return to headlines] |
Italy: Man, 22, Arrested in Bergamo for Planning to Blow Up Church
And preaching terror on Web
A 22-year-old Egyptian man was arrested in Bergamo Friday for allegedly preaching terror on the Web and planning to blow up a church in the centre of the Lombardy city.
The man, who has not been named, posted photos of himself armed and ready for action against the “infidels”.
He said he belonged to the terror group Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
The man was arrested by DIGOS special branch security police from Brescia and Bergamo for apology of terrorism.
| — Hat tip: Insubria | [Return to headlines] |
Italy: Clashes at Unauthorized Pro-Palestine Demonstration in Rome
There were at times intense clashes between demonstrators and police at an unauthorized pro-Palestine demonstration in Rome on Saturday.
Several thousand people gathered in the centre of the Italian capital, two days before the anniversary of the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023.
Demonstrators wearing face coverings and dressed in black, threw bottles, firecrackers and traffic signs at the security forces, who responded with the use of tear gas and water cannon.
According to the authorities, the demonstration was not authorized by the Italian authorities due to security concerns. They also feared that the timing of the protest would “glorify” the Hamas terror attack of October 7.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Italy Targets Climate Activists in ‘Anti-Gandhi’ Demo Clampdown
Blocking a road to protest inaction against climate change could soon be punishable with prison in Italy as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right government cracks down on demonstrations, even peaceful ones.
A new security law passed by MPs and facing final scrutiny in the Senate has been dubbed the “anti-Gandhi” law — after pacifist Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi — by critics for taking aim at demonstrations by people ranging from prisoners to climate activists.
It is specifically aimed at protests against two major infrastructure projects — a high-speed, cross-border Turin-Lyon railway to France and a mooted bridge over the Strait of Messina to Sicily — both championed by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
Salvini, who also has responsibility for transport and infrastructure, is a defender of the combustion engine and crusades against “climate terrorism”, particularly the young members of the Last Generation, a climate group known for headline-grabbing protests.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Moldovan Police Say Criminals Plotting to Seize Public Buildings in Election Campaign
A top police official said on Friday (4 October) that criminal groups with Russian backing were intent on disrupting Moldova’s presidential election, including attempts to seize government buildings.
The 20 October election, in which pro-European President Maia Sandu is seeking reelection, is becoming increasingly heated. The poll is being held alongside a referendum on pressing for European Union membership and officials accuse pro-Kremlin groups of offering cash for voters to reject the EU plebiscite.
National police chief Viorel Cernauteanu said instances of vandals hurling paint at public buildings last month were a precursor to more serious acts.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Scotland: Events Held Marking One Year Since Start of Latest Middle East Conflict
Events are being held across Scotland this weekend as the one-year anniversary of the latest Middle East conflict draws near.
Thousands attended a pro-Palestinian rally in Edinburgh, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to highlight the human cost of Israel’s response to the 7 October attacks by Hamas.
Smaller demonstrations also took place in Aberdeen and Inverness.
A vigil to remember the victims of the Hamas attacks on Israel will be held in Glasgow on Sunday.
The war began when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on 7 October last year, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others as hostages. A total of 97 hostages remain unaccounted for.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Thousands Take Part in Pro-Palestinian March
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have marched through central London, with protesters calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Tens of thousands walked from Russell Square to Whitehall, where speeches took place outside Downing Street.
The event was organised by groups including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, with people travelling from around the country to take part.
Seventeen people were arrested, the Metropolitan Police said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netanyahu Calls Macron, Other Western Leaders Who Support Arms Embargo Against Israel a ‘Disgrace’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed French President Emmanuel Macron and other Western leaders on Saturday who he said had called for an arms embargo on Israel over its airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza.
“As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side, yet President Macron and other western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them, “Netanyahu said in a statement.
He continued, “Is Iran imposing an arms embargo on Hezbollah, on the Houthis, on Hamas and on its other proxies? Of course not. This axis of terror stands together, but countries who supposedly oppose this terror axis call for an arms embargo on Israel.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Netanyahu Reiterates That Israel Will Respond to Iranian Attack
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel will respond to the latest Iranian rocket attack.
“No country in the world would accept such an attack on its cities and citizens,” Netanyahu said in an address on Saturday.
“Israel has the duty and the right to defend itself,” the prime minister asserted.
The country would respond to the Iranian attacks. Netanyahu did not comment on the timing or nature of the response, however.
The prime minister also stated that Israel’s army had destroyed “a large part” of the rocket arsenal of the Lebanese Hezbollah militia in its attacks on the neighbouring country. However, the threat posed by the Shiite organisation has not yet been completely eliminated.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Thousands Join Pro-Palestine Rallies Around the Globe as Oct. 7 Anniversary Nears
ROME (AP) — Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent demonstrators in Rome as tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets in major European cities and around the globe Saturday to call for a cease-fire as the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel approached.
Massive rallies were planned in several European cities, with the largest gatherings expected from Saturday to Monday. Events will peak Monday, the date of the anniversary.
In Rome, several thousands demonstrated peacefully Saturday afternoon until a smaller group tried to push the rally toward the center of the city, in spite of a ban by local authorities who refused to authorize protests, citing security concerns.
Some protesters, dressed in black and with their faces covered, threw bottles and paper bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons, eventually dispersing the crowd.
| — Hat tip: MM | [Return to headlines] |
Iran Military Chief ‘Killed’ by Israeli Air Strike in Lebanon That Targeted New Leader of Hezbollah
One of Iran’s top military commanders is believed to have been killed in an Israeliattack that targeted the new leader of terror group Hezbollah.
Esmail Qaani, head of the Quds Force — the elite wing of the feared Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) — was reported to be with the new leader of Hezbollah, Hashem Safieddine, who was targeted in his HQ bunker in Beirut by the Israelis.
The air strike on Thursday night during heavy bombing of southern Beirut was mounted as Safieddine held a secret meeting with other Hezbollah leaders in the underground intelligence headquarters.
He had only just taken over from Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by the Israelis last month.
Last night, Arabic and English language media in the Middle East were reporting that Safieddine is highly likely to have died.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UN: More Than Half a Million People Displaced in Lebanon
More than half a million people are now displaced in Lebanon, with 285,000 having left the country, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Saturday.
The number of conflict-related deaths has reportedly increased by 200% in the past two weeks, with displaced people rising by 385%.
Since September 23, Israel has significantly intensified its missile attacks on targets of the Iranian-backed Shiite militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Hezbollah has been attacking Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas since the war in Gaza began following the October 7 terrorist attacks.
As of Thursday, at least 1,699 people have reportedly been killed and almost 10,000 injured in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah within a year, according to the OCHA, which cited the Lebanese Health Ministry.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
‘I Want to Go Home’: Ukrainians Flee Russia’s Advance in Donbas
The family waited until the last moment to leave. “We didn’t want to leave our house, but with the bombing, it became impossible to stay,” said Stas Gabelyuk, 30. This Ukrainian farmer and his wife, Victoria, were evacuated with their three children on Saturday, September 21, from the village of Dachne, near Pokrovsk. This strategic town in Ukraine’s Donetsk region has been the scene of intense fighting since July. It now threatens to fall into the hands of the Russians, who are only 7 kilometers away.
The Gabelyuk family was evacuated to Pavlohrad, an hour and a half from Pokrovsk. Since August 13, this small town in the Dnipro region has been home to a transit center for civilians fleeing the Russian advance in Donbas. In six weeks, more than 1,800 people have been taken in, before being redirected to other towns deemed safer and capable of absorbing these new arrivals.
| — Hat tip: Dean | [Return to headlines] |
Ukraine Claims to Have Downed Russian Fighter Jet as Moscow Makes More Territorial Gains
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces said they shot down a Russian fighter plane on Saturday while Russia claimed it made gains in Ukraine’s east.
The Russian bomber was shot down near the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk province, head of the Kostiantynivka Military Administration Serhiy Horbunov was quoted as saying by Ukraine’s public broadcaster, Suspilne. Photos showed charred remains of an aircraft after it landed on a house that caught fire.
Also in the partially occupied Donetsk province, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed Saturday that it had taken control of the village of Zhelanne Druhe.
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Video Shows Ukrainian ‘Dragon’ Drone Appearing to Destroy a Russian Tank With ‘Molten Thermite’
New footage appears to show a Ukrainian “dragon” drone destroying a Russian tank.
Ukraine’s defense ministry shared the video on X on Friday, claiming in the caption that the drone fired “molten thermite” at the Russian tank.
Forbes reported that the attack took place near Minkivka, in eastern Ukraine.
Business Insider was unable to independently verify the footage.
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Joynagar Horror: Hindu Minor Raped, Killed on Way Home from Coaching; Angry Crowds Confront Police Over Inaction. Police Outpost Attacked. Muslim Culprit Arrested.
Rupali Samanta | HENB | Joynagar | Oct 5, 2024:: A nine-year-old girl student was raped and murdered on her way home from the coaching center. Police have arrested a youth of the area in this incident. The child’s body was recovered from the pond near the house on Friday night. It is said that the detained youth has confessed the crime. The incident is in Joynagar police station area of South 24 Parganas. The dead child was a class IV student. Residents are protesting to demand punishment of the accused. Residents of the area also have anger against the police. The family alleged that the police did not take notice of the matter on Friday. Agitated people have been protesting around Joynagar police station since Saturday morning. The police station was vandalised.
Sources said that ‘Mostakin Sardar’ the accused belongs to a ‘Peaceful Community’ who intercepted the victim who was returning back home with the brother of the accused. Some video footage believed to be in Police possession in which it was seen that the accused was carrying the victim in a cycle. Police recovered the body of the child from a water body where she was thrown after rape and murder with extreme brutality. Several injury marks were found in the dead body of the victim.
Family members of the victim said that like every other day, she went to Mahishmarihat area for tuition. His father’s shop was nearby in the market. After tuition, the child met his father in the shop. After that she was returning home with the brother of the ‘Momin’ accused. But she was allegedly kidnapped on the way. The father of the victim claims that the child was raped and killed. After that it was thrown into the pond. But, police did not take any action even after reporting the matter of missing the victim for a long period.
The victim’s father said, “The girl went to study with me in the afternoon. The tutorial ended at 5 o’clock. She came to my shop in the market and said, “Dad, I am going home.” He used to return home alone every day. After receiving news from home, I didn’t get her anywhere. She was missing for a long time. After that I conveyed it to the police. But, the police did not take any action. Later the dead body of my child was found in a pond. We know the one who did it. We want the culprit to be hanged.”
A written complaint was filed by the family of the deceased at the Joynagar police station. Allegedly, the family first went to file a complaint at Mahishmarihat outpost. Instead of accepting the complaint there, they were asked to go to Joynagar police station. The family alleged that the child could have been saved if the police had taken the matter seriously. At night, the police started an investigation. A youth has been identified from the CCTV footage. In the footage, the young man was seen taking the child on a bicycle. The police detained the young man at night. Later he was arrested. The child’s body is kept in Padmerhat Hospital and arranged for post-mortem. In a severe late in process the accused could not be produced in Baruipur Court as sources said.
As a consequence, the Joynagar Thana area has become a hot bed. Agitated Hindu crowd protested around the police demanding strict punishment of the accused. Demonstrations were shown by blocking the road. They attacked the police station with sticks and brooms. The police station was partially torched and vandalized.
There is no reaction from the ruling TMC Party for this heinous rape and murder of a Hindu minor girl as the perpetrator belongs to peaceful ‘Dudhel Gai’ (Milinking Cow) community.
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Terror as Man Armed With a Machete Attacks Innocent Residents on Street in Leichhardt, Sydney
A usually peaceful residential street has been plunged into chaos after a man reportedly began attacking innocent people with a machete.
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As tensions heighten in Rivers State over conduct of local government elections, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that two explosions rocked the state on Saturday.
According to the police, the first explosion took place at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat along Aba Road, while the second struck the Obio/Akpor Local Government Secretariat, just outside Port Harcourt.
The police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, noted that the incident happened almost simultaneously.
Iringe-Koko stated that the police visited the scene while collecting samples for investigation.
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— while cheering asylum seekers thank Keir Starmer as they land on our shores
Dozen of migrants crossed the Channel this morning escorted by the French Navy — who even asked Border Force officers to pick them up.
Numerous boats made the journey on a busy day with smugglers piling boats full as the winter months approached.
They thanked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his ‘help’ — as the numbers continue to soar under Labour.
An Iranian family — including two pregnant women — piled on one boat.
The French Navy escorted another packed boat carrying 50 migrants across the water and gave orders to British Border Force officers to monitor others.
In extraordinary scenes, radio messages outlined the French warship speaking to Border Force staff on board the cutter Typhoon.
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Germany, France, Other EU States Push to Speed Up Migrant Returns
Seventeen European countries called on the European Commission on Friday (4 October) to sharpen the EU’s rules on returning irregular migrants to their home countries, a document showed, a week ahead of a summit where migration is likely to be on the agenda.
The letter to the bloc’s executive body was signed by 14 of the 27 EU member states, including Germany, France and Italy, and three countries from the European passport-free Schengen area — Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
It came after a run of elections across the EU dominated by the issue of migration, and signs of growing support in parts of the continent for parties calling for tougher controls.
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Ohio Court Declines to Issue Arrest Warrants for Trump, Vance Over Comments on Haitian Migrants
After a nonprofit filed a criminal complaint against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, for their remarks about Haitian migrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, an Ohio judicial panel determined there was no reason to issue arrest warrants for either of them.
During the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump referenced claims circulating in Springfield that Haitian migrants had been eating pets. The comments followed reports of 20,000 Haitian migrants overwhelming local resources, with some residents, including one speaking at a city commission meeting, claiming that migrants were eating local animals, such as ducks in a park.
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Three Suspected Venezuelan Gang Members Arrested in Brutal Invasion of Dallas Woman’s Home
Three men, suspected of being part of a Venezuelan gang, have been arrested in Dallas, Texas, following a robbery in which a woman was tied up and her home ransacked. The arrests came after a lengthy standoff with Dallas and Irving police on Thursday.
The suspects, identified as 20-year-old Yean Brayhan Torrealba-Sanabria, 34-year-old Carlos Alberto Martinez-Silva, and 27-year-old Wilmer Jesus Colmenares-Gonzalez, have been charged with aggravated robbery in connection with the September 21 incident in northwest Dallas. A fourth suspect, 28-year-old Manuel Hernandez-Hernandez, was previously arrested.
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Top EU Court Rules Transgender Identity Documents Must be Accepted by All Member States
In a landmark case, the top European Union court has ruled that all member states must recognise gender changes made in other countries within the bloc.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ), which serves as the supreme court of the European Union in matters of EU law, said this week that Romania had violated EU law by refusing to accept as valid a gender transition certificate obtained by Arian Mirzarafie-Ahi in Britain.
The case was spurred after Mirzarafie-Ahi had requested a new birth certificate in Romania, however, the local court demanded that Mirzarafie-Ahi go through a new gender recognition process in Romania rather than accepting the documents from Britain, The Telegraph reports.
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Utah State Women’s Volleyball Cancels Game Over Large Male Player on Opposing Team
Utah State has become the latest women’s volleyball team to cancel a game against San Jose State University (SJSU) over the inclusion of a towering 6’1” male player.
After it was revealed that SJSU has a male athlete on the team who claims to be a “transgender woman,” Utah State pulled out of the game.
Joining Wyoming and Boise State, who dropped out earlier in the week, Southern Utah was the third Mountain West Conference team to drop out of a match against SJSU.
The fourth team to do so was Utah State.
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Yale Offers Beyoncé ‘Black Radical Tradition’ Class
Singer Beyoncé and her contribution to the “black radical tradition” and “black feminist” thought is the focus of a multidisciplinary course at Yale University.
“Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music,” is being taught this semester by African-American Studies Professor Daphne “D.A.” Brooks.
Students will focus on the singer’s “dazzling, multifaceted aesthetic practices” and her role in setting an “unprecedented standard” for “socio-historical complexity,” according to a copy of the syllabus obtained by The College Fix. It is cross listed in the American studies, gender studies, and music departments.
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