Month: August 2023

A major political backlash against the traditional mainstream parties is brewing in Germany after recent polling showed that four in five Germans are dissatisfied with the government, and a majority of respondents believe the interests of ordinary people are ignored in favor of refugees and the rich.

According to the ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll, 78 percent of respondents are unhappy with the direction in which the country is headed under the current coalition government of the socialists, liberals, and greens.

A total of 41 percent are dissatisfied with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration, while 37 percent are very dissatisfied. In contrast, just 20 percent of respondents are somewhat satisfied with the government, and just 1 percent are very satisfied.

Unsurprisingly, supporters of the opposition CDU/CSU and the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) are the least supportive of the current administration, with 85 percent and 97 percent against, respectively. However, voters of the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) are also overwhelmingly unhappy with the federal government, despite their party being a member of the coalition. Just 17 percent support the government currently.

Even a majority of the SPD, which spearheads the government and holds the most influential positions of chancellor and interior minister, do not currently support it, while only a slim majority of Green party voters are happy with the status quo — 51 percent in favor versus 48 percent against.

The polling revealed that many German citizens believe the government no longer represents their interests and instead panders to the rich and refugees.

A total of 73 percent of respondents stated that the federal government cares too little for the German people, while 71 percent believe that low earners are not a priority for the current administration.

In contrast, 62 percent believe the government caters too much to the wealthy, compared with just 10 percent who think the opposite. Similarly, 48 percent think that too much focus is placed on helping refugees compared to working-class Germans, compared with 14 percent who think the government isn’t doing enough to assist new arrivals.

The political landscape is ripe for an insurgent populist party to take advantage of the national mood which is one of disillusionment, and the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) has picked up the mantle in that regard and is surging in polls across the country.

An exponential rise in support over the past 12 months sees the party now backed by almost one in four Germans, hitting a record high of 23 percent in an INSA survey for Germany’s Bild newspaper published on Sunday.

This support has translated into recent electoral gains, with the party winning its first mayoral election last month, a trend now giving the leaders of mainstream parties a headache as they contemplate whether or not to work with the anti-immigration, anti-globalist party at a local level.

German voters appear to back their parties working with the AfD on a case-by-case basis, with the ARD poll showing majorities among supporters of FDP (81 percent), CDU/CSU (74 percent), and the SPD (57 percent) in favor of cooperation. Only the Green party remains against working with the right-wing party, although the numbers here are in fact 51 percent against and 46 percent in favor.

The higher the AfD soars, however, the greater the reality of necessary cooperation with the party becomes.

https://rmx.news/germany/4-in-5-germans-unhappy-with-federal-government-which-prioritizes-refugees-and-the-rich/

Delays to plans to move more migrants into a former RAF base in Essex have been slammed by a former Labour MP.

Stephen Pound has taken issue with issues around water supplies and internet connections proving to be a stumbling block in the plan.

More migrants were due to move to the site on Wethersfield on Tuesday but the plan was delayed as a result of infrastructure upgrades.

According to The Times, a new water pipe had to be installed to meet the Health Security Agency’s requirements for regular water tests.

Speaking on GB News, Pound questioned “what planet am I living on?” after hearing of the latest revelations.

“I mean for heaven sake, we’re talking about people who are supposed to be in the throes of utter desperation, and they’re going to come and say, ‘I will not be seeking asylum in England because there isn’t decent internet connection or water supply’,” he said.

“Where is it going to end? The Bibby Stockholm is now a fire ask apparently, just dunk it, that’s your answer.

“Where are we going with this? For heaven sake. Tents are a decent enough option.”

Water tests were required in order to monitor disease outbreaks, with several of the first 46 migrants moving to the base developing scabies and tuberculosis.

Clearsprings Ready Homes, the private company that has been enlisted to run it, had to buy a new water tank.

A problem with the broadband at the site also resulted in problems with medical screenings, as internet connection is required to log the medical data, sources have claimed.

A Home Office spokesman told The Times: “Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites and vessels will provide cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats.

“Wethersfield adheres to all health and safety standards. We continue to work with stakeholders on a carefully structured plan to increase the number of asylum seekers on site in a phased approach.”

Asylum seekers are set to be housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge in the “coming weeks”, according to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Oliver Dowden spoke out after delays to the process, which came about from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) raising particular concerns about the plans to initially accommodate about 500 people on the barge.

Dowden told the BBC: “We have to undertake a number of inspections and other measures to make sure that these vessels, and this vessel in particular, is suitable and ready.

“We are confident that we will be able to address all of these concerns, I’m absolutely certain of that, and I’m absolutely certain we will be able to get people on this vessel in the coming weeks.”

Cabinet minister Grant Shapps has insisted the vessel “certainly won’t be a deathtrap” after the FBU’s warning.

https://www.gbnews.com/news/uk/migrant-crisis/migrant-housing-raf-wethersfield-latest-internet

By Eric Utter

In a video clip that has gone viral on social media, a young Christian man is seen being arrested by police as he and a few other young men preached at a recent Pride in the Park celebration in Watertown, Wisconsin.

The clip was part of a tweet by @TONYxTWO, in which he stated: “BREAKING: Young man arrested for sharing the Bible on a public sidewalk Blatant violation of the 1st amendment of The Constitution…”

🚨BREAKING: Young man arrested for sharing the Bible on a public sidewalk

Blatant violation of the 1st amendment of The Constitution. Every one of those cops should be fired and sued. pic.twitter.com/ef8zBXSf5c

— TONY™️ (@TONYxTWO) August 1, 2023

The footage shows a young man reading from the bible, speaking into a microphone, before he is surrounded by multiple police officers. One of the officers then grabs the microphone and pulls it away from the Christian while those around him question what the officers are doing.

The person who recorded the video claims the group was told that they could speak outside on the sidewalk. However, another officer allegedly told them that they could not use the speaker and microphone to do this. In any case, several of the officers then proceed to grab the young man who was preaching and ask him not to resist as they arrested him and hauled him away.

Think America has changed much?

Members of the LGBTQ community can now routinely take over city streets and even strut around with their genitalia hanging out, in front of adults and minors alike. In America today, you can preach the gospel of queerness and LGBTQ, openly and loudly to all, shouting it from the streets and byways. But not the gospel of Christ. “Old Glory” may be increasingly frowned upon, but you can proudly let your “freak flag” fly! The truth is mocked, but “my truth” is accepted. Etc., etc.

Perhaps the young Christians should have read from the book “Gender Queer” instead of from the Book of Job or the Book of Genesis. Surely then they wouldn’t have been arrested.

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/08/just_another_christian_arrested_for_sharing_biblical_messages_in_public.html

BOMBSHELL: Pfizer Spokesperson Admits During Australian Senate Hearing that Their Employees Were Given Special Batch of Vaccine, Different from What was Distributed to the Public (VIDEO) https://t.co/NELecEv4PX

— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) August 4, 2023

A jihadist who stabbed to death Conservative MP Sir David Amess in October 2021 received more than £100,000 (€116,000) in taxpayer-funded legal aid for his defense, it has emerged.

Ali Harbi Ali murdered the longstanding politician as he met with his constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church Hall in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on Oct. 15.

In the pre-meditated attack, Ali armed himself with a knife before entering the premises and stabbing Amess around 20 times.

Upon his immediate arrest, the 25-year-old Islamic State sympathizer confessed to the killing, telling police in an interview: “I mean, I guess yeah, I killed an MP. I done it, so yeah.”

Despite the confession, Ali pleaded not guilty to the murder, and defense lawyers for the terrorist managed to rack up a substantial bill for their services, reaching a six-figure sum.

A Freedom of Information request served on the Legal Aid Agency by The Sun newspaper revealed that a total of £44,373 (€51,409) was initially paid to solicitors who worked on his case from the date of his arrest up to his trial heard at the Old Bailey in London.

A further £55,655 (€64,466) was then paid to his defense counsel, which consisted of two barristers including a King’s Counsel, a prestigious title awarded to senior barristers who have demonstrated excellence. His defense team represented him for the seven-day criminal trial.

“This is a ridiculous amount of money. Did he really need two barristers to argue his case when he admitted the killing?” Conservative MP Nigel Mills asked The Sun newspaper.

“There should be a cap on how much people can claim on cases like this,” he added.

David Spencer, from the Center for Crime Prevention, said: “It beggars belief that the taxpayer has had to stump up a six-figure sum to line the pockets of his legal team.

“This is an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money. But it comes as no surprise since the Ministry of Justice has so far failed to deliver the much-needed reform of legal aid.”

Ali was found guilty of murder and the preparation of terrorist acts, and was sentenced in April last year to life imprisonment. During sentencing, Justice Sweeney said the murder had “struck at the heart of our democracy” and noted that the terrorist had remained “smug and self-satisfied about what he had done.”

https://rmx.news/crime/jihadi-who-murdered-british-mp-racked-up-100000-in-taxpayer-funded-legal-aid-for-his-defense/

Under the slogan “Beat the Heat”, the public transport company Wiener Linien planned an after-work event at Karlsplatz in Vienna. But the weather exceeded the event’s declared goal. The heat is defeated, the rain has won, the party is cancelled.
From 3 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Viennese could have recovered from the “heat” among the Otto Wagner pavilions on Karlsplatz. But the deck chair turned into an umbrella. Artificial fog became rain. Whether it was the weather or the climate that was responsible?
The City of Vienna company, which stands for climate-friendly mobility for a liveable city, now had to cancel the event “with a heavy heart”. The weather forecast is simply too bad.

Beat the Heat: “Hitze-Party” der Wiener Linien wegen Kälte und Regen abgesagt | Exxpress

Libraries have been advised that they should bury books from “Terf” authors deemed to be “offensive” while prominently displaying works promoting far-left transgender ideology.

Guidance titled from a London “LGBTIQ+ library” called Book 28 in Islington dubbed: “Welcoming LGBTIQ+ users: advice for public library workers” has been sent out to libraries across the country about which books they should be featuring and which should be effectively hidden from sight.

While the leftist librarians who wrote the guidance called for limiting access to so-called Terf (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) books, it called for active promotion of not only LGBT-themed works but also putting in place other “best practices” such as hosting drag queen story hour performances and installing gender neutral toilets on library premises.

The advice, reported by The Telegraph, told public-run libraries that they should take measures to prevent the “risk” of LGBT people coming across “transphobic” books which they might find “offensive”. In addition, it said that the number of copies of such books held by libraries should be limited while saying they should stock multiples of pro-LGBT works.

“Be especially careful to make sure you do not make mistakes such as putting them on LGBTIQ+ displays or sections where they might cause upset,” the guidance stated. “You can interfile them in your general stock and those who want to seek out these titles can always do so via your catalogue without the risk of a LGBTIQ+ person coming across the book in a way that looks like it may be being endorsed.”

The guidance acknowledges that the books are legally allowed and that they may be of interest to the public, yet it suggested: “We would recommend to be mindful of and not promote these books… think carefully about how many you want to buy, perhaps based solely on individual requests”.

“There have been a few titles published which claim to be ‘gender critical’ and argue for removal of trans rights… These authors and their work can be labelled transphobic, and the writers themselves Terfs. We, along with many in the LGBTIQ+ community, find these books offensive.”

Although the specific ‘Terf’ authors were unnamed by the guidance, several British female writers have regularly been branded with the label, including Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, Material Girls author Kathleen Stock, and Helen Joyce, the author of Trans.

Responding to the guidance, Helen Joyce wrote on social media: “I’m absolutely spitting mad about this story. This stupid and arguably unlawful guidance (infringement of freedom of speech; belief discrimination) has been shared around the country’s libraries. I want to know if any of them followed it.”

Free Speech Union founder Toby Young also criticised the censorious library guidance, saying: “It’s the same doublethink that has infected Coutts, which tried to de-bank Nigel Farage because he isn’t aligned with the bank’s ‘inclusive’ values. What’s next? Telling libraries to burn the works by Kathleen Stock and Helen Joyce because they’ve dared to challenge ‘trans-inclusive’ dogma?

“It seems there are still Witchfinder Generals in the 21st Century, except instead of wearing witchfinder hats and black cloaks they display rainbow lanyards. Equity, diversity and inclusion is the Holy Trinity of the new puritans.”

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2023/08/04/libraries-told-to-hide-offensive-books-critical-of-transgenderism/

The AfD is holding its party congress on two weekends. After the first part, the head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Haldenwang, commented on the speeches. Now the continuation of the AfD party congress is scheduled for this weekend in Magdeburg – and the Federal Office will not repeat its critical assessments for the time being. The Federal Office stated that it had made this commitment “out of respect for the court”, the Cologne Administrative Court said. The AfD wants to complete its list for next year’s European elections from this Friday to Sunday.

The AfD is holding its party congress on two weekends. After the first part, the head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Haldenwang, commented on the speeches. Following the party’s complaint, a “standstill commitment” now applies.

The verdict after the first part of the AfD party congress was clear: representatives of the former more moderate camp would no longer play a role in the party, said the President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, after last weekend. “Rather, various election candidates expressed right-wing extremist conspiracy theories, such as that of the so-called ‘Great Replacement’,” says Haldenwang.

Now the continuation of the AfD party congress is scheduled for this weekend in Magdeburg – and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution will not repeat its critical assessments for the time being.

»Out of respect for the court«

In court proceedings, it had given a standstill promise to refrain from making the statements during the European election meeting this weekend, the Cologne Administrative Court announced. “The BfV is bound by this commitment,” said a spokesman. The commitment was made without acknowledging a legal obligation. The Federal Office stated that it had made this commitment “out of respect for the court”.

The dispute was preceded by Haldenwang’s critical remarks about the first elected representatives for the European elections. The AfD then filed an urgent application with the Cologne Administrative Court to refrain from doing so during the continuation of the European election meeting this weekend and beyond.

“Muzzle” for Haldenwang?

However, the court did not follow the further demand. After all, there is no longer any reason to fear a possible impairment of the party’s internal decision-making process with the conclusion of the European Election Assembly. And a possible impairment of the German decision-making process in the state elections in Bavaria and Hesse on October 8 would not be of paramount importance.

From the point of view of the AfD, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has “not only muzzled its own president, but at the same time avoided a court conviction”. After the end of the European Electoral Assembly, the expedited procedure will have to be continued in order to achieve a judicial ban on the statements. “Haldenwang is once again trying to exert political influence from his office,” criticized party chairmen Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. With his intervention, he was moving “outside” the Basic Law, Chrupalla added.

The AfD wants to complete its list for next year’s European elections from this Friday to Sunday in Magdeburg. Last weekend, the first 15 of 30 places were determined. Subsequently, the election program will be discussed.

https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2023-08-04-the-office-for-the-protection-of-the-constitution-does-not-want-to-express-itself-critically-during-the-afd-party-congress.SJX4lVBqs3.html

Fire safety concerns by trade unions pertaining to the housing of asylum seekers on a floating barge recently docked at an island in the south of England are politically motivated, a U.K. government minister has claimed.

Oliver Dowden, who currently serves as deputy prime minister in the Conservative government, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Thursday that the Fire Brigade Union’s claim that the Bibby Stockholm barge, chartered by the government to relocate hundreds of asylum seekers from luxurious hotels, could be a floating “death trap,” may be linked to the union’s political views and sympathies with the opposition Labour party.

“Of course, we’ll take into account those concerns, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Dowden told listeners.

“I would just gently say the Fire Brigades Union has donated £850,000 to the Labour party since 2010. It is affiliated with the Labour party, and I’m afraid what we see with this is exactly what we saw with trying to pass the legislation earlier this year through parliament. There are many obstacles.

“We’re confident that we will be able to address all of the concerns.”

The minister added that he was “absolutely certain” that asylum seekers would embark on the vessel “in the coming weeks,” but refused to give a more definitive timeframe.

The Bibby Stockholm barge is now docked on the isle of Portland in the English county of Dorset. The Home Office agreed to relocate approximately 500 migrants from hotels across the country to the barge despite vociferous opposition from local residents.

Following the announcement of the barge’s use to house migrants back in April, local Conservative MP, Richard Drax, criticized his own government’s decision, claiming the barge had been “dumped on our door” by the Home Office. He refused to rule out legal action against the department, but this never materialized.

Some Conservative politicians now believe that opponents to the government are seeking to thwart attempts to relocate migrants on the barge in a bid to undermine Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration.

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps rejected the Fire Brigade Union’s claims that the barge was a “death trap” earlier this week, revealing that the barge had previously been used to house migrants by both the German and Dutch governments.

“There’s no reason why it wouldn’t be absolutely safe,” he insisted.

The barge has also historically been used to house oil rig workers in the North Sea without problem.

https://rmx.news/uk/uk-migrant-barge-to-remain-empty-for-weeks-due-to-fire-safety-concerns-but-ministers-cry-foul-play/

On Thursday, August 3, an Eritrea theme cultural festival organised in a Stockholm suburb turned into a war zone after thousands of anti-Eritrea government protestors stormed the event. The incident left more than 50 people injured, out of which, eight are said to be seriously injured. About 100 people were detained by the Swedish police.

Monu Manesar is active in Sweden too.

Muslim migrants attacked an Eritrean festival in Järvafältet, Stockholm.

Over a thousand muslim migrants clashed, stoned each other & police#Sweden #Stockholm

pic.twitter.com/enuF6i91zU

— Wokeflix (@wokeflix_) August 4, 2023

A significant police presence is still at the scene and investigations are underway, media has quoted Swedish police spokesperson Daniel Wikdahl as telling The Associated Press. He added that “between 100 and 200 people have been detained.”

The riots broke out after thousands of anti-Eritrea government protestors who were holding a protest nearby broke through a police barrier and stormed the Eritrean pro-government festival being held in Jaervafaeltet in Stockholm. The protestors tore down festival tents and used tent spikes as weapons against police. They also pelted stones at the people participating in the cultural event and the police.

A group of Eritreans also blocked the E 18 road toward Oslo. Public transportation was halted in the nearby Rinkeby district.

Videos from the scene showed cars and at least one tent on fire, sending large clouds of black smoke into the air.

During the #Stockholm festival, more than 100 protesters, who are opponents of the #Eritrean government, were arrested for their involvement in tearing down tents and setting cars on fire.#DonaldTrump #hamtwe #earthquake #NATO #NFT #Lollapalooza #D_DAY_THE_FINAL #Eritrea pic.twitter.com/xBfB4G5fb0

— Fasihuddin Mohammed (@FasihTaj) August 4, 2023

A police spokesman told local media channel SVT that three police officers were also injured in the violence. The police have launched investigations into violent riots, arson and serious sabotaging of the emergency services, he added.

Sweden is home to tens of thousands of Eritrean immigrants. According to Swedish media, the festival celebrating Eritrea’s cultural history is held annually since the 1990s, but it has drawn criticism for supposedly acting as a publicity stunt and a source of income for the African country’s government.

Protester Michael Kobrab told Swedish television station TV4, “This is not a festival, they are teaching their children hate speech.”

Meanwhile, a festival participant, Emanuel Asmalash, also spoke to TV4 and accused the protesters of being “terrorists” from Ethiopia.

Eritrea is one of the most oppressive nations in the world. The two major religions in Eritrea are Christianity and Islam. Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has been in power since the nation won independence from Ethiopia some 30 years ago, without having ever held an election.

Eritrea is sometimes dubbed the ‘North Korea of Africa’ because of its ultra-repressive regime. The Eritrean Defense Forces were responsible for widespread and serious human rights abuses, including execution, rape, and torture of civilians. Independent media have been banned since 2001 in the country.

In 2014, Human Rights Watch called Eritrea “among the most closed countries in the world” and pointed to “indefinite military service, torture, arbitrary detention, and severe restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and religion.

Hundreds of thousands of Eritreans have left their country, fleeing religious persecution, arbitrary arrests and indefinite national service, considered forced labour by human rights organisations.

https://www.opindia.com/2023/08/sweden-clashes-during-eritrean-festival-stockholm/