Reader’s Links for March 1, 2020

Daily Links Post graphic

Each day at just after midnight Eastern, a post like this one is created for contributors and readers of this site to upload news links and video links on the issues that concern this site. Most notably, Islam and its effects on Classical Civilization, and various forms of leftism from Soviet era communism, to postmodernism and all the flavours of galloping statism and totalitarianism such as Nazism and Fascism which are increasingly snuffing out the classical liberalism which created our near, miraculous civilization the West has been building since the time of Socrates.

This document was written around the time this site was created, for those who wish to understand what this site is about. And while our understanding of the world and events has grown since then, the basic ideas remain sound and true to the purpose.

So please post all links, thoughts and ideas that you feel will benefit the readers of this site to the comments under this post each day. And thank you all for your contributions.

This is the new Samizdat. We must use it while we can.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

117 Replies to “Reader’s Links for March 1, 2020”

    • “God is our Christian conscience…”

      See therefore, how opposed to islam, Socialism and Sexualism the teachings of Christianity are.

      These wearers of their religion on their sleeves, hate “repent, for the kingdom of god is near”.

  1. Are migrants attacking Greek police officers with teargas grenades made in Turkey?

    Violence is escalating at the EU’s external border between Greece and Turkey following Erdogan’s declaration of the borders to Greece as ‘open’.

    According to as yet unconfirmed claims by the Turkish Ministry of the Interior, almost 78,000 migrants are said to have left Turkey for Greece in the last 48 hours, and international organisations say that up to 15,000 mostly Syrian migrants have gathered at the border crossings to Greece. Greece has set up strong police and military units at the border crossings to secure the border and prevent illegal entry. According to local media reports, migrants have now started to attack the Greek security forces, including with the use of teargas grenades. The teargas grenades fired by migrants at the Greek security forces are allegedly made by Turkish companies (photo above). As the official government spokesman Stelios Petsas explained, Greece had been confronted with and resisted an organised illegal mass attempt to violate the border. According to him, 66 invading migrants were arrested. According to reports, Greece is now also reported to have transferred naval vessels to the East Aegean, as migrants – with the support of Turkish authorities – are also trying to land illegally on Greek islands by sea from Turkey.
    More:
    https://medforth.blog/2020/03/01/are-migrants-attacking-greek-police-officers-with-teargas-grenades-made-in-turkey/

    • So the introduction, if true, of weaponry in the migrant arsenal beyond sticks and stones. When will msm take note and ask questions about where and why they were given tear gas to battle border guards? Why do Turkish police allow this? Is non-citizen possession of tear gas canisters legal in Turkey? When will the invaders be given AK-47s? Is this a fair question? And by whom? Soros NGO’s for the sake of humanity? How will the Serbs and Croates react?

      Does anyone know of ties between Soros and the Filthy Turk?

      • When will the invaders be given AK-47s?

        This is a major ejaculation of weaponry, the police and military will retaliate with tear gas and rubber bullets. Then once the weather warms up enough for major infantry slogging and fighting through the country the AKs will come out. They will probably be paid for by the Brotherhood and their backers, and it will not only be AKs the weapons packiage will also include all of the modern infantry weapons.

        You are asking what will the Serbs and Croats do? Probably fight for their lives, another question is what will the Bosnian Moslems and the Albanian Moslems do?

        You will do well to remember the discipline shown by the first invading groups as they marched through Europe. Then remember the 2 ships loaded with small arms that were seized by Greek and some onther nations Coast Guards. Base rule of thumb the border guards stop at best 10% of smuggled items. Now remember the hundreds of thousands of invaders that went missing from the reception camps where they were being processed.

        If I am right we need to ask how deeply embedded are the missing people, how well armed and were they good trainers for the other men in the no go zones? I ask this because it looks like the Islamic invasion/invaders of Europe are about to take their masks off and show the world who and what they really are.

        Another thing to think about Erdogan has show a willingness to use the Wuhan Flu as a weapon to weaken the European nations. What other nasty tricks does he have up his sleeve to use in a way that he can have semi plausible deniability that it wasn’t him?

        Some pundit (I can’t remember who) predicted that as Russia, Iran and Israel cuts Turkey off from rebuilding the Ottoman Empire in the MIddle East Erodgan would open up the flood gates and increase the level of weaponry used in Europe to gain Jihad Points for his actions in Europe.

        Eastern Europe needs to strengthen their borders and if it isn’t too late Britain and Ireland need to get ready for guerilla war in their nations. Guerilla war that will be much nastier then the fight between the Irish and the Brits.

  2. Detention of Sputnik Turkey Employees a Gross Violation of Rights of Journalists – Moscow (sputniknews, Mar 1, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/world/202003011078442745-detention-of-sputnik-turkey-employees-a-gross-violation-of-rights-of-journalists-moscow/

    “On Saturday night, the homes of three Sputnik Turkey staffers in Ankara were attacked by angry mobs. Later, the agency lost contact with the journalists after they went to the police to report on the raid on their homes.

    The attack on employees of Sputnik’s Turkish bureau and their detention by police is a blatant violation of their rights, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.

    “The attack on and detention of employees of the Turkish bureau of the Sputnik Information Agency and their detention is a flagrant violation of the rights of journalists,” the ministry said in a statement Sunday.

    Confirming earlier reports that it had become impossible to reach the three Sputnik Turkey employees since they appealed to police, Moscow called on Ankara to intervene to resolve the situation, and to work to ensure the safety of representatives of Russian media in the country. The Foreign Ministry also called on Turkish authorities to help “clarify all the circumstances of the incident.”

    “The journalists were threatened with physical violence, they were told to stop their professional activities. According to available information, the [employees] have been in the hands of Turkish security forces. The situation is complicated by the fact that it is not possible to establish contact with them,” the ministry said.

    Rossiya Segodnya Plans UN Appeal
    The Foreign Ministry’s comments were echoed by a statement from the press service of the Rossiya Segodnya Information Agency, Sputnik’s parent company.

    “We consider this a gross violation of the freedom of speech, the persecution of people for the honest carrying out of their work. We demand security and the immediate release of our employees,” Rossiya Segodnya’s press service said.
    The news agency promised to appeal to the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and UNESCO in connection with the situation.

    Also on Sunday, Sputnik Turkey confirmed that its other employees continue to receive threats on social media after Saturday night’s attack on three journalists’ homes by organized mobs.

    Russian Lawmakers, Journalists’ Union Demand Action
    Russian Senators Oleg Morozov and Konstantin Kosachev have called on Turkey to take measures to prosecute the individuals harassing Sputnik Turkey’s employees, and warned that Russia would respond. “Any other scenario of actions by authorities will lead to an additional complication of bilateral relations,” Kosachev warned.

    Also Sunday, Union of Russian Journalists secretary Timur Shafir constituted the attempt to break into the homes of Sputnik Turkey employees as a direct attack which required not only widespread condemnation by the journalistic community and the public, but direct involvement by the Russian government.

    The official said it must be investigated how exactly the attackers managed to receive information about journalists’ home addresses. “It’s clear that a deliberate ‘leak’ of their personal information took place. Safety for journalists is one of the key components of freedom of speech and journalism, and this issue is especially acute in Turkey, which currently leads in statistics on harassment, attacks and detention of journalists. Our colleagues working in the country must have guarantees on their personal security – in the interests of both Russia and Turkey itself,” Shafir said.

    The attack on three Sputnik Turkey employees by coordinated mobs took place at about 10:30 pm local time on Saturday night, with groups of at least 10 individuals at each location attempting to break down apartment doors and to storm the journalists’ homes. The assailants reportedly shouted nationalist slogans, including “Turkey for the Turks,” “Homeland is indivisible,” and others, and accused the Sputnik employees of being “traitors” and “Russian spies.” The attackers fled the scene once police arrived. No injuries were reported. “

  3. Syrian Army Will Seek to Down Any Aircraft Breaching Airspace – State Media (sputnikenws, Mar 1, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202003011078442656-syrian-army-will-seek-to-down-any-aircraft-breaching-airspace—state-media-/

    “Tensions escalated in Syria’s Idlib province earlier this week after 36 Turkish soldiers were killed and over 30 injured in an airstrike.

    The Syrian army has announced the closure of airspace over Idlib, saying it will down any aircraft that breaches its airspace.

    “The command of the armed forces declares closure of airspace for planes and other aircraft over northwestern Syria and especially the Idlib province. All planes violating our airspace will be considered hostile and shot down to prevent them from fulfilling [their] objectives,” the command said in a statement as quoted by state-run SANA news agency.
    In a separate development, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that media reports about the alleged downing of a Russian Su-24 above the de-escalation zone in Idlib are false.

    “The information, referencing internet sites of the militants, about an alleged downing of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ Su-24 plane by a man-portable air defence system in the airspace over the Idlib de-escalation zone is fake,” the ministry said in a statement.
    The Russian Defence Ministry added that Russian planes are performing their tasks in Syria as normal.

    According to SANA, a Turkish drone was downed over the city of Saraqib in Idlib province but no Syrian plane was damaged.

    The anti-aircraft missile system that downed the drone has been destroyed, as well as two other anti-aircraft missile systems, the Turkish Defence Ministry said. Two Syrian Su-24 planes that had been carrying out attacks on our aircraft were shot down, it added.

    Operation Spring Shield
    Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Sunday that Operation Spring Shield, that was launched in Idlib on 27 February is aimed against the Syrian regime, adding that Turkey is not seeking a military confrontation with Russia in Syria.

    “Some 2,200 Syrian regime troops, a drone, eight helicopters, 103 tanks, tens of howitzers, three air defence systems have been neutralized,” Akar said.

    The operation was launched after tensions in the region escalated following the death of 36 Turkish soldiers in a Syrian airstrike in Idlib on Thursday. As the Russian military explained later, the Syrian army was targeting terrorists from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group that operates in the province and was not informed about the presence of Turkish military there.”

  4. Two Syrian Planes Downed by Turkey Over Idlib, Pilots Safe – Reports (sputniknews, Mar 1, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202003011078443668-two-syrian-planes-downed-by-turkey-over-idlib-pilots-safe–reports/

    “Earlier, the Syrian Army announced that the airspace over Idlib had been closed, and warned that it would down any aircraft breaching its airspace.

    Turkey has shot down two Syrian aircraft in Idlib province, with the pilots ejecting and managing to land safely, SANA has reported.

    The planes involved are believed to be fighter jets. No further information has been provided. Syria’s inventory of combat aircraft is known to include Mig-29s, Su-22s, and Su-24s.

    SANA did not clarify whether the planes were hit by Turkish forces, or by Turkish-backed militants, with the attackers described only as the “Turkish regime’s terrorist forces.” Earlier, unconfirmed pro-Turkish sources reported that the planes may have been downed by Turkish F-16s.

    Unconfirmed footage of one of the plane’s destruction has appeared online, with men off-camera heard shouting “Allahu Akbar.”

    The news comes following a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry earlier Sunday denying that a Russian Air Force Su-24 had been downed over the Idlib de-escalation zone. The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed that Russian aircraft in the Arab Republic were performing their tasks as normal.

    Also Sunday, Syrian media reported that a Turkish drone had been downed over the city of Saraqib in Idlib, possibly by pro-Turkish militants.

    Earlier, Syrian Army Command announced the closure of the airspace in the country’s north, including in Idlib province, and warned that “all planes violating our airspace will be considered hostile and shot down to prevent them from fulfilling [their] objectives.”…”

  5. UK bloodbath: Night of knife violence in London, Liverpool and Coventry leaves two dead (Express, Mar 1, 2020)
    https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1249366/London-knife-crime-saturday-fatal-stabbing-deaths-barnet-coventry-liverpool

    “KNIFE crime chaos hit the streets of the UK on Saturday night with deaths in London and Coventry, while a 19-year-old in Liverpool has been left in a critical condition.

    In Barnet north London a man in his twenties was fatally stabbed, and in a separate incident a 16-year-old boy was fatally stabbed to death in Coventry. The incident in North London involved police being called to Parson Street in Hendon, Barnet, at 9pm on Saturday. No arrests have been made as yet, but “urgent enquiries” were ongoing, police said.

    On the same night, two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death following a house party.

    The boys, both 17, are in custody over the alleged attack in the Stoke area of Coventry on Saturday night.

    The victim was found collapsed with stab injuries in Clay Lane and police were called to the scene at around 10.30pm.

    He was taken to hospital but died shortly after.

    West Midlands Police said the victim and the suspects may have been at a house party in nearby Chandos Street.

    Detective Inspector Michelle Allen said: “This is simply tragic.

    “My thoughts remain with the young man’s family and friends at this heart-breaking time.

    “They are being supported by our specially trained family liaison officers.

    “I’m still keen to hear from anyone who was at the party or anyone who has any information about what has happened last night to get in touch as soon as possible.

    “If anyone was driving through the area last night and has dash-cam footage then I’d also ask them to get in contact.

    “A young boy has died and we need to understand exactly what happened.”

    A 20-year-old man has been arrested after a 19-year-old man was stabbed in Liverpool.

    At about 4am on Sunday, police responded to reports a number of men had been fighting on Church Street.

    One of the men is in a critical condition in hospital after sustaining a stab wound to the chest while another 19-year-old sustained a minor neck injury.

    A short time later a 20-year-old man was detained on Ranelagh Street and arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault, possession of a bladed article and possession with intent to supply drugs.

    He is in a stable condition in hospital after suffering a medical episode.

    Detective Inspector Mark Drew said Merseyside Police were eager to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident.

    “At this stage the exact circumstances are unclear, so we need to speak to anyone who was out in town in the area of Church Street who saw or heard anything around 4am this morning, or may have since heard talk of who was involved,” he said.

    “Bringing knives on to our streets has caused devastation to so many people and their families in recent years.

    “We have shown that when people tell us what they know about who is carrying knives and where they are being stored, we will and have taken positive action to remove knives and those who recklessly carry them from the streets.

    “We understand the fear and harm that knife crime causes across the country, and Merseyside Police invests significant resources into carrying out warrants, stop checks and searches to target offenders who carry knives.

    “In recent weeks and months, we have seized large numbers of weapons and made significant arrests connected to knife crime.

    Much of this is down to the information our communities provide, so please come forward.”

    Anyone with information on any of Saturday night’s incidents should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

  6. Greece jails migrants that slipped over Turkish border as UN says 13,000 attempting to reach Europe (telegraph, Mar 1, 2020)
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/01/greece-jails-migrants-slipped-turkish-border-un-says-13000-attempting/

    “Greece has sentenced a group of migrants to three and a half years in jail after they slipped across the EU border, as the UN’s refugee agency said that more than 13,000 asylum seekers had gathered at Turkey’s western frontier.

    Greek authorities said the 17 migrants were convicted of illegally entering the country, adding that nearly 10,000 other attempted border crossings had been thwarted.

    The announcement came as people smugglers on Turkey’s southern coast brazenly announced they were stocking up on dinghies to offer passage to Europe.

    Two days after Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, announced he was opening his side of the border, thousands have attempted to cross into Greece but have mostly been repelled by armed guards, fences and tear gas….”

    • Greece: Migrants who crossed Greek border “arrested” – Defence Minister

      Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said that migrants who have crossed the Greek territory in an “illegal way” have been arrested, when speaking to the press in the border town of Kastanies on Sunday.

      “Those that have entered Greek territory have been arrested and detained. And in my mind, this is an illegal way of entering one country, cutting borders, cutting fences,” said Panagiotopoulos.

      The Greek defence minister noted that his country’s borders are well guarded, adding that it was “a normal procedure for one country is to guard and secure its borders.”

      On Sunday, the Greek government said that it would call an extraordinary Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) to address a border emergency in the Eastern Aegean Sea.

      Thousands of migrants headed toward Turkey’s border with Greece earlier in the week after initial reports emerged that Turkey would no longer prevent them from attempting to cross into Europe.

      On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his country’s borders with Europe were open to migrants. The statement came after at least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike in Syria’s Idlib province on Thursday.

    • Migrants cross Evros river on Greek-Turkish border

      A group of migrants was stuck on an island on the Evros River on the border between Turkey and Greece overnight and into Sunday morning.

      They attempted to return to the Turkish side of the river on Sunday morning. Setting off from a riverbank a small boat ferried a group of people across the wintery waters, reaching Greece.

    • Greece: Locals shout at migrants to “go away” as boat reaches Lesbos

      A group of local residents were seen barring a boat with over a dozen migrants from docking as it was approaching the shores of the Greek island of Lesbos on Sunday.

      Footage shows residents shouting at migrants and telling them to “go away” as the boat reached the shores. The boat is believed to have come from Turkey.

      Thousands of migrants headed toward Turkey’s border with Greece earlier in the week after initial reports emerged that Turkey would no longer prevent them from attempting to cross into Europe.

      On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his country’s borders with Europe were open to migrants.

      The Greek islands, which continue to be the main entry point for illegal migration into the EU, have seen fierce protests in recent days as local residents decry government plans to build new migrant detention centres on the islands.

    • Greek nationalists bring large Greek flag to border crossing with Turkey

      Greek nationalists bring large Greek flag to border post with Turkey in Kastanies, shouting ‘politicians, traitors, bastards’.

      A massive influx of migrants swelled along the border over the weekend after Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to open its frontier to Europe as tensions mount over its deepening conflict in Syria.

    • Migrants were seen warming themselves making fires in the neutral zone between Turkey and Greece, with security forces watching them at the Kastanies border crossing in Greece, Saturday.

      Earlier police used tear gas to stop hundreds of refugees from storming the neutral zone of the border passage. The escalation comes after Turkey announced it will no longer stop refugees from crossing into the EU after dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike in Syria’s Idlib province.

      A number of refugees managed to cross into Greece despite security forces blocking the main road between Kastanies on the Greek side and Edirne on the Turkish side of the border.

    • Thousands of migrants camp out on Turkey-Greece border

      The United Nations reported at least 13,000 people had gathered on Turkey’s land border by Saturday night, the vast majority apparently from Afghanistan.

    • NYT – Greece Suspends Asylum as Turkey Opens Gates for Migrants

      The military deployed troops to the Greek border with Turkey, warned migrants by text message not to cross and announced summary deportations.

      […]It deployed major military forces to the border, seeking to fortify the area after Turkey allowed migrants to pass through to the European Union over the weekend.

      […]The Greek government also said it would suspend asylum applications for a month and summarily deport migrants entering illegally.

      […]Neither move announced by Greece is permitted by European Union law, but the Greek government said it would request special dispensation from the bloc.

      International protocols on the protection of refugees, of which Greece is a signatory, also prohibit such policies.

      […]Military officials would not say how many additional troops were being deployed, but they confirmed that they were stepping up joint military and police operations along the border. Dozens of military vehicles were seen moving toward various outposts along Greece’s 120-mile boundary with Turkey.

      https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/world/europe/greece-migrants-border-turkey.html

      =============================================
      twitter @PrimeministerGR

      Our national security council has taken the decision to increase the level of deterrence at our borders to the maximum.

      As of now we will not be accepting any new asylum applications for 1 month. We are invoking article 78.3 of the TFEU to ensure full European support.

      https://twitter.com/PrimeministerGR/status/1234192922813267976

      ==============================================

      • Neither move announced by Greece is permitted by European Union law, but the Greek government said it would request special dispensation from the bloc.

        And what if “dispensation” is not forthcoming?
        Will you be bought off by the Germans AGAIN? Then WHINE while building mosques?

        I’m on your side. Don’t disappoint me.

    • DAILY MAIL Greek police fire tear gas and barricade the border with barbed wire as more than 75,000 migrants try to cross from Turkey into the EU

      EU border protection agency Frontex said it was on ‘high alert’ today at Turkey-Greece and Bulgaria border
      Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan ‘opened the doors’ to allow up to 4million to leave country
      Greek police closed border crossings and fired tear gas at groups of migrants who tried to enter the country
      Pregnant women and children were among those making hazardous crossings from Turkey to Greece by sea

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8061905/EU-high-alert-30-000-migrants-Turkeys-border-Greece-Bulgaria.html

    • Turkey: Refugees wait at Istanbul bus station to be taken Greek border

      Hundreds of Migrants and refugees were seen waiting outside Zeytinburnu bus station in Istanbul on Sunday, awaiting transportation to the Turkish-Greek border.

      “We’ll go to Edirne, try to cross to Greece from there. Meanwhile, Turkey has opened its doors, but Greek soldiers persecute refugees, they won’t let them cross. There needs to be a solution to this,” Samir Najib an Afghan Migrant said.

      Some media reports claim that Turkish authorities arranged bus transportation towards the Greek border for refugees free of charge.

      Zabinullah Sarfaraz, an Afghan migrant, said “the Turkish state says the borders are open, we opened the door. Okay, they opened it this side, but Greece, Armenia didn’t open it. it’s unclear what will happen.”

      “On the other hand, there is Corona Virus, and who wants to open their doors in a situation like this and let all the foreigners in? Of course, they’re afraid of virus too. No one can take care of this many people, no one can handle it,” he added.

    • Greece: Migrants cross over to Lesbos’s northern coast from Turkey

      Dozens of migrants made the cross from Turkey onto Greece’s Lesbos island in the eastern Mediterranean on Sunday, landing near Skala Sykamineas.

      The migrants can be seen near the shoreline, collecting their goods from the boat and preparing fires to stay warm. Several young children can also be seen amongst them.

      “The Turkish President announced on TV the way is open and we can go to Europe. Also, life was difficult and not good in Turkey, so for that reason we moved from to Yunanistan [Greece],” said Niaz Ali Niaz, a migrant from Afghanistan.

      Thousands of migrants headed toward Turkey’s border with Greece earlier in the week after initial reports emerged that Turkey would no longer prevent them from attempting to cross into Europe.

      On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his country’s borders with Europe were open to migrants.

      The Greek islands, which continue to be the main entry point for illegal migration into the EU, have seen fierce protests in recent days as local residents decry government plans to build new migrant detention centres on the islands.

  7. Finland: Leftist Quits After Allegedly Calling for Death of ‘Climate Deniers’ (breitbart, Mar 1, 2020)
    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/03/01/finland-leftist-quits-after-allegedly-calling-for-death-of-climate-deniers/

    “A senior member of Finland’s Left Alliance has resigned over allegations he used an anonymous Twitter account to call for the murder of climate deniers and fascists.

    The Left Alliance announced the resignation of Misha Dellinger as Executive Vice President in the west of Finland after reports emerged that he may have called or the death of political opponents, broadcaster Yle reports.

    The BBC-like broadcaster published details of Dellinger’s alleged activity on Thursday, noting that the Twitter account @huggywuggy2 had stated “Climate deniers should be shot” and “I think we should kill fascists”.

    Li Andersson, leader of the Left Alliance and current Education Minister in prime minister Sanna Marin’s largely female millennial government, denounced the tweets — but said that Dellinger had told her that several people had access to the account and he did not write the tweets in question personally…”

  8. Sweden: Populists Lead in Polls, Social Democrats See Worst Ever Results (breitbart, Mar 1, 2020)
    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/03/01/sweden-populists-lead-in-polls-social-democrats-see-worst-ever-results/

    “Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats saw their worst-ever results in a new poll released by Ipsos this week, as they remain behind the populist Sweden Democrats.

    The results for the Social Democrats, 22 per cent, are the worst Sweden’s governing party has ever seen. The relatively new, anti-mass migration Sweden Democrats are now ahead of them by 0.3 per cent, Nyheter Idag reports.

    Ipsos opinion analyst Nicklas Källebring commented on the results, saying that the populist SD has managed to establish itself “on a whole new level.”

    “Much of the debate has been about crime and refugee reception over the past six months. Also, some of Stefan Löfven’s statements have not landed well and his confidence figures are developing in the wrong direction,” Källebring added.

    The Sweden Democrats have routinely performed well in prior polls on the topic of immigration, with SD leader Jimmie Åkesson winning a debate on the subject of immigration prior to the last national election in 2018.

    The rise of violent gang crime, particularly the surge in explosions and bombings in the last year, has also shaken public confidence in the government of Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.

    A poll released last year suggested that only eight per cent of the public believed the government could solve the issue in a timely manner.

    Another poll, released in 2018, claimed that 73 per cent of Swedes believed the country was going in the “wrong direction,” and that many citizens were chiefly concerned with crime, unemployment, and immigration.

    In both the 2018 national elections and the 2019 European Parliament elections, the Social Democrats saw incredibly poor performances, while the Sweden Democrats have consistently grown.

    The Ipsos poll is just the latest national poll to see the Sweden Democrats in the lead. Earlier this year, for the first time, SD leader Jimmie Akesson tied for first place as the party leader with the most voter confidence.”

  9. Italy: Migrant Landings Up 948 Per Cent Under Post-Salvini Leftist Govt (breitbart, Mar 1, 2020)
    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/03/01/migrant-landings-up-900-per-cent-in-2020-under-leftist-italian-government/

    “Since January 1st of 2020, a total of 2,553 migrants have arrived in Italy under the leftist coalition government, with February also seeing a surge in new arrivals.

    The new figures, particularly those for February, which saw 1,211 migrants enter the country illegally, dwarf those of 2019 — when populist League leader Matteo Salvini was still Interior Minister — when just 60 migrants arrived in the country.

    The figures in 2020 are also slightly larger than the same period in 2018 before Salvini was able to enact tighter border controls by banning migrant transport NGOs from Italian ports, Il Giornale reports.

    In total, between January and February of 2019, Italy saw just 262 migrants arrive illegally in the country, so the 2,553 of 2020 represent a 948 per cent increase overall.

    The number of migrants has also risen month after month since September of last year when the leftist coalition of the Five Star Movement and the Democratic Party (PD) formed and Salvini and the League left government.

    Members of the PD have made it clear they are looking to scrap the migration and security decrees enacted by Salvini that worked to reduce the number of illegals — and also served to reduce the number of drowning deaths in the Mediterranean.

    PD members have not shied away from declaring a desire to scrap the anti-mass migration decrees even in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, which has seen well over 600 cases of the virus emerge in recent weeks across the country.

    Former Italian interior minister Marco Minniti, who currently serves as a PD member of parliament, has called on the government to continue the process of scrapping Salvini’s decrees.

    “Those decrees must be profoundly changed because they have created the conditions for profound insecurity. The road is obligatory: we must return to widespread welcoming and restore humanitarian protection,” he said.

    Migrant transport NGOs, meanwhile, have complained that migrants, along with their crews, have been placed under quarantine due to the coronavirus.

    Doctors Without Borders has demanded the Italian government allow their vessel, the Ocean Viking, permission to leave port and resume migrant collection operations off the coast of Libya.

    “When the Covid-19 epidemic hit Italy, the Ocean Viking was quarantined and complied with all indicated measures. But after five days of blockade, it is now clear that these measures are applied only to humanitarian ships,” the group claimed.”

  10. Exclusive: Chinese city orders destruction of coronavirus epidemic data; 1st US virus death reported

  11. President Trump gives update on coronavirus amid first U.S. death

    President Trump delivered remarks on the coronavirus outbreak following the first U.S. death in Washington state. During Saturday’s press conference at the White House, he said the U.S. has taken “aggressive” action to combat the deadly virus.

    He added the U.S. has had the least amount of cases out of all affected countries.

    https://www.oann.com/president-trump-gives-update-on-coronavirus-amid-first-u-s-death/

  12. None Held Responsible After Three-Day Swedish No-Go-Zone Riot

    Two months after riots rocked the “vulnerable” no-go area of Kronogården in Trollhättan, local police have yet to charge or prosecute anyone involved for rioting.

    At least 18 crimes were committed over the course of December 8th, 9th and the 12th, when gangs of youths attacked police, with one officer being struck in the head with a bottle. Members of the public were also attacked and set cars on fire, broadcaster SVT reports.

    Two investigations are still ongoing with a third having been closed. According to investigator Fredrik Brax, the police have a lot of footage they are examining but as most of those involved were wearing masks, identification of culprits has proven difficult.

    Just one man, who spat on a police officer, was charged during the riots with any crime at all, but was not charged for taking part in the rioting itself.

    According to police, the Kronogården areas saw 21 violent incidents described as being “of a very serious nature” in December of last year.

    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/02/28/none-held-responsible-three-day-swedish-no-go-zone-riot/

  13. Two 10-year-old boys handcuffed and booked after playing with toy gun outside
    Top Stories

    by: Courtney Fromm
    Posted: Feb 28, 2020 / 10:30 PM MST / Updated: Feb 28, 2020 / 10:34 PM MST

    COLORADO SPRINGS – A Fort Carson family wants to share their story with others after their 10-year-old son was arrested and charged with Felony Menacing, a Class 5 felony, which has since been expunged.

    “They came back over, told me my rights, and told me what was going to happen. They put handcuffs on me, and I got into the car,” 10-year-old Gavin Carpenter said.

    https://www.fox21news.com/top-stories/two-10-year-old-boys-handcuffed-and-booked-after-playing-with-toy-guns-outside/

  14. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, London will soon play host to the world’s firstever Muslim Pride event.

    The event, which is set to take place on 11 April, is being organised by the UK’s leading Muslim LGBTIQ+ charity Imaan, after the organisation raised over £10,000.
    London to host the world’s first ever Muslim Pride festival
    Imaan’s crowdfunding campaign statement read:

    We as LGBTIQ+ Muslims often find ourselves isolated, without community and frequently facing homophobic, biphobic, transphobic AND Islamaphobic abuse.

    The event will build on the incredible events we organised in the past and feature panels, discussions, speakers, arts, culture and history – a first for LGBTQI Muslims.

    https://www.indy100.com/article/muslim-lgbt-pride-festival-london-imaan-9367266

  15. France: Clashes break out in Lyon after govt. moves to push through pension reform by decree

    Clashes broke out between protesters and police in Lyon, as people took to the streets after the French government moved to push through its pension reform bill by decree without a parliamentary vote on Saturday.

    Protesters formed barricades and blocked roads near Place Bellecour, in the city centre, before police responded with tear gas and forced them from the area, while making some arrests in the process.

    French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe used Article 49.3 of the French constitution to force the bill through parliament on Saturday evening.

    The government’s pension reform proposals, which triggered one of the largest waves of protests in French history, began being debated in the National Assembly on February 17. The reforms aim to unite 42 specific pension regimes into a single points-based system.

    • France: Parisians denounce govt. decision to push through pension reform without vote

  16. Spain: Hundreds march through Murcia in support of Vox”s “parental pin” policy

    Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Murcia on Saturday, in support of the so-called ‘parental pin’ policy, which allows parents to veto their children’s attendance in certain school workshops if they go against their convictions on ethical and moral questions, in particular sexuality.

    One demonstrator claimed that it was “scandalous that the current government wants to be in control of the total indoctrination of children.”

    “We, the Spanish parents, in particular today in Murcia, want to defend the right to educate our children ourselves,” noted the demonstrator.

    The ‘parental pin’ policy is an initiative by the far-right Vox party, which has been in effect since last September. Critics argue that the policy may negatively affect debate on a number of socially controversial matters.

  17. (Richard: The left has so vilified McCarthy for telling the truth that the vast majority of (what now passes for) journalists are either afraid to call Bernie a Communist. He is a communist and will reamin a communist, for that matter the vast majority of Dems that are called moderates are communists. They just hide their true allegiance better then Bernie.)

    The Worship of Dictators

    This week, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the socialist Democratic presidential front-runner, made waves when he merely reiterated his lifelong warmth toward the viciously evil Cuban communist regime. Brushing off the human rights violations of Fidel Castro — a man whose revolution ended with the murder or imprisonment of tens of thousands of his countrymen, and decades of impoverishment and repression for millions — Sanders explained: “We’re very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, but you know, it’s unfair to simply say everything is bad. … When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing, even though Fidel Castro did it?”

    But, of course, Sanders hasn’t merely praised Castro’s literacy programs (which, by the way, were propagandistic exploits. Cuba had an 80% literacy rate before Castro’s coup). Back in the 1980s, Sanders explained that he was “physically nauseated” by former President John F. Kennedy’s “hatred for the Cuban revolution.” In 1989, Sanders stated after visiting Cuba: “I did not see a hungry child. I did not see any homeless people.” He said that the Cuban people “had an almost religious affection” for Castro.

    https://insidescooppolitics.com/archives/1345

  18. Afghan Muslims Say Prayer and Faith Will Protect them from Coronavirus

    The Afghanistan health ministry confirmed the country’s first coronavirus case earlier this week. The infected individual had traveled to the Holy City of Qom in Iran.

    Government Health Officials say the victim is from Herat. The ministry announced a state of emergency in Herat Province.

    Afghan Muslims say faith, prayer and blessed leather tags with Koran verses will keep them safe and free from disease.

    VOA’s Khalil Noorzai and Hikmat Sorosh contributed to this report narrated by Bezhan Hamdard.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/afghan-muslims-say-prayer-and-faith-will-protect-them-from-coronavirus/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=weekend

  19. Sky news – Gender Reassignment: ‘The whole process was traumatic’

    A 23-year-old woman – who is taking legal action against an NHS gender clinic – says she should have been challenged more by medical staff over her decision to transition to a male as a teenager.

    Her lawyers will argue children cannot give informed consent to treatment delaying puberty or helping them to transition.

  20. Hundreds have called for the organisers of a Greta Thunberg climate change rally to pay for damage caused to green space.

    Around 15,000 people are believed to have attended Friday’s Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate rally, churning up College Green and angering many.

    A fundraiser was set up for repairs, which then resulted in calls for rally organisers to cover the costs.

    The organiser said people had done their best in the muddy conditions.

    Climate campaigner Greta gave a speech on College Green before leading a march around the city.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-51696203

  21. Dutch nationalist poltiician smeared by television network as racist, takes them to court:

    Baudet threatens VPRO with court over EU immigration comment claim
    https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/02/baudet-threatens-vpro-with-court-over-eu-immigration-comment-claim/
    Thierry Baudet, the leader of Dutch nationalist party Forum voor Democratie, has said he plans to take a television station to court for spreading ‘scandalous lies’ about statements he made in parliament. The comments were made by television presenter Natalie Righton in Sunday current affairs show Buitenhof in an interview with former FvD stalwart Henk Otten. During the interview, Righton asked Otten what he thought about Baudet’s statement that ‘the EU had a master plan to replace the white European race by African immigrants’, referring to comments he had made in parliament the previous week. Baudet quickly circulated a message on Twitter calling on the VPRO to retract the statement or face a court case. He also added a transcription of part of the parliamentary debate in question as proof the presenter had lied, but not the section referred to by Righton.

    • Being called raycisss is almost a compliment these days.
      Though my hand itched to slap that communist devil who slandered Bibi and the people of Israel.

      “Since Marx, few have hated the Jews as much as Jewish communists have hated the Jews.”

  22. Justice Min. wants asylum seekers to pay for long stays in shelters: report
    https://nltimes.nl/2020/02/27/justice-min-wants-asylum-seekers-pay-long-stays-shelters-report
    The Ministry of Justice and Security wants asylum seekers to pay for long-term stay in an asylum center. Currently, if an asylum application is handled too slowly, the asylum seeker can claim compensation for the extended stay in the asylum center. The Ministry is now working on a plan to recover part of that amount, NRC reports.

    If the asylum seeker in question has more than a certain amount in assets, they will be obliged to make a contribution to paying for their accommodation in the asylum center, according to the Ministry’s plan. For a single asylum seeker, that limit is 6,255 euros, for a family it is 12,450 euros. How much they will have to pay to the central agency for the reception of asylum seekers COA, will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

    Currently, asylum seekers are entitled to compensation if their asylum application is not processed within six months. Last year these penalty payments cost the immigration and naturalization service IND 5.5 million euros.

    Vluchtelingenwerk, an organization that supports refugees and asylum seekers in the Netherlands, is critical of the Ministry’s plan. “We understand that asylum seekers are asked to contribute something if they can,” the organization said. “But it is very cynical if the government has to pay a fine with one hand and seize it back with the other.”

  23. Bill Gardner @Bill_Gardner·5h
    1 | Something for Canadians to think through about the COVID-19 epidemic: we don’t have enough spare capacity in our hospitals to handle a large increase in patients needing acute care.

    2 | In Wuhan, the severe COVID-19 cases required both hospital and ICU care. Have you seen the video of the Chinese building a new hospital in a matter of days? They built it because if they didn’t, more of their patients would die.

    3 | Canada has fewer acute care beds per capita than most of the other universal health care OECD nations. This is one reason why we have waiting lists. Many of our hospitals routinely run at full capacity. Which, in turn, means there are no spare beds when an epidemic comes.

    4 | We do not yet know how many Canadians will develop severe COVID-19, but there is a chance that it could be 10s of thousands. We will hospitalize these patients. Since hospitals have only so many beds, there will have to be fewer beds for people with other needs.

    5 | So if you have been waiting a long time for a hip replacement, well, you can expect to wait longer.
    There are lots of understandable reasons why it’s hard to supply adequate numbers of acute care beds in Canada, the first being our geography.

    fin | Unfortunately, there isn’t an alternative here to adding beds. Among other things, we shouldn’t imagine that if we had a better primary care system, then the shortage of hospital beds would take care of itself. Maybe for some other disease, but not this one.
    https://twitter.com/Bill_Gardner/status/1234174831500898304

  24. Yemeni Human Rights Coalition Documents Thousands of Houthi Violations in 2019
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2157226/yemeni-human-rights-coalition-documents-thousands-houthi-violations-2019

    “Yemeni Coalition to Monitor Human Rights Violations, known as Rasd Coalition, has revealed in its latest report thousands of violations carried out by Houthi militias in the country during 2019.

    These violations ranged from killing, abducting, detaining, bombing, mine planting and torturing in prisons.

    Head of Rasd’s Documentation and Monitoring Unit Riyad al-Dabai told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi-led Coalition stressed the necessity of the immediate cessation of ground attacks against civilians. These include indiscriminate shelling, use of snipers and all other forms of attacks.

    Dabai also called on Houthis to stop planting all forms of mines and submit maps of minefields to the National Demining Committee and the teams working in this field.

    “Women and children must be protected from all forms of abuse and exploitation,” he stressed.

    Dabai stressed that they shall not be recruited, and those recruited shall be released, noting that all forms of mobilization in schools, places of worship and the media shall be halted.

    The official highlighted the importance of releasing all those detained in an arbitrary manner, revealing the fate of all forcibly disappeared people in areas controlled by the group, closing private prisons and allowing the judiciary to exercise its constitutional and legal role on prisons.

    In regards to Taiz city which has been besieged for nearly five years now, Dabai called for ending the siege and allowing humanitarian organizations to move without restrictions in all Yemeni governorates.

    The Yemeni official also urged lifting the siege, ending practices that restrict the port of Hodeidah’s work, supplying all state resources to the central bank in Aden and abiding by all principles of international humanitarian law during the armed conflict.

    He said this would ensure the protection of civilians and spare them all forms of targeting.

    Dabai also called on the group to cooperate with the National Commission investigating human rights violations in Yemen and the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council’s teams of experts.”

  25. Security Forces Kill One, Wound 24 at Baghdad Protest
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2157561/security-forces-kill-one-wound-24-baghdad-protest

    “Iraqi security forces killed one person and wound 24 at an anti-government protest in Baghdad on Sunday, a police source said.

    The person was killed by birdshot fired from a hunting rifle and some of the injuries were caused by birdshot and tear gas, the source told Reuters.

    The Baghdad military operations office has said that armed groups were using hunting rifles to target security forces and anti-government protesters to create chaos.

    The United Nations warned in February that armed factions are shooting hunting rifles loaded with birdshot at peaceful protesters in Baghdad.

    Security forces and armed groups have shot dead hundreds of mostly unarmed demonstrators. Around 500 people have been killed in unrest since October, most of them protesters, according to a Reuters tally from medics and police.

    The number of protesters has reduced somewhat, but demonstrations continue on a daily basis.

    The rallies, which first demanded jobs and services, quickly turned into calls for the removal of Iraq’s entire ruling elite.”

  26. Mosques in France Take Measures to Stop Virus Spread
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2157506/mosques-france-take-measures-stop-virus-spread

    “The French Muslim Council (CFCM) on Sunday asked Imams at mosques in France to take measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

    In a message, CFCM called on Imams to encourage people to avoid shaking hands, to wash their hands frequently, and to only use disposable towels.

    The health ministry has also urged people attending Sunday church services to take precautions.

    The archbishop of Paris advised parish priests not to administer communion by placing the sacramental bread in worshippers’ mouths.

    Churches have been asked to empty containers of holy water at the entrance, to avoid people dipping their fingers into contaminated water.

    Art lovers were left locked out of the Louvre in Paris on Sunday morning as the world’s most-visited museum held a staff meeting about the coronavirus outbreak.

    A spokeswoman said the museum in central Paris was expected to open after the meeting between management, personnel and the staff doctor.

    She added museums were not covered by government orders to cancel, until further notice, all public gatherings indoors or in confined spaces with more than 5,000 people.

    The government issued the orders on Saturday as it tries to contain the spread of the virus. As of Sunday evening, France had 130 confirmed cases of the disease.”

  27. Turkey destroys scores of Syrian army targets incl airport, air defences and tanks
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200301-turkey-destroys-scores-of-syrian-army-targets-incl-airport-air-defences-and-tanks/

    “Turkey said on Sunday it had destroyed air defence systems, more than 100 tanks and downed two planes belonging to the Syrian army as part of an operation it launched after an air strike killed dozens of its soldiers last week.

    Tensions in northwest Syria have escalated sharply as fighting between Turkey-backed rebels and Russian-backed Syrian government forces risks bringing the two regional powers into direct confrontation.

    Ankara has ramped up its attacks, including drone strikes, against the Syrian army since Thursday, when 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Damascus. Another soldier was killed on Friday, bringing February’s death toll to 55.

    Syria’s army warned on Sunday it would take down any planes or drones breaching the air space over the northwest, which has been controlled for years by its ally Moscow.

    But within a few hours, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said that it had shot down two Syrian military aircraft. which were on a combat mission, a statement confirmed by the Syrian military.

    “We have neither the intention nor the notion to face Russia. Our only intention there is for the (Syrian) regime to end the massacre and thereby prevent, stop radicalisation and migration,” Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said.

    He dubbed the operation, Turkey’s fourth in Syria, “Spring Shield”. Akar said Turkey had destroyed a drone, eight helicopters, 103 tanks, 72 howitzers, rocket launchers, and six air defence systems among other military equipment since February 27.

    Akar added that 2,212 members of the Syrian forces had been “neutralised”, a term used to designate killed, wounded or captured. The Syrian Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, said 74 Syrian government troops and pro-Damascus fighters had been killed since February 27.

    Diplomatic efforts by Ankara and Moscow to defuse tensions have so far fallen short of achieving a ceasefire in the Idlib region of northwest Syria, the country’s last major rebel stronghold after nine years of civil war.

    Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that while there was progress in talks between Turkish and Russian delegations, the Idlib issue would only be resolved between presidents Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin.

    One senior Turkish official and one security official said the meeting would be held on Thursday in Moscow. The officials said the two would discuss steps to take in Idlib and that they were expected to reach a mutual agreement.”

  28. WATCH: Iranian pilgrims taunt coronavirus with ‘communal licking’ of religious shrines despite outbreak
    https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2020/3/1/watch-iran-pilgrims-taunt-coronavirus-by-licking-religious-shrines

    “Pilgrims to religious shrines in Iran have reportedly attempted to defy fears about the novel coronavirus by licking religious shrines to prove that they will not get sick.

    A video posted to twitter shows three people, including one who appears to be a child, licking the glass coverings and metal grilles at religious shrines in Qom and Mashhad.

    Qom, which is a prominent centre of religious pilgrimage for Shia Muslims, is also the epicentre of the virus in Iran.

    “Stop playing with people’s beliefs, coronavirus is nothing in the Shia shrines,” one man is recorded saying at the Fatima Masumeh shrine in Qom, in response to calls for authorities to close pilgrimage sites amid the outbreak.

    “Im licking this and I don’t care what happens,” another man is shown saying, before licking a metal grille housing a prominent grave site.

    The man’s actions prompted those around him to recite prayers loudly.

    Religious sites in Iran, which attract millions of pilgrims each year, have remained open to travellers despite the Islamic Republic having the largest COVID-19 virus outbreak in the Middle East.

    Tehran’s response to the crisis contrasts that of Saudi authorities, who have halted access to Mecca and Medina and suspended visas for the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage, an unprecedented move that has left tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims around the world in limbo.
    The kingdom on Thursday also suspended visas for tourists from countries affected by the virus as fears of a pandemic deepen.

    Amid pressure over its seemingly inadequate response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Iran on Wednesday said it would restrict access to several Shia Muslim holy sites throughout the country.

    Authorities will also suspend Friday prayers in areas heavily affected by the virus.

    According to Unnamed health system sources quoted by the BBC, at least 210 people had died of the coronavirus in Iran – far beyond the official death toll of 54. A health ministry spokesman angrily denied that figure.

    While Iran has rejected the claim as rumour, it has has scrambled to bring the outbreak under control, shutting schools, suspending cultural and sporting events.

    It has even halted meetings of the cabinet and parliament, amid the disease’s spread among the country’s political elite.

    On Saturday, recently-elected Iranian MP Mohammad Ali Ramazani died after being tested positive for the deadly virus a few days earlier, The Independent reported.

    Iran’s coronavirus death toll is the highest for any country other than China – where COVID-19 first emerged.

    One of Iran’s seven vice presidents, Massoumeh Ebtekar, and Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi are among several senior officials who have been infected.

    Many of Iran’s neighbours have reported coronavirus infections in people linked to Iran, and most have imposed restrictions on travel to and from the Islamic republic.

    On Wednesday, Iranian authorities announced domestic travel restrictions for people with confirmed or suspected infections.”

  29. Austria says it will stop any migrants trying to rush its border
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-austria/austria-says-it-will-stop-any-migrants-trying-to-rush-its-border-idUSKBN20O2CS

    “Austria will stop any migrants attempting to rush its border if measures to halt them in Greece and through the Balkans fail, conservative Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said on Sunday.

    Greek police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who tried to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday, with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement. It was the second straight day of clashes.

    The rush echoes Europe’s migration crisis in 2015-2016, when Austria served as a corridor into Germany for hundreds of thousands of migrants who traveled through Greece and the Balkans. Austria also took in more than 1% of its population in asylum seekers in the process.

    “Hungary has assured us that it will protect its borders as best it can, like Croatia’s,” Nehammer told broadcaster ORF, referring to two of Austria’s neighbors. Migrants coming up through the Balkans would almost certainly have to pass through either of those countries before reaching Austria.

    “Should, despite that, people reach us then they must be stopped,” he said when asked what Austria would do.

    Nehammer’s boss, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, built his career on a hard line on immigration, pledging to prevent a repeat of 2015’s influx. He governed in coalition with the far right from 2017 until last year, and is back in power with the Greens as a junior partner.

    When Kurz was foreign minister in 2016, Austria coordinated border restrictions in neighboring Balkan countries to stop migrants reaching it from Greece.

    Austria is prepared to do the same again if necessary, Kurz and Nehammer have indicated. Kurz is an outspoken critic of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s government, a popular stance in his conservative Alpine country.

    Turkey said on Thursday it would let migrants cross its borders into Europe, despite a commitment to hold them in its territory under a 2016 deal with the European Union.

    Turkey’s turnabout came after an air strike killed 33 Turkish soldiers in Syria, and appeared to be an effort to press for more EU aid in tackling the refugee crisis from Syria’s civil war.

    “The second safety net, and here the Austrian security services have a lot of previous experience, is close cooperation and also support, whether that be financial, material or in terms of personnel, with countries along the (migrants’) escape route,” Nehammer said, referring to Balkan countries.”

  30. Italy Deports Moroccan Man for Security Concerns
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/294952/italy-deports-moroccan-man-for-security-concerns/

    “Italian security services have expelled a 34-year old Moroccan national considered a “dangerous person for public safety.”

    The expulsion of the Moroccan national happened on Friday of last week.

    Authorities in Italy expelled the man for his links to another suspect arrested on terrorism charges with ISIS, Cesena Today reported.

    The arrested man was spreading terror propaganda seeking to promote ISIS and its actions. The man is also said to have sought to recruit new people.

    Subsequently police arrested and expelled the Moroccan 34-year old man for his connection with the other arrested suspect. The Moroccan national arrived in Italy last year for “sporting reasons.”

    “The constant attention of police and the continuous monitoring of public security activities in our area allow to obtain these great results of prevention,” mayor of Savignano Filippo Giovanni said after the arrest.

    This is not the first time for the police to arrest Moroccan nationals and expel them for security reasons.

    In January, Italy expelled a Moroccan imam for similar security concerns.

    The Italian interior ministry ordered the imam’s deportation.

    The interior minister added that the 41-year old man was “investigated for expressing praise for the Al Baghdadi caliphate and supporting ISIS who fought in Syria.”

    In January of last year the security services in the European country expelled a 37-year old Moroccan for risk of radicalization.

    Italy also cited security concerns to expel Salma Bencharki, the wife of Moroccan ISIS fighter Abderrahim Moutaharik, for security reasons.

    Moutaharrik is a Moroccan kickboxer who received a six-year prison sentence in 2016 on terror charges. He is known as the “ISIS Boxer.””

  31. Turkey launches new domestic anti-terror push in SE
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-launches-new-domestic-anti-terror-push-in-se/1750497

    “Turkey launched Sunday a fresh anti-terror operation to eliminate terrorists in the country’s southeast, according to the Interior Ministry.

    In a statement, the ministry said the Kapan-7 Karadag was initiated to neutralize terrorists thought to be sheltering in Siirt and Sirnak provinces.

    A total of 815 security personnel, comprising of gendarmerie, police, and village guards, as well as 52 special units are taking part in the operation, the ministry said.

    It noted that the domestic operations are successfully ongoing with the support of the nation to clear the country completely of terrorism.

    Kapan-7 is an extension to similar operations in the region launched as part of Turkey’s domestic anti-terror fight.

    Ramping up its fight against terrorists, Turkey launched Operation Kapan last month to eliminate terrorists in the southeastern Mardin province, after completing Operation Kiran across the region against YPG/PKK terrorists.

    Last August, Turkey launched Operation Kiran in the country’s southeastern Van, Hakkari and Sirnak provinces, followed by 10 more iterations of the operation.

    In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian branch.”

  32. 10 police officers killed in Burkina Faso attack
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/10-police-officers-killed-in-burkina-faso-attack/1750895

    “Ten police officers were killed and three others injured in Burkina Faso when militants attacked the northern Sebba city, the local media reported on Sunday.

    The attack happened on Saturday, the heaviest loss recorded by the Burkinabe police in a single attack, local media reported quoting security sources.

    “The assailants disguised in Burkina Faso Armed Forces uniform initially sabotaged communications facilities. They attacked a police station and military post simultaneously. But it was the central police station that was the main target of the attack,” a police source told local media.

    According to the source, the assailants blocked various entrances to the city and damaged significant property.

    The militants took away military equipment, including an armored vehicle, the media report said.”

  33. Will Ripley @willripleyCNN
    #breaking North Korea urges foreign diplomats to leave on Friday. Dozens of foreign diplomats quarantined in Pyongyang, North Korea are planning to take an evacuation flight this Friday, a source inside the country tells me.…

    The source says North Korea’s state run airline Air Koryo will operate the flight to evacuate foreign diplomats from from Pyongyang to Vladivostok, Russia. “But as far as I understand this is not agreed yet with the Russians,” the source adds. Russian MOFA won’t confirm to CNN.…

    https://twitter.com/willripleyCNN/status/1234235826092961794
    …….
    Fat-boy doesn’t want witnesses from the outside world.

  34. Substantial economic fallout already. Notice the price of gas falling at the pump? Retail will get hit hard. Those without reserve capital won’t last long. Alberta and Saskatchewan oil and gas will see layoffs. Construction workers going back to home provinces (mostly unionized up here) will be looking for trouble on non-union sites or anywhere for that matter. Government revenues will decline and costs will rise. All because the CCP was more interested in a narrative than in putting this thing down at the start. Where would our world be without leftist narratives?

    https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Coronavirus-Panic-Is-Causing-A-Worst-Case-Scenario-For-Oil.html#

    • And I bet you’ve got lots of Covid-19 on the hoof.
      So do we, though without testing it’s still la-de-da…

  35. IRELAND – Satanic-like scenes on Portmarnock beach as walkers stumble across creepy pig heads on spikes

    One walker even rang gardai out of concern

    Bloody pig heads were placed on spikes and displayed in front of creeped-out walkers on a North Dublin beach.

    Spooky images have emerged showing the heads on Portmarnock Beach on Wednesday morning leaving everybody scared and confused.

    One walker even rang gardai she was so freaked out by the satanic-looking scene.

    The display was actually part of a photoshoot by young filmmakers – although those who took part left the beach without bringing the animal parts with them.

    Some locals were very upset as the stretch happens to be the east coast’s only blue and green flag beach.

    One woman said she was “shocked” that they left the heads there and “expected they would have been disposed of properly”.[…]

    https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/satanic-like-scenes-portmarnock-beach-17833423

  36. Dangers lurk for China’s ban on the wild animal trade

    The breeding and consumption of exotic species was big business in China until a new coronavirus was linked to a wet market in Wuhan

    Stamping out the industry will mean overcoming limited enforcement resources and entrenched interests, conservationists say

    When Yin Shanchuan and his colleagues visited the Fresh Agricultural Products Wholesale Market in the southern Chinese city of Qingyuan about two years ago, he was stunned by what he saw.

    For more than a decade, Yin, a veteran conservationist, has had numerous run-ins with wild animal traders, as well as market and stall owners across China. But the market in Qingyuan still sent a shiver down his spine.

    For sale at the market were row after row of bamboo rats, groundhogs, foxes, snakes and ducks crammed into cages.

    “We had never seen so many dangerous animals in the one market before,” Yin said.

    […]Desperate to contain the disease, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top lawmaking body, passed a resolution on Monday banning the trade and consumption of wild animals. It also indicated that changes to laws would follow.

    […] in recent years, the consumption of wild animals has also become more associated with higher social status and wealth.

    more:

    https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3053015/dangers-lurk-chinas-ban-wild-animal-trade

    ====================================================
    China’s frog breeders silenced over opposition to wildlife trade ban

    Outlawing the industry would be unscientific and irrational, breeders say before umbrella association apologises for comments

    Legislators set to fast-track prohibition on multibillion-dollar wild animal sector

    […]Last weekend, defiant frog breeders on a subcommittee of the China Wildlife Conservation Association, an umbrella trade group, made their case against the ban in an online article arguing that it was part of a valuable tradition.

    The group said it was “an arbitrary, unscientific and irrational move to put a blanket ban on all wildlife animal consumption just because of one viral outbreak”.

    “Human demand for wildlife products has never ceased, and in a sense, it is an indispensable need,” the article said.

    […]The wildlife trade is estimated to be a 520 billion yuan (US$74 billion) business in China, employing more than 14 million people and breeding a wide variety of exotic species from quail, to ostriches, snakes, crocodiles and civets.

    https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3051896/chinas-frog-breeders-silenced-over-opposition-wildlife-trade

    ==================================================