Reader’s Links for October 1, 2022

Here is a link to the VladTepesBlog social media Mastodon Pod. Please feel free to check it out and sign up for an account if you are sufficiently annoyed with Twitter and Facebook to try something new.

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

36 Replies to “Reader’s Links for October 1, 2022”

    • This pipeline means freedom from Russian gas dependency! Von der Leyen congratulates Greece-Bulgaria

    • Russia’s Gazprom halts gas supplies to Italy’s Eni due to Austrian ‘regulatory changes’

      Italy’s Eni is to receive no Russian gas on Oct. 1 after state-controlled Gazprom said it would not be possible to flow volumes via Austria due to regulatory changes in the country.

      In a statement, Gazprom said the transportation of Russian gas in Austria had been suspended due to the refusal of the Austrian pipeline operator to confirm nominated volumes.

      “The reason is related to the regulatory changes that took place in Austria at the end of September,” Gazprom said. “Gazprom is working on solving the problem together with Italian buyers.”

      Earlier Oct. 1, Eni said it had been informed by Gazprom that the Russian company was unable to confirm the gas volumes requested for Oct. 1 as it was “not possible” to supply gas through Austria.

      “Therefore, today’s Russian gas supplies to Eni through the Tarvisio entry point will be at zero,” the Italian company said. “Eni will provide updates in case supplies will be restored.”

      The halt in deliveries is the latest disruption to Russian gas flows to Europe after supplies were already halted via the Yamal-Europe and Nord Stream pipelines earlier this year and deliveries via Ukraine sharply curtailed.

      Eni had been importing all its Russian gas via Austria and the Tarvisio entry point on the Austrian-Italian border since Nord Stream flows were halted completely at the end of August.

      Russian gas imports at Tarvisio have been volatile in recent months and averaged around 15 million cu m/d in September, according to data from S&P Global Commodity Insights.

      Russian gas to Italy is delivered via the Velke Kapusany interconnection point on the border between Ukraine and Slovakia before entering Austria at Baumgarten from where it is carried in the TAG pipeline to Tarvisio.

      Price discount

      Italian gas prices have been trading at a discount to prices in northwest and eastern Europe in recent weeks thanks to an increase in imports of gas from Algeria.

      Platts, part of S&P Global, assessed the Italian PSV month-ahead price at Eur148.75/MWh on Sept. 30, a discount of Eur15.75/MWh to the equivalent TTF price.

      European gas prices slumped on Sept. 30 despite the ongoing uncertainties over the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines and concerns that Gazprom could soon halt all remaining Ukrainian transit.

      Month-ahead prices at certain hubs in Europe are now trading back below Eur100/MWh, including the LNG-rich hubs in the UK, France and Spain.

      Eni — one of the EU’s biggest buyers of Russian gas — had already seen its imports of Russian gas curtailed due to the falls in flows via Nord Stream over the summer.

      Italy had also been one of Russia’s biggest gas export markets, with supplies totaling 29 Bcm in 2021.

      https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/topics/ukraine-war
      ===================================================
      bloomberg – Gazprom Cuts Off Supplies of Russian Gas to Italy

      Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom PJSC suspended natural gas deliveries to Italy, escalating the energy crisis in Europe.

      “As of today Gazprom is no longer delivering gas to Eni,” said a spokesman for Eni SpA, Italy’s largest oil company.

      Gazprom supplies Italy with gas through a pipeline that passes through Austria. The cutoff appeared to target just Italy, with Austria continuing to receive gas. Higher volumes of Russian gas were allocated to OMV than had been recently, said Andreas Rinofner, a spokesman for OMV, which imports Russian gas to Austria,

      Gazprom released a statement Saturday saying it had suspended gas flows through Austria to Italy because the Austrian operator had refused to confirm “transport nominations” after regulatory changes implemented in Austria in late September. Gazprom said it is working to resolve the issue with Italian buyers. Eni also said it was reaching out to Gazprom to resolve the issue. E-control, Austria’s energy regulator, didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

      European countries have been rushing to find alternatives to Russian gas and protect against supply interruptions as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to choke off energy to the continent to put pressure on the European Union over several rounds of sanctions in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The standoff intensified this week after massive leaks erupted in a key pipeline to Europe that some nations blamed on sabotage.

      Italy has sourced sufficient alternative supplies of gas from North Africa to make up for any shortfalls this winter if Russia were to cut off exports to the country, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg last month. A boost of expected deliveries from Algeria and Egypt will be able to cover the remaining supplies that Italy was still getting from Russia, said the people.

      The cutoff of Italian gas comes days after underwater eruptions crippled the key Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia with Europe. US President Joe Biden yesterday echoed the assessment of Western European leaders that the pipelines were sabotaged and added that Russian statements about the incident shouldn’t be trusted.

      https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-01/gazprom-won-t-deliver-any-russian-gas-to-italy-on-saturday-eni

      ==========================
      Something BIG is Happening in Germany!!!” | Jordan Peterson 2022

  1. DEUTSCHE PRAVDA – Party At Your Peril! Oktoberfest 2022 and COVID | COVID-19 Special

    All the visitors are risking a COVID-19 infection

  2. GERMANY – The Federal Government

    International Expert Conference on the Recovery of Ukraine

    The recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine will be discussed at an international expert conference that will take place in Berlin on 25 October, hosted by the German G7 Presidency and the EU Commission.

    “Together with supporters of Ukraine from all around the world, we will think about how we can manage this Herculean task,” said Federal Chancellor Scholz at the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

    Reconstruction of Ukraine has to be planned, despite the fact that the war is still ongoing, and it is essential to be prepared for this task in the long term.

    Speaking before the General Assembly of the United Nations, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz once more promised lasting assistance for the country that is under attack from Russia: “We’re supporting Ukraine with all our might – financially, economically, with humanitarian assistance, and also with weapons.” He added that this also included the reconstruction of Ukraine that the participants of the G7 Summit in Schloss Elmau had agreed upon in a joint statement.

    Reconstruction – a joint task

    The Federal Chancellor had previously announced that the reconstruction of Ukraine had to be planned, despite the fact that the war was still ongoing, and that it was essential to be prepared for this task in the long term. He said that this was why he was co-hosting an International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine in Berlin on 25 October, together with the President of the European Commission and in close coordination with the Government of Ukraine.

    The conference will be streamed live on 25 October at http://www.bundesregierung.de

    Esteemed experts, international organisations, think tanks, scientists and representatives of the civil society and the private sector will attend the conference. The participants will contribute to the ongoing discussion about rebuilding Ukraine and make expert recommendations for the further strategy.

    The results of the conference are to be reflected in the ongoing international efforts to support the country.

    The International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine will take place at the Westhafen Event & Convention Center Berlin on 25 October 2022. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be opening the event.

    The keynote speech will be held by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

    https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/ukraine-recovery-conference-2129426

    ======================================
    BBC – Ukraine “determined” to liberate all territory after Russian annexation declaration

    Zelensky has vowed to liberate all Ukrainian territories, including Crimea –

    And he also ruled out any further negotiations with Mr Putin.

  3. – CANADA is heading for a SEVERE RECESSION in the first quarter of 2023. IMO, all nations that imposed jab requirements and lockdowns are in for it. –

    Macquarie Group, an Australia-based global financial services provider, estimates Canada will face an approximately three per cent contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) and a five per cent rise in its unemployment rate during the predicted recession.

    “We actually think it will be pretty severe in Canada,” Doyle said. “I think the die has been cast on this front. Because inflation has become so elevated, and unemployment was allowed to fall so low, I think a recession is almost inevitable at this point.”

    According to new data from Statistics Canada, the Canadian economy grew by a modest 0.1 per cent in July. Their estimates, however, show economic growth stagnating in August, when the annual inflation rate reached 7.0 per cent, down from a high of 8.1 per cent in June.

    “I think what you’re seeing is that the economy is stalling after having that significant boost from reopening earlier this year,” Doyle explained. “I think it’s appropriate to think that there’s further slowing ahead, even after what looks to have been a very soft third quarter.”

    Canada’s cooling housing market will play a significant role in that slowing, Doyle added. The latest Statistics Canada figures show output from real estate agents and brokers dropping 3.4 per cent in July, down for the fifth consecutive month. Doyle expects the trend to continue.

    “Typically, you see housing start to weaken as you head into a recession,” Doyle said. “We’re certainly seeing ample signs of that.”

    Aimed at fighting inflation, the Bank of Canada raised interest rates to 3.25 per cent on Sept. 7, which has contributed to the cooling housing market. The increase followed a full percentage point hike in July, which was the largest single rate increase in Canada since August 1998. The Bank of Canada began hiking interest rates in March, after they fell to 0.25 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Economists widely predict the next interest rate hike will come on Oct. 26. Doyle thinks it could be the last.

    https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/economist-expects-pretty-severe-recession-in-canada-in-2023-1.1825745

  4. politico – Pfizer CEO pulls out of testifying to EU Parliament COVID panel

    High-level contacts between Albert Bourla and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before multibillion-euro vaccine deal are under scrutiny.

    Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla has pulled out of an appointment to testify before the European Parliament’s special committee on COVID-19, at which he was expected to face tough questions on how secretive vaccine deals were struck.

    The decision follows an audit report into the EU’s vaccine procurement strategy published earlier in the month that raised new questions about contact between Bourla and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that preceded a multibillion-euro vaccine contract.

    The head of the U.S. pharmaceutical giant, the largest supplier of COVID-19 vaccines to the EU, was scheduled to appear before the panel on October 10. The committee is meeting with key officials involved in the EU’s vaccine procurement process to draw lessons on how to respond to future pandemics. Other pharmaceutical executives have addressed the committee, including the CEO of Moderna and senior officials from AstraZeneca and Sanofi.

    The committee’s chair, Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt, told POLITICO she “deeply regrets” the decision taken by Pfizer.

    After a visit to BioNTech’s headquarters last week, Van Brempt had said in a written statement that she looked forward to discussions “with other CEOs” including “Mr. Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer” on October 10.

    The report, by the European Court of Auditors, found that von der Leyen had been directly involved in preliminary negotiations for the EU’s biggest vaccine contract, for up to 1.8 billion doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which was concluded in May 2021. This was a departure from the negotiating procedure followed with other contracts, where a joint negotiating team made up of officials from the Commission and member countries conducted exploratory talks.

    The EU watchdog also noted that the Commission refused to provide records of the discussions with Pfizer, either in the form of minutes, names of experts consulted, agreed terms, or other evidence.

    Already in 2021, the New York Times reported on the seemingly-cozy relationship between Bourla and von der Leyen, with the two exchanging text messages in the run-up to the deal.

    Contacted by POLITICO, a spokesperson for Pfizer said the company’s president of international development markets, Janine Small, would attend the committee hearing. “She has been identified as best placed to support the committee in meeting their objectives,” the spokesperson said.

    https://www.politico.eu/article/pfizer-ceo-albert-bourla-pulls-out-of-testifying-to-eu-parliament-covid-panel/

    Pfizer/Biontech Commercial (September 2022)

  5. BBC – Investigation into spikes in newborn baby deaths in Scotland

    The Scottish government has ordered the review of neonatal death rates after two spikes over a six-month period. Both increases were larger than what would normally be expected.

    At least 18 babies under four weeks old died in March. That came after at least 21 babies died in September last year.

    The review will be carried out by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

    It is expected to last six to nine months and cover all reported baby deaths between April 2021 and March 2022.

    The average mortality rate among newborns is just over two per 1,000 births.

    In September 2021 at least 21 babies under four weeks old died, a rate of 4.9 per 1,000 births. And in March at least 18 died, the equivalent of 4.6 per 1,000 births.

    Public Health Minister Marie Todd said: “Every death is a tragedy for the families involved, that is why earlier this year I committed to this review to find out if there is a reason for the increase.

    “I appreciate how difficult this time is for anyone affected and I would encourage them to access support if they wish to do so.”

    She added information about organisations and help was available on the National Bereavement Care Pathways Scotland and Scottish government websites.

    Ms Todd said anything identified would feed into recommendations and actions to improve the quality of care for mother and babies.

    A preliminary investigation found the September spike was not linked to Covid.

    The high rates were the first to be detected since this form of monitoring began in July 2017.

    Meanwhile, in June it emerged there were 3.9 infant deaths for every thousand live births in 2021 – up from 3.1 the previous year.

    The figures showed the death rate for babies under one year old in Scotland is at its highest level in 10 years.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-63097142

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

    DECEMBER 2021 – BBC – ‘No Covid link’ to spike in newborn baby deaths

    A spike in the number of deaths of newborn babies during September was not linked to Covid, a preliminary investigation has found.

    At least 21 babies under four weeks old died in September, a rate of 4.9 per 1,000 births.

    Infant death rates fluctuate but the increase was big enough to trigger an investigation.

    Health officials said there were a relatively high number of premature births but no evidence of a Covid link.

    The neonatal mortality rate in September was the highest since the records began in July 2017.

    The following month it fell to 3.3 per 1,000 live births, still above average but within the expected range.

    Public Health Scotland (PHS) said its initial findings suggested that overall the number of births in September 2021 was at the expected levels.

    Commentary in the PHS’s Covid-19 wider impacts report said: “Preliminary information on prematurity suggests that the number of babies born at less than 32 weeks gestation in September 2021 was at the upper end of monthly numbers seen in 2021 to date.

    “This may contribute to the neonatal mortality rate, as prematurity is associated with an increased risk of neonatal death.”

    The average mortality rate among newborns in Scotland is just over two per 1,000 births.

    Health officials added: “There is no information at this stage to suggest that any of the neonatal deaths in September 2021 were due to Covid-19 infection of the baby.

    “Likewise, preliminary review does not indicate that maternal Covid-19 infection played a role in these events.

    While all child deaths are investigated, the wider inquiry was triggered after when the mortality rate passed a “control” threshold, designed to pick up abnormal trends in infant deaths.

    The review is considered preliminary at this stage, as some information on births at a national level is not fully complete. This data is expected in February 2022.

    Despite its finding that Covid did not have a role in September’s deaths, PHS goes on to say that there is “international evidence” that infection with the virus during pregnancy is associated with a “higher chance of problems for both mother and baby”.

    Infection has also been linked to an increased risk of stillbirth and a higher likelihood of premature birth because of the need to deliver the baby early for the health of the mother or baby.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-59505336

    • GBN -Healthcare workers call for a pause to vaccine rollout to healthy children

      ( 15 min 44 )

  6. A Sacramento legal advocacy group, the Pacific Legal Foundation, filed this lawsuit, which is believed to be the first targeting Biden’s plan. It was filed in a federal court in one of several states that plan to tax any student debt canceled by Biden’s plan, which is Indiana.

    An attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, Caleb Kruckenberg said that “Congress did not authorize the executive branch to unilaterally cancel student debt.” It is illegal for the executive branch to create the policy “by press release, and without statutory authority,” he said.

    Frank Garrison is the suit’s plaintiff, who is described as a public interest attorney who lives in Indiana and is employed by the libertarian group.

    https://byberry.com/libertarian-lawsuit-joe-biden/

  7. An investigation is to be carried out into the number of newborn baby deaths in Scotland.

    The Scottish government has ordered the review of neonatal death rates after two spikes over a six-month period. Both increases were larger than what would normally be expected.

    At least 18 babies under four weeks old died in March. That came after at least 21 babies died in September last year.

    The review will be carried out by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

    It is expected to last six to nine months and cover all reported baby deaths between April 2021 and March 2022.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-63097142

  8. A screenshot of a since-deleted tweet by AOC saying that lockdowns must be let in place until after the 2020 election because loss of jobs/businesses is a small price to pay to prevent Trump from being elected…

    https://i.redd.it/rndslrevrzq91.png

  9. Pelosi Suggests Illegal Immigrants Shouldn’t Be Sent Up North; Florida Needs Them to Pick Crops

    During House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s weekly news briefing on Friday morning, she told reporters that America needs immigrants to pick the crops.

    Yes, after spending the past two years declaring that half the country is racist, she matter-of-factly made that remark.

    The Speaker acknowledged that while “we have a responsibility to secure our border, we also have a responsibility to recognize the importance of newcomers to our nation.”

    https://www.westernjournal.com/pelosi-suggests-illegal-immigrants-shouldnt-sent-north-florida-needs-pick-crops/

  10. Note: a newly relevant article from 2020

    What a coincidence! Pelosi, Biden AND Schiff all have dirty dealings in Ukraine?

    It now appears that Democrat Adam Schiff has ties to two companies mixed up with corruption in Ukraine. Maybe we have an answer as to why he is so darn interested in scuttling any investigation into Ukraine corruption?

    According to Ukraine investigators, two American companies have been implicated in a money laundering scheme to help former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych ship millions out of Ukraine.

    On Wednesday, Interfax-Ukraine reported that the two American companies are Franklin Templeton Investments and the BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust.

    https://www.investmentwatchblog.com/what-a-coincidence-pelosi-biden-and-schiff-all-have-dirty-dealings-in-ukraine/

  11. Yuge Win for Trump, Conservatives: Federal Judge Rules Big Tech Has No “Freewheeling Right to Censor”
    will September 30, 2022 SHARE
    Fifth Circuit Federal Judge Andrew S. Oldham reversed course for courts and the government when he ruled on Friday that America’s social media platforms, platforms such as Twitter and Facebook (Meta), do not have a “freewheeling First Amendment right” to censor people on their platforms.

    Specifically, Judge Oldham ruled against a lawsuit challenging HB 20. HB 2o was a bill pushed by Texas Governor Gregg Abbott which prohibits those social media platforms that have over 50 million monthly users from censoring people’s speech based on their political viewpoints. The text of HB 20 provides that:

    https://patriotfetch.com/2022/09/yuge-win-for-trump-conservatives-federal-judge-rules-big-tech-has-no-freewheeling-right-to-censor-wiley/

  12. NAIROBI, Kenya — A 23-year-old Muslim woman in eastern Uganda who converted to Christianity on Sept. 18 was poisoned to death that night, sources said.

    Namata Habiiba attended a church service on Sept. 18 at the invitation of a friend in Wakawaka village, Bugiri District and put her faith in Christ, the friend said.

    Habiiba, who lived with her Muslim stepmother after her parents were killed in a vehicle accident in 2019, returned home from the church service with her friend, and her stepmother asked why she had returned so late. Habiiba told her she had attended a church service and converted to Christianity, causing her stepmother, Namu Sauya, to stop talking to her, according to the friend, whose name is withheld for security reasons.

    https://www.christianpost.com/news/ugandan-woman-killed-after-attending-church.html

  13. The government in France has announced that it is closing another mosque. Media reports yesterday said that the closure of the Obernai Mosque in the Bas-Rhin region is because the Imam has been accused of extremism, taking an anti-French position and making provocative comments against the values of the republic.

    The Interior Ministry has apparently started the process to have the mosque closed. A tweet from Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that 23 mosques have been closed by the government over the past two years on suspicion of being linked to “separatist activities”. He added that President Emmanuel Macron has asked the authorities to fight such activities.

    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220929-france-closes-another-mosque/

  14. ctv – Anti-CAQ protesters gather in Francois Legault’s riding to denounce health measures

    More than a thousand protesters opposed to COVID-19 public health measures met in L’Assomption in front of the constituency office of outgoing Premier François Legault Saturday.

    The marchers walked from Paul-Arseneau High School, nearly three kilometers from their destination, paralyzing the small municipality’s roads, which only has around 22,000 inhabitants, according to the 2016 census.

    The arrival of demonstrators, who were responding to the call of the organizers of the ‘Out with the CAQ’ convoy, forced Mayor Sébastien Nadeau to put the city on pause, with cultural and sports activities cancelled for the day.

    Demonstrators, whose signs were mostly demanding the departure of the CAQ and François Legault, also paid tribute to the memory of people who died in the CHSLDs. Some also called for mass defunding of media outlets.

    “I’m here for one reason only — the [people who died] in the CHSLDs who were left there all alone, with no one to take care of them because they took away the right to enter. Just that is enough,” said protestor Patrick Gagnon.

    Another protestor, Michelle Sergerie, said she was there “for everyone’s freedom especially, the right to make our own decisions, whether it’s vaccination, whatever.”

    “No judgement, whatever decisions we make,” she said. “It’s really important that we all stand up for that.”

    A large number of police officers were deployed to avoid possible confrontations between protestors and residents.

    https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/anti-caq-protesters-gather-in-francois-legault-s-riding-1.6091934

    https://twitter.com/RussoCarmel1/status/1576324586915868675

    https://twitter.com/ThevoiceAlexa/status/1576290761879932928