GET THE APP
Saturday, September 13, 2025

Category: World
October 17, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
World

Europe May Normalize Relations With Syria’s Assad to Begin Deportations.

Several European states are reportedly considering normalizing their relations with Syria‘s President Bashar al-Assad to facilitate deportations to his country. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is calling on the European Union (EU) to reconsider its relationship with the Assad government as the bloc looks to increase deportations of illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers. Western governments have been seeking to oust the Russia-backed leader since 2011, with moves to potentially normalize ties serving as a tacit acknowledgment that regime change efforts have failed.

“It is necessary to review the European Union Strategy for Syria and to work with all actors, to create the conditions for Syrian refugees to return to their homeland in a voluntary, safe, and sustainable way,” Meloni said.

The EU has not had formal relations with Assad’s Syria since 2011. Still, Meloni is reportedly looking to push the issue with other EU leaders on Thursday during a meeting in Brussels.

Over the last several months, partly due to a surge in the popularity of populist parties in elections in France, Germany, and Austria, EU governments have begun to take a much more pro-borders stance.

Germany, with its leftist coalition government, has enacted border checks at all of its land frontiers. At the same time, Poland wants to deny the right of asylum to migrants crossing into the country illegally via Belarus.

The move to normalize relations with President Assad also comes as he has seen leaders in the Middle East begin to restore their own ties with the Syrian leader.

Last year, Assad attended a meeting with Arab leaders for the first time in over ten years, being hugged by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia had previously backed some of the Syrian insurrectionists fighting to overthrow Assad’s government.

Syrian migrants in Europe have been behind many high-profile crimes, including a mass stabbing at a diversity festival in Solingen, Germany, earlier this year that left three people dead.

Germany has the largest proportion of Syrian migrants in Europe—at least 972,000—and most are on welfare.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

show less
Several European states are reportedly considering normalizing their relations with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to facilitate deportations to his country. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is calling on the European Union (EU) to reconsider its relationship with the Assad government as the bloc looks to increase deportations of illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers. Western governments have been seeking to oust the Russia-backed leader since 2011, with moves to potentially normalize ties serving as a tacit acknowledgment that regime change efforts have failed. show more
October 17, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
World

Meloni’s Migrant Removal Could Set a New Precedent.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is hailing her country’s asylum deal with Albania. The agreement allows migrants trying to reach the European Union (EU) country to be offshored to the Muslim-majority Balkan country to have their asylum claims processed, and the first 16 have now been transferred.

“It is a new, courageous, unprecedented path, but one that perfectly reflects the European spirit and has all the makings of a path to be taken with other non-EU nations as well,” Meloni told the Italian parliament on Tuesday, October 15.

Of the 16 migrants sent to Albania, 10 are from Bangladesh, and the remaining six are Egyptians. It is unlikely any of the men will be eligible for asylum, and according to Meloni, those whose claims are rejected will be deported. Presently, few asylum seekers in the EU are deported even if their claims are found to be bogus, and the hope is that the threat of ending up in Albania instead of a relatively prosperous EU welfare state will deter arrivals. Up to 36,000 migrants can be housed and processed annually in Albanian centers.

All 16 migrants sent to Albania were picked up in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to reach Italy. However, under the plan, only migrants picked up in international waters by the Italian government or naval vessels are eligible to be sent to Albania. Those who reach Italian territory are not.

EUROPE’S MIGRANT CRISIS.

Italy has seen hundreds of thousands of illegals arrive in recent years, many of whom disappear from reception centers to begin working illegally or move onward to another EU country or the United Kingdom.

While over 157,000 migrants entered Italy during Meloni’s first year as prime minister, the number of arrivals has declined by around 64 percent so far in 2024.

Several other European countries have recently announced their own anti-illegal immigration measures, including Germany, which has reintroduced border controls for six months after several fatal mass stabbings.

Image by European Union, via Wikimedia Commons.

show less
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is hailing her country's asylum deal with Albania. The agreement allows migrants trying to reach the European Union (EU) country to be offshored to the Muslim-majority Balkan country to have their asylum claims processed, and the first 16 have now been transferred. show more
October 17, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
World

EU Chief Talks ‘Tough’ on Deportation.

The head of the European Union Commission has taken a new harder line on the deportation of illegals, drafting a letter that appears to support the idea of asylum processing centers outside of the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen released her letter on illegal migration on Tuesday, October 15, calling for measures to increase the number of illegal migrants deported.

Among the proposed policies is a call for the EU to develop better relationships with countries outside of the continental union to better facilitate deportations and cooperation in anti-people trafficking operations. Von der Leyen cited cooperation with North African states as a reason Italy has seen a decrease in illegal arrivals this year.

The letter also indicates that withholding or limiting visas for countries who refuse to take back their nationals has also had a positive effect, with Von der Leyen stating the EU should be ready to leverage visa policy in other areas like trade.

People smuggling, a multi-billion dollar illegal business, is also mentioned, with Von der Leyen calling for a greater sense of urgency in tackling the issue and stating members should “follow the money” to track, disrupt, and arrest people traffickers.

In a significant shift, Von Der Leyen also states that she is now open to using third countries to process asylum claims, noting Italy and Albania, a non-EU country, have signed such a deal.

She adds that using third countries to process asylum claims can deter migrants from trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, which is extremely dangerous due to both weather conditions and people smugglers overpacking boats.

Last year, the United Nations estimated that 1,908 migrants either died or disappeared trying to cross the Mediterranean.

Image by Mstyslav Chernov.

show less
The head of the European Union Commission has taken a new harder line on the deportation of illegals, drafting a letter that appears to support the idea of asylum processing centers outside of the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen released her letter on illegal migration on Tuesday, October 15, calling for measures to increase the number of illegal migrants deported. show more
October 16, 2024
World

What’s With These Exploding Packages?

Germany’s prosecutor general revealed on Tuesday that the country is investigating a series of fires triggered by incendiary devices concealed inside packages at a warehouse in Leipzig earlier this year. In August, authorities had already alerted businesses about the circulation of dangerous parcels after multiple incidents in which packages sent by individuals from various European nations caught fire while in transit.

The German authorities’ August letter to businesses explains that the fire-starting parcels contained electronic consumer goods and liquid-filled containers, suggesting that someone had deliberately engineered their ignition to damage the logistics network.

Thomas Haldenwang, the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, told a parliamentary committee on Monday that an air freight package that ignited nearly caused a plane crash, narrowly avoiding a major disaster.

During the same session, Haldenwang also noted a sharp rise in Russian espionage and sabotage efforts within Germany. However, the prosecutor general’s office refused to speculate on any direct connection to Russia, stating that the investigation into the “attempted aggravated arson” is ongoing and further details could not be provided at this time.

DHL, the shipping company that manages the Leipzig warehouse, has since implemented enhanced security measures across its European operations in response to the investigation. The company stressed its strict compliance with international transport security laws and protocols to protect its infrastructure, staff, and customers’ shipments.

Also in August, The National Pulse reported on Germany issuing a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) against an individual identified as Volodymyr S. European intelligence agencies believe the Ukrainian national—and a veteran of the Ukrainian military—is implicated in the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which was initially blamed on Russia.

show less
Germany's prosecutor general revealed on Tuesday that the country is investigating a series of fires triggered by incendiary devices concealed inside packages at a warehouse in Leipzig earlier this year. In August, authorities had already alerted businesses about the circulation of dangerous parcels after multiple incidents in which packages sent by individuals from various European nations caught fire while in transit. show more
October 15, 2024
War
World

Ukraine’s Army Recruiters Are Snatching Men Outside Kiev Nightspots.

Ukrainian soldiers have been caught effectively kidnapping grown men from outside popular nightclubs and restaurants in Kiev to conscript them into the armed forces as the country continues its fight against Russia. Footage has surfaced showing Ukrainian servicemen conducting operations across Kiev in search of men allegedly avoiding conscription obligations.

These efforts included checks outside the Palace of Sport following a Ukrainian rock band concert. Some men resisted as they were held or taken by officers:

Restaurants and bars were also targeted, including the Goodwine store and the Avalon restaurant.

Under Ukraine’s martial law, men aged 25 to 60 are eligible for conscription, and those 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country. The minimum conscription age was recently reduced from 27 to 25 due to a shortage of soldiers.

According to reports, similar recruitment raids have also been carried out in Kharkov (Kharkiv) and Dnipro.

Similar footage of soldiers taking men off the streets, likely to be sent to the front lines, has been posted on social media in recent months. Some Ukrainians have become angered over the tactics of military recruiters, with one incident in July seeing a grenade thrown at an army recruitment center.

DEMOCRAT CULPABILITY.

As Russia continues to make gains in the direction of the critical Ukrainian supply hub of Pokrovsk, President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama—and himself—for the current situation, admitting that nothing was done to stop Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

President Vladimir Putin refrained from making further incursions into Ukraine during Donald Trump’s presidency but launched a full-scale invasion under the Biden-Harris government in 2022 following their botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously admitted that his country is losing the war and has demanded more money and weapons from the West, as well as permission to launch Western missiles deep inside Russia.

Putin has noted that such missile strikes would require direct NATO assistance and would be considered an act of war by Russia.

show less
Ukrainian soldiers have been caught effectively kidnapping grown men from outside popular nightclubs and restaurants in Kiev to conscript them into the armed forces as the country continues its fight against Russia. Footage has surfaced showing Ukrainian servicemen conducting operations across Kiev in search of men allegedly avoiding conscription obligations. show more
October 13, 2024
Crime
World

Cops Nab Global Gay Child Porn Kingpin.

Police have announced the arrest of a dual Czech-American national identified as one of the world’s leading distributors of homosexual child pornography. This arrest by the Czech authorities comes after a comprehensive investigation involving both the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol). The suspect once ranked among the top three global distributors of such material.

The arrest followed a year-long operation by local law enforcement in collaboration with international partners. The FBI tracked the suspect’s activities for nearly a decade, but Europol’s efforts confirmed his identity. Czech investigators gained access to a substantial amount of encrypted data, which played a crucial role in the case.

According to Czech police, the defendant “mainly distributed content created by others and gave advice about ways to sexually abuse underage boys or to distribute child sexual abuse content on the dark web.” He is now in pre-trial detention and faces up to eight years in prison if convicted.

This announcement coincides with similar actions in Germany, where authorities have detained six men accused of managing a dark web platform dedicated to child pornography. The German suspects, aged 43 to 69, are suspected of being the principal operators of a site with hundreds of thousands of users. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Interior, Herbert Reul, described the scale of the case as “dizzyingly big.”

show less
Police have announced the arrest of a dual Czech-American national identified as one of the world's leading distributors of homosexual child pornography. This arrest by the Czech authorities comes after a comprehensive investigation involving both the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol). The suspect once ranked among the top three global distributors of such material. show more
October 11, 2024
News
World

Train Carrying Politicians Evacuated After ‘Explosion.’

A train carrying Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Strasbourg, France, to Brussels, Belgium, was evacuated on Thursday after an apparent explosion, causing significant disruption. The 2:57 PM Eurostar train, which was specially chartered by the European Parliament, had just left Strasbourg when passengers were evacuated back to the station’s main hall.

Emmanuel Foulon, a Belgian parliamentary assistant, reported hearing an “explosion,” with Pelle Geertsen, a Danish official, describing the evacuation as “chaotic.” According to TER Grand Est, the regional rail network, smoke was seen coming from the train, leading to the suspension of incoming and outgoing traffic.

The European Parliament confirmed the incident, claiming a “technical issue,” and said its services were coordinating with authorities to organize alternative transportation for the MEPs and staffers. Eurostar stated that the station’s fire brigade intervened promptly, ensuring all 740 passengers were evacuated safely.

Despite the disruption, there were no reported injuries. One staffer on the scene mentioned seeing smoke but confirmed that “everyone’s fine.” MEPs and staffers waited at the station while some opted to take taxis. Bas Eickhout, co-chair of the Greens, made light of the delay, noting it gave him time to catch up with colleagues.

Image: European Union 2017 – European Parliament.

show less
A train carrying Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Strasbourg, France, to Brussels, Belgium, was evacuated on Thursday after an apparent explosion, causing significant disruption. The 2:57 PM Eurostar train, which was specially chartered by the European Parliament, had just left Strasbourg when passengers were evacuated back to the station's main hall. show more
October 11, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Religion
UK
World

Criminalization of Prayer at Home is Now Here.

Christian and pro-life groups are raising alarms over new abortion laws in Scotland, which could criminalize prayer even in private homes. The legislation, which took effect last month, establishes 200-meter (~656-feet) “safe access zones” around all abortion clinics, banning activities that supposedly “harass, alarm, or distress” abortionists and their patients—including silent prayer vigils.

Even people living within these zones now face the possibility of prosecution for actions people can see or hear from outside their homes. This means activities such as praying aloud or displaying religious symbols could potentially be treated as crimes.

The Scottish Government led by the left-separatist Scottish National Party (SNP)—roughly equivalent to a U.S. state government—confirmed through letters sent to residents in Edinburgh’s safe zones: “In general, the offenses apply in public places within the safe access zones. However, activities in a private place (such as a house) within the area between the protected premises and the boundary of a zone could be an offense if they can be seen or heard within the zone and are done intentionally or recklessly.”

Many Christians, for whom prayer is a personal and sacred act, now fear their private expressions of faith could be under threat from the new law. Michael Robinson, executive director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, criticized the law as “sinister and Orwellian.” He stresses that the authorities could prosecute individuals for silently praying in their gardens or displaying Bible verses in their windows.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, called the law “regressive” and an example of “state overreach,” vowing to monitor its enforcement across the country.

Similar laws are set to be imposed in England following multiple failed prosecutions of Christians praying silently inside their heads near abortionists’ clinics.

Image by James Chan.

show less
Christian and pro-life groups are raising alarms over new abortion laws in Scotland, which could criminalize prayer even in private homes. The legislation, which took effect last month, establishes 200-meter (~656-feet) “safe access zones” around all abortion clinics, banning activities that supposedly "harass, alarm, or distress" abortionists and their patients—including silent prayer vigils. show more
October 11, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Politics
World

France’s Marion Marechal Forms New Party to ‘Strengthen’ the Right.

One of France’s most well-known populist-conservative politicians has formed a new party to strengthen and expand the populist-conservative right and create a national coalition. Marion Marechal, niece of populist National Assembly member and former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, announced the formation of Identité Libertés (Identity Freedom) this week after she and several others won seats in the European Parliament earlier this year.

Marechal and several others were expelled from French conservative writer Eric Zemmour‘s Reconquest Party, which she stood for during the European elections, for proposing an alliance with Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) during the subsequent snap national elections.

According to Marechal, the new party will stand against mass migration, Islamisation, and woke ideology in universities and schools. Noting the unstable situation in the French parliament, she argues that another snap election is likely and an early presidential election is even possible, calling for the right to unite under a broad coalition.

Marechal states that Marine Le Pen should lead any such coalition. Other conservatives, including Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR) leader Eric Ciotti, have also endorsed the idea.

“I am in favor of a right-wing policy, so all those who can contribute to this alliance naturally will be welcome,” said Ciotti, who until recently led the center-right Republicans.

Since the French legislative elections in July, President Emmanuel Macron has struggled to find a Prime Minister who a majority in parliament will support, as no single party or bloc of parties has a majority of seats.

His choice, former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, is expected to release a budget on Thursday, October 10. If not supported by Le Pen, Barnier’s time as Prime Minister could be over quickly, setting the stage for another snap election.

show less
One of France's most well-known populist-conservative politicians has formed a new party to strengthen and expand the populist-conservative right and create a national coalition. Marion Marechal, niece of populist National Assembly member and former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, announced the formation of Identité Libertés (Identity Freedom) this week after she and several others won seats in the European Parliament earlier this year. show more
orban trump
October 9, 2024
Election 2024
World

Hungary’s PM Says Champagne Will Flow if Trump Wins.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that he will pop open the champagne if President Donald J. Trump wins the White House next month, as Trump will solve the war in Ukraine. Orban, who is noted for his anti-mass migration, pro-family, and socially conservative policies, expressed his support for President Trump’s potential victory while addressing lawmakers at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He indicated he would “open several bottles of Champagne” to mark Trump’s win.

The Hungarian leader also commented on the implications of a Trump presidency for Europe. He suggested that Trump could resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which borders Hungary, before his potential inauguration in January. Trump has already stated he intends to broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia to stop the fighting.

His comments come amidst tension between Hungary and the European Union (EU) over Hungary’s stances on immigration and the conflict in Ukraine. Budapest turns away would-be illegal immigrants and has been reluctant to approve EU measures arming Ukraine and sanctioning Russia, angering the bloc. Orban has also refrained from participating in Western arms supplies to the Ukrainian military.

During conversations with journalists, Orban maintained that a ceasefire is necessary and expressed doubt over Ukraine’s ability to secure victory militarily. He urged the EU to reconsider its current strategy, implying that the existing approach is ineffective and could lead to a serious failure.

Earlier this year, Orban visited Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and President Trump. He discussed negotiating an end to the fighting with all three leaders.

The Hungarian leader has been a consistent Trump ally, claiming last year that Trump can “save the West.”

show less
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that he will pop open the champagne if President Donald J. Trump wins the White House next month, as Trump will solve the war in Ukraine. Orban, who is noted for his anti-mass migration, pro-family, and socially conservative policies, expressed his support for President Trump's potential victory while addressing lawmakers at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He indicated he would "open several bottles of Champagne" to mark Trump's win. show more