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Category: World
March 20, 2024
Jack Montgomery
News
Politics
World

European NATO Members Failing to Recruit OR Retain Soldiers.

European militaries are struggling to recruit or even retain soldiers amid the ongoing proxy war with Russia, which has exposed glaring weaknesses in the readiness and military-industrial capacity of European NATO members.

“At NATO meetings, we can talk about equipment, but now we also talk about… the level of retention,” revealed French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu when unveiling new policies to try and persuade French service members to stay.

“Those conversations now exist in all capitals, in all democracies that have professional armies without conscription,” Lecornu said.

French military personnel are, on average, now leaving the service a year earlier than they used to. Germany saw its army reduce in size by over 1,500 in 2023, while Britain faces year-on-year recruitment shortfalls equivalent to around two infantry battalions.

Several governments that have relied on volunteers for years are considering drafting conscripts again. Others believe increasing the recruitment of women could be a panacea and are offering them better pay and conditions — which has had the unintended consequence of prompting male soldiers to change gender in Spain.

Denmark, which is giving away all of its artillery to Ukraine, already practices conscription but is now expanding it to cover women and lengthening the required service period.

Lord William Hague, a former British Foreign Secretary and leader of the governing Conservative Party, argued early this year that the country “needs” to restore a form of conscription.

The 62-year-old also chastised young people for having a sense they possess “a lot of rights without any responsibility to protect them” despite never having served himself.

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European militaries are struggling to recruit or even retain soldiers amid the ongoing proxy war with Russia, which has exposed glaring weaknesses in the readiness and military-industrial capacity of European NATO members. show more
March 19, 2024
Ed Kozak
News
TECH
World

Biometric Mass Surveillance Legalized in Europe.

The European Parliament (EP) has passed the AI Act, which critics warn enshrines biometric mass surveillance in law.

The EU announced the adoption of the act as a “landmark” event, touting it as a safeguard that “limit[s] the use of identification systems by law enforcement.” An official press release claims the act “aims to protect fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law… from high-risk AI.”

The Act’s critics say the exact opposite is the case, asserting that the current legislation resulted from semi-secret negotiations between the EP, the European Commission, and the Council of the EU that lacked transparency and subverted the law’s original intent. MEP Patrick Beyer stated that the AI Act “effectively allows law enforcement the introduction of error-prone facial surveillance and facial recognition camera software in public spaces.”  The law, Beyer says, is poised to turn European nations into “high-tech surveillance states.”

Czech MEP Marcel Kolaja echoed Beyer’s concerns. He claimed that “national governments” inserted language laying the groundwork for legalized mass spying on citizens using cameras with AI biometric tech.

“Such cameras, equipped with artificial intelligence, are able to recognize people’s faces and thus keep track of who has been where, when, and with whom,” Kolaja said. “The AI Act should have banned such an Orwellian tool, but instead it explicitly legalizes it.”

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The European Parliament (EP) has passed the AI Act, which critics warn enshrines biometric mass surveillance in law. show more
March 19, 2024
War
World

Lindsey Graham Visits Kiev, Discusses Young Men.

During his visit to Ukraine, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urged Ukrainian officials on Monday to rapidly adopt a bill that would increase the pool of eligible military draftees in the nation, suggesting there should be no exemptions for men under the age of 27.

“I would hope that those eligible to serve in the Ukrainian military would join. I can’t believe it’s at 27,” Graham told reporters. “You’re in a fight for your life, so you should be serving — not at 25 or 27,” he said, adding: “We need more people in the line,” he said.

During his first journey to Kiev following a sudden rebuff of a $60 billion aid package last month, Senator Graham said he was “more optimistic than I’ve ever been that something will get out of the House pretty soon.” The Senator’s visit to Ukraine also involved a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine is grappling with diminishing soldiers and ammunition as Russia capitalizes on significant battlefield victories. Ukraine’s discussions on a new mobilization law to decrease the draft age to 25 underline its lack of enough trained troops ready for combat.

Senator Graham has been a staunch advocate for further aid for Ukraine, visiting the country multiple times since 2022. Nevertheless, he surprisingly opposed an aid package last month, aligning with Donald Trump’s stance on negotiating aid as loan packages rather than outright grants.

During his meeting with President Zelensky, he stated that it was fair to expect Ukraine and other allies to repay the U.S. in the future, illustrating his belief that the loan idea would garner success not only among Republicans but Democrats as well.

Despite aid disagreements, Senator Graham assured the Ukrainian troops that the U.S. would supply more 155mm artillery shells, which they currently lack. He also expressed disappointment in the delay of U.S.-provided long-range missiles known as ATACMS, asserting their crucial need on the battleground.

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During his visit to Ukraine, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urged Ukrainian officials on Monday to rapidly adopt a bill that would increase the pool of eligible military draftees in the nation, suggesting there should be no exemptions for men under the age of 27. show more
March 18, 2024
Jack Montgomery
News
War
World

Putin Warns of ‘Full-Scale Third World War’ After Election Win.

Following an expected victory in the Russian elections, President Vladimir Putin has warned a “full-scale” world war may be on the horizon, blaming Western governments who “want to intimidate us.”

“I think that everything is possible in the modern world,” he said when quizzed on the possibility of open conflict between the Russian Federation and the West following an election contest in which he won over 87 percent of the vote.

“But I have already said, and it is clear to everyone, that it will be one step away from a full-scale Third World War,” he added, lamenting that, in his view, “hardly anyone is interested in this.”

Western governments have argued the Russian elections were a sham, with opposition figures like the now-deceased Alexei Navalny unable to participate. Western news outlets who typically report negatively on Russia, such as The New York Times, have acknowledged Putin’s support does appear to be “real,” however, citing independent Levada Center polling putting his approval rating at 86 percent.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has suspended elections altogether and banned the country’s second-largest party for alleged Russian sympathies.

In February, Putin also warned that Western interference in Ukraine could spark a nuclear war.

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Following an expected victory in the Russian elections, President Vladimir Putin has warned a “full-scale” world war may be on the horizon, blaming Western governments who “want to intimidate us.” show more
March 16, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Culture
News
World

WATCH: ‘The Colony Can Fall’ – Century-Old Statue of Queen Victoria Torn Down.

A bronze statue of Queen Victoria has been torn down in Geelong, Australia, in the latest of a series of targeted attacks on British historical monuments in the former colony.

Erected in 1912, the statue of the 19th-century monarch was torn from its plinth in the early hours of Thursday morning. It was then vandalized with red paint, which was also used to deface the plinth, reading ‘Victoria, Queen and Empress, 1837-1901,’ with the words’ THE COLONY CAN FALL.’

The statue was less seriously vandalized earlier in March, being splashed with red paint and daubed with the words ‘THE COLONY WILL FALL.’

The same slogan appeared on a Melbourne statue of Captain James Cook, the British explorer who mapped much of Australia and New Zealand and discovered Hawaii, in January, which was toppled by being broken at the ankles. A second statue of Cook in the city was cut down in February.

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A bronze statue of Queen Victoria has been torn down in Geelong, Australia, in the latest of a series of targeted attacks on British historical monuments in the former colony. show more
March 15, 2024
News
UK
War
World

Russia Says It Has Killed 491 Americans in Ukraine.

Russia’s Defense Ministry released a report on Thursday stating that their forces have killed approximately 6,000 foreign mercenaries and volunteers who were fighting for Ukraine. The report alleges that a total of 13,387 “foreign mercenaries” from foreign countries have participated in the war since its commencement over two years ago.

Among the killed foreign fighters, Russia reports 491 were American fatalities. The estimated number of British casualties is 360, and 422 deaths from Canada. The highest number of foreign fighters were Polish, accounting for 1,497 deaths out of the total 2,690 reported.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss encouraged Western fighters to volunteer for Ukraine during the early stages of the Russian invasion. The U.S. also brazenly endorsed Ukraine’s foreign recruitment efforts via online platforms, even on social media platforms such as Facebook. But as the war hit a stalemate and the casualty rates soared, Western officials appeared to recede from their initial enthusiasm.

The negative repercussions of these endorsements were evident in the case of a young British man. Harry Gregg, who recently committed suicide after fighting in Ukraine, was reportedly motivated by the proclamations of Truss, who described those fighting for Ukraine as participants in a “battle for democracy.”

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Russia’s Defense Ministry released a report on Thursday stating that their forces have killed approximately 6,000 foreign mercenaries and volunteers who were fighting for Ukraine. The report alleges that a total of 13,387 “foreign mercenaries” from foreign countries have participated in the war since its commencement over two years ago. show more
March 15, 2024
NatSec
World

Trump Authorized CIA ‘Troll’ Campaign to Undermine China’s Xi.

Former President Donald Trump authorized a covert CIA operation against China during his time in office. Set into motion in 2019, the CIA operatives were tasked with disseminating negative narratives about the Chinese government on social media platforms to sway Chinese public opinion against the regime. The campaign primarily focused on corruption within the ruling Communist Party and criticisms of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

After officials substantiated the veracity of the narratives used in the campaign, they were secretly released to the Chinese public using pseudonymous internet identities to stir suspicion among Chinese leadership and divert valuable resources to counter the cyber propaganda.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the operation, stating it represented the U.S.’s propensity to leverage media platforms and public opinion as tools for disseminating false information. The strategically planned operation by the CIA was a counter to China’s covert operations aimed at enhancing its global influence.

The impact of the covert campaign remains unknown. It is also unclear whether President Joe Biden has continued the program.

The news of the CIA’s covert program comes on the heels of the adoption of legislation in the House of Representatives that could force the sale of or ban the Chinese-controlled social media app TikTok. TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have been accused of collecting data on Americans on behalf of the Chinese state.

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Former President Donald Trump authorized a covert CIA operation against China during his time in office. Set into motion in 2019, the CIA operatives were tasked with disseminating negative narratives about the Chinese government on social media platforms to sway Chinese public opinion against the regime. The campaign primarily focused on corruption within the ruling Communist Party and criticisms of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. show more
March 15, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Immigration
World

‘Halal Secret Weapon’ Is ‘Having More Kids’ Says Pakistani Theologian Boasting That Western Nation Will Be 50% Muslim in One Generation.

Pakistan-born, Yale-educated theologian Yasir Qadhi predicted Muslims will be approaching a majority in Swedish cities within a single generation, saying that Muslims’ high birth rates are their “secret weapon.”

“Walking through the streets of Malmö is like walking through Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, or Damascus, the capital of Syria,” Qadhi said of the rapid demographic change in Sweden’s third-largest city.

Qadhi said politicians in the city told him that “if the Swedish population maintains its negative [birthrate] and the Muslim population maintains… the average of, what, five, six, seven kids… within one generation it is very likely [it] will be almost half Muslim.”

The academic called this the “halal secret weapon,” adding: “It’s not our fault that we have more kids, guys, “you wanna do whatever you wanna do!”

“The locals are not reproducing; it’s not our fault; I don’t know why they’re getting irritated at us,” he repeated.

The academic also complained about Islamic schools in the country being shut down over links to Islamist extremism and terrorism, attributing this “Islamophobia.”

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Pakistan-born, Yale-educated theologian Yasir Qadhi predicted Muslims will be approaching a majority in Swedish cities within a single generation, saying that Muslims’ high birth rates are their “secret weapon.” show more
March 15, 2024
News
War
World

Putin to Redeploy Troops Along Finland Border in Response to NATO Expansion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday that Russia would redeploy troops at its border with Finland.

“We generally had ideal relations with Finland. Simply perfect,” said Putin. “We did not have a single claim against each other, especially territorial, not to mention other areas. We didn’t even have troops; we removed all the troops from there, from the Russian-Finnish border,” he noted. “However, it is up to them to decide. That’s what they decided. But we didn’t have troops there, now we will.”

Putin’s decision is a direct response to Finland’s joining NATO. The Russian leader described Finland’s decision to join the treaty organization — and Sweden’s to do the same — as an “absolutely senseless step from the point of view of ensuring their own national interests.”

In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Putin made clear that Russia’s present tensions with the West — and its military action in Ukraine — came about as a result of NATO expansion. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the West made explicit promises not to expand the organization. However, NATO has continuously expanded its membership, which now includes nations — like Finland — that border Russia.

Moscow has recently warned on multiple occasions that escalating Western interference in Ukraine could spark a full-scale war in Europe and even nuclear retaliation. Despite these warnings, many Western countries have increased their bellicose posturing towards Russia, risking world peace itself.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday that Russia would redeploy troops at its border with Finland. show more
March 14, 2024
News
World

Christian Monks Stabbed to Death in Gruesome Monastery Attack.

Three Egyptian monks from the Coptic Orthodox Church have been stabbed to death in a monastery in South Africa.

The suspect in the attack at the Saint Mark the Apostle and Saint Samuel the Confessor Monastery, located in Cullinan, east of Pretoria, has been detained but identified only as a man aged 35.

No motive for the attack has been disclosed, with the authorities saying only that they do not believe it was theft, as nothing was stolen.

The Coptic Orthodox Church has identified the monks as Takla el-Samuely, Yostos ava Markos, and Mina ava Markos and recognized them as “martyrs.”

Headquartered in Egypt, the Church mainly serves the Coptic people, who predate the Arab-Islamic conquest and colonization of the country and still comprise five-to-ten percent of the population.

The Copts have their own pontiff in Alexandria, Pope Tawadros II, who traces his seat to St. Mark in the same way the Roman Catholic pontiff traces his seat to St. Peter. They are frequently targeted by radical Islamic terrorists, with dozens being killed during twin suicide bombings at church services on Palm Sunday in 2017, for example.

The Church is part of the Oriental Orthodox Church, which also includes the likes of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. It is separate from the Eastern Orthodox Church, which includes the likes of the Greek Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church.

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Three Egyptian monks from the Coptic Orthodox Church have been stabbed to death in a monastery in South Africa. show more