/qresearch/ -  Q Research

Auto Journalist Swarmed by Cops After Flock Cameras Mistakenly Flag Car Theft: We ‘Live in a Surveillance State’

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/07/auto-journalist-swarmed-cops-flock-cameras-mistakenly-flag/

Contrary to popular myth, the 19th-century English Luddites did not oppose technology per se. They did, however, oppose with their lives technology used by elites to exploit the masses.

Late last month, automotive journalist Joel Feder of The Drive learned firsthand what happens when police act on faulty information provided by Flock license-plate-reader cameras.

“We now live in a surveillance state where cameras mounted on stoplights are tracking our cars, our devices, our pets, and even us,” Feder wrote.

Indeed, one can scarcely reach any other conclusion.

Feder, who test-drives vehicles and then produces online content, took a $155,000 Range Rover out to run errands with his wife on a late-June Sunday afternoon in suburban Minnesota.

Suddenly, in a Kohl’s parking lot, four police cars surrounded Feder’s vehicle. Hands on their guns, the officers began shouting for Feder and his wife to get out of the vehicle.

Fortunately, the couple complied with police instructions.

At that point, after a humiliating pat-down, Feder learned that Flock’s cameras had flagged the vehicle’s plates as stolen.

Moreover, the ambush at Kohl’s occurred after officers had tracked the vehicle for days.

After a fair amount of difficulty, Feder and the officers finally learned that the problem began in faraway Los Angeles, California. There, a Jaguar Land Rover dealership had reported New Jersey plates 34 03 DTM stolen. Flock’s system, however, had recorded the allegedly stolen plate as simply 34 DTM. Then, the system flagged Feder’s Range Rover, which had a plate number of 34 10 DTM.

In other words, Flock’s surveillance system ignored the two middle numbers.

After the officers relaxed, Feder “connected the final dot.” Continue…

Zelensky’s Latest Government Reshuffle Was Triggered by New Incoming Corruption Scandal – Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Olga Stefanishyna Will Reportedly Be Charged

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/07/zelenskys-latest-government-reshuffle-was-triggered-new-incoming/

Endless corruption scandals, Kiev style.

We have reported here on TGP about Kiev regime leader Volodymyr Zelensky’s new shakeup in his government, which will see him appointing his fourth Ukrainian Prime Minister shortly.

What wasn’t so clear before was that this restructuring of the administration was triggered by the imminent very bad developments in the corruption investigations that have been whipping Zelensky’s rule for the last year. Continue…

WATCH: Hilarious Video Resurfaces Showing Toronto Police “Combatting Transphobia” After Citizen Trolls “2SLGBTQ+ Liaison Officer” Driving Transgender Cop Car

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/07/watch-hilarious-video-resurfaces-showing-toronto-police-combatting/

The Toronto Police Department is coming under fire after a video resurfaced, in which they combat transphobia in response to a citizen trolling their trans-friendly police division.

The video, titled “2SLGBTQ+ Liaison Officers Combatting Transphobia In Toronto,” was posted on the official Toronto Police channel in June 2024.

Sgt. Rob Chevalier, the Toronto Police 2SLGBTQI+ Liaison Officer, and a black man identified as “Nevada” are seen in the video discussing an incident where a driver pulled up to the Toronto Police pride SUV and trolled the duo.

Chevalier says he was assisting with a case, where Nevada was apparently a victim, and drove her home for her safety.

“He drove me home in the fabulous pride SUV, and as he was driving me home, we reached a stoplight, and then an individual in a pickup truck came up to us,” Nevada says before the video cuts to an Instagram video from the incident. The man pulls up to the car and asks, “Are you guys cops or you just identify as cops?”

Chevalier is seen asking the driver, “What does it look like I am?” and the driver hilariously responds, “I have no idea. Reality doesn’t exist anymore.” This apparently prompted the department to actually post a video of the exchange in an effort to combat “transphobia.”

“Part of me was shocked, but part of me was not shocked,” Nevada said of the event. “I am a trans woman; I’ve been transitioning for eight years. I get harassed and vilified every day of my life.”

Chevalier goes on to claim that hate crimes “toward the 2SLGBT community are up 140%” and condemns the so-called “violent rhetoric” that he experienced from the other driver. Continue…

In a Departure From Post-WW2 Limits, Japan Begins To Build a New Centralized Intelligence Agency

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/07/departure-post-ww2-limits-japan-begins-build-new/

The Japanese are trying to step up to the challenges of our day.

Post-WW2 Japan has operated under significant limitations on its military (the Self-Defense Forces) and its intelligence agencies.

But right now, the Asian island-nation is leaving these restraints in the past, as the new government tries to build a centralized intelligence agency – something that is only natural in most countries, but still controversial there.

Japanese leaders have privately approached partners such as the United States, Australia, and Germany in recent months for advice on technology, staffing, and priorities, according to interviews with officials from Japan and elsewhere. The conversations have not been previously reported. Continue…

Iran Launches 'Brazen' Attacks On More Tankers In Hormuz, Killing Sailors, After Araghchi Mocked Trump's Toll Plan

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/iran-launches-brazen-attacks-more-tankers-hormuz-killing-crewmembers-after-araghchi

The battle for Hormuz has ramped up after the United States has undertaken three consecutive nights of major bombing raids against Iranian targets.

All the while President Trump is said to be "very serious" about his plan to impose a 20% toll on cargo transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, a Semafor report says, citing a White House official who says the president has desired such a plan for months. Both warring sides are insisting that it is their side alone which will be 'guardian' over the strait.

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi took some jabs at the proposed US plan soon after Trump unveiled it on Truth Social.

"POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service," Araghchi wrote on X. "20% is of course too much. We will be fair," he added.

Below: ongoing reports that the Houthis are entering the war after Monday missile attacks on the kingdom: Continue…

Trump's Election Integrity Efforts Meet Resistance In Courts

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trumps-election-integrity-efforts-meet-resistance-courts

President Donald Trump's efforts to overhaul U.S. voting systems have been stymied by court orders finding that his tactics were legally flawed.

During his second term, Trump issued two executive orders on election integrity. Among other provisions, they required proof of citizenship and asked multiple federal agencies to compile a list of eligible voters in each state.

Some courts blocked his actions, saying that the requirements intruded on Americans' privacy rights and could exclude eligible voters. At least one court ruled in Trump's favor, however, creating a conflict between two judges.

Here's what to know about Trump's efforts and the legal battles surrounding them. Continue…

Warren Buffett Cuts Gates Foundation From Annual Stock Giving As Epstein Scandal Shadows Over Bill Gates

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/warren-buffett-cuts-gates-foundation-annual-stock-giving-epstein-scandal-shadows-over-bill

Warren Buffett excluded the Gates Foundation from his annual charitable stock gifts for the first time in two decades, as scrutiny over Bill Gates' connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to cast a dark shadow over Gates and the foundation.

CNBC reports that the 95-year-old chairman will donate 9 million Class B shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, and 1 million shares each to the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and the Novo Foundation.

"My goal is to dispose of all of my Berkshire shares within about eight years," Buffett wrote in a statement announcing the gifts.

He added, "As I explained last year, my children are unfortunately growing older. I have every hope that the three of them are able to carry out the disposal of my shares by December 31, 2034."

Buffett's exclusion of the Gates Foundation breaks decades of giving; the foundation has received more than $47 billion in Berkshire stock from Buffett since 2006. This follows scrutiny of the foundation's ties to Epstein, and Buffett has recently said he has not spoken with Gates since the controversy erupted. Continue…

‘The Odyssey’ Star Elliot Page: Gender Is a ‘Quaint Myth,’ Male-Female Dynamic Is ‘Absurd’ Because Animals Are ‘Queer’

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/07/14/the-odyssey-star-elliot-page-gender-is-a-quaint-myth-male-female-dynamic-is-absurd-because-animals-are-queer/

Transgender actor and The Odyssey star Elliot Page came out against traditional gender roles, calling the male-female dynamic a “quaint myth” and insisting that if animals can engage in “queer” sex, why shouldn’t humans. Continue…

U.S. Joins Philippines, 12 Others Demanding Beijing Respect Ruling Rejecting its South China Sea Claims

https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2026/07/13/u-s-joins-philippines-12-others-demanding-beijing-respect-ruling-rejecting-its-south-china-sea-claims/

The administration of President Donald Trump was among 14 countries publishing a joint statement on Sunday to mark the tenth anniversary of a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague that found China’s claims to nearly the entire South China Sea invalid. Continue…

30 beluga whales stranded in abandoned Ontario theme park head to US aquariums for a fresh start

https://thepostmillennial.com/30-beluga-whales-stranded-in-abandoned-toronto-theme-park-head-to-us-aquariums-for-a-fresh-start

Thirty beluga whales stranded at Canada's Marineland theme park since its closure in 2024 will be relocated to accredited aquariums after an international rescue plan received final approval, avoiding the possibility that the animals could have been euthanized.

The whales have remained at the Niagara Falls marine park since it shut down due to financial difficulties, while concerns mounted over their future. Canadian authorities had reportedly considered euthanasia if suitable homes could not be found for the animals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has now approved a plan allowing the whales to be transferred to facilities in the United States and Europe over the coming weeks.

Twenty-eight of the belugas will be divided among four accredited U.S. facilities: Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and SeaWorld parks in San Diego and San Antonio. The remaining two whales will be relocated to Oceanogràfic València in Spain. "This rescue effort will take several weeks to mobilize and complete, and the comfort and safety of the whales remains of the utmost importance," a spokesperson for the American aquarium consortium said.

Before transport begins, each whale must undergo veterinary examinations and be cleared for travel by Canadian officials. Aquarium specialists from the receiving facilities will also assess the animals before accompanying them to their new homes. "Once the belugas are cleared for travel by Canadian veterinarians, aquarium experts will accompany the animals to their new homes, where they will be met with diverse seafood to meet their nutritional needs, high quality environments with guaranteed water quality and onsite medical care should they require it at any time," the consortium said.

Marineland has faced years of scrutiny over its treatment of marine mammals. Reports indicate roughly 20 whales died at the park since 2019, fueling criticism from animal welfare organizations. Canadian officials previously blocked a proposal to transfer the whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, citing the country's 2019 law restricting the captivity of whales and dolphins for entertainment purposes.

The belugas will now be cared for at accredited facilities equipped with dedicated veterinary teams, high-quality habitats, and long-term care programs.

WATCH: Edmonton fire leaves one resident dead after vehicle collides with building

https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/watch-edmonton-fire-leaves-one-resident-dead-after-vehicle-collides-with-building/74990

A blaze in north Edmonton on Monday left one resident dead after a mixed-use residential and commercial building was engulfed in flames following a vehicle collision.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded to the blaze at the corner of 132 Ave.and 82 St. shortly before 9:30 p.m. Monday night, after a vehicle collided with a mixed-use residential and commercial building in the Killarney neighbourhood.

Officials have confirmed that one individual who lived in a residential unit above the building's ground-level businesses died in the incident, and crews are working to locate and identify residents who remain unaccounted.

The vehicle's driver was treated by EMS and remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Roughly 44 firefighters and 8-10 ambulances responded to the scene on Monday, and officials say crews continue to fight the blaze as of Tuesday morning.

Edmonton Police Service shut down 82 St. between 137 Aven.and Yellowhead Trail in both directions Monday, but have since decreased the closure to between 131 Ave. and 133 Ave.

Videos posted by YEGWAVE show flames bursting from the centre units, with thick black smoke spewing from windows and doors across the building, while emergency crews at ground level and on ladders above the building attempt to contain the fire.

Photos taken Tuesday morning show significant damage across the scene, with the building's central units appearing to have partially crumbled after being burnt to the studs.

Feds, Alberta, and Oilsands Companies Sign Deal to Move Forward With Pathways Carbon Capture Project

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/feds-alberta-and-oilsands-companies-sign-deal-to-move-forward-with-pathways-carbon-capture-project-6061023?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

The federal government, Alberta, and five major oilsands companies have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding that they say will advance the multibillion-dollar Pathways carbon capture and storage project.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the Pathways project was signed July 2, the same day that Alberta submitted its proposal to the Major Projects Office for a new crude oil pipeline from Alberta to the southern coast of B.C.

‘Mutually Dependent’

The July 2 MOU was announced July 13 and proposes to “responsibly” boost oilsands production while lessening carbon emissions. The MOU specifically notes that the proposed new pipeline and the Pathways project are “mutually dependent,” echoing past statements from Prime Minister Mark Carney that any new pipeline will carry “decarbonized” oil.

The Pathways project was put forward by five major oilsands companies that make up the Oil Sands Alliance, namely Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus Energy, ConocoPhillips Canada, Imperial, and Suncor.

The proposed project, which is estimated to cost $16.5 billion to $20 billion, would use a network of pipelines to transport captured carbon dioxide from several major oilsands facilities in northern Alberta and carry it to underground carbon storage sites near Cold Lake, Alta. Continue…

Police Release Identities of 2 Men Killed in Toronto Festival

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/police-release-identities-of-2-men-killed-in-toronto-festival-6061220?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

Police have released the identities of the two men killed in the deadly shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair festival in Toronto on July 11 that also left five others with non-life-threatening injuries.

The festival celebrating Latin music and culture had roughly 13,000 people gathered when the shooting broke out, according to police.

“The victims have been identified as Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20,” Toronto Police Service wrote in a July 13 release.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said July 13 that the shooting was a “targeted event” and that Quashie and Vernaza knew each other. He added that police are also investigating whether two additional shootings in Toronto over the weekend have any link to the Salsa on St. Clair attack.

The attack occurred shortly after 8 p.m. near St. Clair Ave. West and Arlington Ave. in midtown Toronto when police say they responded to reports of gunfire at the festival.

Upon arrival, they found seven individuals who had suffered gunshot wounds, five of whom were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Continue…

Former Manitoba MP Charged with Gun Trafficking After Authorities Seize Hundreds of Firearms

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/former-manitoba-mp-charged-with-gun-trafficking-after-authorities-seize-hundreds-of-firearms-6061446?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

Former Manitoba MP and Dauphin Mayor Inky Mark has been charged following a months-long firearm trafficking investigation that resulted in the confiscation of more than 400 guns and an antique cannon earlier this month.

Mark was arrested after RCMP seized 439 guns, an antique cannon, ammunition, and more than $300,000 in cash from a western Manitoba home near the city of Dauphin during a July 7 search, Manitoba RCMP Cpl. Barry Kirby said at a July 13 press conference.

“It’s expected to take several weeks for investigators to document the large collection of evidence gathered at the residence and determine how many firearms were illegally possessed,” Kirby said. “What we’re able to confirm today is that at least three firearms were illegally trafficked, at least one firearm had its serial number tampered with, and hundreds of the firearms were improperly stored inside the home.”

Mark appeared in court last week to answer to a dozen charges and was released from custody with specific conditions.

The 78-year-old former politician has been charged with firearms trafficking, possession of a firearm with a tampered serial number, possession of a firearm when knowing possession is unauthorized, and possession of a restricted/prohibited weapon with ammo without a licence.

He has also been charged with three counts of unsafe firearms storage, two counts of careless use of a firearm, and two counts of possession of a prohibited device, according to a police press release. Continue…

Green Candidate Tayte Willows Beats Liberal Leader in PEI Byelection

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/green-candidate-tayte-willows-beats-liberal-leader-in-pei-byelection-6061502?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

Green Party candidate Tayte Willows has won the Prince Edward Island byelection, edging out the Liberal party’s leader to secure the same number of seats in the legislature as the official Opposition.

Willows’ July 13 byelection victory in Cornwall-Meadowbank over Liberal Leader Robert Mitchell gives the Green Party four seats in the 27-seat legislature, matching the Opposition Liberals’ seat count.

The provincial byelection was called after the death of Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Mark McLane in March.

Willows received 1,184 votes, representing nearly 40 percent of the ballots cast, placing her ahead of Mitchell, who secured 31 percent of the vote with 955 votes.

Caley McDonald of the Progressive Conservatives wasn’t far behind with 823 votes, while NDP candidate Craig Nash placed a distant fourth with just 24 votes.

Willows told the CBC her win will give the Green Party “an incredible boost” ahead of the provincial election next year, saying it shows the Greens are “not just a fringe party.” Continue…

Canadian Government Loses Polish Court Case Related to COVID Vaccine Mandate

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/canadian-government-loses-polish-court-case-related-to-covid-vaccine-mandate-6061014?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

A Polish court has ruled in favour of a Canadian embassy employee who was put on leave without pay for refusing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.

Karolina Janiak, a Polish citizen who had worked at the Warsaw embassy since 2005 as a locally engaged member of staff, sued her employer when she was unilaterally placed on leave without pay in 2021 for not complying with the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Weeks earlier, the federal government had announced the COVID-19 vaccine mandate across the public service and in federally regulated workplaces.

Janiak had sought a medical exemption. Before she could secure it, her salary was withheld starting in December 2021.

Janiak resigned from the embassy in February 2022 and filed her lawsuit in April of that year.

The District Court for Warsaw-Śródmieście issued a ruling in the case in late June of this year, which was obtained by The Epoch Times. Continue…

CBSA struggling to keep up with deporting foreign fugitives

https://www.rebelnews.com/cbsa_struggling_to_keep_up_with_deporting_foreign_fugitives

Canada has 33,000 foreign fugitives on its soil, all with active warrants for detention and deportation, including many with criminal records, and the agency responsible for removing them has set a target that falls 13,000 short, according to federal documents reported by Blacklock's Reporter.

A Privy Council briefing note dated February 3, titled Advancing Border Security, confirmed the Canada Border Services Agency removed over 18,000 inadmissible people in the last fiscal year — the most in a decade — and was funded to reach 20,000 removals annually over each of the next two fiscal years.

To do so, the CBSA hired approximately 30 additional frontline personnel.

Aaron McCrorie, CBSA's vice-president, told the Commons public safety committee in December that the backlog resembles an unwinnable plumbing problem. "I liken our inventories to a bathtub," he said. "We are constantly scooping water out of that bathtub but the bathtub is filling up." Continue…

Alberta Fact Check: Indigenous leader claims to be at war with Alberta over independence referendum

https://www.rebelnews.com/alberta_fact_check_indigenous_leader_claims_to_be_at_war_with_alberta_over_independence_referendum

The annual gathering of Indigenous chiefs under the umbrella of the Assembly of First Nations is kicking off in Ottawa.

The upcoming referendum on the soft-independence question is expected to be on the discussion agenda. Some of the stances enshrined at the gathering could be contentious in light of some of the inflammatory rhetoric already shared by some chiefs.

AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak stated that First Nations lands are not part of any territory that separatists could claim. She is correct.

Most independence advocates understand that the land held by First Nations as per the treaties holds distinct status. The 98.4% of Alberta’s landmass that was clearly forever ceded within the treaties is what could become a separate nation. Unfortunately, there is some confusion held by some about what permanently ceded means.

Some chiefs have been calling for civil disobedience if Albertans are allowed to participate in a democratic referendum. They feel entitled to potentially break laws and block infrastructure to keep citizens from voting on issues.

The heated language from chiefs fighting against holding a referendum surely inspired Cold Lake First Nation Chief Kelsey Jacko as he has declared “we are at war!” in a recent CBC article when speaking of the referendum.

There is no war. It is simply a referendum, and it’s a democratic exercise that dozens of free nations hold all the time. In using such irresponsible language, though, political leaders from Indigenous bands could inspire people to take extra-democratic actions.

A civil war with Indigenous people isn’t on the horizon, but conflict could spread if chiefs continue to try to provoke their constituents into extreme responses to holding a referendum. The chiefs would be better served campaigning for their citizens to get out to vote rather than encouraging disorder.

Alberta Fact Check: Alberta pays, Quebec gets. That's the imbalance.

https://www.rebelnews.com/alberta_fact_check_alberta_pays_quebec_gets_thats_the_imbalance

Federalists say Alberta pays more into Confederation because Albertans earn more, that's just how a progressive tax system works. If that's all it was, Quebec would receive federal spending roughly in line with what it contributes to Canada's economy. Except, it doesn't.

According to a Fraser Institute analysis using Statistics Canada data, Alberta generates 16% of Canada's GDP, but receives just 9.6% of federal spending. Quebec, meanwhile, generates 19.6% of Canada's GDP yet receives 19.8% of all federal spending — almost exactly one dollar out of every five Ottawa spends.

The disparity is even more striking when you look at federal revenues. Alberta contributes 15.3% of all federal revenue while Quebec contributes 15.1%. In other words, the two provinces send almost the same share of money to Ottawa.

But when the money comes back, Alberta gets less than one-tenth of federal spending while Quebec receives nearly one-fifth.

The Fraser Institute calculates that Albertans are net contributors of approximately $5,225 per person every year to the federation. Quebec, by contrast, is a net recipient of roughly $2,102 per person.

That's because this isn't just about equalization. It reflects the total balance of federal taxation and federal spending across the country.

Over the last two decades, the numbers become staggering. Fraser estimates Alberta will have contributed a cumulative $321.9 billion more to Ottawa than it receives between 2007-08 and 2026-27. Quebec, meanwhile, remains one of Confederation's largest net beneficiaries.

No wonder Alberta feels like it's paying for a country that increasingly works against its interests. Ottawa blocks pipelines, caps emissions, layers on regulations and then redistributes Alberta's wealth elsewhere.

Albertans aren't objecting because they pay more taxes. They're objecting because Alberta contributes roughly the same share of federal revenue as Quebec while receiving barely half the share of federal spending. That's not equal treatment.

PayPal Soars On Reported $53 Billion Buyout Bid From Stripe And Advent

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/paypal-soars-reported-53-billion-buyout-bid-stripe-and-advent

PayPal shares surged the most on record in premarket trading in New York after Reuters reported that payment company Stripe and private equity firm Advent International have offered more than $53 billion to acquire the struggling payments platform.

PYPL shares are up 20% premarket…

It's the biggest single-day jump since at least 2015 (which is near the lows where it is currently trading)…

Bloomberg noted call option volume surged ahead of the Reuters report:

Call option volume and implied volatility for Paypal surged ahead of a report that Stripe and Advent had made a bid for the ​digital payments firm, indicating some traders were well-positioned ahead of the news.

The proposed $60.50-a-share bid represents a roughly 28% premium to PayPal's Tuesday close, though it remains 80% below the $308 peak recorded in July 2021.

Here's more from the report:

The offer, submitted earlier ‌this month, is backed by about $50 billion in committed financing from banks, said one of the people. The offer represents around a 28% premium to PayPal's closing share price on Tuesday.

Rumors of a potential acquisition first surfaced in late February when Bloomberg reported that Stripe had expressed interest in PayPal.

Related:

PayPal Suffers Worst Drop In Four Years After Profit Miss, CEO Set To Exit

PayPal was one of the early pioneers of digital payments, but the company has quickly lost ground as consumers shifted to alternatives such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

New CEO Enrique Lores has framed his turnaround around cutting costs, simplifying the organization and refocusing the company's strategy. But with competitive pressures mounting and the shares trading at near all-time lows, an outright sale may offer a more credible exit strategy.

US Gov't Set To Expose Far-Left Radicalization Pipeline Leading Back To Communist Cuba

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/us-govt-set-expose-far-left-radicalization-pipeline-leading-back-communist-cuba

Watching the Democratic Socialists of America tighten their grip on the Democratic Party while far-left activists grow louder and bolder in their calls for revolution, "killing capitalists," and destroying the U.S. "from within" set off alarm bells.

Even the left-wing outlet The Atlantic acknowledged the troubling rise of "left-wing terrorism" following a wave of riots, political violence, assassinations and attempted assassinations, foiled terror plots, and firebombings targeting private companies.

That raised an important question: Are these efforts by far-left activist networks and NGOs to sow chaos organic, or are they part of, or linked to, foreign subversion networks that are helping fuel the unrest?

That prompted us in December 2025 to ask this question: "Is There a 'Cuba Connection' Behind the Radicalization of America's Nonprofit Left?"

Six and a half months later, a State Department official speaking to Breitbart News appears to be answering the very question we raised months ago.

"The State Department will be issuing a report detailing the Cuban regime's longstanding campaign to foment left-wing extremism in the United States and internationally," the official said, adding, "The report finds that for nearly seven decades, the Cuban regime has played an indispensable role in nearly every notable far-left insurgency, revolution, and militant movement across the Western Hemisphere and beyond." Continue…

"Deport Criminals Who Steal Or Kill": Spanish Model Blasts Barcelona's Immigration Crisis

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/deport-criminals-who-steal-or-kill-spanish-model-blasts-barcelonas-immigration-crisis

Influencer and model Jessica Goicoechea has posted a video on her social media channels in which she openly criticizes the insecurity she believes plagues Barcelona and details the personal measures she has taken to protect herself. In the clip, Goicoechea displays several security items she recently bought in Andorra, including 4 bottles of pepper sprays and a taser gun, which she describes as her "new essentials."

The video ends with a direct message: "Now, I can go calmly through Barcelona."

??? JUST IN: Spanish model Jessica Goicoechea shows off her 4 bottles of pepper spray and a Taser gun while speaking out against immigration.

"Now, I can go calmly through Barcelona," she said.

Following the video's viral spread, Goicoechea wrote a statement explaining that… pic.twitter.com/ATZYvfkOaX

— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) July 13, 2026

The publication quickly sparked intense debate across social platforms. While some users criticized her for publicly showcasing self-defense weapons, many others - particularly women - expressed support and inquired about where similar products could be purchased. In response, Goicoechea stated that she is receiving "infinite messages" from women seeking ways to protect themselves. She defended her actions by saying that, given the current situation, she believes "if you don't protect yourself, no one will."

Following the video's viral spread, Goicoechea followed up with a written statement. She explained that she had never wanted to enter debates about safety or immigration but felt compelled to speak out because conditions have deteriorated. Continue…

Israeli Officials Try To Push US Refueling Tankers Out Of Ben Gurion Airport Amid Disruptions

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israeli-officials-try-push-us-refueling-tankers-out-ben-gurion-airport-amid

Immense controversy has remained centered on Ben Gurion International Airport as dozens of giant US Air Force refueling tankers have essentially taken over the main Israeli flight hub for many months, since the start of Trump's Operation Epic Fury. Reports also say it has cost the airport hundreds of millions of dollars at this point.

The Israeli government itself seems to be divided, and there's been outrage among the general public as the presence of the American tankers has blocked and slowed regular commercial flights, leading to the recent cancelations of many passengers' tickets, but with an expected tens of thousands more cancelations to come.

On Tuesday the simmering controversy erupted again, and has even raised the possibility of introducing fresh tensions with Washington, after Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced that the government will not allow more than 20 US refueling tankers to be parked at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport at any given time.

Regev specifically addressed the domestic public's concerns over air travel. "Hundreds of thousands of plane tickets were bought by Israelis to fly and enjoy their summer vacation," the official said. "We promised that we will enable commercial flights and we will not cancel a single ticket because of American refueling planes." Continue…

The Lockdown Disaster Must Not Be Forgiven

https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/lockdown-disaster-must-not-be-forgiven

Six years since “15 Days to Slow the Spread", data shows why our policies didn't work…

That policy has to have been one of the most disastrous in world history, created by “experts” who took all established pre-pandemic planning documents and tossed them out the window at the first opportunity.

It was a policy based on inaccurate reports out of China, which claimed that their lockdowns effectively stamped out transmission of Covid-19 within a matter of days.

It was a policy that ignored solid research – from established epidemiologists like Dr. Jay Bhattacharya – which found that the coronavirus had already spread much more widely than previously realized.

It must be noted forever that lockdowns and the associated mask mandates, vaccine passports, and school closures continued in some places for several years. The ramifications of those wretched policies will be quite literally endless. It’s not an exaggeration to say that lockdowns, our policies, and responses have quite literally changed the course of world history.

One would think that there would definitely be a concerted effort to understand whether such policies were effective or not. Whether approaching respiratory viruses with authoritarian crackdowns on businesses and schools was necessary to save lives.

Yet six years later, there’s unfortunately very little interest in examining those questions. And when you understand the data from Sweden, you will see exactly why. Continue…

Jack Smith's Team Spied On 44 Lawmakers' Texts, Built A Case On Them, And Misled Congress: Grassley

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/jack-smiths-team-spied-44-lawmakers-texts-built-case-them-and-misled-congress-grassley

Former special counsel Jack Smith's investigators blew past the Justice Department's own privilege safeguards to directly access text messages between Trump White House officials and 44 members of Congress - then had the FBI match the phone numbers to lawmakers' names, according to DOJ records released Tuesday.

Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis told Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in a letter accompanying the records that Smith's team "bypassed the Filter Team and directly accessed these text messages." The FBI then worked out which senators and House members had sent or received them, Davis wrote.

The filter unit existed for one purpose: to screen messages pulled from the National Archives for privileged material before line investigators ever laid eyes on them.

"All communication to/from the Filter Team must go through the Coordinator," one internal protocol document states - adding that nothing was to reach the investigative team without a filter attorney's sign-off.

The messages, sent between October 2020 and Jan. 20, 2021, ran between a bipartisan roster of lawmakers and Trump White House figures including chief of staff Mark Meadows, Dan Scavino, Ivanka Trump, Stephen Miller, Peter Navarro, now-CIA Director John Ratcliffe and now-FBI Director Kash Patel, the records show.

I received records frm DOJ confirming Jack Smith's investigative team reviewed the contents of text msgs sent by 44 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Im 1 of the 44

Im alerting my colleagues who were impacted and will release the records w Sen Johnson so American ppl can see the evidence

— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) July 14, 2026

Among the 44 lawmakers: Continue…

‘They don’t want you there’: Trump tells Netanyahu to leave Syria and Lebanon – Axios

https://www.rt.com/news/643080-trump-tells-netanyahu-leave-syria-lebanon/

US President Donald Trump has pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw Israeli troops from Syria and begin redeploying forces from southern Lebanon, Axios has reported, citing US and Israeli officials.

The reported appeal is the latest sign of a widening rift between the two leaders, with Trump pressing Israel to scale back its military deployments while Netanyahu’s government continues to insist on maintaining them indefinitely.

According to Axios, Trump warned Netanyahu during a phone call on Thursday that Israel’s military presence in southern Syria risked further escalation.

“They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump reportedly told the Israeli leader. The president delivered a similar message regarding southern Lebanon, the outlet said. Continue…

Bulgaria pulls out of coalition of Ukraine backers

https://www.rt.com/news/643041-radev-bulgaria-out-coalition-ukraine/

Bulgaria has no place in the coalition of Western nations pushing for continued military aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Rumen Radev has told Bulgarian broadcaster bTV.

The France and UK-led “coalition of the willing” has long pushed to deploy troops into Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, despite Moscow’s repeated warnings that any NATO troops on Ukrainian territory would become legitimate military targets.

“We’re not part of a coalition pushing for continued financial and military aid to Ukraine,” Radev told bTV during a press conference in France on Tuesday.

“We don’t provide aid of that kind, because I believe the way to resolve this conflict is through a strong diplomatic effort to end the escalation rather than by prolonging it by military means,” he added.

Last week, Radev, a Euroskeptic elected after the previous pro-EU government collapsed last year following massive anti-corruption protests, announced that Bulgaria has exhausted its capacity to support Kiev militarily.

“We provided 13 packages; we don’t have anything else to supply to Ukraine,” he said on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. Continue…

France licenses missile production in Ukraine

https://www.rt.com/news/643053-france-licenses-missile-production-ukraine/

France will grant Ukraine licenses to produce missiles and bombs on its soil, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday.

Speaking at a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ summit in Paris, Macron said the agreements would allow Ukraine to manufacture Aster 30 interceptor missiles, AASM glide bombs and SCALP-EG cruise missiles under license.

“We have agreed on licensing agreements for new capabilities,” he told reporters, adding that the move “will allow us to produce these capabilities much more quickly with our Ukrainian partners and on Ukrainian soil.”

The AASM and SCALP-EG have already been supplied to Kiev and have been widely used by Ukrainian forces, including in strikes on Russian civilian targets, according to Moscow.

Macron also said additional Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense batteries and Aster interceptors would be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks. He added that 16 Rafale fighter jets are expected to arrive in 2028-2029. Continue…

Illegal immigrant gets less than 5 years after killing 3 in semi-truck crash in Newsom's California

https://thepostmillennial.com/illegal-immigrant-gets-less-than-5-years-after-killing-3-in-semi-truck-crash

An illegal immigrant driver has received a light prison sentence of under five years after causing a fatal crash on a Southern California highway that left three people dead. He was driving a semi truck when he caused the wreck.

Despite being eligible for up to a decade behind bars, he was sentenced to only four years and eight months on Tuesday.

Jashanpreet Singh, 21, received a prison sentence of under five years after causing a fatal crash on a Southern California highway that left three people dead. He pleaded guilty to three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter involving gross negligence in connection with the case last week, per the New York Post.

Prosecutors said that Singh changed his plea from not guilty to guilty last month.

Singh had possessed a commercial driver’s license that was issued by California at the time of the multi-car pileup. One witness said of the crash at the time that the truck showed no signs of braking. "It didn't stop. It didn't swerve. It didn't make any kind of maneuvers. It just went straight in," Jason Calmelat said. Continue…

Gay Canadian couple sues surrogate mother for refusing to abort baby over cleft lip, minor defects, and opted for home birth

https://thepostmillennial.com/gay-canadian-couple-sues-surrogate-mother-for-refusing-to-abort-baby-over-cleft-lip-minor-defects-and-opted-for-home-birth

A gay Canadian couple are suing the woman who carried their now 2-year-old son for refusing to terminate her pregnancy following a prenatal diagnosis of a treatable cleft lip and a minor heart defect.

According to a lawsuit filed in Ontario Superior Court in May and obtained by the National Post, the couple alleges the surrogate failed to properly communicate information about the pregnancy, violated confidentiality, placed the child at risk through her birth plan, and caused them emotional distress. While the filing does not specify damages, the surrogate said the couple has indicated they are seeking approximately CA$600,000.

"You know I'm a single mom, you know I have a daughter, and you're basically suing me for my house," the woman told the National Post. "I just feel used. They didn't get the perfect child they wanted and they threw me away." The surrogate said she was matched with the couple through Surrogacy in Canada Online after deciding to become a surrogate. The pregnancy was achieved through in vitro fertilization using donor eggs and embryos created with the fathers' sperm.

According to the report, the relationship deteriorated in June 2024 after a 22-week ultrasound found the unborn child had a cleft lip, a possible cleft palate and what was described as a minor heart defect. The couple subsequently demanded that the pregnancy be terminated. "Considering that medical tests indicate that the fetus has, or is likely to have, a genetic, chromosomal or other abnormality or defect… we want to inform you of our wish that the pregnancy be terminated," the letter stated. Continue…

Hamilton man facing over 130 charges of paying for, directing livestreams of child sexual abuse in Philippines

https://www.westernstandard.news/news/hamilton-man-facing-over-130-charges-of-paying-for-directing-livestreams-of-child-sexual-abuse-in-philippines/75024

A Hamilton man has been charged with paying for, orchestrating, and directing child sexual abuse in the Philippines.

Stephan Tolys, 42, has been charged with over 130 counts of a variety of child sexual abuse crimes, according to a statement released Wednesday from the Toronto Police Service (TPS).

Tolys had initially been charged in March 2026 with six counts related to child sexual abuse, but a recent investigation conducted by the TPS and the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Crime Centre found his history of abuse went far deeper than they had thought.

"Cases like this depend on strong partnerships and information-sharing between agencies around the world. When those partners come together, we can identify offenders, protect children, and hold people accountable,” said Insp. Keri Fernandes of the Toronto Police Sex Crimes Unit on the assistance they received from international partners in this investigation.

The investigation found that Tolys had been sending money to an individual in the Philippines to facilitate the live-streaming of underage sexual abuse material for him. After searching his house, police say they found a "quantity" of child sexual abuse material in Tolys' Hamilton home.

In their statement, TPS says that Tolys operated under an assortment of online personas with some usernames including Tupac10, Steve101, Steve-o, Jumpinjacks666, and Mightymann66.

"Police are concerned there may be more victims and would like to speak with anyone who has been communicating with Tolys utilizing any of the usernames listed above," the statement from TPS reads.

Tolys is set to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Global Affairs Fired 25 Diplomats Last Year, Including One Who ‘Inappropriately’ Contacted Foreign Government Officials

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/global-affairs-fired-25-diplomats-last-year-including-one-who-inappropriately-contacted-foreign-government-6061658?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

Global Affairs Canada dismissed 25 Canadian diplomats in 2025, including one who was secretly in contact with a foreign government.

The dismissals stemmed from a range of misconduct investigations, including security concerns, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potentially criminal activity, according to the department’s annual report on misconduct.

Among those dismissed was one who was found to be “in contact inappropriately with foreign government officials,” according to the report, which was first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter.

The report, dated June 25, said that an investigation called the employee’s reliability into question, and their employment was terminated.

Another diplomat dismissed last year had been found “working remotely in a country of concern without authorization.” The country was not named.

The department said it is relying on whistleblowers to report suspicious activities. Continue…

Pentagon Official Says Middle Powers Strategy Is a ‘Distraction’

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/pentagon-says-middle-powers-strategy-is-a-distraction-6061685?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

A high-level official at the U.S. Department of War is dismissing the idea that middle powers can amplify their global influence by banding together, calling the strategy detached from reality.

Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby issued a comment on the strategy on social media July 14, without pointing the finger at any particular country.

Colby said there has been a “great deal of hubbub” about the strategy recently, while adding that his department is “not concerned that this is a serious possibility.”

“Rather, we are more concerned that a few allies and partners will *think it is* and waste valuable time, money, and political capital on a distraction,” he wrote.

The comment comes a week after the NATO Summit in Turkey, after which U.S. President Donald Trump said there had been “tremendous unity” between leaders.

However, during the summit, Trump had also criticized the military alliance and reiterated his previous comments that his country needs to control Greenland. Continue…

Tourists Left $40M in Unpaid Medical Bills in Manitoba: Report

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/tourists-left-40m-in-unpaid-medical-bills-in-manitoba-report-6061713?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

Foreign visitors have incurred nearly $40 million in unpaid medical expenses in Manitoba over the past five years, provincial data shows.

A report from SecondStreet.org, based on information from Manitoba’s health authority, indicates that the province has been left with $39.62 million in unpaid medical bills from fiscal 2020-2021 to fiscal 2024-2025.

SecondStreet.org President Colin Craig said the issue of tourists leaving without paying their medical bills is costing taxpayers “millions of dollars while access to health care for Manitobans continues to deteriorate.”

“If the government addressed this problem, it could have millions of dollars to actually help Manitobans,” he said in the report. “For perspective, $40 million could provide almost 3,400 patients with a unilateral hip replacement operation.”

The report outlined the losses for each fiscal year. In the fiscal year 2020-2021, the province’s losses reached $3.8 million, increasing to $8.2 million in 2021-2022, then $4.5 million in 2022-2023, $18.7 million in 2023-2024, and finally $4.5 million in 2024-2025.

The Epoch Times contacted the province’s health authority, Shared Health Manitoba, for comment but did not hear back before publication time. Continue…

Ontario Tourism Minister Promises to Reimburse $16K Spent on Local Hotel Stays

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/ontario-tourism-minister-promises-to-reimburse-16k-spent-on-local-hotel-stays-6062120?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

An Ontario cabinet minister who serves a northern Toronto district has pledged to repay the more than $16,000 he expensed for hotel accommodations in the city.

Tourism Minister Stan Cho, who represents the Willowdale riding in the North York district of Toronto, has submitted bills to the legislature on several occasions since 2023 for city hotel lodgings.

Cho addressed the matter in a brief media statement on July 14.

“While these expenses meet the criteria for special circumstances as set out by the Legislative Guide for Member’s expenses, I will be personally reimbursing the legislature for the amount of the expenses incurred,” he said.

His office has not released a statement to detail the reasons for incurring hotel expenses, but the legislature’s website lists major snowstorms or other extreme weather conditions that paralyze traffic and local transit as an example of valid special circumstances for members living within 50 kilometres of Queen’s Park.

Public expense reports indicate that Cho spent $1,431 on Toronto lodging in 2023-2024, $3,081 the subsequent year, and $11,691 in 2025-2026. The total amounted to $16,203. Continue…

Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rates Steady, Says Outlook for Economic Growth and Inflation Is Positive

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/bank-of-canada-holds-interest-rates-steady-says-outlook-for-economic-growth-and-inflation-is-positive-6062095?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1

The Bank of Canada held its interest rate steady at 2.25 percent for a sixth straight meeting, saying that economic growth appears to be recovering and inflation looks set to fall as oil prices decline.

“The data we have received since April have increased our confidence that the economy is indeed working its way through this period of global upheaval,” Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem told reporters on July 15.

Macklem said economic growth seems to have resumed in Canada after stalling over the past year. He said U.S. trade policy has continued to add pressure, but Canadian consumers and businesses have adapted.

Macklem said that the Bank of Canada has been “looking through” the direct effects of higher oil prices due to the war in Iran and their impact on inflation in Canada.

“But the longer they remain elevated, the bigger the risk they spill over to other goods and services. As we have said before, we will not let higher oil prices become persistent inflation,” he said. Continue…

Teen who killed grandmother in random attack still relishes violence despite apology, court hears

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/eleanor-doney-teen-killer-sentencing

During his months in custody since stabbing an 83-year-old woman to death in a frenzy of unprovoked violence outside her Ontario home, the teenager killer was involved in a fight after which he declared he “hasn’t felt this alive” since he committed his murder.

His apparent deficit in remorse while relishing violence was highlighted by Crown prosecutors at his sentencing hearing on Tuesday.

Eleanor Doney, whom many friends and family called Ellie, was raking leaves outside her home in Pickering, just east of Toronto, on May 29, 2025, when she was attacked by a 14-year-old boy dressed in a black shiny trench coat, a black COVID-style mask, black gloves, overly large dress shoes and carrying a briefcase.

Because of his young age, the identity of the killer is protected by law and cannot be published. In April, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.

In court Tuesday, the boy stood up inside the prisoner’s box and slowly unfolded a sheet of paper he pulled from the dark suit jacket he wore over a white shirt and addressed Justice Lisa Wannamaker.

He apologized to court and said people learn from knowledge.

“I’ve learned from this,” he said, asking that the murder not define who he is. Continue…

Weekend shootings in Toronto have Bradford and Chow talking tough on crime

https://nationalpost.com/news/weekend-shootings-in-toronto-have-bradford-and-chow-talking-tough-on-crime

After a bloody weekend of gunplay that left three dead and several more wounded, the likely ballot question for this fall’s mayoral election was suddenly clear: Do Torontonians feel safe in their city?

Brad Bradford, a city councillor who is challenging prominent incumbent Olivia Chow, sought to emphasize that on Tuesday, telling reporters that police officials were wrong to argue that Toronto is “extremely safe” after the shooting that sent festival-goers running in terror from Salsa on St. Clair.

“We need leadership whether it is at the Toronto police or city hall or any of our agencies that recognize that people don’t feel safe in Toronto and telling them what to think is not the right response,” he told reporters.

Bradford has made crime, safety and livability cornerstones of his campaign for the Oct. 26 election, as Toronto suffers the same post-pandemic social ills as many other Canadian cities.

Without mentioning Chow, Bradford said in a social media post that city hall had “lost touch” with the issue of gun violence, and accused local politicians of saying “crime statistics are down, everything’s fine, this is just the cost of living in a big city.” Continue…

Canada Post handed out $30.8M in management bonuses in 2025 despite $1.57B deficit

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-post-handed-out-30-8m-in-bonuses-despite-1-57b-deficit

Canada Post gave out $30.8 million in bonuses to its management employees in 2025, according to disclosure provided to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

The Crown corporation’s president and CEO Doug Ettinger conceded in an appearance before the committee on June 18 that it lost $1.57 billion in 2025, but he insisted it was a bad year due to “labour disruptions” of 220 days. And he suggested the “real deficit” was “closer to a billion.” (The $1.57 billion was admitted to in Canada Post’s 2025 annual report.)

Ettinger didn’t mention the $1.03 billion federal government bailout in early 2025. Or another $1.01 billion given to Canada Post by Ottawa in February 2026 as a “short-term financial bridge.”

The situation has drawn criticism from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“If Canada Post is taking taxpayer-funded bailouts, then there’s no way its managers and executives should be showering themselves with bonuses,” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s federal director in a July 14 statement. Continue…

Most off Northwestrn Ontario is on fire

160 plus out of control wildfire

https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=50.1855,-88.3966,7z/place=50.219095,-86.722412/overlays=heat,fires

https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

https://firemap.live/

Fresh Bread

https://8kun.top/qresearch/res/24831817.html#24831849