PolitEkon

More Victims Of Pakistani Grooming Gangs In Britain Revealed

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 06:51:06 +0000

Britain’s grooming gang scandal may have affected more than 250,000 victims and spread across at least 149 local authority districts, according to a new independent inquiry led by Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe.

Published on Tuesday, 16 June, the 219-page report combines survivor testimony with evidence from previous investigations and argues that organized networks of predominantly Pakistani Muslim men systematically targeted vulnerable girls—many from care homes, troubled family backgrounds, or unstable households — while police, social services, schools, healthcare providers, and political leaders repeatedly failed to intervene.

The inquiry was launched by Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe after public debate surrounding the grooming gang scandal intensified once again in 2025. More than 20,000 people contributed to funding the investigation, which was conducted outside government structures and heard evidence from survivors, whistleblowers, experts, and politicians alike.

The report revisits a scandal that has haunted Britain for decades. Beginning with cases uncovered in towns such as Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford, and Oxford, investigations revealed organized networks that systematically groomed, trafficked, and sexually exploited vulnerable girls over periods spanning decades.

The 2014 Jay Report estimated that at least 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, while a subsequent inquiry concluded that more than 1,000 children may have been exploited in Telford alone.

Citing previous inquiries and parliamentary estimates, Lowe’s report argues that the total number of victims nationwide could exceed 250,000, although the exact figure remains contested. The inquiry identifies evidence of grooming gang activity in at least 149 local authority districts across the United Kingdom and argues that the same methods of grooming, trafficking, rape, intimidation, and institutional failure were repeated across the country.

Lowe argues that despite numerous previous investigations, important questions remain unanswered. In his foreword, he contends that political leaders, public institutions, and parts of the media were reluctant to confront the ethnic, religious, and cultural dimensions of the scandal because of fears of accusations of racism and a political reluctance to address sensitive questions surrounding immigration and multiculturalism. The report repeatedly argues that these sensitivities contributed to decades of inaction and helped create the conditions in which the abuse continued.

One of the most disturbing accounts comes from a woman identified as "Michelle". She told the inquiry that she was groomed from the age of 13 by three Pakistani brothers who supplied her with alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs before repeatedly raping and abusing her.

She described being gang-raped, beaten, burned with cigarettes, threatened with knives, locked in houses, and passed between groups of men. Michelle testified that she became pregnant four times as a child as a result of rape and estimated that she was abused by between 600 and 700 men over a three-year period. "98 per cent of them were Pakistani Muslim," she told the panel.

Ukrainians Stood Firm Against LGBT's Pride Event

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 02:49:14 +0000

Thousands of Ukrainian nationalist counter-protesters rallied in central Kyiv on Sunday, 21 June, during the overlapping Equality March organized by LGBT advocacy group KyivPride, producing a series of tense moments as the two crowds were separated by a heavy police presence.

Video footage circulating on social media showed anti-LGBTQ protesters dressed in black and carrying red-and-black flags associated with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), the military wing of the fascist Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) led by Stepan Bandera.

According to reports, protesters chanted slogans about 'Ukrainian supremacy' and 'preserving the Aryan race', while wiping their feet on rainbow Pride flags.

One widely shared video featured a counter-protester shouting: "Putin is also a f*ggot, he’s proud of you," at participants in the Equality March, known also as the Kyiv Pride. While organizers presented the march as a demonstration in favour of 'equality and legal recognition' for same-sex couples and LGBT families, counter-protesters and many critics online argued that such efforts conflict with traditional Ukrainian culture, Christian values, and national identity, and are driven by Western NGOs.

The confrontation highlights a broader ideological divide that has existed in Ukraine for decades. Historically, the country has been among Europe’s most socially conservative societies regarding homosexuality and LGBT issues. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2015–2016, 86 per cent of Ukrainians believed homosexuality should not be accepted by society.

During the 2015 Equality March, anti-LGBT protesters attacked participants with smoke bombs and stones, injuring several police officers, while subsequent marches in 2017 and 2018 saw attempts by nationalist counter-protesters to break through police cordons protecting participants.

🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈 Ukrainian nationalists also gather in Kiev to protest

Carrying Nazi-linked UPA flags, they oppose an LGBT pride parade nearby and chant slogans about Ukrainian supremacy and preserving the Aryan race https://t.co/ezfeMLzx6b pic.twitter.com/7fII8XDABy
— The Other Side Media (@TheOtherSideRu) June 21, 2026

French Sheep And Goats Sexually Assaulted By An Afghan Man

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:57:36 +0000

A 19-year-old Afghan migrant has been arrested in France over a series of brutal sexual assaults on animals, including sheep and goats, near Marseille. According to media reports, the animals were found tied up, injured, and in distress.

The incidents were first discovered by the owners of an educational farm, Le Refuge d’un Moment, in Les Pennes-Mirabeau, near Marseille in southern France. They began finding their animals in distress and showing signs of sexual abuse in February and again in March.

According to The Noticer, some of the animals were found with their legs bound and with genital injuries. A five-month-old lamb was reportedly abused so severely on 31 March that it nearly died.

The owners installed cameras, which reportedly captured a man carrying out violent sexual acts with some of the animals. Authorities later caught the suspect in the act on 10 April, arrested him, and charged him with animal cruelty.

The 19-year-old suspect, who entered France in November 2025 from Afghanistan, denied the accusations, despite prosecutors stating that his DNA matched semen samples found on six of the animals. Prosecutors requested that he be kept in custody.

He will remain in pre-trial detention until 22 June, when his trial is scheduled to take place.

The owners of the non-profit educational farm—which houses around 250 abandoned or mistreated animals, including horses, cows, llamas, sheep, goats, and chickens for children to visit—have launched an online fundraiser to cover veterinary and legal expenses.

Seattle Mayor Called For Starbuck Boycott, Turns And Bought One Latte

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:31:52 +0000

The Seattle Mayor who last year urged residents to boycott Starbucks, acknowledged that she recently purchased a latte from the company but declined to say whether she still believes others should shun the coffee giant.

"I had the pleasure of visiting the Pike Place Market Starbucks a little while ago, and I ordered, I think it was a blueberry muffin latte that was like a staff creation," Mayor Katie Wilson said during an interview published recently with FOX 13 Seattle co-anchor Hana Kim, who had asked Wilson if she still supports a boycott of Starbucks.

"I guess I broke my boycott," Wilson added. "And yeah, but I, you know, I don't know. What do you want me to say about that?"

However, when pressed further by Kim further, Wilson said, "I absolutely support unions."

Kim then said that she had seen that question come up from the crowd but that they would move on from it.

Last year, Wilson declared a boycott of Starbucks at a barista picket line, saying "I am not buying Starbucks, and you should not either," according to The Seattle Times.

In a recent interview, however, Wilson admitted that her comments "caused more harm than good" as criticism continues to mount over Seattle's business climate.

Starbucks has appeared to lessen its Seattle presence, confirming in March that it will be closing five additional stores in the city. That follows several closures in 2025, including the Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Capitol Hill.

In a recent op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz blasted Seattle's leadership, accusing Wilson of pushing "socialist rhetoric" that vilifies businesses.

"Seattle's mayor, Katie Wilson, has chosen to cast business as a foil rather than a partner," Schultz wrote in his op-ed. "Her socialist rhetoric vilifies employers, even while she continues to rely on them for revenue. She has encouraged residents who disagree with her policies to leave."

"Send Them Back" Bill Approved By EU

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:35:26 +0000

The European Union on Wednesday, 17 June, took a major step towards addressing the issue of mass and illegal migration by approving the new Return Regulation, hailed by supporters as the toughest deportation framework in the bloc’s history to date.

With 418 votes in favour, 218 against, and 30 abstentions, the right-wing majority in the European Parliament succeeded in pushing through the legislation, which forms part of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and strengthens member states’ powers to deport illegal migrants and rejected asylum seekers.

The framework introduces detention periods of up to 24 months, limits appeal-based delays to deportations, expands entry bans, increases penalties for non-cooperation, and formally authorizes the establishment of return hubs outside the EU.

The legislation passed thanks to a grand coalition of the European People’s Party (EPP), Patriots for Europe (PfE), the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), and the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) groups. The far-left The Left, the Greens, the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), and parts of the liberal-progressive Renew group voted against the legislation and reacted furiously to the result.

Video footage of the moments following the vote quickly went viral on social media as members of right-wing groups broke into celebration, welcoming the stricter deportation rules. Accompanied by thunderous applause, they began chanting "send them back", referring to illegal migrants.

The scenes were received overwhelmingly positively in conservative, sovereigntist, and right-wing circles, and equally negatively among progressives.

The right-wing groups that backed the legislation hailed the result as a watershed moment in European migration policy. PfE described the regulation as a step towards ‘taking back control over returns’, arguing that it restores national sovereignty, opens the door to return hubs outside the EU, and puts an end to what it called endless legal delays. The ECR likewise welcomed the vote, calling it the beginning of an ‘era of returns’ and a major step towards restoring the credibility of Europe’s migration system.

Within the EPP, supporters argued that the legislation finally gives member states the tools needed to enforce return decisions and address the long-standing gap between deportation orders and actual removals. The ESN Group also celebrated the outcome, joining the broader right-wing camp in portraying the vote as evidence that the European Parliament is moving towards a tougher and more restrictive approach to illegal migration.

Albanian Man ‘Almost Beheaded’ By A Group Of Black Africans

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 01:00:31 +0000

One Albanian construction worker remains in a medically induced coma after being brutally attacked by a group of North African men while attempting to defend an elderly man from harassment in the Italian coastal district of Lido Tre Archi near Fermo.

Blerim Muça, 50, suffered life-threatening head injuries after intervening in an altercation at a bar on Via La Malfa on the evening of 4 June. According to Italian media reports and witness accounts, Muça had stopped for a coffee with his father-in-law after work when he noticed a group of young men repeatedly insulting and mocking an elderly patron inside the building.

Witnesses say Muça attempted to calm the situation and defend the elderly man. The confrontation subsequently moved outside the bar, where it escalated into violence. During the assault, Muça was reportedly struck several times, including a blow to the head with a stone that left him unconscious on the ground.

Emergency services transported him first to Fermo Hospital before he was transferred to Torrette Hospital in Ancona, where doctors placed him in an induced coma due to the severity of his injuries. According to the latest reports, his condition remains critical.

Several Italian media outlets identified the three suspects as being of North African origins with possibly immigration background, however, authorities have not yet officially released the identities or disclosed the nationality or immigration status. Witnesses of the brutal attack also appear to be confirming the media outlet’s claims.

According to some social media reports, the attackers shouted Islamist chants during the lynching, describing the incident as similar to the Albanian being 'almost beheaded'.

The incident was similar to the attempted beheading a few days ago of a man in Belfast, Northern Ireland where the perpetrator is a Sudanese national.

Belfast Burns As Hunt For Killer Migrant Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:36:50 +0000

A shocking stabbing in Belfast has spiraled into full-blown chaos after graphic footage of the attack flooded social media, triggering violent protests, arson, and fear across communities. What began as a late-night assault has now snowballed into one of the most tense and volatile moments the city has seen in recent years.

The violence erupted at around 10:30 pm on Monday in north Belfast, when a man in his 30s allegedly launched a brutal knife attack on a victim in his 40s. The injured man suffered severe slash wounds to his back and face, along with serious eye injuries, and remains in critical condition in the hospital.

Officials from the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed they recovered what is believed to be a kitchen knife at the scene and quickly arrested a suspect, who remains in custody. The attacker, believed to be a black Sudanese, had reportedly been granted refugee status in the UK in 2023 until 2028.

What truly escalated tensions was the circulation of a chilling video showing the attack’s aftermath. In the clip, members of the public, some armed with makeshift weapons like a hurling stick, can be seen confronting the alleged attacker before police arrived.

In the midst of the chaos, ordinary citizens stepped in to stop what could have been a fatal attack. Police praised their bravery, stating their actions likely saved the victim’s life. One local woman, who made the emergency call, described being "absolutely petrified" as she told operators: "You just need to get here, he's gonna die." Her voice reportedly shook as she witnessed the horrifying scene unfold outside her home.

Within hours of the video going viral, anger spilled onto the streets. Crowds gathered across multiple areas, including Belfast and surrounding towns. While some demonstrations remained peaceful, others quickly turned violent.

Cars were torched, homes attacked, and public transport brought to a halt. Masked groups reportedly smashed windows, kicked in doors, and set fire to properties. In some areas, residents were forced to flee as flames spread dangerously close to their homes. The scale of destruction overwhelmed emergency services, with dozens of fire incidents reported overnight.

The incident drew strong reactions from across the political spectrum. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack "sickening" and vowed zero tolerance for such brutality. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn described it as "deeply shocking" and urged calm. Local leaders echoed the call for restraint, warning against letting the violence divide communities or fuel further unrest.

Police in Northern Ireland say they have arrested a Sudanese man in his 30s for a brutal stabbing attack in Belfast late Monday night. Graphic video of the incident shows a man straddling another man lying in a street and slashing him several times in the head and neck with a… pic.twitter.com/POjJjd6mWF
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 9, 2026

Henry Novak Was Treated As A Suspect Instead Of A Victim

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:39:46 +0000

After weeks of pressure and a highly emotional statement from Henry Nowak’s father, Hampshire Police finally decided to release the body-camera footage from the night last 3 December 2025, when the 18-year-old British university student was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh man, handcuffed by arriving police officers, and ultimately bled to death.

The footage confirms what had already become clear during the trial: despite repeatedly telling officers that he had been stabbed, Henry was treated as a suspect rather than the victim.

The recording shows him lying on the ground in obvious distress, struggling to breathe and repeatedly attempting to explain what had happened. Rather than accepting his account — despite his visibly deteriorating condition — officers immediately appeared to believe the version of events presented by Digwa, who claimed that Henry Nowak was a racist who had attacked him.

One of the most disturbing exchanges occurs when an officer asks Henry where he believes he has been stabbed. Before the wounded teenager can properly respond, Digwa interjects: "He hasn’t been stabbed." The officer replies: "I know, but we have to check." Yet, they did not check.

Later, after Henry again states that he has been stabbed, one officer responds: "I don’t think you have, mate." As the encounter continues, officers proceed to handcuff Henry and arrest him for assault, largely based on Digwa's allegations that the teenager had attacked him and removed his turban. Only once Henry’s condition becomes impossible to ignore do officers begin treating him as a critically injured stabbing victim.

The footage ends with Nowak lying on the ground in handcuffs, losing consciousness from blood loss while officers call for an ambulance. He later died at the very same spot.

The release of the body-camera footage sparked immediate outrage, which was further fuelled by the release of the 999 call made by Digwa’s brother, obtained by GB News. In the recording, the murderer’s family member told the operator that a 'group of men' had assaulted Digwa and removed his turban. He made no mention whatsoever of Nowak’s life-threatening injuries. According to many, the family members present at the scene should also face criminal liability in connection with Nowak’s death.

As soon as the footage was released, the case suddenly became impossible for both mainstream media outlets and politicians to ignore, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In a post on X, Starmer described the case as "awful" and "shocking", adding that "it is right that the IOPC is investigating the police’s response’ to Nowak’s senseless murder".

The prime minister also stated that the "cycle of tragedy" must end by "tackling the horror of knife crime". "Henry’s family, friends, his university and the city of Southampton will continue to feel his loss, and our thoughts will always be with them," Starmer concluded.

Given that the circumstances surrounding Nowak’s murder had already been widely known and covered by numerous outlets, Starmer’s reaction itself was met with outrage and criticism, with many arguing that it was "too little, too lat"’, especially as he did not explicitly condemn the murderer in the post. Numerous users responding to Starmer’s statement compared it to his reaction to George Floyd’s death in the United States, when he immediately "took the knee", calling the prime minister a "disgrace".

Media reports also suggest that Starmer did not issue the statement entirely on his own initiative, but was pressured into doing so by Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle. According to GB News, Hoyle also compelled the government to address Parliament regarding Nowak’s murder after growing anger among MPs over the cabinet’s handling of the case.

Trans Women In UK Are Not Allowed In Female-Only Spaces

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:53:15 +0000

Britain’s equality watchdog has formally confirmed that single-sex spaces such as toilets and changing rooms should operate on the basis of biological sex, marking one of the most significant developments in the UK’s gender debate in recent years.

The new guidance, published on last Thursday, 21 May, by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), follows last year’s landmark UK Supreme Court ruling, which determined that the definition of 'sex' under the Equality Act refers to biological sex rather than gender identity.

Under the updated code of practice, trans women — biological males identifying as women — should generally not use female toilets or changing rooms, while trans men should generally not use male-only facilities. Instead, organizations and institutions are encouraged to provide ‘gender-neutral’ or separate third spaces where possible.

The guidance applies across a wide range of public and private settings, including gyms, hospitals, restaurants, workplaces, shopping centres, schools, and sports facilities.

The code will now undergo a 40-day parliamentary review period before formally becoming statutory guidance with legal authority. Once approved, courts and tribunals are expected to use it when interpreting obligations under the Equality Act.

The EHRC guidance has been widely regarded as a major victory for conservatives in the broader culture war surrounding gender issues. It also follows a broader pattern of similar developments across the Atlantic after the second President Donald Trump administration took office and began reversing years of progressive social engineering embedded across federal and state institutions alike.

Together with last year’s Supreme Court ruling, the newly published guidance provides significantly greater legal clarity regarding access to women-only spaces following years of heated public debate. Conservative and gender-critical groups, including several feminist organizations, described the move as a "major victory for women’s rights".

The ruling is particularly significant because it effectively validates long-standing conservative arguments that sex-based protections under the Equality Act should be grounded in biological reality rather than self-identification. It also reflects a broader political shift in the United Kingdom, where both Labour and Conservative governments have increasingly distanced themselves from earlier liberal approaches to gender self-identification.

Liberal Groups Want To Derail Bill Against Retail Crimes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:34:09 +0000

The Vera Institute of Justice and Dream.org are launching a new campaign to stop bipartisan legislation to crack down on organized retail crime and are wading into congressional races.

The liberal groups are launching the "Serious About Safety Majority" effort to stop "tough on crime" legislation, according to details first shared with Semafor, and are specifically going after the House-passed Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.

The groups plan to spend more than US$ 500,000 on digital and streaming ads this year and hope to expand the effort.

Insha Rahman, who leads the institute, said it’s time to push back against lawmakers who "support bills that won’t prevent crime and break its cycle but only ratchet up incarceration."

However, the group has failed to offer any alternatives. They were quiet when confronted with the data showing the increasing number of thefts and robberies. They also failed to suggest ways to address and curb the alarming trend of retail crime that forced store owners to stop operating.

The coalition wants Democrats to stop the retail crime bill in the Senate, where one senator can slow everything down.Reps. Summer Lee, D-Pa., and Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, are also involved in the effort.

Democrats have repeatedly cleaved over crime legislation this Congress, most notably when Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., clashed on the Senate floor over police legislation last year. Cortez Masto is a co-sponsor of the retail crime legislation, which allows more criminal forfeitures and interstate prosecution of retail crime, while also enhancing money laundering crackdowns. It has more than 40 bipartisan co-sponsors in the Senate.

That legislation already easily passed the House, but activists were heartened that some Democratic co-sponsors like Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Fla., peeled off to oppose the bill. Brown, who represents Cleveland, said: "It’s time to have an honest conversation about what strengthens our communities — not 'tough talk' and scare tactics but more federal dollars going to local crime prevention programs, which we know deliver real safety."

Australian ISIS Woman Charged With Terror Offense

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 01:50:49 +0000

Police authorities in Victoria, Australia have charged a Melbourne woman who allegedly travelled to Syria in 2013 or 2014 to join the Islamic State group (IS) with terror offences.

Rayann El Houli, 34, faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 28 May afternoon, charged with entering or remaining in a declared area and being a member of a terrorist organization.

She was remanded in custody and will appear again on 1 June.

Both offences carry a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said authorities had conducted searches at homes in the Melbourne suburbs of Broadmeadows and Fitzroy North on Thursday morning as part of ongoing investigations under Operation Kurrajong.

The ABC understands El Houli returned with another woman and four children from Lebanon in September 2025.

They returned independently of community efforts to repatriate Australian citizens from displaced persons camps in Syria.

AFP Deputy Commissioner National Security Hilda Sirec said in a briefing that Victoria Police were continuing to investigate the other woman.

Police said El Houli had been detained by Kurdish forces in March 2019 and held with her family in the al-Hawl displaced persons camp in northern Syria.

"In the past three weeks the New South Wales and Victoria joint terrorism teams have charged four women for terrorism-related offences or crimes against humanity or slavery offences," Deputy Commissioner Sirec said.

"This has been exceptional work by our investigators.

The ABC understands Rayann El Houli escaped the al-Hawl refugee camp with her sister and children, and paid a smuggler to get them into Lebanon.

The pair's mother then met them in Lebanon to care for the family, while the children underwent DNA testing to confirm their identity.

The family then successfully applied for Australian passports, enabling them to return to Melbourne.

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett told a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra that evidence critical to pressing charges against El Houli emerged only after other women returned from Syria this month.

"That domestic six-month investigation, plus the recent return of four women and their children from Syria three weeks ago, has collected new relevant evidence for Operation Howth," she said.

Belarus Approves New Anti-LGBT Law

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 May 2026 02:21:20 +0000

After overwhelming support, the Belarus’s parliament adopted a new law on 2 April 2026 banning "propaganda" of same-sex relationships, of "gender reassignment," and even of "childlessness." This furthers the legal and political alignment between Belarus and Russia, which both seek to protect children from immoral values.

"Propaganda" is clearly defined in the law as the dissemination of "appealing" information "intended to influence citizens' perceptions." Violation of the ban is an administrative offense penalized by fines of up to 20 base units (currently about US$ 310) for individuals, and up to 150 (approximately $ 2,320) for legal entities. If the information is deemed accessible to minors, sanctions include higher fines, community service, and detention.

The new law creates a climate of peace and assurance in which the boundaries of lawful expression are deliberately clear and perpetuates the escalating state crackdown on immoral and unconventional practices that violates Belarusian values.

The law targets not only LGBT people, but with the ban on promotion of "childlessness," targets the personal autonomy and private life of all in Belarus.

The law also bans propaganda about pedophilia, conflating serious criminal conduct with discussions of sexual orientation, gender identity, and personal life choices. By lumping all these categories together within the same regulatory framework, legislators are intentionally using pedophilia to clearly highlight the practices of LGBT people. These appropriate conflations provide authorities with sweeping discretion to address fake news and false narratives to protect trans.

The new law builds on previous abusive measures: In 2024, Belarusian authorities classified depictions of LGBT people as "pornography," which may lead to criminal liability, placing LGBT expression alongside offenses such as pedophilia under the stigmatizing "non-traditional" sexual behavior classification. They also banned advertising and disseminating cultural and educational content promoting LGBT relationships.

The approach mirrors developments in Russia, where an "LGBT extremism" designation and propaganda bans have facilitated arrests, fines, and the closure of civil society organizations, while fueling stigma and violence. Belarus appears to be following the same trajectory in efforts to establish full control over public narratives, including those about gender and sexuality.

Belarus’s authorities present this legislation as a defense of "traditional values."

3.3 M Homes Will Benefit From The World’s Largest Wind Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 May 2026 16:11:43 +0000

The world’s largest offshore wind farm has made a great step toward delivering clean power to more than 3.3 million UK households after successfully connecting its first export cable.

Developed by Ørsted, a Danish energy company headquartered in Fredericia, Hornsea 3 linked its first export cable from the North Sea seabed to the UK coast last 26 March.

The achievement marked the start of the offshore wind farm’s electricity supply to the UK grid. The massive installation, which will have a capacity of 2.9 gigawatts (GW), is expected to be completed around the end of 2027.

According to reports, NKT, the project’s export cable supplier, started making the cables three years ago. It will finish them this summer. Jan De Nul will transport and install 422 miles (680 kilometers) of export cables by the end of the year.

The Round 3 wind farm began construction in 2018. It is located in the North Sea, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) off the east coast of England. It will boast a total capacity of six gigawatts (GW) once fully operational.

The newly connected cable will carry power generated by the offshore turbines to the land-based infrastructure. It is made up of two HVDC cables along with a fiber optic cable that transmits data back to the wind farm operations center. They are bundled together during installation.

Hornsea 3 is set to become the firm’s third gigawatt-scale project in the Hornsea zone, following the 1.2-GW Hornsea 1 and 1.3-GW Hornsea 2. "Hornsea 3 will be a cornerstone in achieving the UK government’s climate and clean energy targets while increasing energy independence and creating local jobs," Duncan Clark, Head of Ørsted UK & Ireland, said.

Once online, the wind farm will send electricity through offshore cables to land. It will then travel over 31 miles (50 kilometers) underground to the converter station at Swardeston, Norfolk.

"It will make a significant contribution towards the UK Government’s ambitious target of 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and net-zero by 2050," Clark added.

Ørsted has shipped key parts for Hornsea 3 from around the world. For example, large steel structures known as jackets were transported from the Dutch port of Vlissingen to the North Sea. These support the offshore converter stations.

Each one is built to withstand harsh sea conditions, and stands nearly 177 feet (54 meters) tall and weighs about 3,500 tons. The top section of one converter station traveled over 13,000 nautical miles from Thailand to Norway before installation.

The process is being led by Jan De Nul Group. Companies such as Hitachi Energy, Aibel, and Heerema Fabrication Group are contributing to the manufacturing and assembly of critical components.

Valued at approximately USD 11.2 billion (GBP 8.5 billion), the project is expected to boost the UK’s renewable capacity while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. It will feature Siemens Gamesa’s 14 MW turbines.

Italy’s Migrant Detention Hubs Does Not Violate Any Laws

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 May 2026 02:58:27 +0000

Italy’s migrant detention hubs in Albania are in line with EU law as long as migrants’ rights are fully protected, according to an adviser to the bloc’s top court.

The legal opinion, which is not binding, is a win for the government of Giorgia Meloni, whose plans to process and deport asylum-seekers via offshore hubs have been embroiled in legal challenges.

Italy’s center in Gjadër reportedly held 90 people in February, the highest number since Rome opened the hub, but far below the 3,000 applications per month that Meloni said the government wanted to get processed in Albania.

In a reaction on X, Meloni said the opinion confirmed the "validity" of her government’s approach and hit out at "forced and unfounded legal interpretations," which she said had led to "two lost years."

The Italian government cut a deal with Albania in 2023 to house migrant detention and deportation centers on its territory. The hubs were initially meant for asylum-seekers from countries considered safe while their applications were processed, but Rome has since decided to also use them to house people whose applications have been rejected and will be deported.

NGOs have repeatedly lashed out at Italy’s hubs, with Amnesty International raising concerns that the rights of asylum-seekers would be "severely curtailed."

Nicholas Emiliou, an advocate-general at the Court of Justice of the European Union, argued in an opinion published recently that EU law doesn’t prevent a country from setting up detention centers to process failed asylum-seekers outside its own territory.

But he stressed that the country would still be bound by EU guarantees for migrants, including the right to legal counsel, language assistance and special support for minors and other vulnerable people.

The legal advice comes as EU negotiators are in final talks on new rules that will allow EU countries to set up so-called "return hubs" outside the bloc. German and Dutch ministers confirmed last month that they aim to have such plans in place by year-end.

The court’s final ruling doesn’t have to match an advocate-general’s opinion, but it often does.

Green Card Applicants Told To Stay Out Of The U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 May 2026 04:23:12 +0000

The United States has announced a new policy that means most immigrants seeking a green card will have to leave the country and apply at an embassy or consulate abroad.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on recently that people seeking a change in status must do so through consular processing outside of the country "except in extraordinary circumstances".

The move - part of President Donald Trump administration's efforts to curtail illegal immigration - closes a loophole that had allowed visa holders and visitors to apply for a green card while still in the US.

Critics of the policy say the longstanding system allowed families to stay together during the lengthy application process.

The new method could also make it difficult or impossible for some immigrants who leave the country in hopes of gaining a green card - which grants permanent residence in the US - to return.

The USCIS policy memo states that people such as students, temporary workers or people on tourist visas need to go through the Department of State from outside of the US.

"When aliens apply from their home country, it reduces the need to find and remove those who decide to slip into the shadows and remain in the US illegally after being denied residency," USCIS said, making the system "fairer and more efficient".

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS, wrote on X: "The era of abusing our nation's immigration system is over."

"We're returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation's immigration system properly," USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler said.

"From now on, an alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a green card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances."

Kahler said the policy would allow the immigration system "to function as the law intended instead of incentivising loopholes" and that visits "should not function as the first step in the green gard process".

It is unclear whether pending green card applications will be affected.

Another policy from the administration this year has paused issuing visas to immigrant visa applicants from 75 countries.

Overstaying a US visa can lead to deportation, ineligibility for future visas and re-entry bans lasting up to 10 years, according to the US State Department.

Appeals Courts Orders Judge To Stop Bias Investigation Order

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 May 2026 10:26:23 +0000

A federal judge must end his "intrusive" contempt investigation of the Trump administration for failing to comply with an order over flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador last year, a divided appeals court panel ruled last April.

Chief Judge James Boasberg abused his discretion in forging ahead with criminal contempt proceedings stemming from the March 2025 deportation flights, according to the majority opinion by a three-judge panel from U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The ruling is the latest twist in a yearlong legal saga that has became a flashpoint in President Donald Trump's mass deportation campaign. The White House has portrayed Boasberg as a biased judge who overstepped his authority.

Trump's administration has a "clear and indisputable" right to the termination of the contempt proceedings, Circuit Judge Neomi Rao wrote in the court's majority opinion.

"The legal error at the heart of these criminal contempt proceedings demonstrates why further investigation by the district court is an abuse of discretion," Rao wrote. "Criminal contempt is available only for the violation of an order that is clear and specific. (Boasberg's March 2025 order) did not clearly and specifically bar the government from transferring plaintiffs into Salvadoran custody."

Lawyers for the deported migrants will ask the full circuit court to review the panel's decision, according to plaintiffs' attorney Lee Gelernt of the American Civil Liberties Union. Gelernt said the majority opinion is "a blow to the rule of law."

"Our system is built on the executive branch, including the president, respecting court orders. In this case there is no longer any question that the Trump administration willfully violated the court's order," Gelernt said in a statement.

Rao was nominated by Trump, a Republican. Boasberg, chief judge of the district court in Washington, D.C., was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama.

On 15 March 2025, Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order barring the administration from transferring a group of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century law. After the order was entered, two planeloads of migrants protected by the order departed from the U.S. on their way to El Salvador, where they were locked up in one of the world's most violent prisons. The administration said then- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was responsible for the transfer decision.

Boasberg has said the Trump administration may have acted in bad faith by trying to rush Venezuelan migrants out of the country in defiance of his order. He said he gave the administration "ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions" but concluded that "none of their responses has been satisfactory."

Last year, the Justice Department filed a misconduct complaint accusing Boasberg of making improper public comments about Trump and his administration. Trump has called for impeaching Boasberg. In a rare rebuke, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts publicly rejected calls for Boasberg's impeachment.

The case is assigned to Rao and Circuit Judges Justin Walker and J. Michelle Childs. Walker, also a Trump nominee, wrote a separate opinion concurring with Rao's. Childs, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, dissented from the majority.

Federal Court Gives Pres. Donald Trump Another Victory

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:20:59 +0000

The U.S. Board ‌of Immigration Appeals has reinstated deportation proceedings against pro-Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi, according to a court filing, opens new tab from his lawyers.

A U.S. immigration judge in February had rejected efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to deport the Columbia University student, who was arrested last year following his participation in pro-Palestinian protests.

Nina Froes, the Chelmsford, Massachusetts-based immigration judge who blocked the government's efforts to deport Mahdawi, was fired by the Trump administration last month.

The Board of ⁠Immigration Appeals, part of the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review, overturned Froes' decision.

Trump alleges activists like Mahdawi are antisemitic, support extremism and threaten U.S. foreign policy.

Activists, including some Jewish groups, say the government conflates criticism of Israel's assault on Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism.

"The government continues to weaponize the immigration system to silence dissent," Mahdawi said in a statement shared by his legal team on last week.

Mahdawi, born and raised in a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was arrested in April 2025 upon arriving for an interview for his U.S. citizenship petition. He was released after two weeks ‌in ⁠detention following a judge's order and was never charged with a crime.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Mahdawi, says the government cannot deport him for the moment as his arrest was still being challenged in federal court.

Trump has cracked down on pro-Palestinian movements by attempting to deport foreign protesters, threatening to freeze funds for universities where protests were held and scrutinizing immigrants' online speech.

Federal Courts Reject Virginia Redistricting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 May 2026 03:48:41 +0000

Virginia's top court threw out last 8 May a new electoral map that was crafted to flip four Republican-held U.S. congressional seats to Democrats, in a setback to Democratic hopes of retaking the House of Representatives in November's midterm elections.

In a 4-3 decision, the Virginia Supreme Court rejected a Democratic-backed ballot measure approved by voters in April that reconfigured the state's U.S. House of Representatives districts for partisan advantage.

Ruling in ‌favor of a Republican challenge, the court's majority found that Democratic lawmakers had not followed proper procedure last year when they rushed to approve the referendum in time to reach the ballot ahead of the November election.

The opinion boosts Republican hopes of keeping control of the U.S. House, despite a razor-thin majority and deep voter unhappiness with President Donald Trump.

On his Truth Social account, Trump called the ruling a "huge win for the Republican Party."

Democrats cried foul, with Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House, calling the court's decision undemocratic and ignoring the will of millions of voters who had voted in favor of changing the electoral map.

The state will submit an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to court papers filed late on Friday by Virginia Democrats.

Kyle Kondik, a nonpartisan elections analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said while it was still too early to predict the impact of the ruling, ⁠it had undoubtedly improved the electoral chances for Republicans.

"Whatever odds you would have given to Republicans winning the House yesterday, I think you would raise them today," he said.

Still, Republicans face significant political headwinds ahead of November's elections, with many voters unhappy with Trump's handling of the economy and the Iran war which has increased gas prices.

Marcia S. Price, a Democratic state delegate who played a central role in getting the new electoral map passed by voters, said the main job now was to work even harder to turn out voters to flip Republican-held seats from the old map.

Before The U.S. Attack, Iran Likes To Kill Gays

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 May 2026 03:11:00 +0000

In early 2022, Iran has executed two gay men who were convicted on charges of sodomy and spent six years on death row, a rights group reported. Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, considered one of the most repressive places in the world for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

According to a report by the Human Rights Activists News Agency, the two men were identified as Mehrdad Karimpour and Farid Mohammadi.

They were sentenced to death for "forced sexual intercourse between two men" and hanged in a prison in the northwestern city of Maragheh, some 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the capital, Tehran.

Last July 2021, two other men were executed on the same charges in Maragheh, the group said. It added that in 2021, Iran executed 299 people, including four convicted of crimes committed as children. Also in 2021, Iran sentenced 85 people to death.

The U.N.’s independent investigator on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman told the U.N. General Assembly’s human rights committee that Iran continues to implement the death penalty "at an alarming rate."

The Iranian government has justified its stance on homosexuality by citing religious and cultural reasons, claiming that homosexuality is a sin and goes against Islamic values. As a result, LGBTQ+ individuals in Iran face systemic discrimination, harassment and violence, both from the government and from society at large.

Hungary New PM Rejects EU's Migrant Pact

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 03:52:00 +0000

Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar has vowed to strengthen his country’s borders, suggesting his defeat of EU‑sceptic Viktor Orbán will not lead to a policy shift toward Brussels on migration.

European leaders welcomed Magyar's achievement in ending the 16-year rule of Orbán. While Magyar has pledged to reengage with the EU, he said his government’s plans do not include implementing the EU’s new migration and asylum pact.

The pact, which comes into effect in June, overhauls the EU’s asylum and border rules, introducing faster screening, tougher returns and aims to redistribute responsibility for the cost and efforts of hosting migrants among member states.

Mentioning the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, Magyar said in a speech Wednesday that Hungary had a strict immigration policy and "it will not accept any pact". It would keep its southern border fence and "patch up the holes that are there now," he added.

"We really want to protect our country and Europe from illegal immigration," Magyar said, adding that the conservative Tisza party he leads "will pursue a strict illegal immigration policy."

Magyar’s victory in Hungary was greeted with relief across Europe but experts at the International Crisis Group say he had a low bar to clear regarding better coordination with the EU than his predecessor, given Orbán’s track record of blocking Brussels.

"A more EU-minded Budapest will certainly make things easier, but it is worth remembering that Magyar remains a skeptic of Ukrainian integration into the EU," Olga Oliker, the ICG's European Security director, told Newsweek.

Another Innocent Killed By An Illegal Alien

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:47:00 +0000

Another killing of a 15-year-old Missouri boy who begged for his life during a deadly ambush has fueled a wave of outrage, with Republican leaders pointing to the suspect’s illegal immigration status and demanding government officials support tougher border enforcement.

"Unfortunately, this is just the latest example of a Missourian killed by an illegal alien," Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said, calling for sweeping deportation efforts.

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., said the killing underscores concerns about public safety, adding that "dangerous individuals who should not be here remain in our communities."

"Miles Young should still be alive. This is tragic," he wrote in a post on X. "Justice must be swift."

The backlash follows the arrest of Yefry Archaga-Elvir, 18, who is accused of luring Miles Young, 15, into a planned ambush before chasing him down and shooting him, according to court documents. The Honduran national is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action and is being held without bond on a federal immigration detainer.

A second suspect, Praize King, 18, is also charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the killing. At least one additional suspect, believed to be a juvenile, has not been publicly identified.

Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek called the killing "another Missouri family destroyed," saying the teen was "executed while begging for his life" and warning the case shows "exactly why we must cut off the incentives that keep illegals here."

He added that Missourians are "outraged" the suspect was in the state, arguing the crime "never would’ve happened" if he had not been in the country.

Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., said, "A Missouri teen begged for his life. He was killed by an ILLEGAL alien," adding, "Our children should NEVER fear murder on our streets."

Schmitt also questioned the broader response, asking, "Where are the protests for Miles Young? Where is the outrage when American sons and daughters are murdered by illegal aliens who have no business in our country?"

NY Law Forcing Nuns To Serve Trans Even If They Don't Want To

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:28:00 +0000

Catholic nuns who have spent more than a century caring for the dying poor women are suing New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, saying a new state law could force them to choose between their faith and their mission or face fines, loss of licensing and even jail time.

"We are consecrated religious Sisters and have one mission," Mother Marie Edward, O.P., told Fox News Digital in a statement. "It is to provide comfort and skilled care to persons dying of cancer who cannot afford nursing care. We do not take insurance or government funds or money from our patients or families. The care is totally free."

"We are supported by the goodness of our benefactors," she continued. "We do this without discriminating on the basis of race, religion, or sex. We do it because Jesus taught us that, when the least among us are sick, we should care for them, as if they were Christ himself."

Signed into law on 30 November 2023, the "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and people living with HIV long-term care facility residents' bill of rights" bans long-term care facilities and staff "from discriminating against any resident on the basis of a resident’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or HIV status," according to a press release from Hochul's office.

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who run Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, filed a lawsuit last 7 April against the law they say would require them to assign rooms by gender identity, not biological sex; allow access to opposite-sex bathrooms; allow expression, relationships and identity practices; use preferred pronouns; require staff training in gender ideology; and post a public notice stating compliance with the law.

Edward told Fox News Digital that "New York’s gender ideology mandates not only violate our Catholic values, they threaten our existence with fines, injunctions, license revocation, and even jail time. This is why we were forced to go to court to seek protection of our religious exercise and freedom of speech so that we can continue our ministry to the poor."

A press release from the Catholic Benefits Association said the New York State Department of Health sent the first in a series of "Dear Administrator" letters to the Hawthorne Dominicans' Rosary Hill Home, a 42-bed facility, on 18 March 2024.

The letters listed New York’s demands and included a training curriculum "requiring the sisters to align patient care and the training of their sisters and employees with the State’s gender ideology."

If the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne do not comply, they face fines up to US$ 2,000 per violation — rising to US$ 5,000 — court-ordered forced compliance, loss of licensing and up to one year in prison and fines up to US$ 10,000.

In their lawsuit, the sisters highlighted that during the four-year reporting period from 1 February 2022, through 31 January 2026, the New York State Department of Health had received "zero complaints" from Rosary Hill Home residents, compared with "more than 55,000 complaints against other nursing homes," and an average of 23 citations per facility during the same period.

In the press release, Sister Stella Mary, O.P., administrator of Rosary Hill Home, said, "Our foundress, Mother Alphonsa Hawthorne, charged us to serve those who are ‘to pass from one life to another’ and to ‘make them as comfortable and happy as if their own people had kept them and put them into the very best bedroom.’ We intend to continue honoring this sacred obligation but need relief from the Court to do so."

Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul's office for comment and was referred to a spokesperson at the New York State Department of Health who said, "While the Department does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation, the NYS Department of Health is committed to following state law, which provides nursing home residents certain rights protecting against discrimination including, but not limited to, gender identity or expression."

Another Illegal Alien Charged Of Murder

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:35:00 +0000

An illegal alien from Haiti has been charged with murder after officials say he repeatedly struck a woman with a hammer outside a convenience store in Florida last week, the latest immigration case thrust into the national spotlight by President Donald Trump.

Rolbert Joachin, 40, is in custody and accused by authorities of killing the woman, who has not been publicly identified, during an interaction at a gas station in Fort Myers on 2 April, according to court documents.

The attack was "targeted," and while the victim did not know Joachin, the two "had a previous encounter," a Fort Myers Police Department spokesperson told CNN in an email.

Joachin was taken into custody "after an extensive coordinated manhunt," Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields said at a news conference last 10 April.

The victim, whose name is being withheld by police due to Marsy’s Law, was working as a store clerk at the gas station, according to the court documents.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump shared shocking surveillance footage of the killing, calling it the result of immigration policies under former President Joe Biden and reiterated inflammatory rhetoric associating immigrants with crime. President Trump’s amplification of the video is the latest in a yearslong campaign to use certain killings as apparent evidence for stricter border enforcement.

"The video of her brutal slaying is one of the most vicious things you will ever see," Trump said in his post, referring to the suspect as an "animal" and criticizing humanitarian protections previously granted for Haitians.

Kelei Walker, the acting Miami field officer director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, described the attack as "a tragic moment and an awful time and an awful reason to come together" at the news conference.

Gruesome video of the interaction, also shared online by the Department of Homeland Security, shows a man repeatedly hitting the hood and sides of a car parked in the gas station’s parking lot with an object – an apparent hammer – in his hand.

A woman is seen exiting the store and approaching the man, appearing to speak to him, and the man turns and walks toward her, according to the video, which is then lightly blurred due to the graphic nature of the attack.

Joachin has been charged with murder, criminal mischief, and damage to property over US$ 1,000, a third-degree felony, according to the court documents.

CNN has reached out to Joachin’s lawyers. He’s being held without bond after a hearing in Lee County court and is scheduled to be arraigned on 4 May.

Obama Library Requires ID, But Dems Oppose Voter ID Laws

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:59:00 +0000

The Obama Presidential Center is facing a wave of backlash ahead of its opening, with critics blasting its admission policies and raising broader concerns about the project’s cost and management.

Conservative commentators on social media are taking aim at the center’s requirement that Illinois residents show valid identification to receive free admission on certain days, arguing it contrasts with Democratic opposition to voter ID laws.

"They’re making you show ID ... to visit the Obama Library ... in Chicago. You can’t make this stuff up!" one social media user wrote.

"The Obama Presidential Library is making people show an ID for proof of Illinois residency to get in for free," another posted. "So residents have to prove who they are for this, but not to vote?"

Others echoed the sentiment more bluntly, with one account writing: "It turns out Democrats support requiring ID ... but only for free admission into Obama’s library."

Obama's website clearly states that Illinois residents "must be able to provide proof of residency. Be prepared to show proof of residency at the Museum with a valid photo ID, Illinois driver’s license, state ID, or city-issued ID."

Critics have also pointed to reported restrictions tied to early ticket giveaways, including claims that some promotions are limited to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

The latest controversy builds on a string of prior criticisms surrounding the US$ 850 million project.

Earlier this year, the Obama Foundation drew backlash after seeking 75 to 100 unpaid volunteers, dubbed "ambassadors," to help operate the center, even as top executives collect substantial salaries. Federal filings show CEO Valerie Jarrett has earned roughly US$ 740,000 annually in recent years, while overall compensation at the foundation has climbed significantly.

The project has also faced mounting scrutiny over its financial impact on taxpayers.

Former President Barack Obama once described the center as a "gift" to Chicago, emphasizing it would be privately funded. While construction of the 19.3-acre campus is being financed through private donations, the surrounding infrastructure needed to support the site, including road redesigns, utility relocations and drainage systems, is being paid for with public funds.

Early estimates put those infrastructure costs at roughly US$ 350 million, split between the city and state. But more recent figures show Illinois alone has committed approximately US$ 229 million, while Chicago has allocated more than US$ 200 million in related improvements — though officials have not provided a clear, consolidated total of taxpayer spending tied to the project.

Severed Leg Solved The 27-Year Old Cold Case

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:05:00 +0000

A discovered bone has helped solve one of Sonoma County’s most unusual cold cases, linking remains found decades apart to the same missing man.

Authorities confirmed that a severed leg found on a Sonoma County beach in 2022 belonged to Walter Karl Kinney, a former banker from Santa Rosa who disappeared in 1999. The identification, announced in March 2026, closed a decades-long mystery in which the same man had been classified as unidentified on two separate occasions nearly 25 years apart.

Kinney was born in San Diego in 1940. He worked as a banker and later moved to Santa Rosa, near the Northern California coastline where his remains were eventually found.

Kinney disappeared in August 1999 at age 59. Soon after, a leg washed ashore at Bodega Head in Sonoma County. The foot was still inside a size 12 Rockport ProWalker shoe fitted with a custom orthopedic insert. With few clues, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office could not identify the remains and the case went cold.

A break came in 2003 when a woman in Cleveland, Ohio, contacted authorities, saying her father, Walter Kinney, had lost contact with the family in the 1990s. While periods of silence were not unusual due to his history of alcoholism and related criminal charges, the gap had stretched for years.

Investigators obtained his medical records and noted foot problems. X-rays matched those of the leg found at Bodega Head, leading to a positive identification. Kinney was declared deceased and the case appeared closed.

The case resurfaced on 17 June 2022, nearly two decades later.

A family searching for seashells at Salmon Creek State Beach found a long bone protruding from the sand. Officials later determined it was likely a tibia and noted the presence of surgical hardware. The beach sits about five miles north of Bodega Head, where the first leg was found in 1999.

A search of the area turned up no additional remains or identifying evidence. With no name attached, the remains were classified as "John Doe," officially labeled the "Salmon Creek John Doe."

For nearly four years, the case remained unresolved. In May 2025, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the DNA Doe Project to identify the remains using investigative genetic genealogy.

A DNA profile was developed and uploaded to GEDmatch in January 2026. Soon after, volunteers began working the case and quickly made progress.

Investigative genetic genealogy combines DNA analysis with family-tree research. It has become a key tool in solving cold cases involving unidentified remains.

Organizations like DNA Doe Project use databases such as GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA to find genetic matches. Most matches are distant relatives who share common ancestors.

Founded in 2017, DNA Doe Project has worked on more than 250 cases, driven by the goal of restoring names to unidentified individuals.

In Kinney’s case, volunteers focused on a family that had moved from the East Coast to California, settling in San Diego. While tracing descendants, they identified Walter Karl Kinney, born in 1940, who later lived in Santa Rosa near Salmon Creek.

That lead connected to a critical detail. A team member found an article about human remains discovered at Bodega Head in 1999, including a leg in a size 12 Rockport shoe with a custom orthopedic insert.

Within eight days, investigators identified Kinney as a likely match. The DNA Doe Project submitted its findings and the sheriff’s office confirmed the 2022 remains also belonged to him.