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The Hurricane spins around hotspots of tension and conflict. Feel free to suggest your stories, opinions and ideas: UIHEN@protonmail.com
One million people are waiting to see a specialist in Quebec
Universal healthcare in Canada now seems to be non-existent.
#Canada #Health #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
China, US trade barbs over destroyer passage near disputed shoal
China’s military said on Aug 13 that it monitored and “drove away” a US destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, while the US Navy said its action was in line with international law.
The first known US military operation in at least six years within the shoal’s waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of “dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference” during a supply mission around the atoll.
In a statement, the Chinese military’s Southern Theatre Command said the USS Higgins had entered the waters “without approval of the Chinese government” on Aug 13.
The Scarborough Shoal has been a major source of tension in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion (S$3.8 trillion) of annual ship-borne commerce.
In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled there was no basis in international law for Beijing’s claims based on its historic maps. China, however, does not recognise that decision.
#China #USA #Military #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
US accuses UK of 'significant human rights issues' and restricting free speech
The US State Department has accused the UK of having "significant human rights issues", including restrictions on free speech.
The unflattering assessment comes via a new version of an annual Human Rights Practices report, with its publication coinciding with vice president JD Vance's holiday in the Cotswolds.
It says human rights in the UK "worsened" in 2024, with "credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression", as well as "crimes, violence, or threats of violence motivated by antisemitism" since the 7 October Hamas attack against Israel.
On free speech, while "generally provided" for, the report cites "specific areas of concern" around limits on "political speech deemed 'hateful' or 'offensive'".
Sir Keir Starmer has previously defended the UK's record on free speech after concerns were raised by Mr Vance.
In response to the report, a UK government spokesperson said: "Free speech is vital for democracy around the world including here in the UK, and we are proud to uphold freedoms whilst keeping our citizens safe."
#USA #UK #Rights #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
British Foreign Secretary refers himself to watchdog after fishing illegally with JD Vance
David Lammy has referred himself to the environment watchdog after going fishing with JD Vance without the required licence during the US vice-president’s trip to the UK.
The foreign secretary hosted Vance and his family at Chevening House in Kent last week, where the pair fished from the property’s private lake. Anglers aged 13 and over must hold a rod licence to fish for freshwater species such as carp in England and Wales. “Lammy failed to land a catch, but all of my kids did”, Vance said.
The Foreign Office said an “administrative oversight” meant licences had not been obtained in advance. Lammy bought them as soon as he was made aware, and wrote to the Environment Agency to acknowledge the breach. “He also thanked them for their work protecting Britain’s fisheries,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.
The agency confirmed the licences had since been bought. All fish caught during the visit were returned to the water.
#UK #USA #Vance #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The US authorities secretly embedded location trackers in some shipments of AI chips
According to Reuters, this was done to detect illegal diversions of supply routes to China
#USA #China #AI #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Black community leaders in Cincinnati demand arrest of beatdown victim who allegedly ‘incited’ mob violence
Black community leaders in Cincinnati held a press conference to demand the arrest of one of the victims of the black-on-white mob attack that garnered national attention, last month. Six alleged assailants have been indicted on eight charges each, including felonious assault and aggravated rioting, following a grand jury indictment.
The FBI has also opened a federal investigation into the incident, which occurred at around 3:00 a.m. July 26, in downtown Cincinnati, during the city’s Music Festival weekend.
Ohio lawmaker Cecil Thomas (D) invited black leaders, representatives of black organizations, and other interested parties to join him at the New Prospect Baptist Church express their concerns about law enforcement’s response to the attack.
Thomas, a former police officer, said the lack of charges for the white victim in the white shirt who allegedly “incited” the mob violence “raises serious questions on whether there is bias involved in the investigation.”
During the community meeting Monday, Thomas questioned why officials had not announced any charges for the victim who allegedly delivered the slap toward the beginning of the altercation.
#USA #FBI #Crime #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Germany To Purchase $500 Million in US Military Equipment for Ukraine Under NATO Scheme
Germany announced on Wednesday that it will purchase $500 million worth of US weapons for Ukraine under a new NATO scheme to funnel more US military equipment into the proxy war, known as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.
Germany’s announcement came after the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden committed to purchasing US weapons for Ukraine. The commitment from the five NATO countries amounts to about $1.5 billion in US military equipment that will be sent to Ukraine.
It’s unclear exactly what kind of weapons the European countries are going to purchase, but it will likely include air defense missiles and other types of munitions.
Vice President JD Vance recently said that the US was “done” with funding the war in Ukraine, though he said if the “Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we’re okay with that, but we’re not going to fund it ourselves anymore.”
#USA #Germany #Military #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The number of immigrants in the United States fell by 2.2 million between January and July this year
This was reported by the US Center for Immigration Studies, noting that the exodus was mainly due to “self-deportation.”
#USA #Immigrants #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Half of Ukrainians who have been granted temporary protection status in the EU have settled in Germany and Poland
This was reported by Eurostat, noting that as of June 30, 2025, 4.31 million citizens of non-EU countries had temporary protection status in the EU.
The EU countries with the largest number of temporary protection recipients from Ukraine are Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic:
🇩🇪Germany has accepted 27.8% of those who left Ukraine — that is almost 1.2 million people,
🇵🇱Poland — 23% (992,500 people),
🇨🇿The Czech Republic — 8.8% (378,400 people).
They are followed by:
🇪🇸Spain (5%, about 235,000),
🇷🇴Romania (4%, about 186,000),
🇮🇹Italy (4%, about 168,000),
🇸🇰Slovakia (3%, about 133,000).
The highest number of temporary protection beneficiaries per 1,000 people was recorded in the Czech Republic (34.7), Poland (27.2), and Estonia (25.1), while the EU average was 9.6% 1,000 people.
#EU #WarInUkraine #Germany #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The situation in Philadelphia in the last month of summer
#USA #Philadelphia #Migrants #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
It doesn’t matter what Europe thinks — and that’s OK
With the historic US-Russia summit in Alaska fast approaching, European emotion over being left out of the negotiations is reaching fever pitch. Two feelings are clashing in the tender hearts and minds of the soft-spoken Euro-elites. There is anger at the perceived insult to Europe’s (delusional) sense of self-importance as a “great power” on the world stage. And then there’s panic at what Putin and Trump might actually decide about Ukraine, against Europe’s wishes. But the collective psychological Euro-meltdown is unnecessary. They needn’t worry, for a number of reasons.
In the real world the Europeans have never been at the table in any of the big East-West summit negotiations since the Yalta, Potsdam and Paris conferences in 1945-46. Every single big moment involving serious, strategic negotiations with Moscow over issues affecting European security has been an exclusively American-Soviet/Russian affair.
Some will counter that in previous cases there was more room for European input into the US position going into the US-Russia summits, as opposed to today – but is that really true? The fact is that American power has always shaped Europe’s own perspectives, and that US presidents have always pursued certain US interests (see Obama’s diplomatic reset and missile shield redeployments) regardless of what European capitals thought or wanted.
The one major exception to this pattern proves the rule. It was when America didn’t get involved, and let the Europeans broker a deal with Russia by themselves at Minsk in 2015. It’s collapse showed Europe’s incompetence and inability to secure its own interests when America doesn’t hold its hand.
#USA #Russia #EU #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Sharpton: Trump ‘race-baiting’ by targeting black majority cities
MSNBC political commentator Al Sharpton said Tuesday on “Chris Jansing Reports” that President Donald Trump taking federal control of the police department in Washington, D.C. and calling out crime in other majority black cities is “race-baiting.”
Sharpton said, “The data says that crime and violent crime has gone down in Washington, he’s going to send out the National Guard. Well, why didn’t he send it out January 6? So, this is clear politics. It’s aimed at black mayors.”
He continued, “There are many cities in between Washington and Chicago, Washington and Oakland. He only chose the black ones. So, it is clear what he’s trying to do: he’s trying to race-bait. His own base is very concerned about Epstein. So what do you do? You go throw your base red meat. Let’s go back into race, all the blacks are breaking crime, breaking the law, we need to go in. It’s race-baiting. I think that what he has done is disgraceful, and it puts people under siege unnecessarily.”
Birth rate among refugee women in Austria nearly triple that of native-born Austrians
New figures show that women from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq living in Austria have an average birth rate almost three times higher than that of Austrian-born women, according to data from the country’s Statistical Yearbook on Migration and Integration.
The report finds that Austrian-born women have an average of 1.22 children. Among women not born in Austria, the figure rises to 1.57. However, the figure among some countries of origin rises significantly.
Those born in the former Yugoslavia average 1.94 children, while Turkish-born women have 1.8 children. The highest rates are found among Syrian, Afghan, and Iraqi women, who average 3.3 children each.
The report notes that Austrian mothers tend to be older when giving birth, with an average age of 30.4 years for Austrian-born women compared to 28.7 years for non-Austrian-born women. Women from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq have their first child at an average age of 26.2 years.
These figures come amid ongoing debate in Austria about the demographic impact of migration since the large influx of refugees from Syria in recent years.
#Austria #Refugee #Birth #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Africa set to test critical-minerals-backed currency
Major countries and regional blocs in Africa are throwing their weight behind an ambitious plan to establish a “non-circulating” currency backed by critical minerals, which are crucial to technological development, defense, and economic growth.
Analysts say a denomination based on commodities could reduce Africa’s reliance on foreign currencies—especially the U.S. dollar—and decrease its dependence on loans from China, Europe, the United States, and global financial institutions like the World Bank.
The proposed monetary unit is provisionally called the African Units of Account (AUA), according to a plan formulated by the African Development Bank and KPMG South Africa.
The proposal says the AUA would be traded on the international foreign exchange market, and would be less susceptible to fluctuations in individual African currencies or the U.S. dollar, making it more attractive to investors.
While some in Africa’s mining industry are optimistic about the potential of such a currency, others warn that China could “weaponize” it, given Beijing’s dominance in global critical minerals supply chains.
#Africa #Economy #AUA #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Four possible scenarios for ending the military conflict in Ukraine, according to The Times:
1. European option: freeze the war on the current front lines, without changing territories.
2. Ukraine renounces the entire Donbas region (Donetsk + Luhansk), losing key defensive positions.
3. Concessions by Kyiv: Ukraine cedes all of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, even those territories that Russia does not yet fully control.
4. Exchange of territories: Russia gets all of Donbas, Ukraine returns part of Kherson, but this is unlikely, as the Kherson region is vital for Russia's connection to Crimea.
#WarInUkraine #USA #Russia #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Governments Lie
By Ron Paul
Bureau of Labor Statistics head Dr. Erika McEntarfer is one of the latest persons President Trump has told “you’re fired.” Trump said this month that he fired Dr. McEntarfer because the president believed she manipulated jobs data. Manipulations, he stated, include the updated May and June BLS numbers showing the U.S. economy created 258,000 fewer jobs than originally reported, as well as the weaker than expected July jobs report. All of this, the president suggested, was designed to make Trump look bad.
Following Dr. McEntarfer’s firing, many commenters worried that President Trump’s actions would create the perception that government unemployment and inflation data is manipulated to produce the numbers desired by the president. A loss of confidence in government statistics could impact demand for US Treasuries. This is because the value of Treasuries is adjusted based on the BLS-issued Consumer Price Index (CPI). If investors don’t trust the CPI figures, they can demand higher returns, increasing government’s interest payments.
Trump is correct that BLS manipulates statistics related to the economy, but it has been doing so since long before Donald Trump moved to the White House.
Full story
#USA #Trump #McEntarfer #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The amount of financial investment in the construction of data centers (DCs) in the US has almost caught up with and will soon surpass the amount of financial investment in office construction.
#USA #DCs #Economy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
"Barbie" screening in France canceled due to threats
Following threats of violence against public service workers, the French town of Noisy-le-Sec has canceled a planned screening of the film "Barbie".
The mayor of the city, Olivier Sarrabeyrouse from the French Communist Party (PCF), expressed his regret on Monday that "a small group from the neighborhood, under pressure from one individual, used their energy to prevent the screening of this film". The free open-air cinema event should have taken place last Friday.
The Hollywood comedy was selected by residents in a public vote as part of the town’s summer open-air cinema programme, which the municipality has had for three years.
But this year’s selection drew a backlash from a small but vocal group, some of whom denounced the film as “neo-feminist propaganda” and accused it of “promoting LGBT stories”.
#France #LGBT #PCF #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Chinese EV makers vie for Indonesia, Thailand sales; Japanese rivals fear market share loss
Competition is intensifying among Chinese carmakers over electric vehicle (EV) sales in Indonesia and Thailand, the No. 1 and No. 3 automobile markets in South-east Asia.
The increase in competition has been prompted by government incentives in Indonesia and Thailand aimed at boosting their EV industries.
However, the incentives bring few benefits to Japanese carmakers, which excel in the field of hybrid vehicles, raising concerns about a decline in their presence in the markets.
#China #Indonesia #EV #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
In Nova Scotia, Canada, a $25,000 fine has been introduced for visiting the forest
In protest, one Canadian deliberately went into a grove near a nature reserve. He was detained and fined $28,000.
Meanwhile, the liberal premier of Newfoundland called the ability to go into the forest a “privilege” granted by the state.
#Canada #Economy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Musk’s AI chatbot briefly suspended 'for saying Israel is committing genocide in Gaza'
Elon Musk's AI chatbot was temporarily suspended from his social media platform X on Monday.
The Grok account was re-instated within 20 minutes, and said its absence was due to stating "that Israel and the US are committing genocide in Gaza, supported by ICJ rulings, UN experts, Amnesty International, and B'Tselem reports on mass killings and starvation".
"I'm back, sharper than ever," it added in some posts. Grok shared several variations of this statement in response to queries by X users - some of which were deleted.
In some posts, the bot suggested a "mass reporting campaign" on its Gaza statement triggered its suspension. In others, it stated it was due to remarks regarding homicide rates in the US by race, and sometimes, a "system error".
Musk said that the bot's responses were just a “dumb mistake”, adding that “Grok doesn’t actually know why it was suspended”.
#Musk #AI #Grok #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Left-wing megadonors funding protests against Trump’s DC crime crackdown
Several lefty, dark money organizations, including George Soros’, contributed more than $20 million to groups funding protests against President Trump’s crime crackdown in Washington, DC.
Free DC, a “fiscally sponsored special project” of progressive nonprofits Community Change and Community Change Action, brought 150 demonstrators near the White House Monday to protest Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops in the district and federalize the city’s police department.
“Do not obey in advance” and “Take up space” are among Free DC’s “guiding principles,” and the group urges supporters to “go outside at 8:00 PM and bang pots and pans, sing, chant, or make noise for five minutes” every night “of this occupation.”
Free DC has scheduled multiple events since Monday’s anti-Trump protest, including a “Cop Watch Training,” suggesting further protests are planned amid Trump’s effort to make DC the “safest, cleanest and most beautiful cities anywhere in the world” – by ramping up law enforcement efforts and removing homeless encampments from public places.
#USA #Trump #Economy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Germany rejects US censorship claims in human rights report
Human rights, such as freedom of expression, are under threat in Germany and other European countries, according to the 2024 Human Rights Report by the US State Department.
"The human rights situation in Germany worsened during the year. Significant human rights issues included restrictions on freedom of expression and credible reports of crimes, violence, or threats of violence motivated by antisemitism," the report said.
"There is no censorship in Germany," Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer said.
What taxes are paid in Europe and in which countries?
#EU #Economy #Taxes #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Melania Trump's lawyers warn Hunter Biden: Retract statements or face legal fight
First lady Melania Trump is putting Hunter Biden on $1 billion notice over what she claims are "false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements" made about her, demanding he immediately remove and retract the content and issue an apology or face legal action.
Fox News obtained the letter that Alejandro Brito, attorney serving as litigation counsel for the first lady, sent to Hunter Biden and his attorney, Abbe Lowell, Aug. 6.
Brito demanded that Biden "immediately retract the false, defamatory, disparaging and inflammatory statements made about Mrs. Trump," which were contained in a video interview with Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan and posted to Youtube in early August.
In the video interview, titled "Hunter Biden Returns" video earlier in August, the former first son claimed "Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep."
Biden also claimed that "Jeffrey Epstein introduced Melania, and that’s how Melania and the first lady and the President met."
#USA #Trump #Biden #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
A legacy erased: Happy birthday, George Soros
by Parker Thayer
George Soros turned 95 on Wednesday, and for his birthday present America brought him the annihilation of his legacy.
Soros has been known for two things: making money and spending it on political influence. Over the last few years, he has handed over control of his empire to his son, Alex, and Alex seems unable to do either of those things successfully.
First, Alex ruined his reputation for making money. George was once known as “the man who broke the bank of England. Alex became the man who broke the bank of Soros. In 2021, he invested $2 billion to buy shares of an electric vehicle company called Rivian at somewhere between $70 and $100 per share. A year later, Rivan shares were selling for just $18 and Soros Fund Management sold at a loss of what must have been more than $1 billion.
Alex is as talented at making billions vanish as George was at making them appear, but maybe he inherited some of his dad’s skill for political maneuvering and network building?
Well, no, not really.
👉 Full story
#USA #Soros #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
US national debt hits record $37 trillion
The U.S. national debt surpassed $37 trillion for the first time in the nation's history on Friday as the federal government continues to accumulate debt at a record-setting pace.
New data from the Treasury Department released showed that the gross national debt hit $37,004,817,625,842.56 on Tuesday afternoon.
The $37 trillion debt milestone comes less than eight months after the nation hit the $36 trillion threshold for the first time in late November 2024, and a little over one year after the $35 trillion mark was reached in late July 2024.
The U.S. topping $37 trillion in total debt comes as the total debt held by the public – a metric favored by economists that excludes debt held in intragovernmental accounts like the Social Security trust funds – is projected to reach 99% of the size of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) this year.
#USA #Economy #Debt #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Israel is likely to start a new war with Iran before December — possibly as early as the end of August
Israel may strike Iran again this year to prevent Iran from developing capabilities that could challenge Israel's military superiority, regardless of the uranium enrichment process, according to Foreign Policy. Israel intends to prevent Iran from replenishing its missile arsenal, restoring its air defense systems, or deploying advanced systems as part of its “mowing the lawn” strategy. According to Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the war in June was only the first phase, adding that Israel is “now entering a new chapter” in the conflict.
"Iran is waiting and preparing for an attack. In the first war, it played the long game, rationing missile strikes in anticipation of a protracted conflict. However, in the next round, Iran is likely to strike decisively from the outset, seeking to dispel any notion that it can be overwhelmed by Israel's military superiority," the publication suggests.
Situation in Philadelphia😱
#USA #China #Weapons #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Ashley Biden filed for divorce from husband Howard Krein in Philadelphia
Ashley Biden, the daughter of former president Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden, filed for divorce from her husband, Howard Krein, on Monday in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
A representative for Ashley Biden confirmed the filing. The former first daughter posted an Instagram story of herself on Monday walking through a park giving a thumbs up, set to the song “Freedom” by Beyoncé.
She also reposted a quotation to Instagram: “New life, new beginnings means new boundaries. New ways of being that won’t look or sound like they did before," with Lauryn Hill’s “Freedom
The couple were wed in Greenville, Delaware in June 2012, in a ceremony that combined her Catholic faith and his Jewish roots, according to People magazine.
#USA #Biden #FindTruth
@uinhurricane