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#JoinIndianNavy As Short Service Commission Officers. Course commencing Jun 2024 at Indian Naval Academy. Registration Open. Unmarried men & unmarried women candidates apply Online. Last date for submission #29Oct 23 Details ⬇️ & EMPLOYMENT NEWS of #21Oct 23

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Russia is bringing in large numbers of Indian citizens, explaining this by the need to address a labor shortage. According to preliminary information, about 70,000 Indians are expected to arrive in Russia. Given the frequent previous cases of Indian citizens in Russia being deceived into going to war with Ukraine, the question arises: how many of those who come to Russia now will go to die on Ukrainian soil? Let's take a look at what happened earlier: ◾️ Feb-Mar 2024: from "support jobs" to criminal cases of trafficking. On February 23, 2024, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially acknowledged that some Indian citizens had signed up for "support jobs" with the Russian army and reported that the Indian embassy regularly raised the issue of their early discharge. On the same day, Reuters, citing The Hindu, reported that this concerned about 100 Indians recruited over the previous year on contracts lasting at least a year. On February 29, 2024, the Indian press reported that, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 20 Indians who had left as "support staff/helpers" had appealed to the government. The turning point came on March 8, 2024: Reuters reported that India had uncovered a "major trafficking network" that was deceiving young men into going to Russia with promises of work or education, after which they were forced to take part in the war. The case involved about 35 victims (compared to the previously mentioned ~20), and at least two deaths were reported. ◾️ July 2024: Political escalation of the issue and the first systematic "exits" from the Russian army. The issue of early discharge of Indians who were "misled" by recruiters was raised during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Moscow; public estimates by the Indian side at the time indicated that 30-40 citizens could remain in the Russian forces, and at least four had been killed. On July 9, 2024, Reuters reported that Russia had promised to discharge Indians who had been misled during recruitment; the Indian side said the situation affected an estimated 35-50 Indians, of whom 10 had already been brought home. In the following months, the issue of "discharge" began to take on the characteristics of a controlled track: the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a parliamentary answer (Lok Sabha, February 7, 2025), said that thanks to regular engagement, "most" Indians in the Russian forces had been discharged, while the Russian side announced that it would stop accepting Indians from April 2024. In addition, Reuters reported in September 2024 that about 45 Indians had been discharged from service and that work on other cases was ongoing. ◾️ 2025: scale and details of losses. The most conclusive source is the official answer of the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Rajya Sabha on December 18, 2025: 202 Indian citizens are "believed to have been recruited" into the Russian armed forces; government efforts have resulted in 119 early discharges. 26 Indians lost their lives, seven are reported missing; efforts are ongoing for the early discharge of 50 individuals. Taken together, these data indicate that the risk of recruitment is organized (networks of intermediaries/trafficking) and cumulative in nature, persisting even after political agreements on discharge. Therefore, there is no guarantee that some of the newly arrived Indians in Russia will not be sent as cannon fodder to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Anton Gerashchenko

933,987 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Blue city officers flocking to cop-friendly red states, police leader says: ‘Why would anyone stay?’ | Peter D'Abrosca, Fox News FOP vice president reveals why law enforcement is abandoning Democrat-run areas for greener pastures Law enforcement officers in areas primarily run by Democrats continue to flock to red states for job security, better pay and bosses who will back them up, according to one police leader. Joe Gamaldi is the national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). He is an active lieutenant with the Houston Police Department, and he said police in blue cities are tired of facing hostility from local leaders. "What we've seen is really a mass exodus of police officers leaving far-left cities for basically greener pastures," he told Fox News Digital. "Because, ultimately, people want to feel appreciated for what they do, and when you have a boss — in this case, mayors or city councils, who regularly call you a piece of crap to the public — why would anyone stay?" Florida is one example of a Republican-led state that has benefited from the mass departures. According to a 2024 statement from former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, the state welcomed 5,000 law enforcement recruits between 2022 and last year, and 1,200 of them came from out of state. "Florida is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation because we back our blue," Moody said at the time. "We’ve been spreading the word about all the great incentives to join our ranks, and individuals like the new Sarasota recruits have answered the call, leaving behind places where their service was not as appreciated as it is here." She said she was "as inspired as ever to continue doing all we can to show our support to those who bravely protect and serve" after seeing the influx of police officers into the state. Gamaldi said officers are also moving to cities that may lean blue but are in red states and still have the support of elected leadership and the community, adding officers are "voting with their feet." "We're also seeing it [in] Texas in Houston, which is a city that leans a little blue, but they have been supportive of police officers," he said. "The mayor there has given a massive raise to police officers. You're seeing officers go there. You're seeing officers go to Dallas. So, you're seeing all these communities, and there's one common thread. It's ‘We support police officers.'" Gamaldi emphasized that the trend began after the 2020 defund the police movement and said, in many cities, law enforcement officers are afraid to do their jobs in "critical incident" situations, even when they do them by the book. "I think you can look no further than Seattle, Portland, Chicago [and] New York," he said. "All of these cities have basically told their police officers, 'We don't support you. We're not gonna be there for you when you need us. We're gonna try to defund you when given the opportunity.' "I mean, my goodness, right now, one of the mayoral candidates for New York has actively said he wants to defund and dismantle the police department," Gamaldi said, referring to socialist Zohran Mamdani, who has been open with his anti-police rhetoric. Blue cities, Gamaldi said, are worse off for driving out their police forces. "Look at the mass exodus of experience in solving cases and experience of just mentoring the next generation of police officers," he said. "I mean, the damage that was done in 2020 with the defund the police movement, rhat's going to reverberate for decades. You don't just recover from something like that when you have all of that experience walking out the door." He also pointed to better pay and other financial perks, like cities covering moving expenses, as reasons law enforcement officers are moving away from far-left areas. ... "To anyone watching this right now," Gamaldi said, "if your boss was constantly telling you [that] you're doing a horrible job, and, in addition, if you were following the exact policies, training and the law of your job, and yet they are still demonizing you, still throwing you under the bus, still trying to indict you, why the hell would you stay?" Read more:

Owen Gregorian

64,167 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

TRANS TAKEOVER: Five 'trans women' dominate female volleyball game We went to a college female varsity volleyball game… and a 'sausage-fest' broke out! FIVE men, pretending to be women, were on the court. Why? Just when you thought transanity couldn’t get any worse… Last Wednesday, Rebel News was tipped off that the Centennial Colts were hosting the Seneca Sting in a female volleyball contest in Toronto. But not all the players were actually biological females… Indeed, we were stunned to find out that no fewer than FIVE men were pretending to be women (three on Seneca; two on Centennial.) At times it was hard to watch. The men were definitely the dominant players on the court – especially when it came to spiking the ball. Indeed, our volleyball insider told us that the situation is so dire that it is no longer safe for biological women to compete. Our source, who wishes to remain anonymous given the scourge that is cancel culture, stated the following: “Recently, there have been two major head injuries to female volleyball athletes in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) caused by transgender men [‘transwomen.’] The first injury, on November 12, 2023, was a concussion caused by C.L. Viloria who plays the middle position for Centennial College. During a game at Centennial College vs. La Cite Collegiate, Viloria attacked the ball with heavy force and hit a La Cite volleyball player in the head. The second injury, on January 22, 2024, was a concussion caused by a transgender woman, Franz Largadas. During a game at Seneca College vs. La Cite Collegiate, Largadas attacked the ball with heavy force and hit a La Cite player in the head. In the 2022-23 season Franz was listed on the Seneca College men’s volleyball team roster and is now on the women’s volleyball team roster this year. In both instances the players had to be substituted off the court. Although injuries do occur in the sport, the sheer force of a man’s volleyball attack is much more powerful than one of a biological women’s force. Currently, there are six transgender men in the OCAA. Five of which are not on any gender-affirming hormone therapy or have not had surgical gonad removal. There is no current policy in the OCAA that is listed publicly on their website about eligibility of transgender women.” Indeed, apparently the OCAA is fine if a man identifies as a woman or a woman identifies as a man – and presumably, we all identify as lobsters… It’s “human rights” accommodation, you see. Despicable wokeness… Almost as rotten was the fact that staffers at Centennial College were clearly trying to cover up this grotesque charade of men playing against women. Rebel News employees were continually harassed, our cameras were blocked, and at one point, security guards told us we had to leave because we were causing “a disturbance” in the stands. It was trumped up rubbish, of course. Perhaps these security guards are aiming for a gig with the RCMP? We held our ground and continued to observe the travesty occurring on the court. It wasn’t pretty… nor fair. The best-of-five series eventually concluded with Seneca winning three games to one; no surprise there given that the Sting had three male players and Centennial only had two. Meaning Centennial was literally “outmanned.” We tried to scrum Largadas and Viloria post-game, as well as the other fake female players: Ara Telan, Jess Garcia, and Jaque Ronquillo. All of them were tight-lipped, as were their biological female teammates (don’t want to be accused of “transphobia” after all…) And for the crime of asking insensitive questions, we were threatened by security guards that we’d be “trespassed” if we did not leave the venue immediately. Again, much like rugby and swimming, men pretending to be women are destroying female sports although you would never know that if you got your news exclusively from the mainstream media. These taxpayer-funded stenographers wouldn’t dream of offending their trans-happy sugar daddy Justin Trudeau, so MSM outlets never cover this nonsense. But as these gender-bending grifters continue to gut female sports, we pose the question yet again: where oh where are the feminists? Or are modern day feminists okay with misogyny in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion?
13:42

Sensitive content

TRANS TAKEOVER: Five 'trans women' dominate female volleyball game We went to a college female varsity volleyball game… and a 'sausage-fest' broke out! FIVE men, pretending to be women, were on the court. Why? Just when you thought transanity couldn’t get any worse… Last Wednesday, Rebel News was tipped off that the Centennial Colts were hosting the Seneca Sting in a female volleyball contest in Toronto. But not all the players were actually biological females… Indeed, we were stunned to find out that no fewer than FIVE men were pretending to be women (three on Seneca; two on Centennial.) At times it was hard to watch. The men were definitely the dominant players on the court – especially when it came to spiking the ball. Indeed, our volleyball insider told us that the situation is so dire that it is no longer safe for biological women to compete. Our source, who wishes to remain anonymous given the scourge that is cancel culture, stated the following: “Recently, there have been two major head injuries to female volleyball athletes in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) caused by transgender men [‘transwomen.’] The first injury, on November 12, 2023, was a concussion caused by C.L. Viloria who plays the middle position for Centennial College. During a game at Centennial College vs. La Cite Collegiate, Viloria attacked the ball with heavy force and hit a La Cite volleyball player in the head. The second injury, on January 22, 2024, was a concussion caused by a transgender woman, Franz Largadas. During a game at Seneca College vs. La Cite Collegiate, Largadas attacked the ball with heavy force and hit a La Cite player in the head. In the 2022-23 season Franz was listed on the Seneca College men’s volleyball team roster and is now on the women’s volleyball team roster this year. In both instances the players had to be substituted off the court. Although injuries do occur in the sport, the sheer force of a man’s volleyball attack is much more powerful than one of a biological women’s force. Currently, there are six transgender men in the OCAA. Five of which are not on any gender-affirming hormone therapy or have not had surgical gonad removal. There is no current policy in the OCAA that is listed publicly on their website about eligibility of transgender women.” Indeed, apparently the OCAA is fine if a man identifies as a woman or a woman identifies as a man – and presumably, we all identify as lobsters… It’s “human rights” accommodation, you see. Despicable wokeness… Almost as rotten was the fact that staffers at Centennial College were clearly trying to cover up this grotesque charade of men playing against women. Rebel News employees were continually harassed, our cameras were blocked, and at one point, security guards told us we had to leave because we were causing “a disturbance” in the stands. It was trumped up rubbish, of course. Perhaps these security guards are aiming for a gig with the RCMP? We held our ground and continued to observe the travesty occurring on the court. It wasn’t pretty… nor fair. The best-of-five series eventually concluded with Seneca winning three games to one; no surprise there given that the Sting had three male players and Centennial only had two. Meaning Centennial was literally “outmanned.” We tried to scrum Largadas and Viloria post-game, as well as the other fake female players: Ara Telan, Jess Garcia, and Jaque Ronquillo. All of them were tight-lipped, as were their biological female teammates (don’t want to be accused of “transphobia” after all…) And for the crime of asking insensitive questions, we were threatened by security guards that we’d be “trespassed” if we did not leave the venue immediately. Again, much like rugby and swimming, men pretending to be women are destroying female sports although you would never know that if you got your news exclusively from the mainstream media. These taxpayer-funded stenographers wouldn’t dream of offending their trans-happy sugar daddy Justin Trudeau, so MSM outlets never cover this nonsense. But as these gender-bending grifters continue to gut female sports, we pose the question yet again: where oh where are the feminists? Or are modern day feminists okay with misogyny in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion?

Rebel News

1,596,720 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

//The Wire//2300Z July 25, 2025// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: "DATING" APP DATA BREACH HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -HomeFront- USA: This morning a major PII leak was exploited on the Tea app, the infamous app that has gained notoriety around the United States. This data leak was not a hack by any means; the selfie ID feature and driver's license images used to register users were stored unencrypted on the app's servers for anyone on the internet to see. Furthermore, the location data was not scrubbed from the images, so the exact GPS coordinate of each user was also leaked, with tens of thousands of users' private location data being leaked online. -----END TEARLINE----- Analyst Comments: This app gained infamy as it's entire purpose is to serve as a "Yelp" for women to rate men, and to allow women to secretly share personal information regarding prospective dates, all without men being allowed to either face their accusers or even know that they are being gossiped about (thus the name of the app being a slang term that serves as a synonym for "gossip"). Most importantly, the app uses facial recognition to prevent biological males from obtaining an account. Beyond the unfortunate origins of the app and the equally unfortunate data leak, examination of the data that was leaked is likely to cause exceptionally grave risks to national security. The "gossipy" nature of this story doesn't matter, a bunch of unflattering selfies doesn't matter either; what does matter is that this may have inadvertently revealed significant national security concerns. For instance, preliminary analysis of the datasets indicates that many users of the Tea app downloaded the app, took a selfie, and registered for an account while at work. In some cases, at government facilities or on military bases...such as the rather unfortunate individual who decided it was a good idea to register for this app while stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Or the person who felt that they needed to use this app while on a gunnery range at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. So far, other interesting sites located via personnel taking a selfie to register for this app at work include the following locations: - An ammunition storage bunker at Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey. - The legislative offices at the Connecticut State Capitol building. - One of the headquarters buildings at Minot Air Force Base. - A maintenance site on the airfield at Eglin Air Force Base. - Alumni Hall at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis. - And the off-base housing complexes at nearly every single military base in the United States. Of course, these data points only encompass the GPS coordinates that were embedded in the metadata of the selfies taken when users created an account on the app, so the data that was leaked is merely a snapshot of wherever a person was when they registered an account. Most of the GPS points presented in this data were very precise, pinpointing users within a diameter of 36ft or so on average. GPS errors are also likely to throw off this dataset, so it's probable that quite a few data points are inaccurate. However, most of the data (as leaked) is good enough for nationstate-level malign actors to have a field day when it comes to espionage. A person who is unhappy with the person they are in a relationship with, who is also willing to submit their full legal name and street address (or GPS location) makes for a prime espionage target when this data is cross-referenced with other data. It takes exactly two clicks to import the leaked data to a map, and overlay that map with known sensitive military sites around the nation...perhaps in the process finding a few new locations as well. It is also easy to cross-reference this data with property ownership documents to find out how many people took a selfie at a different address than listed on their driver's license...or on their spouse's voter registration records. In short, what seems to be at face value a rather superfluous data breach on a gossip app, may end up having serious national security concerns now that malign actors know the exact GPS location of tens of thousands of potential blackmail targets. Regardless of how this scandal started, the intelligence agencies of dozens of nations are probably crawling through this data set right now, looking for potential vulnerabilities. Furthermore, certain areas within the dataset appear to have been geofenced...there is not a single reported user's data in the entire district of Washington D.C. or all of lower Manhattan. While this is completely speculative at this time, if this app was designed as a honeypot trap from the ground up (for espionage purposes), it's possible that certain areas of the US would be geofenced, to prevent certain powerful people (or politicians) from being caught up in the operation. Once again, this is purely speculative, but it is interesting that some of the most densely populated cities in the US had absolutely zero reported users register. In the world of espionage, one might think that politicians would be a primary target for situations like this, but this is unlikely in this case. Politicians are often compromised by men in dark suits, not normally a cheap app that allows one to gossip about other people. Their spouses however, are a different story. The prime target for these types of operations (if this is indeed more of an espionage attempt) are exactly the people who were targeted...low-to-mid level employees (and their spouses) who would be more easily blackmailed with the type of information that they submitted to the app. What will come of this is anyone's guess, but beyond the obvious embarrassment angle of this situation (and this affair highlighting actual affairs), the national security risks via blackmail are probably extremely high. What makes this risk unique is that for now, most people are focusing on the socially embarrassing side of this scandal, and not the security risks that are present. As such, when this story is dropped like a hot potato from the news cycle in a few days, that moment is precisely when national-level assets are likely to attempt to exploit the tens of thousands of targets that have now been exposed. Everyone will forget about this in a few weeks, but the espionage potential of this data leak persists well into the future. Analyst: S2A1 Research: //END REPORT//

S2 Underground

40,028 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten

🚨NHS junior doctor describes armed Palestinian fighters as 'heroes' as she faces second tribunal over 'antisemitic' outbursts This is crazy!! An NHS doctor facing claims of antisemitism and Holocaust denial openly called for Jihad on the streets of London and described armed Palestinian fighters as 'heroes'. Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, a trauma and orthopaedics doctor, has come under investigation over several 'dangerous' social media posts littered with praise for terrorist organisation Hamas and previously said she would 'never condemn' the October 7 attack. She also once described a hospital in north London as a 'Jewish supremacy cesspit'. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) ruled last month that no suspension was necessary because her posts did not amount to 'bullying or harassment'. But following criticism over the decision by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, the General Medical Council has referred the case back to the MPTS, with a new hearing set for October 23. Now footage has emerged of Dr Aladwan openly showing her support for Jihadist fighters, as one peer and former MP told Daily Mail the GMC must 'get a grip' and suspend her. The video was taken at a protest held outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Whitehall on July 21, to coincide with a reported visit by Major General Tomer Bar, head of the Israeli Air Force. Speaking to dozens of protesters, who were flanked by Met Police officers, Dr Aladwan spoke about the five 'Palestinian principles of liberation'. One of them, she said, included 'armed resistance' and said those who participate in such activity are 'heroes'. Dr Aladwan said: 'The Palestinian people who are fighting for liberation, including armed struggle as per international law, [are] our heroes. Every single one of them. 'We are proud of our armed resistance and in Islam, we call that jihad. That's an honour. That's how you defend your people.' Elsewhere in her speech, Dr Aladwan referred to Israel as 'the terrorist entity' and said: 'It does not exist. It sits on top of Palestine and it must be dismantled.' In similar comments later, she addressed the crowd and said: 'For me, Palestine is the entirety of the map. Israel does not exist. And I can say that legally, I have my opinion.' Dr Aladwan's strong-held views, which are openly posted onto her social media accounts, have previously sparked controversy. This included a claim that 'British Jewish children are taught that they are superior to non-Jews, that they have the right to colonise Palestine, and are groomed through birthright trips to become colonisers'. On July 30, she claimed the Royal Free Hospital in north London, which serves a large Jewish community, was a 'Jewish supremacy cesspit'. And last month she sparked outrage after describing two gunmen involved in a fatal mass shooting in Jerusalem as 'two Palestinian martyrs'. Dr Aladwan made the comment to her more than 33,000 followers on X just hours after the frenzied attack took place and resulted in the deaths of six people, including a pregnant woman. Referring to the killings as a 'shooting operation', she wrote: 'This morning, the two Palestinian martyrs Muthanna Amro and Muhammad Taha bypassed the occupation's fortified checkpoints and carried out a shooting operation at a settlers' bus in the 'Ramot' settlement and killed 6 settlers. 'Palestine has never been safe for occupiers. Leave.' In other social media posts, Dr Aladwan described anti-Semitism and the Holocaust as 'concepts' used by Jewish people to 'promote a narrative of victimhood'. Following October 7 and Israel's military response to Hamas, her posts have included pictures of masked men holding rifles alongside fire emojis and a photo of a masked toddler wearing the trademark fluorescent green Hamas headband. She also shared a picture of a masked militant holding a large gun with the words: 'A picture of AlQasem a day keeps the Zs [Zionists] locked away', an apparent reference to the Al-Qassam brigade, the military wing of Hamas. Last night, concerned advocates called on the GMC to address the 'shameful state of affairs' and urged Met Police to investigate why Dr Aladwan was allowed to freely support armed Palestinian resistance in a public space. Alex Hearn from Labour Against Antisemitism, said: 'How can any NHS patient - and especially Jewish patients - feel comfortable under her care? 'This dangerous doctor's open support for Jihadist terrorists who massacred 1,200 Israelis on October 7 and raped hundreds of young women at the Nova music festival means she must be immediately removed from duty and sacked. 'It is also very worrying that she made these remarks within earshot of police officers who did absolutely nothing. Her words were very clear. Why wasn't she arrested at the time? 'Dr Aladwan has made similar remarks in support of Hamas terrorists time and again on social media. 'We have been complaining to the police and General Medical Council for almost a year yet she remains free to work shifts in NHS hospitals. 'That is a shameful state of affairs that demands urgent action from the very top of government.' Lord Austin, the independent peer and former Labour MP, said: 'It is utterly disgraceful that this NHS doctor gave a speech saying she supported armed Palestinian terrorists and jihad in front of police officers and she was not arrested. 'The Met must answer for this failure and must now put it right by investigating this. 'Furthermore, I hope the GMC finally gets a grip and that she is struck off because NHS patients deserve to be protected from someone who holds these dangerous views.' Following the initial ruling to take no further action, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he had no faith in the medical regulator. 'The racist language of 'Jewish supremacy' reflects the values of Nazis, not the NHS,' he wrote on X. 'I fail to see how medics using such language with impunity doesn't undermine confidence in the medical profession. I have no confidence in our regulation system.' Last night, Met Police said in a statement it would review why there had been no intervention by officers at the time of the protest, as well as reviewing the material to 'establish whether any offences have been committed.' A spokesperson said: 'We can understand why the comments made in this video are a cause of significant concern. 'While the Crown Prosecution Service has previously determined that similar language used at protests did not cross the threshold into a criminal offence, each incident is specific and we would expect officers to intervene and take action so that an investigation can follow. 'We will be reviewing this incident to understand why that didn’t happen. 'Officers will also review the footage in its entirety to establish whether any offences have been committed, liaising with our CPS counterparts as necessary.'

Grifty

120,921 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten

//The Wire//2300Z September 11, 2025// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN REMAINS AT LARGE AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES. MULTIPLE HOAX SWATTING INCIDENTS REPORTED AT UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE NATION. CUBAN ILLEGAL ARRESTED AFTER BRUTAL MURDER AT DALLAS HOTEL. SHOOTING REPORTED AT US NAVAL ACADEMY IN ANNAPOLIS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -HomeFront- Utah: The situation regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk continues to develop, with many new details coming to light overnight. At the moment, multiple individuals seem to be involved in this case in one way or another: One actual shooter, and many more persons that caused confusion during the initial reaction to the shooting. The individual identified as George Zinn was initially arrested after he verbally confessed to the crime, stating that he was the shooter. He screamed "I did it" and "shoot me" immediately as the shot was heard. This could have been a case of mental illness (as Zinn has a criminal history that reflects such and he was known to authorities for this kind of thing) or this could also have been an intentional act of diversion to allow the real shooter time to escape. Whatever the intent was, this did function as a diversionary tactic, and the shooter was able to egress from the area. Nevertheless, local reports state that Zinn was released from custody. Another unidentified individual was initially arrested at the scene as well, in possession of a pellet rifle. No further information regarding this individual's status at this time. Idaho: A fight broke out at a candlelight vigil at the Idaho Capitol (which was arranged to memorialize Charlie Kirk) when leftist activists began to interrupt proceedings. Several leftist demonstrators were removed after they attempted to gain entry to the crowd and scream obscenities during the vigil. Colorado: Yesterday afternoon a school shooting was reported at Evergreen High School near Denver. Local authorities state that Desmond Holly, a 16-year-old student at the school, shot two students before taking his own life. Texas: Yesterday afternoon a woman was beheaded at a motel in Dallas. Local authorities state that Yordanis Cobo-Martinez, an illegal migrant from Cuba, murdered his employer (Chandra Nagamallaiah) with a machete after a brief argument at the Downtown Suites Hotel. Cobo-Martinez was arrested at the scene. Maryland: This afternoon, an active shooter was reported at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis. This is a developing situation at this time, but initial reports indicate that a former Midshipmen returned to the institution to conduct the attack. Early reports indicate as many as 1-3 casualties, however the scene is still locked down at this time. More details to follow as information becomes available. USA: This afternoon the recent wave of swatting calls flared up again, with several calls being made around Boston this afternoon. An active shooter situation was reported at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), which turned out to be a hoax. Several other locations around Boston were also host to swatting incidents, which also were hoaxes. This morning a bomb threat was called in to the DNC headquarters in Washington, which was also confirmed to be a hoax. Throughout the afternoon the University of Central Florida also reported a similar hoax being called in at their campus. -----END TEARLINE----- Analyst Comments: When it comes to risk assessment and mitigation, making decisions based on details that are speculative is acceptable if time is of the essence, such as when a high-profile assassin is still on the loose. However, it would be wise to focus on the details that help with that assessment, rather than getting dragged down rabbit holes that eat up time that we don't have. Panicking helps no one, and though it is a challenging skill to develop when the general mood is that of extreme anger, remaining calm and collected during a crisis is the option that will help the most people. The real distinction that must be noted is whether or not the persons that caused diversions, knew of the attack ahead of time. Several people were observed cheering in the crowd, George Zinn shouted and was tackled, and others were behaving suspiciously in and around the venue during the bedlam after the shooting. Right now there is not much linking all of these individuals together definitively, beyond the common goal of disrupting events. For a terror cell to be indicated, the individuals identified would have to know each other and have communicated ahead of time, which is not possible to determine at the moment based on open source information. The individual spotted on top of the roof before the shooting (the person who appears to have been the actual shooter) might not have been the actual shooter either. The exceptionally graphic video evidence of the attack might be playing tricks on the eyes; the wound that was visible in the video evidence so far may have in actuality been an exit wound for a shot that came from Kirk's 4 o' clock position. Some video evidence supports this, however much higher quality footage (such as from the professional media equipment recording the rally) will be necessary to determine if that is a viable line of investigative effort. Again, focusing on details that can help find the killer and eliminate future threats is worth the speculation, especially as the FBI has stated that they recovered the rifle used to conduct the attack from a wooded treeline near the campus. This rifle appears to have sported an optic which was mounted too far too the rear to provide a feasible shooting platform. This detail has caused many to doubt that this rifle was the one used in the shooting (as in, it's yet another decoy), or that the shooter did not have the experience to know that the scope was in the wrong position for it to be used properly. In short: If this rifle was used, the suspect is either of a very small body type (much smaller than the suspects sought so far), or they are now sporting a facial wound caused by the recoil of the firearm driving the scope into their face. Or, this rifle was not used at all, and whomever staged it did not have the forethought to position the scope correctly. As with most high-profile events like this, some discrepancy among the initial details is very much expected. However, there is a LOT of debate right now regarding whether or not the murder of Charlie Kirk was a professional assassination. Right now, all of the evidence in the public eye suggests that Kirk could have been killed in a more coordinated manner (as in more than one person might have been involved), but also by someone displaying very amateur tradecraft. On the other hand, if the multiple misdirections were deliberately planted to confuse and slow down investigative efforts, this would be a strong indicator of more organized planning. Sometimes the most likely explanation is the simplest, and based on the sheer number of people celebrating his murder the chances of this being one of the usual suspects is rather high, even though the door must remain open to other possibilities. The cold hard truth right now is that regardless of how Kirk was killed, he was killed for a reason. And right now there are millions of people celebrating his murder, both online and in the real world. It is this important observation that will have lasting impact for some time, both in terms of societal shift, but also in terms of real-world threats and security concerns. Charlie Kirk was a moderate conservative. Despite what the mainstream media says, he was one of the few conservative commentators willing to actually speak face-to-face with his opposition and debate them in open forum. He was not a politician or an elected official who could make policy; the most impact that he could possibly have had was simply to change minds by speaking to people. He could have made a living shouting his ideas from a safe podcast studio, but he chose instead to speak to people in person at these types of public debates over the years. There are a thousand people in the public eye more "radical" than he was, yet he was the one killed for it. Much like many other political assassinations throughout history, sometimes the more impactful events involve the removal of the last peaceful option, or the last peaceful moderate. Time will tell if this troubling idea is true, but it's possible that with Charlie Kirk died the last hope for reconciliation between a large portion of the United States. The knee-jerk reactions of this horrific murder being that of joy and celebration from a large number of people, is abhorrent to the degree of indicating that there is little chance of cooperation or lasting peace with a good portion of the nation. Regardless of one's political beliefs, this is a sobering reminder in the context of how millions of people are now openly calling for the violent murder of conservatives, solely for the crime of not being politically liberal. Even in "far-right" circles, which agreed with Kirk on nearly zero issues, the general mood is that of mourning. The *actual* "far-right" in this country has shown more decency for a man who they did not agree with and a man who has admonished them publicly, than most center-left personalities who have bloodlust in their hearts regarding this case. More broadly, this means that these types of attacks will unfortunately continue. Whether it's organic or not can be argued later, but what's clear is that most big voices on the political left are either openly calling for continued violence, or are behaving without a single shred of human decency. Most Democrat politicians interviewed today by the media on this event have become belligerent on the subject, with some going so far as to interrupt a moment of silence for Kirk at the Capitol. A similar incident was observed today at the European Parliament as well. There is already enough spin, distraction, commentary, and speculation regarding the exact details of the murder. What would be a more productive line of effort is to be aware of the societal atmospherics surrounding this case (as in the threats that continue to persist), but not dwelling on the evil that is consuming the world. Acknowledge where we are at, conduct risk assessments, and mitigate those risks as best you can. Despair and apathy will solve no problems, and there will be plenty of opportunity to keep focus on moving forward and doing good wherever possible. More details on this case will come in due time, but until then more localized threats and individuals that seek to continue this violence are a bigger priority to be aware of. Analyst: S2A1 Research: //END REPORT//

S2 Underground

16,913 Aufrufe • vor 10 Monaten

Carol Vorderman in conversation with James O'Brein over Reform UK's Makerfield by-election candidate Robert Kenyon's insulting remarks JOB, "Carol Vorderman has asked Robert Kenyon, a Reform UK's candidate in the imminent Makerfield by election, for an apology, for posts on a now deleted X account in which he, Well, you'll find out, if you don't know already, she said, I want an apology from Rob Kenyon to me and to all the other people he's abused online." JOB, "I sat down with Carol yesterday afternoon to talk about this and, one or two other things. It occurred to me, just sitting down now, Carol, that this is not something you, you sought because you haven't been in any sense reticent in recent years with your political opinions and even with activism, but you've been dragged into this deeply unpleasant situation entirely innocently." JOB, "So unpleasant, in fact, that I'm not sure I can repeat, I'm not sure I'm comfortable saying in front of you the words that Robert Kenyon chose to endorse and defend on, social media." CV, "Well, I am, because it's important that people know. And this is just one comment. He has made multiple comments which are online abuse about me and lots of other people. So the one specifically about me that he endorsed was I want to smell and lick Carol Vorderman's eight letter word beginning with A." CV, "And reform have said, oh, it's just locker room banter. I don't know why they're using the term locker room, by the way, because I thought we said changing rooms in this country. But that's an entirely different, different, question. But the thing is, James, I'm not upset by it, I am angered by it." CV, "And the reason that I'm angered by it is because every woman listening, any woman who is on social media will have similar said to her, either abusive, all the other things that he said. You know, there was some forum that he was on, rugby, league forum, and they were posting pictures of the girls, the women who play." CV, "And then he was saying, oh, English women, they don't care. All they want to do with their fat bellies, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Then there was some, European women. Then he was saying, you know, oh, you wouldn't get me off them with a bazooka." CV, "You know, all this stuff, stuff about abortion. I mean, it's just disgusting stuff. And it's not just one comment, it's a tirade of online abuse. And every woman listening who has had that will know how it makes them feel." CV, "And so I am angry that a political party can take this person on one without obviously vetting him properly. But also that they just defend it and they're fine with that." JOB, "He was not a politician at the time. He was an ordinary man from an ordinary place, said Danny Craig group." CV, "Really? That's what. Yeah, that's what posh boys, who lead the Reform Party think, of ordinary men. Well, ordinary men generally are lovely, you know, they really are." JOB, "We do our best." CV, "Well, you are. And they respect women. All of that is true. But you have this growing minority who are extremely abusive. And I'm 65, James. And so I've been, you know, and women my age, we've been through the hard years." CV, "So in the 70s, you know, I was a bright kid from a comp in North Wales. Free school meals kid. And it took, you know, a lot to get to a Cambridge college because there were only, three girls colleges." CV, "And I think four or five had gone what they called mixed. So these are boys colleges taking on women's colleges. And it was like, why wouldn't you? You know, I was from a boys and girls comp, but we had to go through that." CV, "You had to be the first woman to do this. First woman from a state school. Northwest goes Cambridge first. You know, I was, I think, when I did engineering, There were about 300 students in our year, four or five of them were girls. I worked underground, me and 2,000 men, all this." CV, "So we have done the hard years over decades, all that. I wanted to be a fighter pilot. You can't, because you're a girl and you don't have the appendage that's required. You know, all of this nonsense that we had to put up with. So, for me, that this Reform Party is saying on day one, they would repeal the Equality act." CV, "And we all know what that means. So, you know, the protections against harassment of women in the workplace, the, equal pay, maternity leave, maternity pay, all of those. We're going to scrap all those. So it is indicative of the way in which this might go, as we've seen in America." JOB, "I think talking of ordinary men, the person who pushed back against him on social media was. It was a rather better model of masculinity." CV, "Yes, absolutely. So he's the author, Chris Ryan, who is a former SAS hero, a very successful author. Chris is his pen name. And, he absolutely defended me because he is a real man." CV, "He's not a pretend. He's a real guy and a guy who respects women." JOB, "I suppose, in some sense, the writing was on the wall with the leadership of reform who have not responded by the way, to, our, requests a, response to these allegations of misogyny, including the comments directed at you." JOB, "But when James McMurdoch Ended up in Parliament just after the last election, and, it quickly emerged that he'd been jailed for attacking a former girlfriend." CV, "Yes. And here is another example, a very serious example of, to me, reforms, excuses for things. So I think it was a Times newspaper fact he only got in with a majority of 98." CV, "So imagine if this information had been available beforehand about him. So, shortly after he was elected in 2024 as a Reform MP, I think it was a Times newspaper, found that he had been convicted and served time for, assaulting his girlfriend." CV, "He then said in his defense, oh, it was a push. Then the official court documents show that she was on the floor. He was kicking her multiple times while she was on the floor and had to be, dragged away by two security guards." CV, "Very different stories. Richard Tice then defends it, saying, oh, well, he's served his time. That was a long time ago. It doesn't matter. I am sorry. It matters. It matters to women. We know how much harassment online has increased and offline." CV, "So this is a time for all women to stand up and say, enough now, we are not going backwards." JOB, "I suppose one example is. It could be chalked up as accidental or carelessness. But two examples and emerging patterns speak of something altogether more sinister." CV, "Yes, well, Lee Anderson, bless him, when he was a Tory. That was after he was a Labour." JOB, "Yes." CV, "And now he's a Reform." JOB, "Correct. Well, at the time of this conversation, we'll have to check before we play it" CV, "out on the program tomorrow. Yeah, so he was, in the Conservative Party at the time and he was slinging insults to me all the time on Twitter in, the days when we used to be on Twitter. And, you know, obviously now he's reformed, he thinks it's perfectly acceptable." CV, "So there is a pattern there with this party. And, that is my concern that they will, if they get into, and they've stated it out in the open, we will repeal the Equality Act." JOB, "It's surprising to me when people like Danny Kruger talk about ordinary people. An ordinary man for an ordinary man." CV, "When he went to Eton." JOB, "Yeah. And, well, also his mother is on telly as well, so, you know, he or she at, at least will be aware of the misogyny that police. Yeah, yeah. You think that that might have given him a slightly more sensitive insight into what it's like for women like you. And, and you are tough. I mean, I don't mean that in a patronizing way." CV, "I take it as a compliment." JOB, "Good, I'm glad you do because you are perfectly capable of looking after yourself. A lot of women, both online and offline, are not, of course, and those are the kind of women that, misogynistic men prey on." CV, "But the thing is, I, I have a tough skin now because of all of the abuse over decades. And it. You know, I can remember when I wore a short skirt to the BAFTAs. I was age 39. Well, it was like I'd killed my grandmother the next day." CV, "It was the quest. Even the BBC made a whole Kilroy show about it. Flew this dress in copy dress from Paris. And, the question was, should a woman age 39 wear a dress above the knee? Jeez, I mean, that's my lifetime. This isn't Victorian days or my mother or post war." CV, "This is me in my lifetime. So, you know, as I go back to the beginning, women my age who love the fact that our daughters or nieces, or grandchildren have, can play football, you know, very happily can be applauded for what they do in sport." CV, "Can be. Oh, another thing that I'll, Kenyon said was that women can't referee, drive, take directions. And he had a go at various female sports presenters on the telly. You know, it's constant, it's consistent." JOB, "So they're not, they're not up to the job. They're only there to tick a box. And then declaring and From a political point of view, this is interesting actually stating I'm sexist. Sorry, but I am." CV, "Yeah." JOB, "And then the defense from reform UK becomes. These comments were made before he entered politics. He's perfectly entitled to his own personal opinions." CV, "That was three weeks ago." JOB, "Yeah, yeah. It's extraordinary that he can state that because Murdoch didn't get dropped by the party for the conviction for battering his ex, he got dropped after it emerged that he'd taken Covid loans out under the COVID support scheme. I think that's still ongoing." JOB, "But to state I am sexist, sorry, but I am in 2024 would have probably been a career ending revelation. Do you think? We're going a bit backwards, But I think we" CV, "have the potential to go backwards and we now, you know, generally you go, life's good. You know, doing this, that and the other. When I began my career as an engineer, funnily enough, not many women then were talking about having a career because not Many women have been to university and all of that." CV, "Now, thankfully, decades later, women are having careers. But also, housing was a lot cheaper then. So now we need to. You need, two incomes to fund a mortgage generally in this country." CV, "So the whole business of, oh, well, we're going to scrap the law that says about equal pay. That's going to affect people directly. And this is what I want people to understand, really. This is. This is not just about a woman getting on a high horse about something." CV, "This is very, very, very. Couldn't be more serious." JOB, "And, yeah, it is, of course, people like Nigel Farage and Sarah Potchin who claim that they're the party dedicated to protecting women and children. I mean, it's beyond irony. It emerged yesterday that one in five of the people arrested over the riots in 2024, which many people feel were fermented by Nigel Farage's social media activ." JOB, "Five of the people arrested over those riots have since been reported to the police for domestic abuse. So to simultaneously encourage and excuse the misogyny that's been directed at you and at other women while claiming. And, of course, to put a violent offender into Parliament and say that that's not an excluding offense while simultaneously claiming that they act for women and children is, It's beyond parody, isn't it?" CV, "And those same people who were arrested, there were almost 900 of them, weren't there? About the riots across the country at the time, 41% had already, been reported to the police for domestic abuse." JOB, "So who are the women and children they're dedicated to protecting?" CV, "Well, quite." JOB, "And who are they protecting them from?" CV, "None." JOB, "It's good to see you. I knew that you would be, perturbed by this, but." CV, "I am." JOB, "But enraged?" CV, "Yes, I am." JOB, "And are you expecting an apology? I know you've demanded." CV, "Well, I can't." JOB, "You did not demand anything." CV, "I can't demand anything. I have asked for an apology. Not for me." JOB, "No." CV, "But for all of us. And for his comments so far. I just think we're on day three. Nothing." JOB, "Not even a whisper nothing or a nothing." CV, "He's still running away. Hiding away from cameras, maybe." JOB, "Don't hold your breath, Carol. Thank you." CV, "Thanks, James." JOB, "Still waiting. I hope she didn't hold her breath. We got a statement from Reform Councillor Kenyon, made these comments before entering politics. We are confident that he is an excellent candidate who will be a superb local MP for Makerfield. And a full list of all the candidates running there can be found at lbc co uk"

Farrukh

24,754 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

COMMONS HOUSING SELECT COMMITTEE: STATEMENT FROM FREE LEASEHOLDERS 3/3/26 Today, we told Parliament the truth. About the cynical games Conservative and Labour governments have been playing with your homes, money and lives. It was awkward. We had to motor through to cover as many points as humanely possible in a short time. Sorry if we didn’t cover yours. We are the insurgents against a very closed and broken political system. We will go away when they finally free the people from the property servitude of leasehold. Until then, we will keep challenging the official line and holding power to account, however uncomfortable that may be. Parliament has been talking about abolishing leasehold, a legacy of serfdom, since the 1880s, before working men and women had the right to vote. In 2026, we keep hearing it’s “complicated” and our politicians need more time because they might get sued by the wealthy landowners. What happened to the will of the people? Isn’t Parliament sovereign? Wasn’t that what all the Brexit lark was about? And doesn’t this Labour government have the second biggest parliamentary majority in its 126-year history as the so-called working people’s party? Keir Starmer can do a TikTok stunt on ground rents. But he can’t run away from the truth. His government are peddling a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill that has been purged of policies that you voted for in the The Labour Party manifesto. Policies promised again in the July 2024 King’s Speech: the remaining Law Commission enfranchisement and Right to Manage recommendations. So you can finally “take back control”. The Starmer administration appears to be captured by the deep-pocketed freeholder lobby and property cartels. And the Prime Minister is in thrall to the hand-wringing lawyers who bleat on about the risk of judicial review and ECHR lawfare, as if the rights of extortionists, many offshore, and lofty international law matter more than the British people being looted in their homes and what election manifestos have promised time and time again. This government claims that they are ending the feudal leasehold system. Instead, they keep it on life support by protecting money-for-nothing ground rents until 2068. We’ll have flying cars before feudalism is banished from our homes! And buried away in the small print, the Labour government concedes our point: “leasehold as a tenure will not disappear overnight and it will be a feature of the housing market for many years to come.” The government is also siding with the leasehold grifters by failing to restrict development value in the draft legislation, which means many flat leaseholders will never be able to afford to buy their freehold, something that must happen before conversion to commonhold. Remember, the freeholders’ main lobby group, the Residential Freehold Association, admits that the typical freeholder owns just 2.5% capital value in a block of flats. These wealth-destroying corporates own a sliver of our homes and have the cheek to talk about their human rights. We are not Mugabeists. We will, of course, pay a fair rate to compensate the freeholder to leave our homes for good. But demanding more of our money so they can thwart our right to buy them out, on the basis that they could theoretically build a skyscraper in the garden, is taking the mick and must end, as the government first promised in 2021. Don’t take our word on the scam of freeholders invoking development value to block leaseholders’ bid for self-rule. Barrister Nicola Muir, of Tanfield Chambers, has written that “it is amazing what developments landlords believe are possible and the profits they claim they will generate”, citing a telling example from practice: “The landlord initially claimed £34 million for the alleged potential to build a skyscraper in the front garden of the block. Such claims can obviously be a deterrent to leaseholders, who probably have no intention of developing.” And we were the ONLY campaign group that urged the Housing, Communities & Local Government Committee to ensure that this government sets enfranchisement rates high in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, to the benefit of leaseholders. There is a major risk that, due to the influence peddling of ground rent grifters and their lobbyists in Westminster and Whitehall, the government will fail to implement these long-awaited reforms already on the statute books. Matthew Pennycook MP promised in November 2024 to put enfranchisement rates out to public consultation last summer, but it never happened. And if the government is forced to begin the enfranchisement changes in the 2024 Act, it will likely set the deferment and capitalisation rates artificially low, stuffing freeholders’ mouths with gold when desperate leaseholders try to extend their leases or buy out the freehold. These deferment and capitalisation rates are already derived from freeholder-friendly case law, specifically the 2006 Upper Tribunal decision known as Sportelli, with the deferment rate set at 4.75% for houses and 5.0% for flats, and a capitalisation rate of 6.0%. While the 2024 Act is vague on what these rates should be, we know that investors routinely buy freeholds at auction or directly from developers at higher rates than those implied by Sportelli, meaning they pay significantly less than leaseholders are already required to pay under statutory schemes with the low Sportelli rates. For example, an analysis of Allsop Ground Rent Auctions found that investors have been paying an average 9% capitalisation rate for the ground rent in freehold titles – well above Sportelli’s 6%. This situation is clearly unfair, and there is significant industry lobbying to keep the deferment and capitalisation rates low, i.e. below the going market rates, so that freeholders are excessively compensated by leaseholders. Once the rates are set in the 2024 Act, they remain fixed for ten years, creating jeopardy that they will be set to the disadvantage of leaseholders, who are less organised and resourced than industry interests to influence policy. If the rates are set substantially below Sportelli rates, the savings from other provisions of the 2024 Act – such as the removal of marriage value, the 0.1% restriction on ground rents, and the end of the requirement to pay the freeholder’s reasonable legal and valuation costs – would be more than cancelled out, leaving leaseholders paying more than they do today under the current rules. Minister Pennycook highlighted this risk while in opposition during the passage of the 2024 Act, stating that Labour “remain[s] convinced that this government, or a future one, could be lobbied by vested interests to set a deferment rate that will be punitive to leaseholders.” He proposed an amendment on the deferment rate to guide the Secretary of State, requiring that “in setting the deferment rate, the Secretary of State must have regard to the desirability of encouraging leaseholders to extend their lease at the lowest possible cost”, although the amendment was not passed. This policy ought to be in the draft Bill, yet it remains absent. We are urging that the 2024 Act be amended to require that the enfranchisement rates must not fall below an absolute floor of the existing Sportelli rates (with the deferment rate of 4.75% for houses and 5.0% for flats, and a capitalisation rate of 6.0%). But leaseholders should really benefit from market rates, i.e. those which developers and investors already enjoy being significantly above Sportelli, to ensure that they do not pay excessive compensation to freeholders, as occurs under the current system, to buy their freehold or extend a lease. And this isn’t just about what goes into the algorithm for the online enfranchisement calculator under the 2024 Act, or about ending the development value scam, a reform dropped from the legislation after behind-the-scenes lobbying. We will not accept a failure to bring forward a Universal Right to Manage, as part of a glidepath to commonhold. Watch what our founder said about a well-connected landlord and tenant barrister who bragged to the property tribunal last year that he had worked on the Law Commission’s Right to Manage reforms, all while representing an offshore billionaire freeholder trying to block leaseholders’ quest for Right to Manage. It should be easy. But the leaseholders at this development had to spend £150,000 just to defend their no-fault right against this legal onslaught at the First-tier Tribunal. They won, but the freeholder is now appealing… Beyond Right to Manage reform, we need a Right to Participate in collective enfranchisement so that all flat leaseholders can buy a share of the freehold even if they miss out the first time when one group of neighbours has enough support to enfranchise the block. It is unfair for leaseholders to be locked out of decisions over the charges they pay and the services affecting their home when they are ready to buy their share of the freehold. Sorting this inequity was the will of Parliament with Right to Enfranchise provisions in the 2002 Act. It’s also what the Law Commission originally recommended before seemingly being pressured by vested interests to drop the policy from their final recommendations in 2020. Also, why on earth should leaseholders have to contort themselves to get 50% support of all unit-owners in a block? Satisfying the onerous 50% participation threshold is near impossible in bigger buildings and those with high levels of buy-to-let, yet scummy investors face no qualifying criteria when hoovering up the freeholds of our homes from developers or auctioneers behind our backs. Don’t patronise us with Lord Best’s scheme for managing agents. We want liberation, not regulation. There’s a reason both the freeholder and managing agent lobbies are gagging for the cosy Lord Best policy, which wasn’t promised in either the Labour manifesto or the King’s Speech. It will jack up leaseholders’ already sky-high service charges, repeat the cruel joke of the Building Safety Regulator, and keep freeholders and their managing agent cronies firmly in the ecosystem. At the same time, a statutory regulator of managing agents will no doubt restrict competition by keeping out small ethical new entrants. It will also allow the government to claim job done while failing to end leasehold. Even without leasehold abolition, leaseholders will still be denied rightful control of their service charges and the power to easily sack their managing agent - the real regulation needed to rein in rip-off service providers and put them out of business, not some powerless or captured regulator in Whitehall. Labour should be for the grafters. If the government wants to win back public support after the Gordon and Denton by-election drubbing, salvaging this draft legislation and swiftly commencing the 2024 Act must be its priority. Show that politics can be a force for good. Stand up to the ground rent grifters and offshore property mafia. Free leaseholders. 5.3 million households in England and Wales are watching.

Free Leaseholders

20,976 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

Hiring? Ex-Air Canada worker and terrorist supporter is looking for work We have yet another update on the not-so-sensational Sammy Allouba. Allouba is the now ex-Air Canada employee, who until recently, worked out of Toronto Pearson International Airport. Allouba had access to luggage and aircraft. That was a tad problematic given his vile social media postings. You see, Allouba went out of his way to convey hatred against Jews, Israelis, Iranians, and even anti-Hamas Palestinians. He also glorified designated terrorist groups and individual terrorists. Don’t know about you, but we wouldn’t want to see this wannabe-jihadi working at a corner gas station much less Canada’s largest airport. But when Rebel News exposed this charmer last month, Air Canada ended up terminating him. As to why Air Canada tolerated this individual for so long is beyond our paygrade. But nevertheless, Air Canada did do the right thing albeit for the wrong reason. Which is to say, the airline fired Allouba so it wouldn’t endure any more bad publicity. But a win is a win, we suppose. Of note, Allouba was also pursuing a side hustle. He’s an aspiring actor, you see. He was represented by a Toronto-based agency called The Casting Solution. You might notice we’re using the past-tense, because when the agency’s principal, Samantha Rose, learned of his hatred online, suddenly Allouba was no longer represented by her agency. You see, there aren’t many TV and movie productions out there keen on hiring terrorism supporters. And so it is as they say in Hollywood, Sammy’s never going to have lunch in this town again… In the aftermath, Allouba scrubbed his social media. But just the other day, like a piece of rancid driftwood, he resurfaced on Facebook under the handle of Sammy AI. I don’t know if AI stands for Artificial Intelligence or Absence of Intelligence. But never mind. Here’s what Allouba had to say in a post entitled, “Feeling drained”: “Good morning everyone. Yes, I’m back.” “Everyone.” Who’s everyone? Who in their right mind gives a rodent’s rectum about Sammy Allouba? Let’s continue: “So, here’s the short version. Since the end of January I have been dealing with an extremely unfortunate situation that came up at work. I don’t want to get into details here.” Oh, why don’t you want to get into details, Sammy? Are you maybe ashamed of the details? By the way, here are some of those “details” Allouba once shared with the world via social media. For starters, Allouba openly called for the elimination of almost 10 million Israelis. He wanted to see that task carried out by the Iranian regime (even though the mullahs would seem to have their hands full at the moment…) Allouba also states he’s a proud supporter of designated terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. He even praises Yahya Sinwar, the terrorist mastermind responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. Notably, it’s not just Israelis and Jews Allouba hates. He has also expressed interest in seeing anti-regime Iranians murdered. Same goes for anti-Hamas Palestinians. Allouba pretty much loathes anyone that chooses civilization over savagery. Let’s continue with his most recent post: “Those of you who see me in-person know what I’m referring to and I love you for your support.” Say, what’s the over/under line for the number of Sammy Allouba supporters out there? We’re going to set it at 4. Let’s carry on: “I’m sad to say that it’s cost me my job at Air Canada, a job you all know I really enjoyed and cherished, and it’s cost me my representation with talent agency. At the moment, I’m looking for new F/T work. As far as my representation goes… that might take a minute. I’m handling everything as best I can, but to say my mental health has taken a beating is putting it mildly.” Oh-oh! Red alert! Are you taking notes RCMP and CSIS? We have someone on team terror that is confessing to a mental health crisis. Call us overcautious, but you might want to pay Sammy a house call… Now the following statement raises even more red flags methinks: “My work union is doing what they can for me with regard to getting my job back, but the outlook isn’t great.” This is staggering. Instead of Sammy’s union saying “good luck and good riddance” to him, the union allegedly thinks Allouba should remain with the rank and file? Really? Why? Whatever happened to public safety being paramount? Indeed, what was Air Canada supposed to do once Allouba was exposed? How many times in the aftermath of a mass shooting do we hear the refrain of, “If only there were telltale signs that the individual had mayhem on his mind?” Sammy Allouba gleefully stated his agenda in black and white. He is the author of his own misfortune. But allow us to continue with Allouba’s whine-fest: “If anyone knows of any fruitful F/T work opportunities, please send it my way. It would mean the world to me. I hate asking, but here I am. I know I’ll be fine in the end, but I certainly don’t feel like it right now.” Two things: this boo-hoo/woe is me post is right out of the Islamist playbook. Which is to say, when all else fails, play the victim card. Secondly, where is the contrition? Where is the apology for all those previous vile postings? There is none. Clearly this rabid leopard is not changing his spots. Third, everyone’s gotta eat, right? So, we appeal to you, dear viewers: do you have a suggestion for poor Sammy re: a future employment opportunity? Something, of course, that does not involve this cat being anywhere near the aviation business. REPORT by David Menzies:

Rebel News

24,871 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

Across the United States, people who voted for Kamala Harris are reacting with shock, sadness, and anger at the election results. They are asking themselves why so many Latinos, Gen Xers, men, and women not only voted the way they did but also why so many of us feel enormous relief at Trump’s historic victory. But do they really not understand? Or do they not want to understand? After all, over the last decade, many of us who have moved away from the Left have been explaining our concerns at length: We didn’t appreciate being told we were bigots for not wanting to defund the police, open the borders, or mandate racial quotas; We didn’t enjoy being called phobic for not wanting doctors to experiment on children with pseudoscientific “transgender medicine;” And we didn’t like being labeled conspiracy theorists for asking questions about Covid policies or asking why the FBI, CIA, and Department of Homeland Security were involved in mass censorship. We’re not suggesting those were the main reasons most voters or swing voters voted for Trump. The polls indicate that the top issues were the economy and migration. But elections are won on the margins, and what made the difference between 2020 and 2024 was the defection of so many traditionally Democratic voters to Trump and the Republicans. And many of those who defected were, like us, alienated by the transformation of the Democratic Party into a mob of Woke scolds and persecutors. Trump gained unprecedented ground across the electorate, disrupting Democrats’ hold on black, Latino, and Muslim voters in key areas. Even young people, and especially young men, swung to the right. Trump won over large segments of the working class, while Harris improved over Joe Biden with high-income voters, college-educated white women, and white people in general. These results are nothing short of a massive political realignment that should put to bed once and for all the corrosive myth that Trump’s coalition is driven by “white supremacy” or “fascism.” Through the democratic process, voters have resoundingly rejected elites’ favored narratives about race, class, and immigration. And so if anyone really wants to understand why so many of us, even if we have criticisms of Trump, feel relief and vindication at his victory, they need to consider that it has more to do with the repudiation of totalitarianism than with Trump as a person or even his policies. Wokeism or whatever else you want to call it — progressivism, identity politics, radical leftism — has been rampaging through society for roughly the last decade, and those of us who have been stigmatized and ostracized by it feel like we can finally breathe again. What we are experiencing is known as catharsis, which comes from the Greek word for cleanse or purge. In Greek tragedy, the audience experiences catharsis when it feels a release of negative emotions and a sense of renewal. Many of us who have felt persecuted for our views, even in supposedly small ways, such as not feeling comfortable expressing our true feelings with friends and family, feel freer now to speak our minds. After all, the majority is with us. Our views are normal, mainstream, and common sense. As Democrats weaponized the government and justice system, attempting to keep Trump off the ballot and put him in prison, we identified not with Trump the Republican or businessman or former president, but rather with Trump the wrongly accused. At bottom, he was being persecuted by the same totalitarian forces that had been rampaging through society for a decade. Sometime between Occupy Wall Street in 2011 and the first Black Lives Matter protest in 2013, seemingly normal liberals and Democrats started to lose their minds. Everything became racist. Everything became suspicious. And nothing was more suspicious than not agreeing 100% with the official Woke Democratic agenda. Trump’s election put Wokeism on steroids. Suddenly, a word that, in the past, only extreme radical Leftists had used to describe a Republican president — “fascist” — was now being used by Very Serious People like New York Times columnists, establishment Democrats, and the previously sober foreign policy establishment. It was between 2016 and 2020 that Wokeism not only completed but intensified its grip on every major institution in society, from news and entertainment media to schools and universities. These institutions encouraged and participated in the mass condemnation and cancellation of heretics, which became known as the Great Awokening and was a new witch hunt. Ordinary and otherwise decent people behaved cruelly. They accused people they had known for years or decades of bigotry or racism or wanting to genocide trans people or wanting millions to die from Covid. Diverging from progressive orthodoxy in any way became enough for people to not only end friendships, but to insist that the transgressors be ostracized and excommunicated. Those who had made a great show of being courageously open-minded and tolerant became intolerant, incurious, and cowardly. We were asked to pretend that the people carrying the pitchforks and torches to go witch-hunting were well-intentioned and just cared a lot more than the rest of us. They didn’t. Behind the totalitarianism were individuals who had given into base motives like hedonism, envy, dogmatism, self-righteousness, prejudice, snobbery, psychopathy, and even sadism. There are many underlying causes of the totalitarian Great Awokening: the growing distance between educated elites and working people; the rise of narcissism, psychopathy, and other Cluster B personality traits like entitlement and grandiosity; the way in which social media dehumanizes people and normalizes behaviors that would seem psychopathic in real life; the anxiety induced by social media’s fishbowl effect, where our natural fears of social disapproval are magnified to a degree we were not evolved for; the counterpopulist reaction from the deep state foreign policy establishment to a populist American president and populist uprising around the world; the list goes on. Fully excavating the causes of the derangement of the last decade requires a book-length treatment, which we are dutifully working on. The good news is that we are already on the downward slope moving away from Peak Woke. If one had to find the moment where the lies were at their greatest power, it might have been during was the summer of 2020 when the public health experts who had demanded we shut down the schools said it would be immoral not to join Black Lives Matter protesters in physical events no different from the “superspreader events” they had, just a few weeks earlier, demanded people be arrested for attending. Peak censorship came less than two years later when former President Barack Obama gave a Stanford University speech, urging government “regulation” of social media platforms. The bad news is that much of the Censorship Industrial Complex remains in place, few of the abuses of power over the last eight years have been fully investigated, and Wokeism remains entrenched in every major societal institution. The good news is that we understand the work we have in front of us. We must defund the thought police; investigate the abuses of power by the FBI, CIA, and DHS; replace IC leaders and reform the agencies; de-Wokeify and reform public institutions; and get some accountability for all of the awful consequences of the last ten years....

Michael Shellenberger

88,118 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Mung’aro Proxy Companies Minting Millions from Contractors At least three companies that have secured garbage collection tenders in Kilifi are directly linked to Governor Gideon Mung’aro. It has been established that one of the companies is run by a contractor named Francis Ngala alongside a businessman. Details have emerged of how a contractor named Abubakar Joho, commonly referred to as Abu or Alpha, was shortchanged by Ngala in the awarding of a garbage collection tender. Ngala teamed up with the governor to edge out Joho, who had initially threatened to escalate the matter to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. In a retrieved audio recording, Ngala laments that he also lost the tender. This is in relation to tender number KCG/WEFNR/1246119/2023/2024 for Mtwapa town garbage collection and disposal. The tender was awarded to Kaereny Construction and Engineering Supplies Ltd, a company that has consistently secured lucrative garbage collection tenders despite a poor track record. The company has primarily been handling garbage collection in Mtwapa, with registration details showing it is owned by Final Kadzo Kithi, wife to businessman Francis Ngala, who is a close ally and PA to Governor Gideon Mung’aro. When relations between Ngala and Joho soured, the governor convened a ceasefire meeting, where Joho was ultimately sidelined despite submitting a strong bid. Private investigations have revealed that Ngala’s company does not meet the required standards for garbage collection but managed to secure the deal through bribery, from NEMA offices to the county level. The county is already on the radar of anti-graft agencies over irregularities and suspected misuse of taxpayers’ money. An insider has hinted that if investigations are carried out successfully, Ngala could be implicated in multi-million-shilling fake tender deals facilitated by the governor. The insider has also called on the EACC and DCI headquarters to transfer officers stationed in Kilifi, alleging they have been compromised to produce favourable reports on the county’s affairs. “We know that our boss is looting through his proxy companies, and the culprits are Ngala and other associates who have managed to compromise the EACC and DCI officers,” the source revealed. Last year, the county was put on the spot for deleting a garbage collection tender advert from its website in a suspected attempt to block investigations into the contract, where available information indicated that the ultimate contractor was single-sourced. This comes amid mounting pressure on the governor over Sh300 million in garbage collection tenders that have been questioned by oversight authorities. This was in relation to tender number KCG/WEFNR/1246119/2023/2024 for the provision of garbage collection and disposal in Mtwapa town and its environs. The county had indicated that the tendering would be conducted under the open, nationally accepted competitive method. The tendering process, especially in garbage collection, has been highly contentious in Kilifi, with the governor under pressure to contain the criticism and scrutiny surrounding it. Also in question was tender No. CGK/MM/OT/027/2023/2024 for the provision of garbage collection and disposal services for Malindi Town and its environs. Garbage collection has become a cash cow in Kilifi, placing senior officers and suppliers at odds. At one point, a county official, Winnie Luwali Wakati, refused to take instructions from Ali Noor regarding inflated supply contracts, which led to her transfer. Ali Noor, who controls several companies handling various contracts in Kilifi—including food supply and non-pharmaceuticals—has declared his intention to run for the Mandera East MP seat. He has allegedly vowed to channel Sh1 billion through inflated contracts to Governor Mung’aro’s 2027 gubernatorial campaign. Through his cartel network, Noor orchestrated Winnie’s removal from the finance department and replaced her with Yahya Shoshi. He also pressured Governor Mung’aro to appoint Idris Haji as the director of finance in a well-calculated scheme to siphon county funds. The conflict between Ali Noor, Mung’aro’s PA, and Francis Ngala, the governor’s confidant, began when Noor requested a subcontract on garbage collection, which Ngala refused. Investigations have revealed that Ngala has an outstanding loan with NCBA, which he used to purchase five trucks, repaying it in installments. At one point, Noor reportedly warned Ngala that he would not receive any payment in Kilifi “unless his late grandmother resurrects.” He was also quoted saying, “I am the shadow governor. If you don’t believe me, call your purported governor and ask about me.”

Cyprian, Is Nyakundi

23,545 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

🚨CIRCLE THE WAGONS - THE IRISH ARE BEING REPLACED AT A RATE OF KNOTS🚨 Racist ❌ Realist ✅ I couldn't give any less of a shit what people call me especially some lefty gimp who doesn't have the balls to call out our replacement when you only need a pair of working eyes to see it🇮🇪 I walked into Dunlaoghaire shopping centre yesterday. Security guards - African/Muslim. Cleaners - Africans. Phone shop - Indians. Fake jewellery stall - Chinese. I could go on & on. Walked down the town. Penny's - Indian security. Dealz - Indian staff. Foreign shops/staff everywhere. Again l could go on & on. ( See pictures in comments )🇮🇪 Every Garage,Shop,Restaurant, Hospital,Taxi/Delivery drivers,Fast food outlets,Shopping centres,Security guards MAJORITY FOREIGN STAFF all the while Irish owned shops & small businesses are closing down like there's no tomorrow & being replaced with shitty vape/phone/kebab shops & Turkish barbers All supported & subsidised by this Treasonous Government ( Great outlets/fronts for washing dirty money ) & you're not supposed to open your mouth about it? If this keeps up between our declining birthrates & foreigners breeding us out of existence our very bloodlines are on course to being permanently severed. No more Irish people=No more éiRe🇮🇪 So called 'Legal immigration' is way to overlooked & is far more of a concern than illegal & it is destroying the demographic landscape of our once homogeneous society along with any sort of a future for our precious children to Thrive,Grow,Prosper & Succeed upon THEIR GOD GIVEN BIRTHRIGHT in safety & peace🇮🇪 I never imagined this island was so awash with so many absolute cowards who bury their heads in the sand. Billy big balls online but in real life afraid of their own shadows & to call out this nightmare for what it is. Absolute pussies who would see Irish Women/Children & Men Raped,Stabbed & Murdered by the hands of imported savagery but keep quiet for fear of being labelled 'Racist' or 'Far Right' by a Loud,Degenerate,Virtue signalling minority. ( Grow a pair )🇮🇪 The great cull💉Back in 2021 was all part of it too wether you like to admit it or not. The Government hates you & your children & they're importing foreigners who feel the exact same way as an automatic voting block to keep these political parasites in power & on the tax payer gravy train🇮🇪 Graham Carey screamed it from the depths of his Irish soul over three years ago now at East Wall "YOU ARE BEING REPLACED" Should have listened to a true Irish man who only has love for God,his sacred country & his beloved people in his righteous heart🇮🇪 Myself personally l rest easy in the knowledge that this is ALL in God's hands & everything will be alright in the end. Every last disgusting traitor to éiRe & our people will be dealt with accordingly & each & every foreigner be they criminal or otherwise with absolutely no ties to OUR HOME will ALL be sent back to where they came from🇮🇪 Harsh? I couldn't care less this is about the survival of my Children,Please God theirs to come & My people as an indigenous & ancient race who owe the world absolutely fuck all. OUR LAND. OUR DESTINY. OUR ÉIRE. Whatever it takes🇮🇪 THE GREAT REPLACEMENT - A CONSPIRACY NO MORE🇮🇪 ÉIRE BELONGS TO THE IRISH & SHE ALWAYS ALWAYS WILL🇮🇪🤝🇮🇪 God Bless🙌éiReGoBragh🇮🇪

Fergus (Ferg) Power

58,297 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

My first two words on this particular Sunday morning were "Hallelujah!” followed by, “Amen!” I was not in church when I uttered them. I was at my kitchen table, watching the CEO of the most valuable company in the world say precisely what mikeroweWORKS has been espousing for the last sixteen years. In other words, this is what I look like before coffee, when I find myself in violent agreement with a multi-billionaire. If you haven’t already heard, a massive challenge is upon us. With regard to artificial intelligence and the energy we need to feed it, America will either change its current direction, or get left far, far behind. I know this because I run a modest foundation that has been arguing for decades that the portion of our workforce most often described as “the skilled trades,” will become the most essential component of our economy, our independence, and our collective future. Well, the future is here. Obviously, I didn’t know that the race to dominate artificial intelligence would be the thing that finally galvanized the folks at the grown-up table. When I founded mikeroweWORKS in 2008, I figured it would be a new commitment to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure that would necessitate a collective push to reinvigorate the trades. That need is still pressing, but I never imagined the most urgent cry for more welders and electricians would be ushered in by the need for more data centers. Back then, I didn’t even know what a data center was. But today, here we are. Data centers are headline news, because they are – as Jensen Huang says - AI factories. And if we want to remain competitive with China, we need to build thousands of them. Now. And presently, we simply don’t have the workforce to do it. I’ll be discussing all of this next Tuesday in Pittsburgh, at the Energy and Innovation Summit, which is turning out to be a pretty high-profile event. looks like I’ll be joining a panel of elected officials, including the President, and dozens of well-known CEO’s to discuss Pennsylvania’s role in the energy renascence. A lot of money is being invested in Pennsylvania, (a LOT), and my message to those writing the checks will be no different than it’s been since we launched mikeroweWORKS: "Set some of that money aside to make a more persuasive case for the work itself. The skilled trades need better PR, and they need it on a national level. The country needs to see thousands of examples - real world examples - of men and women who have prospered as a result of learning a skill that's in demand." I first made this point to President Obama in an open letter to The White House in 2009, shortly after he promised 3 million “shovel-ready” jobs in his Highway Infrastructure Act. I was rooting for the President back then, and offered to use Dirty Jobs and mikeroweWORKS as vehicles to help promote his initiative. I did so because I was skeptical that people would line up to take those jobs simply because they were "created." “Filling three million shovel-ready jobs,” I wrote, “will be a lot easier if people feel enthused about the prospect of picking up a shovel. Investment alone, won’t create that kind of enthusiasm.” The White House did not respond to my offer. Understandably, most presidents do not seek the advice of marginally famous cable television hosts best known for crawling through sewers. But it’s worth remembering that the unemployment rate back then was over 10%. Millions of people were newly unemployed, and I think the former President assumed that creating three million shovel-ready jobs would translate to three million people going back to work. But that’s not what happened. Because back then, even with record high unemployment, there were 2.3 million open jobs, most of which did not require a four-year degree. Nobody wanted to talk about that. Today, that number is more like 7.6 million. Nobody wants to talk about it now, either. This is why I'm going to Pittsburgh. Just as I was rooting for President Obama in 2009, I’m rooting for President Trump today. I hope he succeeds in reinvigorating our industrial base and reshoring our manufacturing capabilities, and I want to offer my support. But if he does succeed, we’re talking about millions new jobs in manufacturing alone. And currently, there are over 400,000 jobs in that sector that are currently open, begging the obvious question... If we can’t fill the openings we have, how will we fill the one’s we’re about to create? That’s the question I’ll pose in Pittsburgh. I’ll let you know if anyone has an answer. Mike PS. Not to put too fine a point on it, but this change is truly upon us, and I've had a front row seat. Over the last six months, mikeroweWORKS been flooded with inquiries to collaborate on various recruitment initiatives and multiple industries. I mean, flooded. Not a week goes by that I don't hear from an industry leader who has come to the realization that they’ve gone as far as they can go without more skilled labor. Panic, is not too strong a word. The Maritime Industrial Base for instance, is currently tasked with delivering three nuclear powered submarines to the Navy every year for the next decade, and looking to hire 140,000 tradespeople. 140,000!!! “Do you know where they are?” they asked me. “We’ve looked everywhere.” “Yes,” I said. “I know where they are. They’re in the 8th grade.” I’ve had similar calls with the automotive industry, who needs 80,000 technicians and collision repair workers. Every single home service company is hiring – from foundation repair to roofing. The energy industry is looking for hundreds of thousands of skilled workers, and so too is the construction industry. A few weeks ago, at something called The Aspen Ideas Festival, I heard Larry Fink, the CEO of Blackrock, say we’re short 500,000 electricians. A few months before that, at an Energy Conference in Newport, I heard Governor Rick Perry describe the race to build data centers and catch up to China with all things AI as nothing short of a “modern-day Manhattan Project.” I think he's right. Part of the problem is an aging demographic. For every five skilled workers who retire, two replace them. That’s why we need to engage with eighth graders today. Maybe even before that. We have to make a persuasive case for these jobs to the next generation, and just as importantly, to their parents. That won’t solve the immediate problem, but this is marathon, not a sprint, and these jobs need to be magnified and amplified at an early age. The more immediate problem is the labor force participation rate. As we speak, millions of able-bodied Americans - for all sorts of reasons - are not working and not looking for work. According to economist Nick Eberstadt, that number is close to 7 million able-bodied men. I’m not sure what to do about that, but it’s a colossal problem that needs to be addressed. On the positive side, our last round of work ethic scholarships generated unparalleled interest. This year, mikeroweWORKSwill award $5 million to help train the next generation of skilled workers. That's ten times the number of qualified applicants we got this time a year ago. The needle is moving, and I believe we can move it a lot further, with a little help from the companies most incentivized to see the trades reinvigorated. Should be a lively conversation in The Keystone State…

The Real Mike Rowe

987,418 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Should the global tech community continue investing in Malaysia? Given recent events, I raise this question respectfully for the consideration of Prime Minister Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim (Anwar Ibrahim), for the people of Malaysia, and for our friends in the Malaysian tech community. The answer will be of interest to anyone in global tech that’s considering building, investing, or expanding in Malaysia, including executives at Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, founders of tech unicorns like Coinbase and Solana, and investors at the world’s largest venture capital funds like a16z and Polychain. As context, I am the former CTO of Coinbase and former General Partner at a16z. In October 2024, I opened a startup society called Network School in Malaysia, because I felt I’d been invited in by the government’s pro-tech policies. Specifically, the KL20 initiative set out Malaysia’s ambition of becoming a top 20 global tech hub. Their MDEC digital nomad visas and MM2H investor visas were created to facilitate an influx of global talent and capital. And the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone was announced to facilitate the flow of capital and talent between Malaysia and Singapore, where I live. When taken in combination with Malaysia’s datacenter buildout and its policy of welcoming visa-free visits for 98% of the world, it seemed like Malaysia might be a great place to build a global tech hub that was simultaneously inexpensive and easy to visit (especially for non-Westerners). And that’s what we did, by creating Network School. It’s an international tech community with its first node in Forest City, Malaysia. We picked Forest City because it had millions of square feet of empty space, because it was one hour from Singapore’s capital markets, and because it was within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Then, within 18 months, without a single penny of government money, we built Network School into a global attraction that brought thousands of engineers, investors, and builders from 70+ countries to learn technology, burn calories, earn online, and have fun, integrating with the local Malaysian economy along the way. Indeed, in terms of quantifiable contribution to the Malaysian economy, we’ve already invested 100M+ MYR in our campus to make it startup-friendly. For perspective, that’s about 4% of the budget of Johor, the Malaysian state where Forest City is located. We employ dozens of Malaysians directly and indirectly at every level from executive to staff. We’ve backed Malaysian tech startups like Collektr, hosted events for local teams like Superteam Malaysia, and are major customers of many local businesses like barbers, laundromats, and restaurants. We’ve also revitalized the multibillion-dollar Forest City project, causing millions of MYR in real estate appreciation. And, as the video below describes, we were on the cusp of a 500M+ MYR expansion to grow our community, as well as a global merit scholarship with my friend Amjad Masad of Replit. However, that emerging multi-billion dollar success story — which should rightfully have been hailed as a huge victory for the pro-tech policies of the Malaysian government — is at risk of being derailed by a fake story spread by an anonymous account named MP4P. In short: on the day before the July 11 Johor elections, MP4P posted an Instagram post falsely accusing Network School of harboring illegal aliens. The sensational accusations caused a tizzy in Malaysia, until Malaysian authorities came to our campus on July 14 to investigate. (I should note that the officers were very polite and professional.) After checking hundreds of physical passports from 40 countries, including dual passport holders, the authorities confirmed to the press on July 15 that all travel documents were in order. During the process, we cooperated fully; in the thread below you can see a photo of the men, women, and children of Network School smiling and holding up their passports in the bright daylight. Our faces are shown and our names are known; we have nothing to hide. With that said, the process is the punishment. What MP4P did is very similar to the American crime of “swatting”, because MP4P created a hoax report of a serious threat, thereby forcing the Malaysian police to take time away from protecting the Malaysian people towards investigating a nonexistent issue. Moreover, this anonymous MP4P account has also called for Malaysia to boycott Apple, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft…a move that would cost ordinary Malaysians thousands of jobs…even while MP4P’s own Instagram collaborators promote their Apple and Google apps! I mean, we aren’t talking about a credible accuser, but just someone screaming inconsistently at the top of their lungs on social media for traffic, an all-too-common phenomenon these days. Anyway, at this point, all further investment we were planning to make in Malaysia is on hold until we get sufficient assurance that such issues won’t recur. So are the investment plans of many of our friends, including the execs and investors at global tech firms that we brought to Forest City. Because to put it very plainly: we have invested 100M+ MYR in Malaysia, while creating jobs for dozens of Malaysians, and our faces and names are known. Our Malaysian executives and employees deserve the benefit of the doubt over anonymous internet trolls. There are two paths forward. In the first case, if Malaysia still wants continued global tech investment, if it wants to be a top 20 tech hub, if it wants us to revitalize Forest City, then we request an audience with the Prime Minister’s office to discuss the terms of a memorandum of understanding between Network School and the Malaysian government, similar to the document recently signed between the Solana Foundation and the Kazakhstan government. Specifics can of course be discussed, but we would publicly commit to abiding by all Malaysian laws (we already do) and respecting Malaysia’s sovereignty (never in question). In return, they’d get to know our friendly community, and realize that we actually chose Malaysia because we thought it was a great place to build a tech hub where engineers from the global South, investors from the West, and builders from Malaysia itself could meet new people, build cool things, and perhaps create millions of dollars in economic growth in the fullness of time. That vision of peace and trade, internationalism and entrepreneurialism, is still on the table. We aren’t asking for any money — just a meeting, to help restore confidence in Malaysia as an investable jurisdiction. Alternatively, if you don’t want our investment, or those of our colleagues at billion dollar funds and trillion dollar companies, we will of course respect your wishes, and reallocate our capital to other countries instead. Either way, we will remain friends and abide by your decision. Please let us know.

Balaji

3,654,673 Aufrufe • vor 3 Tagen