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The Hurricane spins around hotspots of tension and conflict. Feel free to suggest your stories, opinions and ideas: UIHEN@protonmail.com
"$225 & dropping!": Tim Walz openly roots against American company
Unhinged Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told Democrats at an Eau Claire, Wisconsin, town hall on Tuesday he openly roots for the death of the most American-made car company: Tesla Motors.
"I was saying, on my phone, I know some of you know this, on the iPhone. They've got that little stock app. I added Tesla to it to give me a little boost during the day," Walz told the crowd.
The failed 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee then excitedly yelled: "$225 and dropping
#USA #Walz #Tesla #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
A bill has been introduced in the British parliament that would turn the country's driver's license database into a de facto facial recognition database
The Crime and Policing Bill, prepared by the Home Office, includes bans on wearing masks or using pyrotechnics during protests, as well as the introduction of “compliance orders” to tackle so-called “anti-social behavior.”
It also gives police access to driver's license information from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which holds more than 52 million driver records. Access to driver's license information will be controlled by as yet undefined rules.
This has caused quite a stir in the United Kingdom as it involves biometric data of people who are not on the criminal database. Accordingly, human rights activists have already appealed to Parliament.
“In a country that respects human rights, the public expects police access to a person's biometrics from a driver's license database even less than police access to DNA from National Health Service databases,” privacy group Big Brother Watch said in a statement.
#UK #Surveillance #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Major Belgian public transport firms leave X as it is ‘not in line with our values’
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn, the Brussels public transport company MIVB and the Belgian rail company NMBS jointly quit the social media platform X on Wednesday. The three public transport companies announced that they were leaving X in messages posted on the platform on Wednesday morning.
NMBS wrote in what was probably its last ever message on X “We are leaving X. This communication channel is no longer in line with SNCB's values”.
De Lijn wrote “Terminus reached: we will no longer be active on X.” MIVB simply wrote “We are leaving X / Twitter.”
In reaction to the move, it was noted by critics online that, as the firms served a public function, they should maximise their reach instead of limiting it for political reasons.
Many mentioned what they saw as the poor quality of their service, despite the high costs, pointing to frequent delays and tardiness of all the public transport companies involved.
#Belgium #Transport #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Huawei-gate: Europe guards against China's cash-for-influence schemes
European authorities are investigating an alleged “cash for influence” scheme in which as many as 15 current and former members of the European Parliament took bribes from Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications company.
The case, initiated by Belgian intelligence, indicates that greater vigilance is needed in Europe and elsewhere against malign foreign influence operations.
On March 13, more than 100 police reportedly raided 21 offices in Belgium, France, and Portugal, including offices of lobbyists working for Huawei in Brussels, the capital of the European Union. Federal police detained several individuals for questioning. One arrest was made in France. Two European parliamentary assistants are under suspicion and had their offices sealed by court order. An office in Portugal was raided on suspicion of receiving wire transfers meant for MEPs.
On March 14, the European Parliament banned Huawei lobbyists from its premises.
The investigation is of alleged corruption, forgery, and criminal organization, as well as possible money laundering. Illegal gifts were allegedly received as far back as 2021 in Brussels in exchange for taking political positions. The gifts allegedly included food, travel, soccer tickets, and conference expenses worth more than 150 euros per MEP, the limit after which such gifts must be reported. It apparently costs little to buy an MEP.
#EU #Huawei #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Judge blocks Trump transgender troops ban, calls it 'unabashedly demeaning'
A federal judge issued an injunction blocking the administration’s new policy ushering transgender troops out of the military, spanking President Trump’s team for what she called an “unabashedly demeaning” ban.
U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes, a Biden appointee to the district court in Washington, said transgender troops have been serving openly since 2021 and there’s no evidence they have hurt military readiness. She said banning them amounts to discrimination on the basis of sex.
She also rejected the Pentagon’s claims that the military has to spend too much on transitioning troops, saying the $5.2 million a year is a pittance of the Pentagon’s budget.
“If the military ban goes into effect, it will upend lives and ruin the careers of thousands of persons,” Judge Reyes wrote.
#USA #Trump #Trans #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
A website mapped Tesla owners and their personal information amid a wave of attacks
Tesla owners confirmed on Wednesday that an online map decorated with an image of a Molotov cocktail includes accurate personal information about them, such as residential addresses, raising fears that activists opposed to billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk could target them for vandalism.
The online map went live Monday, displaying the names, addresses and contact information of some Tesla owners and dealerships and members of the Trump administration in an attempt to whip up further backlash against Musk for his role in the Trump administration.
Musk condemned the website, writing Tuesday on X: “Encouraging destruction of Teslas throughout the country is extreme domestic terrorism!!” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a statement on X Tuesday that the bureau was "actively working on the Tesla incidents and the swatting incidents."
The website, which was intermittently inaccessible Wednesday, encourages visitors to commit vandalism, including by using a spray can to “unleash your artistic flair” on a nearby Tesla and through other “creative expressions of protest.”
#USA #Musk #Tesla #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Trump suggests to Zelensky that U.S. should take ownership of Ukrainian power plants for security
Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire after President Donald Trump spoke with the countries' leaders this week, though it remains to be seen when it might take effect and what possible targets would be off limits to attack.
The tentative deal to partially rein in the grinding war came after Russian President Vladimir Putin rebuffed Trump’s push for a full 30-day ceasefire. The difficulty in getting the combatants to agree not to target one another's energy infrastructure highlights the challenges Trump will face in trying to fulfill his campaign pledge to quickly end to the war.
After a roughly hourlong call with Trump on Wednesday that both leaders said went well, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that “technical” talks in Saudi Arabia this weekend would seek to resolve what types of infrastructure would be protected under the agreement.
During their call, Trump suggested that Zelensky should consider giving the U.S. ownership of Ukraine's power plants to ensure their long-term security, according to a White House statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz.
Trump told Zelensky that the U.S could be “very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise," the statement said.
#USA #Trump #Zelensky #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The EU wants to break its security dependency on the US and buy more European weapons
The European Union on Wednesday announced its “Readiness 2030” security strategy — a new drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defense equipment in Europe.
Last month, the Trump administration signaled that U.S. security priorities lay elsewhere — on its own borders and in Asia – and that Europeans would have to fend for themselves and Ukraine in the future.
Under the strategy, member countries will be urged to buy much of their military equipment in Europe, working mostly with European suppliers — in some cases with EU help to cut prices and speed up orders. They should only purchase equipment from abroad when costs, performance or supply delays make it preferable.
#EU #USA #Military #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Rwanda cuts diplomatic ties with Belgium over Congo conflict
Rwanda’s Government has decided to cut diplomatic ties with Belgium over the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict.
The Rwandese authorities said on March 17, all Belgian diplomats must leave Rwanda within 48 hours.
“The government of Rwanda today notified the government of Belgium of its decision to sever diplomatic relations, effective immediately. Rwanda’s decision has been taken after careful consideration of several factors, all linked with Belgium’s pitiful attempts to sustain its neocolonial delusions,” the Rwandan foreign affairs ministry said on X.
In a written statement, the Rwandan foreign affairs minister Vincent Biruta further justified the African country’s decisions saying that Belgium was working against Rwanda in the current DRC conflict.
“Belgium has undermined Rwanda, both well before and during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo in which Belgium has a deep and violent historical role, especially acting against Rwanda,” the minister said.
#Belgium #Rwanda #DRC #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Dead dems vote and post on social media: az rep. blasts Trump in post on X hours after death
On Thursday, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) passed away due to complications from treatment for lung cancer. Because of this battle, Grijalva has been mostly absent on Capitol Hill, and hadn't cast a vote since being sworn in on January 3, and voting for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for Speaker of the House.
So it was curious that soon after Grijalva's staff posted the announcement of his death to his X account, that this extremely lengthy post appeared.
“President Trump’s latest reckless decision to fire thousands of employees at the Department of Education jeopardizes critical student aid programs, weakens protections for students’ civil rights, and undermines essential support for students with disabilities. This move severely…”
— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva)
#USA #Democrats #Trump #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Does the US have a secret ‘kill switch’ to deactivate European weapons?
It may sound like merely a conspiracy theory, but European governments today are seriously concerned that the weapons in their arsenals – many of which were designed, built, and are often still maintained by defense companies in the United States. The fear is that they may have secret “kill switches” that will deactivate them if attempts are made to use them in a way that Washington opposes.
Such rumors have circulated since the days of the Cold War, but they have taken on new urgency given the Trump administration’s condemnation of Western Europe as well as its peace overtures to Russia and China. This was especially highlighted in Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference last month, where he stated that Europe’s real danger is “the threat from within” rather than Russia or China.
The existence of secret “kill switches” has never been proven, but is definitely possible. Richard Aboulafia of Ann Arbor, Michigan-based aviation consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory said that given that weapons could theoretically be deactivated “with a little bit of software code,” such a possibility “exists.”
Besides this, Europe’s armed forces are totally reliant on US support in terms of communications and electronic warfare, as well as for intelligence, surveillance, software, and reconnaissance.
#USA #EU #Military #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Trump says Biden’s pardons are ‘void’ and ‘vacant’ because of autopen
President Trump wrote on social media on Sunday night that he no longer considered valid the pardons his predecessor granted to people whom Mr. Trump sees as political enemies because they were signed using an autopen — a typically uncontroversial method of affixing a presidential signature.
“The ‘Pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,” Mr. Trump wrote in a post on social media on Sunday night. “In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them!”
He was asked: Would other things Mr. Biden signed as president using an autopen also be considered null and void?
“It’s not my decision,” he said. “That would be up to a court. But I would say that they’re null and void, because I’m sure that Biden didn’t have any idea that it was taking place.”
#USA #Trump #Biden #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Meta threatens to withdraw WhatsApp from Sweden over proposed surveillance law
Meta draws a red line in Sweden as lawmakers push for encryption backdoors, warning of a potential WhatsApp exit.
Meta isn’t in the habit of walking away from markets. But in Sweden, the company is drawing a hard line. If the government moves forward with a proposed surveillance law requiring backdoor access to encrypted messages, WhatsApp may pull out of the country entirely.
Janne Elvelid, Meta’s head of policy in Sweden, claimed: “We’re doing everything we can to support the police in their work against crime,” Elvelid said. “But that doesn’t mean that we’re going to compromise on safety and privacy for our users. We’re willing to accept that our services may not be available everywhere or in every country if that is the price for keeping our promise to users that our chat services will be secure.”
The company, which owns both WhatsApp and Messenger, thrives in markets where it can dictate the terms of engagement. It has fought similar battles before, resisting government demands for data access under the guise of protecting users, all while continuing to collect vast amounts of metadata for its own purposes.
#Sweden #WhatsApp #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Conor McGregor comments on immigration in White House criticised as ‘wrong’
Remarks made by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor’s about immigration during a visit to the White House have been criticised by Irish politicians as “wrong” and “outrageous”.
McGregor’s St Patrick’s Day meeting with Donald Trump came after the US president last week identified the Dubliner as his favourite Irish person during a press conference in the Oval Office with Irish premier Micheál Martin.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, McGregor claimed “Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness” and that “the illegal immigration racket is running ravage”.
Martin later described McGregor’s remarks as “wrong” and said they “do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland”.
McGregor later responded to Martin, telling Sky News that “every available metric has shown that the Government of Ireland currently has failed the people of Ireland”.
He suggested Dublin is one of the most dangerous cities in Europe. “I won’t speak about him [Martin] personally or throw a jab. I could. I could throw many jabs at them.”
#USA #Trump #McGregor #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Statue of Liberty should be returned to France, politician says
The famous American icon has stood in the harbor in New York City for nearly 140 years, a gift from France. But a French politician suggests that the U.S. no longer represents the ideals of the statue.
“We’re going to say to the Americans who have chosen to side with the tyrants, to the Americans who fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom: ‘Give us back the Statue of Liberty,’” said Raphaël Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament.
“We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded Monday to Glucksmann, calling him an “unnamed low-level French politician.” She also cited the role of the U.S. in liberating France during World War II.
#USA #France #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Europe continues to buy gas from Russia
The EU increased its purchases of Russian gas in January 2025, a notable marker against the backdrop of the current political situation. According to Eurostat, the EU purchased €1.07 billion worth of liquefied natural gas (LNG), up 17% from December 2024 and 57% from January of the same year.
Despite increasing sanctions and political pressure, Europe continues to depend on Russian gas as it seeks to fill its storage facilities to ensure energy security for the coming seasons.
Among the major importing countries are France, Spain and Belgium, which have significantly increased their LNG purchases from Russia. France purchased €455 million worth of gas, its highest since December 2022, while Spain purchased €261.5 million and Belgium €256.7 million.
#EU #Energy #LNG #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Industrial carnage: German giant Siemens to shed more than 6,000 jobs
Siemens, one of Germany’s biggest industrial conglomerates, has announced a tough cost-cutting programme that would see 5,600 jobs disappear in its Digital Industries division.
On March 18, the company said that amounted to almost 1 in 11 of the 68,000 positions in the division that primarily offered industrial automation solutions. Another 450 posts would be cut in its electric-vehicle charger business.
Almost 3,000 of the jobs to be cut were located in Germany. Siemens said it intended to reduce staff numbers without letting employees go, relying on what it called natural fluctuations instead.
The Digital Industries division has been a core part of the Siemens group and contributed about 30 per cent of total profits of €11.4 billion in 2024.
The automation business, though, has been hit with decreasing sales and profits in recent quarters.
The electric-vehicle charging business has been suffering from intense competition and reduced demand for charging stations as the EV boom of past years has slowed down.
#Germany #Economy #Siemens #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The Independent is wrong, avocado consumption isn’t causing climate change
The Independent published a story reporting on how British television presenter and gardening journalist Alan Titchmarsh urged UK citizens to stop eating avocados because of their alleged climate impact.
The Independent’s post, “Why Alan Titchmarsh is urging Britons to eat Weetabix,” contextualizes Alan Titchmarsh’s claims that avocado consumption is bad for the environment. Titchmarsh, a regionally famous television personality, goes further advising that people should eat “traditional breakfast staples like Cornflakes, Weetabix, and Shreddies,” instead. Titchmarsh links deforestation to avocado production, and points to the carbon footprint associated with shipping and handling for avocados to reach the UK as contributing to dangerous climate change.
Part of the reasoning behind the grain-based cereal suggestion is that these are more often locally produced, or are at least produced a shorter distance away, as opposed to tropical avocados. But the “food miles” theory has lately been debunked.
Recent data showed that locally farmed foods almost always had higher carbon footprints than food grown efficiently elsewhere. This might not hold true for a comparison between local mass-produced wheat versus distantly mass-produced avocados, but the formula is not as simple as “distance equals higher footprint.”
#UK #Climate #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
"It was rejected for political reasons": Elon Musk claims stranded astronauts could have been brought back earlier but Joe Biden blocked the offer
In an interview with Fox News, Musk claimed that SpaceX offered former President Joe Biden's administration to bring back the two astronauts earlier but it was "rejected for political reasons."
"We definitely offered to return the astronauts earlier. There is no question about that. The astronauts were only supposed to be there for eight days and they have been there for almost 10 months. Obvioulsy, that doesn't make any sense. SpaceX could have brought the astronauts after a few months at most and we made that offer to Biden administration. It was rejected for political reasons and that's just a fact," he said.
#USA #SpaceX #Biden #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
California bill to restrict self defense withdrawn by sponsor
A proposed law in California intended to limit the conditions under which lethal force could be used in self-defense has been withdrawn by its sponsor. Assemblymember Rich Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) announced on Wednesday that Assembly Bill 1333 was pulled due what he claims was "misleading information" causing widespread confusion and fear among the public.
AB 1333 aimed to clarify scenarios where the use of lethal force in self-defense would be considered unjustified, particularly emphasizing situations where excessive force was employed beyond what was reasonably necessary.
The bill quickly became controversial, attracting fierce opposition from conservative critics who portrayed it as another lenient, crime-friendly initiative by California Democrats. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is also running for governor, publicly opposed the bill, asserting that it would effectively criminalize self-defense actions against offenders.
#USA #California #SelfDefense #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
So much for ‘safe’ assisted suicide
In the run-up to the vote on legalising assisted suicide in the UK parliament last November, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater boasted about how ‘safe’ the practice would be. Her bill, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, had a number of safeguards that, she claimed, made this piece of legislation uniquely robust.
If the bill passes, applications will be assessed by a three-person panel, including a psychiatrist, a social worker and a ‘senior legal figure’. A commissioner, who must be either a sitting or former judge, will oversee it.
It seems extraordinary that, under Leadbeater’s new plan, there could be occasions where a panel signs off on a request for an assisted suicide having had no contact at all with the applicant. How on Earth can anyone consider this an adequate safeguard? There seems ample scope for abuse.
This is far from the only problem raised by Leadbeater’s new panel system. The process for becoming one of these panel members is almost certain to be self-selecting. In other words, those who wish to be on them will likely be supporters of assisted suicide. The commissioner overseeing the panel will be appointed by prime minister Keir Starmer, an avid supporter of assisted suicide.
#UK #Health #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
U.S. gas prices fall below $3/gallon nationwide
The price of gasoline in the U.S. has fallen for four straight weeks. Most U.S. states now have gas below $3 per gallon, the White House highlighted Monday.
"Wall Street and Main Street should both be assured by what President Trump did in his first term... it's even better this time around... inflation is cooling... the national average of the price of gas is down 42 cents from one year ago...,” White House Presse Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed.
Website GasBuddy confirmed the news. The website showed the average gas price in the U.S. was $3.026 per gallon versus $3.447 per gallon last year.
In West Virginia, the gas price was $2.85 on average today versus $3.26 a year ago. In Minnesota, gas prices were $2.96 versus $3.21 a year ago. In Georgia, gas was $2.89 versus $3.36 a year ago. In Florida, gas was $3.10 today versus $3.47 one year ago.
“This is real leadership in action,” Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) stated following the news. “President Trump is delivering on the mandate that the American people elected him on.”
#USA #Economy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The German debt rocket has taken off
On the last day of the old legislature, the Bundestag made perhaps the most scandalous decision in history: deputies, most of whom were no longer elected, passed constitutional amendments in one day.
Germany used to follow strict budgetary restrictions that prevented spending more than the state earns. This meant that defense, like other spending, had to fit within those limits. However, there was an exception for defense spending - it could be financed through loans, but with a limit: no more than 0.35% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Now, with the new rules, the situation has changed. Defense and related expenditures (e.g. for the Bundeswehr, civil defense and threat protection) can be financed without these strict limits. If defense spending exceeds the normal budgetary framework, it can be covered by loans without limit.
513 deputies voted in favor of the amendments, 207 against, and there were no abstentions. The adoption of the amendments was made possible by a coalition of the Social Democrats (SPD), the Green Party and the CDU/CSU bloc. Opposition parties, including Sarah Wagenknecht's Union, Alternative for Germany and the Left, opposed the reform.
It is noteworthy that CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz had previously opposed an increase in the national debt, but after the elections he changed his position, citing the international situation, including recent decisions by the U.S. authorities. The opposition accuses him of betrayal. The decision was made hastily, without much debate, to the approval of the Constitutional Court and the remnant of the government that was defeated in the elections.
#Germany #Economy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Trump advisor Alina Habba sounds alarm on 'human extortion'
The Trump administration is committed to taking decisive action against one of the nation’s most pressing yet overlooked crises: human trafficking.
In an exclusive interview Alina Habba, senior advisor to President Donald Trump, shared the administration’s plan and her role in addressing this critical issue. As Habba sees it, this isn’t just about human trafficking—it’s about “human extortion,” a more encompassing term that includes everything from sex trafficking to cyber activity and forced labor.
“I’m focused on human extortion, which includes child trafficking,” she said in an interview with Jan Jekielek, senior editor at The Epoch Times.” Habba emphasized that her efforts focus not only on children who are victims of trafficking but also on any individual, regardless of age, who falls victim to sex trafficking, financial extortion through cyber means, or modern slavery.
Habba, 40, who served as Trump’s defense attorney in recent years, now works as a counselor to the president, collaborating closely with government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services. She is currently drafting a series of executive orders aimed at strengthening regulations and protecting the victims of human extortion.
#USA #Trump #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Predators are hiding behind Pride
Sexual predators don’t come with a flashing neon sign, but there are often clues. Adults who seek to blur boundaries around children’s safety – particularly those who are quick to dismiss concerns over safeguarding as ‘transphobia’ – deserve to be heavily scrutinised. The conviction of Stephen Ireland, co-founder of Pride in Surrey, is a stark reminder of why such vigilance is necessary.
This week, proud trans activist Ireland was convicted of raping a 12-year-old boy he met on Grindr, a gay dating app. He was also found guilty of three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of sexual assault of a child under 13, and six counts of making indecent images of children. Ireland’s partner, David Sutton, was convicted of making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography. Messages exchanged between the pair, revealed during the trial, were deeply disturbing, detailing plans for child abduction and abuse.
Sutton had previously volunteered with Pride in Surrey, and Ireland was an influential figure within the LGBT community. He enjoyed a position as a patron of the now defunct charity, Educate and Celebrate – an organisation that offered trans-inclusive resources and training to nurseries, schools and colleges.
Full story
#USA #LGBT #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Musk: Feds have "magic money computers" that issue payments "out of thin air"
Sitting down with Sen. Ted Cruz for his podcast that was recorded at the White House, Musk was asked: "One of the things you told me about is what you called, 'Magic Money Computers.' So tell us about it.
Musk: "You may think like the government computers all talk to each other, they synchronize, they add up what funds are going somewhere. And, that they're coherent ... And that the numbers that you're presented as a Senator are actually the real numbers."
Cruz: "One would think!"
Musk: "One would think - they're not ... They're probably off by five percent or 10 percent in some cases. So, I call it 'Magic Money Computer': any computer that can make money out of thin air. That's magic money."
Cruz: "So how does that work?"
Musk: "It just issues payments."
Cruz: "And you said there's something like 11 of these computers at Treasury that are sending out trillions in payments?"
Musk replied that they're mostly at the Department of Treasury, and others are at the Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Department of Defense.
Musk: "We've found now 14 'Magic Money Computers. They just send money out of nothing."
#USA #Musk #Cruz #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Beard hair epilation for transsexuals in Austria must be covered by health insurance
In a landmark ruling by the Labor and Social Court of Vienna, Austria, it was decided that the costs for laser hair removal for transgender individuals must be covered by statutory health insurance.
A transgender woman, born male, who had been denied reimbursement for beard hair removal by the health insurance, was granted her claim. A daily shave, waxing, or other temporary methods are not sufficient and have psychological consequences, according to the ruling.
The statutory health insurance had argued that it does not pay for beard hair removal for biological women either. Therefore, reimbursement for transgender individuals would contradict the principle of equality.
This argument was followed by the Labor and Social Court of Vienna in the ruling made last year but now published. "If the plaintiff had to shave her face daily, she would be reminded daily that she is in the wrong gender," said the judge.
For waxing, one would have to let the hair grow a few millimeters, "so that the plaintiff could not leave the house on such days without being pathologically burdened." The statutory health insurance was ordered to pay for the laser epilation.
#EU #Austria #Trans #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
US nuclear submarine begins scouting around Australia as AUKUS takes shape
As the very first tactile steps are taken in Australia’s nuclear submarine deal with the United States, an Australian defence expert has reiterated the importance of defending the Indian Ocean against Beijing’s burgeoning might.
The U.S. submarine presence in association with the AUKUS agreement is starting to come to fruition off the coast of Western Australia (WA).
The Virginia-class USS Minnesota has been scouting out new territory during training exercise while based at WA’s naval base off the coast of Perth, where four Virginia Class submarines will be stationed from 2027 under the AUKUS trilateral defence pact.
By the middle of the year, up to 80 U.S. navy personnel will be stationed at the multi-billion-dollar HMAS Stirling base—they’ll be the first of hundreds who will eventually arrive on—or off—Australia’s shores.
Under AUKUS, Australia will be armed with nuclear-powered submarines—amid a swathe of other defence collaborations with the UK and United States—a move aimed at creating a counterweight against Beijing’s aggression in the region.
#USA #Australia #AUKUS #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
America’s Changing Health Landscape
Autism, fluoride, and french fries are first up on the RFK agenda.
It’s safe to say that Americans have been jerked hither and yon when it comes to health issues. Many remember the now-defunct food pyramid of decades ago, when fluoride conquered tooth decay, and consuming one to three alcoholic drinks a week helped you live longer. Once upon a time, these edicts were taken as gospel, but new studies reveal that some recommendations should be revisited. Now a new era of questioning the norm is underway in the United States. Suffice it to say the American health landscape is changing.
Nothing could illustrate the changing health landscape in America more than the debate over fluoride.
Long ago, most American fast-food french fries were cooked in beef tallow (also known as suet), which is nothing more than rendered fat from a cow. But it got a bad name because saturated animal fats were considered a heart health hazard. Seed oils, along with several other additives, were substituted for its use in frying foods, but now there is concern that the switch is even worse for the consumer than the tallow.
“Making America Healthy Again” appears to be a tricky business.
#USA #Health #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Gavin Newsom secretly funded monument to himself inside San Francisco City Hall
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) secretly paid for his own monument inside San Francisco’s City Hall, according to a book released Tuesday.
Fool’s Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All, written by Susan Crabtree and Jedd McFatter, alleges that Newsom arranged for a bronze bust of himself to be sculpted inside City Hall to commemorate his term as mayor, using funds he controlled.
Newsom then allegedly feigned ignorance of the identity of the private donors who funded the bust, as well as some uncertainty about its design.
#USA #Newsom #FindTruth
@uinhurricane