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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) – The son of a Russian businessman close to President Vladimir Putin has been acquitted in Norway of violating a law that bars Russians from flying drones. Andrey Yakunin, who holds both a Russian and a British passport and who lives in Italy, was arrested in Hammerfest, in Arctic Norway, on Oct. 17, after he had sailed around the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard and along the coast of Norway. When off Svalbard, he was responsible for two drones that he owned, and which were used several times for flights over the archipelago which sits more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of the Norwegian mainland. On some occasions he piloted them himself, the court said. The 47-year-old Yakunin had been filming with the drone while mountaineering, glacier walking and sailing. Sweden Launches Investigation After Drones Spotted by Nuclear Power Plants https://t.co/hyXpL5cDZz — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 17, 2022 Under Norwegian law, it … [Read more...] about Putin Ally Family Scion Acquitted of Breaking Norway Drone Laws

A German prince was among those arrested this week by security police and is believed to be a leader of a group suspected of wanting to violently overthrow the German government. Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss was arrested by police Wednesday and is suspected to a leader in the “Reichsburger” (Citizens of the Reich) movement and is alleged to have been plotting to violently overthrow the German government, as the movement’s adherents do not recognize the validity of the current German constitution. The aristocrat, whose family once ruled part of Thuringia, was one of the 22 alleged members of the group and three supporters arrested Wednesday, according to the German Federal Prosecutor. Another arrested was a former member of the German armed forces special forces unit, the KSK, the newspaper Die Welt reports . Federal Prosecutor General Peter Frank stated that Wednesday’s action, which saw 150 different properties raided across Germany, was aimed specifically at a group within … [Read more...] about German Prince Among Those Suspected Plotting Armed Coup

A British television crew has been attacked by a gang of migrants in Calais during filming, with over 20 individuals using sticks, stones, and knives to repel the men. A report on the confrontation by Sky News’s Europe Correspondent Mark Stone reveals how last Thursday Mr. Stone and three colleagues including his producer, cameraman, and a security consultant came under attack while they were filming a group of migrants and what he called a suspected people smuggler. The crew had been visiting one of the new camps that have emerged in northern France as the government works to demolish, once again, the notorious Jungle camp near Calais. The crew had spent some hours at the Norrent-Fontes camp, located exactly to provide easy access to passing lorries heading to Britain, interviewing migrants there without incident. Discovering a hidden ditch by a petrol station equipped with blankets and water bottles, the crew returned at night to film how the migrants there would use the … [Read more...] about British Journalists Attacked By Calais Migrants

The Eritrean migrant killed on the road near Calais at the weekend was attacking the car that hit him, and may have been holding a weapon, it has emerged. The father of the British man driving the car which struck the migrant on Sunday night has spoken out about the incident, describing a terrifying ordeal which he said had left both him and his son traumatised. The pair were headed towards the Eurostar terminal at about 8.30pm on Sunday night when a group of around 50 migrants who were attempting to block the road turned on their vehicle. “It was unbelievably terrifying,” Nafthali Reichman, a jeweller from Stamford Hill in North London, told the Daily Mail. “My son is traumatised and so am I. It happened in a split second. It was dark and suddenly someone jumped on to our car. “He was on the bonnet and smashed the front windscreen. He could have had something in his hand. “Once the windscreen was broken we saw a whole gang of migrants coming towards us and one of … [Read more...] about Eritrean Migrant Killed on Calais Road Was Attacking Car that Hit Him, Says Witness

France’s much touted clearance of The Jungle migrant camp near Calais was a damp squib, survey figures have revealed. Just one in ten migrants were moved on by the bulldozers last February. Numbers are now steadily climbing and are set to top previous peak figures by next month. Migrant rights groups made much of the eviction at the time, with charity Help Refugees commenting: “We are shocked that this verdict will strip refugees of their homes once again without adequate alternative provisions. “Our census revealed 3455 refugees will be evicted and it was stated in court that only 1156 alternative places are currently available across France”. But Help Refugees, which has been conducting regular surveys of the residents, has found that in the event, just 551 migrants were moved on by the eviction. Since then numbers have been creeping back up, and are expected to reach 5,500 by next month, higher than the peak figure of 5497 reached pre-eviction. Two thirds of the … [Read more...] about Calais Jungle ‘Eviction’ Displaced Just 10 Percent of Migrants, And Now They’re Back

The number of illegal migrants crossing into the European Union (EU) in the West Balkan region has dropped by 90 per cent since Macedonia strengthened its border with Greece, EU border agency Frontex has said. In March 4,930 people crossed the Greek-Macedonian border illegally, 10 per cent of the figure for the same month last year, according to Macedonian news agency Independent . Despite the success of the Macedonian controls, however, the number of migrants entering Europe through Italy is growing as summer nears and conditions become more favourable to crossing the Mediterranean. The Greek-Macedonian border has become a major flashpoint in recent weeks, especially around the town of Idomeni, with trapped migrants trying to break through the fence, often with the help of open borders activists. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras claimed Macedonia had “shamed” Europe by closing its border and then deploying tear gas against migrants who tried to break through, but … [Read more...] about The Wall Works: Macedonia’s Strong Border Controls Keeping Out Migrants

Albania’s ambassador to the United Kingdom has admitted that some of his countrymen are “pretending” to be victims of modern slavery in order to inroad their odds of being granted asylum and receiving better treatment. Speaking before the Home Affairs select committee on Wednesday, Albanian Ambassador Qirjako Qirko aknowledged that citizens from his country were trying to abuse the UK’s generous asylum system by claiming to be victims of modern slavery. “It seems that the people who are arriving here pretend to be victims of modern slavery,” the ambassador said in comments reported by the Daily Mail . Albanians spuriously claiming to be victims of modern slavery is nothing new , with reports from last year indicating that migrant marijuana growers would claim that they were being forced into the black market trade in order to avoid punishment. There has been a significant surge in illegal migration from Albania to the UK over the past year, however, with one UK … [Read more...] about Albanian Ambassador Admits Migrants Are Lying About Slavery Claims

Following a long battle, a French judge has approved plans to evict hundreds of migrants and demolish a large proportion of the notorious “Jungle” camp in the northern French port of Calais. Despondent locals have endured years of disruptions, protests, and even riots. Just last night gangs of migrants went on a “victory lap” of the town chanting “UK! UK!” (footage below) as it looked as if the demolition plans would be dropped. They were eventually dispersed with tear gas. Now, over a thousand migrants are certain to be evicted from the southern side of the camp. The northern side, meanwhile, containing shops, a mosque, and the new permanent accommodation built by the authorities, will be spared. “The order is applicable, except for common social areas,” a spokesman for the Pas-de-Calais prefect’s office told Reuters . “So it won’t be applicable to places such as schools, a theater and a legal office.” Hard left activists operating in the camp had fought the court … [Read more...] about Calais ‘Jungle’ Camp Demolition Approved After Migrants Go On ‘Victory’ Rampage

Ukrainian culture minister Oleksandr Tkachenko has issued a new demand to the West to halt performances of Russian music, Russian ballet and boycott other forms of Russian culture, arguing Ukraine is in a “civilizational battle.” Culture Minister Tkachenko argued that Russia was engaging in a cultural war as well as a physical war against his country, claiming that the Russian armed forces have destroyed 800 objects from monuments to works of art and museums. In an opinion article for the Guardian newspaper, Tkachenko wrote, “Russian culture has been used by members of the Kremlin to justify their terrible war,” and claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted that Russia and Ukraine are “one nation.” “Boycotting Russian culture is an important step. We’re not talking about cancelling Tchaikovsky, but rather about pausing performances of his works until Russia ceases its bloody invasion,” Tkachenko said and added that Ukrainian cultural venues have already banned … [Read more...] about Ukraine’s Latest Demand to the West: Ban Russian Culture

With Russian missiles pounding apartment buildings, power plants, schools and roads, a glimmering vision of a reconstructed postwar Ukraine seems impossibly far off. But an urgent battle of ideas has already begun over how to manage what would be the most extensive rebuilding project in Europe since the end of World War II. The sparring has engaged heads of state and the leaders of humanitarian groups, universities and banks from around the world — representing the governments, organizations and companies ready to donate or lend the hundreds of billions of dollars that could be needed, as well as those who stand to profit from it. Attention to salvaging Ukraine’s damaged cities and infrastructure has focused largely on its cost. The tussle over the framework that will in large part be expected to carry out that restructuring has taken place below the surface, gaining far less public notice. Any shift for Ukraine from a wartime to a peacetime economy promises to be fraught, … [Read more...] about Out of the Public Eye, a Debate Is Raging Over a Postwar Ukraine Economy