Free Republic

The sound of a helicopter overhead at the Freedom Camp in Wellington, New Zealand as police, protesters and the mainstream media mass in and around the barricades. As daylight Wednesday approaches police vans carrying reinforcements have been seen in the city. Plenty of rumours the suggestion that tear gas is about to be used. Sirens are being heard everywhere. The New Zealand Herald reports large groups of police in the hundreds marching in the streets..,.

PARIS, Jan 16 (Reuters) - France's parliament gave final approval on Sunday to the government's latest measures to tackle the COVID-19 virus, including a vaccine pass contested by anti-vaccine protestors. Lawmakers in the lower house of parliament voted 215 in favour to 58 against, paving the way for the law to enter force in the coming days. The new law, which had a rough ride through parliament with opposition parties finding some of its provisions too tough, will require people to have a certificate of vaccination to enter public places like restaurants, cafes, cinemas and long-distance trains.

https://112.international/politics/russian-humanitarian-aid-for-the-united-states-was-not-free-50137.html

AKRON, Ohio -- FirstEnergy Corp. plans to provide nearly 4 million low-energy light bulbs to its residential electricity customers in Ohio. Akron-based FirstEnergy said Monday that distribution will begin in mid-October. Two compact fluorescent light bulbs will be mailed or hand-delivered to residential customers of Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. and Toledo Edison. The cost of the program will be underwritten by customers, who FirstEnergy said can recover three times the cost through projected energy savings. Reports indicate that there will be a 60 cent charge on customers' bills for the next three years. The program approved by state...

Increasing numbers of patients are paying for private "top-up" treatments alongside NHS care, meaning the health service is no longer free, leading doctors are warning. While politicians often claim care is free at the point of delivery "this mantra is now a political mirage," their report says. The group has written to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, the opposition parties and the Royal Colleges, asking for a debate on the future of healthcare funding. The study, published by the group Doctors for Reform, was written by three doctors, including Karol Sikora, professor of cancer medicine at Imperial College School of Medicine....