#79: TRUMP CAMPAIGN MADE $7.1 MILLION FROM FULTON COUNTY MUGSHOT
Volkswagen ditches vegetarian-only menu for workers + Santana forced to apologize for saying men can't be women + Record tourism in Hungary + MORE!
TRUMP CAMPAIGN RAISES $7.1 MILLION FROM MUGSHOT MERCH
Mugshot merchandise has netted the campaign of former US president Donald Trump nearly $7.1 million in revenue.
The former president published the iconic photograph to his X account (formerly known as Twitter) years after he was banned from the platform.
Trump’s tweet has been viewed over 250 million times and currently has 1.7 million likes.
He was photographed after surrendering in Fulton County, Georgia, only to be released on bail.
The Trump campaign has since put out a number of products featuring the mugshot.
“People are going nuts. I’ve been in retail for more than forty years and I have never seen anything like this,” one retailer told the Epoch Times.
“It truly is unprecedented. People want anything with the Trump mug shot image on it and we are desperately trying as hard as we can to keep up with demand.”
VOLKSWAGEN DITCHES VEGETARIAN-ONLY MENU FOR WORKERS
After two years of vegetarian-only meals, the Volkswagen employee canteen has finally brought back meat and fish options, including the beloved currywurst.
The decision was based on an employee survey conducted earlier this year, which revealed a strong demand for more variety in the menu.
The currywurst, a sausage with spicy sauce, is a staple of German cuisine and a favorite among VW workers. It was banned from the canteen of the executive tower in Wolfsburg in 2021, as part of a move to promote healthier and more sustainable eating habits. The canteen serves both managers and line workers, and is one of the largest in Europe.
The meat-free policy sparked a nationwide controversy, with critics accusing VW of imposing its values on its employees.
VW defended its decision at the time, saying it was not against the currywurst, which was still available in other canteens and kiosks in the factory. The company also launched a delivery service during the pandemic to cater to the needs of remote workers who missed their currywurst fix.
However, after listening to the feedback from its staff, VW decided to reintroduce meat and fish as an additional option in the canteen of the executive tower. A spokeswoman confirmed that the change took effect on August 7th, 2023, but did not specify when exactly the currywurst would be back on the menu.
SANTANA FORCED TO APOLOGIZE FOR SAYING MEN CAN’T BE WOMEN
Rock star and guitarist Carlos Santana had to apologize after he took an opportunity while performing in New Jersey to slam woke gender ideology.
In a small speech before his fans, the 76-year-old performer delved into the debate.
“When God created us, before we even leave the womb, he knows who we are and what we are,” said Santana.
“A woman is a woman and a man is a man.”
The reaction of the crowd was divided, with some applauding the singer and others booing him.
“Whatever you want to do in the bedroom, it's up to you. I'm okay with that. I'm like this with my brother Dave Chappelle,” said Santana.
Chapelle has also used his public comments and stand up performances to criticize woke doctrines around transgenderism.
Santana has since said that he was sorry for his “insensitive comments.”
“I realize that what I said hurt people and that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to the transgender community and everyone I offended,” said Santana in a statement.
HUNGARY REPORTS RECORD-LEVEL TOURISM RATES THIS YEAR
Hungary is experiencing a boom in tourism this year, reaching or exceeding the levels of 2019, which was the best year ever for the Hungarian tourism sector.
According to Minister Gergely Gulyás, the number of guest nights for foreign tourists increased by 13% in the first five months of the year. He also said that there are still many untapped opportunities in Hungarian tourism, as some regions of the country have not been fully explored by visitors.
One of the main reasons why Hungary is attracting more tourists is its reputation as a safe and peaceful country. According to the Global Peace Index 2022, Hungary ranks as the 13th safest country in the world.
To accommodate this record-level of visitors, Hungary is working on updating infrastructure, including roads and bicycle paths as well as introducing new accommodations in rural areas.
“The government is committed to supporting the local plans and developments that have been implemented or are awaiting implementation in the region, and Tokaj-Hegyalja, as one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, will gain the corresponding recognition in the field of tourism in the coming years as well,” said Gulyás.
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER ADMITS RUSSIAN SANCTIONS HAVE FAILED
In her latest interview, Germany's Foreign Minister admits that sanctions have failed to stop Russia's economic growth.
Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister and a member of the Green Party, has expressed her frustration with the ineffectiveness of the economic sanctions imposed by the Western European countries on Russia.
In an interview with journalist Stephan Lamby for his book "Ernstfall. Governing in Times of War", which was released yesterday, Baerbock said that the sanctions did not have the expected impact on Russia's economy, which is expanding despite the pressure from the West.
"Actually, economic sanctions would have economic effects. But that's not the case. Because the logic of democracies does not apply in autocracies," Baerbock said.
She also added that "this war cannot be ended with rational decisions, rational measures taken between civilized governments", referring to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.1% in 2021, while Germany's and Austria's GDP contracted by 2.9% and 2.5%, respectively.
However, some Western economists argue that Russia's growth is driven by its war economy and the massive increase in the production of weapons and ammunition, which is not sustainable in the long term.
