In order to preserve the flow of conversation about various posted items, and also in order to make it easier for visitors to find the list of related links being shared by other readers, regulars and interested parties in one place, each day a post is automatically created at a minute past midnight ET.
This way, under the various posts of the day, conversation can take place without as much ‘noise’ on the various links and articles and ideas in the main posts and all the news links being submitted can be seen under these auto-posts by clicking on the comments-link right below these ones.
Thank you all for those that take the effort to assist this site in keeping the public informed. Below, typically people can find the latest enemy propaganda, news items of related materials from multiple countries and languages, op-eds from many excellent sites who write on our topics, geopolitics and immigration issues and so on.
German Reports on Iran’s Missile Test Expansion in 2018 (aawsat, Dec 10, 2018)
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1498626/german-reports-irans-missile-test-expansion-2018
“Media reports in Germany have revealed that Iran has significantly expanded missile tests in 2018.
Iran has missiles that are capable of reaching some European countries, according to Western intelligence documents, which were seen by Germany’s Welt Am Sonntag newspaper.
The expanded testing may be a violation of the UN resolution endorsing the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran nuclear agreement, which called on Iran “not to engage in ballistic missile-related activities designed to use nuclear weapons,” the newspaper reported.
In 2018, Tehran test-fired at least seven medium-range missiles and at least five short-range missiles and cruise missiles, the newspaper said, citing documents obtained from unspecified Western intelligence services and verified “with various sources.”
Iran’s missile program has raised international concern, particularly medium-range missiles with a range of up to 2,000 km, which are considered a threat to regional powers.
These medium-range missiles can practically reach every part of Israel.”
Ancient, Unknown Strain of Plague Found in 5,000-Year-Old Tomb in Sweden
In a nearly 5,000-year-old tomb in Sweden, researchers have discovered the oldest-known strain of the notorious bacterium Yersinia pestis — the microbe responsible for humanity’s perhaps most-feared contagion: the plague.
The finding suggests that the germ may have devastated settlements across Europe at the end of the Stone Age in what may have been the first major pandemic of human history. It could also rewrite some of what we know of ancient European history.…
The new findings contradict an older theory about how plague spread, according to the researchers. About 5,000 years ago, humans migrated from the Eurasian steppe down into Europe in major waves, replacing the Neolithic farmers who lived in Europe at that time. Previous research had suggested the steppe folk brought the plague with them, wiping out pre-existing settlements upon their arrival. However, if the plague specimen from the Swedish grave diverged from other strains 5,700 years ago, it likely evolved before the steppe migrations began — suggesting it was already there.
Rather, the researchers suggested that the plague emerged in so-called mega settlements of 10,000 to 20,000 inhabitants that existed in Europe between 6,100 and 5,400 years ago. These mega settlements — up to 10 times larger than previous European settlements — “had people, animals, and stored food close together, and, likely, very poor sanitation. That’s the textbook example of what you need to evolve new pathogens….”
[D]iscovery of plague “in a relatively marginal area of the Neolithic world … suggests well-established and far-reaching contact networks” at that time that allowed the disease to spread.
Indeed, it’s possible that “the revolutionary innovations of that time — bigger settlements with more complex organization, wheeled transport, metallurgy, trading networks over large distances, and so on” — may have set the stage for “the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, and this eventually led to, what we think, was the first massive pandemic of human history…”
https://www.livescience.com/64246-ancient-plague-swedish-tomb.html
World-Check ‘terrorism’ database cites ‘Islamophobic’ sources in Muslim profiles (mee, Dec 10, 2018)
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/world-check-database-cites-islamophobic-sources-muslim-profiles-1756813512
Reads like who is who of Islamophilia…
Saudi media targets leading Muslim-American women for a trolling (alaraby, Dec 10, 2018)
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/12/10/saudi-media-targets-leading-muslim-american-women
“A number of leading Muslim American women, including newly appointed congresswomen and influential activists, have become the latest target of Saudi state media, which launched an Islamophobic attack on what it dubbed the “Muslim Sisters”.
Congresswomen-elect Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were among the women accused by Riyadh’s Al-Arabiya of having political links with Islamist movements. The Saudi-owned platform claimed the pair, who made history as being the first Somali and Arab Muslim women to enter the US Congress, used supposed “political links to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas” to climb to prominence.
“Those sponsoring and supporting the two Muslim women to reach the US Congress adopted a tactic to infiltrate through their immigrant and Black minority communities in general, and women’s groups in particular,” Al-Arabiya reported.
“One example of that is the Palestinian American activist Linda Sarsour with roots in Muslim Brotherhood and a member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations known as CAIR.”
Sarsour is an influential activist who received a “Champion of Change” award from President Obama in 2012, which Al-Arabiya bizarrely linked to the founder of the Palestinian Hamas movement.
“The paradox here is that the description of the ‘Obama’ award is similar to the title of ‘Youth and Change’, the first book taught by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin – the spiritual leader of Hamas, the military arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine,” Al-Arabiya reported.
Dalia Mogahed, former executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, who served on Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighbourhood Partnerships in 2009, was also defamed for her “staunch” criticism of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi – a loyal ally of the Saudi ruling family.
The attack on influential Muslim-American women comes as little surprise. Riyadh has on several occasions used its official media arms, as well as social media, to attack, discredit and ostracise individuals it deems a threat…”
Trolling? These are simply statements of _fact_.
The MB is still legal in this country.
[Unfortunately.]It chooses to act under cover to obscure connections with terrorist organizations that are recognized as such.Sarsour celebrates Hamas, founded by the MB, on social media. She’s a darling of CAIR, the American branch of the MB. Such “Champions of Change” brought us the Arab Spring and ISIS.
There’s no “defamation” of Dalia Mogahed. She consistently criticizes the government of el-Sisi, which replaced the MB after millions of Egyptians rioted against their tyranny. They remain an existential threat to the country’s stability.
Media funded by Riyadh covers Egypt, the most populous Sunni Arab state, as a matter of course. It will respond to unwarranted attacks whether they’re from an ‘influential Muslim woman’ or a terrorist scribbling undercover at the WaPoo.
Journalists in tribal districts continue to face threats (tribune, Dec 10, 2018)
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1863546/1-journalists-tribal-districts-continue-face-threats/
“The hall echoed with applause of anxious parents while distinguished students were getting photographed on the stage with the chief guest giving away prizes.
Students with distinguished positions would wave their hands to the parents from the stage and get appreciation in thundering applause.
Then a girl’s name is announced, a woman at back row of seats stands and cries out in Pashto, “Bahadra bachai mae da (My brave girl).” She was the widow of slain Journalist Hayat Ullah Shaheed, who was kidnapped from Ex-Fata district of North Waziristan, tortured and later killed by unidentified people.
The widow is now left alone taking care of their seven children.
Hayat Ullah was among those journalists of the soil, who paid the highest price for expressing their freedom of expression, their lives.
Journalism a dangerous profession in Pakistan
At least 71 journalists and media workers have lost their lives since 2001 while pursuing their duties in Pakistan. A recently published report on the state of media stated.
In total, some 163 cases of direct attacks on media took place in Pakistan only in 2009 including murders, assaults, kidnappings, explicit threats, censorship cases and attacks on media properties and establishments, Punjab bore the brunt of these attacks with 54 cases and NWFP a close behind with 52. Islamabad was the third biggest victim of attacks on media with 28 cases. In those cases against media workers, only two cases have the murderers been convicted by the courts.
The worst kind of targeting of the media workers were recorded in Ex-Fata districts. Tribal journalists were abducted by non-state actors, tortured and released only on the surety of the local elders.
Most of the cases were not reported in media. The security threat was such that the political administration had locked up the North Waziristan Press Club and opened on assurances and protest from the journalist community.
Even the watchman of the Ex-Khyber agency Press Club was seriously injured when the building of the press club was blown up with IEDs. In recent pass, the security agencies had warned the Bajaur Press Club president of security threats. The club had asked the Khyber tribal district administration for protection…”
Turkish man thanks police after killing wife by slitting her throat (hurriyetdailynews, Dec 10, 2018)
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-man-thanks-police-after-killing-wife-by-slitting-her-throat-139607
“A man in the western Turkish province of Bursa has thanked police officers after he was detained for killing his wife by slitting her throat.
“I thank the homicide detectives,” Kaz?m Korur, 80, told journalists on Dec. 10 as he was transferred from a police center to a courthouse.
“I regret that I killed her, but what can I do? She provoked me with all the hooting and hollering, so I did it,” he added.
Fatma Korur, 66, died on Dec. 9 after her husband took a kitchen knife and fatally wounded her from the throat amid an argument at their house in Bursa’s Y?ld?r?m district.
Kaz?m Korur was arrested and sent to a prison.
A number of court rulings in Turkey were criticized in the recent past for reducing the sentence of murderers on the grounds that they showed “good conduct” during the trial or because the victim “provoked” them before the crime.”
Over 250,000 irregular migrants held in 2018 in Turkey: Minister (hurriyetdailynews, Dec 10, 2018)
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/over-250-000-irregular-migrants-held-in-2018-in-turkey-minister-139599
“Turkish security forces have held some 251,794 irregular migrants so far this year, the country’s interior minister said on Dec. 10.
Speaking at the Intergovernmental Conference on Global Compact for Migration in Morocco, Süleyman Soylu said: “There is an increase of 56 percent compared to the figures of the first 11 months of last year.”
Turkey also deported some 53,860 people and nabbed 5,522 human smugglers this year, he added.
Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.
Among the migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan, followed by Afghans and Syrians.
During his speech, the interior minister also noted Turkey hosts over 3.6 million Syrians under “temporary protection” status and provides education to 916,074 of them every year.
Turkey has spent more than $32 billion from its own national resources for helping and sheltering refugees since the beginning of the Syrian civil war.”
Nigeria: Amnesty urges ICC to probe conflict atrocities (AA, Dec 10, 2018)
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/nigeria-amnesty-urges-icc-to-probe-conflict-atrocities/1334418
“Amnesty International on Monday said the International Criminal Court (ICC) should launch a probe into atrocities committed by Boko Haram insurgency, accusing Nigerian government of failing to bring perpetrators to justice…”
Merkel hails adoption of UN migration pact (AA, Dec 10, 2018)
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/merkel-hails-adoption-of-un-migration-pact-/1334605
“German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday hailed the adoption of UN migration pact, stressing that it would ensure human rights for all, including refugees and migrants.
“This is a very important day. We agreed for the first time at global level on a comprehensive political compact for migration,” Merkel said at the Intergovernmental Conference on Global Compact for Migration in Marrakech, Morocco.
UN member states adopted a global migration agreement — namely “The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)” in a UN conference on Monday.
She underlined that the pact would be a very good signal for millions of migrants and refugees around the world, ensuring that the “universal human rights apply to each and everyone, in each and every country”.
Merkel also stressed that the pact would strengthen efforts to make migration more orderly and safer around the world, and contribute to the fight against illegal migration.
Many countries participating in the UN conference refused to sign the non-binding charter, notably Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, the U.S., Hungary, Australia and Israel.
The agreement stirred debate in various European countries recently and led to the collapse of coalition government in Belgium.
The UN General Assembly is expected to endorse the agreement on December 19.”
US bars entry of Gambia’s ex-leader Jammeh (AA, Dec 10, 2018)
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-bars-entry-of-gambias-ex-leader-jammeh/1334936
“The U.S. is barring entry of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh for significant corruption, the State Department said Monday.
The agency issued a statement that said Jammeh, along with his wife, daughter and son, are being blacklisted under a law blocking foreign government officials that have been involved in significant corruption or human rights violations from entering the country.
Jammeh ruled the country for 22 years since leading a coup in 1994. He lost a democratic election to Adama Barrowin December 2016.
He refused to step down, however, which prompted a military threat by the African Union and the West African regional body ECOWAS. He fled to Equatorial Guinea in January 2017.
The Barrow government reported that Jammeh stole at least $50 million from the country while in office.
Jammeh, who attended a military training course in Alabama, owns real estate 15 miles from Washington D.C. in Potomac, Maryland.
An estate previously owned by Calbert Cheaney, a former American basketball player, was sold to the Jammeh family trust in 2010 for $3.5 million, according to public records.
“The United States stands with the government of The Gambia, its people, and civil society in support of The Gambia’s transition towards greater transparency, accountability, and democratic governance, for the benefit of all Gambians,” the State Department said.”
Amnesty accuses Italy of repressive management of migration (ansa, Dec 10, 2018)
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2018/12/10/amnesty-accuses-italy-of-repressive-management-of-migration_70922493-823a-4094-9f95-4127d1fc952d.html
“Amnesty International criticised Italy for its treatment of asylum seekers in a report released on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Monday. The report lamented the “erosion of the human rights of asylum seekers” following the approval of the government’s security-and-migration decree.
It also complained about the “xenophobic rhetoric of the political world”.
It said that Premier Giuseppe Conte’s government had “immediately distinguished itself for repressive management of the migratory phenomenon”.
“The authorities have hampered and continue to hamper the landing in Italy of hundreds of people saved at sea, inflicting further suffering on them and undermining the overall functioning on the system of maritime search and rescue,” it said. Interior Minister and Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini, who has spearheaded the government’s tough stance that has seen NGO ships with rescued migrants denied access to Italian ports, said he was not concerned about the report.
“Drug-dealers, mafiosi, delinquents and illegal immigrants do not have asylum in my country,” he said. “My conscience is clean and I’m going to keep going”.”
Opinion: ‘Islamic human rights’ is a false path (DW, Dec 10, 2018)
https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-islamic-human-rights-is-a-false-path/a-46669053
“In other words, it is time to talk about a globalization of justice so that people who violate human rights can be brought to justice even in other countries. Globalization will only be considered a success if we succeed in globalizing the judiciary.”
Brazil is going to withdraw from the Global compact when Bolsonaro takes power on Jan 1st
====================================================
Brasil sairá do Pacto Global pela Imigração da ONU, garante o futuro chanceler Ernesto Araújo
Definitivamente a política externa brasileira caminhará rumo ao retrocesso a partir de 1º de janeiro. Isso não deveria ocorrer, pois o presidente eleito Jair Bolsonaro disse que governaria sem viés ideológico, o que também deveria valer para a diplomacia verde-loura.
Considerando que o Brasil em breve seguirá a cartilha do norte-americano Donald Trump, como se os brasileiros necessitassem dessa sabujice tosca, o futuro chefe do Itamaraty, Ernesto Araújo, disse nesta segunda-feira (10) que o País deixará o Pacto Global pela Imigração da ONU, firmado em Marrakesh por 160 países.
“(O acordo) é um instrumento inadequado para lidar com o problema. A imigração não deve ser tratada como questão global, mas sim de acordo com a realidade e a soberania de cada país”, escreveu Araújo no Twitter.
De acordo com o fanatizado Ernesto Araújo, a imigração “é bem-vinda, mas não pode ser indiscriminada” e deve estar “a serviço dos interesses nacionais e da coesão de cada sociedade”.
As declarações de Ernesto Araújo vão no sentido oposto do que declarou em Marrakesh o chanceler Aloysio Nunes Ferreira Filho, que se contrapôs aos “políticos que querem restringir a imigração e atacam os órgãos multilaterais”.
“A lei brasileira é um desmentido claro àqueles que querem opor a soberania nacional à cooperação internacional”, disse Aloysio Nunes.
Nesta segunda-feira, representantes de 160 países e funcionários do alto escalão da ONU se reuniram em Marrakesh para adotar o Pacto Global pela Imigração. O evento contou com a presença do secretário-geral da ONU, António Guterres, e da chanceler alemã, Angela Merkel, ovacionada após fazer discurso favorável à imigração.
Sem a participação dos Estados Unidos, que decidiram abandonar as negociações em dezembro de 2017, as nações concordaram que é preciso promover a imigração segura para pessoas que saem de seus países por problemas de guerra, por necessidades econômicas ou por razões climáticas.
O pacto tem oposição de políticos que defendem fronteiras mais seguras e argumentam que o acordo favorece o fluxo de imigrantes. “Já havíamos dito que a imigração não é um direito humano. Os países têm o direito de determinar a entrada de estrangeiros”, disse o representante do governo do presidente chileno Sebastián Piñera.
Há uma diferença enorme entre monitorar o fluxo migratório para evitar o ingresso de criminosos transnacionais e fechar os olhos para o movimento de pessoas que fogem da miséria, de regimes totalitaristas, das tragédias promovidas por conflitos bélicos e por desastres naturais.
Os discursos obtusos contra os movimentos migratórios aconteceram no mesmo dia em que a Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos completou 70 anos, ou seja, uma contradição histórica embalada pelo populismo barato que brota do extremismo da direita, que prefere ignorar a realidade global apenas para agradar o próprio eleitorado.
http://ucho.info/2018/12/10/brasil-saira-do-pacto-global-pela-imigracao-da-onu-garante-ernesto-araujo-futuro-chefe-do-itamaraty/
Pentagon Accidentally Refueled Saudi Jets Over Yemen for Free (sputniknews, Dec 11, 2018)
https://sputniknews.com/military/201812111070568812-pentagon-refueled-saudi-jets-Yemen-Free/
“Amid a push by the Senate to vote on ending US support for the Saudi-led coalition waging war in Yemen this week, a new report indicates that American tankers have been refueling Saudi coalition jets with gas paid for by US taxpayers because of “errors in accounting.”
Millions of dollars have likely been drained from US coffers to support the Saudi-campaign, according to the report.
Though Washington “believed” Riyadh and the United Arab Emirates “had been charged for the fuel and refueling services, they in fact had not been charged adequately,” wrote William S. Castle, principal deputy general counsel at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, in a November 27 letter obtained by The Atlantic.
In the letter, one of the Pentagon’s top attorneys acknowledges that free refueling services for the Saudi coalition cost more money than he could calculate. While one might think that someone at the 3 million-person organization that is the Pentagon would know exactly how much the US is owed, Castle said in the letter that the department is “currently calculating the correct charges.” The Pentagon reached its conclusion following an inquiry sent by Senator Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island who sits as the second most powerful member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Tens of millions of dollars is probably a decent estimate of how much US taxpayers have contributed to the Saudi campaign, according to The Atlantic.
A spokesperson from the Pentagon confirmed the letter’s contents and its authenticity to the publication late last week.
“Although DoD has received some reimbursement for inflight refueling assistance provided to the Saudi-led coalition (SLC), US Central Command recently reviewed its records and found errors in accounting where DoD failed to charge the SLC adequately for fuel and refueling services,” said Commander Rebecca Rebarich, speaking to The Atlantic.
A spokesperson for CENTCOM specifically said the command was “still working through the calculation” of how much the Saudi coalition has paid for the refueling services and jet fuel.
In other military finance news, the Pentagon failed its first-ever audit last month, as accountants found myriad discrepancies in the department’s books that may take years to reconcile. “We failed the audit, but we never expected to pass it,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan.”
Egypt Restricts Yellow Vests Sales to Avoid Copycat Protests
CAIRO —
Security officials and retailers say Egyptian authorities have restricted the sale of yellow reflective vests, fearing opponents might attempt to copy French protesters during next month’s anniversary of the 2011 popular uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
They say industrial safety equipment distributors have been instructed not to sell yellow vests to walk-in buyers, only to verified companies and only after securing police permission.
Security officials said restrictions would remain in force until the end of January. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief the media. Requests to the Interior Ministry for comment went unanswered.
The past two years, Egyptian authorities clamped down heavily to prevent any marches to commemorate the Jan. 25 anniversary of the start of the 2011 uprising.
https://www.voanews.com/a/egypt-restricts-yellow-vests-sales-to-avoid-copycat-protests/4694434.html
===================================================
Egypt clamps down on sale of yellow vests in bid to foil protests
Egyptian authorities have restricted the sale of yellow reflective vests over fears “gilets jaunes” protests could break out in the country.
The measure was taken over concerns that political opponents might attempt to copy French protesters during next month’s anniversary of the 2011 popular uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
Thousands of people protesting across French cities, in scenes where violence frequently broke out, have earned themselves the title “yellow vest” movement over their choice of attire.
Egyptian authorities say industrial safety equipment distributors have been instructed not to sell yellow vests to walk-in buyers, only to verified companies and only after securing police permission.
Security officials said restrictions would remain in force until the end of January.
Requests to the Interior Ministry for comment went unanswered.
The past two years, Egyptian authorities clamped down heavily to prevent any marches to commemorate the January 25 anniversary of the start of the 2011 uprising.
https://www.itv.com/news/2018-12-10/egypt-clamps-down-on-sale-of-yellow-vests-in-bid-to-foil-protests/
CBC News – Canada adopts UN migration pact
Canada was one of more than 160 countries that adopted the UN compact on global migration that is aimed at addressing growing levels of migration.
+ comments on the YT page
Notes from NorseRadish
Is Paris Learning?
Were I a Parisian Gendarme, worries might start for my loved ones and the high probability—should such festivities continue beyond Christmas—of eventually being injured (or worse) on the job, or even hurt at home after inevitably being doxed.
The public’s displeasure with life-changing decisions being taken by a former investment banker—who will never share an ounce of the hardships he’s inflicting on those living in reduced circumstances—could not be more crystal clear.
Tragically, there remains justifiable doubt—were a snap election held next week—that Marine Le Pen would be the people’s choice to lead them. European (much like American) voters seem to suffer from terminal partisan loyalty. A direct result is that too many Europeans have been brainwashed to believe in Big Government™ (i.e., Socialism), and its near-constant companion, the Nanny State™.
This inviting opportunity for people to hold government responsible for everything just as readily becomes a nightmare when, as in France, Germany, the UK or Sweden, overly centralized (bordering on Command) economies spur counterproductive competition between indigenous citizens and newly arrived immigrant populations.
When thoroughly implemented, the Nanny State™ extracts, not just personal will (i.e., spine) but personal responsibility. As in: “It’s all the government’s fault!” … And never that of voters who, time and again, keep on electing then reelecting Europe’s well-heeled den of thieves.
Most worrisome is how little understood the brittleness of such misplaced loyalties can be. Much like hydro-dam failures, rarely do their structural breakdowns involve a gradual or controllable process. Instead, catastrophic outcomes are more often the case.
So it is with Europe. When that continent’s Great Unwashed finally rub the political sleep out of their somnolent eyes, overnight partisan conversions and the increasing likelihood of vigilantism both begin to take on an ominous cast.
There’s little doubt that politicians, along with their pet (i.e., protected species) “immigrants”, will studiously ignore any and all warning signs. Instead, we see them teaming up to legislate-out-of-existence whatever already slender opposition the government—acting in concert with academia, ISPs, and mass media—failed to adequately brainwash.
This weaponizing of the judiciary, especially when it encourages selective enforcement, undercuts Rule of Law with a speed that would make most cheetahs blush. Once these important cornerstones of civilization are even partially dislodged from their proper places, the entire societal structure becomes unstable (at best).
Antifa typifies what to expect if their own brand of instability and chaos is allowed to spread. Their infiltration of Gilets Jaunes was heartrending. Here’s hoping that French nationalists are learning how even the least measure of support from, or involvement with, Antifa and other Anarchist groups is a draft of pure poison.