April 22, 2017

Netanyahu: If Palestinians want peace, ‘prove it’ by halting payments to terrorists
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that if the Palestinians truly desire peace with Israel, they must first “come clean” and put an end to “rewarding terrorism.” During a interview with Fox News television host Sean Hannity, Netanyahu claimed that the Palestinian Authority, lead by Mahmoud Abbas, has spent much of the financial aid they receive on paying terrorist and their families at the expense of the American tax-payer.
Russia complains to US over exclusion from Syria chemical probe
Russia has told the United States it regrets Washington’s opposition to letting its inspectors take part in an investigation into a chemical weapons attack in Syria earlier this month, the foreign ministry said on Friday. It said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the two sides agreed to consider one more time an “objective investigation into the incident” under the aegis of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
IDF strikes targets in Syria after projectile fire lands in Israel’s Golan
The IDF struck sources in Syria from where errant fire emanated and hit open areas on the northern Golan Heights on Friday afternoon, the military confirmed. Two rockets landed in open territory on the Golan Heights Friday afternoon. No damage or injuries were reported. According to initial estimates, the projectiles were thought to have been errant fire from fighting in the civil war across the border in Syria.
Afghan casualties in Taliban Mazar-e Sharif attack pass 100
More than 100 Afghan soldiers were killed or wounded in a Taliban attack on an army base on Friday, the defence ministry has confirmed. Fighting lasted for several hours near the city of Mazar-e Sharif in northern Balkh province. Insurgents targeted those leaving Friday prayers at the base’s mosque and others in a canteen, the army said.
US to honour ‘dumb’ Australia migrant deal
The United States has confirmed it will be going through with a migrant resettlement plan made with Australia. US President Donald Trump once called the deal, which was agreed under his predecessor, “dumb”. The agreement allows for up to 1,250 asylum seekers to Australia to resettle in the US.
German riot police deployed for AfD Cologne conference
Thousands of police officers are being deployed in Cologne, Germany, in case of violence at left-wing protests against an Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) party conference there. The AfD, a populist right-wing and anti-Islam party, will seek to choose a new co-leader to take it up to a general election later this year. Demonstrators on Saturday carried banners saying “Block the Nazis”.
Communist Party membership numbers climbing in the Trump era
The Communist Party USA (CPUSA) has been receiving membership requests ever since Donald Trump was elected President…Since its establishment, the CPUSA has lived through the inter-war period and Cold War repression, which practically forced the organization underground. Of the country’s 300 million inhabitants, the organization currently has some 5,000 members nationwide.
US naval armada to be in Sea of Japan in days
The US supercarrier Carl Vinson will arrive in the Sea of Japan in days, Vice President Mike Pence said in Australia Saturday amid high tensions with North Korea. The Trump administration has been trying to clear the waters after sending out confusing messages concerning the whereabouts of the Vinson carrier group that supposedly was steaming toward North Korea last week.
Netanyahu: Palestinians need to stop paying terrorists
In an interview with Fox News, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed peace prospects with the Palestinians, saying, “I think the first test of peace is to say to them, ‘Hey, you want peace? Prove it. Confront terrorism, stop rewarding terrorism, stop paying terrorists.” The interview with Netanyahu was conducted by host Sean Hannity, who accompanied US Secretary of Defense James Mattis on his visit to Israel.
Trump orders review of financial rules to prevent future crises
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Treasury Department on Friday to examine two powers given to regulators to police large financial companies following the 2008 financial crisis, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. In his first visit to the Treasury building, Trump signed two memos that analysts view as largely affirming existing priorities he has outlined.
Dutch ‘abortion boat’ arrives off Mexico
A Dutch sailing boat offering abortions, often in defiance of some country’s laws, arrived in international waters off Mexico, the organization crewing it said. The “Women on Waves” vessel was expelled from near Guatemala in February without carrying out a single pregnancy termination.
Russian Planes Buzz Alaska Four Nights in a Row
American and Canadian fighter planes scrambled to intercept two Russian TU-95 “Bear” bombers Thursday night, marking the fourth consecutive night of Russian probes near the Alaskan coast, U.S. defense officials said Friday.
US forces kill ISIS leader’s crony
A crony of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who was tied to the deadly New Year’s nightclub bombing in Turkey was killed by US forces in Syria, the US Central Command announced Friday.
Trump Administration Begins Quiet Preparations For Government Shutdown
“Until this week, shutdown threat seemed very low as Congressional GOP leadership, appropriators hammered out spending agreements, were on same page as Democrats. That went sideways when White House pushed more confrontational approach on ObamaCare, immigration.”
Satellite Images Suggest North Korea May Have Resumed Nuclear Test Preparations
Satellite images of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 19 indicate that North Korea may have resumed preparations for a possible imm
Marine Le Pen gets poll boost after Paris attack as Donald Trump says her chances of victory have improved
Donald Trump has said the Paris terrorist attack would boost Marine Le Pen’s presidential chances after a last-minute poll gave her a modest increase in support.
Iran Wants to Import Tons of Uranium. Opponents of the Nuclear Deal Want the Trump Administration to Say No.
The Trump administration is facing pressure to definitively rule out a longstanding request by Iran to import 950 tons of natural uranium, according to government sources and proliferation experts who spoke to THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Tehran has signaled it will petition again for the yellowcake next week at a quarterly meeting in Vienna regarding implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal.
The enigma of Assad: How a painfully shy eye doctor turned into a murderous tyrant
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad never seemed cut out to be a dictator. As a young man, Assad—the second son of strongman president Hafez al-Assad—was so painfully shy that in conversation, “he wouldn’t look in your eye…he covered his mouth with his hands when he talked, and spoke in a low voice,” says Ayman Abdel Nour, a university friend.

April 21, 2017

Greater power, less restraint: Turkey’s new constitution lets Erdoğan call the shots
Among other changes, the referendum approved by Turkish citizens on Sunday grants President Erdoğan the power to elect senior members in his administration and the Supreme Court, do away with the prime ministership and allow him to remain in power until 2029.
Elon Musk on mission to link human brains with computers in four years: report
“If I were to communicate a concept to you, you would essentially engage in consensual telepathy,” Musk said in the interview published on Thursday. bit.ly/2oWJcMw
Trump to order U.S. Treasury to delve into taxes, post-crisis reforms
Mnuchin said earlier on Thursday that Treasury is working on tax reform “day and night” and will soon create a sweeping overhaul.
EU executive to meet Soros amid spat with Hungary over university
The head of the European Union’s executive arm will meet US financier George Soros next Thursday, a spokeswoman said, as part of consultations on a new Hungarian law that has threatened to force the closure of a university he funds. Frans Timmermans and two other commissioners will also meet Soros next week, after Brussels already threatened Hungary with legal action over rights issues and the Soros school.
What is Hezbollah planning for the Third Lebanon War?
In Military Intelligence they call it “Fire-by-Six,” a reference to the dramatic transformation of Hezbollah’s rocket and missile arsenal in the 10 years that have passed since the Second Lebanon War.
POTENT CORONAL HOLE TURNS TOWARD EARTH
A large hole in the sun’s atmosphere is turning toward Earth, and it is spewing a stream of fast-moving solar wind toward our planet.
Liberman: Crucial to place more pressure and sanctions on Iran
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman warmly welcomed his US Counterpart James Mattis on Friday as the first Cabinet Secretary of the Trump administration to visit Israel saying that he hopes to see more sanctions placed on Iran. “There is no doubt that main problem for us and around the world is the axis of evil from North Korea to Tehran to Damascus to Hezbollah in Beirut. No doubt that the main link in this chain is Iran which is trying to undermine stability in all the Middle East, in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and of course against Israel through their proxies.”
PM Netanyahu to warn US Defense Secretary Mattis against Iran base in Syria
Israel’s concern about Iran establishing a permanent base in Syria the day after the civil war there ends will feature prominently when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US Defense Secretary James Mattis on Friday, senior diplomatic officials said on Thursday. Netanyahu is expected to meet with Mattis, who arrived in Israel on Thursday for his first visit as defense secretary, at his Jerusalem office following the latter’s meeting earlier in the day with Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman in Tel Aviv.
Gen. Allen: Syria gassing Israel would be ‘virtually a regime suicide’
The US response to a scenario in which the Syrian regime was “gassing Israelis would result in a situation that he [Bashar Assad] could not even imagine,” and be “virtually regime suicide,” Marine Corps Gen. (ret.) John R. Allen told The Jerusalem Post. Allen, one of the US’s leading voices on security issues, spoke to the Post last week and on Thursday, and discussed whether recent events made a Syrian chemical weapons strike on Israel more or less likely.
Israel-Sinai border crossing re-opens, terror threat remains in place
The Taba border crossing between Israel and Egypt’s Sinai will re-open to Israelis that would like to travel to Egypt’s Sinai, Ofir Gendelman, the Prime Minister’s Arab media spokesman, announced Friday morning. Gendelman also stated that the terror threat remains and Israelis currently vacationing in the area should return.
Colombia landslide kills at least 17 in Manizales
Landslides caused by heavy rain have killed at least 17 people in the city of Manizales, in central Colombia, officials say. The search continues for at least seven others who are missing, they add. Mud and rocks have destroyed several precarious houses built on steep hills. Running water, electricity and gas services have been suspended.
Iran election: Ahmadinejad barred from running
Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been barred from standing in next month’s election by a government-controlled vetting body, state media report. Mr Ahmadinejad, a vocal critic of the West, served two terms as president between 2005 and 2013. President Hassan Rouhani and leading hardliner Ebrahim Raisi have both been approved by the Guardian Council.
Elon Musk Lays Out Plans to Meld Brains and Computers
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Thursday confirmed plans for his newest company, called Neuralink Corp., revealing he will be the chief executive of a startup that aims to merge computers with brains so humans could one day engage in “consensual telepathy.”…Mr. Musk confirmed…that Neuralink aims to implant tiny brain electrodes that first would be used to fight brain conditions but later help humanity avoid subjugation at the hands of intelligent machines.
U.S. Preparing Charges To Arrest Julian Assange
In a stunning new report, CNN has just revealed that, according to anonymous sources at least, that US authorities have prepared charges and will seek the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for intelligence leaks dating all the way back to 2010.
PARIS SHOOTING Paris shooting leaves one policeman dead and ‘two seriously injured’ as ‘ISIS terrorists armed with AK47s’ open fire on the Champs-Élysée in Paris
A POLICEMAN has died and two are seriously injured after at least one gunman opened fire “with an AK47” in central Paris this evening.
California Issues $1.25BN In Bonds For ‘Bullet Train’ Despite Trump Threat To Withhold Federal Funds
“California can well afford it, and it will make our state a much better place.  I know we’re going up against a very red tide here of opposition. This thing is a long-term project, and one way or another we’re going to get it.”
Nursing Home Owner Pleads Guilty To Spending Medicaid Funds On Strippers, Casinos, Pet Care
Johnnie Mac Sells, 52, the owner of a suburban St. Louis nursing home where 60 residents had to be rescued after food ran out and trash piled up, has pleaded guilty to federal charges for stealing $667,000 from Medicaid and spending it on strippers, gambling and other things.
Missing Tenn. student Elizabeth Thomas found, former teacher Tad Cummins arrested in California
Former Tennessee teacher Tad Cummins, who is accused of kidnapping his 15-year-old student, was arrested in northern California Thursday after more than a month on the run, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
MSNBC terrorism analyst nominates Trump property for ‘ISIS suicide bombing’
MSNBC terrorism analyst Malcolm Nance has deleted a tweet that appeared to call for a terrorist attack against Trump Towers in Istanbul. “This is my nominee for the first ISIS suicide bombing of a Trump property,” the former intelligence officer tweeted Tuesday afternoon, according to a screenshot circulated online and highlighted by the Washington Free Beacon.
Caracas on Knife-Edge as Maduro Protesters Erect Barricades
Caracas faced another tense day after massive protests against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with barricades of trash and debris in the streets, shuttered businesses and sporadic blossoms of tear gas.

April 20, 2017

Lois Lerner: Public Can Never Know What I Did
Embattled ex-IRS executive Lois Lerner was in federal court last week, asking a judge to seal her forthcoming deposition due to the inflammatory nature of her testimony.  Lerner told the judge that if her actions at the IRS were to become public knowledge, she could face death threats from angry Americans – particularly those on the conservative side of the spectrum.
Has Trump found religion in the Oval Office?
He’s also taken other steps to further cultivate a Christian right that helped elect him, granting new levels of access to Christian media and pushing socially conservative positions that don’t appear to come naturally to him.
Trump to Host Abbas May 3 at White House, Seeks ‘Conflict-Ending’ Deal
“They will use the visit to reaffirm the commitment of both the United States and Palestinian leadership to pursuing and ultimately concluding a conflict-ending settlement between the Palestinians and Israel,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Wednesday
Vice President Mike Pence Warns North Korea By Telling Them ‘The Sword Stands Ready’
Vice President Mike Pence warned North Korea not to test the resolve of the US military on Wednesday, promising it would give an ‘overwhelming and effective’ response to any use of conventional or nuclear weapons.
U.S. Green Party goes all in for Islam
The U.S. Green Party has put out a briefing paper for party activists instructing them to work with the Council on American-Islamic Relations and other Islamists in fighting “Islamophobia” and “oppression in all its forms.” The fact that Islam is a religion/political ideology and not a race seems not to stand in the way of the Green Party’s burgeoning alliance with Islam, says Robert Spencer, author of the Jihad Watch blog and several best-selling books about Islam.
Egypt army says kills 19 Islamic extremists in north Sinai
The Egyptian military says its air force has killed 19 Islamic extremists in the volatile Sinai Peninsula. It says in a statement Thursday that the strikes in northern and central Sinai on “terrorist strongholds” of the local ISIS affiliate also destroyed four vehicles.
Tillerson: An ‘unchecked Iran’ could follow same path as North Korea
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday accused Iran of “alarming ongoing provocations” to destabilize countries in the Middle East and of undermining US interests in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. “An unchecked Iran has the potential to travel the same path as North Korea and to take the world along with it,” Tillerson told reporters a day after announcing a review of US policy towards Iran, including sanctions against Tehran.
Abbas: I am ready to meet Netanyahu any time under patronage of Trump
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday made several significant statements in favor of a dialogue with Israel and a hastening of the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in an official interview with Japanese newspaper Ashai Shimbun. “I am ready to meet the prime minister of Israel any time in Washington under the patronage of President Trump,” Abbas declared.
‘With Syria in pieces, it’s time to recognize Israel’s annexation of the Golan’
Michael Oren says it is time for the world to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel. In contrast to negotiations with the Palestinians, there is no Syria to negotiate with, Deputy Minister for Diplomacy in the Prime Minister’s Office Oren said on Tuesday. “Without Israel there [in the Golan], the region would be jeopardized. ISIS would be on the Kinneret,” he said, adding that other states in the region are glad Israel is on the Golan.
Australia unveils major changes to citizenship process
Australia will make it more difficult to gain citizenship in a major overhaul of its migration process. Aspiring citizens will undergo tougher tests on their English language skills and ability to demonstrate “Australian values”, PM Malcolm Turnbull said. Applicants must also have completed four years as a permanent resident – three years longer than at present.
Venezuela crisis: Three killed at anti-government protests
At least three people have been killed in Venezuela in protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro. A teenager in the capital Caracas and a woman in San Cristobal, near the Colombian border, were shot dead. A national guardsman was killed south of the capital. Tens of thousands of people rallied to demand new presidential elections and the release of jailed opposition politicians.
Credit card with a fingerprint sensor revealed by Mastercard
A payment card featuring a fingerprint sensor has been unveiled by credit card provider Mastercard. The rollout follows two successful trials in South Africa. The technology works in the same way as it does with mobile phone payments: users must have their finger over the sensor when making a purchase. Security experts have said that while using fingerprints is not foolproof, it is a “sensible” use of biometric technology.
Facebook team working on brain-powered technology
Facebook says it is working on technology to allow us to control computers directly with our brains. It is developing “silent speech” software to allow people to type at a rate of 100 words per minute, it says. The project, in its early stages, will require new technology to detect brainwaves without needing invasive surgery.
CIA, FBI launch manhunt for leaker who gave top-secret documents to WikiLeaks
CBS News has learned that a manhunt is underway for a traitor inside the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA and FBI are conducting a joint investigation into one of the worst security breaches in CIA history, which exposed thousands of top-secret documents that described CIA tools used to penetrate smartphones, smart televisions and computer systems.
Russian bombers again fly near Alaska
For the second consecutive night, Russia flew two long-range bombers off the coast of Alaska on Tuesday, this time coming within 36 miles of the mainland while flying north of the Aleutian Islands, two U.S. officials told Fox News. The two nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers were spotted by U.S. military radar at 5 p.m. local time. Unlike a similar incident Monday night, this time the U.S. Air Force did not scramble any fighter jets.
Gaza sisters smuggled explosives labeled medicine
Explosive materials used to manufacture explosive devices were found in the belongings of two sisters who entered Israel from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday for the purpose of receiving cancer treatment. According to the Shin Bet, the materials were concealed inside medical supply tubes and identified by the security guards of the Crossings Authority at the Erez Crossing.
North Korea warns of ‘super-mighty preemptive strike’ as U.S. plans next move
North Korean state media warned the United States of a “super-mighty preemptive strike” after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States was looking at ways to bring pressure to bear on North Korea over its nuclear programme. U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a hard line with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has rebuffed admonitions from sole major ally China and proceeded with nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions.
May to make election pledge to end EU free movement of people into UK
Prime Minister Theresa May will make a formal pledge ahead of the June 8 election to end European Union free movement of people into Britain, the Daily Mail newspaper reported, citing unidentified party sources. May will also include pledges in her election manifesto to pull out of both the EU single market and European Court of Justice, the newspaper said.
DHS: Almost as Many Americans Died of Drug Overdoses in 2015 as in ’12 Years in Vietnam’
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly has largely blamed Latin American drug cartels for the unprecedented 52,000-plus drug overdose deaths in America during 2015 alone, the latest year for which data is available.
Miracle? This time, the lions save the Christians
The chief of a Christian ministry that works underground because of its outreach into Muslim-dominant communities in the Middle East is reporting a startling claim – his rescue from Islamic “militants” by a pride of lions.
Census: More Americans 18-to-34 Now Live With Parents Than With Spouse
Four decades ago, in the mid-1970s, young American adults–in the 18-to-34 age bracket–were far more likely to be married and living with a spouse than living in their parents’ home.
Europe Opens First Concentration Camp Since Hitler, Guess Who This One is for
Chechnya, a region which is located under Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rule but controlled by Muslims, has opened up the very first concentration camp since Adolf Hitler. The detention center is for housing homosexuals.
School-issued computers spy on children in US without parental consent
School-issued computer devices – provided to one-third of school children across the US – collect excessive amounts of highly sensitive personal data on the students without parental consent or even prior notice, a new study finds.
What A War With North Korea Would Probably Look Like
So, if war with North Korea is inevitable given the circumstances, what would such a war look like? Here are some elements I think are most important; elements that make the war almost unwinnable, if winning is even the purpose…

April 19, 2017

MUTANT WASPS: New strain of RED-EYED insects created by scientists
Enter the relatively new CRISPR technology, which allows scientists to inject components such as RNA and proteins into an organism with instructions to find, cut and mutate a specific piece of DNA. Then researchers can see how disrupting that DNA affects the organism.
Media vs. reality on Trump’s first 100 days
The president isn’t the only one who disagrees with the major media’s assessment of his administration’s performance to date. A dissenting opinion was offered by author, screenwriter and political analyst Michael Walsh in a Saturday commentary he penned in the New York Post headlined “Trump’s first 100 days have been better than you think.” The article listed areas where Walsh maintained the Trump administration has already made a number of accomplishments or significant progress.
Philippine leader may launch ‘invasion’ of Abu Sayyaf’s island lair
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned on Wednesday he might “invade” an island stronghold of the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf to “finish the game” following a thwarted attempt by the group to kidnap tourists on a resort island last week. “All army, navy, will go there. It will be a fight. That’s what they want, I will give it.”
New York State to establish hate crimes task force
The task force, which will identify and investigate hate crimes and discriminatory practices, will be established using $1 million set aside in the new state budget passed earlier this month, The Associated Press reported Tuesday. It will be made up of members of the New York State Police, who will work with the state Division of Human Rights, prosecutors and local school and law enforcement officials
ASTEROID FLYBY TODAY
Approaching from the direction of the sun, mountain-sized asteroid 2015 JO25 is flying past Earth today, April 19th, approximately 1.8 million km away. NASA says there is no danger of a collision. This unusually bright space rock is about twice as reflective as the Moon. Amateur astronomers may be able to see it in backyard telescopes as a magnitude 11 speck of light during and after the flyby.
Russian envoy, Foreign Ministry to discuss recognition of J’lem as capital
Russia’s Ambassador to Israel Alexander Shein is expected to meet in the coming days with senior Foreign Ministry officials to discuss the significance of its surprise announcement earlier this month to recognize west Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state. Shein is expected to tell his interlocutors that Moscow now recognizes west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and that it expects that east Jerusalem will be the capital of a Palestinian state in any future agreement.
Venezuela slams nations for ‘meddling’ over protest call
Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez has criticised as “rude meddling” a joint communique by 11 Latin American countries calling on Venezuela’s government to “guarantee the right to peaceful protest”. The 11 countries also condemned the death of six people in anti-government marches this month. The opposition is planning a mass protest for Wednesday.
Syria war: Evacuations resume after deadly bombing
Evacuations from two government-held areas of Syria have resumed, monitors and reports say, days after an attack on a convoy carrying evacuees killed 126 people, many of them children. Some 3,000 people have left the north-western villages of Foah and Kefraya, which have been surrounded by rebels.
FBI Investigating Radical Terrorists in All 50 States as Threats Hit Peak
Federal authorities have open investigations into radical Islamic terrorists in all 50 states, according to the Department of Homeland Security, which is warning that the threat of terrorism in the United States has reached an all time high with radicalized individuals in the country plotting to strike “each and every single day.” The FBI has “open terrorist investigations in all 50 states,” according to DHS Secretary John Kelly…
Russia claims it can wipe out entire US Navy with a single ‘electronic bomb’
RUSSIA has claimed it can disable the entire US Navy in one fell swoop using powerful electronic signal jamming. A news report from the country – where the media is essentially controlled by the state – said the technology could render planes, ships and missiles useless. The newsreader says: “Today, our Russian Electronic Warfare (REW) troops can detect and neutralise any target from a ship’s system and a radar, to a satellite.”
French police find bombs, make arrests over ‘planned presidential election attack’
French police say they have foiled an imminent attack leading up to the presidential election, with the arrest of two men in Marseille on Tuesday. Explosives and multiple weapons were found at the suspects’ flat in the southern port city. The two Frenchmen, one born in 1987 and the other in 1993, had met while sharing a prison cell and were known to police as having converted to radical Islam, Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said at a press conference.
U.S. top court to hear key religious rights case involving Missouri church
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a closely watched dispute over supplying taxpayer money to religious entities in which a church accuses Missouri of violating its religious rights by denying it state funds for a playground project. The case, which examines the limits of religious freedom under the U.S. Constitution, is one of the most important before the court in its current term.
China’s Xi restructures military, consolidates control
Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced a military restructure of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to transform it into a leaner fighting force with improved joint operations capability, state media said. Centered around a new, condensed structure of 84 military units, the reshuffle builds on Xi’s years-long efforts to modernize the PLA with greater emphasis on new capabilities including cyberspace, electronic and information warfare.
Latest ISIS recruit video shows young school-aged boy participating in execution
Islamic State has released a new graphic and disturbing propaganda video, featuring a boy who appears to be about 6 or 7 years old and participating in a double beheading, believed to take place in Raqqa, Syria. In the video, the young boy can be seen wearing camouflaged clothing and a black headscarf as he speaks directly to the camera while he holds two large knives, which he eventually hands off to two Islamic State executioners who each go on to behead a prisoner.
Three People Killed In Fresno Shooting Spree; Shooter Screamed “Allahu Akbar”, Hated “White People”
Three people were killed after a man went on a shooting spree Tuesday in central Fresno, randomly shooting at four white men, killing three, before he was arrested. The 39-year-old suspect, identified as Kori Ali Muhammad, shouted “Allahu Akbar” as police tackled him to the ground after the shootings which were spread over four locations.
Las Vegas, hoping to stem HIV and hepatitis, to get needle vending machines
Las Vegas is preparing to be the first city in the nation with vending machines dispensing clean needles in an effort to help combat the spread of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, while also possibly leading some drug users into treatment.
Pentagon Considers Shooting Down North Korea Missile Tests
Just when a few hours had passed without any escalation around the Korean Peninsula, The Guardian reports that the US military is considering shooting down North Korean missile tests as a show of strength to Pyongyang according to two sources briefed on the plans.
US Fighter Jets Intercept Two Russian Tactical Bombers 100 Miles Away From Alaska
The U.S. Air Force scrambled two F-22 stealth fighters on Monday night to intercept a pair of Russian nuclear-capable bombers which came as close as 100 miles from Alaska’s Kodiak Island, Fox reports. This was the first time since President Trump took office that Moscow has sent bombers so close to the U.S.
6 times the world was on the edge of nuclear war
As tensions between North Korean and the US heighten fears of a nuclear war, here are the times the world has come perilously close to annihilation only to be saved by smart diplomacy, incompetence or good luck.
New Bill O’Reilly Accuser Says He Called Her “Hot Chocolate” and Leered
Another woman is telling Fox News her story of harassment at the hands of O’Reilly, according to attorney Lisa Bloom.
Conservative Conference Threatened By Heavily-Armed Muslim Man
A conference held on April 9 on Christian and conservative issues in Sioux Falls, South Dakota was threatened by a Muslim man carrying multiple firearms. He attended the conference and posted numerous videos on his Facebook page, including a display of the multiple assault-style rifles, pistols and ammunition he was carrying on his person and in his van.

April 18, 2017

North Korea Is Refusing Communications With China.
This is an interesting development and not a good one. It seems North Korea will not accept China’s offer of a meeting. It sounds like Lil’ Kim is isolating his Country from his closest friend and supporter. China is becoming very troubled over this. I am very troubled over this, as it insinuates a turn for the worse in Kim’s mood and trust in his ally.
SPOTTED: Putin ‘moves military forces’ to North Korea border as world prepares for WAR
Russia has reportedly moved military vehicles towards the city, which is within striking distance of North Korea. The dramatic move, unconfirmed by the Russian government, was spotted by residents in the border city and posted on social media.
Earthquake ROCKS major cities across Pakistan
A HUGE earthquake struck cities across Pakistan in the early hours of Tuesday morning
Panicked residents came out of their homes and started reciting verses from the Quran, according to Dunya News, after the 5.5 magnitude quake struck just after 3am local time (22.03 GMT).
New CRISPR-based diagnostic platform unveiled
A team of scientists has adapted a CRISPR protein that targets RNA (rather than DNA) as a rapid, inexpensive, highly sensitive diagnostic tool with the potential for a transformative effect on research and global public health.
Trump to seek changes in visa program to encourage hiring Americans
Two senior Trump administration officials who briefed reporters at the White House said Trump will also use the “buy American and hire American” order to seek changes in government procurement practices to increase the purchase of American products in federal contracts. Trump is to sign the order when he visits the world headquarters of Snap-On Inc, a tool manufacturer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The Jewish pyramid of Adullam
Archeologist Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat of Hebrew University is studying the pyramid and describes the structure’s size as rare and monumental. “The length of the base sides of the pyramid are 10 meters and the height is about 3 meters,” said Dr. Peleg-Barkat. “The pyramid was built near a Jewish settlement from the time of the Second Temple and there is a high probability that it is a Jewish cemetery.” While ancient peoples all over the world have built pyramids, what is the connection to Jews?
Fact Checking Obama’s Phony Legacy
These are not complicated lies, and not based in nuance. The Obama administration misled the American people, and Bashar Assad’s apparent recent sarin gas attack has made this impossible to ignore. Arguably, the Post is not willingly covering Obama’s tarnished legacy. Rather, it has been backed into a corner by world events.
US-led air strikes in Syria kill at least 20 civilians
A war monitor said air strikes, thought to be by planes from a US-led military coalition, killed at least 23 people in two parts of the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zor on Monday. There was no immediate comment from the coalition which has said it tries to avoid civilian deaths in its bombing campaigns against Islamic State militants in Syria and neighboring Iraq.
Hamas blames Abbas for Gaza power plant shutdown
Hamas appealed to Ramallah on Monday to lift an onerous fuel tax which it said would force the Gaza power plant to shut down on Tuesday for the third day in a row. Lack of funds has left the Strip’s two million residents with only four to six hours of electricity per day, according to the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company.
North Korea ‘will test missiles weekly’, senior official tells BBC
North Korea will continue to test missiles, a senior official has told the BBC in Pyongyang, despite international condemnation and growing military tensions with the US. “We’ll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis,” Vice-Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC’s John Sudworth. He said that an “all-out war” would result if the US took military action.
Australia to introduce stricter rules on working visas
Australia will introduce stricter visa requirements for skilled workers from overseas, the government said. The 457 visa programme is used mainly to hire foreign workers in the restaurant, IT and medical industries – the majority came from India, the UK and China. But PM Malcolm Turnbull said it will be abolished to prioritise the recruitment of Australian nationals.
May to seek snap election for 8 June
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to call a snap general election on 8 June. She said Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership following the EU referendum. Explaining the decision, Mrs May said: “The country is coming together but Westminster is not.” There will be a Commons vote on the proposed election on Wednesday – she will need Parliament’s backing to hold a vote before 2020.
US Deploys Two More Aircraft Carriers Toward Korean Peninsula
According to a report by South Korea’s primary news outlet, Yonhap, the Pentagon has directed a total of three US aircraft carriers toward the Korean Peninsula, citing a South Korean government source. Yonhap reports that in addition to the CVN-70 Carl Vinson…the CVN-76 Ronald Reagan…and the CVN-68 Nimitz carrier group…will enter the Sea of Japan next week. According to the senior government official. the US and South Korea are discussing joint drills, which will include the three aircraft carriers and other ships.
Former FEC Chairwoman Calls for ‘Regulations’ of Political Speech on the Internet
The former Federal Election Commission chairwoman Ann M. Ravel says that political speech must be controlled on social media. She presented her remarks in a speech at UC Berkeley, calling for regulations against “fake news.” Speaking at an event called “Future of Democracy,” Ravel argued the proliferation of “fake news” and political advertising on platforms like Facebook influenced elections. She warned that the lack of disclosure by the creators of these campaigns was becoming a huge problem.
Pence reassures Japan of U.S. resolve on North Korea, to work with China
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence reassured Japan of American commitment to reining in North Korea’s nuclear and missile ambitions on Tuesday, after warning that U.S. strikes in Syria and Afghanistan showed the strength of its resolve. Pence arrived in Tokyo from South Korea, where he assured leaders of an “iron-clad” alliance with the United States in the face of the reclusive North, which has conducted a series of missile and nuclear tests in defiance of U.N. sanctions.
Trump to seek changes in visa program to encourage hiring Americans
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday will sign an executive order directing federal agencies to recommend changes to a temporary visa program used to bring foreign workers to the United States to fill high-skilled jobs. Two senior Trump administration officials who briefed reporters at the White House said Trump will also use the “buy American and hire American” order to seek changes in government procurement practices to increase the purchase of American products in federal contracts.
Stockman: The Trump Reflation Fantasy Ends On Day 100
“In honor of the Donald’s “Mother of All Bomb” (MOAB) attack on the Hindu Kush mountains Thursday, let me introduce MOAD. I’m referring to the “Mother of All Debt” crises, of course… The opening round is coming when Washington goes into shutdown mode on April 28, which happens to be Day 100 of the Donald’s reign.”
North Korea will carry out ‘more missile tests’ on a weekly basis official tells BBC
A senior North Korean official has stated that his country will continue to test missiles in spite of worldwide condemnation. “We’ll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis,” Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-Ryol told the BBC’s John Sudworth in Pyongyang.
Hawaii Lawmakers Push To Re-Open Fallout Shelters Amid Nuclear War Fears
Hawaii lawmakers want state officials to update plans for coping with a nuclear attack as North Korea develops nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles that can reach the islands.
Despite What They Say, GM’s Inventory Build Is Anything But ‘Normal’
GM says its inventory glut isn’t a sign of the auto industry’s impending implosion but rather a modest build up ahead of planned factory shut downs and retooling efforts later this summer…these facts would seem to paint a slightly different picture.
North Korea accuses US of creating situation for nuclear war
North Korea’s deputy U.N. ambassador accused the United States on Monday of turning the Korean Peninsula into “the world’s biggest hotspot” and creating “a dangerous situation in which a thermonuclear war may break out at any moment.”
Mary Poppins star Dick Van Dyke slams modern screen violence
Dick Van Dyke, who is currently filming Mary Poppins Returns, which is scheduled for release next year, has warned of his fears over the effects of “scary” video games and films on young children.

April 17, 2017

EU rebellion as members create ALLIANCE OF FORCE to STOP Brussels punishing UK
The three nations are reportedly due to discuss how they can ensure the upcoming Brexit talks progress smoothly and how to avoid the EU divorce payment causing delays to any future trade deal between the bloc and the UK.
‘Our military is BUILDING’ Trump says he has ‘NO CHOICE’ but to build up army in WW3 hint
Following North Korea’s failed missile launch over the weekend Mr Trump took to Twitter and hinted that the US is readying themselves for a possible strike against Kim Jong-un. He tweeted: “Our military is building and is rapidly becoming stronger than ever before. Frankly we have no choice.”
Despite Assad Denial, Top Expert Claims Syria Retains “Hundreds of Tons of Chemical Weapons”
“They [the regime] admitted only to 1,300 tons, but we knew in reality they had nearly double that,” said former Syrian Brigadier General Zaher al-Sakat to The Telegraph on Friday. “They had at least 2,000 tons. At least.”
Chicago Rings In Easter With 34 People Shot
Twenty-three were shot during just a seven hour period between Saturday night and early Sunday morning, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
PA Politician: There Are Settlers in the White House
Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, said on Saturday night that the White House is now dominated by right-wing pro-Israelis. It should be noted that she intended this to be a negative comment on the new administration
North Korean missile launch possibly sabotaged
Missile launches have failed before – and not just in North Korea. But worth noting are the comments by US officials before and after the North Korean missile detonated: “We had good intelligence before the launch and good intelligence after the launch,” was one. The US Pacific Command said it had detected and tracked what it assessed to be a North Korean ballistic missile launch. Another US official remarked: “It’s a failed test. It followed another failed test. We don’t need to expend any resources against that.”
Unprecedented Verbal Attack between Palestinian Authority, Hamas
An unprecedented verbal attack has broken out between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas on the eve of a planned meeting between the two sides in Gaza in order to put an end to the Palestinian division.
Erdogan claims victory in vote on expanded presidential power
Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed to have won a major victory in the referendum to grant the presidency greater powers Sunday. With 98% of the ballots counted, 51.3% of voters voted “Yes” to the reform, compared to 48.7% who voted “no.”
Islamists, Neo-Nazis on videogame service discuss killing Jews
Steam videogame platform rife with anti-Semites discussing what it would be like to kill Jews, watchdog finds.
Migrant boats: Thousands saved off Libyan coast over Easter
Thousands of migrants have been saved from the sea near Libya during one of the busiest weekends of the year for rescue workers. More than 2,000 people were rescued on Friday and 3,000 on Saturday in dozens of separate rescues, the Italian Coast Guard said. But at least seven people drowned as aid workers struggled to rescue more than 1,500 migrants in one operation.
Pence: US era of strategic patience with North Korea over
US Vice-President Mike Pence has said his country’s “era of strategic patience” with North Korea is over. Mr Pence first made the remarks at the demilitarised zone (DMZ), the area dividing the two Koreas, during a visit to South Korea to reaffirm ties. His visit comes amid escalated tensions on the peninsula, with heated rhetoric from both North Korea and the US.
Palestinians in Israeli jails hold mass hunger strike
Hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails are beginning a mass hunger strike in protest against their conditions. The action is being led by Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader jailed by Israel for life for five murders. Barghouti, a key figure in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction, has been touted as a possible future successor to Mr Abbas.
Syria war: ‘At least 68 children among 126 killed’ in bus bombing
At least 68 children were among 126 people killed in Saturday’s bomb attack on buses carrying evacuees from besieged Syrian towns, activists say. A vehicle filled with explosives hit the convoy near Aleppo. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said at least 109 evacuees from government-held towns were killed, along with aid workers and rebel soldiers.
After U.S. Talks With Afghanistan, Hints at a Harder Line on Pakistan
Talks between the United States and Afghanistan wrapped up here on Sunday, as the Trump administration reviews its options in the 15-year American presence in Afghanistan in the face of a resurgent Taliban. Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, President Trump’s national security adviser, met with Afghan leaders, including President Ashraf Ghani, in talks that came days after the United States dropped a huge bomb on a honeycomb of Islamic State caves in eastern Afghanistan.
Google Hire could allow employers to see your entire search history
IN THIS day and age, every boss is going to quickly Google a prospective employee before asking them to come in for an interview. But now the technology giant is working on project called Google Hire, which The Sun reports will help employers learn perhaps a little bit too much about their new recruits. It will reportedly be a recruitment tool similar to LinkedIn — however, early reports suggest it will be available through your personal Google account.
Russia says plans a meeting with U.S. and U.N. on Syria in Geneva: agencies
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Monday that diplomats from Russia, the United States and the United Nations plan to discuss the Syrian crisis in Geneva next week, Russian news agencies quoted him as saying. Bogdanov also said Moscow was still waiting for confirmation from Washington that the meeting would take place.
Turkey Votes To Expand President’s Powers; Critics Cry Fraud
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a historic referendum Sunday that will greatly expand the powers of his office, although opposition parties questioned the outcome and said they would challenge the results.
French presidential hopefuls battle for votes with a week to go
A week before France’s presidential election, the four top candidates began a final push Sunday to woo undecided voters who will determine the outcome of a tight race between the hard left, centre, right and far right.
“Easter Day Slaughter”: Manhunt For Active Cleveland Shooter Who Killed Man Live On Facebook, Reportedly Murdered 15
The Cleveland Police is looking for an active shooter, identified as 37-year-old Steve Stephens, who has broadcast a murder live on Facebook. He has claimed to have killed other people and says he is looking for more victims.
Arkansas judge joined death-penalty protests on same day he blocked executions
An Arkansas judge attended two death-penalty protests on the same day that he issued an order blocking the state’s multiple executions, at one point allowing himself to be strapped to a cot in a simulation of an inmate slated to die by lethal injection.
Paul Craig Roberts: “It Has Become Embarrassing To Be An American”
“Washington is a collection of morons, people stupid below the meaning of stupid. People so far outside of reality that they imagine that their hubris and arrogance elevates them above reality. When the first Satan 2 hits Washington, the greatest collection of morons in the world will cease to exist.”
USDJPY, Yields Slide, Gold Spikes As Markets Finally Respond To Latest Set Of Economic, Geopolitical Shocks
It’s Sunday night, and traders – stuck until now in three-day holiday weekend purgatory – are desperate to catch up, or rather down to, the Dollar and 10Y yields, while sending gold and the Japanese yen shooting higher once again.
US successfully performs zero-yield nuclear test
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories claim to have successfully tested an upgraded version of the B61-12 nuclear bomb. The US has been working on the B61-12 for several years, and government officials say the latest tests are vital to refurbishing efforts.

April 16, 2017

Russia appears to deploy forces in Egypt, eyes on Libya role – sources
The U.S. and diplomatic officials said any such Russian deployment might be part of a bid to support Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar, who suffered a setback with an attack on March 3 by the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) on oil ports controlled by his forces.
Sessions: ‘We’re Going to Build This Wall’
“He’s supported me and [the Department of] Homeland Security in stepping up in enforcement at the border 100 percent,” Sessions said. The inflow of illegals in March was “the lowest monthly total in 17 years … We’re carrying out his agenda.”
Death toll in Syrian blast targeting evacuation bus hits 112
The death toll from a bomb blast on a crowded Syrian bus convoy outside Aleppo reached at least 112 people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said on Sunday. Syrian rescue workers, the Civil Defense said, had carted away at least 100 bodies from the site of Saturday’s blast, which hit buses carrying Shi’ite residents as they waited to cross from rebel into government territory in an evacuation deal between warring sides.
Abbas to meet with Trump in May, Palestinian official says
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will meet US President Donald Trump on May 3rd in Washington, D.C., top Palestinian official Ahmad Majdalani said on Sunday. “This is a very important visit in which we hope to agree on the fundamentals to revive the peace process and discuss bilateral relations,” Majdalani told The Jerusalem Post in a phone call.
Turks vote in historic referendum on expanding Erdogan’s power
Turks began voting in a hotly contested referendum on Sunday that could place sweeping new powers in the hands of President Tayyip Erdogan and herald the most radical change to the country’s political system in its modern history. Opinion polls have given a narrow lead for a “Yes” vote, which would replace Turkey’s parliamentary democracy with an all-powerful presidency and may see Erdogan in office until at least 2029.
Azerbaijan wants pan-Arab summit with Israel, envoy says
A US-led summit gathering Israel’s prime minister and the Palestinian Authority president on one stage with Levant and Gulf leaders would greatly benefit the region, and likely advance a stalled peace process, Azerbaijan’s envoy said in an interview with The Jerusalem Post. Israeli officials told the Post last month that the Trump administration is exploring the feasibility of such a summit, which would bring Israel and Sunni leaders from Saudi Arabia and neighboring nations together for the first time.
Iran floods kill at least 30
Floods have killed at least 30 people in north-west Iran, state media reported on Saturday. Others are said to be missing after torrential rains hit four provinces. Video footage shows streets inundated with water, and cars being swept away. The Tehran Times news site reported that the flood had also triggered a landslide.
North Korean Missile “Blows Up” During Launch; President Trump Aware, Has “No Further Comment”
North Korea’s attempted missile launch on Sunday ended in failure, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.  The communist state attempted to launch an unidentifed missile from the port city of Sinpo on its east coast in the morning, and the launch is presumed to have failed, the JCS said. Secretary of Defense Mattis says President Trump is aware of the situation and has “no further comment” on failed North Korean missile test.
Doomsday Bunker Sales Soar After Trump’s Military Strikes
“Doomsday crazy person, ‘prepper’ that’s all kind of nutty that people make them out to be…they don’t have $3.5 million to by a 5,500 square-foot bunker. Right?” questioned Scott.
The “Grinch” Is Trying to Steal Easter Eggs
As Christians around the world celebrate Easter, there are believers who are targeted by terrorists for their faith during this holy season. It is shameful these companies are so insensitive or hostile to Christianity by censoring the reason for the season on their candy wrappers.
SCORE For Religious FREEDOM!! Trump Makes Another STRONG Appointment!
Well if you are a person of faith, and have been worried about the direction the government has been heading in the persecution of your first amendment freedoms like religion, fear not! President Trump has just appointed a strong defender of religious liberty, Roger Severino to head the Office for Civil Rights at HHS. What’s even better, is that he is a believer in FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE!
Dove Debuts Bizarre Advertisement Featuring Transgender ‘Mom’ 
Dove rolled out a new advertisement for their baby skincare line ‘Baby Dove’ featuring moms from all walks of life caring for their babies–and of course included a man who identifies as a ‘mom’.
Mumps outbreak in Texas reaches 23-year high
Texas health authorities are trying to combat a record-breaking outbreak of mumps that has swept through the state. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported there have been 221 cases of mumps in the state this year, the highest number since 1994 when 234 cases were reported. College students in particular have been among the hardest hit by the virus, which spreads through close personal contact and can result in swollen glands, fever and headache.