Contributor’s Links post for February 26, 2019

Daily Links Post graphic

Each day at just after midnight Eastern, a post like this one is created for contributors and readers of this site to upload news links and video links on the issues that concern this site. Most notably, Islam and its effects on Classical Civilization, and various forms of leftism from Soviet era communism, to postmodernism and all the flavours of galloping statism and totalitarianism such as Nazism and Fascism which are increasingly snuffing out the classical liberalism which created our near, miraculous civilization the West has been building since the time of Socrates.

This document was written around the time this site was created, for those who wish to understand what this site is about. And while our understanding of the world and events has grown since then, the basic ideas remain sound and true to the purpose.

So please post all links, thoughts and ideas that you feel will benefit the readers of this site to the comments under this post each day. And thank you all for your contributions.

This is the new Samizdat. We muse use it while we can.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

149 Replies to “Contributor’s Links post for February 26, 2019”

  1. Hamas-linked CAIR seeks to stymie FBI sharing of terror watchlist

    Although it poses as a “moderate,” “civil rights” organization, Hamas, aka CAIR, is anything but. Despite being named as unindicted co-conspirators in the largest terror funding trial in our nation’s history, they remain the number one go-to Islamic group for the leftist-elite media, and clearly for the social media monopolies as well. Several CAIR officials have been convicted of participating in violent jihad activities. So it’s no surprise that terror-tied CAIR would seeks to stymie FBI sharing of the terror watchlist.

    https://gellerreport.com/2019/02/cair-terror-watchlist.html/

  2. How the Trump Administration Should Counter Putin’s Policies in Ukraine and Venezuela

    by Jiri Valenta
    February 25, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13795/trump-putin-ukraine-venezuela

    America is facing two dangerous crises. In Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, the illegitimate winner of a reportedly sham election, has, with his socialist policies, created a catastrophic situation. The struggle in Venezuela between his challenger, Juan Guaidó, and him is reaching a crescendo. Millions of Venezuelans, suffering under his radical regime, have been flooding neighboring Brazil and Colombia. Yet, with the help of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Maduro is clinging to power, as Fidel Castro did in the early 1960s with the aid of Nikita Khrushchev.

    Putin, seeking to rescue his beleaguered client, Maduro, as well as his considerable investments in Venezuelan oil and gold, recently deployed two nuclear-capable bombers to Venezuela. In addition, hundreds of “private military contractors who do secret missions for Russia” are reportedly deployed in Venezuela.

    The Venezuelan crisis is also linked to a second dangerous crisis in eastern Ukraine. There, even as U.S. ships recently sailed through the Black Sea, Putin is undertaking a new destabilization policy directed at the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

    Why Mariupol? Putin’s main objective seems be to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and the EU. His strategy is also likely designed to weaken Ukraine, which depends on the export of coal, steel and grain through Mariupol, which is the key export port for the whole Donbas region.

    • Yet, with the help of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Maduro is clinging to power, as Fidel Castro did in the early 1960s with the aid of Nikita Khrushchev.

      Where else can cheapskate Moscow find such low-budget lapdogs who are that eager to copiously $hït on their American neighbor’s doorstep?

      • Moscow is a cheapskate because they are broke, they are spending all of their money on the military trying to match the US weapons. From what I hear they are failing in their goal of matching the US weapons.

        • From what I hear they are failing in their goal of matching the US weapons.

          When you say “they”, are you referring to the USSR and its inability to keep pace with US weapons innovation? Or are you referring to Putin’s threadbare OMSK (Oligarchic Mafiya Syndicate Kremlinskya)? Fortunately, both models apply with near-identical results and the answer can be a simple, “Yes.”

          Here’s my own suggestion for all of these commie countries that want to cut America down to size. Take it to the £ü¢kïñg moon a$$hø!ês.

          And when you’re finished doing that, bring in the dog and put out the cat fly it to the £ü¢kïñg moon another handful of times just to make sure you’ve gotten your usual watery Commie $h!t together.

          Oh, yeah. And do it with real live people each time and not some artificially intelligent farside Robby-the-Cybergrunt knockoffs you copied from someone else. While your at it, fly all of the missions with less computing power than a damned iPhone!.

  3. Surprise! Woman Who Attacked Massachusetts Man Over MAGA Hat Is Illegal Alien; Arrested By ICE Tuesday

    Rosiane Santos, the 41-year-old Brazilian woman charged for attacking a man at a Falmouth, Massachusetts restaurant earlier this month because he was wearing a pro-Trump red Make America Great Again hat, was arrested by ICE Tuesday morning for overstaying a 1994 tourist visa.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/02/surprise-woman-who-attacked-massachusetts-man-over-maga-hat-is-illegal-alien-arrested-by-ice-tuesday/?omhide=true

    • This was all over Brietbart’s own comments section dealing with the incident. It’s hard not to enjoy watching people score “own goals” as they go full-steam ahead with their totally irrational hatred of Trump and make totally irrational decisions that ruin their totally irrational lives.

      Here’s a totally rational toast to hysterical store clerks, (thank you) famous actors, semiprofessional powwow drummers*, exorbitantly overpriced hotdog restaurant-owning chefs, decapitated head-wielding comediennes, hate hoaxing cable bum chums, overstaying belligerent Brazilian bovines, and TDSers everywhere.

      Thank you in advance for Trump’s 2020 landslide reelection.

      * I’ll bet lots of plum tom-tom gigs dried up for Nathan Phillips

  4. Venmo Suspends Child Who Had Hot Chocolate Stand to Raise Money For Trump’s Wall — Say They Are Keeping the $15,000 Until He Turns 18

    UPDATE: Venmo is allowing the family to transfer the funds into a bank account.
    The 7-year-old boy from Texas who had made a hot chocolate stand to raise money for Trump’s wall has now had the $15,000 he raised seized by Venmo who says that they are holding the funds until he turns 18.

    The parents of Benton Stevens had helped him set up a hot chocolate stand in a strip mall earlier this month with a large sign that said the proceeds would go to help build a wall on the southern border. In about an hour, the young activist had raised $221 dollars before people complained to the owner of the store where he had set up his stand and they made him take it down.

    “I guess some liberals – or whatever you want to call them – they were griping at the owner (of the store) and going in and yelling at him and slamming him on Facebook,” Jennifer said.

    The stand promptly went viral online, so the family set up a Venmo account so that people who were moved and wanted to contribute could do so.

    Venmo Suspends Child Who Had Hot Chocolate Stand to Raise Money For Trump’s Wall — Say They Are Keeping the $15,000 Until He Turns 18
    by Cassandra Fairbanks February 26, 2019 247 Comments

    1.9KShare 174Tweet Email

    UPDATE: Venmo is allowing the family to transfer the funds into a bank account.
    The 7-year-old boy from Texas who had made a hot chocolate stand to raise money for Trump’s wall has now had the $15,000 he raised seized by Venmo who says that they are holding the funds until he turns 18.

    The parents of Benton Stevens had helped him set up a hot chocolate stand in a strip mall earlier this month with a large sign that said the proceeds would go to help build a wall on the southern border. In about an hour, the young activist had raised $221 dollars before people complained to the owner of the store where he had set up his stand and they made him take it down.

    “I guess some liberals – or whatever you want to call them – they were griping at the owner (of the store) and going in and yelling at him and slamming him on Facebook,” Jennifer said.

    The stand promptly went viral online, so the family set up a Venmo account so that people who were moved and wanted to contribute could do so.
    Learn more about RevenueStripe…

    His parents, Jennifer and Shane, are both members of the Republican National Committee and were planning to donate the funds to Brian Kolfage’s “We Build the Wall” effort to privately fund the construction. They say that he wanted to do something to help after the family watched President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address together.

    According to a report from Fox News, after the stand became a viral sensation, their son was subjected to bullying — even called “little Hitler.”

    “He was called a little Hitler yesterday,” his mother said. “A guy pointed at him in his car and then he said that we didn’t like brown people. I don’t understand that at all.”

    Between the stand, generous online donors, and a donor who was willing to match what he raised — Kolfage told the Gateway Pundit that there was nearly $15,000 in his Venmo account when the company froze it.

    The family told the Gateway Pundit that Venmo did freeze the account, “but they are allowing us to transfer the funds out.”

    We have reached out to Venmo for comment and will update this article if one is provided.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/02/venmo-suspends-child-who-had-hot-chocolate-stand-to-raise-money-for-trumps-wall-say-they-are-keeping-the-15000-until-he-turns-18/?omhide=true

  5. PRESS TV – American activists in Tehran to promote dialogue, peace

    A delegation of American peace activists and NGOs are in Tehran to promote peace and dialogue between the people of Iran and the United States. According to our correspondent, during their week-long stay, they will take part in no war panel discussions.

    • Commie traitors who are just like John Kerry, hopefully we will be able to punish them for their treason.

  6. Video: Student Attacked in Oklahoma High School for Wearing MAGA Hat

    An underage student was attacked by an 18-year-old student in the hallway at Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Oklahoma, Monday for wearing a red Make America Great Again hat and for carrying a Trump 2020 flag.

    https://www.facebook.com/Theresa4805/videos/10215969272578363/

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/02/video-student-attacked-in-oklahoma-high-school-for-wearing-maga-hat/?omhide=true

  7. California Bill Would Force Pastors And Priests To Tell What They Heard In Confession

    A new bill in California seeks to intrude on one of the most sacred relationships—that between clergy and penitent in formal confession. Currently, clergy members are already mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, but sins confessed specifically in confession are exempt under current law from mandatory reporting.

    Bill 360, introduced by Democrat state Sen. Jerry Hill, would “delete that exception for a penitential communication, thereby requiring clergy to make a mandated report even if they acquired the knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect during a penitential communication.” This is an egregious overreach of secular authority, stepping into sacred religious rites, and will not protect children or stem the tide of child abuse.

    http://thefederalist.com/2019/02/26/california-bill-force-pastors-priests-tell-heard-confession/

  8. Syria Regime Intensifies Airstrikes against Idlib (aawsat, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1609276/syria-regime-intensifies-airstrikes-against-idlib

    “The Syrian regime has intensified its airstrikes against the northwestern Idlib province in the past ten days, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Tuesday.

    The “White Helmets” rescue organization that operates in opposition areas of Syria said five people were killed by shelling and airstrikes on Tuesday, including three children.

    According to a senior data analyst at Hala Systems, which operates an early warning system for aerial bombardment called Sentry, 13 strikes had been observed in Idlib and northern Hama on Tuesday.

    “This is the third straight day in which a significant increase in airstrikes has been observed. The pace of attacks seems high — and certainly unusual compared to the last few months,” the analyst, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.

    “The bombing is focused mainly on towns along the Damascus-Aleppo international road,” said Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman.

    The strikes against the last opposition bastion has forced thousands to flee the town of Khan Sheikhoun.

    “Khan Sheikhoun has turned into a ghost town,” said Abdulrahman.

    The area near the Turkish frontier is under a ceasefire brokered last year by regime ally Russia, and Turkey, one of the main supporters of opposition factions that have fought to topple him for eight years.

    Hundreds of thousands of people who fled other parts of Syria are sheltering in the enclave, protected by the truce which was aimed at averting an all-out regime assault. Any suggestion that the ceasefire is under new strain is closely watched by the warring parties and their allies.

    Under the agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey, the enclave in the northwest includes a demilitarized zone that must be kept free of all heavy weapons and extremist fighters.

    Moscow has complained about escalating violence in Idlib and said that militants who used to belong to the Nusra Front, Syria’s former chapter of al-Qaeda, are in control of large swathes of territory.

    Twenty regime troops and allied fighters were killed in attacks by an extremist group on the edge of Idlib since Sunday, the Observatory said.

    The latest casualties were five regime and allied fighters killed Tuesday near the planned buffer zone.

    The Observatory said the attack was led by Hurras al-Deen, an alliance formally linked to al-Qaeda that includes Syrian and foreign extremists.

    At least nine militants were killed in the clashes, among the deadliest since the ceasefire deal was reached in September.

    Syria’s conflict began in 2011 after Bashar Assad’s security forces used force to crush mass demonstrations against his rule. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the conflict, which has drawn in world powers.”

  9. Bashir Reshuffles Military Staff as Protests Rage on (aawsat, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1609281/bashir-reshuffles-military-staff-protests-rage

    “Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir reshuffled his senior military staff on Tuesday as anti-regime protesters defied his new ban on gatherings and rallies.

    Several members of Sudan’s eight-strong military staff council switched positions and General Essam al-Din Mubarak, the former deputy head of the council, was given a new position as minister of state in the defense ministry.

    “These are normal, routine changes that happen from time to time,” the military spokesman said.

    Bashir announced a nationwide state of emergency on Friday and issued a raft of edicts on Monday banning unlicensed public gatherings and awarding sweeping new powers to police.

    Security forces were given the power to search any building, restrict movement of people and public transport, arrest individuals suspected of a crime related to the state of emergency and seize assets or property during investigations.

    The public prosecutor on Tuesday said that emergency prosecutorial bodies would be set up across Sudan to investigate any crimes taking place under the new status.

    On Friday Bashir sacked the governors of Sudan’s regions and replaced them with officials from the military and security services.

    The moves have not deterred the protesters with hundreds rallying across the country to call for Bashir’s resignation.

    Tuesday’s rallies were called by the Sudanese Professional Association, an umbrella of independent professional unions that has spearheaded two-and-a-half months of protests.

    Video footage shows demonstrators, mostly women, marching in the streets of Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman. Demonstrations were also reported in the city of Atbara and the country’s troubled Darfur region.

    Activists said Tuesday that authorities lifted a block on popular social media platforms that have been used to organize and broadcast the protests.

    They said users of the three main telecommunications operators in the country – Zain, MTN and Sudani – now have access to Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp after nearly two months of restrictions during which users could only access the internet through a virtual private network, or VPN.

    Meanwhile, the US, Britain, Norway and Canada voiced their “deep” concerns over Bashir’s decisions to declare the state of emergency, impose a ban on unauthorized public gatherings and appoint military and security members to senior government positions.

    “The return to military rule does not create a conducive environment for a renewed political dialogue or credible elections,” they said in a joint statement.

    Protesters have staged almost daily demonstrations since December, demanding that Bashir, who came to power in a 1989 military coup, step down. The protests were initially inspired by high prices for bread but have turned into a sustained campaign against Bashir and his government.”

  10. Syria: SDF Screens, Treats ISIS ‘Caliphate’ Survivors (aawsat, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1609196/syria-sdf-screens-treats-isis-caliphate-survivors

    “US-backed forces in eastern Syria on Tuesday screened and treated truckloads of suspected militants and relatives who left a village where the ISIS terrorist group’s “caliphate” is making its last stand.

    The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) struggled to cope with the flow of people exiting the very last shred of a once-sprawling proto-state that claimed dominion over millions of people.

    Several thousand of them are believed to remain in a last redoubt which has been shrunk to about half a square kilometer on the edge of Baghouz, a hamlet by the Euphrates river…”

  11. Aramco President: Claim World Would Do without Oil is Extremely Erroneous (aawsat, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1609296/aramco-president-claim-world-would-do-without-oil-extremely-erroneous

    “Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Al-Nasser stressed on Tuesday that the energy sector faces greater reputational challenges than any other to correct a worrying and growing belief among policy makers and regulators, investment houses, NGOs, and many others that the industry has little or no future.

    Speaking at the International Petroleum Week in London, he said that some financial experts in Davos last month “confidently predicted the end of our industry in about five to ten years and most vehicles on the road would be electric in 10 years when today the electric vehicles account for less than half a percent.”

    He added that many major investors believe that the world will accelerate in an unreasonable time framework to use renewable sources of energy, noting that the claim that the world would do without oil and gas is “extremely erroneous and has no facts to support it.”

    He explained that even if all vehicles are to be converted into electric, the passenger vehicles are only 20 percent of the world’s oil demand while the remaining 80 percent is used by sectors like planes, ships, trucks, petrochemicals and lubes for which there is no alternative yet and where demand for oil is expected to increase substantially.

    Al-Nasser emphasized that solar and wind energies still account for just 2 percent of primary energy demand today, stressing that the oil companies succeeded in the recent years in improving their efficiency, safety record, environmental performance and ability to contribute positively to climate change by reducing emissions. He cited Saudi Aramco’s achievement as a global pioneering example.

    He called upon his energy counterparts to correct misconceptions about those who doubt the continuation and sustainability of the oil and gas industry.

    He concluded that the energy industry could greatly highlight the carbon footprints of its products.”

  12. Defend nation on social media, Turki tells youth (saudigazette, Feb 26, 2019)
    http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/560041/SAUDI-ARABIA/Defend-nation-on-social-media-Turki-tells-youth

    “Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, called on the Saudi youth to defend their nation on various social media platforms while protecting their social values.

    During the first session of Misk Media Forum Tuesday, Prince Turki said, “Controlling information is very difficult in this age. It is better to lay down laws for anyone who wants to give information.”

    He said the Kingdom, since its foundation, has been suffering from wars against it because of its different approach, principle and religion.

    Prince Turki said the leaders of this country have been following a clear and right approach. The Kingdom’s constitution is the Holy Qur’an and Prophetic Sunnah.

    The Misk Media Forum started its first session titled “Encouraging Creativity” with the participation of 47 media speakers from 13 countries around the world.

    The Media Forum aims to discuss the role of the media and its platforms in changing lifestyles, transferring experiences and ideas, enhancing communication and exploring opportunities for the creative youth.

    On the sidelines of the forum, Misk Initiatives launched the “Misk Values” contest, which targets people with creative ideas. It has specified four fields — integrity, trust, respect and responsibility.

    The cash prize for winner of the first place is SR120,000 and SR60,000 for the second place. There are eight prizes.”

  13. Saudi investor buys £25m stake in Evening Standard: Report (mee, Feb 25, 2019)
    https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-investor-buys-ps25m-stake-evening-standard-report

    “A Saudi investor, who has already ploughed millions into a prominent British online newspaper, has bought a £25m stake in the company which owns the Evening Standard, the Financial Times has reported.

    Sultan Mohamed Abuljadayel reportedly bought a 30 percent stake in Lebedev Holdings, the parent company, headed by Russian businessman Evgeny Lebedev, which owns the free newspaper distributed in London and edited by former UK chancellor George Osborne.

    According to the Financial Times, Abuljadayel made his purchase using a Cayman Islands company to hide his identity and bought a stake more than a third larger than company filings disclosed in December with a final portion agreed last week…”

  14. UK must justify Hezbollah ban expansion, opposition Labour Party says (memo, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190226-uk-must-justify-hezbollah-ban-expansion-opposition-labour-party-says/ 

    “Britain’s opposition Labour Party said on Tuesday that interior minister Sajid Javid had to provide evidence to justify his decision to widen a ban on the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah, Reuters reports.

    Britain said on Monday it plans to ban all wings of Hezbollah due to its destabilising influence in the Middle East, classing the movement as a terrorist organisation.

    “The Home Secretary must therefore now demonstrate that this decision was taken in an objective and impartial way, and driven by clear and new evidence, not by his leadership ambitions,” a Labour spokesman said.

    Asked about the comments, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said it was for Labour to explain their decision.

    “Hezbollah itself has publicly denied a distinction between its military and political wings. The group in its entirety is assessed to be concerned in terrorism,” he added.

    “The links between the senior leaders of Hezbollah’s political and military wings as well as the group’s destabilising role in the region mean that the distinction between the two wings is now untenable.””

  15. Iraq calls on UNESCO to include Babylon on World Heritage List (memo, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190226-iraq-calls-on-unesco-to-include-babylon-on-world-heritage-list/

    “Iraqi President Barham Salih yesterday called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to include the ancient city of Babylon on the World Heritage List, the Anadolu Agency reported.

    A statement by the Iraqi presidency said Salih made the request during a meeting with UNESCO Director Audrey Azoulay in France.

    According to the statement, Barham discussed with Azoulay UNESCO’s efforts in the fields of wiping out illiteracy and providing opportunities for workers in the scientific research field as well as educational developments and giving priority to researchers looking for scholarships…”

  16. Bahrain court upholds death penalty against 2 terrorism suspects (memo, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190226-bahrain-court-upholds-death-penalty-against-2-terrorism-suspects/

    “The Bahraini Court of Cassation yesterday upheld the death penalty against two people and the imprisonment of 20 others on charges of establishing and funding a terrorist group.

    The 22 defendants were charged with “murdering police officers and attempting to murder others, possession of explosive devices, training in the use of weapons and explosives for terrorist purposes, harbouring fugitives and others”…”

  17. Saudi Arabia sets up its first global village (gulfnews, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-sets-up-its-first-global-village-1.62324444

    “Manama: Saudi Arabia’s first global village will open on Thursday in the Red Sea resort of Jeddah.

    The one-month multicultural festival, organised by the General Entertainment Authority, is set up within Atallah Happy Land Park, the family park with the largest number of amusement rides in Saudi Arabia.

    According to organisers close to 50 countries have confirmed their participation, five from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), 10 from the Arab world, 18 from Africa, 10 from Europe and four from the Americas.

    Each participant state is expected to offer a variety of industrial and commercial products, fashion and handicraft.

    The village features a stage for folkloric shows performed by troupes from the participating countries dressed in their traditional costumes.

    Depictions of each country’s cultures and heritage will also be displayed in the pavilions while traditional food dishes will be sampled.

    Organisers expected that one million people would visit the village from February 28 until March 29.

    Saudi Arabia has launched a massive campaign to boost local tourism as it seeks to diversify its economy and find novel ways to boost non-oil revenues.

    The greatest global village in the Gulf is located in Dubai, now in its 23rd session with 78 countries participating. More than five million people visit the village annually.”

  18. Pakistan resorts to heavy mortar shelling in India for fourth consecutive day (gulfnews, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/pakistan-resorts-to-heavy-mortar-shelling-in-india-for-fourth-consecutive-day-1.1551191646864

    “Jammu and Kashmir: The Pakistan army Tuesday resorted to heavy mortar shelling on 55 forward areas in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts after IAF jets struck a JeM terror camp across the LoC, army sources said.

    The Pakistan army used heavy weaponry, firing 120 mm mortars targeting civilian hamlets and forward posts since 1730 hours Tuesday, an army officer told PTI.

    They fired from small, automatic and heavy weaponry in Krishna Gati, Balakote, Khari Karmara, Mankote, Tarkundi (Poonch district), Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian, Laam and Jhangar areas (Rajouri) and Pallanwala and Laleali (Jammu), the officer added.

    There was no injury or loss of life in the ceasefire violations, the officer said, adding that Indian troops gave a “befitting reply” to the firing.

    According to officials, more than a dozen ceasefire violations took place on Tuesday– the fourth consecutive day of Pakistan shelling and firing on Indian posts.

    Earlier in the day, Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Nowshera sector along the Line of Control (LoC), the officer said, adding that locals in the border areas have been asked to not venture out.

    Panic has gripped the border areas and some locals have left their homes and moved to safer areas, reports said.

    Since last Wednesday, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire everyday barring Friday, the officer said.

    The Nowshera sector witnessed unprovoked firing from the Pakistan side for three consecutive days on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

    The Pakistani guns remained silent on Friday but on Thursday ceasefire was violated in Poonch sector while on Wednesday, they initiated unprovoked shelling in Kalal sector of Rajouri district.

    The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations – 2,936 – by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border.

    Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire understanding of 2003 despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the agreement during flag meetings between the border guarding forces of the two countries, the officials said.

    Amid mounting tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack and increasing ceasefire violations, the people along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in the region are living under intense fear.”

  19. Egypt’s military production minister, VP of Brandenburg parliament discuss implementing joint ventures (ahram, Feb 26, 2019)
    http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/326230/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-military-production-minister,-VP-of-Branden.aspx

    “Egypt’s Minister for Military Production Mohamed Saaed El-Assar discussed on Tuesday with Dieter Dombrowski, the vice-president of Brandenburg’s state parliament, implementing joint ventures.

    The minister also had talks with the representatives of the two German companies RKD for waste recycling and Yetter Stone.

    The two sides discussed the possibility of having a partnership between the military production ministry and the German side via implementing joint projects in which the latest German technology is applied in the waste recycling and construction fields.

    During the meeting, the representative of RKD said that they agreed on presenting a preliminary paper on means of boosting bilateral cooperation to upgrade waste recycling plants in Egypt.”

  20. Egypt is one of Finland’s biggest trade partners in ME, North Africa: Finnish PM (ahram, Feb 26, 2019)
    http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/326233/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-is-one-of-Finlands-biggest-trade-partners-in.aspx

    “Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipilä said that Egypt is one of Finland’s biggest trade partners in the Middle East and North Africa.

    In an interview with MENA, the Finnish PM underlined the need for exerting more efforts to boost relations between Egypt and his country, adding that both countries face the same challenges and share viewpoints regarding international issues of common concern.

    Speaking about cooperation, Sipilä cited the sustainable development of economy which provides a chance for fruitful cooperation in the future.

    He also highlighted the return of Finnish tourists to Egypt through direct flights from Helsinki to Red Sea resorts after a period of temporary suspension…”

  21. Decathlon Promotes Moroccan-Made Sports Head Scarves for Hijabi Women (moroccoworldnews, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/02/266751/decathlon-moroccan-sports-head-scarves/

    “The sports retailer explained to its customers on its Twitter account that some women expressed their need for sports headscarves, because they could not find sports accessories or gear “adapted to their way of practicing their sport.”

    “We are fully committed to making sport accessible to all women around the world,” said Decathlon.

    Many anti-Islamists around the world took to social media to criticize the sports headscarves.

    Agnes Buzyn, French minister of solidarity and health, expressed her opinion about the sports headscarves on Tuesday, answering a question on RTL radio.

    The minister said that while French law does not prohibit headscarves, she would have preferred that French brands like Decathlon did not “promote hijab.” Buzyn stressed that she did not “share the vision” of women who support hijab in the country.

    Other sports brands like Nike also sell women’s sports headscarves.”

  22. Morocco’s ‘The What’ Magazine Tackles Inheritance Law (moroccoworldnews, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/02/266754/morocco-what-magazine-inheritance-law/

    “Following Tunisia’s approval of equality between the sexes with regards to inheritance law, the question of inheritance in Morocco continues to be hotly debated between diametrically opposing sides.

    Staunch opponents to inheritance reform claim that such “reformism” violates divine limits, while proponents such as Asma Lamrabet and Mohamed Abdelouahab Rafiki praised Tunisia’s move.

    Asma Lamrabet, a former scholar of Morocco’s highest Islamic legal body, the Ulemma, was relieved of her duty following her bold stance for reforms of inheritance laws.

    Mouminoun Without Borders, a Moroccan institute for research, decided to chime in on the debate in its monthly Moroccan magazine “The What” yesterday, February 21.

    The monthly issue was released under the title “Examination of Inheritance: The Argument of Equality and the Struggle for Change.”

    The edition discussed the controversial inheritance law in Islamic fiqh (jurisprudence) through a wide range of approaches ranging from religion, human rights, and sociology.

    It especially addressed the differing stances on sharia law and asked such questions as: “What gender-oriented readings of patriarchal resistances within a “composite society” oscillating between tradition and restoration?”, “How does sociology deconstruct the subject of inheritance on the basis of changing social conditions?”, and “What cultural, social, and political legacies are there behind advocating for equality in inheritance? “

    This issue was edited by the Moroccan Ph.D. student and sociology major Hajar Lemfadli and includes four research contributions by various writers and academics from the MENA region.

    Contributors include the Algerian academic Mohammed Bekkaye with his paper entitled “Women, Inheritance, and the Trajectories of Marginalization: Gender Confrontations to a Multi-Faceted Politics” and Tunisian researcher Zeineb Toujani, who wrote, “The Right to Equality in Inheritance: Now Before Tomorrow.””

  23. OIC contact group demands immediate end to repressive operations in IoK (tribune, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://tribune.com.pk/story/1918808/3-oic-contact-group-demands-immediate-end-repressive-operations-iok/

    “The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday called on India to immediately stop the repressive security operations against the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and respect their fundamental and basic human rights.

    In an emergency meeting at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, it also urged India to address the dispute in accordance with the relevant OIC and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on the subject as well as the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, the principle of self-determination and human rights.

    Reiterating their continued support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the contact group called on the OIC and the UN Secretary to use their good offices to check the dangerous escalation by India, which is threat to regional peace and security.

    The contact group was formed in 1994 to coordinate policy of OIC on Jammu and Kashmir.”

  24. It’s your turn to get ready for surprise, Pakistan Army tells India (tribune, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://tribune.com.pk/story/1918758/1-ready-responded-denied-dg-ispr/

    “Pakistan on Monday tore to pieces a ‘reckless and fictitious’ Indian claim that its warplanes have launched “air strikes” against an alleged terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistani territory and inflicted heavy casualties.

    The airspace violation by Indian jets capped 12 days of bitter exchanges between the two nuclear-armed hostile neighbours, triggering international alarm, with China and the European Union calling for both sides to show restraint.

    Indian media started thumping chest soon after Delhi claimed that Indian Air Force (IAF) jets had struck what it called the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militant group in Balakot area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in a pre-dawn air strike, flattening the compound and killing 350 so-called terrorists.

    India has been seething since February 14 when a young Kashmiri, believed to be associated with the JeM, drove a car full of explosives in a military convoy in the Pulwama area of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), killing nearly four dozen troops in an attack described as the deadliest in the region’s history.

    After days of angry rants, sabre-rattling and bullying, the Narendra Modi administration decided to douse the rising public anger at home by staging what it called “non-military preemptive strike” inside Pakistani territory. The Indian media immediately bought the official narrative and started churning out fictitious details to celebrate the “successful strike”.

    However, the Indian claim turned out to be a pack of lies.

    Nobody in India knew about the purported strike – not even their defence ministry – until Pakistan’s chief military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor broke the news on his official Twitter handle on Tuesday morning.

    “Indian Air Force violated [the] Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan Air Force immediately scrambled. Indian aircrafts gone back. Details to follow,” he said in a tweet.

    “Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzaffarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage,” he said in another tweet.

    Hours later India’s Foreign Secretary VK Gokhale claimed at a news conference in Delhi that “the biggest training camp of JeM” was targeted in the “air strike” and that “a large number of JeM terrorists – including top commanders – were killed”. He didn’t present any evidence to substantiate his claim. Neither did he take questions from journalists either.

    Later in the evening, Maj Gen Ghafoor called an emergency press briefing to expose the Indian claims and to give rundown of what exactly happened in the morning.

    He said that combat air patrolling (CAP) had been ongoing on both sides of the border since the deadly Pulwama attack.

    On Monday night, Indian jets twice flew close to the border – first at Lahore-Sialkot border, and then at Okara-Bahawalpur border, but Pakistan Air Force (PAF) CAP teams challenged them and scared them away.

    Meanwhile another IAF formation – a heavy one – was detected by Pakistani radars near the LoC in Muzaffarabad Sector and a third PAF CAP team challenged it. “They intruded into Pakistani airspace and returned after being challenged from PAF CAP team,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said, adding that the entire episode lasted four minutes.

    “I dare Indian air force to stay in Pakistani airspace for 21 minutes,” he said strongly rebutting Indian media’s fictitious claim that the Indian warplanes carried out three air strikes at three locations – Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Chakoti – in 21 minutes.

    The Indian aircraft did not target any position of Pakistan Army where troops were ready to deal with any challenge. “The Indians didn’t want to target Pakistan Army positions because that would have resulted in military casualties – something that did not serve their purpose.”

    The military spokesperson said that the Indian objective was to target civilians and then project them as terrorists – something that Modi wanted to use to gain political mileage for the upcoming election.

    “They [IAF formation] intruded four to five nautical miles [into Pakistan] which was timely and effectively challenged and repulsed by PAF,” he added.

    “They [Indian jets] went back under pressure from PAF and while returning they jettisoned their payloads – four bombs to be precise – which, given the trajectory, landed in the Jabba area [of Balakot] outside AJK, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.

    Maj Gen Ghafoor laughed off the Indian claim that 350 terrorists have been killed and a hideout destroyed in the supposed air strike. “Had there been even 10 fatalities, let alone 350, there would have been bodies, funerals or even blood at the site – but there’s nothing,” he said.

    The military spokesperson invited the media, foreign ambassadors and even Indians to visit the area and see for themselves the reality of the purported air strikes.

    “The area is open to anybody and everybody, including all foreign ambassadors, defence attaches, and UN military observers group in Pakistan,” he added. “We would even say that civilian population from India can come to Pakistan through authorised entry points, see it [the area] for yourselves, go back and ask their prime minister where is that impact.”

    Maj Gen Ghafoor said he had plans to fly local and foreign journalists to the area, but it had to be postponed due to inclement weather. “I would have driven you to the area, but by the time we reach there, it would be too dark to properly examine the scene.”

    He, however, said that some local journalists have already toured the area, while a couple of channels have even aired video footage. He said that India was in the habit of making self-serving claims as their ‘surgical strike’ claim of September 2016 had also been exposed as fictitious.

    Referring to an earlier press briefing, the military spokesperson said that he had said that “you [India] would never be able to surprise us; we have not been surprised, but now it is time for India to wait and get ready for our surprise”.

    “We will shut these monkeys – but not the way they [Indians have] repeatedly done through lies. We will shut them and let the people of Pakistan and the world know,” he said.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has already authorised the military to take on India, convened a meeting for Wednesday of the National Command Authority, which oversees command and control of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

    Defence analysts called the events ‘dangerous’. “If such actions continue, it can escalate into major conflict, which will not serve any purpose but to plunge the region into serious crisis,” Prof Hasan Askari told AFP.”

  25. Top Taliban leader, coordinator of high profile attacks in Kabul has been killed (khaama, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.khaama.com/top-taliban-leader-coordinator-of-high-profile-attacks-in-kabul-has-been-killed-03380/

    “A top Taliban commander who was involved in coordinating high profile attacks has been killed during an operation in Sayyidabad district of Wardak province.

    According to the informed military sources, Taliban commander Qari Sahid, known for coordinating attacks high profile attacks in Kabul was killed in an air strike 23 February in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province.

    The sources further added another Taliban mid-level commander and attack facilitator was also killed in an air strike which was carried out on 25 February in Sayyidabad district of Wardak province.

    In the meantime, at least 10 Taliban militants were killed, 2 vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, a house-borne improvised explosive device were destroyed during the operations of the Afghan Special Forces and airstrikes in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.

    A Taliban and ISIS-K militant were also killed during separate airstrikes in Nangarhar and Balkh provinces, the sources said, adding that an air strike in Faizabad district of Jawzjan province killed 1 Taliban fighter and wounded another. “Over the past 48 hours, air strikes have killed 4 Taliban fighters in Jowzjan province, preventing low-level commanders from staging reinforcements prior to the Spring fighting season.”

    At least 8 Taliban militants were killed, 5 were wounded, and 3 others were arrested during the operations in Herat, Helmand, and Logar provinces, the sources added.”

  26. Afghan forces conduct 81 planned, Special Operations and 15 airstrikes: MoD (khaama, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-conduct-81-planned-special-operations-and-15-airstrikes-mod-03381/

    “The Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan has announced that the Afghan army soldiers have condcutd 6 planned operations jointly with the other security forces, 75 Special Operations and 15 airstrikes in the past 24 hours to eliminate enemy hideouts and threats while the Air Force has also conducted 160 flights in support of the armed forces.

    According to a statement released by the Ministry of Defense, at least 38 militants were killed, 19 were wounded, and 4 others were detained during these operations.

    The statement further added that 11 of the terrorists were killed and 4 others were wounded in Qarabagh, Andar, and Rashidan districts of Ghazni, 7 were killed in Chahar Bolakand Chemtal districts of Balkh, 3 more were wounded and a motorcycle was destroyed, 6 other militants were killed and two others were wounded in Sangin district of Helmand, 4 militants were killed and 5 more were wounded in Meezan district of Zabul, 4 militants were killed and vehicle packed with explosives was destroyed in Zurmat district of Paktia province.

    The statement also added that 3 militants were killed, 8 others were wounded and two of their fighting positions were destroyed in Sancharak district of Sar-e-Pul province, another militant was killed and one more was wounded in Faizabad district of Badakhshan province, one ISIS-K militants was killed in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province and another militant as killed in Syedabad district of Maidan Wardak province.”

  27. ‘EU to continue working with Turkey on migration issue’ (hurriyetdailynews, Feb 26, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/eu-to-continue-working-with-turkey-on-migration-issue-141491

    “The EU will maintain its cooperation with Turkey in tackling both the regional and global migration issues, said the bloc’s ambassador to Ankara on Feb. 26.

    “We will continue working with Turkey on dealing the migration not only very specific to Syria issue, on the global issues as well,” Christian Berger told Anadolu Agency during his visit to the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya.

    “We fully appreciate the role Turkey is playing on migration and on receiving refugees particularly from Syria,” Berger said.

    He added Turkey shows “a lot of generosity” by opening its borders to people who are fleeing the war-torn home country.

    Berger underscored that it is key to address the reasons pushing people to migration “to take away the need for people leave their countries”.

    “This is very often economic situation, political crisis, conflict, war, civil war.”

    On the interregional conference in Istanbul on migration policy last week, the EU official said the main message of the bloc was the burden-sharing.

    “No country can carry the burden of migration on his own,” he said.

    Turkey hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, more than any other country in the world, who fled civil war in their country since 2011.

    Turkey and the EU signed a refugee deal in March 2016, which aimed to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of more than three million Syrians living in Turkey.

    The migration flow has decreased by 97 percent following the signing of the deal.”

  28. Turkish intel held 6,000 ops in 2018 based on tips: Report (hurriyetdailynews, Feb 26, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-intel-held-6-000-ops-in-2018-based-on-tips-report-141499

    “Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (M?T) held 6,000 operations based on tips given regarding FETÖ, PKK, YPG and ISIL through its website in 2018, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Feb. 26.

    Citizens have clicked on M?T’s website over a million times in 2018 to give tipoffs, receive information and look for career opportunities within the organization, the agency said.

    Some 3,262 inquiries were made to the organization, with citizens asking questions such as “How are working conditions at M?T?”, “Would you recruit me?” and “Are you conducting an investigation into me?”

    When the applications and tips were assessed by the intelligence service, special works regarding outlawed organizations commenced.

    As a result, members of FETÖ and YPG were detected and legal procedures concerning them were commenced while structures of the PKK and ISIL within Turkey and overseas received great blows.

    The agency said that the number of tips received in 2018 by M?T decreased drastically compared to the previous year. But the reason for this was said to have stemmed from the recent weakening of outlawed organizations due to a stream of what it called successful operations.

    Turkey deems the YPG, backed by the U.S. against ISIL in Syria, as an offshoot of the PKK.

    The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.

    FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fethullah Gülen are widely believed to have orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.

    Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.”

  29. 7 militants in ‘wanted terrorist list’ captured in Istanbul (hurriyetdailynews, Feb 26, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/7-militants-in-wanted-terrorist-list-captured-in-istanbul-141484

    “Turkish security forces captured seven high-profile members of the illegal DHKP-C group in a counter-terror operation in Istanbul’s Okmeydan? neighborhood early in the morning, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on Feb. 26.

    One of the detained militants was the most senior operative of the organization in Turkey, state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Soylu as saying during a meeting in Istanbul.

    “We have completely overthrown the rural structure of DHKP-C in Turkey,” he said.

    The police raid also captured militants named in the green and grey categories of the Interior Ministry’s “wanted terrorist list,” according to Soylu.

    “Our fight against terrorism is on and will continue without slowing down,” he added.

    The “wanted terrorists list” is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and grey.

    The DHKP-C assumed a number of bloody assaults in Turkey, including a 2013 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, in which a Turkish security guard was killed.

    The group is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU.”

  30. Romanian coast guards open fire on Turkish fishermen (hurriyetdailynews, Feb 26, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/romanian-coast-guards-open-fire-on-turkish-fishermen-141504

    “Three Turkish fishermen were wounded, and the fishing boat, which had set sail from Turkey’s Black Sea province of Ordu on Feb. 20, was damaged by the bullets.

    The incident took place approximately 50 miles off the Romanian coast, while the fishing boat was sailing in international waters, according to statements by the fishers.

    Fisherman ?sa Memi? was wounded by a live round on his hand, while Serdal Memi?, the captain of the fishing boat, and crew member Samet Demir were injured by rubber bullets, the video recorded by a mobile phone showed.

    The fishing boat, carrying eight panicked fishermen, anchored in Istanbul after escaping the Romanian coast guard boat.”

  31. Turkey: Europe shouldn’t give reign to PKK terrorists (aa, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkey-europe-shouldnt-give-reign-to-pkk-terrorists/1403717

    “Turkey on Tuesday condemned how sympathizers of the PKK terrorist group are allowed to demonstrate at the seat of the Council of Europe.

    PKK sympathizers’ violence on Monday in front of Council of Europe’s Agora Building in Strasbourg, France once again showed the terror group’s “real face,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hami Aksoy said in a statement.

    “We condemn the fact that such activities promoting terrorist propaganda are given permission,” Aksoy said.

    Aksoy said Turkey has warned its European counterparts about elements of the PKK in several European cities where they also display posters of convicted PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, including the potential for violence.

    “It is also regrettable that some circles and media in Europe still portray the PKK activities as a campaign of so-called ‘Kurdish activists.’ This is a clear indication as to the new level of double standards,” Aksoy added.

    At least 43 supporters of the PKK terrorist group were arrested on Monday after a protest in front of the Council of Europe building turned violent.

    The crowd, gathered to protest Ocalan’s prison conditions, attacked police in front of the building.

    The protesters injured three police officers by throwing stones and broke windows and the door of the building, plus set fire to a trash dumpster.

    Ocalan was convicted of terrorism and treason in 1999 and is currently serving a life sentence in Turkey.

    The PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU — has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years, resulting in the deaths of nearly 40,000 people.”

  32. EU member states insincere: Turkish president (aa, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/eu-member-states-insincere-turkish-president/1403430

    “European leaders attending a summit in Egypt just after a mass execution of young men there shows their “insincerity,” said Turkey’s president on Tuesday.

    “How can you talk about democracy to EU member states that accepted the invitation of [Egyptian President Abdel Fattah] al-Sisi, who executed 9 young men last week?” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told an election campaign rally in the Black Sea province of Giresun.

    Erdogan said the EU both opposes and prohibits the death penalty in bloc countries, but accepted al-Sisi’s invitation even though he executed 42 people since coming to power.

    “The EU is not sincere,” Erdogan said, adding that this is true of its dealings with Turkey and also shown by its attendance at the summit.

    “Whatever they do, they will be remembered in history for their deeds,” Erdogan added.

    The two-day EU-Arab summit in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday and Monday saw heavy attendance by European officials despite Egypt’s execution of nine young men last week over the 2015 assassination of Hisham Barakat, Egypt’s prosecutor-general.

    Amnesty International said the men were convicted on terrorism charges after “grossly unfair trials” marred by alleged torture.

    The sentences were carried out despite calls by numerous international rights groups for a stay of execution.

    Earlier this month, Egyptian authorities executed another six people in two separate cases for the murder of a judge’s son and a senior police officer.

    Egypt has remained beset by violence and turmoil since the army deposed Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first freely elected president, in a 2013 coup.”

  33. Finland: Mosque attacked with smoke bomb (aa, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/finland-mosque-attacked-with-smoke-bomb/1403608

    “A mosque in northern Finland was attacked by a smoke bomb on Tuesday, according to Finnish police.

    The attacker threw a smoke bomb through the mosque’s window, shattering it, in the city of Oulu early Tuesday, said a statement by the Oulu Police Department.

    The statement said there were no casualties but material damage.

    According to video footage, the assailant was wearing a dark-colored jacket and a white hat, the statement added.

    Abdul Mannan, the mosque’s imam, said this was the ninth attack the mosque has suffered in the last two years.

    Oulu is home to some 3,000 Muslims, and the mosque is used by about 1,000 people, according to local press reports.”

  34. Richard: I don’t know how trustworthy this video source is

    Sialkot sector on LoC has turned into a massive battlefield betweet Pakistan and India

  35. Oxfam says Yemeni crisis forcing child brides for food (ansamed, Feb 26, 2019)
    http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2019/02/26/oxfam-says-yemeni-crisis-forcing-child-brides-for-food_d77b33f2-4cb6-46f1-af8d-3a7cc5ab0942.html

    “The exponential increase in food prices since the start of the war in Yemen four years ago, along with the lack of sources of income, is driving people to desperate measures for survival, said Oxfam on Tuesday as countries meet in Geneva to pledge aid for the humanitarian crisis.

    It said the crisis is a true humanitarian catastrophe that has left almost ten million people one step away from famine and whose primary victims are young girls. Oxfam said hungry and isolated families who fled their homes in Amran Governorate in the north have been forced to marry off their young daughters, in one case a three-year-old, to buy food and shelter to save the rest of the family. It said although early marriage has long been a practice in Yemen, it is now reaching shocking proportions and methods, and the world is showing indifference. “The donor meeting today in Geneva is essential for ensuring the people of Yemen food, water and medicine,” said Paolo Pezzati, policy advisor for humanitarian emergencies at Oxfam Italy.

    “But only an end to the conflict can halt the downward spiral of desperation that is forcing thousands of families to make dramatic choices. All warring parties and their backers need to commit to a nationwide ceasefire and take concrete steps towards a lasting peace,” he said.”

  36. LONDON BLOODBATH: Teenager rushed to hospital after Romford stabbing (express, Feb 26, 2019)
    https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1092941/london-news-romford-victoria-road-stabbing-latest-met-police-london-knife-crime

    “A TEENAGER has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed in Romford, east London, as a wave of violent crime continues to blight the capital.

    Police and paramedics scrambled to the scene in Victoria Road, close to Romford station, at around 6.30pm this evening. Havering police said officers found an 18-year-old man suffering from stab wounds. His injuries are said to be non-life-threatening.

    Police are investigating and no arrests have been made.

    The attack in Romford came just hours before a young man was knifed to death outside a different railway station in east London.

    The victim, said to be in his twenties, was stabbed in Cranbrook Road, Ilford shortly before 9pm.

    Despite the efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.

    Earlier today, a third incident in west London saw a schoolboy knifed outside a Tube station.

    Horrified witnesses described seeing a boy in school uniform “lying face down on the pavement” outside the South Ruislip station after being attacked shortly before 4.30pm.

    London Ambulance Service said the victim’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

    The station was shut after police responded to reports of the attack.”

  37. David Wood – YouTube’s Community Guidelines System Is Garbage

    Earlier today, Tommy Robinson was banned from Facebook and Instagram. YouTube won’t be far behind. YouTube is removing more and more content based on false flags.

    Videos that contain absolutely no hate speech are being removed as hate speech, and creators that haven’t violated any rules or guidelines are receiving strikes and having their privileges (e.g. livestreaming) revoked.

    YouTube’s Community Guidelines strike system is pure garbage. YouTube is also punishing content creators for comments left on their videos.

    Perhaps the YouTube Creator Academy can address these problems.