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 must use it while we can.
Trial Begins for Grieving Father Jailed for Making Social Media Posts about Judge Who Took Away His Now-Deceased Son
The son died in his mother’s care shortly after the court made the decision to grant her custody.
Jonathan Vanderhagen, 35, faces charges of malicious use of a telecommunications device after exposing a judge on social media who took away his son, placed the child in his mother’s care, which ultimately resulted in the child’s untimely death. The trial officially began on Friday.
“Today’s trial is the limitless money, power, and privilege of the crown vs. Jonathan Vanderhagen and the 1st amendment. Your thoughts and prayers please,” Vanderhagen’s lawyer Nicholas Somberg wrote in a Facebook post before the trial started.
The prosecutors are arguing that Vanderhagen’s First Amendment rights are effectively null and void because family-court Judge Rachel Rancilio felt intimidated by his posts exposing her record. Assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Rittinger is using the “fire in a crowded theater” trope to justify this constitutional infringement in court.
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/trial-begins-for-grieving-father-jailed-for-making-social-media-posts-about-judge-who-took-away-his-now-deceased-son/
https://www.change.org/p/lee-chatfield-impeach-judge-rachel-rancilio-from-16th-circuit-court-macomb-county?source_location=petitions_browse
It seems like another judge wanted to make sure the what I would call internet-stalking behavior (photos of divorce judge’s kids posted) stopped, and that judge wasn’t clever enough to do anything else but imprison the man.
Elizabeth Warren Wants A National Gun Registration
https://summit.news/2019/09/17/ai-expert-says-we-are-summoning-robot-entities-who-will-treat-us-like-ants/
The threat that is artificial intelligence.
I know some Hungarian mathematicians are extremely wary of AI, perhaps because Hungary is in an overweight AI position:
https://www.eurai.org/node/13
Indonesian President Joko Widodo orders crackdown on arsonists amid worsening haze crisis (ST, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesian-president-joko-orders-crackdown-on-arsonists-amid-worsening-haze-crisis
“Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered a crackdown against individuals and companies responsible for forest fires that have caused a dangerous haze in parts of South-east Asia, disrupting air travel and forcing the closure of schools…”
Indonesia raises minimum age for brides to end child marriage (ST, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesia-raises-minimum-age-for-brides-to-end-child-marriage
“Indonesia’s parliament has revised the country’s marriage law to lift the minimum age at which women can marry by three years to 19, a move welcomed by campaigners as a step towards curbing child marriage in the world’s biggest Muslim majority-country.
All factions in parliament agreed the revision at a plenary session on Monday (Sept 16), according to a statement on its website.
Indonesia is among the 10 countries in the world with the highest number of child brides, according to campaign group Girls Not Brides.
One in four girls in Indonesia is married before they turn 18, according to a 2016 report by Indonesia’s Statistics Agency and the United Nations children’s fund Unicef.
“The society still encourages girls to get married in their teenage years, otherwise they will be considered spinsters,”said Masruchah of the National Commission on Violence Against Women.
Masruchah, who uses one name, said the commission would have preferred 21 as the minimum age for marriage for men and women, when both are considered mature in terms of reproduction and economic stability.
Indonesia previously allowed girls of 16 to get married or younger – with no minimum age – if their parents requested it.
Indonesia’s Constitutional Court ruled in December that it was discriminatory to have a lower marriage age for women than for men, who could legally marry at 19.
Child marriage in Indonesia has been blamed for causing maternal and infant deaths, as well as encouraging child labour, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise said in a statement.
“Finally, after 45 years (of the existing marriage law).
This is a present for Indonesian children,” she said.”
Central African Republic: Birao death toll rises to 38 after renewed militia fighting (thedefensepost, Sep 17, 2019)
https://thedefensepost.com/2019/09/17/central-african-republic-38-dead-birao-fprc-mlcj/
“The death toll in fighting between rival Central African Republic militias in Birao at the weekend has risen to 38, the United Nations said on Monday, September 16.
MINUSCA, the U.N. mission in the Central Africa Republic, initially put the death toll at 23.
“This weekend, there were new clashes in the town of Birao,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General said at the Daily Press Briefing.
“The U.N. peacekeeping mission reports that 38 combatants from two armed groups died, and others were injured,” Dujarric said, adding that there were no reports of civilian casualties.
U.N. Force Commander General Balla Keita met at the weekend with the mayor of Birao to assess security measures and developments. The situation was calm on Monday, although tensions persist in the city, Dujarric said.
“As a reminder, violence in Birao has forced over 13,000 people to flee their homes since the beginning of the month,” he noted.
Fierce clashes between rival militias in recent months have raised concerns about whether the peace accord aimed at ending years of violence in CAR will hold…”
Dozens killed in twin Taliban attacks ahead of Afghanistan presidential election (thedefensepost, Sep 17, 2019)
https://thedefensepost.com/2019/09/17/afghanistan-kabul-parwan-bombs-election/
“At least three people were reported killed on Tuesday, September 17 after an explosion rocked the Afghan capital Kabul ahead of the country’s upcoming presidential elections.
The interior ministry said the bomb went off in the center of Kabul, close to the defense ministry in the PD9 section of the city, Tolo News reported.
The heavily fortified area also houses the U.S. embassy and NATO headquarters. Last week the Taliban killed 10 people, including Romanian and U.S. soldiers, with a vehicle bomb in the adjacent Shash Darak area.
Earlier Tuesday, at least 24 people were killed in another blast at a campaign rally in Parwan province in central Afghanistan claimed by the Taliban. Dozens more were reported injured in the suicide attack where President Ashraf Ghani was speaking. The president was not injured.
The Taliban has threatened attacks around the election, which is scheduled for September 28.
Talks between the Taliban and the United States fell apart in early September after more than a year of negotiations. The Afghan government was largely excluded from the talks and the insurgent group rejects it as a “puppet” of the U.S.”
UN Experts Urge Probe of Rohingya Killings in Bangladesh (tasnimnews, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/09/17/2098427/un-experts-urge-probe-of-rohingya-killings-in-bangladesh
“UN human rights experts have raised new concerns about the treatment of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh following a deadly backlash over the killing of a ruling party official.
The experts called for an “impartial” investigation into the deaths of at least six Rohingya men in gunfights with police after they were named as suspects in the killing of Omar Faruk, a youth wing official of the ruling Awami League.
Following the murder, local people vandalized refugee shops and staged protests in one of multiple camps now home to a total of more than 900,000 Muslim Rohingya who have fled oppression in neighboring Myanmar.
In a statement released late Monday in Geneva, the six specially appointed UN experts on rights issues backed Bangladesh’s probe into the murder of Faruk.
But they added, “It is equally necessary to ensure that the presumption of innocence is upheld and that reactionary, summary and ad hoc justice is not doled out solely to placate the legitimate concerns of the host community.”
“We urge the Bangladeshi government to carry out an independent, impartial and effective investigation into all deaths that have occurred with regards to this case,” they said.
Police inspector Ali Arshad told AFP at least 40 Rohingya have been killed in Bangladesh since July last year. Of those, at least 33 were killed by Bangladeshi security forces in gunfights and another seven were killed in shootouts among Rohingya groups, he said.
Rights groups have accused Bangladesh police of staging many of these gunfights as a cover for the extrajudicial killings of Rohingya, mainly suspects in drug smuggling…”
Ayatollah Khamenei Rules Out US Talks (tasnimnews, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/09/17/2098155/ayatollah-khamenei-rules-out-us-talks
“Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei slammed the US’ bid for talks with Iran as a trick, stressing that Iranian and US officials will not hold negotiations whatsoever, either in New York or anywhere else…”
Human Rights Violations Worsening in Kashmir: Turkish MP (tasnimnews, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/09/17/2098449/human-rights-violations-worsening-in-kashmir-turkish-mp
“A senior Turkish lawmaker on Tuesday called on the Indian government to end the worsening human right violations in Jammu and Kashmir “as immediately as possible.”…”
Taliban Delegation Visits Iran for Political Consultations: Spokesman (tasnimnews, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/09/17/2098343/taliban-delegation-visits-iran-for-political-consultations-spokesman
“Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi confirmed that a delegation from the Afghan Taliban recently paid a visit to Iran and held consultations with relevant Iranian officials…”
Malta, Italy Clash Over Migrant Rescue Operation (aawsat, Sep 17, 2019)
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1906746/malta-italy-clash-over-migrant-rescue-operation
“Malta refused on Tuesday to accept 90 migrants rescued by an Italian Coast Guard vessel in its search and rescue zone, setting up a potential standoff with the new Italian government.
The Italian Coast Guard said on Tuesday it had picked up the migrants from a sinking boat off Libya at the request of the Maltese rescue coordination center.
The Coast Guard said its vessel was taking the migrants to Maltese waters, but Malta had refused to send a vessel to transfer them.
The Maltese Armed Forces had been surveilling the situation and the Italians got involved, an armed forces spokeswoman said. She gave no further comment.
Malta has repeatedly insisted that migrants should be taken to the closest safe harbor, which in this case was the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The incident comes ahead of a meeting in Malta next week of European Union interior ministers to discuss a new migrant distribution mechanism.
Meanwhile, the Ocean Viking charity vessel, run by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders, said on Twitter it had rescued 48 migrants from a wooden boat off the Libyan coast.”
At Least 2 Drown as Migrant Boat Sinks off Tunisia (aawsat, Sep 17, 2019)
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1906496/least-2-drown-migrant-boat-sinks-tunisia
UK urges collective response to attacks on Saudi oil facilities (sg, Sep 17, 2019)
http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/577600/SAUDI-ARABIA/UK-urges-collective-response-to-attacks-on-Saudi-oil-facilities
“British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman on Tuesday that there should be a collective response to attacks on the Kingdom’s oil facilities.
“Johnson expressed the UK’s condemnation of the attacks and said the UK stands by Saudi Arabia and is committed to the country’s security,” said a spokeswoman.
“The two leaders noted the need to establish the facts of what happened and the Johnson reiterated the importance of a collective response. He encouraged the Crown Prince to continue working with international partners.” Reuters”
Iraq launches large-scale military operation on Saudi border (memo, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190917-iraq-launches-large-scale-military-operation-on-saudi-border/
“Iraq’s Joint Operations Command announced yesterday that it has launched a military operation along the Saudi border to overcome sources of terrorism.
The campaign, in cooperation with international coalition forces, is the fifth phase of military campaign the “Will of Victory” which Iraq launched on 7 July in an effort to secure the province of Anbar and the central and northern regions of Salahuddin and Nineveh.
The deputy commander of operations in the Iraqi army, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Al-Jarallah, said in a statement that “the fifth phase of the operation Will of Victory began at dawn today in the Anbar desert, south of the international road, adjacent to the Saudi-Iraqi border.”
The operation was initiated by Iraqi forces in the Anbar Operations Command, with the participation of members of the militia group the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), Anbar Emergency Police Regiment, Anbar Police Tactical Regiment and Highway Protection Regiment, the statement added.
“The operation is carried out,” Al-Jarallah explained, “with aerial support from the Iraqi air force and the international anti-Daesh coalition. It aims to dry up the sources of terrorism, pursue wanted persons and terrorist elements, and to enhance security and stability in the areas covered by this phase.””
Saudi Shura Council calls for holding Aramco attackers responsible (memo, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190917-saudi-shura-council-calls-for-holding-aramco-attackers-responsible/
“The Saudi Shura Council called for holding accountable those who are behind the attacks on the Aramco oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, in the kingdom’s east.
During a session held at the Shura Council yesterday, under the chairmanship of its Speaker Abdullah Al-Sheikh, the council stated that the attacks “do not only target the Saudi economy, but the global economy, which is closely tied to energy and its production.”
The consultative body stressed its “full support for the measures taken by the kingdom to preserve its security and the security of its citizens and residents.”
It also called for “collaborated efforts” by allied states to hold accountable those who carried out these attacks and their supporters.
The Saudi body urged all parliamentary institutions, including international parliamentary unions, to condemn the attacks on the grounds of their danger on civilians and the global economy, as well as their impact on development worldwide.
On Saturday, two Saudi oil facilities, Abqaiq facility and the Khurais oil field, came under attack, halving Saudi oil production.
Oil prices jumped in the first trading day after the attack by 20 per cent, to reach almost $72 a barrel.”
Kuwait urges army vigilance against possible threats (memo, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190917-kuwait-urges-army-vigilance-against-possible-threats/
“Kuwaiti deputy prime minister on Tuesday urged the army to “exercise utmost vigilance” to counter potential dangers that may undermine security and stability in the country, according to the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), reports Anadolu Agency.
Remarks by Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, who also serves as the defense and foreign minister, came during a meeting with senior officers with the armed forces.
The meeting comes after a drone near the coast of Kuwait City was detected Sunday.
Notably, Emir of Kuwait Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, 90, was discharged from a hospital in the US on Friday after undergoing medical tests.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, announced on Monday his country signed an agreement to purchase US patriot missiles.
The crown prince stressed talks with US President Donald Trump focused on enhancing trade and security cooperation between the two countries.”
Saudi Islam minister orders preachers to rail against ‘Iran’ oil attacks during Friday sermons (alaraby, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/9/17/saudi-islam-minister-orders-preachers-to-address-oil-attacks
“The Saudi minister of Islamic affairs issued a directive to all Saudi preachers on Tuesday, telling them to address the attacks on oil processing plants in next week’s Friday sermon.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh’s directive emphasised certain themes, such as the blessing of security and stability, the need to rally around wise leadership and calling on God to protect Saudi Arabia.
The directive was issued within the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance framework, the SPA report read, which aims to raise “the awareness of society about the dangers facing our country at home and abroad”.
Details of the Saturday strikes on Abqaiq – the world’s largest oil processing facility – and the Khurais oil field in eastern Saudi Arabia remained unclear, but left crude oil output by the world’s top exporter slashed in half…”
Yemen Houthi drones, missiles defy years of Saudi air strikes (reuters, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-aramco-houthis/yemen-houthi-drones-missiles-defy-years-of-saudi-air-strikes-idUSKBN1W22F4
French Police Arrest Moroccan Comedian on Rape Charges (mwn, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/09/282784/french-police-moroccan-comedian-rape-charges/
Spanish Police Intercept Small Boat Carrying 17 Moroccan Irregular Migrants (mwn, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/09/282779/spanish-police-small-boat-17-moroccan-irregular-migrants/
“Local police in the municipality of Rota (south of Spain) and civil guards intercepted yesterday, September 16, a small boat near the beaches of Costa Ballena. The boat came from Morocco and was carrying 17 Moroccan irregular migrants.
All the migrants are adults, aged between 20 and 30 years old, except one minor, aged 17, according to Spanish newspaper Andalucia Informacion.
After making sure that none of the migrants were injured, Spanish authorities transferred them in a Red Cross bus to a refugee center in Algeciras.
Moroccans and irregular migrants from throughout Africa attempt to cross the Mediterranean sea to reach Europe on a daily basis. In August, spokesperson of the Moroccan government Mustapha El Khalfi said that security services aborted 57,000 irregular migration attempts in 2019.
In the recent days, a video documenting Moroccan minors attempting to cross the sea in inflatable boats went viral. The footage shows the dangerous adventure of four minors, in three inflatable boats.
The four would-be migrants filmed themselves hiding inside a cave to wait for the dark. “We will start our attempt at midnight,” said the one recording the video. It is not yet known if the group succeeded or failed in their attempt.”
Geert Wilders Claims Unfair Trial in “Fewer Moroccans” Discrimination Case (mwn, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/09/282822/geert-wilders-trial-in-fewer-moroccans-discrimination-case/
“The trial of controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders hit the headlines last week with speculation that the Dutch Ministry of Justice has been involved in the case. According to RTL nieuws, the Public Prosecutor and the Ministry of Justice have been collaborating in the trial.
Geert Wilders was convicted of inciting discrimination in 2016, as a result of his controversial pledge for “fewer Moroccans” in Holland during his election campaign of 2014. Throughout the five years of his trial, Wilders has always maintained the position that his trial was politically motivated, not in
While the Public Prosecutor did not seem convinced initially, top-ranking civil servants of the Ministry of Justice described Wilder’s remarks as “malevolent” and “racist” in a highly confidential message.The ministry subsequently recommended that the Public Prosecutor proceed with the trial in 2014, according to RTL nieuws.
Wilders has strongly condemned the recent developments and has filed an official complaint against the Public Prosecutor. The Prosecutor however maintains the position that the decision to initiate prosecution was not influenced by any other parties and was enacted in accordance with the rule of law.
Prime-Minister Mark Rutte has refused to comment, he says that since Wilders’ case is still in process at the court of The Hague he is not in a position to comment.
After the conviction in 2016, Wilders made an appeal to the court for a dismissal of the case. Despite his appeal, the court at the Hague ruled in favour of proceeding with the trial last Friday.”
HRW urges Pakistan to end corporal punishment in schools (tribune, Sep 17, 2019)
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2058649/1-hrw-urges-pakistan-end-corporal-punishment-schools/
“International rights organisation, Human Rights Watch (HRW), has called on Pakistan’s government to take measures to end corporal punishment in schools across the country.
Citing the case of Hunain Bilal, a 17-year-old student in Lahore who died on September 5 of injuries inflicted by a teacher, HRW urged the government of Pakistan to “act urgently to end abuse in schools and create a safe environment for Pakistani children to learn without having to fear for their lives.”
According to accounts from fellow students, Hunain had failed to memorise a lesson and the teacher, Kamran, punched him repeatedly, grabbed his hair, hit his head against the wall.
Hunain’s father has also alleged that the school was inflicting mental punishment on his son by harassing him for non-payment of school fees, which were deposited the day Hunain died.
In its statement, HRW said Hunain’s death was the most recent and egregious example of the widespread problem of corporal punishment in Pakistan’s schools.
“Beatings leave students frightened, sometimes injured, and unable to learn effectively, making it more likely they will leave school,” read the statement.
“Pakistan faces an education emergency. Nearly 22.5 million Pakistani children are out of school, most of them girls, and corporal punishment remains a significant reason.”
HRW also quoted data from Pakistani child rights group, Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), which shows corporal punishment causes up to 35,000 Pakistani children to drop out of school every year.
“Pakistan has ratified international conventions prohibiting the use of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, both physical and mental. In Punjab province, the government and school officials are required to take disciplinary action against teachers who inflict violence, though that order is often ignored,” the HRW statement further states.
It also points out that Pakistan’s federal minister for human rights last year proposed legislation seeking to end corporal punishment in the country.”
Pakistanis among dozens of Taliban militants killed in Ghazni operations (khaama, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.khaama.com/pakistanis-among-dozens-of-taliban-militants-killed-in-ghazni-operations-04062/
“The security forces killed at least 35 Taliban militants including many Pakistani nationals in South-eastern Ghazni province.
The Ghazni Governor’s Office said in a statement that the Special Forces conducted operations in Mangoor, Qarabaghi and Kala Ghach areas located in the outskirts of Ghazni city.
The statement further added that the security forces killed at least 35 Taliban militants including 10 Pakistani nationals.
Furthermore, the Governor’s Office said the security forces also killed Mohammad Tahir alias Khaksar and Omar Khalid, two local commanders of Taliban.
The security forces also killed Hemat, the leader in charge of the financial affairs of Taliban for Ghazni and Malang, the recruitment chief of the group.
The security forces confiscated 12 Ak-47 rifles, 2 rocket launchers, a PKM machine gun and Dragunov sniper rifle during the operation, the statement added.”
Turkey condemns mistreatment in Greece sports event (hdn, Sep 17. 2019)
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-condemns-mistreatment-in-greece-sports-event-146650
“Turkey on Sept. 17 condemned the mistreatment of a Turkish sport club during an international handball match in Greece.
On Sept. 13, the women’s handball team of local Turkish club Muratpa?a Belediyespor faced Greece’s PAOK in the first round of EHF European Cup in Veria.
The managers of the Turkish team said Greek authorities did not allow the Turkish flag to be hung at the Filippio Sports Hall, despite the Greek flag hang on in the hall’s wall.
Separately, Greek fans reportedly threw verbal assaults at the Turkish team.
Turkey’s Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapo?lu condemned the mistreatment of the Turkish team in Greece.
“The treatment towards the women’s handball team of Muratpa?a Belediyespor is not acceptable. Misconducts and attacks on our team are never compatible with the peaceful and friendly spirit of the sport,” Kasapo?lu said.
The Turkish official stated that it violates the spirit of the international competition to not allow Turkish flag to hang on the sports hall’s wall white the Greek flag was allowed. He also said the Turkish team was exposed to the heavy harassment and attacks of the rival team fans.
Turkey will launch a legal process against the incident, Kasapo?lu added.”
UAE drones target airport in Tripoli, Libya: Gov’t (aa, Sep 17, 2019)
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/uae-drones-target-airport-in-tripoli-libya-govt/1586456
“Drones from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) targeted Mitiga International Airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli, the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) said on Tuesday.
“Emirati drones, supporters of the war criminal [Khalifa] Haftar, target Mitiga International Airport,” forces loyal to the GNA said on Facebook without elaborating on casualties or damages.
The forces considered the attack as “a continuation of the criminal record in targeting infrastructure and airports and a desperate attempt [of Haftar] to reimburse losses.”
The GNA has accused the UAE of supporting Haftar’s forces, which Abu Dhabi has previously denied on several occasions.
On Sept. 2, operations were suspended in Mitiga International due to attacks by Haftar’s forces, while all flights were diverted to Misrata International Airport.
Haftar’s forces launched a campaign in April to capture Tripoli from Libya’s internationally recognized GNA.
Clashes between the two sides since then have left more than 1,000 dead and about 5,500 wounded, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The oil-rich country has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a NATO-backed uprising after four decades in power.
Libya has since seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: One in the east to which Haftar is affiliated, and the Tripoli-based GNA, which enjoys UN recognition.”
orlared – YT Page
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgzyycFR6PEv-B90rAiFsQg/videos
“Over 1,500 march in silent protest against accommodating asylum seekers in Oughterard hotel” orlared – Published on September 15, 2019
Spain headed for fourth election in four years, as parties fail to do deals
Political leaders have spent the last two days meeting with King Felipe VI, who announced via a statement on Tuesday evening that he would not be proposing a candidate for another investiture vote
Spain is closer than ever to its fourth general election in as many years, after its political parties failed to reach a governing deal in the wake of the inconclusive April 28 polls. Despite months of negotiations, no agreement has been reached between the Socialist Party (PSOE), which won most seats at the April vote but fell short of a majority, and its most likely partner, left-wing Unidas Podemos. Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also been unable to strike any kind of deal with the two other biggest parties on Spain’s political spectrum, the conservative Popular Party (PP) and Ciudadanos (Citizens).
Following established procedure, for the last two days Spain’s King Felipe VI has been meeting with the leaders of parties with a congressional presence to see whether Sánchez had enough support among the deputies in Spain’s lower house of parliament, Congress, to be voted back into office as prime minister.
After the round of meetings concluded, Meritxell Batet, the speaker of Congress, went to meet the king to discuss his conclusions. After that encounter, the Royal Household released an official statement saying that the king would not be presenting a candidate. Felipe VI, the document read, “has concluded that there is no candidate who counts on the necessary support for the Congress of Deputies to lend him its confidence.”
Barring any last-minute surprises, parliament will be dissolved next week and a repeat general election called for November 10.
One last-ditch attempt is, however, still possible. Formally speaking, no deadline has passed today. The last moment that an investiture vote could take place is by midnight on September 23. This means that the king could still propose a candidate should Spain’s political parties inform him that someone has the support for an investiture vote, but they would have to do this deal between Wednesday and Thursday of this week in order to beat the procedural clock.
After meeting with eight party leaders on Monday, the monarch sat down on Tuesday with representatives from the Catalan nationalists of Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia), En Comú Podem (the Catalan branch of Podemos), Vox, Podemos, Ciudadanos, the PP and the PSOE.
EUROPA PRESS
The picture that emerged as the day progressed was a pessimistic one, with most parties telling the king that they planned to either vote against Sánchez, or at the very least abstain, if he should decide to submit to a vote this coming weekend. For its part, the PSOE has repeatedly made clear that Sánchez would not stand at a fresh investiture vote should he not have the necessary support to win it.
At around 9pm on Tuesday evening, Sánchez spoke to reporters, saying that he “had tried by all means available but they made it impossible for me,” in reference to the other parties involved in talks. “I tried to form the government that, in my judgement, Spain needs in the face of the challenges that are ahead of us. Spain does not need a government for an investiture,” he added, “but rather a government for the term.”
He continued saying that “two conservative political forces [the PP and Ciudadanos] and a leftist political force [Unidas Podemos] have decided to block the formation of the government that Spaniards were calling for. Spaniards have said on four occasions that Spain wants to take a progressive route and we call on them to do so even more clearly on November 10.”
The leader of the PP, Pablo Casado, said on Tuesday evening after his meeting with the king that he “shared with the majority of Spaniards the sensation of not knowing how we have come to this point.” He added that his party’s position had been “coherent, responsible and open to dialogue,” claiming that he had “the feeling that we had got to the point that Sánchez wanted since April 28.”
Asked about the chance of a last-minute deal, Casado said: “I don’t think now is the time to try something that hasn’t been tried in the last five months.”
Sánchez has been refusing reiterated calls by Podemos for a coalition government in exchange for its support. The PSOE, which has 123 lawmakers in Congress following the April 28 election, is well short of the 175 seats needed to form a government, but for the last five months all attempts at majority-building have failed. Sánchez has been pushing for a single-party executive, and his earlier attempt to form a government failed after he submitted his plan to Congress in July and was voted down.
Just hours ahead of his own appointment with Felipe VI on Tuesday afternoon, Sánchez telephoned the leaders of the PP, Ciudadanos and Podemos to try to secure an 11th-hour deal and avoid a repeat election.
Power for nothing
But Podemos chief Pablo Iglesias, who met with the monarch on Tuesday morning, did not sound convinced. “Wanting to be prime minister in exchange for nothing – I’m not sure that’s the most reasonable thing,” he told reporters after walking out of his meeting.
And Ciudadanos chief Albert Rivera, who surprised everyone on Monday with an offer to abstain if certain conditions are met, on Tuesday withdrew the offer after describing Sánchez’s response as “a mockery.” The conditions involve a pledge not to raise income tax, reorganizing political alliances in the northern Spanish region of Navarre, and taking a hard line on the Catalan independence crisis.
Speaking on Tuesday evening after meeting with King Felipe, Rivera said that “Sánchez wants the other parties to give him our votes without any conditions in return. This is unheard of. If Sánchez forces elections, this country’s problem will have a name: Pedro Sánchez.”
Ciudadanos wants a written pledge that the government will not grant pardons to the Catalan secessionist leaders who were tried at the Supreme Court this year, if they should be found guilty in a ruling that’s expected in the coming weeks.
In a letter signed by Sánchez and sent to Ciudadanos on Tuesday morning, the PSOE insisted that they are already meeting with these conditions, and called on Rivera to “unblock the situation, honor the will of Spaniards and avoid a completely unnecessary repeat election.”
https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/09/17/inenglish/1568731342_962226.html
“The Global Warming Scare — The Perfect Trojan Horse For Tyranny”
I&I Editorial Board – September 16, 2019
https://issuesinsights.com/2019/09/17/the-global-warming-scare-the-perfect-trojan-horse-for-tyranny/
Lewandowski fires off after grueling 5-hour House testimony
Obama officials to testify on Andrew McCabe’s behalf: report
Victoria Toensing and Joe DiGenova of DiGenova and Toensing, LLP join FOX Business’ Lou Dobbs to discuss ex-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe’s indictment.
New Climate Discovery by Karl Zeller and Dr. Ned Kikolov
http://renewable.50webs.com/Zeller.Nikolov.html
“Ballons In The Air: Understanding Weather and Climate”
DDPmeetings – Published on August 16, 2019
Christopher’s Calder’s Comment:
I would suggest that new people first watch from the 50-minute point to the 55-minute point and then go back and watch the entire video from the beginning. It’s like climbing Mount Everest. Because this is a video, you can go to the summit first and enjoy that first, and then you can go back to understand how these two wonderful scientists made their long trek. Many people may get bored in the beginning, but if you see the dramatic conclusions first you will have more stamina to get through it all. This is a historic event. I believe that their finding combined with the Ned Nikolov and Karl Zeller space probe data finding – http://renewable.50webs.com/Zeller.Nikolov.html – will collapse the Church of Climate Change. I suggest that anyone interested in a sane energy policy should snail-mail President Trump a letter politely suggesting that he invite Dr. Ronan Connolly, Dr. Michael Connolly, Dr. Ned Nikolov, and Dr. Karl Zeller to the White House to give a presentation to the media. We can end climate hysteria if the people know the real science. If we let this go on they will tax meat, raise the price of all food through the roof, cause a great depression, and increase, rather than decrease, environmental damage.