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.
Iran, Pakistan Weigh Plans to Enhance Military Ties
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/11/19/2142941/iran-pakistan-weigh-plans-to-enhance-military-ties
“Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa met with Iran’s Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi in Tehran on Tuesday.
The meeting was held as part of plans to expand military cooperation between Iran and Pakistan and coordinate efforts in ensuring the security of common border.
Hailing Pakistan as a great country with an ancient civilization, General Mousavi said, “Iran and Pakistan are two neighbors with religious commonalities that have had relations and cooperation in various fields since long ago.”
He also expressed hope for the promotion of military interaction between the two countries, such as in the exchange of cadets and holding joint training programs.
For his part, the visiting Pakistani general welcomed the idea of mutual cooperation with Iran, saying Islamabad is ready to broaden ties with Tehran in various fields.
Iran and Pakistan face common threats and have common interests as well, Qamar Javed added, calling for close cooperation and interaction in this regard…”
Iran, Pakistan Can Easily Defeat Terrorists: Rouhani
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/11/19/2143223/iran-pakistan-can-easily-defeat-terrorists-rouhani
“Iranian President Hassan Rouhani highlighted the importance of the country’s security ties with neighboring Pakistan and said Tehran and Islamabad can easily defeat terrorists in the region…”
Swedish Envoy Condemns US Sanctions on Iran
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/11/19/2143168/swedish-envoy-condemns-us-sanctions-on-iran
“Sweden’s new ambassador to Iran slammed the US’ imposition of sanctions against the Islamic Republic as an illegal move that has created many problems.
Sweden’s incoming ambassador to Iran Mattias Lentz met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday to submit his credentials.
In the meeting, the Swedish diplomat said his country condemns the illegal American sanctions against Iran.
“We believe that these sanctions have created many problems and we try to play a constructive role,” Lentz said.
He also expressed Sweden’s readiness to work in cooperation with Iran on the initiatives for easing regional tensions, adding, “Sweden has always supported the JCPOA, and we emphasize that all parties (to the nuclear deal) must honor their commitments.”
Pointing to the history of trade and industrial cooperation between Iran and Sweden, the ambassador said Swedish companies and economic activists consider Iran as a reliable partner.
He also called for efforts to enhance political, trade, economic, scientific and academic interaction with Iran…”
Algerian Court Jails Protesters over Election
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1999171/algerian-court-jails-protesters-over-election
“An Algerian court has jailed four protesters for 18 months for disrupting a candidate’s campaign for the December 12 presidential election which is opposed by a mass protest movement.
The court sentenced the four on Monday after protests on Sunday in the western city of Tlemcen, where one of the five candidates, Ali Benflis, was campaigning. No details were available on what their exact actions were.
Algeria’s authorities are trying to quell a protest movement that erupted in February to demand the departure of the country’s ruling hierarchy, an end to corruption and the army’s withdrawal from politics…”
Algeria’s Sonatrach Renews Gas Export Deal with France’s Engie
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1999151/algerias-sonatrach-renews-gas-export-deal-frances-engie
“Algerian state energy firm Sonatrach has renewed a gas export contract with France’s Engie, it said on Tuesday, a few days after Kamel Eddine Chikhi was appointed as its new chief executive.
Energy sales represent a crucial source of foreign currency for Algeria, but have been declining since oil prices dropped in 2014.
Rising domestic demand and stagnant output have also made it hard for Sonatrach to maintain Algerian export levels. That had raised some doubts over whether the Engie deal would be renewed, an industry source in Algeria said.
Sonatrach said the contract covers the medium and long term, but did not specify how much gas it will deliver to Engie…”
King Salman Receives Grand Mufti of Kosovo
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1998761/king-salman-receives-grand-mufti-kosovo
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz received in Riyadh on Tuesday Grand Mufti of Kosovo Sheikh Naim Ternava and his accompanying delegation, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
They discussed cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Kosovo in service of Islam and Muslims and in promoting moderation, coexistence and tolerance.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawa and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh and Assistant Special Secretary to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Tamim bin Abdulaziz Al-Salem.”
US Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Sails through Strait of Hormuz
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1999136/us-aircraft-carrier-strike-group-sails-through-strait-hormuz
“The US aircraft carrier strike group Abraham Lincoln sailed through the vital Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, US officials told Reuters, amid simmering tensions between Iran and the United States.
Tensions in the Gulf have risen since attacks on oil tankers this summer, including off the UAE coast, and a major assault on energy facilities in Saudi Arabia.
Washington has blamed Iran, which has denied being behind the attacks on global energy infrastructure.
The commander overseeing US naval forces in the Middle East told Reuters in May that he would send an aircraft carrier through the Strait of Hormuz if needed.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Navy said the Lincoln transited through the Strait into the Gulf.
About a fifth of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States has deployed thousands of additional military forces in the Middle East, including bombers and air defense personnel, to act as a deterrent against what Washington says is provocative Iranian behavior.”
Amnesty Says at Least 100 Killed in Security Crackdown on Iran Protests
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1998686/amnesty-says-least-100-killed-security-crackdown-iran-protests
“Days of protests in Iran over rising fuel prices and a subsequent government crackdown have killed at least 106 people across the country Amnesty International said Tuesday, citing “credible reports.”
Iran’s government, which has not made nationwide numbers available for the toll of the unrest that began Friday, did not immediately respond to the report. A request for comment to its mission at the United Nations was not immediately acknowledged.
The Amnesty report comes after a UN agency earlier said it feared the unrest may have killed “a significant number of people.” Amnesty added that it “believes that the real death toll may be much higher, with some reports suggesting as many as 200 have been killed.”
The reports “reveal a harrowing pattern of unlawful killings by Iranian security forces, which have used excessive and lethal force to crush largely peaceful protests,” it said.
Intelligence and security forces did not return the bodies to their families and forced others to bury bodies quickly without an independent autopsy, Amnesty said.
Iran’s judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told a news conference that calm had been restored.
But social media videos posted in defiance of an internet block showed protests continued in several cities on Monday night and a heavy presence of security forces in streets.”
HRW slams Egypt’s ‘targeting of dissidents’ families’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191120-hrw-slams-egypts-targeting-of-dissidents-families/
“Egyptian authorities have been carrying out arrests, house raids, interrogations, and travel bans against relatives of dissidents who live abroad, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday.
HRW noted that the arrests against dissidents’ families were carried out “in reprisal for their activism.” It added that it had documented 28 cases of Egyptian journalists, media workers, and political and human rights activists “who had criticised the government and now live abroad,” pointing out that the cases were occurring between 2016 and 2019.
Among the cases was the arrest of the brother of the well-known activist Wael Ghonim, after he had posted a series of videos on Facebook criticising Egyptian security agencies.
The rights organisation pointed out that the Egyptian regime had detained and prosecuted 20 relatives of 11 dissidents. It added that the local authorities had accused the relatives of joining “terrorist groups” and disseminating “false news” in 13 cases…”
Not only the fish.
The water in which they swim.
Algeria to sue France if it fails to recognise crimes
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191120-algeria-to-sue-france-if-it-fails-to-recognise-crimes/
“A diplomatic crisis looms on the horizon of relations between Algeria and France in light of Algeria’s adherence to receive France’s official recognition of its colonial crimes against the Algerian people and its willingness to sue the French authorities internationally if they refuse to acknowledge those crimes.
Algerian Minister of Mujahideen, Tayeb Zitouni, revealed that Algeria would sue France if it continues to refuse to recognise the colonial crimes it committed against the Algerians.
Zitouni said in a press statement, reported by Echorouk on Monday, that “the Algerian authorities will take all necessary legal measures to recover the file of the Algerian national memory.”
The national memory file is one of the highlights of the Algerian-French relations because Algerians have not forgotten the crimes committed by the French in their country during a century and a half of colonialism.
Zitouni stated that he started recruiting elected personalities, associations and a group of lawyers to file a lawsuit in international courts…”
Iran rebuilding military base on Iraq-Syria border
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191119-iran-rebuilding-military-base-on-iraq-syria-border/
“Iran has been spotted rebuilding one of its military bases on the Iraqi-Syrian border which was previously destroyed by Israel, according to intelligence reports.
The Imam Ali military base, which was partially destroyed by Israeli air strikes in early September, was spotted by the satellite and earth-imagery organisation ImageSat International (ISI) as being rebuilt by Iran.
In a series of tweets and an analysis released yesterday, ISI stated that “the military base may allow Iran to transfer equipment, weapon[s], and personnel from Iraq through its new controlled border crossing and to fortified storehouses in the new base in Syria.”
The military base, which the report claims till remains inactive, is allegedly the first to be built from scratch by Iran following destruction and damage from Israeli air strikes…”
Turkey calls on Germany, US to hand over YPG leader
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191119-turkey-calls-on-germany-us-to-hand-over-ypg-leader/
“Turkey yesterday called on Germany and the United States (US) to extradite the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Kobani.
“We have asked for the arrest and extradition of Kobani from relevant states to our country, after media reports that he would travel to the US and Germany,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told CNN Türk.
Kobani recently accused Turkey of “working to encourage the Daesh to regroup,” warning that the Turkish aggression on borders with Syria had given Daesh “hope to reshape its elements”.
Ankara views the YPG, the main component of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist group with links to Kurdish militants in Turkey.
Turkey launched its third military incursion into northeast Syria last month to drive Kurdish YPG fighters from its border and establish a “safe zone” where it aims to settle up to two million Syrian refugees.”
Trump: Nancy Pelosi is ‘grossly incompetent’
Sky News – Top aides air fears over Donald Trump’s Ukraine call
Associated Press – AP reporter: aides concerned by Trump Ukraine call
Key White House aides told lawmakers on the House intelligence panel they were concerned about the nature of a July 25 phone call between President Trump and Ukraine’s new president
Tim Morrison DESTROYS Schiff’s Top Witness Lt. Col. Vindman – a Leaker, Liar and Complainer
Rep. Elise Stefanik’s full questioning of Vindman and Williams | Trump impeachment hearings
Rep. Elise Stefanik’s full questioning of Volker and Morrison
High-profile Saudi princess who criticised Yemen war goes missing after Europe escape attempt
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/11/19/saudi-princess-under-arrest-after-attempting-escape-to-europe
“A Saudi princess known for her human rights advocacy work has likely been put under house arrest in Riyadh, German public service broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) reported on Monday.
Princess Basmah bint Saud bin Abdulaziz al-Saud “fell off the radar”, according to a source close to the royal, after she attempted to leave the kingdom late last year.
The source said she was due to fly to Geneva at the end of 2018, however her flight never left Saudi soil.
Princess Basma, who is the youngest daughter of Saudi Arabia’s second ruler, King Abdul Aziz, has not been seen since then.
“She just fell off the radar; no one knew where she was. We actually feared the worst,” Princess Basmah’s former attorney, Leonard Bennett, told DW.
He added that on one occasion, the princess answered a phone call “sounding very much like a hostage”.
Another source who spoke to DW said the princess could not speak freely as all her communications are under surveillance.
The report added that an investigation into the princess’ alleged escape attempt had already taken place, however Saudi authorities have kept her in detention without explanation.
“They [Saudi authorities] have done an investigation to see if [the allegations of fleeing were] true and now they have finished it, yet up until now there has been no answer,” the DW source said.
“It has been proven to be false information but we still don’t know why she is being detained.”
‘Reformer’
Fifty-five-year-old Princess Basmah developed a reputation as an outspoken member of the Saudi ruling family, particularly through her media work.
The mother-of-five has spoken in favour of constitutional reforms in Saudi Arabia, including by expressing disappointment at Saudi Arabia’s failure to transform into a constitutional monarchy.
Princess Basmah’s articles on human rights issues regularly featured in the al-Medina, al-Hayat, and al-Ahram newspapers.
In January 2018, Princess Basmah called for an end to Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Yemen during a BBC interview.
Yet despite her public statements about Saudi Arabia, the princess maintained her support for her family and the kingdom.
“I am still an obedient citizen and I will always be behind the royal family. But I will never be quiet about what is happening on the ground,” Princess Basmah said in an interview with the Independent in 2012.
“The unfairness of the distribution of wealth, about the power that has been unevenly given to people because they have complete obedience to those above them.”
Tightening control
Reports of Princess Basmah’s alleged arrest come amid sustained scrutiny of Saudi Arabia over its increasing authoritarianism under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In 2017, Prince Mohammed led a far-reaching crackdown touted as an anti-corruption drive, arresting scores of influential public figures, businessmen and rival Saudi princes.
Among those arrested and held at Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton hotel was billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was later released after reportedly reaching a hefty financial settlement with the government.
Prince Mohammed’s iron-fisted rule caught the world’s attention in October 2017, when Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Khashoggi, a former royal insider-turned-critic of Saudi Prince Mohammed, was brutally killed and dismembered by Saudi agents in what a United Nations expert has termed a “deliberate, premeditated execution”.
According to a friend of Princess Basma cited in the DW report, Prince Mohammed likely knows the whereabouts of the missing royal and the conditions of her detention.”
Saudi cleric claims music, singing allowed by Prophet Muhammad just as MbS presses ‘entertainment’ drive
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/11/19/saudi-cleric-claims-music-singing-allowed-by-prophet-muhammad
“A former Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca said that singing, as well as musical instruments, existed at the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
Saudi Sheikh Adil al-Kalbani, who now works at a mosque in Riyadh, shared a hadith during an interview on Saudi television channel SBC that states the Prophet’s wife, Aisha, sang with her two neighbours.
The hadiths record the traditions and saying of the Prophet Muhammad and form a strong basis of Islamic law.
Sheikh Kalbani also shared a hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad saw a women and asked Aisha if she knew her. When Aisha said she didn’t, the Prophet told her she was “Qena, a singer of our time” and asked if she would like to sing to her.
Sheikh Kalbani also mentioned that the Prophet went to a wedding where the woman sang and played the daf – a frame drum.
Orthodox Muslim opinion, which is commonly propagated in Saudi Arabia, holds that music is haram, or forbidden.
Sheikh Kalbani issued a fatwa that allowing singing but then retracted it in 2010.
“After meditation and dialogue with people I cherish such as the minister of Islamic affairs, I am completely convinced that the singing which I authorised does not exist,” he said in an interview with Al-Hayat newspaper.
Sheikh Kalbani was the first black man to lead prayers in Mecca, a profile on him by the New York Times reveals.
“Some people in this country want everyone to be a carbon copy,” Sheik Kalbani said in the 2009 profile.
“This is not my way of thinking. You can learn from the person who is willing to criticise, to give a different point of view,” he added
At the time of his appointment to Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, many saw it as a sign that Saudi King Abdullah was slowly beginning to liberalise the ultra-conservative kingdom.
Ten years on, and with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman taking on a greater role in the kingdom’s affairs, restrictive laws on women and foreigners in the kingdom have seemed to ease considerably.
Sheikh Kalbani’s latest remarks come as Riyadh continues to adopt a “moderate” state-sanctioned interpretation of Islam, although this view has been challenged by some.
Critics say the crown prince’s reforms are meaningless as long as the male guardianship system persists.
In a video posted by Saudi newspaper Arab News, Sheikh Kalbani puts forward the position that women and men do not need to be separated by a barrier while praying in the mosque, as this was not done during the time of the Prophet.
Kalbani argued that Saudi women face stricter restrictions today that “isolate them from society” than they did during the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
The cleric also said this year that despite his previous opinion on Shia scholars being ‘heretics’, he had changed his mind.”
Egypt has spent $60 bln on electricity network, linkages: Sisi
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/356251/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-has-spent–bln-on-electricity-network,-linka.aspx
“Egypt has spent around $60 billion on linking its electricity sector to other countries and continents, extending links into Africa, Asia, and Europe, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has said.
In a speech during the G20 Compact with Africa meetings in Berlin on Tuesday, El-Sisi said Egypt currently has a developed power grid with reserves of electric power at 20 percent, having overcome the persistent challenges it was facing.
He also spoke about infrastructure, saying that the government has succeeded in building 7,000 kilometres of roads, part of a 9,000 kilometre-road network to connect cities, and will include cross-border roads connecting with neighbouring countries in Africa.
He said that the Egyptian model in establishing infrastructure projects does not only offer financial returns, but also contributes in tackling a number of other challenges.
He said that a powerful infrastructure for energy supply on the African continent would contribute significantly in combating climate change.
The president also touched on a number of other issues.
He mentioned illegal migration, an issue often raised by European officials, saying that since a deadly accident in 2016, no individuals have illegally crossed to Europe from Egyptian territory.
Cairo increased its focus on this issue and introduced a law on illegal migration following the deadly sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Egypt that killed 160 people in september 2016.
He also tackled the refugee issue, estimating the number of refugees in Egypt at 5 million, and saying they enjoy rights similar to those given to Egyptian citizens.
He said terrorism in Syria and Libya has had a huge impact in the region, stressing the necessity of an effective international community effort to face it to avoid worse impacts.
El-Sisi said terrorism has had a devastating effect on the region, not only by destroying infrastructure and causing deaths, but also in deterring investors.
He presented Egypt’s efforts in the field of combating terrorism, stressing that Cairo has defeated terrorism, but has paid a huge price in its efforts to combat the phenomenon.”
Every hour, dogs bite 26 people in Sindh
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2102154/1-every-hour-dogs-bite-26-people-sindh/
“With over 630 cases being reported from across the province on average per day, dog-bites became the latest source of contention between the opposition and the treasury benches in the Sindh Assembly on Monday…”
Nawaz Sharif lands in London: doctor
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2102230/1-nawaz-leave-london-shortly-reaches-lahore-airport/
“LAHORE: Former premier Nawaz Sharif, accompanied by his brother Shehbaz Sharif, reached London on Tuesday to continue with his medical treatment.
“Former PM #NawazSharif onboard Qatar Airways Air Ambulance A7-MED has landed safely at Heathrow, London-UK,” his personal physician Dr Adnan Khan, who also travelled along with the former premier, tweeted…”
Netherlands: Authorities find 26 migrants in refrigerated container on UK-bound ferry
Turkey: Ex-supreme court member given 13+ years in jail
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-ex-supreme-court-member-given-13-years-in-jail/1649955
“Turkey’s Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a sentence of over 14 years for one of its former members due to his links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated coup in 2016.
Muharrem Karayol, a former head of the penal chamber of Turkey’s Supreme Court, was tried by the top court in the capital Ankara.
He was accused of being a member of the armed terrorist organization, FETO, and received 13 years and 15 months in prison.
According to Turkish law, if a defendant is found guilty of terrorism, their sentence increases by 50% and is implemented separately in years and months, as convicts are often exempt from serving months.
Had he not been convicted of terrorism, Karayol would have received nine years and six months.
The court did not reduce the penalty as the defendant, who did not show remorse during the trial.”
Wanted PKK terrorist caught in southeast Turkey
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/wanted-pkk-terrorist-caught-in-southeast-turkey/1649983
“Turkish security forces have arrested a wanted PKK terrorist in an anti-terror operation in the country’s southeast, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry on Tuesday.
The operations took place in Diyarbakir’s Lice district, the ministry said in a statement.
Semra Tuncer, using nom de guerre Nirvana, was a regional operative of the terror group and is in the gray category of the Interior Ministry’s wanted list, the statement said, adding she was sought with 300,000 Turkish liras (around $52,000) bounty on her head.
The list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.
Four other people were also arrested for aiding and abetting her, the statement said…”
Turkey neutralizes 5 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-neutralizes-5-pkk-terrorists-in-northern-iraq/1650189
“Turkish security forces “neutralized” five PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
The neutralized terrorists were plotting an attack, the ministry said in a tweet.
Turkish Armed Forces conducted the offensive in Haftanin region as part of Operation Claw-3.
Authorities often use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
On May 27, Turkey launched Operation Claw against the PKK in the Hakurk region of northern Iraq, followed by its second and third phases in July and late August.
Over 400 PKK terrorists were “neutralized” in northern Iraq over the past four months, according to the ministry.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.”
Turkey: 2 foreign terrorists extradited to Netherlands
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-2-foreign-terrorists-extradited-to-netherlands/1650317
“Turkey on Tuesday extradited two Dutch terrorists to their home country, said the Interior Ministry.
“Extradition of foreign terrorist continues. In this context today, two Dutch national terrorists were deported to the Netherlands,” said the ministry on Twitter.
Although the ministry did not mention the name of the terrorist organization, the issue of handling of Daesh/ISIS members and their families detained in Syria — including foreign members of the terror group — has been controversial, with Turkey arguing foreign-born terrorists should be repatriated to their countries of origin.
Ankara has said that it will send Daesh/ISIS members back to their countries, but several European countries have refused, saying the terrorists were denationalized.”
Man, 26, stabs woman, 54, in Cuneo
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2019/11/19/man-26-stabs-woman-54-in-cuneo_91f9e7f5-2c42-44a6-88d9-9115144b1259.html
“A 26-year-old man was arrested in a Cuneo hotel Tuesday on suspicion of stabbing a 54-year-old woman during a burglary in a small villa in the northwestern Italian city on Monday night.
The man was said to be “not Italian”.
He was said to be preparing to flee the city.
The man allegedly got into the villa through a ground-floor window and attacked the woman who heard him come in.
The woman was stabbed in the throat.
She was taken to a local hospital where she was admitted in serious condition and put into the intensive care ward.
The woman lived alone in Via Luzzatti, police said.
According to an initial report, at least three burglars entered the house.”
Italy top in EU for antibiotic-resistance deaths
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2019/11/19/italy-top-in-eu-for-antibiotic-resistance-deaths_68026018-e4eb-47ee-bf36-d8fc0bbb706f.html
“Italy is top in the European Union for antibiotic-resistance deaths with over 10,000 of the 33,000 deaths in the EU each year caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics, the Higher Health Institute (ISS) said Tuesday.
It said that “while there is a trend slightly down, the values remain above the European average”.
The ISS report was issued on the occasion of the World Week for Aware Use of Antibiotics, this week.”
Over 500,000 asylum requests in EU Jan-Sept 2019
http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2019/11/19/over-500000-asylum-requests-in-eu-jan-sept-2019_d6ee2e8e-cc16-4b9d-91ab-83ecd4bcfaa4.html
“Over half a million asylum requests were filed in EU and Schengen area states in the first nine months of 2019. This figure is 10% more than those filed in the same period of the previous year. These data were published by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO).
Some 34% of the requests were granted in January to September 2019, up from 33% last year. Most of the requests were filed by Syrians, Afghans, and Venezuelans. The data show that countries that are less densely populated are subjected to greater pressure. For example, in July most of the requests were filed in Cyprus and Malta, followed by Greece, Sweden, and Luxembourg. Since this spring, Cyprus has received an average of 1,500 asylum requests per million inhabitants, almost double that of Malta (700), and three times that of Greece (over 450).
At the end of September, some 507,800 asylum requests had not yet been assessed, while 381,700 were awaiting the result of an appeals procedure, resulting in 890,000 cases still pending.”
Son of former German president stabbed to death in Berlin hospital
https://www.dw.com/en/son-of-former-german-president-stabbed-to-death-in-berlin-hospital/a-51325419
“Fritz von Weizsäcker, the son of late German President Richard von Weizsäcker, was stabbed while giving a medical lecture in Berlin. One other person was seriously injured in the attack…”
Israel’s New Way of War
A battle with terrorists in Gaza is a preview of Jerusalem’s tactics in the next, larger conflict.
Commuters on Route 4, driving toward the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod on November 12, were shocked by an explosion, a rocket impact next to a major intersection. Had it fallen on a car or one of the many trucks plying the route, there would have been deaths, and the road would have been closed.
Instead, police and Israeli Home Front Command units came and cordoned off the sidewalk, and drivers went about their day. Twenty-five miles south of where the rocket landed, other rocket teams from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), an Iranian-backed terrorist group, were preparing to fire more than 400 rockets at Israel during a brief flare-up in fighting. Most of them would be intercepted by Israel’s high-tech air defense.
The ability of millions of Israelis to mostly go about their day while Israel’s air force carries out precision air strikes nearby is due to Israel’s latest achievements in fighting war. It also comes with questions about whether Israel is being effective and what this latest revolution in military affairs means in the long term.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/11/israels-new-way-of-war/
IDF attacks dozens of terror targets in Syria
In response to the rockets fired by an Iranian force from Syrian territory at Israel, IDF fighter jets struck dozens of military targets of the Iranian Quds Force and the Syrian Armed Forces, including surface-to-air missiles, headquarters, weapons warehouses and military bases, overnight Tuesday.
During the IDF strike, a Syrian air defense missile was fired, despite clear warnings to refrain from such fire. Consequently, a number of Syrian aerial defense batteries were destroyed.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/271946
Yochanan Visser:
ANALYSIS: The rise of the Iranian Shiite Crescent continues
Deespite anti-Iran protests in Iraq and Lebanon and unrest at home, Iran continues to expand influence in Middle East.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/271934