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.
Bernie’s Islamist Bid for the Iowa Caucuses
The socialist wins the mosques.
February 5, 2020
Daniel Greenfield
When the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) held its annual convention, only one of the presidential candidates who is campaigning in Iowa attended the event alongside an unindicted World Trade Center bombing co-conspirator and supporter of killing gay people.
Senator Bernie Sanders.
Bernie’s appearance at ISNA’s presidential forum was moderated by an Islamist who had described Hezbollah’s terrorism against Israel as “legitimate resistance”.
This wasn’t unusual. Bernie’s campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, had been a member of an Islamist organization in college where he had been accused of helping raise money for a Hamas front group.
And CAIR’s presidential poll demonstrates that Bernie’s Islamist outreach is paying off.
CAIR’s poll of Muslim voters claims that 39% support Bernie Sanders, while only 27% back Joe Biden.
https://cms.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2020/02/bernies-islamist-bid-iowa-caucuses-daniel-greenfield
“It Felt Like She Ripped Our Hearts Out – The Most Disrespectful Thing I’ve Ever Seen” – Trump SOTU Guest Describes Reaction to Pelosi Ripping Up Speech (VIDEO)
Last night President Trump invited Jody Jones as a guest of honor to his third State of the Union Address.
According to the White House press release prior to President Trump’s address–
This morning Jody Jones was asked about Speaker Pelosi’s actions last night and her shredding of President Trump’s speech.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/it-felt-like-she-ripped-our-hearts-out-the-most-disrespectful-thing-ive-ever-seen-trump-sotu-guest-describes-reaction-to-pelosi-ripping-up-speech-video/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=daily
Trump SOTU Guest: “Felt Like She Ripped Our Hearts Out – Most Disrespectful Thing I’ve Ever Seen”
Graham on AOC’s SOTU boycott, Pelosi ripping Trump’s speech
China Update: Coronavirus Causing Boredom, Run on Toilet Paper and Aggressive Govt. Tactics on Infected People
The China coronavirus is causing boredom, shortages and aggressive tactics against those infected with the virus.
Reports coming out of China show the regime getting very aggressive with those infected with the coronavirus
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/china-update-coronavirus-causing-boredom-shortages-run-on-toilet-paper-and-aggressive-govt-tactics-on-infected-people/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=daily
At Least 85 Injured in Clashes in Iraqi Najaf – Security Source (sputniknews, Feb 5, 2020)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202002051078238925-at-least-85-injured-in-clashes-in-iraqi-najaf—security-source/
“Iraq has been rocked by demonstrations since early October 2019, with protesters demanding the government’s resignation and improved living standards while highlighting problems of corruption and unemployment.
At least 85 people have been injured, some seriously, as a result of clashes in the city of Najaf, Iraq, Al-Sumaria reported on Wednesday citing a security source.
According to the outlet, clashes in central Sadrin Square took place between demonstrators and supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr, an influential Shia cleric and politician…”
e
YouTube details ban on ‘manipulated’ election content
Washington (AFP) – YouTube said Monday it would remove election-related videos that are “manipulated or doctored” to mislead voters, as part of its efforts to stem online misinformation.
The Google-owned service said it was taking the measures as it strives to become a “more reliable source” for news and to promote a “healthy political discourse” amid heightened fears over video fakes around the world.
Leslie Miller, YouTube’s vice president of government affairs and public policy, said in a blog post that the service’s community standards prohibit “content that has been technically manipulated or doctored in a way that misleads users… and may pose a serious risk of egregious harm.”
The latest YouTube statement, which seeks to clarify its global policy on election misinformation, was announced as the US presidential primary season kicks off, with caucuses being held in Iowa on Monday and the first primary next week in New Hampshire.
The move comes amid growing concern about so-called “deepfake” videos altered by using artificial intelligence, which can create credible-looking events, but also “shallow” fakes that use more rudimentary techniques to deceive viewers.
Deepfakes and manipulated content have raised fears over the election process worldwide, amid notable incidents in Britain and India where videos were used for disinformation.
YouTube noted the policy also bans content which aims to mislead people about voting rules or the US census process that is underway.
Online platforms have come under pressure to root out misinformation in the wake of foreign manipulation efforts in the US in 2016 and elsewhere in recent years.
In the US, critics of online platforms have claimed not enough is being done to curb false claims by candidates themselves.
– Concerns over US campaign –
Google last year said it was stepping up efforts on election misinformation and would remove false claims in ads, including on YouTube, but the new statement appeared to offer specifics on certain kinds of content that will be blocked.
“The underlying standards YouTube explains and illustrates today do not appear to be brand new, but the company deserves praise for setting them out in clear terms and warning that it intends to enforce them vigorously,” said Paul Barrett of the New York University Center for Business and Human Rights and author of a 2019 study on political disinformation.
“YouTube’s statement today appears to reiterate its determination not to allow its users to be conned during the 2020 election campaign.”
The announcement underscores differing policies by major social networks on disinformation. Twitter has said it would ban all political ads for candidates, while Facebook has maintained a hands-off policy for political speech and ads, with some exceptions for content that misleads users about voting times and places.
“Each platform is weighing free expression against voter manipulation, but the information operations work across platforms and exploit these loopholes,” said Karen Kornbluh, a German Marshall Fund researcher who follows political disinformation.
“That’s why the platforms should come together and develop shared, clear, consistent, enforceable rules to protect voters from becoming easy marks for disinformation campaigns.”
Monday’s statement offered specific examples of content that would be removed from YouTube.
Among the content banned include any video “manipulated to make it appear that a government official is dead” or that “aims to mislead people about voting or the census processes, like telling viewers an incorrect voting date.”
YouTube will also take down any false claims about eligibility requirements for political candidates, “such as claims that a candidate is not eligible to hold office based on false information about citizenship status requirements.”
A separate statement by Google’s head of online trust and safety, Kristie Canegallo, said the internet giant has stepped up its efforts to stem abuse and false information on elections globally.
“Our trust and safety teams span the globe to monitor and disrupt account hijackings, inauthentic activity, disinformation campaigns, coordinated attacks, and other forms of abuse on our platforms on a 24/7 basis,” Canegallo said.
“We take seriously our responsibility to protect our users from harm and abuse, especially during elections.”
She added that Google was working with other technology companies and government agencies including the FBI “to identify bad actors, disable their accounts, warn our users about them, and share relevant information with industry officials and law enforcement.”
https://news.yahoo.com/youtube-ban-manipulated-content-linked-elections-161210011.html
DAILY MAIL – Seconds from SAVAGERY: Streatham terrorist Sudesh Amman’s final moments before he knifed two people in horrific street attack then police shot him dead are caught on CCTV
Video shows Sudesh Amman wearing a hat walking down Streatham High Street
Other pedestrians can be seen walking several metres in front or behind Amman
Soon after the footage was captured, Amman stabbed two people and was shot
He had been jailed for possessing and distributing terrorist documents in 2018
Amman freed automatically halfway through sentence less than a fortnight ago
The government is now racing to pass emergency legislation following attack
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7970521/Streatham-terrorist-Sudesh-Ammans-final-moments-knifed-two-people.html
Epidemic Tracker In China May Have Accidentally Leaked Real Data On Wuhan Virus Deaths — And They’re Bad
Tencent, a multinational conglomerate holding company in China, may have accidentally leaked the real data on the Wuhan virus.
The real spread and death toll of the coronavirus is unknown, as China controls all information on the deadly pneumonia-like virus. But some interesting numbers recently appeared that might give a real clue to its spread.
“On late Saturday evening (Feb. 1), Tencent, on its webpage titled ‘Epidemic Situation Tracker,’ showed confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (2019nCoV) in China as standing at 154,023, 10 times the official figure at the time. It listed the number of suspected cases as 79,808, four times the official figure,” Taiwan News reported.
But that report didn’t last long.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/epidemic-tracker-in-china-may-have-accidentally-leaked-real-data-on-wuhan-virus-deaths-and-theyre-bad/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily
Richard: These figures fits both Brad Johnson’s guess on the true figures but also the 15% death rate reported in one report. If these figures and are correct and the 85% infection rate is correct and the prediction of the pandemic peaking in April or May a rough projection is between one and a half million and 2 million with the death rate being between 200,000 and 250,000. This predicting is based on the Wuhan Flu alone, not any deaths caused by China not being able to move their newly limited food supply around to the Cities that need it.
Germany: Anti-fascists oppose new AfD-backed Thuringia premier
Hundreds of anti-fascists protested outside Thuringia’s parliament building in Erfurt on Wednesday, only two hours after electing Thomas Kemmerich as the new State Prime Minister.
Kemmerich was supported by his own party, the Free Democrats (FDP), by the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which threw all of its weight behind him in the third round of voting.
The ruling coalition in the German state of Thuringia, constituted of the Die Linke, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Green party, saw its candidate and the incumbent for state premier Bodo Ramelow lose by a single vote.
The migrant and asylum seekers supporting organisation Pro Asyl tweeted that the result of the election was “horrifying” and a “taboo breaker”.
On their official Twitter page, Die Linke accused the FDP of believing that it was “better to rule with fascists than not to rule at all.”
After being elected as the Prime Minister, Kemmerich, said he will refuse to form a ruling coalition with the (AfD).
Thuringia held its state election in October last year. The ruling party Die Linke won the highest share of the votes with 31 per cent, while the AfD doubled its own share and came second with 23.4 per cent. The FDP barely cleared the 5 per cent hurdle required to entire the regional parliament.
Germany: Free Democrats” Berlin HQ picketed over AfD support in Thuringia
Anti-fascists protested outside the Free Democratic (FDP) headquarters in Berlin on Tuesday, a few hours after Alternative for Germany (AfD) politicians backed the FDP’s candidate for State Prime Minister Thomas Kemmerich.
Kemmerich was supported by his own party, the Free Democrats (FDP), by the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and by the far-right AfD, which threw all of its weight behind him in the third round of voting.
The ruling coalition in the German state of Thuringia, constituted of the Die Linke, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Green party, saw its candidate and the incumbent for state premier Bodo Ramelow lose by a single vote.
After being elected as the Prime Minister, Kemmerich, said he will refuse to form a ruling coalition with the (AfD).
Thuringia held its state election in October last year. The ruling party Die Linke won the highest share of the votes with 31 per cent, while the AfD doubled its own share and came second with 23.4 per cent. The FDP barely cleared the 5 per cent hurdle required to entire the regional parliament.
Turkey: Erdogan demands Syrian forces withdraw from Idlib
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Sunday’s deadly airstrike on Turkish soldiers in Idlib marked the start of a new era in Turkey’s involvement in Syria. The remarks came as Erdogan was speaking at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting in Ankara on Wednesday.
“This is an organised and planned attack against our soldiers. We don’t allow anything to continue in the same way in a place where the blood of the Turkish soldiers has been shed,” he said.
Erdogan, who accused the Syrian regime of violating the ceasefire reached in Idlib, also warned that the Syrian government forces should withdraw behind Turkish observation posts by the end of February, or face repercussions.
On Sunday, eight Turkish troops and one civilian were killed in Idlib during an attack by Syrian government forces. The Turkish leader later denounced Russia of turning “a blind eye” to these attacks from the Syrian side.
Assad regime must leave Turkey’s Idlib posts alone: President Erdogan
Uh, Idlib is in SYRIA.
Does the filthy Turk think he’s got a deal with Putin to split parts of Syria and Libya into “zones of interest”?
Does he really trust his Uncle Vlad that much?
Does he think Uncle Sam will play enforcer?
“I Will Never Vote Democrat Again” – Angry Democrats Call in to C-SPAN and Rage Against Pelosi For Ripping Up Trump’s SOTU Speech (VIDEO)
Angry Democrats called in to C-Span Tuesday evening vowing to “never vote Democrat again” after watching the lack of decorum from Pelosi and Dem lawmakers during Trump’s SOTU speech.
President Trump delivered his third State of the Union Address Tuesday night.
The President honored one of our oldest living Tuskegee airmen, mourned the families of Rocky Jones and Kayla Mueller and reunited a service member with his beautiful wife and children.
First Lady Melania awarded conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Bitter Democrats sat on their butts for record black unemployment, for record jobs numbers, for record wage gains and near the end of President Trump’s speech they even sat when President Trump thanked the “Hand of Almighty God” for blessing this great nation.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/i-will-never-vote-democrat-again-angry-democrats-call-in-to-c-span-and-rage-against-pelosi-for-ripping-up-trumps-sotu-speech-video/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily
They are correctly including Pelosi in the communists now if they will realize that Bill and Hillary belong there also.
Richard: Pelosi’s temper just let her to commit a crime that should see her removed from office and forbidden to every hold any type of job in the Federal Government. Will she be prosecuted and punished for her crimd?
Pelosi Was Mandated to Preserve Trump’s Signed Copy of His SOTU Speech — She Tore It Up Instead
President Trump delivered a historic State of the Union Address on Tuesday night.
Upon entering the House chamber President Trump handed Speaker Pelosi a signed copy of his State of the Union speech as is required.
According to Carl Hibgie — US law requires that Pelosi preserve any official government document:
Carl Higbie
?
@CarlHigbie
FYI: @SpeakerPelosi destroyed an official government document.
18 US code 2071 states:
“Whoever, having the custody of destroys the same, shall be fined… shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.”https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2071 …
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/pelosi-was-mandated-to-preserve-trumps-signed-copy-of-his-sotu-speech-she-tore-it-up-instead/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/pelosi-was-mandated-to-preserve-trumps-signed-copy-of-his-sotu-speech-she-tore-it-up-instead/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily
twitter @realDonaldTrump
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1225158283209650176
US President Donald Trump acquitted of all impeachment charges
The US Senate acquits President Donald Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress following a historic two-week trial.
The Republican-majority Senate voted 52-48 to acquit Trump of abuse of power and 53-47 to acquit him of obstruction of Congress.
(Richard: Pelosi doesn’t have the authority to authorize subpoenas, that requires a vote by the entire house before a committee can issue legally valid subpoenas. This makes twice she has exceeded her authority and once she has openly broken the law, will the Courts slap her hand on the abuse of power and will the AG prosecute her on the crime?)
HERE WE GO: Pelosi Signs Off on Bolton Subpoena – Nadler Says Judiciary Committee ‘Likely’ to Issue Subpoena Soon
We knew this was coming.
President Trump will be acquitted on Wednesday by the senate in the impeachment trial but the Democrats won’t let it end today.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has already signed off on a John Bolton subpoena and House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler is ready to roll.
“Nadler says it’s likely he will subpoena Bolton. Says the Speaker has signed off on it. Unclear when it will happen.” Fox News’ Chad Pergram reported.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/here-we-go-pelosi-signs-off-on-bolton-subpoena-nadler-says-judiciary-committee-likely-to-issue-subpoena-soon/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=daily
The Judiciary Committee does have subpoena authority – IFF such testimony is necessary for pending legislation, (i.e. not impeachment “inquiries” or fishing expeditions).
Nadless might come up with something, but it would be subject to appeal.
Second Amendment Preservation Act | Good News for Gun Owners
China Infiltrates the Middle East | China Uncensored
US Deal of Century to Die before Trump Dies: Ayatollah Khamenei
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/02/05/2196849/us-deal-of-century-to-die-before-trump-dies-ayatollah-khamenei
“Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei deplored the US government’s so-called “deal of the century plan” as “absurd and evil” and said the plot will die before US President Donald Trump dies…”
IRGC Choppers Equipped with New Anti-Armor Missile
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/02/05/2196962/irgc-choppers-equipped-with-new-anti-armor-missile
“The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has armed its helicopters with a homegrown air-to-surface anti-armor missile.
The images of a number of military helicopters overhauled in Iran suggest that the IRGC Ground Force’s Airborne Division has furnished its Bell 214 choppers with a new air-to-surface missile, known as the Iranian version of American AGM-114 Hellfire missile.
The weapons mounted on the IRGC’s Bell 214 helicopter, unveiled on Tuesday, are dubbed “Qaem-114” missiles, a new generation of the Qaem-class smart bombs.
An Iranian missile similar to the US-made AGM-114 Hellfire was for the first time unveiled in November 2013, when the Iranian Defense Ministry introduced the strategic homegrown drone dubbed “Fotros”.
The new Iranian anti-armor missile appears to be equipped with a dual-charge penetrating warhead, probably powerful enough to pierce through armored shells as thick as 1,000 mm.
It is not still clear how the Qaem-114 is guided, but it is probably made with optical sensors like other Qaem-class air-launched bombs.
Iranian experts have the technical know-how to manufacture the laser-guided version of such missiles, as they have already developed the Bina-1 and Bina-2 air-launched missiles.
It is very likely that the new Iranian anti-armor missile will be mounted on Cobra attack helicopters and combat drones capable of flying with heavy payloads.
The new weapon is expected to enhance the operational capabilities of the Iranian aerial units against armored ordnance.”
Clashes in Iraq’s Najaf Kill 6 after Sadr Followers Storm Protest Camp
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2116956/clashes-iraqs-najaf-kill-6-after-sadr-followers-storm-protest-camp
“At least six people were killed in clashes in Iraq’s southern city of Najaf on Wednesday after supporters of populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr stormed an anti-government protest camp, medical and security sources said, according to Reuters.
The medical sources said at least 20 more were wounded in the violence but did not provide further details.
The security sources said that supporters of Sadr, known as blue hats for the blue caps they often wear, had tried to clear the area of anti-government protesters, who in turn tried to stop them.
Fights broke out between both groups, the blue hats threw petrol bombs at protester tents and live gunfire rang out shortly afterwards, wounding and killing six people, they said.
Sadr has at different times both supported and abandoned Iraqi protesters who demand a removal of the entire ruling elite.
He urged followers last week to help authorities bring “day to day life” back to Iraq’s streets by clearing roads blocked by sit-ins and ensuring businesses and schools can reopen after months of protests in which nearly 500 people have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces.
Sadr has also urged the blue hats to allow protests to continue.”
Turkey’s Erdogan pledges $200m to Ukraine army
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200205-turkeys-erdogan-pledges-200m-to-ukraine-army/
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected Russia’s annexation of Crimea and pledged to support the Ukrainian army with $200 million, Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper reported yesterday.
The paper said the Turkish president is retaliating for the killing of seven Turkish soldiers in Syria’s Idlib by regime forces which are supported by Russia.
Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, accused the Russian side of “lying” about its lack of involvement in the Syrian regime’s mortar attack on Turkish forces, saying the Turkish side has “informed the Russians in advance, twice, of Turkish units movements in the region”.
Erdogan said during a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, that Ankara is ready to respond by land and air to any Syrian aggression against Turkish forces present in the region.
The newspaper quoted diplomatic experts as saying that the timing of the Turkish president’s visit to Ukraine is not a coincidence and comes at a time that relations with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, are “tense”, due to the latest developments in Idlib.”
US halts secretive drone program with Turkey
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200205-us-halts-secretive-drone-program-with-turkey/
“The United States has halted a secretive military intelligence cooperation program with Turkey that for years helped Ankara target Kurdish PKK militants, four US officials told Reuters.
America’s decision to indefinitely suspend the programme, which has not been previously reported, was made in response to Turkey’s cross-border military incursion into Syria in October, the US officials said
The US officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said late last year Washington stopped flying the intelligence collection missions that targeted the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which both the United States and Turkey classify as terrorists.
The US military had carried out the missions using unarmed drone aircrafts, which one official said were flown out of Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, where the US military has a significant presence. The base is also a key hub for US spy agencies operating in the region.
The U.S. drone flights that took place within the programme, in place since 2007, often zeroed in on mountainous territory in northern Iraq near the Turkish border, another official said.
“We have supported Turkey in their fight against the PKK in many ways for decades. As a matter of policy, we do not provide details on operational matters,” a Pentagon spokeswoman said, when asked about a halt in assistance.
A State Department spokesperson said the United States does not comment on intelligence matters.
Officials from the Turkish defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment, but a Turkish official confirmed the programme was stopped.
“This makes the anti-PKK campaign more difficult and more costly for Turkey,” one of the four US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.
Arda Mevlutoglu, a Turkey-based defence analyst, said the change may not affect Ankara too greatly because recent advances have equipped Turkey with greater flexibility and freedom in its operational capabilities.
“Turkey’s dependence on her allies, mainly to the US, significantly decreased, if not completely ended in real-time high-quality intelligence gathering and surgical strike type operations,” Mevlutoglu said.”
US troops intercept Russian patrols near oil-rich Syria region
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200205-us-troops-intercept-russian-patrols-near-oil-rich-syria-region/
“The US Armed Forces have prevented a Russian military convoy from passing through a road that leads to the town of Rumaila in Al-Hasakah province, north-east of Syria; Anadolu news agency reported.
This is at least the fifth time that U.S. troops have intercepted Russian patrols in north, east, and west of Al-Hasakah.
Local sources told the news agency that a Russian military convoy, consisting of four armoured vehicles, left Al-Qamishli heading to the Rumaila oilfield, when two American armoured vehicles intercepted them and forced them to return.
Over the past three months, the Russian military police have been stationed in ten areas in northern Syria, some of which used to be American bases, before the latter withdrew from them after the Turkish army launched “Operation Peace Spring” in October last year.
Despite the American troops’ withdrawal from the bases, they maintained a presence in the areas surrounding the oil fields which they recently reinforced.”
Saudi waives fines for citizens of Africa countries if they go home
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200205-saudi-waives-fines-for-citizens-of-africa-countries-if-they-go-home/
“Saudi Arabia will not fine citizens of Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Nigeria and Chad if they have overstayed their visas as long as they pledge to leave the country forever, Al-Mesryoon reported yesterday.
Referencing Saudi newspaper, Okaz, the site reported a source from the Ethiopian consulate in Jeddah confirmed the reports.
Meanwhile, the newspaper reported that the plan would be valid for a renewal period of three months.
Under the plan, fines and fees would be applicable for citizens who later choose to return to the kingdom.
It is worth noting that more than 12 million foreigners live in Saudi Arabia.”
Disappearances and kidnappings of Iraq protestors on the rise
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200205-disappearances-and-kidnappings-of-iraq-protestors-on-the-rise/
“Shocking revelations about an increase in the number of kidnappings and forced disappearances of Iraqis involved in protests across the country over the past few months have come to light in a report by the Francophone Association for Human Rights (AFDH), published yesterday…”
Cold, disease threaten more than half a million Syrians fleeing Idlib fighting
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200205-cold-disease-threaten-more-than-half-a-million-syrians-fleeing-idlib-fighting/
“Cold weather, disease and a lack of shelter and medicine threaten hundreds of thousands of civilians as they flee fighting in Idlib province, in one of the biggest upheavals of Syria’s nine-year civil war, aid groups and doctors said, Reuters reports.
The migrants, their numbers swelling by the day, are trapped between advancing Syrian government forces, keen to crush the last significant opposition stronghold, and Turkey’s closed border.
Some are having to flee by foot, while many others are having to sleep in their cars, as Syrian and Russian warplanes bombard the highways leading north towards Turkey.
A UN official appealed for emergency financial assistance to help an estimated 800,000 people in northwest Syria to survive the coming months.
“People are facing a tragedy. For the last two weeks it’s been very, very cold. There is rain and mud, and influenza is spreading,” said Wassim Zakaria, a doctor who works in a clinic in Idlib city that closed on Monday due to heavy bombardment.
The numbers on the move have increased in recent days as the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad advanced to within 8 km (5 miles) of Idlib city, said Selim Tosun, the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation’s (IHH) media adviser in Syria.
“If the cold weather continues…there is a risk of epidemics as a large migrant flow is coming,” he said.
Since November, 692,000 people have abandoned towns south of Idlib city, Tosun said. The number “is rising every hour” and could reach 1 million, he added.
Zakaria said people had also started to flee from Idlib city but their options for shelter were limited, with people forced to sleep in cars or tents, many near the walled-off border which prevents Syrians taking refuge in Turkey.
“It’s like people are imprisoned here. Last week women and children demonstrated at the border, asking to be allowed across,” he said.
Turkey’s IHH is distributing urgent aid and blankets to those travelling on the highway from Idlib city and has set up 2,000 tents, with plans to put up another 1,500, Tosun said.
Some 700 breeze-block dwellings have also been built out of a total 10,000 which Turkey is planning to erect in the region south of its border, he said.
He added that many people were now seeking shelter beyond Idlib province, already home to waves of civilians displaced earlier in Syria’s civil war, and were heading towards Afrin and Azaz, areas just to the northeast under the control of Turkish-led Syrian rebel forces.
AID APPEAL
David Swanson, UN regional spokesperson for the Syria crisis, said $336 million was urgently needed to help those being displaced, with shelter a critical problem.
“This crisis continues to deteriorate by the minute. This is easily one of the largest waves of displacements since the (Syrian civil war) began in March 2011,” Swanson said.
“Hundreds of thousands of people are in now in urgent need of critical, life-saving assistance,” he said.
The United Nations has put the number of displaced from the Idlib fighting since Dec. 1 at 520,000, with a further 280,000 seen at “imminent risk of displacement”.
Many of the displaced are staying with host communities who themselves are struggling to cope, while others have sought shelter in schools or mosques, or are sleeping in their vehicles or in the open air, said Swanson.
“The humanitarian situation in Syria is more catastrophic than ever before. Who would have imagined that entire cities would be displaced in a single month?” said Atef Nanou, manager of Molham Volunteering Team, a relief group in northern Syria.
He said he had encountered families unable to get away from the bombing because they couldn’t afford fuel for their car or transportation costs.
“So they either stayed despite the bombing or went out on foot on the international road that the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes are bombing around the clock,” Nanou added.”
U.N. watchdog sees no new Iranian violations of nuclear deal
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iaea-iran/u-n-watchdog-sees-no-new-iranian-violations-of-nuclear-deal-idUSKBN1ZZ2SY
“Iran has not taken further steps to violate its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers since it renounced last month all restraints imposed by the agreement, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said on Wednesday.
“After the fifth step, there hasn’t been any follow-up,” said Raphael Grossi on his first official visit to Washington since becoming director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in December. “Of course, they continue to enrich.”
Tehran in July began stockpiling more low-enriched uranium than allowed by the nuclear deal in the first of five breaches that it has declared in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to pull the United States out of the accord and re-impose harsh sanctions that have strangled Iran’s petroleum exports, battering its economy.
Iran says it would reverse the violations, which have included enriching uranium to a higher level than set in the agreement and operating prohibited advanced centrifuges, the machines that purify uranium, if the sanctions were removed.
The breaches were aimed at pressuring European powers to help Iran weather the impact of the U.S. sanctions and perhaps also at pressuring the United States to ease sanctions and open talks with Iran.
After Iran last month announced it no longer would observe any of the deal’s restraints, Britain, France and Germany triggered the deal’s dispute mechanism, opening the door to a possible re-imposition of international sanctions. Russia and China also are parties to the deal.
Grossi said he discussed Iran’s nuclear program on Tuesday with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo but declined to elaborate. During a think tank appearance on Wednesday, Grossi said the IAEA continues to monitor the Iranian nuclear program.
The deal was designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The IAEA and the U.S. intelligence community separately concluded that Tehran shuttered a nuclear weapons development effort in 2003. Iran denies it ever pursued a nuclear weapon.”
The dog that wouldn’t bark.
Morocco Presents Its Hate Speech Prevention Model at UN Meeting
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/02/292873/morocco-presents-its-hate-speech-prevention-model-at-un-meeting/
““Religious tolerance is part of the collective conscience of Moroccan society,” said Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN in New York, Omar Hilale, during a meeting on the fight against hate speech and the incitement to discrimination.
Morocco organized the meeting on Tuesday, February 4, in New York, in collaboration with the UN Office for Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect.
Hilale highlighted the long tradition of religious and spiritual tolerance in Morocco, where religions have coexisted for more than 12 centuries. The Moroccan diplomat cited the coexistence of mosques, churches, and synagogues in different Moroccan cities.
The Moroccan ambassador also recalled the visit of the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, to Morocco in March 2019.
During his visit, the pope congratulated Morocco for having provided “solid training in the fight against all forms of extremism and all offenses against religions.”
Hilale reminded the audience of several plans adopted by Morocco to ensure religious freedom and prevent extremism.
The initiatives include the Rabat Action Plan prohibiting any incitement to racial or religious discrimination, the Marrakech Declaration on the rights of religious minorities in the Muslim world, signed in January 2016, and the Fez Action Plan on the role of religious leaders to prevent incitement to violence, launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in July 2017.
The meeting at the UN’s New York headquarters was also an opportunity for Hilale to recall the adoption of the Moroccan resolution on the fight against hate speech: “Fight Against Hate Speech: Promotion of Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance.”
The resolution, first presented in July 2019, was co-sponsored by 90 UN member states.
Hilale also gave recommendations that could help the international community to combat hate speech, calling on all stakeholders to find synergies with the UN system.
“The creation of a common platform that will merge all launched or underway initiatives remains important to reduce duplication,” he said.
The ambassador suggested the creation of a UN institute for international religious scholars who would provide training, supervision, and advice on how they could use their prominent role in their respective communities to promote a culture of peace, harmony, and coexistence.
The majority of the UN’s member states took part in the meeting, as well as members of civil society, who lauded Morocco’s efforts in the fight against hate speech.”
Morocco’s BCIJ Arrests ISIS Member Linked to Dismantled Terror Cell
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/02/292896/moroccos-bcij-arrests-isis-member-linked-to-dismantled-terror-cell/
“Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) arrested on Wednesday a suspect for his involvement in a recently dismantled cell in the region of Casablanca.
The BCIJ arrested the suspect in Douar El Hediane, in the rural commune of Skhour Rhamna, a region 143.9 kilometers away from Casablanca, a statement from the Ministry of Interior has announced.
The suspect was previously charged with terror-related crimes, the statement added.
The BCIJ dismantled a cell of six suspects on Tuesday.
The members of the cell were active in several locations in the Casablanca region, including Mohammedia and Azilal (270 kilometers southeast of Casablanca).
The ministry announced that the suspects were planning to undermine Morocco’s security through terror operations across the country.
The BCIJ is now investigating the suspects for more details on the case.
The anti-terrorism unit has been carrying similar operations since its creation in 2015, as part of Morocco’s approach to combat terrorism.
One of the latest operations was on December 14, when the BCIJ arrested one suspect with links to ISIS.
Another arrest took place in November 2019 in Rabat’s twin city of Sale, where the BCIJ arrested a suspect inciting terror acts by ISIS “lone wolves.””
K-P recommends public hangings for child abusers
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2150400/1-k-p-recommends-public-hangings-child-abusers/
“The provincial government has recommended public execution for child abusers to a special parliamentary committee.
This has been recommended in a report submitted on Tuesday by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Advocate General (AG) Shumail Butt to the parliamentary committee.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, the AG said they have recommended the proposed punishment in light of the law and the Constitution.
He said that the provincial government has suggested enhancing punishments for convicts in cases of sexual assault on minors…”
Time to open new page in EU accession: Turkish FM
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-respond-to-eus-adverse-steps-in-eastern-mediterranean-cavusoglu-says-151779
“Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu on Feb. 5 warned against deepening distrust between Turkey and the European Union and said ties are passing through a very critical period.
The minister called on the EU to open a new page in accession talks which has been stalled for the past few years.
“We think it is time to open a new page in the accession process. The Council of the European Union should review its decision to suspend Partnership Council meetings and the meetings of high levels of contact and dialogue. We see that term president Croatia is also constructive in this regard,” he said at a meeting with the ambassadors of EU countries in Ankara.
The minister urged the EU to not restrict the cooperation of dialogue between Ankara and Brussels on the topics of non-accession issues.
The EU’s decisions for sanctions over Turkey’s hydrocarbon activities in eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring in Syria and the country’s bilateral deals with Libya have strained relations between Ankara and Brussels, he said.
“We need to increase our communication even further on these issues, which have become a problem among us,” the minister emphasized…”
Turkey slams European Parliament over PKK event
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkey-slams-european-parliament-over-pkk-event/1725799
“Turkey condemned the European Parliament on Wednesday for holding an event attended by the ringleaders of the PKK terror group and its supporters.
Turkey strongly condemned the “unofficial event, which also ignores the principle of fighting terrorist organizations without discrimination,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Allowing the PKK terrorist organization’s ringleaders — who are also on the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations — to participate in an event in the European Parliament and spread terrorist propaganda at the event means openly supporting terrorism, the statement said.”
FEB 05 2020 twitter BBC
============================================
Nathalie Loiseau
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathalie_Loiseau
=============================================
Could the EU afford no deal?
“I’m surprised that a journalist doesn’t know that there aren’t strikes any more in France”replies Nathalie Loiseau, French MEP
https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1225140630013272064
======================================================
France: Torchlight march held in protest against pension reform in Lyon
Hundreds of protesters joined a torchlight march against the pension reform plan in Lyon on Wednesday. Organisers say at least 3,000 activists took part in the rally while police report say 700 attended the demonstration.
“Today the government can’t deny that the whole French population according to multiple polls is opposed to this reform of the pensions. Therefore, today we are still asking for the total withdrawal of the project and I think that we will win in the end, because the government can’t rule against the people forever,” said Jackie Abada, one of protesters.
Labour unions are set to hold a nationwide protest against the reform on Thursday.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe introduced the proposed pension reform to the cabinet on January 24. Debates in the French National Assembly are set to start on February 17 with the first vote scheduled for March.
Russian 57-mm gun turret in action
Among the advanced weapon systems on display at DefExpo India 2020 is the Russian 57-mm gun turret. Action video of the shell-spewing death machine, which can target low-flying drones, was published by the producer.
The turret, or Automatic Artillery Weapon System AU-220M as the manufacturer prefers to call it, is a remotely controlled module armed with a 57mm main gun and a 7.62mm machine gun, full of sensors, stabilizer devices and other equipment.
The developer, a research subsidiary of Uralvagonzavod, says its product will be put on Russia’s future infantry fighting vehicles and other light armor to give them a firepower boost. The test video shows a land-based use of the system. But patrol boats large enough to carry the 3.65-ton module are a viable platform too.