Reader’s Links for February 29, 2020

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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.

About Eeyore

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

123 Replies to “Reader’s Links for February 29, 2020”

  2. If people want to make female-centric movies that dominate the prebuescent female-mind through their body-form entirely, (such as LGBTQ+, Communism and islam), to turn little girls into willing slaves; then that is cool, we need the evidence.

    To force people to go and watch, not cool and far too familiar an agenda by half.
    https://youtu.be/xeX4qvP5mGg

  5. WATCH: 500 Muslims organize chases on Germans who celebrate carnival and beat them up

    While politics, the state and mainstream media were still busy trying to lie about the rampage of an obviously crazy man in Hanau on all channels into a “right-wing motivated terrorist attack” in order to blame it on the AfD, the Cologne carnival brought back memories of New Year’s Eve 2015/16.

    Police NRW Cologne notices a new phenomenon: people deliberately provoke celebrating members of the carnival party to start fights.

    Usually the thugs are not dressed up, they have no interest in celebrating. They are deliberately on the lookout for Carnival revellers who have drunk a lot of alcohol. They provoke their victims and then beat them up. Some of it I have seen with my very own eyes, other reliable eyewitnesses known to me describe it as ” civil war-like conditions”, a police officer called it “hell”, and a friend who works in one of the nearby clubs said: “My main job the last few days has been to treat head wounds and the like”.Much more happened, however, because not only were “fights” provoked, but simply started immediately, head-on or from behind, and brutally kicked at victims who were already on the ground. This is what is missing from the reporting. Another striking but decisive detail is missing: The perpetrators have one thing in common, they come from the Islamic migrant milieu. Turks, Arabs, North Africans; some of them are German-speaking (i.e. have been living here for a longer period of time), others are not (i.e. Merkel’s guests). The victims also have one thing in common: they are so-called ” ethnic Germans”. While the Catholic Church cries for Hanau on Shrove Monday, a Muslim mob in Cologne’s carnival has organized four days of targeted hunts for German kids. That would have been the whole truth. But we can’t be expected to tell the truth, because that could push Hanau into the background and play into the hands of the right wing. Therefore they are just ” younger people”. Now, some may still consider it politically correct not to explicitly emphasise the origin of the perpetrators and victims in such acts. The Press Code suggests this in cases where the origin does not play a significant role in the evaluation of the crime. But it does here, because it is the motive: Muslims’ hatred of the Western way of life.
    More:
    https://medforth.blog/2020/02/29/watch-500-muslims-organize-chases-on-germans-who-celebrate-carnival-and-beat-them-up/

  6. Pakistan’s New Data Localization, Censorship Laws Upset Google, Facebook, Twitter: Report (sputniknews, Feb 29, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/india/202002291078436318-pakistans-new-data-localization-censorship-laws-upset-google-facebook-twitter-report/

    “Pakistan has passed new laws aimed at taking more control over how its citizens use social media. The new laws include data traceability and the ability to block information deemed offensive.

    The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), an industry association that addresses internet policy issues in the Asia and Pacific Region – has reached out to Prime Minister Imran Khan to alert him how the new laws restrict social media, the media reported on Saturday.

    International companies including Facebook, Google, Twitter, Amazon, LinkedIn, Yahoo and Apple are among the members of the AIC.

    “The rules as currently written would make it extremely difficult for AIC Members to make their services available to Pakistani users and businesses,” AIC wrote in its letter addressed to Prime Minister Khan.

    The letter has also reportedly highlighted that the AIC is not against social media monitoring, but they do have other concerns.

    “We acknowledge that Pakistan already has an extensive legislative framework governing online content. However, these rules fail to address crucial issues such as internationally recognized rights to individual expression and privacy,” the media quoted AIC’s letter to the Pakistan Prime Minister as saying.

    As of now, Pakistan’s new Citizenship Protection Rules have triggered global companies to re-consider the stringent regulatory requirements in the country and choose if they were still willing to keep operating there.

    As part of the new laws, Pakistan has declared it mandatory for international firms to store information about Pakistani citizens within the country limits and have offices in Islamabad.

    With the data traceability requirements, the country aims to monitor and tackle online trolls as well as criminals.

    If foreign companies operating in Pakistan fail to adhere to the country’s new laws within the next 15 days, they could be subjected to hefty fines around $3 million.

    In December 2019, the Indian Cabinet approved the Personal Data Protection Bill – which aims to create a system for processing personal data by private and public organisations with detailed rules regarding collection, handling and consent.

    India’s Personal Data Protection Bill also comes with a data localization requirement despite US opposition.

    The US says that it wants India to ensure that its data localisation plan treats American companies fairly, allowing them to compete on a level-playing field.”

  7. Syrian Interior Trade Minister Accuses US of Selling Syrian Oil to Other States via Turkey (sputniknews, Feb 29, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202002291078438094-syrian-interior-trade-minister-accuses-us-of-selling-syrian-oil-to-other-states-via-turkey/

    “Syrian Interior Trade Minister Atef Naddaf has accused the US of selling oil from the Syrian oilfields through Turkey.

    “Our enemy, the United States, they sell it [oil] to Turkey and so forth. Through Turkey and further on. And in other Syrian areas with oil, there is completely destroyed infrastructure, there are destroyed railways, all power stations are destroyed. We do not have electricity, and where is no electricity there is no local [oil] production,” Naddaf said in an interview with Russia 24 TV channel.

    He added that Syria was forced to buy the oil which can only be done with US dollars. He stressed that the country’s banks, including the central bank, were sanctioned, while all money transfers to Syria remain banned.

    On October 29, US Defen?e Secretary Mark Esper said that the US would defend oil fields in Syria and would respond with force to any attempt to capture them, letting in neither Russian nor Syrian forces.”

  8. Erdogan Says Asked Putin to ‘Step Aside’ to Allow Turkey to Deal With Syria ‘Face to Face’ – Reports (sputniknews, Feb 29, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202002291078437124-erdogan-says-asked-putin-to-step-aside-to-allow-turkey-to-deal-with-syria-one-on-one—reports/

    “The Russian and Turkish presidents spoke by telephone on Friday amid the escalating tensions in Idlib, where the Syrian Army has been entangled in a shooting war with Turkish troops and Ankara-backed militants in recent weeks.

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to leave Ankara “face to face” with Syrian authorities in the conflict over Idlib during Friday’s talks.

    “I asked Mr. Putin: ‘What’s your business there? If you establish a base, do so but get out of our way and leave us face to face with the regime,” Erdogan said, speaking to reporters in Istanbul, his comments cited by AFP.
    Erdogan also warned that the “Syrian regime” would “pay the price” for the deaths of Turkish troops in Idlib, and said that if Russia left Damascus one-on-one with Turkey, “we will do what is necessary.”

    Erdogan confirmed that Turkey had opened its borders with the European Union for Syrian refugees, and that some 18,000 migrants had already crossed the border into the EU. According to the Turkish president, Ankara could not “handle a new refugee wave” from Syria. Earlier, Turkish officials told media that Ankara had opened its borders with the European bloc amid the escalating conflict in Idlib.

    “We have been saying for a long time that we are not obligated to accept such a number of refugees. You promised us assistance, but are doing nothing, so we opened our borders yesterday. 18,000 refugees have already passed through, and today this number will be 25,000-30,000, and we will not close our doors because the EU must keep its word,” Erdogan said, presumably referring to the March 2016 Turkey-EU migrant deal.
    Putin and Erdogan spoke by telephone amid tensions in Idlib, the restive Syrian province where tens of thousands of militants remain concentrated, and where dozens of Syrian and Turkish troops have now been killed amid weeks of clashes.

    Also on Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the recent talks with Turkey had led to the consideration of “concrete steps” aimed at achieving “lasting stability in the Idlib de-escalation zone.”

    “Both sides confirmed their goal to reduce tensions on the ground while continuing the fight against terrorists,” the Ministry said in a statement.

    Earlier, in an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Idlib on Friday, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya emphasized that the Syrian Army had every right to eliminate terrorists in Idlib and anywhere else on its sovereign territory.

    “In recent months, the terrorists who captured Idlib, mainly from [al-Nusra*] had dramatically increased attacks against civilians in neighbouring settlements and the Syrian military. In response to the constant violations of the ceasefire inside the Idlib de-escalation zone, the Syrian Army of course has every right to respond and to squash the terrorists,” Nebenzya said.

    The Russian diplomat stressed that Russia could not restrict Syria from fulfilling the requirements on fighting terrorism set out in the Security Council’s own resolutions, especially since Damascus was doing so on its own territory. He added that he hoped that a return to the Astana agreements could help prevent a repetition of the series of events which led to the deaths of Turkish and Syrian troops.

    For his part, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari accused Turkey of aggression in Syria, and alleged that Ankara was using its Idlib observation posts to provide support for terrorists. The diplomat stressed that Syria would do everything necessary to protect its citizens and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Idlib Crisis Deepens
    Simmering tensions in the Idlib de-escalation zone were ramped up again on Thursday, when Nusra terrorists initiated a large-scale attack on Syrian Army positions. Syrian troops returned fire, with at least 33 Turkish troops killed in response. On Friday, the Russian millitary said the Turkish forces caught in the crossfire should not have been there in the first place. Turkish media later reported that the Turkish army had destroyed some 130 pieces of Syrian military hardware in recent weeks.

    On Friday, Greek media reported that Athens had vetoed a planned NATO statement expressing solidarity with Ankara over the deaths of the Turkish troops. Greece reportedly made the decision despite opposition from the US, the UK, France and Germany.

    Russia has repeatedly accused Turkey of proving unable to fulfill several key obligations related to the Idlib de-escalation zone, including the requirement to separate armed militants ready for peace talks with Damascus from jihadists.

    The Syrian Army began an offensive in the Idlib de-escalation zone in late 2019 following repeated terrorist attacks on Syrian forces, which claimed the lives of dozens of Syrian troops. Tensions in Idlib escalated dramatically earlier this month after a Syrian artillery strike killed over half-a-dozen Turkish troops at one of the twelve observation posts Turkey has dotting the Syrian province. The attack prompted an escalatory response by Ankara, and threats of a full-blown military campaign.

    Along with the tens of thousands of armed rebels and jihadists, Idlib is home to as many as three million civillians, and is the most populous Syrian territory outside Damascus’s control.

    * A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.”

    • VOA – Turkish Convoy Seen Entering Northwestern Syria

      A large Turkish military convoy was seen entering Syria, Saturday, February 29, through the northwestern Bab el-Hawa border crossing.

      […]In a speech to supporters Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Russia to “get out of [Turkey’s way in] Syria” and allow it to “deal with [President Bashar al-] Assad.”

      “Turkey has entered Syria at the demand of the Syrian people and not at the demand of Assad,” he said.

      Erdogan added that Turkey has retaliated against Syrian forces for killing 34 of its soldiers.

      He claims that Turkish troops have killed more than 2,000 Syrian forces, destroyed 300 of their military vehicles and bombed a chemical weapons factory east of Aleppo.

  9. Greek Police Use Tear Gas Against Refugees After Turkey Says It Cannot Stem Migrant Flow From Syria (sputniknews, Feb 29, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/europe/202002291078438559-greek-police-use-tear-gas-against-refugees-after-turkey-says-it-cannot-stem-migrant-flow-from-syria/

    “On Thursday, Turkey’s ruling AK Party spokesman Omer Celik said that Ankara was no longer able to contain the flow of refugees from Syria toward the country’s borders with Greece and Bulgaria.

    Greek border police have used tear gas and stun grenades to stop migrants entering the country from Turkey.

    The clashes took place along the Turkish-Greek border on Saturday as Greek authorities claimed that they had blocked about 4,000 refugees from “illegally” entering the EU.

    There were reports of refugees hurling stones at the police officers near a border crossing in the Turkish state of Edirne, where additional security forces were deployed earlier this day.

    Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos told the Greek news channel that “throughout the night the security forces have prevented illegal border crossings”, and that several migrants had been arrested.

    Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas, for his part, pledged that “the government will do whatever it takes to protect its borders”.

    Reuters, in turn, cited an unnamed Greek government spokesperson as saying that “they [migrants] will not enter the country”.

    “They are irregular migrants, we won’t let them enter. Greece has tightened the guarding of its land and sea borders to the maximum degree possible”, the spokesperson added.
    Erdogan Says Turkey ‘Opened the Doors’ for Migrants to Europe
    In a separate development on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his government had allowed refugees to travel to Europe from Turkey.

    “What did we do yesterday? We opened the doors. We will not close those doors […] Why? Because the European Union should keep its promises”, he emphasised.

    The statement comes after Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkey’s ruling AK Party, said on Thursday that even though Ankara remains committed to its policies on migrants coming from Syria, Turkish authorities can no longer stem the refugees’ inflow….”

  11. Islamic extremists kill Nigerian pastor, attack his hometown (abcnews, Feb 28, 2020)
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/correction-nigeria-pastor-slain-story-69285006

    “Islamic militants in Nigeria have killed a Christian pastor who had appealed for help in a video just days earlier, and a human rights activist said Tuesday that other extremists attacked his hometown on the same day.

    The Rev. Lawan Andimi was abducted earlier this month when Boko Haram militants attacked the Michika local government area, where he was the chairman of a local chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria. He was killed on Monday.

    Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari condemned Andimi’s slaying, calling it “cruel, inhuman and deliberately provocative.”

    “I am greatly saddened by the fact that the terrorists went on to kill him even while giving signals of a willingness to set him free by releasing him to third parties,” Buhari tweeted.

    Osai Ojigho, director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, called it “appalling” that Boko Haram followed up Andimi’s killing on Monday with an attack on his hometown in the Chibok local government area of northeastern Borno state…”

  22. Singapore confirms two new COVID-19 cases, both linked to new cluster at Wizlearn Technologies

  24. Doctor in coronavirus-stricken city recounts horrifying experience; Recovered patients reinfected

  25. I watched the Global News item (on tv) again and the UBC researcher that has come up with a drug against Corvid19 is Josef Penninger, he sounded German. The virus works by entering the cell and using the cell to multiply, and then the cell dies. His drug prevents the virus from entering the cell. He worked to find an antidote to the Sars virus in Toronto 17 years ago, but he said when Sars epidemic was over, no one was interested in the research any more, but he figured his findings might help with Corvid19.
    It wasn’t clear from the interview whether it is actually being tested in China or whether he’s trying to get it tested. He said that it was difficult finding a plane going to China to send the drug. The testing would take 5 to 6 weeks to see if it was effective, and then it would be available in 3 to 4 months.

  36. World Health Organization raises coronavirus risk assessment to ‘very high’

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded its risk assessment of the coronavirus to ‘very high’ at a global level and warned governments around the world not to take the outbreak lightly.

    According to the agency’s director general, the increase in the number of cases and the number of affected countries is a major concern. Since Thursday, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Nigeria have all reported their first cases of the virus. Notably, all of these cases have been linked to Italy.

    “What we see at the moment are linked epidemics of COVID-19 in several countries, but most cases can still be traced to known contacts or clusters of cases,” explained WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom. “We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities.”

    He added there is still a chance of containing the virus if immediate action is taken to detect cases early and isolate known patients.

    https://www.oann.com/world-health-organization-raises-coronavirus-risk-assessment-to-very-high/

  37. Turkey: Protesters rally outside Russian consulate for second day

    Hundreds of protesters rallied in central Istanbul on Saturday, to protest Russia’s support of the Syrian government following a deadly airstrike on Turkish troops in Syria’s Idlib province.

    Protesters marched across the commercial Istiklal avenue chanting slogans and holding banners reading, “Against the evil alliance of Russia Iran and Assad.” They later reached the Russian consulate where they left posters hanging from police barriers outside the building.

    Another rally was held in front of the consulate on Friday, prompting a heavy deployment of police forces.

    At least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in Thursday’s airstike, according to Turkish officials. Turkey reportedly launched retaliatory strikes against the Syrian Arab Army. The Syrian Arab Army forces have been trying to retake Idlib from armed groups supported by Turkey.

  39. US Demands Russia ‘Immediately Ground Warplanes’ Over Syria (spuniknews, Feb 29, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/world/202002291078439628-us-demands-russia-immediately-ground-warplanes-over-syria/

    “The situation in the northwestern Syrian renegade province of Idlib escalated again on Thursday after Syrian forces responding to a Nusra Front assault accidentally struck Turkish positions, killing 33 troops and injuring dozens more. The attack prompted the UN Security Council to call an emergency meeting on the situation in Syria.

    The US “fully supports” Turkey’s right “to respond in self-defence” to the “unjustified” attacks on Turkish forces in Idlib, Syria which killed nearly three dozen troops Thursday, US Permanent Representative to the UN Kelly Craft has said.

    “We call on the Russian Federation to immediately ground its warplanes. And we call for all Syrian forces and their Russian backers to withdraw to the ceasefire lines first established in 2018,” Craft said, speaking at the UN Security Council’s emergency meeting on Syria on Friday.

    “The United States is not here today to listen and discuss. We are here to speak directly and without qualification,” Craft warned. “In the days ahead, the United States’ commitment to our NATO ally, Turkey, will not waver,” the ambassador added.

    Calling the Astana format for Syrian peace talks “broken beyond repair,” Craft said that the US wants “an immediate, durable, and verifiable ceasefire in northwest Syria,” and urged the UN to “play a central, active role if we are to avoid even greater escalation.”

    Responding to Craft, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya pointed out that the incident involving the deaths of Turkish military personnel took place outside Turkey’s observation post base, and stressed that Syria has the right to target terrorists. Nebenzya recalled that the Nusra* terrorists in control of large swathes of Idlib have dramatically increased their attacks against civilians and the Syrian military in recent weeks, giving the Syrian Army the right to respond.

    The Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari, meanwhile, accused Turkey of aggression, and alleged that Ankara was using its observation posts to provide assistance to the terrorists. Al-Jaafari also accused the UK of calling Friday’s Security Council meeting to try to discredit the Astana format…”

  40. Hungary Decides to Reinforce Border After Prime Minister’s Conversation With Erdogan (sputniknews, Feb 29, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/europe/202002291078439479-hungary-decides-to-reinforce-border-after-prime-ministers-conversation-with-erdogan/

    “Earlier in the week, Erdogan said that Turkey had opened its border with the European Union to Syrian refugees as it had not received promised assistance to deal with the refugees within its borders.

    The Hungarian authorities had decided to strengthen its border security following a phone conversation between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the government said on Saturday. On Friday, Orban and Erdogan discussed the situation in Syria as well as the migrant crisis.

    “Mr Erdogan informed the Hungarian Prime Minister that there was enormous pressure on Turkey, and therefore they would no longer be able to detain some of the migrants currently in their territory,” the government said in a statement.
    Later on Friday, Orban convened a meeting of his security cabinet.

    “At the meeting, they reviewed reports of the Hungarian security services, and then decided to reinforce the protection of the Hungarian borders and to closely monitor proceedings on the Balkans migration route,” the government said.

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his country opened its borders to Europe to Syrian refugees citing the lack of promised assistance as the reason.”

  41. Sweden: Employment Service Forecasts Surging Migrant Unemployment (breitbart, Feb 29, 2020)
    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/02/29/swedish-employment-service-forecasts-surging-migrant-unemployment/

    “The Swedish Employment Service has warned that migrant unemployment rates are set to dramatically increase to the worst levels since the 1990s in a new report.

    The agency stated that as the trend of overall unemployment in Sweden continues to grow, structural unemployment will increase and that migrants will be especially likely to be jobless, Sydsvenskan reports.

    “The Employment Service believes that those born abroad with the highest level of upper secondary education will suffer a sharp rise in unemployment and long-term unemployment in the coming years,” the agency said.

    “The group that is most severely affected is foreign-born women who do not have upper secondary education,” it added.

    The report comes just a month after Swedish bank Handelsbanken predicted that the country’s economy would remain sluggish for the rest of the year and that overall unemployment numbers could reach as high as 7.2 per cent this year and 7.4 per cent in 2023.

    The agency also demanded 800 million Swedish krona (£63,680,071/$82,220,880) in added cash from 2021 to 2023 to cope with added administrative costs.

    Migrant unemployment rates have been far higher than rates fior native Swedes rates for years, with a 2018 report revealing that while native unemployment was just 3.6 per cent that year the migrant rate was 19.9 per cent.

    Migrants also make up the majority of those who sign up with the Employment Service, according to another 2018 report, which noted that six in ten people registered with the agency are born overseas.

    The Employment Service has several programmes designed to get migrants into work including the use of government-subsidised jobs — and figures released in early February showed that just 6.1 per cent of newly-arrived migrants were able to find work not subsidised by the government after 90 days in an Employment Service programme.

    In total, just 31 per cent of migrants in the programme were able to get any sort of job at all.”

  42. Cyprus says Turkey deliberately sent it migrants for months (abcnews, Feb 28, 2020)
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/cyprus-turkey-deliberately-migrants-months-69294159

    “Cyprus’ interior minister on Friday accused Turkey of deliberately channeling migrants for months to the ethnically-divided island’s Greek Cypriot south to change the composition of its population.

    Nicos Nouris said up to two-thirds of arriving migrants reach the internationally-recognized south through the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north that’s recognized only by Turkey.

    “We maintain that there is a very specific purpose and aim, which is to alter the island’s demographic character, and clearly we cannot continue to accept (migrants) in such numbers,” Nouris told The Associated Press.

    The Cypriot government sees this as a long-running issue. Unlike fellow European Union-member Greece, Cyprus did not see a wave of migrants trying to enter Friday after Turkey said it would no longer hold them back following its military losses in Syria.

    Cyprus was split along ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, but only the Greek Cypriot south enjoys full membership benefits.

    Nouris said Cyprus currently hosts 21,000 asylum seekers — or 3.8% of its population. Most are from the Middle East, chiefly Syria, and Asia. Another 12,000 have been granted asylum.

    Cyprus is looking to the EU for additional financial and material support to help cope with migrant inflows.

    Nouris was in Brussels last week to argue for a comprehensive EU migration policy allowing a fairer distribution of migrants who have been granted asylum.

    He said European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas will visit Cyprus in the near future to assess the situation.”

  44. Gare de Lyon FIRE: Huge blaze erupts at Paris train station – streets in panic (express, Feb 29, 2020)
    https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1248859/Gare-de-Lyon-fire-latest-france-news-gare-de-lyon-paris-station-fire

    “POLICE in Paris have arrested more than 50 people following a massive fire at the city’s iconic Gare de Lyon station.

    Friday afternoon’s blaze came after officers clashed with people protesting against a Congolese artist giving a concert nearby. Terrified passengers were seen running from the landmark station as giant plumes of smoke rose high into the sky. Parisians and tourists alike stopped to take in the dramatic scenes and record on their phones as flames engulfed motorcycles and a car close to the station.

    Officers evacuated the station after corridors filled with thick smoke.

    Police had banned protests around the AccorHotels Arena in the neighbourhood of Bercy in the 12th arrondissement in the run up to the concert.

    But demonstrators took to the streets to voice their opposition to a concert by Fally Ipupa from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Opponents say Mr Ipupa is too close to the political leaders in his country.

    Congolese expats regularly speak out against artists from home who perform in France or Belgium, accusing them of being close to former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila and his successor Felix Tshisekedi.

    A 2017 concert by Ipupa was cancelled by police citing risks for “serious disturbances to the public order”.

    Protesters tried to block people from making their way to the concert.

    They also set fire to scooters and rubbish bins in the area.

    At least one car parked close to Gare de Lyon was seen burning.

    Witnesses were quick to post updates on social media including footage showing protesters preventing firefighters from reaching a blaze.

    At 6.30pm local time Paris Police said the fire was under control and asked people to avoid the area.

    By 10pm they had made 54 arrests.

    Interior minister Christophe Castaner said: “I condemn the degradations and violence committed in the area of ??the Gare de Lyon by individuals who have defied the ban on demonstrations.”

    He voiced his support for Paris firefighters and the police hired “to restore order and arrest troublemakers”.

    The SNCF train service operator said the underground section of the Gare de Lyon was evacuated as a precautionary measure.

    Journalist Remy Buisine posted a video of the fire.

    He said: “Major fire in progress near the Gare de Lyon after tensions between opponents of the Fally Ipupa concert in Bercy and the police.”

    Another video shared on Twitter appears to show a group of men pushing firefighters away from a blaze.

    Some members of the group appear to pick up barricades and storm towards the firefighters.

    Riot police were seen marching along a nearby road.

    The Gare de Lyon is one of the six large mainline railway stations termini in Paris.

    An estimated 90 million passengers pass through its doors each year.

    It is the third-busiest station in France and one of the busiest in Europe.”

  50. A human smuggler awaits work as Turkey opens gates to Europe; He’s been doing it for 20 yrs+served 6 yrs prison for it. The “pres” (reis) gave us permission so we’re starting up again.’ It costs $500/600 a person+after costs we get about $1000 to divide among 5/6 people (1000Tl).
    https://twitter.com/Istanbultelaviv/status/1233826886511480832

    #Turkey becomes the world’s first officially human trafficker state but has yet to realize its consequences.
    https://twitter.com/cngsgnc/status/1233763750207016961

    Rudaw Kurdish: Turkish-backed groups cut the water for 1 million civilians in northeast Syria. One civilian complained there hasn’t been water for 3-4 days
    https://twitter.com/vvanwilgenburg/status/1233672316695011329

    A Turkish man insults the Syrian refugees at the border: He says, “Come on beasts, run away and let’s see how far you go, God willing. We have 33 martyrs and you are fleeing from here like dogs! You stateless people, you bastards. Thanks God we are Turks”.
    https://twitter.com/vdcnsy/status/1233826734270799872

    Erdogan says 18K crossed from Syria…but many Syrians who tried to cross out say they were beaten by Jandarma at the border and turned back. Refugees in Turkish border camps have been trapped inside by soldiers since Weds. Turkey’s just pushing out the Syrians settled in Turkey.
    https://twitter.com/LindseySnell/status/1233692495655165954

    A Turkish army without airsupport and cheap bad-quality metal on rubber.
    https://twitter.com/Karl_hakon/status/1233294668311531520

    FSA: 1) The first Pakistani mercenaries have arrived in Syria 2) FSA says TSK/FSA will be “fighting” Hurras al-Din remnants and they expect HTS to dissolve and relinquish weapons to TSK in the coming days/weeks. Some HTS will be split between FSA factions, rest will go to Libya.
    https://twitter.com/LindseySnell/status/1233860397670772736