(2019-12-21). Pakistani court sentences professor to death for blasphemy. rt.com 
An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced a university professsor to death for insulting the Prophet Muhammed. The trial has already seen his defense lawyer shot dead, under the Muslim world's harshest blasphemy regime. | Thirty-three-year-old Junaid Hafeez was arrested in 2013 and charged with making derogatory remarks about the Islamic Prophet Muhammed on social media. Under the country's harsh blasphemy law, he was sentenced on Saturday to death by hanging. | His lawyers claim he was framed by Islamic extremists for his liberal views, and said they plan to appeal the verdict. "There can't be a fair…
(2019-12-21). Turkish jets 'neutralize' 3 PKK terrorists in N.Iraq. yenisafak.com A group of three PKK terrorists was neutralized as part of a Turkish counter-terrorism operation in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry announced on Saturday.Three PKK terrorists preparing for an attack were neutralized in an air-backed operation held in northern Iraq's Zap and Sinat-Haftanin regions, the ministry said on Twitter.The statement added that counter-terrorism operations in the region would continue without slowing down.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in statements to imply terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.More than 400 YPG/PKK terrorists were…
(2019-12-21). Locals in Syria's Ras al-Ayn expose YPG/PKK oppression. yenisafak.com A Syrian woman displaced by the YPG/PKK terror group in northern Syria exposed the true colors of the terror group by telling how it persecuted the locals using violence."YPG/PKK forcibly evicted us out of our homes, they said 'get out, get out!' They forced us out of homes at night by beating us," the weary woman said in a video posted by the Turkish Ministry of National Defense on Twitter on Saturday."They didn't even allow us to bring our belongings with us. They've also burnt our homes," she added.She went on to say that Turkish soldiers looked out for the Syrians upon their arrival in the region and they ext…
(2019-12-21). Sleeping dragon no more: China about to replace US as strongest naval power and Washington is too late to stop it. rt.com 
China might soon shift the world naval balance and unseat the US as the modern master of the seas. The process appears to already be under way, and there is little that Washington can do about stopping it. | Visibly shaken by what it has seen on a photo showing just one of China's military shipyards near Shanghai, the business magazine Forbes recently told its readers an alarming story about the "impressive rate" and "vast scale" of Chinese naval modernization. | Today, China Changxing island pic.twitter.com/cxVmRiMjiQ— ÈæôÈæë&per…
(2019-12-21). 'Interference in domestic affairs': Germany fumes at US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 pipeline. rt.com 
Berlin has rejected a package of sweeping US sanctions meant to halt the construction of the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, denouncing it as interference in its domestic affairs. | Germany "has noticed with regret that the sanctions initiated by the US Congress against Nord Stream2 and Turkstream [pipelines] came into force after being signed by the US president," deputy government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer tweeted on Saturday. | The federal government rejects such extraterritorial…
(2019-12-21). 'They'll soon demand we stop breathing': Moscow slams Nord Stream 2 sanctions, says US hinders economic growth. rt.com 
The US, a country with a mammoth national debt, is trying to prevent others from growing their economies, the Russian Foreign Ministry said following actions taking aim at the Russo-German Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. | Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova lashed out at the US' crippling sanctions regarding the pipeline this Friday. | "A state with a $22-trillion national debt prohibits creditworthy countries to develop the real sector of their economies!" she wrote in a Facebook post, adding…
(2019-12-21). CIA torture is 'snow secret': Edward Snowden roasts CIA's feelgood holiday tweet. rt.com 
Every now and again the CIA does its best to appear relatable, and every time the agency gets put back in its place. Now, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden hijacked a festive tweet to slam the CIA's torture practices. | "It's *snow secret* that we love winter," the clandestine agency tweeted on Saturday, marking the first day of winter in the US. | Snowden was acerbic in his response. "It's *snow secret* that you tortured Gul Rahman for weeks at a black site, then chained him naked to a concrete floor until he died in the near-winter cold," he tweeted. | t.co/UjwEE3GXjb (2019-12-21). CIA torture is 'snow secret': Edward Snowden roasts CIA's feelgood holiday tweet. rt.com Every now and again the CIA does its best to appear relatable, and every time the agency gets put back in its place. Now, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden hijacked a festive tweet to slam the CIA's torture practices. | "It's *snow secret* that we love winter," the clandestine agency tweeted on Saturday, marking the first day of winter in the US. | Snowden was acerbic in his response. "It's *snow secret* that you tortured Gul Rahman for weeks at a black site, then chained him naked to a concrete floor until he died in the near-winter cold," he tweeted. | It's *snow secret* you tortured Gul Rahman for weeks at a…
(2019-12-21). 'Hope you understand as a Native Indian': Indian MP shreds Warren for criticizing canceled meeting with US reps over Kashmir. rt.com 
An Indian MP has taken US Senator Elizabeth Warren to task after she raised concerns about a canceled meeting between New Delhi and a fellow progressive lawmaker, poking fun at her self-declared Native American bona fides. | After Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar scrapped a scheduled meeting with US lawmakers — including Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) — during the 2+2 summit in Washington on Friday, Warren fired off a tweet calling "efforts to silence" the congresswoman "deeply troubling." The tweet prompted a swift mocking response from BJP lawmaker Rajeev Chandrasekhar, arguing t…
(2019-12-20). Boeing Capsule Launches to Wrong Orbit, Skips Space Station. truthdig.com 
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Boeing's new Starliner capsule ended up in the wrong orbit after lifting off on its first test flight Friday, a blow to the company's effort to launch astronauts for NASA next year. | As the company scrambled to understand what happened, NASA canceled the Starliner's docking with the International Space Station, instead focusing on a hastier than planned return to Earth. The Starliner could parachute into its landing site in the New Mexico desert as early as Sunday. | Officials stressed the capsule was stable and safe, and that had astronauts been aboard, they would have been in no da…
(2019-12-20). Fiery Disagreements Erupt at Sixth Democratic Debate. truthout.org At the sixth Democratic primary debate, a smaller field displayed greater distinctions and fiery disagreements. The PBS/Politico debate at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, opened with questions echoing GOP talking points, such as claims about the alleged economic harm of wealth taxes (which Warren rebuffed well) but eventually ventured into real substance with challenging questions about Guantánamo Bay, Israel and Pal…
(2019-12-20). Trump Lashes Out at Evangelical Magazine After It Calls for His Ouster. commondreams.org The editorial in Christianity Today called Trump's Twitter feed "a near perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/trump-removal-christianity-today.jpg …
(2019-12-20). 'Biden impersonating child's stutter' fails to join long list of gaffes, as Huckabee Sanders bears brunt of online rage (VIDEO). rt.com 
Near the end of Thursday's Democratic debate, frontrunner Joe Biden impersonated a child's stutter while speaking about people he meets on the campaign, in a move initially seen as a gaffe by some. | Rather than the heartfelt moment he had perhaps intended, the mimicry seemingly missed the mark at first and confused both the audience and the online commentariat, rather than winning them over. | What is going on with Joe B…
(2019-12-20). None of your business! Xi warns Trump against US meddling in China's affairs. rt.com 
Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned his US counterpart Donald Trump against meddling into Beijing's internal affairs, saying that Washington's actions were harming "mutual trust" and cooperation, such as they are. | The two leaders held phone talks on Friday, and provided markedly different accounts of them. Trump used Twitter, his medium of choice for the affairs of state, to brag about having a "very good talk" with Xi about their "giant Trade Deal" in the making. | Had a very good talk with President Xi of China concerning our giant Trade Deal. China has already started large scale purchaes of agricultu…
(2019-12-20). Bolsonaro says Trump will toss planned tariffs on aluminum & steel after phone call. rt.com 
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he has convinced his American counterpart to forego new tariffs on steel and aluminum, which President Trump threatened to impose earlier this month. | "I was pleased to receive a call from President Trump, a 15-minute conversation. I understood what he wanted and intended to do and give my arguments to him," Bolsonaro said in a Facebook live broadcast after the call on Friday. | He became convinced of my arguments and decided to tell us all that our steel and aluminum will not be overcharged. That way our policy remains the best possible. | President Trump said he had a…
(2019-12-20). Trump raises 'smocking' age to 21 & slams nonexistent 'ET' mag, creating thousands of proofreaders in one stroke. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has excoriated Christianity Today magazine for demanding his dismissal, referring to it as "ET" in his rage. Then he bragged about raising the "smocking" age, further triggering his new editors. | Trump warned his supporters that the magazine Christianity Today, which published an editorial calling for him to leave office on religious grounds earlier this week, had degenerated into a "far left magazine" in a tweet on Friday. The periodical "would rather have a Radical Left nonbeliever, who wants to take your religion & your guns, than Donald Trump as your President," he fumed. ….h…
(2019-12-19). Tulsi Gabbard votes 'present' on both impeachment articles, stoking liberal ire on Twitter. rt.com 
Hawaii Democrat Tulsi Gabbard broke ranks with her party and voted "present" on two articles of impeachment, slamming the process as "partisan." The vote drew swift condemnation from Twitter's more progressive quarters. | Voting "present" instead of "yes" or "no" in Wednesday's full House vote for two impeachment articles passed in committee last week, Gabbard became one of only a tiny minority of Democrats to swim against the current in her own party. | "I could not in good conscience vote for impeachment because removal of a sitting President must not be the culmination of a partisan process, fueled by triba…
(2019-12-19). Trump taunts 'do-nothing' Democrats for stalling on sending impeachment articles to Senate. rt.com 
President Donald Trump slammed the "do-nothing" Democrats after party leaders said they would delay sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate until they could guarantee a "fair trial" in the Republican-controlled chamber. | "Now the Do Nothing Party want to Do Nothing with the Articles & not deliver them to the Senate," Trump tweeted a day after being impeached by the House of Representatives for "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress." | I got Impeached last night without one Republican vote being cast with the Do Nothing Dems on their continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in American histor…
(2019-12-18). BBC Director-General Calls for Media Critics to Be Purged From Social Media. mintpressnews.com The BBC has responded to criticism over its coverage of the UK's general election by calling for their online critics to be banned from social media.
(2019-12-18). Tories spent over £950,000 on Facebook adverts in late election blitz. thecanary.co 
The Conservative Party spent more than any other party on Facebook and Instagram adverts in the run-up to last week's General Election, analysis by the PA news agency has found.It largely came in a spending blitz in the final two weeks of the campaign.Across their two main pages — named Conservatives and Boris Johnson — the party spent a total of £959,329 in the four weeks up to the vote.In comparison, Labour spent £552,035 on its Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn pages between 14 November and 12 December, the fourth most of the major UK parties.The Liberal Democrats were the second biggest spe…
(2019-12-18). Whistleblower Chelsea Manning Spends Her Birthday Imprisoned. mintpressnews.com Military whistleblower Chelsea Manning spent her 32nd birthday behind bars yesterday for continuing to refuse to testify against Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange. She has been in prison since May after a U.S. District Judge ordered her incarceration for not recognizing the legitimacy of the grand jury. She tweeted that she was grateful for t…
(2019-12-17). Reuters Shields OAS Over False Claims That Sparked Bolivia Coup. fair.org 
Reuters ( 12/4/19) highlights the findings of the Organization of American States—while omitting the criticism of those findings. | Organization of American States (OAS) election monitors published a "final report" on December 4— 22 days later than promised—on Bolivia's October 20 presidential election, won by President Evo Morales. The tardy release of the fin…
(2019-12-16). Viral Chilean feminist anthem reveals powerful international sentiment against sexual violence. liberationnews.org 
The protest song was first performed for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 20 in Valparaíso, Chile.
(2019-12-02). The War on Truth: How Israel's Social Media Trolls Conquered Facebook. zcomm.org Israel may have found a way to circumvent the influence of Facebook on the discussions pertaining to Palestinian rights and the Israeli occupation…
(2019-12-01). The Usual Incoherence on Student Benefits Is Back. peoplespolicyproject.org 
Of all the welfare state topics, student benefits manages to consistently attract the most incoherent and weird arguments, and the recent spate of arguments on this front are no exception. In the last week, a student benefit dustup has been instigated by Pete Buttigieg ostensibly being against free public college for millionaires and billionaires while Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are ostensibly for it. | This has set off the usual round of commentary about how Buttigieg is arguing for means-testing while Warren and Sanders are arguing f…
(2019-11-17). CAP's Topher Spiro Is Trying to Deceive Journalists By Lying. peoplespolicyproject.org 
It's been fun to see how the Center for American Progress (CAP) navigates this year's presidential election. For insider political reasons, they can't support Biden or Sanders. But for a long time, it was unclear who the alternative candidate they could support would be. | When Kamala Harris was rising, CAP's staff was doing overtime boosting her on Twitter and in the press, including boosting Harris's absurd health care proposal. But Harris's collapse put an end to that strategy. Recently Warren has risen as the alternative and so CAP has been working to promote her campaign, which puts CAP in the comical positi…