Puppet MastersS


Better Earth

UK supports international court after Trump approves sanctions


National Post
Sat, 13 Jun 2020 21:34 UTC
ICC logo
© AP/Mike CorderInternational Criminal Court
Britain said on Saturday the International Criminal Court should be able to work independently, without fear of sanction, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump approved economic and travel sanctions against some of its employees.

"The UK strongly supports the International Criminal Court in tackling impunity for the worst international crimes," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.


Comment: They're guilty too, but at least it's the right sentiment.


"We will continue to support positive reform of the court, so that it operates as effectively as possibly. ICC officials should be able to carry out their work independently and impartially, and without fear of sanction."

The U.S. sanctions approved by Trump target ICC employees involved in an investigation into whether American forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

Comment: Meanwhile, this should say everything that needs to be said about the issue:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said thanked President Donald Trump and his administration for sanctioning the International Criminal Court. "I would like to thank the president for his leadership in sanctioning the corrupt and biased international court obsessed with a witch hunt against Israel and the United States."
From one war criminal to another.

Meanwhile, this is the ICC's response to Trumps threats:
The International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") expresses profound regret at the announcement of further threats and coercive actions, including financial measures, against the Court and its officials, made earlier today by the Government of the United States.

The ICC stands firmly by its staff and officials and remains unwavering in its commitment to discharging, independently and impartially, the mandate bestowed upon it by the Rome Statute and the States that are party to it.

These are the latest in a series of unprecedented attacks on the ICC, an independent international judicial institution, as well as on the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice, which reflects the commitment and cooperation of the ICC's 123 States Parties, representing all regions of the world.

These attacks constitute an escalation and an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Court's judicial proceedings. They are announced with the declared aim of influencing the actions of ICC officials in the context of the Court's independent and objective investigations and impartial judicial proceedings.

An attack on the ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice.

As it continues to meet its mandated responsibilities, the Court relies on the staunch support and cooperation of its States Parties. The Court wishes to recall, in this context, yesterday's joint statement from the ten ICC States Parties members of the UN Security Council, reconfirming their "unwavering support for the Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution," as well as the press statement issued earlier today by the President of the Assembly of States Parties.


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Key

EU proposes members reopen external borders from July 1


France 24
Sat, 06 Jun 2020 17:18 UTC
airfrance maschine mombasa, boeing 777
© DPA
The European Union said Wednesday it hoped to reopen its external borders to foreigners in July, as leaders look to loosen the economic stranglehold of virus lockdowns that are triggering a steep global downturn.

Europe has suffered devastating human losses from the pandemic, accounting for just under half of the 411,000 lives claimed by Covid-19's deadly tear across the world.

Now the continent is trying to contain the fallout of a historic recession spurred by restrictions on movement and business that have saved lives but have choked global commerce.

Comment: There's not one shred of evidence that these draconian restrictions have saved any lives. They have however destroyed many lives and killed countless others with illnesses who have been unable to access the healthcare they need.

See:

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Star of David

It sure looks like Trump and Adelson have cut a deal on Israeli annexation of Palestinian land

Philip Weiss and James North
MondoWeiss
Fri, 12 Jun 2020 00:00 UTC
Adelson and Trump
Miriam and Sheldon Adelson present Trump with a menorah, Dec. 7, 2019. Israeli American Council national summit.
Sheldon Adelson, the Israel-loving, Iran-war-craving casino baron, talks to Donald Trump all the time, and for good reason, he and wife Miriam are the biggest Republican donors, poised to give as much as $200 million this year. Now that the White House appears to be lying down for the Israeli government as it moves to annex portions of the West Bank despite a growing chorus of international condemnation, the focus should be on Adelson. He has always been a strong supporter of Israeli expansion, a man who says, "There's no such thing as a Palestinian."

So far, the Adelsons have gotten everything they've wanted from our transactional president: tearing up the Iran deal, moving the embassy to Jerusalem, defunding Palestinians, recognizing the Golan annexation, treating settlement expansion as legitimate, even a presidential medal of freedom for Miriam, etc. Right up to yesterday — a Trump attack on the ICC in the name of Israel. As Trump once said when a Republican rival was getting Adelson's money, Adelson wanted a "perfect little puppet."

Comment: See also:

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Attention

After weeks of nothing said about mass protests, CDC offers new warnings just in time for Trump's upcoming rally


RT
Sat, 13 Jun 2020 03:08 UTC
Rally/CDC/No Cops
© Reuters/Stephanie Keith/Tami Chappell/Brian Snyder
The CDC has warned that the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over and that states may be forced to reintroduce lockdowns - just as President Trump prepares to resume his campaign rallies after weeks of crowded protests nationwide. Health agency's deputy director for infectious diseases, Jay Butler, told reporters Friday:
"If cases begin to go up again, particularly if they go up dramatically, it's important to recognize that more mitigation efforts such as what were implemented back in March may be needed again. Every activity that involves interacting with others has some degree of risk right now... It's important to remember the situation is unprecedented and the pandemic is ongoing."
With dozens of localities cautiously lifting sweeping lockdown policies imposed in March to contain the virus, some states have already seen a resurgence in cases and hospitalizations, among them North Carolina, Arizona and Texas.

Comment: Nothing in politics happens by chance as every political activity calculates its risks and/or gains. The timing of the civilian outbursts, Trump's upcoming rally and a potential rise in cases will surely be connected. And, the blame goes to...DJT.

See also:
'Do the protests now': HRC's Covid-19 outrage for Trump rally is roasted

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Footprints

'Do the protests now': HRC's Covid-19 outrage for Trump rally is roasted


RT
Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:14 UTC
Protesters march
© Reuters/Erin ScottProtesters march against racial inequality in Washington
Hillary Clinton has criticized President Donald Trump's upcoming Oklahoma rally over Covid-19 fears, but critics are blasting her as she's seen no problem with the mass protests across the nation over the death of George Floyd.

"If your rallies come with a liability waiver, you shouldn't be holding them," Clinton tweeted on Friday in response to a tweet revealing the president's Tulsa, Oklahoma rally includes a Covid-19 waiver form for attendees.

The waiver merely warns people of the risks of Covid-19 in any public places and asks guests to "assume all risks," meaning attendees should likely practice social distancing and/or wear protective masks, two things videos and photos have been showing not taking place at many protests across the country.

Comment: Perhaps she has a hidden 'off' button someone could press?

See also: After weeks of nothing said about mass protests, CDC offers new warnings just in time for Trump's upcoming rally

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Mail

Ri Son Gwon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of DPRK: 'Our message to the US is clear!'


KCNA Watch
Fri, 12 Jun 2020 00:00 UTC
Ri Son-gwon
© beyondparallel.csis.orgNorth Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Son-gwon
Ri Son Gwon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of DPRK, made public the following press statement on Friday which reads:
Two annual rings were run since the historic June 12 summit talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States of America.

We need to see what the world has witnessed and what lesson the history learned from the DPRK-U.S. relations during this not-a-short period that spans 732 days.

What stands out is that the hope for improved DPRK-U.S. relations - which was high in the air under the global spotlight two years ago - has now been shifted into despair characterized by spiraling deterioration and that even a slim ray of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula has faded away into a dark nightmare.

The desire of the peoples of two countries to put a period to the world's most antagonistic relations between the DPRK and the U.S. and to open a new cooperative era of peace and prosperity runs deep as ever. Yet the situation on the Korean peninsula is daily taking a turn for the worse.

This is substantiated by the DPRK-U.S. relations during the past two years.

Comment: Blinded by power, the US has, once again, shown the world it is not willing to live up to its promises only its rhetoric. That pattern is clear. This letter, in its entirety, is as much a message for other global leaders as it is a direct slam on the Trump administration.

See also: l

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Book

John Bolton: Press release for new book claims evidence of Trump's transgressions


RT
Fri, 12 Jun 2020 17:29 UTC
Bolton/Book sign
© Reuters/Leah Millis/Reuters/Jonathan DrakeFormer national security advisor John Bolton • Crowd's not buying it
Ex-national security advisor John Bolton has released a juicy teaser for his new book, claiming to have evidence of Donald Trump's foreign policy "transgressions" prompting many to ask why he kept the information from Congress.

In a press release advertising his new book on Friday, Bolton, who was fired by Trump in September 2019, accuses his former boss of more "Ukraine-like transgressions" which allegedly spanned "the full range of his foreign policy."

Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives last year for "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress." Democrats accused him of withholding US military aid from Ukraine in an effort to pressure Kiev to launch an investigation into a company that employed the son of former vice president Joe Biden and was accused of corruption. In the end, the military aid was delivered on time.

Now, Bolton is suddenly claiming he is aware of other transgressions and pointing the finger at the House for having "committed impeachment malpractice by keeping their prosecution focused narrowly on Ukraine."

Comment: Firing Bolton was one of the shining moments of the Trump administration. No regrets.

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Oil Well

Turkey's plan: Establish 2 permanent military bases in Libya


Sputnik
Fri, 12 Jun 2020 21:43 UTC
Sarraj/Erdogan
© APHead of GNA Fayez al Sarraj • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkey is planning to establish two permanent military bases in Libya as part of its continued support for the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), the Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak reported on Friday, citing military sources.

According to the newspaper, Libya's GNA is considering giving the Turkish military use of the recently recaptured Al-Watiya Air Base for the stationing of air defence systems and combat drones. GNA forces recaptured the base from the rival Libyan National Army (LNA) on 18 May. The second base will reportedly be established in the port of Misrata for Turkish naval vessels.

Ankara may become a co-owner of offshore oil companies that are based in Libya's exclusive economic zone, meaning that Turkish warships will be necessary to monitor drilling operations, the newspaper reported. Turkey also believes that the ongoing tensions with Greece make it necessary for warships to be deployed in the region.
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Eye 1

New Facebook tool gives employers ability to suppress "unionize" in workplace chat

Lee Fanglee
The Intercept
Sat, 13 Jun 2020 17:23 UTC
facebook censorship
Facebook Workplace is currently used by major employers such as Walmart, which is notorious for its active efforts to suppress labor organizing. The application is also used by the Singapore government, Discovery Communications, Starbucks, and Campbell Soup Corporation.

The suggestion that Facebook is actively building tools designed to suppress labor organizing quickly caused a stir at the Menlo Park, California-based company. Facebook employees sparked a flurry of posts denouncing the feature, with several commenting in disbelief that the company would overtly pitch "unionize" as a topic to be blacklisted.

The following day, the company presentation was taken down. But on Thursday afternoon, after the presentation had been deleted, Karandeep Anand, a product manager for Facebook Workplace, weighed in on an internal company board. Anand apologized for the "unionize" example, noting that "censoring users is not the purpose of this feature and Workplace's ambition is to give everyone a voice, while maintaining a respectful work environment." He added that the "oversight" was likely "lack of context versus bad intent from anyone on the team."
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Mr. Potato

What a joke! Biden's biggest fear: 'This president is going to try to steal this election'

Rebecca Shabad and Marianna Sotomayor
NBC News
Thu, 11 Jun 2020 07:30 UTC
Joe Biden in Los Angeles on March 3, 2020.
© Melina Mara / The Washington Post via GettyJoe Biden in Los Angeles on March 3, 2020.
Joe Biden said Wednesday night that his greatest concern is whether everyone's votes will be counted in November as he warned that President Donald Trump may try to "steal" the presidential election.

In an interview on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," host Trevor Noah asked the former vice president what the plan is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to vote without being in a line that's six hours long, as many people in Georgia experienced during Tuesday's primary.


Comment: Biden made these ridiculous statements on a Comedy Central Tee Vee show - which is as symbolic as it is appropriate.


"It's my greatest concern, my single greatest concern. This president is going to try to steal this election," said Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee.

Biden noted that the president has repeatedly cast doubt on the legitimacy of mail-in ballots even though Trump himself took advantage of the process to vote in Florida earlier this year.

Comment: Biden's statements and aspersions actually reflect the intentions of his party - to steal the presidential elections themselves. Everything Trump has been - and continues to be accused of in these regards - is in fact what the Dems have been, and continue to be guilty of, as they work to rig the election in their last ditch efforts to oust "Orange Man Bad!". And make not mistake, they are going ALL OUT to achieve this.

See also:

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