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Hamas, Fatah agree to hold elections in the coming months

Yumna Patel
Mondoweiss
Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:00 UTC
Gaza city mural
© Mahmoud Ajjour/APA imagesMural titled: 'Ready for elections' in Gaza City.
After more than a decade of political strife, rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have agreed to hold elections for the first time in Palestine in nearly 15 years.

According to the officials from both sides, polls will be scheduled within six months and priority will be given to holding legislative elections, followed then by presidential elections of the Palestinian Authority (PA), and the central council of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

The agreement was announced on Thursday amid talks between Fatah and Hamas officials in the Turkish city of Istanbul, which are expected to continue into the coming days to discuss details of the election process and further reconciliation efforts. Leaders from both factions welcomed the agreement, describing the meetings as "positive, fruitful and constructive."

Secretary-General of the Central Committee of Fatah Movement Jibril Rajoub said "we reached a clear vision of the mechanisms for building national partnership through proportional representation elections," adding that the mechanisms of holding elections in places like Israeli-controlled occupied East Jerusalem were still being discussed.
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Red Flag

Thousands of mosques destroyed or damaged in Xinjiang over previous three years

Helen Davidson
the Guardian
Fri, 25 Sep 2020 17:30 UTC
china mosque
© Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesA Chinese flag flies over a mosque closed by authorities in the old town of Kashgar.
Thousands of mosques in Xinjiang have been damaged or destroyed in just three years, leaving fewer in the region than at any time since the Cultural Revolution, according to a report on Chinese oppression of Muslim minorities.

The revelations are contained in an expansive data project by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), which used satellite imagery and on-the-ground reporting to map the extensive and continuing construction of detention camps and destruction of cultural and religious sites in the north-western region.
Nanyuan Street mosque
Nanyuan Street mosque
Nanyuan Street mosque - 2017 and 2018
The thinktank said Chinese government claims that there were more than 24,000 mosques in Xinjiang and that it was committed to protecting and respecting religious beliefs were not supported by the findings, and estimated that fewer than 15,000 mosques remained standing - with more than half of those damaged to some extent.

"This is the lowest number since the Cultural Revolution, when fewer than 3,000 mosques remained," the report said.
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Bizarro Earth

Two injured in knife attack outside Charlie Hebdo's former offices in Paris, two suspects detained

Jon Henley
The Guardian
Fri, 25 Sep 2020 18:12 UTC
Hebdo
© Thibault Camus/APPolice at the scene of the knife attack near the former offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris.
A counter-terrorism investigation has been launched in France after two people were seriously injured in a knife attack in front of the former offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris.

Two arrests have been made and the victims' lives were not in danger, authorities said.

A man wearing bloodstained clothing and carrying a large knife or machete was detained near the Place de la Bastille in eastern Paris shortly after the attack, police said.

The victims were a man and a woman employed by a TV production company called Premières Lignes based in the same building as the newspaper's former offices.

Comment: RT reports:
The attack comes shortly after the launch of the trial of the alleged accomplices to the deadly 2015 attack, which kicked off in early September. The beginning of the trial was also celebrated by the satirical magazine which decided to reprint the Prophet Mohammed cartoons that ultimately prompted the terrorist attack.

The reprint of the cartoons sparked a new wave of protests in the Muslim world. In Pakistan, for instance, scores of hardline Islamists staged several mass demonstrations, condemning the satirical magazine, the offensive cartoons, and even France as a whole.
RFE/RL reports:
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on September 25 the knifing was "clearly an act of Islamist terrorism."

"Obviously, there is little doubt. It's a new bloody attack against our country, against journalists, against this society," he said in an interview with the France 2 television station.

The interior minister said the main suspect was an 18-year-old believed to have arrived in France three years ago as an unaccompanied minor from Pakistan. His identity is still being verified.

The main suspect was arrested on the steps of the Bastille Opera not far from the attack site with blood on his clothing. A blade, described as a machete or a meat cleaver, was recovered at the scene of the attack.

An Algerian man was also arrested shortly after the attack for possible links to the main suspect. Hours later, five other people said to be of Pakistani origin were taken into custody for questioning during a raid on the main suspect's home in Paris.

The interior minister said the 18-year-old had been previously arrested for carrying a screwdriver but was not known to be radicalized.

France's counterterrorism prosecutor's office said that an investigation had been opened into "attempted murder in relation to a terrorist enterprise" and "conspiracy with terrorists."
See also:

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USA

Portland, Oregon, braces itself for large right-wing rally

Gillian Flaccus
The Washington Times
Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:01 UTC
proud boys portland 2019
© AP Photo/Noah Berger, FileIn this Aug. 17, 2019, file photo, members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing demonstrators plant a flag in Tom McCall Waterfront Park during a rally in Portland, Ore. At least several thousand people are expected in Portland on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, for a rally in support of President Donald Trump and his re-election campaign as tensions boil over nationwide following the decision not to charge officers in Louisville, Kentucky for killing Breonna Taylor.
At least several thousand people are expected in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday for a right-wing rally in support of President Donald Trump and his "law and order" reelection campaign as tensions boil over nationwide following the decision not to charge officers in Louisville, Kentucky, for killing Breonna Taylor.

The Proud Boys, a group that has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, described it as a free speech event to support Trump and the police, restore law and order and condemn anti-fascists, "domestic terrorism" and "violent gangs of rioting felons" in the streets. Local and state elected officials forcefully condemned the event and rushed to shore up law enforcement ranks as left-wing groups organized several rallies to oppose the Proud Boys' message.


Comment: The SPLC, a hate group themselves, has labelled the Proud Boys as a hate group, but the FBI has said otherwise: FBI reveals it did NOT label Proud Boys an extremist group


Comment: See also:

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Light Saber

Over 80% of Britons not heeding COVID-19 self-isolation rules, study finds

Alistair Smout
Reuters
Fri, 25 Sep 2020 15:42 UTC
Margate beach Britain
© TREUTERS/Andrew CouldridgePeople enjoy the hot weather on Margate beach in Margate, Britain, June 24, 2020.
Over 80% of people in Britain are not adhering to self-isolation guidelines when they have COVID-19 symptoms or had contact with someone who has tested positive, a study has found.

A majority were also unable to identify the symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The research raises major questions about the effectiveness of England's Test and Trace programme as Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeks to keep a lid on rising infection numbers with new restrictions.

The research, led by King's College London, found that only 18.2% of people who reported having symptoms of COVID-19 in the last seven days had not left home since the symptoms developed, and only 11.9% requested a COVID-19 test.

It also found that only 10.9% of people told by the NHS Test and Trace scheme to self-isolate after close contact with a COVID-19 case had done so for 14 days as required.

The government last week introduced fines of up to 10,000 pounds ($12,780.00) for breaking self-isolation rules, and are offering a 500-pound support payment to low-paid workers who lose income from quarantining.

Comment: The study can be found here: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.15.20191957v1.full.pdf
"Factors associated with multiple outcomes

Patterns of results were similar for all outcomes. Lower adherence was associated with being male, younger age, having a dependent child in the household, lower socio-economic grade, greater hardship, and being less informed about COVID-19 and guidance to prevent the spread of the virus (e.g. not being able to identify key symptoms of COVID-19), not knowing government guidance if you were to develop symptoms of COVID-19, and disagreeing that someone can spread COVID-19 even if they are asymptomatic"


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Vader

Mandatory mask wearing is silent terrorism meant for psychological submission

Gary D. Barnett
garydbarnett.com
Tue, 22 Sep 2020 05:47 UTC
face mask tyranny
"If you are too weak to give yourselves your own law, then a tyrant shall lay his yoke upon you and say:" Obey! Clench your teeth and obey!" "And all good and evil shall be drowned in obedience to him."

Friedrich Nietzsche
Since when is depriving the body and mind of oxygen, and breathing in expelled carbon dioxide (CO2) good for the health of humans? Since when is wearing a partial face covering that is multiple times more porous than can protect against any virus penetration helpful? Since when is hiding all expression from others not psychologically damaging? Since when is it legitimate and not hypocritical for the state to outlaw Muslim women from wearing head and face coverings that are part of their culture, and in the same breath force all Americans to cover their faces with a mask? Since when does any politician have any right to dictate to an entire population that they have to wear masks or any other type of clothing? Since when in this day and age did absolute slavery of all become a mainstay of American society?

Forced mask wearing due to political control over people is a major aspect of the tyrannical response to this fraudulent virus 'pandemic.' Social distancing, forced testing, quarantines, mandated business closings, temperature checks, mass surveillance, and any number of other atrocious invasions of privacy are all demeaning and oppressive, but the state and local orders supported by the national political and 'health' organizations to wear masks, is especially instructive of the real agenda sought. That agenda is as clear as day, and is being implemented not only as a test of mass societal compliance, but also to force people apart and to remove closeness, expression, and emotion from the human psyche. This is a purposeful state exercise with the intent of destroying the spirit of the American public, leaving only a society of unfeeling and obedient drones awaiting the next order handed down from on high.

Comment: See also:

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Robot

Boston Dynamics robot dog spotted out on city street triggers fear and defensiveness


RT
Sat, 26 Sep 2020 01:05 UTC
Cyber dog
© Reuters/Edgar Su
Video of a Boston Dynamics Spot robot dog apparently wandering a city street on its own has struck terror into the hearts of social media users — though some defended the 'bot, pointing out humans can hurt each other without help.

A Canadian Twitter user posted video of the four-legged yellow robot ambling down the sidewalk on Thursday, though it's not clear where it was actually filmed. The person taking the footage, though initially startled, opts for a friendly approach, addressing the quadruped with "Hello friend!"


The dog-bot turns toward the cameraperson and appears to snap a photo before walking away.
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Magnify

Moscow mayor asks over-65s to stay home after rise of possible FLU cases, Russia's health watchdog rules out coronavirus "second wave"


RT
Fri, 25 Sep 2020 10:10 UTC
hospital
© Sputnik / Sergey PyatakovMoscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin and chief medical officer Alexey pogonin (left) during a visit to The Spasokukotsky City clinical hospital after major Repairs in the North of Moscow.
Muscovites have a reputation for being a gloomy bunch. But few could blame them for feeling melancholic and sullen after the city's Mayor announced a partial, albeit voluntary, return to some coronavirus quarantine measures.

Writing on Friday morning, Sergey Sobyanin has 'recommended' that residents of the Russian capital, aged over 65, and those with chronic illnesses stay at home due to a noticeable rise in Covid-19 cases, this week. Previously he told Rossiya-1 TV that the increase in hospitalized patients with coronavirus in Moscow is "serious." The mayor added that the situation with the spread of the infection is becoming more complicated.

"Moscow residents over 65 years of age and younger citizens with chronic illnesses shouldn't, unless absolutely necessary, leave their homes or summer retreats," Sobyanin wrote on his personal blog. "So, starting on Monday, September 28, 2020, we are asking you to remain at home... working retirees over 65 and people with chronic illnesses are strongly urged to switch to a remote format or take a vacation. If necessary, you will receive medical leave."

Comment: As noted above, other officials stated that this surge was not only predictable but it's also manageable, while other experts have stated that herd immunity to the coronavirus has likely been achieved throughout most of Russia.

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Mail

US Attorney's Office: Small number of mail-in military ballots cast for President Trump discarded in Luzerne County UPDATE


CBS3
Fri, 25 Sep 2020 03:45 UTC
Trump Ballots
© Right JournalismUS President Donald Trump • Election ballots
Federal authorities in Pennsylvania say a small number of military ballots cast for President Donald Trump were discarded in Luzerne County. The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Middle District of Pennsylvania says an investigation was launched Monday following reports of potential issues with a small number of mail-in ballots at the Luzerne County Board of Elections.

The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police have conducted interviews and recovered and reviewed physical evidence. Authorities say Luzerne County election officials have been cooperative.


Comment: And so it begins: The mail-in mail-out.
UPDATE 24/9/2020 ALL the retrieved military ballots were Trump Votes:
Mail-in ballots from the military serving overseas were found in the trash in Pennsylvania. The ballots were discovered during an investigation into election issues in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They were all votes for President Trump.

While nine ballots have been recovered, it is not clear how many were actually discarded.

This announcement comes on the heels of a report that three trays of mail, including absentee ballots, were discovered in a ditch in Wisconsin.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany addressed both these stories on Thursday.

See also:
Mail-in ballots? No thanks! Three tubs of ballots discovered in mail processing center after polls closed in Wisconsin

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Bullseye

Best of the Web: Tucker Carlson: Leaders and media peddle lies as our cities burn

Tucker Carlson
Fox News
Fri, 25 Sep 2020 19:41 UTC
Mobs in Louisville, KY
© ITV
The rage mob doesn't care about justice, no matter what they scream. They want blood. So with the encouragement of our leaders, [and media] they unleashed violence on Louisville. They set fires and destroyed businesses. Then, to the surprise of no one, they opened fire on the police.

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