Puppet Masters

Upside to Covid-19? Merkel may get a fifth term as the crisis boosts her popularity

RT
Sun, 03 May 2020 21:28 UTC

The Covid-19 crisis has surprisingly turned out to be a boon for German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she regained public support. Now, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer believes a fifth term in office might not be ruled out.

Successful handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic which has allowed Germany to start the process of gradually easing quarantine rules which have been crippling its economy for quite some time has apparently boosted Merkel's image among her fellow party members and political allies.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, who has had quite a thorny relationship with the chancellor over the last couple of years, has now floated the idea of her staying at the helm for another term. The man, who once said he "cannot work with this woman" anymore and refused to shake hands with her amid the coronavirus scare just a couple of months ago, has now given generous praise to her "strong" leadership during the epidemic.

The minister lauded "excellent teamwork" within the cabinet and cooperation of the federal and regional authorities, attributing all this to Merkel's "strategic leadership."

Comment: Given the global grasp for an anchor and safety net, is the Merkel advocacy a true boost or the public's port in the storm?

UN to Israel: Annexation plans are 'entirely unacceptable'!

Peter Kenny
aa.com.tr
Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00 UTC

An independent UN human rights expert warned Friday that the new Israeli coalition government's plan to proceed with annexing significant parts of the occupied West Bank, will be a blow to the international order and undermine prospects for a negotiated settlement.

According to Michael Lynk, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967:

"Israel's decision to unilaterally march ahead with the planned annexation on July 1 undermines human rights in the region, and would be a severe body blow to the rules-based international order."

Lynk expressed alarm that Israel's annexation plans are being supported and facilitated by the United States.

If the annexation plans proceed, what would be left of the West Bank would become a "Palestinian Bantustan", an archipelago of disconnected islands of territory, surrounded and divided up by Israel with no connection to the outside world, the special rapporteur said.

Comment: The UN will never be the hammer to the nail it seeks to pound without the ability to enforce international law.

The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to follow and report on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Special Rapporteurs are not United Nations staff members; they do not receive a salary from the United Nations, and do not work for any government or interest group, allowing them to maintain their independence. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur derives from the 1993 resolution from the Committee of Human Rights. The mandate calls on the Special Rapporteur:

(a) To investigate Israel's violations of the principles and bases of international law, international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

(b) To receive communications, to hear witnesses, and to use such modalities of procedure as he may deem necessary for his mandate;

(c) To report, with his conclusions and recommendations, to the Commission on Human Rights at its future sessions, until the end of the Israeli occupation of those territories.

Pompeo's anti-China bluff strategy reveals all-or-nothing mentality to fool US voters

Global Times
Mon, 04 May 2020 06:05 UTC

During an interview on Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was "enormous evidence" the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories," Pompeo explained. Once again, the US diplomat and former CIA director has stunned the world with groundless accusations.

Since Pompeo said his claims are supported by "enormous evidence," then he should present this so-called evidence to the world, and especially to the American public who he continually tries to fool. The truth is that Pompeo does not have any evidence, and during Sunday's interview, he was bluffing.

Comment: To be fair to Trump he is working in a den of vipers and he's doing the best he can under the circumstances. As for the coronavirus, it's now clear it's not the deadly virus world governments hyped it up to be, and so by opening up the economy Trump is doing right by Americans:

UK trade minister Conor Burns resigns after being caught abusing position threatening member of public over father's loan

The Guardian
Mon, 04 May 2020 11:34 UTC

© Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA
Conor Burns was found by the standards committee to have tried to intimidate a member of the public while attempting to intervene in his father's dispute over a loan.

A close ally of Boris Johnson has resigned as a trade minister after being found to have used his position to try to intimidate a member of the public.

Conor Burns, the minister of state for trade policy, was found by the standards committee to have made veiled threats while attempting to intervene in his father's dispute over a loan.

A Downing Street spokesman said Burns had resigned following a report from the parliamentary commissioner for standards.

Comment: The large majority of Lords and MPs are not fit for purpose:

Lebanese President slams int'l community for failing to meet obligations on Syrian refugees

Sputnik
Mon, 04 May 2020 18:36 UTC

The international community has not fulfilled its commitments to help Lebanon tackle the Syrian refugee crisis, which cost the country almost $30 billion, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said.

"The cost of the Syrian refugee crisis overwhelms the country's ability to address it. The international community has turned a deaf ear [to Lebanon's calls to resolve the issue], and did not pay any attention to its consequences that might affect our country. ... If it had fulfilled its obligations, we would not have reached that awful state of affairs," Aoun said.

The president has noted that the global community continues to put pressure on Lebanon to bear the crisis' burden even though the country has been facing a deteriorating economic situation.

"We have recently come to an unprecedented economic and financial crisis in our history. One of the main reasons for it is that Lebanon has incurred costs totaling almost $30 billion as a result of the presence of over 1.5 million of Syrian refugees on our soil, according to the International Monetary Fund," the president noted.

Blow to democracy or legitimate deal? Israel's High Court to mull power-sharing Netanyahu-Gantz pact

Sputnik
Mon, 04 May 2020 18:25 UTC

Israel might head to the polls for the fourth time in under two years, warns the Director of Israel Democracy Institute, if the country's High Court, set to convene later today, decides the agreement sealed between PM Netanyahu and Blue and White party chief Gantz contradicted the Jewish state's democratic values.

Israel's High Court of Justice to adjourn on Monday to hear petitions against the power-sharing agreement signed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Blue and White chief Benny Gantz.

The 14-pages-long pact, inked in late April, stipulates the division of power between the former political rivals turned allies and paves the way to the creation of a broad government in Israel aimed at tackling COVID-19, which has claimed the lives of more than 230 people and has shaken up the country's economy.

But petitioners, an array of NGOs and individuals associated with Israel's left-wing circles, who appealed to the court several weeks ago, demanding its interference, say that the pact could not be binding as it breached the democratic values of Israel.

DOJ intervenes on behalf of church challenging Virginia governor's virus restrictions

John Solomon
Just the News
Sun, 03 May 2020 18:00 UTC

The Justice Department on Sunday intervened on behalf of a church fighting Virginia Gov. Ralph Northman's virus restrictions in a federal court case that may determine whether religion is an essential service.

The department filed a Statement of Interest in federal court in support of Lighthouse Fellowship Church, a congregation in Chincoteague Island, Virginia, that serves, among others, recovering drug addicts and former prostitutes.

The church says it held a 16-person worship service in its 225-seat sanctuary on Palm Sunday while maintaining rigorous social distancing. At the end of the service, Chincoteague police issued Lighthouse's pastor a criminal citation and summons, based on the Northam's executive order.

CNN uses coronavirus double standard to slam Republican governor - but stats show Florida no worse than California, better than NY

Keith W. Carlson
The Federalist
Mon, 04 May 2020 16:49 UTC

Our health and economy are not the only things suffering under coronavirus. Media and political hypocrisy and partisan double standards are at crisis levels.

The important role of a free press is being jettisoned to achieve leftist political outcomes. When a free press debases itself in this way, the public loses confidence in the press and devolves to cynicism. This is hurting health policy and the body politic.

Expecting every politician to have gotten everything right from day one would be patently unfair. They're operating with limited information and looked at predictions we now know are demonstrably wrong.

The news problem has been applying different standards and coming to different political conclusions when looking at the same data. Our national crisis is not the time for petty partisanship, especially from our press.

A Tale of Two States — and One 'News' Service

Compare CNN's COVID-19 coverage in California to Florida and you'll see the problem. Here, on April 10, is Editor-at-Large and political reporter Chris Cillizza on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: "Unfortunately for Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the fight against coronavirus has exposed the fact that he may simply not be up to this moment in history."

The basis for "the fact" the governor is not up to his job? DeSantis's statement, "I don't think nationwide there's been a single fatality under 25. For whatever reason it just doesn't seem to threaten, you know, kids."

White House press secretary rips MSM for ignoring Michael Flynn FBI entrapment story

Charlie Spiering
Breitbart
Fri, 01 May 2020 16:48 UTC

'Doesn't that trouble you as a journalist?'

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany scolded reporters on Friday at the White House for failing to cover the story of new developments in the case surrounding former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

"There is a case of injustice that is yet to be brought up today. I would certainly like to bring it up," she said. "That is the case of Michael Flynn. What we have learned from that should scare every American citizen."

New documents revealed this week showed FBI agent notes about trying to trick former National Security Michael Flynn into a lie to get him fired.

Comment:

Assange extradition case delayed until Sept, judge orders change of court

Marty Silk
The Australian
Mon, 04 May 2020 16:34 UTC

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's US extradition case will be moved to another British court after being delayed until September.

District judge Vanessa Baraitser has ordered the Australian's case, which had been set for May 18, be moved from Woolwich Crown Court to another court and to resume in September.

"It's going to take some negotiation to find a Crown Court that is open in September, in the current climate, and willing and available to take this hearing," judge Baraitser said on Monday in Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The new location, which might be outside London, and start date for the remaining three weeks of the hearing will be confirmed on Friday.

Comment: Assange's latest hearing was again plagued with mysterious technical glitches which impeded reporting

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Cognitiu

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Puppet Masters

Upside to Covid-19? Merkel may get a fifth term as the crisis boosts her popularity

UN to Israel: Annexation plans are 'entirely unacceptable'!

Pompeo's anti-China bluff strategy reveals all-or-nothing mentality to fool US voters

UK trade minister Conor Burns resigns after being caught abusing position threatening member of public over father's loan

Lebanese President slams int'l community for failing to meet obligations on Syrian refugees

Blow to democracy or legitimate deal? Israel's High Court to mull power-sharing Netanyahu-Gantz pact

DOJ intervenes on behalf of church challenging Virginia governor's virus restrictions

CNN uses coronavirus double standard to slam Republican governor - but stats show Florida no worse than California, better than NY

White House press secretary rips MSM for ignoring Michael Flynn FBI entrapment story

Assange extradition case delayed until Sept, judge orders change of court

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