Puppet Masters

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

Anti-vax crusader Kennedy accuses Gates' cronies Birx and Redfield - now in charge of Covid vaccine, of lying about HIV

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Fort Russ
Thu, 23 Apr 2020 16:17 UTC

U.S. military documents show that, in 1992, CDC's current Director Robert Redfield and his then-assistant, Deborah Birx — both Army medical officers — knowingly falsified scientific data published in the New England Journal of Medicine & the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses fraudulently claiming that an HIV vaccine they helped develop was effective. They knew the vaccine was worthless.

Redfield now runs the agency charged with mandating COVID vaccines. Birx, a life-long protégé to both Redfield & Anthony Fauci, served on the board of Bill Gates' Global Fund. Redfield, Birx & Fauci lead the White House coronavirus task force.

Comment: Mr. Kennedy's complete post with a gallery of corroborating documents:

Iran to cut four zeros from currency to fight hyperinflation

RFE/RL
Mon, 04 May 2020 16:17 UTC

Iran's parliament has voted to slash four zeros from the national currency, the rial, to fight hyperinflation caused by crippling U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic.

Lawmakers also decided on May 4 that the rial, which has been Iran's national currency since 1925, will be replaced by the toman, which will be equal to 10,000 rials, according to the IRNA and ISNA news agencies.

President Donald Trump in May 2018 withdrew the United States from a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers under which Tehran pledged to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

Washington then reimposed most sanctions on Iran, dealing a hard blow to the Islamic republic's economy.

In recent months, the rial has shed more than 60 percent of its value, with hyperinflation also accelerated by the economic consequences of the coronavirus outbreak. Iran is one of the countries worst hit by the pandemic.

Comment: A sign of things to come in other nations?

Venezuela foils incursion of a Colombian maritime assassin squad

Joaquin Flores
FRN
Sun, 03 May 2020 00:00 UTC

© Reuters media
Venezuelan security forces on Sunday in La Guaira guarded the shore and a boat in which the authorities say armed men landed with plans for a coup.

The Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace of Venezuela, Nestor Reverol, denounced [sic announced] this Sunday the elimination of an incursion by a terrorist group into the country by sea, from Colombia, which tried to enter the coasts of the state of La Guaira.

Reverol highlighted that the objective of this incursion was to commit terrorist acts in the country, assassination of leaders of the revolutionary government, increase the spiral of violence, generate chaos and confusion in the population and thereby lead to a new coup attempt.

At dawn on May 3, mercenaries tried to carry out an invasion by sea, the interior minister said at a press conference on Sunday morning.

Comment: The preliminary investigation into this 'invasion' published photos of arms and equipment seized including six trucks, a boat, assault rifles and two machine guns. Six militants were killed, including a local field commander, while two more were detained.

Mr. Reverol said the group had landed in the town of Macuto, about 21 miles (34km) north of the capital Caracas and socialist party chief Diosdado Cabello claimed his forces killed eight men and arrested two more - one of which was supposedly a DEA agent.

Jordan Goudreau, a retired American Green Beret, and a retired Venezuelan army captain, Javier Nieto, claimed responsibility for the attack, boasting "Operation Gedeon" had been successfully launched "deep into the heart of Caracas" and that other armed cells had been activated throughout the country.

In addition, the operation also resulted in the apprehension of military gear and weapons, allegedly matching equipment stolen in the failed April 30, 2019 military putsch and Navy ships are patrolling the coastline in search of other vessels involved in the incursion.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez verified a defensive operation was ongoing and there could be further arrests in the coming days along with a new set of "Bolivarian Shield" military exercises to begin immediately on orders of President Nicolas Maduro.

Former US Special Operations soldier Jordan Goudreau had played a leading role in a plan to invade Venezuela led by retired Venezuelan Major General Cliver Alcala. Goudreau was responsible for training a contingent of 300 Venezuelan army deserters who were to enter Venezuela in a heavily armed caravan and seize the capital within 96 hours.

Pompeo whips up the hysteria: Accuses China of hiding severity of outbreak to hoard medical supplies

Will Weissert
Associated Press
Mon, 04 May 2020 14:26 UTC

© AP /Andrew Harnik, File
In this April 29, 2020, file photo Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a news conference at the State Department in Washington.

U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show.

Chinese leaders "intentionally concealed the severity" of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable.

The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government's response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump's political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home.

Well, if anyone would know a 'rigger', it's Obomber. The democratic party is filled with riggers, as the last 'election' amply demonstrated.......

Winston Smith

Government, aided by mainstream media: lie upon lie upon lie....

ReRan

Now i show that the above article is showing active 25 minutes ago which makes me wonder if Sahib ( Charitarth Ahlawat) jumped the gun on the...

Rowan Cocoan

Barclays was beautiful! The Next Day city workers did their thing! NYC finally woke their asses up! The demonstration follows a mob of...

Nada

I see a new market for fake IDs, this time claiming age of 17.

Yupo

Puppet Masters

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

Anti-vax crusader Kennedy accuses Gates' cronies Birx and Redfield - now in charge of Covid vaccine, of lying about HIV

Iran to cut four zeros from currency to fight hyperinflation

Venezuela foils incursion of a Colombian maritime assassin squad

Pompeo whips up the hysteria: Accuses China of hiding severity of outbreak to hoard medical supplies

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