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Facebook bans all praise of 'white nationalism' & 'white separatism'


RT
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 19:06 UTC
national socialist movement
© Reuters / Jim UrquhartCommander Jeff Schoep of the National Socialist Movement, a white nationalist group, speaks at a rally in Arkansas
Facebook has announced that it will ban content relating to 'white nationalism' and 'white separatism' from its platform. The nature of the content that will be banned raises some free speech concerns.

Facebook's hate speech policies already forbid any content praising or promoting "white supremacy." The company has, until now, drawn a distinction between this content and "white nationalism" and "white separatism," much to the ire of civil rights activists, who argue that the terms are interchangeable.

"Going forward," the company announced in a blog post on Wednesday, "while people will still be able to demonstrate pride in their ethnic heritage, we will not tolerate praise or support for white nationalism and separatism."

As of next week, users attempting to post such content will be redirected to Life After Hate, a nonprofit staffed by former extremists that seek to turn young people away from white supremacy. The new policy will apply to both Facebook and Instagram.
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Marijuana

US House to soon approve legislation ending interference with states' marijuana legalization

Adam Dick
The Ron Paul Institute
Wed, 27 Mar 2019 18:41 UTC
dea raid
In a new interview at Boston Herald Radio, United States House of Representatives Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA) said he expects the House, in the next few weeks, will approve by "an overwhelming vote" legislation requiring the US government to respect states' marijuana legalization. "We need to make sure that our federal laws do not obstruct what states are doing," declared McGovern.

McGovern further states in the interview that he believes the legislation will have bipartisan support in the US Senate. The question remains, though: Will Senate leadership also allow a floor debate and vote on such legislation?

McGovern's new comments, in which he also explains the Rules Committee he chairs will guide the marijuana legislation to the House floor for a vote, are in line with his declaration in November, soon after Democrats won a majority in the House, that US laws had fallen behind as states liberalized marijuana laws and that, as Rules Committee chairman, he would end his Republican predecessor's years-long practice of blocking marijuana amendments from reaching the House floor for debates and votes.

McGovern's comments in the Boston Herald Radio interview provide one more indication of the great momentum behind ending marijuana prohibition across America. The Ron Paul Institute (RPI) will be holding a conference on May 18 in Houston, Texas where RPI Chairman Ron Paul and drug war experts will explore the timely topic of ending the war on marijuana, as well as the rest of the war on drugs. You can find out more about the conference and purchase conference tickets here.

Kyle Jaeger provides more information regarding McGovern's new comments concerning congressional consideration of marijuana legislation in a Wednesday Marijuana Moment article.
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Eye 2

Best of the Web: A history of covert self-interest guides British foreign policy in the Middle East

Mark Curtis
Middle East Eye
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 18:19 UTC
Therese May British Parliament
© Associated Press
Covert involvement in Yemen raises the same old questions about the machinations of the British oligarchy

On Tuesday in the British parliament, Labour's shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry asked an urgent question relating to allegations that British troops have been covertly fighting in Yemen and supporting the Saudi-led coalition.

As reported in the Mail on Sunday, five British special forces troops from the elite Special Boat Service (SBS) were injured while "advising" Saudi Arabia on their deadly campaign in Yemen.

The commandos were injured in gun fights as part of a top-secret campaign, and other reports have claimed British troops have been killed in such battles. British soldiers from the Special Air Service (SAS) have reportedly been secretly deployed and operate "dressed in Arab clothing".

Comment:

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Bullseye

Stop listening to the Spymasters and Generals

Robby Soave
Reason
Tue, 26 Mar 2019 18:25 UTC
comey and brennan
© GARY CAMERON/REUTERS/NewscomJames Comey and John Brennan
For weeks, former CIA Director John Brennan has hinted that he believed Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation would end with the indictment of President Trump or another member of the Trump family. He suggested as much during a recent appearance on MSNBC, in which host Lawrence O'Donnell desperately tried to convince his audience that Brennan knew something they didn't.

Now that Attorney General William Barr has received Mueller's report, and is not considering charges against the Trump family, Brennan is singing a different tune.

"I don't know if I received bad information, but I think I suspected there was more than there actually was," he admitted on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program Monday morning.
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Handcuffs

Former Russian minister detained over massive embezzlement, may face 20 years in prison - UPDATE


RT
Wed, 27 Mar 2019 17:42 UTC
Mikhail Abyzov
© Sputnik / Iliya PitalevMikhail Abyzov
Former Russian minister, Nikolay Abyzov, who only left the cabinet last year, was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) over accusations of organizing a criminal group to embezzle 4 billion rubles (around $15.5 million).

The investigators believe Abyzov and his accomplices obtained the money by swindling the shareholders of two major energy companies in Russia's Novosibirsk Region. The funds were then transferred abroad through offshore firms, which the ex-minister was a beneficial owner between 2011 and 2014.

The actions of the criminal group that Abyzov "organized and headed" have jeopardized the energy security and stable economic growth of several Russian Regions, the Investigative Committee said.

The probe against the 46-year-old is head by the top branch in the Investigative Committee, which only deals with high priority cases, with the assistance of the FSB.

Comment: A Moscow court has ruled that Abysov will remain in custody pending his trial on embezzlement charges, refusing the defendant's bail.

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Snakes in Suits

Wrong button? 10 MEPs who voted to reject debate on Article 13 say they didn't mean to


RT
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 18:08 UTC
European Parliament
© REUTERS/Vincent KesslerMembers of the European Parliament
A vote to consider amendments to the controversial Article 11 and Article 13 copyright laws has failed in the European Parliament by a margin of five votes. However, enough MEPs to flip the result now say they mis-clicked.

A total of 13 MEPs have issued corrections to their voting on Tuesday, when the European Parliament narrowly rejected debating amendments that might have watered down or even completely erased Articles 11 and 13 from the updated EU copyright rules.

Instead, the lawmakers voted to bypass additional debate on the highly contentious provisions by 317 votes against 312, and proceeded to pass the entire legislation by 348 votes to 274.

According to European Parliament voting guidelines, MPs can register corrections to their votes, but without changing the actual result, which is done and dusted once the voting is finished.
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Quenelle

Trump slams 'treasonous' FBI, promises to release FISA docs now that Mueller probe is wrapped up

Gregg Re
Fox News
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 17:12 UTC
Mueller Trump Russiagate
President Trump, in an exclusive wide-ranging interview Wednesday night with Fox News' Hannity, vowed to release the full and unredacted Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants and related documents used by the FBI to probe his campaign, saying he wants to "get to the bottom" of how the long-running Russia collusion narrative began.

Trump told anchor Sean Hannity that his lawyers previously had advised him not to take that dramatic step out of fear that it could be considered obstruction of justice.

"I do, I have plans to declassify and release. I have plans to absolutely release," Trump said. "I have some very talented people working for me, lawyers, and they really didn't want me to do it early on. ... A lot of people wanted me to do it a long time ago. I'm glad I didn't do it. We got a great result without having to do it, but we will. One of the reasons that my lawyers didn't want me to do it, is they said, if I do it, they'll call it a form of obstruction."

Trump added: "Frankly, thought it would be better if we held it to the end. But at the right time, we will be absolutely releasing."
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Chess

Lebanon decides to confront Israel and US in Israeli-occupied Lebanese Golan farms

Elijah J. Magnier
ejmagnier.com
Wed, 27 Mar 2019 17:49 UTC
putin aoun
Lebanese Judge Ahmad Mezher has given orders that a survey be conducted of Lebanese occupied territories in the Shebaa Farms, Kfarshouba, Huneen, Ideise and Bleeda. These villages are bordering Hasbaiya, Rashaya al-Fukhar and Kiyam and have been under Israeli occupation since 1981, as Syria's Golan Heights have been since 1967. This step coincides with the illegal "gift" of the Syrian Golan Heights offered by US President Donald Trump to his closest ally Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. Although Trump's move was verbally condemned by the international community, no other state or international body seems likely to openly oppose Trump's move at the moment.

However, Lebanon has decided to confront this move on the ground, showing its readiness to defend its territory if US "gifts" were ever seen to include Lebanese occupied territories. The Lebanese presidency, the Parliament and the government agreed that it is the right of Lebanon to regain its occupied territory and that the equation "the army, the people, the resistance" is united under one umbrella. Thus, the possibility of confrontation between the Resistance - i.e. Hezbollah in this case - and Israel is now on the table.

The level of tension and chances of confrontation increased during Lebanese President Michel Aoun's visit to Moscow. During meetings with his homologue Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Christian President Aoun rejected US pressure on his country. The US establishment, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his envoys to Lebanon, wants to prevent the over one and a half million Syrian refugees in Lebanon from returning home. President Aoun also rejected Trump's gift to Netanyahu, stating clearly that the Golan Heights is Syrian territory illegally occupied by Israel, and not the property of the US to dispose of as it will.
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Russian Flag

Flashback Best of the Web: Lavrov lays out real reasons for anti-Russian hysteria - promises swift retaliation for UK's baseless provocations


TASS
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 11:41 UTC
lavrov
© Alexander Shcherbak/TASS
Russia's comeback to the world scene as an equitable partner that defies dictating and ultimatums causes a nervous reaction from the West, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the forum Russia - A Country of Opportunities on Thursday.

"There has been a very nervous reaction to Russia's comeback as an equitable partner who does not impose anything on others but does not tolerate dictating or ultimatums. Our western partners' reaction to this is very painful," he said.

"To no avail," Lavrov went on to say. "We do not seek confrontation with anybody. We wish to cooperate with all on equitable terms, on the basis of mutual respect and search for a balance of interest and mutually acceptable approaches."

The gist of what is happening is the "categorical reluctance of the United States and its western allies to agree that the 500-year-long period of western domination in world affairs is coming to an end." In his opinion, transition to a new, multipolar, democratic and fair world order will last long, but already now this transition is painful for those who "are in the habit of ruling the world for centuries."

"They are in the habit of ruling the roost," Lavrov said.

Russia's response to London's measures against Moscow will follow very soon, Lavrov stressed.

Comment: Russia has now announced its tit-for-tat response: Moscow shuts British Council and expels 23 diplomats in response to British hysteria

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Snakes in Suits

Snake in a suit: Macron badmouths China on Friday, kisses up to Xi as he orders 300 Airbus airliners on Monday

Marko Marjanović
Checkpoint Asia
Tue, 26 Mar 2019 19:35 UTC
macron and xi jinping
On Friday when Xi was doing business with the Italians the Chinese were devious players who had "taken advantage" of "naive" Europeans:
"The time of European naïveté is ended," Mr Macron said on Friday. "For many years we had an unco-ordinated approach and China took advantage of our divisions."
On Monday when Xi is in Paris dropping a $10 billion order for 300 Airbus airliners Macron wants a "strong European partnership with China" based on multilateralism:
Speaking at the Elysee Palace following talks with Xi, Macron called for a "strong Europe-China partnership", adding that this must be based on "strong multilateralism" and "fair and balanced" trade.
Hey Macron, how come you're not bringing up the theme of exploitative China preying on disunited Europeans again? With Xi right there next to you, listening wouldn't this be the time to do it?

For now China is best served by playing Boeing and Airbus against each other and not going full in on either, but Beijing must surely be looking forward to the day when it can fill the skies with airliners of its own make and not have to reward the likes of either Trump or Macron.
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