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Canadian govt. plans to ask 'gender' questions in 'pilot' census - Answers are MANDATORY

Dean Beeby
CBC News
Fri, 21 Dec 2018 15:11 UTC
StatsCan census
© Statistics Canada/YoutubeSome 250,000 Canadian households are targeted for a mini-census next May and June - a dress-rehearsal for the full-scale census slated for 2021. Canadians who fail to answer the questions honestly face fines.
Next year, Statistics Canada is going to be asking 250,000 Canadian households some personal questions it has never asked before - and answering them honestly is mandatory.

The agency is conducting what it calls a "pilot" census next May and June to road-test questionnaires and procedures for the next full-scale census, set for 2021.

After more than a year of consultations with data users, Statistics Canada has decided to add detailed personal questions - and needs to be sure they are properly answered to ensure the test is valid.

Comment: We can only hope for an eventual end to the madness. But it won't be pretty.

The Transgender revolution will fail - here's 7 reasons why

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Info

Turkish media reports US troops withdraw from first base in Syria


RT
Sat, 29 Dec 2018 14:54 UTC
US and Turkish soldiers on a patrol outside Manbij, Syria
© Arnada Jones/US Army via ReutersUS and Turkish soldiers on a patrol outside Manbij, Syria.
Turkish media says the US Army troops have abandoned a base in north-eastern Syria, in the first reported case of the Donald Trump-announced general pullout going ahead.

Some 50 US soldiers left in Hummer armored vehicles and military trucks, leaving behind an empty 400-square-meter warehouse in the Al-Hasakah Governorate, the Anadolu news agency said Saturday. The troops went to neighboring Iraq, the report said, adding that previously the warehouse was used for supplying weapons and equipment to Kurdish YPG militias.

Comment: Turkey deploys extra tanks to Syrian border amid tension over Manbij

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Oil Well

Russia changes its mind of permanent alliance with OPEC


RT
Sat, 29 Dec 2018 14:46 UTC
An oil field un Russia's Siberia
© Global Look Press / Nikolay Gyngazov
Moscow has ditched the idea of launching a joint structure with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) but will continue to cooperate with major oil producers, according to the Russian energy ministry.

Earlier this year, Russian energy minister Alexander Novak touted the idea that a new organization based on OPEC+ format - including OPEC members and allied oil suppliers led by Russia - will begin operations starting January 1, 2019 in an effort to boost the market. Back then there were plans to choose a location for the headquarters and come up with a name for the structure.
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Map

Turkey deploys extra tanks to Syrian border amid tension over Manbij


RT
Sat, 29 Dec 2018 14:42 UTC
A Turkish tank drives east of al-Bab, Syria
© Reuters / Khalil AshawiA Turkish tank drives east of al-Bab, Syria.
The Turkish Army has deployed additional tanks and APCs to its southern border, Turkish media report. The forces are being moved amid tensions over the strategic Syrian city of Manbij as Damascus said it was sending troops there.

The additional tanks and armored personnel carriers were transported to several Turkish provinces bordering northern Syria, including Hatay, Kilis and Sanliurfa, according to the local media. The hardware came from other parts of Turkey and reinforces the armor already amassed near the border.

Turkey's show of force comes after Damascus said it was sending troops to Manbij, a strategically important city on the western bank of Euphrates River. It was a response to a call by Kurdish militias, who said it was time for the Syrian government to provide security in the city and that the Kurdish forces would be focusing on fighting jihadists elsewhere.
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Shopping Bag

Russia bans over $500 million worth of imports from Ukraine in retaliatory sanctions


RT
Sat, 29 Dec 2018 14:38 UTC
Russian border with Ukraine
© Reuters / Alexander Demianchuk
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a ban on the import of more than 50 Ukrainian goods, worth $510 million. The move comes in response to recently prolonged Kiev's embargo on Russian products.

The list, published by the Russian government on Saturday, includes mainly industrial goods, agricultural products, raw materials, and food. The products that fell under the ban are wheat, sunflower oil, sweets, chocolate, bread, bakery, vegetables, fruits, beer, caviar, fish and canned fish, Sanctions also target engines and power generators, tractors, turbines, and some other equipment and goods.

"Russia has introduced a ban on imports of a number of Ukrainian goods. This is a retaliatory measure against Ukrainian restrictions. I signed the corresponding decree," Medvedev wrote on Twitter Saturday.
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MIB

The deep state's deepfakes and tools for political manipulation

Leonid Savin
OrientalReview,org
Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:00 UTC
Pentagon’s secret project
Not a day seems to go by without the American media writing about Russia's Internet meddling in the US elections. Major international and specialist publications headquartered in the US are routinely regurgitating the myth about "Russian trolls" and "GRU hackers" without a single shred of evidence besides unsubstantiated accusations. Actually, evidence has been provided by a private company, but this evidence points to the contrary. As one Google project so convincingly shows, for example, for just $100 you can create the illusion that a Russian company is trying to influence public opinion within America. All you need to do is buy a mobile phone and a few SIM cards in Panama, choose a common Russian name and surname and use it to set up a Yandex account, then indicate your IP address is in Saint Petersburg using NordVPN. You can then set up an account with AdWords, pay for advertising using the details of a legally registered company, and place political content on the Internet that could be regarded as inflammatory. This was what was done by US citizens from Google and they didn't hesitate to report on it. So what is stopping the NSA, the CIA, or some Russophobe fanatics familiar with hacking techniques from doing exactly the same thing, regardless of whether they belong to a political party or not? Common sense suggests that this is exactly what is being done to create the appearance of Russian interference, but no one is able to provide any real evidence, of course.

Comment: See also: The only 'Russian bots' meddling in US elections belonged to Democrat-linked 'experts'

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Arrow Up

Syrian Army raises flag in Kurdish city of Manbij for first time since start of civil war


RT
Sat, 29 Dec 2018 12:51 UTC
Syrian Army
Damascus says it has deployed troops to the city of Manbij, the focal point of a tense standoff between Kurds and Turkey, as the government continues attempts to reassert control over the strategic border area in Syria's north.

The Kurdish YPG militia on Friday called on Damascus to secure Manbij, located close to the border with Turkey. Ankara earlier said it plans to conduct an "anti-terrorist operation" around the city, with the YPG being the target.

In response, Damascus said its troops were already in the north and raised the flag in the "area of Manbij." In a statement from the general staff broadcast by the Syrian media, the top brass said their army was determined to "crush terrorism and defeat all invaders and occupiers" as well as to provide security for all Syrian citizens.

Comment: The Kremlin has announced its support of the operation. TASS reports:
Moscow welcomes the reports that the Syrian government troops have gained control of Manbij earlier held by Kurdish formations, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, commenting on the corresponding report by Syria's General Staff.

"No doubt, this is a positive step towards stabilizing the situation," the spokesman said.
And, while tensions mount, high-level talks have been scheduled for this weekend. The Kremlin will host talks between Russian and Turkish officials, while Egyptian and Kurdish delegations will visit Damascus. South Front reports:
Meanwhile, reports appeared that a delegation of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate will visit Damascus soon to discuss the escalation in northeastern Syria. According to reports, the delegation, alongside with the Russians, will mediate negotiations between the Damascus government and the SDF's political wing, known as the Syrian Democratic Council.

[...]

A high-level Turkish delegation, including Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, presidential aide Ibrahim Kalin, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and intelligence chief Hakan Fidan, will visit Moscow this weekend to discuss the situation in northeastern Syria. Ankara is probably seeking Russian support or at least neutrality in the event of a new Turkish military operation in the region against the Kurdish-dominated SDF.


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Cell Phone

Following US lead? UK expresses 'deep concerns' about Huawei assisting on 5G network


RT
Fri, 28 Dec 2018 09:47 UTC
Huawei
© REUTERS/Thomas PeterA woman uses her phone as she walks past a Huawei shop in Beijing, China, December 19, 2018.
In the latest sign of rising UK-Chinese tensions, Gavin Williamson spoke of his "deep concerns about Huawei providing the 5G network in Britain," signaling that London may follow the US' lead in restricting the tech giant.

The Defence Secretary, Williamson, comments follow from warnings from the head of MI6 over the tech-firms role in the UK, and Britain accusing elements of the Chinese state to be behind the hacking of commercial secrets.

Williamson, as reported by the Times, stated: "I have grave, very deep concerns about Huawei providing the 5G network in Britain. It's something we'd have to look at very closely.

"We've got to recognize the fact, as has been recently exposed, that the Chinese state does sometimes act in a malign way," he added.


Reports claim that the US is pressuring allied countries into taking action against the firm. The US, Australia, and New Zealand have all already restricted Huawei's involvement in the 5G network, a move Williamson suggested the UK might take.

Huawei, founded by ex-Chinese army officer Ren Zhengfei in 1987, has consistently denied any connection to the Chinese state or involvement in cyber espionage.

Comment: See also:

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NPC

'NPC' snark storm engulfs Pelosi and Schumer after posting identical 'orange man bad' anti-Trump tweet


RT
Sat, 29 Dec 2018 04:40 UTC
pelosi Schumer NPC
© Reuters / Joshua RobertsNanci Pelosi and Chuck Schumer pose with their in-game avatars
Ranking Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have been accused of being Trump-hating automatons after posting identical tweets attacking the president. The curious stunt has breathed fresh life into the infamous 'NPC' meme.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi were mocked as "non-player characters" (NPCs) - a video game term that has been retooled to describe those who mindlessly regurgitate anti-Trump mantras - after tweeting identical Christmas Eve roasts of Donald Trump.

"It's Christmas Eve and @realDonaldTrump is plunging the country into chaos. The stock market is tanking and the president is waging a personal war on the Federal Reserve - after he just fired the Secretary of Defense," Schumer tweeted.
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Light Saber

Trump scores one for independent thinking, breaks generals' 50-year war record

Gareth Porter
The American Conservative
Fri, 28 Dec 2018 22:55 UTC
Trump Arlington cemetary
© he Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Flickr/CreativeCommons/DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. BrantleyPresident Donald Trump walks with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael Howard, commander of Joint Force Headquarters, at Arlington National Cemetery, May 29, 2017. Behind them are Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and U.S. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
His national security team had been trying to box him in like every other president. But he called their bluff.

The mainstream media has attacked President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria as impulsive, blindsiding his own national security team. But detailed, published accounts of the policy process over the course of the year tell a very different story. They show that senior national security officials and self-interested institutions have been playing a complicated political game for months aimed at keeping Trump from wavering on our indefinite presence on the ground in Syria.

The entire episode thus represents a new variant of a familiar pattern dating back to Vietnam in which national security advisors put pressure on reluctant presidents to go along with existing or proposed military deployments in a war zone. The difference here is that Trump, by publicly choosing a different policy, has blown up their transparent schemes and offered the country a new course, one that does not involve a permanent war state.
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