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China backs Iran, "firmly opposes" unilateral US sanctions


Zero Hedge
Fri, 17 May 2019 10:20 UTC
Zarif Yi

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
In the latest sign of Beijing's frustration with the US, the Chinese leadership have reiterated their opposition to American sanctions against Iran. After a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, Chinese Foregin Minister Wang Yi reiterated Beijing's 'firm opposition' to unilateral US sanctions against Iran.

With the US moving more firepower into the Persian Gulf, an attempt to send Tehran an unmistakable message, Zarif asked Beijing to try and save the 2015 nuclear deal, WSJ reports.

Zarif's meeting with his Chinese counterpart is the first step on a tour of Asia, as Iran canvasses its key economic partners now that US sanctions have been reimposed.

Comment: Even if the US is unlikely to attack Iran, the world can't afford to let the US delude itself into thinking it can:

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Light Saber

AG Barr finds "government power was used to spy on American citizens"

Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge
Fri, 17 May 2019 22:41 UTC
william barr with assistant

Attorney General William Barr
In his first pair of interviews since being sworn in, Attorney General Barr told Fox News and WSJ that he was pursuing the investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe - an investigation he has tasked

John Durham, the US Attorney from Connecticut, with leading - because Americans need to know whether the government "put a thumb on the scale" to try and undermine President Trump both during the campaign and during the first two years of his term, just like "we need to ensure that foreign actors don't influence the outcome of our elections."

Separately, he told WSJ that "government power was used to spy on American citizens...I can't imagine any world where we wouldn't take a look and make sure that was done properly."
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Mr. Potato

Crack pipe, IDs, and badge found in Hunter Biden rental car

Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
Fri, 17 May 2019 18:17 UTC
hunter biden
© RadarOnline
A used crack pipe, two DC driver's licenses, multiple credit cards, a Delaware Attorney General badge and a US Secret Service business card belonging to Hunter Biden were found in a rental car returned to an Arizona Hertz location in the middle of the night, days before the 2016 presidential election, according to Breitbart, which obtained an exclusive copy of the police report.

Hunter, son of former Vice President and 2020 candidate Joe Biden, had rented the vehicle from a California location, intending to return it to the Prescott, Arizona location where it was discovered after being dropped off with the crack pipe and Hunter Biden's personal effects.
Instead of returning the car keys to the drop box where after-hours returns are supposed to go, the car was returned-according to the police report-with the keys left in the gas tank compartment of the vehicle. Also found inside the vehicle, per the police report, were two drivers' licenses both bearing Hunter Biden's legal name Robert Biden, as well as "some credit cards with the same name," "a secret service business card," and an "Attorney General's badge" all contained inside a wallet that Hertz rental employees discovered-along with a pipe that Hertz employees thought and police later confirmed was used to smoke illicit drugs, as well as "a white powdery substance in the arm rest of the vehicle." -Breitbart
Of note, Hunter was discharged from the Navy after he tested positive for cocaine.

Comment:

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Mr. Potato

Abrams says she could wait till Fall 'and still have a real chance to win' Democratic nomination

David Krayden
The Daily Caller
Fri, 17 May 2019 09:36 UTC
stacey abrams

Stacey Abrams discusses possibly running for the Democratic presidential nomination, May 16, 2019. MSNBC screenshot.
Georgia Democratic politician Stacey Abrams thinks she can wait until "the fall" and "still have a real chance to win" the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

"I do believe I could enter the conversation as late as the fall and still have a real chance to win," Abrams told MSNBC.

Abrams continued to tell MSNBC she is not "prepared to shut the door" on her presidential aspirations, saying:
No I'm not. As I've said before, I'm watching to see what happens. I think we have a robust crop of candidates. I think they're having important conversations but my mission is to make certain that we are keeping that attention focused all the way through the campaign and so I'm going to keep watching and decide whether I want to jump in.
If she waits until autumn, Abrams will miss many candidate debates. Although she acknowledges these debates "are an important part of the process," she says they're also a "new" part of the campaign and she can afford to miss them.

Abrams has repeatedly expressed interest in the presidency, saying she is "just as capable" as anyone else to do the job, but not indicating whether she has any plans to enter the race. Despite losing the Georgia governor's race to Brian Kemp, she has accused her Republican opponents of "voter suppression."
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Arrow Up

Italian regulators launch probe into Google over abuse of market dominance

Elliot Smith
CNBC
Fri, 17 May 2019 12:32 UTC
alphabet google
Italy's antitrust authority announced Friday it has opened an investigation into Google over alleged abuse of its dominant market position.

The competition watchdog said the probe relates to Google's alleged abuse of its position in the smart device market.

In a press release, originally in Italian, the Italian Antitrust Authority said it had approved the initiation of a preliminary proceeding against Alphabet Inc., Google LLC and Google Italy S.r.l., collectively referred to as Google.

The authority confirmed that officials carried out inspections Thursday in some of the companies concerned.

The antitrust authority claims Google had refused to integrate the "Enel X Recharge" app, developed by Enel, in its Android Auto app.

Comment: This isn't the first instance where Italy has stepped up to shine a light on the corruption plaguing the West:

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USA

US Foreign Policy Has Become One Giant Relentless Program of Psy-Ops

Finian Cunningham
Sputnik
Fri, 17 May 2019 18:57 UTC
white house
© AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite
To say the US conducts "foreign policy" is patently a misnomer. US policy is nothing short of low-intensity warfare against the whole planet. Its "foreign policy" is nothing more than a continuous program of psychological operations.

An important element of this colossal corruption of politics is America's so-called news media which plays a crucial role in concealing and propagating the psy-ops.

Just look at US conduct over the past year with regard to geopolitical rivals, foes and even supposed allies. American behaviour is that of a hegemon and tyrant that brooks no dissent. Ultimatums, economic sanctions, threats of punishments, threats of annihilation, actual military intimidation. These are all forms of aggression or low-intensity warfare. In the case of Iran or Venezuela, the warfare is approaching the brink of all-out violence.

To think this is a development peculiar to the Trump presidency is a grave mistake. US foreign policy was always prone to aggression and warfare, certainly since the Second World War. Ever since the GW Bush administration in the early 2000s, the US has degenerated into a permanent state of aggression, often involving waging simultaneous wars. Now under Trump, US belligerence is manifest in every aspect of policy. It has become all-consuming.
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Star of David

Days after lifting ban, Israel reduces Gaza fishing zone again, attacks fishermen with heavy artillery


PressTV
Thu, 16 May 2019 22:21 UTC
gaza fishing boats fishermen palestine
© Agence France-Presse
Palestinian fishermen arrive with their catch at the seafront of Gaza City on April 2, 2019.
Israeli authorities have reduced the permitted fishing zone off the coast of the besieged Gaza Strip "until further notice," less than a week after lifting a ban on Palestinian fishing boats operating off the coastal enclave.

The head of the Fishermen Committees in the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, Zakaria Bakr, told Palestinian Ma'an news agency on Thursday that the fishing zone had been reduced from 12 nautical miles to only five nautical miles.

Bakr added that Israeli naval forces prevented Palestinian fishermen from retrieving their fishing nets, which they had cast seven nautical miles off Gaza's coast.

Comment: Due to Israel's land blockade, Gaza depends inordinately on fishing as a means of feeding it citizens. It's particularly cruel of the IDF to toy with them in this way.

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NPC

Canadian government imposes 'social justice' on all universities

Philip Carl Salzman
PJ Media
Wed, 15 May 2019 20:21 UTC
University College, University of Toronto, Canada
© Wikipedia
University College, University of Toronto, Canada
The Liberal government of Canada has formulated a new program to which all universities are expected to commit. It is called "Dimensions: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion." A "Charter" for "Dimensions" has been distributed to all university presidents, who are urged to sign, endorsing the program for their universities.

Minister for Science and Sport Kirsty Duncan launched this program, using the "independent" funding councils-The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), The National Science and Engineering Council (NSERC), and The Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)-as the conduit for "Dimensions" grants. This is not the first time that Minister Duncan has imposed "equity, diversity, and inclusion" conditions for grants; in 2017, new diversity criteria were enunciated for the Canada Research Chair grants.

The pressure continues through subsequent grant years. Minister Duncan says, "Our government is committed to promoting equity and diversity within research and to supporting the next generation of research leaders." Ted Hewitt, president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and chair of the Canada Research Chairs Program Steering Committee assures us that they have "A strong action plan to address equity, diversity and inclusion."

What is this "equity, diversity, and inclusion" in aid of? According to the Charter of the Dimensions program, the objective is "to foster increased research excellence, innovation and creativity within the post-secondary sector across all disciplines." Who could object to "increased research excellence, innovation, and creativity," which is the conventional and legitimate objective of research administrators? What is new here is the means by which these results would be allegedly brought about: "through increased equity, diversity and inclusion."
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Pistol

'Laser weapons' to define Russia's military potential in 21st century - Putin


RT
Fri, 17 May 2019 20:10 UTC
Peresvet combat laser system
© Sputnik / Russia's Ministry of Defense
Peresvet combat laser system.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin says that laser technology will play a crucial role in the nation's military might as he spoke about the "first practical results" of the country's Peresvet combat laser system.

Putin highlighted the importance of developing laser technology, including the "tactical-level combat laser complexes," at a defense-themed cabinet meeting on Friday.
Such types of weaponry will at large be defining the combat potential of the Russian Army and Navy... throughout the whole of the 21st century.
Putin said that the government will study "the first practical results" of the laser system Peresvet's performance when used by the military. The cutting-edge weapon formally entered test service in December.

Comment: Laser weapons aren't the only upgrade coming to the Russia's arsenal: Russian Army may get powerful Udav handguns this year - manufacturer
The Russian Army will likely get brand new 9mm Udav ('Boa') handguns this year, its maker said. The weapon is set to replace the legendary Makarov pistol, extensively used by the armed forces and police.

The final decision is up to the defense minister, but the pistol's manufacturer is confident that the army will receive the new weapon soon.

"I believe an order will be issued this year, and we will send out the pilot batch [of handguns] to the troops," the company's head, Albert Bakov, told Russian media on Friday.

The gun completed trials and was cleared for mass production in April. The weapon is equipped with an 18-round magazine, which is 10 rounds more than the famous but ageing Makarov pistol (PM) that it is set to replace. Although similar in design, Udav is said to be more powerful than the PM, and has less ricochets.

Different variations of the Udav handgun have been developed for use by the military, special ops units, and civilians.


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Attention

Trump hopes Iran submits without a fight, Bolton wants war; Philip Giraldi, Dr. Paul Craig Roberts share their concerns

Ekaterina Bilnova
Sputnik
Thu, 16 May 2019 17:00 UTC
Bolton/Pompeo/Trump
© AP/Andrew Harnik
Security Advisor John Bolton • Sec of State Mike Pompeo • President Donald Trump
The US is increasing pressure against Iran, prompting concerns that the ongoing war of words may translate into an armed conflict.

Former Reagan administration official Dr Paul Craig Roberts and CIA veteran Philip Giraldi have shared their concerns over the US administration officials' apparent attempt to ignite a clash in the region. Tensions continue to simmer in the Persian Gulf, with the war of words between Iran and the US heating up.

On 15 May, Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami stated that Tehran had "the highest level of defence-military preparedness to confront any type of threat" from the US and Israel. The statement came on the heels of reports of a US military build-up in region.

"The US is putting pressure on Iran by the build-up", opined Philip Giraldi, a former CIA counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer. "[Donald] Trump believes that it will make Iran submit without any fighting, but Bolton wants an incident of some kind to happen to start a war".
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