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Federal court: Trump cannot block Twitter critics (but the big social media giants can?)


RT
Tue, 09 Jul 2019 18:33 UTC
Trump figure,twitter drags
© Wall Street Journal/Shutterstock/KJN
A federal appeals court in New York has upheld a decision barring President Donald Trump from blocking critics from his personal Twitter account, arguing that he uses the platform for "official purposes."

The president limiting public access to his Twitter account, which has amassed nearly 62 million followers, would be a violation of the First Amendment, the three-judge panel of the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled unanimously on Tuesday. Circuit Judge Barrington Parker in his opinion wrote:
"The First Amendment does not permit a public official who utilizes a social media account for all manner of official purposes to exclude persons from an otherwise-open online dialogue because they expressed views with which the official disagrees."
The case was first brought in 2017 by the Knight First Amendment Institute, on behalf of seven Twitter users who had been blocked by the president on the platform, and resulted in the May 2018 ruling that initially took away Trump's "block" button.

The White House appealed the decision, but the courts nonetheless ordered the president to unblock the accounts, which included that of Democrat organizer Holly Figueroa, journalist Rebecca Buckwalter of the ultra-progressive Daily Kos, and dedicated Trump troll Eugene Gu.

Comment: See also:

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Question

Zelensky may have an ultimatum for Donbass, but is he able to deliver it?


RT
Tue, 09 Jul 2019 16:11 UTC
Zelenskiy
© Reuters/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy Lugansk region, Ukraine, July 7, 2019
New Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has set conditions for lifting Kiev's economic blockade of the eastern breakaway republics. But is he in any position to give such ultimatums, held hostage as he is in his own capital?

Zelensky says if the self-proclaimed Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics (LPR and DPR) want to restore an economic relationship with Kiev, they have to first return the businesses located in their territories under government control. "We can restore everything in the nearest future, but for that to happen, please return to us the illegally nationalized businesses located in the temporarily occupied territories," he said at a press conference, using Kiev's official term for the two breakaway regions.

Taking control of those businesses was a response to Kiev's break with them, the LPR's official representative responded. Rodion Miroshnik told RIA:
"It was the Ukrainian Defense Council's unilateral decision to stop all economic relations between the businesses located in the republics and those located in the Kiev-controlled parts of the country. It was not a nationalization that followed, but an introduction of outside management in the abandoned businesses so that thousands of people wouldn't be left unemployed."
In any event, Zelensky's attempts to set preconditions for the rebel regions ring hollow if one looks at his accomplishments back in Kiev - where he seems to be getting stonewalled at every turn both by the parliament and by the nationalist movement, which has gained tremendous momentum following the 2014 coup and the subsequent rule of Zelensky's predecessor Poroshenko.

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Snakes in Suits

Iran hawks and the many lies they tell

Daniel Larison
Strategic Culture Foundation
Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:00 UTC
Bolton/Netanyahu
© 1 US National Security Advisor John Bolton, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, CBN News/twitter/KJN
Iran Hawks: US National Security Advisor John Bolton and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Over the last few days, we have been treated to the spectacle of watching leading opponents of the nuclear deal demand that Iran adhere to the limits set by the deal they have vehemently denounced and undermined for years. On the one hand, the opponents insist that the deal is the worst ever negotiated, but they are still acting as if they are furious that Iran is breaching it. We should understand that this is mostly or entirely an act for public consumption. Iran hawks want the deal to fall apart. They have been working to bring about the deal's collapse for years. They are belatedly wrapping themselves in the JCPOA now because they hope it may give them an opportunity to inflict more punishment on Iran. In so doing, they hope to force Iran out of the deal so that they have their pretext for a conflict.

This newfound admiration for the nuclear deal's restrictions has been accompanied by the lie that the only reason Iran would exceed its stockpile limits and increase enrichment (to 4.5%, far short of what is needed to produce weapons-grade uranium) is to build nuclear weapons. Bolton, Trump, and, Netanyahu have all made statements to this effect in the last week.
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X

US cancels Brexit trade talks due to ambassador scandal


RT
Wed, 10 Jul 2019 00:06 UTC
Trump/Darroch
© Otago Daily Times/Arab News Today
US President Donald Trump • UK Ambassador to US Kim Darroch
Long-scheduled talks between US and UK trade officials were suddenly called off amid a scandal involving British Ambassador to the US Kim Darroch and his scathing criticism of President Donald Trump revealed in private memos.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross called off the planned meeting with his British counterpart Liam Fox, solely on the expectation that Ambassador Darroch would attend, a Trump administration source told the Washington Examiner. The source added that the leaks had opened a "rift" in the White House, which continues to grow.

In a string of communiques between London and the ambassador, which were made public this week, Darroch described Trump at different times as "inept,""incompetent" and "insecure." In one cable, the ambassador opined that the US administration remained "dysfunctional" and "diplomatically clumsy," among other unflattering descriptors.

The release of the memos has rocked relations between the two close allies. In response to the revelations, Trump tweeted that his administration would "no longer deal" with the British ambassador, whom he described as a "very stupid guy" and "a pompous fool."

Comment: See also:

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Arrow Down

Zarif: Netanyahu and Bolton killed the 2005 talks, 'lured' Trump to shred 2015 deal


RT
Tue, 09 Jul 2019 12:32 UTC
Neti/Bolton
© Flickr/US Embassy Jerusalem
Israeli PM Netanyahu • US National Security Advisor Bolton
National Security Advisor John Bolton and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scuppered a 2005 nuclear agreement between Iran and the west, and did the same with President Trump, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said.

"Bolton & Netanyahu killed Paris agreement between E3 & Iran in '05 by insisting on zero enrichment," Zarif tweeted on Tuesday. "Result? Iran increased its enrichment 100 fold by 2012."

Referring to Bolton and Netanyahu as the "B Team," Zarif then said that "they've lured Donald Trump into killing JCPOA w/the same delusion," referring to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran Nuclear Deal.

Comment: See also:

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Better Earth

China's expansion of free-trade zones is part of opening up its economy


RT
Wed, 10 Jul 2019 08:02 UTC
Shanghai
© Reuters/Aly Song
Shanghai, a free trade zone
China's Ministry of Commerce has announced plans to establish six new pilot free-trade zones (FTZs), as well as the expansion of the Shanghai free-trade zone.

The move will further optimize the country's FTZ strategy, according to the ministry's spokesperson Gao Feng. He said China has been opening up more sectors of the economy as it is committed to providing better services and environment for foreign investors. Authorities have been easing market access in agriculture, mining, manufacturing industries and services.

The improvement of the business environment will help further stimulate market innovation and drive economic growth, Gao said. China's foreign direct investment surged four percent year-on-year to $139 billion in 2018.

"As China's economy is transitioning to a phase of high-quality growth, the country needs to further open up its economy," said Li Gang, director of the academic committee of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, as quoted by China Daily.

In March, the country revealed plans to set up a national offshore pilot trade area at the Yangpu economic development zone (EDZ) in South China's Hainan Province. The new offshore area will promote investment-facilitation policies in areas such as trade, finance and local currency settlement.

Comment: See also:

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Nuke

US to Iran: Full normalization of relations for reversal of nuclear steps


Sputnik
Wed, 10 Jul 2019 16:59 UTC
Kamalvandi, Raviei, Araghchi
© AP
Spokesmen: Iran’s atomic agency Behrouz Kamalvandi • Iranian government Ali Rabiei • Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
The United States offered Iran the full normalization of relations in exchange for Tehran's commitment to reverse its recent nuclear steps and cease any plans for further uranium enrichment.

US Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ambassador Jackie Wolcott said in a press release on Wednesday: "The United States has made clear that we are open to negotiation without preconditions and that we are offering Iran the possibility of full normalisation of relations." According to the US, Tehran has to "reverse its recent nuclear steps and cease any plans for further advancements in the future".

Addressing the issue, the spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Behrouz Kamalvandi, criticised Washingon for withdrawing from the JCPOA. "It was a huge mistake by Americans to leave the deal ... that has caused all the problems. The European [parties to the deal] had enough time to salvage the pact", he stated.
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Mr. Potato

More Israeli insanity: Education minister says intermarriage among US Jews is like "second Holocaust"


Times of Israel
Tue, 09 Jul 2019 18:03 UTC
Rafi Peretz
© Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Deranged Education Minister Rafi Peretz arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, on June 30, 2019.
The rate of intermarriage among US Jews is "like a second Holocaust," Israel's new minister of education said.

Rafi Peretz made the statement at a cabinet meeting on July 1, Axios reported Tuesday, citing three people who were in the room.

Peretz, a former chief rabbi of the Israeli army, is the leader of the Union of Right Wing Parties bloc.

Peretz said the assimilation of Jews around the world and mostly in the US was "like a second Holocaust," and also said that, due to intermarriages in the last 70 years, the Jewish people "lost 6 million people," according to the report, which added that Peretz's spokesman confirmed the account.


Comment: Because to rabbis like Peretz, a Jew choosing to marry a Gentile is the same thing as a Jew being executed by Nazis. Try to wrap your head around that one. (Warning: it is probably only possible after years of instruction in the Talmud.) It's rabbis and politicians like Peretz who are some of the real enemies of the Jewish people.


The July 1 cabinet meeting included a briefing by Dennis Ross, chairman of the board of the Jewish People Policy Institute, on trends in Jewish communities around the world, especially in North America. The topic of intermarriage came up during the briefing.

Axios reported that Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz (Likud) pushed back against Peretz's remarks.

"First we need to stop disregarding and looking down on Jews in America that see themselves as Jews not only religiously but even more culturally and historically," he reportedly said.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, was among the American Jewish leaders critical of Peretz's remarks.
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Nuke

'Sad irony' that US criticizes Iran for violating 'horrible' nuclear deal that US itself pulled out of - Rouhani


Mehr News Agency
Wed, 10 Jul 2019 17:50 UTC
Iranski predsjednik Hassan Rouhani
© AP
"On one side, Americans described the JCPOA as the worst possible deal and withdrew from it without any excuse and on the other side, when Iran reduces its commitments to the deal, they all express concern; while all should concern about US that has violated the whole deal," said Rouhani in a Wednesday cabinet session.

"They have called for an emergency meeting of Board of Governors, asking why Iran has abandoned some of its JCPOA commitments. This is a funny story that US is following and such measures are rare in the world's political history," he added.

Upon the US request, IAEA Board of Governors will hold a meeting today to discuss the latest status of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Iran says US request for a BoG session is a 'sad irony' as it was the United States who ruined the deal in the first place.

Americans say that Iran's uranium enrichment is a bad measure but they don't elaborate that why they do it themselves as the sole country in the world which has used nukes, Rouhani said.
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Propaganda

BuzzFeed claims Salvini aide negotiated fuel deal with Russians 'to fund political campaign' - Salvini denies it


RT
Wed, 10 Jul 2019 17:44 UTC
Metropol hotel
© Reuters / Maxim Shemetov
A general view shows the Metropol hotel in Moscow, Russia, on March 30, 2016.
An aide to Italian Deputy PM Matteo Salvini allegedly met some Russian officials to discuss details of a fuel delivery, which was meant to "fund a political campaign," BuzzFeed has claimed in a report.

The meeting allegedly happened on the morning of October 18 last year in the lobby of Moscow's Metropol Hotel, coinciding with Salvini's visit to Russia. Six people were at the table, three from each country, with Salvini's aide Gianluca Savoini being the only one identified by the publication.

BuzzFeed claims the discussion was about Russia's plan to secretly fund Salvini's party Liga ahead of the European Parliament elections, although the transcript of the negotiations doesn't necessarily confirm this assertion.

The one big name mentioned by the Russian side is Vladimir Pligin, a Russian lawyer, wealthy businessman and former MP. He previously chaired the State Duma's commission on constitutional law and state building, and has a reputation as a liberal-minded politician.

The deal that was allegedly discussed involved the delivery of fuel from Russia to Europe at a four-percent discount. The Italians mention that their primary interest is "sustaining a political campaign," but it's not clear whether this referred to Salvini's campaign for May's European Parliament elections, as BuzzFeed alleges.

Comment: Don't deny it! Go all in!

'Yes we made deals with the Russians! Lots more to come!'

More on BuzzFeed:

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