Society's ChildS


Better Earth

"I started to see clearly": Captured Ukrainian soldier walks the streets of Donetsk

Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard
The Saker
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 17:39 UTC
donetsk ukrainian soldier
The Russian war correspondent Aleksandr Sladkov walked along the streets of Donetsk with a captured UAF serviceman, who then shared his impressions about what he saw.
"I started to see clearly. In Ukraine it is said that everything in Donetsk was destroyed. Here everybody is walking around, I saw a Christmas tree... Here there is only one thing to do: make peace. Here we are all the same, both you and I. Whether you speak Russian or Ukrainian, it is the same. I understand you, and you understand me," said the former Ukrainian serviceman.
Whilst walking around Sladkov showed the Ukrainian soldier inscriptions in the Ukrainian language and monuments to famous Ukrainians in the center of Donetsk to show him that Donetsk residents have no hatred towards the ordinary citizens of Ukraine.

Read More...
Megaphone

Brother of American detained in Russia thinks it's 'ridiculous' he could be a spy


RT
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 17:30 UTC
Paul Whelan
© Paul Whelan family archivePaul Whelan
Twin brother of Paul Whelan - the American detained in Moscow on espionage charges - firmly denies accusations against his sibling, maintaining that a person with the social media and travel activity of his simply cannot be a spy.

"I think it's ridiculous. I don't think there's any way that my brother Paul is a spy," David Whelan told RT's Ruptly news video agency in Toronto.

Paul Whelan was detained late in December, with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), stating he was caught right during "the act of spying." The man reportedly received a flash drive with a list of Russian intelligence operatives.

Comment: One other fact to keep in mind: Paul Whelan was discharged from the Marines because he tried to steal more than $10,000 in cash while deployed in Iraq. So now this man, who the US military discharged due to criminal behavior, has 4 different passports and is visiting countries over the world for business. Is it any wonder the Russians are suspicious of his reasons for being in the country?

Read More...
Jet5

French mirage fighter jet disappears near Swiss border

Angela Charlton / AP
Washington Post
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 17:29 UTC
french mirage jet
A French fighter jet carrying two pilots disappeared from radar screens Wednesday near the Swiss border in a snowstorm, prompting an extensive search across the rugged, mountainous area.

The Mirage 2000D was last detected between the Doubs and Jura regions while on a low-altitude training flight, according to a French air force spokeswoman. It took off soon after 11 a.m. from the Nancy-Ochey air base in northeast France.

A search was immediately launched for signs of the plane and the crew, said the spokeswoman, who wasn't authorized to be publicly named.

Mountain rescuers, firefighters, police, military units and local residents joined the search effort, according to the regional administrations of Doubs and Jura. Visibility was extremely low, with heavy fog and snow.
Read More...
Family

Jacline Mouraud, self-appointed spokeswoman of Yellow Vests, seeks to create political party of 'common sense'


RT
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 17:18 UTC
Jacline Mouraud
© AFP / Damien MeyerJacline Mouraud
Jacline Mouraud, once the self-appointed spokeswoman of the Yellow Vests, has announced the creation of a new party. The emerging political force is described as a "party of common sense," pursuing social and tax reforms.

Mouraud greatly contributed to stirring up the Yellow Vests protests and has become a highly recognizable figure after posting a video against fuel tax hikes which has been viewed several million times since October.

However, she does not seem to crave political leadership, and it remains unclear who will actually head the party. "I require no title, I'm trying to create a party, and that's good. Further, as in any party, there will be a vote. Would it be me [elected the head of the party] or not, I don't care, this is not important," she said on Monday, as quoted by French media.

"The main thing is to create it, to unite people against violence and to ensure respect for our institutions."
Read More...
Attention

About time! Incompetent Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel to be suspended over Parkland shooting response

Julie K. Brown
Miami Herald
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 00:58 UTC
Scott Israel
© Michele Eve Sandberg/Corbis via Getty Images
It appears that Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel is preparing to pack it in, for now.

The two-term sheriff, the object of fierce criticism over BSO's handling of the Parkland massacre, told his top commanders that he will be removed from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis, sources told the Miami Herald.

DeSantis, who was sworn in Tuesday morning, had not made a formal announcement of a possible suspension. Israel's discussions with staff about his ouster were first reported by Miami New Times.

Stuart N. Kaplan, one of Israel's lawyers, said Israel was working at his office at the public safety building in Fort Lauderdale.

"The governor has not said anything to us, directly or indirectly, as to whether or not the sheriff is going to be suspended,'' Kaplan said. "He is working and continues to serve the citizens of Broward County.''

But Jeff Bell, BSO's union chief, said Israel told his staff on Monday that his ouster was inevitable.

Comment: Sheriff Israel's lengthy list of misdeeds and general incompetence should have seen him deposed years ago, but apparently it took a widely reported scandal to shake the complacency of the governor.

Read More...
Network

Student behind leak of German politicians' data - not foreign state


RT
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 11:38 UTC
Def Con hacker disobey
© Reuters/Steve MarcusFILE PHOTO. Def Con hacker convention in Las Vegas, US.
German investigators arrested a student they say is behind the massive leak of domestic politicians' personal data. He's not a Russian hacker, just a disgruntled 20-year-old from Hesse, despite media expectations to the contrary.

In December, two now-blocked Twitter accounts were used to publish links to caches of personal data of German politicians in the style of an advent calendar. Almost 1,000 public figures were targeted, including Chancellor Angela Merkel. The leaks however remained unnoticed until January, when they were reported by major media outlets.

While some speculated that the security breach may have been the latest 'Russian hybrid attack on Western democracies', the reality seems to be much simpler.

On Tuesday, Germany's Federal Crime Office (BKA) updated the public on the investigation, which was launched on Friday and produced an alleged perpetrator on Sunday.

Comment: By concocting stories about 'Russian involvement' Western leaders are actively ignoring the very real problems being expressed by their citizens and this will come back to bite them:

Read More...
Black Cat

3rd cat in 6 mos. infected with bubonic plague in Wyoming

Elisha Fieldstadt
NBC News
Tue, 08 Jan 2019 01:27 UTC
infected cat
The health department recommended people avoid areas with rodents and use repellant when in areas with fleas.

A cat in Wyoming with plague is the third feline in the state in six months to contract the disease, according to health officials.

A Johnson County cat, known to wander outside near its home in Kaycee, was infected with bubonic plague, according to lab results from the University of Wyoming. The other two infected cats were in Sheridan and Campbell counties.

The cat recovered, according to a spokeswoman for the Wyoming Department of Health.
Read More...
Dollars

Apple hikes salary of CEO Tim Cook for second year despite forecasted revenue decline


Business Today
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 16:08 UTC
Apple CEO Tim Cook salary increase
Cook took home $3 million as base salary and $12 million as bonus. Apple paid $680,000 as "other compensation" to Cook, which includes private air travel expenses and security costs.

Cook took home $3 million as base salary and $12 million as bonus. Apple paid $680,000 as "other compensation" to Cook, which includes private air travel expenses and security costs.

Apple Inc hiked the salary of its chief executive Tim Cook by 22 per cent during the past year, resulting in his remuneration for 2018 reaching almost $15.7 million, a filing submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission showed.

According to the document, Cook took home $3 million as base salary and $12 million as bonus. Apple paid $680,000 as "other compensation" to Cook, which includes private air travel expenses and security costs.

This was the second year in a row that Cook saw a hefty rise in his pay cheque. The 58-year old received Rs 12.8 million as his annual compensation as the Apple CEO, whereas he was paid $8.7 million in 2016.

"The Compensation Committee determined that no downward adjustments to the payouts would be made based on Apple's 2018 performance and the individual contributions of our named executive officers and approved the maximum total payout at 400 percent of annual base salary," the Apple filing said.

Comment: RT adds that Cook makes nearly 300 times that of the average Apple employee and his stated salary does not even include other hefty stock incentives:
The proceeds do not include hefty stock incentives that the Cupertino-based company provides to its chief executive as part of a 2011 grant. In August, the CEO cashed in $121 million of vested stock. Cook still owns more than 1.5 million Apple shares worth about $189 million at the current share price.

The technology giant also revealed that the annual total compensation of a "median compensated employee" comprised $55,426. That means that of Apple's 132,000 employees, half make less than that, and half make more. According to the document, Cook's compensation without his restricted stock is 283 times the company's median worker earns.
Apple is one of the countries noted for having annual revenues that dwarf that of many countries, yet has been accused of mistreating and underpaying their employees, hiding money offshore, and not paying taxes.

See also:

Read More...
Attention

Arizona woman in vegetative state for over a decade gives birth at nursing facility, prompts sex abuse investigation - UPDATES


WNEP
Fri, 04 Jan 2019 04:54 UTC
Hacienda HealthCarea
Phoenix police are investigating possible sex abuse at a nursing facility after a female patient recently became pregnant and gave birth, KPHO reports.

Sources tell KPHO that the alleged victim has been a patient at the Hacienda HealthCare facility for at least a decade after a near-drowning incident left her in a vegetative state. That woman gave birth to a baby boy on Dec. 29.

"None of the staff were aware that she was pregnant until she was pretty much giving birth," a source familiar with the situation said.

"How were they alerted to the fact that she was going into labor?" asked reporter Briana Whitney.

"From what I've been told she was moaning. And they didn't know what was wrong with her," the source said.

Comment: Comment:

UPDATE: JAN 8: RT reports that the CEO who had been running the facility for 28 years has now resigned. Police are continuing a criminal investigation but have shared few details although local media have reported that subpoenas for DNA samples may be forthcoming. No arrests have been made and it remains unclear if suspects have been identified. The care center received a "below average" rating from health inspectors in 2017 but holds a "much below average" rating on the Medicare website.

UPDATE 2: The victim's Apache tribe leaders made a statement and Phoenix police have issued DNA warrants for all male employees at the facility:

The San Carlos Apache Tribe also released a statement on Tuesday upon learning the woman's identity. "It is my hope that justice will be served," said tribal chairman Terry Rambler, expressing his trust in the police investigation.

The cops compelled DNA samples only after the facility discovered it could not legally force its employees to undergo DNA testing or voluntarily conduct the testing itself under federal law.

Read More...
Cell Phone

Major US telecoms are selling cellphone data that can track users in real time


RT
Wed, 09 Jan 2019 15:36 UTC
cell phone tracking
© Max Pixel
American telecommunications giants are selling access to their customers' location data, leaving them exposed to being tracked by bounty hunters and others, a disturbing report by Motherboard has revealed.

T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T are reportedly among the companies whose data is being used to track phone locations, leaving mobile network users exposed without their knowledge.

US telecommunication companies sell user data to aggregator companies who then sell this information in turn to their own customers. The data can then be re-sold on the black market, where it could fall into the hands of criminals, stalkers and others.

Motherboard reporter Joseph Cox paid a bounty hunter to geolocate a target's T-Mobile phone in his investigation into the location tracking practice. The bounty hunter's contact was able to track the phone to the correct Queens neighborhood within a few hundred meters of its location. This was done without any hacking or previous knowledge of the owner's location.

Comment: See also:

Read More...