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Egypt hits ISIS target in Sinai, killing 16 and arresting dozens

egypt sanai attack isis
© Islamic State Group in Sinai, via AP, File
This photo posted on a file sharing website Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, by the Islamic State Group in Sinai, a militant organization, shows a deadly attack by militants on an Egyptian police checkpoint, Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in el-Arish, north Sinai, Egypt. Arabic reads, "Clash with light arms with the remaining apostates left alive at the fire station checkpoint." Egypt's military says it has begun a major security operation in areas including the restive northern Sinai Peninsula, where Islamic militants are most active.
Egypt's military has destroyed dozens of targets, killed 16 militants and detained over 30 suspects as part of its latest operation against Islamic militants in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula, the army said on Sunday.

Spokesman Col. Tamer el-Rifai said that airstrikes hit vehicles, weapons caches, communications centers and illegal opium fields in the sweep, which began on Friday and comes as a response to a pickup in extremist violence in Egypt.

"The air force targeted and destroyed 66 targets used by terrorist elements to hide from air and artillery attacks," for shelter during raids by security forces, he said in a statement. With North Sinai closed off for non-residents and journalists, the army's casualty figures could not be independently confirmed. Telephone connections to the area, both mobile and landlines, are often shut down as well.

Arrow Up

Korea! Opening Ceremony of Pyeong Chang 2018 - Hope For Peaceful Reunification Despite American Subterfuge

reunited korea olympic flag

A single blue-and-white flag of Korea is meant to signify the symbolic unity of a country divided since 1945.
I saw a scene the other day on the evening news that made me smile with joy. It was a unified Korea marching in the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeong Chang under the same flag. Starting at minute 1:27 in the next video, you see the delegation of Korea with the French narrative of the event, which was the only version I noticed which specified that North Korea and South Korea were parading together as One Korea. The English translation is cut out from the opening ceremony. Why am I not surprised. The Western elite thrive on war and rumors of war.


It was not actually the first time that both Koreas have united for the Olympic games. Both have marched together at various events under the same flag, the last time being in Torino 2006. After a long hiatus, they reunited again in 2018. The single blue-and-white flag is meant to signify the symbolic unity of one country artificially divided since 1945.

Red Flag

Syriza sells out: Greece's dangerous alliance with Israel

syriza e israel

Syriza and Israel
For a brief historical moment, Alexis Tsipras and his political party, Syriza, ignited hope that Greece could resurrect a long-dormant Leftist tide in Europe.

A new Greece was being born out of the pangs of pain of economic austerity, imposed by the European Union and its overpowering economic institutions - a troika so ruthless, it cared little while the Greek economy collapsed and millions of people experienced the bitterness of poverty, unemployment and despair.

The Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza) came to power in January 2015 as a direct outcome of popular discontent with the EU. It was a time where ordinary people took a stance to fend for whatever semblance of sovereignty that was not wrestled away from them by politicians, bankers and powerful bureaucratic institutions.

The result, however, was quite disappointing. Tsipras, now a Prime Minister, transformed his political discourse, and gradually adopted one that that is more consistent with the very neoliberal policies that pushed his country to its knees in the first place.

Comment:


Eye 2

Corrupt San Diego County gov't tries to silence reporter for exposing shocking number of jail deaths

kelly davis san diego

Free-lance reporter Kelly Davis
Even though the First Amendment of the US Constitution states "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press," one California reporter says she has been targeted by San Diego County for her investigative reports detailing extraordinary number of deaths of inmates in the county's jails. Local journalist and Voice of San Diego (VOSD) contributor Kelly Davis has been pressured to reveal her sources and has been hauled in to court to defend her reporting.

In what is shaping out to be a clear violation of the Constitution, Davis' report chronicled 60 inmate deaths in local jails from 2007 to 2012. The report should have been a wake-up call for jailers to work harder to keep people from getting killed or committing suicide while in custody, but VOSD said it was anything but a call to action.

Instead, the county's attorney's turned their attention and set their sights on one of the reporters covering the story. "They've upended her life, forcing her to do one of three things - expose sources by testifying about her work, agree to a deal that would protect her fragile health at the expense of harming the widow's case or fight back," writes VOSD.

Comment: Free speech: The blessing of the first amendment


Megaphone

Free speech: The blessing of the first amendment

first amendment
The United States of America is one of the freest countries in the world. This is no coincidence. America was founded by people with Judeo Christian values, who articulated those values in our founding documents.

In my view, the most important gift from the faith of our founding fathers was the understanding that God gave us free will.

The first amendment in the Bill of Rights lays out perhaps the most important rights an American can have: freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press.

Comment: While it's all well and good to believe that the US upholds its constitution, slowly but surely pathological characters have made their way into positions of power and are in the process of entirely subverting it: Also check out SOTT radio's: The Truth Perspective: Interview with Joachim Hagopian


Bad Guys

Young Labour responds to critics of straight, white men 'ban' at 'equality' conference

jeremy corbyn
© Reuters/ Peter Nicholls
Young Labour activists have caused outrage over 'ban' of straight, white men
Young Labour activists have defended themselves against accusations that straight, white men have been 'banned' from attending an event. The move prompted fury among some Labour supporters and the party's critics on the right.

The equalities conference invites only members under the age of 27 who are self-defining as black and ethnic minority (BAME), disabled, LGBT and/or women to attend. The list of requirements for attendees infuriated Conservative MPs, party activists and employees.

Star of David

Musician Lorde gets attacked by Zionists after canceling Tel Aviv show

Lorde

Lorde
The Lorde saga has now reached new riveting heights. Just a few months ago on December 21st, 2017 two young female fans from Aotearoa, New Zealand wrote an open letter urging Lorde to cancel her Tel Aviv concert, scheduled for June of this year. A few days later Lorde a 21 year old singer and songwriter canceled her Tel Aviv show.

This quickly prompted outspoken celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach to take out a full page "ad" in the Washington Post to initiate a smear campaign against the New Zealand artist. In his ad the rabbi falsely claims Lorde is a "bigot" and calls her a "hypocrite". Soon after the Tel Aviv concert was canceled, three Israeli teenagers sued the activists that wrote the open letter.

This tale of vindictive Zionist retaliation against freedom of speech and expression as well as the right to support BDS takes another interesting turn now that Florida State Representative Randy Fine has joined the circus act. Fine is calling for entertainment venues in Miami and Tampa to cancel their June shows for the popular songwriter and singer or face financial penalties.

Star of David

Extremist Israeli colonists attempt to kidnap Palestinian children

yitzhar jewish settlers
© Getty
Jewish Yitzhar terrorists
Palestinian villagers thwarted an attempt by Israeli settlers to kidnap two Palestinian children in the village of Madma south of Nablus on Wednesday, it was reported by al-Araby al-Jadeed.

The head of the village council, Ehab Qat, told al-Araby that a number of settlers from the nearby settlement of Yitzhar stormed the village and attempted to kidnap the two children, aged between 10 and 14, as they were tending to sheep in the eastern outskirts of the village.

Local sources said that the settlers, while in the presence of Israeli forces, followed the two children, who retreated back to their homes.

Another source told Quds Press that clashes broke out following the kidnapping attempt, during which Israeli forces launched gas and sound bombs at locals.

The villagers are fearful of another attack as settlers and Israeli forces remain in the area south of the village, it was reported.

The area surrounding the northern West Bank city of Nablus has one of the highest concentrations of Israeli settlements and has often been a flashpoint for violence.

Yitzhar settlers are especially notorious for their fanaticism and violent acts against Palestinians, having routinely destroyed Palestinian olive groves and vandalised Palestinian property.

Comment: Pro-Zionists like to claim that Israel is unfairly held to a higher standard than other countries. To which we would only reply: what standard should Israel be held to? If it claims to be a democracy, it should act like one. Until then, and as long as it practices arbitrary detention, extrajudicial murder (assassination), fewer rights for its Palestinian citizens, no rights for the occupied Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, illegal colonies, land appropriation, collective punishment, home demolitions, and torture, Israel does everything it can to deserve the level of criticism it receives.


War Whore

Police officer fired for refusing to shoot armed black suspect settles in court

Police
© Louie Palu / Global Look Press
A former police officer in West Virginia who sued for wrongful termination has accepted a settlement. He was let go for refusing to shoot an armed African-American suspect during a confrontation.

Stephen Mader was awarded $175,000 and a pledge that his former employer will not prevent him from obtaining a job in law enforcement elsewhere, according to details of the settlement published Monday.

"At the end of the day, I'm happy to put this chapter of my life to bed," said Mader, 27.

As a police officer in Weirton, West Virginia in May 2016, Mader responded to a call about an armed man. Upon arriving at the scene, he confronted the suspect, identified as RJ Williams of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.

Ambulance

71 dead in Moscow passenger plane crash - UPDATES

antonov an-148
© Marina Lystseva / Sputnik
Saratov Airlines' Antonov An-148 jet carrying 65 passengers and six crew crashed after take-off outside Moscow. As salvage efforts are underway at the crash site, we sum up everything we know so far about the deadly accident.

HOW IT WENT MISSING

Domodedovo air traffic control lost contact with Saratov Airlines flight 703, bound for Orsk, several minutes after take off, an official from Russia's Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) told local media. He said communication with the crew was cut and the plane vanished from radar screens.

Earlier in the day, debris was spotted from the air. Emergency services immediately deployed rapid response teams to the reported crash site, but rescuers and medics had to reach it on foot, walking through the countryside buried under snow.

Preliminary reports say the wreckage is spread across an area between adjacent villages. The Emergencies Ministry said the search-and-rescue operation will work around the clock, with the crash site observed by drones.

Comment: Putin has offered his condolences to the families of the deceased:
Vladimir Putin "offers his deep condolences to those who lost their loved ones in this accident," Dmitry Peskov said in a statement. He added that Putin had instructed the appropriate authorities to probe the Saratov Airlines plane crash.

"The President ordered the government to create a task force [to investigate] the air accident in the Moscow region,"Peskov said, adding, "he also directed the agencies concerned to carry out necessary search and rescue operations."

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has also conveyed his sympathies to families affected by the Antonov An-148 crash. Moscow city authorities are ready to offer "any assistance" to the Emergencies Ministry, the mayor wrote on Twitter.
Update (February 13)

Russia's state bank, Sberbank, has decided to cancel the debts of all the flight's victims. Hundreds of rescuers continue to comb the crash site for debris and victims.


The moment of the crash was caught on CCTV:


While the cause is still being investigated, eyewitnesses described seeing a flash in the sky:
"At first, something exploded under the wing and caught fire. After that, there was another flash and the plane fell sharply down. Everyone saw the flash. Everything was so quick," another witness told Mash Telegram-channel. Preliminary reports however indicate the pilots did not report any technical failures, nor did they activate a mayday call, according to Russia's Investigative Committee.
The plane that crashed had made several flights the day of the crash, and routine inspections before its final flight did not reveal anything wrong. Data from the recovered flight recorders may have found the cause, however:
The crash of An-148 passenger plane in the Moscow Region may have been caused by incorrect flight speed data due to icing, the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) said after deciphering the flight data recorder.

On Tuesday, the IAC announced it had completed the deciphering of information contained in the one of the black boxes - the on-board data flight recorder - of the crashed plane. It is still working on the other black box, the voice recorder.

The preliminary analysis suggests that the "incorrect data about flight speed on the pilots' indicators, which in turn was linked to the icing of the pitot-static [sensor] system" led to a "special situation" with the plane, according to the IAC statement.