The Senate bid to stop the Saudi arms sales is likely to fail.
Trump faces growing Senate resistance on Saudi arms deal – POLITICO
hmmm
Category: International Affairs,
Saudi Arabia apologizes for snub terror of victims
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has apologised for its players ignoring a minute’s silence during their World Cup qualifying match.
Saudi Arabia sorry for minute s silence snub terror victims – Yahoo7
Manischewitz….
Kabul hit with devastating bomb as U.S. considers sending yet more troops.
More than 80 reportedly dead in one of the country’s most secure areas.
Kabul hit with devastating bomb as U.S. considers sending yet more troops.
sigh…
Ancient Aztec temple, ball court found in Mexico City
A giant temple to the Aztec god of the wind and a court where the Aztecs played a deadly ball game have been discovered in the heart of Mexico City. Archaeologists unveiled the rare finds Wednesday after extensive excavations, giving journalists a tour of the semi-circular temple of Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl and nearby ball court.
Records indicate that Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes first watched the ritual Aztec ball game at the court in 1528, invited by the last Aztec emperor, Montezuma — the man whose empire he went on to conquer.
Ancient Aztec temple, ball court found in Mexico City
cool
Many prisons make bad people worse.
Reserving prison for the worst offenders has hefty benefits. First, it saves money. In America, for example, incarcerating a federal convict costs eight times as much as putting the same convict on probation. Second, it avoids mixing minor offenders with more hardened criminals, who will teach them bad habits.
…Rehabilitation programmes that focus on factors other than crime, such as creative abilities, physical conditioning and self-esteem do not reduce criminal behaviour, argues Edward Latessa of the University of Cincinnati. Boot camps are especially ineffective: they foster aggression and bond criminals together.
Too many prisons make bad people worse. There is a better way
hmmmm
CNN Exclusive: US suspects Russian hackers planted fake news behind Qatar crisis
US investigators believe Russian hackers breached Qatar’s state news agency and planted a fake news report that contributed to a crisis among the US’ closest Gulf allies, according to US officials briefed on the investigation.
…US officials say the Russian goal appears to be to cause rifts among the US and its allies. In recent months, suspected Russian cyber activities, including the use of fake news stories, have turned up amid elections in France, Germany and other countries.
…The Qatari government has said a May 23 news report on its Qatar News Agency attributed false remarks to the nation’s ruler that appeared friendly to Iran and Israel and questioned whether President Donald Trump would last in office.
…Partly in reaction to the false news report, Qatar’s neighbors, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have cut off economic and political ties, causing a broader crisis.
The report came at a time of escalating tension over accusations Qatar was financing terrorism.
On Tuesday, Trump tweeted criticism of Qatar that mirrors that of the Saudis and others in the region who have long objected to Qatar’s foreign policy. He did not address the false news report.
…Comey told lawmakers that one reason he decided to bypass his Justice Department bosses in announcing no charges in the probe of Hillary Clinton’s private email server was the concern about an apparent fake piece of Russian intelligence. The intelligence suggested the Russians had an email that indicated former Attorney General Loretta Lynch had assured Democrats she wouldn’t let the Clinton probe lead to charges.
The FBI came to believe the email was fake, but still feared the Russians could release it to undermine the Justice Department’s role in the probe. [emphasis: mine]
: CNN Exclusive: US suspects Russian hackers planted fake news behind Qatar crisis – CNNPolitics.com
So Comey prioritized the reputation of the Justice Department over the fabric of our Democracy and a free and fair election for the President of the United Freaking States?????!
What the hell?
If that is the judgment he used on the job than thank heavens the myopic fucktard was fired.
Way to bury the lead in a totally unrelated story CNN
Qatar crisis: Qatar Airways still flying despite Bahrain closing airspace.
IF YOU want to know just what a problem Qatar Airways faces as its neighbouring nations isolate it, a map illustrates its predicament perfectly.
Qatar crisis: Qatar Airways still flying despite Bahrain closing airspace.
hmmmm
Mosul battle: ISIL kills 230 fleeing civilians, says UN
The United Nations expresses alarm at a “significant escalation” in such killings in the Iraqi city.
Mosul battle: IS kills 230 fleeing civilians, says UN – BBC News
oy….
Bodies, Plane Parts Found in Search for Myanmar Aircraft Carrying 120
It is the rainy season in Myanmar but a civil aviation official said the weather had been “normal” with good visibility when the aircraft took off.
Bodies, Plane Parts Found in Search for Myanmar Aircraft Carrying 120 – NBC News
Sigh…
Qatar crisis: Can Al Jazeera survive?
The showpiece of Qatar’s efforts to gain international influence could be under threat.
…Al Jazeera’s broadcasting has caused controversy and drawn anger in various Arab states, not least in Egypt after the fall of Hosni Mubarak during the Arab Spring and the subsequent ousting of the elected president, Mohammed Morsi – a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.
It has already been caught up in the current crisis, with its website blocked by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain in late May.
Those nations all severed ties with Qatar on 5 June, accusing the country of supporting extremism. Saudi Arabia has closed Al Jazeera’s offices and withdrawn its broadcast licence, saying it promotes terrorist “plots”, supports Houthi militias that Saudi Arabia is fighting in Yemen, and has attempted to “break the Saudi internal ranks”.
Qatar crisis: Can Al Jazeera survive? – BBC News
Sigh. IMHO they do good work.
Iran attacks: ISIL hits parliament and Khomeini mausoleum
Twin attacks on the Iranian parliament and Ayatollah Khomeini’s mausoleum in the capital, Tehran, have killed at least 12 people and injured many more.
After hours of intermittent gunfire, officials said both incidents were over and the attackers were dead.
The Islamic State (IS) group has said it carried out the attacks, which would be a first in Iran.
Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards accused Saudi Arabia and the US of being behind the attacks.
.
Iran attacks: ‘IS’ hits parliament and Khomeini mausoleum – BBC News
hmmm
Trump’s UK trip should be canceled, says London Mayor Sadiq Khan
The U.K. government should reassess its invitation to U.S. President Donald Trump for a state visit later this year, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
…Khan’s comments came after Trump criticized the mayor’s reaction to Saturday’s London attack. Trump said on Twitter: “At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed’.” Khan responded saying the president had taken his comments out of context. The mayor had said: “Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. There’s no reason to be alarmed.”
Trump’s UK trip should be canceled, says London Mayor Sadiq Khan
hmmmm
White House Excludes Gay First Spouse of Luxembourg From Photo Caption
The White House Facebook page failed to acknowledge First Gentleman of Luxembourg Gauthier Destenay, married to Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, in a post featuring the spouses of world leaders attending this week’s G7 summit in Sicily.
White House Excludes Gay First Spouse of Luxembourg From Photo Caption
WH: Bunch of backwards loser living in a delusional fiction.
Kabul blast felt like an earthquake, say witnesses
People at site of huge blast that killed at least 80 people describe scenes of confusion and large-scale destruction.
Kabul blast felt like an earthquake, say witnesses | Afghanistan News | Al Jazeera
(hu)man(s)….
US starts giving arms to Syrian Kurds ahead of Raqqa assault
The United States started Tuesday to deliver weapons to Kurdish fighters closing in on the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, Syria, the Pentagon said.
US starts giving arms to Syrian Kurds ahead of Raqqa assault – The Washington Post
hmmm
Over 200 dead in Sri Lanka mudslides, floods
More than 77,000 have fled their homes, 1,500 houses have been destroyed since rains began last Friday
Over 200 dead in Sri Lanka mudslides, floods – CBS News
Jeezus….
China: Activists Detained at Ivanka Trump Shoe Factory
Labor rights group says plight of three activists spotlights broader crackdown.
China: Activists Detained at Ivanka Trump Shoe Factory | Time.com
hmmmm
French Open bans Hamou over attempts to kiss reporter on live TV
The episode drew ire on social media, including from French politician Cécile Duflot.”He kisses her by force, she tries to get away, he holds her by the neck and everyone… laughs #tired,” the Green MP wrote on Twitter (in French).
Quoted by the Huffington Post France, Ms Thomas described the player’s actions as “frankly unpleasant”.
“If I hadn’t been live on air, I would have punched him.”
French Open bans Hamou over attempts to kiss reporter on live TV – BBC News
Assault charges would be a nice touch.
Barrier reef suffers huge coral loss
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef lost nearly a third of its corals in the past year, officials have said.
Barrier reef suffers huge coral loss – BBC News
Agggggggh!
French Open bars Maxime Hamou for trying to kiss TV reporter during interview
The French Tennis Federation has revoked the accreditation of Maxime Hamou after he repeatedly tried to kiss a female reporter during an interview following his first-round loss in the French Open.
[Hamou] also held Eurosport TV journalist Maly Thomas around her neck as she tried to move away during a live interview at Roland Garros.
French Open bars Maxime Hamou for trying to kiss TV reporter during interview
That’s a good start, let’s see some actual charges. An example clearly needs to be made of idiots who think they are entitled to subjugate other human beings based on gender or skin color.
Belgium: Female students asked to wear low-cut tops to graduation
The ULB Confessions page also published a response it had received from a student: “No one has the right to tell you how you should feel in your skin. Nobody has the right to tell you how to dress. No one has the right to tell you how to play your role as a woman. No one has the right to take away this freedom that has been (and is still being) obtained with such difficulty.”
Belgium: Female students asked to wear low-cut tops to graduation – BBC News
WTF?!
Australia to ban convicted pedophiles from traveling abroad
Australia will introduce tough new laws in an attempt to crack down on child sex tourism in what the government has described as a “world first.”
Australia to ban convicted pedophiles from traveling abroad – CNN.com
hmmmm
ISIL targets the young, then the old in twin bombings –
Twin car bombings just hours apart have targeted two groups of people going about their daily lives in Baghdad — young families having a late night Ramadan snack and older city residents collecting their pensions.
[ISIL] has claimed responsibility for both attacks, which killed 21 people
ISIS targets the young, then the old in twin bombings – CNN.com
Godless monsters
Comments From The Peanut Gallery 