Pentagon deploys 400 troops and artillery to help local fighters capture the IS stronghold in Syria.
IS conflict: US sends Marines to support Raqqa assault – BBC News
hmmm
Category: International Affairs,
Unsweetened: Mexico cancels sugar export permits to U.S. because there’s no one to negotiate with
Staff positions across the U.S. government remain unfilled. This has created a difficult situation for Mexican officials who have sought to resolve a legal issue with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
As of March 1, Trump had filled barely half of the positions for which he is in charge of staffing
Incompetent morons with absolutely zero desire to perform the job they begged and bullied the people of the United States for.
Schoolgirl Sexual assault in Japan
Sexual assault of schoolgirls is commonplace on Japan’s public transportation, but now more girls are speaking out.
Sexual assault in Japan: ‘Every girl was a victim’ | International Women’s Day | Al Jazeera
Sigh…
A Wall Divides Latin America — But Not The One You’re Thinking Of
A wall goes up in Argentina and then anti-immigrant rhetoric spreads. Will it change the course of a region bent on tearing down borders?
A Wall Divides Latin America — But Not The One You’re Thinking Of – BuzzFeed News
Sigh…
Trump’s Critics Are Letting The Bigger Russia Story Slide
The Russian cyberattack of 2016 was widely documented, but what’s happening now is that some of Trump’s critics are turning the fabric of diplomacy into conspiracy. They’re trying to find evidence that it was his camp that directed those hacks, rather than investigating how they originated in Russia. Of course, it’s also important to examine potential ties between Trump, his advisers, and Russia — if for no other reason than no one has yet found a good explanation for Trump’s worship of Putin and Russia. But, at the end of the day, it’s Russia that hacked the US, in its drive to sow chaos in a country it sees as its rival, and to elect a friendly leader who would both pass amenable policies (like the potential lifting of sanctions) while feeding that very chaos.
Russia pulled off one of the greatest coups in history — and it’s getting away with it.
Trump’s Critics Are Letting The Bigger Russia Story Slide – BuzzFeed News
hmmm
Poland’s women show the government red cards
Thousands of women in Warsaw showed Poland’s conservative government red cards and made noise with kitchenware to demand full birth control rights, respect and higher pay.
The Latest: Poland’s women show the government red cards – The Washington Post
hmmm
Guatemala fire: Deadly blaze rips through child centre
At least 19 girls found dead and dozens treated for burns after fire erupts in San Jose Pinula home for youth up to 18.
: Guatemala fire: Deadly blaze rips through child centre | News | Al Jazeera
Sigh…..
Kim Jong-nam: video of son emerges
In the video, Kim Han-sol confirms his father’s death and says: ‘We hope this gets better soon’
Kim Jong-nam death: Mystery video of son emerges – BBC News
hmm
Illegal Immigration: Ideas Doesn’t Always Match Reality
Border crossers, farm laborers, new arrivals from Mexico: There’s no shortage of stereotypes about people living in the U.S. illegally. But the statistics tell a different story.
How America’s Idea Of Illegal Immigration Doesn’t Always Match Reality : The Two-Way : NPR
hmmm
Afghanistan: IS gunmen dressed as medics kill 30 at Kabul military hospital
Gunmen dressed as doctors stormed the largest military hospital in Kabul.
Afghanistan: IS gunmen dressed as medics kill 30 at Kabul military hospital – BBC News
Sigh….
North Korea says it was practicing to hit U.S. military bases in Japan with missiles
Monday’s launches were supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported.
Oh my….
Israel imposes entry ban on foreign boycott activists
A new law targets backers of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.
Israel imposes entry ban on foreign boycott activists – The Washington Post
Un-free society much?
Hungary passes bill to detain all asylum seekers
UN refugee agency says automatic detention measure violates the country’s obligations under international law.
Hungary passes bill to detain all asylum seekers | Hungary News | Al Jazeera
Doing Syria’s dirty work for it.
Sigh….
High heels row: MPs ‘shocked’ by women’s dress code stories
A petition that calls for a ban on forcing women to wear high heels at work is debated by MPs.
…MPs said they were “shocked” by stories submitted as part of the inquiry, which included one case of a woman who had been told to dye her hair blonde.
The government has said no employer should discriminate on gender grounds.
…Helen Jones, who chairs the Petitions Committee, said : “It is fair to say that what we found shocked us.
“We found attitudes that belonged more [to the] – I was going to say 1950s but probably the 1850s might be more accurate – than the 21st Century.
…Women should not be expected to wear things that caused discomfort or expense that a male colleague would not, she added.
“I must reiterate that the government utterly condemns such dress requirements where their effects are discriminatory.”
High heels row: MPs ‘shocked’ by women’s dress code stories – BBC News
hmmmm
Going To Europe This Summer? You May Need A Visa
New requirements for Americans could mean the end of easy-peasy travel to Europe.
Going To Europe This Summer? You May Need A Visa
hmmmm
US ‘may split families that cross border’
The US might separate children from their parents if caught illegally crossing the Mexican border.
US ‘may split families that cross border’ – BBC News
Cruel, inhumane, and unnecessary.
Syrian army retakes town of Palmyra
Syria’s military announced on Thursday it has fully recaptured the historic town of Palmyra from the Islamic State group as the militants’ defenses crumbled.
Syrian army retakes town of Palmyra as Islamic State defenses crumble – Chicago Tribune
hmmm
Mem Fox, Australian author, gets apology after being wrongfully detained at LA airport
Mem Fox says she doubts she will visit the US again after she was wrongly detained by immigration officials.
She got an apology and only spent two hours in detention because she is rich, famous, and white.
Pakistan’s bloody week: Who is really to blame?
The Pakistani military points the finger at Afghanistan and India, but some believe the answer is more complex.
Pakistan’s bloody week: Who is really to blame? – BBC News
hmmm
Angela Merkel and European leaders resist Donald Trump’s ultimatum to increase defence spending or risk losing US commitment to Nato
European leaders have pushed back at Donald Trump’s ultimatum that they increase defence spending or risk America scaling back its commitment to Transatlantic protection.
hmmmm
Montreal becomes ‘sanctuary city’ after unanimous vote – Montreal
The City of Montreal unanimously approved a motion on Monday declaring itself a “sanctuary city” for unauthorized immigrants, promising undocumented people will be able to obtain services without fear of deportation.
Montreal becomes ‘sanctuary city’ after unanimous vote – Montreal – CBC News
hmmm
Murder of North Korea’s Kim Jong Nam: Timeline of intrigue
The latest news — Malaysia is recalling its ambassador over Kim’s death and summoning Pyongyang’s own representative in Kuala Lumpur after he accused his host country of conspiring with “hostile forces” in its investigation.
...After news of the death broke Tuesday, Malaysian authorities announced they would be conducting an autopsy as part of its investigation — something North Korean officials later said they would not accept unless their officials can witness the procedure.
Pyongyang’s ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol, said Friday the country would reject the results of a “forced” autopsy on one of its citizens and demanded the immediate release of the body.
But Selangor Police Chief Abdul Samah Mat said without DNA from a next of kin, they wouldn’t hand over Kim Jong Nam’s body or release the autopsy report, which could reveal the cause of death.
CNN: Murder of North Korea’s Kim Jong Nam: Timeline of intrigue
Whaaaaa???? So fricking weird!
Reince Priebus: No One Had Contact With Russia During The Campaign — As Far As We Know
That’s a less definitive answer than the administration had last month.
Not to agree with the haters or anything but clearly Priebus is 100% in over his head.
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