Dept of Defense: “Real Possibility” of Nuclear War with China
“Faced with Russia and China’s growing threats and gray zone actions, the United States must take action today to position itself for the future. We must start by acknowledging that our most fundamental assumption—that strategic deterrence will hold, even through crisis and conflict—is going to be tested in ways not seen before” Richard continued. “Unfortunately, our opponents invested in nuclear and strategic capabilities designed to constrain U.S. actions, test our alliances, and, if necessary, escalate past us—to include nuclear use,”
Steve Bannon to Boston Republicans: Trump will ‘lead us in 2024’
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon told a group of Boston Republicans that former President Donald Trump will come roaring back in 2024, suggesting he may first be elected to Congress, displace Nancy Pelosi as speaker and launch impeachment proceedings against President Biden.
Pennsylvania County GOP Censures Sen. Toomey for Impeachment Vote
Republicans in York County in Pennsylvania rebuked Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., for his vote to convict former President Donald Trump in his Senate impeachment trial, censuring him within hours of Trump’s acquittal. “After weeks of ignoring his constituents, he has now demonstrated a lack of respect for our Constitution and the people who placed him into office.
Polar Vortex ‘Paralyzes’ Texas Refineries, Forced To Shut Down Amid “Severe Cold Weather
Three million people are left without power as an extreme cold snap sends power demand to record highs. Energy infrastructure, such as natural gas pipelines have frozen, halting fuel flow to powerplants, resulting in record-high electricity rates. Now we’re learning the chaos has spread to the crude complex in the state. Bloomberg reports Motiva Enterprises will shut down its Port Arthur refinery due to the cold weather. The refinery is North America’s largest refinery, with a crude capacity of more than 630,000 barrels a day.
Rabobank: A Republican Civil War Post Trump Now Begins In Full
As noted weeks ago, a Republican civil war post Trump now begins in full. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell castigated him while voting to acquit; the Republicans who voted to convict face local party censure; and Trump himself put out a public statement (not over Twitter, obviously) that the MAGA movement has “only just begun”. The US now enters an 18-month-plus period in which Trumpists may try to primary Republican Congressional candidates to deliver both the party and a Congressional majority to MAGA populism in 2022. The global implications of this very national struggle will likely be enormous.
Not Again; Another Winter Storm To Batter South, Midwest, And Northeast
As a major winter storm, named Uri by The Weather Channel, continues to spread a wintery mix across the South into parts of the Midwest and Northeast through Tuesday, another cross-country storm could be developing this week. Winter Storm Viola will have a similar track as Uri and bring wintry weather to cities like Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, and Cincinnati.
Bill Gates Goes Full Captain Planet, Wants To Change ‘Every Aspect Of Economy’ While We Dine On Fake Meat
Microsoft founder Bill Gates is pushing drastic and ‘fundamental’ changes to the economy in order to immediately halt the release of greenhouse gasses – primarily carbon dioxide – and ‘go to zero’ in order to save the planet from long-prognosticated (and consistently wrong) environmental disaster.
State Dept Refuses to Explain Iran Envoy’s Talks with China
The State Department is refusing to provide details or even confirm statements by the Chinese government indicating the U.S.-Iran envoy Robert Malley recently spoke to Communist Party officials about the Biden administration’s efforts to reenter the 2015 nuclear accord. Chinese vice foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu “had a phone conversation with U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley at the latter’s request, and the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the Iranian nuclear issue,” China’s foreign ministry announced late last week.
Coalition for Jewish Values: Anti-Semitism now accepted in Congress
The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 1500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in matters of public policy, called Monday for House Democratic leadership to rescind the appointment of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) as vice chair of an important House subcommittee with jurisdiction over global human rights. Omar, despite a history of support for organizations with ties to Islamic terror and condemnations of Israel sufficient to be voted “2019’s Anti-Semite of the Year” by StopAntiSemitism.org, was named Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
US soldier wounded in Iraq rocket attack
A volley of rockets targeting an airbase in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Monday killed a foreign civilian contractor and wounded five others, among them a US soldier, AFP reports. At around 9:30 p.m. local time several loud explosions were heard in the northwestern outskirts of Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, according to the news agency.
Turkey botches raid, blames ‘terrorists,’ attacks domestic critics
Within a 24-hour period, Turkey’s ruling party and its supporters managed to, first, admit they botched a deadly raid in northern Iraq, blamed “terrorists” for killing people harmed in the raid, and then moved the target to attack domestic political opponents. Turkey’s AK Party, which has been in power almost two decades and has recently pushed invasions of Syria, Libya and Armenia and hosts Hamas terrorists, is now pushing for a new war in Iraq, Syria and at home.
‘Very interesting,’ Putin responds to Elon Musk’s invitation to chat
An invitation from Tesla boss Elon Musk for Russian President Vladimir Putin to join him for a chat on a social networking app? “Very interesting,” the Kremlin said on Monday.
Iran cleric: People who are vaccinated for COVID have ‘become homosexuals’
Ayatollah Abbas Tabrizian wrote on his Telegram social-media platform: “Don’t go near those who have had the COVID vaccine. They have become homosexuals.”
India pitches for connectivity from Arabian Sea to South China Sea
Speaking at an event in Guwahati, Assam the EAM said, the “approach to create connectivity to and within Assam, beyond to the North-East, then to neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh, but eventually push all the way by road, by sea, by air to Vietnam, to Japan.” India is working on a number of connectivity projects to connect northeast with East Asia. …from “The Arabian Sea to the South China Sea” …
Earthquake hits Earth thrice in 3 days; check its impact and what experts have to say
New Delhi: The world was taken by surprise when three major earthquakes shook the Earth within 72 hours. Experts warn nations to brace for a major quake that may hit soon.
Israel hints it may not engage Biden on Iran nuclear strategy
Israel held out the possibility on Tuesday that it would not engage with US President Joe Biden on strategy regarding the Iranian nuclear program, urging tougher sanctions and a “credible military threat” against its arch-enemy. The remarks by Israel’s envoy to Washington came at a touchy juncture for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rockets injured US personnel in Iraq, killed contractor: Will Biden act?
The US-led coalition said on Monday night that rocket fire landed on coalition forces who are based near the city. They were likely killed and wounded at the coalition facilities at Erbil International Airport. The coalition spokesperson Col. Wayne Marotto wrote that one civilian contractor was killed, five injured and one US service member was injured.
Israel’s Northern Front heats up as Syria airstrikes, IAF drill overlap
Israel’s military has for the past decade repeatedly attacked Iranian targets in Syria, conducting hundreds of air raids against military bases, missile production sites and training facilities. Israeli jets conducted another series of airstrikes against Syrian targets south of Damascus, Syria’s state media reported early Monday morning, the second such strikes in one week.
Blues Clues peddles gender identity propaganda to pre-schoolers
“P is full of Pride,” or so a new Blues Clues, a long-running educational cartoon show on Nick Jr., for kids age 3 to 5, declared in a new alphabet song. The song featured a screen filled with various LGBT-adjacent pride flags with Blue, the helpful puppy, smiling next to the letter P, filled in with the new LGBT flag, complete with black, brown and trans stripes.
Minneapolis push to defund police backfires after residents complain of slow response times, increase in crime
Minneapolis on Friday backtracked on its original push to defund the city’s police department in the wake of George Floyd’s police custody death after residents begged the city to hire more officers, citing longer response times and increased violent crime. The City Council on Friday voted unanimously to approve $6.4 million in additional funding that police had requested.
US ‘outraged’ by deadly rocket attack on Irbil
The US has vowed to “hold accountable those responsible” for Monday’s rocket attack in Iraq’s Kurdistan region that killed a civilian contractor. A US service member and five other contractors were injured when rockets hits sites in the Irbil city, including a base used by the US-led coalition. In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was “outraged” by the attack.
Parler app back online after month-long gap
Controversial social-media app Parler has come back online after more than a month without service. The Twitter-like app was a favourite among supporters of former US President Donald Trump and right-wing conservatives. It was banned from Google and Apple’s app stores and Amazon’s web-hosting service, after an armed mob broke into the US Capitol building on 6 January.
WHO has alerted six African countries after Ebola outbreaks
The World Health Organization has alerted six countries to watch out for potential Ebola cases after fresh outbreaks in Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Guinea declared a new Ebola outbreak on Sunday in the first resurgence of the disease there since the 2013-2016 outbreak, while the Democratic Republic of Congo reported a resurgence of the virus on Feb. 7.
Hamas court says women need guardian’s approval to travel
A Hamas-run Islamic court in the Gaza Strip has ruled that women require the permission of a male guardian to travel, further restricting movement in and out of the territory that has been blockaded by Israel and Egypt since the militant group seized power. The rollback in women’s rights could spark a backlash in Gaza at a time when the Palestinians plan to hold elections later this year.
Iran and Qatar discuss region, nuclear deal in high-level talks
Iran and Qatar have discussed Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers and laid the groundwork for Doha to act as a mediator between Iran and Arab rivals in the region during the first high-level talks in Tehran. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani led a Qatari delegation on Monday that met President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Saudi Arabia to stop contracting with firms without local HQ
Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that it plans to stop signing contracts with foreign companies that don’t have their Mideast headquarters in the kingdom, state-run media reported, a bold move that could escalate business competition in the region. The decision, to take effect on Jan 1. 2024, aims to solicit foreign investment, increase efficiency of state spending and boost local employment…
Series of strong earthquakes hit off the coast of Port Vila, Vanuatu
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 hit off the coast of Port Vila, Vanuatu at 00:49 UTC on February 16, 2021. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. The quake was preceded by two M4.9 earthquakes at 10:34 UTC and 16:51 UTC on February 15; and followed by M5.4 at 01:22 UTC on February 16, M5.7 at 01:31, M5.3 at 03:37, and M5.0 at 04:44 UTC.
New skin patch promises comprehensive health monitoring
Scientists have developed a new skin patch that can provide all-in-one health monitoring capabilities. The thin, flexible patch, worn on the neck, can track the wearer’s heart rate and blood pressure, as well as glucose levels.
Satanist group commissions 40 foot ‘Abortion Saves Lives’ billboard in Texas
Just weeks into 2021, and abortion is front and center in American politics once again, with more than a dozen pro-life laws surfacing at state legislatures, Biden’s executive orders, and the balance of power tilting once again towards the blood-bloated feticide monopoly Planned Parenthood. And speak of the Devil, the Satanic Temple is at it again as well, this time in Texas.
Bill Gates Goes Full Captain Planet, Wants To Change ‘Every Aspect Of Economy’ While We Dine On Fake Meat
Microsoft founder Bill Gates is pushing drastic and ‘fundamental’ changes to the economy in order to immediately halt the release of greenhouse gasses – primarily carbon dioxide – and ‘go to zero’ in order to save the planet from long-prognosticated (and consistently wrong) environmental disaster.
Syrian Army Says Air Defenses Intercepted ‘Israeli Aggression’ Over Damascus
Syria’s army said on Monday the country’s air defenses had intercepted “Israeli aggression” over the capital, Damascus, in the latest stepped-up bombing of Iranian targets inside the country over the last two months.
Winter storm: 3,800+ flights canceled Monday; Houston airports close
A winter storm pummeled the Midwest and South Monday, closing both of Houston’s airports and racking up more than 3,800 canceled flights nationwide.
Marc Lamont Hill Says That Black Lives Matter ‘Explicitly’ Looking To ‘Dismantle’ Israel and ‘Embrace’ BDS Movement
On February 6, the Democratic Socialists of America hosted an online panel discussion titled “DSA, BDS, and Palestine Solidarity.” One of the panelists was Marc Lamont Hill, a professor of media studies and urban education at Temple University and outspoken Black Lives Matter activist, who admitted that one of the explicit goals of the Black Lives Matter movement was to “embrace BDS” and “dismantle” the Jewish State of Israel.
WHO authorizes AstraZeneca vaccine
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday granted an emergency authorization to AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine, The Associated Press reports.
Two ‘Mandalorian’ actors posted Nazi analogies to social media, but Lucasfilm only fired the conservative one
“Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors…even by children. Because history is edited, most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views” – Gina Carano said in the caption of her Instagram post.
Report: At Least 9 Shot Friday into Sunday Morning in Chicago
At least nine people were shot, three fatally, Friday into Sunday morning across Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s (D) Chicago.
More than 3.8 million homes without power as unprecedented winter storm hits Texas
More than 3.8 million homes are experiencing power outages across the U.S. state of Texas and another 118 000 across Louisiana, 58 000 in Mississippi, and 163 000 in Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky after extremely cold temperatures and frozen precipitation blanketed parts of U.S. South, crippling transportation and infrastructure. Texas Governor Gregg Abbot issued a statewide disaster declaration on February 12, warning all residents the state faces an unprecedented winter storm.
19th Texas City Bans Abortions, Becomes “Sanctuary for the Unborn”
Texas now has 19 cities that protect unborn babies from abortions. The Texan reports the city of Goldsmith voted unanimously Wednesday to pass a Sanctuary for the Unborn ordinance and ban abortions within city limits.
SCORCHED EARTH: Angry CNN goes on the attack against Trump’s impeachment lawyers
CNN is angry that Trump was acquitted by the Senate on Saturday and, like any good lynch mob, they are now going after Trump’s lawyers to get their pound of flesh: