WORLD NEWS
US calls on Israel to investigate rape of Palestinian captives
Reports of the sexual abuse of detainees are “horrific,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller has said
The Israeli authorities must fully investigate alleged incidents of rape against Palestinian detainees and hold those responsible to account, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has said.
The Israeli N12 broadcaster published CCTV footage on Tuesday, allegedly showing troops from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) using a broomstick to sexually abuse a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention facility, dubbed by the media as ‘Israel’s Guantanamo Bay.’ The victim, who is claimed to be a member of a Hamas special forces unit, was reportedly hospitalized in a life-threatening condition with injuries to his rectum and upper body.
Ten Israeli servicemen were detained in late July over the incident, being accused of aggravated sodomy, causing bodily harm, abuse, and conduct unbecoming of a soldier. Five of them remain in custody. Following the arrests, a mob of far-right activists and lawmakers angered by the prosecution of the IDF troops broke into the Sde Teiman facility, and later tried to storm the Beit Lid base where the suspects were being held.
During his briefing on Wednesday, Miller confirmed that officials in Washington had seen the video in question.
Fourth African state sanctions Ukraine for ‘supporting terrorism’
Niger says the move is in solidarity with Mali, which has accused Kiev of backing rebels involved in deadly attacks
Niger has severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine in response to Kiev’s alleged support for militants who killed dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner Group contractors in an attack last month.
The West African state’s decision on Tuesday came just two days after Mali took the same step, accusing Kiev of supporting international terrorism. Ukrainian officials had earlier indicated that Kiev had assisted Tuareg rebels who staged an attack in the village of Tinzaouaten.
In an interview following the incident, Ukraine’s spy agency spokesman, Andrey Yusov, indicated on national TV that the insurgents had received intelligence to conduct a “successful military operation against Russian war criminals.” He warned that “there will be more to come.” Ukraine’s embassy in Senegal posted the video – now deleted – on its Facebook page along with a comment from Ambassador Yury Pivovarov, who said “there will certainly be other results.”
Niamey’s military government spokesman, Amadou Abdramane, called the remarks “indecent” and “unacceptable” in an address on state TV late on Tuesday, claiming that they characterize “acts of aggression.”
“Niger, in total solidarity with the government and people of Mali, has decided in all sovereignty […] to sever diplomatic relations between the Republic of Niger and Ukraine with immediate effect,” Abdramane said.
Kiev has yet to respond to the African state’s move.
On Monday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denied any involvement in the terrorist attack and described Mali’s decision to break off diplomatic ties as “shortsighted and hasty.”
“Ukraine is known in Africa as an important contributor to ensuring regional security,” the ministry stated, arguing that Bamako had acted without providing any evidence of Kiev’s complicity in the ambush near the Algerian border.
Where are the brave inciters of Britain’s race riots? From Tommy to Elon, they’re far, far away
Thugs may be rampaging in the streets, but their leaders-from-behind are more likely to be found sipping cocktails by the pool.
My kids are crying. We come here so I could spend some quality time with them. Now they are scared people are coming here to get them.” Thus bleated Tommy Robinson from the five-star Ayia Napa all-inclusive hotel from which he is currently influencing sustained violent disorder on Britain’s streets.
And yet, multiple paparazzi photos from the resort show Daddy either floating like a lonesome turd in the pool, or splayed out on a four-poster sunlounger glued to his phone, with not even a pixelated Sproginson to be seen. Perhaps they were fomenting looting in the kids’ club? If not, Pops has certainly broken with the form book by not coopting them into his war games. Robinson’s previous stunts have included filming his disturbingly tearful children on the day he emerged from one of his prison sentences (it was the attempting-to-collapse-a-rape-trial one, I think, as opposed to the massive-mortgage-fraud one).
Japan issues first ‘megaquake’ warning
The alert followed a 7.1-magnitude temblor that struck off the coast of the country’s third largest island, sparking a tsunami advisory
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its first-ever “mega earthquake caution” on Thursday, following a magnitude 7.1 temblor that struck earlier in the day off the coast of Kyushu, the country’s third largest island. There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries.
The quake occurred at around 4:43 pm local time (07:43 GMT) off the coast of the Miyazaki prefecture of Kyushu, at a depth of about 18 miles, triggering tsunami advisories, the JMA said.
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
2nd extremist ‘Squad’ member gets booted by voters
A second member of the extremist “Squad” in Congress, those leftists who often have advocated for largely communist ideology, is being booted from office by voters in her own Democratic Party.
Fox News reports voters in Missouri’s Democrat-majority 1st Congressional District “served a sharp rebuke of the left’s progressive wing” and voted Bush out.
The winner of the Democrat primary for that congressional race was Wesley Bell, a St. Louis County prosecutor who is “more moderate” and had the backing of pro-Israel groups offended by Bush’s constant attacks on the nation.
The first “Squad” member booted was Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., who fell in his own party’s primary to a moderate pro-Israel candidate.
Both Bush and Bowman were radically opposed to the longstanding U.S. ties to Israel, a position they increasingly used after the attack by the Hamas terrorists on Israel last Oct. 7, when the invaders slaughtered some 1,200 civilians.
Bush proclaimed that butchery was, “Israel’s collective punishment against Palestinians for Hamas’ actions is a war crime.”
She emphasized her extremist positions even on the eve of the election, holding an online rally with Bowman and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., another anti-Israel “Squad” member.
Kamala Harris backed ‘defund the police’ agenda only last year
Kamala Harris has been on a tear lately, changing many of her extreme leftist positions in order to position herself as an actual candidate to be president, nominated by Democrats.
Fracking, guns, the border and more all have been on her list of sudden changes.
Her defenders say it shows how astute she is, in analyzing her old positions and changing them.
But one of her historic scandals – her calls for various governments simply to stop providing funding for police – is way too fresh for that argument to stand up.
It’s because, as the Washington Examiner reports, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, made donations to a “progressive legal group that pushed to defund the police and make Washington, D.C., a permanent ‘sanctuary city’ for illegal aliens” just last year.
The report explained Legal Aid DC, a group working on housing and other issues for low-income clients, got a $1,000 payment from Harris and Emhoff.
The publication said it reviewed records to confirm the donation.
“News of the donations, which have not been reported on until now, comes as Harris faces scrutiny on the 2024 campaign trail over her support in 2020 for defunding the police and her handling of the border crisis,” the report said.
Taylor Swift shows in Vienna canceled over alleged planned terrorist attack
Organizers have canceled three Taylor Swift concerts in Austria after authorities said they foiled a terror attack planned for the Vienna leg of her blockbuster Eras tour.
The extraordinary decision – which could come at significant cost to Vienna’s businesses – has devastated fans and renewed focus on the vulnerability of huge concerts as soft targets for terror networks and spree killers.
Swift was scheduled to play three shows in the European city from Thursday to Saturday – which have all been canceled, according to Barracuda Music, the promoter for her concerts in Austria.
“With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” Barracuda Music said Wednesday in a post online.
Swift’s official website also listed the concerts as canceled. CNN has reached out to her representatives for comment.
International intelligence agencies helped Austrian authorities uncover the alleged plot, said the country’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, after police said the suspects were “radicalized by the internet.”
Three teenage suspects – aged 19, 17 and 15 – were questioned in connection with the alleged terror plot, according to the country’s director general for public security.
Those arrested were in contact with other individuals who knew about the plans, Franz Ruf said at a press conference in the capital.
The two older suspects had exhibited noticeable changes in behavior before their arrests.
The 19-year-old quit his job on July 25, saying he had “something big” planned, Ruf said, adding that he planned to detonate a device in the perimeter of the concert venue. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old, who was arrested in Vienna on Wednesday afternoon, recently broken up with his girlfriend.
US government ‘has declared war on me’ – Scott Ritter
The RT contributor’s house was raided by the FBI on Wednesday
Former US Marine turned journalist Scott Ritter has accused the US government of committing an “act of intimidation” against him for his journalistic work after federal agents and state police executed a search warrant on his house in New York State on Wednesday.
In a video statement on his Telegram channel on Thursday, Ritter, who is also a former UN weapons inspector, said that the warrant was based upon suspicion that he had violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
The authorities appear to be “primarily concerned” about his “relationship” with RT and the news agency Sputnik, he added.
According to Ritter, the FBI agents accused him of working “on behalf of the Russian government” and receiving “directions” from the two Russian outlets while being compensated for his contributions.
Ritter stressed that he was not a foreign agent and pointed out that he gets compensation from “any journalistic entity” he provides content for.
Ritter also dismissed as “absurd in the extreme” the accusation that his articles and podcasts were “designed to manipulate the opinion of the American people on behalf of the Russian government.”
He called the raid “an act of intimidation by the US government designed to have a chilling effect” and to discourage him from further cooperation with the Russian-based media outlets, Ritter said.
”There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that I will back down because I’m doing nothing wrong,” he stated, adding that he is “an American citizen, holding my government accountable and exercising the rights given to me by the Constitution.”
Ritter went on to say that the US government has “declared war” on him, on his ability to write, to speak, and to interact with the American people and the broader international audience.
”It’s not a war I plan on losing,” Ritter concluded.
Harris Campaign Unable to Address Stolen Valor Accusations Plaguing Tim WalzThe Harris 2024 campaign was unable to explain why Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) falsely claimed to be “in war,” or address any of the stolen valor accusations plaguing new Democrat vice presidential nominee for the past two days.
Since Vice President Kamala Harris (D) unveiled Walz as her running mate on Tuesday, Walz has been dogged by false claims he has made throughout his political career that misrepresent his military career.
Walz served for 24 years in the Army National Guard, but never deployed to war or in combat. He retired as a master sergeant in 2005, shortly before his unit deployed to Iraq.
However, he has claimed on multiple occasions that he is a retired sergeant major — a higher rank than he ultimately achieved, and has falsely suggested he went to war.
He repeated that false suggestion in a video clip put out by the Harris campaign itself. In the video clip, Walz claims he carried weapons “in war.”
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Technocrats Get $2.2 Billion From Biden For Power Grid Upgrade For AI
The U.S. Department of Energy is allocating $2.2 billion in grants for upgrades of the power grid to make it more resilient to extreme weather events and accommodate more renewable energy.
Oilprice.com reports that the jolt of federal funding will add to private-sector financing to support eight grid upgrade projects across 18 states.
According to the Biden administration, the DOE funding is expected to support the construction of more than 600 miles of new transmission lines and the upgrade of about 400 miles of existing lines so that they can carry more current.
This has nothing to do with hardening the power grid in a way that could withstand an EMP attack by Russia or China.
Experts such as the late EMP Taskforce Director Dr. Peter Pry have been calling for this kind of upgrade for years (you can read about Dr. Pray’s warnings here from the Center for Security Policy).
Instead, what do we get? A so-called upgrade that will place more emphasis on more expensive and less reliable renewable energy, i.e. wind and solar.
This is a sham project that panders to climate alarmists instead of listening to national security realists in the vein of Dr. Pry.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement carried by Reuters:
“The first half of 2024 has already broken records for the hottest days in Earth’s history, and as extreme weather continues to hit every part of the country, we must act with urgency to strengthen our aging grid.”
U.S. utilities and regulators have raised significantly their forecasts of peak power demand in the coming decade, but that has almost nothing to do with climate change.
The real reason for needing upgraded capacity is the expected exponential growth in electricity demand stemming from the massive new data centers being built all over the country to support the growth of generative AI.
AI uses an incredible amount of electricity to collect, process and store information 24/7 in real time. These AI data centers also require a tremendous amount of water resources to keep the computers cooled.
This is part of the cost of living in the growing global AI-powered surveillance state. The United Nations has And it’s a cost almost nobody is talking about.
Not only will we lose all privacy. We will pay for our own enslavement in the form of higher taxes and utility bills.
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