Latest News, News Headlines, Amazon Coupons, Amazon Offers

Latest News, News Headlines, Amazon Coupons, Amazon Offers


Something New

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:52 AM PDT

Something New


The Moto Z4 lets you go 5G on the cheap

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:45 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

There's a new Moto phone in town, and it lets you go 5G without spending a ton of money. 

The Moto Z4 — briefly leaked on Amazon a few days ago — has decent specs, though it's not fully up to par with the most powerful flagships of today. It's got a 6.4-inch OLED display with a waterdrop notch, a Snapdragon 675 chip, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It's quite strong in the camera department, with a 48-megapixel rear camera and a 25-megapixel selfie camera. 

But what makes the Moto Z4 interesting is its fairly low price of $440 (if you buy it from Verizon), and that's with Motorola's 5G Mod included.  Read more...

More about Motorola, Moto Z4, Tech, and Smartphones

Trump tries to walk back his tweet that Russia helped him get elected, but the internet doesn't forget

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:40 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Donald Trump should really know by now that the internet never forgets.

And yet on Thursday morning the president went on a Twitter rant in which he seemed to admit that, yes, Russia did in fact help him get elected. Oops.

Russia, Russia, Russia! That’s all you heard at the beginning of this Witch Hunt Hoax...And now Russia has disappeared because I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected. It was a crime that didn’t exist. So now the Dems and their partner, the Fake News Media,.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2019

The tweetstorm came in response to Robert Mueller's statement on Wednesday in which he again highlighted the Russian interference in the 2016 election.  Read more...

More about Donald Trump, Russian Interference, Culture, and Politics

Nike's New Self-Lacing Sneakers Are Insane

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:38 AM PDT

Bill Hader has some advice about anxiety for his younger self

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:30 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States. Every year, it affects 40 million adults in the country, and actor and comedian Bill Hader is one of them.

In a new video for the Child Mind Institute's #MyYoungerSelf campaign, Hader shares his experience with anxiety. As he explains, it's always been a part of his daily life. When he attempted to do simple tasks like ride the school bus alone, Hader says that "there was always a little voice in my head telling me, 'here's all the things that could go wrong.'"

In the four minute video, Hader talks about how, as he's gotten older, he's found new strategies to cope. He told his younger self that “what helped me was learning that [the anxiety] doesn't really go away. You manage it. And instead of pushing away your anxiety — and I always imagined my anxiety as this little monster that would kind of attack my face or pull my ears — instead of pushing that thing away and trying to fight it, I would just go, ‘Hey, oh hey buddy.’ You know, like it was a little monkey.” Read more...

More about Mashable Video, Mental Heath, Bill Hader, Mental Health Awareness, and Social Good

Best Father's Day gifts: 40 things your dad won't buy for himself

Posted: 24 May 2019 02:00 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Dads often get shit for dad jokes and being bad at texting, but father figures have another thing in common besides thinking terrible puns are hilarious: They're some of the most selfless people in the world.

TBH, a lot of us wouldn't know how to live on our own if it wasn't for those father figures who taught us — this goes for uncles, step-dads, or anyone who stepped up to take on that role. And though he probably insists that you don't have to get him anything, Father's Day is an extra-special time to show your appreciation.

Don't phone it in and get him a mug that says "Dad." It's technically accurate, but it's a terrible gift. Looking for unique options for Father's Day? Go here. Looking for something relatively cheap? Check our our guide to the best gifts under $50. Or, simply keep reading. Read more...

More about Parenting, Dads, Fathers Day, Gift Guides, and Mashable Shopping
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f989674%2fd85b7a8b 52a0 44c1 bfe5 244d046d1a74
IMAGE: ANOVA CULINARY
$99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f982330%2fd22a6058 b8b5 4483 b41e f4131ae8bd1a
IMAGE: CLICK AND GROW
$74.95

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f982300%2fcfe72b3d 6230 4072 b6b4 74524e08c3fb
IMAGE: TACKLIFE
$36.97

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f982328%2fb45a0565 829c 4bad acc5 5134237ab99c
IMAGE: AMAZON
$49.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f990305%2f020bbd4a ee58 4d91 9ce4 77d5493cbbdc
IMAGE: NINJA
$129.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f990298%2f63f8e981 073d 41eb 94bf 1ace110b4fa5
IMAGE: PERSONALIZATION MALL
$59.99

A look at the 'Russian Doll' fan account that tweets the same photo every week

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:09 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

An average person might think there's nothing especially remarkable about Thursdays, but fans of Russian Doll? They know Thursdays are treats. They're not to be taken lightly.

If you have yet to see the Netflix original series, it follows Nadia (Natasha Lyonne,) a woman who keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party. Eventually, after dying so many times, Nadia decides that if she's stuck in a vicious cycle of Sunday night birthday celebrations she might as well enjoy the party.

In Season 1, Episode 2, after Nadia's friend Maxine says it's a good thing she started cooking for the party on Thursday, Nadia, who fears she may never live to see another Thursday again, replies, "Thursday. What a concept." Read more...

More about Twitter, Netflix, Russian Doll, Culture, and Movies Tv Shows

Get a 12-month subscription to PlayStation Plus for under £33

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:39 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Wouldn't it be nice to get free games to download straight to your console every month? That would be a real treat, wouldn't it? Well, the best way of turning this sweet hypothetical into a reality is with a subscription to Playstation Plus.

A 12-month subscription to Playstation Plus is now available for just £32.99. This is down from the normal list price of £49.99, meaning you save £17 with this deal. A Playstation Plus subscription provides fast online play for PS4 users, and instant access to a huge library of games. It also gives you access to cloud storage, and those free games of course. Read more...

More about Playstation, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Solo, Playstation Plus, and Shopping Uk

Save £200 on the Oral-B Genius 9000 CrossAction electric toothbrush

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:39 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

There are some products out there that very rarely go on sale. For example, it's not that common to see the prices of Apple devices cut by any significant amount. There are some other devices that are regularly discounted though, like electric toothbrushes.

Take a quick look at Oral-B and Philips electric toothbrushes online and you'll see a whole load of discounted items. Seriously, never pay full price for an electric toothbrush. 

This doesn't mean that all electric toothbrush sales are worth your attention, however. A small discount is great, but a £200 reduction is seriously impressive. The Oral-B Genius 9000 CrossAction electric toothbrush is currently available for just £99.99 in a range of colours on Amazon. This device is usually listed at £299.99, so this deal is definitely worth your time. Read more...

More about Mashable Shopping, Shopping Solo, Electric Toothbrush, Shopping Uk, and Uk Deals

Pre-order the new Echo Show 5 with Alexa for under £80

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:38 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Amazon devices are great, and when a new one is released, it causes a bit of a stir.

The next item off Amazon's conveyer belt of smart technology is the Echo Show 5. You can now pre-order this clever device for just £79.99 with free delivery. If you buy two of them in the same bundle, you can save £25 on list price. This bundle deal is available until July 12.

So what makes the Echo Show 5 so special? Well, there's actually quite a lot to like about it, and plenty of features that can make your life easier. The 5.5-inch smart display helps you to manage your day, connect with friends and family, and catch up on the news, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks. That's a lot, but there's more. Read more...

More about Amazon, Echo Show, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Solo, and Shopping Uk

Apple iPads, Bose speakers, Philips 4K TVs, Beats headphones, and more on sale for May 30 in the UK

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:38 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

This is your chance to check out the best offers on speakers and headphones, from a wide range of top brands. Pick up a new Bose speaker at a great price, or bop down the street with a set of Beats headphones. Amazon is also offering impressive discounts on its refurbished Echo Dot and Echo Plus devices.

It's not only about sound systems however, as there are some other sweet deals on TVs, tablets, electric toothbrushes, and smart home devices.

These are the best deals from across the internet for May 30.

Best of the best

Take a look at these deals and save on a wide range of products including an Apple iPad, HDR ready 4K TVs, and even discounted Oral B toothbrushes.  Read more...

More about Headphones, Speakers, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Uk, and Uk Deals
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993675%2fe60ce980 8df4 4a4c ad25 ecfda769edea
IMAGE: AMAZON
£79.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993683%2f027b35be 20e1 4dab bf8b b650aac7c7cb
IMAGE: AMAZON
£249.99
£150 OFF (38%) £399.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993685%2fa97d44e1 1b27 4548 a509 ad5c51d689e7
IMAGE: AMAZON
£149
£30 OFF (17%) £179

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993687%2f25db2169 d8cf 4a98 aa6d d6ff0206053e
IMAGE: AMAZON
£179
£50 OFF (22%) £229

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993689%2fcfbc97a9 d94c 40c2 8fd8 5629044547de
IMAGE: AMAZON
£79.99
£220 OFF (73%) £299.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993691%2f4e2cdb24 135c 4a36 a586 340ad4ddd14d
IMAGE: AMAZON
£99.99
£200 OFF (67%) £299.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993693%2fc50600aa 26d4 4a2d a2d8 0b745d089755
IMAGE: AMAZON
£285
£34 OFF (11%) £319

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993702%2f55b2530c d43c 4d6f a0ef b120373847cb
IMAGE: AMAZON
£29.99
£20.00 OFF (40%) £49.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993706%2f30447dc3 ff5e 4cc5 b8d7 633913052b5c
IMAGE: AMAZON
£89
£30.99 OFF (26%) £119.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993708%2fc12622e7 d0f7 4082 93a1 b6063ce497fd
IMAGE: AMAZON
£154.98
£194.26 OFF (56%) £349.24

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993710%2fcb020745 6cdb 40a4 8334 e262dd0b06c1
IMAGE: AMAZON
£149
£50.95 OFF (25%) £199.95

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993714%2fcb4a0889 c00a 4b22 850e 1814da9e5a30
IMAGE: AMAZON
£69.99
£60.00 OFF (46%) £129.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993716%2fedfa202c cf29 47d0 8f15 90ed0458b81f
IMAGE: AMAZON
£79.99
£30 OFF (27%) £109.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993720%2fc4b22045 ec7f 4ed4 a2e1 b6b4e034c61c
IMAGE: AMAZON
£199
£50.95 OFF (20%) £249.95

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993722%2f838112f5 73a1 40ec 81b5 7e6700b99dd8
IMAGE: AMAZON
£260
£39.95 OFF (13%) £299.95

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993724%2fbec6e576 f427 4d83 9eeb bffaaab4ac61
IMAGE: AMAZON
£14.99
£20 OFF (57%) £34.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993726%2f9fef187b 52d4 4986 b3a6 12ee7d9959a7
IMAGE: AMAZON
£14.99
£10.01 OFF (40%) £25

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993736%2f2f3fd681 e052 486e a686 e57424a02cf4
IMAGE: AMAZON
£39.99
£86 OFF (68%) £125.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993738%2fb2d70a60 5aeb 44ef 81a7 136b804bc287
IMAGE: AMAZON
£37.99
£62.00 OFF (62%) £99.99

Huawei seeks to have U.S. equipment ban ended in the courts

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:02 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Chinese tech giant Huawei has filed a summary judgment in a case against the U.S., in which it challenged the constitutionality of a law which prohibits government agencies from buying Huawei equipment.

Read more here. Read more...

More about Tech, Politics, Mashable Video, Huawei, and Trump

Flipboard’s data breach exposes usernames, passwords

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:02 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

The social news aggregator revealed unauthorized access of some of its databases, which contained some users’ private information.  Read more...

More about Mashable Video, Data Breach, Flipboard, Tech, and Big Tech Companies

What's the deal with Yolo, the #1 app that's taken over Snapchat

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:52 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

There's a new app that's topping the App Store: Yolo.

If you're not a teen, or don't spend a lot of time on Snapchat, you might not have heard of Yolo. But the app is undeniably a viral hit.

It's spent more than three weeks in the App Store's top 10 apps and has held the top spot for nine days in total. The app has been downloaded about 5 million times since its release on May 2, according to data from analytics firm Sensor Tower. 

What is Yolo?

Yolo is built around Snapchat.

Yolo is built around Snapchat.

Image: yolo

It's an anonymous Q&A app that lets people ask their social media followers for feedback. Unlike other anonymous apps before it, though, the app is built around Snapchat. You can log in with your Snapchat credentials (your Bitmoji avatar is optional)  and the app then redirects you to Snapchat, where you can ask for "feedback" directly from your followers. Read more...

More about Tech, Snapchat, Apps And Software, Tech, and Consumer Tech

11 reasons to stop looking at your smartphone

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:44 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

If you told somebody 50 years ago that the most world-changing invention of the near future would be telephones you could carry around in your pocket, they'd probably look at you like you were insane. But it's true—mobile phones (and the data networks that have grown with them) have drastically reshaped the way we live in thousands of different ways.

Remember when horror movies featured slashers who cut phone lines, leaving their victims with no way to call for help? Remember unfolding confusing paper maps and trying to locate where you were on the road? Remember racking your brain to think of that actor who played a robot on that one show? None of these scenarios are much of an issue anymore thanks to the tiny computers that are always in reach. Read more...

More about Smartphone, Tech, and Consumer Tech

Apple could save music lovers from the disaster that is iTunes

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:00 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Sometimes even the most revolutionary things become obsolete. 

Such is the case with iTunes, Apple's once-incredible music management app. iTunes is approaching its 20th year of existence and, while there are logistical reasons why Apple can't simply say goodbye to the ancient app, it's finally time to put it in a home.

The good news is it seems like Apple might do just that. The 2019 Worldwide Developers Conference is next week and Apple's keynote address is expected to feature plenty of software announcements, including standalone apps for Music and Podcasts (among others) for macOS. 

Rumors of Apple splitting up iTunes on laptops and desktops have been around since April and will supposedly be vindicated at WWDC. Read more...

More about Apple, Itunes, Apple Music, Macos, and Wwdc 2019

Google, Apple say no to UK intelligence agency’s plan to listen in on encrypted chats

Posted: 30 May 2019 04:57 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Google, Apple, Microsoft, WhatsApp and numerous other companies and organizations have publicly opposed a proposal by the UK's intelligence agency GCHQ to open up encrypted communication to the government. 

In an open letter to GCHQ, dated May 22, the group addresses a proposal published by GCHQ in November 2018. While the letter says that the "principles set forth by GCHQ officials are an important step in the right direction," it criticizes the proposal for “silently adding a law enforcement participant to a group chat or call,” also referred to as the "ghost proposal."

Essentially, the GCHQ wants messaging services such as Facebook's Messenger, WhatsApp and Signal to put in a switch that would enable the UK government to snoop on any encrypted chat. And while the GCHQ's proposal insists this is "not about weakening encryption or defeating the end-to-end nature of the service," Google, Apple and other signees of the letter claim that such a proposal would "pose serious threats to cybersecurity and thereby also threaten fundamental human rights, including privacy and free expression." Read more...

More about Google, Apple, Microsoft, Whatsapp, and Tech

What professionals really want from the new Mac Pro

Posted: 30 May 2019 04:00 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Two years ago, Apple did the unthinkable: The company gathered a select group of prominent technology journalists at its headquarters in Cupertino and essentially apologized for leaving its most powerful computer, the Mac Pro, to die a slow death over the span of four years.

In the same conversation, Apple executives also announced they were working on a new Mac Pro, which we later learned wouldn't be launching until 2019. Well, we're just about midway through 2019, and Apple still hasn't said a peep about the Mac Pro. 

Is it still coming out this year? What's it gonna look like? What kind of specs can we expect from it? How much will it cost? Apple might answer some or all of these questions at WWDC next week, but what do professionals — the people who've been waiting years and will pay top dollar — really want from a new Mac Pro? Read more...

More about Apple, Wwdc, Macos, Mac Pro, and Tech

Name your price and get more than 50 hours of training on Microsoft Excel

Posted: 30 May 2019 03:00 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Whether you're gunning for a promotion or a heftier paycheck, want to kickstart a career in Big Data, or are simply looking for a more efficient way to manage your personal budget, learning how to navigate Excel can do wonders for your career and overall productivity.

It can be pretty tricky to navigate the feature-rich spreadsheet tool without any guidance whatsoever. Good news: You can supercharge your Microsoft Excel savviness with the Epic Excel 2019 Mastery Bundle, a $273 value. Even more good news: You can pick it up for the price you choose.

Regardless of your prior experience with Excel, this seven-part online training will have you learning the program in no time. It begins with an introductory course that offers you a solid grounding in the basics of Excel and then jumps to more complex lessons that dive into advanced concepts like data visualization, task automation, and financial functions like payments, future value, and depreciation. By the end of the training, you'll hopefully be able to navigate Excel like a pro. Read more...

More about Online Learning, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Onlinelearning, Microsoft Excel, and Tech

How dirty is your toothbrush? This one is self-cleaning (and on sale.)

Posted: 30 May 2019 02:30 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

At any given moment, there are about 400 to 500 bacterial species living inside your mouth, which, when multiplied, could easily total to billions. 

If an average human's oral cavity is home to billions of micropests, imagine how much worse it is for people who don't give their teeth proper TLC?

Perhaps it's time to take stock of your oral hygiene and think about how you can improve the health of your pearly whites and gums. You can start by investing in a powerful toothbrush because the brush you picked up from the center aisle of the gas station probably isn't your best bet.

Capable of delivering 40,000 brush strokes per minute, the Elements Sonic Toothbrush ensures that your teeth get cleaned every time. To put things into perspective, that's over 100x more power than manual toothbrushes that can only perform 300 strokes a minute. Read more...

More about Gadgets, Health, Mashable Shopping, Electric Toothbrush, and Tech

Suspected unexploded bomb is actually just an enormous glittery bauble

Posted: 30 May 2019 02:16 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Is this a bomb which I see before me? Nope, guess again.

A suspected unexploded bomb on the shores of the Thames in Wapping, east London, turned out to be an oversized glittery Christmas bauble.

Tower Hamlets Police posted a photo on Twitter of the object, which officers were called to investigate. 

"Luckily, upon closer inspection, it is a giant glittery Christmas bauble!" reads the tweet. 

Officers were called to Wapping to investigate a possible unexploded device that had been washed up on the shore
Luckily, upon closer inspection, it is a giant glittery Christmas bauble! 🎄🎅 pic.twitter.com/L6mCzr4Gjk

— Tower Hamlets Police (@MPSTowerHam) May 29, 2019 Read more...

More about Uk, London, Bomb, Bauble, and Culture

Dell monitors, LG TV, Apple Watch, Amazon Fire TV, and more deals for May 30

Posted: 30 May 2019 02:15 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Are you depriving yourself by working or browsing on a small monitor or laptop screen? You don't have to break the bank to get a new monitorDell has a 27" monitor going for $149.99. You'd be wondering how you ever survived using a small screen.

With May coming to an end, it only means one thing, Father's Day is approaching very soon. If dad likes training, treat him to an Apple Watch, or some Apple AirPods. If he likes watching TV, enhance his TV experience with a Fire TV Stick for $29.99, or get him the Fire TV Recast for $189.99.

Looking for something different? Keep scrolling to check out more of today's best deals from Amazon, Walmart, Dell Home, Canon, and Rakuten for Thursday, May 30:   Read more...

More about Ipad Pro, Fire Tv, Monitor, Nintendo Switch, and Mashable Shopping
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993660%2f609c4285 c739 40f6 bfc4 7db1e1f8cc78
IMAGE: DELL
$149.99
$100 OFF (40%) $249.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993649%2f522e8cc4 90a8 4f39 af87 1f2735cbab3d
IMAGE: Amazon
$919.99
$-770 OFF (-513%) $149.99 Prime

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993651%2f980b2a90 06c3 4b0d 929b aa4e7d898539
IMAGE: AMAZON
$103.99
$36.00 OFF (26%) $139.99 Prime

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993634%2f5fc38f47 555a 4d80 a220 6a88c9e43478
IMAGE: Amazon
$79.99
$40 OFF (33%) $119.99 Prime

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993635%2ffb3dad77 c2fa 43dd a98d 9c58c01f387d
IMAGE: Amazon
$139.99
$19.01 OFF (12%) $159 Prime

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993630%2f70e8b888 caea 448f a498 7bf609f495c7
IMAGE: SAM'S CLUB
$149.87
$130 OFF (46%) $279.87

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993642%2f871c0ad9 5d65 45b6 b9f1 f964bcd48388
IMAGE: WALMART
$249
$80.99 OFF (25%) $329.99

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993644%2fe7829b50 bb04 4f75 8457 824e84b5d08d
IMAGE: Amazon
$189.99
$40 OFF (17%) $229.99 Prime

Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint api production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f993646%2fe996d267 2265 4cc3 b51c 7ac306205776
IMAGE: Amazon
$29.99
$10.00 OFF (25%) $39.99 Prime

AWS course on sale: Train to be a cloud architect for less than $10

Posted: 30 May 2019 02:00 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Contrary to popular belief, and despite the near-ubiquity of its Amazon Prime subscription service among modern consumers, Amazon's ecommerce site is hardly its cash cow. 

Nope — that title belongs to Amazon Web Services, or AWS, its subsidiary providing on-demand cloud computing services.

But what AWS lacks in mainstream name recognition, it makes up for with stellar growth and profits: According to Amazon's most recent financial statement, AWS grew 47 percent in the 2018 fiscal year, and raked in an operating income of $7.3 billion to cement its status as the tech company's most profitable arm. (Prime who?) Read more...

More about Amazon Web Services, Aws, Online Classes, Mashable Shopping, and Shopping Solo

Lil Nas X performed for the kids who went crazy for 'Old Town Road'

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:27 AM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Those kids who went absolutely wild to "Old Town Road" got the best surprise ever.

In case you missed it, a video of students from Landers Elementary School in Cleveland, Ohio enthusiastically singing along to the chart-topping Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus tune went viral earlier this week.

The video was tweeted by the school's principal, Felecia Evans, who said the track was played at the end of the fifth grade talent show. It's wholesome, and it also bangs.

I love my job. We ended our 5th grade talent show today with the whole school dancing and celebrating...together!! #LanderLove🐾💚 @LanderElem @LilNasX 💃🏽🤠 pic.twitter.com/pzS1id79mu

— Felecia Evans (@EduLeadingLady) May 23, 2019 Read more...

More about Culture, Lil Nas X, Culture, and Music

Disney's CEO says it'll be 'difficult' filming in Georgia if abortion law stands

Posted: 29 May 2019 08:55 PM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Georgia's controversial anti-abortion bill has led to Disney rethinking its investments in the state.

In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger said it would be "very difficult" for the company to film in Georgia if the law comes into place.

"I rather doubt we will," Iger told the news outlet. "I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard. Right now we are watching it very carefully."

Iger added that if the law takes effect, which is slated for Jan. 1 if it survives a court challenge, he said, "I don't see how it's practical for us to continue to shoot there." Read more...

More about Disney, Abortion, Georgia, Reproductive Rights, and Bob Iger

We toured Disneyland's new Star Wars park. Here's what we learned.

Posted: 29 May 2019 06:01 PM PDT

TwitterFacebook

BLACK SPIRE OUTPOST, BATUU — The Outer Rim is about to open for business. Earthling visitors should prepare for a wild ride. 

The largest expansion in the history of Disney Parks, the 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opens to the public in Anaheim Friday. (A Florida version hits the docking bay in Orlando on August 29.) We got to take a look around, and we can report that the sense of being entirely transported to another planet — the goal Disney’s Imagineers said repeatedly that they were going for during the park’s five-year development — has been achieved. 

Almost nothing breaks the illusion that you are in the Galaxy Far Far Away, sometime after the events of The Last Jedi. You take part in the struggle between the First Order and the Resistance on a frontier planet that, while it is new to the Star Wars universe, feels hundreds of years old — and has been visited by the most familiar hunk of junk in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon. Specifically, the first full-size, 100-percent complete Falcon built anywhere, even including film sets.  Read more...

More about Disney Parks, Galaxy S Edge, Entertainment, and Star Wars

Google Maps expands its speed limit feature to more countries

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:47 PM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Vehicular commuters who rely on Google Maps just got a useful new feature.

Or, to be more precise, more of them in more places got a useful new feature. Google has begun rolling out speed limit and speed camera indicators in Google Maps. The feature is available in at least 40 countries around the world now, according to TechCrunch.

The idea is pretty simple: If you're driving on a road with Google Maps open, it'll display the speed limit in a corner of the screen. It'll also let you know when a speed camera is coming up, as reported by Android users. It seems iOS users can't report them, but can still benefit from user reports. Read more...

More about Google, Google Maps, Waze, Navigation, and Navigation Apps

Another study points to link between '13 Reasons Why' and increased youth suicides

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:34 PM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Last month, researchers published a study that found an association between the debut of Netflix's teen drama, 13 Reasons Why, and a subsequent uptick in youth suicides. The show depicted the grisly suicide of its protagonist, which alarmed mental health experts who were worried about the potential effect on young, vulnerable viewers.    

A new study, conducted by different authors, came to a similar conclusion: In the three months after 13 Reasons Why launched, the youth suicide rate for 10- to 19-year-olds rose unexpectedly by 13 percent. Based on historical trends dating back to 1999, 94 more American adolescents and teens died by suicide during the three-month period than otherwise expected. Similarly, the study published last month looked at suicide deaths in the nine months following the show's launch and found an additional 195 fatalities.  Read more...

More about Netflix, Mental Health, Suicide, 13 Reasons Why, and Social Good

Best hookup apps and sites to help you get it on

Posted: 13 Feb 2018 01:48 PM PST

TwitterFacebook

Hookup culture: Also known as the thing that has basically replaced real dating over the past 20 years or so, and the thing that your parents and grandparents bitch about because "nobody has a real conversation anymore."

We all know that's not true, however, and online dating has made a massive impact on more people meeting and talking than every before. And when we think dating sites, we usually think about sites like eharmony and Zoosk and other marriage-minded options. But not every single person is trying to participate in the next cuffing season.

Sometimes, you just wanna get laid.

Everyone gets stuck in a sexual rut at some point, and let's face it: Trying to take strangers home from the bar or constantly hitting up your ex who you know is DTF can get old. But what are you supposed to do? Just ignore the fact that you're human? Read more...

More about Dating, Online Dating, Sex, Dating Apps, and Apps And Software

Elizabeth Warren goes after Big Tech where they live with San Francisco billboard

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:12 PM PDT

TwitterFacebook

Elizabeth Warren has plopped her proposal to break up Big Tech right in Big Tech's front yard.

The Democratic presidential candidate put up a pretty striking billboard in San Francisco on Wednesday, ahead of her visit to the city this weekend. As noted by The Verge, the billboard is located at 4th and Townsend, wedged between the city's SOMA and Mission Bay neighborhoods, spitting distance from a heavily trafficked Caltrain station, Lyft HQ, and Oracle Park, where the San Francisco Giants play. 

If there's one downside to the billboard, it's that it doesn't have the most prominent placement, lingering below another billboard along the side of a building. Of course, if billboard prices are anything like SF real estate, that's understandable.  Read more...

More about San Francisco, Elizabeth Warren, 2020 Presidential Election, Big Tech, and Culture

10 of the most hideous culinary abominations to curse the internet

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:00 PM PDT

TwitterFacebook

The internet is occasionally pleasing in the sense that it's home to some of the greatest food porn you'll ever feast your eyes on, but sadly, it's also a space where people can share the most cursed culinary abominations ever created.

We're not even halfway through 2019, but social media users have already witnessed a fair share of innovative food mashups that went horribly wrong. Sometimes these hideous snacks are intentionally created to troll the Twitter-verse, but other times they appear to be genuine attempts at the next best food trend that seriously miss the mark.

From pizzas with downright offensive toppings to preposterously sliced bagels and an ambitious take on caviar and more, here are 10 of the most ridiculous crimes that have been committed against food so far this year.  Read more...

More about Twitter, Food, Memes, Culture, and Web Culture

Top Stories Today

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:48 AM PDT

Top Stories Today


The Most Wikipedia'ed Resident Of Every US City

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:09 AM PDT

Who's the most famous person (or at least the person with the most Wikipedia traffic) from your hometown? This extremely detailed map from The Pudding has your answer.

Why New York Can't Have Nice Things

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:32 AM PDT

It costs three times more to build a subway station here than in London or Paris. What if we could change that?

High Schoolers Catch Their Principal Plagiarizing His Graduation Speech From... Ashton Kutcher

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:43 AM PDT

The seniors at Parkersburg High School in West Virginia received some words of wisdom from their principal at commencement. Some extremely familiar words, for any dedicated viewers of the Teen Choice Awards.

The Parade Of Savings Is On

Posted: 19 May 2019 06:00 AM PDT

HP's Memorial Day Sale is still going! Save up to 61% on PCs, accessories, and more!

Just Going To Scratch A Snapping Turtle On The Back, What Could Go Wrong?

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:32 AM PDT

Touching wildlife is never a good idea, but it's a particularly bad idea when that wildlife has a propensity for biting.

I'm A Former Elite Athlete And I Call BS On Tech's Obsession With Working Long Hours

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:02 AM PDT

As a champion gymnast, I trained 22 hours a week. Now, as a startup founder, I see how dangerous "hustle culture" can be.

How A Caseless iPhone Became A Status Symbol

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:32 AM PDT

The first person I ever met who was fiercely anti-smartphone case was my boss at an old startup job.

Craftsman Returns A Rusty Pair Of Shears Back To Its Former, Shiny Glory

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:32 AM PDT

A pawn shop item is transformed into a useful tool through a meticulous three-day process.

In A First, Scientists Took The Temperature Of A Sonic Black Hole

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:32 AM PDT

Scientists measured the temperature of a lab-made sonic black hole, which traps sound instead of light. If the result holds up, it will confirm a prediction of cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who first proposed a surprising truth about black holes: They aren't truly black.

Watch How A Radioactive Cloud Spread Through Europe After The Chernobyl Disaster

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:02 AM PDT

This visualization shows how devastatingly widespread the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster was in 1986.

The Beauty Of Ocean Waves, Captured In Photos

Posted: 30 May 2019 07:32 AM PDT

After over a decade as a guitarist in a band, Warren Keelan picked up a camera and found a passion for landscape photography. But after getting his first waterproof camera housing, the photographer took his work into the ocean and that's when things clicked for him.

The Preachers Getting Rich From Poor Americans

Posted: 29 May 2019 03:59 PM PDT

Televangelist Todd Coontz has a well-worn routine: he dresses in a suit, pulls out a Bible and urges viewers to pledge a very specific amount of money. "Don't delay, don't delay," he urges, calmly but emphatically.

Work Comfortably Anywhere With This $20 Portable Laptop Stand

Posted: 30 May 2019 04:34 AM PDT

Sometimes a deadline calls — and it doesn't care if you're on the subway. MOFT is an invisible laptop stand that acts like a seamless appendage of your computer, allowing you to work comfortably no matter where you are. Get yours now for just $19.99.

Tiny Pomeranian Is Not Afraid To Tackle A Much Bigger Rottweiler

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:02 AM PDT

The key to fighting is to pretend you're taking on someone your own size.

If You're Going To Steal A Playhouse, Maybe Don't Do It Like This

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:02 AM PDT

The two thieves were crossing the road with the stolen playhouse when they were caught red-handed by the police.

Incredible Fossil Shows Coordinated Swimming In A School Of Extinct Fish

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:09 AM PDT

An exquisite fossil of photographic-like quality shows nearly 260 tiny fish swimming together in what appears to be coordinated group action. The 50-million-year-old fossil is evidence that fish have been swimming together in shoals for a very long time.

Motorbiker Rushes A Girl Stuck In Traffic And Suffering From A Dangerous Seizure To The Hospital

Posted: 29 May 2019 07:27 AM PDT

On her ride home from school, the girl had a potentially deadly tonic seizure, began foaming at the mouth and eventually passed out. A passing motorbiker who saw the panic-stricken family inside the car immediately offered to weave through traffic to take her to the hospital, saving her life.

Pre-Order 'Super Mario Maker 2' With One Year Of Nintendo Switch Online

Posted: 30 May 2019 04:34 AM PDT

Get this "Mario Maker" sequel delivered to your doorstep on release day, and enjoy 12 months of Nintendo's online service.

Guy's Tesla Autopilot Saves Him From A Crash Without Him Even Realizing It

Posted: 29 May 2019 09:50 AM PDT

"I first thought there was something wrong with my car or autopilot was not working well in the rain when it swerved hard into the other lane.... It wasn't until I looked at the dash cam that it saved me a moderate accident."

When Is Dead Actually Dead?

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:09 AM PDT

As a doctor, I can keep somebody breathing even after brain death. How do I make the final call?

Have We Entered A New Phase Of Planetary History?

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:09 AM PDT

Human activity has transformed the Earth – but scientists are divided about whether this is really a turning point in geological history.

This Company Has Made Cologne Obsolete

Posted: 03 May 2019 04:38 AM PDT

Fulton & Roark practically invented solid cologne--the premium alternative to traditional sprays. Now you can try all 8 fragrances for just $16. Plus, each sample pack comes with a $16 credit for your next purchase.

Why These Unusual Potatoes Are Among The World's Most Expensive Foods

Posted: 29 May 2019 05:01 PM PDT

Would you pay $500 a pound for potatoes? Someone did.

Why Some People Are Always Late To The Airport

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:02 AM PDT

It's not hard to spot people about to miss a flight. They're weaving between on-time travelers at a speed somewhere between a power walk and a sprint, or they're elbow-dancing their way to the front of the TSA line to plead their case for immediate screening.

Kit Harington's Very Emotional Sendoff On The Set Of 'Game Of Thrones'

Posted: 29 May 2019 06:08 PM PDT

Regardless of what you think about the finale — or the final season in whole — you have to admit that this is a very moving moment for an actor who has devoted 10 years of his life to the show.

Are Man-Made Glaciers The Answer To The Himalayas' Melting Ice?

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:02 AM PDT

How one man's plan to irrigate the Ladakh desert is drawing inspiration and critics.

Instead Of Money, This Portuguese 'Bank' Safeguards 27,000 Handpainted Tiles

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:02 AM PDT

This collection of azulejos in Porto isn't just for conservation and display — it's also open for withdrawals.

Twitter Has Started Researching Whether White Supremacists Belong On Twitter

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:02 AM PDT

The company is trying to decide, in part, whether white supremacists should be banned from the site or should be allowed to stay on the platform so their views can be debated by others.

The World That The Sony Walkman Built

Posted: 30 May 2019 06:09 AM PDT

Forty years ago, the Walkman introduced the fall-away feeling of putting on headphones wherever you were. Now our phones serve as escape and something to escape from.

Hunting Down The True Origins Of The Battle Royale Craze

Posted: 30 May 2019 04:34 AM PDT

From "Fortnite" to Japanese films to one novelist's sleep deprivation.

A School Full Of Kids Singing Along With Lil Nas X To 'Old Town Road' Is The Cutest Darn Thing

Posted: 29 May 2019 12:11 PM PDT

Watch this at the peril of having your heart burst with pure joy.

Why Hundreds Of Therapists Are Tripping On MDMA

Posted: 29 May 2019 06:08 PM PDT

Therapists around the world are taking MDMA as part of their training to use the hallucinogen in sessions for people with PTSD.

Touring Disaster

Posted: 29 May 2019 05:01 PM PDT

In the wake of California's deadliest wildfire, a wave of visitors has descended on Paradise. But there's no playbook for dealing with tourists in a community still racked by trauma.

You'll Wish You Were As Excited About Anything As This Black Labrador Is About Swimming In The Ocean

Posted: 29 May 2019 09:39 AM PDT

Scarlett the Black Labrador makes a hilarious rush down a staircase and tumbles down the hill into the ocean.

This Teen Planned A School Shooting. But Did He Break The Law?

Posted: 29 May 2019 05:01 PM PDT

In many ways, the system worked: Someone saw something, then said something, and police made an arrest. But what happened next would play out a fundamental tension at the heart of our criminal justice system: At what point does a thought — or a plan — become a crime?

Alabama's Mortal Sounds

Posted: 30 May 2019 05:02 AM PDT

Lyrical derring-do and emotional complexity made way for mass appeal. Tone poems about rural poverty and romantic bankruptcy gave way to drum-driven, big-hook anthems. Alabama was more interested in making hits than making statements, and no country band ever made more hits.

Why Las Vegas Is Betting On Elon Musk

Posted: 29 May 2019 06:08 PM PDT

The Boring Company will develop an underground "people mover" for the Las Vegas Convention Center that's more marketing flash than public transit.

How Chris Hemsworth Found His Way As A Movie Star With Thor And 'The Avengers'

Posted: 29 May 2019 05:01 PM PDT

Hemsworth, whose creativity has always been fueled by a certain restlessness, doesn't want to be a bland action star.

We're Not Sure Whether These Snapchat Gender Filters On US Presidents Are Cool Or Terrifying

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:12 AM PDT

Ask not what the Snapchat filter can do for you — ask what you can do for Snapchat filters.

79-Year-Old Contractor Reveals Why White Bread Is Good For Soldering Pipes

Posted: 29 May 2019 01:59 PM PDT

Fixing things is his bread and butter and he has delightful tricks that help facilitate the whole process.

This 'Mario Maker' Level Has Been Played 2.6 Million Times And Never Beaten

Posted: 29 May 2019 12:46 PM PDT

It's a level where you don't have to touch the controller, but you only have a one in 7.5 million chance of actually making it to the end.

DIY Facial Recognition For Porn Is A Dystopian Disaster

Posted: 29 May 2019 03:59 PM PDT

Someone is making dubious claims to have built a program for detecting faces in porn and cross-referencing against social media, with 100,000 identified so far.

The 'Forbidden' Planet Has Been Found In The 'Neptunian Desert'

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:00 PM PDT

An exoplanet smaller than Neptune with its own atmosphere has been discovered in the Neptunian Desert, by an international collaboration of astronomers.

The Lost Boys Of Galveston, Texas

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:57 PM PDT

Young immigrants who have been separated from their parents find a home at the Children's Center.

The Town That Online Shopping Built

Posted: 29 May 2019 11:38 AM PDT

Only an hour-or-so drive from Southern California's beaches but a world away from the glamour of Hollywood, San Bernardino County is one of the country's biggest hubs for warehousing and distribution of goods.

Animator Changes The Weird-Looking Sonic The Hedgehog In The Movie Trailer To The Cartoon One We Know And Love

Posted: 29 May 2019 07:27 AM PDT

While the changes to the "Sonic The Hedgehog" movie are going to push the release date back to February, this work from animator Artur Baranov vastly improves on the squicky original trailer.

Why Ambition Is Overrated

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:57 PM PDT

I used to be embarrassed by my lack of drive, until I realized that the strange moral value we place on overwork is sapping our lives of joy.

Boy Plays On A Swing Way Too Nonchalantly As A Fire Rages Behind Him

Posted: 29 May 2019 11:28 AM PDT

It's important to note that everyone was safely evacuated from the burning building and nobody was hurt in the incident. But it's still amazing how unperturbed this young boy is as he focuses on having a swinging good time.

LA's Museum For Nobody

Posted: 29 May 2019 11:38 AM PDT

How a starchitect's dramatic design for Los Angeles County Museum of Art was hacked to bits.

The Curious Origins Of The Dollar Symbol

Posted: 29 May 2019 12:46 PM PDT

Despite its ubiquity, the origins of the dollar sign remain far from clear, with competing theories touching on Bohemian coins, the Pillars of Hercules and harried merchants.

This Zip Line Can Whip Around Corners

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:12 AM PDT

Like a personal rollercoaster for one, this newly invented zip line is bizarrely the product of safety testing.

Another Day, Another Nightmare On The New York Subway

Posted: 29 May 2019 11:38 AM PDT

The New York City subway is full of delays, oddities and horrors, and this clip from the F Train is a whole new level of nightmare.

Cake Or Death: AMP And The Worrying Power Dynamics Of The Web

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:00 PM PDT

AMP continues to be a large part of the way people view web content on mobile devices, and it's not going anywhere.

This Pedal Assist Bike From Kona Wonders Why You’re Still Driving A Car

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:27 PM PDT

With a giant rack for cargo and a Bosch motor, the Kona Electric UTE 20 makes not-biking excuses appear weak.

Finally There’s A Trunk Handsome Enough To Store Your Daguerreotype Collection

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:31 PM PDT

Seward trunks are tough, made in the US and ready to hold what you got.

Everlane's Air Shirts, Pants And Shorts Will Keep You From Heat Raging This Summer

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:39 PM PDT

These shirts and shorts (and even a pair of chinos) for men are like wearing nothing only you can still go in shops.

Latest World News, World News, Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs

Posted: 30 May 2019 03:56 AM PDT

Latest World News, World News, Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs


Tweets For Today

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:48 PM PDT











Picture Of The Day

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:31 PM PDT

US Army troops in an LCVP landing craft approach Normandy's 'Omaha' Beach on D-Day in Colleville Sur-Mer, France June 6 1944. As infantry disembarked from the landing craft, they often found themselves on sandbars 50 to 100 yards away from the beach. To reach the beach they had to wade through water sometimes neck deep

WNU Editor: The above picture is from this post .... Haunting photos capture the terror and tension on assault boats before troops stormed ashore on D-Day – as well as the brutal fighting that ensued (Daily Mail).

Cuba To Legalize Private Wi-Fi Networks

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:26 PM PDT


DW: Cuba legalizes private Wi-Fi networks, router imports

Thousands of Cubans who built their own data networks at home can now apply for a license, but control over the internet itself stays under state control. Cuba has been one of the least-connected places on the planet.

Cuba's Ministry of Communication (Mincom) announced new measures on Wednesday to allow wired or wireless private networks for the transfer of data and the importation from overseas of equipment, such as routers and servers.

It means that from the end of July, people will be able legally to go online with their own computers and phones and share signals with others, but it does not limit state control over the internet.

Cuba's telecoms monopoly, Etecsa, remains the only internet provider on the island.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: These are just half measures. This is also just one more example on why Cuba is a backward nation. Global communication networks is what makes the world go round, a fact that the leadership in Cuba cannot understand.

The Future Of Drone Warfare Is Being Played Out In Yemen

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:31 PM PDT

An Iranian-built drone, used by Houthi rebels in Yemen, and captured by the Arab Coaliton. Victor Besa / The National

NPR: In Yemen Conflict, Some See A New Age Of Drone Warfare

In January, a group of high-level military commanders gathered at an air base in Yemen. It was far from the frontlines of the country's ongoing civil war.

Then, without warning, a small drone appeared out of the sky and exploded, spraying the group with shrapnel. According to news reports, the blast killed several, including the Yemeni government's head of military intelligence.

"It's pretty scary because it's clear that these guys had no idea what had just happened," says Nick Waters, a researcher with the U.K.-based online investigative group Bellingcat who has been tracking the Yemen conflict.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I concur with the above analysis. Future drones will be small, cheap to build, and very deadly.

U.S. Sends Islamic State Prisoners In Syria To Iraq For Trial And Punishment

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:06 PM PDT

Men suspected of being ISIS fighters walk toward a screening point in Syria's Deir Ezzor province on March 6, 2019. (File photo: AFP)

Reuters: Exclusive: Islamic State suspects sent by U.S. from Syria to Iraq

BAGHDAD/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. forces have quietly sent at least 30 suspected foreign Islamic State fighters captured in Syria last year and in late 2017 to stand trial in Iraq, interviews with the men, Iraqi sources and court documents show.

Three of the men have been convicted of IS membership and sentenced to death by Iraqi courts, while five have been given life sentences. Four of them told Reuters they were tortured in prison, a claim Reuters was unable to verify.

Iraq's Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) denied that detainees were transferred to their custody from Syria in 2017 and 2018, and denied the detainees' claims of torture.

Read more ....

Update #1:US reportedly sending ISIS fighters captured in Syria to Iraq (The Hill)
Update #2: US quietly sends Islamic State foreign fighters for rough justice in Iraq (Sydney Morning Herald)

WNU Editor: France is also doing the same transfers .... France hands Islamic State suspects to Iraq, which sentences them to hang (SFGate).

Will Russia Stay Neutral If U.S. And Iran Go To War?

Posted: 29 May 2019 06:00 PM PDT

© Sputnik / Dmitriy Vinogradov

Pyotr Kortunov and Abdolrasool Divsallar, Moscow Times: Russia Unlikely to Stay Neutral if U.S. and Iran Go to War

As U.S. tensions with Iran are changing course toward a possible military confrontation, the Russian factor is becoming more crucial.

Russia's Middle East policy is marked with balancing acts that secure the country's role as an agile and effective balancing power. The fall of the Islamic Republic could undermine Moscow's capacity for balancing in the Middle Eastern region. It has the potential to cripple Russia's policy in Syria by giving more freedom of action to U.S.-allied groups, further weakening the recovering Assad government.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Russia will not get directly involved. What they will do is sell weapons and intelligence to Iran .... unless the U.S. gives a better offer.

U.S., Israeli, And Russian National Security Advisers To Meet In Jerusalem Next Month

Posted: 29 May 2019 05:00 PM PDT

U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton speaks during an interview at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

Reuters: Top U.S., Israeli, Russian security officials to meet in Jerusalem in June: White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House national security adviser John Bolton and his Israeli and Russian counterparts will meet in Jerusalem in June to discuss regional security issues, the White House said on Wednesday.

In a brief statement, the White House said Bolton, Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat and Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian Security Council, would take part in the meeting.

Read more ....

Update: Bolton to Meet Israeli, Russian Counterparts in Jerusalem in June - White House (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: The White House statement is here .... Statement by the Press Secretary Regarding the Trilateral Meeting of the National Security Advisors from the United States, Israel, and Russia. What will be discussed? My guess is Iran and Syria.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 29, 2019

Posted: 29 May 2019 04:00 PM PDT

Mountain Pass mine in California. Photograph: David Becker/Reuters

Tom Fish, Express: China news: Did China just issue threat about Earth's rare minerals CRUCIAL to US?

CHINA has threatened that products using its rare earth minerals should not be used against China's development, in a warning aimed at the US tech industry.

Fears China will weaponise its rare earth minerals monopoly as a weapon in the trade war have again intensified. It comes after the Chinese government warned products made from the materials should not be used against the country's development. And the comment has been interpreted as a thinly-veiled threat aimed at US tech giants reliant on the materials.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 29, 2019

If China cuts rare earth supplies, what can the US do? -- Stephen Bryen, Asia Times

US-China trade: what are rare-earth metals and what's the dispute? -- Kalyeena Makortoff, The Guardian

Are rare earth minerals China's trump card in its trade war with US? -- BBC News

Why the fears of a U.S.-China tech cold war are overblown -- James Pethokoukis, The Week

Why Trump Dismissed North Korea's Missile Tests -- Daniel R. DePetris, National Interest

Will the US lead? Or let China and Russia dominate nuclear energy -- David Gattie, The Hill

Will Iran Adopt a 'Massive Retaliation' Doctrine? -- Abdolrasool Divsallar, LobeLog

Ankara has much to lose in high stakes Russian-backed offensive in Idlib -- Simon Waldman, The National

Africa's road to free trade -- Dirk Kaufmann, DW

Game of EU Thrones -- Harold James, Project Syndicate

EU Elections: Populist Wave in Europe Shows No Sign of Ebbing -- Rick Moran, PJ Media

Greece's Bad-Debt Monster Is Alive and Kicking -- Elisa Martinuzzi, Bloomberg View

Sebastian Kurz, the stone-faced chancellor -- Norbert Mappes-Niediek, DW

Is Trump now launching a currency war, too? -- William Pesek, Asia times

Did Mueller Just Hand Democrats What They Need to Impeach Trump? -- Hunter DeRensis, National Interest

World News Briefs -- May 29, 2019 (Evening Edition)

Posted: 29 May 2019 03:16 PM PDT



Reuters: Israel faces new election as Netanyahu misses deadline to form governing coalition

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament early on Thursday, paving the way for a new election after veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government before a midnight deadline.

The ballot is widely expected to take place in September, the second this year. It represented unprecedented upheaval, commentators said, even in a country used to political infighting, and dealt a blow to Netanyahu, who had claimed victory in the last vote, held on April 9.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Israel heads to election as Netanyahu fails to form govt.

In UAE, Trump's adviser warns Iran of 'very strong response'.

No negotiations with U.S., says Iran's Supreme Leader.

Iran 'almost certainly' behind ship attacks off UAE, says Bolton.

Iran's Rouhani suggests U.S. talks possible if sanctions lifted.

Tehran ready for possibility of war with US, but hopes for dialogue – Iran's deputy FM.

US, Russia discuss peace plan that would end Syria's isolation.

At least 14 civilians killed in air raid on Syria's Idlib. More than 20 civilians killed in attacks on Syria's northwest.

Syrian military 'burning farmland in rebel-held north'.

Iran 'almost certainly' behind ship attacks off UAE, says Bolton.

Iran's Rouhani suggests U.S. talks possible if sanctions lifted.

Tehran ready for possibility of war with US, but hopes for dialogue – Iran's deputy FM.

Iraq condemns 7th Frenchman to death for IS membership.

Israel tightens Gaza fishing curbs after new fire balloons.

ASIA

Pentagon chief in Asia for 'candid' talks on China expansion.

North Korea accuses U.S. of 'evil ambition,' says use of strength not a U.S. monopoly.

North Korea steps up UN campaign for return of seized ship.

Amnesty accuses Myanmar military of new abuses in Rakhine.

Pakistan MP accuses officials of lying about clash between activists, military.

Afghanistan opens probe into sexual favour allegations.

Papua New Guinea PM Peter O'Neill formally resigns.

Beijing wants more Russian gas as Gazprom's mega pipeline to China nears completion.

Nusrat Jahan Rafi: 16 charged in Bangladesh for burning girl alive.

AFRICA

Madagascar leader sees parliament win amid fraud complaints.

S.Africa slashes cabinet size, appoints 50% women.

Sudanese protesters strike over civilian rule, challenging army.

Congo Ebola response must be elevated to maximum level, UN told.

Nigerian troops repel Boko Haram attack on key town.

Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari begins second term.

Botswana's new president 'drunk on power' - Khama.

Angola ex-rebel chief Savimbi to be buried on Saturday: family.

Kushner meets Moroccan king on trip to press US peace plan.

EUROPE

U.S. believes Russia conducting low-level nuclear tests: official.

Serbs protests against police actions in northern Kosovo.

Merkel seeks to scotch rumours of a rift with chosen successor.

British judge says Boris Johnson must face misconduct charges.

EU to demand 'clarifications' from Italy over budget: source.

Hells Angels biker gangs banned by Netherlands court.

Former Belgian king Albert II agrees to DNA test in paternity case.

Viennese repair Holocaust survivor photos.

Real Madrid 'most valuable club in Europe', says KPMG.

AMERICAS

Mueller reveals charging Trump was 'NOT AN OPTION' because of Justice Department rules as special counsel resigns saying he did NOT clear the president – triggering Democrats to ramp up impeachment calls as Trump tweets 'The case is closed!'.

Charging US president with a crime was 'not an option': Mueller.

'All options are on the table': House Judiciary chair Jerry Nadler will NOT rule out impeaching Trump but stays silent on forcing Mueller to testify as Pelosi tried to hold back demands for action.

After several quiet years, tornadoes erupt in United States.

Poll: Biden has 18-point lead on Democratic field, Sanders only other contender in double digits.

Trump supporters build US-Mexico barrier.

US high court takes up case of Mexican shot by border patrol.

Shocking video captures the moment a man sets himself on fire and calmly strolls around a lawn outside the White House - while police frantically try to douse the flames engulfing his body.

Colombia's top court orders release of ex-rebel wanted by US.

Argentina abortion: Crowds gather to back pro-choice bill.

Mexico: Arrest warrant issued for former Pemex chief.

25% of Americans say they worry about money 'all the time'.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Iraq repatriates nearly 200 children of Turkish jihadists.

'Most wanted jihadist' returned to Egypt.

Over 400 IS group-linked French nationals detained in Syria, Paris says.

The Yazidi family reunited after being IS slaves.

Former Navy judge named to oversee Guantánamo military court.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

U.S. stocks fall as trade concerns spark growth fears.

Chinese media raise rare earths threats after US ups trade war ante with Huawei blacklist.

U.S. risks 'devastating' blow from China's rare earths monopoly.

German firms find US less reliable than China as trading partner after getting caught between Trump and a hard place to do business.

Amnesty International Report Says Myanmar Military Is Committing War Crimes Again

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:00 PM PDT

Photo: Satellite images show buildings and historical sites have been damaged in Rakhine State. (Supplied: Amnesty International)

BBC: Myanmar military accused of fresh war crimes in Rakhine

Myanmar's army is committing fresh war crimes against ethnic groups in Rakhine state, according to human rights group Amnesty International.

In a new report, Amnesty accuses the army of carrying out extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary arrests amid an operation against an ethnic Buddhist guerrilla force.

The army has denied the allegations.

Soldiers were previously accused of mass human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine in 2017.

More than 70,000 people fled the country as a result of the crackdown on the ethnic minority group.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The amnesty International report is here .... Myanmar: Military commits war crimes in latest operation in Rakhine State (Amnesty International).

More News On Amnesty International claims That The Myanmar Military Is Committing War Crimes Again

Myanmar's military 'unleashes campaign of violence' in Rakhine State, Amnesty International warns -- ABC News Online
Amnesty accuses Myanmar military of new abuses in Rakhine -- France 24
Amnesty International Report Says Myanmar Military Is Again Committing War Crimes -- NPR
Myanmar military committing war crimes in Rakhine: Amnesty -- Al Jazeera
Myanmar's Military Is Still Committing War Crimes Against the Rohingya -- VICE News

Russia's Nuclear Arsenal Is A Threat

Posted: 29 May 2019 01:00 PM PDT

Image: Wikimedia

Mark B. Schneider, National Interest: Russia's Massive Nuclear Weapons Arsenal Is a Threat

And America needs to take notice.

The U.S. mainstream view of Russia has changed quite a bit in the last twenty years, particularly in the last five. We have moved from the fantasy that there was no threat from Russia after the demise of the Soviet Union to a recognition of a serious Russian threat to the U.S. and its allies, including a nuclear threat in the last two years of the Obama administration and the Trump administration. However, characterizing the relationship between the U.S. and Russia as "competition" as it now appears in U.S. Government documents, does not go far enough. Lockheed and Boeing compete; Russia threatens preemptive nuclear attack. It is unilaterally trying to create a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet states in the classic 19th Century sense while building the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. There is no competition here but rather a serious threat from Russia.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The current global nuclear weapons inventory can be viewed here .... 2018 Estimated Global Nuclear Warhead Inventories (Arms Control Association).







U.S. Intelligence: Russia Might Be Violating Nuclear Test Ban Treaty By Conducting Secret Tests On Arctic Island

Posted: 29 May 2019 12:00 PM PDT

Russian servicemen drive Yars RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile systems during the Victory Day parade, which marks the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, in May. (Reuters)

Warzone/The Drive: U.S. Says Russia Might Be Setting Off Very Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons On This Arctic Island

Such tests would be in violation of an international nuclear test ban treaty that Russia has signed and ratified.

The U.S. government says that Russia may be conducting low-yield nuclear testing at a remote site above the Arctic Circle in violation of its obligations under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, or CTBT. The allegation comes at a time when arms control deals between the two countries appear especially fragile. At the same time, the two nuclear-armed nations are actively working to modernize and diversify their arsenals.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report the accusation on May 29, 2019, citing a U.S. intelligence assessment and comments from U.S. Army Lieutenant General Robert Ashley, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The claims reportedly center around activities at Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago in Russia's far north, where the country has conducted nuclear weapon testing in the past and that continues to support nuclear weapons development programs.

Read more ....

WU Editor: Russia has been quick to respond .... Russia Slams US Accusations Over Abidance by Nuclear Testing Moratorium (Sputnik).

More News On U.S. Intelligence Believing That Russia Might Be Violating The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty By Conducting Secret Tests On An Arctic Island

U.S. Says Russia Likely Conducting Low-Yield Nuke Tests, Defying Test Ban Treaty -- WSJ
Russia likely violating nuclear test ban treaty by conducting secret operations on island, officials say -- FOX News
The US says Russia has been cheating on an arms control treaty and secretly testing low-yield nukes to strengthen its arsenal -- Business Insider
U.S. believes Russia conducting low-level nuclear tests -official -- Reuters
Russia suspected of nuclear testing, says USA -- 9News

Syrian War News Updates -- May 29, 2019

Posted: 29 May 2019 11:00 AM PDT



FOX News: Syria's opposition farmlands set on fire by regime bombs, satellite images show

The slivers that make what is left of Syria's last rebel-held bastion have gone up in flames in recent days, with government planes destroying acres of farmland.

Satellite photos, released by the Colorado-based Maxar Satellites on Tuesday, showed fires ravaging olive groves and orchards and subsequently destroying vital crops including wheat and barley at the height of harvest seasons in the villages of Kfar Nabudah and Habeet on the periphery of Idlib province.

The Associated Press reported that Kfar Nabudah fell from opposition control and into the hands of Bashar al-Assad's regime Sunday, while the infernos were sparked from an acute bombing campaign nearby. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Sunday marked the heaviest day of air strikes since launching a major campaign against the rebel-held territory almost one month ago.

Read more ....

Syrian War News Updates -- May 29, 2019

Syrian military 'burning farmland in rebel-held north' -- BBC
Satellite images show fields in northwest Syria on fire -- Reuters
Satellite images show crops on fire in Syria rebel enclave -- AP
Satellite images reveal strikes on Syria's Idlib province -- CNN
Idlib casualties mount as assault leaves aid efforts in the balance -- The Guardian
More than 20 civilians killed in attacks on Syria's northwest -- Al Jazeera
Syrian regime forces 'drop banned cluster bombs' on Idlib and target hospitals -- SKY News
Bombed, beaten and trapped: Syrian journalists swept up in Assad's Idlib assault -- Middle East Eye
Is the Syrian regime about to retake Idlib? -- AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Has A Midnight Deadline To Form A Coalition Or Face A New Election

Posted: 29 May 2019 10:04 AM PDT



Daily Mail: Netanyahu has just hours to agree a coalition or Israel could be plunged into its second election in months after row over ultra-orthodox serving in army

* Voters could be forced to go to the polls just months after an April 9 election
* PM Benjamin Netanyahu wants to keep ultra-Orthodox military exemption policy
* But far-right former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman wants to overturn it
* Without the five seats of Lieberman's party, Netanyahu cannot muster a majority
* If coalition deal not made, President Rivlin may select another MP to form one

Benjamin Netanyahu has just hours to cobble together a coalition or Israel could be plunged into its second snap election of the year.

Israelis could be forced to go to the polls just months after an April vote if the country's squabbling conservative parties can't agree a deal by midnight.

As the deadline loomed, there was no sign of a breakthrough in talks with far-right former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Crisis has struck following a row between the leaders over policy which allows ultra-Orthodox men exemption from military conscription.

Read more ....

More News On The Possibility Of A New Israeli Election

Hours to Deadline: Lieberman Digs in His Heels, Netanyahu Aims to Dissolve Knesset: Live Updates -- Haaretz
Netanyahu hours away from deadline for forming coalition govt -- Reuters
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu faces midnight deadline to form new government -- DW
Hours before deadline, Likud accuses Liberman of seeking to replace Netanyahu -- Times of Israel
Netanyahu's decade-long rule in doubt as coalition talks falter -- The Guardian

My Take On Robert Mueller's Remarks On The Russian Collusion Report

Posted: 29 May 2019 09:55 AM PDT



WNU Editor: An eight minute talk where nothing new was disclosed. And the lead story should be that his probe is over, and that he has nothing to add to the report .... no collusion, and no obstruction. But because he worded his presentation that he could not charge the President (so why the entire probe?), and stressed that he's not confident that President Trump didn't commit a crime, his innuendos will be the lead story for today. Bottom line. When you say this .... "if we had had confidence that (Trump) clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so" .... what he really means is that he did commit a crime, but we cannot prove it. Is this American justice? That you now have to prove your innocence? I also have met people who have wanted to nail people, and Robert Mueller is clearly someone who wants to do just that on President Trump. But after 500 interviews, 1,200 subpoenas, and seizing millions of documents, he could not because he has no evidence.

Robert Mueller also does not want to testify to Congress. The prospect of facing Republicans and their questions on how he conducted this probe is clearly a road that he does not want to go down. I also expect the media narrative today will be to target Attorney General Barr, and that he misrepresented Mueller's findings. AG Barr's investigation on how this entire affair started, from spying on the Trump campaign in 2016, to the evidence and rational that was used in justifying it, has started. And what better way to discredit what will be uncovered than to discredit the man who is leading it.

So what is next? This is just another phase in the push to get rid of President Trump. Robert Mueller was clear in his remarks today that he wants Congress to now handle this, which means impeachment. And even though the Republican controlled Senate has made it clear that impeachment will not be brought up, and the majority of Americans do not want impeachment, the Democrat controlled House of Representatives will still begin this process and push it to the 2020 Presidential election.

Robert Mueller Makes Public Statement On The Russia Investigation (Live)

Posted: 29 May 2019 08:02 AM PDT







U.S. National Security Advise: Iranian Mines Likely Responsible For Tanker Attacks Off The Coast Of UAE

Posted: 29 May 2019 07:58 AM PDT



DW: John Bolton says Iran is 'almost certainly' behind oil tanker 'attacks'

US President Trump's national security adviser did not provide evidence but claimed Iran was behind attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. Tehran called the accusation "laughable."

US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday that Iran was likely behind the attacks on four ships off the coast of the United Arab Emirates earlier this month.

Bolton made the remarks in Abu Dhabi, during a visit to the Emirati capital "to discuss important and timely regional security matters."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Iran has responded .... Iran Lambasts Bolton's Accusations of Involvement in Attacks on UAE Oil Tankers (Sputnik). More here .... Iran lashes out at 'warmonger' Bolton over 'ridiculous' claims about UAE oil tanker attacks (RT).

More News On U.S. National Security Advise Bolton's Claims That Iranian Mines Are Likely Responsible For Tanker Attacks Off The Coast Of UAE

Top U.S. security aide: Iranian mines likely caused UAE tanker blasts -- Reuters
In UAE, Trump's adviser warns Iran of 'very strong response' -- AP
Iran 'almost certainly' behind ship attacks off UAE, says Bolton -- France 24
Tankers almost certainly damaged by Iranian naval mines, US says -- BBC
John Bolton says UAE tanker attacks were 'almost certainly from Iran' -- CNBC
Iran 'almost certainly' sabotaged ships off UAE, Bolton says -- FOX News
Bolton says Iranian mines likely used in UAE oil-tanker attacks -- Al Jazeera
John Bolton: Iran naval mines 'almost certainly' used in Fujairah tanker attacks -- The National
Bolton says Iran behind oil tanker attack off UAE...'almost certainly' -- RT

World News Briefs -- May 29, 2019

Posted: 29 May 2019 12:52 PM PDT

Without Yisrael Beiteinu's five seats, Benjamin Netanyahu has no parliamentary majority [File: Amir Cohen/Reuters]

DW: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu faces midnight deadline to form new government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political future is at stake as he has until midnight to form a coalition government. If the premier fails, he is expected to push parliament to hold snap elections.

Negotiations on forming Israel's new government are coming down to the wire, with newly reelected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu trying to form a coalition government before a midnight deadline.

Netanyahu was reelected prime minister on April 9, and he has been trying to form a coalition government during six weeks of difficult negotiations.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

New Israeli government or polls: Midnight deadline for Netanyahu.

At least 14 civilians killed in air raid on Syria's Idlib. More than 20 civilians killed in attacks on Syria's northwest.

Syrian military 'burning farmland in rebel-held north'.

Iran 'almost certainly' behind ship attacks off UAE, says Bolton.

Iran's Rouhani suggests U.S. talks possible if sanctions lifted.

Tehran ready for possibility of war with US, but hopes for dialogue – Iran's deputy FM.

Iraq condemns 7th Frenchman to death for IS membership.

Israel tightens Gaza fishing curbs after new fire balloons.

ASIA

Amnesty accuses Myanmar military of new abuses in Rakhine.

Pakistan MP accuses officials of lying about clash between activists, military.

Afghanistan opens probe into sexual favour allegations.

Papua New Guinea PM Peter O'Neill formally resigns.

Beijing wants more Russian gas as Gazprom's mega pipeline to China nears completion.

Nusrat Jahan Rafi: 16 charged in Bangladesh for burning girl alive.

AFRICA

Sudanese protesters strike over civilian rule, challenging army.

Congo Ebola response must be elevated to maximum level, UN told.

Nigerian troops repel Boko Haram attack on key town.

Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari begins second term.

Botswana's new president 'drunk on power' - Khama.

Angola ex-rebel chief Savimbi to be buried on Saturday: family.

Kushner meets Moroccan king on trip to press US peace plan.

EUROPE

Serbs protests against police actions in northern Kosovo.

Merkel seeks to scotch rumours of a rift with chosen successor.

British judge says Boris Johnson must face misconduct charges.

EU to demand 'clarifications' from Italy over budget: source.

Hells Angels biker gangs banned by Netherlands court.

Former Belgian king Albert II agrees to DNA test in paternity case.

Viennese repair Holocaust survivor photos.

Real Madrid 'most valuable club in Europe', says KPMG.

AMERICAS

Mueller to make first public statement on Russia investigation.

After several quiet years, tornadoes erupt in United States.

Poll: Biden has 18-point lead on Democratic field, Sanders only other contender in double digits.

Trump supporters build US-Mexico barrier.

US high court takes up case of Mexican shot by border patrol.

Argentina abortion: Crowds gather to back pro-choice bill.

Mexico: Arrest warrant issued for former Pemex chief.

25% of Americans say they worry about money 'all the time'.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

'Most wanted jihadist' returned to Egypt.

Over 400 IS group-linked French nationals detained in Syria, Paris says.

The Yazidi family reunited after being IS slaves.

Former Navy judge named to oversee Guantánamo military court.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Chinese media raise rare earths threats after US ups trade war ante with Huawei blacklist.

U.S. risks 'devastating' blow from China's rare earths monopoly.

German firms find US less reliable than China as trading partner after getting caught between Trump and a hard place to do business.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 29, 2019

Posted: 29 May 2019 07:00 AM PDT

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in white turban, learns about the phased array radar associated with the Bavar 373 surface-to-air missile system, seen in the background, in 2016. President.ir

FOX News: Iran seeking to expand military program to weapons of mass destruction: German intelligence

While European powers still claim Iran's regime is in compliance with the nuclear deal, a new German intelligence report accuses the Islamic Republic of seeking to build weapons of mass destruction.

Fox News obtained a May 2019 intelligence document from the state of Bavaria detailing Iran's nefarious weapons activities in the southern German state during the previous year.

Iran is a "risk country" that is "making efforts to expand its conventional arsenal of weapons with weapons of mass destruction," wrote the Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution in its intelligence report.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 29, 2019

Iran's Revolutionary Guard says no fear of war with U.S., top diplomat says no interest in talks -- CBS/AP

Iranian commander: We are an absolute power in the region -- Arutz Sheva

Furious lawmakers aim to block Trump's Saudi arms sales -- The Hill

Zumwalt Program Continues Testing Combat System and Missiles on Lead Ship, Test Ship -- USNI News

Disaster aid for Tyndall, Offutt and Lejeune tripped at the finish line by immigration politics -- Defense News

Air Force deploys F-35 squadron to Italy for exercises, training -- UPI

US Navy to Run First Sea Trials of RAILGUN, Catching Up With China -- Sputnik

Eternally Blue: Baltimore City leaders blame NSA for ransomware attack -- Ars Technica

Inside the CIA, secretive officers showcase artworks -- and themselves -- ABC News

U.S. military identifies more remains of American war dead handed over by North Korea -- Reuters

Odds of North Korea Denuclearization Are 'About Zero' Says Former CIA Director -- Newsweek

Motion filed to dismiss lead prosecutor and possibly judge in SEAL war crime trial -- Navy Times

U.S. Marine dies after training accident in Australia -- UPI

No, This Bizarre Installation Near Area 51 Is Not A Secret Military Base -- Warzone/The Drive

Viral U.S. Army Tweet Paints a Harrowing Picture of Sacrifices Made in Military Service -- National Interest/Task & Purpose

A flat budget will prove fatal for military transformation -- Rick Berger, Defense News

Critic says probes into military recruitment program have ruined the lives of service members -- The Hill

Why Is the Military Gunning for Wind Farms? -- Mother Jones

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Has Book Coming This Summer -- Military.com/AP

French drone maker Parrot selected to develop spy aircraft for the US military -- The Verge

France speeds up joint light helicopter program -- Defense News

Britain's Royal Air Force tests miniature missile decoys on Typhoon jets -- UPI

Russian plant ready for mass production of Su-57 fighter jets -- TASS

Russia to demonstrate Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet at MAKS air show -- TASS

Russia's Military Wants Its Supersonic Cruise Missiles to Go Hypersonic -- Newsweek

God's army Religious zeal is surging in Russia's military forces -- The Economist

China's New Anti-Aircraft Gun Can Eliminate Drones, Cruise Missiles, Experts Say -- Sputnik

A Chinese military base in Southeast Asia? Some say it's inevitable -- Nikkei Asian Review

Japan's deal to buy F-35 Lightning jets from US 'may fuel arms race with China in region' -- SCMP

Scholar points to Beijing's 'maritime militia' in the South China Sea after lasers force Australian navy helicopter to land -- SCMP/AP

Australian Warship 'Closely Followed' by Chinese Military in South China Sea -- Sputnik

Armed and Dangerous: Myanmar's military goes shopping -- Economic Times/AFP

Female military peacekeepers left feeling overwhelmed after inadequate training -- Georgina Holmes, the conversation

U.S. Considering Suspending Training Of Turkish Pilots For F-35 Jets Due To Russian Missile Deal

Posted: 29 May 2019 05:24 AM PDT

A Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft is seen at the ILA Air Show in Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File Photo

Reuters: U.S. may suspend training of Turkish pilots for F-35 jets over Russia missile deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is seriously considering suspending training for Turkish pilots on advanced F-35 fighter jets as Ankara moves ahead with plans to purchase a Russian missile defense system despite objections from Washington, sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

The two NATO allies have argued for months over Turkey's order for the Russian S-400 defenses, which Washington says are incompatible with the Western alliance's defense network and would pose a threat to American F-35 stealth fighters which Turkey also plans to buy.

The two sources, who are familiar with Turkey's role in the F-35 program and who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a final decision had not yet been made.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: For Turkey, it will all come down to this .... Turkey's missile dilemma: A choice between Russia and the US (Ibrahim Al-Marashi, Middle East Eye).

More News On The U.S. Considering Suspending Training Of Turkish Pilots For F-35 Jets Due To Russian Missile Deal

US Might Suspend Turkish F-35 Pilots Training Over Russia Missile Deal - Reports -- Sputnik
US may suspend Turkish pilots from F-35 training program over S-400 deal -- RT
Turkish defense chief talks to US defense secretary -- Hurriyet Daily News
Delivery of S-400 systems may be delayed after June: Defense minister -- Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey Signals Delay in Russia Missile Order Opposed by U.S. -- Bloomberg
Turkey Has Not Received US Ultimatum to Abandon S-400 Deal - Defence Minister -- Sputnik

U.S. Navy To Finally Test Their Railgun Aboard A Warship

Posted: 29 May 2019 05:09 AM PDT

An artist rendering illustrates the Office of Naval Research-funded electromagnetic railgun installed aboard the joint high-speed vessel USNS Millinocket, the vessel initially expected to be used for sea trials. US Navy

Business Insider: The US Navy is talking about finally taking its railgun out to sea for testing aboard a warship

* The US Navy is talking about finally testing its railgun aboard a warship, which would be a milestone achievement for the struggling program.
* The Navy's railgun, the product of more than a decade of research costing more than $500 million, was expected to be tested in 2016, but the test was delayed.
* The US is not the only country chasing this technology. China has already managed to arm a warship — the Type 072III Yuting-class tank-landing ship "Haiyang Shan" — with a railgun.

The US Navy is planning to finally test the electromagnetic railgun it has spent years and hundreds of millions of dollars developing aboard a warship, according to new documents detailing the service's testing and training plans.

Unlike conventional guns, a railgun uses electromagnetic energy rather than explosive charges to fire rounds farther and at six or seven times the speed of sound.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I guess this Chinese test pushed the US Navy to do their own .... U.S. Intelligence Report: China Tested Its Naval Electromagnetic Railgun Early This Month (January 30, 2019).

Flyover For South Africa's Presidential Inauguration (Video)

Posted: 29 May 2019 05:01 AM PDT


Warzone/The Drive: The Flyover For South Africa's Presidential Inauguration Was Absolutely Bonkers

The A340s doing a very low-altitude break over the airport was even more impressive!

South Africa is swearing in their new President and with the festivities came one of the most incredible flyovers we have seen for a long time. The event was held at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the heart of Pretoria and was part of a slew of festivities to welcome Cyril Ramaphosa into office.

The flyover consisted of a pair of South African Airways Airbus A340-600s flanked by the South African Air Force's Silver Falcons display team in their Pilatus PC-7 Mk.IIs.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: That is something that you do not see everyday.

World News, World News Updates, World News Headlines, Latest World News, Current Affairs

Posted: 30 May 2019 02:34 AM PDT

World News, World News Updates, World News Headlines, Latest World News, Current Affairs


7 Dead and 21 Missing After a Sightseeing Boat Capsizes in Hungary

Posted: 29 May 2019 06:26 PM PDT

(BUDAPEST, Hungary) — Dozens of rescue workers searched the Danube River in downtown Budapest for 21 people missing after a sightseeing boat with 33 South Koreans sank after colliding with a larger cruise ship during an evening downpour. Seven people were confirmed dead, officials said Thursday, and none of the tourists were wearing life jackets.

Seven other people have been rescued, Pal Gyorfi, spokesman for the National Ambulance Service, said. They were hospitalized in stable condition following the accident Wednesday night.

Two Hungarian crew members are also missing.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in instructed officials to employ “all available resources” to support the rescue efforts in Hungary. Moon’s spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said in Seoul that Moon also ordered the launch of a government task force led by Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and for officials to maintain close communication with the family members of the South Korean passengers.

A team of South Korean officials left for Hungary on Thursday to assist with the rescue operations and support passengers and their families. Kang was also to travel to Hungary.

The ministry in a briefing Thursday said that the Seoul government will closely cooperate with Hungarian officials so that the rescue efforts can proceed swiftly and effectively.

The 33 South Koreans included 30 tourists on a package tour of Europe, two guides and one photographer, according to the South Korea-based Very Good Tour agency, which organized the trip.

Agency officials said the tourists left South Korea on May 25 and were supposed to return June 1.

Most of them were traveling with their families, including a 6-year-old girl. Her status wasn’t immediately clear but she didn’t appear on a list of survivors provided by the tour agency.

The travel agency said that the sightseeing boat was on its way back after an hourlong night tour when it collided with a larger cruise ship that caused the sinking.

Senior agency official Lee Sang-moo disclosed the identities of the seven rescued South Koreans — six women and one man, aged between 31 and 66.

The sunken boat was located early Thursday near the Margit Bridge, not far from the neo-Gothic Parliament building on the riverbank.

Employees from the South Korean Embassy in Budapest were assisting Hungarian officials in identifying those rescued and the deceased.

Officials said searchers were checking the Danube for miles (kilometers) downriver from Budapest. The river was fast-flowing and rising as heavy rain continued in the city. Water temperatures were about 10 to 12 degrees Celsius (50-53 degrees Fahrenheit).

Earlier, the news website Index.hu said one of those rescued was found near the Petofi Bridge, which is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of Parliament.

Dozens of rescue personnel, including from the military and divers, were involved in the search.

The boat that sank was identified as the “Hableany” (Mermaid), which is described on the sightseeing company’s website as “one of the smallest members of the fleet.” It has two decks and a capacity for 60 people, or 45 for sightseeing cruises.

Mihaly Toth, a spokesman for the Panorama Deck boating company, said the “Hableany” was on a “routine city sightseeing trip” when the accident happened. He told state television that he had no information about any technical problems with the boat, which he said was serviced regularly.

The Margit Bridge connects the two halves of the city, Buda and Pest, with a large recreational island in the middle of the Danube. It is the bridge just north of the famous Chain Bridge, a suspension bridge originally built in the 19th century that like the Parliament is a major tourist draw in the heart of the city.

The river flows south, meaning that survivors were likely to be swept through the well populated, historic part of the city.

Index.hu reported that other riverboats shined spotlights into the water to aid with the search, and that a film crew operating on the Liberty Bridge farther down the river directed its lighting equipment toward the Danube to assist. In recent years, Budapest has emerged as a popular destination for film, television and other commercial video production.

Budapest has enjoyed a boom in overseas tourism in recent years. Long-haul flights from as far away as Dubai and Beijing increasingly fly visitors from Asia and the Middle East to the Hungarian capital, a relatively affordable but history-rich European destination. Budapest’s airport said it handled a record number of travelers in 2018, with passenger numbers surging more than 13 percent to 14.9 million.

Hajoregiszter.hu, a local ship-tracking website, lists the “Hableany” as having been built in 1949 in what was then the Soviet Union.

Israel’s Parliament Votes to Dissolve, Triggering Snap Election

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:31 PM PDT

JERUSALEM — Israel’s parliament voted to dissolve itself early Thursday, sending the country to an unprecedented second snap election this year as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition before a midnight deadline.

The dramatic vote, less than two months after parliamentary elections, marked a setback for Netanyahu and sent the longtime leader’s future into turmoil.

Netanyahu, who has led Israel for the past decade, had appeared to capture a fourth consecutive term in the April 9 election. But infighting among his allies, and disagreements over proposed bills to protect Netanyahu from prosecution stymied his efforts to put together a majority coalition.

Rather than concede that task to one of his rivals, Netanyahu’s Likud party advanced a bill to dissolve parliament and send the country to the polls for a second time this year.

“I didn’t spare any effort to avoid unnecessary elections,” Netanyahu said after the vote, lashing out at an ally-turned-rival, Avigdor Lieberman, who refused the prime minister’s offers to join the government.

He said the country was being forced to hold “unnecessary, wasteful elections because the people had their say. They didn’t have their say enough for what Mr. Lieberman wants.”

Had the deadline passed without the vote, Israel’s president would have given another lawmaker, most likely opposition leader Benny Gantz, an opportunity to put together a coalition.

After the vote, Gantz angrily accused Netanyahu of choosing self-preservation over allowing the country’s political process to run its course.

Gantz said that Netanyahu opted for “three crazy months” of a new campaign and millions of wasted dollars over new elections because he is “legally incapacitated” by looming indictments. “There is no other reason,” Gantz said.

The country now plunges into a new election campaign that will last at least three months under Israeli law. With much of the country on vacation in late August, a tentative date of Sept. 17 was set.

The campaign looks to complicate Netanyahu’s precarious legal standing. Israel’s attorney general has recommended pressing criminal charges against him in three separate corruption cases, pending a hearing scheduled for October.

Even if Netanyahu wins the election, it is unlikely he will be able to form a government and lock down the required political support for an immunity deal before an expected indictment. That would force him to stand trial and put heavy pressure on him to step aside.

The political uncertainty could also spell trouble for the White House’s Mideast peace efforts. The U.S. has scheduled a conference next month in Bahrain to unveil what it says is the first phase of its peace plan, an initiative aimed at drawing investment into the Palestinian territories.

With the Palestinians, who accuse the U.S. of being unfairly biased toward Israel, opposed to the plan, and Netanyahu preoccupied with re-election, it remains unclear how the Americans will be able to proceed. President Donald Trump’s top Mideast adviser, son-in-law Jared Kushner, was in Israel and scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday.

That Netanyahu struggled to secure a majority coalition in the 120-seat parliament was a shocking turn of events for the country’s dominating political figure.

In the April 9 vote, Likud and its hardline nationalist and religious parties captured a majority of 65 seats.

The immediate cause of the crisis was his dispute with Lieberman, a former aide who leads the small Yisrael Beitenu faction.

The men had clashed over Lieberman’s demand to subject ultra-Orthodox religious males to the military draft, which is compulsory for most Jewish males. Without Lieberman’s five Knesset seats, Netanyahu had no parliamentary majority.

But the deeper issue is connected to Netanyahu’s legal troubles. Facing a likely indictment, he had pushed his coalition partners to pass legislation that would grant him immunity and curb the powers of the country’s Supreme Court.

Opposition parties strongly oppose granting Netanyahu immunity, robbing him of any alternatives to Lieberman as he tried to form a coalition.

For the past two decades, Lieberman has alternated between being a close ally and a thorn in the side of his former boss. He has held a number of senior Cabinet posts, including defense minister and foreign minister.

Lieberman’s base of support is fellow immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and he takes a hard line toward the Palestinians but also is staunchly secular.

He has demanded that the parliament pass pending legislation that requires young ultra-Orthodox men to be drafted into the military. Years of wide exemptions for religious men have generated resentment among the rest of Jewish Israelis, who are required to serve.

“I am not against the ultra-Orthodox community. I am for the state of Israel. I am for a Jewish state but against a Halachic state,” Lieberman wrote on Facebook early Wednesday, using a term that refers to a Jewish state governed by Jewish law.

The ultra-Orthodox parties consider conscription a taboo, fearing that military service will lead to immersion in secularism, and insist the exemptions should stay in place. Netanyahu, dependent on the parties’ political support, says they have compromised enough and refuses to press them further.

Netanyahu maintained contacts with Lieberman and other parties in hopes of forging a deal as a parliamentary debate took place. Many of the Likud speakers lashed out at Lieberman, accusing him of forcing an unnecessary election.

But as a parliamentary debate stretched toward midnight, it became clear there would be no compromise.

A bitter Netanyahu claimed after the vote that Lieberman “had no intention” to compromise and made unrealistic demands. “He is dragging the entire country for another half a year of elections,” he said.

‘The IAAF Will Not Drug Me.’ Olympian Caster Semenya Appeals Court’s Testosterone Ruling

Posted: 29 May 2019 11:38 AM PDT

(JOHANNESBURG) — Caster Semenya has appealed against the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision to uphold testosterone regulations for some female athletes in track and field.

The two-time Olympic 800-meter champion’s lawyers say she has lodged an appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal, Switzerland’s supreme court.

Under the IAAF’s new rules, upheld by the Switzerland-based CAS this month, Semenya is not allowed to run in international races from 400 meters to one mile unless she medically lowers her natural testosterone levels. She said after the CAS decision that she would not take medication and repeats in Wednesday’s statement announcing her appeal that “the IAAF will not drug me or stop me from being who I am.”

Semenya’s appeal was announced by her South Africa-based lawyers. They say Semenya’s appeal “focuses on fundamental human rights.”

Gucci Collection Promotes Abortion Rights Amid Wave of Abortion Restrictions in U.S.

Posted: 29 May 2019 08:58 AM PDT

Gucci weighed into the abortion debate at its 2020 fashion show in Rome on Tuesday, unveiling several pieces that made reference to abortion rights and women’s rights.

The fashion statement comes amid a battle over abortion rights in the United States. Earlier this month, Alabama passed the strictest abortion ban in the country with the goal of overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that effectively legalized abortion across the country. The last abortion provider in Missouri may lose its license this week, making it impossible for women to obtain a safe abortion in the state. Missouri is one of a handful of states that have recently passed abortion bans as early as six weeks, though many of those laws remain tied up in legal challenges.

Anti-abortion sentiments also remain strong inside the Vatican, not far from the site of the Gucci fashion show. At an anti-abortion conference in Rome on Saturday, Pope Francis compared abortion to hiring a “hitman to solve a problem” and said the procedure is never acceptable.

Gucci has recently faced accusations of racism and cultural appropriation. In February, Gucci withdrew a black balaclava sweater from stores following criticism that the black turtleneck and bright red cut-out lips resembled racist blackface imagery. Earlier this month, Gucci drew backlash over cultural appropriation for selling an $800 turban and positioning an article of faith as a fashion accessory.

The new collection featured in Tuesday’s show included a gown with an embroidered uterus, a jacket with the feminist slogan “My body, my choice,” and a shirt with the date in 1978 when Italy legalized abortion.

Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s creative director, said at a press conference after the show that women “should be free to choose what they want and terminate a pregnancy,” calling it “the most difficult choice for a woman to make,” according to the Guardian.

In another interview, Michele said the collection draws inspiration from social movements of the 1970s.

“It was a historical moment when women — finally — rejected all the constraints that were imposed in the previous centuries and they became free,” Michele told Women’s Wear Daily. “That’s why I am paying homage to the Italian law regarding abortion, the law number 194. It’s unbelievable that around the world there are still people who believe that they can control a woman’s body, a woman’s choice. I will always stand behind the freedom of being, always.”

Boris Johnson to Face Court Questions Over Brexit Claims

Posted: 29 May 2019 06:14 AM PDT

(LONDON) — A British judge ruled Wednesday that former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will be summoned to court over allegations that he lied and misled the public during the Brexit referendum campaign in 2016.

District Judge Margot Coleman said Johnson will answer questions about his possible misconduct in public office, when he claimed Britain contributed 350 million pounds ($442 million) to the European Union each week.

Johnson was a key figure in the “leave” campaign advocating a break with the EU. The campaign emblazoned a bus with a promise that voting for Brexit would mean that instead of sending substantial money to the EU, the cash could be used to fund Britain’s National Health Service.

Britain’s statistics regulator has said Johnson’s claim about the 350 million pounds was misleading and a “gross misuse of official statistics.”

Lawyers representing Marcus Ball, an activist pursuing a private prosecution of Johnson, asked Westminster Magistrates’ Court to summon the politician. Ball and his legal team assert that Johnson deliberately misled the public during the referendum and then in the general election of 2017.

The case comes at an awkward time for Johnson, a prominent contender in the Conservative Party leadership race who stands to become prime minister if he wins that contest.

The judge said in a written statement that the allegations against Johnson are “unproven” and that she is not judging the evidence to determine if Johnson is at fault. But she said summoning Johnson is proper.

“This means the proposed defendant will be required to attend this court for a preliminary hearing, and the case will then be sent to the Crown Court for trial,” the judge said.

Johnson has denied through his lawyers that he acted dishonestly.

Ball has raised more than 200,000 pounds by crowdfunding to pay for the private prosecution.

No date has yet been set for a hearing.

‘Brute, Naked Fear.’ How Bashar Assad Is Using His Family’s Old Tactics to Regain His Grip on Syria

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:53 AM PDT

In August 2014, weeks after rigged elections returned Syrian President Bashar Assad a mandate to continue holding the office he had inherited from his father, Syrian border officials denied American-Lebanese journalist Sam Dagher re-entry into the country.

A senior Wall Street Journal correspondent and the last Western reporter permanently based in Damascus, Dagher had reported on how Assad’s decisions directly contributed to the rise of ISIS, and how the regime starved rebel-held suburbs after it had attacked them with chemical weapons. But it was his coverage of the June elections that constituted “the point of no return,” he says, “I was reporting on the spectacle, not only saying it was a sham but also showing it.”

Barred from re-entering Syria, Dagher later traveled to Paris where he met Manaf Tlass, a confidante of Assad and former Brigadier General in the Syrian Republican Guard until his high profile defection in 2012. Manaf’s father, the late Mustafa Tlass had been a pillar of the Ba’ath party establishment, unwaveringly loyal to Basher’s father, Hafez Assad, and served as his defense minister for 30-years.

Dagher’s meetings with Manaf Tlass sowed the seeds for his book Assad or We Burn the Country, published May 28. In a conversation with TIME he discussed how the regime burnished Bashar’s image after Hafez handed him power in 2000 and how alongside his wife Asma — subject of a fawning Vogue profile published in 2011 — the British-educated ophthalmologist attempted to cast himself as a reformist. But in copying his father’s methods of crushing dissent, he caused a war that has killed more than 500,000 people. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What motivated you to write Assad or We Burn the Country?

I felt like there wasn’t a sufficient understanding of this family’s role in the Syria story. People got into the Syria story through the Arab Spring and the revolt but it was a very simplistic narrative: it happened in Tunisia, it happened in Egypt, now the Syrians are rising up and when the regime refused to go so it became a civil war. Then attention shifted to ISIS and the refugee issue. What was missing was a deeper understanding of why Syrians rose up in the first place, how this family ruled over them for 50 years, and the role of its allies, particularly Iran. I felt there was a need to step back and look at the whole picture if we wanted to address the problems emanating from Syria.

What have Western countries most consistently misunderstood about Syria?

Western countries relationships with Syria have largely been driven by whatever interests they had in the region at any given moment. During the Cold War, the U.S. agenda was how do we get Hafez Assad on our side? When the civil war started in Lebanon, the Americans wanted him to protect the Christians. And in the early 1990s, the American agenda was to amass this coalition to go after Saddam. Bashar was cooperating with the U.S on intelligence sharing before the invasion of Iraq, after 9/11. But when he realized they might be going after him he calculated that he had better start a pre-emptive war in Iraq to protect the regime. American calculations changed again because they needed to save face in Iraq, so there was a re-engagement period between 2007 and 2010. The Assad regime knows how the West deals with this part of the world and it can wait because it figures it’s not going anywhere. I’m not advocating military intervention to topple the regime. I’m just saying that all these countries have to take history into account when they decide to engage with Syria.

Towards the end of the book you show how a regime that killed activists who posted anti-Assad messages on social media is now using those same platforms to rebuild Bashar’s image. Is that even possible?

He’s trying hard but it’s going to be difficult. The regime understands there’s only so far it can go with rehabilitating Bashar’s image, even domestically. What they’re doing instead is relying on their old trick: brute, naked fear. I’ve heard from a number of Syrians that the regime’s message to them is “we’re on top of you again.” They’ve re-instated a lot of the statues of Hafez, the Mukhabarat [secret police] is telling people we’re back, you’d better watch what you say. In terms of the West, some countries have re-engaged with the regime but it’s mainly intelligence sharing at this point. I don’t see Bashar and Asma being able to pull off a rehabilitation of their image.

Russia and some Western commentators have suggested there is more public support for Assad than has been acknowledged. What sense do you have of Syrian public sentiment toward the regime after Assad’s victory?

People are making pragmatic choices but I don’t think that tells the whole story. You have to remember that half of the population is either internally displaced or abroad and most of these people do not support Assad. Inside Syria, the Alawites [ a minority sect to which Assad belongs, whose faith derives from a strain of Shi’a Islam] sacrificed the most for this regime in terms of providing the fighting forces to defend it and they openly support Assad. But for many, they were not defending Assad, they were defending themselves against an existential threat. The same applies to other minorities: many Christians and Druze [a religious minority] sympathized with the protesters and took part in at least the peaceful period of the protests before they realized, yes, the regime may be awful but look at the other side. Even the Sunnis came to that conclusion—but it was more like resignation than support. A lot of urban Sunnis are now questioning the benefits of Assad’s victory and starting to have second thoughts.

Whether it’s Saudi Crown Prince Mohamad bin Salman (MBS), Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi, or Libya’s Khalifa Haftar, the notion of “a man we can do business with” seems to persist. Have any lessons have been learned from Syria?

I’m glad you brought up MBS because the script has been pretty much the same as it was with Bashar. In the late 1990s, all these articles were written before Bashar took power, touting him as a young reformer. There was actually a headline for a story on Bashar in a Saudi-owned newspaper, “reform under the umbrella of continuity and stability”, that was almost exactly the same as the one they used for MBS years later. The leverage that the Saudis have are contracts and money and oil. The leverage the likes of Assad have is terrorism and refugees: always reminding Europe and the U.S. that if you come after us it’s going to be the refugees and the terrorists again. So, these countries calculate that they had better just shut that door. You hear statements from Europe like, let the Syrians figure it out for themselves, it’s not our problem. With Iran and Russia behind him, Bashar’s grip on the country is too tight for that to work, unfortunately.

One of your most important sources was Manaf Tlass, who defected in 2012. How did that relationship come about?

I first met Manaf in Paris in 2014 for an article I was writing for the Wall Street Journal. I was aware he was a controversial figure but I think he offers invaluable insights into the regime. The Tlass family, alongside the Assads, helped build the regime that has been at the helm of Syria for 50 years. It was certainly a difficult process. Manaf sees himself as a hero who was misunderstood and wasn’t given a chance by the West, somebody who challenged Bashar and refused to participate in the killing of Syrians. He thought the book was going to help people understand his motivations. I made it clear that I would be looking at the full picture rather than trying to clear his family name. His wife was completely against him talking to me. She even asked to meet with me to dissuade me from pursuing this.

What’s the key message you’d like readers to take away from Assad or We Burn the Country?

The Assad family’s atrocities and crimes concern the whole world not just Syrians. The most important element for me is the similarity between what Bashar did and what his father did. Under the pretext of fighting terrorism Hafez massacred civilians in Hama in 1982 and later Bashar used the same excuse to go after those who were defying him. Both went after the peaceful activists first, vilifying them and putting them all together in the same category as terrorists, then there was the collective punishment. It’s the same playbook. Even the torture methods were similar. So were the reactions of some other countries. During the Hafez era the U.S. was saying, OK, this is an awful regime, look at what they’re doing to their people, they’re sponsoring terrorism abroad, but we have all these other problems to deal with so maybe we shouldn’t make as much of a big deal out of it. We heard variations of this after 2011 especially as the conflict became bloodier. The book also helps people understand the methodology behind the regime’s image-making, the tools of its deception. I think that aspect is not well understood—how they have gotten away with murder so far.

Assad or We Burn the Country: How One Family’s Lust for Power Destroyed Syria (Little, Brown) is published May 28

Australia’s ‘Egg Boy,’ Who Assaulted a Senator, Is Giving Legal Defense Funds to Mosque Shooting Victims

Posted: 29 May 2019 02:20 AM PDT

Teenage protester Will Connolly, dubbed “egg boy” after video of him smashing an egg on the head of an Australian senator went viral, announced Tuesday that he was donating the $70,000 raised for his legal expenses to victims of the New Zealand mosque attacks.

A day after the Christchurch massacre that killed 51 people in March, Connolly smashed an egg on the back of Senator Fraser Anning’s head while the politician was talking to reporters. Anning then slapped the teen as his supporters tackled him to the ground.

The right-wing senator had earlier remarked that “The real cause of the bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place.” The comment sparked a furore in Australia.

The 17-year-old said he was not connected with any activist group. He was interviewed and released by police without charge.

Following the incident, two GoFundMe pages were set up to help Connolly cover his legal expenses and “buy more eggs.”

In a post on Instagram, the 17-year-old said the money raised, after a “huge amount of red tape,” had today been donated to charity.

Connolly said he had no legal fees as a lawyer acted pro-bono for his case. The $70,000 raised — close to 100,000 Australian dollars — was donated to the Christchurch Foundation and Victims Support, he wrote.

“It wasn’t mine to keep,” Connolly added. “To the victims of the tragedy, I wholeheartedly hope that this can bring some relief to you.”

In an interview with Australian television, Connolly conceded that attacking the senator “was not the right thing to do.”

Senator Anning has meanwhile defended slapping the teen. “He got a slap across the face, which is what his mother should have given him long ago, because he’s been misbehaving badly,” Anning told Australian media after the incident.

World News Updates, World News, Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs, World News Updates

Posted: 30 May 2019 01:57 AM PDT

World News Updates, World News, Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs, World News Updates


Italy given just TWO DAYS to explain debt crisis or face £3bn fine as EU lays down the law

Posted: 29 May 2019 04:02 PM PDT



ITALY has been given two days to explain its debt crisis or face a huge fine from the European Union.

Budapest boat TRAGEDY: At least seven dead and others missing in Danube tourist DISASTER

Posted: 29 May 2019 04:37 PM PDT



A HORRIFIC boat accident in Budapest has left seven dead and oters missing, after a tourist vessel sank on the Danube in the Hungarian capital.

Bilderberg 2019: REMAINER-FEST - Adonis, Carney and O’Leary at shadowy Switzerland event

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:55 AM PDT



ARCH-Remainer Andrew Adonis, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary are among those attending the shady and secretive Bilderberg Meeting in Switzerland today - with Brexit featuring prominently on the agenda.

Did White House chiefs try to hide USS John McCain from Donald Trump?

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:21 AM PDT



DONALD Trump has denied knowing about an order to move the warship USS John S McCain that was stationed near the venue of his recent speech in Japan.

EU warns European firms to 'brace' for 'CATASTROPHIC' Trump tariffs on cars

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:54 AM PDT



EU bosses have been warned to "brace" for Donald Trump to impose crippling multi-billion trade tariffs on the bloc within months.

Julian Assange health latest: Julian Assange moved to HEALTH WARD - what's wrong with him?

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:32 AM PDT



JULIAN ASSANGE has been moved to the health ward of HM Prison Belmarsh in London. So what has happened?

The end for Netanyahu? Israel faces second election in WEEKS after failed coalition talks

Posted: 29 May 2019 08:12 PM PDT



BENJAMIN NETANYAHU's spell as Prime Minister of Israel could be coming to a close as the country faces fresh elections, less than two months after the last round, after coalition talks collapse.

Russia SAVAGES US over ‘nuclear breach’ as Kremlin accuses Washington of ‘utter FAILURE'

Posted: 29 May 2019 07:38 PM PDT



RUSSIA has hit back at the US over recent nuclear violations as tensions between the two countries continue to diminish.

South China Sea WARNING: Beijing achieving immediate goals says military official

Posted: 29 May 2019 06:25 PM PDT



BEIJING is achieving its immediate goals in the South China Sea, according to a US military official.

US-Iran tensions ERUPT as Supreme leader refuses to negotiate with Trump

Posted: 29 May 2019 05:43 PM PDT



IRAN's Supreme Leader has insisted Tehran will not be negotiating with the US.

11,774 students complete Mumbai University's enrolment on Day-1

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

11,774 students complete Mumbai University's enrolment on Day-1
The pre-admission enrolment is mandatory for anyone wishing to seek admission in courses offered by MU.

Source: DI

DNA IMPACT: Civic chief Praveen Pardeshi tells officials to clean Poisar River

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

DNA IMPACT: Civic chief Praveen Pardeshi tells officials to clean Poisar River
The Poisar River passes through one of the densest slum networks and despite repeated requests, people keep dumping all the garbage

Source: DI

Hawkers are not problem, they are part of our system: BJP MP Gopal Shetty

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

Hawkers are not problem, they are part of our system: BJP MP Gopal Shetty
Shetty says implementation of hawkers policy, development of amusement park in the city and removal of red tape for the realty sector will be his priorities

Source: DI

Bizmen pin hopes on pharma expo to boost exports from Gujarat

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

Bizmen pin hopes on pharma expo to boost exports from Gujarat
The three-day expo, IPHEX, will begin on June 10 at Helipad ground in Gandhinagar

Source: DI

Ahmedabad: 17-year-old molested by biker in Sola

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

Ahmedabad: 17-year-old molested by biker in Sola
The accused has been identified as Parshav Shah (38), a resident of Thaltej, says DH Ghadvi

Source: DI

Maharashtra government to tackle ragging: Girish Mahajan

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

Maharashtra government to tackle ragging: Girish Mahajan
Girish Mahajan, medical education minister told DNA that all possible help will be extended to Payal's family.

Source: DI

Gujarat Board: Failed IX, XII? Take re-test in June

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

Gujarat Board: Failed IX, XII? Take re-test in June
To be conducted in the first week of June, the result of the re-test will be declared by June 15

Source: DI

Stormwater drain on Dadar-Kurla stretch yet to become reality

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

Stormwater drain on Dadar-Kurla stretch yet to become reality
The reason being a proposed stormwater drain planned last year, which still remains a plan on paper.

Source: DI

Gujarat: Panel refers 50% fee revision cases to FRC

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

Gujarat: Panel refers 50% fee revision cases to FRC
214 schools had filed appeal with Fee Revision Committee and sought changes in fee structure

Source: DI

Mumbai: Railways to install more pumps ahead of monsoon

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

Mumbai: Railways to install more pumps ahead of monsoon
Sources said that as compared to last year, this time around more number of high powered pumps shall be placed.

Source: DI

10% EBC quota ups Gujarat's medical seats by over 6,000

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

10% EBC quota ups Gujarat's medical seats by over 6,000
Total no. of seats in various med courses will increase from 31,890 to 38,694

Source: DI

Dr Payal Tadvi Suicide: Maharashtra SC/ST commission seeks reports from BYL Nair Hospital

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:06 AM PDT

Dr Payal Tadvi Suicide: Maharashtra SC/ST commission seeks reports from BYL Nair Hospital
On Wednesday, May 29, Abeda, mother of Dr Payal Tadvi spent her day at Agripada police station to give an in-depth statement to the police in front of the commission in order to get into more details of the case.

Source: DI

US diplomat Clarke Cooper to visit to India for talks on defense issues

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

US diplomat Clarke Cooper to visit to India for talks on defense issues
Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Clarke Cooper will travels to Singapore, India and Sri Lanka from May 29 to June 7.

Source: TFE

Anil Ambani’s BIG FM is music to the ears of Radio City; key benefits for Music Broadcast from deal

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Anil Ambani's BIG FM is music to the ears of Radio City; key benefits for Music Broadcast from deal
After Anil Ambani led Reliance Broadcast Network's deal with Music Broadcast to sell BIG FM radio channel, analysts say that the deal is attractively valued for the Jagran Prakashan group firm.

Source: TFE

Pakistan extends closure of airspace along India till border till June 15

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Pakistan extends closure of airspace along India till border till June 15
Pakistan fully closed its airspace in February after an Indian Air Force strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot.

Source: TFE

10% EWS quota cannot be applied to PG medical courses in Maharashtra for 2019-20, says SC

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

10% EWS quota cannot be applied to PG medical courses in Maharashtra for 2019-20, says SC
A vacation bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Aniruddha Bose said 10 per cent EWS quota cannot be granted at the cost of others unless additional seats are created by the Medical Council of India.

Source: TFE

Who’s in, who’s out? NDA allies to get one berth each in new Modi cabinet

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Who's in, who's out? NDA allies to get one berth each in new Modi cabinet
While Nitish Kumar's JD(U) that won 16 seats, the Shiv Sena won 18 seats. Both the parties are likely to get cabinet rank ministers

Source: TFE

Can Rahul Gandhi win elections like Modi? Yes, if he can learn from the BJP campaigns

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Can Rahul Gandhi win elections like Modi? Yes, if he can learn from the BJP campaigns
If Rahul Gandhi is indeed serious about the Congress posing a real challenge to the BJP in 2024, it needs to emulate the latter's winning tactics

Source: TFE

Kolkata ex-top cop Rajeev Kumar moves Calcutta High Court, seeks quashing of CBI notice in chit fund case

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Kolkata ex-top cop Rajeev Kumar moves Calcutta High Court, seeks quashing of CBI notice in chit fund case
Justice Pratik Prakash Banerjee granted leave to Kumar's counsel for filing a petition in the registry of the court and moved the matter for hearing at 2 pm.

Source: TFE

Gandhi family in crisis: Modi’s big win not only surprised the world but also put 134-year-old Congress on life support

Posted: 30 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Gandhi family in crisis: Modi's big win not only surprised the world but also put 134-year-old Congress on life support
Congress president Rahul Gandhi himself campaigned hard but his efforts were in vain, and the way forward is uncertain.

Source: TFE

Total Pageviews

statcounter

View My Stats