Merkel Gives In: German Chancellor Agrees to Tighten Immigration Policies

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After facing push-back over her long-held open-door policies that have allowed hundreds of thousands of immigrants into her country, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave in on Monday. . .

Merkel needed to make a deal in order to stay in power. Interior Minister and coalition government ally Horst Seehofer threatened to resign his post if Merkel didn’t budge.

A day before Monday’s agreement was reached, Seehofer told the press: “I will not be dismissed by a chancellor who is only chancellor because of me.”

Following two days of negotiations, Merkels’ Christian Democtratic Union party and Seehofer’s Christian Social Union made a deal that Merkel referred to as a “really good compromise.” . . .

Following two days of negotiations, Merkels’ Christian Democtratic Union party and Seehofer’s Christian Social Union made a deal that Merkel referred to as a “really good compromise.” (Read more from “Merkel Gives In: German Chancellor Agrees to Tighten Immigration Policies” HERE)

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Transgender ‘Woman’ to Compete in Miss Universe – and You Might Be Surprised at Who Made It Possible

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Spain’s Angela Ponce will grace the stage at this year’s Miss Universe pageant, as the first transgender [man] to compete for the crown — and the 26-year-old has President Trump to partially [responsible] for the opportunity. . .

Ponce’s participation comes six years after the Miss Universe organization lifted its ban on transgender contestants. Back in 2012, now-US President Donald Trump owned the franchise, and sided with LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD when transgender contestant Jenna Talackova sued in order to participate.

GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick said at the time that “The Miss Universe Organization and Mr. Trump made it clear to GLAAD that they were open to making a policy change to include women who are transgender.

“We appreciate that he and his team responded swiftly and appropriately. The Miss Universe Organization today follows institutions that have taken a stand against discrimination of transgender women including the Olympics, NCAA, the Girl Scouts of America and The CW’s America’s Next Top Model.”

Over the weekend, Ponce won her country’s qualifying contest, beating out 22 other contestants. The beauty queen wrote on Instagram, “Bringing the name and colors of Spain before the universe is my great dream. My goal is to be a spokesperson for a message of inclusion, respect and diversity not only for the LGBTQ+ community, but also for the entire world.” (Read more from “Transgender ‘Woman’ to Compete in Miss Universe – and You Might Be Surprised at Who Made It Possible” HERE)

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Did Obama Grant Thousands of Iranians Citizenship as Part of the Iran Deal?

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By Townhall. According to a new report and an Iranian cleric, thousands of Iranians with ties to the radical government were allegedly granted United States citizenship. From Fox News:

The Obama administration granted citizenship to 2,500 Iranians, including family members of government officials, while negotiating the Iran nuclear deal, a senior cleric and member of parliament has claimed.

Hojjat al-Islam Mojtaba Zolnour, who is chairman of Iran’s parliamentary nuclear committee and a member of its national security and foreign affairs committee, made the allegations during an interview with the country’s Etemad newspaper, cited by the country’s Fars News agency.

“When Obama, during the negotiations about the JCPOA, decided to do a favor to these men, he granted citizenship to 2,500 Iranians and some officials started a competition over whose children could be part of these 2,500 Iranians,” he claimed.

“If today these Iranians get deported from America, it will become clear who is complicit and sells the national interest like he is selling candies to America.”

(Read more from “Did Obama Grant Thousands of Iranians Citizenship as Part of the Iran Deal?” HERE)

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Iran’s President Warns Over U.S. Push Against Buying Iran Oil

By ABC News. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is warning that regional oil supply could be jeopardized if the Unite States manages to get its allies to stop buying Tehran’s oil.

Rouhani spoke to Iranian expatriates in Switzerland during his visit there on Monday. He says the U.S. has threatened not to allow Iran to continue exporting its oil. The Iranian state TV broadcast his remarks.

Rouhani didn’t elaborate but when pressured in the past, Iran has threatened to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz though which one third of the world’s oil supply passes. (Read more from “Iran’s President Warns Over U.S. Push Against Buying Iran Oil” HERE)

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Startling News Was Just Announced About ISIS

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By The Washington Examiner. The Islamic State’s Afghanistan affiliate has gotten stronger over the last few years despite the aggressive efforts of the U.S.-led coalition in the country, a State Department official told the Washington Examiner.

“ISIS has grown stronger over the last couple of years, despite a really withering military campaign, principally from U.S. forces, but with strong support as well from Afghan forces,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Senior lawmakers hesitated to state it so bluntly, but they acknowledge that ISIS in Afghanistan is a particularly tough nut to crack.

“Afghanistan has never been finished, that’s one of the problems, so there’s not a strong governance, particularly in the rural areas,” said Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, a senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. “So we’ve always had that vulnerability. We’ve been very successful in the Syria aspects and the Iraq aspects of ISIS, but they find vulnerable areas.”

The war-torn country’s drug trade gives the ISIS offshoot critical funding as well. (Read more from “Startling News Was Just Announced About ISIS” HERE)

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ISIS trained CHILD SOLDIERS to launch attacks on EU, claims French jihadist

By Express. Jonathan Geffroy, a French jihadist who was captured in Syria in early 2017 and handed over to French authorities last September, told France’s DGSI internal intelligence agency that ISIS had recruited children who had been born and raised in Syria to launch attacks on European soil, according to the French daily Le Monde.

Geffroy said in a note seen by Le Monde: “They recruited and trained orphans, and then you also have the wives of ISIS militants whose children have been indoctrinated with the group’s ideology and who have been taught to hate the US-led coalition and Europe.

“I know that future external operations will be carried out by children who grew up in the area and who, after adolescence, will be sent to the West, to Europe, to carry out suicide missions.”

He added sending child soldiers off once they become teenagers would make it practically impossible for counter-terrorism officials to use facial recognition technology to identify them.

The ex-ISIS militant, who is currently awaiting trial for “criminal conspiracy in connection with a terrorist enterprise,” said the child soldier plan was the brainchild of the Clain brothers. (Read more from “ISIS trained CHILD SOLDIERS to launch attacks on EU, claims French jihadist” HERE)

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Kim Jong Un Orders Another Military Officer Executed by Firing Squad. Here’s Why

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By The Blaze. North Korea has reportedly carried out the public execution of a high-ranking military official by firing squad, at the orders of leader Kim Jong Un.

Lieutenant General Hyon Ju-song was found guilty of profiting the enemy, abusing authority, and engaging in anti-Party acts after being accused of distributing extra rations of food and fuel to his troops. . .

Korean online newspaper Daily NK reported the incident, saying that Hyon had been on the fast track to success prior to his execution. He had risen through the ranks after starting out as an enlisted soldier, to eventually holding the official position of director of the inspection division of the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces General Rear Services Bureau.

But Daily NK’s source said that, “While checking the oil supplies for the Sohae Satellite Launching Station during the comprehensive inspections of wartime supplies on April 10, Hyon stated, ‘We no longer have to suffer and tighten our belts to make rockets or nuclear weapons.’ This was seen as an abuse of authority and a treasonous statement that opposed the Party’s military-first policy.

“[Hyon] gave out instructions to send out 1 ton of fuel, 580 kg of rice, and 750 kg of corn to military officers at the Launching Station and their families. This was considered an anti-Party act violating the Ten Principles for the Establishment of the Party’s One Ideology System.” (Read more from “Kim Jong Un Orders Another Military Officer Executed by Firing Squad. Here’s Why” HERE)

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North Korea Upgrades Nuclear Facility Despite Trump-Kim Summit, Satellite Images Show

By USA Today. North Korea is upgrading a major nuclear research facility despite President Donald Trump’s claim that leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to disarm, according to new satellite images and a research paper published by a North Korea monitoring group.

Experts at 38 North, a website affiliated with the Stimson Center in Washington D.C. devoted to analysis of North Korea, concluded the images show that “improvements to the infrastructure at North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center are continuing at a rapid pace.”

The satellite images are from June 21.

That’s less than two weeks after Trump boasted of a diplomatic breakthrough with Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons program after decades of hostility.

Trump and Kim signed a joint declaration at a summit in Singapore on June 12 and pledged to work toward peace and to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. “We’re ready to write a new chapter between our nations,” Trump said at a news conference following the summit. He called his meeting with Kim “honest, direct and productive.” (Read more from “North Korea Upgrades Nuclear Facility Despite Trump-Kim Summit, Satellite Images Show” HERE)

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With Obama’s Deal Falling Apart, Here’s What’s Happening in Iran

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Iran’s atomic energy agency (AEOI) said on Wednesday that it has reopened a nuclear plant that had been closed for nine years, as reported by Reuters. . .

President Trump announced last month that the U.S. would be withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear accord from 2015 — which the participating European countries (and the Obama administration) saw as a way to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

But with the U.S. backing out, the deal is seen as vulnerable. Weeks ago, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave the go-ahead for AEOI to resume uranium enrichment in case JDPOA falls apart completely. . .

In a statement on its website, the AEOI insists that “The Islamic Republic of Iran regards (the) use of nuclear and chemical weapons as a cardinal and unforgivable sin,” and says their country’s motto is, “Nuclear energy (for) all, nuclear weapons for none.” . . .

With President Trump’s rejection of JCPOA, economic sanctions will be reimposed on Iran in the coming months. This has led to elevation tensions between Iran and the U.S.; on Wednesday, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani told Iranians to “bring America to its knees.” (Read more from “With Obama’s Deal Falling Apart, Here’s What’s Happening in Iran” HERE)

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Moscow and Washington Strike Deal to Hold Putin-Trump Summit

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By Reuters. Moscow and Washington have struck a deal to hold a summit soon between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday.

Ushakov said the summit would take place in a mutually-convenient third country and that several more weeks were needed for preparations. (Read more from “Moscow and Washington Strike Deal to Hold Putin-Trump Summit” HERE)

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India Among Top Five Friends, Beijing Moscow’s Top Ally: Russia Poll

By Times of India. Despite a significant cooling between traditional strategic partners Russia and India, India can still count itself as one of the top five “friends” of Russia. And for all the talk about Russia moving towards Pakistan, an annual opinion poll by one of Moscow’s most respected think tanks shows Pakistan does not yet cross Russian consciousness.

The Levada Centre, the only non-governmental pollster in Russia, and labelled a “foreign agent” by the Kremlin in 2016 is distinguished by the comprehensive Russian opinion polls they publish. In their latest 2017 poll, which came out in 2018, Russians identified Belarus as their country’s top ally, followed by China, Kazakhstan, Syria and India.

While Indians may feel reassured that the “druzhba-dosti” relationship remains intact, it is more important to note that China is seen as Russia’s top ally. At the government level, Russia in China’s embrace is a common sight, this poll makes it clear that this embrace has percolated to the popular level too. The declining ties between India and Russia received a fresh lease of life after an informal summit between Modi and Putin several weeks ago, where the two leaders spent a lot of quality time together to reaffirm strategic convergences.

Identifying the top enemies of Russia, the poll picks on the US, specifically Donald Trump for top spot, with Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Germany occupying the big ‘foes’ spaces. Afghanistan remains a designated enemy, though the Russian system is now reputed to be working closely with the Taliban. Interestingly, the average Russian identified radical Islamism and Islamic extremism as an important threat/enemy. They consider Trump, Ukraine, Europe, ISIS and radical Islam and corruption to be the greatest threats to Russia. (Read more from “India Among Top Five Friends, Beijing Moscow’s Top Ally: Russia Poll” HERE)

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When Obama Pressured Big Banks to Break the Law for Iran, They Resisted

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While the story was about yet another Obama administration Iran scandal in which Tehran’s American lobbyists-in-chief sought to make liquid $5.7 billion more dollars for the “moderate Rouhani regime”, for once in the tragedy there was an unlikely unsung hero.

American financial institutions, though often maligned, especially in the post-financial crisis world, serve a vital marketplace function. Just like all enterprises, they can be vehicles for good, such as raising capital to help businesses grow, and ill, such as engaging in fraudulent activities. On the negative side of the ledger, there is a sordid history of banks prioritizing profit over principle when it comes to doing business with evil regimes and sinister characters.

Perhaps the most sickening instance involves the conduct of Swiss banks before, during and after World War II. These institutions accepted Nazi deposits expropriated from Jews and refused for decades to acknowledge these holdings, let alone provide restitution to the families of those looted and often massacred by the German forces.

For those Jews who had smuggled their funds to Swiss banks in the hopes of protecting them from Nazi terror, the Swiss banks made it almost impossible for the victims or their relatives to claim their assets after the war. The Swiss institutions – which further did substantial business with the Nazis throughout the war – only began to face justice some 50 years later following substantial pressure from federal and state governments as well as a series of class action lawsuits.

Less egregious examples abound of banks transacting with tin-pot dictators and crime syndicates. In the case of the Iran deal, many European businesses, including financial institutions, continue to fight tooth and nail to do business with an IRGC-controlled economy, overseen by the Khomeinist regime, which is the world’s leading state sponsor of jihad. These firms and supportive governments are steadfast in their desire to do business that will in whole or in part redound to the benefit of the terrorist-backing, tyrannical revolution-exporting regime, even with America out of the pact. (Read more from “When Obama Pressured Big Banks to Break the Law for Iran, They Resisted” HERE)

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New Model Predicts That We’re Probably the Only Advanced Civilization in the Observable Universe

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The Fermi Paradox remains a stumbling block when it comes to the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI). Named in honor of the famed physicist Enrico Fermi who first proposed it, this paradox addresses the apparent disparity between the expected probability that intelligent life is plentiful in the universe, and the apparent lack of evidence of extra-terrestrial intelligence (ETI).

In the decades since Enrico Fermi first posed the question that encapsulates this paradox (“Where is everybody?”), scientists have attempted to explain this disparity one way or another. But in a new study conducted by three famed scholars from the Future of Humanity Institute (FHI) at Oxford University, the paradox is reevaluated in such a way that it makes it seem likely that humanity is alone in the observable universe.

The study, titled “Dissolving the Fermi Paradox”, recently appeared online. The study was jointly-conducted by Anders Sanberg, a Research Fellow at the Future of Humanity Institute and a Martin Senior Fellow at Oxford University; Eric Drexler, the famed engineer who popularized the concept of nanotechnology; and Tod Ord, the famous Australian moral philosopher at Oxford University.

For the sake of their study, the team took a fresh look at the Drake Equation, the famous equation proposed by astronomer Dr. Frank Drake in the 1960s. Based on hypothetical values for a number of factors, this equation has traditionally been used to demonstrate that – even if the amount of life developing at any given site is small – the sheer multitude of possible sites should yield a large number of potentially observable civilizations.

This equation states that the number of civilizations (N) in our galaxy that we might able to communicate can be determined by multiplying the average rate of star formation in our galaxy (R*), the fraction of those stars which have planets (fp), the number of planets that can actually support life (ne), the number of planets that will develop life (fl), the number of planets that will develop intelligent life (fi), the number civilizations that would develop transmission technologies (fc), and the length of time that these civilizations would have to transmit their signals into space (L). (Read more from “New Model Predicts That We’re Probably the Only Advanced Civilization in the Observable Universe” HERE)

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Collusion: Twitter CEO Found Sharing Russian Propaganda

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. . .Now, you can add “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to the list of cautionary tales that Twitter is emulating. Even after the company claimed to be on a crusade against so-called “trolls” and inaccurate news sources, it’s CEO was just revealed to be spreading the same “fake news” he pretends to be against.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey shared over a dozen tweets around the time of the presidential election which originated from an account that investigators now know to be part of a Russian trolling operation.

Dorsey “between late 2016 and mid-2017 shared at least 17 tweets from a Russian troll who went by Crystal1Johnson on Twitter, the Journal’s analysis found,” the respected newspaper stated.

“The tweets from the Russian account that Mr. Dorsey shared touched on topics including Bob Marley’s son converting a prison into a place to grow marijuana and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who first sparked the anthem controversy to make a statement on the treatment of African-Americans in the U.S.,” The Wall Street Journal continued.

While Dorsey did not originate the “fake news” tweets, he willingly shared them, despite the fact that they were from unconfirmed news sources known to be connected to the Internet Research Agency, a Russian propaganda effort. (Read more from “Twitter CEO Found Sharing Russian Propaganda” HERE)

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