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Philippine airstrikes target ISIS-linked militants near Marawi
Today's Headlines
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 3: Non-WoT
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4 21:12 Betty Hatfield5124 [2]
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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Afghanistan
Ghani and Hekmatyar hold talks regarding ceasefire with the Taliban
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. ..
met with the leader of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
... who used to be known in intelligence circles as The Most Evil Man in the World but who now seems merely run-of-the-mill evil...
on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and held talks regarding the ceasefire with the Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
group.

The Office of the President, ARG Palace, said President Ghani visited the residence of Hekamtyar before noon time today to greet him on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.

According to ARG Palace, the leader of Hezb-e-Islami thanked President Ghani and the other government officials for the visit and hailed President Ghani for his ceasefire initiative.

Hekmatyar further added that peace is the demand of the Afghan people as he declared full support to peace efforts and the ceasefire announced by the government.

President Ghani said the three days of ceasefire proved that peace has changed into an overall consensus as he emphasized that consultations with different political parties and sects will continue.

Posted by: Fred || 06/19/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Hizb-i-Islami-Hekmatyar


Taliban ceasefire selfies spark anger among the group’s leadership
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The selfie pictures taken by the Talibs during the ceasefire period have apparently sparked anger among the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
group leadership.

A senior Taliban Überstürmbannführer informed regarding the growing anger among the Taliban leadership over the selfie pictures the group’s fighters have taken with the security forces, government officials, and ordinary civilians.

"Last night, an emergency meeting was called and all the commanders were informed and directed to take strict disciplinary action against all those Taliban members who visited citizens and took pictures with the Afghan authorities," a senior unnamed Taliban official told Rooters.

The source further added that Pakistain had wanted the Taliban to include U.S. and other foreign troops in the cease-fire, but the Taliban leader did not agree.

This comes as the Taliban in a statement said late on Sunday that the fighters of the group will continue to their attacks on Afghan and foreign forces as well as against the government.

The group has refrained from extending the ceasefire despite the Afghan government announced late on Sunday that the ceasefire with the Taliban has been extended for another ten days.

Posted by: Fred || 06/19/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Arabia
UAE’s Gargash says total control of Yemen’s Hodeidah a ‘matter of time’
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Monday that it was "just a matter of time" before the complete liberation of Yemen's port city of Hodeidah.

The UAE is part of an Arab coalition which is fighting alongside legitimate Yemeni forces against the Houthi
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ...
militia.

Since Wednesday, the coalition has been fighting to retake Hodeidah from the militia.

"The Arab Coalition is militarily advancing with caution, to avoid civilians in Hodeidah," Gargash said.

"All routes leading to Hodeidah Port are planted with Houthi mines, we appreciate La Belle France's announcement that it will help de-mining efforts in Hodeidah.

"The liberation of Hodeidah is key to liberating Sanaa.

"Militias obstructing access of relief ships to Hodeidah Port, which is a major lifeline for Houthis being supplied with heavy arms from Iran.

"We have opened the road from Hodeidah to Sanaa for Houthi militias to exit without resistance," Gargash added.

The UN Security Council will hold a closed session on Monday to discuss developments in Yemen.

Martin Griffiths, the UN special envoy to Yemen, will attend the meeting to inform the council members of the details of his comprehensive plan for peace in Yemen.

"Yemen’s UN envoy is working on the Houthis’ last chance to withdraw from Hodeidah and Sanaa," Gargash said.

Posted by: Fred || 06/19/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Houthis

#1  "Leave now, or stay and Die"
Posted by: Frank G || 06/19/2018 13:05 Comments || Top||


Houthis trying to cover losses through false propaganda
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Spokesman for the Coalition fighting to support legitimacy in Yemen, Col. Turki al-Malki, said on Monday that the Houthi
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ...
militias are trying to cover their losses through false propaganda, especially in connection with the battle to liberate Hodeidah city, stressing that the militias received heavy blows on the fronts of Saada and Hodeidah.

During a presser on Monday that the UN envoy to Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...
Martin Griffiths has been trying to persuade the Houthis to hand over the port of Hodeidah but that the bully boyz have ignored the request.

The front man stressed that the "the liberation of the city of Hodeidah and its harbor is an inherent right of the Yemeni government based on international laws and in accordance with resolution 2216," adding that the liberation of Hodeidah will lead to the "cutting off Iranian hands", which will stop the smuggling of Iranian weapons to the Houthis.

Malki revealed that the Yemeni armed forces were "on the verge of regaining full control over Hodeidah airport.

The coalition also confirmed that humanitarian aid continues to enter Hodeidah and all areas despite the hostilities while adding that they continues to give maritime, land and air permits for aid to enter Yemen.

Posted by: Fred || 06/19/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Houthis

#1  "It's just a flesh wound!"
Posted by: Raj || 06/19/2018 0:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Kinda like the democrats
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/19/2018 9:07 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Why Erdogan is entering key elections with a far-right ally
[Al Jazeera] On the streets of The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the decaying remnant of the Ottoman Empire....
's largest city, enthusiastic supporters of Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First
... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey...
are hard at work to ensure a win both for the Ottoman Turkish president and his party's bloc on the June 24 polls.

Confident of a victory in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary races, they can be found in almost every square of the Istanbul metropolis, handing leaflets to passers-by and urging them to vote for the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) 64-year-old leader.

"We will make Erdogan the executive president," volunteer Mehmet Kara says passionately, using the word "baskan", the term Turks use for presidents in the United States.

"He is the best thing that happened to this country and we are working to achieve that," adds the 25-year-old, his voice gradually drowned out by loud music as other banner-waving supporters nearby break into AK Party campaign songs.

Turkey's presidential office will be significantly empowered following Sunday's snap polls, which, for the first time in Ottoman Turkish history, are scheduled to take place on the same day as the general elections.

Erdogan, hoping to keep his seat with increased powers, has entered the race in the face of a depreciating lira, straining relations with the West and criticism from rights groups over, what they say, the deterioration of the human rights
When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much...
and the rule of law in the country.

Posted by: Fred || 06/19/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


India-Pakistan
India to resume strikes on militants in held Kashmir
[DAWN] India said on Sunday it was resuming military operations against rebels in held Kashmire after a rare 30-day suspension for Ramazan expired, with a top minister blaming holy warrior attacks.

Army operations were halted on May 16 at the start of the fasting month, despite a months-long escalation of violence in the Moslem-majority Himalayan region.

Troops would stop the pursuit of turbans and door-to-door house searches but would still retaliate if attacked, officials said at the time.

Posted by: Fred || 06/19/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Abbas aide slams reported US plan to raise funds for Gaza
[IsraelTimes] Top PA official says Trump administration efforts aim to further separate Paleostinians in West Bank from those in Hamas, the well-beloved offspring of the Moslem Brotherhood,-run enclave

A senior Paleostinian official on Monday condemned reported US plans to secure Gulf funding for major energy and economic projects aimed at improving the humanitarian situation in the impoverished Gazoo Strip.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, an aide to Paleostinian Authority President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/19/2018 00:30 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


Israel’s Netanyahu meets King Abdullah in Jordan for rare talks
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held rare talks with King Abdullah II of Jordan during an unannounced visit to Amman on Monday, official sources in the two countries said.

The two leaders discussed the stalled grinding of the peace processor between Israel and the Paleostinians, the Jordanian royal court said in a statement.

Jordan and Egypt are the only Arab countries to have peace treaties with Israel, and Monday’s visit was Netanyahu’s first to the kingdom since 2014.

"The king and the prime minister discussed regional developments as well as advancing the grinding of the peace processor and bilateral relations," the Israeli leader’s front man Ofir Gendelman tweeted.

Posted by: Fred || 06/19/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Likely a 'pre-airspace violation' courtesy visit.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/19/2018 4:02 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran executes Sufi man over deadly Tehran bus-ramming
[Al Jazeera] A member of a Sufi order has been hanged in Iran over a bus-ramming incident that killed three coppers and two security force members during protests in February in Tehran.

The man, identified by the Tasnim news agency as Mohammad Salas, received the death sentence in March and was executed at a "correction facility" on Monday.

Salas is a member of the Gonabadi Dervish group, which has been protesting in the Iranian capital against alleged religious repression by the government, and the reported threat of arrest of its leader, the 90-year-old Noor Ali Tabandeh.

Salas reportedly drove the bus that ran over the officers, as they tried to contain the protests in the Pasdaran district of Tehran.

At least 30 other coppers were maimed in the incident, according to Tasnim.

The incident in February was partly captured on video and circulated widely online.

The death sentence was criticised on social media in recent days, with many saying the 51-year-old had not received a fair trial.

In a statement on Monday, Amnesia Amnesty International said it was "shocked and saddened" at the news of Salas' execution.

Media reports said that Salas had filed a confession after his arrest, but he later retracted it and said that he had confessed under duress.

In an audio statement released by Salas' lawyer, Salas was quoted as saying, "I cannot even kill an ant," according to a report by the group, Iran Human Rights Monitor.

The Center for Human Rights in Iran also quoted Salas as saying that his "conscience is clear".

Witnesses apparently said that someone else was behind the wheel of the bus.

An appeal filed by Salas' lawyer was rejected.

At least 300 members of the Gonabadi Dervish group were also enjugged
I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece!
at the protests.

In January, at least 10 members of the group were imprisoned in southern Fars province. Other followers are reportedly held at Tehran's Evin Prison.

The Gonabadi Dervish followers are Shia Moslems, like the majority of Iranians, but they follow a mystical path and do not obey the country's official religious leaders.

This has created tensions between the group and Iran's conservative leadership.

According to the Center for Human Rights in Iran, the Sufi Moslems are viewed as a threat to mainstream Shia Islam in the country, and its religious establishment frowns upon conversions.

For centuries, however, Iran has allowed other major religions - such as Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism - to exist in the country.

Posted by: Fred || 06/19/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Give a Sufi a bad name and hang him.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 06/19/2018 0:14 Comments || Top||

#2  Salas is a member of the Gonabadi Dervish group, who apparently aren't used to whirling in public.

Salas reportedly drove the bus that ran over the officers, as they tried to contain the protests in the Pasdaran district of Tehran.


Witnesses apparently said that someone else was behind the wheel of the bus
, including, oddly enough, Michael Brown's friend, who happened to be in the neighborhood at the time.

...For centuries, however, Iran has allowed other major religions - such as Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism - to exist in the country. Up until recently, of course, when they've all been killed.



Posted by: Fairbanks || 06/19/2018 4:41 Comments || Top||

#3  In a statement on Monday, Amnesia Amnesty International said it was "shocked and saddened" at the news of Salas' execution.

Then they adjourned for cocktails and a 7 course meal. After which, they said "Salas who?"
Posted by: Frank G || 06/19/2018 9:00 Comments || Top||

#4  A Whirling Dervish?
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/19/2018 9:09 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
32[untagged]
6Islamic State
3Hamas
3Govt of Iran
3Houthis
3Taliban
2Commies
2al-Shabaab (AQ)
2Sublime Porte
1Hizb-i-Islami-Hekmatyar
1Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats
1TTP
1Govt of Pakistain Proxies
1Govt of Iran Proxies
1Govt of Saudi Arabia
1Arab Spring

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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2018-06-19
  Philippine airstrikes target ISIS-linked militants near Marawi
Mon 2018-06-18
  Houthis say Saudi-led forces bogged down outside Hudaydah
Sun 2018-06-17
  Israeli Air Force Attacks 'Leader of Gaza Cell Behind Burning Kites'
Sat 2018-06-16
  Kurdish-led forces claim 15 Turkish soldiers, rebels killed in Afrin
Fri 2018-06-15
  US claim drone strike kills Mullah Fazlullah
Thu 2018-06-14
  Taliban supreme leader offers direct negotiations with the United States
Wed 2018-06-13
  ISIS corpses litter Euphrates after Syrian Army wipes out terrorists trying to cross
Tue 2018-06-12
  34 militants killed in NDS Special Forces operation in Nangarhar
Mon 2018-06-11
  Austria Is Shutting Down Mosques And Ejecting Imams
Sun 2018-06-10
  Wasserman Schultz Refuses To Respond To Accusations She Attempted To Shut Down Awan Probe
Sat 2018-06-09
  Iran Facilitated Passage Of 9/11 Attackers, Iranian Politician Says
Fri 2018-06-08
  German-Jewish teen found raped, murdered; Turkish refugee suspect arrested, Iraqi refugee suspect fled to Iraq
Thu 2018-06-07
  Syria opens Homs-Hama highway after near 7-year closure due to war
Wed 2018-06-06
  Shin Bet says it thwarted plot to assassinate prime minister, Jerusalem mayor
Tue 2018-06-05
  Teenager, Linked to ISIS, Guilty of Plotting Attack on London Museum

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