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Suicide attack thwarted in Kabul, 14-year-old would-be bomber arrested
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Clinton's Swiss Ally Gave Big Bucks To U.S. Campaigns
[Daily Caller] Hansjorg Wyss, a billionaire Swiss citizen and multi-million dollar Clinton Foundation donor, gave 30 contributions to American political campaigns over a nine-year period, according to an investigation by The Daily Caller News Foundation.

Federal law has imposed a strict, across-the-board ban since 1966 on foreign nationals giving to U.S. political campaigns. The ban was later included in the 1974 Federal Election Campaign Act. The only exception is for foreign nationals who possess a green card. The ban applies to all levels of political campaigns.

Wyss donated $41,000 to seven congressional candidates and to four national political action committees from 1998 to 2003, according to Federal Election Commission records under the name of Hansjorg Wyss.

Colorado campaign finance records also report that Wyss gave $50,000 to Coloradans for Responsible Growth in March 2000, a statewide environmental political action committee that closed its doors only two years later, in part because it reportedly never filed the required financial statements.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/29/2016 03:39 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Federal law has imposed a strict, across-the-board ban since 1966 on foreign nationals giving to U.S. political campaigns. The ban was later included in the 1974 Federal Election Campaign Act. The only exception is for foreign nationals who possess a green card. The ban applies to all levels of political campaigns.

Expect that 'if' Trump gets the nomination, that will be enforced like the rest of the laws governing illegal immigration.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/29/2016 5:05 Comments || Top||

#2  Colorado campaign finance records also report that Wyss gave $50,000 to Coloradans for Responsible Growth in March 2000, a statewide environmental political action committee that closed its doors only two years later, in part because it reportedly never filed the required financial statements.

So no one knows where the money ACTUALLY ended up. The follow-up IRS investigation will surely shed some light.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/29/2016 7:14 Comments || Top||

#3  Renovations of the Wynkoop brewery lower downtown Denver.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/29/2016 8:43 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Genetically modified potato likely to be released this year
I see a potential movie right there in the title...
[Dhaka Tribune] The government plans to release genetically modified (GM) potato, reportedly capable of resisting late blight disease, during the upcoming season.
Our story opens in the laboratory of the famous scientist, Doctor Rafiqul Islam...
"We are planning to apply for the approval for releasing one variety of GM potato at the end of this year," said Rafiqul Islam Mondol, director general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).
"There's really nothing to worry about. Not much, anyway. We've spliced in genes from the sperm whale give a larger yield, and the pit bull to make the potato less likely to succumb to disease..."
BARI has developed GM potatoes by inserting pest and weather-resistant gene in two local potato varieties -- Cardinal and Diamond.
"We had to rearrange a bit of DNA, but we got everything to fit..."
"Of the two, we are planning to release only the Diamond variety at the field level this year as we are satisfied with the results," said Rafiqul.
"We still have a few concerns about the Cardinal variety."
Late blight is one of the major diseases that damages potato plants and also its production. A resistance gene named Solanum bulbocastanum found in a wild potato variety in Latin American has been used to develop the genetically modified potato varieties in Bangladesh.
"What kind of concerns, Doctor?"
"Well, chiefly its size."
"How big is it?"
"One's thirty-two stories tall. The other is a little bigger."
"That's a lot of French fries!"

BARI has cultivated the varieties at its six research centres in Rangpur, Gazipur, Jessore, Bogra, Comilla and Hathazari.
"The Cardinal variety was being tested at the Bogra facility, but we don't know how the tests came out."
"Why's that?"
"We haven't been able to contact the facility for the past two weeks."

Rafiqul said: "We will send the necessary documents seeking the approval within the next two to three months to the National Bio-safety Committee under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The variety will be released to the farmers."
"Really, nothing could go wrong. Not much, anyway..."
The government has been trying to develop GM potato varieties since 2006 from American potato variety transgenic Katahdin SP 951 developed by Colonel University.
"Try and hold it!... [THRASH! THRASH!]... It's getting away! Shoot, for the love of Allen! Shoot it!"
"Where are a potato's vitals?"
"I don't know! Aim for the eyes!"

Initially, more than 300 clones of Cardinal and Diamond varieties were developed in an Indonesian laboratory, and confined trials have been being run for the last three seasons.
"My Gawd, doctor! The whole herd has broken out!"
Of them, only six clones were selected for the final trial.
"Yes! The others got away! Call out the air force!"
Posted by: Fred || 02/29/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Excellent inline commentary! This one would be a natural "Best Picture"
Posted by: Nguard || 02/29/2016 0:38 Comments || Top||

#2  In lines based on every science fiction/horror film of the 1950s ever made, I s'pect.
Posted by: badanov || 02/29/2016 0:44 Comments || Top||

#3  The movie's already been made:
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/29/2016 0:50 Comments || Top||

#4  Ever seen a wild type, non-modified potato?

Nope. Almost nobody has. Or a wild type tomato. Or corn. Or a wild boar. Or cattle (aurochs went extinct in the 1600's, I believe). Or a jungle fowl vs a chicken.

It's a measure of how poorly educated a lot of college grads are that they don't know that almost every type of domesticated food plant is genetically modified.

It's called hybridization.


Posted by: no mo uro || 02/29/2016 6:05 Comments || Top||

#5  These sexual lovers of science
Insist that we place our reliance
On hissy splenetics
Instead of genetics
Or presence of giant appliance.
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 02/29/2016 6:15 Comments || Top||

#6  I was going to ask if it had served its full sentence or been released early for good behavior, but the provided snark was better.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 02/29/2016 7:33 Comments || Top||

#7  There was an old Dilbert bit about this kind of thing. Scott Adams didn't like the way it turned out so the vegetables were offed by Dogbert with a Salad Shooter that turned them all into cole slaw.

8^)
Posted by: AlanC || 02/29/2016 7:53 Comments || Top||

#8  I believe it was the Inca who tamed the potato. It is, as is the tomato, a member of the nightshade family.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 02/29/2016 8:25 Comments || Top||

#9  Rob my man, Fred's movie wasn't released, it escaped.
Posted by: Shipman || 02/29/2016 8:51 Comments || Top||

#10  "Don't make it ANGRY!"
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/29/2016 8:57 Comments || Top||

#11  This isn't a case of Dora the Explorer where Bennie the Bull managed to turn himself into a Potato is it?

Excellent inline - a 'Classic' for sure.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/29/2016 10:44 Comments || Top||

#12  FEED ME SEYMOUR!!!
FEED ME NOW!!!!!
feed me........
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/29/2016 11:13 Comments || Top||

#13  Do not taunt the potato! You guys are putting us all at risk!
Posted by: Dar || 02/29/2016 11:47 Comments || Top||

#14  Quick, fire up the T.V! In no time it'll become a couch potato!
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/29/2016 11:49 Comments || Top||

#15  How should we kill it? Potato gun?
Posted by: gorb || 02/29/2016 12:03 Comments || Top||

#16  Tell the boss we need the SHUTTER GUN! Now all we have to do is get it to the brickyard at 3am!
Posted by: Pliny Glons2836 || 02/29/2016 14:07 Comments || Top||

#17  Unleash the Cuisinart of Doom!

We'll have potato chips for the next year!
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/29/2016 16:06 Comments || Top||

#18  Fantastic in-lining.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/29/2016 16:25 Comments || Top||

#19  I foresee great possibilities for my spec script, "The Hunt for Red Octuber".
Posted by: SteveS || 02/29/2016 16:34 Comments || Top||

#20  Go to your room, Steve.
Posted by: Pappy || 02/29/2016 17:21 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
National power grid nearing collapse in Venezuela
[ELUNIVERSAL] Power rationing is not new for Venezuelans. Over the past fifteen years there have been some crises, such as that of 2009-2010, that have forced Venezuelans to adapt their lifestyle to power outages. What is new, however, is the seriousness of the current situation which, according to some experts, is expected to get worse over the next two months if the necessary measures are not taken immediately.

To major general Luis Alfredo Motta Domínguez, the Minister of Electricity and President of the National Electricity Corporation (Corpoelec) - a state-owned holding company created in 2007 to consolidate the power sector - the current crisis is a one-off problem due to the extensive drought associated with the recurring weather phenomenon commonly known as El Niño, which has caused water levels in the Central Hidroeléctrica Simón Bolívar (aka the Guri Dam) to drop to record-low levels.

It is worth noting that that the Guri Dam (with an installed capacity of 10,000 MW), located in Bolivar state, is the largest reservoir in Venezuela. Some 60% of all electrical power generated in Venezuela originates in the Guri dam and the other hydroelectric plants built across the Lower Caroní River, namely: Caruachi (2,200 MW) and Macagua (2,200 MW).
Posted by: Fred || 02/29/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  So we should be seeing cracks, shifts and settling of the ground surrounding the water basin due to the 'drought'?
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/29/2016 9:01 Comments || Top||

#2  Um, how many turbines are down due to laka maintence? El Niño, again? No, wait, the empire is stealing our 'lecktricty! They come at night to Puerto Cabello and load it from secret wires they placed for just this eventuality during the despicable reign of the ogliarchs during the 4th Republic.
Posted by: Shipman || 02/29/2016 9:04 Comments || Top||

#3  ...a state-owned holding company created in 2007 to consolidate the power sector

Nope, that can't be the problem...
Posted by: Raj || 02/29/2016 11:59 Comments || Top||

#4  Guri Dam took them 23 years to construct and bring on line (final power generation station completed in '86).

Only took them 20 years to 'pootch' it.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 02/29/2016 13:46 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
China central bank resumes easing cycle to cushion reform pain
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/29/2016 10:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


China expects to lay off 1.8 million workers in coal, steel sectors
China expects to lay off 1.8 million workers in the coal and steel sectors as part of its efforts to reduce industrial overcapacity, an official at the human resources and social security ministry said on Monday.

Yin Weimin, minister of human resources and social security, said capacity cuts will lead to some layoffs in 2016, but added that he was confident of keeping employment stable this year despite downward pressure on the economy.

No timeframe was given for the 1.8 million figure cited.

China aims to remove around 500 million tonnes of coal production capacity within the next three to five years and halt approvals of all new projects.
Posted by: gorb || 02/29/2016 01:02 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Won't that also reduce the 'black lung' claims?
Disability RIFs are very popular here.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/29/2016 8:48 Comments || Top||

#2  I suspect just sucking in the air in Beijing some days could potentially lead to black lung disease.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/29/2016 8:58 Comments || Top||

#3  They should build 24 Iowas and put triple plates of armour on them. And heavy weight photon torpedoes and be fitted for, if not with, rods from gawd. Make it submusivul too, with hovering capability.
Posted by: Shipman || 02/29/2016 9:15 Comments || Top||

#4  I think they opted for building just plain islands to fit out with all the bobbles and tweaks their spies and hackers can pick up from American defense contractors (not to be confused with tech they get the White House just to turn over).
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/29/2016 9:23 Comments || Top||

#5  Tis a shame. All that Potemkin gone to waste.
Posted by: JHH || 02/29/2016 13:46 Comments || Top||

#6  This is news from last year, + yes the CCP/CPC in Beijing is deeply worried about its effect on national + econ stability.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/29/2016 21:06 Comments || Top||


Economy
Barclays disinvestnment from Absa coming tomorrow, Zim and Egypt likely to follow
[Biznews.com] Two days after Nenegate, we reported that the UK’s largest retail bank Barclays Plc had decided to offload its R120bn South African subsidiary Absa. That marked a significant reversal in a strategy which has seen SA’s largest retail bank progressively change its image -- with the Absa red and name progressively giving way to Barclays blue -- including the listed company whose name was changed to Barclays Africa. But according to the Financial Times of London, the new Barclays management team has gone through the motions over the past three months and is set to confirm the biggest disinvestment in South Africa since the spate that hit the country during the mid 1980s. Sceptics are concerned that the Barclays sale will spark a similar exodus.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/29/2016 03:07 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  A pseudovector, or a circling of the drain. Something akin to what we've seen in Detroit.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/29/2016 3:24 Comments || Top||

#2  Wonder if the ANC will complain to the UN?
Posted by: Pappy || 02/29/2016 12:34 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Benghazi Heroes Endorse Donald Trump
[Breitbart] Mark "Oz" Geist and John "TIG" Tiegen, two members of the security team that helped rescue dozens of Americans during the Benghazi terror attacks, have endorsed Donald Trump for president.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/29/2016 02:50 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "But Paw he's a crook. He's crookeder than a hound dawg's hind leg!". "Yep [spit] but he's our crook."
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/29/2016 3:34 Comments || Top||

#2  ..it's about power. Seems some people are finally figuring that out as the oligarchy has toss them over the side in place of the 'favored'.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/29/2016 5:03 Comments || Top||

#3  LOL G! When did you live in the South?
Posted by: Shipman || 02/29/2016 9:18 Comments || Top||

#4  What about Amb. Stevens wife?
Posted by: regular joe || 02/29/2016 9:51 Comments || Top||

#5  LOL G! When did you live in the South?

Just plagiarizing.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/29/2016 10:23 Comments || Top||

#6  South wing of the library.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/29/2016 20:58 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Hizbullah Supporters Block Roads to Protest Nasrallah Comedy Sketch
[An Nahar] A group of Hizbullah
...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory...
supporters erupted into the streets late on Saturday, burning tires and blocking roads around Beirut and east Leb to protest a short comedy TV program impersonating the party chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...
.

On Saturday evening, a group of young men gathered in Msharrafieh in Beirut's southern suburbs and moves escalated afterward to burning tires and blocking roads in several areas including al-Saadiyat, Choueifat , Airport road, Spears, Bekaa, Baalbek, Brital and Douris.

They protested a short comedy sketch that was broadcast on a Saudi-owned TV station, MBC, which impersonated their leader.

The army issued a statement late on Saturday, reassuring that the situation was controlled and that it had set up checkpoints and deployed troops to several areas around Beirut to contain the protests.

On Sunday, several roads were also blocked in various regions before being reopened by security forces.

During the day, protesters blocked the Taalbaya-Chtaura road in the Bekaa and the Choueifat-Kfarshima and Choueifat-Khalde roads outside the capital. And in the evening they blocked the Mar Mikhail Church-Shiyyah-Hazmieh road in Beirut's suburbs and security forces were trying to reopen it.
Posted by: Fred || 02/29/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah

#1  "Live from Beirut, it's Saturday night!"
Posted by: Grunter || 02/29/2016 8:08 Comments || Top||

#2  "That's not funny!"
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/29/2016 8:50 Comments || Top||

#3  This is going to be a good day, glad I am off.
Posted by: Shipman || 02/29/2016 9:19 Comments || Top||

#4  "The voice from under the bed."
Posted by: Pappy || 02/29/2016 12:39 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
22[untagged]
8Islamic State
7Taliban
3Govt of Pakistan
3Govt of Iran
2Hezbollah
2Govt of Saudi Arabia
2al-Qaeda in North Africa
1Houthis
1Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh
1Palestinian Authority
1TTP
1al-Shabaab
1Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (IS)
1Ansarullah Bangla Team
1Commies
1Govt of Syria
1Hamas
1Haqqani Network

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Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

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
Mon 2016-02-29
  Suicide attack thwarted in Kabul, 14-year-old would-be bomber arrested
Sun 2016-02-28
  Soddys intercept Iranian arms shipment to Yemen
Sat 2016-02-27
  Another suspected ISIS chemical weapons attack investigated in Kurdistan Region
Fri 2016-02-26
  Pakistan Starts ’Last Phase’ of anti-Militants Offensive
Thu 2016-02-25
  ISIS Fighters Claim Pakistan Funded Them
Wed 2016-02-24
  Iraqi koppers round up 35 in Babylon
Tue 2016-02-23
  US drone strike leaves 3 militants dead along Durand Line
Mon 2016-02-22
  Three Terrorist Attacks Target Sayyeda Zeinab Area in Rural Damascus, Kill 50
Sun 2016-02-21
  46 dead in Homs bomb attack
Sat 2016-02-20
  Saudi halts $3 bn in aid to Lebanon army
Fri 2016-02-19
  Foreigners among 24 terrorists killed in Badakhshan
Thu 2016-02-18
  Freed Gitmo detainee, ex-bin Laden aide returns to former career
Wed 2016-02-17
  44 Daesh militants killed in Nangarhar's Achin District
Tue 2016-02-16
  British Sniper Decapitates ISIS Executioner
Mon 2016-02-15
  Taliban confirm losing 13 fighters in Paktika drone strikes


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