From the Trenches World Report

RT

The Iraqi unit targeted on Sunday in a chemical weapons attack in Mosul was hosting embedded foreign military specialists, according to officials and media reports. American and Australian troops were unharmed by the toxic agent used by Islamic State.

The attack in western Mosul was the second in two days. According to CBS News, 25 people required medical treatment in the aftermath, which is significantly larger than the figure voiced earlier by Iraqi officials. Earlier reports said six soldiers were sent to a field hospital after having breathing problems.   Continue reading “US, Aussie advisers caught in ISIS chemical attack against Iraqi troops in Mosul”

Mail.com

YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) — From the wind-swept deck of a massive aircraft carrier, Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday warned North Korea not to test the resolve of the U.S. military, promising it would make an “overwhelming and effective” response to any use of conventional or nuclear weapons.

Pence, dressed in a green military jacket, said aboard the hulking USS Ronald Reagan that President Donald Trump’s administration would continue to “work diligently” with allies like Japan, China and other global powers to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang. But he told the sailors, “as all of you know, readiness is the key.”   Continue reading “US VP Pence warns North Korea: ‘The sword stands ready’”

Mail.com

BEIRUT (AP) — The evacuation of thousands of Syrians from four besieged areas resumed Wednesday, state media and activists said, days after a bombing killed more than 120 evacuees and delayed the widely criticized population transfer.

The Central Military Media says 3,000 residents of two pro-government villages, Foua and Kfarya, left Wednesday in 45 buses bound for government-controlled Aleppo. Another 11 buses carrying some 500 people, including opposition fighters, left Madaya and Zabadani, near Damascus, heading toward the northern rebel-held Idlib province.   Continue reading “Syria resumes reciprocal evacuations after deadly bombing”

Bloomberg – by Josh Eidelson

Facebook Inc. said it won’t punish employees who take time off to join pro-immigrant protests on May 1. And, in a nod to security staff, janitors, shuttle-bus drivers and others who work for Facebook contractors on campus, the company also said it will investigate if any of its vendors illegally crack down on their employees’ protest rights.

“At Facebook, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where employees feel comfortable expressing their opinions and speaking up,” a spokesman wrote in an emailed statement. “We support our people in recognizing International Workers’ Day and other efforts to raise awareness for safe and equitable employment conditions.”   Continue reading “Facebook Gives Staff Green Light to Join May 1 Political Protests”

Anti-Media – by James Holbrooks

Highlighting the phenomenon of the “rally effect” — the surge in popular support presidents can receive in times of geopolitical crisis — one media outlet just drew attention to the fact that Donald Trump is seeing a bump in his approval ratings since his recent flexing of military muscle.

Writing for Quartz on Monday, Annalisa Merelli points out that as of April 18, after killing scores of civilians via airstrikes in Syria and dropping the “mother of all bombs” in Afghanistan, Trump’s approval rating in polls has gone up around five points compared to the end of March.   Continue reading “Trump’s Poll Numbers Rise for Every Bomb He Drops”

Free Thought Project – by Justin Gardner

In May 2004, one year after the U.S. commenced a full-scale invasion of Iraq, the New York Times issued a half-baked apology for its abysmal coverage of the “intelligence” used to convince America that Iraq was a threat.

“Looking back, we wish we had been more aggressive in re-examining the claims as new evidence emerged — or failed to emerge,” wrote the NYT editors. They also lamented their dependence on Iraqi defectors who made spurious claims to further the goal of regime change.   Continue reading “Govt & Media Doing Exact Same Thing It Did To Start Iraq War, And Americans are Buying It”

Reuters

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush has been readmitted to a Houston hospital for treatment of a mild case of pneumonia, his second bout of that respiratory illness in three months, but “is going to be fine,” his spokesman said on Tuesday.

Family spokesman Jim McGrath said the 92-year-old former president was hospitalized on Friday “for observation due to a persistent cough that prevented him from getting proper rest.”   Continue reading “Former President George H.W. Bush hospitalized in Houston”

Breitbart – by Cartel Chronicles

MATAMOROS, Tamaulipas — A series of recent gun battles and executions in this border city and in Rio Bravo led to nearly a dozen deaths as clashes with military forces and internal turmoil within the Gulf Cartel is reaching a boiling point.

The violence began last week in the Buena Vista neighborhood of Matamoros when cartel gunmen clashed with military and police forces. As usual, the fighting led to blockades, where cartel gunmen hijacked various vehicles to choke chances of police pursuit down main avenues. In Rio Bravo, troops killed several  gunmen throughout the city.   Continue reading “Cartel Violence Kills 10 near Texas Border”

Redoubt News – by Marjorie Haun

In another instance, SA Dan Love was with another agent in the Provo, Utah, apartment of Jamaica Redd Lyman, along with Dr. Redd’s widow, Jeanne, and two other daughters. During the course of their conversation, daughter, Jericca asked SA Love why he thought her father did what he did. SA Love responded coldly,  “I think he took one for the team.” Agent Love also told Jeanne and her daughters that he had read all of Dr. Redd’s private journals, and detailed many of the private thoughts and concerns Dr. Redd had for each of his children and his wife. SA Love even criticized the ‘poor penmanship’ of Dr. Redd. 

Continue reading “BLM Agent Dan Love: A cruel and unusual history”

Reuters

A gunman with an apparent dislike of white people and government killed three people in downtown Fresno, California, on Tuesday, before he was taken into custody while shouting “Allahu Akhbar,” police said.

The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Kori Ali Muhammad, was also wanted in connection with the fatal shooting last week of an unarmed security guard at a Motel 6 in Fresno, Police Chief Jerry Dyer told reporters at a press conference.   Continue reading “Three killed in Fresno, California, shooting spree, suspect arrested”

Vessel News – by Erich Schwartzel, Wall Street Journal

February’s premiere of “The Great Wall” showcased the calculated balance between two superpowers.

Matt Damon walked the red carpet with his Chinese co-star, Jing Tian. Director Zhang Yimou thanked co-producers Universal Pictures and China-owned Dalian Wanda Group Co. The afterparty had sweet-and-sour chicken.   Continue reading “Hollywood’s New Script: You Can’t Make Movies Without China”

Anti-Media – by Josey Wales

A vote on whether to approve a proposal that would allow familial DNA searching in certain criminal cases has been delayed by New York state’s Forensic Science Committee. The controversial proposal has been sent back to a special subcommittee to “tighten up the language.” If approved, the new policy would allow police to investigate family members of New Yorkers whose DNA closely matches DNA found at crime scenes.

Because familial searching has gotten little to no coverage in mainstream media, many people have no idea what it is — or that it’s already being used in California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Ohio.   Continue reading “The Most Controversial DNA Test You’ve Never Heard Of”

The Free Thought Project – by Matt Agorist

Saratoga, CA — The widow of an 86-year-old Navy veteran who was gunned down by armed intruders in his own home, has filed a lawsuit against her husband’s killers — the Santa Clara County sheriff’s department.

Eugene Craig was gunned down by police as he attempted to shield his wife from armed intruders who’d just broken into his home. The armed intruders were cops.  Continue reading “Cops Gun Down Innocent 86yo Navy Vet as He Protected His Wife from Intruders”

RT

School-issued computer devices – provided to one-third of school children across the US – collect excessive amounts of highly sensitive personal data on the students without parental consent or even prior notice, a new study finds.

Electronic devices distributed in US schools collect unprecedented amounts of personal data on children as young as five years old, according to a new report by Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), dubbed ‘Spying on Students’ – the result of a two-year study.  Continue reading “School-issued computers spy on children in US without parental consent – digital rights group”

RT

Top Israeli officials have vowed not to negotiate with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, adding that the death penalty would “prevent” imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti from staging the nationwide protest.

“They are terrorists and incarcerated murderers who are getting what they deserve and we have no reason to negotiate with them,” Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Army Radio on Tuesday, according to media reports.   Continue reading “‘Terrorists getting what they deserve’: Israel refuses to negotiate with Palestinian hunger strikers”

Daily Mail

Nurseries should teach toddlers about same-sex relationships and transgender lifestyles to reduce hate crime, say teachers.

The National Union of Teachers voted yesterday for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) matters to be taught to children aged two to four.   Continue reading “Give nursery children lessons about same-sex relationships”