ASIO investigating CCP members working within Australian embassy

Australia’s domestic security intelligence agency is investigating reports of members of the Chinese Communist Party working within Australia’s consulate in Shanghai in China.

The Australian newspaper reported revelations ASIO was launching an investigation into the claims, which said CCP members had been working in Shanghai embassies for years.

The report revealed evidence was uncovered which showed CCP members working in up to 10 consulates in Shanghai in a range of positions – including as clerks, advisors and assistants.

The investigation followed the leaking of a dossier showing 1.95 million members of the Communist Party and their links to big business in China, which concerned some areas of Australia’s security intelligence agencies.

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6216206841001

US formally blames 2 Iranian officers for abduction, likely death of retired FBI agent Robert Levinson

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated two senior officials of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), who were involved in the abduction of Robert A. “Bob” Levinson on Iran’s Kish Island on or about March 9, 2007. For 13 years, the Iranian government, which continues to take foreigners and dual-nationals hostage as political leverage, has denied knowledge of Levinson’s whereabouts or condition. However, senior Iranian officials authorized Levinson’s abduction and detention and launched a disinformation campaign to deflect blame from the Iranian regime. The individuals designated today, Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, acted in their capacity as MOIS officers in the abduction, detention, and probable death of Levinson.

“The abduction of Mr. Levinson in Iran is an outrageous example of the Iranian regime’s willingness to commit unjust acts,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “The United States will always prioritize the safety and security of the American people and will continue to aggressively pursue those who played a role in Mr. Levinson’s detention and probable death.”

“The government of Iran pledged to provide assistance in bringing Bob Levinson home, but it has never followed through. The truth is that Iranian intelligence officers —with the approval of senior Iranian officials — were involved in Bob’s abduction and detention,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “While no one should be as cruelly treated as Bob was, this situation is personal because Bob served as a special agent for 22 years and will always be a part of the FBI family. We will never waver from our commitment to find out more about Bob’s long captivity, to give the Levinson family the answers they deserve, and to finally bring Bob home.”

The MOIS has been designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13553 for being complicit in the commission of serious human rights abuses against the Iranian people since June 12, 2009, as well as previously designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to E.O. 13224.

Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai

Mohammad Baseri is a high-ranking MOIS officer involved in counterespionage activities in and outside of Iran, who has been involved in sensitive investigations related to Iranian national security issues. Baseri has worked directly with intelligence officials from other countries in order to harm U.S. interests. Ahmad Khazai is a high-ranking member of the MOIS who, in his role as a senior official of the MOIS, has led MOIS delegations to other countries to assess the security situation.

Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, acting in their capacity as MOIS officers, were involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of Mr. Levinson.

OFAC is designating Baseri and Khazai pursuant to E.O. 13553 for acting for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Iran’s MOIS.

https://breaking911.com/us-formally-blames-2-iranian-officers-for-abduction-likely-death-of-retired-fbi-agent-robert-levinson/

California Designates 55 Electoral Votes to Biden, Pushing Him Over 270 Vote Threshold

It takes 270 electoral votes of the available 538 to become the US president. According to media projections made soon after the 3 November Election Day, Biden secured a total of 306 electoral votes, while the incumbent president Donald Trump received 232.

The US state of California on Monday cast its 55 electoral votes - the campaign's largest prize - in favour of the Democratic candidate Joe Biden, pushing him over a threshold that is required to become the US president.

As of now, Biden has 302 electoral votes, while Trump received 232, after the electors of 49 states and the District of Columbia completed their Electoral College meetings with no “faithless” votes recorded that would deviate from public endorsements.

Only one state, Hawaii, remains to cast ballots later in the day, expected to add four points to Biden's tally.

https://sputniknews.com/us-elections-2020-news/202012141081460046-california-designates-55-electoral-votes-to-biden-pushing-him-over-270-vote-threshold/

Hillary Clinton ‘proud’ to cast vote for Biden as elector while calling for Electoral College to be abolished

Hillary Clinton once again called for an end to the Electoral College, but happily participated in it on Monday when she cast her vote, along with her husband, for Joe Biden in New York.

“I believe we should abolish the Electoral College and select our president by the winner of the popular vote, same as every other office,” Clinton tweeted. In 2016, the Democrat won the popular vote against now-President Donald Trump, but lost in the Electoral College by nearly 70 votes.

Despite her feelings on the process, Clinton added a photo of herself to the tweet on her way to cast a vote as an elector, something she “proudly” did for Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

“But while it still exists, I was proud to cast my vote in New York for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” she wrote.

I believe we should abolish the Electoral College and select our president by the winner of the popular vote, same as every other office.But while it still exists, I was proud to cast my vote in New York for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. pic.twitter.com/th9qebu9ka

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 14, 2020

While Clinton received plenty of praise from supporters, critics leaped at the chance to point out the head-scratching logic behind “proudly” participating in a system one wants abolished.

“The system that elected Joe Biden is broken, and I am participating in it,” Spectator writer Stephen L. Miller tweeted in response to the photo.

The system that elected Joe Biden is broken, and I am participating in it. https://t.co/c1ZJKnmZDq

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 14, 2020

“I do not like this lady,” podcaster Dave Rubin added, splitting Clinton’s photo with an interview of the former secretary of state blasting Trump as an “illegitimate” president.

I do not like this lady. pic.twitter.com/p7MNQmvWNJ

— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) December 14, 2020

“I do think we should reconsider a system that puts a former failed presidential candidate in a position to vote against her competitor in such a capacity,” author Chad Felix Greene wrote.

I do think we should reconsider a system that puts a former failed presidential candidate in a position to vote against her competitor in such a capacity.Perhaps each state should get one vote based on its own election. https://t.co/h9DNoiMV00

— Chad Felix Greene (@chadfelixg) December 14, 2020

Hillary and Bill Clinton were two of 29 selected electors to cast their votes for Biden on Monday in Albany, New York.

#BREAKING: President Bill Clinton and Sec. Hillary Clinton cast two New York Electoral Votes for Joe Biden. #ElectoralCollegepic.twitter.com/dvkfMI9Aes

— The Hill (@thehill) December 14, 2020

Hillary Clinton has called for an end to the Electoral College on numerous occasions, but revealed the “exciting” news in October that she would be one of the electors.

https://www.rt.com/usa/509664-hillary-clinton-electoral-college/

Apple Supports Investigation in Wistron Facility Near India's Bengaluru City After Violent Weekend

A total of 149 individuals were arrested after a violent face-off was reported in the facility of Apple’s Taiwanese supplier Wistron. The incident happened in India’s 'Silicon City' in Bengaluru. Videos of the violence found their way onto social media, showing men using rods and sticks to shatter security cameras, windows and other objects.

Apple has launched an investigation on factory workers reportedly responsible for vandalising the Wistron factory over the weekend. The workers were demanding payment for their work and better working hours, the Hindustan Times reported on Monday.

Videos of the incident have surfaced online, showing several mask-clad men shouting and appearing to encourage each other to damage office property. Because of the masks, many of the culprits remain unidentified.

Local media in the region revealed that the workers had explained that they have not been paid since August and were now being burdened with longer shifts.

Apple has said that its “teams are in close touch with the local authorities” and that the iPhone-maker was “offering our full support to their investigation”.

Meanwhile, Wistron, whose facility Apple uses to manufacture iPhone devices in India, has expressed “deep shock” at the violence and vandalism.

“The company always abides by the law, and fully supports and is cooperating with relevant authorities and police investigations,” Wistron said in a statement to the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

Commenting on the incident, Karnataka's deputy state chief, C.N. Ashwathnarayan, called the violence “wanton” and said his government would ensure that the situation is “resolved expeditiously”.

https://sputniknews.com/india/202012141081451825–apple-supports-investigation-in-wistron-facility-near-indias-bengaluru-city-after-violent-weekend/

Here we go again: Washington Post claims RUSSIA behind SolarWinds hack, citing same ‘sources’ as it did for Russiagate

Having accused Russia of a ‘secret war’ on the US, the Washington Post is apparently trying to make that a self-fulfilling prophecy, citing anonymous sources to blame the alleged hack of US cyber infrastructure on the Kremlin.

“Russian government hackers breached the Treasury and Commerce departments, along with other US government agencies,” the Post declared on Monday. It’s a serious accusation that one would think demands a serious weight of evidence. The Post offers only anonymous “people familiar with the matter,” however, and demands we take their word for it.

Russian government spies are behind a broad hacking campaign that has breached U.S. agencies and a top cyber firm https://t.co/9Fd6A1H0H3

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 13, 2020

The alleged hack in question is what the US authorities described as an “active exploitation” of the SolarWinds Orion Platform, a network monitoring tool used by corporations as well as US government agencies such as the State Department, NASA, the Department of Justice, the Pentagon, the Executive Office and even the spying agency NSA. The breach supposedly happened between March and June.

One of the first to report the hack was FireEye, a cyber-security outfit that last week said its own hacking tools had been stolen. While FireEye didn’t name names, it was the Washington Post that blamed Russia for the theft. The paper’s editorial board then cited the hack of FireEye as one of the arguments for the existence of a “secret war” by Russia against the US.

https://www.rt.com/op-ed/509662-wapo-russia-hacked-solarwinds/

Man With Bullhorn Takes Stand Against Newsom's Lockdowns In California Costco

An anti-lockdown protester staged a one man demonstration in a California branch of Costco, telling shoppers, “Don’t let them do it!”

“Don’t let them do it! You know why we’re under this lockdown right now – because all the information that’s coming out about COVID, they know it’s a farce,” said the man.

“You must not do this, if you continue, this is the life that you will have,” he added.

The protester continued to address shoppers via a bullhorn as staff tried to intervene.

“Governor Newsom doesn’t have the right to shut us down or make you wear a mask!” said the man as two other customers walked up to give him a fist bump.

Costco Culture Jam about Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/TS3MgG0nqX

— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) December 14, 2020

“We’ve got to stand up for ourselves because this Governor is gonna keep us locked down until we do something about it – are you gonna let this happen?” he asks.

The backlash against Governor Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order is growing after it was revealed that Sheriffs in counties that represent 40 percent of California’s population say they won’t enforce his coronavirus restrictions.

Newsom’s shutdown of children’s playgrounds and outdoor dining has prompted fury, with business owners saying they are being unfairly punished.

In a viral video, Angela Marsden, owner of the Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill, explained how she obeyed all the instructions for outdoor dining but now faces financial ruin while a movie company was allowed to set up its own eating section in a nearby parking lot.

“I’m losing everything,” a tearful Marsden says in the clip.

“Everything I own is being taken away from me and they set up a movie company right next to my outdoor patio, which is right over here.”

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/man-bullhorn-takes-stand-against-newsoms-lockdowns-california-costco

>>12027579

Your New Attny General (((Jeffery Rosen)))

I HAVE HIGH FRIENDS IN PLACES

>>12027848

Hello Rabbi

GOD is who we are with! Your G-D is the devil