Heat, fires and possible cyclones: Australia in for a wild weekend of weather

Australia may face a tropical cyclone this weekend at the same time as other states brace for a catastrophic fire danger.

The Bureau of Meteorology says there are increasing signs a tropical cyclone will form off the northwest coast of Western Australia.

Forecast models suggest a low pressure system between Australia and Indonesia could develop into a tropical cyclone either tomorrow or on Monday.

"Regardless of whether this low turns into a tropical cyclone, there is a good chance that wind and rain will increase over northern parts of WA early next week," Weatherzone said.

"If a tropical cyclone does form, it may case more severe weather, with heavy rain, damaging winds and a storm surge all possible effects should it near or cross the coast."

Strong wind warnings have already been issued for: Perth Local Waters, Pilbara Coast West, Ningaloo Coast, Gascoyne Coast, Geraldton Coast, Lancelin Coast and Perth Coast.

The next tropical cyclone to form in Australian waters will be named Blake.

More

https://www.9news.com.au/national/weather-australia-wild-weekend-cyclone-fires-heat/2a8ce05b-58d1-4af0-acc4-4022222b47b7

And a cyclone what else you got for OZ cabal??

U.N.: U.S. Broke International Law by Eliminating Soleimani

Agnes Callamard, the U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial killing, said on Thursday night that the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian terrorist mastermind Gen. Qasem Soleimani was a violation of international law.

The U.N. has been oddly quiet about Soleimani’s violations of international law, including activities that indisputably violated U.N. sanctions.

“The targeted killings of Qasem Soleiman and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis are most likely unlawful and violate international human rights law: Outside the context of active hostilities, the use of drones or other means for targeted killing is almost never likely to be legal,” Callamard wrote on Twitter.

She proceeded to lay out an impossibly stringent standard for preventive action that becomes grotesquely amusing when measured against Soleimani’s malign activities, not least his involvement in an undisputed act of war against the United States, the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad last week:

To be justified under international human rights law, intentionally lethal or potentially lethal force can only be used where strictly necessary to protect against an imminent threat to life.

In other words, whoever targeted these two men would need to demonstrate that the persons targeted constitute(d) an imminent threat to others. An individual’s past involvement in “terrorist” attacks is not sufficient to make his targeting for killing lawful.

Furthermore, drone killing of anyone other than the target (family members or others in the vicinity, for example) would be an arbitrary deprivation of life under human rights law and could result in State responsibility and individual criminal liability.

The use of drones on the territory of other States has also been justified on the basis of self-defense. Under customary international law States can take military action if the threatened attack is imminent, no other means would deflect it, and the action is proportionate.

The test for so-called anticipatory self-defense is very narrow: it must be a necessity that is “instant, overwhelming, and leaving no choice of means, and no moment of deliberation”. This test is unlikely to be met in these particular cases.

Soleimani was not much concerned about killing people other than his targets – his operations routinely included the indiscriminate murder of civilians, from Syria to the streets of Baghdad.

In the most recent and clear-cut example, Iraqi Shiite militia acting on Soleimani’s orders launched a rocket attack on December 27 that killed an American civilian contractor. The forces that attacked the U.S. embassy in Baghdad clearly identified Soleimani as their “leader.”

https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2020/01/03/u-n-u-s-broke-international-law-eliminating-soleimani/

>>7705689

>journalist with NBC

>>7705770

1 Thessalonians 2 King James Version (KJV)

2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

20 For ye are our glory and joy.

https://twitter.com/NewsBreaking/status/1213220810434863104

>>7705821

Two-Car Convoy North of Baghdad Under Aerial Attack

A two-car convoy has reportedly been hit in an airstrike in northern Baghdad, according to multiple media reports.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202001041077936776-two-car-convoy-north-of-baghdad-under-aerial-attack—reports/

DIGG

>>7705871

>secretly something else

https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/1213232224239157248

https://twitter.com/rien4djri/status/1213232610018807810

Increased Plane Traffic At U.S. Italian And Spanish Bases Points To The U.S. Getting Ready For Military Confrontation

Dozens of American cargo planes have reached the U.S. bases in Rota and Morón, Spain and the one in Aviano, Italy. It is the largest military deployment at these bases since the 2003 Iraq War.

The almost 30,000 inhabitants of the small town of Rota, in southern Spain, have been surprised by the intense increase in American military air traffic over the last few days. The United States operates a naval base, which services several different types of American naval vessels, out of Rota, and it maintains an airbase one hundred kilometers away in Morón de la Frontera which caters to to the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft. The US destroyers deployed from Rota are part of the NATO missile shield used to defend itself in the event of an attack by Iran, something that seems closer than ever after the latest events in the region. Aviano’s military base in Italy has also registered a dramatic increase in air traffic.

The increase in traffic in Rota and Morón were detected at the same time that the Pentagon confirmed the death of Qasem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force of Iran, in a concerted U.S. strike. Almost immediately, Iran vowed revenge. The U.S. Department of Defense accused Soleimani of “developing plans to attack U.S. diplomats and service members throughout the region.”

Spanish sources at the bases of Rota and Morón have reported the arrival of military cargo planes and refueling planes at the base. Specifically, the sources reported the arrival on Friday, January 3 of at least three C-5M and one C-17A transport aircraft in addition to a KC-10A tanker aircraft.

In military terms, the deployment of U.S. resources that is taking place in Spain is extraordinary and would seem to signal the beginning of intensified military operations in the Middle East. The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is one of the largest aircraft ever built, and it can carry up to 135 tons of cargo from Dover base in Delaware to Incirlik in Turkey without refueling. In addition, the C-5M can carry up to 36 standard pallets and 81 soldiers at the same time, two M1 Abrams battle tanks, up to six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters or up to 15 HMMWV military vehicles. Additionally, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Aviano, was ordered to be ready for deployment to protect the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, accoridng to ABC News.

https://dailycaller.com/2020/01/03/increased-traffic-us-italian-spanish-bases-military-confrontation/

>>7705934

UPDATED

Two-Car Convoy North of Baghdad Under Aerial Attack

The development comes on the heels of the Friday morning US airstrike that killed Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, sparking heightened tension across the Middle East and sending thousands of Iranians into the streets mourning the death of the general and denouncing the United States and Israel.

A two-car convoy has reportedly been hit in an airstrike in northern Baghdad, local media reported.

According to multiple reports, the targeted vehicles were carrying at least two senior Popular Mobilizations Forces (PMF) officials.

While some reports suggest that the parties involved in the incident are unknown, others claim that the US has attacked a PMF convoy carrying the commander of Kataib Imam Ali militia Shbl al-Zaidi and other yet-to-be-identified PMF leaders.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202001041077936776-two-car-convoy-north-of-baghdad-under-aerial-attack—reports/

How does he know? Very matter of fact statement

Schiff: Soleimani Death ‘Increased the Danger’ of War — ‘There Will Be Iranian Retaliation’

On Friday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Newsroom,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) questioned the administration’s “broader strategy” in the wake of Quds Force Supreme Commander Qasem Soleimani’s death by an airstrike directed by President Donald Trump.

Schiff said, “This spike in the back and forth between Iran, the deadly attacks on U.S. base and loss of a U.S. contractor and injured U.S. service members followed by U.S. airstrikes on these Iranian-backed Iraqi Shia militias and now the killing of Soleimani have increased the danger of a war with Iran, not decreased it”

He continued, “I have yet to be fully satisfied the administration either has a strategy, that this is not simply a one-off retaliation or a preemptive strike, that his is part of a broader coherent plan and this greatly concerns me. This is how you—when nobody seeks war ends up in a war. So if the administration has a broader strategy, they have yet to the articulate it or explain to the Congress why that strategy lacks support of our own allies, and how this is somehow going to make us safer. So all steps will have to be taken immediately to protect our personnel in the region and elsewhere. We have to fully expect there will be Iranian retaliation. I think we and the Iranians need to figure out steps that can be taken to divert us from this path of increasing act and retaliation and retaliation and increasing prospect of war.”

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2020/01/03/schiff-soleimani-death-increased-the-danger-of-war-there-will-be-iranian-retaliation/

Did the Deep State Use FISA Warrants to Spy on Trump’s Personal Lawyer Rudy Giuliani?

Did the Deep State use FISA warrants to spy on Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani?

Government prosecutors left open the possibility that FISA warrants were used to spy on Lev Parnas, Igor Fruman, David Correia and Andrey Kukushkin, the four individuals who were indicted in October and charged with campaign finance violations for taking foreign donations.

A 21-page indictment was unsealed in October and prosecutors alleged the four men tied to Giuliani were ‘engaged in political activities in the US on behalf of one or more Ukrainian government officials.

Feds from the SDNY responded to a motion filed by Kukushkin on behalf of all defendants and said the government may have used FISA warrants to spy on all four of the defendants, (including Giuliani?).

“More importantly, as the Government has repeatedly informed the defendants, it does not intend to use any information that was obtained or derived from FISA or other forms of surveillance identified by Kukushkin, nor does the Government anticipate having any classified discovery or the need to file a Classified Information Procedures Act (“CIPA”) motion. That is sufficient to meet the Government’s obligations under the applicable laws, and there is no basis identified in Kukushkin’s motion or otherwise to require anything more. For those reasons, and the reasons set forth below, Kukushkin’s motion should be denied.” – SDNY prosecutors said.

The feds then claimed they won’t rely on FISA warrants at trial and that the defendants are not entitled to know.

“With respect to FISA, the Government has complied with its obligations under Section 1806 in this case. On December 1, 2019, the Government notified defense counsel that it did not intend to use any FISA-obtained or FISA-derived information against the defendants at trial.” – SDNY prosecutors wrote.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/01/did-the-deep-state-use-fisa-warrants-to-spy-on-trumps-personal-lawyer-rudy-giuliani/

Fuckery afoot

Telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron at the French side’s initiative.

The two presidents wished each other a happy New Year.

Both sides expressed concern over the death of Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, who was killed as a result of a US strike on Baghdad’s airport. It was stated that this attack could escalate tensions in the region.

The two presidents also continued their exchange of opinion on Syria. Vladimir Putin informed his counterpart about the implementation of the Russian-Turkish agreements on northeastern Syria and Idlib. The two leaders stressed that it was necessary to continue the decisive joint fight against terrorism and reaffirmed the importance of promoting the intra-Syrian political process and providing humanitarian aid to civilians.

When discussing the developments in Libya, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron spoke in favour of settling the crisis in the country peacefully. They expressed their support for the political and diplomatic efforts, including with the mediation of the UN and Germany.

The presidents discussed the main aspects related to the settlement process of the Ukrainian crisis. They emphasised the importance of consistent implementation of the Minsk agreements and the agreements reached at the Normandy format summit held in Paris on December 9, 2019. They praised the exchange of prisoners between Kiev and Donbass, which took place on December 29, 2019, and the signing of the package deal on transiting Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine at the end of 2019.

The presidents also touched on certain issues on the bilateral agenda and agreed to stay in touch.

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62539

>>7706158

TOP KEK