US Officials Admit Covert Tech Program Is Fueling Iran Protests

After major protests hit multiple cities across Iran in November following a drastic government slash in gasoline subsidies which quickly turned anti-regime, broad internet outages were reported — some lasting as long as a week or more nationwide — following Tehran authorities ordering the blockage of external access.

And during smaller January protests over downed Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, more widespread internet outages were reported recently, likely as Iranian security services fear protest "crackdown" videos would fuel outrage in western media, and after months ago Mike Pompeo expressly urged Iranians in the streets to send the State Department damning videos that would implicate Tehran's leaders and police.

But now Washington appears to have initiated the "Syria option" inside Iran: covertly fueling and driving "popular protests" to eventually create conditions for large-scale confrontation on the ground geared toward regime change.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-officials-admit-major-covert-tech-assistance-fueling-iran-protests

In some Australian states, litterbugs face jail time and fines of up to $25,000 for tossing lit cigarettes during total fire bans.

Queensland's LNP Opposition has called for increased penalties for drivers caught tossing cigarette butts in an effort to match harsher punishments in place in other states, where litterbugs can be fined up to $25,000 and even face jail time.

Queensland Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said existing fines should be doubled and demerit penalty points introduced to prevent further instances like the September 2019 bushfires in Binna Burra, which police said were caused by a discarded cigarette.

Currently, under Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's government, the penalty for throwing a lit cigarette butt onto dry grass in high fire danger conditions is a fine of up to $533 for individuals and $2135 for corporations.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, if the LNP's measures were implemented, Queensland motorists could potentially face fines of up to $11,000 and lose 10 demerit points if caught tossing lit cigarettes from vehicles during a total fire ban.

Meanwhile, in other states such as Western Australia and New South Wales, motorists and passengers caught tossing lit cigarettes from cars during total fire bans could now receive double the fine or demerit points they'd receive under normal conditions.

As of January 17, 2020, NSW motorists tossing lit cigarettes will, for the first time, be penalised five demerit points. And if the offence occurs during a total fire ban, this increases to 10 demerit points and a fine of up to $10,000.

Passengers who commit the same offence in NSW can be fined $660 - a number that also doubles during a total fire ban period.

In WA, individuals littering lit cigarettes will attract an infringement penalty of $500 in regular circumstances, but when doing so under a total fire ban could face a fine of $25,000 and/or 12 months in jail.

In other states, fines of between $300 to $500 are in place for the tossing of unlit butts, but these fines skyrocket if the butts are lite.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/820122/queensland-cigarette-butt-fines/?utm_source=Nine-Front-Page&utm_medium=Referral

hegelian dialectic

https://twitter.com/CodeMonkeyZ/status/1219470284933095426

Have been looking over the issues going on, trying to find the right fix for it.

Removing The Swamp From The Deep Underground

Schweizer Reveals in New Book: Bernie Sanders Became Very Wealthy by Funneling Huge Sums of Taxpayer Money to Family Members

Peter Schweizer strikes again!

“Secret Empires” author Peter Schweizer wrote a new book titled, “Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America’s Progressive Elite,” and although one slimy lifelong politician — Joe Biden — emerged as the “king of sweetheart deals” Schweizer also revealed that Socialist crackpot Bernie Sanders (VT) funneled taxpayer money to his own family members.

Schweizer told Sean Hannity on Monday’s radio podcast that during the 2016 election, a mysterious media-buying company run by two of Bernie’s wife’s friends popped up in a suburb of Virginia and they funneled $83 million through the business.

Now we know how Bernie Sanders went from being the poorest Senator to owning beach front property after the 2016 presidential election.

Transcription via Breitbart:

“Bernie over the course of his 30-plus years in public office has final huge sums of money to his family. That includes hiring family members even when it was not justified in the Burlington city governments. But more specifically, the 2016 campaign, there was this mysterious media-buying company called Old Town Media that was set up.”

“They funneled $83 million through this media-buying company, which was located in a house on a cul-de-sac in suburban Virginia,” he continued. “Had no website, had no presence whatsoever. That company was run by two of Bernie Sanders’ wife’s friends. When she was asked about her connection or relationship to that firm, she hung up on a local Vermont reporter. So there are various ways taxpayer money, school money other things that have flowed to the family and have made the Sanders family very very wealthy.”

Schweizer also exposed the Biden crime family in his new book.

According to Schweizer, Hunter Biden wasn’t the only family member who made millions off of his political connections.

Five members of Joe Biden’s family enriched themselves because of Joe Biden’s lifelong ‘career’ in politics and Schweizer outlined his new book in a New York Post article shortly before its launch date.

If we had a real media, all of these corrupt politicians would have been exposed and prosecuted years ago for stealing taxpayer money.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/01/schweizer-reveals-in-new-book-bernie-sanders-became-very-wealthy-by-funneling-huge-sums-of-taxpayer-money-to-family-members/

"Eat The Rich": Davos Beefs Up Security As Protesters Gather

Organizers of the 50th World Economic Forum in Davos have beefed up security after hundreds of climate protesters made their way though snow-covered streets towards the annual gathering of roughly 3,000 global elites and their high-level minions.

According to AP, measures included extra vehicle checks and 'webcam shutdowns,' while the Swiss national authorities have restricted the airspace above the event.

Up to 5,000 troops, fighter jets, ground defense systems and additional radar have also been authorized as part of the enhanced security, as authorities and organizers work from a $9 million budget just for the extra security.

"Various people in the world are under great threat if you can put it that way, and wherever they appear, they deserve commensurate security measures," said Walter Schlegel, the regional police commander (via DevDiscourse), adding "The U.S. president has a big security detail that must be deployed."

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/eat-rich-davos-beefs-security-protesters-gather

Missouri Lawmaker Introduces Legislation Criminalizing Drag Queen Story Hours at State Libraries, Violators Face Fines and Possible Prison

In 2020 America has become a land of perversion where some parents willingly allow their children to be exposed to the most scandalous of adult mentors — drag queens.

Local library systems all over America are sponsoring it.

When libraries say NO, politicians step in.

Library System Rejected “Drag Queen Story Hour” so Atlanta Mayor Held it at CITY HALL

Many Americans keep waiting for their elected representatives to step in and do something.

One Missouri lawmaker has grown disgusted of this movement and has plans to put a stop to it in his home state.

From NBC News:

A Republican lawmaker in Missouri has introduced a bill targeting drag queen story hour events at public libraries that would set up parental review boards to approve events and penalize librarians with potential fines and jail time for violations.

State Rep. Ben Baker’s Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act would require all Missouri public libraries to establish parental review boards, with members elected by voters, that would approve library display material and events.

Baker said Thursday the proposed bill is not aimed at censoring books but is a response to drag queen story hours that have been held at libraries in some of the state’s larger cities, including St. Louis, Kansas City and St. Joseph.

“They’ve had these drag queen story hours, and that’s something that I take objection to and I think a lot of parents do,” Baker said. “That’s where in a public space, our kids could be exposed to something that’s age-inappropriate. That’s what I’m trying to tackle.”

Under the proposed bill, librarians who do not comply with the decisions of the parental review boards would be guilty of a misdemeanor, which carries a $500 fine and up to a year in prison.

Baker’s constituency of Neosho has never hosted a drag queen event at its public libraries, but their popularity in large cities like St. Louis, where an event attracted 500 people in September, has sparked indignation from conservatives across the state.

https://www.dcclothesline.com/2020/01/20/missouri-lawmaker-introduces-legislation-criminalizing-drag-queen-story-hours-at-state-libraries-violators-face-fines-and-possible-prison/

SYRIA UPDATE

Military Situation In Syria On January 20, 2020 (Map Update)

A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham repelled a Syrian Army attempt to recapture Mustayf Hill;

A car bomb exploded near a US military convoy at on the road leading the Conoco gas facility;

The Syrian Army repelled a militant attack on Abu Dafn. According to pro-militant sources, a battle tank and an infantry fighting vehicle of the SAA were damaged, an artillery piece was destroyed, and dozens of Syrian service members were killed or injured in the clashes;

The Kurdish Afrin Liberation Forces claimed that 6 Turkish-backed militants were killed in recent attacks in Azaz and Afrin areas;

98 Syrian service members and civilians were killed in militants attacks in the last three days, the Russian military reported on January 19;

Hmeimim air defense units repelled another militant drone attack.

https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-syria-on-january-20-2020-map-update/

Terrorists continue preventing civilians from leaving through corridors in Idleb and Aleppo countryside for 8th day

For the eighth day in a row, terrorist organizations in Idleb countryside and Aleppo southern countryside prevented civilians from exiting to safe areas through humanitarian corridors in Abu al-Duhour, al-Habbit, and al-Hader. The reporters said terrorists are blocking roads roads leading to the corridors, intercepting vehicles transporting civilians, and opening fire in their direction to scare them away.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=183029

SDC Expresses Desire to Restart Talks With Syrian Government

Darar told the Rudaw Kurdish network that, “We are heading towards negotiating with the regime, and this path is one we began in mid-2018 and which stopped because of the regime’s arrogance and its desire to return to matters as they were before 2011.” He added that, “We want there to be a new, more advanced and more successful negotiating situation.”

https://syrianobserver.com/EN/news/55494/sdc-expresses-desire-to-restart-talks-with-syrian-government.html

First Person Video Shows Moment When Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Militants Come Under Syrian Army Shelling Near Abu Dafn

On January 19, the Syrian Army repelled an attack by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham on the village of Abu Dafn in southeastern Idlib. After the clashes, government troops published a video seized from one of the eliminated militants.

https://southfront.org/first-person-video-shows-moment-when-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-militants-come-under-syrian-army-shelling-near-abu-dafn/

Shulgin: US, Britain and France attempted to distort the facts about Doma incident

New York, SANA-Ambassador of Russia to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Alexander Shulgin affirmed that the Organization’s investigation into the allegations of using chemical weapons in Syrian Doma city are incomplete and have big gaps.

Shulgin added at a meeting in New York on Monday that conclusions of the OPCW about allegations of using chemical weapons in Syrian Doma city contradict the conclusions of the fact-finding committee which visited Syria.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=183039

Turkish occupation transports more of its mercenaries’ families to reside in citizens’ homes in Ras al-Ayn

Local sources told SANA’s reporter in Hasaka said the Turkish occupation transported 1500 members of the families of its terrorist mercenaries to reside in citizens’ homes in the neighborhoods of al-Kharabat and al-Hawarneh in Ras al-Ayn coty.

On another note, infighting among terrorists in Ras al-Ayn continues, with gunfire being exchanged by the terrorists in the city since the dawn of Monday, with sources saying that this tension is caused by the refusal of the terrorists in the city to leave and be replaced by the mercenaries recruited by the occupation as “police” personnel.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=183020

Cyberattacks Against North Dakota Government Averaged 15 Million Per Month Last Year

Attempted cyberattacks against North Dakota’s state government nearly tripled last year, according to the Grand Forks Herald.

Shawn Riley, North Dakota’s chief information officer and head of the information technology department, said there were more than 15 million cyberattacks against the state’s government per month in 2019, a 300 percent increase since 2018.

In 2018, there were about 5 million attempted cyberattacks per month.

These figures aren’t surprising, however. Local governments nationwide have seen an increase in cyberattacks. Often, foreign criminals will infect a government computer with ransomware, holding important government documents hostage until a certain amount of money is exchanged.

Last month, the mayor of New Orleans declared a state of emergency over a cyberattack of this nature.

“That’s part of a world trend,” Riley said. “We’re trending a little higher than certain organizations, but, yeah, pretty substantial increases overall.”

On Friday, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the Cybersecurity State Coordinator Act, which would enact a federally funded program to establish state cybersecurity leaders nationwide, increasing the ability of states to respond to cyberattacks.

“Cyberattacks can be devastating for communities across our country, from ransomware attacks that can block access to school or medical records to cyberattacks that can shut down electrical grids or banking services,” Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) said in a statement.

“The federal government needs to do more to ensure that state and local entities have the resources and training that they need to prevent and respond to cyberattacks,” Hassan added.

https://www.activistpost.com/2020/01/cyberattacks-against-north-dakota-government-averaged-15-million-per-month-last-year.html