Trump authorizes Pentagon 'to do what we need to do' after deadly attack on US & UK troops in Iraq – Defense Secretary Esper

US President Donald Trump has given the military permission to avenge the deaths of two US troops and a British serviceman in a rocket attack on Camp Taji outside the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed.

"I have spoken with the president. He's given me the authority to do what we need to do, consistent with his guidance. And, you know – if that becomes the case," Esper told journalists.

He refused to disclose any details of a possible military response, only saying that he was "not going to take any option off the table right now," and that the Pentagon was "focused" on the Iraq-based military groups that could be responsible for the attack.

A high-ranked US general earlier insisted that the Pentagon knew with a "high degree of certainty" who the perpetrators of the rocket strike were.

https://www.rt.com/news/482964-iraq-trump-us-retaliation/

Turkish translator at US Consulate faces up to 15 years in prison

A Turkish employee at the US Consulate in Istanbul should be acquitted on charges of espionage and trying to overthrow the government, but should still face a prison sentence on a lesser charge of belonging to a terrorist organisation, a prosecutor said on Tuesday.

According to a report by Hurriyet, Metin Topuz, a translator for the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) at the consulate, was arrested in 2017 following the 2016 failed coup attempt blamed on the movement headed by Fethullah Gülen. The cleric lives in self-imposed exile in the US.

The prosecutor said that the recent contact made by Topuz with members of the Gülen network showed that he was a member of the group. He asked for Topuz to be spared the life sentence on the more serious charges, but still to be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison on the lesser charge. The Gülen Movement was designated as a terrorist organisation by the Turkish government following the coup attempt.

The defendant claimed that he has not been identified clearly with the Gülenist members. Nevertheless, the court rejected a request by his defence lawyers for Topuz to be released, and postponed the trial until 11 June.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200312-turkish-translator-at-us-consulate-faces-up-to-15-years-in-prison/

EU condemns Trump’s ‘unilateral’ Schengen area travel ban

The European Union has condemned the decision of President of the United States Donald Trump to ban all flights originating from the Schengen area as the new coronavirus (Covid-19) continues to spread.

“The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation,” a joint statement by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

President Trump on Thursday went on television to address the nation, arguing that the EU had not done enough to fight what he called a “foreign virus” and claiming the infection in the US had been “seeded” by European visitors.

https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-news/eu-affairs/99992/eu-condemns-trumps-unilateral-schengen-area-travel-ban/

National Bank takes steps to avoid economic damage from coronavirus

The National Bank (BNB) has taken measures to help mitigate the possible damage to the economy caused by the coronavirus.

The authorities are worried that the measures taken to prevent the spread of the disease could have a negative effect on the economy. Those include people being unable to work, lower levels of trade and business travel and the cancellation or postponement of cultural and sporting activities.

The BNB in June last year introduced a new buffer to force banks to maintain a higher level of reserves to guard against the possibility of borrowers defaulting on loans. That measure was taken to slow down the granting of credit: now the opposite effect is required.

The bank is therefore suspending the so-called counter-cyclical capital buffer, which amounted to one billion euros, so as to allow banks more leeway to grant credit to businesses that may need more room to get through the negative effects of the outbreak. Imposed in the first place to slow down credit, it will now be freed up to make granting credit more easy.

https://www.brusselstimes.com/economics/99987/national-bank-takes-steps-to-avoid-economic-damage-from-coronavirus-credit-capital-bufferinvestment-credit/

>>8390150

Got to admit it gives me a chuckle how Trump can make the MSM and EU leaders and the liberals cry and whine like babies about everything ..kek

Gunmen assassinate 2 prominent activists south of Iraq

Unknown gunmen shot dead two prominent anti-government activists on Tuesday in Maysan governorate, south of Iraq, Anadolu Agency reported.

A police officer in the Maysan police department told the news agency that unidentified gunmen opened fire on the activists – Abdul Quddus Qasim and Karrar Adel – near the industrial zone in the city of Amara.

“The activists were killed instantly, while the attackers fled the scene,” added the source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

He pointed out that the security authorities have opened an investigation into the accident.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200312-gunmen-assassinate-2-prominent-activists-south-of-iraq/

NEVER FORGET: Pelosi Held Up Vote on Coronavirus So Democrats Could Run Ads Against GOP on Super Tuesday

NEVER FORGET–

Speaker Pelosi held up a vote on coronavirus two weeks ago so that Democrats could run ads against Republicans on Super Tuesday.

Now today the Democrats and their mainstream media are blaming Trump for the coronavirus!

There’s a special place in hell for crooked politicians like Pelosi.

Minority leader Kevin McCarthy broke the news on The Ingraham Angle last week following the Super Tuesday vote.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/03/never-forget-pelosi-held-up-vote-on-coronavirus-so-democrats-could-run-ads-against-gop-on-super-tuesday/

President Trump: “I’m Very Happy to Run Against Joe – One of the Reasons I Ran for President Is Because of Joe” (VIDEO)

President Trump spoke to reporters in the White House on Thursday during the visit with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.

The Irish Prime Minister was in Washington DC the Friday before St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday March 17.

During his presser President Trump was asked about the Democrat primaries and his probable opponent Joe Biden. The Republican president was not concerned.

President Trump: “Now we have Joe. And I’m very happy to run against Joe. Don’t forget, one of the reasons I ran for president is because of Joe and the job they did.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/03/president-trump-im-very-happy-to-run-against-joe-one-of-the-reasons-i-ran-for-president-is-because-of-joe-video/

It Ain't Easy (2012 Remaster)

Iran coronavirus outbreak: Political prisoners in critical conditions

Iran, March 11, 2020—According to reports by Iranian human rights activists, some of the protesters arrested during the November nationwide uprisings are kept among ordinary prisoners infected with coronavirus in halls 6, 7 and 9 of Karaj Central prison.

Some prisoners in hall 6 have contracted coronavirus and one of them has even died in this hall. Nine other arrested protesters are kept in hall 7 of Karaj Prison.

Also many prisoners in Zahedan Prison have contracted coronavirus and some of them are hospitalized in a critical situation in Bu Ali Sina and Khatam hospitals.

Because of regime’s negligence to the life of prisoners and refusing to give them furlough, the number of prisoners who contract coronavirus rises every day.

According to credible reports, many prisoners in Karaj’s Ghezelhesar Prison have contracted coronavirus. These prisoners were separated from the prison ward and quarantined. The mullahs’ regime is refusing to give furloughs to other prisoners. The families and relatives of these prisoners are extremely worried about their loved ones.

https://english.mojahedin.org/i/iran-coronavirus-political-prisoners-20200311

Camp Pendleton Marine killed, two injured in tactical vehicle accident in United Arab Emirates

A Camp Pendleton-based Marine was killed Tuesday in a one-vehicle accident that injured two fellow Marines deployed in the United Arab Emirates, the Marine Corps said in a statement Wednesday.

Cpl. Eloiza Zavala, 20, originally from Sacramento, was serving as a vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 13 during the multi-nation, multi-force exercise Native Fury 20. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by first responders, the Marines said.

The accident involved a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, commonly called a 7-ton truck, on a road in the United Arab Emirates, the statement said.

Zavala deployed from Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1 at Camp Pendleton.

Two other Marines, both lance corporals, were injured. One sustained serious injuries and was medically evacuated to Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi. The other had non-life threatening injuries and transported to Ruwais Medical Center in Abu Dhabi.

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/03/camp-pendleton-marine-killed-two-injured-in-tactical-vehicle-accident-in-united-arab-emirates/

>>8390315

KEK its all Joe's fault kek

Closer Everyday

Cross-border and multicurrency payment systems have the potential to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper and more transparent. A simple taxonomy reviews the different designs and functionality of existing systems. Such systems remain rare, and most handle small volumes and values. However, a number of new projects will go live in the next few years.1

JEL classification: E42.

Cross-border payments are generally slower, more expensive and more opaque than domestic ones. They tend to flow through the so-called correspondent banking network, where chains of banks work to get funds from the payer to the payee.

There are several ways to potentially improve cross-border payments. One is to streamline processing along the chains of correspondent banks.2 Another is to replace the payment chains (or parts thereof) with dedicated cross-border and/or multicurrency (CBMC) payment systems.

https://www.bis.org/publ/qtrpdf/r_qt2003h.htm

1 soldier killed, another injured in training exercise at Ft. Irwin

A U.S. Army soldier was killed and another sustained injuries during a training exercise here Monday, authorities said.

The soldiers were taking part in what Fort Irwin officials described as a “large-scale” exercise within the center’s training grounds Monday morning when a “vehicle accident” occurred, according to a Fort Irwin National Training Center statement.

The injured soldier was released after being medically cleared by staff from University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, according to the statement.

The soldiers were not identified in the statement, which was released Monday evening. The name of the soldier who was killed is being withheld until 24 hours after the notification of next of kin.

Both soldiers are assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment that is garrisoned at Fort Irwin, located about 37 miles northeast of Barstow.

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/03/1-soldier-killed-another-injured-in-training-exercise-at-ft-irwin/

>>8390427

'Tsunami has arrived': Coronavirus likened to natural disaster and even METEORITE HIT in Spain

Spanish hotels are battling to survive, with occupancy rates falling drastically and having received "no new bookings" due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a top official at Spain's hotels federation.

CEHAT Secretary General Ramon Estalella told Reuters on Thursday that the impact of coronavirus on his industry was so bad that the crisis had reached existential levels for Spanish hotels and tourist accommodation.

A tsunami has arrived. A meteorite has fallen on us and we have to see how we survive.

Estalella called on the Spanish government to take bold measures to avoid highly damaging bankruptcies and job losses at hotel companies.

https://www.rt.com/uk/482955-spain-hotels-bookings-coronavirus/

Elvis Presley - What now my love (Live 1973 Best version!)