The Atacama desert, the driest desert in the world, bloomed with flowers twice over the past year, something that hasn’t happened before. El Niño is responsible for this phenomenon. El Niño usually causes floods and droughts on other parts of Earth, but it seemed gentler with this region.
Daily Archives: 4. November 2015
Imageförderung – eine besondere Form von Lobbyismus an Schulen
Spezialisierte PR-Agenturen bieten Bildungskommunikation als Dienstleistung an und bezeichnen diese als „wichtigen Bestandteil der Gesamtmarketingstrategie.“ Die Agentur für Bildungskommunikation Capito erklärt in einem Video wie es funktioniert. Und das ist sehenswert:
Nach Wahlsieg der AKP, Verhaftungswelle in der Türkei
Nachdem die AKP die Mehrheit am Sonntag bei den Parlamentswahlen erlangt hat, wird mit der Opposition und den Journalisten in der Türkei „aufgeräumt“. Der Diktator Erdoğan schlägt zu und duldet keine Kritik. Denn zwei Redakteure eines linken Magazins wurde in Istanbul verhaftet, wegen Veröffentlichung einer Titelseite, die der Regierung nicht passt. Gleichzeitig wurden 58 Journalisten entlassen und 57 weitere mit der Anschuldigung verhaftet, sie wären eine „Terrorgruppe“.
Bericht über NSU-Informanten “Corelli” erhärtet Mordverdacht
Heute veröffentlichte der Bundestag den “Corelli”-Bericht des grünen Politikers Jerzy Montag. Er wurde vom parlamentarischen Kontrollgremium beauftragt, die Todesumstände des NSU-Verfassungsschutz-Informanten Thomas Richter alias “Corelli” aufzuklären. Sein Bericht ist eine Weißwaschung der Sicherheitsbehörden. Trotzdem enthält er einige Punkte, die aufhorchen lassen, und die das Parlament zu weiteren Untersuchungen veranlassen müsste.
Soros‘s ‘European values’ mean losing your national identity – Paul Craig Roberts
Roberts also makes a dramatic claim, saying that every country that joined the European Union has committed “an act of national suicide.”
Online reading of Tolstoy‘s ‘War and Peace’ to be open to all
According to Fekla Tolstaya, one of the project‘s organizers and the great granddaughter of Russian writer, „the readings will take place in various parts of Russia and abroad: from a nuclear icebreaker, from Lake Baikal, from an orbital space station…“
Egyptian regime that sentenced me to death now the toast of London
On 16 June, the military-appointed highest Islamic authority in Egypt ratified a death sentence against me and more than 100 other defendants, including former president Mohamed Morsi, members of his administration and public figures. I had worked in Morsi‘s presidency as an aide in his liaison team with international media.
Hackers gonna hack, but why? Maybe Freud has the answer
„But my favourite explanation for the academic literature is a Freudian psychoanalytic approach to hacking, which actually conceptualises hacking in Freudian terms as a cyber-sexual urge to penetrate. And there are castration complex overtones in terms of being cut off from the network as well…”
Expect ‚daily intrusion‘ of your privacy under Theresa May‘s new surveillance law – Manchester rights group
„From if they have a job, to what sort of news they like and even what medical conditions they suffer from or their sexual preferences.
„You might not worry about people knowing these about you, but for some people it‘s important, such as if their religion frowns on being gay“
Trucks loaded with foodstuffs and essential commodities to be sent to Aleppo
On Wednesday morning, a military source announced that army and armed forces established full control over the road linking Aleppo, Khanaser, Athriya and al- Salamiyeh, after inflicting heavy losses in personnel and equipment on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist organization.
Syrien: Regierungsarmee erobert wichtige Straße zwischen Aleppo und Hama
Die Straße, die Aleppo über Ithriya und Khanasser mit al-Salamiyah verbindet, sei nach erbitterten Kämpfen mit der Terrormiliz „Islamischer Staat“ befreit worden, teilte ein Armeesprecher der Nachrichtenagentur RIA Novosti mit. Dutzende Terroristen seien getötet worden.
Laut dem Sprecher wird die einstige Regierungsstraße bereits von Minen geräumt und soll am morgigen Donnerstag wieder dem Verkehr übergegeben werden.
Nicht die feine englische Art: UK-Gesetzesentwurf startet Frontalangriff auf Verschlüsselung
Daneben soll auch die Überwachung von Parlamentsabgeordneten weiterhin möglich sein. Notwendig dafür ist die Zustimmung des Premierministers.
Gratislizenz für Google: Die streng geheime Niederlage der VG Media
Die Gratislizenz der VG Media für Google steht offenbar auf der Kippe. Doch die Verlage verhalten sich im Streit über das Leistungsschutzrecht so konspirativ wie die Regierung in Sachen BND.
Iraqi oil ministry official freed after brief kidnapping: police
Militants wearing military uniforms seized the official, who was not named but holds the rank of general manager, in the northern district of al-Salikh. The militants were caught by security forces, the statement said.
EU official confuses Greece’s Bailout Tranche with Lottery Win
Hop! Hop! Hop! Run! Run! run! The Loan Lottery is awaiting for you! OK. Not for you but for …Greece! An EU official anonymous told foreign media in Brussels that the Greek government might win [sic] a delayed 2 billion-euro aid disbursement by Nov. 9. “Win”? Win a loan? Win a contest? “Win an aid’? Are you kidding me? It is a loan with interest and repayment obligation. No aid. No win.
Greece May Win 2 Billion-Euro Payout by Monday, EU Official Says
The ECB on Saturday announced a 4.4 billion-euro shortfall at the four main Greek banks — National Bank of Greece SA, Piraeus Bank SA, Eurobank Ergasias SA and Alpha Bank AE — using its baseline economic assumptions; and a 14.4 billion-euro gap under the most pessimistic scenario.
Renzi demands new primary rules
He said in an interview for a new book by veteran TV journalist Bruno Vespa that primaries should be staged for candidates for top positions such as „mayors, governors and the party leader-premier candidate“. But he added that „those who lose must help“.
Russian air operations in Syria limited to the Syrian Army offensive against terrorists, Moscow affirms
Antonov, speaking at the third meeting of the ASEAN countries’ defense chiefs and their dialogue partners in Kuala Lumpur, affirmed that the Russian air force is striking only confirmed terrorist targets, and that there are no strikes being conducted at any other targets, connected to, for example, the forces of the so-called “moderate” opposition.
Oppositionsbündnis: Rebellen in Syrien zu Waffenruhe bereit
Das Nationale Koordinationskomitee für demokratischen Wandel der syrischen Kräfte ist ein aus mehr als zehn Parteien und vielen unabhängigen Aktivisten bestehendes Oppositionsbündnis.
US-Militärberater beginnen mit Ausbildung „moderater Rebellen“ in syrischer Provinz Latakia
Pikant: Die Ausbildung durch US-Spezialeinehiten soll in der westsyrischen Provinz Latakia stattfinden, dort haben die russischen Streitkräfte ihre Luftwaffenbasis errichtet.
Lavrov, Kerry Agree to Further Consolidate Counterterrorism Efforts
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry discussed the consolidation of counterterrorism efforts in a phone conversation on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Firefox Now Offers a More Private Browsing Experience
We’re releasing a powerful new feature in Firefox Private Browsing called Tracking Protection. We created this feature because we believe in giving you more choice and control over your Web experience. With the release of Tracking Protection in Firefox Private Browsing we are leading the industry by giving you control over the data that third parties receive from you online. No other browser’s Private Browsing mode protects you the way Firefox does—not Chrome, not Safari, not Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer.
You can learn more about Firefox Private Browsing with Tracking Protection by checking out this video.
The newest version of Firefox lets you block online trackers
Mozilla on Tuesday announced that the latest version of its Firefox browser will let users opt to block online trackers, such as cookies and other tools that advertisers and others use to follow Internet users from site to site.
UK surveillance laws will keep citizens‘ internet history on file for 12 months
British politicians will dramatically expand the UK‘s powers of mass surveillance under a draft bill demanding that ISPs store records of every website visited by internet users for up to a year. This level of online monitoring has been banned in the US, Canada, and every other European nation, and has even previously been rejected in the UK. Supporters of the legislation (known as the Investigatory Powers Bill) are presenting it and other security measures as a compromise, but privacy campaigners say it is in fact more intrusive.
US Air Force’s experimental rocket spirals out of control after launching from Hawaii
A small, experimental rocket meant to carry 13 communication satellites into space for the Department of Defense failed just one minute after launching from Hawaii last night, according to the US Air Force. Video footage of the event shows the rocket spiraling out of control as it falls back down to Earth, leaving a crooked contrail in its wake. This was the first flight ever for this kind of vehicle — known as a Super Strypi rocket — as well as the first rocket launch attempt from the Hawaiian Islands.
A More Private Browsing Experience: Mozilla Ships Tracking Protection for Firefox
Good news for Firefox users sick of online trackers shadowing their every click: Mozilla just released Tracking Protection for use with their private browsing mode.
As we wrote previously, we think it‘s important for users to be able to protect themselves from non-consensual online tracking. That‘s why we created Privacy Badger, which enforces Do Not Track around the Web. But it‘s also important for browser vendors to join in the fight to protect user privacy. Mozilla has done just that with today‘s announcement.
Kalter Medienkrieg
Mit einer eigens eingerichteten „Task Force“ arbeitet die EU am Aufbau einer prowestlichen Medienöffentlichkeit in sieben Staaten Osteuropas und des Kaukasus, darunter Russland. Dies bestätigt die Bundesregierung auf eine Anfrage im Bundestag. Demnach bemüht sich die „EU East Stratcom Task Force“ um die Bildung von Netzwerken zu Journalisten in den Ländern der „Östlichen Partnerschaft“ der EU und in Russland; außerdem werden „Kommunikationskampagnen“ entwickelt, mit denen die Bevölkerungen dieser Staaten systematisch überzogen werden sollen. Als spezielle Zielgruppen werden unter anderem „junge Menschen“ und Akademiker genannt; insgesamt richtet sich die Aufmerksamkeit der EU-Task Force offenbar vor allem auf urbane Mittelschichten, die in weiten Teilen Osteuropas stark prowestlich orientiert sind und unter anderem die ukrainischen Majdan-Proteste maßgeblich getragen haben. Über die inhaltliche Ausrichtung der Aktivitäten, die offiziell als „Förderung der Medienfreiheit“ deklariert werden, erklärt die Bundesregierung, es gehe „wie bei der Öffentlichkeitsarbeit von Regierungen, Parteien, Verbänden etc.“ darum, die eigenen Positionen „der Öffentlichkeit zu vermitteln“. Die Regierung bestätigt außerdem, dass die EU-Task Force die Osteuropa-Aktivitäten der Deutschen Welle mit Blick auf „mögliche Synergieeffekte“ prüft… Zu den Kooperationspartnern der „EU East Stratcom Task Force“ gehört auch die NATO.
Theresa May: Internet data will be recorded under new spy laws – live
Home Secretary sets out new spying laws which will force internet firms to help spies to hack into computers.
Philippines proposes for creation of joint cyber security group with Malaysia
The Philippines has proposed for the establishment of the Expert Working Group in Plus format on cyber security at the Asean Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Retreat today.
Regulators warn Digicel over ad-blocking Google and Facebook
An umbrella group for telecoms regulators across several of Digicel’s markets has warned the company not to roll out ad-blocking software, suggesting it could be illegal and a breach of its licence.
UK Prepares to Welcome Another Brutal Dictator
In spite of human rights organisations’ widespread condemnation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Britain is preparing to show support for his dictatorship by rolling out the red carpet for the coup leader later this week.
Five killed in al-Arish suicide blast, Ansar claims responsibility
Aswat Masriya could not independently verify the authenticity of the statement. At time of publication Aswat Masriya was not aware of reports on the arrests of women belonging to Sinai‘s tribes.
Violations during Sisi‘s first year „worst“ since 1993 – human rights organisation
(Juni 2015) A report on violations committed by the police during the first year of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi‘s tenure counted nearly 300 cases of torture and almost 300 more deaths at the hands of security personnel or within detention facilities.
USAFRICOM, An Instrument of “Imperialist Peace-Keeping” in sub-Saharan Africa
African Union Standby Force Conducts Military Exercises in South Africa
Romania prime minister resigns after nightclub fire
Romania’s prime minister Victor Ponta resigned on Wednesday, in a surprise move just hours after mass protests demanding cabinet resignations as the death toll from a Bucharest nightclub fire reached 32, his ruling leftist party said.
At least 41 dead as cargo plane crashes in South Sudan
A Russian-built cargo plane with passengers on board crashed on Wednesday after taking off from the airport in South Sudan’s capital, killing at least 41 people on the flight and on the ground, an official and a Reuters witness said.
Western ‘Mainstream’ Extremism: Distortion, Fabrication and Falsification in the Financial Press
Over the past quarter century, the US and EU turned their focus from systemic adversaries (anti-capitalist and anti-imperial states and movements) to attacking capitalist regimes, which (1) had adopted nationalist, re-distributive and Keynesian policies; (2) had opposed military interventions, coups and bases; (3) had aligned with non-Western capitalist powers; (4) had opposed Zionist colonization of Palestine and Gulf State-financed Islamist terrorists; (5) and had refuse to follow the financial agendas dictated by Wall Street and the City of London investment houses, speculators and vulture funds.
The Western imperial regimes (by which we mean the US, Canada and the EU) have exercised their political, military, economic and propaganda powers to (1) eliminate or limit the variety of capitalist options; (2) control the kinds of market-state relations; and (3) secure compliance through punitive military invasions, occupations and economic sanctions against targeted adversaries.
Satelliten-Projekt „Tandem X“: USA drängen auf Daten-Deal mit der Bundeswehr
Die USA, fast alle Nato-Nationen, aber auch andere Partner wie Israel, Chile oder Australien könnten das System dann gemeinsam kostensparend nutzen.
Israeli forces to Aida camp: ‚We will gas you until you all die‘
(29.Oktober) Yazan Ikhlayel, 17, was at Aida refugee camp’s local community center when Israeli forces stormed the camp. He was filming Israeli jeeps rolling through one of the camp’s main roads shooting off tear gas from his iPhone when a soldier began issuing a message to residents from one of the jeep’s loud speakers
The ‘non-lethal’ chemical weapon killing Palestinians
While Aida is known for being politically charged, generally Israeli forces focus on protesters, but on Thursday the forces seemed to be ignoring the protesters and going for the general community instead, firing copious amounts of tear gas, Huessni said.
“The entire camp was full of gas,” he recalled. “We had to have people with gas masks all over in order to pull people who got stuck outside out of the white clouds”
Sisi comes to London: why is David Cameron welcoming Egypt’s autocrat to the UK?
In 2011, the British prime minister hailed democracy in Tahrir Square. Now he is receiving Abdel Fatah al-Sisi with open arms. What is a man who has overseen the state killings of more than 2,500 political opponents doing at Downing Street?
PETER OBORNE: Is there any tyrant so blood soaked we won‘t roll out the red carpet for him?
Though the Prime Minister does not say so, Cameron’s Britain now pursues what the late Mr Cook would term a ‘venal foreign policy’.
There is almost no torturer too brutal, no mass-murderer too bloodthirsty nor dictator too autocratic for David Cameron not to extend an invitation to visit Britain.
Egypt‘s Sisi says Britain, other NATO members must do more in Libya
Sisi said more also needed to be done to tackle the spread of Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
China‘s Xi to visit Vietnam; repairing ties after rig row
Nevertheless, geopolitical stakes are high for China as Vietnam‘s relationship with the United States warms rapidly, owing to Washington‘s opportunistic courting in the wake of the communist neighbors‘ bitter dispute over Beijing‘s provocative parking of an oil rig in disputed South China Sea waters.
Taiwan, China leaders to hold surprise meeting, first since end of civil war
Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks with his counterpart on neighboring Taiwan on Saturday, the first meeting of leaders from the two rivals since the Chinese civil war ended in 1949, coinciding with rising anti-China sentiment on Taiwan.
New information revealed on Israel‘s nuclear reactor in Dimona
(Mai 2015) Recently published documents shed new light on the secretive program and role of John Kerry‘s father in it
Dimona Nuclear Reactor Gave Millions in Business to Former Senior Employee
Haaretz investigative report: After the reactor was forced to privatize part of its operations, it found new owners – a subsidiary and former employees, even though a legal opinion ruled this out
Israel’s economy minister resigned on Sunday, opening the way for the government to greenlight a multibillion dollar gas deal with US energy giant Noble Energy, a statement from the Prime Minister’s office said.
Netanyahu, who is already acting foreign minister, will now assume control over the economy ministry and press ahead with the deal.
Israel hints at air force cooperation with Jordan, Egypt
Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli fighter pilots recently trained with Arab counterparts in the United States, the regime’s Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Tuesday, referring to a joint exercise that a US official described as involving Jordanian planes.
‘Systematic crimes against media freedoms’: Israeli forces raid, shut down Palestinian radio station
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) broke into the office of the Palestinian Manbar al-Hurriyya (Freedom Tribune) radio station on Tuesday and destroyed the contents of its offices, including the walls and interior. The security forces also confiscated all the station’s broadcasting equipment and ripped out the wires in the building as well.