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Noam Chomsky visits Julian Assange

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Noam Chomsky Julian Assange

by teleSUR

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has received a visit from one of his most prominent supporters.

U.S. academic and political dissident Noam Chomsky visited Wikileaks founder Julian Assange Tuesday, despite an ongoing police presence outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

The two made a brief appearance on the embassy balcony. According to Wikileaks, Assange and Chomsky went on the balcony to “take in the view of the police operation against the Ecuadorian embassy.”

The embassy has been encircled by a 24-hour police presence for two years. Assange has been trapped in the embassy since 2012, when he applied for asylum.

Ecuador subsequently granted him asylum. However, the U.K. government has refused to allow him safe passage to Ecuador, arguing British authorities are obliged to extradite him to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning in relation to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Assange claims if he is sent to Sweden, he would face a serious risk of extradition to the United States, where he fears he would face charges in relation to the disclosure of classified government documents.

Chomsky, a world reknowned linguist and analyst of global affairs, has previously expressed support for Assange.

“Someone who courageously carries out actions in defense of democratic rights deserves applause, not hysterical denunciation and punishment,” Chomsky once stated regarding Assange.

For more on Assange, check out teleSUR English’s interview with the Wikileaks founder.

(Reuters, AFP, Wikileaks)

Modi’s Kashmir visit coincides with Babri Masjid demolition

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babri-masjid

Srinagar/Authintmail: Prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Indian administered Kashmir will coincide with the demolition of the historic Babri Masjid.

Modi will address his first election rally in Kashmir on December 6 which was when, in 1992, rampaging mobs of Hindu zealots tore down Babri Masjid located in Ayodhya town of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

The demolition was blamed on the right-wing Kar Sevaks associated with RSS, which is the parent organization of Modi’s Bhartiya Janta Party.

The consequences of the demolition of 16th century mosque are still felt across India where riots are a common occurrence in many parts.

Modi is likely to address voters in Srinagar which will be his first rally in Kashmir.

His party has sought permission from the state government to hold the rally at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar.

Thousands of people are expected to participate in the rally with BJP sources saying that people from 10 districts of the region are going to attend it.

Future in Safe Palms

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smriti-irani-astrolger

by Anand Mazgaonkar

Ms. Smriti Irani consulting her astrologer is her private matter. In fact most things she does might be private matters. Election victory does turn things into private property. Astrological advice is the wisest thing one can do. It is her sacrifice for the Nation. We all know she has very selflessly dedicated herself to the service of the nation.

It is not only an absolutely self-abnegating act on her part, she’s had the foresight to ensure that there will be no vacuum when Mr Pranab Mukherjee finishes his term. Shri Nathulal Vyas has put to rest a whole Nation’s anxiety and reassured us that there will be continuity after Mr Pranab Mukherjee. Our bull run of happy days, ‘Achhe Din’ continues endlessly. For the first time in our country’s history we have a President-in-waiting.

She is indeed the most eligible person we have for President. For long we’ve experienced a dearth of talent in Rashtrapati Bhavan. It’s been long since someone like Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed or Giani Zail Singh adorned that office.

Who better can we have as President than someone who’s ‘educated’ at Yale, has acted in soap operas, and has been flexible in ‘altering’ her opinions and positions. Remember she was distressed by the violence in Gujarat in 2002, and the then Chief Minister’s handling of the situation, until better wisdom dawned on her and she ‘adapted’ her opinion. Since then its been ‘Achche Din’ for her, never mind loss of elections. She generously wants to share her fortune with the country now.

Where the Nation’s Education is concerned, never mind an unclear, distorted, mis-stated, over-stated personal educational record, a future foretold by astrologers is what must guide us.

Becoming Minister immediately after losing elections is easy, especially if you’re not alone. Remember Mr Arun Jaitley also belongs to that chosen breed? Becoming President in case of an election defeat may need a Constitutional amendment. But, that is a small matter if an astrologer has ordained it.

Luckily, astrology must have been the guiding principle in the whole Cabinet formation. Mr Nitin Gadkari (Qualification: Purti fame), Mr Nihal Chand Meghwal (Qualification: Rape charge), Mr D V Sadanand Gowda (Qualification: Successful defence of son from rape charge) are shining examples where business dealings, criminal charges or their children’s actions added a feather in their caps.

In any case our electoral system does need reform. Even Mr Arvind Kejriwal has been calling for it. MPs, and MLAs deciding who will hold the country’s highest office is absolutely irrational. That should be entrusted to a Khap Panchayat consisting of astrologers, religious luminaries and Corporate honchos.

Today, India’s Education is in safe hands, tomorrow every aspect of India’s future, including ceremonial future will be in safe hands. Mrs. Irani’s formidable record as Human Resources Development Minister inspires tremendous confidence. As HRD Minister she’s has not executed blindly, unilaterally, the Sangh Parivar’s Education and Culture agenda, she seems to have consulted astrologers too.

Hopefully, our next Budget may be determined by Mr Nathulal Vyas’ (or someone from his profession) reading of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s palm. Actually, Mr Vyas reading Adani’s or Ambani’s palm might be even better. Fotunately that’s how SBI’s $ 1 billion loan to Adanis Australian coal mining project seems to have been cleared.

(Anand Mazgaonkar is with Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, Gujarat and Adviser to National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM))

Australian batsman Phillip Hughes is dead

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Phillip Hughes

Sydney: Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, who was struck on the head by a cricket ball died in hospital, authorities said Thursday.

The incident took place when Hughes was playing in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hughes has died, said Cricket Australia in a statement Thursday.

“He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday,” Sydney Morning Herald cited the statement as saying.

“He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends. As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”

Hughes, 25, has been in an induced coma since the accident Tuesday afternoon.

(IANS)

Nine soldiers indicted for Kashmir killings

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Hundreds join the funeral prayers of two youths killed in Army firing in Chattergam area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district late Monday evening. Photo: Faisal Khan

Hundreds join the funeral prayers of two youths killed in Army firing in Chattergam area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district late Monday evening. Photo: Faisal Khan

Srinagar: Nine soldiers have been indicted for killing two youth in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district Nov 3 and will face court martial, the army said here Thursday.

“Nine soldiers of the 53 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), including a junior commissioned officer, have been indicted for the firing incident in Chattergam area in which two youth were killed.

“The court of inquiry appointed to probe the firing has found gross violation of rules of engagement by the involved soldiers. They have been indicted. There has been a total failure of the command by the officer in charge,” a senior army officer told IANS here.

Widespread public anger followed the killings of two youth – Faisal Yusuf Bhat and Mehrajuddin Dar – in Chattergam area of Budgam district Nov 3 by a mobile vehicle check post set up by the soldiers of 53 RR.

The army had initially said the car in which the youth were travelling had not halted at the security checkpoint.

Lieutenant General D.S. Hooda, GOC-in-C of army’s northern command, later admitted the deployed column of the RR had overstepped its brief and violated the rules of engagement while opening fire at the car.

(IANS)

A TED-Ed Lesson Explaining How Breathing Triggers a Complex System to Transport Oxygen Throughout the Body

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In the TED-Ed lesson “How Do the Lungs Work?,” beautifully animated by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club and scored by Dave Feddock, educator Emma Bryce explains how the body uses a complex system to transport oxygen triggered solely through the simple act of breathing.

Breathing, in other words, keeps the body alive. So, how do we accomplish this crucial and complex task without even thinking about it? The answer lies in our body’s respiratory system. Like any machinery, it consists of specialized components, and requires a trigger to start functioning. Here, the components are the structures and tissues making up the lungs, as well as the various other respiratory organs connected to them. And to get this machine moving, we need the autonomic nervous system, our brain’s unconscious control center for the vital functions.

Police say no to 'Kiss of Love' in Bengaluru

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KISS-OF-LOVE

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru city police have finally denied permission for controversial ‘Kiss of Love’, a protest to condemn moral policing, on the grounds that it promotes obscenity.

City Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi, during a press conference, said that the decision to deny permission was taken as the event had resulted in serious law and order problems in Kochi and New Delhi.

He said Rachitha Taneja, one of the organisers, had submitted a petition before the DCP (Central) seeking permission to hold the event on November 30.

The police wanted to ascertain the number of people participating in the event. Taneja said the organisers were not aware of the number of participants and refused to owe responsibility for any untoward incident during the event.

The police collected information from a neighbouring state where a similar event was organised and realised that such an event in a public place promotes obscenity. So permission was refused, said the commissioner.

Mr Reddi said: “The organisers of Kiss of Love event failed to furnish crucial details sought by the Bengaluru Police. Moreover, they refused to owe responsibility for any untoward incident during the event. Hence, the police refused permission.”

The commissioner clarified that permission was refused under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code (obscene acts and songs) and provisions under the Karnataka Police Act 65.

The aim and objective of the event remained unknown. After much deliberations and considering the pros and cons, the police decided to refuse permission, Reddi added. As the number of people supporting the event went up by the day, so did those opposing it.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sandeep Patil said that whoever violates the police decision would be dealt with seriously.

However, an organiser of the New Delhi event alleged, “The police behaved as though they were taking the side of the protestors. We were there only to kiss. Clearly, we could not be responsible for law and order problems.”

The event was mired in controversy due to opposition from politicians cutting across party lines and also Karnataka State Women’s Commission Chairperson Manjula Manasa.

Military-Grade Malware linked to U.S and British Intelligence Agencies

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With ‘degree of technical competence rarely seen,’ Regin technology found infecting government and telecom systems in Russia and Saudi Arabia

Symantec, which published a technical whitepaper on the malware Sunday, says it's likely "one of the main cyberespionage tools used by a nation state." (Photo: Grant Hutchinson/flickr/cc)

Symantec, which published a technical whitepaper on the malware Sunday, says it’s likely “one of the main cyberespionage tools used by a nation state.” (Photo: Grant Hutchinson/flickr/cc)

by Lauren McCauley, Common Dreams

Security researchers have recently exposed a sophisticated new “military grade” malware program which is specifically targeting governments, academics and telecoms and, according to new reports, is suspected as being the handiwork of U.S. and British intelligence agencies.

According to security analysts with the Russian security firm Kaspersky Lab, which has been tracking the malware known as “Regin” for two years, the technology has two main objectives: intelligence gathering and facilitating other types of attacks.

Perhaps most notable, security researchers point out, is that none of the targets are based in either the U.S. or U.K. According to the Guardian, 28 percent of victims are based in Russia and 24 percent are based in Saudi Arabia. Ireland, with 9 percent of detected infections, has the third highest number of targets.

Since initial signs of the malicious software emerged in 2008, there have only been 100 or so victims uncovered globally. These include telecom operators, government institutions, multi-national political bodies, financial institutions, research institutions, and individuals involved in advanced mathematical/cryptographical research.

Described as highly complex, the malware works by disguising itself as Microsoft software and then stealing data through such channels as “capturing screenshots, taking control of the mouse’s point-and-click functions, stealing passwords, monitoring the victim’s web activity and retrieving deleted files,” according to Guardian reporter Tom Fox-Brewster.

Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure, told Fox-Brewster that his firm does not believe Regin was made by Russia or China, “the usual suspects.” According to Fox-Brewster, this leaves the U.S., U.K. or Israel as the “most likely candidates,” an assumption that Symantec threat researcher Candid Wueest said was “probable.”

On Monday, Intercept reporters Morgan Marquis-Boire, Claudio Guarnieri, and Ryan Gallagher published the first of an investigative series on Regin. Specifically, they note, Regin is the suspected technology behind both a GCHQ surveillance attack on Belgium telecom operator Belacom as well as an infection of European Union computer systems carried out by the National Security Agency. Both attacks were revealed last year through documents leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

On Sunday, Symantec was the first to report on the technology, publishing a technical whitepaper which described Regin as “a complex piece of malware whose structure displays a degree of technical competence rarely seen.”

“Its capabilities and the level of resources behind Regin indicate that it is one of the main cyberespionage tools used by a nation state,” the paper continues.

Uproar as Tony Blair given 'Global Legacy' award from renowned charity

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‘We consider this award inappropriate and a betrayal to Save the Children’s founding principles and values,’ charge Save the Children staff.

Tony Blair pictured at the Munich Security Conference 2014. (Photo: Marc Müller/cc)

Tony Blair pictured at the Munich Security Conference 2014. (Photo: Marc Müller/cc)

by Sarah Lazare, Common Dreams

International charity Save the Children is facing uproar, including from internal staff, for granting the “global legacy award” to former UK Prime Minister and Iraq War architect Tony Blair.

The award was given to Blair by the U.S. arm of the organization at a gala in New York City last week. Save the Children, which claims “protecting children from harm” as a key mission, lauded Blair for his alleged role heading anti-poverty initiatives at the 2005 Group of Eight summit in Scotland and for his “continued commitment to Africa.”

The move unleashed a torrent of criticism, including a petition, with over 90,000 signatures so far, calling on Save the Children to revoke the award on the basis that Blair is seen by many as “the cause of the deaths of countless children in the Middle East with damning allegations relating to his role as Middle East envoy and businesses dealings with autocratic rulers and others in the region.”

Critiques erupted across social media platforms, including Twitter:

Within Save the Children, an internal letter denouncing the award as “morally reprehensible” gathered nearly 200 signatures, including from some senior staff members, the Guardian reports.

“We consider this award inappropriate and a betrayal to Save the Children’s founding principles and values,” the letter states. “Management staff in the region were not communicated with nor consulted about the award and were caught by surprise with this decision.”

Staff warned that the award threatens the credibility of Save the Children, given that figures at the head of the charity have close ties with Blair, including John Forsyth, UK chief executive for Save the Children, who was a special adviser to Blair for three years.

Krista Armstrong, global media manager for the charity, reportedly told theGuardian last week that Save the Children has received a “high volume of complaints and negative reactions to rewarding the award.”

Blair was also awarded as “philanthropist of the year” by GQ in September—a decision that was also met with widespread criticism and shock.

Egyptian dictator president says his regime is ready to protect Israel

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Sisi-Egypt-Israel

by Middle East Monitor

Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah Al-Sisi told an Italian newspaper that his country is ready to send troops to Palestine in order to guarantee Israel’s security and work jointly against terrorism.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Al-Sisi said: “We are prepared to send military forces inside a Palestinian state. They would help the local police and reassure Israelis in their role as guarantors.”

The former military general stressed that any such troop deployment would only be for the time needed to restore trust between the two sides.

According to Reuters, Al-Sisi added that he has spoken about this idea ‘at length’ with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

“I told [Netanyahu] a courageous step was needed otherwise nothing would be resolved,” he said.

Al-Sisi led the July 2013 military coup that ousted Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi. Since then, the Egyptian government has criminalised the Muslim Brotherhood organisation, which Morsi was a member of, and deepened the Israeli siege of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by closing the Rafah Border crossing in order to raise pressure against the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, which is an ally of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Post by Middle East Monitor.

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