Syria - Russian strikes on Idlib kill 8 including children

BEIRUT - At least eight people, including five children, were killed Tuesday in Russian air strikes on a school in northwest Syria sheltering displaced civilians, according to a war monitor.

The strikes targeted the village of Jubass near the town of Saraqeb in southern Idlib province, killing civilians sheltering in and near a school, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Since Thursday, regime forces supported by Russian airstrikes have taken control of dozens of towns and villages in the area.

They are now less than four kilometres (two miles) from the strategic city of Maaret al-Numan, the head of the Britain-based monitor, Rami Abdel Rahman, said.

On Tuesday, jihadist fighters and rebels managed to retake Talmanes and an adjacent village, said the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources across Syria.

Idlib is dominated by the country's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The region hosts some three million people including many displaced by years of violence in other parts of Syria.

The Damascus regime, which now controls 70 percent of Syria, has repeatedly vowed to take back the area.

Backed by Moscow, Damascus launched a blistering offensive against Idlib in April, killing around 1,000 civilians and displacing more than 400,000 people.

Despite a ceasefire announced in August, the bombardment has continued, killing hundreds of civilians and fighters.

Syria's war has killed over 370,000 people and displaced millions since beginning in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Iraqi protesters mourn dead activist

DIWANIYAH - Hundreds of anti-government protesters marched Wednesday in southern Iraq to mourn a dead activist after a night during which the headquarters of two pro-Iran militias were set on fire, a correspondent reported.

The demonstrators oppose the political class that has run the oil-rich yet poverty-hit country since a 2003 US-led invasion overthrew dictator Saddam Hussein. They accuse leaders of enriching themselves and of being beholden to neighbour Iran.

Thaer al-Tayeb, a prominent activist from the city of Diwaniya, went to Baghdad's Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the unprecedented revolt shaking Iraq, when the rallies started nearly three months ago.

A suspicious explosion hit Tayeb's car on December 15, badly wounding him and fellow activist Ali al-Madani, back in Tayeb's hometown 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Baghdad.

After Tayeb's death in hospital was announced Tuesday, crowds of demonstrators rushed to the two local headquarters of pro-Iran militias and torched them.

First they set fire to the building of the powerful Badr organisation, run by the parliamentary head of the pro-Iran paramilitaries, Hadi al-Ameri.

Then they torched the headquarters of Assaib Ahl al-Haq, a group whose head Qais al-Khazali is subject to sanctions by the United States, accused of "kidnapping, murder and torture".

Protesters also blocked roads with burning car tyres in the southern city of Basra.

Around 460 protesters have been killed since the start of the demonstrations in early October and 25,000 have been wounded.

Rallies have continued despite a campaign of intimidation that has included targeted killings and abductions of activists, which the United Nations blames on militias.

After dwindling in recent weeks following a string of killings, the protest campaign has rediscovered its vigour at a time when political factions are wrangling over a replacement for outgoing premier Adel Abdel Mahdi.

He quit in November in the face of the massive protests, and negotiations to fill his post have remained deadlocked since the latest in a series of deadlines expired at midnight on Sunday.

KANO, NIGERIA - Boko Haram jihadists have killed seven people on Christmas Eve

KANO, NIGERIA - Boko Haram jihadists have killed seven people on Christmas Eve in a raid on a Christian village near the town of Chibok in northeast Nigeria's Borno state, local militia and residents told AFP Wednesday.

Dozens of fighters driving trucks and motorcycles stormed into Kwarangulum late Tuesday, shooting fleeing residents and burning homes after looting food supplies.

Boko Haram and its IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction have recently stepped up attacks on military and civilian targets.

"They killed seven people and abducted a teenage girl in the attack," local vigilante David Bitrus said.

"They took away food stuff and burnt many houses before leaving," he said, adding that a church was also burnt.

The jihadists were believed to have attacked from Boko Haram's nearby Sambisa forest enclave, said Chibok community leader Ayuba Alamson who confirmed the toll.

In April, Boko Haram raided Kwarangulum, 16 kilometres (10 miles) from Chibok, stealing food and burning the entire village.

Residents had managed to flee before the arrival of the jihadists following tip-off from people who saw the gunmen heading toward the village.

Chibok is the scene of the mass kidnap of 276 schoolgirls in 2014 by Boko Haram which sparked global outrage and drew international attention to the group's notoriety.

Fifty-seven of the girls escaped shortly after the kidnap. Another 107 have been either rescued or released after negotiations while 112 remain in captivity.

Troops have been stationed in Chibok since the kidnap but deadly Boko Haram raids continue in the area.

The decade-long conflict has killed 36,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes in the northeast, according to the United Nations.

The violence has spread to nearby Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the jihadist groups.

Italy: Serie A slammed for anti-racism campaign showing 3 monkeys (Western, Asian, Black)

Italy's top football league, Serie A, has received widespread criticism after selecting paintings of three monkeys to adorn the walls of its Milan headquarters as it launched an anti-racism campaign on Monday.

The artwork was commissioned following ongoing accusations of racism within Italian football.

Sports website Football Italia tweeted an image of the video, commenting: "Yes, it's really real."

"With this trio of paintings, I would like to show that we are all the same race," artist Simone Fugazzotto said.

"In fact, when the Lega commissioned a work against racism last May, I immediately thought to paint a western monkey, an Asian monkey and a black monkey, because I would like to change people's perceptions by my work," he added.

Amnesty says more than 300 killed in Iran protest crackdown

At least 304 people were killed and thousands more injured during a three-day crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran in mid-November, Amnesty International said Monday.

The London-based rights group had previously estimated 208 deaths, while the US special representative to Iran said that up to 1,000 people may have been killed. Iranian officials have not released official death figures.

Read more: Iranian journalists in Europe face threats and harassment from regime in Tehran

Amnesty said it had collected "harrowing testimony" and analyzed videos revealing how Basij militia and Revolutionary Guard members killed hundreds of protesters between November 15 and 18.

"The majority of the deaths that the organization has recorded occurred as a result of gunshots to the head, heart, neck and other vital organs indicating that the security forces were shooting to kill," it said.

Authorities then went on to implement a "wide-scale clampdown designed to instill fear and prevent anyone from speaking out about what happened."

"Iran's authorities are carrying out a vicious crackdown following the outbreak of nationwide protests on 15 November, arresting thousands of protesters as well as journalists, human rights defenders and students to stop them from speaking out about Iran's ruthless repression," Amnesty said.

Islamist rebels kill dozens in DR Congo

Local leaders have accused a Ugandan rebel group, known as the Allied Democratic Forces, of killing civilians in an eastern town. Large parts of eastern DRC are in the grip of armed militias.

Islamist rebels hacked to death at least 22 civilians in Beni, a town in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), local officials said on Sunday

The attack, which was carried out overnight Saturday, was blamed on rebel fighters from the radical Islamist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), according to Noella Katsongerwaki, civil society president in Beni.

"The enemy operated silently. We have already found 22 bodies and the search continues," Katsongerwaki told German press agency dpa.

The victims were farmers and included 13 women, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Katsongerwaki.

Uber Driver wanted for murder

Uber Diver, Abbas Abdal Kathem Abed, is wanted for the homicide of 31yr-old mother found dead in her hotel room.

Sheridan police say they still haven’t found Abbas Abdal Kathem Abed or the 2011 Silver Dodge Grand Caravan with Colorado license plate VOR-925 that he’s connected with.

Adam Schiff town hall meeting (Gone Wrong)

Liar!" at least one attendee at the Glendale event yelled.

The commotion escalated from there, with a number of people present bearing signs or shirts supporting President Trump and opposing the impeachment process. Schiff is one of the leaders of the impeachment inquiry, which is expected to lead to a vote by the full House later this week.

"You will be going to jail for treason!" one man could be heard shouting in videos from the event that were posted online. The man acknowledged the outburst was unrelated to the purpose of the event, stating, "No disrespect to you all, I'm glad you guys are getting recognized for your genocide, but this man is a f-----g liar!"

Beijing protests after US expels two Chinese diplomats who drove onto military base

China on Monday said it had lodged a protest with the United States after it 

expelled two Chinese diplomats

 who reportedly drove onto a US military base.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the allegations made by the US against the Chinese diplomats were not in line with the facts.

“We strongly demand that the US immediately correct its mistake, cancel the decision and protect the legitimate rights of Chinese diplomats in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” Geng said during a press briefing in Beijing.

“I want to remind the US again that international relations should be based on the mutual agreement of providing convenience and protection to diplomatic staff as stipulated in the Vienna convention.”

Nigerian students deported to Bosnia plead to be sent home

Pair mistaken for being illegal immigrants by Croatian police say they are victims of injustice

Two Nigerian student table tennis players are begging authorities in Sarajevo to return them to their home country after they were wrongly deported to Bosnia by Croatian police, who mistook them for undocumented migrants.

In an interview with the Guardian, Abia Uchenna Alexandro and Eboh Kenneth Chinedu said they were victims of injustice and that the only reason they were forcibly taken to Bosnia is that they are black.

San Diego - 2400 pound weed bust!

SAN DIEGO – CBP officers assigned to the Tecate cargo facility seized over 2,400 pounds of marijuana comingled in a shipment of wood furniture.

“This is another example of the outstanding work accomplished by CBP officers and further stresses the importance of thorough inspection of goods entering the United States,” said Shawn Carroll, Officer in Charge at the Tecate port of entry. “CBP officers serve with vigilance and are prepared to stop further smuggling attempts.”

On Dec. 10, at about 10:30 a.m., a 25-year-old male Mexican citizen entered the port of entry driving a white bobtail truck with cargo manifested as wood furniture. The CBP officer referred the truck for further inspection.

A CBP officer utilizing the port’s imaging system detected anomalies concealed within the contents of the bobtail truck. When the conveyance arrived to the dock, a CBP canine team screened the commodity and alerted to the palletized shipment of wooden furniture.  CBP officers opened the pieces of furniture and discovered large wrapped packages. 

CBP officers extracted 81 large wrapped packages of marijuana commingled within the shipment of wood furniture, weighing over 2,400 pounds with an estimated street value of $990,000.

CBP seized the truck and marijuana. 

3 Babies born in Border Patrol Custody in one day.

Release Date: 

December 13, 2019

COLUMBUS, N.M. – It is unusual but not unheard of to have a mother deliver a baby at a border port of entry. However rarely does that happen twice and almost three times in a matter of hours but that’s exactly what happened at the Columbus port early Thursday morning.

“Service to the community is a CBP core value although it is not usually associated with assisting in the birth of child, or in this case multiple children,” said Columbus Port Director Tony Hall. “I commend the officers involved for their quick response to a series of unexpected medical emergencies that needed immediate attention.”

At 1:25 a.m. a Mexican ambulance arrived transporting a woman who was in labor. CBP officers immediately contacted emergency medical services but the baby girl would not wait. CBP officers noticed that birth was imminent and provided an obstetrical kit to the Mexican medical technicians to administer an emergency delivery. The baby was born at 1:33 a.m. EMS arrived a short time later and transported the family to Mimbres Memorial Hospital in Deming.

At 1:57 a.m. another pregnant female arrived and requested help because she 41 weeks pregnant and in labor. EMS arrived before the baby boy was born and transported the female from the port to Mimbres Memorial Hospital.

At 4:39 a.m. CBP officers encountered another female in labor arrive from Mexico. As a CBP officer was requesting assistance the woman dropped to the sidewalk and went into delivery. Several CBP officers quickly arrived with an obstetrical kit and helped deliver the baby girl. Mother and newborn were brought inside and monitored by CBP personnel until EMS arrived at 5:08 a.m. The mother and child were then transported by EMS to Mimbres Memorial Hospital.

Tucson - CBP bust a Guatemalan for the 2nd time .

Release Date: 

December 13, 2019

TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a previously deported illegal alien with a felony criminal record after he re-entered the United States near Sells today.

Just past midnight, Tucson Sector agents encountered Edin Francisco Gamez-Barrios while patrolling the desert south of Sells.

During processing, agents discovered the 38-year-old Guatemalan national had been charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance by Montgomery County, Maryland, in 2015. He was sentenced to 30 months in jail and 24 months of supervised release. Gamez-Barrios was removed from the United States on July 3, 2019.

Gamez-Barrios is being held in federal custody, pending federal immigration charges. 

All persons apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using biometrics to ensure illegal aliens with criminal histories are positively identified.

CBP -2 tons of Cocaine bust!

Release Date: 

December 9, 2019

Four suspects caught with narcotics valued at over $51M

Drug smugglers haul large loads of cocaine towards the U.S. using
stealthy low-profile vessels (LPV).

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Two P-3 aircrews from Air and Marine Operations found a low-profile vessel (LPV) off the coast of South America and followed it until the U.S. Coast Guard arrived and seized the cocaine discovered aboard the craft valued at over $51,000,000.

A Corpus Christi-based aircrew had just departed its deployment base in South America for a patrol when the radar operator detected a tiny target on the water. When the sensor operator zoomed in with the P-3’s sophisticated camera system, they saw an LPV; a stealthy boat that the drug cartels use for the sole purpose of smuggling drugs. The aircrew continued to track the vessel for several hours until an aircraft from AMO’s other P-3 base in Jacksonville, Florida, arrived to continue the chase.

The two aircraft took turns watching the smugglers until the US Coast Guard reached the vessel on Nov. 17. The AMO crews were happy to find out that their efforts led to the Coast Guard’s detaining four smugglers and seizing 3,900 pounds of cocaine.

CBP big meth Bust!

LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers intercepted a significant amount of hard narcotics with an estimated street value of more than $453,000 in one enforcement action at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge.

“I congratulate our frontline officers for their firm commitment to carry out the CBP mission and protect the public from illegal narcotics,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.

Packages containing 22 pounds of
methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at
Juarez-Lincoln Bridge.

The seizure occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2003 Ford Escape driven by a 48-year-old female Mexican citizen who resides in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas for a secondary examination. Upon a canine and non-intrusive imaging inspection by CBP officers, a total 22 pounds of alleged methamphetamine was discovered. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $453,265.

CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle. The driver was arrested and the case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.

Border News: Sex offender arrested

EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley continue to encounter criminal aliens.

On Wednesday, Rio Grande City Border Patrol agents working near Roma, Texas, arrested a Guatemalan national later identified as Ronel Esau De LEON- Baltazar for being illegally present in the United States. During processing, record checks confirmed a previous arrest in Plano, Texas for Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact. De LEON-Baltazar was subsequently convicted and sentenced to four years confinement.

The following day, Rio Grande City agents arrested a Salvadoran national after he illegally entered the United States.  Record checks revealed a previous arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department for Sexual offense on a Child under 14. A judge convicted and sentenced the man to three years confinement.

Border Patrol Apprehends MS-13 Gang Member

Release Date: 

December 12, 2019

TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Tucson Sector arrested an admitted MS-13 gang member near Douglas, Thursday afternoon.

The arrest occurred around noon, when Border Patrol agents on patrol observed a man illegally enter the United States west of the Douglas Port of Entry. Agents arrested the man and transported him to the station for processing.

During processing, record checks revealed the man was identified as Gonzalo Garcia-Gonzales, a 26-year-old Mexican national. Record checks also revealed that Garcia is a documented MS-13 gang member.

Garcia has been previously ordered removed from the United States, the most recent being on February 09, 2019.

Garcia is being held in federal custody pending further criminal prosecution.  All arrested individuals are presumed innocent pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

Egyptian-born U.S. citizen arrested

A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to keeping classified national defense documents at his home without proper authorization.

Federal prosecutors said Friday that 66-year-old Ahmedelhadi Yassin Serageldin, an Egyptian-born U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty to willfully retaining national defense information.

He faces up to 10 years at prison at sentencing scheduled for April. Federal agents conducting a search warrant at the former Raytheon engineer’s Sharon home found thousands of paper documents and electronic files belonging to Raytheon or the Department of Defense, many of which were marked as containing classified information.

American Homeland Security News: Iran - 148 lashes for woman and 10 years in prison...

American Homeland Security News: Iran - 148 lashes for woman and 10 years in prison...: Marzieh Amiri was sentenced to 10-year and six months prison term and 148 lashes Posted on:  August 24th, 2019 Marzieh Amiri, a jou...

Iran - 148 lashes for woman and 10 years in prison

Marzieh Amiri was sentenced to 10-year and six months prison term and 148 lashes

Posted on: August 24th, 2019

Marzieh Amiri, a journalist at Shargh newspaper, was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison and 148 lashes by the Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court on August 24, 2019. She was arrested alongside several labor activists who had been arrested during a protest demonstration in Tehran on the International Labor Day.

On May 1, police arrested Marzieh Amiri while covering a Labor Day demonstration in front of the Iranian parliament building in Tehran. Police arrested several labor activists during the rally. She was detained and interrogated in ward 2-Alef of Evin Prison, which is under the supervision of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization. A week after, she was transferred to the solidarity confinement in ward 209 of the Evin Prison which is under administration of Ministry of Intelligence. Eventually, on June 8, 2019, she was transferred to women’s ward of the Evin Prison.

She received her indictment on July 3, 2019 when she was transferred to the Branch 28 of Revolutionary Court in Tehran. She was charged with “assembly and collusion”, “propaganda against the state”, and “disrupting public order”.

She was tried on August 13, 2019, at the Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, led by judge Mohammad Moghiseh. Her sister, Samira Amiri, wrote on her personal page on social media that Marzieh was sentenced to 148 lashes and 10 and a half years in prison. Based on the Article 134 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, the charge with the highest penalty will be considered; this means that Marzieh Amiri should serve six years in prison. Judge Moghiseh has denied her requests to set a bail and her temporary release for medical treatment although she suffered once from epileptic seizure in prison.

Sex offender wanted by FBI.

A felony arrest warrant was issued for Navarrete Jr. on June 19, according to the FBI. He is charged with four counts of lewd acts with a child under 14, three counts of sex acts with a child under 10 and four counts of oral sex with a child under 10.

FBI

Jose Arturo Navarrete, Jr.

A federal arrest warrant was issued on Aug. 22 after Navarrete Jr. was charged with “unlawful flight to avoid prosecution," officials said.

Navarrete Jr. was last seen in Texas. Officials said he may be in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas or Mexico.

The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information

New York- Man arrested for hate crimes.

MANHATTAN — Police have made an arrest in a series of hate crime attacks in Manhattan earlier this month , one of which a woman was hit with a brick.

Todd Lyons, 33, was taken into custody Friday afternoon for his alleged involvement in the incidents that occurred between Aug. 9 and Aug. 14. He faces assault and hate crime assault charges.

Tucson AZ - New tunnel found west of Deconcini Port of Entry.

TUCSON, Ariz. – On Sunday, U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered the second cross-border tunnel running beneath the streets of Nogales in less than a week.

Nogales Border Patrol agents
located a tunnel west of the
DeConcini Crossing on
Sunday

Tucson Sector agents discovered the tunnel west of the Deconcini Port of Entry and only 50 yards east of the tunnel discovered days prior.

Mexico’s Policia Federal subsequently located the tunnel’s entrance in the floor of the existing Grand Avenue Drainage System in Mexico. The tunnel followed the footer of the International Boundary Fence at a depth of about 10 feet, crossed beneath it, and came up approximately 5 feet north of the fence.

Agents discovered the 125th
border tunnel within the
Tucson Sector

U.S. authorities remediated the tunnel on Monday, December 9. This is the 125th tunnel discovered in the Tucson Sector since 1990 and the second discovered this month.

U.S. Border Patrol frequently works with strategic partners to conduct joint operations, and binational cooperation with Mexico plays a vital role in border security. These efforts aim to prevent the movement of illegal contraband or persons across the border.