Trudeau, Macron and Boris walk into a bar...

Or something like that.

"Novice" Macron's Gray Matter questioned by Erdogan.

("I am busy pretending to be the leader of a country.")

RT: Macron should have his own ‘brain death’ checked before attacking NATO allies, Erdogan says.

French President Emmanuel Macron should determine the level of his own “brain death,” before accusing NATO of lacking gray matter, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan has quipped.

France has no right to criticize Turkey’s military incursion into Syria, or to make presumptions about NATO as a whole, Erdogan said in a speech at the University of Marmara in Istanbul on Friday. The Turkish leader even attacked Macron personally, retooling the French president’s claim that NATO was suffering from “brain death.”

    "First of all, have your own brain death checked. These statements are suitable only to people like you who are in a state of brain death," [said Erdogan].

Daily Mail: Erdogan slams 'brain dead' Emmanuel Macron for his criticism of NATO.

'You know how to show off but you cannot even properly pay for NATO. You are a novice,' Erdogan said.

'Believe me, Macron is very inexperienced. He doesn't know what fighting against terror is. That is why yellow vests invaded France,' he added, referring to the French protest movement of the past year.

Lyon, France Terror Attack: Suitcase Detonated Had Remote Control System

Sputnik News: Suitcase Detonated Had Remote Control System.

The suitcase that exploded near a bakery in the French city of Lyon on Friday had a remote control system, local media reported on Saturday, citing sources close to investigators.

According to the BFMTV channel, the detonated bag contained flechettes and a remote control system.
[.]
As shown by CCTV cameras, a man, aged 30-35, rode a bicycle to the bakery and set aside a bundle, which subsequently exploded. The law enforcement forces failed to idenify the person responsible for the attack despite having the CCTV footage as the perpetrator was wearing sunglasses and a cap. The police are now searching for the suspect who is still on the loose, according to French anti-terrorism prosecutor.

Daily Mail: Manhunt for Lyon 'nail bomber' suspect in sunglasses and a cap.

The parcel bomb was packed with nails, screws and bolts outside a bakery[.]
[.]
Police issued an appeal for witnesses on Twitter as they sought the man believed to be in his early 30s, who was picked up by security cameras on a mountain bike immediately before the explosion.

 Image via Daily Mail

Reuters: Terrorist attacker used homemade explosives.

A source close to the investigation said traces of DNA were isolated from the remnants of the bomb. Police found the attacker used triacetone triperoxide or TATP, a powerful homemade explosive.

The case is being handled as a terrorism investigation given the circumstances of the attack, committed in broad daylight, and the use of an explosive device capable of hitting a large number of people with screws and metal balls packed into a bag[.]

Sputnik News: 28th week of Yellow Vests Protests.

Activists have gathered on Saturday in different cities in France for the 28th consecutive week of Yellow Vests protests.

In the lead up to the European Parliament elections, the biggest Yellow Vests marches are being held in Paris and Amiens, the birthplace of the incumbent French president.

Sputnik News Video:  Yellow Vests Hold 28th Week of Mass Protests in Paris.

Lyon, France Attack; most MSM headlines couch their wording and Macron eventually utters, "Attack".

BBC: "Explosion" injures pedestrians in Lyon.

Reuters: "Suspected suitcase bomber blast" in Lyon.

Newsday: "Low force blast" in French city of Lyon wounds 7; "cause unclear".

Bloomaberg: "Blast in French City of Lyon...Cause Unknown."

ABC News: Blast leaves 8 with "minor injuries".

Daily Telegraph: 13 injured in Nail Bomb blast.

Daily Mail: Terror attack in Lyon: Police hunt man seen leaving parcel bomb outside bakery that left 'at least 13' injured including an eight-year-old girl, as Macron condemns the 'attack'.

Breitbart: President Macron Confirms Lyon Explosion is ‘Attack’.

It's a mystery who, or what group, is responsible for this low force, cause-unknown, explosion terrorist attack.

World News

SMH: The cough syrup codeine addiction.

Patients hooked on cough syrup and dependent on painkillers are turning up to GP clinics suffering from opioid withdrawals one year after the over-to-counter codeine ban was enforced.
[.]
...some have likely stockpiled the products before the over-the-counter ban was enforced.

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NZ Herald: Emiliano Sala body identified.

An inquest into the tragic death of Emiliano Sala has revealed the football star died from "head and trunk" injuries when the plane he was travelling on crashed into the ocean.

Sala's body was recovered from the seabed wreckage last week after he disappeared on January 22.
[.]
[He] was identified by his fingerprints.

Daily Mail: Full investigation into crashed flight may take one year.

Such a tragic ending for someone just starting life and doing what he loved.
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The Chosunilbo: North Korea's Kimmy Junior's Mercedes.

"Close-up pictures of the [car suggests] Kim may have opted for the exclusive and heavily-armored 'Guard' model," the website added.

And AM radio.

Kimmy Junior's Mercedes

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BBC: Russia to unplug from the internet?

Russia is considering whether to disconnect from the global internet briefly, as part of a test of its cyber-defences.

The test will mean data passing between Russian citizens and organisations stays inside the nation rather than being routed internationally.
[.]
The test is expected to happen before 1 April[.]

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CGTN: Ultima Thule is flat, like a pancake. Previously likened to resembling a snowman...

...an object nicknamed "Ultima Thule" in the Kuiper Belt, to be flat rather than spherical, according to the latest images sent back to Earth.
[.]
Previously scientists called Ultima Thule "snowman" as the first close-up images revealed its two distinct and spherical segments.

 Uma Thurman  Ultima Thule

Clarksville Online: More on Uma Thurman Ultima Thule.
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KMSP Fox 9: You're stuck in Cancun because of a flight delay...heading back to Minnesota.

And the conditions in Cancun are unpleasant; acknowledged. Still, you're in Cancun...heading back to...Minnesota. I'm not sure I see a problem here...
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9 News: Ukraine's An-225, biggest aircraft sits unfinished.

Towering over everything is the massive fuselage of the unfinished An-225. It's a beast of a thing. If ever completed, it will have a length of 84 metres - a whole nine metres longer than the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380 superjumbo.

 The An-225, aka Mriya, (Ukranian for dream) has the capacity

 to carry other aircrafts inside or on top of it as it flies. Image: AAP

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The Telegraph: Six out of ten Yellow Vests believe Princess Diana was murdered.

The poll also reveals that almost a quarter of “gilets jaunes” are convinced that a terror attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg was a diversionary tact by the government to spoil their latest round of protests.

Breitbart: 150 Yellow Vests have their phones tapped, says French Media.

Le Point claims that intelligence services are tracking 50 activists in Paris and 100 in the rest of the country[.]
[.]
The claim of government spying also follows an increased level of violence by police toward protestors[sic][.]

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NZ Herald: Inside a L.A. legal weed shop.

"It's like an 'Apple store' for weed."

World News

EU (still) Making Sausages Reforms in Copyright Laws

This is a Must Read by, and at, Julia Reda.com. 

Article 13 is almost finished – and it will change the internet as we know it.

... EU copyright reform law have resumed: After missing the original Christmas deadline, negotiators for the European Parliament and Council are now aiming to finalise the text on January 21, 2019.

The negotiators have reached agreement on the core of Article 13, which will change the internet as we know it: They want to make internet platforms directly liable for any copyright infringements their users commit.

What remains to be decided: Exactly what lengths will platforms need to go to to avoid or limit their liability? Just how much they will need to restrict our ability to post and share our creations online?

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NYT: New caravan forming in Honduras.

More than 300,000 Central Americans entered Mexico last year, most of them illegally, and an estimated 80 percent of them were bound for the United States border, Ms. Sánchez Cordero said.

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Reuters: PG&E multi-billion dollar bankruptcy?

PG&E, which carries a hefty debt load of more than $18 billion, is expected to soon disclose a large financial charge related to liabilities resulting from catastrophic November blazes.

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France 24: Macron looks to calm the Yellow Vests.

Macron's initiative comes after nine weeks of protests by the "yellow vests" -- named after the high-visibility jackets they wear. The disparate anti-government uprising has wreaked havoc in Paris and French cities, shaken the economy and challenged his authority.

BBC: Yellow Vests disable 60% of speed cameras.

Good for them!
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Sky News: Polish mayor stabbed on stage.

Pawel Adamowicz, who is the mayor of Gdansk, was attacked in front of hundreds of onlookers in the city during an event in aid of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.

Doctors said he underwent five hours of surgery for wounds to his heart and abdomen but that "the next hours will decide everything".
[.]
According to Polish broadcaster TVN, the suspect shouted from the stage and claimed that he had been wrongly imprisoned by the previous government.

Sky News: Stage of stabbing attack.

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The Diplomat: China's interest in Antarctica, space, the moon AND Antarctica.

China views exploration of outer space as part of its overall national development. Its space-based BeiDou 2 system aims for global coverage by 2020. Furthermore, China aims to have a human-crewed space station by 2020-22 and a space-based solar power station by 2050, all to protect China’s national interests. Comparable to its actions in Antarctica, Chinese nationalistic goals and somewhat imperialistic advance will likely determine the shape of future conflict.

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ING: Why a Brexit delay is likely.

 ...it’s worth noting that there are at least two ways the law-making process alone could force a Brexit delay.

BBC: "Brexit Box" survival kits flying off shelves.

"People from all over the UK are buying it and those that can afford more are purchasing more than just the Brexit box, perhaps the three-month or six month packs."

BBC: Theresa May says no Brexit more likely than no deal.

Labour has vowed to table a vote of no confidence if Mrs May loses.

Its leader Jeremy Corbyn said Labour would vote against the deal and would start moves to trigger a general election if it is voted down.

Daily Mail: Boris stirs up the anti-Mays.

9 News: May says no deal means catastrophe.
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GLB News: The already overcrowded 2020 declared Dem presidential candidates.

Easier to raise hands if you're a Dem and not running for president.
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SMH: Australia, where some workers choose lifestyle over pay.
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Singapore Straits: Stowaway bird appears 12 hours into flight.

Business-class passengers [were] greeted by [ a mynah bird ]  about 12 hours into the flight. A typical Singapore-London flight takes about 14 hours.

My mind is completely blank. Can't think of a one-or-two-liner on the stowaway bird. Anyone?

France Surrenders Gets Tough on Yellow Vests

Evening Standard: New legislation to punish Yellow Vests.

France plans to introduce new legislation to punish protesters after seven weeks of violent “yellow vest” demonstrations.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe spoke after rioters torched motorbikes and set barricades on fire on Paris's upmarket Boulevard Saint-Germain on Saturday.

Morning Star: Wearing masks will be banned.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who compared the protesters to “football hooligans,” said new legislation would ban so-called troublemakers from demonstrations and ban the wearing of masks.
[.]
[The Yellow Vests] are demanding the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron whose hard-line response to the protest movement appears to have backfired with no sign of the demonstrations ending.

Concessions offered by Mr Macron, including pausing the unpopular fuel tax, have been rejected as anger grows over poverty and unemployment.

Last week saw the arrest of prominent gilets jaunes activist Eric Drouet, a truck driver from Paris, who was charged with “organising an undeclared demonstration.”

And former professional boxer Christophe Dettinger was arrested yesterday after video footage in which he appeared to be punching a police riot officer went viral.

Heh...Hooligans. Such a great, yet underused, word. BTW, 'Ze vee-dee-o ov ze box-ar paan-ching ze po-leez ovvizer iz here.

Banning the wearing of masks obviously brings the question of how will they specifically define what is, and isn't, a mask? Clown masks? Crazy Clown masks? What about a Head-Face ski mask for warmth? A Neck-scarf? I suppose these will be outlawed. What about Purdahs?

More importantly...what about Mort from Bazooka Joe? Would France deny entry to Mort for refusing to lower his turtle neck shirt?

Mort