Cause of Massive Farm Fires in Iraq Unknown
Iraqi farmers were able to stockpile enough wheat to become self-sufficient earlier this month. ISIS withdrawing from farmland regions provided a brief respite from the constant conflict raging in the Middle East. Now, that security is threatened by massive fires destroying farmland at an alarming rate.
Iraqi production of wheat reached 4 million tons of local wheat which makes Iraq achieves self-sufficiency in strategic crops. Ministry of Trade announced recently. pic.twitter.com/UpFMZuUi9p
— Mosul Eye عين الموصل (@MosulEye) August 6, 2019
Farmers say they’ve never seen fires this large before. The Iraqi government, however, downplays the impact that the crop burnings have. Situations like the ones below tell the true story.
This is currently going on in two parts of Kurdistan (Iraq & Syria). According to locals and security sources, remnants of ISIS but also Arab settlers burn Kurdish farmers' crops to put them under pressure to either pay a ransom or to leave their home regions respectively. pic.twitter.com/kSb5vfTTm5
— Polla Garmiany ☀️ (@PollaGarmiany) June 10, 2019
Iraq claims that these fires are caused by accidents and other natural causes. Farmers (who have seen the destruction first-hand for years) say otherwise. They say there’s something else causing gigantic billows of flame — anyone familiar with the region knows it’s not a far-fetched claim.
$3.4 Million in Fake Luxury Items Seized at LA Airport
A massive shipment of counterfeit luxury goods from Hong Kong was confiscated this week. If the criminals had gotten away with this scheme, they would have been an estimated $3.4 million richer. This shipment consisted of nearly 5,300 items including Gucci belts, Hermes handbags, and Nike shoes.
Recent developments in counterfeit detection technology are partially to thank for this $3.4 million catch. One New York startup utilizes AI and other techniques to spot fakes. Their tech has been immensely helpful to Dubai and other countries in their quest to keep fake luxury goods off the market.
#INTERVIEW:NY-headquartered #startup, now eight years old and with more than 600 customers worldwide, uses #AI and microscopic fingerprinting to detect fake luxury goods – one of the biggest markets for counterfeiting
*helps Dubai spot fakes https://t.co/V18YFvj3IX pic.twitter.com/gdJ3XS8pJm— STARTinfoUP (@moueller1961) August 11, 2019
Dems Call to Abolish Filibuster
When the Dems can’t get their way, they turn to changing laws to directly benefit their cause. Harry Reid, former Senate Majority Leader, calls for an end to the filibuster. Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren also wants to abolish this time-honored tactic.
The filibuster was created in 1806 and NOW Dems want it gone because they can’t easily pass their legislation. It’s a vital part of our democracy to ensure that the tyranny of the majority doesn’t entrench itself in American politics. There’s no telling how poorly our country would have turned out without the filibuster.
I don’t think people realize how ugly 2017 and 2018 would have been if there weren’t a legislative filibuster. https://t.co/yVoFM7eAyB
— Danny Funaro (@Danny_Funaro) August 9, 2019
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