GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES – Page 1054 – GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Civilians Killed by US Largely Ignored as Endless Global War Continues

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

Contradicting a version of events presented by the U.S. military and reported widely by the corporate press, a human rights group and a journalist in Yemen are citing witnesses who said a raid by U.S. Navy SEALs on Monday night killed multiple innocent civilians and not just “Al Qaeda militants” as the Pentagon claimed.

“This new flawed raid by President Trump shows the US is not capable of distinguishing a terrorist from an innocent civilian.”
—Kate Higham, ReprieveReprieve, a UK-based human rights group, cited witnesses from the village of Al-Jubah in Marib province, where the raid took place, and offered the names of five civilians killed as Nasser Ali Mahdi Al-Adhal; Al-Ghader Saleh Salem Al-Adhal; Saleh Al-Taffaf; Yasser Al-Taffaf Al-Adhel; and Shebreen Saeed Salem Al-Adhal.

The witnesses said that none of those five were fighting for al-Qaeda and that Nasser al-Adhal, identified as being approximately 70-years-old and partially blind, was the first one shot by the U.S. soldiers when he mistook them for arriving guests and came out to greet them. According to Reprieve:

The four other villagers were killed when they started to argue with the Navy Seals after the shooting of Nasser al-Adhal. Six villagers were seriously injured, including another elderly man who was around 69-years-old.

Al-Qaeda fighters gathering nearby, who are thought to have been the original target of the raid, were alerted by the gunshots in the village and firefight ensued in which at least two of them were killed. The Navy SEALs then left with the help of air support from a helicopter.

Independent journalist Iona Craig, who has reported from the ground in Yemen for years, helped corroborate the version of events provided to Reprieve. “Five tribesmen amongst killed in US raid last night were not AQ,” Craig tweeted on Tuesday. “They were tribesmen of young activists who drove me from Mareb into Yakla.”

Part of the wider “global war on terror” that the U.S. began in the wake of the September 11th attacks in 2001, Yemen has been a target of drone strikes and clandestine operations for years. But as foreign policy experts and the people of Yemen have repeatedly stated, the use of drones and clandestine raids have only hardened Al-Qaeda’s position in the country and the killing of innocent civilians as provided a nearly perfect recruiting tool for the militant group.

In addition to backing the ongoing Saudi-led war against Yemen, the military under President Donald Trump has continued to target Al-Qaeda aligned forces in the country. In January, just days after his inauguration, Trump was roundly criticized for a botched raid that led to the death of one U.S. soldier and as many as thirty civilians, including children.

Kate Higham, head of the Assassinations Programme at Reprieve, said this week’s killing of more innocent Yemenis proves that Trump is no better than his predecessors when it comes to protecting civilian lives.

“This new flawed raid by President Trump shows the US is not capable of distinguishing a terrorist from an innocent civilian,” Higham said in a statement. “When even a 70-year-old is shot dead, it is clear these attacks are not targeted or precise. President Trump must order an immediate investigation into what went wrong and halt all raids and drone strikes before more innocent Yemenis are killed.”

Yemen, of course, is not the only place where the U.S. military is claiming innocent lives. On Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks casualties amid Syria’s ongoing civil war, reported the number of civilians killed by U.S. bombings over the last month has been the highest ever recorded over a 30-day time period. According to the group, 235 civilians were killed in U.S. airstrikes from April 23 to May 23. That number includes 44 children and 36 women.

“The past month of operations is the highest civilian toll since the coalition began bombing Syria,” Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told Agence-France Presse in an interview. “There has been a very big escalation.”

According to Rahman’s group, which is also based in the U.K., the U.S.-led coalition has now killed 1,481 civilians since operations against the Islamic State (ISIS) began in 2014. Of that total number, the groups says, 319 were children.

And as people mourned the horrific loss of life in Manchester this week, where innocent children and other concert-goers were targeted by a suicide bomber, it was difficult not to notice the difference between the attention various killings—all of them horrific and none of them possible to justify—received in the dominant western press.

As journalist and columnist Glenn Greenwald, citing the killings of those civilians in Yemen on Monday, asked, “More reporting that US killed 5 more innocent Yemenis yesterday. Will the media tell their stories, hear from their grieving relatives, etc?”

Click Here: Maori All Blacks Store

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Jeremy Corbyn's Bold Vision Puts UK on Verge of 'Amazing Political Upset'

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

As it looked as though the U.K. election might be heading towards shocking results and a hung Parliament, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May to resign while declaring his party’s campaign “has changed the face of British politics.”

Corbyn said people from across the country were “voting for hope for the future, and turning their backs on austerity.”

Based on exit polling and early returns, indications of the shocking outcome were being widely viewed as a rejection of May’s Conservative Party rule and a win for the bold, progressive vision Corbyn asserted—despite internal party tensions—as the Labour leader. If the trend holds, said journalist and Labour supporter Owen Jones, “then this is the most incredible amazing political upset in British history.”

Though final results have yet to be determined, British politics were nonetheless turned upside as it appeared that May and the Tories failed expectations and would likely be unable to claim a majority in Parliament. Even if the Tory’s retain the most seats overall, the ability of other parties to form a coalition with Labour would put her political future in severe jeopardy and make Corbyn the “odds on favorite” to become the nation’s next Prime Minister.

The Independent explains:

Many polls predicted a crushing defeat for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour, with the Conservatives gaining a considerable majority. Others were less generous towards May, and showed a dramatic narrowing between the two parties as their campaigns progressed. But even then, when the numbers were relatively favourable for Labour, the Conservatives were still out in front.

Click Here: Crystal Palace Shop

If you cast your mind back before the snap election was called, you may remember the double-digit leads the Tories held over Labour, and the huge advantage in popularity May had over Corbyn. With these in mind, many Labour supporters were resigned to the fact they were never going to win, and had their eyes on simply reducing Theresa May’s majority.

But as the tallies continue to come in, the newspaper added, “the future of [May’s] premiership, party and legacy could all be in doubt.”

“Any result that isn’t a decisive Tory victory will be a failure for May and her minions and send the message that you can’t just cut people to the bone, keep on cutting, crash the state into a wall and demand a gold throne to sit on…. There’s a progressive people’s fightback brewing, and it’s closer to victory than anyone dared to hope.” —journalist Laurie PennyIf May is ousted from leadership, explained columnist Laurie Penny writing at Salon, that would tell a tale of deep dissatisfaction in the U.K., especially among younger voters and those who have suffered most directly at the hands of Tory policies:

The Tories haven’t just fucked up this election. They’ve fucked up the country, mercilessly and for eight long years, and people are sick of them. In less than two terms, they have destroyed the welfare state; almost bankrupted our health service and school system; plunged millions of children into poverty; presided over an enormous uptick in racism, social division and terrorist violence; almost lost Scotland; utterly failed to balance the nation’s finances; and sent us spinning out of the European Union into the maw of decades of uncertainty, recession and fear. Racists are running brave in the streets. Food banks are the new normal. Millions of people are languishing in exhausting, low-paid work. People with disabilities are dying in their homes. School buildings are rotting. The mental health system is close to collapse. Young people have given up hope of starting families. People are poor, angry and scared.

In a speech accepting victory for his own seat in North Islington, Corbyn also said the elections results show that the British people have had enough of May and the Tories’ economic policies. He said people were inspired by the “For the Many, Not the Few Manifesto” that Labour put forth during the campaign and that he was proud people from across the country were “voting for hope for the future, and turning their backs on austerity.”

He added: “If there is a message from tonight’s result is this: the Prime Minister called the election because she wanted a mandate and lost votes, lost support and lost confidence. I would have thought that is enough to go, actually, and make way for a government which will be representative of all of the people!”

Watch:

As Penny concluded: “Any result that isn’t a decisive Tory victory will be a failure for May and her minions and send the message that you can’t just cut people to the bone, keep on cutting, crash the state into a wall and demand a gold throne to sit on. You can’t simply ignore poor and working people forever nor fob them off with empty racist rhetoric. Most important: There is an alternative. There always has been. There’s more than one way to turn away from centrist neoliberal stagnation. There’s a progressive people’s fightback brewing, and it’s closer to victory than anyone dared to hope.”

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Inside the $18,000 a night Indonesian resort where Jennifer Lawrence spent her honeymoon

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

Jennifer Lawrence and husband Cooke Maroney made worldwide headlines when they wed in a lavish ceremony in October, so it only makes sense that in order to get away from it all they went as far from Los Angeles as possible. Enter, Nihi Sumba, the luxury Indonesian resort promising total privacy.

Located on a remote Indonesian island a short flight from Jakarta, the resort is a favourite of the rich and famous thanks to its secluded grounds — all 530 private acres of it — and intimate 33 villas. Complete with a private beach and total serenity, the resort is just over the water from Australia and just a stone’s throw from neighbouring tourist islands including Lombok and Bali.

According to , Lawrence and Cooke stayed in the even more exclusive private residence usually occupied by the owner of the resort, Chris Burch. The property, named Mendaka, is said to cost AU$18,000 per night.

Previous guests of the resort have included Christian Bale, as well as Brody Jenner and Kaitlynn Carter who celebrated their wedding on the island in 2018.

The resort is the ultimate island retreat. Proving there’s merit in laid-back beach living with interiors to match, Nihi Sumba does understated luxury in spades. The private villas are nestled among trees, peeking out at the pristine coastline. Most have their own plunge pool and all are decorated in fresh and modern versions of traditional Indonesian design.

Almost treehouse-like in their style, each villa is custom-fitted in bespoke finishings and completed with a locally-thatched roof. The result is total island living — but more five-star chic than beachside shack.

Activities available to guests include horse riding (apparently done by the newlyweds), snorkelling and even swimming with turtles in the resort’s shallow beachfront.

Happy honeymoon, Jennifer and Cooke — next time, can we come?

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Kate Middleton proves a $34 Zara headband is the accessory of the season

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

11th Nov 2019

Over the weekend, the Duchess of Cambridge stepped out, along with a number of the royal family members—including her husband, Prince William, The Queen, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle—for a series of Remembrance Day events ahead of the official date of November 11, when those who died on duty in the First World War are remembered.

The duchess’s wardrobe is always carefully considered and for the Festival of Remembrance held at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening, an event which Town & Country reports featured musical performances from celebrities like Jeff Goldblum and James Blunt, Middleton’s ensemble was true to thoughtful form but with an affordable, on-trend, high street twist.

For the annual event—which the Royal British Legion website reports this year marked the 75th anniversary of the battles of 1944 and “the friendship of the British, Commonwealth and Allied armies who fought them,” along with the 100th anniversary of the GCHQ (a British intelligence and security organisation)—the duchess opted for an elegant-yet-muted look of a navy boat-neck long-sleeved midi dress paired with black tights and Jimmy Choo black velvet heels, as identified by What Kate Wore. For her accessories, the duchess wore a brooch featuring a trio of poppies—the symbol of remembrance—along with diamond and pearl earrings and notably, a black padded jewelled headband, which has been identified as a UK£17.99 (approximately AU$34) accessory from high street label, Zara.

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William attend the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 09, 2019 in London, England. Image credit: Getty Images

Hair accessories, particularly headbands, have been the must-have accessory of 2019, spotted on the runways (think: Prada’s iconic take in their spring/summer 2019 collection) and on the head of celebrities and street style stars the globe over. Middleton—whose style is endlessly copied and coveted—has taken the accessory of the season and given it a royal seal of approval, and an affordable one at that.

The duchess’s glossy brunette locks were held perfectly in place by the Zara headband, and when paired with the black and navy palette of her outfit, respectfully let the poppy brooch shine.

The duchess and her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle, then stepped out on Sunday morning for the Remembrance Day Sunday ceremony at The Cenotaph in London, wearing matching black looks. Middleton wore a military-style coat dress reportedly from Alexander McQueen (the same design house behind her wedding dress) with a matching black hat and an intricate hairstyle. The duchess wore another brooch featuring a poppy, notes this piece is the “Codebreakers Brooch from the Royal British Legion”. Markle too wore black, opting for a belted black coat reports is from Stella McCartney, who also featured in Markle’s wedding wardrobe, as the designer of her reception dress.

Click Here: cheap true religion jeans

Kate Middleton attends the annual Remembrance Sunday memorial at The Cenotaph on November 10, 2019 in London, England. Image credit: Getty Images

Interestingly, both Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney are British labels and played important fashion roles in their respective wearers weddings, a point that seems respectful on a day that commemorates the British armed forces.

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Finally! Meet Disney’s New Aladdin

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

George Pimentel/Getty

Disney’s lengthy search for its live-action Aladdin lead has come to a close with Mena Massoud. The Egypt-born, Canada-raised actor was announced for the titular role during the D23 Expo, a three-day fan convention in California, alongside Naomi Scott from Power Rangers as Jasmine and Will Smith as Genie.

“So honored & grateful for the opportunity to help bring this magical story to life once again,” Massoud tweeted after the news dropped. “Let’s get to work!”

Massoud has been working in television and film since 2011, amassing credits on Teen Nick’s Open Heart, The CW’s Nikita, and the Canadian series Saving Hope. But he’s largely remained under the radar — until this new boost to his celebrity stock.

Get to know the new Aladdin star below.

His first role was on Nikita

In 2011, Massoud appeared on “Covenants,” the 17th episode of Nikita season 1, his first credited role. He portrayed a member of Al-Qaeda, whose convoy was stopped by the border of Chechnya, thanks to the titular assassin.

Massoud has felt the sting of Hollywood’s diversity fight

Open Heart was Massoud’s most well-known gig in 2015, playing the character Jared, and even that point in his career was hard won.

“I grew up in a culturally different household,” he explained in an interview with Defective Geeks. “My parents saw certain things differently than other people. I went to schools that had a significantly large Caucasian population and I feel very fortunate because I was able to compare that perspective with my family’s. It allowed me to create a wider world view on things. Also, though, at this point in my career, being a visible minority in this industry still affects me.”

RELATED: Disney’s Live-Action Aladdin Finally Finds Its Stars

He continued, “I can’t compete for roles that require me to be Caucasian or African American, even if those characters really connect with me and intrigue me. The competition may be less, some people would say, but the amount of work to be had is less as well. However, I think the industry is growing more and more and starting to support actors of all cultural backgrounds.”

We’ll be seeing more of him beyond Aladdin

Alongside stars like John Krasinski and Timothy Hutton, Massoud will appear in Amazon’s straight-to-series Jack Ryan from creators Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland. He’ll play Tarek Kassar, “the best and brightest” of the CIA analysts, as well as a friend to Krasinski’s Jack Ryan. Busting Jack’s chops is part of their relationship.

RELATED: Dumbo Live-Action Remake Flying Toward 2019

Robin Williams helped inspire him to pursue acting

Massoud’s new role in Aladdin couldn’t be more significant for the actor. According to an interview with the website The Hudsucker, the late Robin Williams, “in everything he did,” was a major inspiration for Massoud to pursue acting. Massoud would transfer from the University of Toronto to an arts program at Ryerson University. “He was an incredibly well-rounded actor but I grew up on his role in Mrs. Doubtfire,” Massoud said of Williams. “That role by itself is very well-rounded and he goes through an amazing journey in that movie. I think it’s very underrated.”

Williams, of course, iconically voiced the Genie in Disney’s animated original of Aladdin.

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Yara Shahidi Just Scored a Pretty High-Profile Babysitting Client

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

Stars are just like us—except for, you know … the multi-million dollar vacations, designer freebies, star-studded parties, and celebrity networks. But aside from those things, we’re all leading identical lives, right?

Case in point, Blackish actress Yara Shahidi met an idol of hers at the BET Awards on Sunday. Instead of hiding away and snapping far-off pics from her iPhone (what we would do, TBH), the Harvard-bound star actually went up to “the phenomenal” Chance the Rapper and not only met him, but offered to babysit for his 22-month-old daughter, Kensli Bennett.

“I met the phenomenal @chancetherapper and I offered to babysit (IM GEEKED) #MamaweMadeIt #BETAwards,” Shahidi wrote on Sunday.

Click Here: pinko shop cheap

Chance, another Obama fam favorite, took the actress up on her offer less than an hour later, writing:

“It was awesome to meet you! And yeah whenever your avail.”

Honestly not sure who we’re more jealous of in this situation. Probably Yara, though, because LOOK. AT. THIS. BABY:

RELATED: You Have to Hear Michelle Obama’s Shout-Out to Chance The Rapper at the BET Awards

We’re expecting live updates from Yara the second they meet.

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Olive Garden Is Testing Online Breadsticks Delivery with Amazon

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

Ever have an intense craving for Olive Garden breadsticks? Amazon understands. That’s why they’re currently testing a system where you can order your Olive Garden soup, salad, and breadsticks online through Amazon Prime. No restaurant guest pagers required.

“The only way Amazon is in our world right now is through Amazon Prime delivery,” said Gene Lee, the CEO of Darden Restaurants. “We have a test going on with them. We’ll continue to partner with them and see if we can make that work.”

And, well—can it? We need to know ASAP. Hey, we’ll even be in the test group if that makes things a little easier.

This partnership may be taking place because ToGo orders are becoming more and more popular. According to CNBC, Olive Garden has seen a 16 percent rise with their takeout orders.

Click Here: mochila fjallraven

Coinage Video: Amazon Is Changing the Way We Shop

So, it makes sense for them to research other ways for guests to grab some of their food without having to, y’know, put on pants.

Of course, there’s a few details about this deal that Lee hasn’t been as open with. For one, we don’t know if we’ll be able to order from the full menu. And, we also don’t know if the other Darden Restaurants—which include but aren’t limited to LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s, and Bahama Breeze—will also be participating.

Tapping into the restaurant industry is nothing new for Amazon. In fact, some major cities have the ability to order from their Amazon Restaurants section with their Prime membership. With this program, Amazon promises delivery within one hour, and even offers $10 off your first order. That’s a pretty good deal, as far as breadsticks are concerned.

RELATED: Chanel Just Won a Multimillion-Dollar Lawsuit Against Amazon Sellers

If the team over at Olive Garden find a solution that works, we’ll truly believe that there’s nothing Amazon can’t do.

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Madonna’s Twin Girls Sing and Dance as They Channel Shakira

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

If your mother is Madonna, we’re guessing you spend a lot of days (and perhaps a few evenings) dancing, singing, and having the most fun any child could have.

Well, our theories were proven true by Madonna’s latest post on Instagram. It features a video of her adorable twin daughters, Stella and Esther Mwale, whom she adopted back in February. In the clip, the cute duo is dancing and singing their hearts out to Shakira’s hit song, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”

The pair matched in yellow, rose-embroidered T-shirts and matching tutus. (So we may also be using them for style inspiration before the summer is over.)

Naturally, Madonna’s loyal fans went crazy in her comments to show their love for the girls. “I love seeing videos of these beautiful children,” and “I live for these posts on your Instagram,” are just a couple that demonstrate how happy the video made everyone.

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty

Stella and Esther have become quite the social media stars since Madonna adopted them from Malawi. She frequently posts pictures of them in darling outfits and simply just having a good time.

RELATED: This Just in: Madonna Adopts Twin Sisters from Malawi

Click Here: liverpool mens jersey

Talk about being put in the best mood ever.

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

This May Be the Deeper Meaning of Gendry’s Fake Name on Game of Thrones

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

Warning: This post contains spoilers for season seven of Game of Thrones.

After more than three seasons without even a mention of his name, Gendry finally made his triumphant return in Sunday’s episode of Game of Thrones. But after recruiting him to Jon Snow’s cause, Davos Seaworth tried to convince Gendry to introduce himself to the King in the North using an alias.

“The King’s got a lot on his mind…He doesn’t need to be thinking about harboring the bastard of a dead king,” Davos told him, referring to the fact that Gendry is the illegitimate son of Robert Baratheon. “You’re just Clovis, a smith who’s come to pay his respects before he heads off to work at the Winterfell forges.”

Gendry completely ignored Davos’ advice, choosing to reveal his true identity to Jon. But some fans believe the fake name was a clue about what’s in store for the lovable blacksmith.

“Before Gendry goes rogue and tells Jon exactly who he is, Davos tries to convince him to use an alias,” Reddit user fifthpilgrim wrote. “The fake name that Davos comes up with for Gendry is ‘Clovis’ and appears to be a little insight into Gendry’s future role in the show. In the real world, there is a stone tool technology (see: spear/arrow heads and other stone tools) called Clovis. The significance of dragonglass (obsidian) this season, along with Gendry’s skill as a smith highlights the importance of Davos’ fake name for him. This appears to be a clever connection put in by the writers to suggest that Gendry will survive beyond the Wall and will become the person to make the weapons out of the dragonglass for the war against the dead.”

This theory seems plausible considering Jon recently came into an entire mine’s worth of dragonglass that needs to be forged into viable weapons. However, there is also speculation that the name may have been a reference to the Frankish king Clovis I.

“Clovis was the first king of the Franks to unite everyone (in what is now France) under one ruler, fixing a huge succession issue,” user yogurtraisin wrote. “He created the Merovingian dynasty, which lasted for two centuries. I think this was very intentional, and the Gendry will have a big part in repairing the issue of succession in Westeros.”

RELATED: Ikea Released Instructions on How to Make Your Own Jon Snow-Style Cape

Whatever the case, let’s just hope nobody sends Gendry away in a rowboat again anytime soon.

The sixth episode of Game of Thrones‘ seventh season airs Aug. 20 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Click Here: liverpool mens jersey

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Michelle Obama Says She Still Faces Racism After Being First Lady for 8 Years

November 13, 2019 | News | No Comments

Michelle Obama might have left the White House, but she’s still inspiring women each and every day. The former First Lady spoke at the Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s 30th anniversary celebration on Tuesday in Denver, giving a powerful speech asking women not to give up.

The former FLOTUS was interviewed by WFCO President and CEO Lauren Casteel, who asked Obama what it was like breaking the glass ceiling to become the first black first lady—and which of the “falling shards” cut the deepest.

Jason Bahr/Getty

“The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut,” she said, according to The Denver Post. “Knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who won’t see me for what I am because of my skin color.”

Click Here: liverpool mens jersey

“Women, we endure those cuts in so many ways that we don’t even notice we’re cut,” she continued. “We are living with small tiny cuts, and we are bleeding every single day. And we’re still getting up.”

VIDEO: Michelle Obama Gets Honest About Post-White House Life

For the rare public appearance since leaving the White House, Obama looked radiant in a pink printed dress and white stilettos. As her husband, Barack Obama, has done for public appearances, she steered clear of addressing specifics regarding the current administration, but she did bestow a message of hope upon the 8,500-person audience. “The people in this country are universally good and kind and honest and decent,” she said. “Don’t be afraid of the country you live in. The folks here are good.”

RELATED: Michelle and Malia Obama Tour the Indonesian City Where Barack’s Mom Worked in Breezy Summer Looks

Wise words.

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Recent News

Author: GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES