Category Archives: Ww3

World War 3 concerns have been triggered worldwide following the death of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani in a US airstrike. In response, Iran has sworn to exact harsh revenge, promising Iran and the other free nations of the region will take revenge for this gruesome crime from criminal America. Express.co.uk has compiled a guide for the flashpoints where World War 3 is most likely to erupt in 2020.

On Friday, January 3, the USA undertook a drone airstrike following a series of orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the past few months and attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad, all of which was done on the orders of General Soleimani.

US President Donald Trump approved of the assault on General Soleimani claiming the action was undertaken to make the world a safer place.

In a statement, the Pentagon said: At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qassem Soleimani.

It added: This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans.

The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world.

Now Iran has sworn harsh revenge and promised to turn day into night.

This assassination has been dubbed by many high-ranking Iranians a declaration of war.

Donald Trump has warned the US could act disproportionately if Iran targets any American person or target in revenge for the killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani.

Since that time, Iran "unintentionally" shot down a Ukranian passenger jet which saw 176 people killed.

READ MORE:Iran attack: Ukranian plane shot down accidentally, says US

Tensions between Iran and Israel have been frustrated for a while with low-intensity warfare raging across the Middle East as a result.

The former nation supports anti-Israel groups in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon in particular, while Israel often strikes at Iranian forces across the region.

Overall, Israel has endeavoured to create an anti-Iran coalition at a diplomatic level, while Iran has invested in cultivating ties with militias and non-state actors.

While it may be difficult to claim these nations will launch into a wider war if Iran is determined to restart its nuclear program, Israel may choose to engage in wider strikes hitting the Iranian homeland directly.

This type of assault could have wider implications as it could prove to be a threat to global oil supplies which would inevitably cause more nations to intercede.

Tensions between the US and Turkey has heightened over the past year, initially as a result of the US providing authorisation to Turkey to clear the Syrian border of US-supported Kurds.

However, immediately afterwards, the US threatened Ankara with sanctions, causing tensions to rise.

Additionally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested he has aspirations for Turkey which could involve nuclear weapons.

As a result, the state of the US-Turkey relationship has worsened, causing fear about the subsequent impact on the NATO alliance.

President Erdogan is known for being passionate about his plan which could force Washington and Ankara to the very edge and have a result on Russia who is a neighbouring nation.

DON'T MISSIran on the brink: Ex-Trump aide exposes exactly why US[INSIGHT]World War 3: Missile strike kills eight pro-Iranian militia members[EXPLAINER]World War 3 outbreak: BBC expert stuns Newsnight in Iran crash claim[ANALYSIS]

In the past 10 years, the relationship between India and Pakistan has worsened, bringing the countries to the brink of war.

Since the partition of British India in 1947 and the subsequent creation of India and Pakistan, the two countries have been involved in a number of wars, conflicts and military stand-offs interspersed with periods of harmony and peace.

In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attempted to reduce the autonomy of Kashmir and to change citizenship policies within the rest of India.

These steps have caused some unrest within India and highlighted the long-standing tensions between Delhi and Islamabad.

Further domestic disturbances in India and Pakistan could lead to World War 3.

While this is unlikely, it could lead to terrorist attacks internationally or in Kashmir.

President Modi might then feel forced to bring on a more serious conflict and given Chinas vicinity, and the growing relationship between Delhi and Washington could lead to more disastrous international implications.

Fundamental tensions at the heart of the US-North Korea relationship could result in combative action.

Tensions between the two countries now stand as high as at any time since 2017, and the impending US election could imperil relations further.

President Trumps administration appears to hold out hope a deal with North Korea could improve its electoral prospects in November.

But North Korea has little to no interest in Mr Trumps offering.

Recently, North Korea promised a Christmas present that many in the United States worried would be a nuclear or ballistic missile test.

However, this was not the case, but if the country did undertake a nuclear test, the US might be forced to intervene.

The US-China relationship has been particularly tense in recent years.

A trade deal between the two countries would seem to alleviate some tensions but implementation remains in question.

Currently, the worlds two largest economies are locked in a bitter trade battle.

The dispute, which has simmered for nearly 18 months, has seen the US and China impose tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of one anothers goods.

President Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft, while in China, there is a perception that the US is endeavouring to curb its rise as a global economic power.

At the same time, China has worked defiantly to assure its relations with Russia, while the US has sparked controversies with both South Korea and Japan, its two closest allies in the region.

Donald Trump and President Xi have staked much of their political reputations on the trade situations in each country and therefore both have incentives for diplomatic and economic escalation.

If the situation were to escalate, it could lead to military confrontation in areas such as the South or East China Seas.

Read more from the original source:

World War 3 MAPPED: The SIX places where WW3 could break out in 2020 - Express.co.uk

In the aftermath of the drone strike, World War 3 has been trending across social media.

Millions have expressed concern about the assassination and whether it could become the trigger for World War 3.

General Soleimani. 62, was responsible for commanding the Quds Force and attained celebrity status as a military mastermind for Irans war efforts in Syria and Iraq.

Since his death, several high-ranking Iranians have condemned the execution of General Soleimani.

The countrys President, Hassan Rouhani, promised Iran would continue to resist American expansionism and take revenge on the dead generals behalf.

Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami said: A crushing revenge will be taken for Soleimanis unjust assassination... We will take revenge from all those involved and responsible for his assassination.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted: The US act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani... is extremely dangerous and a foolish escalation. The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.

Read the original post:

World War 3: Is World War 3 official? Will WW3 happen and will the UK get involved? - Express.co.uk

That's right, memes, those images you see on social media that are created, shared, remixed and shared again.

A cursory glance at any of the content posted there is sure to leave the impression of a disingenuous and foolhardy person. But a deeper look reveals a far more complex portrait of a people using humor to mask their deep sense of dread.

One person familiar with the feeling is Kate Hewitt, a federal contractor and adviser at Girl Security, a nonprofit organization that educates girls in middle and high school on national security. She has authored several articles on Iran and researched the country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"People are certainly afraid and sometimes pictures, GIFs, memes and tweets can express what you either don't know how to or don't want to fully articulate," she told CNN.

"It's certainly easier for some people to see a meme that takes a serious issue, like what's happening with rising US-Iranian tensions, and makes you laugh either because it is absurd or you're afraid or you don't fully understand the issue," Hewitt said.

The threat of "WWIII" has loomed large on the internet for years

The subreddit languished for more than two years until a week ago. The forum's growth has been extraordinary, Price said.

"It was a huge shock. I actually completely forgot about the subreddit until it started growing last week," Price told CNN. "I think memes just happen whenever there's a big cultural event, regardless of the nature of it. A few years ago, a movement seemed to start where the darker the joke was, the more popular the meme was and I guess these new ww3 memes are just an extension of that."

Withorne cited the overuse of "the draft," instead of "conscription" or "selective service" on Twitter, and how people feared getting called up to serve in the US military.

"I think the language used specifically in the memes is particularly interesting and perhaps indicates that the people making them are not familiar with international conflict," Withorne told CNN via email. "I think this unawareness of the linguistics they are using is indicative of an unawareness about the nature of conflict itself and could be potentially dangerous as tensions continue to rise."

The simmering tension in the Middle East hits close to home for Iranians

While many Americas are using memes to filter their fears, Reza Akbari, a 22-year-old from Mashhad, Iran, used his Twitter account to share his unadulterated feelings.

Many of Akbari's other tweets include anger over the airstrikes that killed Qasem Soleimani, a revered and powerful figure. Soleimani loomed large in Iran as the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps elite Quds Force and the leader of the country's overseas operations.

"Still tears streaming down our eyes with his name and his memory ... and only with a vengeance on his killers Iran will lose a bit of our sadness ...Iran have nothing to do with the common people of US. Iran is taking revenge on US politicians," Reza told CNN through a Twitter message after the funeral.

Hannah Kaviani, a journalist at Radio Farda, the Iranian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, believes that recent history may explain why Iranians have responded on social media in their own way.

Iran, no stranger to military conflicts, has lived under the threat of war before.

"There are still pictures of soldiers of that war on the walls of cities and many streets around town bear their names. The state media is also very much trying to keep that memory alive through its own propaganda tools. But then I also think youth in Iran, due to so many different reasons, get involved in socio-political matters much sooner than in the West," Kaviani said.

"You see jokes going around on social media and messaging apps, about all sort of heavy news coming from inside and outside of the country," Kaviani told CNN.

"Obviously the talk of heightened tension between Iran and the US in the past days is the number one topic being discussed among Persian-speaking users on all platforms, and it has caused hot debates among those who believe a confrontation with the US can rid Iran from its current regime, those who are against war, and others who think Islamic Republic should confront the US."

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh, Zachary B. Wolf, Amir Vera and Veronica Stracqualursi contributed to this story.

See more here:

How Americans and Iranians are using memes and hashtags to cope with conflict - CNN

World War Three is alarmingly seeming more likely than ever as Iran/USA tensions boil. The Iranian crisis escalated after the USA killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike. Iran threatened severe revenge in response and on Tuesday Tehran fired ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases home to American troops.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard went on to warn the USA and its allies against responding militarily to any Iranian retaliation for the assassination of Soleimani.

The Guard issued the warning via a statement: We are warning all American allies, who gave their bases to its terrorist army, that any territory that is the starting point of aggressive acts against Iran will be targeted, reported Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.

As tensions rise, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have updated their travel advice to affected areas.

A number of countries in the Middle East now come with travel warnings, including Dubai, Turkey and Egypt.

READ MORE:World War Three: Safest countries in the world mapped

Today, the FCO issued an urgent warning to Britons in Iran and urged them to return home.

They now warn against travelling to the country. The FCO said: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to Iran.

Additionally, the FCO advise against all air travel to, from and within Iran. If youre in Iran, you should review your departure options and consider leaving the country.

There are heightened tensions in the region. On 8 January 2020, Iran fired missiles against two military bases in Iraq containing US personnel.

DON'T MISS

Tensions between Iran and other countries could escalate rapidly. Anger inside Iran is high, following the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a US strike in Baghdad on 3 January.

There is a possibility of an increased threat against Western interests and the security situation could worsen with little warning.

To add to the escalating tensions, a Ukraine International Airlines plane crashed moments after it left Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran at 6.10am local time (2.40am GMT) on Wednesday, bound for the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. There were 176 passengers on board flight PS752, all of whom died.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has since said he has "a body of information" that shows Iran is to blame for the crash.

However, Irans government spokesperson Ali Rabiei has since denied the country is responsible for the crash.

He said reports that a missile hit the Ukrainian plane is a psychological warfare against Tehran.

The FCO said of the tragedy: There is uncertainty surrounding the crash on 8 January of a Ukrainian International Airlines flight shortly after take-off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran.

If you decide to travel by air against FCO advice, contact your airline or travel company for the latest information before travelling.

Flight schedules may be subject to cancellation at short notice. There are alternative land and sea-based routes to leave Iran.

The Foreign Office issued advice to anyone still in Iran at this time. In the event of a sudden deterioration in the security station, there may be limits to the assistance the FCO can provide, depending on the security and transport situation, said the FCO.

Excerpt from:

WW3: Britons in this country urged to leave immediately as FCO issue new travel warning - Express

Killing me softlyJurgen Klopp is a wonderful football manager but an incredibly naive man. He thought that by uttering these words when asked about Kylian Mbappe absolutely no chance, sorry for killing that story! he would give the impression that there was absolutely no chance and, you know, kill the story. Silly, silly Jurgen.

More than two months later, the story is still flying. Absolutely flying. Largely thanks to the Liverpool Echo, who are hoovering up all of the clicks for saying pretty much every single day in a circuitous way that the story absolutely is not true. Via the medium of click-bait.

On January 13: Kylian Mbappe Liverpool transfer rumours: Fabinhos message, Reds early interest, Nike hint.

Literally hundreds of words later, the article ends with these words: Absolutely no chance, sorry for killing that story!

On January 15: A big possibility that Kylian Mbappe will move but Reds warned Liverpool transfer rumours rated.

Literally hundreds of words later, the article ends with these words: Absolutely no chance, sorry for killing that story!

Ever get the impression that somebody is taking the f***ing piss?

Big possibilityObviously the URL for the Echos latest Mbappe piece (https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/big-possibility-kylian-mbappe-move-17569071) is not misleading at all.

The big possibility actually refers to these quotes fromFrench football expert Julien Laurens when asked if Mbappe could leave this summer:

It pains me to say it, but theres a possibility, even a big possibility.

So does that mean he might join Liverpool?

Thats his dream, to play for Real Madrid and play for Zinedine Zidane.

Oh.

Still, theres definitely a big possibility that something will happen.

Clickety-clickety-click.

Shoulda, woulda, couldaMost football websites are in the business of making it seem like there could be a whole wealth of big-name deals yet to go through this January. This is the main headline on MailOnline on Wednesday morning:

Christian Eriksen to Inter Milan, Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United and Krzysztof Piatek to Tottenham the January transfer window is halfway gone and here are 10 deals that could still go through before the deadline

The very last line of the pieceon Moussa Dembele?

It would be difficult to get him out of the club in January, though, with president Jean-Michel Aulas refusing to let him go.

Our only question is why they didnt include Kylian Mbappe to Liverpool. Its a big possibility after all.

Curtain falls

Talking of naiveJORDAN HENDERSON is the surprise choice as England mens Player of the Year The Sun.

Its a public vote; the real surprise would be if a Liverpool player somehow didnt win.

Brady bunchKarren Brady appeared on Sky News, initially to talk about Philip Green, but then as part of a conversation which veered unflatteringly towards West Ham.

The footage is here:

and if you heart doesnt leap with joy when the interviewer asks why, despite their favourable ranking in the recent Deloitte report, West Ham have underperformed so badly (with a mischievous glint in his eye, no less), then you have no soul.

Also to be enjoyed:

Brady claiming that the Premier League table does, in fact, lie.

Spinning the decision to move to the Olympic Stadium as being an incontestably good move which is now serving the interests of the clubs community.

Will that be the community that you gleefully moved out of, Karren?

Hold the back pageYou know when its a slow day for football news when The Sun pretends to be interested in PFA finances for their back-page lead and the Daily Mail are pontificating about betting adverts on TV. The Daily Mirror? They are in the business of pretending that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said something interesting.

OLE AXES TRAINING TRIP.

Did he? Or did he merely say that they were looking at the Middle East but will now train somewhere in southern Europe instead?

Can you axe something that was never booked? Can you axe something that is still actually happening? Can you axe anything in an entirely non-violent and non-threatening way?

On a slow news day, you can do anything.

Priorities

This lot are rubbish!Darren Lewis gives short shrift to Tottenham in the inside pages of the Daily Mirror, writing that they were aided by a defensive display that explained why Jonathan Woodgates side sit 16th in the Championship.

Classic work from the national newspaper journalist who has never seen a visiting team in action.

They have lost one in eight in the Championship, Darren. And they were away to the actual Champions League runners-up.

Recommended watching of the day

See original here:

Mediawatch: Mbappe to Liverpool sh*te, Ole in WW3 fear and... - Football365.com

During the Fifties and Sixties,tensions between the Soviet Union andthe UScould not have been higher, as the pair tussled for ultimate supremacy both on the ground and in space.However, Ministry of Defence papers show how the RAF played a vital role in preventing the Soviets from considering launching a nuclear attack. Dated between1986 and 1990, the documents discuss a top secret V-force comprised of strategic nuclear bombers that could reach the USSR in minutes, stealthily avoiding detection and anti-air weapons by flying low.

The papers detail: In 1957 the V-force provided the UK with the ability to deliver nuclear strikes deep into the Soviet Union.

A Canberra (bomber jet) force with US warheads allowed for sub-strategic NATO options.

The demise of the Vulcan bomber and Canberra led to the transfer of this sub-strategic role to the F4 Phantoms inRAFGand Buccaneers in UK and RAFG.

When it became clear that theSoviet Union'ssurface-to-air missiles,like theS-75 Dvina, could bring down high-flying aircraft, the V bomber force was key for practising low-level attack methods.

They were capable of dropping both nuclear and conventional weapons, supported by a complexanalogue computersystem known as theNavigation and Bombing Systemthat allowed accurate bombing even over very long ranges.

Eventually, this technologywas rolled outto other NATO states.

The papers explained:In 1969, Polaris assumed the V-force responsibility.

Subsequently, three Phantoms (US Navy fighters) squadrons handed over to four Jaguar (French attack aircraft) squadrons.

The Buccaneers continued in the UK and in RAFG.

READ MORE:How Harold Wilson plotted nuclear deal with De Gaulle in snub to US

Eventually, Jaguars and Buccaneers handed over to seven Tornado squadrons and those Buccaneers in UK assigned to Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SAUCER) handed over to two Tornado squadrons and 16 other aircraft of the TWCU at Honington.

The Vulcan is also well-remembered for its conventionalBlack Buck bombing raidsduring the 1982Falklands War, to support the change in mission, a tanker aircraft version was also made.

However, the use of all V bombers as weapons platforms, nuclear or conventional, ended after the Falklands.

The Cold War did not thoughas tensions continued foranother nine years until the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1991, after a change in Soviet mindset was implemented underMikhail Gorbachev.

DON'T MISSWorld War 3: The single greatest threat to democracy[REVEALED]WW3 preparation: Where billionaires are building underground bunkers[PICTURES]China left scrambling over Taiwan independence: 'We will go to war!'[INSIGHT]

However,the eighth and last leader revealed in 2006 his real thoughts on what caused the fall of communismin Eastern Europe.

He said: The nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl, even more than my launch ofPerestroika, was perhaps the real cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union five years later.

The Chernobyl disaster was a devastating nuclear accident that occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near the city of Pripyat, Ukraine, on April 25, 1986.

It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history and is one of only two nuclear energy disasters rated at seven the maximum severity on theInternational Nuclear Event Scale, the other being the 2011Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disasterin Japan.

See the article here:

World War 3: Top secret RAF mission that saved world from nuclear attack revealed - Express.co.uk

The Indypendentscurated events calendar comes out every Wednesday online and once a month in print. Sign-up for our regulare-newsletterand you wont miss a thing. If there is an event you want others to learn aboutlet us know.

THURS DEC 54PM5:30PM FREEPROTEST: Bring the Close The Camps Vigil to the NYSE Tree LightingJoin Rise and Resist as it brings its Abolish ICE lights and holiday-themed signs to the 96th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the New York Stock Exchange. Remind revelers that seeking asylum is a human right and that the United States must stop detaining and deporting immigrants. The tree lighting begins at 5vp.m.. Meet up at 4 p.m. at Federal Hall on the NE corner of Wall St. and Broad St.New York Stock Exchange11 Wall St., Mnhtn

THRU JAN 15TUES, THURSUN 12PM6PM FREEART: No New Jails NYC The Art & Design of a MovementDesign, art, movement, dance and cultural work have been critical to No New Jails NYCs mission of imagining safety without prisons or police. Artists, filmmakers, poets and many more people have contributed their work to its campaign. Opening reception, Friday at 7 p.m.ABC No Rio in Exile at the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space155 Avenue C, Mnhtn

THRU DEC 8THUR & FRI 7PM, SAT & SUN 1PM & 7PM FREETHEATER: The Public Theater Mobile Units Measure for MeasureIn this production, set in 1979 New Orleans, Mardi Gras has been officially cancelled, yet the community is still celebrating. Temporarily left in charge by the Duke, the upright and uptight Lord Angelo has decided to crack down on the citys debauchery, arresting young Claudio for impregnating his fiance Juliet before their wedding. When virtuous Isabella, Claudios sister, hears of his death sentence, she begs Lord Angelo for mercy. But hypocritical Angelo propositions her instead, leaving Isabella with an impossible choice: save her soul or her brothers life. In this timely production, lovers and leaders in disguise reveal how those in power take advantage of those without it begging the question, can the law be both just and merciful?The Public Theater425 Lafayette St., Mnhtn

THRU DEC 15THURSUN, 8PM & 3PM $20THEATER: Bread & PuppetThe legendary theater troupe comes home to its Lower East Side roots with its annual holiday performance. This year features the Honey Lets Go Home Opera from Dec. 58 and the Diagonal Life Circus from Dec. 1215. ThursdaySaturday shows will be held at 8 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.Theater For the New City155 First Ave., Mnhtn

DEC 5DEC 6THUR 8PM, FRI 9:30PM $15$35PERFORMANCE: Forward FestivalAn annual tradition curated by 577 records that continues to delight audiences year after year with its surprising and eclectic lineup.Union Pool (Friday)484 Union Ave., Brooklyn&ShapeShifter Lab18 Whitwell Pl., Bklyn

FRI DEC 67:30PM10PM FREEPARTY: Certain Days 2020 Calendar Launch PartyCome on out and hear from people who made and contributed their art and articles to the 2020 Certain Days Freedom for Political Prisoners calendar. Now in its 19th year of publication, the calendar is required reading for radicals, leftists and all who support political prisoners and advocate the end of mass incarceration. Its filled with radical historical dates, 12 thought-provoking articles and beautiful artwork. All proceeds support prisoners and grassroots organizations.168 Canal St., 6th Fl., Mnhn

FRI DEC 69PM1AM FREEPARTY: Funk & File: Holiday Social and Organizing Fair with RPMRevolutions Per Minute, the official radio show and podcast of NYC-Democratic Socialists of America, is having a party and youre invited! Featuring a DJ set from SAREEN (brownprivilege.com) and a poster design donated by Dash Robb (dashiellrobb.com). DSA activists will present updates on their organizing work.Eris Evolution167 Graham Ave., Bklyn

SAT DEC 712PM1:30PM FREESCIENCE: Heading for Extinction (And What to Do About It)In this talk, members of Extinction Rebellion will share the latest climate science on where our planet is heading, discuss some of the current psychology around climate change, and offer solutions through the study of social movements.Abrons Arts Center466 Grand St., Mnhtn

SAT DEC 75:30PM FREETALK: Martyrs of McCarthyismA presentation and open discussion highlighting the lives and struggles of Paul Robeson and Vito Marcantonio.Penn South, Building 8A Community Room343 8th Ave., Mnhtn

SUN DEC 83:30PM5PM FREEPROTEST: All I Want for Christmas Is Free Abortion on DemandMost New Yorkers dont know that the Basilica of St. Patricks Old Cathedral in Nolita sends hundreds of parishioners to the Planned Parenthood down the street in protest every month. Help NYC For Abortion Rights spread the word and hold this church accountable for harassing patients. Come sing pro-abortion xmas carols! Songs include such soon-to-be-classics as Hark! The Herald Comrades Sing! Wear your most festive and/or pro-abortion sweaters.261 Mott St., Mnhtn

SUN DEC 84PM6PM FREEPARTY: WW3 illustrated Release PartyWW3 celebrates its 50th issue, Shameless Feminists, with readings and talks by artists and contributors.Printed Matter, Inc.231 11th Ave., Mnhtn

MON DEC 97PM9:30PM FREELIT: Gender Rebels: An Evening of Trans/Queer/Nonbinary ReadingsA night of fiction ranging from the surrealistic to the fantastical to the transgressive, courtesy of several upcoming LGBTQ writers.Bluestockings Bookstore, Caf, & Activist Center172 Allen St., Mnhtn

WED DEC 118:15PM FREECOMEDY: The Uprising Comedy ShowThe best and brightest comedians New York has to offer.Starr Bar214 Starr St., Bklyn

Follow this link:

Weekly NYC Events Calendar: Dec. 5 to Dec. 11 - The Indypendent

Gorbachev, the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union wasGeneralSecretary of the Communist Party from 1985 until 1991 and leader of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991.Now 88, he is widely praised for preventing World War 3 and bringingan end to the Cold War through diplomacy with US President Ronald Reagan.On Monday, he appeared on a BBC Radio 4 show ahead of the 30th anniversary of theBerlin Wallscollapse, where he warned the world is in colossal danger of nuclear wipeout.

The former USSR leader said: "As long as weapons of mass destruction exist, nuclear weapons, the danger iscolossal."

He also warned relationships between Russia and the West remain in a chilly war" despite the official end of the inactive conflict three decades ago.

He said: Look at whats happening, in different places there are skirmishes, there are shootings.

Ships and aircraft are being sent here, there and everywhere, this is not a situation we want."

The nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl was perhaps the real cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union

Mikhail Gorbachev

Mr Gorbachev is still a divisive figure in his homeland as many Russians still associate him personally with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The fall of the Berlin Wall is widely seen as the symbolic moment when communism in Eastern Europe started by Vladimir Lenin's Bolshevik revolution in 1917 was brought to an end.

However,MrGorbachevrevealed his real thoughts on what caused the fall of communism during a 2006 interview,during which he claimed it was nothing to do with his desirefor reform.

He also stopped short of highlighting the importance of the Berlin Wall coming down, instead noting the Chernobyl disaster of 1986 as the pivotal moment in the fall of the Soviet Union.

He said: The nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl, even more than my launch of Perestroika, was perhaps the real cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union five years later.

READ MORE:Fivetop secretWorld War 2 Britishintelligence bases hidden in houses across UK

The Chernobyl disaster was a devastating nuclear accident that occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near the city of Pripyat, Ukraine on April 25, 1986.

It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history and is one of only two nuclear energy disasters rated at seventhe maximum severityon theInternational Nuclear Event Scale, the other being the 2011Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disasterin Japan.

Initially, after the Chernobyl disaster, Mr Gorbachev and the Communist Partydownplayedthe incidentboth domestically and on the world stage, calling it a minor event that requires no special measures to protect the population".

Moscow's handling of the disaster went on to expose the reality of human error within the Soviet system and introduced doubt and questions of competence directed at the Kremlin not seen since before World War 2.

Mr Gorbachev was unable to recover and as questions mounted so did the pressure, until eventually the regime collapsed and the Berlin Wall coming down will forever be seen as the moment symbolising the Soviet Union's demise.

DON'T MISSWorld War 3: The single greatest threat to democracy[REVEALED]WW3 preparation: Where billionaires are building underground bunkers[PICTURES]China left scrambling over Taiwan independence: 'We will go to war!'[NEWS]

However, these commentssuggest that Chernobyl was the real turning point in Soviet history and the disaster arguably made the wall coming down an inevitability.

The nuclear disastersaw400times more radioactive material than the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki sent into thesky.

Pripyat was not evacuated untilseveralhours after the explosion despitewidespread reports of illness.

Locals were told to bring only what was necessary for an evacuation of three days to accommodation readied in Kiev.

As a result, most personal belongings were left behind and can still be seen today.

Just 10 days after the accident, an exclusion zone was set up in a 20-mile radius by the Soviet Armed Forces, which is still in place today.

The forbidden area has since been increased to cover 1,000 square miles mainly of Ukraine, but also Belarus to protect people from the radioactive nuclear fallout.

Despite the warning signs and the legal implications of re-entering the zone, some residents decided to return.

Known in local dialect as Samosely, meaning self-settlersthey are a group of roughly 200 residents who live in the contaminated "ghost towns".

The majority of the Samosely are elderly people who have lived in their homes since their childhood.

When the population was evacuated, they either refused to leave or secretly resettled in the unprotected region.

The average age of these illegal residents was 63 in 2007 and, in 2012,local governments unofficially granted permission to the elderly to continue living in the area, but demanded younger inhabitants to move out.

This group live in private households, they cultivate vegetable and fruit gardens, fish on the Prypyat river and gather mushroomsin spite of widespread contamination.

More:

Gorbachev revealed real reason behind Soviet Union's collapse was NOT fall of Berlin Wall - Express.co.uk

The start of joint-military drills between the US and South Korea yesterday, prompted fears that a nuclear conflict could be approaching.

North Korea furiously reacted to the drills, with the regime's state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun warning that this could lead to an "uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war".

"The Trump group's declaration of the reckless nuclear war exercises against the DPRK... is a reckless behaviour driving the situation into the uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war," the paper claimed.

However one mystic's bold prophecies suggest that WW3 could already be here, and that it broke out on May 13.

A mystic who accurately foretold the rise of US President Donald Trump, also predicted in April that 2017 would be the year World War 3 finally begun.

Horacio Villegas, who has proclaimed himself the "messenger of God", believed that May 13 was the day the catastrophic conflict would begin.

Mr Villegas who is a devout Catholic, spectacularly claimed that Donald Trump would trigger the war on the 100th anniversary of the visitation of the Virgin Mary in Fatima in 1917.

The mother of Jesus allegedly made several miraculous appearances to three children in the Portuguese village, and on her last visit on October 13, 1917, she warned: The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes.

GETTY

This has led Mr Villegas to believe that Donald Trump would trigger a devastating six-month-long conflict between May and October.

Between May 13th and October 13 2017, this war will occur and be over with much devastation, shock and death

Horacio Villegas, Mystic

Explaining his theory, Mr Villegas said: The main message that people need to know in order be prepared is that between May 13th and October 13 2017, this war will occur and be over with much devastation, shock and death.

The mystic went on to also say that at the world would be tricked by "a false flag" of conflicts in North Korea and Syria between April 13 and May 13.

He said: The reason I feel the coming false flag might be during this Holy Week is because just as Christ suffered on a Good Friday at one time, the world is about to enter its Good Friday moment as well and it would fit in Gods timeline as to the start of this dark period in human period in human history that this war would be sparked near Good Friday 2017.

GETTY

AFP/Getty Images

1 of 45

North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-14 being lauched at an undisclosed place in North Korea

Yet despite these bold claims no global war has broken out on May 13, and the stand-off between the US and North Korea has remained purely verbal.

In fact on that day Choi Son Hui, North Korea's foreign ministry director, opened up to the idea of direct talks with the United States if the conditions satisfied Kim Jong-un.

Yet Mr Villegas is not the only mystic to have predicted the outbreak of WW3 in 2017.

READ MORE:WW3 PREDICTIONS WILL WW3 BREAK OUT THIS YEAR?

GETTY

Nostradamus, a famous French physician who is believed to have prophesied several global events, wrote of a conflict between the East and the West.

The 16th century prophet wrote: "Twice put up and twice cast down, the East will also weaken the West. Its adversary after several battles chased by sea will fail at time of need."

However these claims remain purely speculative and are open to interpretation.

View original post here:

World War 3: Has WW3 already begun? Why May 13 is an important date about the world's end - Express.co.uk

Doomsayers have been predicting for weeks that the phenomena would signal the beginning of a series of events leading to the apocalypse.

However, one, Christian numerologist David Meade, claims announcements by Donald Trump yesterday of military exercises near North Korea, is the first genuine sign.

Millions of people watched the eclipse cross the US from its west to east coast yesterday.

At the same time the US and South Korea started land, sea and air military exercises around North Korea, as a warning to dictator Kim Jong-un who is expected to give an angry response... that could spark Word War 3.

Getty

REUTERS

1 of 28

A multiple exposure image shows the solar eclipse as it creates the effect of a diamond ring at totality as seen from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

the drill has been scheduled at the precise time Kim threatened to fire missiles towards US territory Guam.

Mr Meade told Daily Star Online the eclipse was a sign a confrontation between the US and North Korea and would spiral into World War 3, involving China, Russia, the UK and Australia, among other nations.

He said this was part of the Great Tribulation a period of famine, war and natural disasters Jesus said would mark the End of Times.

Mr Meade has previously said the world will be destroyed finally when a mythical planet called Nibiru or Planet X appears in the skies on September 23, 2017, and crashes into Earth in early October.

August 21 is highly prophetic. It could be the date that missiles fly but no later than October of 2017. That seems to be the opening of the Sixth Seal.

David Meade

He said: August 21 is highly prophetic.

It could be the date that missiles fly but no later than October of 2017.

That seems to be the opening of the Sixth Seal.

NASA says the Planet X theory is just a hoax.

Originally posted here:

Eclipse 'signals start of WW3 as US starts military exercises around North Korea - Express.co.uk