September 30, 2019

Mayor of Minneapolis says Trump not welcome because of ‘message of hatred’, bars police officers from posing with political candidates. “There will be uniformed personnel assigned, but they cannot appear on stage, they cannot appear in the backdrop of the president, which would happen under ordinary circumstances.”   https://www.yahoo.com/news/minneapolis-changes-cops-uniform-rule-120406385.html

Hong Kong police crack down hard on pro-democracy protesters, sparking rioting. “Some set fires, broke windows at subway stations and threw bricks at officers.”   https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/anti-china-demonstrations-in-hong-kong-quickly-devolve-into-clashes-and-chaos/2019/09/29/1ee4aa38-e23d-11e9-be7f-4cc85017c36f_story.html

Dallas man accused of fatally shooting storage shed burglar is charged with murder. “(According to the suspect,) as the burglar dropped his pickax and ran toward a nearby park, (James) Meyer fired another shot ‘into the night’ in the direction of the park.”   https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/29/dallas-man-james-michael-meyer-killed-burglar-back-to-bed/3813927002/

Federal judge blocks expansion of ‘fast track’ deportations conducted by immigration officers. “The policy, which was announced in July but hasn’t yet been enforced, would allow fast-track deportations to apply to anyone in the country illegally for less than two years. Now, they are largely limited to people arrested almost immediately after crossing the Mexican border.”   https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-judge-rules-against-trump-administration-on-fast-track-deportation-policy

67 arrested at protest calling for shut down of coal-fueled power plant. “About 120 people gathered outside Merrimack Station in Bow, New Hampshire, on Saturday afternoon, with 67 people being arrested, according to the Bow Police Department.”   https://abcnews.go.com/US/67-protesters-arrested-demonstration-hampshire-coal-power-plant/story?id=65934030

Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman denies approving or ordering murder of journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi. “Some think that I should know what three million people working for the Saudi government do daily?”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/saudi-crown-prince-denies-ordering-khashoggi-killing-interview-190930003437125.html   If this is true, it implies that murdering a Saudi citizen inside an embassy was just a routine operation that didn’t require high level approval, which is actually even more frightening.

An estimated 20,000 rally in Moscow to demand release of pro-democracy activists arrested in July. “Amid the public outrage, officials dropped charges against some of the protesters, but several people have been sentenced to prison terms of up to four years.”   https://www.foxnews.com/world/moscow-russia-rally-protesters-release-thousands

Yet another clothing retailer files for bankruptcy. “The chain (Forever 21) said it will file a motion to close up to 178 of its more than 800 stores…”   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/29/business/forever-21-bankruptcy/index.html

National Labor Relations Board orders Tesla to stop its anti-union activity, rehire fired employee. “Judge Amita Tracy ordered the company to cease and desist a litany of actions against company employees, including a rule that blocks off-duty employees from handing out union literature and interrogating employees about union activities.”   https://www.yahoo.com/news/tesla-elon-musks-tweet-violated-204428240.html

NASA’s chief scientist worried that people may not be able to handle the possibility of life on Mars. “I don’t think we’re prepared for the results,” he told The Sunday Telegraph. “I’ve been worried about that because I think we’re close to finding it and making some announcements.”   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/nasa-mars-life-discovery-space-exomars-rover-chief-scientist-jim-green-a9125076.html   Well, did you find something or not? What does ‘close to finding’ something mean?

Yemen’s Houthi movement claims victory in battle over Saudi border region. “The enemy has suffered heavy losses during the operation,” a statement released by the group’s spokesperson Abdul Salam read, and noted that “among the captives are hundreds of Saudis, including officers and mercenaries from Sudan, Pakistan, and Iraq, among others.”   https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/houthis-claim-pak-iraq-mercenaries-among-hundreds-of-troops-captured-during-saudi-attack-119093000046_1.html

Afghan villagers claim six civilians killed in U.S. drone strike. “Five civilians were immediately killed, (Shakaruddin Khan) said, with another dying in hospital from wounds soon after.”   https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/afghan-protesters-claim-us-strikes-kill-5-civilians-in-east/ar-AAI10F7

Peace group releases list of countries who were top arms importers and exporters in 2018. Top importers: Saudi Arabia, Australia, China, India. Top exporters: U.S., Russia, France, Germany. “Not moving up the table doesn’t mean that the defence sector isn’t expanding, because everybody’s trying to sell more, so it’s entirely consistent that Australia could be exporting more and not moving up the table.”   https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-30/australia-worlds-second-biggest-weapons-importer-behind-saudi/11558762   “…humanity hanging from a cross of iron…”   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv6iBRvextc

Family of Palestinian man accuse Israeli authorities of torture. “(Samir) Arbeed’s lawyers said they were only given permission to see him at 1.30 am (22.30 GMT) on Sunday, when they discovered he had arrived unconscious, with a fractured rib cage, bruises, signs of beating all over his body and severe kidney failure.”   https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-hospitalised-and-critical-condition-after-israeli-interrogation

Black men experiencing a mental health crisis at high risk of being fatally shot by police officers, claims activist. “People live with mental illness all over the world without being shot and killed by police…. In fact, in many countries, it is the standard for mental health experts and nurses to travel with police on mental health calls.”   https://theintercept.com/2019/09/29/police-shootings-mental-health/

Irish government paid $109,000 Trump golf resort for housing and feeding security officers during his official visit. “The Trump-owned hotel and golf course at Doonbeg received the largest slice of a bill for accommodation and food that came to more than €900,000…. Trump’s visit to Doonbeg… involved about 3,820 members of the Irish police service, the Garda Síochána, working overtime at a cost of €7.49 million.”   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/29/ireland-paid-trump-resort-100k-for-hosting-officers-protecting-him

Former Saudi ambassador to the U.S. and his wife allegedly sent money to suspected 9/11 logistics and finance figure. “(Ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sultan) apparently was never asked (about) the 31 checks totaling $70,000 that his wife sent to Osama Bassnan, a US-based Saudi national suspected of being part of the hijackers’ logistical and financial support system.”   https://whowhatwhy.org/2019/09/28/9-11-hijackers-saudi-dont-ask-dont-see-policy-revealed/

President Trump retweets ‘Civil War’ threat. “….’If the Democrats are successful in removing the President from office (which they will never be), it will cause a Civil War like fracture in this Nation from which our Country will never heal.’ Pastor Robert Jeffress, @FoxNews — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2019″   https://www.rawstory.com/2019/09/internet-fires-back-at-trump-after-he-threatens-civil-war-if-hes-impeached-were-dealing-with-a-disturbed-sociopath/

Latino man who drove SUV into Chicago area shopping mall charged with terrorism, people blame racism. “Brown skin and kills no one = terrorist. White skin and kills many = mentally ill.”   https://www.rawstory.com/2019/09/internet-questions-why-latino-suv-driver-slapped-with-terrorism-charge-when-white-shooters-arent/

Canadian murder suspects alleged to have said that they had ‘shaved in preparation for their death’ in video recovered by police. “In a third video, McLeod and Schmegelsky allegedly said they have shaved in preparation for their death and expect to be dead in a week, but plan to go back out to kill more people in the meantime.”   https://www.yahoo.com/gma/suspects-canada-murders-said-planned-kill-more-video-201752375–abc-news-topstories.html   Canadian police say the murders were random and there was no known motive. But ‘shaving before death’ is an odd thing to say. I wonder if it could be a clue? Let’s do a web search for ‘Who shaves before death?’ Ah, this looks interesting: “Why do terrorists shave their bodies?” It’s a Slate article from 2008. “Six of the (Iraqi) dead had shaved off their body hair, which military officials said is ‘consistent with final preparation for suicide operations’. Why would a terrorist shave before blowing himself up? So he’s clean when he enters heaven.”   https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2008/03/why-do-terrorists-shave-their-bodies.html   Wow! Anyone have the phone number for the RCMP?

September 29, 2019

Life in a developed market economy: Dating website sued by Federal Trade Commission for relaying bogus messages to users. “(The FTC’s complaint) says 499,691 people signed up (for paid accounts) after getting (a notification of an email from another user), only to find either a message from a scammer or a message that was no longer available because Match.com’s fraud protection system has already caught and deactivated that account.”   https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/matchcom-ftc-lawsuit-fake-love-messages-emails.html

Los Angeles police department recruitment ad ends up on far right website. “…(Los Angeles) personnel department spokesman Bruce Whidden confirmed that his agency purchases job ads through Google on behalf of the LAPD and other city departments. The (personnel) department is now reexamining its ad filters, he said.”   https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-28/lapd-inquiry-job-listing-breitbart-police-chief-michel-moore-recruitment

New York City settles 2006 police shooting lawsuit, will pay surviving victim $1.5 million, gun found at crime scene may have been planted by police. “Despite (Officer William) Warren’s claim that the driver had his hand on the gun when he was forced to shoot, a police lab test for fingerprints on the pistol, the magazine and cartridges all came up negative.”   https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-police-lawsuit-settled-brooklyn-20190929-ejfazeiiq5frpjqowzugf3rojy-story.html

Former Dallas police chief Craig Miller testifies that Amber Guyger was justified in fatally shooting unarmed man in his own apartment after she entered it by mistake. “The judge ordered that Miller would not be allowed to say that in front of a jury, but said he would be allowed to testify regarding a narrow range of issues related to officer distraction.”   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/28/amber-guyger-justified-shooting-botham-jean-dallas-police-miller

La Habra, California police fatally shoot fleeing car theft suspect. “The suspect then rammed his car through a metal fence as he drove toward police officers, officials said. That’s when officers shot the suspect.”   https://abc7.com/la-habra-police-kill-suspect-after-responding-to-burglary-call/5570544/

Body camera video of fatal Spokane, Washington police shooting of man armed with a baseball bat does not fit the official police narrative, which claims officers heard what they thought were gunshots before opening fire on David M. Novak. “(The family’s attorney, Rondi) Thorp wrote that the clip is ‘disturbing’, and claimed that the video showed an officer yelling ‘drop the bat’…. ‘During the entire body cam video of Officer Rankin arriving on scene and getting out of his vehicle, no loud sound that sounds like a gunshot can be heard’….”    https://www.inlander.com/spokane/attorney-for-victims-family-in-fatal-spokane-police-shooting-slams-department-after-release-of-body-camera-footage/Content?oid=18356706

San Mateo, California police shoot two fleeing car theft suspects. “A neighbor, Sejal Maik, says she heard as many as 20 gunshots…. She also told ABC7 News reporter Luz Pena it looked like about 30 officers were at the scene.”   https://abc7news.com/2-suspects-injured-in-san-mateo-police-shooting/5576299/

Denver settles excessive force lawsuit over violent traffic stop arrest, agrees to pay victims $500,000. “(Kristyn) Stonskas suffered a traumatic brain injury and a torn vertebra in her neck during the takedown. (Quennel) Steele’s injuries included a collapsed lung, a fractured rib, and a traumatic brain injury, the attorney said.”   https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/city-settles-excessive-force-claim-against-denver-police-for-500-000

Trial begins for Denver police officer facing assault charges for injuring teen suspect during arrest. “…Sgt. Joseph Rodarte, who faces two assault charges from the August 2018 incident, in which he struck the 17-year-old six times with a metal baton, breaking his nose and leg….. Rodarte, attempting to strike the suspect in the legs with his baton, instead hit the 17-year-old in the head.”   https://www.denverpost.com/2019/09/25/denver-police-sgt-joseph-rodarte-excessive-force-trial/

Switzerland to auction off collection of supercars worth almost $19 million that belonged to son of African dictator. “The cars were confiscated by Swiss justice after the opening in 2016 of a financial wrongdoing case against Obiang, son and likely heir of Equatorial Guinea’s authoritarian president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has ruled for 40 years.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/29/swiss-to-auction-25-supercars-seized-from-son-of-equatorial-guinea-dictator   The country “is perhaps the planet’s most unequal society, a country where per-capita wealth exceeds Britain but three-quarters of its 675,000 citizens live on less than a dollar a day.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/23/equatorial-guinea-africa-corruption-kleptocracy

Former (?) long-time Chinese Communist Party member says Mao initially promised democratic reforms. “We thought when the Communist party was in power it would follow the US democratic path. We genuinely believed that Mao would implement it,” (He Yanling) said. “But after people gain power, it’s easy to become dictatorial…. As to what is genuine freedom and democracy, the absolute standard has been lost.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/29/1949-china-communist-party

Mark Charles is a Native American running as an independent in the 2020 presidential election. “…one of my motivations in running for president is to raise this issue of truth and conciliation to the national level.”   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/29/native-american-2020-candidate-aims-to-raise-awareness-of-indigenous-peoples

After pundit brands Bernie Sanders supporters as sexist for not supporting Elizabeth Warren, female Sanders supporters speak out. “He was marching for women’s rights when Warren was a Republican. But of course this isn’t about sexism. It’s about his being the only candidate who is a threat to corporate interests.”   https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/28/msnbc-pundit-who-accused-those-who-prefer-sanders-warren-sexism-sparks-viral-outcry   To be fair, Warren is a threat to corporate interests, because she wants them to behave responsibly and pay their fair share, but as a proud capitalist she is not nearly as much of a threat as Sanders.

Other transcripts of President Trump’s phone calls with foreign leaders have also been stashed away in top secret computer. “The former White House official acknowledged that other calls were concealed, while casting the decision as part of an effort to minimize leaks, not an attempt to hide improper discussions.”   https://www.courthousenews.com/ex-official-trumps-past-phone-call-memos-also-concealed/

Mainstream media likes some whistle-blowers more than others. “A CIA officer who exposes information about CIA wrongdoings without the CIA’s permission is a whistleblower. A CIA officer who exposes (damaging) information about someone else is just a spook doing spook things. You can recognize the latter by the way the mass media supports, applauds and employs them. You can recognize the former by the way they have been persecuted, imprisoned, and/or died under mysterious circumstances.”   https://consortiumnews.com/2019/09/27/msm-defends-cias-whistleblower-ignores-actual-whistleblower/

Beto O’Rourke tells Kent, Ohio crowd that ‘instruments of terror’, a.k.a. modern rifles, must be taken away from the public to ensure public safety, then cites Kent State massacre as an example in a follow-up tweet. “‘Yesterday, people brought assault weapons to our rally at Kent State—where 4 students were shot dead in 1970….’ Highlighting one of the most high-profile examples of government forces killing unarmed citizens to advocate for the disarmament of citizens by government forces is probably not the smartest route for a gun control advocate to take.”    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beto-orourke-cites-kent-state-massacre-as-he-calls-for-firearm-confiscation

Sens. Dick Durbin (D–Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R–Iowa) take on ‘acquitted conduct’ sentencing, judges sentencing defendants for crimes they were not found guilty of committing. “(Prosecutors) can charge a defendant with an offense they know they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt, and then charge (defendants with) more serious offenses, with tougher penalties, that they can’t prove.”   https://reason.com/2019/09/27/can-a-federal-judge-sentence-you-for-a-crime-your-jury-says-you-didnt-commit-the-answer-may-terrify-you/

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September 28, 2019

Researchers find strong correlation between autism and caesarean section deliveries. “A study published in August in JAMA Open Network found that C-section births were associated with a 33% higher risk of autism and a 17% higher risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, compared with babies delivered vaginally…. It’s possible that the health issues faced by a mother or baby, which could lead to the need for a C-section, may overlap with risks associated with autism…”   https://www.yahoo.com/news/c-sections-autism-rates-children-153100411.html

Story about man convicted of shooting his ex-girlfriend in the head without her noticing it seems dubious. “A Georgia woman and her ex-boyfriend were arguing in her car two years ago when her driver’s side window shattered and she blacked out… She thought she had been cut by flying glass. But her ex, Jerrontae Cain, had a secret — he had shot her…. (A month later, doctors) at Atlanta Medical Center found a bullet in the back of her skull, one that would have to remain there because trying to take it out could kill her, the DA’s office said.”   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/26/us/georgia-woman-shot-in-head-man-sentenced/index.html   This doesn’t make any sense. How did the window shatter if the bullet is still lodged in her skull? What makes a lot more sense is that she was hit by a stray bullet, which shattered her window from the outside and then hit her in the back of the head, as she was turned toward her ex-boyfriend in the passenger seat. Otherwise, the boyfriend missed with his first shot, which hit and broke the window, and she then survived being shot in the back of the head with a second shot fired at point-blank range, even without hospitalization, which seems very unlikely. She never saw a gun and claims she never heard a gunshot, when she should have at least heard the shot that missed her, if it was fired from inside the car. The judge (and CNN) didn’t question any of this?

Former Dallas police officer testifies on night of fatal shooting of her neighbor, Botham Jean. “… (Amber) Guyger said that she said, ‘Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands!’ But she said she couldn’t see the person’s hands and he began coming toward her at a ‘fast-paced’ walk. She said he yelled, ‘Hey, hey, hey,’ right before she opened fire.”   https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-09-27/dallas-cop-amber-guyger-murder-trial-botham-jean   If you saw a cop coming at you with a gun, yelling “Let me see your hands!” and you wanted to calm them down, wouldn’t you have your hands in the air when you said, “Hey, hey, hey”? Try it without raising your hands, not even half-way. Maybe he was still holding the bowl of ice cream?

Attorney for Jean family says Guyger shared aggressive military meme. “STAY LOW, GO FAST, KILL FIRST, DIE LAST, ONE SHOT, ONE KILL, NO LUCK, ALL SKILL”   https://atlantablackstar.com/2019/09/27/go-fast-kill-first-amber-guyger-reportedly-deleted-several-pins-making-light-of-death/

City of Columbus, Ohio settles lawsuit over Stormy Daniels politically-motivated arrest, agrees to pay her $450,000. “Daniels’ lawsuit accused police of staging the arrest in a bid to protect President Donald Trump.”   https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/stormy-daniels-receive-450-000-settlement-over-arrest-ohio-strip-n1059676

Democratic Party’s pro-business backers threaten to cut off the party if Elizabeth Warren is the presidential nominee. “You’re in a box because you’re a Democrat and you’re thinking, ‘I want to help the party, but she’s going to hurt me, so I’m going to help President Trump.'”   https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/26/wall-street-democratic-donors-may-back-trump-if-warren-is-nominated.html   Sounds like ‘… but she’s going to raise my taxes, so I’m going to help keep a crazy clown in the White House instead, because it’s better for me personally’. You may have money, but you only get one vote, and the 99% have you guys way outnumbered. Hopefully the Democratic Party will realize this some day.

Trump-Ukraine whistle-blower was reportedly a CIA employee. “Mark Zaid, a Washington lawyer who represents the whistleblower at the center of an impeachment inquiry into Trump, declined to confirm the identity or occupation of his client.”   https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-whistleblower-cia-idUSKBN1WB2VF

Former diplomat who debunked George W. Bush administration’s story about Niger selling uranium to Iraq dies at 69. “In 2002, by then a private citizen, Mr (Joseph) Wilson was sent by the CIA on a fact-finding mission to Niger to investigate reports that Iraq had bought a nuclear material – uranium yellowcake. Mr Wilson concluded that the reports were false, but 11 months later they reappeared in Mr Bush’s State of the Union address.”   https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49856792

Man accused of killing 10 and wounding 16 told Toronto police his attack was inspired by ‘incel’ movement. “During the meandering discussion with Detective Rob Thomas, (Alek) Minassian said he belonged to an online subculture of sexually (frustrated) men, and described his path towards radicalization, saying he drew inspiration from other men who used violence as a form of retribution for ‘being unable to get laid’.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/27/alek-minassian-toronto-van-attack-interview-incels   Vans being used to carry out mass casualty attacks? How about a ban on motor vehicles? Or a ban on gas tanks that can hold more than 10 gallons of gasoline? (sarcasm)

42% of tree species native to Europe facing extinction. “The report identified a wide range of threats, including pests and diseases, competition from invasive plants, deforestation, unsustainable logging, changes in land use and forest fires.”   https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49838650

Cross country flight makes emergency landing after coach passenger gets angry when told he can’t use the first class restroom. “Upon landing, (Jwan) Curry was taken into custody by law enforcement officials and is currently being held in Platte County jail on an investigative hold for 24 hours…”   https://www.foxnews.com/travel/alaska-airlines-flight-diverted-bathroom   Maintaining social class boundaries has apparently become a security issue.

Spanish court investigating allegations that security firm protecting Ecuadoran embassy in London provided surveillance data to CIA. “A report in Spanish newspaper El Pais said the company, UC Global SL, allegedly handed over audio and video to the CIA of meetings Assange held with his lawyers.”   https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/national-news/17931633.private-security-firm-spied-julian-assange-cia-reports-claim/

Thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists rally against alleged abuse of imprisoned protesters. “Concerns were raised about the (San Uk Ling Holding Centre) in Sheung Shui after 31 of 54 protesters arrested on August 11 and detained there were later hospitalised, six with fractured bones.”   https://sg.news.yahoo.com/thousands-rally-central-hong-kong-154919843.html

1,596 detained by Hong Kong police during weeks of protests. “From 9th June to 31st August, a total of 1,046 protesters were arrested, 1/4 of whom were students (257 of them). Since 1st September until today (Sept. 27th), a total of 550 protesters were arrested while 207 of them were students…. (Senior Police Superintendent Wing-cheung) Kong took the opportunity to warn young students not to engage in protest activities as any criminal record will smear them for life.”   https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/police-halt-usage-of-san-uk-ling-holding-centre-to-detain-protesters-total-of-1596-protesters-arrested-since-june-according-to-latest-media-announcement/

Number of people arrested in Egypt after anti-government protests tops 2,000. “Since the crackdown, Egyptian authorities have blocked Facebook messenger, BBC News, and attempted to block access to Twitter, according to internet rights group NetBlocks.”   https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/over-2000-arrested-egyptian-security-forces-after-anti-sisi-protests

Police in Port-au-Prince, Haiti reportedly open fire on protesters and looters. “In an apparent attempt to calm tensions, (President Jovenel) Moise on Thursday replaced several security officials after calls from human rights groups to remove people they accused of involvement in a massacre in the poor La Saline neighbourhood in the capital.”   https://sg.news.yahoo.com/haitian-police-tear-gas-live-215301820.html

Comedy film The Day Shall Come targets FBI’s ‘assisted terrorism’ stings. “Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the FBI has used aggressive sting operations to catch would-be terrorists, providing all the weapons needed for supposed attacks and often a good amount of “dial the number, brother” prodding. To date, more than 300 defendants have been prosecuted following FBI terrorism stings.”   https://theintercept.com/2019/09/28/film-review-day-shall-come-fbi/

Unanswered questions after Dept. of Justice Inspector General releases report on Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center heat and power outages. “In all (its) discussion of communication problems, the report has nothing to say about the fact that what public communications (prison) officials did make were in large measure demonstrable lies.”   https://theintercept.com/2019/09/28/mdc-brooklyn-jail-heat/

Trump fired former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats three days after Zelensky phone call. “… the White House learned within days that the unorthodox call on 25 July with Zelenskiy had raised red flags among intelligence professionals and was likely to trigger an official complaint…. The Office of the DNI (ODNI) and its inspector general has the authority to receive whistleblower complaints from across all US intelligence agencies and determine whether they should be referred to Congress.”   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/27/dan-coats-dni-trump-firing-ukraine

Federal judge rules that Trump administration’s proposed indefinite detention of migrant families isn’t going to fly. “This regulation is inconsistent with one of the primary goals of the Flores agreement, which is to instate a general policy favoring release and expeditiously place minors ‘in the least restrictive setting appropriate to the minor’s age and special needs’.”   https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/sep/27/trump-judge-migrant-families-flores

Canada’s national police agency says no apparent motive for killing spree committed by two young men this summer. “… nowhere in the (six) videos do the two young men express remorse for the murders, nor do they provide insights into the motivation behind their killing spree…. Police have decided not to release the videos ‘in an effort not to sensationalize the actions of McLeod and Schmeglsky’….”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/28/canada-murders-fugitives-who-killed-three-planned-for-more-victims-say-police

An estimated 6.6 million people demonstrated during week of Global Climate Strikes. “This week was a demonstration of the power of our movement.”   https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/27/over-6-million-people-worldwide-climate-strikes-largest-coordinated-global-uprising

Detained asylum seekers complain of lack of access to medical care. “In interviews with the advocacy group RAICES, women at Karnes (Residential Center) reported that ICE officials are withholding treatment for serious diseases including cancer, diabetes, and mental health issues.”   https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/27/unconscionable-asylum-seekers-texas-detention-center-report-being-denied-cancer-and

Trump administration accused of being soft on corporate crime. “Under President Donald Trump—the supposedly ‘tough on crime’ president—corporate prosecutions have plummeted to the lowest level in more than 20 years.”   https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/27/turns-out-tough-crime-only-poor-report-details-trump-dojs-corporate-friendly-record   No surprise there – the Swamp rules!

ACLU wants Trump administration to stop deporting pregnant asylum seekers. “The administration’s ‘remain in Mexico’ policy – formally known as Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP – has drawn criticism from human rights groups who say it doesn’t protect immigrants at all, but rather exposes them to threats ranging from poor medical care to rape and kidnapping.”   https://www.courthousenews.com/feds-urged-to-stop-sending-pregnant-women-back-to-mexico/

Family of 17 year-old fatally shot during a King County, Washington alcohol sting files lawsuit. “(Mi’Chance Dunlap-Gittens) was shot at least eight times the night of Jan. 27, 2017 — including a fatal shot to the back of his head — as he ran away from plainclothes deputies who had jumped out of the back of a van in an attempt to arrest a 16-year-old boy Dunlap-Gittens was with.”   https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/parents-of-17-year-old-shot-and-killed-during-misguided-sting-by-king-county-sheriffs-deputies-sue-for-wrongful-death-outrage/

 

September 27, 2019

Honolulu police officer pleads guilty to failing to report a fellow officer for abusing a suspect. “There was physical force involved in getting (the homeless man) to lick the urinal pad, (Myles Breiner, an attorney representing the homeless man) said.”   https://www.apnews.com/47c95b1f8d974a8ab6fa652a4b7a97b7

EPA official warns California’s governor that San Francisco is allowing homeless people to pollute the ocean, in violation of the Clean Water Act. “The EPA letter expands Trump’s complaints, saying that the state is not acting with enough urgency to address environmental problems related to homelessness.”   https://www.npr.org/2019/09/26/764759005/trump-administration-blames-homeless-for-californias-water-pollution   Trump administration finally cracking down on polluters, even if they are imaginary ones!

Suicide rate for military personnel hit all time high in 2018. “The suicide rate among active duty service members was 24.8 suicides per 100,000 service members last year, the Pentagon’s Annual Suicide Report (ASR) found…. The National Guard had the highest suicide rate, with 30.6 deaths per 100,000 members…”   https://nypost.com/2019/09/26/active-duty-military-suicides-spike-to-record-high-pentagon-report-says/   For comparison, the suicide rate for the U.S. population as a whole in 2016 was 13.7 per 100,000.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate#List_by_the_World_Health_Organization_(2016)

Federal prosecutors will not charge officers who fatally shot black Sacramento man armed with a cell phone in his grandmother’s backyard. “In early March, Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert announced that the two officers involved (in the fatal shooting of Stephon Clark) would not be charged.”   https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/feds-won-t-pursue-charges-against-officers-stephon-clark-s-n1059411

Hong Kong’s chief executive holds public meeting, gets ripped by the city’s residents. “You say you want to listen to people’s opinion, but many 1 million people come out to rally, the Lennon walls, strikes, civil disobedience movements. Those are the public opinions.”   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/26/asia/carrie-lam-hong-kong-dialogue-intl-hnk/index.html

Army warns soldiers about threat of ‘incel’ shooting at Joker screening, based on FBI intelligence that was apparently not shared with the general public. “The intelligence bulletin was published by Travis County, TX Sheriff’s Office and working with the local FBI field office, they have discovered disturbing and very specific chatter in the dark web regarding the targeting of an unknown movie theater during the Joker release.”   https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/national/us-military-warns-services-members-about-potential-mass-shootings-at-joker-screenings-reports-say

Artists mess with facial recognition systems by painting shapes on their faces. “Emily Roderick, 23, and her cohorts in “The Dazzle Club” walked around the British capital last week with blue, red and black stripes painted across their faces in an effort to escape the watchful eye of facial-recognition cameras.”   http://news.trust.org/item/20190926043446-h9egt

Mexico’s Oaxaca state legalizes abortion. “Lawmakers voted 24-10 on Wednesday to scrap restrictions on abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, despite vocal opposition from the Catholic church.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/26/we-have-made-history-mexicos-oaxaca-state-decriminalises-abortion

 

September 26, 2019

Cost of private health insurance up sharply over last 10 years. “On average, workers this year are contributing $6,015 toward the cost of family coverage…. Since 2009, average family premiums have increased 54% and workers’ contribution have increased 71%…. The average single deductible now stands at $1,655 for workers… up sharply from the $826 average of a decade ago.”   https://www.kff.org/health-costs/press-release/benchmark-employer-survey-finds-average-family-premiums-now-top-20000/

Democratic Party voters split between progressives and moderates, with more voters wanting major changes. “A new poll from Quinnipiac University found that… 50 percent of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters want a candidate who supports major changes across the board — even if those policies are harder to pass into law…. 42 percent preferred a Democratic nominee that backs minor changes, easier to pass into law.”   https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/9/25/20883381/polls-democrats-change-2020-biden-warren

Trump administration wins better deal for U.S. Postal Service. “(White House trade advisor Peter) Navarro said that the current (Universal Postal Union) system meant the US Postal Service was in effect spending $300m to $500m to subsidise the cost of delivering imports, including goods mailed to the United States from China.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/25/un-universal-postal-union-mail-deal-trump

Massachusetts dismisses 24,000 drug convictions due to drug lab scandal. “(Former state drug lab chemist) Sonja Farak pleaded guilty to stealing drugs from the lab in 2014.”   https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2019/09/25/report-more-than-24000-tainted-drug-convictions-tossed

California man charged with attempted murder, accused of setting homeless man’s cardboard shelter on fire. “The motive behind the crime is unknown and (Richard) Smallets currently remains in custody on $1 million bail.”   https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-man-set-sleeping-homeless-man-fire-pictures/story?id=65851034   Who was it that was complaining recently about homeless people in California? Must be just a coincidence…

Bernie Sanders proposes his own ‘wealth tax’ to fund Medicare for All and daycare. “Warren’s plan would impose a tax of 2% of wealth over $50 million and 3% on wealth over $1 billion. Sanders’ plan starts at a lower wealth level – taxing those worth $32 million at 1% – (and gradually rises to 8% for families with over $10 billion) so his tax would hit about 180,000 families versus about 75,000 households under Warren’s proposal.”   https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/24/jeff-bezos-would-pay-9-billion-a-year-in-taxes-under-sanders-plan.html   Starting at $32 million? If you have more than $10 million, you are in the top 1%.   https://dqydj.com/how-many-millionaires-decamillionaires-america/

‘Smart home’ taken over by hacker. “Samantha and Lamont Westmoreland realized something was wrong when they began to hear a voice over the in-house video system. Then they started hearing loud music throughout the house and noticed the thermostat had been ratcheted up to a sweltering temperature.”   https://www.newsweek.com/google-nest-hack-milwaukee-1460806

Thomas Cook reportedly another victim of private equity looting. “…private equity chicanery that loaded the company up with $2.1b in debt in order to pay out investors drove the company to its knees, and, last week, it finally died…. Chief Executive Peter Fankhauser has pulled in GBP 8.3 million since he took the job in 2015, and other execs drew fat checks — even as the stranded aircrews were left to fend for themselves…”   https://boingboing.net/2019/09/25/externalizers-r-us.html

New York Federal Reserve pumps another $100 billion into short-term funding markets. “The New York Fed’s interventions come after the overnight repurchasing rate briefly climbed to three times their usual levels of around 2% last week. The repurchasing rate is how much banks and hedge funds pay to borrow for a short period of time in return for collateral like Treasurys.”   https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-york-fed-expands-size-of-thursday-planned-repos-2019-09-25   6% interest? Poor banks and hedge funds!

Microsoft protests secret subpoenas for customer data. “The ruling by a magistrate judge in Brooklyn, New York, says the information sought was ‘associated with two email accounts’ and includes emails, text messages and voicemails.”   https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-still-rattled-over-u-211026586.html

Japanese government pulls funding for regional art festival that was closed due to controversial ‘comfort women’ exhibit depicting Korean sex slave.   https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/09/26/national/no-grants-art-festival-comfort-women/

Japan to gradually lower tariff on American beef from 38.5% to 9% by 2033. “The deal Trump and Abe signed on Wednesday will gradually reduce tariffs on U.S. farm goods, Japanese machine tools and other products while staving off the imminent threat of higher U.S. duties on Japanese autos – Tokyo’s biggest concern in the talks.”   https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-japan-beef/for-us-beef-exporters-japan-trade-deal-levels-playing-field-but-sales-surge-unlikely-idUSKBN1WB0ZG   However, Japan will now impose its 778% (!) rice tariff on ALL imported U.S. rice. “Most U.S. rice production is concentrated in the South — home to (President) Trump’s key support base. But short-grain rice, the most commonly consumed type in Japan, is almost exclusively grown in the heavily Democratic-leaning state of California.”   https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/With-Trump-vote-in-mind-Japan-yields-on-beef-but-protects-its-rice   and   https://mobile.twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/499706748413181952

Former French president Jacques Chirac dies at 86, warned George W. Bush not to invade Iraq. “Mr. Chirac said he feared a war would inflame anti-Western passions in the Middle East and unleash a new wave of terrorism.”   https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/jacques-chirac-flamboyant-french-president-who-opposed-us-invasion-of-iraq-dies-at-86/2019/09/26/5f209d5e-e045-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html

Amnesty International says bomb responsible for civilian deaths in Yemen was supplied by U.S. “The laser-guided bomb, manufactured by US company Raytheon and used in the attack, is the latest evidence that the USA is supplying weapons that are being used by the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition in attacks amounting to serious violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen.”   https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/09/yemen-us-made-bomb-used-in-deadly-air-strike-on-civilians/

U.S. Air Force and Navy have reportedly been buying Chinese drones, due to lack of U.S. competitors. “…purchase orders completed in August and November 2018 show that the Navy spent nearly $190,000 and the Air Force spent nearly $50,000 on drones made by DJI…. An additional purchase of DJI equipment for a ‘training operation’ was approved by the Pentagon as late as June 28, 2019…”   https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-military-still-buying-chinese-made-drones-despite-spying-concerns

Number of protesters and opposition activists arrested in Egypt rises to more than 1,100. “Defying a ban on protesting without a permit, hundreds took to the streets in Cairo and other cities on Friday in response to calls for protests against alleged government corruption. The protests continued in the Red Sea city of Suez on Saturday.”   https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-egypt-politics-arrests/more-than-1100-detained-in-egypt-after-protests-rights-monitors-idUKKBN1WA1JG

Transcript of Trump-Zelensky call allegedly stored on computer system usually reserved for highly classified information. “According to White House officials I spoke with, this was ‘not the first time’ under this administration that a Presidential transcript was placed into this codeword-level system solely for the purpose of protecting politically sensitive – rather than national security sensitive – information.”   https://intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/20190812_-_whistleblower_complaint_unclass.pdf

Ukrainian president mentioned during controversial call that he stayed at a Trump hotel during  his visit to New York. “This kind of casual corruption is an inevitable outgrowth of Trump’s refusal to divest his business holdings and his everyday violation of Constitution’s anti-corruption clause.”   https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/25/profit-presidency-full-display-zelensky-mention-stay-trump-tower-raises-fresh-alarm

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveils package of social justice reforms. “The New York Democrat’s “A Just Society” package—which includes provisions that aim to expand the rights of tenants, workers, immigrants, and formerly incarcerated individuals—won praise from anti-poverty advocates…”   https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/25/just-society-ocasio-cortez-unveils-legislative-package-tackle-american-poverty-and

States sue Trump administration over proposed changes to Endangered Species Act. “The coalition of 18 attorneys general and the city of New York called the administration’s new rule changes “beastly” and a danger to thousands of protected species including the bald eagle and humpback whale.”   https://www.courthousenews.com/california-leads-war-on-plans-to-eviscerate-endangered-species-act/

New York state sues Dept. of Homeland Security over courthouse arrests of illegal immigrants. “For many of my constituents, the courthouse is no longer a place of safety and justice, it’s a trap.”   https://www.courthousenews.com/courthouse-immigration-raids-challenged-in-new-york/

Justice Dept. attorneys refuse to tell federal court the names of Air Force employees who failed to report Sutherland Springs church shooter to FBI after domestic violence conviction. “(Devin) Kelley had served a year in the brig after being court-martialed in 2012 for beating his wife Danielle and fracturing his young stepson’s skull. But Air Force officials never reported this to the FBI’s National Criminal Information Center database, as required by law.”   https://www.courthousenews.com/angry-judge-sanctions-doj-lawyers-in-texas-massacre-case/

Off-duty Los Angeles police officer, who shot an entire family in a Corona Costco, firing 10 times after an altercation in a food tasting line, will not be charged. “I begged and told him not to shoot,” Russell French told reporters last month…. “I said, ‘We have no guns, and my son is sick.’ He still shot.”   https://ktla.com/2019/09/25/riverside-co-da-set-to-give-update-on-deadly-corona-costco-shooting-involving-off-duty-lapd-officer/   Does this mean that if someone sucker punches you, you have a right to gun them down, and anyone who gets in your way? It certainly seems to.

Texas judge sentenced to five years in prison for taking bribes from lawyer. “Rodolfo “Rudy” Delgado, 66, was tried in McAllen federal court and convicted in July of accepting cash bribes from a South Texas attorney in exchange for favorable rulings inside the Hidalgo County courtroom he presided over for more than 18 years…”   https://www.courthousenews.com/former-texas-judge-gets-5-years-for-taking-attorney-bribes/   So what happens to all the people who lost their cases?

Economic inequality in the U.S. continues to rise, hits all time high. “The nation’s Gini Index, which measures income inequality, has been rising steadily over the past five decades. The Gini Index grew… to 0.485 last year, according to the bureau’s 1-year American Community Survey data.”   https://www.apnews.com/bfa51032ee27470c9f908914328eea99   In 1979, the Gini Index for the U.S. was only 0.346.   https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SIPOVGINIUSA   “A score of 0 on the Gini coefficient represents complete equality, i.e., every person has the same income. A score of 1 would represent complete inequality, i.e., where one person has all the income and others have none.”   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_Gini_coefficient

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September 25, 2019

Democrats risk taking out their own candidate with Trump impeachment hearings over political meddling in Ukraine. “Hunter Biden has not been accused of legal wrongdoing related to his work for (the Ukrainian gas company) Burisma, which paid him as much as $50,000 per month in some months for his service on (their board of directors)…. But he has been criticized by government watchdog groups in the United States and Ukraine for what they characterize as the perception of a conflict of interest, and trading on his family…”   https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/22/us/politics/biden-ukraine-trump.html

Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard opposes Trump impeachment push. “I think impeachment would be terribly divisive for our already very divided country.”   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/24/politics/tulsi-gabbard-impeachment-trump-cnntv/index.html

Tulsi Gabbard qualifies for October debate. “Gabbard met the donor benchmark weeks ago but has struggled to notch enough support in a fourth poll to put her over the polling threshold.”   https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/462789-gabbard-qualifies-for-fourth-presidential-debate

Why would a Dallas cop shoot a man eating ice cream in ‘her’ apartment? “Prosecutors said during opening statements Monday that (Botham) Jean was sitting in his living room eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream when (Amber) Guyger walked into his home and shot him…. Her defense is arguing that she thought Jean was a burglar in her own home and that Jean was coming towards her when she opened fire.”   https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amber-guyger-trial-bodycam-played-in-court-shows-moments-after-cop-fatally-shot-neighbor-botham-jean-2019-09-24/   Didn’t she warn him to stop or put his hands up? Didn’t he see the gun? Didn’t he see her uniform? Didn’t she notice from the furniture and walls that she wasn’t in her own apartment? Or did she just panic and shoot an unarmed man because she had been trained to ‘eliminate the threat’?

Right-wing lashes out at climate crisis messenger. “They frequently point to (Greta) Thunberg’s autism, claim she is used by her parents and compare her call to young people on climate change to ‘Hitler Youth’…. ‘She’s ignorant, maniacal and is being mercilessly manipulated by adult climate bedwetters funded by Putin.'”   https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-deniers-launch-personal-attacks-on-teen-activist/

Greta Thunberg wins prestigious Right Livelihood award. “With the 2019 Right Livelihood award, we honour four practical visionaries whose leadership has empowered millions of people to defend their inalienable rights and to strive for a liveable future for all on planet Earth.”   https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/sep/25/greta-thunberg-wins-alternative-nobel-environmental-work-guo-jianmei-right-livelihood-awards

Labor department to raise threshold for overtime pay. “Current federal law says most workers making (up to) about $23,660 a year are entitled to overtime pay…. Starting Jan. 1 next year, that minimum salary threshold will be raised to $35,568. But a previous proposal, under former President Barack Obama, would have raised it to about $47,000…”   https://www.npr.org/2019/09/24/763723397/1-3-million-more-workers-eligible-for-overtime-pay-but-some-say-rules-fall-short

Still no apparent motive in Virginia Beach municipal office building shooting, consultants probing possible racial tensions. “(Virginia Beach Deputy Police Chief Patrick) Gallagher said police have found no social media accounts, no manifesto, and no personal emails or documents that could shed light on a possible motive. Police also have looked at (former employee DeWayne Craddock’s) financial, medical and mental health history and found no concerns, he said. The shooter’s employment record showed no history of ‘threatening encounters’ between the him and his colleagues…”   https://www.npr.org/2019/09/24/764067498/hostile-environment-for-black-workers-probed-in-virginia-beach-shooting-investig

Life in a developed market economy: British taxpayers funding hotel rooms and flights home for stranded Thomas Cook travelers. “On Monday, the (Civil Aviation Authority) started repatriating British holidaymakers who were abroad at the time that Thomas Cook collapsed…. There will be more than 1,000 flights between now and Sunday 6 October to repatriate the remaining 135,300 holidaymakers…”   https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49820686

FCC accuses Sprint of claiming millions of dollars in Lifeline program subsidies for services to low-income people that it did not actually provide. “According to the agency, the number of (inactive) customers for which Sprint misappropriated funds accounts for… 30 percent of Sprint’s program subscribers.”   https://gizmodo.com/sprint-took-millions-in-federal-subsidies-for-service-i-1838420101

Life in a developed market economy: Germany fines Daimler $957 million for Mercedes-Benz emissions testing hack. “According to officials, software tweaked the emissions filtering system to pass formal tests while loosening up on the road.”   https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/24/daimler-fined-960-million-in-germany/

7 women, 4 children and 5 men reportedly killed in Saudi airstrike, nine others injured. “Tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians, have been killed since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in March 2015 in support of the government against the Iran-backed Houthis.”   https://thedefensepost.com/2019/09/24/yemen-dalah-airstrike-civilian-casualties/

Federal judge dismisses journalist’s lawsuit, asking to be deleted from government’s ‘kill list’. “‘For the first time ever, a United States federal court ruled that the government may kill one of its citizens without providing him the information necessary to prove that he is being wrongly targeted and does not deserve to die,’ attorney Tara J. Plochocki said.”   https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/us-invokes-state-secrets-privilege-to-block-american-journalists-challenge-to-alleged-spot-on-drone-kill-list/2019/09/24/15580b88-dee9-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html

Federal prosecutors attempt to block whistle-blower defense in case of former Air Force analyst Daniel Hale, accused of leaking documents on drone assassination program. “For decades, the Executive Branch was faithful to the [Espionage] Act’s original intent, charging only spies and saboteurs even though the Act’s nearly limitless language permits so much more,” the (defense) motion states. “But now that the Act is used regularly against those who leak for no purpose other than informing their fellow citizens about their own government, its chilling effect is fatal to its continued viability.”   https://shadowproof.com/2019/09/23/government-moves-to-block-alleged-drone-whistleblowers-defense-in-espionage-act-case/

Politicians are exempt from Facebook’s community standards, company executive confirms. “We do not submit speech by politicians to our independent fact-checkers, and we generally allow it on the platform even when it would otherwise breach our normal content rules.”   https://thehill.com/policy/technology/462849-facebook-says-it-wont-remove-posts-from-politicians-even-if-they-violate

31,334 foreign visitors reportedly blocked from entering U.S. under the Trump administration’s ‘Muslim ban’. “Trump and his allies have said the travel ban is not a Muslim ban despite his calls during the 2016 election for a ‘total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States’.”   https://thehill.com/homenews/house/462878-state-dept-travel-ban-denied-more-than-31000-people-entry-to-the-us

27 killed in West Papua political violence. “The violence in Wamena was triggered by racist slurs directed at students by a teacher, said a spokesman for a West Papua separatist group…. Meanwhile in Jayapura, clashes took place between security forces and protesters…”   https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49806182

Dept. of Interior puts international anti-poaching grants on hold after allegations of abuse of local residents by rangers at wildlife preserves. “WWF is a longtime partner of the US government, and the Department of the Interior has now pledged to take ‘decisive action’ to ensure it is not funding atrocities through the charity or through other groups, according to a letter sent last week to the House Natural Resources Committee, which is also investigating the matter.”   https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katiejmbaker/united-states-government-millions-wwf-guards-abuses

U.S. has the biggest share of the world’s ultra-wealthy population, defined at those with more than $30 million in wealth. “The leading country for (Ultra High Net Worth) individuals in 2018, the US accounts for a 31% global share. This compared with 9% for second-placed China, and nearly 7% for third-placed Japan.”   https://www.wealthx.com/report/world-ultra-wealth-report-2019/

Thousands turn out to protest proposed conservative changes to Indonesian law. “If passed, the new laws would usher in sweeping changes that activists have described as a disaster for human rights and democratic freedoms.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/24/thousands-protest-against-new-criminal-code-across-indonesia

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September 24, 2019

Far-right soldier accused of teaching bomb making, plotting attacks against news media, Antifa and Democrats. “(Jarrett) Smith allegedly talked with the source about killing members of the far-left group Antifa and about targeting cell towers or a local news station…. In a later chat, according to the FBI, Smith suggested using a large car bomb to attack the headquarters of a major news network.”   https://www.npr.org/2019/09/23/763544037/kansas-soldier-charged-with-teaching-bomb-making-to-far-right-extremists

Bernie Sanders suggests that the government buy up $81 billion in past-due medical debt at a discount, pay it off, then cover everyone with Medicare. “The very concept of medical debt should not exist.”   https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-21/sanders-unveils-plan-to-cancel-81-billion-in-u-s-medical-debt

Life in a developed market economy: Up to 500,000 vacationers stranded abroad after 178 year old travel company runs out of money. “Thomas Cook operated its own airline, hotels, and resorts, but it also booked hotels and other travel amenities from third parties in its popular vacation packages.”   https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/09/thomas-cook-travel-company-collapse-details.html

32 arrested after D.C. climate protesters block traffic. “I’m inconvenienced, but I’m all for it,” (small-business owner Don Smith) said. “Civil unrest is how this country was founded. As an American, I’m proud of them.”   https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/climate-change-protesters-plan-to-flood-downtown-dc-streets-monday-morning/2019/09/20/6b088e94-dbd9-11e9-89d4-37d5ffcac6f4_story.html

Mass arrests in Egypt after anti-corruption protests. “Mohamed Lotfy, director of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, put the number at more than 450 and the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights said 516 had been detained.”   https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-politics/egyptian-authorities-round-up-hundreds-after-rare-protests-idUSKBN1W818G

U.S. appeals court blocks easing of media ownership rules. “In late 2017, the FCC voted along party lines to eliminate or weaken various rules, making it easier for companies to buy more televisions stations in the same market and killing a decades-old ban on a company owning both a newspaper and radio or TV station in the same market.”    https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/23/tremendous-victory-public-federal-appeals-court-quashes-fcc-attempt-weaken-media

Marxist insurgent who was tortured during Mexico’s ‘Dirty War’ receives apology. “(Martha Alicia) Camacho, who was pregnant at the time, was tortured for 49 days at an army base in the state of Sinaloa, forced to give birth in captivity and made to watch as soldiers tortured her husband (Jose Manuel Alapizco), ultimately killing him.”   https://www.france24.com/en/20190923-mexico-apologizes-to-victim-of-1970s-dirty-war

Dozens of Afghan civilians reportedly killed during U.S. airstrike on September 22nd. “Afghanistan is investigating reports that 40 civilians, including children, were killed in an airstrike during a wedding celebration in southern Helmand province…”   https://kplr11.com/2019/09/23/strike-targeting-taliban-kills-40-civilians-at-a-wedding-next-door/

Saudi coalition accused of targeting mosque in Yemen. “Yemen’s Houthi movement said early on Monday that five civilians from one family were killed in air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition in Omran province…”   https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-saudi-security/five-civilians-killed-in-air-strikes-by-saudi-led-coalition-in-yemen-tv-idUKKBN1W8057

134 allegedly executed so far this year in Saudi Arabia, 58 for spreading heretical religious beliefs. “At least another 24 people, including three children, are at imminent risk, according to the report.”   https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7468349/Saudi-Arabia-executes-134-people-year-including-six-children-arrested.html

While climate strikers are demanding change, oil and gas industry lobbyists are attending  2020 election fundraisers. “On September 18 and 19, as (Greta) Thunberg met with lawmakers, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., hosted fundraisers with oil and gas lobbyists to raise cash for the Scalise Leadership Fund, a political action committee used to dole out cash for battleground House races across the country.”   https://theintercept.com/2019/09/22/gop-fossil-fuel-fundraisers-climate-week/

FBI reportedly targeted environmental activists. “According to hundreds of pages of FBI files obtained by the Guardian through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, and interviews with activists, (Helen) Yost and more than a dozen other people campaigning against fossil fuel extraction in North America have been identified in domestic terrorism-related investigations.”   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/23/revealed-how-the-fbi-targeted-environmental-activists-in-domestic-terror-investigations

Environmental activists suggest making fossil fuel companies pay for transition to renewable energy, since they knew they were contributing to global warming. “There is a groundswell of support in the U.S. and beyond to make the fossil fuel and other polluting industries pay for the damages they have caused. Holding these industries liable can unlock hundreds of billions of dollars to help finance the most ambitious, most equitable, and most just solutions we have.”   https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/23/activists-unfurl-exxon-knew-make-them-pay-banner-outside-meeting-fossil-fuel-ceos

Federal appeals court upholds ‘free speech zones’ outside circus held at county-owned arena. “‘We conclude that the (Luzerne County) arena’s policy sequestering protesters to designated areas satisfies the reasonableness test for speech restrictions in nonpublic forums,’ U.S. Circuit Judge Anthony Scirica wrote in a 28-page opinion.”   https://www.courthousenews.com/third-circuit-oks-ban-on-protests-near-circus-gates/   When you invite the public to attend an event, doesn’t that make it a public event?

Suburban Detroit election official accused of election tampering. “According to the criminal complaint filed at the 46th District Court in Southfield, (Sherikia) Hawkins tampered with 193 records for absentee ballots that had been logged into an online poll book. The state alleges that Hawkins marked these records as having no signature.”   https://www.courthousenews.com/city-clerk-in-michigan-faces-election-fraud-charges/

U.S. denies visas to members of Russian U.N. delegation. “This is a direct violation of Washington’s international obligations; this is not a bilateral visit.”   https://www.courthousenews.com/kremlin-slams-us-for-denying-visas-to-un-delegates/

Google doesn’t have to extended EU privacy measures to its users in other regions. “The case stems from the EU court’s 2014 ruling that people have the right to control what appears when their name is searched online. That decision forced Google to delete links to outdated or embarrassing personal information that popped up in searches within the 28-nation bloc.”   https://www.courthousenews.com/eu-high-court-rules-for-google-on-right-to-be-forgotten/

Wikileaks also published details of Russia’s mass surveillance practices. “Spy Files: Russia opened a window on how Russian telecommunications companies and internet service providers interact with the FSB, the Russian Federation’s primary security agency, and other state intelligence agencies, or SIAs, in developing and operating Russia’s extensive mass surveillance programs.”   https://consortiumnews.com/2019/09/23/the-revelations-of-wikileaks-no-5-busting-the-myth-wikileaks-never-published-damaging-material-on-russia/

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September 23, 2019

Vice President drives across Michigan’s car-free Mackinac Island. “…the Trump administration is known for its norm-breaking, and on Saturday, vice president Mike Pence rumbled across the island in an eight-vehicle motorcade.”   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/mike-pence-mackinac-island-cars-banned-motorcade-fournier-michigan-a9115631.html   That’s what’s know as a ‘political statement’.

Florida school resource officer arrests two elementary school students in separate incidents. “No 6-year-old child should be able to tell somebody that they had handcuffs on them and they were riding in the back of a police car and taken to a juvenile center to be fingerprinted, mug shot.”   https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/22/florida-cop-under-investigation-after-arresting-kids-6-and-8/2411142001/

Department of Defense threatened to use B-2 bomber on U.S. civilians, then deleted the tweet and apologized. “The last thing #Millennials will see if they attempt the #area51 raid today,” the tweet read. The accompanying image was a B-2 Spirit bomber…”   https://www.businessinsider.com/area-51-dod-apologizes-for-threatening-to-bomb-millennials-raiding-2019-9

Washington junior high school allegedly moved autistic student’s desk into a restroom. “…the boy’s desk was moved to the stall after his mother, Danielle Goodwin, told staff at the Whatcom Middle School in Bellingham that her son, who also has an auto immune disorder, worked better in quiet surroundings.”   https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/462517-washington-school-under-fire-for-placing-autistic-students-desk   School says the restroom was no longer in active use.

Hong Kong police disguised as protesters accused of brutally beating activists with batons. “Demonstrators said that undercover officers didn’t identify themselves as police, adding to fears that the men had been part of gangs that had attacked demonstrators in recent weeks.”   https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/22/world/hong-kong-police-protests.html

Protests against President Sisi spread across Egypt. “In addition to Suez, witnesses and social media postings described protests on Saturday in Mediterranean Sea city of Port Said, as well as Mahallah, a factory town that has traditionally been the heart of the country’s labour movement, and the southern Egyptian city of Naga Hamadi.”   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/egypt-protest-latest-president-sisi-united-nations-a9115736.html

Funeral held for Pizol glacier in Switzerland. “Locals, hikers and environmental campaigners, some dressed in black clothes, trekked up the mountain to pay their respects to the glacier’s remnants, situated at an altitude of around 2,700m (8,850ft), near the Liechtenstein and Austrian borders.”   https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49788483

Turkey accused of aiding extremist groups in Syria. “Two Turkish intelligence officers, captured by Kurdish guerilla fighters in northern Iraq in 2017, provided insider accounts of Turkish government assistance to ISIS and other jihadi groups operating in Syria and Iraq.”   https://nypost.com/2019/09/21/why-isnt-the-media-covering-turkish-president-erdogans-ties-to-isis/

Henrico County, Virginia police entered woman’s home during welfare check and forced open her bathroom door before fatal police shooting. “They search upstairs and downstairs and come to a locked bedroom door they eventually kick open…. (Gay) Plack barges out from behind it, swinging an ax with a small head and a 2-foot-long handle.”   https://www.richmond.com/news/local/crime/bodycam-footage-of-fatal-shooting-shows-both-henrico-officers-fired/article_9aa05c77-822e-5698-955a-b56a82121ded.html

Australian special forces soldiers have reported involvement in, or knowledge of, war crimes in Afghanistan. “The soldier who unlawfully killed a detainee on October 3, 2012 also disclosed a more senior commando directed him to ‘take the prisoner … and get rid of them’ in a discreet location. The commando said ‘he was told it was OK because he was a bad guy’.”   https://www.theage.com.au/national/get-rid-of-the-prisoners-by-shooting-them-australian-commandos-tell-of-war-crimes-20190910-p52prl.html

Carter administration accused of covering up Israel/South Africa nuclear test. “The Carter administration was so afraid to enforce the Partial Test Ban Treaty against Israel’s 1979 violation that it did what it could to erase or keep hidden evidence of its detection of a test,” Foreign Policy revealed. “Subsequent administrations, Republican and Democratic alike, went along with this, and the US government still pretends it knows nothing about any Israeli nuclear weapons.”   https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Carter-administration-knew-of-Israeli-nuclear-test-turned-a-blind-eye-602485

FBI refusing to confirm or deny surveillance of migrant assistance groups. “For the five groups in question in my FOIA actions, the FBI is asserting FOIA’s ‘national security’ or (b)(1) exemption in a Glomar context. How can the provision of legal advice, counseling or other services to immigrants represent ‘a threat to national security’?”   https://www.justsecurity.org/66201/constitution-day-2019-the-hidden-domestic-surveillance-crisis/

Video shows hundreds of shackled prisoners at Chinese train station. “The video, posted anonymously on YouTube last week, shows what appear to be Uighur or other minorities wearing blue and yellow uniforms, with cleanly shaven heads, their eyes covered, sitting in rows on the ground and later being led away by police.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/23/china-footage-reveals-hundreds-of-blindfolded-and-shackled-prisoners-uighur

Trump administration reportedly seeking allies at U.N. to block abortion rights. “In the letter, apparently signed by the secretary of state Mike Pompeo and health and human services secretary Alex Azar, governments are encouraged to sign a joint statement opposing ‘harmful’ UN policies that promote sexual and reproductive health and rights.”   https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/sep/23/leaked-letter-suggests-us-is-rallying-un-member-states-to-oppose-abortion

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September 22, 2019

Veterans group observes U.N. Peace Day. “Members of Veterans for Peace in Evansville gathered on Saturday to commemorate the International Day of Peace to honor humanity’s quest for peace.”   https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/veterans-for-peace-gather-for-international-peace-day/   This year’s theme is ‘Climate Action for Peace’, says U.N. general secretary. “With extreme weather events and disasters becoming more frequent and severe, disputes over dwindling resources risk fueling climate-related conflict.”   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/21/world/international-day-of-peace-2019-trnd/index.html

Life in a developed market economy: Elevator in Washington Monument breaks down on third day of operation, after a 3 year renovation. “Visitors were rescued a few at a time by D.C. Fire from a height of nearly 500 feet.”   https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-washington-monument-dc-landmark-elevator-breaks-down-days-after-reopening-today-2019-09-21/

Pro- and anti-ICE demonstrators kept apart by Aurora, Colorado police. “Hundreds of anti-ICE demonstrators walked several miles from Denver’s City Park to the GEO Aurora ICE Processing Center.”   https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/09/21/ice-facility-aurora-protesters/

North Stanly High School cancels football game after receiving threats from Trump supporters angry about cheerleaders who were reprimanded for posing with campaign sign. “Because the cheerleaders were in school uniforms when they posed with the Trump campaign sign at the Aug. 30 game, they were acting as representatives of the school, the school district said in a statement.”   https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/09/21/trump-supporting-cheerleaders-were-going-take-field-then-security-issues-arose/

Motorist on Nevada’s ‘Extraterrestrial Highway’ has close encounter of the third kind – with a cow. “While no human injuries were reported, state patrol disclosed the cow died in the crash.”   https://www.foxnews.com/us/storm-area-51-cow-car-nevada-extraterrestrial-highway-crash   It looks like the car may have died too.

Chechnya regional government accused of targeting opposition figures and asylum seekers abroad and assassinating them. “The most unbelievable (human rights) violations occur on a daily basis in Chechnya, it is by far the worst place in Europe for rights abuses, but because (Ramzan) Kadyrov silences the victims of violence, we get a lot of information and evidence that we can’t use, because if we do the whole family will be targeted.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/21/chechnya-death-squads-europe-ramzan-kadyrov

Jury acquits Michigan man accused of harassing judge on social media. “(Nicholas Somberg, Jonathan Vanderhagen’s lawyer)… argued in an emergency bond hearing that Vanderhagen had a First Amendment right to criticize legal authorities. Judge (Sebastian) Lucido replied that there were ‘limits’ to free speech.”    https://reason.com/2019/09/20/a-michigan-man-has-been-acquitted-by-a-jury-for-criticizing-a-county-judge-on-facebook/

Woman sues Detroit over police officers who opened her door without a warrant and then shot her dogs after they escaped. “The suit alleges that both the illegal search and the shooting of (Teresa) Thomas’ dogs violated her Fourth Amendment rights.”   https://reason.com/2019/09/20/detroit-police-sued-yet-again-for-shooting-a-womans-dogs-during-a-warrantless-search/

Baltimore Police Department will not confirm or deny that its officers used automatic weapons during the fatal Tyrone Banks shooting in August. “PNS: Did any of the 13 Baltimore police officers involved in the Tyrone Banks shooting on August 28, 2019 fire a fully automatic weapon (M-16, M-4, etc.)? Are any Baltimore patrol officers equipped with such weapons? If so, what types of weapons? BPD: I have provided the link to the press conference held by the police commissioner. The body worn camera footage was released. This should answer your questions. PNS: I’m sorry, but my question was not addressed during the press conference. It appears from the video that multiple officers were firing automatic weapons at the suspect. Do you know if that was the case? Were any of these 13 officers equipped with automatic weapons, such as full-auto military rifles, submachine guns, etc.? BPD: My apologies. I was certain you could see the type of firearm being used by the officer in the camera footage. I’m going to forward your inquiry to our Legal Department and our Document Collection Unit. Let’s get you connected with someone that can assist you.” (This email correspondence was dated September 19th. I am still waiting for a response.)

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September 21, 2019

Millions around the world march for action on climate change. “Protesters expressed a growing sense of crisis amid heat waves, floods, hurricanes, droughts and wildfires. (They) want governments and corporations to set deadlines for switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”   https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-09-19/climate-change-strike-walkout

Woman claims Andrew Yang fired her after she got married. “Our private discussion, in his office with the door closed, began with Andrew’s remarks that because I was married, I wouldn’t want to continue working as hard as I had been. That as a wife, I’d be focused on my new life.”   https://www.gothamgazette.com/opinion/8801-i-was-andrew-yangs-first-freedom-dividend-recipient-he-fired-me   Was he a male chauvinist? No, just a typical businessman. “He had seen how seamlessly my staff had performed while I was on my honeymoon. He probably thought that they would do the work cheaper.”

Purdue Pharma executives will still get bonuses, despite OxyContin maker’s bankruptcy. “The company estimates it will pay about $26 million in wages and benefits, including bonuses.”   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/20/us/purdue-pharma-bankruptcy-hearing/index.html

Trump whistle-blower complaint: President accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate son of Joe Biden. “Many details about this story remain murky, but the implication seems to be that the whistle-blower is alleging that Trump promised to release two hundred and fifty million dollars in stalled aid for Ukraine if (Volodymyr) Zelensky would launch a corruption investigation into matters involving Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.”   https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/did-trump-try-to-extort-the-president-of-ukraine-into-investigating-joe-biden

Egyptian protesters call for the country’s president to step down. “The demonstrations came after self-exiled Egyptian businessman and actor Mohamed Ali accused President el-Sisi of corruption and called on people to take to the streets and demand the leader be removed.”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/egypt-thousands-streets-demanding-sisi-resignation-190920205701643.html

Trump administration to deploy U.S. troops to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. “Answering reporters’ questions about the deployment, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the troop deployment as ‘modest’ and ‘not thousands’.”   https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/u-s-deploy-military-forces-saudi-arabia-after-drone-attacks-n1057216

Former State Department analyst says his report to Congress on the security implications of climate change was heavily edited by the White House. “(Dr. Rod Schoonover) was specifically told to delete warnings about climate-linked stress to humans, including drought, flooding, disease, food shortages, mass displacement and migration. A Trump administration official called the analysis ‘junk science’.”   https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-intelligence-analyst-says-white-house-tried-to-delete-basic-science-from-climate-change-report-2019-09-20/

FBI’s use of secret National Security Letters more widespread than thought. “The documents, obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit and shared with The New York Times, shed light on the scope of the demands…. The documents provide information on about 750 of the subpoenas — representing a small but telling fraction of the half-million issued since 2001, when the Patriot Act expanded their powers.”   https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/us/data-privacy-fbi.html

National Guard soldiers complain that they are spending a lot more time than they thought to fulfill their commitment. “Not only are soldiers presenting themselves in uniform more often (than one weekend a month and two weeks a year), but more importantly, there is a greater expectation that soldiers, on non-pay status, complete military work in order for the unit to maintain their readiness.”   https://taskandpurpose.com/army-reserve-weekend-readiness

Former British investment banker describes his methods of using derivatives to dodge European taxes. “Even the most basic cum-ex deal involves at least 12 transactions…. Estimated (revenue) losses include an estimated €31.8 bn (in) Germany, at least €17bn for France, €4.5bn in Italy, €1.7bn in Denmark and €201m for Belgium.”   https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/sep/20/the-men-who-plundered-europe-city-of-london-practices-on-trial-in-bonn

Another weekend of violence in Hong Kong. “Police fired teargas at protesters and dismantled makeshift barricades set up by protesters with plastic and metal roadside barriers while protesters threw petrol bombs in retaliation.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/21/pro-china-supporters-tear-down-hong-kongs-lennon-walls

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