(2019-07-18). Why Are Billionaires Like Jeff Bezos so Obsessed With Space? truthdig.com 
The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing is this year, and it's worth recalling the memo that then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson wrote to President John F. Kennedy: "If we do not make the strong effort now, the time will soon be reached when the margin of control over space and over men's minds through space accomplishments will have swung so far on the Russian side that we will not be able to catch up, let alone assume leadership." | That sense of urgency has shifted over the decades f…
(2019-07-18). Spying on Julian Assange: UC Global, CNN and Russian Couriers. dissidentvoice.org History's scope for the absurd and tragic is infinite. Like Sisyphus engaged in permanent labours pushing a boulder up a slope, the effort of making sense of such scope is likewise, absurdly infinite. To see images of an exhausted and world-weary Julian Assange attempting to dodge the all-eye surveillance operation that he would complain about …
(2019-07-18). Elections in Greece: What happened and what's next. workers.org 
New Democracy, which the big business press calls a center-right party, won the July 7 election in Greece with 39.8 percent of the vote. It has 158 seats in parliament — a comfortable majority that let it form a majority government. The leader of ND, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, took over as . . . | Continue reading Elections in Greece: What happened and what's next at Workers.org
(2019-07-18). Trump's send-them-back doctrine. nationofchange.org During the height of Stalin's purges, the great Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich kept a packed suitcase near the door of his apartment. The Black Marias, the vehicle of choice for the secret police, would traditionally arrive in the middle of the night to ferry "undesirables" to interrogation cells. Shostakovich wanted to be ready at any …
(2019-07-18). How a black farming community found justice. nationofchange.org Shirley Sherrod co-founded New Communities, a Black farming community in rural Georgia. But at one time, she wanted to leave farming far behind. As a teenager, Sherrod dreamed of leaving the South. Her mind traveled North—away from the White sheriff, known as "The Gator," who ruthlessly and violently patrolled the area's Black residents. Away from her …
(2019-07-18). G7 Countries Take a Step Towards Taxing Big Internet Companies. telesurenglish.net France, Italy, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States (the G7 countries) reached Thursday a principle of agreement for Internet companies to pay taxes in countries where they have digital activity, although they lack physical presence, to prevent them from transferring their profits to tax havens. | RELATED: | French National Assembly Approves GAFA Tax to Big Tech Firms | The compromise reached at the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors meeti…
(2019-07-18). Thursday's Daily Brief: Mandela Day, war waning in Yemen? Deadly monsoon rains, zero hunger hopes fade, fifth anniversary of MH17 crash. un.org In today's Daily Brief: World celebrates Nelson Mandela; Security Council hears end of Yemen war may be in sight; South Asia children turned 'upside down' by monsoon rains; world 'off track' to meet zero hunger target; Italy urged to stop 'criminalising' migrant rescues…
(2019-07-18). Five Years Ago: Was Malaysia Flight MH17 Shot Down by a Ukrainian Fighter Plane? globalresearch.ca This article was originally published in 2014. | July 17th is the commemoration of the downing of MH17, July 17, 2014 | "From start to finish, the Ukraine crisis has been instigated by US imperialism. Every action Washington has taken has been …
(2019-07-18). Schumer, DNC up in arms over face manipulation app created by 'the Russians'. rt.com 
Accusations about FaceApp, a service for manipulating portraits, have graduated from racism and transphobia to a bona fide national security threat, with Chuck Schumer calling for a formal FBI probe. Because Russia is behind it!
(2019-07-18). We could have been nuke-free. greenleft.org.au 
Fallout: Conspiracy, Cover-Up and the Deceitful Case for the Atom Bomb
| Peter Watson
| Simon & Schuster, 2018
| 423 pages | Nuclear weapons need never have been built. Our world could have been free from the "frozen tableau of terror" of 9500 nuclear warheads capable of destroying the world 100 times over, as Peter Watson comprehensively shows in Fallout: Conspiracy, Cover-Up and the Deceitful Case for the Atom Bomb. | It is pure fable that the atomic bomb was only brought into being as a necessary defence against Nazi Germany acquiring nuclear weapons during World War II. | Nazi Germany never had a…
(2019-07-18). France: Delevoye report prepares the slashing of pensions by Macron. wsws.org Despite the growing opposition expressed in the "yellow vest" protests, the Macron government is accelerating its assault on the social rights of the working class.
(2019-07-18). IMF Head Christine Lagarde Resigns to Pursue European Central Bank Nomination. indybay.org The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, announced that she is resigning. Lagarde is pursuing her nomination to lead the European Central Bank. Her resignation takes effect on September 12th.
(2019-07-18). The European Union expands its war against refugees. wsws.org As anger grows at the number of refugees dying in the Mediterranean, EU politicians are demanding military operations in Libya.
(2019-07-18). A Farsa das Relaàßàµes com a Rússia. globalresearch.ca O estado das relaàßàµes entre a Itália e a Rússia é "excelente": afirmou o Primeiro Ministro Conte, ao receber em Roma, o Presidente Putin. A mensagem é reconfortante, na verdade, soporífera em relaàßà£o à opinià£o pública. Limitamo-nos, fundamentalmente, ao estado …
(2019-07-18). Carbon trading companies use loophole to dodge hard Brexit fallout. thecanary.co British greenhouse gas emissions traders and producers are increasingly moving their carbon credits into European accounts to bypass EU penalties and protect their interests in case of a no-deal Brexit, The Canary has learned. This legal loophole will allow them to carry on trading emission allowances if Britain crashes out of the EU. | The carbon credit scheme: | The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is a 'cap and trade' system that the European Commission calls the EU's "key tool for…
(2019-07-18). Trump's drilling leases on public lands could release 4.7b metric tons of carbon—more than all 28 EU countries emit in a year. nationofchange.org 
A national conservation group revealed Wednesday that President Donald Trump's drilling leases on public lands could lead to the release of more carbon emissions than the European Union contributes in an entire year. The Wilderness Society estimates that U.S. companies will release at least 854 million and as much as 4.7 billion metric tons of carbon if …
(2019-07-17). 'Young people care about peace': UN Youth Envoy delivers key message to Security Council. un.org After visiting refugee camps in Jordan, UN-backed schools in Gaza, municipalities in Kosovo and Youth Councils in Denmark, the UN's Youth Envoy visited the Security Council on Wednesday with a simple message from the field that "young people care about peace".
(2019-07-17). Politicization of migrant 'crisis' in Hungary making them scapegoats, independent UN human rights expert warns. un.org Expressing deep concern over how migration and migrants themselves are being politicized and scapegoated in Hungary, an independent United Nations human rights expert on Wednesday urged the Government to immediately end its "crisis" approach to the issue.
(2019-07-17). Wednesday's Daily Brief: Ebola now an international Public Health Emergency, young peacemakers, defining moment for Sudan, war crimes fugitives, migrant 'crisis' in Hungary. un.org In today's Daily Brief: the DR Congo Ebola outbreak is officially declared an international Public Health Emergency; UN Youth Envoy briefs Security Council; an 'exciting and potentially defining' moment for Sudan, says UN adviser; more cooperation's needed to secure arrest of war crimes fugitives; and politicizing the migrant 'crisis' in Hungary…
(2019-07-17). UK to Send 3rd Warship to Persian Gulf, Tensions With Iran Grow. telesurenglish.net The United Kingdom announced Tuesday that it will send a third warship to the Persian Gulf. The announcement comes at a time when tensions between the U.K. and Iran over the illegal seizure of an Iranian oil tanker earlier this month are increasing. | RELATED: | Iran Ready for Talks If US Lifts Sanctions: Rouhani | The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) said that HMS Kent, a type 23 frigate, would be sent out into the region in September in order to ensure the country's maritime security p…
(2019-07-17). Massive photo databases secretly gathered in US and Europe to develop facial recognition. wsws.org Large digital face and "selfie" photo databases have been used by state agencies, software engineers and researchers involved in perfecting AI algorithms and image pattern analyses.
(2019-07-17). German Defence Minister to become EU Commission president. wsws.org For the first time since 1958, a German politician will occupy the most powerful office in the European Union.
(2019-07-17). CNN peddles intelligence agencies' lies against Assange. wsws.org A recent CNN broadcast recycles the discredited claim that WikiLeaks was involved in a Russian conspiracy to deprive Hillary Clinton of the US presidency.
(2019-07-17). States collaborating with the far-Right. mronline.org 
It is not the collapse of Conservatism causing the rise of the far-right in America, Europe and Britain, it is the opposite. It is, however, important to understand that this is exactly how fascism comes to power. | Source
(2019-07-16). How Israeli-Designed Drones Became Russia's Eyes in the Sky for Defending Bashar al-Assad. theintercept.com 
Last summer, Israel shot down yet another military drone near the line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria. The confrontation would have been business as usual, if not for a twist: Images of the destroyed drone showed Cyrillic tail markings and other identifiable components of a Forpost belonging to Russia. The findings presented an awkward geopolitical moment: Syria and Russia are allies, and Syria and Israel are bitter enemies — but the Russ…
(2019-07-16). Human cost of Ukraine conflict is growing, Security Council told. un.org The human cost of the conflict in Ukraine is growing, the UN political chief told the Security Council on Tuesday, during a briefing on the current situation in the country.
(2019-07-16). A Socialist Defector: From Harvard to Karl-Marx-Allee. therealnews.com 
Victor Grossman defected to East Germany while serving in the US military in the 1950's. His latest book recounts his assessment of life in the US, in East Germany, and in the united Germany. We discuss the book with the author…
(2019-07-15). S-400, Sudan, Hong Kong protests, Somali attack. uwidata.com S-400 On July 14, the seventh aircraft carrying Russian S-400 air defense system components arrived in Turkey at the Myrted airbase. Turkey has now become the first NATO country to purchase the S-400. The purchase caused months of disagreements with the United States, who argued that the F-35 fighter jets Turkey had purchased were incompatible …
(2019-07-15). Three years ago, Turkey nearly went over the edge. uwidata.com The events of that ill-fated night will live in the memory of the Turkish citizens who survived them. In reviewing the July 15 attempted coup three years later, it is important to stay away from taking sides and to move towards impartial evaluation. It is clear that what happened would be practically impossible without the collusion …
(2019-07-14). NATO 'Concerned' by Turkey's Acquisition of Russian S-400 System. theantimedia.com (TM) — NATO said Friday it was "concerned" by Turkey's acquisition of Russia's S-400 missile defense system after Ankara took delivery of its first batch, AFP reported. The alliance has repeatedly warned Turkey that the Russian system is incompatible with other NATO weapons systems, not least the F-35 fighter jet. "We are concerned about the potential consequences …
(2019-07-13). 'We will respond with force': Former Turkish military leader issues warning to Washington amid S-400 tension. uwidata.com 
The former head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Turkey, retired general ƒ∞lker Ba≈übuƒü recent made a number of powerful statements about his country's purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems and American F-35 fighters (which Ankara still counts on receiving despite threat from the US to the contrary). Here are the most …
(2019-07-12). 'Hypersonic Missiles' Aren't Starting an Arms Race—Washington Is. fair.org 
The New York Times ascribes agency and responsibility to mysterious forces and inanimate missiles manipulating the US both in its headline—it's the missiles that are "starting a new global arms race," not the government—and in its claim that "the rush" to possess hypersonic missiles has "pushed the United States into an arms race with Russia and China."
(2019-07-12). EU, Podemos throw Catalan sovereignty under the bus. greenleft.org.au 
Nothing captures the attitude of the European Union (EU) and its main member states towards the Catalan struggle for self-determination better than this well-known verse: | Last night I saw upon the stair,
| A little man who wasn't there,
| He wasn't there again today
| Oh, how I wish he'd go away … | The week of July 1-8 was marked by important (non) appearances by the "little man" of the movement for Catalan sovereignty. | First, there was the July 2 rally of more than 10,000 Catalan demonstrators (according to police figures) outside the opening of the new session of the European P…
(2019-07-10). Norway, Bachelet, and the Twilight of Guaido's Insurrection. mintpressnews.com 
Venezuelanalysis — Guaido's uprising is going through its terminal phrase. He does not yet appear to have reached his end as leader, as he still produces and consolidates an important consensus among the opposition. What has decisively failed is his attempt to form a government without elections with the backing of the hawks in Washington. In almost six months since his self-swearing in as "interim president," it has become palpable that his governing is truly impossible. The coup de grace was de…
(2019-07-01). US Sanctions Maduro's Son as Venezuela Discussed at G20. venezuelanalysis.com Russian President Vladimir Putin challenged Juan Guaido to run in elections while Trump said he has "five different alternatives for Venezuela."
(2019-06-28). Georgia Tried to Ban Abortion, So We Sued. aclu.org Abortion bans place people in danger, and Georgia's is no exception. | Alabama. Arkansas. Kentucky. Ohio. And today, Georgia. That's the list of states where the ACLU has had to go to court over the last few months to challenge laws banning abortion. | The Georgia law bans abortion at six weeks of pregnancy and is in clear violation of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade. In fact, that is the whole point of the law. Georgia politicians, including Governor Brian Kemp, emboldened by President Trump's appointment of two new justices to the Supreme Court, think this is their chance to get the court to take aw…
(2019-06-20). Milton Nascimento fans urge him to cancel Israel show. bdsmovement.net 
Milton Nascimento fans urge him to cancel Israel show: UpdateFans attending European tour dates join Palestinian and Brazilian arts organizations in urging star to cancel apartheid Tel Aviv show | Cultural BoycottJune 20, 2019 | By: | | Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)
(2019-06-06). Venezuela: Pompeo Exposes Frustration Over Opposition Divisions as China, Russia Call for Non-Interference. venezuelanalysis.com The US Secretary of State claims efforts to unify the opposition have been "devilishly difficult."
(2019-05-30). Venezuela: Norway Talks End as Pence Telephones Guaido. venezuelanalysis.com Maduro praised "constructive dialogue" while the opposition reiterated appeals to the armed forces.
(2019-05-17). Oriaku Njoku & Jill Heaviside on Abortion Rights in Georgia and Beyond. fair.org 
Abortions will happen, as they always have. The question is what they'll be like, for whom? If that's your question about the future, it makes sense to talk with the people who are doing the work now — of support, advocacy and funding to allow women to access safe and affordable abortion care.