Daily Archives: September 5, 2019

2019-09-05: News Headlines

unitedEditor (2019-09-05). Russia and Turkey's ongoing cooperation provokes tension with Europe and the US. uwidata.com Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 systems (in spite of US sanctions and threats), along with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit to Russia and joint inspection of the latest Su-35 and Su-57 fighters with Russian President Vladimir Putin, are both clear indications of the ongoing split in the American-European axis. The US quickly …

Andrew Korybko (2019-09-05). Kazakhstan's New President Faces His First Test: Anti-Chinese Protests. globalresearch.ca New Kazakhstani President Tokayev is facing his first real test as the country's leader after low-intensity anti-Chinese protests broke out in three main cities in response to concerns that the Central Asian state is becoming much too dependent on its …

Stephen Lendman (2019-09-05). JCPOA Commitments: Iran will Increase its Nuclear R & D. globalresearch.ca In response to Britain, France, Germany, and the EU's continued failure to fulfill their mandated JCPOA obligations, Iranian President Rouhani said his government will increase its nuclear R & D beginning September 6. | It's the third rollback of its voluntary …

Andrew Korybko (2019-09-05). Belarus Is Between a Rock and a Hard Place. "Balance" its Relations between Russia and the US. globalresearch.ca Belarus is in the unenviable position of being caught in the middle of the New Cold War and having to delicately "balance" relations between Russia and the US. | US National Security Advisor Bolton's trip late last month to Belarus was …

Chris Winters (2019-09-05). What if we made the electoral college moot? nationofchange.org Immediately after the 2016 presidential election, many liberal circles were buzzing about how to prevent Donald Trump from taking office, especially after evidence of Russian interference emerged and after Trump continued to demonstrate his temperament and complete lack of qualification and preparation for the job. Maybe the Electoral College would go rogue and vote for …

Jacques R. Pauwels (2019-09-05). The Hitler-Stalin Pact, a Reply. counterpunch.org There are many inaccuracies in the Proyect/Szelegieniec essay, but I will comment only on a few of the most important ones: + The Red Army's march into [Eastern] Poland was not an "imperial incursion," as LP and PS claim. "Eastern Poland" was Ukrainian and Belorussian territory taken by Poland when it invaded Soviet Russia in More

unitedEditor (2019-09-05). Turkey's warning to NATO. uwidata.com àúnal àáevikà∂z, the deputy opposition leader of the main opposition party in Turkey, the Republican People's Party (RPP, Turk. CHP), commented on President Recep Tayyip Erdoƒüan's recent trip to Russia, saying: "We are concerned that if Turkey, a member of NATO, continues to purchase weapons that are not can be integrated into the Alliance system, …

Andrea Germanos (2019-09-05). Because 'A World Without Insects Is Not Worth Living In,' Germany Announces Plan to Ban Glyphosate. globalresearch.ca The German government announced Wednesday it had agreed on a plan to phase out the use of glyphosate—the key chemical in the weedkiller Roundup—with a total ban set to begin by the end of 2023. | "Way to go, Germany!" tweeted

unitedEditor (2019-09-05). Elections in Germany, Split in the Italian Government, US-China Trade War. uwidata.com Elections in Germany Angela Merkel's the Christian Democratic Union came out victorious in the elections which took place in Brandenburg and Saxony. However, the party was followed closely by the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD). According to preliminary data, in Saxony, the right-wing formation received 27.5% of the vote, while the CDU received 32.1%. …

Staff (2019-09-05). Hurricane Dorian Batters the Carolinas as It Pushes Northward. truthdig.com Its 110-mph winds and storm-surge flooding causes havoc after sweeping past Florida and Georgia and leaving at least 20 dead in the Bahamas.

Binoy Kampmark (2019-09-05). Tradition, Marketing and Blacked Cognac. counterpunch.org The moment the liquid hits the mark, lips on the balloon rim, the hand having swirled the mellow colouring to life, the throat anticipates. It is tenderising, the gentle burn finding its way down to the belly. Most cultures have their tribute of firewater, or hellfire's brew, but France's brandy Cognac, in its various incarnations, More

Serge Halimi (2019-09-05). The EU's Ursula von der Leyen: Who Voted for Her? counterpunch.org July heatwave luckily distracted public attention in Europe from disruption in another area: democracy. Few hot and bothered Europeans noticed that the political line they had been fed for at least three years had just been dropped. The media, busy with other investigations, did not try hard to alert them. Hundreds of millions of European More

WSWS (2019-09-05). Five Star-Democrat coalition government announced in Italy. wsws.org Cobbled together in backroom deals to avoid elections while continuing austerity and attacks on refugees, this government is no alternative to its far-right predecessor.

Staff (2019-09-05). Headlines for September 5, 2019. democracynow.org 2020 Dem Candidates Talk Fracking, Green New Deal, Nuclear Energy & More at Climate Crisis Town Hall, Brexit Battle Heats Up as Lawmakers Vote to Block "No-Deal" Scenario, Trump Shows Doctored Hurricane Map as Dorian Hits U.S. Coast After Ravaging Bahamas, Report: FBI Tracking Immigration Activists Who Oppose Trump Policies, Aid Groups Uncover More Human Remains at Arizona-Mexico Border, State Dept. Official Offered Millions to Captain of Iranian Oil Tanker to Divert Vessel, Mexico: Main Suspect in 2014 Ayotzinapa Student Disappearance Acquitted, Denmark Bans PFAS from Food Packaging, Germany Announces Glyphosate…

The Canary (2019-09-05). What is filibustering and why does it matter? thecanary.co Fears that Eurosceptic peers could have talked out — or filibustered — a bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit in October proved unfounded after the legislation cleared another hurdle in the early hours of Thursday. | The European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill went through the Commons on Wednesday but needed to also pass the House of Lords before Parliament is prorogued next week. | Conservative peer Lord True submitted a raft of amendments and was accused by Labour peers of time-wasting in a bid to delay progress. | Here's the answers to key questions about filibustering and how too much talk can kill a…

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2019-09-05). From Military Jets to Snipers, Icelanders—Who Live in World's Most Peaceful Country—Shocked by All the Guns Surrounding Mike Pence. commondreams.org "Americans intended to give every Reykjavik citizen a paralyzing drug during Pence's visit," joked a satirical Icelandic newspaper | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/pence_iceland.jpg

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2019-09-05). Literal Sh*t Storm: Warnings of Major Manure Threat as Hurricane Dorian Barrels Toward North Carolina Factory Farms. commondreams.org "The heavy rainfall could flood poorly located factory farms, spreading untold tons of hog, chicken, and turkey waste along the coastal plain." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/dorian_factory_farms.jpg

The Canary (2019-09-05). Hurricane Dorian creeps up US coast, with near-record storm surge feared. thecanary.co Hurricane Dorian, back to a category three storm, has begun raking the south-east US seaboard. | It is threatening to inundate low-lying coasts from Georgia to south-west Virginia with a dangerous storm surge after its deadly mauling of the Bahamas. | Dorian had crashed into the island nation as its strongest hurricane on record earlier this week, but had weakened greatly since — down from a category five to a category two storm before increasing again late on Wednesday. | It still boasts dangerously high winds of 115 mph as it is sideswiping the coasts of Georgia and North and South Carolina. | In South Ca…

Eds. (2019-09-05). Excessive state surveillance is now 'undermining British democracy'. mronline.org Kevin Blowe is the coordinator of the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) from 2014 when it began focusing on the policing of opposition to fracking across the country. He regularly contributes to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's work on protecting rights to freedom of assembly and spent 25 years as a campaigner […] | Source

Ed Sykes (2019-09-05). Johnson accused of 'abusing' police with Trumpian political stunt in Yorkshire. thecanary.co On 5 September, Boris Johnson launched a Trumpian political stunt in West Yorkshire. And critics accused him of 'abusing' the position of the police in the process. | "Abuse of power": | About 35 student officers stood in lines behind Johnson as he gave a speech at West Yorkshire Police's operations and training complex in Wakefield. The officers were standing behind his lectern, in front of an old-style police box, for at least 20 minutes before the speech began.

Alessio Arena (2019-09-04). Will Germany direct European imperialism? workers.org Editor's notes: The following are excerpts, chosen from a more extensive essay on developments in Europe, which focuses on the role of German imperialism within the European Union. The author is the secretary general of the Fronte Popolare (Popular Front) in Italy. Translation by WW managing editor John Catalinotto. By . . . | Continue reading Will Germany direct European imperialism? at Workers.org

Vijay Prashad (2019-09-04). How can Sweden be a peace broker for the war in Yemen if it's also selling the arms that make it possible? mronline.org Sweden might have some credibility if it banned weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is not enough to be moved by the tragedy in Yemen. Action is necessary. | Source

Robert Hunziker (2019-09-04). Killing the Ocean. counterpunch.org The oceans are "crying for mercy," a fact that is starkly revealed in a telling 900-page draft of a forthcoming UN report due for release September 25th. The draft report obtained by Agence France-Presse (AFP) assesses the status of the oceans and cyrosphere. It's a landmark UN report, and it's not a pretty picture. More

Alvaro Huerta (2019-09-04). Reflections of a White Studies Survivor. counterpunch.org "Hello, my name is Alvaro Huerta and I'm a White Studies Survivor." What does White Studies mean? (Thank you for asking.) It basically refers to a Euro-centric philosophy or curriculum taught in U.S. schools (and beyond), where there's a racist assumption—perpetuated by the dominant culture and elites—that individuals of European origin (or white people) and More

WSWS (2019-09-04). Russia and Turkey intensify military cooperation over US objections. wsws.org Turkish purchases of Russian missiles and possibly fighter jets are fuelling tensions between Turkey and its imperialist allies in Washington and Europe.

Stephen F. Cohen (2019-09-04). What We Still Do Not Know About Russiagate. thenation.com What We Still Do Not Know About Russiagate…

United Nations (2019-09-04). Human rights are everyone's business, amid relentless crises around world: UN's Bachelet. un.org The relentless outbreak of crises around the world — from the fires in the Amazon to "carnage" in Syria and demonstrations in Hong Kong, Russia, Indonesian Papua and elsewhere – risk pushing the world "further and further away from global solutions to global problems", the UN's top rights official said on Wednesday.

WSWS (2019-09-04). Strike wave paralyses transport system in Spain. wsws.org There is deep, growing anger among workers over the massive growth of social inequality and worsening working conditions.

John W. Whitehead (2019-09-04). American Gulag: Our Prisons Get More Oppressive by the Day. counterpunch.org "The exile of prisoners to a distant place, where they can 'pay their debt to society,' make themselves useful, and not contaminate others with their ideas or their criminal acts, is a practice as old as civilization itself. The rulers of ancient Rome and Greece sent their dissidents off to distant colonies. Socrates chose death More

Robert Hunziker (2019-09-04). Killing the Ocean. dissidentvoice.org The oceans are "crying for mercy," a fact that is starkly revealed in a telling 900-page draft of a forthcoming UN report due for release September 25th. The draft report obtained by Agence France-Presse (AFP) assesses the status of the oceans and cyrosphere. It's a landmark UN report, and it's not a pretty picture. In …

Staff (2019-09-04). "This Is a Climate Emergency": Devastated by Dorian, the Bahamas Are on Frontlines of a Dying Planet. democracynow.org It is a scene of utter devastation after the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian ravaged the Bahamas. Residents of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas are now bracing for the storm, which has been downgraded to Category 2. The official death in the Bahamas is at seven but is expected to rise. On the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, as many as 13,000 homes have been destroyed or heavily damaged. Rescue efforts have been hampered by widespread flooding. Some reports say 70 to 80% of the affected areas remains underwater, including the Grand Bahama International Airport. The Bahamas Red Cross and other relief groups are sc…

The Canary (2019-09-04). To stop the DUP, Sinn Féin considers working with other parties in possible snap election. thecanary.co Sinn Féin has signalled a willingness to co-operate with other pro-Remain parties to challenge DUP Brexiteer candidates if a general election is called. | Party vice president Michelle O'Neill did not rule out electoral pacts with other "progressive" parties to maximise the chances of taking seats in the north of Ireland. | She was at Stormont on Wednesday to chair an election planning meeting with party colleagues, and said: Clearly we are moving very quickly towards an election… | this election will be about fighting back very hard, very strong against the Tory/DUP sponsored Brexit that brings nothing good for…

Victor Grossman (2019-09-04). German Elections: a Mixture of Joy and Great Sorrow. counterpunch.org State elections in eastern Germany on September 1 brought mixed joy to some and great sorrow to others. With many, it was less joy than sighs of relief; neither Saxon nor Brandenburg voters gave the far-right, fascist-leaning Alternative for Germany (AfD) the Number One position it had hungered for. In Saxony this was prevented by More

unitedEditor (2019-09-03). Monthly review August 2019. uwidata.com Europe G7: the split intensifies The G7 summit was held in France between August 24 and 26. The leaders of the US, France, Germany, UK, Canada, Japan and Italy discussed internal contradictions between the world's leading economies, particularly between Washington and the rest of the member nations, and compromises were reached on some issues. The …

Staff (2019-09-03). Fueled by Climate Change, Hurricane Dorian Devastates the Bahamas in "Unprecedented Disaster" democracynow.org Hurricane Dorian is continuing to wreak havoc in the Bahamas, where massive storms and flooding have killed five people and left many stranded on the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands over the weekend. The Category 3 storm pummeled the islands throughout Monday with up to 180-mile-per-hour winds and continued to be stalled in the region Tuesday. Hurricane Dorian is one of the strongest recorded storms to ever strike the Atlantic, and is expected to continue a destructive path toward Florida and then onward to the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. It made landfall as a Category 5 storm in the Bahamas Sunday. We s…

Fight Back (2019-09-02). Protesters demand MN divest from Elbit. fightbacknews.org St. Paul, MN – "In 2017, the Trump administration awarded Elbit a contract to work on the expansion of the Mexico border wall. Elbit System's CEO has said that the company's current growth can be attributed to increased U.S. border spending," said Sarah Martin of Women Against Military Madness. "This last decade has seen the international community divesting from Elbit, including the Norwegian State Pension Fund, Danske Bank. Governor Walz, we Minnesotans refuse to continue to profit from pain, injustice and tragedy at the hands of Elbit. We want you to do what Norway and Denmark did. Divest now!" | Martin, who…

RT (2019-09-02). Undeclared US Airstrike on Syria's Idlib Leaves Multiple Casualties. dissidentvoice.org Sending no warning to Russia or Turkey, the US bombed an array of targets within Idlib, Syria, killing numerous civilians and threatening the hard-earned truce across the province, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The air raid led to "multiple casualties and destruction" around two villages in the Idlib province, where a fragile ceasefire between government …

Peter Koenig (2019-09-01). G7: The Cost of Uselessness. dissidentvoice.org The G7 Summit is an obsolete, useless talking shop, as Finnian Cunningham so adroitly says. RT calls it The Unbearable Pointlessness of G7. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, and the United States constitute the G7 gang. It should strike any logical thinker as extremely odd that the world's largest economy (by purchasing parity-based GDP), …

Victor Grossman (2019-08-31). Are German greens on the left? mronline.org The three states in Eastern Germany now facing elections (two of them on Sunday) will be forced to decide on coalitions; no party will be strong enough to rule alone, most likely not even in two-party tandems. | Source

Aaron Maté (2019-08-31). MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell hits Russiagate rock bottom. thegrayzone.com Aaron Maté slams MSNBC's latest Russiagate dud, exposing how Lawrence O'Donnell's embarrassing retraction is part of a pattern of bogus…

Aaron Maté (2019-08-30). Does scathing Comey report preview a Russiagate reckoning? thegrayzone.com A scathing DOJ report rebukes former FBI director Jim Comey for leaks about the Trump-Russia investigation. Scholar and author Stephen…

Fight Back (2019-08-30). FRSO labor delegation arrives in Caracas, Venezuela. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization's trade union delegation arrived in Caracas, Venezuela for the "1st International Meeting of Workers in Solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, its Government and Its People," starting on August 29. | Delegates from most of the Latin America and Caribbean countries, as well as some other parts of the world are participating. This includes labor delegations and trade union leaders from Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Honduras, El Salvador, Argentina, Nigeria, Portugal, France, the UK and Spain.

susan_p (2019-08-30). Rojava: Human shields defy threats of Turkish invasion. greenleft.org.au Rojava revolutionIssue 1235 Northern Syria Turkish military Democratic Federation of Northern SyriaAugust 30, 2019The people of Rojava in Northern Syria are continuing human shield actions along the Syria-Turkey border, to prevent an invasi…

unitedEditor (2019-08-29). A safe zone in Syria: a renewed military crisis or a diplomatic solution? uwidata.com The establishment of safe zones in war-torn countries is supposed to entail a reduction in violence. However, in the present situation in Syria, US involvement in the establishment of a safe zone will lead to the direct military entrenchment of Washington, Turkey, Russia, and Syria, and will only cause the situation to deteriorate further. WHY …

Staff (2019-08-29). Boris Johnson Suspends Parliament Ahead of Brexit in "Shameless and Brazen Attack" on U.K. Democracy. democracynow.org The United Kingdom is in uproar after Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the queen to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament from mid-September to mid-October, leaving little time for lawmakers to avoid a disastrous no-deal Brexit when the country exits the European Union on October 31. Thousands took to the streets in London and across the country Wednesday to protest the move. We speak with Ash Sarkar, senior editor at Novara Media, who describes Johnson's latest move as unprecedented, calling it "the most shameless and brazen attack on the British democratic process" in decades. "The unspoken rule of the British con…

Staff (2019-08-29). Remembering Legendary Peace Activist Frances Crowe, Who Died at 100 After Decades of Resisting War. democracynow.org The legendary peace activist Frances Crowe died this week at the age of 100 in Northampton, Massachusetts. Over the past seven decades, Frances had been arrested countless times while protesting war, nuclear weapons, nuclear power and the construction of new pipelines. She is survived by her two sons, a daughter and an international community of peace activists. We revisit a 2005 interview of Frances Crowe by Amy Goodman and recognize her lifetime of advocacy.

Staff (2019-08-29). Headlines for August 29, 2019. democracynow.org EPA to Roll Back Methane Regulations in Blow to Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Trump Moves to Allow Logging in World's Largest Intact Temperate Rainforest, Hurricane Dorian Gains Strength, Threatens Bahamas & Florida, Swedish Youth Climate Justice Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives in NYC After 15-Day Boat Trip, Gillibrand Drops Out of 2020 Race as Just 10 Dems Qualify for Sept. Debate, Thousands Protest "Coup" in U.K. as Boris Johnson Suspends Parliament Ahead of Brexit, New Coalition Government May Be Formed in Italy, Italian Humanitarian Ship Rescues 100 Migrants Off Coast of Libya, Separatists & Government-B…

unitedEditor (2019-08-28). G7 Summit: Critical Outcomes. uwidata.com In the French city of Biarritz, a three-day summit featuring the heads of state from 7 of the world's largest economies (Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, the USA, France and Japan) has come to a close. The hottest topics of discussion were trade relations, a nuclear deal with Iran, the protests in Hong Kong, the …

unitedEditor (2019-08-27). Chaos in Italy, Hong Kong protests, G7 summit. uwidata.com Italian chaos Italian President Sergio Mattarella accepted the resignation of Giuseppe Conte, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. "The president of the republic took note of the resignation and asked the government to take care of completing the current tasks," the office of the Italian head of state said on Tuesday evening, August 20, …

PACBI (2019-08-26). Israeli Filmmakers Letter on Greenhouse Project. bdsmovement.net Israeli Filmmakers Letter on Greenhouse Project: In the NewsLeonidas Kioussis
| Catherine COLOMB-NANCY
| (EuropeAid Co-Operation Office of the European Commission)
| Rosamaria Gili
| (European Commission Delegation in Morocco) Cultural BoycottFebruary 16, 2006 | By: | | Israeli filmmakers, producers, scholars and artists

2019-09-05: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Kazakhstan's New President Faces His First Test: Anti-Chinese Protests
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2019-09-05
New Kazakhstani President Tokayev is facing his first real test as the country's leader after low-intensity anti-Chinese protests broke out in three main cities in response to concerns that the Central Asian state is becoming much too dependent on its …
globalresearch.ca/kazakhstan-new-president-faces-anti-chinese-protests/5688172

JCPOA Commitments: Iran will Increase its Nuclear R & D
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2019-09-05
In response to Britain, France, Germany, and the EU's continued failure to fulfill their mandated JCPOA obligations, Iranian President Rouhani said his government will increase its nuclear R & D beginning September 6. | It's the third rollback of its voluntary …
globalresearch.ca/iran-reduces-voluntary-jcpoa-commitments/5688168

Belarus Is Between a Rock and a Hard Place. "Balance" its Relations between Russia and the US
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2019-09-05
Belarus is in the unenviable position of being caught in the middle of the New Cold War and having to delicately "balance" relations between Russia and the US. | US National Security Advisor Bolton's trip late last month to Belarus was | …
globalresearch.ca/belarus-between-rock-hard-place/5688140

Turkey's warning to NATO
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-09-05
àúnal àáevikà∂z, the deputy opposition leader of the main opposition party in Turkey, the Republican People's Party (RPP, Turk. CHP), commented on President Recep Tayyip Erdoƒüan's recent trip to Russia, saying: "We are concerned that if Turkey, a member of NATO, continues to purchase weapons that are not can be integrated into the Alliance system, …
uwidata.com/5228-turkeys-warning-to-nato/

Russia and Turkey's ongoing cooperation provokes tension with Europe and the US
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-09-05
Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 systems (in spite of US sanctions and threats), along with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit to Russia and joint inspection of the latest Su-35 and Su-57 fighters with Russian President Vladimir Putin, are both clear indications of the ongoing split in the American-European axis. The US quickly …
uwidata.com/5218-turkish-russian-cooperation-as-a-turbulent-factor-in-us-european-relations/

The Hitler-Stalin Pact, a Reply
Jacques R. Pauwels | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-05
There are many inaccuracies in the Proyect/Szelegieniec essay, but I will comment only on a few of the most important ones: + The Red Army's march into [Eastern] Poland was not an "imperial incursion," as LP and PS claim. "Eastern Poland" was Ukrainian and Belorussian territory taken by Poland when it invaded Soviet Russia in…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/05/the-hitler-stalin-pact-a-reply/

What if we made the electoral college moot?
Chris Winters | nationofchange.org | 2019-09-05
Immediately after the 2016 presidential election, many liberal circles were buzzing about how to prevent Donald Trump from taking office, especially after evidence of Russian interference emerged and after Trump continued to demonstrate his temperament and complete lack of qualification and preparation for the job. Maybe the Electoral College would go rogue and vote for …
nationofchange.org/2019/09/05/what-if-we-made-the-electoral-college-moot/

Because 'A World Without Insects Is Not Worth Living In,' Germany Announces Plan to Ban Glyphosate
Andrea Germanos | globalresearch.ca | 2019-09-05
The German government announced Wednesday it had agreed on a plan to phase out the use of glyphosate–the key chemical in the weedkiller Roundup–with a total ban set to begin by the end of 2023. | "Way to go, Germany!" tweeted | …
globalresearch.ca/germany-announces-plan-ban-glyphosate/5688194

Elections in Germany, Split in the Italian Government, US-China Trade War
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-09-05
Elections in Germany Angela Merkel's the Christian Democratic Union came out victorious in the elections which took place in Brandenburg and Saxony. However, the party was followed closely by the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD). According to preliminary data, in Saxony, the right-wing formation received 27.5% of the vote, while the CDU received 32.1%. …
uwidata.com/5227-elections-in-germany-split-in-the-italian-government-us-china-trade-war/

Hurricane Dorian creeps up US coast, with near-record storm surge feared
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-09-05
Hurricane Dorian, back to a category three storm, has begun raking the south-east US seaboard. | It is threatening to inundate low-lying coasts from Georgia to south-west Virginia with a dangerous storm surge after its deadly mauling of the Bahamas. | Dorian had crashed into the island nation as its strongest hurricane on record earlier this week, but had weakened greatly since — down from a category five to a category two storm before increasing again late on Wednesday. | It still boasts dangerously high winds of 115 mph as it is sideswiping the coasts of Georgia and North and South Carolina. | In South Ca…
thecanary.co/discovery/news-discovery/2019/09/05/hurricane-dorian-creeps-up-us-coast-with-near-record-storm-surge-feared/

Hurricane Dorian Batters the Carolinas as It Pushes Northward
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-09-05
Its 110-mph winds and storm-surge flooding causes havoc after sweeping past Florida and Georgia and leaving at least 20 dead in the Bahamas.
truthdig.com/articles/a-re-energized-hurricane-dorian-batters-the-carolinas/

Tradition, Marketing and Blacked Cognac
Binoy Kampmark | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-05
The moment the liquid hits the mark, lips on the balloon rim, the hand having swirled the mellow colouring to life, the throat anticipates. It is tenderising, the gentle burn finding its way down to the belly. Most cultures have their tribute of firewater, or hellfire's brew, but France's brandy Cognac, in its various incarnations,…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/05/tradition-marketing-and-blacked-cognac/

The EU's Ursula von der Leyen: Who Voted for Her?
Serge Halimi | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-05
July heatwave luckily distracted public attention in Europe from disruption in another area: democracy. Few hot and bothered Europeans noticed that the political line they had been fed for at least three years had just been dropped. The media, busy with other investigations, did not try hard to alert them. Hundreds of millions of European…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/05/the-eus-ursula-von-der-leyen-who-voted-for-her/

Excessive state surveillance is now 'undermining British democracy'
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-09-05
Kevin Blowe is the coordinator of the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) from 2014 when it began focusing on the policing of opposition to fracking across the country. He regularly contributes to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's work on protecting rights to freedom of assembly and spent 25 years as a campaigner […] | Source…
mronline.org/2019/09/05/excessive-state-surveillance-is-now-undermining-british-democracy/

Five Star-Democrat coalition government announced in Italy
wsws.org | 2019-09-05
Cobbled together in backroom deals to avoid elections while continuing austerity and attacks on refugees, this government is no alternative to its far-right predecessor.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/09/05/ital-s05.html

What is filibustering and why does it matter?
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-09-05
Fears that Eurosceptic peers could have talked out — or filibustered — a bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit in October proved unfounded after the legislation cleared another hurdle in the early hours of Thursday. | The European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill went through the Commons on Wednesday but needed to also pass the House of Lords before Parliament is prorogued next week. | Conservative peer Lord True submitted a raft of amendments and was accused by Labour peers of time-wasting in a bid to delay progress. | Here's the answers to key questions about filibustering and how too much talk can kill a…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/09/05/what-is-filibustering-and-why-does-it-matter/

From Military Jets to Snipers, Icelanders—Who Live in World's Most Peaceful Country—Shocked by All the Guns Surrounding Mike Pence
Jake Johnson, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-09-05
"Americans intended to give every Reykjavik citizen a paralyzing drug during Pence's visit," joked a satirical Icelandic newspaper | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/pence_iceland.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2019/09/05/military-jets-snipers-icelanders-who-live-worlds-most-peaceful-country-shocked-all?cd-origin=rss

Literal Sh*t Storm: Warnings of Major Manure Threat as Hurricane Dorian Barrels Toward North Carolina Factory Farms
Jake Johnson, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-09-05
"The heavy rainfall could flood poorly located factory farms, spreading untold tons of hog, chicken, and turkey waste along the coastal plain." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/dorian_factory_farms.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2019/09/05/literal-sht-storm-warnings-major-manure-threat-hurricane-dorian-barrels-toward-north?cd-origin=rss

How can Sweden be a peace broker for the war in Yemen if it's also selling the arms that make it possible?
Vijay Prashad | mronline.org | 2019-09-04
Sweden might have some credibility if it banned weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is not enough to be moved by the tragedy in Yemen. Action is necessary. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/09/04/how-can-sweden-be-a-peace-broker-for-the-war-in-yemen-if-its-also-selling-the-arms-that-make-it-possible/

Russia and Turkey intensify military cooperation over US objections
wsws.org | 2019-09-04
Turkish purchases of Russian missiles and possibly fighter jets are fuelling tensions between Turkey and its imperialist allies in Washington and Europe.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/09/04/mosc-s04.html

Human rights are everyone's business, amid relentless crises around world: UN's Bachelet
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-04
The relentless outbreak of crises around the world — from the fires in the Amazon to "carnage" in Syria and demonstrations in Hong Kong, Russia, Indonesian Papua and elsewhere – risk pushing the world "further and further away from global solutions to global problems", the UN's top rights official said on Wednesday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1045602

What We Still Do Not Know About Russiagate
Stephen F. Cohen | thenation.com | 2019-09-04
What We Still Do Not Know About Russiagate…
thenation.com/article/what-we-still-do-not-know-about-russiagate/

Strike wave paralyses transport system in Spain
wsws.org | 2019-09-04
There is deep, growing anger among workers over the massive growth of social inequality and worsening working conditions.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/09/04/spai-s04.html

German Elections: a Mixture of Joy and Great Sorrow
Victor Grossman | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-04
State elections in eastern Germany on September 1 brought mixed joy to some and great sorrow to others. With many, it was less joy than sighs of relief; neither Saxon nor Brandenburg voters gave the far-right, fascist-leaning Alternative for Germany (AfD) the Number One position it had hungered for. In Saxony this was prevented by…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/04/german-elections-a-mixture-of-joy-and-great-sorrow/

Will Germany direct European imperialism?
Alessio Arena | workers.org | 2019-09-04
Editor's notes: The following are excerpts, chosen from a more extensive essay on developments in Europe, which focuses on the role of German imperialism within the European Union. The author is the secretary general of the Fronte Popolare (Popular Front) in Italy. Translation by WW managing editor John Catalinotto. By . . . | Continue reading Will Germany direct European imperialism? at Workers.org
workers.org/2019/09/04/will-germany-direct-european-imperialism/

Killing the Ocean
Robert Hunziker | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-04
The oceans are "crying for mercy," a fact that is starkly revealed in a telling 900-page draft of a forthcoming UN report due for release September 25th. The draft report obtained by Agence France-Presse (AFP) assesses the status of the oceans and cyrosphere. It's a landmark UN report, and it's not a pretty picture.
counterpunch.org/2019/09/04/killing-the-ocean/

Killing the Ocean
Robert Hunziker | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-09-04
The oceans are "crying for mercy," a fact that is starkly revealed in a telling 900-page draft of a forthcoming UN report due for release September 25th. The draft report obtained by Agence France-Presse (AFP) assesses the status of the oceans and cyrosphere. It's a landmark UN report, and it's not a pretty picture. In …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/09/killing-the-ocean/

Reflections of a White Studies Survivor
Alvaro Huerta | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-04
"Hello, my name is Alvaro Huerta and I'm a White Studies Survivor." What does White Studies mean? (Thank you for asking.) It basically refers to a Euro-centric philosophy or curriculum taught in U.S. schools (and beyond), where there's a racist assumption–perpetuated by the dominant culture and elites–that individuals of European origin (or white people) and…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/04/reflections-of-a-white-studies-survivor/

"This Is a Climate Emergency": Devastated by Dorian, the Bahamas Are on Frontlines of a Dying Planet
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-04
It is a scene of utter devastation after the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian ravaged the Bahamas. Residents of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas are now bracing for the storm, which has been downgraded to Category 2. The official death in the Bahamas is at seven but is expected to rise. On the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, as many as 13,000 homes have been destroyed or heavily damaged. Rescue efforts have been hampered by widespread flooding. Some reports say 70 to 80% of the affected areas remains underwater, including the Grand Bahama International Airport. The Bahamas Red Cross and other relief groups are sc…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/4/dorian

To stop the DUP, Sinn Féin considers working with other parties in possible snap election
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-09-04
Sinn Féin has signalled a willingness to co-operate with other pro-Remain parties to challenge DUP Brexiteer candidates if a general election is called. | Party vice president Michelle O'Neill did not rule out electoral pacts with other "progressive" parties to maximise the chances of taking seats in the north of Ireland. | She was at Stormont on Wednesday to chair an election planning meeting with party colleagues, and said: Clearly we are moving very quickly towards an election… | this election will be about fighting back very hard, very strong against the Tory/DUP sponsored Brexit that brings nothing good for…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/09/04/to-stop-the-dup-sinn-fein-considers-working-with-other-parties-in-possible-snap-election/

Monthly review August 2019
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-09-03
Europe G7: the split intensifies The G7 summit was held in France between August 24 and 26. The leaders of the US, France, Germany, UK, Canada, Japan and Italy discussed internal contradictions between the world's leading economies, particularly between Washington and the rest of the member nations, and compromises were reached on some issues. The …
uwidata.com/5195-monthly-review-august-2019/

Fueled by Climate Change, Hurricane Dorian Devastates the Bahamas in "Unprecedented Disaster"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-03
Hurricane Dorian is continuing to wreak havoc in the Bahamas, where massive storms and flooding have killed five people and left many stranded on the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands over the weekend. The Category 3 storm pummeled the islands throughout Monday with up to 180-mile-per-hour winds and continued to be stalled in the region Tuesday. Hurricane Dorian is one of the strongest recorded storms to ever strike the Atlantic, and is expected to continue a destructive path toward Florida and then onward to the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. It made landfall as a Category 5 storm in the Bahamas Sunday. We s…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/3/hurricane_dorian

Protesters demand MN divest from Elbit
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-09-02
St. Paul, MN – "In 2017, the Trump administration awarded Elbit a contract to work on the expansion of the Mexico border wall. Elbit System's CEO has said that the company's current growth can be attributed to increased U.S. border spending," said Sarah Martin of Women Against Military Madness. "This last decade has seen the international community divesting from Elbit, including the Norwegian State Pension Fund, Danske Bank. Governor Walz, we Minnesotans refuse to continue to profit from pain, injustice and tragedy at the hands of Elbit. We want you to do what Norway and Denmark did. Divest now!" | Martin, who…
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/9/2/protesters-demand-mn-divest-elbit

Undeclared US Airstrike on Syria's Idlib Leaves Multiple Casualties
RT | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-09-02
Sending no warning to Russia or Turkey, the US bombed an array of targets within Idlib, Syria, killing numerous civilians and threatening the hard-earned truce across the province, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The air raid led to "multiple casualties and destruction" around two villages in the Idlib province, where a fragile ceasefire between government …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/09/undeclared-us-airstrike-on-syrias-idlib-leaves-multiple-casualties/

G7: The Cost of Uselessness
Peter Koenig | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-09-01
The G7 Summit is an obsolete, useless talking shop, as Finnian Cunningham so adroitly says. RT calls it The Unbearable Pointlessness of G7. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, and the United States constitute the G7 gang. It should strike any logical thinker as extremely odd that the world's largest economy (by purchasing parity-based GDP), …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/08/g7-the-cost-of-uselessness/

MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell hits Russiagate rock bottom
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-08-31
Aaron Maté slams MSNBC's latest Russiagate dud, exposing how Lawrence O'Donnell's embarrassing retraction is part of a pattern of bogus…
thegrayzone.com/2019/08/31/aaron-mate-demolishes-lawrence-odonnells-embarrassing-russiagate-retraction/

Are German greens on the left?
Victor Grossman | mronline.org | 2019-08-31
The three states in Eastern Germany now facing elections (two of them on Sunday) will be forced to decide on coalitions; no party will be strong enough to rule alone, most likely not even in two-party tandems. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/08/31/are-german-greens-on-the-left/

Does scathing Comey report preview a Russiagate reckoning?
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-08-30
A scathing DOJ report rebukes former FBI director Jim Comey for leaks about the Trump-Russia investigation. Scholar and author Stephen…
thegrayzone.com/2019/08/30/scathing-comey-report-russiagate-reckoning/

FRSO labor delegation arrives in Caracas, Venezuela
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-08-30
Caracas, Venezuela – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization's trade union delegation arrived in Caracas, Venezuela for the "1st International Meeting of Workers in Solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, its Government and Its People," starting on August 29. | Delegates from most of the Latin America and Caribbean countries, as well as some other parts of the world are participating. This includes labor delegations and trade union leaders from Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Honduras, El Salvador, Argentina, Nigeria, Portugal, France, the UK and Spain.
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/8/30/frso-labor-delegation-arrives-caracas-venezuela

Rojava: Human shields defy threats of Turkish invasion
susan_p | greenleft.org.au | 2019-08-30
Rojava revolutionIssue 1235 Northern Syria Turkish military Democratic Federation of Northern SyriaAugust 30, 2019The people of Rojava in Northern Syria are continuing human shield actions along the Syria-Turkey border, to prevent an invasi…
greenleft.org.au/content/rojava-human-shields-defy-threats-turkish-invasion

A safe zone in Syria: a renewed military crisis or a diplomatic solution?
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-08-29
The establishment of safe zones in war-torn countries is supposed to entail a reduction in violence. However, in the present situation in Syria, US involvement in the establishment of a safe zone will lead to the direct military entrenchment of Washington, Turkey, Russia, and Syria, and will only cause the situation to deteriorate further. WHY …
uwidata.com/5160-a-safe-zone-in-syria-a-renewed-military-crisis-or-a-diplomatic-solution/

Headlines for August 29, 2019
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-29
EPA to Roll Back Methane Regulations in Blow to Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Trump Moves to Allow Logging in World's Largest Intact Temperate Rainforest, Hurricane Dorian Gains Strength, Threatens Bahamas & Florida, Swedish Youth Climate Justice Activist Greta Thunberg Arrives in NYC After 15-Day Boat Trip, Gillibrand Drops Out of 2020 Race as Just 10 Dems Qualify for Sept. Debate, Thousands Protest "Coup" in U.K. as Boris Johnson Suspends Parliament Ahead of Brexit, New Coalition Government May Be Formed in Italy, Italian Humanitarian Ship Rescues 100 Migrants Off Coast of Libya, Separatists & Government-B…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/29/headlines

Remembering Legendary Peace Activist Frances Crowe, Who Died at 100 After Decades of Resisting War
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-29
The legendary peace activist Frances Crowe died this week at the age of 100 in Northampton, Massachusetts. Over the past seven decades, Frances had been arrested countless times while protesting war, nuclear weapons, nuclear power and the construction of new pipelines. She is survived by her two sons, a daughter and an international community of peace activists. We revisit a 2005 interview of Frances Crowe by Amy Goodman and recognize her lifetime of advocacy.
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/29/remembering_legendary_peace_activist_frances_crowe

Boris Johnson Suspends Parliament Ahead of Brexit in "Shameless and Brazen Attack" on U.K. Democracy
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-29
The United Kingdom is in uproar after Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the queen to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament from mid-September to mid-October, leaving little time for lawmakers to avoid a disastrous no-deal Brexit when the country exits the European Union on October 31. Thousands took to the streets in London and across the country Wednesday to protest the move. We speak with Ash Sarkar, senior editor at Novara Media, who describes Johnson's latest move as unprecedented, calling it "the most shameless and brazen attack on the British democratic process" in decades. "The unspoken rule of the British con…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/29/ash_sarkar_boris_johnson_prorogation_brexit

G7 Summit: Critical Outcomes
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-08-28
In the French city of Biarritz, a three-day summit featuring the heads of state from 7 of the world's largest economies (Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, the USA, France and Japan) has come to a close. The hottest topics of discussion were trade relations, a nuclear deal with Iran, the protests in Hong Kong, the …
uwidata.com/5103-g7-summit-critical-outcomes/

Chaos in Italy, Hong Kong protests, G7 summit
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-08-27
Italian chaos Italian President Sergio Mattarella accepted the resignation of Giuseppe Conte, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. "The president of the republic took note of the resignation and asked the government to take care of completing the current tasks," the office of the Italian head of state said on Tuesday evening, August 20, …
uwidata.com/5209-chaos-in-italy-hong-kong-protests-g7-summit/

Israeli Filmmakers Letter on Greenhouse Project
PACBI | bdsmovement.net | 2019-08-26
Israeli Filmmakers Letter on Greenhouse Project: In the NewsLeonidas Kioussis | Catherine COLOMB-NANCY | (EuropeAid Co-Operation Office of the European Commission) | Rosamaria Gili | (European Commission Delegation in Morocco) Cultural BoycottFebruary 16, 2006 | By: | | Israeli filmmakers, producers, scholars and artists …
bdsmovement.net/news/israeli-filmmakers-letter-greenhouse-project

#ShutItDown: Organizing to Strike for Climate Justice
patrick | strikedc.org | 2019-08-20
Throughout the 2018–2019 school year, young people around organized massive school climate strikes to demand that the world's leaders take immediate action to address climate change. The strikes started first in Sweden, then spread throughout the European Union and around the world. By March, 15 tens of thousands of students in more than 100 countries … | Continue reading "#ShutItDown: Organizing to Strike for Climate Justice"
strikedc.org/index.php/2019/08/20/shutitdown-organizing-to-strike-for-climate-justice/

Turkey-Syria War on the Horizon: Airstrikes Target Invading Turkish Army Convoy
Tyler Durden | theantimedia.com | 2019-08-19
Turkey and Syria could be headed for war as their armies increasingly clash on front lines in southern Idlib.
theantimedia.com/turkey-syria-war-horizon-airstrikes-turkish-army-convoy/

Marjorie Taylor Greene: How an Outspoken MAGA Fan Built a Following in a World of Extremists
Hatewatch Staff | splcenter.org | 2019-08-16
Originally a MAGA supporter but now an emerging MAGA star, Marjorie Taylor Greene has deftly leveraged social media and confrontations in public to increase her visibility. Now she's entering politics as a GOP candidate for Georgia's 6th Congressional District.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/08/16/marjorie-taylor-greene-how-outspoken-maga-fan-built-following-world-extremists