2019-10-26: News Headlines

RT (2019-10-26). Butina's case is 'prosecutorial overreach': She did nothing illegal, but got 'harsh sentence' — freed gun activist's lawyer. rt.com Russian gun activist Maria Butina, who has spent over a year behind bars in the US on charges of being an unregistered Russian lobbyist, was essentially innocent but was caught up in anti-Russian witch hunts, her lawyer told RT. | Butina came to the US on a student visa in 2016 and was actively involved in pro-gun circles, namely the National Rifle Association (NRA) with a stated goal of expanding gun laws in Russia, which are quite restrictive. Yet, she was detained by the FBI in July 2018 on suspicion of conspiring to infiltrate the lobby group to promote Russian interests in the US. | The American media…

Kathy Kelly (2019-10-26). Trident Is the Crime. dissidentvoice.org On October 24, following a three-day trial in Brunswick, GA, seven Catholic Workers who acted to disarm a nuclear submarine base were convicted on three felony counts and one misdemeanor. The defendants face 20 years in prison, yet they emerged from their trial seeming quite ready for next steps in their ongoing witness. Steve Kelly, …

Jacob Bacharach (2019-10-26). Hillary Clinton Spoils the Party. truthdig.com In the middle of October, Hillary Clinton managed to perform a minor political miracle. By baselessly speculating that Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, was a "favorite of the Russians" and preparing to run as an independent, she revived one of the more quixotic, eccentric and moribund campaigns of this election cycle while spoiling a primary that has proved shockingly substantive for a major party in the United States. | Gabbard "clapped back," tweeting that Hillary was "the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party." The congresswoman then p…

Nikolai Malishevski (2019-10-26). The Pentagon's Map of Afghanistan: An Eldorado of Mineral Wealth and Natural Resources. globalresearch.ca Of relevance to an understanding of America's ongoing military and economic agenda in Afghanistan as well as its confrontation with Russia and China. First published in August 2012 (translated from Russian) | Curious information surfaced in the media [2012] — based …

Staff (2019-10-26). The Frenzy About Russia Has Undermined Progressive Agendas. truthout.org When Donald Trump won the presidency, crucial questions begged to be addressed: How could it happen? Was Hillary Clinton seen by voters as too close to Wall Street, too aligned with wealthy elites? Was Bernie Sanders correct that loyalty to the billionaire class would undermine the Democratic ticket's appeal to working-class voters? | Those were hardly the kinds of questions that Democratic Party leaders and corporate media wanted to put in the national spotlight. Instead, they quickly shifted the focus [mdash…

WSWS (2019-10-26). Justice Department probe of Russia-Trump inquiry has become a "criminal investigation" wsws.org The Trump administration is using the Justice Department investigation as a counterweight to the House impeachment inquiry.

WSWS (2019-10-26). Google announces a new breakthrough for quantum computing. wsws.org By exploiting the quantum properties of matter at an atomic level, quantum computing represents a potentially gargantuan leap in computing power over ordinary machines based on integrated circuits.

Max Parry (2019-10-25). The EU is Rewriting WWII History to Demonize Russia. dissidentvoice.org Last month, on the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II, the European Parliament voted on a resolution entitled "On the Importance of European Remembrance for the Future of Europe." The adopted document: 2. Stresses that the Second World War, the most devastating war in Europe's history, was started as an immediate result of the …

RT (2019-10-25). Tulsi Gabbard ditches congressional race to focus on presidential — triggering #TulsiStein conspiracy theorists. rt.com Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard has abandoned her race for re-election in Hawaii to focus on securing her party's presidential nomination, kicking the 'Russian asset' conspiracy theorizing into high gear. | Gabbard announced on Friday that she would not seek re-election to Congress, declaring she would focus instead on the presidential race. Promising to "end our interventionist foreign policy of being the world's police, toppling dictators and governments we don't like, and redirect our precious resources towards serving the needs of the people here at home," she "humbly" asked her Hawaii consti…

Staff (2019-10-25). Judge Hands Democrats a Victory in Impeachment Inquiry. truthdig.com WASHINGTON — A judge on Friday ordered the Justice Department to give the House secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, handing a victory to Democrats as they gather evidence for the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. | In a ruling that also affirmed the legality of the impeachment inquiry itself, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ordered the department to turn over the materials by Oct. 30. A Justice Department spokeswoman said it was reviewing the decision. The administration can appeal. | The ruling in favor of the House Judiciary Committee…

RT (2019-10-25). DOJ opens criminal probe into 'Russiagate' investigation after administrative review — report. rt.com The US Department of Justice has reportedly moved to launch a criminal inquiry into the roots of the 'Russiagate' probe, which fizzled after failing to uncover any damning evidence of collusion between the US president and Moscow. | Also on rt.com | | Comey admits FBI failed to verify Steele Dossier it used to obtain a spy warrant on Trump's aide | A months-long review launched by Attorney General William Barr into the origins of the ill-fated Russia investigation, repeatedly denounced by US President Donald Trump as a "hoax" and a "witch hunt," h…

Staff (2019-10-25). Seven Peace Activists Found Guilty of "Conspiracy" for Anti-Nuclear Protest. truthout.org In Georgia, a federal grand jury on Thursday found seven Catholic peace activists guilty on three felony counts and a misdemeanor charge for breaking into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base on April 4, 2018. The activists, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, entered the base armed with hammers, crime scene tape, baby bottles containing their own blood, and an indictment charging the U.S. government with crimes against peace. The base is home to at least six nuclear ballistic missile submarines, ea…

Sarah Abed (2019-10-25). Clashes in Northeastern Syria Put Turkish-Russian Memorandum at Risk. globalresearch.ca On Tuesday, exactly two weeks after Ankara launched its cross border military operation "Operation Peace Spring", in northern Syria east of the Euphrates River, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Sochi for …

Joseph Fitsanakis (2019-10-25). US Special Forces' Secrets Fall into Hands of Russians as Kurds Side with Syria. globalresearch.ca American defence officials with knowledge of Special Operations Forces activities in Syria are concerned that their secrets may fall into the hands of the Russians, as the Kurds switch their allegiance to the Moscow-backed Syrian government. | IntelNews reports that members …

South Front (2019-10-25). Video: How Russian-Turkish 'Safe Zone' Deal Shapes Course of Syrian Conflict. globalresearch.ca The military crisis in northeastern Syria started by the Turkish military offensive on Kurdish militias amid the US troops withdrawal deflated. | On October 23, Turkey, Russia and Syria started implementing the 'safe zone' agreement reached by Turkish President Recep Tayyip …

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2019-10-25). Because Federal Government Is Allowed to 'Weaponize the Law,' Plowshares 7 Found Guilty for Anti-Nuclear Weapons Protest. commondreams.org "I really think that the verdict was, frankly, reactionary." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/banner-behind-crime-scene-1024×768.jpg

Staff (2019-10-25). Kings Bay Plowshares 7 Found Found Guilty of Conspiracy at Naval Base Housing Nuclear Arsenal. democracynow.org In Georgia, a federal grand jury on Thursday found seven Catholic peace activists guilty on three felony counts and a misdemeanor charge for breaking into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base on April 4, 2018. The activists, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, entered the base armed with hammers, crime scene tape, baby bottles containing their own blood, and an indictment charging the U.S. government with crimes against peace. The base is home to at least six nuclear ballistic missile submarines, each of which carries 20 Trident thermonuclear weapons. The activists said they were following the prophet Isaiah's com…

kathy_f (2019-10-24). The Berlin Wall 30 years on. greenleft.org.au racism Refugees Chris SleeIssue 242 Australia Berlin Wall Cold WarOctober 24, 2019On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. Or, to be more precise, th…

Staff (2019-10-24). Ending Endless War: Andrew Bacevich on How Reckless Use of U.S. Military Power Caused Today's Crisis. democracynow.org President Trump has announced sanctions will be lifted on Turkey as a ceasefire remains in place in northern Syria, where Turkey invaded earlier this month after Trump withdrew U.S. troops. On Tuesday Turkey reached an agreement with Russia that would force Syrian Kurdish forces to retreat from a wide swath of the Syrian-Turkish border. The United Nations is reporting Turkey's offensive in northern Syria has displaced over 176,000 people, including nearly 80,000 children. The Turkish assault also led to a number of former ISIS fighters escaping from jail in northern Syria. We speak with Andrew Bacevich, co-founde…

Staff (2019-10-24). GOP Lawmakers Disrupt Impeachment Hearing As More Damaging Details Emerge About Trump's Misconduct. democracynow.org Republican lawmakers stormed a closed hearing room Wednesday, disrupting the House impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump and delaying a Pentagon official's testimony. In an extraordinary chain of events, dozens of Republican congressmembers pushed into a secure hearing room as Laura Cooper, the U.S. defense official who oversees Ukraine and Russia matters, was due to testify. A five-hour stand-off ensued. The spectacle unfolded one day after Tuesday's explosive testimony by William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine. Taylor told congressional lawmakers that the Trump administration held up $…

Andre Vltchek (2019-10-23). India is Confused: where does it go from here? dissidentvoice.org At J. Nehru University, most students know about China and Russia only from the BBC, Reuters and other Western media outlets. Even those individuals who claim they belong to the left are not immune; influenced mainly by the British propaganda. ***** It has been like this for years: usual confusion, all around India: tough nationalistic, …

Staff (2019-10-23). Tulsi Gabbard Isn't a Russian Asset. It's More Complicated Than That. therealnews.com The Nation's Jeet Heer discusses Hillary Clinton's recent remarks toward Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Why do anti-war activists and the right wing seem to love her?

Aaron Maté (2019-10-23). Jill Stein: Hillary Clinton is still sabotaging progressives. thegrayzone.com Former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein responds to Hillary Clinton calling her a "Russian asset" and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard…

Ryan Cristián (2019-10-23). Trump Says US War With Iran May Be Soon, Putin/Erdogan Syria Deal & Iraq Says No US Troops Allowed. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/22/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Staff (2019-10-23). Headlines for October 23, 2019. democracynow.org Taylor Testifies Trump Tied Ukraine Aid to Investigation of Hunter Biden, Trump Tweets Impeachment is a "Lynching," Sparking Widespread Condemnation, Turkey and Russia Reach Agreement on Northern Syria, Protests Erupt in Bolivia Over Allegations of Election Rigging, Chilean President Announces Reforms Aimed to Curb Massive Protests, Boris Johnson Loses Critical Brexit Vote, Canada's New Anti-Immigrant Party Is Crushed in National Elections, UAW Member Dies After Being Struck by Car Near Picket Line, Chicago Teachers Head into Second Week of Strike, New York's Probe of Facebook Backed by 46 Attorneys General, Mexi…

Staff (2019-10-23). Mark Zuckerberg's Former Mentor: I Tried to Raise Alarm Over Russian Interference But Was Ignored. democracynow.org Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies on Capitol Hill Wednesday, where he is expected to face questioning about the company's cryptocurrency Libra, among other issues. Zuckerberg has faced scrutiny before, including for Facebook's role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. A former mentor of Zuckerberg and longtime Silicon Valley investor Roger McNamee speaks out about the company's dismissal of Russian interference in the election. "They treated it like a PR problem, not a business issue," McNamee says.

Middle East Eye (2019-10-22). Turkey and Russia Agree to Create 'Safe Zone' in Syria. theantimedia.com Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement that will see the withdrawal of Syrian-Kurdish forces from areas along the Turkish border.

Staff (2019-10-22). Headlines for October 22, 2019. democracynow.org Erdogan Meets with Putin as Turkish Ceasefire in Syria Expires, William Taylor Testifies in Impeachment Hearings, NYT: U.S. Has Quietly Pulled Thousands of Troops Out of Afghanistan, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Held onto Power in Tight Elections, Israel: Netanyahu Fails to Form Coalition Government, Massive Protests Continue in Chile, Northern Ireland Decriminalizes Abortion & Legalizes Marriage Equality, Indonesia: Former General Prabowo Subianto to Join the Cabinet, ExxonMobil Goes on Trial in New York over Climate Change, Four Drug Companies Reach Settlement with Two Ohio Counties, Macy's to Stop Se…

Staff (2019-10-21). Kings Bay Plowshares 7: Trial Begins for Liz McAlister & Others for Breaking Into Nuke Sub Base. democracynow.org Seven Catholic peace activists are going on trial in Georgia today for breaking into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base on April 4, 2018. The activists, who are known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The activists entered the base armed with just hammers, crime scene tape, baby bottles containing their own blood and an indictment charging the U.S. government with crimes against peace. Over the past four decades activists in the Plowshares movement have taken part in about 100 similar actions at nuclear arms facilities, beginning in 1980 at the General Electric nuclear mis…

Staff (2019-10-21). Headlines for October 21, 2019. democracynow.org U.S. Troops Leaving Syria Headed for Iraq, Anti-Government Protests Sweep the Globe, Bolivia Presidential Election Appears to Head for a Runoff, Brother of Honduran President Found Guilty of Cocaine Trafficking, Trump Says G7 Will Not Be Held at His Private Golf Course, Hillary Clinton Accuses Jill Stein, Tulsi Gabbard of Being Linked to Russia, Landmark Trial over Opioid Epidemic in Cleveland, Ohio, Tornado Rages Through Dallas, Leaving 100,000 Without Power, Judge Temporarily Blocks Florida Law Limiting Voting by Ex-Felons…

Aaron Maté (2019-10-20). Max Blumenthal on why Hillary Clinton smeared Tulsi Gabbard and Jill Stein. thegrayzone.com Hillary Clinton has smeared Tulsi Gabbard and Jill Stein as Russian assets, and almost no Democratic politicians are pushing back….

Caitlin Johnstone (2019-10-20). This MSNBC Clip is Everything Ugly About Russia Smears. theantimedia.com There's a video clip circulating on Twitter right now that simply has to be seen to be believed.

Paul Dobson (2019-10-07). Venezuela Arrests Oil Exec for Corruption, Receives $4bn in Russian Investment. venezuelanalysis.com Moscow and Caracas are reportedly working on a long-term cooperation agreement set to last at least until 2030.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-09-26). Venezuela: Trump Imposes Travel Ban, Putin Backs Dialogue. venezuelanalysis.com US officials and the Venezuelan opposition have also lobbied the EU to impose harsher sanctions against Caracas.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-09-12). Venezuela Oil Production Continues Decline as China Cancels More Shipments. venezuelanalysis.com Russian oil giant Rosneft blasted threats of US sanctions as "unfair competition."

Peace Action (2019-06-25). Peace Action Endorses Ilhan Omar for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 25, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Ilhan Omar for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

Peace Action (2019-06-24). Peace Action Endorses Kara Eastman for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 24, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Kara Eastman for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …