Israel's Ban on Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar Backfires
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-08-24
| During Congress's August recess, a group of 41 Democratic and 31 Republican congressmembers traveled to Israel on a delegation sponsored by American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). AIPAC subsidizes congressional trips to Israel in order to further the "special relationship" between Israel and the United States. Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. military aid: $3.8 billion annually. AIPAC is the chief Israel lobby in the United States and a consistent apologist for Israel's oppressive policies t…
truthout.org/articles/israels-ban-on-rashida-tlaib-and-ilhan-omar-backfires/

Huawei, evil Chinese & decapitated cat: Bannon serving warmed-over propaganda to Trump & Americans
rt.com | 2019-08-24
Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon has faced the "China threat" head-on with a lukewarm propaganda film dramatizing the Huawei case in Canada, hoping to galvanize the American people (and president) for a second Cold War. | Claws of the Red Dragon — "inspired by real life events" — tells the tale of a stand-in for Huawei's Meng Wanzhou, her arrest in Vancouver on US orders, the retaliatory arrest of two Canadians for definitely not spying in China, and the Huawei-standin's totally real collusion with an especially evil Chinese government. Characters include a plucky Chinese-Canadian journalist hot…
rt.com/usa/467176-bannon-huawei-china-propaganda-film/

Trump escalates economic confrontation with China
wsws.org | 2019-08-24
Trump's "order" for American companies to leave China marks a milestone in the global descent into economic nationalism and preparations for military conflict.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/08/24/pers-a24.html

Wall Street falls as US-China trade conflict intensifies
wsws.org | 2019-08-24
Tweets by Trump in response to tariff measures by Beijing were his most belligerent to date, taking aim not only against China, but US corporations and the Federal Reserve.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/08/24/trad-a24.html

Media Availability: Prabir Purkayastha on How Big Data's Threat to Elections and Democracy Is Quickly Becoming a Global Problem
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-08-24
The cost of the 2016 U.S. elections was $6.5 billion if we combine the presidential and congressional elections. The Indian Parliamentary election of 2019 outspent the 2016 U.S. 2016 election, costing about $8.6 billion. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/08/24/media-availability-prabir-purkayastha-on-how-big-datas-threat-to-elections-and-democracy-is-quickly-becoming-a-global-problem/

National Democrats Endorse John Hickenlooper, a Proponent of Fracking, in Competitive Colorado Primary
Aída Chávez | theintercept.com | 2019-08-24
In Colorado, nearly a dozen Democrats are vying for the opportunity to take on Republican Sen. Cory Gardner in 2020 — a race widely seen as the party's most promising pick-up in the Senate. One of the leading contenders, former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, is running on a platform that includes Medicare for All and an aggressive plan to combat the climate crisis — and his campaign has already topped $1 million in fundraising. | But the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has thrown its weight behind former Gov. John Hickenlooper, a pro-fracking moderate. After months of rejecting calls…
theintercept.com/2019/08/24/dscc-john-hickenlooper-andrew-romanoff-colorado-senate/

Double Standards in Iran Reporting
Florian Zollmann | indybay.org | 2019-08-24
Iran has not attacked any country militarily in the last 100 years. This is mostly unmentioned in the media. Demonizations occur in the Iran reporting. In comparison, reporting about human rights in Saudi Arabia is not on the agenda.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/08/23/18825629.php

Israel bombs Iraq, escalating violence targeting Iran
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-08-24
An Israeli bombing of a weapons depot allegedly used by Iran is the first Israeli strike on Iraq in nearly…
thegrayzone.com/2019/08/24/israel-bombs-iraq-escalating-violence-targeting-iran/

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
wsws.org | 2019-08-24
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/08/24/labo-a24.html

Palestine Legal comments on California's ethnic studies model curriculum
Palestine Legal | indybay.org | 2019-08-24
Palestine Legal has submitted the following public comment on California's 2020 Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum:…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/08/23/18825635.php

Seven Whispers of the White Dove
Iranian Students Association in America | indybay.org | 2019-08-24
Hertz Hall | 101 Cross-Sproul Path | University of California | Berkeley, CA 94720…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/08/23/18825645.php

World Watching the Fate of Iranian Tanker
Prof. Vijay Prashad | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-23
At 11: 30pm on Sunday, August 18, the Iranian tanker Adrian Darya-1 left the shores of Gibraltar at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea. This ship had been detained about six weeks previous by British Royal Marines and Gibraltar officials. The …
globalresearch.ca/world-watching-fate-iranian-tanker/5686898

More Russiagate unraveling? Ex-CEO says FBI instructed him to have relationship with Maria Butina
rt.com | 2019-08-23
Former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne has told media that he was ordered by the FBI to initiate a romantic relationship with imprisoned Russian gun activist Maria Butina, seemingly confirming claims made by her lawyer. | Byrne, who resigned from the online retail company on Thursday, explained to CNN's Chris Cuomo that he had been asked by the FBI — on the orders of then-director James Comey — to "rekindle a romantic relationship" with Butina. | Taken aback by the claim, Cuomo interjected: "You believe that Jim Comey knew that you were being asked to do these things in the name of the United States gove…
rt.com/usa/467136-butina-byrne-fbi-informant-russia/

Activists demand Minnesota divest from border militarization contractor
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-08-23
St. Paul, MN – On August 22, immigrant rights and Palestine solidarity activists presented over 1000 signatures of Minnesota residents petitioning the State Board of Investments (SBI) to divest state pension funds from the Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems. Elbit sells cluster bombs and weaponized white phosphorus to the Israel Defense Forces, whose indiscriminate use on besieged Gaza has been widely condemned by international organizations. Elbit also manufactures surveillance equipment for the Israeli apartheid wall, and drones used in targeted assassinations of Palestinian political leaders. | Advertisi…
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/8/23/activists-demand-minnesota-divest-border-militarization-contractor

Why a Defense Agreement with Israel Would be a Disaster for Americans. Lindsey Graham's Blank Check
Philip Giraldi | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-23
Two world wars began because of unconditional pledges made by one country to come to assistance of another. On July 5, 1914, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany pledged his country's complete support for whatever response Austria-Hungary would choose to make …
globalresearch.ca/lindsey-graham-defense-agreement-israel-disaster-americans/5686996

Trump Regime Threatens Illegal Sanctions on Nations Legally Buying Iranian Oil
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-23
The US under both extremist right wings of its war party is a rogue state by any definition. | It operates extrajudicially at home and abroad. It's increasingly repressive and totalitarian, heading toward full-blown tyranny if the present trend continues unchecked….
globalresearch.ca/trump-regime-threatens-illegal-sanctions-nations-buying-iranian-oil/5686908

Jewish Settlers Rule the Roost in Israel, But at What Price?
Ramzy Baroud | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-23
Israeli Jewish settlers are on a rampage in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. While settler violence is part of everyday routine in Palestine, the violence of recent weeks is directly linked to the general elections in Israel, scheduled to be held on September 17. The previous elections, on April 9, failed to bring about political…
counterpunch.org/2019/08/23/jewish-settlers-rule-the-roost-in-israel-but-at-what-price/

Australia joins US naval operation against Iran, foreshadows involvement in South China Sea
wsws.org | 2019-08-23
Sixteen years after the Iraq war, US imperialism has plans for even more catastrophic crimes–against both Iran and China.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/08/23/auir-a23.html

Trump Never Had a Grand Strategy for China
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-08-23
President Trump has delayed the new tariffs he threatened to impose on Chinese imports in the early fall, and exempted some other Chinese imports altogether. The de-escalation of the Sino-U.S. trade war is especially welcome, given the markets' renewed concerns about impending recession. Also striking was the president's tacit acknowledgment that the tariffs threatened to harm the Am…
truthdig.com/articles/trump-never-had-a-grand-strategy-for-china/

What China's Leadership is Really Worried About: Rising Debt
Tom Clifford | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-23
Beijing. The resort town of Beidaihe has just held one of the world's most important, and secretive, political gatherings. Members of the public flock there in the summer months to relax on the beach gently lapped by the shallow waters of the Yellow Sea. But far from the madding crowd, the resort, 200 km north…
counterpunch.org/2019/08/23/what-chinas-leadership-is-really-worried-about-rising-debt/

US escalates preparations for nuclear war with Russia and China
wsws.org | 2019-08-23
After withdrawing from the INF treaty, the US is accelerating its preparations to fight a nuclear war with China or Russia by testing and stockpiling dangerous new weapons in a nuclear arms race.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/08/23/nucl-a23.html

'Who is our bigger enemy?': Trump lashes out, compares Fed chairman Powell to Chinese President Xi
rt.com | 2019-08-23
President Donald Trump has lashed out at the Federal Reserve chairman, after Jay Powell refused to cut interest rates to Trump's liking, a move that would have given the president ammunition to escalate his trade war with China. | "As usual, the Fed did NOTHING!" Trump tweeted on Friday, after Powell announced that he would "sustain the expansion" of the US economy, but not by slashing interest rates by a whole percentage point, as Trump has repeatedly called for. Instead, Powell is likely to lower rates by around a quarter of a percentage point, from their current level of 2.25 percent. | Also on rt.com…
rt.com/usa/467156-trump-powell-fed-china/

"New Detente" Between Russia and The West? Impacts on the Russia-China Strategic Partnership
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-23
Macron's Mediation | The dynamics of the New Cold War might undergo a dramatic transformation if the geopolitical game-changer of a "New Detente" between Russia and the West succeeds, which is becoming increasingly possible as proven by recent events. | President Putin's …
globalresearch.ca/new-detente-proceeding-apace-china-should-very-concerned/5686937

Bolivian Mine Workers Strike Against one of World's Largest Mining Corporations
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-08-23
The Japanese Sumitomo corporation runs one of the world's largest zinc, copper, and lead mines in Bolivia, where it has been denying workers overtime pay, despite a court order to pay them. We talk to the mine workers' union president, Henry Cayo…
therealnews.com/stories/bolivian-mine-workers-strike-against-one-of-worlds-largest-mining-corporations

Kashmir: Decentralize Power and Revive Regional Political Institutions
Nyla Ali Khan | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-23
Introduction As the decade of the 1990s dawned, the politicial, cultural and socioeconomic fabric of Kashmir was severely impaired by the free rein given to Indian military and paramilitary forces to quell dissidence, and also by Pakistan-trained militants who, in a no holds barred conflict, inflicted atrocities on their co-religionists as well. New Delhi hadn't…
counterpunch.org/2019/08/23/kashmir-decentralize-power-and-revive-regional-political-institutions/

Kashmir and the US-Russia Power Play in South Asia
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-23
Russia is reluctant to jeopardize its ultra-profitable arms relationship with India by strategically "balancing" South Asia, which is why the US decided to play this irreplaceable role instead by actively seeking to cut deals in both Afghanistan and Kashmir since …
globalresearch.ca/trump-south-asian-balancer/5686954

One Woman's Research on Aquatic Bioinvasions, Seaweed, Wave Energy
Paul Haeder | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-08-23
Symbioses — prolonged associations between organisms often widely separated phylogenetically — are more common in biology than we once thought and have been neglected as a phenomenon worthy of study on its own merits. Extending along a dynamic continuum from antagonistic to cooperative and often involving elements of both antagonism and mutualism, symbioses involve pathogens, …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/08/one-womans-research-on-aquatic-bioinvasions-seaweed-wave-energy/

Video: Khan Shaykhun Liberated, Northern Hama Pocket — Next
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-23
On August 21, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the Tiger Forces liberated the town of Khan Shaykhun and the areas of Khazanat and Tal Taeri, thus fully encircling remaining militants in northern Hama. | The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham strong points …
globalresearch.ca/video-khan-shaykhun-liberated-northern-hama-pocket-next/5686915

NPR Mocks Cancer Survivor in Drumbeat of Syria Propaganda
Rick Sterling | mintpressnews.com | 2019-08-23
While NPR snorts about Asma Assad "sporting a chic blonde pixie cut", Lilly Martin points out that she was recently bald while fighting for her life.
mintpressnews.com/npr-mocks-cancer-survivor-in-drumbeat-of-syria-propaganda/261479/

Syrian Terrorists Cannot Hold Northern Hama Pocket for Long Time
Ahmad Al Khaled | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-23
The Syrian army has managed to make significant progress in clashes with "opposition" groups in Northwestern Syria, taking the strategically important city of Khan Sheikhoun. The SAA also cut the highway located to the North from the city, blocking supply …
globalresearch.ca/syrian-rebels-cannot-hold-northern-hama-pocket/5687014

What Netanyahu's Travel Ban Has Revealed
L. Michael Hager | counterpunch.org | 2019-08-23
Until a few weeks ago America's unqualified support for Israel was solidly bipartisan. Aided by media bias and reporter reluctance to address on-the-ground realities, AIPAC and its affiliates had the public relations space virtually to themselves. Reinforced by mainstream media, the "Exodus" narrative captured and retained popular sympathy, while U.S. policymakers began to regard Israel…
counterpunch.org/2019/08/23/what-netanyahus-travel-ban-has-revealed/

Israel's Online Occupation of Palestine
Miriam Deprez | progressive.org | 2019-08-23
How a Facebook post can land you in prison.
progressive.org/dispatches/israels-online-occupation-of-palestine-deprez-190823/

'Provocative' post-INF missile test serves US neocon goal to stop détente with Russia
rt.com | 2019-08-23
The decision by the United States to test a cruise missile banned under the now-expired INF treaty was a provocative move that delights neocons who oppose rapprochement between the US and Russia, analysts told RT. | Less than a month after pulling out of the INF arms control treaty, the US military tested a ground-launched Tomahawk cruise missile previously prohibited under the agreement. | Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow would "take exhaustive measures to prepare a symmetrical response" to the test, while stressing that it is not aiming to ignite a new arms race. | Also on rt.com…
rt.com/usa/467147-us-provocation-inf-missile-tests/

'Crime does pay': CNN hires disgraced ex-FBI director Andrew McCabe
rt.com | 2019-08-23
What does one get for leaking to the media, lying to federal investigators about it, and allegedly participating in a plot to derail an American election? If you answered jail time, too bad. The correct answer is a job at CNN. | …
rt.com/usa/467172-mccabe-cnn-russiagate-hoax/

WATCH: Plane cabin fills with smoke moments before emergency landing
rt.com | 2019-08-23
Horrified passengers of Hawaiian Airlines were lucky to escape disaster after their cabin filled with smoke during a flight to Honolulu on Thursday. Their plane made an emergency landing before the crew evacuated all on board. | Seven passengers, five adults and two children, were hospitalized after suffering "smoke-related symptoms," the airline said in a statement. | Also on rt.com | | Watch Swiss fighter jets shadow Russian GOVERNMENT PLANE as 'act of hospitality' | Smoke began filling the cabin 20 minutes before the flight from Oakland, California lan…
rt.com/usa/467124-hawaiian-airlines-smoke-evacuation/

Putin Orders Russia to Respond After U.S. Missile Test
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-08-23
MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military on Friday to work out a quid pro quo response after the test of a new U.S. missile banned under a now-defunct arms treaty. | In Sunday's test, a modified ground-launched version of a U.S. Navy Tomahawk cruise missile accurately struck its target more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) away. The test came after Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. | Speaking at a meeting of his Security Council, Putin charged that the U.S. waged a "propaganda campaign" alleging Russian breaches of the pact to "
truthdig.com/articles/putin-orders-russia-to-respond-after-u-s-missile-test/

San Diego joins Philippine National Day of Mourning and Action
Michaela Malone | liberationnews.org | 2019-08-23
On Aug. 21, the Philippine National Day of Mourning and Action, the Party for Socialism and Liberation San Diego co-hosted an action in an effort to end U.S. funding to Rodrigo Duterte's military in the Philippines.
liberationnews.org/san-diego-joins-philippine-national-day-of-mourning-and-action/

Solidarity with Kashmir
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2019-08-23
self-determination Alex BainbridgeIssue 1234 Australia Kashmir solidarity India crackdown. BJP Modi governmentAugust 23, 2019Speakers at a 100-strong solidarity rall…
greenleft.org.au/content/solidarity-kashmir

No Australian military to Strait of Hormuz
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2019-08-23
Australian imperialism Kerrie SmithIssue 1234 Australia Iran Strait of Hormuz Coalition of the WillingAugust 23, 2019The federa…
greenleft.org.au/content/no-australian-military-strait-hormuz

Sen. Merkley on the Dangers of a New Nuclear Arms Race & Why He Backs the Green New Deal
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-23
Fallout from the Trump administration's decision to pull out of the landmark 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is mounting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to prepare for what he called a "symmetrical response" after the U.S. tested what it said was a nonnuclear cruise missile earlier this week. The U.S. launch was the first test of its kind since the Trump administration withdrew from the INF. We speak to Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon about U.S. nuclear policy, as well as the Green New Deal, President Trump's wish to buy Greenland and…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/23/amazon_fires_brazil_andrew_miller

Interview: Lebanese solidarity with Palestinian refugees
Joyce Chediac | liberationnews.org | 2019-08-23
"For the first time in Lebanon, and possibly in any Arab country, banners supporting the rights of Palestinian refugees were carried along with queer and trans flags."
liberationnews.org/interview-lebanese-solidarity-with-palestinian-refugees/

Trump Tweets About Disloyal Jews, Then Tweets He's "King of Israel"
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-08-22
Haggai Matar, editor of #972 Magazine discusses Netanyahu's Trump-inspired Omar and Tlaib ban, Trump's bizarre retweets, and its effect on Jews and the U.S. election…
therealnews.com/stories/trump-tweets-about-disloyal-jews-then-tweets-hes-king-of-israel

John Pilger: We Are in a WAR SITUATION with China!
RT | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-08-22
On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to legendary journalist and film-maker John Pilger on a round-up of all the latest issues. John describes the current state of global affairs as in a state of world war, warning that the 'coming war on China' he warned about…has now arrived, he also discusses the Hong …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/08/john-pilger-we-are-in-a-war-situation-with-china/

Kashmir communications shutdown a 'collective punishment' that must be reversed, say UN experts
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-22
End the crackdown on freedom of expression, was the strong call to the Government by India from five United Nations independent rights expert on Thursday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044741

NYT editor's tweets mocking Jews, Indians amid newspaper's 'anti-racist' drive
rt.com | 2019-08-22
A politics editor at the New York Times faces charges of anti-Semitism and bigotry after a series of old insensitive tweets surfaced online. This comes after a similar scandal with its Washington editor and leaked editorial tapes. | Breitbart News uncovered the tweets in an investigation published on Thursday, detailing a litany of offensive and racially-charged remarks from senior staff editor Tom Wright-Piersanti, who has worked at the Gray Lady for a little over five year…
rt.com/usa/467094-nyt-editor-racist-tweets/

Relentless sequence of disasters in Asia-Pacific 'sign of things to come', cautions UN regional body
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-22
Changing patterns and worsening impacts of natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific, coupled with environmental degradation and climate change, are not only making efforts to predict such catastrophes more difficult, but are also a "sign of things to come", the United Nations development arm in the region has warned.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044721

A recap of Thursday's top stories: International Day honours victims of religious-based violence, UN experts on Kashmir, environmental disasters in Asia-Pacific, animal protections, and UN chief on Burkina Faso
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-22
Thursday's Daily Brief: New international day honouring victims of religious-based violence; Kashmir shutdown must be reversed; Relentless sequence of disasters in Asia-Pacific; Giraffes fare well for protection, elephants not so much; UN chief condemns Burkina Faso violence…
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1044771

West Papuans protest following racist attacks in Surabaya
susan_p | greenleft.org.au | 2019-08-22
self-determination Peter Boyle Susan PriceIssue 1234 | West Papua Indonesian occupation of West PapuaAugust 22, 2019On August 17, Indonesian Independence Day, armed In…
greenleft.org.au/content/west-papuans-protest-following-racist-attacks-surabaya

Israel's latest attempt to erase Palestine
susan_p | greenleft.org.au | 2019-08-22
Al Nakba Ilan PappeIssue 1234 Palestine Israeli occupationAugust 22, 2019The attempt to suppress official documentation of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in 1948 is not new. | But efforts by teams from the Israeli defense ministry to remove sensitive documents from…
greenleft.org.au/content/israel-latest-attempt-erase-palestine

2020 Candidates Address Historical Trauma, Missing Indigenous Women & More at Native American Forum
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-22
Following this week's historic Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum in Sioux City, Iowa, we speak with Mark Trahant, editor of Indian Country Today and moderator of the Native American voter forum; Christine Nobiss, director of Seeding Sovereignty's SHIFT project; and Mark Charles, independent candidate for president, Native American activist and writer. They respond to the candidates' proposals to tackle issues affecting the Native American community, including the chronic murder and disappearance of Native American girls and women, land sovereignty, and generational trauma caused by colonialism.
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/22/mark_trahant_christine_nobiss_mark_charles