2019-09-26: News Headlines

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2019-09-27). Report: US-Made Bomb Killed Six Yemeni Civilians, Including Three Children, in June Attack. commondreams.org "It is unfathomable and unconscionable that the U.S.A. continues to feed the conveyor belt of arms flowing into Yemen's devastating conflict." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/yemen_kid.jpg

RT (2019-09-26). US Army warns its soldiers that they could be shot by a disgruntled virgin if they go see new movie 'Joker'. rt.com The US Army has ordered its soldiers to stay alert — not in Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria, but at their local movie theater. The Pentagon reportedly believes that screenings of 'Joker' could be targeted by sex-hungry mass shooters. | Responding to a bulletin issued by the FBI, the US Army advised service members to prepare for the worst if they choose to see the controversial Warner Bros. film. According to an alert emailed to soldiers, the movie could galvanize 'incels,' also known as 'involuntary celibates,' or "guys who can't get dates." | In the message, Army officials stated that incels "idolize the Jo…

Ramzy Baroud (2019-09-26). Netanyahu on Steroids: What a Gantz-led Government Means for Palestine. counterpunch.org Experience has taught Palestinians not to pay heed to Israeli elections. But to every rule there is an exception. Although it is still true that no Israeli Zionist leader has ever been kind to the Palestinian people, the dynamics of the latest Israeli elections on September 17 are likely to affect the Occupied Palestinian Territories More

Staff (2019-09-26). Israel Seizes Property from Palestinian Prisoner Rights Organization. therealnews.com Sahar Francis, leader of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights, talks about Israeli soldiers raiding her office at 2: 00 a.m., causing extensive damage and seizing computers, valuable documents, and materials.

Michael Là∂wy (2019-09-26). The far right: a global phenomenon. mronline.org In recent years, the reactionary, authoritarian and/or fascist extreme right wing has been in the ascendant all over the world: it already governs half of the world's countries. Among the best-known examples are: Trump (United States), Modi (India), Orbán (Hungary), Erdoƒüan (Turkey), Daesh (Islamic State), Salvini (Italy), Duterte (Philippines), and now Bolsonaro (Brazil). | Source

Mirinda Crissman (2019-09-26). Thousands reject Modi-Trump racism in Houston. workers.org Thousands of people of many nationalities and religions gathered outside the stadium here Sept. 22 to protest the fascist rally held for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump. Under the guise of signing a trade deal to strengthen economic relations between the countries, both Modi and Trump . . . | Continue reading Thousands reject Modi-Trump racism in Houston at Workers.org

G. Dunkel (2019-09-26). Indonesian fires threaten millions. workers.org Over the past few months, fires have destroyed millions of acres of rainforest in Brazil's Amazon region, normally one of the wettest areas in the world, as well as in Indonesia, which has been immersed in the world capitalist economy since the U.S. covertly engineered a military coup there in . . . | Continue reading Indonesian fires threaten millions at Workers.org

WSWS (2019-09-26). Hong Kong's chief executive launches phony dialogue platform. wsws.org While different sections of the bourgeoisie are cautious of appearing too close to Lam, all are looking for a way to shut down the protests.

WSWS (2019-09-26). Washington uses UN session to unveil new sanctions against Iran and Venezuela. wsws.org US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo made it clear that the target of the latest sanctions was not just Iran, but China, which accounts for half of Iran's sharply reduced oil exports.

WSWS (2019-09-26). Israel's President Rivlin calls on Netanyahu to form a new government. wsws.org The crisis in Israel parallels the broader disintegration of the traditional political set-ups that is taking place in all the main centres of world imperialism.

Northern California Hong Kong Club (2019-09-26). 929 SF Stand with Hong Kong Rally. indybay.org Civic Center Plaza | 335 McAllister St, San Francisco…

Fight Back (2019-09-26). "Suicide by cop" is murder by cop. fightbacknews.org Fight Back! is circulating statement by the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar | Minneapolis, MN – Keaton James Larson, Travis Jordan, Billy Hughes, Archer Amorosi and Phil Quinn are a few of the many Minnesotans who were dealing with a mental health crisis when killed by those who are paid to "protect and serve," leading some to ask the question "Were the victims suicidal?" | The question should not be "Was the victim suicidal?" but "Would the victim be alive if the police had handled the situation more appropriately?" In the case of Brian Quinones, killed on September 9 by police in Richfield, the answer…

Ben Ehrenreich (2019-09-26). The Tragic Logic of the Attacks on the Saudi Oil Plants. thenation.com The Tragic Logic of the Attacks on the Saudi Oil Plants…

WSWS (2019-09-26). Bangladesh warns UN officials over Rohingya refugees. wsws.org The Bangladesh government is determined to relocate Rohingya refugees to an unsafe and remote island in defiance of opposition from the UN and human rights organisations.

WSWS (2019-09-26). Victimized Maruti Suzuki workers support striking GM workers. wsws.org The following statement of support for striking General Motors workers in the US was sent by Jitender Dhankhar on behalf of the Provisional Committee of the Maruti Suzuki Workers Union in northern India .

The Canary (2019-09-26). PM could refuse to answer London Assembly questions on links to Jennifer Arcuri, says Tory Party chairman. thecanary.co Boris Johnson could refuse to appear before the London Assembly to explain links to US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri, the Tory Party chairman has hinted. | James Cleverly said it was the job of parliament to hold the prime minister to account, not the London Assembly. | Members of the Assembly on 24 September gave the PM a two-week deadline to provide "details and a timeline of all contact with Jennifer Arcuri including social, personal and professional during his period of office as mayor of London". | Refusing to comply could see the Conservative leader formally summoned by City Hall and in breach of the law.

Staff (2019-09-26). "Financial Censorship Is Still Censorship": Edward Snowden Slams Justice Dept. Lawsuit Against Him. democracynow.org As a whistleblower complaint filed against President Trump rocks Washington and threatens Trump's presidency, one of the world's most famous whistleblowers, Edward Snowden, joins us from Moscow, Russia. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Snowden alleging that his newly released memoir, "Permanent Record," violates the nondisclosure agreements he signed with the federal government when he was a National Security Agency employee. The Justice Department also argued that they are entitled to all of Snowden's book profits. Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman and Juan González speak with Sno…

Staff (2019-09-26). Permanent Record: Why NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Risked His Life to Expose Surveillance State. democracynow.org Six years ago, Edward Snowden leaked a trove of secret documents about how the United States had built a massive surveillance apparatus to spy on Americans and people across the globe. Snowden was then charged in the U.S. for violating the Espionage Act and other laws. As he attempted to flee to Latin America, Snowden became stranded in Russia after the U.S. revoked his passport. He has lived in Moscow ever since. Snowden just published his memoir, "Permanent Record," in which he writes about what led him to risk his life to expose the U.S. government's system of mass surveillance. From Moscow, he speaks to Democ…

Staff (2019-09-26). Headlines for September 26, 2019. democracynow.org Transcript Shows Trump Pressured Ukrainian Leader to Probe Joe Biden and Son, President Trump on Ukraine Phone Call: "Impeachment for That?", Majority of House Lawmakers Back Impeachment Inquiry Against Trump, Iranian President Rules Out Talks with U.S. While Sanctions Remain, Saudi-Led Coalition Airstrikes Kill 16 Civilians in Yemen, Israel's President Asks Benjamin Netanyahu to Form New Government, 2 Million Wild Animals Perish as Fires Rage in Bolivia, Climate Crisis Drives Mont Blanc Glacier Toward Collapse, 7 Arrested as San Francisco Climate Protesters Block Wells Fargo Entrance, Doctors Glue Themselves to…

Daniel Falcone (2019-09-25). Trump's Iran Policy: A Q&A With Richard Falk. thenation.com Legal scholar Richard Falk on Iran, Saudi Arabia, and American interests abroad.

Andre Vltchek (2019-09-25). Hong Kong is Scared of the Rioters. dissidentvoice.org It was once a British police station, as well as the Victoria Prison Compound. Hong Kong inhabitants used to tremble just from hearing its name mentioned. This is where people were detained, interrogated, humiliated, tortured and disappeared. Now, after Hong Kong 'returned to China', it was converted into the Tai Kwun Center — one of …

RT (2019-09-25). Trump impeachment proceedings based on 'nothing' phone call, but fallout will hurt America long-term. rt.com The transcript of President Donald Trump's phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart shows no pressure or threats to withhold aid. So why are Democrats and media still reading it that way, and invoking it as impeachment grounds? | For over two years, the Democrats pinned their hopes on Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who was investigating the claims of "Russian collusion" and obstruction of justice in relation to it — only to come up empty-handed back in May. | Undeterred, the party pushed impeachment anyway, arguing that the report somehow showed obstruction of justice somewhere between the lines, and pr…

RT (2019-09-25). As Democrats begin Trump impeachment, key 'Russiagate' case may be imploding. rt.com President Donald Trump's security adviser Michael Flynn was the first casualty of 'Russiagate' impeachment push, but the case against him seems weaker than ever, after a federal judge voided the conviction of his business partner. | Flynn, a retired general and former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, was forced to resign in February 2017, after less than two weeks of serving as national security adviser. He was snared in an FBI perjury trap as part of surveillance of the Trump campaign — which was predicated on claims it was "colluding" with Russia during the 2016 presidential election. | Though t…

Saad Hafiz (2019-09-25). The Boys in the Boots. counterpunch.org Pakistan's generals should be happy men. They are the self-appointed guardians of the state with an iron grip on the country. Instead of a social welfare democracy seen by the founding fathers, Pakistan has become a national security state. Sixty years after the coup d'état that brought General Ayub Khan to power in 1958, the civilian leadership More

Rashmee Kumar (2019-09-25). The Network of Hindu Nationalists Behind Modi's "Diaspora Diplomacy" in the U.S. theintercept.com When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump held up their clasped hands on stage in Houston this past weekend, more than 50,000 people who had been awaiting the pair burst into a loud rumble of approval. The crowd at NRG Stadium, brandishing Indian flags and pictures of the prime minister, greeted them with chants of "Modi" and "USA." Some attendees were dressed in their finest saris adorned with thick gold necklaces and jingling bangles, while others wore their love for Modi on their sleeves. | Modi gushed profusely about Trump — the president was warm, friendly, energetic, "fu…

commondreams (2019-09-25). Activists Disrupt US and Israeli Officials at NYC Event Calling for War with Iran. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Jon Rainwater (2019-09-25). Take Action to Avoid War with Iran. peaceaction.org photo credit Dear Groundswell Readers, We have to keep pushing Congress this week if we want to avoid war with Iran. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said recently that the U.K. might join a U.S.-led military effort in the Gulf. When other nations step up to join the "coalition of the willing" it's often a bad sign. …

Nick Turse (2019-09-25). More U.S. Commandos Are Fighting Invisible Wars in the Middle East. theintercept.com The percentage of commandos deployed to the Middle East is on the rise, according to new statistics provided to The Intercept by U.S. Special Operations Command. On average, more than 4,000 Special Operations forces — Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets, and Marine Corps Raiders among them — are deployed to the region each week, more than anywhere else in the world. | The increase comes at a time when the United States is apparently planning a troop drawdown in Afghanistan, despite a peace agreement with the Taliban having f…

teleSUR (2019-09-25). Greenpeace: Indonesian Firms Involved in Fires Have Not Been Punished. telesurenglish.net Indonesian palm oil and pulp companies involved in forest fires between 2015 and 2018 have gone unpunished, Greenpeace denounced on Tuesday. | RELATED: | 20 People Killed in Protests in Indonesia's West Papua | The non-profit organization grounded its accusations on "burn scar" analysis of satellite images that showed that between 2015 and 2018, 3.4 million hectares of land was burnt. | The findings were then compared to concession data relating to pulp and palm oil companies and sanct…

Paul Antonopoulos (2019-09-25). Why Doesn't India Follow China's Iranian Oil Policy? globalresearch.ca Iran's ambassador to India claimed that the U.S. urges New Delhi to suspend its Iranian oil purchases, worth about $5 billion a year, through the threat of sanctions. The Iranian ambassador also called for India to become more active in …

Bahman Fozouni (2019-09-25). US-Iran Relations: Bolton's "Maximum Pressure" Policy Is The Illegitimate Child Of Diplomacy. globalresearch.ca The September 14 strikes against Saudi Arabia's Khurais oilfield and Abqaiq processing facility, which the U.S. government quickly pinned on Iran, as well as President Trump's decision to substantially increase sanctions against Iran in response, are sobering reminders that the …

WSWS (2019-09-25). European powers endorse US war provocations against Iran. wsws.org Berlin, London and Paris endorsed US allegations that the recent attack in Saudi Arabia was an Iranian act of war, without providing any concrete evidence whatsoever.

United Nations (2019-09-25). At UN, Iran proposes 'coalition for hope' to pull Gulf region from 'edge of collapse'. un.org The Gulf region is "on the edge of collapse", Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told world leaders on Wednesday at the annual high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly, saying that "a single blunder can fuel a big fire".

Olivia Rosane (2019-09-25). UN climate action summit falls 'woefully short' of expectations. nationofchange.org The promises made by major economies at the UN Climate Action Summit fell "woefully short" of what is needed to address the climate crisis, The New York Times reported Monday. China did not increase its commitments under the Paris agreement, India made no pledge to reduce its use of coal and the U.S. did not speak at all. "Their lack of ambition …

teleSUR (2019-09-25). China To Meet Sustainable Development Goals Ahead of Time: FM. telesurenglish.net Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday at the Strategic Development Goals summit at the United Nations that his country has been consistently working in order to reduce poverty and to reach its U.N. 2030 sustainable development objectives. | RELATED: | UN Chief Warns Over Possibility of US-Chinese War | Wang listed all the progress made in various areas and explained that China has meaningfully diminished poverty and improved its people's health condition…

teleSUR (2019-09-25). Putin Backs Venezuela Talks in Meeting With Maduro in Moscow. telesurenglish.net Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his support of Venezuela'snew round of dialogue Wednesday as he met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Kremlin to discuss further cooperation between the two countries. | RELATED | Venezuela: PSUV Lawmakers Return to National Assembly Tuesday | The meeting tok place as both Putin and Maduro skipped the United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York. Moscow ¥s support has been essential for the South Am…

United Nations (2019-09-25). Syrian displacement poses 'serious threat' to Lebanon's development goals, President tells UN Assembly. un.org While the "heated" wars in the Middle East over the last decade have recessed, the President of Lebanon told the United Nations General Assembly's annual general debate on Wednesday that Syria's displacement crisis has had repercussions on his country's "security, political, social, economic and environmental spheres".

Charles Davis (2019-09-25). Mass killings in Afghanistan are acts of white supremacy. nationofchange.org An American white nationalist killed over 30 people recently. The victims, all brown, had full lives; children, loved ones, and years, full of plans, ahead of them. But then they were incinerated. Worst of all, they were murdered while Afghan. The deaths were noted in the press, and one Democrat running for president even acknowledged …

teleSUR (2019-09-25). Netanyahu tapped by Israel's President to Form New Gov't. telesurenglish.net Israel's president tasked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday with assembling a new government after power-sharing talks with his strongest rival, Benny Gantz, failed following an inconclusive election. | Netanyahu, head of the right-wing Likud party, and Israel's longest-serving leader, still has no clear path to a fifth term after emerging from the Sept. 17 ballot, the second this year, short of a parliamentary majority. | "I have decided to give you, sir, the opportunity to assemble a government," President Reuven Rivlin said to Netanyahu at a nomination ceremony. | He will have 28 days to form…

teleSUR (2019-09-25). Israel Arrests Palestine's Jerusalem Affairs Minister. telesurenglish.net Israel arrested Jerusalem Affairs Minister Fadi Hadami of the Palestinian Authority (PA) this week, marking the second time in three months that he has been detained. | RELATED: | Palestine to Sue Honduras for 'Recognizing' Jerusalem as Israeli Capital | The ministry said in a statement Wednesday that the Israeli forces raided the minister's home before taking him into custody. Palestinians slammed the move and called it a part of a "harassment campaign." | "He is being…

James Zogby (2019-09-25). The Only Way Israelis Can Form a Government: Betrayal. globalresearch.ca As expected, the outcome of Israel's second national election was as murky as the first round in April. During the next few weeks, Israeli leaders will be engaged in negotiations in an effort to form a government. The double-dealings and …

Syria News (2019-09-25). US Supported "Rebels" Fired Live Rounds at Syrian Families in Rukban Concentration Camp. globalresearch.ca Syrian families held captive by Trump Regime Forces and their ISIS affiliates of Maghaweer Thawra terrorists at al-Rukban Concentration Camp went out of their tents in the high heat of the desert…

United Nations (2019-09-25). At UN debate, Japan vows to back global push for inclusive quality education for all girls and women. un.org If women were able to demonstrate their potential, "the world would sparkle that much more", the Prime Minister of Japan said on Tuesday evening at the United Nations General Assembly's annual general debate.

American Herald Tribune (2019-09-25). New Study Documents Depleted Uranium Impacts on Children in Iraq. theantimedia.com In the years following 2003, the U.S. military dotted Iraq with over 500 military bases, many of them close to Iraqi cities.

WSWS (2019-09-25). German government extends war mission in Middle East. wsws.org The Grand Coalition is continuing the German military mission in Syria and Iraq and will deploy the Bundeswehr beyond its current mandate in the region.

Andre Vltchek (2019-09-25). Hong Kong is Scared — of the Rioters. globalresearch.ca It was once a British police station, as well as the Victoria Prison Compound. Hong Kong inhabitants used to tremble just from hearing its name mentioned. This is where people were detained, interrogated, humiliated, tortured and disappeared. | Now, after Hong …

South Front (2019-09-25). Why Patriot Missiles Are Useless. globalresearch.ca Missile strikes that shut down a half of Saudi oil production not only marked a new round of escalation in the Persian Gulf, but also revealed the limitations of the Kingdom's air defense. Over the past years, Saudi Arabia, the …

teleSUR (2019-09-25). Indian Police Arrest Rape Victim of Minister for 'Extortion'. telesurenglish.net An Indian law student who is accusing federal minister Swami Chinmayanand of sexual abuse and provided evidence for it, was arrested by police for extortion. | RELATED: | India's Modi Endorses Trump for US 2020 Election at 'Howdy Modi' Event | She allegedly threatened to release the videos if he did not pay her according to the police. | The woman appeared in court Wednesday and was jailed for 14 days after bail application was refused. Chinmayanand was arrested last week…

United Nations (2019-09-25). Security Council debates closer links between multilateral organizations in Europe and Asia. un.org Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the move to increase cooperation between the UN and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Wednesday.

Alexandra Jacobo (2019-09-25). Bernie Sanders becomes the first presidential candidate to visit the Comanche Nation in over 100 years. nationofchange.org Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders traveled to Oklahoma over the weekend to address the 28th annual Comanche Nation Fair Powwow, making him the first presidential candidate to visit the Comanche Nation since Theodore Roosevelt. | "Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of this beautiful, beautiful celebration. I have been, needless to say, to many events in my political career, but I do not believe that I've been to anything as beautiful and as moving as this event," said Sanders. "So thank you so much for allowing me to be with you." | Senator Sanders discussed several important topics dur…