Saudi Twitter Spying – Interview with Sami Hamdi from the International Interest

Prosecutors in the United States have charged two former Twitter employees with spying for Saudi Arabia. The men are alleged to have been guided by an unnamed Saudi official whom prosecutors name as Royal Family Member-1. The Washington Post says that person is Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. For more on this, we are joined by Sami Hamdi, Editor-in-Chief of the International Interest.

Book by ‘Anonymous’ Describes Trump as Cruel, Inept and a Danger to the Nation

THE WASHINGTON POST: Senior Trump administration officials considered resigning en masse last year in a “midnight self-massacre” to sound a public alarm about President Trump’s conduct, but rejected the idea because they believed it would further destabilize an already teetering government, according to a new book by an unnamed author.

In “A Warning” by Anonymous, obtained by The Washington Post ahead of its release, a writer described only as “a senior official in the Trump administration” paints a chilling portrait of the president as cruel, inept and a danger to the nation he was elected to lead.

The author — who first captured attention in 2018 as the unidentified author of a New York Times opinion column — describes Trump careening from one self-inflicted crisis to the next, “like a twelve-year-old in an air traffic control tower, pushing the buttons of government indiscriminately, indifferent to the planes skidding across the runway and the flights frantically diverting away from the airport.” » | Philip Rucker | Thursday, November 7, 2019

It’s Not Just Britain That’s Breaking Up, Europe Is Too

THE GUARDIAN: The tremors of this Brexit election will be felt across a continent whose powers are on the wane

Arguably the most surreal event during the general election campaign is scheduled for the week before polling day. On 3 December, Nato leaders, including Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, will gather at a Buckingham Palace reception. The next day, the Nato chiefs will meet in a luxury – but thankfully non-Trump-owned – hotel outside Watford. It’s the event where the leaders will discuss big subjects including Syria, Afghanistan, Russia and military burden-sharing – and where none of these big subjects is likely to be solved.

In the not so distant past, a leader fighting an election might have seen an international summit they were hosting as a golden opportunity. The grandeur and importance of such a gathering would mean free publicity from the campaign gods, reminding voters that the incumbent is someone who bestrides the world stage, has the ear of powerful allies, and is at ease with the deepest responsibilities of office. As a prime minister milked the occasion, opponents could only grind their teeth in frustration.

But this summit is not like that. It could be more problem than opportunity. It may even prove to be the most disruptive political event of the election. Part of that is because of the always careless self-confidence of Johnson, for whom the Watford summit may be the final gig – or let us hope so – of the briefest prime ministership of the modern era. Most of it, though, will be down to Trump, whose comments about Brexit and Britain could hijack the final week of the campaign and even have explosive effects on the outcome. » | Martin Kettle | Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Jane Fonda: The Sooner We Move Beyond Trump the Better

Actress and activist Jane Fonda weighs in on the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

US: Saudi Arabia Recruited Twitter Employees Charged for Spying

Prosecutors in the United States say that Saudi Arabia's government allegedly recruited two Twitter employees to gather private information on thousands of accounts critical of its leadership.

The prosecutors say that Saudi Arabia was growing increasingly frustrated with being criticised online.

The two Saudis who worked at Twitter were tasked with gathering the email addresses linked to the Twitter accounts and internet protocol addresses that indicate the user's location.

Al Jazeera's Rob Reynolds reports.

A Not-Do-Special Relationship: Facing Voters, Johnson Backs Away From Trump

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Unpopular and unpredictable, President Trump is emerging as a problem for the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, in his election campaign.

LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain spoke with President Trump by phone on Tuesday, and to judge by the dueling summaries of the call provided by the White House and 10 Downing Street, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Trump were involved in two completely different conversations.

The White House said the two leaders pledged to negotiate “a robust bilateral free trade agreement once the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.” Downing Street said nothing about a deal, noting instead that Mr. Johnson urged Mr. Trump to lift American tariffs on Scotch whisky.

Such divergent accounts of a leader-to-leader call are not unheard-of, but the timing of this one, on the eve of Britain’s general election campaign, was telling. It shows just how much of a liability Mr. Trump has become for Mr. Johnson. Once, the prime minister talked up the benefits of having a close friend in the White House; now he is distancing himself from a figure who is radioactive to many Britons. » | Mark Landler | Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Ukraine Crisis Put On Ice by Trump Staff Busy Working Out How to Buy Greenland

THE GUARDIAN: State and defence departments wanted military aid restored, but the Greenland issue ‘took up a lot of energy’, new testimony reveals

After the White House cut off military aid to Ukraine, Donald Trump’s top officials scrambled to get it restored but were unable to organise a meeting with the president, in part because his staff were too busy pursuing his interest in buying Greenland, according to newly released congressional testimony.

The acting US ambassador to Ukraine, Bill Taylor, told Congress that Trump’s order in mid-July to cut off security assistance triggered a series of high-level meetings with cabinet members on how to get it resumed, given the urgency of the Russian military intervention in eastern Ukraine.

Taylor testified on 22 October, but the House committees holding impeachment hearings released a full transcript on Wednesday. The veteran ambassador told congressional investigators it was the “unanimous opinion of every level of inter-agency discussion” that the aid should be restored and that the secretaries of state and defence as well as the CIA director and the national security adviser work together to arrange an urgent meeting with Trump “to convince him to release the hold”.

However, no meeting could be arranged until September. Taylor said part of the reason was the cabinet secretaries involved went on work trips abroad during the period, but he added: “I think this was also about the time of the Greenland question, about purchasing Greenland, which took up a lot of energy in the NSC [National Security Council].” » | Julian Borger in Washington | Thursday, November 7, 2019


Is Trump's deep fear and envy of Obama behind his plan to purchase Greenland? »

Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and Greens Launch Pro-remain Electoral Pact

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: parties will step aside for each other in 60 seats to give single pro-remain candidate a free run

The Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens have finalised a plan to step aside for each other in 60 seats across England and Wales in the general election. The alliance is intended to give a free run to one pro-remain party in each constituency.

The agreement, which does not include Labour, covers 49 seats in England and 11 in Wales. It was made under the banner of a cross-party group called Unite to Remain, which has spent several months trying to broker the plan.

A so-called progressive alliance plan, also including Labour, was attempted before the 2017 election but arrangements were only made for a handful of seats, in part because of the difficulty of getting local parties to agree. » | Peter Walker and Heather Stewart | Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Twitter Employees Charged with Spying for Saudi Arabia

THE GUARDIAN: Company workers reportedly obtained personal account information of critics of the government in Saudi Arabia

Two former Twitter employees have been charged with spying after they reportedly obtained personal account information for critics of the government of Saudi Arabia.

A complaint unsealed on Wednesday in US district court in San Francisco detailed a coordinated effort by Saudi officials to recruit employees at the social media giant to look up the private data of thousands of Twitter accounts.

One of the former Twitter employees, Ahmad Abouammo, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of spying and falsifying an invoice to obstruct an FBI investigation. He is a US citizen. The other former employee, a Saudi citizen named Ali Alzabarah, was accused of accessing the personal information of more than 6,000 Twitter accounts in 2015 on behalf of Saudi Arabia. » | Kari Paul in San Francisco and agencies | Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Wife of Killed Isis Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Captured, Says Turkey

THE GUARDIAN: Erdoğan decries US for ‘communications campaign’ over jihadist’s death

A woman married to the slain Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been captured and is in Turkish custody, Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said.

Erdoğan made the announcement during a speech in Ankara on Wednesday but did not provide any further details. “The United States said Baghdadi killed himself in a tunnel,” Erdogan said, criticising the US for a “communications campaign” over the jihadist’s death.

“But, I am announcing it here for the first time: we captured his wife and didn’t make a fuss like them. Similarly, we also captured his sister and brother-in-law in Syria.” » | Bethan McKernan in Istanbul | Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — November 6, 2019

Boris Johnson Officially Calls General Election: Watch in Full

What a load of tosh this man speaks! Do you recognize this country from BoJo’s description of it? Because I don’t! Listening to him, anyone would be forgiven for concluding that he’s describing El Dorado, not the UK!

Oh God! These dudes think the people are stupid. If anyone believes this man’s claptrap, I’ve got a bridge to sell him in the desert. – Mark

John Bercow: Brexit Is UK's Biggest Mistake Since Second World War

THE GUARDIAN: Former Speaker tells foreign media UK is better off as part of EU power bloc

Days after bowing out as Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercowhas described Brexit as the biggest mistake Britain has made since the second world war.

Bercow, who was persistently accused of bias by Brexit-backing MPs during his term as Speaker, gave a valedictory speech to the Foreign Press Association, revealing himself to be a remainer.

“I don’t think it helps the UK. Brexit is the biggest mistake of this country after the war. I respect [the] prime minister, [Boris] Johnson, but Brexitdoesn’t help us. It’s better to be part of the [EU] power bloc,” Bercow said, according to the journalist Antonella Guerrera, of La Repubblica, who attended the event in London.

However, Bercow rejected the idea he had blocked Brexit, insisting “it was parliament” that had prevented Britain from leaving before now, “not me”. » | Heather Stewart, Political editor | Wednesday, October 6, 2019

John Bercow is right, of course. Brexit is our biggest mistake since WWII – Mark

Brexit Has Made Britain's Problems Worse, Says Juncker

THE GUARDIAN: Outgoing EU chief calls UK’s departure a cycle of ‘promises, promises not kept, and lies’

Brexit has worsened Britain’s problems, the outgoing head of the European commission has said in another parting shot at the UK government.

Jean-Claude Juncker, who is standing down as head of the EU executive, delivered a typically blunt assessment in an interview with Germany’s public broadcaster, ARD.

“Britain also has problems other than Brexit and these problems have got bigger with Brexit. They are trying to cover that up, but they just got bigger,” he said.

Juncker also described Britain’s departure from the European Union as a perpetual cycle of “promises, promises not kept, and lies repeated over and over again”, two days after he accused Boris Johnson of telling “so many lies” during the 2016 campaign. » | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Wednesday, November 6, 2019

UK Prime Minister Withholding Report on Russia's Role in Brexit | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

Rachel Maddow reports on a controversy in the UK in which Prime Minister Boris Johnson is blocking the release of a report on Russian interference in the Brexit vote until after the general election scheduled for December. Aired on 11/05/19.

Will Aramco's IPO Succeed? I Inside Story

Saudi Arabia's crown jewel and the world's largest oil producing firm, Aramco, is now set to go public after several delays.

The initial public offering, or IPO, will be on the Saudi stock exchange. How much of the company's for sale and at what price, will be determined later.

Part of the Crown Prince's economic plans for the kingdom, the flotation aims to raise billions of dollars. But estimates of how much it might actually draw, vary widely. Mohammed Bin Salman wants a $2 trillion price tag, many bankers put it at $1.5 trillion.

But can ARAMCO's IPO satisfy his ambitions? And what, if any, are the risks?

Presenter: Dareen Abu Ghaida | Guests: Mohammed Cherkaoui, author and senior fellow at Al Jazeera Centre for Studies; Jeff Colgan, associate professor at Brown University and author of 'Petro-Aggression: When Oil Causes War'; Joseph Kechichian, senior fellow at King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic studies

The Debate: Macron and Islam: French President Weighs In on New Headscarf Row

France is on again, off again row over the Muslim headscarf is on again. This time, was it the president who started it? With March municipal elections on the way, Emmanuel Macron telling MPs from his own party not to let the far-right own the conversation on secularism, radicalisation and sectarianism. But his own camp emerged divided from a parliamentary debate and when a far-right regional councilor baited a mother who had accompanied children on a school outing, all bets were off. We ask what the law says and what the French want.

Opinion: The Happy, Healthy Capitalists of Switzerland

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Forget Scandinavia. Switzerland is richer and yet has a surprisingly equal wealth distribution.

Like many progressive intellectuals, Bernie Sanders traces his vision of economic paradise not to socialist dictatorships like Venezuela but to their distant cousins in Scandinavia, which are just as wealthy and democratic as the United States but have more equitable distributions of wealth, as well as affordable health care and free college for all.

There is, however, a country far richer and just as fair as any in the Scandinavian trio of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. But no one talks about it.

This $700 billion European economy is among the world’s 20 largest, significantly bigger than any in Scandinavia. It delivers welfare benefits as comprehensive as Scandinavia’s but with lighter taxes, smaller government, and a more open and stable economy. Steady growth recently made it the second richest nationin the world, after Luxembourg, with an average income of $84,000, or $20,000 more than the Scandinavian average. Money is not the final measure of success, but surveys also rank this nation as one of the world’s 10 happiest.

This less socialist but more successful utopia is Switzerland. » | Ruchir Sharma | Saturday, November 2, 2019

What's Next for the Impeachment Inquiry against Donald Trump I Inside Story

US House of Representatives votes to make proceedings public. In only the fourth time in US history, the “House of Representatives’ has formalised impeachment proceedings against a sitting president. Public hearings will begin later this month after weeks of testimonies behind closed doors.

At the centre of the investigation is whether President Donald Trump abused his power and jeopardised national security by withholding US military aid from Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into his political rival, Joe Biden.

Trump has repeatedly denied doing anything wrong, and the White House is refusing to cooperate; so what happens next? And what will be the impact on next year's elections?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault | Guests: Richard Goodstein - Political consultant for the Democratic Party and former adviser to President Bill Clinton; Jack Kingston - Republican Party member and former senior adviser to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign; Scott Lucas - Professor of political science and international studies at the University of Birmingham

Defiant Requiem | Holocaust Survivor Documentary | Timeline

Defiant Requiem tells the little-known story of the Nazi concentration camp, Terezín. Led by imprisoned conductor Rafael Schächter, the inmates of Terezín fought back...with art and music. Through hunger, disease and slave labor, the Jewish inmates of Terezin hold onto their humanity by staging plays, composing opera and using paper and ink to record the horrors around them.

Trump Impeachment: Is the End Near for the US President? | UpFront (Headliner)

Trump Flees To Avoid Taxes!

Is Donald Trump leaving New York for Florida to avoid going bankrupt?

Farage Seeks Brexit Election Pact with Tories

It's a big 'no' to a non-aggression pact with the Brexit party from Boris Johnson, who has dismissed any idea of an election alliance with the Brexit Party.

That's after Nigel Farage offered him an ultimatum: scrap your EU withdrawal deal and team up with us - or the Brexit party will fight the Conservatives in every seat.

But now the Tories have explicitly ruled that out.

Could the Leave vote be split?

Brexit: Tearing the Tories Apart?

Ken Clarke and Iain Duncan Smith, two of the most senior, long standing members of the Tory Party, discuss the state of the Conservatives.

Clarke had the whip withdrawn in September after he voted against the government.

A passionate opponent of Brexit and a life-long Europhile Clarke discusses how Brexit and Europe is eating away at his party with his long-standing colleague and former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith - a vocal proponent of leaving the EU.

'Good Riddance': New Yorkers on Trump's Declaration He's a Floridian

THE GUARDIAN: President’s decision to change his residency, thereby avoiding New York state and city taxes, was met with approval, scorn and indifference

Donald Trump’s decision to declare himself a resident of Florida instead of his native New York, thereby avoiding New York’s high rates of state and city taxes, was greeted by the public in the Big Apple with opinions ranging from anarchy-tinged approval to envy, scorn and indifference.

“Why should I care?” offered New Yorker Mike Mitchell, a construction engineer, as he walked the sunny streets of lower Manhattan in a chilly breeze, a stone’s throw from the Statue of Liberty on Friday morning. » | Edward Helmore in New York | Friday, November 1, 2019

Rationing In Britain

An American commentator looks at the effects of rationing on the people of England in 1944. The film presents a 'typical' family of 4 (housewife, engine-driver husband, factory-working daughter, schoolboy son) to illustrate the basic rationing system, the workings of 'point' systems and other restrictions, and the difficulties the average family faced when eating 'on the ration'.

Trump Criticises Corbyn as Labour Launches Election Campaign | Brexit

Far from staying out of other countries' politics, President Trump weighed into the UK's 2019 election campaign today declaring that Jeremy Corbyn would be 'so bad' for the country - and urging Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson to get together as an 'unstoppable force'.

But he also criticised Mr Johnson's Brexit deal, suggesting the US couldn't make a trade agreement with the UK. All this on the very day Britain was supposed to be coming out of the EU.

Farah Pahlavi - Das Leben einer Kaiserin (2015)

Neuwahl im Dezember: Großbritannien ist nicht zu beneiden

Drei Premierminister in drei Jahren, der Brexit spaltet Land und Parlament. F.A.Z.-Ressortleiter Außenpolitik Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger hofft auf Klarheit nach den Neuwahlen – und schätzt den Streit um den Wahltermin im Dezember nicht als banal ein. © F.A.Z.

Tactical Voting Could Deliver Remain Victory in Election – Study

THE GUARDIAN: Conservatives could be denied majority if one in three remain supporters switch votes

Tactical voting could swing a victory for pro-remain parties in the December election, new research suggests.

Boris Johnson would fail to get a majority if one in three pro-remain voters in England and Wales switched their vote, the campaign group Best for Britain said.

In this scenario, the Conservatives would win 309 seats, Labour 233, the Liberal Democrats 34, Plaid Cymru four and the Greens one. When the Scottish National party, Democratic Unionist party and the Commons Speaker are factored in, this would give pro-remain parties a majority of four.

Best for Britain has launched GetVoting.org to give tactical voting advice based on postcode. Naomi Smith, the organisation’s chief executive, said: “If we vote tactically we can stop a Boris Johnson majority and return a parliament that much more accurately reflects the state of the country’s views on the issue of Europe, which is now a majority pro-European country and we need a majority pro-European parliament. » | Kate Proctor | Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Tactical voting: GetVoting.org »

Michel Barnier Tells UK: Ignore EU Regulatory Standards at Your Peril

THE GUARDIAN: Brexit negotiator links free-trade deal to workers’ rights and environmental protection

British companies risk trade barriers to the European Union if a future government seeks to abandon EU standards on workers’ rights and environmental protection, Michel Barnier has signalled.

In an interview with the Guardian and seven other European newspapers, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator said any British government would face a “proportional” response if it sought to roll back core social, environmental and consumer standards.

The EU and UK have agreed to negotiate a free-trade agreement as part of Boris Johnson’s revamped Brexit deal, but Barnier stressed that tariff and quota-free access to the EU were linked to maintaining regulatory standards. “Access to our markets will be proportional to the commitments taken to the common rules,” he said. “The agreement we are ready to discuss is zero tariffs, zero quotas, zero dumping.” » | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Liban : Saad Hariri, le premier ministre du Liban, annonce sa démission au treizième jour de la contestation

LE MONDE: Cette décision n’implique pas des élections anticipées. Le président de la République peut désigner une autre personnalité sunnite pour constituer un nouveau gouvernement.

Le premier ministre libanais, Saad Hariri, a annoncé mardi 29 octobre qu’il allait présenter la démission de son gouvernement, au 13e jour d’un soulèvement populaire marqué par de nouveaux heurts dans les rues de Beyrouth.

Son intervention a été accueillie par les vivats de la foule qui l’écoutait en direct dans plusieurs lieux de rassemblement, avant que ne retentisse l’hymne national – An-nasid al-wataniyy al-lubnani – repris à pleins poumons par les manifestants. Des feux d’artifice ont été aussitôt tirés dans Beyrouth tandis que des voitures sillonnaient la ville klaxons hurlants en signe de victoire. » | Le Monde avec AFP | mardi 29. Octobre 2019

Boris Johnson Fails in Third Attempt to Call Early General Election

THE GUARDIAN: Prime minister falls short of two-thirds parliamentary majority required to call snap poll

Boris Johnson has lost his third bid for a general election, after Labour abstained and he failed to reach the two-thirds majority of MPs he needed for a poll. The result was 299 votes for and 70 against.

The prime minister is now expected to back a Liberal Democrat plan to change the law in order to secure an early election, although the parties do not yet agree on a date.

The Lib Dems want a date of 9 December, while students are still at university, but the Tories favour 12 December, after some have broken up for Christmas. » | Rowena Mason, Deputy political editor | Monday, October 28, 2019

Early Facebook Investor: We Need to Hold Big Tech Accountable for Creating “Toxic Digital Spills”

Early Facebook investor Roger McNamee talks about big tech companies are amplifying hate speech and disinformation. He also talks more about his book, “Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe.”

James Comey Jokes He Will Move to New Zealand If Trump Is Re-elected

The former FBI director James Comey joked he would move to New Zealand if Donald Trump was re-elected in 2020. Comey worked for the Obama administration, caused a storm over Hillary Clinton's emails in 2016 and was fired by Trump in May 2017. He also said US leaders 'can't be people who lie all the time'

An Interview with HIM Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran by ¡HOLA! TV

¡HOLA! TV Interview: Rodolfo Vera Calderón | Executive production: Adolfo Álvarez

Analysis – US Targeted ISIL Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: US Officials

The United States has carried out an operation targeting Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL or ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, have told news agencies. A US official told The Associated Press that the ISIL leader was targeted in Syria's Idlib province. Another US official confirmed to Reuters news agency that the operation took place but did not disclose details and did not say whether it was successful. Newsweek, citing a US Army official briefed on the result of the operation, said al-Baghdadi was killed in the raid. Al Jazeera's Natasha Ghoneim reports Al Jazeera's Zaina Khodr reports from Beirut Marwan Kablan is director of policy analysis at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies joins Al Jazeera from Doha.

Brexit Referendum Should Never Have Been Called, Say Majority of Voters

THE GUARDIAN: Poll shows growing hindsight regret on leaving EU … but a 16% Tory lead in a general election

Twice as many people now think it would have been better never to have held a referendum on Brexit than believe it was a good idea, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.

Asked to consider the difficulties the government has had in reaching an agreement, 57% of UK adults surveyed said that they believed it would have been better not to have had a public vote in June 2016.

This compares with 29% of voters who believe it was right to hold the referendum on whether the UK should stay in or leave the EU. » | Toby Helm | Saturday, October 26, 2019

THE OBSERVER: Number of Britons leaving for Europe hits a 10-year high »

Brexit: Can Westminster Seal a Deal? | To the Point

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the House of Commons have tried all the tricks in fighting for their interests in the Brexit battle. But who wants what? Our guests: Vendeline v. Bredow (Economist), Derek Scally (Irish Times), Jon Worth (Blogger)

Klimawandel-Debatte: Esst ruhig Fleisch!

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Fleisch ist in Verruf geraten, das Schnitzel nur noch mit Schuld zu verzehren. Dabei macht Fleischverzicht weder gesund noch rettet er das Klima. Der große Fleischreport.

Löschen Sie alles, was Sie in den letzten Jahren über rotes Fleisch gehört haben. Es ist nicht ungesund, und sein Beitrag zum Klimawandel ist geringer als propagiert. Eine jahrzehntelange Kampagne hat das Nahrungsmittel in Verruf gebracht und Menschen zu fleischarmen Diäten gedrängt, die ihrer Gesundheit schaden und den Klimawandel nicht stoppen können. Schlecht fundierte Forschung, kommerzielle Interessen und religiös-ideologische Vorstellungen prägen das Narrativ einer überlegenen fleischfreien Ernährung. Genauer Überprüfung hält dieses nicht stand. » [€] | von Winand von Petersdorff | Freitag, 25. Oktober 2019

The Guardian View on Boris Johnson’s Election Demand: MPs Should Call His Bluff

THE GUARDIAN: There is no good reason to commit to an early general election when parliament has not yet considered the withdrawal agreement bill in detail. First things first

Boris Johnson is the playground bully of British politics. He acts as if he is prime minister with a majority in parliament when in fact he has no majority. Because he cannot govern in that way with parliament, he has tried instead to govern against parliament. The delusion that he can do as he pleases led him to try to prorogue parliament this autumn – a bluff that was called by the supreme court. It then led him to concoct a fantasy legislative agenda by commissioning a Queen’s speech, though none of its measures will ever become law. Now he is trying to make his Brexit withdrawal bill conditional on the Commons agreeing to a general election in December. This proposal, like all the others before it, is merely another bluff, and parliament should duly call it. » | Editorial | Thursday, October 24, 2019

Most Voters Believe Violence against MPs 'Is Price Worth Paying' over Brexit

THE GUARDIAN: Research finds majority of both leave and remain voters feel violence worth it to get outcome they support

A majority of voters in England, Wales and Scotland believe that the possibility of some level of violence against MPs is a “price worth paying” in order to get their way on Brexit, an academic survey has found.

The poll from Cardiff University and the University of Edinburgh asked respondents what they would be prepared to see happen in order to leave or remain within the European Union.

Most leave voters who took part in the Future of England study thought violence towards MPs was a “price worth paying” for Brexit to be delivered – 71% in England, 60% in Scotland and 70% in Wales.

The majority of remain voters felt that potential violence was worth it if it meant we would stay in the EU – 58% in England, 53% in Scotland and 56% in Wales. » | Amy Walker | Thursday, October 24, 2019

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — October 24, 2019

Should Trump Be Committed to a Mental Health Facility? (April 2019)

Donald Trump's campaign opened with shouts of "Lock Her Up" from his followers and supporters. Two years into his presidency calls for impeaching Donald Trump are using that phrase against him.

Now Dr. Justin Frank, Psychoanalyst, and author of 'Trump on the Couch' joins the Thom Hartmann program to call for locking Donald Trump up in a Mental Health facility,

Is it time to put Donald Trump in the funny farm? Is the President's mental health out for lunch?

Österreich: FPÖ schmeißt Straches Ehefrau raus

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Im Streit über ihr Mandat im österreichischen Parlament hat die rechtspopulistische FPÖ Konsequenzen gezogen: Philippa Strache, Ehefrau von Ex-Parteichef Heinz-Christian Strache, wurde ausgeschlossen.

Die FPÖ hat Philippa Strache aus der Partei ausgeschlossen. Als Grund nannten die österreichischen Rechtspopulisten eine schriftliche Stellungnahme der 31-jährigen Frau von Ex-Parteichef Heinz-Christian Strache. Sie hatte darin mitgeteilt, ihr Mandat im Parlament anzunehmen. Laut FPÖ hatte die Mitteilung "eindeutig parteischädigenden Charakter".

Philippa Strache saß am Mittwoch bei der ersten Sitzung des neuen Parlaments als fraktionslose Abgeordnete hinter den SPÖ-Parlamentariern.

Die Straches sind bei der FPÖ mit ihrem neuen Chef Norbert Hofer in Ungnade gefallen. Gegen beide ermittelt die Staatsanwaltschaft. Heinz-Christian Strache soll private Rechnungen auf Kosten der Partei abgerechnet haben. Er und seine Frau bestreiten die Vorwürfe. Die Spesen-Affäre und das Ibiza-Video dürften die wichtigsten Gründe für das Wahldebakel der rechten Partei sein. Die FPÖ stürzte am 29. September um fast zehn Prozentpunkte auf 16,2 Prozent ab. » | als/dpa | Mittwoch, 23. Oktober 2019

Is Russia the New Power Broker in the Middle East? Inside Story

Russia and Turkey reach deal on northern Syria after US brokered ceasefire expired.

Russia and Turkey are on opposite sides of the war in Syria. Moscow backs the Syrian president, while Ankara supports opposition rebels who want to remove Bashar Al Assad. However, the two sides have been working more closely in recent months.

On Tuesday, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave Kurdish fighters six days to retreat from the Syrian-Turkish border. They reached the agreement just before the end of a US-brokered ceasefire that halted Turkey's military offensive in the region.

As Washington pulls back from the region, is Russia becoming the new power-broker? And what are the implications for the wider Middle East?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Yusuf Alabarda - Retired Colonel of the Turkish Armed Forces; Pavel Felgenhauer - Russian Defence and Military Analyst; Samuel Ramani - Researcher at Oxford University and a member of the Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based think tank and discussion forum

US Healthcare: Is Medicare Supplements Availability Disappearing? (w/ Alex Lawson)

Will Medicare Supplements programs change? Republicans drilled holes into Medicare, and now private insurance companies are taking advantage to take away your coverage.