World News
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Soros’ Foundation to Sue Hungary Over New Refugee Laws
The New American – Billionaire globalist George Soros’ Open Society Foundation (OSF) has announced that it will challenge Hungary in the European Court of Human Rights over recent immigration reforms meant to keep the nation from being overrun by migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere.
The so-called Stop Soros laws were adopted last June after the landslide victory in April of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a conservative politician who ran on a platform of immigration reform. Orbán received nearly two-thirds of the vote.
OSF has said the new Hungarian legislation “breaches the guarantees of freedom and expression enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights and must be repealed.”
The Hungarian government in Budapest has vowed that it will not repeal the new laws despite what the judges decide.
Millions of Africans Are Preparing to Migrate to the US or Europe Within Five Years
G. Edward Griffin – Italy: Carlo Jean, a military general and professor of Geopolitics at the Marconi University, says that military intervention by his country to deal with mass immigration from Libya already has become impossible. He says the only country that could intervene and make a difference is Egypt, but the cost would be too high. He believes that birth control is the only answer because, otherwise, by 2050, Nigeria will have more people than the European Union, and Africa will account for one-third of humanity.
Venezuela: 5-day lines to get gasoline
Breitbart – Car owners in Táchira, Venezuela, had to wait up to five days to buy gasoline this week after Nicolás Maduro’s socialist regime piloted a new scheme to keep foreigners from profiting off of subsidized prices.
Drivers reportedly had to wait between 72 to 96 hours in the searing heat outside service stations for the arrival of gasoline, a product in increasingly short supply amid the country’s dire economic crisis.
Court slaps down government spy program
WND – A program in the United Kingdom has been slapped down – hard – by the European Court of Human Rights.
The program’s “secret hearings, vague legal safeguards, and broadening reach” violate human rights standards, the court’s verdict said.
The case was brought by several privacy organizations after Edward Snowden revealed a complicated web of surveillance of residents of both the United States and the United Kingdom.
One of the projects in the U.K. that Snowden identified, Tempora, allowed the government to “tap into and store huge volumes of data drawn” from internet users.
EU to defy Trump, keep Iran nuke deal alive
Times of Israel – The European Union said Monday its members would set up a payment system to allow oil companies and businesses to continue trading with Iran in a bid to evade sanctions after the US withdrew from a nuclear agreement.
Iran and the European Union announced their defiance towards US President Donald Trump’s administration after high-level talks at the United Nations among the remaining members of the accord.
The countries said in a statement that they were determined “to protect the freedom of their economic operators to pursue legitimate business with Iran.”
US Pulls Some Missile Systems Out of Middle East – Report
Infowars – The US military is now focused to a greater extent on tensions with China and Russia, according to a Wall Street Journal report, citing senior military officials.
The United States is pulling some of its anti-aircraft and missile batteries out of the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing senior US military staffers. The removal will reportedly be conducted next month.
As many as four Patriot missile systems will be withdrawn from Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, the WSJ stated, adding that the step essentially marks a shift of attention away from the long-lasting military confrontations in the Middle East and Afghanistan, towards soured relations with China and Russia, and subsequently to meet nascent threats from there.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
North Carolina: Good Samaritan Facing Possible Charges for Saving Animals During Hurricane Without a Permit
DC Clothesline – Tammie Hedges, an animal rights activist, attempted to be proactive and protect animals as Hurricane Florence enveloped the NC coast and her home town. She and her group of friends began rescuing animals they found in danger of dying by the rising flood waters. Each animal’s exact location was documented so the owners could be informed following the floods caused by Florence.
All the animals were then transported to a warehouse complete with cages, food, water, pee pads, and litter boxes. Volunteers even slept in the warehouse to make sure rising flood waters didn’t threaten the rescue operation.
Some two dozen animals were rescued before Wayne County Animal Control demanded the animals be turned over to them. The officers who arrived to transport the animals to the state-approved animal shelter reportedly told Hedges she was running an illegal animal shelter without a permit. Hedges disputes such allegations and says she and her group were just trying to defend the animals’ rights to life.
Hedges may now be facing criminal charges if the resulting investigation concludes she committed criminal acts. Frank Sauls, animal services manager for Wayne County, defended his county’s actions saying:
If we didn’t feel like anything was being done wrong, we would not have taken (the animals)…But that is for the courts to decide…All that will come out, if the case goes to court…But at this point, it’s very early in the investigation.
West Virginia to Allow Voting on Mobile Phones Despite Hacking Dangers
The New American – Brushing aside multiple security concerns, West Virginia has opted to allow the use of mobile phones — for the first time in U.S. history — in 24 counties in the November elections.
The reason given for taking this controversial step is that it will be more convenient for members of the U.S. military deployed outside of the country to vote. Secretary of State Mac Warner, a West Point graduate and retired 23-year veteran of the U.S. Army, issued a press release last week explaining the new policy. In the release, Warner, who was a lieutenant colonel at the time of his retirement, argued that he experienced “firsthand how difficult it is for uniformed service members to participate in elections using traditional absentee paper ballots.”
According to the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission, nearly 300,000 overseas voters (this would include others besides members of the U.S. military) requested ballots in the 2016 elections, but were not able to return them to their home counties.
Trump blasts China for placing ‘propaganda’ insert in Iowa newspaper
The Hill – President Trump: Dems playing destructive ‘con game’ with Kavanaugh Several Yale Law classmates who backed Kavanaugh call for misconduct investigation Freedom Caucus calls on Rosenstein to testify or resign MORE slammed China for a four-page insert in Sunday’s Des Moines Register bought by The China Daily, a Chinese government-run media company.
“China is actually placing propaganda ads in the Des Moines Register and other papers, made to look like news. That’s because we are beating them on Trade, opening markets, and the farmers will make a fortune when this is over!” he tweeted Wednesday.
The ad, titled “Duel undermines benefits of trade,” sought to praise trade between the U.S. and China, highlight Chinese President Xi’s relationship with Iowa and criticize Trump’s trade policies.
The Des Moines Register was not immediately reachable for comment.
Chinese Agent Living In Chicago Arrested For Spying On US: Feds
Patch – A Chinese national has been arrested on suspicion of spying on the United States for China, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office. Ji Chaoqun, 27, was living in Chicago while working as an agent for a Chinese intelligence agencies, the government says.
Ji “worked at the direction of a high-level intelligence officer in the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security,” the press release said. Accusers say his mission was to obtain biographical information on eight people for potential recruitment by the Chinese intelligence agency.
Some of the individuals targeted for recruitment were Chinese nationals working in highly competitive STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — fields in the U.S., including some U.S. defense contractors.
Mega-pastor calls Old Testament ‘outdated, obsolete’
WND – After calling for Christians to “unhitch” from the Old Testament, declaring the Ten Commandments null and void and maligning the God of the Jews, it might not be surprising to read in mega-pastor Andy Stanley’s new book that he considers all of the Hebrew Scriptures, written by Moses, the prophets, King David, King Solomon and others, “outdated and obsolete.”
The shock might be the source and authority he cites for his opinion.
In “Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed on the World,” released last week, Stanley, whose churches are attended weekly by some 34,000, making it one of the largest congregations in the U.S., attributes his assertion not to himself but to the author of the New Testament book of Hebrews.
But the author of another new contrasting title says, by making that claim, Stanley is guilty of making a sophomoric exegetical error unworthy of his doctoral degree in theology and his role as pastor of one of the largest churches in America.
“In citing Hebrews 8:13 as validation of his ‘outdated and obsolete’ characterization of the Hebrew Scriptures, affirmed as the God’s Word by Jesus, the apostles and every author of the New Testament books, is either making a rookie mistake or, worse, deliberately deceiving his own readers,” concludes Joseph Farah, the author of “The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament.”
The Book of Hebrews does not call the Old Testament “outdated or obsolete,” Farah says.
“That’s just flat out deception,” he says.
Avenatti releases graphic Kavanaugh allegations, calls for new delay
Fox – Attorney Michael Avenatti, on the eve of Brett Kavanaugh’s high-profile hearing to address sexual misconduct allegations, identified and released a “sworn declaration” from a woman who claims the Supreme Court nominee was involved in “gang” rapes in the early 1980s.
SHE SAID, SHE SAID, SHE SAID
Wall Street Journal – Third Woman, Julie Swetnick, Makes Allegations Against Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh
In declaration, woman alleges she was drugged, raped at 1982 party where Kavanaugh was present
A woman alleged in a sworn declaration Wednesday that she witnessed efforts by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and others in the early 1980s to spike drinks and “cause girls to become inebriated” so they could be assaulted. She also alleged that she was a victim of a gang rape at a party at which Mr. Kavanaugh was present.
The new allegations were made public the day before a pivotal hearing on Capitol Hill that could determine whether Judge Kavanaugh has enough votes in the Senate to be confirmed to the high court.
The woman, Julie Swetnick, alleged that in 1981-82, she became aware of efforts by Mr. Kavanaugh and a high-school friend, Mark Judge, to “‘spike’ the ‘punch’” at house parties she attended with drugs “and/or grain alcohol” and subsequently “target” women.
In a statement released by the White House on Wednesday, Judge Kavanaugh called the allegations “ridiculous and from the Twilight Zone.” Of Ms. Swetnick, he said: “I don’t know who this is and this never happened.” Mr. Judge’s lawyer denied the allegations.
Veteran News
More Young Veterans Committing Suicide, Data Shows
Wall Street Journal – The rate of suicide among young military veterans has increased substantially despite efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs to curb the problem, though overall veteran suicides declined slightly, according to new data to be released Wednesday.
The VA’s National Suicide Data Report paints a troubling picture for vets ages 18 to 34, for some troops who served in the National Guard or reserves, as well as female veterans.
For the age group 18 to 34, suicide rates have been rising for the past decade, but jumped in the most recent report to 45 suicide deaths per 100,000 population in 2016 from 40.4 suicide deaths per 100,000 population in 2015, the most-recent statistics available.
“These findings underscore the fact that suicide is a national public health issue that affects communities everywhere,” the VA says in a press release reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. “Our goal is to prevent suicide among all Veterans—even those who do not and may never seek care within VA’s system.”
According to the report, veterans accounted for 14% of suicides nationwide though they make up only 8% of the U.S. population. The suicide rate for female veterans is 1.8 times higher than their civilian counterparts.
Economy & Business
Fed hikes interest rates for third time this year
Fox – The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised short-term interest rates for the third time this year.
The U.S. central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee increased its benchmark federal funds rate, setting a range of 2 percent to 2.25 percent, and continued to signal one more rate hike in 2018.
The policy-setting board removed the word “accommodative” from its statement. The move indicates that the Fed is moving closer to the end of the current rate-hike cycle.
China To Cut Import Tariffs On Some Goods Starting November 1
ZeroHedge – China announced it would cut import tariffs on 1,585 items from November 1, China National Radio reports, citing a State Council meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang. The tariff cuts involve machinery, textile, building material, paper products and electromechanical device and would lower costs for consumers and companies as a trade war with the U.S. deepens.
The overall tariff rate will be lowered to 7.5% from last year’s 9.8%, and the cuts are expected to reduce tax burdens for companies and consumers. The move follows on from similar cuts announced in July, and is a step with China’s pledge to support more imports.
EU Rebukes Trump, Will Create “Special Vehicle” to Bypass US Sanctions on Iran
Freedom’s Phoenix – The Wall Street Journal reports Europe Plans ‘Special Vehicle’ to Maintain Companies’ Ties to Iran, Avoid U.S. Sanctions.
The European Union said late Monday that it would establish a special payment channel to allow European and other companies to legally continue financial transactions with Iran while avoiding exposure to U.S. sanctions.
Volvo halts Iran truck assembly
Reuters – Swedish truckmaker AB Volvo has stopped assembling trucks in Iran because U.S. sanctions are preventing it from being paid, a spokesman for the company said on Monday.
The sanctions against Iran, reimposed on Aug. 6 by U.S. President Donald Trump after his decision to pull out of a nuclear deal with Tehran, have forced companies across Europe to reconsider their investments there.
Volvo spokesman Fredrik Ivarsson said the trucks group could no longer get paid for any parts it shipped and had therefore decided not to operate in Iran in another blow to the country’s car industry, which unlike the energy and banking sectors, had managed to sign contracts with top European firms.
Energy & Environment
Austrian fruit grower jailed over bee deaths
Yahoo – An Austria fruit grower was handed a rare prison sentence Wednesday for having illegally spread an insecticide which led to the deaths of dozens of neighbouring bee colonies.
The 47-year-old man had spread a powerful insecticide called chlorpyrifos over his trees in the Lavanttal area of Carinthia province, at a time when their blossoms were still attracting bees.
More than 50 colonies belonging to two neighbouring apiarists perished.
The court in the city of Klagenfurt found the fruit grower guilty of “deliberately damaging the environment”, pointing to his experience and role in training others in his field as evidence that he knew the consequences of his actions.
He was sentenced to a year in prison, of which four months will be without probation. Ordeer to pay more than 20,000 euros ($23,500) in compensation, he said he will appeal.
Science & Technology
Twitter Refuses to Suspend Antifa Account That Engaged in Doxxing, Threats & Targeted Harassment
Infowars – Twitter, the company that perma-banned Alex Jones for being rude to a CNN reporter, has refused to suspend an account that openly engaged in doxxing, threats and targeted harassment.
The ‘Smash Racism DC’ group, which was founded by an Antifa-supporting professor who has encouraged his Twitter followers to “assassinate Mike Pence” as well as to kill cops and local politicians, was responsible for the harassment of Senator Ted Cruz and his wife in a DC restaurant on Monday night.
Following the confrontation, which was at least equal in its malice to Alex Jones’ confrontation of CNN’s Oliver Darcy, the Smash Racism DC account openly doxxed political commentator Gavin McInnes, posting his phone number which resulted in McInnes receiving death threats.
Ex-Google Scientist Urges Senate to Question Company Over Chinese Censorship Project
Infowars – U.S. senators are being urged to question Google over its plan to launch a censored search engine in China by a former scientist for the company.
Jack Poulson, who quit his job with Google last month after he says his concerns over the project were ignored, called on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to investigate the issue in a letter Monday.
The letter, provided to The Intercept’s Ryan Gallagher, who first publicly revealed the secret plan’s existence last month, was sent ahead of the committee’s meeting Wednesday with Google chief privacy officer Keith Enright.
Health
Add black cumin to your diet: Research shows it can prevent cancer
NaturalNews – A flavonoid in black cumin (Nigella sativa) may reduce the risk of cancer and inhibit tumor progression, according to researchers from Mansoura University in Egypt. In their study, published in the Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, they investigated the therapeutic and anti-cancer properties of thymoquinone using a carcinoma animal model.
Why depression pills could be fuelling the rise of superbugs
Daily Mail – Antidepressants could be contributing to the rise in superbugs. Research suggests that an ingredient in the commonly prescribed antidepressant fluoxetine — or Prozac — causes a mutation in some bacteria, making them resistant to antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to our health, according to the World Health Organisation. It occurs when the genes in bacteria change in order to resist the effects of antibiotics.
If these drugs fail, common infections such as pneumonia and salmonella are difficult — in some cases impossible — to treat.
Antibiotics destroy ‘good bacteria’ and worsen oral infection
Science Daily – New research shows that the body’s own microbes are effective in maintaining immune cells and killing certain oral infections. A team of Case Western Reserve University researchers found that antibiotics actually kill the “good” bacteria keeping infection and inflammation at bay.
Scientists have long known that overuse of antibiotics can do more harm than good. For example, overuse can cause antibiotic resistance. But research into this phenomenon in oral health was uncharted territory.
Pushpa Pandiyan, an assistant professor of biological sciences in the School of Dental Medicine, led a team of researchers to examine “resident” bacteria, their fatty acids and their effect on certain types of white blood cells that combat infections in the mouth.
Specifically, researchers looked at the “short-term maintenance” of Tregs and Th-17 cells in fighting fungal infections, such as Candida, in a laboratory setting.
They found that those natural defenses were very effective in reducing infection and unwanted inflammation — and antibiotics can prevent such natural defenses. Their work was recently published in Frontiers in Microbiology.
Pet News
Miami cat tests positive for rabies, sparking alarm
Miami Herald – A North Miami Beach pet cat was euthanized Tuesday after testing positive for rabies, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade announced.
This makes the seventh animal to be infected with rabies — a disease that affects the nervous system and can be fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans — in Miami-Dade this year. The other six animals were raccoons and found on the grounds of Zoo Miami in the Kendall area.
“This was an unvaccinated pet cat that had to be euthanized after it showed neurological symptoms consistent with rabies while in quarantine,” the health department said in a news release.
Four people were exposed to the cat and were given treatment, the department said.
Good News
Girls Collect Over 20,000 Snack Wrappers and Mail Them Back to Manufacturers to Curb Plastic Use
Good News Network – In a bid to curb plastic packaging, students are mailing wasteful snack wrappers back to the manufacturers with demands for more sustainable packaging.
At the suggestion of their city council, dozens of school girls from the Subbiah Vidyalayam Girls Higher Secondary School in Thoothukudi, India collected 20,244 snack wrappers over the course of two weeks.
The students then mailed the wrappers back to the respective companies with a letter reading: “We are happy with the taste and quality of your products, but unhappy with the plastic packaging. We want to ensure a safe environment for our future generations and minimize our plastic footprint.
“We have decided to collect used plastic wrappers of your products and send them to you for safe disposal,” they added. “Please help us savor your products without guilt, by introducing eco-friendly packaging.”
LEGO wheelchair built for injured zoo turtle
Fox – An injured wild eastern box turtle at the Maryland Zoo is on the mend after a wheelchair was built for him using LEGOs.
The zoo said the turtle was found in Druid Hill Park by a zoo employee and brought to its hospital for treatment.
The zoo’s veterinary team performed surgery to stabilize the turtle’s broken shell, which is now being held together by metal bone plates, sewing clasps and surgical wire.
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