Bernard Squarcini, the former head of France's domestic intelligence agency, was sentenced to four years in prison " two suspended " by a Paris court Friday for a range of charges including having obtained confidential information for luxury giant LMVH. This company is owned by one of the richest men in the world, Bernard Arnault, who has $150bn in assets. The oligarch testified during the trial but was never charged and denied any knowledge of a scheme to protect the luxury group. read more
The US government will stop sharing air quality data gathered from its embassies and consulates, worrying local scientists and experts who say the effort was vital to monitor global air quality and improve public health. read more
"We are living in the most momentous and dangerous of times. I do not need to describe the grave nature of the threats that we face. We are in an era of rearmament. And Europe is ready to massively boost its defense spending. Both, to respond to the short-term urgency to act and to support Ukraine but also to address the long-term need to take on much more responsibility for our own European security.ReArm Europe could mobilize close to EUR 800 billion Euros for a safe and resilient Europe. We will continue working closely with our partners in NATO." Signed, EU President Ursula von der Leyen. read more
Trumpf, who has a financial stake in cryptocurrencies, brought crypto founders and investors to the White House for what's billed as the first-ever "crypto summit." Friday's event, the first of its kind and which was led by White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks, attracted a list of who's who among cryptocurrency company leaders who gathered to discuss digital asset issues and regulation. Trumpf's embrace of crypto is a dramatic departure from how other presidential administrations have dealt with emergent cyber currency. As a candidate, Trumpf got financial support from many crypto companies. read more
France will consider extending the protection of its nuclear arsenal to its allies said French President Emmanuel Macron, while warning that Europe needs to be ready for the US to not "remain by our side" in the Ukraine-Russia war. read more
If he was alive, Chuck Yeager (seen in "The Right Stuff') would be proud. This redneck West Virginian test pilot who broke the sound barrier did his utmost best to prevent ANY men of color from becoming astronauts in the 1960s, directly contravening JFK's desire to combine civil rights with the nascent US space program. Link: en.wikipedia.org
Palestinians have been systemically abused and detained by the IDF for decades, like this shoeless victim in the link. Look at the hateful expressions on the faces of the IDF soldiers: https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2016/09/22/08/israeli-kicking-
reuters.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp
![https://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8700000/godzilla-breath-godzilla-8744426-701-326.jpg](https://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8700000/godzilla-breath-godzilla-8744426-701-326.jpg?width="250")
![https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iJBxo3TkbuI/oar2.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEkCJUDENAFSFqQAgHyq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAJQAAyEI9AICiQ3gB&rs=AOn4CLALEwKzAmgsskmrhXre0p3LLZbBFw](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iJBxo3TkbuI/oar2.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEkCJUDENAFSFqQAgHyq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAJQAAyEI9AICiQ3gB&rs=AOn4CLALEwKzAmgsskmrhXre0p3LLZbBFw?width="200")
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Hi Eberly: Such a symbolic boycott would serve as a reminder to the American people of what a buffoon Trumpf is. Since he is all about image, a boycott would be six months of negative messaging about Trumpf that he is not omnipotent. Most MLB owners are wealthy GOP, so let them deal with the mess a Toronto Blue Jays boycott would cause. Link: frontofficesports.com
To placate Godzilla, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum bent over backwards for this unworthy POS: "Last week, the Mexican government even broke its own Constitution by handing over 29 suspected cartel members as a political gift to the Trumpf administration." Link:
www.wsws.org
Hi Corky
This is straight out of the GOP playbook: Nixon's aides convinced Saigon to stop the 1968 Paris Peace talks, Reagan's aides convinced Tehran to release the hostages after Carter lost to get a good deal (Gary Sick's "October Surprise"), and now this. And remember, Putin sent in a Spetsnaz team to decapitate the leadership in Kiev (which failed). Link: www.bbc.com
Air Quality Index (AQI) rooftop sensors on top of the US Embassy in Beijing provided genuine data on the massive extent of air pollution in China where the 2008 Olympics were held. This is Trumpf censoring any info or discussion about the environmental degradation that the wealthy are creating with their global factories. Link: www.science.org
Decades ago, France established its own nuclear arsenal so as not to depend on the US. They have 290 nuclear warheads and their range can strike Moscow. But Paris would be atomized within minutes. Look where Trumpf and Putin have taken us to, another "Mutual Assured Destruction" (MAD) scenario. Link: theconversation.com
The importance of "taking back the country," meaning putting a white man in the White House, overrode all rational thinking from these voters. Race and symbolism were important for these people until they realized they were in the same economic boat as people of color, migrants, and the under-privileged. So, Republican voters with buyer's regret: Welcome to the plantation and the world of poverty. But at least you have your white man in the White House.