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Hillary must answer key email questions in 30 days, US federal judge orders

Mark Tapscott
LifeZette
Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:00 UTC
Democrat needs to come clean with the American people about secrets she's hidden for years
Hillary Clinton
© JStone / Shutterstock.com
A federal judge ordered former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to answer five questions she has avoided for years about her use of a private email server to conduct official U.S. diplomatic business.

U.S. District Court Judge Emmett Sullivan on Wednesday gave Clinton 30 days to respond under oath to five questions.

These questions were all put to her nearly four years ago in a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit government watchdog Judicial Watch.

The five questions are:

Comment:



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Quenelle - Golden

Why 13 countries prefer purchase of S-400 despite threat of US sanctions

Paul Antonopoulos
Fort Russ
Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:00 UTC
At least 13 countries are interested in acquiring the Russian S-400 air defense systems instead of US platforms, despite the threat of US sanctions, CNBC said, citing sources close to US intelligence.
S-400
One of the channel's sources, who requested anonymity, said that among the countries that have already expressed their interest in Russian systems are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Vietnam and Iraq. But, the article points out, Washington hopes that some countries will eventually give up under diplomatic pressure.

Under Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), the US can punish countries that purchase Russian armaments, especially the S-300 and S-400 systems. However, these countries have concerns that the U.S may eventually want to bomb them, and the hostile threat of sanctions are believed to be a tell-tale sign that a military campaign may shortly follow the economic warfare.
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Propaganda

'Total witch hunt': Trump bashes 'disgraceful' Russia probe


RT
Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:00 UTC
US President Donald Trump
© Reuters / Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump talks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, November 9, 2018.
As midterm-bolstered Democrats double down on special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into alleged 2016 'Russian collusion', President Donald Trump is lashing out, calling the probe a "disgrace" and "total witch hunt."

Last week's midterm results mean Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives in January, and the party has already said it will use a "subpoena cannon" to target Trump and everyone around him. Trump fired back by denouncing the Mueller probe once again.

"The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts," Trump tweeted on Thursday morning.

Comment: Mueller report PSA: Be prepared for disappointment

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Quenelle

'Unconstitutional': Austria wants no part of European army proposed by Macron, Merkel


RT
Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:10 UTC
Austrian army
© Reuters / Heinz-Peter Bader
An Austrian army soldier poses with a Steyr AUG A2 Commando assault rifle.
If Germany and France get their wish of developing a European army, Austria wants no part of it. The defense minister's office said it would opt out, as it would conflict with Vienna's constitution and neutrality.

Defense Minister Mario Kunasek's office told Kurier newspaper that while Austria has no details on the army proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it would still walk away from it because it is "contrary to the Austrian constitutional position" since Austria is neutral.

The idea of a unified European army was proposed by Macron earlier this month, with the French president insisting it is necessary in order to protect the continent from the likes of China, Russia, and "even the United States of America."

Comment: It's an eerie prospect that the EU, which has become synonymous with bureaucrats and opaque democracy, could be trusted with an army. Although it's no surprise Merkel, who's on her way out, and the ever unpopular and duplicitous Macron are chomping at the bit, but they would be hard pressed to find support from a number of other member countries, such as Italy and Hungary. Also check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: 'Quitaly' Highlights EU's Democratic Crisis

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Russian Flag

Russian State Duma works to amend controversial anti-extremism law


RT
Thu, 15 Nov 2018 21:13 UTC
Russian Duma
© Global Look Press / State Duma Russia
The Russian State Duma has approved the first reading of amendments to the controversial anti-extremism law, decriminalizing first-time offenses. Some legislators argue, however, that the whole law should be scrapped.


Comment: From 2014: New Russian anti-extremist law comes into force


The main purpose of the amendments, according to legislators, is to make Russian penal code more "humane" and fix Article 282, which proved to be used "arbitrarily" in some cases. Under this legislation, an individual who incites hatred, discord and degrades human dignity in public speeches, in mass media and also in internet publications can end up behind bars for up to six years.

Over the past few years the number of Article 282 cases grew exponentially, with people getting into trouble over simple reposts on social media.
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Star of David

Lieberman's resignation not a "victory" for Gaza but a warning that the worst is to come

Whitney Webb
MintPress News
Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:10 UTC
Avigdor Lieberman
© Ariel Schalit / Associated Press
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman delivers a statement at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament in Jerusalem, Nov. 14, 2018.
In the wake of Lieberman's resignation the high probability of a Naftali Bennett-led Defense Ministry would unleash a new, even more brutal wave of extrajudicial murders of unarmed Palestinians, one that would deliberately target children.

A wave of instability now threatens Israel's government following the sudden resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday. Lieberman announced that he was resigning in protest of a recently brokered ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since winning elections in 2007. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will serve as interim Defense Minister until an official replacement is appointed. Netanyahu also currently serves as Israel's Foreign Minister and Health Minister.

Comment: Naftali Bennett as Defense Minister is a frightening possibility.

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Eiffel Tower

La Grande Armée 2018? Macron Taunts Trump on Armistice Day Amid Eurotalk of Empire-building

Robert Bridge
RT
Wed, 14 Nov 2018 15:41 UTC
macron paris ww1
French President Macron rebuked the concept of 'nationalism' during Armistice Day celebrations marking the end of WWI. At the same time, his government was pondering the merits of empire and building an all-European army.

Donald Trump's trip to France got off to a bumpy start, and the world is still experiencing the turbulence today. Ahead of Trump's arrival in Paris for the celebrations, Macron dropped a bombshell, speaking out on behalf of an all-European military force, which would be totally free of US patronage.

"We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America," he told French radio.

Although Trump and Macron made nice for the cameras in Paris, the US leader referred to Macron's remarks as "very insulting."
Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron 11/10/18
© Reuters / Christophe Petit Tesson
Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron at Elysee presidential palace, Paris, France, November 10, 2018 Reuters / Christophe Petit Tesson

Comment: The current leadership in all western EU countries (save Italy, perhaps) doesn't have the cojones to walk the walk:

Europe bows to Trump: Not a single member-state takes up EU offer to form alternative payment channel for bypassing Iran sanctions

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Che Guevara

'What's wrong with that?' Duterte skipped meetings at key Singapore summit for 'power naps'


RT
Thu, 15 Nov 2018 17:49 UTC
duterte
© AFP/ Linus Escandor II
Philippines President Duterte raised a few eyebrows when he gave "power naps" as an excuse for missing key meetings at a Singapore summit. The president, however, said that he simply doesn't get the hype surrounding it.

President Rodrigo Duterte was among the world leaders and top officials taking part in the South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Singapore this week.

But the Philippines leader, who is renowned internationally for his bizarre and equally controversial comments, failed to turn up to four out of 11 appointments on Wednesday.

"He took power naps to catch (up) on sleep," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said, adding that "some quarters are making a big fuss of the President skipping a few meetings."
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Bad Guys

Trump warns Antifa had better hope the 'other side' doesn't mobilize: They are 'tougher, smarter & angrier'

Saagar Enjeti and Benny Johnson
The Daily Caller
Thu, 15 Nov 2018 17:16 UTC
antifa charlottesville
© Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Anti-fascist counter-protesters wait outside Emancipation Park to hurl insluts as white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the “alt-right” are forced out after the “Unite the Right” rally was declared an unlawful gathering August 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
President Donald Trump warned violent leftists and Antifa members that an opposition to them may "mobilize," and it would mean "big trouble" for the leftist group.

"They better hope that the opposition to Antifa decides not to mobilize," the president told The Daily Caller in an exclusive Oval Office interview Wednesday.

"These people, like the Antifa - they better hope that the opposition to Antifa decides not to mobilize. Because if they do, they're much tougher. Much stronger. Potentially much more violent. And Antifa's going to be in big trouble. But so far they haven't done that and that's a good thing," he continued.
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Star of David

Russia sidelines Netanyahu in its anteroom

M.K. Bhadrakumar
Indian Punchline
Sun, 11 Nov 2018 00:00 UTC
Netanyahu
© NBC News
Netanyahu put 'on hold'.
It is over a month since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced that he was going to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin with a view to open a new page in the relations between the two countries following the incident over Syrian skies on September 17 when a Russian reconnaissance plane was shot down killing 15 personnel.

However, Moscow has not scheduled Netanyahu's visit so far. Netanyahu hoped that on the sidelines of the ceremony marking the centenary of the World War 1 armistice in Paris to tomorrow there might be an opportunity for a meeting with Putin. The Israelis sought a meeting. But Moscow apparently hasn't confirmed Putin's convenience.

Clearly, Moscow is keeping Netanyahu in the anteroom to cool his heels, signaling that it cannot be 'business as usual'. In a hard-hitting interview with Times of Israel, the Russian ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov made it clear in the weekend that the September 17 incident rankled. He said Russian defence establishment is "extremely disappointed" with the Israeli military's response to the incident.

Ambassador Viktorov also rubbed it in that the Israeli demand for the removal of all Iranian troops on Syrian soil is both "unrealistic" and unnecessary since Iran has no plans to attack Israel and it is Israelis, after all, who are killing Iranians and not vice versa!

Comment: Russia watches and waits. Honor or dishonor exhibited by its 'friends' determines Moscow's reactions.

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