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Enforced prepping: Middle-class Venezuelans liquidate savings to stockpile food

Hannah Dreier
Associated Press
Mon, 18 Jul 2016 23:16 UTC
food shortage venezuela
© Ariana Cubillos/Associated Press
Ramiro Ramirez pushes a shopping cart as he shops for food with his wife Tebie Gonzalez in Cucuta, Colombia, Sunday, July 17, 2016, during the temporary opening of the long-closed border with Colombia. "This is money we had been saving for an emergency, and this is an emergency," Ramirez said. "It's scary to spend it, but we're finding less food each day and we need to prepare for what's coming."
Tebie Gonzalez and Ramiro Ramirez still have their sleek apartment, a fridge covered with souvenir magnets from vacations abroard, and closets full of name brand clothes. But they feel hunger drawing close.

So when the Venezuelan government opened the long-closed border with Colombia this weekend, the couple decided to drain what remained of the savings they put away before the country spun into economic crisis and stocked up on food. They left their two young sons with relatives and joined more than 100,000 other Venezuelans trudging across what Colombian officials are calling a "humanitarian corridor" to buy as many basic goods as possible.

"This is money we had been saving for an emergency, and this is an emergency," Ramirez said. "It's scary to spend it, but we're finding less food each day and we need to prepare for what's coming."

Gonzalez, 36, earns several times the minimum wage with her job as a sales manager for a chain of furniture stores in the western mountain town of San Cristobal. But lately, her salary is no match for Venezuela's 700-percent inflation. Ramirez's auto parts shop went bust after President Nicolas Maduro closed the border with Colombia a year ago, citing uncontrolled smuggling, and cut off the region's best avenue for imported goods.

The couple stopped eating out this year, abandoned plans to buy a house and put a "for sale" sign on their second car. There is no more sugar for coffee, no more butter for bread and no more infant formula for their 1-year-old son.

Comment: There are quite a few indications that this is a manufactured crisis benefiting the elite of the country. The suffering of the citizenry is not a factor in their plans. Those in the U.S, should be taking notes.

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Hourglass

8 years after Obama's 'hope and change', voters are angry and anxious

Julie Pace
Associated Press
Mon, 18 Jul 2016 22:41 UTC
obama
© Leigh Vogel/Getty Images
Contrary to President Obama's 2008 message, anger and anxiety now runs deep with voters across the country less this election season.
It's been a rough ride.

Eight years ago, Barbara Conley was one of the millions of Americans swept up in Barack Obama's promises of hope and change when he accepted the Democratic nomination at a packed football stadium a few miles from her home in the Denver suburbs.

But those optimistic days are almost unrecognizable to Conley now.

With Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton preparing for their own nominating conventions, the 68-year-old independent is filled with so much frustration at the candidates and the political system that propelled them to victory that she can't even imagine voting in November.

"I'm so mad about both of the candidates," said Conley, who finds Clinton too dishonest and Trump too unproven to be president. She paused while loading groceries into her car and declared, "It's depressing."

Less than four months before Election Day, that same sense of anger and anxiety runs deep with voters across the country. Trump and Clinton will each try to paint a rosy picture of life under their leadership during their back-to-back conventions, but it seems unlikely either can quickly shake Americans out of their bad mood.

A stunning 79 percent of Americans now believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, a 15-point spike in the past year, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. Voters are strikingly unhappy with the candidates who will be on the ballot this fall, with only 22 percent saying they would be proud to see Trump win and 27 percent to see Clinton.

Comment: That presentation of a choice between two bad options one of the PTB's favorite manipulations. There is the third choice: don't vote.

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Chart Pie

Two thirds of French people don't trust leaders to provide security against terrorism


RT
Mon, 18 Jul 2016 22:59 UTC
nice france
© Eric Gaillard / Reuters
People walk near a bouquet of flowers placed in tribute to victims of the truck attack along the Promenade des Anglais on Bastille Day killing scores and injuring as many in Nice, France, July 17, 2016.
A vast majority of the French do not believe their authorities can deal with the threat of terrorism, a recent poll by Ifop found. Figures show nearly 70 percent of those surveyed after the tragedy in Nice see the government failing to provide security.

According to an Ifop (French Institute for Public Opinion) survey conducted for Le Figaro newspaper, while 99 percent of respondents consider the terrorist threat in the country "high" or "very high," only some 33 percent have confidence that President Francois Hollande and his government are equipped to face and fight terrorism effectively, while 67 percent do not trust the authorities in this matter at all.

Compared to the previous survey conducted by the agency in January 2015, when roughly one in two French residents was satisfied with the authorities, the figures have dropped significantly, by some 17 percent.

Comment: This could go one of two ways. First, French citizens could demand even more stringent security measures, which won't work, thus reinforcing the problem. (There is always the opportunity for violent acts such as Nice to occur, no matter how much spy power and boots on the ground.) Second, they could realize their government can't be trusted, demanding one that actually solves the root problems, like involvement in foreign regime change operations, sponsoring terrorism, and inequality on the domestic front. Any bet on what they'll choose?

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No Entry

Anti-doping agencies want to ban ALL Russian athletes from Rio Olympics - IFG says they should be allowed to compete


RT
Mon, 18 Jul 2016 22:36 UTC
gymnastics
© Gleb Garanich / Reuters
The International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) "raises serious concerns" about a possible blanket ban on Russian athletes participating in the Rio Olympic Games in August.

"[FIG] strongly feels that not all Russian athletes of all sports should be banned and found guilty for actions in other sports and federations," - read a statement on the federation's website.


Comment: That should be common sense. Singling out Russia for this treatment only shows how politically motivated it is. If it wasn't so, they would be subjecting each and every nation involved to the same standards of investigation.


On Saturday several anti-doping agencies, including those of the United States and Canada, said they want the International Olympic Committee to ban all Russian athletes taking part in the Rio Olympics, if WADA's report on state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics confirms the allegations on Monday.

Comment: Putin has responded to the WADA report here, with the goal of recent trends "to make sport an instrument for geopolitical pressure and use it to form a negative image of countries and peoples ... We have the impression that the USADA experts had access to what is an unpublished report at the very least, and have set its tone and even its content themselves. If this is the case, one country's national organisation is again trying to dictate its will to the entire world sports community." The single individual on whose testimony is based is shady, to say the least. See further analysis from Alexander Mercouris here.

The officials named in the report have been temporarily removed from their positions until the facts are established.

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Stop

Sexualizing children: Fashion brand hires tiny child models to walk runway in skimpy bikinis

Sophie Roberts
The Sun, UK
Sun, 17 Jul 2016 18:13 UTC
Child in a bikini
© AP
An annual swimwear event has sparked controversy after allowing child models to walk the catwalk in skimpy bikinis.

In celebration of Miami Swim Week, a new fashion collection has been paraded down the runway.

The three day event, which is held in South Beach, Florida, has promoted an entire range of swimwear, for both children and adults.

In one fashion collection by brand Hot As Hell, primary school children have walked down the catwalk in an array of different bikinis and swimming costumes.

Some defended the Hot As Hell brand, remarking that the kids look "cute"

Since photos and videos from the event have emerged online, some commenters have hit-out at the parents of the young models. One internet user remarked that using kids in fashion shows is "child abuse", while another begged: "Please look after your daughters".

Comment: Encouraging children to be sexual at such an early age can be linked to pedophiles in power all over the globe. It's the new normal in a society dominiated by pathological values.

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Sheriff

Judge rejects plea deal - says 6 months in prison for former LA county sheriff is not enough


RT
Mon, 18 Jul 2016 21:34 UTC
lee baca police brutality
© Kevork Djansezian / Reuters
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.
A judge has rejected a plea deal that would have given former Los Angeles County sheriff up to six months in prison. Lee Baca pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during a probe of his department's attempts to cover up abuse by deputies at county jails.

US District Court Judge Percy Anderson said the plea agreement between Baca and prosecutors in the case "would trivialize the seriousness of the offenses ... the need for a just punishment, the need to deter others," the Los Angeles Times reported. Anderson said Baca could withdraw his guilty plea. The deal would have meant up to six months in prison for Baca.

The agreement required Baca, 74, to plead guilty to lying to FBI investigators during an interview in April 2013 related to department corruption and deputy conduct. During the interview, Baca had said he did not know of attempts to intimidate an FBI agent who was involved in an investigation of the LA County Sheriff's Department's conduct, specifically allegations of deputy brutality at county jails, as well as corruption accusations.

Comment: For more background on the corruption surrounding Lee Baca:

Scandal-plagued Los Angeles County police head named U.S. "Sheriff of the Year"

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Attention

Axe-wielding man attacks German railway passengers injuring over 20


RT
Mon, 18 Jul 2016 21:11 UTC
German train
© Michaela Rehle / Reuters
Over 20 people have reportedly been injured after an axe-wielding man attacked passengers on the railway line between Wurzburg-Heidingsfeld and Ochsenfurt, central Germany, local media reported.

German police confirmed that between 10 and 15 people were injured in the attack. Meanwhile local media reports suggested that up to 21 people could have been hurt.

At least three of the victims suffered "serious" injuries, police spokesman told local news outlet Blaulicht Würzburg.

Another person suffered light injuries, while all 14 passengers who had been in the same car of the regional train were in a state of "shock" following the onslaught.

A police helicopter was reportedly circling the area and a large number of officers were deployed to the scene. Over a dozen paramedics also arrived on site, according to photos shared on Twitter.

Witnesses said that the attacker fled the scene after the initial onslaught. The perpetrator was later shot by police, reported Gong.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann announced that authorities believe that a 17-year-old teen of Afghan origin was behind the attack.

The suspect entered the country as an "unaccompanied minor" and lived with a "foster family" for the last two weeks. Before that he had been housed at the Kolping-Heim refugee center, FOCUS online reported.

The minister also refuted claims of a possible second attacker, and are treating the attack as a "single perpetrator" case.

Authorities have organized an alternative bus route for passengers as the train line between Wurzburg-Heidingsfeld and Ochsenfurt has temporarily been shut down.
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Newspaper

Man arrested in deadly attacks on homeless had long history of crime, mental health issues

Julie Watson and Robert Jablon
The Associated Press
Sat, 16 Jul 2016 14:12 UTC
San Diego police officer
© AP/Gregory Bull
A police official walks near where a man was beaten Friday, July 15, 2016, in San Diego. San Diego police early Friday detained a person in the investigation of a spate of deadly attacks on homeless men — shortly after finding the latest victim, a 55-year-old man bleeding under the freeway overpass with severe trauma to his upper body.
A man arrested for a string of deadly attacks on the homeless had a long history of crime and mental health issues and was himself living in subsidized housing for the homeless, it was reported.

Jon David Guerrero, 39, was arrested Friday by police who heard a homeless man screaming after he was attacked. Guerrero remained jailed Saturday on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and arson. It wasn't immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

Police told reporters that they have no doubt they nabbed the man responsible for five attacks since July 3 that left three men dead. The victims - all homeless men - received serious upper-body injuries and two were set on fire. Police said they had not determined a motive for the attacks.

Guerrero grew up in the wealthy community of Coronado, across the San Diego Bay, known for its mansions and picturesque beaches. But since January he had been living in a rented one-room apartment in downtown's Alpha Square, a subsidized housing complex for the poor and homeless, KNSD-TV reported, Bob McElroy, president of the Alpha Project, said he had met Guerrero. "Nothing exceptional," he told the TV station. "Very well mannered, 'yes sir' and 'no sir.' Cordial. Quiet. Loner."

Comment: Homeless targeted in San Diego attacks - 2 dead, one in critical condition

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Bad Guys

The latest findings on the Nice truck attacker: Violent, obsessed with sex, dated 73-yo man


RT
Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:46 UTC
Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel
© French Police Source / AFP
This image shows a reproduction of the residence permit of Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, the man who rammed his truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice on July 14.
The latest findings suggest that Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, the driver of the truck that killed at least 84 people in Nice last week, was an unlikely jihadist, who ate pork, and reveled in alcohol, drugs, and sexual relations with both women and men.

Comment: See also: Nice truck attacker: History of mental illness, psychiatric drugs, violence - sent unusually large amount of money to family in weeks before attack

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People 2

Waking up? 79% of Americans say nation is headed in wrong direction


RT
Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:48 UTC
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, republican U.S.presidential candidate Donald Trump
© Reuters
A large majority of Americans believe the United States is not on the correct track, a new poll says, while a dismal number of supporters of both presidential nominees, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, are proud of their preferred candidate.

Nearly 80 percent of Americans say they are not hopeful about the current state and direction of the United States, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. That is up 15 points from when the same poll measured Americans' feeling about US affairs last year.

As the Republican National Convention begins in Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, respondents to the poll displayed low enthusiasm, overall, for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic counterpart, Hillary Clinton.

Only 22 percent of respondents said they would be proud to have a President Trump, while only 27 percent said the same about Clinton.
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