Thread for obviously newsworthy stuff

[Kidlicious]

[I AM I AM MOBIUS]

urkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says some materials in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul were painted over. The statement comes after investigators into journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance searched the building.
Some substances Turkish police were looking for at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul seem to have vanished, Erdogan told reporters on Tuesday. He claimed that “the investigation is looking into many things such as toxic materials and those materials being removed by painting them over.”

Erdogan did not expand on that claim, only adding that “my hope is that we can reach conclusions that will give us a reasonable opinion as soon as possible.”

Previously, a Turkish forensic team spent nine hours looking for clues and DNA samples which could shed light on the mysterious vanishing of Khashoggi, who Ankara believes was assassinated at the diplomatic mission.

Meanwhile, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters the investigators are considering extending the search to the residence of the Saudi consul. Local TV channels have broadcast what they said was footage of a vehicle exiting the consulate premises and parking at the residence two hours after Khashoggi disappeared.

Speculation that the Saudis might have destroyed crucial evidence at the site were fueled by footage showing two women and a man bringing cleaning gear through the front door of the consulate. Coincidence or not, the “cleaners” entered the building on the day a joint team of Turkish and Saudi experts were to search the mission.

Ankara has accused Riyadh of murdering Khashoggi and smuggling his body out of the consulate in pieces. Saudi Arabia has denied the charges as “baseless.”

According to CNN, there is a yet-to-be-published Saudi report that will blame Khashoggi’s death on an attempted abduction and botched questioning, “carried out without clearance and transparency.” The unconfirmed report is based on two anonymous sources that reportedly spoke to CNN’s correspondents.



This comes as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Riyadh. He was urgently sent by President Donald Trump to meet with the Saudi monarch. Trump has threatened the kingdom with “severe punishment” if it is found to be involved in Khashoggi’s disappearance, but he later changed tune and said Saudi King Salman “denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened” to the journalist.

“It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?” Trump

https://www.rt.com/news/441387-saudi-consulate-journalist-painted/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=push_notifications&utm_campaign=push_notifications

[I AM I AM MOBIUS]

With a twinkle in his eye (and a floral pattern on his socks), Canada prime minister Justin Trudeau opened the 2018 Fortune Global Forum in Toronto by making a powerful, full-throated case for his country’s economy.

The lowest unemployment rate in 40 years. The fastest growing wages in a decade. The lowest debt-to-GDP ratio among G7 nations. Delivering remarks in French and English, Trudeau offered flurry of statistics in a bid to convince the audience of CEOs before him—including the top executives of Cisco, Johnson & Johnson, and SAP—that his government was worth betting on.

“We’re the only G7 country with a free trade deal with every other G7 country,” he said. “This is Canada’s moment to lead, and we’re making it easy for you to lead with us.”

Is that because the U.S. under President Donald Trump has been, well, less than easy to work with as it pertains to international relations? In conversation with Fortune president Alan Murray, Trudeau was circumspect in his words for his neighbor to the south in the wake of negotiations for the USMCA, as in United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, the North American trade agreement meant to replace NAFTA.

“The U.S. is going through, as it does from time to time, a bit of a protectionist phase,” Trudeau said, staring off into the distance. “I think what people remember is where we’ll end up…people have different styles in their approach.” The minister added that Canada’s approach was intentionally “constructive,” “thoughtful,” and “patient,” inferring that the U.S. strategy was not.

Whatever the case, “There should be rules in the global economy,” Trudeau said. The world needs trade rules that can be “trusted” and “abided by both countries and investors,” he added. (Including China. “China is the world’s second-largest economy and growing and will remain an important place to do business,” Trudeau said. He downplayed the real geopolitical challenges with China, adding that Canada plans to be “thoughtful” about engaging the nation.)

But what about the tribalism creeping across the globe? Isn’t that a problem for business? Trudeau wasn’t terribly flustered by the prospect. “In three years, Canada was able to close a free trade deal with Europe…and moved forward on saving NAFTA,” making progress at a time “when trade deals aren’t in fashion anymore,” he said. Why? Because Canada understands what’s motivating individual citizens.

“Trade creates growth. But trade in itself won’t do anything to make sure that the benefits of that growth accrue to everyone,” Trudeau said. Lots of people feel those benefits have passed them by. “We are thinking about the shared benefits of trade” and not just what benefits a company or a country, he said.

“We know what happens” each time there’s an industrial revolution, Trudeau said, and most experts believe we’re currently living through the fourth. “There is a transition time when a whole lot of people get disrupted out of their jobs” until new jobs are created, he said. “You can either drag your heels and try to hold out with the current model…or dive into it.”

Trudeau also spent a few minutes discussing other issues. On the subject of diversity, women in the workplace, and the gender makeup of his cabinet (it’s 50-50), Trudeau said: “It’s not just about leadership and showing that it can be done. It’s actually really, really smart to have a more diverse board or cabinet in your organization.” He added: “You’re trying to get people to think outside the box and they don’t even realize they’re in the same box.”

And on the subject of Saudi Arabia and its ongoing crisis with regard to the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who Turkish officials believe was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Trudeau said, eliciting some applause: “Canada will always be very firm—and we’ll try to be polite because it’s not just a cliché—about standing up for human rights around the world.”

http://fortune.com/2018/10/15/justin-trudeau-canada-trade-lead/

[Giancarlo]

There is a red wave and its happening in Florida. Just not what kidiot and Benny boy is hoping for...


https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-a...141837061.html

A toxic red algae tide is spreading and an inadequate response by state officials is leading to tough criticism. Ironically Rick Scott has tried to turn around and blame Bill Nelson for it. Um... Never mind the fact that Rick Scott is the one in charge of resources and in the governors mansion. A Senator cannot order resources controlled by the governor to conduct operations.

Here in California the governor has his own resources to fight fires. Senator Pelosi has nothing to do with it.

This could have a severely damaging impact on republicans in Florida because they are getting blamed even in more republican leaning parts of the state for this mess. This falls right on the governor's lap and everyone knows it. Like a typical republican, he gave polluters a pass and that's what caused this. He destroyed regulations and this is the result.

[Giancarlo]

Kidiot.. Coming from the guy who believes Trump.

[Kidlicious]

[Proteus_MST]

Trump now tries to kill Medicaid the same way he killed the EPA:

https://www.vox.com/2018/10/15/17980028/medicaid-trump-mary-mayhew

He assigned a strident Medicaid critic to become the new Medicaid Administrator and Deputy Director.

Guess that means millions more people will lose Medicaid coverage over the next year ... and those few people who remain covered will have covered less than ever before

[Giancarlo]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...164351240.html

Republicans in key states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania are losing significant ground to democrats and are either in the high single digits or double digits behind democrats. Such races include the Wisconsin Senate race (Tammy Baldwin). Two recent polls from NBC News and from Marquette give Baldwin a +14% and +10% difference over her republican competitor. Pennsylvania's Governor race is even more stark... with Tom Wolf seeing an +19% and +22% difference over his republican competitor. Tom Wolf has average approval ratings (nothing super high), but his republican competitor is such a mess and made a violent threat to Tom Wolf (by threatening to stomp all over his face with shoes with golf spikes). Back in early August, Wolf had a just a +3% advantage over his competitor. But four polls since then gave him double digit leads.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/12/polit...ner/index.html

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep...wolf-6542.html

This race alone could pose serious damage to down ballot races in Pennsylvania. Scott Wagner obviously isn't liked in the state.

The same thing applies to Michigan, in both the Senate and Governor's race that the democrat maintains a strong single or double digit lead over their republican competitor.

https://www.clickondetroit.com/michi...us-senate-race

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep...rown-6331.html

Sherrod Brown (D) in Ohio is also seeing strong double digit leads. This hasn't converted in much support for Richard Cordray yet in the governor's race (who has a +6% in a recent poll), but no doubt it isn't helping his republican competitor.

What's the issue for republicans? Well this could cost them many house seats, and ultimately control of the house. Pennsylvania is probably the largest example of this. 12 seats in Pennsylvania are held by republicans, and 6 are held by democrats. The redrawing of district maps, put many republican seats in serious risk of flipping (Conor Lamb flipped a gerrymandered republican leaning seat even prior to court ordered redrawing).

So this is how republicans could lose control of the House. Their ****ty numbers in the midwest continue with just a few weeks away from midterms. Some of these numbers are so ****ing bad that you rarely see that in swing states. These swing states are trending back to blue and away from purple. The picture is bad for republicans nationally... Ben was recently harping on about a Texas Senate poll (which shows only a narrow advantage to the republican - Roy Moore had a +5% against Doug Jones in a poll before the election I might add). Nationally... the picture is NOT looking good for republicans.

[Giancarlo]

Senator Warren released her DNA test, proving that the average white American has twice as much Native American DNA as she does. She demanded that Trump pay her the $1M that he said he would if she took a DNA test. This is not a good deal for Pocahontas.

Incorrect. The average white American does not. She actually proved her heritage. Now will TRump donate that one million? Oh that's right. Trump can't because he isn't a billionaire or millionaire. He has a billion in debt and about $5 million in assets.

[Kidlicious]

Senator Warren released her DNA test, proving that the average white American has twice as much Native American DNA as she does. She demanded that Trump pay her the $1M that he said he would if she took a DNA test. This is not a good deal for Pocahontas.

[Kidlicious]

Federal judge dismissed Stormy Daniels lawsuit against the President and she will pay his attorney fees.

Thanks for waiting to let ME report that guys.

[Aeson]

Of course it is. Now if you could as quickly spot your own racist comments that would be great.

[I AM I AM MOBIUS]

MINSK (Reuters) - The Russian Orthodox Church said on Monday it had decided to sever all relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in protest over its endorsement of Ukraine’s request for an “autocephalous”, or independent, church.

Speaking in Belarus after a meeting of the Russian Church’s ruling body, Metropolitan Ilarion, a cleric, said the Holy Synod had been left with no choice but to sever ties with the Patriarchate in Istanbul, seat of the global spiritual leader of roughly 300 million Orthodox Christians.





Ukraine last week secured approval from Constantinople to establish an independent church in what Kiev said was a vital step against Russian meddling in its affairs, but that the Russian Orthodox Church lamented as the biggest split in Christianity for a thousand years.

“A decision was taken to completely sever ties,” Metropolitan Ilarion told reporters in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, announcing Russian retaliation against Constantinople.

“No other decision could have been taken by our Holy Synod because the logic of all the actions taken recently by the Constantinople Patriarchate led to this.”




The Russian Orthodox Church has compared Ukraine’s moves for independence to the Great Schism of 1054 that split western and eastern Christianity, and warned they could lead to an irreversible rupture in the global Orthodox community.

Ilarion said Constantinople’s decision to back the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s independence drive was illegal and that the Russian Orthodox Church would disregard it.

“We are hoping common sense will prevail and that the Constantinople Patriarchate will change its relations to existing church reality,” he said.





The tussle over Ukraine’s spiritual future flows from the poisoning of relations between Kiev and Moscow after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the outbreak of separatist fighting in Ukraine’s east that has killed over 10,000 people.

The Moscow Patriarchate, which is aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church, long dominated in Ukraine but since the 1991 Soviet break-up has been challenged by a rival known as the Kiev Patriarchate.

Ukraine accuses the Russian Orthodox Church of wielding a pernicious influence on its soil, allowing itself to be used as a tool of the Kremlin to justify Russian expansionism and support of separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.



The Moscow Patriarchate denies its church is a security threat to Ukraine and, far from being a Kremlin stooge, says it has done much to promote peace in the country’s east.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-church-russia/russian-orthodox-church-breaks-with-constantinople-in-row-over-ukraine-idUSKCN1MP24G?utm_source=reddit.com

[Giancarlo]

Might want to ask the people of Venezuela about that. They've had radical change. 4 million people now have fled the country because they are starving. That is 12 percent of the total population. This represents one of the largest humanitarian disasters, ever.

Learn how to respond to my point, idiot.

I'm not talking about Venezuela nor do I favor what they have done. Maduro is a fool, just like right wing moron Mauricio Macri who stole the social security safety net in Argentina impoverishing millions.

Largest humanitarian disaster ever... You've got to be ****ing kidding. Where did you read that? Faux News?

i have a new term:

Benism - accuse others of using whataboutisms, yet just post one completely ignoring what was said like a complete moron.

[Ben Kenobi]

My point is simple. We need to start respecting the planet and stop trashing it. Capitalism needs to fall under heavy regulation.

Might want to ask the people of Venezuela about that. They've had radical change. 4 million people now have fled the country because they are starving. That is 12 percent of the total population. This represents one of the largest humanitarian disasters, ever.