Ant Group, Controlled By Jack Ma’s Alibaba, Planning Historic IPO On Hong Kong, Shanghai Exchanges

The offerings are particularly expected to give a huge boost to Hong Kong’s stock exchange

Ant Group said it posted a profit of 21.9 billion Chinese yuan ($3.2 billion) in the first half of the year

Alipay has more than 1 billion annual active users

Ant Group, the Chinese fintech giant controlled by Jack Ma of Alibaba (BABA), has filed for dual initial public offerings on the Hong Kong and Shanghai’s STAR stock exchanges.

Ant Group is seeking to raise at least $20 billion in the IPOs – and potentially more than the $29 billion Saudi Aramco raised in its own massive IPO last December. The offerings are particularly expected to give a huge boost to Hong Kong’s stock exchange as the city-state has found itself in a political quagmire over the imposition of China’s controversial security law.

Ant Group said it posted a profit of 21.9 billion Chinese yuan ($3.2 billion) on total revenues of 72.5 billion yuan ($10.5 billion) in the first half of the year. In the first half of 2019, Ant Group recorded earnings of 1.9 billion yuan ($270 million) on revenues of 52.5 billion yuan ($7.6 billion).

The company, which runs the Alipay mobile payments app in China, could gain a market valuation of $200 billion, CNBC reported.

Alipay has more than 1 billion annual active users and processed 118 trillion yuan ($17 trillion) in transactions in mainland China in the year ended June 30. Alipay has 711 million monthly active users while more than 80 million merchants used Alipay to conduct business.

Currently an affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba, Ant Group benefits from its links to its parent – for example, it serves as the default payment option on Alibaba’s e-commerce and food delivery platforms.

Alibaba currently owns a 33% stake in Ant Group, making it the largest shareholder. Hangzhou Junao, an entity controlled by Ant Group and Alibaba executives, owns a 20.66% stake, while Hangzhou Junhan, which holds shares on behalf of Ant Group employees, owns a 29.86% stake.

https://www.ibtimes.com/ant-group-controlled-jack-mas-alibaba-planning-historic-ipo-hong-kong-shanghai-3034575

Wisconsin Governor Declares State of Emergency Following Kenosha Protests

The latest wave of violent protests spanned the US city Kenosha following a video of police officers shooting an African American man Jacob Black emerging in social media. The protests have continued for three days and saw violence, vandalism and arsons.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, following a wave of violent protests rocking the city of Kenosha after a video of police officers shooting an African American man Jacob Black appeared in social media.

In the executive order, Evers called to state active duty "such additional elements of the Wisconsin National Guard as the Adjutant General deems necessary to support local law enforcement, protect critical infrastructure and cultural institutions, and provide support to first responders".

He went on to note that the Wisconsin National Guard "may not be used to impede the ability of people to peacefully protest or impede the ability of the media to report on demonstrations".

Earlier in the week, elements of Wisconsin National Guard were already summoned by Evers to "ensure that Wisconsinites are able to assemble safely".

Violent protests spanned the Wisconsin city of Kenosha following the release of the footage that showed police officers shooting an African American man Jacob Black. Despite Black has survived, though being now paralysed from the waist down after being shot in the back, angry protesters marched in the streets of Kenosha, setting cars and buildings on fire, smashing with windows and clashing with the police officers.

https://sputniknews.com/us/202008251080276631-wisconsin-governor-declares-state-of-emergency-following-kenosha-protests/

Progressive Groups Urge TV Networks To Tape-Delay GOP Convention — So They Can Fact-Check Everything!

Progressive groups are demanding that all television networks delay airing the Republican National Convention until they fact-check all claims made by the featured speakers — which they didn’t demand for the Democratic convention.

“The best way to combat the spread of disinformation is to stop it at its source. By putting the Republican National Convention on a one-minute time delay, your network will be able to actively correct disinformation in real time, and prevent the American people from being lied to on your airwaves,” said a letter on Monday, signed by nine progressive groups, including an EMILY’s List PAC and Color of Change PAC. “The future of our country, our people and our democracy is at stake.”

“Several major networks pulled away from speakers during the first night of the convention to fact-check claims made by speakers,” The Hill reported. “CNN and MSNBC cut away from Patricia and Mark McCloskey, the couple that went viral after pointing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their house in St. Louis. The networks clarified a claim the couple made about Democrats wanting to abolish the suburbs by ending single-family home zoning.”

CNN and The New York Times have been running fact-checking pages on their digital platforms.

“I think it’s important for objective journalists to note how wildly imbalanced the dishonesty is between the current parties. This one half-night of Republican programming so far has been exponentially more dishonest than the entire four nights of the Democratic convention,” CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale tweeted.

In the letter, the groups said:

We have already seen Americans die due to disinformation around the COVID-19 pandemic and the search for a treatment. We have also seen an increase in hate crimes, police brutality, and racial injustice due to inflammatory and racist disinformation on the news.

Make no mistake, the Republican National Convention’s programming will be a primary source of dangerous disinformation about everything from voting rights, to racial justice and police violence, to medical disinformation and dangerous medical falsehoods about the pandemic. It is likely that this information will also include racist and sexist attacks designed to stoke division and hatred. We know this, because we have seen it before. We know who the speakers at the convention will be, and an overwhelming majority of them contribute to the spread of dangerous disinformation every single day. …

The real-world impacts of disinformation are clear: Our nation is fast approaching 200,000 deaths from COVID-19–with a disproportionate impact on Black, Latinx and Indigenous people–and medical disinformation about the coronavirus puts lives at risk. Donald Trump’s promotion of unproven Hydroxychloroquine led to overdoses and a medication shortage that made the drug inaccessible to chronic illness patients who rely on it. Disinformation regarding disinfectants led to people drinking and inhaling poisonous household cleaning products. A recent working paper by researchers at the University of Chicago shows that Fox News viewers of disinformation are less likely to comply with public health guidelines and that “those behavioral differences are contributing to the spread of the coronavirus and mortality rate of covid-19.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/08/progressive-groups-urge-tv-networks-tape-delay-gop-convention-can-fact-check-everything/

327 ISIS Militants Eliminated In Central Syrian Desert, Russian Military Says

Russian and Syrian forces conducted a joint security operation against ISIS cells in the Homs-Deir Ezzor province in the period from August 18 to August 24, a representative of the Russian military in Syria told RIA Novosti.

“Airstrikes of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force, artillery fire and actions of special surveillance and reconnaissance groups in the “white desert” liquidated 327 militants, destroyed 134 shelters, 17 observation posts, seven warehouses with equipment and five underground storage facilities for weapons and ammunition,” RIA Novisti quotes the statement.

The operation came in response to a series of successful ISIS attacks on Syrian pro-government forces in the desert areas in Homs and Deir Ezzor. One of these attacks, near Deir Ezzor city on August 18, led to the killing of Russian Major-General Vyacheslav Gladkih. Taking into the account the numbers provided by the Russian side, the August 18-24 operation likely delivered a powerful blow to ISIS cells hiding in the desert. Nonetheless, it is unlikely that the ISIS threat was fully removed. As long as areas not controlled by Damascus remain there (like the US-occupied area of al-Tanf), ISIS will always have where to hide and restore its forces.

https://southfront.org/327-isis-militants-eliminated-in-central-syrian-desert-russian-military-says/

Football Great Herschel Walker Has Word for People Who Call Trump a Racist

One of the more moving speeches on the first night of the Republican National Convention was by retired football great Herschel Walker, who talked about his friendship with President Trump.

Walker was on the roster when Trump bought the USFL team the New Jersey Generals back in the early 1980s. The league folded in 1986 and Walker moved on to the NFL. They’ve had a “deep, personal” friendship for nearly four decades.

Walker tried to sum up the friendship in three minutes and he did a pretty good job. See the video of his speech below.

I’m not an actor, a singer, or a politician. I’m Herschel Walker. Most of you know me as a football player, but I’m also a father, a man of faith, and a very good judge of character. I’ve known Donald Trump for 37 years. I don’t mean just casual, ran into him from time to time. I’m talking about a deep, personal friendship.

Walker Watched Trump Treat Everyone Like a VIP

Walker said he watched Trump interact with people from the boardroom to the broom closet and said his friend impressed him by how he treated the little guy.

I watched him treat janitors, security guards, and waiters the same way you would treat a VIP. He made them feel special because he knew they were. He understands that they are the people who make this country run. They clean, they cook, they build, they drive, they deliver. He told me, “Herschel, make an effort to get to know people. Remember their names.” That stuck with me.

Trump can be brusque with people in the boardroom, in debates, and on Twitter, but Walker said that’s how he gets the job done.

Some people don’t like his style, the way he knocks down obstacles that get in the way of his goals. People on the opposing team, they didn’t like when I ran over them, either, but that’s how you get the job done.

On ‘It’s a Small World’ in a Suit

But Walker said Trump would drop everything for his kids.

I watched him in the boardroom. He can be in the middle of a big meeting, but if one of the kids was on the phone, he dropped everything to take the call. He taught me that the family should be your top priority.

One time I planned to take his kids to Disney World with my family. At the last minute, Donald said he’d like to join us. So there he was in a business suit on the It’s a Small World ride. That was something to see. It just shows you what a caring, loving father he is.

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/victoria-taft/2020/08/25/rnc-football-great-herschel-walker-has-word-for-people-who-call-trump-a-racist-n838499

Van Morrison Blasts COVID-19 Live Concert Limits As ‘Pseudoscience’

Singer Van Morrison is blasting the “pseudoscience” behind officials around the world shutting down all live music concerts with full capacity audiences.

“As you know, we are doing socially distanced gigs at Newcastle Upon Tyne’s Gosforth Park, Electric Ballroom and The London Palladium,” the 74-year-old singer wrote on his website. “This is not a sign of compliance or acceptance of the current state of affairs, this is to get my band up and running and out of the doldrums. This is also not the answer going forward. We need to be playing to full capacity audiences going forward.

“I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters and others in the industry to fight with me on this. Come forward, stand up, fight the pseudo-science and speak up. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and myself appear to be the only people in the music business trying to get it back up and running again. Come forward. It’s not economically viable to do socially distanced gigs. Come forward now, the future is now.”

Morrison also asked people to contact him because “we would like to publish a list of names of all those who are supporting the industry.”

Morrison is set to play socially distanced gigs in England next month, “but he said this did not signify agreement with restrictions to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 800,000 lives worldwide,” The Guardian reported.

On the singer’s Facebook page, self-professed Morrison fans gave a largely scathing response to his appeal for full-capacity audiences. “This is madness. The science is real,” said one. “We love you, Van, but calling pandemic management protocols ‘pseudo-science’ is probably the dumbest and certainly the most dangerous idea you’ve ever put your name to,” wrote another.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/08/van-morrison-blasts-covid-19-live-concert-limits-pseudoscience/

China's MoD Says US Spy Plane Entered No-Fly Zone of Chinese Northern Military District

The Chinese military said on Tuesday that a US spy plane entering the no-fly zone of the Chinese Northern Military District was a "naked provocation."

According to the ministry's spokesman, China has lodged a "stern representation" with the United States after a US U-2 reconnaissance plane flew into a no-fly zone during Chinese military drills.

"Today, a US reconnaissance aircraft U-2 entered the no-fly zone of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's northern combat command area, where live ammunition was being fired," the statement says.

The ministry has pointed out that the US actions have created a serious obstacle to China's regular military drills and have violated air and naval security protocols between the two countries.

The Chinese Defense Ministry noted that US actions could easily lead to misunderstandings and even to an incident at sea or in the air.

"This is a pure provocation. The Chinese side is protesting and has already made a representation to the US side. The Chinese side demands that the United States immediately stop these provocative actions and take practical steps to protect peace and stability in the region," the ministry said.

Earlier this month, China conducted two drills in Hainan Province. The drills came amid an unprecedented US military presence in the region.

A Chinese think tank has recorded 67 US intelligence flights through the South China Sea in July alone, and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Xinhua News Agency in an August 5 interview that “in the first half of this year alone, the US sent military aircraft there [to the South China Sea] more than 2,000 times.”

https://sputniknews.com/military/202008251080274080-chinas-mod-says-us-spy-plane-entered-no-fly-zone-of-chinese-northern-military-district/

Russia’s S-500 Missile Defense System Has Entered State Trials, Can Hit Targets In Space

Russia’s latest S-500 anti-aircraft missile system has entered state trials, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said on August 24th, at the Army-2020 forum.

“The fact is that state trials have begun and today the S-500 configuration, its simplified configuration is already available and work is underway to purchase parts for its serial production,” the deputy prime minister said.

Back in February 2020, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said that military specialists had held the trials of the world’s unrivaled surface-to-air missiles for the latest S-500 air defense system in 2019.

In March 2020, CEO of the Design Bureau of Special Machine-Building (part of Almaz-Antey defense manufacturer) Vladimir Dolbenkov said that the S-500 had entered final stages of trials.

“In the interests of air and missile defense troops, the enterprise’s specialists have developed equipment units for the Triumphant-M next-generation mobile anti-aircraft missile system. As part of this effort, they have developed and are completing the trials of units for the surface-to-air missile system: the launcher, the elements of the multi-functional locator and the missile defense locator, the equipped chassis for the combat control post and transporters for the long-range radar system,” he said.

The deputy defense minister said in December 2019 that the preliminary tests of the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system would begin in 2020 and the commencement of its serial deliveries to the troops was scheduled for 2025.

Even prior, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the deliveries of the latest S-500 surface-to-air missile systems to the troops would begin in 2020.

The developer, VKO Almaz-Antey, a Russian state-owned company, said that the S-500 is capable of destroying all types of ballistic missiles, including hypersonic ones. The S-500 missiles are also capable of “working outside the atmosphere where aerodynamic control is impossible.”

Russia has been training specialists to learn to operate the new system at the Military Academy of the Aerospace Force in Tver since 2017.

https://southfront.org/russias-s-500-missile-defense-system-has-entered-state-trials-can-hit-targets-in-space/

American Airlines To Lay Off 19,000 Workers As Travel Demand Stalls

American Airlines (AAL) plans to lay off 17,500 employees in addition to 1,500 who were furloughed earlier as air travel fails to recover amid the coronavirus pandemic, USA Today reported.

News of the layoffs was announced to employees in a memo obtained by USA Today. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said was the most difficult update they have had to make since the coronavirus pandemic began.

“Today is the hardest message we have had to share so far – the announcement of involuntary staffing reductions effective Oct. 1,” Parker and Isom said in the memo.

American warned last month it would have to lay off as many as 25,000 workers as air travel stalled during the pandemic. Now Parker and Isom said cuts would need to be made unless the payroll protection program created by the CARES Act was extended.

Some 8,100 flight attendants, who will be furloughed, and 1,600 pilots are among those being cut. About 1,500 administrative and management layoffs were made earlier, USA Today reported. This is on top of the thousands of workers who already have taken voluntary permanent or temporary leave from the airline.

"The coming weeks and months will be some of the most difficult we have ever faced," Parker and Isom said in the memo. "No matter how challenging they seem, remember this: The American Airlines team is no stranger to adversity, and in adversity, we always come through. We will come out on the other side of this crisis. Demand will return. Team members will be recalled. The world will find its new normal, and when it does, American is going to be there.

“Until then, take heart that we will get through this together. The professionalism and care this team has shown over the past six months has been nothing short of extraordinary. We are all American Airlines, and we will survive, and one day, thrive again. Thank you for all you are doing now, and tomorrow, to carry us through,” they added.

https://www.ibtimes.com/american-airlines-lay-19000-workers-travel-demand-stalls-3034500

Iran’s IRGC Eliminated Subversive Group One Day After Saying Natanz Incident Was Sabotage

On August 24th, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) eliminated a secret subversive group.

The Iranian state media refer to it as a ‘team of terrorists.’

“Last night, a counter-revolutionary terrorist group affiliated to the global arrogance that intended to penetrate deep into our country’s territory was caught in the intelligence net spread by Hamzeh Seyed al-Shohada Base fighters in the general area of Maku,” a statement released by IRGC’s Hamzeh Seyed al-Shohada Base said.

The IRGC’s forces engaged the group in the general area of Maku and destroyed it.

The team reportedly had 3 members, and all of them were killed.

The IRGC added that significant quantities of weapons, military equipment, ammunition and communication equipment were also confiscated during the operation.

This operation came just one day after Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said that a fire at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility in July was the result of sabotage.

“The explosion at Natanz nuclear facility was a result of sabotage operations,” said Behrouz Kamalvandi. “Security authorities will reveal in due time the reason behind the blast.”

Iranian officials said that the fire on July 2nd at the plant south of Tehran had caused significant damage which could slow the development of advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges.

In July, an article by Iran’s state news agency IRNA addressed the possibility of sabotage by enemies such as Israel and the United States. Neither of them was directly accused, back then, and with this report as well.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on August 22nd that he would make his first trip to Tehran in that role on Monday in order to pressure Iran to grant inspectors access to two suspected former atomic sites.

I will travel to Tehran on Monday for meetings with Iranian authorities to address outstanding questions related to safeguards in Iran. I hope to establish a fruitful and cooperative channel of direct dialogue. It is necessary. pic.twitter.com/nkF0X8A4ZM

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) August 22, 2020

The IAEA suspects activities possibly related to developing nuclear weapons were carried out in the early 2000s at these sites. Iran insists its nuclear programme has no military dimensions.

Grossi said that the objective of the trip was “that my meetings in Tehran will lead to concrete progress in addressing the outstanding questions that the agency has related to safeguards in Iran and, in particular, to resolve the issue of access.”

“Iran has not opposed access to its nuclear facilities, but the IAEA’s questions and allegations should be based on serious evidence and documents,” Kamalvandi said.

Just days after these revelations, a subversive group was eliminated, which could have presumably carried out the attack.

https://southfront.org/irans-irgc-eliminated-subversive-group-one-day-after-saying-natanz-incident-was-sabotage/

NJ gym that had license revoked for defying Democratic governor's shutdown becomes GOP campaign spot — and now state can't touch it

'Gov. Murphy turned this into a political chess game. And so what we said is 'checkmate, governor.''

The embattled New Jersey gym that had its business license revoked earlier this month after repeatedly defying Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's COVID-19 shutdown order has made what appears to be a nifty strategic move in response.

Frank Trumbetti and Ian Smith, co-owners of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, have partnered with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rik Mehta to turn the gym into an official campaign rally location, Fox News reported.

"We took a stand for our constitutional rights and for the rights of all small business owners throughout the country," Smith told "Fox & Friends Weekend" Sunday. "And it wasn't intended to become political. We were trying to offer a solution to a problem where the government was failing, and it turned political. And that was because of Gov. Murphy's actions. So now we made it political just as much as he has."

What are the details?

The cable network said since state officials can't interfere with a political campaign, that should prevent Murphy & Co. from shutting down Atilis Gym. Mehta is looking to unseat Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, Fox News said.

But Trumbetti told the network the gym's new status may not prevent local officials from trying to shut down the gym again.

"We hope it gives us a reprieve until Nov. 3," he noted to Fox News. "Everyone who comes in here will be a volunteer for the Mehta campaign, and we'll be here to exercise our rights."

Smith added to the network that Atilis members are "excited" to be a part of Mehta's campaign since he backs small businesses that have been fighting to stay alive since the shutdown began.

"We're really tired of this one-sided control that the governor has," Mehta told Fox News. "We've asked many times … where's the science? … We flattened the curve, and they keep moving the goalpost."

"You want to hurt small businesses? You're crushing the American dream," he added to the network. "And if you look at the unemployment rates in New Jersey, they're the highest that they've ever been. … Gov. Murphy turned this into a political chess game. And so what we said is 'checkmate, governor.'"

https://www.theblaze.com/news/nj-gym-defied-governor-campaign-spot

>>10416204

Attacks sauce not content

GTFO shill

National Park Service Approves 50,000-Person “Get Your Knees Off Our Necks” March on Washington – Won’t Enforce Masks or Social Distancing

Enjoying your trial of Marxism?

The National Park Service approved a 50,000-person march on Washington led by race-baiter Al Sharpton and Rev. Mark Thompson amid a pandemic that apparently only restricts large gatherings of Christians and Trump supporters.

The march, dubbed “Get Your Knees Off Our Necks” will take place on August 28 which is the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

The ‘protesters’ will march from the Lincoln Memorial to the National Mall.

The Daily Caller reported:

The permit for the annual march from the National Park Service grants permission to “conduct a public gathering” to Rev. Mark Thompson and the National Action Network (NAN) to commemorate the 57th March on Washington despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has led to limitations on public gatherings.

An estimated 50,000 attendees are anticipated to attend the event, the permit shows. The original permit application estimated 100,000 attendees, local outlet Fox5 reported.

NPS spokesman Mike Litterst told the DCNF that NPS will not “require nor enforce” the use of social distancing and masks, but organizers told Fox5 that they will require attendees to wear masks.

“We worked with the organizers on instituting proper measures to prevent the spread of COVID and other infectious diseases, and the permit reflects those measures,” Litterst said. “However, while the National Park Service strongly encourages social distancing, the use of masks and other measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, we will not require nor enforce their use.”

Last month far left DC Mayor Muriel Bowser imposed a 14-day quarantine mandate for anyone traveling to DC from ‘high-risk’ states.

Of course Bowser selectively enforces the 14-day quarantine.

According to Fox 5, under the permit, compliance with local virus restrictions was “not a requirement or condition of the permit.”

Rules for thee, but not for me.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/08/national-park-service-approves-50000-person-get-knees-off-necks-march-washington-wont-enforce-masks-social-distancing/

Senior Australian health exec refers to ‘ethically aborted human fetus’ amid COVID vaccine debate

'I think we can have every faith that the way that they have manufactured the vaccine has been against the highest of ethical standards internationally,' said Dr. Nick Coatsworth, commenting on a vaccine being made using cells taken from an aborted baby.

AUSTRALIA, August 25, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Australia’s second-most senior medical officer has described cell lines which come from a healthy baby girl aborted in 1972 and are now being used in the development of a coronavirus vaccine as coming from an “ethically aborted human fetus.”

Speaking at a government press conference, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Coatsworth was responding to recent comments made by Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, after the Australian government announced a plan to supply Australians with Astrazeneca’s coronavirus vaccine. Astrazeneca’s vaccine is being developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford and is using the HEK-293 cell line, which was originally derived from kidney tissue taken from a baby girl who was aborted in the Netherlands in 1972 and later developed into a cell line in a lab in 1973.

“I’m aware of those concerns being raised this morning that the particular cell line that was produced for the vaccine was from an ethically aborted human fetus. That is the concern that was raised by the archbishop,” Coatsworth said.

“This is a very professional, highly powered research unit at Oxford University, one of the world's leading universities. So I think we can have every faith that the way that they have manufactured the vaccine has been against the highest of ethical standards internationally,” Coatsworth added.

Following the announcement of the deal with Astrazeneca, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that a coronavirus vaccine will be made “as mandatory as you can possibly make it.” He then quickly walked back the comments somewhat, saying that the vaccine “is not going to be compulsory” and that “we can’t hold someone down and make them take it.”

Coatsworth subsequently said that denying those who refuse a coronavirus vaccine the ability to go into restaurants, travel internationally, and catch public transport will be discussed by the government.

Archbishop Fisher has since published a letter to Morrison, co-signed by the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Dr. Glenn Davies and the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Archbishop Makarios. Fisher also published a separate article in The Catholic Weekly.

“Along with many Australians we are praying that a vaccine might be developed that will help bring an end to the pandemic. We were therefore disappointed to learn that of the 167 candidate vaccines for COVID-19 identified by the World Health Organisation, 29 of which are already in clinical evaluation, the Commonwealth has chosen to throw its lot in with one that makes use of a cell‐line (HEK293) cultured from an electively aborted human foetus,” the three clerics wrote.

“Some will have no ethical problem with using tissue from electively aborted foetuses for medical purposes. Others may regard the use of a cell-line derived from an abortion performed back in the 1970s as now sufficiently removed from the abortion itself to be excusable.”

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/senior-australian-health-exec-refers-to-ethically-aborted-human-fetus-amid-covid-vaccine-debate?utm_source=featured&utm_campaign=standard

Plastic Recycling Rates Drop As 76% Ends Up in Landfills

Discussions of the growing plastic waste problem often focus on reducing the volume of single-use plastic packaging items such as bags, bottles, tubs and films.

But a new University of Michigan study shows that two-thirds of the plastic put into use in the United States in 2017 was used for other purposes, including electronics, furniture and home furnishings, building construction, automobiles and various consumer products.

“Managing plastics has become a grand and complex environmental challenge, and plastic packaging clearly warrants current efforts on reductions and coordinated material recovery and recycling,” said Gregory Keoleian, senior author of a paper published Aug. 25 in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

“However, while packaging was the largest defined-use market for U.S. plastics in 2017, our study shows that two-thirds of the plastic put into use that year went into other markets,” said Keoleian, director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability. “Those other sectors introduce unique challenges, as well as opportunities, as we attempt a fundamental shift away from the largely linear flow of plastics and toward a circular economy for plastics.”

The authors of the new study say it’s the first comprehensive characterization of plastics use across the entire U.S. economy. The study concludes that the overall recycling rate for plastics in the U.S is slightly lower than previous estimates: Just 8% of the plastics that reached the end of their useful life in 2017 were recycled.

Previous estimates, including one from the Environmental Protection Agency, focused on solid plastic waste in municipal landfills, composed largely of containers and packaging. The new study also includes plastic from construction and demolition waste and from automobile shredder residue.

When those sources were added, the 2017 recycling rate for U.S. plastics dropped even lower than the EPA’s 8.4% estimate. Both studies found that about 76% of the plastics that reached end of life in 2017 were buried in landfills.

The new study, known as a material flow characterization, details a single year of plastics production, use and disposal in the U.S and uses the best available data from industry and public sources. The goal was to generate a road map to help guide industry, policymakers and academics along the path toward accelerated plastic waste reduction.

https://www.naturalblaze.com/2020/08/plastic-recycling-rates-drop-as-76-ends-up-in-landfills.html

Democrats To Investigate Pompeo Over GOP Convention Speech

House Democrats are launching an investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's upcoming speech at tonight's Republican National Convention - not over the content of the speech, but whether it's in violation of the Hatch Act and a breach of State Department regulations, according to The Hill.

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs panel's subcommittee of oversights and investigations, raised his concerns in a letter to Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and requested information on the secretary’s planned remarks.

Pompeo is coming under scrutiny for taking time during official diplomatic travel in the Middle East to record remarks to be played at the GOP convention on Tuesday night. -The Hill

Pompeo is believed to have recorded several remarks from Jerusalem, possibly violating his own instructions that appointed State Department officials are barred from engaging in partisan political activities related to US elections. The State Department, however, says Pompeo is acting in his personal capacity and that taxpayer resources were not used for preparing or delivering the remarks.

The State Department prohibition was laid out in two memos, one of which was issued in December, 2019 from the Office of the Legal Adviser, which states in bold and italics that "Senate confirmed Presidential appointees may not even attend a political party convention or convention-related event."

The second memo, signed by Pompeo in July, reiterates the points.

"It’s absolutely unacceptable that a sitting U.S. Secretary of State, America’s top diplomat, would use official taxpayer-funded business to participate in a political party convention, particularly after the State Department published guidance that explicitly prohibits such activity," Castro wrote to Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun.

"This action is part of a pattern of politicization of U.S foreign policy, for which President Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives, that undermines America’s standing in the world. The American people deserve a full investigation," the letter continues.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/democrats-investigate-pompeo-over-gop-convention-speech

Nasdaq Hits New Record High As Confidence Crashes To 6 Year Lows

As indices, but not the market, keep crawling higher on the unprecedented market expansion in select stocks imbalances are building that suggest reversion risk is building. Whether this reversion risk sets up for a buyable dip or a change in market character remains to be seen, but the more disconnected charts get the larger the reversion risk in my view.

Call me old fashioned but I still subscribe to an apparently forgotten scientific theory known as gravity.

And be clear, the market cap expansions we’re witnessing in 2020 off of the March lows are without precedent…

While yesterday saw Nasdaq (growth) panic sold at the cash market open after an overnight pump, today's price action was opposite-land - after overnight weakness, Nasdaq was panic bid at the open and never looked back…

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/nasdaq-hits-new-record-high-confidence-crashes-6-year-lows

DoJ To Charge Teva In Generic Drug Price-Fixing Probe

As President Trump seeks to take on big pharma in a campaign-year push to burnish his reputation for being tough on drugmakers, rhetoric that was a key part of what differentiated him from other Republicans during the early days of the 2016 primary, even if he hasn't always delivered, the DoJ is reportedly poised to charge Teva Pharmaceuticals in a generic drug price-fixing probe, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

U.S. POISED TO CHARGE TEVA IN GENERIC DRUGS PRICE-FIXING PROBE

TEVA SHARES FALL AS MUCH AS 6% ON DOJ PRICE-FIXING REPORT

The news rattled the pharma giant's shares, which tumbled 6% to the lows, though it has recovered somewhat.

Teva reportedly rebuffed a settlement offer from the DoJ earlier.

The investigation first became public last month, when a Philadelphia judge ruled that Teva would be the first trial to advance in a multi-district case involving an alleged industry-wide conspiracy to fix generic drug prices. Meanwhile, trials involving schemes to fix the prices of three specific drugs - clobetasol, clomipramine, and pravastatin - will advance along a separate track. While that case involves civil legislation, the FBI is also reportedly carrying out its own price-fixing probe based on the same alleged behavior.

Although the market initially reacted like this was all new information, analysts have likely been closely following the civil litigation - even if the FBI probe has been mostly opaque - which has grown into a tangled mess of cases, all of which have recently been consolidated into fewer actions. Currently, the MDL also involves antitrust suits filed by healthcare companies, enforcement actions filed by almost all state attorneys general, and proposed class actions filed on behalf of the wholesalers who buy the drugs directly from Teva.

Teva, one of the world's top 15 biggest pharmaceutical companies by market value and sales, has its global headquarters in Israel, and its US headquarters in New Jersey. It's also known as the world's biggest generic drug maker, meaning it likely played a critical role in any industry-wide price-fixing.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/doj-charge-teva-generic-drug-price-fixing-probe

Armed civilians defend local businesses from rioters in Kenosha, Wisconsin as protests continue

Demonstrators have marched through the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, since Sunday, when a 29-year-old black man was shot by police

Protests over the police shooting of black male in Wisconsin continued Tuesday night, amid social media postings that appear to show resident arming themselves to protect against the vandalism and arson.

The protests and riots started in the city of Kenosha on Sunday after police shot 29-year-old Jacob Blake multiple times when when responding to a domestic violence report.

A video of the incident shows Blake walking away from officers and around his vehicle as the officers pursue him with their guns raised. Blake had opened his car door when an officer grabbed the back of his shirt and fired into Blake's back.

In one video posted to Twitter, several armed men are seen standing outside a local business. When asked if they are protecting the building, one of them answers "We're out here trying to protect residents, we're trying to protect the innocent people and we're trying to protect the businesses of the citizens out here."

Later in the video, one of the men yells at passing protestors, "I'm on your side, as long as you're against the cops but you can't burn down your local businesses."

In an interview on Tuesday with the Chicago-Sun Times, Blake's father said that his son is currently paralyzed from the waist down and has eight holes in his body.

During a Sunday night demonstration, a Wisconsin police officer was knocked out by a brick that was thrown at him by a member of a a nearby mob. People in the crowd around shouted "F–k the police," around the collapsed officer.

https://justthenews.com/government/local/armed-civilians-defend-local-businesses-rioters-kenosha-wisconsin-protests

Italian Doctor - Covid19 Means Program of Mass Extermination!!

Quick ya’ll: download and share before they take it away again!

>>10416375

Dr. Petrella and the Dangers of the COVID Operation

What do we know?

We know that the tests do not work but governments pretend that they do. We also know that some vaccines sterilize people. Warp Speed vaccine preparation almost guarantees vaccine injury, plus it is an entirely new DNA altering vaccine. Big Pharma is not liable for injuries. Nano-tech is also part of the equation with Immunity Passports etc. — Mark Taliano

” Dr Petrella is a retired gynaecologist from Teramo in Italy who has already garnered controversy over his Covid 19 views. Petrella was expelled from the Order of Doctors after retirement for his views surrounding the HPV vaccine which he considers to be ineffective and in some cases dangerous. Petrella upheld his right to his opinion and stated that he is against any kind of mandatory vaccine. Petrella is appealing against the decision.https://www.ilcentro.it/…/teramo-arriva-la-radiazione-per-i…

Regarding Covid19, the gynecologist said:”Doctors and virologists go on television every day to tell shit and lies to create panic. Time to send home all these highly paid gentlemen and consultants who have kept us locked up in jail. We can’t take it anymore”.

Petrella wrote a letter to the Abruzzo region authorities:

Translated from Italian:

«I am ashamed to have been represented, in this health emergency, by doctors on television who said shit and created anxiety. A revolution can come out here , ” Petrella continued.

He then also turned to the police who in this period have been the protagonists of several unpleasant episodes : “With what conscience you make a fine of 500 euros to poor people!”

It does not fail to deal with one of the most discussed issues of this phase. «The mask, in addition to creating the now known complications, predisposes to cancer.

But the worst is that you are planning to force the children to put them in school. ‘Dr. Petrella then added: «There will be war. Did you understand scientists of my feet, virologists of my shoes? Open everything again, nothing happens ».

About two weeks ago the Abruzzese doctor sent a registered letter to the President of the Abruzzo Region Marco Marsilio and for information to the Regional Health Councilor Nicoletta Verì, to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Teramo, to the Carabinieri Command of Teramo and to the General Director of the ASL of Teramo. The object of the registered letter is the mandatory use of masks for this emergency.

Petrella about the emergency declared: «You created the panic, there is no emergency. The virus will return in October because you said the vaccine is already ready ».

The doctor is very hesitant on this aspect because it takes years to make a vaccine and making one on a virus that is so changeable is unthinkable: “Colleagues, react, strike.”

The mask is harmful and infringes the rights. In the letter the doctor wrote: “I do not intend to use the aforementioned mask, at least in open spaces and with sufficient distance from other people”.

Petrella then touched on the legal issue: “Since the mask is a medical surgical device, it cannot be imposed, under penalty of violation of Article 32 of the Constitution and of the Oviedo Convention signed by Italy”.

He also added: «On the basis of the anti-terrorism law and article 85 of the TULPS (Consolidated Law on Public Safety) :“ It is forbidden to circulate misrepresented, or with an unidentifiable face ”».

https://www.marktaliano.net/dr-petrella-and-the-dangers-of-the-covid-operation/

Australia fighting back

“What Kind of People Have We Become?” – POWERFUL! – Democrat Rep. John Deberry Goes Off on the Violent Black Lives Matter Mob

This was an amazing speech by Tennessee state Rep. John DeBerry, Jr. earlier this month on the growing violence of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Rep. DeBerry, Jr. blasted the violence of the Black Lives Matter movement and defended the police in this 10 minute speech on the Tennessee House Floor.

DeBerry, who also happens to be a pro-life minister, did not mince his words.

Rep. John Deberry was speaking out in favor of legislation that would raise penalties for assaulting or threatening law enforcement in the state.

It should come as no surprise the Rep. DeBerry, Jr. was ousted from his party earlier this year.

Rep. DeBerry has filed to run as an independent in his district.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/08/kind-people-become-powerful-democrat-rep-john-deberry-goes-off-violent-black-lives-matter-mob-video/

Something happening between Israel and Lebanon