Interpol Begs Beijing For Information On Europe's Top Cop

Following reports that Interpol chief Meng Hongwei, 64, had been "taken away for questioning" by Chinese disciplinary authorities almost immediately after arriving in China last week, Bloomberg reported that the supranational law-enforcement agency had formally asked Beijing for "a clarification" about Meng's status.

Meng, who is also a deputy minister for public safety in China though he had been living with his family in Lyon, France, where Interpol's headquarters is based, was reported missing by his wife earlier this week, prompting prosecutors in France to open an investigation. That investigation is continuing despite confirmation that Meng is being held by the Chinese government.

"Interpol has requested through official law enforcement channels clarification from China’s authorities on the status of Interpol President Meng Hongwei," Juergen Stock, secretary general of the organization based in Lyon, France, said in a statement. "Interpol’s general secretariat looks forward to an official response from China’s authorities to address concerns over the president’s well-being."

Meng is also China's deputy minister of public security and has 40 years of experience in policing and public safety. His experience includes stints working on narcotics enforcement and counter-terrorism, according to Interpol’s website. While many at Interpol feared Meng would abuse his position to encourage foreign governments to extradite Chinese dissidents living abroad, instead, he appears to have taken an interest in cybercrime enforcement since his election in November 2016. His term is set to expire in 2020.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-06/interpol-asks-beijing-information-interpol-chiefs-whereabouts

End Of An Era: Swiss Banks Now Exposing Tax Cheats

It's the end of an era for Switzerland's notorious secret bank accounts, as the world's historical haven for managing offshore wealth began automatically sharing client data with tax authorities in dozens of other countries, according to Reuters.

The Federal Tax Administration (FTA) said on Friday it had for the first time exchanged financial account data at the end of September under global standards that aim to crack down on tax cheats.

Bank secrecy still exists in some areas — Swiss authorities cannot automatically see what citizens have in their domestic bank accounts, for example — but gone are the days when well-paid European professionals could stash wealth across the border and beyond the prying eyes of their tax man. -Reuters

The information exchange was originally slated for EU countries plus nine other jurisdictions: Australia, Canada, Guernsey, Iceland, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, Norway and South Korea, however "Cyprus and Romania are currently excluded as they do not yet meet the international requirements on confidentiality and data security," according to the FTA.

Data transfer to Australia and France has been delayed "as these states could not yet deliver to the FTA due to technical reasons," said the agency, adding that it was still lacking information from Estonia, Poland and Croatia.

About 7,000 banks, trusts, insurers and other financial institutions registered with the FTA collect data on millions of accounts and send them on the Swiss tax agency. The FTA in turn sent information on around two million accounts to partner states. It put no value on the accounts in question. -Reuters

Information exchanged includes account owner names, addresses, country of residence and tax identification information - as well as the account balance, reporting institution and capital income. This allows authorities to investigate whether taxpayers have declared their foreign financial holdings.

The annual data exchange will expand next year to around 80 partner states - as long as they meet requirements on confidentiality and data security. Suitability for inclusion is determined by the OECD Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes.

Switzerland's notorious banking secrecy has been eroding for years under international pressure, which has largely cut off the ability for wealthy individuals and families to hide assets in the Alpine safe-haven. As Reuters notes, this puts Switzerland in "fierce competition" with faster-growing financial centers such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-05/end-era-swiss-banks-now-tattling-tax-cheats

MUST SEE: Grassley Releases Timeline of Ford Investigation — Shows Feinstein and Democrats Lied Throughout Process

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee released a timeline of the sexual assault investigation against Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Senator Grassley released the document on Friday following the FBI’s released its investigation to the Senate where it found no evidence to support Christine Ford’s claims of sexual abuse 36 years ago. The FBI was not able to find a single witness to confirm Ford’s high school assault charges but found several alleged witnesses who disputed the allegations.

Senator Grassley released this document to committee members on Friday.

Actions by Chairman Grassley and the Senate Judiciary Committee related to allegations made and disputed regarding Judge Brett Kavanaugh:

A 38-year member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chairman Grassley has worked to secure a thorough, credible and effective committee process as the U.S. Senate meets its constitutional duty of advice and consent in considering the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Grassley reopened the hearing after four days and 32 hours of testimony from the nominee during the week of September 4, including a closed session available to all Judiciary Committee members to scrutinize any issues or concerns about the nominee that involve confidentiality. The supplemental hearing took place on September 27, and it provided a fair and professional forum for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford to share allegations she made about the nominee, and for the nominee to respond to questions and address those allegations.

In addition, Chairman Grassley has conducted extensive review and investigation of the allegations made by Dr. Ford and comments and statements made by others both in news media reports and in messages to other senators that have been given to the Judiciary Committee. A description of those efforts is provided here.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh met with Senator Dianne Feinstein on August 20, 2018. Feinstein did not mention the assault allegations against him at that time or for several weeks later.

Throughout the process Democrat leader Dianne Feinstein and her colleagues hid their knowledge of the allegations against Kavenaugh.

Here is the final timeline released by Chuck Grassley.

More in link

https://www.scribd.com/document/390251073/Summary-of-Judiciary-Committee-Investigation-of-Allegations-final#from_embed

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/must-see-grassley-releases-timeline-of-ford-investigation-shows-feinstein-and-democrats-lied-throughout-process/

With All the Good Economic News — The Fed Just Raised Rates to Crush the Trump Economy Again!

President Trump is right. With Stocks at all-time highs and unemployment at 50-year lows, the Fed’s interest rate increases show a far-left liberal bias.

Right after Barack Obama was elected President, on December 16, 2008, the Federal Reserve (The Fed) lowered the Fed Funds rate by an entire percent, from 1% down to 0% . The Fed had not lowered the Fed Funds rate by such a large amount (1% ) since at least before 1990, if ever. The Fed kept this 0% rate for most of Obama’s eight years in office.

CNBC reported in December 2015 that President Obama oversaw “seven years of the most accommodative monetary policy in U.S. history” (from the Fed). The Fed Funds rate was at zero for most of Obama’s time in office. Finally, in December 2015 after the Fed announced its first increase in the Fed Funds rate during the Obama Presidency.

The only Fed Funds Rate increases since 2015 were after President Trump was elected President. The Fed increased the Fed Funds Rate now seven times.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/stock-markets-at-all-time-highs-unemployment-at-50-year-lows-time-for-the-fed-to-raise-rates-and-slow-the-trump-economy-again/

Susan Rice of Benghazi Fame Hints She May Run Against Senator Collins in Maine

Former Obama Official Susan Rice left a trail of genocide and lies when she left office in 2017.

This ad appeared in The New York Times in February 2015 pointing our her role in the Rwandan genocide.

“Susan Rice has a blind spot: Genocide,”

The ad attacks Obama’s National Security Advisor Susan Rice and her history of genocide.

Rabbi Shmuley wrote this at his website.

Need someone to fraudulently blame the murder of an American Ambassador in Libya on a stupid film? Send Susan to the Sunday talk shows.

Need someone to savage the leader of the only democracy in the Middle East as damaging the “fabric” of Israel’s relationship with the United States? Put Susan in the makeup chair of Charlie Rose.

Yes, it seems there is nothing Susan isn’t prepared to do.

And why should that surprise us?

This is the same Susan Rice who forbade Israel from criticizing John Kerry in her infamous tweet: “Personal attacks in Israel directed at Sec Kerry totally unfounded and unacceptable.” Yes, Israel’s freedom of expression is circumscribed by none other than Susan Rice.

But there is another reason Susan Rice’s attack on the Prime Minister of Israel on Charlie Rose merits special opprobrium and that is the unique insensitivity she is famous for when it comes to genocide.

Iran is threatening to annihilate Israel. It is building the bombs to make that possible. It has lied to the world for more than a decade about its nuclear program. Iran is an oil superpower and energy exporter that needs nuclear energy about as much as I need a pork sandwich.

America is about to do a bad deal with Iran that will leave them something in the range of 5000 spinning centrifuges enriching Uranium. Israel is not party to the talks. It has been cast in the same position of Czechoslovakia in the Munich agreement of 1938 where Britain and France negotiated away Czech security (and much of the country) without the Czechs even allowed to be present.

And while Israel faces the possibility of genocide, Susan Rice shows gross insensitivity to an Israeli leader for simply speaking out.

But why shouldn’t Netanyahu entrust Israeli security to Susan Rice?

Perhaps its because of her record of trivializing genocide.

Read the rest here.

Susan Rice is also famous for going on FIVE Sunday talk shows and lying about the Benghazi terrorist attack.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/10/susan-rice-of-benghazi-fame-hints-she-may-run-against-senator-collins-in-maine/

Saudi Arabia can survive ‘2,000 years’ without US help & not face civil war like America – MBS

Saudi society fully supports the royals and those few fringe extremist elements who stir trouble are being dealt with, believes crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who claimed the kingdom can survive for 2,000 years on its own.

Known in the West by his initials MBS, the crown prince may, as he said, ‘love’ working with the US and Trump but, when it comes to thinking of examples of successful managers of social change, he is decidedly ‘America last.’ Any drastic financial, political and legal reforms come with a hefty price tag, he emphasized, drawing parallels with the history of the United States.

“…if you look at the United States of America, when for example they wanted to free the slaves. What was the price? Civil war. It divided America for a few years. Thousands, tens of thousands of people died to win freedom for the slaves,” Bin Salman told Bloomberg, in a wide-ranging interview published Friday.

“Here we are trying to get rid of extremism and terrorism without civil war, without stopping the country from growing, with continuous progress in all elements,” the crown prince added. “So if there is a small price in that area, it’s better than paying a big debt to do that move.”

Two weeks? Try 2,000 years!

Bin Salman brushed off US President Donald Trump’s somewhat humiliating comments about Saudi Arabia perishing within two weeks without American support, saying that his kingdom existed decades before the US and will need “something like around 2,000 years to maybe face some dangers.”

“Actually, we will pay nothing for our security," the prince firmly stated, explaining that since Trump’s statements were clearly addressed to a domestic audience he did not find them offensive.

“We believe that all the armaments we have from the United States of America are paid for, it’s not free armament,” he reiterated. Explaining that, after Trump became US president, Saudi Arabia has already agreed to procure nearly 60 percent of its arms from Washington, he emphasized that Riyadh owes nothing extra because it always pays for weapons supplies in cash.

“I love working with him. I really like working with him,” bin Salman said of Trump, calling his comments a “one percent” disagreement between allies.

https://www.rt.com/news/440476-saudi-prince-reforms-civil-war/

NY - Long Island Karate Teacher Accused of Sexually Abusing Student, 14

He was supposed to teach her not only the rudiments of the sport but also a tool she can use to protect herself in case of an attack. In the end, he was the one who attacked her.

Police have arrested a Long Island karate teacher on Friday for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

The teacher has been identified as 26-year-old Michael Carretto formerly based in Dragon’s Gate Martial Arts Academy in Oakdale. He is being accused of groping the young student on September 11.

The suspect was arrested by Suffolk County detectives around 5:15 p.m. on Thursday.

The karate teacher faces charges of sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Police said the suspect was held overnight and arraigned Friday at First District Court in Central Islip, where a temporary order of protection was issued and he was ordered held on $3,500 bond, or $1,500 cash bail. He was represented by Legal Aid, which generally does not comment on cases.

Dragon's Gate owner Michael Iannone issued a statement on the matter through his lawyer and said he and staff members "are appalled and concerned by the allegations" against Carretto, who was "a former instructor at the time of his arrest."

Iannone also quickly clarified that the alleged incident did not happen at the karate school.

Iannone said through his attorney Donald Mates said:

"The safety and well-being of the students is paramount and there have always been video cameras to help ensure the protection of the students.”

Source:

nypost.com/2018/10/05/karate-teacher-accused-of-sexually-abusing-14-year-old-girl

http://www.thegoldwater.com/news/38781-NY-Long-Island-Karate-Teacher-Accused-of-Sexually-Abusing-Student-14

=Kagan: Not Clear Whether There Will Be a ‘Middle Position’ on SCOTUS Going Forward

While speaking at an event at Princeton University on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan stated that it isn’t clear whether there will be a “middle position” like the position occupied by Justices O’Connor and Kennedy on the Supreme Court going forward.

Kagan said, “I think it’s been an extremely important thing for the court that in the last, really 30 years, starting with Justice O’Connor and continuing with Justice Kennedy, there has been a person who people — found the center where people couldn’t predict in that sort of way. And that’s enabled the court to look as though it was not owned by one side or another, and was indeed impartial and neutral and fair. And it’s not so clear that — I think, going forward, that sort of middle position — you know, it’s not so clear whether we’ll have it.”

https://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/10/06/kagan-not-clear-whether-theyll-be-a-middle-position-on-scotus-going-forward/

How is this allowed clearly biased??

Abortion Industry Rips Susan Collins for Kavanaugh Vote: ‘Women Will Not Forget’

Abortion industry giants are condemning Maine Sen. Susan Collins for her decision to vote to confirm the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Collins – a Republican who has been a staunch supporter of Planned Parenthood’s taxpayer funding – was ripped by the abortion chain and NARAL, the political lobbying arm of the abortion industry, after announcing her decision to vote in favor of Kavanaugh Friday.

Planned Parenthood Action tweeted that Collins “can no longer call herself a women’s rights champion” because of her intention to confirm Kavanaugh:

“She has sided with those who disbelieved, disrespected, and even mocked survivors,” Planned Parenthood said. “We deserve better. Women won’t forget.”

Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood also tweeted that Collins “had the opportunity to represent the lived experience of tens of millions of women in this country — to be a voice of independence and to protect our constitutional rights.”

“She chose the opposite,” Laguens said. “Women will not forget.”

https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/10/05/abortion-industry-junks-susan-collins-for-kavanaugh-vote-women-will-not-forget/

‘Press Freedom Also Has Its Limits’ – EU Boss Says UK Journalists Must Respect ‘Human Rights’ of Politicians

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has said that press freedom should “have limits” and expressed regret that the EU did not “intervene” in the Brexit referendum to make sure “the right questions” entered the debate.

As head of the European Commission — a wholly unelected body which serves as the EU’s executive as well as the sole initiator of EU-level legislation — Juncker is one of the continent’s most powerful men, enjoying a far more influential position than he could have enjoyed in a Europe of nation-states where he could not have risen above his former position as Prime Minister of Luxembourg.

The controversial eurocrat has appeared increasingly rancorous as his term has drawn to a close in the wake of the Brexit referendum, with pro-sovereignty populist parties on the rise across Europe — expressing bitterness over his treatment by the British press and the fact that he has been blamed for Britains decision to walk away from Brussels.

“The British press is such that I will not miss it… they do not respect the human rights of political actors at all,” he told a group of Austrian journalists during a visit to Vienna.

“Press freedom also has its limits,” he added darkly, suggesting journalists should be able to “feel what you are allowed to do, what you need to do” and not shine a light on politicians’ personal issues.

President Juncker has, famously, been subject to a great deal of press commentary on the subject of his alleged alcoholism and occasionally erratic behaviour at international summits, as well as his family links to the Nazi regime.

On the subject of the EU referendum in particular, Juncker expressed his regret that the European Commission had granted former prime minister David Cameron’s request not to “interfere” in the referendum, which he went on to lose.

“If the Commission intervened [in the referendum], perhaps the right questions would have entered the debate,” the 63-year-old complained.

“Now you discover new problems almost daily, on both sides. At that time, it was already clear to us what trials and tribulations this pitiful vote of the British would lead to,” he sneered.

He seemed particularly annoyed at the suggestion his name would be associated with the first exit from the EU of a full member-state, and was vehemently denied that he should take a portion of the blame: “I am always amazed about what I am always blamed for.”

https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/10/06/press-freedom-also-limits-eu-boss-uk-journalists-respect-human-rights-politicians/

Murkowski Extends Courtesy To Steve Daines So He Can Attend Daughter’s Wedding During Kavanaugh Vote

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced late Friday that she will be voting “present” on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court so Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana can skip the vote to attend his daughter’s wedding.

Murkowski revealed earlier in the day while speaking on the Senate floor that she will not be supporting the confirmation.

“I believe that Judge Kavanaugh is a good man. He’s a good man,” Murkowski said. “He’s clearly a learned judge. But in my conscience, because that’s how I have to vote — end of the day, is with my conscience — I could not conclude that he is the right person for the court at this time.”

Daines, a supporter of Kavanaugh, is scheduled to be walking his daughter down the aisle during the time of the vote tally. The Senate is expected to vote to confirm Kavanaugh with a slim margin, so each Republican “yea” vote is needed to advance the confirmation.

Daines reported that fellow Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte is offering his personal plane on standby in case he is promptly needed in Washington, D.C., to cast his vote. However, in an act of civility, Murkowski agreed to “pair” with Daines and vote “present” rather than “nay.”

Pairing is an informal and voluntary agreement between two lawmakers in which one member involved in the pair agrees to nullify the outcome of the other’s absence by essentially refraining from casting his or her own opposing vote.

“I do this because a friend, a colleague of ours is in Montana this evening and … he’s going to be walking his daughter down the aisle and he won’t be present to vote,” Murkowski said, according to The Hill. “I have extended this as a courtesy to my friend. It will not change the outcome of the vote.”

This will be the first pair done in the Senate in 15 years, according to Washington insider Jamie Dupree. The last live pair occurred in October 2003 between former Nevada Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign.

http://dailycaller.com/2018/10/06/murkowski-daines-senate-kavanaugh-vote-present/

>>3365431

>>3365497

Teen Daughter of Marine Le Pen Hospitalised After Assault by Two Men

The teenage daughter of French populist leader Marine Le Pen was violently assaulted outside a bowling alley bar in Nanterre, forcing her to be taken to a local hospital in the area.

The attack on the 19-year-old took place at the exit of a bowling alley bar at Nelson Mandela Square on Thursday night while she and her 18-year-old cousin were leaving the bar. Two men aged 32 and 47 from Nanterre approached the two and physically assaulted them at around 2 am, Le Parisien reports.

After the police were called, the two suspects were arrested at the scene when officers arrived at the bar. Investigators have so far not commented on the cause of the attack but the cousin of Ms Le Pen’s daughter has filed charges with police against the two men.

The incident provoked outrage from the former French presidential candidate who called the attack a “gratuitous aggression,” and added: “there was no fight … there was an assault, a gratuitous assault on two young people aged 18 and 19.”

“But this is not inevitable. This is, I believe, the consequence of political choices that have been made for a number of years,” she continued, saying her daughter was in a state of shock about the attack but that she was relieved the incident was not more serious.

Supporters and allies of Ms Le Pen also expressed outrage. Debout Le France leader Nicholas Dupont-Aignan, who campaigned with Le Pen last year, wrote on Twitter: “I am learning with disgust of the aggression [against] the daughter of Marine Le Pen. What shame to go after the children for the ideas of their parents… how far are they going?”

Physical attacks on populist politicians and their supporters are nothing new, though attacks on their families are rare.

In Germany, the anti-mass migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) has seen many attacks on its members, including their cars being set on fire.

https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/10/06/teen-daughter-of-marine-le-pen-hospitalised-after-assault-by-two-men/