Link: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-08-25/burger-king-russia-introduces-whoppercoin-fast-food-industrys-first-digital-currency

In what we believe to be a first for the global fast-food industry, Burger King Russia has reportedly created a virtual currency called the “Whoppercoin.”

The company has reportedly issued one billion of the tokens using the Waves blockchain platform. According to Fortune, the coin was launched alongside a new loyalty program: For every Whopper purchased, customers will receive one Whoppercoin. However, it’s unclear if the company will accept the digital tokens as payment. After initially threatening to jail digital-currency users, the Russian government is reportedly considering legislation to legalize digital-currency payments. Earlier this month, an aid to Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he would be seeking to raise $100 million to build a large bitcoin-mining operation with the goal of eventually claiming 30% of the bitcoin network’s hashing power.

Link: http://www.blacklistednews.com/IRS_Rehires_Hundreds_of_Employees_Fired_for_Fraud%2C_Theft%2C_Abusing_Taxpayer_Data/60540/0/38/38/Y/M.html

IRS has an extensive “ALERTS” database filled with records of employee misconduct… but the people who actually make hiring decisions do not have access to it. A few dozen of the problematic rehired personnel were able to evade IRS employment screening by simply forgetting to mention they were previously terminated for cause by the agency.

Link: https://www.rt.com/usa/401119-berkeley-far-right-rally-protest-arrests/

Police have arrested at least eight people and reportedly deployed tear gas as demonstrators from the Left and Right of the political spectrum held rallies in Berkeley, California. Several altercations took place and eight arrests were made, according to KCRA. Three of the arrests were reportedly for violations of the no-mask rule.

Link: https://www.rt.com/news/401027-afghans-fear-us-airstrikes-nangarhar/

Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province has been one of the hardest hit by US airstrikes, which target Islamist militants but also hit civilians. In a video by RT’s Ruptly agency, locals shared what it was like to live under the constant risk of being bombed. “US jets fly over and patrol anytime, therefore civilians are living in fear and turn off their mobiles and remove their SIM cards. They break their SIM cards and buy another one,” a man from the village of Basakhel said. “Now people are trying to not use their phones.”The villagers said, the raids by American forces ended up mistakenly targeting innocent people.“Many times the US night raids aren’t a success and civilians are the victims of the damage, and casualties

Link: http://www.blacklistednews.com/Samsung_Billionaire_Heir_Sentenced_To_5_Years_In_Jail_For_Bribery/60512/0/38/38/Y/M.html

The billionaire Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and heir, Lee Jae-yong, was sentenced to five years in prison for paying bribes worth 8.9 billion won ($7.9 million) to a friend of then-president Park Geun-hye to win her support for the merger of two Samsung affiliates.

Link: http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/your-bitcoin-is-not-anonymous-irs-moves-to-track-bitcoiners-with-new-chain-analysis-tools_08252017

Internal Revenue Service has now implemented blockchain analysis tools to help them track down individuals who are profiting off the crypto currency and not declaring these profits on their tax returns. Criminals” have used digital currencies to launder money, deal drugs, and commit other unlawful behavior.

Link: https://www.rt.com/news/401013-venezuela-military-drills-trump/

Venezuela has begun massive wargames to show Donald Trump that it is capable of defending itself against US aggression. The drills will involve 200,000 troops and thousands of civilian volunteers, the military said.

The number of participants in the exercise starting Saturday will exceed 900,000 people, Remigio Ceballos, head of the Venezuelan Strategic Operational Command, told the media.

There’ll be around 200,000 servicemen taking part, with the rest of those drilling being members of the Venezuelan civilian militia.

Link: https://www.rt.com/news/401014-merkel-election-rally-protest/

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was confronted by whistling and screaming protesters during a campaign speech for the second time in a little more than a week. The defiant chancellor told the anti-refugee hecklers Berlin still welcomes asylum-seekers.

Merkel, who is seeking a fourth term as the leader of Germany in the September 24 election, spoke on Saturday to a crowd of 1,500 to 3,000 people in Quedlinburg, a town in Saxony-Anhalt, where she faced angry protesters who yelled and whistled at her during the 30-minute speech.

Link: https://sputniknews.com/military/201708221056681106-russia-kalashnikov-device/

Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern has come up with the REX-1. This is a nonlethal electronic weapon capable of shooting down drones and jam mobile phone and Wi-Fi signals. REX-1 could also be used in everyday life to ensure the owner’s privacy, and by police during rallies and other public events. “It can jam GSM-signals and 5.6 and 2.4 gigahertz Wi-Fi signals. Therefore, it can also be used against homemade explosive devices.

Link: https://sputniknews.com/military/201708241056753042-russia-sixth-generation-fighter-jet/

Russia's sixth-generation fighter jet will be equipped with an artificial intelligence system capable of making key decisions without the pilot’s involvement. "This plane will not just perform the tasks set by its crew, but it will be also capable of taking decisions on its own in certain emergency situations.

Link: http://www.blacklistednews.com/Netanyahu_To_Putin%3A_Iran_Must_Leave_Syria_Or_%22We_Will_Act%22/60490/0/38/38/Y/M.html

Wednesday the Israeli Prime Minister told Russian President Putin that Israel would not tolerate an Iranian presence in Syria and further signaled willingness to go to war in Syria to curtail Iranian influence. "Iran is already well on its way to controlling Iraq, Yemen and to a large extent is already in practice in control of Lebanon," Netanyahu told Putin.

Link: https://www.rt.com/news/386093-uk-nuclear-strike-russia/

The UK, which recently said it could launch a preemptive nuclear strike “in the most extreme circumstances,” runs the risk of being “wiped off the face of the Earth,” Frants Klintsevich wrote on Facebook. “There is a quite natural question then: what country could be primitively targeted by the UK?” the deputy head of the Federation Council’s Committee for Defense and Security said. Klintsevich’s comment comes after Fallon on Monday said that the UK is prepared to carry out a preemptive nuclear strike against any enemies, even if Britain is not under attack.“In the most extreme circumstances we have made it very clear that you can’t rule out the use of nuclear weapons as a first strike,” Fallon said on the BBC’s Today program, not specifying what “most extreme circumstances” imply.

Link: https://www.rt.com/news/400738-germany-support-us-korea/

When asked about the worst-case scenario, namely an armed conflict between Washington and Pyongyang, Merkel said that Germany would not necessarily back America. “No, not automatically. I do not see any military solution to [the crisis with] North Korea. I think it is wrong,” Merkel said. The German leader called for a peaceful resolution to tensions, insisting that “diplomatic means have not been utilized in full.”

Link: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/08/22/532536/Russia-Indon-Jets-Palm-Oil

Russia is set to sell Indonesia nearly a dozen Sukhoi fighter jets worth $1.14 billion in exchange for cash and commodities, officials in Jakarta say. Indonesia is to ship about $570 million worth of commodities in addition to cash payments in return for 11 Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets; the type and volume of commodities were “still being negotiated.”Previously the Indonesian trade minister had said the exports could include palm oil, tea and coffee.

Link: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/08/19/532203/Canada-US-refugees-military-tents

Soldiers busily assemble tents with wooden floors, lighting, and heating in Canada's Quebec Province near the US border to temporarily house a surge in asylum seekers from the United States. Most of the new arrivals are Haitians who face expulsion from the United States at the end of the year. Then, temporary asylum granted to 60,000 Haitians affected by a devastating 2010 earthquake is due to expire. Their numbers have soared from about 400 in May to 3,800 in the first weeks of August.

Link: http://www.blacklistednews.com/UK_condemned_over_%27shocking%27_export_of_deadly_weedkiller_to_poorer_countries/60468/0/38/38/Y/M.html

A highly toxic weedkiller not authorised for use in the EU is being exported to developing countries from a UK factory. Paraquat, a pesticide so lethal that a single sip can be fatal, has caused thousands of accidental deaths and suicides globally, and was outlawed by EU states in 2007. Swiss pesticide manufacturer Syngenta is exporting thousands of tonnes of the substance to other parts of the world.

Link: https://www.rt.com/politics/400627-russia-mulls-limitations-on-internet/

The Russian government plans to take steps to minimize the flow of internet traffic through foreign-based exchange points in order to prevent sensitive data from falling into the hands of US intelligence agencies, plans to prevent internet service providers and communications companies from channeling web traffic from Russia through foreign-based internet exchange points (IXPs).

Link: https://www.rt.com/usa/400591-travel-warning-mexico/

Popular Mexican vacation hot spots for Americans may not be safe to visit, the US is warning American travelers. The warning targets two Mexican states that are rife with gang violence, and includes Cancun and Playa Del Carmen.

Link: http://www.activistpost.com/2017/08/new-distracted-walking-legislation-will-outlaw-texting-even-talking-walking.html

Stamford, Connecticut proposal would make texting, and even talking, on an electronic device while walking illegal; claimed that its purpose “is not to raise money for the city, but to hopefully educate the public.” Residents will face an initial fine of $30 if police deem that they fit the description of “distracted walkers.”

Link: http://www.blacklistednews.com/38_out_of_60_shampoos_found_to_contain_harmful_manufacturing_solvent_in_tests_by_Hong_Kong_consumer_watchdog/60454/0/38/38/Y/M.html

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog found 38 out of 60 shampoo samples it tested contained a harmful solvent used in manufacturing. The Consumer Council also found 20 per cent of the shampoos contained allergy-causing preservatives, and one tested positive for a heavy metal.