(2019-02-16). 8,400 Yellow Vests Arrested So Far, As Protests Enter 14th Week. telesurenglish.net French Minister of the Interior Christophe Castaner admitted, on Feb. 14, that about 8,400 people have been arrested since the Yellow Vests demonstrations began on Nov. 17, 2018. | RELATED: | Yellow Vests March For 13th Saturday Against Macron's Gov't | So far, some 1,800 of the detainees have already been convicted while 1,500 protesters are reportedly still awaiting trial, and another 316 Yellow Vests have outstanding arrest warrants. | Castaner said that 1,300 police officers an…
(2019-02-16). Defying U.S.-led pressure, people across the world stand up for Venezuela's sovereignty. mronline.org 
While international media creates a spectacle around "humanitarian aid", strong mobilizations in support of Nicolás Maduro and the Bolivarian Revolution continue within Venezuela and across the world. | Source
(2019-02-16). Trump Moves the World Closer to "Doomsday" zcomm.org It is incumbent upon all of us to resist the inexorable march toward nuclear winter…
(2019-02-16). Does Recognition of Parallel Gov't in Venezuela Violate International Law? therealnews.com 
A recent study conducted by the German parliament's independent scientific research service found that international recognition of the self-proclaimed "interim president" Juan Guaidó probably constitutes a violation of international law. We discuss the study's implications with Andrej Hunko, who commissioned the study
(2019-02-16). US SOUTHCOM: Bolsonaro Barks for His Master. globalresearch.ca Admiral Craig Faller announces an unprecedented joint military operation with Brazil to the US Senate Armed Services Committee. What does it mean for national sovereignty? | *** | Brazil's participation in US SOUTHCOM is part of a broader process that began with …
(2019-02-16). Bill Officially Recognizes Japan's Ainu As Indigenous People. telesurenglish.net After suffering decades of discrimination, Japan's Ainu minority community will officially be recognized – for the first time – as an Indigenous people, under the country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition. | RELATED: | Brazil: President Bolsonaro Deepens Anti-Indigenous Policies | "It is important to protect the honor and dignity of the Ai…
(2019-02-16). Video: Army Ambushes ISIS Terrorists, Seizes Loads of Weapons. globalresearch.ca On February 14, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) ambushed an ISIS unit in the Damascus desert killing several terrorists. SAA troops also capturing a large number of weapons and equipment, including a Konkurs anti-tank guided missile launcher, several RPG-7 launchers, …
(2019-02-16). Organizations from across the world call for solidarity with people of Yemen. peoplesdispatch.org Over 50 organizations expressed grave concern over the acute humanitarian crisis affecting Yemen. 14 million people or more are at risk of famine, and 22 million are in constant need of humanitarian aid
(2019-02-16). Senator Warren Calls for End of US Support of War Crimes in Yemen. globalresearch.ca Yemen is the world's largest humanitarian crisis. In 2018, an estimated 22.2 million people — 75 percent of the population were in need of humanitarian assistance. A total of 17.8 million people were food insecure and 8.4 million people did …
(2019-02-16). South China Sea, the Geopolitical Pivot to Control Asia. globalresearch.ca The decision of excluding China from the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) evolved into tense diplomatic relations among the countries located in the South China Sea. Former Secretary of Defence, James Mattis, warned that the exclusion of China from …
(2019-02-16). Indigenous Communities Halting Humanity's Race to Disaster. globalresearch.ca It may rank as one of the great ironies in humanity's lifespan that, as our highly educated first world leads the assault on global environments, it is the "backward" indigenous people attempting to curb those attacks. These remarkable occurrences are …
(2019-02-16). WWF: Deforestation Puts Koalas at Risk For Extinction By 2050. telesurenglish.net The president of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Pavan Sukhdev, warned of the danger of extinction of koalas and compared the destruction of the Australian east coast forests with the environmental depredation observed in Borneo, Indonesia and the Amazon. | RELATED: | Australian Government Retaliates to Migrant-Protecting Bill | "The demise of orangutans ha…
(2019-02-16). Is Democracy Consistent with Islam? globalresearch.ca Most people are under the impression that democracy and Islam are somehow incompatible. However, I don't see any contradiction between democracy and Islam, as such. Although, I admit, there is some friction between Islam and liberalism. | When we say there …
(2019-02-16). Video: 5G Wireless: A Dangerous 'Experiment on Humanity'. globalresearch.ca Scientists, environmental groups, doctors and citizens around the world are appealing to all governments to halt telecommunications companies' deployment of 5G (fifth generation) wireless networks, which they call "an experiment on humanity and the environment that is defined as a …
(2019-02-16). Hands Off Venezuela: Historic Stance at the United Nations against US Imperialism. globalresearch.ca In a spectacular display of solidarity and strength, envoys from Beijing and Havana, Moscow and Tehran, Pyongyang and Caracas, Damascus and Managua and numerous other states stood together, side by side, in front of the UN Security Council
(2019-02-16). 'Progressive' Trudeau Government Attacks Venezuela. globalresearch.ca Anyone who still entertains any illusions in the 'progressive' nature of the Trudeau Government of Canada, would have been shocked to witness the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, assembling a collection of regional representatives of the Washington Consensus …
(2019-02-16). Why We in Colombia and Elsewhere Reject US Intervention in Venezuela. commondreams.org A supporter of the government of Nicol√°s Maduro holds a sign against the U.S.-backed intervention in Venezuela during the summit to discuss diplomatic actions to address the Venezuelan crisis on February 7, 2019 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, UK and Sweden will be joining Bolivia, Costa Rica and Ecuador on the summit proposed by Mexico and Uruguay. (Photo: Santiago Mazzarovich/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/defau……
(2019-02-16). U.S. Military Invasion of Venezuela is Escalating. indybay.org With the support of Democrats and Republicans, e.g. Pelosi & Trump, the pending invasion of oil-rich Venezuela is escalating, all at taxpayer expense. There are forces opposing it. See www.globalresearch.ca/hands-off-… . Cuba has provided a detailed description below.
(2019-02-16). The fight that leads to the worst solution, War. indybay.org Nothing, in this planet justifies a war as a solution.
(2019-02-16). The State, Business and Education: How rapacious corporations are dismantling public education globally. wsws.org Billionaires, global tech companies and national governments are imposing a profit-driven, user-pays system.
(2019-02-16). Australian university sacks academic critical of Israeli and US wars. wsws.org The University of Sydney has carried out a serious attack on academic freedom, aimed at intimidating growing opposition to militarism and war.
(2019-02-16). Chicago PD releases 'persons of interest' in shady Jussie Smollett attack case. rt.com 
Fueling suspicions that the 'racist, homophobic' attack on actor Jussie Smollett was a hoax, Chicago police have released the two Nigerians arrested as "persons of interest" without charges, claiming they have more work to do.
(2019-02-16). Award-winning journalist Chris Hedges endorses Free Assange demonstrations in Australia. wsws.org "It is imperative that we pressure the Australian government to make sure its citizen, Julian Assange, is protected from the lawlessness of the American empire."
(2019-02-16). No More Deaths volunteers prosecuted for providing humanitarian aid to migrants. wsws.org The targeting of humanitarian aid groups is a warning that no one will be spared in the administration's fascistic attack on immigrants.
(2019-02-16). Jair Bolsonaro Praised the Genocide of Indigenous People. Now He's Emboldening Attackers of Brazil's Amazonian Communities. theintercept.com 
"The Brazilian cavalry was very incompetent. Competent, yes, was the American cavalry that decimated its Indians in the past and nowadays does not have this problem in their country." That's the opinion of Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, expressed on the floor of Congress in 1998. His views appear to have changed little since then; in a video message to supporters 18 years later, he promised to revoke the protected status of an Indigenous reserve in 2…
(2019-02-16). German defence minister advocates German-European war policy. wsws.org Almost 75 years after the end of World War II, the imperialist powers are openly preparing for a new round of military conflicts.
(2019-02-16). A step towards presidential dictatorship. wsws.org No American president has so flagrantly usurped the constitutional prerogative of Congress to decide how public funds are to be spent.
(2019-02-16). Malaysian Airlines MH17 Brought Down by Ukrainian Military Aircraft. The BBC Refutes its Own Lies? globalresearch.ca This week, BBC reporter Riam Dalati confirmed that last year's "Assad sarin attack" on Douma was indeed "staged". After a "six month investigation" he concludes, | "I can prove without a doubt that the Douma Hospital scene was staged." …
(2019-02-16). No agreement on US-China trade with talks to continue. wsws.org The next round will be virtually the last chance to reach a formal agreement before March 1, after which the US will increase tariffs—from 10 to 25 percent—on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
(2019-02-16). US Leaders Call on Allies to Send Troops to Syria as it Withdrawals. theantimedia.com (MEE) — Senior United States lawmakers and military officials have urged the country's allies to send hundreds of troops into Syria, as the US plans its withdrawal from the war-torn country, a top US official said. Speaking on a panel at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, US Senator Lindsey Graham said the US would consider keeping some troops in …
(2019-02-16). Nationwide public sector strike hits Portugal. wsws.org Leading union officials have issued warnings to the government that its actions could trigger "uncontrollable" struggles by workers that they cannot prevent.
(2019-02-15). Jesus Christ's Lesson for the 21st Century. truthdig.com Tom Catena, who risks his life daily to provide medical care in an African war zone, examines what it means to be a good Samaritan.
(2019-02-15). Headlines for February 15, 2019. democracynow.org Trump to Use National Emergency Declaration to Build Border Wall, "It's Incredible": Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on Amazon Scrapping NYC Project After Grassroots Protests, Report: Amazon to Pay No Federal Taxes Despite Making $11 Billion in Reported Profits, Denver Teachers Declare Victory After 3-Day Strike, More U.S. Workers Went on Strike in 2018 Than in Any Year in Three Decades, Parkland Shooting Survivor Emma González: "We Fight Our Trauma by Fighting Against Gun Violence", William Barr Sworn In as Attorney General After Senate Confirmation, Former Deputy FBI Director Speaks Out on Launching Counterintelligence Prob…
(2019-02-15). Trump's national emergency declaration not justified by the facts. peoplesworld.org 
Where, exactly, is the national emergency? Both houses of Congress have now passed appropriations legislation to fund the government for the fiscal year, and it's become clear they will not provide President Donald Trump with the full $5.7 billion he requested to fund construction of a wall on the southern border. Trump has been so …
(2019-02-15). China Cancels Trade Talks with UK in Protest over Defence Secretary Williamson's Speech. globalresearch.ca Chinese Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua has cancelled trade talks with Britain's Finance Minister, Mr Philip Hammond, after Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson threatened to deploy an aircraft carrier in Beijing's backyard, The Sun newspaper reported on Thursday (Feb 14). | Mr Hu …
(2019-02-15). Google, Apple Under Fire to Block Saudi 'Woman Tracker' App. telesurenglish.net Apple and Google are facing major backlash, from human rights activists and lawmakers, after being accused of supporting patriarchy with a Saudi Arabian "woman tracker app" which is used to monitor and manage the whereabouts of women in the Arab nation. | RELATED: | Another MBS PR Stunt? Saudi Arabia To 'Review' Male Guardianship System | "I haven't heard about it," Apple CEO Tim Cook told NPR, adding that he would investigate the situation. "But obviously we'll take a lo…
(2019-02-15). Immigrant Activists: Democrats Are Capitulating to Trump by Approving Border, DHS Funding. democracynow.org 
President Trump is expected to declare a national emergency today to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border despite opposition from Congress, after he signs the latest spending bill, which includes nearly $1.4 billion to build 55 miles of new border barriers out of steel, far less than the $5.7 billion he requested. Congressmembers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib issued a statement that they voted against the bill because it gives more funding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "That is the right thing to do. We've been pushing for Democrats to do the right thing, t…
(2019-02-15). On Candace Owens's Praise of Hitler. counterpunch.org Any public figure should understand that making a positive reference to Hitler is political suicide. This fact was lost on the young Republican political activist Candace Owens, who recently said, "If Hitler just wanted to make Germany great and have things run well, Ok, fine." The statement was as insulting as it was horrible. Though Owens More
(2019-02-15). Politically Charged Show Trial of Catalan Independence Supporters. globalresearch.ca What's billed as Spain's "trial of the century" began in Madrid before the nation's Supreme Court on Tuesday. | On trial are 12 activist Catalan politicians — falsely charged with rebellion, misuse of public funds, and civil disobedience. | They justifiably support …
(2019-02-15). Lopez Rivera, Puerto Ricans Reject US Plan to Invade Venezuela. telesurenglish.net Puerto Ricans, joined by formerly incarcerated revolutionary activist Oscar Lopez Rivera, demonstrated Thursday in front of the Federal Court, in Old San Juan, to voice opposition to a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, EFE said. | RELATED: | Colombian Social Leaders Express Solidarity with Venezuela | The vice president of the Puerto Rican Independ…
(2019-02-15). War Summit in Warsaw. globalresearch.ca The conference jointly hosted by the US and Polish governments in Warsaw this week under the phony banner of working to "Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East" has laid bare the immense and imminent threat …
(2019-02-15). What it Really Takes to Secure Peace in Afghanistan. counterpunch.org Constant military surveillance of Afghans yields almost no real intelligence about the problems they face each day. An unusual group of volunteers uses a far different approach. Hossein, a member of the Afghan Peace Volunteers, (APV), which hosted my recent visit to Afghanistan, rolled up his sleeve to show me a still-healing three-inch wound. Thieves More
(2019-02-15). Roaming Charges: Third Rail-Roaded. counterpunch.org 
+ The Third Rail of American politics used to be social security. If you even suggested cutting it, your career was fried. But Clinton & Obama legitimized such talk. Now the Third Rail is Israel, where even mentioning its power over the Hill gets you the political death penalty. + What horrible thing is it More
(2019-02-15). Phyllis Bennis on Afghanistan Armistice? fair.org 
Media…
(2019-02-15). Enough Western Meddling and Interventions: Let the Venezuelan People Decide. counterpunch.org American politicians from the two main parties have finally found something to agree upon: more intervention in Venezuela. "Now, despite (President Nicolas) Maduro, there is hope (in Venezuela)", wrote Democratic Senator, Dick Durbin, in USA Today. "These events (meaning the current political instability in the country) are a welcome development of Latin American nations defending More
(2019-02-15). Using Students, Teachers, Journalists and other Professionals as Spies Puts Everyone in Jeopardy. counterpunch.org The US is accusing China of using college students studying in the US to spy for China, but that, even if true (there hasn't been a trial yet), would be only half the story. The US, at great risk to those of us who work and travel abroad, also tries to enlist seemingly innocent Americans More
(2019-02-15). In Venezuela, white supremacy is a key driver of the Coup. mronline.org 
The coup is, at it heart, a furious backlash of whiter and wealthier Venezuelans against the mixed race and Black majority. | Source
(2019-02-15). Rep. Amash Calls Out Dangerous Loopholes in Yemen War Bill and Offers Remedy. mintpressnews.com Though it is similar to H.J. Res 37, Amash's new bill contains neither dubious loopholes nor implicit expansions of the executive branch's power to wage war unilaterally without express congressional approval.
(2019-02-15). Someone Needs to Teach These As$#oles a Lesson. counterpunch.org 
"Someone," my Finnish-American socialist great-aunt Mary used to say in the late 1960s, "ought to teach these assholes a lesson." By "these assholes," she meant the people who own and run the United States. Mary died many years ago. I thought about her the other night while watching Donald Trump lie about crime and border walls More
(2019-02-15). Will the U.S. Senate Let the People of Yemen Live? counterpunch.org In 1973 the War Powers Resolution weakened the U.S. Constitution's placement of the power to start and end wars with the first branch of the U.S. government, the Congress. The new law carved out exceptions to allow presidents to start wars. However, it also created procedures by which a single member or group of members More
(2019-02-15). Can Turkey change its status of non-nuclear weapons status? uwidata.com 
On the background of the US and Russia's withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), one can hear increasingly often that Turkey might change its status in the emerging new international layout and change its status of a non-nuclear weapons state. Herein we'll consider the possibility of a step of this kind. It is […]
(2019-02-15). Maduro, Guaidó and American Exceptionalism. counterpunch.org 
In the weeks since Jose Guaidó declared to a crowd of supporters in Venezuela that he was the new president of Venezuela a lot has happened and very little has happened. Washington, Brazil and Colombia—three of the most right-wing governments in the Americas—unsurprisingly declared their support of Guaidó. Others followed. Indeed, it is more than More
(2019-02-15). Militarization and interference in affairs of others impedes Green New Deal. peoplesworld.org 
Fighting for a Green New Deal in the United States will require uniting all popular forces against the main barriers to social and ecological progress. The Sunrise Movement, which has brought the Green New Deal to the forefront of conversations about the environment, has identified fossil fuel interests as a main barrier to a green …
(2019-02-15). As Yemeni Fishermen Risk Their Lives to Feed Their Nation, Saudis Use Them for Target Practice. mintpressnews.com 
With neither its farmers nor fishermen safe from Saudi coalition attacks, famine has become a massive crisis in Yemen, further exacerbated by the coalition's blockade of the country which largely prevents food from being imported into the troubled nation.
(2019-02-15). The Lawlessness of William Barr, America's New Top Law Enforcement Official. mintpressnews.com 
The relatively small amount of scrutiny William Barr fell under from Congress and Beltway thought leaders speaks to a conformity of their ideologies. But to understand what America's new top law enforcement official really signifies as a veteran swamp creature, it is necessary to revisit Cold War history.
(2019-02-15). Hispaniola Rising: How the US Coup in Venezuela Is Taking Root in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. mintpressnews.com 
For more than a decade Venezuela has aided the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through a preferential system known as Petrocaribe, and the people of those nations are not taking their governments' support for the US coup in Venezuela lightly.
(2019-02-15). BBC Producer Says Syria Douma Chemical Attack Footage "Was Staged" mintpressnews.com 
Well-known BBC Syria producer Riam Dalati shocked his nearly 20,000 twitter followers by stating that after a "six-month investigation" he has concluded, "I can prove without a doubt that the Douma Hospital scene was staged."
(2019-02-15). Public Citizen: Trump's National Emergency Declaration Paves Way for Sweeping Authoritarianism. democracynow.org 
With one day left to pass a government spending bill before today's midnight deadline to avert another government shutdown, both the House and Senate passed the measure Thursday that came out of the bipartisan conference committee earlier this week. The bill includes nearly $1.4 billion to build 55 miles of new border barriers out of steel, far less than the $5.7 billion requested by President Trump. Democrats quickly condemned the news, and consumer rights nonprofit Public Citizen vowed legal action against him. We speak with Public Citizen President Robert Weissman.
(2019-02-15). Olympic volunteers: One-time chance, or exploitation? peoplesworld.org 
TOKYO (AP) — Unpaid Olympic volunteers do almost everything: guide athletes around, greet dignitaries and translate for lost fans. IOC officials acknowledge the games couldn't be held without them; invariably smiling, helpful and praised by presidents, prime ministers, and monarchs. The billion-dollar Olympics are awash with cash. But volunteers work for free. That's the case …
(2019-02-15). Opponents move to stop Trump's "national emergency" power grab. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Donald Trump wants to use the pretext of a "national emergency" to grab billions of federal dollars to build his Mexican Wall. Xavier Becerra, California's attorney general, and Sens. Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders were among those who immediately came out to say they will try to stop him. Even two Republican senators, Sens. Rand …
(2019-02-15). The Siege of Venezuela and the Travails of Empire. counterpunch.org 
Here's the bullet-point version: + It's imperialism. + It's American imperialism, a bipartisan national project. + American imperialism is the global management of capitalist class power. + It's a binary situation in which one side or the other will win via the use and threat of armed force. + It's trouble for Venezuela and for imperialism. More
(2019-02-15). Pence and the Benjamins: An Eternity of Anti-Semitism. counterpunch.org 
There has been much throwing about of brains on the subject of anti-Semitism lately. But in the ceaseless and almost entirely cynical media-political imbroglio that has followed the "Benjamins" tweet of Rep. Ilhan Omar, I've seen nothing said about perhaps the most intense and thoroughgoing form of anti-Semitism in America today: an anti-Semitism that is not only prevalent but dominant in the halls of power at the moment. More
(2019-02-15). The Green New Deal, Capitalism and the State. counterpunch.org 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created by Richard Nixon in 1970 as the official response to the nascent environmental movement. As laid out in the recently released Poison Papers, it was structured to be dependent on research from private firms that were paid by the chemical producers it regulates. Given the limited market for this research, these firms either produced research conducive to the interests of their customers or they went out of business. More
(2019-02-15). Frank Lloyd Wright on Arrogance. counterpunch.org 
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(2019-02-15). CBS's Horror Stories on National Debt Aren't Actually All That Scary. fair.org 
CBS News ( 2/14/19) | CBS News had a piece warning its audience about the problems of large government debt. It noted projections of rising US government debt, commenting: The only countries with a higher debt load than the US are Portugal, Italy, Greece and Japan. The first three have become synonymous with profligate spending and economic woes post—Great Recession, while Japan's "lost decade" of economic stagnation is a mai…
(2019-02-15). An open letter to the people of the United States. mronline.org 
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro calls on U.S. society to denounce its government ¥s threats of war. | Source
(2019-02-15). Ibram X. Kendi on Surviving Cancer & His Anti-Racist Reading List for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. democracynow.org 
As we celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Frederick Douglass on his 201st birthday, we are joined by Ibram X. Kendi, a professor of history and international relations and founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. Kendi spoke Thursday night at the Library of Congress at an event honoring Frederick Douglass. He is the National Book Award-winning author of "Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America" and a contributing editor at The Atlantic.
(2019-02-15). Venezuela's Foreign Minister: "The US is in Front of the Coup Attempt, not Behind it" therealnews.com 
Interview — in Spanish with English subtitles — with Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, who speaks about the likelihood of war with the US, the impact of the sanctions, and the way out of the conflict between Venezuela and the US and its allies in the opposition and in the region
(2019-02-15). Canciller de Venezuela: "Los EEUU está adelante del intento golpista, no detrás" therealnews.com Entrevista — en español con subtítulos en inglés — con canciller venezolano Jorge Arreaza, quien habla de las posibilidades de guerra con los EEUU, los impactos de los sanciones, y la salida al conflicto entre los EEUU y sus aliados en la oposición y en la región
(2019-02-15). How Haiti's Spontaneous Uprising is Connected to Venezuelan Solidarity (1/2). therealnews.com 
Kim Ives of Haiti Liberté unravels how the new Haitian revolt entangles Duvalier style corruption of money stolen from Venezuela's PetroCaribe program and subtle US intervention
(2019-02-15). Rep. Ilhan Omar grills Elliott Abrams over his shady past. mronline.org 
Rep. Ilhan Omar spoke truth to power on Wednesday when she grilled Elliott Abrams over his support for violent regime change policies and history of lying to Congress. | Source
(2019-02-15). How Haiti's Spontaneous Uprising is Connected to Venezuelan Solidarity (2/2). therealnews.com Kim Ives of Haiti Liberté unravels how the new Haitian revolt entangles Duvalier style corruption of money stolen from Venezuela's PetroCaribe program and subtle US intervention
(2019-02-15). In Libya, "We Came, We Saw, He Died." Now, Maduro? counterpunch.org "Now it is time for every other nation to pick a side. No more delays, no more games. Either you stand with the forces of freedom, or you're in league with Maduro and his mayhem." — US Secretary of State Pompeo addresses the UN Security Council on January 26, 2019. Libya is in a state of anarchic More
(2019-02-15). ICJ Rules Iran's Legal Bid to Recover $2bn Frozen in US Can Proceed. globalresearch.ca The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Iran can proceed with a legal action to recover billions of dollars in frozen assets that the United States says must be paid to purported American survivors and relatives of victims …
(2019-02-15). Brazil: 420 Violent Deaths Against LGBTQ in 2018. telesurenglish.net At least 420 people of LGBT community in Brazil died by homicide or suicide in 2018, fueled by homophobia and hate crimes, the Gay Group of Bahia (GGB) said in a report released Friday. | RELATED: | Bolsonaro To Erase Paulo Freire And Feminism From Textbooks | GGB, one of the oldest functioning associations defending human rights and the right to free sexual orientation and gender identity in the country, released the report "Violent deaths of the LGBT population in Brazil," which…
(2019-02-15). Trump Declares National Emergency in Order to Build Border Wall. truthdig.com WASHINGTON—Battling with one branch of government and opening a new confrontation with another, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency Friday to fulfill his pledge to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. | Bypassing Congress, which approved far less money for his proposed wall than he had sought, Trump said he will use executive action to siphon billions of dollars from federal military construction and counterdrug efforts for the wall, aides said. The move drew immediate bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill and is expected to face rounds of legal challenges. | Trump made the announc…
(2019-02-15). Democrats Are Capitulating to Trump by Approving Border, DHS Funding. truthout.org President Trump declared a national emergency today to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border despite opposition from Congress, after signing the latest spending bill, which includes nearly $1.4 billion to build 55 miles of new border barriers out of steel, far less than the $5.7 billion he requested. Congressmembers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib issued a statement that they voted against the bill because it gives more funding to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "That is the right thing to do. We've been pushing for Democrats to do the right thing, to stop playi…
(2019-02-15). As Congress Enacts Huge "Border Security" Bill, Trump to Declare National Emergency to Build Wall. globalresearch.ca As Congress voted Thursday to approve spending $1.375 billion for border fencing, wall repairs and other barriers on the US-Mexico border, as part of a much larger bill funding one quarter of the federal government through September 30, the White …
(2019-02-15). Amazon Won't Pay a Dime in Federal Taxes This Year. truthdig.com Amazon won't pay a dime in federal taxes this year—just as it didn't pay a dime in federal taxes the year before. | According to a new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), which examined Amazon's public filings, the online retailer reported a $129 million federal income tax rebate for 2018—good for a tax rate of negative 1 percent, or 22 percent below the federal corporate income tax rate. Amazon's profits this year were $11.2 billion versus $5…
(2019-02-15). There Is No 'National Emergency' at the Border, and Trump's Declaration Is Illegal. aclu.org President Donald Trump admits he's making his move because he didn't get his way with Congress, and in the process, he hurts American communities. | After more than a month of threats, a government shutdown, and bipartisan action by Congress, President Trump has finally declared a national emergency to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on his border wall obsession. In response, the ACLU will file a lawsuit early next week challenging this blatantly illegal executive action. | Let's get something straight upfront: There is no em…
(2019-02-15). The End of the Observer Mission in Hebron. consortiumnews.com It acted as a restraint on the settlers' worst excesses, writes Jonathan Cook. By Jonathan Cook Jonathan-Cook.net You might imagine that a report by a multinational observer force documenting a 20-year reign of terror by Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers… Read more →
(2019-02-15). In Hebron, Israel Removes the Last Restraint on Its Settlers' Reign of Terror. counterpunch.org Nazareth. You might imagine that a report by a multinational observer force documenting a 20-year reign of terror by Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers against Palestinians, in a city under occupation, would provoke condemnation from European and US politicians. But you would be wrong. The leaking in December of the report on conditions in the More
(2019-02-15). Nuclear Power Can't Survive, Much Less Slow Climate Disruption. counterpunch.org Donald Trump: "America will never be a socialist country." Too late. We already have socialism for the rich, with the nuclear power industry as a prime example. On a level playing field, nuclear power would go bust. Those owners get financial supports or subsidies that safe renewables like solar power, geothermal, and wind power don't More
(2019-02-15). Venezuela & The Mighty Wurlitzer. counterpunch.org On February 11, Bloomberg News published an astonishing piece about the unfolding Venezuelan turmoil. It was apparently the result of a major investigative effort involving three reporters and five others providing "assistance". You'll notice I haven't called it a piece of news (although that's what it looks like), but I'm not sure what to call More
(2019-02-15). What a Green New Deal Should Look Like: Filling in the Details. counterpunch.org Now that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Senator Markey have introduced their nonbinding Green New Deal resolution, the right-wing snowflakes are melting down while respectable centrists are calling the idea "crazy". On one side, global political and economic elites are doing almost nothing to stop climate change from running out of control, and on the other More
(2019-02-15). Trump's Deceitful God-Talk at the Annual National Prayer Breakfast. counterpunch.org He avoided the Vietnam War with five deferments, said that his " 'personal Vietnam' " was "the danger he faced from getting sexually transmitted diseases," and that he was " 'lucky' " not "to have contracted diseases when he was sleeping around . . . with multiple women." He added, " 'It's a dangerous world More
(2019-02-15). 'Tiz Kosher for Elected Jewish U.S. Officials to Malign. counterpunch.org When it comes to Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian elected officials, 'tiz Kosher for elected Jewish U.S. officials (and others) to criticize, malign, denigrate, and conjure every stereotype and racist label in the by-now accepted lexicon of hateful rhetoric spewed by the Zeldins, Taubs, Gellers, Spencers, Pipes, Kings, Gaffneys, Trumps, and others. Yet, for stating the More
(2019-02-15). "It's All About the Benjamins, Baby" counterpunch.org Wait. Let me get this straight. First GOP leader Kevin McCarthy threatened two recently elected Muslim women members of Congress with punishment for holding views critical of Israel. On Feb. 11 he stated: "If they [the Democrats] do not take action I think you'll see action from myself. This [criticism of Israel] cannot sustain itself. More
(2019-02-15). Congress, Israel and the Politics of "Righteous Indignation" counterpunch.org It is a rare day that some member of Congress doesn't expose him or herself as a hypocrite of the first order. This week, we have seen this done in spades. On February 10, Representative Ilhan Omar (D- MN) said that U.S. Congressional support for Israel is "…all about the Benjamins…", a reference to the More
(2019-02-15). Yemen: US "Accidentally" Arming Al Qaeda (Again). globalresearch.ca US weapons are once again falling into the hands of militants fighting in one of Washington's many proxy wars — this time in Yemen — the militants being fighters of local Al Qaeda affiliates. | CNN in its article, " Sold …
(2019-02-15). BBC Producer's Syria Bombshell: Douma "Gas Attack" Footage "Was Staged" globalresearch.ca Now approaching nearly a year after the April 7, 2018 alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria — which the White House used as a pretext to bomb Syrian government facilities and bases throughout Damascus — a BBC reporter who investigated …
(2019-02-15). Israel Detained 500 Palestinians, Including 89 Children in 2019. telesurenglish.net This January alone, Israel detained 509 Palestinians, including 89 children and eight women, from occupied Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian prisoners rights groups. | RELATED: | Palestinian Photojournalists Win Prestigious Photo Awards | Israeli authorities detained 102 Palestinians from East Jerusalem, 88 from Ramallah, 80 from Hebron, 55 from Jenin, 62 from Bethlehem, 30 from Nablus, 30 from Tulkarm, 25 from Qalqilya, 8 from Toubas, 6 from Salf…
(2019-02-15). Maduro Confirms Venezuela's Arreaza Met with Elliott Abrams. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro revealed Thursday that his Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza met with the U.S. special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams, whom the president invited to visit the South American nation. | RELATED: | US Congress Rejects Trump's Warmongering, Won't Support Military Intervention in Venezuela | During an interview with The Associated Press (AP) aired Thursday, President Maduro criticized the belligerent position of his U.S.
(2019-02-15). Warsaw Summit Was a Failure for Trump—But a Win for Netanyahu. commondreams.org Israel's Prime minister of Benjamin Netanyahu (L) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on 14 February, 2019 (Photo: AFP) | www.commondreams.org/sites/defau……
(2019-02-15). The Lobbying Swamp Is Flourishing in Trump's Washington. truthout.org It's been more than two years since President Donald Trump, who rallied campaign supporters with calls to "drain the swamp" of lobbyists and their ilk, took office. But despite that campaign promise, Washington influence peddlers continue to move into and out of jobs in the federal government. | In his first 10 days in office, Trump signed an executive order that required all his political hires to sign a pledge. On its face, it's straightforward and ironclad: When Trump officials leave government employment, they agree not to…
(2019-02-15). Could This Be the Humane Housing Policy We've Been Waiting For? truthdig.com For decades, U.S. housing policy has neglected homeless people with substance abuse disorders by relying on a treatment-first "linear model" barring them from subsidized or government-supported housing. But a new plan is showing promising results in servicing this overlooked community, and it already has the backing of both Democrats and Republicans. | The Housing First model is radically straightforward: provide homes to the homeless. Unlike other approaches to ending homelessness, the model neithe…
(2019-02-15). Unhealed Wounds: Freedom and Fear after America's Civil War. globalresearch.ca In 2003 I was asked by Kentucky State Senator Georgia Davis Powersto help research and write a book about her great aunt Celia Mudd, who was born into slavery but ultimately inherited the Lancaster property in Bardstown and became a …
(2019-02-15). Is Trump's National Emergency a Step Toward Fascism? truthout.org President Trump has now declared a national emergency to fund his long-sought border wall. It is no surprise that when a fascistic president like Trump starts throwing around the idea of a national emergency, media outlets like Esquire start asking whether " it might be time to start fireproofing the Reichstag," a clear allusion to Hitler's ascent to power in 1933. But is the comparison justified? Is Trump's declaration of a national emergency a threat to American democra…
(2019-02-15). Former Trump Officials Are Openly Flouting Rules Against Lobbying. truthdig.com Washington influence peddlers continue to move into and out of jobs in the federal government. | In his first 10 days in office, Trump signed an executive order that required all his political hires to sign a pledge. On its face, it's straightforward and ironclad: When Trump officials leave government employment, they agree not to lobby the agencies they worked in for five years. They also can't lobby anyone in the White House or political appointees across federal agencies for the duration of the Trump administration. And they can't perform " lobbying activit…
(2019-02-15). Trump's Latest Power Grab Triggers Calls for Impeachment. truthdig.com While Democrats are preparing to propose a joint resolution challenging President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration in order to obtain funding for a border wall, one legal scholar is among those arguing the time has come to pursue a far more direct and effective method of combating the president's lawlessness: impeachment. | With Trump's national emergency declaration [issued] Friday morni…