(2020-02-14). The Political Economy of Corruption: Corruption Kills People, Ruins the Economy, Violates Human Rights. globalresearch.ca The whole world is facing the deepening and widening corruption which challenges the very survival of the free democracy and the free market economy. | Korea has been suffering for last 70 years from the corruption culture. But owing to courageous …
(2020-02-14). Traditional Indigenous and White Man's Conflicting Rules of Law: A Coming to Terms that Hasn't Been Resolved Since "First Contact" globalresearch.ca The controversy now erupting throughout Canada over the issue of the construction of the TransMountain Oil Pipeline is revealing a fundamental unresolved impasse that has existed since first contact in the New World between the opposing philosophies and rules of …
(2020-02-14). Regime Change Wars Have No Basis in International Law. globalresearch.ca We're living in times of war psychosis. Regime Change wars have no basis in international law. They are entirely illegal, and they are all based on lies. We have seen the results, which are always catastrophic for all but certain …
(2020-02-14). Video: Syrian Army Gives Turkey "Flick on Nose" in Nayrab, Secures Entire Aleppo-Damascus Highway. globalresearch.ca For the first time in about 8 years of the war, Syrian government forces have established control of the entire M5 highway, which runs from the border with Jordan through Damascus, Homs and Hama to Aleppo. | During the first half …
(2020-02-14). Video: Residents of Syrian Town Open Fire on US Armed Forces Patrol. globalresearch.ca A new video from the Al-Qamishli countryside was released this afternoon following a skirmish between the U.S. Armed Forces and residents of Khirbat Amo. | According to a report from the Al-Hasakah Governorate, the residents of Khirbat Amo attempted to block …
(2020-02-14). Invisible Mega Oil Spill Beyond the Deepwater Horizon Oil Slick Satellite Footprint. globalresearch.ca Introduction | The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout was a mega oil spill, introducing ~795 million liters of live oil into the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) with oil slicks covering an estimated area of 149,000 km2 (1). As a result, vast …
(2020-02-14). London Attack: West's Terrorists Bite the Hand that Feeds Them (Again). globalresearch.ca The latest incident in London was so entirely preventable that it is difficult to describe it as anything less than deliberate. | In yet another headline-grabbing terror attack — an armed man in south London left several injured — some seriously …
(2020-02-14). The Age of Illusions — How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory. globalresearch.ca Andrew J.Bacevich has written an interesting, coherent, and timely work, The Age of Illusions. In a clear fashion it describes how Donald J. Trump is not the cause of current U.S. problems both …
(2020-02-14). Anti-BDS laws are meant to censor & control speech, journalist Abby Martin tells RT after suing Georgia govt over cancelled talk. rt.com 
Barred from speaking at a public university over her refusal to sign a pledge of allegiance to Israel, journalist Abby Martin is now suing the state of Georgia, arguing its anti-BDS legislation sets fire to the First Amendment. | Slated to give a keynote talk at a media literacy conference at Georgia Southern University later this month, Martin was asked to sign what amounts to a loyalty oath to the State of Israel, mandated under a 2016 Georgia law barring the government from hiring contractors who boycott Israeli products or associate with the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Martin t…
(2020-02-14). Western Anti-Chinese Propaganda Exaggerates Coronavirus Danger, Creates Panic. globalresearch.ca Now it is becoming obvious who China's friends are, and who her enemies are. In the West, many nations and individuals are celebrating the short-term difficulties that the Chinese nation is facing, pouring salt into the wound, while giving birth …
(2020-02-13). Crisis in Syrian Idlib Has Firmly Put Turkey Back into NATO's Sphere. globalresearch.ca Syria was the very reason why relations between Turkey and the United States deteriorated as the latter openly backed the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the People's Protection Units (YPG), that Ankara considers a terrorist organization. …
(2020-02-13). Can the World's Second Superpower Rise From the Ashes of Twenty Years of War. mintpressnews.com 
While our government's war propaganda has convinced many Americans that we are powerless to stop its catastrophic wars, it has failed to convince most Americans that we are wrong to want to.
(2020-02-13). Bolivia: An Election in the Midst of an Ongoing Coup. counterpunch.org 
On May 3, 2020, the Bolivian people will go to the polls once more. They return there because President Evo Morales had been overthrown in a coup in November 2019. Morales had just won a presidential election in October for a term that would have begun in January 2020. Based on a preliminary investigation by
(2020-02-13). China: Possible Cases Increase Due to New Diagnostic Criteria. telesurenglish.net Chinese health authorities modified the diagnostic criteria for probable cases of coronavirus-related pneumonia and reported 15,152 new coronavirus cases and 254 deaths on Wednesday. | RELATED: | The Hubei Provincial Health Commission explained that the new methodology includes "those patients who have been clinically diagnosed." | Until Tuesday, infected cases were detected by a ribonuclei…
(2020-02-13). US Televangelist Sells 'Silver Solution' as Coronavirus Cure. telesurenglish.net United States televangelist Jim Bakker urged his followers Wednesday to buy a solution of colloidal silver to protect and cure themselves of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). | RELATED: | The self-declared "pioneer of Christian television" had a guest on his show backing his claim and suggesting the product, which is sold on Bakker's web store, is an effective cure for the virus. | "Well, let's say [Silver Solution]…
(2020-02-13). No. 1 Sponsor of Terrorism? US Media Name Iran, but Overlook a Candidate Closer to Home. fair.org 
After the
(2020-02-13). After 10 months' silence, UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warns against extradition of Julian Assange. wsws.org For the past year, Corbyn has led the suppression of any discussion over Assange's imprisonment in Britain and the country's participation in the US-led attempt to destroy him.
(2020-02-13). Petition for Assange's freedom tabled again in Australian parliament. wsws.org Despite the powerful public support and strongly expressed sentiments of the petition, its tabling received virtually no coverage in the corporate media.
(2020-02-13). US, Taliban Agree 7-Day Reduction in Violence in Afghanistan. telesurenglish.net United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced Thursday that they've secured a seven-day reduction in violence in talks with the Taliban to help seek a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan. | RELATED: | "It is our view that seven days, for now, is sufficient but in all things, our approach to this process will be conditions-based, I will say it again, conditions-based," Esper told reporters in Brussels, dubbing his m…
(2020-02-13). How Bernie Sanders Became a "Fighter" for Palestine. counterpunch.org 
With the Democratic primary in full swing, the outlines of public debate are pretty much entrenched. Common wisdom on the left says that all of the candidates are bad on Palestine except for Bernie Sanders. Despite some problems, pundits declare, Sanders is still the best. Is the statement true, though, or is it a convenient truism?
(2020-02-13). Democrats' Shadowy Plot to Stop Bernie Sanders. truthdig.com Yogi Berra, the great Yankees catcher, had the memorable line, "It's like deja vu all over again." | Bernie Sanders supporters might have been thinking the same thing after the fiasco of the Iowa caucuses. | It was just four years ago that the corporate hacks who run the Democratic Party rigged the 2016 primary election process to favor Hillary Clinton and stop Sanders: The Democratic National Committee, which is supposed to stay neutral in a primary, secretly funneled party funds to Hillary's campaign, fed Hillary debate questions before a CNN town hall, and selected superdelegates who pledged their votes to Hil…
(2020-02-13). Sanders is currently the 2020 frontrunner — but could it be 2016 all over again? thecanary.co Bernie Sanders has won the most votes in the Outright victory in New Hampshire. But not in Iowa…: | On 11 February, pr…
(2020-02-13). Biden Has Raised the Most From Nevada Donors, But Sanders Leads in the Polls. truthout.org Democratic presidential candidates who received the greatest amount of donations from Iowa and New Hampshire residents also finished at the top of the polls in the two early primaries. | If those results are any indication of what can be expected from the upcoming Nevada caucuses, then this time, it's former Vice President Biden has raised almo…
(2020-02-13). The Iowa fiasco and the Democrats' shadowy plot to stop Bernie. mronline.org Yogi Berra, the great Yankees catcher, had the memorable line, "It's like deja vu all over again." Bernie Sanders supporters might have been thinking the same thing after the fiasco of the Iowa caucuses. |
(2020-02-13). Company Behind Iowa Caucus App Has a Deeply Troubling Plan to Manipulate Voters. truthout.org Those gathered to see the Iowa caucus results roll in on February 4 were sorely disappointed — the vote-counting process had been disrupted by a malfunctioning app, delaying the announcement of the final results. The botched voting process caused uproar online, sparking rumors about another Democratic National Committee effort to sideline Sen. Bernie Sanders. The debacle also brought scrutiny to Shadow, the company that created the app, which bills itself as a "progressive digital co…
(2020-02-13). Sanders and AOC's Fracking Ban Angers Centrists and Their Fossil Fuel Backers. truthout.org House Democrats have finally unveiled a flurry of climate bills aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but activists say only one proposal represents the "gold standard" for tackling the climate crisis: Legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that would ban fracking nationwide. While none of these bills are likely to become law under President Trump, together they form the contours of a fierce debate among Democrats and environmentalists over the f…
(2020-02-13). Only Sanders Can Challenge Trump's Predatory Budget Plan. truthdig.com Amid the Democratic presidential primaries and the impeachment fallout, the Trump administration released its budget proposal for 2021 Monday. Though most of it has no chance of becoming a reality, it does provide a terrifying preview of what we can expect from Trump if he wins another four years in office this November. The latest …
(2020-02-13). NATO Resumes Military Operations Without Iraq's Consent. telesurenglish.net Without the approval of the Iraqi authorities, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will resume its training operations in the Middle Eastern nation after they were suspended more than a month ago, following the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. | RELATED: | The operations will be resumed "as soon as possible," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said after a meeting in Brussels on…
(2020-02-13). Canada's Via Rail Cancels Service Nationwide. telesurenglish.net Canada's Via Rail has temporarily ended all passenger services nationwide. | "Via Rail has no other option but to cancel its services, effective immediately and until further notice," Via Rails said via a statement on its website. | Canadian National Railway Co also stated that it has been forced to shut down its operations in Eastern Canada due to the blocking of rail lines by those protesting against a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia. | Canada's biggest railway said the shutdown, which would continue until the end of the blockade, may lead to temporary layoffs within its Eastern Canadian operation…
(2020-02-13). FRSO calls for the immediate release and repatriation of political prisoner Facundo Molares. fightbacknews.org Facundo Molares Schoenfeld is an Argentinian photojournalist who was illegally arrested by the Bolivian dictatorship, and who is currently held in terrible conditions in a Bolivian prison. His life is in danger, as he does not receive adequate medical attention for a life-threatening condition. | This photojournalist was on assignment, for the Argentinian left-wing magazine El Centenario, in Bolivia to document the election of Evo Morales and its aftermath in October, 2019. Bolivia suffered a coup d'état by fascist elements and the military, with the support of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, on November 10, 2019. A…
(2020-02-13). 'Parasite' Is a Class-Conscious Climate Parable. truthdig.com What follows is a conversation between Dr. Min Song and Kim Brown of The Real News Network. Read a transcript of their conversation below or watch the video at the bottom of…
(2020-02-13). Will Climate Change Provoke a Widespread Revival of Socialism? truthout.org In the wake of Australian fire storms, global crop loss and catastrophic climate shifts, billions of people are recognizing the dangers to society and life itself presented by capitalism's profit-driven despoiling of nature. At the same time, the last 40 years of deepening inequality inside virtually all nations have undermined their social cohesion, and increasingly, capitalism's mechanisms are being blamed. Anti-capitalism is exploding across many political landscapes. | One broad socialist response to ec…
(2020-02-13). Colombian National Strike Committee Calls For New Protests. telesurenglish.net The Colombian National Strike Committee (CNP) convoked Wednesday new protests for the next couple of months as they didn't reach an agreement with Ivan Duque's government. | RELATED: | "The government does not like the word negotiation," President of the Unitary Workers' Union (CUT) Diogenes Orjuela said. | The Colombian executive considers that many of the requirements requested by the CNP are beyond its pow…
(2020-02-13). Colombia: Two Social Leaders Killed, Death Toll Rises to 44. telesurenglish.net The Villa Fatima's Community Action Board prosecutor Luis Alberto Parra and his son Jader Alberto Parra were found dead in the municipality of Puerto Guzman, Putumayo, on Wednesday. | RELATED: | Two days earlier, a group of armed men violently entered his house and kidnapped them, as reported by Parra's wife who was tied at the scene. | Subsequently, the Departmental Peace Council reported on the disappearanc…
(2020-02-13). Drug Lab Found in Farm of the Family of Colombian Ambassador. telesurenglish.net The Police narcotics unit conducted a raid on Wednesday morning at a farm belonging to the family of Colombia's ambassador to Uruguay Fernando Sanclemente. | RELATED: | During the operation, the police inspected warehouses, mangers, offices, and forests, where they "allegedly found drugs." | On Thursday, Colombia's Foreign Minister published a statement to clarify the events that took place at the Guasca Hills estate loc…
(2020-02-13). State-backed Alliance for Securing Democracy disinfo shop falsely smears The Grayzone as 'state-backed'. thegrayzone.com In painting critical reporting on the Iowa caucuses debacle as a Russian plot, a US-backed information warfare shop smeared The…
(2020-02-13). Devin Nunes Is Leading Republicans in a Post-Impeachment "Strike" truthout.org Less than a week after President Trump All nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee were absent for a Wednesday morning hearing on the development of artificial intelligence for the purposes of national sec…
(2020-02-13). Trump continues post-impeachment power grab with Roger Stone intervention. wsws.org Following the Democrats' failed impeachment drive, President Trump is moving to consolidate his personal control over the government and surround himself with officials directly dependent on his approval.
(2020-02-13). The Wet'suwet'en Fight Against New Pipeline Spreads Across Canada. truthout.org A major anti-pipeline struggle continues in Canada, where protests have broken out across the country in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en land defenders whose sovereign land in northern British Columbia was raided last week and over the weekend by Canadian police. Dozens were arrested in the days-long raid of unceded indigenous territories, where hereditary chiefs have been in a protracted battle to protect their land from the construction of TransCanada's 400-mile, $4.7 billion Coastal GasLink pipeline. The…
(2020-02-13). US Senate Approves to Limit Trump's War Power on Iran. telesurenglish.net The United States Senate approved legislation Thursday to limit President Donald Trump's ability to wage war against Iran in order to prevent any further escalation of broader regional conflict. | RELATED: | Eight of Trump's fellow Republicans joined Democrats to pass the war powers resolution by 55-45. The measure would require Trump to remove U.S. troops engaged in hostilities against Iran unless Congress declares war or pas…
(2020-02-13). Google Blocks Hispantv's Youtube Access Again. telesurenglish.net Iran's Hispan TV reported that Google once again blocked access to their Youtube account without providing a thorough explanation for the obstruction. | According to a communication published by the Iranian media, Google alleged that this new action is based on "violations to their laws,…
(2020-02-13). More Lies on Iran: The White House Just Can't Help Itself as New Facts Emerge. globalresearch.ca Admittedly the news cycle in the United States seldom runs longer than twenty-four hours, but that should not serve as an excuse when a major story that contradicts what the Trump Administration has been claiming appears and suddenly dies. The …
(2020-02-13). Is Oil Behind Washington's Venezuela Coup Madness? globalresearch.ca First published in February 2019 | On January 23 2019, US Vice President Pence sent a message via Twitter that Washington recognized the 35-year-old Speaker of the Venezuela National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the "legitimate" President of the troubled country, …
(2020-02-13). AOC Blasts Bloomberg Over 'Racist' Stop and Frisk Policy. telesurenglish.net United States Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed Thursday Democratic presidential candidate and businessman Michael Bloomberg over his record as the mayor of New York City and the contentious "stop and frisk" policy he backed while in office. | RELATED: | Ocasio-Cortez said Bloomberg is "just a billionaire trying to cover up authoritarian and racist policy," if he does not take action to provide relief to…
(2020-02-13). Turkey Vows To Strike Any Force That Violates Idlib Ceasefire. telesurenglish.net Turkey has vowed to use force against rebel groups violating a ceasefire in Syria's Idlib province, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying on Thursday in an apparent response to Russian criticism. | RELATED: | The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized Ankara on Wednesday, stating that Turkey was not doing its part to uphold the Sochi Agreement that was established in 2018. | The Russian government, which supports Syrian…
(2020-02-13). Syria Imposes the Astana Deal by Force as Turkish, Russian Tensions Rise. globalresearch.ca Since 2012 the M5 Damascus-Aleppo had been under the control of jihadist forces. The Syrian Army has now liberated the M5 Damascus-Aleppo road and over 140 cities, villages and strategic hills. Turkey and the Uzbeks, Uighurs and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham …
(2020-02-13). US Sanctions Against Venezuelan Airline Violates Int'l Law. telesurenglish.net U.S. sanctions against Venezuela's state-owned airline Conviasa violate international law, said Jorge Alvarez, president of the Chamber of Venezuelan Air Transport Companies, on Tuesday. | RELATED: | The only organization with the power to stop a carrier from flying from one country to another is the International Civil Aviation Organization, Alvarez told a local radio station. | "From a strategic viewpoint, Conviasa fl…
(2020-02-13). Rodney Garcia Epitomizes Trump's Brand of Political Intolerance. counterpunch.org Montana didn't need the very negative worldwide press it got last week when Billings Republican legislator Rodney Garcia decided to inform us that according to the U.S. Constitution, it's OK to "shoot socialists." For those who doubt the dangerous effects of President Trump's unhinged rants against "socialism," Garcia's acceptance of personal violence against those with
(2020-02-13). Corporate America in Israel and Illegal Settlements. globalresearch.ca US companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements are the tip of the iceberg in bilateral economic, financial, and military relations. | According to the US Chamber of Commerce, over 2,500 US companies operate in Israel, including a virtual who's who of …
(2020-02-13). Dems Phony War Powers Resolution. globalresearch.ca US 20th and 21st century history shows Dems more hellbent for war than Republicans. | In 1916, Dem Woodrow Wilson was reelected on a pledge of: "He Kept Us Out of War." | Straightaway, he began planning US involvement in Europe's war …
(2020-02-13). Guaido is Ending His International Tour to Return to Venezuela to His Divided Opposition. counterpunch.org We have to admit that the US public relations apparatus played a good stint at leaving Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó's visit with president Trump last in what seemed an afterthought. When many thought that Trump had snubbed him in Davos and Miami, Washington gave him its full attention, normally reserved for real presidents, following
(2020-02-13). Arreaza: 'US Coercive Measures Are Mass Destruction Weapons'. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's RELATED: | During his meeting with the Court, Arreaza exposed the crimes against humanity perpetrated…
(2020-02-13). Boeing Abandons Guidance, Says 737 Max Production Will Take 2 Years to Reach Pre-Grounding Levels. globalresearch.ca Update (Feb. 12): One day after Boeing announced
(2020-02-13). The Problem With Wilderness Collaboration. counterpunch.org 
Recently there has been a spate of commentaries advocating collaboration as a means of resolving issues surrounding which public lands should be given the "Gold Standard" of wilderness protection under the 1964 Wilderness Act. Advocates of collaboration, including some representatives of Montana's various conservation organizations, argue that only collaboration can "resolve" the issues in today's
(2020-02-13). Timber Industry Wants to Rape-and-Run on Our National Forests. counterpunch.org 
When Idaho billionaire Ron Yanke purchased the timber mills in Townsend and Livingston, Montana years ago to form RY Timber, he also bought lots of former Anaconda Mining Company timberland. But just like Champion International and Plum Creek Timber who, according to a University of Montana study, cut trees 3 times faster than they could grow back, RY has already overcut their private land.
(2020-02-13). Coded Messages About Australia's Big Burn. counterpunch.org 
The Australian wildfires, which started in August last year, have receded from media attention outside Australia. The fires have (so far) killed 34 people and an estimated 1 billion native animals since August. Approximately 2,500 homes have been destroyed and more than 26.2 million acres have been razed.
(2020-02-13). Living in Inequality, Dying in Despair. counterpunch.org 
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released some welcome news late last month: Americans are living a tiny bit longer. In 2018, the federal health agency reported, U.S. life expectancy at birth inched up about a month, from 78.6 to 78.7 years. The Trump administration, predictably, claimed credit for the increase, the first
(2020-02-13). The Rage of the Barred Owl. counterpunch.org 
The Rage of the Barred Owl When Moon unmasks your naked face And gilds your gun with diamonds green I mark your progress from afar. You stumble toward my roosting place, Studying your tiny screen, Tracking an artificial star. You killed my wife some dawns ago, Fooled by your telescopic sight: She was a Northern
(2020-02-13). Nevada's higher union density and racial diversity will shape caucus outcome. peoplesworld.org 
In the lead-up to Feb. 22 Caucus Day in Nevada, early voting will take place Feb. 15—18. Nevada is the third state in the country to hold caucuses or a primary election, and the first Western state, after Iowa and New Hampshire. Early voting is a new feature for 2020, in 80 polling stations around …
(2020-02-13). U.S. public gets fake news about China's alleged anti-Muslim campaign. peoplesworld.org 
Editor's Note: The following opinion article was written in response to Hanukkah: A holiday rooted in struggle against imperialism, which was published in People's World on Dec. 23, 2019. That earlier article mentioned the situation for Muslims living in China's Xinjiang region within the context of another topic; this contribution offers a more in-depth perspective …
(2020-02-13). Number of female homicide victims at highest level since 2006. thecanary.co 
This article contains description of domestic violence and abuse that some readers and survivors may find distressing.The number of women and girls killed in homicides in England and Wales soared by nearly 10% in a year to the highest in more than a decade, official figures show.Some 241 females were victims of murder, manslaughter or infanticide in the 12 months to March 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The rise from 220 the previous year is the second annual increase and the highest number since the year ending March 2006, when there were also 241.Almost half (48%) of the adult women…
(2020-02-13). Joseph Shabalala dies, founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. peoplesworld.org 
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The founder of the South African multi-Grammy-Award-winning music group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Joseph Shabalala, has died at age 78, the group and the government announced Tuesday, Feb 11. Shabalala died at a hospital in the capital, Pretoria, Tuesday morning, his family told local media. South Africans and fans worldwide are in mourning. …
(2020-02-13). When CNN Introduces Bernie-Bashers Only as "Former," CNN is Lying to You. counterpunch.org CNN and CBS do it. NPR and PBS do it. They all do it. It's a "gentleman's" agreement between elite media and their establishment guests — a courtesy major news outlets bestow upon former officials who get to pontificate and editorialize about today's events with no worry they'll be identified by their jobs TODAY. On Wednesday night,
(2020-02-13). Out of Their Grip: Ending the Repetition of Defeat. counterpunch.org I'm sure that there must be at least a few of you out there who remember the frustration, the insult and the pain of trying to move our country out of the grip of the two major parties political stranglehold and the ongoing tug-of- war between the greater and lesser evils of the Democratic and
(2020-02-13). House Approves Worker Rights Bill in Face of Growing Labor Backlash Against Trickle-Down Policies. counterpunch.org For years, workers have been sounding a clarion call to those in power: they're tired of being left behind in an allegedly booming economy. Hundreds of thousands are taking to the streets and flooding statehouses to demand better working conditions, and by extension, stronger communities. The number of workers walking off the job to achieve a more equitable economy is greater than
(2020-02-13). What the Impunity Commission Taught Guatemala. counterpunch.org On August 31, 2018, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, a comedian by profession, accompanied by his cabinet and the high command of the army, convened a press conference where he unilaterally announced that he would not renew the mandate of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). He declared that as of September 3, 2019
(2020-02-13). Sudan to Compensate Families of USS Cole Victims. telesurenglish.net The new Sudanese government has agreed to compensate the families of sailors killed in an Al-Qaeda attack on the USS Cole warship 20 years ago, state news agency SUNA said on Thursday, part of government efforts to remove the country from a list of state sponsors of terrorism. | RELATED: | The report said the settlement had been signed on Feb. 7. It did not mention the amount paid in compensation, but a source with knowled…
(2020-02-13). The Pundits Wrote Off Bernie's Candidacy. zcomm.org In Iowa and New Hampshire, He Proved Them Wrong…
(2020-02-13). Pope Francis Will Meet With Lula At The Vatican. telesurenglish.net Pope Francis will receive the ex-President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, on Thursday to discuss important topics like starvation, social inequalities and intolerance in Brazil and across the world. | The encounter between the pontiff and Lula will take place during the evening hours at House…
(2020-02-13). Evangelical Drug Gangs Attack Afro-Brazilian Religions. telesurenglish.net "They have expelled priests, broken sacred objects and people even died," Babalawo Ivanir dos Santos, a Yoruba priest, said of the current situation in Brazil where attacks on Afro-Brazilian religions doubled in 2019. | RELATED: | E In 2019, Brazil registered over 200 attacks against A…
(2020-02-13). Democratic Party Asks to Investigate Trump for Abuse of Power. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Democratic Party is calling for an investigation into President Donald Trump's influence on the Justice Department's decision to lower the sentencing recommendation for White House leader's friend Roger Stone, who was found guilty last year of lying to Congress, obstruction, and manipulation of witnesses. | RELATED: | The sudden decision by U.S. Attorney General William Barr to request a lighter prison term f…
(2020-02-13). Bolsonaro Removes Chief of Staff, Appoints Former Army General. telesurenglish.net Far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro dismissed Wednesday, his chief of staff, Onyx Lorenzoni, one of the first politicians to back his presidential bid in 2018, and the last politician in his inner Cabinet. | RELATED: | The president announced Thursday that he offered the position to Army General Walter Braga. In doing so, the head of state distances himself from political parties in his closest circle of advisors, that…
(2020-02-13). Trump Asks $3.8 Billion From Military for Mexico Border Wall. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Defense Department asked Congress to reprogram more than $3.8 billion from funding for the National Guard and weapons programs to pay for a wall on the border with Mexico, setting another possible confrontation with Democrats, Reuters News Agency reported. | RELATED: | Three years after arriving at the presidency, Donald Trump is keeping his central promise of building a wall on the southern border of the nation and heads h…
(2020-02-13). Did Amy Klobuchar Condemn an Innocent Teenager to Life in Prison? truthout.org After a surprising third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is attempting to gain ground in the national polls. But Klobuchar is also facing mounting scrutiny over her record as a district attorney in Minnesota. The Minneapolis NAACP, Black Lives Matter Twin Cities and other racial justice groups recently called on Klobuchar to suspend her presidential campaign following a shocking investigation by the Associated Press. The AP report centered on the case of Myon Burre…
(2020-02-13). Trump Says His Budget Doesn't Cut Social Security — But Mnuchin Admits It Does. truthout.org During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin — using euphemistic language Democratic lawmakers described as "
(2020-02-13). New York City transit system accumulates billions more in bond debt. wsws.org The Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued $1.5 billion in new bonds the same week the TWU imposed a concession-ridden contract on 37,000 subway and bus workers.
(2020-02-13). New Zealand's Waitangi Day promotes nationalism and militarism. wsws.org New Zealand's national day was marked with the opening of a museum to glorify Maori participation and "sacrifice" for imperialism in World War II.
(2020-02-13). Newspaper Publisher McClatchy Files for Bankruptcy Protection. truthdig.com The publisher of the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and dozens of other newspapers across the country has filed for bankruptcy protection. | The newspaper industry has been devastated by changing technology that has sent the vast majority of people online in search of news. While McClatchy and others have pushed digital operations aggressively, advertising dollars have continued to flow toward internet giants like Facebook and Google. | McClatchy Co.'s 30 newsrooms, including The Charlotte Observer, The News & Observer in Raleigh, and The Star-Telegram in Fort Worth, will continue to operate as usual as the p…
(2020-02-13). China deploys 2,600 military medics to help fight coronavirus as Wuhan & Hubei party chiefs sacked. rt.com 
Hundreds of military medics will descend on coronavirus-stricken Wuhan to help tackle the epidemic as the number of confirmed cases worldwide surpasses 60,000, with the death toll leaping over 1,300. | The first installment of 1,400 military medical personnel touched down in the city in central China worst affected by the ongoing viral epidemic on Thursday, the Chinese Defense Ministry reported. | The medics represent several branches of the Chinese armed forces, including the Navy, Air Force, armed police, logistic and strategic support forces, and even the Rocket Force. | The current reinforcements are not t…
(2020-02-13). Emotet trojan spreads via Wi-Fi, capitalizes on coronavirus fears; here's how to protect yourself. rt.com 
Cybersecurity analysts are warning about a Trojan called 'Emotet' which can spread across Wi-Fi networks, loading a variety of malware payloads which threaten sensitive data. Here we explore how you can protect yourself. | How has it spread? | Emotet reemerged in late 2019, having initially been spotted in 2018, and spread via phishing emails with Microsoft documents attached containing malicious code embedded within. More recently, hackers have used the ongoing coronavirus crisis as a means to spread the malware. | The hackers pose as regional health officials and scare targets with tailored messages in order…
(2020-02-13). Japanese Health Ministry confirms first coronavirus death. rt.com 
Japan on Thursday confirmed its first coronavirus death, according to Health Minister Katsunobu Kato. The victim was a woman in her 80s living in the Kanagawa prefecture, which borders Tokyo, Kato told reporters. | Meanwhile, a cruise ship which spent two weeks at sea after being turned away by five countries over fears that someone aboard might have the coronavirus finally arrived at a port in Cambodia on Thursday. | The MS Westerdam, carrying 1,455 passengers and 802 crew, docked in Sihanoukville in the evening after anchoring offshore early in the morning to allow Cambodian officials to board the vessel and…
(2020-02-13). Shale gas drillers are facing a perfect storm. rt.com 
Natural gas prices under $2/MMBtu have hit Appalachian shale gas drillers hard, but the longer the gas glut wears on, the deeper the problems will become. With each passing week, the shale industry reveals more financial stress. | On Monday, analysts at Piper Sandler downgraded their near-term outlook for Range Resources and Gulfport Energy, two Appalachian drillers, to Neutral from Overweight, citing a "deteriorating" outlook. An analyst with the firm pointed to the global glut for LNG, the coronavirus, collapse of prices and force majeure declarations. | US nymex natural gas prices have been trading below $2…
(2020-02-13). Global oil demand to face 1st quarterly drop in more than a decade — IEA. rt.com 
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has cut its 2020 growth forecast, saying that global energy demand is going to fall to the lowest level since 2011, having been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. | The aftermath of the epidemic is set to drive down oil demand by 435,000 barrels a day in the first three months of 2020, compared to the same period one year ago. This will mark the first quarterly contraction in more than a decade and will have an impact on annual results, the IEA said in its oil market report, released on Thursday. | "We have cut our 2020 growth forecast by 365 kb/d to 825 kb/d, the lowes…
(2020-02-13). Russia urges Turkey against 'provocative comments' on Syria. rt.com 
Moscow has called for restraint after a Turkish parliamentarian blamed Russia for the recent deaths of Turkish troops in clashes with Syrian government forces attempting to liberate the militant-held Idlib province. | Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi, MHP), had argued in the Turkish parliament that Moscow and Damascus were responsible for the deaths of 13 Turkish soldiers over the past week. | "We consider it unacceptable to use the tragic events to 'score points' in the domestic political debate," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday,…
(2020-02-13). US & Taliban negotiated proposal for 7-day reduction in violence, Pentagon chief Esper says. rt.com 
The United States and the Taliban have negotiated a proposal for a seven-day reduction in violence, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Thursday. | "We've said all along that the best, if not only, solution in Afghanistan is a political agreement," Esper told reporters in Brussels. "Progress has been made on this front and we'll have more to report on that soon." | "It will be a continual evaluative process as we go forward — if we go forward," Reuters quoted Esper as saying. | Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday there had been "notable progress" in continuing talks between the US and the…
(2020-02-13). Russian authorities investigate after photos emerge of Boris Nemtsov murderer allegedly enjoying prison 'feast'. rt.com 
The 2015 killing of Boris Nemtsov shocked Russians, and now photographs posted online of the man who assassinated him apparently posing in front of a slap-up meal are generating considerable anger. | The images, taken in an Irkutsk penal colony, show Zaur Dadaev and a group of other men surrounded by kebabs, soups, fruits, and juices. In response, Russian prison authorities have launched an investigation to determine the conditions in which he is being held. | Grilled kebabs, apples and fruit juice. Boris Nemtsov's assassin, Zaur Dadayev, (back left, standing) relaxing with friends in a Russian penal colony.
(2020-02-13). We WILL protect you — or else: NATO members agree to expand Iraq mission, without regard for Baghdad's permission. rt.com 
NATO has vowed to expand its training operations in Iraq, paused last month after the US assassination of a top Iranian general. With growing anger in the country over foreign meddling, Baghdad is reluctant to OK the plan. | The alliance agreed "in principle" to "enhance" its training mission in Iraq after a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. When asked whether Baghdad had approved the project, the NATO head came up short, however. | "NATO is in Iraq on the invitation of the Iraqi Government, and we will only stay in Iraq as long as we are welcome. Because NATO full…
(2020-02-13). 'Worst idea ever!' Plans for Greta mural on North Dakota bakery scrapped after community outcry & boycott threats on social media. rt.com 
A planned mural featuring teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg in North Dakota has been tossed to the wind after news of the project stoked outrage among locals, who flooded social media with protests and threats to boycott. | The 7-foot mural was slated to be posted on an exterior wall of the Brick Oven Bakery in the city of Bismarck, however when local media outlet KFYR-TV brought the story to its Facebook page on Tuesday night, residents were immediately up in arms, with the
(2020-02-13). Irish MEP calls Venezuela's Juan Guaido a 'gobshite' in EU parliament, gets swiftly reprimanded (VIDEO). rt.com 
Irish MEP Mick Wallace has been reprimanded for referring to Venezuela's self-declared president Juan Guaido as an "unelected gobshite" during remarks at the European Parliament. | Wallace, an Independents 4 Change MEP, was speaking Wednesday about Venezuela's ongoing political crisis and the European Parliament's recent decision to recognize Guaido as the country's interim president, when he slipped the insult in. | Dressed in a neon green t-shirt, the clearly irate MEP said the decision was "an absolute embarrassment to anyone who has to occupy this chamber" and a "disgrace on the part of the member states o…
(2020-02-13). Top security partner… & second biggest threat to world? Germans are increasingly unsure about role of US. rt.com 
Most Germans see America, supposedly Berlin's biggest ally, as one of the biggest threats to world peace, right after Iran. Other nations painted as "bogeymen" by Western media are lagging far behind, a new poll shows. | More than 60 percent of Germans believe that Washington is "the greatest threat to international peace," the latest Security Report — an annual representative study published by the Allensbach Demoskopie Institute —
(2020-02-13). Two rockets strike K-1 base hosting US troops in Kirkuk, Iraq. rt.com 
At least two unguided missiles have hit the K-1 base hosting US troops outside Kirkuk in Iraq. There are no reports of casualties or damage. A similar attack in December that killed a US contractor almost sparked a war with Iran.
(2020-02-13). US Navy seizes cache of 'Iranian manufactured' weapons in Arabian Sea — Pentagon (PHOTO, VIDEO). rt.com 
A US Navy ship seized 150 'Dehlavieh' anti-tank guided missiles after boarding a dhow in the Arabian Sea on Sunday, the Pentagon claimed. | The weapons seized by the USS Normandy were reportedly components "of Iranian design and manufacture," including three Iranian surface-to-air missiles, thermal imaging weapon scopes and other munitions and advanced weapons parts. | JUST IN: US Navy says it boarded a dhow in
(2020-02-13). US Senate strikes symbolic blow against Trump by limiting war powers toward Iran with new resolution. rt.com 
The US Senate has passed a resolution limiting President Donald Trump's war powers in the case of Iran. The measure would only allow the president authority to strike in the case of self-defense or an imminent attack. | Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the measure, which was passed 55-45. The resolution fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto, meaning this resolution is more symbolic than anything. | The president made his feelings on the War Powers Resolution clear on Wednesday when he tweeted that Iran would "have a field day" if his hands "were tied" due…
(2020-02-13). Pompeo rejects UNHRC list of companies operating in occupied Palestine, accuses UN of 'unrelenting anti-Israel bias'. rt.com 
The US government will not provide information to the UN for its list of companies operating in occupied Palestinian territories, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo has said, accusing the international body of anti-Israel bias. | The long-delayed document, which names 112 companies operating in the West Bank and Golan Heights, was released by the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday. Business activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory raises human rights concerns, the UNHRC said. The publication was sure to provoke the ire of Israel and its main ally. | "The United States has long opposed the creat…
(2020-02-13). French 'Oscars' management resigns to allow cinema a 'celebration' after protests over Roman Polanski & accusations of elitism. rt.com 
The "collective resignation" of the management team behind the Cesars Awards has been announced just two weeks before the ceremony, following protests over elitism and nominations given to statutory rapist Roman Polanski. | In explaining their leaving the Cesars only 15 days before the actual ceremony, the board managing the prizes for the French Academy of Arts and Technology of Cinema explained they are walking away to "honor those who made cinema in 2019, to regain serenity and make the cinema festival a celebration." | A complete renewal of management is planned. The management change does not appear to ha…
(2020-02-13). UNSC endorses 55-point road map for Libya, Russia doubts it can be implemented. rt.com 
The UN Security Council has endorsed a 55-point road map for ending the war in Libya, and condemned the recent increase in violence in the oil-rich North African country. | The vote on the British-drafted resolution was 14-0 on Wednesday. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he abstained because of "serious doubts" about whether the resolution can be implemented and end the war between rival governments "in the way we'd like to see it." | Referring to the conference on Libya held in the German capital on January 19, Nebenzia said the Berlin plan "has one defect… and that is a lack of clearly expressed co…
(2020-02-13). Legendary Soviet spy who saved Krakow from Nazi-made flood dies days after turning 103. rt.com 
A Soviet spy credited with saving the Polish city of Krakow from devastation has died in Moscow. His biography reads like a thriller novel, from battling Nazi invaders in Poland to training elite commandos in the 1980s. | Over his long life, Aleksey Botyan was many things. He was born in 1917, just as the Russian Empire was collapsing and shattering into pieces. His family lived in the territory that became part of Poland in the 1920s. | Fighting since day one: | He might have lived as a village schoolteacher — his first choice of career — but in 1939 he was conscripted into the Polish Army j…
(2020-02-13). 'Snake ecstasy': Russian synchronized swimming champion charms fans with underwater routine (VIDEO). rt.com 
Russian Olympic synchronized swimming champion Vlada Chigireva has wowed her fans with a graceful and mesmerizing underwater routine. | In a 30-second video, clip the 25-year-old swimmer can be seen waving and twirling at the bottom of a swimming pool, making choreographed moves which she compared to a snake's wriggle. | "New type of dance — snake ecstasy," the athlete captioned…
(2020-02-13). 'As long as I'm president we will have 'mother' & 'father': Putin backs traditional family values once again. rt.com 
Russia will not introduce politically correct terminology such as "parent #1" and "parent #2" any time soon, Putin told a constitutional reform working group on Thursday, as they discussed family values in Russia. | As for 'parent #1' and 'parent #2', I have already publicly said it and I will repeat it once more: as long as I am president, we will not have parents #1 and #2, it will be 'mother' and 'father'. | One of the working group members, Russian lawmaker Olga Batalina, told the president that many people in Russia are concerned about the fate of the traditional family and would like to see it protected…
(2020-02-13). Amending constitution is up to Russian people, we'll do what they vote for — Putin. rt.com 
Planned change of the Russian basic law can only be enacted if the Russian people give an unequivocal mandate for it, President Vladimir Putin told a working group preparing the amendments. | "The thing that is important to me is that the law on constitutional amendment comes into force only after the results of a national vote are tallied. It has to be a true plebiscite so that the citizens of Russia acted as the authors of those changes," he said. | The changes in the Russian constitution proposed by Putin last month are meant to readjust the Russian governance system. A strict two-term limit for the preside…