(2020-02-18). US Health Authority Shipped Faulty Coronavirus Test Kits Across Country: Official. globalresearch.ca A number of test kits sent out by United States health authorities to labs across the country to diagnose the deadly novel coronavirus are faulty, a senior official said on Wednesday (Feb 12). | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …
(2020-02-18). Greek Islands Refugee Crisis: An Open Letter to Humanity Crew. globalresearch.ca I do have better things to do with my time but after reading Humanity Crew's report of its 5 day visit to Samos in January 2020, I am angry enough to write this open letter. | From the beginning to the …
(2020-02-18). 'The Deal of the Century' and Its Hidden Secrets. globalresearch.ca We oppose and reject the US-Israeli peace plan, or the so-called "deal of the century", for many political, economic, social and religious reasons. It is rejected due to new signs that it will impede progress on the water issue between …
(2020-02-18). Nord Stream 2: Why Ukraine and Poland Are Against It. globalresearch.ca There is no doubt about the fundamental importance of the gas flow for the European energy balance. There is even less doubt about Russia's role in this process. Western Europe is not self-sufficient in producing gas, depending on its import. …
(2020-02-18). Billionaire Bloomberg Aims to "Buy the US Presidency" globalresearch.ca A fantasy democracy, never the real thing, Americans get the best rule of privileged interests money can buy… | Bloomberg's billions give him a significant edge only money can buy. Forbes ranked him 9th among the world's richest individuals, estimating his …
(2020-02-18). Selected Articles: America "Down the Rabbit Hole" globalresearch.ca 
By Just last month, if you remember, U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened Iran in a barrage of tweets that his regime "have targeted 52 Iranian sites …
(2020-02-17). Afghan Troops say Taliban are Brothers and War is "not really our fight" dissidentvoice.org The world is waiting anxiously to see whether the U.S. and Afghan governments and the Taliban will agree to a one-week truce that could set the stage for a "permanent and comprehensive" ceasefire and the withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign occupation forces from Afghanistan. Could the talks be for real this time, or will …
(2020-02-17). Mistrial Is Another Blow To US Coup In Venezuela. dissidentvoice.org 
Last week we, along with Adrienne Pine and David Paul, were unsuccessfully prosecuted by the Trump administration for our protection of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC from April 10 to May 16, 2019. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision and so we remain innocent of the charge of interfering with the …
(2020-02-17). Afghan Troops Say Taliban Are Brothers and War Is "Not Really Our Fight." globalresearch.ca The world is waiting anxiously to see whether the U.S. and Afghan governments and the Taliban will agree to a
(2020-02-17). "Democratic Socialism" — Bring it on Corporate Socialists! counterpunch.org Crooked Donald Trump, the erstwhile failed gambling czar and corporate welfare king, is assailing Bernie Sanders for his "radical socialism." How ludicrous given Trump's three-year giveaway of taxpayer assets and authorities to giant corporations — a perfect portrait of crony capitalism. Others are joining the socialist labeling bandwagon, including corporatist right wing radio talk show
(2020-02-17). Video Reveals Threat of "Wholesale Transfer and Privatization of America's Public Lands" on Trump's Agenda, Says Watchdog Group. globalresearch.ca Watchdog group Western Values Project said Friday that audio it obtained of a June 2019 event at Trump's Interior Department provides more
(2020-02-17). Class War Comes to the Democratic Party. truthdig.com 
More than ever, Bernie Sanders is public enemy number one for power elites that thrive on economic injustice. The Bernie 2020 campaign is a direct threat to the undemocratic leverage that extremely wealthy individuals and huge corporations constantly exert on the political process. No wonder we're now seeing so much anti-Bernie rage from leading corporate Democrats — eagerly amplified by corporate media. | In American politics, hell hath no fury like corporate power scorned. | Flagrant media biases against Sanders are routine in a wide range of mainstream outlets. (The media watch group FAIR has long docume…
(2020-02-17). Trump's Trade War with China: Imagine What Would Happen if China Decided to Impose Economic Sanctions on the USA? globalresearch.ca In formulating these veiled threats, the Trump administration should think twice. These measures would inevitably backlash on the U.S. economy. China is not dependent on US imports. Quite the opposite. America is an import led economy with a weak manufacturing base, heavily dependent on imports from the PRC.
(2020-02-17). Why Is Nevada's Most Powerful Union Turning on Bernie Sanders? zcomm.org Top leaders in Unite Here Local 226 in Las Vegas have been circulating attacks on Bernie Sanders and his Medicare for All proposal. They should listen to their membership and stop slandering the most pro-worker candidate in the race…
(2020-02-17). China's Coronavirus. "We Cannot Rule Out Man Made Origin of these Infections" globalresearch.ca Introductory Note | In earlier articles I related the opinions of biochemists and bio-warfare specialists on the circumstances justifying suspicion of a virus being created in a lab and deliberately released in a foreign country as a means of either low- …
(2020-02-17). Coronavirus May Tip the Global Economy Into Recession? globalresearch.ca As each day passes the numbers get worse for the impact of the Coronavirus. The numbers of people infected and who have died from the Coronavirus have already exceeded the Sars virus and look set to get much worse. | As …
(2020-02-17). Mistrial in Trump admin's biased case against Venezuelan embassy protectors is win for sovereignty. mronline.org The Trump administration's case against Venezuelan embassy protectors was severely biased, but ended up with a hung jury. The mistrial is a victory for sovereignty and democracy, and another failure in the coup attempt. |
(2020-02-17). Fashion Fetishism, Surgical Masks and Coronavirus. counterpunch.org Entering Singapore's Changi Airport gives the visitor a glimpse of a mask fetish. Security guards wear it. As do the nurses and the various personnel who man cameras like anti-aircraft batteries, noting the approaching passenger in transit with due suspicion. The passenger, in turn, wishes to avoid showing anything that might be construed as a
(2020-02-17). Is Coronavirus the First Climate Plague? truthdig.com Journalists Bryn Nelson and Jane C. Hu, in conversation with The Real News Network's Kim Brown, explain how rising temperatures will create more deadly outbreaks, and why we can expect an increase in xenophobia as these diseases spread. | Watch the interview in its entirety above.
(2020-02-17). Chinese Health Report Says 80% of Virus Cases Have Been Mild. truthdig.com 
The coronavirus report also says that new cases seem to be falling, although it's too soon to tell whether the outbreak has peaked.
(2020-02-17). Is U.S. Sponsored Regime Change War Coming to Georgia? globalresearch.ca Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili (October 2012 — November 2013) is leading his party to dominate the Georgian parliament in the upcoming Autumn elections, if they actually go on schedule and not earlier as many commentators are speculating. Ivanishvili, Georgia's …
(2020-02-17). Australian media maintains an unconscionable blackout on the case of Julian Assange. wsws.org Meetings should be convened by the staff of every media organisation and resolutions adopted opposing Assange's extradition and insisting that his case is accurately and honestly reported.
(2020-02-17). Extradition of Assange Would Set a Dangerous Precedent. truthout.org The Trump administration is seeking extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States for trial on charges carrying 175 years in prison. On February 24, a court in the U.K. will hold a hearing to determine whether to grant Trump's request. The treaty between the U.S. and the U.K. prohibits extradition for a "political offense." Assange was indicted for exposing U.S. war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. That is a classic political offense. Moreover, Assange's extradition would violate the legal pr…
(2020-02-17). UN Secretary-General Backs Afghan Peace Process. telesurenglish.net United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ratified Monday his support to the peace process that aims to put an end to the almost 20 years of the devastating war in Afghanistan. | RELATED: | Speaking at the high-level international summit in Pakistan, Guterres said that success in the peace negotiations is "an opportunity not to be missed." | The Secretary-General urged the international community to help Afgha…
(2020-02-17). The Koch-Soros Quincy Project: A Train Wreck of Neocon and 'Humanitarian' Interventionists. globalresearch.ca Those hoping the non-interventionist cause would be given some real muscle if a couple of oligarchs who've
(2020-02-17). Munich Security Conference 2020: Wang Yi vs. Mike Pompeo. globalresearch.ca The Chinese Foreign Minister and American Secretary of State shared contrasting visions of International Relations during their keynotes speeches at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend. | Mike Pompeo preached that " …
(2020-02-17). US Pressuring Iraq Not to Reveal Details of Soleimani Killing: MP. globalresearch.ca A member of Iraq's Fatah Alliance says the United States is putting a lot of pressure on the Iraqi government to prevent the disclosure of the results of a probe into the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi …
(2020-02-17). Sanders Tells New York Times He Would Consider a Preemptive Strike Against Iran or North Korea. globalresearch.ca Bernie Sanders has won the popular vote in both the New Hampshire and Iowa presidential primary contests in considerable part by presenting himself as an opponent of war. Following the criminal assassination of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani last month, Sanders …
(2020-02-17). The Wall: Separating Democracy From Voters. counterpunch.org The mainstream media imposes some serious certainties on the 2020 presidential election that drive me into a furious despair, e.g.: Even though Bernie Sanders, winner of the first two Democratic primaries, is now leading in the national polls, he "can't and won't" be the party's nominee "because in coming weeks," writes Liz Peek in The Hill, "Democrats
(2020-02-17). Time to Retire the "He Can't Beat Trump" Trope. counterpunch.org Now that polls show Bernie Sanders the clear front-runner in this race, leading the pack by 8 points and ready to win New Hampshire, it's time to clear up one of the main Corporate Media myths about him: that "he can't beat Trump." First, pro-Israel fanatics like Alan Dershowitz and propagandists for the Corporate State
(2020-02-17). US Prevents Medical Supplies From Reaching Cuba. telesurenglish.net The U.S. blockade has affected the Cuban Health services by cutting the supplies entering the island natio, the Director of Trade for the MediCuba Company S.A., Solainy Fajardo said in a statement on Monday. | RELATED: | In an interview with local newspaper Juventud Rebelde, the functionary said that Cuba is compelled to buy these medical resources in distant markets located in third countries, which increases…
(2020-02-17). Contribution of indigenous people to fighting climate change is hanging by a thread. zcomm.org The recent history of Bolivia shows the danger of allowing the fight for indigenous rights and climate action to be co-opted…
(2020-02-17). 'De Facto Gov't Has Destroyed Everything We Built': Evo Morales. telesurenglish.net The democratically elected Presient of Bolivia, Evo Morales, stated on Twitter that the de facto government of Jeanine àÅñez has destroyed "everything we built with the Bolivian people under our government". | RELATED: | The former president pointed out the elimination of other economic and social projects by the de facto government. In the same case is the Metropolitan Train, a public and ecological work with a cost o…
(2020-02-17). Chile: Chief of Police to Be Questioned Over 30 Lawsuits. telesurenglish.net Chile's Police General Director Mario Rozas will be questioned this week about the 30 accusations against him, of which 21 are lawsuits filed for crimes against humanity. | RELATED: | According to La Tercera, nine other criminal charges have been pressed against him for crimes such as torture and unlawful coercion, all in the context of the mobilizations that have taken place since the popular uprising began. | The a…
(2020-02-17). Jeff Bezos Pledges $10 Billion to Fight Climate Change. truthdig.com 
NEW YORK — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Monday that he plans to spend $10 billion of his own fortune to help fight climate change. | Bezos, the world's richest man, said in an "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change," Bezos said in…
(2020-02-17). US Activists Demand Lawmakers Back Green Deal, 20 Arrested. telesurenglish.net Twenty teenagers were arrested Monday in Washington D.C. at the United States (U.S.) Capitol, home of Congress, as they were demonstrating to demand the senators to back the Green New Deal legislation sponsored by Senator Ed Markey and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. | RELATED: | The protesters were part of a climate action launched by more than 150 middle- and high-schoolers urging the lawmakers to "step u…
(2020-02-17). Student climate change protests across the UK. wsws.org Manchester protester: "When it comes to politics and elections, you vote for one side and you vote for the other side but there's the same puppet master pulling the strings."
(2020-02-17). No excuses—we have to shut down the fossil fuel industry. mronline.org 
In the face of an ecological catastrophe as enormous and terrifying as this season's bushfires, you might think that policy might begin to shift, as those in power face up to the reality of human-induced climate change. But you'd be wrong. |
(2020-02-17). Members of Narco-Paramilitary 'Rastrojos' Captured in Venezuela. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan authorities reported Monday the capture of 14 members of the narco-paramilitary group 'Los Rastrojos', in the city of Boca de Grita, in the state of Tachira, bordering Colombia. | RELATED: | Socialist leader and protector of the Venezuelan state of Tachira Freddy Bernal announced the result of the operation on his Twitter account, saying that during the operation 22,200 liters of oil were captured from a clan…
(2020-02-17). Colombia: Merlano Denounces Duque, Lawmakers of Electoral Fraud. telesurenglish.net Former Colombian congresswoman Aida Merlano exposed a major scheme of electoral fraud and corruption Monday during a live interview with Colombian news outlet RELATED: | Merlano, currently detained in Venezuela, went on air and reiterated that right-wing Presid…
(2020-02-17). EU Members to Launch New Mission to Enforce Libyan Arms Embargo. telesurenglish.net European Union foreign affairs ministers agreed Monday to launch a new operation in the Mediterranean to enforce a United Nations arms embargo on Libya. | RELATED: | "We all agreed to create a mission to block the entry of arms into Libya," Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Luigi di Maio said, adding that the mission would include a naval element to enforce the embargo – a sticking point for some member states. | The news was confirmed by his Ger…
(2020-02-17). Trump Wants to Inflict Severe Pain on Disabled Community Just Because He Can. truthout.org The "need" to strip benefits from poor and working people to help maintain the lifestyles of the Mar-a-Lago set is one of the fundamental principles of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The rich always "need" more tax cuts, so when budget deficits get in the way, those at the middle and bottom are just going to have to sacrifice. | This is the reasoning behind the large budget cuts that the president has proposed for Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps in his most recent budget proposal.
(2020-02-17). Trump Shoots Romney at Prayer Breakfast; GOP Shrugs. counterpunch.org President Donald Trump pulled out a handgun at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning and shot Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, fatally wounding him. A day earlier, Romney had become the first senator in history to vote to convict a president of his own party in an impeachment trial. After the shooting law professor Alan Dershowitz
(2020-02-17). The Democrats' New Chapter. counterpunch.org Now that the impeachment of President Donald Trump hasn't reached the Democrats' expected goal, it is time for them to change gears facing the coming presidential elections. Until now, the Democrats have let the Republicans take the initiative, using techniques not always politically correct, or right, and in the process losing elections that they should
(2020-02-17). Kashmiris, Palestinians Protest India Envoy's Speech at Harvard. telesurenglish.net A group of Kashmiri and Palestinian activists came together to protest against a talk at Harvard University by India's Consul General to the United States (U.S.) Sandeep Chakravorty, who has proposed in the past that India's government should use Israel's colonizing model. | RELATED: | In solidarity for Kashmir, the protesters gathered at Harvard Square, where Chakravorty was giving his speech, and h…
(2020-02-17). Canadian PM Cancels Visit to Caribbean Over Rail Crisis. telesurenglish.net In Canada, indigenous demonstrations continue to suspend train service in some parts of the country, so Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has decided to cancel his attendance at the meeting of the Caribbean Community, or Caricom, that will begin today in Barbados. | RELATED: | On this two-day diplomatic trip, which was to begin this Monday, Trudeau would bring his proposal for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. In…
(2020-02-17). Global Mining Corporations Have a Friend in the New Guatemalan Government. globalresearch.ca Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei is less than a month into his term and yet there are already disturbing signs that his administration will side with global mining corporations against indigenous communities fighting to protect their land and water. | The clearest …
(2020-02-17). Wake Up Senators! New bipartisan War Powers Act to Constrain Military Action against Iran. globalresearch.ca The US Senate, long the lap dog of the man who would be king, President Donald Trump, appears to have finally remembered its proper constitutional role. | Last week, the Senate voted 55/45 for a new bipartisan War Powers Act to …
(2020-02-17). US Undeclared War on China by Other Means. globalresearch.ca Both right wings of the US one-party state seek control over other nations, their resources and populations — what the scourge of imperialism is all about. | Nations topping the US target list for regime change include Iran for its huge …
(2020-02-17). DOJ Investigating Former CIA Director's Role in Russiagate. theantimedia.com The Justice Department is investigating the role of John Brennan in the assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
(2020-02-17). Palestine Urges Int'l Community to Move Against US Peace Plan. telesurenglish.net Palestine on Monday urged the international community to move against the U.S. Mideast peace plan, known as the "Deal of the Century," without delay. | RELATED: | The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a press statement that the international community has not much time left to salvage the two-state solution, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S. Mideast peace plan on Jan. 28. | "Neutral or…
(2020-02-17). UN Publishes List of Companies Profiting from Israel's Illegal Settlements in Palestine. globalresearch.ca After years of unexplained delays, the United Nations this week released a list of over 100 companies with ties to illegal Israeli settler colonies in the occupied West Bank of Palestine. | In a
(2020-02-17). How the UN's Middle East Peace Plan Was Trounced by Its Own Members. counterpunch.org 
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has delivered a dramatic condemnation of the U.S.-drafted Middle East peace plan. No country, except Israel, has approved of the proposals at any public forum. Still, several nations around the world want the Palestinians to use the plan as a means of reopening negotiations with Israel by presenting its own vision.
(2020-02-17). Peruvian students protest threatened shutdown of private universities. wsws.org Thirty-nine private universities and two graduate schools failed to meet basic educational standards, threatening 166,000 students with being thrown in the street.
(2020-02-17). Mexican Police Assaults Relatives of Ayotzinapa Killed Students. telesurenglish.net Local police in the Mexican town of Tuxtla Gutierrez in the southern state of Chiapas, threw tear gas at relatives of the 43 killed students of Ayotzinapa, as well as students of the Mactumactza School, as they protested demanding justice. | RELATED: | The demonstrators blocked the roads with relatives of the 43 students who disappeared six years ago, demanding justice since the judicial procedure has been conteste…
(2020-02-17). Should We All Be In the Streets? Let's Talk About Protest. truthout.org Kelly Hayes talks with L.A. Kauffman, a longtime grassroots organizer and author of the book Direct Action: Protest and the Reinvention of American Radicalism, about the history of protest movements and what the current political moment demands of us. | Note: This a rush transcript and has been lightly edited for clarity. | Copy may not be in its final form. | Kelly Hayes: Welcome to Movement Memos, a Truthout podcast about things you should know if you want to change the world. I'm your host, Kelly Hayes. This is e…
(2020-02-17). NEPA is Our National Defense System‚Ä®. counterpunch.org 
Our nation is under attack. If the attack were coming from the sky, NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command) would detect the threat. That is NORAD's mission, to anticipate threats to our homeland. The current attack on our land didn't originate in Russia or China; it began in Washington D.C., in January, when President Trump proposed dismantling NEPA — the law that protects our communities, land and water every bit as much as NORAD protects our skies.
(2020-02-17). A Boom Time for U.S. Sanctions. globalresearch.ca The United States, as of this writing, has 7,967 sanctions in place. | Treasury Department data
(2020-02-17). Venezuelan VP Accuses Spanish Right-Wing of Supporting Guaido. telesurenglish.net The Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, accused the Spanish right-wing of supporting the self-proclaimed 'president', Juan Guaidó. In an interview with the Venezuelan news channel Televen, the functionary accused the right parties in Spain of having "a profound double standard" because of their backing of Guaidó, who is in favor of a coup d'état in the South American country. | RELATED: | Rodríguez explained tha…
(2020-02-17). Video: Turkey Supports Al Qaeda Against Syrian Forces in Idlib. globalresearch.ca In Turkey, it is by now a good tradition to threaten Syria with a war every time when luckless Idlib rebels suffer another military defeat from the Syrian Army. This week was no exception. Recept Tayip Erdogan spearheaded the choir …
(2020-02-17). The Middle East: Ground Zero for Possible Global War? globalresearch.ca The UN Charter's preamble explained that "the scourge of war…twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind" — referring to two global wars. | Is a third one coming at a time when today's super-weapons make earlier ones seem …
(2020-02-17). Syrian Forces Secure Aleppo City Completely. globalresearch.ca Against all odds, and in the very difficult weather conditions the SAA cleaned all of Jamiyat Zahraa western Aleppo after taking control of the Llayramon and cleaned the two cities of Hreitan and Anadan in Aleppo's northwestern countryside. | Hayyan, Bayanon, …
(2020-02-17). Assad Predicts Victory After Gains in Northern Syria. truthdig.com 
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian President Bashar Assad congratulated his forces Monday for recent gains in northwestern Syria that led to his troops consolidating control over Aleppo province, pledging to press ahead with a military campaign to achieve complete victory "sooner or later." | Assad, who rarely appears in public, said in a televised address that the onetime economic hub of Aleppo, the provincial capital, will "return stronger than it was before." | "This liberation does not mean the end of the war, and does not mean the end of the schemes nor the end of terrorism or the surrender of enemies," Assad sa…
(2020-02-17). Aruban Authorities Deny Fake News About Venezuelan Gold Seizure. telesurenglish.net Aruba's Justice Minister Andin Bikker on Monday denied a fake News story that claimed the government of this Caribbean nation had confiscated a Venezuelan plane carrying more than 900 kilos of gold. | RELATED: | The story, which has already been reported around the world, relates how the Venezuelan aircraft was detained after an emergency landing in Aruba by the authorities of the Queen Beatrix Airport. It adds, moreov…
(2020-02-17). US-Backed Saudi Airstrike Kills 31 Civilians in Yemen. truthout.org In Yemen, 31 people were killed in U.S.-backed Saudi airstrikes over the weekend, including women and children. The strikes in the northern al-Jawf province came just hours after the Houthis said they had shot down a Saudi fighter jet in the same area. The United Nations called the drone strike "shocking." The deadly strike follows a recent uptick in violence in northern Yemen and comes as the war there hits a five-year mark. More than 100,000 have died, and far more have been displaced, since the conflict began in…
(2020-02-17). United Airlines Pulls Boeing 737 MAX from Schedule Until September 4. globalresearch.ca And just like that, all those hopes and optimistic dreams that the notorious killing machine designed by clowns, supervised by monkeys known as the 737 MAX will be returning to the air around June, following recent "
(2020-02-17). Judge rules in favor of Amazon, halts work on JEDI contract by Microsoft. wsws.org The decision by a federal judge to grant Amazon's request is an indication of bitter conflict within the ruling establishment.
(2020-02-17). This week in history: February 17-23. wsws.org 25 years ago: Algerian regime massacres prisoners after uprisingOn February 21, 1995, an uprising by Islamic political prisoners at the Serkadji prison in the Kasbah neighborhood of Algeria began, resulting in the death of four guards. This was followed by a brutal crackdown in which dozens of inmates were slaughtered. Official reports counted the prisoner death toll at 96, while other sources maintained that up to 110 prisoners were killed in the suppression of the rebellion.
(2020-02-17). HBO's Watchmen: Alternative history that ignores the meaning of the 1921 Tulsa massacre. wsws.org A sequel to the 1986 comic book of the same name, Watchmen essentially depicts Tulsa, Oklahoma as the flashpoint for an inevitable race war.
(2020-02-17). "Just Mercy" and Justice Don't Exist in Alabama. counterpunch.org 
The chance of there being "just mercy" for Nathaniel Woods—facing lethal injection on March 5 for the killing of three Birmingham police officers—is as good as the chance Alabama will ever reform its dismal, no-justice-to-be-found-anywhere legal system; it ain't gonna happen. A Hollywood movie and best-selling book about a legendary lawyer getting an innocent man
(2020-02-17). Every Day's a Holiday for the Oil Business in Colorado. counterpunch.org 
Though it's not on the official Colorado state calendar, every day's a holiday for the oil industry in this state. News surfaced last week that the oil industry has been dodging its state taxes, and not just now and then, but systematically. The tax, called a severance tax, is based on a small percentage of
(2020-02-17). Michael Bloomberg's Racism Goes Well Beyond Stop-and-Frisk. truthdig.com 
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is using his billions to pay for his presidential campaign ads, blanketing television, radio and social media feeds across the country. As pundits, including
(2020-02-17). Centrist Democrats Have Already Lost the Most Important Battle. truthdig.com 
With dozens of Democratic candidates, scores of televised debates, and swarms of reporters and pundits descending on the tiniest blip in polls, this campaign already feels never-ending. But at long last, we're beginning what matters: Voting! | This year, in addition to decisions about candidates, voters will be making a decision about the future of our society. The question we face is whether we will continue the same-old politics of enriching and empowering the few at the expense of the rest of us, or will we pivot to implement transformative structural changes. | As you would expect, Trump and his sycophantic c…
(2020-02-17). Coastal landfill sites set to spill over into sea, expert warns. thecanary.co 
More than 1,200 coastal landfill sites are in danger of spilling their contents into the sea — leading to a pollution time bomb around the UK coastline.Powerful storms and rising sea levels mean once-hidden waste could be exposed to pollute oceans and beaches, according to coastal policy expert Mark Stratton."One of the biggest risks of doing nothing at these sites is that the defences will fail and you'll potentially have former landfill either eroding out onto the foreshore or leaching into the water. Alongside that there's a potential impact on human health depending on what's in the sites," he said.Landf…
(2020-02-17). Lessons From Ministering on the Border. counterpunch.org I recently spent three weeks at the border between El Paso, Texas and Juárez, Mexico. The experience strengthened my resolve, as a person of faith and Sister of Mercy, to share more about how the situation there concerns all of us in the United States. In the shelters where thousands of refugees await their court
(2020-02-17). You Tube's Trump Predicament. counterpunch.org Most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of favor. — Robert Frost The Black Cottage It must have been a bit of a downer for the trump. It came just three days before his acquittal of charges of misconduct that had been brought in the
(2020-02-17). Donald Trump's Plan for America: Make it Ignorant. counterpunch.org On February 10th, the White House released its budget for the fiscal year 2021. It broadly showcases the values promoted by Donald Trump and the vision he has for the future of the United States of America. Budgets are the practical extension of genuine commitments. Politicians, as a group, are famous for making promises that
(2020-02-17). Geo-political conflicts overshadow Vanuatu election. wsws.org Next month's election will take place amid deepening tensions across the Pacific as Washington and its allies ramp up preparations for war with China.
(2020-02-17). Solidarity Continues in Canada the Wet'Suwet'en Nation. telesurenglish.net People across Canada continue to demonstrate and take action in support of the Wet'suwet'en Nation who are being forced off their lands by a multibillion-dollar pipeline project crossing the territory of the First Nation in northern British Columbia (BC). | RELATED: | Opposition to the project in the North American country has resulted in numerous actions including the shutting down of rail lines this weekend at two bridges at the Canada-United Stat…
(2020-02-17). Munich Conference: EU needs to Have More "Appetite for Power" telesurenglish.net The Munich Security Conference closed on Sunday with a call for the European Union to work more closely together and to have more power of decision and action in international conflict management, in a context marked by differences between the EU and the United States. | RELATED: | In this polarised world, Europe must "learn to speak the language of power," said the EU's High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrel…
(2020-02-17). IMF Shows No Flexibility to Argentina's Offer About Debt Revamp. telesurenglish.net The International Monetary Fund showed zero flexibility Monday in talks that were expected to set the tone for a massive bond restructuring ahead, as IMF Chief warned that the institution won't take any loss, a suggestion made by Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. | RELATED: | "We are the last resort for nations in a desperate situation," IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva told Bloomberg in a televised int…
(2020-02-17). How AIPAC Is Losing Bipartisan Support in Washington. globalresearch.ca "A true friend of Israel." These were the words Barack Obama used Standing in front of thousands of attendees in Washington, Obama, who was …
(2020-02-17). Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Children's Health Defense Submitted Historic Case Against U.S. Government for Children Injured by Wireless Technology Radiation. globalresearch.ca CHD Chairman, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will lead the legal team with seasoned telecommunications and administrative law attorney Scott McCollough. |
(2020-02-17). 2.5M Pounds of Radioactive Waste Illegally Dumped in Oregon Landfill. globalresearch.ca The Oregon Department of Energy has issued a notice of violation to a hazardous waste facility for accepting more than 2 million pounds of radioactive materials east of the Columbia River Gorge. | Chemical Waste Management, a subsidiary of Waste Management …
(2020-02-17). Kill the Culture, Destroy a Nation. globalresearch.ca During the Gulf War of the 1990‚Ä≤s, U.S. troops in Baghdad looted important museums, destroyed historical artifacts, some were even found outside of the museums and on the side of roads, many of ancient artifacts and pieces of artworks were …
(2020-02-17). Doing More Harm Than Good? Our Latest Report on the UK's Development Bank, CDC. globalresearch.ca Amid the recent back and forth over whether the Department for International Development
(2020-02-17). Help Us Protect the Future of GlobalResearch.ca. globalresearch.ca Dear Readers, | We have been bringing you independent news and analysis for close to 19 years. Our intention is to continue to relentlessly promote independent voices that speak out on issues too often neglected by the corporate media. There are …
(2020-02-17). Bloomberg's billions and the politics of oligarchy. wsws.org The rallying of officeholders and media pundits to the billionaire candidate exposes the real class character of the Democratic Party.
(2020-02-17). Las Vegas anti-homeless ordinance enforcement begins. wsws.org Passed by the Las Vegas, Nevada, city council in November, the ordinance makes it a misdemeanor crime, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, for "sleeping or camping" in a public space.
(2020-02-17). Bloomberg Fought Efforts to Protect Black Homeowners From Predatory Lenders. truthout.org Soon after Michael Bloomberg took office in 2002, 40 of the 51 members of the New York City Council sponsored legislation aimed at curbing the growth of predatory lending practices by banks. According to the Daily News, "thousands of homeowners" had been taking on "subprime mortgages that have hidden charges, fees and conditions that are essentially designed to force homeowners into foreclosure." | In May 2002, New York's two most prominent black elected officials, State Comptroller Carl McCal…
(2020-02-17). Trump's Budget Would Slash Support for Low-Income Students. truthout.org As the presidential election campaign picks up, almost every top candidate has released a plan for higher education that addresses college affordability and student debt issues. But there's only one candidate who's already in the White House — Donald Trump — and last week he released his plan in the form of a If Congress were to approve it, some higher education ex…
(2020-02-17). Doulas Are Key to Curbing Maternal Mortality — But They're Drastically Underpaid. truthout.org The first time doctors saw Laginne Gianina Walker's ultrasound, they accidentally read it backwards. They told her the boy's organs were all upside-down. An ob-gyn counseled her to consider an abortion. | It was a frigid day in early February 2016 in downtown Manhattan. Walker, a 36-year-old computer science teacher, drove home to her studio apartment on the 21st floor of a building on Grand Concourse in the Bronx, and sat on her couch. She spent the next two weeks mulling what to do with he…
(2020-02-17). More Than 1,100 Former Justice Department Officials Want William Barr to Resign. truthout.org More than 1,100 former US Department of Justice officials called on Attorney General William P. Barr on Sunday to step down after he intervened last week to lower the Justice Department's sentencing recommendation for President Trump's longtime friend and political crony Roger J. Stone Jr. | "It is unheard of for the Department's top leaders to overrule line prosecutors, who are following established policies, in order to give preferential treatment to a close associate of the President, as…
(2020-02-17). YIVO Institute for Jewish research in New York fires all its librarians. wsws.org Many of the YIVO library's 400,000 books, newspapers and documents have been rescued from Nazi barbarism, and are indispensable for the study of European Jewish history before the Second World War, the Holocaust and the pre-war revolutionary movement of the Eastern European working class.
(2020-02-17). Macau allows casinos to resume work from February 20 after suspension over virus fear. rt.com 
Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, will allow casinos to resume operations from February 20, after authorities imposed a two-week suspension to curb the coronavirus' spread, authorities said on Monday, according to public broadcaster TDM. | The government has told casino operators they have 30 days to return to full business, health officials say. | The unprecedented halt of gaming operations started on February 5 and was due to end on February 19. Macau has not reported any new cases of the virus since February 4, officials said. There have been 10 confirmed cases of the virus in total there. | Governme…
(2020-02-17). Woman on board cruise ship in Japan is first Russian citizen diagnosed with new coronavirus. rt.com 
The Russian Embassy in Tokyo says a Russian national has been diagnosed with the COVID-19 coronavirus on the 'Diamond Princess' cruise ship docked and quarantined in Japan. She did not sent an evacuation request. | "There were no evacuation requests, either from the infected Russian national, or from the rest of the Russian nationals aboard the ship. The infected woman is expected to be hospitalized in Japan," the embassy said. There has been no information yet on where the woman would be hospitalized. | This is the first confirmed coronavirus case involving a Russian citizen. Earlier on Monday, Japanese medic…
(2020-02-17). 'Conscience-free journalism is great career choice': Guardian mocked over failure to mention Assange in 'press freedom' article. rt.com 
The Guardian newspaper has been mercilessly ridiculed on social media after it failed to highlight the plight of journalist Julian Assange in a piece on Amal Clooney's plans to "combat media repression globally." | The outlet's diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour published an Clooney, who represented the WikiLeaks co-fou…
(2020-02-17). WikiLeaks demands answers as Twitter account LOCKED ahead of Assange extradition hearing. rt.com 
WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson is seeking answers after the publisher's official account was mysteriously locked, ahead of an extradition hearing for founder Julian Assange, who faces life in a US jail (or worse). | Hrafnsson claimed the @wikileaks Twitter account had been locked "shortly before Assange extradition hearing" and for no apparent reason, in a post from his personal account on Monday. Lamenting he had been unable to "reach a human at Twitter" for answers, Hrafnsson tagged both the platform's tech support and CEO Jack Dorsey. | WikiLeaks twitter account has been locked, shortly before…
(2020-02-17). US openly paves way for INF-banned missiles to be placed in Europe & Asia — Lavrov. rt.com 
Just out of a milestone nuclear missile accord, the US is about to deploy short- and intermediate-range missiles in Europe and Asia, prompting Moscow to engage France and other partners to preserve security on the continent. | "In order to agree on specific solutions, we need multilateral talks and multilateral consultations involving, of course, the United States, who destroyed the treaty," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday, referring to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. | This pact saw Washington and Moscow eliminate entire classes of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and m…
(2020-02-17). 'A little bit of excitement at no extra cost': Sanders quips after TOPLESS anti-dairy protesters steal show at Nevada rally. rt.com 
A group of anti-dairy activists, including topless women, upstaged Democratic race frontrunner Bernie Sanders at his own campaign rally ahead of the Nevada primaries. The senator kept his cool, laughing off the stunt, however. | Keen on capitalizing on his success in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sanders was holding a rally in Carson, Nevada on Sunday. He was barely a couple of minutes into his speech when a young woman, who could be seen lurking behind the podium during the live broadcast, rushed the stage and attempted to wrestle the microphone from the Vermont independent. | Sanders did not give in, taking a few…