(2020-01-24). As extradition hearing dates are set, US Department of Justice argues Assange has no First Amendment rights. wsws.org The latest evidence submitted by the US government underscores the fundamental democratic issues at stake in the decade-long illegal persecution and witch-hunting of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.
(2020-01-24). While Trump cuts food stamps, USAID bankrolls Venezuela regime change with half a billion in tax dollars. thegrayzone.com The Trump administration has spent $654 million in "aid" to try to overthrow Venezuela's government, including $435 million through USAID…
(2020-01-24). The Long History of Elite Rule: What Will It Take To End It? counterpunch.org Elites have ruled over people and commanded the surplus produced by their labor for many millennia. It is this long history we have to contend with in today's crisis of capitalism that has produced endless wars and environmental catastrophes as corporate billionaire rulers continue to promote business as usual while preparing to fight each other with armed forces and nuclear weapons. This has all been "normalized."
(2020-01-24). In the Name of "Israel's Security": Retreating US Gives Israel Billions More in Military Funding. counterpunch.org Billions of US tax-payers' money will continue to be funneled into Israel in the next fiscal year, and for many years in the foreseeable future. Republican and Democratic Senators have recently achieved just that, passing a bill aimed at providing Israel with $3.3 billion in annual aid. The Bill, co-sponsored by Democratic Senator, Chris Coons
(2020-01-24). When Will the Winter Come to an End? dissidentvoice.org 
Hangameh Golestan, Witness 1979, 1979 On 17 January, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the Friday prayers for the first time in eight years. He mocked the 'American clowns' who threatened Iran and said that Iran's response to the US assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani was a 'slap in the face' of US …
(2020-01-24). Aftermath: The Iran War After the Soleimani Assassination. counterpunch.org The thing that is so sad and so infuriating and so centrally symptomatic of everything wrong with American political culture, is that, with painfully few exceptions, Americans have no idea of what their government has done. They have no idea who Qassem Soleimani was, what he has accomplished, the web of relationships, action, and respect he has built, what his assassination means and will bring. The last person who has any clue about this, of course, is Donald Trump, who called Soleimani "a total monster." His act of killing Soleimani is the apotheosis of the abysmal, arrogant ignorance of U.S. political culture.
(2020-01-24). A Climate Time Bomb With Trump's Name Inscribed. counterpunch.org Thwaites, in West Antarctica, is the world's most dangerous glacier. As of January 15th, scientists have labeled it: "A Climate Time Bomb." Thwaites is crumbling apart on the underneath side where warm ocean currents circulate, which is clear evidence that global warming is really, truly hitting its stride even as America, obeying President Trump's orders,
(2020-01-24). Promtheus' Fire: Climate Change in the Time of Willful Ignorance. counterpunch.org Prologue Greek myths assert Prometheus, Titan god of foreknowledge, was grandfather of the Greeks. He defied Zeus and brought the fire of knowledge and civilization to his relatives. Zeus reacted with violence. He ordered the god of metallurgy and technology Hephaistos to tie Prometheus on a pillar. Zeus sent an eagle, which tortured Prometheus. Every
(2020-01-24). National Trust warns 73% of special natural sites threatened by climate crisis. thecanary.co Almost three-quarters of special natural areas cared for by the National Trust are under threat from the climate crisis.The trust has conducted its first climate audit of 101,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of priority habitat across England, Wales and Northern Ireland including rivers, fens, and saltmarshes.It discovered that 73% of the land, ranging from upland oak woods to globally rare peatland, was considered to be sensitive or highly sensitive to increasingly turbulent weather events, rising seas and higher temperatures.The trust is calling for immediate action to cut emissions, restore natural habitats and de…
(2020-01-24). Impeachment as a Distraction. counterpunch.org Well, the circus has arrived in the United States capital, and the media is all agog at the show! In the Big Tent, sometimes referred to as the White House, announcements about forthcoming performances are being tweeted at a breath-taking rate. Many of them are coming directly from the star clown himself, none other than
(2020-01-24). Canada's Justin Trudeau Toes the Imperial Line on Iran. dissidentvoice.org While the current Liberal government claims to be progressive and in favour of a rules-based international order, promotion of democracy and world peace, its actions regarding Iran demonstrate that the primary drivers of Canadian foreign policy remain US geo-political interests and the interests of the rich and powerful. (This previous article argues this has long been the …
(2020-01-24). Americans Need to Hear More from Iranians. Here's Where to Start. zcomm.org Here are a few illuminating and emotionally resonant pieces by real Iranians on life under sanctions, the brutality of war, and the recent crisis…
(2020-01-24). Biden's Shameful Foreign Policy Record Extends Well Beyond Iraq. counterpunch.org Presidential contender Joe Biden has come under fire for his support for the 2003 Iraq War, but continues to tout his foreign policy experience as a key selling point for his candidacy. His foreign policy record is shameful, though, extending well beyond his Iraq War vote. After opposing the Vietnam and first Persian Gulf Wars,
(2020-01-24). Don't Kill 72 Grizzly Bears So Cattle Can Graze on Public Lands. counterpunch.org We have tens of millions of cattle in America but we only have about 700 grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Yet an October 2019 decision by the Bridger-Teton National Forest's Pinedale District authorizes continued cattle grazing on 267 square miles of public lands that will result in the deaths of an estimated 72 grizzly
(2020-01-24). Germany: Left Party supports Libya conference and possible military deployment. wsws.org Although the conference was a meeting of imperialist brigands who discussed the military occupation of the resource-rich country and the redivision of the entire continent under the guise of peace, it was acclaimed by the Left Party.
(2020-01-24). Consortium News sues for libel over claims it aided "Russian disinformation" campaign against Canada. wsws.org Consortium News has filed libel lawsuits against a Canadian state security agency and a television network over their false claims that the Virginia-based independent news organization spearheaded a pro-Russian disinformation campaign in Canada.
(2020-01-24). If This is a Democracy, Why Don't We Vote for the Vice President Too? counterpunch.org Let's say you owned a house and needed extra cash to make ends meet, so you decided to rent two of your bedrooms. Would you agree to lease those rooms to two people, but under the condition that you could only meet and run a credit check on one of them? Would you allow a
(2020-01-24). Venezuela Must Remain Vigilant and on Guard Against US Hybrid Warfare. counterpunch.org A meme circulating on social media shows the distraught gaze of Venezuela's opposition member Juan Guaidó with a caption that says in part, "he is not a head of State, he has no army, he has no ministers, he never participated in presidential elections, he was a 'guarimbero' [violent rioter] and he is called interim
(2020-01-24). FROM THE FIELD: Niger supporting the most vulnerable, as crises mount. news.un.org The number of people requiring humanitarian assistance in Niger, a country which the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, says is "being assaulted on all fronts", is expected to increase in 2020.
(2020-01-24). Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warns of "civilization-ending nuclear war" wsws.org Amid a global nuclear arms race, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists warned that human civilization is closer to destruction than at any other period in history.
(2020-01-24). The Coronavirus Serious Public Health Threat in China. counterpunch.org The happy expectations for the week-long Chinese New Year holidays has been dampened by a new viral infection that is spreading rapidly in China (cases have been confirmed in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong province) and other countries. Since late 2019, people from Wuhan had been infected with a viral pneumonia whose cause was unknown. Now
(2020-01-24). The US-China Trade Deal is Mostly Symbolic. counterpunch.org On January 15, the US President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed a "phase one" trade agreement to de-escalate an 18-month trade war between the world's two biggest economies. After months of tough negotiations and retaliatory trade actions, both countries agreed to proceed ahead with the "phase one" trade agreement. The core
(2020-01-24). What We Lose When We Lose Wildlife. counterpunch.org I grew up in Michigan — a place with many deer and very few wolves to keep their populations in-check. Flawed wildlife management decisions caused our wolf numbers to plummet decades ago. While gray wolves are historically native to the state, the only place I've seen one is the Potter Park Zoo — a tiny
(2020-01-24). Waiting for Justice in New Jersey. counterpunch.org Ask 100 New Jersey residents who is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and more than 90 will quickly reply, a civil rights leader. Ask 100 New Jersey resident who is Peter McGuire and more than 90 will quickly reply, Peter who? King and McGuire both made historic accomplishments. Both the Atlanta born King and the
(2020-01-24). Isabel dos Santos and Africa's Lumpen-Bourgeoisie. counterpunch.org Thirty years ago, I was part of a Tecnica delegation that visited the African National Congress headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia. We were there to discuss the feasibility of a technical aid project for the ANC and the frontline states with Thabo Mbeki, the future president of post-apartheid South Africa. Back then, the term frontline referred
(2020-01-24). From Paris, With Tear Gas… counterpunch.org Coming from the south on Avenue d'Italie on foot or bike things were obviously out of the ordinary, impossible as it may be to define ordinary in France at this moment. Long lines of cars pressed together, red and white tape strung everywhere it wasn't five minutes before, sidewalks lined with gargantuan tour buses, their
(2020-01-24). Will the Extinction of Delta Smelt Be Governor Gavin Newsom's Environmental Legacy? counterpunch.org The Delta smelt, once the most abundant species on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, continues its steep slide towards extinction. For the second year in a row, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in its annual fall midwater trawl survey in 2019 found zero Delta smelt during the months of September, October, November and December.
(2020-01-24). Turkey sends passenger appearing to show symptoms of coronavirus back to China. yenisafak.com Turkey has sent a passanger back to China upon her own request after she was suspected of carrying the new coronavirus, the country's health minister said.He added that Turkish authorities do not know whether the passenger was indeed infected by the virus."We are closely following the recent developments and the dissemination of the disease closely in cooperation with international organizations," Fahrettin Koca said.The Wuhan city of Hubei province has been particularly hit hard with hundreds of cases of the mystery virus reported. Authorities are trying to curb its spread with a transport lockdown in place sinc…
(2020-01-24). 'No, No America': Iraq protesters demand US military pullout. yenisafak.com Thousands of Iraqis rallied at two central Baghdad intersections on Friday after a prominent Shi'ite cleric called for a "million strong" protest against the American military presence, following the U.S. killing of an Iranian general and an Iraqi militia chief.The initial march appeared not to gather further steam, however, largely dissipating after several hours. Some protesters headed to join separate anti-government demonstrators at Baghdad's Tahrir Square, and others boarded buses to go home.The march called by Moqtada al-Sadr aimed to press for a pullout of U.S. troops. Many anti-government protesters feare…
(2020-01-24). Turks in China on tenterhooks amid virus outbreak. yenisafak.com Turkish citizens living in central China, the epicenter the coronavirus outbreak, are on tenterhooks.The Wuhan city of Hubei province has been particularly hit hard with hundreds of cases of the mystery virus reported. Authorities are trying to curb its spread with a transport lockdown in place since Thursday.As panic spreads in the city of 11 million people, residents flocked to the market to stockpile essentials as they fear they will become prisoners in their own homes in the days to come."We tried to buy as much water as we could from the markets," said Burcu Oner, who works as an English teacher in the city.
(2020-01-24). UN envoy for Syria calls situation in Idlib 'disaster'. yenisafak.com The UN special envoy for Syria on Friday called the humanitarian situation in the conflict-hit province of Idlib "a disaster".Speaking at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Geir Pedersen said the civilians in Idlib pay "too high a price" for the fight against terrorism.He asserted the normalization in Idlib as a key component for the return of refugees back to Syria."The problem is that more than 50% of the population of Syria left their homes. So what we want to achieve now is to create the situation where they start to return. Then we need the political process and to stabilize the…
(2020-01-24). Pentagon could start global troop rebalance this year, Esper says. yenisafak.com U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper suggested on Thursday he could be ready to start a highly anticipated global force repositioning this year as part of an effort to refocus the Pentagon on challenges from China and Russia.Esper said he did not want to put a firm timeline on the completion of his so-called "defense-wide review," which is expected to trigger those troop movements."If I had to put an end-date (on the review), I want to make sure we are in some type of better posture by the beginning of the next fiscal year," Esper told reporters, referring to the government's calendar year for spending, which begins…
(2020-01-24). Norway PM shakes up cabinet after right-wing party exit. yenisafak.com Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Friday announced her biggest cabinet reshuffle since taking power in 2013, replacing or repositioning two-thirds of ministers in the hope of reviving the Conservative-led coalition's prospects.Solberg this week lost her majority in parliament following the shock exit from government by the right-wing Progress Party over a decision to bring a woman suspected of Daesh affiliation home to Norway from Syria.
(2020-01-24). UN expert: Saudi crown prince behind hack on Amazon CEO. yenisafak.com The UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions has declared that Saudi Arabia's crown prince was "the most likely source" of the hacking of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos's phone."The company [FTI Consulting] responsible for forensic investigation has been extremely thorough and robust because they have done this investigation as part of an FBI investigation," Agnes Callamard told TRT World late Thursday.Callamard stressed that her team went through the report with their own experts and reached the conclusion that Saudi Arabia's Mohammad bin Salman was behind the hacking."We received the repor…
(2020-01-24). Al-Aqsa grand preacher enters mosque despite Israel ban. yenisafak.com Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the grand mufti of Jerusalem, managed Friday to enter the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite an earlier Israeli ban.According to Anadolu Agency correspondent on the ground, Sabry was accompanied by many of Palestinian lawyers and activists.On Thursday, Sabry warned against the Israeli targeting of what he described as "the religious symbols" in the occupied city.In a press conference he had held, Sabry said: "The Israeli occupation undermines our freedom of expression by saying that we trigger incitement against the occupation.""When we say that Al-Rahma gate is an integral part of Al-Aqsa Mo…
(2020-01-24). Locusts threaten food security in East Africa, says UN agancy. yenisafak.com The desert locust invasion in Kenya is the worst that has been seen in the East African country in 70 years, a UN agency said Friday.The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at a news conference in Nairobi warned that the locust outbreak is threatening food security and livelihoods in East Africa and urged for international aid."We must act immediately and at scale to combat and contain this invasion. As the rains start in March there will be a new wave of locust breeding. Now is, therefore, the best time to control the swarms and safeguard people's livelihoods and food security, and avert further worsening of…
(2020-01-24). Some parts of China's Great Wall closed to visitors. yenisafak.com Some sections of China's Great Wall near Beijing will be closed to visitors from Saturday to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, state media and the Beijing government office which manages the Badaling part of the wall said on Friday.The reconstructed Badaling section is among the most visited parts of the wall.
(2020-01-24). Turkey joins 4th Industrial Revolution Network of WEF. yenisafak.com MEXT Technology Center, established by the Turkish Employers' Association of Metal Industries (MESS), joined the C4IR Network, a press release cited Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank as saying.With MEXT, Turkey will able to carry onto the international platform and shape global policies, Varank said.The C4IR Network aims to accelerate scientific and technological researches. The network is in cooperation with public and private institutions, academics and NGOs.The MESS was the first employer union accepted by the WEF for the C4IR Network, according to the press release.With cooperation agree…
(2020-01-24). Fresh Lassa fever outbreak kills 24 in Nigeria. yenisafak.com In Nigeria, at least 24 people have been killed in five states since the recent outbreak at the beginning of new year, according to officials.Over 100 patients have also been quarantined in designated treatment centers across the country after infected with the disease caused by a virus from rodent urine.On Friday, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said in a statement on its website that the highest casualties were recorded in southwestern Ondo state with 16 deaths. There are also 84 cases reported.In northeast Borno State, four cases were recorded and one of them died, according to Salihu Kwaya-Bura…
(2020-01-24). Arab royals hunt endangered birds in Pakistan. yenisafak.com Even as houbara bustard has been declared globally a protective species of birds, thousands of them have fallen to the hunting expeditions of Arab royals and their wealthy friends in Pakistan over fast months, claimed official sources. | Hunting the shy, rare bird breed, the size of a chicken is a favorite sport of visiting Arab Sheikhs because its meat is considered an aphrodisiac. | Official sources here said that since the commencement of hunting season in November, the central government has so issued 50 licenses through the Foreign Ministry to Arab royals form Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahra…
(2020-01-24). Pence, Netanyahu use Holocaust event in Israel to rail against Iran. wsws.org The slander of Iranian "anti-Semitism" and unfounded claims that Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons are propaganda to justify a steady buildup toward war.
(2020-01-24). Muslim Cleric Issues Fatwa Against Bollywood Film Director for 'Showing Quran in Bad Light'. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The Bollywood movie "Gul Makai", based on the story of the life and struggle of 22-year-old Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, has drawn the ire of a Muslim cleric.
(2020-01-24). Bollywood's Kangana Hits Bullseye Again With 'Panga', Fans Shower Love on the 'Epic Mother Tale'. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has won multiple National Film Awards for her films "Fashion", "Queen" and "Tanu Weds Manu Returns". However some of her past films including "Katti Batti", "Rangoon", "Simran" and "Judgemental Hai Kya" didn't do well at the box office.
(2020-01-24). Serena stunned! Williams loses to China's Wang at Australian Open as chance for 24th Grand Slam slips away AGAIN. rt.com 
The chance of a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam again went begging for Serena Williams as she lost to China's Wang Qiang in the third round of the Australian Open. | Williams, a seven-time champion in Melbourne, went down to Chinese number 27 seed Wang in three sets, 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena. | For Williams, who was seeded eighth Down Under, it means she remains stuck on 23 Grand Slam titles and again misses out on the chance to level Australian great Margaret Court's all-time mark of 24. | Williams, 38, last won a Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2017, and has since lost in four consecut…
(2020-01-24). Lee Camp straightens out 'sewage' NYT article that claims Russian bots 'sowed confusion' in South America (VIDEO). rt.com 
American comedian Lee Camp issued a scathing retort to a New York Times piece alleging that Russian bots stoked tensions in South America, jokingly noting that it would take several years to fully dissect the baseless report. | The host of Redacted Tonight marveled at how the piece, titled "As Protests in South America Surged, So Did Russian Trolls on Twitter, US Finds," was based on data provided by not-very-objective State Department 'analysts'. For Camp, this raised a number of obvious red flags. | He argued that, contrary to the US government-sourced piece, Washington and its cheerleaders in the media are…
(2020-01-24). 'Million-Man March' kicks off in Baghdad to demand US troop pullout (VIDEO, PHOTOS). rt.com 
A massive demonstration —called for by a prominent Shia cleric— has flooded the streets of the Iraq's capital Baghdad, with thousands voicing their anger at the US military presence there. | Early on Friday morning, throngs of protesters — men and women, young and old — began amassing at al-Hurriya Square in central Baghdad, near the city's main university. The anti-America rally, dubbed the "Million-man March," was called by Moqtada al-Sadr, Iraq's top Shiite cleric. | Some were wearing white robes, symbolizing their readiness to die for a religious cause, while others were pictured hol…
(2020-01-24). 'False sense of security!' Pakistan claims India's S-400 deal fuels arms race… as it tests ballistic missile. rt.com 
India's decision to buy Russia's S-400 missile defense system could spark an arms race, Pakistan has claimed, urging its regional rival to ditch it for the sake of "stability" the same day it tested a new nuclear-capable missile. | Citing "concerns regarding the induction of ballistic missile defense systems in the region," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Aisha Farooqui
(2020-01-24). Dozens of Indian students TRAPPED in Wuhan as China scrambles to stop spread of deadly coronavirus. rt.com 
A group of young Indians studying medicine in Wuhan, China have found themselves trapped in the city, as Beijing rushes to contain the new coronavirus outbreak. | Wuhan, home to 11 million people, has been put on lockdown by authorities in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly virus. Restrictions were also placed on two nearby cities, creating a quarantine of nearly 18 million people in total. | Among them are 25 Indian students who attend Wuhan University's College of Medicine. The medical students will likely be trapped in the city until health officials give the all clear. Chinese soldiers and SWAT tea…
(2020-01-24). WATCH: Escaped elephants frolic in snowy streets of Russia's Ekaterinburg. rt.com 
Workers and residents alike were stunned to look out their windows and see not one but two Indian elephants taking a snow bath on the streets of the Russian city of Ekaterinburg on Thursday. | The star performers of a visiting Italian circus, 45-year-old Carla and 50-year-old Roni, couldn't resist taking a stroll in the -5C air and frolicking in the snow in the city before their days-long drive to Saint Petersburg, having broken away from their trainers during a well-earned break. | Elephants on loose in Russia after circus escape
(2020-01-24). McDonald's reportedly shuts down restaurants in five Chinese cities as coronavirus spreads. rt.com 
Fast food chain McDonald's has announced it will halt operations in five cities in China's Hubei province, where the new deadly coronavirus is believed to originate. The suspension reportedly comes into effect on Friday. | The restaurant chain has dozens of locations in the region, including in the city of Wuhan, which is considered to be the epicenter of the virus. | Apart from Wuhan, where most infections have occurred, McDonalds will reportedly close restaurants in Ezhou, Huanggang, Qianjing and Xiantao. | Chinese authorities have placed several cities on lockdown, restricting movement for over 30 million p…
(2020-01-24). 'I want to open new fronts with Russia & China as US lived off the fat of our land,' Philippines' Duterte tells RT. rt.com 
Speaking to RT, firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte spewed vitriol at the US for seeing the Philippines as "a vassal state," revealing that he has sets his hopes on reaching out to Moscow and Beijing instead. | "America is not the Philippines and the Philippines is not America. It ain't that way anymore, and I refuse to dovetail under American foreign policy," Duterte proclaimed in a candid interview with RT. | Although Washington — which acquired the Philippines from Spain for just $20 million in the late 19th century — had "lived off the fat of the land," their attitudes haven't seemed to change ov…
(2020-01-24). Snow safety pillow: Woman miraculously survives fall from 9th storey window in Russian town (VIDEO). rt.com 
A woman can be seen falling from the window of a ninth-floor apartment in Izluchinsk, Russia in harrowing CCTV footage which has surfaced online. Against all odds, she immediately springs back up to her feet and seeks help. | The woman was incredibly lucky as she somehow managed to break her fall by landing in a perfectly placed snowdrift that was large enough to cushion her and save her life. | –ë—ã—Å—Ç—Ä—ã–π —Å–ø—É—Å–∫ —Å 9–≥–æ —&…
(2020-01-24). Merkel and Erdogan's smiles hide tough times ahead: What can we expect from EU-Turkey talks? rt.com 
They may be all smiles for the cameras, but the issues Angela Merkel and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are set to discuss — from Syrian refugees to Turkey's attempts to join the EU — may stall talks and deteriorate relations even further.
(2020-01-24). Outspoken former army figure named N. Korea's FM — reports. rt.com 
Pyongyang has reportedly named a sharp-tongued former army officer with little foreign policy experience as its top diplomat. Ri Son-gwon's new title as foreign minister was disclosed on Friday in a Korean Central News Agency dispatch. It said he attended a reception for foreign diplomats in Pyongyang the previous day. | South Korean and other media have also reported North Korea informed foreign diplomats in Pyongyang of Ri's job last week. Ri, an outspoken retired army colonel, previously headed a government body responsible for relations with Seoul and has taken part in numerous inter-Korean military talks…
(2020-01-24). Singapore confirms 2 more Wuhan virus cases, tally is now 3. rt.com 
Singapore has confirmed two more cases of a new strain of coronavirus, the Health Ministry said on Friday. The statement comes a day after the first case of the infection, which originated in China, was identified. | The ministry said it expected more imported cases because of high travel volume from China, where the virus has killed 25 people and infected more than 800, according to Reuters. Singapore's tally of confirmed cases is now three. | Schools in Singapore asked parents to declare overseas holiday plans as authorities screened travelers at air, land, and sea checkpoints on Friday, to combat the spread…
(2020-01-24). Killer coronavirus KOs Ramirez v Postol WBC & WBO unification world title fight in China. rt.com 
The WBC and WBO light-welterweight world title showdown between Jose Ramirez and Viktor Postol scheduled to take place in Haikou, China has been postponed amid fears of the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country. | The fight was scheduled for February 1 in the Chinese province of Haikou but according to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, the clash will be rescheduled for a later date following growing concerns about the spread of the fatal illness, which has claimed a reported 26 lives in China alone. | There have been a further 500 cases being suspected across the globe and measures to halt its spread via tradit…
(2020-01-24). Chinese authorities share FIRST PHOTOS of deadly coronavirus. rt.com 
The first close-up images of the deadly coronavirus which has killed at least 26 people and infected some 830 others in China's Wuhan have been released. | The Institute of Microbiology at Chinese Academy of Sciences | The Wuhan Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV is closely related to both the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), and has so far spre…
(2020-01-24). 'Spygate' update: At least two FISA warrants to spy on Carter Page were 'not valid,' DOJ says. rt.com 
The top US spy court has revealed that at least two of the four warrants for spying on a Trump campaign adviser are now considered to have been improperly obtained, and all information gained from them is being restricted. | FBI applications under the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) described Carter Page as a foreign agent in order to spy on his communications during and after the 2016 presidential campaign. Thanks to the "two hop" rule for these warrants, the spying could have extended to the entire campaign as well as President Donald Trump himself. | In a January 7 ruling declassified on Thursd…
(2020-01-24). Pelosi's Choice: Enough for Trump's Impeachment but not going All Out for Removal. counterpunch.org House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has her reasons for limiting her impeachment articles to offenses stemming from the abuses and violations related to Ukraine. Unfortunately, she declined to pursue a broader impeachment approach that recognizes multiple provable, serious violations of the Constitution. Speaker Pelosi overruled Chairs of Committees, including the Judiciary Committee, and other senior lawmakers
(2020-01-24). How Does a Bolton-Biden Trade Sound? sputniknews.com On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss the proposed witness exchange deal for the impeachment trial. To satisfy both sides, the deal would call John Bolton and either Joe or Hunter Biden as witnesses.
(2020-01-24). Nepal Finds Trans-Himalayan Railway With China Feasible – Foreign Minister. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): In October 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to help Nepal realise its dream of becoming a "land-linked" country and signed preliminary pacts related to connectivity projects. Connectivity through China via a railway will break the monopoly of India over the Himalayan nation.
(2020-01-24). Soros Says Trump's 'Narcissism' Turned into 'Malignant Disease' After Presidency. sputniknews.com The Inside Philanthropy news website earlier named Hungarian-American billionaire and left-wing activist George Soros "Philanthropist of the Year" for pledging millions of dollars in support for "academic freedom" in Central Europe.
(2020-01-24). Leap of Faith: Russian Woman Miraculously Survives Fall From 9th Floor of Apartment Building – Video. sputniknews.com It's horrifying to see somebody walking out of the window of a tall building – but in very rare cases, people can miraculously survive such extreme events – which is a real miracle, regardless of whether there is a lot of snow to break their fall.
(2020-01-24). Erdogan Says 'Syrian Mistake' Should Not Be Repeated in Libya, Calls for Pressure on Haftar. sputniknews.com ANKARA (Sputnik) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday voiced concerns over Libya repeating Syria's fate and called on the international community to increase pressure on Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan National Army (LNA) commander, who is involved in the military conflict in the country.
(2020-01-24). France Asserts to Provide No Concession to Pakistan on Terror Funding During FATF Meeting. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Pakistan is expected to be taken off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, as major powers including the US, UK, France, Germany, and even Japan appear to be in favour of Islamabad, due to the changing geopolitical equation in the region.
(2020-01-24). All Flights From China's Wuhan to Moscow Cancelled Amid Coronavirus Outbreak – Airport. sputniknews.com BEIJING (Sputnik) – All flights from the Chinese city of Wuhan to Moscow have been cancelled over the coronavirus outbreak in China, the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport said on Friday.
(2020-01-24). Shanghai Disneyland Temporarily Shuts Down Over New Coronavirus Outbreak. sputniknews.com BEIJING (Sputnik) – Shanghai Disneyland theme park announced on Friday that it would temporarily close on 25 January due to the spread of the new coronavirus in China.
(2020-01-24). US war threat against Iran remains. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-01-24). Yazidi genocide survivors call for US to stop Turkey bombing Sinjar. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-01-24). AK-46: The Case Against Amy Klobuchar. counterpunch.org "First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more
(2020-01-24). Trump/Pence #OutNOW: No War on Iran! No War on Women! indybay.org Bring #OUTNOW into mass protests against U.S. war on Iran — join up with the Refuse Fascism contingent for Saturday's Global Day of Protest. | We will STAY in the streets into the afternoon, to protest this year's Christian fundamentalist "Walk for Life" attack on women's abortion rights.
(2020-01-24). Climate Strike: SF Bay Area Youth Strike in Oakland. indybay.org Young people show the way to avoid the apocalypse…
(2020-01-24). Sun Yet-sen's Happy New Year proposal for China: the walking tour. indybay.org American Youth Hostel | 312 Mason St. | San Francisco | (meet in the lobby)…
(2020-01-24). SF Treasure Island Former Residents File Suit For Contamination /Injuries & For Shutdown. indybay.org Former residents of San Francisco Treasure Island filed a lawsuit for their contamination by radioactive and other chemicals on them and their families and for the shutdown of the development project. They also charged there was collusion by government agencies and City, State. and National politicians to push ahead with the multi-billion dollar condo/hotel development.
(2020-01-23). Next Generation 5G and the US-China "Cellphone War": The Arrest and Trial of Meng Wanzhou. globalresearch.ca The unspoken US policy objective behind the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou on trumped up charges, consists in breaking China's technological lead in wireless telecommunications. What is at stake is a coordinated US intelligence initiative to ban China from playing a strategic role in the 5G global mobile phone network.
(2020-01-23). OPCW Investigator testifies at UN that no Chemical Attack Took Place in Douma, Syria. dissidentvoice.org Video and a transcript of former OPCW engineer and dissenter Ian Henderson's UN testimony appears at the end of this report. A former lead investigator from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has spoken out at the United Nations, stating in no uncertain terms that the scientific evidence suggests there was no …
(2020-01-23). Three Years of Monroe Doctrine by Trump: What Has Happened in Latin America? globalresearch.ca Against all mainstream media expectations, Donald Trump had defeated Hillary Clinton to the presidency of the United States in 2016, and it was expected that the new president would take on a more isolationist policy and withdraw his country from …
(2020-01-23). Bolivia: As Elections Near, US-Backed Interim Government Mobilizes Military, Arrests Opposition Leaders. globalresearch.ca Interim President of Bolivia Jeanine Añez has ordered troops to the streets and forced opposition candidates to organize abroad for fear of arrest ahead of the country's first elections since a US-backed coup last November. | *** | Wednesday, January 22 marks …
(2020-01-23). Analysis — In the Name of 'Israel's Security': Retreating US Gives Israel Billions More in Military Aid. imemc.org By Ramzy Baroud for Palestine Chronicle Billions of US taxpayers' dollars will continue to be funnelled into Israel in the next fiscal year, and for many years in the foreseeable future. Republican and Democratic Senators have recently ensured just that, passing a bill aimed at providing Israel with $3.3 billion …
(2020-01-23). U.S. clearing anti-war voices off social media in vast censorship operation. mronline.org 
Instagram and its parent company Facebook are removing posts that appear to be in support of the late Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in order to comply with U.S. sanctions, a company spokesperson recently told CNN. |
(2020-01-23). Impacts of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). Ease or Exacerbate China-India Rivalry? globalresearch.ca The eventual completion of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) will either ease or exacerbate the Sino-Indo economic rivalry of the past few years depending on how New Delhi responds to Beijing's latest trans-regional integration initiative, but whatever it decides to …
(2020-01-23). The United States: A Record-Holder in Political Assassinations. globalresearch.ca The crowing by Donald Trump that he "terminated" the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, Major General Qaseem Soleimani, simply because Trump believed, mobster-style, that he had it coming, should remind the world that the United …
(2020-01-23). 'This Is Already a Hot War the US Is Prosecuting Against Iran' – CounterSpin interview with Gregory Shupak about. fair.org 
Janine Jackson interviewed media scholar Gregory Shupak about the Soleimani assassination for the Media…
(2020-01-23). The Grayzone's Anya Parampil slams mainstream media's anti-Sanders bias on Tucker Carlson Tonight. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone's Anya Parampil joined Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News to discuss the media and democratic establishment's attack on…
(2020-01-23). GOP senators look down in embarrassment as prosecutors make their case. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON — It was lucky for GOP senators at the impeachment trial yesterday that press cameras had been banned from the chamber and that only the stationary Senate cameras were running. Otherwise, images of them fidgeting, squirming and looking down in embarrassment as House prosecutors spoke would have been beamed into the homes of American …
(2020-01-23). Video: Russia's "Dead Hand" Command Missiles, Deterrent In The Event of a Crippling Nuclear Attack. globalresearch.ca The existing system of international relations and arms control treaties is slowly, but steadily crumbling. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is dead, with both Washington and Moscow publicly developing previously banned short-to-medium range missiles. The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction …
(2020-01-23). Clinton Says Sanders Achieved "Nothing." My Community Clinic Shows She's Wrong. truthout.org Hillary Clinton has touched a nerve with her attacks on Bernie Sanders in a new docuseries premiering on Hulu and a
(2020-01-23). A Trump official just tried to outwit Greta Thunberg. It ended very badly for him. thecanary.co A Trump official tried to tear Greta Thunberg down a peg or two on 23 January. Responding to a question about the climate activist's call for divestment from fossil fuels, Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin Mnuchin's message was effectively 'shut up and listen to the grown-ups, Greta, until you are one yourself'. He should ha…
(2020-01-23). At Davos, UN chief urges 'big emitters' to take climate action. news.un.org The world is "doomed" in the face of climate change unless major industrial nations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.
(2020-01-23). Why action on climate change gets stuck and what to do about it. zcomm.org Why Incremental Change won't solve the Climate Crisis…
(2020-01-23). New Zealand Greens support military build-up. wsws.org The Green Party, part of the Labour-led government, is backing $20 billion in military upgrades and increased army recruitment, purportedly because it will help address the impact of climate change.
(2020-01-23). Only a radical Green New Deal can save humanity as Trump's axis of climate catastrophe advances. thecanary.co 2020 is a pivotal year for humanity. It's the year where the outcome of the US presidential election could either accelerate the world towards climate catastrophe with
(2020-01-23). US Treasury secretary has a tantrum over Greta Thunberg urging divestment from fossil fuels. thecanary.co US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin has said Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is in no position to give economic advice until she goes to college and comes out with an economics degree. | At a press briefing at the World Economic Forum, Mr Mnuchin took a swipe at the 17-year-old environmental campaigner for her recommendation that the public and private sectors should divest from fossil fuels. | When asked how that would affect the US economic model, Mr Mnuchin threw a tantrum about Thunberg, asking if she was an economist and saying it "was a joke". | This week I'm attending the World Economic Forum in D…
(2020-01-23). Deadly Distractions: Laying the Groundwork for the Next Civil War. "Deep State's Plot to Take Over America" globalresearch.ca " —Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet | And so it continues. | This impeachment fiasco is merely the latest in a never-ending series …
(2020-01-23). Democrats Focus Day 2 of Trial on Trump's 'Dangerous' Abuse. truthdig.com 
WASHINGTON — Pressing through a second day of impeachment arguments, House Democrats scoffed at President Donald Trump's claims that he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political foes. | It was Trump who engaged in a shocking abuse of power, not former Vice President Joe Biden or other Trump foes, said Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas. There is "no evidence, nothing, nada"' to suggest that Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine, said the former judge. | The Democratic prosecutors argued in the
(2020-01-23). Trump Brags About Withholding Evidence as Impeachment Trial Proceeds in Senate. truthout.org During the opening day of oral arguments in the impeachment trial, President Trump was accused of abusing his office to "cheat an election." House impeachment managers spent about eight hours on Wednesday laying out their case for why President Trump should be removed from office. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's politica…
(2020-01-23). Trump impeachment trial starts as several unions speak out. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON —The Republican-run Senate's impeachment trial of GOP President Donald Trump opened Jan. 21 with heated verbal jousting from lawyers — as several unions have spoken out. National Nurses United, Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, and Service Employees President Mary Kay Henry strongly supported the impeachment process, but haven't taken a position on the actual …
(2020-01-23). Trump's Rosy Economic Outlook Is a Big Lie. truthdig.com President Donald Trump this week addressed the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, exaggerating the successes of the U.S. economy to such a great extent that it was as though he hoped to match reality to his fantastical claims by sheer force of will. The WEF — a yearly meeting that he chose to skip last year — is a gathering of global elites that this year convened at the same time his Senate impeachment trial began in earnest. Trump's attendance was perhaps a deliberate attempt to distract from the proceedings that could lay bare his corrupt dealings. He seemed to be saying, "Ignore the…
(2020-01-23). Video: Globalize Hope: New Film on the History of La Via Campesina. globalresearch.ca La Via Campesina is an international movement that brings together millions of peasants, landless workers, indigenous peoples and migrants — comprising women, men, youth and diverse identities — from all over the world. The movement brings them together under its …
(2020-01-23). U.S. General Says Troop Surge in Middle East May Not End Soon. truthdig.com 
America has sent more than 20,000 additional troops into the region over the past eight months to counter the escalating threat from Iran.