(2019-01-20). Multiple Bomb Attacks in Syria Break Relative Calm. telesurenglish.net Multiple attacks took place around Syria Sunday, with an explosion heard in the vicinity of Syria's al-Motahalik al-Janobi, south of Damascus and another attack in the northwest Syrian town of Afrin which killed three civilians and wounded about 20 on a public bus. | RELATED: | Israel Confirms Air Strike on Iranian Arms Warehouse in Syria | Possible 'Terror Attack' | South of Damascus, State TV broadcaster claimed that, "first reports suggest a terrorist act," while also reporting…
(2019-01-20). Dinghy Carrying 117 Migrants Collapses in Mediterranean Sea. telesurenglish.net The Italian navy reported the sinking of a ship off the coast of Libya on Saturday. The boat was carrying 117 migrants on board, but the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is yet to verify the death toll. | RELATED: | Spanish Rescue Boat Blocked From Operating in the Mediterranean Sea | The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported 10 women and two children, including a two-month-old baby, among the missing from the shipwreck. | The…
(2019-01-20). "Globalization is the Demise of Humanity": Towards an "Economy of Peace" with an Alternative Monetary System. globalresearch.ca First published by Global Research on September 11, 2016 | Globalisation is the demise of humanity. That being said, if we want peace, solidarity, harmonious cohabitation, justice and equality — we have to defeat globalisation. And to be able to defeat …
(2019-01-20). How Wall Street Finances the Battle against Neoliberalism? globalresearch.ca Today I read an interesting article referring to Mexico on how neoliberal economists through the application of "strong IMF economic medicine" contributed to "wreaking havoc" on the global poor while "protecting the financial elites". | And then I arrived at the …
(2019-01-20). Australia: Women Demand Equality, End to Violence. telesurenglish.net Thousands took to major cities in Australia to stage a coordinated series of protests calling for women's equality and against gender violence, and in memory of the recent murder of Aiia Maasarwe. | RELATED: | Ecuador Rocked With Brutal Gang Rape Case, Women Rights Groups Plan National Protests | Nearly 3,000 demonstrators gathered i…
(2019-01-20). Rex 84: FEMA's Blueprint for Martial Law in America. globalresearch.ca We are dangerously close to a situation where ~ if the American people took to the streets in righteous indignation or if there were another 9/11 ~ a mechanism for martial law could be quickly implemented and carried out under REX 84.
(2019-01-20). US Has Killed More Than 20 Million People in 37 "Victim Nations" Since World War II. globalresearch.ca First published in November 2015 | GR Editor's Note | Let us put this in historical perspective: the commemoration of the War the End All Wars acknowledges that 15 million lives were lost in the course of World War I (1914-18). | The …
(2019-01-20). Meet the Team Behind CNN Brasil: A Businessman Accused of Exploiting Slave Labor and An Executive From a Fox News-style Outlet. theintercept.com 
CNN Brasil is poised to become "Brazil's Fox News" — in lockstep with Jair Bolsonaro's right-wing movement.
(2019-01-20). Vive La Résistance: Brexit, Yellow Vests, and the Fate of the EU. globalresearch.ca "There's a military base — a German military base, with the help of NATO — being built for urban warfare training…Why would Europe need a training camp for urban warfare if they wouldn't expect upheavals that you may see in …
(2019-01-20). Climate change is 'national security issue', Pentagon warns in new report slammed by Dems. rt.com 
Military bases across the nation are "vulnerable" to floods, droughts, and wildfires as changing climate disrupts drills and rocket launches, the US military warned in a report. But Dems still accused it of downplaying the issue.
(2019-01-20). Syrian air defence repels Israeli attack in south: State media. aljazeera.com Air defence systems thwart Israeli air raid, state media reports, hours after blast rocks capital, Damascus.
(2019-01-20). Syria's war: Large explosion rocks capital Damascus. aljazeera.com Bast occurred during rush hour and appears to have been 'a terrorist act', state television reports.
(2019-01-20). Beirut summit: Arab leaders discuss free trade, Syria refugees. aljazeera.com Leaders aim to agree on joint statement after discussing Arab free trade zone and effect of Syrian refugees on economy.
(2019-01-20). Two years in White House: How much has Trump delivered?>. aljazeera.com US president has pulled out of a global climate accord, launched a trade war with China and built bridges with Russia.
(2019-01-20). When world leaders, war victims, activists take #10YearChallenge. aljazeera.com Iran's Zarif, Turkey's Erdogan, Israel's Netanyahu also figure in viral social media memes highlighting global issues.
(2019-01-20). Taliban attack in Afghanistan's Logar kills eight security forces. aljazeera.com The car bomb targeted the provincial governor's convoy travelling on the main highway between Logar and Kabul.
(2019-01-20). Pakistan arrests police officers after shooting that left 4 dead. aljazeera.com Counterterrorism officers arrested over killing of a couple, their teenage daughter and another man in Punjab province.
(2019-01-20). Photo journalist Mohamed Ben Khalifa killed in Libya. aljazeera.com Acclaimed news photographer was was hit by shrapnel during a new round of clashes in Libya.
(2019-01-20). Graham: US-Saudi Ties Can't Move Forward Until Crown Prince MBS "Dealt With" theantimedia.com 
(MEE) — After meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, US Senator Lindsey Graham said on Saturday that relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia cannot move forward until Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is "dealt with". Graham, who has taken a prominent role in speaking out over the death in October of the Saudi …
(2019-01-20). Judge Delays Ruling on Puerto Rico Debt Deal White House Opposes Island's Food Assistance. indybay.org On Thursday, Judge Laura Taylor Swain delayed approval of a $17 billion debt deal between Puerto Rico "COFINA" creditors and the island's oversight board.
(2019-01-20). Nude Valentine Parade. indybay.org Jane Warner Plaza (Market & Castro Streets), then walk to Haight & Stanyan Streets via circuitous route.
(2019-01-20). 1/19/19 S.F. Women's March. indybay.org For the third year in a row, San Francisco had a very large women's march on 1/19/19, a weekend when we celebrate 46 years since Roe v Wade legalized abortion in the US, with perhaps 100,000 people, wide enough to take up all lanes on Market Street, and long enough to go beyond 1 hour to pass a given point. It was a warm, sunny 65 degree day, a welcome change from the constant rain earlier in the week.
(2019-01-20). Come celebrate the 170th Anniversary of the 1849 est. of Negro Bar, California. indybay.org Together, we are poised for a special yearlong 170th Anniversary of Negro Bar, Sacramento County by utilizing both private and public resources to forever preserve and interpret our unique contributions to the forward flow of humanity.
(2019-01-20). Jerry Brown's Cowardly Exit. indybay.org Brown took the cowards approach in his final acts which could have emptied California's death row – the largest in the nation.
(2019-01-20). Coalition Defends Interventions against Holtec's NM High-Level Radioactive Waste Mega-Dump. indybay.org The infamous company Tetra Tech, which falsified soil sample data re: radioactive contamination at Hunters Point in the Bay Area of CA, has played a major role in the environmental assessment of a site in southeastern New Mexico. Holtec International is targeting a Hispanic area for a mega-dump for 173,600 metric tons of highly radioactive irradiated nuclear fuel. High-risk shipments there would impact most states.
(2019-01-19). BlacKkKlansman a Trump Cop-Out. zcomm.org BlackKklansman is a feel-good film. It's a great film if we want to keep our feathers unruffled and sleep peacefully at night, embedded in the system, minds comfortably turned off…
(2019-01-19). Mueller shoots down BuzzFeed's latest 'Russiagate' scoop with a rare dismissal. rt.com 
Special Counsel Robert Mueller has poured cold water on BuzzFeed's latest Russiagate "bombshell" with a rare public statement calling the article, which claims Trump told his ex-lawyer Cohen to lie to Congress, "not accurate."
(2019-01-19). 'Prove that WALLS WORK!' Trump fundraiser aims to flood Dems' offices with fake BRICKS. rt.com 
President Donald Trump is rallying his supporters during the government shutdown with a clever fundraising campaign that needles his Democratic opponents while padding his war chest for the upcoming reelection battle.
(2019-01-19). We have had enough of Trump and the war on women. fightbacknews.org Enough is enough. Trump, his administration, and his backers are waging war on women, and millions of women are making it clear that we are not going to be pushed backwards. From the massive Women's Marches, to the midterm elections, to the constant, everyday resistance, women are standing up against Trump's reactionary agenda. | Trump and his supporters in the Senate want to pack the Supreme Court and roll back reproductive rights, and they have gotten a start by appointing the drunken misogynist Brett Kavanaugh. Accompanying the administrations outrageous policy of placing immigrants in detention, Trump's Justi…
(2019-01-19). Trump, announcing new missile defense program, ramps up nuclear arms race. wsws.org Trump's latest boondoggle for the military and defense contractors is part of the largest and most sustained military buildup since the Cold War.
(2019-01-19). No president since Lincoln treated worse than me — Trump. rt.com 
Not since Abraham Lincoln has a US president been treated so badly by the media, Donald Trump lamented in a series of Twitter rants before going to Delaware to honor the four Americans killed in Syria.
(2019-01-19). CIA Covert Operative William Barr Nominated by Trump for Attorney General. His Role in the Iran Contra Affair. globalresearch.ca The fact is, there is nothing to "respect" and everything to condemn about Barr's work as a key inner circle operative throughout George H. W. Bush's rise to power. It is a sobering fact that many US presidents have gone out of their way to hire fixers to be their attorney generals.
(2019-01-19). 2019 Women's Marches to Push Forward 'More Proactive' Agenda. telesurenglish.net The third edition of the Women's March in New York City will be accompanied by other U.S. cities in a new Saturday mobilization for women's rights and against President Donald Trump's Administration ahead of the 2020 elections. | RELATED: | US: Activist Group Seeks Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights | The Women's March began as a way to bring together several generations of activists…
(2019-01-19). What Trump's Syrian Withdrawal Really Reveals. truthdig.com President Trump was wrong in asserting that the United States destroyed the Islamic State's territorial statehood in a large part of Syria—Russia and its allies accomplished that—but he is right in proposing to withdraw some 2,000 American forces from that tragically war-ravaged country. The small American contingent serves no positive combat or strategic purpose unless it is to thwart the Russian-led peace negotiations now underway or to serve as a beachhead for a US war against Iran. Still worse, its presence represents a constant risk that American military personnel could be killed by Russian forc…
(2019-01-19). Spy Theories and the White House: Donald Trump as Russian Agent. globalresearch.ca The level of absurdity in US politics has now reached such vertigo inducing levels as to render all manner of things permissible. Contact with the unwashed implies collaboration; discussion with the enemy implies assent. To go to a dinner party …
(2019-01-19). Trump Offers a 'Dreamers' Deal for Border-Money Proposal. truthdig.com WASHINGTON — In a bid to break the shutdown impasse and fund his long-promised border wall, President Donald Trump on Saturday offered to extend temporary protection for young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children. But while Trump cast the move as a "common-sense compromise," Democrats were quick to dismiss it as a "non-starter." | Trump declared from the White House that "both sides in Washington must simply come together," adding that he was there "to break the logjam and provide Congress with a path forward to end the government shutdown and solve the crisis on the southern border." | Hoping t…
(2019-01-19). Thailand: Insurgents Kill Buddhist Monks. hrw.org 
(New York) — Separatist insurgents in Thailand's southern border provinces killed two Buddhist monks in an unlawful assault on a temple, Human Rights Watch said today. The deliberate attack on civilians and a place of worship is a war crime. | | | Separatist insurgents in Thailand's Narathiwat province attacked Wat Rattanaphab temple on January 18, 2019, and killed two Buddhist monks, including the temple's abbot Phra Khru Prachote Rattanarak, and wounded two others. | © 20…
(2019-01-19). Trump Driving Doomsday Clock Towards Midnight. globalresearch.ca Next Thursday, 24 January, should the atomic scientists push forward the Doomsday Clock, it will be a third successive year it has progressed towards midnight (apocalypse). The Doomsday Clock is currently set at two minutes to midnight, as advanced a …
(2019-01-19). The Complete History of Monsanto, "The World's Most Evil Corporation" globalresearch.ca First published by Waking Times, posted by Global Research in May 2014, this article provides a historical viewpoint. It is of particular relevance in relation to the Monsanto-Bayer merger. Monsanto-Bayer is relentlessly pushing the Worldwide adoption of glyphosate, which is …
(2019-01-19). Bolsonaro's Son Received Suspicious Deposits in Account: Report. telesurenglish.net Brazilian financial authorities have identified dozens of cash transfers worth almost 100,000 reais (US$26,665) that were deposited over the course of a month into the account of the president's son, according to a TV newscast Friday. | RELATED: | Brazil: Police Attack Protesters Against Bolsonaro Policies | The report on the National Journal, Brazil's main nightly news program, said that the Council for Financial Activities Control (COAF) had identified 48 deposits made into the acc…
(2019-01-19). We Need a Martin Luther King Day of Truth. globalresearch.ca First published on MLK day 2018 | As Martin Luther King's birthday is celebrated with a national holiday, his death day disappears down the memory hole. Across the country — in response to the King Holiday and Service Act passed …
(2019-01-19). Monsanto/Bayer Giant Moving to "Genome Edit" Fruits and More. globalresearch.ca Not surprising, Monsanto, today hidden behind the Bayer logo, as the world leader in patented GMO seeds and the probable carcinogenic Roundup herbicide with glyphosate, is attempting to quietly patent genetically modified or GMO varieties of fruits using controversial gene-editing. …
(2019-01-19). Nonviolent Afghans Bring a Breath of Fresh Air. zcomm.org War is not inevitable. It is an obsolete, repetitive choice. Everywhere, each of us can emulate these new-generation Afghans by ushering in breaths of fresh air…
(2019-01-19). VIDEO — Das "Groàüe Spiel" der Milità§rbasen in Afrika. globalresearch.ca Italienische Soldaten im Einsatz in Dschibuti haben der humanità§ren Organisation, die den Flàºchtlingen in diesem winzigen Land am Horn von Afrika hilft, Nà§hmaschinen angeboten. Es befindet sich in einer strategischen Position an der wichtigsten Handelsroute Asien-Europa, an der Màºndung des …
(2019-01-19). My hopes lie shattered. mronline.org 
Late last year, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton went to Miami (USA), where he coined a new—chilling—phrase: troika of tyranny. It echoed former U.S. President George W. Bush's phrase, axis of evil. Bush's axis included Iran, Iraq and North Korea. | Source
(2019-01-19). US Crimes against Humanity. The People of Nicaragua. globalresearch.ca I am writing to request that both the 1) member states of the UN General Assembly and 2) member states of the Security Council hold hearings, debate and vote on an effective plan of action against various crimes that have …
(2019-01-19). Feds Confirm Jailed Iranian TV Anchor Not Charged With Crime. truthdig.com WASHINGTON—Federal officials confirmed Friday that a prominent American-born anchorwoman on Iranian state television was jailed in the U.S. as a material witness and has not been charged with any crime, according to court papers. | Marzieh Hashemi has appeared twice before a U.S. district judge in Washington and has been appointed an attorney. U.S. government officials expect her to be released immediately after her testimony before a grand jury. | The order to unseal some parts of her case came days after she was first detained. It did not include details on the criminal case in which she was named a witne…
(2019-01-19). Australian fake left promote Greens, trade unions and Labor at anti-fascist protest. wsws.org The claim that the Labor and the unions can serve as bulwark against fascism is a dangerous echo of the disastrous Popular Front policies of the Stalinist Parties in the 1930s.
(2019-01-19). Tesla, Nissan announce mass layoffs, Fiat Chrysler jobs threatened. wsws.org The auto giants are seeking to terrorize an increasingly insurgent workforce into submission, as the companies confront slumping sales, a looming economic crisis and significant financial pressures.
(2019-01-19). Science and social crisis in 2019. wsws.org A series of major scientific breakthroughs demonstrate the potential for the progressive development of humanity, even as capitalism drags mankind into war and barbarism.
(2019-01-19). Factional warfare hots up after collapse of May's European Union Brexit deal. wsws.org Led by the Blairite wing of the Labour, Pro-Remain politicians calculated that the decks would now be cleared for them to campaign for a second "People's Vote" to overturn the 2016 referendum.
(2019-01-19). "Made in China 2025" at centre of US-China economic war. wsws.org The US regards the "Made in China 2025" initiative as a major threat to its own global economic and strategic domination.
(2019-01-19). Democrats claims 'Russians' tried to hack them after 2018 midterms. rt.com 
'Dozens' of officials at the Democratic National Committee received phishing emails a week after the 2018 midterm elections, the DNC said in a legal filing as part of its ongoing lawsuit against Russia and WikiLeaks.
(2019-01-19). Crown Prince MBS must be 'dealt with' before US-Saudi relations can move forward — Sen. Graham. rt.com 
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has become an obstacle to improving US-Saudi relations and must be "dealt with," US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has warned.
(2019-01-19). US Jails American Journalist Without Charge. theantimedia.com 
(ANTIWAR.COM) — It took a solid week after her detention in St. Louis, but Marzieh Hashemi, an anchor for Iran's PressTV and an American citizen, has finally gotten into a courtroom, and learned that she is neither being accused of any crimes nor is she facing any charges. That said, they're not expecting to let her go …
(2019-01-19). Trump Sanctions Against Venezuela Have Decimated Oil Production. therealnews.com 
The Trump administration is evaluating oil sanctions on Venezuela now. The sanctions that are already in place lead to many deaths and make an economic recovery practically impossible, says CEPR's Mark Weisbrot
(2019-01-19). No End in Sight: The Perils of Trump's Guantánamo. truthout.org From the Muslim ban to the continuing proxy war in Yemen, the new era of the "war on terror" under the Trump administration has kept Guantánamo largely invisible. But two years since Donald Trump's inauguration, there has been a host of cruel measures implemented under his leadership, despite his emphasis on other problematic policies. | Rather than becoming a relic of the war on terror, Trump has instead attempted to revive Guantánamo as a legitimate facility to incarcerate Muslim prisoners. As an institution that has long set the precedent for the mistreatment of Muslims suspected of terrorism,…
(2019-01-18). The Wall, The Endless War, and the Troops Who Pay. commondreams.org An image grab taken from a video obtained by AFPTV on January 16, 2019, shows U.S. armoured vehicles at the scene of a suicide attack in the northern Syrian town of Manbij. (Photo: Getty) | www.commondreams.org/sites/defau……
(2019-01-18). Release of Syrian man wrongly convicted of terrorism in Hungary an "overwhelming relief" amnesty.org Ahead of tomorrow's early release of Ahmed H, a Syrian man who was unfairly jailed for "complicity in an act of terror" during clashes with police at the Serbia-Hungary border in September 2015, Eda Seyhan, Amnesty International's Europe Counter Terrorism Campaigner, said: | | "After spending three-and-a-half years behind bars, Ahmed will finally be reunited with his wife and two young daughters. His…
(2019-01-18). The Biden Band-Aid: Will Democrats Contain the Insurgency? counterpunch.org The 2020 election horse race is beginning to take shape. Unless something unexpected happens (e.g., impeachment, resignation), Trump will likely seek reelection as the Republican candidate. A number of independents will seek third-party (e.g., Greens, Socialists) candidacy. And then there are the Democrats. Numerous Democratic politicos are beginning to cluster behind the starting gate considering a primary run More
(2019-01-18). EU leaders must fix "broken system" that leaves people adrift at sea. amnesty.org European leaders must urgently act to fix a system which deters states from assisting refugees and migrants in peril at sea, said Amnesty International in an analysis published today. | Cut adrift in the Mediterranean outlines how the outsourcing of European border control to the Libyan authorities, in combination with a system which fails to share responsibility for asylum-seekers fairly across Europe, has created a situation where people are frequently stranded in the Mediterranean. It also sets out steps to ensure situati…
(2019-01-18). Fight Back! heading to the Women's Marches. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN — A large turnout is expected for the Women's Marches this weekend and Fight Back! will be there. Thousands of copies of the Fight Back! print edition will be distributed in Washington DC and at other marches across the U.S. | Jerrica Hoey, a member of the ten-person Washington DC distribution team states, "It's important that we continue to build the struggle against Trump. This movement showed from the outset that the people will not stand for the Trump administration's war on women. We're excited to hit the streets to get the word out on #MeToo, to put out a call for Intern…
(2019-01-18). Headlines for January 18, 2019. democracynow.org Watchdog: Trump Admin Vastly Underreported Migrant Family Separations, Trump Grounds Flight of Congressmembers to Visit NATO, Afghanistan, Government Shutdown Threatens Safety Net Programs for Millions, As Shutdown Grinds On, Senate Debates Anti-Abortion Bill, Trump Admin Recalls Workers to Assist in Offshore Oil Projects, BuzzFeed: Trump Ordered Michael Cohen to Lie to Congress, WSJ: Trump Paid Cohen to Rig Polls in Likely Campaign Finance Violation, Colombia: Suicide Car Bomber Kills 21 at Bogotá Police Academy, Sudan: Security Forces Fire on Anti-Government Protesters, U.S. Citizen and Iranian TV News Anchor M…
(2019-01-18). What evidence? BuzzFeed fuels 'Russiagate' with bombshell report on Trump and Cohen. rt.com 
A bombshell report from BuzzFeed accused President Donald Trump of directing his former attorney Michael Cohen to lie to Congress — but was unable to provide any evidence to back the claim.
(2019-01-18). Second Trump-Kim Summit Hints at Progress. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — January 18, 2018 — In response to the administration's announcement that President Trump and Kim Jong-un will hold a second summit meeting near the end of February, Kevin Martin, President of Peace Action and Coordinator of the Korea Peace Network, released the following statement: "After months of scant visible progress in negotiations […]
(2019-01-18). Trump Punts on Syria: The Forever War is Far From Over. counterpunch.org Donald Trump wants to pull U.S. troops out of Syria as quickly as possible. Well, it's Wednesday, so that's what the president wants now. Tomorrow, who knows, maybe he'll insist that Syria pay for the pullout. Maybe Trump will decide to hold a summit with Bashar al-Assad after deciding that the Syrian leader's not such More
(2019-01-18). Roaming Charges: Sometimes an Establishment Hack is Just What You Need. counterpunch.org 
Trump had to reach pretty deep into the recycling bin to extract the rusty figure of William Barr as a loyal replacement for J. Beauregard Sessions at the Justice Department. After he dusted him off, what did Trump see in this relic from the Poppy Bush era, that shining reign of triumphant globalists that Trump publicly claims to loath? A cursory scan of Barr's CV, which is about as deep a look as Trump is likely to have given, shows all the field marks of a well-worn grey man of Swamptown, a malted Scotch institutionalist, if not an honorary member of the Deep State itself. Surely Trump hesitated when he read, o…
(2019-01-18). Star Wars Revisited: One More Nightmare From Trump. counterpunch.org Donald Trump and his "war cabinet" have struck again. In the wake of record defense spending; the creation of a Space Force that would violate the Outer Space Treaty agreed to fifty years ago; the abrogation of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty from thirty years ago; and the chaos of random decision making for use More
(2019-01-18). Human Trafficking Should Be Illegal. counterpunch.org "Slaves are generally expected to sing as well as to work." —Frederick Douglass Donald Trump comes under fire from the neoliberal establishment whenever he does something digestible. I am amazed the liberals are mad at him so often, considering 99.9% of the time he is doing something awful. Anytime Trump has a unique thought about More
(2019-01-18). Rep. Ro Khanna: U.S. Troops Are a "Sitting Target" in Syria; It's Time to Bring Them Home. democracynow.org 
In Syria, a suicide bomber struck a restaurant in the northern city of Manbij Wednesday, killing 19 people including four Americans. Two of them were U.S. soldiers. The bombing was claimed by ISIS and came just weeks after President Trump declared victory over the group and ordered U.S. troops to withdraw from Syria, prompting the resignation of Pentagon chief Jim Mattis. Just hours after the attack, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated that ISIS has been defeated. Wednesday's attack drew renewed calls from congressional hawks—both Republicans and Democrats—to reverse Trump's Syria withdrawal. The U.S…
(2019-01-18). MLK Warned Us of the Well-Intentioned Liberal. thenation.com Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove MLK Warned Us of the Well-Intentioned Liberal…
(2019-01-18). Did Donald Get The Memo? Trump's VA Secretary Denounces 'Veteran as Victim' Stereotyping. counterpunch.org 
Amid a controversial government shutdown, affecting 800,000 thousand federal employees, you would think that the agency headed by Robert Wilkie would be an oasis of tranquility. His Department of Veterans Affairs is, like the Pentagon, largely exempt from the shutdown. Due to prior budget approval, its funding for the current fiscal year is unaffected by More
(2019-01-18). "Weather Terrorism:" a National Emergency. counterpunch.org 
As Trump projects his Imperial power in the direction of our southern border, demanding to reinforce its security by building a wall, the real threat to America's safety – weather terrorism (Bruno Latour's term for the biospheric backlash aimed at the vast hubris of humanity) – goes unheeded. Trump's posturing with regard to establishing a national emergency to facilitate wall building, obscures a genuine emergency in just one more case of the Fake eclipsing the Real. More
(2019-01-18). The Danger Within: Border Patrol is Turning America into a Constitution-Free Zone. counterpunch.org "Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." — William Pitt How far would you really go to secure the nation's borders against illegal aliens? Would you give the government limitless amounts of money to fight yet another endless war? Surround More
(2019-01-18). ISIS Fighters in Syria Are Trying to Push Into Iraq, Where U.S. Forces Can't Get Along With Armed Groups Supported by Iran. theintercept.com 
In Al Qaim, Iraq's U.S.-backed security forces and the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces are increasingly distrustful of each other.
(2019-01-18). The Tulsi Gabbard Factor. counterpunch.org Too much light blinds us," Pascal wrote; "if the fool would persist in his folly, he would become wise," wrote William Blake. The idea that, when pushed to extremes, things turn into their opposites seems to have arisen in one form or another many times and in many cultures. It is epitomized in the Western philosophical More
(2019-01-18). Lebanon: Migrant Domestic Workers Abused, A Scripted Reality. amnesty.org "Stop don't go to Lebanon!". A member of the audience stepped forward to interfere with one of the scenes on stage, in which Nday is seen to be packing her bags to catch a flight to Lebanon. Despite knowing what awaits Nday in the form of multiple human rights violations, I could see that stopping her from seeking her awaited job opportunity in a time where she was in desperate need to make a living, was not a solution. | Amnesty International marked the International Migrants Day on 18 December 2018 with an interactive theatre performance, Chebbak, in collaboration with Wasl; a theatre collective that uses theat…
(2019-01-18). United States Bombings of Other Countries. America's "Bombing List" globalresearch.ca The important legacy of the late William Blum will live. This article was first posted on GR in June 2016. | *** | It is a scandal in contemporary international law, don't forget, that while "wanton destruction of towns, cities and villages" …
(2019-01-18). Twitter Calls on US to #FreeMarziehHashemi as Lawyers Attempt to Unseal Case. mintpressnews.com One may be inclined to think that the arrest of Hashemi on Sunday would infuriate those who uphold the sanctity of the fourth estate. But Hashemi, a black American Muslim woman who works for Iran's state-funded Press TV, is no friend of the establishment media.
(2019-01-18). Haiti by the Numbers. counterpunch.org Years since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti: 9 Estimated number of aftershocks that measured 4.5 or greater: 59 Number of people who died in the earthquake, according to Haitian government: 316,000 Number of people displaced: 1,300,000 Number of people who remained in internally displaced persons camps, as of September 2017: 37,867 Estimated population of More
(2019-01-18). LA Teachers' Strike: Student Voices of the Los Angeles Education Revolt. counterpunch.org We live in an era where teachers unions are attacked and scapegoated, our schools are starved of funds, and private charter operators are allowed to choose which students they want to educate and exclude those they don't—and use desperately needed funds from the public school system to do so. It is said that the end More
(2019-01-18). Bernie Sanders, Israel and the Middle East. counterpunch.org 
If you're an American, he's still out there among the "maybe" candidates. But if you live in the Middle East — whether you're Arab or Israeli, Muslim, Jew or Christian — you should keep your eye on Bernie Sanders. He's no shoo-in, of course — certainly not after his pitiful handover to the awful Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US presidential More
(2019-01-18). Colombia: Duque Calls on Cuba to Hand Over ELN Peace Delegation. telesurenglish.net Colombian President Ivan Duque is demanding the Cuban government hand over the National Liberation Army (ELN) peace delegation. | Duque also ordered the lifting of the suspension of capture orders for the 10 members of the Cuban dialogue delegation. | RELATED: | Colombian Gov't Ends Peace Process with ELN | The Colombian government also revoked the resolution that created conditions for the 10 ELN members to stay in Cuba, which means ceasing bene…
(2019-01-18). Malaysia's 1MDB Financial Scandal: Stolen Money Must Not Place Culprits Above the Law. globalresearch.ca Malaysians have over the past few hours been treated to a disgraceful display of mutual finger pointing and denial by the entities and individuals most culpable over 1MDB, as they seek to blame each other and get off the hook. …
(2019-01-18). Video: 4 Americans Killed, 3 Injured in ISIS Attack in Manbij. globalresearch.ca On January 16, a suicide bombing attack hit the center of Manbij in the province of Aleppo. According to initial reports, over 25 people were killed or injured in the attack, which also caused casualties among US service members. Minutes …
(2019-01-18). Red Flowers for Rosa and Karl. counterpunch.org 
Red flags everywhere, hundreds, more hundreds, thousands marched along through the drizzly weather and puddled streets. Many bent figures hobbled with canes, some were in wheelchairs next to a younger set sitting proudly on their fathers' shoulders or in strollers. Then another big group of young people arrived, some singing or chanting leftist demands. Most More
(2019-01-18). Pompeo, the U.S. and Iran. counterpunch.org The United States' international windbag, Secretary of Defense (read: War) Mike Pompeo has been acting the imperial blowhard throughout the Middle East. With his boss busy denying that he's a Russian agent, watching advisors and cabinet members come and go with dizzying alacrity, and dodging porn-star accusations, Pompeo is trotting through the Middle East, sounding More
(2019-01-18). Narrative Control Firm Targeting Alternative Media. consortiumnews.com NewsGuard is led by some of the most virulently pro-imperialist individuals in America and its agenda to shore up narrative control for the ruling power establishment is clear, writes Caitlin Johnstone. By Caitlin Johnstone CaitlinJohnstone.com The frenzied, hysterical Russia narrative… Read more →
(2019-01-18). The Moral Travesty of Israel Seeking Arab, Iranian Money for its Alleged Nakba. counterpunch.org The game is afoot. Israel, believe it or not, is demanding that seven Arab countries and Iran pay $250 billion as compensation for what it claims was the forceful exodus of Jews from Arab countries during the late 1940s. The events that Israel is citing allegedly occurred at a time when Zionist Jewish militias were More
(2019-01-18). Detained American Iranian TV Anchor Marzieh Hashemi to Appear in Court. mintpressnews.com Hashemi was held 48 hours before being allowed to contact her family. She has complained of ill-treatment. Authorities forcibly removed her headscarf and took her away in handcuffs.
(2019-01-18). A Coup in Progress? Venezuelan Foreign Minister Decries U.S. & Brazil-Backed Effort to Oust Maduro. democracynow.org 
The United States and allied nations in Latin America are ratcheting up pressure on Venezuela in what appears to be a coordinated effort to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from office. Maduro was sworn in last week to a second 6-year term following his victory in last May's election, which was boycotted by the opposition. Days before Maduro was sworn in, opposition figure Juan Guaidó became head of the National Assembly, which soon voted to declare Maduro a "usurper" in an effort to remove him from office. The United States, Brazil and other nations have welcomed the effort. As the political crisis int…
(2019-01-18). 'Period. End of Sentence.' Short documentary about menstruation and sanitary pads. peoplesworld.org 
LOS ANGELES—I had the unexpected pleasure of attending a private Jan. 11 screening of this unusual 26-minute documentary film at an event sponsored by the Los Angeles Press Club. Hosted by Sophia Bush and Poorna Jaganathan, it featured a Q&A afterward with director Rayka Zehtabchi, moderated by film commentator Shaniqua McClendon. Period. End of Sentence. …
(2019-01-18). Immediate fossil fuel phaseout could arrest climate change — study. zcomm.org Scientists say it may still technically be possible to limit warming to 1.5C if drastic action is taken now…
(2019-01-18). Video: The "Great Game" of Military Bases in Africa. globalresearch.ca Italian soldiers on mission in Djibouti have offered sewing machines to the humanitarian organisation which aids the refugees in this tiny country in the Horn of Africa. It is situated in a strategic position on the most important commercial Asia-Europe …
(2019-01-18). Sky Bears, Earth Bears: Finding and Losing True North. counterpunch.org 
Stars and the heavens have long captured the human imagination. During long nights of star gazing — before TV and the internet — ancient peoples invented fascinating stories about constellations that reflected their aspirations and relationships with the natural world and each other. The dramas that played out in the heavens unified their world and More
(2019-01-18). Red Aunts — RIP Debi Martini. counterpunch.org 
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(2019-01-18). Montana Public Schools Block Pro-LGBTQ Websites. counterpunch.org 
Public high school students in Billings, Montana tell CounterPunch that as of Monday, January 14, they have been denied access to numerous sites, including those associated with pro-LGBTQ issues, as part of a new web filtering program initiated by the school administration. Anti-gay sites, however, appear to be accessible. In an email to staff, Brandon More
(2019-01-18). The Metamorphosis of International Students Into Honorary US Nationalists: a View from Viet Nam. counterpunch.org We would ensure not only that Vietnam's tens of millions of students, but also their education-obsessed parents, see the United States as a key partner in their personal and collective futures. — US-Viet Nam Education Memo, Spring 2008 This fly-on- the-wall quote is from a US Embassy-Hanoi diplomatic cable that was leaked over a More
(2019-01-18). Re-Colonization: France, Turkey and England Return to their Colonial Ambitions. mintpressnews.com 
It is difficult to anticipate what form this future colonization will take. Long ago, it was made possible by the huge differences in the level of education. But today?
(2019-01-18). Shut Down the War Machine! counterpunch.org The time has come to cut the US military down to size. Last November, the Pentagon admitted what critics have known for years: It cannot pass an audit that would let Congress, the media and taxpayers know what it does with the trillions of dollars that have been lavished on war and preparing for war More