Collapse of US charges against journalist raises serious questions about politically motivated prosecutions
Mohamed Elmaazi | thecanary.co | 2019-12-12
Washington DC police have dropped criminal charges against award-winning journalist Max Blumenthal, in a press-freedom story which has received scant media attention. | Blumenthal: The police \"threatened to break down my door\": | On 25 October 2019, Blumenthal was arrested in a morning raid by police who threatened to \"break down\" his door. Blumenthal, who co-founded independent media outlet t…
thecanary.co/global/world-analysis/2019/12/12/collapse-of-us-charges-against-journalist-raises-serious-questions-about-politically-motivated-prosecutions/
Will the Democratic Presidential Nomination Be Bought?
Norman Solomon | indybay.org | 2019-12-12
Billionaires on a shopping spree…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/12/11/18828801.php
MN withstands -10 windchill to demand human rights at home and abroad
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-12-12
Minneapolis, MN – On December 10, 25 protesters rallied outside of Senator Amy Klobuchar\'s office to mark International Human Rights Day. After chanting outside the senator\'s office, Brad Sigal from the MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee addressed the crowd to draw attention to Trump\'s record of human rights abuses against immigrants. The protesters then marched in -10 degrees windchill to the legendary May Day Books in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. | Tracy Molm of the Anti-War Committee spoke at the closing rally inside the bookstore. \"On Human Rights Day we come together to call attention to human rights…
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/12/11/mn-withstands-10-windchill-demand-human-rights-home-and-abroad
Uganda\'s First Fridays for Future Climate Striker Joins COP25 Protests in Madrid
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-12-12
As we broadcast from the U.N. climate summit in Madrid, Spain, we speak with climate activist Vanessa Nakate, who was Uganda\'s first Fridays for Future climate striker. \"I wanted to do something that would cause change to the lives of the people in my community and my country,\" she says. \"My country heavily depends on agriculture, therefore most of the people depend on agriculture. If our farms are destroyed by floods, if the farms are destroyed by droughts and crop production is less, that m…
truthout.org/video/ugandas-first-fridays-for-future-climate-striker-joins-cop25-protests-in-madrid/
Award-Winning Journalist Vanessa Beeley Faces \"Deplatforming\" at Six Canadian Venues
Michael Welch | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-12
Vanessa Beeley, the award-winning journalist who has gained notoriety for her on the ground reporting on the Syrian conflict has faced opposition in her efforts to speak to Canadian audiences at the invitation of local anti war activists. | According …
globalresearch.ca/award-winning-journalist-vanessa-beeley-faces-deplatforming-at-six-canadian-venues/5697546
Polluting Companies Are Sponsoring COP25 Talks in Exchange for Tax Breaks
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-12-12
Big polluters are to blame for slow progress in the annual UN climate negotiations in Madrid, Spain, according to activists — with several companies sponsoring the talks in exchange for tax breaks. | Sponsors of the talks, known as COP25, include the electrical utilities company Iberdrola, which produced 24.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 20…
truthout.org/articles/polluting-companies-are-sponsoring-cop25-talks-in-exchange-for-tax-breaks/
Trump attacks climate activist Thunberg after Time honor
Associated Press | peoplesworld.org | 2019-12-12
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump lashed out at 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg on Thursday, a day after she was named by Time as its Person of the Year, calling her selection \"ridiculous.\" The Swedish teenager has become a symbol of a growing movement of young climate activists after leading weekly school strikes in her country …
peoplesworld.org/article/trump-attacks-climate-activist-thunberg-after-time-honor/
Greta Thunberg Slams Response to Climate Crisis at COP25 as \"Creative PR\"
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-12-12
At the U.N. climate summit in Madrid, 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg addressed world leaders Wednesday, hours after she was named Time magazine\'s Person of the Year. Thunberg came to the talks after a trip to meet with climate leaders across North America in anticipation of the scheduled climate conference in Santiago, Chile, before the talks were abruptly moved to the Spanish capital. In her address, Thunberg warned that the planet\'s carbon budget is down to just eight years, an…
truthout.org/video/greta-thunberg-slams-response-to-climate-crisis-at-cop25-as-creative-pr/
Environmental Activists Target Exxon\'s Lead Attorney in Climate Liability Case, a Prominent Democratic Donor
Rachel M. Cohen | theintercept.com | 2019-12-12
Ted Wells Jr., who defended Exxon against a lawsuit by New York\'s attorney general, has given half a million dollars to Democrats in recent decades.
theintercept.com/2019/12/12/exxon-climate-lawsuit-democratic-donor/
Colombia\'s Peace Deal Paved the Way for Its Historic Protests
Miguel Salazar | thenation.com | 2019-12-12
Colombia\'s Peace Deal Paved the Way for Its Historic Protests…
thenation.com/article/colombia-strikes-duque/
No Israeli Peace, Joy or Goodwill at Christmastime for Palestinians
Jerome Irwin | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-12
Peace, Good Will and Joy on Earth at Christmas! But what does that mean for Palestine and Palestinians? Every year, on the 11th day of the 11th hour of the 11th month, the human spirit pauses to pay tribute to world peace, good will and joy towards all and commemorate that dark moment in modern…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/12/no-israeli-peace-joy-or-goodwill-at-christmastime-for-palestinians/
Ukraine Might Finally See Peace, Unless the US \'Deep State\' Sabotages It First
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-12
The intense diplomatic efforts undertaken by Presidents Putin and Zelensky finally yielded credible hope that peace might eventually return to Ukraine following their first-ever face-to-face meeting during this week\'s Normandy Summit in Paris, but the greatest obstacle that both leaders …
globalresearch.ca/ukraine-might-finally-see-peace-unless-us-deep-state-sabotages-it-first/5697531
Indian Government Strips Naturalization Rights From Muslims, Sparking Protests
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-12-12
Critics condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi\'s government Tuesday after the Lok Sabha, the lower chamber of the country\'s parliament, passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill, stripping naturalization rights granted to other groups from the nation\'s 200 million Muslims living in the world\'s largest democracy. | \"We are now moving closer to Modi\'s dream of an India where a Muslim will have to walk the streets of his country with his gaze lowered, where democracy will be a privilege some…
truthout.org/articles/indian-government-strips-naturalization-rights-from-muslims-sparking-protests/
From London to Beirut, From Santiago to New Delhi: Protesters Need to Build Solidarity Networks
Catherine Rottenberg — Neve Gordon | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-12
On Friday, December 1, two protest marches met in central London in what felt like a magical moment. A few thousand striking university lecturers had just reached the British Parliament at Westminster after marching from the Bloomsbury neighbourhood, when close to a thousand Extinction Rebellion teenagers came pouring down a parallel street and the two protests united. The…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/12/from-london-to-beirut-from-santiago-to-new-delhi-protesters-need-to-build-solidarity-networks/
Algeria: Presidential Elections Close With Very Low Attendance
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-12
Algeria\'s presidential elections, which the opposition has billed as a farce, were marked by massive protests and empty polling stations on Thursday. | RELATED: | Algerian Gov\'t Paves the Way for Foreign Financial Institutions | Polling stations closed their doors with little attendance from citizens after a day marked by massive demonstrations and the boycott of elections, especially in the northern region of Kabylia. | In Algiers, polls closed at 7: 00 p.m. (local time) with…
telesurenglish.net/news/Algeria-Presidential-Elections-Close-With-Very-Low-Attendance-20191212-0006.html
The U.S. Government Lied about the Afghanistan War, They Couldn\'t Have Done It Without Media Lapdogs
Ted Rall | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-12
\"In ten years or so, we\'ll leak the truth,\" the Dead Kennedys sang. \"But by then it\'s only so much paper.\" But it might just score you a Pulitzer Prize. Award bait and bragging rights are no doubt the principal goals of The Washington Post\'s self-congratulatory data dump, \"The Afghanistan Papers.\" As the headline implies,…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/12/the-u-s-government-lied-about-the-afghanistan-war-they-couldnt-have-done-it-without-media-lapdogs/
When You Follow the Gun Trail, You Can End Up in Expected Places
Robert Fisk | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-12
I\'ve always wanted to find out where the guns came from. Who were the \'willing accomplices\' to the wars I witnessed? In 1996, I traced to its Boeing makers in the deep south of the US a missile fired by the Israelis at a Lebanese ambulance. It killed two women and four children. I even…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/12/when-you-follow-the-gun-trail-you-can-end-up-in-expected-places/
Video: Militants Push Syrian Army Back in Southern Idlib
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-12
On December 11, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham\'s Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Army and the special forces unit, known as the \"Red Bands\", attacked and captured the area of al-Katibat al-Mahjura in southeastern Idlib. Units of the Syrian Army deployed there were caught …
globalresearch.ca/video-militants-push-syrian-army-back-southern-idlib/5697540
Libya Is Likely to Become a Proxy Battlefront Between Greece and Turkey
Paul Antonopoulos | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-12
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoƒüan has certainly opened up pandora\'s box in Libya that is now difficult for him to close after he made a series of gross miscalculations and aggression against Greece. This has triggered a crisis all across …
globalresearch.ca/libya-likely-become-proxy-battlefront-between-greece-turkey/5697536
Donald Trump\'s Big Abuses of Power Demand a Big Impeachment
Ralph Nader, Bruce Fein | thenation.com | 2019-12-12
Donald Trump\'s Big Abuses of Power Demand a Big Impeachment…
thenation.com/article/impeachment-constitution-abuse-power/
Money, Power and Turf: Winning the Middle East Media War at Any Cost
Ramzy Baroud | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-12
It is hardly surprising to see Middle Eastern countries at the bottom of the World Press Freedom Index, as the worst violators of freedom of the press. But equally alarming is the complete polarization of public opinion as a result of self-serving media and, bankrolled by rich Arab countries, whose only goal is to serve their specific, often sinister, agendas.
counterpunch.org/2019/12/12/money-power-and-turf-winning-the-middle-east-media-war-at-any-cost/
Trump signs executive order aimed at suppressing criticism of Israel
wsws.org | 2019-12-12
The purpose of the order signed Wednesday is to squelch free speech at publicly funded universities, targeting in particular the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/12/anti-d12.html
Sudanese Transitional Government Faces Profound Challenges
Abayomi Azikiwe | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-12
Interim Prime Abdallah Hamdok of the Republic of Sudan visited the United States during early December seeking to have sanctions lifted against his newly-created administration. | In meetings with members of Congress and the National Security Advisor Robert O\'Brien, who …
globalresearch.ca/sudanese-transitional-government-faces-profound-challenges/5697498
US Senate Committee Approves Sanctions Against Turkey
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-12
A U.S. Senate committee backed legislation on Wednesday to impose sanctions on Turkey after its offensive in Syria and purchase of a Russian S-400 missile system, the latest move in the chamber to push Republican President Donald Trump to take a harder line against Ankara. | RELATED: | US Military Finishes Pullback From Northeast Syria | The Republican-led Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted by 18-4 to send the \"Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of ISIS Act of 2019\" for a vote in the full Senate. | \"Now\'s the time for the Senate to come together and take this opportunit…
telesurenglish.net/news/US-Senate-Committee-Approves-Sanctions-Against-Turkey-20191212-0004.html
The video of Labour legend Tony Benn that captures the spirit we all need to have right now
Peter Bolton | thecanary.co | 2019-12-12
There\'s one hard-hitting speech from left-wing Labour legend Tony Benn that we all need to rewatch right now. Because it captures the spirit that we so badly need, both today and every day from here on out. | The struggle continues: | Benn gave the speech years after leaving parliament. And making an impassioned case for the need to keep up the fight for social protections and access to public services at all times, he stressed that: every single generation has to fight the same battles again…
thecanary.co/trending/2019/12/12/video-labour-legend-tony-benn-that-captures-the-spirit-we-all-need-to-have-right-now/
Turkey\'s Erdoğan threatens to send troops into Libya
wsws.org | 2019-12-12
With Ankara and Moscow backing rival regimes in the ravaged country, any escalation threatens to spill over into a far wider and more dangerous war.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/12/liby-d12.html
Bolivia: The 21st Century Coup d\'État and Its Crimes Against Humanity
Alex Anfruns | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-12
After the coup d\'état, repression is advancing by leaps and bounds in Bolivia. The dictatorship persecutes the \"narco-traffickers\", \"vandals\" and \"terrorists\", that is to say: the social movements, former members of the government, peasants and indigenous people who demonstrate and …
globalresearch.ca/bolivia-21st-century-coup-crimes-against-humanity/5697518
Papers Owned By Oligarchs Unsurprisingly Oppose a Wealth Tax
Joshua Cho | commondreams.org | 2019-12-12
It\'s no surprise that the Journal\'s editorial board published an obtuse \"open letter\" mocking \"patriotic billionaires\" who support a wealth tax, implying that they\'re hypocrites for not voluntarily \"writing checks\" to the government instead of \"waiting for legislation.\" (Photo: Screenshot) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2019-12-12_at_11.54.44_am.png …
commondreams.org/views/2019/12/12/papers-owned-oligarchs-unsurprisingly-oppose-wealth-tax?cd-origin=rss
Progressives Rebel as House Hands Trump War Spending Package
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-12-12
The House voted 377-48 to advance a $738 billion military spending authorization package on Wednesday despite a rebellion among progressive Democrats angered by the loss of provisions that would have curtailed endless wars and put President Trump\'s most violent foreign policy ambitions in check. | The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is often described by the dominant media as a \"must-pass\" piece of legislation glowing with bipartisanship, but this year negotiations were different. Democrats clashed…
truthout.org/articles/progressives-rebel-as-house-hands-trump-war-spending-package/
NATO Summit — and 2020 Planned Aggression
Peter Koenig | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-12
A recent article \" NATO is Brain Dead\" described the obsolescence Of NATO and NATO\'s defense mechanisms against non-existence enemies. Amazing — with pretense of protection and security in Europe and the world, against Russia and China and fighting | …
globalresearch.ca/nato-summit-2020-planned-aggression/5697496
NATO Secretary General Targets \'Rising China\': Why Cold War Newspeak Never Went Away
Cynthia Chung | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-12
On December 3rd, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that NATO must address the \"security implications\" of China\'s rise as a \"military power\", and in true Orwellian doublespeak, insisted that he did not want to make an adversary …
globalresearch.ca/nato-secretary-general-targets-rising-china/5697526
US renews insults and threats against North Korea
wsws.org | 2019-12-12
The Trump administration has made clear that it has no intention of meeting North Korea\'s end-of-year deadline for meaningful talks, thus setting the stage for confrontation and conflict.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/12/nkor-d12.html
USA Still Lying on Imperialist Motive in Afghan war
DLI | indybay.org | 2019-12-12
The recent release of an Inspector General\'s report on the 18-year(and counting!) Afghan war found lies and deceit by 3 consecutive White House administrations(Bush, Obama and Trump) are at the heart of the longest US war in its 243 years of history. And its $Trillion + cost–along with the other Imperialist aggression in Iraq–will be the most expensive overseas misadventure since 1776!
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/12/12/18828821.php
Zealots in High Office
James A Haught | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-12
Back in 2003, in a top-secret international phone call, President George W. Bush urged French President Jacques Chirac to join America in invading Iraq on grounds that Christian nations must thwart the Satanic forces of Gog and Magog. Chirac was baffled by such crackpottery. A few French newspapers wrote derisive sneers about the born-again U.S.
counterpunch.org/2019/12/12/zealots-in-high-office/
The Warfare State Lied About Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. They Will Lie Again
Tho Bishop | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-12
Today the Washington Post published a bombshell report titled \"The Afghanistan Papers,\" highlighting the degree to which the American government lied to the public about the ongoing status of the war in Afghanistan. Within the thousands of pages, consisting …
globalresearch.ca/warfare-state-lied-about-afghanistan-iraq-syria-they-will-lie-again/5697528
Thursday\'s Daily Brief: South Sudan floods, Somalis leave Yemen, LATAM economic slowdown
news.un.org | 2019-12-12
In today\'s Daily Brief: Flooding could push millions in South Sudan into humanitarian crisis, Somalis return home from war-torn Yemen; historically low growth in Latin American and Caribbean economies; UN\'s top court will deliberate on Myanmar genocide accusations; and alpinism\'s classified a \"cultural treasure\".
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1053411
Trump Signs EO Saying Judaism Is Now A Nationality, New Toothless NDAA Allows Yemen & Iran Wars
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2019-12-12
Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/11/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/trump-signs-eo-saying-judaism-is-now-a-nationality-new-toothless-ndaa-allows-yemen-iran-wars/
Colombian Police to be Investigated for Excessive Use of Force
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-12
The Attorney General of Colombia stated on Wednesday that it will conduct an investigation into what happened on Tuesday when agents of the questioned Mobile Riot Squadron ( Esmad ) of the National Police detained two young men and transported them in private vehicles. | RELATED: | Colombia: Medellin Will Host a Concert Pro National Strike | The Public Ministry indicated that it will open the preliminary inquiry without determining the agents subject to prosecution because the name…
telesurenglish.net/news/Colombian-Police-to-be-Investigated-for-Excessive-Use-of-Force-20191212-0001.html
Unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Mali revealed in new report
news.un.org | 2019-12-12
Escalating violence and insecurity in Mali have sparked an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, rendering 3.9 million people in need of assistance and protection — an increase of 700,000 since the beginning of the year, the UN said on Thursday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1053391
Evo Morales Arrived in Argentina to Request Political Asylum
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-12
Bolivia\'s former President Evo Morales, who was forced to resign after the mutiny of his country\'s security forces, arrived in Argentina as a refugee. | RELATED: | Bolivia One Month After the Coup: A Recount of Pivotal Events | \"He comes to stay in Argentina because he arrives as an asylee and then he will have refugee status,\" Argentina\'s Foreign Affairs Minister F…
telesurenglish.net/news/Evo-Morales-Arrived-in-Argentina-to-Request-Political-Asylum-20191212-0005.html
Is the Democrats\' impeachment effort too narrowly focused?
C.J. Atkins | peoplesworld.org | 2019-12-12
Among liberals, many centrists, and almost everyone on the left, there is agreement that Donald Trump has committed acts that merit impeachment and removal from the presidency. Given his conduct in life as a corrupt businessman, crooked real estate tycoon, serial womanizer, and outspoken racist, it was almost pre-ordained that as president he would abuse …
peoplesworld.org/article/is-the-democrats-impeachment-effort-too-narrowly-focused/
Pride Goeth Before the Fall
George Ochenski | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-12
The hammer of impeachment is finally falling on Donald Trump\'s occupancy of the White House. For many, it\'s taken far too long to get to the point where an obviously corrupt individual with a very long record of shady dealings, illicit financial transactions and bankruptcies now faces a process in which he has no control.
counterpunch.org/2019/12/12/pride-goeth-before-the-fall/
The impeachment crisis and its political consequences
wsws.org | 2019-12-12
Regardless of the its final outcome in the House and Senate, the impeachment proceedings will have reactionary and dangerous repercussions.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/12/pers-d12.html
Impeachment Eve Vigil
Lenny Siegel | indybay.org | 2019-12-12
Gateway Park, Castro Street and El Camino Real, Mountain View…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/12/11/18828806.php
Judiciary Panel Takes First Steps Toward Impeachment Vote
Staff | truthdig.com | 2019-12-12
WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee took the first steps Wednesday evening toward voting on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, beginning a marathon two-day session to consider the historic charges. | The Judiciary meeting is to mark up, or amend, the two articles of impeachment that Democrats introduced Tuesday. Those articles charge Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his dealings with Ukraine. | The articles aren\'t expected to be changed, though, as Democrats are unlikely to accept any amendments proposed by Republicans unified against Trump\'s impea…
truthdig.com/articles/judiciary-panel-takes-first-steps-toward-impeachment-vote/
Author Talk: Peter Kalmus on \"Being the Change: Live Well & Spark a Climate Revolution\"
BPBNSP | indybay.org | 2019-12-12
Book Passage Bookstore & Cafe in the Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building Ste 42, San Francisco, California 94111…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/12/11/18828816.php
We Can\'t Do It Ourselves
Kris De Decker | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-12
How to live a more sustainable life? This question generates a lot of debate that is focused on what individuals can do in order to address problems like climate change. For example, people are encouraged to shop locally, to buy organic food, to install home insulation, or to cycle more often. But how effective is individual…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/12/we-cant-do-it-ourselves/
Most Americans Support Phasing-Out Fossil Fuels…Isn\'t That Worth a Headline?
Basav Sen | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-12
Last month, The Washington Post reported on the results of a poll it conducted with the Kaiser Family Foundation earlier this year. The poll had remarkable finding: nearly half — 46 percent — of American adults believe the U.S. needs to \"drastically reduce\" fossil fuel use in the near future to address the climate crisis, while another 41…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/12/most-americans-support-phasing-out-fossil-fuels-isnt-that-worth-a-headline/
\'Embrace the transformation\' to a carbon-neutral world by 2050, UN chief tells COP25
news.un.org | 2019-12-12
With millions of workers increasingly affected by the climate crisis the route to securing livelihoods in the future lies in a wholesale transformation of how we power the planet and manage our resources, the UN chief said on Thursday, at a COP25 climate action event focused on greener jobs.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1053331
Outrage as UN Climate Talks Kick Out Civil Society, Not the Polluters
Andy Rowell | commondreams.org | 2019-12-12
The statement highlighted that this had never happened before in 25 years of negotiations, but yet, there \"could be no better symbol of this crisis we face. People around the world are crying out for justice, and fighting oppression, while those in power attempt to shut us out.\" (Photo: Theo C. Mouze via Twitter) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2019-12-12_at_10.21.59_am.png …
commondreams.org/views/2019/12/12/outrage-un-climate-talks-kick-out-civil-society-not-polluters?cd-origin=rss
