New Zealand\'s Daily Blog demands anti-immigrant measures against \"Australians fleeing climate change\"
wsws.org | 2020-01-15
The trade union-funded blog, which supports the Labour-led government, calls for a major increase in military spending to turn New Zealand into a \"fortress\" against immigrants.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/15/nzbl-j15.html

Anti-Citizenship Protests Have No Bearing on India as Investment Destination, Top Industrialist Says
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
New Delhi (Sputnik): India witnessed protests after the government enacted a law to grant citizenship to illegal immigrants from several religious minorities, who faced persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, excluding Muslim.
sputniknews.com/india/202001151078044857-anti-citizenship-protests-have-no-bearing-on-india-as-investment-destination-top-industrialist-says/

An Open Letter to fellow Educators: Take a stand with Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning
wsws.org | 2020-01-15
A long-time educator has submitted the following statement to the WSWS.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/15/call-j15.html

Putting the truth behind bars
Dianne Mathiowetz | workers.org | 2020-01-15
Did you know that one of the most protected rights in this country is the right of the government to lie to the people? That is the essence of the persecution being carried out right now against Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange. Manning was a U.S. Army intelligence analyst based . . . | Continue reading Putting the truth behind bars at Workers.org…
workers.org/2020/01/45526/

The prosecution of Julian Assange, the destruction of legality and the rise of the national security state
wsws.org | 2020-01-15
The political and legal attack on Assange represents a qualitative intensification of the destruction of core rights and, indeed, on legality itself as the mode of bourgeois rule.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/15/assa-j15.html

Assange\'s 12-minute hearing presents a grim picture of judicial indifference
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-01-15
Assange\'s legal team has complained of not being given enough time, by both the court and prison authorities, to discuss the evidence in the case with the defendant. A hearing on January 13 was wound up in under 12 minutes…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/01/15/assanges-12-minute-hearing-presents-a-grim-picture-of-judicial-indifference/

Telling Stories Important to Promoting Peace Globally – Colleen Bell of California Film Commission
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
New Delhi (Sputnik): Colleen Bell, the executive director of California Film Commission (CFC), is on her maiden India visit as part of Visit California\'s India Sales Mission. She will meet the Film Producers Guild of India on Wednesday night and discuss increasing entertainment industry production in both the countries through various offers.
sputniknews.com/india/202001151078045160-telling-stories-important-to-promoting-peace-globally—colleen-bell-of-california-film-commission/

IACHR Denounces Ecuadorian Govt. Repression In October Protests
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-15
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) presented on Tuesday a report on its visit to Ecuador last October, when massive protests took place against the neoliberal measures promoted by President Lenin Moreno. | RELATED: | Ecuador Buys $4m Worth of Non-Lethal Weapons for Armed Forces | The IACHR report states that \"the acts of protest, in…
telesurenglish.net/news/iachr-denounces-ecuadorian-govt.-repression-in-october-protests-20200114-0025.html

J9 Protest in San Francisco
No War on Iran | indybay.org | 2020-01-15
Hundreds gathered at One Post St. above Montgomery BART on a day of national action.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/14/18829750.php

Iran-Iraq solidarity grows amid U.S. threats
Sara Flounders | workers.org | 2020-01-15
United States policy toward both Iran and Iraq is based not on \"bad advice\" or howling blunders by President Donald Trump, as Democratic Party pundits claim. It is not just a \"mismanaged\" foreign policy. Times Square protest, Jan. 8, New York City. Washington\'s miscalculations of the past two weeks have . . . | Continue reading Iran-Iraq solidarity grows amid U.S. threats at Workers.org…
workers.org/2020/01/45540/

Together in solidarity and towards socialism
Kathy Durkin | workers.org | 2020-01-15
The Women\'s March Global, set to take place on Jan. l8, will be the fourth such international protest since 2017 after the inauguration of misogynist/bigot-in-chief Donald Trump as president. Over 100 chapters and thousands of members are mobilizing for multinational, multigendered, multigenerational protests around the U.S. and in countries around . . . | Continue reading Together in solidarity and towards socialism at Workers.org…
workers.org/2020/01/45528/

France at a Crossroads
Richard Greeman | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-15
Montpellier, France. The nationwide general strike in France, now entering its record seventh week, seems to be approaching its crisis point. Despite savage police repression, about a million people are in the streets protesting President Macron\'s proposed neo-liberal \"reform\" of France\'s retirement system, established at the end of World War II and considered one of…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/15/france-at-a-crossroads/

Global Day of Protest: No War on Iran!
ANSWER Coalition | indybay.org | 2020-01-15
Old Courthouse Sq, Santa Rosa, CA 95404…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/13/18829721.php

Missiles, Lies and Assassinations
Kenn Orphan | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-15
\"In war, truth is the first casualty.\"

Who Wins and Who Loses in the Iran Crisis?
Patrick Cockburn | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-15
In the latest phase of the US-Iran confrontation, who came out on top is not clear-cut; both countries made gains and losses from the crisis and some of its the results are still to come. By ordering the assassination on 3 January of general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Quds Force, the external arm of Iran\'s Revolutionary Guards, President Trump claims to…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/15/who-wins-and-who-loses-in-the-iran-crisis/

Global Debt Climbs to All-Time High of Nearly $253 Trillion Amid Forecast of Further Rise – Report
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
China\'s economic slowdown between 2017 and 2018 reportedly added significantly to a sustained increase in global debt last year, a figure that will most likely grow in the months to come.
sputniknews.com/business/202001151078046076-global-debt-reportedly-climbs-to-all-time-high-of-nearly-253-trillion-amid-forecast-of-further-rise/

Another Trump Official Has Been Caught Red-Handed
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-01-15
In 2017, Dow Chemical scored a long-sought-after victory: After a push from the U.S. government, China approved the import of the company\'s genetically modified herbicide-resistant corn seeds. | A grateful Dow lobbyist emailed a senior Agriculture Department official whose support had been critical: \"Thank you for your efforts in support of U.S. agriculture.\" | That official, Rebeckah Adcock, was no stranger to Dow. Before joining the Trump administration, Adcock was the chief lobbyist for the herbicide industry\'s trade group, of wh…
truthdig.com/articles/another-trump-official-has-been-caught-redhanded/

Germany Suspects Ex-EU Diplomat, Two Lobbyists of Spying for China – Reports
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – German Public Prosecutor General Peter Frank is investigating a former EU official from Germany and two employees of a major lobbying firm on suspicion of spying for China, the Spiegel newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing information at its disposal.
sputniknews.com/europe/202001151078045049-germany-suspects-ex-eu-diplomat-two-lobbyists-of-spying-for-china—reports/

US Treasury Secretary Says There Will Be Additional Tariff Rollbacks in Phase 2 of China Trade Deal
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
US Donald Trump and Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He are set to sign the so called \"Phase One\" trade deal on 15 January, which may mark a truce in the ongoing economic confrontation between the United States and China.
sputniknews.com/world/202001151078044966-us-treasury-secretary-says-there-will-be-additional-tariff-rollbacks-in-phase-2-of-china-trade-deal/

US govt wants to invest $1 billion to end China\'s dominance in 5G
rt.com | 2020-01-15
A group of US lawmakers have introduced a bill to subsidize companies developing 5G technology to counter China\'s Huawei. It comes as Washington mounts pressure on its allies to turn away from Chinese technology. | The legislation titled \'Utilizing Strategic Allied Telecommunications Act\' would allocate at least $750 million or up to five percent of annual auction proceeds for companies developing the next generation technology for the US mobile broadband market. Additionally, it stipulates the creation of a separate $500 million fund (Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund) for developers of \"trusted a…
rt.com/business/478301-us-5g-subsidies-billion/

Libya\'s GNA Head Sarraj to Take Part in Berlin Conference – Adviser
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
CAIRO (Sputnik) – The head of Libya\'s Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Sarraj, will take part in the upcoming Berlin conference on Libyan crisis settlement, his media adviser said on Wednesday.
sputniknews.com/world/202001151078045323-libyas-gna-head-sarraj-to-take-part-in-berlin-conference—adviser/

Moscow Says Berlin Conference Will Urge All States to Fulfil Arms Embargo on Libya
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Libya in February 2011 which relates to the supply of arms and military equipment to and from Libya.
sputniknews.com/world/202001151078045844-moscow-says-berlin-conference-will-urge-all-states-to-fulfil-arms-embargo-on-libya/

Iraqis to the United States: What Part of \"Go Home\" Don\'t You Understand?
MintPress News Desk | theantimedia.com | 2020-01-15
(MPN)

Video Shows TWO Missiles Bringing Down Iran 737, Second Plane Reported & Iraq And Syria Under Attack
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-01-15
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 (1/14/19). 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/video-shows-two-missiles-bringing-down-iran-737-second-plane-reported-iraq-and-syria-under-attack/

\'More powers, more responsibilities\': Putin proposes granting parliament power to choose PM & form government
rt.com | 2020-01-15
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed granting parliament more powers to nominate key government officials, adding that the president will not be able to reject their picks. | Under the current law, the president nominates the candidate for prime minister, who then must be approved by the lower house of parliament, the State Duma. | In his annual state-of-the-nation address on Wednesday, Putin proposed to change this by \"allowing the State Duma not only to approve but to choose\" the PM. Under his plan, the prime minister would then present parliament with the candidacies of the deputy prime ministers and g…
rt.com/russia/478328-putin-pm-reform-proposal/

Kremlin maintains muted response to Suleimani assassination, insists on Iran nuclear deal
wsws.org | 2020-01-15
An open war against Iran is likely to spread directly to the border of Russia, enflaming not only the entire Middle East but also the South Caucasus.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/15/krem-j15.html

Putin suggests launching new investment cycle in Russia to achieve growth rates above global average
rt.com | 2020-01-15
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a structural change to the economy and its efficiency during his annual address to the Federal Assembly on Wednesday. | \"In 2021, Russia\' GDP growth rates should be above the global average,\" he said, adding: \"To get such a dynamic, it is necessary to launch a new investment cycle, to boost investments in creation of jobs, infrastructure, development of industry, agriculture and services sector.\" | Starting from 2020, annual growth investments should be at least 5 percent, and their share in the GDP should be increased from the current 21 percent to 25 percent in 202…
rt.com/business/478317-putin-russia-investments-economy/

PM Medvedev Announces Resignation of Russian Gov\'t Following Putin\'s Address to Parliament
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
The Russian president addressed lawmakers, ministers and other high-ranking officials on Wednesday, with this year\'s address focusing mostly on domestic politics including social policy and the economy, but also proposals to amend the country\'s basic law.
sputniknews.com/russia/202001151078045582-Medvedev-Announces-Resignation-of-Russian-Govt-Following-Putins-Address-to-Parliament/

Lavrov: Russia to Continue De-Dollarisation Drive Amid \'Increasingly Aggressive\' US Sanctions Policy
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
Once one of the largest national investors in US Treasury obligations and the US dollar, Russia has been shrinking its holdings substantially in recent years as relations with Washington continue to sour.
sputniknews.com/business/202001151078045524-lavrov-russia-to-continue-de-dollarization-drive-amid-increasingly-aggressive-us-sanctions-policy/

Russian government resigns, after President Putin\'s State-of-the-Nation Address proposes changes to the constitution
rt.com | 2020-01-15
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that the government is resigning. The statement came shortly after President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address. | Accepting the resignation, Putin asked the ministers to function as a caretaker government until a new one is formed. | Before announcing the resignation of the cabinet, Medvedev met with Putin to discuss his state-of-the-nation address, which took place earlier on Wednesday, the Kremlin\'s press office said. | Putin also said that he plans to create a position of the deputy secretary of Russia\'s security council, and…
rt.com/russia/478340-government-resigns-russia-putin-medvedev/

Putin proposes major amendments to Russia\'s constitution incl. about his own post, says people should vote on changes
rt.com | 2020-01-15
The constitution should take priority over international law if the latter violates the rights of Russian citizens or violates Russia\'s constitutional principles, President Vladimir Putin has proposed. | Amendments to the constitution could be put to a popular vote to ensure \"the development of Russia as a welfare and rule-of-law state,\" the Russian leader said in his annual state of the nation address. | Adopting a brand new constitution is not necessary because the current one will remain relevant for many years to come, Putin explained. But he did suggest some changes he\'d like to see. | Domestic v inte…
rt.com/russia/478315-referendum-constitution-amendments-putin/

\'Even Hillary and Trump shook hands\': Warren snubs Sanders handshake after tense Democratic debate (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-01-15
Tuesday night\'s Democratic debate was marked by an ever-widening schism between long-time \'friends\' turned rivals, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, which culminated in a spurned handshake which has become the talk of Twitter. | The talking match was punctuated by several increasingly tense and bitter exchanges between the pair as the night wore on. Roughly 45 minutes into the discussion, CNN moderator Abby Phillip asked Sanders to respond to reports he told Warren that a woman couldn\'t win the 2020 election. | Handshake: REJECTED pic.twitter.com/LUA49Z0JCc– Timot…
rt.com/usa/478308-warren-snubs-bernie-handshake/

34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Birthday Celebration (Hayward)
City of Hayward | indybay.org | 2020-01-15
Reed L Buffington Visual and Performing Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward 94545…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/14/18829748.php

Trump exploits Iran war crisis to incite violence against political opponents
wsws.org | 2020-01-15
Following Trump\'s order for the murder of Iranian General Suleimani, his denunciations of political opponents for \"taking the side of terrorists\" can only be interpreted as a threat of violence.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/15/pers-j15.html

US workers denounce war threats against Iran
wsws.org | 2020-01-15
Three decades of disastrous wars have produced popular skepticism to the official propaganda machine and opposition to the launching of new wars.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/15/warr-j15.html

Fifty Years and Still the Unrelenting Drumbeat of War
Howard Lisnoff | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-15
The night was cold with a strong wind blowing in from the northwest. The nearly full waxing moon seemed to ride easily over the tops of the pine forest. A jet, with its lights still on, within minutes of taking off from the airport at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, flew westward against the departing day of…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/15/fifty-years-and-still-the-unrelenting-drumbeat-of-war/

Advocacy for Humankind Joins Women\'s March and Rally for Stalking Awareness Month
Ilona Gazarova | indybay.org | 2020-01-15
Civic Center Plaza, 335 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/13/18829726.php

Pigs will fly: Animal carcass hurled into millionaire\'s pool from chopper in apparent prank (GRAPHIC VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-01-15
Argentinian fashion tycoon Federico àÅlvarez Castillo has fallen victim to a disgraceful prank after shocking footage showing a pig carcass being dropped from a helicopter into the swimming pool of his holiday home went viral. | Footage of the extraordinary incident has been widely shared on social media, prompting the fashion tycoon behind the Etiqueta Negra brand, who also dabbles in property development, to denounce the cruel prank on Instagram. | Castillo and his circle of friends were subjected to an avalanche of criticism after the galling video first emerged. | WARNING: This footage may disturb so…
rt.com/news/478324-pig-thrown-from-helicopter-millionaire-pool/

People Want a Wealth Tax, but Many Politicians Oppose It
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-01-15
Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are practically the only major politicians supporting a wealth tax to reduce inequality and fund government programs, even though polling shows nearly two-thirds of Americans support it.
therealnews.com/stories/wealth-tax-politicians-oppose-sanders-warren

Bolsonaro backs Trump in war on Iran, while Workers\' Party appeals to Brazilian military
wsws.org | 2020-01-15
Brazil\'s fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro was one of the first to defend Washington\'s assassination of Iranian general Qassem Suleiman.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/15/braz-j15.html

\'It Will Remain Forever\': Lionel Messi Hails \'Special Duel\' with \'Nemesis\' Cristiano Ronaldo
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo likes to emphasise that his \"healthy rivalry\" with Barcelona counterpart Lionel Messi during his time in La Liga made him a better player, and since then both have taken their individual battle to be the best in soccer to a whole new level.
sputniknews.com/sport/202001151078045552-it-will-remain-forever-lionel-messi-hails-special-duel-with-nemesis-cristiano-ronaldo-/

Union issues powerful ultimatum to Labour leadership candidates
Ed Sykes | thecanary.co | 2020-01-15
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has given a strong, direct assessment of what went wrong in the 2019 election. And now, it\'s holding Labour leadership candidates\' feet to the fire with a powerful ultimatum. | Lessons are \"very clear\": | In a December statement, CWU general secretary Dave Ward said of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn that: a prolonged assault from the media has assassinated the character of a man who has devoted his whole life to helping others | He added: what nobody can face away from is that we…
thecanary.co/trending/2020/01/15/union-issues-powerful-ultimatum-to-labour-leadership-candidates/

In Iowa Debate, Progressives Resist Efforts to Divide Them
Ruth Conniff | progressive.org | 2020-01-15
The moderators did all they could to start a fight, but Sanders and Warren refused to bite.
progressive.org/dispatches/in-iowa-debate-progressives-resist-efforts-to-divide-them-conniff-200115/

Media Censorship & OAS\' Participation in Election Process May Ruin Bolivia\'s Democracy – Journo
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
The Anez government sought to undermine the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) by trying to accuse it of fraud, says La Resistencia Bolivia journalist Camila Ugalde Soria Galvarro, adding that the persecution of alternative media and the enlistment of the Organisation of American States (OAS) to arrange the 2020 vote are part of the same trend.
sputniknews.com/analysis/202001151078037535-media-censorship–oas-participation-in-election-process-may-ruin-bolivias-democracy—journo/

Coordinated Stalking by Multiple Persons
Ilona Gazarova | indybay.org | 2020-01-15
Advocacy for Humankind is an organization that seeks to eradicate crimes of coordinated stalking through public awareness, education and advocacy for victims.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/13/18829729.php

CNN Has It In for Bernie
Jeet Heer | thenation.com | 2020-01-15
CNN Has It In for Bernie…
thenation.com/article/sanders-warren-cnn-debate/

European powers move toward scrapping nuclear accord with Iran
wsws.org | 2020-01-15
Berlin, London and Paris, emboldened by Tehran\'s weak response to the US murder of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, are escalating attacks against Iran.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/15/euir-j15.html

Afghanistan Successful in Obliterating Daesh Threat from its Soil – Security Adviser
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
New Delhi (Sputnik): Afghan authorities have said they are determined to create opportunity from uncertainty, and move forward with progress, no matter how cluttered the path is with violence, threats and risks. Kabul maintained it has the ability to tap its economic potential and thrive as a nation.
sputniknews.com/asia/202001151078044543-afghanistan-successful-in-obliterating-daesh-threat-from-its-soil—security-adviser/

Want a free trade deal with the US? Then align with Washington not Brussels on foreign policy, former Trump aide tells BoJo
rt.com | 2020-01-15
A former aide to US President Donald Trump, Richard Goldberg, has warned British PM Boris Johnson that if the UK wants a free trade agreement with the US, then he\'ll need to follow Washington and not Brussels on foreign policy. | In an interview with BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday, Iran hawk Richard Goldberg

The 2020 Academy Award nominations: A generally weak, if unsurprising showing
wsws.org | 2020-01-15
The nominations as a whole reflect the combination of strong commercial pressure, Hollywood liberal views and limited artistic tastes that generally dominate the Academy Awards.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/15/acad-j15.html