(2019-12-05). Ukraine scandal involves a trifecta of unconstitutional Trump abuses. peoplesworld.org 
The impeachment of a U.S. president for the fourth time in history is more serious than any of the three that have gone before it. This time there is before the American people proof that Donald Trump is guilty of a trifecta of "high crimes and misdemeanors" stipulated in the Constitution as impeachable offenses. He …
(2019-12-05). Spying on Assange: the Spanish Case Takes a Turn. counterpunch.org Judge José de la Mata of Spain's High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, had been facing a good deal of stonewalling on the part of his British colleagues. He is overseeing an investigation into the surveillance activities of a Spanish security firm aimed at WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, during his stay at the Ecuadorean embassy in More
(2019-12-05). Edward Snowden: In the US, I Would Likely Die in Prison for Telling the Truth. truthout.org The Right Livelihood Awards celebrated their 40th anniversary Wednesday at the historic Cirkus Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, where more than a thousand people gathered to celebrate this year's four laureates: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg; Chinese women's rights lawyer Guo Jianmei, Brazilian indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa and the organization he co-founded, the Yanomami Hutukara Association; and Sahrawi human rights leader Aminatou Haidar, who has challenged the Moroccan occupation of We…
(2019-12-05). The Mad Activist Impeaches Western Culture. counterpunch.org Dear Hot-to-Impeach Congressional Democrats, I thought of you when I read "Why the Ukraine Scheme Matters," the November 25 editorial in the New York Times. As usual, Times syntax and grammar are superb and the editors' argumentation skills fully justify the current high tuition rates at name universities. So, congrats, Impeacho-crats! The Times delivered your More
(2019-12-05). Trump Seeks Another $250 Million in Lethal Aid for Ukraine. theantimedia.com With other nations trying to help Ukraine negotiate a deal to end that situation peacefully, the US keeps pouring weapons into the country.
(2019-12-05). Sweden Offers Free Higher Ed, Universal Health Care, Daycare — Why Can't the US? truthout.org Medicare for All and tuition-free universities have been at the core of the 2020 Democratic presidential campaigns, creating a stark division between progressive candidates and their centrist counterparts. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have proposed to make Medicare for All and public universities cost-free by taxing massive corporations and the super wealthy, and earlier this year, Sanders introduced legislation that would cancel student loan debt. His plan would be paid for with a…
(2019-12-05). NATO summit dominated by growing inter-state conflicts. wsws.org Explosive conflicts over trade and military policy between Washington and its main European allies erupted this week at the NATO summit in London.
(2019-12-05). International Support Growing for BDS Movement. imemc.org European Union (EU) countries' are taking steps towards boycotting the Israeli apartheid system, using its legal, legislative and parliamentary institutions to oppose the occupation, Palestine News Network reported. The EU condemned the Trump administration's positions and policies carried out in the Palestinian Territories, occupied by Israel since 1967, especially in …
(2019-12-05). Impeachment hearing opens with Democratic Party blast against Russia. wsws.org The opening statement by House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler set the tone for a hearing that repeatedly returned to the bogus allegations of massive Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
(2019-12-05). Bolivia's Russiagate scandal is a provocation to renege on agreed-upon deals. mronline.org The fake news allegations that Russia "meddled" in Bolivia's recent election in order to help ("former") President Morales win and the more recent claims late last month that its soldiers are supposedly "waiting for his return" in order to presumably help restore him to power are nothing more than provocations designed to manufacture the "plausible […] | Source
(2019-12-05). Increased Incidence of Brain Cancer. Caused by Exposure to Pesticides and Electromagnetic Fields? globalresearch.ca In July 2019 (updated in September 2019), the French Public Health Agency " Santé Publique France", together with the Francim cancer registries, the Hospices Civils de Lyon and the Institut National du Cancer, published national estimates of cancer incidence …
(2019-12-05). Big Rallies and Big Differences in Germany. counterpunch.org Looking out my window at the wide Karl Marx Allee boulevard below, I have seen many a big May Day parade march by in the old GDR days, and many a passing bicycle race or Marathon. Recently, for the first time, I saw a slow, endless column of green or yellow tractors. I learned later More
(2019-12-05). Thousands of teachers strike in Croatia. wsws.org The teachers, on strike for over a month, are demanding increased wages and improved working conditions in schools and colleges.
(2019-12-05). Phishing thieves or yet another phantom menace? US goes after 'Russian-based Evil Corp'. rt.com 
Hackers known as 'Evil Corp' have been charged and sanctioned by the US for allegedly stealing over $100 million via phishing and malware attacks and being Kremlin spies — though Russia helped US authorities in going after them. | The US Department of Justice unsealed the indictments against Russian nationals Maksim Yakubets and Igor Turashev on Thursday, accusing them of international computer hacking and bank fraud schemes dating back to 2009.
(2019-12-05). Russia ready to extend New START arms control treaty without conditions and further discussions — Putin. rt.com 
Moscow is ready to extend the last major nuclear arms control treaty, without conditions or discussions, President Vladimir Putin said as he reiterated Russia's position on the New START treaty which expires in 2021. | "Russia is ready to immediately, as soon as possible, before the end of the year, extend the New START treaty without any preconditions, so that there would be no double, triple interpretation of our position later. I'm saying this officially," the Russian president pointed out. | The New START treaty, which obliges Moscow and Washington to reduce the number of its strategic nuclear missile laun…
(2019-12-05). NATO wants to dominate not only the Euro-Atlantic region but also the Middle East — Russian FM. rt.com 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that NATO wants to dominate not only the Euro-Atlantic region but the Middle East as well. He made the statement following the 26th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava, Slovakia. | "NATO continues its reckless expansion, the block's military infrastructure is moving quickly to the east, close to Russian borders. There's a permanent fomenting of tension, accusations of aggressive intentions from the part of Russia," Sputnik quoted him as saying. | "All this is happening amid a record increase of military budgets — the decision that…
(2019-12-05). Moscow anti-doping lab's database was tampered with from the US, independent Russian experts say after WADA finds no interference. rt.com 
Moscow anti-doping lab's database was tampered with from the US, independent Russian experts say after WADA finds no interference | Inconsistencies discovered in the laboratory information management system (LIMS) may see all Russian athletes, including clean ones, competing as neutrals during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and other major sporting events for the next four years. Russia could also be banned from hosting international competitions during that time. | The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will decide on the fate of Russian sports on December 9. The agency claims it found no traces of interference with…
(2019-12-05). 'Expulsion of Russian diplomats over Berlin murder case suits trend of blaming Moscow for everything, whether it's true or not'. rt.com 
Germany seems to be joining the cohort of those playing the old-time blame-Russia game, having expelled two diplomats citing Moscow's unwillingness to help probe a murder of a suspected terrorist on its soil. | On a sunny day in August, Zelimkhan Khangoshvili — formerly a Chechen militant suspected of terrorist activity in Russia and a Georgian national — set off for his last walk through the Kleiner Tiergarten park located in one of Berlin's central boroughs. Not long after that, he was shot dead in broad daylight by an assassin who allegedly used a silenced pistol to do the job. | The high-profile…
(2019-12-05). 'All roads lead to Putin!' Pelosi tells Americans impeachment not really about Ukraine but all about… Russia. rt.com 
For Americans still confused why exactly Democrats want to impeach President Donald Trump — something about Ukraine, maybe? — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has helpfully clarified that it's all about Russia and always has been. | Briefing reporters on the impeachment inquiry on Thursday, Pelosi (D-California) made sure to point out that "this isn't about Ukraine, this is about Russia." | Russia. It's about Russia. Russia invading eastern Ukraine …all roads lead to Putin. Understand that. | That may come as a surprise given the Democrats' recent line of argument that Trump must be impeached because h…
(2019-12-05). Russia suspends research project at Iranian nuclear site after Tehran resumes uranium enrichment in response to US pressure. rt.com 
The Russian research project at Iran's Fordow nuclear site has been put on hold, after Tehran resumed uranium enrichment. The US earlier said it will be revoking the sanctions waiver for the facility. | TVEL, a company that is part of Russia's atomic agency Rosatom, said on Thursday that its work to convert Fordow to the production of radioactive isotopes for medical purposes has been suspended. | "The enrichment of uranium and the production of stable isotopes can't be carried out in the same space, since trace amounts of uranium, incompatible with the use of the resulting isotopes for medical purposes, will…
(2019-12-05). France strike: Police in Rennes use water cannons to disperse protesters (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Police in Rennes, northwest France used water cannons to quell protesters who took to the streets on the first day of a nationwide union strike over President Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reforms. | A video shows police spraying a group of demonstrators who are blocking the road. In a different clip, riot police march in front of the water cannons as they advance down a road. | #Rennes Charge des CRS qui repousse les casseurs. pic.twitter.com/5m3DDX9R55— FB Armorique (@bleuarmorique)…
(2019-12-05). Allies must support Turkey in conflict with Syrian Kurdish fighters as it approved NATO plan — Erdogan. rt.com 
NATO allies should support Turkey in its conflict with Syrian Kurdish fighters after Ankara dropped its objections to the alliance's defense plans for Poland and the Baltics, NTV quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying on Thursday. | Ahead of Wednesday's summit, Turkey had angered other NATO members by saying it would block the defense plan until they designated the Kurdish YPG militia, against which Ankara waged a military offensive two months ago, a terrorist organization. | Erdogan told reporters in London that Turkey dropped its objection to the Baltics plan after NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg…
(2019-12-05). Black Friday: No apology from Italian outlet for race row over headline featuring Lukaku & Smalling. rt.com 
Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport has been slammed for dubbing a clash between Serie A giants Inter Milan and Roma 'Black Friday' and featuring images of black players Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling. | Corriere dello Sport, one of Italy's most respected sports outlets, used the headline to promote Inter's clash against Roma at the San Siro on Friday night in a thinly-veiled reference to Lukaku and Smalling's skin color. | The rest of the headline reads: "Former Manchester United teammates and current Inter and Roma heroes will meet in tomorrow's inthe race for the Scudetto and championship title." | No…
(2019-12-05). 'Make America 36th Out of 41 Developed Nations Again': Social Justice Index of Developed Nations Puts US Near Bottom. commondreams.org Meanwhile, the democratic-socialist Nordic countries of Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden enjoy the top spots in detailed survey of OECD nations. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/trump_florida_puerto_rico_0.jpg …
(2019-12-05). A Queer Love Story That Does Away With the Male Gaze. thenation.com 
| Set in 18th-century France, Céline Sciamma's new film Portrait of a Lady on Fire finds a new way to chronicle a queer romance.
(2019-12-05). Britain's Choice Is Socialism or Barbarism. truthdig.com I am an American with a partner from England and a daughter with dual United Kingdom-U.S. citizenship. For a Yankee, I follow British politics closely. | During the past few years, thanks to the Brexit mess, the Gordian entanglements of U.K. politics have been vertigo-inducing, to say the least. However, since U.S. politics are also in a constant red-hot crisis, I've been unable to follow the U.K. tragicomedy at the granular level. | Paradoxically, this has been helpful, per my understanding of U.K. politics. While I've missed out on innumerable headline-grabbing absurdities,‚ÄØmy distance has&s…
(2019-12-05). Edward Snowden: If I Came Back to the U.S., I Would Likely Die in Prison for Telling the Truth. democracynow.org 
The Right Livelihood Awards celebrated their 40th anniversary Wednesday at the historic Cirkus Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, where more than a thousand people gathered to celebrate this year's four laureates: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg; Chinese women's rights lawyer Guo Jianmei, Brazilian indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa and the organization he co-founded, the Yanomami Hutukara Association; and Sahrawi human rights leader Aminatou Haidar, who has challenged the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara for decades. The Right Livelihood Award is known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." Over the past four deca…
(2019-12-05). Sweden Provides Free Higher Education, Universal Healthcare, Free Daycare — Why Can't the U.S.? democracynow.org 
Medicare for All and tuition-free universities have been at the core of the 2020 Democratic presidential campaigns, creating a stark division between progressive candidates and their centrist counterparts. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have proposed to make Medicare for All and public universities cost-free by taxing massive corporations and the super wealthy, and earlier this year, Sanders introduced legislation that would cancel student loan debt. His plan would be paid for with a new tax on Wall Street, he says. It would also make public universities and community colleges free — a key pil…
(2019-12-05). Headlines for December 5, 2019. democracynow.org Constitutional Experts Debate Impeachment at House Judiciary Committee Hearing, GOP Rep. Devin Nunes Sues CNN over Story about Nunes' Ukraine Meeting, Trump Departs NATO Early after Video of Other World Leaders Mocking Him, Report: Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Hit Record High in 2019, Colombia Holds Third National Strike in Two Weeks, Workers Strike Across France Today over Macron's Pensions Plan, Hand Grenade Thrown over Wall of Migrant Shelter in Madrid, India: Rape Survivor Attacked on Her Way to Court in Latest Assault on Women, Head of Japanese Aid Agency Killed in Afghanistan, AG Barr Threatens Commun…
(2019-12-04). Failed Action on the Climate Crisis Makes Resistance Imperative. dissidentvoice.org 
On December 2, the 25th two-week long United Nations climate conference begins in Madrid, Spain. The stated task of the conference, referred to as COP 25 (Conference Of Parties), is to make sure there are plans to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The goals of that agreement, which are nonbinding, are: Reduce …
(2019-12-04). Wealthy Countries' Approach to Climate Change Condemns Hundreds of Millions of People to Suffer. counterpunch.org 
In Madrid, Spain, the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference—known as COP25—began on December 2. Representatives of the world's countries gathered to discuss what is decidedly a serious problem for the planet; no one, except dangerous political forces in the neofascist right, denies the reality of climate change. More
(2019-12-04). Is Corbyn for Christmas Just Another Stove Pipe-Dream? counterpunch.org 
Incorporating polling over the last week up through Monday night, Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party and smaller center-left parties have taken over the lead in twenty-five additional United Kingdom constituency seats in the most recent update to CounterPunch's #10at10 election modelling. In order to allow Corbyn a real chance to become Prime Minister, Labour and the More
(2019-12-04). French Unions and Yellow Vests Converge, Launch General Strike. counterpunch.org Montpellier, France. On the eve of an "unlimited" (open-ended) General Strike called for Dec. 5, more and more unions and protest groups are pledging join it. Two things are unusual about this strike. The first is that it is open-ended, rather than the usual one-day of ritualistic protest marches, and may be prolonged from day More
(2019-12-04). Video: The New Arms Race. Is Russia Overtaking the US in the Realm of Strategic Bombers? globalresearch.ca The Russian Armed Forces put into action an ambitious program to modernize and expand the strategic bomber fleet. | In March 2018, Russia announced that it would completely overhaul its entire Tu-160 long-range strategic bomber fleet by 2030. According to Deputy …
(2019-12-04). Trump denounces Macron's criticisms of NATO at London summit. wsws.org Bitter conflicts between the United States and the major European powers erupted into the open yesterday, at the start of the two-day NATO summit in London.
(2019-12-04). Democrats' report confirms anti-Russia axis of impeachment inquiry. wsws.org The Democrats' 300-page report is all about Ukraine and the central role it occupies in the geo-strategic operations of the United States directed against Russia.
(2019-12-04). NATO Names China as New Enemy, Alongside Russia. theantimedia.com China's sheer size makes its an attractive target to justify NATO's continued existence.
(2019-12-04). Red Cross Chief: Venezuela Aid Being Politicized to 'Destabilize the Country'. venezuelanalysis.com Francesco Rocca slammed the underfunding of aid programs as a problem of "political will."
(2019-12-04). Germany: Far-right AfD's party conference strengthens và∂lkisch-nationalist "wing" wsws.org The nationalist "wing" group (Der Flàºgel) in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) around Bjà∂rn Hà∂cke and Andreas Kalbitz has emerged strengthened from its federal party conference.
(2019-12-04). The '80s called! Impeachment witness Karlan mocked for suggesting Ukrainians are helping prevent Russian invasion of US. rt.com 
Stanford law professor Pamela Karlan raised eyebrows online for suggesting during congressional impeachment hearings that the US must keep Ukraine strong "so they fight the Russians there and we don't have to fight them here." | Yes, you read that right. It seems in Karlan's mind, all that's stopping "the Russians" from invading the US is the Ukrainian army, which must be kept strong to stave off the ultimate disaster. The law professor made the baffling comment during the House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing on Wednesday. | Karlan's emphatic doomsday warning produced stunned reaction online, with con…
(2019-12-04). Headlines for December 4, 2019. democracynow.org House Impeachment Report Accuses Trump of Soliciting Foreign Interference in 2020 Election, Report: Europe Could Face Annual Extreme Heat Waves Due to Climate Change, Kamala Harris Ends Her 2020 Presidential Campaign, ProPublica: McKinsey Helped Trump Speed Up Mass Deportation Program, Detained Asylum Seekers Protest in Winnfield, Louisiana, House Votes for Bill to Punish China over Mass Imprisonment of Muslims, ICC Begins Hearing over Alleged U.S. Military Torture in Afghanistan, Rikers Island Officers Stood By as Teenager Attempted to Hang Himself, Today Marks 50th Anniversary of Assassination of Fred Hampton…
(2019-12-03). After His Mysterious Death, the Media Scrambles to Get its Story Straight About White Helmets Founder James Le Mesurier. mintpressnews.com 
Almost immediately after Le Mesurier's alleged plunge to his death, reports began to emerge of tampering and the removal of details about the controversial "private security" operative's career.
(2019-12-03). Fifty Years After the Police Murders of Black Panthers Fred Hampton and Mark Clark. progressive.org "We learned that the government had a plan in place to deal with any black leaders emerging 'who could unify and electrify the masses,' in the words of the FBI. Fred was doing that."
(2019-12-03). Think You're Tired of the Ukraine Scandal? So Are the Ukrainians! progressive.org Biden, Burisma, and the US impeachment hearings have crowded out media coverage of pressing domestic issues in Ukraine.
(2019-12-03). 'Trump's demeaning me!' Lisa Page's new victim narrative is just a media-backed PR move ahead of FBI misconduct report. rt.com 
Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page's interview isn't about clawing back the dignity Donald Trump's insults have denied her — it's damage control before a likely damning DOJ report about the agency's Russian collusion investigation. | In an interview published late Sunday in the Daily Beast, Page claimed that Trump's " demeaning fake orgasm"
(2019-12-03). Dueling impeachment reports: Democrats claim 'evidence' of Trump misconduct, Republicans say there isn't any (READ HERE). rt.com 
Impeachment hearings have shown evidence that US President Donald Trump solicited election interference from Ukraine for personal gain, says a new report by the House Democrats. Republicans say that no such evidence was given. | House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff (D-California) published a 300-page report on Tuesday, as part of the official impeachment inquiry authorized in October despite bipartisan opposition. The report claims that both the secret depositions and the public hearings held over the past month have shown ev…
(2019-12-03). My Generation Needs to Say "Enough": A Swedish Climate Striker Speaks Out About Fridays For Future. democracynow.org 
From Stockholm, Sweden, we're covering the 40th Anniversary of the Right Livelihood Awards, widely known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." This year's recipients include 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, whose school strike for climate started in Stockholm when she began standing outside the Parliament building every school day to demand bold climate action more than a year ago. Her act of resistance soon became a global movement, with millions of youth around the world leaving school and taking to the streets to demand swift action to halt the climate crisis. Greta has just arrived in Lisbon,…
(2019-12-03). "We Are Facing a Global Emergency": Greta Thunberg Arrives Back in Europe to Attend Climate Talks. democracynow.org 
From Stockholm, Sweden, we're covering the 40th Anniversary of the Right Livelihood Awards, widely known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." This year's recipients include 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who arrived Tuesday in Lisbon, Portugal, after traveling for three weeks across the Atlantic in the 48-foot catamaran La Vagabonde, refusing to fly because of the high carbon footprint of air travel. Thunberg was on her way to attend COP25 in Santiago, Chile, when the conference was abruptly relocated due to mass demonstrations against a proposed subway fare hike. She sounded a rallying cry to…
(2019-12-03). Indigenous Protectors Are Defending the Amazon and "Paying With Their Lives" democracynow.org 
This week we're on the road in Stockholm, Sweden, where we're covering the 40th Anniversary of the Right Livelihood Award, widely known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize." One of this year's recipients of the award is Yanomami indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa and the organization he co-founded, Hutukara Yanomami Association. The Right Livelihood Foundation has praised them for "their courageous determination to protect the forests and biodiversity of the Amazon, and the lands and culture of its indigenous peoples." The award comes as indigenous forest protectors and uncontacted tribes in Brazil are increasingly unde…
(2019-12-02). Bloomberg for President? God No! dissidentvoice.org 
Billionaire on the mayoral campaign trail in New York. (Mike Bloomberg is the turkey to the right of the chicken and eagle.) Michael Bloomberg, according to Forbes Magazine the 9th richest man in the world with a net worth this year of $54.7 billion, isn't just the real billionaire candidate for President in 2020 (Donald …