Daily Archives: December 12, 2019

2019-12-12: News Headlines

Madeleine Speed (2019-12-12). The Greek Government's Chaotic Plan for Relocating Migrants. thenation.com The Greek Government's Chaotic Plan for Relocating Migrants…

Staff (2019-12-12). Uganda's First Fridays for Future Climate Striker Joins COP25 Protests in Madrid. truthout.org 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…

Staff (2019-12-12). Polluting Companies Are Sponsoring COP25 Talks in Exchange for Tax Breaks. truthout.org 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…

Andrew Korybko (2019-12-12). Ukraine Might Finally See Peace, Unless the US 'Deep State' Sabotages It First. globalresearch.ca 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 …

Paul Antonopoulos (2019-12-12). Libya Is Likely to Become a Proxy Battlefront Between Greece and Turkey. globalresearch.ca 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 …

Peter Koenig (2019-12-12). NATO Summit — and 2020 Planned Aggression. globalresearch.ca 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 …

teleSUR (2019-12-12). Spain's Sanchez to Form Government Amid Fragmented Parliament. telesurenglish.net The Spanish Socialist Party leader, Pedro Sanchez, confirmed that he accepted a mandate from the king to try and form a government, and would contact other parties starting next week to drum up support amid a deeply fragmented parliament. | RELATED: | Spain: ERC Ratifies Abstention to Sanchez Investiture | "Spaniards are fed up with anger and clashes, they want to believe in politics again," Sanchez told the press but the process is still likely to take several weeks before anyth…

WSWS (2019-12-12). Turkey's Erdoğan threatens to send troops into Libya. wsws.org 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.

teleSUR (2019-12-12). US Senate Committee Approves Sanctions Against Turkey. telesurenglish.net 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…

Staff (2019-12-12). Judiciary Panel Takes First Steps Toward Impeachment Vote. truthdig.com 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…

WSWS (2019-12-12). Twin Flower, about the refugee crisis, from Italy—and Midnight Family, about poverty and health care, from Mexico. wsws.org Two adolescents—one an African refugee—find themselves in painful straits in Twin Flower. Midnight Family focuses on a family in Mexico eking out a meager existence by driving its own private ambulance.

WSWS (2019-12-12). New doping provocation against Russia prior to 2020 Olympics. wsws.org A four-year ban has been imposed on Russian athletes participating in international competition, including the upcoming Summer Olympics in 2020 and Winter Olympics in 2022.

Staff (2019-12-12). Uganda's First Fridays for Future Climate Striker, Vanessa Nakate, Joins COP25 Protests in Madrid. democracynow.org 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 means that the price of food is going to go high. So it will only be the most privileged who will be able to buy food."

Staff (2019-12-12). Headlines for December 12, 2019. democracynow.org European Commission Proposes Sweeping European Green Deal, DOJ Inspector General Testifies to Senate Judiciary Committee, More Than 70 Troops Killed in Attack on Niger Military Camp, Demonstrations Sweep Algeria as Protesters Demand Boycott of Today's Election, Britain: Voters Head to Polls for Defining National Election Today, Aung San Suu Kyi Denies Genocide Against Muslim Rohingya at ICJ, India's Upper House Passes "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Bill, Israel Dissolves Knesset as Country Heads Toward 3rd Election This Year, French Workers Continue Strike After PM Unveils Details of Pension Overhaul, Hundreds of Acti…

RT (2019-12-12). 'Many unanswered questions': Swedish church removes LGBT-themed altarpiece… but NOT for the reason you may think. rt.com After two weeks of deliberation, a church in Sweden decided that a newly-acquired LGBT-friendly painting was too problematic to serve as its altarpiece. Its depiction of Adam and Eve as two same-sex couples was not the issue. | The St. Paul's Church in the southern city of Malmo accepted the painting as its altarpiece on the first day of Advent two weeks ago. The artwork by Swedish photographer and artist Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin was meant to symbolize inclusivity. It predictably generated a lot of buzz, attra…

The Canary (2019-12-12). Academics say Johnson's Brexit would shrink the economy, even after a trade deal with Trump. thecanary.co Boris Johnson's Brexit plan would reduce the UK economy by almost 2%, according to independent trade experts. | The UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO) says its analysis of the impact of leaving the European Union and switching from frictionless trade to a free trade agreement indicates an economic downturn of 1.8%. | Even if mitigating trade deals with the US, Australia and New Zealand were agreed at the same time as writing a Brussels deal, the Conservative Party leader's withdrawal plans would still see UK output decline by 1.4%, the academics said. | According to BBC Two's Newsnight, the programme that first…

RT (2019-12-12). US Senate passes resolution recognizing Armenian genocide, ignoring Trump & Turkey's objections. rt.com The US Senate has unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the Ottoman Empire-era massacre of Armenians as genocide. The move is likely to further strain US ties with Ankara, which has opposed such a designation for decades. | The landmark resolution was passed by the Senate on Thursday. It was the fourth attempt to adopt it, as the previous efforts were blocked by three GOP senators. | "We have just passed the Armenian genocide resolution…and it is fitting and appropriate that the Senate stands on the right side of history in doing so. It commemorates the truth of the Armenian genocide," the resolution's…

RT (2019-12-12). Eastern European states demand funds for new EU climate push. rt.com Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic set out demands on Thursday that could block agreement on the EU's new push for climate neutrality by 2050, saying the poor should not have to bear the cost. | At a summit in Brussels, the majority of 27 EU leaders are expected to offer financial incentives to the eastern member states to win their support for the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, Reuters reports. | "We cannot allow Brussels bureaucrats to have poor people and poor countries to pay the costs of the fight against climate change," Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said ahead of the meeting.

RT (2019-12-12). Head of Libya's eastern-based parliament opposes Turkey's maritime deal with Tripoli govt. rt.com The head of Libya's eastern-based parliament said on Thursday he disagreed with an accord between Libya and Turkey establishing maritime boundaries which has infuriated Athens. | Greece expelled the Libyan ambassador last week over the November 27 accord establishing a sea corridor between Libya and Turkey and in areas where Greece considers it has maritime rights. | "We are here to stress that this specific agreement is rejected," Reuters quoted Aguila Saleh Issa, speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, as saying. "Those that signed it do not have any legal authority to do so, since the government its…

RT (2019-12-12). US tests ground-launched ballistic missile that would've been banned by INF treaty. rt.com The Pentagon has conducted a second test of a missile that would have been banned under the INF treaty with Russia, which the US abandoned earlier this year. A ground-based ballistic missile flew for over 500 kilometers. | The conventionally configured test missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Thursday, the US Department of Defense confirmed in a statement, giving no further details. | "Data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform the Department of Defense's development of future intermediate-range capabilities," the statement said. | Thursday's test follows the…

Eric Lichtblau (2019-12-11). How the FBI Botched Its Russia Inquiry, One of the Most Closely Watched Cases in Its History. theintercept.com The investigation was slowed by communication failures, concerns about political optics, and an overall lack of urgency, along with plenty of mistakes.

Aaron Maté (2019-12-11). Jeremy Corbyn faces Russiagate smear campaign before UK vote. thegrayzone.com Jeremy Corbyn, a real progressive, could win UK's elections. Max Blumenthal joins Pushback to discuss how powerful forces are trying…

Stephen Lendman (2019-12-11). Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's "Timely Visit" to Washington. Coincides with House Impeachment Procedure. Discusses "Russiagate" with Trump in Oval Office. globalresearch.ca On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov met with Pompeo at the State Department as well as Trump in the White House Oval Office. | Several issues discussed including "Russiagate" | [Careful timing?: | "House Democrats will begin work on completing their articles of …

IMEMC News & Agencies (2019-12-11). EU to Discuss Recognition of Palestine. imemc.org Foreign Ministers of the European Union are expected to exchange views, next month, on whether the 28-nation bloc should recognize Palestine as a sovereign state as the US pushes ahead with pro-occupation policies, undermining the prospect of the so-called two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ireland and Luxembourg are among …

WSWS (2019-12-11). Germany: SPD congress backs grand coalition government as class struggle intensifies. wsws.org The new SPD leadership is making hollow reformist promises in the hope of controlling growing anti-capitalist sentiment in the working class.

teleSUR (2019-12-11). Ex-Argentinian Policeman Arrested in Paris over Dirty War Crimes. telesurenglish.net Former police officer Mario Sandoval, accused of crimes against humanity during Argentina's "Dirty War" four decades ago, was arrested by French police on Wednesday after years of legal tussles, a lawyer representing the Argentine government said. | RELATED: , Argentina's Fernandez Calls for the End of Poverty and Misery | The lawyer, Sophie Thonon-Wesfreid, told Reuters he was arrested just hours after France's top administrative court, the Conseil d'Etat, rejected Sandoval's appe…

WSWS (2019-12-11). Mass marches and strikes against Macron's pension cuts continue across France. wsws.org Rail, mass transit and broader sections of the French public sector continued strikes begun on December 5 in an emerging trial of strength between the workers and Macron.

WSWS (2019-12-11). Democrats release articles of impeachment against Trump on "national security" grounds. wsws.org The articles of impeachment assert that the president "betrayed the nation" and "compromised the national security of the United States" by temporarily delaying military aid to Ukraine.

Binoy Kampmark (2019-12-11). Interference Paranoia: Russia, Reddit and the British Election. counterpunch.org In some ways, it is a very British thing: fair play is expected; the reasonable person with all faculties intact, going about the business of living and voting. Little thought is given to the fact that these assumptions are as much constructions, faàßades of rhetorical merit rather than reality. Voters need not be reasonable, and More

Staff (2019-12-11). "Shame!" Indigenous Leaders & Delegates from Global South Stage Dramatic Protest at COP25 in Madrid. democracynow.org Democracy Now! was broadcasting live from the United Nations climate summit in Madrid, Spain, when hundreds of climate advocates and people's movements at the U.N. climate action summit staged a protest inside the conference venue. As the demonstration unfolds, we speak with Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network; Karin Nansen, chair of Friends of the Earth International; Nigerian climate activist Nnimmo Bassey with Health of Mother Earth Foundation; and indigenous climate activist Daiara Tukano from Brazil.

Staff (2019-12-11). "The Most Extreme Fires We've Ever Seen": Record Climate-Fueled Wildfires Engulf Australia in Smoke. democracynow.org As world leaders gather to address the climate crisis in Madrid, massive wildfires have engulfed Australia in flames and smoke. More than 100 climate-fueled blazes have killed at least six people and pushed air quality levels in Sydney to 12 times hazardous levels. Thousands braved extreme air pollution Wednesday to protest the government's climate inaction outside Sydney Town Hall. As Democracy Now! broadcasts live from inside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, we speak with Australian environmental scientist Bill Hare, director of Climate Analytics and a coordinator of the Climate Ac…

Staff (2019-12-11). Rep. Ro Khanna Urges "Universal Condemnation" of Trump as Democrats File Impeachment Charges. democracynow.org House Democrats have unveiled two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump that formally charge him with high crimes and misdemeanors after more than two months of investigation. On Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined chairs of the impeachment inquiry committees to announce the charges of "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress." Democrats allege Trump withheld congressionally directed taxpayer funding for Ukraine's military until the Ukrainian president agreed to do what Trump called a "favor" by announcing Ukraine was investigating his potential 2020 political rival Joe Biden. Democra…

Staff (2019-12-11). Headlines for December 11, 2019. democracynow.org Democrats Charge Trump with Two Articles of Impeachment, Trump Meets with Russian Foreign Minister, Who Denies Russia Meddled in 2016 Election, Democrats Agree with Trump on New NAFTA, Federal Judge Blocks Trump from Diverting Funds to Border Wall, Mass Protests Continue in France Against Macron's Pensions Plan, British Voters Head to the Polls Thursday, Protesters at COP25 Continue Demands for Urgent Action: "You Can't Drink Oil, Keep It in the Soil!", Thousands Protest Australian Government's Inaction as Smoke from Wildfires Blankets Sydney, At Least 6 Dead, 3 Missing, After Volcano Erupts in New Zealand, Ethio…

RT (2019-12-11). US Senate advances bill giving State Department right to call Russia 'sponsor of terrorism'. rt.com The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a bill asking the State Department to determine whether Russia falls under criteria of a state sponsor of terrorism, potentially opening a way stricter sanctions. | The pretentiously titled 'Stopping Malign Activities from Russian Terrorism (SMART) Act' could potentially bring the already strained relations between Moscow and Washington to a new low. | Introduced by Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) in…

South Front (2019-12-11). Video: Russian Troops Entered Raqqah City in Northern Syria for First Time Ever. globalresearch.ca On December 9, Russian forces entered the city of Raqqah for the first time since the start of their anti-terrorism operation in 2015. A unit of the Russian Military Police set up a temporary humanitarian point and provided locals with …

RT (2019-12-11). Justice Department chief Horowitz slams FBI for 'serious errors' in Russiagate investigation. rt.com Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz blasted the FBI for "basic, fundamental, and serious errors" made in their initial Trump-Russia probe which he said amounted to a "failure" by the "entire chain of command." | Horowitz appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday to testify on the results of his 476-page report into the origins of the original FBI 'Crossfire Hurricane' investigation into the Trump campaign. In particular, the IG criticized the FBI for serious irregularities, inaccuracies and omissions in their FISA applications to obtain a warrant to monitor former campaign advi…

RT (2019-12-11). 'It's either sanctions or impeachment': Lavrov in trolling mode when asked about timing of his visit to US. rt.com Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied there was anything odd about the 'timing' of his trip to Washington on a day that impeachment articles against Donald Trump were announced and the Senate debated new Russia sanctions. | Asked about the "timing" by a suspicious reporter following his Oval Office meeting with Trump on Tuesday, Lavrov joked that it was almost impossible to arrive in Washington at a non-controversial time, since something dramatic is always happening. | "It seems to me that, regardless of the day you choose to visit Washington, it will surely coincide with either sanctions or impeachme…

RT (2019-12-11). If you seek truth about 2016 'Russian election meddling,' check secret Obama cables, which US REFUSED to release — Lavrov. rt.com Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he did not discuss 'election meddling' with his US hosts, but that Moscow is willing to publish communications with the Obama administration showing that nothing happened in 2016. | After meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department, Lavrov also sat down with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The White House readout of their meeting said that Trump had "warned against any Russian attempts to interfere in United States elections." | "We did not discuss the election," Lavrov told reporters later on Tuesday, adding that the talks fo…

RT (2019-12-11). 'Obama policies continue': US Congress doing everything to destroy relations with Russia, says Lavrov. rt.com Some US lawmakers are doing everything they can to prevent normalization of US-Russia relations, which would benefit both countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said while visiting Washington. | Lavrov spent Tuesday in meetings with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department and Trump at the Oval Office. At a press conference later in the day, he was asked if Russia saw Trump as a reliable partner. | While Trump sincerely understands the benefits of good relations with Russia for both countries, Lavrov said, "Congress, in my opinion, is doing everything to destroy our relations," continu…

Rick Sterling (2019-12-10). A Beautiful but Deceptive Documentary: "For Sama" dissidentvoice.org The documentary movie "For Sama" has won a host of awards in Europe and North America. Its producers and protagonists, Syrians Waad Kateab and her husband Dr. Hamza Kateab plus English film-maker Edward Watts, have received gushing praise. And the awards will probably keep coming. Unfortunately, behind a human interest story, the movie "For Sama" …

Peter Maass (2019-12-10). The King of Sweden Gives Peter Handke a Disgraceful Nobel Prize. theintercept.com A Nobel Prize that will live in infamy was officially presented today to Peter Handke, who is a genocide denier. There was no sign of protest or discord inside the Stockholm Concert Hall as King Carl XVI Gustaf delivered a gold Nobel medal to Handke. After the Swedish monarch warmly shook Handke's hand, and the Austrian-born writer gave a slight bow in return, an orchestra played an extract from Edward Elgar's "Salut d'Amour." | The ceremony, on a winter day with little sunlight, came after precisely two months of international controversy. Among Handke's large body of work are more than a half-dozen books that d…

Jason Ditz (2019-12-10). US Army Prepares Biggest Deployment to Europe in 25 Years. theantimedia.com In 2020, the US Army will be carrying out its biggest deployment in 25 years into Europe.

Brendan Oswald (2019-12-10). Scandal Strikes at the Heart of Europe. progressive.org Slovakian officials are stepping down over their participation in a double murder.

news.un (2019-12-10). Deliver 'significant results now', UN General Assembly President tells COP25 climate conference. news.un.org It is "imperative" that the COP25 climate conference underway in Spain delivers "significant results now", Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the UN General Assembly (PGA), said on Tuesday.

Staff (2019-12-10). Indigenous Youth & Elders at COP25 Protest Canada's Support of Dirty Tar Sands Projects. democracynow.org Indigenous women protested outside the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday morning to demand action to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls across North America. Madrid police shut down the protest within minutes. On Monday, indigenous youth and elders gathered outside the Canadian Embassy in Madrid to protest the Canadian government's support of the Alberta tar sands extraction and new fossil fuel infrastructure, including a pipeline that would cut through indigenous lands to carry tar sands oil from Alberta to Wisconsin. We speak with one of those demonstrators: Eriel Dera…

Staff (2019-12-10). The U.S. Has Almost No Official Presence at COP25 But Is Still "Obstructing Any Progress" democracynow.org This week, Democracy Now! is broadcasting from inside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, where representatives from almost 200 countries have gathered to negotiate solutions to the climate crisis. Known as COP25 for "conference of parties," the summit offers a rare opportunity for all countries, especially those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, to have an equal say in negotiations. It comes four years after the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to "well below 2 degrees Celsius," or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. But as the summit heads into its final days, represen…

Staff (2019-12-10). "Listen to Mother Earth": Indigenous Youth Leaders at COP25 in Madrid Protest Fossil Fuel Extraction. democracynow.org "Our movements must be bigger than recycling and braver than holding signs," said Rose Whipple, a member of the Santee Dakota and Ho-Chunk, and youth delegate with SustainUS, who joined a panel of youth climate activists at the United Nations climate summit in Madrid, Spain. Indigenous peoples from Canada and the United States are at the summit, speaking out against extraction, new pipeline projects and the environmental devastation of their territories, and calling for movements to center the rights of indigenous peoples.

Staff (2019-12-10). Asad Rehman on the U.K.'s "Climate Election" & Explosive Afghanistan Papers Revelations. democracynow.org We get response from London-based Asad Rehman, executive director of War on Want, on two major news developments: The United Kingdom — which will head the COP next year — is set to vote Thursday in what some are calling "the climate election," and the Washington Post has published a confidential trove of documents that reveal how senior U.S. officials have lied throughout the 18-year war in Afghanistan, the longest war in U.S. history, while hiding evidence the war had become unwinnable.

Staff (2019-12-10). Headlines for December 10, 2019. democracynow.org House Democrats to Unveil Articles of Impeachment Today, WaPo: Secret Afghanistan Papers Reveal How U.S. Officials Lied About War, Sanders & Khanna Urge Lawmakers to Vote Against National Defense Authorization Act, Russia and Ukraine Agree to Ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine, India's Lower House Passes "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Bill, Protests Continue in Madrid, Spain, Amid COP25, Denmark Passes Climate Act to Reduce Emissions by 70% by 2030, More Than 100 Blazes Rage Across Australia Amid Worst Fire Season in History, Iraq: One Journalist Killed and a Second Disappeared After Covering Protests, Aung San Suu Kyi Arri…

RT (2019-12-10). 'Abuse of power' & 'obstruction of Congress': Democrats unveil charges in Trump impeachment. rt.com US House Judiciary Panel chairman Jerry Nadler has announced that two articles of impeachment will be introduced against President Donald Trump, including one for abuse of power. | Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Nadler said Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine and that he has "declared himself above accountability." | No one, not even the president, is above the law. | He said the second article of impeachment will be for obstruction of Congress. The Judiciary Committee will meet later this week to consider the articles. | Nadler also claimed that lawmakers must "act now" because the integrity of th…

2019-12-12: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

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/

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/

The Greek Government's Chaotic Plan for Relocating Migrants
Madeleine Speed | thenation.com | 2019-12-12
The Greek Government's Chaotic Plan for Relocating Migrants…
thenation.com/article/greece-migrants-relocation-hotels/

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

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

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

Spain's Sanchez to Form Government Amid Fragmented Parliament
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-12
The Spanish Socialist Party leader, Pedro Sanchez, confirmed that he accepted a mandate from the king to try and form a government, and would contact other parties starting next week to drum up support amid a deeply fragmented parliament. | RELATED: | Spain: ERC Ratifies Abstention to Sanchez Investiture | "Spaniards are fed up with anger and clashes, they want to believe in politics again," Sanchez told the press but the process is still likely to take several weeks before anyth…
telesurenglish.net/news/sanchez-accepts-to-form-government-amid-fragmented-parliament-20191211-0028.html

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

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

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/

Twin Flower, about the refugee crisis, from Italy–and Midnight Family, about poverty and health care, from Mexico
wsws.org | 2019-12-12
Two adolescents–one an African refugee–find themselves in painful straits in Twin Flower. Midnight Family focuses on a family in Mexico eking out a meager existence by driving its own private ambulance.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/12/twin-d12.html

New doping provocation against Russia prior to 2020 Olympics
wsws.org | 2019-12-12
A four-year ban has been imposed on Russian athletes participating in international competition, including the upcoming Summer Olympics in 2020 and Winter Olympics in 2022.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/12/dope-d12.html

Uganda's First Fridays for Future Climate Striker, Vanessa Nakate, Joins COP25 Protests in Madrid
Staff | democracynow.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 means that the price of food is going to go high. So it will only be the most privileged who will be able to buy food."
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/12/cop25_vanessa_nakate_uganda

'Many unanswered questions': Swedish church removes LGBT-themed altarpiece… but NOT for the reason you may think
rt.com | 2019-12-12
After two weeks of deliberation, a church in Sweden decided that a newly-acquired LGBT-friendly painting was too problematic to serve as its altarpiece. Its depiction of Adam and Eve as two same-sex couples was not the issue. | The St. Paul's Church in the southern city of Malmo accepted the painting as its altarpiece on the first day of Advent two weeks ago. The artwork by Swedish photographer and artist Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin was meant to symbolize inclusivity. It predictably generated a lot of buzz, attra…
rt.com/news/475697-church-sweden-lgbt-altarpiece/

Academics say Johnson's Brexit would shrink the economy, even after a trade deal with Trump
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-12-12
Boris Johnson's Brexit plan would reduce the UK economy by almost 2%, according to independent trade experts. | The UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO) says its analysis of the impact of leaving the European Union and switching from frictionless trade to a free trade agreement indicates an economic downturn of 1.8%. | Even if mitigating trade deals with the US, Australia and New Zealand were agreed at the same time as writing a Brussels deal, the Conservative Party leader's withdrawal plans would still see UK output decline by 1.4%, the academics said. | According to BBC Two's Newsnight, the programme that first…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/12/12/academics-say-johnsons-brexit-would-shrink-the-economy-even-after-a-trade-deal-with-trump/

US Senate passes resolution recognizing Armenian genocide, ignoring Trump & Turkey's objections
rt.com | 2019-12-12
The US Senate has unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the Ottoman Empire-era massacre of Armenians as genocide. The move is likely to further strain US ties with Ankara, which has opposed such a designation for decades. | The landmark resolution was passed by the Senate on Thursday. It was the fourth attempt to adopt it, as the previous efforts were blocked by three GOP senators. | "We have just passed the Armenian genocide resolution…and it is fitting and appropriate that the Senate stands on the right side of history in doing so. It commemorates the truth of the Armenian genocide," the resolution's…
rt.com/usa/475725-us-senate-armenian-genocide-resolution/

Eastern European states demand funds for new EU climate push
rt.com | 2019-12-12
Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic set out demands on Thursday that could block agreement on the EU's new push for climate neutrality by 2050, saying the poor should not have to bear the cost. | At a summit in Brussels, the majority of 27 EU leaders are expected to offer financial incentives to the eastern member states to win their support for the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, Reuters reports. | "We cannot allow Brussels bureaucrats to have poor people and poor countries to pay the costs of the fight against climate change," Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said ahead of the meeting.
rt.com/newsline/475673-eu-funds-climate-summit/

Head of Libya's eastern-based parliament opposes Turkey's maritime deal with Tripoli govt
rt.com | 2019-12-12
The head of Libya's eastern-based parliament said on Thursday he disagreed with an accord between Libya and Turkey establishing maritime boundaries which has infuriated Athens. | Greece expelled the Libyan ambassador last week over the November 27 accord establishing a sea corridor between Libya and Turkey and in areas where Greece considers it has maritime rights. | "We are here to stress that this specific agreement is rejected," Reuters quoted Aguila Saleh Issa, speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, as saying. "Those that signed it do not have any legal authority to do so, since the government its…
rt.com/newsline/475664-libya-parliament-turkey-deal/

US tests ground-launched ballistic missile that would've been banned by INF treaty
rt.com | 2019-12-12
The Pentagon has conducted a second test of a missile that would have been banned under the INF treaty with Russia, which the US abandoned earlier this year. A ground-based ballistic missile flew for over 500 kilometers. | The conventionally configured test missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Thursday, the US Department of Defense confirmed in a statement, giving no further details. | "Data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform the Department of Defense's development of future intermediate-range capabilities," the statement said. | Thursday's test follows the…
rt.com/usa/475724-inf-treaty-banned-missile-test/

Jeremy Corbyn faces Russiagate smear campaign before UK vote
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-11
Jeremy Corbyn, a real progressive, could win UK's elections. Max Blumenthal joins Pushback to discuss how powerful forces are trying…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/11/jeremy-corbyn-faces-russiagate-smear-campaign-before-uk-vote/

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's "Timely Visit" to Washington. Coincides with House Impeachment Procedure. Discusses "Russiagate" with Trump in Oval Office
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-11
On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov met with Pompeo at the State Department as well as Trump in the White House Oval Office. | Several issues discussed including "Russiagate" | [Careful timing?: | "House Democrats will begin work on completing their articles of | …
globalresearch.ca/russia-sergey-lavrov-washington/5697449

EU to Discuss Recognition of Palestine
IMEMC News & Agencies | imemc.org | 2019-12-11
Foreign Ministers of the European Union are expected to exchange views, next month, on whether the 28-nation bloc should recognize Palestine as a sovereign state as the US pushes ahead with pro-occupation policies, undermining the prospect of the so-called two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ireland and Luxembourg are among …
imemc.org/article/eu-to-discuss-recognition-of-palestine/

Germany: SPD congress backs grand coalition government as class struggle intensifies
wsws.org | 2019-12-11
The new SPD leadership is making hollow reformist promises in the hope of controlling growing anti-capitalist sentiment in the working class.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/11/spde-d11.html

Mass marches and strikes against Macron's pension cuts continue across France
wsws.org | 2019-12-11
Rail, mass transit and broader sections of the French public sector continued strikes begun on December 5 in an emerging trial of strength between the workers and Macron.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/11/fran-d11.html

Ex-Argentinian Policeman Arrested in Paris over Dirty War Crimes
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-11
Former police officer Mario Sandoval, accused of crimes against humanity during Argentina's "Dirty War" four decades ago, was arrested by French police on Wednesday after years of legal tussles, a lawyer representing the Argentine government said. | RELATED: , Argentina's Fernandez Calls for the End of Poverty and Misery | The lawyer, Sophie Thonon-Wesfreid, told Reuters he was arrested just hours after France's top administrative court, the Conseil d'Etat, rejected Sandoval's appe…
telesurenglish.net/news/Ex-Argentinian-Policeman-Arrested-in-Paris-over-Dirty-War-Crimes-20191211-0025.html

Democrats release articles of impeachment against Trump on "national security" grounds
wsws.org | 2019-12-11
The articles of impeachment assert that the president "betrayed the nation" and "compromised the national security of the United States" by temporarily delaying military aid to Ukraine.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/11/impe-d11.html

How the FBI Botched Its Russia Inquiry, One of the Most Closely Watched Cases in Its History
Eric Lichtblau | theintercept.com | 2019-12-11
The investigation was slowed by communication failures, concerns about political optics, and an overall lack of urgency, along with plenty of mistakes.
theintercept.com/2019/12/11/fbi-trump-russia-investigation-report/

Interference Paranoia: Russia, Reddit and the British Election
Binoy Kampmark | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-11
In some ways, it is a very British thing: fair play is expected; the reasonable person with all faculties intact, going about the business of living and voting. Little thought is given to the fact that these assumptions are as much constructions, faàßades of rhetorical merit rather than reality. Voters need not be reasonable, and…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/11/interference-paranoia-russia-reddit-and-the-british-election/

"Shame!" Indigenous Leaders & Delegates from Global South Stage Dramatic Protest at COP25 in Madrid
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-11
Democracy Now! was broadcasting live from the United Nations climate summit in Madrid, Spain, when hundreds of climate advocates and people's movements at the U.N. climate action summit staged a protest inside the conference venue. As the demonstration unfolds, we speak with Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network; Karin Nansen, chair of Friends of the Earth International; Nigerian climate activist Nnimmo Bassey with Health of Mother Earth Foundation; and indigenous climate activist Daiara Tukano from Brazil.
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/11/cop25_walkout_indigenous_leaders_global_south

"The Most Extreme Fires We've Ever Seen": Record Climate-Fueled Wildfires Engulf Australia in Smoke
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-11
As world leaders gather to address the climate crisis in Madrid, massive wildfires have engulfed Australia in flames and smoke. More than 100 climate-fueled blazes have killed at least six people and pushed air quality levels in Sydney to 12 times hazardous levels. Thousands braved extreme air pollution Wednesday to protest the government's climate inaction outside Sydney Town Hall. As Democracy Now! broadcasts live from inside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, we speak with Australian environmental scientist Bill Hare, director of Climate Analytics and a coordinator of the Climate Ac…
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/11/australia_wildfires_2019_climate_change

Rep. Ro Khanna Urges "Universal Condemnation" of Trump as Democrats File Impeachment Charges
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-11
House Democrats have unveiled two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump that formally charge him with high crimes and misdemeanors after more than two months of investigation. On Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined chairs of the impeachment inquiry committees to announce the charges of "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress." Democrats allege Trump withheld congressionally directed taxpayer funding for Ukraine's military until the Ukrainian president agreed to do what Trump called a "favor" by announcing Ukraine was investigating his potential 2020 political rival Joe Biden. Democra…
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/11/ro_khanna_trump_articles_of_impeachment

Video: Russian Troops Entered Raqqah City in Northern Syria for First Time Ever
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-11
On December 9, Russian forces entered the city of Raqqah for the first time since the start of their anti-terrorism operation in 2015. A unit of the Russian Military Police set up a temporary humanitarian point and provided locals with …
globalresearch.ca/video-russian-troops-entered-raqqah-city/5697367

US Senate advances bill giving State Department right to call Russia 'sponsor of terrorism'
rt.com | 2019-12-11
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a bill asking the State Department to determine whether Russia falls under criteria of a state sponsor of terrorism, potentially opening a way stricter sanctions. | The pretentiously titled 'Stopping Malign Activities from Russian Terrorism (SMART) Act' could potentially bring the already strained relations between Moscow and Washington to a new low. | Introduced by Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) in…
rt.com/usa/475637-us-senate-russia-sponsor-terrorism/

'It's either sanctions or impeachment': Lavrov in trolling mode when asked about timing of his visit to US
rt.com | 2019-12-11
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied there was anything odd about the 'timing' of his trip to Washington on a day that impeachment articles against Donald Trump were announced and the Senate debated new Russia sanctions. | Asked about the "timing" by a suspicious reporter following his Oval Office meeting with Trump on Tuesday, Lavrov joked that it was almost impossible to arrive in Washington at a non-controversial time, since something dramatic is always happening. | "It seems to me that, regardless of the day you choose to visit Washington, it will surely coincide with either sanctions or impeachme…
rt.com/usa/475605-lavrov-washington-visit-impeachment/

'Obama policies continue': US Congress doing everything to destroy relations with Russia, says Lavrov
rt.com | 2019-12-11
Some US lawmakers are doing everything they can to prevent normalization of US-Russia relations, which would benefit both countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said while visiting Washington. | Lavrov spent Tuesday in meetings with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department and Trump at the Oval Office. At a press conference later in the day, he was asked if Russia saw Trump as a reliable partner. | While Trump sincerely understands the benefits of good relations with Russia for both countries, Lavrov said, "Congress, in my opinion, is doing everything to destroy our relations," continu…
rt.com/usa/475537-congress-destroys-us-russia-relations/

Justice Department chief Horowitz slams FBI for 'serious errors' in Russiagate investigation
rt.com | 2019-12-11
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz blasted the FBI for "basic, fundamental, and serious errors" made in their initial Trump-Russia probe which he said amounted to a "failure" by the "entire chain of command." | Horowitz appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday to testify on the results of his 476-page report into the origins of the original FBI 'Crossfire Hurricane' investigation into the Trump campaign. In particular, the IG criticized the FBI for serious irregularities, inaccuracies and omissions in their FISA applications to obtain a warrant to monitor former campaign advi…
rt.com/usa/475630-horowitz-russia-trump-errors/

If you seek truth about 2016 'Russian election meddling,' check secret Obama cables, which US REFUSED to release — Lavrov
rt.com | 2019-12-11
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he did not discuss 'election meddling' with his US hosts, but that Moscow is willing to publish communications with the Obama administration showing that nothing happened in 2016. | After meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department, Lavrov also sat down with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The White House readout of their meeting said that Trump had "warned against any Russian attempts to interfere in United States elections." | "We did not discuss the election," Lavrov told reporters later on Tuesday, adding that the talks fo…
rt.com/usa/475539-lavrov-trump-elections-meddling/

The King of Sweden Gives Peter Handke a Disgraceful Nobel Prize
Peter Maass | theintercept.com | 2019-12-10
A Nobel Prize that will live in infamy was officially presented today to Peter Handke, who is a genocide denier. There was no sign of protest or discord inside the Stockholm Concert Hall as King Carl XVI Gustaf delivered a gold Nobel medal to Handke. After the Swedish monarch warmly shook Handke's hand, and the Austrian-born writer gave a slight bow in return, an orchestra played an extract from Edward Elgar's "Salut d'Amour." | The ceremony, on a winter day with little sunlight, came after precisely two months of international controversy. Among Handke's large body of work are more than a half-dozen books that d…
theintercept.com/2019/12/10/the-king-of-sweden-gives-peter-handke-a-disgraceful-nobel-prize/

Scandal Strikes at the Heart of Europe
Brendan Oswald | progressive.org | 2019-12-10
Slovakian officials are stepping down over their participation in a double murder.
progressive.org/dispatches/scandal-strikes-europe-oswald-191210/

A Beautiful but Deceptive Documentary: "For Sama"
Rick Sterling | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-12-10
The documentary movie "For Sama" has won a host of awards in Europe and North America. Its producers and protagonists, Syrians Waad Kateab and her husband Dr. Hamza Kateab plus English film-maker Edward Watts, have received gushing praise. And the awards will probably keep coming. Unfortunately, behind a human interest story, the movie "For Sama" …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/12/a-beautiful-but-deceptive-documentary-for-sama/

US Army Prepares Biggest Deployment to Europe in 25 Years
Jason Ditz | theantimedia.com | 2019-12-10
In 2020, the US Army will be carrying out its biggest deployment in 25 years into Europe.

US Army Prepares Biggest Deployment to Europe in 25 Years

Deliver 'significant results now', UN General Assembly President tells COP25 climate conference
news.un.org | 2019-12-10
It is "imperative" that the COP25 climate conference underway in Spain delivers "significant results now", Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the UN General Assembly (PGA), said on Tuesday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1053141

"Listen to Mother Earth": Indigenous Youth Leaders at COP25 in Madrid Protest Fossil Fuel Extraction
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-10
"Our movements must be bigger than recycling and braver than holding signs," said Rose Whipple, a member of the Santee Dakota and Ho-Chunk, and youth delegate with SustainUS, who joined a panel of youth climate activists at the United Nations climate summit in Madrid, Spain. Indigenous peoples from Canada and the United States are at the summit, speaking out against extraction, new pipeline projects and the environmental devastation of their territories, and calling for movements to center the rights of indigenous peoples.
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/10/listen_to_mother_earth_indigenous_youth

Indigenous Youth & Elders at COP25 Protest Canada's Support of Dirty Tar Sands Projects
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-10
Indigenous women protested outside the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday morning to demand action to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls across North America. Madrid police shut down the protest within minutes. On Monday, indigenous youth and elders gathered outside the Canadian Embassy in Madrid to protest the Canadian government's support of the Alberta tar sands extraction and new fossil fuel infrastructure, including a pipeline that would cut through indigenous lands to carry tar sands oil from Alberta to Wisconsin. We speak with one of those demonstrators: Eriel Dera…
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/10/eriel_deranger_canada_tar_sands

The U.S. Has Almost No Official Presence at COP25 But Is Still "Obstructing Any Progress"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-10
This week, Democracy Now! is broadcasting from inside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, where representatives from almost 200 countries have gathered to negotiate solutions to the climate crisis. Known as COP25 for "conference of parties," the summit offers a rare opportunity for all countries, especially those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, to have an equal say in negotiations. It comes four years after the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to "well below 2 degrees Celsius," or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. But as the summit heads into its final days, represen…
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/10/us_role_at_cop25_obstructing_progress

Asad Rehman on the U.K.'s "Climate Election" & Explosive Afghanistan Papers Revelations
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-12-10
We get response from London-based Asad Rehman, executive director of War on Want, on two major news developments: The United Kingdom — which will head the COP next year — is set to vote Thursday in what some are calling "the climate election," and the Washington Post has published a confidential trove of documents that reveal how senior U.S. officials have lied throughout the 18-year war in Afghanistan, the longest war in U.S. history, while hiding evidence the war had become unwinnable.
www.democracynow.org/2019/12/10/the_climate_election_uk_vote_afghanistan

'Abuse of power' & 'obstruction of Congress': Democrats unveil charges in Trump impeachment
rt.com | 2019-12-10
US House Judiciary Panel chairman Jerry Nadler has announced that two articles of impeachment will be introduced against President Donald Trump, including one for abuse of power. | Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Nadler said Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine and that he has "declared himself above accountability." | No one, not even the president, is above the law. | He said the second article of impeachment will be for obstruction of Congress. The Judiciary Committee will meet later this week to consider the articles. | Nadler also claimed that lawmakers must "act now" because the integrity of th…
rt.com/usa/475496-obstruction-abuse-of-power-charges/

'What's next, accuse Russian diplomats of doping?' Lavrov mocks absurd media storm over his 'secret' meeting with Trump
rt.com | 2019-12-10
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took a moment to poke fun at US media and members of Congress obsessing about his 'secret' meeting with US President Donald Trump, while throwing shade on WADA for the Russian sports ban. | On a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC on Tuesday, Lavrov met with his US counterpart Mike Pompeo as well as Trump, behind closed doors at the White House. Congressman Adam Schiff (D-California), House Democrats' point man for Trump impeachment, called it a "success of Russian propaganda." | Just had a very good meeting with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and representatives of Russia.
rt.com/usa/475534-lavrov-mocks-trump-meeting-scandal/

For Sama: A Beautiful Yet Deceptive Documentary That Betrays Reality in Syria
Rick Sterling | mintpressnews.com | 2019-12-09
The documentary movie "For Sama" has won a host of awards in Europe and North America. Its producers and protagonists, Syrians Waad Kateab and her husband Dr. Hamza Kateab plus English film-maker Edward Watts, have received gushing praise. And the awards will probably keep coming. | Unfortunately, behind the human interest story, the film "For Sama" is little more than propaganda: biased, misleading, and politically partisan. | Hiding Basic Facts about Aleppo: | "For Sama" is a full-length documentary with a moving personal story. It combines…
mintpressnews.com/for-sama-beautiful-deceptive-documentary-reality-syria/263282/

An Australian Tourist, a Bulgarian Prison, and a Recording Session
David Rovics | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-12-09
Bulgaria, it appears, is a captured state. I'll get to that in a minute. I first heard about Jock Palfreeman, an Australian serving a lengthy prison sentence in Bulgaria, through a fellow Australian. The context was a message from my friend Kamala that was straightforward, to the effect of, "would you write a song about …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/12/an-australian-tourist-a-bulgarian-prison-and-a-recording-session/