Daily Archives: December 31, 2019

2019-12-31: News Headlines

Harrison Stetler (2019-12-31). France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights. thenation.com France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights…

Staff (2019-12-31). Headlines for December 31, 2019. democracynow.org Protests Rage Outside U.S. Embassy in Iraq After U.S. Airstrikes Kill 24, Hate Crime Charges Filed Against Suspect in Hanukkah Stabbing in NY, Texas Church Shooter Had Long Criminal History, NYT: Top Officials Failed to Convince Trump to Release Withheld Ukraine Aid, Death Toll from Crackdown on Protests in India Rises to 27, Five Kashmiri Political Leaders Released from Detention, Sudanese Court Sentences 29 to Death for Killing Teacher in Anti-Protest Crackdown, Thousands Flee to the Ocean to Escape Australia Wildfires, Former Nissan Head Flees Japan to Lebanon to Escape Trial on Financial Crimes, New York Sett…

teleSUR (2019-12-31). Smoke and Tears: A Decade of War in Middle East, North Africa. telesurenglish.net The 2010s can be described as a decade that began with hope with popular uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa, but that quickly turned to despair as political turmoil, foreign interventions, and war pushed the region into crisis. | RELATED: | 10 Trends and Events that Marked the Decade in Europe | As the decade ends, teleSUR looks back to the ten most important events that have shaped the lives of millions across the region: | 1. The Arab Spring: Tunisia and Egypt: | The 2010s began with what became known as the Arab Spring when a wave of protests rocked several Arab countries. In Decem…

Peoples Dispatch (2019-12-31). Portway handling workers in Portugal set to continue strike. peoplesdispatch.org Portway handling workers in various Portuguese airports have decided to continue their protest demanding that the Vinci Group — owner of the Portway Handling de Portugal, SA — comply with the agreement signed in 2016 to 'unfreeze' careers from last November. Workers of the Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal airports, under the leadership of the National Union of Civil Aviation Workers (SINTAC), embarked on a three-day strike from December 27. Overtime and weekend workers will go on strike from January 1 to the end of March 2020. | SINTAC has alleged that Portway Handling de Portugal "has begun to cut socia…

Patrick Cockburn (2019-12-31). How Nationalism is Transforming the Politics of the British Isles. counterpunch.org National identities and the relationship between England, Scotland and Ireland are changing more radically than at any time over the last century. It is worth looking at the British archipelago as a whole on this issue because of the closely-meshed political relationship of its constituent nations. More

teleSUR (2019-12-31). 10 Trends and Events that Marked the Decade in Europe. telesurenglish.net As the decade ends, teleSUR looks back to the ten most important events that have shaped the lives of millions across the region. | 1. The Rise of Far-Right: | One of the most concerning trends that have hit not only the United States and many other South American countries, the last decade has seen numerous parties from the ultra-right gaining momentum and in some cases, winning elections, like Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary, Poland's ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS), or Italy's former Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, whose League party became the driving eurosceptic force until the rece…

WSWS (2019-12-31). Fires create hellish conditions across Australia. wsws.org An unprecedented mass evacuation order for an area half the size of Belgium gave tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers just hours to pack up and leave.

WSWS (2019-12-31). The impeachment crisis and US war plans against Russia. wsws.org The ferocity with which the entire US national security apparatus responded to a temporary delay in sending anti-tank missiles and radar to Ukraine raises the question: Is there a timetable for using these weapons in combat against Russia?

Michael Felsen (2019-12-31). In 2020, Ukrainians Gain Whistleblower Rights Trump Has Forsaken Here. commondreams.org Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch is surrounded by lawyers, aides, and journalists as she arrives at the U.S. Capitol October 11, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/yovanovitch.jpg

Andrew Korybko (2019-12-31). 20 Years of Vladimir Putin: His Top Domestic and Foreign Policy Successes. globalresearch.ca Vladimir Putin assumed office as Russia's Acting President 20 years ago on 31 December, 1999, after which he speedily proceeded to transform both his country and the rest of the world in the two decades since. | President Putin became his …

teleSUR (2019-12-31). 'China's GDP to Reach $14.37 Trillion in 2019', President Xi. telesurenglish.net During the New Year speech delivered on Tuesday, China's President Xi Jinping reviewed the economic, social, political, and scientific achievements of his country and announced that over 10 million people were lifted out of poverty in 2019. | RELATED: | China, Russia, Iran Hold Drills at The 'Maritime Safety Belt' | "Thanks to our steady pursuit of high-qualit…

teleSUR (2019-12-31). Russia: Iran Deal on Brink of Collapse Because of Washington. telesurenglish.net The international nuclear deal signed with Iran in 2015 is on the brink of collapse because of Washington's decision to withdraw, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday following a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. | RELATED: | Trump Warns Syria, Russia, Iran Over Idlib Campaign | "This extremely important international diplomatic achievement, the Joint Plan of Action (JCPOA) for the Iranian nuclear program, is about to collapse," Lavrov told the pr…

teleSUR (2019-12-31). Evo Morales Condemns Expulsion of Diplomats from Bolivia. telesurenglish.net The expulsion of diplomats from Mexico and Spain by the de facto Bolivian regime is an act of contempt for international law, the democratically elected President Evo Morales said on Tuesday. Morales condemned the move by "the coup plotters," highlighting the fact that they have been hurting the Andean nation's diplomatic ties. | RELATED: | Spain Expels 3 Bolivian Diplomats in Tit-For-Tat Move | "The coup plotters seek legitimacy, but only exert violence against sister countries," Mora…

teleSUR (2019-12-31). France's Macron: I Want Solid Ties With Post-Brexit Britain. telesurenglish.net French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that he wanted a strong relationship with post-Brexit Britain. | RELATED: | France Transport Strikes Among Longest In Country's History | During his traditional end-of-year televised address to the nation, Macron said: "The UK's exit from the European Union is a test for our country. I will strive to maintain…

yenisafak (2019-12-31). Mothers' sit-in against YPG/PKK marks four months in Turkey. yenisafak.com Dozens of mothers in Turkey's southeast have been continuing to stage sit-in protest for around four months against the terrorist group YPG/PKK, who they say kidnapped their children.The protest started on Sept. 3 outside the offices of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a party accused by the government of having links to the terrorist YPG/PKK, in Diyarbakir when Fevziye Cetinkaya, Remziye Akkoyun, and Aysegul Bicer said their children had been forcibly recruited by PKK terrorists.Since then, the number of protesting mothers has been growing, as they demand the return of their children, who, they say, were dec…

yenisafak (2019-12-31). Ukraine's Naftogaz to transmit 75 bcm of Russian gas to Europe in 2020. yenisafak.com Ukraine's Naftogaz expects to transmit 75 billion cubic metres of Russian gas to Europe in 2020 due to the expected delay of Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, Naftogaz Chief Executive Andriy Kobolyev said on Tuesday.The Ukrainian government is actively discussing resuming gas purchases from Russia, Kobolyev told reporters in Kiev, adding that the gas transmission tariff for Russian producer Gazprom had barely changed in a new contract.

yenisafak (2019-12-31). UK had plans to make Russia 'associate' NATO member. yenisafak.com The British government had a plan to make Russia an "associate" member of the NATO alliance before Vladimir Putin took over as president in 1999, British archives made public revealed Tuesday.The secret Ministry of Defense documents from 25 years ago revealed the plan, which was based on the cooperative nature of Boris Yeltsin, Putin's late predecessor.The note outlined an opportunity to change the relationship with Russia after the end of the Cold War."A possible solution would be to create a new category of associate member of Nato," then-Defense Secretary Malcolm Rifkind said in his proposal."Such a status cou…

yenisafak (2019-12-31). Turkey arrests 5 suspects planning terror attacks. yenisafak.com Turkish police arrested five foreign national suspects who were allegedly planning terrorist attacks around the time of New Year's celebrations on behalf of Daesh/ISIS, according to security sources on Tuesday.The anti-terror police units along with the special forces during early morning hours conducted raids at the addresses of suspects in the capital Ankara, said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.Each one of the suspects was allegedly planning a separate terror attack during the celebrations, it added.It was identified that the suspects were linked to D…

yenisafak (2019-12-31). Turkey's foreign debt stock stands at $433.9B end-Sept. yenisafak.com Turkey's gross external debt stock totaled $433.9 billion at the end of September, the Treasury and Finance Ministry announced Tuesday.The figure constituted 59.1% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the ministry said in a statement.Turkey's net foreign debt amounted to $247.6 billion as of Sept. 30, accounting for 33.7% of its GDP."Treasury guaranteed external debt stock has been $14.4 billion as of 30 September," said the ministry.The data showed that EU-defined general government debt stock was nearly 1.3 trillion Turkish liras ($233.6 billion), or 32.1% of GDP at the end of the month.The public net…

yenisafak (2019-12-31). Afghan refugee living in Turkey, pursuing dream of becoming doctor. yenisafak.com An Afghan boy taken under state protection by Turkey dreams of becoming a doctor someday."Becoming a doctor is my lifelong dream. Turkey has become my second home by giving this chance to me," Ayed Mohamed Mousa said.Two years ago, the 17-year-old was detained by Turkish security forces as he attempted to cross the Turkish border to Europe.He was taken under state protection as he was a minor.Moussa recalled being born in a poor family that migrated to Iran from Afghanistan in the pursuit of a better life.Next, they wanted to cross to Turkey and onward to Europe.But things did not go as planned. Only Moussa was a…

yenisafak (2019-12-31). ANALYSIS: E. Med policy of UAE-Saudi axis creates tensions. yenisafak.com Deployment of Saudi military elements to the largest oil field in Syria, al-Omar, with an excuse of protecting the Saudi oil experts in the field last week, and news regarding the expropriation of a Turkish-crewed ship in the Mediterranean by the coast guard forces loyal to eastern Libya-based warlord Khalifa Haftar redrew attention to the Eastern Mediterranean policy of the UAE-Saudi axis.The UAE-Saudi axis, traditionally in favor of the status-quo, has developed its recent policy in the Eastern Mediterranean just after the signing of the Turkey-Libya Maritime Boundary Delimitation Agreement, which can be interp…

RT (2019-12-31). Clean sweep: Ustiugov wins again as Russia take top three spots at Tour de Ski in Italy. rt.com Russia's Sergey Ustiugov continued his superb form as he won the 15km freestyle final at the Tour de Ski stage in Toblach, Italy, while teammates Ivan Yakimushkin and Alexander Bolshunov completed the podium. | Ustiugov finished the 15km course in 31 minutes 2.5 seconds, while Yakimushkin followed in second, 22.6 seconds behind, and Bolshunov rounded out an all-Russian top three, 29 seconds behind the winner. | For Ustuigov it continues his fine recent form, adding to his victory in the mass start in Switzerland earlier in December. | It's a special day for the Russian team in Toblach today! Sergey Ustiugov fi…

RT (2019-12-31). CHILLING VIDEO captures snow-covered passengers traveling on Russian bus with broken vent window. rt.com Muscovites have been complaining about a lack of snow this winter, but people in other regions of Russia have experienced no such shortage. Commuters in Norilsk even got caught in a blizzard while traveling inside a bus. | 'Rainy Taxi' is a famous work by Salvador Dali, which comprises an actual car, equipped with a system of pipes that create rainfall inside the vehicle. In a case of life imitating art, a passenger vehicle in the city of Norilsk, inside the Arctic Circle, could similarly be described as 'Snowy Bus.' | It may sound funny to some, but surely not to the passengers of one local bus. Bizarre foota…

RT (2019-12-31). Trump calls US helping Russia thwart terror attack 'great & important coordination'. rt.com President Donald Trump has lauded coordination that helped Russian security services prevent New Year terror attacks in St. Petersburg, after they received intelligence from their US counterparts. | "They were able to quickly apprehend the suspects, with many lives being saved. Great & important coordination!" Trump said in a tweet. | President Putin of Russia called to thank me and the U.S. for informing them of a planned terrorist attack in the very beautiful city of Saint Petersburg. They were able to quickly apprehend the suspects, with many lives being saved. Great & important coordination!— Donald…

RT (2019-12-31). Germany shuts Philippsburg nuclear plant as it phases out atomic energy. rt.com Germany is shutting down one of its seven remaining nuclear power plants as part of a planned phase-out of atomic energy production by the end of 2022. | Utility company EnBW has said it will take the Philippsburg Nuclear Power Plant off the grid at 7pm (18: 00 GMT) on Tuesday. The plant's license to operate expires at midnight. | Under its "energy transition" plan, Germany aims to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources over the coming decades. Earlier this year, the government agreed to stop producing electricity from coal-fired plants by 2038 at the latest. | Proponents of nuclear power argue that…

RT (2019-12-31). 'Art against austerity': Paris Opera gives free street performance amid strikes over pension reform. rt.com Paris Opera musicians on strike over unpopular pension reform plans proposed by the French government delighted passers-by with a free New Year's Eve concert on the steps outside the Bastille opera house. | In the Tuesday evening show, the musicians performed classics like the Dance of the Night from Sergei Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet' and Damnation of Faust by Hector Berlioz, as well as offering a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise, France's national anthem. | The Paris Opera is on strike — so today it held a free outdoor concert for the public. | Art against austerity is lovely. ü&arin…

RT (2019-12-31). £20m Picasso artwork ATTACKED in London's Tate Modern gallery. rt.com An oil painting by iconic Spanish artist Pablo Picasso has been attacked in the Tate Modern art gallery in London. One man has been charged with criminal damage over the incident, but it's not clear how much harm was caused. | The colorful work, titled 'Bust of a Woman,' was painted by Picasso in Paris in 1944, according to the gallery's listing, during the last weeks of the Nazi occupation of France, and depicts his lover, the photographer Dora Maar. | Seen it a million times but every time I see Picasso's Bust of a Woman, it feels like the first time. Standing here right now. üíû …

RT (2019-12-31). 'Macron would do well to reread the history of France': Plan to confer Legion of Honor on London gets frosty reception. rt.com News that French President Emmanuel Macron plans to give his country's greatest honor to the city of London has not gone down well among his fellow citizens, who have been left wondering what Napoleon would make of it. | Le Figaro reports that the Legion of Honor, France's highest order of merit, will be conferred on London during France's 'year of de Gaulle' in 2020, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of former president and French Resistance leader Charles de Gaulle. He lived in exile in the British capital during the Nazi occupation of France in the Second World War. | However, the revelat…

G. Dunkel (2019-12-30). French unions want retirement 'reform' scrapped. workers.org It was a tough holiday for transportation strikers in France. Their pay packet for December was basically empty. A dancing picket line, Paris, Dec. 24 The struggle on the national railroad (SNCF) at 23 days is longer than a similar struggle over the SNCF retirement plan in 1995 and shows . . . | Continue reading French unions want retirement 'reform' scrapped at Workers.org

teleSUR (2019-12-30). Greta Thunberg Says Meeting Trump Would've Been Waste of Time. telesurenglish.net The teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg said she was not phased by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to not listen to her speech at the United States, pointing out that if she met with him, it would have been a waste of her time. | RELATED: | Sweden: World Leaders Given an 'F' on Solving Climate Change | Thunberg was asked by BBC Radio on Monday what she would have said to President Trump if they spoke; however, she responded that it was not a big deal because he is…

Surangya (2019-12-30). Cracks in the neoliberal wall. peoplesdispatch.org The last year saw major protests erupt across the world against neoliberal, anti-people regimes, such as in Chile, Lebanon, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti and France. We review some of the largest struggles, the reasons people are fighting, and what they are fighting for.

teleSUR, jg (2019-12-30). Ukraine And Pro-Russian Separatists Complete Prisoner Swap. telesurenglish.net The Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have completed a full prisoner exchange, exchanging all remaining detainees from the five-year conflict. | RELATED: | 'Russia Rejects Deployment of Turkish Troops to Libya' Peskov | The Ukrainian presidency reported on Sunday in a facebook statement that "the mutual release o…

teleSUR (2019-12-30). Putin Sends Congratulations to Maduro and Venezuela on New Year. telesurenglish.net Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro on the occasion of the New Year, RT Spanish reported on Monday. | RELATED: | Brazil to Grant Refuge to Attackers of Venezuelan Military Base | "In his message addressed to the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Putin stressed that the talks held last September in Moscow confirmed the agreement of positions between Russia and Venezuela on key issues," RT Spanish said. | Putin reaffirmed his confidence that, by 2020, Moscow and Caracas will continue to develop their strategic political and ec…

WSWS (2019-12-30). Iran, Russia and China hold joint naval drills in Indian Ocean amid US war threats. wsws.org The exercises are a signal that a US-led war targeting Iran could rapidly escalate into a global conflict involving the major nuclear powers.

teleSUR (2019-12-30). Spain Coalition Govt Plans Hike on Taxes for Rich, Minimum Wage. telesurenglish.net Spain's Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) and the left-wing Unidas Podemos party presented Monday their joint governing deal, outlining the policies that they want to implement from their planned coalition government. | RELATED: | PSOE and ERC: Tension in Final Stretch of Negotiations | The governing plan includes tax rises for higher earners and large firms, an increase in the minimum wage and…

teleSUR (2019-12-30). Spain Expels 3 Bolivian Diplomats in Tit-For-Tat Move. telesurenglish.net The Spanish government has made the decision to expel three Bolivian diplomats from their country in a tit-for-tat move against La Paz for expelling two of their diplomats earlier today. | RELATED: | Bolivia Expels Mexican Ambassador Amid Ongoing Diplomatic Row | According to Spain's El-Pais newspaper, Spain has decided to expel three Bolivian diplomats accredited in Madrid in response to the decision made earlier by the interim government of Bolivia to expel several Spanish di…

Staff (2019-12-30). Headlines for December 30, 2019. democracynow.org Man Stabs 5 Jewish Worshipers Celebrating Hanukkah at Rabbi's Home in New York, Gunman Shoots and Kills 2 Worshipers During Church Service in Texas, U.S. Launches Airstrikes in Iraq & Syria After U.S. Contractor Killed in Iraq, 250,000 People Flee Syrian Government Offensive in Idlib, Bombing Kills 79 in Mogadishu, Somalia, Taliban Agrees to Temporary Ceasefire in Afghanistan, 10 Killed in Strike on Military Parade in Southern Yemen, Politico: Democratic Party Insiders Now Think Sanders Could Win Nomination, WaPo: Giuliani Held Back-Channel Call with Maduro, France: Strikes Against Pension Overhaul Enter 25th Day…

teleSUR (2019-12-30). France Transport Strikes Among Longest In Country's History. telesurenglish.net Strikes on French railways and the Paris metro against pension reforms could become the longest ever seen in the country, as Sunday marked 25 days of strike action, exceeding mobilizations in 1995 which lasted 22 days. | RELATED: | France: Unions, Yellow Vests, Transporters Take to the Streets | The French National Railway Company ( SNCF) has seen two other movements that have lasted longer than this one. | One took place between December 198…

RT (2019-12-30). Trump tied with Obama for 'most admired man' of the year. rt.com Despite years of 'Russiagate' accusations and an ongoing impeachment drive against him, President Donald Trump has tied with former President Barack Obama as America's most admired man of 2019, according to a new poll. | In the survey, published by Gallup on Monday, 18 percent of respondents named the current occupant of the White House as their most admired man, while another 18 percent named his predecessor. No other man – in a top ten that included entrepreneur Elon Musk, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and the Dalai Lama – scored higher than two percent. | 2019 marks Obama's 12th year in the top spot, but…

teleSUR (2019-12-29). Lisbon's Airport Strike Reaches 3rd Day, Most Flights Canceled. telesurenglish.net As the strike at Portugal's Lisbon International Airport reaches its third consecutive day several flights have been canceled this weekend, although according to union workers and authorities the protest could end this Sunday. | RELATED: | France: Unions, Yellow Vests, Transporters Take to the Streets | Flights by EasyJet, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Transavia France and Wizz Air UK to and from European countries such as Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany wer…

CP Editor (2019-12-28). Ralph Nader on Impeachment: Democrats Should Go After Trump's Full Corruption, Not Just Ukraine. counterpunch.org

Patricia Gorky (2019-12-27). Romania: 30 years removed from socialism. liberationnews.org Capitalism's restoration in Romania and the former Socialist Bloc has brought with it all its inherent contradictions.

news.un (2019-12-27). Accelerating towards a fairer future. news.un.org Cutting child mortality by a third in Brazil, reaching carbon neutrality in Finland and redirecting trillions of dollars of investment to funds that promote sustainability: these are some examples of initiatives from governments, civil society and the private sector, designed to speed up the UN's goal of achieving a fairer society for all.

Staff (2019-12-26). After Democrats Push Bill to Send Fracked Gas to EU, Trump Includes in Budget. therealnews.com The European Energy Security and Diversification Act, legislation offering $1B to promote sending U.S. fracked gas to EU countries, was inserted into the federal budget bill signed into law by President Donald Trump. Democrats invoked "Russiagate" in their PR push for the bill.

news.un (2019-12-26). UN refugee agency welcomes move to register all births in Kazakhstan. news.un.org The decision to ensure that all babies born in Kazakhstan are registered at birth and issued birth certificates has been welcomed by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

Fight Back (2019-12-24). Commentary: 'Ukrainegate' and impeachment. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – Near the end of August, a whistleblower released a document uncovering a private conversation between U.S. president Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The fact that the two of them were talking is not newsworthy; what was revealed and is of some import, however, was the specific content of their exchange. | The whistleblower's report lays out how Trump attempted to strongarm Zelensky and the Ukrainian government into reopening an investigation into Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. The younger Biden was involved in a number of questionable…

Andre Vltchek (2019-12-24). In the UK Do Subjects Deserve their Rulers? dissidentvoice.org I constantly receive such letters; letters which repeat, again and again, year after year, basically the same thing: "If only we would have an opportunity to vote out our damn system!" Such letters, emails and messages keep coming to me from the United States, but also from the United Kingdom. Particularly, after certain events, like …

Eric A. Gordon (2019-12-23). A revelatory performance of Erich Korngold's opera 'Der Ring des Polykrates'. peoplesworld.org LOS ANGELES—The recently formed Numi Opera's second production in its inaugural season was the rarely performed Der Ring des Polykrates (The Ring of Polycrates) by composer Erich Korngold (born in Brno, Austria-Hungary, 1897, died in Los Angeles, 1957). The 1914 one-act opera, composed when the precocious Korngold was but 17 years old, is in a …

Staff (2019-12-23). Headlines for December 23, 2019. democracynow.org White House Halted Ukraine Aid 91 Minutes After Trump & Zelensky Phone Call, U.S. Considering Plan to Deport Mexican Asylum Seekers to Guatemala, WaPo: White House Pushes to Use Migrant Children to Ensnare Parents, Saudi Arabia Sentences 5 People to Death for Khashoggi's Murder, ICC Takes Step to Investigating Israel for War Crimes, India: Protests Continue as Modi Defends "Anti-Muslim" Citizenship Law, Iraq: Thousands Demand Appointment of Independent Prime Minister, Reuters: Up to 1,500 Dead in Iran's Bloody Crackdown Against Nov. Protests, Pentagon: U.S. Soldier Killed in Afghanistan, French Unions Continue St…

Ryan Cristián (2019-12-22). Seemingly Coordinated ISIS/al-Qaeda Attacks On Syrian Oil/Gas Fields & US' Russia/Libya Hypocrisy. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/21/19). 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 …

2019-12-31: Social Media Postees

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

France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights
Harrison Stetler | thenation.com | 2019-12-31
France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights…
thenation.com/article/france-migrants-macron-refugees/

France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights
Harrison Stetler | thenation.com | 2019-12-31
France's Undocumented Migrants Are Fighting for Their Rights…
thenation.com/article/france-migrants-macron-refugees/

Smoke and Tears: A Decade of War in Middle East, North Africa
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-31
The 2010s can be described as a decade that began with hope with popular uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa, but that quickly turned to despair as political turmoil, foreign interventions, and war pushed the region into crisis. | RELATED: | 10 Trends and Events that Marked the Decade in Europe | As the decade ends, teleSUR looks back to the ten most important events that have shaped the lives of millions across the region: | 1. The Arab Spring: Tunisia and Egypt: | The 2010s began with what became known as the Arab Spring when a wave of protests rocked several Arab countries. In Decem…
telesurenglish.net/news/Smoke-and-Tears-A-Decade-of-War-in-Middle-East-North-Africa-20191230-0013.html

Portway handling workers in Portugal set to continue strike
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2019-12-31
Portway handling workers in various Portuguese airports have decided to continue their protest demanding that the Vinci Group — owner of the Portway Handling de Portugal, SA — comply with the agreement signed in 2016 to 'unfreeze' careers from last November. Workers of the Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal airports, under the leadership of the National Union of Civil Aviation Workers (SINTAC), embarked on a three-day strike from December 27. Overtime and weekend workers will go on strike from January 1 to the end of March 2020. | SINTAC has alleged that Portway Handling de Portugal "has begun to cut socia…
peoplesdispatch.org/2019/12/31/portway-handling-workers-in-portugal-set-to-continue-strike/

How Nationalism is Transforming the Politics of the British Isles
Patrick Cockburn | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-31
National identities and the relationship between England, Scotland and Ireland are changing more radically than at any time over the last century. It is worth looking at the British archipelago as a whole on this issue because of the closely-meshed political relationship of its constituent nations.
counterpunch.org/2019/12/31/how-nationalism-is-transforming-the-politics-of-the-british-isles/

10 Trends and Events that Marked the Decade in Europe
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-31
As the decade ends, teleSUR looks back to the ten most important events that have shaped the lives of millions across the region. | 1. The Rise of Far-Right: | One of the most concerning trends that have hit not only the United States and many other South American countries, the last decade has seen numerous parties from the ultra-right gaining momentum and in some cases, winning elections, like Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary, Poland's ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS), or Italy's former Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, whose League party became the driving eurosceptic force until the rece…
telesurenglish.net/news/10-Trends-and-Events-that-Marked-the-Decade-in-Europe-20191230-0007.html

Fires create hellish conditions across Australia
wsws.org | 2019-12-31
An unprecedented mass evacuation order for an area half the size of Belgium gave tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers just hours to pack up and leave.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/31/fire-d31.html

The impeachment crisis and US war plans against Russia
wsws.org | 2019-12-31
The ferocity with which the entire US national security apparatus responded to a temporary delay in sending anti-tank missiles and radar to Ukraine raises the question: Is there a timetable for using these weapons in combat against Russia?
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/31/pers-d31.html

In 2020, Ukrainians Gain Whistleblower Rights Trump Has Forsaken Here
Michael Felsen | commondreams.org | 2019-12-31
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch is surrounded by lawyers, aides, and journalists as she arrives at the U.S. Capitol October 11, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/yovanovitch.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2019/12/31/2020-ukrainians-gain-whistleblower-rights-trump-has-forsaken-here?cd-origin=rss

20 Years of Vladimir Putin: His Top Domestic and Foreign Policy Successes
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-31
Vladimir Putin assumed office as Russia's Acting President 20 years ago on 31 December, 1999, after which he speedily proceeded to transform both his country and the rest of the world in the two decades since. | President Putin became his | …
globalresearch.ca/20-years-putin-top-domestic-foreign-policy-successes/5699206

Russia: Iran Deal on Brink of Collapse Because of Washington
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-31
The international nuclear deal signed with Iran in 2015 is on the brink of collapse because of Washington's decision to withdraw, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday following a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. | RELATED: | Trump Warns Syria, Russia, Iran Over Idlib Campaign | "This extremely important international diplomatic achievement, the Joint Plan of Action (JCPOA) for the Iranian nuclear program, is about to collapse," Lavrov told the pr…
telesurenglish.net/news/Russia-Iran-Deal-on-Brink-of-Collapse-Because-of-Washington-20191231-0012.html

'China's GDP to Reach $14.37 Trillion in 2019', President Xi
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-31
During the New Year speech delivered on Tuesday, China's President Xi Jinping reviewed the economic, social, political, and scientific achievements of his country and announced that over 10 million people were lifted out of poverty in 2019. | RELATED: | China, Russia, Iran Hold Drills at The 'Maritime Safety Belt' | "Thanks to our steady pursuit of high-qualit…
telesurenglish.net/news/Chinas-GDP-to-Reach-14.37-Trillion-in-2019-President-Xi-20191231-0002.html

Evo Morales Condemns Expulsion of Diplomats from Bolivia
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-31
The expulsion of diplomats from Mexico and Spain by the de facto Bolivian regime is an act of contempt for international law, the democratically elected President Evo Morales said on Tuesday. Morales condemned the move by "the coup plotters," highlighting the fact that they have been hurting the Andean nation's diplomatic ties. | RELATED: | Spain Expels 3 Bolivian Diplomats in Tit-For-Tat Move | "The coup plotters seek legitimacy, but only exert violence against sister countries," Mora…
telesurenglish.net/news/Evo-Morales-Condemns-Expulsion-of-Diplomats-from-Bolivia-20191231-0007.html

France's Macron: I Want Solid Ties With Post-Brexit Britain
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-31
French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that he wanted a strong relationship with post-Brexit Britain. | RELATED: | France Transport Strikes Among Longest In Country's History | During his traditional end-of-year televised address to the nation, Macron said: "The UK's exit from the European Union is a test for our country. I will strive to maintain…
telesurenglish.net/news/france-macron-i-want-solid-ties-with-post-brexit-britain-20191231-0017.html

Mothers' sit-in against YPG/PKK marks four months in Turkey
yenisafak.com | 2019-12-31
Dozens of mothers in Turkey's southeast have been continuing to stage sit-in protest for around four months against the terrorist group YPG/PKK, who they say kidnapped their children.The protest started on Sept. 3 outside the offices of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a party accused by the government of having links to the terrorist YPG/PKK, in Diyarbakir when Fevziye Cetinkaya, Remziye Akkoyun, and Aysegul Bicer said their children had been forcibly recruited by PKK terrorists.Since then, the number of protesting mothers has been growing, as they demand the return of their children, who, they say, were dec…
yenisafak.com/en/news/mothers-sit-in-against-ypg-pkk-marks-four-months-in-turkey-3508623

Ukraine's Naftogaz to transmit 75 bcm of Russian gas to Europe in 2020
yenisafak.com | 2019-12-31
Ukraine's Naftogaz expects to transmit 75 billion cubic metres of Russian gas to Europe in 2020 due to the expected delay of Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, Naftogaz Chief Executive Andriy Kobolyev said on Tuesday.The Ukrainian government is actively discussing resuming gas purchases from Russia, Kobolyev told reporters in Kiev, adding that the gas transmission tariff for Russian producer Gazprom had barely changed in a new contract.
yenisafak.com/en/news/ukraines-naftogaz-to-transmit-75-bcm-of-russian-gas-to-europe-in-2020-3508624

UK had plans to make Russia 'associate' NATO member
yenisafak.com | 2019-12-31
The British government had a plan to make Russia an "associate" member of the NATO alliance before Vladimir Putin took over as president in 1999, British archives made public revealed Tuesday.The secret Ministry of Defense documents from 25 years ago revealed the plan, which was based on the cooperative nature of Boris Yeltsin, Putin's late predecessor.The note outlined an opportunity to change the relationship with Russia after the end of the Cold War."A possible solution would be to create a new category of associate member of Nato," then-Defense Secretary Malcolm Rifkind said in his proposal."Such a status cou…
yenisafak.com/en/news/uk-had-plans-to-make-russia-associate-nato-member-3508612

ANALYSIS: E. Med policy of UAE-Saudi axis creates tensions
yenisafak.com | 2019-12-31
Deployment of Saudi military elements to the largest oil field in Syria, al-Omar, with an excuse of protecting the Saudi oil experts in the field last week, and news regarding the expropriation of a Turkish-crewed ship in the Mediterranean by the coast guard forces loyal to eastern Libya-based warlord Khalifa Haftar redrew attention to the Eastern Mediterranean policy of the UAE-Saudi axis.The UAE-Saudi axis, traditionally in favor of the status-quo, has developed its recent policy in the Eastern Mediterranean just after the signing of the Turkey-Libya Maritime Boundary Delimitation Agreement, which can be interp…
yenisafak.com/en/news/analysis-e-med-policy-of-uae-saudi-axis-creates-tensions-3508621

Turkey arrests 5 suspects planning terror attacks
yenisafak.com | 2019-12-31
Turkish police arrested five foreign national suspects who were allegedly planning terrorist attacks around the time of New Year's celebrations on behalf of Daesh/ISIS, according to security sources on Tuesday.The anti-terror police units along with the special forces during early morning hours conducted raids at the addresses of suspects in the capital Ankara, said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.Each one of the suspects was allegedly planning a separate terror attack during the celebrations, it added.It was identified that the suspects were linked to D…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-arrests-5-suspects-planning-terror-attacks-3508617

Afghan refugee living in Turkey, pursuing dream of becoming doctor
yenisafak.com | 2019-12-31
An Afghan boy taken under state protection by Turkey dreams of becoming a doctor someday."Becoming a doctor is my lifelong dream. Turkey has become my second home by giving this chance to me," Ayed Mohamed Mousa said.Two years ago, the 17-year-old was detained by Turkish security forces as he attempted to cross the Turkish border to Europe.He was taken under state protection as he was a minor.Moussa recalled being born in a poor family that migrated to Iran from Afghanistan in the pursuit of a better life.Next, they wanted to cross to Turkey and onward to Europe.But things did not go as planned. Only Moussa was a…
yenisafak.com/en/news/afghan-refugee-living-in-turkey-pursuing-dream-of-becoming-doctor-3508625

Turkey's foreign debt stock stands at $433.9B end-Sept
yenisafak.com | 2019-12-31
Turkey's gross external debt stock totaled $433.9 billion at the end of September, the Treasury and Finance Ministry announced Tuesday.The figure constituted 59.1% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the ministry said in a statement.Turkey's net foreign debt amounted to $247.6 billion as of Sept. 30, accounting for 33.7% of its GDP."Treasury guaranteed external debt stock has been $14.4 billion as of 30 September," said the ministry.The data showed that EU-defined general government debt stock was nearly 1.3 trillion Turkish liras ($233.6 billion), or 32.1% of GDP at the end of the month.The public net…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkeys-foreign-debt-stock-stands-at-4339b-end-sept-3508622

Clean sweep: Ustiugov wins again as Russia take top three spots at Tour de Ski in Italy
rt.com | 2019-12-31
Russia's Sergey Ustiugov continued his superb form as he won the 15km freestyle final at the Tour de Ski stage in Toblach, Italy, while teammates Ivan Yakimushkin and Alexander Bolshunov completed the podium. | Ustiugov finished the 15km course in 31 minutes 2.5 seconds, while Yakimushkin followed in second, 22.6 seconds behind, and Bolshunov rounded out an all-Russian top three, 29 seconds behind the winner. | For Ustuigov it continues his fine recent form, adding to his victory in the mass start in Switzerland earlier in December. | It's a special day for the Russian team in Toblach today! Sergey Ustiugov fi…
rt.com/sport/477213-ustiugov-russia-top-three-tour-de-ski/

Trump calls US helping Russia thwart terror attack 'great & important coordination'
rt.com | 2019-12-31
President Donald Trump has lauded coordination that helped Russian security services prevent New Year terror attacks in St. Petersburg, after they received intelligence from their US counterparts. | "They were able to quickly apprehend the suspects, with many lives being saved. Great & important coordination!" Trump said in a tweet. | President Putin of Russia called to thank me and the U.S. for informing them of a planned terrorist attack in the very beautiful city of Saint Petersburg. They were able to quickly apprehend the suspects, with many lives being saved. Great & important coordination!– Donald…
rt.com/news/477219-trump-putin-thanks-prevent-terrorist-plot/

CHILLING VIDEO captures snow-covered passengers traveling on Russian bus with broken vent window
rt.com | 2019-12-31
Muscovites have been complaining about a lack of snow this winter, but people in other regions of Russia have experienced no such shortage. Commuters in Norilsk even got caught in a blizzard while traveling inside a bus. | 'Rainy Taxi' is a famous work by Salvador Dali, which comprises an actual car, equipped with a system of pipes that create rainfall inside the vehicle. In a case of life imitating art, a passenger vehicle in the city of Norilsk, inside the Arctic Circle, could similarly be described as 'Snowy Bus.' | It may sound funny to some, but surely not to the passengers of one local bus. Bizarre foota…
rt.com/russia/477208-norilsk-bus-snow-inside/

Germany shuts Philippsburg nuclear plant as it phases out atomic energy
rt.com | 2019-12-31
Germany is shutting down one of its seven remaining nuclear power plants as part of a planned phase-out of atomic energy production by the end of 2022. | Utility company EnBW has said it will take the Philippsburg Nuclear Power Plant off the grid at 7pm (18: 00 GMT) on Tuesday. The plant's license to operate expires at midnight. | Under its "energy transition" plan, Germany aims to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources over the coming decades. Earlier this year, the government agreed to stop producing electricity from coal-fired plants by 2038 at the latest. | Proponents of nuclear power argue that…
rt.com/newsline/477216-germany-shuts-nuclear-plant/

'Art against austerity': Paris Opera gives free street performance amid strikes over pension reform
rt.com | 2019-12-31
Paris Opera musicians on strike over unpopular pension reform plans proposed by the French government delighted passers-by with a free New Year's Eve concert on the steps outside the Bastille opera house. | In the Tuesday evening show, the musicians performed classics like the Dance of the Night from Sergei Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet' and Damnation of Faust by Hector Berlioz, as well as offering a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise, France's national anthem. | The Paris Opera is on strike — so today it held a free outdoor concert for the public. | Art against austerity is lovely. ü&arin…
rt.com/news/477236-paris-opera-strike-concert/

£20m Picasso artwork ATTACKED in London's Tate Modern gallery
rt.com | 2019-12-31
An oil painting by iconic Spanish artist Pablo Picasso has been attacked in the Tate Modern art gallery in London. One man has been charged with criminal damage over the incident, but it's not clear how much harm was caused. | The colorful work, titled 'Bust of a Woman,' was painted by Picasso in Paris in 1944, according to the gallery's listing, during the last weeks of the Nazi occupation of France, and depicts his lover, the photographer Dora Maar. | Seen it a million times but every time I see Picasso's Bust of a Woman, it feels like the first time. Standing here right now. üíû
rt.com/uk/477222-picasso-painting-attacked-tate-london/

£20m Picasso artwork ATTACKED in London's Tate Modern gallery
rt.com | 2019-12-31
An oil painting by iconic Spanish artist Pablo Picasso has been attacked in the Tate Modern art gallery in London. One man has been charged with criminal damage over the incident, but it's not clear how much harm was caused. | The colorful work, titled 'Bust of a Woman,' was painted by Picasso in Paris in 1944, according to the gallery's listing, during the last weeks of the Nazi occupation of France, and depicts his lover, the photographer Dora Maar. | Seen it a million times but every time I see Picasso's Bust of a Woman, it feels like the first time. Standing here right now. üíû
rt.com/uk/477222-picasso-painting-attacked-tate-london/

'Macron would do well to reread the history of France': Plan to confer Legion of Honor on London gets frosty reception
rt.com | 2019-12-31
News that French President Emmanuel Macron plans to give his country's greatest honor to the city of London has not gone down well among his fellow citizens, who have been left wondering what Napoleon would make of it. | Le Figaro reports that the Legion of Honor, France's highest order of merit, will be conferred on London during France's 'year of de Gaulle' in 2020, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of former president and French Resistance leader Charles de Gaulle. He lived in exile in the British capital during the Nazi occupation of France in the Second World War. | However, the revelat…
rt.com/news/477197-macron-legion-of-honor-london/

Greta Thunberg Says Meeting Trump Would've Been Waste of Time
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-30
The teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg said she was not phased by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to not listen to her speech at the United States, pointing out that if she met with him, it would have been a waste of her time. | RELATED: | Sweden: World Leaders Given an 'F' on Solving Climate Change | Thunberg was asked by BBC Radio on Monday what she would have said to President Trump if they spoke; however, she responded that it was not a big deal because he is…
telesurenglish.net/news/Greta-Thunberg-Says-Meeting-Trump-Wouldve-Been-Waste-of-Time-20191230-0005.html

Cracks in the neoliberal wall
Surangya | peoplesdispatch.org | 2019-12-30
The last year saw major protests erupt across the world against neoliberal, anti-people regimes, such as in Chile, Lebanon, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti and France. We review some of the largest struggles, the reasons people are fighting, and what they are fighting for.
peoplesdispatch.org/2019/12/30/cracks-in-the-neoliberal-wall/

Ukraine And Pro-Russian Separatists Complete Prisoner Swap
teleSUR, jg | telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-30
The Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have completed a full prisoner exchange, exchanging all remaining detainees from the five-year conflict. | RELATED: | 'Russia Rejects Deployment of Turkish Troops to Libya' Peskov | The Ukrainian presidency reported on Sunday in a facebook statement that "the mutual release o…
telesurenglish.net/news/ukraine-and-the-pro-russian-separatists-complete-prisoner-swap-20191229-0013.html

Iran, Russia and China hold joint naval drills in Indian Ocean amid US war threats
wsws.org | 2019-12-30
The exercises are a signal that a US-led war targeting Iran could rapidly escalate into a global conflict involving the major nuclear powers.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/30/iran-d30.html

Putin Sends Congratulations to Maduro and Venezuela on New Year
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-30
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro on the occasion of the New Year, RT Spanish reported on Monday. | RELATED: | Brazil to Grant Refuge to Attackers of Venezuelan Military Base | "In his message addressed to the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Putin stressed that the talks held last September in Moscow confirmed the agreement of positions between Russia and Venezuela on key issues," RT Spanish said. | Putin reaffirmed his confidence that, by 2020, Moscow and Caracas will continue to develop their strategic political and ec…
telesurenglish.net/news/Putin-Sends-Congratulations-to-Maduro-and-Venezuela-on-New-Year-20191230-0002.html

Spain Coalition Govt Plans Hike on Taxes for Rich, Minimum Wage
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-30
Spain's Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) and the left-wing Unidas Podemos party presented Monday their joint governing deal, outlining the policies that they want to implement from their planned coalition government. | RELATED: | PSOE and ERC: Tension in Final Stretch of Negotiations | The governing plan includes tax rises for higher earners and large firms, an increase in the minimum wage and…
telesurenglish.net/news/Spain-Coalition-Govt-Plans-Hike-on-Taxes-for-Rich-Minimum-Wage-20191230-0010.html

Spain Expels 3 Bolivian Diplomats in Tit-For-Tat Move
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-30
The Spanish government has made the decision to expel three Bolivian diplomats from their country in a tit-for-tat move against La Paz for expelling two of their diplomats earlier today. | RELATED: | Bolivia Expels Mexican Ambassador Amid Ongoing Diplomatic Row | According to Spain's El-Pais newspaper, Spain has decided to expel three Bolivian diplomats accredited in Madrid in response to the decision made earlier by the interim government of Bolivia to expel several Spanish di…
telesurenglish.net/news/Spain-Expels-3-Bolivian-Diplomats-in-Tit-For-Tat-Move-20191230-0006.html

French unions want retirement 'reform' scrapped
G. Dunkel | workers.org | 2019-12-30
It was a tough holiday for transportation strikers in France. Their pay packet for December was basically empty. A dancing picket line, Paris, Dec. 24 The struggle on the national railroad (SNCF) at 23 days is longer than a similar struggle over the SNCF retirement plan in 1995 and shows . . . | Continue reading French unions want retirement 'reform' scrapped at Workers.org
workers.org/2019/12/45205/

France Transport Strikes Among Longest In Country's History
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-30
Strikes on French railways and the Paris metro against pension reforms could become the longest ever seen in the country, as Sunday marked 25 days of strike action, exceeding mobilizations in 1995 which lasted 22 days. | RELATED: | France: Unions, Yellow Vests, Transporters Take to the Streets | The French National Railway Company ( SNCF) has seen two other movements that have lasted longer than this one. | One took place between December 198…
telesurenglish.net/news/France-Transport-Strikes-Among-Longest-In-Countrys-History-20191230-0011.html

Turkey Could Deploy Troops to War-Torn Libya in January, Latest Acceleration of Multi-Country Proxy War
Eoin Higgins, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-12-30
The country's main opposition opposes the move and warned on Monday that the conflict could spread across the region. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/turk_map.jpeg
commondreams.org/news/2019/12/30/turkey-could-deploy-troops-war-torn-libya-january-latest-acceleration-multi-country?cd-origin=rss

Trump tied with Obama for 'most admired man' of the year
rt.com | 2019-12-30
Despite years of 'Russiagate' accusations and an ongoing impeachment drive against him, President Donald Trump has tied with former President Barack Obama as America's most admired man of 2019, according to a new poll. | In the survey, published by Gallup on Monday, 18 percent of respondents named the current occupant of the White House as their most admired man, while another 18 percent named his predecessor. No other man – in a top ten that included entrepreneur Elon Musk, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and the Dalai Lama – scored higher than two percent. | 2019 marks Obama's 12th year in the top spot, but…
rt.com/usa/477139-trump-most-admired-man-obama/

Lisbon's Airport Strike Reaches 3rd Day, Most Flights Canceled
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-29
As the strike at Portugal's Lisbon International Airport reaches its third consecutive day several flights have been canceled this weekend, although according to union workers and authorities the protest could end this Sunday. | RELATED: | France: Unions, Yellow Vests, Transporters Take to the Streets | Flights by EasyJet, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Transavia France and Wizz Air UK to and from European countries such as Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany wer…
telesurenglish.net/news/lisbon-airport-strike-results-in-cancellation-of-flights-20191229-0010.html

Ralph Nader on Impeachment: Democrats Should Go After Trump's Full Corruption, Not Just Ukraine
CP Editor | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-28
counterpunch.org/2019/12/28/ralph-nader-on-impeachment-democrats-should-go-after-trumps-full-corruption-not-just-ukraine/

Romania: 30 years removed from socialism
Patricia Gorky | liberationnews.org | 2019-12-27
Capitalism's restoration in Romania and the former Socialist Bloc has brought with it all its inherent contradictions.
liberationnews.org/romania-30-years/

Accelerating towards a fairer future
news.un.org | 2019-12-27
Cutting child mortality by a third in Brazil, reaching carbon neutrality in Finland and redirecting trillions of dollars of investment to funds that promote sustainability: these are some examples of initiatives from governments, civil society and the private sector, designed to speed up the UN's goal of achieving a fairer society for all.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1054411

After Democrats Push Bill to Send Fracked Gas to EU, Trump Includes in Budget
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-12-26
The European Energy Security and Diversification Act, legislation offering $1B to promote sending U.S. fracked gas to EU countries, was inserted into the federal budget bill signed into law by President Donald Trump. Democrats invoked "Russiagate" in their PR push for the bill.
therealnews.com/stories/after-democrats-push-bill-to-send-fracked-gas-to-eu-trump-includes-in-budget

UN refugee agency welcomes move to register all births in Kazakhstan
news.un.org | 2019-12-26
The decision to ensure that all babies born in Kazakhstan are registered at birth and issued birth certificates has been welcomed by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1054351

Commentary: 'Ukrainegate' and impeachment
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-12-24
Milwaukee, WI – Near the end of August, a whistleblower released a document uncovering a private conversation between U.S. president Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The fact that the two of them were talking is not newsworthy; what was revealed and is of some import, however, was the specific content of their exchange. | The whistleblower's report lays out how Trump attempted to strongarm Zelensky and the Ukrainian government into reopening an investigation into Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. The younger Biden was involved in a number of questionable…
fightbacknews.org/2019/12/24/commentary-ukrainegate-and-impeachment

In the UK Do Subjects Deserve their Rulers?
Andre Vltchek | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-12-24
I constantly receive such letters; letters which repeat, again and again, year after year, basically the same thing: "If only we would have an opportunity to vote out our damn system!" Such letters, emails and messages keep coming to me from the United States, but also from the United Kingdom. Particularly, after certain events, like …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/12/in-the-uk-do-subjects-deserve-their-rulers/

A revelatory performance of Erich Korngold's opera 'Der Ring des Polykrates'
Eric A. Gordon | peoplesworld.org | 2019-12-23
LOS ANGELES–The recently formed Numi Opera's second production in its inaugural season was the rarely performed Der Ring des Polykrates (The Ring of Polycrates) by composer Erich Korngold (born in Brno, Austria-Hungary, 1897, died in Los Angeles, 1957). The 1914 one-act opera, composed when the precocious Korngold was but 17 years old, is in a …
peoplesworld.org/article/a-revelatory-performance-of-erich-korngolds-opera-der-ring-des-polykrates/

Seemingly Coordinated ISIS/al-Qaeda Attacks On Syrian Oil/Gas Fields & US' Russia/Libya Hypocrisy
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2019-12-22
Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/21/19). 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/seemingly-coordinated-isis-al-qaeda-attacks-on-syrian-oil-gas-fields-us-russia-libya-hypocrisy/