Daily Archives: January 24, 2020

2020-01-24: News Headlines

RT (2020-01-24). Greek govt websites hit by cyberattack, 2nd in week — officials. rt.com The Greek government said on Friday that the official state websites of the prime minister, the national police and several important ministries were briefly disabled by a cyberattack but have been restored. | The distributed denial-of-service or DDoS attack "led to the malfunction of certain websites," government spokesman Stelios Petsas said. "Countermeasures" had been successfully implemented, he said. | Along with the prime minister's website, targets in the attack late Thursday included the websites of the ministries of public order, interior, foreign affairs, and merchant marine, as well as the Greek pol…

RT (2020-01-24). EU's foreign policy chief extends timeline for dispute mechanism on Iran nuclear accord. rt.com The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday he had extended the time available to discuss ways to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran under a dispute mechanism triggered by France, Germany and Britain. "There is agreement that more time is needed due to the complexity of the issues involved. The timeline is therefore extended," Borrell said in a statement. | On January 14, Borrell was notified by Paris, London and Berlin that they had triggered the dispute mechanism, in theory starting a 15-day process to resolve issues with Iran. | However, it is not clear when the 15-day period should start b…

RT (2020-01-24). Shots fired in German town of Rot am See reportedly kill 6, shooter in custody. rt.com Shots were fired in a small town west of Nuremberg, Germany, with local media reporting multiple casualties and injuries. Police, which sent additional patrols to the site, say the shooter has already been apprehended. | An unknown suspect opened fire in Rot am See, a town of just 5,300 inhabitants, local police report. The media are speaking of at least six dead, although police have only said that "many were injured and, probably, killed." | The gunman has been promptly brought to custody. At this stage, he is believed to have acted alone as "there's no evidence of other suspects." | Preliminary inquiry sugg…

RT (2020-01-24). Killer coronavirus comes to Europe, 2 cases confirmed in France. rt.com French authorities have confirmed two cases of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus, its Health Minister Agnes Buzyn has announced. The affected patients — one in Paris, another in Bordeaux — are the first diagnosed carriers in Europe since the flu-like illness first surfaced in China in December. | The virus, which is believed to have first spread from animals to humans at a food market in Wuhan, has killed more than two dozen people so far and infected at least 800 more. The patient in Bordeaux had returned from a trip to Wuhan on Wednesday. | Chinese authorities have restricted public movement in 13 citie…

James Graham (2020-01-24). From Paris, With Tear Gas… counterpunch.org Coming from the south on Avenue d'Italie on foot or bike things were obviously out of the ordinary, impossible as it may be to define ordinary in France at this moment. Long lines of cars pressed together, red and white tape strung everywhere it wasn't five minutes before, sidewalks lined with gargantuan tour buses, their

The Canary (2020-01-24). New strikes and protests as France unveils retirement bill. thecanary.co French unions are holding further strikes and protests around the country as the government unveils a divisive bill redesigning the national retirement system.Travellers faced renewed disruptions on regional trains and the Paris subway, and some schools and other public services also faced walkouts.The number of striking workers and halted trains dropped considerably this week after the government made a series of concessions. But unions hope the actions will revive opposition to president Emmanuel Macron's signature reform.Demonstrators stand on top of a vandalised car with flares (AP/Daniel Cole)His government…

RT (2020-01-24). 'I'm happy to be alive': Rally driver champion escapes death after HORROR 115mph smash sends car flying off mountain (VIDEO). rt.com A champion rally driver has confessed he is "happy to be alive" after cheating death when his car flipped off an icy mountain in Monte Carlo at 115mph, escaping the wreckage to the relief of fans who feared a fatality. | Astonished onlookers witnessed Ott Tanak hurtle off the side of the narrow mountain track, flip his car sideways and crash from the sky upside down at breakneck speed as the daredevil Estonian fell victim to treacherous terrain in the opening race of the defense of his World Rally Championship crown. | Followers watched the crash on the competition's website and anxiously awaited news of Tanak…

RT (2020-01-24). Western Balkans' future 'should be toward Europe,' EU to discuss enlargement soon — Brussels. rt.com The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said on Friday that the bloc will be holding intensive discussions in the coming weeks on how future enlargement should be managed. | Michel, who was in the Albanian capital Tirana to meet with PM Edi Rama, said all member states "are unanimous on one point — that the Western Balkans' future should be toward Europe," AP reports. | Hopes of Albania and its neighbor North Macedonia to launch EU membership talks last year were dashed by French President Emmanuel Macron in October, when he asked for a reform of the process for admitting countries to the 2…

RT (2020-01-24). European Commission 'very concerned' about rule of law situation in Poland. rt.com The European Commission said on Friday it was "very concerned" with the state of the rule of law in Poland, where the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has overhauled the courts, precipitating a deepening standoff between old and new judges. | "The Commission is very concerned about the rule of law situation in Poland, in particular about the final adoption of the law amending the organization of the ordinary courts," a spokesman said on Friday. The EU executive had previously asked Warsaw not to proceed with the legislation in the form that was eventually approved, he noted. | The Commission "will not hesita…

RT (2020-01-24). WATCH: Escaped elephants frolic in snowy streets of Russia's Ekaterinburg. rt.com Workers and residents alike were stunned to look out their windows and see not one but two Indian elephants taking a snow bath on the streets of the Russian city of Ekaterinburg on Thursday. | The star performers of a visiting Italian circus, 45-year-old Carla and 50-year-old Roni, couldn't resist taking a stroll in the -5C air and frolicking in the snow in the city before their days-long drive to Saint Petersburg, having broken away from their trainers during a well-earned break. | Elephants on loose in Russia after circus escape

RT (2020-01-24). Lee Camp straightens out 'sewage' NYT article that claims Russian bots 'sowed confusion' in South America (VIDEO). rt.com American comedian Lee Camp issued a scathing retort to a New York Times piece alleging that Russian bots stoked tensions in South America, jokingly noting that it would take several years to fully dissect the baseless report. | The host of Redacted Tonight marveled at how the piece, titled "As Protests in South America Surged, So Did Russian Trolls on Twitter, US Finds," was based on data provided by not-very-objective State Department 'analysts'. For Camp, this raised a number of obvious red flags. | He argued that, contrary to the US government-sourced piece, Washington and its cheerleaders in the media are…

RT (2020-01-24). 'I want to open new fronts with Russia & China as US lived off the fat of our land,' Philippines' Duterte tells RT. rt.com Speaking to RT, firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte spewed vitriol at the US for seeing the Philippines as "a vassal state," revealing that he has sets his hopes on reaching out to Moscow and Beijing instead. | "America is not the Philippines and the Philippines is not America. It ain't that way anymore, and I refuse to dovetail under American foreign policy," Duterte proclaimed in a candid interview with RT. | Although Washington — which acquired the Philippines from Spain for just $20 million in the late 19th century — had "lived off the fat of the land," their attitudes haven't seemed to change ov…

RT (2020-01-24). Putin returns fallen cap to member of Palestinian honor guard during Bethlehem visit (VIDEO). rt.com The Russian president made a small but noticeable contribution to keeping the Palestinian Authority in order when he put a fallen peaked cap back where it belonged — on the head of a member of an honor guard. | The amusing interlude happened on Friday as Vladimir Putin was visiting the Palestinian city of Bethlehem to meet PA chief Mahmoud Abbas. | A hat of an honor guard occurred during the reception ceremony for the Russian President in Bethlehem, Russia…

RT (2020-01-24). 'False sense of security!' Pakistan claims India's S-400 deal fuels arms race… as it tests ballistic missile. rt.com India's decision to buy Russia's S-400 missile defense system could spark an arms race, Pakistan has claimed, urging its regional rival to ditch it for the sake of "stability" the same day it tested a new nuclear-capable missile. | Citing "concerns regarding the induction of ballistic missile defense systems in the region," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Aisha Farooqui

RT (2020-01-24). Swedish police seek more 'diversity' to tackle migrant crime — but applicants with foreign backgrounds struggle to make the grade. rt.com An initiative launched by Sweden aimed at recruiting a more diverse police force has hit a roadblock, after half of all applicants with foreign backgrounds failed to pass their admissions tests, local media has reported. | Stockholm instructed the police to increase the number of women and minorities within their ranks, in order to "to boost competence and increase representation," as law enforcement struggles to deal with rising migrant crime. | Police commissioner Max Lutterman explained to Swedish Radio that Swedish cops need to have better "language and cultural competence" skills, which he believed person…

RT (2020-01-24). Social justice comes for the boardroom: Goldman Sachs declares war on the straight, white, male corporate board. rt.com Investment bank Goldman Sachs won't underwrite companies' initial public offerings unless their boards have at least one "diverse" member. Social justice pandering or canny business move? | "Starting on July 1st in the US and Europe, we're not going to take a company public unless there's at least one diverse board candidate, with a focus on women," Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "And we're going to move towards 2021 requesting two," he added. | Solomon's understanding of the word "diverse" is ill-defined. Presumably, a "diverse" candidate is…

RT (2020-01-24). Merkel's Turkish delights: Erdogan showers German chancellor with gifts as the two meet in Istanbul (PHOTOS). rt.com Hosting Angela Merkel in Istanbul, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a charm offensive of sorts, presenting her with a set of luxury antique gifts that she seemed visibly pleased to receive. | Merkel and Erdogan briefly met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss tough issues such as migration from the Middle East to Europe and Turkey's bid to join the EU. The pair took a short break from affairs of state later in the day to inaugurate a Turkish-German University (TAU) campus in Istanbul. | But the ceremony turned out to be far more eye-catching than similar events held elsewhere in the world as the Turkis…

RT (2020-01-24). Merkel and Erdogan's smiles hide tough times ahead: What can we expect from EU-Turkey talks? rt.com They may be all smiles for the cameras, but the issues Angela Merkel and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are set to discuss — from Syrian refugees to Turkey's attempts to join the EU — may stall talks and deteriorate relations even further.

RT (2020-01-24). Turkey sending military to train UN-backed govt's forces in Libya — Erdogan. rt.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he is sending military personnel to Libya to train the forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord. | Erdogan announced the move on Friday, days after he apparently backed off on an earlier promise to deploy ground troops to the war-torn African country. The Turkish leader told journalists on Monday that a group of military "advisers" had been sent to Libya in the troops' stead. | The Turkish personnel will train the forces of Fayez al-Sarraj, who heads the Tripoli-based and UN-backed Government of National Accord. The GNA has been engaged in…

RT (2020-01-24). Nein, we didn't sign! Germans say they are not TAKING OVER Ukraine's railroads for 10 years (yet) after PM tags Deutsche Bahn. rt.com Ukraine's PM has announced that Deutsche Bahn will take over control of his nation's railroad monopoly for a decade. The German firm said it will be consulting Ukraine's rail company, but wouldn't confirm any deeper involvement. | Ukrainian Railways and Deutsche Bahn signed a memorandum of understanding this week on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. But the otherwise routine event was given extra flair by Ukraine's Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, who announced that the deal was much bigger than it appeared. The German company, he said, will take operative control over its Ukrainian counterp…

Staff (2020-01-24). Law Professor: Trump Could Also Have Been Impeached for War Crimes, Assassinations & Corruption. democracynow.org Democratic lawmakers are continuing to lay out their case for removing the president from office in the final day of opening arguments by Democrats in the historic impeachment trial of President Trump. Republicans will begin their opening arguments on Saturday. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's political rival, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. On Thursday, House impeachment manager Jerrold Nadler made the case that a president can…

Staff (2020-01-24). I've Seen Firsthand the Heartbreak of ICE Detention. This Must End. truthout.org Five hours into the dark, rainy drive, Ana Hernandez and Edwin Loredo laugh about how they've never seen the sun in Georgia. It's their third trip in as many months, and every time, it storms the whole way — nearly nine hours — from their home in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. | Ana's younger brother, Carlos Hernandez, was transferred to Stewart Detention Center in Georgia shortly after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 13, 2019, and although this is Ana's an…

sputniknews (2020-01-24). Soros Says Trump's 'Narcissism' Turned into 'Malignant Disease' After Presidency. sputniknews.com The Inside Philanthropy news website earlier named Hungarian-American billionaire and left-wing activist George Soros "Philanthropist of the Year" for pledging millions of dollars in support for "academic freedom" in Central Europe.

WSWS (2020-01-24). Germany: Left Party supports Libya conference and possible military deployment. wsws.org Although the conference was a meeting of imperialist brigands who discussed the military occupation of the resource-rich country and the redivision of the entire continent under the guise of peace, it was acclaimed by the Left Party.

teleSUR (2020-01-24). France: 7th National Strike Against Macron's Pension Reform. telesurenglish.net France's General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the Unitary Federation of Trade Unions (FSU) and other organizations called on citizens to join the 51st day of protests against RELATED: | Today, the seventh national strike will include torch marches that w…

sputniknews (2020-01-24). French Unions Hold Protest Against Pension Reform in Paris – Video. sputniknews.com France saw the rise of a new wave of protests last December after the government proposed reforms to the pension system, including the replacement of 42 different pension schemes with a universal, points-based system.

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-01-24). Turkish Intervention in Libya: Another Erdogan Reckless Attempt to Revive Neo-Ottoman Empire. globalresearch.ca With Turkey failing to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power in their drive to forge a regional hegemonic order under their rulership, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has set his eyes on other Eastern Mediterranean issues, primarily aggression against …

Ralph Nader (2020-01-24). Pelosi's Choice: Enough for Trump's Impeachment but not going All Out for Removal. counterpunch.org House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has her reasons for limiting her impeachment articles to offenses stemming from the abuses and violations related to Ukraine. Unfortunately, she declined to pursue a broader impeachment approach that recognizes multiple provable, serious violations of the Constitution. Speaker Pelosi overruled Chairs of Committees, including the Judiciary Committee, and other senior lawmakers

South Front (2020-01-24). Video: Syrian Army Reportedly Suffers Huge Casualties in Idlib. What's Going On? globalresearch.ca Intense clashes between the Syrian Army and Idlib militants resulted in large casualties among both sides, according to statements by the Syrian and Russian defense ministries. | On January 23, the Syrian military reported that its forces had repelled a large-scale …

South Front (2020-01-24). Video: Turkey's Military Industrial Complex. globalresearch.ca Turkey is working to develop its national industry and reequip its armed forces with modern military equipment. The worth of projects in this field is estimated to be around $77 billion. Ankara is paying special attention to the modernization and …

The Canary (2020-01-24). National Trust warns 73% of special natural sites threatened by climate crisis. thecanary.co Almost three-quarters of special natural areas cared for by the National Trust are under threat from the climate crisis.The trust has conducted its first climate audit of 101,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of priority habitat across England, Wales and Northern Ireland including rivers, fens, and saltmarshes.It discovered that 73% of the land, ranging from upland oak woods to globally rare peatland, was considered to be sensitive or highly sensitive to increasingly turbulent weather events, rising seas and higher temperatures.The trust is calling for immediate action to cut emissions, restore natural habitats and de…

sputniknews (2020-01-24). France Asserts to Provide No Concession to Pakistan on Terror Funding During FATF Meeting. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Pakistan is expected to be taken off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, as major powers including the US, UK, France, Germany, and even Japan appear to be in favour of Islamabad, due to the changing geopolitical equation in the region.

teleSUR (2020-01-24). Coronavirus Arrives in France, Health Minister Admits Cases. telesurenglish.net France confirmed on Friday its first two cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, with one patient being hospitalized in Paris and the other in the southwestern city of Bordeaux. | RELATED: | Earlier, the charity SOS Medecins said it ha…

sputniknews (2020-01-24). Leap of Faith: Russian Woman Miraculously Survives Fall From 9th Floor of Apartment Building – Video. sputniknews.com It's horrifying to see somebody walking out of the window of a tall building – but in very rare cases, people can miraculously survive such extreme events – which is a real miracle, regardless of whether there is a lot of snow to break their fall.

WSWS (2020-01-24). Consortium News sues for libel over claims it aided "Russian disinformation" campaign against Canada. wsws.org Consortium News has filed libel lawsuits against a Canadian state security agency and a television network over their false claims that the Virginia-based independent news organization spearheaded a pro-Russian disinformation campaign in Canada.

WSWS (2020-01-24). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org French hydroelectric workers joined a strike movement against pension cuts while the union for 130,000 Turkish metalworkers are currently in talks with the Turkish Employers Association of Metal Industries for a pay increase.

Alison Weir (2020-01-24). European Jewish Congress (EJC) Launches Campaign Against 'Antisemitism' (Aka Support for Palestinian Rights). globalresearch.ca The European Jewish Congress (EJC) has

sputniknews (2020-01-24). Several Injured and 'Presumably Dead' in Rot Am See Shooting – German Police. sputniknews.com German police have reported via Twitter that an operation is being carried out in the town of Rot am See amid a shooting incident.

Peter Koenig (2020-01-24). Switzerland Funds Biased and Fake OPCW Chemical Weapons' Reporting. globalresearch.ca Why does Switzerland, neutral by her Constitution, fund, support and reward the partial and I dare say, western-biased and corrupted Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and their fake reporting — with a donation of CHF 300,000 (US$ …

Staff (2020-01-24). Trump Could Have Been Impeached for War Crimes, Assassinations and Corruption. truthout.org Democratic lawmakers are continuing to lay out their case for removing the president from office in the final day of opening arguments by Democrats in the historic impeachment trial of President Trump. Republicans will begin their opening arguments on Saturday. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's political rival, Democratic pr…

yenisafak (2020-01-24). Turkey sends passenger appearing to show symptoms of coronavirus back to China. yenisafak.com Turkey has sent a passanger back to China upon her own request after she was suspected of carrying the new coronavirus, the country's health minister said.He added that Turkish authorities do not know whether the passenger was indeed infected by the virus."We are closely following the recent developments and the dissemination of the disease closely in cooperation with international organizations," Fahrettin Koca said.The Wuhan city of Hubei province has been particularly hit hard with hundreds of cases of the mystery virus reported. Authorities are trying to curb its spread with a transport lockdown in place sinc…

yenisafak (2020-01-24). Norway PM shakes up cabinet after right-wing party exit. yenisafak.com Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Friday announced her biggest cabinet reshuffle since taking power in 2013, replacing or repositioning two-thirds of ministers in the hope of reviving the Conservative-led coalition's prospects.Solberg this week lost her majority in parliament following the shock exit from government by the right-wing Progress Party over a decision to bring a woman suspected of Daesh affiliation home to Norway from Syria.

yenisafak (2020-01-24). UN envoy for Syria calls situation in Idlib 'disaster'. yenisafak.com The UN special envoy for Syria on Friday called the humanitarian situation in the conflict-hit province of Idlib "a disaster".Speaking at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Geir Pedersen said the civilians in Idlib pay "too high a price" for the fight against terrorism.He asserted the normalization in Idlib as a key component for the return of refugees back to Syria."The problem is that more than 50% of the population of Syria left their homes. So what we want to achieve now is to create the situation where they start to return. Then we need the political process and to stabilize the…

yenisafak (2020-01-24). Pentagon could start global troop rebalance this year, Esper says. yenisafak.com U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper suggested on Thursday he could be ready to start a highly anticipated global force repositioning this year as part of an effort to refocus the Pentagon on challenges from China and Russia.Esper said he did not want to put a firm timeline on the completion of his so-called "defense-wide review," which is expected to trigger those troop movements."If I had to put an end-date (on the review), I want to make sure we are in some type of better posture by the beginning of the next fiscal year," Esper told reporters, referring to the government's calendar year for spending, which begins…

yenisafak (2020-01-24). Turkey joins 4th Industrial Revolution Network of WEF. yenisafak.com MEXT Technology Center, established by the Turkish Employers' Association of Metal Industries (MESS), joined the C4IR Network, a press release cited Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank as saying.With MEXT, Turkey will able to carry onto the international platform and shape global policies, Varank said.The C4IR Network aims to accelerate scientific and technological researches. The network is in cooperation with public and private institutions, academics and NGOs.The MESS was the first employer union accepted by the WEF for the C4IR Network, according to the press release.With cooperation agree…

Susan Price (2020-01-24). Yazidi genocide survivors call for US to stop Turkey bombing Sinjar. greenleft.org.au

RT (2020-01-24). EU top officials sign Brexit deal ahead of vote in parliament. rt.com The presidents of the European Commission and the European Council signed off on Britain's EU divorce agreement on Friday. After formal endorsement by Brussels' two top officials, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the text will now go to the European Parliament on Wednesday, January 29 for ratification, AFP said. "Charles Michel and I have just signed the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament," Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted. | Diplomats from the EU member states will approve the deal in writing on Thursday. Then…

RT (2020-01-24). Snow safety pillow: Woman miraculously survives fall from 9th storey window in Russian town (VIDEO). rt.com A woman can be seen falling from the window of a ninth-floor apartment in Izluchinsk, Russia in harrowing CCTV footage which has surfaced online. Against all odds, she immediately springs back up to her feet and seeks help. | The woman was incredibly lucky as she somehow managed to break her fall by landing in a perfectly placed snowdrift that was large enough to cushion her and save her life. | –ë—ã—Å—Ç—Ä—ã–π —Å–ø—É—Å–∫ —Å 9–≥–æ —&…

Staff (2020-01-23). "The New Colossus": In New Play, Tim Robbins Tackles Immigration & Xenophobia. democracynow.org President Trump said Wednesday that he would expand his highly controversial travel ban, which already bars citizens from seven countries, most of which have Muslim-majority populations — Libya, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela — from entering the United States. Politico reports that the expanded ban could implement immigration restrictions on seven more countries: Belarus, Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania, according to two sources. We speak with acclaimed actor, director and activist Tim Robbins, whose recent work has focused on immigration to the United S…

RT (2020-01-23). Defamation suit aims to stop Hillary and her 'powerful elite friends' from silencing patriotic Americans, Gabbard says. rt.com Suing Hillary Clinton for defamation is necessary in order to keep the former first lady and her powerful allies from smearing Americans who seek "peace and freedom" for all, Tulsi Gabbard has argued. | The Democratic presidential hopeful released a scathing statement in defense of her suit against Clinton, noting that the former secretary of state's attempt to smear her as "the favorite of the Russians" would have far-reaching consequences if left unchallenged. | "If Hillary Clinton and her allies can successfully destroy my reputation — even though I'm a war veteran and a sitting member of Congress &#15…

2020-01-24: Social Media Postees

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

I've Seen Firsthand the Heartbreak of ICE Detention. This Must End
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-01-24
Five hours into the dark, rainy drive, Ana Hernandez and Edwin Loredo laugh about how they've never seen the sun in Georgia. It's their third trip in as many months, and every time, it storms the whole way

Auschwitz, a poem
Seymour Joseph | peoplesworld.org | 2020-01-24
The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27–the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau–as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Located in German-occupied Poland, Auschwitz consisted of three camps including a killing center. The camps were opened over the course of nearly two years, 1940-1942. Auschwitz closed in January 1945 with its liberation by the Soviet army. …
peoplesworld.org/article/auschwitz-a-poem/

Soros Says Trump's 'Narcissism' Turned into 'Malignant Disease' After Presidency
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-24
The Inside Philanthropy news website earlier named Hungarian-American billionaire and left-wing activist George Soros "Philanthropist of the Year" for pledging millions of dollars in support for "academic freedom" in Central Europe.
sputniknews.com/world/202001241078124826-soros-says-trumps-narcissism-turned-into-malignant-disease-after-presidency/

Germany: Left Party supports Libya conference and possible military deployment
wsws.org | 2020-01-24
Although the conference was a meeting of imperialist brigands who discussed the military occupation of the resource-rich country and the redivision of the entire continent under the guise of peace, it was acclaimed by the Left Party.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/24/liby-j24.html

France: 7th National Strike Against Macron's Pension Reform
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-24
France's General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the Unitary Federation of Trade Unions (FSU) and other organizations called on citizens to join the 51st day of protests against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform. | RELATED: | French Workers Cut Power to World's Largest Food Market | Today, the seventh national strike will include torch marches that w…
telesurenglish.net/news/France-7th-National-Strike-Against-Macrons-Pension-Reform-20200124-0001.html

French Unions Hold Protest Against Pension Reform in Paris – Video
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-24
France saw the rise of a new wave of protests last December after the government proposed reforms to the pension system, including the replacement of 42 different pension schemes with a universal, points-based system.
sputniknews.com/europe/202001241078123395-french-unions-hold-protest-against-pension-reform-in-paris—video/

New strikes and protests as France unveils retirement bill
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-01-24
French unions are holding further strikes and protests around the country as the government unveils a divisive bill redesigning the national retirement system.Travellers faced renewed disruptions on regional trains and the Paris subway, and some schools and other public services also faced walkouts.The number of striking workers and halted trains dropped considerably this week after the government made a series of concessions. But unions hope the actions will revive opposition to president Emmanuel Macron's signature reform.Demonstrators stand on top of a vandalised car with flares (AP/Daniel Cole)His government…
thecanary.co/global/2020/01/24/new-strikes-and-protests-as-france-unveils-retirement-bill/

New strikes and protests as France unveils retirement bill
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-01-24
French unions are holding further strikes and protests around the country as the government unveils a divisive bill redesigning the national retirement system.Travellers faced renewed disruptions on regional trains and the Paris subway, and some schools and other public services also faced walkouts.The number of striking workers and halted trains dropped considerably this week after the government made a series of concessions. But unions hope the actions will revive opposition to president Emmanuel Macron's signature reform.Demonstrators stand on top of a vandalised car with flares (AP/Daniel Cole)His government…
thecanary.co/global/2020/01/24/new-strikes-and-protests-as-france-unveils-retirement-bill/

Lee Camp straightens out 'sewage' NYT article that claims Russian bots 'sowed confusion' in South America (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-01-24
American comedian Lee Camp issued a scathing retort to a New York Times piece alleging that Russian bots stoked tensions in South America, jokingly noting that it would take several years to fully dissect the baseless report. | The host of Redacted Tonight marveled at how the piece, titled "As Protests in South America Surged, So Did Russian Trolls on Twitter, US Finds," was based on data provided by not-very-objective State Department 'analysts'. For Camp, this raised a number of obvious red flags. | He argued that, contrary to the US government-sourced piece, Washington and its cheerleaders in the media are…
rt.com/usa/479076-lee-camp-nyt-russian-bots-venezuela/

Turkish Intervention in Libya: Another Erdogan Reckless Attempt to Revive Neo-Ottoman Empire
Paul Antonopoulos | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-24
With Turkey failing to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power in their drive to forge a regional hegemonic order under their rulership, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has set his eyes on other Eastern Mediterranean issues, primarily aggression against | …
globalresearch.ca/intervention-libya-another-erdogan-reckless-attempt-revive-neo-ottoman-empire/5701622

Pelosi's Choice: Enough for Trump's Impeachment but not going All Out for Removal
Ralph Nader | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-24
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has her reasons for limiting her impeachment articles to offenses stemming from the abuses and violations related to Ukraine. Unfortunately, she declined to pursue a broader impeachment approach that recognizes multiple provable, serious violations of the Constitution. Speaker Pelosi overruled Chairs of Committees, including the Judiciary Committee, and other senior lawmakers…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/24/pelosis-choice-enough-for-trumps-impeachment-but-not-going-all-out-for-removal/

Pelosi's Choice: Enough for Trump's Impeachment but not going All Out for Removal
Ralph Nader | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-24
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has her reasons for limiting her impeachment articles to offenses stemming from the abuses and violations related to Ukraine. Unfortunately, she declined to pursue a broader impeachment approach that recognizes multiple provable, serious violations of the Constitution. Speaker Pelosi overruled Chairs of Committees, including the Judiciary Committee, and other senior lawmakers…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/24/pelosis-choice-enough-for-trumps-impeachment-but-not-going-all-out-for-removal/

Video: Syrian Army Reportedly Suffers Huge Casualties in Idlib. What's Going On?
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-24
Intense clashes between the Syrian Army and Idlib militants resulted in large casualties among both sides, according to statements by the Syrian and Russian defense ministries. | On January 23, the Syrian military reported that its forces had repelled a large-scale …
globalresearch.ca/video-syrian-army-reportedly-suffers-huge-casualties-in-idlib-what-going-on/5701630

Video: Turkey's Military Industrial Complex
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-24
Turkey is working to develop its national industry and reequip its armed forces with modern military equipment. The worth of projects in this field is estimated to be around $77 billion. Ankara is paying special attention to the modernization and …
globalresearch.ca/video-turkeys-military-industrial-complex/5701581

National Trust warns 73% of special natural sites threatened by climate crisis
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-01-24
Almost three-quarters of special natural areas cared for by the National Trust are under threat from the climate crisis.The trust has conducted its first climate audit of 101,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of priority habitat across England, Wales and Northern Ireland including rivers, fens, and saltmarshes.It discovered that 73% of the land, ranging from upland oak woods to globally rare peatland, was considered to be sensitive or highly sensitive to increasingly turbulent weather events, rising seas and higher temperatures.The trust is calling for immediate action to cut emissions, restore natural habitats and de…
thecanary.co/discovery/news-discovery/2020/01/24/national-trust-warns-73-of-special-natural-sites-threatened-by-climate-crisis/

EU's foreign policy chief extends timeline for dispute mechanism on Iran nuclear accord
rt.com | 2020-01-24
The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday he had extended the time available to discuss ways to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran under a dispute mechanism triggered by France, Germany and Britain. "There is agreement that more time is needed due to the complexity of the issues involved. The timeline is therefore extended," Borrell said in a statement. | On January 14, Borrell was notified by Paris, London and Berlin that they had triggered the dispute mechanism, in theory starting a 15-day process to resolve issues with Iran. | However, it is not clear when the 15-day period should start b…
rt.com/newsline/479094-eu-extends-dispute-iran/

Shots fired in German town of Rot am See reportedly kill 6, shooter in custody
rt.com | 2020-01-24
Shots were fired in a small town west of Nuremberg, Germany, with local media reporting multiple casualties and injuries. Police, which sent additional patrols to the site, say the shooter has already been apprehended. | An unknown suspect opened fire in Rot am See, a town of just 5,300 inhabitants, local police report. The media are speaking of at least six dead, although police have only said that "many were injured and, probably, killed." | The gunman has been promptly brought to custody. At this stage, he is believed to have acted alone as "there's no evidence of other suspects." | Preliminary inquiry sugg…
rt.com/news/479098-shooter-germany-rot-am-see/

France Asserts to Provide No Concession to Pakistan on Terror Funding During FATF Meeting
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-24
New Delhi (Sputnik): Pakistan is expected to be taken off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, as major powers including the US, UK, France, Germany, and even Japan appear to be in favour of Islamabad, due to the changing geopolitical equation in the region.
sputniknews.com/world/202001241078123522-france-asserts-to-provide-no-concession-to-pakistan-on-terror-funding-during-fatf-meeting/

From Paris, With Tear Gas
James Graham | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-24
Coming from the south on Avenue d'Italie on foot or bike things were obviously out of the ordinary, impossible as it may be to define ordinary in France at this moment. Long lines of cars pressed together, red and white tape strung everywhere it wasn't five minutes before, sidewalks lined with gargantuan tour buses, their…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/24/from-paris-with-tear-gas/

Killer coronavirus comes to Europe, 2 cases confirmed in France
rt.com | 2020-01-24
French authorities have confirmed two cases of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus, its Health Minister Agnes Buzyn has announced. The affected patients

Coronavirus Arrives in France, Health Minister Admits Cases
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-24
France confirmed on Friday its first two cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, with one patient being hospitalized in Paris and the other in the southwestern city of Bordeaux. | Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a news conference these were the first two confirmed cases in Europe and that more cases were likely to occur in France. | RELATED: | China: Lunar New Year on Hold as Coronavirus Spreads | Earlier, the charity SOS Medecins said it ha…
telesurenglish.net/news/Coronavirus-Arrives-in-France-Health-Minister-Admits-Cases-20200124-0006.html

'I'm happy to be alive': Rally driver champion escapes death after HORROR 115mph smash sends car flying off mountain (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-01-24
A champion rally driver has confessed he is "happy to be alive" after cheating death when his car flipped off an icy mountain in Monte Carlo at 115mph, escaping the wreckage to the relief of fans who feared a fatality. | Astonished onlookers witnessed Ott Tanak hurtle off the side of the narrow mountain track, flip his car sideways and crash from the sky upside down at breakneck speed as the daredevil Estonian fell victim to treacherous terrain in the opening race of the defense of his World Rally Championship crown. | Followers watched the crash on the competition's website and anxiously awaited news of Tanak…
rt.com/sport/479129-ott-tanak-rally-crash/

European Commission 'very concerned' about rule of law situation in Poland
rt.com | 2020-01-24
The European Commission said on Friday it was "very concerned" with the state of the rule of law in Poland, where the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has overhauled the courts, precipitating a deepening standoff between old and new judges. | "The Commission is very concerned about the rule of law situation in Poland, in particular about the final adoption of the law amending the organization of the ordinary courts," a spokesman said on Friday. The EU executive had previously asked Warsaw not to proceed with the legislation in the form that was eventually approved, he noted. | The Commission "will not hesita…
rt.com/newsline/479087-european-commission-law-poland/

Putin returns fallen cap to member of Palestinian honor guard during Bethlehem visit (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-01-24
The Russian president made a small but noticeable contribution to keeping the Palestinian Authority in order when he put a fallen peaked cap back where it belonged

Snow safety pillow: Woman miraculously survives fall from 9th storey window in Russian town (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-01-24
A woman can be seen falling from the window of a ninth-floor apartment in Izluchinsk, Russia in harrowing CCTV footage which has surfaced online. Against all odds, she immediately springs back up to her feet and seeks help. | The woman was incredibly lucky as she somehow managed to break her fall by landing in a perfectly placed snowdrift that was large enough to cushion her and save her life. | –ë–ã–Å–Ç–Ä–ã–π –Å–ø–É–Å–∫ –Å 9–≥–æ –&…
rt.com/russia/479069-woman-miraculously-survives-fall/

Leap of Faith: Russian Woman Miraculously Survives Fall From 9th Floor of Apartment Building – Video
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-24
It's horrifying to see somebody walking out of the window of a tall building – but in very rare cases, people can miraculously survive such extreme events – which is a real miracle, regardless of whether there is a lot of snow to break their fall.
sputniknews.com/viral/202001241078125915-leap-of-faith-russian-woman-miraculously-survives-fall-from-9th-floor-of-apartment-building—video/

WATCH: Escaped elephants frolic in snowy streets of Russia's Ekaterinburg
rt.com | 2020-01-24
Workers and residents alike were stunned to look out their windows and see not one but two Indian elephants taking a snow bath on the streets of the Russian city of Ekaterinburg on Thursday. | The star performers of a visiting Italian circus, 45-year-old Carla and 50-year-old Roni, couldn't resist taking a stroll in the -5C air and frolicking in the snow in the city before their days-long drive to Saint Petersburg, having broken away from their trainers during a well-earned break. | Elephants on loose in Russia after circus escape pic.twitter.com/XzGB3wVrAC– RT (@RT_…
rt.com/russia/479059-escaped-elephants-recaptured-yekaterineburg/

Putin returns fallen cap to member of Palestinian honor guard during Bethlehem visit (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-01-24
The Russian president made a small but noticeable contribution to keeping the Palestinian Authority in order when he put a fallen peaked cap back where it belonged

Consortium News sues for libel over claims it aided "Russian disinformation" campaign against Canada
wsws.org | 2020-01-24
Consortium News has filed libel lawsuits against a Canadian state security agency and a television network over their false claims that the Virginia-based independent news organization spearheaded a pro-Russian disinformation campaign in Canada.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/24/cons-j24.html

'False sense of security!' Pakistan claims India's S-400 deal fuels arms race… as it tests ballistic missile
rt.com | 2020-01-24
India's decision to buy Russia's S-400 missile defense system could spark an arms race, Pakistan has claimed, urging its regional rival to ditch it for the sake of "stability" the same day it tested a new nuclear-capable missile. | Citing "concerns regarding the induction of ballistic missile defense systems in the region," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Aisha Farooqui told reporters on Thursday that the S-400 was a "destabilizing system" which could "undermine deterrence and s…
rt.com/news/479035-pakistan-india-s400-power-balance/

'I want to open new fronts with Russia & China as US lived off the fat of our land,' Philippines' Duterte tells RT
rt.com | 2020-01-24
Speaking to RT, firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte spewed vitriol at the US for seeing the Philippines as "a vassal state," revealing that he has sets his hopes on reaching out to Moscow and Beijing instead. | "America is not the Philippines and the Philippines is not America. It ain't that way anymore, and I refuse to dovetail under American foreign policy," Duterte proclaimed in a candid interview with RT. | Although Washington

Social justice comes for the boardroom: Goldman Sachs declares war on the straight, white, male corporate board
rt.com | 2020-01-24
Investment bank Goldman Sachs won't underwrite companies' initial public offerings unless their boards have at least one "diverse" member. Social justice pandering or canny business move? | "Starting on July 1st in the US and Europe, we're not going to take a company public unless there's at least one diverse board candidate, with a focus on women," Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "And we're going to move towards 2021 requesting two," he added. | Solomon's understanding of the word "diverse" is ill-defined. Presumably, a "diverse" candidate is…
rt.com/usa/479105-goldman-sachs-diversity-women/

Several Injured and 'Presumably Dead' in Rot Am See Shooting – German Police
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-24
German police have reported via Twitter that an operation is being carried out in the town of Rot am See amid a shooting incident.
sputniknews.com/europe/202001241078127249-six-killed-in-shooting-in-german-town-of-rot-am-see—reports-/

European Jewish Congress (EJC) Launches Campaign Against 'Antisemitism' (Aka Support for Palestinian Rights)
Alison Weir | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-24
The European Jewish Congress (EJC) has announced the launch of a worldwide, star studded social media campaign against what it calls "antisemitism," but which is often advocacy for Palestinian human rights and opposition to Israeli apartheid. EJC is the …
globalresearch.ca/jewish-congress-launches-campaign-against-antisemitism-support-palestinian-rights/5701608

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
wsws.org | 2020-01-24
French hydroelectric workers joined a strike movement against pension cuts while the union for 130,000 Turkish metalworkers are currently in talks with the Turkish Employers Association of Metal Industries for a pay increase.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/24/work-j24.html

Merkel's Turkish delights: Erdogan showers German chancellor with gifts as the two meet in Istanbul (PHOTOS)
rt.com | 2020-01-24
Hosting Angela Merkel in Istanbul, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a charm offensive of sorts, presenting her with a set of luxury antique gifts that she seemed visibly pleased to receive. | Merkel and Erdogan briefly met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss tough issues such as migration from the Middle East to Europe and Turkey's bid to join the EU. The pair took a short break from affairs of state later in the day to inaugurate a Turkish-German University (TAU) campus in Istanbul. | But the ceremony turned out to be far more eye-catching than similar events held elsewhere in the world as the Turkis…
rt.com/news/479083-erdogan-gifts-mirror-merkel/

Switzerland Funds Biased and Fake OPCW Chemical Weapons' Reporting
Peter Koenig | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-24
Why does Switzerland, neutral by her Constitution, fund, support and reward the partial and I dare say, western-biased and corrupted Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and their fake reporting

Merkel and Erdogan's smiles hide tough times ahead: What can we expect from EU-Turkey talks?
rt.com | 2020-01-24
They may be all smiles for the cameras, but the issues Angela Merkel and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are set to discuss

Nein, we didn't sign! Germans say they are not TAKING OVER Ukraine's railroads for 10 years (yet) after PM tags Deutsche Bahn
rt.com | 2020-01-24
Ukraine's PM has announced that Deutsche Bahn will take over control of his nation's railroad monopoly for a decade. The German firm said it will be consulting Ukraine's rail company, but wouldn't confirm any deeper involvement. | Ukrainian Railways and Deutsche Bahn signed a memorandum of understanding this week on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. But the otherwise routine event was given extra flair by Ukraine's Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, who announced that the deal was much bigger than it appeared. The German company, he said, will take operative control over its Ukrainian counterp…
rt.com/news/479135-ukraine-railroads-deutsche-bahn/

Law Professor: Trump Could Also Have Been Impeached for War Crimes, Assassinations & Corruption
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-24
Democratic lawmakers are continuing to lay out their case for removing the president from office in the final day of opening arguments by Democrats in the historic impeachment trial of President Trump. Republicans will begin their opening arguments on Saturday. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's political rival, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. On Thursday, House impeachment manager Jerrold Nadler made the case that a president can…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/24/donald_trump_senate_impeachment_trial

Trump Could Have Been Impeached for War Crimes, Assassinations and Corruption
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-01-24
Democratic lawmakers are continuing to lay out their case for removing the president from office in the final day of opening arguments by Democrats in the historic impeachment trial of President Trump. Republicans will begin their opening arguments on Saturday. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's political rival, Democratic pr…
truthout.org/video/trump-could-have-been-impeached-for-war-crimes-assassinations-and-corruption/

Law Professor: Trump Could Also Have Been Impeached for War Crimes, Assassinations & Corruption
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-24
Democratic lawmakers are continuing to lay out their case for removing the president from office in the final day of opening arguments by Democrats in the historic impeachment trial of President Trump. Republicans will begin their opening arguments on Saturday. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's political rival, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. On Thursday, House impeachment manager Jerrold Nadler made the case that a president can…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/24/donald_trump_senate_impeachment_trial

Turkey sends passenger appearing to show symptoms of coronavirus back to China
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-24
Turkey has sent a passanger back to China upon her own request after she was suspected of carrying the new coronavirus, the country's health minister said.He added that Turkish authorities do not know whether the passenger was indeed infected by the virus."We are closely following the recent developments and the dissemination of the disease closely in cooperation with international organizations," Fahrettin Koca said.The Wuhan city of Hubei province has been particularly hit hard with hundreds of cases of the mystery virus reported. Authorities are trying to curb its spread with a transport lockdown in place sinc…
yenisafak.com/en/life/turkey-sends-passenger-appearing-to-show-symptoms-of-coronavirus-back-to-china-3510390

Norway PM shakes up cabinet after right-wing party exit
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-24
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Friday announced her biggest cabinet reshuffle since taking power in 2013, replacing or repositioning two-thirds of ministers in the hope of reviving the Conservative-led coalition's prospects.Solberg this week lost her majority in parliament following the shock exit from government by the right-wing Progress Party over a decision to bring a woman suspected of Daesh affiliation home to Norway from Syria.
yenisafak.com/en/world/norway-pm-shakes-up-cabinet-after-right-wing-party-exit-3510385

Pentagon could start global troop rebalance this year, Esper says
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-24
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper suggested on Thursday he could be ready to start a highly anticipated global force repositioning this year as part of an effort to refocus the Pentagon on challenges from China and Russia.Esper said he did not want to put a firm timeline on the completion of his so-called "defense-wide review," which is expected to trigger those troop movements."If I had to put an end-date (on the review), I want to make sure we are in some type of better posture by the beginning of the next fiscal year," Esper told reporters, referring to the government's calendar year for spending, which begins…
yenisafak.com/en/world/pentagon-could-start-global-troop-rebalance-this-year-esper-says-3510389

UN envoy for Syria calls situation in Idlib 'disaster'
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-24
The UN special envoy for Syria on Friday called the humanitarian situation in the conflict-hit province of Idlib "a disaster".Speaking at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Geir Pedersen said the civilians in Idlib pay "too high a price" for the fight against terrorism.He asserted the normalization in Idlib as a key component for the return of refugees back to Syria."The problem is that more than 50% of the population of Syria left their homes. So what we want to achieve now is to create the situation where they start to return. Then we need the political process and to stabilize the…
yenisafak.com/en/world/un-envoy-for-syria-calls-situation-in-idlib-disaster-3510394

Turkey joins 4th Industrial Revolution Network of WEF
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-24
MEXT Technology Center, established by the Turkish Employers' Association of Metal Industries (MESS), joined the C4IR Network, a press release cited Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank as saying.With MEXT, Turkey will able to carry onto the international platform and shape global policies, Varank said.The C4IR Network aims to accelerate scientific and technological researches. The network is in cooperation with public and private institutions, academics and NGOs.The MESS was the first employer union accepted by the WEF for the C4IR Network, according to the press release.With cooperation agree…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-joins-4th-industrial-revolution-network-of-wef-3510398

Yazidi genocide survivors call for US to stop Turkey bombing Sinjar
Susan Price | greenleft.org.au | 2020-01-24
Turkey's war on Rojava Peter BoyleIssue 1250 Iraq Yazidis Sinjar ShengalJanuary 24, 2020The Yazidi minority community in Sinjar, Iraq, is still re…
greenleft.org.au/content/yazidi-genocide-survivors-call-us-stop-turkey-bombing-sinjar

EU top officials sign Brexit deal ahead of vote in parliament
rt.com | 2020-01-24
The presidents of the European Commission and the European Council signed off on Britain's EU divorce agreement on Friday. After formal endorsement by Brussels' two top officials, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the text will now go to the European Parliament on Wednesday, January 29 for ratification, AFP said. "Charles Michel and I have just signed the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament," Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted. | Diplomats from the EU member states will approve the deal in writing on Thursday. Then…
rt.com/newsline/479052-eu-sign-brexit-deal/

"The New Colossus": In New Play, Tim Robbins Tackles Immigration & Xenophobia
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-23
President Trump said Wednesday that he would expand his highly controversial travel ban, which already bars citizens from seven countries, most of which have Muslim-majority populations