2020-01-11: News Headlines

RT (2020-01-11). Iran admits shooting down Ukrainian flight over Tehran in 'unintentional' missile launch. rt.com The Ukrainian passenger jet that crashed after takeoff from Tehran was downed due to "human error" after it flew too close to a military site and triggered a missile launch amid a standoff with the US, the Iranian Army said. | The Army General Staff stressed that the tragic mistake was made amid the flare-up of tensions with Washington. The nation's air defenses were placed on alert and ready to "respond to possible threats of the highest level," after US President Donald Trump warned that the Pentagon would strike targets on Iranian soil if US citizens or assets were attacked by Iran. | On Wednesday, the Iran…

RT (2020-01-11). Iran will send black box of downed Ukrainian airliner to be decoded in France. rt.com The black box of the Ukrainian passenger jet that was downed by the Iranian military will be examined in France, after Paris, the US and Canada refused to send software needed for its analysis, the Iran's chief investigator said. | Hassan Rezaeifar, the chief of Iran's probe into the crash, told IRNA on Saturday that the country lacks the technology needed to decode and extract the information in the black box, an onboard device that records flight data. | Tehran had originally asked Canada, France and the US to send over the required equipment and software, but they refused, Rezaeifar said. Iran then proposed…

Camden Goetz (2020-01-11). 'No war on Iran!' say activist picketing recruitment center in Times Square. liberationnews.org Washington's imperialist aggression on Iran has sparked a new wave of anti-war activism, with actions in over 90 cities saying no to war on Iran.

RT (2020-01-11). CCTV footage purports to show launch of Iranian missile that downed Ukrainian passenger jet (VIDEO). rt.com A video has surfaced online, allegedly showing the actual launch of the anti-aircraft missile that downed a Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 outside Tehran, killing all 176 on board. | The short video was captured by a surveillance camera at a parking lot, presumably located on the outskirts of the Iranian capital. Footage shows the launch of a projectile which goes vertically upwards and apparently explodes off-screen, causing a bright flash of light. | #BREAKING New footage shows the moment which the missile fired in the direction of the Ukrainian plane in Eds. (2020-01-11). Climate scientist: I witnessed Australia on fire. Climate change is already here. mronline.org Prior to beginning my sabbatical stay in Sydney, I took the opportunity this holiday season to vacation in Australia with my family. We went to see the Great Barrier Reef—one of the great wonders of this planet—while we still can. Subject to the twin assaults of warming-caused bleaching and ocean acidification, it will be gone in a […] | Source

RT (2020-01-11). Merkel in Moscow: As Trump pushes his weight around, Russia-Germany relations defrost. rt.com Angela Merkel's visit to Moscow is far from a courtesy call. Germany and Russia's political relations are thawing. It's good news for all Europeans. | As Iran and the United States seemingly limbered up for war, Russia and Germany, as the continent's two most powerful countries, have a special responsibility to protect it from any fallout. | Merkel's decision to travel to the Russian capital may be conceived as a signal to Washington that: | a) Berlin remains capable of mounting an independent foreign policy, if pushed, | b) the Germans won't be cowed by sanctions the US has placed on the Nord Stream 2 pipelin…

The Canary (2020-01-11). Jeremy Corbyn to address anti-war rally in Trafalgar Square. thecanary.co Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is to address protesters at a "no war on Iran" rally in London.Despite the apparent ratcheting down of tensions between the US and Iran, demonstrators are set to march on Trafalgar Square demanding there should be no new conflict in the Gulf.The protest follows the killing of the senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike on 3 January.Tehran responded with a series of limited missile strikes on US bases &#150…

RT (2020-01-11). ISIS praises US murder of Iranian general Soleimani as 'divine intervention' that will help them rise again. rt.com Islamic State terrorists rejoiced at the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at the hands of his American 'allies,' according to a weekly newspaper affiliated with the group that once controlled much of Syria and Iraq. | Soleimani was killed by a US drone strike on January 3, as he drove by the Baghdad international airport in Iraq. In reprisal, Iran launched a limited strike on US bases in Iraq with ballistic missiles on Tuesday, causing no casualties but demonstrating capability to hit US assets at will. | The weekly Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) newspaper Al-Naba portrayed Soleimani's death a…

RT (2020-01-11). Nukes before bromance: Trump-Kim 'personal feelings' are not enough for restarting talks with US — N. Korea. rt.com North Korea won't engage in negotiations with the US unless the latter makes real concessions, the country's foreign ministry said, adding that Washington "deceived" it and they were "caught in dialogue" that was a waste of time. | The statement, spelling doom for prospects of the already stalled US-N. Korea negotiations, was released by the country's state media on Saturday. While N. Korea's leader and US President Donald Trump might have good personal relations, it won't get the two countries anywhere. | "Although Chairman Kim Jong Un has good personal feelings about President Trump, they are, in the true se…

RT (2020-01-11). Novak Djokovic gives Daniil Medvedev the runaround as Serbia beat Russia to reach ATP Cup final (VIDEO). rt.com World No. 2 Novak Djokovic showed his class as he ran the legs off Russia's top player Daniil Medvedev to send Serbia through to the final of the inaugural ATP Cup in Australia. | Djokovic defeated Medvedev 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 using a clear and effective tactic in their semi-final matchup — make Medvedev run. | Djokovic's well-chosen shots forced the six-foot-five Medvedev to cover an incredible amount of ground as he was forced to chase down shots throughout their three-set encounter. | And, eventually, the Russian was simply unable to keep pace with Djokovic's powerful, precise attack as the Serbian star clai…

RT (2020-01-11). Sultan of Oman Qaboos dies after 50 years in power, leaving key Gulf mediator between US & Iran without heir. rt.com Oman's monarch, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said, has passed away at the age of 79 after a lengthy battle with illness, according to Omani state media. | Located along the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz, which it shares with Iran, Oman under Qaboos maintained better relations with the Islamic Republic than any other Gulf nation. | Throughout his tenure on the throne, the sultan also played a role in mediating dialogue between American and Iranian leaders, often serving as a go-between for the two sides. Just last December, Omani delegations met with top diplomats in both Tehran and Washington in the space of…

RT (2020-01-11). 'Queen of Battle': Indian aircraft carrier deployed to closely watch over Pakistan-China 'Sea Guardian 2020' naval drill. rt.com The Indian Navy has deployed its sole aircraft carrier to the Arabian Sea to keep an eye on a joint military drill between China and regional rival Pakistan. | The INS Vikramaditya, with a fleet of MiG-29K fighter jets on board, has arrived to monitor large nine-day naval exercise 'Sea Guardians 2020,' which was kicked off by Beijing and Islamabad in the northern part of the Arabian Sea on Monday. | The Navy spokesperson praised the "high levels of motivation & #willtowin, that were evident onboard the 'Queen of the Battle,'" as the flagship carrier is often called in India. | DCNS was extremely pleased to wit…

RT (2020-01-11). 'I wish I was dead': Senior IRGC commander accepts responsibility for downing Ukrainian jet, says it was mistaken for missile. rt.com A top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer has revealed that the Ukrainian jet was mistaken for an incoming cruise missile and that the commander of the anti-aircraft unit had only 10 seconds to make the decision. | "After hearing about the crash of the Ukrainian plane, I wished to die", Hajizadeh said during a press conference on Saturday. | I wish I had died and not witnessed such an accident | The commander explained that the incident had occurred as the country was bracing for potential US strikes and that the "likelihood of conflict" between the two nations has been "unprecedented" since the I…

RT (2020-01-11). Iran's Khamenei orders immediate and full probe after Tehran admits downing Ukrainian plane. rt.com Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has offered condolences and called for an investigation after Tehran's armed forces acknowledged that they accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane. | "The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake," he wrote on Twitter, promising that those behind the incident would be prosecuted. | Khamenei also said that all the information should be made public. | Later in the day, his Twitter account was temporarily blocked. | Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!

RT (2020-01-11). 'Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster': FM Zarif on Iran's downing of Flight 752. rt.com Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has offered "profound regrets, apologies and condolences" for the unintentional downing of a Ukrainian aircraft over Tehran, saying "human error" during a "crisis" led to the accident. | "A sad day," the FM wrote on Twitter, adding: "Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: | Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. | A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed…

RT (2020-01-11). Iran's Rouhani vows to 'identify & prosecute' all responsible for 'disastrous mistake' that led to Ukrainian jet downing. rt.com Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has pledged to find and punish all those involved in the unintentional shooting down of a Ukrainian aircraft over Tehran, calling it a "disastrous mistake." | An internal investigation has "concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane and death of 176 innocent people," Rouhani said in a tweet. | Investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake. | "My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families," the president said in another post, offering "sincerest condolence…

RT (2020-01-11). Zelensky demands full investigation into plane crash by Iran with access for Ukrainian experts. rt.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Iran to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the deadly Ukrainian airliner crash, after Tehran admitted accidentally shooting down the jet. | Zelensky made his statement after Iran officially admitted that its army had downed Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 by mistake, killing all 176 people on board, including 11 Ukrainians. | We expect from Iran assurances of their readiness for a full and open investigation, bringing those responsible to justice, the return of the bodies of the dead, the payment of compensation, official ap…

RT (2020-01-11). Lethal SARS-linked coronavirus claims first life as China's pneumonia outbreak infects dozens. rt.com A novel virus sweeping across China has inflicted its first casualty, suggesting the brand new bug could potentially rival its microbial cousin — SARS — in lethality. Health officials are now scrambling to combat the outbreak. | The bug's first fatality was reported in the city of Wuhan early on Saturday, by Chinese state media, which offered few details beyond the death itself. Unknown to science when it first emerged on the scene, the coronavirus has hit Wuhan hardest, where it rapidly spread to at least confirmed 59 patients, seven of whom are now in critical condition. | While the World Health…

Norman Solomon (2020-01-11). War with Iran Is at Stake — and Democrats' High Jumps Over Low Standards Aren't Helping. indybay.org Bowing down to the military-industrial complex…

Register Peace & Freedom or Green (2020-01-11). S.F. Rep Pelosi Postponed Vote on War Powers Act. indybay.org San Francisco Representative Nancy Pelosi postponed the urgently needed vote on a War Powers Resolution to prevent a US war against Iran. And Top House Democrats want to abandon any vote on a War Powers Resolution. See | www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/08/kicking-can-next-week-irresponsible-progressives-rebuke-pelosi-delaying-iran-war

Toby Blomé (2020-01-11). No Iran War — Golden Gate Bridge Peace Walk. indybay.org Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco | 11: 45 am: Gather on the SF side of the eastern walkway of the Golden Gate Bridge. Parking available on southeast and southwest corners, just remember to take the last exit on hwy 101, northbound, as you approach the bridge, or, southbound, take the first exit after you leave the bridge. Arrive very early for best parking, or carpool. Public transportation below. | Noon: Walk begins on the eastern walkway from the southeast/S.F. side. Short, silent vigil in the middle with signs. Then return to the SF side bridge plaza for our rally. All welcome to speak. | 1: 00 pm: Rally on SF…

Peter Maiden (2020-01-11). Fresno Peace in Iran Vigil Coordinates with Nationwide Protests. indybay.org Over 100 people attended a vigil for peace with Iran in Fresno at 5 p.m. on January 9, in one of around three hundred demonstrations around the United States. The protest was coordinated with others by being held at the same time on the same day with the same message: no war with Iran.

sputniknews (2020-01-11). India Begins Deployment of Advanced Weapons System Along China Border – Army Chief. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): China had expressed concern in 2018 over the planned deployment of advanced weapons systems along the 4,057-kilometre border that it shares with India. The Chinese defence ministry has said India should avoid steps that contradict an agreement reached between the two leaderships to maintain peace and tranquility.

MoveOn, Indivisible, Others (2020-01-11). No War With Iran! Redwood City Protest. indybay.org Intersection of Jefferson Avenue and El Camino Real, Redwood City, CA 94063…

Leon Kunstenaar (2020-01-11). No New War on Iran! Emergency Protest. indybay.org Photos: Leon Kunstenaar | People rush to demonstrate against Trump war on Iran…

MoveOn, Indivisible, Others (2020-01-11). No War With Iran! Protest Santa Rosa. indybay.org Old Court House Square, 3rd St. & Mendocino Ave and 4th St. & Santa Rosa Ave, Downtown Santa Rosa, CA 95405…

Sonoma Valley Resistance (2020-01-11). No War With Iran! Protest in Sonoma. indybay.org Sonoma Plaza, 453 1st Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476…

sputniknews (2020-01-11). Anti-War Protest Held in London, UK Amid Iran Tensions — Live Video. sputniknews.com The situation in the Mideast sharply escalated in early January when the US killed a key figure in the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, General Qasem Soleimani, in an airstrike near Baghdad Airport, prompting retaliation from Tehran, who targeted US bases in Iraq.

Moveon (2020-01-11). No War with Iran! Castro Valley Protest. indybay.org Intersection of Castro Valley Blvd. and Redwood Road, Castro Valley 94546…

WSWS (2020-01-11). Royal Canadian Mounted Police advocated use of live fire against indigenous pipeline protesters. wsws.org The incident underscores that Canada's ruling elite will stop at nothing to enforce its insatiable drive for profit, and that opposition will be ruthlessly suppressed.

sputniknews (2020-01-11). Extremist Ideology Has Taken Over Nuclear-Armed India, May Lead to Bloodshed – Imran Khan. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Since the passing of the controversial citizenship law in December, the Pakistani government has been urging world leaders to intervene and stop Indian authorities from "instigating violence against protesting Muslims".

WSWS (2020-01-11). Mass climate change rallies held amid Australian bushfire emergency. wsws.org One protester, whose family has been hit by the fires, said: "The rich and those in power have their own houses, their own air conditioners. They can fly away to Hawaii. They're not impacted."

Ellen Brown (2020-01-11). The Fed Protects Gamblers at the Expense of the Economy. dissidentvoice.org Although the repo market is little known to most people, it is a $1-trillion-a-day credit machine, in which not just banks but hedge funds and other "shadow banks" borrow to finance their trades. Under the Federal Reserve Act, the central bank's lending window is open only to licensed depository banks; but the Fed is now …

teleSUR (2020-01-11). Bolivia: Coup Govt. Tries to Convince Europe There Was No Coup. telesurenglish.net The de-facto Government of Jeanine Añez entrusted Friday to her now ex-vice chancellor Gualberto Rodriguez to report in Europe that in Bolivia there was no coup d'etat, but a constitutional succession, from his new position as Chargé d'affaires in Spain. | RELATED: | Bolivia One Month After the Coup: A Recount of Pivotal Events | At a ceremony during which Rodriguez's successor was sworn in, de-facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia, Karen Longaric, wished the new chargé d'affaires "much…

sputniknews (2020-01-11). Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Were Made Aware They're Not 'Really a Part' of Royals, Friend Claims. sputniknews.com According to a Daily Mail poll, the Sussexes were wrong when they decided not to inform the Queen in advance of their decision to leave the Royal Family. Some 60 percent of respondents think that the couple should be stripped off financial privileges and repay taxpayers for the $3 million renovation of their Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

sputniknews (2020-01-11). Iraq Wants US Out As Factions Battle for Control of Libya. sputniknews.com Taiwan election; Libya reeling from destabilization; Iraq asks US for withdrawal mechanism; Housing protections endangered…

sputniknews (2020-01-11). Mine Explosion Hits Vehicle With Romanian Troops in Southern Afghanistan – Source. sputniknews.com KABUL (Sputnik) – A bomb explosion has hit a military vehicle carrying Romanian troops in the Dand district of Afghanistan's Kandahar Province, a source said Saturday.

sputniknews (2020-01-11). Melania Trump Named 2020 'Woman of Distinction' by Florida University For Her 'Be Best' Campaign. sputniknews.com Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private, independent university, which offers graduate and professional degrees. In the press release announcing its decision to give the award to the First Lady, it said the university focuses on the integration of Christian values to prepare students for leadership and service.

WSWS (2020-01-11). UK: Corbyn offers no fight against war with Iran. wsws.org Corbyn articulates the concerns within ruling circles, including Johnson's Tories and the armed forces, that Trump's recklessness can endanger the UK's world position.

Fight Back (2020-01-11). Salt Lake denounces war on the homeless and war with Iran at four energetic rallies. fightbacknews.org Salt Lake City, UT – The Trump administration rang in the New Year by putting millions of lives at risk with the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and threatening a war with Iran. Similarly, Salt Lake City police began 2020 with a violent raid on the homeless community and the organizers fighting to protect them. | Salt Lake residents responded fiercely with no less than three anti-war rallies in the last week, as well as a rally in support of unsheltered folks and tenants' rights. | On January 4, 200 gathered at an event organized by supporters of Bernie Sanders, and on January 8, hundreds more…

WSWS (2020-01-11). General election in Taiwan marked by anti-China atmosphere. wsws.org The Taiwanese ruling elite has covered up the real issues in the region during this election, including its alignment with Washington's war drive against China.

WSWS (2020-01-11). Bernie Sanders says "some wars are necessary" wsws.org Sanders' stated opposition to Trump's threatened war in Iran is a political trap being set for workers and youth.

WSWS (2020-01-11). The Indian general strike and the global fight against communalism and war. wsws.org Tens of millions of workers, youth and rural toilers participated in Wednesday's all-India one-day general strike, transcending communal, caste and ethno-linguistic divides.

Robert Hunziker (2020-01-11). Mega Droughts Engulf Countries. dissidentvoice.org Throughout the world, mega droughts are hitting hard with a ferocity not seen in decades and in some cases not seen in centuries. It's not merely coincidental that as global warming accelerates droughts turn more vicious than ever before. All of which begs the logical question of when will world leaders wake up with a …

WSWS (2020-01-11). European powers support war preparations against Iran. wsws.org Not a single leading European politician condemned the brutal murder of General Qassem Suleimani, which represented a gross violation of international law and massively expanded the ongoing regional war in the Middle East.

sputniknews (2020-01-11). Iran Was Prepared for Full-Fledged War with US When Missile Downed Ukrainian Jet – IRGC Commander. sputniknews.com Earlier in the day, Iranian authorities admitted the Ukrainian jet that crashed in Tehran this week was downed with a missile by the Iranian armed forces.

WSWS (2020-01-11). The Australian fire crisis and the necessity for socialism. wsws.org That the Australian prime minister denied any link between the fires and global warming epitomises the organic incapacity of the ruling classes internationally to address, let alone resolve, the climate crisis.

Binoy Kampmark (2020-01-11). Incendiary Extinctions: Australian Fires and the Species Effect. dissidentvoice.org Cocooned as it is from the world of science scepticism, the handling of the bush fire catastrophe unfolding in Australia is going to one of the more notable (non)achievements of the Morrison government. They were warned; they were chided; they were prodded. But the measures lagged and the flames came. To a certain extent, this …

John Nichols (2020-01-11). Congress Finally Asserts Its Constitutional War Powers Authority. thenation.com Congress Finally Asserts Its Constitutional War Powers Authority…

sputniknews (2020-01-11). Instagram Deletes Soleimani-Related Posts, Some Iranian Media Accounts Citing US Sanctions. sputniknews.com Following Washington's designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, Instagram and its parent company Facebook started deleting accounts belonging to prominent members of the IRGC last April under the pretext of American sanctions.