(2020-01-14). Doomsday arrives for Windows 7 tech support, leaving users to fend for themselves. rt.com 
PC users still running 2009's Windows 7 operating system are despairing online and paying their respects as Microsoft finally ends its technical support for the software. | The 10-year-old operating system is still one of the most popular in use, making up an estimated 33 percent of the global share, second only to Windows 10. Roughly a quarter of all Windows users are still using the out-of-date OS according to StatCounter. As of Tuesday, though, there will be no more updates or patches to shor…
(2020-01-14). Trump Has No Idea What 'Deep State' Really Means. truthdig.com 
This seems like a strange moment to be writing about "the deep state" with the country entering a new phase of open and obvious aboveground chaos and instability. Just as we had gotten used to the fact that the president is, in effect, under congressional indictment, just as we had settled into a more or less stable stalemate over when (and if) the…
(2020-01-14). GOP Debate on Impeachment Witnesses Intensifies as Pelosi Prepares to Send Articles to Senate. democracynow.org 
The impeachment trial of President Trump is anticipated to proceed this week, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to send the two articles of impeachment to the Senate as early as Wednesday. The House impeached Trump in December for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to Trump's effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. A growing number of Republican senators are pushing for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to hold a vote on whether to allow witnesses to speak at the Senate trial. The timing of the Senate impeachment trial could impact the 2020 presidentia…
(2020-01-14). "Floaters": Martín Espada Pays Tribute to Salvadoran Father & Daughter Who Drowned at U.S. Border. democracynow.org 
Acclaimed poet Martín Espada pays tribute to àìscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his 23-month old daughter Angie Valeria, who drowned in the Rio Grande river in June 2019 trying to cross into the United States. A photo of the drowned Salvadoran father and daughter caused widespread outrage at the humanitarian crisis at the U.S. southern border and also raised questions about the ethics of exploiting such images in the press. Espada's poem "Floaters" meditates on their passing and its aftermath.
(2020-01-14). Germany to host Libya conference on Sunday, invites Sarraj & Haftar. rt.com 
Germany confirmed on Tuesday it will host a conference on Sunday in Berlin to support the UN's efforts to achieve reconciliation in Libya after months of violence. | Representatives from the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, Turkey, Italy and the UN will be among the participants, the German government said in a statement. | Germany has also invited Fayez al-Sarraj, who heads the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, and General Khalifa Haftar, who leads the eastern-based Libyan National Army, Reuters reported. | Turkey and Russia failed to convince Haftar on Monday to sign a binding t…
(2020-01-14). Rockets reported fired at Taji military base in Iraq that hosts US-led coalition troops. rt.com 
Rockets have been fired in the direction of Camp Taji, a US-coalition base north of Baghdad in Iraq, local media report. At least one member of Iraqi security forces has reportedly been wounded. | A rocket has landed near the gates of the base, which houses soldiers from the US, UK, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries whose personnel remain in Iraq after Parliament ordered foreign soldiers to leave earlier this month. At least two rockets are believed to have hit near the base, which is 17km north of Baghdad. | A series of small-scale rocket strikes targeted bases in Iraq that hosted foreign troops ove…
(2020-01-14). Refuting Pompeo claim, Iraq sticks to demand that U.S. troops get out. peoplesworld.org 
The Iraqi government announced yesterday that it will not sign an agreement to keep U.S. forces in the country. On Jan. 5, the Iraqi parliament voted unanimously to demand an end to the presence of foreign forces in the country. The vote came two days after Iranian Major General Qasam Soleimani was killed by a …
(2020-01-14). How an Israeli Spy-Linked Tech Firm Gained Access to the US Gov't's Most Classified Networks. mintpressnews.com 
Through its main investors, SoftBank and Lockheed Martin, Cybereason not only has ties to the Trump administration but has its software running on some of the U.S. government's most classified and secretive networks.
(2020-01-14). For Western Press, the only Coup in Venezuela is against Guaidó. mronline.org 
The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | Source
(2020-01-14). Chilling VIDEOS show inferno at Spanish chemical plant. rt.com 
Video footage has emerged showing the aftermath of a deadly chemical plant explosion in Tarragona, Spain. As a pillar of fire and smoke looked over the historic streets of the city, panicked residents fled in terror. | The plant, located just outside the port city of Tarragona, caught fire and exploded on Tuesday evening. Local authorities dispatched firefighting teams to the scene and urged nearby residents to stay inside and close their doors and windows as a precaution against a chemical leak. On…
(2020-01-14). Misrepresenting Marx's Ecology: A response to Daniel Tanuro's "was Marx an ecosocialist? mronline.org 
Daniel Tanuro is an agricultural engineer and leading socialist activist who has made numerous contributions to ecosocialist thought and practice, most notably, in his book Green Capitalism: Why It Can't Work. Yet, this has been coupled with persistent claims that there are "fundamental flaws" in Karl Marx's ecological critique of capitalism. | Source
(2020-01-14). Mexico takes action on coup in Bolivia and bolsters CELAC. peoplesworld.org 
Mexico's government intervened recently in two difficult situations beyond its borders. One is turmoil in Bolivia following a U.S.-assisted coup. The other concerns renewing the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). At issue there is regional integration and independence. Bolivian President Evo Morales was forced out of office on Nov. 10. Two days …
(2020-01-14). CLEAN Future Act Is 'Shameful' and 'Greenwashing,' say Climate Justice Groups. therealnews.com 
Democrats' CLEAN Future Act calls for "net zero" carbon emissions by 2050 but doesn't require a fossil fuel industry phaseout. Critics say the bill lacks ambition and ignores the short timeline for radical action dictated by climate science.
(2020-01-14). 'Saddest moment of my life': Doubles world no.1 blames contaminated meat for failed doping test as he misses Australian Open. rt.com 
Men's doubles world number one Robert Farah of Colombia has been tested positive for banned drug Boldenon, claiming that the anabolic entered his body through contaminated meat. | On Tuesday the winner of the Wimbledon and US Open doubles announced he would not participate in the season-opening Grand Slam, citing personal reasons for his abrupt withdrawal. | READ MORE: 'Never experienced anything like it': Australian Open chiefs slammed as Slovenian star COLLAPSES on court amid bushfire smoke | Hours…
(2020-01-14). Iran warns against 'destructive measures,' promises firm response as EU trio starts nuclear deal 'non-compliance' investigation. rt.com 
Iran will firmly respond to anyone acting to damage the 2015 nuclear deal, but welcomes "good faith" measures to save it, the foreign ministry said as three EU signatories triggered a non-compliance investigation against Tehran. | "It is necessary to explain that the action taken by the three European countries is a passive and weak position," Abbas Mousavi, spokesman for the foreign ministry, warned in a statement. | He spoke shortly after Germany, France and the UK initiated a special dispute resolution procedure under the 2015 deal citing Iran's alleged non-compliance with the pact. | Now, the Islamic Repub…
(2020-01-14). UK failed to pass on details of over 75,000 criminals to EU nations, feared 'reputational impact'. rt.com 
UK authorities failed to send EU countries updates on more than 75,000 criminals — potentially including murderers and rapists — for fear of damaging Britain's reputation, according to newly revealed documents. | One in three alerts on offenders were not sent to EU states, the documents say, due to a UK police national computer error that went undetected for five years. The failure to pass on notifications dates back to 2012, with other EU countries not receiving vital information on crimes committed, sentences given to their citizens, and the risk convicted criminals posed to the public. | There i…
(2020-01-14). Johnson calls for 'Trump deal' to resolve Iran tensions. thecanary.co 
Donald Trump should produce a replacement for the Iran nuclear deal, Boris Johnson said as he called for tensions in the Gulf to be "dialled down".The UK, along with European allies, has remained part of the troubled nuclear deal despite the US president's opposition.The prime minister said one of the problems the American leader had with the agreement was that it was negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama, so putting in a replacement "Trump deal" would be a way out of the current crisis. | The US has pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which eased sanctions in return for Iran agree…
(2020-01-14). Iran Announces Arrests in Downing of Ukrainian Jet. truthdig.com 
TEHRAN, Iran—Iran said Tuesday that authorities have made arrests for the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane, which killed all 176 people on board and set off protests in the country demanding accountability after officials initially concealed the cause of the crash. | Iran's Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said "some individuals" were arrested after "extensive investigations." His statement on the judiciary's website did not say how many people had been detained or name those arrested. | Iran at first dismissed allegations that a missile had brought down the plane, but in the fac…
(2020-01-14). Non-commitment probe into Iran by France, Germany & UK 'groundless,' only increases tensions around nuclear deal — Russia. rt.com 
The European trio's accusation that Iran violates the key restrictions of the nuclear deal are unjustified, the Russian Foreign Ministry said urging the countries not to increase tensions that could endanger the pact. | Paris, Berlin and London officially reported Iran's non-compliance with the 2015 agreement to the Joint Commission under the Dispute Resolution Mechanism. This step could potentially lead to the UN Security Council being forced to decide on whether or not to bring back sanctions against Tehran. | "We can't rule out that the ill-considered actions of the European trio will lead to a new escalati…
(2020-01-14). US Commits Acts of War, But No One Is Asking the Hard Questions. therealnews.com 
Gen. Soleimani was an ally in the fight against ISIS, just as Saddam was an ally against Iran. Why did the U.S. turn against them?
(2020-01-14). Russia hopes triggering dispute resolution mechanism in Iran deal won't complicate situation. rt.com 
Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, commented on Tuesday on the decision by the UK, Germany and France to launch a dispute resolution mechanism within the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear deal. | "They stated that they did it 'in good faith' to preserve the deal and that it has nothing to do with maximum pressure policy," the Russian diplomat tweeted. "Let's hope that this step will not complicate the situation further." | The three European states said they have been left with "no choice, given Iran's actions, but to register to…
(2020-01-14). The World Must End The US' Illegal Economic War. dissidentvoice.org 
The United States is relying more heavily on illegal unilateral coercive measures (also known as economic sanctions) in place of war or as part of its build-up to war. In fact, economic sanctions are an act of war that kills tens of thousands of people each year through financial strangulation. An economic blockade places a …
(2020-01-14). Libya's Haftar positive about outcome of Moscow talks, but needs 2 days for discussions with tribal leaders — Russian MoD. rt.com 
The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier said that Haftar left for Benghazi without signing the agreement and wanted two days to discuss it. The Government of National Accord (GNA) delegation, headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, signed the agreement before leaving Moscow for Istanbul. | The Russian MoD said Haftar's assessment of the final statement after negotiations with the rival GNA was "positive." | But before signing, he took two days to discuss the paper with the leader of the tribes that support the LNA. | Libya remains divided since 2011 following NATO's bombing campaign which led to the overthrow o…
(2020-01-14). Warren Refuses to Elaborate After Accusing Sanders of Sexism. truthdig.com 
She claims that in a 2018 conversation, Sanders disagreed with her that a woman could beat Donald Trump in the 2020 general election.
(2020-01-14). Central American Caravan for the Disappeared Seeks to Reunite Families. therealnews.com 
A caravan of Hondurans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans, heads north towards Mexico looking for lost and disappeared loved ones.
(2020-01-14). "Morir Soñando": Martín Espada Reads Poem About Luis Garden Acosta, Young Lord & Community Activist. democracynow.org 
Last week marked the first anniversary of the passing of Luis Garden Acosta, the founder and longtime president of the nationally known El Puente youth and community leadership program in Brooklyn. Long regarded as one of New York City's foremost human rights and Latino community activists, Garden Acosta died last January at the age of 72. A former seminarian who had been active in the Catholic antiwar movement, Garden Acosta joined the Young Lords Party in 1970 and later founded that group's Massachusetts chapter while he was still a student at Harvard Medical School. He went on to pioneer successful nonviolent…
(2020-01-14). Weather warnings remain in force after Storm Brendan batters UK. thecanary.co 
Weather warnings remain in force across the country after Storm Brendan brought winds of nearly 90mph to parts of the UK.The high winds forced airlines to divert flights scheduled to land at Gatwick Airport, while also causing disruption to ferries and railways.The strongest gust recorded during Storm Brendan was 87mph in South Uist in the Western Isles of Scotland, with winds of more than 70mph also recorded in Wales and the Isle Of Scilly. | The strongest winds on Monday were across the west, and in northeast Scotland. | On Tuesday, the rest of England and Wales will see the strong winds too. | Take care if you…
(2020-01-14). Insurers warn of volcano apocalypse, as investors make bank on 'catastrophe bonds'. rt.com 
Lloyd's of London, one of the world's largest insurance markets, warned that volcanic eruptions could bury 15 major cities in lava and ash in the coming two centuries. As always though, there's money to be made in catastrophe. | The Philippines' Taal Volcano belched into life on Sunday, spewing a cloud of ash half a kilometer into the sky and shutting down Manila's international airport less than 80km (50 miles) away. As lava shot out of the volcano and earthquakes rumbled nearby, scientists warned of an "imminent" eruption. | The Taal Volcano last erupted in 1977, but a previous eruption in 1911 killed more t…
(2020-01-14). Sanders Surges Ahead of Warren and Biden in California. truthdig.com 
New polling data from the Public Policy Institute of California finds the Vermont senator in the lead after climbing 10% since November.
(2020-01-14). Boeing's troubles could drag down US dollar, Peter Schiff tells RT's Boom Bust. rt.com 
As American aerospace giant Boeing is still dealing with the 737 Max crisis, the company's poor performance could have consequences for the entire US economy, slowing growth and affecting the greenback. | Last week, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned that the situation with the company could cut the country's GDP this year by half a percentage point, as it is one of the largest US exporters. | Moreover, the company's troubles may also weaken the dollar, the chief global strategist at Euro Pacific Capital, Peter Schiff, believes. | "Over the long term there'll be a recovery, but in the short run cer…
(2020-01-14). 'I don't like disposable champions': Figure skating coach compares new generation skaters to single-use plastic cups. rt.com 
Prominent figure skating coach Rafael Arutyunyan, who has spoken in favour of raising the age limit in ladies single skating, has compared the success of young champions to single-use plastic cups. | The renowned coach underlined that young female skaters should only enter senior events after going through puberty, when they have "well-trained and healthy" bodies. | READ MORE: Anna Shcherbakova performs INSANE quad-jumping routine to win Russian figure skating championship (VIDEO) | Current rules w…
(2020-01-14). The US Is Waging a Stealth War at the Mexico Border. truthout.org In recent decades, U.S. immigration policies have aggressively targeted families fleeing violence and poverty in Mexico and Central and South America, spawning a network of detention centers that now exist indefinitely along our southern border. The U.S.'s approach to tackling undocumented immigration has come under fire for its use of brutal tactics such as deliberately separating families, placing them in confinement under harsh conditions, and denying them adequate medical and legal counsel. | On today's program, Joh…
(2020-01-14). The Trump Administration Weakens Standards for ICE Detention Facilities. aclu.org Last month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officially released a new version of its National Detention Standards (NDS), which govern the treatment of immigrant detainees held in almost 140 facilities in 44 states. These facilities include local and state jails and prisons — some operated by private prison companies — under contract with ICE. Despite being considered "civil detention," almost 20 percent of ICE detainees are held in these jails and prisons, many of which are located in remote, rural locations. | ICE describes its…
(2020-01-14). Headlines for January 14, 2020. democracynow.org "It Doesn't Really Matter": Trump Changes Story on Soleimani Killing, Six Democratic Candidates Will Take Stage for Debate in Iowa Tonight, Warren: Sanders Said Woman Couldn't Win in 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Launching New PAC to Support Progressive Democrats, Trump Plans to Divert Additional $7.2 Billion from Military Budget to Border Wall, Turkey and Russia Broker Ceasefire for Idlib, Syria, France to Send More Troops to West Africa Amid Rising Violence in Sahel, 55 Die in Avalanches in Pakistan, Study: 2019 Was Hottest Year for World's Oceans on Record, AG Barr and Apple Face Off over Phone of Alleged Pen…
(2020-01-14). In Iowa, Rashida Tlaib and the Sunrise Movement Push the Green New Deal—and Bernie Sanders. commondreams.org Sanders and Tlaib turned out 900 people to a Sunday rally in Iowa City centered on combating climate change. (Photo: Sunrise Movement Cedar Rapids) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/sanders_0.jpeg …
(2020-01-14). The international witch-hunt of Julian Assange. wsws.org The prosecution of Assange is a travesty of justice that will forever stain the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden and Ecuador.
(2020-01-14). Julian Assange attends procedural hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court. wsws.org Since his last hearing on December 19, the WikiLeaks founder has had just two hours total to review evidence relating to the US extradition request with his legal team.
(2020-01-14). Carlos Ghosn, Julian Assange and the class justice of the New York Times. wsws.org The Times, which welcomed the arrest of journalist Julian Assange last year, has effectively endorsed the decision by Carlos Ghosn to flee charges of tax evasion and money laundering.
(2020-01-14). The World Must End the US' Illegal Economic War. Sanctions Imposed on 39 Countries. globalresearch.ca The United States is relying more heavily on illegal unilateral coercive measures (also known as economic sanctions) in place of war or as part of its build-up to war. In fact, economic sanctions are an act of war that kills …
(2020-01-14). 10 Ways Trump's Actions Against Iran Hurt Americans and the Region. counterpunch.org The U.S. assassination of General Qassem Soleimani has not yet plunged us into a full-scale war with Iran thanks to the Iranian government's measured response, which demonstrated its capabilities without actually harming U.S. troops or escalating the conflict. But the danger of a full-blown war still exists, and Donald Trump's actions are already wreaking havoc. More
(2020-01-14). Biden, Buttigieg and corporate media are eager for Sanders and Warren to clash. nationofchange.org Keeping eyes on the prize this year will require a united front that can strengthen progressive forces, prevent any corporate Democrat from winning the party's presidential nomination, and then go on to defeat Donald Trump.
(2020-01-14). Making America Dread Again! Trump Is an Unparalleled Threat to Safety and Security. commondreams.org Activists of the group Remove Trump stand in-line during a "Swarm the Senate" protest at Senate Russell Office Building January 13, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The group held the event to call on the removal of U.S. President Donald Trump from office. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/make_america_dread_again.jpg …
(2020-01-14). 164 "Peace-Keeping" Military Bases Worldwide: US Bases in Iraq Advance Its Regional Imperium. globalresearch.ca According to the Pentagon, US forces are in 164 (of the world's 193) countries. | They're on over 1,000 US bases of varying sizes and on others of host countries. Much information about their numbers, troop strength, and location is secret….
(2020-01-14). Putin's Orthodox Christmas Visit to Damascus Plays Up Assad's Syria as Enclave of Peace — While Rest of Middle East Burns. globalresearch.ca Russian leader Vladimir Putin made a surprise Christmas visit to Syria, where he met with the country's president, Bashar Assad. The tranquility of their meeting was in sharp contrast to the hell breaking out in neighboring Iraq. | The unannounced …
(2020-01-14). Russia's Unsuccessful Libyan Peace Summit Was a Good Start. globalresearch.ca Russia's Libyan peace summit in Moscow didn't succeed with its stated objective of getting the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire agreement after they failed to find any common ground with one another, but it was nevertheless a good …
(2020-01-14). Macron Forced to Back Down over Pension Reform Amidst Raging Protests. globalresearch.ca Once again the French have shown the world now to protest, and that protesting works. President Emmanuel Macron was forced to roll back his plans for pensions reform over the weekend as demonstrators took to the streets on Saturday in …
(2020-01-14). Riot Police Evict Oakland Moms Who Reclaimed Vacant Home to Fight Homelessness. truthout.org Update: Riot police evicted four mothers experiencing homeless Tuesday morning from the investor-owned home in Oakland they were occupying in protest of the city's housing crisis. Two of the mothers were arrested. | In Oakland, California, a group of mothers fighting homelessness is waging a battle against real estate speculators and demanding permanent solutions to the Bay Area h…
(2020-01-14). Global Day of Protest: No War on Iran! indybay.org Old Courthouse Sq, Santa Rosa, CA 95404…
(2020-01-14). Kenyan university staff set to strike unless revised wages implemented. peoplesdispatch.org The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) issued a strike notice on January 9, in protest against the Kenyan government's failure to honor the wage hike agreement signed with unions representing university staff last year. They have warned that teachers will be downing tools from January 20. | With the new academic year set to start, at least 35 universities in the country will be affected by the impending strike unless the government averts it by releasing the money promised in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) signed on October 28, 2019. The deadline for the implementation of the CBA was November 30, 2…
(2020-01-14). Charlottesville City Council Passes Resolution Against War on Iran. zcomm.org The normalization of murder bestowed on us by the Obama years will not end well and must urgently be reversed…