2020-02-10: News Headlines

Thomas Klikauer (2020-02-10). Climate Manipulation and Murdoch's PR Machine. counterpunch.org Western democracies and their respected societies appear to be incapable or unwilling of solving global warming. At least partly, this might be because voters in most countries have been lied to by the corporate media for decades on end. Much of this is due to one very rich and very old man — Rupert Murdoch. The shaping of public opinion takes place in a world in which very rich and very powerful men — they are always men — make their own rules, define their own issues, help getting their people elected, and make sure that global warming remains down the list of voters' most pressing concerns. <...

Alan Macleod (2020-02-10). "I Will Put an End to Endless Wars:" Is Pete Buttigieg As Antiwar As He Claims? mintpressnews.com Pete Buttigieg has promised to "put an end to endless wars," but there are reasons to suspect a Buttigieg presidency would not be as pacifist as his pronouncement implies.

RT (2020-02-10). Coronavirus likely to have minimal effect on Russia's economic growth — Alexei Kudrin. rt.com Russian economy could feel the impact of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, but it is likely to be less damaging than expected, according to the head of Russia's Accounts Chamber, Alexei Kudrin. | "It [the coronavirus outbreak] will have an impact on the economic growth rate, but it will be minor," the former finance minister told reporters on Monday. "It might be within 0.1 – 0.2 [percent of GDP]." | The virus has severely affected the demand for oil, as China is one of the major global importers. This has been driving oil prices down since the beginning of the year and the demand is unlikely to fully rebound,…

RT (2020-02-10). China warns France not to discriminate against Huawei on 5G contracts. rt.com The Chinese embassy in Paris has called on the French government to treat telecom giant Huawei as an equal to other tech companies when it comes to participant selection in the rollout of superfast 5G networks there. | France is currently picking suppliers for its next-generation networks and Huawei could be one of the top contenders, despite the US trying to convince its allies around the globe to ban the Chinese tech major. | Also on rt.com | | As France is expected to auction o…

Norman Solomon (2020-02-10). DNC in Disarray While the Sanders Campaign Gains Momentum. counterpunch.org As a center of elite power, the Democratic National Committee is now floundering. Every reform it has implemented since 2016 was the result of progressive grassroots pressure. But there are limits to what DNC Chair Tom Perez is willing to accept without a knock-down, drag-out fight. And in recent weeks, he has begun to do

Vijay Prashad (2020-02-10). Libya is Being Torn Apart By Outsiders. counterpunch.org Ghassan Salamé is the head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. He took over this job in 2017, six years after the catastrophic NATO war on Libya. What Salamé inherited was a country torn into shreds, two governments in place—one in Tripoli and one in Tobruk—and one civil war that had too many

RT (2020-02-10). Soleimani could have 'easily' killed American commanders ANYWHERE in Middle East…but chose stability — Rouhani. rt.com Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by a US drone strike in Iraq, was more than capable of targeting American commanders in the Middle East, but he wanted calm in the region, Iran's president has claimed. | The leader of the elite Quds Force had pursued "stability and calm in the region," Hassan Rouhani said on Monday in a speech broadcast live on state TV. | "If commander Soleimani wanted to kill American generals it would have been very, very easy for him, in Afghanistan, Iraq and any other place. He never did that," stated Rouhani. | The United States justified the assassination by allegi…

RT (2020-02-10). Amazon wants to 'depose' Trump over losing $10 billion Pentagon contract. rt.com Still fuming over the loss of the Pentagon cloud computing deal to Microsoft, Amazon is arguing that President Donald Trump's personal bias improperly influenced the decision, even invoking his impeachment to make their case. | Court

RT (2020-02-10). 'Puzzling' virus of UNKNOWN origin with genes scientists can't identify discovered in Brazil. rt.com Scientists in Brazil have discovered a virus which appears to be almost entirely new, consisting of unrecognizable genes that have been, until now, undocumented. | The Yaravirus (Yaravirus brasiliensis), named after a water deity in Brazilian mythology and folklore, was discovered in Lake Pampulha in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte. | Also on rt.com | | In recent years, virologists and other researchers have discovered a variety of new viruses which challenge tradition…

RT (2020-02-10). Sanders asks for recanvass of 25 Iowa caucus precincts. rt.com Democrat presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has formally requested a partial review of last week's Iowa caucuses, after getting more votes but fewer delegates than rival Pete Buttigieg. | The recanvass request would apply to 25 precincts and three satellite sites. The Sanders campaign suggested they might ask for a full recount afterward. | "While a recanvass is just the first step in the process and we don't expect it to change the current calculations, it is a necessary part of making sure Iowans can trust the final results of the caucus," campaign adviser Jeff Weaver said in a statement on Monday. | Also…

Staff (2020-02-10). Pete Buttigieg Has CNN to Thank for His Iowa 'Victory'. truthdig.com To understand the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor's surge in the polls, look no further than the network's irresponsible caucus coverage.

Staff (2020-02-10). Presidential Gender Barrier a Low Priority for Iowa Democrats. truthdig.com Voters say it is important for a woman to be president, but many believe a female nominee will have a harder time beating Donald Trump.

Leo Zeilig (2020-02-10). Climate Change and Rebellion: an interview with John Molyneux. mronline.org In an interview with the socialist writer and activist, John Molyneux, ROAPE's Leo Zeilig asks him about climate change, capitalism and socialist transformation. In an important initiative John has recently founded the Global Ecosocialist Network (GEN) which brings together activists and researchers from across the Global North and South. |

Oliver Vargas (2020-02-10). Meet the candidates taking on Bolivia's U.S.-backed right-wing government. peoplesworld.org Bolivia's presidential elections are scheduled to take place on May 3, 2020. The elections will be organized by the "transitional" government of Jeanine àÅñez, who seized power in a U.S.-backed military coup on November 10, 2019. The coup forced out the democratically elected leftist-Indigenous government of Evo Morales, who presided over an economic boom following …

Staff (2020-02-10). Trump Puts Rejected Budget Cuts Back on the Block. truthdig.com WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump unveiled a $4.8 trillion election year budget plan on Monday that recycles previously rejected cuts to domestic programs like food stamps and Medicaid to promise a balanced budget in 15 years — all while leaving Social Security and Medicare benefits untouched. | Trump's fiscal 2021 plan promises the government's deficit will crest above $1 trillion only for the current budget year before steadily decreasing to more manageable levels, relying on optimistic economic projections, lower interest costs, scaled-back overseas military operations and proposed cuts to agency…

RT (2020-02-10). Turkey strikes Syrian Army positions after '5 troops killed in shelling'. rt.com Five Turkish troops were killed in the shelling of an observation post in Syria's Idlib province, Ankara has said, blaming Damascus for the attack. Turkish forces then fired on Syrian Army positions. | "Five of our troops were killed and five others were injured in the shelling by the Syrian regime," the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Monday, adding that "return fire was opened." | It's not the first shelling incident between Turkish and Syrian forces in Idlib. A week ago, six Turkish troops were killed by Syrian artillery fire in an incident that Russia said was a result of miscommunication. | The casualtie…

RT (2020-02-10). At least 8 killed, many reported injured in car bomb blast in Syria's Afrin (PHOTOS, VIDEO). rt.com A car bomb that exploded in Afrin, Syria has killed eight people and wounded others, according to media reports. | A video purportedly taken at the scene shows a large fire on a city street, as dark smoke billows from what appears to be the charred remains of a vehicle. | ‚ĺÔ∏èüá∏üáæ‚ĺÔ∏è Afrin'de patlama meydana geldi; ya…

RT (2020-02-10). Indian politician calls for burqa ban claiming 'terrorists' use them to hide from police. rt.com The state of Uttar Pradesh's labor minister Raghuraj Singh has called for an outright ban on women wearing burqas, suggesting that terrorists have been using them to elude authorities. | In an apparent reference to the recent violent protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which have swept India, Singh claimed that criminals and "terrorists" were using the burqa to conceal their identities. | Also on rt.com | | The poitician from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Par…

RT (2020-02-10). Russian 'anarchists' jailed for planning FIFA World Cup and presidential election terrorist attacks. rt.com A court in the central Russian city of Penza has handed down prison sentences of between six and 18 years to seven anarchists convicted on terrorism charges. | The men, all members of the group 'Network ('Set,' in Russian), were accused of possession of weapons and drugs, and of planning attacks during the FIFA World Cup and presidential election in 2018. They were arrested in 2017, in Penza and St. Petersburg. The Federal Security Service (FSB) claims that 'Network' also operated 'cells' in Moscow, Omsk and the capital of Belarus, Minsk. | Investigators asserted that Dmitry Pchelintsev and Ilya Shakursky were…

Staff (2020-02-10). The Trauma of Being a Woman in the Trump Age. truthdig.com Last month, as hundreds of thousands of people showed up for the

Staff (2020-02-10). The Trauma of Being a Woman in the Age of Trump. truthdig.com Last month, as hundreds of thousands of people showed up for the

RT (2020-02-10). BBC journalist sparks anger online after 'populist' jibe in wake of historic success for Sinn Féin in Irish elections. rt.com World-renowned BBC foreign correspondent John Simpson has triggered Twitter after claiming voters had "succumbed to populism" in Ireland's general election after left-wing nationalist party Sinn Féin made historic gains. | Simpson — who has spent his working life at the BBC reporting from a host of war zones around the world — took to social media on Monday morning to ostensibly voice his dismay at the election results. | He suggested the emergence of Sinn Féin to break up the duopoly of center-right parties was nothing more than a case of the Irish electorate caving in to "populism." | So Ire…

RT (2020-02-10). BBC journalist sparks anger online after 'populist' jibe in wake of historic success for Sinn Fein in Irish elections. rt.com World-renowned BBC Foreign correspondent John Simpson has triggered Twitter after claiming voters had "succumbed to populism" in the Irish general election, that saw left-wing nationalist party Sinn Fein make historic gains. | Simpson — who has spent his working life at the BBC reporting from a host of war zones around the world — took to social media on Monday morning to ostensibly voice his dismay at the election results. | He suggested the emergence of Sinn Fein to break up the duopoly of center-right parties in the Republic of Ireland was nothing more than Irish electorate caving in to "populis…

World Combined Sources (2020-02-10). Reps introduce New Way Forward Act to fight criminalization of immigrants. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Dec. 10, 2019, Reps. Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Karen Bass (CA-37), and 30 Members of Congress, alongside over 145 advocacy organizations and community representatives, introduced the New Way Forward Act, H.R. 5383, a landmark piece of legislation to restore due process to the immigration system …

RT (2020-02-10). Spanish govt to ban glorification of Franco dictatorship — Socialist Party. rt.com The Spanish government plans to make it illegal to glorify the regime of former dictator General Francisco Franco as part of a reform of the criminal code, the Socialist Party said on Monday. | Franco, who ruled Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975, ordered the execution or imprisonment of tens of thousands of his enemies, while as many as 500,000 people died in the preceding civil war, Reuters said. His legacy still divides Spain and looms large over its political system. | "In a democracy you don't pay tribute to dictators or tyrants," parliamentary spokeswoman Adriana Lastra said. She did not spell out w…

Eds. (2020-02-10). The origins of poetry: A Marxist analysis. mronline.org Christopher Caudwell, the British Marxist who was killed in 1937 in the Spanish Civil War at age 29, was one of the most important cultural theorists of the past century. |

The Canary (2020-02-10). Number of lollipop men and women down by more than 2,000, warns union. thecanary.co The number of lollipop men and women employed in Britain has been cut by more than 2,000 in the past decade, according to a new study.The GMB union blamed years of austerity for the cuts, warning it was affecting the safety of children walking to and from school.The union conducted a Freedom of Information Act request to local authorities across Britain asking how many school crossing patrol officers they employed in the last financial year compared to 2009/10.In 2009/10 there were 7,128 employed by councils across England, Scotland and Wales and by 2017/18 that had dropped to 5,047, said the union.The West Midla…

RT (2020-02-10). From 'artificially inseminated cows' to a John Bolton joke: Oscars 2020 Top 5 cringiest 'woke' moments. rt.com The Academy Awards were full to the brim with virtue signaling, including actress Natalie Portman's dress calling out nominated male directors, and Chris Rock and Steve Martin complaining about missing 'vaginas.' | Missing 'vaginas' | Despite the Academy Awards going forward with their night without a host, comedians Steve Martin and Chris Rock were still given an opportunity at the top of the evening to throw out some digs at the Oscars, including the lack of female artists nominated. | When talking about directors nominated at this year's ceremony — all males — the pair called out the show for its…

Staff (2020-02-10). World War III Could Be Fought in the Arctic. truthdig.com In early March, an estimated 7,500 American combat troops will travel to Norway to join thousands of soldiers from other NATO countries in a massive mock battle with imagined invading forces from Russia. In this futuristic simulated engagement — it goes by the name of Exercise Cold Response 2020 — allied forces will "conduct multinational joint exercises with a high-intensity combat scenario in demanding winter conditions," or so

RT (2020-02-10). Russian court extends house arrest of US investor Calvey until May 13. rt.com A Moscow court ruled on Monday to extend until May 13 the house arrest of US investor Michael Calvey, an executive at private equity group Baring Vostok, TASS reported. The court also ruled to extend the house arrest of Calvey's French colleague Phillipe Delpal until the same date. | The executives, who were detained in February 2019, deny any wrongdoing. | They had asked the court to mitigate the preventive measure, to be allowed to take walks or to release them on bail, but th…

RT (2020-02-10). Russia starts training crew for India's 1st manned space mission. rt.com Four Indian astronauts that will take part in their country's first manned space mission have begun tuition at Russia's famed Cosmonaut Training Center (CTC) after coming through a rigorous selection process at home. | The quartet, sent by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), commenced training on Monday, the center "All candidates served as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force. After serious tests,…

RT (2020-02-10). Sick joke: Blogger arrested after brutal coronavirus prank on Moscow subway (VIDEO). rt.com A prankster is facing up to five years in prison for causing panic on the Moscow underground. That's the high price he may yet paying for an ill-conceived attempt to turn Chinese coronavirus hysteria into online likes. | A young man in a black tracksuit and a face mask was walking along the subway car on one of the busiest lines before suddenly collapsing on the floor and starting to convulse in agony. Several guys rushed to help the poor soul, but then quickly fled, shouting "Coronavirus! Coronavirus!" | The event had a strong effect on other passengers, who started rushing out of the car as soon as the train…

RT (2020-02-10). Cyprus won't stop gas drilling for Turkey dispute — president. rt.com Cyprus won't put its exploratory gas drilling plans on hold despite Ankara's attempt to force the east Mediterranean island nation to halt its activities by conducting its own gas search in Cypriot waters, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has said. | Pausing drilling in the face of Turkish pressure would be tantamount to Cyprus abrogating its sovereign rights, Anastasiades added on Sunday. | However, Anastasiades is ready to engage with Turkey on charting a course to a deal that would reunify Cyprus, which has been divided into ethnically Greek and Turkish areas since the 1970s, AP reported. That won't happ…

WSWS (2020-02-10). The Trump administration's surveillance dragnet. wsws.org The massive breach of the right to privacy, first justified by President Bush in the guise of the "war on terror," then expanded under President Obama, is now being utilized in Trump's fascistic war on immigrants.

Nils Melzer (2020-02-10). The Truth About Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca A made-up rape allegation and fabricated evidence in Sweden, pressure from the UK not to drop the case, a biased judge, detention in a maximum security prison, psychological torture — and soon extradition to the U.S., where he could face …

Chris Hedges (2020-02-10). What Is Happening to Assange Will Happen to the Rest of Us. truthdig.com The global security state, which is not bound by the rule of law, will target all who defy it.

WSWS (2020-02-10). Australian pseudo-left seeks to cover up its abandonment of WikiLeaks' Julian Assange. wsws.org Socialist Alternative's article, "The betrayal of Julian Assange," is a crude attempt to cover up its own role in the "betrayal" of the WikiLeaks publisher.

Alan Macleod (2020-02-10). Journalist Abby Martin Sues State of Georgia Over Law Requiring Pledge of Allegiance to Israel. mintpressnews.com "This censorship of my talk based on forced compliance to anti-BDS laws in Georgia is just one level of a nationwide campaign to protect Israel from grassroots pressure."

Norman Solomon (2020-02-10). Why the Buttigieg Campaign Tried to Have Me Arrested for Handing Out These Medicare for All Fliers. commondreams.org US Presidential Candidate and former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks at a Town Hall event in Keene, New Hampshire. – US Presidential Candidates are in the state for the upcoming 2020 New Hampshire Democratic primary who will take place on February 11, 2020. (Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/buttigieg_new_hampshire.jpg

Norman Solomon (2020-02-10). Why the Buttigieg Campaign Tried to Have Me Arrested for Handing Out Information About Medicare for All. indybay.org Trying to block information on a New Hampshire campus…

Staff (2020-02-10). Headlines for February 10, 2020. democracynow.org Coronavirus Deaths Soar as First U.S. Citizen Succumbs to Disease, Iowa Dem. Party Officially Gives Buttigieg the Lead as Candidates Prepare for New Hampshire Vote, Trump Budget Seeks Boost to Military and Nuclear Spending, Cuts to Social Programs and EPA, Two U.S. Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan, Trump Fires Key Impeachment Figures Following Acquittal, Thai Soldier Kills 29 People in Shooting Rampage, Brazilian Police Kill Hitman Suspected of Involvement in Marielle Franco's Assassination, Temperature Reaches Record-Breaking 65 Degrees in Antarctica, Extinction Rebellion Activists Demand New York Divest from Foss…

Qassim Abdul-Zahra (2020-02-10). At least eight shot dead in southern Iraq. indybay.org At least eight anti-government protesters were shot dead and 52 were wounded in clashes with followers of a radical Shiite cleric in southern Iraq on Wednesday, Iraqi medical officials and activists said.

Connor Gibson (2020-02-10). West Virginia Legislation: The Criminalization of Peaceful Protests against Oil and Gas "Critical Infrastructure". Anti-protest Bills. globalresearch.ca 2020 Introduced and referred to House Judiciary Committee on January 30, 2020 | Would heighten the penalties for protests near oil and gas pipelines and other infrastructure. Under the bill, knowingly trespassing on property containing a …

Register Peace & Freedom or Green (2020-02-10). Democrats vs Bernie in 2020, Repeat of 2016. indybay.org In Iowa, Bernie won the popular vote but a corporate candidate most of us never heard of, Peter Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Ind (mayors of small towns do not usually run for president) supposedly won the delegate vote. Now in California, Los Angeles County voters are receiving incorrect ballots.

WILPF San Jose (2020-02-10). Developing Belonging in a Time of Othering. indybay.org San Jose Peace and Justice Center | 48 S 7th Street | San Jose, CA 95112…

Friday Peace Vigil, SJPJC, and others (2020-02-10). On V-Day: Vigil for Love Not War. indybay.org In front of Martin Luther King, Jr Library | 4th and San Fernando | San Jose, CA…

R.R. (2020-02-10). Oakland Protesters Insist Senate Trial Was a Cover-Up, Not an Exoneration. indybay.org After the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on both articles of impeachment, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, protesters took to the streets in Oakland, CA.

Dave Lindorff (2020-02-10). Sh*t-can Perez and the DNC. counterpunch.org Hooray for Bernie Sanders! He waited until he had the numbers and now he's calling it. He won Iowa! Maybe the same corporate media that have been touting Pete Buttigieg as the "presumptive winner" in the messy Iowa Caucus, now that their story is collapsing are unwilling to call it for Bernie. Sanders, in a

WSWS (2020-02-10). Growing attacks on socialism in Democratic presidential race. wsws.org With polls showing Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders the likely first-place finisher in tomorrow's Democratic presidential primary in New Hampshire, Sanders' opponents have focused their attacks on his public identification as a "democratic socialist."

Whitney Webb (2020-02-10). Despite Iowa Caucus Fiasco, Nevada Democrats Plan to Use New Software "Tool" mintpressnews.com Though the fallout from the Iowa Caucus is still fresh, it appears that the technology-driven chaos and corruption seen in Iowa have not served as a warning to the Nevada Democratic Party.