2020-02-11: News Headlines

RT (2020-02-11). 'A TOTAL RACIST': Trump helps 'cancel' Bloomberg on Twitter after leaked audio blaming minorities for '95% of murders'. rt.com Leaked audio of Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg calling for targeted police harassment of minorities, because 'that's where the real crime is,' has gone viral with a boost from Trump. | "95 percent of your murderers — murderers and murder victims — fit one MO," Bloomberg appears to say in audio leaked from an Aspen Institute speech in 2015. | Audio of

Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers (2020-02-11). Keep War, Environmental Degradation And Profit Out Of Space. dissidentvoice.org The 21st Century nuclear arms and developing outer space arms races, which began under Obama and are increasing under Trump, are going to be something the world has never seen before. They are a bonanza for weapons makers, the Pentagon budget and capitalists in space. They will create a less secure world, a greater wealth divide, …

RT (2020-02-11). Reaper of Death: Scientists unveil T-Rex's long-lost older cousin. rt.com Scientists in Canada have unveiled a new species of dinosaur closely related to, but far older than, the Tyrannosaurus rex. This now-oldest member of the T-Rex family tree goes by the cuddly name 'Reaper of Death.' | The Thanatotheristes degrootorum (Greek for 'Reaper of Death') or just Thanatos for short, measured eight metres (26 feet) in length and roamed the plains of North America some 80 million years ago, terrorizing herbivores everywhere. | | © Julius Csotonyi/Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology | "We chose a name that embodies what this tyrannosaur was as the only known large apex predator of…

Staff (2020-02-11). Molly Crabapple: Bloomberg Is a Billionaire Republican Who Terrorized Black & Brown Youth. democracynow.org Polls open Tuesday in New Hampshire for the first primary of the 2020 presidential cycle. The Democratic candidates have been criss-crossing the state in the days leading up to the vote, which has even more significance this year following the muddled results of the Iowa caucuses. We continue our conversation with Arnie Arnesen, a longtime radio and TV host in New Hampshire and a former New Hampshire legislator; Norman Solomon, co-founder and national coordinator of RootsAction.org, which is supporting Bernie Sanders; and we are joined in New York by Molly Crabapple, an artist, writer and activist who recently pu…

Miko Peled (2020-02-11). How Trump's "Peace" Plan Will Redraw Israel's Borders to Exclude to Non-Jews. mintpressnews.com Trump's new Middle East "Peace" Plan will redraw Israeli borders to exclude towns with large populations of Arab citizens, an attempt, writes Miko Peled, to force them down the totem pole to a place where their rights will be even more limited.

RT (2020-02-11). 'Like Swiss cheese': Abbas rubbishes Trump's map for Palestine, urges UNSC to reject 'deal of the century' peace plan. rt.com Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has appeared before the UNSC, criticizing the Trump administration's peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and urging the Security Council to firmly reject it. | The UNSC gathered in New York on Tuesday to discuss the decades-long conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, and the much-hyped 'deal of the century' plan unveiled by the US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu late in January. | Speaking before the Council, Abbas once again rejected Trump's peace plan, blasting the project as a gift to Israel. "This plan should not be considered an…

RT (2020-02-11). Out to the sea: Russia's cutting-edge stealthy next-gen frigate SPECTACULARLY tested in cold waters (VIDEO). rt.com Russia's military has released footage of the frigate Admiral Kasatonov during trials in the Barents Sea. The stealthy ship, packed with new radar and hydro acoustic systems, is expected to join the Northern Fleet soon. | Footage of the trials shows the vessel firing its secondary weapons, as well as testing other crucial systems. For instance, Admiral Kasatonov is seen firing its decoy launchers which create sparks in the air. Such passive decoys and heat traps are designed to protect the vessel from anti-ship missiles and other high-precision weaponry. | The new frigate, belonging to the cutting-edge Proj…

RT (2020-02-11). Vostok Oil project will boost Russia's GDP & strengthen country's position in the Arctic — Putin. rt.com Russia's massive Vostok Oil project could bolster Russia's presence in the remote Arctic region and boost the country's economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. | The Russian leader discussed the multibillion-dollar project aimed at developing oil and gas fields and energy infrastructure in the remote northern regions during his meeting with Igor Sechin, CEO of the country's biggest oil company Rosneft, which is responsible for the implementation of the initiative. | Also on rt.com | | "The pro…

RT (2020-02-11). Cat-astrophe! Over 100 in-bred cats found inside Moscow apartment, all spawned from a single pregnant stray. rt.com It's not quite the plot of the movie "Gremlins," where poor Gizmo spawned loads of destructive little monsters, but when one well-meaning Moscow woman took in a pregnant stray cat, things got out of hand. | In just four years, she had a whole apartment full of them, for that one moggie brought forth over 100 more. | –ö–æ—à–∞—á—å–µ –ø–æ–≥–æ–ª–æ–≤—å–µ —Ä–æ—Å–ª–æ –&p…

RT (2020-02-11). Surkov & Bogdan out: Russia & Ukraine announce new negotiators as relations slowly thaw. rt.com For two decades he has been a big beast on the Moscow political stage, but the Kremlin has finally confirmed that Vladislav Surkov is no longer Russia's point man in Ukraine. | The news came over two weeks after it was first speculated in Russian media. He will be replaced by President Vladimir Putin's new Deputy Chief of Staff, Dmitry Kozak. Meanwhile, Kiev made a change of its own today, with Andriy Yermak coming in for Andrei Bogdan as President Volodymyr Zelensky's own Chief of Staff. | Some, including Echo of Moscow editor-in-chief Alexei Venediktov, believe the two moves are related, and a signal both go…

RT (2020-02-11). Russian journalists' union backs Kamchatka TV host who burst into laughter after disability payment fail. rt.com Her reaction went viral, outraging many viewers, but the Russian Union of Journalists says people are being too hard on a local TV anchor in Kamchatka who lost her composure in the studio. | Aleksandra Novikova burst into laughter when she misread news about increases in social welfare payments — believing recipients were to get an extra 500 rubles ($8) for "international travel." The report was about a three percent increase in allowances for the disabled and for military veterans, among others. | The presenter was explaining rises totaling over 1,500 rubles ($24) when she dropped the clanger. Novikova w…

Staff (2020-02-11). Official: Sudan to Hand Over Omar al-Bashir for Genocide Trial. truthdig.com For his role in the Darfur conflict, the county's former president also stands accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The Canary (2020-02-11). Sudan to hand over former president to International Criminal Court. thecanary.co Sudan's transitional authorities and rebel groups have agreed to hand over former president Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, including mass killings in Darfur, a top official said.Al-Bashir, who was overthrown by the military last year amid a public uprising, is wanted by the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide related to the Darfur conflict.Since his ousting in April, he has been in jail in Sudan's capital Khartoum on charges of corruption and killing protesters.Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi, a member of the Sovereign Council and a government negotiator, s…

Staff (2020-02-11). Despite Corporate Media's "War on Bernie," Sanders Rides Wave of Support into New Hampshire Primary. democracynow.org Polls have opened in New Hampshire for the first primary of the election season. The vote comes eight days after the still-disputed Iowa caucuses, where both Senator Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg claimed victory. Both candidates have asked for a partial recanvass of the results. We speak with Arnie Arnesen, a longtime radio and TV host in New Hampshire and a former New Hampshire legislator, and Norman Solomon, co-founder and national coordinator of RootsAction.org, which is supporting Bernie Sanders.

RT (2020-02-11). 'Too perfect': Iowa Dem Party sign falls off podium as chair struggles to explain caucus flop, Twitter sees a metaphor. rt.com An Iowa Democratic Party sign fell to the floor as the party chairman tried to account for a disastrous caucus plagued by tech failures and bad math, creating what many netizens dubbed a perfect allegory for the botched primary. | As state party chair Troy Price fielded questions on Monday about "rounding errors" found in Iowa's Democratic primary results — which placed 2020 hopeful Pete Buttigieg ahead of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders by a margin of 0.1 percent — a party banner gave way mid-sentence, interrupting the chair as it awkwardly crashed on the ground. | Now we take you live to the Iowa De…

Staff (2020-02-11). Pete Buttigieg Can't Be Defeated Soon Enough. truthdig.com The former mayor has much to gain and lose in New Hampshire—it's hard to imagine him winning another state, if he doesn't win this one.

Staff (2020-02-11). Who Can Beat Trump? After Iowa Caucus Debacle, Stakes Increase for New Hampshire Primary. democracynow.org As voters head to the polls in New Hampshire for the nation's first presidential primary, we speak with Arnie Arnesen, a longtime radio and TV host in New Hampshire and former Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

Kim Tong-Hyung (2020-02-11). Bong's 'Parasite' focuses on plight of South Korea's poor. peoplesworld.org SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Koreans are reveling in writer-director Bong Joon Ho's dark comic thriller, "Parasite," which won this year's Academy Awards for best film and best international feature. The movie itself, however, doesn't put the country in a particularly positive light. No doubt, the international acclaim for "Parasite," which also won the …

Mark Gruenberg (2020-02-11). Trump budget cuts trillions from Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—Congressional Democrats, progressive groups, and defenders of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid all blasted President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. Two top government worker unions chimed, in, too, slamming Trump for proposing only a 1% raise for calendar 2021, far below inflation and below this year's 3.1%, …

Staff (2020-02-11). Trump's New Budget Funds Endless War & Nuclear Weapons While Slashing Aid to Poor & Hungry Americans. democracynow.org President Trump unveiled his 2021 budget request Monday, proposing massive cuts to Medicaid and food stamps while increasing spending on the military and his border wall. The $4.8 trillion budget would slash Environmental Protection Agency spending by more than a quarter while allocating $18 billion for Trump's newly established Space Force. Trump is also requesting billions more for nuclear weapons, including a new submarine-launched nuclear warhead. Experts and Democratic lawmakers warn that increasing the nuclear stockpile will increase the likelihood of nuclear war and defy international agreements. Democrats…

RT (2020-02-11). Trump rally REPEATEDLY breaks out in '46! 46!' chant as Don Jr. comes on stage & #Resistance freaks out. rt.com A crowd at a campaign rally for US President Donald Trump in New Hampshire greeted his son, Don Jr., with a loud "46!" as he made his way on stage. The display has sparked quite a ruction on social media. | The eldest son of the 45th US president was treated to an especially warm welcome in Manchester, New Hampshire, where his dad held a rally on Monday. Warming up the crowd ahead of VP Mike Pence andTrump the Senior's entree, Don Jr. appeared to strike a chord with those gathered, prompting them to chant "46…46!" | (Don Jr. was actually about to introduce…Mike Pence when the "46" chant broke out)— I…

RT (2020-02-11). Watch out! Here comes… Dennis? New UK storm name triggers social media mockery. rt.com Storm Dennis is poised to batter much of the UK this weekend — so say the country's Met Office meteorologists — but many on social media don't seem to be taking the warnings too seriously due to its somewhat non-threatening name.

RT (2020-02-11). Top Roger Stone prosecutor resigns as DOJ backs down from 'horrible & unfair' sentencing advice blasted by Trump. rt.com The US Justice Department has reconsidered its recommendation that former Trump advisor Roger Stone serve nine years in prison for lying to Congress, instead deferring to the court, while two of its prosecutors have resigned. | Punishing the self-described "dirty trickster" with seven to nine years in prison "could be considered excessive and unwarranted," prosecutors said in a statement on Tuesday. "Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate." | pic.twitter.com/TrNSo9qXeB— Jeremy Herb (@jeremyherb) Mark Gruenberg (2020-02-11). Parade of Dems warn UAW of perils of continuing Republican rule. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON — A parade of prominent Democrats have warned delegates to the Auto Workers Legislative/Political Conference of the perils of continuing Republican rule in Washington. Led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., they challenged the unionists to undertake an all-out effort from now through November to wrest the White House and the Senate from anti-worker …

RT (2020-02-11). US promises 'enormous pressure' on Tehran over… failed satellite launch? Pompeo says missile development behind Iran space program. rt.com Iran's latest attempt to launch a scientific satellite has apparently unnerved Washington, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lashing out at Tehran and vowing that the US would not let it continue the launches. | Washington used the occasion to once again slam Iran and the 2015 deal on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, from which the US itself unilaterally withdrew back in 2018. | Also on rt.com | | Since then, America has been hell-bent on s…

RT (2020-02-11). 'The night time is the right time to fight crime': BoJo aide Cummings quotes kids' cartoon when pressed on govt business. rt.com Senior Boris Johson aide Dominic Cummings has left social media users baffled after he quoted a cartoon about crime-fighting child superheroes when a reporter asked him about the government approving a £100 billion rail project. | Cummings was doorstepped by a BBC journalist on Tuesday morning over the government's decision to go ahead with the controversial HS2 high-speed rail project, as well as the PM's anticipated cabinet reshuffle, when he inexplicably referenced the animated children's series 'PJ Masks.' | "The night time is the right time to fight crime," he said. Then asked for a comment on the m…

Staff (2020-02-11). A Victory for Vulture Funds: Puerto Rico's Unelected Financial Control Board Strikes Debt Deal. democracynow.org Puerto Rico's financial control board has struck a deal with bondholders to shed about $24 billion from its general obligation debt. The deal announced Sunday will cut the island's outstanding general obligation debt from $35 billion to about $11 billion; however, the island would have to pay about $3.8 billion upfront. The agreement will still need to be approved by Puerto Rico's Legislature. Puerto Rico's financial control board filed for bankruptcy in 2017 to attempt to restructure $129 billion in debt. The board, which is often referred to as "La Junta," is an unelected board that runs much of Puerto Rico's e…

Staff (2020-02-11). Judge Clears a Path to T-Mobile's $26.5B Sprint Bid. truthdig.com NEW YORK — A federal judge has cleared a major path to T-Mobile's $26.5 billion takeover of Sprint, as he rejected claims by more than a dozen states that the deal would mean less competition and higher phone bills. | Though the deal still needs a few more approvals, T-Mobile expects to close it as early as April 1. | Once that happens, the number of major U.S. wireless companies

Stephen Wade (2020-02-11). Tokyo Games 2020 organizers try to ease fear of Olympic-Paralympic cancellation. peoplesworld.org TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizers again tried on Thursday to allay fears that the 2020 Games could be postponed or canceled by the fast-spreading virus from China. Tokyo Olympic CEO Toshiro Muto, who on Wednesday said he was "seriously worried" the virus could disrupt the Olympic and Paralympics, backtracked a day later …

Russell Mokhiber (2020-02-11). West Virginia Legislation Would Make Civil Disobedience Against Gas Pipelines a Felony. counterpunch.org Industry drafted legislation (HB 4615) that would make civil disobedience against a pipeline or other fossil fuel projects a felony is moving through the West Virginia legislature. The House of Delegates Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the legislation February 10, 2020 at 8: 30 am. Eight of the nine co-sponsors of HB 4615 have

WSWS (2020-02-11). UK government carries out deportation of around 20 Jamaican nationals. wsws.org The men on board were among 700 immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers being held at two immigration detention removal centres near Heathrow Airport—Colnbrook and Harmondsworth.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar (2020-02-11). "Our Very Existence Is the Resistance" zcomm.org Interview with the Squad, the group of four freshmen Democratic congresswomen who have taken Capitol Hill by storm…

WSWS (2020-02-11). Dr. Lissa Johnson calls for workers and young people to rally in defence of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. wsws.org "Everyone who recognises that now is the time to take a stand against gross injustice and for fundamental democratic rights should attend the rallies."

Staff (2020-02-11). Bloomberg Is a Billionaire Republican Who Terrorized Black and Brown Youth. truthout.org Polls open Tuesday in New Hampshire for the first primary of the 2020 presidential cycle. The Democratic candidates have been criss-crossing the state in the days leading up to the vote, which has even more significance this year following the muddled results of the Iowa caucuses. We continue our conversation with Arnie Arnesen, a longtime radio and TV host in New Hampshire and a former New Hampshire legislator; Norman Solomon, co-founder and national coordinator of RootsAction.org, which is suppo…

Staff (2020-02-11). Despite Sanders Leading in Polls, Corporate Media Say He Has "Flatlined" truthout.org Polls have opened in New Hampshire for the first primary of the election season. The vote comes eight days after the still-disputed Iowa caucuses, where both Senator Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg claimed victory. Both candidates have asked for a partial recanvass of the results. We speak with Arnie Arnesen, a longtime radio and TV host in New Hampshire and a former New Hampshire legislator, and Norman Solomon, co-founder and national coordinator of RootsAction.org,…

Norman Solomon (2020-02-11). Why the Buttigieg Campaign Tried to Have Me Arrested for Handing Out Information About Medicare for All. counterpunch.org You'd think that a presidential campaign backed by 40 billionaires and untold numbers of bundled rich people wouldn't worry about just one leaflet on Medicare for All. But minutes after Pete Buttigieg finished speaking in an auditorium at Keene State College in New Hampshire on Saturday, a Pete for America official confronted me outside the

Aaron Maté (2020-02-11). Exclusive: New leaks shatter OPCW's attacks on Douma whistleblowers. thegrayzone.com Facing accusations that it issued a doctored report alleging a chemical attack in Syria, the OPCW has released an inquiry…

Staff (2020-02-11). Headlines for February 11, 2020. democracynow.org New Hampshire Voters Head to Polls for First Primary of 2020, Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 1,000, with Over 42,000 Confirmed Cases, Chuck Schumer Calls for Investigation into Trump's Retaliation-Motivated Firings, DOJ Reviewing Ukraine Info from Giuliani, DOJ Charges 4 Chinese Military Hackers in 2017 Equifax Breach, El Salvador President Bukele and Armed Officers Confront Lawmakers over Military Funding, Fears Mount for 5 Activists Detained in Philippines, Sinn Féin Scores Major Victory in Ireland, Syrian and Turkish Forces Step Up Attacks as 100,000s Face Humanitarian Disaster, Massive Locust Swarms Threaten Cro…

Whitney Webb (2020-02-11). Buttigieg Campaign Aggressively Targeting Progressive Activists, Media. mintpressnews.com Between efforts to censor information critical of Buttigieg on social media and harass independent media outlets and their reporters at his rallies, it appears that a concerted effort is underway to control the narrative around the DNC primaries…

Andrew Korybko (2020-02-11). The Mideast's Place in Russia's Greater Eurasian Partnership. globalresearch.ca Russia's Greater Eurasian Partnership envisages the supercontinent peacefully coming together in the shared interests of peace, stability, and development, brought about by Moscow's "balancing" strategy in recent years which was first practiced in the Mideast region, one of the most …

commondreams (2020-02-11). Greenpeace Responds to Introduction of Groundbreaking Break Free From Plastic Legislation. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Friday Peace Vigil, SJPJC, and others (2020-02-11). 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…

Miri Wood (2020-02-11). Hollywood and Syria: The Uses of Enchantment in Crimes Against Peace. globalresearch.ca Hollywood 's Oscars awards ceremony is nigh. Two anti-Syria propaganda-documentaries are short-listed in this year's competition. We use the occasion to offer a photo tutorial on Hollywood enchantment techniques — choreography, cinematography, SFX, CGI, moulage artisanship, rules of award-winning scripts …

South Front (2020-02-11). Video: The Battle for Idlib is Ongoing. Turkish Forces to the Rescue of "Peaceful Al Qaeda Militants" globalresearch.ca During the last few days, Turkey deployed approximately 1,000 units of military equipment, including self-propelled howitzers, M06T and Leopard 2A4 battle tanks, in the Syrian province of Idlib. According to local sources, the number of Turkish troops and special forces …

Register Peace & Freedom or Green (2020-02-11). 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.

John Whitehead (2020-02-11). We're All in This Together: A Case for Not Giving Up on the American Dream. mintpressnews.com America has been a warring nation—a military empire intent on occupation and conquest—for so long that perhaps we, the citizens of this warring nation, have forgotten what it means to live in peace, with the world and one another.

IMEMC News & Agencies (2020-02-11). Fateh Standing behind Abbas following Threats by Israeli UN Delegate. imemc.org The Fateh movement said, today, that it stands behind PA President Mahmoud Abbas and fully supports the positions expressed in his speech before the United Nations Security Council, warning of the implications rendered by the Israeli delegate's portrayal of Abbas as an obstacle to peace, in calling for him to …

WILPF San Jose (2020-02-11). Developing Belonging in a Time of Othering. indybay.org San Jose Peace and Justice Center | 48 S 7th Street | San Jose, CA 95112…

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-02-11). After Thousands Protest in Ramallah, Israeli Forces Fire Tear-Gas and Rubber-Coated Steel Rounds. imemc.org "Palestine is not for sale," and "No to the deal of the century," were only a few of the signs raised, on Tuesday, by the tens of thousands of Palestinians who came from all over the West Bank to demonstrate in the central West Bank city of Ramallah, WAFA reported. …

teleSUR (2020-02-11). Brazil: 20,000 Oil Workers on Strike to Halt Privatization Plan. telesurenglish.net Over 20,000 workers of the Brazilian state-controlled company Petrobras are carrying out a national strike in protest against the dismissal of workers and the privatization of public assets. | RELATED: | In mid-January,