Daily Archives: January 29, 2020

2020-01-29: News Headlines

RT (2020-01-29). RT correspondent seriously injured by blast while filming jihadists' ammo depot in Syria. rt.com Wafa Shabrouney, a correspondent of RT Arabic, has been injured while on assignment in northwestern Syria. A shell left behind by militant fighters exploded while she and her crew were nearby. | The incident happened in Maarat al-Numan, a Syrian city located some 33km south of Idlib, the capital of the last major stronghold of jihadist forces in northwestern Syria. Shabrouney and her crew were covering the aftermath of the takeover of the city by Damascus in the last several days. | According to her cameraman, they went to an ammo depot left behind by retreating militants. A shell accidentally detonated nea…

RT (2020-01-29). Russian military blasts Pompeo's 'hypocritical concern' over 'attack on Idlib's innocent civilians'. rt.com The Russian Defense Ministry says it is not surprised by the 'hypocrisy' of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who voiced 'concern' over what he said was a "large-scale offensive against Idlib's innocent civilians" by Moscow and Damascus. | The US Department of State has never publicly supported Russia's active fight against international terrorism in Syria, the official representative of the Russian ministry Igor Konashenkov said on Wednesday. The State Department "preaches and voices its concern about the alleged suffering of civilians only when terrorists suffer a crushing defeat and Syrian citizens are fina…

Staff (2020-01-29). Syrian Troops Capture Key Town in Rebel-Held Idlib Province. truthdig.com DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian government forces captured one of the largest and most strategic rebel-held towns in the country's northwest, the Syrian military and opposition activists said Wednesday, part of a Russian-backed military assault that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to safer areas. | The town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, which had been in rebel hands since 2012, sits on the highway linking Damascus with Aleppo and is considered critical to President Bashar Assad's forces. The town is now largely empty as a result of intense bombardment in recent weeks. | Its capture is…

RT (2020-01-29). Iraqi president gives MPs 3 days to name new PM amid protests. rt.com President Barham Saleh threatened on Wednesday to unilaterally name a successor to Iraq's premier, who resigned in December, if parliament did not nominate a candidate within three days. | "If the concerned blocs are unable to resolve the nomination issue by no later than Saturday, February 1… I see an obligation to exercise my constitutional powers by tasking whomever I find most acceptable to parliament and the people," Saleh wrote in a letter, according to AFP. | PM Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned in December after two months of deadly protests against his government, but he has stayed on in a caretaker role, a…

Alan Macleod (2020-01-29). US Announces Three New Bases in Iraq After Iraqis Demand Full Withdrawal. mintpressnews.com The three sites chosen for the news bases, Erbin, Sulimania and Halabja are all extremely close to Iran, with Halabja just eight miles from its border.

RT (2020-01-29). UAE's Health Ministry confirms 1st cases of new Chinese virus in Mideast. rt.com The Health and Prevention Ministry of the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday confirmed the first cases in the Mideast of the new Chinese virus that causes flu-like symptoms. | The state-run WAM news agency said doctors were now treating a family that had just come from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the outbreak. It wasn't immediately clear how the family left Wuhan and made it all the way to the UAE, AP said. | China shut down Wuhan's airport and other transportation in the city last Thursday to stop the spread of the virus. The lockdown has since expanded to include 17 cities, encompassing more t…

RT (2020-01-29). Chinese pharmacy to pay $430,000 fine after it hikes face mask price by SIX TIMES as coronavirus spread overshadows SARS. rt.com A drug store in Beijing will have to pay a hefty fine after it apparently tried to cash in on the coronavirus outbreak, hiking the price of an essential protective mask by about six times, China's market watchdog has said. | Beijing Jimin Kangtai Pharmacy was caught red-handed by a municipal market regulator, which launched a crackdown on the shady practice in which businesses attempt to make a quick buck by selling overpriced protective gear as residents flock to the stores to stockpile surgical masks and other essentials. | The watchdog said Wednesday it has looked into 31 suspected cases of the practice sin…

RT (2020-01-29). United Airlines, British Airways & other carriers suspend flights to China in bid to halt coronavirus spread. rt.com Major airlines across the world have suspended travel in and out of China in an attempt to stem the rapid spread of the deadly new coronavirus strain which has killed more than 130 people since the outbreak started last month. | United Airlines has cancelled 24 round trips with destinations in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong between February 1 and February 8, due to "significant decline in demand for travel to China," the company said on Tuesday. The airline had previously introduced additional health screenings for passengers flying in and out of China. Separately, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventi…

RT (2020-01-29). WATCH: Stranded Chinese passengers applaud as plane reroutes to quarantined Wuhan. rt.com The crew of a Juneyao Airlines flight from Osaka to Shanghai volunteered to take stranded tourists directly to quarantined Wuhan after seeking special dispensation from Chinese authorities in an incredible display of solidarity. | Flight HO1340 was scheduled to depart at 7: 55pm local time from Osaka in Japan and land at its destination, Shanghai at approximately 9: 30pm. However, at the request of tourists on board, the airline sought, and received, permission to reroute in China's airspace and make a detour to Wuhan. | The 11 crew all volunteered to operate the flight while wearing masks, goggles, and gloves.

RT (2020-01-29). Putin tells Russia's government to 'be prepared' as new coronavirus goes global. rt.com As infections spread worldwide, Vladimir Putin has called on Russian officials to do all they can to prevent the spread of the new Chinese coronavirus in Russia. | The Russian president emphasized the goal must be to minimize human losses. So far, the number of confirmed cases in Russia remains at zero, but given the length of the country's border with China and the extent of bilateral trade, it's considered only a matter of time before the virus appears. | Following a meeting of officials, Putin said "regarding the new coronavirus… the question is how ready we are for this challenge," while emphasizing that…

RT (2020-01-29). Kazakhstan suspends all passenger transportation links with China over virus outbreak. rt.com Kazakhstan is suspending all forms of passenger travel to and from neighboring China, the Central Asian nation's government said on Wednesday. The statement came as an outbreak of a new coronavirus continued to widen. | The government has also suspended the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens, Reuters reported. | Bus routes to and from China have already been halted, while passenger train movement will stop on February 1 and all flights will be suspended from February 3, according to the government. | Kazakhstan has registered no cases of the new virus. However, authorities have isolated dozens of people wit…

Martin Hart-Landsberg (2020-01-29). Climate change, the Green New Deal, and the struggle for climate justice. mronline.org Most calls for a Green New Deal correctly emphasize that it must include a meaningful commitment to climate justice. That is because climate change—for reasons of racism and capitalist profit-making—disproportionately punishes frontline communities, especially communities of color and low-income. |

Eds. (2020-01-29). Long shaped by fire, Australia enters a perilous new era. mronline.org Australia has always been a dry continent where fire has played an important ecological role. But the latest massive conflagrations there are evidence that a hotter climate has thrust Australia into a new normal where fires will keep burning on an unprecedented scale. |

RT (2020-01-29). 'Deal of the century': What's in Trump's peace plan for Israel and Palestine. rt.com The proposal for peace in the Middle East unveiled by US President Donald Trump envisions the conditions under which a Palestinian state might be recognized. RT delves into the 180-page 'deal of the century' to see what's inside. | The "Vision for Peace, Prosperity and a Brighter Future" bills itself as "the best, most realistic and most achievable outcome for the parties" right from the start. It says that the 700 or so UN General Assembly resolutions and 100-plus Security Council resolutions have failed to bring peace, while the 1993 Oslo Accords left too many key issues unresolved, "including, among other i…

Staff (2020-01-29). "Yet Another Declaration of War on Palestinians": Rashid Khalidi on Trump's Middle East "Peace" Plan. democracynow.org Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to annex about 30% of the occupied West Bank, after Israel was given the green light to do so by the United States. On Tuesday, President Trump — with Netanyahu by his side — unveiled a so-called Middle East peace plan that was drafted by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner without any input from Palestinians. Under the plan, Israel will gain sovereignty over large areas of the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem would be under total Israeli control, and all Jewish settlers in the occupied territory will be allowed to remain in their homes. The plan…

Staff (2020-01-29). Mehdi Hasan: Trump's Middle East Plan Is a Policy of Apartheid & Settler Colonialism. democracynow.org We continue our discussion of President Trump's long-awaited Middle East plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he has described as the "deal of the century." The plan was drafted by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner without any input from Palestinians and would give Israel sovereignty over large areas of the occupied West Bank, control over all of Jerusalem, and keep all illegal settlements built in the occupied West Bank. We speak with Mehdi Hasan, senior columnist at The Intercept, and Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said professor of modern Arab studies at Columbia University. Khalidi's latest book is…

RT (2020-01-29). Palestinian anger over Trump's 'deal of the century' met with Israeli tear gas & rubber bullets in West Bank. rt.com Injuries have been reported as Palestinian protesters face Israeli security troops in the West Bank in non-stop protests after Donald Trump announced his peace plan for the region. | Scores of protesters flooded the streets in different parts of the West Bank, demonstrating against a US-proposed plan that they expect to lead to annexation of much of Palestinian land. | | A Palestinian demonstrator uses a sling to hurl back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. ©REUTERS / Mussa Qawasma | In Bethlehem, protesters have been throwing stones at Israeli fo…

The Canary (2020-01-29). Jeremy Corbyn slams Donald Trump's so-called 'peace plan' for Palestine. thecanary.co Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan would "lock-in illegal Israeli colonisation" and deny Palestinian people their fundamental rights. He added that Britain must tell the US they are "wrong" on the issue.Boris Johnson, meanwhile, provided encouragement to the proposal which would leave sizeable areas of the occupied West Bank in Israeli hands.Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has dismissed Trump's plan as a "conspiracy deal".Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Corbyn said of the US president's idea: It will annex Palestinian territory, lock-in illegal Israeli colonisation…

RT (2020-01-29). Crucial Pakistan-Afghan border crossing closed after reported rocket attack. rt.com The Torkham border crossing, one of the principle land connections between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been shut down for all traffic. It comes after a reported rocket attack from the Afghan side. | The road passing by Torkham leads to the Afghan capital, Kabul through Jalalabad. On the Pakistani side, the crossing is connected to the capital, Islamabad through Peshawar. Torkham was temporarily shut down by the Pakistani authorities on Wednesday, with officials citing security concerns, according to media reports. The closure was said to be prompted by a rocket attack at the checkpoint, which left two Pakist…

RT (2020-01-29). UN envoy urges halt to 'alarming military escalation' in Yemen. rt.com The UN special envoy for Yemen has urged a halt to the "alarming military escalation" in fighting between the Saudi-led military coalition and Houthi Shiite rebels. Martin Griffiths warned the UN Security Council at a closed meeting that the recent drastic escalation jeopardizes progress made by the warring parties in de-escalating the conflict, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday. | Less than two weeks ago, Griffiths reported to the council on a major reduction in military operations and other initiatives, AP reported. He expressed hope at the time that this would lead to talks between the governme…

RT (2020-01-29). Yemen's Houthi rebels say they attacked Saudi oil giant Aramco, airport & other 'sensitive' targets. rt.com A military base and a facility of Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco were targeted in the latest attacks, Yemen's Houthi militants claimed. Aramco has so far kept silent on the reports. | The militants took aim at sites located in the southern Saudi province of Jizan, the Houthi spokesman said in a televised speech on Wednesday. Apart from that, the group claimed it targeted airports of Abha and Jizan, a military base, and other "sensitive" targets on Saudi soil. | "A large number of rockets and drones" were used during the strike, it has been claimed. Riyadh has remained silent on the matter, while Aramco decline…

Mark Gruenberg (2020-01-29). SEIU's Henry demands Senate impeachment trial call witnesses. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON —In her second comment on the Senate impeachment trial of GOP President Donald Trump, Service Employees President Mary Kay Henry is demanding lawmakers call live witnesses to ensure a fair trial. And those senators who don't want witnesses, she adds, are "playing political games with issues serious for our democracy and the sanctity of …

Staff (2020-01-29). Mehdi Hasan: The Impeachment Trial Has Been a Farce Since Day One Filled with GOP Lies. democracynow.org At the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told fellow Republican senators in a private meeting Tuesday that he does not yet have enough votes to block Democrats from calling impeachment witnesses. Democrats have pushed for former national security adviser John Bolton to testify. On Sunday night, The New York Times published details about a draft of Bolton's forthcoming book, in which he claims Trump personally told him in August he wanted to maintain a freeze on $391 million in military aid to Ukraine until Ukraine turned over materials related to former Vice Presi…

John Wojcik (2020-01-29). Trump impeachment trial enters a new phase. peoplesworld.org Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET the question-and-answer phase of the Senate's impeachment trial of Trump began with senators given 16 hours over two days to ask questions of the impeachment managers and the TV lawyers defending the president. It's not a normal type of questioning you see in a regular trial. Each senator has a …

Jefferson Morley (2020-01-29). Weakest Link: Impeachment and National Security. counterpunch.org In the summer of 2016 President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump didn't agree about much, except for one obscure issue of U.S. foreign policy: lethal military aid to Ukraine. As commander in chief, Obama objected to such assistance, even in the face of a Russian proxy war. So did candidate Trump. On

Ron Jacobs (2020-01-29). The Swamp That Trump Built. counterpunch.org My favorite line from the Trumpist defense of their boss so far is from attorney Jay Sekulow. As the opening argument wound down, he told the Senate and whomever else was listening that "justice demands" the articles of impeachment against Trump "must be rejected." There were a lot of things going on in the defense's

RT (2020-01-29). Boeing reports first annual loss in over two decades as 737 MAX crisis drags on. rt.com Rising costs from the grounding of its once-bestselling 737 MAX jets have left US aerospace giant Boeing with its first annual loss in net revenue since 1997. | The American plane manufacturer lost $636 million in 2019, after a disappointing fourth quarter which saw a loss of $2.33 per share, the company announced on Wednesday. The annual loss is dramatic compared to Boeing's results last year, when it posted a profit of $10.46 billion. | The aviation giant said that the financial results were "significantly impacted by the 737 MAX grounding." Boeing is still struggling to recover from reputational damage afte…

RT (2020-01-29). 'We would be in World War Six by now' if Bolton were still in the WH, says Trump in scathing tweets. rt.com US President Donald Trump has hit back at John Bolton, his former national security advisor, accusing him of writing a "nasty & untrue" book and saying the warmongering Republican could have led us into "World War Six." | While Bolton has become something of a hero to Trump's critics thanks to leaks from his upcoming book 'The Room Where it Happened', which seemingly confirm accusations that the president withheld foreign aid to Ukraine in the hopes they would investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, conservatives have begun to turn on the man, chief among them the president himself. | "For a guy who could…

The Canary (2020-01-29). 1973 v 2020: How life has changed since the UK entered the EEC. thecanary.co The UK joined the then European Economic Community (EEC) in January 1973, with Conservative prime minister Edward Heath at the helm.The UK's entry brought EEC membership to nine.In 2020, there were 28 countries in the EU prior to the UK's departure.content.assets.pressassociation.io/2020/01/22215500/b2c65147-4043-41f0-9a8d-eec90e4b75b5.jpg?w=320 320w, content.assets.pressassociation.io/2020/

RT (2020-01-29). Indian PM Modi says it would take Indian Army 10 days max to 'make Pakistan bite dust'. rt.com Indian PM Narendra Modi says the Indian military could take down neighboring Pakistan within a week — 10 days at most. Both regional rivals are nuclear-armed powers. | Speaking at the National Cadet Corps Rally in Delhi on Tuesday, Modi lamented the "inaction" of his predecessors who were reluctant to use military force against Pakistan. He said that even when India's top brass "asked for action," the political leadership "would not go ahead," but instead conducted what he called "a proxy war" with Pakistan as a law and order issue, rather than one requiring a military solution. The prime minister said h…

RT (2020-01-29). India calls for 2-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian issue as Trump unveils his plan. rt.com India on Wednesday called for a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian issue after US President Donald Trump unveiled his plan. | "India has been consistently supportive of the Palestinian cause," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. | "We reiterate our view that final status issues should be resolved through direct negotiations between the two parties and be acceptable to both," ANI quoted him as saying. | "We urge the parties to engage with each other, including on the recent proposals put forward by the US, and find an acceptable two-state solution for peac…

RT (2020-01-29). Firework 'attack' on Man United chief Woodward's home shows disturbing level of disgust from fans at breaking point. rt.com A group of alleged Manchester United fans threw fireworks at the house of executive vice chairman Ed Woodward's home, revealing a disturbing side of fans' disgust at the shambolic running of the club by its board members. | Hooded figures can be seen in footage that has circulated the internet throwing fireworks and flares at the Cheshire home of Woodward, who lives in the property with his wife and two young daughters. It is understood that no one was at the time of the attack. | A portion of Manchester United fans have recently voiced their resentment at the club's handling by members of its hierarchy, whom…

RT (2020-01-29). Blaze rips through Lagos street market as traders race against time to save their goods (PHOTOS, VIDEOS). rt.com Footage of a blaze at a popular market on Lagos Island has surfaced on social media; it reportedly shows desperate traders flinging their goods off balconies as the inferno races towards them. | The fire started early Wednesday morning in the Anambra Plaza at Balogun market, a section of the market on the island. The incident comes just two months after another blaze ripped through the marketplace, destroying goods worth thousands of dollars. | The cause of Wednesday's fire has yet to be established but bewildered eyewitnesses have already taken to social media to complain about the slow response by emergency…

Roger D. Harris (2020-01-29). The Liberal Establishment is Already Warning Third Parties Not to Ruin the 2020 Election. mintpressnews.com Prominent liberal personalities, including Noam Chomsky, issued an open letter imploring third parties to "remove themselves as a factor" in the 2020 presidential election to "benefit all humanity and a good part of the biosphere."

Oliver Vargas (2020-01-29). Meet the Candidates Taking on Bolivia's US-Backed Right Wing Government. mintpressnews.com Bolivian journalist Oliver Vargas takes an in-depth look at the candidates taking on the interim right-wing government of Jeanine Anez in Bolivia's upcoming elections and the many challenges they face.

RT (2020-01-29). Oil prices rise on surprise crude draw. rt.com The American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated on Tuesday a surprise large crude oil inventory draw of 4.27 million barrels for the week ending January 24, compared to analyst expectations of a 482,000-barrel build in inventory. | Last week saw a build in crude oil inventories of 1.57 million barrels, according to API data. The EIA's estimates, however, were of a draw of 400,000 barrels for that week. | Oil prices were up earlier in the day prior to the afternoon data release, ending a five day price slide as fears of oil demand destruction at the hands of the deadly Coronavirus gripped the oil markets. Even…

RT (2020-01-29). Ex-president Poroshenko investigated in Ukraine over embezzlement, allegedly stealing US aid. rt.com Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau has opened a probe against former president, Petro Poroshenko, who is suspected of abuse of power, embezzlement "on a grand scale" and allegedly stealing US aid funds. | The case against the ex-president was opened following a complaint by a group of Ukrainian MPs and the nation's High Anti-Corruption Court demanding the authorities investigate embezzlement and misappropriation of the foreign financial aid at the time of Poroshenko's term in office, a Ukrainian MP Renat Kuzmin said in a Facebook post. | Kuzmin, a member of the Opposition Platform — For Live par…

RT (2020-01-29). Valentino Rossi to retire? MotoGP legend to decide on his future after Yamaha signs Fabio Quartararo as his replacement for 2021. rt.com MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will make a decision on his retirement from the sport this coming season after the factory Yamaha team announced French rider Fabio Quartararo will replace the Italian superstar in the team from 2021. | French ace Quartararo has impressed for the satellite Petronas Yamaha team so far in his career at the top level of motorcycle racing, and his displays have earned him a full factory ride alongside Rossi's Spanish teammate Maverick Vinales in 2021. But that comes at the expense of Rossi, who is considered by many to be the greatest man to ever race on two wheels. | Now 40, Rossi wi…

RT (2020-01-29). Trump's 'deal of the century' is about ignoring Palestinian rights & legitimizing Israel's occupation — Turkish President Erdogan. rt.com Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blasted a plan for resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict presented by Donald Trump, saying the proposal is a blatant attempt to 'legitimize Israel's occupation' of Palestinian territories. | Erdogan, a long-time critic of Israeli policies, lashed out at the US-proposed roadmap in a Wednesday interview with journalists who were accompanying him on his return from a three-country visit to Africa. | "This is the plan to ignore the Palestinians' rights and legitimize Israel's occupation," Erdogan said, as quoted by Anadolu Agency. | The remark is in line with criticisms vo…

Peter Cohen (2020-01-29). How to Survive this Election. counterpunch.org Having closely followed the 2016 Election, from the clear signs of manipulation and potential fraud in the earliest Primaries to the finger-pointing and hysteria over alleged Russian "election hacking" after one of the most unpopular US Presidential candidates in History beat another of the most unpopular of the US Presidential candidates in History, I resolved

John Kendall Hawkins (2020-01-29). Soviet Hippies: The Grass is Greener on the Other Side. counterpunch.org Astmatol : a spasmolytic agent used as a powder or in cigarettes. Astmatol is made of one part henbane leaves, two parts belladonna leaves, six parts Datura leaves, one part sodium nitrate, and three parts water. It is used in cases of bronchial asthma. Smoke is inhaled from the astmatol as it burns. — The

RT (2020-01-29). Putin pardons drug-trafficking Israeli woman ahead of Netanyahu's visit to Moscow. rt.com Russian President Vladimir Putin has pardoned Naama Issachar, an Israeli woman convicted on drug trafficking charges in Russia, citing "humanitarian reasons." Issachar is expected to return to Israel shortly. | The decision to pardon Issachar came ahead of a visit by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to meet Putin in Moscow on Thursday. According to media reports, Netanyahu is expected to bring the woman back home on his plane after his visit to Russia concludes. | Issachar, a 26-year-old Israeli-American citizen, was nabbed by Russian law enforcement in April 2019 in the transit zone of Moscow's Shere…

RT (2020-01-29). Australian Open 2020: Garbine Muguruza says life-changing climb of Mount Kilimanjaro helped inspire her to quarter-final victory. rt.com Garbine Muguruza booked her spot in the Australian Open semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, than admitted her performance in the tournament had surprised her after contracting a viral illness. | Muguruza defeated Russia's Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena to reach her first Australian Open semi-final, where she will take on Romanian Simona Halep, who had blasted past Anett Kontaveit earlier in the day. | Muguruza had to battle through the field the hard way after finding herself unseeded in a Grand Slam for the first time since 2014. But the Spanish starlet has produced…

RT (2020-01-29). Russian ski star Alexander Bolshunov becomes new face of Norwegian winter sports equipment giant Swix. rt.com Swix, an iconic Norwegian brand for fans of winter sports, has chosen a Russian ski star Alexander Bolshunov as the face of a new line of its eco-friendly ski waxes. | Based in Lillehammer, Norway, Swix is the world's leading manufacturer of ski poles, ski waxes and sportswear with some 74 years of history. | Alex Bolshunov, 23, is one of the world's best cross country skiers and the current leader of the FIS World Cup. However Bolshunov, who developed a large fanbase worldwide since he started to win at international level in 2017, is facing a ban from international competitions. | On December 9, 2019 the…

RT (2020-01-29). Former Moscow Police officers arrested over framing of Russian journalist Ivan Golunov. rt.com Last summer, his detention on bogus drug charges rocked the world of Russian media, leading to an unprecedented show of journalistic unity. | Now, investigators have detained five ex-police officers who are accused of fabricating the case against Ivan Golunov, a reporter for Riga-based online publication Meduza. | The former members of the Moscow Police's drug trafficking control department are currently being interrogated, according to Svetlana Petrenko, the official representative of Russia's Investigative Committee. The detainees were removed from their posts last July in the immediate fallout from the cont…

WSWS (2020-01-29). US Supreme Court approves public charge rule directed against legal immigrants. wsws.org The highly contested rule, which was announced last August, altered existing immigration law to allow the administration to deny visas to legal immigrants who it claims would rely on the government's assistance.

Myles Hoenig (2020-01-29). Why the Green Party isn't the Problem. counterpunch.org I just read the open letter by Noam Chomsky, Bill Fletcher, Barbara Ehrenreich, Kathy Kelly, Ron Daniels, Leslie Cagan, Norman Solomon, Cynthia Peters, and Michael Albert calling on the Green Party not to run a candidate this year. The authors above utilize so many clichés that it's getting beyond ridiculous and frighteningly dangerous. This is

Aaron Maté (2020-01-29). Trump's fake 'peace plan' is permanent apartheid for Palestine. thegrayzone.com Attorney, professor, and author Noura Erakat on Trump's "deal of the century": a call for permanent apartheid in Palestine. President…

teleSUR (2020-01-29). Israeli Defense Minister Wants Annexation of Occupied West Bank. telesurenglish.net Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex over a third of the occupied West Bank shorlty after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called "Deal of the Century" plan on Middle East peace. | RELATED: | "Yesterday evening, history knocked on our door and granted us a one-time opportunity to apply Israel law on all of the settlements in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan…

teleSUR (2020-01-29). Iran Slams Trump's Middle East Peace Plan as 'Disgraceful'. telesurenglish.net Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday strongly rejected the U.S. Middle East peace plan as "disgraceful." | RELATED: | In a statement released hours after U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of the so-called Deal of the Century, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said it is the "betrayal of the century" and is "doomed to failure." | "Palestine belongs to the Palestinians," he said. "The Zionist regime (of…

2020-01-29: Social Media Postees

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

US Supreme Court approves public charge rule directed against legal immigrants
wsws.org | 2020-01-29
The highly contested rule, which was announced last August, altered existing immigration law to allow the administration to deny visas to legal immigrants who it claims would rely on the government's assistance.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/29/publ-j29.html

The World Demands Us Out of the Middle East
Kevin Zeese, Margaret Flowers | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-29
The world is saying no to war with Iran and US out of the Middle East. Hundreds of protests were held in the United States and around the world on Saturday with a unified voice of "No War." These protests are in solidarity with massive protests in Iraq calling for the US to get out…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/29/the-world-demands-us-out-of-the-middle-east/

The World Demands Us Out of the Middle East
Kevin Zeese, Margaret Flowers | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-29
The world is saying no to war with Iran and US out of the Middle East. Hundreds of protests were held in the United States and around the world on Saturday with a unified voice of "No War." These protests are in solidarity with massive protests in Iraq calling for the US to get out…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/29/the-world-demands-us-out-of-the-middle-east/

Why the Green Party isn't the Problem
Myles Hoenig | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-29
I just read the open letter by Noam Chomsky, Bill Fletcher, Barbara Ehrenreich, Kathy Kelly, Ron Daniels, Leslie Cagan, Norman Solomon, Cynthia Peters, and Michael Albert calling on the Green Party not to run a candidate this year. The authors above utilize so many clichés that it's getting beyond ridiculous and frighteningly dangerous. This is…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/29/why-the-green-party-isnt-the-problem/

Trump's fake 'peace plan' is permanent apartheid for Palestine
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-29
Attorney, professor, and author Noura Erakat on Trump's "deal of the century": a call for permanent apartheid in Palestine. President…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/29/trumps-fake-peace-plan-is-permanent-apartheid-for-palestine/

Syrian Troops Capture Key Town in Rebel-Held Idlib Province
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-01-29
DAMASCUS, Syria

Iran Slams Trump's Middle East Peace Plan as 'Disgraceful'
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday strongly rejected the U.S. Middle East peace plan as "disgraceful." | RELATED: | Iran: Alternative Solution to the So-Called Century's Deal | In a statement released hours after U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of the so-called Deal of the Century, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said it is the "betrayal of the century" and is "doomed to failure." | "Palestine belongs to the Palestinians," he said. "The Zionist regime (of…
telesurenglish.net/news/Iran-Slams-Trumps-Middle-East-Peace-Plan-as-Disgraceful-20200129-0001.html

Israeli Defense Minister Wants Annexation of Occupied West Bank
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex over a third of the occupied West Bank shorlty after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called "Deal of the Century" plan on Middle East peace. | RELATED: | Iran Slams Trump's Middle East Peace Plan as 'Disgraceful' | "Yesterday evening, history knocked on our door and granted us a one-time opportunity to apply Israel law on all of the settlements in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan…
telesurenglish.net/news/Israeli-Defense-Minister-Wants-Annexation-of-Occupied-West-Bank-20200129-0007.html

Jeremy Corbyn slams Donald Trump's so-called 'peace plan' for Palestine
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-01-29
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan would "lock-in illegal Israeli colonisation" and deny Palestinian people their fundamental rights. He added that Britain must tell the US they are "wrong" on the issue.Boris Johnson, meanwhile, provided encouragement to the proposal which would leave sizeable areas of the occupied West Bank in Israeli hands.Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has dismissed Trump's plan as a "conspiracy deal".Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Corbyn said of the US president's idea: It will annex Palestinian territory, lock-in illegal Israeli colonisation…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2020/01/29/jeremy-corbyn-slams-donald-trumps-so-called-peace-plan-for-palestine/

Forum "Why is the U.S. Always at War? Is Peace Possible?"
Party for Socialism and Liberation | indybay.org | 2020-01-29
2969 Mission St., near 26th St.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/27/18830112.php

Trump unveils farcical Mideast "peace plan" as Netanyahu is indicted
wsws.org | 2020-01-29
Timed to meet the immediate needs of both Trump and Netanyahu, the plan sanctions all of the policies of the Israeli right and is guaranteed to be rejected by the Palestinians.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/29/isra-j29.html

Why is the U.S. Always at War? Is Peace Possible?
Party for Socialism and Liberation, Sonoma | indybay.org | 2020-01-29
A'Roma Roasters Coffee and Tea | 95 5th St, Santa Rosa, California 95401…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/28/18830143.php

"Yet Another Declaration of War on Palestinians": Rashid Khalidi on Trump's Middle East "Peace" Plan
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-29
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to annex about 30% of the occupied West Bank, after Israel was given the green light to do so by the United States. On Tuesday, President Trump

Done Deal: How the Peace Process Sold Out the Palestinians
David Hearst | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-29
In November 2016, fresh off his electoral win, US President-elect Donald Trump boasted of his intention to end the Israel-Palestine conflict by striking what he called the "ultimate deal". | Calling it "the war that never ends," Trump told the Wall …
globalresearch.ca/how-peace-process-sold-out-palestinians/5702222

Palestinian anger over Trump's 'deal of the century' met with Israeli tear gas & rubber bullets in West Bank
rt.com | 2020-01-29
Injuries have been reported as Palestinian protesters face Israeli security troops in the West Bank in non-stop protests after Donald Trump announced his peace plan for the region. | Scores of protesters flooded the streets in different parts of the West Bank, demonstrating against a US-proposed plan that they expect to lead to annexation of much of Palestinian land. | | A Palestinian demonstrator uses a sling to hurl back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. ©REUTERS / Mussa Qawasma | In Bethlehem, protesters have been throwing stones at Israeli fo…
rt.com/news/479478-palestinians-protest-trump-deal/

The 'Deal of the Century' Is Apartheid
Sheena Anne Arackal | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-29
With great fanfare, President Trump finally unveiled his long-anticipated Middle East peace proposal. The proposal was labeled 'The Deal of the Century' because it was supposed to offer an even-handed and just solution to one of the world's most intractable …
globalresearch.ca/deal-century-apartheid/5702220

Trump's Farcical Mideast "Peace Deal" Ignores International Law. Green Light to Israeli Annexation of Palestine?
CJPME | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-29
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is highly critical of the Mideast Peace Plan announced by US President Donald Trump today

Trump Regime's Criminal "Deal of the Century": Breaking Palestine, Endorsing "Greater Israel"?
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-29
US/Israeli policy is hardwired against regional peace and stability. | From what's known about Trump's deal of the century ahead of its reported Tuesday unveiling at the White House, it fulfills an Israeli wish list at the expense of fundamental Palestinian …
globalresearch.ca/trump-regime-deal-century-unrelated-equity-peace/5702055

Trump's Israel-Palestine "Peace" Plan Violates International Law
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-01-29
Donald Trump's long-awaited "deal of the century" between Israel and Palestine essentially gives Israel's far right coalition government everything it wanted. This Middle East "peace" deal allows Israel to annex vast stretches of the Palestinian West Bank (which has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967) into Israel, including all of the illegal Jewish-only settlements in areas colonized by Israeli settlers as well as Arab East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley. Palestinians would be granted limit…
truthout.org/articles/trumps-israel-palestine-peace-plan-violates-international-law/

'Deal of the century': What's in Trump's peace plan for Israel and Palestine
rt.com | 2020-01-29
The proposal for peace in the Middle East unveiled by US President Donald Trump envisions the conditions under which a Palestinian state might be recognized. RT delves into the 180-page 'deal of the century' to see what's inside. | The "Vision for Peace, Prosperity and a Brighter Future" bills itself as "the best, most realistic and most achievable outcome for the parties" right from the start. It says that the 700 or so UN General Assembly resolutions and 100-plus Security Council resolutions have failed to bring peace, while the 1993 Oslo Accords left too many key issues unresolved, "including, among other i…
rt.com/news/479434-deal-middle-east-peace-trump/

Iraqi president gives MPs 3 days to name new PM amid protests
rt.com | 2020-01-29
President Barham Saleh threatened on Wednesday to unilaterally name a successor to Iraq's premier, who resigned in December, if parliament did not nominate a candidate within three days. | "If the concerned blocs are unable to resolve the nomination issue by no later than Saturday, February 1… I see an obligation to exercise my constitutional powers by tasking whomever I find most acceptable to parliament and the people," Saleh wrote in a letter, according to AFP. | PM Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned in December after two months of deadly protests against his government, but he has stayed on in a caretaker role, a…
rt.com/newsline/479510-iraq-president-parliament-pm/

Raging Grannies Remember Kent State at J25 No War With Iran Rally
San Mateo Protests | indybay.org | 2020-01-29
Old enough to remember, members of the Raging Grannies tuned up their voices to sing a classic anti-war song from the Vietnam war era.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/26/18830102.php

France: Riot Police Beat up Striking Firefighters as Media Looks the Other Way
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-29
The media, quick to condemn violence against protesters elsewhere in the world, largely ignored the brutal crackdown on firefighters joining months-long nationwide protests in France.
mintpressnews.com/france-riot-police-beat-striking-firefighters-media-looks-other-way/264444/

The Liberal Establishment is Already Warning Third Parties Not to Ruin the 2020 Election
Roger D. Harris | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-29
Prominent liberal personalities, including Noam Chomsky, issued an open letter imploring third parties to "remove themselves as a factor" in the 2020 presidential election to "benefit all humanity and a good part of the biosphere."
mintpressnews.com/liberal-establishment-warning-third-parties-not-to-ruin-2020-election/264460/

Pipeline or a Pipedream: Israel, Turkey Hydrocarbon Conflict is Brewing in the Mediterranean
Ramzy Baroud | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-01-29
Massive natural gas discoveries off the eastern coast of Israel and Palestine is slated to make Tel Aviv a regional energy hub. Whether Israel will be able to translate positive indicators of the largely untapped gas reserves into actual economic and strategic wealth is yet to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/01/pipeline-or-a-pipedream-israel-turkey-hydrocarbon-conflict-is-brewing-in-the-mediterranean/

Video: Maarat Al-numan Is About to Fall to Syrian Army
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-29
On January 24, the Syrian military resumed its offensive against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its Turkish-backed allies. | Warplanes of the Syrian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out over 3 dozens of …
globalresearch.ca/video-maarat-al-numan-fall-syrian-army/5702016

Russian military blasts Pompeo's 'hypocritical concern' over 'attack on Idlib's innocent civilians'
rt.com | 2020-01-29
The Russian Defense Ministry says it is not surprised by the 'hypocrisy' of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who voiced 'concern' over what he said was a "large-scale offensive against Idlib's innocent civilians" by Moscow and Damascus. | The US Department of State has never publicly supported Russia's active fight against international terrorism in Syria, the official representative of the Russian ministry Igor Konashenkov said on Wednesday. The State Department "preaches and voices its concern about the alleged suffering of civilians only when terrorists suffer a crushing defeat and Syrian citizens are fina…
rt.com/newsline/479488-pompeo-civilians-idlib-russia/

RT correspondent seriously injured by blast while filming jihadists' ammo depot in Syria
rt.com | 2020-01-29
Wafa Shabrouney, a correspondent of RT Arabic, has been injured while on assignment in northwestern Syria. A shell left behind by militant fighters exploded while she and her crew were nearby. | The incident happened in Maarat al-Numan, a Syrian city located some 33km south of Idlib, the capital of the last major stronghold of jihadist forces in northwestern Syria. Shabrouney and her crew were covering the aftermath of the takeover of the city by Damascus in the last several days. | According to her cameraman, they went to an ammo depot left behind by retreating militants. A shell accidentally detonated nea…
rt.com/news/479493-rt-journalist-injured-syria/

Peter Hitchens stresses the 'vital importance' of whistleblowing about chemical weapons in Syria
Slava Zilber | thecanary.co | 2020-01-29
Journalist Peter Hitchens has been closely following developments from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW) regarding the alleged chemical-weapons attack in Douma, Syria back in April 2018. And he recently talked to me in detail about the c…
thecanary.co/feature/2020/01/29/peter-hitchens-stresses-the-vital-importance-of-whistleblowing-about-chemical-weapons-in-syria/

In impeachment crisis, Trump continues fascistic appeals, Democrats promote warmonger John Bolton
wsws.org | 2020-01-29
An architect of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Bolton has advocated wars for regime change in Iran, Syria, Libya, Venezuela, Cuba, Yemen and North Korea.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/29/impe-j29.html

Houthis Bombs Aramco Oil Field in New Attack on Saudi Arabia
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
The Houthis Movement announced Wednesday that their forces bombed multiple sites belonging to the Saudi government, including the Aramco oil fields in the Kingdom's Jizan province. | RELATED: | Children in War-Torn Yemen Suffer From Malnutrition | According to a statement released by the Houthis-affiliated Masirah TV, the group bombed the Aramco oil fields in Jizan, along with the municipal airports in Jizan and Abha. They also mentioned bombing the Khamis Mushait Base, which is located n…
telesurenglish.net/news/Houthis-Bombs-Aramco-Oil-Field-in-New-Attack-on-Saudi-Arabia-20200129-0005.html

Leftist Lawmakers to Present Censure Motion Against Macron
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
The Unsubmissive France (LFI) president Jean- Luc Melenchon Wednesday informed that the three leftist groups in the National Assembly reached an agreement to present a motion of censure against the French government. | RELATED: | Macron's France: Police Club Harshly at Parisian Firefighters | Socialist, Communist, and Unsubmissive lawmakers agreed to draw up a censure motion to try to avoid the approval of President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform, which has awakene…
telesurenglish.net/news/Leftist-Lawmakers-to-Present-Censure-Motion-Against-Macron-20200129-0002.html

Spain: Catalonia Gets Set for Snap Regional Election
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
Catalonia's Regional Government president Quim Torra Wednesday said he planned to call a snap regional election, although he did not indicate the date, pending approval of the regional budgets for this year. | RELATED: | EU Congress Stops Recognizing Jailed Catalan MP as Lawmaker | "Once the budgets are approved in Parliament, I will announce the date of the regional elections," he said in an official announcement. | The Regional executive is currently formed by a coalition of tw…
telesurenglish.net/news/Spain-Catalonia-Gets-Set-for-Snap-Regional-Election-20200129-0010.html

Bolivia: Socialist Candidate Arce Attended Prosecutor's Office
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
The Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) presidential candidate Luis Arce Wednesday morning arrived at the Prosecutor's Office to give statements in an investigation for a case of alleged corruption at the Indigenous Peoples and Farmers' Development Fund (FONDIOC). | RELATED: | Socialist Presidential Candidate Luis Arce Arrives in Bolivia | Once the hearin…
telesurenglish.net/news/Bolivia-Socialist-Candidate-Arce-Attended-Prosecutors-Office-20200129-0004.html

5,604 Russians Are Expected to Leave China Over the Next Week
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
The Russian Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm) Wednesday announced that additional charter flights will be available for 5,604 Russian tourists to leave China before Tuesday, February 4. | RELATED: | US, Japan Evacuate Citizens from China Amid Coronavirus Spread | "We decided that Russian tourists, who mostly rest on the Hainan island, can return both on schedule and in advance. To do so, tour operators have planned additional charter flights," the Rosturizm president Zarina…
telesurenglish.net/news/5604-Russians-Are-Expected-to-Leave-China-Over-the-Next-Week-20200129-0006.html

US, Japan Evacuate Citizens from China Amid Coronavirus Spread
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
Japan and the United States have begun evacuating their citizens from China amid the spread of the Cononavirus in several parts of the Asian nation. At the same time, British Airways has suspended their flights to mainland China as deaths from the new virus leapt to 132 and a government economist predicted a huge hit to the economy. | RELATED: | China's Hubei Reports 840 New Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus | The Chinese authorities have pledged to slay the 'devil' Coronavirus and i…
telesurenglish.net/news/US-Japan-Evacuate-Citizens-from-China-Amid-Coronavirus-Spread-20200129-0003.html

Putin Pardons US-Israeli Woman Jailed in Russia on Drug Charges
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
Russian President Vladimir Putin has pardoned the U.S.-Israeli woman that was jailed in Russia for drug-related charges, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday. | RELATED: | Israeli Defense Minister Wants Annexation of Occupied West Bank | According to the Kremlin, Putin signed the presidential decree to pardon the woman, Naama Issachar of New Jersey, a move that received acknowledgement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the eve of their bilateral meeting. | The U…
telesurenglish.net/news/Putin-Pardons-US-Israeli-Woman-Jailed-in-Russia-on-Drug-Charges-20200129-0009.html

Rainfall Death Toll Rises To 63 In Southeast Brazil
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-29
The governor of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, has declared a state of emergency in 101 of the 853 municipalities and official mourning for the more than 50 victims caused by the "unprecedented rainfall" recorded since last week. | RELATED: | Brazilian Indigenous Tribes to Sue Bolsonaro Over Crude Remarks | Brazilian authoritie…
telesurenglish.net/news/rainfall-death-toll-rises-to-63-in-southeast-brazil-20200128-0026.html

Iran is Not Responsible for US Deaths in Iraq
John Grant | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-29
Who exactly is responsible for US casualties in Iraq during the Iraq War? The question has been raised thanks to President Trump's decision to assassinate Iranian General Gasem Soleimani. On January 13, the New York Times published a front-page story about a lawsuit filed against Iran in federal court by US veterans and veteran families;…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/29/iran-is-not-responsible-for-us-deaths-in-iraq/

US Announces Three New Bases in Iraq After Iraqis Demand Full Withdrawal
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-29
The three sites chosen for the news bases, Erbin, Sulimania and Halabja are all extremely close to Iran, with Halabja just eight miles from its border.
mintpressnews.com/us-announces-three-new-bases-iraq-iraqis-demand-full-withdrawal/264466/

The U.S. Is Recycling Its Big Lie About Iraq to Target Iran
Nicolas J. S. Davies | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-29
Sixteen years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, most Americans understand that it was an illegal war based on lies about non-existent "weapons of mass destruction." But our government is now threatening to drag us into a war on Iran …
globalresearch.ca/u-s-recycling-big-lie-about-iraq-target-iran/5702169

United Airlines, British Airways & other carriers suspend flights to China in bid to halt coronavirus spread
rt.com | 2020-01-29
Major airlines across the world have suspended travel in and out of China in an attempt to stem the rapid spread of the deadly new coronavirus strain which has killed more than 130 people since the outbreak started last month. | United Airlines has cancelled 24 round trips with destinations in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong between February 1 and February 8, due to "significant decline in demand for travel to China," the company said on Tuesday. The airline had previously introduced additional health screenings for passengers flying in and out of China. Separately, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventi…
rt.com/news/479475-airlines-cancel-china-flights/

Putin tells Russia's government to 'be prepared' as new coronavirus goes global
rt.com | 2020-01-29
As infections spread worldwide, Vladimir Putin has called on Russian officials to do all they can to prevent the spread of the new Chinese coronavirus in Russia. | The Russian president emphasized the goal must be to minimize human losses. So far, the number of confirmed cases in Russia remains at zero, but given the length of the country's border with China and the extent of bilateral trade, it's considered only a matter of time before the virus appears. | Following a meeting of officials, Putin said "regarding the new coronavirus… the question is how ready we are for this challenge," while emphasizing that…
rt.com/russia/479502-putin-russia-coronavirus-prepared/

A Fire May Have Wiped Out 40 Years of Chinese American History
Madeline Leung Coleman | thenation.com | 2020-01-29
A Fire May Have Wiped Out 40 Years of Chinese American History…
thenation.com/article/culture/moca-fire-chinatown/

Marital-Status Discrimination Reduces Fertility in China
Shawn Fremstad | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-29
Building on recent posts by Dean Baker (responding to NYT and Washington Post here and Ross Douthat here) that debunk the idea that there is a "demographic crisis" in China, there's also an important family justice aspect to fertility in China. Although Douthat attributes China's fertility rate (1.6 births per woman) to "cruel policy choices,"
counterpunch.org/2020/01/29/marital-status-discrimination-reduces-fertility-in-china/

"Debt Against the People": Analysis and History of the Global Debt Crisis
Eric Toussaint | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-29
Introduction | Over the last ten years Greece has been a prime example of how a country and a people can be deprived of their liberty through clearly illegitimate debt. Since the 19th century, from Latin America to China, Haiti, …
globalresearch.ca/debt-against-people/5702229

Kazakhstan suspends all passenger transportation links with China over virus outbreak
rt.com | 2020-01-29
Kazakhstan is suspending all forms of passenger travel to and from neighboring China, the Central Asian nation's government said on Wednesday. The statement came as an outbreak of a new coronavirus continued to widen. | The government has also suspended the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens, Reuters reported. | Bus routes to and from China have already been halted, while passenger train movement will stop on February 1 and all flights will be suspended from February 3, according to the government. | Kazakhstan has registered no cases of the new virus. However, authorities have isolated dozens of people wit…
rt.com/newsline/479474-kazakhstan-transport-china-virus/

UAE's Health Ministry confirms 1st cases of new Chinese virus in Mideast
rt.com | 2020-01-29
The Health and Prevention Ministry of the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday confirmed the first cases in the Mideast of the new Chinese virus that causes flu-like symptoms. | The state-run WAM news agency said doctors were now treating a family that had just come from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the outbreak. It wasn't immediately clear how the family left Wuhan and made it all the way to the UAE, AP said. | China shut down Wuhan's airport and other transportation in the city last Thursday to stop the spread of the virus. The lockdown has since expanded to include 17 cities, encompassing more t…
rt.com/newsline/479451-uae-china-virus-mideast/

Putin tells Russia's government to 'be prepared' as new coronavirus goes global
rt.com | 2020-01-29
As infections spread worldwide, Vladimir Putin has called on Russian officials to do all they can to prevent the spread of the new Chinese coronavirus in Russia. | The Russian president emphasized the goal must be to minimize human losses. So far, the number of confirmed cases in Russia remains at zero, but given the length of the country's border with China and the extent of bilateral trade, it's considered only a matter of time before the virus appears. | Following a meeting of officials, Putin said "regarding the new coronavirus… the question is how ready we are for this challenge," while emphasizing that…
rt.com/russia/479502-putin-russia-coronavirus-prepared/

Marital-Status Discrimination Reduces Fertility in China
Shawn Fremstad | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-29
Building on recent posts by Dean Baker (responding to NYT and Washington Post here and Ross Douthat here) that debunk the idea that there is a "demographic crisis" in China, there's also an important family justice aspect to fertility in China. Although Douthat attributes China's fertility rate (1.6 births per woman) to "cruel policy choices,"
counterpunch.org/2020/01/29/marital-status-discrimination-reduces-fertility-in-china/