2020-12-17: News Headlines

Children's Health Defense (2020-12-17). "Planned Surveillance and Control by Global Technocrats: A Big-Picture Look at the Current Pandemic Beneficiaries," globalresearch.ca An article by Children's Health Defense on how the pandemic facilitated a financial, tech, biopharmaceutical and military-intelligence push for centralized, technocratic control has been accepted by the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice and Research. | *** | "Planned Surveillance and Control …

Stephen Lendman (2020-12-16). Pardon Julian Assange, under Article II, Section 2 of US Constitution. globalresearch.ca The US Constitution gave presidents "power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment (Article II, Section 2)." | Throughout US history, sitting presidents used this power thousands of times. | Jack Kennedy pardoned, …

_____ (2020-12-16). Assange Prosecution: A Haunting Reminder Of The Travesty Of Justice. popularresistance.org The prosecution against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has invoked my case, making it a haunting reminder of the travesty of justice that befell me. | I worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2015, the United States government wrongfully tried, convicted, and sent me to prison for allegedly violating the U.S. Espionage Act. I am one of the few who has ever gone to trial to defend their selves against this ancient and misused law. | If I had succeeded in defending myself, it is possible Assange may not be facing the same impossible hell that ruined my life. As such, I feel a burden to challenge certain s…

Max Blumenthal (2020-12-16). Rafael Correa on Venezuela, Assange, and 'preventing the total destruction of our homeland'. mronline.org Max Blumenthal interviews former Ecuador President Rafael Correa, who was in Venezuela to observe its legislative elections and show support to a government under sustained economic and political attack by the U.S.

teleSUR (2020-12-16). Salvadoreans Demand Justice for the Jesuits Murder Case. telesurenglish.net The Central American University Jose Simeon Cañas (UCA) denounced two judges of the Supreme Court for ruling in favor of the intellectual authors of the murder of six Jesuit priests in 1989. | RELATED: | The complaint was submitted to the Attorney General's Office (FGR) against judges Jose Roberto Argueta Manzano and Juan Manuel Bolaños who ordered the closure of the Jesuits' case. | The ruling did not take into acc…

Global Research News (2020-12-16). Selected Articles: Pardon Julian Assange, under Article II, Section 2 of US Constitution. globalresearch.ca By The US Constitution gave presidents "power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment …

Igor Derysh (2020-12-16). Pompeo goes into quarantine after hosting State Department holiday party in the middle of a pandemic. salon.com The secretary of state has hosted indoor holiday parties despite warnings from public health officials and workers…

sputniknews (2020-12-16). 'Major Leap': US Air Force Uses AI to Copilot Military Plane for First Time in History – Photos. sputniknews.com Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines to conduct tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as learning from experience, making predictions, recognizing patterns and other problem-solving functions.

John Pilger (2020-12-15). The Most Lethal Virus is Not COVID. It is War. counterpunch.org In the midst of the greatest health emergency in modern times, with more than 4 million surgical procedures delayed by the National Health Service, Boris Johnson has announced a record increase of £16.5 billion in so-called defence spending — a figure that would restore the under-resourced NHS many times over.

Mustafa Abu Sneineh (2020-12-15). No, an Israeli company can't hack into Signal on your phone. middleeasteye.net No, an Israeli company can't hack into Signal on your phone | Cellebrite said its product can crack the messaging app, but its technology is not 'groundbreaking' according to experts | Tue, 12/15/2020 – 14: 24 | Grafitti urging people to use Signal, a highly encrypted messaging app, is spray-painted on a wall during a protest in Berkeley, California, 1 February 2017 (AFP) | Journa…

RT (2020-12-15). US labels Bahraini group Saraya al-Mukhtar terrorist, accuses Tehran of backing its plots against American soldiers. rt.com The US government has designated a Bahraini group as a terrorist organization, accusing it of being backed by Iran, plotting attacks against Americans soldiers in the kingdom, and offering cash for the assassination of officials. | "Saraya al-Mukhtar is an Iran-backed terrorist organization based in Bahrain, reportedly receiving financial and logistic support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed in a statement on Tuesday. | He added in a tweet that the move, which freezes any US assets of the group, sends a strong message to Iran that the US would not allow…

WSWS (2020-12-15). US Treasury and Commerce department email systems reportedly hacked. wsws.org Although no evidence or proof has been provided to substantiate the allegations, unnamed government officials and tech experts quickly concluded that the attack was "believed to be" the work of Russian intelligence.

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-12-14). Assange's Partner Decries 'Atrocious' Prison Conditions in Appeal for Australian Intervention. commondreams.org "The Australian government should just pick up the phone and speak to its closest allies and show its concern and secure his safe release," said Stella Morris. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/free_assange_extradition_0.jpg

commondreams (2020-12-14). ACLU Comment on Supreme Court Action on Kansas Voting Lawsuit. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Orinoco Tribune (2020-12-14). Venezuelan Gold Seized by the Bank of England: British Court Accepts Guaidó's Appeal. globalresearch.ca Thursday December 10 the British Supreme Court accepted the appeal issued by the lawyers of the opposition for exiting deputy Juan Guaidó, and ruled in favor of hearing his appeal regarding control of Venezuela's gold reserves, valued at $1.3 …

Alan Macleod (2020-12-14). Left and Right Unite in Calls for Snowden Pardon Amid Speculation of a Trump Decision. mintpressnews.com While the idea of pardoning one of the most prolific whistleblowers of our era drew together an alliance of those on the left and right, the centrist establishment reacted with predictable vitriol to the idea.

MEE and agencies (2020-12-14). US removes Sudan's designation as state sponsor of terrorism. middleeasteye.net US removes Sudan's designation as state sponsor of terrorism | Move comes amid reports Khartoum threated to pull out of normalisation deal with Israel if process not completed by year's end | Mon, 12/14/2020 – 09: 28 | US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, is seen with with Sudan Sovereign Council Chair General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Khartoum in August (AFP) | The United States on Mo…