(2020-01-27). OPCW cannot be influenced by outside actors, the watchdog needs to be salvaged, British general tells RT. rt.com 
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) needs to salvage its reputation after whistleblowers offered credible evidence of deceitful reporting on the Douma incident, a former head of UK commandos has said. | The international chemical weapons watchdog is under increasing pressure to come clean about how it prepared its report into the April 2018 incident in the Damascus suburb. Several scientists from the watchdog blew the whistle, alleging that the findings by inspectors who went on a fact-finding mission to Syria had been distorted or ignored by the OPCW's management, which was more co…
(2020-01-27). Remembering My Hero, Howard Zinn. truthdig.com 
The renowned historian Howard Zinn died on January 27, 2010. On the occasion of the 10 year anniversary of his passing, we are revisiting the following piece by whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg about his close friend and "the best human being [he's] ever known," I just learned that my friend Howard Zinn died today. Earlier this morning, I was being interviewed by the Boston Phoenix, in connection with the February release of a documentary in which he is featured prominently. The interviewer asked me who m…
(2020-01-27). India to begin teaching teens how to build their OWN AI using DIY kits. rt.com 
An Indian deep-tech startup will begin teaching the country's teenagers how to build their own artificial intelligence systems using DIY kits, before applying what they've learned to real-world problems. | Tech start-up CYRAN developed the 'BUDDHI AI DIY Kit', with 'Buddhi' standing for "Build, Understand, Design, Deploy Human-like Intelligence." It also means 'brain' or 'mind' in Hindi. | The pack includes an AI handbook, DIY AI projects, lessons, exercises, presentations, and videos while making use of both proprietary software and hardware like AI actuation circuit boards powered by AI computing-engines.
(2020-01-27). Taliban claims they DOWNED plane carrying high-ranking US officers in Afghanistan — Reuters. rt.com 
Taliban militants have claimed that a US military aircraft crashed in Ghazni, central Afghanistan, killing everyone on board. A statement quoted by Reuters has specified that it was brought down. The US military is investigating. | A Taliban spokesman has affirmed the group's responsibility for the crash, saying that the aircraft's crew and everyone on board, including what he claimed were high-ranking officers, were killed on the spot. | The so-far unverified claim includes a suggestion that the officers belonged to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). | Earlier in the day, footage of charred remains…
(2020-01-27). French Yellow Vests hold large solidarity demo for Julian Assange at Belmarsh prison. thecanary.co 
Members of the French
(2020-01-27). Russia detains Japanese citizen in Vladivostok on suspicion of SPYING — Foreign ministry. rt.com 
A Japanese citizen has been detained in Vladivostok while trying to obtain classified material about Russia's military capabilities, officials have confirmed. He has since left the country. | The suspected spy was arrested on Saturday while trying to obtain secrets about what military assets Moscow has in the Far East, the Russian foreign ministry said. The Japanese national, who was in Russia on a journalism-related visa, was instructed to leave the country within 72 hours. He obliged and departed on Sunday. | "The Japanese diplomats accredited in Russia have been issued with a note of protest, stating that s…
(2020-01-27). French "Yellow Vests" rally for Julian Assange outside London's Belmarsh Prison. wsws.org The protest testified to the global scope of the support for Assange, despite the relentless lies and slanders that have been directed against him by the corporate media.
(2020-01-27). Basta Thanks Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange for Revealing Bush's War Crimes. indybay.org MacArthur&Fruitvale…
(2020-01-27). An interview with a "yellow vest" protester on the fight to free Julian Assange. wsws.org Corinne was one of around 100 protesters who came from France to take part in Saturday's rally in support of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange outside Belmarsh prison.
(2020-01-27). Canada's complicity in the persecution of Julian Assange. wsws.org The Canadian political establishment has maintained a deafening and complicit silence on the persecution of Assange throughout the past nine years.
(2020-01-27). Trump's Response to Baghdad "Anti-American" Protest: Let's Revive the ISIS "Freedom Fighters" globalresearch.ca ISIS and likeminded terrorist groups were made in the USA — recruited, armed, funded, trained and directed by Pentagon special forces and CIA operatives — on US bases in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. | Jihadists are used by the US as …
(2020-01-27). Russia Expels Japanese National Accused of Espionage – Foreign Ministry. sputniknews.com Moscow previously stated that the man had been detained for trying to obtain classified data about Russian military resources.
(2020-01-27). Under Pressure in Impeachment Trial, Trump Steps Up Attacks on Reproductive Rights. democracynow.org 
Donald Trump on Friday became the first sitting president in U.S. history to attend the so-called March for Life, the annual anti-abortion rally held in Washington, D.C., that draws thousands of participants. President Trump — who once described himself as "pro-choice in every respect" — accused Democrats of infanticide and falsely stated that Virginia Governor Ralph Northam supports an abortion bill that would "execute a baby after birth." The March for Life began in 1974 in response to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion. Past…
(2020-01-27). Influence of Wall Street Donors Has Exploded in Decade Since "Citizens United" truthout.org This story is part of a series related to the 10-year anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC. OpenSecrets recently released a comprehensive report on the impacts of the controversial Supreme Court decision. The 2010 landmark ruling in
(2020-01-26). Split Hearings: The Assange Extradition Case Drags On. globalresearch.ca It is being increasingly larded with heavy twists and turns, a form of state oppression in slow motion, but the Julian Assange extradition case now looks like it may well move into the middle of the year, dragged out, ironically …
(2020-01-26). How the US Supreme Court Forever Sold Its Gavel: Behind the Scenes Legal Machinations. globalresearch.ca "Essentially, five Justices were unhappy with the limited nature of the case before us, so they changed the case to allow themselves to change the law." — Former US Supreme Court justice, John Paul Stevens | This week almost all media …
(2020-01-26). We Need Candidates Who Will Fight to Get Money Out of Politics. zcomm.org In the decade since this disastrous Supreme Court ruling, just 11 wealthy people have made 20 percent of super PAC donations…
(2020-01-25). The Assange Extradition Case Drags on. dissidentvoice.org 
It is being increasingly larded with heavy twists and turns, a form of state oppression in slow motion, but the Julian Assange extradition case now looks like it may well move into the middle of the year, dragged out, ironically enough, by the prosecution. Curiously, this is a point that both the prosecutors, fronted by …
(2020-01-25). French "yellow vests" protest for Assange outside Belmarsh prison in London. wsws.org The protests point to the deeply-rooted opposition among workers internationally to US and European governments' relentless campaign to destroy Assange.
(2020-01-25). Pompeo Denounced for 'Insulting and Contemptuous' Statement Lashing Out at NPR's Mary Louise Kelly. commondreams.org The secretary of state's statement was framed as "a shameful assault on press freedom." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/pompeo-npr.jpg …
(2020-01-25). Pompeo Lashes Out at Journalist; NPR Defends Its Reporter. truthdig.com The top U.S. diplomat, accused of cussing and demanding Mary Louise Kelly point to Ukraine on unmarked map, unleashes angry, direct attack.
(2020-01-24). 'Spygate' update: At least two FISA warrants to spy on Carter Page were 'not valid,' DOJ says. rt.com 
The top US spy court has revealed that at least two of the four warrants for spying on a Trump campaign adviser are now considered to have been improperly obtained, and all information gained from them is being restricted. | FBI applications under the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) described Carter Page as a foreign agent in order to spy on his communications during and after the 2016 presidential campaign. Thanks to the "two hop" rule for these warrants, the spying could have extended to the entire campaign as well as President Donald Trump himself. | In a January 7 ruling declassified on Thursd…
(2020-01-23). Headlines for January 23, 2020. democracynow.org Democrats Accuse Trump of Trying to "Cheat" Upcoming Election, Supreme Court Decides Not to Fast-Track Obamacare Case, D.C. Sues Trump's Inaugural Committee over $1M Rental of Trump Hotel Ballroom, ICJ Orders Burma to Protect Rohingya from Genocide, Trump Says He's Planning to Add More Countries to Travel Ban, State Department to Make It More Difficult for Pregnant Women to Receive Visas, Trump Says He May Cut Medicare, Social Security, Trump Plans to Speak at Anti-Choice March for Life Friday, Chinese Authorities Seal Off City of Wudan as Coronavirus Spreads, Tulsi Gabbard Sues Clinton for Defamation, U.N.: Clim…
(2020-01-22). A Torturer Meets His Victims: CIA Psychologist Defends Brutal Methods at Guantánamo Military Hearing. democracynow.org 
On Tuesday, the psychologist identified as the "architect" of the CIA's torture program testified for the first time to the war court at Guantánamo Bay. James Mitchell was in the courtroom for a pretrial hearing for five 9/11 suspects who had been subject to torture, euphemistically called "enhanced interrogation techniques." Mitchell and his partner, Dr. Bruce Jessen, were paid $81 million to help design the CIA's torture methods, including some of the agency's most abusive tactics. The pair had no prior experience in interrogation. At the hearing, Mitchell reportedly told defense lawyers he only came to Guantán…
(2020-01-22). 47 Years Later, We're Fighting to Make Roe a Reality Everywhere. aclu.org Today we commemorate the 47th | anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the | landmark Supreme Court case that recognized a constitutional right to abortion. | In the nearly five decades since, the decision has weathered numerous storms | and faced plenty of erosion, leaving too many without meaningful access to | abortion care. But 2020 could be its most consequential year yet. | This spring, the Supreme Court will hear | arguments in June Medical | Services v. Gee and could uphold state abortion re…
(2020-01-21). A Show Trial? As Trump Impeachment Trial Begins, Mitch McConnell Accused of Staging a Cover-Up. democracynow.org 
The Senate opens the third impeachment trial of a U.S. president in the country's history Tuesday, marking a historic day in Washington. Under proposed rules by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, each side will be given 24 hours over two days for opening arguments, after which senators will have 16 hours for questions and four hours for debate. The Senate will then vote on whether to hear from any new witnesses. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said McConnell is trying to rush the impeachment process, while House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff, who is one of the impeachment managers, has accused the…
(2020-01-17). Chip Gibbons on FBI vs. 1st Amendment. fair.org 
Media…
(2020-01-17). Headlines for January 17, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Impeachment Trial Opens as Accountability Office Says Trump Broke Law by Withholding Aid, Pentagon Contradicts Trump and Says 11 U.S. Troops Injured in Iranian Strikes, Senate Votes to Approve USMCA, Report: Six Banks Reaped $18 Billion Last Year from Trump Tax Cuts, Guatemalan Protesters Demand Outgoing President Be Arrested for Corruption, Deported Immigrant Rights Leader Jean Montrevil Sues U.S. Government, FBI Arrests 3 Suspected Neo-Nazis Ahead of Pro-Gun Rally in Richmond, Virginia, Florida Supreme Court Upholds Law Limiting Voting Rights for People with Felony Convictions, Harvard Law Students Prote…
(2020-01-17). The Supreme Court Takes Up the Issue of Birth Control Coverage — Again. aclu.org The Supreme Court just announced that it will hear | yet another case about the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) birth control coverage | requirement. If you are experiencing déjà vu, you are not alone. Court battles | over the birth control coverage requirement have been raging for almost a | decade. How did we get here? | 2012: | The Birth Control Benefit is Established | Congress passed the Women's Health Amendment to the | ACA to try to close the disparity in health care costs that women have | historically experienced. In 2012, the independent, nonpartisan Institute of | Medicine was tasked with determining wh…
(2020-01-16). Arkansas Legislators' Attack on Abortion is Unconstitutional. aclu.org The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled time and again that | reproductive privacy is "central to personal dignity and autonomy, [which] are | central to the liberty protected by" the Constitution. The Court has made | eminently clear that under the Constitution, the right of a pregnant person to | terminate a pregnancy prior to viability is a right so essential to our freedom | that our government cannot ban or impose an undue burden on its exercise. But | despite the long-standing clarity of this principle, reproductive health and rights | continue to come under blistering, unrelenting attack. | Nowhere is this cl…
(2019-12-02). Civil Rights Are on the Chopping Block in New Supreme Court Term. zcomm.org Hello, A very small proportion of ZNet content is available only to Sustainers. You can become a sustainer for a small repeating donation – monthly or yearly via the links for Sustaining, or Donating, available on the top page of ZNet.