2020-02-20: News Headlines

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2020-02-20). Pardoning Julian Assange: Donald Trump, WikiLeaks and the DNC. globalresearch.ca The central pillar to Democratic paranoia and vengefulness regarding the loss of Hillary Clinton in 2016 was the link between Russian hacking, the servers of the Democratic National Committee and the release of emails via WikiLeaks. Over time, that account …

Stephen Lendman (2020-02-20). Slow Motion Murder of Julian Assange by US/UK Regimes. globalresearch.ca Assange's crucifixion is all about waging war on dissent, truth-telling on major issues, and journalism the way it's supposed to be. | It's about creeping totalitarian rule in the US, UK, and West — equity, justice, and respect for the rule …

WSWS (2020-02-20). Australia: Students and workers demand release of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. wsws.org "Trillions are spent on war, which creates refugees, kills children and workers, but the people who make these wars happen are roaming free whilst Assange is being murdered by the state."

WSWS (2020-02-20). German Education Minister Karliczek supports right-wing extremist professor Jà∂rg Baberowski. wsws.org The German government is defending the right-wing extremist professor after he threatened and physically attacked IYSSE spokesperson Sven Wurm on the campus of Berlin's Humboldt University.

Diverse Disability Media (2020-02-20). Disability Organizations Join Forces to Increase Census Participation Throughout CA. indybay.org The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) are acting as Statewide Community-Based Organization Outreach Partners in coordination with the California Census Office to increase participation among disabled Californians and older adults in the upcoming 2020 census which takes place April 1.

Andrew Korybko (2020-02-20). India 2020: 'Superpower' or Still 'Super Poor'? globalresearch.ca The hopes of India's over 1.3 billion people were shattered after their country objectively failed to become the "superpower" that many of their leading "influencers" (read: propagandists) predicted it would be by 2020, with this finally being acknowledged by the …

Stephen Lendman (2020-02-20). Netanyahu in the Dock Set for March 17. What Happens if Convicted of Bribery, Fraud? globalresearch.ca In so-called cases 1000 and 2000, he's charged with fraud and breach of trust — as well as bribery and breach of trust in Case 4000. | Evidence against him is damning, Israeli attorney general Mendelblit earlier saying: | Netanyahu "damaged the …

Pepe Escobar (2020-02-20). Munich Conference Reveals East-West Divide. globalresearch.ca Few postmodern political pantomimes have been more revealing than the hundreds of so-called "international decision-makers," mostly Western, waxing lyrical, disgusted or nostalgic over "Westlessness" at the Munich Security Conference. | "Westlessness" sounds like one of those constipated concepts issued from a …

South Front (2020-02-20). Video: Syrians Are in Desperate Race to Outrun Brutal Regime Offensive. globalresearch.ca Syrians are in a desperate race to outrun the offensive of the brutal Assad regime. The ruthless government forces are aggressively destroying helpless mines and car bombs, treacherously restoring roads, schools and residential houses, cruelly launching road patrols, and (oh, …

Rebecca Gordon (2020-02-20). "The Right to Do Whatever I Want as President" globalresearch.ca On February 5th, the Senate voted to acquit President Donald J. Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. In other words, Trump's

Johnathan Hettinger (2020-02-20). Jury Awards $265M in Damages in Dicamba Trial Against Monsanto, BASF. globalresearch.ca After three weeks of arguments, the jury awarded the peach-farmer plaintiff $15 million in damages and $250 million in punitive damages against the chemical companies. | *** | A federal jury determined that German agribusiness giants Bayer and BASF will have to …

Ken Stone (2020-02-20). Oppose Trudeau's Hosting of the Lima Group in Gatineau. globalresearch.ca On February 20, the Trudeau government will host another meeting of the anti-Venezuelan "Lima Group" at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, 100 Laurier St, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M8. A protest will commence at its main entrance at 1 pm. | The …

Abayomi Azikiwe (2020-02-20). Mass Student Movement in the United States Began Six Decades Ago. globalresearch.ca On February 1, 1960, four African American students from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University sat down at a racially segregated lunch counter in the F.W. Woolworth Department store in downtown Greensboro to demand service. | This act of civil disobedience …

City of San José Environmental Services (2020-02-20). Pathways to Climate Smart Careers Fair for High School Students. indybay.org Fairmont Hotel San José, 170 South Market Street, San José , CA 95113…

WSWS Repost (2020-02-20). UC Santa Cruz graduate students call for expansion of wildcat strike. indybay.org February 19, 2020 – The UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) graduate student wildcat strike escalated yesterday, Tuesday February 18, as students from United Auto Workers (UAW) union local 2865 mounted an all-day picket, culminating in a general assembly to vote on further action. Graduate students are holding fast against police repression and threats of dismissal or even deportation from the highest level university administration. Despite a virtual media blackout, support for the movement is growing across the UC system, drawing widespread support from students, faculty, and workers across the country.

It's Going Down (2020-02-20). A Report on the First Week of the Santa Cruz Wildcat Strike. indybay.org When Santa Cruz student-workers extended their grade strike to a full-scale work stoppage on February 10th, others of us across campuses began developing ways to support it.

WSWS (2020-02-20). Mobilize the working class to defend the grad students at University of California-Santa Cruz. wsws.org The conditions facing the graduate students are the conditions of an entire generation.

sputniknews (2020-02-20). Indian Govt Faces Scientists' Wrath For Funding Research on Benefits of Cow Dung, Urine. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian government has invited proposals for research on the benefits of cow dung and urine under its programme 'Scientific Utilization through Research Augmentation of Prime Products from Indigenous Cows'. The government seeks to materialise utility products such as shampoo and toothpaste made out of cow dung and urine.

sputniknews (2020-02-20). Pushback From Students, Bullying Online as Melania Trump Receives 'Woman of Distinction' Award. sputniknews.com The US first lady has been distinguished by Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), which introduced an award for women "who cherish community and family and want to preserve these ideals for others" years ago. However, many seemed to disagree that she deserves the honour.

Staff (2020-02-19). Bloomberg Gains in Democratic Primaries, But Has History of Hostility to Unions Key to Voter Turnout. democracynow.org We continue our conversation with Marcie Wells, activist and waitress who is a member of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in Nevada, and Hamilton Nolan, labor reporter with In These Times. Nolan says 2020 had been "the most promising election year for organized labor in a long time," with Democratic candidates releasing platforms with strong labor protections. But Michael Bloomberg's entry into the race threatens to upend the Democratic Party's pro-worker shift. The billionaire former mayor of New York has a long track record of hostility toward organized labor, particularly teachers' unions, whom he has comp…

Tim Libretti (2020-02-19). To compete in global economy, Trump says workers' lives have to get worse. peoplesworld.org What if America competed with other nations to have the best universal healthcare system or the best public education system? If we competed to be the leader in creating a green economy to address climate change? If we competed to end poverty and inequality? Donald Trump wants America to compete in the global economy, but …

Eds. (2020-02-19). High stakes tests aren't better—and they never will be. mronline.org Accountability is important. But tests that tie school funding to student performance only make things worse. |

John Pilger (2020-02-19). Julian Assange Must be Freed, Not Betrayed. globalresearch.ca On Saturday, there will be a march from Australia House in London to Parliament Square, the centre of British democracy. People will carry pictures of the Australian publisher and journalist Julian Assange who, on 24 February, faces a court that …

Prof. Marjorie Cohn (2020-02-19). Extradition of Assange Would Set a Dangerous Precedent. globalresearch.ca The Trump administration is seeking extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States for trial on charges carrying 175 years in prison. On February 24, a court in the U.K. will hold a hearing to determine whether to …

Nino Pagliccia (2020-02-19). Guaido is a "Fake President". "Lima Group" to Meet in Canada: Open Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. globalresearch.ca Re: "Lima Group" meeting of February 20, 2020 in Gatineau, Quebec | 18 February 2020 | Dear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: | I am addressing you as a concerned Canadian regarding Canada's foreign policy position vis-à -vis Venezuela. | Your government has announced a …

Richard Falk (2020-02-19). Trump's Deal Is a Show Hiding the Real Problem: Ongoing Israeli Apartheid. globalresearch.ca It was always foolish to expect a balanced political compromise from the current American administration. | Since he was elected four years ago, US President Donald Trump has entrusted the Israel/Palestine portfolio to his inexperienced, Zionist son-in-law, Jared Kushner, aided …

Creede Newton (2020-02-19). The Unbreakable Bond of Ireland and Palestine. globalresearch.ca

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| In December, a wave of support for the recognition of a Palestinian state swept over Europe, culminating in the European Parliament's (EP) vote on a motion that expressed support for an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and |

South Front (2020-02-19). Video: Towards The Liberation of Idlib City. globalresearch.ca Syrian government forces did not stop their operation in Greater Idlib with the success in the western countryside of Aleppo city, and continued making gains in the province. During the past 24 hours, they took control of over 10 settlements….

Telesur (2020-02-19). EU Nations Push for Bloc's Recognition of State of Palestine. globalresearch.ca A group of European Union (EU) countries led by Luxembourg is planning to present Monday to the EU's foreign affairs ministers, an initiative for the recognition of the state of Palestine by the bloc‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã, Haaretz reported Sunday. | Luxembourg's Foreign Affairs …

Mark Taliano (2020-02-19). NATO Wars Against Freedom, Justice and Humanity. globalresearch.ca NATO commits Supreme International War Crimes Against Peace as military doctrine. The criminality is normalized. Perceptions are inverted and Western populations are hypnotized to believe that NATO and its serial war crimes are making us safe. | . | . | Hidden from …

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2020-02-19). The Priorities of General Motors: Ditching Australia's Holden Cars. globalresearch.ca It seemed to be a case of grand misrepresentation. Holden cars, those great Australian acquisitions, along with home, lawnmower and nuclear family, gave the impression of indigenous pride, the home brand. It was also resoundingly masculine. But behind that image …

John W. Whitehead (2020-02-19). Compliance 101: Gun-Toting Cops Endanger Students and Turn the Schools into Prisons. globalresearch.ca "Every day in communities across the United States, children and adolescents spend the majority of their waking hours in schools that have increasingly come to Just when you …

Diana Johnstone (2020-02-19). At the Annual Munich Security Conference: The West Displays Its "Insecurity Complex" globalresearch.ca "The West is winning!" U.S. leaders proclaimed at the high-level Annual Security Conference held in Munich last weekend. | Not everybody was quite so sure. | There was a lot of insecurity displayed at a conference billed as "the West's family meeting" …

Tony Cartalucci (2020-02-19). US Middle East "Peace Deal" Designed to Perpetuate Conflict. globalresearch.ca A deal that is entirely unacceptable to one of its principal parties isn't a deal at all. In the case of the US-proposed "Middle East peace plan" — unsurprisingly endorsed by the US and Israel and few others — everything …

(2020-02-19). Lawsuit Launched Over Trump's Massive Rollback of Pollution Protections for Rivers, Wetlands. globalresearch.ca Conservation groups filed a formal notice of intent to

Shane Quinn (2020-02-19). The Rise of Sinn Féin: Dissecting Ireland's February 2020 General Election and the State of the Nation. globalresearch.ca In the Republic of Ireland, among the most notable outcome from last week's general election outcome was a substantial rise in popularity for the left-leaning party, Sinn Féin, whose standing rose by 10.7% as they gained 15 parliamentary seats …

Staff (2020-02-19). America's Barbaric Health Care System in One Grisly Statistic. truthdig.com New polling data finds that as many as eight million people in the U.S. have used crowdfunding campaigns to pay for a medical procedures.

Global Research News (2020-02-19). Selected Articles: The Truth About Assange. globalresearch.ca By The Trump administration is seeking extradition of WikiLeaks founderJulian Assange to the United States for trial on charges carrying 175 years in prison. …

Staff (2020-02-18). "Worth the Price?" New Film Shows How Biden Played Leading Role in Push for U.S. to Invade Iraq. democracynow.org The Democratic presidential candidates face off in Las Vegas Wednesday night ahead of the Nevada caucuses. Nevada could be a decisive state for candidates who performed poorly in Iowa and New Hampshire, including former Vice President Joe Biden. As Biden hopes for a comeback, a new short documentary sheds light on his extensive role in the Iraq War — an issue that has been raised repeatedly on the campaign trail. Biden has apologized for supporting the war, but the new film, directed by the Center for Economic and Policy Research's Mark Weisbrot, exposes Biden's central role in pushing for an Iraq invasion.

The Canary (2020-02-18). Electric scooters 'can make cities safer'. thecanary.co Encouraging people to switch from vehicles to electric scooters can make cities safer, according to a study.A trip by a car or motorcycle in dense urban areas is "much more likely" to result in the death of a road user — including pedestrians — than a light micro-vehicle such as an e-scooter, the research found.The report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also indicated that e-scooters are no more dangerous to their users than bicycles."A road fatality is not significantly more likely when using a shared standing e-scooter rather than a bicycle," the authors wrote. | "

The Canary (2020-02-18). Driving test change to boost accessibility. thecanary.co Video clips are to replace written scenarios in UK driving theory tests to make them more accessible. | The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced that, from 14 April, learners will be asked three questions after watching a driving clip of up to 30 seconds. | The change follows research which found that learners with reading difficulties and disabilities felt more comfortable with video scenarios than written ones. | DVSA chief driving examiner Mark Winn said: "Being able to drive can be life-changing and the DVSA is committed to helping everyone access the opportunities driving can offer. | "We hav…

Shawgi Tell (2020-02-18). Federal Charter Schools Program, a Lifeline for Owners of Capital, Under Threat. dissidentvoice.org Neoliberals established the Federal Charter Schools Program in 1994, three years after the nation's first charter school law was passed in Minnesota. Since then, billions of public dollars have been handed over to privately-owned-operated non-profit and for-profit charter schools through the federal program. The money is usually used for charter school start-up costs. Putting aside …

news.un (2020-02-17). Amid global 'learning crisis', Parliaments can ensure adequate resources for education, says UN Assembly President. news.un.org Education is the "great equalizer" and Parliaments have a major role to play in scaling up action to ensure that adequate financial resources are allocated to education, girls' education and technical and vocational training throughout in national budgetary processes, the President of the UN General Assembly said on Monday.

news.un (2020-02-17). Iraq: Education access still a challenge in former ISIL-controlled areas. news.un.org More than two years after the defeat of ISIL in Iraq, some children in areas formerly controlled by the terrorist group still cannot access school or get the necessary documentation required for enrollment, a UN report published on Monday finds.

Staff (2020-02-14). One Billion Rising: Eve Ensler & Taína Asili Mark V-Day and Campaign to End Sexual Violence. democracynow.org This Valentine's Day, people around the world are taking to the streets to protest violence against women and girls. From the Philippines to India to Italy to Bolivia, thousands of women in more than 100 countries will reclaim public space through dance and performance as part of a global movement called One Billion Rising. The movement takes its name from the shocking statistic that one in three women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. One Billion Rising started on Valentine's Day 2012 and has continued to grow every year since. Participants say they won't stop dancing until violence…

splcenter (2020-02-06). SPLC sues Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School safety commission for not allowing students to voice concerns. splcenter.org Kinsey Akers had to take the PSAT but was determined to make her voice heard at a public meeting on school safety that same day.

splcenter (2020-02-04). Alabama Charter Schools: Principles for Ensuring Equity and Access. splcenter.org

Martha Rosenberg (2020-02-02). Why is Animal Research So Seldom in the News? zcomm.org The animal-research industry is a vast, macabre enterprise richly supporting medical centers and individual researchers with almost no transparency or accountability…

splcenter (2020-01-28). SPLC sues Alabama school district for violating students' due process rights after cell phone is mistaken for gun. splcenter.org Andre and his friend were taking turns on a cell phone, playing a video game called Last Day on Earth: Survival — about staying alive on a zombie-infested planet — when a real-life gunshot rang out.

splcenter (2020-01-23). Former College Student, Atomwaffen Sympathizer Faces Charges of 'Swatting' Calls. splcenter.org A former Virginia college student the FBI says is affiliated with violent neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen has been charged with helping coordinate and make "swatting" phone calls around the country and the globe.