(2019-04-11). Daniel Ellsberg on the Importance of Julian Assange. truthdig.com 
Editor's Note: In light of WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange's recent arrest, Truthdig is re-posting a timely conversation between Truthdig Editor in Chief Robert Scheer and legendary whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, both of whom have been vocal defenders of Assange and his work. A letter that Ellsberg co-signed outlines the Pentagon Papers author's position on the attacks on Assange: | As part of their attempt to blacken WikiLeaks…
(2019-04-11). The Martyrdom of Julian Assange. truthdig.com The arrest Thursday of Julian Assange eviscerates all pretense of the rule of law and the rights of a free press. The illegalities, embraced by the Ecuadorian, British and U.S. governments, in the seizure of Assange are ominous. They presage a world where the internal workings, abuses, corruption, lies and crimes, especially war crimes, carried out by corporate states and the global ruling elite will be masked from the public. They presage a world where those with the courage and integrity to expose the misuse of power will be hunted down, tortured, subjected to sham trials and given lifetime prison terms in soli…
(2019-04-11). Mali: Thousands demand peace and removal of French troops. workers.org 
At the call of imams and civic associations on April 5, thousands of protesters marched in Bamako, the capital of Mali, to demand the end of violence between ethnic communities in central Mali, the removal of French troops, which have been in Mali since 2013 fighting "Islamic extremist," and aid . . . | Continue reading Mali: Thousands demand peace and removal of French troops at Workers.org
(2019-04-11). Sudan's Military Overthrows President Amid Bloody Protests. truthdig.com CAIRO — Sudan's military overthrew President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday amid increasingly bloody protests over his repressive 30-year rule and the deteriorating economy. But pro-democracy demonstrators were left angry and disappointed when the defense minister announced the armed forces will govern for the next two years. | Al-Bashir's fall came just over a week after protests in Algeria forced the resignation of that North African country's long-ruling, military-backed president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika. | Together, the developments represent a second generation of street protests eight years after the Arab S…
(2019-04-11). Sudanese Military Topples Omar al-Bashir as Anti-Government Protesters Vow to Stay in Streets. democracynow.org 
After months of protest, the Sudanese military ousted President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday, ending his nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule. Tens of thousands of protesters marched in celebration on the streets of Sudan. The military has set up a transitional military council to rule the country for two years, according to a televised statement by Sudan's minister of defense. The news comes after months of protests demanding al-Bashir's resignation. Protesters have been staging a massive sit-in in the capital, Khartoum, since Saturday. Rights groups say at least 50 people have been killed in Sudanese protests si…
(2019-04-11). Assange Arrest: The Turning Point is Here — Don't Let Them Win. mintpressnews.com Will we wait until they come for us because our homes are built atop resources they wish to plunder, because we shared information online they found objectionable, because we dared to question why madmen are in control of our country and much of the world?
(2019-04-11). Assange Ecuadorian Extradition Noose Tightens with INA Papers as Latest Slipknot. mintpressnews.com 
There has been an undeniable string of red flags indicating that Ecuador's Moreno is indeed working with both the U.K. and U.S. to hand Assange over to authorities.
(2019-04-11). WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Appears in London Court. globalresearch.ca Julian Assange faces extradition to the US after he was arrested and forcibly removed from the Ecuadorian embassy in London almost seven years after he sought refuge there. | Mr Assange was brought before Westminster Magistrates' Court this afternoon. | He made …
(2019-04-11). Access to Medical Care, a Human Right, Must Also be Guaranteed to Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca This article which is of particular relevance to the arrest of Julian Assange was originally written in June 2018. | This week marks six years since Julian Assange entered the Ecuadorean embassy in London and nearly three years since the UN …
(2019-04-11). Police State Britain: UK Police Forcibly Arrest Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca What's going on is a developing story. Events are fast moving. Here's what's known so far. | Days earlier, WikiLeaks accused Ecuadorian embassy personnel in London of "extensive spying" on Assange, according to its editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson, saying: | It's been …
(2019-04-11). Edward Snowden puts in plain terms the terror of what really just happened to Julian Assange. thecanary.co On 11 April, whistleblower Edward Snowden put in plain terms the terror of what Julian Assange's arrest really means. Former CIA employee Snowden rose … | Read more Edward Snowden puts in plain terms the terror of what really just happened to Julian Assange | By James Wright
(2019-04-11). Edward Snowden Leads Chorus Condemning Assange's Arrest. truthdig.com Edward Snowden joined the chorus of advocacy groups, reporters, and critics as the NSA whistleblower described the arrest of WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange Thursday morning as a " dark moment for press freedom" that could have grave implications for journalism across the globe. | "Images of Ecuador's ambassador inviting the U.K.'s secret police into the embassy to drag a publisher of—…
(2019-04-11). UN experts warn Assange arrest exposes him to risk of serious human rights violations. un.org Independent UN rights experts on Thursday said the arrest of Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange by police in the United Kingdom, after the Ecuadorian Government decided to stop granting him asylum in their London embassy, exposed him to "the risk of serious human rights violations", if extradited to the United States.
(2019-04-11). Women must be at 'centre of peacekeeping decision-making', UN chief tells Security Council. un.org Women's rights, voices and participation must be at "the centre of peacekeeping decision-making", United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Thursday, describing them as "central to sustainable solutions" to challenges facing the Organization worldwide.
(2019-04-11). Dictator: Media Code for 'Government We Don't Like'. fair.org 
by Alan MacLeod Most dictatorships in the world are supported by the United States (Truthout, 9/23/17)—but this isn't true of most governments described by US media as "dictatorships." | Let's start with a quiz: Quick! Name some dictators! | I'm willing to bet most of you responded with just a few of the same names: Assad, Putin, Castro, Kim Jong-un, Gaddafi, Maduro. This is not because they are the only dictators in the world (far from it), or that all of them even necessarily qualify for the…
(2019-04-11). Silicon Valley and "communication weapons of war" mronline.org 
What a Western Electric advert from 1944 can teach us about Google and Facebook. | Source
(2019-04-11). Will Democrats reach rural workers in 2020? peoplesworld.org 
It should be easy to run against Trump's rural America record. Aside from his made-for-Fox-News rallies, he has little to brag about in rural policy except for self-inflicted wounds that risk returning rural America back to the farm crisis of the 1980s. Trump's misguided tariff wars and scuttling of NAFTA have exacerbated crop prices that …
(2019-04-11). Consumer Drug Ads: 20 Years of Pushing Expensive Meds and Diseases People Probably Don't Have. counterpunch.org 
In 2015, the U.S.' American Medical Association (AMA) called for a ban on direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertising. The ads make patients demand expensive treatments from their doctors, said the AMA, when less costly drugs are often more effective. The AMA's efforts were unsuccessful. Most people realize that advertising directly to consumers has been a More
(2019-04-11). Making a Killing: Tax Day as Pay Day for Military Contractors. counterpunch.org 
In tax season, most of us think more about getting our forms in on time — and getting our refunds — than about where our tax dollars actually go. It's probably no surprise that a significant portion — 24 cents out of every dollar — of your taxes go to the military. But where those More
(2019-04-11). RIP Shawn Smith. counterpunch.org 
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(2019-04-11). What is Socialism? counterpunch.org 
As the presidential election of 2020 approaches and socialism is used to characterize the ideas and platforms of some of the candidates, a relatively large number of explanations of the concept have appeared in the press. Most of these explanations are really non-explanatory. Whether written as a list or in a more discursive form, they More
(2019-04-11). The Causes of the Growth of Populism on Both Sides of the North Atlantic. counterpunch.org 
One of the most influential documents of the 20th century—the Communist Manifesto—begins with the famous phrase: A specter is haunting Europe—the specter of Communism. All the powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this specter; Pope and Czar, Metternich and Guizot, French radicals and German police spies. Where is the More
(2019-04-11). What's Wrong With The United States? counterpunch.org 
In his 1995 book, The Demon-Haunted World: Science As A Candle in The Dark, Carl Sagan wrote: I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time — when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when More
(2019-04-11). Predicting the Next Recession and Other Ways to Waste Your Time. counterpunch.org 
The people who completely missed the housing bubble, the collapse of which sank the economy in 2008 and gave us the Great Recession, are again busy telling us about the next recession on the way. The latest item that they want us to be very worried about is an inversion of the yield curve. There More
(2019-04-11). Why Oregon Needs More Wilderness. counterpunch.org 
In the recent Public Lands legislation that was passed by Congress, Oregon got some new protected landscapes including the Devil's Staircase Wilderness, 250 miles of new Wild and Scenic River segments on the Rogue and Molalla rivers and measures such as a mining ban on the Chetco River. This legislation was a good but a More
(2019-04-11). The U.S. Government has been monitoring Venezuela's electricity system for over a decade. mronline.org 
The North American intelligence agencies and their government's attention and monitoring of the electricity situation in Venezuela is long-standing. This was confirmed by more than 1,000 documents released by Wikileaks which mention the status of the National Electric System in Venezuela and the Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant located in Guri. | Source
(2019-04-11). Who Is Killing Whom in the Middle East? Blaming Iran Might be an Excuse for War. globalresearch.ca Newsweek is reporting a story regarding how Iran "was responsible for the deaths of at least 608 American troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2011." The account is sourced to a newly revised estimate prepared by analysts at the Pentagon …
(2019-04-11). The Unfinished Gaza War: What Netanyahu Hopes to Gain from Attacking Palestinian Prisoners. dissidentvoice.org The current violence targeting Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails dates back to January 2. It was then that Israel's Public Security Minister, Gilad Erdan declared that the "party is over." "Every so often, infuriating pictures appear of cooking in the terrorist wings. This party is coming to an end," Erdan was quoted in the Jerusalem …
(2019-04-11). The Consequences of the Sudanese Coup. globalresearch.ca What just happened in Sudan was likely a military coup despite the "official" explanation being that President Bashir simply stepped down, and while this might appear on the surface to be a huge development, its immediate consequences will probably be …
(2019-04-11). The ReCommonsEurope Manifesto: A Left-wing Initiative in Europe. globalresearch.ca While the campaign for the European elections on 26 May 2019 draws very little interest, the initiative launched by ReCommonsEurope with its ' Manifesto for a new popular internationalism in Europe' is on to a promising start. The text …
(2019-04-11). Environmental Snags in Australia: The Approval Process for Adani, India's Mining Giant. globalresearch.ca Much hot air is coming out from the public relations unit of Adani, and the language used is that of a hostage taker seeking to earn a rich and ill-deserved ransom. With the date for the Australian federal election looming, …
(2019-04-11). Like America with "Russiagate", India Is Now Obsessed with "Pakistangate" globalresearch.ca The Indo-American Strategic Partnership has rapidly progressed to such a point that the South Asian state is now copying some of the same conspiracy theories as its new patron, though instead of India being obsessed with suspected Russian interference in …
(2019-04-11). EU Parliamentary Elections 2019. Aspiring Politicians, Fear of Nationalist Movements… globalresearch.ca The next Elections for the European Parliament scheduled on 23-26 May 2019 have already started with fervor! A total of 751 seats (MEPs) are currently up for grabs by those fortunate enough to secure a seat in one of the …
(2019-04-11). Video: War on Russia? Growing Military Deployment of US-NATO in the Black Sea. globalresearch.ca NATO is preparing a package of measures to counter Russia in the Black Sea region. This package includes the deployment of NATO warships to the Black Sea to guarantee 'passage' of Ukrainian ships via the Kerch Strait, U.S. ambassador to …
(2019-04-11). Egypt Withdraws from Trump's 'Arab NATO' Group. globalresearch.ca Egypt has reportedly withdrawn from U.S. President Donald Trump's "Arab NATO" initiative following President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi's visit to Washington. | According to the Reuters News Agency, Egypt has made the decision to withdraw fro the U.S.-led "Middle East Security …
(2019-04-11). Canada's CIJA Selective About Which Hate Crimes It Condemns. globalresearch.ca The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs' response to the horrific attack on two mosques in New Zealand highlights tensions between promoting the most aggressive ongoing European settler colonialism and Jewish Canadian concern over hate crimes. | Forty-eight hours after the …
(2019-04-11). The Problem with Wikipedia and the Digital Revolution. globalresearch.ca Yesterday (April 10, 2019) a reader alerted me to the fact that I am being smeared on Wikipedia as a "vocal supporter of the current Russian government and its policies." The reader also reports that an article in the Daily …
(2019-04-11). Iran Is Preparing to Link Tehran to the Mediterranean via a New Highway. globalresearch.ca The Islamic Republic of Iran is looking for new ways to link their capital, Tehran, with Syria ¥s Damascus and Iraq ¥s Baghdad. | One of the proposed actions they are taking to make this a reality is the construction of new highways …
(2019-04-11). "Voices from Syria" and "The Dirty War on Syria": Mark Taliano and Tim Anderson Analyze the War on Syria. globalresearch.ca Voices from Syria by Mark Taliano and The Dirty War on Syria by Tim Anderson: two essential books on Syria for . | *SPECIAL OFFER: Voices from Syria + The Dirty War on Syria: …
(2019-04-11). British Bombs Are Being Dropped from Saudi Jets onto Yemeni Schools, Mosques and Hospitals, Court Hears. globalresearch.ca A Yemeni city the size of Cambridge had just hours to evacuate before it was pummelled by Saudi war planes, the Court of Appeal in London heard today. | A panel of judges is reviewing a decision made by Sajid Javid…
(2019-04-11). Poisoning Wildlife — A Growing Threat in Europe. globalresearch.ca There are three main anthropogenic factors that pose a serious threat to European wildlife. These are causing the death of individuals by illegal poisoning, poaching, trapping or trading, reduced reproductive success due to habitat disturbance and habitat loss due to …
(2019-04-11). How 'Russiagate' Has Reshaped American and Russian Public Opinion. thenation.com How 'Russiagate' Has Reshaped American and Russian Public Opinion…
(2019-04-11). The American Public Deserves to See the Mueller Report With as Few Redactions as Possible. aclu.org Considering the "extraordinary public interest" in the Mueller report, any redactions made by Attorney General Barr must be limited and defensible. | Few matters are of greater public interest than the contents of the report produced by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on his recently completed investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, alleged collusion with the Trump administration, and any interference with the Mueller investigation. Attorney General William Barr has conceded that there is extraordinary public interest in the report. Yet there remain grave concerns that he will r…
(2019-04-11). The F-35 Fighter Jet Will Cost $1.5 Trillion. It's Time for New Priorities. truthout.org U.S. taxpayers are no strangers to getting saddled with monstrously expensive weapons programs at the expense of basic needs like food, shelter and education. The Pentagon paid $44 billion for 21 very fragile B-2 stealth bombers, only one of which is still flying. The F-22 fighter, coming in at more than $350 million per plane, was built to combat Cold War adversaries who ceased to exist six years before the first jet rolled off the production line. The sticker price for Ronald Reagan's harebrained " …
(2019-04-11). The Politics Behind Trump's Threats to Close the Border. counterpunch.org Donald Trump's flailing on immigration and the Mexican border continue to spiral into chaos. First, he threatened to close the border with Mexico. One week later, he walked that back. He declares a national emergency about the "invasion" of people seeking asylum from Central American countries, and then says he's stopped all aid to those More
(2019-04-11). Ireland's international neutrality should be in its constitution, argues Sinn Féin. thecanary.co Members of the Irish parliament have tabled a bill that would embed international neutrality in the Irish constitution. The bill has been put forward … | Read more Ireland's international neutrality should be in its constitution, argues Sinn Féin | By Bryan Wall
(2019-04-11). The Israeli Election Put the Bigotry of Its Political Class Front and Center. commondreams.org This bigotry isn't new for Netanyahu; on election day 2015, he rallied his supporters by warning on Facebook, "Arab voters are coming out in droves to the polls." (Photo: Shutterstock) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/bet.jpeg…
(2019-04-11). Rapid Warming Deserves More Than a Lukewarm Response. commondreams.org Canada's climate is warming at roughly twice the global average rate largely due to Arctic ice melt. Arctic ice is what keeps Earth's temperatures cool enough for human life to thrive and survive. (Photo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Flickr) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/ice_2.jpeg…
(2019-04-11). Wealth, Stealth, and Boeing. counterpunch.org America is "the land of the free and the home of the brave." It is also the province of the wealthy. Regardless of administration but most especially now, wealth has been the great separator: the rich get richer, the poor stay poor, and the middle class keeps losing ground. Central to keeping matters that way More
(2019-04-11). With Release of More Detectives' Names, Entire Smollett Investigation Called Into Question. counterpunch.org After writing about the three detectives listed on Jussie Smollett's initial police report, more detectives' names were released when Chicago police rushed investigation records to the media after Jussie's charges were dropped. The media has not reported on these detectives' backgrounds, but they are certainly newsworthy — and call the entire investigation into question. 13 officers are More