2021-01-08: News Headlines

Staff (2021-01-08). COVID Scientist Rebekah Jones Condemns Armed Police Raid on Her Home & Florida's Pandemic Response. democracynow.org As Florida sets new records for daily coronavirus cases, we speak with a whistleblower who was fired in May from the Florida Department of Health after she refused to censor information about the state's COVID-19 outbreak. Rebekah Jones is a data scientist who helped build Florida's coronavirus tracking dashboard, and she says her termination came after she refused to manipulate data to support the state's reopening. In December, police raided Jones's home in Tallahassee, seizing her computer and phone and holding her family at gunpoint, as part of an alleged investigation into a hacking of the Florida Health Dep…

Manlio Dinucci (2021-01-08). Por trás do veredicto de Londres sobre Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca De um processo injusto — o de Londres referente a Julian Assange, fundador do WikiLeaks — resultou numa sentenàßa que, à primeira vista, parece justa: a nà£o extradiàßà£o do jornalista para os Estados Unidos, onde o aguarda uma sentenàßa de …

Jonathan Cook (2021-01-08). The US and UK may not will Assange's death, but everything they are doing makes it more likely. zcomm.org Washington has wanted Assange permanently silenced and made an example of — by demonstrating to other journalists its terrifying reach and powers of retaliation…

Jonathan Cook (2021-01-08). The US and UK May Not Will Assange's Death, but Everything They Are Doing Makes It More Likely. globalresearch.ca There was a hope in some quarters after Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled on Monday against an application to extradite Julian Assange to the US, where he faced being locked away for the rest of his life, that she might finally …

Jonathan Cook (2021-01-08). How the left is being manipulated into colluding in its own character assassination. dissidentvoice.org There was a fascinating online panel discussion on Wednesday night on the Julian Assange case that I recommend everyone watch. The video is at the bottom of the page. But from all the outstanding contributions, I want to highlight a very important point made by Yanis Varoufakis that has significance for understanding current events well …

Pepe Escobar (2021-01-08). The Assange Saga: Practicing Real Journalism Is Criminally Insane. globalresearch.ca Synchronicity is definitely fond of mirror wonderwalls. The Julian Assange saga seemed to have entered a new chapter as he was, in thesis, on his way to — conditional — freedom this past Monday, only one day after the first …

PANGEA (2021-01-08). VIDEO — ASSANGE: La Nostra Democrazia Dietro Le Sbarre. globalresearch.ca SERVIZIO DA LONDRA DELL'INVIATA DI PANGEA BERENICE GALLI | STASERA 8 GENNAIO SU DAVVERO TV | Mentre il Tribunale di Londra negava il 6 gennaio a Julian Assange il rilascio su cauzione, rimandandolo nel carcere di Belmarsh — la "Guantanamo britannica", la …

Staff (2021-01-08). Battleground Baltimore, Jan. 8. therealnews.com Local leaders react to the insurrection that happened just 45 minutes away in Washington. D.C.; why a move to end home detention fees might not go far enough; and a "spy plane" that has been flying in Baltimore (ostensibly to solve crime) is headed for St. Louis.

Alan Macleod (2021-01-08). "This Will Be Remembered as a Turning Point": Snowden Warns Against Trump Social Media Ban. mintpressnews.com While many breathed a collective sigh of relief when Trump's social media bans were announced, Edward Snowden and other internet freedom advocates warned that the move sets a dangerous precedent.

Kevin Gosztola (2021-01-07). British Judge Keeps Assange in Prison, Despite Ruling Against Extradition. globalresearch.ca A British district judge denied bail for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after a hearing in which the prosecution argued he had helped NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden "flee justice" and would abscond if released from the Belmarsh high-security prison. | "As far …

WorkWeek (2021-01-07). WorkWeek On Labor & The Threat Of A Coup & Fascism, Racism At CCSF & Julian Assange. indybay.org WorkWeek looks at the threat of a coup and also the role of labor with the David Van Deusen. His Vermont Labor AFL-CIO had called for a general strike to prevent a coup. WorkWeek also looks at the systemic racism in San Francisco and an action at the British Consulate in San Francisco to demand the freedom of journalist Julian Assange.

_____ (2021-01-07). Police Arrest Several People Near Court After Assange's Bail Denied. popularresistance.org London – The police arrested several supporters of Assange who did not have press IDs and refused to disperse as the city is currently under a lockdown and public gatherings prohibited. Among the detained are several women and an elderly man. | Journalists with proper identifications were allowed to continue their work. Earlier in the day, Westminster Magistrates Court refused to release Assange on bail, leaving him incarcerated while a US appeal against the decision not to extradite him to the United States is considered. | Assange was arrested in London in April 2019 and sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for jump…

_____ (2021-01-07). UK Judge Justifies CIA Spying On Assange. popularresistance.org The British judge ruling in the US government's extradition case against journalist Julian Assange justified a CIA spying operation targeting both the WikiLeaks publisher and the Ecuadorian government by pointing to debunked accusations published by CNN. Yet in a self-referential loop, the American media outlet's dubious claims about Assange themselves originated with a security firm that was spying on Assange for the CIA — and which is now facing prosecution in Spain for illegal activity. | While the UK judge ultimately decided not to extradite Assange, citing his deteriorating mental health and the likeli…

Frederick B. Mills, Alina Duarte — Patricio Zamorano (2021-01-07). Mexico Offers Asylum to Assange: a Step Forward for Government Accountability and Press Freedom. counterpunch.org On Monday January 4 a British court denied a U.S. request to extradite world renowned journalist and Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, to face charges in the U.S. under the Espionage Act. Shortly after this breaking news, President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), urged the U.K. to consider the possibility of freeing Assange and

Jonathan Cook (2021-01-07). The US and UK may not will Assange's death, but everything they are doing makes it more likely. dissidentvoice.org There was a hope in some quarters after Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled on Monday against an application to extradite Julian Assange to the US, where he faced being locked away for the rest of his life, that she might finally be changing tack. Washington has wanted Assange permanently silenced and made an example of — …

May Ayres (2021-01-07). Assange Denied Bail. Campaigning For Freedom and Justice. globalresearch.ca It didn't take very long to confirm that we are truly in the final stage of a police state. | The euphoria on Monday when Assange's extradition was denied (a wonderful interlude of laughs, smiles and hugs) was short lived. I …

Craig Murray (2021-01-07). The Assange Verdict: What Happens Now. globalresearch.ca I fully expect that Julian will be released on bail this week, pending a possible US appeal against the blocking of his extradition. | There was discussion of when and how to make the bail application on Monday, after magistrate Vanessa …

WSWS (2021-01-07). Assange denied bail after extradition blocked, will appeal to UK High Court. wsws.org Judge Baraitser said in her decision Wednesday, "As far as Mr Assange is concerned, this case has not yet been won."

Binoy Kampmark (2021-01-07). "It's Not as Bad as Iwo Jima, I Suppose": The Julian Assange Extradition Verdict. counterpunch.org The barrister-brewed humour of Edward Fitzgerald QC, one of the solid and stout figures defending a certain Julian Assange of WikiLeaks at the Old Bailey in London, was understandable. Time had worn and wearied the parties, none more so than his client. Fitzgerald had asked for water, but then mused that its absence could hardly

Binoy Kampmark (2021-01-07). Proxy Jailor: Denying Assange Bail. dissidentvoice.org History, while not always a telling guide, can be useful. But in moments of flushed confidence, it is not consulted and Cleo is forgotten. A crisp new dawn can negate a glance to the past. Having received the unexpected news that Julian Assange's extradition to the United States for charges of breaching the Espionage Act …

Rod Driver (2021-01-07). Brutal Human Rights Abuses — Torture, Sanctions and Our Failure to Discuss Economic Rights. zcomm.org People in advanced nations assume that their governments do not torture prisoners, but it is practized by the US, and was used by Britain in its colonies and in Northern Ireland…

news.un (2021-01-06). UN human rights expert 'cautiously' welcomes UK court's refusal to extradite Julian Assange. news.un.org An independent UN human rights expert has welcomed a British court's refusal to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the United States on the basis that he would be exposed to oppressive conditions of imprisonment.

Pip Hinman (2021-01-06). Assange decision welcome but sullied by legal chicanery. greenleft.org.au The ruling that Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the United States is welcome, but it comes after the charade in which British authorities held an unconvicted person in a top security prison and made his defence as difficult as possible, argues Stuart Rees.

_____ (2021-01-06). Julian Assange Is Denied Bail By London Court. popularresistance.org "I am satisfied there are substantial grounds for believing that if Mr Assange is released today he would fail to surrender to court to face the appeal proceedings," Judge Vanessa Baraitser said. | "As far as Mr Assange is concerned this case has not yet been won… the outcome of this appeal is not yet known." | She was referring to the fact that Assange after failing in his battle against extradition to Sweden, breached bail and took refuge in the Embassy of Ecuador in London in June 2012. He was granted asylum by Ecuador on the grounds of political persecution, with the presumption that if he was extradited to…

The Canary (2021-01-06). WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange must be released after 'inhumane' bail refusal. thecanary.co WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's hopes for freedom have been dashed after a judge refused him bail despite a decision to block his extradition to the United States. | District judge Vanessa Baraitser rejected an application for Assange's release with strict conditionals over concern he would abscond. | It follows a decision that he should not be extradited to the US on mental health grounds due to the risk of suicide. | Assange will have to remain in custody as the US government is appealing against Monday's extradition ruling. | Announcing her bail decision at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Baraitser said: "A…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-06). Julian Assange's bail plea denied. peoplesdispatch.org A British judge denied Julian Assange's plea for bail on Wednesday, January 6. Judge Vanessa Baraitser rejected the bail request filed by Assange's legal team on the grounds that he still has "incentive" to abscond. Assange will continue to remain in the high security prison in Belmarsh pending the appeal filed by the United States on his extradition. The same judge on Monday had The judge, on Wednesday, stated that…

Ben Norton (2021-01-06). UK judge justifies CIA spying on Assange citing debunked CNN report based on… CIA spying. thegrayzone.com UK judge Vanessa Baraitser justified CIA spying on Julian Assange by citing a falsehood-filled CNN report. Her judgment highlighted corporate media's enthusiastic role in a state-sponsored assault on press freedom. The British judge ruling in the US government's extradition case against journalist Julian Assange justified a CIA spying operation targeting both the WikiLeaks publisher and the Ecuadorian government by pointing to debunked accusations published by CNN. Yet in a self-referential loop, the American media outlet's dubious claims about Assange themselves …

Chris Hedges (2021-01-06). The Empire is Not Done with Julian Assange. zcomm.org As is clear from the memoir of one of his attorneys, Michael Ratner, the ends have always justified the means for those demanding his global persecution…

Alan Macleod (2021-01-06). Journalists, Activists Condemn UK Decision to Keep Assange Locked Up without Charge. mintpressnews.com "To us, that is nothing more than a pretext to keep him detained. This seems unnecessarily punitive and adding insult to injury after the 10 years of hell that he has endured" — Rebecca Vincent, Reporters Without Borders…

WSWS (2021-01-06). New Zealand protest demands freedom for Julian Assange. wsws.org The Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) took part in a rally called by Free Assange NZ in Wellington, ahead of the judicial verdict in London that unexpectedly halted the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the US.

Eds. (2021-01-06). Chris Hedges: The Empire is not done with Julian Assange. mronline.org As is clear from the memoir of one of his attorneys, Michael Ratner, the ends have always justified the means for those demanding his global persecution.

WSWS (2021-01-06). Medical doctors respond to Assange extradition ruling: "He must be released without delay" wsws.org "We demand that all legal proceedings be dropped and that he be released from prison, and only then will his psychological torture finally end."

Pavan Kulkarni (2021-01-06). Trade union coalition in Sudan launches campaign to dissolve government-backed militia. peoplesdispatch.org The Sudanese Professionals Association launched the campaign following the torture and killing of a young activist, Bahaeldin Nouri, who was abducted by the intelligence wing of the government-backed Rapid Support Forces on December 21…

WSWS (2021-01-05). "Every journalist should be concerned about what was said today in court. Because the political arguments provided by the United States were upheld by the British judicial system" wsws.org Assange's closest associates hailed the court's decision as a victory but warned that the fight to secure his freedom was far from over.