CounterCurrents: Once Unstoppable, Tar Sands Now Battered From All Sides, Netherlands To Begin Bombing Islamic State In Syria

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Netherlands To Begin Bombing Islamic State In Syria 
By Josh Varlin 

http://www.countercurrents.org/varlin030216.htm

Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s announcement on January 29 that the Dutch cabinet had decided to begin bombing the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL) in Syria marks a dramatic escalation of the Netherlands’ involvement in the US-led campaign. Six Dutch F-16 planes based in Jordan started bombing IS in Iraq in October 2014, although only four are currently engaged in bombing runs


Israel Spying And Harassing Human Rights Groups 
By Shubhda Chaudhary

http://www.countercurrents.org/chaudhary030216.htm

In order to prevent further damage to the image of Israel, it is now harassing its human rights groups. A recent revelation by award-winning British author and journalist Jonathan Cook delves deeper into how Israel is silencing the voices of human rights groups


Once Unstoppable, Tar Sands Now Battered From All Sides
By Ed Struzik

http://www.countercurrents.org/struzik030216.htm

In the summer of 2014, when oil was selling for $114 per barrel, Alberta’s tar sands industry was still confidently standing by earlier predictions that it would nearly triple production by 2035. Companies such as Suncor, Statoil, Syncrude, Royal Dutch Shell, and Imperial Oil Ltd. were investing hundreds of billions of dollars in new projects to mine the thick, highly polluting bitumen. What a difference 18 months makes. The tar sands now has no takers!


Food In A Not Too Distant Future 
By Wayne Roberts

http://www.countercurrents.org/roberts030216.htm

The report identifies 16 benefits of reorganizing food production around self-reliant (as distinct from self-sufficient) and mutually-enriching (symbiotic) regions. My proposed addition of 17 more benefits reveals my excitement for what I’ll call “complementary regionalism” where needs of one group are matched by the strengths of another and vice versa, starting with the fact that a city population needs a lot of food and a nearby countryside produces a lot of food. Together, if I do say so myself, the two lists add up to a pretty impressive catalogue of 33 strong reasons for food advocates to endorse this “complementary foodshed” direction for a future that’s not-too-distant


Caste Is The Cruellest Exclusion 
By Gail Omvedt

http://www.countercurrents.org/omvedt030216.htm

Caste is a form of social exclusion that is firmly entrenched because it is justified by religious scriptures. Brahmanic theory gave religious sanction to an unequal society. This article traces both the history of caste and the history of opposition to it


Why I Support Gay Rights.. 
By Parvin Sultana

http://www.countercurrents.org/sultana030216.htm

The sexual minorities continue to be a community pushed into the shadows, forced to live a double life which has affected many other lives as well when homosexual individuals are forced to enter heterosexual relationships. Right to a dignified life and right to love cannot be denied and decided on the basis of ideas of popular morality, culture, tradition and religious principles. An outdated law that does not take into account consent and agency of individuals, and apparently has nothing to do with protection of women, children and public health has long past its utility and is no more than a colonial legacy as well as baggage which a modern democracy should shed off


Government Should Listen To The Local People: 
A Case Of Khandadhar Hills, Odisha 
By Dr. Vivek Kumar Srivastava

http://www.countercurrents.org/vks030216.htm

As the globalisation is on march and the marginalized people are at the receiving end. The impacts are uncountable and unbearable. The recent impacts are being born by the tribals of the Khandadhar area in the state of the Odisha where mining can be done by the big companies


Sri Lanka: A Suggested Overall Framework For Reconciliation Discourse 
By Basil Fernando

http://www.countercurrents.org/fernando030216.htm

The author is sharing this writing, with a suggested over all frameworkfor reconcilation discourse in Sri Lanka. It is meant to provoke thought and discussion. Responsiblity for this view is the author’s alone

Realising Rohith Vemula's Vision

http://www.countercurrents.org/rohithmr.jpg


Rohith Vemula: Hindutva Politics And Dalit Question Today 
By Ram Puniyani

http://www.countercurrents.org/puniyani030216.htm

The death of Rohith Vemula has been projected as suicide by some and murder by others, depending on their political orientation. Rohith’s being dalit and his participation in Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) and active contribution to this politically vibrant dalit group is the major cause of his death. Apart from issues directly related to dalits, this association did raise the issues related to democratic rights which are relevant today, like beef eating, opposition to death penalty; as was given to Mumbai blast accuses Yakub Memon and went on to screen the film Muzzafarnagar Baki hai. This film on Muzzafarnangar violence (2013) exposes the role of communal forces


From Khairlanji To Hyderabad: What Post-Outrage? 
By Samar

http://www.countercurrents.org/samar030215.htm

Rohith Vemula’s suicide will not be just another suicide in the statistical records of the National Crime Records Bureau. It will not be so in the same way the 2006 massacre in Khairlanji was not. These two cases separated by almost a decade, are far more than a statistic of ordinary crime, such as that committed in a fit of rage or planned in cold blood; they are a comment on the very body politic of the republic. They expose the lies that the Republic has repeated so many times that it has started believing in them. They expose the myth that India has a functioning – even if inadequate – justice system, capable of delivering what it promises. They betray the fact that all Indians are not equal in front of the law, definitely not the ones condemned to live at the bottom rungs of the social hierarchy created by the caste system

RSN: Amnesty Links Large Multinationals, Including Apple, Samsung and Sony, to Suppliers Using Child Labor, Ku Klux Klan Uses Martin Luther King Jr. Day to Recruit New KKK Members in Alabama

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Robert Reich | The Washington Post Continues Its Bernie Bashing

Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Facebook Page
Reich writes: "The Washington Post continues to pretend it's running news stories about the election, which are only thinly-veiled opinion columns upholding the Washington establishment's views against the likes of Bernie Sanders. See, for example, today's column by David Fahrenthold, below."
READ MORE

he Washington Post continues to pretend it’s running news stories about the election, which are only thinly-veiled opinion columns upholding the Washington establishment’s views against the likes of Bernie Sanders. See, for example, today's column by David Fahrenthold, below.

I’ve already rebutted one of David Fahrenthold’s Bernie bashes. Fahrenthold makes many of the same charges today but also claims (1) Bernie hasn’t indicated how his single-payer healthcare idea would be cheaper than the current system (Fahrenthold conveniently ignores the large number of studies showing single-payer to be cheaper); (2) Bernie’s other policies would give the federal government “a new level of control” over colleges, prescription drugs, and child care (Fahrenthold thereby equates any public benefit with government control – one of the oldest right-wing memes in the conservative playbook); (3) Bernie’s ideas would be dead-on-arrival in a Republican-controlled congress (probably so -- which is why we must end Republican control); and, more generally, (4) Bernie’s “political revolution” amounts to “vast new government-funded benefits.”

This last allegation reveals the obtuseness of the reporting by Fahrenthold, the Washington Post, and much of the mainstream media. They don’t understand what Bernie means by a “political revolution.” It doesn't mean more government-funded benefits. It means a government that works for the many rather than the few – a government that’s not in the pockets of Washington’s corporate and Wall Street patrons. It means an end to the vicious cycle of wealth and power that has rigged the market to the benefit of those who make giant campaign contributions, hire platoons of lobbyists and lawyers, create their own “think tanks” and other propaganda machines, and even buy the Washington Post.

What do you think?

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/34708-the-washington-post-continues-its-bernie-bashing

St. Paul Cop: 'Run Over' Black Lives Matter Protesters
Mara H. Gottfried, TwinCities.com
Gottfried writes: "St. Paul police have placed a sergeant on leave as they investigate a report that he posted on Facebook, 'Run them over,' in response to an article about an upcoming Black Lives Matter protest."
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t. Paul police have placed a sergeant on leave as they investigate a report that he posted on Facebook, "Run them over," in response to an article about an upcoming Black Lives Matter protest.

The comment detailed what people could do to avoid being charged with a crime if they struck someone during the unpermitted march on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which blocked traffic on the Lake Street-Marshall Avenue Bridge.

Andrew Henderson, who frequently videotapes officers at work because he says he wants them to be held accountable, noticed the comment from "JM Roth" about 1 a.m. Saturday and immediately reported it to St. Paul police. He filed an internal affairs complaint Sunday, naming Sgt. Jeffrey M. Rothecker.

He posted video of himself reporting the post to police -- and a screenshot of the post -- here.

Rothecker could not be reached for comment Monday. The St. Paul Police Federation, the union for St. Paul officers, is representing Rothecker. Chris Wachtler, the union's attorney, said in a statement Monday, "There is an investigation under way. We will let the process play out. I can't comment on an active investigation until it is complete."

On Monday, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman issued a statement saying he is "outraged and disgusted by the post and (I) have directed the SPPD to investigate.

"Chief Smith and I are committed to building strong, trusting relationships with the communities we serve," Coleman continued. "There is no room in the St. Paul Police Department for employees who threaten members of the public. If the allegation is true, we will take the strongest possible action allowed under law."

At 9:30 p.m. Friday, the Pioneer Press posted an article to the newspaper's Facebook page with the headline, "Black Lives Matter planning to rally at Lake Street bridge Monday."

One comment on the post from "JM Roth" said, "Run them over. Keep traffic flowing and don't slow down for any of these idiots who try and block the street. Here is the deal, you continue to drive and if you hit someone make sure you call 911 to report the accident and meet the cops a block or two away and you can justify stopping further away because you feared for your safety since in the past people in this group has shown a propensity towards violence. Since they are trying to block the street and/or cross where there is no crossing you should not be charged with anything. Now, these idiots could try and sue in civil court, but remember that it will be jury trial and so most likely it will come out in your favor."

The comment has since been deleted, but Henderson captured it in a screenshot. Roth's Facebook page, which didn't include a mention of its owner's full name, was changed over the weekend to not be visible publicly.

Henderson, who is an administrator on the Minnesota Cop Block Facebook page, said he's familiar with Roth because that person frequently comments on Cop Block posts.

Henderson said he found evidence that "JM Roth" is Rothecker, which he provided to internal affairs, including that a woman whose last name is Rothecker had indicated on Facebook that she's married to "JM Roth." State records show a woman with that name is married to a Jeffrey M. Rothecker.

The head of the internal affairs unit, Senior Cmdr. Shari Gray, contacted Henderson after his initial report Saturday and they met Sunday. Henderson filmed the meeting with Gray and Sgt. John Wuorinen, an internal affairs investigator, and posted the video online Monday.

Henderson told them that when he saw the comment from "JM Roth," he thought, "You know, a police officer shouldn't be advising people to run over other people for just standing in the road. That's not reasonable to me. I don't know if that's reasonable to you.' "

Wuorinen responded, "It wouldn't be reasonable to, I would think any person, any decent person."

Police Chief Thomas Smith was informed of the allegation on Saturday, Gray said.

"This was of grave concern because of the upcoming event and we want to make sure everybody's safe," Gray said. "If we needed to change tactics or operational security on the event, we needed to do it. And then, two, make sure that if indeed this was one of our officers, that it's addressed quickly."

The police department said in a statement Monday that it has an active investigation underway and, if it's determined a member of the police department wrote the comment, "swift, strong and decisive disciplinary action will be taken."

"The statement (posted) is offensive, disappointing, concerning and does not reflect in any way -- or align with -- the views, values and practices of the St. Paul Police Department," the department said.

Trahern Crews, a Black Lives Matter St. Paul leader, said that before Monday's march, he and others were telling participants to be aware of their surroundings.

Crews said he found it disturbing and frightening that an officer would allegedly be "teaching people how to break the law or basically harm protesters. ... We're hoping nobody's going to do anything like that, but it's happened before."

In November 2014, a St. Paul man's car struck a 16-year-old protesting outside a police station on Minneapolis' Lake Street over a Missouri grand jury decision not to charge a Ferguson, Mo., police officer in Michael Brown's shooting. The 41-year-old pleaded guilty to failure to yield to a pedestrian; the teen suffered a minor leg injury.

Rothecker has been a St. Paul officer for 22 years and is the department's only elder-abuse investigator, according to information about him on the website for the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police, of which he is second vice president and was previously president. He's also a U.S. Army combat veteran, where he served from 1988 to 1996, the site said.

Mara H. Gottfried can be reached at 651-228-5262.

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/34707-st-paul-cop-run-over-black-lives-matter-protesters

President Obama's Immigration Policy in Question as Supreme Court Takes Up Case
Ian Millhiser, ThinkProgress
Millhiser writes: "The Supreme Court announced on Tuesday that it will hear United States v. Texas a lawsuit brought by a bloc of states and Republican officials that challenges changes to immigration policy that President Obama announced in 2014."
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Amnesty Links Large Multinationals, Including Apple, Samsung and Sony, to Suppliers Using Child Labor
Himanshu Goenka, International Business Times
Goenka writes: "Lithium-ion batteries in your smartphone could have cobalt that was mined in dangerous conditions by children as young as seven, according to a report."
READ MORE

Ku Klux Klan Uses Martin Luther King Jr. Day to Recruit New KKK Members in Alabama
Abigail Abrams, International Business Times
Abrams writes: "While many were celebrating the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend, some people in Mobile, Alabama, got an unwelcome present. Residents in some neighborhoods received recruiting flyers for the Klu Klux Klan, local news station WPMI-TV reported Sunday."
READ MORE

British Parliament Pummels Trump but Doesn't Ban Him From the UK
Griff Witte, The Washington Post
Witte writes: "They came at him with every insult imaginable: demagogue, idiot, fool, buffoon. They depicted him as a menace, a danger to public safety. And they mused with care and concern over the country across the Atlantic that's given him so much prominence in its politics."
READ MORE

Shell Tops NGO Hate List, Again
teleSUR
Excerpt: "Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has held the title of most hated company by NGOs, according to a survey released Monday. For the second year in a row, Shell has angered more NGOs than any other major company, according to the German NGO analyst group Sigwatch."
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Protesters gathered at the Port of Seattle to block oil workers' access to a Royal Dutch 

Shell drilling rig in 2015. (photo: Jason Redmond/Reuters)

Despite fierce competition from companies like HSBC, BP and Volkswagen, Shell continues to draw the ire of more NGOs than any other company.

il giant Royal Dutch Shell has held the title of most hated company by NGOs, according to a survey released Monday.

For the second year in a row, Shell has angered more NGOs than any other major company, according to the German NGO analyst group Sigwatch.

In 2015, Shell infuriated NGOs with its plans to drill in the Arctic. Those plans were ditched in September, prompting Sigwatch head Robert Blood to suggest the company's standing among NGOs may fare better in 2016.

“Shell has many issues and it won’t drop out of the list but we expect them to be way down the list in 2016,” he told the U.K.'s Independent.

Shell wasn't the only oil firm on the list. Nine out of the 20 companies featured on Sigwatch's NGO hate list were energy resource companies, including coal miners and oil firms. Behind Shell, BP was the second most hated company, while Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto came in third.

Three banks made the top ten: Standard Chartered, Barclays and HSBC. Last year HSBC was accused of helping wealthy clients dodge European taxes.

German car manufacturer Volkswagen made its debut on the annual list, drawing the ire of environmentalists in the wake of its emissions scandal.

Blood said the scandal was a shock that tarnished the company's reputation as a “national champion” in Germany.

“Volkswagen is not an oil and gas company. It’s not a company that NGOs want to hate, but in this case they had no choice,” he said.

Sigwatch's list was the result of a survey of more than 7,000 NGOs.

The 8 Biggest Corporate Welfare Recipients in America - Your tax dollars!

The 8 Biggest Corporate Welfare Recipients in America

Read more: http://www.cheatsheet.com/business/high-on-the-hog-the-top-8-corporate-welfare-recipients.html/?a=viewall#ixzz3n5NGpID7

In the U.S.,  it is rather commonplace to see welfare recipients demonized, people on food stamps ostracized, and anyone on any form of public assistance is often made to feel guilty that they need help. They are called lazy and incompetent, with little regard for circumstance or economic hardship. Sure, there are some people that take advantage of the system. But there are millions that desperately need help, and social welfare programs are the only thing standing between them and poverty.

That demonization seems to shift, however, when it comes to giving assistance to big business. According to The Cato Institute, corporate welfare handouts shot all the way up to $92 billion as of 2002. Most of those subsidies were secured by companies in industries like energy — which are some of the most profitable entities in the history of the world. As one writer at Forbes points out, cutting these huge subsidies would be a great way to help balance the national budget, but it is never put into action, and much less even considered.

More recently, subsidy tracking group Good Jobs First released a report last year detailing where exactly taxpayer dollars are being funneled, and which states are the most likely to divvy up handouts. There are some surprises in the report, but many details won’t come as much of a shock at all. New York and Washington were the top two states for handing out corporate subsidies, with New York alone topping more than $20 billion across nearly 69,000 individual handouts. The data also shows that roughly 75% of disclosed subsidy dollars have gone to 965 big companies. The total known value of subsidies across the country came out at an estimated $110 billion, although its likely more.

From its data, Good Jobs First was able to identify the top 100 recipients of corporate subsidies, dominated by transportation and natural resource companies. Here are the top eight companies from that list, and the total known amount in subsidies they are receiving.

Source: Getty Images

8. Nike — $2.03 Billion

Nike, based in the Portland suburb of Beaverton, Oregon, has taken in more than $2 billion in government appropriations, spanning 75 individual subsidies. Spanning the globe in terms of scope and reach, Nike isn’t exactly strapped for cash, so making the case that the company is in need of government assistance can be difficult.

Nike has been doing a good job of cleaning up its act over the past several years, cracking down on harsh factory conditions in its many plants across the world and giving plenty of money to schools across the country — most notably, the University of Oregon. While far from the top, Nike is getting a substantial boost to its revenue from the taxpayers, and it’s something the public and their representatives should keep an eye on.

Source: Leon Neal/Getty Images

7. Royal Dutch Shell — $2.04 Billion

As a petroleum company, Shell has been reaping profits like the world has never seen before, along with industry cohorts like Exxon Mobil. Many consumers have had to find ways to adjust as gas prices continue to rise, along with production costs of plastics and other materials. All the while, major oil companies have been sitting back and watching profits pile up.

Shell received $2.04 billion across 79 subsidies — enough to make it the top oil company in Good Jobs First‘s findings. For politicians looking to actually make headway towards balancing the budget, handouts to companies like Shell might be a good place to start reviewing. As The New York Times writes, these handouts only add on to the billions oil companies are already bringing in. In the words of Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, “there is no reason for these corporations to shortchange the American taxpayer.”

Source: Fiat

6. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles — $2.06 Billion

Fiat, now the owner of Chrysler, has been receiving a considerable chunk of taxpayer cash to help with its vehicle production worldwide. The government has ponied over more than $2 billion to the Italian-based auto maker, which it has used to help prop up brands like Dodge, Ram, and Chrysler here in the states. The company has come out to say that the survival and performance of its American brands are crucial to success, as it hopes revamps to its Jeep and Alfa Romeo lineups help on the bottom line.

Fiat has received 96 subsidies to bring their total up to $2.06 billion, and it’s obvious that the government sees the importance of helping the company prop up its American businesses. With several production plants and dealerships operating across the U.S., hopefully it turns out to be a worthwhile investment.

Source: Ford

5. Ford — $2.52 Billion

It doesn’t get much more ‘American’ than the Ford Motor Company, which itself has allocated $2.52 billion in government funding as of late. Spread across 193 separate appropriations, the subsidies have been able to help Ford recover from the financial crisis and adapt to a world that looks more and more like it have less cars on the road in coming years. Ford has been able to avoid, by and large, some of the other issues other American manufactures have had to deal with, but it still faces an uncertain future.

Ford has seen revenues surge as new technology, features, and models have been added to its lineup. It’s still the maker of the best selling car in America, the F-150, and its Fusion sedan has been winning over many in the sedan segment. However, for a company that is pulling in $7.2 billion in profits, as reported by The Guardian, it does bring up questions as to why the company is getting so much from the taxpayers when it is more than profitable.

Source: General Motors

4. General Motors — $3.58 Billion

Detroit’s own General Motors was found to be getting $3.58 billion in subsidies, coming in from 320 individual appropriations. Having survived bankruptcy on the backs of the taxpayers in 2009, GM took drastic measures to return itself to profitability. Several brands were cut from under the GM umbrella, leaving just four still in production. GM looked to be on a path towards stability until recent happenings have quickly returned the company to the public’s ire.

GM was found to have allowed vehicles with severe issues to go to market, resulting in customer deaths and the recall of millions of cars, trucks, and SUVs. With most of the recalls having occurred over the past year, the realization of how much the company is receiving in subsidies has been more of an afterthought than anything. Though GM is getting things turned around, it’s still likely to be on the receiving end of public money for quite some time.

Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

3. Intel — $3.87 Billion

The pride of Santa Clara, California, Intel is a maker of semiconductor microchips used in computers all across the world. The company was one of the big drivers behind the computing revolution of the 1980s and 1990s, and its founding dates all the way back to 1968. Intel is also on the receiving end of large amounts of government cash, with totals most recently reaching $3.87 billion from 59 individual subsidies.

It’s not a total stretch to understand why Intel might be getting so much money from the government, as there is a whole lot of interest in investing in the development of computing’s evolution. From defense to space exploration and everything in between, there’s no doubt that Intel’s chips will be used to power a huge amount of projects in coming years, with the private sector also a close watch.

Source: Mario Laporta/Getty Images

2. Alcoa — $5.64 Billion

You may not know Alcoa by name, but there’s probably at least one product with Alcoa aluminum in it somewhere in your home. As the world’s third largest producer of aluminum, Alcoa has an extensive history dating back to 1886 when it was first founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company has received $5.64 billion across 99 subsidies according to Find Good Jobs‘ report, which have helped the company go on to secure lucrative contracts for projects, like building jet engine parts.

As of the past few years, Alcoa has really been picking up steam. Production has increased at its numerous plants and stock prices have jumped as investors have taken notice. As the company continues to ramp things up, look for subsidy levels to remain high in coming years.

Source: Thinkstock

1. Boeing — $13.18 Billion

The top welfare recipient of them all is aerospace giant Boeing, which has operations spread all across the country building aircraft and working on numerous Department of Defense projects. The amount of work Boeing does for the federal government no doubt plays a part in the amount of subsidies the company has been able to secure, but Boeing has also played hardball with local jurisdictions to get enormous tax breaks. With more than $13 billion coming in from 148 handouts, Boeing has thoroughly entrenched itself in the interest of the government and taxpayers.

Despite the immense amount of money the company is receiving, it has still gone on to hold cities hostage in tax negotiations, threatening to remove jobs and open up shop in friendlier climates. This past year, Boeing secured the highest ever tax break at the state level when it cornered the Washington legislature into ceding to its demands, lest it move its production plants to another part of the country. The legislature granted Boeing its wish, but Boeing went on to announce drastic layoffs anyway, angering many locals.

Boeing has become the king of corporate handouts, and other corporations have a long way to go to catch up.

Follow Sam on Twitter @Sliceofginger

http://www.cheatsheet.com/business/high-on-the-hog-the-top-8-corporate-welfare-recipients.html/?a=viewall

RSN: US Walrus Protections Could Derail Shell's Plan for Arctic Drilling, Why We Must Fight Economic Apartheid in America, Report: Anti-Immigrant Groups Collude With Homeland Security Employees

It's Live on the HomePage Now: 
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Robert Reich | Why We Must Fight Economic Apartheid in America 
 
Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog 
Reich writes: "Almost lost by the wave of responses to the Supreme Court's decisions last week upholding the Affordable Care Act and allowing gays and lesbians to marry was the significance of the Court's third decision - on housing discrimination." 
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Jeb Bush's Tax Returns Show He Is Very Much in the 1% 
Betsy Woodruff, The Daily Beast 
Woodruff writes: "Jeb Bush wants you to see how much money he made over three decades - and to judge Hillary for paying less in taxes than him." 
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Many Killed by Police Were in Midst of Mental Health Crisis 
Wesley Lowery, Kimberly Kindy and Keith Alexander, The Washington Post 
Excerpt: "Officers often lack the training to approach the mentally unstable, experts say." 
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California Governor Says 'Science Is Clear' in Signing Mandatory Vaccination Bill 
Guardian UK 
Excerpt: "The bill bans exemptions for public school children based on religious or other personal beliefs, joining Mississippi and West Virginia in having strictest law." 
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Report: Anti-Immigrant Groups Collude With Homeland Security Employees 
Renee Lewis, Al Jazeera America 
Lewis writes: "Some Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees and union leaders have been colluding with white nationalist, anti-immigrant groups, lending credibility to hate groups and giving them an outsized influence on federal immigration policy, according to a report released Monday." 
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US and Cuba Agree to Re-Open Embassies 
Matt Spetalnick, Lesley Wroughton and Daniel Trotta, Reuters 
Excerpt: "The United States and Cuba have reached an agreement to reopen embassies and restore diplomatic ties severed more than five decades ago, and the historic deal will be unveiled on Wednesday, U.S. officials said on Tuesday." 
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US Walrus Protections Could Derail Shell's Plan for Arctic Drilling 
Reuters 
Excerpt: "The Obama administration dealt a setback to Royal Dutch Shell's Arctic oil exploration plans on Tuesday, saying established walrus and polar bear protections prevent the company from drilling with two rigs simultaneously at a close range, as it had planned." 
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