5: Controversial Keystone XL Pipeline Comes Back to Life With News of Trump Win
News of Donald Trump’s win on Tuesday night brought plenty of reactions—from elation to despair—but for TransCanada, a Calgary-based pipeline builder, it was a signal to get moving. Under President Barack Obama, the majorly controversial Keystone XL pipeline project, which would will carry up to 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was killed.
But Trump has indicated he might bring it back to life, as long as he gets a “better deal” and more profit for the US as a result. TransCanada has said it’s still committed to the project, and plans to engage with the President-elect.
A former US Department of Energy staffer told the CBC that the Keystone XL pipeline, representing the northern connection of Alberta’s tar sands moving crude oil to the refineries along the Texas gulf coast, could be approved within days of Trump’s inauguration.
Vice News
4: Trump Presidency Could Be Worth $14 Billion to His Troubled Lender
DONALD TRUMP’S ELECTION has likely given a massive lifeline to Deutsche Bank, the German financial firm that has been rocked recently by rumors that they would have to pay a $14 billion fine to the Justice Department over crisis-related mortgage abuses.
That money is unlikely to ever be imposed, now that one of Deutsche Bank’s biggest borrowers – Trump – will soon be sitting in the White House.
That conflict of interest is one of the innumerable ones facing Trump as he leaves his life of grifting behind and becomes the nation’s chief executive. While the Justice Department is nominally independent of the White House, I had to stop writing this sentence because of constant laughing. Trump could easily move to protect his personal investments by aiding his business partner Deutsche Bank.
The Intercept
3: Iraqi forces accused of killing civilians near Mosul
Men wearing federal police uniforms tortured and executed civilians in villages south of Mosul during an ongoing operation to retake the city from ISIL, according to a rights group, an allegation denied by Iraq’s authorities.
In a report published on Thursday, Amnesty International said its researchers had gathered evidence that up to six people were “extrajudicially executed” last month in the al-Shura and al-Qayyarah sub-districts over suspected ties to ISIL, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or ISIS.
Aljazeera
2: “Not My President”: Tens of Thousands Take to Streets, Block Freeways & Rally Against Trump
“Not My President”—that was the chant at protests across the country Wednesday as tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest the election of Donald Trump, who surged to victory over Hillary Clinton. In California, at least 13 people were arrested as hundreds blocked traffic on two major highways. Thousands more gathered at Los Angeles City Hall, waving Mexican flags and burning a giant effigy of Donald Trump. In nearby Santa Ana, police fired rubber bullets and pepper spray at hundreds of protesters after the crowds took over major intersections. In Oakland, police also deployed tear gas and flashbang grenades against crowds of thousands of protesters. In Seattle, thousands took to the streets for a protest called by Socialist Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant, while in Chicago thousands rallied outside Trump Tower. where at least five people were arrested. Protests were also held in Portland, Oregon; Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Richmond, Virginia; Austin, Texas; Boston and Philadelphia. Here in New York, as many as 10,000 people surged through streets and surrounded the barricaded-off Trump Tower, where Donald Trump lives. At least 65 people were arrested. Here are some of the voices from the protest in New York.
Democracy Now
1:President Trump’s first day: climate deal and immigration could be initial targets
On the morning of 21 January, after a long night of celebrations to mark his swearing-in as president, Donald Trump will take his seat at the Resolute Desk inside the Oval Office, pick up his pen, and launch into day one of his administration.
Predicting how he will act that first day is fraught with risk, given the mass of colourful and often vague promises the president-elect has made over the past 18 months on the campaign trail. Many of his most audacious pledges, including his much-vaunted plan to build a wall along the Mexican border and to scrap Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, would require the involvement of Congress and as such, are likely to be slower burns.
The Guardian
