5: Turkey’s parliament set to approve sweeping new powers for president
A sweeping bill that will alter the Turkish constitution and grant broad powers to the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is on track to pass in parliament, paving the way for a historic spring referendum that could transform the country’s politics and strengthen the ruling party.
The parliament passed amendments to seven articles in the constitution in a second round of voting in the early hours of Thursday, and is expected to continue voting on the remaining articles on Friday.
The Guardian
Today marks President Obama’s last full day in office. On Friday at noon, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will swear in Donald Trump as the country’s 45th president. On Wednesday, in his last press conference as president, Obama defended his decision to commute the sentence of Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning, and condemned the Israeli occupation. He also warned Trump that he will not stay silent if he sees what he called the nation’s core values at risk. To look back at Obama’s legacy and what lies ahead with the new administration, we speak to Eddie Glaude, chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University. He is author of several books, most recently, “Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul.”
Democracy Now
3: Read Obama’s Thank You Note to America
“You made me a better President, and you made me a better man.”
Well, the day is here—Thursday marks President Obama’s final day in office before passing the keys to the White House (and the country) off to Donald Trump.
But before he and his family leave 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Obama wrote a few parting words directly to the American people on the White House website. The letter echoes some of the same sentiments he carried through his final farewell address earlier this month, reiterating the importance of upholding democratic ideals.
“And when the arc of progress seems slow, remember: America is not the project of any one person,” Obama writes. “The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.'”
Vice News
2: Who’s Paying for Inauguration Parties? Companies and Lobbyists With a Lot at Stake
CORPORATE INTERESTS THAT were largely reluctant to embrace Donald Trump during the presidential campaign last year are finally opening their checkbooks to underwrite the festivities sweeping Washington, D.C., to welcome his incoming administration.
Firms with a great deal riding on the major policy agenda items of the next four years have lined up to sponsor the endless parade of hors d’oeuvres and open bars at parties across the city.
Topping the list are firms with interests in pharmaceuticals, oil, and defense contracting — highly regulated industries that have much at stake with ongoing policy discussions over drug pricing, environmental regulations, and the defense sequester.
Several events list ride-sharing companies Lyft or Uber as special transportation partners. Both firms face regulatory hurdles to accessing municipal markets and in terms of gaining approval for the next generation self-driving car technologies.
The Intercept
1: US air raids ‘kill scores of ISIL fighters’ in Libya
More than 80 ISIL fighters have been killed in United States air raids on camps operated by the armed group inside Libya, according to US officials.
The Pentagon said on Thursday that B-2 bombers and US drones had targeted overnight two camps southwest of the city of Sirte, a former bastion of ISIL in the North African country.
Ash Carter, the US defense secretary, said on Thursday that some of the ISIL fighters were believed to be actively planning attacks against targets in Europe, without offering any details.
Aljazeera
