Accusing the Obama Administration of illegally blocking the keystone xl pipeline. Should trade guilds trump washingtons attempt to combat Climate Change . We will speak with lori wallach. Then to north korea. This act is a profoundly destabilizing for Regional Security and seriously undermines International Nonproliferation efforts. I condemn it unequivocally. Amy the International Community condemns north korea for conducting its Fourth Nuclear test, though the u. S. Says north korea failed to conduct a Hydrogen Bomb test as claimed. We will get the latest and also talk about Nuclear Politics worldwide. Then to the fort dix five. It gives us all hope, my family, me, my brothers. I have been taking care of my family since 15, taking care of six nieces and nephews, my mother, my father, my three brothers in prison. It has been hard, but that is not the hard part. The hardest part is having three innocent brothers in prison for no reason at all. Amy three muslim brothers from new jersey who claim they were entrapped by the fbi made a rare appearance in court wednesday, nearly 10 years ago they were prosecuted i then u. S. Attorney chris christie. We will hear why supporters of before dix five are calling for their life sentences to be lifted. All of that and more coming up. Welcome to democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. In guatemala, police have arrested and indicted 18 exmilitary leaders on charges of committing crimes against humanity during the decadeslong, u. S. Backed dirty war against guatemalas indigenous communities. The exmilitary leaders face charges of ordering massacres and forced disappearances during which led to more than a quartermillion deaths. Many of the arrested former military leaders were backed by the United States, including Manuel Benedicto Lucas garcia, a former army chief of staff and the brother of expresident romeo lucas. Garcia had worked closely with u. S. Military officials to develop a system of warfare in the highlands against guatemalas indigenous mayan communities, which involved decapitating and crucifying people. Prosecutors also moved to have the immunity lifted for Edgar Justino Ovalle maldonado, an exmilitary leader who is now the righthand man of incoming president jimmy morales. The arrests come six months after massive popular uprisings against a Corruption Scandal ousted the now jailed former president otto perez molina, who was also formerly a u. S. Backed military leader during the countrys dirty wars. The arrests come one day after acting president Alejandro Maldonado made a surprise announcement he was slashing the minimum wage for the Manufacturing Industry in certain areas. Video of the announcement shows acting president maldonado appearing to break down in the face of opposition, shouting at the protesters calling them leninists and bums. And a plane filled with guatemalans who have been deported from the United States just arrived in guatemala city, as the u. S. Government carries out a National Campaign of raids targeting families who have fled to the u. S. Seeking asylum. One of the deported asylumseekers, marvin solis, said he felt his rights had been violated. Like the saying goes, one does harm and another bears the blame. Some people truly deserve an opportunity over there and they are carrying out raids and with that, they in a violating peoples rights. Amy Transcanada Corporation has sued the u. S. Government over its rejection of the keystone xl pipeline. On wednesday, it filed a lawsuit in u. S. Federal Court Alleging president obamas rejection of the pipeline exceeded his power under the u. S. Constitution. Transcanada also filed legal action under the north American Free trade agreement, or nafta, claiming the pipeline permit denial was arbitrary and unjustified. Its seeking 15 billion as part of its nafta claim. President obama rejected the crossborder crude oil pipeline in november after years of review and one of the most vocal grassroots campaigns this country has seen in decades. Well have more on this story with lori wallach after headlines. Meanwhile, in california, governor jerry brown has declared a state of emergency wednesday in a Los Angeles Neighborhood where an uncontrollable methane gas leak has spewed more than 150 Million Pounds of methane into the atmosphere. The declaration comes ten weeks after the leak was detected. Environmental advocates are calling it the worst environmental disaster since the bp oil spill. Methane is a powerful Greenhouse Gas that accelerates global warming. The company responsible, Southern California gas company, says it could take three to four months to stop the breach. To hear more about the story, go to democracynow. Org to see our interview with erin brockovich. In texas, state trooper Brian Encinia has been indicted on perjury charges for lying about the traffic stop of sandra bland, the africanamerican woman who was found hanged in her jail cell three days after encinia arrested in july for allegedly failing to signal a lane change. Authorities say she committed suicide, a claim her family rejects. On wednesday, a grand jury indicted encinia, saying they didnt believe his written statement that he had removed bland from the vehicle in order to conduct a safer traffic investigation. Dashcam footage of the arrest shows encinia dragging sandra bland out of her car and threatening to light her up. Sandra bland can later be heard on video accusing the Police Officer of slamming her head into the ground. She said she had epilepsy, to which Trooper Encinia replies, good. The perjury charge against the thater is a misdemeanor carries up to 4000 fine and jail time. Following the grand jury announcement, protesters condemned the grand jury for indicting encinia for perjury, and not the more serious charges of assault. To give them a slap on the list and give him a perjury is not a surprise to us, but it is also a hurt in a slap in the face of Sandra Blands family. Amy last month, a grand jury declined to indict jailhouse officers in blands death. Her family has filed a wrongful death suit. To see our interview with them, go to democracynow. Org. In china, trading was halted for the day for the second time this week after stocks plunged 7 in less than a half an hour. It was chinas shortest trading day in 25 years. This comes as oil prices plunged to the lowest levels in more than a decade. A new report by the World Bank Warns that the Global Economy risks facing a perfect storm in 2016, renewing fears about a new Global Financial crisis. In libya, at least 50 people have died after a truck bomb exploded outside a Police Training center in the western city of zliten. At least 100 more people were wounded in the blast at the aljahfal training camp, which had served as a military base during the rule of ousted libyan leader muammar gaddafi. Afghan Officials Say a u. S. Drone strike killed at least five people on saturday in the Eastern Province of kunar. This comes as the u. S. Military has disclosed the name of the Army Special Forces soldier who was killed in Helmand Province earlier this week. 30yearold Matthew Mcclintock of albuquerque, new mexico was , killed tuesday during a u. S. Afghan operation in the city of marja. He is the first u. S. Soldier to die in afghanistan in 2016. He leaves behind a wife and infant son. In yemen, Human Rights Watch is accusing the u. S. Backed Saudiled Coalition forces of committing war crimes after the forces dropped cluster bombs on residential neighborhoods of the capital sanaa wednesday. The United States has reportedly sold internationally banned cluster bombs to saudi arabia, which are now being used in yemen, as part of the series of billiondollar arms deals between the u. S. And the saudis in 2015. Meanwhile, iran is accusing saudi arabia of attacking the Iranian Embassy in yemen amid escalating tensions between the two countries following saudi arabias execution of shiite cleric sheikh nimr alnimr. The cleric was executed saturday along with 46 others in saudi arabias largest mass execution in decades. Many of those killed were beheaded. Back in the United States, alabamas chief justice has drawn criticism after insisting that state probate judges must refuse to order samesex marriage licenses, despite the u. S. Supreme Court Decision legalizing Marriage Equality more than six months ago. Untilnesday, moore said it is rolled, the state budget is judges are bound by an earlier Alabama Court order prohibited same sex marriage. But if the state judges follow that directive, rather than the supreme Court Decision, they could be held in contempt of court. Currently, the majority of alabamas judges are issuing marriage licenses to all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, although judges in at least nine counties have shut down marriage license operations entirely in order to avoid the supreme courts ruling. In new york, eight medical marijuana dispensaries are opening across the state today. This comes after new York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation in 2014 legalizing medical marijuana. Nearly half of all u. S. States now allow patients to use marijuana for medical purposes. Medicinal purposes. In michigan, protesters are increasing demands for Governor Rick Snyders arrest, following the announcement federal prosecutors have opened an investigation into lead contamination in the Drinking Water of flint, which causes Permanent Health impacts including memory loss and developmental impairment. The contamination began after an unelected emergency manager appointed by Governor Snyder switched the citys water source to the longpolluted flint river in a bid to save money. Researchers at Virginia Tech who have been testing flint water say the city could have corrected the problem by better treating the water at a cost of as little as 100 a day. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency for flint wednesday, after learning of the federal probe. Many are calling for criminal action against snyder himself, accusing him of knowing about problem far earlier and refusing to take action. Newly released emails show snyders chief of staff dennis muchmore alerted the governor of the contamination problem more than six months ago, saying Flint Residents are concerned and rightfully so about the lead level studies they are receiving. These folks are scared and worried about the Health Impacts and they are basically getting blown off by us. On wednesday, celebrity singer cher joined the chorus of people calling for snyders arrest to her more than 3 million followers, tweeting gov. Of michigan is a murderer. Jailforrick. In vermont, preparing for a rally for trump after he gave away more than 20,000 free tickets for a venue that holds only 1400 people. Ifington police chief said fish was holding a free convert and get away 20,000 tickets, we would cancel the event at a Public Safety concerns. Were committed to accommodating the campaign because political speeches of the very essence of the first amendment. And in oregon, the northern paiute tribe has condemned the ongoing occupation of the Malheur National wildlife refuge by white rightwing militia members. On saturday, selfstyled rightwing antigovernment militia calling itself the citizens for constitutional freedom took over the wildlife refuge in support of two ranchers sentenced to prison for setting fires that burned federal land. Leaders of the occupation include ammon and ryan bundy, the sons of nevada rancher cliven bundy, who refused to pay decades worth of cattle grazing fees, prompting a standoff with federal rangers in 2014 in nevada. The militia has called for the federal land in oregon to be returned to them. But leaders of the northern paiute tribe said that if the land should be returned to anyone, it should be returned to the tribe. The tribe has rights to the land under a treaty signed by the Us Government more than a century ago. On wednesday, Tribal Council member Jarvis Kennedy contrasted the federal governments treatment of the armed militia members with the violent, forced removal of the northern paiute more than a century earlier. My name is Jarvis Kennedy. Ive got a question for the world out there. Eyes are onof the this little tribe. What if it was a bunch of natives that went out there and overtook any federal land . We were not removed, we were killed and ran off our land. Marched in snow out there. Hundreds of miles. When they finally let us go, we didnt have no place to go. Our land was already taken. They gave us 10 acres at the city dont dump. Think about that. Amy and those are some of the headlines. This democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Transcanada corporation has sued the u. S. Government over its rejection of the keystone xl pipeline. On wednesday, it filed a lawsuit in u. S. Federal Court Alleging president obamas rejection of the pipeline exceeded his power under the u. S. Constitution. Transcanada also filed legal action under the north American Free trade agreement, or nafta, claiming the pipeline permit denial was arbitrary and unjustified. Its seeking 15 billion as part of its nafta claim. President obama rejected the crossborder crude oil pipeline in november after years of review and one of the most vocal grassroots campaigns this country has seen in decades. At the time he said that , approving keystone would undermine global effort to stop Climate Change. Americas dog Global Leader when it comes to taking serious action to fight Climate Change. Friendly, proving this project would have undercut that Global Leadership. That is the biggest risk we face. Not acting. Today we are continuing to lead by example. Ultimately, if were going to prevent large parts of this earth from becoming not only inhospitable but uninhabitable and are lifetimes, we are going to have to keep some fossil fuels in the ground rather than burn them. And release more dangerous pollution into the sky. Amy the keystone xl pipeline would have sent 830,000 barrels of crude every day from albertas oil sands to refineries on the u. S. Gulf coast. Transcanadas lawsuit comes just days before president obamas final state of the Union Address where hes anticipated to tout his controversial Trans Pacific partnership, or tpp, deal. The secretive trade pact between the United States and 11 pacific rim nations could govern up to 40 of the worlds economy. After transcanada announced its lawsuit wednesday, the Group Friends of the earth released a statement saying this is why friends of the earth opposes the Transpacific Partnership and other trade agreements, which allow companies and investors to challenge sovereign government decisions to protect Public Health and the environment. Democracy now invited transcanada to join us on the show today, but the company declined citing pending litigation. In a statement, it said transcanada has undertaken a careful evaluation of the administrations action and believe there has been a clear violation of nafta and the u. S. Constitution in these circumstances. Well, for more, we go now to washington, d. C. , where were joined by lori wallach, director of public citizens global trade watch and author of, the rise and fall of fast track trade authority. Lori wallach, welcome to democracy now talk about your reaction to the transcanada suit. Well, what it boils down to is a Foreign Corporation deciding the u. S. Taxpayers ought to give them 15 billion because they dont like the outcome of our go