(2021-02-17). Headlines for February 17, 2021. democracynow.org Severe Winter Storm Kills 23 People, Cuts Power to Millions as Texas Energy System Fails, Storm Creates Havoc for COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout as Biden Seeks Support from Public for Stimulus, NAACP Files Lawsuit Against Trump, Giuliani over Jan. 6 Insurrection, French Assembly Approves Bill Accused of Targeting Muslim Communities, Chad Sending Troops to Sahel, France Will Maintain Military Presence, as Conflict Claims More Lives, Protests Erupt over Spanish Rapper Arrested for Anti-Monarchy Lyrics and Tweets, Biden Directs DHS to Stop Using Word "Alien" to Refer to Immigrants and Asylum Seekers, Biden Received $5 Mil…
(2021-02-17). Video: Chaos in the Middle East, Turkey and US Pursuing Separate Goals in Northern Iraq. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | The United States has already started bearing the consequences of the …
(2021-02-17). Taliban hail NZ troops withdrawal plan from Afghanistan. yenisafak.com The Taliban on Wednesday hailed the announcement by New Zealand to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by May."We welcome the decision by New Zealand that is in line with the Doha agreement," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said in a tweet."We urge all countries that have exhausted their troops in a long unwinnable war in Afghanistan to take similar steps," he added, as NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels to decide on the fate of the Afghan mission.Washington struck a deal with the Taliban last year to withdraw all US forces in exchange for security guarantees. But the new US administration led by President Joe…
(2021-02-17). UN Expert Details Crushing Human Toll Of US Sanctions On Venezuela. popularresistance.org Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Alena Douhan, UN special rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, about her recent trip to Venezuela. | In her first interview since the publication of the preliminary findings of her mission to Venezuela, Professor Douhan discusses her main takeaways from the visit, her method for investigating, as well as the response to her report.
(2021-02-17). The Iran Deal: Biden and Blinken, Wykan and Blynkin. counterpunch.org 
Trump's attack on the Iran Deal was based on his ego, but done in tandem with apartheid-Israel and rogue state Saudi Arabia, whose vile leaders advised him to bomb Iran; he was reportedly on the verge of starting a war (in June 2019 and November 2020) when his more level-headed advisors checked him. (We must always recall that however sickening the Trump years they did not produce another criminal war.) Meantime Trump deeply annoyed the Europeans, such as the Deal's co-signers Germany, Britain and France, by thwarting major investment projects in the Islamic Republic. These included a factory to produce much need…
(2021-02-17). Colombia: New Massacre Leaves 5 Dead and One Injured. telesurenglish.net Colombia's Defense Minister Diego Molano on Wednesday reported that at least five coffee pickers were killed and one man was wounded in an armed attack in the Antioquia Department. | RELATED: | "The attack occurred on Tuesday around 21h00 local time on a coffee farm in the La Ermita village," Molano explained, adding that local authorities are identifying the victims. | A survivor told local outlets that five hooded men armed with long-range…
(2021-02-17). Uzbeks remember massacres committed by Armenian group. yenisafak.com Even a century later, memories of the killing of 35,000 civilians by armed Armenian Dashnak group are still fresh in the people's minds in Central Asian nations.Historians have recorded that more than 200 cities and settlements in the Fergana Valley in eastern Uzbekistan were destroyed in 1918."Mostly elderly, women and children were killed in the massacre that began on Feb. 13, 1918, and lasted for three months, by the Dashnaks to destroy the Turkistan Autonomy," said Sohret Barlas, an Uzbek historian, researcher, and writer who has been studying Dashnaks for over past 29 years.The Armenian Revolutionary Federat…
(2021-02-17). NATO-Linked Think Tank Proposes Biden Adopt Venezuela-Style 'Regime Change' Policies Towards Belarus. popularresistance.org The Biden administration should be massively boosting its funding to opposition groups in Belarus while increasing sanctions on the country in order to force out the current government, according to a discussion hosted by the highly influential Atlantic Council. | Kayla Popuchet is minoring in Slavic studies as part of her education in Latin American and Eastern European politics at City University of New York. Popuchet, who is also a regular contributor to Anticonquista and a New York City Housing Court Specialist, recently attended an online meeting about Belarus organised by the Atlantic Council, widely regard…
(2021-02-17). West Virginians Blast Senator Manchin for Opposing $15 Minimum Wage. zcomm.org "When will you give us a living wage?" asked one activist with the Poor People's Campaign…
(2021-02-17). Vote [1] for Socialist Alliance in Western Australia. greenleft.org.au The Socialist Alliance is the only voice in the WA election to challenge the terrifying logic of the capitalist system to maximise profits at the expense of people's lives and the environment, reports Kerry Smith.
(2021-02-17). "Work Won't Love You Back": Sarah Jaffe on Toxic U.S. Work Culture & the Fight Against Inequality. democracynow.org 
Amid the economic crisis and precarious working conditions for millions of people during the pandemic, we look at a new book by Sarah Jaffe, an independent journalist and author who covers labor and economic justice. "Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone" looks at the unsustainable expectations of fulfillment around work and how the "labor of love" myth has contributed to the rise of toxic workplaces. Jaffe says the pandemic has shown that work can always get worse, and that more and more people are pushing back. "It's not just that it's a bad, grinding, slow…
(2021-02-17). "David vs. Goliath": Warehouse Workers in Alabama Fight Amazon for the Right to Unionize. democracynow.org 
Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, are continuing to vote on whether to become the first unionized Amazon warehouse in the United States. Their demands include stronger COVID-19 safety measures and relief from impossibly high productivity standards that leave many unable to take bathroom breaks. "We want to be heard. We want to be treated like people and not ignored when we have issues," says Jennifer Bates, a worker at Amazon's BHM1 facility who has been part of the union drive from the beginning. We also speak with Michael Foster, a poultry plant worker, union member and member-organizer with RWDSU. "Amazon h…
(2021-02-17). Teacher Unions: We Want to Reopen Schools as Well, But We Need Vaccines & Resources to Do It Safely. democracynow.org 
As school districts across the U.S. debate how to safely bring children into the classroom, we speak with two leaders of the teachers' union movement on what's at stake as schools reopen. Stacy Davis Gates, executive vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, says years of underfunding and privatization have left many school districts ill-equipped to meet the needs of students, as well as educators. "It's not just the context of opening schools. It's reopening schools safely with the resources that are necessary to keep people safe," she tells Democracy Now! We also speak with Randi Weingarten, president of th…
(2021-02-17). Texas disaster is what happens when you DON'T pursue a Green New Deal — AOC. rt.com 
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) has blasted Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the state's infrastructure planning, claiming her Green New Deal would better prepare areas for extreme weather conditions. | "The infrastructure failures in Texas are quite literally what happens when you *don't* pursue a Green New Deal," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Wednesday. | The message appeared to be in response to Abbott criticizing a potential Green New Deal due to many renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines failing in the state's historically cold weather. In an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday ev…
(2021-02-17). Solidarity accelerates with Amazon workers' union drive in Alabama. workers.org 
Solidarity with the struggle of 5,800+ Amazon workers in Bessemer, Ala., to unionize continues to grow, following the heroic lead of this majority-Black workforce fighting for justice on the job. Walking the Powder Plant Road approach to the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Ala.,where a union drive is underway by the . . . |
(2021-02-17). Texans freeze as fossil-fuel power grid fails, but conservatives blame wind turbines. peoplesworld.org 
While Texans suffer from freezing temperatures and extensive power outages, frozen wind turbines are being used as a ploy to spread skepticism on the reliability of renewable energy. This week, a relentless winter storm pummeled through parts of the southern and central U.S., causing people to crank their electric heating systems. In Texas, the energy demand became too high for …
(2021-02-17). Leading from the front: The role of women in Farmers' movement. mronline.org 
As lakhs of farmers continue their protest against the new farm legislations introduced by the Modi government, a remarkable number of women are not only braving the rough weather by participating in these demonstrations but are also leading from the front.
(2021-02-17). Texas infrastructure nears collapse, millions without power, water. liberationnews.org 
Four million or more Texans are without power. Outages that were initially called "rolling outages" are now lasting several days. The private non-profit corporation that oversees the electric grid is now admitting that they are "unable to predict" when conditions will stabilize.
(2021-02-17). GameStop and Share Markets: Between the bad and the ugly, there is no G. mronline.org 
The recent GameStop story coming out of the U.S. pushed arcane financial dealings into a prominence they rarely enjoy. The public was introduced to weird concepts such as "short selling and short squeezes" and, for a while, they are likely to be part of many Zoom conversations.
(2021-02-17). Vulture Funds plan to use the Pandemic to pillage the Global Economy. mronline.org 
Before the pandemic, private equity had amassed $2.5 trillion—more than the GDP of Italy—in 'dry powder,' waiting for distressed assets to plunder. Covid-19 provided them with the perfect opportunity.
(2021-02-17). 'Indian Country' is excited about the first Native American secretary of the interior — and the promise she has for addressing issues of importance to all Americans. juancole.com 
By Traci Morris | — President Biden's nomination of U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico to lead the Department of the Interior is historic on many levels. Haaland, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, was one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, along with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of …
(2021-02-17). Whose Rights Matter in Pandemic America? Not Those of Poor Americans, That's For Sure. juancole.com 
By Liz Theoharis | — ( Tomdispatch.com ) — In June 1990, future South African President Nelson Mandela addressed a joint session of Congress only months after being released from 27 years in a South African apartheid prison. He reminded the political leadership of the United States that "to deny people their human rights is …
(2021-02-17). Big Oil Spent $10 million Lobbying California Officials in 2020. counterpunch.org 
The powerful oil industry lobby in California in 2020 spent less on lobbying in California than it did in 2019, but still managed to defeat legislation it opposed and getting CalGEM, the state's gas and oil regulatory agency, to double the number of new oil production well permits approved in the state. The top four oil industry lobbyist employers — the Western
(2021-02-17). COVID-19 Has Made Americans Lonelier Than Ever — Here's how AI can Help. realprogressives.org 
"How does that make you feel?" | In the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are missing a sympathetic ear. Would a response like that make you feel heard, less alone, even if it were a machine writing back to you? | The pandemic has contributed to
(2021-02-17). 'Faith in the Masses': Communist Party history gives something to believe in. peoplesworld.org 
Faith in the Masses: Essays Celebrating 100 Years of the Communist Party, USA, edited by Tony Pecinovsky, is an ambitious undertaking—almost as ambitious as the work the book describes. These essays cast a wide net aiming to capture the breadth of the Party's efforts to change society over the last century. The celebration is heartfelt, …
(2021-02-17). The "Return" of America: Biden's Maiden Foreign Policy Speech. counterpunch.org 
Few could have been slack-jawed at the first significant foreign policy speech of US President Joe Biden. It can easily be filed under the "America is back" label. Back as well, as if the previous administration had been incapable of it, was a promise for that practice unflatteringly called jaw-jaw. "Diplomacy," the President states from
(2021-02-17). Congressional Budget Office Not Competent to Assess Economics of Minimum Wage. counterpunch.org 
A Congressional Budget Office Report on the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 underpins a February 11 Washington Post editorial headlined, "Democrats Must Listen to the Data."
(2021-02-17). Unsubstantiated 'sonic attack' allegations still hobble U.S.-Cuba relations. peoplesworld.org 
The new Biden administration may soon ease regulations enforcing the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. However, if Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden's new bill, the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2021, becomes law, the blockade itself will disappear. The two countries' embassies in Havana and Washington are dysfunctional. No normal relations will be obtained until they are …
(2021-02-17). Agro-ecology project links peasant production to urban communes in Venezuela. peoplesdispatch.org 
"Only the people can save the people." With this idea in mind, the Pueblo a Pueblo Foundation (People to people, in Spanish) seeks to apply in real life, union and solidarity between the countryside and the city. The project is based on bringing food produced by rural Venezuelan communities to urban communes. The goal is to shut out intermediaries, and ensure the societal division of agricultural production: ensuring that the farmer does not lose his harvest, and that the consumer can have access to a diversified basic food basket at a fair price. | "The Pueblo a Pueblo plan has working on this dimension of agroe…
(2021-02-17). To Normalize US-Cuban Relations, Restore Working Embassies. counterpunch.org 
The new Biden administration may soon ease regulations enforcing the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. However, if Oregon Senator Ron Wyden's new bill, the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2021, becomes law, the blockade itself will disappear. Meanwhile, the two countries' embassies in Havana and Washington are dysfunctional. No normal relations will obtain until they are
(2021-02-17). Trump's right-wing Egyptian allies attack Biden administration and Dems. peoplesworld.org 
Egypt's miserable record on human rights has resulted in two Democrats launching a congressional group to deal with the situation. On Jan. 25, Democratic Reps. Tom Malinowski of New Jersey and Don Beyer of Virginia announced the formation of the "Egypt Human Rights Caucus." Egyptian human rights organizations and activists in the U.S. have responded …
(2021-02-17). Execution cruelty hidden by Trump officials to speed up death sentences. peoplesworld.org 
CHICAGO (AP)—Executioners who put 13 inmates to death in the last months of the Trump administration likened the process of dying by lethal injection to falling asleep and called gurneys "beds" and final breaths "snores." But those tranquil accounts are at odds with reports by The Associated Press and other media witnesses of how prisoners' stomachs rolled, …
(2021-02-17). Columbus OH activists fight closure of park, site of a homeless encampment. liberationnews.org 
The city's decision to close the park without offering alternative plans to house the people who live there exposes the city's failure to care for its most vulnerable residents.
(2021-02-17). From electric vehicles to corruption — UAW faces huge challenges. workers.org 
General Motors CEO Mary Barra raised more than a few eyebrows Jan. 28, when she announced GM would have an all-electric product line by 2035. This planned phaseout of fossil fuel-burning vehicles represents a serious departure from four years ago, when GM joined the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in calling . . . |
(2021-02-17). Texas infrastructure nears complete collapse as capitalist neglect meets climate change-driven winter storms. liberationnews.org Four million or more Texans are without power. Outages that were initially called "rolling outages" are now lasting several days. The private non-profit corporation that oversees the electric grid is now admitting that they are "unable to predict" when conditions will stabilize.
(2021-02-17). 'Georgia On My Mind: The Third Reconstruction': Connecticut Black history event planned. peoplesworld.org 
"Georgia on My Mind: The Third Reconstruction," is the theme of a series of scheduled events including a Black History Month Youth March / car caravan, a virtual event, and an arts and writing competition highlighting the 47th People's World African American History Celebration in Connecticut. Register here. NEW HAVEN, Conn.—Co-sponsored with the Young Communist …
(2021-02-17). Albuquerque teachers say, 'Until cases decline, keep school online!'. liberationnews.org 
Photo credit: Liberation screenshot of KOAT coverage. On Feb. 3, teachers and students held a protest outside of Albuquerque Public Schools administrative headquarters against the rushed re-opening of schools. They chanted "Save lives, keep the schools closed!" and "Until cases decline, stay online!" Later that day, the APS Board of Education met to vote on …
(2021-02-17). Essential Inquest Law Updates with Rachel Marcus and Jim Duffy on Law Pod UK. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
The last 12 months have provided fertile ground for many significant judgments concerning inquest law. In Episode 136, Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Rachel Marcus and Jim Duffy about the developments practitioners will need to know about. The episode mentions: Rushbrooke v HM Coroner for West London [2020] EWHC 1612 (Admin) R (Maughan) v Senior Coroner …
(2021-02-17). Twitch.tv: A new frontier for the Left. dsausa.org 
Will Twitch hold an active role in the next campaign cycle? Will the Left be able to utilize this platform not only for electoral politics, but for direct action too?
(2021-02-17). Israelis, In God's Name, Why? counterpunch.org 
"The International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust is a time to mourn those who disappeared and to reflect upon the choice of the individuals and governments that allowed this genocide to unfold. It is also a call for vigilance and for action, to address the root causes of hatred
(2021-02-17). THIS is why 'deregulation' is deadly. therealnews.com 
Millions of Texans are struggling to keep warm and survive Winter Storm Uri. Meanwhile, Republicans like Texas Gov. Greg Abbot are rushing to save their own asses, pushing the blame for power grid failures onto anyone but themselves; but they, and years of market-serving conservative governance, caused this mess.
(2021-02-17). The Arab Spring Failed But the Rage Against Misery and Injustice Continues. counterpunch.org 
Ten years ago, people across the Middle East and North Africa rose up in protest against their rulers, demanding freedom and democracy. Despotic rulers were toppled or feared that power was being torn from their grasp in countries across the region, as millions of demonstrators surged through the streets, chanting that "the people demand the fall of the regime".
(2021-02-17). Montgomery Bus Boycott, Bessemer, prisons — Class struggle then and now. workers.org 
Fifty years after the end of the U.S. Civil War — and during the height of horrific lynchings of Black people in the Deep South by KKK terror — the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History was founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter Woodson and Rev. Jesse . . . |
(2021-02-17). 22-year old climate change organizer arrested in India. liberationnews.org 
Disha Ravi is accused of "sedition" for allegedly helping to create a digital "toolkit" to support the farmers' struggle.
(2021-02-17). The Heat: Farmers protest in India. america.cgtn.com 
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi facing the largest demonstrations since he came to power. We will take a look at the protests by thousands of farmers in the country.
(2021-02-17). Morgan Lewis lawyers — high-paid union-busting thugs. workers.org 
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bosses hired Pinkerton Agency goon squads to infiltrate unions, break strikes and intimidate workers who were trying to organize. Graphic: supportamazonworkers.org Today's hired union-busting thugs are more likely to be high-paid lawyers tasked with turning labor laws — intended to protect workers . . . |
(2021-02-17). Syria: US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem released by HTS after six months. middleeasteye.net 
Syria: US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem released by HTS after six months | Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham detained reporter after he highlighted allegations of torture inside group's prisons | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 12: 29 | Bilal Abdul Kareem (second from right) was freed after HTS held him for six months following his reports on the treatment of Tauqir Sharif (right), a British aid worker (Supplied) | Syrian militan…
(2021-02-17). Islamic State: New Zealand lashes at Australia for stripping woman's citizenship. middleeasteye.net 
Islamic State: New Zealand lashes at Australia for stripping woman's citizenship | A dual Australian-New Zealand national was arrested in Turkey over suspected affiliation to IS. Now the two countries are rejecting responsibility for her | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 13: 46 | New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has slammed Australia for 'unilaterally' stripping the suspected IS member's Australian citizenshi…
(2021-02-17). 'Path to diplomacy' between Iran and US is open, Blinken says. middleeasteye.net 
'Path to diplomacy' between Iran and US is open, Blinken says | But Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said Washington's 'nice words and promises' were not enough to revive the nuclear deal | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 18: 54 | 'We know that that agreement was working,' US Secretary of State Tony Blinken told NPR (AFP/File photo) | Washington and Tehran have an open "path to diplomacy" to revive the nuclear deal a…
(2021-02-17). Fight for $15: Is Biden trying to sabotage key provision of his own stimulus bill? liberationnews.org 
One of the biggest unanswered questions regarding the stimulus package is whether or not it will include a provision to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
(2021-02-17). Covid-19: Mass medic migration leaves Iran in pandemic panic. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Mass medic migration leaves Iran in pandemic panic | The pandemic has driven Iran's doctors and nurses to foreign countries that offer better financial and workplace incentives, as well as respect for the healthcare profession | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 14: 42 | As Iran struggles with the coronavirus outbreak, many Iranian doctors and nurses have chosen to emigrate for better pay and…
(2021-02-17). 'We're not a charity case, we're under occupation'. therealnews.com 
Telling Israel to be a kinder occupying force does nothing to address the structural violence of Israeli occupation, which has been laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(2021-02-17). Rights groups slam US arms sale to Egypt as activist's relatives arrested. middleeasteye.net 
Rights groups slam US arms sale to Egypt as activist's relatives arrested | Groups call for end to weapons sales to Cairo and for Biden administration to live up to its promise of 'no more blank checks' for President Sisi | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 17: 20 | The State Department announced it had approved a $197m arms sale to Cairo, which consisted of 168 Raytheon-made Rolling Airframe Missiles (AFP/File ph…
(2021-02-17). Biden makes long-awaited call to Israel's Netanyahu. middleeasteye.net 
Biden makes long-awaited call to Israel's Netanyahu | US President Joe Biden spoke to the Israeli PM for around an hour, following much speculation over a month of silence between the two leaders | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 21: 18 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on the phone with US President Joe Biden on 17 February (Twitter/@IsraeliPM)
| US President Joe Biden made a much-anticipated call to I…
(2021-02-17). Tyranny by Propaganda Is Tyranny by Force. strategic-culture.org 
By Caitlin JOHNSTONE | As people became more educated and more aware of what's going on in their world, they began to decide that they didn't much like being attacked by the ruler's goon squad whenever they stepped out of line. Because there are a lot more ordinary people than rulers, this forced an end to the practice of rule by overt brute force tyranny in some parts of the world. | So a few things changed. First, we began to see rulers shipping their violent goon squad enforcers overseas. While it is now taboo to openly butcher members of your citizenry who oppose you, it is considered perfectly acceptable to…
(2021-02-17). Syria and Israel to swap prisoners in Russia-mediated deal. middleeasteye.net 
Syria and Israel to swap prisoners in Russia-mediated deal | Nihal al-Maqt and Diab Kahamuz, Syrians from the occupied Golan Heights, to be exchanged for an Israeli woman who crossed the border | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 14: 15 | The fence between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the Syrian governorate of Quneitra (AFP) | Two Syrian prisoners from the occupied Golan Heights will be released…
(2021-02-17). For the sake of democracy, kill off the Senate filibuster. peoplesworld.org 
The nation's economic outlook is worsening, and new, more contagious COVID-19 variants worry public health officials. In response, the Democratic-led House and Senate are moving quickly to pass President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan (ARP) through the process of budget reconciliation. This process requires a simple majority vote in the U.S. Senate. Budget reconciliation is …
(2021-02-17). UAE: Boris Johnson 'concerned' about Dubai's Princess Latifa. middleeasteye.net 
UAE: Boris Johnson 'concerned' about Dubai's Princess Latifa | Britain has asked the UAE for proof that Latifa is 'alive and well', but has no plans to raise her case with the Emiratis | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 08: 41 | Princess Latifa shared secret recordings filmed inside a Dubai villa, where she says she is being held hostage (Supplied) | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that he was "concern…
(2021-02-17). Playing politics while Texans freeze? Gov. Abbott grilled after blaming Green New Deal for his state's power woes. rt.com 
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has singled out renewable energy as the culprit behind his state's devastating power outages, sparking accusations that he is trying to skirt responsibility for the crisis. | Frigid temperatures have shut down some of Texas' wind turbines and solar panels, as well as natural gas infrastructure in the Lone Star state. As a result, millions of residents have been left in freezing conditions without power, resulting in numerous deaths. | Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday, Abbott suggested that the failure of so-called "sustainable" energy sources such as wind and solar…
(2021-02-17). Small businesses saved? Biden helped struggling firms 'first & foremost' with female nominee, press sec Psaki says. rt.com 
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki kicked off a wave of criticism after suggesting the Joe Biden administration was helping out struggling companies "first and foremost" by tapping a woman to lead the Small Business Administration. | Psaki was asked what the president intended to do to assist small business during a virtual Q&A on Tuesday, as many independent companies continue to languish under a raft of state-level shutdown policies and other restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. | "First and foremost, he nominated a woman to lead the Small Business Administration, who formerly worked there," Psaki said…
(2021-02-17). Former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino DEMOLISHED to cheers in Atlantic City (VIDEO). rt.com 
Donald Trump's former hotel and casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey was taken down in a controlled demolition on Wednesday, with spectators actually paying to view the event and cheering as it came down. | While the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino had once been one of the big attractions on the Boardwalk, it had fallen into disrepair since closing in 2014, with debris beginning to peel and fall off the building. | It was destroyed in a controlled demolition on Wednesday morning, leaving in its wake nothing but rubble. | The former events manager for the casino, Bernie Dillon, said the hotel had on…
(2021-02-17). 'A love as real as climate change': Tucker Carlson sparks outrage after saying Joe & Jill Biden's marriage a 'slick PR campaign'. rt.com 
Fox News host Tucker Carlson has outraged Democrats once again after he appeared to suggest President Joe Biden's relationship with his wife is a carefully-devised PR campaign, mockingly saying it is "as real as climate change." | Reacting to the glowing coverage celebrating Biden's public displays of affection with his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, and glee over a supposed return to 'normalcy' following chilly public interactions between former President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Carlson put his own spin on the situation. | "Not since Antony dined with Cleopatra at downtown Antioch, before they killed…
(2021-02-17). 'Breathing is optional': Internet groans after NYC requires double-masking inside federal court buildings. rt.com 
Two masks will now be required for those who want to enter a federal court building in Manhattan — but the new Covid-19 guidance has provoked more mockery than applause on social media. | The Southern District of New York
(2021-02-17). US charges 3 North Koreans with hack on Seth Rogen/James Franco movie and stealing $1.3 billion. rt.com 
The US has charged three North Korean computer programmers over the theft of $1.3 billion and the well-publicized attack on a Hollywood film starring Seth Rogen and James Franco which depicts Kim Jong-un being assassinated. | The indictment names Jon Chang Hyok, 31, Kim Il, 27, and Park Jin Hyok, 36, as "military hackers" behind the cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2014, allegedly in response to the film 'The Interview'. | The 'hack-and-dump' operation on Sony saw swathes of its data deleted and other information published online, in what was seen to be the North Korean intelligence services retal…
(2021-02-17). Parler's new acting CEO invites Trump AND Biden to join 'civil discourse' after platform goes back online. rt.com 
The interim CEO of the conservative-friendly social media site Parler has invited both President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump to create accounts, encouraging "civil discourse" after announcing the platform's return. | Parler's new acting chief executive, longtime Tea Party activist Mark Meckler, extended the offer to the current and former president during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, saying both are welcome on the site. | "What Parler's really about is being a public square, and a public square is where anybody can come, they can say what they want as long as it's legal. And Dona…
(2021-02-17). Shopkeeper who stopped robbery in California by shooting into the air ARRESTED for discharging his gun. rt.com 
An Oakland liquor store owner in violence-besieged Chinatown shot into the air to stop the robbery of a woman in front of his shop, only to be arrested as police signaled that armed resistance to a crime wave won't be tolerated.
(2021-02-17). Liberals show their true colors by dancing on Rush Limbaugh's grave within minutes of learning about his death. rt.com 
Many have mourned the death of conservative icon and talk-radio pioneer Rush Limbaugh, but his critics have also been quick to exploit his demise for cheap political points that benefit no one. | It took minutes for liberals to politicize the death of Limbaugh, which was announced Wednesday on his radio program by his wife Kathryn. Limbaugh was 70. | While Limbaugh was a window into the world of politics and a thought-provoking radio personality to many, to others it appears he was the devil himself. One would think he was a full-blown terrorist or murderer based on some of the reactions to his passing away.
(2021-02-17). 'Verbal stumble' or blatant lie? Biden says US had no vaccine when he took office as new admin criticizes Trump's jab rollout. rt.com 
Joe Biden, who was fully vaccinated before his inauguration, has been accused of playing loose with the facts after stating that there was no Covid-19 shot when he entered office. But some insist it was a harmless verbal slip. | Read more | | Speaking with CNN's Anderson Cooper at a town hall event on Tuesday, the US president explained in a rather disjointed way that the United States lacked both vaccines and health workers capable of administering…
(2021-02-17). Biden administration approves $200 million arms sale to Egypt despite concerns over human rights abuses. rt.com 
The US has signed off on a $197 million arms sale, containing 168 tactical missiles, to the Egyptian government, despite the Biden administration raising concerns over potential human rights abuses in the country. | The US State Department announced that the government has approved the deal after the Egyptian Navy requested the Rolling Airframe Missiles to bolster its defense capabilities around the Red Sea, as the nation is seen as "an important strategic partner in the Middle East." | Congress will now review the deal and the State Department's approval before it is formally confirmed. | The Biden administra…
(2021-02-17). Biden promises vaccines available to all Americans by end of July, 'significantly' less social distancing & masks a year from now. rt.com 
President Biden has predicted a "very different circumstance" for the US' Covid-19 outbreak by Christmas, saying some 600 million vaccine doses will be ready by July while noting that he's been advised against 'over-promising.' | Biden waxed optimistic about the ongoing viral outbreak during a CNN town hall event on Tuesday, declaring that "by next Christmas, I think we'll be in a very different circumstance, God willing, than we are today." He said the improvement would be further helped along if an inoculation developed by Johnson & Johnson receives FDA approval, as it is expected to sometime this month. | "
(2021-02-17). BBC criticised over 'hostile' interview with MCB's first female leader. middleeasteye.net 
BBC criticised over 'hostile' interview with MCB's first female leader | More than 100 public figures sign letter calling for public broadcaster to diversify and better engage with Britain's Muslims | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 19: 10 | Zara Mohammed became both the youngest and first female leader of Muslim Council of Britain last month (Twitter) | More than 100 public figures have signed an open letter to the BBC cri…
(2021-02-17). Incarcerated workers say: 'Solidarity with Amazon workers!'. workers.org 
The following letters from incarcerated workers in the Pennsylvania prison system were sent by email on Feb. 13 and 15 to Joe Piette, a member of the Prisoner Solidarity Committee of Workers World Party. From SCI Frackville As I've advised you before, anything that I can do . . . |
(2021-02-17). Selected Articles: Science and Power as Fellow Henchmen. globalresearch.ca 
By Today's science is in a relation…
(2021-02-17). Biden Administration Iran Bashing. Multiple Rockets Struck Pentagon Airbase in Northern Iraq. globalresearch.ca Like his predecessor, Biden and hardliners surrounding him invent reasons to bash Iran unjustifiably. | On Monday, multiple rockets struck a Pentagon airbase in Erbil, Iraq, killing a US contractor and wounding nine others, at least one individual in critical condition….
(2021-02-17). Migrants, authorities clash on Peru-Brazil border. laprensalatina.com Lima, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- Tension on the Peru-Brazil border boiled over Tuesday with incidents between the Peruvian authorities and a migrant caravan that tried to cross the checkpoint from Brazil. According to witnesses in the Peruvian jungle region of Madre de Dios, a group of about 350 migrants breached the border crossing between the towns …
(2021-02-17). If It Were A Narco Lab, It Would Be Working. popularresistance.org On the day he was inaugurated, Joe Biden halted the construction of Trump's Mexican border wall. A few days earlier, 1500 miles to the south, a new 'caravan' of at least eight thousand Honduran migrants had set off northwards, partly in the hope that by the time they tried to cross into Texas, Biden's promised softening of immigration policy might have taken effect. | Obstacles left by Trump still stand in their way. Agreements he made with Honduras and Guatemala led to police attacking and dispersing the refugees. Scattered groups are still heading towards the Mexican frontier at Chiapas — according to one…
(2021-02-17). From Covid to Power outages in Ice Storms, the Texas Republican Party has created a Failed State. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — The Republican Party has had a lock on Texas politics for over two decades, and has reduced it to a failed state. Even Texans like Beto O'Rourke are making this observation. Millions are without electricity in the midst of one of the state's worse winter storms ever. This massive failure …
(2021-02-17). The Expiration of the CARES Act Could Force Thousands Back into Federal Prisons. aclu.org The Trump Department of Justice spent its final days putting thousands of people at greater risk of catching COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic. On Jan. 15, the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel issued a memo arguing the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will be legally obligated to return thousands of people released on home confinement back to federal prisons while the pandemic still ravages correctional facilities. With the memo's March return date growing closer — and public health officials indicating that we will not be out of the pandemic woods by then — the Biden administration must take swift actio…
(2021-02-17). Pandemic-Related Drop in College Enrollment Reveals Inequities in Access to Higher Ed. cepr.net Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on college enrollments this fall. Based on preliminary estimates, fall 2020 enrollments were down 2.5 percent, resulting in a rate of decline greater than twice that of 2019, and a net decrease of 400,000 students in higher education. The bulk of the decline was concentrated at …
(2021-02-17). Venezuela to Launch Its COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro Wednesday informed his country will start its vaccination campaign with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine this Thursday. | RELATED: | "We will begin immunizing health workers with the 100,000 doses that arrived in the country on Feb. 15," he said, adding that the government will guarantee the health and lives of the people "thanks to cooperation between Russia and Venezuela." | Law enforcemen…
(2021-02-17). Paraguay to Receive First Batch of Sputnik V Vaccines. telesurenglish.net Paraguay's President Mario Abdo on Wednesday thanked Russia's President Vladimir Putin for supplying his country with Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines. | RELATED: | "I hold an excellent telephone conversation with President Putin. We agreed to push for a shipment schedule for more COVID-19 vaccine batches as soon as possible," Abdo tweeted. | The first 4,000 Sputnik V doses should arrive in this South American country early Friday mo…
(2021-02-17). COVID infections drop 16% worldwide in one week: WHO. news.un.org In its latest update on the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that although the number of global infections have fallen by 16 per cent in a week — 500,000 fewer cases — regions, including Europe, are still in the grip of the virus whose variants are spreading.
(2021-02-17). Strengthen 'One Health approach' to prevent future pandemics — WHO chief. news.un.org The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates "intimate" linkages between the health of humans, animals and ecosystems, as zoonotic diseases spread between animals and people, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief said on Wednesday.
(2021-02-17). COVID-19 vaccination 'wildly uneven and unfair': UN Secretary-General. news.un.org International partners working to achieve equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines appealed on Wednesday for the UN Security Council to ensure people caught in conflict have access to these lifesaving treatments.
(2021-02-17). WHO urges Iran to share Covid-19 experiences with world. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — The Regional Director of the WHO, Ahmed bin Salem, Al-Manzari said the international body will support Iran to share its experiences in the fight against Covid-19 with world countries.
(2021-02-17). One year into the pandemic, Iran's achievements. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Iran has made great efforts to combat the Covid-19 through boosting production of medical items, forming volunteer groups, and implementing different schemes, and the most precious of which was the medical staff's dedication.
(2021-02-17). An order of tuna sashimi, please. Have the robot bring it to me! laprensalatina.com By Marc Arcas Rohnert Park, California, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- "An order of tuna sashimi. And have the robot bring it to me, please!" Minutes later, a cylinder about a meter (3.3 feet) high with trays inside slides toward the table bearing the Japanese delicacy. It's the restauranteurs' new assistant during these Covid times. At the …
(2021-02-17). Tennessee to Begin COVID-19 Vaccination of Adults Age 65 and Older, Teachers. laprensalatina.com NASHVILLE, TN (THD) — Tennessee will begin registering Tennesseans aged 65 and older and those in Phase 1b of the state's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan COVID-19 for vaccinations on Feb. 22. Phase 1b includes staff members of kindergarten through 12th grade schools and childcare facilities. TDH has launched a new online scheduling tool that allows users …
(2021-02-17). Tokio Olympics organizers express 'full confidence' in anti-Covid measures. laprensalatina.com Tokyo, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- The organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Wednesday highlighted the positive reception of the anti-Covid measures outlined in the first version of their playbooks — guides — for participants. "The publication of the playbooks has had an extraordinary impact on everyone. (…) The overwhelming result was total …
(2021-02-17). Mexico's vaccine rollout reaching seniors in remote areas. laprensalatina.com By Jose de Jesus Cortes Cuicatlan, Mexico, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Mostly hopeful but also dealing with a certain degree of anxiety, senior citizens in this small town in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca are being administered their first doses of a long-awaited Covid-19 vaccine. Accompanied by his daughter and clutching a wooden cane, Eustaquio …
(2021-02-17). New Zealand ends Auckland lockdown despite new infections. laprensalatina.com Sydney, Australia, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- New Zealand announced Wednesday an end to the three-day confinement decreed in Auckland, home to 1.7 million people and the most populous city in the country, despite confirming three new Covid-19 positives. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a press conference that the transmission "is contained," although some …
(2021-02-17). Japan begins Covid-19 vaccination drive with healthcare workers. laprensalatina.com Tokyo, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Japan began its vaccination campaign against Covid-19 on Wednesday, in a first phase in which it aims to inoculate 40,000 healthcare workers. The first doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, the only one approved so far in Japan, were administered at a public hospital in Tokyo and will be expanded …
(2021-02-17). Thousand-year old Chinese dance tradition struggles amid Covid restrictions. laprensalatina.com Bangkok, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- The Lion Dance is a form of tradition originating in China dating back thousands of years, which is usually performed during Lunar New Year celebrations to bring good fortune for the year ahead. This year, however, most troupes have seen bookings for their performances disappear because of restrictions to slow the …
(2021-02-17). COVID-19 vaccine Q&A – latest news, antibody tests and tackling new variants. imperial.ac.uk Professor Robin Shattock, head of the Imperial COVID-19 vaccine project, and Dr Katrina Pollock, clinical lead, discuss latest developments.
(2021-02-17). Call for volunteers for world's first coronavirus human challenge study. imperial.ac.uk The UK will be the first country to run a Covid-19 human challenge study, following a favourable opinion from the UK's clinical trials ethics body.
(2021-02-17). Why politicians and doctors keep ignoring the medical research on Vitamin D and Covid. zcomm.org The only sane response to the Vitamin D medical studies showing dramatic benefits for those hospitalised with Covid is to demand urgent government funding of further research…
(2021-02-17). In Some States, Child Care Workers Won't Get the Covid Vaccine for Months. thenation.com In Some States, Child Care Workers Won't Get the Covid Vaccine for Months…
(2021-02-17). The Music We Made in Lockdown. thenation.com The Music We Made in Lockdown…
(2021-02-17). GOP response to the Texas winter storms steals directly from Trump's sadistic COVID-19 playbook. salon.com Texas Republicans try to troll their way through a disaster…
(2021-02-17). South Africa starts COVID-19 vaccination. yenisafak.com South Africa on Wednesday started vaccinating health workers against the coronavirus.President Cyril Ramaphosa, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and a group of health workers were the first recipients of the vaccine."Taking the vaccine was quick, easy and not so painful. I urge all our healthcare workers to register to receive their vaccinations as they are our first line of defense against the coronavirus pandemic," Ramaphosa said shortly after receiving his jab at the Khayelitsha District Hospital in Cape Town this afternoon.South Africa received its first batch of the Johnson Johnson vaccine Tuesday night, two we…
(2021-02-17). 46 Residents in Spanish Nursing Home Die after Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Forty-six nursing home residents who had received their first dose of …
(2021-02-17). What VAERS Data Reveal About Cardiac-Related Reactions to COVID Vaccines. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | We are exactly two months into the
(2021-02-17). Former Downing Street Chief of Staff Lobbied for 'Friends' to Get Fat Contract for COVID Focus Groups. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Dominic Cummings pushed for a government contract to be awarded without …
(2021-02-17). "Palestine Must be Demilitarized". According to Israel, there is no "Occupation" of The West Bank and Gaza. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Soapbox (described on Facebook as Russia state-controlled media) is circulating a …
(2021-02-17). Saturday 2/20: February 20: National Day of Solidarity With Alabama Amazon Workers. indybay.org Assemble at the Walmart Hilltop Mall Parking lot by 3: 45 pm (1400 Hilltop Mall Rd, Richmond, CA 94806) | (Please decorate your cars with posters and signage that state any combination of words: | Bessemer * Amazon * Solidarity * Unions * #CAstandswithBamazon * | We will then drive at 4: 00 pm together around to the other side of the Mall which Amazon now occupies. We will circle the mall in solidarity with Bessemer Amazon Union! | Support Alabama Amazon Workers – Richmond stands in solidarity with the Amazon workers in Alabama! | This Black History Month, join the national day of solidarity with Alabama Amazon wor…
(2021-02-17). Saturday 2/20: Solidarity with Bamazon Workers! indybay.org 2200 Hilltop Mall Drive in Richmond…
(2021-02-17). February 20: Day Of Action In Solidarity With Alabama Amazon Workers. popularresistance.org From Mississippi to Connecticut, North Carolina to California, workers, labor and community activists have resoundingly responded to the call for a National Day of Solidarity with Alabama Amazon Workers issued by the Southern Workers Assembly. | More than 40 actions (and counting!) are now planned to mobilize solidarity with the workers in Bessemer and to tell Amazon: Victory to the workers! Union-busting has got to go! The full list of actions can be found below. | Amazon is spending tens of thousands of dollars each day on the most vile union busters around – Morgan Lewis – because they know this historic strug…
(2021-02-17). Activists warn resumption of armed conflict in Western Sahara over Morocco's continued violations. peoplesdispatch.org The Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara (CODESA) has called on the International Red Cross to immediately establish its humanitarian operation in the region as the situation is deteriorating in the occupied territories due to Moroccan aggression against the Sahrawi people…
(2021-02-17). US Sanctions Against Iran Allowed China to Penetrate Its Influence Deeper into Central Asia. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Sanctions have become a formidable weapon used by Washington to maintain …
(2021-02-17). Wednesday 2/17: San Francisco Car Caravan Protest for Gig Drivers' Pandemic Health & Safety. indybay.org Meet at SAFEWAY, 2300 16th St, San Francisco 94103; then we'll car caravan to Uber Headquarters at 1455 Market St. | MASKS AND SAFETY-DISTANCING REQUIRED…
(2021-02-17). Whose Rights Matter in Pandemic America? counterpunch.org In June 1990, future South African President Nelson Mandela addressed a joint session of Congress only months after being released from 27 years in a South African apartheid prison. He reminded the political leadership of the United States that "to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. To impose on them a wretched
(2021-02-17). Panther Gunfight at a Not-So-O.K. Corral. counterpunch.org Undaunted, the pandemic can't stop the Pan African Film Festival and in that immortal show biz tradition, the show must go on! Albeit virtually, as this year in order to stay cinematically safe, America's largest and best annual Black-themed filmfest since 1992 is moving online and starting later than usual, kicking off on the last
(2021-02-17). Argentine kids return to class after almost a year of remote learning. laprensalatina.com By Rodrigo Garcia Melero Buenos Aires, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- In-person classes will once again be held in Buenor Aires and various Argentine provinces after almost a year with only virtual classes available due to the coronavirus pandemic at the start of a program being criticized by assorted groups and unions because of the danger of …
(2021-02-17). Debt In The Time Of Pandemic. popularresistance.org On New Year's Day, I received an email from Navient, a student loan servicing company, requesting that I pay $4,442 by January 28. | Initially, all I could feel was shame for being in so much debt. But soon, my feelings of shame transformed into anger — how could they request such a big payment, in such a short time period, amid a global pandemic that left so many young people like me unemployed or underemployed, struggling to keep a roof over their heads and put food on their tables? | Indeed, I am hardly the only person with an American education worrying about student loan repayments in the middle of the…
(2021-02-17). Italy's new premier unveils ambitious reform program. yenisafak.com Italy's prime minister on Wednesday unveiled in parliament his ambitious reform platform that focused on leading the country out of a devastating pandemic and a daunting recession, as his Cabinet faces two key confidence votes.Mario Draghi — a former central banker and highly regarded technocrat — was called in by Italian President Sergio Mattarella this month to solve a chaotic political crisis, which risked plunging Italy into further political uncertainty just as it battles an unprecedented health and economic crisis.Draghi and his new government — born last week after complex negotiations am…
(2021-02-17). "Far-Reaching Violation": Dutch Government Ordered To Lift 'Illegitimate' Pandemic Curfew By Hague Court. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | A top court in The Hague issued a "shock" ruling that …
(2021-02-17). "New Landlordism": Vulture Funds Plan to Use the Pandemic to Pillage the Global Economy. globalresearch.ca
…
(2021-02-17). New Zealand to withdraw remaining troops from Afghanistan. laprensalatina.com Sydney, Australia, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- The New Zealand government on Wednesday announced it will withdraw the last of its last troops in Afghanistan by May, after two decades of peacekeeping missions and training of Afghan security forces. "After 20 years of a NZDF (New Zealand Defense Force) presence in Afghanistan, it is now time to …
(2021-02-17). Iran to add more advanced machines to Natanz facility: Report. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Iran has informed the UN nuclear watchdog it plans to install more of its advanced IR-2m centrifuges at Natanz enrichment facility, a Western media claimed.
(2021-02-17). YouTube Censorship and Now What's Happening in Kansas — Thomas Frank. theanalysis.news Thomas Frank and Paul Jay discuss censorship by monopolies and changes in the political landscape of Kansas, on theAnalysis.news…
(2021-02-17). Ronald Reagan: "Small Government" a Smoke Screen for Racism and Smashing Unions — Matt Tyrnauer (pt4). theanalysis.news One of Reagan's geniuses was to convince people to vote against their own self-interest. In the name of lower taxes and the Cold War, he expanded investment in "defense" systems, that benefited the oligarchs who brought him to power. Matt Tyrnauer, director of "The Reagans" on Showtime, joins Paul Jay on theAnalysis.news…
(2021-02-17). January 6th was the Final Act of a Failed Coup — Paul Jay. theanalysis.news Paul Jay is a guest on Muslim Network TV discussing Trump's attempt to enlist a military intervention in the transfer of power and McConnell's role in the lack of security on Capitol Hill.
(2021-02-17). Iran Ramps Up Assistance to Venezuelan Refineries. venezuelanalysis.com Caracas is looking to reactivate the largest refinery in the country.
(2021-02-17). Workers & the Green New Deal Today: A Conversation with Naomi Klein, Keon Liberato, and Kate Aronoff. dsausa.org Are you organizing for green jobs? Have you talked with your coworkers about climate change? Are you a union member, or are looking for a community with which to strategize about organizing for climate justice? Join us Monday, March 1st at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT for EWOC's event Workers & the Green New Deal Today as we discuss…
(2021-02-17). Care home group considering if staff without vaccine can work with residents. thecanary.co One of the UK's largest care home providers has said it is considering whether staff who have refused a vaccine for non-medical reasons can continue in roles where they are in contact with residents. | Barchester Healthcare, which runs more than 200 care homes, said it is considering an option where staff make themselves "unavailable for work" in resident/patient-facing roles "by reason of their own decision" on not getting vaccinated. | The group had previously announced that it would not hire new staff if they had not had the vaccine for non-medical reasons, citing the vulnerability of its residents and patient…
(2021-02-17). Israel allows first 1,000 coronavirus vaccines to enter Gaza. laprensalatina.com Jerusalem, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Israel permitted the entry of an initial batch of 1,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine into the Gaza Strip from the West Bank on Wednesday, an Israeli security official confirmed to Efe Wednesday, after the country had delayed the transfer earlier this week. "The shipment of the vaccines is on the …
(2021-02-17). French Workers Sue General Electric for Failing To Create Jobs. telesurenglish.net Workers filed a "class action" lawsuit against General Electric (GE) for failing to meet a commitment to create jobs that the U.S. company made when it bought the Villeurbanne energy company from the industrial group Alstom in 2014. | RELATED: | The workers are represented by Fyodor Rilov, a lawyer well known for his defense of people's rights in other cases against multinationals such as Continental or Coca-Cola. | In 2…
(2021-02-17). Schools Need More Help to Reopen Safely. progressive.org Public schools need money to support students through distance learning, safely resume in-person instruction, help with students' socio-emotional issues, and help them catch up.
(2021-02-17). Petition For Reinstatement Of Fired Namibian Mineworkers Union Rossing Leaders. indybay.org An international petition has been launched to call on the reinstatement of the leaders of the Namibia Mineworkers Union Rossing branch who were illegally fired by the China National Nuclear Corporation CNNC.
(2021-02-17). Puerto Rico and US Religious Leaders Urge Biden on Jobs, Disaster Aid and SSI. indybay.org Administration Legal Move Could Release $2.3 Billion for Vulnerable Puerto Ricans, Say Faith Leaders…
(2021-02-17). Tuesday 2/16: Black History Month: Conversation w/ Dr. Shirley Weber, 1st Black Woman CA Sec. of State. indybay.org Online…
(2021-02-17). Formation of interim government in Libya revives hopes for peace. peoplesdispatch.org Though all warring factions have supported the elections of the interim government earlier this month there are certain uncertainties about its success including the continued presence of foreign troops in the country…
(2021-02-17). Monday 2/22: Passing the Equal Rights Amendment & the Role of Faith Communities Town Hall. indybay.org Online via Zoom…
(2021-02-17). 'Together we fight, together we will win': Workers strike nationwide to demand $15 minimum wage. nationofchange.org "We have won $15 in cities and states across the country. And now, it is time to win $15 nationwide."
(2021-02-17). State Of Mayhem: The Not So Perfect Days. indybay.org This material was taken from the book " Memories Of Oblivion", written by Michael Lupa Jr.
(2021-02-17). Biden seeks peace in Yemen, but will the warring factions come on board? juancole.com ( Al-Bab.com) — The US State Department confirmed on Friday that it is revoking a last-minute decision by the Trump administration to designate Yemen's Houthi movement as a terrorist organisation. The issue is not whether the Houthis deserve to be designated — their atrocities are well known — but Trump's action, just days before leaving …
(2021-02-17). Biden Must Halt Face Recognition Technology to Advance Racial Equity. aclu.org Face recognition and other forms of biometric identification technologies are a threat to core constitutional rights and have a disturbing record of racial bias and inaccuracy that endangers people of color and other marginalized groups. In keeping with President Biden's commitment to racial equity and civil liberties for all, he must take immediate action to halt the use and funding of these dangerous technologies by the federal government. | Today, we are calling on Biden to impose a federal moratorium on face recognition technology and prevent state and local governments from using federal funds to purchase i…
(2021-02-17). Philadelphia Teachers Union promotes pseudo-science as it prepares deal to open schools. wsws.org The PFT is hoping to stymie any opposition from educators and parents who have compelled the district to backpedal in reopening several times already.
(2021-02-17). New Zealand announces withdrawal of its remaining troops from Afghanistan. peoplesdispatch.org The decision to withdraw its troops was announced before the crucial meeting of constituents of NATO countries on Wednesday and NATO's chief's assertion on Monday that it will not withdraw its troops from Afghanistan until the time is right…
(2021-02-17). Mobile Home Communities Seek New Protections. progressive.org Residents in Iowa have joined together to change laws allowing for unjust evictions, rent hikes, and predatory landlords.
(2021-02-17). Republicans Hide Behind Constitution. counterpunch.org "WAR IS PEACE "FREEDOM IS SLAVERY "IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" George Orwell, 1984 The failure of Republican senators to convict a twice impeached pathological liar of "incitement of insurrection" despite chilling videos showing he encouraged an army of thugs to unleash a maelstrom against the crucible of American democracy will forever stain our proud history of freedom.
(2021-02-17). Friday 2/19: Vision For Justice Virtual Summit: Building a New, Non-Carceral Pardigm for Public Safety. indybay.org Online summit (FREE & open to the public)…
(2021-02-17). Tuesday 2/16: Testify & Push Back against Dangerous Chevron Pollution at Richmond Virtual Council Meeting. indybay.org Online: Richmond City Council Virtual Meeting…
(2021-02-17). La posverdad: Una mentira. globalizacion.ca Según la tradición aristotélico-tomista, la realidad es una y dada desde siempre, puesta en forma indubitable a la espera de que el ser humano se contacte con ella. De ese modo, la realidad existe independientemente del sujeto. Hay un esencialismo…
(2021-02-17). Friday 2/26: Anti-Racist Classrooom: Building an Inclusive & Anti-Racist Educational Student Experience. indybay.org Online event / webinar…
(2021-02-17). Science and Power as Fellow Henchmen: How the "Land of Poets and Thinkers" Sinks into the Swamp of Corruption. globalresearch.ca The names of poets Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich von Schiller are as familiar to people around the world as the names of scientists and thinkers Albert Einstein, Albert Schweizer and Carl Friedrich von Weizà§cker. But Germany's once high …
(2021-02-17). US to remove terrorist tag for Houthis. peoplesdispatch.org The Biden administration reversed the decision of its predecessor to declare the Yemeni group Ansar Allah as part of its list of foreign terrorist organizations and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist…
(2021-02-17). Friday 2/19: SC1.5NCE Not Silence Forum as U.S. Rejoins Paris Climate Agreement. indybay.org Online via livestream: www.facebook.com/marchforscience/…
(2021-02-17). Algerians mark second anniversary of Hirak protests. peoplesdispatch.org Algerians gathered in the town of Kherrata where the first spark of the Hirak protests was lit in 2019. The protests led to the overthrow of then president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and have continued demanding the removal of the military and political elite of his time…
(2021-02-17). Lenguaje de guerra para tiempos de coronavirus. globalizacion.ca Hay palabras que, por lo que sea, de pronto aparecen y se instalan en el vocabulario político cotidiano, nadie sabe cómo ha sido, pero es como si de pronto fuéramos incapaces de definir determinados acontecimientos sin utilizarlas. También ocurre a…
(2021-02-17). Chilean teachers reject plan to reopen schools in March. peoplesdispatch.org The national school teachers' union in Chile stressed that only vaccinating teachers is not enough for a safe return to school, while government authorities have alleged the teachers have been on vacation and don't want to work…
(2021-02-17). Protests demanding the release of Pablo Hasel gain momentum in Spain. peoplesdispatch.org Massive mobilizations were held across Spain demanding the release of rapper and poet Pablo Hasel.Hasel was arrested by the Catalan police on Feb 16 at the University of Lleida.
(2021-02-17). Tuesday 2/16: Race, Class & Policing: The Economics of Mass Incarceration. indybay.org Online event (FREE)…
(2021-02-17). Music and Black America's Continuous Struggle for Freedom. scheerpost.com Lionel Tinchant / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0] By Kevin Cooper / Original to ScheerPost It has been stated that " Freedom is a Constant Struggle," and that in fact is a freedom song that was repeatedly sung in the southern United States during the 20th century freedom movement, as teacher, activist and symbol of the Black power movement, Angela Y. Davis , writes in her book of the same name. If it is true… |
(2021-02-17). Too Big and Too Powerful: The Criminality of Global Capitalism. globalresearch.ca "It is time the nation woke up and realized that it's not the armed robbers or drug dealers who cause the most economic harm, it's the white collar criminals… who harm us the most." (Harry Markopolos) | A Brief History of …
(2021-02-17). Saturday 2/20: No Costco Mega Gas Station in Novato/Marin Rally. indybay.org Starts at Rowland Blvd. Park & Ride (108 Rowland Blvd). March to Costco and the threatened marshlands.
(2021-02-17). 1,000 Cal/OSHA Inspectors NOW! Workers Over Profits Rally At Oakland OSHA Office. indybay.org Trade unionists and workers rallied at the Oakland State Building to demand that OSHA hire 1,000 OSHA safety inspectors to enforce health and safety regulations in California work places.There are less than 200 inspectors for 18 million workers.
(2021-02-17). No compromising with the GOP cult. nationofchange.org Today's Republican Party is a cult.
(2021-02-17). Saturday 2/20: Black History Month educators' roundtable: Karen Hunter and Greg Carr. indybay.org ZOOM link supplied upon request | (the link camouflaged to frustrate "bombers")…
(2021-02-17). National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine reports on space nuclear propulsion. nationofchange.org National Academies report urges nuclear-powered rockets for trips to Mars and lays out "synergies" in space nuclear activities between NASA and the U.S. military.
(2021-02-17). Friday 2/19: State of the Poor: Who & What is Hurting Poor and Low-income Americans w/ PPC. indybay.org Online via livestream or Zoom…
(2021-02-17). Coca-Cola introduces new 100% recycled bottle in US, but is it enough? nationofchange.org The company seems to be aiming to clean up its act somewhat this year with the introduction of a 13.2-ounce bottle made with 100-percent recycled PET (rPET) plastic.
(2021-02-17). The Failure of the Media in Responding to the Lying Right. cepr.net I posted this Twitter thread this morning. It should be self-explanatory, but it is more than a little infuriating to see the media (not just Thomas Edsall) act like they are innocent bystanders in the rise of an anti-democratic right-wing movement that constantly lies to advance its agenda. The media have agency, but have thus …
(2021-02-17). Congressman files lawsuit against Trump for inciting Capitol riots. nationofchange.org The lawsuit accuses Trump, Giuliani, and the far-right extremist groups of conspiring to incite an assembled crowd to march upon the U.S. Capitol to disrupt and intimidate Congress from approving the count of electoral votes.
(2021-02-17). Cuba: Soberana 02 Vaccine May Have Clinical Trials in Mexico. telesurenglish.net Mexico's Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said that the Ministry of Health is in communication with the Cuban laboratory that is developing the above-mentioned preventive medicine. | Soberana 02 is a safe antigen, it does not contain the live virus but parts of it, so its use generates immunity, but does not cause significant reactions and, therefore, does not need extra refrigeration, like other candidates in the world. | RELATED: |
(2021-02-17). Global Financial Establishment Controls Italy: Draghi's Government, For Whom the Bell Tolls. globalresearch.ca In Rome the handover between former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Mario Draghi took place at Palazzo Chigi with the traditional bell ceremony. While waiting to verify what the political program of the new multi-partisan government, supported by almost the …
(2021-02-17). Interrogating the Anthropocene: Truth and Fallacy. zcomm.org What we choose to do—and not do—will shape the world and the Earth itself…
(2021-02-17). Nazis, 'Commies', etc (Part 3b of 3). zcomm.org Given that violence must not be used, then there is only one solution to our problem. The solution is found in our numbers. Not even a single loaf of bread can be produced if we, the 60% to 70%, decide to act…
(2021-02-17). Violence: Another Existential Crisis. zcomm.org We live in a world in which the part is valued more than the whole, and such a political order might have persisted in a pre-Anthropocene worldview, but is now in deep jeopardy…
(2021-02-17). Gendered Experiences of Genocide: Anfal Survivors in Kurdistan-Iraq. zcomm.org Review of Gendered experience of genocide: Anfal survivors of Kurdistan-Iraq — (Voices of development management), by Choman Hardi…
(2021-02-17). CBO Not Competent to Assess Economics of Minimum Wage. zcomm.org James K. Galbraith slams "unreliable" report claiming that raising the minimum wage would reduce jobs…
(2021-02-17). UN, African Union urge Somali leaders to resume talks to overcome political impasse. news.un.org The United Nations Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission called on Somali leaders, on Tuesday, to resume dialogue to resolve outstanding differences concerning elections in the country.
(2021-02-17). 'Triple threat' adds to long-standing crises menacing food security in Somalia — FAO. news.un.org Poor rainfall, flooding and desert locusts are contributing to extreme food insecurity in Somalia, threating 2.6 million people, the UN agriculture agency said in a new analysis released on Wednesday.
(2021-02-17). Food insecurity in Syria reaches record levels: WFP. news.un.org The number of Syrians who lack access to sufficient food has reached a record 12.4 million, or nearly 60 per cent of the population, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Wednesday, citing "alarming" new national data.
(2021-02-17). Trump Acquitted (Again), but Trump Hatred Continues. strategic-culture.org By Ron PAUL | Last week's second impeachment trial of former President Trump should serve as a warning that something is very wrong in US politics. Far from a measured, well-investigated, rock-solid case against the former president, America was again abused with day after day of character assassination, innuendo, false claims, and even falsified "evidence." | The trial wasn't intended to win a conviction of Trump for "incitement" because the Democrats already knew that the votes were not there. So, just as with the last impeachment trial, the goal was to fling as much dirt at Donald Trump as they could while the…
(2021-02-17). How Britain and U.S. Killed the Bahrain Revolution. strategic-culture.org Britain and the United States worked together to kill the Bahrain revolution of 2011 and its people's long-held aspirations for democratic governance. | Ten years ago this week, the Bahraini people launched a daring, peaceful uprising against a despised and despotic monarchial regime. During the next four weeks, the Al Khalifa regime was rocked to its shaky foundations as hundreds of thousands of Bahrainis took to the streets of the Persian Gulf island state. | What followed, however, was a crucial — if despicable — intervention by Britain and the United States which unleashed a wave of brutal repress…
(2021-02-17). Combined naval security drill in North Indian Ocean wraps up. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — The combined joint exercises of naval security in the northern Indian Ocean, participated by Iran and Russia, ended on Wed. with a parade of participating vessels in front of the Iranian "Jamaran" Destroyer.
(2021-02-17). Magnitude-5.6 earthquake jolts central Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) – A magnitude-5.6 earthquake shook the provinces of Isfahan and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmadsouthern, central Iran, on Wednesday.
(2021-02-17). Russia warns Zionist regime over air strikes in Syria. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — A senior Russian official has warned the Zionist regime over the consequences of continuing its airstrikes in Syria.
(2021-02-17). Portugal keen on forging closer interaction with Iran: Envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 18 (MNA) — Political Director General of Portuguese Foreign Ministry, whose country holds presidency of Council of European Union, said that Portugal is seeking a closer tie with Iran in connection with regional and international issues.
(2021-02-17). Sidelines of Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Some of the Iranian ministers answered a number of questions raised by reporters on the sideline of Iran's Cabinet session on Wednesday.
(2021-02-17). EU must take practical steps to safeguard JCPOA: Rouhani. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Iranian President urged European countries to take practical steps to preserve the JCPOA and comply with their obligations under the deal.
(2021-02-17). Leader's meeting with people of Tabriz on 43rd uprising anniv. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — On the occasion of the uprising of Feb. 18, 1978, (29th of Bahman in 1356) against the Pahlavi regime, Leader of the Islamic Revolution held an online meeting with the people of Tabriz on Wednesday.
(2021-02-17). E3 FMs, US' Blinken to discuss Iran's Nuclear Deal on Thurs. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — The foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany will discuss Iran's Nuclear Deal with the US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Thursday.
(2021-02-17). Three people wounded in a blast in SW Germany. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Three people were injured in an explosion in southwestern Germany on Wednesday.
(2021-02-17). Iran ready to facilitate return of Syrian refugees home. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Iranian foreign minister's senior assistant on special political affairs expressed the readiness of Iran to cooperate in facilitating the return of Syrian refugees and displaced persons to their country.
(2021-02-17). Firefighting operations by Iranian, Russian forces. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Iranian and Russian units conducted firefighting operations in the joint naval exercise held in the north Indian Ocean on Wednesday.
(2021-02-17). At least 10 PKK terrorists killed in northern Iraq. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — In a statement on Wednesday, Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group announced that more than 10 of its elements have been killed in a fight with Turkish forces in northern Iraq.
(2021-02-17). Incidents, arrests at several Spain protests supporting convicted rapper. laprensalatina.com (Update: Changes headline, adds substantial text on violent protests) Barcelona, Spain, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- Thousands of people demonstrated on Tuesday in cities all over Spain, where incidents and arrests were registered, to protest the arrest of Spanish rapper Pablo Hasel. Hasel — real name Pablo Rivadulla — and dozens of supporters had barricaded themselves inside …
(2021-02-17). Mass protests in Myanmar amid crackdown fears. laprensalatina.com Yangon, Myanmar, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Mass protests were taking place across Myanmar on Wednesday, a day after elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was slapped with another charge and amid fears of a crackdown by security forces. While overnight internet blackouts and a military presence in Yangon reduced protester numbers earlier this week, activists involved …
(2021-02-17). Japan records $3.05 billion trade deficit in January. laprensalatina.com Tokyo, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Japan recorded a trade deficit of 323.9 billion yen (about $3.05 billion) in January, the government announced Wednesday. The trade deficit in the first month of the year is 75.4 percent lower than the negative balance recorded by the Asian country in January 2020. Exports rose by 6.4 percent year-on-year to …
(2021-02-17). Mbappe takes center stage with outstanding performance at Camp Nou. laprensalatina.com Paris, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- On his first visit to the iconic Camp Nou, Frenchman Kylian Mbappe put on a dazzling performance, arguably his best since he joined Paris Saint Germain in 2018, as he outshone Lionel Messi. The 22-year-old led an injury-plagued PSG, missing Brazilian star Neymar, to expose a vulnerable Barcelona defensive line and …
(2021-02-17). From drugs to mushrooms: Underground farmers take root in Paris. laprensalatina.com Paris, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- A 3,000-square meter garage space in Paris that once served as a hub for prostitution and drugs has found new life as an urban farming unit that produces up to a ton of organic endives and mushrooms — shiitake being the specialty — every week. "Four years ago in this garage, …
(2021-02-17). Spanish book presents new approach to understanding Indian art. laprensalatina.com New Delhi, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Spanish investigator Eva Fernandez del Campo on Wednesday unveiled her new book "En La Materia del mundo" (in the realm of the world), at the Instituto Cervantes in New Delhi, presenting a work that proposes new approaches to help understand Indian sculpture of the medieval period, considered its golden age. …
(2021-02-17). PSG pound Baràßa, Liverpool beat Leipzig in Champions League. laprensalatina.com Sports Desk, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- Kylian Mbappe had a hat trick Tuesday to Paris Saint-Germain to their first-ever victory at Camp Nou, a 1-4 thrashing of Barcelona in the first leg of a Champions League round of 16 tie, while Liverpool topped RB Leipzig 0-2. The triumph for last season's runners-up was even more impressive …
(2021-02-17). Former Trump casino demolished. laprensalatina.com New York, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Atlantic City's Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, which welcomed the rich and famous for years, on Wednesday was demolished in a controlled explosion that was followed by applause from the crowd who had gathered nearby to watch it come crashing down. The building took just 20 seconds to be reduced …
(2021-02-17). Man who inspired Hotel Rwanda tells judges he was 'kidnapped'. laprensalatina.com Kigali, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- The man who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda about the African nation's 1994 genocide on Wednesday told judges at the opening session of his trial for terrorism charges that he had been "kidnapped" and that the court proceedings against him were illegal. Paul Rusesabagina, who helped save hundreds of Tutsis while …
(2021-02-17). Atletico Madrid drop points against Levante. laprensalatina.com Valencia, Spain, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Atletico Madrid were denied an opportunity to go 8 points clear at the top of LaLiga here Wednesday by a tenacious Levante side who forced the visitors to settle for a 1-1 draw. The Colchoneros had most of the ball in the first half, but failed to turn possession into …
(2021-02-17). Number of dead in India bus crash rises to 51. laprensalatina.com New Delhi, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- The toll in a bus accident rose to 51 as more bodies were recovered on Wednesday, a day after a crowded coach plunged into a canal in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, police said. "More bodies were recovered in the morning (on Sunday). The death toll has reached …
(2021-02-17). Tsitsipas stuns Nadal, moves on to semi-finals. laprensalatina.com Melbourne, Australian, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday stunned Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who squandered a two-set led in the Australian Open quarterfinal. Tsitsipas secured his second semifinal appearance Down Under and his third overall in Grand Slam tournaments after winning a marathon match 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 7-5 that lasted over four …
(2021-02-17). Satellite images confirm Chinese troop withdrawal from India border. laprensalatina.com New Delhi, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Satellite images released on Wednesday that show the withdrawal of Chinese troops from the Himalayan border with India confirm the easing of more than three months of military tensions that led to deadly clashes between the two Asian giants. The Indian defense minister, Rajnath Singh, told Parliament last week that …
(2021-02-17). Elderly man's kidnapping sparks protest in Port-au-Prince. laprensalatina.com Port-au-Prince, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- The kidnapping of an elderly man in the Delmas 19 neighborhood in Haiti's capital led to a spontaneous protest on Tuesday by the victim's neighbors, which ended with the dispersion of some 150 people by the Haitian police using tear gas. The victim of the kidnapping is 74-year-old Vienne Dwane, a …
(2021-02-17). Sanaa hosts Houthi mass wedding. laprensalatina.com The Houthi movement organized Wednesday a mass wedding ceremony for 70 of its fighters who were prisoners of war, four months after they were released by Saudi-backed government forces in a UN and ICRC-brokered prisoner exchange. In Yemen, men and women have their own celebration separately due to Muslim traditions. A visual story by EFE/EPA …
(2021-02-17). Trump launches personal attack on fellow Republican McConnell. laprensalatina.com Washington, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- Former United States president Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a biting personal attack on fellow Republican Mitch McConnell. It came days after the Senate minority leader held Trump "practically and morally responsible" for the Capitol riot, despite voting against his impeachment. "McConnell's dedication to business as usual, status quo policies, together …
(2021-02-17). Podcast: Coronavirus on the tube, virus variants and matters of the heart. imperial.ac.uk In this edition: What testing on transport says about coronavirus transmission, how new virus variants are emerging, and chatting to a cardiologist.
(2021-02-17). Lakes isolated beneath Antarctic ice could be more amenable to life than thought. imperial.ac.uk Lakes underneath the Antarctic ice sheet could be more hospitable than previously thought, allowing them to host more microbial life.
(2021-02-17). Slamdance Premiere: End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock. indybay.org Slamdance Film Festival online features "End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock." The film chronicles the courage and resilience of Native women.
(2021-02-17). The Secret Teacher | Please don't send your children to school unless you really have to. thecanary.co We made it. These are the words on every teacher's mind this week. | Having 'made it' refers to getting through to the half term break. It's a week of no lessons after one of the most trying half terms of most teachers' careers. Of course, there will be plenty to do (half terms are often just catch up weeks) but it's a joy to have some mental distance from the intensity of home learning and online teaching. It's also a time when I will be able to properly limit my contact with other people — a luxury I have not been afforded throughout this lockdown. | School attendance and entitled parents: | Which…
(2021-02-17). We Need a Racial Reckoning to Save Democracy. thenation.com We Need a Racial Reckoning to Save Democracy…
(2021-02-17). How a Texas TV Reporter Gained Confidence to Cover Climate Change. thenation.com How a Texas TV Reporter Gained Confidence to Cover Climate Change…
(2021-02-17). What the Congressional Budget Office Doesn't Get. thenation.com What the Congressional Budget Office Doesn't Get…
(2021-02-17). Can the NAACP Succeed Where Everyone Else Has Failed? thenation.com Can the NAACP Succeed Where Everyone Else Has Failed?
(2021-02-17). 'What Does It Mean to Be Black and Alive Right Now?'. thenation.com 'What Does It Mean to Be Black and Alive Right Now?'
(2021-02-17). The Trump-McConnell Death Match Is Good for Dems—and the Country. thenation.com The Trump-McConnell Death Match Is Good for Dems—and the Country…
(2021-02-17). Indian journalist acquitted of defamation in #MeToo case. thecanary.co A court in India has acquitted a journalist of criminal defamation after she accused a former editor-turned-politician and junior external affairs minister of sexual harassment. | MJ Akbar, 70, filed a case against journalist Priya Ramani in October 2018, denying the allegations as "false, baseless and wild". | Ramani was the first to accuse Akbar of harassment, spurring on more than 20 women to come forward and allege similar accusations during his previous career as one of the country's most prominent news editors. | More than a dozen accusations: | Akbar resigned a few days later from his post as a jun…
(2021-02-17). New Massachusetts Law Paves Way For Police-Free Schools. popularresistance.org In Massachusetts, those who want police out of public schools are one step closer to making it happen. Lawmakers recently struck down a requirement that all school districts in the state have at least one "school resource officer"—a moniker for school cops. Now just two states—Florida and Maryland—have laws requiring police in schools, and advocates are pushing them to follow suit. | Massachusetts adopted the school police requirement in 2014 in response to the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Connecticut where 26 people were killed at school, including 20 young children. Since then, the n…
(2021-02-17). A Fossil Fuel Fail In Texas. popularresistance.org As you may have seen on social media, a group of climate deniers, right wing politicians, and fossil fuel industry mouthpieces are spreading a bunch of disinformation about how wind and solar energy is to blame for the current blackouts in Texas. | This is a lie. | In reality, the blackouts in Texas are a fossil fail: the result of our over dependence on a fossil fuel energy system in the era of climate disruption. | Fossil Free Media has pulled together a set of talking points that you can use to share the truth about what's going on in Texas and pushback on the fossil fuel industry's disinformation campaign.
(2021-02-17). Argentine Vegetable Oil Workers Win Big Raises With Coordinated Strike. popularresistance.org Argentina's vegetable oil workers ended 2020 on a high note, with a triumphant 21-day national strike for higher wages. They were pushing to make the minimum wage a living wage, as the constitution mandates. | It was the country's longest national strike of the year, and it ended in total victory: the unions won a 35 percent increase in wages for all of the workers, not just those earning the minimum. More than 20,000 working-class families won a decent wage for 2021. (In Argentina wages are negotiated in annual rounds of collective bargaining.) | Vegetable oil workers mainly work in factories and on docks, proce…
(2021-02-17). Thursday: Day Of Action Targeting The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. popularresistance.org Something new is happening this Thursday, February 18 at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). A person will be chairing a FERC Commissioners meeting who has written publicly that he appreciates why some consider FERC to be a rubber-stamp agency. | Richard Glick has done more than this in his three-plus years as a FERC Commissioner. He has openly opposed and written strong dissents, primarily but not only on climate grounds, to majority decisions approving new gas pipelines, LNG terminals and compressor stations. Those dissents likely helped lead the DC Court of Appeals to strike down last year, FERC's…
(2021-02-17). UK's Prince Philip taken to hospital as 'precautionary measure'. laprensalatina.com London, Feb 17 (EFE).- The United Kingdom's Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has been admitted to hospital as a "precautionary measure" after a few days of feeling unwell, Buckingham Palace confirmed Wednesday. The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, will remain at the King Edward VII Hospital in London for "observation and rest" for a …
(2021-02-17). Turkish | court slaps PKK terrorist with life sentence over assassination plan. yenisafak.com A PKK terrorist, who confessed to plotting to assassinate Turkey's defense minister and interior minister, has been sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.Sonay Bakar, who attended the trial held at the 25th High Criminal Court in Ankara via video link from the prison, was convicted on charges of disrupting state's unity and the country's integrity.Two more suspects, identified as Suleyman A. and Levent O, who were accused of assisting Bakar were acquitted of all charges.Bakar had surrendered to security forces and confessed that he received an instruction from a high-ranking ringleader of the terror group to a…
(2021-02-17). France vows to 'decapitate' al-Qaeda in Sahel region. yenisafak.com With no troop reduction, France will continue its military engagement in the Sahel region to help "decapitate" groups affiliated with al-Qaeda, President Emmanuel Macron vowed at the end of a two-day videoconference with leaders of Chad.Addressing a press conference late Tuesday from the Elysee Palace in Paris, Macron said it would be "paradoxical to weaken our system at a time when we have a political and military alignment favorable to the achievement of our objectives."Significant changes will be made to the military system in the Sahel, "but not immediately," he added, rejecting the idea of a "rush."A mass wi…
(2021-02-17). Turkish foreign minister due in Azerbaijan for talks. yenisafak.com Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will start a two-day official visit to neighboring Azerbaijan on Thursday, said an official announcement.Cavusoglu will meet his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov and later will be received by the country's President Ilham Aliyev, said a Foreign Ministry statement.During the visit, the 9th trilateral Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey foreign ministers' meeting will be held with the participation of Georgia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, the statement added.Cavusoglu and Zalkaliani are also expected to hold a bilateral meeting.During the meeti…
(2021-02-17). Thirty FETàñ terror suspects arrested in Istanbul. yenisafak.com The arrests came after Istanbul prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 31 suspects as part of a probe into the terror group, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.In simultaneous anti-terror operations at 29 addresses in Istanbul, police also seized ‚Ǩ17,515 ($21,175) and nearly 7,000 Turkish liras ($990).Efforts to apprehend the remaining suspect are ongoing.FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in which 251 people were martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a…
(2021-02-17). 'Need to harmonize developmental strategies of Turkey, Pakistan, Azerbaijan'. yenisafak.com To further cooperation among Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Central Asian nations, there is a need to harmonize their developmental strategies, and infrastructure development could pave the way, said speakers at an international conference in Istanbul."These countries are at different levels of development and we should find ways to harmonize development strategies of these countries," said Mesut Hakki Casin, an advisor for Turkey's Center for Diplomatic Affairs and Political Studies."Each country has its own priority areas like European Union for Turkey," Casin said at a peace conference co-hosted by the Istan…
(2021-02-17). Turkish stocks up at midweek open. yenisafak.com Turkey's benchmark stock index opened at 1,550.49 points on Wednesday, a rise of 0.50% or 7.67 points from the previous close.Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 index fell 1.26% to close Tuesday at 1,542.82 points, with a daily trading volume of 40.3 billion Turkish liras ($5.8 billion)The US dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate inched up to 7.0400 as of 9: 30 a.m. local time (0630GMT) from 7.0000 at the previous close.While the euro/Turkish lira exchange rate was at 8.5200 versus 8.4720 , one British pound traded for 9.7700 Turkish liras, up from 9.7480 at Tuesday's close.One barrel of Brent crude oil sold for around $63.50…
(2021-02-17). Syria, Israel carry out Russia-brokered prisoner swap. yenisafak.com The Syrian regime on Wednesday announced a Russia-brokered prisoner swap with Israel, according to the official SANA news agency."Work is underway to free Syrian citizens of the occupied Syrian Golan from the prisons of the Israeli occupation," SANA said.SANA, citing unnamed sources, said the Russian-mediated swap "includes the release of two Syrians; Nihal Al-Maqt and Dhiab Kahmuz, in return for an Israeli girl, who was arrested by Syrian authorities after she entered Quneitra region in the Syrian territory by mistake."There was no comment from Israeli authorities on the report.
(2021-02-17). Ex-Qatari premier alleges provocation despite Gulf deal. yenisafak.com A former Qatari premier accused other unnamed Gulf countries of continued provocations against Doha despite a reconciliation deal signed last month.Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani said on Twitter that he had expected a "new era" in relations between Qatar on one side and its fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Egypt on the other."We still see and hear the continuation of some [countries] beating the drums of provocation and statements charged with negativity and incitement," Al-Thani said without specifying any country in particular.He added: "We didn't pay any attention, praise be to God,…
(2021-02-17). Malaysian NGOs condemn killing of 13 Turkish citizens. yenisafak.com The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations, an umbrella group of dozens of NGOs, late Tuesday said they consider "barbaric execution" of civilians "a total disregard for international law."The group called for an independent investigation so that the perpetrators will be prosecuted.Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, the council's head, said in a written statement that Turkey's cross-border military operations against the PKK in Iraq and Syria are Ankara's right to secure itself from cross-border attacks."We support Turkey's resolve to fight terrorism and foreign powers that are trying to undermine the sovere…
(2021-02-17). Coronavirus: UK variant gains ground in Germany. yenisafak.com A new and more contagious UK variant of the coronavirus is continuing to gain ground in Germany, Health Minister Jens Spahn said Wednesday.Spahn said the new variant, B.1.1.7, first identified late last year in the UK, now represents more than 22% of new infections in Germany."As we have seen in other countries, number of infections with this new variant is doubling almost every week," he said at a press conference where he noted that two weeks ago, the percentage of the UK variant found in Germany was just 6%.Spahn warned against complacency and urged Germans to strictly observe hygiene and safety measures becau…
(2021-02-17). Health Directive No. 18 Lifts More Restrictions on Businesses. laprensalatina.com SHELBY COUNTY, TN (SCHD) — The Shelby County Health Department issues Health Directive No. 18 today to go into effect at midnight on February 20th. Health Directive No. 18 further lifts restrictions on businesses, particularly restaurants, that serve the public. Key changes in Health Directive No. 18: Permits food and beverages service until midnight. Eliminates …
(2021-02-16). Yes we need the $1.9 Trillion Stimulus: Real Unemployment is 3 times what they're telling us. juancole.com Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) — As Congress gets set to debate the Biden Pandemic relief package, one of the favorite Republican lines is the contention that an economic recovery is already well underway. Pouring more money into an accelerating economy is likely to induce seventies style inflation. It is time, they argue, …
(2021-02-16). Video: ISIS-Daesh is Returning To Syria, The "Moderate Opposition" is Fighting against the Syrian Government. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). Mobile version forthcoming. | *** | The further the world comes into 2021, the …
(2021-02-16). Headlines for February 16, 2021. democracynow.org Speaker Pelosi Authorizes Independent Commission to Investigate Jan. 6 Insurrection, Deadly U.S. Cold Snap Leaves Millions Without Power, New Orleans Cancels Mardi Gras Parade One Year After It Became Coronavirus Superspreader Event, Gov. Cuomo Acknowledges Not Reporting Nursing Home Deaths But Stops Short of Apology, New World Trade Organization Chief Warns Against Vaccine Nationalism, One Killed, 9 Injured in Missile Attack on U.S. Military Base in Northern Iraq, As Taliban Fighters Surround Afghan Cities, Biden Weighs U.S. Withdrawal Plans, U.S. Removes Houthis from Terror List as Yemen's Humanitarian Crisis W…
(2021-02-16). The Dubious COVID Models, The Tests and Now the Consequences. globalresearch.ca This article by F. William Engdahl first published on April 29, 2020 focusses on the dubious Covid models used to justify the lockdowns and closure of economic activity Worldwide. | The architects of these models were generously funded by the Gates …
(2021-02-16). The Reshaping of Global Agriculture: The WEF Agenda Behind India's Modi Government's "Farm Reform" globalresearch.ca For more than 12 years the WEF has pushed a corporate model in Africa, Latin America and Asia. The "big target" has been India, where resistance to corporate takeover of agriculture has been fierce ever since the failed 1960's Green Revolution of the Rockefeller Foundation.
(2021-02-16). Rania Khalek slams phony impeachment "soap opera" thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Rania Khalek of Soapbox about the drama surrounding the Trump impeachment trial. They reflect on the arguments made by democrats and republicans, the trial's impact on the reputation of US empire abroad, and its implications for free speech.
(2021-02-16). The Case for Prosecuting Trump: Elie Mystal on Why Criminal Charges Are Still Possible — and Needed. democracynow.org 
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she has authorized a 9/11-style commission to further investigate the January 6 insurrection and the actions that led up to it, as calls grow for the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump after his acquittal in his second Senate impeachment trial. The Nation's justice correspondent Elie Mystal says House impeachment managers presented "a fairly compelling case for criminal liability" for Donald Trump over the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. "I think there's a case for indictment. I think we should at least try," he says.
(2021-02-16). Biden supports 9/11-style commission to 'investigate' US Capitol riot, as suggested by Pelosi, Graham, & others. rt.com 
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has said President Joe Biden "would support" Congress creating a 9/11-style commission panel to investigate the January 6 US Capitol riot, as numerous lawmakers have suggested. | A commission has been recommended by both Democrats and Republicans in the wake of the Senate acquitting Donald Trump on the article of impeachment that accused him of "inciting an insurrection" and directly inspiring the storming of the Capitol. | "We need a 9/11 commission to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again, and I want to make sure that the Capitol footprint can be be…
(2021-02-16). Pelosi Calls for "9/11-Type" Commission on January 6 Capitol Attacks. truthout.org 
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California) urged members of Congress on Monday to support her in establishing a commission to investigate the breach of the U.S. Capitol building on January 6. | "Now, as always, security is the order of the day: the security of our country, the security of our Capitol which is the temple of our democracy, and the security of our Members," Pelosi said such…
(2021-02-16). The Trump Cult and Its Future. counterpunch.org 
I am quite sure the majority of Trump supporters do not embrace the "theory" that the Democratic leaders are pedophile cannibal satanists whom Trump sought to destroy, to protect the children. An amazing minority do, constituting a robust and vital idiot stratum within the Trump coalition. (It is not clear however what QAnon will play
(2021-02-16). 'Turkish operations in N.Iraq are due to terror harassment'. yenisafak.com Citing regions in northern Iraq near the Turkish border, Suleyman Soylu told parliament: "What do we have to do in Gara? Why do we enter Hakurk and Haftanin? 70% of the terrorist harassment came from those regions in 2019."Speaking in the wake of the terrorist PKK massacring 13 Turkish citizens held captive in Gara, Soylu said the PKK works to abuse both young people and their families."After our children were martyred, they tried to abuse their families in their deaths, just as they abused their families for five years after they massacred them," he said."The PKK will not gain a victory over our families; our fa…
(2021-02-16). Democrat John Fetterman Takes 'No Fossil Fuel' Pledge for US Senate Run. commondreams.org "Climate change is an existential threat, and we need to transition to clean energy as quickly as possible," says Pennsylvania's lt. governor. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/fetterman-no-fossil-fuel-money-pledge.jpg …
(2021-02-16). 'I'm Speaking to You, Senator Manchin': West Virginians Blast Democrat for Opposing $15 Minimum Wage. commondreams.org "When will you give us a living wage?" asked one activist with the Poor People's Campaign. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/manchin-fire-poor-peoples-campaign-minimum-wage.jpg …
(2021-02-16). US, OAS, Colombia Try To Steal Ecuador's election. popularresistance.org Guayaquil, Ecuador – A popular socialist candidate, Andrés Arauz, won the first round of Ecuador's historic presidential election by a landslide on February 7. The leftist's overwhelming victory prompted the US State Department, the right-wing government of neighboring Colombia, and the Organization of American States (OAS) to mobilize to prevent him from entering office. | Arauz won the first round of the election with 33 percent of the vote, a full 13 percent greater than the second-place candidate, conservative banker Guillermo Lasso. His opponents are now seeking to force a vote recount under the supervision…
(2021-02-16). ICC to Investigate Israeli War Crimes. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Well, as usual, there is good news and bad news. The …
(2021-02-16). 43 Republican Senators Chose To Stand With the Seditionists Rather Than Defend the Republic. commondreams.org What we saw Saturday was a profile in cowardice. Had there been a secret ballot, the Senate vote to convict Donald Trump likely would have been overwhelming. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/mitch_mcconnell_donald_trump_1.jpg …
(2021-02-16). Andrés Arauz: Ecuador's Presidential Front-Runner on COVID, Austerity & Ending U.S. Interference. democracynow.org 
Ecuador's presidential front-runner says the country is facing a "double crisis" of COVID-19 and austerity. "We need a renewal in our politics," Andrés Arauz tells Democracy Now! The left-wing economist secured nearly 33% of the vote in the first round of Ecuador's presidential election on February 7 but fell short of the 40% needed to win outright. He will face right-wing banker Guillermo Lasso or Indigenous candidate Yaku Pérez in a runoff election on April 11, depending on the results of a recount after both candidates secured just over 19% of the vote. Arauz has pledged to end austerity measures imposed by Ec…
(2021-02-16). Cuomo and Newsom symbolize the rot of corporate democrats — and the dire need for progressive populism. nationofchange.org Progressive activism and shifts in public opinion have strengthened movements that are recruiting, supporting and sometimes electing candidates who offer far better alternatives.
(2021-02-16). Cuomo and Newsom Symbolize the Rot of Corporate Democrats—and the Dire Need for Progressive Populism. commondreams.org More than ever, many entrenched Democrats are worried about primary challenges from the left. Such fears are all to the good. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/cuomo_primary_0_0.jpg …
(2021-02-16). Venezuela Sends Third Oxygen Shipment to Brazil. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza informed that his country sent a third shipment of oxygen to Brazil to continue helping mitigate the health emergency caused by COVID-19 in the Roraima and Amazonas states. | RELATED: | On Monday afternoon, Bolivar state's governor Justo Noguera delivered two tanker trucks loaded with oxygen to the Brazilian authorities. A video released by Arreaza shows when the vehicl…
(2021-02-16). Western Governments Are Killing Their Own People … Again. Experimental mRNA Injections in Nursing Homes. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Western countries, including Canada, are using experimental mRNA injections in nursing …
(2021-02-16). It's a Myth that Presidents Welcome Movement Pressure — and Biden is No Different. counterpunch.org 
In early 2009, as Barack Obama prepared to move into the White House, a particular historical anecdote rapidly gained in popularity, repeated in dozens of talks and articles as a parable for how supporters should respond to the new president taking office. The story related a New Deal-era encounter between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a group of activists, usually said to have been led by A. Philip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. In the meeting, the advocates laid out a vision of bold action for change that the president could advance with his bully pulpit and his executive power. FDR listen…
(2021-02-16). The Weekly Round-up: Phase 2 of the Grenfell Inquiry. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
In the News: Having been temporarily suspended in early January as a result of an increase in COVID-19 cases, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry hearings resumed on 8 February 2021. The fire killed 72 people. The hearings are being conducted remotely using a Zoom-based video platform, which the Inquiry describes as "a temporary measure to be …
(2021-02-16). Police arrest Spanish rapper Pablo Hasel. peoplesdispatch.org 
The Spanish national court served a notice to rapper Pablo Hasel in January asking him to surrender within ten days to face imprisonment. Hasel was convicted on charges of "glorifying terrorism, insulting the crown and state institutions" and faces a two-year prison term.
(2021-02-16). Gulf Coast faces high eviction rates, despite CDC moratorium. liberationnews.org 
Eviction rates in the Southeast region are exceeding national levels.
(2021-02-16). Karen Lewis, 1953-2021: Lessons from a teacher, leader and courageous fighter. workers.org 
The global working-class, Black liberation and labor movements lost a courageous fighter when Karen Lewis — former president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), who famously led a militant, seven-day strike in 2012 — passed away Feb. 7 after a long battle with cancer. Karen Lewis. Credit: John W. Iwanski . . . |
(2021-02-16). Immigration enforcement and the afterlife of the slave ship. mronline.org 
Coast Guard techniques for blocking Haitian asylum seekers have their roots in the slave trade. Understanding these connections can help us disentangle immigration policy from white nationalism.
(2021-02-16). States have no inherent 'right to exist'—but it's a media fixation on Israel/Palestine. mronline.org 
No state has an intrinsic "right to exist." As international relations scholar Scott Burchill points out, there is no abstract "right to exist" in international law, or in "any serious theory of international relations."
(2021-02-16). Bill Davis—beloved labor and peace activist, Communist leader—lost to COVID. peoplesworld.org 
Bill Davis, a long-time trade union and peace activist and Communist Party USA leader, died Jan. 23 in New York while in hospice with COVID-19. He was 78 years old. Davis was a caseworker for the New York City Department of Welfare (later Social Services) and a fixture in the trade union movement. As an …
(2021-02-16). We Need to Talk About Judas. counterpunch.org 
The new film, Judas and the Black Messiah, is worth seeing, talking about and analyzing with a variety of historical lenses. The historical lenses include the history of Black Cinema, revolutionary cinema, African American history and the history of political repression in the US in general. Every once in a while, an important political film
(2021-02-16). Haiti: The masses are still in the streets. workers.org 
A twitter post showed hundreds of students taking to the streets of Delmas, near Port-au-Prince, on the morning of Feb. 13, some carrying pictures of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. They were demanding President Jovenel MoàØse, a U.S. puppet, leave office, especially since his term was over Feb. 7. A much . . . |
(2021-02-16). Scientists on WHO mission to Wuhan accuse media of biased reportage. mronline.org 
The U.S. government and many media outlets have queried WHO findings that do not corroborate theories promoted by Washington, such as the virus escaping from a Chinese laboratory.
(2021-02-16). Overcoming company hurdles, 6,000 Amazon workers start union recognition vote. peoplesworld.org 
BESSEMER, Ala. (PAI)—Overcoming one final company-crafted hurdle, almost 6,000 workers—most of them Black in a 70% Black city—at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Ala., are now voting by mail on whether to unionize. Final results of the balloting, on whether the workers will join the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU), a sector of …
(2021-02-16). Impeachment fiasco: Trumpism gets new lease on life. liberationnews.org 
Because of the approach adopted by the Democratic Party in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack, Trump's acquittal was essentially a forgone conclusion.
(2021-02-16). Workers press Biden to fight for $15 minimum wage. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (AP)—Union activist Terrence Wise recalls being laughed at when he began pushing for a national $15 per hour minimum wage almost a decade ago. Nearly a year into the pandemic, the idea isn't so funny. The coronavirus has renewed focus on challenges facing hourly employees who have continued working in grocery stores, gas stations, …
(2021-02-16). Philadelphians demand COVID safety. workers.org 
Several dozen teachers, parents and community activists protested outside Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny's home on Feb 12. They were demanding city officials not reopen schools for in-person teaching — until all teachers are vaccinated and all schools are properly ventilated. Educators continue to teach virtually until an arbitrator rules on . . . |
(2021-02-16). Naugatuck, Conn. students keep Black Lives Matter fight going. peoplesworld.org 
NAUGATUCK, Conn.—What do the police killing of George Floyd and Naugatuck, Conn., have in common? Plenty. In June 2020, there was a March of 1,100 people in Naugatuck in solidarity with the many George Floyd protests and Black Lives Matter (BLM) marches across the country. It gave birth to the peace and solidarity group Naugatuck …
(2021-02-16). Oregon care workers dare to strike. workers.org 
In Springfield, Ore., essential health workers at The Rawlin at Riverbend Memory Care facility have set a Feb. 16 strike deadline to demand union recognition in order to improve staffing, training and turnover — and save residents' lives. They are leading the way for workers throughout their community and the . . . |
(2021-02-16). Europe Will Redefine Itself Despite Political Shift in the US. dissidentvoice.org 
Despite the long-awaited political change in Washington as Democratic President, Joe Biden, has officially become the 46th President of the United States, Europe is unlikely to resume its previously unhindered reliance on its trans-Atlantic partner. The four years of Donald Trump were rife with tension and strife between the US and Europe — in fact, …
(2021-02-16). Karen Lewis and the class-conscious union. liberationnews.org 
In a moment of crisis, Karen Lewis and the CORE caucus reinvigorated class consciousness in teachers' unions.
(2021-02-16). Is Biden Committing Diplomatic Suicide Over the Iran Nuclear Agreement? counterpunch.org 
As Congress still struggles to pass a COVID relief bill, the rest of the world is nervously reserving judgment on America's new president and his foreign policy, after successive U.S. administrations have delivered unexpected and damaging shocks to the world and the international system. Cautious international optimism toward Biden is very much based on his
(2021-02-16). Mississippi laws threaten protesters with jail. liberationnews.org 
In Mississippi, the first of these anti-protest laws was passed in June. The law threatens individuals who protest oil and gas pipelines or other "critical infrastructure" projects with up to 7 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
(2021-02-16). Biden's first directive to the war machine. mronline.org 
In his first presidential visit to the Pentagon yesterday, Joe Biden announced the creation of an anti-China task force.
(2021-02-16). Super Bowl for Sports Team Billionaires: SF Giants owner rakes in $815 million during the pandemic. dissidentvoice.org 
Oracle Park The assets of Charles Johnson, the controversial chief owner of the San Francisco Giants, increased by $815 million during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, his net worth was a mere $4.2 billion dollars. By January 2021 he commanded a fortune of $5.015 billion, an increase just short of 20%. Workers at Oracle …
(2021-02-16). Child slavery lawsuit targets Hershey, Nestlé, Mars and other chocolate giants. peoplesworld.org 
Many people give chocolates as a symbol of love on Valentine's Day, but for some, the popular candy is more bitter than sweet. A human rights group filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of eight Malian men who say they were trafficked across the border to the Cote D'Ivoire and forced to harvest cocoa for …
(2021-02-16). Catastrophe Capitalism in America. realprogressives.org 
What is the meaning of "catastrophic" anyways? The sheer amount of death, suffering and misery caused by the neoliberal world order serving the whims of transnational capital is unending. It's so normalized that most people don't even consider the depravity; most people can't, since it's too much to handle. But is It catastrophic? | We're told, "communism killed 100,000,000 in a century" whenever the conversation about making things remotely better or changing our system comes up. Even if that claim, which comes from thinkers and historians diametrically opposed to communism, were true, capitalism kills 20,000…
(2021-02-16). How Spanish Can Help Us Survive Viral Times. counterpunch.org 
"Una nación bajo Diós, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos." When Jennifer López shouted out that last line of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish during Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, like so many Spanish-speaking Latinos in the United States I felt a sense of pride, a sense of arrival. It was a joy to hear my
(2021-02-16). 'Agent Sonya,' a biography of intrepid antifa spy Ursula Kuczynski. peoplesworld.org 
Ben MacIntyre, a British writer for The London Times, is known to spy thriller fans as the author of meticulously researched biographies of famous 20th-century spies. The latest in his series is a comprehensive biography of Jewish German-born Ursula Kuczynski, later also known as Ursula Hamburger, Ursula Beurton, and Ruth Werner. Born in 1907, Ursula …
(2021-02-16). The Heat: U.S. Congress acquits Donald Trump. america.cgtn.com 
The U.S. Senate acquits Donald Trump of inciting the mob that stormed the U. S. Capitol last month. What does it mean for his political future and beyond?
(2021-02-16). Iraq: US forces hit in rocket attack that kills contractor. middleeasteye.net 
Iraq: US forces hit in rocket attack that kills contractor | US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he was outraged by the deadly raid | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 08: 59 | A man lies in a hospital bed after being injured during Monday's rocket attack on US-led forces at Erbil international airport (Reuters) | A rocket attack in northern Iraq killed a contractor and wounded several others, includi…
(2021-02-16). Saudi Arabia issues ultimatum to foreign companies to move regional HQs to kingdom. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi Arabia issues ultimatum to foreign companies to move regional HQs to kingdom | The announcement, which comes amid an economic slump in the kingdom, could create friction with UAE | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 12: 56 | Cars drive past the King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital Riyadh on 18 December 2018 (Reuters) | Saudi Arabia is to stop signing contracts with companies whose regional headquarters a…
(2021-02-16). Arabic press review: Bahrain formed anti-revolution lobby in Washington in 2011. middleeasteye.net 
Arabic press review: Bahrain formed anti-revolution lobby in Washington in 2011 | Meanwhile, UK holds talks with Yemen's Houthis, Sudan plans handing over Bashir to ICC and a cash-strapped Jordanian writer sells personal library | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 11: 52 | Bahrain registered its anti-revolution lobby on 15 March 2011, a day after the GCC agreed to deploy troops to counter mass protests (Reuters…
(2021-02-16). US urges Yemen's Houthis to join peace talks, stop assault on government stronghold. middleeasteye.net 
US urges Yemen's Houthis to join peace talks, stop assault on government stronghold | State Department strongly urges Houthi movement to stop its attacks on oil-rich Marib, where deadly offensive threatens lives of millions of civilians | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 16: 31 | Forces loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government get into position during clashes with Houthi rebel fighters, northwest of Marib in central Yemen on…
(2021-02-16). Egypt arrests relatives of US-based rights advocate Mohamed Soltan. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt arrests relatives of US-based rights advocate Mohamed Soltan | Egyptian authorities are arresting Soltan's relatives to 'intimidate him into silence', his lawyer says | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 16: 58 | This is not the first time Egyptian security forces have targeted Soltan's family members (MEE/File photo) | Egyptian security forces arrested several members of Egyptian-American activist Mohamed Soltan's famil…
(2021-02-16). UK rights groups to boycott Prevent review over Shawcross appointment. middleeasteye.net 
UK rights groups to boycott Prevent review over Shawcross appointment | Organisations including Amnesty, Liberty and Cage say government has 'no interest in conducting an objective and impartial review' | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 15: 59 | William Shawcross is a former director of the Henry Jackson Society (UK government) | Leading human rights and civil liberties organisations in the UK are to boycott a long…
(2021-02-16). White House says Biden will only deal with Saudi Arabia's King Salman directly. middleeasteye.net 
White House says Biden will only deal with Saudi Arabia's King Salman directly | White House press secretary says move represents return to 'counterpart to counterpart' diplomacy, regarding King Salman as rightful Saudi leader | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 20: 49 | Since taking office, the Biden administration has been pressuring Saudi Arabia to improve its human rights record (AFP/File photo) | President Joe Biden plan…
(2021-02-16). Egypt: Student anger over in-person exams despite Covid-19. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt: Student anger over in-person exams despite Covid-19 | Calls for Minister of Higher Education Khaled Abdel Ghaffar to be dismissed over his comments | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 12: 41 | Many have used the minister's comments to highlight the crowded nature of university education and the threat it could pose to the health of students (Screengrab/Social media) | Egypt's Minister of Higher Education Khaled A…
(2021-02-16). Israel: Election of new ICC prosecutor raises questions for war crimes probe. middleeasteye.net 
Israel: Election of new ICC prosecutor raises questions for war crimes probe | Israeli officials have welcomed the appointment of the UK's Karim Khan to head the organisation | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 12: 54 | British human rights lawyer Karim Khan was elected on 12 February 2021 to be the new prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (AFP) | The election of Karim Khan, a British lawyer, as chief…
(2021-02-16). Biden to communicate with Saudi Arabia via King Salman, bypassing MBS. middleeasteye.net Biden to communicate with Saudi Arabia via King Salman, bypassing MBS | White House press secretary says move represents return to 'counterpart to counterpart' diplomacy, regarding King Salman as rightful Saudi leader | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 20: 49 | Since taking office, the Biden administration has been pressuring Saudi Arabia to improve its human rights record (AFP/File photo) | President Joe Biden plans to shif…
(2021-02-16). Israeli cabinet holds urgent, unscheduled meeting on Syria: Reports. middleeasteye.net 
Israeli cabinet holds urgent, unscheduled meeting on Syria: Reports | Details of meeting were banned from publication at request of Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 19: 02 | An Israeli flag is seen placed on Mount Bental in the occupied Golan Heights on 10 May 2018 (AFP/File photo) | Israel's cabinet convened for an unscheduled meeting on Tuesday for urgent discussions regarding a human…
(2021-02-16). Israel court rules to expel six Palestinian families from East Jerusalem homes. middleeasteye.net 
Israel court rules to expel six Palestinian families from East Jerusalem homes | The eviction affects 27 people, in a decision NGO Peace Now says is aimed at dispossessing the Palestinian community of Sheikh Jarrah in favour of settlers | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 14: 04 | Protesters near the house of a Palestinian family, which an Israeli court had ordered to be evicted while declaring Israeli settlers to be the lega…
(2021-02-16). Trouble in Vaccine Land: The Wiliness of South Africa's Coronavirus Variant. counterpunch.org 
It began as a shudder through the scientific and public health establishments. A new variant of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 had been found, mutating in South African climes, potentially outwitting human responses to it. Vaccines such as Oxford-AstraZeneca's would have to be brushed up. Rollouts would have to be reconsidered. The South African variant has been
(2021-02-16). Why are Effective and Inexpensive Chinese and Russian Vaccines Unavailable in Much of the West? dissidentvoice.org 
In 2016, I attended an information session about First Nations in Lax Kxeen (colonial designation Prince Rupert),1 "BC." During a break, I conversed with some fellow attendees. They expressed skepticism to colonial provincial authorities being behind the intentional spreading of smallpox among First Nations people2 and that a vaccine was withheld from infected Indigenous individuals. …
(2021-02-16). French anti-Islamism bill prompted by beheading of teacher near Paris clears 1st hurdle in parliament. rt.com 
A French bill designed to stop the spread of radical Islam and defend secular values has been approved by the lower house of parliament. The legislation was proposed after the murder of teacher Samuel Paty by an Islamist attacker. | The bill, aimed at defending "republican principles," was approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday. According to BFM TV, the legislation will now be moved to the Senate, where it will be considered on March 30. | Although the bill never mentions radical Islam by name, it was introduced by the government in response to a string of high-profile Islamist attacks in France last yea…
(2021-02-16). The skies have their limits! Russian space scientists left out of missions to Jupiter moons for political reasons, expert claims. rt.com 
Moscow may have made history in 1961 when the first manned spaceflight orbited the earth, but Russian prospects of future missions to far-away planets are looking more limited because of political tensions, one expert claims. | Oleg Korablev, the deputy director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Space Research Institute, told local media on Tuesday that the country had been effectively unable to participate in joint projects to explore the moons of Jupiter. | The US is not interested in a partnership as part of its efforts to send a probe to the gas giant's rocky orbiting moon, Europa, according to Korablev.
(2021-02-16). The skies have theirs limits! Russian space scientists left out of missions to Jupiter moons for political reasons, expert claims. rt.com Moscow may have made history in 1961 when the first manned spaceflight orbited the earth, but Russian prospects of future missions to far-away planets are looking more limited because of political tensions, one expert claims. | Oleg Korablev, the deputy director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Space Research Institute, told local media on Tuesday that the country had been effectively unable to participate in joint projects to explore the moons of Jupiter. | The US is not interested in a partnership as part of its efforts to send a probe to the gas giant's rocky orbiting moon, Europa, according to Korablev.
(2021-02-16). New firework attack on French police reported in Paris suburb as 2 arrested for chucking molotov cocktails at cop car. rt.com 
France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has spoken out for the second time in as many days after police have yet again been attacked with fireworks in a Parisian suburb. Two arrests have been made. | On Tuesday, police confirmed to French broadcaster BMFTV that a squad car had been hit with dozens of fireworks on Monday evening in the town of La Celle Saint-Cloud, Yvelines on the edge of Paris. | Police were reportedly attacked after being called by residents who reported squatters in a local building, but officers left the area once they had carried out their inspections. | The latest attack took place 10…
(2021-02-16). The Champions League is back: Messi & Barcelona host Neymar-less Paris as troubled Premier League champs Liverpool face RB Leipzig. rt.com 
A night of intrigue lies ahead as the Champions League resumes after a break of more than two months on Tuesday. Neymar's absence will almost certainly be felt in a heavyweight clash, while floundering Liverpool have a tough test. | Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona | As much as Mauricio Pochettino will probably be itching for kick-off in his first match in charge of PSG in the Champions League, the French champions know that a performance mirroring their recent showings in Ligue 1 could lead to a mirroring of the disaster they suffered at the Camp Nou in 2017. | 4-0 up from the first leg on that night, PSG wer…
(2021-02-16). Iran informs UN nuclear watchdog of end to surprise nuclear site inspections this month to enforce act of parliament. rt.com 
Tehran has notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its parliamentary-approved plan to limit inspections of its nuclear sites from February 23, despite some vocal government opposition to the move. | "Iran informed the IAEA on 15 February that the country will stop implementing voluntary transparency measures under the JCPOA as of 23 February, including the Additional Protocol," the IAEA said in a statement on Tuesday. | At the time the legislation was passed, the government said they did not support the parliamentary decision to terminate surprise inspections and boost enrichment, and called…
(2021-02-16). Spanish police fire rubber bullets after Barcelona protest demanding rapper's release descends into riots (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Clashes erupted between protesters and riot police during demonstrations in Catalonia against the arrest of rapper Pablo Hasel, convicted for calling the former Spanish king a thief, with cops in Barcelona firing rubber bullets. | Hasel, whose real name is Pablo Rivadulla Duro, was
(2021-02-16). Russian-made Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona vaccines are effective against UK variant of coronavirus — watchdog. rt.com 
Russia's Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona vaccines have been proven to be effective against the UK variant of the coronavirus, a government agency has said. | Serum obtained from people who took the Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona vaccines and had antibodies to the novel coronavirus, demonstrated a "protective effect" against the UK variant, Russia's consumer protection agency, Rospotrebnadzor, said in a statement to the media. | It added that the vaccines have shown to be just as good against the British strain as they are against the ordinary SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. | The research was carried out by th…
(2021-02-16). 'I am going to be MMA's biggest star': Bellator brawler Valerie Loureda shares snap with 50 Cent as she promises to dominate sport. rt.com 
Bellator newcomer Valerie Loureda, whose reputation for scantily-clad snaps and regular updates has seen her amass more than 754,000 followers on Instagram, has said she will be "the most respected and honored woman of all time". | Describing her debut win over Colby Fletcher on a Bellator card in the US in 2019 as "the moment my life changed", the hugely popular flyweight shared photos of her locker room, walking into the octagon with her name and face in lights and posing with superstar rapper and celebrity 50 Cent having "quickly transformed back to myself" by donning a dress afterwards. | Demonstrating the…
(2021-02-16). Erdogan tells party faithful Turkey is ready to expand operations in northern Iraq against Kurdish militants. rt.com 
Turkey is set to expand its military operations in northern Iraq against Kurdish militants, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his AK party supporters on Tuesday, as he chided Western nations for failing to condemn terrorism. | Speaking in the Black Sea province of Trabzon, the Turkish president told his ruling AK Party's congress there would be no let-up against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Ankara accused of killing 13 Turkish police and military hostages on Sunday in a cave in the Gara region of northern Iraq. The PKK claimed the hostages were killed by Turkish airstrikes. | Also on rt.
(2021-02-16). Russia tightens 'foreign agents' law for groups receiving overseas funding, to 'prevent interference' from hostile governments. rt.com 
Lawmakers in Moscow have voted through tough new measures and steep fines against organizations that they say exist to do the work of foreign states in Russia, as well as those who amplify and share their messages in the media. | On Tuesday, the country's parliament adopted in the second and third readings a new law upping administrative fines for violations of the laws governing organizations designated as 'foreign agents'. | At present, groups registered with that status by Russia's Ministry of Justice must declare it prominently alongside any information they publish, informing readers that they receive at…
(2021-02-16). Sicily's Mount Etna ejects lava & massive ash column in another stunning eruption (PHOTOS, VIDEOS). rt.com 
Mount Etna in Sicily, Europe's tallest volcano and one of its most active, has erupted for the second time in as many days, with a stream of molten rock and a massive ash cloud tinged red by the sun captured in remarkable footage.
(2021-02-16). Gideon Saar suspends Lincoln Project advisors amid sexual harassment scandal. middleeasteye.net 
Gideon Saar suspends Lincoln Project advisors amid sexual harassment scandal | Netanyahu rival's polling has flagged since anti-Trump campaigners came on board | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 15: 42 | Israeli politician Gideon Saar talks to reporters during a visit to an outdoor shopping centre in city of Raanana near Tel Aviv, 8 February 2021 (AFP) | Gideon Saar, one of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chief r…
(2021-02-16). Israel threatens to forge own path on Iran if US revives nuclear deal. middleeasteye.net 
Israel threatens to forge own path on Iran if US revives nuclear deal | Ambassador Gilad Erdan says if US were to lift 'crippling' sanctions, Iran will have 'no real incentive to negotiate' | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 15: 23 | Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan (R) stressed that without sanctions and a 'credible military threat', Iran will have no motive to negotiate over its nuclear programme (AFP/File photo) | The Israe…
(2021-02-16). Protesters in Algeria defy Covid-19 ban to mark second anniversary of uprising. middleeasteye.net 
Protesters in Algeria defy Covid-19 ban to mark second anniversary of uprising | Demonstrators marched in the town of Kherrata, which activists view as the birthplace of the Hirak movement | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 13: 28 | Protestors chanted anti-government slogans and held Algerian and Berber flags as they marked the second anniversary of the Hirak movement (AFP) | Hundreds of Algerians defied…
(2021-02-16). Los Angeles police hunt for alleged 'Valentine's Day meme' mocking George Floyd's death as lawyer demands APOLOGY. rt.com 
Police in Los Angeles are scouring social media for a photo of George Floyd captioned 'You take my breath away' that was reportedly shared among its officers. The lawyer for the African-American man's family demanded an apology. | "This is beyond insult on top of injury — it's injury on top of death," attorney Benjamin Crump said in a statement on Monday, demanding an apology and that anyone who is involved with the meme be held accountable. "The type of callousness and cruelty within a person's soul needed to do something like this evades comprehension — and is indicative of a much larger problem wi…
(2021-02-16). Lincoln Project leadership knew about harassment accusations against co-founder since March — media. rt.com 
Despite denying knowledge of allegations that colleague John Weaver was sexually harassing young men, a new report suggests Lincoln Project co-founders Steve Schmidt and Reed Galen were aware for nearly a year. | Schmidt, who stepped away from the group on Monday, said he was not aware of any wrongdoings by Weaver until the first public reports began surfacing in January. | According to a report from The 19th, however, multiple sources have now revealed that Schmidt is among the leadership in the organization to have known about allegations against Weaver for months. In Schmidt and Galen's case, they could hav…
(2021-02-16). Trump declares war on Senate GOP leader McConnell, calls him 'dour, unsmiling hack' & vows to back 'America First' primary rivals. rt.com Former US President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, calling him a "third rate" leader and pledging to support those challenging establishment candidates in GOP primaries. | "The Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political 'leaders' like Sen. Mitch McConnell at its helm," the lengthy statement begins. "McConnell's dedication to business as usual, status quo policies, together with his lack of political insight, wisdom, skill, and personality, has rapidly driven him from Majority Leader to Minority Leader, and it will only get…
(2021-02-16). Charges dropped against Amy Cooper, aka 'Central Park Karen', after she was made to attend 'racial equality psychoeducation'. rt.com 
Amy Cooper, the New Yorker branded 'Central Park Karen' by the media following a dispute with a black birdwatcher, has had misdemeanor charges against her dropped after being made to attend "psychoeducation" for "racial equality." | Cooper had been charged with making a false police report after she dramatically called 911 on birdwatcher Christian Cooper and claimed he was "threatening" her "life" during a heated dispute, after he had told her to leash her dog in Central Park's Ramble area — where dogs are required to be leashed — on May 25 last year. | A judge on Tuesday "granted Manhattan prosecuto…
(2021-02-16). New Mexico cop injured as suspect almost runs him over during attempted arrest (VIDEO). rt.com 
A Las Cruces policeman received a serious leg injury after a driver who he and fellow officers were trying to arrest sped away from a parking spot. The suspect remains at large. | The incident happened on Monday near a Sonic Drive-In restaurant in the central part of the New Mexico city, police Eyewitness footage of the incident published by local media shows a str…
(2021-02-16). 'Sickening': Health inspector caught doing 'happy dance' after wrongly shutting down brewery before Super Bowl (VIDEO). rt.com 
A Los Angeles County health inspector was caught on camera doing an energetic "happy dance" after she allegedly shut down a brewery on false pretenses right before the Super Bowl. | The health inspector arrived to shut down the establishment at 11am on Super Bowl Sunday, according to Bart Avery, the owner of Bravery Brewery in Lancaster, California, preventing the local craft brewery from making money on one of the most profitable days of the year — because it did not have a food truck. | The inspector allegedly told Avery that according to Covid-19 restrictions, his business could not remain open without…
(2021-02-16). 'Hard hitting journalism': Newsweek mocked for article on Biden winning Mario Kart race against granddaughter. rt.com 
Newsweek magazine has found itself the object of ridicule after publishing an article about President Joe Biden winning a Mario Kart race against his granddaughter. | In the Monday article, titled, 'Joe Biden, playing as Luigi, wins in Mario Kart race against granddaughter at Camp David', staff writer Marina Watts reported on the details of Biden's video game victory, prompting critics on social media to accuse the magazine of going easy on the new president. | The magazine gushed that Biden spent his first President's Day weekend at Camp David with family. "Despite not being at the same gaming level as his gr…
(2021-02-16). Trump remains unchallenged frontrunner among potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates – poll. rt.com 
Despite the former US president's tumultuous exit from the Oval Office as the first to be impeached – and acquitted – twice, Donald Trump remains the top pick of the majority of Republican voters for president in 2024. | Trump would be a clear favorite to win the Republican primary were it held today, according to a Politico-Morning Consult poll published on Tuesday. Nearly three fifths — 59 percent — of Republican voters want Trump to play a major role in the party going forward, and 54 percent would vote for the ex-president in the primary, the survey revealed. | The former president was acquitted…
(2021-02-16). E-mail reveals ex-FBI chief Comey signed FISA warrant despite KNOWING he couldn't verify Steele Dossier on Trump/Russia. rt.com 
Former FBI Director James Comey is under scrutiny after a newly released email showed he may have signed a warrant based on the Steele Dossier while being unable to verify any of the information in it. | Comey signed a FISA surveillance warrant in January 2017 based on the Steele Dossier, which contained allegations of cooperation and misconduct between Donald Trump and the Russian government, on the same day he reportedly sent an email to then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper saying he could not verify the information in the document. | "We are not able to sufficiently corroborate the reporting…
(2021-02-16). Kamala Harris, not Joe Biden, makes some of the latest calls to world leaders, White House readouts reveal. rt.com 
While US President Joe Biden was taking a break at Camp David to play video games with his grandchildren, his VP Kamala Harris phoned the president of France to discuss bilateral relations, in a somewhat unusual turn of events. | According to the White House
(2021-02-16). After being cancelled, Gina Carano's 'Mandalorian' figure sells for big bucks as thousands demand she be rehired by Disney. rt.com 
Following her firing from Disney's 'The Mandalorian' over conservative social media posts, Gina Carano's support appears to only be growing as her character's action figure is going for hundreds now that it has been discontinued. | Hasbro has announced it will no longer produce figures for Carano's Cara Dune character from the popular Disney Plus series and even revealed this week plans for another production run were scrapped in the wake of her firing. | "Due to recent events, Hasbro was no longer approved to produce any more of this figure," a rep for retailer BigBadToyStore told The Hollywood Reporter. Hasb…
(2021-02-16). Robinhood CEO claims to be hiding in 'undisclosed location,' supposedly facing DEATH THREATS over restricting 'meme stock' trading. rt.com 
Vlad Tenev, CEO of now-infamous stock-trading app Robinhood, is supposedly hiding out in an "undisclosed location" avoiding what he claims are threats to his life as he prepares to testify at Congress. | Tenev is awaiting a Thursday hearing on the GameStop upset, apparently hiding out in a hotel out of fear of going home due to what he insisted to Bloomberg are "angry client mobs" making death threats against him. | The Robinhood co-founder incurred massive loathing from the internet after his trading platform began imposing seemingly arbitrary one-stock purchase limits on GameStop ($GME) and nearly 50 other s…
(2021-02-16). 'New language': School asks parents to rate their 'whiteness' & become 'white traitors' or 'abolitionists'. rt.com 
A New York City public school has sent a graphic to parents, encouraging them to become "white traitors" or "abolitionists," detailing the eight supposed stages of "whiteness." | The graphic was sent out by the principal of East Side Community School in New York City, according to a report from City Journal's Christopher Rufo, but its author is Northwestern University associate professor Barnor Hesse. | According to Hesse's theory, there are eight "white identities." In the graphic, they are color-coded from green to red in terms of whether they are good or bad. The most green or best version of a white person…
(2021-02-16). Is Solitary Confinement a Form of Torture? Q&A with journalist James Ridgeway. counterpunch.org 
…
(2021-02-16). UAE: Secret recordings emerge of 'hostage' Princess Latifa. middleeasteye.net 
UAE: Secret recordings emerge of 'hostage' Princess Latifa | The BBC has obtained new videos of the princess, who claims she is being held captive by her father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 16: 36 | Dubai's Princess Latifa al-Maktoum said in a video published in March 2018 that she had run away (Screengrab) | Footage made public by the BBC on Tuesday showed Dubai's Princess Latifa…
(2021-02-16). "Our Indifference To Ourselves": Beyond The "Virtue" Of Self-Sacrifice (Part 1). dissidentvoice.org 
The name Arnold Ridley will be familiar to many viewers of 'Dad's Army', one of Britain's best-loved TV comedies, which ran a long time ago (1968-1977) but is still shown on prime time BBC TV. Ridley played Private Godfrey, the loveable, most doddery member of a Second World War platoon of elderly Home Guard troops tasked with …
(2021-02-16). Sex workers are held to an impossible standard. therealnews.com 
Do we talk about any other job the way we talk about sex work? Do you ask cashiers or dishwashers if their work is "empowering"?
(2021-02-16). Selected Articles: The Reshaping of Global Agriculture. globalresearch.ca 
By Western countries, including Canada, are using experimental mRNA injections in nursing homes, on the most vulnerable of people. …
(2021-02-16). GOP Senators Told Stacey Plaskett They Were Afraid to "Stand Out on a Limb" truthout.org 
Impeachment manager Delegate Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands said on Monday that Republican senators have privately approached her about the impeachment trial and said that the managers made a convincing case for conviction, but they were voting to acquit anyway. | Plaskett,
(2021-02-16). Texas's Independent Electric Grid Leaves Millions Without Power. truthout.org 
On Tuesday, millions of Texans woke up to find themselves without power as unusually cold conditions for the state knocked out the state's power grid. | The blackouts began on Monday when the state grappled with a winter storm and
(2021-02-16). $15 Minimum Wage Would Have Bigger Budget Impact Than GOP Tax Cuts, Says CBO. truthout.org 
The Congressional Budget Office said Monday that raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour would have a significantly broader budgetary impact than two provisions of the 2017 Republican tax cut legislation that passed through reconciliation, a finding that provides another boost to Sen. Bernie Sanders' effort to include the pay increase in the Senate coronavirus relief package. | In response to a request by Sanders — the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee — for a comparis…
(2021-02-16). State Lawmakers Propose Tough New Bills to Curb Rising Drug Prices. truthout.org 
Fed up with a lack of federal action to lower prescription drug costs, state legislators around the country are pushing bills to penalize drugmakers for unjustified price hikes and to cap payment at much-lower Canadian levels. | These bills, sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats in a half-dozen states, are a response to consumers' intensified demand for action on drug prices as prospects for solutions from Congress remain highly uncertain. | Eighty-seven percent of Americans favor federal action…
(2021-02-16). GOP Attacks Biden Nominee Deb Haaland for Role in Pipeline Protests. truthout.org 
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas on Monday highlighted a Wall Street Journal While C…
(2021-02-16). While Congress Considers No Minimum Wage Raise, Fast Food Workers Strike for $15. truthout.org 
Fast food workers in 15 cities at chains like McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's went on a Black History Month strike on Tuesday to protest low wages and demand a $15 per hour minimum wage. In "For decades, McDonald's has made…
(2021-02-16). Democrats Threw Away the Chance to Call Witnesses. I'm Still Not Over It. truthout.org 
"FIFTY-FIVE VOTES TO HEAR WITNESSES," I giddily announced on Facebook at precisely 10: 30 a.m. on Saturday, February 13. "Collins, Sasse, Murkowski, Graham (!!!) and Romney included." I could scarcely believe it; all throughout the abbreviated impeachment trial of Donald Trump, the possibility of calling actual witnesses had seemed remote at best… until five Republicans crossed the pond to skate with the Democrats. The managers had won the day in a rout, and the world could now learn precisely wha…
(2021-02-16). Trump Faces First Civil Suit Over Role in Inciting Followers to Attack Capitol. truthout.org 
A Democratic congressman is using a rarely utilized Reconstruction-era law to sue former President Donald Trump over his role in instigating his supporters in the attack on the Capitol early last month. | Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), who is chair of the House Homeland Security Committee,
(2021-02-16). Trump's Future in Politics Diminished by Impeachment Trial, House Managers Say. truthout.org 
Two Democratic lawmakers who were part of the team of House impeachment managers charged with providing prosecutorial evidence against former President Donald Trump in his Senate impeachment trial say that history will not look too kindly upon him. | Rep. Ted Lieu (D-California) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) appeared on the MSNBC program "All In With Chris Hayes" on Monday, where they fielded questions about their unsuccessful attempt to convince two-thirds of the Senate to indict Tru…
(2021-02-16). 1.7mn more people in England told to shield from Covid-19 after checks by Oxford Uni algorithm. rt.com 
A new algorithm developed by researchers in England is advising another 1.7 million vulnerable people to 'shield' because they're at higher risk from contracting Covid-19 — and some 820,000 will be bumped up the vaccination list. | The National Health Service (NHS) is to send letters out to the cohort identified by scientists at the University of Oxford who are now being designated as more vulnerable to coronavirus. | Around 2.2 million people are currently advised to shield in England, many of whom were identified as being at particularly high risk from Covid because they suffer from specific cancers, h…
(2021-02-16). Texas county rushes to distribute thousands of vaccine doses to hospitals, university & jail as power outage knocked out freezer. rt.com 
Thousands of doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine were rushed into distribution after Texas power outages on Monday knocked out frozen-temperature storerooms in Harris County. | Problems arose after the power for the vaccine storage facility was knocked out, like many other places in Texas, due to a heavy winter storm. Wind turbines and solar panels were wiped out of service as snow and ice took over the state. | Read more | | At least 5,000 out of 8,500 wa…
(2021-02-16). Frayed Russian Ties with the West. Washington Intent in "Severing Russia from Europe" globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). A mobile Translate plugin is envisaged. | *** | While breaking up is hard …
(2021-02-16). Over 300 Migrants Rescued off Libyan Coast -IOM. telesurenglish.net The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that over 300 migrants were recently rescued off the Libyan coast. | RELATED: | According to the organization, from February 9 to 15, 318 illegal migrants were intercepted at sea and returned to Libya. In 2021, another 20 died, and 70 people remain missing on the Central Mediterranean route. | Over the past year, IOM reported on instances where migrants we…
(2021-02-16). Guatemala Takes a Hard Line Against Migrants—With US Support. thenation.com Guatemala Takes a Hard Line Against Migrants—With US Support…
(2021-02-16). Surveillance, Stress, And No Bathrooms. popularresistance.org The Amazonification of logistics has created a new group of highly exploited workers: delivery drivers. Amazon itself increasingly relies on an expanding network of subcontracted drivers and independent contractors to deliver packages to customers' doors. | The working conditions facing Amazon's last-mile drivers are defined by a frantic pace, low wages, and relentless pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines. Workers of color and immigrants are overrepresented, as they are in all the lowest-paying segments of last-mile logistics. | When an Amazon Prime member orders an item, the first step in the delivery proce…
(2021-02-16). Chris Hedges: Cancel Culture, Where Liberalism Goes To Die. popularresistance.org The Rev. Will Campbell was forced out of his position as director of religious life at the University of Mississippi in 1956 because of his calls for integration. He escorted Black children through a hostile mob in 1957 to integrate Little Rock's Central High School. He was the only white person that was invited to be part of the group that founded Martin Luther King Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He helped integrate Nashville's lunch counters and organize the Freedom Rides. | But Campbell was also, despite a slew of death threats he received from white segregationists, an unofficial chaplain to…
(2021-02-16). Biden Takes Steps to Stabilize US Housing Affordability Crisis. telesurenglish.net U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday extended the temporary COVID-19 pandemic mortgage assistance and a moratorium on home foreclosures until the end of June to help citizens struggling to make payments due to the economic crisis. | RELATED: | "The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a crisis of housing affordability. Now, homeowners will receive federal assistance in this unprecedented national emergency," said Biden. | The temp…
(2021-02-16). White House condemns WHO findings after scientists debunk 'Wuhan Lab' conspiracy theory. wsws.org The Biden administration declared, "We have deep concerns about the way in which the early findings of the COVID-19 investigation were communicated and questions about the process used to reach them."
(2021-02-16). China Becomes EU's Biggest Trade Partner in 2020. telesurenglish.net The Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) announced that China became the EU's main trade partner in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | The EU's imports from China throughout 2020 grew by 5.6 percent year-on-year to US$465 billion, and exports grew by 2.2 percent to US$246 billion. | At the same time, the trade in goods with the U.S., which had topped the EU's trade partners list until early 2020, sa…
(2021-02-16). Is Biden risking new conflict with Iran by yielding to Dem Hawks and Neoconservatives? juancole.com ( Code Pink) — As Congress still struggles to pass a COVID relief bill, the rest of the world is nervously reserving judgment on America's new president and his foreign policy, after successive U.S. administrations have delivered unexpected and damaging shocks to the world and the international system. Cautious international optimism toward Biden is very …
(2021-02-16). South African government puts vaccination programme on hold. wsws.org Ramaphosa's government faces a mounting public health crisis, widespread criticisms of its handling of the pandemic and the vaccination rollout, allegations of corruption over Covid-19 spending, near-daily electricity blackouts and soaring debt amid shrinking coffers.
(2021-02-16). The COVID-19 RT-PCR Test: How to Mislead All Humanity. Using a "Test" To Lock Down Society. globalresearch.ca The misuse of the RT-PCR technique is used as an intentional strategy by some governments, supported by scientific safety councils and by the dominant media, to justify the violation of a large number of constitutional rights, the destruction of the economy with the bankruptcy of entire active sectors of society,…
(2021-02-16). Biden Takes Steps to Contain US Housing Affordability Crisis. telesurenglish.net U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday extended the temporary COVID-19 pandemic mortgage assistance and a moratorium on home foreclosures until the end of June to help citizens struggling to make payments due to the economic crisis. | RELATED: | "The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a crisis of housing affordability. Now, homeowners will receive federal assistance in this unprecedented national emergency," said Biden. | The temp…
(2021-02-16). Business as usual as the US nears a half million deaths from COVID-19. wsws.org The United States is approaching a horrific milestone in the course of the pandemic: 500,000 deaths. Yet, the ruling class continues to pursue the policy of herd immunity at any cost.
(2021-02-16). What is happening in Latin America with vaccine roll-out? peoplesdispatch.org In Latin American and the Carribean region, so far, nine countries have begun inoculating their populations against COVID-19 and all of them are providing free vaccination to all citizens…
(2021-02-16). Peru's COVID-19 Vaccination Scandal Involves 487 People. telesurenglish.net Peru's President Francisco Sagasti on Tuesday announced that 487 people were vaccinated without the corresponding authorization. Among them are dozens of public officials. | RELATED: | "Those who took part in these inappropriate acts will not have a place in my administration," Sagasti warned. | The list of those who unduly received the vaccine before Feb. 10 will be submitted to the Comptroller General's Office, t…
(2021-02-16). Peru government shaken by vaccine scandal as COVID pandemic spirals. wsws.org With infections and deaths nearing record levels, Peru's health and foreign ministers have been forced to resign for getting early shots of the coronavirus vaccine.
(2021-02-16). Honduras Announces Delay in the Arrival of COVID-19 Vaccines. telesurenglish.net Honduras's Health Minister Alba Flores Monday announced that the arrival of the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines will be delayed until March. | RELATED: | Due to delays in the multilateral approval of the vaccine, "the immunizer will arrive later than expected," Flores said, recalling that her country expected to receive the first doses on Feb. 15. | Previously, President Juan Orlando Hernandez announced that the cou…
(2021-02-16). High-Income Countries Have Secured the Bulk of COVID-19 Vaccines. jamanetwork.com High-income countries have reserved more than half of the world's coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine doses despite representing just 14% of the world's population, according to an analysis of publicly available data on premarket purchase agreements.
(2021-02-16). Colombia To Start Its COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign. telesurenglish.net Colombia's President Ivan Duque on Monday informed that the national vaccination campaign against COVID-19 will start on Feb. 17. | RELATED: | The announcement came after the arrival of the first vaccine batch from Belgium, as confirmed by Health Minister Fernando Ruiz Gomez, who had pointed out Feb. 18 as the possible zero-day. | This first batch contains 50,000 Pfizer vaccine doses that will be applied in the Sincelejo, Monteria, Bogota, and Medell…
(2021-02-16). Secretary-General underscores need for peace and stability in Africa's Sahel region. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General has underlined his concern for Africa's Sahel region, where deteriorating security and violence are aggravating an already difficult humanitarian situation that is unfolding amid the COVID-19 pandemic and climate emergency.
(2021-02-16). As infections surge, highly contagious strain of COVID-19 confirmed in Sri Lanka. wsws.org Doctors and medical experts have warned that the country could face a health catastrophe due to inadequate health facilities and an acceleration of the pandemic's spread.
(2021-02-16). Zionists preventing COVID-19 vaccine from entering Gaza. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Fawzi Barhoum said that prevention of Zionists from entry of coronavirus, COVID-19, vaccine to Gaza Strip is a crime against humanity.
(2021-02-16). Lancet Report: 40% of U.S. COVID Deaths Were Preventable. zcomm.org The Country Needs Universal Healthcare Now…
(2021-02-16). Palestinians wait as Israel debates permission of Covid-19 vaccines for Gaza. laprensalatina.com Jerusalem, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continued Tuesday to wait for the arrival of the first Covid-19 vaccines from the West Bank, as Israel is yet to authorize permission for the shipment to enter the coastal enclave. Israeli security officials told Efe that the National Security Council, a body that belongs to …
(2021-02-16). Reopening schools: experts urge caution as government aims for March return. thecanary.co Conservative MPs have A group of MPs, calling themselves the COVID Recovery Group, have written to the prime minister to call for schools to open in March, as well as for hospitality venues to open by Easter. | The letter, signed by
(2021-02-16). Global South Urges Rich Countries To Lift Monopolies On Covid19 Medical Products. popularresistance.org This landmark proposal to temporarily suspend the application and enforcement of certain intellectual property obligations under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), or the "TRIPS waiver" is to facilitate the effective prevention, containment, and treatment of COVID-19. | Developing countries have stressed that the "TRIPS waiver" is an essential starting point for countries to ramp up and diversify the production of therapeutics, vaccines and other medical products needed to address the global pandemic. | However, a handful of countries — mostly those…
(2021-02-16). 'A Failed State': Power Outages Amid Freezing Weather in Texas Threaten Lives and Covid Vaccines. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/houston_freeze.jpg …
(2021-02-16). The Consonance Of Proyect and Street. counterpunch.org I feel compelled to write a brief defense of two Marxists recently under attack. Who are they? Louis Proyect, the self-described unrepentant Marxist (according to his website, louisproyect.org). and Paul Street who also has a website (paulstreet.org) with his self-description on Twitter being Scary Radical Left Marxist writer. Immanuel Kant has the following quote we
(2021-02-16). Israel stops Palestinians of Gaza from getting 2K doses of Russian Coronavirus Vaccine. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — According to AFP Arabic, Palestinian Minister of Health Dr. Mai Al-Kilah announced Monday that Israeli authorities halted a shipment of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine sent to the Palestinian Gaza Strip by the Palestine Authority that is based in Ramallah in the Palestinian West Bank. Israel has subjected the …
(2021-02-16). Palestine condemns Israel's blocking of vaccine to Gaza. yenisafak.com The Palestinian government on Tuesday condemned Israel's blocking of coronavirus vaccines into the blockaded Gaza Strip. | "Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called on the WHO to stand by its obligations and work towards the entry of the vaccines into the Gaza Strip," government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem told a press conference. | Health Minister Mai al-Kaila, for her part, said her ministry sent 2,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik-V vaccine to Gaza. | "The [Israeli] occupation, however, refused to let the vaccines into the coastal enclave," al-Kaila said in statements cited by the official Wafa news agency. | Al-Ka…
(2021-02-16). Saturday 2/20: SF Solidarity Action: Victory To Bessemer Amazon Workers-Stop Bezos Union Busting. indybay.org Whole Foods 24th St. Store | 3950 24th St. | San Francisco…
(2021-02-16). New guidelines put youth at the forefront of humanitarian response. news.un.org New guidelines published on Tuesday by the UN and partners aim to put young people at the forefront of humanitarian action.
(2021-02-16). The US Faces Major Test in Reopening Schools Amid Pandemic. telesurenglish.net U.S. President Joe Biden faces a major challenge in reopening schools, amid a pandemic that has millions of children staying home and grinds education to a halt. He pledged in December last year to reopen the majority of the country's schools in his first 100 days after taking office. | RELATED: | The closures have a particularly negative impact on minority and lower-income families, as children are missing the free meals…
(2021-02-16). New Music Releases By Lynda Carson Includes The Pandemic Blues, And 7 Other Songs. indybay.org The music being posted here was recorded recently on a wonderful 13 year old iMac computer seen in the photo, with an old wood carving overhead of the winged goddess Dadari, which is a wood carving that is well over 100 years old from the island of Bali.
(2021-02-16). New York Governor Cuomo embroiled in political crisis over coverup of nursing home deaths. wsws.org The revelation that data on nursing home deaths was withheld from state legislators for months underscores the bipartisan nature of the ruling class response to the pandemic, which prioritizes profit over lives.
(2021-02-16). Animal research during a pandemic: new podcast episode goes live. imperial.ac.uk What's it like to work in animal research during these unprecedented times? A new podcast series explores.
(2021-02-16). Johnson government plans UK National Health Service "overhaul" to streamline privatisation. wsws.org The White Paper formalises the process of privatisation and outright cronyism that ran riot during the pandemic.
(2021-02-16). Epidemiological Evidence: The "Pandemic" is Over. No "Second Wave" will Follow. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | This text, crossposted on GR was first published in October 2020…
(2021-02-16). Ecuador: Indigenous Peoples March To Demand Vote Recount. telesurenglish.net The Confederation of Peoples of Kichwa Nationality (Ecuarunari) on Monday announced a march towards Quito to ensure transparency during the vote recount requested to Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE) by Pachakutik Presidential candidate Yaku Perez. | RELATED: | "We will not allow electoral fraud in the country", said Carlos Sucuzhañay, Ecuarunari's president during the march beginning at Monday's midnight. | The C…
(2021-02-16). Outrage in Philippines over mass arrest in a sanctuary school for indigenous children. peoplesdispatch.org 26 indigenous persons, including 19 children, were taken from a sanctuary school in Cebu City by the police in a supposed rescue operation with child welfare authorities and the military…
(2021-02-16). Ecuador's pro-mining politics dealt a blow by Indigenous, green movement. zcomm.org In a historic referendum, more than 80% of the electorate in Cuenca, Ecuador's third-largest city, voted to ban mining in the area…
(2021-02-16). Lawfare Threatens To Derail Presidential Election In Ecuador. popularresistance.org On February 7, the progressive presidential candidate for the Union of Hope Alliance (UNES) party, Andrés Arauz, won first place in Ecuador's presidential election; this is uncontested. Arauz garnered 32.71% of the vote; right-wing former banker Guillermo Lasso 19.74%; and the "Indigenous" candidate, Yaku Pérez 19.38%. Since Arauz's margin of victory was less than the required 40% plus at least ten points more than the closest competitor, a runoff is scheduled for April 11th. With the UN calling for transparency and Pérez contesting the outcome, Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE) has agreed to conduct a p…
(2021-02-16). Over Fifty Community Organizations Call On Marin County District Attorney Lori Frugoli to Drop the Charges Against the "Indigenous Peoples Day 5" commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-02-16). Texas Governor Says Power To Be Restored Soon After Snow Storm. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday promised that electricity would begin to be restored to some homes as crews work to repair power plants impacted by a severe winter storm. | "Good news. Results are on the way," Abbott tweeted in the afternoon. | According to the governor's office, Texas is deploying maximum resources to local officials throughout the state to respond to severe winter weather and to restore power. | State agencies are sending resources and personnel to help local officials clear roadways and to assist essential workers, such as healthcare professionals and power grid workers, in ca…
(2021-02-16). Israel blocks delivery of coronavirus vaccines to Gaza. peoplesdispatch.org Continuing with the oppressive and discriminatory policies towards Palestinians in the occupied territories, Israeli authorities have now blocked coronavirus vaccine transfers to Gaza. In a press statement issued on Monday, February 15, Palestinian health minister Mai Alkaila said that "Israeli occupation authority is responsible for this arbitrary procedure which is contrary to all customs, laws and international agreements," Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. | Israeli officials responsible for the decision said that permission to transfer vaccine doses to Gaza has been held pending a "political decision" f…
(2021-02-16). FROM THE FIELD: Life after conflict in the Central African Republic. news.un.org Behind each case brought to the International Criminal Court (ICC), lie countless personal stories of horror, trauma and, sometimes, hope. "Life after conflict", a photo-led series published by the ICC, shows the devastating impact that war crimes have on people's lives.
(2021-02-16). Militias remain Libya's main problem one decade after Gaddafi toppling. laprensalatina.com Tripoli, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- Ten years after the uprising broke out to oust Muammar Gaddafi, Libya still struggles with armed groups, impunity and foreign militias, the Amnesty International has said. "A decade after the overthrow of Muammar al-Gaddafi, justice has yet to be delivered to victims of war crimes and serious human rights violations including …
(2021-02-16). The Advantages of Medicare Advantage—Reply. jamanetwork.com In Reply Even though I agree with Dr Metz that a key criterion of health care reform is to provide "better care to more people for less money," this should not be the only factor considered when choosing a reform strategy. In the US, many people value choice and the avoidance of disruption of familiar forms of health care coverage.
(2021-02-16). The Advantages of Medicare Advantage. jamanetwork.com To the Editor In a recent JAMA Forum, Dr Butler considered the political appeal of Medicare Advantage expansion, including growing enrollment, promotion of managed care, and lower federal spending. However, this appeal misses the purpose of health care reform, succinctly summarized by William Kissick, MD, as the simultaneous achievement of increased access, decreased costs, and improved outcomes. A simpler description is better care to more people for less money.
(2021-02-16). Over 700 detained after Turkish invasion of Iraq targets PKK. wsws.org The Turkish Interior Ministry has announced that 718 people have been detained as part of "terror operations" in 40 different cities across the country.
(2021-02-16). Jazz pianist Chick Corea dead at 79. wsws.org During his six decades in jazz, Corea achieved an unusual level of recognition, gaining a much larger audience for himself than the genre typically allows.
(2021-02-16). "I Don't Trust the People Above Me": Riot Squad Cops Open Up About Disastrous Response to Capitol Insurrection. juancole.com By Joaquin Sapien and Joshua Kaplan | — The Insurrection ( ProPublica) — The Effort to Overturn the Election The riot squad defending the embattled entrance to the west side of the U.S. Capitol was surrounded by violence. Rioters had clambered up the scaffolding by the stage erected for the inauguration of President Joseph Biden. …
(2021-02-16). Rapper Sentenced To Prison for Insulting the Spanish Crown. telesurenglish.net Police arrested Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel who was sentenced to prison for a song and tweets that Spanish authorities believe promote violent actions, insult the Crown, and glorify "terrorism." | RELATED: | On Tuesday, dozens of security agents entered the Lleida University's rectorate, where Hasel had been holed up since Friday when the deadline for him to turn himself in voluntarily ended. | The singer locked himsel…
(2021-02-16). A Time for Love and Civil Disobedience. dissidentvoice.org As the doctor approached with his scalpel and began performing ritual genital mutilation, I complained as loudly as an eight pound body is able, but my cries fell upon deaf and unsympathetic ears. Then They destroyed my first line of defense against disease-causing toxins by ripping out my tonsils and adenoids, and once again no …
(2021-02-16). Behind GM's shift to all-electric vehicles by 2035. wsws.org While GM left itself ample wiggle room in its timeline to move away from combustion engines—calling the plan an "aspiration"—the announcement nonetheless reflects tectonic shifts in the global auto industry and world economy.
(2021-02-16). Giving Power to the People Most Affected by Climate Change. progressive.org In her new book, Shalanda Baker, President Biden's choice for Deputy Director of Energy Justice, emphasizes the need for an urgent and equitable response.
(2021-02-16). Workers Struggles: The Americas. wsws.org The 800 nurses at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts voted February 10 by an 89 percent margin to strike over unsafe staffing ratios. The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) is seeking to reduce the ratio of nurses to patients from the current one-to-five to a one-to-four ratio.
(2021-02-16). Irán ayuda a Venezuela a reanudar la producción de gasolina. globalizacion.ca Un avión que transportaba catalizadores iraníes aterrizó en Venezuela para ayudar a reactivar las refinerías de petróleo en el país sudamericano en medio de una crisis de combustible, según un informe. Tres personas familiarizadas con el asunto y los datos…
(2021-02-16). Patient Information: Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy. jamanetwork.com This JAMA Patient Page explains lateral internal sphincterotomy, a surgical procedure used for treatment of anal fissures unresponsive to supportive or medical therapy.
(2021-02-16). Salvadoran Parliament Discuss to Oust Bukele From Office. telesurenglish.net El Salvador's Parliament Tuesday discussed two requests for the impeachment of President Nayib Bukele over his alleged mental incapacity and for militarizing the Assembly on February 9, 2020. | RELATED: | The Political Commission led the debate of the proposals, issued by opposition lawmaker Ricardo Velasquez, of the right-wing Arena Party, last week. | During the discussion, which was marked by controversies betwee…
(2021-02-16). Wednesday 2/17: State of the Poor: Who & What is Hurting Poor and Low-income Americans w/ PPC. indybay.org Online via livestream or Zoom…
(2021-02-16). Canada's "left" parties promote bogus claims China is committing "genocide" against Uyghurs. wsws.org Canada's New Democrats, Greens and Québec Solidaire have signed an "open letter" demanding China be stripped of hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics due to its alleged "genocide" of Uyghurs.