(2021-02-04). American Healthcare System Failed Black Americans. popularresistance.org There are certain policy positions that are such a slam dunk that if someone does not support them, I can't take anything they say seriously, nor can I trust their judgement. Medicare for All is one of those polices. It is the most pro-black legislation in mainstream political discourse right now. Our black leaders, such as Jim Clyburn, teaming up with health insurance companies and Big Pharma, are why the state of healthcare in the African American community is so bleak, as I laid out in my previous article | Liberals, for good reason, hold social wedge issues as their primary litmus test. Can you imagine a stan…
(2021-02-04). The So-Called Moderna Vaccine Is a Publicly Funded Miracle. counterpunch.org 
The so-called "Moderna" vaccine is a miracle of science. It is nearly 100 percent effective at preventing serious illness and death. By vaccinating the world, we can end the COVID-19 pandemic and save millions of lives. The only problem? We don't have nearly enough doses. But there's a solution: If the Biden administration allowed generic manufacturers, not
(2021-02-04). The Resilience Doctrine: Mutual Aid in the Pandemic and Beyond. counterpunch.org 
Part 4 of a 4-part Primer on Disaster Collectivism in the Climate and Pandemic Crises At The Evergreen State College, in Olympia, Washington, our winter-quarter class on "Catastrophe: Community Resilience in the Face of Disaster" began in early January 2020, so our students had early warning of coronavirus as it began to spread around the
(2021-02-04). NACOSH unveils comprehensive job safety/health strengthening plan. peoplesworld.org 
HOUSTON—One year after the coronavirus pandemic hit the country, Marcos Vasquez, a 20-year day labor construction worker in Houston, still toils for employers who won't provide him an anti-viral mask. Or gloves. Or other personal protective equipment. "There's not enough social distancing," he adds. "The bathrooms" on worksites "are dirty and they lack water and …
(2021-02-04). How the Covid-19 pandemic impacted migration through the Mediterranean. middleeasteye.net 
How the Covid-19 pandemic impacted migration through the Mediterranean | While the European Union boasts of low numbers attempting the treacherous journey in 2020, migrants and rescue organisations paint a different picture | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 11: 21 | People rescued at sea sit on the deck of the Ocean Viking rescue ship, operated by French NGO, SOS Mediterranee, in the Mediterranean Sea o…
(2021-02-04). 'What I Want For Me, I Want For You'. popularresistance.org The 1,400 workers at Hunts Point Market, the largest produce distribution market in the country, went on strike the night of Sunday, January 17. They walked out of the warehouse to win a better contract after risking their lives as essential workers since the beginning of the pandemic. | Management offered them a minimal $0.32 per hour raise. Their demands? Bring members who are making $18.75 an hour up to $20 an hour, give everyone else a $1 an hour raise, and maintain their healthcare coverage at no additional costs to the workers. This was the first time the union, Teamsters Local 202, went on strike since at…
(2021-02-04). Spanish Morenoite Izquierda Diario denounces social distancing for COVID-19. wsws.org Despite the mounting toll from the coronavirus pandemic, the Morenoites are bitterly hostile to lock-down measures needed to halt the pandemic.
(2021-02-04). Mutual Aid in the Pandemic and Beyond. zcomm.org Communities that are proactive and plan ahead will be the communities that survive the disaster, rather than those that respond wildly and ineffectively as the crisis shatters familiar norms…
(2021-02-04). Food Not Bombs Aims To Bring More Than Just Food. popularresistance.org New Paltz, NY – Every Wednesday, a mix of New Paltz college students and locals congregate in a small workspace just outside of town. It may look like they're just cooking and packing food to deliver to needy families, but it's really more than that. | "Like when people say, 'serving the community,' well, we want to build a community," said Katari Sisa, a volunteer for Food Not Bombs New Paltz. | Sisa, a recent graduate of SUNY New Paltz, has been involved at the organization for the last four years now. Sisa says that giving back is necessary right now, with a pandemic raging and, according to data collected by…
(2021-02-04). Cowardly History: Australia Day and Invasion. counterpunch.org It's the sort of stuff that should have been sorted years ago in Australia: a murderous, frontier society ill disposed to the indigenous populace; the creation of a convict colony that was itself an act of invasion rather than settlement; the theft of land and its rapacious plunder. Even some of the rough colonists were
(2021-02-04). Indigenous peoples reclaim the National Bison Range. nationofchange.org "We are such a place-based people. To have this land back, to be in control of it, is a fresh, new hope."
(2021-02-04). Selected Articles: Towards 2030, NATO Is Shaping Our Future. globalresearch.ca 
By According to what we hear from officials and the mainstream media, the new variants are the most dangerous and unpredictable beings since …
(2021-02-04). The PCR Test does not Identify the Virus: Covid "False Positives" Used to Justify the Lockdown and Closure of the National Economy. globalresearch.ca We are led to believe that the corona epidemic has entered into a Second Wave, and that the virus is spreading relentlessly. That's a lie. | The PCR test used to estimate covid positive cases is flawed. There is no second …
(2021-02-04). 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,…
(2021-02-04). After COVID, Davos Moves to The "Great Reset" globalresearch.ca The WEF is about to unveil what will transform the way we all live in. This all fits into an agenda that has been planned for decades by old wealth families such as Rockefeller and Rothschild. Brzezinski called it the end of the sovereign nation state. David Rockefeller called it "one world government."
(2021-02-04). Imperial staff reflect on a challenging year — and their hopes for the future. imperial.ac.uk In a new video, Imperial staff at the heart of the COVID-19 response share their thoughts on the challenges of 2020 — and hopes for the future.
(2021-02-04). Minnesota: AFSCME members at Hennepin County score major win. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – At the Hennepin County Commissioner meeting, February 2, the vote passed unanimously to enact a Board Action Request (BAR) that will allow extension of COVID Child Care Leave for an additional 160 hours. Although it does not extend at full pay as the union requested, the passage of this BAR represents a major step forward for parents and caregivers who work for Hennepin County. The union members in AFSCME locals representing Hennepin County workers had been campaigning actively for full pay. | Ronisha Buckner, who is a mother of one, works as human services representative and is sergeant of arms…
(2021-02-04). "Viruses Know No Borders": In Push for Global Vaccine Equity, U.S. AIDS Program Offers Blueprint. democracynow.org 
As the U.S. COVID death toll tops 450,000, the Biden administration is attempting to ramp up its vaccination campaign to slow the spread of new coronavirus variants. Meanwhile, health experts warn any vaccination progress in the United States will be threatened without global vaccine equity. "We need to, as quickly as possible, expand access to the vaccines, both in this country, in the United States, as well as around the world," says Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, director of the ICAP at Columbia University and professor of epidemiology and medicine at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. She argues that the U.S.
(2021-02-04). Cuba develops COVID-19 vaccines, takes socialist approach. peoplesworld.org 
Cuba's socialist approach to developing vaccines against Covid-19 differs strikingly from that of capitalist nations of the world developing vaccines. Socialist Cuba's production of four vaccines is grounded in science, in a dedication to saving the lives of all Cubans, and in international solidarity. Cuba is the only vaccine manufacturer in Latin America; there are …
(2021-02-04). Covid, climate, and 'dual metabolic rupture'. mronline.org 
We thought climate catastrophe the main danger. Now we know there is another. A double-whammy ecological crisis threatens collapse into dystopian chaos.
(2021-02-04). In Push for Global Vaccine Equity, US AIDS Program PEPFAR Offers Blueprint. truthout.org 
As the U.S. COVID death toll tops 450,000, the Biden administration is attempting to ramp up its vaccination campaign to slow the spread of new coronavirus variants. Meanwhile, health experts warn any vaccination progress in the United States will be threatened without global vaccine equity. "We need to, as quickly as possible, expand access to the vaccines, both in this country, in the United States, as well as around the world," says Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, director of the ICAP at Columbia University…
(2021-02-04). Bay Area movement: 'Mass releases, not mass deaths!'. workers.org 
Oakland, Calif. Courtney Morris of No Justice Under Capitalism speaks at Port of Oakland rally. Jan. 31 — Today as a plane pulled a banner, "Newsom: Free prisoners 2 stop Covid deaths," through the sky over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, protesters held signs against "State execution by COVID 19" . . . |
(2021-02-04). Minnesota: AFSCME members at Hennepin County score major win. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – At the Hennepin County Commissioner meeting, February 2, the vote passed unanimously to enact a Board Action Request (BAR) that will allow extension of COVID Child Care Leave for an additional 160 hours. Although it does not extend at full pay as the union requested, the passage of this BAR represents a major step forward for parents and caregivers who work for Hennepin County. The union members in AFSCME locals representing Hennepin County workers had been campaigning actively for full pay. | Ronisha Buckner, who is a mother of one, works as human services representative and is sergeant of arms…
(2021-02-04). Great.com Interviews CEPR about Climate Change, Social Security, and a Global Response to COVID. cepr.net Spirit Rosenberg from Great.com interviewed CEPR Co-Director Mark Weisbrot as part of their "Great.com Talks With…" podcast. This series seeks to provide an antidote to negative news stories and aims to shed light on organizations and experts whose work is making a positive impact on the world. The interview examines the question of how research …
(2021-02-04). Western Australia: COVID-19, fires and the fossil fuel premier. greenleft.org.au The Western Australian election is shaping up as a referendum on the Labor government's handling of COVID-19, with pundits expecting it to be returned with an increased majority, reports Sam Wainwright.
(2021-02-04). Portugal records worst rate of Covid-19 cases in the world. wsws.org In a de facto warning to the working class throughout Europe, experts estimate the British variant accounts for up to 40 percent of all new cases.
(2021-02-04). Wednesday 2/3: Dicussion on Science of COVID Vaccines & Inequities Contributing to Vaccine Hesitancy. indybay.org Online event…
(2021-02-04). A better future after COVID-19. indybay.org The costs of the crisis must be paid out of large private fortunes and through the taxation of speculative capital on the financial markets. The billions of euros in dividends that companies will have to pay to their shareholders on the basis of profits generated in 2019 must not be distributed. Instead, these funds must be used to tackle the crisis.
(2021-02-04). Anne Feeney, Folk Singer And Political Activist, Dies At 69. popularresistance.org Anne Feeney, the legendary Pittsburgh folk singer-songwriter and self-described rabble-rouser, has died of COVID at age 69. | Her daughter, Amy Sue Berlin, shared the news in a Facebook post on Wednesday night, writing, in part, "It is with a very heavy heart that we must announce the passing of our courageous, brilliant, beautiful mother, Anne Feeney. We were very lucky that she fought hard enough to open up her eyes, and give us a couple days to be with her before she finally decided it was time to let go." | "It is with a very heavy heart that we must announce the passing of our courageous, brilliant, beautifu…
(2021-02-04). The Never Ending COVID Crisis. popularresistance.org It was in early 2020 that the word COVID-19 entered the lexicon. In the past year more than 440,000 people in the United States have died from this disease. The impact of shutdowns meant to end the spread of disease have cost millions of people their jobs, and businesses large and small no longer exist at all. COVID-19 has proven that the political system is devoted to the interests of the billionaire class and is therefore incapable of acting in the interests of the people. | The vaccines which hold some promise are distributed by the same for-profit entities that run what passes for a health care system in this…
(2021-02-04). The Digital Police State Is Being Institutionalized Throughout the Western World. thealtworld.com This report sounds like science fiction, but it comes from a credentialed source and is posted on a respected website. If correct, the only possible conclusion is that a police state is being institutionalized throughout the Western world and perhaps all of the world. If correct, the report certainly validates my conclusion that the digital revolution is the worst disaster ever to befall humanity, and it validates my conclusion that no Western government represents the people. PCR | Implanted "Vaccine Package" ID: Germany's Parliament Has Ratified GAVI's Digital "Agenda ID2020" | By Peter Koenig, Global Research…
(2021-02-04). Manifestantes apoyan a los huelguistas en Batavia, N.Y. workers.org 
Manifestantes se reúnen frente a la valla de alambre de púas de la detención del ICE en Batavia, Nueva York, el 19 de enero. En noviembre de 2020, los inmigrantes encarcelados en la cárcel del condado de Bergen, en Nueva Jersey, iniciaron una huelga de hambre para protestar por las . . . |
(2021-02-04). Immigrant/refugee rights: It's now or never, Joe. workers.org 
Since the beginning of the most recent war on immigrants — which took shape starting in 2006 with the hypercriminalization of undocumented workers — the U.S. Congress has repeatedly talked of passing legislation labeled "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" to right some of those wrongs. We are long past "reforms," however. Conditions . . . |
(2021-02-04). Thursday 2/11: Islam, Immigration & Women's Rights: Ending Marginalization and Assault of Immigrant Women. indybay.org Online event…
(2021-02-04). Migrant Deportations Continue Despite Biden's Policies. popularresistance.org The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to deport migrants despite president Joe Biden's 100-day moratorium on deporting most people in the U.S. without authorization. This decision was barred by a federal judge in Texas last week. | During the first days of Biden's administration, ICE has deported hundreds of immigrants, including 269 people, to Guatemala and Honduras last Friday. The agency has been accused of violating human rights as a coalition of immigrant groups denounced that Cameroonian asylum seekers were tortured to be forced to approve their deportations.
(2021-02-04). 111 NGOs Call On Biden To Close Guantánamo. popularresistance.org On February 2, more than a hundred non-governmental organizations joined a letter led by the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Center for Victims of Torture, urging President Joe Biden to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba and end indefinite military detention. The letter is signed by organizations ranging from those working to end anti-Muslim discrimination and torture to immigrant rights organizations and organizations working broadly on civil rights, civil liberties, and racial justice at the national and local level. It emphasizes the devastating and ongoing consequences of the prison, including…
(2021-02-04). Globalization of War, Seeds of Destruction, Globalization of Poverty: Three Important Titles Available from Global Research Publishers. globalresearch.ca 
All of these titles from Global Research Publishers are available in PDF (e-book) format delivered directly to your inbox, as well as in print format. | . | . | The Globalization of War: America's "Long War" against Humanity | by Michel Chossudovsky |
(2021-02-04). "Judas and the Black Messiah" Director Shaka King on Fred Hampton, the Black Panthers & COINTELPRO. counterpunch.org 
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(2021-02-04). Washington, Heal Thyself. counterpunch.org 
Since the riot at the Washington Capitol on 6 January 2021, we hear incessantly from US politicians and media that their state institutions, elections and constitution are considered sacred. There is more than a touch of hypocrisy in this given the dismissive way the USA treats similar institutions in other countries. The insurrection in Washington
(2021-02-04). A Multipoint Plan to End War as We Know It. counterpunch.org 
When it comes to war, if personnel is policy, America is yet again in deep trouble. As retired Army Major Danny Sjursen recently pointed out, when it comes to foreign policy, President Joe Biden's new cabinet and advisers are well stocked with retired generals, reconstituted neocons, unapologetic hawks, and similar war enthusiasts. Biden himself has
(2021-02-04). Presidential Approval Is the Highest It's Been Since 2009, Poll Shows. truthout.org 
A new poll of 1,055 adults by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has found that President Joe Biden is enjoying his "
(2021-02-04). How does Washington rob the entire world? mronline.org 
Against the backdrop of the recent change in the White House administration, and the absence of clear harbingers of the United States' desire to reduce the number of armed conflicts around the world, it is worth noting that in many respects the present conflicts owe their existence to how they are pumped with American weaponry.
(2021-02-04). Biden will end US support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. middleeasteye.net 
Biden will end US support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen | Top aide to US president confirms he will formally announce ending American assistance for 'offensive operations in Yemen' later on Thursday | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 17: 01 | US President Joe Biden will announce the end of US support to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen in a major policy reversal from the previous administration that may alter the course of th…
(2021-02-04). Battle over legality of cannabis grow clubs hits high court as cops clamp down on dagga lab. mronline.org 
A battle by a business that 'privately' grew and prepared cannabis for clients, to have this service declared lawful, landed in the Western Cape high court this week—this as police clamped down on another dagga laboratory.
(2021-02-04). Some 1.16 million more people sought jobless aid last week. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Some 1.165 million more people sought state or federal jobless benefits in the last week of January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. But that wasn't the biggest jobless news during the first full week of February. That shocker came from another non-partisan source, the Congressional Budget Office. In so many words, it said high …
(2021-02-04). Biden ends US support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. middleeasteye.net 
Biden ends US support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen | War in Yemen 'has to end', Joe Biden says in first foreign policy-focused address as president | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 17: 01 | Conflict in Yemen is world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to UN (Reuters/File photo) | US President Joe Biden announced the end of US support for a Saudi-led coalition that is waging war in Yemen, in a major policy reversal from…
(2021-02-04). Exports from Turkey to Saudi Arabia plummet by 92 percent amid unofficial boycott. middleeasteye.net 
Exports from Turkey to Saudi Arabia plummet by 92 percent amid unofficial boycott | Drop comes after Riyadh targeted Turkey's economy last year over Turkish indictments related to Jamal Khashoggi murder | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 12: 01 | A woman holds a packet of Turkish labneh (strained yogurt) while shopping at a supermarket in Riyadh (AFP) | An unofficial Saudi boycott against Turkish goods reduced Turkey's…
(2021-02-04). The Decline and Fall of the American Empire. dissidentvoice.org 
Image: Calvin Shen In 2004, journalist Ron Susskind quoted a Bush White House advisor, reportedly Karl Rove, as boasting, "We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality." He dismissed Susskind's assumption that public policy must be rooted in "the reality-based community." "We're history's actors," the advisor told him, "…and you, …
(2021-02-04). Israeli Military Detains One Palestinian, Attacks Fishermen, Farmers in Gaza. imemc.org 
The Israeli occupation army opened fire at Palestinian farmers, and fishermen, on Wednesday morning, in different areas of the besieged Gaza Strip, The Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) reported. The army opened fire with live ammunition and smoke bombs at farmlands, while farmers were present, south of Khan Younis in the southern coastal enclave, …
(2021-02-04). I Was Shackled to My Bed After Giving Birth. Then They Took My Baby Away. truthout.org 
I'm R87914. Even though I'm no longer in prison, that number, just like my social security number and name, will never change. I'm also a proud mom and a new one at that. There were no balloons or cards, no flowers or family allowed in the delivery room at the time of my daughter Aniela's birth. | The prison where I was incarcerated wouldn't allow mothers-to-be to go into labor naturally. Too inconvenient. Each birth was scheduled ahead of time. Mothers were not told until the morning of their sch…
(2021-02-04). Brutal Alabama prison attack on incarcerated workers. workers.org 
Occupied Muscogee Creek Land Events in this report happened on the next to last day of a month-long strike and "economic black-out" of Alabama state prisons, led by incarcerated workers and called by the Free Alabama Movement. For more on the strike, see Workers World, Dec. 4, 2020. On the . . . |
(2021-02-04). WAFA: "Attorney, three minors among 25 Palestinians detained from West Bank" imemc.org 
RAMALLAH, Wednesday, February 03, 2021 (WAFA) — Israeli forces Wednesday overnight detained 25 Palestinians, including an attorney and three minors, from various parts of the occupied West Bank, according to local and security sources. They confirmed that Israeli forces detained five Palestinians, including two minors, aged 16 and 17, after ransacking their families' houses in …
(2021-02-04). Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize. truthout.org 
Truthout is proud to launch the Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize. | This prize will go to a formerly incarcerated person for an essay of 1,500 words or less on the topic of prisons, policing or a related subject. It may be written as a first-person narrative (although that is not a requirement). Two winners will be chosen and awarded a prize of $3,000 each. The essays will be published on Truthout. | This prize is in honor of Keeley Schenwar, who was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, friend, writer and advocate for incarcerat…
(2021-02-04). Billionaire Family Bankrolled Election Lies, Far Right and the Capitol Siege. truthout.org 
Four years before Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., pumped his fist to a supportive mob that would soon overrun the Capitol Police and hunt lawmakers through the halls of Congress, the former Missouri attorney general needed a deep-pocketed patron. Naturally, he
(2021-02-04). Top Three Ways Solar Power can Help Low-Income Families. juancole.com 
By Galen Barbose, Eric O'Shaughnessy, and Ryan Wiser | — Until recently, rooftop solar panels were a clean energy technology that only wealthy Americans could afford. But prices have dropped, thanks mostly to falling costs for hardware, as well as price declines for installation and other "soft" costs. Today hundreds of thousands of middle-class households …
(2021-02-04). Warren, Schumer Introduce Resolution to Cancel $50K in Student Loan Debt. truthout.org 
On Thursday, Senators Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) announced that they would be reintroducing a proposal to call on President Joe Biden to cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. | The lawmakers said that Biden, who signed an executive order to
(2021-02-04). Pelosi Calls McCarthy a Member of the "Q" Party After Failure to Act on Greene. truthout.org 
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California) referred to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) as a member of the "Q" political party after House Republicans failed to take any action against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia). | Pelosi released the statement following news that the Republican caucus would not remove Greene, a supporter of QAnon, from the House Budget and Education panels. Greene has been criticized for espousing anti-Semitism and conspiracies, includin…
(2021-02-04). Israel razes Palestinian Bedouin village for second time. middleeasteye.net 
Israel razes Palestinian Bedouin village for second time | Rights group denounces attempt to displace entire Palestinian community from Khirbet Humsa in Jordan Valley | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 08: 20 | On Wednesday, Israeli troops accompanied by bulldozers also knocked down several steel and wooden structures in the village (Reuters) | Israel has begun demolishing a Bedouin village in the occupi…
(2021-02-04). First week of Black History Month: Stacey Abrams, BLM nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. peoplesworld.org 
It seems more than fitting that in the first week of Black History Month Stacey Abrams has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Abrams, whose on-the-ground work is credited with boosting voter turnout during the 2020 elections, helping then-presidential candidate Joe Biden secure an historic win in Georgia, was nominated by Lars Haltbrekken, …
(2021-02-04). Islamic State regrouping in northern Iraq and relying on women operatives. middleeasteye.net 
Islamic State regrouping in northern Iraq and relying on women operatives | Militant group capitalising on breakdown in relations between Baghdad and Erbil to carry out attacks from its base in the Hamrin Basin | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 13: 17 | A policeman stands guard at the Sadriya market in the centre of Iraq's capital Baghdad (AFP) | Islamic State group (IS) militants have been regrouping in n…
(2021-02-04). Lebanon: Prominent Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim found murdered. middleeasteye.net 
Lebanon: Prominent Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim found murdered | Publisher and activist shot five times and discovered between the southern Lebanese villages of Tufahta and Adoussiyeh | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 09: 10 | Lokman Slim, who was found dead in his car in south Lebanon (AFP) | Lebanese activist and publisher Lokman Slim, a fierce critic of Hezbollah, was found shot dead in his car on Th…
(2021-02-04). Anita Torrez, Southwestern labor leader and Communist activist, dies at 94. peoplesworld.org 
The American working class suffered a great loss on Jan. 31 with the passing of Anita Torrez. Torrez, who celebrated her 94th birthday last fall, spent almost her entire adult life in the struggles for economic justice and against racist and sexist discrimination. Born and raised by farmworkers in the small farming village of Gila, in Southwestern New …
(2021-02-04). The struggle continues: Indian protesters resist state terror. workers.org 
In September 2020, India's Parliament passed three "farm bills" intended to crush India's workers. To serve capitalist interests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leader of the fascist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), lent his support to the bills depriving farms of current protections. He allowed corporate greed to further encroach on India's . . . |
(2021-02-04). The Heat: Russia politics. america.cgtn.com 
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny sentenced to jail in a move criticized by western nations. How will his arrest impact U.S.-Russia relations?>
(2021-02-04). DeRay Mckesson — Policing is the laziest response. therealnews.com 
This week, civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson highlights some alarming statistics about police violence, which continued unabated in 2020 despite nationwide protests, and recounts his years as a teacher, connecting his pedagogical practice to his calling as an activist.
(2021-02-04). The Palestinian boycott of Israel is not racist, it is anti-racist. zcomm.org The boycott movement aims to hold the oppressor colonial state of Israel accountable as it places a price tag on its military occupation and apartheid…
(2021-02-04). Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving the Planet (Book). nationofchange.org The issues inherent in the climate crisis as well as the solutions are complex, but Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin do an excellent job of presenting a clear and actionable analysis of both. If you are looking for a solution based, well thought out approach to the biggest existential threat to humanity today, this book …
(2021-02-04). Amazon Is Using AI-Equipped Cameras In Delivery Vans. popularresistance.org Amazon drivers at some U.S. facilities will soon have an extra set of eyes watching them when they hit the road to make their daily deliveries. | The company recently began testing AI-equipped cameras in vehicles to monitor contracted delivery drivers while they're on the job, with the aim of improving safety. | Amazon has deployed the cameras in Amazon-branded cargo vans used by a handful of companies that are part of its delivery service partner program, which are largely responsible for last-mile deliveries. The cameras could be rolled out to additional DSPs over time, and Amazon has already distributed an ins…
(2021-02-04). How ExxonMobil Uses Divide And Rule To Get Its Way. popularresistance.org Tensions rise between neighboring Guyana and Venezuela over a piece of land that has been disputed since at least 1835. Both Guyana's President Irfaan Ali and Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro have exchanged sharp words about the status of the Essequibo region, which both countries claim. Since 1990, the two countries have pursued their claims through a United Nations "good offices" process; as recently as 2013, President Maduro and Guyana's then-President Donald Ramotar said that the discussions over Essequibo were "going well" under this UN framework. | Everything changed in 2015, and since then the tensions…
(2021-02-04). After Years of Outrage Politics, RepubliQans have surrendered to the Neo-Nazi Conspiracy Theorists. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — From Sarah Palin's alarmist and mendacious charge of death panels in the Affordable Health Act to Benghazi, where the smarmy Mike Pompeo tried to hang a terrorist attack around the neck of secretary of state Hillary Clinton (who was not in charge of military or intelligence decisions), the brand of …
(2021-02-04). The Failings Of Unemployment Insurance Are By Design. popularresistance.org Our unemployment insurance system has failed the country at a moment of great need. With tens of millions of workers struggling just to pay rent and buy food, Congress was forced to pass two emergency spending bills, providing one-time stimulus payments, special weekly unemployment insurance payments, and temporary unemployment benefits to those not covered by the system. And, because of their limited short-term nature, President Biden must now advocate for a third. | The system's shortcomings have been obvious for some time, but little effort has been made to improve it. In fact, those shortcomings were baked in…
(2021-02-04). Police accused of 'harassment' after Palestine Action co-founder arrested for blackmail. thecanary.co Palestine Action co-founder Richard Goddard was The arrest, which was
(2021-02-04). Powerful explosion hits Haifa in occupied Palestine. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 5 (MNA) — An explosion was reported near a Chemicals factory in the occupied Palestinian city of Haifa.
(2021-02-04). New York restaurants eagerly await arrival of Covid-19 vaccines. laprensalatina.com New York, USA, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- New York's bars and restaurants — once the beating heart of the Big Apple but which have been shut because of the pandemic — are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines after mayor Bill de Blasio announced that their workers are now eligible to be vaccinated. On a …
(2021-02-04). Pandemic capitalism and resistance. greenleft.org.au Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw the rise of authoritarian regimes as a brutal expression of neoliberalism's death throws, writes Susan Price.
(2021-02-04). US initial jobless claims beat expectation. yenisafak.com Analysts expected 830,000 for the week ending Jan. 30, while the previous week's number was revised down by 35,000 from 847,000 to 812,000.Despite the fall in claims, there are still more than 10 million jobless Americans since the coronavirus pandemic-hit US economy shed 22 million jobs in March and April.Private American companies, on the other hand, added 174,000 jobs in January, as private payrolls recovered from a 123,000 fall in December when they marked the first monthly decline since April.Services sectors added 156,000 jobs last month, with health care leading the way with 48,000, according to ADP Resear…
(2021-02-04). Two S. Africa, one Brazil variant detected in Turkey. yenisafak.com Two Turkish citizens have contracted the South African variant of the coronavirus while one has contracted the Brazilian variant, the country's health minister said Wednesday.Moreover, 196 cases of the UK virus strain have been detected in the country, Fahrettin Koca said.The patients have been isolated, he added.In the wake of rising cases once again, the measures against the pandemic will continue full throttle, he said.The vaccination of citizens over 65 and the second group will commence after safety tests are completed, Koca said.So far, 2.4 million people in the country have been vaccinated with vaccination…
(2021-02-04). Turkish health minister pens editorial for UN body. yenisafak.com Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca and James Campbell, director of the health workforce for the World Health Organization, penned an editorial on the challenges frontline workers face amid the pandemic.According to the editorial, Financing and Protection for the Health and Care Workforce, across the world there was a shortage of 18 million employees in the health sector, mostly in low and lower-middle income countries.Although health care employees were quick to respond to the outbreak, they faced many difficulties such as "accelerated rates of infection and deaths, lack of adequate personal protective equipm…
(2021-02-04). [Commentary] Is ivermectin ready to be part of a public health policy for COVID-19 prophylaxis? thelancet.com The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a worldwide time trial in search for therapeutic alternatives that would be effective, safe, and accessible. The despair of front-line physicians in the face of the increment in mortality led to the empirical use of various therapies in a sort of "war medicine." Most of the studies evaluating the efficacy of multiple therapeutic options have been carried out mainly in hospitalized patients with severe or critical illness. Most treatments have proved to be ineffective or partially effective at these stages.
(2021-02-04). Salma Hayek: 'It saddens me to think about what might happen to cinema'. laprensalatina.com Los Angeles, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- Salma Hayek is enjoying working with streaming platforms such as Netflix, HBO Max and Amazon, but the Mexican film star says she is worried about the uncertainty affecting the movie industry due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen theaters across the world close. "Romantically, it makes me very sad …
(2021-02-04). Wall Street Journal demands Biden crack down on Chicago teachers. wsws.org In a statement by its editorial board Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal angrily criticized President Biden for being too soft on Chicago teachers, who are defying Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot's order to resume in-person classes as the pandemic continues to spread in the city.
(2021-02-04). Dealing with a Pandemic as If Human Lives Mattered. counterpunch.org 
It's fair to say that the U.S. performance in dealing with the pandemic has been disastrous. With the effort led by Donald Trump, this is not surprising. His main, if not only, concern was keeping up appearances. Preventing the spread of the pandemic, and needless death, was obviously not part of his agenda. Unfortunately, many
(2021-02-04). 'Let 'em die!' Doctor gets flamed over 'evil and twisted' tweet about maskless shoppers in Florida. rt.com 
A video showing unmasked shoppers in a Florida supermarket has gone viral due to an NBC reporter's complaining. Among the more extreme reactions was one now-deleted tweet by a doctor who seemingly thought they deserved to die. | In a video shared on Wednesday, NBC correspondent Sam Brock showed a crowd of customers in a supermarket in Naples, Florida. Few people were wearing a face mask or practicing social distancing, and everyone was going about their business as usual. Complaining about the spread of Covid-19 on a "massive scale," Brock claimed that the store allowed "medical exemptions" to mask wearing, an…
(2021-02-04). Iranian press review: Health officials reject Russia's Covid-19 vaccine. middleeasteye.net 
Iranian press review: Health officials reject Russia's Covid-19 vaccine | Meanwhile, Tehran hosts Taliban to talk about US-brokered Afghan peace deal, and the Islamic Republic is said to be eying the Caucasus to bypass US sanctions | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 11: 22 | A woman receives an injection during the first trial phase of a locally-made vaccine for Covid-19 in Iran's capital Tehran on 29…
(2021-02-04). COVID-19 cuts global air passenger traffic 66% in 2020. yenisafak.com As fear over the coronavirus mounted and infections climbed worldwide, the global air passenger traffic slipped by 65.9% in 2020 compared to the previous year, according to a leading trade group.This is the sharpest traffic decline in aviation history, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a statement on Wednesday.The international passenger demand decreased 75.6% year-on-year in 2020. The capacity measured in available seat kilometers on international routes declined 68.1% and load factor fell 19.2 percentage points to 62.8%.Domestic demand fell at a slower pace last year, down 48.8% compare…
(2021-02-04). Covid rapid test center set up at Vienna's historic Schoenbrunn Palace. laprensalatina.com Vienna, Feb 4 (EFE).- The area around the historic Schoenbrunn Palace has been converted into Vienna's sixth Covid-19 rapid testing center, with a capacity of 200,000 coronavirus tests per day. The tests at Schoenbrunn, which are free of charge, can be performed in two ways: on foot in a pavilion attached to the complex, or …
(2021-02-04). 'PUT ALL THE CHICKEN IN THE BAG': Restaurant customer turned away for not wearing mask returns with gun… and demands (VIDEO). rt.com 
A maskless gunman held up a restaurant in Pasadena, California but rather than emptying the cash register, the suspect demanded chicken that he had been refused because he wasn't wearing a face covering. Enjoy the rest of 2021. | According to staff at Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles, the chicken heist occurred after a man was told to leave the establishment because he refused to wear a mask in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines. The enraged customer reportedly stormed out, before later returning with a gun… and his food order. | Robert Gonzalez, who works at the restaurant as a cook, told local media th…
(2021-02-04). 'So utterly disingenuous': Republicans file slew of unrelated amendments as Dems push ahead with Covid relief. nationofchange.org "If the GOP actually wanted to provide Covid relief, they'd introduce amendments to do so. Instead they're going to introduce what they believe are gotcha amendments to try to trip up Dems."
(2021-02-04). Mass Rapes. Sweeping Surveillance. Forced Labor. Exposing China's Crackdown on Uyghur Muslims. democracynow.org 
China faces widespread condemnation following a BBC report about the mass rape and sexual torture of Uyghur women and other Muslims detained in the province of Xinjiang. Women who spoke with the BBC described gang rapes, routine sexual torture using electrocution tools, forced sterilizations and men outside the prison camps paying for access to the detainees. China has rejected the report as "wholly without factual basis" and claims its mass detention of Muslim minorities is part of a "vocational training" program to counter extremism. Meanwhile, The Intercept has obtained a massive police surveillance database u…
(2021-02-04). Headlines for February 4, 2021. democracynow.org CDC Director Warns Coronavirus Variants Could Reverse Drop in Caseload, Education Secretary Nominee Favors Return to In-Person Classes, Supports Trans Athletes, Senate Agrees to Power-Sharing Deal That Leaves Democrats in Control of Committees, Republican Leader Won't Punish Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene over Racist and Violent Rhetoric, 100s of Congressional Aides Call on Senate to Convict Trump and Bar Him from Holding Office, Canada Designates Proud Boys as a Terrorist Group, Prosecutors Seek Rearrest of Kyle Rittenhouse, Wisconsin Teen Charged with Killing 2 Protesters, Tigray Opposition Say 52,000+ Killed in C…
(2021-02-04). At least 24 irregular migrants held in Turkey. yenisafak.com At least 24 irregular migrants were held in different parts of Turkey on Thursday, sources said.Nine Iranian nationals were held in the Beyazkoy district of the northwestern Tekirdag province, close to the border with Greece.They were found on a bus stopped for a check by gendarmerie personnel, said the sources, asking not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.The vehicle's driver, a Turkish national identified by the initials I.O., was arrested.In the central Nigde province, 15 Syrian nationals were held after police teams stopped and searched a bus on a highway connecting southeast Turkey to…
(2021-02-04). Saudi Arabia and Iran among leaders of 'transnational repression', says watchdog. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi Arabia and Iran among leaders of 'transnational repression', says watchdog | Freedom House accuses both countries of threatening the lives of their citizens living abroad | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 17: 26 | Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 (AFP) | International watchdog Freedom House has accused Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey of interfering in the…
(2021-02-04). Sanders Slams GOP for $1.9 Trillion Gift to Rich in First Speech as Budget Chair. truthout.org 
In his first speech on the Senate floor since officially becoming chairman of the chamber's budget committee on Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders reminded Republican senators complaining about the Democratic majority's effort to pass coronavirus relief
(2021-02-04). Have Democrats Finally Realized That Power Is Only Real If You Use It? truthout.org 
A funny thing happened this week. President Biden and the Democratic Party realized they have actual power. Wait, there's more: They don't appear to be afraid of using it. Wait, it gets even better: They don't seem to care if Republicans say mean things about them — they're gonna do their thing and look out below. After decades of watching Democrats cower before the slashing rhetoric of Republicans, it is an amazing thing to see. | In this instance, "their thing" is to seek the passage via rec…
(2021-02-04). Belgium court sentences Iranian envoy to 20 years in jail over Paris bomb plot. middleeasteye.net 
Belgium court sentences Iranian envoy to 20 years in jail over Paris bomb plot | Antwerp trial was the first of an Iranian official for suspected terrorism in Europe since Iran's 1979 revolution | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 14: 08 | A heavily armed policeman stands outside the courthouse in Antwerp (AFP) | An Iranian diplomat accused of planning to bomb a meeting of an exiled opposition group was s…
(2021-02-04). CNN chief Zucker announces plan to leave at year's end after 'change of heart' decision to see out contract. rt.com 
CNN President Jeff Zucker has confirmed he will stay on at the network's helm until the end of 2021, when his contract runs out, having u-turned on his decision late last year to leave the mainstream media outlet. | "I cannot imagine not being here right now," Jeff Zucker told colleagues on Thursday morning, according to those present on the call. "I'm going to stay and finish my current contract, which, as I said, will keep me here until the end of this year. At that point, I do expect to move on." | The truth is, back in November and December I had basically decided that it was time to move on now… But si…
(2021-02-04). Biden ends US backing for Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, but America will continue to 'help Riyadh against Iranian-supplied forces'. rt.com 
The US military will stop supporting attacks carried out by the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen, President Joe Biden has confirmed, though America will continue to support Riyadh in "defending its sovereignty". | Speaking in a televised address from the State Department on Thursday, Biden said Washington's focus was on finding a diplomatic solution to the war in Yemen and lend its support to restoring the "long-dormant peace talks." | However, it remains to be seen what practical effect the shift will have on the dynamic of the years-long conflict and America's role there. While the decision…
(2021-02-04). AOC compared to Jussie Smollett after her 'near-death' riot experience revealed as hiding from POLICE in office OUTSIDE Capitol. rt.com 
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being compared to the actor who staged an attack on himself, after her account of fearing for her life during the January 6 riot was fact-checked, exposing that she wasn't in the Capitol building. | The hashtags #AlexandriaOcasioSmollett, along with #AOCLied, trended on Wednesday, following a fact-check of AOC's (D-New York) Instagram livestream two days prior by OAN journalist Jack Posobiec. During her emotional one-and-a-half-hour-long talk, Ocasio-Cortez admitted that she was not in the Capitol building during the riot to begin with, but continued to claim that she experienced a…
(2021-02-04). Progressive journalist Jordan Chariton regrets calling for social media bans after 'seeing Silicon Valley's censorship onslaught'. rt.com 
After some of his own videos were pulled by YouTube, progressive reporter Jordan Chariton has had a change of heart about Big Tech's crackdown on extremist content, arguing that it's a pretext to purge all alternative views. | In a series of tweets, the popular pundit and co-founder of Status Coup News revealed that footage of the January 6 Capitol riots had been yanked from his YouTube channel, apparently for violating the platform's policies against "spam and deceptive practices." The video's deletion followed a similar incident in which a livestream of a right-wing rally held several days before Joe Biden's…
(2021-02-04). 'I am become meme, destroyer of shorts': Musk fires off market-wrecking omens & random thoughts, ending brief Twitter absence. rt.com 
The temptations of Twitter were apparently too great for Elon Musk, who ended his short-lived hiatus on the platform with a series of characteristically zany messages. | The world's richest man returned to his virtual soap box around 48 hours after he announced on Tuesday that he would be practicing Twitter abstinence. | Read more | | The social media relapse began innocently enough, with Musk retweeting a video of a SpaceX satellite…
(2021-02-04). McKinsey consulting firm to shell out $573mn to settle probes into its role in 'turbocharging' opioid crisis — reports. rt.com 
The prestigious corporate consulting firm McKinsey & Company has agreed to pay up $573 million to settle investigations into its work with Big Pharma, namely its role in boosting sales of the powerful opioid narcotic oxycodone. | The company struck a multi-million-dollar settlement with officials across 47 states, Washington, DC and five US territories, the New York Times The company will be required to pay ou…
(2021-02-04). With new bill, Sanders and AOC press Biden to declare a 'climate emergency'. peoplesworld.org 
In his first 15 days in office, President Joe Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, pledged to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies from the federal government, and started the process of unwinding Trump's disastrous environmental legacy. And now a trio of Democratic lawmakers wants President Biden to declare a "climate emergency" as soon as possible. Representative Earl Blumenauer of …
(2021-02-04). Ottawa should apologize for role in Agent Orange use in Vietnam. dissidentvoice.org 
A French legal battle offers an opportunity to revisit Canada's role in chemical weapons use and whether Ottawa owes something to its Vietnamese victims. On the weekend activists gathered in Paris to support a court case launched by a woman exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The group Collectif Vietnam Dioxine is supporting French-Vietnamese woman, …
(2021-02-04). Is CNN jumping on the red-baiting bandwagon? peoplesworld.org 
A recent CNN article outrageously tried to put communists who were victims of U.S. government attacks in 1948 in the same boat with the criminal Trumpites who staged the attempted coup at the Capitol on Jan. 6. The headline on the Feb. 3 article by Eliott C. McLaughlin read: "With coup label, Capitol rioters join …
(2021-02-04). Pillow Fight: Mike Lindell's Battle to Save Donald Trump and You. counterpunch.org 
In the final desperate days of his presidency, a visit by even Mr. Pillow might not seem very important to Trump, but Trump was more isolated than he had been at any time since 2016 and, as we know, he can never get enough attention, enough flattery. And Lindell—whatever he had in mind—was in many respects a flattering replica of Trump.
(2021-02-04). Warlord found guilty of crimes against humanity in northern Uganda – ICC. news.un.org A former Ugandan warlord whose forces attacked camps for the internally displaced across the country, has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, judges ruled on Thursday.
(2021-02-04). Tallahassee demands affordable housing from City Commission. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – On January 13, activists with the Tallahassee Community Action Committee attended the Tallahassee City Commission's annual retreat. While much of the retreat featured city leaders applauding each other for their great work, there were some moments that touched on the people's concerns regarding affordable housing and redevelopment initiatives on the majority-Black Southside. | After a discussion of the city's efforts to invest in Southside, the newly-elected Democratic Socialists of America-backed commissioner Jack Porter asked for clarification as to why the Southside of Tallahassee has been so…
(2021-02-04). Tallahassee demands affordable housing from City Commission. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – On January 13, activists with the Tallahassee Community Action Committee attended the Tallahassee City Commission's annual retreat. While much of the retreat featured city leaders applauding each other for their great work, there were some moments that touched on the people's concerns regarding affordable housing and redevelopment initiatives on the majority-Black Southside. | After a discussion of the city's efforts to invest in Southside, the newly-elected Democratic Socialists of America-backed commissioner Jack Porter asked for clarification as to why the Southside of Tallahassee has been so…
(2021-02-04). We can't give up on a world free from nuclear weapons. greenleft.org.au The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons became international law on January 22 for the 122 states who signed the agreement in July 2017, writes Vijay Prashad.
(2021-02-04). Regional left parties condemn military coup in Burma/Myanmar. greenleft.org.au Socialist parties in the Asia-Pacific have condemned the military coup in Burma/Myanmar, writes Susan Price.
(2021-02-04). As a Muslim American, I'm heartened Biden Repealed Muslim Ban: But Rampant Islamophobia is Undiminished. juancole.com By Domenica Ghanem | ( Otherwords.org ) — President Joe Biden has repealed the Muslim ban. As the news rolled in, I remembered how I felt four years ago, when the Trump administration first announced its intention to ban people from from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the country. The feeling wasn't incredulity. I distinctly …
(2021-02-04). Entry of Russian Sputnik V into Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 04 (MNA) — The first batch of the Russian V vaccine to immunize against the coronavirus arrived at Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport on Thursday.
(2021-02-04). Sturgeon: over-simplistic to argue Brexit benefit for coronavirus vaccines. thecanary.co Nicola Sturgeon has labelled arguments that Brexit has brought a benefit to the UK procuring more coronavirus vaccines as "over-simplistic". | Brexit: | During an interview on Good Morning Britain, Scotland's first minister was asked about comments made by SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford last July when she said the UK Government should be working with EU partners to find a vaccine. Interviewer Susanna Reid suggested the UK now managing to get vaccines because it is not part of the EU vaccination programme "must be one of the most powerful arguments for Brexit". | The SNP leader replied: I think there's a bigge…
(2021-02-04). Ethiopia plans to vaccinate 20% population in 2021. yenisafak.com Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Muluken Yohannes, a senior adviser to the Health Ministry, said a national coordinating committee and a task force have been set up for the purpose to ensure vaccination.Further, the country is actively engaged in a unique global alliance representing more than two-thirds of the world, to ensure that developing nations get vaccines equitably in terms both of access and cost.The alliance includes the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the Gates Foundation, and 191 countries to…
(2021-02-04). Georgia to allow in Turkish nationals without vaccines. yenisafak.com Georgia on Wednesday added Turkey to its list of countries whose unvaccinated nationals would be allowed into the country with just a negative novel coronavirus test result.Natia Turnava, the country's minister of economy and sustainable development, said that Turkish nationals with a negative PCR test result would not need a vaccine report to be allowed to travel to Georgia.Turnava said that with the decision, international flights would increase and bring more tourists to the country, adding that this would have positive effects on the markets.The Georgian government decided on Jan. 29 that only citizens of EU…
(2021-02-04). Colour of ink on forms among 'catalogue of problems' hitting post-Brexit exports. thecanary.co Squabbling over whether to use red or blue ink on post-Brexit customs forms is among the problems plaguing exporters who are facing a "whack-a-mole" situation, a Scottish trade body has warned. | Brexit means Brexit: | Scotland Food and Drink chief executive James Withers told MSPs the sector has faced approximately £1m in lost sales every day during "an absolutely dreadful first few weeks of trading in this post-Brexit world". | Among the "catalogue of problems that have just been racking up day by day" since the implementation of the Brexit trade deal, Withers revealed there was an "ongoing debate…
(2021-02-04). How one billionaire family bankrolled election lies, white nationalism — and the Capitol riot. salon.com Rebekah Mercer is "one of the chief financiers of the fascist movement," says longtime GOP insider Steve Schmidt…
(2021-02-04). Don't blame a lack of education — QAnon proves privileged white people are losing their minds too. salon.com QAnon should be the death knell of the idea that wealth and education can insulate people from conspiracy theories…
(2021-02-04). Why you should be eating biscuit pizza, an endlessly versatile and crowd pleasing food with soul. salon.com Karter Louis wants us to remember where American food came from, and he feels the route there is on a biscuit…
(2021-02-04). How climate sceptics ran Australia's climate policy. greenleft.org.au Alex Salmon reviews a new book on how Australia's climate policy has been held hostage to sceptics and fossil fuel interests for decades.
(2021-02-04). Adani apologises to activist for public defamation. greenleft.org.au Frontline Action on Coal activist Scott Daines has won a defamation dispute with Adani, reports Kerry Smith.
(2021-02-04). Inventing reality: Venezuela's parliamentary election. greenleft.org.au The bare minimum the Western mainstream media could do is report accurately on Venezuela's recent parliamentary election, writes Rodrigo Acuna. Once again they have failed.
(2021-02-04). Surveillance, encryption, security and Huawei. greenleft.org.au Whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed back in 2013 the breadth and scale of the United States government's internet surveillance program. Ernst Merkenich argues that it is only increasing.
(2021-02-04). Towards 2030, NATO Is Shaping Our Future. 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). | *** | NATO is looking to the future. For this reason, Secretary-General Jens …
(2021-02-04). Turkey's population tops 83.6M in 2020. yenisafak.com Turkey's population exceeded 83.6 million as of 2020-end, with a 0.55% rise on an annual basis, the Turkish statistical authority said on Thursday.The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data showed that the population residing in Turkey last year increased by 459,365 people compared to the previous year."Male population was 41,915,985 people and female population was 41,698,377 people," the institute said.The share of men in the total population was 50.1%, while women made up 49.9%, according to TurkStat.Official data said annual population growth rate was 0.55% in 2020, down from 1.39% in 2019.
(2021-02-04). Borsa Istanbul up at Thursday open. yenisafak.com Turkey's benchmark stock index opened at 1,537.6 points on Thursday, up 0.27% or 4.10 points from the previous close.Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 index closed Wednesday at 1,533.55 points, up 1.46%, with a daily trading volume of 30.1 billion Turkish liras (nearly $4.20 billion).The US dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate rose to 7.1700 as of 9: 30 a.m. local time (0630GMT), from 7.1600 at the previous close.The euro/Turkish lira exchange rate rose to 8.6200 from 8.6100, while one British pound traded for 9.7700 Turkish liras, down from 9.7800.One barrel of Brent crude oil sold for around $58.89 as of 10 a.m. local time…
(2021-02-04). 'New constitution debates in Turkey are exciting'. yenisafak.com Turkey's parliament speaker has said new constitution debates in the country are exciting for him."It will be correct to involve all political parties represented in the parliament while debating a new constitution," Mustafa Sentop told Turkish news channel CNN Turk on Wednesday.Sentop noted that a new constitution should not be made based on the seat numbers of the parties in the Turkish parliament.The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in the parliament holds 289 seats, while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) 48 seats.MHP cooperates with the ruling AK Party under their People's Alliance, formed ahead…
(2021-02-04). One more sit-in family to embrace abducted child in Turkey. yenisafak.com A family protesting the YPG/PKK terrorist group for abducting their child in southeastern Turkey received news Thursday that they would soon be reunited.Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu announced that one of five terrorists who surrendered to Turkish authorities Wednesday was the child of a family taking part in a months-long sit-in outside the office of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which the government accuses of having links to the YPG/PKK terror group.The protest began on Sept. 3, 2019, in Diyarbakir province when three mothers said their children had been forcibly recruited by YPG/PKK terrorists.Saade…
(2021-02-04). EU's retail trade volume up in December. yenisafak.com The EU retail trade volume rose 1.4% in December on a monthly basis, the EU's statistical authority said on Thursday.The retail trade volume also improved 2% in the euro zone in December versus November, Eurostat noted.The eurozone/euro area or EA19 represents member states that use the single currency — euro — while the EU27 includes all member countries of the bloc.The volume of retail trade was up 4% for automotive fuels, 1.7% for food, drinks and tobacco, and 0.7% for non-food products in December.In the euro zone side, the volume of retail trade expanded 5.1% for automotive fuels, 1.9% for food, drinks and…
(2021-02-04). Turkey 'neutralizes' 5 YPG/PKK terrorists in N.Syria. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces "neutralized" five YPG/PKK terrorists in a protected area across Turkey's southern border with Syria, the National Defense Ministry announced Thursday.The terrorists were trying to infiltrate the area of Turkey's cross-border anti-terror operations — Peace Spring and Euphrates Shield — to disrupt peace and security in the region, the ministry said on Twitter, adding that they had also opened harassing fire.Turkish authorities use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-ter…
(2021-02-04). Cancer leading cause of death among people with diabetes. imperial.ac.uk Cancer is the leading cause of death among people with diabetes in England.
(2021-02-04). Personalised immersive audio could help virtual socialising feel more real. imperial.ac.uk Imperial College London researchers have won a €5.7million EU Horizon 2020 grant to develop AI-informed immersive audio techniques.
(2021-02-04). Ditching the car for walking or biking just one day a week cuts carbon footprint. imperial.ac.uk Swapping the car for walking, cycling and e-biking even just one day a week makes a significant impact on personal carbon emissions in cities.
(2021-02-04). In A Six-Day Strike, Bronx Produce Workers Inspired New York. popularresistance.org New York City – Drivers and warehouse workers who feed New York City have won their strike. After six days off the job, the strikers at Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx ratified a contract that doubled management's wage offer and defeated a health care cost increase. | The 1,400 workers at the world's largest wholesale produce market, members of Teamsters Local 202, are responsible for packing and delivering 60 percent of the fruits and vegetables that go to restaurants and grocery stores in New York City. | The unit is comprised of 14 different companies that bargain a contract together. Before the strike…
(2021-02-04). Putin Explains Why We Need New Economic Policies. popularresistance.org The President of Russia Vladimir Putin has given a great speech to the Davos 2021 online forum organized by the World Economic Forum. As usual it created little echo in the 'western' media. | Putin sees a new danger of large international conflicts. Economic imbalances have caused socio-political problems in many countries which, when externalized, can lead to international conflicts. | To solve this one has to reject the laissez faire doctrines that caused the economic imbalances. The nation states must intervene more in their economies. The people must be seen as the ends, not the means of such economic policy.
(2021-02-04). Ecuador: Presidential Elections Could Bring Back The Citizens' Revolution. popularresistance.org On February 7, Ecuador will hold elections for President and for its legislative body, with 137 positions to be decided for the National Assembly. Though 16 presidential candidates participated in the debates, there are three major candidates. Andrés Arauz and his vice presidential candidate, Carlos Rabascall, represent La Unión por la Esperanza (The Union of Hope, UNES), what was Alianza País led by former president Rafael Correa before the party split in 2017. Guayaquil banker Guillermo Lasso and Alfredo Borrero are the candidates for the conservative alliance Creando Oportunidades (Creating Opportunities, CREO…
(2021-02-04). Groups In The South Are Working To Fix A Broken Farm Labor System. popularresistance.org For years, legal organizations and farmworker advocacy groups have sounded the alarm about the H-2A visa program — the most common legal route to hiring foreign agricultural workers. Faced with massive worker shortages, farmers in the South have increasingly turned to foreign laborers, who come to work on temporary employer-sponsored visas. | The program, which ties employees and their visas to the employer, is rife with abuse. Wage theft is rampant, forced labor is common, and the contracts employers sign, which guarantee certain hours and living conditions, are rarely honored. On top of that the U.S. Depa…
(2021-02-04). It's Now Or Never — We Stare Into The Abyss. popularresistance.org This column is hopeful. I promise. | The northern white rhinoceros is now functionally extinct. Sudan — the last male of his kind — passed away recently. There are two females remaining but obviously they can produce no more of their species without a male — and mating with nearby giraffes is not something in which they seem interested. | This is not the end but the beginning. | This is still the beginning of a great extinction, the sixth great extinction in earth's history and the first one caused by humans. The others were caused by things like massive asteroid impacts creating damage equivale…
(2021-02-04). Opposition To Line 3 Mounts. popularresistance.org Saint Paul, MN — Around 600 people gathered in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 29, calling on President Biden to revoke permits for the Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline project. The protest billed as 'Protect the Water, Revoke the Permits' started at Kellogg Park and marched into downtown to the local Army Corps of Engineers' office to demand federal water crossing permits be rescinded. Direct actions halting construction of the new pipeline continue to take place as opposition Line 3 grows. Friday morning in Northern Minnesota, two water protectors locked down to each other between three concrete barrels bloc…
(2021-02-04). Why Always Israel? Only One Country Matters to Congress and the Media. strategic-culture.org Pandering to Israel as part of the political process in the United States has become part of the DNA of both major parties. | The job of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations must have some kind of curse on it as it seems to attract a type of woman who seeks to prove her suitability by running up a tally of how many wars she can start and how many people she can kill. One recalls fondly Bill Clinton's monstrous Madeleine Albright, who famously declared the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children as "worth it" due to the sanctions that Washington had imposed and enforced. And then there was Barack Obama's darling Samanth…
(2021-02-04). "Power Games All Over the Place" 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). | *** | "Stop Mitch McConnell!" screams yet another message to my inbox. | Wait …
(2021-02-04). Security Council calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi, pledging 'continued support' for Myanmar's democratic transition. news.un.org The UN Security Council issued a press statement on Thursday expressing "deep concern" over the military takeover in Myanmar, calling for the immediate release of the country's elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and President Win Myint.
(2021-02-04). End impunity for use of chemical weapons in Syria, UN disarmament chief urges Security Council. news.un.org The United Nations top disarmament official, on Wednesday, stressed the urgent need to not only identify those who have used chemical weapons in Syria, but also hold them accountable for their deeds.
(2021-02-04). Iran: Human rights experts condemn execution of Baloch minority prisoner. news.un.org United Nations independent human rights experts on Thursday, condemned the hanging of a prisoner from the Baloch minority in Iran, voicing fear that a "disturbing" recent increase in executions of community members "will continue".
(2021-02-04). First-ever International Day of Human Fraternity focuses on tolerance. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General has called for more commitment towards promoting cultural and religious tolerance, in a message to mark the first celebration of the International Day of Human Fraternity, observed on Thursday.
(2021-02-04). Elections vital to building democratic Palestinian State: UN chief. news.un.org Elections this year in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will be "a crucial step" towards Palestinian unity, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday.
(2021-02-04). [Research Paper] Outcome trends in people with heart failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease in the UK over twenty years. thelancet.com In a cohort of people with new onset HF, hospitalisations and deaths are high in patients with T2D or CKD, and worst in those with both comorbidities. Whilst outcomes have improved over time for patients with HF and comorbid T2D, similar trends were not seen in those with comorbid CKD. Strategies to prevent and manage CKD in people with HF are urgently needed.
(2021-02-04). Black Labour members are set to boycott campaigning for the party. thecanary.co A Labour Party grassroots group is warning that it will call on its supporters to boycott campaigning in the upcoming local elections. This is because of Keir Starmer and the party's inaction over Black representation. But the rot surrounding this goes much further than just systems and structures. | Grassroots Black Left: | Grassroots Black Left (GBL) is a Labour-supporting campaign group. It
(2021-02-04). Climate expert warns prime minister over 'contemptuous' coal mine plans. thecanary.co Boris Johnson risks "humiliation" over approved plans to open a new coal mine in Cumbria, a leading climate scientist has warned. | "Contemptuous disregard": | James Hansen said that failure to stop the mine from going ahead at Whitehaven would be in "contemptuous disregard" for the future of young people and nature. The new facility, which will be used to extract coking coal for steel production, has been granted planning permission by Cumbria County Council. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Stefan Rousseau/PA) | The government said in January that it would not call in the plans for an inquiry, despite th…
(2021-02-04). Children in crisis don't need a celebrity ambassador, they need a fully funded mental health service. thecanary.co In response to Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, Boris Johnson
(2021-02-04). Myanmar military government cuts Facebook access. laprensalatina.com Yangon, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- Facebook access in Myanmar was limited Thursday after the military junta ordered telecommunications providers to block the social network. The move comes after the military seized power on Monday in a bloodless coup. "All mobile operators, international gateways and internet service providers in Myanmar received a directive on 3 February 2021 …
(2021-02-04). More than 100 Chilean women pregnant due to negligence, abortion impediments. laprensalatina.com By Patricia Nieto Santiago, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- Estefany Cavieres, 28, is quite familiar with the signs of pregnancy. Your abdomen and your breasts hurt, you feel nauseous and tired. So, when she felt those feelings, she was sure: she was one of the 111 Chilean women who had gotten pregnant because of defective birth control …
(2021-02-04). Outgoing PM Conte urges Draghi not to form technocrat government. laprensalatina.com Rome, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- The outgoing prime minister of Italy, Giuseppe Conte, said Thursday that he hopes Mario Draghi forms a political government instead of one composed of technocrats. The former president of the European Central Bank, who has been tasked by Italian President Sergio Mattarella to form an "emergency" government, began discussions with the …
(2021-02-04). Strong winds fan forest fires in southwestern Australia. laprensalatina.com Sydney, Australia, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- Strong winds fanned a 126-kilometer (78-mile) long forest fire that is burning unchecked near the city of Perth in southwestern Australia threatening the homes of residents in adjoining areas, regional authorities warned Thursday. The fire in Perth Hills, about 100 kilometers northeast of Perth, started on Monday and has burned …
(2021-02-04). New Zealand creates national holiday to mark start of Maori new year. laprensalatina.com Sydney, Australia, Jan 4 (efe-epa).- The beginning of the Maori new year, called Matariki, will now be recognized as an annual national holiday, New Zealand's prime minister announced Thursday. It will be officially celebrated for the first time on July 24, 2022, and will change annually depending on the appearance of the constellation and the …
(2021-02-04). Iraq holds funeral for over 100 Yezidi victims of IS. laprensalatina.com Baghdad, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- Iraqi authorities held a funeral in Baghdad on Thursday for 104 members of the country's Yezidi minority who were killed by Islamic State militants. After the funeral, their bodies will be transferred to their home village in the country's north for burial on February 6. Iraqi President Barham Salih said in …
(2021-02-04). 50 Bangladesh opposition leaders jailed for attack on Hasina 2 decades ago. laprensalatina.com Dhaka, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- A Bangladesh court on Thursday sent 50 opposition members up to 10 years in jail after finding them guilty in an attack on a motorcade of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina nearly two decades ago. The motorcade of the incumbent prime minister came under attack in August 2002, when she was …
(2021-02-04). Turkey's paralympic swimmers with hopes set on Tokyo. laprensalatina.com Istanbul, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- An Olympic pool on the outskirts of Istanbul provides a training hub for Turkish swimmers whose sights are firmly set on competing at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games this year. Three of the six competitors set to travel to Japan train at the pool alongside around 20 other swimmers with different …
(2021-02-04). US to end support for Saudi offensive operations in Yemen. laprensalatina.com Washington, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- President Joe Biden plans to end US support for offensive operations in Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition that has been waging war on the impoverished nation for nearly six years, the White House national security adviser said Thursday. The president will announce the change later Thursday in his first major speech …
(2021-02-04). Myanmar military cuts Facebook access as public opposition to coup grows. laprensalatina.com (Update 1: Adds Egeland comments.) Yangon, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- Facebook access in Myanmar was restricted Thursday after the military junta ordered telecommunications providers to block the social network, and as public opposition to the coup grew. The move to block Facebook came after the military seized power from the elected government on Monday. "All mobile …
(2021-02-04). Tokyo 2020 president faces backlash for sexist remarks. laprensalatina.com Tokyo, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- The president of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee is facing public backlash in Japan after saying that women make meetings "drag on" because they all want to talk. Yoshiro Mori made the statements at a meeting on Wednesday, and were reported by Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun. After they came to light, …
(2021-02-04). Over 100 arrested in Nepal as vandalism marks anti-government protests. laprensalatina.com Kathmandu, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- Nepal police on Thursday arrested at least 100 protesters after vandalism marked a country-wide general strike against the government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The call to strike was given by the ruling Nepal Communist Party's splinter faction led by former guerrilla commander Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and former communist …
(2021-02-04). Artcurial to host vintage motocar sale. laprensalatina.com The Artcurial auction house in Paris will host the Parisienne 2021 vintage collectors' motorcar sale on Friday. The collection includes exceptionally rare vehicles. A visual story by EFE/EPA photographer IAN LANGSDON…
(2021-02-04). Tehran condemns Belgian court ruling against Iranian diplomat. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 04 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that the Islamic Republic strongly condemns Belgian court ruling against Iranian diplomat.
(2021-02-04). The West Is Losing Its Soft Power. strategic-culture.org
(2021-02-04). 'The Longer Telegram' Is a Recipe for Costly Failure. strategic-culture.org By Daniel LARISON | An anonymous former government official has written a conventionally hawkish
(2021-02-04). Parents, Backed by a Right-Wing Law Firm, Ready to Sue Striking Teachers. zcomm.org The conservative movement is capitalizing on school closures to weaken public education…
(2021-02-04). A California Cooperative Tackles Inequality by Reimagining the Future of Housing. zcomm.org By working towards creating 'land without landlords,' this East Bay cooperative is helping communities build pathways to collective property ownership and community wealth…
(2021-02-04). We Need a Democratic Approach to Reimagining Schools. zcomm.org Asking People, Not Billionaires and Ideologues, What They Want…
(2021-02-04). The B'tselem Report On Israeli Apartheid. zcomm.org It is only Palestinian resistance from within and global solidarity from without that can have any prospect of achieving Palestinian rights and a peaceful future for both peoples…
(2021-02-04). The Capitol Rioters Aren't Like Other Extremists. zcomm.org What's clear is that the Capitol riot revealed a new force in American politics—a broader mass political movement that has violence at its core and draws strength even from places where Trump supporters are in the minority…
(2021-02-04). In India, Farmers Are Resisting Narendra Modi's Propaganda Machine. thenation.com In India, Farmers Are Resisting Narendra Modi's Propaganda Machine…
(2021-02-04). The Unbearable Emptiness of Tom Brady. thenation.com The Unbearable Emptiness of Tom Brady…
(2021-02-04). I'm for Abolition. And Yet I Want the Capitol Rioters in Prison. thenation.com I'm for Abolition. And Yet I Want the Capitol Rioters in Prison.
(2021-02-04). I Wish We Could Be Dancing to Sophie. thenation.com I Wish We Could Be Dancing to Sophie…
(2021-02-04). If Senators Won't Kill the Filibuster, They Should at Least Sweat for It. thenation.com If Senators Won't Kill the Filibuster, They Should at Least Sweat for It…
(2021-02-04). St. Louis Considers Spy Planes to Survey the City 18 Hours a Day. thenation.com St. Louis Considers Spy Planes to Survey the City 18 Hours a Day…
(2021-02-04). Can a Novel Really Capture the Spirit of the Internet? thenation.com Can a Novel Really Capture the Spirit of the Internet?
(2021-02-04). Why Israel Is Joining the Pentagon's 'Arab NATO'. 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). | *** | With none of the usual fanfare associated with such a momentous …
(2021-02-04). A warning — Emergency Henry VIII powers are being abused. truepublica.org.uk The Good Law Project is a not-for-profit campaign organisation that uses the law to protect the interests of the public. It fights cases that defend, define or change the law. It also challenges abuses of power, exploitation, inequality, and injustice. The government under Boris Johnson doesn't like being legally challenged and is using taxpayer funds …
(2021-02-04). Coronavirus / Tokyo Olympics: The Japanese government's clever way of deceiving its people. indybay.org Please comment to the Japanese government about the Coronavirus Tokyo Olympics. There is no e-mail address, and it is not necessary to include a name. This stupid government plans to trick the world into hosting the Olympics.
(2021-02-04). Bundesakademie fàºr Sicherheit (BAKS) empfiehlt deutscher Regierung: ‚ÄûMilità§rschlag der USA und/oder Israels gegen Iran unterstàºtzen!" 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). | *** | Was steht der Welt bevor? US-Auàüenminister Antony Blinken behauptete am 1.02.2021, …
(2021-02-04). A grab for KPFA & Pacifica. indybay.org You have perhaps heard about the attempt — not the one in DC — this one is about some KPFA board members who asked a judge to just basically give them the Pacifica radio network. The request was denied, but it did leave a sense of shock and outrage. Here is a letter from a group of KPFA board members who are condemning the adventure.
(2021-02-04). Dehumanization Through the Dynamics of Racial Discrimination. 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). | *** | "It is race, is it not, that puts the hundred millions …
(2021-02-04). 25 Years Later — Selena: The Series. fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA – On March 31, 1995, 23-year-old Chicana icon Selena Quintanilla was murdered by her employee Yolanda Saldivar. 25 years later, on December 4, 2020, Selena: The Series premiered on Netflix. Selena is indisputably one of the most important and influential Chicanas in the past 100 years. Executive producer for the series was eldest Quintanilla daughter Suzette; it was co-produced by Chicana Christian Serratos, who stars as Selena in the series. | A father's dream | Selena's parents Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla met around 1961 in Yakima, Washington and, after giving birth to their first child AB…
(2021-02-04). California's Bulldozer 'Restoration': From the Ballona Wetlands to the Delta. indybay.org "Our Governor's cabinet members just announced a series of initiatives that support 'Nature Based Solutions' to counter climate change. So, how does Governor Newsom justify a project to bulldoze and excavate more than 2.5 million cubic yards of soil, paving the way for a new fossil fuel infrastructure for the aging gas storage field under this ecological reserve?" asked attorney Bryan Pease.
(2021-02-04). The Legacy of Cicely Tyson: Pioneer for Representation in Film, Fashion and Television. 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). | *** | In the January and February issue of Essence magazine excerpts from …
(2021-02-04). Appeal Targets U.S. Wildlife Agency's Refusal to Consider California Condor's Significance to Tribal Groups in Approving Luxury Resort. indybay.org LOS ANGELES, February 2, 2021 — Conservation and tribal groups today appealed a recent court ruling that the California condor doesn't qualify as a traditional Native American cultural property under federal law.
(2021-02-04). Saturday 2/6: Dog Park Day! indybay.org Point Isabel, Richmond, CA…
(2021-02-04). Charter Schools Distort the Modern Socialized Economy. dissidentvoice.org Every year billions of public dollars and assets flow into the hands of private businesses like charter schools, leaving public schools, the economy, the public interest, and the nation worse off. This is due to the fact that competing owners of capital are using deregulated charter schools to atomize the socialized economy for private gain. …
(2021-02-04). Earthworks report reveals CA fails to safely manage radioactive and toxic oil wells. indybay.org Estela Garcia, impacted resident and member of the Committee for a Better Arvin," said, "In my community, there are many people who are sick – with asthma, with allergies, and many many people suffering from cancer. Here in Arvin, there are wells near schools and near apartments. There are wells that supposedly aren't operating, but a terrible smell comes to you if you get close to these sites." | "This pollution affects everyone in the community. So if you ask me, 'what would you change in your community', I'd say 'get the wells out of our communities as much as possible," concluded Garcia.
(2021-02-04). 25 Years Later — Selena: The Series. fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA – On March 31, 1995, 23-year-old Chicana icon Selena Quintanilla was murdered by her employee Yolanda Saldivar. 25 years later, on December 4, 2020, Selena: The Series premiered on Netflix. Selena is indisputably one of the most important and influential Chicanas in the past 100 years. Executive producer for the series was eldest Quintanilla daughter Suzette; it was co-produced by Chicana Christian Serratos, who stars as Selena in the series. | A father's dream | Selena's parents Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla met around 1961 in Yakima, Washington and, after giving birth to their first child AB…
(2021-02-04). Radium Girls: In the 1920s as now, companies choose profits over workers' lives. wsws.org Set in New Jersey, Radium Girls is a historical docudrama dealing with female workers who suffered multiple life-threatening or lethal illnesses from hand-painting watch faces with radium.
(2021-02-04). Dark-money Think Tanks Dominate House Foreign Affairs Witness List. 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 article was co-published with When expert …
(2021-02-04). Students speak out in support of Chicago teachers struggle against in-person learning. wsws.org The International Youth and Students for Social Equality spoke to students throughout the United States on the struggle of the Chicago teachers and found widespread support.
(2021-02-04). Biden Administration Accused of Supporting Apartheid. Chagos Islands and US Military Base in Diego Garcia. 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 Nations General Assembly, African Union, and International Court of …
(2021-02-04). Thursday 2/18: The History and Future of Affirmative Action in California. indybay.org Online Event…
(2021-02-04). US Dismisses Iran's Offer to Coordinate Return to Nuclear Deal. 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 US State Department dismissed an idea floated by Iranian Foreign …
(2021-02-04). Winning Votes Through Identity Politics. 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). | *** | According to official estimates, Donald J. Trump obtained a little more …
(2021-02-04). China's National Carbon Market has Just Launched: How it Could be a Climate Game Changer. juancole.com By Huw Slater, Wang Shu and Dimitri De Boer | — ( China Dialogue) — With the new market having opened on 1 February, experts offer a take on how it may impact China's industries and emissions trajectory China's national carbon market started operating on 1 February, as mandated by a key regulatory document. Although …
(2021-02-04). 'Nobody Is Safe Until 'Everybody Is Vaccinated': Klaus Schwab's "Global Reset" 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 founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Klaus …
(2021-02-04). Peace and Freedom Party legislative proposals for 2021. indybay.org Peace and Freedom Party seeks: representation in the California State Legislature; to match the rental exemptions of Costa-Hawkins with those of AB 1482; and to allow non-citizen parents and guardians the right to vote in school district elections.
(2021-02-04). Bangladesh government begins to forcibly remove Rohingya refugees. wsws.org The government is moving some 100,000 Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char, a cyclone-prone island, while planning to send others back to Myanmar, from where they fled.
(2021-02-04). Wednesday 2/10: Changing Climate: The Role of Environmental Justice. indybay.org Free online event. Register here: | ucsc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o7ezK23iR3q0E80jgIrhvg…
(2021-02-04). Workers protest closure of Matosinhos refinery in Portugal. peoplesdispatch.org Portuguese energy supplier group Galp Energia has announced the closure of a crude oil refinery owned by its subsidiary Petrogal in Matosinhos, which is likely to affect over a thousand jobs…
(2021-02-04). Wednesday 2/10: Plant-Based Meals: Good for Climate, Health & Your Budget. indybay.org Online event…
(2021-02-04). Getting Lazy in Discussing Winning in the Stock Market. cepr.net Neil Irwin had an interesting piece reporting on returns to investors who just held stock index funds over long periods of time. The point of the piece is that people who just held an index, rather than trying to speculate on individual stocks, have seen very healthy returns over the last three decades. While the …
(2021-02-04). Black Lives Matter Deserves Nobel Prize. progressive.org The organization touched a chord in this land and overseas by making us acknowledge that racism is a scourge on human progress.
(2021-02-04). Work Should Pay: A $15 an Hour Minimum Wage Is a Start. cepr.net Lancaster Online (PA), February 4, 2021 InsideSources, February 4, 2021 See original article online President Biden has proposed raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. This has led to the predictable cries of economic disaster from business organizations and right-wingers more generally. The standard argument against raising the minimum wage is not …
(2021-02-04). New report shows persistent racial and ethnic disparities in youth incarcerations. nationofchange.org While youth incarceration has dropped by almost half over the last decade, Back and American Indian youth are more likely to be incarcerated than white youth.
(2021-02-04). Saturday 2/6: Meetup: Intro to MicroSanctuaries. indybay.org Online Zoom…
(2021-02-04). There's No Secret Chinese Hand In Myanmar's State Of Emergency. oneworld.press The People's Republic isn't involved in the Tatmadaw's state of emergency, but falsely claiming otherwise is yet another attempt by self-interested forces to pressure Biden into continuing Trump's anti-Chinese policies.
(2021-02-04). Campaign in US demands govt. intervention in housing crisis. peoplesdispatch.org A three-day campaign by the Party for Socialism and Liberation in the US saw rallies, protests and demonstrations where participants emphasized one message — housing is a human right…
(2021-02-04). The Decline and Fall of the American Empire. peoplesparty.org (As seen on
(2021-02-04). San Francisco Empty and Abandoned Buildings (4th Quarter, 2020). indybay.org SF Food Not Bombs has updated the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection's list of empty and abandoned buildings through December, 2020 on this webpage: sffnb.org/list-of-san-francisco-empty-and-abandoned-buildings/.
(2021-02-04). Support the struggle of Chicago teachers against the unsafe opening of schools! wsws.org The rank-and-file education safety committees in Germany and the UK have adopted the following statement of solidarity with the protesting teachers in Chicago.
(2021-02-04). Friday 2/5: Oakland Ladybug Hike! indybay.org Ridge Top Trail, Oakland (see event page description for Google Map link)…
(2021-02-04). Philippines congressional committee approves amendment to open up key sectors to foreign capital. peoplesdispatch.org Left-wing opposition groups have criticized the measure which will allow the government to dilute protected rights of Philippines' citizens in key economic sectors…
(2021-02-04). Students Demand Abolition Coursework from Colleges and Universities. progressive.org Sociology departments across the nation are being called out for the role they've played in policing.
(2021-02-04). Take me out to the Capitol…whoops, I mean the ballpark. nationofchange.org The Super Bowl ends the most toxic season ever…
(2021-02-04). Venezuela: Opposition, Colombian Leaders Allegedly Involved in Foiled Terror Plot. 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). | *** | Venezuelan authorities have reportedly dismantled a terrorist plan. | National Assembly President …
(2021-02-04). A Tale of an Economics Lesson. peoplesparty.org Once upon a time Mr. Capital took his son out for a walk… | ‚Ä¢ Look son, poor people, there. | ‚Ä¢ They look just like you and me, dad. | ‚Ä¢ Well, son, no, they are not like us, they don't own stock, but they are still very useful for the economy. | ‚Ä¢ In what way are they useful, dad? | ‚Ä¢ Well, son, because they are poor, we can hire them for miserly wages, and they will produce for companies in which we own stock! | ‚Ä¢ Dad, but if they are not paid enough, won't they go hungry? | ‚Ä¢ Well, son…
(2021-02-04). Why the Biden Administration Has Set Itself Up for Failure on the Iran Nuclear Deal. 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). | *** | By laying out unrealistic demands to Iran and engaging in fearmongering …
(2021-02-04). Tuesday 2/9: Protest Berkeley's Inaction on Climate Change and Animal Cruelty. indybay.org Ohlone Park, Berkeley, CA…
(2021-02-04). Even After the Cabinet Selections, Personnel Is Policy. cepr.net The American Prospect See article on original site Recent nominations and appointments by President Biden have given progressives enough reason to feel cautiously hopeful about the shape of the administration. Some high-profile losses aside (We meet again, Tom Vilsack), most of Biden's early picks for senior cabinet jobs and top advisers are to the left …
(2021-02-04). Saturday 2/6: Online Consent Training. indybay.org Online Zoom…
(2021-02-04). Monday 2/8: Open Rescue Training Part 1: The Basics, Videography and On Camera Person. indybay.org Online Zoom…
(2021-02-04). What is In Store for The World. BAKS Recommendation to German Government: "Support Military Strike by the USA and/or Israel Against Iran!" 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). | *** | What is in store for the world? US Secretary of State …
(2021-02-04). Thursday 2/11: UCSF and the Haight Ashbury: 120 Years of Struggle. indybay.org ‚Ä¢ To join the meeting, copy this link: zoom.us/j/97001985280?p wd=Nkx2UVFPSTRVWGVXUVZ EbFRkb0xwQT09 | ‚Ä¢ Or, with the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 970 0198 5280 Passcode: 333544 | ‚Ä¢ Zoom also provided these telephone numbers. These are not toll-free numbers. | Check with your phone company before you incur charges. | ‚Ä¢ Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) | +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) | +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) | +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) | +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) | +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) | Meeting ID: 970…
(2021-02-04). Canada declares pro-Trump white supremacist group Proud Boys a terrorist organization. peoplesdispatch.org Proud Boys, which was founded by a Canadian Gavin McInnes, in 2016 describes itself as "western chauvinist" and has openly supported many of Donald Trump's racist policies…
(2021-02-03). Normalisation deals with Israel 'not a substitute for peace', State Department says. middleeasteye.net 
Normalisation deals with Israel 'not a substitute for peace', State Department says | Peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine still 'very important', spokesperson Ned Price says | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 19 | US State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks at his first daily press briefing at State Department on 2 February (AFP/File photo) | Recently cemented normalisation deals between several Arab count…
(2021-02-03). Protests erupt over killing of Palestinian citizen of Israel during police shoot-out. middleeasteye.net 
Protests erupt over killing of Palestinian citizen of Israel during police shoot-out | The death of Ahmed Hijazi, a 22-year-old nursing student, has reignited anger over Israel's selective policing of Palestinian communities in the country | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 14: 29 | Palestinian protesters in the town of Umm al-Fahm carry a placard saying "We are killed while the police are laughing" (Twitter\@ume…
(2021-02-03). Covid-19: Tunisia and occupied Palestinian territory to receive vaccine via Covax. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Tunisia and occupied Palestinian territory to receive vaccine via Covax | Both areas were given vaccines from Covax after meeting the requirements for the programme | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 13: 38 | The World Health Organisation said that Tunisia would receive 37,000 shots from Pfizer and BioNTech with the Palestinians getting 93,600 (AFP)
| Tunisia and the occupied Palestinian t…
(2021-02-03). Normalisation deals with Israel no 'substitute for peace', US State Department says. middleeasteye.net Normalisation deals with Israel no 'substitute for peace', US State Department says | Peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine still 'very important', spokesman Ned Price says | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 19 | US State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks at his first daily news briefing at State Department on 2 February (AFP/File photo) | Recently cemented normalisation deals between several Arab countries…
(2021-02-03). What BoJo's Done for the Cause of Scottish Independence. counterpunch.org 
If you are from Scotland and want independence for your country, then Boris "BoJo" Johnson, the UK prime minister, is just the proverbial gift that keeps on giving. BoJo made a recent "essential" visit to Scotland— ignoring pandemic travel restrictions in so doing— for one of his now de rigueur but palpably contrived photo ops
(2021-02-03). The Resilience Doctrine: Indigenous Nations Understand Disaster Resilience. counterpunch.org 
Part 3 of a 4-part Primer on Disaster Collectivism in the Climate and Pandemic Crises. From the perspectives of Indigenous nations, the crises of 2020 have not been something entirely new, or even a significant historical departure from "normal." Having previously experienced the ravages of violent colonialism, pandemics, environmental catastrophe, and forced assimilation, the current
(2021-02-03). COVID-19 reflections: the lessons learnt from the pandemic. imperial.ac.uk Imperial researchers reflect on the lessons they will take away from the pandemic.
(2021-02-03). PatriotCare and the Pandemic: MMT Healthcare. realprogressives.org 
We are nearly a full year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and If the capitalist governments of the Western world conti…
(2021-02-03). Actions in 30 cities say 'Cancel the rents and mortgages!'. liberationnews.org 
An eviction crisis looms that will hit oppressed communities, already especially affected by the pandemic, the hardest.
(2021-02-03). The Mixed Record of Mexico's AMLO, Two Years In. theanalysis.news Laura Carlsen talks to guest host Greg Wilpert about Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador's first two years in office, including his mixed record on the pandemic, corruption, social justice, and immigration.
(2021-02-03). A mutant strain of the coronavirus may be able to evade vaccines — but you should get yours anyway. salon.com Mutant coronavirus strains are alarming scientists. Does this change the pandemic plan?>
(2021-02-03). "Finland must break away from the EU's common security and defense policy" peoplesdispatch.org J.P. Và§isà§nen, chairman of the Communist Party of Finland (SKP), talks about the policies of the government of Sanna Marin at the time of the pandemic, as well as its foreign policies…
(2021-02-03). The WHO Must Condemn The Doctors' Protest In Myanmar Or Lose Credibility On COVID-19. oneworld.press The world's liberal-globalist forces have been thrown into a conundrum after doctors at 70 hospitals and medical departments in 30 towns in Myanmar stopped working on Wednesday to protest the military's legally implemented state of emergency, with the WHO now being forced to condemn their political activity or risk losing credibility on its COVID-19 narrative which claims that this pandemic is extremely deadly and must be taken seriously by all no matter what.
(2021-02-03). José Agualsaca, candidate for Ecuador's National Assembly, seeks to recover the future. peoplesdispatch.org 
José Agualsaca, an Indigenous leader from Ecuador who is running for the National Assembly, hopes to help reverse the disastrous policies of the past four years and deepen the Citizen's Revolution…
(2021-02-03). Hezbollah fires missiles at Israeli drone over southern Lebanon. middleeasteye.net 
Hezbollah fires missiles at Israeli drone over southern Lebanon | Lebanese security sources say the anti-aircraft missiles failed to hit target, which returned to Israel | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 14: 35 | Naqura, south of the Lebanese city of Tyre, which is controlled by the United Nations peacekeeping force (Unifil), on the border with Israel (AFP) | Anti-aircraft missiles were fired at an Isra…
(2021-02-03). What Explains COVID's East-West Divide? counterpunch.org 
COVID-19 has been ruthless in choosing winners and losers around the world. The obvious "losers" have been those countries led by right-wing nationalists: Brazil, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, and (until recently) the United States. These five countries are responsible for more than half of the world's coronavirus infections and nearly half the deaths. Just
(2021-02-03). Covid denier mom banned from ALL HOSPITALS after repeatedly posting footage of 'empty wards'. rt.com 
A British woman questioning the Covid-19 crisis in the UK has been banned from visiting any hospital across the country save for emergency, after she repeatedly filmed and shared videos of what she claimed were "empty wards." | Serial lockdown breaker and prominent coronavirus denier Hannah Dean, 30, has been banned from all the hospitals across the country following her new endeavors over the weekend. On Saturday, she entered the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, roaming it for about 10 minutes before getting caught by a nurse and being kicked out. The following day, she visited Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmou…
(2021-02-03). 'Unlawful': Backlash against Egypt's plan to offer Covid-19 vaccine for money. middleeasteye.net 
'Unlawful': Backlash against Egypt's plan to offer Covid-19 vaccine for money | As Cairo is set to charge the majority of the public for the coronavirus jab, one lawyer launches a legal challenge against the country's president arguing the decision is unconstitutional | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 10: 04 | Egypt's Health Minister Hala Zayed speaks during a news conference announcing the details o…
(2021-02-03). Western media smeared Moscow's Covid-19 vaccine efforts but new trial data now has countries queuing for Sputnik V Covid-19 jab. rt.com 
Clinical trial data published in The Lancet medical journal this week shows the Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine works for more than nine in 10 people, making it among the most efficacious jabs available. | The formula has been at the center of a fierce information war, with a number of commentators casting aspersions on the evidence that underpinned Russia's decision to urgently register it in August last year. However, it appears that the final word on subject lies with the scientists who published their results on Tuesday. | More than 91 percent of those given the vaccine were estimated to have de…
(2021-02-03). Caught in tangled web of vaccine nationalism. mronline.org 
As known COVID-19 infections exceed 100 million internationally, with more than two million lives lost, rich countries are now quarrelling publicly over access to limited vaccine supplies. With 'vaccine nationalism' widespread, multilateral arrangements have not been able to address current challenges well.
(2021-02-03). Number of UK Covid-19 infections 'still alarmingly high,' but schools likely to reopen next month — PM. rt.com 
As the UK hit the marker of 10 million people receiving a first dose of Covid vaccine, PM Boris Johnson has warned that levels of infection in the country remain "alarmingly high," as he hoped to start easing lockdown this month.
(2021-02-03). Biden's New "In-Home Test" Will Drive COVID Illusion & Masks Are Making You Sick, While Not Working. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (2/3/21). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth
(2021-02-03). Press Conference: SF Bay View Editor Gagged, Threatened & His Work Phone Confiscated. indybay.org SF Bay View Editor Gagged, Threatened & His Work Phone Confiscated For Reporting COVID Outbreak At Florida Based For Profit Halfway House In San Francisco…
(2021-02-03). Biden's Coronavirus Plan Will Not Prevent Death and Devastation. thenation.com Justin Feldman, Abigail Cartus, Seth J. Prins Biden's Coronavirus Plan Will Not Prevent Death and Devastation…
(2021-02-03). Misinformation market: Money-making tools Facebook hands to Covid cranks. truepublica.org.uk By Jasper Jackson, Alexandra Heal: The video on Facebook opens with a question: "Could this be bio-terrorism?" Talking directly into the camera, the unshaven young man continues in a sarcastic American drawl: "I'm sure that there's no possible way that somebody could play Frankenstein and create the monster that they didn't mean to, or in many cases, …
(2021-02-03). UK Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee members discuss: Are schools safe? wsws.org Helen Clarke is a member of the UK Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee and a primary school teacher. She has been researching deaths of educators from COVID-19 in the face of official concealment and obstruction. She submitted the article published below to the Committee, which is responded to by its secretary Tania Kent.
(2021-02-03). Can the U.S. keep COVID variants in check? Here's what it takes. salon.com The U.S. has struggled with every step of its public health response in its first year of battle against COVID-19…
(2021-02-03). What the science really says: Closing schools is vital to containing COVID-19. wsws.org As over 10,000 Chicago teachers and staff are engaged in a struggle to oppose the city's effort to reopen public schools, the entire US media is waging a campaign to pressure educators to resume in-person schooling.
(2021-02-03). Nine-year-old schoolboy dies from COVID-19 in Texas. wsws.org His parents fear that he acquired the virus while at school, which he had attended the previous Friday, just four days prior to his death.
(2021-02-03). White New Yorkers Have Received Lion's Share Of COVID-19 Vaccine. popularresistance.org Three white residents receive a COVID-19 vaccine for every Black or Latino person in the city, according to new demographic data released by the mayor's office on Sunday. | At a press briefing, Mayor Bill de Blasio said there was a "profound disparity" about seven weeks into the city's vaccination program. | "Clearly, what we see is a particularly pronounced reality of many more people from white communities getting vaccination than folks from Black and Latino communities," de Blasio told reporters. The vast difference in vaccine coverage shows the city isn't meeting its pledge for equitable distribution. | The m…
(2021-02-03). How Are They Going to Come at Us? counterpunch.org Near the end of one of the character Vito Corleone's iconic scenes in the movie The Godfather (1972), he talks to his son Michael about how other mafia families will organize and come after the new don intending to murder him. With political correctness in mind, the scene still has much to teach those who've had this whole,
(2021-02-03). Implanted "Vaccine Package" ID: Germany's Parliament Has Ratified GAVI's Digital "Agenda ID2020" globalresearch.ca Alarming News. In Germany the Parliament (Bundestag) ratified on 29 January 2021, the implementation of Agenda ID2020. | This is a centralized general electronic data collection of every citizen to which every government agency, police — and possibly also the private …
(2021-02-03). Jeff Bezos to Quit as CEO, But Amazon's "Predatory Business Model" Will Continue Unless Lawmakers Act. democracynow.org 
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has announced he will step down as CEO and move into a new role as executive chairman later this year, giving up the reins after nearly three decades during which he grew Amazon from an online book retailer into a sprawling business empire and became one of the world's richest people in the process. Andy Jassy, the head of the company's cloud computing division, is set to take over the top job, but Bezos will continue to be the largest Amazon shareholder and remain on the board of directors. The news comes as calls continue to mount for lawmakers to break up Amazon and other tech giants.
(2021-02-03). A Coup in Burma: Did Military Seize Power to Avoid ICC Prosecution for Rohingya Genocide? democracynow.org 
We speak with a Burmese dissident about the military coup underway in Burma as de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been arrested. The coup unfolded hours before lawmakers were to take their seats in the opening of parliament, following a November election in which Aung San Suu Kyi's party won over 80% of the contested seats in the Burmese parliament and the military made unsubstantiated claims of fraud. Hundreds of lawmakers, activists and human rights defenders have also been detained since the coup, and telecommunications have been cut in parts of Burma, which the military calls Myanmar. "The military decided…
(2021-02-03). Ecuadorians demand return to leftist Citizens' Revolution on eve of election. thegrayzone.com Ben Norton reports from Ecuador on the eve of the February 7 election. Protesters flooded the streets of the major city Guayaquil to demand a return to the leftist Citizens' Revolution of former President Rafael Correa, represented by presidential candidate Andrés Arauz and his vice president Carlos Rabascall.
(2021-02-03). Fighting the "Immigrant Threat" indybay.org Milkman shows how the flux of low-wage immigrants into the U.S. workforce in recent decades is "not the cause either of the massive economic restructuring that began in the 1970s or the accompanying growth of economic inequality and labor degradation," but precisely a consequence of these developments.
(2021-02-03). Biden and Iran. counterpunch.org 
Last week's statements by the Biden appointees made the matter unnecessarily more complicated, sounding more like a continuation of the Trump policy rather than its refutation. In his confirmation hearing, Antony Blinken, Biden's choice for secretary of state, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the new administration believes that Iran needs to resume strict compliance with the nuclear agreement before the US contemplates a return to the JCPOA. In response to the question of lifting the economic sanctions that the previous administration imposed on Iran, Blinken told the committee that "we are a lon…
(2021-02-03). West Papua Calls for Independence Referendum to Avert Genocide. counterpunch.org 
The Indonesian-occupied nation of West Papua has called for urgent international intervention against Indonesia's intensification of what a 2016 report called "slow motion genocide." West Papua is facing an onslaught of colonial settlement backed by the military of the fifth largest nation in the world, with the largest army in Southeast Asia. Papuans are quickly
(2021-02-03). Were the Canaanites from Iran? Genomic History Shows that Israelis, Palestinians, Lebanese have Zagros Ancestry. juancole.com 
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — There are no races. Human beings are all mixed up, and genomic history demonstrates this principle better than any other approach. So much of Middle Eastern politics depends on a kind of "sleeping beauty" nationalism (in Ernest Gellner's phrase) in which it is alleged that there was an ancient race …
(2021-02-03). Warning labels: TikTok introduces Twitter-like censorship measures to curb 'misinformation'. rt.com 
Video sharing app TikTok will slap warning labels on videos it suspects contain "misinformation" and discourage users from sharing them. The move brings TikTok's policies closer in line with those of Twitter. | TikTok already removes videos that its fact-checkers deem to contain "false" information. However, the Chinese-owned company is expanding on this policy, and Starting…
(2021-02-03). Ramy Youssef and Tahar Rahim nominated for 2021 Golden Globes. middleeasteye.net 
Ramy Youssef and Tahar Rahim nominated for 2021 Golden Globes | Comedian Youssef is up for an award for second year running, while Rahim is being recognised for his portrayal of Guantanamo detainee | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 11 | Egyptian-American Ramy Youssef and French-Algerian Tahar Rahim were nominated for the 2021 edition of the Golden Globes (AFP) | Egyptian-American actor Ramy Youssef and French-A…
(2021-02-03). QAnon Mayor terminates popular Sequim, Washington state City Manager. peoplesworld.org 
SEQUIM, WA—Despite overwhelming support for Sequim City Manager, Charlie Bush, the town's Mayor, William Armacost, a QAnon cultist, forged ahead last week to fire Bush. More than 100 Sequim residents wearing masks and socially distant, stood in a picket line as a sharply divided City Council carried out its hate-driven termination of Bush. "We Support …
(2021-02-03). The global struggle for bodily autonomy. mronline.org 
The example of Sparta is an interesting precedent for the way in which people's bodies have been controlled and utilized beyond their consent throughout history. The control of our bodies presupposes capitalism, but capitalism in turn has entrenched it.
(2021-02-03). Poet Amanda Gorman's take on love as legacy points to youth's power to shape future generations. juancole.com 
By Heather Lawford, Heather L. Ramey and Jessica Riddell | — National youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman's recitation of "The Hill We Climb," at Joe Biden's presidential inauguration in the United States captured the attention of a nation and people globally. Gorman highlighted the power of poets in our current sociopolitical context to speak unique …
(2021-02-03). 'Still waiting for answers': Beirut port blast victims denied justice, says HRW. middleeasteye.net 
'Still waiting for answers': Beirut port blast victims denied justice, says HRW | Rights group says stalled investigation is 'riddled with serious due process violations', as well as political leaders' attempts to stop probe | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 18: 45 | Beirut port explosion killed more than 200 people and injured more than 6,000 (AFP) | Lebanon's political leaders are "stalling" an investigation into a massiv…
(2021-02-03). Indonesian Slaughter, Allen Dulles, and the Assassination of JFK. dissidentvoice.org 
Before I digress slightly, let me state from the outset that the book by Greg Poulgrain that I am about to review is extraordinary by any measure. The story he tells is one you will read nowhere else, especially in the way he links the assassination of President Kennedy to former CIA Director Allen Dulles …
(2021-02-03). The Heat: China-U.S. ties. america.cgtn.com 
China's top diplomat says the nation is ready to get relations with the United States back on track.
(2021-02-03). Turkey: Twitter labels minister's 'LGBT deviants' post hateful amid university protest. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey: Twitter labels minister's 'LGBT deviants' post hateful amid university protest | Interior minister angered over picture mixing LGBT symbols and Islamic images during protests against Istanbul rector's appointment | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 08: 19 | Police detained 159 students on Monday after breaking up a group planning an all-night vigil outside the rector's office (AFP) | Intensifying…
(2021-02-03). Meet the fascists' favorite members of Congress. liberationnews.org 
Photo: Marjorie Taylor Greene being sworn into office by House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy Less than one month into its new session, the House of Representatives is faced with the question of whether or not to expel one of its own — Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia's 14th District. Rep. Greene's embrace of racist conspiracy …
(2021-02-03). How the Gulf War Sparked China's Military Revolution. anti-empire.com 
Monday marks the 30th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm, when American-led coalition forces invaded With the technology and firepower on show during the conflict — precision bombing, satellite guidance, missile interception, air-to-surface strike to eliminat…
(2021-02-03). How ExxonMobil uses divide and rule to get its way in South America. mronline.org 
ExxonMobil, one of the world's largest oil companies (newly merged in 1998), signed an agreement with the government of Guyana in 1999 to develop the Stabroek block, which is off the coast of the disputed Essequibo region.
(2021-02-03). WAFA: "Four minors among 30 Palestinians detained by Israel in the occupied territories" imemc.org 
RAMALLAH, Tuesday, February 02, 2021 (WAFA) — Israeli occupation forces last night and today detained at least 30 Palestinians, including four minors, from various parts of the occupied territories, according to local and Palestinian security sources. They said Israeli occupation forces rounded up five Palestinians, including a minor, from Ramallah and al-Bireh district, in the …
(2021-02-03). Seis trabajadores mueren en la planta de procesamiento avícola de Georgia. peoplesworld.org 
 …
(2021-02-03). YouTube's Orgy of Censorship & Narrative Management w/Convo Couch & Franc Analysis. slownewsdayshow.com 
Franc Analysis | Convo Couch |
(2021-02-03). 'Desperate distraction': Republicans target Omar amid calls to denounce Greene. middleeasteye.net 
'Desperate distraction': Republicans target Omar amid calls to denounce Greene | Democrats are pushing to formally rebuke Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has expressed bigoted views and embraced conspiracy theories | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 21: 49 | Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has voiced opinions that critics say are Islamophobic and antisemitic (AFP/File photo) | US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene…
(2021-02-03). Syrian air defenses respond to 'Israeli aggression' near Golan Heights — state media. rt.com 
Syrian air defenses have responded to an Israeli missile attack near al-Quneitra, according to reports in the country's state media. | The missile strikes were launched late on Wednesday night around al-Quneitra, a city south of Damascus and just outside the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency. | Footage circulating online purported to show the attack in progress. | Syria's air defenses were also activated near Damascus, according to i24news and the Times of Israel. There were no casualties in either city, but the strikes did inflict unspecified "material damage," accord…
(2021-02-03). Army Demolishes A Palestinian Home Near Hebron. imemc.org 
Israeli soldiers demolished, on Wednesday afternoon, a Palestinian home in Khallet al-Forn area, near Birin village, south of Hebron in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. The National and Popular Committees in Yatta have reported that the soldiers demolished a 200 square/meter under-construction home owned by Jamal Rajab Sarsour. The Committee added that …
(2021-02-03). The time is now for Leonard Peltier's freedom! liberationnews.org 
February 6, 2021 will mark 45 years of Leonard's unjust imprisonment. In 1976 the FBI's false claims led to Leonard's extradition from Canada to face trial in the United States. It is not time to be discouraged, it is time to continue the fight!
(2021-02-03). Israeli Soldiers Injure Several Palestinians In Sebastia. imemc.org 
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Wednesday evening, Sebastia Palestinian town, north of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and injured many Palestinians. Mohammad Azem, the mayor of Sebastia, said several army jeeps invaded the town, and fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at local youngsters, who protested the invasion. Azem added that many Palestinians, including …
(2021-02-03). Egypt asked for 'goodwill' gesture from Israel as condition for Netanyahu visit: Report. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt asked for 'goodwill' gesture from Israel as condition for Netanyahu visit: Report | According to Israeli news outlet Walla, the Israeli prime minister was hoping to visit prior to legislative elections, but Cairo conditioned trip on support for two-state solution | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 14: 08 | Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, right, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, on t…
(2021-02-03). NASA Taps Top Climate Researcher for New Advisory Role on the Climate Crisis. truthout.org 
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on Wednesday that it has created a new position: senior climate adviser. The role will be filled in an acting capacity by Gavin Schmidt, who currently heads the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. | The agency's new senior climate adviser will work to communicate the agency's climate findings with the rest of the scientific community and help to align different parts of NASA with climate goals. Schmidt will b…
(2021-02-03). What does Pete Buttigieg's transportation secretary role mean for climate? peoplesworld.org 
The Senate confirmed Pete Buttigieg Tuesday as the next Transportation Secretary, inspiring hope among environmentalists that a clean and equitable transportation sector may be possible. Passing with a 86-13 vote, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, now has the authority to make decisions on how the country moves, builds, and travels, directing the department's 55,000 employees and a …
(2021-02-03). Senators urge Biden to act on Saudi Arabia's alleged role in helping fugitives flee US. middleeasteye.net 
Senators urge Biden to act on Saudi Arabia's alleged role in helping fugitives flee US | Oregon lawmakers plan to reintroduce bill that mandates federal officials notify Congress when Saudi government helps its citizens escape after facing criminal charges | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 21: 40 | Senator Wyden's office helped declassify FBI documents confirming Saudi officials helped its US-based citizens flee the country…
(2021-02-03). TikTok agrees to Italy's request to block underage users, after 10yo girl dies in social media challenge. rt.com 
TikTok has reached an agreement with Italian data protection regulators to block underage users there from using its app, after a 10-year-old girl died in Palermo in a failed attempt at a dangerous social media challenge. | In January, the Italian authorities launched an investigation into children using social media platforms, after a young girl who had attempted the so-called 'choking' challenge died. The trend, which had been circulating on TikTok, saw participants restrict their oxygen in an attempt to secure a high. | The state filed a legal notice against TikTok back in December, prior to the young girl'
(2021-02-03). Biden-Kerry international climate politricks. mronline.org 
Is U.S. President Joe Biden's January 27 Executive Order to address 'climate crisis' as good as many activists claim, enough to reverse earlier scepticism?>
(2021-02-03). Media Runs Defense for Amazon After Retail Giant Caught Stealing Millions From Workers. mintpressnews.com 
Amazon just got caught stealing millions from its workers, but instead of grilling the retail giant, the media appear to be working hard to run defense for it.
(2021-02-03). Joe Biden's Peace Force? A Multipoint Plan to End War as We Know It. juancole.com 
( Tomdispatch.com ) — When it comes to war, if personnel is policy, America is yet again in deep trouble. As retired Army Major Danny Sjursen recently pointed out at TomDispatch, when it comes to foreign policy, President Joe Biden's new cabinet and advisers are well stocked with retired generals, reconstituted neocons, unapologetic hawks, and …
(2021-02-03). Rochester police attack and pepper spray 9-year old girl, body cam shows. liberationnews.org 
On the video one officer can be heard saying, "You're acting like a child." "I am a child," the traumatized girl responds.
(2021-02-03). Gamestopped: WallStreetBets, Wall Street wins. therealnews.com 
What the hell happened on Wall Street last week? On this special TRNN panel, we talk about GameStop, hedge funds, and whether we can fight finance capital on its own turf.
(2021-02-03). Russian Strike Jet Flies Low Past US Destroyer in the Black Sea. anti-empire.com 
A Russian warplane conducted a low pass near the USS Donald Cook on Sunday in the Black Sea, where the Navy has dispatched three ships for exercises. | The Sukhoi Su-24 fighter-bomber screeched past the U.S. destroyer while it was operating in international waters, the U.S. Navy's 6th Fleet said in a statement. | The Navy said it operates in the Black Sea to reassure allies in the region and "ensure security and stability." | USS Donald Cook is operating alongside the destroyer USS Porter and USNS Laramie, which is refueling the warships during operations. | Refueling at sea is fundamental for the Navy, but doing…
(2021-02-03). Corporate thieves: Amazon stole $62 million of tips from delivery drivers. peoplesworld.org 
If you read the headlines in the corporate press on Tuesday, you would have encountered stories about how Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, had reached a settlement with the government after being accused of "withholding" tips from its contract delivery drivers. The Chicago Tribune talked about how the company "didn't pass on" tips left …
(2021-02-03). Yes, seriously: Jared Kushner was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. liberationnews.org 
In addition to the fact that his accomplishments actually advance the opposite of peace, it is hard to imagine a more utterly unqualified and incompetant diplomat than Jared Kushner.
(2021-02-03). Trudeau: End Hassan Diab's Ordeal Now! socialistproject.ca 
Forty and some years have elapsed, yet the French authorities have failed to find the real culprit for the 1980 bombing of the synagogue on rue Copernic, Paris. Not only have they failed to carry out their original mission, they have failed to admit, let alone face, their obvious defeat. Recent events prove ever more …
(2021-02-03). Warren Says Her First Move on Finance Committee Will Be a Wealth Tax. truthout.org 
On Tuesday, among a slate of other committee assignment announcements, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that Sen. Elizabeth Warren is going to be "I'm very pleased to join the Finance Committee, where I'll continue t…
(2021-02-03). Canada declares far-right Proud Boys group a 'terrorist' organisation. middleeasteye.net Canada declares far-right Proud Boys group a 'terrorist' organisation | Designation allows Canadian authorities to seize property and bank assets of group members and make it a crime to knowingly provide assistance to them | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 21: 12 | Members of Proud Boys gather outside Harry's Bar during protest in Washington DC last December (AFP/File photo) | Canada has officially labelled the far-right Pr…
(2021-02-03). OCHA: Data on demolition and displacement in the West Bank. imemc.org 
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs In the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OCHA-OPT): The figures below reflect the demolition of Palestinian-owned structures and the resulting displacement of people from their homes across the West Bank since 2009. Together with other policies and practices, the threat of destruction of homes and sources of …
(2021-02-03). Ethiopia says it foiled attack on UAE embassy in Addis Ababa. middleeasteye.net 
Ethiopia says it foiled attack on UAE embassy in Addis Ababa | Intelligence and Security Service says 15 people arrested were working at direction of foreigners, local media reports | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 21: 10 | Ethiopian police before inauguration ceremony in Addis Ababa's Sheger park last September (AFP) | Ethiopian authorities arrested 15 people in an alleged plot to attack the United Ar…
(2021-02-03). 'Still waiting for answers': HRW says no justice served after Beirut port blast. middleeasteye.net 'Still waiting for answers': HRW says no justice served after Beirut port blast | Rights group says stalled investigation is 'riddled with serious due process violations', as well as political leaders' attempts to stop probe | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 18: 45 | The Beirut port explosion killed more than 200 people and injured more than 6,000 (AFP) | Human Rights Watch has accused Lebanon's political leaders of "stalli…
(2021-02-03). Selected Articles: Calling for an "American Ministry of Truth". The US Media's Dystopian "2021" globalresearch.ca 
By Along with Big Brother mass surveillance and newspeak, Orwell's Ministry of Truth was all about controlling the message, eliminating whatever conflicts …
(2021-02-03). November 17th, 1973 and the Legacy of State Terror. dissidentvoice.org 
In a prison hospital in Athens, Greece, a man named Dimitris Koufontinas lies unconscious most of the time. Almost a month into a water-only hunger strike, one of his tremendously weakened organs could fail, and he could die at any moment. As always, there's a lot happening in the world. Ongoing wars between countries, civil …
(2021-02-03). Detroit mass arrests thrown out as anti-racist struggle continues. liberationnews.org 
Even while dismissing hundreds of cases, however, the city has stated it still intends to prosecute the protesters who it considers to be leaders of the protests.
(2021-02-03). The resurrection of Aya Sophia on Syrian soil — Al Sqeilbiyyeh, Hama. thealtworld.com 
The resurrection of Aya Sophia in Al Sqeilbiyyeh. | 3rd February 2021: Yesterday I visited the Syrian Christian town of Al Sqeilbiyyeh, one of the most fertile areas of Syria that was besieged for 7 years by the US Coalition- backed armed gangs. During that time the terrorist groups targeted schools, residential areas, infrastructure with missiles, nowhere was safe. The closest terrorist encampment was only 500m away in Qalaat Al Madiq. Invasion was an ever present danger. | | In the photos I took yesterday you will see couples po…
(2021-02-03). Two actors of Arab descent nominated for 2021 Golden Globes. middleeasteye.net Two actors of Arab descent nominated for 2021 Golden Globes | Comedian Youssef is up for an award for second year running, while Rahim is being recognised for his portrayal of Guantanamo detainee | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 11 | Egyptian-American Ramy Youssef and French-Algerian Tahar Rahim were nominated for the 2021 edition of the Golden Globes (AFP) | Egyptian-American actor Ramy Youssef and French-Alg…
(2021-02-03). Rep. Ocasio-Cortez tells why we can't just 'forgive and forget'. peoplesworld.org 
Following is the full text of a statement that the congresswoman sent out yesterday to the national media and elsewhere. It contains graphic descriptions of violence and abuse. Monday night, I hopped on IG live to talk about what happened at the Capitol. My story is one of many. It's not the only story or …
(2021-02-03). Philippines apex court kicks off hearings on anti-terror law. peoplesdispatch.org The Supreme Court has begun hearing oral arguments on over three dozen petitions filed against the Anti-Terror Act passed by the Rodrigo Duterte government in July 2020…
(2021-02-03). Atlantic Council Pens Anonymously Authored Expose Calling for Regime Change in China. thealtworld.com The report outlines a plan for the United States to pursue a China without Xi Jinping, with a weakened Communist Party, and operating in a region dominated by the US and its allies. | MPN- Influential D.C. think tank the Atlantic Council has printed a 26,000-word
(2021-02-03). Amazon Will Pay $61.7 Million To Delivery Drivers After Withholding Tips. popularresistance.org Amazon will pay more than $61.7 million to Flex drivers from whom it withheld the full amount of customer tips to settle a Federal Trade Commission investigation. | The settlement comes nearly two years after the Los Angeles Times first exposed that Amazon was dipping into customer tips to cover the base pay guaranteed to Flex drivers, who deliver Amazon Fresh, Prime Now and other orders. | The money will reimburse Flex drivers whose tips Amazon withheld over the last 2 Ω years, according to the FTC. | Until August 2019, Amazon promised Flex drivers a guaranteed minimum base pay for each order, which the e-…
(2021-02-03). The Lesson Of The BLM Protests: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix. thealtworld.com Remember when Americans shook the earth with massive protests demanding an end to the police state and the entire liberal establishment just kept saying "I hear you, I agree with you" and then did absolutely nothing to even reduce police brutality? It's important to remember such lessons. | People would ask me "Why are you supporting Black Lives Matter Caitlin? Don't you see all the corporations and corporate Dems support it? Why would they do that if it didn't serve them?" This is why they did it. Empty words of support can defuse a situation far easier than open opposition. | Imagine if all the plutocrats, pun…
(2021-02-03). The Threat of Nuclear Weapons with Noam Chomsky. theanalysis.news As the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force on January 22, join the world-renowned intellectual for "The Threat of Nuclear Weapons: Why Canada Should Sign the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty" Presented by the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute.
(2021-02-03). Iran reiterates its commitment to JCPOA, proposes US return to the deal. peoplesdispatch.org Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif, in an interview with CNN, said that talks about nuclear weapons in the western media is baseless speculation aimed at directing public opinion against the country…
(2021-02-03). Sunday 2/7: Dope + Capitalism = Genocide. indybay.org Zoom Meeting | LOG-IN INFO AT ICSSMARX.ORG…
(2021-02-03). Don't Grade Biden on a Curve. counterpunch.org Unless consciously resisted, one of Donald Trump's lasting triumphs will be the establishment of such a low bar that mediocre standards will prevail for his successor. Of course, providing a clear contrast to the atrocious Trump presidency is irrefutably necessary — but it's hardly sufficient. To give high marks merely for excelling in comparison to
(2021-02-03). Australia: Smeaton Grange Coles workers reject union sell-out agreement. wsws.org The Socialist Equality Party is holding an online meeting this Saturday, 5pm (AEDT) entitled "After Smeaton Grange workers reject union sell-out: The way forward for Coles and Woolworths workers."
(2021-02-03). I will not let this happen again. zcomm.org It's not about revenge, it's about creating safety. We are not safe with people who hold political power who are willing to endanger lives for political gain…
(2021-02-03). Palestine gives first doses of coronavirus vaccine to healthcare workers. laprensalatina.com Hebron, West Bank, Feb 3 (efe-epa).- Palestine started its coronavirus vaccine rollout on Wednesday, administering the first doses to healthcare workers. The Palestinian National Authority received its first 5,000 doses of the BioNTech vaccine from Israel on Saturday. This comes a few days after the PNA's foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki told the United Nations Security …
(2021-02-03). How to Question William Burns, Biden's Pick to Head the CIA. counterpunch.org 
In virtually all previous confirmation hearings, there were virtually no probing questions on CIA transgressions or the purpose, role, and even necessity of the CIA in…
(2021-02-03). Medicare For All Reaches The Crossroads. popularresistance.org In 2021 the U.S. healthcare crisis has, again, reached a boiling point. It was already simmering in 2019 when the number of uninsured grew to 33 million. Covid then triggered a job crisis that added anywhere from 15 to 27 million to the ranks of the uninsured. The still-growing job crisis has pushed the number of uninsured near or beyond the 49 million uninsured that existed prior to Obamacare, whose goal was "universal healthcare." | It's no surprise then that Medicare For All emerged, pre-Covid, as the most popular policy during the Presidential Democratic primaries. But after the Democratic Party organized, on…
(2021-02-03). Top Turkish, Norwegian diplomats discuss relations. yenisafak.com Turkish and Norwegian foreign ministers on Wednesday met virtually and discussed bilateral relations, regional and global developments.In a Twitter post, Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu said he discussed bilateral relations and recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh, Syria, Libya, the US, and the East Mediterranean with his Norwegian counterpart Eriksen Soreide.Turkey and Norway maintained its "bilateral trade volume despite the pandemic," Cavusoglu noted, and wished "further cooperation in every field, particularly energy."Meanwhile, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a Twitter post that Soreide had a "good and f…
(2021-02-03). Brent oil up boosted by Saudi's output cut from Feb. yenisafak.com Brent oil price hit its highest level in 12 months after pandemic-driven concerns over a supply glut were eased with massive output cuts of major oil producers.International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $57.84 per barrel at 0720 GMT for a 0.07% rise after closing Tuesday at $57.80 a barrel. This is the highest level since Feb. 24 last year when it traded at $57.80.American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $55.09 per barrel at the same time for a 0.60% increase after it ended the previous session at $54.76 a barrel.The voluntary cuts of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of OPEC's de facto le…
(2021-02-03). #TheCanaryLive — The real story of the coronavirus crisis. thecanary.co This #TheCanaryLive event will be broadcast at 7pm on Wednesday 3 February | Tragically, more than 100,000 people have died in the UK since the coronavirus pandemic began. Join us as we explore the real story of the coronavirus crisis, how the Johnson government has presided over such a monumental loss of life and how we balance protecting public health with protecting civil liberties. | Panelists | Dave Carr, an intensive care nurse, will speak about the distressing reality on the frontline. |
(2021-02-03). Soup kitchens cry out for aid to feed hungry amid Peru quarantine. laprensalatina.com By Carla Samon Ros Lima, Feb 3 (efe-epa).- The announcement of a new quarantine came like a "bucket of cold water" in Peru's most disadvantaged communities, where the local soup kitchens are trying desperately to feed the public amid the coronavirus pandemic as everyone waits for the authorities to come to the rescue. In the …
(2021-02-03). Expo 2020 preparations continue despite Covid-19's threat. laprensalatina.com Dubai, Feb 3 (efe-epa).- The construction of the venue that will host Dubai's Universal Expo, initially scheduled for October 2020 but was postponed to this year due to the coronavirus, continues despite the threat posed by the pandemic. "We are highly optimistic and we believe that we are at the stage where hopefully there will …
(2021-02-03). The Real Winners of Pandemic Super Bowl 2021? The Sports Owners Raking in Billions. commondreams.org Even in a pandemic, 64 billionaires have seen incredible gains from the major league sports teams they own. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/chiefs.jpg …
(2021-02-03). Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee meets as Democrats push to restart in-person classes in Chicago and other cities. wsws.org The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee in the US met on Saturday during an aggressive push by the Biden administration and local Democratic governors and mayors to open schools in Chicago and other cities as the pandemic enters a new and more deadly stage.
(2021-02-03). China to offer 10M virus vaccine doses to COVAX. yenisafak.com China on Wednesday said it will offer 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the international consortium of vaccines led by World Health Organization (WHO)."At the request of the WHO, China has decided to offer 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to WHO's COVAX, to meet the urgent need of developing countries," China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news conference in Beijing.Last month, China's Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSinoBio vaccine manufacturers had submitted applications to join the global COVAX initiative that aims to provide COVID-19 vaccines to poor and middle-income countries.The announ…
(2021-02-03). 'Cancer patients must be priority for COVID-19 vaccine'. yenisafak.com Cancer patients should be prioritized in the COVID-19 vaccination schedule as they are in the highest risk group, a Turkish doctor said on Wednesday."Fatalities due to COVID-19 among cancer patients are higher than in all other groups. Cancer patients, who are in the highest risk group for the virus, must have priority in the vaccination calendar," Dr. Yavuz Anacak, the head of the Turkish Radiation Oncology Association, said in a statement ahead of the World Cancer Day.Alsancak urged all authorities to prioritize cancer patients in the vaccination schedule.Underlining that cancer is the second leading cause of d…
(2021-02-03). New Zealand approves Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. laprensalatina.com Sydney, Australia, Jan 3 (efe-epa).- New Zealand has approved Pfizer/BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine, the first to be given the green light in the country and expected to be rolled out from March, the government announced Wednesday. "The provisional approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is a positive step in New Zealand's fight against Covid-19. It means we …
(2021-02-03). What Does It Mean for a Virus to Become 'Endemic?'. anti-empire.com 
We already forgot we flattened the curve to allow hospital capacity to increase. The supposed purpose of the lockdowns was not to stop the virus but merely to better ration medical resources. | We already overlooked the common sense espoused by the We already missed the opportunity vaccines offered for us to rehabilitate social interaction and the economy. | And now, if we fail to recognize when Covid becomes 'endemic' and move on, society will be stuck in lockdown until 2023. | Even if you lock down society for two weeks (or two months) [md…
(2021-02-03). Key workers in 145 countries to receive COVID vaccines under UN-backed initiative. news.un.org Key workers and other vulnerable people in 145 countries should receive COVID-19 vaccines in the first half of this year, under the joint UN-led COVAX initiative for fair access to coronavirus-beating jabs, it's been confirmed.
(2021-02-03). Chile kicks off mass vaccination campaign. laprensalatina.com Santiago, Feb 3 (efe-epa).- Chile on Wednesday kicked off a mass inoculation campaign after receiving a shipment of nearly 4 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech. The government's plan is to vaccinate the country's at-risk population — nearly 5 million people — between February and March and the …
(2021-02-03). Remdesivir's History Shows How Americans Pay More for Drugs Than Others Globally. truthout.org 
It was the end of April — just as the U.S. confirmed its millionth covid-19 case and 50,000 deaths — when White House adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci announced "highly significant" news about a drug called remdesivir. | That was surprising because the antiviral drug, owned by Gilead Sciences and developed with investment from the federal government, had languished for years with no apparent commercial use. It had struck out as a treatment for hepatitis C and Ebola. | But early in 202…
(2021-02-03). 120 Democrats Demand Repeal of Millionaire Tax Cut GOP Buried in Last COVID Bill. truthout.org 
A group of 120 Democratic members of Congress is calling on their party's leadership to ensure that a
(2021-02-03). 6 Australian Open tune-up events interrupted by positive Covid-19 test. laprensalatina.com Melbourne, Australia, Feb 3 (efe-epa).- Thursday's matches at a slew of men's and women's professional tennis tournaments have been postponed after a hotel worker at the Grand Hyatt in this southeastern Australian city tested positive for the coronavirus. The suspended matches had been scheduled to be played at Melbourne Park, which also is the venue …
(2021-02-03). Russian journalist Sergey Smirnov jailed for 25 days on charges of inciting people to attend pro-Navalny protests. rt.com 
The editor of Moscow-based news website Mediazona, founded by members of the Pussy Riot punk band, has been handed 25 days behind bars for promoting demonstrations in support of imprisoned opposition figure Alexey Navalny. | On Wednesday, the Tverskoy Court in Moscow read out the sentence for charges relating to repeated violation of a ban on holding mass events. Protests and other unauthorized public gatherings are banned in the capital, and many other Russian regions, under rules aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19. The charges could have carried up to 30 days in prison. | Mediazona claims that Smirnov w…
(2021-02-03). 'Now is not the time': Fauci urges against Super Bowl parties, tells Americans to 'lay low'. rt.com 
US Covid-19 czar Anthony Fauci is urging Americans to "lay low" and not break quarantine with Super Bowl watch parties, or they could become coronavirus "superspreader" events like Christmas and Thanksgiving. | Having previously poured cold water on Americans' holiday plans, President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser did so again on Wednesday, saying any watch parties should be limited to immediate household members. | "Enjoy the game, watch it on television, but do it with the immediate members of your family, the people in your household. As much fun as it is to get together in a big Super Bowl party, now i…
(2021-02-03). Biden discussing COVID-19 aid with Dems, wants fast action. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden panned a Republican alternative to his $1.9 trillion COVID rescue plan as insufficient as Senate Democrats pushed ahead, voting to launch a process that could approve his sweeping rescue package on their own if Republicans refuse to support it. Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen joined the Democratic senators for a private virtual …
(2021-02-03). Some Corporate-Suite Context for the Fun and Games at GameStop. counterpunch.org You've probably seen by now some of those new — and jaw-dropping — stats on billionaire wealth. Analysts at Inequality.org started the statistical ball rolling this past fall with riveting research on how much the fortunes of America's super rich have climbed since Covid began crushing the U.S. economy. This week those same researchers have
(2021-02-03). Headlines for February 3, 2021. democracynow.org Democrats Say Trump "Singularly Responsible" for Jan. 6 Insurrection in Impeachment Brief, U.S. to Start Sending Vaccines to Pharmacies; Single AstraZeneca Shot Cuts Transmission by 67%, Senate Confirms Alejandro Mayorkas as DHS Chief, Pete Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary, Senator Warren to Introduce Wealth Tax on Households Worth Over $50 Million, Kevin McCarthy Weighs Removing Marjorie Taylor Greene from Education Committee After Bipartisan Condemnation, Alexei Navalny Receives 3.5 Years in Prison Amid Mass Protests, Healthcare Workers in West Bank Receive Vaccines from Israel While Other Palestinians Mad…
(2021-02-03). Immigration Advocates Welcome New "Tone" But Urge Biden Admin for More Concrete Change. democracynow.org 
Hundreds have been deported in the last week, even as President Biden signed several executive orders Tuesday to undo the Trump administration's hard-line anti-immigration policies. The orders include a push to reunify families torn apart under Trump's "zero tolerance" policy and a review of the Trump policy known as "Remain in Mexico" that requires non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico as their immigration cases wind through court, leaving tens of thousands waiting in dangerous conditions along the border. Reporter Aura Bogado says that despite the Biden administration's new "tone," continued deportations…
(2021-02-03). Immigration Advocates Urge Biden Administration for More Concrete Change. truthout.org 
Hundreds have been deported in the last week, even as President Biden signed several executive orders Tuesday to undo the Trump administration's hard-line anti-immigration policies. The orders include a push to reunify families torn apart under Trump's "zero tolerance" policy and a review of the Trump policy known as "Remain in Mexico" that requires non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico as their immigration cases wind through court, leaving tens of thousands waiting in dangerous conditions al…
(2021-02-03). Biden begins to dismantle Trump's anti-immigrant measures. laprensalatina.com Washington, Feb 2 (efe-epa).- US President Joe Biden acted Tuesday on his promise to dismantle the immigration policies of his predecessor, Donald Trump, by announcing a set of orders aimed to reunite separated families, restore the asylum system and address the causes of migration with regional partners. Biden signed the measures hours after the Senate …
(2021-02-03). Lawsuit Filed Over Migrant Deaths at U.S.-Mexico Border. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-02-03). Supreme Court pauses Trump immigration cases, as Biden plans to overturn Trump policies & orders a review of 'kids in cages'. rt.com 
The US Supreme Court has canceled arguments on two Trump-era immigration and border security cases, as President Joe Biden eases Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policies. However, the controversial detention of minors continues. | The cases related to Trump's use of military funding to build his long-promised wall on the US-Mexico border, and his "remain in Mexico" asylum policy that required Central American migrants to wait in Mexico while their US asylum claims were processed. Both cases had been challenged by lower courts, and the Supreme Court was preparing to hear oral arguments in their favor until the…
(2021-02-03). Corrupt firm funded by right-wing candidate will produce Ecuador election exit polls. thegrayzone.com Ecuador's top TV network will broadcast exit polls of the upcoming February 7 presidential election by a notoriously corrupt polling firm CEDATOS, which was funded by the main right-wing candidate. On the eve of the presidential election in Ecuador on February 7, observers are warning of a series of anti-democratic actions targeting the country's left-wing Citizens' Revolution movement. Ecuador's most-watched TV network is relying on a notoriously corrupt and politicized polling firm called CEDATOS, which works closely with right-wing politicians, …
(2021-02-03). Italy 'eagerly waiting' for EU to register Sputnik V vaccine, head of group promoting Russian-Italian ties tells RT. rt.com 
Italy is interested in the swift approval of Sputnik V by the EU and may not only purchase but could also produce the Russian vaccine, Antonio Fallico, the head of the Conoscere Eurasia Association, told RT. | "We're eagerly waiting for [the European Medicines Agency] to register [the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus]," Fallico said on Wednesday. Moscow lodged its application with the EU watchdog in late January. | Earlier, Undersecretary of Italy's Health Ministry Sandra Zampa
(2021-02-03). Macron: AstraZeneca Vaccine Seems 'Quasi-Ineffective' for Over-65s. anti-empire.com 
French President Emmanual Macron said Friday the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine appeared to be "quasi-ineffective" on people older than 65 — just hours before the EU's drugs regulator "The real problem on AstraZeneca is that it doesn't work the way we were expecting it to," Macron told a group of reporters, including POLITICO, in Paris. "We're waiting for the EMA [European Medicines Agency] results, but today everything points to thinking it is quasi-ineffective on pe…
(2021-02-03). France, Sweden, Poland, Germany, France: Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine Not for Elderly. anti-empire.com 
The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine should be prioritized for people younger than 65, according to recommendations by government advisory bodies in France and Sweden on Tuesday, while Poland set its threshold at 60. | "Currently available data for people aged 65 and over are limited by a small sample size and don't allow for a conclusion on the safety and the efficacy of the [AstraZeneca] vaccine for this population," the French national authority for health (HAS) said. "The [AstraZeneca] vaccine is therefore recommended preferentially for health professionals under 65 and people under 65." | The three countries join…
(2021-02-03). Capitalism is sucking the life out of the planet. thecanary.co 
Image description | At the top of the image a pound currency sign ( £) is pictured next to the Earth. In the next part of the image the top of the pound sign has become a spike and punctured the Earth. In the final part of the image, the pound sign has grown in size and sucked everything from the Earth, which is now pictured deflated and spent. | By
(2021-02-03). Boris Johnson 'clapping for Tom' is the most twisted thing this week. thecanary.co 
Captain Tom Moore sadly died on Tuesday 2 February. And now, Boris Johnson and his government will be leading a national ' RIP Captain Tom: | BBC News
(2021-02-03). 'Victory': Iran hails UN court decision to hear case against US sanctions. middleeasteye.net 
'Victory': Iran hails UN court decision to hear case against US sanctions | International Court of Justice says it has jurisdiction to take on Iran's case challenging US over Trump-era sanctions | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 36 | Zarif asked European Union to coordinate synchronised return of Washington and Tehran to nuclear deal (AFP) | Iran's foreign minister hailed a decision by the UN's top court on Wednesday th…
(2021-02-03). 'Victory': Iran hails UN court decision to hear case over US sanctions. middleeasteye.net 'Victory': Iran hails UN court decision to hear case over US sanctions | International Court of Justice says it has jurisdiction to take on Iran's case against US over Trump-era sanctions | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 36 | Zarif asked the European Union to coordinate a synchronised return of Washington and Tehran to the nuclear deal (AFP) | Iran's foreign minister hailed a decision by the UN's top court on Wednesday…
(2021-02-03). Rights groups condemn Turkey's 'illegal' transfers of detainees out of Syria. middleeasteye.net 
Rights groups condemn Turkey's 'illegal' transfers of detainees out of Syria | Sixty-three Syrian Arabs and Kurds have been transferred to Turkey over suspected links to 'terrorist' organisations | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 12: 03 | Turkey-backed Syrian rebels take part in a military exercise in Ghandoura, in the northeastern countryside of Syria's Aleppo province, on 14 January 2021 (AFP) | Human rights groups have c…
(2021-02-03). Time is running out for US to rejoin Iran nuclear deal. thealtworld.com 
As the Biden administration prevaricates, Tehran has issued an ultimatum that could move it closer to a nuclear weapon | US President Joe Biden's political agenda will be monopolised by internal issues for some time, but hotspots around the world will not adjust to his priorities. Given that Biden believes the US should Fortunately, the new president and his advisers seem aware that the best way for…
(2021-02-03). Arrests in Syria's Latakia signal discontent among pro-Assad communities. middleeasteye.net 
Arrests in Syria's Latakia signal discontent among pro-Assad communities | Many of the president's most loyal supporters in his stronghold have started speaking out against corruption and poverty | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 17: 39 | A handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency Facebook page on 13 October 2020 shows President Bashar al-Assad touring the village of Kafr Dabil in Syria's Latakia pro…
(2021-02-03). After Most US Troops Pull Out of Somalia, Some Reenter for Training. anti-empire.com 
Editor's note: It appears the Pentagon never even fully withdrew as Trump had told them to, but kept some behind with an eye to Biden. |
| The U.S. military on Sunday held its first training engagement in Somalia after the recent drawdown of most American troops stationed there, Africa Command announced Monday. | "Our first engagement back into Somalia so quickly after the repositioning shows we remain committed to our Somali and regional partners and support their fight against violent extremism," U.S.
(2021-02-03). Huawei Struggles in Smartphone Market as Sanctions Bite, Apple Profits. anti-empire.com 
Chinese telecom giant Huawei saw a substantial drop in both smartphone shipments and market share in China market in 2020, following a tough year of US government's strangle on semiconductors supply, allowing US rival Apple to rise to fill up the void. | Under the US' relentless assault, Huawei saw a drop in market share in China from 38.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 to 25.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020, the only one of the top five smartphone makers in China whose share declined, an International Data Corp (IDC) report showed on Tuesday. | Industry experts said that Huawei's rare market share…
(2021-02-03). 'Like the moon from the Earth': New Chelsea boss Tuchel heaps praise on old boy Mourinho ahead of pivotal London derby with Spurs. rt.com 
Thomas Tuchel is set for the sternest test of his Chelsea career to date when he takes a trip across London to take on rivals Tottenham, with the German lauding Jose Mourinho in advance as "one of the best managers in the world".
(2021-02-03). Washington joins crusade against free speech, backs Ukrainian crackdown on opposition media as EU & Zelensky's dad voice concerns. rt.com 
The US has waded into a row over media censorship in Ukraine, backing a ban on opposition TV channels as both the EU and President Volodymyr Zelensky's own father expressed grave concerns over the impact on free speech. | In a statement issued on Twitter Wednesday, the American embassy in Kiev wrote that it "supports efforts yesterday to counter Russia's malign influence." It described the shuttering of broadcasters as "in line with [Ukrainian law], in defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity." | The US supports üá∫üᶠefforts yesterday to counter Ru…
(2021-02-03). Pentagon chief ousts HUNDREDS of advisers in sweeping purge of Trump-appointed military boards. rt.com 
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has terminated hundreds of members from 42 Pentagon advisory boards, part of an aggressive bid to oust appointees brought on in the waning days of the Donald Trump administration. | Austin ordered a far-reaching review of the advisory boards, suspending their operations and dismissing all of their members, which number in the hundreds, according to a
(2021-02-03). GQ Magazine gives Joe Biden the virtual 'makeover' nobody asked for. rt.com 
After four quiet years, Joe Biden's return to the White House has woken America's lifestyle writers from their hibernation, and they're ready to shine his shoes with cringe-inducing content once more. | For the news industry, former president Donald Trump was good for business. His off-the-cuff remarks, personal feuds, and never-ending parade of scandals sold newspapers by the boatload and kept millions of eyes glued to cable TV. As journalists rushed to dig up dirt on the bombastic president, and every week broke new stories predicting his imminent downfall, one group of writers were left out in the cold: Ame…
(2021-02-03). Turkey's Erdogan labels student protesters 'terrorists', vows crackdown on demonstration after university appointment outcry. rt.com 
The Turkish president has denounced demonstrators as "terrorists" as educators and students alike protested against the controversial appointment of a government loyalist to head Istanbul's most prestigious university. | "I do not accept these youngsters, who are members of terrorist groups, as sharing our country's national and moral values," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a video address. | "Are you students… or are you terrorists who try to raid the office of the rector and occupy it?" he continued. | Erdogan's appointment of Melih Bulu, an academic and former political candidate, as recto…
(2021-02-03). White House spokeswoman Psaki ridicules question about plans for Space Force, suggests Biden hasn't given it a thought. rt.com 
White House press secretary Jen Psaki appeared to be gobsmacked when a reporter asked about President Joe Biden's plans for the Space Force and equated the new military branch's significance to a paint job for Air Force One. | Asked at Tuesday's White House press briefing whether Biden had made a decision on keeping the Space Force or changing its scope, Psaki said with a smile, "Wow, Space Force, it's the plane of today," apparently likening the query to a January 22 question on the president's plans for the color scheme of Air Force One. For the record, the plane answer was that Biden "has not spent a moment…
(2021-02-03). US Navy must rename warships that have 'racist' and Confederate names, policy task force says. rt.com 
The US Navy should rename warships and other assets that have racist connotations, as part of a modernization drive to promote diversity, the task force that shapes navy policy has recommended. | "Certain Navy ship names have been highlighted by Congress and in the media for connections to confederate or white supremacist ideologies," Task Force One Navy said in its The 141-page report called for a review to "identify assets honoring t…
(2021-02-03). Canadian government designates 'Proud Boys' as terrorist group. rt.com 
Canada has designated the group 'Proud Boys' as a terrorist entity, following a parliamentary resolution blaming the "white supremacist" group of organizing the January 6 riot at the US Capitol. | 'Proud Boys' were among the thirteen groups designated on Wednesday by Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, under the category of "ideologically motivated violent extremism." | No matter their ideological motivation, these groups are "all hateful, intolerant… and dangerous," Blair said. | The Proud Boys were listed alongside Atomwaffen Division, The Base, the "Russian Imperial Movement," five Islamic State (IS, forme…
(2021-02-03). Poor taste? Burger King SAVAGELY trolls injury-hit Hazard by joking he missed training to take advantage of 2-for-1 offer. rt.com 
Eden Hazard's time at Real Madrid has been plagued by injury and barbs about his weight, and fast food giant Burger King put the boot in amid a new setback by claiming the star missed training to indulge in their special offer.
(2021-02-03). Democrats and GOP strike power-sharing agreement, allowing Dems to take over key Senate committees. rt.com 
Democrats and Republicans have reached an agreement that will allow the Democrats to take control of several Senate committees. Though the party holds a slim majority, Republicans have until now held onto their committee seats. | "I am happy to report this morning that the leadership of both parties have finalized the organizing resolution for the Senate," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said on the Senate floor on Wednesday. "We will pass the resolution through the Senate today, which means that committees can promptly set up and get to work with Democrats holding the gavels." | Control of the Sena…
(2021-02-03). MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell gets his company banned from Twitter, provokes Newsmax host to WALK OFF SET with election-fraud claims. rt.com 
Twitter has banished MyPillow after company founder Mike Lindell used the account to reiterate claims of election fraud and accuse the social media platform's chief executive, Jack Dorsey, of being "tied into" the alleged crimes. | "Jack Dorsey is trying to cancel me (Mike Lindell) out," Lindell tweeted through MyPillow's account on Sunday, in a message thanking supporters who ordered pillows after Kohl's and other major retailers stopped carrying the company's products. "We are extremely busy and hiring as fast as we can to handle all the shipping. Jack (Dorsey) will be found out and should be put in prison w…
(2021-02-03). American baby whose 1st album was recorded in the womb already garners online critics. rt.com 
Luca Yupanqui looks set to become the world's youngest recording artist in history, having recorded her debut album before she was born, thanks to her musician parents and some cutting-edge audio tech. | Elizabeth Hart, a member of psych-rock band Psychic Ills, along with her partner and fellow musician Iván Diaz Mathe, used so-called "biosonic MIDI technology" to record their unborn daughter's movements inside the womb during five-hour "joint meditation" sessions. | When the album drops on April 2, 'Sounds of the Unborn' will become the first LP to use audio recorded in utero. The proud parents used el…
(2021-02-03). Ukraine ace Yastremska vows to clear name as appeal against provisional doping ban is REJECTED — despite her flying to Aus Open. rt.com 
Ukrainian world number 29 Dayana Yastremska has had her appeal against a provisional doping suspension dismissed, meaning she will be unable to play at the upcoming Australian Open despite flying all the way to Melbourne. | Yastremska, 20, had jetted into Melbourne from Dubai on a special charter flight in mid-January in the hopes that her provisional suspension would be overturned in time for the start of action in the year's opening Grand Slam on February 7. | The suspension had been imposed after Yastremska failed an out-of-competition doping test in November when a prohibited substance, mesterolone metabol…
(2021-02-03). US 'freezing' Trump plan to withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany while Pentagon reviews policy — general. rt.com 
The US will halt its planned withdrawal of 12,000 troops from Germany while the Pentagon conducts a review of the Trump-era plans, the head of the US European Command said on Wednesday. | The plans have been "put on freeze" while new US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, is "in the process of conducting a very thorough review" of the policy, Air Force General Tod Wolters told reporters, without giving a timeframe for the audit. | The planned drawdown included relocating the US European Command from the city of Stuttgart to Belgium and returning the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, currently based in the German town of V…
(2021-02-03). Turning point in freedom road. peoplesworld.org 
This keynote, presented to the CPUSA National Committee on Jan. 23, 2021, has been updated with the input of NC members. It's hard to overstate the importance of last Wednesday's Inauguration. Trump's gone, the coup was averted, and democracy prevailed. The fascist danger experienced a setback — at least for now. For those who believed …
(2021-02-03). National Ideals and the 1776 Commission Report: an Analysis. counterpunch.org 
One of Donald Trump's efforts to restructure, or maybe de-structure, the U.S. was the establishment of a 1776 Commission. Its job was to recast American history in an extravagantly patriotic fashion so as to assert U.S. exceptionalism. There is a Platonic correlate to this: the ideal is more real than the actual. Thus, ideals laid down
(2021-02-03). Jon Ossoff Victory Proves That the Israel Lobby Still Has an Iron Grip on Democrats. mintpressnews.com 
An analysis by the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs shows the pro-Israel lobby contributes significantly more money to Democrats than Republicans. And those campaign funds appear to be doing their job.
(2021-02-03). Examining The Ethics & Implications Of Twitter's Censorship Policy In India. thealtworld.com Twitter caused a stir by complying with the Indian government's request to temporarily "withhold" access to dozens of accounts for users within the country in response to claims that they were "inciting violence" during the ongoing farmers' protests, which prompts some very important ethical questions that have a few disturbing implications for the freedoms of speech and assembly in Western-style democracies across the world. | Everyone across the world is talking about social media censorship after former US President Trump was deplatformed last month by the world's largest companies in this sphere following the…
(2021-02-03). Where is Biden's Foreign Policy Headed? — Phyllis Bennis and Larry Wilkerson. theanalysis.news Biden has appointed many old guard interventionists and new Cold Warriors, but there is some hope for a better Iran policy. Watch out for attempts by Israel to scuttle the nuclear deal. A wide-ranging discussion with Phyllis Bennis and Larry Wilkerson on theAnalysis.news with Paul Jay.
(2021-02-03). Battling White Supremacy in the Ring. scheerpost.com Buy a copy of Horne's book "The Bittersweet Science: Racism, Racketeering, and the Political Economy of Boxing," By Gerald Horne Reviewed by Chris Hedges There were three nationally prominent Black men in the early twentieth century. Booker T. Washington, the founder of Tuskegee Institute; W. E. B. Du Bois, perhaps America's most important intellectual; and the world heavyweight boxing champion… |
(2021-02-03). US plan to reform asylum, reunite families, reflects 'authentic humanitarian values'. news.un.org The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said it is "heartened" by the United States' president's signing of executive orders on Tuesday which aim to provide safety and solutions for those seeking asylum, on the grounds that they need protection from violence and persecution at home.
(2021-02-03). 'How Greedy Can Amazon and Bezos Get?': Corporate Behemoth to Pay $62 Million Fine for Stealing Drivers' Tips. commondreams.org What needs to happen "is for the government to step in and take much more serious action than it's ever really contemplated to restrain, control, and ultimately break up Amazon," said Public Citizen's Robert Weissman. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/amazon_driver.jpg …
(2021-02-03). MPower Change Responds to Jeff Bezos' Title Change at Amazon, and Naming of New CEO Andy Jassy; "Meet The New Boss, Possibly Even Worse Than The Old Boss" commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-02-03). The Struggle Inside Senator Mitch McConnell's Brain. commondreams.org Allowing the Trumpian half of his brain to overpower his judgment and vote to acquit Dangerous Donald would spell disaster for the Republican Party (assuming the Democratic Party doesn't go to sleep as it did after Obama's win in 2008). | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/mcconnell_biden_0.jpg …
(2021-02-03). 'Eviction Moratorium Is Not Enough': 200+ Groups Demand Rent Cancellation, Debt Relief. commondreams.org "To prevent an eviction disaster and the public health crisis that would come with it, we need immediate action that provides full debt relief." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/cancel_rent_0.jpg …
(2021-02-03). Congressional Study Group Says US Should Not Rush Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – A US congressionally mandated study group recommended in a report released on Wednesday that the United States not rush to pull troops out of Afghanistan if the Taliban fail to abide by the agreement they struck with Washington last February.
(2021-02-03). After 'Bitterly Disappointing' Court Ruling on Line 3, Biden Urged to Shut Down Pipeline Project 'Once and for All'. commondreams.org After a Minnesota court allowed construction to continue, Rep. Ilhan Omar appealed to President Joe Biden to stop the contentious project. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/etbahwmxeayjcos.jpg …
(2021-02-03). 'A Desperate Smear': Ilhan Omar Slams GOP Over Attempt to Distract From Bigotry of Marjorie Taylor Greene. commondreams.org "Republicans will do anything to distract from the fact that they have not only allowed but elevated members of their own caucus who encourage violence." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12279259451.jpg …
(2021-02-03). Ocasio-Cortez reveals harrowing details of fascist assault on January 6: "I thought I was going to die" wsws.org While Ocasio-Cortez spoke for an hour and half on the extreme danger she and others faced during January 6 assault, the Democratic leadership remains silent on ongoing threats against their members.
(2021-02-03). COVAX's Vaccine Supply Is Desperately Needed but Terrifyingly Inadequate. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-02-03). What's Keeping the Vaccine From Getting to Those Who Need it Most? thenation.com What's Keeping the Vaccine From Getting to Those Who Need it Most?
(2021-02-03). Scottish Lawmakers Decline Call to Investigate Finances of Trump's Golf Courses. sputniknews.com Former US president Donald Trump owns 15 golf courses across the US, Scotland and Ireland. A September investigation into Trump's tax returns found that Trump has lost around $315 million since 2000 from the 14 golf courses he owns.
(2021-02-03). Lauren Boebert calls for probe of Trump — for moving Space Command to Mo Brooks' district. salon.com Letter to Biden cites "significant evidence" that "Trump's political considerations influenced the final decision"
(2021-02-03). As Americans' views on wellness evolve, Subway is suffering an identity crisis. salon.com The recent allegation that the chain's tuna isn't actually tuna is the latest public relations nightmare for Subway…