(2021-02-18). US initial jobless claims rise more than expectation. yenisafak.com Analysts expected 765,000 for the week ending Feb. 13, while the previous week was revised up 55,000 from 793,000 to 848,000.Despite the fall in claims, there are 10.1 million jobless Americans since the coronavirus pandemic-hit US economy shed 22 million positions in March and April.President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion relief plan, which includes $1,400 stimulus checks for individuals and aid for vaccine distribution efforts, still faces opposition from Republicans.The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives plans to pass the bill before the end of the month but are likely to try to push it through the Senat…
(2021-02-18). PDF of February 18 issue. workers.org 
Download the PDF. Alabama — Roll the union on! Solidarity with Amazon organizing; Class struggle then and now. BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Tribute to George Jackson L.D. Barkley, martyred in Attica uprising A fighting union leader: Karen Lewis ALSO: Care workers dare to strike; $1K per hour union busters; Electric vehicles . . . |
(2021-02-18). Saturday 2/20: Richmond Car Caravan: Solidarity With Alabama Amazon Workers Unionizing. indybay.org Gather at Walmart at Richmond Hilltop Mall Parking Lot, 1400 Hilltop Mall Rd, | Richmond, CA 94806 | MASKS and SAFE-DISTANCING…
(2021-02-18). Saturday 2/20: Solidarity with Bamazon Workers! indybay.org 2200 Hilltop Mall Drive in Richmond…
(2021-02-18). Amazon changes timing of TRAFFIC LIGHTS in Alabama town to derail unionization drive. rt.com 
Online retail giant Amazon was so desperate to scuttle a unionization drive among warehouse workers in Alabama that it actually had traffic light times changed. A pro-union publication says it confirmed the rumors with the county. | Amazon actually reached out to Jefferson County to change the timing of the traffic lights near its Bessemer warehouse, the pro-worker publication More Perfect Union reported on Tuesday, citing a public official from the county who said the company had complained about "traffic delays during shift changes" in order to secure the light change. | Organizers had claimed for weeks that…
(2021-02-18). 'No to Dictatorship': Why Haitians are protesting US-backed MoàØse. thegrayzone.com As tens of thousands of Haitians defy repression to protest Jovenel MoàØse's power grab, the Biden administration's support for MoàØse continues a long US tradition of backing right-wing autocrats and undermining Haiti's popular movements. Haitian president Jovenel MoàØse has cracked down on a wave of popular protest as he tries to cling to power. While tens of thousands of Haitians have taken to the streets in the face of government repression, the Biden administration is backing MoàØse's effort to remain …
(2021-02-18). If It Were a Narco Lab, It Would be Working. counterpunch.org 
On the day he was inaugurated, Joe Biden halted the construction of Trump's Mexican border wall. A few days earlier, 1500 miles to the south, a new 'caravan' of at least eight thousand Honduran migrants had set off northwards, partly in the hope that by the time they tried to cross into Texas, Biden's promised softening of immigration policy might have taken effect.
(2021-02-18). Lebanon announces plan to vaccinate thousands of migrant workers. laprensalatina.com Beirut, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- The Lebanese government on Thursday announced a plan to vaccinate migrant workers in the country, many of whom are there illegally and are often the victims of abuse by their employers. Following a meeting of government representatives, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGOs, the chairman of the National Committee …
(2021-02-18). Biden Plans to Use "Inclusive" Language in Future Discussions on Immigration. truthout.org 
The Biden administration announced this week that federal agencies will use "more inclusive" language when it comes to discussing issues relating to immigration. | A memo from Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Tracy Renaud
(2021-02-18). An Improbable Vanguard Of Poor People Is 'Reclaiming' Vacant Homes. popularresistance.org On the night before Thanksgiving last year, Sasha Atkins, a 31-year-old hair stylist and single mom, hauled a few carefully chosen belongings — her phone, blankets, pillows and a laptop — into a vacant duplex on Shelley Street in Los Angeles' El Sereno neighborhood and held her breath. Busting into an empty house was a last resort, but the pandemic has turned her precarious housing situation into an emergency. For three years, she and her son couch surfed or occasionally landed a motel room. But work had become scarce, and friends and family feared COVID-19 if they let new people into their homes. So,…
(2021-02-18). Real Unemployment Is Three Times What They're Telling Us. popularresistance.org Southwest Harbor, Maine — As Congress gets set to debate the Biden Pandemic relief package, one of the favorite Republican lines is the contention that an economic recovery is already well underway. Pouring more money into an accelerating economy is likely to induce seventies style inflation. It is time, they argue, for a little cautionary austerity. However politically efficacious this line may be, rosy portraits of an expanding economy hide the chronic weakness of the US economy and especially the burdens imposed on poor and minority communities. | Fear of inflation on the part of Republicans is insincere…
(2021-02-18). How the Gates Foundation seeded America's COVID-19 policy catastrophes. strategic-culture.org 
The nursing home death warrants were signed by panicked governors using Gates-funded forecasting. | By Jordan SCHACHTEL | New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is finally facing the heat for his botched and criminally negligent coronavirus response policies, yet no one seems to be asking why Cuomo and select governors made the fateful decisions that led to the excess deaths — and the coverup campaigns — of tens of thousands of senior citizens in New York and elsewhere across the United States. | After being awarded an Emmy and writing a book on his supposedly heroic response to the pandemic, Cuomo is finally…
(2021-02-18). Italian lawmakers ratify new gov't led by Draghi. laprensalatina.com Rome, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- The lower house of Italy's parliament voted overwhelmingly Thursday to ratify former European Central Bank (ECB) head Mario Draghi as prime minister amid the dual challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the worst economic slump since World War II. A day after getting the nod from the Senate, the 73-year-old economist …
(2021-02-18). UN chief calls for 'new social contract' as part of post-pandemic recovery. news.un.org With the COVID-19 pandemic exposing social and economic inequalities rooted in racism, discrimination and xenophobia, recovery must lead to more inclusive societies, the UN Secretary-General told Member States on Thursday.
(2021-02-18). COVID Deaths in the US Lead to Biggest Drop in Life Expectancy Since WWII. truthout.org 
Life expectancy in the United States has dropped by a full year, according to new figures released on Thursday. | The current life expectancy of an individual in the U.S. While there have been drops in life expectancy in recent years due to increases in drug overdoses, the decline over the past year, in large part due to the coronavirus pandemic, is the biggest drop i…
(2021-02-18). Selected Articles: Pandemic Revelations. globalresearch.ca 
By We bring to the attention of our readers, this important international statement by health professionals, medical doctors and scientists,…
(2021-02-18). The NHS and care workers who have died during the coronavirus pandemic. thecanary.co At least 244 frontline health and care workers have been identified after dying with coronavirus (Covid-19). | This chronological list contains people who were working in roles shortly before their deaths where they were likely to come into contact with patients. | The figure is likely to be lower than the true number of workers who have died, as the names of some victims will not yet be in the public domain. | Through tributes from loved ones and confirmation through sources such as local NHS trusts and other authorities, the names of health and social care workers who have died after contracting Covid-19 since…
(2021-02-18). Iranian press review: Iran plans to export Covid-19 vaccine to the world. middleeasteye.net 
Iranian press review: Iran plans to export Covid-19 vaccine to the world | Meanwhile, Tehran indicates readiness for Qatar to play mediator role in nuclear talks, and, as the pandemic spreads, the number of Iranians working without a contract rises to seven million | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 10: 58 | A member of the Imam Khomeini Hospital medical personnel receives a dose of Russia's Sputnik V…
(2021-02-18). Climate change bigger threat than pandemic: EU official. yenisafak.com Climate change is a "bigger" threat than the COVID-19 pandemic in the long run, and it requires immediate and collective action, said the head of the EU delegation to Turkey."Climate change is not only a risk in itself, but it is also a risk multiplier for all of our societies," Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut told the meeting held with the theme of "Tackling Climate Change" in the Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday.The global community, he said, has passed the stage of questioning the causes of climate change, however, it still has an advantage as it knows a way to address the problem: the decarbonization of countries'
(2021-02-18). US lawmakers press military over data purchases from Muslim apps. middleeasteye.net 
US lawmakers press military over data purchases from Muslim apps | Military and intelligence chiefs asked to disclose whether any US citizens were surveilled when military bought user information from popular apps | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 19: 08 | The effort was led by Congressman Mark Pocan, with representatives Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna signing on to it (AFP) | US lawmakers…
(2021-02-18). 'Leaving Aside' International Law: Democrats are as Dangerous as Republicans to Peace in Palestine. mintpressnews.com 
It's easy to discredit the foreign policy agenda of Trump, Pompeo, and other Republicans as their aggressive, dismissive language and action are unmistakably objectionable. The Democratic discourse, however, cannot be as easily censured,…
(2021-02-18). "Leaving Aside" International Law: Why Democrats are as Dangerous as Republicans to a Just Peace in Palestine. dissidentvoice.org 
Motivated by their justifiable aversion to former US President Donald Trump, many analysts have rashly painted a rosy picture of how Democrats could quickly erase the bleak trajectory of the previous Republican administration. This naivety is particularly pronounced in the current spin on the Palestinian-Israeli discourse, which is promoting, again, the illusion that Democrats will …
(2021-02-18). The Decline of the West: American Education Surrenders to 'Equity'. globalresearch.ca It will be difficult or even impossible to go back to a system where learning is actually a discipline that requires hard work and dedication. | Public education in the United States, if measured by results, has been producing graduates that …
(2021-02-18). Alexei Navalny: Why is Biden supporting a Russian fascist? workers.org 
At the very time Democrats in Congress were attempting to impeach Trump for the Jan. 6 fascist rampage, President Joe Biden expressed support for a Russian political leader allied with a gang comparable to the Proud Boys. In his first contact with Russia's President Vladimir Putin as U.S. president, Biden . . . |
(2021-02-18). Politico's Defense News, Brought to You by Northrop Grumman. mintpressnews.com Does taking Northrop Grumman's money make Politico less likely to call out the Pentagon's enormous and bloated military budget, war crimes committed overseas, or the gross wastage of public funds?
(2021-02-18). Sri Lanka stifles dissent to block justice for war crimes, Amnesty says. laprensalatina.com Colombo Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Sri Lanka has launched a new crackdown to stifle dissent and hinder justice for the crimes committed during the nation's civil war, says an Amnesty International report released Thursday. The report alleges that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa government's concerted effort to target human rights bodies, media, lawyers, political opponents, and law enforcement …
(2021-02-18). Israel: Election of New ICC Prosecutor Raises Questions for War Crimes Probe. 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 election of Karim Khan, a British lawyer, as chief prosecutor …
(2021-02-18). Palestinian cancer patient on deathbed after release from Israeli prison. middleeasteye.net 
Palestinian cancer patient on deathbed after release from Israeli prison | Hussein Masalmeh lies in critical condition in hospital, as family accuses Israel of medical negligence | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 12: 01 | Hussein Masalmeh's family say he was gravely ill for two years before being released from Israeli prison (Twitter) | When Bilal Masalmeh, 34, dreamt of the day his older brother Hussein woul…
(2021-02-18). Atlantic Council Urges Biden to Enforce Regime Change in Belarus. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | A recent
(2021-02-18). The False and Exaggerated Claims Still Being Spread About the Capitol Riot. scheerpost.com By Glenn Greenwald / Substack What took place at the Capitol on January 6 was undoubtedly a politically motivated riot. As such, it should not be controversial to regard it as a dangerous episode. Any time force or violence is introduced into what ought to be the peaceful resolution of political conflicts, it should be lamented and condemned. But none of that justifies lying about what happened… |
(2021-02-18). As Macron Courts the Far-Right, France Launches Crackdown on "Islamo-Leftism" mintpressnews.com Islamo-leftism is a label coined by the far-right, with many pointing out the distinct similarities between it and "Judeo-Bolshevism," a term created by German Nazis linking religion with a set of political beliefs. Yet it has quickly been taken up by many in France's political center.
(2021-02-18). Stratfor's Decade-Old Geopolitical Map Provoking Russian-Turkish Distrust? globalresearch.ca The recent viral sharing of the speculative map of Turkey's future regional influence that was first published by Stratfor founder George Friedman in his 2010 book about "The Next 100 Years: A Forecast For The 21st Century" is provoking distrust …
(2021-02-18). COVID + Capitalism: Life expectancy plunges and unemployment surges. liberationnews.org 
Data released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that following that report, life expectancy had dropped by a full year by June of 2020…
(2021-02-18). Cuomo and Newsom Symbolize the Rot of Corporate Democrats and the Dire Need for Progressive Populism. counterpunch.org 
The governors of New York and California — the most populous states led by Democrats — now symbolize how slick liberal images are no substitute for genuinely progressive priorities. After 10 years as New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo is facing an uproar over revelations that his administration intentionally and drastically undercounted the deaths from COVID in nursing homes. Meanwhile,
(2021-02-18). International Alert Message about COVID-19. United Health Professionals. globalresearch.ca We bring to the attention of our readers, this important international statement by health professionals, medical doctors and scientists, which Below is the complete text which was sent to the governments. …
(2021-02-18). International Alert Message about COVID-19. United Health Professionals. globalresearch.ca We are more than 1,500 members (including professors of medicine, intensive care physicians and infectious disease specialists) from more than 30 countries. The lockdown has not only killed people, it has destroyed physical and mental health, economy, education and other aspects of social life.
(2021-02-18). Andalucía: Un brote en una residencia de Los Barrios provoca 46 muertes por coronavirus. globalizacion.ca El Covid-19 no da tregua. El inicio de la campaña de vacunación en las residencias de mayores no está evitando un reguero de muertes. En Los Barrios (Cádiz) lo saben bien. Desgraciadamente, la residencia Nuestra Señora del Rosario sumaba ayer …
(2021-02-18). 5 Questions To Ask Your Friends Who Plan To Get The Covid Vaccine. globalresearch.ca Many of us have friends or family who plan on getting the vaccine. Maybe they truly believe they are in danger. Maybe they think it's better safe than sorry. Maybe they just want to be able to go to the …
(2021-02-18). Antonio Guterres criticizes unequal global access to COVID-19 vaccines, calls it 'wildly unfair'. peoplesdispatch.org The UN secretary general pointed out that 75% of all vaccinations so far have been administered in just 10 rich countries, whereas 130 mostly poor countries have not received a single dose of vaccine…
(2021-02-18). Fast Food Workers Went On Strike For $15 An Hour In 15 Cities. popularresistance.org Fast food workers in 15 cities across the country went on a one-day strike on February 16, to demand that their employers—including McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's—pay them $15 an hour and give them union rights. | The effort, which is part of the nationwide Fight for 15 movement, comes as lawmakers in Washington debate enacting a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage as part of President Biden's first COVID-19 relief package. | The strikes also honor Black History Month by emphasizing the generations of low pay and lacking workplace protections among Black workers, historical inequities that have bee…
(2021-02-18). Mexico out front in pressuring UN to guarantee anti-Covid vaccine access. laprensalatina.com By Cristina Sanchez Reyes Mexico City, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Mexico has positioned itself as one of the countries exerting the most pressure on the United Nations to guarantee universal access to anti-Covid-19 vaccines, denouncing vaccine hoarding and/or monopolization by the richest nations and creating links with other Latin American nations like Argentina. "What was raised …
(2021-02-18). Hong Kong to kick off citywide vaccination program. laprensalatina.com Hong Kong, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Hong Kong is set to roll out a citywide Covid-19 vaccination program, with the government approving the use of China's Sinovac vaccine Thursday. Health authority confirmed Thursday morning their approval of the CoronaVac vaccine, developed by mainland Chinese bio-pharmaceutical firm Sinovac for emergency use. The decision came after a panel …
(2021-02-18). Rising Inequality: the 'Pre-Existing Condition' That Doomed the U.S. COVID Response. counterpunch.org 
Back in April 2017, only a few months after Donald Trump's inauguration, one of world's most prestigious medical journals, the London-based Lancet, established a special commission to keep tabs on "Public Policy and Health in the Trump Era." The panel's 33 commissioners — medical professionals of all sorts, along with assorted notables in legal and
(2021-02-18). Make 'every effort' to save COVID-19 response from corruption, UN Assembly President urges. news.un.org Every effort must be taken to ensure that corrupt and unscrupulous practices do not prevent or impede the equitable availability and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the President of the United Nations General Assembly said on Wednesday.
(2021-02-18). WHO seeks $1.96 billion for 2021 Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Response. news.un.org The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking nearly $2 million to fund its 2021 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for COVID-19 response which was launched on Thursday in Geneva.
(2021-02-18). How to Wear a Mask & When to Wear Two to Reduce COVID Transmission & Increase Vaccine Effectiveness. democracynow.org 
While COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations appear to be waning, the United States has a long way to go before people can safely return to everyday life without masks. Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease physician and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, says it's vital to stay vigilant even as vaccinations ramp up. "If we can get our transmission down as low as possible, that is actually going to make the vaccines more effective."
(2021-02-18). Headlines for February 18, 2021. democracynow.org Texans Face Deadly Winter Storm with Ongoing Power Outages, Water Shortages, U.S. Life Expectancy Falls by 1 Year in 2020, Drops Nearly 3 Years for Black Americans, Florida Gov. DeSantis Prioritizes Vaccines for Rich White Residents, Then Threatens Critics, Mexico Denounces Vaccine Hoarding as U.N. Warns 130 Nations Have Yet to Receive Any Vaccines, Top Executives at Vaccine Manufacturers Sold $500 Million in Stocks Last Year, FBI Probes Cuomo over Nursing Home COVID Deaths; Cuomo Threatens to "Destroy" Critic, White House Unveils Immigration Bill with 8-Year Path to Citizenship, Burmese Anti-Coup Protests Contin…
(2021-02-18). Why Politicians and Doctors Keep Ignoring the Medical Research on Vitamin D and Covid. globalresearch.ca It is probably not a good idea to write while in the grip of anger. But I am struggling to suppress my emotions about a wasted year, during which politicians and many doctors have ignored a growing body of evidence …
(2021-02-20). [Department of Error] Department of Error. thelancet.com Baas P, Scherpereel A, Nowak AK, et al. First-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab in unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (CheckMate 743): a multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet 2021; 397: 375—86—The appendix for this Article has been corrected as of Feb 18, 2021.
(2021-02-18). Schools Need More Help to Reopen Safely. progressive.org Though the next stimulus bill would increase federal funding for schools, it's still not enough to prepare schools for in-person classes.
(2021-02-18). Why Politicians and Doctors Keep Ignoring the Medical Research on Vitamin D and Covid. counterpunch.org 
It is probably not a good idea to write while in the grip of anger. But I am struggling to suppress my emotions about a wasted year, during which politicians and many doctors have ignored a growing body of evidence suggesting that Vitamin D can play a critically important role in the prevention and treatment
(2021-02-18). Russia admits to lacking capacity to meet Sputnik V vaccine demand abroad. laprensalatina.com Moscow, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Russia does not have the capacity to meet international demand for the Sputnik V Covid vaccine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday. "The demand for the Russian vaccine abroad is very high. It is so high that it considerably exceeds production capacity," he said at his daily press conference. The Russian …
(2021-02-18). Asking Russia for Sputnik and getting ANAL SWABS in China: US diplomats vent over State Department's Covid-19 vaccine roll-out. rt.com 
Even though the State Department received almost enough US-made Covid-19 vaccines for every employee, some diplomats have had to ask host countries for jabs and suffered indignities such as anal tests in China, a new report says. | The State Department has received "roughly" 73,000 doses of the US-made Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, but "declined to say" how many of its estimated 75,000 employees it has vaccinated, the Washington Post reported. | Some of the diplomats stationed in Moscow have asked Russia for its Sputnik V vaccine, after Foggy Bottom "could not promise delivery" of American vaccines "in the near…
(2021-02-18). Pfizer, BioNTech launch global trials of their Covid-19 vaccine in pregnant women. rt.com 
US pharma giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have kicked off an international study into the safety and effectiveness of their coronavirus vaccine in pregnant women, with 4,000 volunteers from nine countries taking part. | Healthy pregnant women in the US have already received their first shots of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab as part of the research, the companies announced on Thursday. They'll soon be joined by fellow test subjects in Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mozambique, South Africa, the UK and Spain. | Women aged 18 and older are to be inoculated during weeks 24-34 of gestation, the later stag…
(2021-02-18). More Than Half of All Inmates in Wisconsin Prisons Have Tested Positive for Covid. thenation.com More Than Half of All Inmates in Wisconsin Prisons Have Tested Positive for Covid…
(2021-02-18). The Heat: South Africa's Challenges. america.cgtn.com 
As South Africa battles COVID-19, it is also dealing with a series of challenges on several fronts including the economy and jobs.
(2021-02-18). COVID, Austerity & Ending U.S. Interference. zcomm.org Left-wing economist Andrés Arauz secured nearly 33% of the vote in the first round of Ecuador's presidential election on February 7 but fell short of the 40% needed to win outright…
(2021-02-18). Huge Victory: Under Pressure, New York Ends Mandatory COVID Testing in Schools. 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 New York State Education Department
(2021-02-18). Firms allowed to buy vaccines for employees in Indonesia. yenisafak.com Indonesia on Thursday gave the nod for a private COVID-19 vaccination scheme in the country, allowing companies to purchase jabs for workers.More than 5,000 firms have registered for the campaign, according to a statement by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Rosan Roeslani, head of the trade body, said the scheme will speed up Indonesia's inoculation drive as companies can directly provide vaccines to their employees without having to wait for the government.A majority of the companies that have applied to join the program are from labor-intensive industries such as textile, which have been hit hard…
(2021-02-18). Biden's Saudi Game of Thrones: Is he trying to Sideline crown prince Bin Salman? juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — BBC Arabic reports that Saudi Twitter has gone wild with responses to the apparent sidelining by President Biden of Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman, with many Saudis considering it a humiliation. White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said this week that Biden wishes to "recalibrate" the U.S. relationship with Saudi …
(2021-02-18). Cuomo and Newsom Symbolize the Rot of Corporate Democrats. indybay.org The dire need for progressive populism…
(2021-02-18). Stop blaming the Green New Deal for Texas blackouts. therealnews.com 
Republican politicians like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have cynically used overblown and patently false claims that renewable energy failures are responsible for millions losing power and heat during deadly Winter Storm Uri. Critics around the country are calling "BS."
(2021-02-18). While Texans Freeze, Governor Greg Abbott Lies About the Green New Deal. thenation.com While Texans Freeze, Governor Greg Abbott Lies About the Green New Deal…
(2021-02-18). 'Only the strong will survive': Texas city mayor resigns for lashing out at residents asking for help during deadly storm. mronline.org 
The now former mayor of Colorado City, Texas, Tim Boyd, has resigned after two Facebook posts telling people needing help and without electricity that they are on their own.
(2021-02-18). Fast food workers forced to walk out again for $15 and a union. peoplesworld.org 
ST. LOUIS (PAI)—For 40 years as a Black pastor in St. Louis, the Rev. Darryl Gray has seen the impact of low-wage jobs not just on his congregants, but on their kids. That's why he and a wide-ranging ministers' coalition support the Fight for $15 and a Union movement—and raising the federal minimum wage to …
(2021-02-18). China avanza desde el mar de Sur hasta Medio Oriente y Europa. globalizacion.ca 
La disputa por el Mar del Sur de China se sigue intensificando, pero el Dragón va colocando sus fichas de forma gradual, implacable e incontenible, como lo muestran los recientes desarrollos de una estrategia largamente diseñada, que parece estar poniendo…
(2021-02-18). L.D. Barkley — A leader in the Attica uprising. workers.org 
L.D. Barkley, second from the right, and other Attica rebellion leaders negotiating with prison officials, Sept. 1971. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Attica Prison Uprising. The following slightly edited excerpt is from the book "A Time To Die: The Attica Prison Revolt" by the late New York . . . |
(2021-02-18). Capitalism in Crisis: An Absurd & Deadly System. liberationnews.org 
This interview is an episode of The Socialist Program with Brian Becker, a podcast providing news and views about the world for those who want to change it. You can follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss how deeply dependent big banks and corporations are on government assistance, the …
(2021-02-18). 'Release Mumia NOW!' was the cry in Philadelphia. workers.org 
Pam Africa (right), speaking at rally, Feb. 15. Philadelphia On less than 24 hours' notice, more than 40 people came out on Feb. 15 to show their opposition to a Feb. 3 legal brief by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a so-called "progressive." It denies Mumia Abu-Jamal the right to . . . |
(2021-02-18). Leonard Peltier Defense Committee urgently needs support. workers.org 
The International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee has launched an urgent appeal for funds to support legal efforts to free this Native political prisoner, who has been held in U.S. dungeons for nearly 45 years. Peltier is a leader of the American Indian Movement, who was framed and jailed for the . . . |
(2021-02-18). George Shultz's Character Study of Robert Gates. counterpunch.org 
In January 1986, Shultz told Gates that he had no "confidence in the intelligence community" and that he "wouldn't trust anything you guys said about Iran no matter what." Shultz charged Gates with "trying to manipulate me" and accused him of trying to create an "alternate State Department with its own strong policy views." Shultz conceded that his department made mistakes, but that Gates' "assaults are almost joyful."
(2021-02-18). George Schultz's Character Study of Robert Gates. counterpunch.org In January 1986, Shultz told Gates that he had no "confidence in the intelligence community" and that he "wouldn't trust anything you guys said about Iran no matter what." Shultz charged Gates with "trying to manipulate me" and accused him of trying to create an "alternate State Department with its own strong policy views." Shultz conceded that his department made mistakes, but that Gates' "assaults are almost joyful."
(2021-02-18). Taxes on the rich: One-sixth of what they used to be. mronline.org 
A new IPS briefing paper highlights the unique role of tax policy in wealth concentration.
(2021-02-18). Palestinian Woman Dies Of Heart Attack After Soldiers Stormed Her Home. imemc.org 
A Palestinian woman suffered a fatal heart attack, on Wednesday at dawn, when Israeli soldiers stormed into her home in Abu Njeim village, east of Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank. Medical sources said the woman, identified as Rahma Khalil Abu 'Ahour, 67, suffered a heart attack when the soldiers invaded her …
(2021-02-18). 'The Mandalorian' season two: Not cancel but carnivore culture. peoplesworld.org 
One of the surprise hits of the contemporary streaming era is The Mandalorian, the first original series on Disney+. A surprise not because it was a hit—any Star Wars spinoff is guaranteed to have a wide audience—but because of the magnitude of its popularity and the way it has penetrated the culture. This space Western …
(2021-02-18). What is Digital Fascism? counterpunch.org 
At least since the great Italian author Umberto Eco's description of the fourteen points that define classical fascism, many readers know what fascism is — at least in theory. New research describes Italo-German fascism (1920s—1940s) as classical fascism. It contrasts classical fascism with a new variant, digital fascism.
(2021-02-18). Famed Black journalist Joe Walker's fateful meeting with Malcolm X. peoplesworld.org 
Joe Walker was already a widely admired African-American journalist when he got a surprising invitation and an offer to become the New York editor of Muhammad Speaks, the Nation of Islam's newspaper. He was summoned to the Harlem Mosque of the Black Muslims for a private meeting. And who was the meeting with? Malcolm X. …
(2021-02-18). In Texas disaster, low-income people hit hardest. liberationnews.org 
Eyewitness: In the midst of the massive Texas storm, last night I was fortunate to stay in a shelter in Sealy, Texas, one hour west of Houston.
(2021-02-18). California Republicans Kevin McCarthy and Mike Garcia face opposition. peoplesworld.org 
SANTA CLARITA, Calif.—From the 'burbs of Los Angeles County to the sandy hills of Antelope Valley to Bakersfield, the fightback against the Congressional Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of the 23rd Congressional District and his colleague Mike Garcia, Representative from California's 25th C.D., continues to escalate. Fed by the refusal of McCarthy and Garcia to meet …
(2021-02-18). Nonviolent Noncooperation: Why Indian farmers' protests are being called a 'satyagraha' — which means 'embracing the truth'. juancole.com 
By Sumit Ganguly | — For the past few months, farmers protesting in India's capital, New Delhi, have been demanding the repeal of three farm laws that were passed last year. These largely peaceful protests have been referred to as a "satyagraha" by many in the Indian media, politicians and activists. As a political scientist …
(2021-02-18). Video: The 2020 Worldwide Corona Crisis. globalresearch.ca 
We bring to the attention of our readers, the English version of this PANGEA TV program which was broadcast live in several regions of Italy. | Maya Nogradi of PANGEA TV interviews Prof. Michel Chossudovsky pertaining to his E-Book entitled: | |
(2021-02-18). West Virginia workers keep pressure on Manchin for $15 wage. peoplesworld.org 
CHARLESTON, W. VA. (PAI)—Pam Garrison, of Fayette County, W. Va., has toiled at minimum wage jobs her whole life. She calls it "getting us for slave wages." The minimum wage is "the only thing that hasn't doubled and tripled" since she first started working years ago, says Garrison, co-chair of the New Poor People's Campaign …
(2021-02-18). Colombian students demand free higher-education for 2021. peoplesdispatch.org 
Students from different public universities of Colombia have been demonstrating to demand that the national and municipal governments guarantee free tuition for all students across the country this year…
(2021-02-18). Prisons Prime Testing Ground for Dehumanizing Hi-Tech "Advances" mintpressnews.com 
A new form of exploitation, known as "stakeholder capitalism," is already being tested in many places around the world and prisons are among the main targets for its implementation, as they provide an ideal and literally captive market for its proof of concept.
(2021-02-18). Role of NGOs in promoting neo-Colonialism. mronline.org 
There are literally thousands of NGOs, the better known being Oxfam, Greenpeace, and Amnesty International.
(2021-02-18). Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Pt.2) — The Black Church. therealnews.com 
In the second part of our conversation, Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. further explores his new documentary "The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song." The new series reveals the broad history and culture of the Black church and explores African American faith communities on the front lines of hope and change.
(2021-02-18). Soldiers Abduct Two Palestinian In Jerusalem. imemc.org 
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Wednesday night after midnight, two young Palestinian men in Shu'fat town, in the occupied Palestinian capital, Jerusalem. Local sources said the two young men were walking near the main road of Shu'fat when the soldiers stopped them and took them to an interrogation facility in Neve Yaakov illegal colony. They added …
(2021-02-18). "Our Indifference To Ourselves": Beyond The "Virtue" Of Self-Sacrifice (Part 2). dissidentvoice.org 
As we saw in Part 1, in 1914 and again in 1939, millions of men and women welcomed war. Arnold Ridley and his pals did make this choice, but in reality the choice had been made for them by decades and centuries of the relentless 'patriotic' propaganda described by Tolstoy, which most people were powerless …
(2021-02-18). Surge of Anti-Asian hate crimes spurs communities to action. peoplesworld.org 
OAKLAND, Calif.—As the start of the Lunar New Year approached last week, concern was growing over a surge in hate crimes being experienced by Asian Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area, including several victims who were over 60 years of age. One attack last month in San Francisco was widely publicized when a local …
(2021-02-18). Proponen manifestaciones en Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Bakersfield contra Trumpistas en Congreso. peoplesworld.org Se escala la oposición contra el dirigente Republicano congresista Kevin McCarthy del Distrito Congressional 23 y su co-representante Mike Garcia en el Distrito 25. Esto viene a consecuencia en que estos representantes se oponen a denunciar a Donald Trump por el atentado golpe de estado contra el electo presidente Joe Biden y la violencia ocurrida …
(2021-02-18). Seven Facts and Figures About WWII You Need to Know. strategic-culture.org 
In the final days of the World War II in Europe, the German command pursued a deliberate policy of successive partial capitulations in the West to bring as many as possible of the eastern military formations westwards and surrender them intact to the British and Americans. It was General Eisenhower how dashed German hopes for a separate peace with the West and facilitated the signing of the final instrument of surrender at the seat of government from where the German aggression sprang: Berlin, captured by the Red Army.
(2021-02-18). The Empire's Navy Has a Task Force With a Cute Pledge. anti-empire.com 
"I pledge to advocate for and acknowledge all lived experiences and intersectional identities of every Sailor in the Navy.": | Don't believe me? Doesn't matter. It's there. | See That is part of the Task Force One Navy pledge. |
(2021-02-18). A transgender incarcerated activist speaks out. workers.org 
Lisa Strawn is a transgender woman who spent more than 35 years in California prisons due to that state's draconian "Three Strikes" law. At the age of 19, she was locked up for petty offenses like prostitution, and on her third "strike," Lisa was sentenced to 50-to-life for burglary. She . . . |
(2021-02-18). Black Lives Matter UK just took a vital step in building a mass movement. thecanary.co 
Black Lives Matter UK has
(2021-02-18). "No Hate! No Fear!" Democracy Now! Co-Host Nermeen Shaikh Celebrates 10 Years Covering War & Peace. democracynow.org 
As Democracy Now! prepares to mark 25 years on air, we celebrate Nermeen Shaikh's 10th anniversary as a Democracy Now! co-host and feature a report she filed from protests at New York's JFK Airport against the Trump administration's Muslim ban, one of the many highlights from her time on the program.
(2021-02-18). Failed State: Texas Power Grid Collapse Impacts Millions. Black & Brown Communities Are Worst Hit. democracynow.org 
Millions of people in Texas were plunged into freezing cold and darkness as a major winter storm overwhelmed the state's power grid. More than 12 million Texans face water disruptions and have been ordered to boil tap water for safe consumption, and some parts of the state have no running water at all. The state is also running out of food as the storms disrupt key supply chains. Leading Republicans, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, falsely blamed renewable energy sources for the state's blackouts, warning against a shift to more green energy, but the state's own energy department said the outages were prima…
(2021-02-18). "Not Doing This Is a Choice": Biden Drags His Feet on Canceling Student Debt Despite Campaign Pledge. democracynow.org 
Students, campaigners and top Democrats have been pushing President Joe Biden to use executive authority to cancel at least $50,000 in student loan debt per person. Student loan debt in the U.S. stands at $1.7 trillion, with some 45 million people owing money. Filmmaker and organizer Astra Taylor, an author, documentary director and organizer with the Debt Collective, says Biden has clear legal authority to cancel student debt. "Not doing this is a choice," she says. We also speak with Braxton Brewington, a digital strategist with the Debt Collective, who says student debt cancellation is also politically smart.
(2021-02-18). Leader of Neo-Nazi Group Previously Worked for Department of Homeland Security. truthout.org 
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Wednesday that the neo-Nazi leader of The Base, a white nationalist and accelerationist paramilitary group recently designated a terror group by the Canadian government, worked within their ranks for several years, coordinating efforts to combat terrorism. | According to a
(2021-02-18). More Policing Is Not the Solution to Anti-Asian Violence. truthout.org 
Asian Americans are crying out against an escalation of anti-Asian attacks in San Francisco, San Jose, New York, and all across the United States. In light of the scant media coverage,
(2021-02-18). Black Revolutionary Love Reimagines Democracy. truthout.org 
Given the long history of U.S. volatility and racist violence, those attentive to white supremacist and fascistic ideologies were dismayed but not surprised at the January 6 breach of the Capitol. A militarized mob endeavored to block the certification of the Biden/Harris election and harm, if not kill, elected officials seeking to uphold constitutional norms. The following month, the Senate acquitted Donald Trump for inciting sedition that inflicted trauma, injuries and the loss of life. | I never consi…
(2021-02-18). Biden Has the Power to Cancel Student Loan Debt Now. What's Stopping Him? truthout.org 
Image Credit: Facebook: Debt Collective | Students, campaigners and top Democrats have been pushing President Joe Biden to use executive authority to cancel at least $50,000 in student loan debt per person. Student loan debt in the U.S. stands at $1.7 trillion, with some 45 million people owing money. Filmmaker and organizer Astra Taylor, an author, documentary director and organizer with the Debt Collective, says Biden has clear legal authority to cancel student debt. "Not doing this is a choice," sh…
(2021-02-18). Ted Cruz Jets Off for Mexican Vacation While Texas Endures Unprecedented Crisis. truthout.org 
This week, while millions of his constituents in Texas suffered under conditions that some have likened to Hurricane Katrina, Sen. Ted Cruz decided to fly to Cancun with his family for a vacation. | After pictures appeared on social media Wednesday night showing Cruz
(2021-02-18). Bill Gates says Trump should be allowed back on social media 'at some point'. rt.com 
Microsoft founder and synthetic meat enthusiast Bill Gates has said former President Donald Trump should be let back on social media "at some point." Trump himself thinks that social media has "become very boring" without him. | "I think at some point he probably will be allowed back on and probably should be allowed back on," Gates told CNBC on Thursday, more than a month after Twitter and multiple other social media outlets booted Trump from their platforms, with Twitter's reasoning being that the president's calls to protest the 2020 election results presented a "risk of…violence." | Gates is considered b…
(2021-02-18). Jailed journalists who livestreamed mass protests against embattled Belarusian leader Lukashenko given 2 years behind bars. rt.com 
Two journalists detained in Minsk on charges that they took part in opposition rallies were given prison sentences on Thursday, becoming the first reporters convicted of organizing protests despite pleas from rights groups. | Katerina Bakhvalova, a presenter for Warsaw-based Belsat TV, and Daria Chultsova, a camerawoman for the network, were sentenced to two years behind bars after a three-day trial. They had been found guilty of "organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them." | Belsat, which is bankrolled by the government of neighboring Poland, cl…
(2021-02-18). Senator Ted Cruz ripped for change of flight (& story) after he's caught heading to Cancun amid massive snowstorm in home state. rt.com 
Texas Republican Ted Cruz is being ripped to shreds on social media for apparently covering up a trip to Cancun by recasting it as an overnight and changing his flight — all while his Texas constituents froze in the dark at home.
(2021-02-18). Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry triggers rage after suggesting Texans would endure even LONGER blackouts to avoid federal meddling. rt.com 
Ex-Governor Rick Perry stoked outrage after saying Texans would willingly tolerate further blackouts just to keep the feds "out of their business," as critics blamed his preference for deregulation for the state's power woes. | Perry — who also served as Energy Secretary under former President Donald Trump — was featured in a
(2021-02-18). Protests rock Spain for 3rd night in a row after rapper jailed for tweets insulting king & praising terrorist groups (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Rallies protesting the arrest of a rapper convicted of insulting the monarchy have continued across Spain for a third straight night. One woman reportedly lost an eye and more than 50 people were detained at demos a day earlier. | Valencia saw some of the worst violence on Thursday, where demonstrators could be seen clashing with riot police in footage posted to social media, while a üî¥Cà rregues policials a la concentració…
(2021-02-18). 'Mission creep?' Police 'recommend' keeping razor-wired fencing around Capitol until September, cite 'threats against lawmakers'. rt.com 
Washington, DC, police are calling for razor-wire-topped fencing around the US Capitol to be kept in place until at least September because they continue to hear of threats against lawmakers in the aftermath of the January 6 riot. | US Capitol Police have notified congressional leaders of their fencing recommendation, the Associated Press
(2021-02-18). Stomachs churn after Portland police face-off with crowd picking through mountain of food… tossed during power outage (PHOTOS). rt.com 
Portland, Oregon has made headlines after police were called in to stop people from rummaging through a dumpster full of food that allegedly spoiled due to a power outage. Social media users found the incident hard to stomach. | A power outage caused by a winter storm that has wreaked havoc on multiple US states prompted a supermarket to discard perishable items deemed unsafe due to lack of proper refrigeration. After two dumpsters were filled with meat, dairy and other items, a small group of people began to form in the store's parking lot, apparently angry that so much food was being discarded. Photographs s…
(2021-02-18). Texas halts natural gas exports as states scrambles to end power outages. rt.com 
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered energy companies to temporarily suspend out-of-state sales of natural gas, amid ongoing power outages triggered by a deadly winter storm. | Read more | | The governor announced during a media briefing on Wednesday that he had issued a decree forbidding gas producers from selling to clients outside the state through February 21. | Citing the current weather crisis that has crippled the sta…
(2021-02-18). US reintroduces bill to ban goods from Xinjiang over China's 'genocide' of Uighur Muslims in mass camps. rt.com 
The US House of Representatives has reintroduced a bill to ban imports from China's northwestern Xinjiang region unless the products coming in can be verified as being produced without forced labor. | The revamped bill, which previously passed the House by 406-3 votes, is designed to clamp down on the Chinese government, which the US has accused of committing "genocide" against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. | Under the legislation, US President Biden would be able to impose sanctions against people trafficking Uighurs in Xinjiang. The region is a major exporter of cotton and tomatoes to the US. | Also on rt.com…
(2021-02-18). 'My family freezing, my senator is in Cancun': Twitter explodes as Ted Cruz accused of traveling out of storm-hit Texas. rt.com 
Anger has been spilling on Twitter over photos that purportedly show Texas Senator Ted Cruz boarding a plane to Cancun, Mexico. People criticized him for "fleeing" when his state has been badly hit with extreme cold. | Several photos that have been circulating on social media since Wednesday appear to show Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and his family arriving at the airport and then boarding a flight — allegedly heading to Cancun, Mexico. | It appears in the middle of the worst energy crisis in the history of Texas,
(2021-02-18). NASA says Moon by 2024 'no longer realistic,' but keeping Artemis program despite lack of funding. rt.com 
Landing on the Moon by 2024 is no longer a realistic goal, the US space agency quietly admitted. While the Biden administration said it would keep the Trump-era Artemis program, there was no hint of Congress actually funding it. | "The 2024 lunar landing goal may no longer be a realistic target due to the last two years of appropriations, which did not provide enough funding to make 2024 achievable," acting NASA administrator Steve Jurczyk told Ars Technica on Wednesday evening. | The agency was "reviewing the program for the most efficient path forward," he added. | Notable: The Artemis Program will become NA…
(2021-02-18). Billionaire Dallas Cowboys Owner and Oil Man Cashes in on Texas Blackout Crisis. truthout.org 
While citizens of Texas are facing a crisis of massive proportions brought on largely by the failures of natural gas companies to Demand for what little natural gas the state can access has soared amid the crisis as mil…
(2021-02-18). REVEALED: Turkey plans spaceport in Somalia for $1bn moon mission. middleeasteye.net 
REVEALED: Turkey plans spaceport in Somalia for $1bn moon mission | MEE source provides details of plan to put Turks on the moon, as opposition says there's not enough money | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 14: 00 | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed an ambitious timetable with the aim of making contact with the moon on unmanned missions (Turkish Space Agency TUA) | Turkey's recently announced space programme, w…
(2021-02-18). Biden downplays Uighur persecution as part of China's 'different norms'. middleeasteye.net 
Biden downplays Uighur persecution as part of China's 'different norms' | US president said he will continue to speak out against China's treatment of Uighurs, which the previous Trump administration declared a genocide | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 15: 20 | Rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other Muslim Turkic-speaking people in China have been rounded up and held in detention camps (AFP) | US Preside…
(2021-02-18). Biden downplays Uighur persecution as part of China's 'different norms'. middleeasteye.net Biden downplays Uighur persecution as part of China's 'different norms' | US president said he would not speak out on China's treatment of Uighurs, which the previous Trump administration declared a genocide | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 15: 20 | Rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other Muslim Turkic-speaking people in China have been rounded up and held in detention camps (AFP) | US President Joe Biden…
(2021-02-18). The untold tragedy of Iraq's Shia Turkmen women abducted by Islamic State. middleeasteye.net 
The untold tragedy of Iraq's Shia Turkmen women abducted by Islamic State | Like the Yazidis, hundreds were captured and killed by the militant group in 2014. But families, community leaders and officials have turned a blind eye | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 10: 01 | A Yazidi woman and her children who were captured by IS but escaped. Unlike with the Yazidis, no major efforts have been made to free Shi…
(2021-02-18). Israel-Syria prisoner swap: Two Syrian shepherds to be repatriated. middleeasteye.net 
Israel-Syria prisoner swap: Two Syrian shepherds to be repatriated | Israeli attempts to secure release of a female citizen have been complicated by the Syrian Druze to be swapped wanting to remain in the Golan | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 13: 01 | Signs pointing out distances to different cities is seen on Mount Bental, an observation point in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that overlooks the Syrian side of the Qu…
(2021-02-18). Nato increases troop numbers in Iraq to combat threat from Islamic State. middleeasteye.net 
Nato increases troop numbers in Iraq to combat threat from Islamic State | Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the increase, from 500 to 4,000, is being organised alongside Iraqi government | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 17: 24 | Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attends a defence ministers meeting in Brussels on 13 February to address key issues (AFP/File photo) | Nato is preparing to significantly increase tr…
(2021-02-18). European powers, US warn Iran against further breaches of nuclear deal. middleeasteye.net 
European powers, US warn Iran against further breaches of nuclear deal | Iran's Zarif hit back at joint Western statement, saying violations were a result of US withdrawal from the agreement | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 21: 04 | Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant is the country's only nuclear power station and is currently running on imported fuel from Russia (AFP/File photo) | The United States and major European powe…
(2021-02-18). Egyptian student at Austrian university detained without charge in Cairo. middleeasteye.net 
Egyptian student at Austrian university detained without charge in Cairo | Ahmed Samer said police had beaten him and asked questions about his research on reproductive rights and Islam | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 13: 30 | Samer's family said the 29-year-old student was charged with spreading fake news and affiliation to a terrorist group – claims his family deny and describe as baseless (Supplied) | An Egyptian…
(2021-02-18). Senators urge Biden to undo US recognition of Morocco's claim to Western Sahara. middleeasteye.net 
Senators urge Biden to undo US recognition of Morocco's claim to Western Sahara | US lawmakers say new administration should reverse 'misguided decision' which came as part of Morocco's normalisation deal with Israel | Thu, 02/18/2021 – 16: 28 | Sahrawis hold a Polisario Front's flag at Sahrawi refugee camp of Dakhla, 27 February 2016 (AFP/File photo) | More than two dozen US senators from both major parties h…
(2021-02-18). Profiles in cowardice: Mitch McConnell. peoplesworld.org 
Mitch McConnell and 42 fellow Republicans who acquitted Donald Trump Saturday earned their niche in history, right next to Georg Neithardt and his four fellow jurists. Georg who? Neithardt headed the five-judge panel that twisted the law into a Bavarian pretzel and all-but exonerated Adolf Hitler over the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Hitler and his armed …
(2021-02-18). Trump's Frivolous First Amendment Defense Won't Shield Him in a Criminal Case. zcomm.org Trump created a powder keg and lit the match…
(2021-02-18). Sexual Assault in Canberra. counterpunch.org Who knew what? In many cases of sexual assault in politics, events take place behind bolted doors, the perpetrator and victim bound by ties of power, seediness and suppression. The victim is left with an odious and onerous task: to report the event. The risks can be considerable. Careers can be ruined. Retaliation from the
(2021-02-18). Explosive study shows the wildlife trade plays a major role in the rapid loss of the world's species. thecanary.co The biodiversity crisis, aka the rapid disappearance of essential diverse life on earth, is — alongside the climate crisis — one of the most pressing issues on the planet right now. The rich tapestry of life on earth is responsible for the ecosystems that humans, and all living beings,
(2021-02-18). 'Put Syrians first…finally', UN rights investigators urge after deadly decade of conflict. news.un.org Along with an end to the "instrumentalization" of humanitarian aid, victims of Syria's decade-long civil war and their families need justice to help rebuild their lives, Human Rights Council-appointed investigators said on Thursday.
(2021-02-18). Bayer and US officials pressure Mexico to overturn glyphosate ban. nationofchange.org "Will they continue the pattern of doing the bidding of global biotech/seed firms like Monsanto? Or, will the USTR respect other countries' rights to protect the environment and indigenous crops?"
(2021-02-18). Your National Political Committee newsletter — reflections on Black socialists and revolutionaries. dsausa.org Enjoy your February National Political Committee (NPC) newsletter! Our NPC is an elected eighteen-person body (including two YDSA members who share a vote) which functions as the board of directors of DSA. Make sure to check out the NPC's updated national priorities, including attracting, retaining, and supporting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) organizers…
(2021-02-18). As Israel aims for 1 mn. Squatters on Palestinian Territory, Settler Violence against Indigenous Palestinians Spikes. juancole.com By Osama Othman | — ( Middle East Monitor) — Terrorist attacks by Israeli settlers have become more frequent in the occupied West Bank. One of the latest victims was Bilal Shehadeh Bawatna, 52, from Al-Bireh, who was killed last Friday when he and his companions were run over by a car driven by a …
(2021-02-18). Violence Against Indigenous Peoples Is Happening In Plain Sight. popularresistance.org It's been just over one year since the RCMP raided Wet'suwet'en camps along the route of the Coastal Gas Link (CGL) LNG pipeline in Northern B.C. Brandishing guns and tactical gear, the RCMP arrested dozens of Indigenous land defenders and supporters who defied an injunction obtained by CGL to not impede the construction right of way. | The raids evoked outrage that saw supporters across Canada erect railway blockades and highway shutdowns. Demonstrators gathered by the thousands in the streets demanding governments, police and industry to uphold Indigenous rights and stop construction of the pipeline.
(2021-02-18). Crisis In Buenaventura. popularresistance.org Buenaventura is the main port for Colombian foreign trade and the second largest city in the prosperous state of Valle del Cauca. Historically, the territory has been inhabited by Afro-descendants, indigenous peoples, and campesinos. Despite the diversity and cultural richness of this territory, it is primarily known for its high levels of poverty, difficulties in accessing public services, health, decent housing, and education. These conditions have derailed the lives of the inhabitants to unimaginable extremes. | Violence and threats against the inhabitants of the poorest neighborhoods of Buenaventura have beco…
(2021-02-18). Haiti: Black Despots And White Rulers. popularresistance.org The past week has seen growing protests against the contested presidency of Haiti's Jovenel MoàØse. An unpopular figure who has ruled without a mandate, and, increasingly, by decree , MoàØse refused to relinquish power when his presidential term expired on February 7, 2021. While claiming that his term ends in February 2022, MoàØse has lashed out against his political rivals, arresting his critics, members of opposition political parties, and supreme court judges, all the while consolidating his draconian, some would say dictatorial, rule over Haiti. | How Haiti arrived at this moment is pred…
(2021-02-18). "Let Them Eat Ice Cream" counterpunch.org Nancy Pelosi, Marie Antoinette, Donald Trump, and hypocrisy I "know" things I'd rather not consciously acknowledge. We all do. To be a human being is to implicate oneself in some degree of hypocrisy; existence is acquiescence to imperfection. If we want to live with a minimum of contentment, we have no alternative. But there is
(2021-02-18). It's Not A Political Problem, It's A Propaganda Problem: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix. thealtworld.com While we all fixate on electoral political solutions, the powerful focus on narrative control, because that's where real power is at. The people who pose an actual threat to the machine are those who disrupt its narratives and narrative control agendas. Everyone else is harmless. | If the majority of a troubled population believes their political system is operating in a way that is demonstrably very different from the way it actually operates, then that population doesn't have a political problem, it has a propaganda problem. | Berners watched the mass media actively sabotage the Sanders campaign day after day i…
(2021-02-18). Life Lies of the Islands of Prosperity. indybay.org The embarrassing secret of the 'Western' model of society and development is that it only works under very specific political and economic, ecological and social conditions. Preconditions that lie essentially outside this model and are hidden or made invisible by the social actors of its glorifying preservation. 'Our' prosperity, 'our' democracy & 'our' peace are based on poverty & disenfranchisement.
(2021-02-18). The American Century Ends Early. scheerpost.com By Tom Engelhardt / Reposted with permission from TomDispatch.com Like Gregor Samsa, the never-to-be-forgotten character in Franz Kafka's story " The Metamorphosis," we awoke on January 7th to discover that we, too, were "a giant insect" with "a domelike brown belly divided into stiff arched segments" and numerous "pitifully thin" legs that "waved helplessly" before our eyes. If you prefer, though… |
(2021-02-18). Thursday 2/25: We've Decided, Now What? Black Community, Equity Accountability & the New Administration. indybay.org Online event…
(2021-02-18). Struggling for Gender Equality in East Africa: Researches and Experiences. globalresearch.ca For over two decades, the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) has been fighting for gender equality, the empowerment of women and improvement of women's rights in Kenya and broadly in East Africa. Established in 1999, CREAW has used …
(2021-02-18). Bitcoin over $50,000 as Wall Street surges. wsws.org The bitcoin speculation mania is only the most egregious example of what is taking place throughout the financial system.
(2021-02-18). Friday 2/26: Anti-Racist Classrooom: Building an Inclusive & Anti-Racist Educational Student Experience. indybay.org Online event / webinar…
(2021-02-18). 'Go to Where the Silence Is'. progressive.org An interview with Amy Goodman on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Democracy Now!
(2021-02-18). El Buey que tira de China. globalizacion.ca China recibe estos días el año del Buey y, como siempre, son muchas las expectativas que despierta. Sin duda, será este un ejercicio marcado por las celebraciones del centenario del PCCh. Esto implica que la estabilidad será un asunto más…
(2021-02-18). Psychedelic drug in clinical trial to help stroke victims recover by rewiring brain. nationofchange.org Algernon Pharmaceuticals, a Canadian-based company, began its study this week in which stroke participants will be given a microdose of DMT with the hope of minimizing damage and maximizing recovery.
(2021-02-18). Wednesday 3/17: Oakland Privacy: Fighting Against the Surveillance State. indybay.org Online. | Email contact@oaklandprivacy.org a few days before the meeting to obtain Zoom meeting access info.
(2021-02-18). Argentina — øNo se puede o no se quiere prevenir los femicidios? globalizacion.ca øNo se puede o no se quiere prevenir los femicidios? La pregunta suena boba. øCómo no se va a querer? Entonces…. øNo se puede? Estamos cansadas de hacer diagnósticos, de señalar lo que falta, lo que hace mal la justicia…
(2021-02-18). Unions demands investigation after death of three workers following explosion at ArcelorMittal plant in South Africa. peoplesdispatch.org For 12 hours after the incident, the management of ArcelorMittal, the largest steel producer on the African continent, did not bring in specialists, but used about 10 of its ordinary employees to conduct the search and rescue operation, NUMSA reported…
(2021-02-18). En la democracia del Neoliberalismo: Las buenas críticas. globalizacion.ca Hay un círculo vicioso que se repite en distintos escenarios. Durante años un gobierno neoliberal realiza una apropiación y destrucción del aparato productivo, del tejido social, de los legados históricos, capturando a través de distintos dispositivos el sentido común y…
(2021-02-18). 'An Obstructive Body' and 'menace to liberties': How the U.S. Senate is a Global Problem. juancole.com ( Foreign Policy in Focus) — The acquittal of Trump was bad, but the Senate's approach to foreign affairs over the years has been even worse. By John Feffer | February 17, 2021 Watching the Senate conduct the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump brought back a flood of memories from high school. I distinctly …
(2021-02-18). Call to Resist Tyranny: There is Only One Thing to Do: Say NO! The Legacy of Wolfgang Borchert. globalresearch.ca In a manifesto written in 1947, "Then there is only one thing!", the German regime critic and writer Wolfgang Borchert calls on fellow human beings to refuse to participate in future wars. Shortly afterwards, the 26-year-old died as a result …
(2021-02-18). Conquering Hunger in the U.S. progressive.org Millions of Americans are hungry because they lack the means to pay for food.
(2021-02-18). Palestinian human rights group seeks investigation into violence from illegal Yitzhar settlement. peoplesdispatch.org The Palestinian human rights group Al Haq appealed to the United Nations Special Procedures to look into violence by settlers from the illegal Yitzhar settlement, including shooting at villagers with live ammunition and torching agricultural lands…
(2021-02-18). Biden: øDiplomacia o más militarización? globalizacion.ca Si es verdad que el Presidente Biden viene con un nuevo espíritu debería poner fin al "destino manifiesto" y dejar de intervenir en América Latina. El nuevo presidente de los Estados Unidos, Joe Biden, tendrá una difícil misión la que…
(2021-02-18). Monday 2/22: Passing the Equal Rights Amendment & the Role of Faith Communities Town Hall. indybay.org Online via Zoom…
(2021-02-18). The Weeknd's Music is Safe Enough for the Super Bowl, but Contraband in Prison. aclu.org Incarcerated people do not lose their First Amendment rights while locked up. Yet correctional facilities across the country routinely restrict materials that prisoners can access using unconstitutional, arbitrary rules governing everything from the item's
(2021-02-18). Teachers in US state of Georgia herded back into unsafe classrooms. wsws.org In spite of four teacher deaths and strident opposition, the state of Georgia is denying educators vaccinations and sending them back to unsafe schools.
(2021-02-18). Former prison officials plead guilty to bribery scheme. nationofchange.org "Our Office will continue to seek equal justice under the law and hold accountable government officials who corrupt their oaths and betray the public's trust."
(2021-02-18). Proposed French anti-radicalism law runs into controversy. peoplesdispatch.org Critics have said that the proposed law will stigmatize Muslims and that the existing laws are enough to cover the issues sought to be addressed by the new legislation.
(2021-02-18). 'All The Warfare Of The Future': Drones, New Technology and the Integrated Review. globalresearch.ca At the beginning of March, the government will publish its long-awaited Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, known (thankfully) as
(2021-02-18). The Aerodynamics of Chartalism. realprogressives.org Critics of MMT often say, "but it's only 'chartalism'"—as if chartalism, itself, were a discredited explanation of reality that inherently discredits Modern Money Theory. (This sleight of hand is reinforced, I think, by the fact that "chartalism" sounds like "charlatanism" which, in fact, means bearing a false pretense of knowledge.) | Dismissing MMT as mere "chartalism," however, is like dismissing the fact that airplanes fly as being merely "aerodynamics"—as if there were something fishy about aerodynamics which, in turn, made it fishy that airplanes fly. The simple fact of the matter is that air…
(2021-02-18). Brasil — Bolsonaro es favorito, Trump también lo fue. globalizacion.ca Hace un año Trump era uno de los favoritos para ser reelegido presidente de Estados Unidos. Reinaba en lo más alto de las encuestas, mientras sus oponentes luchaban por saber quién lo enfrentaría, divididos, con bajos porcentajes, para poder desafiarlo….
(2021-02-18). Settlement Reached in Groundbreaking Martin v. Boise case. indybay.org Parties reach historic agreement that prevents people experiencing homelessness from being cited or arrested for sleeping outdoors when no shelter is available…
(2021-02-18). State Of Mayhem: The Not So Perfect Days. indybay.org This material was taken from the book " Memories Of Oblivion", written by Michael Lupa Jr.
(2021-02-18). Saturday 3/6: Onward To Equity: Building Community and Equity for All w/ Women's March. indybay.org Virtual event…
(2021-02-18). The American century ends early. nationofchange.org How the USS Enterprise was transformed into the USS Roach…
(2021-02-18). Facebook blocks all news content in Australia. wsws.org Facebook has responded to a conflict with the Australian authorities and media corporations over advertising revenue, with what could be described as a declaration of online martial law.
(2021-02-18). Chinese President Xi Shared His Vision Of Win-Win Ties With America. oneworld.press There are two main arguments in favor of President Biden responding positively to his Chinese counterpart's suggestions other than the most obvious one that it's simply the right thing to do in the interests of global stability.
(2021-02-18). Saturday 3/6: "Flint: Who Can you Trust?" Film & Discussion: Impact of Flint Water Crisis on Poor & POC. indybay.org Virtual film screening (FREE)…
(2021-02-18). Limbaugh: the Crash of the Dirigible. counterpunch.org Alex Cockburn once called Rush the "dirigible of drivel." Indeed. I worked as a truck driver for years for Roadway (RPS), UPS and FedEx (a job I really enjoyed btw-people of all stripes are genuinely very respectful to package delivery folk, and I loved the uniform, particularly the shorts), but I digress. My truck always
(2021-02-18). Smart Ass Cripple: My Bad Case of Vaccination Envy. progressive.org I'm not trying to crash the line. I'm just trying to claim my rightful place in it.
(2021-02-18). 1,000 Cal/OSHA Inspectors NOW! Workers Over Profits Rally At Oakland OSHA Office. indybay.org Trade unionists and workers rallied at the Oakland State Building to demand that OSHA hire 1,000 OSHA safety inspectors to enforce health and safety regulations in California work places.There are less than 200 inspectors for 18 million workers.
(2021-02-18). Absurd Journalism: The Washington Post on California Wildfires. counterpunch.org To anyone who knows something about a topic, any topic, the national press coverage of that topic often appears absurd. One cause is that the article might be animated by the ideologies of all the right people rather than anything as lowly as an ordinary question. The Feb. 9 Washington Post article, "California's rainy season
(2021-02-18). South Korean Icon for Democracy and Reunification Passes Away. dissidentvoice.org Baek Ki Wan, the quiet, thoughtful, progressive conscience of South Korea, and its most impassioned, idealistic voice for reunification, passsed away on February 15th, from pneumonia at the age of 89. His last words were a message of support for a grieving mother fasting for the passing of Labor Rights Legislation and words of encouragement for …
(2021-02-18). Friday 2/19: Vision For Justice Virtual Summit: Building a New, Non-Carceral Paradigm for Public Safety. indybay.org Online summit (FREE & open to the public)…
(2021-02-18). Stratfor's Decade-Old Speculative Map Is Provoking Russian-Turkish Distrust. oneworld.press The recent viral sharing of the speculative map of Turkey's future regional influence that was first published by Stratfor founder George Friedman in his 2010 book about "The Next 100 Years: A Forecast For The 21st Century" is provoking distrust between the Russian and Turkish societies since this image predicts that Ankara will eventually exert sway over Crimea and all of southern Russia by 2050.
(2021-02-18). Cuba y Estados Unidos: El ataque que no ocurrió. globalizacion.ca Le llamaron "ataques sónicos", "incidentes de salud", "síndrome de La Habana". En nombre de unos supuestos ruidos inexplicables cuyas causas eran difusas, el gobierno de Estados Unidos decidió retirar en septiembre de 2017 a todo el personal no esencial y…
(2021-02-18). Philadelphia postpones public school reopenings to March 1. wsws.org The decision to push back reopening is an indication that both the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and the school district recognize they need more time to bring the opposition of teachers under control.
(2021-02-18). Saturday 2/20: Black History Month educators' roundtable: Karen Hunter and Greg Carr. indybay.org ZOOM link supplied upon request | (the link camouflaged to frustrate "bombers")…
(2021-02-18). Friday 2/19: SC1.5NCE Not Silence Forum as U.S. Rejoins Paris Climate Agreement. indybay.org Online via livestream: www.facebook.com/marchforscience/…
(2021-02-18). Boycott Alibaba Group. indybay.org Global Alert: Chinese Communist Party (CCP) now fully controls the Alibaba Group of companies, substantially profiting from the group's business activities. If you have any dealing with Alibaba Group or buy on-line from their companies, you're enabling an evil, genocidal regime to continue its mass murder, rape and torture of China's Uighur minority.
(2021-02-18). Tuesday 2/23: Oppose the Camping Ban Amendments at the Santa Cruz City Council Meeting. indybay.org Online meeting. Instructions on how to participate: | ecm.cityofsantacruz.com/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=1624&doctype=1…
(2021-02-18). Implementation of IMF and World Bank policies continues in Sudan. peoplesdispatch.org In the second part of the interview with Peoples Dispatch, Dr. Fathi Elfad of the Sudanese Communist Party talks about the legislative council that will soon be formed, the role of the military in foreign affairs and the need for solidarity with people's movements…
(2021-02-18). The Failure of the Media in Responding to the Lying Right. counterpunch.org I posted this Twitter thread this morning. It should be self-explanatory, but it is more than a little infuriating to see the media (not just Thomas Edsall) act like they are innocent bystanders in the rise of an anti-democratic right-wing movement that constantly lies to advance its agenda. The media have agency, but have thus
(2021-02-18). Haiti: 'No To Dictatorship'. popularresistance.org Haitian president Jovenel MoàØse has cracked down on a wave of popular protest as he tries to cling to power. While tens of thousands of Haitians have taken to the streets in the face of government repression, the Biden administration is backing MoàØse's effort to remain in office for at least another year. | Haitian activist and radio host Daoud Andre discusses the background to MoàØse's power grab; the continued US deportations to Haiti; how the US coerced Haiti into betraying longtime ally Venezuela; the enduring popularity of Jean-Bertrand Aristide — twice overthrown in US-backed co…
(2021-02-18). Uber And Lyft Are Preparing To Block Labor Rights For Gig Economy Workers. popularresistance.org After California passed a law extending labor protections to gig economy workers, Uber, Lyft, and other gig economy employers overturned it on election day 2020 with a $200 million ballot referendum campaign. Over the past year, the same companies have been setting up infrastructure to ensure that app-based drivers and other gig economy workers do not win labor rights in New York. | Tactics used by Uber and Lyft in their campaign to deny workers protections included threatening to shut down their apps entirely in California if forced to comply with the law giving drivers employment status and flooding drivers' ap…
(2021-02-18). Will Andrés Arauz Be The Next President Of Ecuador? popularresistance.org In Ecuador's presidential election held on February 7, 2021, Andrés Arauz won the largest number of votes but could not prevail in the first round against 15 other candidates; he won 32.71 percent of the vote, short of the 40 percent needed to win the election outright (a winner also requires a 10 percent lead over the second-place candidate, which Arauz did achieve). More than a week after that first round, it remains unclear which of the two candidates who most closely trailed Arauz will go head-to-head against him in the second round on April 11. Both of these candidates—Guillermo Lasso and Yaku Pérez[md…
(2021-02-18). Texas's Independent Electric Grid Leaves Millions Without Power. popularresistance.org On Tuesday, millions of Texans woke up to find themselves without power as unusually cold conditions for the state knocked out the state's power grid. | The blackouts began on Monday when the state grappled with a winter storm and record low temperatures. Over 4.3 million people in Texas remain without power as the state's power grid struggles to keep up with high demand. | The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the state's grid, had originally announced 45-minute rolling blackouts starting around 1: 25 a.m. in order to conserve energy. But the blackouts instead extended throughout the d…
(2021-02-18). Tim Kirby, Joaquin Flores — The Strategy Session, Episode 6. strategic-culture.org The prize for the truly awful story of last week goes to the appointment of a monster daughter of AIPAC to head Pentagon planning for the Middle East, joining a sterling cast of characters at State Department and in the intelligence community,
(2021-02-18). Why Can't Inner-Ring Democrats Just Say 'No' to Billionaires? strategic-culture.org By Sam PIZZIGATI | Have you heard the latest about the strategic political genius of billionaire Michael Bloomberg? | The political brilliance, you might skeptically ask, of Michael Bloomberg? | The same Michael Bloomberg who The same Michael Bloomberg who sunk over $900 million into a bid for the 2020 Democrati…
(2021-02-18). A Tale Told by an Idiot: The Second Impeachment of Donald Trump. strategic-culture.org What we have just seen is another example of the compulsion of America's liberal ruling elite to make a sick, discredited joke of what is left of their own collapsing and totally bankrupt political system. | The first impeachment of Donald Trump in 2019 was no tragedy. It was always a farce. The second impeachment, in which Trump was acquitted on the night of Saturday, February 13 did not even rise to that. It was a hiccup, a non-event. The most solemn procedure in the sacred constitutional process of the United States did not even rise to the entertainment value of a bout of naked mud wrestling. | Washington dur…
(2021-02-18). Iranian army experts overhaul Mirage military aircraft. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 18 (MNA) — Experts in the Martyr Habibi Zaham Air Force Base in Mashhad have successfully overhauled a Mirage military aircraft.
(2021-02-18). MLGW to issue rare boil order alert. laprensalatina.com MEMPHIS, TN (Daily Memphian) — A problem with low water pressure in Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division's water grid is prompting a rare boil water alert that the utility expects to issue officially Thursday afternoon, according to MLGW spokeswoman Gale Jones Carson. A problem with low water pressure in Memphis Light, Gas and Water …
(2021-02-18). Nasa's Tony Carro: Perseverance hopes to find out if we are alone in universe. laprensalatina.com Carmen Rodríguez Madrid, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- The Mars rover Perseverance will land on the Red Planet on Thursday night as it begins the search for traces of life that, if found, could mean that there could be advanced life on other planets, Nasa's delegate in Spain, Tony Carro, tells Efe in an interview. QUESTION: After …
(2021-02-18). Car Wash probe damaged rule of law in Brazil, Lula's lawyer says. laprensalatina.com By Alba Santandreu Sao Paulo, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Lava Jato (Car Wash), the sprawling, years-long anti-corruption investigation that led to the jailing of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, "corroded" the rule of law in Brazil, the former president's attorney said in an interview with Efe. "It is a great scandal for Brazilian justice that needs …
(2021-02-18). N. Zelanda to provide free feminine hygiene products in schools. laprensalatina.com Sydney, Australia, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- New Zealand announced Thursday it would provide free feminine hygiene products in all schools in the country from June with the aim of tackling "menstrual poverty." The measure continues and expands on a national scale the successful pilot program implemented last year in 15 schools in the Waikato region, on …
(2021-02-18). Rohingya Muslims' reasons to fear Myanmar's military junta. laprensalatina.com By Gaspar Ruiz-Canela Bangkok, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- If fear is anxiety over risk or harm, the Rohingya have many reasons to have it after the military coup in Myanmar, where the military have mistreated this Muslim ethnic group for decades. The last time was in 2017, when the army launched a military campaign against them …
(2021-02-18). Airbus lost 1.1 billion euros in 2020, less than in 2019. laprensalatina.com Paris, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Airbus lost 1.1 million euros ($1.3 billion) last year, shaken by the coronavirus crisis that is affecting the aviation sector in particular, although that result was better than the 1.3 billion-euro loss in 2019. The European group's losses in 2020 include, in particular, a negative financial result of 620 million euros, …
(2021-02-18). Nearly 1 mn still without power in US due to winter storms. laprensalatina.com Washington, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Nearly 1 million people in the United States were without power for a third consecutive day on Thursday due to back-to-back winter storms that are blamed for dozens of deaths. Between 30 and 40 fatalities are attributed to the storms, including people who died of carbon monoxide poisoning after using combustion …
(2021-02-18). Engineer turns plastic waste into bricks that are 'tougher than concrete'. laprensalatina.com Patricia Martínez Nairobi, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Every day, Nzambi Matee is confronted with an omnipresent reality that is widely ignored or overlooked: plastic waste. At a small factory in Nairobi, the young Kenyan engineer combines parts of discarded milk and shampoo bottles and bags of cereal with sand, melts the mixture at high temperatures and …
(2021-02-18). Stop criminalizing civil society, UN rights experts urge Venezuelan authorities. news.un.org United Nations independent human rights experts called on Thursday for the authorities in Venezuela to stop "continuous and increasing" attacks and intimidation against civil society organizations and journalists in the country.
(2021-02-18). UN chief condemns attack on school in Nigeria. news.un.org The United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned Wednesday's attack on a boarding school in north-central Nigeria in which one student was killed and several students, as well as relatives and staff, abducted.
(2021-02-18). Loss of autonomy in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir threatens minorities' rights — UN independent experts. news.un.org India's decision to end autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir and restrict the participation of minorities in political and other activities sparked the concern of two UN-appointed independent human rights experts, on Thursday.
(2021-02-18). First Person: 'The world is in your hands and begins at your door'. news.un.org British celebrity gardener Monty Don, a UN advocate for plant health, is raising awareness of the links between human health, plant health and the well-being of the planet.
(2021-02-18). Five million Yemenis 'one step away from famine'— UN relief coordinator tells Security Council. news.un.org Malnutrition rates in Yemen are at "record highs" as the country is "speeding towards the worst famine the world has seen in decades", the UN Emergency‚ÄØRelief Coordinator told the Security Council on Thursday, citing newly released data.
(2021-02-18). UN offers science-based blueprint to tackle climate crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution. news.un.org Without nature's help, "we will not thrive or even survive", the UN chief said on Thursday, launching a major report on the environment.
(2021-02-18). Kamala Harris's stepdaughter makes debut as model in New York. laprensalatina.com New York, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of US Vice President Kamala Harris, on Thursday made her debut as a model during New York Fashion Week, participating in the digital presentation of Proenza Schouler's new collection and in a video chat with the firm's designers. Emhoff, 21, is the daughter of Harris's husband, …
(2021-02-18). As Biden Returns "Civilization" to Washington, It's More Obvious Than Ever That Capitalism Cannot Be Reformed. counterpunch.org Capitalist "civilization" returned to the nation's capitol on Jan. 20, Joseph Biden's Inauguration Day. Replete with 25,000 troops forming an iron ring around the few thousand establishment dignitaries gathered to pay homage to the new president, with deep roots in America's racist, warmongering past and present, the event aimed at reassuring the world that Trump-era
(2021-02-18). Besieged population in Ethiopia's Tigray region faces starvation, rights violations. peoplesdispatch.org "Living in crowded camps, children and families urgently need food, shelter and clean water…Immunizations have ground to a halt, health and water facilities have been damaged or destroyed, and essential supplies looted," says UNICEF…
(2021-02-18). Police rampage targets striking railway workers in Myanmar. thecanary.co Demonstrators against Myanmar's military takeover returned to the streets on Thursday after a night of armed intimidation by security forces in the country's second biggest city. | The police rampage in an area of Mandalay where state railway workers are housed showed the conflict between protesters and the new military government is increasingly focused on the businesses and government institutions that sustain the economy. | State railway workers had called a strike on Sunday, joining a loosely organised Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) that was initiated by medical workers and is the backbone of the resistanc…
(2021-02-18). Housing asylum seekers in barracks against health advice branded 'moral failure'. thecanary.co A doctor has accused the Home Office of "moral failure" over the continued housing of asylum seekers at an ageing and virus-hit military barracks. | Napier Barracks in Kent has been used as "emergency" accommodation since But even before any residents had moved in, Public Health England (PHE) gave warnings that the dormitories on the military site were "not suitable" for use, according to court docum…
(2021-02-18). Touchdown! Life-searching Perseverance rover to land today on Mars. imperial.ac.uk Was there ever life on Mars? Now that Perseverance is landing, Imperial scientists working with NASA's Mars 2020 mission might soon find out.
(2021-02-18). Islamabad committed to prevent fuel smuggling at all costs. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 18 (MNA) — Noting that Islamabad is committed to preventing fuel smuggling at all costs, the Pakistani Minister of Interior said that almost 38% of the Pakistan-Iran border has been fenced through which smuggling can be controlled.
(2021-02-18). In Okinawa, the US Military Seeks a Base Built on the Bones of the War Dead. thenation.com In Okinawa, the US Military Seeks a Base Built on the Bones of the War Dead…
(2021-02-18). What Popular Culture Misunderstands About Addiction. thenation.com What Popular Culture Misunderstands About Addiction…
(2021-02-18). Poetry and Truth. thenation.com Poetry and Truth…
(2021-02-18). The Fight Against France's Global Security Law Is Far From Over. thenation.com The Fight Against France's Global Security Law Is Far From Over…
(2021-02-18). The Trumpers Among Us. thenation.com The Trumpers Among Us…
(2021-02-18). "Pages 9-14," an excerpt from The Ferguson Report: An Erasure. thenation.com …
(2021-02-18). What Was Rush Limbaugh So Afraid Of? thenation.com What Was Rush Limbaugh So Afraid Of?
(2021-02-18). Freedom From Poverty Should Be a Human Right. thenation.com Freedom From Poverty Should Be a Human Right…
(2021-02-18). Why we must fight to save Freo Port. greenleft.org.au The Western Australia government wants to close the Fremantle container terminal and build a new one at Kwinana, further south. The decision is fundamentally flawed on economic and environmental grounds, writes Sam Wainwright.
(2021-02-18). United States: 'Guilty' say 57 senators, but Trump walks. greenleft.org.au For now, the Republican Party remains Trump's party. A mass response is the only way to stop neo-fascist, ultra-nationalist forces, argue Malik Miah and Barry Sheppard.
(2021-02-18). Mass struggle and state repression in Uganda. greenleft.org.au Yoweri Museveni, Uganda's 76-year-old leader who has been in power since 1986, won another five-year term in the January 14 presidential election, writes Yanis Iqbal.
(2021-02-18). China no victim of Western imperialism. greenleft.org.au We need a clear-eyed understanding of the implications of current Chinese policies concerning Australia, argues Dave Bell.
(2021-02-18). Facebook ban makes supporting independent media even more important. greenleft.org.au Green Left is one of the many independent outlets that have become collateral damage in the power struggle between old and new media oligarchs, argue Pip Hinman and Susan Price.
(2021-02-18). Facebook ban makes supporting independent media even more important. greenleft.org.au Green Left is one of the many independent outlets that have become collateral damage in the power struggle between the old media oligarchs and the new media oligarchies. Now is the time to support people-powered media, argue Pip Hinman and Susan Price.
(2021-02-18). Catalan elections: Spanish unionists repelled, but now what? greenleft.org.au Following Catalonia's February 14 election outcome, writes Dick Nichols, the pro-independence parties will need to find an agreed path to force the PSOE-UP Spanish government to meet the demands of the majority of Catalans for amnesty and an independence referendum.
(2021-02-18). Transcending capitalism's growth imperative. greenleft.org.au In Less is More, Jason Hickel has written a readable book that seeks to promote hope rather than doom in the era of the Anthropocene or, more appropriately, the Capitolocene, writes Hans Baer.
(2021-02-18). How capitalism creates racism. greenleft.org.au There was a sense of relief that former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was forced to quit, but why is it that racists, or apologists for racism, often escape the consequences, asks Jacob Andrewartha?
(2021-02-18). NSW government green-lights museum construction. greenleft.org.au NSW planning minister Rob Stokes has got a fight on his hands from those don't agree the historic Willow Grove villa needs to make way for a new museum, writes Susan Price.
(2021-02-18). Catalan elections: Spanish unionists repelled, but now what? greenleft.org.au Following Catalonia's February 14 election, writes Dick Nichols, pro-independence parties will need to find an agreed path to force the Spanish government to meet the demands of Catalans for amnesty and an independence referendum.
(2021-02-18). How capitalism creates racism. greenleft.org.au There was a sense of relief that former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was forced to quit, but why is it that racists, or apologists for racism, often escape the consequences, asks Jacob Andrewartha.
(2021-02-18). Real Unemployment is 3 times what they're telling us. zcomm.org Rosy portraits of an expanding economy hide the chronic weakness of the US economy and especially the burdens imposed on poor and minority communities…
(2021-02-18). Biko: And the Eyes of the World Are Watching Now. zcomm.org A gifted medical student and charismatic organizer, Bantu Steve Biko was arguably the most famous martyr of the struggle against South African apartheid…
(2021-02-18). Fossil Fuel Apologists Crafted Lies Now Heard on Fox, Blaming Wind Power for Texas Blackouts. zcomm.org Republicans failed to ensure that the Texas power grid could withstand a cold snap, so the party's broadcast arm recycled lies about wind energy to deflect blame on to Democrats…
(2021-02-18). The U.S. Senate Is a Global Problem. zcomm.org The acquittal of Trump was bad, but the Senate's approach to foreign affairs over the years has been even worse…
(2021-02-18). Shouldn't Big Business Be Paying for Pentagon Wars? zcomm.org Congress and the president must stop subsidizing Big Business' exploitive efforts and profits with our tax dollars…
(2021-02-18). Columbus OH activists fight closure of park, site of a homeless encampment. zcomm.org Activists and community members gathered at Heer Park on Feb. 12 to protest the proposed closure of the park, the site of a long-standing camp for the unhoused…
(2021-02-18). Rush Limbaugh captivated dads like mine and created America's modern fascist aesthetic. salon.com Limbaugh co-opted rock-and-roll to sell authoritarianism…
(2021-02-18). Osaka, Djokovic make Aussie Open final, Williams out. laprensalatina.com Melbourne, Australia, Feb 18 (efe-epa).- Japan's Naomi Osaka beat 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams 6-3, 6-4 Thursday in the Australian Open in the semifinals, breaking her serve four times in a tennis match that lasted an hour and 15 minutes. It was called to be a duel between similar styles, since both players base …
(2021-02-18). 'Greek Cypriot admin intends to harm 5 1 Cyprus talks'. yenisafak.com The president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Wednesday criticized his Greek counterpart's statements on the Cyprus issue and Eastern Mediterranean.Eyes have turned to an informal 5 1 meeting led by the UN on the Cyprus issue, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks with the participation of guarantor countries, said TRNC President Ersin Tatar in a written statement.He stressed that the incitement and unacceptable demands by the Greek side have also intensified.Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades' statements that "the UN parameters should not change, the Turkish side's plans…
(2021-02-18). 'NATO must respect security concerns of each ally'. yenisafak.com Turkey's permanent representative to NATO Thursday said allies should handle the differences of opinion and respect the security concerns of one another.Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the 69th anniversary of Turkey's NATO membership, Basat Ozturk said Turkey has been a valuable and important country for the alliance, adding: "Although we have different opinions with some allies, in the end, NATO is a platform to address these differences."NATO should be the main consultation platform on all matters concerning the security and defense issues of all allies as also required by the Washington Agreement, Ozturk said, n…
(2021-02-18). Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to bolster strategic partnership. yenisafak.com Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on Thursday discussed ways to strengthen strategic partnership between the two countries.As part of his official visit, Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov met with his Kazakh counterpart Muhtar Tleuberdi in the capital Nur-Sultan, said a statement by Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry.‚Ä®Discussing global issues, the two also underscored the importance of expanding bilateral relations.Kamilov was also received by Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, according to a presidential office statement. ‚Ä®They discussed current status of bilateral r…
(2021-02-18). 'Guided tour': Foreign envoys visit disputed Kashmir. yenisafak.com As diplomats from nearly two dozen countries continue their two-day visit in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, commentators and politicians say that another "guided tour" would not change ground realities in the disputed region.This is the third visit of foreign envoys to Kashmir since Aug. 5, 2019 when New Delhi scrapped the Himalayan valley's autonomous status, and imposed a security and communications lockdown.While parts of the capital Srinagar still remain shut in a sign of protest, on Wednesday the dignitaries were taken to a government college in Budgam district, as well as a holy Muslim shrine in Haz…
(2021-02-18). Khashoggi's fiancee pins hope on Biden to solve murder. yenisafak.com Hatice Cengiz, the fiancée of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, said she was hopeful that the new US administration will solve the murder case.Speaking to the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK and the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, Cengiz said she trusts that the new director of US national intelligence, Avril Haines, will release the CIA's report on the Khashoggi murder.While admitting the complex relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia, she said she is optimistic that US President Joe Biden will stand by its goal of "promoting human rights and American values"."Those who know the truth should tell the tr…
(2021-02-18). Turkey concerned over raids on homes of Crimean Tatars. yenisafak.com Turkey on Thursday voiced concern over Wednesday's raids on the homes of Crimean Tatars."We are concerned over the raids on the homes of our kin Crimean Tatar Turks and the detention orders issued in the morning hours of yesterday (February 17) in Crimea," said a Foreign Ministry statement."We call for an end to such practices against the Crimean Tatars, who are the fundamental constituents of the Crimean Peninsula," the statement added.It reiterated that Turkey does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea, and vowed to continue to stand by Crimean Tatars.On Wednesday, Lyudmila Denisova, the Ukrainian parl…
(2021-02-18). Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia trilateral meeting postponed. yenisafak.com The trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia has been postponed, which was previously scheduled to be held on Friday, according to Turkish diplomatic sources Thursday.Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's two-day visit to Azerbaijan's capital Baku for official talks has been postponed as well.According to Georgian authorities, the meeting was postponed as Georgia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani decided not to attend the meeting following the resignation of the country's premier amid the political turmoil.Early Thursday, Georgian Prime Minister G…
(2021-02-18). Donald Trump says he will continue to be in US politics. yenisafak.com Former US President Donald Trump has indicated he will continue to be in American political life, according to three different interviews he gave on Wednesday.Trump left the White House last month amid Capitol riot, for which he was blamed for inciting. Although he went down in history as the only US president that was impeached twice by the House of Representatives, the Senate acquitted him.After the Jan. 6 riot in Capitol building, Trump's Twitter account was suspended indefinitely. While the social media service provider was his foremost choice of communication with the masses, he said he "won't be back on Twi…
(2021-02-18). US congratulates Pakistani students after they best MIT, Stanford in aeronautics contest. yenisafak.com A team of brilliant Pakistani students won second prize in an international aeronautics and astronautics contest, outclassing their peers from the world's top ranking universities.The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad praised the Pakistani youths in a tweet, saying: "Congrats to Team Invictus, a group of Pakistani students from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI) for winning 2nd place in the 2021 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Design, Build and Fly) competition, beating MIT & Stanford!"Congrats to Team Invictus, a group of Pakistani students from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute for winning 2nd place in th…
(2021-02-18). Netanyahu to discuss possible US return to Iran deal. yenisafak.com The meeting will be attended by Defense Minister Benny Gantz Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden and Netanyahu held their first phone talk for about an hour. The two leaders discussed the importance of continued close consultation on security issues in the Middle East, including Iran, according to a statement by the White House.An Israeli premier's office statement highlighted that both have "discussed the future advancement of the peace accords, the Iranian threat and regional challenges, and agreed to continue their dialogue".Netanyahu strongly opposed the US' possible return to…
(2021-02-17). Headlines for February 17, 2021. democracynow.org Severe Winter Storm Kills 23 People, Cuts Power to Millions as Texas Energy System Fails, Storm Creates Havoc for COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout as Biden Seeks Support from Public for Stimulus, NAACP Files Lawsuit Against Trump, Giuliani over Jan. 6 Insurrection, French Assembly Approves Bill Accused of Targeting Muslim Communities, Chad Sending Troops to Sahel, France Will Maintain Military Presence, as Conflict Claims More Lives, Protests Erupt over Spanish Rapper Arrested for Anti-Monarchy Lyrics and Tweets, Biden Directs DHS to Stop Using Word "Alien" to Refer to Immigrants and Asylum Seekers, Biden Received $5 Mil…
(2021-02-17). Solidarity accelerates with Amazon workers' union drive in Alabama. workers.org 
Solidarity with the struggle of 5,800+ Amazon workers in Bessemer, Ala., to unionize continues to grow, following the heroic lead of this majority-Black workforce fighting for justice on the job. Walking the Powder Plant Road approach to the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Ala.,where a union drive is underway by the . . . |
(2021-02-17). Saturday 2/20: February 20: National Day of Solidarity With Alabama Amazon Workers. indybay.org Assemble at the Walmart Hilltop Mall Parking lot by 3: 45 pm (1400 Hilltop Mall Rd, Richmond, CA 94806) | (Please decorate your cars with posters and signage that state any combination of words: | Bessemer * Amazon * Solidarity * Unions * #CAstandswithBamazon * | We will then drive at 4: 00 pm together around to the other side of the Mall which Amazon now occupies. We will circle the mall in solidarity with Bessemer Amazon Union! | Support Alabama Amazon Workers – Richmond stands in solidarity with the Amazon workers in Alabama! | This Black History Month, join the national day of solidarity with Alabama Amazon wor…
(2021-02-17). February 20: Day Of Action In Solidarity With Alabama Amazon Workers. popularresistance.org From Mississippi to Connecticut, North Carolina to California, workers, labor and community activists have resoundingly responded to the call for a National Day of Solidarity with Alabama Amazon Workers issued by the Southern Workers Assembly. | More than 40 actions (and counting!) are now planned to mobilize solidarity with the workers in Bessemer and to tell Amazon: Victory to the workers! Union-busting has got to go! The full list of actions can be found below. | Amazon is spending tens of thousands of dollars each day on the most vile union busters around – Morgan Lewis – because they know this historic strug…
(2021-02-17). Morgan Lewis lawyers — high-paid union-busting thugs. workers.org 
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bosses hired Pinkerton Agency goon squads to infiltrate unions, break strikes and intimidate workers who were trying to organize. Graphic: supportamazonworkers.org Today's hired union-busting thugs are more likely to be high-paid lawyers tasked with turning labor laws — intended to protect workers . . . |
(2021-02-17). Incarcerated workers say: 'Solidarity with Amazon workers!'. workers.org 
The following letters from incarcerated workers in the Pennsylvania prison system were sent by email on Feb. 13 and 15 to Joe Piette, a member of the Prisoners Solidarity Committee of Workers World Party. From SCI Frackville As I've advised you before, anything that I can do for the people, . . . |
(2021-02-17). "David vs. Goliath": Warehouse Workers in Alabama Fight Amazon for the Right to Unionize. democracynow.org 
Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, are continuing to vote on whether to become the first unionized Amazon warehouse in the United States. Their demands include stronger COVID-19 safety measures and relief from impossibly high productivity standards that leave many unable to take bathroom breaks. "We want to be heard. We want to be treated like people and not ignored when we have issues," says Jennifer Bates, a worker at Amazon's BHM1 facility who has been part of the union drive from the beginning. We also speak with Michael Foster, a poultry plant worker, union member and member-organizer with RWDSU. "Amazon h…
(2021-02-17). Warehouse Workers in Alabama Battle Amazon for the Right to Unionize. truthout.org 
Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, are continuing to vote on whether to become the first unionized Amazon warehouse in the United States. Their demands include stronger COVID-19 safety measures and relief from impossibly high productivity standards that leave many unable to take bathroom breaks. "We want to be heard. We want to be treated like people and not ignored when we have issues," says Jennifer Bates, a worker at Amazon's BHM1 facility who has been part of the union drive from the beginning. We…
(2021-02-17). India's trade union demands 'serious action' against Amazon after report alleges it worked to dodge country's regulations. rt.com 
India's leading trade union has urged the government to punish Amazon after a media report alleged that Jeff Bezos's company has been secretly discriminating small sellers on its platform. | For years, Amazon has been "circumventing" Indian laws to "conduct unfair and unethical trade," the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) tweeted on Wednesday. The umbrella group, which includes over 40,000 local trade associations, demanded that the government takes "serious action" against the corporation. | CAIT chief Praveen Khandelwal said that it is "an open and shut case that Amazon is willfully playing with rul…
(2021-02-17). New York AG Sues Amazon Over 'Flagrant Disregard' for Worker Safety During Pandemic. commondreams.org "We won't let corporate bullies put hardworking New Yorkers in harm's way," said the state attorney general, Letitia James. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12643247251.jpg …
(2021-02-17). UN expert details crushing human toll of US sanctions on Venezuela. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Alena Douhan, UN special rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, about her recent trip to Venezuela. In her first interview since the publication of the preliminary findings of her mission to Venezuela, Professor Douhan discusses her main takeaways from the visit, her method for investigating, as well as the response to her report.
(2021-02-17). New Zealand to withdraw remaining troops from Afghanistan. laprensalatina.com Sydney, Australia, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- The New Zealand government on Wednesday announced it will withdraw the last of its last troops in Afghanistan by May, after two decades of peacekeeping missions and training of Afghan security forces. "After 20 years of a NZDF (New Zealand Defense Force) presence in Afghanistan, it is now time to …
(2021-02-17). Migrants, authorities clash on Peru-Brazil border. laprensalatina.com Lima, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- Tension on the Peru-Brazil border boiled over Tuesday with incidents between the Peruvian authorities and a migrant caravan that tried to cross the checkpoint from Brazil. According to witnesses in the Peruvian jungle region of Madre de Dios, a group of about 350 migrants breached the border crossing between the towns …
(2021-02-17). Ronald Reagan: "Small Government" a Smoke Screen for Racism and Smashing Unions — Matt Tyrnauer (pt4). theanalysis.news One of Reagan's geniuses was to convince people to vote against their own self-interest. In the name of lower taxes and the Cold War, he expanded investment in "defense" systems, that benefited the oligarchs who brought him to power. Matt Tyrnauer, director of "The Reagans" on Showtime, joins Paul Jay on theAnalysis.news…
(2021-02-17). YouTube Censorship and Now What's Happening in Kansas — Thomas Frank. theanalysis.news Thomas Frank and Paul Jay discuss censorship by monopolies and changes in the political landscape of Kansas, on theAnalysis.news…
(2021-02-17). January 6th was the Final Act of a Failed Coup — Paul Jay. theanalysis.news Paul Jay is a guest on Muslim Network TV discussing Trump's attempt to enlist a military intervention in the transfer of power and McConnell's role in the lack of security on Capitol Hill.
(2021-02-17). Whose Rights Matter in Pandemic America? Not Those of Poor Americans, That's For Sure. juancole.com 
By Liz Theoharis | — ( Tomdispatch.com ) — In June 1990, future South African President Nelson Mandela addressed a joint session of Congress only months after being released from 27 years in a South African apartheid prison. He reminded the political leadership of the United States that "to deny people their human rights is …
(2021-02-17). Vulture Funds plan to use the Pandemic to pillage the Global Economy. mronline.org 
Before the pandemic, private equity had amassed $2.5 trillion—more than the GDP of Italy—in 'dry powder,' waiting for distressed assets to plunder. Covid-19 provided them with the perfect opportunity.
(2021-02-17). COVID-19 Has Made Americans Lonelier Than Ever — Here's how AI can Help. realprogressives.org 
"How does that make you feel?" | In the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are missing a sympathetic ear. Would a response like that make you feel heard, less alone, even if it were a machine writing back to you? | The pandemic has contributed to
(2021-02-17). Dominic Cummings lobbied for 'friends' to be handed lucrative contract for COVID focus groups. truepublica.org.uk By Peter Geoghegan and Adam Bychawski: Dominic Cummings pushed for a government contract to be awarded without tender to a company run by his "friends", according to newly published court documents. PR firm Public First was paid £564,393 to research public opinion about the government's response to the pandemic, as revealed in July last year …
(2021-02-17). Panther Gunfight at a Not-So-O.K. Corral. counterpunch.org Undaunted, the pandemic can't stop the Pan African Film Festival and in that immortal show biz tradition, the show must go on! Albeit virtually, as this year in order to stay cinematically safe, America's largest and best annual Black-themed filmfest since 1992 is moving online and starting later than usual, kicking off on the last
(2021-02-17). The Expiration of the CARES Act Could Force Thousands Back into Federal Prisons. aclu.org The Trump Department of Justice spent its final days putting thousands of people at greater risk of catching COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic. On Jan. 15, the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel issued a memo arguing the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will be legally obligated to return thousands of people released on home confinement back to federal prisons while the pandemic still ravages correctional facilities. With the memo's March return date growing closer — and public health officials indicating that we will not be out of the pandemic woods by then — the Biden administration must take swift actio…
(2021-02-17). Whose Rights Matter in Pandemic America? counterpunch.org In June 1990, future South African President Nelson Mandela addressed a joint session of Congress only months after being released from 27 years in a South African apartheid prison. He reminded the political leadership of the United States that "to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. To impose on them a wretched
(2021-02-17). Pandemic-Related Drop in College Enrollment Reveals Inequities in Access to Higher Ed. cepr.net Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on college enrollments this fall. Based on preliminary estimates, fall 2020 enrollments were down 2.5 percent, resulting in a rate of decline greater than twice that of 2019, and a net decrease of 400,000 students in higher education. The bulk of the decline was concentrated at …
(2021-02-17). Wednesday 2/17: San Francisco Car Caravan Protest for Gig Drivers' Pandemic Health & Safety. indybay.org Meet at SAFEWAY, 2300 16th St, San Francisco 94103; then we'll car caravan to Uber Headquarters at 1455 Market St. | MASKS AND SAFETY-DISTANCING REQUIRED…
(2021-02-17). 'We're not a charity case, we're under occupation'. therealnews.com 
Telling Israel to be a kinder occupying force does nothing to address the structural violence of Israeli occupation, which has been laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(2021-02-17). Debt In The Time Of Pandemic. popularresistance.org On New Year's Day, I received an email from Navient, a student loan servicing company, requesting that I pay $4,442 by January 28. | Initially, all I could feel was shame for being in so much debt. But soon, my feelings of shame transformed into anger — how could they request such a big payment, in such a short time period, amid a global pandemic that left so many young people like me unemployed or underemployed, struggling to keep a roof over their heads and put food on their tables? | Indeed, I am hardly the only person with an American education worrying about student loan repayments in the middle of the…
(2021-02-17). Post-Brexit Gene Editing — What's happening? truepublica.org.uk On January 7th the UK government launched a 10-week public consultation into the deregulation of plants and animals produced using a new genetic engineering technology called gene editing. The timing couldn't have been worse, coming, as it did, within days of the UK exiting the European Union and in the middle of a global pandemic, …
(2021-02-17). Public Knowledge Files Comments Urging FCC to Expand the E-Rate Program to Connect Students During Pandemic. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-02-17). Free Florida and Health Gulag California End Up With Identical Case Rates, Hospitalizations and Deaths. anti-empire.com 
California Gov Gavin Newsom took a very strict approach during the coronavirus pandemic and closed bars and indoor dining, issued mask mandates and limited gathering | By comparison, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has issued very few closures and said he has trusted Floridian to 'use common sense' to control the spread of the virus | Historically, when adjusting for population, Florida has had 8,306 cases and 117 deaths per 100,000 residents and California has had about 8,499 cases per 100,000 residents and 130 deaths per 100,000 | Currently, each states is recording between 200 and 400 cases per million people and…
(2021-02-17). Argentine kids return to class after almost a year of remote learning. laprensalatina.com By Rodrigo Garcia Melero Buenos Aires, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- In-person classes will once again be held in Buenor Aires and various Argentine provinces after almost a year with only virtual classes available due to the coronavirus pandemic at the start of a program being criticized by assorted groups and unions because of the danger of …
(2021-02-17). Strengthen 'One Health approach' to prevent future pandemics — WHO chief. news.un.org The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates "intimate" linkages between the health of humans, animals and ecosystems, as zoonotic diseases spread between animals and people, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief said on Wednesday.
(2021-02-17). COVID infections drop 16% worldwide in one week: WHO. news.un.org In its latest update on the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that although the number of global infections have fallen by 16 per cent in a week — 500,000 fewer cases — regions, including Europe, are still in the grip of the virus whose variants are spreading.
(2021-02-17). Teacher Unions: We Want to Reopen Schools as Well, But We Need Vaccines & Resources to Do It Safely. democracynow.org 
As school districts across the U.S. debate how to safely bring children into the classroom, we speak with two leaders of the teachers' union movement on what's at stake as schools reopen. Stacy Davis Gates, executive vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, says years of underfunding and privatization have left many school districts ill-equipped to meet the needs of students, as well as educators. "It's not just the context of opening schools. It's reopening schools safely with the resources that are necessary to keep people safe," she tells Democracy Now! We also speak with Randi Weingarten, president of th…
(2021-02-17). "Work Won't Love You Back": Sarah Jaffe on Toxic U.S. Work Culture & the Fight Against Inequality. democracynow.org 
Amid the economic crisis and precarious working conditions for millions of people during the pandemic, we look at a new book by Sarah Jaffe, an independent journalist and author who covers labor and economic justice. "Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone" looks at the unsustainable expectations of fulfillment around work and how the "labor of love" myth has contributed to the rise of toxic workplaces. Jaffe says the pandemic has shown that work can always get worse, and that more and more people are pushing back. "It's not just that it's a bad, grinding, slow…
(2021-02-17). Biden promises vaccines available to all Americans by end of July, 'significantly' less social distancing & masks a year from now. rt.com 
President Biden has predicted a "very different circumstance" for the US' Covid-19 outbreak by Christmas, saying some 600 million vaccine doses will be ready by July while noting that he's been advised against 'over-promising.' | Biden waxed optimistic about the ongoing viral outbreak during a CNN town hall event on Tuesday, declaring that "by next Christmas, I think we'll be in a very different circumstance, God willing, than we are today." He said the improvement would be further helped along if an inoculation developed by Johnson & Johnson receives FDA approval, as it is expected to sometime this month. | "
(2021-02-17). Small businesses saved? Biden helped struggling firms 'first & foremost' with female nominee, press sec Psaki says. rt.com 
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki kicked off a wave of criticism after suggesting the Joe Biden administration was helping out struggling companies "first and foremost" by tapping a woman to lead the Small Business Administration. | Psaki was asked what the president intended to do to assist small business during a virtual Q&A on Tuesday, as many independent companies continue to languish under a raft of state-level shutdown policies and other restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. | "First and foremost, he nominated a woman to lead the Small Business Administration, who formerly worked there," Psaki said…
(2021-02-17). 'Quick, easy and not so painful': S. Africa's Ramaphosa gets J&J Covid jab as nation turns back on AstraZeneca. rt.com 
South Africa's president has been vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 jab, joining thousands of healthcare workers taking part in a trial to test the efficacy of the single-dose vaccine against the local virus variant. | President Cyril Ramaphosa urged his fellow South Africans to come forward and get a Covid-19 vaccine when it's their turn in an online video of himself receiving the jab on Wednesday. | Taking the vaccine was quick, easy and not so painful. I urge all our healthcare workers to register to receive their vaccinations as they are our first line of defence against the coronavirus pandemic…
(2021-02-17). One year into the pandemic, Iran's achievements. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Iran has made great efforts to combat the Covid-19 through boosting production of medical items, forming volunteer groups, and implementing different schemes, and the most precious of which was the medical staff's dedication.
(2021-02-17). Covid-19: Mass medic migration leaves Iran in pandemic panic. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Mass medic migration leaves Iran in pandemic panic | The pandemic has driven Iran's doctors and nurses to foreign countries that offer better financial and workplace incentives, as well as respect for the healthcare profession | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 14: 42 | As Iran struggles with the coronavirus outbreak, many Iranian doctors and nurses have chosen to emigrate for better pay and…
(2021-02-17). "New Landlordism": Vulture Funds Plan to Use the Pandemic to Pillage the Global Economy. globalresearch.ca
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(2021-02-17). "Far-Reaching Violation": Dutch Government Ordered To Lift 'Illegitimate' Pandemic Curfew By Hague Court. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | A top court in The Hague issued a "shock" ruling that …
(2021-02-17). Italy's new premier unveils ambitious reform program. yenisafak.com Italy's prime minister on Wednesday unveiled in parliament his ambitious reform platform that focused on leading the country out of a devastating pandemic and a daunting recession, as his Cabinet faces two key confidence votes.Mario Draghi — a former central banker and highly regarded technocrat — was called in by Italian President Sergio Mattarella this month to solve a chaotic political crisis, which risked plunging Italy into further political uncertainty just as it battles an unprecedented health and economic crisis.Draghi and his new government — born last week after complex negotiations am…
(2021-02-17). South Africa starts COVID-19 vaccination. yenisafak.com South Africa on Wednesday started vaccinating health workers against the coronavirus.President Cyril Ramaphosa, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and a group of health workers were the first recipients of the vaccine."Taking the vaccine was quick, easy and not so painful. I urge all our healthcare workers to register to receive their vaccinations as they are our first line of defense against the coronavirus pandemic," Ramaphosa said shortly after receiving his jab at the Khayelitsha District Hospital in Cape Town this afternoon.South Africa received its first batch of the Johnson Johnson vaccine Tuesday night, two we…
(2021-02-17). AOC Calls to Keep Pushing as Biden Demurs on Canceling $50K in Student Loan Debt. truthout.org 
After President Joe Biden told the nation during a CNN town hall Tuesday night that he "will not" cancel $50,000 in student loan debt per borrower, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among the many progressives who When a town hall attendee said during Tuesday's event in Milwaukee, Wisc…
(2021-02-17). Texas disaster is what happens when you DON'T pursue a Green New Deal — AOC. rt.com 
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) has blasted Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the state's infrastructure planning, claiming her Green New Deal would better prepare areas for extreme weather conditions. | "The infrastructure failures in Texas are quite literally what happens when you *don't* pursue a Green New Deal," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Wednesday. | The message appeared to be in response to Abbott criticizing a potential Green New Deal due to many renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines failing in the state's historically cold weather. In an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday ev…
(2021-02-17). Video: Chaos in the Middle East, Turkey and US Pursuing Separate Goals in Northern Iraq. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | The United States has already started bearing the consequences of the …
(2021-02-17). Governments Are Using COVID Hysteria To Hide Their War Crimes, With The Complicity Of Western Media. 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 (2/17/21). 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
(2021-02-17). "Palestine Must be Demilitarized". According to Israel, there is no "Occupation" of The West Bank and Gaza. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Soapbox (described on Facebook as Russia state-controlled media) is circulating a …
(2021-02-17). Iran to add more advanced machines to Natanz facility: Report. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (MNA) — Iran has informed the UN nuclear watchdog it plans to install more of its advanced IR-2m centrifuges at Natanz enrichment facility, a Western media claimed.
(2021-02-17). The Iran Deal: Biden and Blinken, Wykan and Blynkin. counterpunch.org 
Trump's attack on the Iran Deal was based on his ego, but done in tandem with apartheid-Israel and rogue state Saudi Arabia, whose vile leaders advised him to bomb Iran; he was reportedly on the verge of starting a war (in June 2019 and November 2020) when his more level-headed advisors checked him. (We must always recall that however sickening the Trump years they did not produce another criminal war.) Meantime Trump deeply annoyed the Europeans, such as the Deal's co-signers Germany, Britain and France, by thwarting major investment projects in the Islamic Republic. These included a factory to produce much need…
(2021-02-17). The Iran Deal: Biden and Blinken, Wynken and Blynken. counterpunch.org Trump's attack on the Iran Deal was based on his ego, but done in tandem with apartheid-Israel and rogue state Saudi Arabia, whose vile leaders advised him to bomb Iran; he was reportedly on the verge of starting a war (in June 2019 and November 2020) when his more level-headed advisors checked him. (We must always recall that however sickening the Trump years they did not produce another criminal war.) Meantime Trump deeply annoyed the Europeans, such as the Deal's co-signers Germany, Britain and France, by thwarting major investment projects in the Islamic Republic. These included a factory to produce much need…
(2021-02-17). Rania Khalek slams phony impeachment "soap opera" thealtworld.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Rania Khalek of Soapbox about the drama surrounding the Trump impeachment trial. They reflect on the arguments made by democrats and republicans, the trial's impact on the reputation of US empire abroad, and its implications for free speech.
(2021-02-17). NATO-Linked Think Tank Proposes Biden Adopt Venezuela-Style 'Regime Change' Policies Towards Belarus. popularresistance.org The Biden administration should be massively boosting its funding to opposition groups in Belarus while increasing sanctions on the country in order to force out the current government, according to a discussion hosted by the highly influential Atlantic Council. | Kayla Popuchet is minoring in Slavic studies as part of her education in Latin American and Eastern European politics at City University of New York. Popuchet, who is also a regular contributor to Anticonquista and a New York City Housing Court Specialist, recently attended an online meeting about Belarus organised by the Atlantic Council, widely regard…
(2021-02-17). From electric vehicles to corruption — UAW faces huge challenges. workers.org 
General Motors CEO Mary Barra raised more than a few eyebrows Jan. 28, when she announced GM would have an all-electric product line by 2035. This planned phaseout of fossil fuel-burning vehicles represents a serious departure from four years ago, when GM joined the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in calling . . . |
(2021-02-17). From Covid to Power outages in Ice Storms, the Texas Republican Party has created a Failed State. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — The Republican Party has had a lock on Texas politics for over two decades, and has reduced it to a failed state. Even Texans like Beto O'Rourke are making this observation. Millions are without electricity in the midst of one of the state's worse winter storms ever. This massive failure …
(2021-02-17). Washington's Wuhan laboratory lie. wsws.org In the face of universal scientific consensus on the natural origins of COVID-19, the Biden administration and the US media have doubled down on the lie that the disease was released from a Chinese laboratory.
(2021-02-17). Masks Lead To Bacterial Pneumonia, Oral Thrush, Systemic Inflammation & May Be The Cause Of "Long-Haul" COVID. 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 (2/16/21). 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
(2021-02-17). SUNY colleges face rapid spread of COVID-19 just weeks into semester. wsws.org Just two weeks since in-person instruction began, more than 1,200 students have tested positive for COVID-19. Such rapid transmission is a stark warning of what may come with the spread of more contagious variants of the virus.
(2021-02-17). Understanding the Dangers of Innovation Zones and Smart Cities. thelastamericanvagabond.com Following the news that Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak plans to launch so-called "Innovation Zones" where tech companies can create their own cities and governments, privacy advocates are responding with fear and concern. During his State of the State address in mid-January, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak noted that the state is suffering because of the COVID-19
(2021-02-17). Paraguay to Receive First Batch of Sputnik V Vaccines. telesurenglish.net Paraguay's President Mario Abdo on Wednesday thanked Russia's President Vladimir Putin for supplying his country with Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines. | RELATED: | "I hold an excellent telephone conversation with President Putin. We agreed to push for a shipment schedule for more COVID-19 vaccine batches as soon as possible," Abdo tweeted. | The first 4,000 Sputnik V doses should arrive in this South American country early Friday mo…
(2021-02-17). Venezuela to Launch Its COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro Wednesday informed his country will start its vaccination campaign with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine this Thursday. | RELATED: | "We will begin immunizing health workers with the 100,000 doses that arrived in the country on Feb. 15," he said, adding that the government will guarantee the health and lives of the people "thanks to cooperation between Russia and Venezuela." | Law enforcemen…
(2021-02-17). Matt Wood Testifies Before Congress in Support of Affordable Broadband During the COVID Crisis and Beyond. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-02-17). Thousand-year old Chinese dance tradition struggles amid Covid restrictions. laprensalatina.com Bangkok, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- The Lion Dance is a form of tradition originating in China dating back thousands of years, which is usually performed during Lunar New Year celebrations to bring good fortune for the year ahead. This year, however, most troupes have seen bookings for their performances disappear because of restrictions to slow the …
(2021-02-17). Mexico's vaccine rollout reaching seniors in remote areas. laprensalatina.com By Jose de Jesus Cortes Cuicatlan, Mexico, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Mostly hopeful but also dealing with a certain degree of anxiety, senior citizens in this small town in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca are being administered their first doses of a long-awaited Covid-19 vaccine. Accompanied by his daughter and clutching a wooden cane, Eustaquio …
(2021-02-17). New Zealand ends Auckland lockdown despite new infections. laprensalatina.com Sydney, Australia, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- New Zealand announced Wednesday an end to the three-day confinement decreed in Auckland, home to 1.7 million people and the most populous city in the country, despite confirming three new Covid-19 positives. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a press conference that the transmission "is contained," although some …
(2021-02-17). Tokio Olympics organizers express 'full confidence' in anti-Covid measures. laprensalatina.com Tokyo, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- The organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Wednesday highlighted the positive reception of the anti-Covid measures outlined in the first version of their playbooks — guides — for participants. "The publication of the playbooks has had an extraordinary impact on everyone. (…) The overwhelming result was total …
(2021-02-17). Tennessee to Begin COVID-19 Vaccination of Adults Age 65 and Older, Teachers. laprensalatina.com NASHVILLE, TN (THD) — Tennessee will begin registering Tennesseans aged 65 and older and those in Phase 1b of the state's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan COVID-19 for vaccinations on Feb. 22. Phase 1b includes staff members of kindergarten through 12th grade schools and childcare facilities. TDH has launched a new online scheduling tool that allows users …
(2021-02-17). COVID-19 vaccination 'wildly uneven and unfair': UN Secretary-General. news.un.org International partners working to achieve equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines appealed on Wednesday for the UN Security Council to ensure people caught in conflict have access to these lifesaving treatments.
(2021-02-17). An order of tuna sashimi, please. Have the robot bring it to me! laprensalatina.com By Marc Arcas Rohnert Park, California, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- "An order of tuna sashimi. And have the robot bring it to me, please!" Minutes later, a cylinder about a meter (3.3 feet) high with trays inside slides toward the table bearing the Japanese delicacy. It's the restauranteurs' new assistant during these Covid times. At the …
(2021-02-17). COVID-19 vaccine Q&A – latest news, antibody tests and tackling new variants. imperial.ac.uk Professor Robin Shattock, head of the Imperial COVID-19 vaccine project, and Dr Katrina Pollock, clinical lead, discuss latest developments.
(2021-02-17). Call for volunteers for world's first coronavirus human challenge study. imperial.ac.uk The UK will be the first country to run a Covid-19 human challenge study, following a favourable opinion from the UK's clinical trials ethics body.
(2021-02-17). Lockdown surrender? Sweden warns of more restrictions, gears up to close restaurants & gyms. rt.com 
The Swedish government, which was previously reluctant to impose tough Covid-19 restrictions, has now proposed vastly expanding its lockdown powers, as the country warns of a third wave of infections. | "It could become necessary to close down parts of Swedish society," Health Minister Lena Hallengren said at a press briefing, adding that there is "a tangible risk of a third wave of infection." | "A third wave is underway in Europe. We have to be vigilant," she said. | The statement came a day after Karin Tegmark Wisell, a senior official at the nation's Public Health Agency, warned of a "very high number" of…
(2021-02-17). 'Verbal stumble' or blatant lie? Biden says US had no vaccine when he took office as new admin criticizes Trump's jab rollout. rt.com 
Joe Biden, who was fully vaccinated before his inauguration, has been accused of playing loose with the facts after stating that there was no Covid-19 shot when he entered office. But some insist it was a harmless verbal slip. | Read more | | Speaking with CNN's Anderson Cooper at a town hall event on Tuesday, the US president explained in a rather disjointed way that the United States lacked both vaccines and health workers capable of administering…
(2021-02-17). 'Breathing is optional': Internet groans after NYC requires double-masking inside federal court buildings. rt.com 
Two masks will now be required for those who want to enter a federal court building in Manhattan — but the new Covid-19 guidance has provoked more mockery than applause on social media. | The Southern District of New York
(2021-02-17). WHO urges Iran to share Covid-19 experiences with world. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — The Regional Director of the WHO, Ahmed bin Salem, Al-Manzari said the international body will support Iran to share its experiences in the fight against Covid-19 with world countries.
(2021-02-17). Japan begins Covid-19 vaccination drive with healthcare workers. laprensalatina.com Tokyo, Feb 17 (efe-epa).- Japan began its vaccination campaign against Covid-19 on Wednesday, in a first phase in which it aims to inoculate 40,000 healthcare workers. The first doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, the only one approved so far in Japan, were administered at a public hospital in Tokyo and will be expanded …
(2021-02-17). In Some States, Child Care Workers Won't Get the Covid Vaccine for Months. thenation.com In Some States, Child Care Workers Won't Get the Covid Vaccine for Months…
(2021-02-17). The Music We Made in Lockdown. thenation.com The Music We Made in Lockdown…
(2021-02-17). GOP response to the Texas winter storms steals directly from Trump's sadistic COVID-19 playbook. salon.com Texas Republicans try to troll their way through a disaster…
(2021-02-17). Former Downing Street Chief of Staff Lobbied for 'Friends' to Get Fat Contract for COVID Focus Groups. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Dominic Cummings pushed for a government contract to be awarded without …
(2021-02-17). What VAERS Data Reveal About Cardiac-Related Reactions to COVID Vaccines. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | We are exactly two months into the
(2021-02-17). 46 Residents in Spanish Nursing Home Die after Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Forty-six nursing home residents who had received their first dose of …
(2021-02-17). For the sake of democracy, kill off the Senate filibuster. peoplesworld.org 
The nation's economic outlook is worsening, and new, more contagious COVID-19 variants worry public health officials. In response, the Democratic-led House and Senate are moving quickly to pass President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan (ARP) through the process of budget reconciliation. This process requires a simple majority vote in the U.S. Senate. Budget reconciliation is …
(2021-02-17). Iran Ramps Up Assistance to Venezuelan Refineries. venezuelanalysis.com Caracas is looking to reactivate the largest refinery in the country.
(2021-02-17). In the News: Did Impeachment Make Trump Weaker or Stronger? liberationnews.org 
This interview is an episode of The Socialist Program with Brian Becker, a podcast providing news and views about the world for those who want to change it. You can follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell, Esther Iverem and Walter Smolarek discuss the …
(2021-02-17). Workers & the Green New Deal Today: A Conversation with Naomi Klein, Keon Liberato, and Kate Aronoff. dsausa.org Are you organizing for green jobs? Have you talked with your coworkers about climate change? Are you a union member, or are looking for a community with which to strategize about organizing for climate justice? Join us Monday, March 1st at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT for EWOC's event Workers & the Green New Deal Today as we discuss…
(2021-02-17). Sunrise Movement Leader Facing Climate Crisis in Texas, Calls for Governor Abbott's Resignation and to Pass a Green New Deal. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-02-17). Playing politics while Texans freeze? Gov. Abbott grilled after blaming Green New Deal for his state's power woes. rt.com 
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has singled out renewable energy as the culprit behind his state's devastating power outages, sparking accusations that he is trying to skirt responsibility for the crisis. | Frigid temperatures have shut down some of Texas' wind turbines and solar panels, as well as natural gas infrastructure in the Lone Star state. As a result, millions of residents have been left in freezing conditions without power, resulting in numerous deaths. | Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday, Abbott suggested that the failure of so-called "sustainable" energy sources such as wind and solar…
(2021-02-17). Demanding Gov. Abbott's Resignation, Sunrise Movement Says Texas Crisis Shows Urgent Need for Green New Deal. commondreams.org "We deserve a government that addresses our basic needs and protects all of us in moments of crisis. Despite the lies you'll hear from Governor Abbott on Fox News, that's truly what the Green New Deal is all about." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12312083201.jpg …
(2021-02-17). Stoltenberg: NATO Will Not Leave Afghanistan 'Before the Time Is Right'. anti-empire.com 
NATO Secretary-General The US-Taliban peace deal signed in February 2020 set a deadline of May 1st for all foreign forces to leave Afghanistan. While there haven't been any official announcements from either NATO or the US, all signs indicate that foreign troops will remain in Afghanistan beyond the deadline, an…
(2021-02-17). Taliban hail NZ troops withdrawal plan from Afghanistan. yenisafak.com The Taliban on Wednesday hailed the announcement by New Zealand to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by May."We welcome the decision by New Zealand that is in line with the Doha agreement," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said in a tweet."We urge all countries that have exhausted their troops in a long unwinnable war in Afghanistan to take similar steps," he added, as NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels to decide on the fate of the Afghan mission.Washington struck a deal with the Taliban last year to withdraw all US forces in exchange for security guarantees. But the new US administration led by President Joe…
(2021-02-17). Biden to heavily indebted students: Tough luck. liberationnews.org 
The federal government owns 92 percent of student debt, but President Joe Biden is refusing to cancel that debt up to $50,000 per debtor using executive action.
(2021-02-17). Texas infrastructure nears complete collapse as capitalist neglect meets climate change-driven winter storms. liberationnews.org 
Four million or more Texans are without power. Outages that were initially called "rolling outages" are now lasting several days. The private non-profit corporation that oversees the electric grid is now admitting that they are "unable to predict" when conditions will stabilize.
(2021-02-17). Army Abducts Three Palestinians In Jerusalem, Tuesday. imemc.org 
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Tuesday evening, three young Palestinian men, including one who was released from prison a day earlier, in the at-Tour town, in occupied Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses said the soldiers invaded the town, before stopping a car at the al-Badawi intersection, and abducted three Palestinians. They said the soldiers abducted Ali Mheisin al-Kiswani, 22, …
(2021-02-17). Leading from the front: The role of women in Farmers' movement. mronline.org 
As lakhs of farmers continue their protest against the new farm legislations introduced by the Modi government, a remarkable number of women are not only braving the rough weather by participating in these demonstrations but are also leading from the front.
(2021-02-17). 'Faith in the Masses': Communist Party history gives something to believe in. peoplesworld.org 
Faith in the Masses: Essays Celebrating 100 Years of the Communist Party, USA, edited by Tony Pecinovsky, is an ambitious undertaking—almost as ambitious as the work the book describes. These essays cast a wide net aiming to capture the breadth of the Party's efforts to change society over the last century. The celebration is heartfelt, …
(2021-02-17). GameStop and Share Markets: Between the bad and the ugly, there is no G. mronline.org 
The recent GameStop story coming out of the U.S. pushed arcane financial dealings into a prominence they rarely enjoy. The public was introduced to weird concepts such as "short selling and short squeezes" and, for a while, they are likely to be part of many Zoom conversations.
(2021-02-17). Israelis, In God's Name, Why? counterpunch.org 
"The International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust is a time to mourn those who disappeared and to reflect upon the choice of the individuals and governments that allowed this genocide to unfold. It is also a call for vigilance and for action, to address the root causes of hatred
(2021-02-17). Columbus OH activists fight closure of park, site of a homeless encampment. liberationnews.org 
The city's decision to close the park without offering alternative plans to house the people who live there exposes the city's failure to care for its most vulnerable residents.
(2021-02-17). Agro-ecology project links peasant production to urban communes in Venezuela. peoplesdispatch.org 
"Only the people can save the people." With this idea in mind, the Pueblo a Pueblo Foundation (People to people, in Spanish) seeks to apply in real life, union and solidarity between the countryside and the city. The project is based on bringing food produced by rural Venezuelan communities to urban communes. The goal is to shut out intermediaries, and ensure the societal division of agricultural production: ensuring that the farmer does not lose his harvest, and that the consumer can have access to a diversified basic food basket at a fair price. | "The Pueblo a Pueblo plan has working on this dimension of agroe…
(2021-02-17). The "Return" of America: Biden's Maiden Foreign Policy Speech. counterpunch.org 
Few could have been slack-jawed at the first significant foreign policy speech of US President Joe Biden. It can easily be filed under the "America is back" label. Back as well, as if the previous administration had been incapable of it, was a promise for that practice unflatteringly called jaw-jaw. "Diplomacy," the President states from
(2021-02-17). 'Georgia On My Mind: The Third Reconstruction': Connecticut Black history event planned. peoplesworld.org 
"Georgia on My Mind: The Third Reconstruction," is the theme of a series of scheduled events including a Black History Month Youth March / car caravan, a virtual event, and an arts and writing competition highlighting the 47th People's World African American History Celebration in Connecticut. Register here. NEW HAVEN, Conn.—Co-sponsored with the Young Communist …
(2021-02-17). THIS is why 'deregulation' is deadly. therealnews.com 
Millions of Texans are struggling to keep warm and survive Winter Storm Uri. Meanwhile, Republicans like Texas Gov. Greg Abbot are rushing to save their own asses, pushing the blame for power grid failures onto anyone but themselves; but they, and years of market-serving conservative governance, caused this mess.
(2021-02-17). Texas infrastructure nears collapse; millions without power, water. liberationnews.org Four million or more Texans are without power. Outages that were initially called "rolling outages" are now lasting several days. The private non-profit corporation that oversees the electric grid is now admitting that they are "unable to predict" when conditions will stabilize.
(2021-02-17). Execution cruelty hidden by Trump officials to speed up death sentences. peoplesworld.org 
CHICAGO (AP)—Executioners who put 13 inmates to death in the last months of the Trump administration likened the process of dying by lethal injection to falling asleep and called gurneys "beds" and final breaths "snores." But those tranquil accounts are at odds with reports by The Associated Press and other media witnesses of how prisoners' stomachs rolled, …
(2021-02-17). We need more than Biden's "intention" — close Guantanamo now! liberationnews.org 
The Biden administration has directed the National Security Council to conduct a review as part of initial efforts to permanently shut down the infamous U.S. prison at the Guantanamo Bay naval base.
(2021-02-17). Big Oil Spent $10 million Lobbying California Officials in 2020. counterpunch.org 
The powerful oil industry lobby in California in 2020 spent less on lobbying in California than it did in 2019, but still managed to defeat legislation it opposed and getting CalGEM, the state's gas and oil regulatory agency, to double the number of new oil production well permits approved in the state. The top four oil industry lobbyist employers — the Western
(2021-02-17). 120 millones de personas cayeron en la pobreza por la pandemia. globalizacion.ca 
Los datos se desprenden de un informe del Banco Mundial, que estima que la cifra crecerá en 2021. El lado B de la pandemia que quiebra una tendencia global de reducción de la pobreza de más de 20 años. La…
(2021-02-17). The Arab Spring Failed But the Rage Against Misery and Injustice Continues. counterpunch.org 
Ten years ago, people across the Middle East and North Africa rose up in protest against their rulers, demanding freedom and democracy. Despotic rulers were toppled or feared that power was being torn from their grasp in countries across the region, as millions of demonstrators surged through the streets, chanting that "the people demand the fall of the regime".
(2021-02-17). Albuquerque teachers say, 'Until cases decline, keep school online!'. liberationnews.org 
Photo credit: Liberation screenshot of KOAT coverage. On Feb. 3, teachers and students held a protest outside of Albuquerque Public Schools administrative headquarters against the rushed re-opening of schools. They chanted "Save lives, keep the schools closed!" and "Until cases decline, stay online!" Later that day, the APS Board of Education met to vote on …
(2021-02-17). Trump's right-wing Egyptian allies attack Biden administration and Dems. peoplesworld.org 
Egypt's miserable record on human rights has resulted in two Democrats launching a congressional group to deal with the situation. On Jan. 25, Democratic Reps. Tom Malinowski of New Jersey and Don Beyer of Virginia announced the formation of the "Egypt Human Rights Caucus." Egyptian human rights organizations and activists in the U.S. have responded …
(2021-02-17). Soldiers Abduct A Child In Jerusalem. imemc.org 
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Tuesday evening, a Palestinian child in the at-Tour town, in the occupied Palestinian capital, Jerusalem, and summoned a young man for interrogation. Eyewitnesses said the soldiers invaded the town, and abducted Ali Orabi, 16, while walking in front of the court building. They added that the soldiers also summoned Rami Salah, …
(2021-02-17). OCHA: West Bank Demolitions and Displacement — January 2021. imemc.org 
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) Demolition and Displacement: January 2021 In January, the Israeli authorities demolished, forced people to demolish, or seized 81 Palestinian-owned structures across the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. This resulted in the displacement of 69 people, including 32 children, …
(2021-02-17). Montgomery Bus Boycott, Bessemer, prisons — Class struggle then and now. workers.org 
Fifty years after the end of the U.S. Civil War — and during the height of horrific lynchings of Black people in the Deep South by KKK terror — the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History was founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter Woodson and Rev. Jesse . . . |
(2021-02-17). Fight for 15: Workers across the US strike for dignified wages. peoplesdispatch.org 
Pickets and demonstrations, led by workers from major fast food chains and home care workers, were reported in major cities across the US. The strike comes at a time when Democrats are trying to hike the federal minimum wage that has remained unchanged since 2009.
(2021-02-17). 22-year old climate change organizer arrested in India. liberationnews.org 
Disha Ravi is accused of "sedition" for allegedly helping to create a digital "toolkit" to support the farmers' struggle.
(2021-02-17). Unsubstantiated 'sonic attack' allegations still hobble U.S.-Cuba relations. peoplesworld.org 
The new Biden administration may soon ease regulations enforcing the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. However, if Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden's new bill, the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2021, becomes law, the blockade itself will disappear. The two countries' embassies in Havana and Washington are dysfunctional. No normal relations will be obtained until they are …
(2021-02-17). To Normalize US-Cuban Relations, Restore Working Embassies. counterpunch.org 
The new Biden administration may soon ease regulations enforcing the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. However, if Oregon Senator Ron Wyden's new bill, the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2021, becomes law, the blockade itself will disappear. Meanwhile, the two countries' embassies in Havana and Washington are dysfunctional. No normal relations will obtain until they are
(2021-02-17). 'Indian Country' is excited about the first Native American secretary of the interior — and the promise she has for addressing issues of importance to all Americans. juancole.com 
By Traci Morris | — President Biden's nomination of U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico to lead the Department of the Interior is historic on many levels. Haaland, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, was one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, along with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of …
(2021-02-17). Israeli Soldiers Abduct Three Young Men In Jerusalem. imemc.org 
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Wednesday evening, a young Palestinian man after assaulting him, in Bab al-'Amoud area, and in two Qalandia refugee camp, in occupied Jerusalem. Media sources said the soldiers invaded the Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, before storming and searching homes. They added that the soldiers abducted Mohammad Mustafa Abu Ramouz and …
(2021-02-17). Texas infrastructure nears collapse, millions without power, water. liberationnews.org Four million or more Texans are without power. Outages that were initially called "rolling outages" are now lasting several days. The private non-profit corporation that oversees the electric grid is now admitting that they are "unable to predict" when conditions will stabilize.
(2021-02-17). Twitch.tv: A new frontier for the Left. dsausa.org 
Will Twitch hold an active role in the next campaign cycle? Will the Left be able to utilize this platform not only for electoral politics, but for direct action too?
(2021-02-17). Remembering Leo Panitch. mronline.org 
I first met Leo personally in 1984. Articling with a progressive law firm in Toronto, I found that Leo was my contact for arranging the visit of Ralph Miliband as guest speaker at the annual Law Union conference. Miliband's presentation was well received, and following the meeting Leo suggested the three of us should repair …
(2021-02-17). Just Give Us the F*cking Content Warning w/Whitney Webb & Johnny Vedmore. slownewsdayshow.com 
(2021-02-17). Congressional Budget Office Not Competent to Assess Economics of Minimum Wage. counterpunch.org 
A Congressional Budget Office Report on the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 underpins a February 11 Washington Post editorial headlined, "Democrats Must Listen to the Data."
(2021-02-17). Essential Inquest Law Updates with Rachel Marcus and Jim Duffy on Law Pod UK. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
The last 12 months have provided fertile ground for many significant judgments concerning inquest law. In Episode 136, Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Rachel Marcus and Jim Duffy about the developments practitioners will need to know about. The episode mentions: Rushbrooke v HM Coroner for West London [2020] EWHC 1612 (Admin) R (Maughan) v Senior Coroner …
(2021-02-17). Israeli Bulldozers Raze Land, Open Fire at Farmers on the Gaza Border. imemc.org 
The Israeli army, on Tuesday morning, invaded and razed Palestinian lands located east of Gaza City in the northern besieged Gaza Strip, the Jerusalem (Quds) Press reported. Six military bulldozers invaded the occupied territory and razed Palestinian-owned lands located near the security fence, according to Quds Press correspondent. In related news, soldiers opened fire at …
(2021-02-17). Army Invades Palestinian Lands In Southern Gaza Strip. imemc.org 
Several Israeli military vehicles, including bulldozers, invaded on Wednesday morning, Palestinian farmlands east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the coastal regions, and bulldozed sections near the fence while firing live rounds and smoke bombs. Media sources said at least three armored bulldozers, and four tanks, advanced dozens of meters into the Palestinian …
(2021-02-17). Texans freeze as fossil-fuel power grid fails, but conservatives blame wind turbines. peoplesworld.org 
While Texans suffer from freezing temperatures and extensive power outages, frozen wind turbines are being used as a ploy to spread skepticism on the reliability of renewable energy. This week, a relentless winter storm pummeled through parts of the southern and central U.S., causing people to crank their electric heating systems. In Texas, the energy demand became too high for …
(2021-02-17). Tyranny by Propaganda Is Tyranny by Force. strategic-culture.org 
By Caitlin JOHNSTONE | For most of recorded history, domination by brute force has been the norm for human civilization. Someone claws their way into a position of power over the other humans, and you obey and respect him or he'll have his goons attack you. | As people became more educated and more aware of what's going on in their world, they began to decide that they didn't much like being attacked by the ruler's goon squad whenever they stepped out of line. Because there are a lot more ordinary people than rulers, this forced an end to the practice of rule by overt brute force tyranny in some parts of the worl…
(2021-02-17). Navalny and the Protests: Some Clarification. socialistproject.ca 
Who is Alexei Navalny? We now hear nothing but good things said about him in the West, and the enthusiasm should probably be tempered. I personally have never been a fan of Navalny. At the same time, the guts he showed in returning to Russia when he knew he was threatened both physically and legally …
(2021-02-17). US Budget Deficit for January Comes in at 5 Times the Year Prior. anti-empire.com 
After running the biggest December budget deficit in history, the US government followed up with another massive budget shortfall in January. | According to the Monthly Treasury Statement, the January deficit came in at $162.83 billion. That's nearly five times bigger than the January 2020 shortfall. | That brings the total deficit for fiscal 2021 to $735.73 billion in just four months. To put that into perspective, that is slightly higher than the 2014 deficit and would rank in the top-10 highest deficits ever run. | Uncle Sam spent $547 billion in January. That brings total spending through the first four month…
(2021-02-17). US Imperialism Goes Green — Ready for Bombs Against Global Warming. anti-empire.com 
Environmental activists and NGOs are Given the putative urgency of tackl…
(2021-02-17). New York Businesses Now Fleeing to Florida. anti-empire.com 
New York businesses are now following New Yorkers, moving to Florida in droves amid New York's continued coronavirus lockdowns and a declining state economy, according to the New York Post. | "Two weeks ago, when the thermometer plunged below 20 and indoor dining was still off-limits in the city, intrepid New Yorkers continued to cling to vestiges of their social lives," the outlet noted Sunday. "But just a short flight away — in tony Palm Beach, Fla., where La Goulue recently opened an outpost that's a mirror image of its Manhattan mother ship — all inside tables and seats at the bar are full. Patron…
(2021-02-17). Biden Wants to Move Past Trump, Others Warn It's Dangerous to Ignore the Past. truthout.org 
During a town hall event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday evening, President Joe Biden expressed a desire to move on from putting focus on his predecessor, former President Donald Trump. | When discussing…
(2021-02-17). Rush Limbaugh's Death Evokes Little Sympathy From Progressives on Social Media. truthout.org 
Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh, who hosted his eponymous radio program "The Rush Limbaugh Show" for the past 32 years, died on Wednesday, his wife announced on his show. He was 70 years old. |
(2021-02-17). Gov. Andrew Cuomo Threatened Progressive NY Lawmaker Over Nursing Home Criticism. truthout.org 
Last week, as progressive New York assemblyman Ron Kim was taking care of his children at home on Thursday evening, he got a phone call from an irate Gov. Andrew Cuomo, he says. Cuomo yelled at him for 10 minutes, Cuomo wasted no time when Kim p…
(2021-02-17). Selected Articles: Science and Power as Fellow Henchmen. globalresearch.ca 
By Today's science is in a relation…
(2021-02-17). ‚Äé"Diálogo estratégico" entre Italia y ‚ÄéArabia Saudita. globalizacion.ca 
Por ser el principal comprador de armamento del mundo entero, Arabia Saudita ‚Äédespierta grandes ambiciones y los países y empresas que venden armas cierran los ojos para no ver la realidad de la terrible dictadura oscurantista que reina sobre esa…
(2021-02-17). Western countries imposing sanctions on Nord Stream 2 want to make Russia pay for 'geopolitical project' in Ukraine, Putin says. rt.com 
Many Western states oppose the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline because they want Russia to pay for their geopolitical project in Ukraine. That's according to President Vladimir Putin, who called the actions "primitive." | Speaking on Wednesday, the Russian leader noted that Moscow has understood its adversaries' modus operandi for "a long time." | "Why does everything revolve around Nord Stream 2? They want to make Russia pay for their geopolitical project in Ukraine," he said. | The pipeline, which will connect Germany directly to Russia, is aimed at protecting Berlin's energy security and making the…
(2021-02-17). Shopkeeper who stopped robbery in California by shooting into the air ARRESTED for discharging his gun. rt.com 
An Oakland liquor store owner in violence-besieged Chinatown shot into the air to stop the robbery of a woman in front of his shop, only to be arrested as police signaled that armed resistance to a crime wave won't be tolerated.
(2021-02-17). Biden signals green light for reparations study as Congress press bill to examine slavery & discrimination from 1619 to present. rt.com 
The White House has confirmed President Joe Biden's support for studying reparations, boosting a push in Congress to seek "appropriate remedies" for slavery and discrimination against black Americans dating from 1619 to today. | Biden "certainly would support a study of reparations" and the "continuing impacts of slavery," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at a briefing on Wednesday. "He continues to demonstrate his commitment to taking comprehensive action to address the systemic racism that persists today," and the reparations study is one part of that "across-government" approach, she add…
(2021-02-17). Facebook to ban Australian users from reading and sharing news in response to government's Big Tech bill. rt.com 
Australian Facebook users will be banned from reading, posting and sharing news, the social media platform said on Wednesday in response to a new government bill forcing tech giants to pay news outlets for using their content. | Facebook and Google are firmly opposed to Australia's News Media Bargaining Code, which is in the process of being reformed and has been debated by lawmakers this week. | The legislation forces tech companies to be more transparent about algorithms that help control news content on their platforms. | "The proposed law fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform a…
(2021-02-17). Letter bomb blast injures 3 at Lidl headquarters in Germany. rt.com 
A letter bomb has exploded at the headquarters of the Lidl supermarket chain in Neckarsulm, Germany, injuring three people. It's the second such incident in two days in the state of Baden-Wàºrttemberg. | A blast rocked the company's administrative building on Wednesday when "a letter was opened," a Lidl spokesperson told Bild. | Those hurt were rushed to hospital. One of the three sustained moderate injuries in the incident, according to local reports, while the other two escaped with light injuries. | Police spokesman, Gerald Olma, earlier told reporters that the explosion was likely caused by "a package…
(2021-02-17). Rush Limbaugh, legendary conservative radio host, dies of cancer. rt.com 
Rush Limbaugh, the pioneer of conservative talk radio who influenced Republican politics in the US for decades, lost his battle with lung cancer and passed away at the age of 70, his family has announced. | Limbaugh's wife Kathryn made the announcement on his radio show on Wednesday. | Rush Limbaugh has died, his wife Kathryn announced at the start of his show moments ago. In January 2020, Li…
(2021-02-17). US charges 3 North Koreans with hack on Seth Rogen/James Franco movie and stealing $1.3 billion. rt.com 
The US has charged three North Korean computer programmers over the theft of $1.3 billion and the well-publicized attack on a Hollywood film starring Seth Rogen and James Franco which depicts Kim Jong-un being assassinated. | The indictment names Jon Chang Hyok, 31, Kim Il, 27, and Park Jin Hyok, 36, as "military hackers" behind the cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2014, allegedly in response to the film 'The Interview'. | The 'hack-and-dump' operation on Sony saw swathes of its data deleted and other information published online, in what was seen to be the North Korean intelligence services retal…
(2021-02-17). SEVEN people shot outside Philadelphia transit station, one suspect in custody. rt.com 
A total of seven people have been shot outside a SEPTA transit station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, police have confirmed. One person was arrested and two guns were found at the scene. | The shooting happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Olney Transportation Center in north Philadelphia, located between two schools and a hospital. Initial reports from the scene spoke of one person killed, but police have since said they are still working to confirm the condition of all the victims. | UPDATE:
(2021-02-17). Biden administration approves $200 million arms sale to Egypt despite concerns over human rights abuses. rt.com 
The US has signed off on a $197 million arms sale, containing 168 tactical missiles, to the Egyptian government, despite the Biden administration raising concerns over potential human rights abuses in the country. | The US State Department announced that the government has approved the deal after the Egyptian Navy requested the Rolling Airframe Missiles to bolster its defense capabilities around the Red Sea, as the nation is seen as "an important strategic partner in the Middle East." | Congress will now review the deal and the State Department's approval before it is formally confirmed. | The Biden administra…