(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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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: 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). '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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). '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). 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). 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). 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). 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). "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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). '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). 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). 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). 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). 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). "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). 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). 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). "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). 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). 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). '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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). Black Lives Matter UK just took a vital step in building a mass movement. thecanary.co 
Black Lives Matter UK has
(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). 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). 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…
(2021-02-17). 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). 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). "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). 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). '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). 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). '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). '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). 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). '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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). '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). 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). '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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). Just Give Us the F*cking Content Warning w/Whitney Webb & Johnny Vedmore. slownewsdayshow.com 
(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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). '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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). "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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 'No violations allowed': WATCH Russian Su-27 jets drive away NATO warplanes over Black Sea, trio of French aircraft intercepted. rt.com 
Two Su-27 interceptor planes have escorted two French fighters and a tanker aircraft away from Russian airspace over the Black Sea, the Russian military has confirmed, as video of the encounter in the sky appeared on social media. | The Southern Military District deployed the interceptors on Wednesday morning as the trio of foreign aircraft appeared on radar, the National Defense Control Center (NDCC) said in a statement. | üá®üáµ
(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). Former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino DEMOLISHED to cheers in Atlantic City (VIDEO). rt.com 
Donald Trump's former hotel and casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey was taken down in a controlled demolition on Wednesday, with spectators actually paying to view the event and cheering as it came down. | While the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino had once been one of the big attractions on the Boardwalk, it had fallen into disrepair since closing in 2014, with debris beginning to peel and fall off the building. | It was destroyed in a controlled demolition on Wednesday morning, leaving in its wake nothing but rubble. | The former events manager for the casino, Bernie Dillon, said the hotel had on…
(2021-02-17). 'I want to see more of this': Fans SUPPORT English referee after he squares up to footballer in extraordinary clash (VIDEO). rt.com 
English referee Darren Drysdale has apologized after he was seen locking heads with Ipswich Town midfielder Alan Judge during a match on Tuesday night — but some fans have backed the official over the angry clash. | Drysdale was seen butting heads with Republic of Ireland international Judge after the official turned down a penalty appeal from the footballer in the 90th minute of the League One encounter with Northampton Town. | A furious Judge was seen marching towards Drysdale, pointing his finger at the 49-year-old, who responded by moving his head towards the footballer in scenes usually witnessed in…
(2021-02-17). Another US warship sails through South China Sea in challenge to China's territorial claims. rt.com 
A US Navy destroyer has once again sailed past Chinese-controlled islands in the South China Sea in the second challenge in two weeks to the territorial control Beijing claims in the area. | The US Navy's 7th Fleet announced that USS Russell sailed past the Spratly Islands on Wednesday, as part of a 'freedom of navigation operation' that was aimed at "challenging unlawful restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China." | This was the second challenge conducted in the region in the past two weeks by the Biden administration, with the USS Russell following a similar mission to the USS John S McCain's actions…
(2021-02-17). At least 20 dead as winter storm pummels US states, leaves millions in Texas without power in freezing temperatures. rt.com 
Extreme weather battering several US states has claimed the lives of at least 20 people, with Texas among the worst hit. Part of the state's power grid has been knocked out as residents struggle to stay warm. | The unprecedented storm has wreaked havoc on states across the country. On Tuesday, three people were killed after a tornado hit a seaside town in North Carolina. Police in Kentucky said that over the weekend, two people died after their vehicle slid off an icy road and fell into a waterway. A similar fatality was recorded in Mississippi. In western Tennessee, a 10-year-old boy died after falling into a…
(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). 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). US charges 3 North Koreans with hack on Seth Rogen/James Franco movie and stealing $1.3 billion. rt.com 
The US has charged three North Korean computer programmers over the theft of $1.3 billion and the well-publicized attack on a Hollywood film starring Seth Rogen and James Franco which depicts Kim Jong-un being assassinated. | The indictment names Jon Chang Hyok, 31, Kim Il, 27, and Park Jin Hyok, 36, as "military hackers" behind the cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2014, allegedly in response to the film 'The Interview'. | The 'hack-and-dump' operation on Sony saw swathes of its data deleted and other information published online, in what was seen to be the North Korean intelligence services retal…
(2021-02-17). Parler's new acting CEO invites Trump AND Biden to join 'civil discourse' after platform goes back online. rt.com 
The interim CEO of the conservative-friendly social media site Parler has invited both President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump to create accounts, encouraging "civil discourse" after announcing the platform's return. | Parler's new acting chief executive, longtime Tea Party activist Mark Meckler, extended the offer to the current and former president during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, saying both are welcome on the site. | "What Parler's really about is being a public square, and a public square is where anybody can come, they can say what they want as long as it's legal. And Dona…
(2021-02-17). 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). 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). 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). 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). 'A love as real as climate change': Tucker Carlson sparks outrage after saying Joe & Jill Biden's marriage a 'slick PR campaign'. rt.com 
Fox News host Tucker Carlson has outraged Democrats once again after he appeared to suggest President Joe Biden's relationship with his wife is a carefully-devised PR campaign, mockingly saying it is "as real as climate change." | Reacting to the glowing coverage celebrating Biden's public displays of affection with his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, and glee over a supposed return to 'normalcy' following chilly public interactions between former President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Carlson put his own spin on the situation. | "Not since Antony dined with Cleopatra at downtown Antioch, before they killed…
(2021-02-17). 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). Liberals show their true colors by dancing on Rush Limbaugh's grave within minutes of learning about his death. rt.com 
Many have mourned the death of conservative icon and talk-radio pioneer Rush Limbaugh, but his critics have also been quick to exploit his demise for cheap political points that benefit no one. | It took minutes for liberals to politicize the death of Limbaugh, which was announced Wednesday on his radio program by his wife Kathryn. Limbaugh was 70. | While Limbaugh was a window into the world of politics and a thought-provoking radio personality to many, to others it appears he was the devil himself. One would think he was a full-blown terrorist or murderer based on some of the reactions to his passing away.
(2021-02-17). Biden administration approves $200 million arms sale to Egypt despite concerns over human rights abuses. rt.com 
The US has signed off on a $197 million arms sale, containing 168 tactical missiles, to the Egyptian government, despite the Biden administration raising concerns over potential human rights abuses in the country. | The US State Department announced that the government has approved the deal after the Egyptian Navy requested the Rolling Airframe Missiles to bolster its defense capabilities around the Red Sea, as the nation is seen as "an important strategic partner in the Middle East." | Congress will now review the deal and the State Department's approval before it is formally confirmed. | The Biden administra…
(2021-02-17). 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). Selected Articles: Science and Power as Fellow Henchmen. globalresearch.ca 
By Today's science is in a relation…
(2021-02-17). The Heat: Farmers protest in India. america.cgtn.com 
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi facing the largest demonstrations since he came to power. We will take a look at the protests by thousands of farmers in the country.
(2021-02-17). ‚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). 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). Trump and McConnell Do Battle as GOP Civil War Heats Up. truthout.org 
The ongoing civil war within the GOP broke wide open on Monday, and it was nothing short of delicious to behold. The two biggest heavyweights that party has produced — former President Donald Trump and current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — went after each other like those paper-mache monsters in the The trouble started when McConnell concluded his in…
(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). 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). 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). 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). Rights groups slam US arms sale to Egypt as activist's relatives arrested. middleeasteye.net 
Rights groups slam US arms sale to Egypt as activist's relatives arrested | Groups call for end to weapons sales to Cairo and for Biden administration to live up to its promise of 'no more blank checks' for President Sisi | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 17: 20 | The State Department announced it had approved a $197m arms sale to Cairo, which consisted of 168 Raytheon-made Rolling Airframe Missiles (AFP/File ph…
(2021-02-17). BBC criticised over 'hostile' interview with MCB's first female leader. middleeasteye.net 
BBC criticised over 'hostile' interview with MCB's first female leader | More than 100 public figures sign letter calling for public broadcaster to diversify and better engage with Britain's Muslims | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 19: 10 | Zara Mohammed became both the youngest and first female leader of Muslim Council of Britain last month (Twitter) | More than 100 public figures have signed an open letter to the BBC cri…
(2021-02-17). UAE: Boris Johnson 'concerned' about Dubai's Princess Latifa. middleeasteye.net 
UAE: Boris Johnson 'concerned' about Dubai's Princess Latifa | Britain has asked the UAE for proof that Latifa is 'alive and well', but has no plans to raise her case with the Emiratis | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 08: 41 | Princess Latifa shared secret recordings filmed inside a Dubai villa, where she says she is being held hostage (Supplied) | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that he was "concern…
(2021-02-17). Syria: US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem released by HTS after six months. middleeasteye.net 
Syria: US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem released by HTS after six months | Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham detained reporter after he highlighted allegations of torture inside group's prisons | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 12: 29 | Bilal Abdul Kareem (second from right) was freed after HTS held him for six months following his reports on the treatment of Tauqir Sharif (right), a British aid worker (Supplied) | Syrian militan…
(2021-02-17). 'Path to diplomacy' between Iran and US is open, Blinken says. middleeasteye.net 
'Path to diplomacy' between Iran and US is open, Blinken says | But Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said Washington's 'nice words and promises' were not enough to revive the nuclear deal | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 18: 54 | 'We know that that agreement was working,' US Secretary of State Tony Blinken told NPR (AFP/File photo) | Washington and Tehran have an open "path to diplomacy" to revive the nuclear deal a…
(2021-02-17). Islamic State: New Zealand lashes at Australia for stripping woman's citizenship. middleeasteye.net 
Islamic State: New Zealand lashes at Australia for stripping woman's citizenship | A dual Australian-New Zealand national was arrested in Turkey over suspected affiliation to IS. Now the two countries are rejecting responsibility for her | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 13: 46 | New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has slammed Australia for 'unilaterally' stripping the suspected IS member's Australian citizenshi…
(2021-02-17). Syria and Israel to swap prisoners in Russia-mediated deal. middleeasteye.net 
Syria and Israel to swap prisoners in Russia-mediated deal | Nihal al-Maqt and Diab Kahamuz, Syrians from the occupied Golan Heights, to be exchanged for an Israeli woman who crossed the border | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 14: 15 | The fence between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the Syrian governorate of Quneitra (AFP) | Two Syrian prisoners from the occupied Golan Heights will be released…
(2021-02-17). Biden makes long-awaited call to Israel's Netanyahu. middleeasteye.net 
Biden makes long-awaited call to Israel's Netanyahu | US President Joe Biden spoke to the Israeli PM for around an hour, following much speculation over a month of silence between the two leaders | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 21: 18 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on the phone with US President Joe Biden on 17 February (Twitter/@IsraeliPM)
| US President Joe Biden made a much-anticipated call to I…
(2021-02-17). Israeli PM Netanyahu says he had 'friendly and warm' call with US president Biden. rt.com 
After almost a month in office, US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House confirmed. Netanyahu described the hour-long conversation as friendly and warm. | Tweeting in Hebrew, Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that he had spoken with Biden, saying they discussed the "strong alliance between Israel and the United States," the "Iranian threat," and challenges in the Middle East, among other things. | ◊®◊ê◊© ◊î◊û◊û◊©◊ú◊î ◊ë◊ ◊ô◊û◊&oc…
(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). Protests demanding the release of Pablo Hasel gain momentum in Spain. peoplesdispatch.org Massive mobilizations were held across Spain demanding the release of rapper and poet Pablo Hasel.Hasel was arrested by the Catalan police on Feb 16 at the University of Lleida.
(2021-02-17). Tuesday 2/16: Race, Class & Policing: The Economics of Mass Incarceration. indybay.org Online event (FREE)…
(2021-02-17). New Massachusetts Law Paves Way For Police-Free Schools. popularresistance.org In Massachusetts, those who want police out of public schools are one step closer to making it happen. Lawmakers recently struck down a requirement that all school districts in the state have at least one "school resource officer"—a moniker for school cops. Now just two states—Florida and Maryland—have laws requiring police in schools, and advocates are pushing them to follow suit. | Massachusetts adopted the school police requirement in 2014 in response to the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Connecticut where 26 people were killed at school, including 20 young children. Since then, the n…
(2021-02-17). Thirty FETàñ terror suspects arrested in Istanbul. yenisafak.com The arrests came after Istanbul prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 31 suspects as part of a probe into the terror group, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.In simultaneous anti-terror operations at 29 addresses in Istanbul, police also seized ‚Ǩ17,515 ($21,175) and nearly 7,000 Turkish liras ($990).Efforts to apprehend the remaining suspect are ongoing.FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in which 251 people were martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a…
(2021-02-17). Syria, Israel carry out Russia-brokered prisoner swap. yenisafak.com The Syrian regime on Wednesday announced a Russia-brokered prisoner swap with Israel, according to the official SANA news agency."Work is underway to free Syrian citizens of the occupied Syrian Golan from the prisons of the Israeli occupation," SANA said.SANA, citing unnamed sources, said the Russian-mediated swap "includes the release of two Syrians; Nihal Al-Maqt and Dhiab Kahmuz, in return for an Israeli girl, who was arrested by Syrian authorities after she entered Quneitra region in the Syrian territory by mistake."There was no comment from Israeli authorities on the report.
(2021-02-16). The Case for Prosecuting Trump: Elie Mystal on Why Criminal Charges Are Still Possible — and Needed. democracynow.org 
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she has authorized a 9/11-style commission to further investigate the January 6 insurrection and the actions that led up to it, as calls grow for the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump after his acquittal in his second Senate impeachment trial. The Nation's justice correspondent Elie Mystal says House impeachment managers presented "a fairly compelling case for criminal liability" for Donald Trump over the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. "I think there's a case for indictment. I think we should at least try," he says.