(2021-02-16). Naugatuck, Conn. students keep Black Lives Matter fight going. peoplesworld.org 
NAUGATUCK, Conn.—What do the police killing of George Floyd and Naugatuck, Conn., have in common? Plenty. In June 2020, there was a March of 1,100 people in Naugatuck in solidarity with the many George Floyd protests and Black Lives Matter (BLM) marches across the country. It gave birth to the peace and solidarity group Naugatuck …
(2021-02-16). Europe Will Redefine Itself Despite Political Shift in the US. dissidentvoice.org 
Despite the long-awaited political change in Washington as Democratic President, Joe Biden, has officially become the 46th President of the United States, Europe is unlikely to resume its previously unhindered reliance on its trans-Atlantic partner. The four years of Donald Trump were rife with tension and strife between the US and Europe — in fact, …
(2021-02-16). Impeachment fiasco: Trumpism gets new lease on life. liberationnews.org 
Because of the approach adopted by the Democratic Party in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack, Trump's acquittal was essentially a forgone conclusion.
(2021-02-16). Overcoming company hurdles, 6,000 Amazon workers start union recognition vote. peoplesworld.org 
BESSEMER, Ala. (PAI)—Overcoming one final company-crafted hurdle, almost 6,000 workers—most of them Black in a 70% Black city—at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Ala., are now voting by mail on whether to unionize. Final results of the balloting, on whether the workers will join the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU), a sector of …
(2021-02-16). States have no inherent 'right to exist'—but it's a media fixation on Israel/Palestine. mronline.org 
No state has an intrinsic "right to exist." As international relations scholar Scott Burchill points out, there is no abstract "right to exist" in international law, or in "any serious theory of international relations."
(2021-02-16). Israel court rules to expel six Palestinian families from East Jerusalem homes. middleeasteye.net 
Israel court rules to expel six Palestinian families from East Jerusalem homes | The eviction affects 27 people, in a decision NGO Peace Now says is aimed at dispossessing the Palestinian community of Sheikh Jarrah in favour of settlers | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 14: 04 | Protesters near the house of a Palestinian family, which an Israeli court had ordered to be evicted while declaring Israeli settlers to be the lega…
(2021-02-16). Is Biden Committing Diplomatic Suicide Over the Iran Nuclear Agreement? counterpunch.org 
As Congress still struggles to pass a COVID relief bill, the rest of the world is nervously reserving judgment on America's new president and his foreign policy, after successive U.S. administrations have delivered unexpected and damaging shocks to the world and the international system. Cautious international optimism toward Biden is very much based on his
(2021-02-16). Workers press Biden to fight for $15 minimum wage. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (AP)—Union activist Terrence Wise recalls being laughed at when he began pushing for a national $15 per hour minimum wage almost a decade ago. Nearly a year into the pandemic, the idea isn't so funny. The coronavirus has renewed focus on challenges facing hourly employees who have continued working in grocery stores, gas stations, …
(2021-02-16). Super Bowl for Sports Team Billionaires: SF Giants owner rakes in $815 million during the pandemic. dissidentvoice.org 
Oracle Park The assets of Charles Johnson, the controversial chief owner of the San Francisco Giants, increased by $815 million during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, his net worth was a mere $4.2 billion dollars. By January 2021 he commanded a fortune of $5.015 billion, an increase just short of 20%. Workers at Oracle …
(2021-02-16). Trouble in Vaccine Land: The Wiliness of South Africa's Coronavirus Variant. counterpunch.org 
It began as a shudder through the scientific and public health establishments. A new variant of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 had been found, mutating in South African climes, potentially outwitting human responses to it. Vaccines such as Oxford-AstraZeneca's would have to be brushed up. Rollouts would have to be reconsidered. The South African variant has been
(2021-02-16). Philadelphians demand COVID safety. workers.org 
Several dozen teachers, parents and community activists protested outside Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny's home on Feb 12. They were demanding city officials not reopen schools for in-person teaching — until all teachers are vaccinated and all schools are properly ventilated. Educators continue to teach virtually until an arbitrator rules on . . . |
(2021-02-16). Bill Davis—beloved labor and peace activist, Communist leader—lost to COVID. peoplesworld.org 
Bill Davis, a long-time trade union and peace activist and Communist Party USA leader, died Jan. 23 in New York while in hospice with COVID-19. He was 78 years old. Davis was a caseworker for the New York City Department of Welfare (later Social Services) and a fixture in the trade union movement. As an …
(2021-02-16). The Weekly Round-up: Phase 2 of the Grenfell Inquiry. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
In the News: Having been temporarily suspended in early January as a result of an increase in COVID-19 cases, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry hearings resumed on 8 February 2021. The fire killed 72 people. The hearings are being conducted remotely using a Zoom-based video platform, which the Inquiry describes as "a temporary measure to be …
(2021-02-16). Protesters in Algeria defy Covid-19 ban to mark second anniversary of uprising. middleeasteye.net 
Protesters in Algeria defy Covid-19 ban to mark second anniversary of uprising | Demonstrators marched in the town of Kherrata, which activists view as the birthplace of the Hirak movement | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 13: 28 | Protestors chanted anti-government slogans and held Algerian and Berber flags as they marked the second anniversary of the Hirak movement (AFP) | Hundreds of Algerians defied…
(2021-02-16). Egypt: Student anger over in-person exams despite Covid-19. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt: Student anger over in-person exams despite Covid-19 | Calls for Minister of Higher Education Khaled Abdel Ghaffar to be dismissed over his comments | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 12: 41 | Many have used the minister's comments to highlight the crowded nature of university education and the threat it could pose to the health of students (Screengrab/Social media) | Egypt's Minister of Higher Education Khaled A…
(2021-02-16). Russian-made Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona vaccines are effective against UK variant of coronavirus — watchdog. rt.com 
Russia's Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona vaccines have been proven to be effective against the UK variant of the coronavirus, a government agency has said. | Serum obtained from people who took the Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona vaccines and had antibodies to the novel coronavirus, demonstrated a "protective effect" against the UK variant, Russia's consumer protection agency, Rospotrebnadzor, said in a statement to the media. | It added that the vaccines have shown to be just as good against the British strain as they are against the ordinary SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. | The research was carried out by th…
(2021-02-16). Selected Articles: The Reshaping of Global Agriculture. globalresearch.ca 
By Western countries, including Canada, are using experimental mRNA injections in nursing homes, on the most vulnerable of people. …
(2021-02-16). Israeli cabinet holds urgent, unscheduled meeting on Syria: Reports. middleeasteye.net 
Israeli cabinet holds urgent, unscheduled meeting on Syria: Reports | Details of meeting were banned from publication at request of Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 19: 02 | An Israeli flag is seen placed on Mount Bental in the occupied Golan Heights on 10 May 2018 (AFP/File photo) | Israel's cabinet convened for an unscheduled meeting on Tuesday for urgent discussions regarding a human…
(2021-02-16). Why are Effective and Inexpensive Chinese and Russian Vaccines Unavailable in Much of the West? dissidentvoice.org 
In 2016, I attended an information session about First Nations in Lax Kxeen (colonial designation Prince Rupert),1 "BC." During a break, I conversed with some fellow attendees. They expressed skepticism to colonial provincial authorities being behind the intentional spreading of smallpox among First Nations people2 and that a vaccine was withheld from infected Indigenous individuals. …
(2021-02-16). The Trump Cult and Its Future. counterpunch.org 
I am quite sure the majority of Trump supporters do not embrace the "theory" that the Democratic leaders are pedophile cannibal satanists whom Trump sought to destroy, to protect the children. An amazing minority do, constituting a robust and vital idiot stratum within the Trump coalition. (It is not clear however what QAnon will play
(2021-02-16). Mississippi laws threaten protesters with jail. liberationnews.org 
In Mississippi, the first of these anti-protest laws was passed in June. The law threatens individuals who protest oil and gas pipelines or other "critical infrastructure" projects with up to 7 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
(2021-02-16). Child slavery lawsuit targets Hershey, Nestlé, Mars and other chocolate giants. peoplesworld.org 
Many people give chocolates as a symbol of love on Valentine's Day, but for some, the popular candy is more bitter than sweet. A human rights group filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of eight Malian men who say they were trafficked across the border to the Cote D'Ivoire and forced to harvest cocoa for …
(2021-02-16). Nuclear Rockets to Mars? counterpunch.org 
A report advocating rocket propulsion by nuclear power for U.S. missions to Mars, written by a committee packed with individuals deeply involved in nuclear power, was issued last week by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. | The 104-page report also lays out "synergies" in space nuclear activities between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the U.S. military, something not advanced explicitly since the founding of NASA as a civilian agency supposedly in 1958.
(2021-02-16). Gulf Coast faces high eviction rates, despite CDC moratorium. liberationnews.org 
Eviction rates in the Southeast region are exceeding national levels.
(2021-02-16). Karen Lewis, 1953-2021: Lessons from a teacher, leader and courageous fighter. workers.org 
The global working-class, Black liberation and labor movements lost a courageous fighter when Karen Lewis — former president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), who famously led a militant, seven-day strike in 2012 — passed away Feb. 7 after a long battle with cancer. Karen Lewis. Credit: John W. Iwanski . . . |
(2021-02-16). It's a Myth that Presidents Welcome Movement Pressure — and Biden is No Different. counterpunch.org 
In early 2009, as Barack Obama prepared to move into the White House, a particular historical anecdote rapidly gained in popularity, repeated in dozens of talks and articles as a parable for how supporters should respond to the new president taking office. The story related a New Deal-era encounter between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a group of activists, usually said to have been led by A. Philip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. In the meeting, the advocates laid out a vision of bold action for change that the president could advance with his bully pulpit and his executive power. FDR listen…
(2021-02-16). Haiti: The masses are still in the streets. workers.org 
A twitter post showed hundreds of students taking to the streets of Delmas, near Port-au-Prince, on the morning of Feb. 13, some carrying pictures of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. They were demanding President Jovenel MoàØse, a U.S. puppet, leave office, especially since his term was over Feb. 7. A much . . . |
(2021-02-16). We Need to Talk About Judas. counterpunch.org 
The new film, Judas and the Black Messiah, is worth seeing, talking about and analyzing with a variety of historical lenses. The historical lenses include the history of Black Cinema, revolutionary cinema, African American history and the history of political repression in the US in general. Every once in a while, an important political film
(2021-02-16). Biden's first directive to the war machine. mronline.org 
In his first presidential visit to the Pentagon yesterday, Joe Biden announced the creation of an anti-China task force.
(2021-02-16). Karen Lewis and the class-conscious union. liberationnews.org 
In a moment of crisis, Karen Lewis and the CORE caucus reinvigorated class consciousness in teachers' unions.
(2021-02-16). Scientists on WHO mission to Wuhan accuse media of biased reportage. mronline.org 
The U.S. government and many media outlets have queried WHO findings that do not corroborate theories promoted by Washington, such as the virus escaping from a Chinese laboratory.
(2021-02-16). Immigration enforcement and the afterlife of the slave ship. mronline.org 
Coast Guard techniques for blocking Haitian asylum seekers have their roots in the slave trade. Understanding these connections can help us disentangle immigration policy from white nationalism.
(2021-02-16). Oregon care workers dare to strike. workers.org 
In Springfield, Ore., essential health workers at The Rawlin at Riverbend Memory Care facility have set a Feb. 16 strike deadline to demand union recognition in order to improve staffing, training and turnover — and save residents' lives. They are leading the way for workers throughout their community and the . . . |
(2021-02-16). How Spanish Can Help Us Survive Viral Times. counterpunch.org 
"Una nación bajo Diós, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos." When Jennifer López shouted out that last line of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish during Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, like so many Spanish-speaking Latinos in the United States I felt a sense of pride, a sense of arrival. It was a joy to hear my
(2021-02-16). Police arrest Spanish rapper Pablo Hasel. peoplesdispatch.org 
The Spanish national court served a notice to rapper Pablo Hasel in January asking him to surrender within ten days to face imprisonment. Hasel was convicted on charges of "glorifying terrorism, insulting the crown and state institutions" and faces a two-year prison term.
(2021-02-16). Catastrophe Capitalism in America. realprogressives.org 
What is the meaning of "catastrophic" anyways? The sheer amount of death, suffering and misery caused by the neoliberal world order serving the whims of transnational capital is unending. It's so normalized that most people don't even consider the depravity; most people can't, since it's too much to handle. But is It catastrophic? | We're told, "communism killed 100,000,000 in a century" whenever the conversation about making things remotely better or changing our system comes up. Even if that claim, which comes from thinkers and historians diametrically opposed to communism, were true, capitalism kills 20,000…
(2021-02-16). "Our Indifference To Ourselves": Beyond The "Virtue" Of Self-Sacrifice (Part 1). dissidentvoice.org 
The name Arnold Ridley will be familiar to many viewers of 'Dad's Army', one of Britain's best-loved TV comedies, which ran a long time ago (1968-1977) but is still shown on prime time BBC TV. Ridley played Private Godfrey, the loveable, most doddery member of a Second World War platoon of elderly Home Guard troops tasked with …
(2021-02-16). UAE: Secret recordings emerge of 'hostage' Princess Latifa. middleeasteye.net 
UAE: Secret recordings emerge of 'hostage' Princess Latifa | The BBC has obtained new videos of the princess, who claims she is being held captive by her father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 16: 36 | Dubai's Princess Latifa al-Maktoum said in a video published in March 2018 that she had run away (Screengrab) | Footage made public by the BBC on Tuesday showed Dubai's Princess Latifa…
(2021-02-16). Trump remains unchallenged frontrunner among potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates – poll. rt.com 
Despite the former US president's tumultuous exit from the Oval Office as the first to be impeached – and acquitted – twice, Donald Trump remains the top pick of the majority of Republican voters for president in 2024. | Trump would be a clear favorite to win the Republican primary were it held today, according to a Politico-Morning Consult poll published on Tuesday. Nearly three fifths — 59 percent — of Republican voters want Trump to play a major role in the party going forward, and 54 percent would vote for the ex-president in the primary, the survey revealed. | The former president was acquitted…
(2021-02-16). Robinhood CEO claims to be hiding in 'undisclosed location,' supposedly facing DEATH THREATS over restricting 'meme stock' trading. rt.com 
Vlad Tenev, CEO of now-infamous stock-trading app Robinhood, is supposedly hiding out in an "undisclosed location" avoiding what he claims are threats to his life as he prepares to testify at Congress. | Tenev is awaiting a Thursday hearing on the GameStop upset, apparently hiding out in a hotel out of fear of going home due to what he insisted to Bloomberg are "angry client mobs" making death threats against him. | The Robinhood co-founder incurred massive loathing from the internet after his trading platform began imposing seemingly arbitrary one-stock purchase limits on GameStop ($GME) and nearly 50 other s…
(2021-02-16). After being cancelled, Gina Carano's 'Mandalorian' figure sells for big bucks as thousands demand she be rehired by Disney. rt.com 
Following her firing from Disney's 'The Mandalorian' over conservative social media posts, Gina Carano's support appears to only be growing as her character's action figure is going for hundreds now that it has been discontinued. | Hasbro has announced it will no longer produce figures for Carano's Cara Dune character from the popular Disney Plus series and even revealed this week plans for another production run were scrapped in the wake of her firing. | "Due to recent events, Hasbro was no longer approved to produce any more of this figure," a rep for retailer BigBadToyStore told The Hollywood Reporter. Hasb…
(2021-02-16). Trump declares war on Senate GOP leader McConnell, calls him 'dour, unsmiling hack' & vows to back 'America First' primary rivals. rt.com 
Former US President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, calling him a "third rate" leader and pledging to support those challenging establishment candidates in GOP primaries. | "The Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political 'leaders' like Sen. Mitch McConnell at its helm," the lengthy statement begins. "McConnell's dedication to business as usual, status quo policies, together with his lack of political insight, wisdom, skill, and personality, has rapidly driven him from Majority Leader to Minority Leader, and it will only get…
(2021-02-16). Charges dropped against Amy Cooper, aka 'Central Park Karen', after she was made to attend 'racial equality psychoeducation'. rt.com 
Amy Cooper, the New Yorker branded 'Central Park Karen' by the media following a dispute with a black birdwatcher, has had misdemeanor charges against her dropped after being made to attend "psychoeducation" for "racial equality." | Cooper had been charged with making a false police report after she dramatically called 911 on birdwatcher Christian Cooper and claimed he was "threatening" her "life" during a heated dispute, after he had told her to leash her dog in Central Park's Ramble area — where dogs are required to be leashed — on May 25 last year. | A judge on Tuesday "granted Manhattan prosecuto…
(2021-02-16). Kamala Harris, not Joe Biden, makes some of the latest calls to world leaders, White House readouts reveal. rt.com 
While US President Joe Biden was taking a break at Camp David to play video games with his grandchildren, his VP Kamala Harris phoned the president of France to discuss bilateral relations, in a somewhat unusual turn of events. | According to the White House
(2021-02-16). 'New language': School asks parents to rate their 'whiteness' & become 'white traitors' or 'abolitionists'. rt.com 
A New York City public school has sent a graphic to parents, encouraging them to become "white traitors" or "abolitionists," detailing the eight supposed stages of "whiteness." | The graphic was sent out by the principal of East Side Community School in New York City, according to a report from City Journal's Christopher Rufo, but its author is Northwestern University associate professor Barnor Hesse. | According to Hesse's theory, there are eight "white identities." In the graphic, they are color-coded from green to red in terms of whether they are good or bad. The most green or best version of a white person…
(2021-02-16). E-mail reveals ex-FBI chief Comey signed FISA warrant despite KNOWING he couldn't verify Steele Dossier on Trump/Russia. rt.com 
Former FBI Director James Comey is under scrutiny after a newly released email showed he may have signed a warrant based on the Steele Dossier while being unable to verify any of the information in it. | Comey signed a FISA surveillance warrant in January 2017 based on the Steele Dossier, which contained allegations of cooperation and misconduct between Donald Trump and the Russian government, on the same day he reportedly sent an email to then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper saying he could not verify the information in the document. | "We are not able to sufficiently corroborate the reporting…
(2021-02-16). Biden supports 9/11-style commission to 'investigate' US Capitol riot, as suggested by Pelosi, Graham, & others. rt.com 
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has said President Joe Biden "would support" Congress creating a 9/11-style commission panel to investigate the January 6 US Capitol riot, as numerous lawmakers have suggested. | A commission has been recommended by both Democrats and Republicans in the wake of the Senate acquitting Donald Trump on the article of impeachment that accused him of "inciting an insurrection" and directly inspiring the storming of the Capitol. | "We need a 9/11 commission to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again, and I want to make sure that the Capitol footprint can be be…
(2021-02-16). Lincoln Project leadership knew about harassment accusations against co-founder since March — media. rt.com 
Despite denying knowledge of allegations that colleague John Weaver was sexually harassing young men, a new report suggests Lincoln Project co-founders Steve Schmidt and Reed Galen were aware for nearly a year. | Schmidt, who stepped away from the group on Monday, said he was not aware of any wrongdoings by Weaver until the first public reports began surfacing in January. | According to a report from The 19th, however, multiple sources have now revealed that Schmidt is among the leadership in the organization to have known about allegations against Weaver for months. In Schmidt and Galen's case, they could hav…
(2021-02-16). Gideon Saar suspends Lincoln Project advisors amid sexual harassment scandal. middleeasteye.net 
Gideon Saar suspends Lincoln Project advisors amid sexual harassment scandal | Netanyahu rival's polling has flagged since anti-Trump campaigners came on board | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 15: 42 | Israeli politician Gideon Saar talks to reporters during a visit to an outdoor shopping centre in city of Raanana near Tel Aviv, 8 February 2021 (AFP) | Gideon Saar, one of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chief r…
(2021-02-16). Andrés Arauz: Ecuador's Presidential Front-Runner on COVID, Austerity & Ending U.S. Interference. democracynow.org 
Ecuador's presidential front-runner says the country is facing a "double crisis" of COVID-19 and austerity. "We need a renewal in our politics," Andrés Arauz tells Democracy Now! The left-wing economist secured nearly 33% of the vote in the first round of Ecuador's presidential election on February 7 but fell short of the 40% needed to win outright. He will face right-wing banker Guillermo Lasso or Indigenous candidate Yaku Pérez in a runoff election on April 11, depending on the results of a recount after both candidates secured just over 19% of the vote. Arauz has pledged to end austerity measures imposed by Ec…
(2021-02-16). UK rights groups to boycott Prevent review over Shawcross appointment. middleeasteye.net 
UK rights groups to boycott Prevent review over Shawcross appointment | Organisations including Amnesty, Liberty and Cage say government has 'no interest in conducting an objective and impartial review' | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 15: 59 | William Shawcross is a former director of the Henry Jackson Society (UK government) | Leading human rights and civil liberties organisations in the UK are to boycott a long…
(2021-02-16). Arabic press review: Bahrain formed anti-revolution lobby in Washington in 2011. middleeasteye.net 
Arabic press review: Bahrain formed anti-revolution lobby in Washington in 2011 | Meanwhile, UK holds talks with Yemen's Houthis, Sudan plans handing over Bashir to ICC and a cash-strapped Jordanian writer sells personal library | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 11: 52 | Bahrain registered its anti-revolution lobby on 15 March 2011, a day after the GCC agreed to deploy troops to counter mass protests (Reuters…
(2021-02-16). Egypt arrests relatives of US-based rights advocate Mohamed Soltan. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt arrests relatives of US-based rights advocate Mohamed Soltan | Egyptian authorities are arresting Soltan's relatives to 'intimidate him into silence', his lawyer says | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 16: 58 | This is not the first time Egyptian security forces have targeted Soltan's family members (MEE/File photo) | Egyptian security forces arrested several members of Egyptian-American activist Mohamed Soltan's famil…
(2021-02-16). Biden to communicate with Saudi Arabia via King Salman, bypassing MBS. middleeasteye.net 
Biden to communicate with Saudi Arabia via King Salman, bypassing MBS | White House press secretary says move represents return to 'counterpart to counterpart' diplomacy, regarding King Salman as rightful Saudi leader | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 20: 49 | Since taking office, the Biden administration has been pressuring Saudi Arabia to improve its human rights record (AFP/File photo) | President Joe Biden plans to shif…
(2021-02-16). US urges Yemen's Houthis to join peace talks, stop assault on government stronghold. middleeasteye.net 
US urges Yemen's Houthis to join peace talks, stop assault on government stronghold | State Department strongly urges Houthi movement to stop its attacks on oil-rich Marib, where deadly offensive threatens lives of millions of civilians | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 16: 31 | Forces loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government get into position during clashes with Houthi rebel fighters, northwest of Marib in central Yemen on…
(2021-02-16). Saudi Arabia issues ultimatum to foreign companies to move regional HQs to kingdom. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi Arabia issues ultimatum to foreign companies to move regional HQs to kingdom | The announcement, which comes amid an economic slump in the kingdom, could create friction with UAE | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 12: 56 | Cars drive past the King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital Riyadh on 18 December 2018 (Reuters) | Saudi Arabia is to stop signing contracts with companies whose regional headquarters a…
(2021-02-16). Israel threatens to forge own path on Iran if US revives nuclear deal. middleeasteye.net 
Israel threatens to forge own path on Iran if US revives nuclear deal | Ambassador Gilad Erdan says if US were to lift 'crippling' sanctions, Iran will have 'no real incentive to negotiate' | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 15: 23 | Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan (R) stressed that without sanctions and a 'credible military threat', Iran will have no motive to negotiate over its nuclear programme (AFP/File photo) | The Israe…
(2021-02-16). Iraq: US forces hit in rocket attack that kills contractor. middleeasteye.net 
Iraq: US forces hit in rocket attack that kills contractor | US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he was outraged by the deadly raid | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 08: 59 | A man lies in a hospital bed after being injured during Monday's rocket attack on US-led forces at Erbil international airport (Reuters) | A rocket attack in northern Iraq killed a contractor and wounded several others, includi…
(2021-02-16). Is Solitary Confinement a Form of Torture? Q&A with journalist James Ridgeway. counterpunch.org 
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(2021-02-16). The Heat: U.S. Congress acquits Donald Trump. america.cgtn.com 
The U.S. Senate acquits Donald Trump of inciting the mob that stormed the U. S. Capitol last month. What does it mean for his political future and beyond?
(2021-02-16). Sex workers are held to an impossible standard. therealnews.com 
Do we talk about any other job the way we talk about sex work? Do you ask cashiers or dishwashers if their work is "empowering"?
(2021-02-16). 'Agent Sonya,' a biography of intrepid antifa spy Ursula Kuczynski. peoplesworld.org 
Ben MacIntyre, a British writer for The London Times, is known to spy thriller fans as the author of meticulously researched biographies of famous 20th-century spies. The latest in his series is a comprehensive biography of Jewish German-born Ursula Kuczynski, later also known as Ursula Hamburger, Ursula Beurton, and Ruth Werner. Born in 1907, Ursula …
(2021-02-16). Iran informs UN nuclear watchdog of end to surprise nuclear site inspections this month to enforce act of parliament. rt.com 
Tehran has notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its parliamentary-approved plan to limit inspections of its nuclear sites from February 23, despite some vocal government opposition to the move. | "Iran informed the IAEA on 15 February that the country will stop implementing voluntary transparency measures under the JCPOA as of 23 February, including the Additional Protocol," the IAEA said in a statement on Tuesday. | At the time the legislation was passed, the government said they did not support the parliamentary decision to terminate surprise inspections and boost enrichment, and called…
(2021-02-16). Sicily's Mount Etna ejects lava & massive ash column in another stunning eruption (PHOTOS, VIDEOS). rt.com 
Mount Etna in Sicily, Europe's tallest volcano and one of its most active, has erupted for the second time in as many days, with a stream of molten rock and a massive ash cloud tinged red by the sun captured in remarkable footage.
(2021-02-16). Spanish police fire rubber bullets after Barcelona protest demanding rapper's release descends into riots (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Clashes erupted between protesters and riot police during demonstrations in Catalonia against the arrest of rapper Pablo Hasel, convicted for calling the former Spanish king a thief, with cops in Barcelona firing rubber bullets. | Hasel, whose real name is Pablo Rivadulla Duro, was
(2021-02-16). 'I am going to be MMA's biggest star': Bellator brawler Valerie Loureda shares snap with 50 Cent as she promises to dominate sport. rt.com 
Bellator newcomer Valerie Loureda, whose reputation for scantily-clad snaps and regular updates has seen her amass more than 754,000 followers on Instagram, has said she will be "the most respected and honored woman of all time". | Describing her debut win over Colby Fletcher on a Bellator card in the US in 2019 as "the moment my life changed", the hugely popular flyweight shared photos of her locker room, walking into the octagon with her name and face in lights and posing with superstar rapper and celebrity 50 Cent having "quickly transformed back to myself" by donning a dress afterwards. | Demonstrating the…
(2021-02-16). The Case for Prosecuting Trump: Elie Mystal on Why Criminal Charges Are Still Possible — and Needed. democracynow.org 
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she has authorized a 9/11-style commission to further investigate the January 6 insurrection and the actions that led up to it, as calls grow for the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump after his acquittal in his second Senate impeachment trial. The Nation's justice correspondent Elie Mystal says House impeachment managers presented "a fairly compelling case for criminal liability" for Donald Trump over the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. "I think there's a case for indictment. I think we should at least try," he says.
(2021-02-16). Social movements and organizations condemn arrest of 21-year-old Indian climate activist. peoplesdispatch.org 21-year-old Disha Ravi was arrested on charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy for her involvement with a 'toolkit' which contained campaign material in support of the the ongoing farmers' agitation in the country. Two other activists also face arrest…
(2021-02-16). Four arrested in Iraq over targeted killings of anti-government protesters. peoplesdispatch.org Protesters, activists and human rights groups have urged successive Iraqi governments to investigate the targeted killings of protesters, opposition activists and critics since the anti-government protests began in the country in October 2019…
(2021-02-16). "I Don't Trust the People Above Me": Riot Squad Cops Open Up About Disastrous Response to Capitol Insurrection. juancole.com By Joaquin Sapien and Joshua Kaplan | — The Insurrection ( ProPublica) — The Effort to Overturn the Election The riot squad defending the embattled entrance to the west side of the U.S. Capitol was surrounded by violence. Rioters had clambered up the scaffolding by the stage erected for the inauguration of President Joseph Biden. …
(2021-02-16). Tuesday 2/16: Race, Class & Policing: The Economics of Mass Incarceration. indybay.org Online event (FREE)…
(2021-02-16). The Basic Right 140 Million Americans Are Denied Daily. scheerpost.com Neil Moralee / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0] By Liz Theoharis / TomDispatch 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… |
(2021-02-15). Gagging opponents is not unity, conservative reporter who was shoved & rubbed with dirty diaper at BLM rally tells RT. rt.com 
Days after the Capitol Hill riot, a conservative journalist was assaulted and harassed at a BLM rally in New York. Her ordeal shows how people sharing their political beliefs in today's America risk physical harm, she told RT. | Tara Anne Szczepanski, 33, is a Polish-American political commentator and independent reporter. On January 10, she attended a small protest in Madison Square Park where Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists accosted her after she started filming them. | "The mob turned against me after recognizing that I am a Trump supporter," she told RT. "With the hatred that is going on currently in Am…
(2021-02-15). Michael E. Mann on The New Climate War and Biden's Greening of America: Interview with Juan Cole. juancole.com 
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — I am so pleased to present to our readers an interview with one of the world's foremost climate scientists, Michael E. Mann of Penn State. I have followed him for a decade and a half and have learned tons from his informed, clear and absolutely crucial writing. In his journal …
(2021-02-15). Europe Will Redefine Itself Despite Political Shift in the US. counterpunch.org 
Despite the long-awaited political change in Washington as Democratic President, Joe Biden, has officially become the 46th President of the United States, Europe is unlikely to resume its previously unhindered reliance on its trans-Atlantic partner. The four years of Donald Trump were rife with tension and strife between the US and Europe — in fact,
(2021-02-15). Israel blocks Covid-19 vaccines destined for Gaza. middleeasteye.net 
Israel blocks Covid-19 vaccines destined for Gaza | Palestinian Authority says it attempted to send Covid-19 vaccines to Gaza but was blocked by Israel, which controls all imports and exports | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 20: 58 | A Palestinian health worker holds vial of Covid-19 vaccine at Palestine Red Crescent hospital in West Bank city of Nablus, on 4 February (AFP/File photo) | Israel is blocking the Palestinian A…
(2021-02-15). Why Amazon Is Fighting So Hard to Stop Warehouse Workers From Unionizing. counterpunch.org 
Thousands of warehouse workers at an Amazon plant in Bessemer, Alabama, are at the center of a potentially game-changing union vote taking place right now. On February 8, the warehouse workers were sent ballots by mail to decide over the next seven weeks if they want to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Just
(2021-02-15). 'We will not be canceled': Social media platform Parler RELAUNCHES after being axed by Big Tech following Capitol riots. rt.com 
Social media app Parler is back online after being booted off the servers of Amazon Web Services last month in the wake of the Capitol riots, after it was accused of allowing threats of violence to be shared on the platform.
(2021-02-15). Amazon Is Fighting Hard to Stop Its Warehouse Workers From Unionizing. truthout.org 
Thousands of warehouse workers at an Amazon plant in Bessemer, Alabama, are at the center of a potentially game-changing union vote taking place right now. On February 8, the warehouse workers were sent ballots by mail to decide over the next seven weeks if they want to join the
(2021-02-15). Lancet Report: 40% of U.S. COVID Deaths Were Preventable. The Country Needs Universal Healthcare Now. democracynow.org 
As the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 approaches half a million, a new report says nearly 40% of the deaths were avoidable. By comparing the pandemic in the U.S. to other high-income nations, the medical journal The Lancet found significant gaps in former President Donald Trump's "inept and insufficient" response to COVID-19, as well as decades of destructive public policy decisions. One of the report's recommendations is reforming the system to a single-payer model like Medicare for All, which President Joe Biden has so far rejected in favor of bolstering the Affordable Care Act. "The Affordable Care Act still le…
(2021-02-15). Dr. Hanan Ashrawi on the Future for Palestine. counterpunch.org 
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(2021-02-15). Is Biden Committing Diplomatic Suicide Over the Iran Nuclear Agreement? dissidentvoice.org 
Photo Credit: CODEPINK As Congress still struggles to pass a COVID relief bill, the rest of the world is nervously reserving judgment on America's new president and his foreign policy, after successive U.S. administrations have delivered unexpected and damaging shocks to the world and the international system. Cautious international optimism toward President Biden is very …
(2021-02-15). "Shame on You, New York Times!" Scientists Speak Out Over Media Disinformation on China. mintpressnews.com 
ATexas teenager has been forced to use her entire college savings to prevent her single mother from being evicted after she lost her job amid a raging pandemic. Alondra Carmona of Houston made the Some of the world's top scientists are condemning The New York Times for what they describe as a highly misleading hit job…
(2021-02-15). "Stop Interfering in Our Lives": Haitians Protesters Condemn US Support for Dictator. mintpressnews.com 
Protests in Haiti have led to hundreds of deaths yet have drawn little attention in the west, thanks in large part to its strongman leaders' continued loyalty to the United States.
(2021-02-15). US Covid czar Fauci wins $1mn Israeli prize for 'courageous leadership' in public health, 'defending science'. rt.com 
US infectious disease chief Dr. Anthony Fauci has received the lucrative Dan David Prize for his work during the coronavirus pandemic, including for advocating the role of science in the face of public criticism. | Fauci, who has been director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984, is the most famous of this year's crop of winners. The board for the annual prize chooses leaders in their field, across the categories of past, present and future, who each win $1 million — 10 percent of which they give to postgraduate students in their fields. | Congratulations to…
(2021-02-15). Same as the Old Boss, Julian Assange Edition. counterpunch.org 
On February 9, the US Justice Department announced that US President Joe Biden, as in so many other areas, intends to serve Donald Trump's second term when it comes to persecuting heroes guilty of exposing US war crimes and embarrassing American politicians. As Trump's presidency drew to an end, some activists held out hope that
(2021-02-15). 'Nothing to investigate': Cuomo blames Covid-19 nursing home deaths on staff, calls accusations against him 'conspiracy theories'. rt.com 
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has finally addressed allegations his administration was underreporting Covid-19 nursing home deaths, which he unequivocally denied, but still passing plenty of blame around. | In a Monday press conference, Cuomo attempted to offer answers to looming questions. The governor has been under fire from critics for days after top staffer Melissa DeRosa appeared to confirm allegations that the administration was hiding nursing home deaths to protect itself from criticism over a highly-controversial March 25 order that forced nursing home facilities to accept positive Covid-19 patients. | "
(2021-02-15). 'The toughest nuts to crack': UK PM Johnson says Covid jabs and on-the-spot tests will be key to nightclubs and theatres reopening. rt.com 
British clubbers and theatregoers will probably be allowed back into venues under a combined strategy of mass Covid-19 vaccination and on-the-spot testing for the virus, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday. | Nightclubs and theatres are the "toughest nuts to crack," the PM told a news briefing, but he said the country's night-time economy could reopen with the use of rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests at venues and the vaccination of more adults. | "That will be the route that we go down and that businesses will go down," the PM said in response to a question about the use of so-called vaccine pass…
(2021-02-15). Don't rely on 'vaccine passports' for travel, WHO's Ryan urges amid shortage of Covid-19 jabs. rt.com 
Covid-19 vaccine certifications should not be used as a condition for travel amid a global shortage of jabs, the World Health Organization's (WHO) emergencies chief said, as it's not clear how much the shots hinder transmission. | The UN health agency's emergency committee has not advised the WHO that immunity certification should be a "prerequisite of travel," Mike Ryan said during a news briefing on Monday, after being asked about vaccine passports. | "That is because, number one, vaccines are not widely available. [It] would actually tend to restrict travel more than permit travel," Ryan added. | "Secondly,…
(2021-02-15). Brit who sneaked out to see fiancée in hotel faces up to 6 years in jail for breaking Singapore's quarantine rules. rt.com 
A UK man has pleaded guilty to violating Singapore's Covid-19 restrictions by secretly sneaking out from quarantine to spend a night with his fiancée. He now faces up to six years behind bars. | Nigel Skea, 52, and his Singaporean wife Agatha Maghesh Eyamalai, 39, have both pleaded guilty to breaking the Southeast Asian country's quarantine rules last September. | The couple will be sentenced on February 26. They face up to six years in jail and a fine of 10,000 Singapore dollars ($7,600) on each charge. | The prosecution is asking that Skea be jailed for four weeks and fined 1,000 Singapore dollars ($756), an…
(2021-02-15). 'Don't you like to party?': Model ex-wife of Man City star says police fined her for 'being too hot' after Covid-19 breach (VIDEO). rt.com 
Rita Johal, the ex-wife of Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, has claimed she was "fined for being too hot" after police interrupted a private party she attended in violation of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions imposed in the UK. | The model and aspiring pop star took to social media, where she has more than half a million followers, to share the story of the incident, posting a video which showed her being surrounded by police officers who fined her for breaking lockdown rules. | According to videos uploaded by the 28-year-old, she was partying with half a dozen people in a flat in London before police raided…
(2021-02-15). The Centers of Global Capitalism Are Migrating Away From the U.S., Europe and Japan. counterpunch.org 
The blunt truth of modern economic development is this: capitalism is leaving its old centers and relocating to its new centers. About this leaving we can and should borrow the phrase: this changes everything.
(2021-02-15). Protests in India over arrest of climate activist. thecanary.co Scores of people have demonstrated in the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Mumbai after a climate activist was arrested for circulating a document on social media supporting months of massive protests by farmers. | Disha Ravi was arrested in Bengaluru on Saturday. | Police said at a news conference on Monday that the document spread misinformation about the farmer protests on the outskirts of New Delhi and "tarnished the image of India". | They say Ravi shared the document with Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, who tweeted it earlier this month. | Activists hold placards demanding the release of Indi…
(2021-02-15). Preliminary findings of the visit to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. mronline.org 
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Ms. Alena Douhan, visited the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from 1 to 12 February 2021. She thanks the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for enabling and supporting her visit to the country. The purpose …
(2021-02-15). How Spanish Can Help Us Survive Viral Times: A Journey into the Heart of a Language We Need Now More Than Ever. juancole.com 
"Una nación bajo Diós, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos." ( Tomdispatch.com) — When Jennifer López shouted out that last line of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish during Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, like so many Spanish-speaking Latinos in the United States I felt a sense of pride, a sense of arrival. It was …
(2021-02-15). Trump evades conviction again as Republicans opt for self-preservation. juancole.com 
By Jennifer S. Hunt | — Twice-impeached former US President Donald Trump has evaded conviction once more. On the fourth day of the impeachment trial, the Senate verdict is in. Voting guilty: 57 senators (representing nearly 70% of the country or 202 million people, and the majority public opinion on the issue of conviction). Voting …
(2021-02-15). The government murdered Fred Hampton. Will it ever be held accountable? therealnews.com 
The individuals responsible for the assassination of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark have passed away, but the government apparatus designed to persecute dissenters, from the Black Panther Party to water protectors at Standing Rock, is still intact.
(2021-02-15). How Will Our Children Know They Face a Crushing Debt Burden? cepr.net 
That may seem like a silly question. Of course they will know because there are a number of well-funded policy shops that will be spewing out endless papers and columns telling them that they are facing a crushing debt burden. And, because these policy shops are well-funded and well-connected we can be sure that major …
(2021-02-15). Water futures: the latest battleground in the defence of the fundamental right to water. mronline.org 
Stock market trading in water futures is the latest battleground in the defense of the fundamental right to water.
(2021-02-15). The ideology and practice of the Red Nation. mronline.org 
Who are The Red Nation? Let them tell you.
(2021-02-15). Can We Exit This Road to Ruin? counterpunch.org 
Our stagnating global economy is running low on energy, ravaging the planet, and marinating in its own toxins. But it's a mistake to think capitalism can't persist without growth. Capitalism's prime directive is profit, not growth. Of course, an expanding economic pie creates greater opportunities for profit. And, in the long run, a profit-driven system may fail without it. But those who profit from this system are not about to throw up their hands and walk off the stage of history just because boom has turned to bust.
(2021-02-15). Trump: Turning Losing Into Winning. counterpunch.org 
Donald Trump's political career provides top-notch evidence that the US political system is designed to keep wealthy white supremacists in power. Several million more voters voted for his opponent in the 2016 presidential election yet he became president. In 2021, fourteen more Senators voted to convict him of incitement to insurrection in his impeachment trial,
(2021-02-15). Minneapolis releases $6.4mn to police to hire new recruits, as depleted force struggles with soaring crime after calls to defund. rt.com 
The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to give police an extra $6.4 million in funding to hire new officers amid a steep increase in violent crime. Dozens of officers quit or went on leave after the George Floyd protests. | The City Council voted on Friday to greenlight the release of funds from a Public Safety Staffing Reserve Fund which was set up last year. Police called on lawmakers to boost their budget, citing a lack of officers to deal with the wave of violent crime, as the number of people suffering gunshots wounds grew 250 percent in the first three weeks of the year compared to last year. The…
(2021-02-15). Sean Penn mocked for 'religious ignorance' after he calls Satan 'Satin' and assumes protestants follow the Vatican. rt.com 
Hollywood actor and liberal activist Sean Penn was ridiculed on social media after he appeared to assume evangelical Protestants are led by the Vatican, and referred to Satan as "Satin." | "Evangelical leaders should themselves be impeached by the Vatican if they themselves don't follow Nikki Haley's lead & clearly state they should not have followed Satin into the bowels of hell. But, perhaps they are too busy at sex parties,"
(2021-02-15). 'You've won': 1619 Project creator who doxxed conservative reporter 'taking a break' from Twitter over abuse. rt.com 
New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones is "taking a break" from Twitter, claiming she has been consistently harassed on the platform after she doxxed a conservative journalist who asked her about old controversial tweets. | "I know I haven't always exemplified grace on here," Hannah-Jones, who is behind the Times' controversial 1619 Project, tweeted on Sunday, possibly referring to a post from last week in which she doxxed a conservative reporter. | Hannah-Jones went on to lash out at conservative journalists, who have been her main critics, and claimed she has been harassed consistently on Twitter. | My…
(2021-02-15). Trump critics rage against 'American Idol' for 'rehabbing' Kellyanne Conway after her daughter auditions. rt.com 
Former White House official Kellyanne Conway appeared on 'American Idol' to support her 16-year-old daughter Claudia, but the moment is being slammed for giving a positive image to the Trump ally. | Claudia Conway was accompanied during her audition for 'Idol' by her father, vocal Trump critic George Conway, but her mother appeared via video chat before and after to show support for her. | "Remember, honey. Winners are people who are willing to lose," she said at one point to Claudia, who made it to the next round of auditions after performing both Rihanna's 'Love on the Brain' and Adele's 'When We Were Young'
(2021-02-15). Kids YouTube channel warns world would suffer if Bill Gates 'disappeared' in BIZARRE VIDEO praising 'respected billionaire'. rt.com 
An 'educational' YouTube channel targeting children has released a creepy video warning its young viewers that the world would become a much worse place if Microsoft founder Bill Gates and other billionaires disappeared. | In the bizarre video titled 'What if Bill Gates Disappeared?' and labeled with the hashtags #kids, #children, and #education, the narrator cautions that if Gates disappeared, "a highly respected billionaire will be missed by many." | Released in January, but only gaining attention in recent days, the animation shows two cartoon men labeled as 'Clean Energy' and 'Doctors Association', crying…
(2021-02-15). On Presidents Day, a crowd of supporters turns out in Florida to cheer Trump (VIDEO). rt.com 
Joe Biden may be in the White House, but the media are still obsessed with Donald Trump — as are his supporters, who organized an impromptu Presidents Day rally in Florida and cheered him as he drove back to Mar-a-Lago. | It was Trump's name and not Biden's that trended on social media Monday, as Americans observed a federal holiday inspired by their first president, George Washington. That was even before videos of a substantial crowd lining the road to Trump's resort in West Palm Beach, Florida began to appear. | This is unbelievable! 45 returns to Mar-a-Lago this afternoon, after an awesome day out on…
(2021-02-15). Majority of Americans want 3rd party as support for idea PEAKS amid disappointment in both Democrats and Republicans — poll. rt.com 
A new Gallup poll has found support for a major third political party steadily rising as more people than ever refer to themselves as Independents while Republicans and Democrats are dropping in approval. | Just last September, Gallup On top…
(2021-02-15). 'We the People' gone and no one noticed: Biden removes Obama-era petition tool to thunderous media silence. rt.com 
President Joe Biden has gone beyond purging the legacy of Donald Trump to scrub that of Barack Obama too, taking down the White House petitions page. The media was too busy gushing over his Valentine's Day display to notice. | All links to 'We the People,' the petition page launched out by the Obama administration in 2011, now
(2021-02-15). Texas implements rolling blackouts as state hit with most extreme snow & ice in years (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Many Texans have been left without power as the state is being hit with freezing temperatures and extreme snow and ice. Rolling blackouts have been implemented to help conserve an exhausted grid. | The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) called an "energy emergency alert three" early Monday, which includes rolling outages for not only homes, but businesses and city infrastructure. ERCOT warned residents that even traffic lights could be down during the blackouts. | has declared an EEA 3. Energy conservation is critical. Rotating outages are underway to reduce demand on the electric system. We urge Te…
(2021-02-15). Opening the CIA's Can of Worms. dissidentvoice.org 
"The CIA and the media are part of the same criminal conspiracy," wrote Douglas Valentine in his important book, The CIA As Organized Crime. This is true. The corporate mainstream media are stenographers for the national security state's ongoing psychological operations aimed at the American people, just as they have done the same for an …
(2021-02-15). Here we go again! thecanary.co 
Image description | At the top of the image are the words "UK enters lockdown too late hugely increased death rate". From there a purple arrow points to another piece of text below and to the right which reads "Senior Tories push to end restrictions against scientific advice". This text also has a red label with reads "You are here again!". From there another purple arrow points to text below and to the left which reads "UK ends lockdown too early infection rate not under control". From there a purple arrow points up and to the left to text which reads "Senior Tories push to delay restrictions against scientif…
(2021-02-15). They may never be idols like Djokovic or Nadal, but the Australian Open desperately needed the romance Russia's trio have provided. rt.com 
Launched under a cloud of acrimony and played out in echoing, empty arenas, this year's Australian Open has been sorely lacking in sparkle. We should be grateful to three record-setting Russians for providing some missing magic. | Novak Djokovic warned that he might not make the second week of the tournament. Medics could have been forgiven for mistakenly visiting Rafael Nadal during a match after persistent whispers around his fitness, even though they insisted they had got the court rather than an assumption wrong. | Dominic Thiem knocked out clown prince Nick Kyrgios – a figure who, with all his thuggish em…
(2021-02-15). Trump wanted to 'take out' Syria's President Assad, former adviser claims. middleeasteye.net 
Trump wanted to 'take out' Syria's President Assad, former adviser claims | KT McFarland, who served as deputy national security adviser, said the former president was enraged after seeing pictures of suspected sarin gas attack | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 16: 16 | The Trump administration responded to the 2017 gas attack by firing dozens of cruise missiles at a Syrian air base where the gas was allegedly housed (AFP)…
(2021-02-15). 'Baseless allegations': Iran denies plotting to attack UAE embassy in Ethiopia. middleeasteye.net 
'Baseless allegations': Iran denies plotting to attack UAE embassy in Ethiopia | Tehran rubbishes US and Israeli claims it was behind foiled attack, saying 'neither Ethiopia nor the Emirates said anything about Iranian interference' | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 18: 55 | Ethiopian authorities arrested 15 people in an alleged plot to attack UAE's embassy in Addis Ababa (AFP/File photo) | Iran has denied US and Israeli cl…
(2021-02-15). Feud between Congressman and UAE ambassador to US escalates online. middleeasteye.net 
Feud between Congressman and UAE ambassador to US escalates online | Congressman Ro Khanna calls for release of Yemeni journalist Adel al-Hasani after war of words with Yousef al-Otaiba | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 19: 25 | Congressman Ro Khanna first introduced a resolution to end US support for Saudi-led war in Yemen in September 2017 (AFP/File photo) | US Congressman Ro Khanna has called on the UAE to help secure th…
(2021-02-15). Houthis claim fresh drone strikes on Saudi airports. middleeasteye.net 
Houthis claim fresh drone strikes on Saudi airports | The alleged attacks on Jeddah and Abha come amid a surge in violence as Yemeni movement pursues offensive in Marib | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 16: 33 | Smoke billows during clashes between forces loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government and Houthi rebel fighters in al-Jadaan area about 50 kilometres northwest of Marib in central Yemen (AFP) | Houthi drones struck t…
(2021-02-15). HRW slams Saudi textbooks over 'hateful language' against Shia, Sufi practices. middleeasteye.net 
HRW slams Saudi textbooks over 'hateful language' against Shia, Sufi practices | Rights group said despite progress more reform was needed to purge hateful language from school textbooks | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 21: 18 | Saudi students sit for their final high school exams in Jeddah on 24 May 2015 (AFP/File photo) | Shia and Sufi Islamic traditions and practices continue to be portrayed negatively in Saudi school r…
(2021-02-15). "It Does Not End Here": Calls Mount for Trump to Be Tried in Criminal Court. truthout.org (2021-02-15). Profiting From Desperation: Oxygen Tanks Become an Underground Market in Mexico. truthout.org (2021-02-15). Bitcoin Could Push Global Emissions Above 2 Degrees Celsius, Scientists Say. truthout.org (2021-02-15). 'I don't need a break. Don't worry about me': Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp defiant despite defeats and tragic loss of mother. rt.com (2021-02-15). Catalan independence supporters increase majority in local parliament, plan to form government. rt.com (2021-02-15). Torn down after terrifying residents of Russian city, much-mocked dead-eyed 'Zombie Angelina Jolie' monument sold off for $35,500. rt.com (2021-02-15). 'He taught us that "impossible" is just a word': Arnold Schwarzenegger lauds 'idol' Yuri Vlasov after weightlifting legend's death. rt.com (2021-02-15). Tehran blasts Washington's 'act of piracy' for attempting to seize oil shipment 'belonging to private sector'. rt.com (2021-02-15). Conservative Lawyer Bruce Fein: Trump's Acquittal Gives Future Presidents License to Break the Law. democracynow.org (2021-02-15). Trump Acquitted in Senate Impeachment Trial After Lawmakers Refuse to Call Witnesses. democracynow.org 
In the wake of Saturday's 
Water With
In late January, the price of stock in the video game retailer GameStop soared some
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has denied rumours he is ready to quit the Premier League champions despite three straight league defeats and questions over his emotional state after a series of bizarre interviews. | The Reds' late collapsed away to Leicester over the weekend means they are fourth in the table and 13 points behind leaders Manchester City, who have a game in hand, in what has been a…
A bloc of parties that support Catatonia's secession from Spain have strengthened a grip on the region's parliament. The number of seats won during Monday's vote is enough for them to form the government. | The three pro-independence parties have increased their majority by four seats. They now hold 74 of the 135 of the seats in the Catalan parliament, which is more than enough to form a government. | The Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), Together for Catalonia (JxCat), and the Popular Unity Candidacy, which see the region as independent from Spanish control, each gained seats since the last election in 2017…
A mystery bidder has splashed out at auction to get hold of an eerie silver sculpture that sparked terror in the Russian city of Novovoronezh where it was erected, and a wave of jokes online after it was unveiled by officials.
Bodybuilding icon and Hollywood superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger has paid tribute to pioneering Soviet and Russian weightlifting champion Yuri Vlasov,who passed away on Saturday at the age of 85 after a hugely influential life. | Schwarzenegger — who saw Vlasov as an idol for his previously unconquered career heights — repeatedly reflected that the Russian weightlifting legend had inspired his love for strength sports. | During his spectacular sporting career, Vlasov claimed four world and six European titles, setting 31 world records and becoming the first weightlifter to clean and jerk more than 200…
The Iranian foreign ministry has condemned the US for attempting to seize a shipment of oil destined for China, stating that Washington acted under false pretenses and the cargo actually belonged to Iran's private sector. | "This is an obvious act of American piracy and it is a great shame for the US to commit such acts under false pretenses," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a weekly news conference on Monday. | Khatibzadeh also said that the shipment belonged to Iran's private sector and not the government. | "It is even more unfortunate that this also happened during the Biden era, when it…
As the Senate votes to acquit former President Donald Trump for inciting the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, we speak with constitutional lawyer and former Reagan administration official Bruce Fein, who says the insurrection was not just an attack on the U.S. Capitol, but "an effort, basically, to destroy the rule of law and the Constitution itself." Fein says failure to convict Trump will give license to future presidents to break the law. "It really is quite frightening that now we have a precedent that says a president has the right to do anything he wants, that he wishes to, without sanction," he…
The Senate voted 57 to 43 to convict Donald Trump for inciting the January 6 insurrection, but the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to find the former president guilty. Seven Republicans voted with Democrats to convict, making it the most bipartisan impeachment trial verdict ever. House impeachment managers did not include any witnesses, after Republicans threatened to prolong the trial for weeks or even months and grind other congressional business to a halt if witnesses were called to testify. Instead, a single statement by Congressmember Jaime Herrera Beutler was entered into the record before…
