(2021-03-03). ICC prosecutor opens investigation into alleged war crimes by Israel and Hamas. middleeasteye.net 
ICC prosecutor opens investigation into alleged war crimes by Israel and Hamas | Fatou Bensouda formally begins her investigation after the International Criminal Court ruled it had jurisdiction in the Palestinian territories | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 14: 26 | Bensouda said the decision to begin an ICC investigation comes after a five-year preliminary inquiry (Reuters) | The International Criminal Court's pros…
(2021-03-03). Support keeps building for #BAmazon union drive, Biden feels pressure. workers.org 
A people's movement against an anti-people corporation has intensified, backing the union drive at Amazon's Bessemer, Ala., warehouse. The courageous Southern union warriors are finally starting to get the support they need and deserve. People's Organization for Progress rally to support Amazon workers outside Whole Foods, Newark, N.J., Feb. 27. . . . |
(2021-03-03). Ecuador: Indigenous organizations announce national strike. mronline.org 
Supporters of Indigenous presidential candidate Yaku Perez demand the recount of electoral records due to alleged electoral fraud.
(2021-03-03). 7 lies Amazon tells about the union. liberationnews.org 
In a historic development, 5,800 workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, are right now voting on whether to be represented by the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union.
(2021-03-03). The devastating, irreparable death of Aruká Juma. peoplesworld.org 
Manaus, Amazonas — The death of the last survivor of the Juma people, the warrior Amoim Aruká, from complications linked to COVID-19, is an incalculable tragedy. The Juma people suffered innumerable massacres throughout their history. There were 15,000 of them at the turn of the 20th century and by 2002 there were only five Jumas …
(2021-03-03). The Bessemer front in the international class struggle. workers.org 
Bessemer, Ala., is now the site of a historic labor struggle between the majority-Black Amazon warehouse workers there and the $1.7 trillion international capitalist monopoly corporation. About 80% of the warehouse workers are African American, and almost half are women. Rally for Amazon workers, Bessemer, Ala., Feb. 6. In March . . . |
(2021-03-03). Global labor federation backs #BAmazon union. workers.org 
The World Federation of Trade Unions issued the following statement on March 3. USA: WFTU in solidarity with Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama The World Federation of Trade Unions, which is the militant voice of 105 million workers from 132 countries around the globe, extends its internationalist solidarity with Amazon . . . |
(2021-03-03). Solidarity rallies call for end to U.S.-backed dictatorship in Haiti. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON——On the morning of March 1 at the Embassy of Haiti, local D.C. organizers with Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) held a solidarity rally with the people of Haiti who are rising up against a U.S.-backed dictator. Jovenel MoàØse's term of office ended Feb. 7, but he has so far refused to relinquish power. MoàØse, …
(2021-03-03). Defend the Guard Act Stirs Debate in West Virginia Over Military Industrial Complex. counterpunch.org 
A debate over the military industrial complex is raging in West Virginia. The debate was kicked off in the West Virginia legislature again this year by Patrick McGeehan, a Republican member of the House of Delegates from the northern panhandle. McGeehan has introduced House Bill 2138 — the Defend the Guard Act. It's a short
(2021-03-03). The Bits and Bytes of The Great Reset: COVID-19 and the Scaling Up of Data-Capitalism. mintpressnews.com 
The so-called Great Reset amounts to little more than a campaign to turn humanity into datasets, which the world's most powerful hedge funds and transnational corporations can use to create more profits for themselves and their clients.
(2021-03-03). Bangladesh court grants bail to detained cartoonist amid protests. laprensalatina.com Dhaka, Mar 3 (efe-epa).- The Supreme Court of Bangladesh on Wednesday granted bail to a cartoonist nearly 10 months after his pre-trial detention amid continuing protests over his release and a contentious law under which he was arrested. Ahmed Kabir Kishore was arrested on May 6, 2020, along with writer Mushtaq Ahmed, and was charged …
(2021-03-03). Taliban gunman arrested for killing 3 women TV anchors: Afghan police. laprensalatina.com Kabul, Mar 3 (efe-epa).- Afghan police on Wednesday said they had arrested a suspected Taliban militant, allegedly involved in the killing of three women TV anchors even as the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the murders a day ago. The three media workers were gunned down on Tuesday and buried this afternoon amid a …
(2021-03-03). Richland, Washington protesters demand 'No kids in cages'. liberationnews.org 
Facilities used to cage children that were closed under Trump's administration are being reopened under Biden's administration.
(2021-03-03). What the trees of Notre Dame have to tell us. peoplesworld.org 
On April 15, 2019, watching television footage of Notre Dame Cathedral burning, I wept like millions of other French people and others around the world. The flames which invaded the screen brought back memories of my first visit to the cathedral as a child, reading the novel by Victor Hugo (Notre Dame de Paris, 1831), …
(2021-03-03). Republicans make the FBI look like the good guys. peoplesworld.org 
Not too many years ago, it would have been unthinkable that at a congressional hearing on right-wing terror the FBI would be defending left and progressive demonstrators, saying that it was not them but rather white supremacists that were the real threat to security in the U.S. At the obvious displeasure of Republican senators Tuesday, …
(2021-03-03). Congelación de Texas: los ricos, más ricos mientras obreros sufren. workers.org 
Houston Una tormenta invernal sin precedentes azotó a Texas el 15 de febrero y trajo temperaturas bajo cero. Una semana después, grandes sectores de la población siguen sin electricidad, calefacción y/o agua. El horizonte de Houston brilla, mientras millones sufren sin calefacción ni agua en medio de cortes de energía . . . |
(2021-03-03). Ecuador: from horror to electoral debate. mronline.org 
Amidst denunciations and accusations the campaign for the April 11 runoff begins.
(2021-03-03). Biden pick for Secretary of Agriculture no friend of farmworkers or small farmers. workers.org 
President Joe Biden nominated former Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a job he held for the entire Obama administration from 2009 to 2017. Vilsack testified before the Senate on Feb. 2 — Groundhog Day — and was confirmed a few weeks later. Vilsack's . . . |
(2021-03-03). Biden pick for Secretary of Agriculture no friend of farmworkers or small farmers. workers.org President Joe Biden nominated former Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a job he held for the entire Obama administration from 2009 to 2017. Vilsack testified before the Senate on Feb. 2 — Groundhog Day — and was confirmed a few weeks later. . . . |
(2021-03-03). Policing Universities by Neoliberal Governments in the UK And France. counterpunch.org 
The respective motivations, and their specific underlying conditions, are of course different in the UK and France, but both culminate in plans for universities to curb the expression of leftist points of view. In the UK this gives a potential pulpit to "maverick" speakers on the right, such as Steve Bannon, who (facetiously?) approved the delivery of pipe bombs to critics of Trump, and who lost his book deal for having a favourable view of underage sex.
(2021-03-03). Richland, Wash., protesters demand 'no kids in cages'. liberationnews.org Facilities used to cage children that were closed under Trump's administration are being reopened under Biden's administration.
(2021-03-03). Buffalo demands mental health help, not death-by-cop. workers.org 
Buffalo, N.Y., City Hall, Feb. 28 Buffalo, N.Y. — Activists demonstrated here Feb. 28 in solidarity with the family of Daniel Prude and the people of Rochester, N.Y, where police killed Prude while answering a mental health crisis call in March 2020. The police response was to put a "spit . . . |
(2021-03-03). The Real Threats to America are the Pandemic and Poverty; why Give Ever More Money to the Pentagon? juancole.com 
By Mandy Smithberger | — ( Tomdispatch.com) — This country is in a crisis of the first order. More than half a million of us have died thanks to Covid-19. Food insecurity is on the rise, with nearly 24 million Americans going hungry, including 12 million children. Unemployment claims filed since the pandemic began have …
(2021-03-03). The class character of the expansion of COVID-19: The case of Peru's Capital City Lima. mronline.org 
At the end of December 2019, the world was notified about the existence of a new coronavirus in the city of Wuhan in China. This virus, SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19), rapidly spread and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020.
(2021-03-03). A common soil pesticide cut wild bee reproduction by 89% — here's why scientists are worried. juancole.com 
By Philip Donkersley | — When you think of bees, a hive humming with activity probably comes to mind. But most of the world's 20,000 bee species don't call a hive home. These wild species lead solitary lives instead, and around 70% of them build nests underground where they raise their offspring on the nectar …
(2021-03-03). Debt relief with Chinese characteristics. mronline.org 
As China is poised to become the world's largest creditor, concerns about debt sustainability have grown. Yet considerable confusion exists over what is likely to happen when a government runs into trouble repaying its Chinese loans.
(2021-03-03). Biden's Quandry: Proxy Wars and Endless Wars. counterpunch.org 
From the end of the Second World War until the administration of Ronald Reagan, there were very few American battlefield deaths in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, and Southwest Asia. Since the administration of George H.W. Bush, however, most American battlefield deaths have taken place in those regions. The turning point took place in 1979 with the Iranian revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
(2021-03-03). Workers Should be Wary Now that Private Equity Is Going Retail. cepr.net 
Eight years after passage of the 2013 JOBS Act that let private equity firms market directly to individuals to solicit their investments, retail investors — largely high net worth individuals — finally account for a significant share of assets under management (AUM) at some of the largest PE firms. Apollo claims to be "among the …
(2021-03-03). Rosa Luxemburg at 150: Toward 'a social order worthy of the human race'. peoplesworld.org 
On March 5, 2021, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Rosa Luxemburg's birth. No one who wishes to get a sense of Rosa Luxemburg as a person, both political and private, will regret watching Margarethe von Trotta's meticulously researched 1986 film of the same name. It is available with English subtitles. The film begins on …
(2021-03-03). How Facebook Suppressed Kurdish Site for sake of its Business in Turkey. juancole.com 
By Jack Gillum and Justin Elliott | — ( ProPublica ) — As Turkey launched a military offensive against Kurdish minorities in neighboring Syria in early 2018, Facebook's top executives faced a political dilemma. Turkey was demanding the social media giant block Facebook posts from the People's Protection Units, a mostly Kurdish militia group the …
(2021-03-03). Community demands Sanctuary Schools in Philadelphia, a 'sanctuary city'. workers.org 
Erika Guadalupe Nuñez speaking, March 1. "Philadelphia has declared itself a 'sanctuary city,' but how can it be a sanctuary city without its schools being sanctuaries for all students?" asked Erika Guadalupe Nuñez of Juntos at a well-attended March 1 press conference outside the School District of Philadelphia headquarters. . . . |
(2021-03-03). CDC school reopening guidance suppresses aerosols based on thin evidence and driven by budgetary concerns. mronline.org 
For a period of time after this article was originally published (February 18, 2021) it was scrubbed from Google's search index. When the author, Lambert Strether, realized the piece had been "censored," it was published a second time on March 1, 2021 with an analysis of the purging. Subsequently, the article magically reappeared in the search …
(2021-03-03). Biden's Quandary: Proxy Wars and Endless Wars. counterpunch.org From the end of the Second World War until the administration of Ronald Reagan, there were very few American battlefield deaths in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, and Southwest Asia. Since the administration of George H.W. Bush, however, most American battlefield deaths have taken place in those regions. The turning point took place in 1979 with the Iranian revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
(2021-03-03). Solitary confinement abuse sparks hunger strike in Louisiana's Angola Prison. workers.org 
Incarcerated workers in Louisiana's notorious Angola Prison began a hunger strike early Feb. 17. The reason: Prison officials refused to release them back into the prison population after they served their sentence in solitary for a rule infraction. Angola State Prison was the 18,000-acre Angola Plantation before the Civil War, . . . |
(2021-03-03). What We Got in Biden. counterpunch.org 
The wrenching appeals by some on the political left to vote for Biden must sting for some of those who actually did cast their vote for him, or at least against Trump in November 2020. This is the game that plays itself out again and again and again, ad nauseam, in US politics, the politics
(2021-03-03). Ruling Class Joe and the Essence of American Politics. counterpunch.org 
It's a damn good thing that the demented pandemo-fascist oligarch Donald Trump no longer sits in the White House and that his Republifascist Party no longer holds the majority in the U.S. Senate. But make no mistake: Americans continue to live under an unelected dictatorship of money and empire. Just because that class dictatorship isn't quite ready for Door #1, open fascist rule, don't look for Door #2, neo-New Deal reformist social democracy, anytime soon. No, we are still getting slammed in the face with Door #3, a neoliberal corporate-imperial authoritarianism that cancels #2 while setting us up for a harsher…
(2021-03-03). Andrew Cuomo: Legend of a Fall. counterpunch.org 
Future historians will have a field day examining the daily commentary of the COVID pandemic. Early on there was Madonna sitting nude in a marble bathtub filled with rose petals proclaiming COVID 'the great equalizer.' Trump of course supplied his daily dose of schizophrenic fare so incoherent that even conservative TV hacks were unable to morph it into a convincing picture of brave leadership. Yet nothing tops the spectacle of Ellen Degeneres and Trevor Noah actually declaring themselves to be 'Cuomosexuals', in honor of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, a term that was immediately plastered on various merchandise…
(2021-03-03). Andrew Cuomo: Legend of a Fall. counterpunch.org 
Future historians will have a field day examining the daily commentary of the COVID pandemic. Early on there was Madonna sitting nude in a marble bathtub filled with rose petals proclaiming COVID 'the great equalizer.' Trump of course supplied his daily dose of schizophrenic fare so incoherent that even conservative TV hacks were unable to morph it into a convincing picture of brave leadership. Yet nothing tops the spectacle of Ellen Degeneres and Trevor Noah actually declaring themselves to be 'Cuomosexuals', in honor of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, a term that was immediately plastered on various merchandise…
(2021-03-03). The Heat: The Arab Spring — 10 years later. america.cgtn.com 
A decade after mass anti-government protests shook the Middle East, we ask what's the legacy of the Arab Spring?>
(2021-03-03). Here's the BBC's most insidious bit of Rishi Sunak propaganda yet. thecanary.co 
BBC News couldn't let Budget day go by without an insidious Who is Rishi Sunak?: | On Wedn…
(2021-03-03). UK media coverage of Scottish politics. thecanary.co 
Image description | This cartoon is titled "UK media coverage of Scottish politics". It shows a bar graph, and the first bar is tiny, coloured green, and labelled "Usual". The second bar is massive, coloured like a Scottish flag, and labelled "When a distraction from Westminster is needed". | By
(2021-03-03). Canadian Hypocrisy Shines Embarrassingly With New Accusations of China's Muslim Genocide. strategic-culture.org 
China has managed to both find a sustainable cure for terrorism without destroying a single nation, while providing a foundation for extending the Belt and Road into the Middle East and beyond, Matthew Ehret writes. | This week, the Canadian parliament, became the second nation of the Five Eyes (after the USA) to pass a motion condemning
(2021-03-03). Should We Fear a German Ministry of Social Cohesion? strategic-culture.org 
The idea that there needs to be a ministry to make certain ethnic groups feel a greater sense of equality is of course a red flag. | Hearing the idea of a "Ministry of Social Cohesion" was quite exciting for someone who writes about politics, geopolitics and ideology on a regular basis. On the surface this sounds like a systemic answer to the paradox of our time — that our omnipresent Liberalism only acknowledges the individual and yet humans have always lived in groups from the darkness of prehistory. This sort of ministry sounds like it could be a part of a new rising Chinese Communism or the dreams of a s…
(2021-03-03). Latinx Farmworkers Risk Their Lives During Pandemic. Many Now Struggle to Access Vaccines. democracynow.org 
There are about 2.5 million farmworkers around the U.S., many of them undocumented immigrants working under dangerous and exploitive circumstances without sick leave or healthcare. Despite their status as essential workers, however, many farmworkers are facing an uphill battle to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Estella Cisneros, legal director of the Agriculture Worker Program for California Rural Legal Assistance, says an uneven rollout in California as well as technical barriers have left many farmworkers unvaccinated. "There's been a lot of inequities that we've seen," she says. We also speak with Mary Jo Dud…
(2021-03-03). Cuomo Must Go: Calls Grow to Remove NY Governor over COVID Nursing Home Cover-up & Sexual Harassment. democracynow.org 
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing mounting calls from fellow Democrats and progressive organizations to resign or be impeached over sexual harassment allegations and his cover-up of thousands of COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes. New York Attorney General Letitia James has launched an investigation after three women — two former aides and a woman who met Cuomo at a friend's wedding reception — accused Cuomo of sexual harassment. "Credible accusations of sexual harassment made by these courageous women coming forward show a clear pattern of Cuomo's abuse of power," says New York Assembly…
(2021-03-03). Latinx Farmworkers Risk Their Lives During Pandemic. Many Now Struggle to Access Vaccines. democracynow.org There are about 2.5 million farmworkers around the U.S., many of them undocumented immigrants working under dangerous and exploitive circumstances without sick leave or healthcare. Despite their status as essential workers, however, many farmworkers are facing an uphill battle to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Estella Cisneros, legal director of the Agricultural Worker Program for California Rural Legal Assistance, says an uneven rollout in California as well as technical barriers have left many farmworkers unvaccinated. "There's been a lot of inequities that we've seen," she says. We also speak with Mary Jo Du…
(2021-03-03). Asian American Communities Organize Against Rise in Hate Crimes, Say More Policing Is Not the Answer. democracynow.org 
Anti-Asian hate crimes have spiked across the U.S. over the past year, fueled in part by Donald Trump's racist rhetoric about the coronavirus. One recent study found a 150% increase in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans in 2020, even though overall hate crimes fell last year. Ron Kim, member of the New York State Assembly representing the 40th District in Queens, New York, says anti-Asian sentiment tends to flare up during times of crisis. "There's a long history of Asian Americans in this country feeling targeted and scapegoated whenever we experience economic downturns," says Kim. We also speak with Kim Tran…
(2021-03-03). Khashoggi murder: Twitter suspends thousands of pro-Saudi accounts following report release. middleeasteye.net 
Khashoggi murder: Twitter suspends thousands of pro-Saudi accounts following report release | Huge uptick in spam activity as US publicly accuses Mohammed bin Salman of being behind journalist's assassination | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 16: 28 | Thousands of accounts have been investigated by Twitter for suspicious and spam activity (AFP) | Twitter has announced the removal and investigation of thousands of acco…
(2021-03-03). Biden inaction on Saudis' Khashoggi assassination angers News Guild. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (PAI)—Democratic President Joe Biden's decision to take no action, including no sanctions, against Saudi Arabia's de facto supreme ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, for ordering the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is angering The News Guild. A Bin Salman-sent hit squad murdered and dismembered Khashoggi, a contributing writer for The Washington Post, when …
(2021-03-03). Cornel West — "My Ridiculous Situation at Harvard" counterpunch.org 
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(2021-03-03). Emboldened by Trump and Netanyahu, Jewish Settler Terrorism is Spiking. mintpressnews.com 
"I saw a lot of settlers be proud of attacking Palestinians, be open about annexation and apartheid — all of this behavior came out during the Trump administration." — Issa Amro, Founder Youths Against Settlements…
(2021-03-03). "Engaging the World": The "Fascinating Story" of Hamas's Political Evolution. dissidentvoice.org 
On February 4, representatives from the Palestinian Movement, Hamas, visited Moscow to inform the Russian government of the latest development on the unity talks between the Islamic Movement and its Palestinian counterparts, especially Fatah. This was not the first time that Hamas's officials traveled to Moscow on similar missions. In fact, Moscow continues to represent an …
(2021-03-03). Covid-19 in Lebanon: Health workers yet to receive vaccines as MPs jump the queue. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19 in Lebanon: Health workers yet to receive vaccines as MPs jump the queue | After Lebanese lawmakers were controversially inoculated, half of the country's overwhelmed medical workers anxiously await their turn | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 10: 58 | A medic prepares a dose of the Covid-19 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at Lebanon's American University Medical Centre in the capital Beirut, on 14 Februa…
(2021-03-03). Selected Articles: C.Y.A. and "Fraudulent Marketing": The Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine is an "Unapproved Product" globalresearch.ca 
By Pfizer Inc…
(2021-03-03). Time for the Warren-Jayapal Wealth Tax. counterpunch.org 
This week Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced her updated wealth tax proposal, the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act. The legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Brendan Boyle (D-PA). According to an analysis by the Institute for Policy Studies/Inequality.org (IPS) and the Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF), America's billionaires alone would have paid
(2021-03-03). In defense of Ken Loach. mronline.org 
Ken Loach, thankfully no smear campaign against him can succeed. Not only because Ken's work and life are proof of the accusation's absurdity, but also because of the courageous Israelis who take awful risks by defending the right of Jews and non-Jews alike to criticise Israel.
(2021-03-03). Narrative of fear: Republicans try to block pro-LGBTQ Equality Act. peoplesworld.org 
While the Republican Party is making headlines for opposing President Biden's American Rescue Plan aimed at saving millions of Americans from total ruin, it's still got plenty of energy to block another piece of progressive legislation coming out of Washington. On Feb. 25, a divided House narrowly passed the Equality Act, an historic bill that …
(2021-03-03). Cuban 'Red Rose' wins journalism honor. workers.org 
By Rubén G. Abelenda This slightly edited article was published in Resumen-english.org. Photo: Ismael Francisco Feb. 27 — It was José Martí who said "Honor for those who deserve honor" — but he could never have imagined that the highest distinction awarded to journalists in Cuba would bear his name . . . |
(2021-03-03). Can we kick out immigrants like Denmark does? Critics snicker after AOC lauds McDonald's workers' wages in European nation. rt.com 
A time-tested talking point about wages of McDonald's workers in Denmark was invoked by AOC in a call for a minimum wage boost in the US. Her opponents asked if Washington should also adopt Copenhagen's harsh immigration policies. | The fact that paying workers a living wage is even up for debate is "embarrassing," progressive lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) tweeted on Tuesday as she called to override the Senate parliamentarian and push forward with the $15/hour minimum wage. The official ruled last Thursday that the proposal cannot be included in President Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 stimulus bill…
(2021-03-03). Design firm had 'no idea' CPAC stage resembled Nazi symbol, but takes responsibility after liberal conspiracy spirals out of hand. rt.com 
The design firm behind a stage setup at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has emphatically dismissed conspiracy theories that their work was intended to resemble Nazi insignia. | Design Foundry, a firm based in Maryland, has come forward to say they "had no idea" their stage layout for the conservative conference held last week in Orlando, Florida resembled the Othala Rune, a symbol found on Nazi uniforms. | The resemblance was highlighted by numerous critics on social media following the event, with even host Hyatt Hotels releasing a statement calling the supposed connection "abhorrent" a…
(2021-03-03). You're not supposed to say that out loud! Covid-19 vaccines & 'return to normal' might hurt Facebook's bottom line, CFO admits. rt.com 
Facebook's CFO is concerned that as more people get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, they'll be less likely to click on Facebook ads and more likely to seek out travel and non-sedentary pursuits. | CFO David Wehner Speaking at the Morg…
(2021-03-03). ECtHR orders Russia to release Navalny from prison. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
On 16 February 2021, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) granted further interim measures against Russia in relation to political opposition figure Alexei Navalny, requiring that Navalny be immediately released from prison due to the risk to his life and health. Background This is not the first time that the Court has granted Navalny's …
(2021-03-03). Iraq: Christians await Pope Francis's visit. middleeasteye.net 
Iraq: Christians await Pope Francis's visit | Iraq's drastically diminished Christian communities are full of hope for the pope's trip, while senior church officials remain more circumspect | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 10: 03 | Posters adorn the front of the Mar Yusef church in Baghdad, where Pope Francis will lead a mass on 6 March 2021 (MEE/Tom Westcott) | In the Christian-majority, northern Iraqi town of Qa…
(2021-03-03). Former US envoy says Israel is now 'wedge issue' in American politics. middleeasteye.net 
Former US envoy says Israel is now 'wedge issue' in American politics | In interview with Jerusalem Post, David Friedman says 'uniform support for Israel is being challenged' in the United States | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 16: 16 | Friedman dismissed the prospect of Israeli-Palestinian talks under Biden (AFP/File photo) | Former US ambassador to Israel David Friedman has said that Israel has "become a wedge issue" in…
(2021-03-03). US calls on Saudi Arabia to forgo 'developing' country status at WTO. middleeasteye.net 
US calls on Saudi Arabia to forgo 'developing' country status at WTO | Washington says Riyadh is 'wealthy and influential player' that should not get special treatment by World Trade Organisation | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 19: 02 | Saudi Arabia is a member of the G20, a forum of the world's largest economies (AFP/File photo) | The United States is calling on Saudi Arabia to give up its "developin…
(2021-03-03). Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict: How Baku destroyed Russian S-300s with Israeli suicide drones. middleeasteye.net 
Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict: How Baku destroyed Russian S-300s with Israeli suicide drones | The Azerbaijani military used decoy aircraft to lure out the air-defence systems deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 14: 21 | An S-300 missile system at the rehearsals of Victory Day parade in Moscow in 2009 (Creative Common/Vitaly V Kuzmin)
| Azerbaijani forces used a sophisticated method to des…
(2021-03-03). Palestinian Authority's push to regulate NGOs raises fear of power grab. middleeasteye.net 
Palestinian Authority's push to regulate NGOs raises fear of power grab | New decree restricting activities of nonprofit organisations condemned by campaigners | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 17: 07 | Palestinian lawyers demonstrate in front of the legislative council to reject controversial amendments undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, in Ramallah, West Bank, on 9 February 2021(AFP) | Palestinian civil…
(2021-03-03). Iraq: Christians in Iraq's devastated Qaraqosh await Pope Francis's visit. middleeasteye.net Iraq: Christians in Iraq's devastated Qaraqosh await Pope Francis's visit | Iraq's drastically diminished Christian communities are full of hope for the pope's trip, while senior church officials remain more circumspect | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 10: 03 | Posters adorn the front of the Mar Yusef church in Baghdad, where Pope Francis will lead a mass on 6 March 2021 (MEE/Tom Westcott) | In the Christian-major…
(2021-03-03). Arabic press review: Egypt tries to boost human rights credentials for Biden. middleeasteye.net 
Arabic press review: Egypt tries to boost human rights credentials for Biden | Meanwhile, Jordan has reportedly received $1bn from the European Union to fight the pandemic, and Iraq's PM vows to crack down on militias | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 15: 03 | Watchtowers at the notorious Tora prison on the southern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo on 11 February 2020 (AFP) | Egypt concerned by US…
(2021-03-03). Macron admits France tortured and murdered Algerian freedom fighter. middleeasteye.net 
Macron admits France tortured and murdered Algerian freedom fighter | Ali Boumendjel's death in 1957 was disguised as suicide, French president tells nationalist's grandchildren | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 12: 58 | Malika Boumendjel, the late widow of Algerian lawyer Ali Boumendjel, during an interview in May 2001 (AFP) | French President Emmanuel Macron has admitted that France's army "tortured and murdered"
(2021-03-03). Financial Times investigating complaint over Macron's claims about French Muslims. middleeasteye.net 
Financial Times investigating complaint over Macron's claims about French Muslims | UK newspaper examining accuracy of French president's published letter, in which he said young girls were wearing the veil and being separated from boys | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 16: 49 | French President Emmanuel Macron has described Islam as a 'religion in crisis' (AFP) | The Financial Times is investigating a complaint that…
(2021-03-03). 'Digital Suez': How the internet flows through Egypt – and why Google could change the Middle East. middleeasteye.net 
'Digital Suez': How the internet flows through Egypt – and why Google could change the Middle East | Most web traffic between Europe and Asia passes through fibre optic cables crossing Egypt. Could a proposed new route through Israel and Saudi Arabia break the 'Red Sea bottleneck'? | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 14: 55 | Most internet traffic between Europe, the Middle East and Asia passes through Egypt (MEE/…
(2021-03-03). Philippines to allow domestic workers to be employed in UAE after ending suspension. middleeasteye.net 
Philippines to allow domestic workers to be employed in UAE after ending suspension | Move comes after two countries agreed deal guaranteeing additional protections for Filipino domestic staff | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 11: 52 | The Philippines Department of Labour and Employment said the new agreement was similar to one now being used in Kuwait (AFP) | The Philippines will lift a suspension on its maids workin…
(2021-03-03). Iraq: Civilian contractor dies in rocket attack on base hosting US troops. middleeasteye.net 
Iraq: Civilian contractor dies in rocket attack on base hosting US troops | The attack on the Ain al-Asad base comes two days before Pope Francis's historic visit to the country | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 08: 15 | The Ain al-Asad base hosts Iraqi forces as well as troops from the US-led coalition helping Iraq fight remnants of Islamic State (File pic/AFP) | A civilian contractor with the US-led c…
(2021-03-03). Iran says US must be held accountable for 'crimes in Yemen'. middleeasteye.net 
Iran says US must be held accountable for 'crimes in Yemen' | Foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh rejects Washington's claim that Iran is fanning 'the flames of conflict' in Yemen | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 22: 00 | Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, lashed out at Washington for selling weapons to Saudi-led coalition (AFP) | Iran's foreign ministry hit back at American accusations that Teh…
(2021-03-03). Biden State Department nominee suggests some sanctions against Iran will remain. middleeasteye.net 
Biden State Department nominee suggests some sanctions against Iran will remain | Deputy Secretary of State nominee says she agrees that US should keep some sanctions on Iran, regardless of nuclear deal talks | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 18: 50 | Serving as Under Secretary of State for political affairs in 2015, Wendy Sherman helped negotiate the nuclear deal with Iran (Reuters/File photo) | Wendy Sherman, US President…
(2021-03-03). Syria: Majority in opposition areas impacted by attacks on medical facilities. middleeasteye.net 
Syria: Majority in opposition areas impacted by attacks on medical facilities | New report documents devastating impact of a decade of assaults on health care in the country's northwest | Wed, 03/03/2021 – 16: 10 | An aerial view of a hospital reportedly hit by an air strike in the Syrian village of Shinan, 30 kilometres south of Idlib (AFP/File photo) | A majority of Syrians living in the country's e…
(2021-03-03). Fracking banned in Delaware River Basin. workers.org 
In a historic ruling, the Delaware River Basin Commission voted Feb. 25 to permanently ban fracking (hydraulic fracturing) for natural gas in the Delaware River Watershed. This ruling formally affirms a drilling moratorium the DRBC imposed in 2010. Protesters call for ban on fracking at Delaware River Basin Commission hearing . . . |
(2021-03-03). Biden: With Defense Production Act, enough vaccines by end of May. peoplesworld.org 
President Joe Biden made history in the nation's fight against the coronavirus Tuesday by announcing that the United States will have enough vaccine supply to vaccinate all American adults for coronavirus by the end of May, two months earlier than the end-of-July date he had previously rolled out. Biden credited the stepped-up timetable to his …
(2021-03-03). 'Back of the Moon': A Noirish apartheid-era South African film. peoplesworld.org 
Director/co-writer and Oscar nominee Angus Gibson's Back of the Moon is another example of why I love PAFF—the Pan African Virtual Film + Arts Festival. If not for this festival film buffs like moi probably would never have heard of, let alone had the opportunity to see, this highly entertaining South African movie. Moon is …
(2021-03-03). Progressives Push Biden To End 'Vaccine Apartheid'. popularresistance.org Last Friday, three days before a crucial meeting of the World Trade Organization, progressives in the trade, faith, labor, consumer, and human rights communities sent an urgent request to the Biden administration. | These nonprofits and unions are urging the administration to act quickly to assert its leadership on a pressing trade issue—whether trade rules will be allowed to hamper global efforts to combat the pandemic. | In a letter and a press event, a coalition of 400 organizations asked President Joe Biden to make good on his promise to "absolutely positively" ensure access to vaccines in the developin…
(2021-03-03). New Report: Judge, Jury And Occupier. popularresistance.org Israel's military occupation of Palestinian land is now in its 54th year. Throughout this time Palestinians have never stopped fighting for their inalienable rights; rights denied to them by the systemic and daily violence of occupation. This violence is manifested in settlements, checkpoints, the Apartheid Wall — and in Israel's farreaching system of military rule in the West Bank, enforced by military courts and prisons: the topic of this report. | As of January 2021, Israel holds 4,500 Palestinians as political prisoners, 450 of whom are held in administrative detention, and 140 of whom are children. Lik…
(2021-03-03). Massive protests in Chile demanding the release of political prisoners. peoplesdispatch.org During the uprising than began in October 2019, thousands were arrested and many continue to face legal processes. A number of mobilizations have been organized to demand their immediate release…
(2021-03-03). Black Mass Incarceration In The So-Called Free State. popularresistance.org Maryland holds itself up as a progressive state when it comes to criminal justice, but a recent report highlights a stark reality: Maryland incarcerates Black people at more than twice the national rate. Until recently, the horrifyingly unjust reality of America's mass incarceration system has not been a central concern in popular political discourse. In …
(2021-03-03). The Prophet of Police. counterpunch.org You never had a Christmas like the Prophet had in 2019. Two Albuquerque Police Department (APD) cops responded to a disturbance call at a rundown Albuquerque motel the day after Christmas. A man locked himself in the lobby bathroom and wouldn't come out. The first shift clerk came to work at 7: 00 a.m. and the