(2021-02-22). NGO refugee rescue ship left waiting on European help that never came. peoplesworld.org 
An NGO refugee rescue ship in the central Mediterranean waited hours today for help from the Maltese and Italian coastguards that never came after the vessel saved the lives of 148 people, 28 more than it is legally allowed to carry. Basque charity Humanitarian Maritime Rescue (SMH) announced in the morning that the Aita Mari …
(2021-02-22). Covid-19: Former Israeli minister urges denial of vaccine to Palestinians in Gaza. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Former Israeli minister urges denial of vaccine to Palestinians in Gaza | Ayelet Shaked argued humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the besieged territory should be blocked over bodies of two Israeli soldiers held by Hamas | Mon, 02/22/2021 – 14: 57 | A Palestinian health worker holds swab samples collected to test for Covid-19 in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on 16 February 2021 (AFP) | Former Isr…
(2021-02-22). Global Solidarity Is Needed During The Pandemic To End Medical Apartheid. dissidentvoice.org 
Some of the truths the COVID-19 pandemic is exposing about the United States are its racial disparities in health and access to health care. Black and Indigenous people are more likely to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 than white people. They are two to three times more likely to be hospitalized and …
(2021-02-22). Half a million COVID dead: Trump death cult meets shock doctrine. peoplesworld.org 
Remember just a few short months ago when President Donald Trump floated the number of 200,000 coronavirus deaths as an acceptable number before COVID-19 just vanished like a miracle? The inevitable outcome of Trump's death cult has arrived—as of this week, a staggering half a million Americans in their graves from a disease that could …
(2021-02-22). IP, vaccine imperialism cause death and suffering, delay recovery. mronline.org 
Vaccine developers' refusal to share publicly funded vaccine research findings is stalling broader, affordable vaccinations which would more rapidly contain COVID-19 contagion. The pandemic had infected at least 109 million people worldwide, causing over 2.4 million deaths as of mid-February.
(2021-02-22). Antonio Guterres criticizes unequal global access to COVID-19 vaccines, calls it 'wildly unfair'. mronline.org 
The UN secretary general pointed out that 75% of all vaccinations so far have been administered in just 10 rich countries, whereas 130 mostly poor countries have not received a single dose of vaccine.
(2021-02-22). The pandemics of racism and COVID-19 are a deadly mix. therealnews.com 
A century of racist public policy laid the foundation for deep racial inequities in employment and vaccination rates in the U.S. pandemic response.
(2021-02-22). It's Time to End This Relic of Slavery. scheerpost.com hans van den berg / CC BY 2.0] By Rebekah Entralgo / OtherWords If it's passed by Congress, President Joe Biden's COVID-19 relief proposal would do a lot more than fund relief payments and vaccine rollouts. It would also raise the wage floor for all U.S. workers — and give a particularly long overdue raise to restaurant servers, taxi drivers, manicurists, and other tipped workers. |
(2021-02-22). Pressure Mounts for Biden to Remove Global Barriers to Vaccines. zcomm.org President Joe Biden is meeting with the G7 leaders of other wealthy nations Friday to discuss global plans to defeat COVID…
(2021-02-22). 'Why would anyone get the jab after this?': AP criticized for saying Covid vaccination WON'T bring life back to normal. rt.com 
Mainstream US media is under fire for publishing an article telling Americans that life won't go back to normal even after they've been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 — and critics argue the message discourages vaccination. | In an AP
(2021-02-22). US woman died after receiving coronavirus-infected lungs during organ transplant, study reveals. rt.com 
A Michigan woman died of Covid-19 last year after getting a double-lung transplant from a donor who turned out to be infected with the virus, according to a medical study describing the first such case in the US. | The unnamed organ recipient had chronic obstructive lung disease, while her donor was another woman, who succumbed to a severe brain injury after a car crash, a The surgery took place at the University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan in mid-2020…
(2021-02-22). Why Didn't Speaker Pelosi Want Witnesses? counterpunch.org 
Democratic leaders told the House managers to huddle privately with Trump's defense lawyers to strike a deal. They did. They would place a mere statement from Rep. Beutler into the trial record and call no witnesses. The Republicans couldn't have been more delighted, knowing that the Democratic leadership wanted the trial over that day before Congress went on a week-long vacation.
(2021-02-22). Protests continue in Haiti against the dictatorship and imperialism. peoplesdispatch.org 
Another round of massive protests took place on February 21 calling for an end to the dictatorship of Jovenel MoàØse whose term was supposed to end on February 7…
(2021-02-22). Partners: China and Cuba. mronline.org 
In the 1960s, the main forms of the Chinese assistance offered to Cuba were preferential trade and interest-free loans. From 1961 to 1965, China gave Cuba an interest-free loan of 60 million U.S. dollars.
(2021-02-22). GOP Offers Preview of Brutal Climate Policies in Texas. counterpunch.org 
As Texas battles a severe snowstorm and mass power outages this winter, Tim Boyd, the now-former Republican mayor of Colorado City, revealed his party's plan for the deadly extreme temperatures linked to climate change. In a lengthy Facebook post that was deleted soon after it went viral, then-Mayor Boyd told his residents that they were entirely on their own as the brutal winter weather caused mayhem and deaths across the Lone Star state.
(2021-02-22). One Flew Over the US. counterpunch.org 
On the best route (also the route that the Metro North Railroad follows) to New York City from western Massachusetts, stands the remnants of a long-abandoned state psychiatric facility (Harlem Valley State Hospital) in upstate New York. The many buildings that housed mentally ill people, like others in many states, have the appearance of brick military-style
(2021-02-22). Saving the Classics from Blindness. counterpunch.org 
Dan-el Padilla Peralta, a classics professor at Princeton, was the subject of a recent article in the New York Times Magazine entitled "He Wants to Save the Classics From Whiteness. Can the Field Survive?" Padilla, according to the article, believes classics, as an academic discipline, "has been instrumental to the invention of 'whiteness' and its continued domination." I won't argue with that. I don't know enough about classics as an academic discipline. I do know something about academic disciplines more generally, though, and I have to say that, in my experience, most are characterized by at least unconscious,…
(2021-02-22). Texas refineries used storm to hide release of tons of pollutants. peoplesworld.org 
Editor's note: This article has been reprinted from EcoWatch. Texas oil refineries released hundreds of thousands of pounds of pollutants including benzene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide into the air as they scrambled to shut down during last week's deadly winter storm, Reuters reported Sunday. Winter storm Uri, which killed dozens of people …
(2021-02-22). Impeachment manager Raskin's last word on Trump: He's 'a traitor'. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (PAI)—Unveiling a key word he never uttered during Donald Trump's impeachment trial in mid-February, chief House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., has labeled former White House Republican denizen Trump a "traitor." Raskin, a longtime constitutional law professor, delivered that verdict at the opening of a short Zoom video speech to the Government Employees …
(2021-02-22). Nathan Robinson speaks about losing his Guardian column after criticizing Israel. therealnews.com 
Current Affairs Editor-in-Chief Nathan Robinson tweeted a joke satirizing U.S. support of Israel, and The Guardian newspaper cancelled his regular op-ed column. Now he speaks with TRNN about facing accusations of anti-Semitism for criticizing Israeli power on Capitol Hill.
(2021-02-22). 2011 Book Gives Voice to Palestinian Women Who Survived 1948 Nakba. mintpressnews.com 
"If you'd only seen the bodies in the streets, if you only had seen the bodies. Little children without their shoes walking about the mayhem and crying."
(2021-02-22). Haitian Official stashes Wealth in Montréal. dissidentvoice.org 
Recent media reports of a Haitian official stashing wealth in Montréal property ignore a key element of the story: Canada's contribution to enabling Haitian corruption. As a neo-Duvalierist regime becomes ever more dictatorial it's also worth revisiting Canada's history in facilitating fraud and money laundering in the hemisphere's most impoverished nation. Recently La Presse reported …
(2021-02-22). District Court declares South Carolina Republicans' anti-abortion bill unconstitutional. peoplesworld.org 
South Carolina's draconian Senate Bill 1, the "Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act," hit its first legal snag on Friday when U.S. District Court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis issued a two-week temporary restraining order while the case works its way through the courts. Issued just a day after Gov. Henry McMaster signed the bill …
(2021-02-22). Red Books Day celebrated internationally to mark 173 years since the publication of 'The Communist Manifesto'. peoplesdispatch.org 
On February 21, 1948 the Manifesto of the Communist Party written by Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels was first published in the UK. The book is recognized as one of the most influential in the history of humankind and it has been translated in almost all languages in the world.
(2021-02-22). It will take more than dumping Trump to stop the neo-fascists. peoplesworld.org 
At the end of World War II, we saw a worldwide defeat of fascism. Millions in countries around the planet rejected what their fascist overlords had to offer—racism, genocide, economic austerity, and war. U.S. and Soviet soldiers marched for the same cause as they defeated fascism in one country after another. The liberating troops marching …
(2021-02-22). Cuba en vicepresidencia del Comité de ONU sobre Descolonización. peoplesworld.org 
Naciones Unidas, 18 feb (Prensa Latina) Cuba fue electa hoy para la vicepresidencia del Comité Especial de Descolonización de la ONU, cargo que asume con el compromiso de seguir luchando para erradicar el colonialismo en cualquiera de sus manifestaciones. Así expresó el representante permanente del país caribeño ante Naciones Unidas, Pedro Luis Pedroso, al asumir …
(2021-02-22). Who Messed with Texas? counterpunch.org 
Texans like to brag endlessly about how great their state is, its "independence," and warn, "don't mess with Texas." But as millions of Texans now huddle freezing in the dark of this self-proclaimed "energy capital of the world," it might be worth thinking about how this tragedy happened, who and what caused it, and why Republican politicians are trying to blame renewable energy for a problem caused by poorly built and maintained fossil fuel generation facilities and the predatory capitalism of its deregulated energy system.
(2021-02-22). WHO Busts Wuhan Myths: Pandemic started with wild Animal, not Lab, and Wet Market wasn't Ground Zero. juancole.com 
By Dominic Dwyer | — As I write, I am in hotel quarantine in Sydney, after returning from Wuhan, China. There, I was the Australian representative on the international World Health Organization's (WHO) investigation into the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Much has been said of the politics surrounding the mission to investigate the viral …
(2021-02-22). Will Biden scrap Afghanistan withdrawal? liberationnews.org 
To the extent that the administration is still considering following through on the withdrawal, it is an expression of the military failure of the United States over the long course of the war.
(2021-02-22). New European Union sanctions on democratic elections: 30 Venezuelan politicians to be sanctioned. mronline.org 
The European Union (EU) announced this Friday, February 19, that the body will sanction about thirty Venezuelan leaders for participating in the legislative elections last December, reported Europa Press, alluding to a "high ranked official" of the community bloc.
(2021-02-22). "Apocalypse Cow:" Point Reyes National Seashore Launches a Propaganda War Targeting Independent Journalism. counterpunch.org 
Grab your popcorn: The battle over livestock destruction of natural ecosystems at Point Reyes National Seashore is heating up. For years, conservationists have pointed out the ecologically catastrophic toll that beef and dairy ranching has been having on native coastal prairies, the wildlife that depend on these places, and public health and safety. As the
(2021-02-22). 'Judas and the Black Messiah,' the story of revolutionary Black Panther Fred Hampton. peoplesworld.org 
In the summer of 2020, the United States, as in much of the world, experienced an uptick in activism around the issue of racial oppression. The recent increase in police killings of Black people, exemplified by George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, was answered by the militancy of those who have simply had too much. Black …
(2021-02-22). The Weekly Round-up: Free Speech: Chilling Effects or Phantom Threats? ukhumanrightsblog.com 
A number of legal developments put free speech under the spotlight this week. First, media commentators disputed the significance of the Duchess of Sussex's successful privacy claim against Associated Newspaper Limited, covered in last week's round-up. A leader in The Times issued the grave warning that 'Mr Justice Warby's judgment creates a precedent that will have a chilling effect on …
(2021-02-22). Prisons Prime Testing Ground for Dehumanizing Hi-Tech 'Advances'. strategic-culture.org 
A new form of exploitation, known as "stakeholder capitalism," is already being tested in many places around the world and prisons are among the main targets for its implementation, as they provide an ideal and literally captive market for its proof of concept. | By Raul DIEGO | Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is coming under fire again from Democratic lawmakers, as well as from the American Postal Workers Union, who are calling for President Joe Biden to pave the way for DeJoy's removal after the Trump-appointee
(2021-02-22). Beyond Oil: How the UAE's HOPE Mars Mission Is Breaking the Arab World Out of the Crisis of Scarcity. strategic-culture.org 
The Emiratis understand that their economy, primarily based in oil revenue, though presently lucrative, is a short-term prosperity. A future that is Something truly remarkable happened on Feb. 9th, 2021, which I fear has not been fully comprehended by most of the Western hemisphere in terms of its massive implications as a game-changer in geopolit…
(2021-02-22). Biden's Great School Reset — Is It a Time for Change? strategic-culture.org 
The door is open to think about how we can change our 1800's education to meet up with or fight against the demands of this upcoming new industrial revolution, Tim Kirby writes. | It is hard to say exactly why, but political change of a grand sweeping nature simply does not occur without some sort of crisis to demand it. A catalyst is always needed. For years it has been obvious that many office jobs could simply be done from home without wasting employees' time and earnings on a commute and workspace. If it were not for the Coronavirus, driving over an hour to work on an inferior computer in a beige cubicle surr…
(2021-02-22). Jordan's Queen Noor asks for information on missing Dubai princess Shamsa. middleeasteye.net 
Jordan's Queen Noor asks for information on missing Dubai princess Shamsa | Princess Shamsa has not been seen for more than 20 years after she was forcefully picked up in UK city of Cambridge | Mon, 02/22/2021 – 17: 03 | Queen Noor serves on board of commissioners for International Commission on Missing Persons (AFP) | Queen Noor of Jordan has asked for information on missing Dubai Princess Shamsa, following r…
(2021-02-22). Greece to install long-range cameras and radars along border with Turkey: Report. middleeasteye.net 
Greece to install long-range cameras and radars along border with Turkey: Report | Athens continues to tighten border security in a bid to discourage undocumented migration | Mon, 02/22/2021 – 10: 48 | Migrants near the fence of the Turkey-Greece border buffer zone in Edirne, Turkey, 7 March 2020 (AFP) | Greece will position radars and cameras with a range of up to 15km along its land border with Turkey…
(2021-02-22). Iraq: Alarm raised over free speech in Kurdistan after jailing of journalists. middleeasteye.net 
Iraq: Alarm raised over free speech in Kurdistan after jailing of journalists | At his trial, Kurdish journalist Sherwan Sherwani repeatedly alleged that authorities had threatened to rape his wife if he did not sign a confession | Mon, 02/22/2021 – 16: 00 | Sherwan Sherwani was arrested in October last year following his coverage of anti-government protests in Dohuk and Erbil provinces (Soci…
(2021-02-22). 'They destroyed our dreams': Israel's bulldozers target Palestinian women farmers. middleeasteye.net 
'They destroyed our dreams': Israel's bulldozers target Palestinian women farmers | The Palestinian women workforce faces a 'direct threat', as Israeli forces raze their agricultural lands | Mon, 02/22/2021 – 11: 05 | On 6 December 2020, Israeli bulldozers carried out one of the largest tree uprooting operations to date in the West Bank, destroying 3,400 olive trees in one day (Social media/Daoud A…
(2021-02-22). Saudi Arabia arms deals: UK 'prolonging' Yemen war with weapon sales. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi Arabia arms deals: UK 'prolonging' Yemen war with weapon sales | UK issued open licences for bombs, missiles and rockets worth £1.36bn in 2020, as well as equipment to help air-to-air refuelling of Saudi jets | Mon, 02/22/2021 – 12: 34 | Workers in the Yemeni capital Sanaa search through debris at a warehouse after it was reportedly hit in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition on 2 July 20…
(2021-02-22). Saudi F1 race: Activists urge Lewis Hamilton to speak out on human rights. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi F1 race: Activists urge Lewis Hamilton to speak out on human rights | Dozens of rights organisations write letter urging world champion to boycott Saudi Grand Prix or use his platform to promote human rights in the kingdom | Mon, 02/22/2021 – 17: 35 | Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has been politically outspoken in the past (AFP/File photo) | Dozens of human rights organisations have called on Formula One c…
(2021-02-22). Jeffrey Epstein's Billionaire Tax Avoidance Assistance Business. counterpunch.org 
The sex-trafficking scandal surrounding the late Jeffrey Epstein already has tarnished the reputations of prominent politicians, businessmen, and the British royal family. Now it's casting a dark shadow on an estate tax-avoidance strategy popular among Wall Street CEOs and tech entrepreneurs. The strategy exploits a loophole that Congress unintentionally left open when it passed provisions
(2021-02-22). British businesswoman helped in failed plot to aid Libya's Haftar, says UN report. middleeasteye.net 
British businesswoman helped in failed plot to aid Libya's Haftar, says UN report | Three British citizens have been listed as part of security contractor Erik Prince's ill-fated attempt to back the Libyan military commander | Mon, 02/22/2021 – 10: 45 | Libyan general Khalifa Haftar at his desk in Benghazi, Libya on 8 September 2020. (AFP) | British citizens, including a Dubai-based busine…
(2021-02-22). Yemen: Warring parties fail to agree prisoner swap deal, says UN. middleeasteye.net 
Yemen: Warring parties fail to agree prisoner swap deal, says UN | UN envoy Martin Griffiths said he was 'disappointed' there had been no success from the month-long talks | Mon, 02/22/2021 – 08: 31 | Members of the Yemeni pro-government forces who were reportedly detained by Houthi rebels gesture during a prisoners swap in Taiz on 19 December 2019 (AFP) | Warring parties in Yemen failed t…
(2021-02-22). Elena Ferrante's Class Dramas. thenation.com 
Her latest novel, The Lying Life of Adults, mines the contradictions of class identity.
(2021-02-22). 'I'm not going down WITHOUT A FIGHT': Actress Gina Carano vows to overcome cancel mob & 'Disney bullies'. rt.com 
Actress Gina Carano said she was motivated to fight back against cancel culture and Hollywood bullying because she wanted to make it safe for others to freely speak their minds in a world of increasing left-wing intolerance. | The former MMA fighter, who was fired from the Disney+ TV series 'The Mandalorian' earlier this month because of her social media posts, said she couldn't back down and issue a disingenuous apology after watching other actors steamrolled for politically incorrect views. She anticipated her firing, after months of attacks from the cancel mob, and decided to "go down swinging." | "My body'
(2021-02-22). 'Thank you,' says MyPillow's Mike Lindell as he's finally sued by Dominion after months of begging. rt.com 
Dominion Voting Systems has filed a lawsuit against MyPillow CEO and vocal Donald Trump supporter Mike Lindell over his election fraud claims, saying "the lie sells pillows." | Lindell is only the latest person to be legally targeted by Dominion over election fraud conspiracy theories. The company filed suit last month against Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, accusing him of pushing election conspiracies to "financially enrich himself." | Dominion is now suing Lindell for defamation, seeking $1.3 billion in damages. | "MyPillow's defamatory marketing campaign — with promo codes like 'FightforTrump', '45', 'P…
(2021-02-22). 'Everything has improved': Chelsea skipper Azpilicueta backs Tuchel takeover after Blues languished under Lampard's leadership. rt.com 
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has thrown his weight behind Roman Abramovich's decision to replace club legend Frank Lampard with German boss Thomas Tuchel, admitting that the team had underperformed under their former coach. | The Chelsea hierarchy bit the bullet last month, drawing the curtains on their 18-month Lampard experiment at the West London club after a prolonged spell of poor performances. | Abramovich moved quickly to install the highly-rated former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain manager in the Stamford Bridge dugout — and Tuchel has rewarded the Russian owner by staying unbeate…
(2021-02-22). Headlines for February 22, 2021. democracynow.org Biden Declares Major Disaster in TX as Tragic Stories Emerge, Residents Hit with Soaring Power Bills, U.S. to Top 500,000 COVID Deaths as Democrats Advance $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package, U.K. Eases Lockdown; Iranian Vaccine Shows Promising Results; Bolivia Health Workers Launch Strike, Protests Intensify in Burma After 3 Demonstrators Die Amid Violent Crackdown, Thailand Anti-Government Protests Continue After PM Survives No-Confidence Vote, Conservative Guillermo Lasso Advances to 2nd Round of Ecuadorian Presidential Election, Uber Drivers in U.K. Win Legal Battle to Be Recognized as Company Employees, Pentagon…
(2021-02-22). After one month underground anti-HS2 activist decides 'I'm coming out'. thecanary.co 
An environmental activist who spent almost a month underground in protest at the HS2 railway line has come out from a tunnel near London's Euston Station. Geography lecturer Larch Maxey, 48, had his belongings confiscated by bailiffs on Monday and said in a video he "feels fine", but that medics have persuaded him to go to hospital to "be on the safe side". | "I'm coming out": | The subterranean system was created in secret by protesters who object to the redevelopment of Euston Square Gardens as part of the high-speed railway line. | In a video posted on Monday, Dr Maxey said: I've basically met my match,…
(2021-02-22). LGBT+ History Month: 36 brilliant resources for Queer Black, Asian, Ethnic Minority and POC. thecanary.co 
@SinkT…
(2021-02-22). Fossil Fuel Shock Doctrine: Naomi Klein on Deadly Deregulation & Why Texas Needs the Green New Deal. democracynow.org 
Millions of Texans are still suffering after severe winter weather devastated the state's energy and water systems. About 8 million Texans remain under orders to boil water, and 30,000 homes still have no power. Around 70 deaths have now been linked to the winter storms, including at least 12 people who died inside their homes after losing heat. Republican lawmakers in Texas are facing increasing criticism for their handling of the crisis, their decades-long push to deregulate the state's energy system, and their unfounded attacks on renewable energy and the Green New Deal. Naomi Klein, senior correspondent at Th…
(2021-02-22). This Is What Deregulation Looks Like: Some Texans Face $10K+ in Electric Bills, Others Still in Dark. democracynow.org 
When millions of Texans lost power during extreme winter weather, some who were fortunate enough to keep the lights on now face astronomically high energy bills, with people being charged thousands of dollars for just a few days of energy use. The skyrocketing bills are a result of the state's years-long push to deregulate its energy market, says Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's Energy Program. "We are seeing in these deregulated environments unscrupulous companies preying on their assumption that households will not understand or read the fine print," says Slocum. We also speak with Texas resident Akil…
(2021-02-22). No Heat or Water, Overflowing Toilets, Disgusting Food: Texas Prisons Went "from Bad to Dire" in Storm. democracynow.org 
As winter storms overwhelmed Texas, many incarcerated people in the state went days without heat and water, making already grim conditions behind bars even more intolerable for thousands of people. Officials say 33 prisons across the state lost power and 20 had water shortages after the state's electrical grid failed. Staff shortages compounded the problems, and some incarcerated people report not being provided with blankets to keep warm in their freezing cells and being served inedible food. "Texas prison conditions have gone from bad to dire," says Marshall Project reporter Keri Blakinger. "Prisons didn't real…
(2021-02-22). Victims of human trafficking: can they be criminals as well? ukhumanrightsblog.com 
V.C.L. and A.N. v the United Kingdom (16 February 2021) Human trafficking is internationally recognised as threatening human rights and the fundamental values of democratic societies. States have taken action to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking and to provide support to victims of what is the third largest illicit money-making venture in the world. But …
(2021-02-22). Ten Steps Biden Can Take Toward Peace. counterpunch.org When it comes to war, if personnel is policy, America is yet again in deep trouble. As retired Army Major Danny Sjursen recently pointed out, when it comes to foreign policy, President Joe Biden's new cabinet and advisers are well stocked with retired generals, reconstituted neocons, unapologetic hawks, and similar war enthusiasts. Biden himself has
(2021-02-22). The Green New Deal Threatens Republicans' Bread and Butter, it's Not Just Competition in the Battle of Ideas. cepr.net Naomi Klein has an interesting piece in the New York Times on the implications of the Texas disaster. I would disagree with some parts, which attack the Texas approach to energy as "free market." To my view, this is far too generous. Even Texas' deregulated energy market is still highly regulated. It is possible to …
(2021-02-22). Republicans 'Fear' Green New Deal, Argues Naomi Klein, Because It's a Viable Alternative to Free-Market Failure. commondreams.org "Texans are living through the collapse of a 40-year experiment in free-market fundamentalism, one that has also stood in the way of effective climate action. Fortunately, there's a way out." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12312645031.jpg …
(2021-02-22). Biden's Doublespeak About Ending Yemen War -Abby Martin. theanalysis.news Abby Martin explains what President Biden really means by the duplicitous language in his major Feb. 4 foreign policy speech on ending the Yemen war.
(2021-02-22). NY Democrat 'Better at Being a Texas Senator Than Ted Cruz': AOC Spends Weekend Raising Millions, Delivering Aid. commondreams.org "Charity can't replace policy," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged, "but solidarity is how we'll face climate change and build a better world." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aoc_tx.jpg …
(2021-02-22). Assange's partner exposes ongoing denial of his legal and democratic rights. wsws.org Assange is still being denied proper access to his lawyers and to crucial legal documents, even after a Magistrates' Court verdict blocking his extradition to the US last month.
(2021-02-22). Biden Launches Campaign to Silence Critics of Killer Vaccine. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Imagine if an ordinary working man went on a rampage and …
(2021-02-22). A Conversation With Leaders Of The Mayangna Nation. popularresistance.org In November of 2020, between hurricanes Eta and Iota, Stephen Sefton interviewed Indigenous leaders and others in Nicaragua's North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. The interviews mainly address long standing misapprehensions and outright falsehoods about Nicaragua's Sandinista government's defense of Indigenous people's rights, an issue inseparable from defense of the natural environment. More immediately, the interviews exposed several poorly researched, inaccurate reports of the Oakland Institute, published in 2020, clearly seeking to damage Nicaragua's economy by means of misleading, sensationalist and simp…
(2021-02-22). Joe Biden and "Open Borders": As If. counterpunch.org On February 9, more than 50 Republican members of the US House of Representatives sent President Joe Biden a letter decrying his "open border" policies. Of all the hyberbolic claims I've read regarding the Biden administration since Inauguration Day, that one takes the cake. In neither word nor action has the new president come within
(2021-02-22). Denver says "No War on Iran! Drop the sanctions now!" fightbacknews.org Denver, CO – On Saturday, January 20, the Denver Peace Council and Students for a Democratic Society gathered at the Colorado state capitol for a roadside protest against U.S. sanctions on Iran. The protest was called for as part of a national day of action by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)'s youth committee, Youth Against Empire. | The action was called due to continued U.S. aggression against Iran. Despite campaign promises to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Biden administration has opted to largely continue Trump's policies. The Trump administration had withdrawn from t…
(2021-02-22). Teachers in US resist demand to accept "reasonable risk" of dying. wsws.org The Biden administration, the corporate media and the teachers unions have ganged up against educators who are refusing to risk their lives.
(2021-02-22). This week in history: February 22-28. wsws.org 25 years ago: Anti-Castro group aircraft shot down over CubaOn February 24, 1996, Cuban fighter jets shot down two planes flown by the Miami-based anti-Castro exile group Brothers to the Rescue. It was the end result of a provocation calculated to induce US economic, political and military retaliation against Cuba.
(2021-02-22). Jacobin magazine downplays Democrats' impeachment debacle. wsws.org Jacobin has had next to nothing to say about the Democrats' impeachment debacle and even less to say about the January 6 coup attempt and the ongoing threat of right-wing violence.
(2021-02-22). Italian government preparing for confrontation with working class. wsws.org The 73-year-old former head of the European Central Bank formed a government last week including all major national parties, apart from the fascist Fratelli d'Italia, from the far-right Lega to the social democratic Democrats (PD).
(2021-02-22). Demands intensify for resumption of in person learning in Michigan by March 1. wsws.org Michigan Democrats, backed by the corporate media, are ramping up pressure to reopen schools by March 1.
(2021-02-22). California Republicans claim 1.7 million signatures on petition to recall Democratic Governor Newsom. wsws.org The right-wing petition drive against California Governor Gavin Newsom, organized by the state Republican Party, is on track to reach the 1.5 million signature threshold required to force a recall election later this year.
(2021-02-22). América Latina y el Caribe: øEs la democracia un fin o un instrumento? globalizacion.ca La izquierda fue acusada, durante mucho tiempo, de privilegiar la conquista de mejores condiciones de vida para la población, que la conquista, preservación y profundización de la democracia. El modelo soviético, que se caracterizó por la mejora de las condiciones…
(2021-02-22). Child poverty in the US could be slashed by monthly payments to parents—an idea proved in other rich countries and proposed by a prominent Republican. nationofchange.org Fifty years later, Congress and the nation are again debating a major boost in government support for families with children.
(2021-02-22). El partido de Trump. globalizacion.ca En el ambiente político de Estados Unidos flota la idea de que el partido republicano quiere romper con Trump y dejar atrás los cuatro años en que hizo lo posible por desfigurarlo. Sin embargo, los hechos parecen apuntar en otro…
(2021-02-22). Las GAFAM y el poder del pueblo. globalizacion.ca Aliadas con grandes firmas de Wall Street y el influyente lobby empresarial agrupado en la Cámara de Comercio de Estados Unidos, la poderosa organización sindical AFL-CIO, funcionarios republicanos y demócratas integrantes del establishment institucional en los aparatos ejecutivo, legislativo y…
(2021-02-22). The 'Transition' of the Élites. strategic-culture.org The neo-cons were for ever knifing Trump in the back. They've now gone to Biden, Alastair Crooke writes. | Rep. Jamie Raskin wrapped up the impeachment managers' case for convicting Donald Trump by citing a 1776 passage by Tom Paine: "Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered, but we have this saving consolation: the more difficult the struggle, the more glorious in the end — will be our victory". Light and dark. Good and evil — and so the essence of the 'show trial' stands revealed. It is one of extravagant theatre — touching on the Manichean through using edited clips from TV to present a dr…
(2021-02-22). Profiles of "Courage" During the Trump Impeachment Trial. commondreams.org Sycophantic antics of Republican members who opposed Trump's impeachment. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12309789481.jpg …
(2021-02-22). Are Judges Just Politicians in Robes? commondreams.org Having seen that appointed judges refuse to toe the party line at the federal level, the GOP has decided to employ partisan gerrymandering to change the way judges are elected at the state level. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-1184142105.jpg …
(2021-02-22). 2021 Update: Half of America In or Near Poverty. commondreams.org We need Guaranteed Jobs. President Biden's proposed Civilian Climate Corps is a positive step in this direction. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/poverty_5.jpg …
(2021-02-22). Biden Administration Announces Fix for Paycheck Protection Program That Will Boost Relief for Black and Latino-Owned Businesses. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-02-22). Protests grow across Myanmar after junta warns of further 'loss of life'. laprensalatina.com (Update 1: Adds quotes from protesters) Yangon, Myanmar, Feb 22 (efe-epa).- Massive anti-coup protests grew across Myanmar on Monday, despite the military junta warning of further "loss of life." As part of a general strike calling for the release of detained leaders and an end to military control, tens of thousands of protesters turned out …
(2021-02-22). Italian ambassador to Kinshasa killed following attack on UN convoy. laprensalatina.com Rome, Feb 22 (efe-epa).- Italy's ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo was killed Monday following an armed attack on a United Nations convoy he was traveling with in the country's restive east. Italy's foreign ministry confirmed the death of Ambassador Luca Attanasio and an Italian security guard as a result of the attack near …
(2021-02-22). Trump Will Reportedly Bill Himself as Republican 'Presumptive 2024 Nominee' at CPAC. sputniknews.com Donald Trump is expected to outline his vision for the future of the GOP during his keynote address on the last day of the Conservative Political Action Conference, which will be held on 25-28 February.
(2021-02-22). US Latin America Policy Won't Change Much, New 'Thaw' With Cuba Can't be Ruled Out, Analyst Says. sputniknews.com Joe Biden is expected to outline his vision of Washington's Latin America policy at the next Summit of the Americas, to be held in the United States in April 2021. However, the contours of the new administration's Western Hemisphere policies have already become visible in the first month of Biden's presidency.
(2021-02-22). The Deep Rot of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. zcomm.org The Bay State's deep-blue reputation obscures a cynical political establishment that's more interested in accruing power than in advancing progressive policies…
(2021-02-22). Tell Congress to take bold action to fight the climate crisis. zcomm.org If we are going to save our planet for future generations, now is not the time to think smal…
(2021-02-22). The GOP's 2022 Strategy: Voter Suppression or Bust. thenation.com The GOP's 2022 Strategy: Voter Suppression or Bust…
(2021-02-22). The Slow, Certain Disintegration of the US Empire. thenation.com The Slow, Certain Disintegration of the US Empire…
(2021-02-22). Three killed in attack on UN World Food Programme convoy in DR Congo. news.un.org The Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a World Food Programme (WFP) staff member, together with an Italian embassy official, were killed on Monday during an attack on a UN convoy in the east of the country, the agency has said.
(2021-02-22). Italian ambassador to Congo killed in attack on UN convoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 22 (MNA) — The Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo was killed along with two others on Monday in an attack on a United Nations convoy in the east of the country, local park authorities and diplomats said.
(2021-02-22). Protesters huge crowed dares Myanmar's military rule. yenisafak.com After three people were killed during a security force crackdown on demonstrators on Friday and Saturday, a nationwide general strike began on Monday to show defiance of threats from Myanmar's military rule.Tens of thousands of people gathered in Yangon and staged a peaceful rally as armored vehicles and trucks carrying police and soldiers rolled into the streets. Security forces also blocked roads leading to the UN office and embassies in the city.Shops, markets, and businesses were seen shut down in Yangon to express solidarity with the protesters.Shortly after the Feb. 1 coup, the junta declared martial law im…
(2021-02-22). Bazoum leads second round of presidential poll in Niger. yenisafak.com Niger's Mohamed Bazoum is leading the second round of Sunday's presidential election, according to the country's electoral commission.The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) released provisional results of the election on Monday.Bazoum, the ruling Party for Democracy and Socialism candidate and the winner of the first round, is leading with 54.1% or 191,554 votes. His rival, Mahamane Ousmane, the candidate of the Democratic and Republic Rally, is trailing with 161,960 votes.More than 7 million people have been registered for this ballot but only nearly 370,000 have voted. The participation rate was 4…
(2021-02-22). California petition drive on track to force recall election this year. indybay.org The right-wing petition drive against California Governor Gavin Newsom, organized by the state Republican Party, is on track to reach the 1.5 million signature threshold required to force a recall election later this year.
(2021-02-21). Reuters, BBC, and Bellingcat Participated in Covert UK Foreign Office-funded Programs to "Weaken Russia," leaked docs reveal. strategic-culture.org 
New leaked documents show Reuters' and the BBC's involvement in covert UK FCO programs to effect "attitudinal change" and "weaken the Russian state's influence," alongside intel contractors and Bellingcat. | By Max BLUMENTHAL | The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have sponsored Reuters and the BBC to conduct a series of covert programs aimed at promoting regime change inside Russia and undermining its government across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, according to a series of The leak…
(2021-02-21). Covid-19: Palestinian vaccine plan faces large funding gap, says World Bank. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Palestinian vaccine plan faces large funding gap, says World Bank | Israel could consider donating surplus doses to the Palestinians to help accelerate a vaccine roll-out in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, a new World Bank report says | Sun, 02/21/2021 – 23: 02 | Palestinian health workers unload the first shipment of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine at the Kerem Shalom borde…
(2021-02-21). Covid-19: Israel begins reopening economy after vaccinating nearly half its population. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Israel begins reopening economy after vaccinating nearly half its population | Move comes as criticism of government continues over its failure to vaccinate Palestinians living under its control | Sun, 02/21/2021 – 10: 53 | Israel has administered at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine to more than 46 percent of its nine million population, the health ministry says (Reuters) | I…
(2021-02-21). 'Aggressive measures needed': India discovers 240 new, possibly more infectious Covid-19 strains. rt.com 
A whopping 240 mutated coronavirus strains have been discovered across India, health officials have said, warning that some of them may potentially be more infectious, and may even be capable of evading immune response altogether. | The new Covid-19 strains are likely behind the sudden spike of new cases in several Indian states, including Maharashtra — the second most populous state housing the city of Mumbai — a member of the regional Covid-19 task force, Shahshank Joshi, told NDTV. He added that a total of around 240 new virus variants have been discovered across the country. | Also on rt.com…
(2021-02-21). Keep that mask on: Fauci says face coverings could be needed even in 2022, as he defines new 'normality'. rt.com 
White House health adviser Anthony Fauci has triggered a fresh round of rage online by saying people in the US may be required to wear face masks to protect themselves and others from Covid-19 even in 2022. | Appearing on CNN, Fauci was asked on Sunday to define the "normality" he and President Joe Biden have promised towards the end of this year as more and more people are vaccinated. Pressed specifically as to whether masks would be an everyday part of life next year, Fauci declared himself open to the possibility. | "It is possible that that's the case," he said, "and it depends on what you mean by normalit…
(2021-02-21). Biden's press secretary ripped for sidestepping questions on Cuomo nursing home scandal — says WH to 'continue' working with him. rt.com 
White House press secretary Jen Psaki has been accused by critics of blatantly dodging questions about NY Governor Andrew Cuomo's controversies, including a probe into whether nursing home deaths from Covid-19 were underreported. | On top of accusations that the New York governor underreported nursing home deaths for political purposes, he has also been accused by a state lawmaker of threatening to "destroy" him if he did not release a public statement supporting the governor. Recent months have also seen a sexual harassment allegation emerge. Cuomo has denied wrongdoing in all of these cases. | Before numerou…
