2021-02-05: News Headlines

Ralph Nader (2021-02-05). The Struggle Inside Senator Mitch McConnell's Brain. counterpunch.org Since 2015, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has ruled the Senate with an iron hand, describing himself as "the Guardian of Gridlock." He was Senator "NO," except for confirming over 200 mostly corporatist federal judges. Now comes a new challenge for Mitch McConnell as he leads 49 other Republican Senators, twenty of whom are up

Lee Camp (2021-02-05). It's Now or Never — We Stare Into the Abyss. counterpunch.org This column is hopeful. I promise. The northern white rhinoceros is now functionally extinct. Sudan — the last male of his kind — passed away recently. There are two females remaining but obviously they can produce no more of their species without a male — and mating with nearby giraffes is not something in which they seem

Ramzy Baroud (2021-02-05). Our Mutual Fight: The Case against Pakistani Normalization with Israel. dissidentvoice.org The Pakistani government should never, under any circumstances and no matter the pressure, normalize with Israel. Doing so is not only dangerous — as it will embolden an already vile, racist, violent apartheid Israel — but it would also be considered a betrayal of a historic legacy of mutual solidarity, collective affinity and brotherhood that …

A Guest Author (2021-02-05). Malians demonstrate against French military presence. workers.org By Carlos Lopes Pereira The author writes regularly on African events for the Portuguese Communist Party. This article was published in the PCP newspaper Avante on Jan. 28. Translation: John Catalinotto. There have been further protests in Mali against the presence of French troops in the Sahel. On Jan. 20, . . . |

Ramzy Baroud (2021-02-05). Our Mutual Fight: The Case Against Pakistani Normalization with Israel. counterpunch.org The Pakistani government should never, under any circumstances and no matter the pressure, normalize with Israel. Doing so is not only dangerous — as it will embolden an already vile, racist, violent apartheid Israel — but it would also be considered a betrayal of a historic legacy of mutual solidarity, collective affinity and brotherhood that

yenisafak (2021-02-05). Perpetrator of French apartment fire sentenced to 25 years. yenisafak.com A French court on Thursday sentenced the perpetrator of the 2017 fire in Mulhouse to 25 years in prison.Six people, four of them Turkish, died in the fire in an apartment building. Two Algerian nationals also died.The Colmar High Criminal Court found French defendant Aurelien Roellinger guilty of arson.A lawyer of the Turkish families, Gulcan Yasin, told Anadolu Agency that Roellinger is a dangerous and criminal person."Those who lost their lives will not come back, but justice has been served," she said, adding the families welcomed the decision.Ertun and Aksu families' house in Mulhouse's Bourtzwiller District…

_____ (2021-02-04). Migrant Deportations Continue Despite Biden's Policies. popularresistance.org The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to deport migrants despite president Joe Biden's 100-day moratorium on deporting most people in the U.S. without authorization. This decision was barred by a federal judge in Texas last week. | During the first days of Biden's administration, ICE has deported hundreds of immigrants, including 269 people, to Guatemala and Honduras last Friday. The agency has been accused of violating human rights as a coalition of immigrant groups denounced that Cameroonian asylum seekers were tortured to be forced to approve their deportations.

news.un (2021-02-04). Warlord found guilty of crimes against humanity in northern Uganda – ICC. news.un.org A former Ugandan warlord whose forces attacked camps for the internally displaced across the country, has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, judges ruled on Thursday.

yenisafak (2021-02-04). Two S. Africa, one Brazil variant detected in Turkey. yenisafak.com Two Turkish citizens have contracted the South African variant of the coronavirus while one has contracted the Brazilian variant, the country's health minister said Wednesday.Moreover, 196 cases of the UK virus strain have been detected in the country, Fahrettin Koca said.The patients have been isolated, he added.In the wake of rising cases once again, the measures against the pandemic will continue full throttle, he said.The vaccination of citizens over 65 and the second group will commence after safety tests are completed, Koca said.So far, 2.4 million people in the country have been vaccinated with vaccination…

yenisafak (2021-02-04). Ethiopia plans to vaccinate 20% population in 2021. yenisafak.com Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Muluken Yohannes, a senior adviser to the Health Ministry, said a national coordinating committee and a task force have been set up for the purpose to ensure vaccination.Further, the country is actively engaged in a unique global alliance representing more than two-thirds of the world, to ensure that developing nations get vaccines equitably in terms both of access and cost.The alliance includes the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the Gates Foundation, and 191 countries to…

_____ (2021-02-04). It's Now Or Never — We Stare Into The Abyss. popularresistance.org This column is hopeful. I promise. | The northern white rhinoceros is now functionally extinct. Sudan — the last male of his kind — passed away recently. There are two females remaining but obviously they can produce no more of their species without a male — and mating with nearby giraffes is not something in which they seem interested. | This is not the end but the beginning. | This is still the beginning of a great extinction, the sixth great extinction in earth's history and the first one caused by humans. The others were caused by things like massive asteroid impacts creating damage equivale…

teleSUR (2021-02-04). Namibian Government Nominates Cuban Doctors for Nobel Prize. telesurenglish.net In line with this decision, last December 15, the Namibian Foreign Ministry sent to the Norwegian Nobel Committee all the necessary requirements to support the Nomination. | RELATED: | MIRCO highlighted the work carried out by the Cuban medical contingent in different countries around the world. "While the Brigade has been extensively involved in providing support to countries around the world since the beginning…

MEE staff (2021-02-03). Normalisation deals with Israel no 'substitute for peace', US State Department says. middleeasteye.net Normalisation deals with Israel no 'substitute for peace', US State Department says | Peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine still 'very important', spokesman Ned Price says | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 19 | US State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks at his first daily news briefing at State Department on 2 February (AFP/File photo) | Recently cemented normalisation deals between several Arab countries…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-03). Covid-19: Tunisia and occupied Palestinian territory to receive vaccine via Covax. middleeasteye.net Covid-19: Tunisia and occupied Palestinian territory to receive vaccine via Covax | Both areas were given vaccines from Covax after meeting the requirements for the programme | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 13: 38 | The World Health Organisation said that Tunisia would receive 37,000 shots from Pfizer and BioNTech with the Palestinians getting 93,600 (AFP)
| Tunisia and the occupied Palestinian t…

MEE correspondent (2021-02-03). 'Unlawful': Backlash against Egypt's plan to offer Covid-19 vaccine for money. middleeasteye.net 'Unlawful': Backlash against Egypt's plan to offer Covid-19 vaccine for money | As Cairo is set to charge the majority of the public for the coronavirus jab, one lawyer launches a legal challenge against the country's president arguing the decision is unconstitutional | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 10: 04 | Egypt's Health Minister Hala Zayed speaks during a news conference announcing the details o…

Ryan Cristián (2021-02-03). Biden's New "In-Home Test" Will Drive COVID Illusion & Masks Are Making You Sick, While Not Working. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (2/3/21). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth

Jomo Kwame Sundaram (2021-02-03). Caught in tangled web of vaccine nationalism. mronline.org As known COVID-19 infections exceed 100 million internationally, with more than two million lives lost, rich countries are now quarrelling publicly over access to limited vaccine supplies. With 'vaccine nationalism' widespread, multilateral arrangements have not been able to address current challenges well.

Rayhan Uddin (2021-02-03). Two actors of Arab descent nominated for 2021 Golden Globes. middleeasteye.net Two actors of Arab descent nominated for 2021 Golden Globes | Comedian Youssef is up for an award for second year running, while Rahim is being recognised for his portrayal of Guantanamo detainee | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 11 | Egyptian-American Ramy Youssef and French-Algerian Tahar Rahim were nominated for the 2021 edition of the Golden Globes (AFP) | Egyptian-American actor Ramy Youssef and French-Alg…

Rayhan Uddin (2021-02-03). Ramy Youssef and Tahar Rahim nominated for 2021 Golden Globes. middleeasteye.net Ramy Youssef and Tahar Rahim nominated for 2021 Golden Globes | Comedian Youssef is up for an award for second year running, while Rahim is being recognised for his portrayal of Guantanamo detainee | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 11 | Egyptian-American Ramy Youssef and French-Algerian Tahar Rahim were nominated for the 2021 edition of the Golden Globes (AFP) | Egyptian-American actor Ramy Youssef and French-A…

MEE staff (2021-02-03). Egypt asked for 'goodwill' gesture from Israel as condition for Netanyahu visit: Report. middleeasteye.net Egypt asked for 'goodwill' gesture from Israel as condition for Netanyahu visit: Report | According to Israeli news outlet Walla, the Israeli prime minister was hoping to visit prior to legislative elections, but Cairo conditioned trip on support for two-state solution | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 14: 08 | Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, right, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, on t…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-03). Ethiopia says it foiled attack on UAE embassy in Addis Ababa. middleeasteye.net Ethiopia says it foiled attack on UAE embassy in Addis Ababa | Intelligence and Security Service says 15 people arrested were working at direction of foreigners, local media reports | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 21: 10 | Ethiopian police before inauguration ceremony in Addis Ababa's Sheger park last September (AFP) | Ethiopian authorities arrested 15 people in an alleged plot to attack the United Ar…

Online News Editor (2021-02-03). Palestine gives first doses of coronavirus vaccine to healthcare workers. laprensalatina.com Hebron, West Bank, Feb 3 (efe-epa).- Palestine started its coronavirus vaccine rollout on Wednesday, administering the first doses to healthcare workers. The Palestinian National Authority received its first 5,000 doses of the BioNTech vaccine from Israel on Saturday. This comes a few days after the PNA's foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki told the United Nations Security …

Ralph Nader (2021-02-03). The Struggle Inside Senator Mitch McConnell's Brain. commondreams.org Allowing the Trumpian half of his brain to overpower his judgment and vote to acquit Dangerous Donald would spell disaster for the Republican Party (assuming the Democratic Party doesn't go to sleep as it did after Obama's win in 2008). | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/mcconnell_biden_0.jpg

RT (2021-02-03). Washington joins crusade against free speech, backs Ukrainian crackdown on opposition media as EU & Zelensky's dad voice concerns. rt.com The US has waded into a row over media censorship in Ukraine, backing a ban on opposition TV channels as both the EU and President Volodymyr Zelensky's own father expressed grave concerns over the impact on free speech. | In a statement issued on Twitter Wednesday, the American embassy in Kiev wrote that it "supports efforts yesterday to counter Russia's malign influence." It described the shuttering of broadcasters as "in line with [Ukrainian law], in defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity." | The US supports üá∫üᶠefforts yesterday to counter Ru…

Oriana Pawlyk (2021-02-03). After Most US Troops Pull Out of Somalia, Some Reenter for Training. anti-empire.com Editor's note: It appears the Pentagon never even fully withdrew as Trump had told them to, but kept some behind with an eye to Biden. |
| The U.S. military on Sunday held its first training engagement in Somalia after the recent drawdown of most American troops stationed there, Africa Command announced Monday. | "Our first engagement back into Somalia so quickly after the repositioning shows we remain committed to our Somali and regional partners and support their fight against violent extremism," U.S.

yenisafak (2021-02-03). Top Turkish, Norwegian diplomats discuss relations. yenisafak.com Turkish and Norwegian foreign ministers on Wednesday met virtually and discussed bilateral relations, regional and global developments.In a Twitter post, Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu said he discussed bilateral relations and recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh, Syria, Libya, the US, and the East Mediterranean with his Norwegian counterpart Eriksen Soreide.Turkey and Norway maintained its "bilateral trade volume despite the pandemic," Cavusoglu noted, and wished "further cooperation in every field, particularly energy."Meanwhile, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a Twitter post that Soreide had a "good and f…

Aljazeera (2021-02-03). Dutch court orders Shell to pay Nigerian farmers over oil spills. zcomm.org The energy company's Nigerian subsidiary must pay out over a 2008 case, Court of Appeal in The Hague rules…

news.un (2021-02-03). Urgent steps needed to alleviate suffering in Ethiopia's Tigray region: Guterres. news.un.org The United Nations Secretary-General, on Tuesday, voiced grave concerns over the crisis in Ethiopia's Tigray region and underscored the need for urgent efforts to protect populations at risk.

news.un (2021-02-03). 'Meaningful and inclusive' dialogue essential to end upsurge in clashes across Central African Republic. news.un.org The UN chief António Guterres on Wednesday said he continues to be "very concerned" about armed clashes and the threat to civilian life across the Central African Republic, where around 200,000 have been displaced by fighting in under two months.

_____ (2021-02-03). Minority Rule Always Destined For Collapse. strategic-culture.org Governments that rely on support from a minority of their nation's population are doomed to fail. | The Republican Party of the United States has reconstructed itself as the party of Donald Trump and, as such, has become no different than the minority rule political parties of Rhodesia and apartheid South Africa. | By seizing de facto control of the Republican Party, once a center-right party, and moving it to the conspiratorial far-right fringe of the political spectrum, Trump and his supporters have established themselves and their revisionist party as representing a minority of Americans. Because the U.S. Sen…

yenisafak (2021-02-03). Qatar Airways to cut costs by $1.2 bln after Gulf deal. yenisafak.com The reopening of Arab airspace to Qatari flights will decrease costs by around $1.2 billion, the executive chairman of Qatar Airways said. | "The reopening of airspace following the Gulf reconciliation will have a positive impact on the company's financial performance," Akbar al-Baker told the state television in an interview late Tuesday. | Last month, Qatar signed a reconciliation agreement with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to heal their rift, which started in 2017. | The Saudi-led bloc accused Qatar of "supporting terrorism" and severed diplomatic and trade relations with Doha, whi…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-02-03). Where does the Sudanese Revolution stand today? peoplesdispatch.org Dr. Fathi Elfad of the Sudanese Communist Party talks about the developments in Sudan over the past two years, the betrayal of the revolution by certain political forces and the party's stand on the future…

Ramona Wadi (2021-02-02). Aboriginal Historical Memory and 'Australia Day'. thealtworld.com The symbolic "Australia Day" celebrations should be juxtaposed against the normalised violations occurring against indigenous populations and their terrain, Ramona Wadi writes. | January 26 marks Australia Day in colonial narratives, when the British First Fleet arrived in 1788 to establish a penal colony on indigenous land. For the Aboriginal people, the annual commemoration is a reminder of the colonial invasion and its ramifications — the historical massacres, heritage theft, exploitation of history and a political system which to date discriminates against the indigenous. | Defying Covid restrictions, A…

MEE staff (2021-02-02). Netanyahu to visit UAE next week in first trip post-normalisation. middleeasteye.net Netanyahu to visit UAE next week in first trip post-normalisation | Israeli premier said he would travel to Abu Dhabi and would 'possibly make a lightning visit to Bahrain'
| Tue, 02/02/2021 – 19: 26 | The UAE and Israel signed a US-brokered agreement to normalise ties in September during a ceremony at White House (AFP/File photo) | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he planned to pa…

MEE staff (2021-02-02). UAE confident F-35 jets sale will go through despite Biden review, says ambassador. middleeasteye.net UAE confident F-35 jets sale will go through despite Biden review, says ambassador | UAE ambassador to Washington, Yousef al-Otaiba, says if US plans to pivot from Middle East to China it cannot 'take tools away from your partners' | Tue, 02/02/2021 – 15: 52 | The US agreed to sale of F-35 jets to Abu Dhabi following normalisation agreement between UAE and Israel (AFP) | The United Arab Emirates is confident t…

MEE staff (2021-02-02). Biden urged to publicly support rights of citizens to boycott Israel. middleeasteye.net Biden urged to publicly support rights of citizens to boycott Israel | Human Rights Watch calls on Biden administration to renounce Trump-era policy that labelled BDS movement as antisemitic | Tue, 02/02/2021 – 16: 47 | The BDS movement was founded in 2005 and modelled after a similar campaign credited with ending apartheid in South Africa (AFP/File photo) | A leading human rights group has called on US Presid…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-02-02). Kosovo establishes diplomatic relations with Israel, will open embassy in Jerusalem. peoplesdispatch.org Kosovo is the latest in a line of countries which have decided to normalize their relations with Israel, while being only the third to open its embassy in Jerusalem…

news.un (2021-02-02). Human rights: Widespread attacks in DR Congo may amount to crimes against humanity. news.un.org The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has warned against potential crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a spike in attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group, in two provinces in the east of the country.

_____ (2021-02-02). Court Orders Shell To Pay Nigerian Farmers Over Oil Spills. popularresistance.org A Dutch court has ordered the Nigerian subsidiary of Shell to pay compensation over oil spills in Nigeria's Niger Delta, a ruling which could pave the way for more cases against multinational oil firms. | The Court of Appeal in The Hague on Friday ruled that the Nigerian arm of the British-Dutch company must issue payouts over a long-running civil case involving four Nigerian farmers who were seeking compensation, and a clean-up, from the company over pollution caused by leaking oil pipelines. | It held Shell's Nigerian subsidiary liable for two leaks that spewed oil over an area of a total of about 60 football p…

Online News Editor (2021-02-02). Drug traffickers gaining clout in Chilean capital. laprensalatina.com By Sebastian Silva Santiago, Feb 2 (efe-epa).- Even the youngest children have learned the street codes in some neighborhoods on the southern periphery of Santiago. Every time they hear fireworks or firecrackers, they know that they must return home: a new shipment of drugs has arrived and they need to take cover. "We can't normalize …

Robert Inlakesh (2021-02-02). Does Iran's Government Persecute Its Christian Population? thelastamericanvagabond.com A report published last year by experts working at the United Nations has been repeatedly cited, especially throughout Right-Wing press in the United States, as proof that Iran persecutes its Christian population for practicing their faith. But are these charges true, or is there more to the story? Iran's constitution unequivocally protects the rights of