(2021-03-06). The Rise of the Private Police. zcomm.org In South Africa, private security companies have eclipsed the police force, threatening the state's democratic authority and replicating apartheid-era racial inequality. Is the U.S. next?
(2021-03-06). [Comment] Single-dose Oxford—AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine followed by a 12-week booster. thelancet.com Vaccines to prevent COVID-19 infection are crucial for an effective global pandemic response. In The Lancet, Merryn Voysey and colleagues1 report the updated primary efficacy results for the Oxford—AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine from three single-blind, randomised controlled trials in the UK and Brazil and one double-blind study in South Africa.2—4 The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine was granted emergency use authorisation in adults by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency5 in December, 2020.
(2021-03-06). Turkey hands over military barracks to Somalia. yenisafak.com Turkey on Saturday handed over military barracks to Somalia, according to an official statement."As part of restructuring the Somali Armed Forces, the Northern Barracks – 1st Stage Facilities built by Turkey in Mogadishu were handed over to the [Somali] authorities," Turkey's National Defense Ministry said on Twitter.Relations between Turkey and the Horn of Africa nation are historically strong, and picked up pace after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's official visit in 2011, making him the only non-African leader to visit Somalia in 20 years.Besides military cooperation, the two countries also partner on health,…
(2021-03-06). Egypt's President Sisi in Sudan with Ethiopia's dam on agenda. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt's President Sisi in Sudan with Ethiopia's dam on agenda | Egyptian leader's visit continues diplomatic push for support and renewed talks on controversial mega-project | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 11: 14 | Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meets with the head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Burhan, in Egypt in October (FILE/AFP) | Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has arrived in S…
(2021-03-06). Sisi says Egypt, Sudan reject Ethiopian Nile dam 'fait accompli'. middleeasteye.net 
Sisi says Egypt, Sudan reject Ethiopian Nile dam 'fait accompli' | On visit to Sudan, Egyptian president rejects Ethiopian policy of 'unilateral measures without taking Sudan's and Egypt's interests into account' over Blue Nile dam project | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 18: 51 | Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (L) is received by Sudan's head of state General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan upon the fo…
(2021-03-06). Leaked document shows the UK 'plans to cut aid to war-torn countries'. thecanary.co The UK plans to cut aid to some of the world's most conflict-ridden countries by up to two thirds, according to a leaked document. | Aid to Syria would be cut by 67%, Libya by 63%, Somalia by 60% and South Sudan by 59%. This according to the Foreign Office report obtained by the openDemocracy website. | "Devastating": | Labour said the reported cuts would "cause devastation" to some of the world's most vulnerable people. | Preet Kaur Gill, shadow secretary for international development, said: This is a devastating reminder of the real world impact the Government's politically motivated decision to abandon…
(2021-03-06). 'No new directives, period': New York lawmakers vote to strip Governor Cuomo of emergency Covid powers with veto-proof majority. rt.com 
Legislators in New York have sent a bill to Governor Andrew Cuomo's desk seeking to eliminate his "temporary" emergency pandemic powers, securing a veto-proof majority to impose stricter limits on the state government. | Both chambers of the state legislature approved the bill on Friday in a largely party-line vote, with most Republicans opposing the measure on the grounds that it does not go far enough in curbing Cuomo's authorities. With sizable Democrat majorities in the State Assembly and Senate, however, the law passed with ease. | "Today, under this new legislation the governor will no longer be able to…
(2021-03-06). California gives green light for Disneyland reopening after Covid restrictions shutter theme park for 1 year. rt.com 
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is preparing to welcome visitors for the first time in over a year after the iconic theme park was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. | California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly announced on Friday that the state's amusement parks will be permitted to reopen with limited capacity starting on April 1. | Read more | | "We feel like now is the appropriate time to begin t…
(2021-03-06). Malawi receives first batch of coronavirus vaccine. yenisafak.com Malawi received its first batch of 360,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from the UN COVAX facility."The vaccines will be distributed to all the 28 districts across the country to first support frontline health and social workers," said Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda.She said the administration of the vaccines is expected to start on March 15.Malawi already received 360,000 syringes from UNICEF and 3,625 safety boxes that will be used for vaccinations."After a year of discruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 32,000 Malawians infected with the virus and 1,000 lives lost, the path for recovery fo…
(2021-03-06). ICE to allow detainees to appeal arrest if they feel their detention does not 'align' with Biden's immigration policy. rt.com 
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has created an appeals process that will permit migrants to challenge arrests and deportations if they feel their treatment does not reflect the Biden administration's own policies. | Overseen by a senior official in Washington, DC, the ICE Case Review Process is part of the White House's wide-ranging immigration reforms. | In a statement, the agency said that the appeals process could be used by individuals who believe that their case does not "align with ICE's enforcement, detention, and removal priorities." | Shifting away from Donald Trump's strict enforceme…
(2021-03-06). What's Not Being Said About the Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine. "Human Guinea Pigs"? globalresearch.ca The Pharma giant Pfizer use an experimental technology known as gene editing, specifically mRNA gene-editing, something never before used in vaccines. Before we rush to get jabbed in hopes of some immunity, we should know more about the radical experimental technology and its lack of precision.
(2021-03-06). Scores killed in Yemen's Marib over 24 hours. middleeasteye.net 
Scores killed in Yemen's Marib over 24 hours | The UN warned of a humanitarian crisis as thousands are displaced by Houthi offensive | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 09: 47 | Armed Houthis at the funeral of another fighter killed during recent fighting in Marib (Reuters) | At least 90 combatants have been killed in fighting around Yemen's Marib governorate over a single day, government sources said.
(2021-03-06). Anti-Communist Political Science: Propaganda for the Yankee Capitalist State. dissidentvoice.org 
Orientation I returned to college 20 years after dropping out in the late 1960s. After a couple of weeks in the political science class I was taking, I challenged the instructor by asking: "Where are the Marxists and anarchists in your presentation of political science?" Here is what I was told. "Marxists and anarchists are …
(2021-03-06). Todo el mundo está mirando. workers.org 
"Un ataque contra uno es un ataque contra todxs." Este famoso lema laboral, popularizado por los Trabajadores Industriales del Mundo hace más de un siglo, es más significativo hoy que nunca. Pero tiene un doble significado para los trabajadores de Amazon, donde la tasa de lesiones en el lugar de . . . |
(2021-03-06). Women in Afghanistan worry peace accord with Taliban extremists could cost them hard-won rights. juancole.com 
Mona Tajali and Homa Hoodfar | — Three Afghan women who worked at a media company were gunned down in Jalalabad in early March. In January, unidentified gunmen killed two female Supreme Court judges in Kabul. These are the latest victims on a long list of assassinations and attempted assassinations of female politicians and women's …
(2021-03-06). U.S. to continue using Guaido to rob Venezuelan assets abroad. mronline.org 
The continuation of the Trump administration's aggressive policies toward Venezuela by the Biden administration is reflected in the recent meeting between the new U.S. Secretary of State and Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
(2021-03-06). Rosa Luxemburg at 150: a revolutionary legacy. mronline.org 
Rosa Luxemburg, one of the great leaders in the history of the socialist movement, was born in Poland (then a province of the Russian empire) 150 years ago this month, on 5 March 1871.
(2021-03-06). Who signed the pro-testing appeals? mronline.org 
Education Trust, led by former Secretary of Education John King, sent two letters to the Biden administration, urging the administration not to allow states to receive waivers from the mandated federal testing.
(2021-03-06). Lebanon's caretaker prime minister threatens to resign his duties over economic crisis. middleeasteye.net 
Lebanon's caretaker prime minister threatens to resign his duties over economic crisis | Hassan Diab said he would stop performing his duties in order to pressure the formation of a new government | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 15: 03 | Lebanon's caretaker premier Hassan Diab (3rd R) watches as actor Salah Tizani (aka Abu Salim al-Tabl) receives a dose of the Covid-19 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the R…
(2021-03-06). Tunisians protest for LGBT rights activist's release. middleeasteye.net 
Tunisians protest for LGBT rights activist's release | Rania Amdouni had been repeatedly targeted since protests began against police repression | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 15: 59 | Tunisian activist Rania Amdouni at a protest in January (AFP) | Hundreds of Tunisians demanded the release of an activist sentenced to six months in prison for allegedly insulting a police officer. | The incident for…
(2021-03-06). Turkey: Erdogan's human rights initiative raises eyebrows of beleaguered activists. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey: Erdogan's human rights initiative raises eyebrows of beleaguered activists | Despite Ankara announcing the new initiative, the co-chair of Turkey's Human Rights Association says the situation is worse than ever | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 10: 00 | President of the Human Right Association (IHD) Eren Keskin speaks to journalists during a demonstration in front of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on…
(2021-03-06). Pope Francis meets Iraq's top cleric Ali Sistani in 'historic' meeting. middleeasteye.net 
Pope Francis meets Iraq's top cleric Ali Sistani in 'historic' meeting | Leaders of Catholic Church and Shia Islam call for religious tolerance in unprecedented meeting | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 09: 25 | A handout picture provided by the Vatican media office shows Pope Francis meeting top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in the Iraqi shrine city of Najaf (AFP) | Iraqis have hailed a "
(2021-03-06). Syrian Kurds hand 12 children fathered by IS members back to Iraqi Yazidi mothers. middleeasteye.net 
Syrian Kurds hand 12 children fathered by IS members back to Iraqi Yazidi mothers | Official says that the children, aged between two and five, are the first to be born to Islamic State members to be returned to their mothers | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 18: 09 | Women burn incense during a mass funeral for Yazidi victims of the Islamic State group in the northern Iraqi village of Kojo in Sinjar di…
(2021-03-06). Senate passes $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill after marathon session. rt.com 
The US Senate has passed a coronavirus relief bill worth a whopping $1.9 trillion. The bill passed after more than 24 hours of debate and amendments, in a narrow party-lines vote. | The bill passed by 50 votes to 49 on Saturday, wrapping up a day-long session of amendments and debate. Every Democrat present voted in favor of the bill, and every Republican against. Republican Dan Sullivan (Alaska) was absent, which meant that Democrats did not have to bring in Vice President Kamala Harris to break the Senate's 50-50 tie. | BREAKING: Senate Democrats just passed the American Rescue Plan and big, bold COVID relie…
(2021-03-06). BLM backfire? US public opinion shifts on George Floyd's death, law & order, as racial divide widens after summer of riots — poll. rt.com 
US public opinion on the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody has shifted since the early days of last year's Black Lives Matter protests, with trust in law enforcement growing after violent unrest in the streets. | Just 36 percent of respondents in a USA Today/Ipsos
(2021-03-06). Biden says first stimulus checks will be mailed this month, after Senate passes bumper virus bill. rt.com 
President Joe Biden has promised that eligible Americans will receive their $1,400 stimulus checks from this month onwards, after the Senate narrowly passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill. | Speaking after the Senate passed the bill in a 50-49 party lines vote on Saturday, Biden boasted that the bill "puts us on a path to beating the virus." While the bill does provide funds for hospitals, vaccines and testing, most Americans are likely awaiting their $1,400 cash payments first and foremost. | The president said that the first checks will start to go out this month, but that timeframe depends on the H…
(2021-03-06). Tough night shift: Senate passes an amendment to Covid bill… just to vote on an almost identical one later. rt.com 
As Senators pulled an all-nighter to pass Joe Biden's Covid-19 relief bill, they apparently didn't care about time, as they voted on an amendment to extend unemployment pay, an hour after voting on an almost identical amendment. | The Senate voted on Friday night against adjourning business until Saturday morning, ensuring that senators would stay on Capitol Hill overnight voting on a flood of amendments to President Biden's long-anticipated Covid-19 relief bill, a $1.9 trillion package that includes $1,400 stimulus checks for eligible Americans and bailouts for state and local governments. | Some of these ame…
(2021-03-06). Texas high school cancels 'Rules of Chivalry Day' assignment after outrage over girls being told to OBEY male classmates. rt.com 
A Lubbock, Texas high school has apparently taken a lesson from unwoke history too far, causing public outrage by instructing girls to "obey any reasonable request" by male classmates to learn about medieval "rules for chivalry." | The 'Rules of Chivalry Day' assignment at Shallowater High School has been cancelled after a review determined that, despite its historical context, "it does not reflect our district and community values," superintendent Anita Herbert said in a statement. The matter has been addressed with the offending teacher, who wasn't identified. | According to copies of the assignment that wer…
(2021-03-06). Covid vaccine-induced swelling can lead to false cancer diagnosis, doctors warn. rt.com 
Cancer experts and radiologists in the US are warning Covid-19 vaccine recipients that an otherwise normal immune response can be mistaken for cancer if it appears on a mammogram or other cancer screening. | Prior to major offensives against infections and unwanted intruders, some of the body's defense forces, the white blood cells, gather in lymph nodes. However, lymph nodes, especially in the armpit, can swell up following Covid-19 vaccinations. | As cancer screenings continue parallel to vaccination drives across the world, a scan conducted soon after vaccination may yield a false positive and cause unneces…
(2021-03-06). 'At least hold the pictures up': House GOP leader receives poor reviews for Dr. Seuss reading amid censorship controversy. rt.com 
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has been accused of playing childish political games after he shared a video of himself reading Dr. Seuss, apparently as a protest against the 'cancelation' of the late author's books. | Days after Dr. Seuss' estate announced that six of the author's books would no longer be published due to racially insensitive imagery, McCarthy took to Twitter to show solidarity with the late children's author. | "I still like Dr. Seuss, so I decided to read Green Eggs and Ham," he wrote, adding: "RT if you still like him too!" | I still like Dr. Seuss, so I decided to read Green E…
(2021-03-06). Pentagon 'assessing systems' after TENS OF THOUSANDS of servers compromised in global Microsoft hack… blamed on 'Chinese hackers'. rt.com 
The US military is reviewing its networks following a hacking spree linked to a vulnerability that gave backdoor access to tens of thousands of Microsoft Exchange servers, in a massive attack the company has blamed on China. | "We are aware of the Microsoft threat intelligence center's report. We are currently assessing our networks right now for any evidence of impact," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters at a Friday presser. "We're also taking all necessary steps to identify and remedy any possible issues related to the situation." | Joint Force headquarters… is coordinating with the Nationa…
(2021-03-06). Looney Tunes: Cartoon skunk Pepe Le Pew contributed to 'RAPE CULTURE', says New York Times columnist. rt.com 
NYT columnist Charles Blow and his critics are trading rhetorical blows after the writer made Looney Tunes character Pepe Le Pew the latest target of the cancel mob, arguing that the skunk "normalized rape culture." | "Right-wing blogs are mad because I said Pepe Le Pew added to rape culture," Blow wrote Saturday, tweeting a scene from the Warner Bros. classic cartoon series. "Let's see, he grabs/kisses a girl/stranger repeatedly, without consent and against her will. She struggles mightily to get away from him, but he won't release her. He locks a door to prevent her from escaping." | RW blogs are mad bc I sa…
(2021-03-06). Broadbent Institute Head smears Ashton, Robinson and Internationalism. dissidentvoice.org 
Broadbent Institute head Rick Smith should just be frank and say he hates Palestinians and doesn't care about internationalism. On Tuesday Smith tweeted that it was disturbing that NDP MP Niki Ashton was doing an upcoming fundraiser for the Progressive International with former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. In response to former NDP MP …
(2021-03-06). The Heat: China's Two Sessions. america.cgtn.com 
China's Two Sessions continues as Premier Li Keqiang announces plans for the country's economic growth and development.
(2021-03-06). Vaccine imperialism: China vs. the Western world. workers.org 
Vaccine Racism: How wealthy nations stockpile life-saving vaccines while poor countries and poor people within these countries are ignored. How Western countries criticize China, despite China's success in containing the virus and providing vaccines to the world. Feb. 23 China and Russia are among the first countries in the world . . . |
(2021-03-06). Government accused of 'snatching away' promised NHS pay rise as the outrage grows. thecanary.co 
The organisation representing NHS Trusts in England is challenging the government over its defence of a controversial 1% pay offer to health workers. | Growing controversy: | NHS Providers said the NHS has conducted detailed work around implementing a long-term plan. It claimed that in this plan the government assumed an NHS pay rise in 2021/22 of 2.1%, not 1%. | It comes amid growing anger at the pay offer, with the main nurses' union setting up a £35m industrial action fund. And another union is urging the public to support a slow hand clap next week as protest against the proposals. | Deputy chie…
(2021-03-06). Ready to Work with Netanyahu: Mansour Abbas Splinters Arab Vote in Israel. dissidentvoice.org 
At a glance, it may appear that the split of Arab political parties in Israel is consistent with a typical pattern of political and ideological divisions which have afflicted the Arab body politic for many years. This time, however, the reasons behind the split are quite different. As Israel readies for its fourth general elections …
(2021-03-06). [Obituary] Charles Kiggundu. thelancet.com Obstetrician and gynaecologist who advocated for reproductive health and rights. He was born on April 17, 1965, in Uganda's Luwero District, and died from COVID-19 complications on Dec 29, 2020, in Kampala, Uganda, aged 55 years.
(2021-03-06). [Comment] Single-dose Oxford—AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine followed by a 12-week booster. thelancet.com Vaccines to prevent COVID-19 infection are crucial for an effective global pandemic response. In The Lancet, Merryn Voysey and colleagues1 report the updated primary efficacy results for the Oxford—AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine from three single-blind, randomised controlled trials in the UK and Brazil and one double-blind study in South Africa.2—4 The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine was granted emergency use authorisation in adults by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency5 in December, 2020.
(2021-03-06). Turkey hands over military barracks to Somalia. yenisafak.com Turkey on Saturday handed over military barracks to Somalia, according to an official statement."As part of restructuring the Somali Armed Forces, the Northern Barracks – 1st Stage Facilities built by Turkey in Mogadishu were handed over to the [Somali] authorities," Turkey's National Defense Ministry said on Twitter.Relations between Turkey and the Horn of Africa nation are historically strong, and picked up pace after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's official visit in 2011, making him the only non-African leader to visit Somalia in 20 years.Besides military cooperation, the two countries also partner on health,…
(2021-03-06). [Obituary] Charles Kiggundu. thelancet.com Obstetrician and gynaecologist who advocated for reproductive health and rights. He was born on April 17, 1965, in Uganda's Luwero District, and died from COVID-19 complications on Dec 29, 2020, in Kampala, Uganda, aged 55 years.
(2021-03-06). 2021 Sacramento Ghanaian Independence Day Celebration. indybay.org Sacramento Ghanaian Independence Day Weekend offers a sneak preview into an exciting new addition to the Farm to Fork Capitol in the Great State of California.