(2021-01-25). 'We're taking responsibility': Sixty teens announce refusal to serve in Israeli army. mronline.org 
Dozens of Israeli teens sign public letter objecting to military service over Israel's policies of apartheid, neoliberalism, and denial of the Nakba.
(2021-01-25). No Safe Space for Philippines' Indigenous Youth as Military Allowed on Campus. asia-pacificresearch.com …
(2021-01-25). Turkey and Greece resume talks over eastern Mediterranean after five-year hiatus. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey and Greece resume talks over eastern Mediterranean after five-year hiatus | Ankara and Athens have made little progress on the issue, despite 60 rounds of negotiations between 2002 and 2016 | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 13: 34 | The Turkish seismic survey vessel Oruc Reis. Ankara hoped to improve relations with the European Union after it had threatened to sanction Turkey (Reuters) | Turkey a…
(2021-01-25). Covid-19: Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Israelis protest over lockdown rules. middleeasteye.net 
Covid-19: Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Israelis protest over lockdown rules | Anger has mounted as the government has moved to close illegal religious schools and seminaries | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 10: 16 | Policemen detain an ultra-Orthodox Jew during a protest over coronavirus restrictions in Ashdod, Israel on 24 January 2021 (Reuters) | Hundreds of members of Israel's ultra-Orthodox community…
(2021-01-25). Arabic press review: Egypt army arrests officers suspected of embezzlement. middleeasteye.net 
Arabic press review: Egypt army arrests officers suspected of embezzlement | Meanwhile, Kuwait cancels 60,000 travel reservations over fears of new Covid-19 variant, and Palestinians call for release of relatives held in Saudi Arabia | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 17: 58 | Egyptian soldiers stand guard at Cairo University on 25 March 2018 in central Cairo, ahead of March presidential election (AFP/File pho…
(2021-01-25). 'Vaccination apartheid': Gaza struggling with Covid-19 infections while Israel rolls out jab. middleeasteye.net 
'Vaccination apartheid': Gaza struggling with Covid-19 infections while Israel rolls out jab | Gaza braces for more avoidable deaths with delayed vaccination rollout and an overwhelmed health system | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 11: 08 | A hospital staff member gets tested for coronavirus in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on 31 August 2020 (AFP/file photo) | In the intensive care unit of the European Gaza…
(2021-01-25). Saudi sovereign wealth fund to invest billions to tackle soaring unemployment in kingdom. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi sovereign wealth fund to invest billions to tackle soaring unemployment in kingdom | Joblessness in Saudi Arabia touched 14.9 percent in the third quarter of 2020 as Covid-19 continues to sink the economy | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 08: 01 | The board at the Stock Exchange Market (Tadawul) bourse in Riyadh (AFP) | Saudi Arabia is moving to tackle soaring unemployment and a Covid-19-triggered…
(2021-01-25). Saudi sovereign wealth fund to invest billions to tackle soaring joblessness. middleeasteye.net Saudi sovereign wealth fund to invest billions to tackle soaring joblessness | Unemployment in Saudi Arabia touched 14.9 percent in the third quarter of 2020 as Covid-19 continues to sink the economy | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 08: 01 | The board at the Stock Exchange Market (Tadawul) bourse in Riyadh (AFP) | Saudi Arabia is moving to tackle soaring unemployment and a Covid-19-triggered economic d…
(2021-01-25). Hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers set to enter Delhi in tractor parade on Tuesday. peoplesdispatch.org 
Hundreds of thousands farmers in tens of thousands of tractors will enter New Delhi from three locations and converge on Tuesday in a protest against the controversial agricultural laws passed by the Narendra Modi government…
(2021-01-25). Israeli Forces Shoot & Injure Farmer in Northern Gaza. imemc.org 
Israeli forces stationed at the northern border of the Gaza Strip opened fire at a Palestinian farmer working on his land in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, on Sunday afternoon, resulting in a gunshot wound in his head. The injured farmer was taken to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, where his wound was described …
(2021-01-25). How Bush's Wars led to Trump's Insurrection: From Occupying Iraq to Occupying the Capitol. juancole.com 
By Andrea Mazzarino | — ( Tomdispatch.com) — "I got out of the Marines and within a few years, 15 of my buddies had killed themselves," one veteran rifleman who served two tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq between 2003 and 2011 said to me recently. "One minute they belonged and the next, they were …
(2021-01-25). Nothing to learn from East Asia? mronline.org 
Although most East Asian economies have successfully contained the pandemic without nationwide 'stay in shelter lockdowns', many governments have seen such measures as necessary. But lockdowns are blunt measures, with inevitable adverse consequences, especially for businesses and employment.
(2021-01-25). Islamic Official Shot and Killed in Israel. imemc.org 
On Sunday afternoon, a Palestinian official identified as Sheikh Muhammad Abu Najem, was shot and killed in the city of Jaffa, in the western part of Israel. The Hamas party issued a statement blaming Israel for the murder. Israeli police in Jaffa say they opened an investigation into the shooting, but have not identified any …
(2021-01-25). Capitalism, romanticism, and nature. mronline.org 
Robert Sayre and Michael Là∂wy's Romantic Anti-capitalism and Nature is an extremely interesting book—enjoyable, informative, and intellectually stimulating.
(2021-01-25). Indirect Deaths: The Massive and Unseen Costs of America's Post-9/11 Wars. counterpunch.org 
"I got out of the Marines and within a few years, 15 of my buddies had killed themselves," one veteran rifleman who served two tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq between 2003 and 2011 said to me recently. "One minute they belonged and the next, they were out, and they couldn't fit in. They had nowhere to work, no one who related to them. And they had these PTSD symptoms that made them react in ways other Americans didn't."
(2021-01-25). With COVID controlled and economy growing, Vietnam's Communists plan for future. peoplesworld.org 
HANOI—With only 35 recorded deaths, Vietnam has managed the coronavirus pandemic better than almost any other country on earth. And, unlike other nations, where mass unemployment and recession are the norm, Vietnam's economy is actually growing. That's the context in which the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is set to …
(2021-01-25). The Weekly Round-Up: Human Rights vs Unfettered Trade: a Party divided? ukhumanrightsblog.com 
In the news: Last week's round-up detailed China's ongoing oppression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province. This week, the government narrowly defeated a backbench rebellion in the form of an all-party amendment, strongly endorsed in the Lords, which would have given victims of genocide the ability to obtain a determination in the High Court confirming …
(2021-01-25). Turkish Trotskyists hold international online meeting on student protests. wsws.org The Socialist Equality Group and IYSSE in Turkey held an international online meeting January 17 titled "Amid the global breakdown of democracy, the way forward for the Boƒüaziàßi University protests."
(2021-01-25). Confronting Total Collapse in Israeli-Occupied Gaza: Division and COVID-19. juancole.com By Ali Abdel-Wahab | — ( Al-Shabaka ) — Gaza has always been unique among the different parts of Palestine. Its current particularity stems from being caught between three major variables exacerbating its collapse: the Israeli occupation, division in Palestinian leadership, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This reality raises socio-political questions about the role of these …
(2021-01-25). Despite His Attempt to Tie MAGA to Anti-Semitism, Biden Will Preserve Trump's "Israel First" Legacy. mintpressnews.com Many are expecting President Joe Biden to roll back Trump's heavily pro-Israel policies, but several factors — including his long-established ties to Israeli interests— point to a greater likelihood of their continuation instead.
(2021-01-25). Biden's Secretary of State Praises Trump's Achievements on Israel. globalresearch.ca A new administration has taken over Washington with talk of justice, respect and diversity. However, when it comes to Israel-Palestine the news isn't so encouraging. | Joe Biden's foreign policy team says it wants to return to the Iran deal, but …
(2021-01-25). Canadians Against War on Yemen Block Shipment of Armoured Vehicles Headed to Saudi Arabia. commondreams.org The direct action in Hamilton, Ontario coincides with hundreds of events to pressure the new Biden administration and other world governments to stop arming Saudi Arabia. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/trucks-block-hamilton-saudi-arms.jpg …
(2021-01-25). Sri Lanka: 'Forced' cremation of COVID victims' bodies must stop – UN rights experts. news.un.org The Sri Lankan Government should end its policy of compulsorily cremating victims of COVID-19, independent UN human rights experts said on Monday.
(2021-01-25). India to Register Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine Within Next Few Weeks, Indian Ambassador Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – India plans to register the Russian vaccine against COVID-19, Sputnik V, after completion of phase three clinical trials within the next few weeks, Indian Ambassador to Moscow Venkatesh Varma said on Monday.
(2021-01-25). The New York Times Has Not Heard About China's Vaccines (or Russia or India's). cepr.net It is more than a bit bizarre that the New York Times can run a major piece about the lack of access of developing countries to Covid vaccines and never once mention the vaccines developed by China, Russia, or India. The piece is very useful in highlighting the fact that the United States and Europe …
(2021-01-25). Mexico To Get 24 Million Doses of Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine. telesurenglish.net Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) on Monday spoke by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin who agreed to deliver 24 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine in the next two months. | RELATED: | "Putin was genuinely affectionate. I invited him to visit Mexico and thanked him for the decision to send us 24 million doses," tweeted AMLO, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. | Besides confirming that these dos…
(2021-01-25). Mexico's President AMLO Tests Positive for COVID-19. telesurenglish.net Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) tested positive for COVID-19 and he is already receiving medical treatment. | RELATED: | "The symptoms are mild, so for the moment, I will be isolated at the National Palace until my full recovery," AMLO said, assuring that he will continue to monitor public affairs from the government headquarters. | On Monday, "I will attend a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin because there is a possib…
(2021-01-25). German Court Rules that COVID-19 Lockdowns Are Unconstitutional. globalresearch.ca A
(2021-01-25). 100 Mln COVID-19 Cases Worldwide Expected This Week: WHO Chief. telesurenglish.net The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide is expected to reach 100 million within this week, said the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. | "A year ago today, fewer than 1,500 cases of COVID-19 had been reported to WHO, including just 23 cases outside China. This week, we expect to reach 100 million reported cases," Tedros said at a WHO press briefing on Monday. | RELATED: | "Num…
(2021-01-25). The 'Humanitarian' Left Still Ignores the Lessons of Iraq, Libya and Syria to Cheer on More War. commondreams.org That "defence industry" needs villains, like China and Russia, that it must extravagantly arm itself against. And that means fixating on the crimes of China and Russia, while largely ignoring our own crimes, so that those "defence industries" can prosper. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/china_0.jpg …
(2021-01-25). Human rights groups urge new US administration to reverse Houthi 'terrorist' tag. peoplesdispatch.org The groups warn that the decision could have serious negative consequences, such as affecting the import and supply of humanitarian goods, medicines, fuel, and other essential items to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen…
(2021-01-25). US Backs Al-Qaeda In Yemen. popularresistance.org The United States government has designated the main enemy of al-Qaeda in Yemen, the Houthi movement, as a terrorist organization, after spending years backing al-Qaeda in the country. | Like the US-led wars on Syria, Libya, former Yugoslavia, and 1980s Afghanistan, Yemen represents an example of an armed conflict where Washington has supported al-Qaeda and similar Salafi-jihadist extremists in order to foment regime change and extend its hegemony. | Since March 2015, the United States has helped oversee a catastrophic war on Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, aiding Saudi Arabia as it launched tens o…
(2021-01-25). French Court Hears Case Against Chemical Corporations Over Agent Orange Use in Vietnam. commondreams.org "I'm not fighting for myself, but for my children and the millions of victims," explained plaintiff Tran To Nga. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/agent_orange.jpg …
(2021-01-25). AMC's tense "Salisbury Poisonings" shows how easily terror and toxicity almost consumed a small town. salon.com Based on the true story of how a former Russian intelligence officer was targeted in England and what came next…
(2021-01-25). Sri Lankan IYSSE holds well-attended online lecture on 200th anniversary of Friedrich Engels' birth. wsws.org Students, young workers and others participated in an enthusiastic discussion on the contemporary significance of Engels' fight for scientific socialism.
(2021-01-25). Iran: Three waves of urban protest, 1992-2019. zcomm.org The sufficient condition for success is the ability to move beyond divisions and cracks…
(2021-01-25). Masses of Protesting Farmers Descend on India's Financial Capital Night Before 72nd Republic Day. sputniknews.com The Indian farmers have been protesting on the borders of Delhi since 26 November, demanding the scrapping of three new farm laws – the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce, the Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services, and Amendment to the Essential Commodities Act 2020 – passed by the central government last September.
(2021-01-25). Moscow Sees US Support for Unauthorised Rallies in Russia as Direct Meddling. sputniknews.com Earlier, Moscow voiced its concerns over the fact that the US Embassy had published information about where unauthorised rallies were taking place across Russia.
(2021-01-25). Advisor to Winemaker? Putin Reveals What He Might Do After Presidency. sputniknews.com Putin described winemaking as a "noble" industry and said he may one day dabble in the art, but probably from a legal perspective.
(2021-01-25). US Torpedoes WTO Panel on 'Made in China' Labels for Hong Kong Products. sputniknews.com Influential foreign policy think tanks in Washington are putting heavy pressure on newly-minted US President Joe Biden not to shred his predecessor's "get tough" approach on China, which has included sanctions, tariffs, and the blacklisting of Chinese companies.
(2021-01-25). Shining a light on sexually exploited women and girls forced into crime. news.un.org Trafficked and sexually exploited woman and girls can find themselves facing prosecution and conviction for those very same crimes, in some countries, a new UN report shows. The study aims to help prosecutors to better handle these complex cases, and protect the genuine victims.
(2021-01-25). Syria: 18 children killed since the start of the year, UNICEF reports. news.un.org The brutal fighting in Syria continues to exact a terrible toll on children, with at least 18, including a one-year-old killed in incidents involving explosive weapons and unexploded ordnance, since 1 January, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Sunday. At least 15 others were wounded.
(2021-01-25). Monday 1/25: Yemen Car/Bike Caravan-Global Day of Action. indybay.org Meet at 444 Spear St…
(2021-01-25). Farmers' Protests Reflect Existential Crisis of Indian Agriculture. dissidentvoice.org With over 800 million people, rural India is arguably the most interesting and complex place on the planet but is plagued by farmer suicides, child malnourishment, growing unemployment, increased informalisation, indebtedness and an overall collapse of agriculture. Given that India is still an agrarian-based society, renowned journalist P Sainath says what is taking place can be described …
(2021-01-25). Oman bars recruitment of expatriates for a number of professions. peoplesdispatch.org Oman's ministry of labor announced on Sunday, January 24, restrictions on the employment of expatriate workers in certain professions under its policy of "Omanization." According to the announcement, only Omani citizens will be recruited for specific professions in the country's private sector. | The list of professions expatriates are barred from range from financial and accounting services to store management and car dealership. The ministry has announced that all the existing visas for expatriates working in these professions will not be renewed once expired. | The decision was reportedly been taken in the fac…
(2021-01-25). Iran Asks Indonesia for Explanations Over Arrest of Its Tanker. telesurenglish.net Iran's Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday asked the Indonesian government for an explanation for the arrest of one of its motor tankers (MT) because the Persian nation has received contradictory information about what happened. | RELATED: | "We have received conflicting information regarding the seizure of the Iranian tanker in Indonesia and we are awaiting further reports from the Indonesian government," said Foreign Affairs Minister spokesperson Sai…
(2021-01-25). In the Asian Flu of 1957-58, They Rejected Lockdowns. globalresearch.ca The
(2021-01-25). The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Strained Relations with India? globalresearch.ca In September 2013, at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, presented his vision and plan for the 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI) — an ambitious vast complex trade and commercial network for China …
(2021-01-25). Indian farmers prepare for Republic Day tractor parade. peoplesdispatch.org On January 26, India's Republic Day, farmers will be carrying out their massive tractor parade in opposition to the three farm laws passed by the Narendra Modi government…
(2021-01-25). Joe Biden's Policy on Israel Isn't "Transformative" or "Decent" globalresearch.ca Many are noting happily that Joe Biden's flurry of executive orders are "surprisingly" progressive … and decent. In an