Monthly Archives: February 2021

2021-02-14: News Headlines

Editor (2021-02-14). Will Biden Finally Bring Our Troops Home From Afghanistan? scheerpost.com U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua T. Jasper] By Maj. Danny Sjursen / AntiWar Real talk: Joe Biden hasn't had too many finest hours in his 47 years plus years on the national scene. To be fair, he's had his moments — like a powerful, earthy, and impassioned 1986 speech he delivered to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, opposing the Reagan administration's apologism for the "repulsive… |

MEE and agencies (2021-02-14). Iraq: In first, four arrested over killing of anti-government protesters. middleeasteye.net Iraq: In first, four arrested over killing of anti-government protesters | Demonstrators have decried longstanding impunity regarding death of some 600 Iraqi protesters since October 2019 uprising | Sun, 02/14/2021 – 15: 40 | An Iraqi protester chants slogans as she waves the national flag during an anti-government demonstration in the southern city of Basra on 7 February 2020 (AFP) | Iraq…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-14). Turkey: 13 hostages executed in northern Iraq, 48 PKK militants killed. middleeasteye.net Turkey: 13 hostages executed in northern Iraq, 48 PKK militants killed | Ankara says Turks were shot by PKK captors as Turkish troops about to stage rescue operation in Gara region | Sun, 02/14/2021 – 10: 52 | The funeral of three Turkish military personnel killed in action at the Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on 12 February 2021 (AFP) | Ankara said on Sunday that 13 Turkish civilian…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-14). Dozens of Houthis and pro-government troops killed in Yemen's Marib. middleeasteye.net Dozens of Houthis and pro-government troops killed in Yemen's Marib | Military officials say at least 16 pro-government forces were killed, 21 wounded, in past 24 hours in the strategic area | Sun, 02/14/2021 – 12: 42 | A Russian-built BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle belonging to forces loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government gets into position during clashes with Houthi fighters northwes…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-14). Sailors abducted by pirates off Nigeria coast return to Turkey. middleeasteye.net Sailors abducted by pirates off Nigeria coast return to Turkey | Fifteen Turkish sailors had been kidnapped in January in the Gulf of Guinea | Sun, 02/14/2021 – 13: 32 | A Turkish sailor who was kidnapped by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea is greeted by his family at Istanbul international airport on 14 February 2021 (Reuters/Handout) | Fifteen Turkish sailors who were kidnapped by pirates o…

_____ (2021-02-14). How One Tiny Country Is Beating The Pandemic And Climate Change. popularresistance.org The small Himalayan country of Bhutan, mainly known for measuring national happiness instead of GDP, is the only carbon-negative country on the planet. Believe it or not, it has only had one single death from COVID-19. Is that a coincidence? | Madeline Drexler's new article in the Atlantic, "The Unlikeliest Pandemic Success Story," dives into the reasons that Bhutan has managed to fare so well against the novel coronavirus while rich countries and middle-income have struggled to keep it in check. The tiny developing country, landlocked between India and Tibet, wasn't exactly set up for success. It began 2020 with…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-14). Syria Kurds hand Iraq 100 alleged Islamic State fighters: Reports. middleeasteye.net Syria Kurds hand Iraq 100 alleged Islamic State fighters: Reports | Around 1,600 Iraqis were still detained in northeast Syria at the end of last year over allegedly fighting for IS | Sun, 02/14/2021 – 15: 14 | A member of the Syrian Kurdish internal security services stands guard during the release of people suspected of being related to Islamic State group fighters from the Kurdish-run a…

RT (2021-02-14). As fears rise over San Francisco-area attacks on elderly Asians by black assailants, leftists find the real culprit: WHITE PEOPLE. rt.com The Lunar New Year passed in the San Francisco Bay area with fears rising over a series of unprovoked attacks on elderly Asians by black men, but leftists may have found some solace by finding the real perpetrators: white people. | As Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen explained, Asians shouldn't respond to the horrific attacks with "knee-jerk" calls for more policing but must instead recognize the violence as "part of a pattern of white supremacy." Even if the assailants are "people of color," he added, "the solution is not to fall back on racist assumptions of our own but to hold the system of…

RT (2021-02-14). Dem Congresswoman wants 'truth commission' to target 'white supremacy' and rein in 'far-right media' over US Capitol riot. rt.com Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-California) has suggested a "truth commission" to tackle "racial injustice" and "white supremacy" in the US, as well as holding "far-right media" and others accountable for the US Capitol riot. | Jacobs floated her idea while appearing on CNN's 'Reliable Sources' on Sunday and said the reason for this "truth commission" proposal is because "we haven't really done the reckoning with the racial injustice and white supremacy of our past that we need to do." | Donald Trump's impeachment trial, according to Jacobs, was "just the start" and more people who "incited, encouraged, or committed acts…

RT (2021-02-14). 'Creepy': CIA trolled over baffling Valentine's Day poem on Twitter. rt.com The Central Intelligence Agency left social media users feeling slightly uncomfortable on Valentine's Day with a bizarre bit of poetry in celebration of the romantic holiday. | "Roses are red. Violets are blue. Happy Valentine's Day from the CIA to you!" the controversial government agency tweeted on Sunday. | Creepy ‚ò Ô∏è The tweet was a follow-up to a previous coded message…

_____ (2021-02-14). New American Regime = Exact Same Challenges for Russia. strategic-culture.org The next 8 years will be a time for Russia to look inwards in order to project outwards, Tim Kirby writes. | As a country that has seen total systemic collapse twice during the 20th century, Russia was watching the leadup to the U.S. presidential inauguration with just as much anticipation as the most ardent Trump/Biden supporters and fervent conspiracy theorists. It looked from Moscow, like Trump, after having been blatantly cheated out of the presidency, might just decide to flip the rigged game table over consequences be damned. Whatever chaos would ensue from such a move would surely give the Russians the fre…

_____ (2021-02-14). Why More and More Countries Are Choosing the Russian Vaccine. strategic-culture.org On January 29, 2021, the Russian Direct Investment Fund applied for registration of the Sputnik V vaccine in the European Union. In January, Hungary became the first EU country to register the Russian vaccine joining dozens of other states across the world.

_____ (2021-02-14). The Guardian Revealed Its True Face in Sacking a Columnist for Criticising U.S. Military Aid to Israel. strategic-culture.org By Jonathan COOK | The revelation that a leftwing journalist, Nathan J Robinson, has been In the tweet below, I have listed a few of the mor…

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Palestine welcomes Turkey's industrial zone in W. Bank. yenisafak.com Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Palestinian Economy Minister Khaled Al-Osaily said the Turkish support amounts to $10 million and is meant for the internal structure of the industrial zone."There is a plan for Turkish factories to operate in the [industrial] zone," Al-Osaily said.According to the Palestinian minister, the industrial zone will be implemented in two phases: The first is financed by Germany at a cost of about 24 million euros, and includes all external infrastructure and is likely to be completed by mid-2021.The second phase, which targets the internal infrastructure, is financed by Turkey and will cost…

Support Peace Hero (2021-02-14). Biden Wants to Extradite Peace Hero Assange. indybay.org Proud Democrat Pres Biden's "Justice" Dept is appealing a British decision to not allow extradition of Julian Assange who exposed American war crimes in Iraq. See consortiumnews.com/2021/02/12/biden-doj-files-appeal-to-get-assange-extradited/

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Bangladesh extends closure of education institutions. yenisafak.com Bangladesh has announced that it will extend the closure of educational institutions for a further 14-day stretch, a straight 11-month shutdown of in-person education after the first COVID-19 case was registered in the country in March last year, a senior official confirmed on Sunday.The Education Ministry has decided to close all educational institutions until Feb. 28, except for Islamic seminaries due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mohammad Abul Khayer, a communication officer at the ministry confirmed to Anadolu Agency.The ministry is taking all important steps to keep students safe from the deadly virus, Khaye…

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Lebanon starts COVID-19 vaccine rollout. yenisafak.com Lebanon's national vaccination campaign against the coronavirus pandemic began Sunday.Mahmoud Hasson, the head of the intensive care unit at the Rafik Hariri Hospital in Beirut, and actor Salah Tizani, 93, received the first shots.Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Health Minister Hamad Hassan were present during the inoculation."I will not be receiving the vaccine today," Diab told reporters. "Priority will be given to the medical staff, who have made great sacrifices and they must be given full protection in order to do their message."The medical staff and people over 75 will be the first to be vaccinated…

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Saudi Arabia extends virus restrictions for 20 days. yenisafak.com Saudi Arabia on Sunday extended precautionary measures against the coronavirus pandemic for additional 20 days, in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.The extension of the restrictions will be effective as of Sunday 10: 00 pm (19: 00 GMT), the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement cited by the official SPA news agency.On Feb. 3, the kingdom ordered precautionary measures to stem the spread of the pandemic upon recommendations from health authorities.Under the measures, social gatherings should not exceed 20 people and the suspension of all events and parties, including weddings, and corporate meetings a…

Ralph Nader, Bruce Fein (2021-02-14). Democrats' Shameful Cave. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12923215461.jpg

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Ex-Istanbul mayor dies at 76. yenisafak.com Kadir Topbas, the former mayor of Istanbul, passed away on Saturday at the age of 76.He was hospitalized last November after he contracted COVID-19.Topbas was elected mayor of Istanbul in 2004 as candidate of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, and maintained his position until 2017 when he resigned.In 2004, he became the head of Istanbul-based United Cities and Local Governments, Middle East and West Asia Regional Government, and vice president of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). He became UCLG co-chair in 2007.Topbas was the first politician to have won three consecutive local election…

Online News Editor (2021-02-14). Japan okays use of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine. laprensalatina.com Tokyo, Feb 14 (efe-epa).- Japan on Sunday formally approved Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for domestic use, marking an important step to immunize most of its people in the run-up to the Summer Olympics that begin on July 23 in Tokyo. The immunization drive will start on Wednesday as the government targets to inoculate its entire population …

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Taliban denies reports over death of 'Taliban leader'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — A senior Taliban member denied the controversial news over the death of Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada in an explosion in Quetta of Pakistan.

The Canary (2021-02-14). Salmond accuser feels 'let down' by Scottish government and exploited by Holyrood inquiry. thecanary.co A woman who came forward with allegations of sexual harassment by Alex Salmond has found the Holyrood committee's investigation "more traumatic" than the High Court trial of the former first minister. | "Let down": | The woman, speaking anonymously on the BBC's The Sunday Show, said the Scottish government "let down" women who complained because of its unlawful investigation. She also said the committee inquiry set up to look into the botched investigation of Salmond had turned the issue into a "political fight" and suggested any conclusions it reaches will be "utterly useless". | She also denied claims t…

Online News Editor (2021-02-14). More than 30 injured in Thai anti-monarchy protests. laprensalatina.com Bangkok, Feb 14 (efe-epa).- At least 31 people were injured in a clash between police and protesters during demonstrations against lèse majesté law in Thailand a day ago, officials said on Sunday. The injured include 11 protesters and 20 police officers in the protests by students and pro-democracy activists, Thai Public Broadcasting Service reported, citing …

Online News Editor (2021-02-14). At least 100 injured after strong earthquake rattles northeast Japan. laprensalatina.com Tokyo, Feb 14 (efe-epa).- At least 100 people were injured after a magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck northeast Japan, local news agency Kyodo reported Sunday. However, no serious injuries have been reported. Most of those hurt were from the Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures and sustained their injuries due to falling objects, landslides and fires. The epicenter of …

Online News Editor (2021-02-14). Dimitrov, Karatsev, Zverev off to Australian Open quarterfinals. laprensalatina.com Melbourne, Australia, Feb 14 (efe-epa).- Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday thrashed Austrian Dominic Thiem in straight sets to book an Australian Open last-eight clash against Russian Aslan Karatsev, who became the seventh man in the Open Era to reach the quarterfinals on his slam debut. Later, German Alexander Zverev also made it to the tournament's …

Online News Editor (2021-02-14). Russian women hold human chain protests in support of Yulia Navalnaya. laprensalatina.com Moscow, Feb 14 (efe-epa).- Some 300 women formed a human chain in Moscow on Sunday in solidarity with Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. The protest, which was unauthorized, doubled up as a call to release all political prisoners and came after several large protests were met by a police …

Online News Editor (2021-02-14). Druze mark 1982 strike against Israel's annexation laws in Golan Heights. laprensalatina.com Jerusalem, Feb 14 (efe-epa).- Members of the Druze community in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Sunday staged a protest to commemorate the 1982 strike against the annexation of the territory from Syria. Several hundred took part in marches and some of the protesters in the Druze town of Majdal Shams held aloft portraits of Syrian …

news.un (2021-02-14). Living and loving with HIV: a UN Resident Coordinator blog. news.un.org To mark Valentine's Day, the annual 14 February celebration of love and affection, Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, and Patchara Benjarattanaporn, Thailand Country Director for UNAIDS, call for an end to discrimination against people living with HIV, and recognition of the contribution they make to Thai society.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Iran, Iraq's KRG emphasize removing problems on joint borders. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) – Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) stressed the need for removing problems on joint borders.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Israelis to face tough response if cross red lines in Syria. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Iranian foreign minister's senior assistant on special political affairs, Ali-Asghar Khaji, warned the Israeli regime against crossing red lines in Syria, in a reference to the Zionists' alleged air raids on Syrian soil.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Bomb blast leaves 1 dead, 1 injured in Afghanistan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — One person has been killed and another injured in an explosion in the central province of Uruzgan in Afghanistan.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). VIDEO: Hirom lake hosting Eurasian cranes. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — These days, the Hirom Lake, located in Larestan, Fars province, south of Iran, hosts a large population of Eurasian cranes that landed there on their way back to their northern habitats.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). VIDEO: Snowfall disrupts Moscow air travel. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Airports in Moscow have been disrupted due to heavy snowfall that has blanketed the Russian capital.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Iran counts on purchasing arms from Russia. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Iran hopes it will be able to procure arms from Russia to ensure security in the region, Senior Assistant to Iranian Foreign Minister in Special Political Affairs Ali-Asghar Khaji told Sputnik.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Iran urges IAEA to ensure confidentiality of information. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Iran's permanent ambassador to the International Organizations in Vienna said that Tehran has urged the IAEA to ensure the confidentiality of information regarding its nuclear program.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Rural serenity of winter days in Mazandaran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Emaft, a village in the central district of Savadkuh County, Mazandaran province, is among the thousands of Iranian villages that bring visitors a deep feeling of serenity, which is considered a virtue in the modern world.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Army launches military drill in west Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran staged a military drill in Qasr-e Shirin in Kermanshah Province.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Systematic human rights violations ongoing in Bahrain. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Today the continuous violation of human rights, suppression of people seeking their own minimalist demands along with al-Khalifa alliance with Zionism can be witnessed in Bahrain, a senior Iranian Parliamentary advisor said.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). FAO, Iran start joint plan to reinvigorate agri. innovation. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — FAO supports the establishment of an agricultural innovation lab in Iran to enhance the national capacity in generating novel approaches for tackling growing food and nutrition security challenges.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Russia says partners in EU need Nord Stream 2 project. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Russian Deputy Prime Minister said that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline does not face the risk of being unused as EU countries are interested in the project.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Yemeni army launch drone attack on Saudi airport. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — The Yemeni army has targeted Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia in a drone strike on Sunday.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Persepolis 1-0 Paykan: IPL. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — In a match held on Sunday at Azadi Stadium, Persepolis defeated Paykan 1-0 in the 15th week of the Iran Professional League.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Afghan FM appreciates Iran's aid in containing tanker blast. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Afghanistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his sincere appreciation for the timely action and cooperation of Iranian authorities in controlling the fire, preventing further damage and opening border caused by blast.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). London, Washington discuss Iran nuclear program in phone call. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — The British Foreign Secretary said that he had discussed Iran's nuclear program in a telephone conversation with his American counterpart.

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Bodies of 13 Turkish civilians found in N.Iraq terror cave. yenisafak.com Bodies of 13 Turkish civilians were found during Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, according to the Turkish defense chief on Sunday."While our activities in the Operation Claw-Eagle 2 zone were continuing, the mortal remains of 13 citizens were found in a cave," said Hulusi Akar at the operations center on the border in southeastern Sirnak province.He said the innocent and unarmed Turks were shot dead — one in the shoulder, and the rest in their heads."According to the information by two terrorists who were captured alive, our citizens were martyred by the 'cave manager' before the start of the an…

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Anti-terror operation held in southeast Turkey. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces seized ammunition, equipment and organizational documents in a counter-terrorism operation in the eastern Sirnak province, the governor's office said on Saturday.According to a statement, a joint team of gendarmerie commandos and police held the operation in the vicinity of Mt. Gabar and targeted over a dozen shelter and caves in which weapons and equipment were buried under ground.Among the items found during the operation — dubbed EREN-10 Martyr Lieutenant Mustafa Erdal — were sniper rifles, guns, flame thrower, rockets, hand grenades and grenade throwers, improvised explosive devices,…

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Over 100 injured in powerful Japan earthquake. yenisafak.com Over 100 injuries were reported after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit northeastern Japan on Saturday, according to local media Sunday."Injuries were reported in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures and six others, including Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama, all neighboring Tokyo. The quake was felt in several other areas including the capital," the Kyodo News Agency said, adding that there have been no deaths attributed to the earthquake.It also said there was no tsunami following the disaster.The Japan Meteorological Agency said the powerful tremor off Fukushima occurred at 11.07 p.m. local time (1407GMT) 60 kilometers (3…

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Three PKK terrorists killed in northern Iraq. yenisafak.com Three PKK terrorists in northern Iraq were neutralized by Turkish drones, according to the Turkish National Defense Ministry on Sunday."3 PKK terrorists spotted in the Gara region in northern Iraq… trying to escape with a paramotor were neutralized by our UAVs," the ministry said on Twitter.The total number of terrorists neutralized in the region has reached 53, it added.Turkey launched Operation Claw-Eagle 2 on Feb. 10 to prevent the PKK/KCK and other terror groups from re-establishing positions used to carry out cross-border terror attacks. The operation was completed on Sunday.Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-…

yenisafak (2021-02-14). German travel vlogger embraces Islam after spending a year in Pakistan. yenisafak.com Popular German travel vlogger and content creator Christian Betzmann shocked his fans on social media when he announced that he has embraced Islam after spending a year in Pakistan.Taking to Instagram, Betzmann posted a photo of himself holding a certificate from the Islamic School of Miami accompanied by a caption saying that he "accepted Islam.""I started this channel last December and spend almost 1 year in Pakistan. During this time I met so many incredible people and learned a lot about the religion and the lifestyle. Growing up in Europe, the word Islam was always connected with negativity, war, terrorism,"

2021-02-13: News Headlines

Juan Cole (2021-02-13). Federal Court strikes down Arkansas' attempt to Punish proponents of Boycotting Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — Andrew DeMillo at the Associated Press reports that a 3-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis has struck down an Arkansas law requiring contractors with the state to sign a pledge not to boycott Israel. The alternative print monthly the Arkansas Times carried advertising …

Editor (2021-02-13). Will the ICC Finally Put an End to Israel's War Crimes? scheerpost.com By Juan Cole / Informed Comment On February 5, the International Criminal Court found that it had jurisdiction to consider war crimes and crimes against humanity and the crime of Apartheid in the Palestinian territories. Israeli politician Abba Eban once quipped that Palestinians never lost the opportunity to lose an opportunity. But Palestinians have carefully… |

MEE and agencies (2021-02-13). Lebanon receives first Covid-19 vaccine shipment. middleeasteye.net Lebanon receives first Covid-19 vaccine shipment | The vaccines have been sponsored by the World Bank, as Lebanon struggles with a financial crisis and a devastated healthcare system | Sat, 02/13/2021 – 15: 47 | Hospitals in Lebanon, including St George Hospital devastated by the 4 August Beirut blast, have been struggling to care for the influx of Covid-19 patients (MEE/Elizabeth Fitt)…

Eds. (2021-02-13). The biopolitics of nursing homes. mronline.org Historically, the châteaux of the Loire Valley were assessed by their windows. 'A fifty-windowed castle', an onlooker might surmise to suggest its worth. Russian boyars quantified their properties in souls—whether dead or alive, according to Gogol's Dead Souls.

Felicity Arbuthnot (2021-02-13). Iraq: Forty Years Ago. The St. Valentine's Day Massacres: Still Ongoing. globalresearch.ca Initially published on Valentine's Day 2010. | Veteran War Correspondent and Associate Editor of Global Research Felicity Arbuthnot reminds us of the crimes against humanity committed against the Iraqi people at the height of Iraq War I, euphemistically described as …

Vijay Prashad (2021-02-13). The complex politics, geopolitics of the Myanmar coup. zcomm.org The 'new cold war' between the US and China has deepened the instability that has marked Myanmar's history since 1962…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Yemeni scientist in Turkish team developing COVID-19 vaccine. yenisafak.com Even as Yemen continues shocking the world, with its images of deaths, destruction, and starvation, one of its citizens Ali Azzawri is part of a Turkish scientific team rolling out a vaccine against the COVID-19.Azzawri, 39, was selected by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey known as TUBITAK in May 2020 to be part of a team of 13 scientists to indigenously develop Messenger RNA vaccines — also called mRNA vaccines to combat the pandemic.According to experts, these are new types of vaccines, who direct cells to make a particular protein to trigger an immune response. Other vaccines, inst…

Support Peace Hero (2021-02-13). Biden Wants to Extradite Peace Hero Assange. indybay.org Proud Democrat Pres Biden's "Justice" Dept is appealing a British decision to not allow extradition of Julian Assange who exposed American war crimes in Iraq. See consortiumnews.com/2021/02/12/biden-doj-files-appeal-to-get-assange-extradited/

MEE and agencies (2021-02-13). Massive fire engulfs fuel trucks on Iran-Afghanistan border. middleeasteye.net Massive fire engulfs fuel trucks on Iran-Afghanistan border | More than 500 trucks carrying natural gas and fuel were burned in the blaze, Iranian officials said | Sat, 02/13/2021 – 22: 07 | The inferno was powerful enough to be spotted from space (Reuters) | Dozens of oil and gas tankers carrying millions of dollars' worth of fuel caught fire on Saturday, creating an inferno at Afghanista…

RT (2021-02-13). Democrats BACKTRACK on vote to call witnesses at Trump's impeachment trial, averting a potential political quagmire. rt.com Hours after a surprise vote to allow for calling witnesses in Donald Trump's impeachment trial, the US Senate agreed to enter into the record a statement that prosecutors considered critical, averting weeks or months of testimony. | House impeachment managers and lawyers for Trump agreed on Saturday to enter as evidence a statement by Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Washington) describing what she had been relayed about a telephone call during the January 6 Capitol riot. The congresswoman said late Friday that when House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) called Trump and asked him to demand…

RT (2021-02-13). Biden press sec Psaki insists lack of contact with Israel's Netanyahu 'not an intentional diss'. rt.com The Biden administration sought to downplay questions about a perceived cooling of relations between the US and Israel, saying the lack of a call between the countries' leaders was "not an intentional diss." | White House Press secretary Jen Psaki said during a Friday press briefing that a call between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would take place "soon," but was unable to give a specific time. | "It is not an intentional diss. Prime Minister Netanyahu is someone the president has known for some time," Psaki said. "It is just a reflection of the fact that we've been here…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). ANALYSIS – Palestinian elections to test Fatah's cohesion. yenisafak.com Abbas is facing stiff competition from two candidates — Marwan Barghouti, a member of the central committee currently serving a life sentence in an Israeli jail, and Muhammad Dahlan, a controversial figure who was dismissed and is currently harbored by the United Arab Emirates as he faces legal cases from Palestine and Turkey on several charges, including murder, corruption, and involvement in a 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.Palestinian factions agreed Tuesday in Cairo to establish an elections court based on a national consensus among judges from Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.- Barred from runningAbdullah K…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). At least 30 militants dead in mosque blast, claims Afghan army. yenisafak.com At least 30 militants died when landmines they were preparing exploded in a mosque in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province, authorities said on Saturday.The dead include 24 Taliban insurgents and six foreign militants, the Afghan National Army's 209 Shaheen Corps said in a statement.The explosion occurred when the insurgents were making landmines during a training session in a mosque in Qiltaan village in the restive Dawlatabad district of the province bordering Uzbekistan, the statement said.The Taliban, however, refuted the claim, saying in a statement that a landmine exploded inside an empty room and there we…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Iran seeking to vaccinate 10,000 athletes: official. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — A high-ranking sports official says the country aims to vaccinate some 10,000 athletes against the COVID-19.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Rouhani warns Iranians of fourth wave of Covid-19. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — Iranian President, called on Iranians to be careful not to enter the fourth wave of the Covid-19, saying that people must observe health protocols even after vaccination.

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Turkish charity helps Syrian refugees in Lebanon. yenisafak.com Emre Kaya, the Middle East Desk coordinator for IHH, said the Lebanese city of Arsal was home to nearly 60,000 Syrian refugees who are struggling to survive in make-shift tents in harsh winter conditions.The IHH helped out more than 2,000 families with their humanitarian aid supplies.Noting that temperatures could drop to minus 15C (5F), Kaya said the charity gave 20 liters of fuel for heating to 1,100 families and blankets to as many.The official figures suggest that about 1.5 million Syrians fled their country and took refuge in Lebanon since 2011, when civil war broke in the country.According to the UN-affilia…

Online News Editor (2021-02-13). Copper artisans face severe crisis in Kashmir. laprensalatina.com Like most business ventures, coppersmiths of Indian Kashmir are suffering significant losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. | A visual story by EFE/EPA photographer FAROOQ KHAN…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Turkey neutralizes two PKK terrorists in N.Iraq. yenisafak.com Turkey neutralized two more PKK terrorists as part of its anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Saturday."Operation Claw-Eagle 2 is ongoing in Gara region of northern Iraq. Two PKK terrorists detected in the region are neutralized in an air operation," the ministry said on Twitter.It added that the number of terrorists neutralized since the start of the second phase of Operation Claw-Eagle on Wednesday has reached 39.Turkish authorities use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.Turkey's operations Claw-Tiger and Cl…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Impact of France's nuclear tests persists: Algeria. yenisafak.com France's nuclear experiments in the Algerian desert in the 1960s were three to four times equal to the Hiroshima bombing in Japan, Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum said on Saturday.In a Twitter post on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the first French nuclear explosion in the Algerian desert, on Feb. 13, 1960, Boukadoum described the impacts of the tests as "catastrophic"."On this day in 1960, imperialist France carried out the first nuclear explosion in the Reggane region in the Algerian desert, in a process code-named 'Gerboise Bleue' (Blue Desert Rat)," Boukadoum said.He added that the French n…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Death toll at 19 in India factory fire. yenisafak.com The death toll rose to 19 Saturday from a massive fire that erupted in a fireworks factory in southern India, according to an official.Senior district administrative officer R. Kannan confirmed the number to Anadolu Agency in the fire that broke out Friday in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu state, about 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the state's capital of Chennai.Forty-seven people were initially trapped inside the factory and those who were injured were transported to a hospital for treatment.Media reports Friday said an explosion at the factory caused the firePrime Minister Narendra Modi called the accident "saddeni…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Kashmir becomes voiceless in Indian parliament. yenisafak.com For the third time in history, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir will go without any political representation in Rajya Sabha — the upper house of the Indian parliament.Four members of the parliament from the region, including leader of the opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, are retiring by the end of this week, leaving their seats vacant.The region disputed between India and Pakistan used to send six directly elected MPs to Lok Sabha — the lower house and four members elected by the state assembly to represent Rajya Sabha, also called the house of states.On Aug. 5, 2019, when India revoked the autonomy and di…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). PKK terrorist surrenders to security forces in Turkey. yenisafak.com As a result of persuasion efforts, another PKK terrorist surrendered to security forces in Turkey, according to the Interior Ministry on Saturday.The ministry said in a statement that the terrorist, who escaped from the organization through persuasion efforts of the gendarmerie command and security directorate teams, had joined the terror group in 2014 and was active in Syria.With the latest addition, the number of terrorists who have laid down their arms through persuasion efforts this year has reached 23.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Tu…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Massive fire engulfs Afghan port bordering Iran. yenisafak.com A massive fire broke out on Saturday in a dry port in western Afghanistan, officials said.The fire engulfed scores of oil and gas tankers in the Islam Qala Port bordering Iran.Herat province's Governor Sayed Abdul Wahid Qatali said the reason of the fire and damage caused by it could not be immediately assessed. However, he added, the blaze was so big that neighboring Iran was asked for help in controlling it.Mohammad Rafiq Sherzai, spokesman for the Health Department, told Anadolu Agency that at least 10 people with fire burns were rushed to the public hospital. He feared the casualties could rise.Visuals circul…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Turkey condemns terror attack on UN personnel in Kabul. yenisafak.com Turkey condemned a deadly terrorist attack on a vehicle carrying UN personnel in Afghanistan, said the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Saturday."We are saddened to receive the news that 5 security guards lost their lives in a terrorist attack against a vehicle carrying UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) employees in Kabul on February 11," the ministry said in a written statement.It strongly condemned the "heinous act of terrorism", and conveyed condolences to the relatives of the deceased.It added that Turkey shares the pain of the UN community.Following the attack, UNAMA said on Twitter: "The UN family in…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Six of rescued Turkish sailors brought to Abuja embassy. yenisafak.com Six out of 15 rescued Turkish sailors were brought Saturday to the Nigerian capital Abuja under local security forces' guard and reached the Turkish embassy in the city.Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria Melih Ulueren, Turkey's National Intelligence Organization members, and embassy officials welcomed the crew members, who were kidnapped after the cargo vessel had fallen victim to a pirate attack off Nigeria and rescued on Friday.Upon their arrival at the embassy, the sailors talked to their families over the phone.Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ulueren said the worry was over now. "We are very happy to see our citizens…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Saudi-led coalition thwarts rebel attack from Yemen. yenisafak.com The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Saturday it had intercepted a drone fired by Houthi rebels towards the Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia."Coalition forces managed to intercept and destroy an unmanned explosive-laden drone launched by Houthi militia that targeted Abha International airport," the coalition said in a statement cited by the Saudi Al-Ekhbariya channel.The Houthi attacks were a "systematic and deliberate attempt to target civilians" in Saudi Arabia, the statement said.There was no comment from the Houthi group on the coalition's statement.Yemen has been wrecked by violence and instability…

_____ (2021-02-13). US And NATO Moving Against Russia's Last Buffers. popularresistance.org When in 1990 U.S. Secretary of State James Baker assured Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would not expand one inch eastward after German reunification, he was not alone in making that commitment. Documents declassified a few years ago establish that the same pledge was also made by President George H.W. Bush, West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, CIA Director Robert Gates, French President Francois Mitterrand, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, British Prime Minister Jo…

Dinesh C Sharma (2021-02-13). [World Report] Indian Medical Association launches hunger strike. thelancet.com A relayed hunger strike is underway in protest against new regulations allowing surgical training for Ayurvedic practitioners. Dinesh C Sharma reports.

Georgina Ferry (2021-02-13). [Perspectives] Rebecca Lee Crumpler: first Black woman physician in the USA. thelancet.com A passionate vocation to care for others and a desire to empower her patients drove Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831—95) to overcome 19th-century prejudice against her gender and ethnicity and qualify as "doctress of medicine" (the term she used), the first African American woman to do so. Crumpler gained extensive experience treating destitute former enslaved people in the southern states after the end of the American Civil War, and published A Book of Medical Discourses: in Two Parts, a practical guide to the care of infants and women's health.

Ahmet Sezer, Saadettin Kilickap, Mahmut Gàºmàº≈ü, Igor Bondarenko, Mustafa àñzgàºroƒülu, Miranda Gogishvili, Haci M Turk, Irfan Cicin, Dmitry Bentsion, Oleg Gladkov, Philip Clingan, Virote Sriuranpong, Naiyer Rizvi, Bo Gao, Siyu Li, Sue Lee, Kristina McGuire, Chieh-I Chen, Tamta Makharadze, Semra Paydas, Marina Nechaeva, Frank Seebach, David M Weinreich, George D Yancopoulos, Giuseppe Gullo, Israel Lowy, Petra Rietschel (2021-02-13). [Articles] Cemiplimab monotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with PD-L1 of at least 50%: a multicentre, open-label, global, phase 3, randomised, controlled trial. thelancet.com Cemiplimab monotherapy significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared with chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with PD-L1 of at least 50%, providing a potential new treatment option for this patient population.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Iran showing part of its defense power to enemies. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said that Iran occasionally shows just part of its defense power to enemies.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Involving Iran's rivals in JCPOA talks to lead to failure. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — Stating that involving Iran's rivals in JCPOA talks would mean the failure of any talks even before it starts, Shireen Hunter said that Macron wanted to curry favor with the Saudis in the hope of getting lucrative contracts.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). English poster of "Landless" feature film unveiled. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — English poster of the movie "Landless", the third feature film directed by Touraj Aslani, which is a joint production of Iraq and Syria, was unveiled to attend the 71st Berlin International Film Festival.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Torture cannot silence Bahraini people. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — The leader of the Islamic Movement of Bahrain says the determination of the Bahraini people cannot be disrupted by repressive measures of Al Khalifa regime.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). A powerful 7.1 magnitude quake hits Japan's Fukushima. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Fukushima.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). White House to review policy towards Saudi Arabia. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, "There's a review of our policy as it relates to Saudi Arabia."

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Iran to aid Afghanistan following explosion in border area. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that the Islamic Republic of Iran has adopted necessary measures to assist the injured people following the massive blast in a border crossing in Afghanistan.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Russia officially invites Iraq to Astana Process meeting. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — Moscow has officially handed in an invitation to Iraq to participate in the upcoming Astana Process meeting in Sochi as an observer.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Costs of grappling with state liberalism. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — It's been more than a century since a chain of tensions and shocks hit the Iranian society as a result of the imposed presence of "western modernity" in Iran.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). US troop to be expelled from Iraq: Iranian envoy to Baghdad. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — Saying that the Iraqi government is in talks with the US to set a timetable for expelling US troops, the Iranian envoy to Iraq stressed that this will happen and the American troops will leave Iraq.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Iran, Nakhchivan mull over expansion of border interactions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — Islamic Republic of Iran and Autonomous Republic of Nakhchievan mulled over the expansion of border interactions.

Online News Editor (2021-02-13). Strong earthquake rattles northeast Japan. laprensalatina.com Tokyo, Feb 13 (efe-epa).- A magnitude-7.3 earthquake was felt in the northeastern coastal prefecture of Fukushima late Saturday, but Japanese authorities ruled out the risk of a tsunami and said they had no reports of fatalities. The quake struck at 11: 08 pm (14: 08 GMT) off the coast of Fukushima, where a magnitude-9.0 temblor and subsequent …

_____ (2021-02-13). Judge Refuses Injunction To Stop Sacred Oak Flat Destruction. popularresistance.org Phoenix, AZ — This afternoon, U.S. District Court Judge Steven Logan denied Apache Stronghold's request for an injunction preventing the giveaway and destruction of sacred Oak Flat to Rio Tinto/Resolution Copper. Judge Logan said that Apache Stronghold has no right to ask the Court for help because they are not an officially designated a "sovereign nation." Judge Logan said that the U.S. Government has no Trust Responsibility to the Apache even though their Treaty of 1852 says, "the government of the United States shall so legislate and act as to secure the permanent prosperity and happiness of said Indians…

Online News Editor (2021-02-13). China's Mars probe captures stunning video of red planet. laprensalatina.com Beijing, Feb 13 (efe-epa).- China has released the first video footage of Mars captured by its spacecraft circling the red planet, days after the Tianwen-1 probe successfully entered the orbit after nearly a seven-month journey from Earth. China National Space Administration (CNSA) released two stunning videos of less than a minute each captured when the …

Online News Editor (2021-02-13). Nadal, Medvedev, Barty book ticket to Assuse Open 4th round, Pliskova out. laprensalatina.com Melbourne, Australia, Feb 13 (efe'epa).- Second-seed Rafael Nadal of Spain, Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas and local favorite Ashleigh Barty advanced to the Australian Open 4th round, while Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova was sent home. Nadal, who has yet to drop a set at Melbourne, recovered from a slow start to prevail over Briton …

Online News Editor (2021-02-13). Nadal, Medvedev, Barty book ticket to Aussie Open 4th round, Pliskova out. laprensalatina.com Melbourne, Australia, Feb 13 (efe'epa).- Second-seed Rafael Nadal of Spain, Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas and local favorite Ashleigh Barty advanced to the Australian Open 4th round, while Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova was sent home. Nadal, who has yet to drop a set at Melbourne, recovered from a slow start to prevail over Briton …

Online News Editor (2021-02-13). US decisions on Yemen: insufficient steps toward peace. laprensalatina.com By Isaac J. Martín Cairo, Feb 13 (efe-epa).- The decision by US President Joe Biden's administration to remove Yemen's Houthi rebels from the terror list can be considered as a first step towards earning the confidence of the Shiite militia in the wider context of ending the conflict, but it does not go far enough, …

Zach Conti (2021-02-13). Global Economic Recovery, Debt, Climate, Vaccines Top G7 Finance Agenda. indybay.org Japan Says Accessing Global Reserve Funds Discussed…

news.un (2021-02-13). FROM THE FIELD: The teenage Uzbek girls using science to help their community. news.un.org Young women in Uzbekistan are using technology to help improve the lives of those around them, challenging perceptions of the roles that women and girls play in society.

Rabbi Alissa Wise (2021-02-13). Facebook might censor criticism of Zionists. That's dangerous. zcomm.org By making 'Zionists' a de facto protected category, Facebook would shield the Israeli government from accountability and harm efforts to dismantle antisemitism…