(2021-03-12). Iran raps granting hosting of World Cup Qualifiers to Bahrain. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Mar. 12 (MNA) — The President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the Islamic Republic of Iran Reza Salehi Amiri has objected to granting the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to Bahrain.
(2021-03-12). Washing Away One Trail of Tears After Another. dissidentvoice.org 
White Washing: According to one Merriam-Webster definition, to whitewash is to "gloss over or cover up," which, in a sense, is what the racial form of whitewashing does. It creates a White world where sins against people of color, including Blacks, Native Americans, Asians, Latinos, and other minority groups cease to matter because, in revisionist …
(2021-03-12). Leaving Afghanistan by May 1? Alas, Not Likely. counterpunch.org 
Will the U.S. military ever leave Afghanistan? The answer appears to be no. When the U.S. military comes it stays. It's been in Germany since the 1940s, and now has expanded, with its attack dog, NATO, from there throughout Eastern Europe to menace Russia. The Afghan adventure has so far lasted 20 years and cost two trillion dollars. Afghanistan provides a convenient, imperial base from which to threaten China. The U.S. military, realistically, will never want to give that up.
(2021-03-12). The Heat: China's Two Sessions concludes. america.cgtn.com 
China's "Two Sessions" wraps up in Beijing. What were some of the hot topics? And what about plans for China's future development?
(2021-03-12). The Rise of the East Will Not End the Empire of the West. thenation.com The Rise of the East Will Not End the Empire of the West…
(2021-03-12). China makes comeback in new generation rocket launch. yenisafak.com China's space program on Friday made a resounding comeback after launching its new generation rocket into orbit.The new generation medium-sized carrier rocket, Long March-7A, was sent to space in the pre-dawn launch of a technology verification satellite from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern Hainan province. | The 573 metric tons rocket, 60.1 meters long, can carry a payload weighing from 5.5 to 7 tons.On March 16 last year, the same rocket failed to take off on its maiden flight, the Chinese daily Global Times reported."The successful launch of the Long March 7A has further enriched the spectrum of t…
(2021-03-12). ANALYSIS: Current developments in Myanmar in light of the dynamics of its relations with China. yenisafak.com On Feb. 1, 2021, a military coup took place in Myanmar, leading to the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of the ruling party National League for Democracy (NLD), as well as a number of government officials. The Myanmar army took over the administration on Feb. 1 and declared a year-long state of emergency in the country, citing "fraud" in the elections held on Nov. 8, 2020. Myanmar has faced multiple military interventions in its political history. However, unlike past coups, narratives traditionally used to justify coups, such as "internal turmoil" and "threat to the integrity of the union", are…
(2021-03-12). China condemns 'untrustworthy' US for new Huawei curbs. yenisafak.com China on Friday criticized the US over new restrictions imposed over trade with tech giant Huawei."The US behavior not only damages the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, but also harms the US and the business environment in the country," Zhao Lijian, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said at a news conference in Beijing.Washington has imposed new restrictions on some suppliers working with China's Huawei, prohibiting them from exporting items that would be used in or with 5G devices, CGTN reported."It has been proven time and time again, that the US is a country that's unreliable and untrustw…
(2021-03-12). Thailand suspends use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine. yenisafak.com Thailand on Friday suspended the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine following a ban in several European countries over reports of severe or fatal blood clots in vaccinated people.The country's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and some Cabinet members were scheduled to be vaccinated on Friday morning, but the plan was abruptly canceled, according to the local daily Bangkok Post.Some were set to receive AstraZeneca vaccine, while others China's Sinovac. All vaccinations were suspended.This came after a number of countries, including Denmark, Norway, Italy, Austria and Bulgaria suspended the use of the jab.The do…
(2021-03-12). Headlines for March 12, 2021. democracynow.org Biden Signs Coronavirus Relief Bill, Pledges to Make Vaccines Available to All U.S. Adults by May 1, Denmark, Norway and Iceland Halt AstraZeneca Vaccinations over Blood Clot Fears, World Food Programme Warns 34 Million Face Famine in Yemen, Ethiopia and Beyond, Biden to Meet Leaders of Japan, India and Australia in Anti-China "Quad Summit", Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor Indicted for Murder of Michael Ramos, Judge Reinstates Third-Degree Murder Charge Against Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin, Who Killed George Floyd, Report Condemns LAPD's Mishandling of BLM Protests; Kentucky Tries to Make "Taunting" a Cop a Crim…
(2021-03-12). China — Leading to World Recovery — And Beyond. globalresearch.ca China's currently ongoing (4-11 March 2021) annual parliamentary meeting, known as …
(2021-03-12). Xiaomi stocks soar over share buyback plans. laprensalatina.com Shanghai, China, Mar 12 (EFE).- The shares of Chinese technology firm Xiaomi increased considerably in the morning session Friday at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange after it announced a share buyback plan worth HK$10 billion (around $1.3 billion). At 11.30 am local time, each share was worth 7.32 percent more than when the trading session …
(2021-03-12). Salt of the Earth Labor College spotlights border militarization and death. peoplesworld.org 
TUCSON, Ariz.—For decades, the U.S.-Mexico border areas have experienced increased militarization, a surge in deportations, and an ever-more brutal border patrol. The Trump administration's policies of separating families, building walls, and racist demonizing of migrants made the situation even worse—and then came the pandemic. Some hope the Biden administration will ease things somewhat, but change is slow …
(2021-03-12). Yemen: Sanaa migrant centre fire survivors grieve as death toll mounts. middleeasteye.net 
Yemen: Sanaa migrant centre fire survivors grieve as death toll mounts | New footage shows scores of charred bodies inside overcrowded hangar detaining mostly Ethiopian migrants, as Houthis and IOM trade blame | Fri, 03/12/2021 – 11: 23 | Ethiopians and other nationals wait in Djibouti as they prepare to be smuggled to Saudi Arabia from Yemen in December 2010 (AFP) | It was just after m…
(2021-03-12). Roaming Charges: Fear of a Black Prince. counterpunch.org 
The ravages of COVID and the narrow victories in the elections gave the Democrats a once in a generation chance to do something big without having to barter for the votes of grifter Republicans. Instead, the Democrats ended up negotiating amongst themselves in a strange dance of downward harmonization, where every intra-party compromise resulted in those who needed the most relief ending up with less and less. In the end, Biden, Schumer and Pelosi settled for a hefty spending package (bigger than most but similar in kind to past bills) that doled out $1.9 trillion across the political spectrum, but did little or…
(2021-03-12). Why are Super-Rich Democrats Called "Moderates" When they Wage Class War vs. Low-Income Workers? liberationnews.org 
Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss the Biden administration's stimulus package.
(2021-03-12). India: Women reject state surveillance. greenleft.org.au Indian socialist and feminist Kavita Krishnan reports on disturbing proposals by figures in Narendra Modi's government to subject women to greater state surveillance for their "protection".
(2021-03-12). Meghan Markle Racism Revelations Are "Shocking, But Not Surprising" to People of Color in U.K. democracynow.org 
The British royal family is facing intense criticism over its treatment of Meghan Markle, who revealed shocking details about life as a royal in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, including mistreatment and bullying from other royals, relentless harassment by the British press, and racist comments about Markle, who was born in the United States to a Black mother and a white father. One member of the royal family, according to Markle, even speculated how dark her child's skin would be. Markle and her husband Prince Harry stepped down as senior members of Britain's royal family last year. Pioneering British journalis…
(2021-03-12). Share the Vaccines, Erase the Debt: Joseph Stiglitz on How the U.S. Can Help Developing Countries. democracynow.org 
Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz says wealthy countries have a responsibility to help the developing world in overcoming the pandemic. He says the response must include vaccine equity as well as economic aid, including debt relief. "America won't be free from the pandemic until the world is," says Stiglitz.
(2021-03-12). "Hell on Earth": Yemeni Children Starve to Death as U.S.-Backed Saudi Blockade Devastates Nation. democracynow.org 
The World Food Programme is warning Yemen is headed toward the biggest famine in modern history, with the U.N. agency projecting around 400,000 Yemeni children under the age of 5 could die from acute malnutrition this year as the Saudi war and blockade continues. CNN senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir says Yemen is accurately described as "hell on Earth." Her latest report from inside Yemen details the devastating impact of the conflict on civilians, including widespread fuel shortages affecting all aspects of life. "We were utterly unprepared for what we found when we got there," says Elbagir.
(2021-03-12). The End of Trickle-Down Economics? Joe Stiglitz on the "Transformational" $1.9T American Rescue Plan. democracynow.org 
President Biden has signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, which Democrats are hailing as the largest anti-poverty bill in a generation. It includes stimulus checks to most adults, expanded unemployment benefits and an overhaul of the child tax credit. One study projects the law will lift almost 14 million Americans out of poverty, including 5.7 million children. "This is transformational," says economist Joseph Stiglitz. "It says, 'We are actually going to live up — try to live up — to our aspirations.'"
(2021-03-12). Unless the Power of the People Asserts Itself. counterpunch.org 
The COVID-19 pandemic and recession and the political realignment in Washington after the defeat of the malignant fascist Trump and the two former Republican Senators in Georgia have opened the door for some welcome federal action. Among the improvements: the newly serious and aggressive federal response to the deadly virus and the passage of a
(2021-03-12). Russia advocates interim Afghan government with Taliban. laprensalatina.com Moscow, Mar 12 (efe-epa).- Russia Friday said it would support an interim coalition government in Afghanistan with the Taliban to speed up the peace process and end the decades-long conflict in the war-ravaged country. "The formation of an interim, inclusive administration would be a logical solution to the problem of integrating the Taliban into Afghanistan's …
(2021-03-12). Turkey plans to host Afghan-Taliban talks in April. laprensalatina.com Istanbul, Mar 12 (efe-epa).- Turkey said Friday that it planned to host negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban in April within the framework of a United States peace proposal to jump-start stalled Afghanistan peace process. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey was finalizing the logistical and other arrangements of the planned meeting and …
(2021-03-12). Israel has Detained 13,000 Palestinian Children since 2000 and just took 5 more. juancole.com 
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — Since the year 2000, the Israeli military in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank has "detained, interrogated, prosecuted, and imprisoned approximately 13,000 Palestinian children," according to Defense for Children International. Nowadays Israel typically prosecutes between 500 and 700 children annually in military courts. Even though they are civilians and children, they …
(2021-03-12). Elections under Fire: Palestine's Impossible Democracy Dilemma. dissidentvoice.org 
Many Palestinian intellectuals and political analysts find themselves in the unenviable position of having to declare a stance on whether they support or reject upcoming Palestinian elections which are scheduled for May 22 and July 30. But there are no easy answers. The long-awaited decree by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas last January to hold …
(2021-03-12). 'Do Not Refer to Palestine or Show a Map with Palestine as a Country' — The CBC's Orwellian Rules. globalresearch.ca For almost seven months, Palestine solidarity activists in Canada have been …
(2021-03-12). Elections under Fire: Palestine's Impossible Democracy Dilemma. counterpunch.org Many Palestinian intellectuals and political analysts find themselves in the unenviable position of having to declare a stance on whether they support or reject upcoming Palestinian elections which are scheduled for May 22 and July 30. But there are no easy answers. The long-awaited decree by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas last January to hold
(2021-03-12). PROFILE: Who is Fatah's dismissed member Nasser al-Qudwa? yenisafak.com For several years, Nasser al-Qudwa was a familiar face defending the Palestinian cause as the former envoy to the UN.It was not strange that al-Qudwa, 68, was elected as a member of the central committee in the Fatah movement — the ruling party in Palestine — in 2009, as his name has always been linked with his uncle and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.Throughout his presence in the central committee, he was not known for any clashes with the Palestinian political leadership.But the decision to hold legislative and presidential elections triggered a huge surprise as al-Qudwa harshly criticized the Palestinian…
(2021-03-12). UN says pursuit of justice should step up in Syria. yenisafak.com Repeated attempts to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court have stalled, but it is vital that national courts continue to conduct fair, public and transparent trials, the UN human rights chief said Thursday.In a report to the UN Human Rights Council, Michelle Bachelet said that trials for serious crimes should be complemented by initiatives that further realize victims' rights.These included the "rights to truth and reparation."Bachelet noted that Syria is about to enter its 11th year of violence and conflict, and the pursuit of truth, justice, and reparations for victims must not only continue but be s…
(2021-03-12). Israeli Violence in Arab Cities Reaches Intolerable Levels. globalresearch.ca Much is said in the international media about the Palestinian issue, …
(2021-03-12). San Francisco: $5/hour COVID hazard pay for grocery, pharmacy workers. peoplesworld.org 
San Francisco this week joined the growing number of Bay Area cities mandating hazard pay for grocery workers, when its Board of Supervisors on March 9 unanimously passed an emergency ordinance requiring large grocers and pharmacies to pay their workers an additional $5 per hour during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city had earlier urged, but …
(2021-03-12). No Matter How Bad, COVID Makes It Worse. counterpunch.org 
It's disquieting to see profit-incentivized entities turn into major vaccination hubs—many people now routinely go to drug stores to get their flu shots. Until such time as the American government catches up with the rest of the world–and creates the public health care system we so desperately need—it looks as if the large pharmacy chains will remain central to the patchwork, makeshift future of pandemic response
(2021-03-12). Russia Offers Europe Win-Win Vaccine Solution. strategic-culture.org 
The Sputnik V vaccine potentially fills the supply gaps that the EU is encumbered with. Immediately. | It is now one year since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic from the novel coronavirus and its accompanying Covid-19 disease. Worldwide, the death toll stands at 2.6 million and continues to rise. | The arrival of effective vaccines has offered new hope that the deadly virus can be eradicated. Sputnik V, the Russian manufactured vaccine, was the first to be registered anywhere in the world as of August last year and has since been proven by large-scale trials to be highly effective and safe…
(2021-03-12). NY House speaker launches impeachment probe into Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations & Covid nursing home cover-up. rt.com 
The New York State Assembly has given the nod to an impeachment investigation into Governor Andrew Cuomo, who faces a litany of sexual harassment charges from several accusers and intense criticism of his pandemic response. | Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie authorized a Judiciary Committee to probe the allegations on Thursday, tapping fellow Democrat Assemblyman Charles Lavine to spearhead the investigation. | "The reports of accusations concerning the governor are serious. The committee will have the authority to interview witnesses, subpoena documents and evaluate evidence, as is allowed by the New…
(2021-03-12). Biden asks Americans to 'trust Fauci' after he draws criticism for saying the latest CDC recommendations are not science-based. rt.com 
US President Joe Biden's call to trust Dr. Anthony Fauci on the issue of vaccine safety while describing him "one of the most trusted voices in the world" has earned scorn from conservatives, accusing him of inconsistency. | In his first address as president on Thursday evening, Biden demanded Americans follow advice from scientists, who he said "have made clear that things may get worse again" as new strains of the virus spread. | "But to get there we can't let our guard down. This fight is far from over," he added, calling on those hesitant to receive the Covid-19 vaccine to take cues from Dr. Fauci, praisin…
(2021-03-12). US hoarding millions of doses of unapproved AstraZeneca vaccine as EU & others suffer shortages — reports. rt.com 
Washington has reportedly refused a request by AstraZeneca to loan some of the US' stockpile of its Covid-19 vaccine — which cannot be used there yet — and deliver it to the EU, where the supplier is failing to meet its targets.
(2021-03-12). Almost half of Israel's population fully vaccinated against Covid-19. laprensalatina.com Jerusalem, Mar 12 (efe-epa).- Almost half of all Israelis have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the latest health ministry data Friday. Israeli health authorities said 44% percent of its nine million people have had two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 jab and 55% have had one dose. The percentage of positive tests in …
(2021-03-12). Syria war: Average of one child injured or killed every eight hours over past 10 years – UNICEF. news.un.org The grim ten-year anniversary of the war in Syria has left 90 percent of the country's children in need of help, as a triple crisis of violence, economic misery and the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed families to the brink of despair, UNICEF reported on Friday.
(2021-03-12). Before COVID, Gates Planned Social Media Censorship of Vaccine Safety Advocates with Pharma, CDC, Media, China and CIA. globalresearch.ca In October 2019, shortly before the COVID outbreak, Gates and other …
(2021-03-12). Saudi Arabia's King Salman sacks pilgrimage minister. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi Arabia's King Salman sacks pilgrimage minister | The kingdom has suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic from a lack of income from pilgrims | Fri, 03/12/2021 – 14: 30 | Handout from the Saudi Press Agency on 15 December 2020 shows Saudi Arabia's King Salman signing the 2021 state budget following a virtual cabinet meeting in the capital Riyadh (AFP) | Sauid Arabia's minister overseein…
(2021-03-12). A year after first Covid-19 victim, India has over 158,000 deaths. laprensalatina.com New Delhi, Mar 12 (efe-epa).- India on Friday completed a year after the Covid-19 claimed its first victim in the country that has since become the world's second-worst affected nation due to the pandemic with more than 11.3 million infections and over 158,000 deaths. However, the overall fatality rate is relatively lower than other worst-affected …
(2021-03-12). North Korea got darker during Covid-19 crisis, says rights defender. laprensalatina.com By Andres Sanchez Seoul, Mar 12 (efe-epa).- Spanish researcher Lina Yoon, who has been secretly documenting human rights violations in North Korea for around five years, has expressed concern over how the regime took advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to strengthen further its grip over the country. "North Korea is already a black hole, but …
(2021-03-12). Thailand suspends Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine rollout over blood clot reports. laprensalatina.com Bangkok, Mar 12 (efe-epa).- Thailand postponed its Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine rollout on Friday after a number of European countries suspended theirs over reports of blood clots. A suspension for two weeks was announced at a press conference in which Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha was expected to get the first dose, followed by ministers. "We …
(2021-03-12). Cuba's contributions in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. mronline.org 
MR Online
(2021-03-12). Why Tunisians are still out on the streets — a decade after the Arab Spring. juancole.com 
By Saerom Han, Andrea Teti, and Pamela Abbott | — It has been 10 years since nation-wide protests in Tunisia led to the ousting of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his regime. Ben Ali led Tunisia for 23 years. Tunisia's "Dignity Revolution" marked the first time a long-standing Arab autocrat was removed …
(2021-03-12). The Necessity of Dismantling the U.S.—A conversation with Ajamu Baraka. counterpunch.org 
On February 26th, I interviewed Ajamu Baraka for my podcast. Baraka is a veteran grassroots organizer whose roots are in the Black Liberation Movement and anti-apartheid and Central American solidarity struggles. He is an internationally recognized leader of the emerging human rights movement in the U.S. and has been at the forefront of efforts to
(2021-03-12). Wolf Killing and the Legacy of Conquest. counterpunch.org 
It had seemed for the past half century that perhaps the worst of wolf killing was finally over. After centuries of methodic extermination had nearly completely wiped the animals out of the lower forty-eight, government agencies, scientists, and the general public began to see wolves not primarily as threats to private property, but rather, as
(2021-03-12). Fukushima at Ten: Aftershocks, Lies, and Failed Decontamination. counterpunch.org 
It's now 10 years since the catastrophic triple meltdowns of reactors at Fukushima in Japan. As Joseph Mangano of the Radiation and Public Health project put it three years ago, "Enormous amounts of radioactive chemicals, including cesium, strontium, plutonium, and iodine were emitted into the air, and releases of the same toxins into the Pacific have never stopped, as workers struggle to contain over 100 cancer-causing chemicals."
(2021-03-12). Cuba's reforms raise public sector salaries, broaden self-employment options. peoplesworld.org 
Starting in January 2021, Cuba began to implement broad economic reforms designed to increase production and exports in an effort to mitigate the effects of the U.S. blockade and the coronavirus pandemic. The following article, republished from the Turkish media site Sol ("The Left"), analyzes the first month of the reforms and their impact on …
