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2021-05-09: News Headlines

Staff (2021-05-09). Death toll rises to 58 in Kabul girls' school bombing. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 09 (MNA) — The death toll from an explosion outside a school in Afghanistan's capital Kabul has risen to 58, Afghan officials said on Sunday, with doctors struggling to provide medical care to at least 150 injured.

IDN (2021-05-09). Sri Lanka: New Commission To Govern Colombo Port City Soon — Analysis. eurasiareview.com Sri Lanka Embarks on Ambitious Project to Create Another Asian Financial Hub: | By Sugeeswara Senadhira | The Sri Lankan Supreme Court's determination on the proposed Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill will be placed before the parliament on May 18, paving way for the legal act to establish the Commission, with an amendment in accordance with the judiciary's verdict. The Supreme Court conveyed its decision to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, who will discuss with party leaders on May 18 on fixing a date to debate the Bill. | The Bill provides for the establishment of a Commission empowered to…

Kim Petersen (2021-05-09). BBC, Free Media, and Julian Assange. dissidentvoice.org A video in which Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev is interviewed by Orla Guerin has resurfaced; the interview took place in November 2020. (The BBC version.) Revealing is what is not seen in the BBC version. When Aliyev held up the mirror to Guerin's "accusation" that there was no free media in Azerbaijan, the BBC responded …

Arab News (2021-05-09). Why US Islamists Are The Enemy Within — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Dalia Al-Aqidi* | Several candidates in various US states have already begun their campaigns for the House of Representatives and the Senate in next year's midterm elections. | Islamist "progressive" politicians such as Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who adopted and spread the narrative of American "Islamophobia and racism," seem to inspire others to use the victim card to win votes. And why not? It worked for them. | Rana Abdelhamid, a young Egyptian American woman who is running to unseat Carolyn Maloney, a fellow Democrat, in New York's 12th congressional district, portrays herself in her campaign video a…

Not One Nickel, Not One Dime (2021-05-09). Petition from Rep. Rashida Tlaib to Stop US/Israeli War Crmes. indybay.org Sign now to call on the U.S. State Department and Department of Defense: Demand an end to Israel's forced displacement of Palestinians from East Jerusalem. See actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-now-to-call-on-the-us-state-department-and-department-of-defense-demand-an-end-to-israels-forced-displacement-of-palestinians-from-east-jerusalem

Editor2 (2021-05-09). UN Warns Israel's Forced Evictions in East Jerusalem Could Amount to War Crimes Amid Violent Clashes in Annexed Area. orinocotribune.com The United Nations has warned that Israel's actions in East Jerusalem "may amount to war crimes" after the Jewish state sought to engage in forced evictions within the annexed section of the occupied Palestinian territory. | In comments to reporters in Geneva on Friday, the spokesman for the UN high commissioner for human rights, Rupert Colville, urged Israel to "call off all forced evictions" within East Jerusalem amid ongoing violent clashes as Israeli authorities push to evict Palestinian families from the area. | "We wish to emphasise that East Jerusalem remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory, in…

sputniknews (2021-05-09). West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee Writes To PM Modi, Urges Him To Waive Taxes on Medical Essentials. sputniknews.com As India battles the second wave of the deadly coronavirus, several countries including Russia, the UK, the US, Australia, Saudi Arabia and others have come forward to help and have been sending oxygen cylinders, concentrators, Covid-related medicines such as Remdesivir and other supplies.

sputniknews (2021-05-09). Hollywood Star Drew Barrymore on India's Covid-19 Crisis: 'We Will Come Out Stronger Together'. sputniknews.com Hollywood stars including Jennifer Aniston, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Robert Pattinson, Shawn Mendes, Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres, Will Smith, Katy Perry, Mindy Kaling, and others have come forward to donate and help raise funds through various initiatives to support India's fight against COVID.

Staff (2021-05-09). Iran coronavirus update: 14k news cases, 386 deaths. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 09 (MNA) — According to the Iranian Health Ministry, 14,141 new COVID-19 infections have been detected across the country in the past 24 hours.

Eurasia Review (2021-05-09). Why Is COVID-19 So Hard To Treat? eurasiareview.com A comprehensive review into what we know about COVID-19 and the way it functions suggests the virus has a unique infectious profile, which explains why it can be so hard to treat and why some people experience so-called "long-COVID", struggling with significant health issues months after infection. | There is growing evidence that the virus infects both the upper and lower respiratory tracts – unlike "low pathogenic" human coronavirus sub-species, which typically settle in the upper respiratory tract and cause cold-like symptoms, or "high pathogenic" viruses such as those that cause SARS and ARDS, which typica…

IPS (2021-05-09). High-Dose Vitamin D Supplements Significantly Reduce ICU Admissions, COVID-19 Deaths — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Sunil J. Wimalawansa* | There is considerable evidence that vitamin D reduces the risk and severity of COVID-19 ( Additionally, five randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were published using high-dose vitamin D in COVID-19 patients, and over 20 other large…

_____ (2021-05-09). Bill Gates, The White Man's Burden And Modi Government's Vaccine Debacle. popularresistance.org The incompetence of the Indian government is starkly visible in its handling of the current COVID-19 crisis. It fares even worse on the vaccine front. Its belief in the ideology of free-market capitalism is that the market will magically produce whatever we need. This is why it starved the 7 public sector vaccine manufacturing units (Down to Earth, 17 April 2021) of any support. And also gave the public sector vaccine, Covaxin, developed by ICMR and National Institute of Virology to a private company, Bharat Biotech on an exclusive basis. It also believed that Serum Institute of India, another private sector comp…

_____ (2021-05-09). Hundreds Of Palestinians Protesting Evictions In Jerusalem Are Injured. popularresistance.org More than 200 Palestinians were wounded and at least one partially blinded over night in East Jerusalem when Israeli police fired rubber-coated steel bullets and stun grenades at thousands of people who were protesting Israeli settlers and security forces' ongoing effort to dispossess Palestinians of their land in the occupied territory. | Israel's violent oppression of Palestinians, which has intensified in recent days, continued Saturday. | "What's happening in Jerusalem and Palestine more broadly is not a 'clash' or a 'scuffle,' but a state-sanctioned campaign of Israeli violence against Palestinians," the Ins…

Staff (2021-05-09). Samidoun condemns Berlin police repression, arrests at mass protest for Palestine. samidoun.net Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network condemns the arrest of at least four Palestinian youth in Germany by the Berlin police at the #SaveSheikhJarrah demonstration on Sunday, 9 May. Hundreds of Palestinians in the community and supporters of justice in Palestine poured into the streets of Berlin marching from Rathaus Neukà∂lln to Hermannplatz for demonstrations in protest of the ongoing Nakba in Palestine and Israeli ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem, including the targeting of the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood and Israeli police violent invasions of Al-Aqsa Mosque. These demonstrations were organized b…

Staff (2021-05-09). Hezbollahon forces full alert at border with occupied lands. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 09 (MNA) — Simultaneously with the Zionist regime's military exercises, Hezbollah forces are reportedly on full alert at the border with occupied Palestine.

Brenda Norrell (2021-05-09). Divest in Israel's Elbit on Tohono O'odham Nation and in Palestine. indybay.org The 'Divest in Elbit' panel today reveals the surveillance and weapons of the Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, targeting Tohono O'odham and Palestinians, by way of U.S. contracts and funding, violating human rights and international law.

Anonymous669 (2021-05-09). In Video: PKK Drone Targeted Turkish Post In Northern Iraq With RPG-7 Warheads. southfront.org Screen grab from the PKK's attack video. | On May 9th, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) shared a video of a drone attack on a post of the Turkish military in the province of Dohuk in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. | The attack that took place on April 29th was carried out with a commercially-bought hexacopter drone. In the video, the drone can be seen dropping three projectiles, HEAT [High-Explosive Anti-Tank] warheads taken from RPG-7 rounds, on the Turkish post, which is located near the town of Kani Masi. | During the…

Anonymous669 (2021-05-09). Turkish-Backed Militant Commander Killed By Syrian Army's Fire In Greater Idlib. southfront.org Illustrative image. | On May 9, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) eliminated a commander of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) in the northwestern region of Greater Idlib. | The commander, Mahmoud al-Qadu, was reportedly killed when a post he was manning near the town of Saraqib in the southern countryside of Idlib was struck by the SAA artillery. No other casualties were reported. | At around the same time, the SAA artillery also pounded the towns of Fatterah, Benin, Sufuhon, Fleifel and al-Bara, also located in…

Anonymous669 (2021-05-09). Major Fire Broke Out At Syria's Oil Refinery: Israel & Militants Suspected (Photos). southfront.org Click to see full-size image. | On May 9, a fire broke out at Homs oil refinery in central Syria as a result of what was described as an "accident" by local officials. | According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, the fire broke out at the refinery's Distillation Unit 100. Refinery workers and local firefighters were able to contain and put down the fire within a short period of time."Firefighting teams, with great efforts, managed to control the fire," Suleiman al-Mohamad, Gen…

Anonymous103 (2021-05-09). Karar Hashmi: Foreign Powers To Create Shia-Sunni Dispute In Afghanistan, Pakistan. southfront.org The sociopolitical activist and seminarian at Qom from central Kashmir Ganderbal Agha Syed Karar Hashmi"Wipeout all terrorist groups in Afghanistan & Pakistan or empower Shias with arms to make their own safety", Karar Hashmi. | The sociopolitical activist and seminarian at Qom from central Kashmir Ganderbal Agha Syed Karar Hashmi has lashed over terrorist groups ISIL, Taliban and others working in Afghanistan and Pakistan involving to target Shias as a part of international game plan of big guns to d…

Anonymous103 (2021-05-09). The Way Out Of The Impasse Between Iran & U.S. southfront.org Illustrative Image | Written by Eric Zuesse, originally published at On June 18th, Iran will hold its Presidential election. The current Government is led by Iran's moderates, who are the people that aren't closed-minded to the possibility of America's being less than 100% determined to take back Iran as America had grabbed that country in the 1953 U.S. coup there, which ended Iran's democrac…

Anonymous007 (2021-05-09). Military Situation In Syria On May 9, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On May 9, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 53 times: 29 — in Idlib province, 9 — in Latakia province, 9 — in Hama province, 6 — in Aleppo province | On May 9, SDF arrested 4 alleged ISIS individuals in Shaheel town | On May 8, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled Alqamiya and Shawaragha villages | On May 8, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SAA positions in Maarat al-Numan | MORE…

Anonymous007 (2021-05-09). Military Situation In Yemen On May 9, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | The Liaison and Coordination Officers' Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 38 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah during the past 24 hours | On May 8, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 11 airstrikes on the Sarwah area | On May 8, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes on the Madghal area | On May 8, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes on the Nate area | On May 9, clashes between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces continued i…

Arab News (2021-05-09). Al-Jubeir Calls On Kingdom's Accusers In Bezos Phone Hack To 'Acknowledge Their Mistake'. eurasiareview.com Saudi Arabia's Adel Al-Jubeir called on Saturday for people who "accused the Kingdom" with regard to claims it was involved with the hacking of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos' phone last year to "acknowledge their mistake." | The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs posted to Twitter asking if now that the truth that "the Kingdom had nothing to do with the allegations" had been revealed, whether people would "simply delete their tweets" and "hope that their positions at the time disappear into the sunset?" | Reports in January 2020 suggested Bezos' phone was hacked after receiving a WhatsApp message sent from the per…

No Nukes Action (2021-05-09). Tuesday 5/11: STOP The Madness-Speakout At Japanese Consulate Against Olympics In Japan During Pandemic. indybay.org San Francisco Japanese Consulate | 275 Battery St/California St. | San Francisco…

Staff (2021-05-09). Harvesting 'echium amoenum' in Mazandaran. en.mehrnews.com SARI, May 09 (MNA) — Also known as red feathers, Echium amoenum is a medicinal herb indigenous to the northern part of Iran and Caucasus.

sputniknews (2021-05-09). Taliban Leader Says US Repeatedly Breached Doha Peace Deal. sputniknews.com KABUL (Sputnik) Rahimullah Khogyany – The United States has repeatedly violated the peace agreement reached with the Taliban in Qatar's capital of Doha in 2020, the movement's leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, said on Sunday.

Kamal Iranidoost (2021-05-09). Taliban leader says US repeatedly breached Doha accord. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 09 (MNA) — Hibatullah Akhundzada said Sunday that the US has repeatedly violated the peace agreement reached with the Taliban in Qatar's capital of Doha in 2020.

VOA (2021-05-09). Afghanistan: Taliban Declare Three-day Ceasefire For Eid Holiday. eurasiareview.com By Ayaz Gul | The Taliban have announced a nationwide cease-fire in Afghanistan that will take effect when the three-day annual Muslim festival of Eid-al-Fitr begins Thursday, marking the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. | The announcement follows a spike in attacks by the Islamist insurgent group against government forces across many Afghan provinces. It also comes a day after multiple blasts outside a girls school in Kabul killed more than 60 people, mostly students. | The Taliban said Sunday its leadership has instructed all insurgent fighters "to halt all offensive operations against the enemy"

sputniknews (2021-05-09). US Reportedly Wants to Redeploy Forces From Afghanistan Closer to Russia's Borders. sputniknews.com The US and NATO began their withdrawal from Afghanistan on 1 May, with the security situation in the country little better now than it was after the 2001 invasion. US President Joe Biden, in his announcement of the withdrawal in April, called on Russia, China and India to step up and "support Afghanistan" after the US leaves.

Staff (2021-05-09). Afghanistan after two decades of US presence. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 09 (MNA) — Two decades after the US military presence in Afghanistan, the country is still witnessing several explosions in recent days, instead of moving away from insecurity and instability.

Kamal Iranidoost (2021-05-09). Judiciary chief condemns barbaric terror attack in Kabul. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 09 (MNA) —The head of the Iranian Judiciary strongly condemned Yesterday's deadly terrorist attack in Kabul and offered his condolences to the people of Afghanistan.

Staff (2021-05-09). Zarif calls on all Afghans to unify against ISIL terrorists. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 09 (MNA) — Foreign Minister Zarif called on all lovers of Islam and Afghanistan to end any civil conflicts and unify against the terrorists who brutally attacked innocent school girls in Kabul.

_____ (2021-05-09). Toward An Abolitionist Approach To Anti-Asian Violence. popularresistance.org Atrocities targeting people and bodies we identify as our own tend to incite powerful feelings of exception. A shared sense of singular vulnerability and violation circulates virally, and the epidemiology of toxic intimacy with violence is simultaneously social and personal. The sheer quantity of casualties matters less than the bare fact of unexpected cruelty. Singularity and exception yield to righteous outrage, communal mobilization, and militant demand on surrounding authorities. Something must be done now. A famous few may issue bounties for individual culprits, with no regard for the collateral consequences…

sputniknews (2021-05-09). Remnants of Chinese Rocket Have Reportedly Re-Entered Earth's Atmosphere. sputniknews.com The body of the CZ-5B rocket has been tumbling above the Earth for several days, leaving scientists and observers to guess where the debris will land.

sputniknews (2021-05-09). Ghani Condemns Terrorist Attack on Girls' School in Kabul. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday called a bombing of a girls' school in the country's capital Kabul an act of terrorism and a crime against humanity, the deputy interior minister said.

sputniknews (2021-05-09). Death Toll From Kabul School Blasts Reportedly Rises to 63. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The death toll from Saturday's blasts near a girls' school in the Afghan capital of Kabul has reached 63, with more than 150 others wounded, media reported.

sputniknews (2021-05-09). China's CZ-5B Heavy-Lift Vehicle Re-entry Expected Over Mediterranean on Sunday. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The spent stage of China's Long March 5B (Chang Zheng 5B, or CZ-5B) rocket that launched the first module for the country's orbital station last month is expected to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere over the Mediterranean on Sunday, according to the latest estimates from the US Air Force.

sputniknews (2021-05-09). Maldivian Police Arrest Third Suspect in Attack on Ex-President Nasheed. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Maldives police said on Sunday that they had arrested a third person in connection with the attack on parliament speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed.

sputniknews (2021-05-09). Japanese Woman Suspected of Poisoning Her Husband Who 'Became Rich to Sleep With Beauties'. sputniknews.com A wealthy real estate mogul from Japan, Kosuke Nozaki, proudly claimed in his 2016 memoire that he "became rich to sleep with attractive women", cashing out some 3 billion yen to thousands of them before tying the knot in 2018 with a young beauty to have sex three times a day. That's what he claimed, at least.

Eurasia Review (2021-05-09). Cricket Bats Should Be Made From Bamboo Not Willow. eurasiareview.com Bamboo cricket bats are stronger, offer a better 'sweet spot' and deliver more energy to the ball than those made from traditional willow, tests conducted by the University of Cambridge show. Bamboo could, the study argues, help cricket to expand faster in poorer parts of the world and make the sport more environmentally friendly. | "The sound of leather on willow" may have delighted cricket lovers for generations but the sport should now consider making the blades of its bats with bamboo, say researchers from Cambridge's Centre for Natural Material Innovation. | Dr Darshil Shah and Ben Tinkler-Davies compared…

Eurasia Review (2021-05-09). Dinosaurs That Hunted In The Dark. eurasiareview.com Today's 10,000 species of birds live in virtually every habitat on Earth, but only a handful have adaptations enabling them to hunt active prey in the dark of night. Scientists have long wondered whether theropod dinosaurs – the group that gave rise to modern birds – had similar sensory adaptations. | A new study led by University of the Witwatersrand scientist, Professor Jonah Choiniere, sought to investigate how vision and hearing abilities of dinosaurs and birds compared. The international team of researchers used CT scanning and detailed measurements to collect information on the relative size of the eyes…

DMG (2021-05-09). Myanmar: Dozens Of Sittwe University Staff Dismissed For Joining Civil Disobedience Movement. eurasiareview.com Thirty-five instructors from Sittwe University in the Arakan State capital have been dismissed for joining the civil disobedience movement, according to a letter signed by Dr. Khin Maung Zaw, acting rector of the University. | The letter released on May 6 said those absent on May 3 without excuse were dismissed from that day onward. | A list of staff joining the CDM is being compiled and sent to the Ministry of Education daily, and the 35 teachers dismissed were included on the list, an official of Sittwe University told DMG. | "We have to send a list of teachers who are joining the CDM and not joining the CDM…

Kester Kenn Klomegah (2021-05-09). Russia Becomes Member Of International Organization For Migration — OpEd. eurasiareview.com After several negotiations, Russia finally becomes as a full-fledged member of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). It means that Russia has adopted, as a mandatory condition for obtaining membership, the constitution of the organization. It simply implies that by joining this international organization, it has given the country an additional status. | After the collapse of the Soviet, Russia has been interacting with the IOM since 1992 only as an observer. In the past years, Russia has shown interest in expanding this cooperation. The decision to admit Russia to the organization was approved at…

East Asia Forum (2021-05-09). Washington Is Playing A Losing Game With China — Analysis. eurasiareview.com By Chas W Freeman Jr* | America's latest policies toward China will prove self-defeating. US—China relations now exemplify Freeman's third law of strategic dynamics: for every hostile act there is a more hostile reaction. | Washington would be easy to spot in a game of chess. It's the player with no plan beyond an aggressive opening. That is no strategy at all. The failure to think several moves ahead matters. | Washington developed some well-founded complaints about Chinese economic behaviour — and launched a trade war. Washington was alarmed about China's potential to outcompete America — a…

ABR (2021-05-09). Mercosur Countries Sign Digital Trade Deal. eurasiareview.com By Wellton Máximo and Pedro Rafael Vilela | The countries making up Mercosur signed an electronic commerce agreement facilitating digital transactions and banning the creation of barriers on the segment. According to a note by Brazil's Economy and Foreign Ministries, the document deepens regional integration by regulating an ever more relevant topic in global trade. | The agreement represents a shared legal milestone in preventing the creation of possible obstacles to electronic trade among the four members of the bloc—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Among the agreed topics are the prohibition…

Eurasia Review (2021-05-09). US Navy Seizes Arms Shipment In North Arabian Sea. eurasiareview.com The US Navy said it seized an illicit arms shipment from a stateless dhow in international waters of the North Arabian Sea on May 6-7, 2021. | The cache of weapons included dozens of advanced Russian-made anti-tank guided missiles, thousands of Chinese Type 56 assault rifles, and hundreds of PKM machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades launchers, the US Navy said, adding that other weapon components included advanced optical sights. | In a statement, the Navy said that the USS Monterey and its embarked U.S. Coast Guard Advanced Interdiction Team (AIT) discovered the illicit cargo during a rout…

Kester Kenn Klomegah (2021-05-09). H.E. President John Mahama Appointed As AU High Representative For Somalia — OpEd. eurasiareview.com The Chairperson of the Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, has announced the appointment of H.E John Dramani Mahama, former President of the Republic of Ghana, as his High Representative to Somalia. | As the High Representative for Somalia's political track, President Mahama will work with the Somali stakeholders, to reach a mutually acceptable compromise towards an all-encompassing resolution for the holding of Somali elections in the shortest possible time. | In fulfilling his mandate, the High Representative will be supported by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to ensure that the mediation e…

BenarNews (2021-05-09). Philippines: Muslim Militants Pushed Out After Attacking Southern Town. eurasiareview.com By Jeoffrey Maitem and Mark Navales | Dozens of Filipino Muslim militants linked to the Islamic State attacked a southern Philippine town and engaged the military in a gunbattle Saturday until government troops drove them away, the military said. | The militants with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) group entered the town of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao province at dawn and took over the main public market, said Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar, the local military spokesman. | "Panicked civilians ran for safety and reported to the authorities and our military forces near the area were dispatched," Baldo…

UCAN (2021-05-09). Nepal: Christians Persecuted By Religious And Political Decree — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Rock Ronald Rozario | Christians in Nepal, the Himalayan Hindu-majority nation where believers of Christ have a long history of persecution, are facing fresh attempts to defame them and their faith. | In early April, Hindu nationalists circulated a forged document on social media that showed Christian groups have outlined a plan to cause ethnic rifts among Hindus to convert them. | The document, allegedly prepared by two leading ecumenical Christian groups — Nepal Christian Society (NCS) and National Churches Fellowship of Nepal (NCFN) — noted that Christian conversion campaigns cannot succeed u…

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2021-05-08: News Headlines

WSWS (2021-05-08). Fiji government scrambles to contain COVID-19 outbreak. wsws.org The emergence and rapid spread of the Indian COVID-19 variant in the southwest Pacific further demonstrates how vulnerable the world remains to the pandemic.

Yanis Iqbal (2021-05-08). Financialized Capitalism in India. dissidentvoice.org India — gripped by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic — has been endlessly witnessing desperate scrambles for hospital beds, the dire need for oxygen and mass cremation. Amid all this, the stock market is booming. In fact, Mumbai Sensex has signaled that bullish trends have been on the rise. Over the year ending …

sputniknews (2021-05-08). Vaccination Drive Smooth Sailing Affair in Delhi Despite Fight for Slots to Register – Video. sputniknews.com After holding a series of meetings over India's response to record daily surges in Covid cases, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month announced the opening up of vaccination for everyone above age 18 from 1 May.

Staff (2021-05-08). COVID-19 daily death toll in Iran stands at 283. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — The coronavirus pandemic claimed 283 lives in Iran over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry announced.

Staff (2021-05-08). Iran to import large number of Chinese Covid-19 vaccines. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Following the held talks between Iranian FM Zarif and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Iran is to import a large number of Covid-19 vaccines from China.

Staff (2021-05-08). "Covo-Pasteur", "Barakat" vaccine to hit market soon: Rouhani. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that two domestically-produced COVID-19 vaccines, 'Covo-Pasteur' and 'Covo-Barakat', will hit the domestic market in very near future.

WSWS (2021-05-08). Sri Lanka: Stop the criminal mishandling of the pandemic! Lockdown the country with full compensation to those affected! wsws.org The Rajapakse government's criminal policies have led to a new deadly surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lancet (2021-05-08). [Editorial] India's COVID-19 emergency. thelancet.com The scenes of suffering in India are hard to comprehend. As of May 4, more than 20 ∑2 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported, with a rolling average of 378‚Äà000 cases a day, together with more than 222‚Äà000 deaths, which experts believe are likely to be substantial underestimates. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and health workers are exhausted and becoming infected. Social media is full of desperate people (doctors and the public) seeking medical oxygen, hospital beds, and other necessities. Yet before the second wave of cases of COVID-19 began to mount in early March, I…

news.un (2021-05-08). What can the UN do to support India through its deadly COVID-19 surge? news.un.org The UN is at the forefront of efforts to help India extricate itself from the almost unimaginable scale of suffering its citizens are undergoing, as a result of a devastating wave of COVID-19 infections. Earlier this week, UN News spoke to the country chiefs based in India, for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund, to get their take on the crisis. Here are some key excerpts from the interviews.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2021-05-08). The Spoils of War: Afghanistan's Multibillion Dollar Heroin Trade. globalresearch.ca Since the US led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, the Golden Crescent opium trade has soared. According to the US media, this lucrative contraband is protected by Osama, the Taliban, not to mention, of course, the regional warlords, in defiance of the "international community".

Staff (2021-05-08). Taliban strongly condemns deadly explosions in W Kabul. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned today's deadly bomb blasts hit western Afghanistan capital Kabul on Sat. and blamed ISIL Takfiri terrorists as the main cause behind the explosions in the capital.

WSWS (2021-05-08). Indian medical staff indict Modi government, authorities for catastrophic mishandling of pandemic. wsws.org "A death due to oxygen shortages is not a coronavirus death but criminal social murder by the Modi government," an Indian doctor told the WSWS.

WSWS (2021-05-08). The Indian ruling elite's criminal response to the pandemic—a global catastrophe. wsws.org Whilst the mass of the population is condemned to want, hunger and death, a tiny minority gorge on wealth that would put the Mughals or even the more rapacious British colonial East India Company to shame.

No Nukes Action (2021-05-08). Tuesday 5/11: STOP The Madness-Speakout At Japanese Consulate Against Olympics In Japan During Pandemic. indybay.org San Francisco Japanese Consulate | 275 Battery St/California St. | San Francisco…

Zack Linly (2021-05-08). 'New Central Park Karen' Swipes Black Woman's Charger, Tells Cops She's Being 'Threatened' and 'Beaten.' Video Shows She Lied. theroot.com First, let me just say that I refuse to call this one a "Karen." The internet has already dubbed her the "New Central Park Karen"—meaning she's the uninspired sequel to

Eds. (2021-05-08). The Xinjiang genocide determination as agenda. mronline.org Because of the world's fundamental interconnectedness, the increasingly Cold War-like relations between The West and China have negative consequences for both systems and for the rest of the world. | May 8, 2021…

Staff (2021-05-08). Take Action! #SaveSheikhJarrah and Defend Jerusalem: Boycott Israel, Support Palestinian Resistance. samidoun.net As we approach the 73rd anniversary of the Nakba, the Zionist colonization of Palestine and the forced expulsion of Palestinians, the Nakba is continuing. This is apparent everywhere in Palestine, but perhaps is most clear in the heart of Jerusalem, Palestine's capital: in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan, where Palestinian families are being threatened with imminent expulsion from their homes and lands by the Israeli regime and its colonial settlers, as they refuse to concede their lives to racist Zionist colonialism. Palestinians in Jerusalem are under attack on multiple levels, defending their land, city and identity…

John Gilmore (2021-05-08). The Heat: China leads multilateralism talks at UN. america.cgtn.com The United Nations Security Council met in New York on Friday to discuss joint efforts to combat global challenges. The virtual gathering, chaired by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, sought to reaffirm support for multilateralism — nation's working together — and to …

Anonymous669 (2021-05-08). Suicide Drone Hit Large Base Hosting US Troops In Western Iraq. southfront.org Illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing | Early on May 8th, a suicide drone struck Ain al-Assad Air Base, where US are known to be deployed, in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar. | In an official statement, Colonel Wayne Marotto, a spokesman for the US-led coalition, said that an aircraft hangar was damaged as a result of the drone strike. The spokesman noted that there were no human losses."The attack is under investigation," Col. Marotto said. "Each attack against the GoI [Government of Iraq],…

Anonymous669 (2021-05-08). ISIS Executed Tribal Fighters In Egypt, Intelligence Operatives In Iraq (18+ Video, Photo). southfront.org File image. | ISIS terrorists has executed four men in Egypt and Iraq after accusing them of fighting or spying for their respective countries. | On May 7, the terrorist group's news agency, Amaq, released a video showing the execution of two men in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. According to the group's claims, the men were fighters in a tribal force loyal to the government. | Both men were shot in the head. ISIS claimed that the execution took place near the town of al-Amal to the southeast of the city of Arish. |

Anonymous103 (2021-05-08). Armed Militants Stormed Headquarters Of Libyan Interim Government. southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On May 7th, armed militants stormed headquarters of the Libyan Interim Government. They attacked the Corinthia Hotel in the Libyan capital Tripoli, where the Presidential Council met yesterday. | Presidential council spokeswoman Najwa Wahiba confirmed that armed men had stormed "one of the headquarters where the council meets." She also claimed that nobody from the council was in the building at the time as the body does not work on Fridays. | Later, a senior official at the pr…

Anonymous669 (2021-05-08). Greater Idlib: Clashes Reported Following Attack On Turkish Military Convoy. southfront.org Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi | Early on May 8, a convoy of the Turkish Armed Forces came under attack in the eastern countryside of Idlib in Syria's northwestern region. | The convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device while passing on a road linking the towns of Ma'arrat Mirin and Ram Hamadan. According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attack resulted in a number of injuries. | Opposition sourc…

Anonymous669 (2021-05-08). Al-Qaeda-Linked Terrorists Targeted Syrian Army In Southern Idlib With Improvised Cannon (Photos). southfront.org A patch of Ansar al-Tawhid, illustrative image. | On May 8, al-Qaeda-affiliated Ansar al-Tawhid targeted an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launcher of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the town of Maarrat Mukhs in the southern Idlib countryside. | Ansar al-Tawhid terrorists targeted the ATGM launcher with an improvised cannon known as

Anonymous669 (2021-05-08). Massacre In Kabul: At Least 40 Killed In Girl School Bombing (Video). southfront.org Screen grab from TOLO News video. | At least 40 people were killed on May 8 when three explosions rocked the Sayed ul Shuhada school to the west of the Afghan capital Kabul. | The first explosion was caused by a booby-trapped car. Later, two rockets landed near the school, which hosts mostly female students. | A spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Tariq Arian, said that 25 people were killed. However, Ghulam Dastagir Nazari, a spokesman for the Health Ministry, put the death toll at 46 people. Most of the victims…

Anonymous669 (2021-05-08). Massive Fire Broke Out Near Key Iranian Nuclear Reactor, Major Oil Export Port (Video). southfront.org Screen grab from one of the fire videos. | Late on May 7, a massive fire broke out in the Iranian city of Bushehr, where a nuclear plant, an oil port and a military naval base are located. | Residents of Bushehr were quick to upload footage of the fire, which spread near the entrance of the city's main port, to social media | According to the Fars News Agency, fifteen firefighters, six trucks and a tanker were mobilized to face the massive fire, which was put down within two hours. No human losses were reported. | T…

Anonymous007 (2021-05-08). Military Situation In Yemen On May 8, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On May 7, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 10 airstrikes on the Sarwah area | On May 7, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes on the Madghal area | On May 7, people in the Ansar Allah controlled areas held massive demonstrations on the occasion of Quds day in support of Palestine | On May 7, clashes between Ansar Allah an Saudi-led forces were reported in Asdas area | On May 8, Ansar Allah reportedly attacked Khamis Mushait with a drone | On May 8, clashes…

Anonymous103 (2021-05-08). Leading Yasen-M Nuclear Submarine Entered Service With Russian Navy. southfront.org Yasen-M class nuclear attack submarine Kazan | On May 7th, the nuclear submarine "Kazan" has been taken into service with Russian Navy, according to the information department of the Russian Defense Ministry. "Today in Severodvinsk at the Sevmash enterprise under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, a solemn ceremony of admission to the Navy of the fourth generation Kazan nuclear submarine (APC) of the Yasen-M project was held," the department reported. | On May 5, the…

Anonymous007 (2021-05-08). Military Situation In Syria On May 8, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On May 8, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 52 times: 24 — in Idlib province, 17 — in Latakia province, 9 — in Hama province, 2 — in Aleppo province | On May 7, SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in the Ariha area | On May 7, Turkish border guards reportedly killed a fisherman near Darkush town | On May 6, US forces carried out a military patrol near the town of Malekiyah | MORE O…

Staff (2021-05-08). Islamic Ummah urged to stand by inhabitants of al-Quds. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — A senior member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement called on the Islamic Ummah to stand by the residents of al-Quds and Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Palestine.

Staff (2021-05-08). VIDEO: Zionists attack Palestine worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — The Zionists attacked the worshipers last night with sound bombs, tear gas and plastic bullets while the Palestinians were praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Brenda Norrell (2021-05-08). Divest in Israel's Elbit on Tohono O'odham Nation and in Palestine. indybay.org The 'Divest in Elbit' panel today reveals the surveillance and weapons of the Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, targeting Tohono O'odham and Palestinians, by way of U.S. contracts and funding, violating human rights and international law.

South Front (2021-05-08). Video: The Al Qaeda Affiliated "Moderate Opposition" in Northern Syria. globalresearch.ca Visit and follow us on Instagram at @crg_globalresearch. As soon as …

Ben Norton (2021-05-08). White Helmets corruption scandal deepens: Dutch gov't investigated parent org for fraud, but covered it up. thegrayzone.com The Netherlands investigated fraud by the Mayday Rescue Foundation, which funded the Syrian White Helmets with over $120 million in Western government contracts. But top Dutch officials covered up the corruption. The decade-long dirty war on Syria proved to be a cash cow for some of the most prominent US and UK regime-change operatives. Western government contractors got hundreds of millions of dollars to run schemes to destabilize Damascus —— and some of them took a cut for themselves, profiting …

Noam Chomsky (2021-05-08). United States Withdraws From Afghanistan? Not Really. zcomm.org The U.S. will "withdraw," but will also leave behind its assets to checkmate China and Russia. These geopolitical considerations eclipse any concern for the Afghan people…

The Lancet (2021-05-08). [Editorial] India's COVID-19 emergency. thelancet.com The scenes of suffering in India are hard to comprehend. As of May 4, more than 20 ∑2 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported, with a rolling average of 378‚Äà000 cases a day, together with more than 222‚Äà000 deaths, which experts believe are likely to be substantial underestimates. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and health workers are exhausted and becoming infected. Social media is full of desperate people (doctors and the public) seeking medical oxygen, hospital beds, and other necessities. Yet before the second wave of cases of COVID-19 began to mount in early March, I…

Anonymous669 (2021-05-08). Suicide Drone Hit Large Base Hosting US Troops In Western Iraq. southfront.org Illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing | Early on May 8th, a suicide drone struck Ain al-Assad Air Base, where US are known to be deployed, in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar. | In an official statement, Colonel Wayne Marotto, a spokesman for the US-led coalition, said that an aircraft hangar was damaged as a result of the drone strike. The spokesman noted that there were no human losses."The attack is under investigation," Col. Marotto said. "Each attack against the GoI [Government of Iraq],…

Anonymous669 (2021-05-08). Suicide Drone Hit Large Base Hosting US Troops In Western Iraq. southfront.org Illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing | Early on May 8th, a suicide drone struck Ain al-Assad Air Base, where US are known to be deployed, in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar. | In an official statement, Colonel Wayne Marotto, a spokesman for the US-led coalition, said that an aircraft hangar was damaged as a result of the drone strike. The spokesman noted that there were no human losses."The attack is under investigation," Col. Marotto said. "Each attack against the GoI [Government of Iraq], KRG [t…

Pankaj Kumar Sain* (2021-05-08). Naxalism: The Red Terror In India — Analysis. eurasiareview.com Introduction: | The word Naxal comes from the village of Naxalbari in West Bengal, which was the site of the Naxalite peasant revolt in 1967. Naxalists believe in uprooting the discriminative system of haves and have not and create a society of equality based on the ideology of Karl Marx. Its epicenter was in West Bengal but rapidly it spread into other states of India such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana through the activities of underground groups like the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Also Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district is highly affected by the Naxalists. | Types o…

sputniknews (2021-05-08). WHO Says Up to 194 Members to Decide on Taiwanese Observership at World Health Assembly. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON, May 8 (Sputnik) – It is up to the 194 member states of the World Health Organization to decide on whether to extend an invitation to Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly, according to WHO.

sputniknews (2021-05-08). Blast Near School in Kabul Reportedly Leaves At Least 40 Dead, Dozens Injured. sputniknews.com This comes after US and NATO ground forces started withdrawing from Afghanistan on 1 May in accordance with an announcement made by President Biden last month.

Edward Corcoran* (2021-05-08). Re-Engaging Russia — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Russian realignment offers the biggest opportunity to dramatically transform the international situation in the immediate future. A cooperative relationship between Russia and the Industrialized World could be a highly visible example of democratic development, strongly undercutting Chinese promotion of autocracy and minimizing cyber intrusions. It would also significantly reduce requirements for military forces, including a potential for major reductions in nuclear weapons. Diplomatically, collaboration with Russia could help resolve confrontations in Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ukraine, Belarus, Syria and Myanma…

news.un (2021-05-08). Kabul school bombing condemned by senior UN officials. news.un.org Saturday's deadly bombing outside a high school in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, has been condemned by leading UN officials. The attack led to the deaths of at least 30 people, including several schoolchildren.

Dave DeCamp (2021-05-08). NATO Looking to Support the Afghan Military After Withdrawal. news.antiwar.com As NATO is pulling troops out of Afghanistan, "The drawdown of the NATO troops, the end of the Resolute Support Mission, is not the end to our partnership with Afghanistan, it's actually opening up a new chapter and we are now looking into how we can continue to provide support," "We are lookin…

WSWS (2021-05-08). Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand. wsws.org Korea: Renault Samsung autoworkers locked out; Bangladeshi transport workers demand food assistance; Australian broadband network technicians walk off.

Robert S. Becker (2021-05-08). Appalling surge of anti-Asian violence—with historic roots. nationofchange.org If ferocity against law-abiding citizens doesn't quality as anti-American terrorism, the term needs rethinking.

sputniknews (2021-05-08). Magnitude 3.7 Earthquake Hits Southern New Zealand, Geological Agency Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A magnitude 3.7 earthquake was registered in southern New Zealand on Saturday morning, local geological agency GeoNet said.

sputniknews (2021-05-08). Happy-the-Elephant Makes Way Into New York Court Seeking Release From Zoo Captivity, Creates History. sputniknews.com Back in 1971, a female Asian elephant born in the wilderness was reportedly imported to the US from Thailand. The now defunct drive-through natural park Lion Country Safari, Inc. in California bought Happy-the-elephant for $800 along with six other calves and named them all after fairy tale princess Snow White's dwarf friends.

IDN (2021-05-08). Busybodies Outside The Gates — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Azu Ishiekwene* | Bill and Melinda Gates had barely finished saying the "D" word when all kinds of marriage counsellors and grief-mongers besieged social media with suggestions of why they think the couple is breaking up. | The sentiments, ranging from the probable to the bizarre, with a sprinkling of fictional tales in between, have defied the couple's request for privacy. Misery loves company. Some accounts even make you wonder if the composers might have had a bedside view of the 27-year-old marriage. | A break-up is a messy thing. You don't have to experience it to know. But for all those who are outsid…

Eurasia Review (2021-05-08). Exploring Functionality In Aquatic Ecosystems. eurasiareview.com The functions of water-dominated ecosystems can be considerably influenced and changed by hydrological fluctuation. The varying states of redox-active substances are of crucial importance here. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have discovered this, in cooperation with partners from the Universities of Tàºbingen and Bristol and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle-Leipzig. They present their discovery in the journal Nature Geoscience. The new study enables a more precise understanding of the biogeochemical processes that contribute to the degradation of pollutants and the reducti…

Murray Hunter (2021-05-08). The Failed Promise Of Malaysia's New Economic Policy — Analysis. eurasiareview.com The affirmative action program should have embraced entrepreneurship, not cronyism: | In 1971, still smarting from disastrous race riots in 1969 that are believed to have taken the lives of hundreds of people on both sides, Malaysia's government implemented a revolutionary affirmative action program for its ethnic Malay majority to attempt to bring them up to the commanding economic heights occupied by the minority ethnic Chinese. | This is the fiftieth year the so-called New Economic Policy has been in existence. It was supposed to end in success in 1990. But today the NEP's goals remain unmet and ins…

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