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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…

2021-02-12: News Headlines

Vijay Prashad (2021-02-12). The three apartheids of our times (money, medicine, food). mronline.org In the early months after the World Health Organisation announced the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian novelist Arundhati Roy wrote of her hope that the pandemic would be a 'portal, a gateway between one world and the next'.

M.K. Bhadrakumar (2021-02-12). U.S. reboots Quad in unseemly hurry. mronline.org The Japanese news agency Kyodo reported from Washington Sunday quoting "a source" that the Biden Administration had proposed to New Delhi, Tokyo and Canberra the idea of holding an online summit meeting of the leaders of the "Quad".

Shimbun Akahata (2021-02-12). As COVID drags on, Japanese Communists demand relief to save jobs. peoplesworld.org TOKYO—Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira is demanding that the government of Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide provide up-to-date information and stronger financial support in order to alleviate people's anxieties caused by the prolonged pandemic situation. Koike made remarks at a Feb. 2 press conference in the building of the Diet, Japan's parliament, when asked …

Mohammad Ayesh (2021-02-12). Arabic press review: Egypt's opposition establishes new coalition. middleeasteye.net Arabic press review: Egypt's opposition establishes new coalition | Also threats against Hezbollah's opponents in Lebanon have been escalating and a Palestinian man was forced to demolish his own home in Jerusalem | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 11: 33 | A new opposition coalition has been launched 10 years after Egyptians launched their uprising on 25 January 2011 and ousted President Hosni Mubarak (AFP)…

MEE staff (2021-02-12). 'We want real justice': Loujain al-Hathloul's family slams conditions of release. middleeasteye.net 'We want real justice': Loujain al-Hathloul's family slams conditions of release | Since Loujain's sentence was only suspended, not pardoned, Saudi Arabia retains right to return her to prison for any perceived criminal activity | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 16: 27 | A woman viewing a tweet posted by sister of Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul, Lina, in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on 10 February (AFP/File photo) | Af…

Ragip Soylu (2021-02-12). 'An anti-Turkey alliance': Ankara slams Greece for hosting 'hostile' meeting with regional countries. middleeasteye.net 'An anti-Turkey alliance': Ankara slams Greece for hosting 'hostile' meeting with regional countries | Turkey brands Athens meeting between Greece and six other nations an attempt to form an alliance against it | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 10: 28 | Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (L), speaks with Emirati minister Reem Ebrahim Al-Hashimy (R) and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud (C) on 21 F…

The Socialist Program (2021-02-12). The Real Story: Blood on the Tracks — A Vietnam Veteran's Battle Against Empire. liberationnews.org On this episode TSP is joined by Brian Willson, a Vietnam veteran, writer, lawyer and a peace activist.

Peoples Dispatch (2021-02-12). Police repress youth demonstration demanding jobs in India. peoplesdispatch.org Leftist youth who were demanding employment were brutally repressed in India's West Bengal on February 11. A state-wide shutdown was organized condemning the crackdown on February 12 by Left parties.

Peoples Dispatch (2021-02-12). Hearings continue against anti-terror law in the Philippines. peoplesdispatch.org On Tuesday, February 9, the second day of the hearings on Philippines' controversial Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), the Supreme Court continued to receive oral arguments from the petitioners. Lawyers representing 37 petitioners against the law focused their attack on the new law's potential to do away with protections that were earlier afforded to prisoners and the accused. | According to

Online News Editor (2021-02-12). Asia celebrates Lunar New Year, among slightly somber celebrations over Covid-19. laprensalatina.com Millions of people celebrated the coming of the Lunar New Year on Friday in Asia, as festivities were underway to welcome the year of the Ox. Celebrations this year were slightly more subdued, but not as muted as 2020, in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which has also halted the millions of habitual travel …

Staff (2021-02-12). Headlines for February 12, 2021. democracynow.org House Managers Rest Their Case in Donald Trump's Senate Impeachment Trial, Biden Blasts Trump's Failures to Prepare for Vaccinations as U.S. COVID-19 Death Toll Tops 475,000, As U.S. Secures 200 Million More Doses, Concern Grows Over Vaccine Inequity, NYTimes: Trump Was Far Sicker from COVID-19 Than Previously Reported, Five Killed in Attack on U.S. Convoy in Afghanistan's Capital, Lawmakers Plead With President Biden to End "Catastrophic Impact" of U.S. Sanctions, U.S. Has Sold Over a Million Barrels of Iranian Oil Seized As Part of Sanctions, China Bans BBC's World News Channel, Trump's "Remain in Mexico" Progr…

Shahbazz Afzal (2021-02-12). Is America on a Collision Course with China over Iran? globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). A mobile version is forthcoming. | *** | The visit of Chinese President Xi …

Ramzy Baroud (2021-02-12). The Russian Alternative: How Moscow is Capitalizing on US Retreat in Palestine, Israel. counterpunch.org Israeli anxiety was palpable when it was reported that Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was not contacted by the new American President, Joe Biden, for days after the latter's inauguration. While much is being read into Biden's decision, including Washington's lack of enthusiasm to return to the 'peace process', Moscow is generating much attention as

MEE staff (2021-02-12). Palestinian citizens of Israel protest against police failure to tackle gun violence. middleeasteye.net Palestinian citizens of Israel protest against police failure to tackle gun violence | Protests broke out across Israel as Palestinians decried the lack of action on the spread of illegal weapons and gang crime in Arab communities | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 12: 31 | Palestinian citizens of Israel protested in Umm al-Fahm against Israel Police inaction to tackle crime for the fifth consecutive week, 5 February (Social…

Adam Khalil (2021-02-12). As Israel decries ICC investigation, Hamas readies its defence. middleeasteye.net As Israel decries ICC investigation, Hamas readies its defence | International Criminal Court's prosecutor has warned that Palestinian factions will be probed for war crimes and abuses | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 11: 30 | The Iron Dome anti-missile system fires an interceptor missile as rockets are launched from Gaza towards Israel near the southern city of Sderot (Reuters) | In stark contrast to Israel, the Pal…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). Over 3.5M people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Turkey. yenisafak.com The number of people in Turkey who were vaccinated against the coronavirus crossed the 3.5 million mark, the country's health minister said on Friday.Vaccination for people over 65 years started as of Friday, Fahrettin Koca added on Twitter.Turkey began its mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Jan. 14, starting with healthcare workers along with top officials to encourage public confidence in the vaccines.Since last December, Turkey has also been implementing curfew on weeknights and a full weekend curfew to curb the spread of the virus.As of Thursday, Turkey registered a total of 27,187 deaths from COVID-19, wh…

Staff (2021-02-12). Ralph Nader: Biden Must Hold Boeing Accountable for Deaths Due to Faulty Planes. truthout.org Legendary consumer advocate Ralph Nader says the U.S. is experiencing a "corporate crime wave," and that the Trump administration's $2.5 billion settlement with Boeing over the manufacturer's faulty 737 MAX jets amounts to a "slap on the wrist." Boeing's faulty planes were involved in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, including Nader's 24-year-old grandniece Samya Stumo. Nader says the Biden Justice Department should reopen the previous administration's settlement and…

Staff (2021-02-12). Where Are the Witnesses? Ralph Nader Says Democrats' Impeachment Case Is "Prescription for Defeat" democracynow.org As the historic Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump continues, we speak with longtime consumer advocate, corporate critic and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who says Democrats have set themselves up for defeat by rushing proceedings and failing to call witnesses — including Trump himself. "The narrow approach of the articles of impeachment keep the Democrats from having a full hand," says Nader. "They have like 10 arrows in their quiver and they're using one or two."

Staff (2021-02-12). Ralph Nader on Corporate Crime, Holding Boeing Accountable for 737 MAX Deaths & Biden's First Weeks. democracynow.org Legendary consumer advocate Ralph Nader says the U.S. is experiencing a "corporate crime wave," and that the Trump administration's $2.5 billion settlement with Boeing over the manufacturer's faulty 737 MAX jets amounts to a "slap on the wrist." Boeing's faulty planes were involved in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, including Nader's 24-year-old grandniece Samya Stumo. Nader says the Biden Justice Department should reopen the previous administration's settlement and hold Boeing fully accountable. "This is just another example of giant companies getting away with their corporate criminal…

MEE staff (2021-02-12). Biden's refusal to call Israeli PM Netanyahu sparks questions over leaders' relationship. middleeasteye.net Biden's refusal to call Israeli PM Netanyahu sparks questions over leaders' relationship | In a break from past presidential procedures, Joe Biden has yet to reach out to Israel's prime minister, more than three weeks into his presidency | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 19: 04 | Then-Vice President Joe Biden next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during joint statements in the prime minister's office in Jerusale…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-12). Yemen: UN expects over two million children to go hungry or starve in 2021. middleeasteye.net Yemen: UN expects over two million children to go hungry or starve in 2021 | Over a million pregnant or breastfeeding women also expected to suffer from extreme malnutrition this year | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 10: 30 | millions of Yemenis are on the brink of famine with the economy destroyed, schools and hospitals barely functioning, and tens of thousands killed (AFP) | About 400,000 children un…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-12). Oman content with current Israel relationship, foreign minister says. middleeasteye.net Oman content with current Israel relationship, foreign minister says | Badr al-Busaidi also says Muscat is ready to help with rescuing Iran's 2015 nuclear deal | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 08: 24 | Busaidi was appointed as foreign minister in August after Oman's new Sultan Haitham delegated the position away from his own portfolio (AFP) | Oman is satisfied with its current relationship with Israel,…

Brian Terrell (2021-02-12). Ending the Other War in Yemen. counterpunch.org On February 4, in his first major foreign policy address, President Joe Biden announced, "we are ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arms sales." Speaking of the Saudi-led coalition that has been at war in Yemen since 2015, creating what he called "a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe," Biden declared "This war has to end."

Jonathan Cook (2021-02-12). The Guardian Revealed Its True Face in Sacking a Columnist for Criticising US Military Aid to Israel. counterpunch.org The revelation that a leftwing journalist, Nathan J Robinson, has been sacked as a Guardian US columnist for criticising Israel on Twitter — and that he was pressured to keep quiet about it by Guardian editors — should come as no surprise. He is only the latest in a long line of journalists, myself included,

Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (2021-02-12). Ending the Forever Wars: Phyllis Bennis on Afghanistan, Hyun Lee on Korea. fair.org Wall Street Journal ( This week on CounterSpin: Media are soberly

MEE staff (2021-02-12). US lawmakers urge Biden to press Iran on human rights, state-sponsored 'terrorism'. middleeasteye.net US lawmakers urge Biden to press Iran on human rights, state-sponsored 'terrorism' | More than 100 lawmakers call on President Joe Biden to 'remain firm' and hold Iranian government accountable for rights violations and regional destabilisation | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 19: 59 | A bipartisan group of US legislators has urged US President Joe Biden to pressure Iran on its human rights violations while working to nego…

Harun al-Aswad (2021-02-12). Damascus threatens to seize property from displaced Syrians over conscription fees. middleeasteye.net Damascus threatens to seize property from displaced Syrians over conscription fees | Government has introduced legal amendments to seize assets of Syrian refugees who fail to pay large sums for skipping conscription | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 10: 01 | A Syrian army soldier uses a detector to find and clear landmines in a field at a pistachio orchard in the village of Maan, north of Hama (AFP) | The Syr…

Areeb Ullah (2021-02-12). Syrian militants urged to release US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem. middleeasteye.net Syrian militants urged to release US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem | Idlib-based reporter was arrested six months ago after raising concerns about alleged torture of prisoners by HTS | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 15: 55 | Bilal Abdul Kareem has reported from opposition-held Syria since 2014 (Screengrab) | A leading media freedom monitor has called for the release of US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem, six months aft…

Andrew J. Bacevich (2021-02-12). America after Trump must Confront MLK's 'Giant Triplets of Racism, Extreme Materialism, and Militarism'. juancole.com By Andrew Bacevich | — ( Tomdispatch.com) — When Martin Luther King preached his famous sermon "Beyond Vietnam" at Riverside Church in New York City in April 1967, I don't recall giving his words a second thought. Although at the time I was just up the Hudson River attending West Point, his call for a …

Andrew Bacevich (2021-02-12). When Poisons Curdle: Beyond Donald Trump. counterpunch.org When Martin Luther King preached his famous sermon "Beyond Vietnam" at Riverside Church in New York City in April 1967, I don't recall giving his words a second thought. Although at the time I was just up the Hudson River attending West Point, his call for a "radical revolution in values" did not resonate with

Medea Benjamin, Ariel Gold (2021-02-12). Biden Should Stop Payment on U.S. Funds to Sisi's Egypt. counterpunch.org Under Donald Trump's presidency, Egypt, as well as Saudi Arabia, Israel, the UAE, and other repressive regimes, had virtually free reign to commit unchecked human rights abuses without worry that they might be chastised or lose U.S. diplomatic and financial support. But when Joe Biden won the 2020 election, President Sisi of Egypt started to

Online News Editor (2021-02-12). Modi hardens nationalist stance amid pressure on Twitter over criticism. laprensalatina.com By David Asta Alares New Delhi, Feb 12 (efe-epa).- The recent support offered by celebrities like Rihanna and Greta Thunberg on Twitter to the Indian farmers' months-long protests against liberalization of agriculture has raised the heckles of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which has alleged that there is an international conspiracy to defame the country. …

Online News Editor (2021-02-12). Pakistan approves emergency use of Chinese Covid vaccine CanSino. laprensalatina.com Islamabad,Feb 12 (efe-epa).- Pakistan has authorized the emergency use of the anti-Covid vaccine developed by Chinese pharma company CanSino, an official told EFE on Friday, weeks after authorities began a vaccination campaign using the vaccine produced by another Chinese company Sinopharm. The Prime Minister's special assistant on national health, Faisal Sultan, confirmed to EFE that …

yenisafak (2021-02-12). Turkey reports over 7,500 new coronavirus cases. yenisafak.com Turkey on Thursday reported 7,590 additional coronavirus cases, including 660 symptomatic patients, according to the Health Ministry.The country's case tally is over 2.5 million, while the nationwide death toll has reached 27,187, with 94 fatalities over the past day.As many as 7,811 more patients in the country won the battle against the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to over 2.45 million.More than 31.1 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in Turkey to date, with 130,313 since Wednesday.The latest figures show that the number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition stands at 1,256.On…

Alan Macleod (2021-02-12). American Tech Giants Are Partnering with India's Strongman Leader to Crackdown on Dissent. mintpressnews.com Twitter's actions are quite a departure from 2019 when it delayed a network upgrade in Iran at the behest of the US government for fear that it could interfere with anti-government demonstrations.

yenisafak (2021-02-12). Turkey's Cappadocia region hotspot for Valentine's Day. yenisafak.com Couples are flocking to Turkey's picturesque Cappadocia region for Valentine's Day getaways, with occupancy rates at local accommodation topping 80% for this weekend, including the big day, Feb. 14.Cappadocia offers guests fabulous holiday opportunities with its unique natural, historical and cultural richness, tailor made for special couples' weekends.Abdullah Inal, a local tourism official, told Anadolu Agency that after quiet months due to the pandemic, the increased bookings for Valentine's Day have been welcome, and stressed the steps taken for guests' safety.Cappadocia uses Turkey's groundbreaking Safe Tour…

Ahmed Abdulkareem (2021-02-12). This Is Yemen After Biden Declared an End To American Support for the War. mintpressnews.com The Biden administration sparked a sense of hope around the world that the war on Yemen could finally be over. For those on the ground though, the bombs keep falling, food is scarce and hope is in short supply.

Zach Conti (2021-02-12). Global Economic Recovery, Debt, Climate, Vaccines Top G7 Finance Agenda. indybay.org Japan Says Accessing Global Reserve Funds Discussed…

Susan Price (2021-02-12). NATO again goes to war against Kurdistan. greenleft.org.au Turkey has opened a new front in its ongoing war of annihilation against the Kurdish liberation movement, writes Marcel Cartier.

Tom Anderson (2021-02-12). Israeli army repeatedly destroys Palestinian Bedouin village. thecanary.co On This was the third time in just one week that soldiers had come to demolish homes in Humsa. The de…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). Turkish museum exhibits 2,600-year-old perfume bottles. yenisafak.com A collection of 2,600-year-old perfume bottles is on display in Izmir, on the Aegean coast of Turkey, through February.The Izmir Archaeology Museum showcases priceless artifacts being preserved in its warehouse every month as part of a project called You Will See What You Can't See.With a 2,800-year-old princess belt from the Urartian age exhibited in January, February hosts storage vessels known as Attic red-figure squat lekythos.The potteries which were produced by the red-figure technique in the ancient Greece and used as oil and perfume containers, were found to be processed in the Potters Bazaar in Athens 2,…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). Turkish cemetery in Sofia to be restored. yenisafak.com The Turkish Embassy in Bulgaria and the grand mufti's office in the country will launch a joint initiative to restore a historical Turkish cemetery in the capital Sofia.Turkey's Ambassador in Sofia Aylin Sekizkok and the Grand Mufti of Bulgaria Muslims Mustafa Alis Haci visited the cemetery, also known as "Turkish plot (No. 42)," in the Orlandovtsi district of Sofia.The "Turkish plot (No. 42)" is part of the central cemetery in Sofia, according to the grand mufti's office.Sekizkok and Haci agreed that the cemetery, where Ottoman Sultan Murat V's daughter Fatma Sultan is also buried, need renovation.Speaking to An…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). EU Parliament calls for ban on arms sale to Saudi, UAE. yenisafak.com The European Parliament on Thursday called on EU member states to ban arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the UAE over violations of human rights in Yemen.A joint motion adopted by the European Parliament recalled Germany's arms sale ban to Saudi Arabia and Italy's ban to UAE and Saudi Arabia. Lawmakers said some EU countries are also planning to join the ban while others continue arms sale to these countries and violate the common stance of the EU Council.The European Parliament also welcomed the US decision to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia and to suspend the transfer of F-35 jets to the UAE.Lawmakers also called on…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). At least 12 Iran-backed terrorists killed in airstrike in Syria. yenisafak.com At least 12 Iranian-backed terrorists fighting with the Bashar al-Assad regime were killed in an airstrike conducted by US-led anti-Daesh coalition forces in eastern Syria, sources said Thursday.Warplanes targeted a convoy of terrorist groups in Deir ez-Zor province.Pipelines and trade routes from Iraq and Jordan pass through the province.The terrorists are under the command of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.With the help of Russia and Iranian-backed militias, the central and the western areas of Deir ez-Zor fell to the regime after Daesh terrorists retreated from the region.The majority of Iranian-back…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). Turkey's December industrial output growth beats G20 countries. yenisafak.com With posting the largest rise in industrial production in December 2020, Turkey left behind all G20 countries, the country's industry and technology minister said on Friday."Solid rise in industrial output in the last quarter of 2020 proves that Turkey will be one of the few countries to close out the year with a positive gross domestic product (GDP) growth," Mustafa Varank said on Twitter.His comments came after the Turkish Statistical Institute released figures on the country's industrial output.The industrial production index in December 2020 increased 1.3% on a monthly basis and 9% on an annual basis.The figu…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). Turkey's specialized free zones to attract investments. yenisafak.com "More RD activities will be carried out, a significant level of intra-sector interaction will be ensured, and there will be a concentration of qualified human resources in those zones," Ruhsar Pekcan told a meeting in the capital Ankara touting the zones.Noting that the share of high-tech products in Turkey's total exports is 3.4% while the figure in free zones is nearly three times that, at 9%, Pekcan said specialized free zones aim to boost those rates. ÔªøThe groundwork for Turkey's next-generation specialized free zone model was laid in a January 2020 presidential decree."With this model, we…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). At least 38 PKK terror suspects arrested across Turkey. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces arrested 38 people over their alleged links to the PKK terror group, officials said on Friday.Some 13 of the suspects were arrested when police conducted raids at different addresses in the northwestern Kocaeli province.Organizational documents and digital materials related to the terror group were seized in the operation.Also, commando teams of Turkish gendarmerie forces in the southern Osmaniye province seized a cache of ammunition belonging to the PKK terror group in a shelter in Mt. Amanos.Meanwhile, provincial gendarmerie forces in the southeastern Mardin province seized arms, ammunit…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). Turkish-American group slams US Senate letter on Turkey. yenisafak.com The US-based Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) said Thursday it is "appalled" by a letter by 50 US senators that characterizes the Turkish government as "authoritarian administration and violators of Human Rights.""Turkey's government was determined by a free and fair election by all citizens regardless of their background," senior names of the committee said in a statement. "The Turkish people made it clear that no one can temper with their future when they took to streets and resisted a coup attempt on July 15th, 2016. The Turkish people made it clear to the world that they value their democra…

Jonathan Cook (2021-02-12). The Guardian revealed its true face in sacking a columnist for criticizing US military aid to Israel. zcomm.org We must fight back. We need to understand that old corporate media like the Guardian are not an ally to the left, they are the enemy…

Online News Editor (2021-02-12). Protests over teenager's rape-murder, travel permit law rock Nepal. laprensalatina.com Kathmandu, Feb 12 (efe-epa).- Hundreds of protesters, most of them women, on Friday took to the streets of Kathmandu to protest the recent rape and murder of an adolescent girl alongside demonstrations against a bill that seeks to make it obligatory for Nepali women under the age of 40 to produce special permits for traveling …