(2022-02-12). [Comment] Offline: Complacency threatens progress against COVID-19. thelancet.com Hans Kluge, WHO's Regional Director for Europe, has been reported as saying that European nations could soon be entering a "long period of tranquillity" as the pandemic abates. Pointing out that mortality from COVID-19 seemed to be plateauing, he suggested the continent was approaching a "plausible endgame" and an "enduring peace". As WHO's chief spokesperson for the 53 countries that make up his regional responsibility, Kluge was no doubt seeking to strike an optimistic and encouraging note. But it is disappointing that he took such a narrow geographical perspective about a global pandemic.
(2022-02-12). Fossil Fuel Companies and Their Mouthpieces Offer Net-Zero Logic on Climate Change. independentmediainstitute.org Everywhere around us there is evidence of climate change, from the increase in winter storms such as New England's late January blizzard, to California's recent record-breaking winter heat wave. Meanwhile, the world's biggest oil and gas companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, and BP, whose products directly fuel global warming, have done little …
(2022-02-12). Seventy-Seven Years Ago, U.S. and Russia Signed Historic Agreement at Yalta. covertactionmagazine.com With tensions between the U.S. and Russia at historic levels and threat of a hot war breaking out in Ukraine, …
(2022-02-12). Portland city workers warn: 'Don't force a strike'. workers.org 
Portland, Oregon Workers at Portland's Bureau of Development Services have been working without a contract for a year and a half. On Feb. 5, they held a rally and march of over 150 workers to demand that bosses and City Council agree to provide fair wages and respectful working conditions. . . . |
(2022-02-12). Department of Homeland Security leaks security bulletin warning of far-right "trucker" protest culminating in occupation of Washington D.C. wsws.org Promoted by Fox and far-right politicians, the goal of the nascent trucker convoy is to rally fascists and militia members to abolish the few remaining COVID mitigation measures and occupy Washington D.C. sometime in March.
(2022-02-12). Australian defence minister accuses Labor Party of "appeasing" China. wsws.org The attempt to whip up a wartime atmosphere flows from the government's deep crisis and Australia's frontline role in the US-led preparations for conflict with China.
(2022-02-12). Blasphemy: How Many Circles of Hell are there for the Elite? dissidentvoice.org 
War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. ‚Äï Smedley Butler, War is a Racket: The …
(2022-02-12). US accelerates troop deployments as Biden threatens "world war" with Russia. wsws.org Washington and its NATO allies are concocting a strategy to provoke a war with Russia over Ukraine under conditions where they can also try to blame Russia for it.
(2022-02-12). New Zealand joins diplomatic offensive against Russia amid escalating war build-up. wsws.org The Labour-led government, the foreign policy establishment and a layer of pseudo-lefts have lined up with the escalating imperialist operation against Russia.
(2022-02-11). Forget Diplomacy… Russia Should Shun UK's Toxic Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. strategic-culture.org Russia should not give such people an opportunity to insult with their provocative agenda. | Britain's Foreign Minister Liz Truss was given a cool reception in Moscow this week. The guarded attitude is understandable for Truss has shown no respect to Russia or any attempt at genuine diplomacy. Her boorish warmongering and arrogant conduct should have been dealt with by denying her entry to Russia. | Granted, in the world of diplomacy there are supposed to be always open doors and it is recommended that uttering the word "no" is forbidden. So, one could argue that the Russian government was obliged to receive Brit…
(2022-02-11). Beijing Winter Olympics: Front line in new cold war on China — with Carl Zha. multipolarista.com With a diplomatic boycott by Western governments, corporate media propaganda has demonized the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. China expert Carl Zha discusses the new cold war.
(2022-02-11). "Thank You for Hearing Our Afghan Pain" dissidentvoice.org During visits to Kabul, Afghanistan, over the past decade, I particularly relished lingering over breakfasts on chilly winter mornings with my young hosts who were on their winter break from school. Seated on the floor, wearing coats and hats and draped with blankets, we'd sip piping hot green tea as we shared fresh, warm wheels …
(2022-02-11). Minister for Interior: Colombia Continues Attempting to Destabilize Venezuela. orinocotribune.com Venezuelan Minister for Internal Relations, Justice and Peace, General Remigio Ceballos, has reiterated his complaints regarding the involvement of the Colombian government in plans which seek to destabilize Venezuela. | His statement was made via Twitter in the wake of a number of operations which have been carried out in recent days by law enforcement agencies and the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) to neutralize criminal gangs, eradicate laboratories and drug crops in Venezuelan border territories, and expel what are known as the Armed Drug Trafficking Colombian Terrorist Groups (TANCOL) from Venezuela…
(2022-02-11). Libyan parliament elects Fathi Bashagha as new prime minister, Dbeibah refuses to resign. peoplesdispatch.org The election of the new prime minister may widen the political rift in Libya and prove detrimental to the UN-led peace process designed to end the decade-long war in country which started with the NATO-led invasion of 2011…
(2022-02-11). Ukrainian fascists say they will sabotage any peace deal with Russia. peoplesworld.org 
While much of the world struggles to find a way out of the Ukraine crisis, influential fascist groups inside and outside the government there are vowing to stop any peace deal with Russia that they don't like. Even more worrisome is that the Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky is trying to use its …
(2022-02-11). Will Scathing Amnesty Apartheid Report Lead To Change In Israel's Criminal Practices? popularresistance.org The reality that this report has brought forward opens doors to a much more aggressive anti-apartheid campaign than we have seen so far. When Zionist organizations hold events, they do so in support of Israel; they encourage others to support Israel financially and politically. These organizations need to reserve conventions centers and hotels, the corporate offices of which should have copies of the Amnesty report on their desks alongside a demand that they refuse to cater to Zionist organizations. | According to the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, "[i]nterna…
(2022-02-11). How A Surprise Fed Rate Hike Announcement Could Send Stocks And Crypto Into A Downward Spiral. moguldom.com Despite the hedge-against-inflation hype promoted by some crypto holders, Bitcoin has been correlated with the price action of traditional stocks and some investors worry that a surprise Fed rate hike announcement could send both into a downward spiral. In response to the hottest inflation in 40 years, Federal Reserve Bank of St. President James Bullard …
(2022-02-11). A revolutionary salute to the Lao People's Democratic Republic. workers.org 
December 2, 2021, was the 46th anniversary of the end of the Laotian Civil War. Not only did the Royal Lao Government, in power from 1947 to 1975, fall that day, but also the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a socialist nation with a Marxist-Leninist government, was established and remains in power to . . . |
(2022-02-11). An Anarchist Rejection of the Covid Culture War. itsgoingdown.org 
| Submitted anonymously | At the beginning of the pandemic the state claimed masks were futile, but this was due to shortage and the government's refusal to regulate the free market to ease the pain of the pandemic. Once companies managed to catch up with demand, the narrative changed. Many people likely died unnecessarily as a result of this. | Wearing masks can help save lives, but it is not a political statement in and of itself as some seem to think. Wearing your mask is not meaningfully coun…
(2022-02-11). Opinion: Black People: Don't Be Disillusioned … A Black Owner Won't Pay The Dividends You Think. moguldom.com By suing the NFL, Brian Flores has assured himself of never head coaching in the NFL again. However, I believe that Flores is not disillusioned. He himself shared on TV interviews that he was aware of the risk involved with taking the NFL owners to task. I think it's us, Black folk, who may be …
(2022-02-11). Los Angles: Check the Sheriff! fightbacknews.org Los Angeles, CA — On February 7, families who lost sons to Los Angeles Sheriff's killings spoke out to support the demand to strengthen civilian oversight of the LA Sheriff's Department (LASD) at a press conference held in front of the Hall of Justice. At the event, the Check the Sheriff (CTS) coalition announced a sign-on letter by over 70 organizations calling on the LA Board of Supervisors (BOS) to move forward with an LA County charter amendment to strengthen the Civilian Oversight Commission and with the power to remove a sitting Sheriff for violation of the law. |
| The Check the Sheriff Coa…
(2022-02-11). UK Official Secrets Act Proposals Take Cues From US Espionage Act Cases. popularresistance.org The United Kingdom's right-wing dominated government is on course to greatly expand its ability to prosecute and jail whistleblowers and journalists through amendments to the country's Official Secrets Acts. | These potential amendments would be the first major changes to the law since 1989. They come as the U.K. and U.S. governments continue to seek the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for his role in receiving and publishing the Afghanistan and Iraq war logs, Guantanamo Bay detainee files, and U.S. diplomatic cables. | Proposals would expand possible imprisonment for leakers, recipients of leaks…
(2022-02-11). New York rallies for Amir Locke and Isaiah Williams. fightbacknews.org New York, NY – Over 80 people rallied in Union Square in New York City on February 8 in honor of Amir Locke and Isaiah Williams, two young Black men murdered by police. Locke was murdered by Minneapolis PD under a no-knock warrant, and Williams by Metro Police near Las Vegas while police executed a warrant for a murder he did not commit. | Speeches addressed the injustice of cops murdering Black people and it being rooted in racist inequality. They emphasized how no-knock warrants are disproportionately used as an excuse to murder Black people. The rally was followed by a march.
(2022-02-11). Colombia and Venezuela border a breeding ground for armed groups. america.cgtn.com 
The border between Colombia and Venezuela is dangerous place. Turf wars have brought a resurgence of violence and death. Community leaders are appealing for help. Find out more.
(2022-02-11). IG Metall's idea of solidarity: Wage and social cuts for all. wsws.org Since IG Metall works council representatives agreed to the "bidding war" between Ford plants in Germany and Spain, they have offered wage cuts, longer working hours, shorter breaks, unpaid overtime and further social cuts.
(2022-02-11). German government deploys more combat troops to Lithuania against Russia. wsws.org Amid the US-led war drive against Russia, which is raising the threat of World War III, Germany is increasing its contingent of combat troops in Eastern Europe.
(2022-02-11). The F-35 Jets Gotta Go! Just Say No to War! indybay.org
(2022-02-11). Selected Articles: "Do You Want a War Between Russia and NATO?" Macron Meets Putin. globalresearch.ca 
By Macron for his part stressed, "new mechanisms are needed to ensure stability in Europe, but not by revising existing agreements, perhaps …
(2022-02-11). Mysterious illness hurts diplomats' morale — US. rt.com 
'Havana syndrome' is making it difficult for the US to recruit diplomats, Foreign Service Association chief says | Morale among American diplomats is low, and Washington is struggling to find people to staff its diplomatic missions abroad, the head of the American Foreign Service Association has warned. The condition responsible is known as 'Havana syndrome', an illness that nobody can explain. | "People have suffered real trauma and real injury, and it has dramatically hurt our morale, our readiness, our ability to recruit new members in the foreign service," American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) chief…
(2022-02-11). Olympic invasion possible — US. rt.com 
Officials in Kiev and Washington have previously claimed an incursion could come amid the sporting event | With the world's attention drawn to the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, Moscow could seize the opportunity to wage a war against neighboring Ukraine, Washington has warned, amid a growing standoff on the border between the two Eastern European nations. | Speaking on Friday at a news conference in the Australian city of Melbourne, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sounded the alarm, claiming that Russia is continuing to amass more troops along the frontier. | According to the top diplomat, "we continue…
(2022-02-11). They Don't Just Lie to Us About Wars. They Lie to Us About Everything. strategic-culture.org By Caitlin JOHNSTONE | The lion's share of propaganda goes not toward convincing us to accept new agendas of the powerful, but toward keeping us entranced in the status quo dream world which enables the powerful to have power in the first place. Toward normalizing status quo systems and training us to shape ourselves to fit into them like neat little cogs in a well-oiled machine. | And it's not even a grand, monolithic conspiracy in most cases. The giant corporations who indoctrinate us with their advertisements, their Hollywood movies and shows, their apps, their websites and their news media are all naturally i…
(2022-02-11). "Politics as Usual" Will Never Be a Solution to the Current Climate Threat. truthout.org 
There is an ever-growing consensus that the climate crisis represents humanity's greatest problem. Indeed, global warming is more than an environmental crisis — there are social, political, ethical and economic dimensions to it. Even the role of science should be exposed to critical inquiry when discussing the dimensions of the climate crisis, considering that technology bears such responsibility for bringing us to the brink of global disaster. This is the theme of my interview with renowne…
(2022-02-11). Canadian interference in Ukrainian affairs reaches epic proportions. mronline.org 
If there was an award for the world's most hypocritical political party, the Liberal Party of Canada would be frontrunners to take the prize.
(2022-02-11). 'That's a World War': Biden Tells Americans to Leave Ukraine, Shoots Down Reports of Evacuation. sputniknews.com On Thursday, the US Department of State released a 'Level 4: Do Not Travel' advisory warning Americans against venturing to Ukraine "due to the increased threats of Russian military action and COVID-19." The department also urged Americans in Ukraine to "depart now via commercial or private means."
(2022-02-11). Civilian casualties nearly doubled in Yemen since end of UN-mandated international monitoring. peoplesdispatch.org The Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen was first formed in 2017 to monitor the human rights violations and war crimes being committed by the parties in the war in Yemen. The UN Human Rights Council failed to renew its mandate in October 2021…
(2022-02-11). Beijing 2022 and China's challenge to sports imperialism. mronline.org 
In this essay, Charles Xu exposes these narratives for the new Cold War propaganda they are. At the same time, he draws from valuable left analysis of the Olympic movement's historical imbrication with white supremacy to explore China's fraught relationship with international sports.
(2022-02-11). Finland makes massive military investment with US. rt.com 
Helsinki signs a deal for 64 US-built F-35 stealth jets, at a reported cost of $9.4 billion | Finland has penned a multibillion-dollar deal with the US to purchase 64 American-built F-35 fighter jets, the Finnish Defense Forces announced on Friday. The radar-evading warplanes will reportedly cost the European country, which is traditionally militarily non-aligned, some $9.4 billion. | The aircraft will not enter service for some years, with Finnish officials previously saying deployment of the planes would begin in 2027. The new jets are being brought in to replace Finland's current Hornet fleet. | In addition…
(2022-02-11). Tallahassee: Starbucks workers move forward with union drive. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – On February 9, Starbucks workers and local organizations rallied to announce an effort to unionize at the Starbucks here on Magnolia Drive. | "There's a disconnect between management and local stores, it really just comes down to the fact that workers should have more voice in the companies they work for. We hope that our effort to unionize will inspire others," said Calum Johnson, a barista and leading organizer of another Tallahassee Starbucks unionizing at John Knox Road. "We're just trying to do what's best for our store, and if any other stores in our district try to unionize, like Magnolia…
(2022-02-11). Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua: The US-Russia Conflict Enters a New Phase. dissidentvoice.org 
As soon as Moscow received an American response to its security demands in Ukraine, it answered indirectly by announcing greater military integration between it and three South American countries, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba. Washington's response, on January 26, to Russia's demands of withdrawing NATO forces from Eastern Europe and ending talks about a possible Kyiv …
(2022-02-11). Public Ministry Opens Probe After Partiers Damage Famous Tepui in Canaima National Park. orinocotribune.com This Thursday, February 10, Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab instructed the 87th National Environmental Defense Office to investigate damages caused in the Canaima National Park, after a private party was held at Kusari Tepui. | The location is home to natural wonders including tepuis, the famous flat-topped or "table-top" mountains, and Angel Falls, the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world. The tepuis are considered as sacred grounds of the Pemon Indigenous people. | The information regarding the probe was released by the Attorney General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, on his Twitter ac…
(2022-02-11). Venezuela has Arrested 62 Colombian Terrorists in 5 Months. orinocotribune.com Venezuela has announced the arrest of 62 members of terrorist groups of Colombian origin since September 2021. | "We are pleased to reveal that since September 2021, 62 members of TANCOL [an acronym used by the Venezuelan government to refer to armed drug-trafficking Colombian terrorists] have been arrested in 16 operations," the Venezuelan Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, announced this Thursday, February 10. | Accordi…
(2022-02-11). Cuban Music Duo Buena Fe Postpones Concert in Canada in Defense of Cuban Vaccines. libya360.wordpress.com With the government of Canada üá®üᶠrefusing to recognize Cuba's vaccines, Cuban music duo Buena Fe was asked to be vaccinated with shots recognized by Canada in order to play their concerts. Here was their response. Revolutionary Medicine: Cuba's Vaccine Journey Why are Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela Managing So Well in the Fight Against Covid-19?…
(2022-02-11). United States: Using COVID-19 powers, Biden begins expelling Venezuelan migrants to Colombia. greenleft.org.au Despite promises by the Biden administration to respect the right to seek asylum, Washington has been denying migrants that right by invoking a provision that allows it to limit travel under the pretext of mitigating COVID-19, writes José Luis Granados Ceja.