2021-02-15: News Headlines

Medea Benjamin (2021-02-15). Is Biden Committing Diplomatic Suicide Over the Iran Nuclear Agreement? zcomm.org Can Biden's America be part of the solution? After only three weeks in office, surely it can't be too late. But the ball is in his court, and the whole world is watching…

Medea Benjamin, Nicolas J.S. Davies (2021-02-15). Is Biden Committing Diplomatic Suicide Over the Iran Nuclear Agreement? commondreams.org American neocons and hawks, including those inside his own administration, appear to be flexing their muscles to kill Biden's commitment to diplomacy at birth, and his own hawkish foreign policy views make him dangerously susceptible to their arguments. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

RT (2021-02-15). Gagging opponents is not unity, conservative reporter who was shoved & rubbed with dirty diaper at BLM rally tells RT. rt.com Days after the Capitol Hill riot, a conservative journalist was assaulted and harassed at a BLM rally in New York. Her ordeal shows how people sharing their political beliefs in today's America risk physical harm, she told RT. | Tara Anne Szczepanski, 33, is a Polish-American political commentator and independent reporter. On January 10, she attended a small protest in Madison Square Park where Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists accosted her after she started filming them. | "The mob turned against me after recognizing that I am a Trump supporter," she told RT. "With the hatred that is going on currently in Am…

Thomas Knapp (2021-02-15). Same as the Old Boss, Julian Assange Edition. counterpunch.org On February 9, the US Justice Department announced that US President Joe Biden, as in so many other areas, intends to serve Donald Trump's second term when it comes to persecuting heroes guilty of exposing US war crimes and embarrassing American politicians. As Trump's presidency drew to an end, some activists held out hope that

The Canary (2021-02-15). Protests in India over arrest of climate activist. thecanary.co Scores of people have demonstrated in the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Mumbai after a climate activist was arrested for circulating a document on social media supporting months of massive protests by farmers. | Disha Ravi was arrested in Bengaluru on Saturday. | Police said at a news conference on Monday that the document spread misinformation about the farmer protests on the outskirts of New Delhi and "tarnished the image of India". | They say Ravi shared the document with Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, who tweeted it earlier this month. | Activists hold placards demanding the release of Indi…

_____ (2021-02-15). It's A Myth That Presidents Welcome Movement Pressure. popularresistance.org In early 2009, as Barack Obama prepared to move into the White House, a particular historical anecdote rapidly gained in popularity, repeated in dozens of talks and articles as a parable for how supporters should respond to the new president taking office. The story related a New Deal-era encounter between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a group of activists, usually said to have been led by A. Philip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. In the meeting, the advocates laid out a vision of bold action for change that the president could advance with his bully pulpit and his executive power.

yenisafak (2021-02-15). Iraq PM says killers of activists arrested in Basra. yenisafak.com Iraqi security forces have arrested a gang responsible for killing activists and journalists in the southern Basra province, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said on Monday. | "The death gang that terrorized our people in Basra…fell into the hands of our security forces," al-Kadhimi said on Twitter. | The premier did not give further details about the gang, but security sources said four members of the 16-strong gang had been arrested. | According to the sources, the gang was involved in killing of activists who were active in the anti-government protests that broke out in October 2019. | According to official…

Online News Editor (2021-02-15). UN: 65 activists, reporters killed in 3 years in Afghanistan. laprensalatina.com Kabul, Feb 15 (efe-epa).- At least 65 human rights activists and media professionals have been killed in Afghanistan in the last three years, a growing trend that has led to several others leaving their profession or the country, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Monday. According to the latest report by the UN …

Ralph Nader, Bruce Fein (2021-02-14). Democrats' Shameful Cave. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

_____ (2021-02-14). Urgent Solidarity With Haiti Is Needed. popularresistance.org A long-brewing crisis in Haiti, created through intervention by the United States, United Nations and allied western imperialist countries, has now come to a head. The Biden administration is openly backing a violent, corrupt and fraudulent leader, Jovenel MoàØse, and maintaining the policies of previous presidents, including Donald Trump, in Haiti. | Activists in Haiti have reached out to the Haitian diaspora in the United States and to organizations that support respect for self-determination and human rights for their solidarity. Listen to my interview with filmmaker and political activist Wilkenson Bru…

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

commondreams (2021-02-14). Climate Activists Nationwide Take "Polar Bear Plunge" to Push Congress to Adopt President Biden's Plan for 100% Clean Electricity By 2035. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Juan Cole (2021-02-13). Federal Court Strikes Down Arkansas Attempt to Punish Proponents of Boycotting Israel Over Its Treatment of Palestinians. commondreams.org The anti-boycott laws are the ultimate in cancel culture. They are also un-American. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-02-13). UN and others urge Egyptian government to stop persecution of activists in the country. peoplesdispatch.org Thousands of activists, journalists, lawyers and opposition figures have been thrown in prison in the country as part of a massive, ongoing crackdown on human rights and dissent since the regime of president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power in 2014…

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.

RT (2021-02-12). CCTV under fire after Chinese New Year gala features blackface performers AGAIN as Beijing celebrates Africa ties. rt.com Chinese state TV has been labelled "racist" after its Spring Festival Gala kicked off with a celebration of African culture featuring Chinese dancers in African-style costumes and black face makeup beating drums. | The five-hour annual program, which has drawn as many as 800 million viewers in the past, caused a storm on Twitter, with activists and commentators lambasting China's CCTV for the culturally inappropriate move. | The show, titled African Song and Dance and featuring blackfaced dancers and a man dressed as a monkey, aired on Thursday, as Asia welcomed in the lunar Year of the Ox in a subdued fashion…

Morgan Artyukhina (2021-02-12). Biden administration cynically manipulates LGBTQ rights struggle to advance empire. liberationnews.org The hypocrisy of his claim is all too apparent: LGBTQ people continue to lack basic rights here in the US, and many of Washington's closest allies have abysmal records on the issue.

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…

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…

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

commondreams (2021-02-12). Thousands of Activists Push Biden to End Fossil Fuel Era. commondreams.org ______________________________…