(2022-02-02). Central Asia becomes a Platform for Cooperation between Russia, India and China. journal-neo.org 
Central Asia (CA), due to its geostrategic location at the junction of Europe and Asia, its proximity to the leading international actors such as Russia and China, its wealth of natural resources and its yet-to-be fully exploited trade and economic opportunities, has recently attracted increasing interest from international actors. In order to create a stable …
(2022-02-02). Ski starlet who swapped USA for China puts gold medals before politics. rt.com 
The teenage sensation switched allegiances to China in 2019 | At a Winter Olympics where Instagram is giving fans the chance to gain the inside track from athletes, Chinese-American sensation Eileen Gu's first post from the Beijing Games was telling. | Mildly sending up her usual glossy, high-fashion posts on a platform where the 18-year-old already has more than 245,000 followers, Gu haphazardly opened a box of "Olympic gear", goofishly modeling clothing provided by organizers before leaving it strewn across her sparse-looking room. | Gu might have been on a catwalk rather than dorm-style accommodation this w…
(2022-02-02). Biden continues to pressure China. indybay.org Joe Biden approved a further anti-China bill and, by amazing coincidence, did it on the eve of binational summit. That's a great attack on China, it has to be said.
(2022-02-02). US 'rules-based order' is a myth and China knows it. asiatimes.com 
A new bill in the United States will only add extra weight in Beijing to fears that the "rules-based" international order American politicians like to talk about is really about keeping the world's most populous country down. The America Competes Act of 2022, passed by the US House of Representatives last week, comes in at …
(2022-02-02). Russia & US commit to further talks on security guarantees. rt.com 
Continued engagement from both sides will allow room for serious discussion, but situation appears to be a stalemate | Washington is willing to continue diplomatic discussions with Russia over mutual security concerns, the US State Department revealed on Tuesday, following a phone call between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. | The discussion comes as tensions between Russia and the West continue to remain high, with Moscow accused of placing over 100,000 troops on the border with Ukraine. The buildup has triggered a response from multiple NATO members, with many se…
(2022-02-02). Leaked US & NATO replies to Russia: Here's what you need to know. rt.com 
It seems the West has rejected Moscow's core demands, but proposed steps to ease tensions | In December, Russia requested that the US and NATO produce definitive written responses to its proposals on assurances addressing security concerns. The letters were sent to Moscow last week. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at the time that the correspondence should stay confidential. However, the two letters were allegedly Wh…
(2022-02-02). 'No animosity' as Russia and Ukraine prepare for rare showdown. rt.com 
Russia and Ukraine will face off in the semifinals of the UEFA Futsal Euro 2022 championships in the Netherlands | Russia and Ukraine are preparing to meet in the semifinal of the UEFA European Futsal Championships amid a backdrop of political and military tensions, but members of the Russian team insist that will not be a factor in the match. | The unbeaten Russian team booked their spot in the last four of UEFA Futsal Euro 2022 with victory over Georgia on Tuesday. | They will next face a Ukrainian team which shocked favorites Kazakhstan in their quarterfinal meeting in Amsterdam on Monday. | The Ziggo Dome…
(2022-02-02). International Viewpoint supports war propaganda against Russia. wsws.org Under the misleading title "Time for International Anti-War Solidarity," unnamed "Ukrainian socialists" called on the "international left" to "condemn the imperialist policies of the Russian government."
(2022-02-02). Sabbagh: Western Coercive Measures Escalate Suffering of Millions of Syrians. orinocotribune.com Syria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations stressed that the US and EU illegitimate unilateral coercive measures escalated the suffering of millions of Syrians. | Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh made his remarks in a session of the Security Council on Friday on the humanitarian situation in Syria. | "The economic terrorism and the collective punishment policies represented by the illegitimate unilateral coercive measures imposed by the US and the EU have escalated the suffering of millions of Syrians who bear big burden to obtain their basic needs, in flagrant violation of all international legal standards…
(2022-02-02). Teachers Union Warns Pandemic Burnout Destroying Schools. scheerpost.com 
By Andrea Germanos / Common Dreams New polling out Tuesday reveals pervasive burnout among the nation's educators as pandemic-related staffing shortages and other difficulties drive a potential exodus from the teaching profession. Released by the National Education Association, the nation's largest union of any profession, the member survey shows, according to NEA president Becky Pringle, that "after persevering …
(2022-02-02). Heating costs double in Europe's biggest economy. rt.com 
Germany's household energy costs saw the greatest rise in 2021 | The cost of heating and electricity in Germany increased by 107% and 41% respectively over the past year, Der Spiegel reported, citing a spokesperson of the Check24 portal, which compares prices for goods and services in the country. | According to data, the average household in Germany had to pay €1,193 for gas and fuel oil in January 2021, with the cost rising to almost €2,472 last month. The main reason for that was the sharp rise in energy prices, the newspaper said, adding that high wholesale gas prices have affected end-user price…
(2022-02-02). Greenwald: The Pressure Campaign on Spotify to Remove Joe Rogan Reveals the Religion of Liberals: Censorship. scheerpost.com 
Joe Rogan interviews Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Aug. 6, 2019, roughly six months before he endorsed the Vermont independent for president. | By Glenn Greenwald / American liberals are obsessed with finding ways to silence and censor their adversaries. Every week, if not every day, they have new targets they want de-platformed, banned, silenced, and otherwise prevented from speaking or being heard (by "liberals," I mean the term of self-description used by th…
(2022-02-02). Native American tribes win $590 million opioid settlement. rt.com 
Johnson & Johnson insisted that the deal was not an admission of liability or wrongdoing | Native American tribes have reached a landmark $590 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson and three major US drug distributors over the devastation caused to indigenous people by opioid addiction. | According to the deal, Johnson & Johnson is going to pay out $150 million over the next two years, with the AmerisourceBergen, McKesson, and Cardinal companies paying another $440 million over a seven-year period. | The filing in US District Court in Cleveland, which was made public on Tuesday, said that the settlement mo…
(2022-02-02). 'Remarkable' image of our galaxy's center revealed. rt.com 
A supermassive black hole lurking in the center of the Milky Way is the brightest spot | A new MeerKAT telescope image of the galactic center reveals the "complex heart" of the Milky Way, with astronomers saying they now have "the best insight yet into the population of mysterious 'radio filaments' found nowhere else." | Released by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, the "remarkable" image is based on a mosaic of 20 separate observations, which took a total of 200 hours of MeerKAT telescope time to acquire. | | A rare, almost-perfect spherical supernova remnant that has been discovered at the edg…
(2022-02-02). Special Privileges: Charlotte Bellis, Fortress New Zealand and the Taliban. dissidentvoice.org Not wishing to be left out from the brutal closed border system that has characterised COVID-19 policy in Australia, New Zealand has also been every bit as extreme in limiting the return of its nationals. Pandemic policy, if not logic, has taken issue with the nature of citizenship, which, truth be told, is simply not …
(2022-02-02). Apartheid 2.0: Amnesty International Joins Chorus condemning Israeli rule over stateless Palestinians. juancole.com 
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — The Israeli state has won the trifecta of condemnation by major human rights organizations, as, on Tuesday, Amnesty International joined with Human Rights Watch and B'Tselem in calling Israeli rule over the 5 million Palestinians of the Occupied Palestinian Territories a form of Apartheid. Amnesty carried out its investigation and …
(2022-02-02). Far-right "Freedom Convoy" besieges Canada's parliament—an inflection point in the breakdown of Canadian democracy. wsws.org Powerful sections of Canada's ruling elite have incited a far-right, extra-parliamentary movement that is now encamped menacingly outside the national parliament and vows to remain until its demands are met.
(2022-02-02). USW rejects Marathon's proposal, offers 24-hour rolling extensions of current oil agreements. fightbacknews.org Pittsburgh, PA – The United Steelworkers union (USW) announced today that it rejected Marathon Petroleum's most recent proposal for a pattern settlement on wages, benefits and working conditions for approximately 30,000 USW members in the oil and petrochemical industry. The union then offered rolling 24-hour extensions of the current labor agreements. | The USW has been in talks with Marathon, which represents industry as its lead negotiator, since January 13. The current national agreement expired at midnight on February 1. | "Our members remain strong and united in their commitment to reaching a deal that meets…
(2022-02-02). U.S. national debt surpasses 30 trln USD as Fed prepares to raise rates. ecns.cn The U.S. national debt has surpassed 30 trillion U.S. dollars for the first time, raising concerns about future fiscal sustainability, as the Federal Reserve prepares to raise interest rates to tame inflation.
(2022-02-02). COVID-19 death of a student reported in Sri Lanka. wsws.org This tragic death demonstrates the criminality of the reopening of Sri Lankan schools amid the continuing spread of COVID-19.
(2022-02-01). Macao SAR chief executive vows more efforts to integrate into national development in Year of Tiger. ecns.cn Chief Executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng on Monday said people in Macao must devote united and diligent effort to make use of fresh opportunities arising from the country's overall development, and further promote Macao's unique strengths in the Year of the Tiger.
(2022-02-01). Ex VP Dick Cheney confirmed US goal is to break up Russia, not just USSR. multipolarista.com Former Vice President and Iraq War architect Dick Cheney wasn't content only breaking up the Soviet Union. Balkanizing Russia (and China) is a bipartisan foreign-policy goal among top US national security state officials.
(2022-02-01). Chinese Embassy in U.S. Holds Online Reception for 2022 Chinese New Year of Tiger. ecns.cn A Reception for the 2022 Chinese New Year of the Tiger, which Winter‚ÄÇthemed "A VigoroU.S. Year of the Tiger, A Joyful RendezvoU.S. for‚ÄÇis on the‚ÄÇOlympics", was held online by the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. evening of January 30. At the reception, Ambassador Qin Gang delivered a speech, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter sent a congratulatory letter, and invited guests including President of the National Committee on China-U.S. Relations Stephen Orlins, President of the China-U.S. BU.S.iness Council Craig Allen, Chairman of the Board for the Utah Chinese…
(2022-02-01). Beijing 2022 to usher in new era for winter sports globally, says IOC president Bach. ecns.cn As China has fulfilled its commitment of engaging 300 million people in winter sports prior to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said the country's efforts would "open a new era for winter sports globally."
(2022-02-01). 'Warm Spring and Flowers' Transnational Spring Festival Gala was Online on the Lunar New Year's Eve. ecns.cn Today is the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Kunming of China, Colombo of Sri Lanka and Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia were lit up simultaneously to officially kick off Seasonal Celebration for Enduring Bonds: 2022 Spring Festival Cultural Events and International Spring Festival Gala. Overseas Chinese and friends from all over the world gathered together on the Cloud to enjoy this Spring Festival cultural feast from many countries in South and Southeast Asia hosted by Yunnan.
(2022-02-01). 2022 Yunnan Spring Festival Cloud cultural exchange event officially kicked off. ecns.cn Today is the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Kunming of China, Colombo of Sri Lanka and Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia were lit up simultaneously to officially kick off Seasonal Celebration for Enduring Bonds: 2022 Spring Festival Cultural Events and International Spring Festival Gala. Overseas Chinese and friends from all over the world gathered together on the Cloud to enjoy this Spring Festival cultural feast from many countries in South and Southeast Asia hosted by Yunnan.
(2022-02-01). Germany Refuses to Send Arms to Ukraine Despite Pressure from U.S. & NATO. democracynow.org 
Germany's new coalition government is refusing to send lethal weapons to Ukraine but has offered to send over 5,000 combat helmets to protect Ukrainian soldiers in case of a Russian attack. The move has been ridiculed as the U.S. and other NATO countries continue to send military support to Ukraine. In response, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised his country will stay in tune with European Union and NATO policies toward Russia. To speak more about Germany's stance toward Ukraine, we're joined by German peace activist and executive director of the International Peace Bureau Reiner Braun, who calls on the E…
(2022-02-01). Ukraine's Security Chief: Kyiv Shouldn't Be Forced to Fulfill Minsk Agreements. news.antiwar.com Ukraine's security chief on Monday warned that Western powers Under the agreement, Ukraine is required to give autonomy to the breakaway Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in the Donbas region. Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said fulfilling the deal could mean the "destruction"
(2022-02-01). Haiti's National Transition Commission elects new interim president and prime minister. peoplesdispatch.org On January 30, Haiti's National Transition Council (CNT) elected economist and former governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti, Fritz Alphonse Jean, as the Caribbean country's new interim president. The CNT, made up of 42 members from various political parties and civil society organizations, also elected former senator Steven Irvenson Benoit as the new interim prime minister. The duo will administer the country for a transitional period of 24 months, beginning this February 7. | Jean was elected with 25 votes against 15 for his only opponent, former senator Edgard Leblanc Fils, in the first round of electio…
(2022-02-01). New Amnesty Report Outlines 'True Extent of Israeli Apartheid Regime'. scheerpost.com 
The separation wall in the West Bank. [ By Palestine advocates on Tuesday welcomed a new report in which Amnesty International became the latest on a growing list of human rights organizations to explicitly call Israeli policies and actions against Palestinians "apartheid." | "There is no possible just…
(2022-02-01). Group of Google workers seeks union recognition vote in Kansas City. peoplesworld.org 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (PAI)—When the nation thinks "Google," and its renamed parent firm, Alphabet, the location that comes to mind is Silicon Valley, not the U.S. heartland. But not for Communications Workers Local 1400, the 800-person-and-counting nationwide Alphabet Workers Union. Its first formal union recognition vote filing with the National Labor Relations Board occurred Jan. …
(2022-02-01). Joe Biden White House Has Issues With DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, Former Lobbyist May Quit. moguldom.com Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison may be leaving his position early amid increased tension with President Joe Biden's administration. It seems the White House has issues with Harrison and he has limited his power. According to insiders, Harrison feels isolated and frustrated in his role, NBC reported. Major decisions for the DNC are made by White House Deputy …
(2022-02-01). Indigenous Prisoner in Struggle Marcelino Ruíz Gómez Demands Freedom for Yaqui Political Prisoner Fidencio Aldama. itsgoingdown.org Communique from Indigenous Tzotzil prisoner in struggle Marcelino Ruíz Gómez showing solidarity with Yaqui political prisoner Fidencio Aldama To the Zapatista Army of National Liberation To the Human Rights Defenders To the National and International Sixth To the National Indigenous Congress To the Indigenous Governing Council To the Media To the Believers To the Organized…
(2022-02-01). Venezuela's Opposition Already has Substitute for Guaidó. orinocotribune.com Venezuela's Justice First Party already has someone in mind to replace former deputy Juan Guaidó in case he ceases to be the "interim president" of the parallel government, which the Venezuelan far-right insists on keeping alive. | According to comments made to Miami-based EVTV by political analyst Antonio de la Cruz, based on his work as executive director of the Inter-American Trends think tank, Juan Pablo Guanipa should assume the leadership of the opposition, which continues to abide by the directives of the National Assembly which was in power from 2015 to 2020, during which Guaidó led the coup against Presi…
(2022-02-01). Antifascists Confront Neo-Nazis in Orlando; Police Offer Racists Protection. itsgoingdown.org Report back from Tequesta Black Star, about antifascists opposing recent neo-Nazi rally in so-called Orlando. Antifascists resisted the presence of the National Socialist Movement in two separate instances in the Orlando area, counter-protesting and redecorating the sites in which they rallied. On the 29th of January, 15-20 neo-Nazis representing the National Socialist Movement held a…
(2022-02-01). Private Equity in Healthcare: Profits before Patients and Workers. cepr.net 
This was originally published in the magazine — Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA), Perspectives on Work. | On March 25, 2021, U.S Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on Oversight, held hearings into the growing power of Wall Street firms in the healthcare industry. The hearings focused on recent research documenting higher than average death rates in private equity (PE) owned nursing homes. A rigorous study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), found that mortality rates in PE-owned nursing homes were 10 percen…
(2022-02-01). Protests demanding affordable housing continue in the Netherlands. peoplesdispatch.org Progressive sections in the city of Amersfoort in the Netherlands organized a demonstration demanding affordable housing on Sunday, January 30. On the call of the housing rights coalition #Woonrevolte Amersfoort, activists from various youth/student groups, feminist groups, trade unions and political parties marched in the city. The Communist Youth Movement (CJB), FNV Vakbond, BIJ1 and the Socialist Party (SP) participated in the march to demand local and national authorities to immediately formulate policies to resolve the aggravating housing crisis in cities across the country. | Major cities in the Netherlands…
(2022-02-01). Inflation Policies Must Deal With Impact of Rising Food Prices on the Poor. truthout.org 
Consumer prices in 2021 rose 7 percent over the past year, making this the largest rise in consumer prices over a 12-month period since 1982. Why are prices rising, especially global food prices? Is the current inflationary episode related to the pandemic? Is aggressive monetary policy the main inflation culprit? And how does inflation affect the world, and the poor in particular? Can it be controlled? | Alastair Smith, an international expert on issues of global sustainable development, seeks…
(2022-02-01). Australia Slow to Learn From the Lessons of History. journal-neo.org 
Australia will hold a general election no later than May of this year. According to the opinion polls, it should be a victory for the Labor Party. They have consistently held a lead over the governing coalition of Liberal and National party members for a considerable period of time, the last opinion poll published less …
(2022-02-01). Iran, Australia FMs discuss deepening relations. en.mehrnews.com Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne discussed expanding and deepening ties between the two countries as well as the regional and other international issues by phone.
(2022-02-01). Indonesia cuts quarantine period for int'l travelers from 7 to 5 days. ecns.cn The Indonesian government on Monday announced that the quarantine period for fully vaccinated international travelers is cut from seven to five days, amid soaring daily cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
(2022-02-01). Canada records highest daily COVID-19 death toll since start of pandemic. wsws.org A grim milestone was reached on January 27 as 309 COVID-19 deaths were recorded nationally, the highest-ever daily total since the start of the pandemic.
(2022-02-01). Yemen: How Many Must die Before the World Intervenes? orinocotribune.com By Fra Hughes — Jan 26, 2022 | A beautiful historic country of poetry and art, of ancient buildings and centuries-old culture, has been devastated, destroyed, and bankrupted by fierce aggression led by imperialist forces. | As the death toll rises and nearly 20 million civilians face starvation… When will the international community intervene to end this suffering? Needless slaughters, bombs, regional politicking, airstrikes, the imposed siege, weapons of mass starvation targeting the infrastructure, including hospitals, prisons, and the fabric of civil society that holds a nation together in Yemen. | As I…
(2022-02-01). The fight for Trotskyism and the political foundations of the World Socialist Web Site. wsws.org The World Socialist Web Site is publishing today the text of a report delivered by David North 25 years ago, on February 1, 1997, motivating a decision to end publication of the SEP's printed newspaper and replace it with an international website.
(2022-02-01). Pegasus was not just a cyberweapon but a diplomatic tool. peoplesdispatch.org Senior journalist and author Paranjoy Guha Thakurta talks to Peoples Dispatch about how the Israeli state used the Pegasus spyware to advance the country's diplomatic interests.