(2022-03-04). Forever war in Ukraine or an end to the unipolar world? thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Moscow-based international affairs analyst Mark Sleboda about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the possibility of a prolonged war. Mark Sleboda offers a critical assessment of Russia's military maneuvers in the early days of the conflict in Ukraine and evaluates the possibility of a Syria-style dirty war erupting in the country. Sleboda also explains how the war has ushered in a "great decoupling" between Russia and the West and why he believes it could represent …
(2022-03-04). Guerra de EE.UU. contra Rusia: una estampida hacia el precipicio. workers.org 
Boletín: Desde el 22 de febrero, Rusia ha reconocido las dos repúblicas populares de la región de Donbass, en el este de Ucrania, la República Popular de Donetsk y la República Popular de Lugansk, establecidas en 2014. Rusia ha dicho que enviará tropas para proteger a las dos repúblicas si . . . |
(2022-03-04). In these days of great tension, peace is a priority: The Ninth Newsletter (2022). mronline.org 
It is impossible not to be moved by the outrageousness of warfare, the ugliness of aerial bombardment, the gruesome fears of civilians who are trapped between choices that are not their own.
(2022-03-04). India aims to rival China in quantum computing. asiatimes.com 
With a wary eye toward China, India is investing in quantum technology to gain a computing and information edge. Last month, Indian scientists from the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi successfully demonstrated a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link for more than 100 kilometers between Prayagraj and …
(2022-03-04). In Haiti, misery breeds resistance. workers.org 
Thousands of Haitian garment workers, mainly women, have hit the streets in February demanding that the government raise their minimum wage to 1,500 gourdes (about $14) for a 9-hour day. They currently make 500 gourdes (about $4.80) a day. The workers, mostly women who spend over half their salaries on . . . |
(2022-03-04). Stop NATO War on Russia! Info for rallies and webinars. iacenter.org Stop NATO War on Russia! No Sanctions! No War! Find antiwar actions here: unac.notowar.net/national-call-to-action- nowarwithrussia/ AND HERE The corporate media speaks with one voice against Russia. There is NO mention that the U.S. commanded NATO military alliance has pumped tons of lethal weapons and U.S. advisors into Ukraine for eight years. Since the 2014 U.S.- backed coup in Kiev, the U.S. has aided fascist forces in relentlessly shelling the 1,200 mile Russian border to target the Peoples' Republics of Lugansk and Donetsk, killing over 14,000 people in the Russian-speaking Donbass region. Over a t…
(2022-03-04). Freezing Moscow's forex reserves may dethrone greenback, strategist says. rt.com 
Credit Suisse strategist says US dollar has now reached critical inflection point | Cutting Russia off from accessing its foreign currency reserves may end the hegemony of the US dollar, according to Credit Suisse short-term interest rate strategist Zoltan Pozsar. | "Imagine a response on the back of this, where a lot of exporters of whatever commodities and widgets decide to invoice things in a different currency," Pozsar told Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast. | "Because all these dollars you're earning and all this money you keep in the West is at risk," the expert said, adding that nations that have joined the…
(2022-03-04). Ukraine sanctions lead to $80bn loss for Russia's richest. rt.com 
A third of their net worth has been wiped out, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index | Russia's richest people have lost about a third of their wealth over the past week, due to Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index. | The impact of US and EU sanctions against Russian oligarchs and the collapse of the ruble has seen their collective fortune shrink by $80 billion since the start of Moscow's military operation, according to the index. | The report says some saw their wealth halved, with the biggest loser in dollar terms being Gennady Timchenko, of…
(2022-03-04). Norway suspends 'all dialogue' with Moscow on education and research. rt.com 
Oslo's decision follows Russia's suspension from the Council of the Baltic Sea States | The Norwegian cabinet announced on Friday that it has decided to freeze research and education cooperation with Russia after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into neighboring Ukraine. | Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education Ola Borten Moe declared in a statement that the "attack on Ukraine must also have consequences," including in the areas of research and education. | "We suspend all dialogue with the Russian authorities and as a general rule, all institutional agreements between Norwegian and Russian…
(2022-03-04). Attack on mosque leaves at least 30 dead. rt.com 
A powerful blast has rocked a site of worship in northwest Pakistan | At least 30 people have been killed and dozens more wounded from gunfire and an explosion at a mosque in Peshawar in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border on Friday, the police have said. | The attack targeted the Kucha Risaldar Mosque in Peshawar's old city at a time when Shia Muslim worshippers were gathering for Friday prayers. | Two gunmen initially opened fire at police officers outside the building, Peshawar's Police Chief Mohammed Ejaz Khan has said. | One perpetrator and one officer were killed in the shootout, while the second a…
(2022-03-04). Hungarian PM says countries can't count on NATO to protect them. rt.com 
Viktor Orban gave an interview on relations with the EU and sanctions against Russia | Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday morning that he felt he couldn't count on the Western bloc when it comes to real action concerning the country's security. | "NATO will protect us when we are ready to defend ourselves. Anyone who thinks NATO will protect us is wrong," he Orban praised the fact that Hungary had managed to…
(2022-03-04). RT broadcast restored in Serbia. rt.com 
The Balkan nation's public broadcaster readmitted Russian channels to its cable network | Serbian public broadcaster Telekom Srbija has restored RT and RTD, the Russian news and documentaries channels, to its cable package, RT announced on Friday. However, privately-owned SBB has kept the Russian channels blocked there, "despite having the technical capability" to resume their broadcast, Sasha Savicevic, an RT officer for distribution in Europe and Africa said. | Russian channels went down in Serbia when the EU blocked its signal as part of a package of sanctions against Moscow in retaliation for its invasion…
(2022-03-04). Taiwan should be recognized as a 'free and sovereign country — former top US diplomat. rt.com 
Mike Pompeo declared that diplomatic recognition of Taipei "can no longer be ignored" | Speaking during a visit to the island on Wednesday, former United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that America should diplomatically recognize Taiwan as a "free and sovereign country." | "It is my view that the United States government should immediately take necessary and long-overdue steps to do the right and obvious thing, that is to offer the Republic of China (Taiwan) America's diplomatic recognition as a free and sovereign country," Pompeo said. | He chose to refer to the island as the Republic of China, Ta…
(2022-03-04). Airbnb stops working in Russia. rt.com 
The home rental service is the latest foreign company to suspend operations in the country | American peer-to-peer lodging service Airbnb is putting its operations in Russia and Belarus on hold, the company's CEO Brian Chesky has said. | "Airbnb is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus," Chesky announced in a tweet on Friday. | The US entrepreneur had a Ukrainian flag added to his name on Twitter, which suggests the move is likely a response to Russia's invasion of the country. | On Monday, Chesky said Airbnb was offering short-term housing for free to some 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. | Airbnb is sus…
(2022-03-04). Russia cancels space launch with OneWeb satellites. rt.com 
The scheduled deployment has been scrapped due to the political hostility over Ukraine | Russia has canceled the scheduled Friday launch of its Soyuz-2.1b rocket, after the London-headquartered company OneWeb, the owner of the payload, refused to provide additional legal guarantees that its satellites would not be used for military purposes. | The cancelation came as no surprise — on Thursday, OneWeb
(2022-03-04). Sanctions on tycoon's empire dropped except for yacht and jet. rt.com 
A special license has authorized transactions involving Alisher Usmanov's assets, except for his yacht and jet | The US Treasury has withdrawn businessman Alisher Usmanov's companies from sanctions lists, on the same day it imposed them, leaving only his superyacht and private aircraft blocked. | Announcing on March 3 that Usmanov had been put on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)'s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list, the Treasury described Usmanov as an "affiliate" of Russian president Vladimir Putin and "one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires with vast holdings across multiple…
(2022-03-04). Russian MoD responds to Zaporozhskaya nuclear power station incident. rt.com 
The Russian military says Kiev staged "a horrible provocation" | The spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov, issued an official statement on Friday morning concerning the shootout and fire that had occurred at Ukraine's Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant earlier the same day. | "Last night, an attempt to carry out a horrible provocation was made by Kiev's nationalist regime on the area surrounding the station," he announced, claiming the Russian troops patrolling the territory had been attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage group. | According to the spokesman, the Ukrainian forc…
(2022-03-04). Russia criminalizes 'disinformation' about army. rt.com 
Moscow has also accused Washington of launching an information war over the conflict in Ukraine | Russian lawmakers have approved legislation that could see people put behind bars for up to 15 years if found guilty of peddling so-called false information about the actions of the army, amid Moscow's military operation in Ukraine. | On Friday, the lower chamber of Russia's parliament voted to introduce the law to heavily penalize citizens spreading fake allegations against the country's armed forces. | The chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, weighed in on the move, insisting that it is needed "to pro…
(2022-03-04). Belarus reveals when its new constitution will take effect. rt.com 
According to the country's embattled president, its introduction 'will go down in the textbooks' | Minsk's revised constitution will take effect in mid-March, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has revealed, following a nationwide vote on the proposed changes. However, critics have warned that the amendments pave the way for the long-term leader to maintain his grip on power. | In a statement on Friday, the former Soviet Republic's veteran leader hailed the outcome of the referendum held on 27 February. According to the election commission, 65% of Belarusians who cast their ballots were in favor of the…
(2022-03-04). Russia unable to appeal Beijing Paralympic ban. rt.com 
Russian Paralympians are set to depart Beijing after being denied the right to compete at the 2022 Winter Games | Russian athletes will leave Beijing in the near future after officials said they would be unable to appeal against the decision to ban them from the 2022 Winter Paralympics. | The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced a reversal in its policy on Thursday, moving to suspend Russian and Belarusian athletes completely from the Beijing Games despite clearing them to compete as neutrals just one day previously. | In performing its U-turn, the IPC cited the threat of boycotts from other coun…
(2022-03-04). Cause of death released for US women's college soccer hero. rt.com 
A medical examiner has issued information on Stanford captain Katie Meyer's death | A medical investigation in California has ruled that the death of 22-year-old Stanford captain Katie Meyer, who went viral in 2019 for saving two penalties in vital collegiate game in the United States, was self-inflicted. | Meyer was found dead in a campus dormitory at Stanford University, with a statement from Santa Clara County confirming that her death, while tragic, was not suspicious and that no foul play is suspected. | Specific details of Meyer's death were not made public but the medical examiner called upon US media "
(2022-03-04). FIFA facing calls over transfers from Russia — reports. rt.com 
FIFA has been urged to provide a path for players to leave the Russian Premier League | Russian football could be set for the departure of a host of foreign players amid calls for FIFA to reopen the transfer window to allow stars a route out of the country should they wish to do so. | The Polish Football Association, which has been critical of Russian football infrastructure since the beginning of Moscow's military offensive in Ukraine, is
(2022-03-04). Granovskaia future under new Chelsea owners 'linked to Abramovich'. rt.com 
Groups interested in buying the club are said to be open to working with the Director known as 'the most powerful woman in football' | Hugely influential Chelsea Director Marina Granovskaia could retain her role at the Premier League giants if she cuts her ties to outgoing owner Roman Abramovich, reports have said amid claims that a group led by Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss could bid for the club as soon as Sunday. | Russian-Canadian businesswoman Granovskaia has been widely recognized as one of the key figures in Chelsea's immense success as one of Abramovich's most trusted colleagues since he took over in…
(2022-03-04). Russia reacts to US senator's Putin assassination plea. rt.com 
Senator Lindsey Graham's call for a plot to kill the Russian president is "unacceptable and outrageous," Russian ambassador to the US said | Republican Senator Lindsey Graham pleaded on Thursday for "somebody in Russia" to "step up to the plate" and assassinate President Vladimir Putin, and who would thus do the country and the world "a great service." The Russian ambassador to Washington has rebuked the remarks, calling them "unacceptable and outrageous." | The South Carolina senator advocated assassinating Putin during an appearance on Fox News, and cited historic examples of plots to kill famous political l…
(2022-03-04). Google takes new Russia measure. rt.com 
The search engine and related services like YouTube have suspended advertising over the Ukraine crisis | US tech giant Alphabet Inc, which owns the search engine Google and video hosting platform YouTube, has suspended all advertising in Russia, it said on Thursday, as reported by Reuters. | "In light of the extraordinary circumstances, we're pausing Google ads in Russia," the company said in a statement. "The situation is evolving quickly, and we will continue to share updates when appropriate." | The decision was taken after the Russian media regulator RKN ordered the firm to suspend ads that show "inaccurat…
(2022-03-04). UK could struggle to sanction Russian 'oligarchs' — media. rt.com 
Punitive measures could take "weeks and months," according to The Times | Russia's wealthiest tycoons may not be hit immediately by British embargos, a media report has claimed, alleging that the government has been unable to build a substantive case against them. | In a report published by The Times on Thursday, it was alleged that the Foreign Office and National Crime Agency have so far failed to mount "reasonable grounds" for targeting the most influential moguls, such as Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, with sanctions because "they have struggled to link their finances to" Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(2022-03-04). Ukraine issues FIFA plea over World Cup match. rt.com 
Ukraine are due to play Scotland in a World Cup playoff match later in March | The Ukrainian football authorities have formally asked FIFA to postpone their World Cup playoff semifinal against Scotland, which is scheduled to be played in Glasgow later this month. | The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) lodged the request with the global football governing body amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. | Ukraine are due to play Scotland at Hampden Park on March 24. Should the Ukrainians win, they would face either Wales or Austria on March 29 with a place at the 2022 Qatar World Cup at stake. | FIFA has conf…
(2022-03-04). Paralympic cauldron lit at opening ceremony. ecns.cn The Paralympic cauldron for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games has been lit at the National Stadium.
(2022-03-04). BBC, Deutsche Welle, and other websites restricted in Russia. rt.com 
The news outlets are being "limited" by the country's media regulator amid the conflict in Ukraine | Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor limited access to Radio Svoboda (Radio Liberty) and blocked the Meduza news outlet website on Friday morning, its registry of restricted internet resources shows. Both had been designated "foreign agents." Access to the websites of the German newspaper Deutsche Welle and BBC has also been restricted. | According to the watchdog, access was limited after a decision taken by Russia's general prosecutor in accordance with regulations to limit websites that contain "appeals for…
(2022-03-04). Global supply chain: Rail industry prioritizes profits over safety. workers.org 
The global supply chain crisis, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, has laid bare systemic problems within global capitalism — when and where goods are produced to how they are transported and the growing disparity between the bosses' wealth versus the wages and benefits paid to millions of workers throughout this . . . |
(2022-03-04). Opening ceremony of 2022 Winter Paralympics begins in Beijing. ecns.cn The opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games got underway at the National Stadium here on Friday night.
(2022-03-04). Record-breaking trans swimmer opens up on controversy. rt.com 
The swimming star has been a focus for fierce debate in the US | Record-breaking University of Pennsylvania swimming star Lia Thomas says she felt "reinvigorated" after becoming a woman and insisted she avoids "negativity and hate" from critics. | National competitor Thomas has been at the center of outrage from some after coming close to collegiate records in the pool, regularly scoring emphatic victories over her nearest rivals in results that have led to suggestions that her participation against athletes born as women is unfair. | That has partly reignited the row around hormone levels in transgender athle…
(2022-03-04). Xi attending opening ceremony of Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. ecns.cn Chinese President Xi Jinping is attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, held at the National Stadium in Beijing on Friday night.
(2022-03-04). If the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Is Subverting Democracy—Why Aren't Some of the Left Media Calling It Out? covertactionmagazine.com NED's history should lead to it being renamed the "National Endowment for Attacking Democracy," as journalist Stephen Kinzer suggests. On …
(2022-03-04). International silence fuels Israeli persecution. electronicintifada.net Deprived of a fair trial, jailed human rights defenders take plea deals.
(2022-03-04). Venezuela Approves Report on Crimes Committed by 2016-2020 Opposition Parliament. orinocotribune.com Earlier today, the special commission of the Venezuelan National Assembly (AN) investigating the crimes perpetrated against the country by the AN board of the 2016-2020 term presented the conclusions of its report. The report provided an account of the actions harmful to Venezuela that were carried out by the extreme right. | The document was approved unanimously, and the president of the commission, José Brito, during the regular session of Thursday, mentioned that there are 442 individuals involved in the investigation. Of these, 203 are former deputies. | The additional 239 are people designated by former depu…
(2022-03-04). China pledges more vaccines for developing nations. ecns.cn China is the world's largest provider of COVID-19 vaccines, Zhang Yesui, spokesman for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, told a news briefing on Friday.
(2022-03-04). UK attendees speak on WSWS webinar "Fight Covid! Save lives! Stop the drive to World War III!" wsws.org Workers and youth in Britain who attended Saturday's World Socialist Web Site international online webinar, "Fight Covid! Save lives! Stop the drive to World War III!", have spoken to the WSWS about their thoughts on the important event. We publish further responses here.
(2022-03-04). China provides majority global COVID-19 vaccines: NPC spokesperson. ecns.cn China has provided the most COVID-19 vaccines to the world so far, said the spokesperson for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, on Friday.
(2022-03-04). 5th session of 13th National Committee of CPPCC to open. ecns.cn The fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will open at the Great Hall of the People Friday afternoon.
(2022-03-04). Saturday 3/12: Still We Rise-Women Rebel Against All Odds International Women's Day Celebration. indybay.org Zoom Event. Please register in advance at tinyurl.com/IWD-22…
(2022-03-04). (Two Sessions Voice) China has offered 2.1 bln doses of vaccines to over 120 countries: spokesperson. ecns.cn China has provided 150 countries and 13 international organizations with many masks, protective clothing, ventilators, testing equipment and other anti-pandemic materials, said Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the 5th session of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at a press conference on Thursday.
(2022-03-04). Marxist IQ: Women in history. cpusa.org 
The Marxist IQ for Women's History Month is dedicated to women who struggle for democracy, socialism, and peace. 1. International Women's Day was first established by the Socialist International (Second International) in solidarity with an early twentieth-century strike of women workers in a. London. b. Berlin. c. New York. d. Paris. 2. Women …
(2022-03-04). Ukrainian American Journalist: Putin's Unjust War Is Emboldening Ukraine's Far-Right Movement. democracynow.org 
We speak with Ukrainian American journalist Lev Golinkin about the rise of the far right in Ukraine. Golinkin says Russian bombing of the sacred Jewish site of Babi Yar disproves Putin's claims that the invasion is about "denazification," and attacks on cities in eastern Ukraine show he does not care about Russian-speaking Ukrainians either. He also speaks about the neo-Nazi presence within his home country, saying, "Ukraine's far right is the primary benefactor on the Ukraine side of this war because they now get to attract people from all over the world, and they get to be seen as…
(2022-03-04). International censorship mounted against Russian state-affiliated media outlets. wsws.org A campaign of censorship against Russian state-backed media sources has been led by the European Union and embraced by tech companies, social media platforms and cable television providers.
(2022-03-04). Sri Lankan action committee holds a successful online meeting in defence of Julian Assange. wsws.org Speakers insisted that the fight to release Julian Assange depends on a political movement of the working class based on socialist policies and in opposition to the capitalist system and all its institutions.
(2022-03-04). Sri Lankan unions begin campaign for minimum wage rise. peoplesdispatch.org 12 unions have launched a joint campaign to demand an increment in the minimum wage of private sector employees after the government decided to exclude them from a scheme granting a monthly increment of 5,000 LKR (USD 25) to pensioners and public sector employees…