(2020-02-27). Return to Bahrain: Nine Years After the Uprisings, the Nation's Human Rights Record Has Worsened. counterpunch.org It's been nine years since Bahrain's February 2011 uprising. Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in cities and towns across the country to protest the ruling Al Khalifa family's tight grip on power, discrimination against the country's majority Shia population, and arrests of political critics. The 2011 uprising itself came 10 years after the 2001
(2020-02-27). 'One-fifth of heart attacks occur before 50 in Turkey'. yenisafak.com One-fifth of heart attacks occur before patients turn 50 in Turkey, a country with one of the youngest populations in Europe, according to a Turkish cardiologist."20% of heart attacks in Turkey occur before the age of 50, while the average age in European countries is 60-65," Dr. Ozlem Esen, a professor at Altinbas University's medical school in Istanbul, told Anadolu Agency.Esen said heart attack is in the first place among health problems in Turkey with a rate of 42%.Heart attacks were seen only in patients over 60 years of age 20 years ago, Esen said, adding that it can now be seen among those under the age of…
(2020-02-27). Erdogan Notes Fighting in Syria's Idlib Has Gone in Turkey's Favour. sputniknews.com The newspaper Daily Sabah reported earlier today citing Turkey's Defence Minister Hulusi Akar that two Turkish soldiers had been killed in an airstrike in Syria's Idlib Province.
(2020-02-26). As media amplifies unrest in Venezuela and beyond, millions are quietly revolting in Colombia. mronline.org 
Despite protests of historic proportions fueled by anger over corruption and a brutal right-wing crackdown, the unrest in Colombia has garnered remarkably little international media attention compared to Venezuela. |
(2020-02-26). USF students rally against racist administration. fightbacknews.org Tampa, FL – On February 25, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a Black Students Matter rally on campus to bring attention to the racist admissions practices that the administration at the University of South Florida (USF) engages in. | Enrollment of Black students at USF has been declining for years and the percent of Black students at USF was the lowest it's been in the past decade last semester (fall 2019), at 9.4%. This is especially alarming considering that in the Tampa Bay area, where USF is located, Black people comprise 24% of the population. | "We understand how schools like USF parta…
(2020-02-26). Lolita Island Part 2? FBI raid New York HQ of fashion mogul friend of Prince Andrew in sex trafficking probe. rt.com 
The FBI and NYPD have raided the New York offices of fashion exec Peter Nygard as part of a sex trafficking investigation — the fourth such probe of the mogul, who is accused of drugging and raping girls on his Bahamas estate.
(2020-02-26). Sure, but Venezuela is the Narco State… mronline.org 
Venezuelan analyst Oscar Forero contextualises the accusation that Venezuela is immersed in illegal drug activity. |
(2020-02-25). 'Delete his entire campaign': Bloomberg gets roasted after tweeting, then scrubbing, fake Bernie quotes praising 'despots'. rt.com 
Billionaire-turned-Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has taken a severe thrashing on social media, after his campaign posted, and then deleted, fake Bernie Sanders quotes hailing alleged "despots. " | Bloomberg's social media team took aim at the Vermont senator with a series of tweets mocking his factually accurate statement that literacy in Cuba skyrocketed under Fidel Castro. | The official 'Team Bloomberg' Twitter account shot off a series of posts in which they imagined what Sanders perhaps thinks of other "famous despots." The fake quotes included flattering remarks about Stalin ("[he]…
(2020-02-25). Bernie Sanders's Key to Success in Democratic Primary? Organizing in Black & Latinx Communities. democracynow.org 
Senator Bernie Sanders's campaign continues to ride the wave of its decisive victory Saturday in the Democratic presidential caucuses in Nevada. Sanders's win came with support from young voters, union members and Latinx voters, who strengthened his status as Democratic presidential front-runner. He won 73% of the Latino vote in Nevada, a remarkable victory that supporters hope will bode well heading into Super Tuesday and beyond. Through March 17, the Democratic primary calendar will run through seven of the 12 states where Latinx communities constitute at least 10% of the total eligible voting population. | We…
(2020-02-25). Headlines for February 25, 2020. democracynow.org Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Rape, 2020 Democratic Candidates Gear Up for Debate as More Damning Comments by Bloomberg Surface, Bernie Sanders Defends Praise for Fidel Castro's Literacy Program, Protests in India Kill At Least 7 as Trump Continues Visit, Former Egyptian Dictator Hosni Mubarak Dies, U.K. Court Opens Deliberations on Julian Assange's Extradition Case, As Coronavirus Spreads Around the Globe, White House Requests Emergency Funding, China Sentences Bookseller Critical of Chinese Government to 10 Years in Prison, Clashes Between Haitian Police and Soldiers Leave One Dead as Anti-Gov't Protests Rag…
(2020-02-25). One in three Venezuelans not getting enough to eat, UN study finds. news.un.org Hyperinflation in Venezuela means that roughly one-third of the population — more than nine million people — do not get enough to eat and are in need of assistance, according to estimates published on Tuesday by the World Food Programme (WFP).
(2020-02-25). Reality check on Wall Street. fightbacknews.org San José, CA – U.S. stocks got a reality check on Monday, February 24, with the Dow falling more than 1000 points, or 3.5%. The NASDAQ index, with a heavy representation of technology company stocks, fell a bit more, while the broadest measure of the stock market, the S&P 500 fell a bit less. | Almost all the news blamed the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19). While China's firm measures, including locking down virtually the entire province of Hubei, appear to be taking effect as the number of infections seem to be leveling off. Hubei has a population of some 70 million and is where the epicenter of the vir…
(2020-02-24). "A Stupendous Victory": Bernie Sanders Wins Nevada After Heavy Organizing in Latinx Communities. democracynow.org 
Senator Bernie Sanders scored a decisive victory Saturday in the Democratic presidential caucuses in Nevada, riding a wave of support from young voters, union members and Latinx voters, who strengthened his status as front-runner. His win shows the potential for the nation's largest minority group to reshape the next stage of the Democratic presidential race. In the next four weeks, six more of the 12 states with a large Latinx population will vote in the Democratic primary. On Super Tuesday, Texas, California and Colorado go to the polls. Arizona, Florida and Illinois will vote on March 17. We speak with Erika A…
(2020-02-23). UN deputy chief see first-hand toll of climate change on Zimbabwe's natural habitat. news.un.org Alongside the human population, Africa's animals are suffering greatly from the effects of climate change, which United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed saw first-hand on Sunday in Zimbabwe.
(2020-02-20). Venezuela files ICC lawsuit over US sanctions. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-02-19). Latinx Group Mijente Backs Bernie Sanders in First-Ever Presidential Endorsement. democracynow.org 
In its first-ever presidential endorsement, the Latinx and Chicanx organization Mijente endorsed Bernie Sanders on Tuesday ahead of the Nevada caucuses. The group tweeted its decision, saying, "We know that in 2020, Trump's potential re-election is a life-or-death threat for us, for our people, and for our planet. This moment demands a historic mobilization. That's why Mijente is uniting with the movement to elect @BernieSanders." A video accompanied the announcement. After the contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, where the electorate is overwhelmingly white, Nevada is the first election with a diverse population.
(2020-02-06). Embassy Protection Collective: "We Are Not the Ones Who Violated the Law" theantimedia.com In this exclusive interview, VA talks to the activists who defended the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC ahead of their trial.
(2019-12-20). Notes on a private TV newscast in Bolivia. The contrast with Venezuela is clear as day. zcomm.org In August, I took detailed notes a news broadcast on one of Venezuela's largest TV networks. I summarized these notes in an interview I did with the Real News Network making the point that Venezuela's private media (which reaches 60-90% of households) is remarkably free — most especially when you consider the US is openly
(2019-12-16). Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela. zcomm.org Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodriguez, formerly of Torino Economics, answered a few questions of mine about his country. He was the economic adviser to Henri Falcon, the second place finisher in the May 2018 presidential election. His updated estimate for 2019 is that Venezuela's real GDP will contract by 25% . That's horrific, but less severe