2021-02-15: News Headlines

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

yenisafak (2021-02-15). US: Pro-India malware spying on Pakistan military. yenisafak.com Two malware programs on an Android-based platform that emerged in India have been spying on the Pakistani military, according to a US-based cybersecurity company.In a Feb. 10 statement, Lookout said it has discovered the two malware, Hornbill and SunBird, which are used by a cyber group named Confucius that first appeared in 2013 as "a state-sponsored, pro-India actor primarily pursuing Pakistani and other South Asian targets.""Targets of these tools include personnel linked to Pakistan's military, nuclear authorities, and Indian election officials in Kashmir," the statement said."Hornbill and SunBird have sophi…

Edward Curtin (2021-02-15). Opening the CIA's Can of Worms. globalresearch.ca "The CIA and the media are part of the same criminal conspiracy," wrote Douglas Valentine in his important book, This is true. The corporate mainstream media are stenographers for the national security state's ongoing …

Support Peace Hero (2021-02-14). Biden Wants to Extradite Peace Hero Assange. indybay.org Proud Democrat Pres Biden's "Justice" Dept is appealing a British decision to not allow extradition of Julian Assange who exposed American war crimes in Iraq. See consortiumnews.com/2021/02/12/biden-doj-files-appeal-to-get-assange-extradited/

Ralph Nader, Bruce Fein (2021-02-14). Democrats' Shameful Cave. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12923215461.jpg

Yves Engler (2021-02-14). Will any MPs criticize Ottawa's Support for Dictatorship in Haiti? dissidentvoice.org The Liberals' commitment to a neo-Duvalierist dictatorship in Haiti is being tested. Hopefully Black History Month offers opposition parties an opportunity to finally echo growing grassroots criticism of Canadian policy in the hemisphere's poorest country. Since Monday a squatter has been occupying the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince. On Sunday evening Supreme Court Justice Joseph Mecene …

RT (2021-02-14). 'Creepy': CIA trolled over baffling Valentine's Day poem on Twitter. rt.com The Central Intelligence Agency left social media users feeling slightly uncomfortable on Valentine's Day with a bizarre bit of poetry in celebration of the romantic holiday. | "Roses are red. Violets are blue. Happy Valentine's Day from the CIA to you!" the controversial government agency tweeted on Sunday. | Creepy ‚ò Ô∏è The tweet was a follow-up to a previous coded message…

Shaan Sachdev (2021-02-14). Trump's Global Grim Reaper, Mike Pompeo. commondreams.org The real reasons he was a shameful Secretary of State, and how Antony Blinken can do better. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12295683141.jpg

_____ (2021-02-14). Government Secrecy Causes Conspiracy Theories. popularresistance.org The DC Circuit has ruled that the CIA is under no obligation to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests pertaining to its involvement with insurgent militias in Syria, overturning a lower court's previous ruling in favor of a Buzzfeed News reporter seeking such documents. | As Sputnik's Morgan Artyukhina clearly outlines, this ruling comes despite the fact that mainstream news outlets have been reporting on the Central Intelligence Agency's activities in Syria for years, and despite a US president having openly tweeted about those activities. | "In other words, the CIA will not be required to admit to act…

Robert Hunziker (2021-02-13). What If Oumuamua Is the Real Deal? dissidentvoice.org Solar system.nasa.gov If Oumuamua is the real deal, meaning an alien craft, then Earthlings are doing some really weird stuff on the scale of alien intelligence. Think about it… If it's an alien craft or drone, there's no way it entered the sun's solar system, swooping within 15M miles of Earth, powered by fossil fuels. …

Eds. (2021-02-13). Lula's arrest is "a gift from the CIA", mocked Lava Jato prosecutor. mronline.org A petition filed with the Federal Supreme Court (STF) by the defence of ex-president Lula presents such new evidence that ex-judge Sergio Moro colluded with foreign authorities in conducting the process which led to the arrest of the Workers Party leader, and his subsequent barring from a run for the presidency in 2018.

Online News Editor (2021-02-13). Haiti appoints new judges in crackdown on judiciary after failed coup. laprensalatina.com By Maria Montecelos Port-au-Prince, Feb 13 (efe-epa).- Haiti has replaced three Supreme Court judges who allegedly participated in a failed bid to overthrow the government of President Jovenel Moise amid a mounting public outrage over when his term ends. The new Supreme Court judges are Octélus Dorvilien, Louiselmé Joseph, and Pierre Harry Alexis. However, their …

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Six of rescued Turkish sailors brought to Abuja embassy. yenisafak.com Six out of 15 rescued Turkish sailors were brought Saturday to the Nigerian capital Abuja under local security forces' guard and reached the Turkish embassy in the city.Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria Melih Ulueren, Turkey's National Intelligence Organization members, and embassy officials welcomed the crew members, who were kidnapped after the cargo vessel had fallen victim to a pirate attack off Nigeria and rescued on Friday.Upon their arrival at the embassy, the sailors talked to their families over the phone.Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ulueren said the worry was over now. "We are very happy to see our citizens…

_____ (2021-02-13). US And NATO Moving Against Russia's Last Buffers. popularresistance.org When in 1990 U.S. Secretary of State James Baker assured Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would not expand one inch eastward after German reunification, he was not alone in making that commitment. Documents declassified a few years ago establish that the same pledge was also made by President George H.W. Bush, West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, CIA Director Robert Gates, French President Francois Mitterrand, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, British Prime Minister Jo…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-02-12). Hearings continue against anti-terror law in the Philippines. peoplesdispatch.org On Tuesday, February 9, the second day of the hearings on Philippines' controversial Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), the Supreme Court continued to receive oral arguments from the petitioners. Lawyers representing 37 petitioners against the law focused their attack on the new law's potential to do away with protections that were earlier afforded to prisoners and the accused. | According to

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2021-02-12). Ignoring Pleas of Press Freedom Defenders, Biden DOJ Files Appeal to Extradite Julian Assange. commondreams.org "The Assange case represents the gravest threat to press freedom in a generation." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12304214301.jpg

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…

Megan Sherman (2021-02-12). UK Labour Party Leader Kier Starmer Loyal Ally of Deep State. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | The supreme appeal of Corbynism consisted in its faith in the …

_____ (2021-02-12). Biden Announces Pentagon Task Force To Review China Policy. popularresistance.org On Wednesday, President Biden announced a new Pentagon task force that will be reviewing the US military's policy towards China, another sign that the new administration is prioritizing confronting Beijing. | Pentagon officials said the task force is a "sprint effort" that will examine things like US troop presence in the region, intelligence, and the role of US allies and partners in countering China. Leading the task force is Ely Ratner, a China hawk who Biden appointed as a special advisor to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. | Before his new position at the Pentagon, Rather worked at the interventionist Cent…

WSWS Repost (2021-02-12). Democrats seek to whitewash Republican Party role in January 6 coup. indybay.org As a party of Wall Street and the military and intelligence agencies, the Democrats are opposed to any real exposure of the social and political forces behind the January 6 coup.