(2022-03-03). US recalls official memo that hammered nations for being 'in Russia's camp'. rt.com 
The release of a strongly-worded instruction was an "error," according to the State Department | The US has recalled a diplomatic cable that instructed its envoys to tell their Indian and UAE counterparts that their countries were "in Russia's camp" due to their neutral stance on the Ukrainian conflict. | The US State Department had on Monday forwarded the cable — labeled "sensitive, but unclassified" — to American embassies in almost 50 countries represented at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), according to an Axios website report. | The directive was distributed after last week's vote on the US-sp…
(2022-03-03). Boeing impacted by sanctions against Russia. rt.com 
The aircraft manufacturer has been using giant Russian cargo planes to transport supplies to its plants | American multinational corporation Boeing may be impacted by the Biden administration's ban on Russian aircraft in US airspace, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. | Boeing had been contracting giant Antonov An-124 cargo planes, operated by the Russian Volga-Dnepr Group, to move supplies to its plants in the US, potentially meaning the new restrictions will limit the American company's ability to operate out of its base in Washington. | "We work closely with our wide range of supply chain and logistics partne…
(2022-03-03). Japan to freeze assets of Russian businessmen. rt.com 
Assets of four additional banks to be frozen from April 2, finance minister says | Japan's Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki announced on Thursday that Tokyo will freeze the assets of four additional Russian banks from April 2, raising to seven the total number of financial institutions slapped with sanctions. | The Prime Minister's cabinet accepted the decision to freeze the assets of VTB Bank, Sovcombank, Novikombank and Otkritie, according to the Ministry of Finance. The move will be effective from April 2, the ministry said. | The measure is in line with the EU decision to disconnect seven Russian banks fro…
(2022-03-03). Hungary weighs in on reasons for Ukraine war. rt.com 
Russia was not afforded security guarantees, says President Viktor Orban, and energy cooperation with Moscow must continue | War in Ukraine was inevitable, because the US and NATO didn't provide the security guarantees required by Russia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday. | He added that "there were no arguments for curbing our energy cooperation with Russia," despite the ongoing military conflict. | "NATO is steadily expanding eastward, and Russia likes it less and less. The Russians put forward two demands: Ukraine should declare its neutrality and NATO shouldn't accept Ukraine. The Rus…
(2022-03-03). Russia's space agency hits back at US. rt.com 
Roscosmos will no longer ship or maintain rocket engines, or conduct joint projects on the International Space Station | In a tit-for-tat move against restrictions slapped on it by the international community due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, Russia's space agency announced on Thursday that it would be imposing counter-sanctions. | According to the agency's director, Dmitry Rogozin, Roscosmos will halt shipping RD-181 rocket engines to the US and maintaining the 24 engines that are currently owned by the country. | "In this situation, we can no longer provide the US with the best rocket engines in the world. L…
(2022-03-03). Chelsea boss Tuchel comments on Abramovich situation. rt.com 
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says it's 'very hard' to think of Chelsea without Roman Abramovich | Roman Abramovich's decision to sell Premier League team Chelsea will take some time to sink in, says the club's German boss Thomas Tuchel. | It was confirmed on Wednesday evening that the London team is officially on the market after Abramovich opted to sell the club some 19 years after he purchased it, a decision hastened by a wave of UK government sanctions being levied at Russian billionaires in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. | And speaking after Chelsea's 3-2 FA Cup win against Luton Town on Wednes…
(2022-03-03). Russia planning own international sporting events after 'unacceptable' sanctions — minister. rt.com 
Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin has condemned efforts to cut off the country | Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin has said the country is not isolated despite a series of "unacceptable" sanctions from various federations, and that officials would work on developing competitions in Russia which invite international athletes. | Russia was hit was another sporting ban on Thursday when the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be barred from the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, despite clearing them to compete as neutrals just one day previously. | The IPC…
(2022-03-03). Japanese government imposes sanctions on Russia. wsws.org The ruling and opposition parties in Japan are united in condemning Russia while providing a cover for Washington's predatory actions in Europe.
(2022-03-02). Canada sends anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, bans Russian oil imports. wsws.org Together with the United States and Britain, Canada's Liberal government has led the charge of the imperialist powers in imposing devastating sanctions on Russia and supplying Ukraine with armaments following the Putin government's invasion of the country last Thursday.
(2022-03-02). Russia's low-cost war can endure Western sanctions. asiatimes.com 
With a unity unseen since the days of apartheid South Africa, the Western world, and the wider global community, are bringing weighty pressure to bear upon Russia, but the critical metric remains a grim one for the defenders of Ukraine. But calculations about the surprisingly modest operational costs that the world's 11th largest economy is …
(2022-03-02). No troops & weapons for Ukraine, Hungary confirms. rt.com 
Budapest has reiterated its stance on war in Ukraine, stressing it won't allow any military aid to flow through its territory | Hungary will not allow transit nor supply weapons to Ukraine amid the ongoing military conflict with Russia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday, reiterating Budapest's stance. | "We have decided, just like our allies, not to send troops, not to send weapons. And we do not allow the transit supply of lethal weapons through Hungary," the minister said during a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council. | Hungary has deployed additional troops to its ea…
(2022-03-02). UNSC extends arms embargo on Houthis, continues to ignore Saudi-led coalition crimes in Yemen. peoplesdispatch.org In a strongly worded statement, the UNSC labelled the Houthis as a 'terrorist' group despite human rights groups warning against such a move due to its adverse humanitarian and diplomatic consequences for the civilian population in Yemen…
(2022-03-02). Colombia suspends human rights monitoring ahead of elections. colombiareports.com Colombia's ombudsman clashed with human rights officials over an order to suspend human rights monitoring in the field. Ombudsman Carlos Camargo ordered his employees to suspend "field commissions" that verify…
(2022-03-02). Orgies, Jingle Bells, Sex Dinosaur: Hundreds of New Yorkers Complain About Loud Sex, Media Says. sputniknews.com Let's be honest: it's nearly impossible to keep quiet during sex. Moreover, all this moaning is what makes it even more thrilling, but some individuals go to such extremes that you can barely tell whether your neighbours are having the best time of their lives or they are being tortured by a group of Satanists at 4 a.m. on Monday.
(2022-03-02). Corte de Colombia ordena incluir género no binario en documentos. telesurtv.net La Corte avala la apuesta por los derechos a la dignidad humana, a la personalidad jurídica, al libre desarrollo de la personalidad y a la libertad de conciencia.
(2022-03-02). China denuncia que bloqueo de EEUU a Cuba, Irán y Siria viola los derechos humanos. cubadebate.cu Un informe de la Oficina de Información del Consejo de Estado (Gabinete) precisó que la imposición unilateral de esas políticas de castigo dañó a la población de esos países, pues infringió sus garantías y condujo a crisis humanitarias. El documento condenó la existencia de la cárcel en la base naval de Guantánamo, escenario de repetidos escándalos de tortura.
(2022-03-02). El poder de la historia negra. peoplesworld.org 
Black History tiene el poder de descubrir la verdad y exponer las mentiras sobre las contribuciones clave que los negros han hecho para ganar los derechos democráticos para todos. Esto es especialmente cierto en el caso de la Guerra Civil y la Reconstrucción. Ese fue un momento crucial en la historia estadounidense que ha sido …
(2022-03-02). Llegamos en Busca de Asilo, Pero Lo Que Encontramos Fue Peligro. aclu.org Hace un año, gracias a un proceso jurídico, me permitieron cruzar un puente para entrar a los Estados Unidos con mi esposo y mis tres hijas — después de haber pasado más de 16 meses viviendo el peligro y la pobreza, a unos pasos de la frontera del sur. Mi familia sigue intentando sobreponerse al trauma de esta terrible experiencia. Pero ahora, el gobierno de los EE. UU. ha reactivado la política que nos causó tanto sufrimiento, con la que expulsa a los que buscan asilo, enviándolos a la ciudad de Matamoros, México, que está bajo el control de un cartel, lo cual pone en peligro las familias. | Los dichos…
(2022-03-02). My Family Came to Seek Asylum, But Found Danger Instead. aclu.org One year ago, as part of a lawsuit, I was permitted to cross a bridge into the United States with my husband and three daughters — after more than 16 months living in danger and poverty, just beyond the Southern border. Our family is still trying to overcome the trauma of this ordeal. But now, the U.S. government has restarted the policy that caused us so much suffering, expelling asylum-seekers back into the cartel-controlled city of Matamoros, Mexico, and putting more families in danger. | The so-called "Migrant Protection Protocols" (MPP), first introduced by President Trump, required families like ou…
(2022-03-02). Workers Power Day builds solidarity for Amazon, Starbucks workers. workers.org 
In solidarity with Starbucks, Amazon and all worker organizing, the Support Amazon Workers Network declared Feb. 26 a "Workers Power Day." That day, the 10th anniversary of the racist murder of Trayvon Martin, was chosen to link the struggle for worker rights to the struggle against racism. Actions were held . . . |
(2022-03-02). China to issue white paper on parasports. ecns.cn China's State Council Information Office will release a white paper titled "China's Parasports: Progress and the Protection of Rights" at 10 a.m. Thursday, and a press conference will be held by the office.
(2022-03-02). Sunday 3/20: The Joy of Conflict: A Nonviolent Approach. indybay.org Berkeley Animal Rights Center | 2425 Channing Way Berkeley, CA 94704…
(2022-03-02). Abortion Justice Action at St. Mary's Cathedral, SF, Feb. 27, 2022. indybay.org Sunday, Feb 27 the Bay Area Coalition Riseup 4 Abortion Rights and Raging Grannies held a protest including civil disobedience for Abortion Justice. Red cloaked handmaidens disrupted the noon mass at St Mary's Cathedral in SF and then a Speak-Out was held on the sidewalk. Here is a 1 min video from the action.
(2022-03-02). Police sent to the home of Michigan parent protesting the end of school mask mandate. wsws.org In a blatant attack on First Amendment rights and an act of intimidation, the police visited the home of a parent protesting the rescinding of school mask mandates.
(2022-03-02). Tears for Ukraine, Sanctions for Russia, Yawns for Yemen, Arms for Saudis: The West's Grotesque Double Standard. mintpressnews.com 
The speed of Western retaliation over Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised eyebrows among Yemenis who have endured a relentless bombing campaign and deadly air, land, and sea blockade for 2,520 consecutive days.
(2022-03-02). West Intensifies Economic Warfare Against Russia. popularresistance.org Delivering his annual state of union address, US president Joe Biden announced the decision to close its airspace for all Russian flights on Tuesday, March 1. He accused Russia of rejecting "efforts of diplomacy" and called president Vladimir Putin's decision to send armies to Ukraine a "badly miscalculated" move. However, Biden also announced that the US will not fight against Russia directly. | The announcements of sanctions against Russia and its boycott by various countries and individual corporations continued on Tuesday. Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, announced its withdrawal from the European market foll…
(2022-03-02). Bitcoin Spikes To $44K As Russians Thought To Be Buying. moguldom.com The price of Bitcoin spiked above $44,000 on March 1 with $300 million in liquidations accompanying its surge amid reports that the No. 1 crypto was trading for up to $20,000 above the market rate on Russian exchanges. The ruble, now worth $0.01, has sunk to record lows against the dollar. Sanctions against Russia by the …
(2022-03-02). Russia sanctions could backfire on EU economy — European Commission. rt.com 
The bloc's economic growth and energy supplies are likely to be negatively affected | The war in Ukraine and the ensuing sanctions against Russia could harm Europe's energy supplies and stall its economic growth, European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni warned on Wednesday. | Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, he said Europe may encounter problems in the supply of energy resources — more precisely, the supply of Russian gas — and needs to be ready for such an outcome. | "Russia's invasion of Ukraine will likely impact growth negatively, including through repercussions on financial m…
(2022-03-02). Russia is now exclusively a ruble country. rt.com 
Neither citizens, nor companies will be able to pay in foreign currency | Russian citizens and companies will no longer be able to pay off their foreign debts with currencies other than the ruble, the country's central bank announced on Wednesday. | Earlier reports also said the central bank had temporarily banned financial institutions from making money transfers from Russia abroad to non-residents, namely citizens of countries that have placed sanctions on Russia. According to business outlet RBC, the regulator sent a letter with the corresponding order to credit institutions on March 1. The ban is effective…
(2022-03-02). Russia's largest bank leaves EU. rt.com 
The announcement comes as a number of the country's financial institutions become subject to heavy sanctions | Russia's key state bank has revealed that it will pull out of the European Union's financial markets, citing threats to the safety of employees and its branches in the wake of Moscow's attack on Ukraine. | In a statement on Wednesday, Sberbank announced that the decision had been made as a result of its subsidiary banks facing "an abnormal outflow of funds." The financial giant also claimed that its employees and branches were under threat. | "Due to the instruction of Russia's Central Bank, Sberbank…
(2022-03-02). US announces sanctions on Russian defense firms. rt.com 
New round of sanctions also extends export controls to Belarus | The White House has placed blocking sanctions on 22 Russian defense companies and extended export controls to tech exports that support oil refining, the administration revealed on Wednesday. The latest round of sanctions also expands the export controls already placed on Russia to include Belarus, which Washington has accused of "enabling Putin's invasion of Ukraine." | The extension of export controls is designed to "prevent diversion of items, technologies, and software through Belarus to Russia," a fact sheet released by the White House expla…
(2022-03-02). 'Sports genocide' being waged against Russian athletes, says union. rt.com 
The Russian Union of Athletes pointed to a lack of punishment for others who have launched past military operations | The Russian Union of Athletes has released a scathing attack on the sanctions being imposed by global federations against Russian and Belarusian competitors, calling them a "sporting genocide." | The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended on Monday that Russian and Belarusian athletes be banned from international competition across all sports, or failing that perform as neutrals without their country's national anthem or flag. | A host of international sporting federations have sinc…
(2022-03-02). Boycotting Russia compulsory, while boycotting Israel is punished. electronicintifada.net Unlike Moscow, the US faced no sporting sanctions after it invaded Iraq.
(2022-03-02). 'I'm proud to be Russian,' says football star after being targeted by Ukraine players. rt.com 
Artem Dzyuba said he is against discrimination as he answered Ukraine star Vitaliy Mykolenko's online callout | Russian football star Artem Dzuyba has broken his silence on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine which has led to an unprecedented ban on athletes from his homeland, after he was accused of failing to comment on the situation by Everton's Ukrainian star Vitaliy Mykolenko. | Mykolenko, who joined the Premier League side from Dynamo Kiev in the January transfer window, slammed Dzyuba online for failing to speak out against the Russian offensive, claiming that sanctions imposed on Russia will lead to him be…
(2022-03-02). Ukraine puts ASEAN in 'with us or against us' bind. asiatimes.com 
SINGAPORE AND PRAGUE — Singapore and Indonesia are so far the only Southeast Asian states to openly condemn Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the wealthy city-state going as far as to announce sanctions on Moscow earlier this week. For the most part, however, analysts reckon most of the region's governments will aim to keep …
(2022-03-02). Ukraine war tests Israel's relations with Jews worldwide. asiatimes.com 
As Ukraine remains consumed by fierce fighting, fresh geopolitical calculations are taking shape worldwide. Jolted into action, European nations led by Germany have promised to increase their military budgets and impose harsh sanctions on Russia. Few countries have remained neutral about this conflict. Given its "special friendship" with the United States, Israel's tepid response to …
(2022-03-02). Sanctions produce chaos in Russian financial system. wsws.org French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said yesterday that the financial sanctions imposed by the EU and the US were being used to wage "total economic war against Russia."
(2022-03-02). Why the sanctions won't topple Putin. asiatimes.com 
Russia knows sanctions. In 2009, the death of Moscow anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in custody motivated Bill Browder, an entrepreneur who used to work in Russia and employ him, to lobby the US government to introduce sanctions against Russia. US sanctions were duly applied to 18 people in 2013 who had been directly related to …
(2022-03-02). Intensive consultations between Iran, P4+1 continue in Vienna. en.mehrnews.com Consultations between the delegations of Islamic Republic of Iran and representatives of P4+1 group of countries including UK, Russia, China, France and Germany are underway in Vienna on the removal of anti-Iranian sanctions.
(2022-03-02). The impact of removing Russian banks from SWIFT. america.cgtn.com 
A number of Russian banks are now banned from the vital international payment system SWIFT. As Russia's military operations in Ukraine continue, a tougher sanction being discussed is cutting Russia off completely. Gerald Tan takes a look at the significance of that.
(2022-03-02). Explained: What does expelling Russian banks from the SWIFT system mean? peoplesdispatch.org In the most recent set of sanctions against Russia, the United States and European Union have decided to remove a number of Russian banks from SWIFT.
(2022-03-02). Georgia facing new regime change over not sending fighters to Ukraine. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com The Georgian head of state, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, and his ruling Georgian Dream party are being accused by French-born President Salome Zourabichvili and former president Mikheil Saakashvili, currently in prison, of being Russian agents for not levying sanctions against Russia and not allowing Georgian armed formations to go to Ukraine to fight in the …
(2022-03-02). The Night Biden became President: Pledges Crippling Sanctions on Russia, bans Flights, for Ukraine Aggression. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — Foreign policy abruptly hijacked President Biden's State of the Union Address Tuesday night, making the occasion less partisan that it might otherwise have been. Pundits were always declaring that Donald Trump's response to some crisis was "the day he became president." They made themselves look a little silly, though, since …
(2022-03-02). Russia's RT is biased but banning its news is wrong. asiatimes.com 
YouTube has blocked access across Europe to Russia's state-funded international broadcasters, RT (formerly Russia Today) and Sputnik — including to the UK. The decision follows the announcement on February 27 of expanded sanctions against Russia by the European Commission, which saw RT, Sputnik and their subsidiaries, banned across the EU. These moves come amid increased …
