2021-02-17: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media! (Copy the text of the postee below, then paste it on social media and the story images will also appear.)

COVID-19 Has Made Americans Lonelier Than Ever — Here's how AI can Help
Real Progressives | realprogressives.org | 2021-02-17
Laken Brooks, University of Florida | "How does that make you feel?" | In the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are missing a sympathetic ear. Would a response like that make you feel heard, less alone, even if it were a machine writing back to you? | The pandemic has contributed to chronic loneliness. Digital tools like video chat and social media help connect people who live or quar…
realprogressives.org/covid-19-made-americans-lonelier-ai-can-help/

Paraguay to Receive First Batch of Sputnik V Vaccines
telesurenglish.net | 2021-02-17
Paraguay's President Mario Abdo on Wednesday thanked Russia's President Vladimir Putin for supplying his country with Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines. | RELATED: | Six Inmates Die in a Riot in Paraguay's Main Prison | "I hold an excellent telephone conversation with President Putin. We agreed to push for a shipment schedule for more COVID-19 vaccine batches as soon as possible," Abdo tweeted. | The first 4,000 Sputnik V doses should arrive in this South American country early Friday mo…
telesurenglish.net/news/Paraguay-to-Receive-First-Batch-of-Sputnik-V-Vaccines-20210217-0013.html

Biden promises vaccines available to all Americans by end of July, 'significantly' less social distancing & masks a year from now
rt.com | 2021-02-17
President Biden has predicted a "very different circumstance" for the US' Covid-19 outbreak by Christmas, saying some 600 million vaccine doses will be ready by July while noting that he's been advised against 'over-promising.' | Biden waxed optimistic about the ongoing viral outbreak during a CNN town hall event on Tuesday, declaring that "by next Christmas, I think we'll be in a very different circumstance, God willing, than we are today." He said the improvement would be further helped along if an inoculation developed by Johnson & Johnson receives FDA approval, as it is expected to sometime this month. | "
rt.com/usa/515770-biden-vaccines-masks-pandemic/

'Breathing is optional': Internet groans after NYC requires double-masking inside federal court buildings
rt.com | 2021-02-17
Two masks will now be required for those who want to enter a federal court building in Manhattan — but the new Covid-19 guidance has provoked more mockery than applause on social media. | The Southern District of New York announced the rule last week as part of its "phased re-entry plan." Individuals will need to wear two face coverings or be equipped with an N95 mask. The guidelines also specify that bandanas and coverings with vents will not be considered adequ…
rt.com/usa/515810-nyc-double-mask-court-buildings/

In the News: Did Impeachment Make Trump Weaker or Stronger?
The Socialist Program | liberationnews.org | 2021-02-17
This interview is an episode of The Socialist Program with Brian Becker, a podcast providing news and views about the world for those who want to change it. You can follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. On today's "In the News" roundtable, Brian Becker, Nicole Roussell, Esther Iverem and Walter Smolarek discuss the …
liberationnews.org/in-the-news-did-impeachment-make-trump-weaker-or-stronger/

YouTube Censorship and Now What's Happening in Kansas — Thomas Frank
Paul Jay | theanalysis.news | 2021-02-17
Thomas Frank and Paul Jay discuss censorship by monopolies and changes in the political landscape of Kansas, on theAnalysis.news…
theanalysis.news/interviews/youtube-censorship-and-now-whats-happening-in-kansas-thomas-frank/

Texas disaster is what happens when you DON'T pursue a Green New Deal — AOC
rt.com | 2021-02-17
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) has blasted Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the state's infrastructure planning, claiming her Green New Deal would better prepare areas for extreme weather conditions. | "The infrastructure failures in Texas are quite literally what happens when you *don't* pursue a Green New Deal," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Wednesday. | The message appeared to be in response to Abbott criticizing a potential Green New Deal due to many renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines failing in the state's historically cold weather. In an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday ev…
rt.com/usa/515857-aoc-green-new-deal-texas/

"Palestine Must be Demilitarized". According to Israel, there is no "Occupation" of The West Bank and Gaza
Rima Najjar | globalresearch.ca | 2021-02-17
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). | *** | Soapbox (described on Facebook as Russia state-controlled media) is circulating a …
globalresearch.ca/palestine-must-be-demilitarized-according-to-israel-there-is-no-occupation-of-the-west-bank-and-gaza/5737634

Taliban hail NZ troops withdrawal plan from Afghanistan
yenisafak.com | 2021-02-17
The Taliban on Wednesday hailed the announcement by New Zealand to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by May."We welcome the decision by New Zealand that is in line with the Doha agreement," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said in a tweet."We urge all countries that have exhausted their troops in a long unwinnable war in Afghanistan to take similar steps," he added, as NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels to decide on the fate of the Afghan mission.Washington struck a deal with the Taliban last year to withdraw all US forces in exchange for security guarantees. But the new US administration led by President Joe…
yenisafak.com/en/news/taliban-hail-nz-troops-withdrawal-plan-from-afghanistan-3560964

Friday 2/19: SC1.5NCE Not Silence Forum as U.S. Rejoins Paris Climate Agreement
March for Science | indybay.org | 2021-02-17
Online via livestream: www.facebook.com/marchforscience/
indybay.org/newsitems/2021/02/16/18840098.php

The Failure of the Media in Responding to the Lying Right
Dean Baker | cepr.net | 2021-02-17
I posted this Twitter thread this morning. It should be self-explanatory, but it is more than a little infuriating to see the media (not just Thomas Edsall) act like they are innocent bystanders in the rise of an anti-democratic right-wing movement that constantly lies to advance its agenda. The media have agency, but have thus …
cepr.net/the-failure-of-the-media-in-responding-to-the-lying-right/

A Fossil Fuel Fail In Texas
_____ | popularresistance.org | 2021-02-17
As you may have seen on social media, a group of climate deniers, right wing politicians, and fossil fuel industry mouthpieces are spreading a bunch of disinformation about how wind and solar energy is to blame for the current blackouts in Texas. | This is a lie. | In reality, the blackouts in Texas are a fossil fail: the result of our over dependence on a fossil fuel energy system in the era of climate disruption. | Fossil Free Media has pulled together a set of talking points that you can use to share the truth about what's going on in Texas and pushback on the fossil fuel industry's disinformation campaign.
popularresistance.org/a-fossil-fuel-fail-in-texas/

Israeli PM Netanyahu says he had 'friendly and warm' call with US president Biden
rt.com | 2021-02-17
After almost a month in office, US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House confirmed. Netanyahu described the hour-long conversation as friendly and warm. | Tweeting in Hebrew, Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that he had spoken with Biden, saying they discussed the "strong alliance between Israel and the United States," the "Iranian threat," and challenges in the Middle East, among other things. | ◊®◊ê◊© ◊î◊û◊û◊©◊ú◊î ◊ë◊ ◊ô◊û◊&oc…
rt.com/news/515871-biden-netanyahu-first-call/

Parler's new acting CEO invites Trump AND Biden to join 'civil discourse' after platform goes back online
rt.com | 2021-02-17
The interim CEO of the conservative-friendly social media site Parler has invited both President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump to create accounts, encouraging "civil discourse" after announcing the platform's return. | Parler's new acting chief executive, longtime Tea Party activist Mark Meckler, extended the offer to the current and former president during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, saying both are welcome on the site. | "What Parler's really about is being a public square, and a public square is where anybody can come, they can say what they want as long as it's legal. And Dona…
rt.com/usa/515769-parler-invites-trump-biden/

Ex-Qatari premier alleges provocation despite Gulf deal
yenisafak.com | 2021-02-17
A former Qatari premier accused other unnamed Gulf countries of continued provocations against Doha despite a reconciliation deal signed last month.Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani said on Twitter that he had expected a "new era" in relations between Qatar on one side and its fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Egypt on the other."We still see and hear the continuation of some [countries] beating the drums of provocation and statements charged with negativity and incitement," Al-Thani said without specifying any country in particular.He added: "We didn't pay any attention, praise be to God,…
yenisafak.com/en/news/ex-qatari-premier-alleges-provocation-despite-gulf-deal-3560921

BBC criticised over 'hostile' interview with MCB's first female leader
MEE staff | middleeasteye.net | 2021-02-17
BBC criticised over 'hostile' interview with MCB's first female leader | More than 100 public figures sign letter calling for public broadcaster to diversify and better engage with Britain's Muslims | MEE staff | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 19: 10 | Zara Mohammed became both the youngest and first female leader of Muslim Council of Britain last month (Twitter) | More than 100 public figures have signed an open letter to the BBC cri…
www.middleeasteye.net/news/bbc-criticised-hostile-interview-mcb-zara-mohammed

Biden makes long-awaited call to Israel's Netanyahu
MEE staff | middleeasteye.net | 2021-02-17
Biden makes long-awaited call to Israel's Netanyahu | US President Joe Biden spoke to the Israeli PM for around an hour, following much speculation over a month of silence between the two leaders | MEE staff | Wed, 02/17/2021 – 21: 18 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on the phone with US President Joe Biden on 17 February (Twitter/@IsraeliPM) | US President Joe Biden made a much-anticipated call to I…
www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-president-biden-makes-long-awaited-call-israeli-pm-netanyahu

Egypt: Student anger over in-person exams despite Covid-19
Nadda Osman | middleeasteye.net | 2021-02-16
Egypt: Student anger over in-person exams despite Covid-19 | Calls for Minister of Higher Education Khaled Abdel Ghaffar to be dismissed over his comments | Nadda Osman | Tue, 02/16/2021 – 12: 41 | Many have used the minister's comments to highlight the crowded nature of university education and the threat it could pose to the health of students (Screengrab/Social media) | Egypt's Minister of Higher Education Khaled A…
www.middleeasteye.net/news/covid-egypt-students-exams-in-person-anger

The Consonance Of Proyect and Street
Nick Pemberton | counterpunch.org | 2021-02-16
I feel compelled to write a brief defense of two Marxists recently under attack. Who are they? Louis Proyect, the self-described unrepentant Marxist (according to his website, louisproyect.org). and Paul Street who also has a website (paulstreet.org) with his self-description on Twitter being Scary Radical Left Marxist writer. Immanuel Kant has the following quote we…
counterpunch.org/2021/02/16/the-consonance-of-proyect-and-street/

Texas Governor Says Power To Be Restored Soon After Snow Storm
telesurenglish.net | 2021-02-16
The U.S. Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday promised that electricity would begin to be restored to some homes as crews work to repair power plants impacted by a severe winter storm. | "Good news. Results are on the way," Abbott tweeted in the afternoon. | According to the governor's office, Texas is deploying maximum resources to local officials throughout the state to respond to severe winter weather and to restore power. | State agencies are sending resources and personnel to help local officials clear roadways and to assist essential workers, such as healthcare professionals and power grid workers, in ca…
telesurenglish.net/news/Texas-Governor-Says-Power-To-Be-Restored-Soon-After-Snow-Storm-20210216-0019.html

Friday 2/19: SC1.5NCE Not Silence Forum as U.S. Rejoins Paris Climate Agreement
March for Science | indybay.org | 2021-02-16
Online via livestream: www.facebook.com/marchforscience/
indybay.org/newsitems/2021/02/16/18840098.php

The Fania All-Stars Founder Johnny Pacheco Dies
telesurenglish.net | 2021-02-16
Dominican composer and producer Johnny Pacheco, one of the creators of the Salsa music genre, died at 85 on Monday in New York, U.S. | RELATED: | Dominican Republic: University Teachers Go on Strike | Singer Eugenio Perez confirmed the death in a message posted on social media, stating that "his loss is a tragedy for the music world." | On Saturday, the artist's family informed that Pacheco had to be urgently hospitalized with pneumonia at a New York hospital. "Fans, colleagues, and frien…
telesurenglish.net/news/Salsa-Idol-Johnny-Pacheco-Dies-at-85-Years-Old-20210216-0001.html

Rapper Pablo Hasel Sentence Triggers Protests in Spain
telesurenglish.net | 2021-02-16
Spaniards took to the streets on Tuesday night to reject the imprisonment of left-wing rapper Pablo Hasel. Authorities reported at least 1.700 people mobilized in Barcelona as demonstrations took place in other cities. | RELATED: | Rapper Sentenced To Prison for Insulting the Spanish Crown | Under the slogan "freedom for Pablo Hasel," protesters gathered in Lesseps square in Barcelona and clashed with the local police. Social media users shared videos of the police shooting at the…
telesurenglish.net/news/Rapper-Pablo-Hasel-Detention-Triggers-Widespread-Rage-in-Spain-20210216-0017.html

Rapper Sentenced To Prison for Insulting the Spanish Crown
telesurenglish.net | 2021-02-16
Police arrested Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel who was sentenced to prison for a song and tweets that Spanish authorities believe promote violent actions, insult the Crown, and glorify "terrorism." | RELATED: | Mujica Stands in Solidarity With Catalan Political Prisoners | On Tuesday, dozens of security agents entered the Lleida University's rectorate, where Hasel had been holed up since Friday when the deadline for him to turn himself in voluntarily ended. | The singer locked himsel…
telesurenglish.net/news/Rapper-Sentenced-To-Prison-for-Insulting-the-Spanish-Crown-20210216-0010.html

Haiti: The masses are still in the streets
G. Dunkel | workers.org | 2021-02-16
A twitter post showed hundreds of students taking to the streets of Delmas, near Port-au-Prince, on the morning of Feb. 13, some carrying pictures of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. They were demanding President Jovenel MoàØse, a U.S. puppet, leave office, especially since his term was over Feb. 7. A much . . . | Continue reading Haiti: The masses are still in the streets at Workers.org
workers.org/2021/02/54485/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-masses-are-still-in-the-streets

How Spanish Can Help Us Survive Viral Times
Ariel Dorfman | counterpunch.org | 2021-02-16
"Una nación bajo Diós, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos." When Jennifer López shouted out that last line of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish during Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, like so many Spanish-speaking Latinos in the United States I felt a sense of pride, a sense of arrival. It was a joy to hear my…
counterpunch.org/2021/02/16/how-spanish-can-help-us-survive-viral-times/

Andrew Yang fails to show his authentic "New Yorker-ness" in a revealing tweet about Shake Shack
Ashlie D. Stevens | salon.com | 2021-02-16
Though many politicians try to engender belonging with their food choices, they often fall short in their endeavors…
salon.com/2021/02/16/yang-attempts-fails-to-show-his-authentic-new-yorker-ness-in-a-revealing-tweet-about-shake-shack/

Spanish police fire rubber bullets after Barcelona protest demanding rapper's release descends into riots (VIDEOS)
rt.com | 2021-02-16
Clashes erupted between protesters and riot police during demonstrations in Catalonia against the arrest of rapper Pablo Hasel, convicted for calling the former Spanish king a thief, with cops in Barcelona firing rubber bullets. | Hasel, whose real name is Pablo Rivadulla Duro, was arrested earlier on Tuesday after barricading himself inside the University of Lleida in Catalonia. He is to serve a nine-month sentence handed down in 2018 over song lyrics and tweets regarding disgraced former monarch Juan Carlos I, and a soci…
rt.com/news/515758-spain-rapper-hasel-catalonia-riots/

Spanish police fire rubber bullets after Barcelona protest demanding rapper's release descends into riots (VIDEOS)
rt.com | 2021-02-16
Clashes erupted between protesters and riot police during demonstrations in Catalonia against the arrest of rapper Pablo Hasel, convicted for calling the former Spanish king a thief, with cops in Barcelona firing rubber bullets. | Hasel, whose real name is Pablo Rivadulla Duro, was arrested earlier on Tuesday after barricading himself inside the University of Lleida in Catalonia. He is to serve a nine-month sentence handed down in 2018 over song lyrics and tweets regarding disgraced former monarch Juan Carlos I, and a soci…
rt.com/news/515758-spain-rapper-hasel-catalonia-riots/

Los Angeles police hunt for alleged 'Valentine's Day meme' mocking George Floyd's death as lawyer demands APOLOGY
rt.com | 2021-02-16
Police in Los Angeles are scouring social media for a photo of George Floyd captioned 'You take my breath away' that was reportedly shared among its officers. The lawyer for the African-American man's family demanded an apology. | "This is beyond insult on top of injury — it's injury on top of death," attorney Benjamin Crump said in a statement on Monday, demanding an apology and that anyone who is involved with the meme be held accountable. "The type of callousness and cruelty within a person's soul needed to do something like this evades comprehension — and is indicative of a much larger problem wi…
rt.com/usa/515656-george-floyd-meme-police/

After being cancelled, Gina Carano's 'Mandalorian' figure sells for big bucks as thousands demand she be rehired by Disney
rt.com | 2021-02-16
Following her firing from Disney's 'The Mandalorian' over conservative social media posts, Gina Carano's support appears to only be growing as her character's action figure is going for hundreds now that it has been discontinued. | Hasbro has announced it will no longer produce figures for Carano's Cara Dune character from the popular Disney Plus series and even revealed this week plans for another production run were scrapped in the wake of her firing. | "Due to recent events, Hasbro was no longer approved to produce any more of this figure," a rep for retailer BigBadToyStore told The Hollywood Reporter. Hasb…
rt.com/usa/515760-gina-carano-figure-mandalorian/

Los Angeles police hunts for alleged 'Valentine's Day meme' mocking George Floyd's death as lawyer demands APOLOGY
rt.com | 2021-02-16
Police in Los Angeles are scouring social media for a photo of George Floyd captioned 'You take my breath away' that was reportedly shared among its officers. The lawyer for the African-American man's family demanded an apology. | "This is beyond insult on top of injury — it's injury on top of death," attorney Benjamin Crump said in a statement on Monday, demanding an apology and that anyone who is involved with the meme be held accountable. "The type of callousness and cruelty within a person's soul needed to do something like this evades comprehension — and is indicative of a much larger problem wi…
rt.com/usa/515656-george-floyd-meme-police/

'Hard hitting journalism': Newsweek mocked for article on Biden winning Mario Kart race against granddaughter
rt.com | 2021-02-16
Newsweek magazine has found itself the object of ridicule after publishing an article about President Joe Biden winning a Mario Kart race against his granddaughter. | In the Monday article, titled, 'Joe Biden, playing as Luigi, wins in Mario Kart race against granddaughter at Camp David', staff writer Marina Watts reported on the details of Biden's video game victory, prompting critics on social media to accuse the magazine of going easy on the new president. | The magazine gushed that Biden spent his first President's Day weekend at Camp David with family. "Despite not being at the same gaming level as his gr…
rt.com/usa/515731-newsweek-mocked-biden-mario-kart/

Turkey files investigation into Dutch lawmaker
yenisafak.com | 2021-02-16
Turkish prosecutors filed an investigation Tuesday into far-right Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders over a social media post seeking to vilify Turkey's president.The chief public prosecutor's office in the capital Ankara said in a statement that the probe involving Wilders, who heads the Party for Freedom, was opened due to a Twitter post "including a photograph and written insult about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Feb. 15."
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-files-investigation-into-dutch-lawmaker-3560848

GOP Attacks Biden Nominee Deb Haaland for Role in Pipeline Protests
Staff | truthout.org | 2021-02-16
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas on Monday highlighted a Wall Street Journal story on Deb Haaland — President Joe Biden's nominee to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior — with a tweet accurately stating: "Interior secretary nominee has joined pipeline protests and opposed fracking." | While C…
truthout.org/articles/gop-attacks-biden-nominee-deb-haaland-for-role-in-pipeline-protests/

Democrats Threw Away the Chance to Call Witnesses. I'm Still Not Over It
Staff | truthout.org | 2021-02-16
"FIFTY-FIVE VOTES TO HEAR WITNESSES," I giddily announced on Facebook at precisely 10: 30 a.m. on Saturday, February 13. "Collins, Sasse, Murkowski, Graham (!!!) and Romney included." I could scarcely believe it; all throughout the abbreviated impeachment trial of Donald Trump, the possibility of calling actual witnesses had seemed remote at best… until five Republicans crossed the pond to skate with the Democrats. The managers had won the day in a rout, and the world could now learn precisely wha…
truthout.org/articles/democrats-threw-away-the-chance-to-call-witnesses-im-still-not-over-it/

'Don't you like to party?': Model ex-wife of Man City star says police fined her for 'being too hot' after Covid-19 breach (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2021-02-15
Rita Johal, the ex-wife of Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, has claimed she was "fined for being too hot" after police interrupted a private party she attended in violation of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions imposed in the UK. | The model and aspiring pop star took to social media, where she has more than half a million followers, to share the story of the incident, posting a video which showed her being surrounded by police officers who fined her for breaking lockdown rules. | According to videos uploaded by the 28-year-old, she was partying with half a dozen people in a flat in London before police raided…
rt.com/sport/515638-mahrez-wife-covid-party-video/

'We will not be canceled': Social media platform Parler RELAUNCHES after being axed by Big Tech following Capitol riots
rt.com | 2021-02-15
Social media app Parler is back online after being booted off the servers of Amazon Web Services last month in the wake of the Capitol riots, after it was accused of allowing threats of violence to be shared on the platform. | …
rt.com/usa/515637-parler-relaunches-big-tech-canceling/

Protests in India over arrest of climate activist
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2021-02-15
Scores of people have demonstrated in the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Mumbai after a climate activist was arrested for circulating a document on social media supporting months of massive protests by farmers. | Disha Ravi was arrested in Bengaluru on Saturday. | Police said at a news conference on Monday that the document spread misinformation about the farmer protests on the outskirts of New Delhi and "tarnished the image of India". | They say Ravi shared the document with Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, who tweeted it earlier this month. | Activists hold placards demanding the release of Indi…
thecanary.co/global/world-news/2021/02/15/protests-in-india-over-arrest-of-climate-activist/

Austrian government ends lockdown despite spread of coronavirus variant
wsws.org | 2021-02-15
Schools and commerce will be fully reopened despite the fact that infection and death rates remain high and very contagious viral variants are rapidly spreading in the country.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/02/15/auco-f15.html

"Libertad y Justicia Para Todos": How Spanish Can Help Us Survive Viral Times
Ariel Dorfman | commondreams.org | 2021-02-15
A journey into the heart of a language we need now more than ever. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/jenniferlopez.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2021/02/15/libertad-y-justicia-para-todos-how-spanish-can-help-us-survive-viral-times?cd-origin=rss

Kids YouTube channel warns world would suffer if Bill Gates 'disappeared' in BIZARRE VIDEO praising 'respected billionaire'
rt.com | 2021-02-15
An 'educational' YouTube channel targeting children has released a creepy video warning its young viewers that the world would become a much worse place if Microsoft founder Bill Gates and other billionaires disappeared. | In the bizarre video titled 'What if Bill Gates Disappeared?' and labeled with the hashtags #kids, #children, and #education, the narrator cautions that if Gates disappeared, "a highly respected billionaire will be missed by many." | Released in January, but only gaining attention in recent days, the animation shows two cartoon men labeled as 'Clean Energy' and 'Doctors Association', crying…
rt.com/usa/515616-kids-youtube-channel-bill-gates/

On Presidents Day, a crowd of supporters turns out in Florida to cheer Trump (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2021-02-15
Joe Biden may be in the White House, but the media are still obsessed with Donald Trump — as are his supporters, who organized an impromptu Presidents Day rally in Florida and cheered him as he drove back to Mar-a-Lago. | It was Trump's name and not Biden's that trended on social media Monday, as Americans observed a federal holiday inspired by their first president, George Washington. That was even before videos of a substantial crowd lining the road to Trump's resort in West Palm Beach, Florida began to appear. | This is unbelievable! 45 returns to Mar-a-Lago this afternoon, after an awesome day out on…
rt.com/usa/515653-trump-florida-crowd-rally/

Sean Penn mocked for 'religious ignorance' after he calls Satan 'Satin' and assumes protestants follow the Vatican
rt.com | 2021-02-15
Hollywood actor and liberal activist Sean Penn was ridiculed on social media after he appeared to assume evangelical Protestants are led by the Vatican, and referred to Satan as "Satin." | "Evangelical leaders should themselves be impeached by the Vatican if they themselves don't follow Nikki Haley's lead & clearly state they should not have followed Satin into the bowels of hell. But, perhaps they are too busy at sex parties," tweeted Penn on Saturday, seemingly frustrated at the lack of evangelical leaders who hav…
rt.com/usa/515592-sean-penn-ridiculed-religious-ignorance/

After 19 days anti-HS2 protester leaves Euston tunnel network to 'allow others to stay longer'
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2021-02-15
Another of the anti-HS2 campaigners occupying a network of underground tunnels near Euston station has voluntarily left overnight. | Pictures show HS2 Rebellion protester Scotty, also known as Digger Down, being escorted away from the premises by police after emerging from the tunnel system just after midnight on Monday. | In a Facebook post on Sunday evening, Scotty said he was opting to leave the tunnels voluntarily after 19 days in order to "ease the pressure on resources (and) allow others to stay longer". | He said: "I have nothing to prove by being the last one in so have decided to volunteer my exit. | Sco…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2021/02/15/after-19-days-anti-hs2-protester-leaves-euston-tunnel-network-to-allow-others-to-stay-longer/

Mashallah: | Ertugrul | actor praises Pakistani children for recreating scene from Turkish | saga
yenisafak.com | 2021-02-15
The ever-strengthening bonds between Ankara and Islamabad reached a pinnacle following the success of Turkey's historical drama "Resurrection: Ertugrul," as Turkey's sultans and warriors made Pakistan their second home, signing multiple contracts with local brands, attending charity events, and even donating blood to children.Now, one special star of the sword-fighting saga, who shot to fame with Ertugrul, was particularly moved when Pakistani children recreated an epic battlefield scene from the smash hit TV series.Posting the viral video on his Instagram stories, Celal Al, best known for his character of Abdurr…
yenisafak.com/en/life/mashallahertugrulactor-praises-pakistani-children-for-recreating-scene-from-turkishsaga-3560780

Turkish FM blasts 'West's double standard' on terrorism
yenisafak.com | 2021-02-15
"Western world's double standard on terrorism and its selective approach about 'good terrorist' and 'bad terrorist' continue," said Mevlut Cavusoglu on Twitter, using hashtags #PKKisaHeinousTerroristOrganisation and #PKKExecutesCivilians.Cavusoglu's statement came after the bodies of 13 Turkish citizens, martyred by PKK terrorists, were found in a cave during Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Iraq.The top Turkish diplomat shared his message both in Turkish and English.The US State Department also issued a statement to offer its condolences over the killing of Turkish citizens five hours after Cavusoglu's…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkish-fm-blasts-wests-double-standard-on-terrorism-3560774

Turkey nabs 18 PKK suspects across country
yenisafak.com | 2021-02-15
Security forces in eastern Turkey arrested a total of 12 suspects Monday over alleged links to the PKK terrorist organization.Prosecutors in Agri province launched an investigation into 13 suspects named by others previously arrested for PKK links.The gendarmerie command team arrested 12 out of the 13 suspects on charges of assisting an armed terrorist organization.Operations to arrest the remaining suspect are ongoing.Six other suspects who allegedly spread PKK propaganda over social media were also arrested by the counter-terrorism teams in simultaneous operations in the northwestern Balikesir province.Operatio…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-nabs-18-pkk-suspects-across-country-3560776

Backlash in Morocco as Algerian show features puppet of King Mohammed VI
Nadda Osman | middleeasteye.net | 2021-02-15
Backlash in Morocco as Algerian show features puppet of King Mohammed VI | Supporters of the 57-year-old monarch decry his satirical depiction as a 'red-line' | Nadda Osman | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 13: 43 | A puppet of the Moroccan king is quizzed about controversial topics on an Algerian show on 13 February 2021 (Screengrab/YouTube) | A satirical show broadcast on the Algerian Echorouk channel on Saturday has provoked ang…
www.middleeasteye.net/news/morocco-algeria-satirical-show-sparks-anger-king-mohammed

Leading Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti dies aged 77
Mustafa Abu Sneineh | middleeasteye.net | 2021-02-15
Leading Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti dies aged 77 | The poet spent most of his life in exile in 46 houses in three continents, as he told Middle East Eye in 2019 | Mustafa Abu Sneineh | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 10: 49 | Barghouti was born in the village of Deir Ghassaneh, near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank in 1944 (social media) | The leading Palestinian poet and novelist Mourid Al-Barghouti has di…
www.middleeasteye.net/news/leading-palestinian-poet-mourid-barghouti-dies-aged-77