(2024-02-16). Capitalism and drug trafficking in Ecuador: Two sides of the same coin. cadtm.org
(2024-02-16). Defusing The Derivatives Time Bomb: Some Proposed Solutions. popularresistance.org This is a sequel to a Jan. 15 article titled "Casino Capitalism and the Derivatives Market: Time for Another 'Lehman Moment'?", discussing the threat of a 2024 "black swan" event that could pop the derivatives bubble. That bubble is now over ten times the GDP of the world and is so interconnected and fragile that an unanticipated crisis could trigger the collapse not just of the bubble but of the economy. To avoid that result, in the event of the bankruptcy of a major financial institution, derivative claimants are put first in line to grab the assets — not just the deposits of customers but their stocks an…
(2024-02-17). Defusing the Derivatives Time Bomb: Some Proposed Solutions. dissidentvoice.org The "protected class" is granted "safe harbor" only because their bets are so risky that to let them fail could crash the economy. But why let them bet at all? This is a sequel to a January 15 article titled "Casino Capitalism and the Derivatives Market: Time for Another 'Lehman Moment'?", discussing the threat of …
(2024-02-17). The WHO and the inability of capitalism to prevent future pandemics. wsws.org The international working class must assimilate the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, above all the inability of capitalism to organize on a global scale to address the current pandemic and prevent future ones.
(2024-02-16). Imperialism and Resistance in the Red Sea. libya360.wordpress.com Jesse Harasta Jesse Harasta describes the complex dynamics of contemporary imperialism and resistance. Understanding a world system divided into Core, Semi-Periphery and Periphery is essential to the workings of global capitalism. Harasta argues that Gulf states have engaged in an active imperial re-peripheralization of the Horn of Africa. Since the beginning of the 2023 Israeli…
(2024-02-17). Capitalism and drug trafficking in Ecuador: Two sides of the same coin. cadtm.org
(2024-02-16). South Africa's failed infrastructure privatisation and deregulation. cadtm.org Introduction
| The South African state is commonly said to be 'failing' — not only because yet again at the end of 2023, a recession hit. An alleged fiscal crisis, in the form of a public debt to GDP ratio in excess of 70 percent (mostly due to Covid-19 revenue shrinkage), prevents the kind of institutional rescue and expansion of infrastructure and services typical of prior eras of developmental- or welfare-state construction.
| A typical articulation of the terrain of infrastructure financing (…) | – |
(2024-02-16). UK falls into recession in huge blow to PM Sunak. presstv.ir Britain's economy fell into a recession, a tough backdrop ahead of election for PM Rishi Sunak .
(2024-02-17). South Africa's failed infrastructure privatisation and deregulation. cadtm.org Introduction
| The South African state is commonly said to be 'failing' — not only because yet again at the end of 2023, a recession hit. An alleged fiscal crisis, in the form of a public debt to GDP ratio in excess of 70 percent (mostly due to Covid-19 revenue shrinkage), prevents the kind of institutional rescue and expansion of infrastructure and services typical of prior eras of developmental- or welfare-state construction.
| A typical articulation of the terrain of infrastructure financing (…) | – |
(2024-02-16). Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, 24, killed in car crash. ecns.cn Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana were killed in a car crash along with his coach at around 11 p.m. Sunday local time in Kenya, according to the Associated Press.
(2024-02-17). Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, 24, killed in car crash. ecns.cn Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana were killed in a car crash along with his coach at around 11 p.m. Sunday local time in Kenya, according to the Associated Press.
(2024-02-16). Eyes on the South: Low intensity conflict & escalation-risk in Lebanon. By: Sammy Ismail. midwesternmarx.com 
Hezbollah fighter, on border guard duty, sitting astride a motorbike blocking the pathway of an Israeli Merkava tank that had broken through the electric fence into Lebanese territories, the photo was taken by Al-Manar correspondent Ali Sheaib, Jalet al-Mahafer, 2022 (Illustrated by: Mahdi Rtail, Al Mayadeen English) More than 100 days have passed since the Al-Aqsa Flood came crashing down on the colonial outpost of US imperialism in West Asia; the tide has been …
(2024-02-16). Unions launch crash drive against GOP commission to cut Social Security. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—The nation's unions have launched a crash drive, trying to mobilize members quickly against a Republican plan for a secretive commission to cut Social Security and Medicare, before House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can rush it through. In a jammed D.C. press conference on February 15, AFGE President Everett Kelley, Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., and …
(2024-02-16). Israeli drone tested in Gaza 'appears at Saudi Defence Expo'. newarab.com 
A previously classified Israeli Developed by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the system comprises drones designed for intelligence gathering, espionage, and even assassination missions. Its centrepiece, the
(2024-02-16). Indian farmer protest continues in face of Modi government's massive deployment of security forces. wsws.org At least a hundred farmers have been injured in clashes with security forces, who have used baton charges, rubber bullets, water-cannon, and copious amounts of tear gas, some of it dropped by drones, to beat back the protesters.
(2024-02-17). Russian Defense shoots down 33 Ukrainian drones over five provinces. plenglish.com Moscow, Feb 17 (Prensa Latina) The air defense destroyed today 33 unmanned aerial vehicles over five provinces of Russia, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Eurasian country.
(2024-02-16). Detienen a individuos que organizaban sabotajes contra Rusia y Belarús. telesurtv.net Los detenidos se aproximaron a la frontera con el uso de drones y portando explosivos que pretendían utilizar para perpetrar sabotajes en Rusia y Belarús.
(2024-02-17). The Russian weapons used in destroying Ukrainian arms depots this week. albawaba.com ALBAWABA – In recent news, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported that they've been targeting military sites and storage areas in Ukraine for the past week.They've been using modern weapons and drones to carry out these attacks, hitting important places like aircraft engine factories, electronics facilities, and places where ammunition is made and kept.The strikes didn't stop there. They also went after factories that supply fuel to the Ukrainian military, as well as storage areas for military gear and places where troops are stationed. These attacks caused significant damage, and the Russian military says the…
(2024-02-16). Mayo Clinic Minute: Closing the gaps in cancer care. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org 2024 could mark a grim milestone in the battle against cancer. In January, the American Cancer Society announced that, for the first time ever, new cancer cases could exceed the 2 million mark. Early detection and the right treatment are among the best weapons to fight cancer. However, today many people don't have equitable access to cancer care because of systemic barriers and health disparities. Mayo Clinic is working to change that with strategic initiatives aimed at health…
(2024-02-16). Palestine Action Target Two Companies At Once, Complicit In Israel's Genocide. popularresistance.org Palestine Action targeted two companies complicit in Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza on Wednesday 14 February — shutting down one completely and shaming the other by painting it blood-red. | First, and the group "drenched" the Manchester offices of Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon in red paint, to symbolise the bank's complicity in Palestinian bloodshed. Activists also sprayed a message calling for Elbit to be shut down: | BNY Mellon invest over £10m in Elbit Systems, Israel's largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems, which provides 85% of Israel's military drone fleet and land based equipment, as well as m…
(2024-02-16). House Intelligence Committee chair sparks uproar over Russian "space weapons" wsws.org It is not clear whether Republican Mike Turner intended to pressure House Republicans to approve $60 billion in new spending on the war against Russia in Ukraine, or simply to stoke public fears like last year's "China balloon" scare.
(2024-02-17). US plans to send weapons to Israel, WSJ reports. newarab.com 
The Biden administration is preparing to send bombs and other weapons to Israel that would add to its military arsenal even as the U.S. pushes for a The proposed arms delivery includes MK-82 bombs and KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions that add precision guidance to bombs, and FMU-139 bomb fuses, WSJ reported, adding that the value of is estimated to be "tens of millions of dollars." | The proposed delivery i…
(2024-02-17). Rail Action Committee appeal to German railway workers: Stop the military transports! No weapons for the war in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza! wsws.org The increase in such transports is the result of the insane pro-war policy of the coalition government of the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Liberal Democrats (FDP). We call on all workers to act against the transports.
(2024-02-16). Russia denounces weapons supply to Kiev. plenglish.com "The European Union trusts in the transfer of even longer-range weapons to Ukraine so that they can reach the heart of Russia," Lavrov stressed in Ukraine's Lost Decade conference at the Russia Today press center. | According to the Russian foreign minister, the negotiations on the end of the conflict are becoming more distant, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "must first cancel the decree that bans the talks." | The top diplomat recalled that the Russian leaders have repeatedly signaled to be open to negotiations with the Kiev Government on this situation. He also assured that"the west only intends to…
(2024-02-17). 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood' Day 134: Biden claims to push for temporary ceasefire, as US authorizes more weapons to Israel. mondoweiss.net 
After several days of reported negotiations, Hamas says it will not accept anything less than complete ceasefire, blames Israel for stalling a ceasefire agreement.
(2024-02-17). US to rush arms to Israel amid bombings, planned invasion of Rafah. presstv.ir The US administration is reportedly preparing to send "tens of millions of dollars" worth of bombs and weapons to Israel.
(2024-02-16). The fake promise of a 'two-state solution'. thealtworld.com Palestinians have been here before, and must not take the bait again | They failed to destroy Hamas militarily on the battlefield after four months in which they employed all their weapons, old and new, replenished by US airlift. Now they want to destroy it and its rule in the Gaza Strip through a political ruse: a 'technocratic' government led by the Palestinian Authority (PA), including some of its ministers and headed by a US-approved prime minister, to oversee so-called administrative reform and the rebuilding of Gaza after a cease-fire on Israel's terms. | That is a summary of the plan US Secretary of State…