One Billion Rising: Playwright Eve Ensler Organizes Global Day of Dance Against Sexual Abuse
Democracy Now* HAVANA TIMES – People around the world are rising up today and taking to the streets to dance.
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Latin America
Despite Planned Troop Withdrawal, Special Ops & Private Forces Prepare to Continue Afghan War
As President Obama announced plans to withdraw another 34,000 troops from Afghanistan, longtime peace activist Kathy Kelly warns the war shows no end. Kelly, who just returned from Afghanistan, says the company formally known as Blackwater is now running a base just outside of Kabul used by the Special Operations Joint Task Force.
Read MoreAfter Pope Benedict, Progressive Catholics and Priest Victims Call for a More Inclusive Papacy
Speculation is mounting over who will become the next pope after Pope Benedict XVI shocked the Catholic Church on Monday, Benedict’s resignation comes as the Catholic Church is facing scrutiny over its handling of the widening priest sexual abuse scandal and its crackdown on liberal nuns.
Read MoreVenezuela Devalues Currency by 32%
The Venezuela government devalued the official exchange rate for the country’s currency, the Bolivar, by 32% as ailing President Chavez, hospitalized in Cuba, expressed his concern over the economy via other members of his cabinet.
Read MoreDespite Offer of Direct Talks, U.S. Intensifies “Sanctions-Centric” Economic War Against Iran
The Obama administration is ratcheting up its economic war against Iran ahead of nuclear talks slated for Kazakhstan later this month. Last week, the White House announced a new expansion of sanctions that pressure countries buying Iran’s oil to withhold direct payments and instead force Iran to purchase their goods. The Treasury also widened the sanctions list to include Iranian state media.
Read MoreThis Week in Palestine (Feb. 2-8)
While Palestinian factions are meeting in Cairo to work out details of implementing the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, Israel conducted around 82 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Read MoreCODEPINK Repeatedly Disrupts Brennan Hearing Calling Out Names of Civilians Killed in Drone Strikes
Thursday’s confirmation hearing for CIA nominee John Brennan was briefly postponed to clear the room of activists from CODEPINK after they repeatedly disrupted Brennan’s testimony. One woman held a list of Pakistani children killed in U.S. drone strikes.
Read MoreRadio Ambulante: Spanish-Language Radio Program Showcases the Untold Stories of the Americas
The new Spanish-language radio program “Radio Ambulante” gathers voices from around Latin America and the United States to showcase the untold human stories behind issues such as immigration and kidnappings. Using a network of journalists from around the Americas, the monthly program fills a gaping hole in the radio landscape for Spanish speakers.
Read MoreStatuettes of Virgins to Chavez in Cuba
The Cuban press reports that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez received on Tuesday two statuettes of virgins from his country to help with his recovery from cancer surgery. They were delivered by VP Nicolas Maduro, Foreign Minister Elias Jagua and Attorney General Cilia Flores.
Read MoreDecade After Iraq WMD Speech at U.N., Ex-Powell Aide Lawrence Wilkerson Debates Author Norman Solomon
Ten years ago this week, a defining moment occurred in the Bush administration’s push to invade Iraq. On Feb. 5, 2003, then-Secretary of State General Colin Powell addressed the United Nations Security Council. His message was clear: Iraq possessed extremely dangerous weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein was systematically trying to deceive U.N. inspectors by hiding prohibited weapons.
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