Daily Archives: December 30, 2020

2020-12-30: News Headlines

news.un (2020-12-30). Looking back at 2020, In Case You Missed It. news.un.org At UN News, 2020 started with a hope that the year would be one of peace for Syria's children. However, in the weeks that followed, the news cycle was upended by the coronavirus pandemic, that not only changed what we covered, but also how we covered UN-related news around the world.

Alan Macleod (2020-12-30). Fingers Point to US-Backed Gov't in Colombia's Ninetieth Massacre of the Year. mintpressnews.com "The Trump administration waged a full scale campaign to undermine Colombia's peace accords. We must not waste our time hoping the Biden administration might reverse course, we must demand it." — James Jordan, Alliance for Global Justice…

Anya Parampil (2020-12-30). An exclusive look inside Iran's supermarket in Venezuela. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil visits Megasis, an Iranian supermarket which recently opened in Caracas, Venezuela, and explores cooperation between Tehran and Caracas against the US economic blockade. The Grayzone's Anya Parampil provides an exclusive look inside a superstore which the US government and corporate media have condemned and attempted to link to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. She also speaks with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza about how increased cooperation between Tehran and Caracas is improving the material …

news.un (2020-12-30). First Person: family tragedy and the UN as 'saviour' in Darfur. news.un.org The people of the restive region of Darfur in Sudan have seen the joint United Nations and African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) as a "saviour" according to a writer for UN News who grew up in Darfur.

news.un (2020-12-30). UN confirms closure of Darfur peacekeeping mission. news.un.org The joint United Nations-African Union mission in the Darfur region of Sudan (UNAMID) will officially end operations on Thursday, when the Government of Sudan will take over responsibility for the protection of civilians in the area.

Jan Oberg (2020-12-30). The Peace Discourse that Disappeared: Go on with Passion and Detachment. globalresearch.ca Look at and listen in to three spheres of contemporary Western society — politics, research and media: The word" peace" and related words, such as the UN Charter norm of" making peace by peaceful means", nonviolence, negotiations — have disappeared. …

Online News Editor (2020-12-30). UN mission leaves Darfur amid security concerns. laprensalatina.com By al-Nur al-Zaki Khartoum, Dec 30 (efe-epa).- The United Nations peace mission to Darfur's (UNAMID) mandate ends on Thursday, 13 years after its launch, despite several persistant challenges. A rebel group is still active in the Sudanese region, 1.8 million people are displaced and tribal violence is not rare although the civil war that hit …

Ralph Nader (2020-12-29). Recidivist Criminal and Constitutional Outlaw Trump Rushes to Pardon Criminal Lawbreakers. counterpunch.org Serial lawbreaker Donald J. Trump is embarking on the most sordid presidential pardon spree in American history. He has already pardoned convicted crooks, thieves, and violent outlaws. Trump's pardon lawyers are frantically assembling more MAGA besotted individuals and groups to be pardoned wholesale. The number may climb into the hundreds. The queue is long. Trump

Dr. Rudolf Hà§nsel (2020-12-29). The Future Vision of Free Citizens: Leading Humanity to Freedom. Towards a New Social Order. globalresearch.ca Free citizens who stand up against tyranny have nothing against those in power. They do nothing to them. They fight for a more just order, for their right to life, to freedom, peace and security. When nothing else helps, that …

teleSUR (2020-12-29). Venezuela Signs Agreement for Mass Vaccination With Sputnik V. telesurenglish.net On Tuesday, Venezuela signed a contract with Russia to begin mass vaccination of its citizens with the Sputnik V vaccine. | RELATED: | "In the first stage of the coronavirus vaccination campaign, 10 million people will get the Russian medicine," Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said, although she did not inform about the start date of the campaign. | Health Minister Carlos Alvarado, Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arre…

Online News Editor (2020-12-29). Watchdog says 50 journalists killed in 2020, majority in countries not at war. laprensalatina.com By Maria D. Valderrama Paris, Dec 29 (efe-epa).- A total of 50 journalists were killed in connection with their work in 2020, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Tuesday, warning that more media persons were being murdered in countries not at war. "More journalists are being killed in countries considered to be 'at peace'," RSF said …

news.un (2020-12-29). Lebanon: UN chief welcomes murder conviction for 1980 blue helmet killings. news.un.org United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Lebanon's decision to bring to justice the man found guilty of killing two UN peacekeepers decades ago.

teleSUR (2020-12-28). 249 Peace Signatories Killed in Colombia Since 2016. telesurenglish.net The number of former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) combatants who have been killed in Colombia climbed to 249, following the assassination of two of its members over the weekend. | RELATED: | The Revolutionary Alternative Force of the Common (FARC) party on Sunday denounced the deaths of Manuel Alonso, who was supporting rural workers and Indigenous leaders after his demobilization in the Cauca department. | It was also re…

teleSUR (2020-12-28). UN Rapporteur To Analyze Impacts of US Sanctions on Venezuela. telesurenglish.net Following an invitation of President Nicolas Maduro's administration, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Alena Douhan, will undertake an official visit to country in February 2021. | RELATED: | The Special Rapporteur and her team will collect information and hold a series of meetings with Government authorities, social organizations, private sector,…

teleSUR (2020-12-28). Nicolas Maduro Highlights Army's Role During A Historic Year. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro congratulated on Monday the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) for helping to keep the country at "peace, alive, active, standing, in victory for unity, for territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence and civic-military resistance." | RELATED: | Maduro said that the FANB has become into "a well-established Bolivarian National Armed Forces, stronger and more united than ever," as its men and wom…

teleSUR (2020-12-28). Over 200 Venezuelans Have Returned Home From Chile. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Foreign Ministry reported on Monday that over 200 citizens returned to the country on a flight from Chile as part of the Return to the Homeland Plan. | RELATED: | According to Venezuelan authorities, 216 Venezuelans arrived Monday to the Maiquetía International Airport in the Northern state of La Guaira. Moreover, another 120 returned from Argentina on Sunday night. The Foreign Ministry detailed that these Ven…

teleSUR (2020-12-28). US Blockade Prevents Venezuela From Funding COVAX. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Health Minister Carlos Alvarado on Sunday said that the economic blockade imposed by the United States is preventing his country from funding the COVAX initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO). | RELATED: | He recalled that his country offered to place US$18 million into the COVAX fund, but as a result of the U.S. blockade, Venezuela has not "been able to free those resources to pay…

_____ (2020-12-28). Alex Saab Case: 'One Of The Most Egregious Examples Of Jurisdictional Overreach'. popularresistance.org Baltasar Garzón, former Spanish judge who is the defense attorney for Venezuelan diplomatic envoy àÅlex Saab, reiterated during an interview with the Colombian newspaper El Espectador that his client is a special envoy of the Government of Venezuela who works as a diplomatic agent for commercial and trade purposes, and that he was illegally detained by the Cape Verdean authorities in a process that violated international law in addition to violating his rights that are inherent to diplomatic immunity established in global laws. | The interview was offered by Garzón on the occasion of completion of 6 months…

Ben Norton (2020-12-27). Washington's favorite Venezuelan opposition leader exposes links with Colombian paramilitary and narco networks. thegrayzone.com While the US and its allies glorify Leopoldo López as a new MLK, the US-backed Venezuelan opposition collaborates with Colombia's narco-affiliated, death squad-sponsoring former President àÅlvaro Uribe. According to Western corporate media outlets and human rights groups, Venezuela's far-right opposition leader Leopoldo López is a hallowed saint. The New York Times glorified López as the would-be "savior" of Venezuela, akin to none other than Martin Luther King Jr., while Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have dubbed him a noble …

Ben Norton (2020-12-27). Washington's favorite Venezuelan opposition leader exposes links to Colombian death squads and narco networks. thegrayzone.com While the US government and media glorify Leopoldo López as a new MLK, the Venezuelan opposition leader collaborates with Colombia's narco-affiliated, death squad-sponsoring former President àÅlvaro Uribe and his protegé Iván Duque. According to Western corporate media outlets and human rights groups, Venezuela's far-right opposition leader Leopoldo López is a hallowed saint. The New York Times glorified López as the would-be "savior" of Venezuela, akin to none other than Martin Luther King Jr., while Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International …

Ben Norton (2020-12-27). Washington's favorite Venezuelan opposition leader exposes links to Colombian paramilitary and narco networks. thegrayzone.com While the US government and media glorify Leopoldo López as a new MLK, the Venezuelan opposition leader collaborates with Colombia's narco-affiliated, death squad-sponsoring former President àÅlvaro Uribe and his protegé Iván Duque. According to Western corporate media outlets and human rights groups, Venezuela's far-right opposition leader Leopoldo López is a hallowed saint. The New York Times glorified López as the would-be "savior" of Venezuela, akin to none other than Martin Luther King Jr., while Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International …

teleSUR, CE (2020-12-27). Venezuelans Repatriated from Argentina in Time for the New Year. telesurenglish.net 120 Venezuelans who were in Argentina boarded a flight to Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas this Sunday, and will be returned home as part of the Bolivarian government's Return to the Homeland Plan. | RELATED: | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on its official Twitter account that the return of the nationals is being made possible through the program which supports Venezuelans who without t…

teleSUR, CE (2020-12-27). Venezuela's State Airline: A Symbol of Sovereignty in 2020. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's state airline Conviasa transported 1,300,000 kilos of air cargo in 2020, flying distances as far as China and Russia to bring medical supplies and equipment for the public health system and other necessary items whose acquisition and transport are made complicated under the criminal US-led blockade. | RELATED: | In December alone, the airline repatriated hundreds of Venezuelans from around Latin Amer…

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-12-27). Relatives, Activists, and Attorneys Demand Justice for Andre' Hill, Unarmed Black Man Killed by Columbus Police. commondreams.org "Until we get justice for Andre' Hill, there won't be no peace in Columbus, there won't be no peace in Ohio, there won't be no peace in America," vowed civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump at a Saturday vigil. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/hill_1.jpg

Online News Editor (2020-12-27). Ghani agrees to hold 2nd round of Afghan peace talks in Doha. laprensalatina.com Kabul, Dec 27 (efe-epa).- President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday agreed for the second round of the intra-Afghan peace negotiations to take place in the Qatari capital of Doha, although emphasized that future stages of the process should be held in Afghanistan. "Based on the request of the leadership of the negotiation team and the High …

news.un (2020-12-26). UN chief urges peaceful, credible elections in Central African Republic. news.un.org On the eve of general elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations Secretary-General has called on all stakeholders to ensure that the polls are held in a peaceful, inclusive and credible manner.