Daily Archives: January 31, 2021

2021-01-31: News Headlines

David Soll (2021-01-31). Democrats, You PROMISED Survival Checks NOW! realprogressives.org On January 5 there was a special election held in Georgia where the two running Democrats ultimately won. How were they able to pull it off? No, the election was not stolen by Russia, China, Venezuela, or little green men. It was won because the Democrats promised the American people relief in the form of immediate distribution of $2000 survival checks! | These words were verbatim, by then Senate candidate Jon Ossoff, during an interview just days before the election,"We will be able to pass $2,000 dollar stimulus checks for the people next week when we win these races in Georgia and get economic relief direct…

_____ (2021-01-31). Julian Assange Deserves A Nobel Peace Prize. popularresistance.org Julian Assange has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. We think he deserves to win. There is an incredibly long list of actions that Julian has taken toward a more peaceful world. As Julian has said, "If wars can be started by lies, peace can be started by truth." | More than one individual can nominate Assange; he's already been nominated this year by people including former Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire and French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Maguire and four other Peace Prize winners wrote a letter to then-President Trump recounting Assange's contributions toward peace.

OtherWords (2021-01-31). Preventing Future Election Violence: Peacebuilding to avoid becoming a failed state. juancole.com By Kerri Kennedy | — ( Otherwords.org ) — I have spent my entire career working to end election-related conflicts, mostly overseas. Unfortunately, this experience is now increasingly relevant at home. Ahead of the Capitol insurrection, the U.S. met several criteria that increased the likelihood of election violence: pay-to-pay politics, weak electoral management bodies, ongoing …

Ben Norton (2021-01-30). US and Colombian govts supported botched invasion of Venezuela: Bombshell testimony from coup-plotter. thegrayzone.com A key coup-plotter in the May 2020 botched invasion of Venezuela said she met with FBI and DEA officials. She admitted Colombia's intelligence services were aiding them and "knew everything," adding that President Iván Duque and far-right political kingpin àÅlvaro Uribe helped. A witness at the heart of the botched invasion of Venezuela in May 2020 has stated that the US and Colombian governments were involved in the regime-change operation. Coup-plotter Yacsy àÅlvarez said she met with officials from the …

RT (2021-01-30). Creating conditions for 'lasting peace': Joint Russian-Turkish peace monitoring center starts work in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh. rt.com A joint monitoring center has been opened by Russia and Turkey in the Nagorno-Karabakh region disputed by Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is tasked with recording all truce violations and contacting both sides if necessary. | The center has been established in the eastern part of the disputed Karabakh region, control over which as been handed over to Baku under the terms of the Moscow-brokered armistice signed in November 2020. Both Russia and Turkey would send 60 soldiers each to serve at the center. | The opening ceremony was attended by the Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov as well Russian and Turkish d…

Jon Queally (2021-01-30). As World Demands Peace and Aid for Yemen, Biden Told to 'End Every Aspect of This War'. indybay.org Over 385 groups from across the globe are calling for an immediate halt to the U.S.-backed Saudi coalition's relentless attack—an armed conflict that is only intensifying the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe. | Photo: In San Francisco, speakers addressed a rally on January 25 in front of the Federal Building. Terry Scussel, Pro Bono Photo. Please credit the photographer.

yenisafak (2021-01-30). Taliban reject US charges of violating peace accord. yenisafak.com The Taliban in Afghanistan rejected on Friday accusations by the US Pentagon that it has been violating their peace accord and continued to kill Afghan security forces and civilians.The group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, said in a statement that the Taliban is fully committed to all clauses of the Doha agreement with the US, and has implemented its part in the accord."Implementation of the Doha agreement is the only solution to the ongoing conflict. We also urge the US to fully adhere to the Doha agreement," he said.The Taliban has also urged US President Joe Biden to continue the ongoing peace process initia…

RT (2021-01-30). 'Despicable act': India condemns BEHEADING of Gandhi statue in California (PHOTOS). rt.com Indian authorities expressed outrage as the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Davis, California, gifted by the government of India in 2016, has been torn down and vandalized by unknown assailants. | "The Government of India strongly condemns this malicious and despicable act against a universally respected icon of peace and justice," India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a Unknown persons vandalised statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Centr…

Mehr News Agency (2021-01-30). Bitter experience of war must not be repeated in Caucasus. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 30 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister said that the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic will be very vital for the future of the peaceful Caucasus, underlining that the bitter experience of war must not be repeated in the region.

The Canary (2021-01-30). Protesting Indian farmers begin hunger strike amid fury against Modi. thecanary.co Indian farmers and their leaders, spearheading more than two months of protests against new agriculture laws, have started a one-day hunger strike. They're directing their fury at prime minister Narendra Modi and his government. | Strike: | Farmer leaders said the hunger strike will reaffirm the peaceful nature of the protests. It coincides with the death anniversary of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. | Samyukta Kisan Morcha of United Farmers' Front is one of hundreds of protest leaders taking part in the strike. The United Farmers' Front is a coalition of farmers' unions. Morcha said: The way the gove…

yenisafak (2021-01-30). Houthis hail Italy's block of arms sales to Saudi, UAE. yenisafak.com Yemen's Houthi rebels have welcomed an Italian decision to suspend the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)."Italy's announcement of halting arms sales to the countries that are engaged in an aggression on Yemen is a positive move," rebel spokesman Mohamed Abdel-Salam said on Twitter.He said the move would "contribute to protecting [Yemeni] civilians and support the peace process".On Friday, Italy's Foreign Ministry announced blocking exports of arms to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, following warnings by activists and lawmakers about the use of weapons in violation of human rights in Yemen…

yenisafak (2021-01-30). Turkey, Russia begin monitoring Karabakh truce. yenisafak.com A joint Turkish and Russian center to monitor a cease-fire deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia has become operational in Upper Karabakh on Saturday.Established in the Merzilli village of the Aghdam region, the center will monitor the implementation of the Russian-brokered agreement which was reached in November after six weeks of intense fighting.Following the Nov. 10 truce, Turkey and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint center to monitor the peace deal on Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenia's occupation.Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, Turkey's Deputy Minister of N…

yenisafak (2021-01-30). Turkey 'neutralizes' three YPG/PKK terrorists in N.Syria. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces "neutralized" three YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, in a protected area near Turkey's southern border, the National Defense Ministry announced Saturday.The terrorists were trying to infiltrate the area of Turkey's cross-border anti-terror operations — Peace Spring and Euphrates Shield — to disrupt peace and security in the region, the ministry said on Twitter.Turkish authorities use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations in northern Syria to prevent…

yenisafak (2021-01-30). Amnesty slams Houthi ban on Yemeni women. yenisafak.com Amnesty International has condemned a Houthi decision banning Yemeni women from working in restaurants, calling it "shameful and discriminatory".In a thread on its Twitter account, the human rights organization said it stands with all Yemeni women "in their fight for their rights"."Institutionalizing discrimination increases oppression on women and impedes the foundation for sustainable and gender-equitable recovery and reconstruction in Yemen," it said.Amnesty stressed that UN efforts to achieve a "peaceful reconciliation" in Yemen are impossible "without safeguarding and protecting women's rights".There was no…

Eve Ottenberg (2021-01-29). How Washington Rules the World. counterpunch.org So far, Biden's foreign policy does not differ seismically from Trump's. Indeed Biden's first move — recognizing the unelected pretender to the Venezuelan presidency, Juan Guaido — was as lousy as anything Trump did. It raises the specter of CIA coups, assassinations, regime changes and Washington-orchestrated color revolutions, which Biden's two dreadful foreign policy appointees,

Mohammed Amin (2021-01-29). Sudan's government promised to protect Darfur. Instead scores are dead. middleeasteye.net Sudan's government promised to protect Darfur. Instead scores are dead | The withdrawal of an international peacekeeping force was followed by violence that killed over 200. More clashes will likely follow | Fri, 01/29/2021 – 09: 00 | Sudanese children gather in front of an armoured vehicle of the United Nations and African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) in South Darfur (AFP) | The United Nati…

RT (2021-01-29). Black Lives Matter movement nominated for 2021 Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian MP. rt.com The Black Lives Matter movement has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize by a Norwegian MP Petter Eide, who claims the impact of BLM's anti-racism rallies has been felt far beyond the US alone. | "I find that one of the key challenges we have seen in America, but also in Europe and Asia, is the kind of increasing conflict based on inequality," Eide said. | Black Lives Matter has become a very important worldwide movement to fight racial injustice. | In his nomination papers, the MP hailed the movement for its ability to "mobilize people from all groups of society," including in his native Norway, wher…

_____ (2021-01-29). Venezuela: United States Goal Is To Support A 'Transition'. popularresistance.org "The goal of the United States is to support a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela through free and fair elections," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday, January 26, reading from notes she carried with her. | The spokeswoman for the new US administration answered a question from a journalist by adding "the President has always been very clear that the approach towards Venezuela is to address the humanitarian situation, give support to the Venezuelan people, and revitalize multilateral diplomacy." During her comments, she said that measures will continue to be taken to prosecute those al…

Kamal Iranidoost (2021-01-29). Zarif explains to àáavu≈üoƒülu Iran's stance on Caucuses. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 29 (MNA) — The top Iranian diplomat held talks with his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul Fri. during which he detailed Iran's stance to ensure lasting peace in the Caucasus region through expanding cooperation, esp. in economic field.

yenisafak (2021-01-29). Turkish speaker rejects 'paranoid' Neo-Ottoman claims. yenisafak.com Turkey's parliament speaker on Friday said his country was resolute in protecting its legitimate rights based on international law.Speaking at an Istanbul-based commemoration program dedicated to the Turkish independence struggle, Mustafa Sentop commented on his country's goals and political stance.We are determined to protect and defend Turkey's legitimate rights arising from international law, Sentop said, adding the threats his country faced over a century ago were still existing.Stressing that the Turkish administration worked hard to make Turkey stronger, safer and more peaceful, he noted that Ankara was see…

Online News Editor (2021-01-29). Remote learning's deficiencies leave Venezuelan students adrift. laprensalatina.com By Barbara Agelvis Caracas, Jan 29 (efe-epa).- Venezuelan grade-school and university students have not attended in-person classes for nearly a year due to the government's coronavirus restrictions, relying instead on online instruction that is hampered by technical problems and a lack of resources and training. The poor quality of telecommunications, badly underpaid teachers who lack …

news.un (2021-01-29). 'We can't continue like this': UN envoy's grim assessment of Syria peace process. news.un.org Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria, lamented the slow progress of the peace process in the country, in remarks to the press on Friday, following a meeting involving members of the UN-facilitated Syrian Constitution Committee, in Geneva.

Ricardo Vaz (2021-01-28). Venezuela: Oil Corporations Lobby Biden Administration for Sanctions Reversal. venezuelanalysis.com A removal of the ban on swap deals could boost Venezuela's oil production and ease fuel shortages.

Yanis Iqbal (2021-01-28). The Biden Administration: Hardening of US Stance on Venezuela. dissidentvoice.org Joe Biden has been sworn in as the President of USA. For Venezuela, nothing has changed. The same belligerence, the same sanctions, and the same imperialism — the American empire continues to be cruelly hostile to the UN-recognized government of Nicolas Maduro. Inviting an Anti-Chavista Criminal Auguries of an ever-intensifying imperialist attack against Venezuela have …

Staff (2021-01-28). Ilhan Omar: Arms Sale Freeze Is "First Step" to End US Support for War on Yemen. truthout.org Peace-loving people around the world and anti-war Democrats in Congress hailed reports Wednesday that the Biden administration is imposing a temporary freeze on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates pending a review of billions of dollars worth of weapons deals with the repressive regimes approved during the presidency of Donald Trump. | The Wall Street Journal

Kerri Kennedy (2021-01-28). A Three Step Solution to Prevent Future Election Violence. commondreams.org I've spent my entire career on peacebuilding after conflict. Here's how we avoid becoming a failed state. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/shutterstock_1899796183-980×512.jpg

teleSUR (2021-01-28). Gender Activists Protest Against Rape of a Teenager in Argentina. telesurenglish.net Over 300 women mobilized in Buenos Aires (Argentina) to demand the arrest of Humberto Garzon, who is accused of raping an 18-year-old Venezuelan girl. | RELATED: | Chanting "Garzon rapist, to jail aggressor", the demonstrators gathered peacefully in the Balvanera neighborhood to show solidarity with the victim identified as L.A.R. | The girl responded to a job offer at the "Garzon Uniformes" store specialized in clothing fo…

Vladimir Danilov (2021-01-28). Will There be Peace in Afghanistan Under Biden? globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles including the E-Book can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | While it is well known that international treaties …