Daily Archives: February 4, 2021

2021-02-04: News Headlines

_____ (2021-02-04). How ExxonMobil Uses Divide And Rule To Get Its Way. popularresistance.org Tensions rise between neighboring Guyana and Venezuela over a piece of land that has been disputed since at least 1835. Both Guyana's President Irfaan Ali and Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro have exchanged sharp words about the status of the Essequibo region, which both countries claim. Since 1990, the two countries have pursued their claims through a United Nations "good offices" process; as recently as 2013, President Maduro and Guyana's then-President Donald Ramotar said that the discussions over Essequibo were "going well" under this UN framework. | Everything changed in 2015, and since then the tensions…

Al Neal (2021-02-04). First week of Black History Month: Stacey Abrams, BLM nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. peoplesworld.org It seems more than fitting that in the first week of Black History Month Stacey Abrams has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Abrams, whose on-the-ground work is credited with boosting voter turnout during the 2020 elections, helping then-presidential candidate Joe Biden secure an historic win in Georgia, was nominated by Lars Haltbrekken, …

MEE correspondent (2021-02-04). Iranian press review: Health officials reject Russia's Covid-19 vaccine. middleeasteye.net Iranian press review: Health officials reject Russia's Covid-19 vaccine | Meanwhile, Tehran hosts Taliban to talk about US-brokered Afghan peace deal, and the Islamic Republic is said to be eying the Caucasus to bypass US sanctions | Thu, 02/04/2021 – 11: 22 | A woman receives an injection during the first trial phase of a locally-made vaccine for Covid-19 in Iran's capital Tehran on 29…

RT (2021-02-04). Biden ends US backing for Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, but America will continue to 'help Riyadh against Iranian-supplied forces'. rt.com The US military will stop supporting attacks carried out by the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen, President Joe Biden has confirmed, though America will continue to support Riyadh in "defending its sovereignty". | Speaking in a televised address from the State Department on Thursday, Biden said Washington's focus was on finding a diplomatic solution to the war in Yemen and lend its support to restoring the "long-dormant peace talks." | However, it remains to be seen what practical effect the shift will have on the dynamic of the years-long conflict and America's role there. While the decision…

RT (2021-02-04). Biden ends US backing for Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, but America will continue to 'help Riyadh against Iranian-supplied forces'. rt.com The US military will stop supporting attacks carried out by the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen, President Joe Biden has confirmed, though America will continue to support Riyadh in "defending its sovereignty." | Speaking in a televised address from the State Department on Thursday, Biden said Washington's focus was on finding a diplomatic solution to the war in Yemen and lend its support to restoring the "long-dormant peace talks." | However, it remains to be seen what practical effect the shift will have on the dynamic of the years-long conflict and America's role there. While the decision…

Richard Falk (2021-02-04). The B'tselem Report On Israeli Apartheid. zcomm.org It is only Palestinian resistance from within and global solidarity from without that can have any prospect of achieving Palestinian rights and a peaceful future for both peoples…

Susan Price (2021-02-04). Inventing reality: Venezuela's parliamentary election. greenleft.org.au The bare minimum the Western mainstream media could do is report accurately on Venezuela's recent parliamentary election, writes Rodrigo Acuna. Once again they have failed.

yenisafak (2021-02-04). Turkey 'neutralizes' 5 YPG/PKK terrorists in N.Syria. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces "neutralized" five YPG/PKK terrorists in a protected area across Turkey's southern border with Syria, the National Defense Ministry announced Thursday.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, adding that they had also opened harassing fire.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-ter…

Ricardo Vaz (2021-02-04). Venezuela: Opposition, Colombian Leaders Allegedly Involved in Foiled Terror Plot. globalresearch.ca 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). | *** | Venezuelan authorities have reportedly dismantled a terrorist plan. | National Assembly President …

Cres Vellucci (2021-02-04). Peace and Freedom Party legislative proposals for 2021. indybay.org Peace and Freedom Party seeks: representation in the California State Legislature; to match the rental exemptions of Costa-Hawkins with those of AB 1482; and to allow non-citizen parents and guardians the right to vote in school district elections.

MEE and agencies (2021-02-03). Hezbollah fires missiles at Israeli drone over southern Lebanon. middleeasteye.net Hezbollah fires missiles at Israeli drone over southern Lebanon | Lebanese security sources say the anti-aircraft missiles failed to hit target, which returned to Israel | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 14: 35 | Naqura, south of the Lebanese city of Tyre, which is controlled by the United Nations peacekeeping force (Unifil), on the border with Israel (AFP) | Anti-aircraft missiles were fired at an Isra…

MEE staff (2021-02-03). Normalisation deals with Israel 'not a substitute for peace', State Department says. middleeasteye.net Normalisation deals with Israel 'not a substitute for peace', State Department says | Peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine still 'very important', spokesperson Ned Price says | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 19 | US State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks at his first daily press briefing at State Department on 2 February (AFP/File photo) | Recently cemented normalisation deals between several Arab count…

MEE staff (2021-02-03). Normalisation deals with Israel no 'substitute for peace', US State Department says. middleeasteye.net Normalisation deals with Israel no 'substitute for peace', US State Department says | Peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine still 'very important', spokesman Ned Price says | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 16: 19 | US State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks at his first daily news briefing at State Department on 2 February (AFP/File photo) | Recently cemented normalisation deals between several Arab countries…

Sameena Rahman (2021-02-03). Yes, seriously: Jared Kushner was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. liberationnews.org In addition to the fact that his accomplishments actually advance the opposite of peace, it is hard to imagine a more utterly unqualified and incompetant diplomat than Jared Kushner.

Ralph Nader (2021-02-03). The Struggle Inside Senator Mitch McConnell's Brain. commondreams.org Allowing the Trumpian half of his brain to overpower his judgment and vote to acquit Dangerous Donald would spell disaster for the Republican Party (assuming the Democratic Party doesn't go to sleep as it did after Obama's win in 2008). | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/mcconnell_biden_0.jpg

yenisafak (2021-02-03). 'Peaceful future will not arise until Israel dismantles apartheid'. yenisafak.com A former UN human rights rapporteur and international law expert at the US-based Princeton University said a "peaceful future" in the Palestinian issue "will not arise until Israel dismantles apartheid.""A peaceful future will not arise until Israel dismantles apartheid and agrees to treat Palestinians under human rights standards, including respect for the Palestinian right of self-determination," said Richard Falk in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency.A leading Israeli human rights organization, B'Tselem, recently published a report labeling Israel as an "apartheid state" over its policy of favoring Jew…

news.un (2021-02-03). 'Make peace with nature', UN chief urges at Ocean Decade launch. news.un.org January marked the beginning of what many within the UN and beyond view as "the most critical decade of our lives", the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Wednesday, launching a major initiative to protect the world's oceans through the next ten years.

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2021-02-03). To Secure Lasting Peace in Afghanistan, Task Force Proposes Prolonging Longest US War. commondreams.org "This recommendation is a practical guarantee that U.S. troops will be in Afghanistan until the sun explodes," said one expert. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/troops_1.jpg

Laura Finley (2021-02-03). No More Anti-Protest Laws. counterpunch.org The right to peaceful assembly is enshrined in the Bill of Rights because it is critically important. Indeed, research has shown that peaceful protests and nonviolent tactics are the most effective tools in making social change, even including overthrowing dictators. To date, 43 states have considered and 26 have enacted some type of anti-protest law.

Yves Engler (2021-02-03). Guyana, Venezuela & Exxon. counterpunch.org Why is Canada pushing Guyana, an impoverished nation of 800,000, into conflict with Venezuela while helping multinationals grab its oil? Recently Canadian officials criticized Venezuela's position regarding its territorial dispute with Guyana, which sits on the northeastern tip of South America. Soon after the US put out a statement on the century-old dispute, the Canadian High Commission declared "Venezuela's recent

William Astore (2021-02-02). The 10 Steps Biden Can Take to Promote Peace. thenation.com The 10 Steps Biden Can Take to Promote Peace…

William Astore (2021-02-02). A Ten-Point Plan to Make Joe Biden a Peace-Time President. commondreams.org After two decades of war and four administrations, it won't be easy to work for peace—but it sure is worth the try. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2021-02-02_at_3.47.48_pm.png

teleSUR (2021-02-01). Guaido Prevents the Use of Frozen Funds for Vaccines. anti-empire.com Jan 21 (teleSUR) — The former lawmaker rejected a proposal of the legitimate government to allocate gold blocked in the United Kingdom to anti-COVID-19 vaccines. | Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza denounced Wednesday that former opposition deputy Juan Guaidó rejected a proposal by the legitimate government of the South American nation to allocate 120 million dollars, illegally withheld in the United Kingdom, to the purchase of anti-Covid-19 vaccines. | In a message disseminated through the social network Twitter, Arreaza detailed that this maneuver constitutes "another proof of the cruelty of Guaid…

sputniknews (2021-02-01). Venezuela to Consider Over 200 Investment Projects Under Anti-Sanctions Law, Maduro Says. sputniknews.com MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) – Since the adoption of the anti-sanctions law, the Venezuelan government has received over 200 investment applications from foreign investors, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said.

_____ (2021-02-01). Black Alliance For Peace Demands Biden Administration Abolish 1033 Program. popularresistance.org The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) calls U.S. President Joe Biden's executive order to alter the Department of Defense's 1033 program because of his supposed commitment to racial justice an affront. The gratuitous militarization of police forces across the United States through this program has helped to turn these agencies into brutal weapons of repression. Therefore, nothing short of complete abolition of this program is acceptable. | BAP has demanded abolition of the 1033 program since BAP's 2017 founding. It now asks the public to sign a petition demanding the Biden administration and Democrats commit to abol…

oneworld.press (2021-02-01). Myanmar Needs International Support During Its State Of Emergency. oneworld.press The worst-case scenario would be if some governments refuse to recognize what happened and continue to regard Suu Kyi as the "State Counsellor". That could create a destabilizing situation somewhat resembling what's happening right now in Belarus and Venezuela where a handful of countries recognize opposition figures as those states' legitimate leaders after contested elections even though they don't hold any power in reality.