Daily Archives: February 7, 2021

2021-02-07: News Headlines

Ben Norton (2021-02-07). How Ecuador's US-backed, coup-supporting 'ecosocialist' candidate aids the right-wing. thegrayzone.com Ecuador's third-place presidential candidate Yaku Pérez and his US-backed party Pachakutik supported coups in Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. His supposedly "left-wing" environmentalist campaign is being promoted by right-wing corporate lobbyists. Ecuador's historic February 7 election could bring a popular revolutionary movement back from the dead and help fuel a new wave of socialist governments in Latin America. The contrast between the two main presidential candidates could hardly be more stark: On one side is a conservative banker backed by …

_____ (2021-02-07). BAP Solidarity Network Demands Biden End War In Afghanistan. popularresistance.org In response to the Biden administration suggesting it will not complete the withdrawal of U.S. forces, per the Doha Agreement of February 2020, the Black Alliance for Peace Solidarity Network demands the United States end the war in Afghanistan. | The BAP Solidarity Network, comprised of non-African/Black people and organizations who support BAP's anti-imperialist mission, released a petition today, calling on everyone committed to peace, human rights and common sense, to demand Biden re-start peace talks; immediately withdraw all U.S. forces, private contractors, and other mercenaries; close all U.S. bases; and…

_____ (2021-02-07). Venezuelan Parliamentary Commission Charges Guaidó. popularresistance.org Today, February 5, the Comptroller Commission of Venezuela's National Assembly (AN) presented before the Public Ministry (MP) charges against the 2015 deputy Juan Guaidó for damage to the Republic and usurpation of functions. | In statements transmitted by Venezolana de Televisión, the president of the commission, deputy José Brito, stated that the charges presented by the Commission included criminal association, organized crime, usurpation of functions, assassination, attempted coup, homicide, and others. | "The sum of penalties would add up to more than 200 years in prison," said Brito. In this regard, he ment…

yenisafak (2021-02-07). Turkey 'friend and ally' to Libya: Interim PM. yenisafak.com Libya's new Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh on Sunday described Turkey as a "friend and ally", saying his government will work to achieve peace in war-torn Libya.This came in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, the first by a foreign news agency with the new premier after being elected to lead an interim government.On Friday, Libya's rival political groups agreed to form an interim unity government after five days of talks in Switzerland. Mohammad Younes Menfi was elected to head the Presidency Council of an interim government and Dbeibeh as its prime minister. Mossa Al-Koni and Abdullah Hussein Al-Laf…

Donald Monaco (2021-02-07). The Biden Presidency: Political Factionalism and Continuity. globalresearch.ca Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States amidst an armed fortress in the nation's capital on January 6, 2021. Twenty-five thousand National Guard troops were deployed to ensure a peaceful transition of power for …

Gregory Wilpert (2021-02-07). Ending the War on Yemen? theanalysis.news The Biden administration announced an end to US support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. This is in larger part thanks to the constant activism and mobilization of peace groups around the US. Guest host Greg Wilpert talked to Hassan el Tayyab, the Legislative Manager for Middle East Policy of the Friends Committee on National Legislation, shortly before the announcement was made. He outlines the background of the war, the history of US support, what an end to US support would mean, and what further steps need to be taken to put an end to the devastation in Yemen.

Rachael Boothroyd (2021-02-06). Biden Administration Rules Out Maduro Talks, Pledges Support for Guaido. venezuelanalysis.com State Department Spokesperson Ned Price indicated that the Biden White House will not change tack in its predecessor's Venezuela foreign policy.

Online News Editor (2021-02-06). Afghan government 'ready for war' as Taliban refuse to negotiate. laprensalatina.com Kabul, Feb 6 (efe-epa).- The Afghan government on Saturday said it was ready for war after successive setbacks in recent weeks to peace talks with the Taliban, who have refused to return to discussions that began in September in Doha. "Taliban left the negotiating table, making excuses, and don't want to move toward peace," Hamdullah …

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2021-02-06). Citing Humanitarian Impact, Biden Reverses 'Dangerous' Designation of Houthis as Terrorist Group. commondreams.org Moving forward, said one expert, "the international community needs to stop fueling the conflict, generously fund Yemen's humanitarian response, and prioritize peace." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/foodaid.jpg

yenisafak (2021-02-06). US woman becomes Muslim after watching Turkish series. yenisafak.com A 60-year-old American woman has become Muslim after being influenced by Resurrection: Ertugrul, a popular Turkish TV series.The Wisconsin resident chose the name of "Khadija" after her conversion to Islam and told Anadolu Agency that she came across Resurrection: Ertugrul while browsing Netflix."I looked into it, the details about it. So I started watching," said Khadija, adding she was really interested in Islam after watching a few episodes."It was talking about the history that I knew nothing about. What I heard about God, Islam, peace, justice and helping the oppressed drew my attention and connected me to t…

yenisafak (2021-02-06). Turkey's Erdogan congratulates Libya interim gov't leaders. yenisafak.com Turkey's president congratulated the leaders of Libya's interim government in a phone call on Saturday.Recep Tayyip Erdogan wished success to Mohammad Younes Menfi and Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbebibeh, who have been elected as head of the Presidential Council and prime minister, respectively, according to a statement by the Turkish Presidency."Turkey will continue its efforts for political unity, territorial integrity, stability, peace, security and prosperity in Libya and further enhance its cooperation with Libya in the new period," Erdogan said.Menfi and Dbebibah, who were chosen at the UN-led Libyan Political Di…

news.un (2021-02-06). Myanmar: Respect right to peaceful assembly, UN human rights office says. news.un.org The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) on Saturday called on the security forces in Myanmar to ensure that people's right to peaceful assembly is fully respected and that demonstrations are not subjected to reprisals.

Christopher Brauchli (2021-02-06). Suu Kyi and Trump Have a Lot in Common—Offices They Held and Their Treatment of People. commondreams.org However, one significant difference is Suu Kyi is the recipient of something Trump wanted more than almost anything else in the world—the Nobel Peace Prize. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2017-09-21_at_7.31.15_am.png

Ralph Nader (2021-02-05). The Struggle Inside Senator Mitch McConnell's Brain. counterpunch.org Since 2015, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has ruled the Senate with an iron hand, describing himself as "the Guardian of Gridlock." He was Senator "NO," except for confirming over 200 mostly corporatist federal judges. Now comes a new challenge for Mitch McConnell as he leads 49 other Republican Senators, twenty of whom are up

_____ (2021-02-05). Washington's Reckless Attitude Toward Nuclear War A Threat To World Peace. popularresistance.org Fox News reported that the head of US Strategic Command Charles Richard is calling on the US military and federal leaders to reimagine methods of deterring aggressive action from rivals such as China and Russia. He wrote in the February issue of Proceedings, the US Naval Institute's monthly magazine, that, "There is a real possibility that a regional crisis with Russia or China could escalate quickly to a conflict involving nuclear weapons." | It's not uncommon to hear the noise preaching so-called threats of China and Russia. Yet it's still shocking to see a US senior military official publicly urging leaders of…

news.un (2021-02-05). UN welcomes US decision to 'strengthen its diplomatic engagement' towards Yemen peace deal. news.un.org The UN on Friday told journalists that it welcomed the decision by the United States "to strengthen it's diplomatic engagement" and support efforts led by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, to ends years of conflict there.

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, …

RT (2021-02-04). Biden ending US 'support for offensive operations' in Yemen doesn't mean actual end to war, skeptics caution as activists rejoice. rt.com While peace activists cheered the news that the US will be ending its support for Saudi-led "offensive operations" in Yemen, that's a far cry from actually ending the six-year war that began with Barack Obama's tacit blessing. | National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan previewed the Yemen announcement ahead of President Joe Biden's major foreign policy speech on Thursday, telling reporters the decision "extends to the types of offensive operations that have perpetuated a civil war in Yemen that has led to a humanitarian crisis," and that it does not apply to US operations against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsu…

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). UN Security Council 'deeply concerned' at Myanmar military coup, calls for release of leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi. rt.com The United Nations Security Council has expressed its "deep concern" at the military coup in Myanmar and has called for the release of all detainees, including State Counsellor Aung Sang Suu Kyi, who was detained on Monday. | "The members of the Security Council emphasized the need for the continued support of the democratic transition in Myanmar," the 15-member council said in a joint statement. | "They stressed the need to fully uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, and fully respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law." | Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi is…

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.

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…

Kenny Stancil, staff writer (2021-02-04). 'A Day Peace Activists… Have Been Waiting For': Biden Vows to Curb US Support for Saudi-Led War on Yemen. commondreams.org "This decision is the result of years of activism from Yemeni Americans and grassroots activists all over the world. Congrats to lovers of peace everywhere who know #YemenCantWait." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/yemen_shrapnel.jpg

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.

teleSUR (2021-02-04). Venezuela Frees Guyanese Who Fished Illegally in Its Territory. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Ministry (MPPRE) on Wednesday announced the release of 12 Guyanese fishermen who were arrested on Jan. 23 for illegal fishing in Venezuelan waters. | RELATED: | The decision comes after the mediation of Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago governments and it is a sign of Venezuela's commitment to regional stability and good coexistence. | MPPRE reite…

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 …