Daily Archives: February 15, 2021

2021-02-15: News Headlines

Eds. (2021-02-15). Preliminary findings of the visit to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. mronline.org The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Ms. Alena Douhan, visited the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from 1 to 12 February 2021. She thanks the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for enabling and supporting her visit to the country. The purpose …

teleSUR (2021-02-15). Venezuela to Resume Face-to-Face Classes Partially in March. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro Sunday informed that his country will partially resume face-to-face classes as of March complying with "all necessary health measures to prevent contagion." | RELATED: | "The return to the classroom will be carried out under a strict biosecurity protocol to preserve students' health," Maduro highlighted, adding that the vaccination campaign will kick off in the next few days. | In early…

Paul Dobson (2021-02-15). UN Special Rapporteur Blasts 'Devastating' and 'Illegal' US and EU Sanctions against Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com UN Human Rights expert Alena Douhan called for sanctions to be lifted and revised.

MEE staff (2021-02-15). Iran denies ownership of seized oil tanker, tells Washington to 'stop acts of piracy'. middleeasteye.net Iran denies ownership of seized oil tanker, tells Washington to 'stop acts of piracy' | United States seized Liberian-flagged tanker earlier this month, forcing ship to anchor outside Texas port | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 16: 13 | The US Justice Department on 14 August 2020 confirmed it had seized fuel cargo aboard four tankers sent by Iran to crisis-wracked Venezuela (AFP/File photo) | The seizure of a cargo of oil…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-15). Iran, Russia, Turkey to hold another round of Astana talks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — Iran, Russian, and Turkey will reportedly hold another round of Astana Peace talks in Sochi to evaluate the Syrian Constitutional Committee.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-15). Iran fully committed to Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE). en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — In a meeting with visiting Qatari FM, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said, "Iran believes that peace and stability in the region will be achieved with the cooperation and collaboration of countries in the region ONLY."

news.un (2021-02-15). Afghanistan: 65 media workers, rights defenders killed since 2018. news.un.org Sixty-five journalists, media professionals and human rights defenders were killed in Afghanistan between 1 January 2018 and 31 January 2021, with 11 losing their lives since the start of peace negotiations last September, the UN Mission in the country said on Monday.

Orinoco Tribune (2021-02-15). Biden Administration Should Scrap Trump's Economic Sanctions that "Have Killed Tens of Thousands of People" in Venezuela, CEPR Co-Director Says. 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). | *** | A

Ken Livingstone (2021-02-15). Trump Has Gone — Time to End US Sanctions on Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. 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). | *** | The United States has an extensive sanctions programme affecting two dozen …

Dr. Leon Tressell (2021-02-15). US Changes Its Role in the Yemen War as It Seeks to Impose a 'Peace Deal' on Its Terms. 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). | *** | In his

Orinoco Tribune (2021-02-15). GAO Report Findings Show that Biden Administration Should Scrap Trump's Economic Sanctions that Have Killed Tens of Thousands of People in Venezuela, CEPR Co-Director Says. 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). | *** | A

Ralph Nader, Bruce Fein (2021-02-14). Democrats' Shameful Cave. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12923215461.jpg

Support Peace Hero (2021-02-14). Biden Wants to Extradite Peace Hero Assange. indybay.org Proud Democrat Pres Biden's "Justice" Dept is appealing a British decision to not allow extradition of Julian Assange who exposed American war crimes in Iraq. See consortiumnews.com/2021/02/12/biden-doj-files-appeal-to-get-assange-extradited/

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Yemen rebels offer to halt attacks on Saudi Arabia. yenisafak.com Yemen's Houthi rebels have offered to stop attacks against Saudi Arabia in return for halting airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition."We are the ones who call for peace and have offered many solutions for it, but the outcome so far is that the American, British and European bombing continues and the battles continue," Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the group's Supreme Political Council, said on Twitter.Al-Houthi said his group is ready to take the initiative of halting attacks on Saudi Arabia provided "there is seriousness" from the Saudi-led coalition to end its "aggression" on Yemen.There was no comment fro…

_____ (2021-02-14). UN Special Rapporteur Urges US To Lift The Blockade Against Venezuela. popularresistance.org The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations (UN) on the effects of sanctions on human rights, Alena Douhan, held a press conference today before leaving Venezuela. Douhan detailed the impact of the United States' unilateral coercive measures on the Venezuelan people. | Douhan reported that the unilateral "sanctions" violate International Law. The conclusion followed Douhan's comprehensive report on damages caused by coercive measures implemented by Washington and its European partners against Venezuela, and specified that the final report will be presented to the UN in September 2021. Douhan urged the interlocut…

_____ (2021-02-14). Damning UN Report Urges The UK To Unfreeze Venezuelan Gold. popularresistance.org Alena Douhan is the United Nations' special rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. Douhan visited Venezuela on 1 February "to assess the impact of unilateral sanctions on the enjoyment of human rights by people living in Venezuela and any other affected people". | On 12 February, Douhan published her preliminary findings based on "extensive consultations with a wide range of interlocutors". The UN independent expert recognised the negative impact of coercive sanctions on human rights and urged European banks to "unfreeze assets of the Venezuela Central…

Richard Horton (2021-02-13). [Comment] Offline: The path out of lockdown. thelancet.com "Just read your paper. Hmm…it reads well, until you try and imagine what it actually will mean in practice." This response was from someone who understands well the burden of mental trauma this pandemic is causing. His objection to the argument for Zero-COVID was that it seemed to endorse "the greatest imposition of restricted civil liberties ever seen in peacetime". Indeed, during World War 2 cinemas, theatres, cafes, restaurants, and pubs all remained open. He concluded: "If I was allowed to vote on this Brave New World, I would reject it firmly…We now teach every medical student that patients have the righ…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). UN envoy urges US, EU to stop sanctions against Venezuela. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — A UN envoy called on the United States and European Union to lift sanctions against Venezuela, noting that such coercive measures have worsened the humanitarian crisis in the country.

Sophia Purdy-Moore (2021-02-13). Armed security forces stamp out planned peaceful protest in Nigeria. thecanary.co Armed security forces have suppressed a planned peaceful protest in Lagos, Nigeria. End SARS protesters planned to occupy Lekki toll gate, where state-sponsored armed security forces shot and killed 12 peaceful protesters in October 2020. Organisers intended to protest against the government's plan to reopen the toll gate while covering up its involvement with the tragedy. Authorities have arrested a number of individuals for exercising their right to peaceful protest. And the police are allegedly denying them access to lawyers. They've also shut down the planned protest and opened the toll gate. | Lekki toll…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Surrendered terrorist accounts for heinous PKK attacks. yenisafak.com A terrorist who recently surrendered to Turkish security forces accounted for heinous attacks of the PKK terror group.One of the many terrorists surrendered through persuasion efforts by the gendarmerie and police teams in coordination with the Interior Ministry, identified by the initials A.D., 31, laid down his arms and gave in to security forces in the southeastern Sirnak province's Habur border crossing.The terrorist testified as part of an investigation launched by the prosecutors in the southeastern Diyarbakir province and said he met someone 10 years ago over the internet who took him to the then-Peace and…

Online News Editor (2021-02-13). US decisions on Yemen: insufficient steps toward peace. laprensalatina.com By Isaac J. Martín Cairo, Feb 13 (efe-epa).- The decision by US President Joe Biden's administration to remove Yemen's Houthi rebels from the terror list can be considered as a first step towards earning the confidence of the Shiite militia in the wider context of ending the conflict, but it does not go far enough, …

_____ (2021-02-13). Victoria Nuland Had A Hand In Every US Intervention In The Past 30 Years. popularresistance.org President Joe Biden's nomination of Victoria Nuland for Under Secretary for Political Affairs, the third-highest position at the State Department, is a dangerous sign. Nuland exemplifies the neoconservatives who have led American foreign policy from one disaster to another for the past 30 years, all while evading any shred of accountability. | As a top-level appointee, Nuland must still be confirmed by the Senate. And while pro-peace groups have waged a campaign to stop her confirmation, reflecting on her career in public service makes clear why she is incompetent, highly dangerous, and should not be confirmed.

The Socialist Program (2021-02-12). The Real Story: Blood on the Tracks — A Vietnam Veteran's Battle Against Empire. liberationnews.org On this episode TSP is joined by Brian Willson, a Vietnam veteran, writer, lawyer and a peace activist.

Ramzy Baroud (2021-02-12). The Russian Alternative: How Moscow is Capitalizing on US Retreat in Palestine, Israel. counterpunch.org Israeli anxiety was palpable when it was reported that Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was not contacted by the new American President, Joe Biden, for days after the latter's inauguration. While much is being read into Biden's decision, including Washington's lack of enthusiasm to return to the 'peace process', Moscow is generating much attention as

teleSUR (2021-02-12). President Maduro Seeks Multilateral Mechanisms To Get Vaccines. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday said he was looking for an agreement with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to create a fund to finance COVID-19 vaccines. | RELATED: | This agreement would seek to obtain US$300 million to purchase COVID-19 vaccines, a task that is currently very difficult due to the U.S. blockade on the country. | The Bolivarian leader made p…

Joe Bernick (2021-02-12). On big lies and insurgencies: Comparing Capitol attacks. peoplesworld.org Cable TV and other media commentators keep comparing the Jan. 6th attack on the Capitol to the British attack during the War of 1812, but there is an historical event that bears a better comparison. On March 1, 1954, four Puerto Rican nationalists, who had entered the building peacefully, unfurled a Puerto Rican flag and then …

Staff (2021-02-12). Where Are the Witnesses? Ralph Nader Says Democrats' Impeachment Case Is "Prescription for Defeat" democracynow.org As the historic Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump continues, we speak with longtime consumer advocate, corporate critic and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who says Democrats have set themselves up for defeat by rushing proceedings and failing to call witnesses — including Trump himself. "The narrow approach of the articles of impeachment keep the Democrats from having a full hand," says Nader. "They have like 10 arrows in their quiver and they're using one or two."

Staff (2021-02-12). Ralph Nader on Corporate Crime, Holding Boeing Accountable for 737 MAX Deaths & Biden's First Weeks. democracynow.org Legendary consumer advocate Ralph Nader says the U.S. is experiencing a "corporate crime wave," and that the Trump administration's $2.5 billion settlement with Boeing over the manufacturer's faulty 737 MAX jets amounts to a "slap on the wrist." Boeing's faulty planes were involved in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, including Nader's 24-year-old grandniece Samya Stumo. Nader says the Biden Justice Department should reopen the previous administration's settlement and hold Boeing fully accountable. "This is just another example of giant companies getting away with their corporate criminal…

Staff (2021-02-12). Ralph Nader: Biden Must Hold Boeing Accountable for Deaths Due to Faulty Planes. truthout.org Legendary consumer advocate Ralph Nader says the U.S. is experiencing a "corporate crime wave," and that the Trump administration's $2.5 billion settlement with Boeing over the manufacturer's faulty 737 MAX jets amounts to a "slap on the wrist." Boeing's faulty planes were involved in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, including Nader's 24-year-old grandniece Samya Stumo. Nader says the Biden Justice Department should reopen the previous administration's settlement and…

news.un (2021-02-12). Independent UN rights expert calls for unilateral sanctions to be dropped against Venezuela. news.un.org At the end of a two-week visit to Venezuela, an independent UN human rights expert noted on Friday that unilateral sanctions imposed on the country have exacerbated pre-existing crises, calling for them to be dropped.

_____ (2021-02-12). The Ethno-Territorial Separation of Bosnia Was the Key to Ending the War and Keeping Peace. strategic-culture.org The Dayton system has kept the peace for twenty-five years. Why destabilize Sarajevo now? | By Robert HAYDEN | As befits a successful peace agreement, the November 1995 Dayton accords that ended

_____ (2021-02-12). NATO's Road To Perdition With Ukraine. strategic-culture.org The US-led NATO military alliance is moving ever closer to accepting Ukraine as a new member. This is an incredibly incendiary step towards war that could escalate into a nuclear conflagration. | Despite repeated and long-standing warnings by Russia, the US-led NATO military alliance has indicated it is moving ever closer to accepting Ukraine as a new member. This is an incredibly incendiary step towards war that could escalate into a nuclear conflagration. And, risibly, this reckless initiative is being driven by an alliance which proclaims to be about upholding peace and security. | This week NATO secretary gen…

Kenny Stancil (2021-02-12). Outrage and disgust as charges dropped for Buffalo police officers who fractured skull of 75-year-old peaceful protester. nationofchange.org Despite the video evidence of the officers' misconduct, a grand jury has dismissed the charges.

Nino Pagliccia (2021-02-12). Venezuela — Food Security and Sovereignty to Fight Starvation Sanctions. 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). | *** | Mainstream media references to Venezuela always focus on the devastating economic …

teleSUR (2021-02-12). 28 Togolese Peacekeepers Injured in Central Mali Attack. telesurenglish.net The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on Thursday confirmed that 28 Togolese peacekeepers were injured in an attack targeting its temporary base in Kerena, Mali. | RELATED: | The attack was carried out by unidentified armed men, MINUSMA's spokesperson Olivier Salgado said, adding that it was a vehicular suicide that exploded with its driver on board near the base. | The mai…