Monthly Archives: April 2021

2021-04-07: News Headlines

orinocotribune (2021-04-07). President Maduro Announced New Economic Measures to Counter COVID-19's Second Wave. orinocotribune.com Tuesday, April 6, President Nicolás Maduro announced new economic measures for the protection of the Venezuelan people in the midst of the fight against COVID-19. From Miraflores Palace, he reported that about 15.1 million cardholders, through the Patria System, will in the coming days receive a special support bonus from the Chavista government to face the pandemic, similar to US stimulus checks. | In this regard, the Head of State also announced the extension, until September, of the prohibition on the collection of credit guarantees, the prohibition on reclassifying credit risk, and the express prohibition of…

José Luis Granados Ceja (2021-04-07). Venezuela Rolls Out Economic Support to Keep Workers Home as COVID-19 Infections Spread. venezuelanalysis.com The measures include a ban on evictions, a special "stay at home" benefit for two million private-sector workers, and a one-time benefit for 15 million people.

Jose Manuel Blanco Diaz (2021-04-07). Corpses in Black Bags? More Fake News from Venezuelan Anti-Chavista Healthcare Personnel and Students. orinocotribune.com Groups connected to healthcare personnel from Venezuela's extreme right staged another attempt at fake news this Tuesday, April 6, mounting a demonstration with black bags tied up to appear as human corpses at the Hospital Clínico Universitario in Caracas. | Morbidly presenting the supposed corpses, the anti-Chavista healthcare personnel tried to capitalize on the anxiety of Venezuela's population in the midst of a second COVID-19 wave to rally people against the government, but many considered the objective was not accomplished. | The aforementioned healthcare center is one of those that provides specialized car…

Jomo Kwame Sundaram (2021-04-07). IMF, World Bank must support developing countries' recovery. mronline.org The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take an unprecedented human and economic toll, wiping away years of modest and uneven progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). | April 7, 2021 | Newswire…

Editor2 (2021-04-07). Lenin Moreno Deepens Ecuador's Political Crisis Ahead of Presidential Elections. orinocotribune.com By Alejandra Garcia — Apr 4, 2021 | Ecuador will go to polls on Sunday, April 11, amid new restrictive measures imposed by outgoing President Lenin Moreno to contain the pandemic. Although the country has been mired in a health crisis for months due to the government's mishandling of COVID-19, the ultra-right-wing leader has decreed a 30-day state of emergency in the country's eight main provinces one week before elections. | "Ecuador's democracy is once again in danger," warned leftist Union for Hope Alliance (UNES) candidate Andrés Arauz, who is the favorite to win the second round of presidential election…

Pip Hinman (2021-04-07). The post-COVID-19 economy and the class war. greenleft.org.au As COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out and lock downs and economic crisis measures wind up, the federal government is painting a rosy view of the economic recovery. But, as Neville Spencer argues, this is far from the reality for millions of casual and insecure workers.

Paul Jay (2021-04-07). "The Most Dangerous Man" Turns 90 — Peter Kuznick on Daniel Ellsberg. theanalysis.news Historian Peter Kuznick looks at the significance of Daniel Ellsberg's fight against America's insane nuclear war strategy, his exposure of the lies of the Viet Nam War, and his continuing fight against the American war machine.

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-07). Israel Slams Biden's Resumption of UN Agency's Funding for Palestinians. news.antiwar.com The Biden administration UNRWA provides assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Israel claims the organization is "anti-Semitic and a threat…

Leonardo Flores (2021-04-07). The Capitol raid and pandemic can help us empathize with Venezuelans. peoplesdispatch.org The people of Venezuela have been living under a stage of siege, and enduring attacks on their sovereignty under successive US administrations. These assaults intensified during the Trump era…

Gary Leupp (2021-04-07). Biden to Ukraine: "Unwavering Support for Euro-Atlantic Aspirations" counterpunch.org Last Friday Joe Biden had his first call with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky Friday. Afterward, Zelensky stated, "We discussed the situation in Donbas in detail. President Biden assured me that Ukraine will never be left alone against Russia's aggression." In the White House readout of the call, Biden "affirmed the United States' unwavering support for

_____ (2021-04-07). China Offers To Tutor Planet Following Extreme Poverty Elimination. popularresistance.org Home to nearly one-fifth of the world's population, China's social policies have a dramatic effect on humanity as a whole. Despite a shift toward allowing capitalist markets in the late 1970s, the socialist state has still accounted for nearly three-quarters of global poverty elimination since then. | China's State Council Information Office has published a white paper outlining how the socialist country can teach the rest of the world about how to alleviate poverty. In the last 40 years, China has lifted 770 million people out of poverty, declaring an end to its most extreme forms in November. | Titled "Poverty…

Staff (2021-04-07). Headlines for April 7, 2021. democracynow.org U.S. Moves Up Vaccine Eligibility for Adults as Global Access Inequities Plague Poorer Nations, Minneapolis Police Trainer Says Derek Chauvin Kneeling on Floyd's Neck Was Not Authorized Technique, Arkansas Becomes First State to Criminalize Gender-Affirming Treatment for Trans Youth, Tishaura Jones Elected as First Black Woman Mayor of St. Louis, Florida Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings Dies at Age 84, Democrats Can Use Reconciliation to Pass More Budget Bills with Simple Majority, U.S and Iran Say Early Talks on Relaunching Nuclear Deal "Constructive", U.N. Warns One-Third of Population of Democratic Republic of t…

_____ (2021-04-07). 'Progressives' In The US Are Openly Supporting Biden's War On Syria. popularresistance.org The Biden administration is doubling down on aggression toward Syria and a small group of progressives is openly supporting US intervention. Clearing the FOG speaks with Max Blumenthal of The Grayzone about who is behind a recent open letter taking leftists to task for opposing the US' foreign policy in Syria, the truth about the US' military presence and economic warfare there and how the corporate media are misleading the public as well as how Syria fits into the Pentagon's global great power conflict strategy. Blumenthal is the author of "The Management of Savagery: How America's National Security State Fueled…

orinocotribune (2021-04-07). This is How the Venezuelan Army Dialogues Face-to-Face with those Returning to Apure from Colombia. orinocotribune.com Faced with the media attacks that have generated fear and anxiety in the populations of Apure state, on the border between Venezuela and Colombia, the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) has held people's assemblies with the returnees from El Ripial. The intention is not only to accompany them after what they have experienced after fleeing the violence of Colombian paramilitary groups, but to clarify that the military body is positioned as a guarantor of the comprehensive protection of the inhabitants, and not the other way around. | It should be noted that these groups of displaced people have fled from clash…

Eurasia Review (2021-04-07). A Quick Morning Reflection Could Make You A Better Leader, Even If You're Not The Boss. eurasiareview.com Starting your day by thinking about what kind of leader you want to be can make you more effective at work, a new study finds. | "It's as simple as taking a few moments in the morning while you're drinking your coffee to reflect on who you want to be as a leader," said Remy Jennings, a doctoral student in the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business, who authored the study in the journal Personnel Psychology with UF management professor Klodiana Lanaj. | When study participants took that step, they were more likely to report helping co-workers and providing strategic vision than on days they didn…

East Asia Forum (2021-04-07). Realistic Ambitions For US Alliance System In Asia — Analysis. eurasiareview.com By Kori Schake* | US allies in Asia have many and often conflicting desires. They want the commercial freedom to benefit from Chinese investment, markets and supply chains without unwelcome Chinese influence. They want protection from military intimidation or attack by China without going to war or interrupting commerce. | They want US domestic politics to stop at the water's edge, even as their own domestic politics require complicated detours. They want Washington to commit to them, but do not want to choose between Washington and Beijing. They want US involvement — but not too much. Often, they are di…

Staff (2021-04-07). 400,000 children could die if Yemen blockade isn't ended. therealnews.com The U.S.-backed, Saudi-led war on Yemen has entered its seventh year. Jaisal Noor speaks to Iman Saleh, who has been on a hunger strike since March 29 to highlight U.S. complicity in the conflict.

Eurasia Review (2021-04-07). New Study Ties Solar Variability To Onset Of Decadal La Nina Events. eurasiareview.com A new study shows a correlation between the end of solar cycles and a switch from El Nino to La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean, suggesting that solar variability can drive seasonal weather variability on Earth. | If the connection outlined in the journal Earth and Space Science holds up, it could significantly improve the predictability of the largest El Nino and La Nina events, which have a number of seasonal climate effects over land. For example, the southern United States tends to be warmer and drier during a La Nina, while the northern U.S. tends to be colder and wetter. | "Energy from the Sun is th…

Marilyn Bechtel (2021-04-07). Good Friday Swords into Plowshares participants call for abolition of all nuclear weapons. peoplesworld.org LIVERMORE, Calif. — Nuclear disarmament activists in the San Francisco Bay Area gathered virtually on April 2 to honor a nearly four-decades-long tradition, the Good Friday Swords into Plowshares Worship and Witness at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, one of the two sites where every nuclear warhead and bomb in the U.S. arsenal is designed. This …

RFE RL (2021-04-07). The Guns Of April: Six Questions About The Russia-Ukraine Situation — Analysis. eurasiareview.com By Mike Eckel* | ( The Kerch Strait Bridge to the occupied Crimean Peninsula shut down briefly, apparently for a major shipment of weaponry. | An uptick in shelling along the line of control separating Ukrainian forces from Russia-backed fighters in eastern Ukraine. Ominous rhetoric on Russian state TV. | Is the Ukrainian-Russian "cold war" abou…

Arab News (2021-04-07). The Greenhouse Gases We Ignore At Our Peril — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Ranvir S. Nayar* | Over recent decades, as awareness of global warming and climate change has spread across the globe, the focus has fallen on carbon dioxide, which has been identified as the villain of the piece. There is no denying that carbon dioxide is extremely harmful to the global climate and is responsible, in large part, for the warming of the planet since the start of the Industrial Revolution three centuries ago. | But carbon dioxide has become an easy target for both climate activists and businesses for several reasons. First is that it is a high-visibility gas, as it is released as a result of…

Liz Theoharis (2021-04-07). Living in a Country Haunted by Death. counterpunch.org Fifty-four years ago, standing at the pulpit of Riverside Church in New York City, Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his now-famous "Beyond Vietnam" sermon. For the first time in public, he expressed in vehement terms his opposition to the American war in Vietnam. He saw clearly that a foreign policy defined by aggression hurt the

Marilyn Bechtel (2021-04-07). Good Friday Swords into Plowshares participants call for abolition of all nuclear weapons. peoplesworld.org LIVERMORE, Calif.—Nuclear disarmament activists in the San Francisco Bay Area gathered virtually on April 2 to honor a nearly four-decades-long tradition, the Good Friday Swords into Plowshares Worship and Witness at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, one of the two sites where every nuclear warhead and bomb in the U.S. arsenal is designed. This year the …

Eurasia Review (2021-04-07). Human Activities Sound An Alarm For Sea Life. eurasiareview.com Humans have altered the ocean soundscape by drowning out natural noises relied upon by many marine animals, from shrimp to sharks. | Sound travels fast and far in water, and sea creatures use sound to communicate, navigate, hunt, hide and mate. Since the industrial revolution, humans have introduced their own underwater cacophony from shipping vessels, seismic surveys searching for oil and gas, sonar mapping of the ocean floor, coastal construction and wind farms. Global warming could further alter the ocean soundscape as the melting Arctic opens up more shipping routes and wind and rainfall patterns change.

samidoun (2021-04-07). Take action: Support the #HungerStrike4Yemen — stop U.S. support for the Saudi blockade of Yemen #YemenCantWait. samidoun.net Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is honored to join and endorse the hunger strikers and the Yemeni Liberation Movement on the 10th day of their strike to demand the US end ALL support to the Saudi-led blockade on Yemen. The blockade, now in its fourth month, has prevented all fuel and food from entering the country, leading to mass starvation, electricity shortages, and death. All this while the Yemeni people have endured six years of onslaught from the Saudi-led coalition: The people of Yemen are being starved due to a war tactics blockade that has been imposed by Saudi-led, US-supported forces.

Eurasia Review (2021-04-07). Indra To Transform Metro De Madrid Passengers' Experience With Innovative Technology For 'Estación 4.0' Project. eurasiareview.com Indra, one of the leading global technology and consulting companies, has developed, after being awarded a public tender, the first innovative and attractive ticketing system prototypes, designed in collaboration with Metro de Madrid for Estación 4.0, the Stations Technological Center that Metro is creating as a testing ground for the new, digitized and innovative transportation environment. | According to the company, the new automatic ticket vending machines and access control systems, based on Indra's Mova Collect line of solutions, will bring a new travel experience to users, who will be able to obtain inf…

MEE staff (2021-04-07). UAE official not suited to be Interpol chief, says former UK prosecutor. middleeasteye.net UAE official not suited to be Interpol chief, says former UK prosecutor | Major General Ahmed Naser al-Raisi has been linked to human rights abuses, including the torture of two British citizens | Wed, 04/07/2021 – 16: 27 | A coalition of human rights groups warned last year that Raisi's appointment would 'damage' Interpol's reputation (AFP) | The United Arab Emirate's security chief is ill-suited to run Inter…

Kristalina Georgieva, IMF Managing Director (2021-04-07). IMF's Georgieva: Fostering A Fair Recovery — Speech. eurasiareview.com Welcome to our virtual 2021 Spring Meetings! | "All the variety of life is made up of light and shadow": Tolstoy's words describe so well the world economy today. | The good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. After the worst global recession since the second world war, the recovery is underway. Yesterday we lifted our global growth forecast to 6 percent for this year and 4.4 percent in 2022. | The outlook is brighter because millions of people are benefiting from vaccines and because of further policy support, especially in the United States. This is adding to the exceptional and coordinated…

Edward Hasbrouck (2021-04-07). Expand Selective Service to women or end it? A call for Congressional hearing. peoplesworld.org (Editor's note: This commentary was brought to the attention of People's World as an update to the film review 'The Boys Who Said No!' by way of updating the issue to the present day.) As Doug Bandow reported on Antiwar.com Wednesday, March 9, military conscription is a bad idea that just won't die—and right now …

orinocotribune (2021-04-07). Venezuela More than Willing to Dialogue with Colombia's Chancellor Claudia Bloom — Requests to Mexico, UN and CELAC to Open Communication Channels. orinocotribune.com This Tuesday, April 6, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza said that he was willing to meet with the Colombian Foreign Minister, Claudia Blum. He intimated that if she wants to "talk to me, make a call and if you want, we'll meet wherever you want, to ensure peace and tranquility to both our peoples. We will continue to be committed to peace," said the Venezuelan Foreign Minister during a press conference. | In his statements, Arreaza stated that Colombia is a failed state, after referring to the armed conflict in Apure. Venezuelan authorities have denounced how Colombian narco paramilitary gangs en…

orinocotribune (2021-04-07). Venezuela More than Willing to Dialogue with Colombia's Chancellor Claudia Bloom — Requests Mexico, UN and CELAC to Open Communication Channels. orinocotribune.com This Tuesday, April 6, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza said that he was willing to meet with the Colombian Foreign Minister, Claudia Blum. He intimated that if she wants to "talk to me, make a call and if you want, we'll meet wherever you want, to ensure peace and tranquility to both our peoples. We will continue to be committed to peace," said the Venezuelan Foreign Minister during a press conference. | In his statements, Arreaza stated that Colombia is a failed state, after referring to the armed conflict in Apure. Venezuelan authorities have denounced how Colombian narco paramilitary gangs en…

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-07). Ukrainian president headed to war zone as U.S., allies push NATO membership. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Ukrainian president headed to war zone as U.S., allies push NATO membershipRick Rozoff The pro-government press in Ukraine has announced that President Volodymyr is to go to the Donbass conflict zone tomorrow, April 8. That means that within hours he will arrive in what is at the moment the world's most dangerous hotspot, fraught as …

Amber Hikes (2021-04-07). The Promise of Systemic Equality Starts at Home. aclu.org For more than a century, the ACLU has been on the frontlines advancing civil liberties and civil rights. This has meant not only defending rights for all but taking bold positions in order to help America live up to her own ideals — a reality that is better than where we are, and one that is never finished. For over 100 years, this aspiration of a more perfect union has been our story. | Today, we are focused on a new chapter of that story: one where we've turned our attention inward to our own culture and systems to evolve as an organization that is reflecting internally the ambitions we have set extern…

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-07). Wars to join NATO: Major Russian daily confirms Ukraine-Georgia parallel. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Wars to join NATO: Major Russian daily confirms Ukraine-Georgia parallel TASSApril 7, 2021 Kommersant: Ukraine seeking NATO membership, tries to drag alliance into Donbass quagmire See: Ukraine, Georgia offer control of the Black Sea in exchange for NATO membershipPreconditions for joining NATO include the absence of unresolved territorial disputes and of foreign military presence within …

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-07). Baltic: "NATO Allies and partners from across the globe" prepare for "real-world fight" with Russia. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Baltic: "NATO Allies and partners from across the globe" prepare for "real-world fight" with RussiaRick Rozoff As the U.S-led DefenderEurope 2021 war games continue in twelve European nations into June, NATO has recently concluded both naval and ground war exercises in the Baltic states. The DefenderEurope 2021 exercises include estimates of as many as 37,000 …

Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (2021-04-07). Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity on Avoiding War in Ukraine. globalresearch.ca MEMORANDUM FOR: The President | FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)…

_____ (2021-04-07). Veteran Intelligence Professionals For Sanity On Avoiding War In Ukraine. popularresistance.org Above photo: Foreign policy. Dear President Biden, We last communicated with you on December 20, 2020, when you were President-elect. At that time, we alerted you to the dangers inherent in formulating a policy toward Russia built on a foundation of Russia-bashing. While we continue to support the analysis contained in that memorandum, this new memo serves …

Jason Ditz (2021-04-07). Afghan Negotiators Try to Reconcile Dozens of Peace Proposals. news.antiwar.com Preparing for next week's Istanbul conference, the Afghan government's High Council of National Reconciliation is trying to get ready by poring over 25 distinct peace proposals offered by different political parties. | The council is trying to get all those plans together, with the A lot of proposals from other countries are expected to come during the meeting, with the US and others also preparing to push different ideas. Preside…

Jason Ditz (2021-04-07). Russian Airstrikes Kill 29 ISIS in Central Syria. news.antiwar.com Over the past 72 hours, Russia has been carrying out airstrikes against ISIS targets in central Syria. The attacks centered on the desert in central Hama Province, and went all the way to the Deir Ezzor Province border, where ISIS fighters are often hiding in the deserts along the main highway. | ISIS forces control no real towns in Syria any longer, but still have substantial numbers of fighters in the deserts, and often ambush military co…

Phil Miller (2021-04-07). Trump's Illegal Drone Strike on Iranian General Soleimani: Sets the Stage for War on Iran? globalresearch.ca Seven members of Britain's armed forces won an award for their …

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-07). Beijing Says the Philippines Is 'Hyping' the Presence of Chinese Vessels Near Whitson Reef. news.antiwar.com On Tuesday, China said "I don't understand why some relevant party calls the Chinese fishermen maritime militia," said Zhao Lijian, China's foreign ministry spokesman. "This saying reflects…

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-07). NATO Prepares for 'Real-World Fight' With Russia in Baltic. news.antiwar.com As the U.S-led DefenderEurope 2021 war games continue in twelve European nations into June, NATO has recently concluded both naval and ground war exercises in the Baltic states. The DefenderEurope 2021 exercises include estimates of as many as 37,000 troops from at least 27 NATO member and partner states and appear to be based entirely …

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-07). Netanyahu: Iran Deal Threatens Israel 'With Annihilation'. news.antiwar.com Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stepped up his rhetoric against the Iran nuclear deal after talks to revive the agreement were held in Vienna on Tuesday. On Wednesday, "The nuclear deal with Iran is once again on the table. Such deals with extreme regimes are worthless," Netanyahu said at a speech during Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony. "A deal…

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-07). Russia Warns Western Pressure and Sanctions on Myanmar Could Lead to 'Full-Scale Civil Conflict'. news.antiwar.com Since the February 1st coup in Myanmar, Russia on Tuesday

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-07). Ukrainian President Headed to War Zone as US, Allies Push NATO Membership. news.antiwar.com The pro-government press in Ukraine has announced that President Volodymyr is to go to the Donbass conflict zone tomorrow, April 8. That means that within hours he will arrive in what is at the moment the world's most dangerous hotspot, fraught as it is with the potential for a confrontation between the world's two major …

William rivers Pitt (2021-04-07). We Need Diplomacy, Not War. zcomm.org Time to Ramp Up the Pressure on Biden…

Prabir Purkayastha (2021-04-07). Why the U.S. Shouldn't Play Games With Cyberwarfare as Its Power Declines. zcomm.org Cybersecurity threats are emerging as one of the most serious challenges of the 21st century. The U.S. and its NATO allies have turned down every attempt within the UN framework for banning cyberweapons…

orinocotribune (2021-04-07). Why is Venezuela Asking for UN Assistance to Deactivate Landmines Planted by Colombian Paramilitary Gangs? orinocotribune.com Colombian criminal gangs have tried to bring vice and crimes against humanity along a 2,219-km border territory with Venezuela, one of the most dynamic in Latin America and the Caribbean. This has had consequences for human lives, security, public order and political stability. This was stated by Venezuelan Affairs Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, who reiterated that Venezuela will continue to denounce the installation of antipersonnel mines on its territory by Colombian terrorist cells. | This Tuesday, April 6, from the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Arreaza recalled the request made by Venezuela to the United Nat…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-07). Military Situation In Syria On April 7, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On April 6, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 32 times: 13 — in Idlib province, 12 — in Latakia province, 3 — in Hama province, 4 Aleppo province | On April 6, Russian warplanes struck positions of Turkish-backed forces in Bsanqul area | On April 6, SDF arrested 4 ISIS terrorists including two ISIS women who were transporting weapons in Al-Hawl camp | On April 6, Russian military reinforcements, consistin…

Anonymous765 (2021-04-07). Censorship Intensifies Ahead Of The War In Europe. southfront.org | | | southfront@internet.ru Donation Alerts Cryptocurrencies 3Gbs4rjcVUtQd8p3CiFUCxPLZwRqurezRZ qpf2cphc5dkuclkqur7lhj2yuqq9pk3hmukle77vhq 0x9f4cda013e354b8fc285bf4b9a60460cee7f7ea9 Gumroad One time and recurring (monthly) support via VISA, Master Card, PayPal…

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2021-04-06: News Headlines

Rania Khalek (2021-04-06). Lokman Slim's war: The life and mysterious death of a Western collaborator in Lebanon. thegrayzone.com Memorialized by Western diplomats, Lokman Slim worked for US government cutouts, wished war and suffering on fellow Shias and informed on his community. Did these activities lead to his demise? On February 4, a Lebanese employee of foreign embassies and NGOs was murdered in the southern Lebanese village of Addousiyeh. Few Lebanese people had heard of the 58-year-old socialite who had made his living in recent years by informing on his own community. But the Western diplomatic and NGO community …

Jason Ditz (2021-04-06). Scores Killed as Afghan, Taliban Forces Continue Offensives. news.antiwar.com While there are high hopes for peace conferences coming in the next few weeks, fighting continues to rage in Afghanistan. At least 48 combatants were killed over the course of the weekend in southern Afghanistan. | In Kandahar Province, the Afghan military reported on a series of operations that killed at least 37 Taliban and wounded 28 others. They The Taliban appears to have been active in nearby H…

Editor2 (2021-04-06). Venezuela Appeals to UN for Landmine Clearance as Colombian Border Clashes Ease. orinocotribune.com Caracas has also created a special military zone and brigade to deal with the situation in Apure state, where 17 people have died. | Mérida, April 5, 2021 ( On Monday, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez revealed that three letters have been sent to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Security Council President Dang Dinh Quy and the Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). | Caracas is requesting me…

National Committee for Justice in Denver (2021-04-06). Arapahoe County DA withdraws dozens of charges against peaceful protest leaders. liberationnews.org The following statement was issued by the National Committee for Justice in Denver On Sunday, April 4, the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office of John Kellner moved to dismiss several major charges against Terrance Roberts, Joel Northam, and Lillian House. All sixteen felony counts in Arapahoe County and several misdemeanor charges against the peaceful protest …

DMG (2021-04-06). Myanmar: PPST Calls For End To Killing Unarmed Civilians, Welcomes CRPH Constitutional Moves. eurasiareview.com The Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), formed by the 10 ethnic armed organisations that signed Myanmar's Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, on Sunday called on the junta to stop killing unarmed civilians, and to immediately and unconditionally release all those unjustly detained under its rule. | The PPST made its demands in a five-point "common positions" statement released following a video conference meeting held by members on April 3-4. | "We will continue our support towards the Spring Revolution including Public Civil Disobedience Movement," the statement added, while also welcoming a recent declaration by…

Mision Verdad (2021-04-06). Review of the Destructive Effects of US Blockade on Venezuela's Orinoco Oil Belt. orinocotribune.com By Misión Verdad — Apr 5, 2021 | At Misión Verdad we have kept track of the negative effects of unilateral coercive measures (UCM) [aka US blockade] on Venezuela, and more specifically, their harmful consequences on the main company that provides oil revenues to Venezuela, Petróleos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA). | All the reports and papers issued by organizations or individuals that are not binding on each other, but have Venezuela in their focus, provide a clear conclusion regarding the effects of the US blockade on the local economy: each aggression against PDVSA, through executive orders issued by the curren…

Eds. (2021-04-06). Silencing Black voters, again. mronline.org Since the Civil War, voter suppression in America has had a unique cast. | April 6, 2021 | Newswire…

Dan Dinello (2021-04-06). Winning the War for Earth: Kim Stanley Robinson's subversive new Novel Rejects Doomism and Imagines a Hopeful Solution to the Climate Emergency. juancole.com Chicago (Special to Informed Comment) — In the wake of a killer heat wave that slaughters millions, eco-terrorism spreads across the globe and capitalism ruptures in Kim Stanley Robinson's science fiction novel that envisions a climate crisis scenario of the next thirty years. Despite violence, ecological calamity and a super-depression, The Ministry for the Future …

MEE staff (2021-04-06). US denounces Saudi court sentencing of aid worker to 20 years in prison. middleeasteye.net US denounces Saudi court sentencing of aid worker to 20 years in prison | State Department warns 'freedom of expression should never be a punishable offense' after Red Crescent aid worker jailed for allegedly running anonymous social media account | Tue, 04/06/2021 – 15: 36 | Detained aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in addition to a subsequent two-decade travel ban (Co…

orinocotribune (2021-04-06). Venezuela Requests UN Assistance to Deactivate Colombian Paramilitary Landmines in Apure — "More Displaced People than Population" orinocotribune.com This Monday, April 5, it was reported that the Venezuelan government requested United Nations (UN) cooperation to eradicate the antipersonnel mines placed in Apure state, bordering Colombia, by drug trafficking groups from Colombia. | In this regard, Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister, Jorge Arreaza, sent a letter to Ilene Cohn, deputy director of the UN service in charge of this range of issues. Arreaza recalled that on May 27, 2013, Venezuela was declared a landmine-free territory. | In this sense, the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, stressed that the text of the letter indicated that Venezuela h…

Stephen Corry (2021-04-06). Conservancy Beyond the Pale. counterpunch.org "Conservancies" in Kenya are presented as an example of conservation by and for local people, but they can be a device to grab the land of traditional herders. Unless this changes, the future for wildlife conservation in Africa looks bleak. Conservationists must recognize pastoralists' stewardship of the land, and must stop treating local people as

Anonymous103 (2021-04-06). First US Hypersonic ARRW Booster Flight Test Failed. southfront.org Click to see full-size image | The first booster flight test of the Air Force's AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon failed on April 5. The statement was made by the press service of the US Air Force."The ARRW program has been pushing boundaries since its inception and taking calculated risks to move this important capability forward," said Brig. Gen. Heath A. Collins, Armament Directorate Program executive officer, in a release. "While not launching was disappointing, the recent test provided invaluable information to…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-06). Military Situation In Yemen On April 6, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | The Liaison and Coordination Officers' Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 171 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah during the past 24 hours | On April 5, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 3 airstrikes on the Sarwah area | On April 5, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted an airstrike on the Jobah area | On April 4, clashes between the UAE-backed forces and the Saudi-led forces were reported in the Ahwar area | On April 5, Ansar Allah allegedly attacked Jed…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-06). U.S. To Carry Out Large-Scale "Northern Edge" Exercise Simulating Arctic Warfare. southfront.org Illustrative image. Click to see full-size image | Starting on May 3rd, the US will hold the 12-day "Northern Edge" military exercise in Alaska, to simulate Arctic warfare. | The Air Force's team in the Pacific will lead the Army, Navy and Marine Corps."Northern Edge allows [U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's] joint force to … put all the pieces of the puzzle together, the big picture, and allow our younger generations within the armed forces to experience what future conflict could feel like, and the complex…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-06). Military Situation In Eastern Ukraine On April 6, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On April 5, artillery of the UAF targeted DPR positions in Shirokaya Balka west of Gorlovka | On April 4, the DPR forces repelled an attack by the UAF near the village of Shumy. one UAF member was killed | On April 5, artillery of the DPR forces targeted UAF positions near Vodyane | On April 5, artillery of the DPR forces targeted UAF positions near Avdyivka | On April 5, artillery of the DPR forces targeted UAF positions near Zolote | MORE ON THE TOPIC:…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-06). Military Situation In Syria On April 5, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On April 5, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 26 times: 12 — in Idlib province, 10 — in Latakia province, 2 — in Hama province, 2 Aleppo province | On April 5, clashes between the Turkish-backed forces and SDF were reported near Ain Issa | On April 5, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SDF positions north of Tal Tamar | On April 5, SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in Kafr N…

RT (2021-04-06). Iranian 'spy ship' damaged in 'attack' along major Red Sea shipping route — reports. rt.com An Iranian ship that Israel and Saudi Arabia have accused of acting as a base for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces has been damaged, reportedly by a mine, in the Red Sea waters between Yemen and Eritrea. | State-owned Saudi broadcaster Al-Hadath TV reported the attack on Tuesday, citing an unnamed source calling it a "likely" Israeli operation off the coast of Eritrea. The vessel was identified as the Saviz, which Israel and Saudi Arabia have long accused of being a "forward base" for the IRGC in the area. | Al Hadath released pictures of the Iranian spyship SAVIZ, which there are reports of it being a…

RT (2021-04-06). Two people injured after shooting in Frederick, Maryland, gunman killed. rt.com Police in Frederick, Maryland, have responded to a shooting. Two victims were injured, and the suspect was shot dead. | Reports of the shooting came in on Tuesday morning, with multiple sites that monitor police radio stating that officers were dispatched to "several scenes." A SWAT team was soon deployed, and the Frederick County Sheriff's Office told Shortly afterwards, Frederick Police confirmed that t…

Caroline Cross (2021-04-06). Application for fresh inquest refused. ukhumanrightsblog.com Farrell v HMC for North East Hampshire [2021] EWHC 778 (Admin) Applying for a fresh inquest is not straightforward. First, the bereaved have to get permission from the Attorney General. Only once that authority has been granted will they be allowed to apply to the High Court to reopen the inquest (section 13 of the …

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2021-04-06). Rwanda: Installing a US Protectorate in Central Africa. globalresearch.ca From the outset of the Rwandan civil war in 1990, Washington's hidden agenda consisted in establishing an American sphere of influence in a region historically dominated by France and Belgium. America's design was to displace France by supporting the Rwandan Patriotic Front and by arming and equipping its military arm, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA)…

David Swanson (2021-04-06). Biden Finally Lifts Sanctions Against ICC As Demanded by World BEYOND War. counterpunch.org After months of demand from World BEYOND War and others, the Biden administration has finally lifted Trump-imposed sanctions on the ICC, stating a preference for a subtler approach to imposing lawlessness in the name of upholding the rule of law. Secretary of State Antony Blinken states: "We continue to disagree strongly with the ICC's actions relating to the

CJPME (2021-04-06). Statistics Canada Should Not Promote Problematic Lobby Group Study of Antisemitism. globalresearch.ca Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is …

Geraldina Colotti (2021-04-06). The United States' Obsession with Venezuela: The Ordeal of One Italian Citizen. orinocotribune.com By Geraldina Colotti — Apr 3, 2021 | This news item illustrates very well the nature of the real witch-hunt that the United States engages in while attempting to prosecute everyone who tries to get around the economic and financial blockade imposed on Venezuela by the US. Yesterday the press agencies carried this story, and today a well-known newspaper has an interview with the person involved. | This is what happened: an Italian restaurant owner, with no connection to politics, had all his bank accounts frozen for months on the orders of Washington. It was a case of mistaken identity. They had confused him…

Arnold DG, Beck T, Stewart O. (2021-04-06). Whistleblowing and Misconduct at Large Pharmaceutical Firms—Reply. jamanetwork.com In Reply Data indicate that whistleblower incentives are an important way to reduce the incidence of illegal activities by large pharmaceutical firms. Incentivized whistleblowing in the US includes the False Claims Act's qui tam provision as well as a variety of other forms of whistleblowing. In response to our recent article, Dr Hashimoto and colleagues asked about the extent of whistleblowing activity in relation to financial penalties against large pharmaceutical firms in the US. We have now conducted dual-rater content analysis of all press releases for state and federal settlements between January 2003 and D…

Julia Wright (2021-04-06). The Significance of the NUMSA Appeal to the World for Mumia Abu-Jamal. counterpunch.org On March 10th 2021, Jack Heyman, a retired member of the International Longshoremen and Warehousing Union and longstanding member of theWest Coast Labor Action Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal shared with the Mumia and prison human rights' groups nationally and internationally a press release from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). The South

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-06). Ukraine says NATO only way to end Donbass war, 37,000-troop U.S.-NATO war games aim at confrontation with Russia. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Ukraine says NATO only way to end Donbass war, 37,000-troop U.S.-NATO war games aim at confrontation with RussiaRick Rozoff The Ukrainian government reports two more soldiers killed in ongoing fighting in the Donbass as Kiev withdraws from the Trilateral Contact Group of Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe meetings in …

Fight Back (2021-04-06). Coal miners begin major strike in Alabama. fightbacknews.org Tuscaloosa, AL – On April 2 around 10 p.m., more than 1100 workers at the Warrior Met Coal mine in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, who are members of the United Mine Workers of America, walked off the job and began an ongoing strike. The strike includes workers from all of the plant's areas of operation, which include the #4 mine, the #5 preparation plant, the #7 mine as well as its central shop. | On April 3, large crowds of miners could be seen picketing in front of the entrances to the mine chanting "No contract, no coal!" | UMWA says that members of management have received bonuses recently that were as large as…

Crnich CJ, Malani P. (2021-04-06). Opportunities to Improve Antimicrobial Use in US Nursing Homes. jamanetwork.com Inappropriate use of antibiotic therapy is a major driver of adverse effects related to medications and antibiotic resistance in nursing homes. Despite formal calls for the enhancement of prescribing practices, along with improvements in structure and process, antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes remains suboptimal. Measuring antibiotic use in nursing homes and comparing observed patterns with relevant benchmarks is a core component of antibiotic stewardship. However, to date, nationally representative data to which nursing homes can benchmark have been lacking.

Dr. Ibrahim Alloush (2021-04-06). A Fresh Voice Debunking Disinformation on Syria with Real Eyewitness Testimonies and a Genuine Anti-Hegemonic Context. globalresearch.ca Carrying all of the attributes of a globalized unconventional war to …

James O'Neill (2021-04-06). Australia Struggles to Find an Independent Voice. dissidentvoice.org Australia has always struggled to present an independent foreign policy to the world. For example, during its early days as a British colony its soldiers fought in the Crimean war in the mid 19th century, although it would be impossible to identify any Australian interest in that conflict. World War One saw a similar eagerness …

Dan Dinello (2021-04-06). Winning the War for Earth. zcomm.org Kim Stanley Robinson's subversive new Novel Rejects Doomism and Imagines a Hopeful Solution to the Climate Emergency…

Greenpeace, LCV, Sierra Clu, DAD (2021-04-06). Wednesday 4/7: The Danger of Money in Politics: SR1 For the People Act to Enforce Voter & Election Equity. indybay.org Online event…

Zachary Conti (2021-04-06). IMF: Indebted Countries Suffer if US Interest Rates Rise. indybay.org The IMF warns that rising US interest rates could impact the ability of developing countries to pay debt, leading to prolonged economic crisis.

Jason Ditz (2021-04-06). Afghan Negotiators Review 25 Different Peace Proposals. news.antiwar.com The all-important Istanbul conference in Turkey is expected to be held at some point next week, a multi-national conference centered on trying to pave a pass forward for Afghanistan peace. That doesn't mean that everything is on hold until then. | Meetings are continuing to be held all over among different expected participants in the conference, and Afghanistan is holding its own internal discussions on a 12- to 15-member delegation to be sent to Istanbul. They wil…

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-06). Vienna Talks Establish Working Groups to Find Path Back to Iran Nuclear Deal. news.antiwar.com Talks in Vienna between Iran and the remaining parties of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, were held on Tuesday. US officials were also in the city and participated indirectly through intermediaries. | The two sides

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-06). Pentagon Publishes Pictures of Syrian Kurds Training to Call in Airstrikes. news.antiwar.com Last month, US Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs)

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-06). US Sails Warships into South China Sea as Philippine-China Tensions Rise. news.antiwar.com Tensions between the Philippines and China are on the rise over the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Manila has accused Beijing of sending a "maritime militia" near Whitson Reef, a feature about 175 miles west of the Philippine province of Palawan, although Beijing insists the ships in the area are only fishing vessels. …

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-06). China Warns US Against Acting 'Superior' to Other Nations. news.antiwar.com With the Biden administration taking an aggressive approach to China, US officials are often making demands of Beijing and taking unilateral action through economic sanctions. Responding to this approach, C "China will not accept that there is any nation in the world that [can] put itself superior to the others, and that any nation will have a final say on world affairs," Wang said in comments to Chinese state media on Monday. "If the US continues to confront, China will take it calmly…

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-06). Japan Sends Destroyer to Monitor Chinese Vessels That Sailed Near Okinawa. news.antiwar.com A Chinese aircraft carrier and several other warships were spotted on Saturday passing through the waterway between Okinawa and Miyako Island on their way to the Pacific Ocean. On Sunday, According to The South China Morning Post, the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning last passed through…

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-06). Ukraine, Georgia Offer Control of the Black Sea in Exchange for NATO Membership. news.antiwar.com Georgian English-language media reported on April 5 that their nation's head of government, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, took the occasion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's 72 anniversary to offer the military alliance an intriguing quid pro quo. In exchange for being inducted into NATO as a full member ("The pursuit of NATO membership [is] …

Caroline Cross (2021-04-06). Application for fresh inquest refused. ukhumanrightsblog.com Farrell v HMC for North East Hampshire [2021] EWHC 778 (Admin) Applying for a fresh inquest is not straightforward. First, the bereaved have to get permission from the Attorney General. Only once that authority has been granted will they be allowed to apply to the High Court to reopen the inquest (section 13 of the …

Leonardo Flores (2021-04-06). The Capitol Raid and Pandemic Can Help US Empathize With Venezuelans. commondreams.org For Venezuelans, there is no one "January 6." There are at least half a dozen. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/vene_2.jpeg

teleSUR (2021-04-05). Defense Minister Alert on Colombia's Plots Against Venezuela. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino on Monday warned that Colombia seeks to promote the deployment of drug trafficking networks and violent armed groups in the Bolivarian territory to provoke a civil war. | RELATED: | "Colombia is sending paramilitary groups to our borders to penetrate our territory and reach the center of Venezuela," Padrino said and rejected the violent events taking place in the frontier st…

slorinoco (2021-04-05). Venezuela's Army Remains on High Alert Near Border with Colombia. orinocotribune.com The Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces announced that it remains on high alert on the border between Venezuela and Colombia. | Due to the clashes registered in recent days between the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and Colombian criminal groups, the Venezuelan Strategic Operational Command on Saturday reported that it maintains control of the towns of La Victoria and El Ripial, the primary theaters of the conflict. | "The armed groups who, with their intention of spreading terror among the people, flee with cowardice from Venezuelan justice, will not go far," read a…

Ben Chacko (2021-04-05). Venezuela calls for debt restructuring in response to Covid pandemic. peoplesworld.org Venezuela is calling for a comprehensive restructuring of international debt in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Addressing the UN heads of state meeting on international debt, President Nicolas Maduro said that more than 130 million people had been plunged into poverty during the pandemic. A "profound revision of debt conditions" was needed to prevent …

teleSUR (2021-04-05). Venezuela Hardens Restrictions on its Colombia, Brazil Borders. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday announced that his country will reinforce restrictions at border crossings with Colombia and Brazil due to the increase in COVID-19 infections in those neighboring nations. | RELATED: | "We will redouble the epidemiological controls in 2,200 kilometers of common borders," Maduro said and highlighted that Colombia faces a crisis due to President Ivan Duque's mishandling of the pandemic…

WSWS (2021-04-05). Epidemiologist warns that the fourth COVID-19 surge is under way in United States. wsws.org Dr. Michael Osterholm provided sobering remarks regarding the state of the pandemic and the present surge of more dangerous variants.

WSWS (2021-04-05). COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania rise as schools and businesses reopen. wsws.org COVID-19 infections in Pennsylvania are rising again as studies estimate that one-third of infections are now more contagious variants of the virus. Despite these warning signs, the state government has moved to reopen schools and ease restrictions on businesses.

teleSUR (2021-04-05). Peru: New COVID Deaths Record Just Before Elections. telesurenglish.net Peru just registered a record single-day death toll, while the country is heading towards an election next weekend to determine a new president and Congress. 294 deaths were recorded on Saturday, up from a previous record of 277 deaths reported in August, said the Peruvian health minister. | RELATED: | New Covid-19 cases reached 5,600 putting Peru among several Latin American countries, struggling to contain a rece…

teleSUR (2021-04-05). Mexico Braces for a Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. telesurenglish.net Mexico could face a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as the Social Security Institute (IMSS) on Monday warned that the country had seen an upsurge in the recent weeks amid the Easter holidays. | RELATED: | The IMSS reported that it is arranging more beds to expand general and intensive care units' capacity. This as the virus is spreading alarmingly fast. On Monday, the Ministry of Health reported a rate of virus incidence of 174…

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