Daily Archives: April 19, 2021

2021-04-19: News Headlines

Jason Ditz (2021-04-19). At Least 70 Killed as Yemen Fighting Rages in Maarib, Taiz. news.antiwar.com Fighting continues to rage in Yemen, with the Houthi movement both trying to consolidate gains near Maarib, and trying to push for new opportunities around the contested city of Taiz, Over the past few days, reports are that the Houthis made gains near Maarib, along the northwestern routes which they have been contesting. At least 42 more were killed in fighting over the weekend, but without any apparent new gains. | Meanwhile in Taiz, the Houthis are testing defenses…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-04-19). Five injured in rocket attack on US airbase in Iraq. peoplesdispatch.org After Joe Biden assumed office as the US president, close to 20 such attacks have taken place against US interests and facilities in Iraq as opposition to the presence of foreign troops continues to grow…

Juan Cole (2021-04-19). US spent $2.261 Trillion on Afghanistan War, in which ~240,000 Have Died; We could have Greened Half the Grid Instead. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — The Costs of War Project at Brown University has just brought out a new report on Afghanistan. The September 11, 2001 attacks were launched from Khost and Qandahar in Afghanistan by al-Qaeda, though it is not clear that this organization of Arab expatriates informed their Taliban hosts of what they …

Gareth Porter (2021-04-19). Vienna talks reveal Biden team's attachment to sanctions that would torpedo Iran deal. thegrayzone.com Biden's foreign policy team refuses to relieve Iran from sanctions illegally imposed by the Trump administration, setting the stage for the collapse of negotiations and a major crisis. The Biden administration signaled once again at the April 9 Vienna meeting on the Iran nuclear deal that it intends to maintain Trump-era Iran sanctions in an effort to win political and military concessions going well beyond the original deal itself. Team Biden continued to insist during the conference that Iran return …

MISES (2021-04-19). The Problem With 'Just Do What The Cops Say And You Won't Get Hurt' — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Ryan McMaken* | New evidence has emerged in the case of 73-year old Karen Garner, an eighty-pound woman with dementia and sensory aphasia. Newly released In June 2020, Garner, had apparently attempted to leave a Walmart in Loveland, Colorado, with a bag full of small items, but was confronted by store staff. She left empty handed, and may have simply forgotten to pay. | Minutes later, Garner…

Vijay Prashad (2021-04-19). Why Xinjiang is emerging as the epicenter of the U.S. Cold War on China. mronline.org The U.S. government's information warfare against China has produced the "fact" that there is genocide in Xinjiang. Once this has been established, it helps develop diplomatic and economic warfare. | April 19, 2021 | Newswire…

Robert Fantina (2021-04-19). Renegotiating JCPOA: Biden, Europe and Iran. counterpunch.org After years of negotiations, the U.S., under President Barack Obama (don't get this writer started on him), Iran and several other nations signed an agreement that limited Iran's nuclear development program, in exchange for the lifting of many sanctions issued against that nation. This was good news all around: many nations had a major new market for their goods, Iran was able to export its own products and services, and the world, bizarrely, breathed a sigh of relief that Iran would not develop the nuclear weapons that its spokespeople always said it never had any interest in anyway; its nuclear program was for…

samidoun (2021-04-19). Samidoun marks Prisoners' Day in occupied Palestine. samidoun.net Samidoun Network in occupied Palestine organized two events on 17 April and 18 April in support of Palestinian prisoners. On Saturday, 17 April — Palestinian Prisoners' Day — Samidoun joined together with the youth committee in Beit Ummar, al-Khalil, occupied Palestine, to visit with prisoners' families and extend support and collective commitment to see all 4,500 Palestinian prisoners liberated from Israeli occupation prisons. That evening, following Taraweeh prayers, night prayers performed during Ramadan, Samidoun activists, family members of prisoners and youth in Al-Arroub refugee camp near al-Kh…

samidoun (2021-04-19). In Toulouse, a Palestine Stand for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners. samidoun.net The following report is largely translated from the French at Collectif Palestine Vaincra: On Saturday, 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners' Day, the Collectif Palestine Vaincra organized a Palestine stand near the exit of the Jean Jaurès metro station in Toulouse, France. This event took place as part of the International Week of Action for Palestinian Prisoners, organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. For over two hours, the Collectif organized an information booth, distributed hundreds of leaflets on Palestinian prisoners, discussed with passers-by, played Palestinian music and presented sev…

samidoun (2021-04-19). March in Berlin and actions throughout Germany take to the streets for Palestinian Prisoners' Day. samidoun.net On 17 April, an enthusiastic march for Palestinian Prisoners' Day wound through Neukà∂lln, Berlin, Germany, organized by Samidoun Deutschland in partnership with several organizations, including Palà§stina Spricht Palestine Speaks, FOR-Palestine, Young Struggle Europe, Volksrat der Eelam Tamilen — Deutschland e.V., und Netzwerk Freiheit fàºr alle politischen Gefangenen. Marking Palestinian Prisoners' Day, the march progressed from Rathaus Neukà∂lln to Hermannplatz, marching through Sonnenallee, home to many Palestinian and Arab restaurants and businesses in Berlin. The march was enthusias…

Juan Cole (2021-04-19). The Saudi Lobby is Coming for You, Small Town America. juancole.com By Ben Freeman, Brian Steiner and Leila Riazi | — ( Tomdispatch.com) — Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., was on the hot seat. In early March 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world, oil prices collapsed and a price war broke out between Saudi Arabia and Russia, leaving …

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2021-04-19). U.S. expects Russia to submit. Will it? mronline.org In his landmark foreign policy speech delivered from the U.S. state department on February 4, President Joe Biden had proclaimed that "America is back. Diplomacy is back at the centre of our foreign policy." That maxim was put to test last week. And it failed to make the grade. | April 19, 2021 | Newswire…

Yusuf Selman Inanc (2021-04-19). Covid-19 in Turkey: Where did it go wrong? middleeasteye.net Covid-19 in Turkey: Where did it go wrong? | Cases and deaths are hitting record highs as criticism of the government's pandemic response grows ever louder | Mon, 04/19/2021 – 12: 54 | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference next to a map of Turkey with Covid-19 figures, at the presidential complex, Ankara, on 29 March 2021 (Adem Altan/AFP) | Despite swift ear…

Ragip Soylu (2021-04-19). Turkey: Four ways citizens are trying to survive the financial crisis. middleeasteye.net Turkey: Four ways citizens are trying to survive the financial crisis | Turks have flocked to cryptocurrencies and the stock exchange to weather the country's latest currency crisis | Mon, 04/19/2021 – 11: 41 | Customers wait in front of a currency exchange agency as a screen shows foreign exchange rates near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul on 22 March 2021 (AFP) | Over the decades, Turkish people have lear…

Areeb Ullah (2021-04-19). European Super League: Turkish football union condemns launch. middleeasteye.net European Super League: Turkish football union condemns launch | Turkish Union of Clubs criticises launch of European Super League warning it could destroy 'heart and soul' of football | Mon, 04/19/2021 – 11: 29 | The coronavirus pandemic has further compounded the economic woes of Turkey's major football clubs (AFP) | Turkish football condemned plans by major clubs in Europe to launch a new European Supe…

Mohammad Ayesh (2021-04-19). Arabic press review: Palestinian Authority mulls cancelling elections. middleeasteye.net Arabic press review: Palestinian Authority mulls cancelling elections | Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia investigates 11 corruption cases, an Egyptian journalist disappears after being deported from Jordan, and thousands of Jordanians are at risk of unemployment | Mon, 04/19/2021 – 14: 28 | Employees of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission display electoral lists at the commission's district offi…

alexander (2021-04-19). Denouncing Sinophobia, the New Cold War, and Anti-Asian Hate. dsausa.org In March, the DSA International Committee released a statement that "condemns in strongest terms the Sinophobia and the push for a Cold War with the People's Republic of China that have been encouraged by United States political elites." It adds that "Joe Biden accused the Trump administration of being

Raúl Zibechi (2021-04-19). Amagar en el mar del Sur de China para golpear en Ucrania. globalizacion.ca Desde hace algunos meses el ex secretario de Estado Henry Kissinger viene alertando sobre la posibilidad de un conflicto armado entre EEUU y China, apuntando la necesidad de que su país tome el camino de la cooperación con Pekín, ya…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-19). Military Situation In Yemen On April 19, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | The Liaison and Coordination Officers' Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 157 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah during the past 24 hours | On April 18, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 5 airstrikes on the Sarwah area | On April 18, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes on the Haradh area | On April 18, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted an airstrike on the Madghal area | On April 19, clashes between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces c…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-19). The UK Sends Two Warships To Black Sea, As Russia Sends Dozens For Military Exercise. southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On April 17, detachment of ships of the Russian Caspian Fleet passed under the Crimean bridge across the Kerch Strait and entered the Black Sea, while earlier it was reported that Russia relocated Su-25SMZ attack aircraft to Crimea. | This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. | It is reported that among the 15 warships of the Caspian Flotilla there are 3 artillery and 8 landing boats, as well as support vessels. | The ships entered the Black Sea allegedly as par…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-19). The UK Sends Two Warshpis To Black Sea, As Russia Sends Dozens For Military Exercise. southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On April 17, detachment of ships of the Russian Caspian Fleet passed under the Crimean bridge across the Kerch Strait and entered the Black Sea, while earlier it was reported that Russia relocated Su-25SMZ attack aircraft to Crimea. | This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. | It is reported that among the 15 warships of the Caspian Flotilla there are 3 artillery and 8 landing boats, as well as support vessels. | The ships entered the Black Sea allegedly as par…

Anonymous103 (2021-04-19). Did The US Just Try To Murder Lukashenko? Open Thread By The Saker. southfront.org Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and his Belarus' counterpart Alexander Lukashenko walk in as they attend a session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 3, 2015. AFP PHOTO / POOL / SERGEI KARPUKHIN (Photo credit should read SERGEI KARPUKHIN/AFP/Getty Images) | On April 17, President Likashenko accused the US leadership of preparing a coup in Belarus and his assassination. After that, the situation has rapidly evolved. We may recommend you to join the open thread Did the US just try to mur…

Anonymous103 (2021-04-19). In Video: Saudi Arabia Used TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" Against Houthis. southfront.org TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" | Saudi Arabia used the heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" during operation against the Houthis (as Ansar Allah is known). The leaked photo and video reportedly show the use of TOS-1A in the south of Saudi province of Najran. No casualties have been reported yet as a result of the shelling. Ansar Allah has not commented on the issue yet. | The TOS-1A Solntsepek is a 24-barrel rocket launch (MBRL) system designed and developed by the Russian company — Omsk Transmash D…

Anonymous103 (2021-04-19). Biden Blames Russia For The Exact Same "Interference" That US Corporate Media Is Guilty Of. southfront.org Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images | Although obviously not an avid reader or fan of Southfront, Michael Tracey's concise post of April 16th very clearly captures the irony and hypocrisy of the latest round of sanctions announced by the Biden administration. The allegations of "influencing" or "interfering" in the U.S election process that undermined the public's trust in the process was actually carried out on a daily basis by right-leaning corporate media such as Fox News or Newmax. Not to mention corporate media's total censorship of the New York Post's story on the infamous Hunter Biden laptop. Why were…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-19). The UK Sends Two Warshpis To Black Sea, As Russia Sends 15 For Military Exercise. southfront.org Click to see full-size image | A detachment of ships of the Russian Caspian Fleet passed under the Crimean bridge across the Kerch Strait and entered the Black Sea, while earlier it was reported that Russia relocated Su-25SMZ attack aircraft to Crimea. | This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. | It is reported that among the 15 warships of the Caspian Flotilla there are 3 artillery and 8 landing boats, as well as support vessels. | The ships entered the Black Sea allegedly as part of a cont…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-19). Military Situation In Syria On April 19, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On April 19, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 33 times: 15 — in Idlib province, 12 — in Latakia province, 5 — in Hama province, 1 in Aleppo province | On April 18, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SDF positions near Ain Issa | On April 18, US forces conducted a military patrol in the vicinity of the city of al-Malikiyah | On April 18, SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-19). Boris Johnson To Reveal New Foreign Registration Scheme Targeting Russian And Chinese "Spies" southfront.org Click to see full-size image | UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to use the Queen's Speech on May 11th to reveal a new foreign registration scheme for Great Britain. | Essentially, Britain plans to force those working for foreign governments to sign a central register in a bid to counter hostile spy activity, the UK's Home Office has confirmed."Foreign spies operating in Britain face being prosecuted and deported under new laws to protect the nation from hostile states such as China and Russia. Boris Johnson will us…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-19). Syria To Hold Presidential Elections, "Moderate Opposition" Calls Them "Farce" southfront.org Click to see full-size image | Syria is to hold presidential elections on May 26th, this is the second election to be held since war began. | The announcement was made by the Syrian parliament speaker on April 18th. | Syrians abroad will be "able to vote at embassies" on May 20th, Hammouda Sabbagh said in a statement, adding that prospective candidates could hand in their applications starting from April 19th."I call on Syrians to exercise their right to elect the president," said the Speaker, Hammouda Sabbagh, after parliame…

Guido Vassallo (2021-04-19). La brecha entre el mundo de fantasía de Amazon y su realidad laboral. globalizacion.ca El gigante del comercio electrónico volvió al centro de la escena por sus prácticas monopólicas, denunciadas el jueves pasado por la Cámara Baja, y por sus ritmos acelerados de producción que hasta impiden que sus empleados vayan al baño. | No…

Medea Benjamin, Nicolas J. S. Davies (2021-04-19). U.S. Joins Past Empires In Afghan Graveyard. counterpunch.org An Afghan taxi-driver in Vancouver told one of us a decade ago that this day would come. "We defeated the Persian Empire in the eighteenth century, the British in the nineteenth, the Soviets in the twentieth. Now, with NATO, we're fighting twenty-eight countries, but we'll defeat them, too," said the taxi-driver, surely not a member

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2021-04-19). US Expects Russia to Submit. Will It? globalresearch.ca In his landmark foreign policy

Prof. Juan Cole (2021-04-19). New Wind and Solar Up 50% Globally in 2020, as China Beats US by Over 4 to 1. globalresearch.ca The new report on 2020 by the

Juan Cole (2021-04-19). We Could Have Greened Half the US Electrical Grid With $2.26 Wasted on Afghan War. commondreams.org Much of the money spent in Afghanistan was wasted and disappeared into a fog of corruption. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/afghan_4_0.jpg

WSWS (2021-04-19). India hit by tsunami of COVID-19 infections as daily new cases surpass 250,000. wsws.org The surge in infections is a direct result of the Modi government's policy of reopening the economy to boost corporate profits and its deliberate downplaying of the pandemic threat.

Subodh Varma (2021-04-19). Modi government vs COVID-19: A shambolic fight. peoplesdispatch.org About one and a half months ago, 0n March 1, 2021, India recorded 12,286 new COVID-19 cases. On April 16, the new cases number touched 234,000. That's a nearly 20-fold jump in six weeks. Nothing can sum up the ferocity of this second wave of the pandemic. Daily new cases are more than twice the peak in September last year. [See chart below, based on | The total number of deaths has crossed 175,000 since the pandemi…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-04-19). Syria to hold presidential elections in May. peoplesdispatch.org The elections will be held on May 26 amid a deteriorating economic situation, badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union and the decade of war in the country…

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Casual manner, double mutant variant aggravate COVID-19 situation in India. ecns.cn India is at present reeling under the second COVID-19 wave, with over 200,000 new cases being registered each day recently and the national tally feared to cross the 15-million mark early next week.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Asian economies should brace for opportunities and handle deficits: Boao annual reports. ecns.cn Despite being hard hit by COVID-19, Asia's economies have recovered well compared to the rest of the world. However there remain challenges in maintaining sustainable development, according to two reports released by the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on Sunday.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Over 192 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across China. ecns.cn Nearly 192.13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China as of Sunday, the National Health Commission said Monday.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Over 189 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across China. ecns.cn Nearly 189.81 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China as of Saturday, the National Health Commission said Sunday. Enditem…

Subodh Varma (2021-04-19). Modi government vs COVID-19: A shambolic fight. peoplesdispatch.org About one and a half months ago, 0n March 1, 2021, India recorded 12,286 new COVID-19 cases. On April 16, the new cases number touched 234,000. That's a nearly 20-fold jump in six weeks. Nothing can sum up the ferocity of this second wave of the pandemic. Daily new cases are more than twice the peak in September last year. [See chart below, based on | The total number of deaths has crossed 175,000 since the pandemi…

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Taiwan people get access to vaccine in Guangdong. ecns.cn Guangdong province, with its many Taiwan compatriots, is offering those from the island the same treatment as their counterparts on the Chinese mainland when it comes to vaccination against COVID-19.

Staff (2021-04-19). Headlines for April 19, 2021. democracynow.org Police Brutalize Protesters in Minneapolis as Chauvin Trial Moves Toward Verdict, Protests Continue in Chicago over Police Killing of 13-Year-Old Adam Toledo, Florida Poised to Pass "Anti-Riot" Bill, Criminalizing Dissent & Blocking Cuts to Police Budgets, Four of the Indianapolis Mass Shooting Victims Were from Sikh Community; Gunman Bought Arms Legally, Mass Shootings in Texas, Wisconsin Claim at Least 6 Lives in One Day, Globe Tops 3 Million COVID Deaths as India and Brazil Struggle to Contain Devastating Surges, CDC to Issue Guidance for J&J Vaccine After Pause over Blood Clot Reports, Alexei Navalny Transfer…

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). China in action to make COVID-19 vaccines global public good. ecns.cn Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said Friday that China is fulfilling its solemn commitment to make COVID-19 vaccines a global public good with practical actions.

South Asia Monitor (2021-04-19). Russia Holds The Key To India's Eurasian Policy — Analysis. eurasiareview.com By Lt Gen (Dr) Yash Malhotra (retd)* | A recent op-ed piece in the Washington Post (13 March 2021), written jointly by the Quad leaders, President Joe Biden of the US, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi, Scott Morrison and Yashihide Suga of India, Australia and Japan respectively, morphs the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD or the Quad) to a "Quad Framework" hailed by Modi as a "force for global good". | It inter alia includes climate change, critical and new technologies, and handling of Covid-19 pandemic, while remaining committed to: "…. a shared vision for an Indo-Pacific Region that is free, open, resili…

Binoy Kampmark (2021-04-19). Coronavirus Strikes Papua New Guinea — OpEd. eurasiareview.com There was a time when it seemed Papua New Guinea had managed to dodge a bullet. Instances of SARS-CoV-2 were minimal, along with its disease, COVID-19. Through 2020, the country of eight million people recorded a mere 900 cases. The World Health Organization

Gateway House (2021-04-19). The 1918 Flu: India's Worst Pandemic — Analysis. eurasiareview.com The 20th century's worst pandemic — Spanish Flu — erupted in March 1918 in Camp Funston (Kansas, U.S.) during the Great War. Much like Covid-19 it spread globally at an astonishing pace. Its Second Autumnal Wave took about 30 million lives in four months, half of those in India. It's sheer virulence and high mortality makes this virus the correct analogy for Covid-19: | By Sifra Lentin* | Death arrived in many forms in 1918. India was laid low by famines made worse by First World War requisitions of food grains from the Subcontinent, endemic cholera, typhoid and small-pox outbreaks, miasmic…

Subrata Majumder (2021-04-19). US Investment Rises In India Despite COVID-19, While Japan Sees Decrease: Digital Transformation Paved The Way — Analysis. eurasiareview.com While American investors were upbeat in India, despite Covid 19 ravaging the economy, Japanese investors slipped into coma. Both are among the five top foreign investors in India. While US investment in India surged by 297.2 percent in 2020 over the preceding year, Japanese investment fell by 59.4 percent during the same period. In 2019, investment from the USA and Japan were neck-to-neck, with a marginal increase of USA investment over that of Japan. | The truth behind the paradox is the USA's challenge to bid India's new age economy, driven by the digital economy. India announced 1 trillion of economic value…

Moderator (2021-04-19). Hedges: The Unraveling of the American Empire. scheerpost.com By Chris Hedges / Original to ScheerPost America's defeat in Afghanistan is one in a string of catastrophic military blunders that herald the death of the American empire. With the exception of the first Gulf War, fought largely by mechanized units in the open desert that did not — wisely — attempt to occupy Iraq, the United States political and military leadership has stumbled from one military… |

Binoy Kampmark (2021-04-19). Exiting Afghanistan: Biden Sets the Date. counterpunch.org It had to be symbolic, and was represented as such. Forces of the United States will be leaving Afghanistan on September 11 after two decades of violent occupation, though for a good deal of this stretch, US forces were, at best, failed democracy builders, at worst, violent tenants. In his April 14 speech, President Joe

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Gareth Porter (2021-04-19). Vienna talks reveal Biden team's attachment to sanctions that would torpedo Iran deal. thegrayzone.com Biden's foreign policy team refuses to relieve Iran from sanctions illegally imposed by the Trump administration, setting the stage for the collapse of negotiations and a major crisis. The Biden administration signaled once again at the April 9 Vienna meeting on the Iran nuclear deal that it intends to maintain Trump-era Iran sanctions in an effort to win political and military concessions going well beyond the original deal itself. Team Biden continued to insist during the conference that Iran return …

P. K. Balachandran (2021-04-18). Powerful Buddhist Monk Throws Weight Behind Legal Challenge To China-Funded Colombo Port City Project. eurasiareview.com Government says Sri Lanka needs the project and assures that the envisaged legal structure will be under Lankan control.: | The politically influential head of the Abayarama temple in Colombo, Ven. Muruththetuwe Ananda Thero, has thrown his weight behind petitions in the Sri Lankan Supreme Court against the China-funded US$ 1.4 billion Colombo Port City (CPC) project. | The CPC is now at the crucial stage of getting a separate legal structure meant to get foreign investors. | Ven. Ananda Thero told a press conference on April 15 that his organization "Rata Rakina Jana Handa" had supported President Got…

Juan Cole (2021-04-19). US spent $2.261 Trillion on Afghanistan War, in which ~240,000 Have Died; We could have Greened Half the Grid Instead. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — The Costs of War Project at Brown University has just brought out a new report on Afghanistan. The September 11, 2001 attacks were launched from Khost and Qandahar in Afghanistan by al-Qaeda, though it is not clear that this organization of Arab expatriates informed their Taliban hosts of what they …

Juan Cole (2021-04-19). The Saudi Lobby is Coming for You, Small Town America. juancole.com By Ben Freeman, Brian Steiner and Leila Riazi | — ( Tomdispatch.com) — Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., was on the hot seat. In early March 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world, oil prices collapsed and a price war broke out between Saudi Arabia and Russia, leaving …

Juan Cole (2021-04-18). New Wind and Solar Up 50% Globally in 2020, as China Beats US by Over 4 to 1. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/9205031702_f33d248002_o1.jpg

samidoun (2021-04-19). In Toulouse, a Palestine Stand for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners. samidoun.net The following report is largely translated from the French at Collectif Palestine Vaincra: On Saturday, 17 April, Palestinian Prisoners' Day, the Collectif Palestine Vaincra organized a Palestine stand near the exit of the Jean Jaurès metro station in Toulouse, France. This event took place as part of the International Week of Action for Palestinian Prisoners, organized by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. For over two hours, the Collectif organized an information booth, distributed hundreds of leaflets on Palestinian prisoners, discussed with passers-by, played Palestinian music and presented sev…

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2021-04-19). U.S. expects Russia to submit. Will it? mronline.org In his landmark foreign policy speech delivered from the U.S. state department on February 4, President Joe Biden had proclaimed that "America is back. Diplomacy is back at the centre of our foreign policy." That maxim was put to test last week. And it failed to make the grade. | April 19, 2021 | Newswire…

WSWS (2021-04-19). India hit by tsunami of COVID-19 infections as daily new cases surpass 250,000. wsws.org The surge in infections is a direct result of the Modi government's policy of reopening the economy to boost corporate profits and its deliberate downplaying of the pandemic threat.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Casual manner, double mutant variant aggravate COVID-19 situation in India. ecns.cn India is at present reeling under the second COVID-19 wave, with over 200,000 new cases being registered each day recently and the national tally feared to cross the 15-million mark early next week.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Asian economies should brace for opportunities and handle deficits: Boao annual reports. ecns.cn Despite being hard hit by COVID-19, Asia's economies have recovered well compared to the rest of the world. However there remain challenges in maintaining sustainable development, according to two reports released by the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on Sunday.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Over 189 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across China. ecns.cn Nearly 189.81 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China as of Saturday, the National Health Commission said Sunday. Enditem…

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). China in action to make COVID-19 vaccines global public good. ecns.cn Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said Friday that China is fulfilling its solemn commitment to make COVID-19 vaccines a global public good with practical actions.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Taiwan people get access to vaccine in Guangdong. ecns.cn Guangdong province, with its many Taiwan compatriots, is offering those from the island the same treatment as their counterparts on the Chinese mainland when it comes to vaccination against COVID-19.

South Asia Monitor (2021-04-19). Russia Holds The Key To India's Eurasian Policy — Analysis. eurasiareview.com By Lt Gen (Dr) Yash Malhotra (retd)* | A recent op-ed piece in the Washington Post (13 March 2021), written jointly by the Quad leaders, President Joe Biden of the US, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi, Scott Morrison and Yashihide Suga of India, Australia and Japan respectively, morphs the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD or the Quad) to a "Quad Framework" hailed by Modi as a "force for global good". | It inter alia includes climate change, critical and new technologies, and handling of Covid-19 pandemic, while remaining committed to: "…. a shared vision for an Indo-Pacific Region that is free, open, resili…

Subrata Majumder (2021-04-19). US Investment Rises In India Despite COVID-19, While Japan Sees Decrease: Digital Transformation Paved The Way — Analysis. eurasiareview.com While American investors were upbeat in India, despite Covid 19 ravaging the economy, Japanese investors slipped into coma. Both are among the five top foreign investors in India. While US investment in India surged by 297.2 percent in 2020 over the preceding year, Japanese investment fell by 59.4 percent during the same period. In 2019, investment from the USA and Japan were neck-to-neck, with a marginal increase of USA investment over that of Japan. | The truth behind the paradox is the USA's challenge to bid India's new age economy, driven by the digital economy. India announced 1 trillion of economic value…

Binoy Kampmark (2021-04-19). Coronavirus Strikes Papua New Guinea — OpEd. eurasiareview.com There was a time when it seemed Papua New Guinea had managed to dodge a bullet. Instances of SARS-CoV-2 were minimal, along with its disease, COVID-19. Through 2020, the country of eight million people recorded a mere 900 cases. The World Health Organization

Fight Back (2021-04-19). Vigil held in Tallahassee, FL for victims of Atlanta shooting. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – On April 17, around 50 people from the Tallahassee community gathered at the Florida State University's HCB Building to commemorate the eight victims from the recent Atlanta shooting and speak out on Asian American oppression. | The Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC), along with various other local Asian American organizations such as InterVarsity, FSU's Asian American Student Union, Asian Coalition of Tallahassee, and FSU's Filipino Student Association spoke out at the event. | Co-organizer Tina Lu, representing InterVarsity, stated "we wanted to organize this event so that Asian Ame…

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Asia should be major engine for sustainable global recovery: report. ecns.cn Asia should be a major engine for sustainable global recovery, according to a report released by the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Sunday.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Over 2,600 delegates to attend Boao Forum for Asia annual conference. ecns.cn Over 2,600 delegates, including government officials, entrepreneurs and scholars from over 60 countries and regions, are expected to attend the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference in person, authorities said at a press conference Sunday.

Veeramalla Anjaiah (2021-04-19). Scholars Support US Recognition Of Moroccan Sovereignty Over Western Sahara — OpEd. eurasiareview.com In a strategic move, the US decided to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over Moroccan Sahara, or Western Sahara, in December 2020 and fully endorse Morocco's autonomy plan as a viable solution to the 46-year-old conflict. | A virtual event was recently organized by the New York City Bar Association (NYCBAR) with the theme "Should President Biden endorse former President Trump's decision to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara?" | Several top American scholars strongly supported Washington's 2020 decision over Moroccan Sahara at the one-day webcast on April 14. | Speaking at the webcast, Elliott A…

Yanis Iqbal (2021-04-19). Tightening The Noose Around Syria — OpEd. eurasiareview.com The US – with the help of Israel – has been repeatedly Arnous revealed that seven tankers, some of them coming…

Shabbir H. Kazmi (2021-04-19). Is US Opposition To Rampal Coal Plant Due To Love For Sundarbans Or To Keep India Away? — OpEd. eurasiareview.com During his six-hour trip to Dhaka on April 9, 2021, US President Joe Biden's special envoy for climate change, John Kerry, bluntly raised the Rampal coal based plant issue during his official talks with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen. | However, Kerry didn't raise this issue in his talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He did say in a general way that coal-fired power plants are one of the main causes of environmental damage. He drew attention to the US opposition to coal-fired power plants. | John Kerry raised the Rampal issue again towards the end of the talks. "Can I ask an outrageous question? Can you…

Duggan Flanakin (2021-04-19). Africans Reject Demands To End Fossil Fuel Use — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Africans need strategies that support economic development, jobs, access to energy: | As

Observer Research Foundation (2021-04-19). Indian Muslim Clerics' Call For Action To Overcome Vaccine Hesitation During Ramadan — Analysis. eurasiareview.com Enforcing a sense of discipline among 170 million people, sharply divided on sectarian and linguistic lines, is never an easy task as it requires voluntary compliance. | By Naghma Sahar and Rasheed Kidwai | The Islamic month of fasting — Ramzan or Ramadan, began in India on Wednesday, 14 April 2021, fuelling apprehension that that the holy month meant for prayers and spirituality, may lead to vaccine hesitancy. This calls for instant action from the Muslim religious clergy so that the ongoing vaccination roll-out is not impeded. | Taking a lead of sorts, the president for the affairs of the Grand Mosque…

MISES (2021-04-19). The Problem With 'Just Do What The Cops Say And You Won't Get Hurt' — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Ryan McMaken* | New evidence has emerged in the case of 73-year old Karen Garner, an eighty-pound woman with dementia and sensory aphasia. Newly released In June 2020, Garner, had apparently attempted to leave a Walmart in Loveland, Colorado, with a bag full of small items, but was confronted by store staff. She left empty handed, and may have simply forgotten to pay. | Minutes later, Garner…

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). China's 2021 box office exceeds 3 bln USD. ecns.cn China's 2021 box office revenue exceeded 20 billion yuan (3 billion U.S. dollars) as of Sunday, almost equal to the total ticket sales for the whole of 2020.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). China urges US, Japan to stop meddling in China's domestic affairs. ecns.cn China on Saturday urged the United States and Japan to immediately stop meddling in China's domestic affairs and harming Chinese interests.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). China, U.S. issue joint statement on climate change. ecns.cn China and the United States have issued a joint statement on coping with climate change after talks in Shanghai.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). China's economic growth off to encouraging start. ecns.cn China's economic growth has embraced an encouraging start in the first quarter of the year (Q1) and has a bright outlook, said an industry leader in an interview with Xinhua.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). China sanctions Icelandic individual over Xinjiang. ecns.cn The Chinese embassy in Iceland on Friday announced sanctions against an Icelandic individual for spreading lies and disinformation on so-called human rights issues in China's Xinjiang without naming the person.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). China pledges targeted policies, necessary support for economic recovery. ecns.cn China will maintain necessary support for economic recovery and implement targeted structural tax cuts and other measures to consolidate its growth momentum, the country's top economic planner pledged on Monday.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Rare ibises spotted in south China. ecns.cn A pair of glossy ibises, rare birds once thought extinct in China, have recently been spotted on the shores of south China's Fujian Province.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). China approves investment projects worth 6.96 bln USD in Q1. ecns.cn China's top economic planner approved 16 fixed-asset investment (FAI) projects in the first quarter, with combined investment totaling 45.4 billion yuan (about 6.96 billion U.S. dollars), official data showed Monday.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). 50th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy marked in Japan. ecns.cn An international symposium has been held in the Japanese city of Nagoya to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Ping-Pong Diplomacy, with participants looking forward to promoting the sound development of China-U.S. and China-Japan relations through sports exchanges.

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Eradicating national security threats allows Hong Kong to enter new era of good governance: HKSAR gov't official. ecns.cn Matthew Cheung, chief secretary for administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said on Sunday that by eradicating threats to national security and improving the electoral system, Hong Kong is entering a new era of good governance.

Jason Ditz (2021-04-19). US Warns Israeli Attacks Interfering With Iran Nuclear Deal. news.antiwar.com The Biden Administration The current round of Vienna talks opened concurrently with the Israeli sabotage, and the US says they are worried that Israel will derail these talks with its activities. The US seems interested in distancing itself from the incident. | It seems fair to accuse Israel of trying to sabotage the process, as they've been publicly unhappy ab…

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Steppe fire in eastern Mongolia completely extinguished. ecns.cn A steppe fire in eastern Mongolian province of Sukhbaatar was completely extinguished early Monday morning, according to the provincial emergency management department.

Meg Wilcox (2021-04-19). Pesticide DDT Linked to Increased Breast Cancer Risk Generations after Exposure. globalresearch.ca A woman's exposure to the pesticide DDT during pregnancy can increase …

ecns.cn (2021-04-19). Russia expels 20 Czech diplomats in retaliation. ecns.cn The Russian Foreign Ministry said Sunday that it is expelling 20 staffers of the Czech embassy in Moscow in response to the expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats from the Czech Republic..

Jason Ditz (2021-04-19). At Least 70 Killed as Yemen Fighting Rages in Maarib, Taiz. news.antiwar.com Fighting continues to rage in Yemen, with the Houthi movement both trying to consolidate gains near Maarib, and trying to push for new opportunities around the contested city of Taiz, Over the past few days, reports are that the Houthis made gains near Maarib, along the northwestern routes through which they have been contesting. At least 42 more were killed in fighting over the weekend, but without any apparent new gains. | Meanwhile in Taiz, the Houthis are testing…

_____ (2021-04-18). The CIA Used To Infiltrate The Media. popularresistance.org Back in the good old days, when things were more innocent and simple, the psychopathic Central Intelligence Agency had to covertly infiltrate the news media to manipulate the information Americans were consuming about their nation and the world. Nowadays, there is no meaningful separation between the news media and the CIA at all. | Journalist Glenn Greenwald just highlighted an interesting point about the reporting by The New York Times on the so-called "Bountygate" story the outlet broke in June of last year about the Russian government trying to pay Taliban-linked fighters to attack US soldiers in Afghanistan.

Yves Smith (2021-04-18). Michael Hudson: America's neoliberal financialization policy vs. China's industrial socialism. mronline.org Nearly half a millennium ago Niccolo Machiavelli's The Princedescribed three options for how a conquering power might treat states that it defeated in war but that "have been accustomed to live under their own laws and in freedom. | April 18, 2021 | Newswire…

RT (2021-04-18). Syria to hold presidential elections in late May, amid decade-long war. rt.com The Syrian parliament has announced that presidential elections will be held in the country next month. Would-be candidates can file documents from April 19 onwards. | Syrians who live in government-controlled areas will cast their votes on May 26, the speaker of the parliament, Hammouda Sabbagh, announced on Sunday. Those who live outside the country but are registered with Syrian embassies will be able to vote at those embassies earlier, on May 20, he added. | Applications for nomination will be accepted from Monday, and potential candidates will have 10 days to submit their documents to the Supreme Constitu…

RT (2021-04-18). 'Hideous': Gary Neville hammers Chelsea's Roman Abramovich and fellow 'imposter' club owners as he rages over plot during pandemic. rt.com In an extraordinary rant on live TV, Gary Neville has slated owners of top clubs including Roman Abramovich and asked for Man United, who he played for, to be relegated from the Premier League if they back a European Super League.

RT (2021-04-18). Skier reportedly 'dies after striking tree during Avachinsky Marathon' in Russia (VIDEO). rt.com A skier has died while competing in the 30km Avachinsky Marathon in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy after striking a tree during Sunday's endurance race, according to reports accompanied by footage which appeared to show a horror crash. | The unnamed participant is understood to have been killed while taking part in the race, with purported footage of the alleged tragedy uploaded to social media showing an incident in which a skier loses control as they navigate a right turn before crashing directly into a tree. | Two other skiers also lost control on the bend but appeared to have escaped uninjured. | The athlete wh…

RT (2021-04-18). Wave of ridicule on Russian social media as alleged Salisbury poisoning suspects linked to explosion at Czech ammo depot. rt.com A wave of ridicule was unleashed on Russian social media after the Czech police identified two suspects, who appeared to be related to a 2014 blast. They are the same people the UK accused of the high-profile Skripal poisoning. | A diplomatic scandal rocked Russian-Czech relations this weekend just before a scheduled visit to Moscow by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek. Prague expelled 18 Russian diplomats and accused Moscow of sending intelligence agents to blow up a munitions depot a few years ago. | The news would have been received with much less amusement in Russia, were it not for the alleged identity o…

RT (2021-04-18). Russia tells 20 Czech diplomats to leave by Monday night in response to Prague's expulsions. rt.com Twenty Czech diplomats have been declared personae non-gratae and must now leave Russia before the end of April 19, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, a day after Czech officials expelled 18 diplomats to Moscow. | Earlier on Sunday, the Czech ambassador to Moscow, Vítezslav Pivonka, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, which expressed a "strong protest" over Prague's actions this weekend. Citing allegations of the involvement of the Russian intelligence in a 2014 blast at a military depot in the Czech Republic, which was initially thought to be an accident, the Czech government ordered 18 Rus…

RT (2021-04-18). Russia to withdraw from International Space Station starting from 2025, deputy PM confirms, as Moscow works on replacement. rt.com Russia will end its participation in the International Space Station after it reaches the end of its planned lifespan in 2024, a senior official has confirmed. Moscow is already working on a new station to replace the current one. | Moscow will "notify [partnering countries] about its withdrawal from the ISS starting from 2025," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told TV channel Rossiya-1 on Sunday. He added that the country would hold consultations with other nations about future cooperation once the station ceased to function. | The deputy prime minister's office told the TASS news agency that "repor…

RT (2021-04-18). 1,700 bikini-clad snowboarders & skiers hit Siberian slopes to close season in style (VIDEO). rt.com Thousands of winter sports lovers dressed in nothing but bikinis or swim shorts have raced down the slopes in Russia's Kemerovo Region as part of an annual event to mark the end of the Siberian ski season. | Some 1,700 people braved the icy temperatures to take part in the sexy descent at the popular Sheregesh ski resort on Saturday, according to the organizers. | Despite the numbers being impressive, they fell short of a Guinness world record for the most crowded semi-naked downhill event, which was set at the same location a few years ago. | The reason for that is the Covid-19 pandemic, which prevented fo…

RT (2021-04-18). 'We've got to get more confrontational!' Rep. Maxine Waters shows up in Brooklyn Center, slams curfew & leaves before it kicks in. rt.com Congresswoman Maxine Waters made a sudden appearance in Brooklyn Center, the hotspot of week-long protests over the killing of Daunte Wright, 20, all but encouraging the crowd to defy an emergency curfew imposed by the city. | Hundreds of protesters rallied outside Brooklyn Center, Minnesota police station for the seventh day in a row on Saturday, when US Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) showed up around 10: 30pm to address the crowd with a brief and emotional speech. | With less than 30 minutes before yet another emergency curfew was due to come into effect, journalists at the scene asked Maxine about the r…

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