2020-04-16: News Headlines

RT (2020-04-16). What about Beslan? Russian Human Rights Council fears change in WWII end date may overshadow anniversary of massacre. rt.com Most of the world recognizes September 2, 1945 as the day World War II concluded. Following Victory Day in Europe that May, the conflict continued in Asia for four more months, until Japan formally surrendered. | In Russia, a plan to move the date has upset some activists. On Tuesday, the national parliament (State Duma) passed a law changing the final day of the Second World War to September 3. However, this coincides with another devastating tragedy – the Beslan School Massacre. | According to Chairman of the State Duma's Defense Committee Vladimir Shamanov, moving the date matches the reality in the Soviet…

Max Blumenthal (2020-04-16). Coronavirus stimulus bill funds State Dept/USAID operations that once helped trigger polio outbreak in Syria. thegrayzone.com A look at recent USAID schemes from Pakistan to Syria shows US empire can be very hazardous to your health….

RT (2020-04-16). German court rules blanket ban on demonstrations 'UNCONSTITUTIONAL' as Merkel plans easing of Covid-19 restrictions. rt.com Covid-19 health concerns are not grounds for a general ban on public demonstrations, a German court has ruled, after activists took a case arguing that Berlin's current restrictions on public gatherings are unconstitutional. | If they adhere to social distancing rules, Germans should have the right to hold political protests, the Constitutional Court said in the Thursday ruling. | Activists in Giessen, a town in the federal state of Hesse, had planned a protest march to denounce new rules that ban gatherings of more than two people in public, arguing that they were in breach of the country's constitution and c…

Kurt Nimmo (2020-04-15). German Lawyer Sent to Psychiatric Ward for Organizing Protest Against COVID-19 Lockdown. globalresearch.ca In the Soviet Union, activists were sent to state psychiatric wards. According to the state, any and all opposition to government policy was considered a form of mental illness. |

Medea Benjamin, Leonardo Flores (2020-04-15). Threatening Military Intervention in Venezuela During a Pandemic? commondreams.org Littoral combat ship USS Detroit off the coast of Venezuela. (Photo: US Navy/DoD) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Medea Benjamin (2020-04-04). Saudi's Brave Women Pull Back the Curtain on Crown Prince MBS. zcomm.org The bogus trial against Loujain al-Hathloul should compel governments around the world to put more pressure on the Saudis and demand al-Hathloul's immediate and unconditional release…

Venezuela Analysis (2020-02-06). Embassy Protection Collective: "We Are Not the Ones Who Violated the Law" theantimedia.com In this exclusive interview, VA talks to the activists who defended the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC ahead of their trial.

Suzanne O'Keeffe (2019-07-24). MPP National Director Nick Brana arrested with XR. peoplesparty.org with Extinction Rebellion climate activists | MPP National Director Nick Brana arrested with Extinction Rebellion climate activists after supergluing themselves to Congress in mass civil disobedience: | Washington, D.C. — Movement for a People's Party National Director Nick Brana was arrested during a protest to block Congress and demand that they join the countries of the UK and Canada and declare a climate emergency. | Brana and 15 people affiliated with the climate action group Extinction Rebellion (XR) glued themselves to three underground tunnel entrances leading to the Capitol, blocking access…