(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…
(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 …
(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…
(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…
(2021-04-19). Cuba libre to be COVID-libre: Five vaccines and counting. mronline.org 
This pandemic has affirmed that public healthcare needs cannot be adequately met under a profit-based system. | April 19, 2021 | Newswire…
(2021-04-19). El Nacional Newspaper to Pay Diosdado Cabello $13.6m Libel Damages. venezuelanalysis.com The Supreme Court ruled that the opposition newspaper landed unsubstantiated accusations that the socialist deputy was linked to drug cartels.
(2021-04-19). Chris Hedges: The Unraveling of the American Empire. mintpressnews.com 
Princeton, New Jersey (
(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… |
(2021-04-19). The Collapse of the American Empire. commondreams.org U.S. leadership has stumbled from one military debacle to another, a trajectory mirroring the sad finales of other historical imperial powers. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2021-04-19). In Defense of the Revolution: Cuba's Historic Victory over Imperialism at Playa Girón. orinocotribune.com 
By Steve Lalla — Apr 18, 2021 | "For progressives and anti-imperialists all over the world, the mention of the Bay of Pigs — known in the Spanish-speaking world as Playa Girón — evokes joy and celebration," wrote Carmelo Ruiz. "The United States, an empire accustomed to imposing itself even in the farthest corners of the world, could not prevail and enforce its will on an island country 90 miles away from its shores. The empire could be defeated after all." π | In mid-April, 1961, the island nation of Cuba repelled a US military invasion at Playa Girón and captured over 1,200 invaders. Cuba's…
(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…
(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 …
(2021-04-19). CIA Assassination Plot Targeted Cuba's Raul Castro. orinocotribune.com 
As Castro Retires on 60th Anniversary of the Bay of Pigs, National Security Archive Posts Declassified Top Secret CIA Cables, Reports from 1960 | Agency Officials Willing to Pay Over $10,000 For 'Fatal Accident' | Another Assassination Plot against Fidel Castro Was Part of Bay of Pigs Invasion Strategy | Washington D.C., April 16, 2021 — In the earliest known CIA assassination plot against leaders of the Cuban revolution, high agency officials offered the pilot of a plane carrying Raul Castro from Prague to Havana "payment after successful completion of ten thousand dollars" to "incur risks in arranging acc…
(2021-04-19). Guaidó's Gag: He Names New Board of Directors at Telesur — They Treat Him as Crazy. orinocotribune.com 
Juan Guaidó added another farcical episode to the drama of his mock interim government by announcing that he has overhauled the executive board of Telesur. | This "decision" was funny enough to elicit a response from Venezuelan Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Latin America, Rander Peña, who wrote simply: "today's joke." Peña was followed by Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza, who facetiously call the former deputy's imaginary television station "TeleNarniaNorte." | Guaidó, US puppet for destabilizing Venezuela, announced that those in charge of running the Telesur parallel project will be Roberto Marrero…
(2021-04-19). Venezuela Reports 1,287 New COVID-19 Cases on Sunday. orinocotribune.com 
Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, heading the working meeting with the presidential team for the prevention and control of COVID-19, this Sunday, April 18, reported that 1,287 new COVID-19 infections from community transmission were registered in the past 24 hours. Caracas was afflicted with the highest number of cases with 162, followed by Yaracuy with 157, and Anzoátegui with 150. | "We are ending the week of flexibility and we must maintain prevention measures," said Rodríguez. "This graph explains the reasons for the measures taken by President Maduro and the positive aspects of these timely actio…
(2021-04-19). Utah ABC affiliate doxes paramedic & sends crew to his house, after hack reveals he donated $10 to a Kyle Rittenhouse defense fund. rt.com 
A Utah paramedic who donated $10 to a legal defense fund for Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen who shot three Wisconsin rioters, allegedly in self-defense, has been outed as some kind of villain by Salt Lake City's ABC TV affiliate. | ABC4 reporter Jason Nguyen came up with his "scoop" after the Guardian newspaper included the name of West Valley City, Utah paramedic Craig Shepherd in a Friday article about police officers and other government employees who made donations to fundraisers for "accused vigilante murderers, far-right activists and fellow officers accused of shooting black Americans." | The Guardian dug t…
(2021-04-19). Critics, including CNN, attack Chauvin defense for 'reasonable police officer' argument. rt.com 
The prosecution and defense lawyers have made their closing arguments in the trial of former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, with his legal team earning ridicule online for their "reasonable police officer" argument. | Chauvin's trial has gripped the attention of activists in Minnesota, the state where the late George Floyd died in the custody of Chauvin, kicking off Black Lives Matter protests across the country. Tensions have heated up amid the ongoing Chauvin trial and the recent police-shooting death of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, which is near Minneapolis. | In their closing arguments on Monday, Chau…
(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…
(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…
(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
(2021-04-19). At NYC "Climate Clock" Youth and Climate Activists Send Global Message to Biden in Advance of Earth Day: #Actintime! commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2021-04-19). Friday 4/23: Protest in Solidarity With Hunger Strikers for Yemen. indybay.org 6342 Shattuck Ave | Berkeley, CA 94705…
(2021-04-19). Biden's Drone Wars. commondreams.org Talk of peace in Afghanistan, Yemen, the streets of the U.S., is not coherent while waging wars with drones. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2021-04-19). Hopes for revival of nuclear deal rise despite provocations against Iran. peoplesdispatch.org Despite provocations such as the attack on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility on April 11, the discussions to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or the nuclear deal continue through the mechanism of the joint commission…
(2021-04-19). Opportunities And Threats Of Iran's Return To 2015 Nuclear Deal — Analysis. eurasiareview.com There were some conflicting speculations regarding the position of US President Joseph Biden's administration on Iran's nuclear program, as optimists believed the new President would return to the nuclear deal as soon as he entered the White House, while pessimists announced that the decision to return to that deal would be very difficult if not impossible under the conditions agreed with President Barack Obama in October 2015. Many things have changed during Donald Trump's tenure as president, as have many attitudes towards the nuclear deal, which today requires that the details of the deal be reconsidered an…
(2021-04-19). US Intelligence Agencies Playing Mantra Orchestrated By Military Complexes — OpEd. eurasiareview.com I have often raised this point that the US foreign policy is driven by 'military complexes'. The survival of these conglomerates is dependent on internal conflicts and proxy wars, often created and proliferated by the US intelligence agencies. | If presence of weapons of mass destructions in Iraq was the biggest joke of the century, Iran getting ready to attack United States is another point to laugh. If you don't agree with me read the highlights of 'The Annual Threat Assessment Report'. | According to The Annual Threat Assessment Report — 2021 prepared by the office of the US Director of National Intel…
(2021-04-19). Politicizing Ukrainian plane crash deplorable, inhumane. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — Spokesman for the Secretariat of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said that trying to politicize Ukrainian plane crash is 'regrettable and inhumane'.
(2021-04-19). Iran, Indonesia underline expansion of mutual ties. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — In their meeting, the Indonesian President and Iranian Foreign Minister discussed the development of mutual relations.
(2021-04-19). Woodcarving in north of Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — Woodcarving is among the oldest arts preserved in the northern Iranian provinces including Mazandaran, where the abundance of wood has led to a form of woodcarving known as 'Laktarashi'.
(2021-04-19). Intelligence forces seize weapons consignment SW Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — Iranian intelligence forces seized a consignment of weapons at Khuzestan province borders.
(2021-04-19). Famous Ramadan traditions in Egypt. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — Egypt is the most famous place for Ramadan traditions and it is said that many of the Ramadan rituals practiced throughout the Muslim world have origins in Egypt.
(2021-04-19). Russia, US hold meeting on JCPOA in Vienna. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — The head of the Russian delegation to the JCPOA talks announced that he met with the US Special Representative for Iran and discuss the lifting of sanctions and the full implementation of the agreement.
(2021-04-19). EU's Borrell cites progress in Iran nuclear talks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — The European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell says that he saw a willingness to save the JCPOA in Iran nuclear talks in Vienna, adding that there was progress in talks to bring Washington back to the accord.
(2021-04-19). Progress can be seen in Vienna talks: Berlin. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — A spokesperson of the German government announced progress in the current Iranian nuclear talks in Vienna.
(2021-04-19). 'Sky Sun, Tile Sun' goes to London Kurdish Film Festival. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — Iranian animation 'Sky Sun, Tile Sun' directed by Ziba Arzhang took part in the 12th edition of the London Kurdish Film Festival in the UK.
(2021-04-19). Iran Says It Welcomes Dialogue With Saudis After Reports of Secret Talks. news.antiwar.com On Monday, "We have seen media reports about talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, although the reports sometimes had contradictory quotes," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a press conference. | "What is important is that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed dialogue with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and consi…
(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…
(2021-04-19). Tomgram: Steiner, Riazi, and Freeman, A Message from the Saudi Lobby. warisacrime.org This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. Some things just never seem to end. What came to mind was the way in which, during administration after administration, the Saudis and other foreign powers have poured money into Washington to ensure that their governments and their …
(2021-04-19). How to Make a Gulf Monarchy All-American. zcomm.org The Saudi Lobby Moves from K Street to Main Street…
(2021-04-19). The Saudi Lobby Moves from K Street to Main Street. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2021-04-19). United States: Biden rules out re-engagement with Cuba, for now. greenleft.org.au President Biden's reluctance to make any immediate changes in US policy toward Cuba is more than anything the result of domestic politics, writes Ian Ellis-Jones.
(2021-04-19). Cuba — En días de Congreso. globalizacion.ca El desarrollo del Congreso del Partido suscita recuerdos, reflexiones y expectativas. Ahora mismo, mientras transcurren las jornadas de análisis y debate, me asalta la evocación de los años fundacionales, allá por los 60 del pasado siglo. | En el cine Chaplin,…
(2021-04-18). Estados Unidos y Colombia: Desean más y más narcóticos. globalizacion.ca El conflicto armado, iniciado al menos, desde el 21 de marzo 2021 entre Colombia y Venezuela, más exactamente entre la Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana FANB y grupos paramilitares narcotraficantes de Colombia (no el ejército regular colombiano), (llamado por el gobierno…
(2021-04-18). Jewish, immigrant organizers hold Passover action in Kenosha, Wisconsin. liberationnews.org 
Activists gathered outside the Kenosha Detention Center April 11 to demand the Biden administration stop the continued detention and dehumanization of immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, for legalization of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States and for the abolition of ICE.
(2021-04-18). Minister for Defense: 'Venezuela Has Transformed the Siege into an Opportunity for Innovation'. orinocotribune.com 
The Venezuelan Minister for Defense, Chief General Vladimir Padrino López, said this Saturday, April 17, that Venezuela has transformed the siege into an opportunity to innovate and test its own solutions. | One of the areas in which this stubborn determination not to give up is revealed is the military field. |
(2021-04-18). Earthquake hits Iranian province housing nuclear power plant. middleeasteye.net 
Earthquake hits Iranian province housing nuclear power plant | Five people reported injured in quake centred 100km from the Bushehr nuclear complex located on country's Gulf coast | Sun, 04/18/2021 – 12: 56 | An Iranian government official said there were no reports of damage at the Bushehr nuclear complex (AFP) | A magnitude 5.9 earthquake on Sunday struck Iran's southern province of Bush…
(2021-04-18). Iran and Saudi Arabia held direct talks in Baghdad to repair rivalry: Report. middleeasteye.net 
Iran and Saudi Arabia held direct talks in Baghdad to repair rivalry: Report | Iraq's prime minister acted as a 'bridge' between the two regional powers, according to the Financial Times | Sun, 04/18/2021 – 09: 42 | Iraq's prime minister held talks with Saudi Arabia's crown prince during a visit to Riyadh, just over a week before hosting the Saudi-Iran talks, according to the FT (Reuters)…
(2021-04-18). Breonna Taylor's mother condemns Black Lives Matter chapter as 'FRAUD,' says her family's name has been used to raise money. rt.com 
The mother of Breonna Taylor, one of the leading martyrs of the Black Lives Matter movement, has branded the Louisville, Kentucky BLM chapter as a "fraud" and accused opportunistic activists of exploiting her name for profit. | "I have never personally dealt with BLM Louisville and personally have found them to be fraud," Tamika Palmer said on Wednesday in a since-deleted Facebook post. She added that "I've watched y'all raise money on behalf of Breonna's family who has never done a damn thing for us — nor have we needed it or asked, so talk about fraud." | Breonna Taylor's Mom. She, I fully support. BLM…
(2021-04-18). Tallahassee joins statewide protests against repressive law. fightbacknews.org Tallahassee, FL – On April 10, the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) held a rally at the Leon County Courthouse as part of a statewide day of action coordinated by organizations from the Florida Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression. Activists rallied to call on the Florida Senate to reject HB1/SB484, a repressive bill designed to limit protest and dissent in Florida. Dozens of activists showed up to hear organizers with TCAC, the Dream Defenders, and More Than A Name speak about how the need for continued struggle in the face of state repression. | Trish Brown of the Tally 19 spoke on HB1…
(2021-04-18). Berliners protest striking down of rent cap law by constitutional court. peoplesdispatch.org Housing rights groups and activists took to the streets after Germany's constitutional court struck down a law passed by the Berlin State government freezing rents at June 2019 levels for five years…