2021-04-16: News Headlines

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-16). CrossTalk on Ukraine: Toward war? antibellum679354512.wordpress.com With new backing from the West, Ukrainian president says "The Army is ready" Tulsi Gabbard and Tucker Carlson: war with Russia over Ukraine could produce unimaginable nuclear catastrophe…

Staff (2021-04-16). Biden Sanctions Russia for Cyber Espionage While Remaining Silent over Israeli Cyberattack on Iran. democracynow.org The United States has imposed new sanctions on Russia and expelled 10 Russian diplomats after the Biden administration accused Moscow of being involved in major cyberattacks. The Treasury Department claimed Russia interfered in the 2020 election and was behind the SolarWinds hack, which compromised the computer systems of nine U.S. government agencies and scores of private companies. The sanctions target 32 Russian entities and individuals and bar U.S. banks from purchasing Russian government debt. Russia vowed to retaliate against the new sanctions and accused the Biden administration of degrading bilateral rela…

Medea Benjamin, Ariel Gold (2021-04-16). The Hawks Who Want War With Iran Are Working Overtime. counterpunch.org Just as talks between the US and Iran were taking place last week in Vienna, a cyberattack was carried out on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. Reports are that the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, was behind the attack that blacked out the facility just one day after Tehran launched new advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges and as

Mike Walter (2021-04-16). The Heat: Fukushima Waste Water. america.cgtn.com Controversy in Japan as the government announces plans to release treated radioactive water into the ocean from the site of one of the world's biggest nuclear disasters.

Staff (2021-04-16). Vaccination Plan Advances: Venezuela Receives Fourth Shipment of Sputnik-V. orinocotribune.com Early in the morning of Thursday, April 15, the fourth shipment of the Russian Sputnik-V vaccine arrived in Venezuela. These vaccines will be used to carry forward the Venezuelan immunization plan initiated on February 18. | The shipment was dispatched from Moscow, capital of the Russian Federation, and was carried by the Russian airline Azur Air. | To date, Venezuela has received 300,000 doses of the Sputnik-V vaccine, considered to be the most efficient vaccine in the world against COVID-19. | Moreover, Venezuela has included other COVID-19 vaccines in its vaccination plan, namely the Russian EpiVacCorona and t…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-16). Russia Begins Construction Of Over-The-Horizon 'Voronezh' Radar Station In Crimea. southfront.org Click to see full-size image | A project for the construction of a new missile early warning system "Voronezh" was approved in Crimea."Soon, work will begin on the construction of the station's foundation," a source at the office of the EWS General Designer On July 3, 2020, the Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation, Sergei Surovikin, announced that the creation of a new radar station near Sevastopol would be completed in 2…

Anonymous349 (2021-04-16). In Photo: ISIS Militant Uses Russian-made ORSIS T-5000 Sniper Rifle Against Iraqi Forces. southfront.org This article was originally published on SouthFront in January 2020. | The ISIS news agency Amaq released a photo showing an ISIS militiant with a Russian-made ORSIS T-5000 sniper rifle. The militant was allegedly involved in attacks on Iraqi forces. The T-5000 is a bolt-action sniper rifle developed by ORSIS and produced in its Moscow factory. | ORSIS T-5000 rifles were officially delivered to the Iraqi Armed Forces. They are employed by the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, and were spotted in the hands of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units that likely received them from the military. | The ORSIS T-5000 sni…

Anonymous669 (2021-04-16). Iran Produced First Batch Of 60% Enriched Uranium At Natanz Facility. southfront.org File image | Iranian scientists have produced the first batch of 60% enriched uranium, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, announced on April 16."I am proud to announce that at 00: 40 last night … young and pious Iranian scientists were able to obtain a 60% enriched uranium product," Qalibaf wrote in a Persian tweet on Friday. "We congratulate the brave people of the Islamic Iran on this success; the will of the Iranian people is miraculous and will thwart any conspiracy." | Earlier this…

ecns.cn (2021-04-16). China to monitor Japan's plan to dump nuclear wastewater, vows to protect consumers. ecns.cn The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said it will closely monitor the developments in Japan's decision to dump Fukushima wastewater into the ocean and pledged to ensure the safety of Chinese consumers.

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-16). Democrats Reintroduce Bill to Block US From Using Nuclear Weapons First. news.antiwar.com A pair of Democratic lawmakers in the House and the Senate reintroduced a bill on Friday that would prohibit the US The bill reads: "It is the policy of the United States to not use nuclear weapons first." The legislation will be reviewed by the foreign affairs committees of each chamber of Congress. | A no first use bill was introduced by Smith and Warren…

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-16). Biden Declares National Emergency: U.S. and NATO Brand Russia an International Pariah. globalresearch.ca The thirty-member North Atlantic Council, the political decision-making body of NATO …

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-16). Kiev: American envoy says U.S. supports Ukraine against "Russian aggression" antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Kiev: American envoy says U.S. supports Ukraine against "Russian aggression"Rick Rozoff Today's Interfax Ukraine reports American chargé d'affaires to Ukraine Kristina Kvien adjuring Russia to cease "aggressive actions" against Ukraine — though she didn't cite any specific examples of such actions — or it would face consequences. What in diplomatic language is called diktat. It's …

_____ (2021-04-16). Why Biden's New Russian Sanctions Are Shortsighted. popularresistance.org The Biden administration's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan is a wise and morally courageous one. It refuses to inherit and continue a disastrous American tradition in foreign and security policy: the obsession with defending meaningless U.S. "credibility" (aka prestige), irrespective of real national interests and of the cost in American lives and money. | Previous U.S. "strategy" in Afghanistan was a kind of zombie policy: in reality dead, but still walking around because nobody in Washington could bring themselves to bury it. | The obsession with mortal threats from Russia is a zombie dating b…

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-16). Ukraine: President pushes shortcut to NATO as government publishes map of bomb shelters. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Ukraine: President pushes shortcut to NATO as government publishes map of bomb sheltersRick Rozoff Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a newspaper interview has called insistently for his country being admitted to NATO even before all necessary internal reforms are completed, citing for the pressing nature of his demand what he called Russian aggression. He didn't …

ecns.cn (2021-04-16). Russia says U.S. has to pay for new sanctions. ecns.cn Washington must realize that it will "pay a price" for the degradation of U.S.-Russian relations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday in response to new anti-Russian sanctions and the expulsion of diplomats.

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-16). Kiev: American Envoy Says US Supports Ukraine Against 'Russian Aggression'. news.antiwar.com Today's Interfax Ukraine reports American chargé d'affaires to Ukraine Kristina Kvien adjuring Russia to cease "aggressive actions" against Ukraine — though she didn't cite any specific examples of such actions — or it would face consequences. What in diplomatic language is called diktat. It's not for nothing that Kvien has a master's degree from the U.S. …

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-16). Russia to Expel 10 US Diplomats in Response to Biden's Actions. news.antiwar.com On Friday, The US "Ten diplomats were on a list the US side handed over to us asking to ensure their leavi…

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-16). Ukraine: President Pushes Shortcut to NATO as Government Publishes Map of Bomb Shelters. news.antiwar.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a newspaper interview has called insistently for his country being admitted to NATO even before all necessary internal reforms are completed, citing for the pressing nature of his demand what he called Russian aggression. He didn't describe any incidents of intrusions into or attacks against Ukraine in his statement. An …

Binoy Kampmark (2021-04-15). Israel Sabotages the Natanz Nuclear Facility. counterpunch.org Over the weekend, Iran marked National Nuclear Technology Day. The stars of the show were going to be new advanced centrifuges at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant. Unfortunately, the stars did not shine and President Hassan Rouhani and his officials were left with a reminder of the previous time the centrifuges at Natanz crashed. In

Dan Cohen (2021-04-15). NED-Funded Uyghur Separatist Network and CAIR Director Rally Around Cold War Propaganda. mintpressnews.com At a March 30 demonstration at the Chinese Embassy, the U.S.-funded Uyghur Separatist Network was joined by prominent Muslim figures. "Behind The Headlines" correspondent Dan Cohen spoke to participants and examined their claims.

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-15). Western Media Eager to See Ukraine Use US-Supplied Weapons Against Russia. globalresearch.ca With tensions simmering in eastern Ukraine, US media outlets are happy …

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2021-04-15). March 11, 2011: Fukushima: A Nuclear War without a War: The Unspoken Crisis of Worldwide Nuclear Radiation. globalresearch.ca Unimaginable" levels of radiation still prevail. In the words of Dr. Helen Caldicott, "one millionth of a gram of plutonium, if inhaled can cause cancer". If not duly addressed, the continued dumping of highly radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean constitutes a potential trigger to a process of global radioactive contamination.

Andrew Korybko (2021-04-15). Russia-US Tensions at an Historic High: Biden Proposes an In-Person Meeting with Putin. globalresearch.ca The American and Russian Presidents have a slew of issues to …

Eds. (2021-04-15). Grave concerns raised as Japan announces release of radioactive water into the sea. mronline.org JAPAN has come under fire after its government announced today that it would release more than a million metric tonnes of radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. | April 15, 2021 | Newswire…

Kenya Elliott (2021-04-15). A "national emergency" because of Russia? Seeing through U.S. double standards. liberationnews.org In response to the supposed "unusual and extraordinary threat to the National security, foriegn policy, and economy of the United States", Joe Biden today declared a national emergency, expelled 10 Russian diplomats and imposed new sanctions on Russia.

RT (2021-04-15). Biden calls for de-escalation of tensions with Russia after placing sanctions over unproven charges of hacking & election meddling. rt.com US President Joe Biden called for "dialogue and diplomatic process" with Russia, after ordering sanctions against Moscow for allegedly being behind the SolarWinds hack and interfering in "sacred" elections and American democracy. | Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday afternoon that he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of the impending sanctions during their recent phone call, calling it a "proportionate" US response to what Russia allegedly did. | We concluded that they had interfered in the election and the SolarWinds was totally inappropriate. | Russia has denied any interference in the…

RT (2021-04-15). Biden calls for de-escalation of tensions with Russia following sanctions over unproven charges of hacking & election meddling. rt.com US President Joe Biden called for "dialogue and diplomatic process" with Russia, after ordering sanctions against Moscow for allegedly being behind the SolarWinds hack and interfering in "sacred" elections and American democracy. | Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday afternoon that he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of the impending sanctions during their recent phone call, calling it a "proportionate" US response to what Russia allegedly did. | We concluded that they had interfered in the election and the SolarWinds was totally inappropriate. | Russia has denied any interference in the…

Mike Walter (2021-04-15). The Heat: Ukraine-Russia tensions. america.cgtn.com Tensions running high in Eastern Europe as tens of thousands of Russian forces are building up near the Ukrainian border.

RT (2021-04-15). Biden's Russia policy ludicrous, unbelievable, contradictory & unprecedented: First offers Putin summit & then imposes sanctions. rt.com Just a month ago, US President Joe Biden indicated he believes his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin is a "killer." But on Tuesday, he spoke to the 'killer' by phone and proposed that the pair meet for a face-to-face summit. | A few weeks is clearly a long time in politics. | So too, it seems, is a couple of days. | For on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared that a summit between Biden and Putin would not go ahead in the near future. That does not mean that Moscow has definitively rejected a meeting at some point later, but it is clear that the Kremlin is not inclined to indulge Biden for now.

Anonymous007 (2021-04-15). Military Situation In Syria On April 15, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On April 15, SDC denied all the information about the withdrawal of the Russian forces from their observation points in the Tal Rafaat area | On April 15, an IED blast was reported in Idlib city. | On April 14, 2 Turkish-backed militants were killed and two others wounded by unknown gunmen attack on a Turkish-backed Levant Front group headquarter in Afrin region | On April 14, SDF arrested 4 ISIS suspects in the Shahil area | On April 14, an explosion were reported in…

Anonymous007 (2021-04-15). Russia Deploys Su-34 Jets To Black Sea Region, US Not To Send It's Warships There. southfront.org Click to see full-size image | On April 13th, it appeared that Russia had deployed its 559th Fighter Bomber Aviation Regiment, equipped with SU-34 jets deployed to the Black Sea region. | #Ukraine | As I said yesterday, the moment we see fixed wing assets being redeployed, we've got a serious issue. | Well it seems that time has come, the 559th Fighter Bomber Aviation Regiment equipped with SU-34s have been deployed to the Black Sea region. | Very concerning. ecns.cn (2021-04-15). Putin completes COVID-19 vaccination. ecns.cn Russian President Vladimir Putin said he received his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, following his first shot on March 23.

ecns.cn (2021-04-15). China urges U.S. to stop drumming up China's threat in outer space. ecns.cn China urged the U.S. to stop fabricating the so-called China threat in outer space, sticking to the Cold War mentality, and shifting its responsibilities.

_____ (2021-04-15). For JCPOA Re-entry, Biden Must Tear Down This Sanctions Wall. popularresistance.org It was clear from the outset: Returning to the Iran Nuclear Deal was not a matter of nuclear technicalities or diplomatic savvy. It was and remains primarily a matter of political will and political capital. | Though all eyes will be on the start of formal talks in Vienna this week, the real test will take place in Washington D.C. where President Joe Biden must muster the political will to tear down the "sanctions wall" his predecessor put in place for the sole purpose of preventing an American return to the nuclear agreement, lest the talks in Vienna will be for naught. | With only two months left until the Iran…

Steven Sahiounie (2021-04-15). The Israeli Attack on Iran May Sabotage the US Goal of a New Nuclear Deal. globalresearch.ca On April 11, the Natanz uranium enrichment site was attacked. An …

Mark H. Gaffney (2021-04-15). Does Biden Want to Provoke Russia into A Rash Military Action, "Leading" the World to the Brink of Nuclear War? globalresearch.ca Scarcely three months into his presidency, Joe Biden is "leading" the …

Ahyousha Khan* (2021-04-15). Indian Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSN) And Security Calculus In Indian Ocean — OpEd. eurasiareview.com In

Arab News (2021-04-15). Arab League Chief 'Deeply Concerned' Over Iran's Uranium Enrichment Move. eurasiareview.com By Mohammed Abu Zaid | The secretary-general of the Arab League has expressed his deep concerns over Iran's decision to increase its enrichment of uranium to 60 percent, nudging it ever closer to bomb-grade purity. | Ahmed Aboul Gheit has described Tehran's move as a dangerous development and a clear step toward developing a nuclear weapon, an official source at the General Secretariat of the Arab League said. | Further enriching uranium from 20 percent purity by using advanced centrifuges, added more doubts about the real goals of the Iranian nuclear program, as such high levels of enrichment were unnecessary…

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2021-04-15). Warren and Smith Reintroduce 'Critical' Bill to Block US From Starting Nuclear War. commondreams.org "There are no winners in a nuclear war, and the U.S. should never start one." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-11455199201_1.jpg

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-15). Ukrainian envoy: NATO or nuclear weapons. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Ukrainian envoy: NATO or nuclear weaponsRick Rozoff Today Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seconded a statement by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili that "it is time for concrete proposals for Ukraine and Georgia to obtain a NATO MAP and a plan to join the EU." The two countries have been paired as partners for future NATO membership, …

ecns.cn (2021-04-15). Greenpeace expert: Japan's decision must be overturned. ecns.cn Dumping contaminated wastewater into the sea may be the cheapest way for Japan to deal with its troubles of Fukushima nuclear plant, but the Japanese government's decision completely disregards the human rights and interests of the people in Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region, said Shaun Burnie, a senior nuclear specialist with Greenpeace East Asia.

ecns.cn (2021-04-15). China urges Japan to reconsider decision on nuclear waste disposal: FM spokesperson. ecns.cn China strongly urges Japan to reconsider its decision on the disposal of nuclear waste, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Labor Video Project (2021-04-15). Seattle APRI Panel:Mineworkers Union Of Namibia Rossing Mine Fight Against Union Busting. indybay.org The Seattle APRI held a panel with Namibian Mineworkers Union Rossing fired union leaders who discussed the union busting by the China National Nuclear Corporation CNNC in Namibia.

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-15). Russia Warns US Against New Sanctions. news.antiwar.com A day after President Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow said it warned the US against imposing any new sanctions amid reports that more measures are coming. | According to a report from

Prof. Ksenia Tabarintseva-Romanova (2021-04-15). The Economic and Social Development of the African Continent. A Russian Perspective. globalresearch.ca After the Soviet collapse, Russia has maintained strong and time-tested relations …

Michael Averko (2021-04-15). CNN's Blatant Disinformation About Russia-Ukraine Activity — OpEd. eurasiareview.com MSNBC host

Rick Rozoff (2021-04-15). With new backing from the West, Ukrainian president says "The Army is ready" antibellum679354512.wordpress.com With new backing from the West, Ukrainian president says "The Army is ready"Rick Rozoff The same day that U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order leveling new sanctions against Russia and expelling ten of its diplomats, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participated in a session of the National Security and Defense Council and afterward said …

Kamal Iranidoost (2021-04-15). Russia says would reciprocate new US sanctions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 15 (MNA) — Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the new US sanctions against Russia "wouldn't facilitate" the planned summit between the leaders of the two countries, adding that Moscow would reciprocate for any new limits.

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-15). US Intelligence Walks Back Claim Russia Paid Bounties for US Troops in Afghanistan. news.antiwar.com Since The New York Times "The United States intelligence community assesses with low to moderate confidence that Russian intelligence office…

Dave DeCamp (2021-04-15). US Cancels Deployment of Warships to Black Sea. news.antiwar.com The US has canceled a planned deployment of two US Navy destroyers to the Black Sea, The US frequently sends warships into the Black Sea, but the planned deployment that Turkey announced last week would have come against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the region between Russia and Ukraine. On Tuesday, According…

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