(2021-04-30). Indian Point Reactor Shutdown Ends Nuclear Era For NYC Area. counterpunch.org 
The permanent shutdown of the Indian Point 3 nuclear reactor on April 30 means that for the first time since 1962, no reactors are operating within 100 miles of New York City. Only one new U.S. plant is under construction, a still-incomplete project of 15 years costing $28 billion. No others are planned, and Indian
(2021-04-30). Letters From Minsk: The Pripet Marshes. counterpunch.org 
This is the eighth in a series about train and bicycle rides from Switzerland to Belarus, in those carefree days before pandemic lockdowns. Before leaving the Brest Fortress (on the Belarus-Polish border) I inspected various museums and monuments from the Second World War, when again the fortress was a bastion fought over by Russians and
(2021-04-30). I'm Still Here, Though My Country's Gone West. dissidentvoice.org 
A mass rally with the Free German Youth that marked the founding of the German Democratic Republic in the Soviet Occupation Zone, October 1949. A full generation has elapsed since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) collapsed in late 1991. Two years earlier, in 1989, the communist states of Eastern Europe dissolved, with the …
(2021-04-30). I'm still here, though my country's gone West. mronline.org 
A full generation has elapsed since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) collapsed in late 1991. Two years earlier, in 1989, the communist states of Eastern Europe dissolved, with the first salvo fired when Hungary opened its border. | April 30, 2021 | Newswire…
(2021-04-30). Beyond Putin and Navalny: Is there a left alternative for Russia? therealnews.com 
Alexei Navalny has been celebrated in the West as the democratic savior of Russia, but are things that simple? World-renowned sociologist Boris Kagarlitsky explains what Western media gets wrong about Putin, Navalny, and the political reality on the ground in Russia.
(2021-04-30). Central Syria: Russian Airstrikes Killed More Than 50 Terrorists In Past Month. southfront.org 
File image. | More than 50 terrorists of ISIS had been killed in central Syria over the past month as a result of airstrikes carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on April 30. | According to the London-based monitoring group, Russian warplanes carried out at least 1,260 airstrikes on ISIS cells in central Syria."SOHR activists documented the death of 59 ISIS members and the injury of 38 others due to over 1,260 Russian airs…
(2021-04-30). Russian Warplanes Foiled Drone Attack, Hit Targets In Greater Idlib & Northern Aleppo (Photos). southfront.org 
A ground crew member reports to pilots that their Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet is ready for a combat mission at Hmeymim air base near Latakia, Syria, in this handout photograph released by Russia's Defence Ministry, October 22, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation) | The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have foiled a drone attack and destroyed a number of high-value targets in Greater Idlib and northern Aleppo, the Sputnik news agency reported. | Late on April 29, VKS warplanes shot down si…
(2021-04-30). Cold War 2.0: U.S. Stops Issuing Visas To Russians. southfront.org 
Illustrative image | The US Embassy in Moscow announced Friday that it would cut consular services and staff in line with new restrictions imposed by Russia. The last week President Vladimir Putin signed
(2021-04-30). US-NATO Geopolitics: Has Washington Lured Erdogan into a Bear Trap? globalresearch.ca After failing to block Turkey's purchase of the advanced S-400 Russian …
(2021-04-30). The EU Parliament's Anti-Russian Resolution Is Dangerous. globalresearch.ca Russia is a major world power, and if the EU can …
(2021-04-30). Russia Produces First Batch of COVID-19 Vaccine for Animals. telesurenglish.net Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) announced the production of the first batch of 17,000 doses of "Carnivac-Cov", which are the first COVID-19 vaccines specifically designed for application in animals. | RELATED: | So far, over 20 companies and institutions have expressed interest to negotiate its registration and supply in Germany, Greece, Poland, Austria, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan…
(2021-04-30). Albania Approves Use of Russian COVID-19 Vaccine Sputnik V. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Albania has approved the use of Sputnik V, a Russian COVID-19 vaccine, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Friday, adding that the Balkan country has already received its first shipment.
(2021-04-30). China Accuses US of 'Cold War Thinking' in Response to Biden's Address. news.antiwar.com On Thursday, Beijing responded to When asked about the speech,
(2021-04-30). Climate activists blockade nuclear base with giant plant pots. thecanary.co Climate activists have blockaded the Faslane nuclear base by attaching themselves to giant plant pots. | Members of Extinction Rebellion Scotland and Trident Ploughshares, are staging the blockade at the north gate of the base on the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute. | The group placed three planters, which contain plants and flowers and are painted with the words "Safe", "Green", and "Future", on the road on Friday morning. | A protester is locked on to each planter so they cannot be moved, preventing access to the base, though emergency vehicles can still access the site via the south gate. | The activists said the…
(2021-04-30). US General Warns China Nuclear Buildup 'On Track to Exceed Previous Projections'. sputniknews.com China's effort to expand its influence was estimated as one of the largest threats facing the United States, according to a major annual intelligence report released on 13 April, which also foresaw Beijing at least doubling its nuclear stockpile over the next decade.
(2021-04-30). World powers want JCPOA revival before Iran-IAEA deal expiry. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA) — World powers are seeking the revival of Iran's nuclear deal, JCPOA, before expiry date of a deal inked between Islamic Republic of Iran and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
(2021-04-30). Positive signs seen in Vienna talks, regional coop.: Zarif. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that positive signs are seen in Vienna talks on Iran's nuclear program and cooperation in the region.
(2021-04-30). Russia Bars Entry to Eight EU Citizens, Including Head of European Parliament. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow has announced that eight citizens of the European Union member states and representatives of official state bodies of the EU, including European Parliament President David Sassoli, are not allowed to enter Russia, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
(2021-04-30). US Sees Russia's Forces Withdrawal From Ukraine Border as Constructive Step, White House Says. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States considers Russia's withdrawal of troops from the Ukraine border as a constructive step, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Friday.
(2021-04-30). US Secretary of State Blinken to Visit Ukraine Next Week – Reports. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Ukraine next week amid concerns over military movements on the country's border with Russia, CBS correspondent Norah O'Donnell reported, citing the top US diplomat.
(2021-04-30). Roskomnadzor Demands From Facebook to Restore Access to RT's Redfish. sputniknews.com MOSCOW, April 30 (Sputnik) – Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor on Friday sent a letter to Facebook and demanded to restore access to Redfish, a subsidiary of RT's global multimedia agency Ruptly.
(2021-04-30). US Expands Probe Into 'Directed-Energy' Attacks to Mainland, Reports Say. sputniknews.com MOSCOW(Sputnik) – US officials are investigating suspected "directed-energy" attacks on government personnel in the country, Politico reported citing unnamed officials familiar with the situation, following a string of alleged incidents abroad.
(2021-04-30). US Sanctions Led to Huawei Losing Smartphone Market Share to Rivals, Company Executive Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Chinese tech giant Huawei lost its smartphone market share to key rivals including Apple and Samsung, under pressure from strident US sanctions, a top company executive said on Friday.
(2021-04-29). Russia's Expanding Footprint In The Middle East — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Talmiz Ahmad* | Over the last month or so, the shadow of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has loomed large across the Middle East. In March, he visited the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. He was soon back in the region, visiting Egypt and Iran on April 12-13. | Russia became a key player in the Middle East when it brought its armed forces into Syria in September 2015 to prevent externally sponsored regime change. Having achieved this fairly quickly, its diplomatic canvas has broadened to include all the regional states, with which it is building substantial ties in the areas of energy, economics and defe…
(2021-04-29). Peace Talks On Eastern Ukraine Failed To Establish "Easter Truce" In Donbass (Map Update). southfront.org 
Photo by Mykola Lazarenko/POOL | On April 28, a regular meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the settlement of the conflict in Donbass took place via videoconference. Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE has failed to reach an agreement on the final text of a ceasefire agreement ahead the Orthodox Easter."After almost five hours of useless discussion between Kiev and representatives of the republics, no practical result has been achieved," the LPR said in a Telegram message. | According to the repr…
(2021-04-29). DCU 'Astonished' Over Georgian and Ukrainian Embassy Complaints About Course. strategic-culture.org 
By Diarmaid FLEMING | Dublin City University says it is "astonished" over a complaint made by the Embassies of Georgia and Ukraine in Ireland about the university's teaching of a course on the geopolitics of the Caucasus and Ukraine. | The two embassies sent a joint letter to the President of DCU, Professor Dáire Keogh, and copied it to a number of senior DCU academics and a senior official at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on 8 April. | The letter claimed the course was spreading "disinformation and Russian propaganda narratives" — a view flatly rejected by DCU, which says the criticism amount…
(2021-04-29). Military Situation In Syria On April 28, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On April 29, Russia On April 28, the Ansar Abu Bakr al-Siddiq group claimed responsibility for an attack on a Turkish military v…
(2021-04-29). India Gets 22 Tons of Medical Supplies From Russia. telesurenglish.net India on Thursday received 22 tons of medical supplies from Russia to face the health crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | The donation brought by two Russian transport planes included 20 oxygen production units, 75 lung ventilators, 150 medical monitors, and 200,000 packs of medicine, The Hindu digital newspaper reported. | After a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prim…
(2021-04-28). Putin pledges medical aid to India in phone call with Modi. ecns.cn Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday held a phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pledging to offer emergency medical assistance to pandemic-battered India.
(2021-04-29). Ukrainian ultranationalist lobby flaunts influence over Biden, blocks top Russia expert's appointment. thegrayzone.com Demonstrating the power the ultranationalist Ukraine lobby has attained in Biden's Washington, the White House has withdrawn consideration of esteemed Russia specialist Matthew Rojansky Matthew Rojansky is the head of the Kennan Institute, a notable think tank at the US government-funded Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington. Despite his well-established expertise on Russia and lengthy record of leadership on the issue, he has been judged "too soft" to work in the Biden White House. An increasingly influential element …
(2021-04-29). NATO Nations Wage Hidden War in Mali. news.antiwar.com With the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union and the socialist bloc it led, the world witnessed what some termed the unipolar moment and others the end of history. No entity benefited more from the opening up of the world than the Pentagon. It immediately insinuated itself into every …
(2021-04-29). NATO Nations Wage Hidden War in Mali. libya360.wordpress.com Rick Rozoff Photo: Donald Sparks/AFRICOM With the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union and the socialist bloc it led, the world witnessed what some termed the unipolar moment and others the end of history. No entity benefited more from the opening up of the world than the Pentagon. It…
(2021-04-29). NATO nations wage hidden war in Mali. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com NATO nations wage hidden war in MaliRick Rozoff With the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union and the socialist bloc it led, the world witnessed what some termed the unipolar moment and others the end of history. No entity benefited more from the opening up of the world than …
(2021-04-29). Foreign Experts Assess Benefits Of Russia's Sputnik V Coronavirus Vaccine — Analysis. eurasiareview.com The Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) announced that the Sputnik V vaccine demonstrated efficacy of 97.6%, based on the analysis of data on the infection rate of coronavirus among those in Russia vaccinated with both components of Sputnik V. | "The Ministry of Health of Russia maintains a register of persons who have been vaccinated, as well as citizens who have got infected with COVID as part of the Unified State Information System in Healthcare. Ac…
(2021-04-29). Bangladesh approves proposal of producing Russian, Chinese COVID-19 vaccines. ecns.cn The Bangladeshi government on Wednesday gave the greenlight to a proposal of producing Chinese and Russian COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
(2021-04-29). China Urges Australian Politicians to 'Shake Off the Cold War Mentality'. sputniknews.com Australia-China relations have been growing tense since Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged Beijing last year to allow an independent probe into the origins of COVID-19. This prompted a response from Beijing, leading to reciprocal economic sanctions.
(2021-04-29). Russian foreign minister warns of a new "cold war" wsws.org Despite the recent pullback of Russian troops from the border with Ukraine, the conflict between Washington and Moscow continues and the New York Times continues to promote the right-wing oppositionist Alexei Navalny.
(2021-04-29). Largest Since the Cold War: Massive US-Led War Games Move to the Balkans. news.antiwar.com The DEFENDER-Europe 2021 military exercises led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa which began a month and a half ago and are scheduled to run through June, are now concentrating on the Balkans. In all the Pentagon has reported that the drills were to occur at thirty locations in twelve nations, and involve anywhere from …
(2021-04-29). Can War with Russia be Avoided? globalresearch.ca Considering the level of tension between the nuclear powers, the topic …
(2021-04-29). Oman briefed on latest developments in Iran's nuclear talks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA) — In his meeting with General Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani Minister of Royal Office of Sultan of Oman on Thu., Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif briefed him on latest developments of Iran's talks with P4+ 1 group.
(2021-04-29). Talks in Vienna ongoing on full restoration of JCPOA: Ulyanov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said that talks in Vienna are ongoing on full restoration of Iran's nuclear deal, JCPOA.
(2021-04-29). Nuclear talks between Iran, P4+1 continue in Vienna. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA) — Nuclear talks between Iran and P4 + 1 continue in Austrian capital Vienna with the continuation of meetings of expert working groups in the three areas of sanctions, nuclear and executive arrangements.
(2021-04-29). US cooperating with its allies on Iran nuclear program: Biden. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA) — US President Joe Biden said that the United States will cooperate closely with its allies on the nuclear programs of the Islamic Republic of Iran and North Korea.
(2021-04-29). Sullivan: US and Israel Have a Policy of 'No Surprises'. news.antiwar.com National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan When asked if he would prefer that Iran's nuclear sites not come under attack, Sullivan said, "We certainly believe that there are certain kinds of activities that are unhelpful to diplomacy.
(2021-04-29). Campaigners Welcome Imminent Closure of New York Nuclear Plant. commondreams.org New York's Indian Point nuclear power plant—which first went online in 1962—will be shut down on April 30, 2021. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/indian_point_1.jpg …
(2021-04-29). Report: Biden Considering Major Rollback of Iran Sanctions to Revive Deal. news.antiwar.com According to a report from The Associated Press, Iran is willing to return to the nuclear limits set by the JCPOA if the US lifts all sanctions that have been imposed since 2018 when the US withdrew from the agreement. But because the Biden administration refuses…
(2021-04-29). Israeli Minister: Our Warplanes Can Reach Iran. news.antiwar.com An Israeli cabinet minister stepped up the threatening rhetoric against Iran, warning that a US return to the nuclear deal would mean war, and said that Israeli warplanes can reach the Islamic Republic. | "A bad deal will send the region spiraling into war,"
(2021-04-29). Report: Biden Considering Major Rollback of Iran Sanctions to Revive Deal. news.antiwar.com According to a report from The Associated Press, Iran is willing to return to the nuclear limits set by the JCPOA if the US lifts sanctions that have been imposed since 2018 when the US withdrew from the agreement. But because the Biden administration refuses to do so, the U…
(2021-04-29). Moscow Thinking About Using Prison Labor Again For Major Construction Projects — OpEd. eurasiareview.com The Russian government is now thinking about reviving a practice associated with Stalinism: the use of prison labor to work on major construction sites in areas where free labor is scarce, such as the expansion of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) railway. Legal experts say Moscow can do so as long as it arranges to pay those who take part. | Vladimir Putin is pushing for the expansion of the BAM but has come up against a problem that earlier Russian rulers have faced: there are too few workers in the region through which it passes and attracting more free laborers would require spending more money than the gover…
(2021-04-29). EU Parliament Drafts New Sanctions on Russia Over Ukraine. telesurenglish.net The resolution, which recommends cutting Russia off from SWIFT, halting the purchase of Russian energy, and other tough measures, was introduced by a group of Eastern European lawmakers in the European Parliament. Aside from the claim that Russia might be preparing to "invade Ukraine," the resolution blames Moscow for a whole range of other crimes.
