Daily Archives: January 31, 2021

2021-01-31: News Headlines

teleSUR (2021-01-31). Ecuador: A Court Admits Claim Against Pollution in the Amazon. telesurenglish.net The Sucumbios Supreme Court accepted an appeal filed by nine indigenous girls who demanded the elimination of over 400 gas flares linked to crude oil production in the Ecuadorean Amazon. | RELATED: | The plaintiffs demanded actions by the State to eliminate the oil industry burners in the Amazon, including the non-authorization of new installations of this kind. | Noting the State's negligence "by not providing or promoting the use of envi…

_____ (2021-01-31). The People Of Ecuador Are Fighting To Recover Their Popular Sovereignty. popularresistance.org On 7 February, the citizens of Ecuador will express their constitutional right to popular sovereignty, electing a new president and National Assembly to carry the country out of its most severe crisis in a generation. Between violent crackdowns on IMF protests in 2019 to persistent threats to cancel next month's election, Ecuador's democracy is on the brink. The vigilance of the world will be critical to preserve it — and help restore democracy to a region in the midst of an authoritarian backslide. | Ecuador has been hit harder by the Covid-19 pandemic than almost any country in the world. The country has…

David Soll (2021-01-31). Democrats, You PROMISED Survival Checks NOW! realprogressives.org On January 5 there was a special election held in Georgia where the two running Democrats ultimately won. How were they able to pull it off? No, the election was not stolen by Russia, China, Venezuela, or little green men. It was won because the Democrats promised the American people relief in the form of immediate distribution of $2000 survival checks! | These words were verbatim, by then Senate candidate Jon Ossoff, during an interview just days before the election,"We will be able to pass $2,000 dollar stimulus checks for the people next week when we win these races in Georgia and get economic relief direct…

Ben Norton (2021-01-30). US and Colombian govts supported botched invasion of Venezuela: Bombshell testimony from coup-plotter. thegrayzone.com A key coup-plotter in the May 2020 botched invasion of Venezuela said she met with FBI and DEA officials. She admitted Colombia's intelligence services were aiding them and "knew everything," adding that President Iván Duque and far-right political kingpin àÅlvaro Uribe helped. A witness at the heart of the botched invasion of Venezuela in May 2020 has stated that the US and Colombian governments were involved in the regime-change operation. Coup-plotter Yacsy àÅlvarez said she met with officials from the …

WSWS (2021-01-30). Brazilian Workers Party, pseudo-lefts use COVID-19 vaccination disputes to cover up herd immunity policy. wsws.org Brazil's vaccination debacle has fueled ruling class divisions regarding the attitude towards US imperialism and China as all factions rally behind a herd immunity policy.

Online News Editor (2021-01-30). An ever-growing memorial: Peru's health worker death toll nears 300. laprensalatina.com Lima, Jan 30 (efe-epa).- A row of almost 300 portraits of healthcare professionals who have died from Covid-19 lines the sidewalk outside the Medical College of Peru in the capital Lima. The memorial was launched in June 2020 with around 45 portraits to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the campaign against …

Online News Editor (2021-01-30). Bolivian artists tackle topic of panedmic. laprensalatina.com La Paz, Jan 30 (EFE).- An exhibition in Bolivia is offering a close look back on the Covid-19 pandemic so far through the medium of contemporary art. The exhibit, Mutaciones y Afecciones #Cuerpos Pandémicos, is hosted at the Spanish Cultural Center in La Paz and showcases eight Bolivian artists who offer a creative look at …

Joe Parkin Daniels (2021-01-30). [World Report] Health experts slam Bolsonaro's vaccine comments. thelancet.com Brazil has begun COVID-19 vaccinations, but health experts are having to boost confidence following the president's remarks. Joe Parkin Daniels reports.

Grace Livingstone (2021-01-30). Review — Santiago Rising. zcomm.org Review of Santiago Rising, a new film which portrays the recent eruption of protest against inequality in Chile…

Online News Editor (2021-01-30). Jay Pfahl, the 'orchidolic' who discovered two new species in 2020. laprensalatina.com Key West (USA), Jan 30 (efe-epa).- To many familiar with his work, Jay Pfahl is not merely an orchidologist but an "orchidolic" — the specialist cultivates some 4,000 orchids at his home in Key West, Florida. In 2020, he discovered two new species of the flower while scouring the countryside outside the Colombian capital Bogotá, …

teleSUR (2021-01-30). Fears of US Interference in Ecuadorean Elections. telesurenglish.net On February 7, presidential and legislative elections (137 assembly members) will be held in Ecuador, and the candidate best positioned to win is Andres Arauz, candidate for the coalition Union for Hope (UNES). Arauz, who represents correísmo, is the heir of a citizen revolution which the current government has tried to annihilate and outlaw electorally.

teleSUR (2021-01-30). Huge Fire Affects Hospital in Chilean Capital. telesurenglish.net According to authorities, the fire started after 07: 00 local time and about thirty firefighters were immediately mobilized to the scene. | Different versions indicate that the flames were concentrated in the northern area of the hospital, on the side of the children's diagnostic and emergency center, while the National Emergency Office indicated that the fire affected the fourth floor of the building, where the boilers are located. | RELATED: | Heal…

Geraldina Colotti (2021-01-29). UN Independent expert Alfred de Zayas: 'This is how the human rights industry works'. mronline.org Italian journalist Geraldina Colotti asks de Zayas about corporate media manipulation of Venezuela's human rights situation.

Eve Ottenberg (2021-01-29). How Washington Rules the World. counterpunch.org So far, Biden's foreign policy does not differ seismically from Trump's. Indeed Biden's first move — recognizing the unelected pretender to the Venezuelan presidency, Juan Guaido — was as lousy as anything Trump did. It raises the specter of CIA coups, assassinations, regime changes and Washington-orchestrated color revolutions, which Biden's two dreadful foreign policy appointees,

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-29). Roger Waters on Ecuador and Steven Donziger's fight for justice. peoplesdispatch.org Musician Roger Waters and Vijay Prashad of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research talk about the struggles of the indigenous people of Ecuador against Chevron's Lago Agrio oil field and the persecution of attorney Steven Donziger who fought their case. They also reflect on the struggles of people like Donziger, Julian Assange and others who strive for a better world against those for whom power and profit are more important than anything else.

teleSUR (2021-01-29). Chile: Socialist Party Nominees Its Presidential Candidate. telesurenglish.net Chile's Socialist Party on Thursday unanimously approved psychologist Paula Narvaez as its presidential candidate for the 2021 elections. | RELATED: | She served as Government Secretariat Minister and Chief of Staff during Michelle Bachelet's second term (2014-2018). She also works as an advisor for the United Nations Women Program in Latin America. | Narvaez noted that the right-wing would deliver a "weakened" co…

teleSUR (2021-01-29). Bolivia Sets Prices for Private Clinics Treating COVID-19 Cases. telesurenglish.net Bolivia's Health Ministry Thursday issued a resolution that sets fees for COVID-19 patients' care and treatment in private clinics. | RELATED: | The 49 services provided by private clinics to COVID-19 patients may not exceed 5 percent of the stipulated reference prices. The clinics' owners could be prosecuted if they do not comply with the new resolution. | Laboratories will also have to adjust their prices for COVID-19 tests, which should cos…

teleSUR (2021-01-29). Ecuador: Health Minister Investigated Over Influence Peddling. telesurenglish.net Ecuadorian Attorney General's Office Thursday opened an investigation against Health Minister Juan Zeballos over an alleged crime of influence peddling during the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process. | RELATED: | The investigation started after several complaints against the minister, who presumably allowed some family members to receive the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine. | The Popular Legal Action and Amapola Nara…

_____ (2021-01-29). Venezuela: United States Goal Is To Support A 'Transition'. popularresistance.org "The goal of the United States is to support a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela through free and fair elections," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday, January 26, reading from notes she carried with her. | The spokeswoman for the new US administration answered a question from a journalist by adding "the President has always been very clear that the approach towards Venezuela is to address the humanitarian situation, give support to the Venezuelan people, and revitalize multilateral diplomacy." During her comments, she said that measures will continue to be taken to prosecute those al…

RT (2021-01-29). 'That is freedom': UFC stunner Claudia Gadelha shows off snap from naked photoshoot as star stays fit during layoff from action. rt.com Women's UFC strawweight sensation Claudia Gadelha has thrilled her vast fan following by revealing a shot from a naked photoshoot, offering kisses and love to her supporters while showing off her mental and physical fitness. | The seven-time Brazilion jiu-jitsu champion announced her pleasure with the teaser photo from her scantily-clad shoot, and her admirers clearly agreed as the picture, which featured Gadelha side on with no clothes on, racked up well over 100,000 likes in less than 24 hours. | Gadelha is currently recovering from injury and only her second loss in almost two years, having lost by decision…

yenisafak (2021-01-29). Will Biden return to multilateralism in South America? yenisafak.com While new US President Joe Biden's return to multilateralism, the Paris Agreement, and a commitment to protect the Amazon forests has raised hopes, experts believe there will be less substance in US-Latin America relations due to a host of factors.They believe, however, that Biden's flexible and less confrontational approach has shown that he will retain focal points of the Obama administration and rebuild ties with countries.Although during his eight years as vice president under Barack Obama, Biden visited Latin America 16 times, analysts now say domestic issues along with other strategically important global i…

Susan Price (2021-01-29). 'Santiago Rising': Documenting the Chilean 'awakening' from below. greenleft.org.au Santiago Rising, a new Alborada Films documentary by British filmmaker and journalist Nick MacWilliam, takes viewers to the streets of Chile's capital city as the 2019-20 protests unfolded, and introduces them to the social movements, protesters and ordinary people behind the rebellion, writes Federico Fuentes.

Susan Price (2021-01-29). Santiago Rising: Documenting the Chilean 'awakening' from below. greenleft.org.au Santiago Rising takes viewers to the streets of Chile's capital city as the 2019-20 protests unfolded, introducing them to the social movements, protesters and people behind the rebellion, writes Federico Fuentes.

teleSUR (2021-01-29). Brazil: At Least 175 Transgender Women Were Killed in 2020. telesurenglish.net Brazil's National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals (ANTRA) on Thursday reported that at least 175 transgender women were murdered in 2020. | RELATED: | The death toll makes Brazil the third most violent country for LGBTI groups worldwide, following Mexico and the U.S. | The number of murders, however, could be higher. ANTRA data is based only on studies conducted by LGTBI organizations due to the lack of official figu…

Online News Editor (2021-01-29). Remote learning's deficiencies leave Venezuelan students adrift. laprensalatina.com By Barbara Agelvis Caracas, Jan 29 (efe-epa).- Venezuelan grade-school and university students have not attended in-person classes for nearly a year due to the government's coronavirus restrictions, relying instead on online instruction that is hampered by technical problems and a lack of resources and training. The poor quality of telecommunications, badly underpaid teachers who lack …

teleSUR (2021-01-29). Argentina: Judge Bans Safe Abortion Law in Chaco Province. telesurenglish.net A Chaco Province's court on Thursday declared unconstitutional the Safe Abortion Law approved by the Argentine Congress and suspended its application in that territory. | RELATED: | Judge Marta Aucar announced the verdict after a complaint filed by an anti-abortion group from Chaco city. | "The Senate's decision is contrary to Chaco regulations," the conservative group stated, alluding to the Safe Abortion Law that gran…

teleSUR (2021-01-29). Argentineans Oppose Open-Pit Mining Project in Chubut. telesurenglish.net Environmental activists, scientists, educators, and health workers mobilized in Argentina to reject a mining project in the Chubut province, highlighting that the "mega-mining" industry would not solve the socio-economic crisis in the area. | RELATED: | On Jan. 26, citizens published a letter outlining their social, scientific, and environmental arguments for rejecting the PL128/20 project which seeks to init…

Gabriela Sarmet (2021-01-29). Vale's Crime in Brumadinho. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles including the E-Book can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | Brazilian activists continue to campaign for justice two …

teleSUR (2021-01-29). Peru: Parties Contesting the Elections Sign Ethical Guidelines. telesurenglish.net Peru's National Elections Jury (JNE) President Jorge Salas Thursday announced that 17 parties signed the Ethical Electoral Pact (PEE) to observe democratic values and health protocols in the April general elections. | RELATED: | They committed to complying with certain democratic principles such as the acceptance of the electoral results without undermining the right to challenge when appropriate. | Popular Renovatio…

teleSUR (2021-01-29). Paraguay: Opposition Leader Efrain Alegre Faces Jail. telesurenglish.net A Paraguayan judge Thursday ordered pre-trial detention for the former presidential candidate Efrain Alegre, who is under investigation for an alleged corruption scandal related to his 2018 election campaign. | RELATED: | According to Guarantees Judge Cynthia Lovera, the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) leader failed to comply with the alternative measures to prison imposed on him 20 days ago. | "Alegre syste…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-28). Andrés Arauz's chances look bright, say opinion polls ahead of Ecuadorian elections. peoplesdispatch.org According to a study conducted by well-known Ecuadorian analyst Omar Maluk, Andrés Arauz leads the voting intention with 39.2% of the votes. The study shows him with a lead of 17.4% over his nearest rival…

Ricardo Vaz (2021-01-28). Venezuela: Oil Corporations Lobby Biden Administration for Sanctions Reversal. venezuelanalysis.com A removal of the ban on swap deals could boost Venezuela's oil production and ease fuel shortages.

Yanis Iqbal (2021-01-28). The Biden Administration: Hardening of US Stance on Venezuela. dissidentvoice.org Joe Biden has been sworn in as the President of USA. For Venezuela, nothing has changed. The same belligerence, the same sanctions, and the same imperialism — the American empire continues to be cruelly hostile to the UN-recognized government of Nicolas Maduro. Inviting an Anti-Chavista Criminal Auguries of an ever-intensifying imperialist attack against Venezuela have …

teleSUR (2021-01-28). Mexico To Host Phase 3 of German COVID-19 Vaccine. telesurenglish.net Mexico's Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Wednesday announced the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines produced by the German company CureVac to conduct phase three of clinical trials with 8,000 volunteers. | RELATED: | CureVac's clinical trials will observe 36,500 volunteers worldwide, including patients from Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama, and Peru. | Highlighting that the Mexican overnmen…

sputniknews (2021-01-28). Colombia Suspends Flights to Brazil for Month Over New COVID-19 Strain. sputniknews.com MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) — Colombia has suspended air traffic with Brazil for a month over the spread of a new strain of the coronavirus, Colombian President Ivan Duque announced.

reenvia Red Latina sin fronteras (2021-01-28). Bolivia: Felipe Quispe, el último Mallku. indybay.org Bolivia: Felipe Quispe, el último Mallku | "Voy a seguir luchando hasta mi muerte, debajo de la tierra voy a seguir gritando…"

teleSUR (2021-01-28). Gender Activists Protest Against Rape of a Teenager in Argentina. telesurenglish.net Over 300 women mobilized in Buenos Aires (Argentina) to demand the arrest of Humberto Garzon, who is accused of raping an 18-year-old Venezuelan girl. | RELATED: | Chanting "Garzon rapist, to jail aggressor", the demonstrators gathered peacefully in the Balvanera neighborhood to show solidarity with the victim identified as L.A.R. | The girl responded to a job offer at the "Garzon Uniformes" store specialized in clothing fo…