US is doing everything to
undermine confidence
in dollar — Lavrov
January 26th, 4:39pm (TASS)
The US is doing everything possible to undermine
confidence in the dollar and make it risky for
international settlements, Russian Foreign
Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said Wednesday.
He was speaking at the government hour
during the plenary session of the State
Duma, the lower house of parliament.
"We are striving to reduce our dependence on the
dollar & the Americans are actively helping us
with it, as they are doing almost everything
possible, to undermine confidence in this
currency, make it risky for international
settlements, not only for Russia, but
for any country," he said.
Lavrov also stressed that Russia is "sharply
reducing" its foreign exchange reserves,
which are held in dollars.
"We are, in every way, encouraging the transition
to settlements in national currencies, and this
is already starting to cause such disturbing
discussions among political analysts
and economists in the West.''
''Not only in the West, in the US, they are beginning
to wonder, where the real problems will begin for
them, but also our economic operators also feel
relief... as the issues related to the transfer of
funds are being resolved," the Russian
Foreign Minister noted.
According to the minister, the payment system
developed by the Bank of Russia, is not as
established as SWIFT, but it is functional.
"I think that we should follow this path. It is very
important to keep the economy balanced,"
Lavrov said.
____________________________________
Brent Crude Tops $90
Per Barrel, First Time
Since 2014
January 26th, 4:16pm (Sputnik)
Global oil prices rally almost 2% on US statistics
on Wednesday, and benchmark futures for Brent
crude rose above $90 per barrel, for the first
time since October 13th, 2014.
As of 3:53pm, the price of March futures for
Brent crude... grew by 1.88% to $89.86 per
barrel. Minutes earlier, the price reached
$90.02.
The price of April futures for Brent, rose by 1.85%
to $88.79, the price of March futures for WTI was
up 1.96% to $87.28.
___________________________
HRW Says Staffer Targeted
with Israeli-Made Pegasus
Spyware
January 26th, 2:14pm (FNA)
Human Rights Watch (HRW) announced: one of its
senior staff members was targeted five times last
year with Pegasus, a spyware made by the Israeli
company NSO Group.
The software was used against Lama Fakih, director
of the New York-based group’s Beirut office who
also oversees its crisis response in countries
including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Israel,
Myanmar, the occupied Palestinian
territory, Syria and the US, HRW
said on Wednesday,
Al-Jazeera reports.
Fakih’s phone was breached five times between April
and August of 2021, but the organisation stated it
did not know who targeted her.
The NSO Group... which does not disclose its client
list, has been mired in controversy in recent years
following investigations by researchers, at the
University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, along with
several rights groups and media outlets, that
found that the technology has been used by
governments across the world, to access
the smartphones of political opponents,
activists and journalists.
Recounting being notified by Apple in November 2021
that she had been a victim of a “state-sponsored”
attack on her iPhone, Fakih noted she “felt
dread and disbelief”.
“You have a million thoughts going through your
head. Why would I be targeted in this way and
how? What government did this?” Fakih
added, in a Q&A published by HRW
on Wednesday.
“What does this mean for my security, and for the
security of everyone whose data may have been
compromised as a result of the attack?”
Fakih asked.
She said HRW later determined that her phone had
been hacked using Pegasus. The conclusion was
peer-reviewed and confirmed by Amnesty
International’s Security Lab.
“After all this, we decided to make this state-
sponsored attack, public, in order to raise
awareness of this risk, to civil society
partners and contacts more broadly,”
Fakih continued, adding, “Speaking
out about these attacks, is critical
to stopping the unchecked use of
surveillance technology.”
The NSO Group’s software has proven particularly
difficult to protect against, because it uses so-
called “zero-click” technology --- meaning a
user does not have to click on a malicious
link, for hackers to access their device.
Facebook & Apple have both filed lawsuits against
the Israeli company, over hacks against their
products. The US - meanwhile - has black-
listed the company, saying its tools have
been used by repressive governments,
and barred it from using US-
developed technology.
The company maintains it has safeguards in place
to ensure its products are only used to target
suspected criminals and “terrorists”.
In a January 24 letter made public by HRW, NSO Group
said it was “not aware of any active customer” using
the technology against a staff member of the
rights watchdog.
The company added it was conducting an initial
assessment... to determine if an investigation
would be launched, noting that the targeting
of a rights group staffer would be a “serious
misuse” of its technology, if the individual
was not suspected of committing a crime.
The firm has also expressed support for an
“international regulatory structure” --- to
constrain the use of spyware tech., but
has shrugged off calls to suspend the
use of Pegasus, until one is created.
For her part, Fakih said “it is no accident that
governments are using spyware to target
activists and journalists, the very people
who uncover their abusive practices”.
“They seem to believe, that by doing so, they
can consolidate power, muzzle dissent, and
protect their manipulation of facts,”
she added.
____________________________________
Lavrov states ---- deep, non-
positive changes happening
in international arena
January 26th, 2:12pm (TASS)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated
on Wednesday, that the international arena
currently lives through deep, and not
entirely positive changes, and the
entire international system,
is feverish.
"[Russian President Vladimir Putin] spoke about the
situation in the international arena, and our foreign
policy goals and initiatives, repeatedly. He recently
made all principal emphases, during the expanded
meetings of Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry
boards, as well as in his other addresses, & press
conferences. There are deep changes happening
in the international arena, and not too positive
ones, to put it mildly. The entire system is
feverish," he said.
Lavrov noted that the Western states are still not ready
to accept the reality of the emerging multipolar world,
which must be fairer and more democratic, than a
world dominated by a single state.
According to the Foreign Ministry, "the westerners, led
by the US, seek to oppose the objective development
of history, seek to ensure unilateral advantages to
themselves," without taking the interests of
others into account.
____________________________
‘Fewer willing to pull US-EU
chestnuts out of fire’: Lavrov
notes unipolar order declining
January 26th, 12:05pm (TASS)
There are fewer and fewer countries willing to
sacrifice their national interests for the West,
or pull chestnuts out of the fire, for the US &
EU, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
said, in an address to the State Duma
(lower house of parliament)
on Wednesday.
According to him, the world is no longer US-centric
or even Western-centric and the unipolar global
order will never be restored. "The number of
those willing to sacrifice their core national
interests and... so to say... pull chestnuts
out of the fire for their superiors from
Washington and Brussels... is
declining," the Russian top
diplomat emphasized.
He pointed out that the vast majority of countries
shared Russia’s principled approaches --- which
rejected the West’s diktats in terms of ideology
and its geopolitical "zero-sum games."
________________________________
US improperly fulfills
its obligations on
aid to Syria —
Russian mission to UN
January 26th, 6:56am (TASS)
The US was unconvincing in the implementation
of its obligations on cross-border aid for Syria,
the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN said
in a commentary on the US mission’s report,
on Wednesday.
"Pretending to care about the Syrians, held against
their will, by the [former Nusra Front terror group,
outlawed in Russia] terrorists in Idlib as a human
shield, US diplomacy uses the taxpayer money,
to effectively support the militants,"
the Russian mission said.
"At the same time --- the US spares no efforts to rebrand
the Idlib cutthroats and present them as an alternative
to the government in Damascus. By reinforcing the
[terrorists’] positions, Washington shoots itself in
the foot, while stating its commitment to the
territorial integrity of the Syrian
Arab Republic."
The mission noted, that the US occupied not only
a part of Syria near At-Tanf, but the entire Syrian
northeast — the oil-rich and fertile region.
"By presenting itself as a ‘key donor’... the US must
be consistent in its position and leave the illegally
occupied territories, return the fertile lands
across the Euphrates River to Damascus
- and stop robbing the country by
exporting the oil extracted in
Syria’s northeast, with truck
convoys every month," the
commentary says.
____________________________
US, misuses status of UN host
country to deter Moscow, says
Russia’s Permanent Mission
January 26th, 1:43am (TASS)
The United States, in its Russia deterrence policy,
misuses the status of the UN host country,
according to a commentary of Russia’s
Permanent Mission to the UN, after
the US Permanent Mission’s
press release... on the
American activities
in the UN.
"As we can see, the US, in implementing its course to
‘deter’ Russia, descends to obviously misusing the
status of the UN host country, violating the norms
of international law," the commentary said. "Such
behaviour, can hardly serve as an example of a
‘fair game’.. worthy of a permanent member of
the Security Council," the Russian diplomatic
mission noted.
It also mentioned visa problems for Russian
delegations created by the US authorities.
"The American authorities either refuse delegates
from Moscow visas, or provide them in the very
last moment," the mission said, adding that "it
is the US’ international legal obligation to issue
visas to such events, as soon as possible -- not
as a matter of moods or political preferences.".
_______________________________________
Cuba receives over 24 tonnes of
humanitarian aid from Russia
— embassy
January 25th, 7:50am (TASS)
Moscow has delivered more than 24 tonnes of
humanitarian cargo to Havana, on Monday
evening, the Russian embassy told TASS.
"Russia delivered over 24 tonnes of humanitarian
aid to Cuba, including medical protective suits
and injection syringes. The aid was sent by
the Russian government," the embassy
noted. In December 2021 and in mid-
January of this year... Moscow has
already supplied similar cargoes
to Havana.
On Monday, Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel,
thanked over the phone his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin.... for providing the humanitarian
assistance - "which had greatly contributed to
countering the aftermath of the pandemic.".
__________________________
Nicaraguan Farmers Seek
Compensation from huge
Chemical Corporations
January 24th, 4:53pm (teleSUR)
On behalf of the families of 1,234 Nicaraguan
farmers, lawyers Pierre-Olivier Sur and Clara
Gerard-Rodriguez began, on Monday, a legal
process in the Paris Court, to claim
compensation of US$1 billion...
from Shell Oil, Dow Chemical,
and Occidental Chemical.
This unprecedented process accuses the world's
largest chemical groups for the damage caused
by their pesticides to Nicaraguan workers
during the last decades of the
20th century.
The lawsuit is filed before the French Justice,
because the United States courts refused to
execute the sentences issued in 2002 and
2007 by Nicaraguan courts, which forced
these three companies to compensate
workers who had been affected by a
pesticide labelled Nemagon.
The Nicaraguan rulings showed that Shell Oil,
Dow Chemical, and Occidental Chemical sold
this product in the Central American country
...despite the fact that it had been banned in
the US since 1977 due to its harmful effects.
Among the health effects suffered by
banana workers are neurological
problems, blindness, infertility,
and prostate and liver cancers.
Years later, however, US courts dismissed the
Nicaraguan rulings, arguing that the local
judges were suspected of corruption.
"Corrupted by whom? The victims were penniless
& they're all dead. This is a fight between David
and Goliath," attorney Sur stressed in response
to the US judges' interpretation.
In order to obtain the payment of compensation,
based on the assets owned by the transnational
companies, the farmers' lawyers based their
claim on the "Exequatur," a legal principle
that has been used previously to achieve
recognition of a foreign sentence.
The plaintiffs' lawyers chose France because here
a decision related to the Exequatur, which has
been applied to divorce cases, in French
courts, implies its immediate execution
in all the European Union since 2012.
In addition, Nicaragua's legal system is based
on the Napoleonic Code, which is the civil
liability mechanism applied in France.
_________________________
Maduro mocks failed US bid
to impose its 'puppet' on
Venezuela, vows justice
January 24th, 2:21pm (PressTV)
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has decried
US attempts to impose a puppet on his country,
insisting that he has emerged victorious in face
of such plots and continues to remain in power.
Addressing his supporters at an event on Sunday
held to commemorate the anniversary of the end
of the military dictatorship in 1958, Venezuela's
leader said the White House intended to
replace him with their “puppet”, an
oblique reference to the West-
backed opposition leader
Juan Guaido.
''There was a move intended to impose a puppet
on Venezuela and I say three years later, where
is Donald Trump's puppet”... asserted Maduro,
referring to Guaido, who declared himself as
the interim president of Venezuela in 2019
with the backing of the former
US administration.
“We show the world, the people of Venezuela, on
January 23rd, 2022, that we are standing here,
victorious, and in political power,” he added.
Maduro referred to Guaido as a “puppet thief” and
vowed to send him to prison, three years after the
latter’s highly-publicized swearing-in ceremony
as the ''interim president''.
“Fair and constitutional justice often takes time, but it
will come, it will come. Rest assured, the people of
Venezuela that there will be justice here,” Maduro
declared in his speech at Miraflores presidential
palace, noting how the unpleasant political
events of recent years in the Central
American nation... have brought
“more awareness” to people.
Earlier this month, Venezuela’s National Assembly
President, Jorge Rodriguez, rejected calls for
dialogue with the US-backed opposition, as
long as Washington maintains pressure
on Caracas, including the freeze on
foreign assets.
“Enough with the hypocrisy of dialogue! If you want
talks, show respect. If you want talks, free Alex
Saab. If you want talks, return our gold, which
you stole,” Rodriguez remarked on January
5th, referring to Colombian businessman
Alex Saab, an ally of President Maduro
who has been extradited to the US..
on ''money laundering'' charges.
Negotiations between the Venezuelan government and
the Western-backed opposition came to a halt late last
year, after Saab was taken into custody and rendered
to the US.
The negotiations, mediated by Norway and hosted by
Mexico, were aimed at resolving the years-long crisis
in the Latin American country. Rodriguez led the
government delegation in Mexico.
Guaido, meanwhile, used the commemorative
occasion on Sunday to call on his supporters
to take part in “peaceful” marches, against
Maduro on February 12th, as the country's
vastly divided opposition gears up for the
2024 presidential elections.
Maduro’s government “fears the streets, fears
the organization of the base,” Guaido told
journalists after the event... held to
mark the anniversary of the end
of Venezuela’s military
dictatorship.
The US-backed opposition... suffered a massive
defeat in regional elections, in November 2021.
“We are talking about organizing ourselves from now,
we’re talking about a presidential election,” Guaido
asserted, insisting that opposition parties must
unite in order to prepare for the 2024
presidential vote.
Many US-allied western countries... originally
recognized Guaido as Venezuela’s president,
but since the 2021 legislative elections, a
number of Western countries, as well as
the European Union, see him as an
opposition figure.
The US has imposed several rounds of crippling
economic sanctions on Venezuela, aimed at
ousting Maduro and replacing him
with Guaidó.
The sanctions, which include the illegal confiscation
of Venezuelan assets abroad, plus an economic
blockade, have caused poverty, lack of access
to basic goods, gasoline shortages, and
power cuts.
Despite the US sanctions, Venezuela has, however,
managed to double its oil production over the past
months, thanks to Iran's help --- in defiance of the
sanctions against Caracas.
Iran’s own oil sales have been targeted by
US sanctions since 2018 -- when a former
administration in Washington unilaterally
pulled out of an international agreement
on Iran’s nuclear program and imposed
sanctions on the country.
Both Iran and Venezuela have managed to
withstand the economic pressures of the
unprecedented sanctions... while
gradually finding ways to get
around them.
___________________________
Putin and Diaz-Canel
discuss strategic
cooperation
by Ileana Ferrer Fonte
January 24th, 12:31pm (Prensa Latina)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Cuban
counterpart, Miguel Diaz-Canel, on Monday
held an in-depth dialogue on economic
and commercial cooperation and the
investment projects between
the two countries, the
Kremlin reported
on Monday.
During the talks, Diaz-Canel thanked Russia for
the humanitarian assistance provided to Cuba
to deal with the effects of the Covid-19
pandemic, the communiqué stated.
Putin and Diaz-Canel also discussed the importance
to achieve greater coordination of joint actions in
the international sphere, according to the
principles of the strategic partnership
and the traditions of friendship and
mutual understanding.
The two heads of State confirmed the intention of
working closely together to strengthen bilateral
relations, and agreed to intensify contacts at
several levels.
______________________________
National Police reiterate
support for Honduran
president-elect
by Ileana Ferrer Fonte
January 24th, 12:16pm (Prensa Latina)
The National Police on Monday reiterated its full
support for Constitutional President Xiomara
Castro, representative of the Liberty and
Refoundation (LIBRE) Party, and elected
by Honduras' people in the November
28th general elections.
The Honduran authorities alluded to Article 293 of
the Constitution on police duties, “a permanent
professional institution of the State, apolitical
in the party sense, of a purely civilian nature,
in charge of watching over the preservation
of public order.”
In a communiqué, the National Police recalled the
nature of that corps, which is attached to the
Secretariat of Security, one of 16 belonging
to the Executive Power, and its condition
subjected to the final authority of the
president elected by popular vote.
The National Police members, the text referred, are
expecting instructions, and calling on the unity of
all Armed Institutions of the country, to defend
and fight for the citizens’ decision and avoid
attacks on the physical integrity of the
highest authority.
______________________________
Iran’s UN Rights Restored After
Paying Off Membership Arrears
January 24th,11:42am (teleSUR)
South Korea confirmed that it has paid
Tehran's delayed membership dues,
amounting to US$18 million, to the
UN, from Iranian funds frozen in
the country.
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations Majid
Takht-Ravanchi, announced that his country
regained its right to vote at the UN General
Assembly after its membership dues to the
organization were paid by South Korea
with frozen Iranian funds.
He said that as soon as Iran's arrears are received
in New York, the country's voting rights should
naturally be restored. South Korea confirmed
on Sunday that it has paid Tehran's member-
ship delayed dues, amounting to US$18
million, to the UN from Iranian funds
frozen in the country.
Earlier, Takht-Ravanchi said that negotiations were
underway between Tehran and the world body to
lift the suspension of the country's right to vote
at the General Assembly, and enable the
country to pay its membership dues to
the organization, expressing hopes
that the talks would soon yield
favorable results.
He noted that Iran, as an active UN member,
has always been committed to paying its
membership dues on time, and has
proven this in practice.
The ambassador stressed -- that Iran has faced
problems with the payment of its membership
fee for the second consecutive year -- due to
the sanctions imposed by the US, which
have not only undermined Iran's ability
to purchase humanitarian items and
medical devices... but are also
impeding the UN's work.
Iranian assets of over 7 billion U.S. dollars are frozen
in two South Korean banks. UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres announced earlier this month
that Iran and seven other countries, have had
their voting rights suspended over late dues.
Iran had also lost its voting rights last year when the
U.S. sanctions had blocked Iranian access to its
billions of dollars frozen abroad. These U.S.
sanctions have been imposed since 2018,
when ex-President Donald Trump
withdrew from Iran's 2015
nuclear deal.
Since April 2021, rounds of talks have been held
between Iran and other remaining parties,
namely: Russia, China, Britain, France,
and Germany, in Vienna - to restore a
nuclear pact officially known as the
Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action... with the US
indirectly involved.
_________________________
Peruvian Congress Obstructs
Constituent Assembly
January 24th, (teleSUR)
The Peruvian right managed to pass a legal reform
that seriously limits the possibility of the Executive
branch calling a referendum.
On Sunday, Peru's President Pedro Castillo strongly
criticized the opposition-controlled Congress for
approving a bill that modifies... the "Law on
Participation Rights and Citizen Control"
(PRC). As a result, the conditions for
calling referendums change in an
unconstitutional sense.
He pointed out that Congress insists to maintain
a Constitution that mutilates the right to a
referendum for a Constituent Assembly.
According to current legislation... the
Castillo administration can challenge
the reform of the PRC law before the
Constitutional Court.
The refusal of the Peruvian elites to change the
constitution imposed during the dictatorship of
Alberto Fujimori (1990-200), contradicts the
democratic order... explained President
Castillo, who recalled that the political
power in a republic emanates from
the People.
Castillo's statements are essentially motivated by
the action of the Congress, which established
ad-hoc protections for Article 206 of the
Constitution so only a parliamentary
majority can approve any
constitutional reform.
The actions of the Congress were also harshly
criticized by progressive social and political
organizations... because they seek to
obstruct the call for a Constituent
Assembly.
According to the current laws, the Executive Branch
can initiate a legal action before the Constitutional
Court... if a norm approved by the Congress
infringes the participation of citizens in
political processes aimed at carrying
out structural changes.
The Council of Ministers also warned that the norm
approved by the opposition-controlled Congress
violates citizens' political participation rights
recognized in international treaties.
___________________________________
Ethiopia has received
significant support for
Tigray in recent months
by Luis Linares Petrov
January 24th, 9:16am (Prensa Latina)
Several organizations have supported Ethiopia's
efforts to help the population of Tigray with
significant amounts of medical and food
supplies during the last six months.. the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs says today.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the country
received around 1,480 million birr (approx.
298 million dollars) in food products and
about 128 million (2,575,000 dollars)
destined for medical care.
The contribution, in the case of medicines and
pharmaceuticals, should have increased what
the Ministry of Health deposited in centres in
Mekelle, the state capital, and Shire, when
the government declared a humanitarian
ceasefire, according to the communiqué.
As of last July, “658 metric tons of medicines and
other supplies for the health system were
delivered to the region in 18 trucks
through seven organizations.”
According to the same communiqué, Tigray also
received ready-to-use therapeutic food - for the
treatment of malnourished children, pregnant
and lactating mothers - as well as various
high-quality dietary supplements.
The Ministry also denounced that the government
is facing obstacles to guaranteeing access to
collaboration ---- such as the aggression
by the Tigray Popular Liberation Front,
which prevented its passage through
Abala city, in Afar, in December.
A war has been raging in Tigray... since November
2020, between the federal army and the TPLF, an
organization declared as terrorist by Parliament
and accused of violating human rights, among
various crimes.
__________________________________
Ethiopia describes US
sanctions as obsolete
by Ileana Ferrer Fonte
January 24th, 7:40am (Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia describes the United States' sanctions to
pressure the government to end the war against
the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) as
obsolete, according to an official state-
ment released on Monday.
''I believe that the sanctions by the US Government are
a mode of obsolete engagement, especially because
countries such as Ethiopia are developing and are
developed in many aspects,'' Billene Seyoum,
Foreign Press Secretary for the Office
of the Prime Minister, said.
Seyoum commented that Washington’s decision to
exclude the country from the African Growth &
Opportunity Act (AGOA)... an agreement
established to facilitate and regulate
trade exchanges between the US
and countries of the continent.
The White House announced on January 1st, 2022,
Ethiopia’s exclusion from the AGOA, due to its
“concerns about human rights violations
perpetrated by the Government and
other parties in the widespread
conflict in northern Ethiopia.”
AGOA’s suspension provoked complaints and other
reactions, included that of Prime Minister Abiy
Ahmed, who accused the US of not taking
a stand against the TPLF.
This group has been accused of violating human
rights and has been declared as terrorist
by Parliament.
____________________________________
In 'phone call with Erdogan,
Raeisi says Iran eyes
long-term strategic
ties with Turkey
January 22nd, 7:07pm (PressTV)
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi says the Islamic
Republic seeks to promote long-term inclusive
relations with Turkey and welcomes plans to
boost bilateral strategic cooperation.
The Iranian president made the remarks in a 'phone
call with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, on Saturday, saying the two
countries have potential to expand
cooperation in mutual and
regional issues.
“Tehran supports the establishment of lasting
peace and stability in the region,” Raeisi added.
He emphasized that respect for the countries’ national
sovereignty and territorial integrity, is the sole way to
establish sustainable security and stability across
the region.
During a telephone conversation with his Turkish
counterpart in December, President Raeisi had
said the region does not need foreigners'
meddling because its problems should
be resolved through intra-regional
interaction.
"We insist that the region's problems should
be resolved among the regional countries
themselves, and through the active
participation of the countries [of
the region]," the Iranian
president had said.
Iran, reliable partner of Turkey
in energy sector: Erdogan
Erdogan, for his part, said Turkey regards Iran
as a reliable supplier of its energy demands
and seeks to increase cooperation
with Tehran.
He added that Ankara has drawn up plans for
strengthening economic cooperation with
Tehran in various fields... and voiced
optimism that he will visit Iran soon.
Pointing to the Iranian president’s recent meeting
with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in
Moscow, Erdogan expressed hope that the
entire region would witness the useful
outcomes of the trip.
The Turkish president also voiced his country’s
readiness to cooperate with Tehran on finding
possible ways to increase regional security.
_____________________________________
Saudi Deposited in Lebanon’s
Central Bank $1 Billion,
Plundered $40 Billion
January 22nd, 3:28pm (al Manar)
With the advent of the former prime minister, Rafik
Hariri, Lebanon adopted the rentier economy
policy -- which is based on supporting the
services sectors at the expense of the
productive ones.
According to that policy, the banking sector was
prioritized, to the extent of raising the interest
rates in order to attract capital.
Thus, the investors tended to deposit their funds in
the banks in order to benefit from the high interest
rates and avoid running businesses which may
not be lucrative.
Among those depositors were Saudi royals and
businessmen who took the advantage of a 40%
interest rate, in order to gain huge amounts
of money.
According to reports, the Saudis gained around
$40 billion, while their government deposited
only $1 billion in Lebanon’s Central Bank.
Meanwhile, Saudi deals with Lebanon with abundant
superiority and alleges to be the basic funder of the
Lebanese government and sets political conditions
to pursue its ‘support’ policy. Whereas, facts say
that it exploited its relation with some political
parties in Lebanon, in order to make huge
amounts of money.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
_______________________________
Violence in Colombia
tarnishes electoral
atmosphere this week
by Aleynes Palacios Hurtado
January 22nd, 1:03pm (Prensa Latina)
Two attacks, in which a person was killed and
several people were injured, and a failed one,
10 masaccres and the assassination of nine
social leaders were reported in Colombia
this week in the run-up to the
legislative election.
On Wednesday, a car bomb exploded in Saravena
Municipality, in the Arauca Department --- and
damaged the premises of the Transportation
Terminal and other institutions and killed a
security guard.
The explosion also damaged the Hector Arilo Building,
seemingly the main target of the attack because of
the presence there of leaders of several social
organizations from this territory, five of
whom were injured.
On Friday, the police confirmed they found a bomb set
to be activated at Casa Alternativa (Alternative House)
in this capital, a productive venture undertaken by
peace signatories, in which pre-election
activities take place.
On the other hand, 10 massacres against Colombians
have been perpetrated in the first three weeks of the
new year, and 9 social leaders assassinated in this
period, something that shows the spiral of
violence in that South American nation.
The Arauca Department, on the border with Venezuela,
is one where violence is more serious due to clashes
between armed groups of the so-called dissidents of
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and
soldiers of the National Liberation Army.
Given this scenario, worsened since early 2022, the
Comprehensive System for Peace on Friday urged
the Colombian government to encourage or
facilitate humanitarian talks between the
armed groups involved in the
escalation of the conflict
in Arauca.
In a statement, it reported that at least 34 homicides
have been committed in the first 20 days of 2022;
269 forced displacement complaints have been
filed, that is, about 1,000 displaced people;
two kidnappings have been committed,
and indigenous communities, have
been confined.
_____________________________
Bolivian President praises
new Latin American model
by Ana Luisa Brown
January 22nd, 1:15pm (Prensa Latina)
Bolivia's President Luis Arce said today, in a tweet,
that the new model being debated in Latin America
brought positive economic and social results.
“We are very honoured to receive the Simon Bolivar
Medal, a distinction of the Andean Parliament, for
having contributed to improving the quality of
life in our country and that Latin America is
debating a new model, with positive
economic and social results,” the
president wrote on his
Twitter account.
The regional legislative chamber conferred its
highest distinction to the economist and
professor for his contribution to
development, democracy
and integration.
Arce received the award from the head of the Andean
Parliament, Juan Pablo Letelier, at the Casa Grande
del Pueblo (government headquarters) on the 13th
anniversary of the founding of the
Plurinational State.
Letelier, for his part, reiterated that the Simon Bolivar
Award for Latin American Integration is the highest
distinction conferred by the regional parliament
to personalities who contribute to regional
development with an integrationist vision.
____________________________________
Bolivia ratifies commitment
with the defense of natural
resources
by Ana Luisa Brown
January 22nd, 12:34 (Prensa Latina)
The President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, called today for
unity, particularly within the governing Movement
Towards Socialism (MAS), against destabilization
attempts, as he ratified his government's
commitment to defend the country's
natural resources.
“Our struggle will not succeed if individual ambitions
and internal confrontations flourish”, he affirmed,
while calling on social movements, popular and
professional sectors to make common cause
in defense of the model promoted by MAS
against the destabilizing actions of
the opposition.
In his speech, delivered at the Casa Grande del
Pueblo on the occasion of the 13th anniversary
of the founding of the Plurinational State, the
chief executive --- highlighted the economic
progress, that places the South American
nation in the third place of growth in
the region.
In this regards, Arce assured that his government
will continue to defend the nation’s natural
resources, on behalf of sovereignty
and independence.
The ceremony began with the laying of wreath (wajta)
dedicated to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) - with the
participation of the President and the vice president,
David Choquehuanca..... among other government
authorities and the national Legislative Assembly.
Representatives of the Unity Pact that brings together
social organizations associated to the Movement
Towards Socialism, the Bolivian Workers’ Union
and other sectors of society accompanied the
ancestral event, with the request for unity,
progress and integrity.
________________________________
Syria suspends work in
state institutions due
to energy crisis
by Aleynes Palacios Hurtado
January 22nd, 11:33am (Prensa Latina)
The Syrian government on Saturday decided to
suspend work or reduce working hours at
ministries and public institutions to the
minimum, due to the fuel shortage...
caused by the economic blockade.
According to a notice issued by the government,
this decision will take effect next week and was
made due to low temperatures, and the need to
allocate the country’s fuel reserves to heating
citizens’ homes.
The notice stresses that the fuel crisis is the result
of unjust economic sanctions imposed by the US
and the EU, which have been exacerbated by
extreme weather conditions.
Meanwhile, the Ministries of Education and Higher
Education, announced the suspension of classes
in all schools & universities across the country,
& the postponement of exams until a later date.
Syria blames the worsening of the fuel crisis on the
US occupation of over 90 percent of its oil fields,
the blockade and the economic sanctions
imposed by Washington and its allies.
Before the war, this country produced over 380,000
oil barrels per day and, due to the occupation and
terrorist attacks --- that figure has currently
dropped to just 100,000 barrels, 80,000 of
which are being looted by US soldiers.
The country needs over 165,000
barrels per day.
According to weather forecasts... a cold front
will affect the country in the next eight days,
and temperatures will drop to -10 degrees
Celsius in some mountainous areas.
_________________________________
Nicaragua expects to export
lobster to EU countries
by Ana Luisa Brown
January 22nd, 11:07 (Prensa Latina)
Nicaragua plans today to export lobster to European
Union countries, after the regional bloc authorized it,
and the Central American nation passed verification
of quality standards of fishery products.
According to the Minister of Finance and Public
Credit, Ivan Acosta, representatives of that
community reviewed the seafood
processing plants and verified
the health measures, before
admitting the application
for entry into.... that
demanding market.
He recalled that the sector receives annual profits
of more than 200 million dollars, with an increase
of 27 percent in international sales last year, and
predicted a rise in 2022, as a result of the
establishment of more favorable prices
and better management of the
production chain.
According to Acosta, the government of the
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
attends and promotes small and medium
fishing producers, through technical
assistance and the delivery of
equipment such as... sea
engines, boats, vacuum
flasks and fishing
equipment.
The official also mentioned.. that the Ministry
of Community, Cooperative, and Associative
Family Economy, assisted 25,097 business
-men last year through training, and the
strengthening of community forestry
and resin management, especially
in the Northern Caribbean.
__________________________________
Latin America and the Caribbean
are nobody’s yard, Cuba says
by Aleynes Palacios Hurtado
January 22nd, 9:14am (Prensa Latina)
Latin America and the Caribbean are nobody's
back nor front yard, Cuban Foreign Minister,
Bruno Rodriguez, said, after US President
Joe Biden made a statement about it.
The foreign minister tweeted that the Pan-American
hegemonic system that has been promoted by the
United States, since the 19th century, pursues
that racist and colonialist ambition.
He added that those concepts “have been in
crisis, for a long time, and will not recover.”
Also on Twitter, Director General for Latin America
and the Caribbean, at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Eugenio Martinez, noted that the
US president talks about “back yard”,
“front yard”, in order to improve
his image in the region.
However, he said, Biden “cannot help to show his
true intentions, through the worst in US policy,
which seeks to limit sovereignty, in order to
guarantee domination interests.”
Deputy Director for Europe and Canada at the Cuban
Foreign Ministry, Nelson Tamayo, also condemned
Washington’s hegemonic attempts on Twitter.
He said the US administration cannot handle its
domestic crises, and “causes instability in
international relations by creating chaos
and taking advantage of differences in
favour of its domination interests.”
______________________________
China says suspension of
its airlines in the US
is unreasonable
by Martin Hacthoun
January 22nd, 8:28am (Prensa Latina)
China, today, considered very unreasonable,
(and demanded the United States to revoke)
the recently announced suspension of 44
flights operated by four of its airlines.
Beijing urged Washington to stop interfering and
restricting... the normal flow of trade routes
served by its domestic carriers between
the two countries.
Its call followed the White House’s decision
to suspend the routes of: Air China, China
Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines
and Xiamen Airlines, scheduled from
January 30th, to next March 29th.
The US Department of Transportation said Friday
that it took the action in reciprocity to a similar
one applied by China to Delta Air Lines, United
Airlines and American Airlines, because they
recently transported passengers with
Covid-19.
According to the claim, China’s actions violated
treaties on airline access between the
two countries.
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the
two powers had other frictions on passenger
flight operations, due to sanitary protocols.
_____________________________________
Call to take Plaza de Mayo
to protest IMF demands
by Elsy Fors Garzon
January 22nd, 1:52am (Prensa Latina)
Social movements in Argentina called to take Plaza
de Mayo, next week, to reject the conditions
proposed by the International Monetary
Fund to ''adjust'' the external debt,
local media reported here.
The demonstrators will express their support for
President Alberto Fernández and the Economy
Minister Martín Guzmán who, in the opinion
of the organizers --- have shown firmness
and courage in the face of the demands
of the financial institution, whose
proposals, if applied, would
prevent the exercise of
social policies in the
southern country.
Daniel Menéndez, the national coordinator of
SOMOS/Barrios de Pie, expressed that they
are willing to “turn the tables and support
the government’s arm-wrestling with
the IMF,” --- highlights the Buenos
Aires Deputies web platform.
In turn, Menéndez attacked on Twitter against
the national right --- that supports the Fund.
“A serious agreement -- they say. Those who asked
for 57 billion dollars to return in a couple of years.
Those who never called Congress: to take the
debt with the IMF. They have a cement face,”
he sentenced.
The IMF wants the current Argentine government
to emulate the former President Mauricio Macri
(2015-2019), the Minister of Public Works,
Gabriel Katopodis, denounced
last Wednesday.
In statements to Uncover Radio, Katopodis argued
how complex it is, to overcome the macrism
pandemic, and, he assured, they are not
willing to risk, or stop, the recovery
achieved; “We're going to continue
leveraging Public Works,” he said.
Likewise, the official commented that, upon his arrival
in office, there were 300 public works with paralysis
of 70 percent, however, today 3,500 are undertaken
...and no governor or mayor can denounce not
having them in their territory.
The Argentine Minister of Public Works wonders what
the macrism did with the 44 billion dollars disbursed
by the IMF, the reason for the external debt, that
today, suffocates the national economy.
______________________________________
Syria recovers five
archaeological pieces
smuggled from Palmira
by Ana Luisa Brown
January 22nd, 00:30am (Prensa Latina)
Lebanese cultural authorities returned to Syria
five ancient pieces, including statues, stolen
in 2011 from the ancient city of Palmira, in
this country's desert.
The ceremony to hand over the antiquities took
place at the National Museum of Beirut in the
presence of sector officials from the
two nations.
During the ceremony, Lebanese Minister of Culture
Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtadha commented that
the return of the pieces is part of their bilateral
cooperation --- and stressed that his country
and Syria share a common history and the
aspiration for a better future.
For his part... Syria's Ambassador to Lebanon, Ali
Abdulkarim, pointed out how his nation managed
to preserve a large part of its antiquities, and
transferred them to the Damascus Museum,
and other similar facilities to prevent them
from falling into the hands of terrorism.
Damascus is awaiting the return of other pieces
that belong to it ....and are currently in the
National Museum, in Beirut, he said.
_______________________________________
President Aoun Cites Efforts
Underway --- to Complete
Economic Recovery Plan
January 21st, 9pm (al Manar)
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun,
hoped that the new year will be the beginning
of Lebanon’s revival --- from the successive
crises it had witnessed, & that Lebanon
would be stronger than it was before,
“Because it is a country worthy
of life”.
The President stressed -- that he will
make all efforts to achieve this goal.
In addition, President Aoun affirmed: that work is
underway, especially with the Cabinet, in order
to complete the expected recovery plan,
wishing everyone cooperation for the
benefit of the Lebanese people,
who can no longer tolerate
more life complications.
The positions of President Aoun, came, while
meeting the members of the consular corps,
on the traditional annual visit... to exchange
greetings with the advent of the new year.
Source: NNA
____________________________
Hezbollah Attitude towards State
Budget, Economic Recovery Plan
to Prioritize Citizens’ Interests
-- MP Fadlallah
January 21st, 8:56pm (al Manar)
Member of the “Loyalty to Resistance” bloc, MP
Hasan Fadlallah, indicated that Hezbollah will
study thoroughly, the state budget, and the
economic recovery plan... before finalizing
its attitude towards them, adding that the
Party’s stance will prioritize the interests
of the citizens.
During a political seminar, in Beirut’s southern
suburb, MP Fadlallah reiterated that Hezbollah
and Amal Movement's decision to resume
attending the cabinet sessions, springs
from... their commitment to the socio-
economic conditions of the citizens.
Some political parties tried to politically exploit
the Hezbollah and Amal Movement decision to
boycott the ministerial council’s sessions -
over the unconstitutional performance of
the judicial investigator into Beirut Port
blast - according to MP Fadlallah.
MP Fadlallah noted that the US sanctions hit a
Hajj tour company, adding that Washington’s
pressures on Hezbollah's social incubation,
will never affect the resistance in the face
of the Zionist enemy.
MP Fadlallah indicated that the US administration
deludes the Lebanese public, because it imposes
sanctions on Hezbollah while it sends mediators
to coordinate a direct contact with the Party,
adding that the Resistance... has always
rejected the US attempts in this regard.
Hezbollah and Amal Movement announced
on Saturday they both agree to attend the
ministerial council sessions... devoted to
approve the state budge, the economic
recovery plan, and all the decrees
related to the improvement of the
socio-economic conditions of
the Lebanese people.
We will attend the government sessions in refutation
of the false deactivation accusations thrown on us
and in response to the needs of the honorable
citizens, as well as the call of the economic,
professional and syndicalistic sectors,
Hezbollah and Amal Movement added.
In a joint statement, Hezbollah, Amal Movement
reiterated their rejection of politicizing the
judiciary's work, adding that they both
will continue endeavoring to correct
the judicial path and restore justice.
The statement explained that the deep crisis
manifested in the unprecedented inflation,
the detainment of the depositors’ funds in
the banks, the deterioration of the public
services, and the political complications
imposed on Hezbollah &Amal Movement
made them exert much effort and make
concessions, in order to facilitate the
cabinet formation.
The two parties stressed... that the basic way of
resolving the crisis and alleviating the citizens’
agonies, lies in the presence of a strong,
capable and well-trusted government.
The judicial investigator into Beirut Port blast
Tarek Al-Bitar’s unconstitutional performance,
legal violations, and a blatant politicization of
the file imposed on Hezbollah and Amal
Movement --- led them to suspend
attending the ministerial council
...as all the legal, political and
popular attempts of pushing
Al-Bitar to recuse himself,
were blocked.
In this regard, the two parties called on the
executive authorities to correct the judicial
path and preserve a commitment to the
Constitution: which rejects involving
a humanitarian cause in anyone's
political interests.
Al-Bitar had issued arrest warrants against
officials as well as military figures, on an
illogical basis, pushing the defendants
and observers, to cast doubts on
his probe.
On August 4th, 2020, a massive blast rocked
Beirut Port, killing around 195 citizens
and injuring over 6,000 others.
The explosion also caused much
destruction in the capital
and its suburbs.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
_____________________________
Chilean President-Elect Boric
Presents Cabinet Members
January 21st, 4:22pm (teleSUR)
His cabinet includes members from traditional centre
-left organizations that did not support him in the first
round of elections. Among them are militants of the
Liberal and Radical parties.
In a ceremony held on Friday at the Chilean Natural
History Museum, President-elect Gabriel Boric
made public the names of those politicians
who will compose his cabinet.
Fourteen of 24 ministries will be headed by women:
Antonia Urrejola (Foreign Affairs), Maya Fernandez
(Defense), Jeanette Vega (Social Development),
Marcela Rios (Justice), Jeanette Jara (Labour),
Maria Yarza (Health), Marcela Hernando
(Mining), Javiera Toro (National Assets),
Maria Rojas (Environment), Alexandra
Benado (Sport), Antonia Orellana
(Women), Julieta Brodsky
(Culture), Camila Vallejo
(General Secretary), and
Izkia Siches (Interior).
The rest of the cabinet is made up of Marco Avila
(Education), Esteban Valenzuela (Agriculture),
Juan Carlos Muñoz (Transport/Telecommun-
ications), Claudio Huepe (Energy), & Flavio
Andres (Science &Technology).
"Today a new chapter in our democratic history
begins to be written. We do not start from
scratch: we know there is a story that
elevates and inspires us," Boric said
implicitly referring to former leftist
President, Michelle Bachelet’s
cabinet, which was gender-
balanced.
"We are accompanied in this team by ministers
from different backgrounds and formations:
our cabinet we will be diverse, like our
country," he stated.
The San Sebastian University Director Jaime
Abedrapo welcomed this strategy, stressing
that it will help Boric to find support to his
structural reforms, in the new-elected
parliament, in which pro-government
lawmakers’ representation only
reaches 25 percent.
"We are going to make all the changes we proposed...
because we are convinced that most Chileans want
structural changes that allow them to have a
decent life," he stressed.
______________________________
Repsol Oil Spill Causes
'Ecocide' in Pacific Ocean
January 21st, 4pm (teleSUR)
On Thursday, Peru's President Pedro Castillo
announced urgent actions to sanction those
responsible for the oil spill at La
Pampilla refinery.
From these facilities, which are operated by the
Spanish company Repsol, at least 6,000 barrels
of oil were poured into the Pacific Ocean. They
contaminated an area of 1.2 square kilometres.
"The ecological damage to our coastline is
inadmissible. The State has ordered
criminal, civil, and administrative
actions, so as to protect our
country's sovereignty and
wellbeing," Castillo said,
after visiting one of the
most affected beaches
in the Callao province.
"We are facing one of the largest ecocides that have
occurred on our coasts and seas. The government
will sanction those responsible for damage, that
tragically affects flora and fauna," he stressed
...noting that the oil spill also endangers the
livelihoods of thousands of Peruvians who
make their living from marine and
coastal resources.
Castillo was also emphatic in pointing out that his
administration will not tolerate that corporate
actions: "trample our ecosystems and the
honour of our people, with impunity."
On Thusday, the Environmental Ministry's Agency for
Environmental Assessment and Enforcement (OEFA)
determined that the oil spill had directly affected a
marine area of at least 1.2 square kilometres. Due
to the movement of the waves, however, the
contamination reached land and affected
1.7 square kilometres of beaches.
The Spanish company holds that the spill was
a consequence... of the intense waves that
occurred after the eruption of a volcano
in Tonga. The opinion of experts,
however, is different.
The Peruvian Navy affirms that the waves had
nothing to do with the rupture of the oil
infrastructure that preceded the spill,”
outlet El Comercio reported... adding
that navy technicians are conducting
an in-depth investigation into what
happened.
_________________________
Castro to Take The Oath
As Honduran President
Before A Judge
January 21st, 3:43pm (teleSUR)
She will not attend a swearing-in ceremony carried
out by a Congress whose President was elected
through political treason.
Xiomara Castro announced she will swear
as president of Honduras before a judge
instead of doing it before Jorge Calix,
who was elected as president of
Congress on Friday... when a
betrayal was consummated
within the ranks of the
future ruling party.
In October 2021, her Freedom and Refounding Party
(LIBRE) nominated lawmaker Luis Redondo for the
presidency of Congress as part of an agreement
with the Saving Honduras Party (PSH). On Friday
morning, however, an unprecedented event
altered that possibility.
In an act described as a political betrayal, 20
lawmakers from the president-elect's own
party allowed the election of Calix as
speaker of the Congress with
their votes.
"The Honduran people voted in the elections.. for a
true change to eliminate the neoliberal model that
prevailed for years in the country. Fanned by the
ambition for power, a group has decided to
continue the regime... of corruption and
impunity," Castro condemned, recalling
that the legislators of the conservative
National Party (PN) nominated Calix.
According to Castro, the action of the 20
treacherous lawmakers generates a
wake-up call for the Honduran
people to be vigilant and
ready to enforce their
will for change in
the future.
"I will rule by the hand of our people, and I will
fight tirelessly until we re-establish the rule
of law," she assured, stressing how political
unity will be fundamental to achieving
this goal.
The Parliament’s board of directors will be
permanently installed on Sunday and will
begin its legislative term on Jan. 25, two
days before Castro’s swearing-in.
______________________
New Migrants Caravan
Leaves Tapachula
Heading To US
January 21st, 1:02pm (teleSUR)
This is the first migrant caravan to leave
Tapachula, so far, in 2022. Last year,
several caravans with thousands
of migrants left this city.
On Thursday night, a new caravan made up
of some 500 migrants left for the US from
Tapachula city in the state of Chiapas
near the border with Guatemala.
Before undertaking their long journey on foot, the
asylum seekers were concentrated in the offices
of the National Institute of Migration, where
they tried to obtain documents that would
allow them free transit through
Mexican territory.
This group of migrants is mainly made up of Central
Americans, Colombians, Haitians, and Africans.
Among them, families traveling with minors.
When leaving, the migrants asked human rights
organizations for help to provide them with
food and water during their journey to the
northern border.
On Tuesday.... the caravan members marched through
the streets of Tapachula demanding that the Federal
government regularize their situation --- through
documents that allow them to move through
Mexican territory, without fear of being
deported.
This is the first migrant caravan to leave Tapachula,
so far, in 2022. Last year, several caravans with
thousands of migrants left this city. Most of
them, however, were stopped and
dismantled by the Mexican
security forces.
Despite the controls, the migrants usually reach the
northern border. In fiscal year 2021, for example,
the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office
(CBP) detected over 1.7 million undocumented
immigrants on the border.
______________________________
Mexican president demands
IMF’s fair treatment
of Argentina
by Ana Luisa Brown
January 21st, 1:01pm (Prensa Latina)
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
on Friday --- demanded that the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) treat Argentina fairly,
and urged it to assume its responsibility
for Argentina's excessive debt.
At his morning press conference at the National
Palace, the president noted that the IMF now
wants to impose conditions on Argentina,
which he knows will further impoverish
the Argentine people.
He demanded that the IMF leaders act with honesty
and ethics and just recognize that they made the
mistake of giving credits to a bankrupt
government (of the former President
Mauricio Macri).... beyond what is
reasonable for political reasons
....in order to try to see Macri
win the elections again.
They wanted him in power... and gave him money
to try to do so, but what they did was aggravate
Argentina’s economic and financial crisis.
Now they want the new government to pay them
immediately for what they caused, and they
are imposing completely unfair and
immoral conditions, he said.
Hopefully the IMF will rectify this, and accept its
responsibility, as well as those allied foreign
governments that promoted those credits
(to Macri) that should have never been
granted, he added.
___________________________
Colombian Left Starts
Process ------- To Elect
Presidential Candidates
January 21st, 12:20pm (teleSUR)
"We will promote the transition from a male-dominated
society to a democratic system that defends women,
from two centuries of violence to an era of peace,"
Senator Petro stated.
On Friday, Senator Gustavo Petro and environmental
activist Francia Marquez announced that they will
participate in the primary elections that the
"Historic Pact” coalition will hold on March
13th, to define its candidate for the
presidency of Colombia.
"We will promote the transition.... from an economy
based on fossil fuels to a clean energy one, from a
male-dominated society to a democratic system
that defends women, from two centuries of
violence.. to an era of peace," 61-year-old
politician, Petro, vowed.
He also pointed out that the Colombian parliament is
in the hands of corrupt politicians, who are in
charge of promoting anti-grassroots laws
that respond to the interests of the elite.
"This reality is inconceivable. Regardless of their
political orientation, the mission of every law-
maker must be to represent the people,"
Petro stated and thanked the former
Brazilian Presidents Lula da Silva
and Dilma Rousseff ------ for
supporting his campaign.
"Our candidacy is an historic event for Black peoples,
Indigenous communities, women, LGBT citizens and
all oppressed and excluded persons," stated
Marquez, whom the BBC outlet included in
its list of the world’s 100 most inspiring
and influential women, in 2019.
She vowed that her government will have a dignified,
fair, equitable, egalitarian policy, that prioritizes
the citizens' well-being, and eliminates the
mismanagement --- of the anti-popular
politicians who've governed Colombia.
So far, 13 politicians have registered as pre-
candidates for the first-round elections.
According to... a voting intention
poll conducted by the Strategic
measurements firm -- Petro
is likely to win this process
with 34,72% of the ballots.
_____________________
Lopez Obrador makes official
--- possession of Deer Park
refinery
by Ana Luisa Brown
January 21st, 11:22am (Prensa Latina)
The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez
Obrador, made official, on Friday, possession
of the Deer Park, Texas refinery, which he
described as transcendental in a plan to
process all the oil that Mexico extracts.
In his morning press conference... at the National
Palace, the President referred to the capabilities
of the new factory, previously dominated by the
transnational Shell... with control of 50.01% of
the shares, which are now Mexican.
In this way, he explained, Mexico is in a position to
produce all the fuel it consumes, and become
an exporter, for which, it will fully process
1,8 billion barrels of crude oil per day.
The strategy that this country is applying, he recalled,
is to eliminate dependence on the international
market and use the crude oil that it extracts
fundamentally in shallow waters and on
land, in the production of gasoline,
diesel and other fuels that it
currently has to import.
The President explained that in order to achieve these
goals, the Dos Bocas refinery is being built, the
largest and most modern refinery in the world
at this time --- and five others are being
rehabilitated, which will enable this
nation to be self-sufficient in a
relatively short time, and
become an exporter.
Lopez Obrador referred to the reasons for
the electricity reform being promoted by
his administration... and what is being
done... to solve the serious problems
inherited from previous governments,
during which, corruption and private
businesses that affected the public
treasury and the people, prevailed.
_____________________________
Haitians Demand Release
Of The Cuban Doctor
Kidnapped by Gangs
January 20th, 2:06pm (teleSUR)
On Wednesday, Haitian citizens took to the streets
to demand the release of Cuban doctor Daymara
Perez, who was kidnapped by gangs in Petit
Goave province, on January the 13th.
The demonstration led to a transport disruption on
National Route 2 and businesses closure. "Crime
cannot reign in our country. If Perez isn't freed,
we will intensify our demonstration,"
protesters warned.
A resident in Haiti since 2020, Perez was heading
to work on a public bus --- when gang members
grabbed her in the Martissant neighbourhood.
“She was the only passenger who was kidnapped,”
lamented her boss, the Notre Dame Hospital
Director Fred Jasmin, who also confirmed
that the abductors have demanded a
US$100.000 ransom.
Although the doctor is not a special envoy of the
Cuban government, its Embassy assured, that it
will support her relatives and coordinate efforts
with the Haitian Police to speed up her release.
On Wednesday, Haitian Health Minister Laure Adrien
denied reports of the Cuban government’s with-
drawal of 78 doctors from their missions
in Haiti, due to the increase in the
kidnapping of foreign residents.
“Over the last 15 days, only 28 Cuban co-operators
have left the country: 10 of them traveled abroad,
for vacations, and the other 18 left because they
had already finished their missions,”
Adrien detailed.
Between 2020 and 20021, the Centre for Human
Rights Analysis and Research (CARDH) counted
1,000 kidnapping cases, 81 of which, had
foreigners residing in Haiti, as victims.
_____________________________
Car Bomb Attack Leaves
One Dead & 3 Injured
in Colombia
January 20th, 1:30pm (teleSUR)
On Tuesday, Colombia’s Social and Popular Political
Mass Movement (CPSMM) reported that a car bomb
attack against the Joel Sierra Human Rights
Foundation in Saravena municipality in the
Arauca department, killed one citizen
and injured three others.
"We cannot allow that the intolerance of illegal armed
groups continues to affect the peace of the Saravena
municipality’s community," the JSHRF stated, adding
that the attack caused significant economic losses
since it destroyed houses, shops, and
government buildings.
Around 22:15, a white van parked near the
foundation’s building where social leaders
were giving a workshop on human rights.
Upon blowing up the vehicle, the attackers
fled the scene, shooting at the people
inside the establishment.
The Arauca Governor Alejandro Navas promised to
lead an extraordinary security council to speed
the apprehension of the crime's perpetrators,
whose identity remains unknown.
The Arauca department is currently undergoing a
humanitarian crisis due to paramilitary groups,
which seek to extort the population to gain
new territories... for their drug trafficking
activities. On January 5, President Ivan
Duque deployed two 600-soldier Army
battalions, which were supposed to
boost intelligence and counter
-intelligence operations in
the area.
The JSHRF denounced that this military
deployment..... has only served to
guarantee the oil infrastructure
of transnational companies but
not to protect the population.
"We emphatically call on the armed groups
to bring the civilian population out of the
conflict, since it deserves to leave in
peace,” the JSHRF representative,
Sonia Lopez, highlighted.
______________________________
Labour Party Wins All 30
Constituencies In Barbados
January 20th, 11:50am (teleSUR)
Thanks to overwhelming popular support, Mia
Mottley secured re-election to the post of
Prime Minister in the world's youngest
republic.
In the early hours of Thursday, the electoral
authorities of Barbados... issued the final
results of the elections that closed the
day before at 6 pm. The Barbados
Labour Party won a landslide
victory and clearly prevailed
in all 30 constituencies of
the country.
In the first electoral process Barbados held after
becoming a republic, the political opposition
was mainly represented by the Democratic
Labour Party (DLP), led by Verla De Peiza,
and the Alliance Party for Progress, led
by Joseph Atherley. None of these
political organizations managed
to capture the preferences
of citizens.
Thanks to this resounding victory, Mia Mottley easily
managed to be re-elected to the position of Prime
Minister, thus marking another triumph in her
outstanding career as a social and political
leader on this Caribbean island.
"Shortly after becoming the world’s newest Republic,
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley called snap
elections in December 2021, saying she didn’t
want her country to “enter the new year by
being a divided nation,”'' the Associates
Times recalled.
Mottley stressed that the resounding Labour victory
will --- “lead the country, first to safety, and then to
prosperity,” as reported by the Caribbean Block,
which added that the Prime Minister seeks to
prepare Barbados to resolve the challenges
it will face in the next decade.
"Mia Motley's reelection as Prime Minister of Barbados
is good news. A brilliant woman who, one day, would
make a strong UN Secretary General," said Alfred de
Zayas, a former United Nations independent expert
on the promotion of a democratic and equitable
international order.
The Barbadian elections were carried out normally.
However, it is estimated that some 5,700 citizens
sick with COVID-19, were unable to vote, due to
their health condition.
_______________________________________
Japan donates to Cuba
