2020-01-08: News Headlines

teleSUR (2020-01-08). Twitter Suspends Dozens of Accounts of Venezuelan Officials. telesurenglish.net Twitter accounts linked to Venezuela's Central Bank, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), public media, political leaders, and journalists were suspended without explanation on Tuesday. | RELATED: | Venezuelan National Assembly To Reactivate Legislative Agenda | Accounts belonging to the FANB Strategic Operating Command and Press Department…

RT (2020-01-08). 'No lives lost': Trump holds fire on 'big missiles,' talks peace after Iran's strikes on US bases in Iraq. rt.com US President Donald Trump is delivering an eagerly-awaited address to America, as the country stands on the brink of war with Iran. Trump's speech comes hours after Iranian missiles struck two US bases in Iraq. | Speaking from the White House, Trump backed away from threatening further strikes against Iran, describing Tehran's stand-down as "a good thing for all parties concerned." | Our missiles are big, powerful, accurate, lethal and fast…The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean that we have to use it. | Trump did, however, vow to impose new economic sanctions on the…

Jon Queally, staff writer (2020-01-08). #NoWarWithIran: US Peace Advocates Say 'Time for De-Escalation Is Now'. commondreams.org "Now is the time to end the cycle of military retaliation, walk back aggressive rhetoric, and engage meaningfully in a diplomatic process for peace." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/no_war_with_iran.jpg

Staff (2020-01-08). Headlines for January 8, 2020. democracynow.org Iran Strikes 2 Iraqi Bases in Retaliation for Soleimani's Assassination, McConnell Says He Has Enough Votes to Open Impeachment Trial Without Witnesses, Trump Declares Emergency for Puerto Rico Following Earthquake, Spain Poised to Form First Progressive Coalition Government Since 1930s, Argentina Deals Blow to Legitimacy of Venezuela's U.S.-Backed Opposition, Indian Workers & Students Launch Strike to Protest Privatization, Wet'suwet'en Nation Issues Eviction Notice to Workers of Pipeline Company in Canada, Planned Parenthood Attacked with Incendiary Device in Delaware, NYT: More Than 20 Shootings at After Schoo…

John Catalinotto (2020-01-08). WW editorial: No war on Iran! U.S. out of Iraq! workers.org The gangsters in the White House and the Pentagon are responsible for the targeted assassination of a top representative of a sovereign government. The target, Qassem Soleimani of Iran, was on a peace mission that the U.S. president was aware of and had encouraged. Trump has now followed up . . . | Continue reading WW editorial: No war on Iran! U.S. out of Iraq! at Workers.org

Staff (2020-01-07). Will Soleimani's Assassination Set Back Iraq's October Revolution? therealnews.com Soleimani's killing could open a path for peace if cooler heads prevail, argues professor of Middle East politics Sabah Alnasseri.

teleSUR (2020-01-07). Chile's MPs Reject Proposal to Probe Troops' Abuses in Haiti. telesurenglish.net Chile's parliament rejected Tuesday a proposal for the creation of an investigative commission that would be in charge of clarifying the international denunciations of sexual abuses committed by Chilean peacekeepers deployed in Haiti as part of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUSTAH). | RELATED: | UN Peacekeeping 15-year Mission Ends With Mixed Legacy in Haiti | The proposal had been submitted by Jaime Naranjo, a lawmaker for the Socialist Party of Chile. I…

John Scales Avery (2020-01-07). Attacks on Iran, Past and Present. counterpunch.org The assassination of General Qasem Soleimani On Friday, 3 January, 2020, progressives in the United States and all peace-loving people throughout the world were horrified to learn that Donald Tromp had added to his long list of crimes and imbicilities by ordering the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, who is a hero in his own More

Peoples Dispatch (2020-01-07). Report exposes police brutality against students of India's Jamia Millia Islamia university. peoplesdispatch.org According to a report on the violence of December 15, the police action was intentionally "aimed at causing maximum damage to the protesters," most of whom were protesting peacefully…

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-01-07). Peace Now: 1,936 Israeli Settlement Units Approved for Occupied West Bank. imemc.org In a statement, on Monday, settlement watchdog Peace Now, said that the Israeli planning authority advanced the plans for the building of 1,936 new homes in settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestine News Network reported. A total of 786 housing units received the final approval needed before the building …

teleSUR (2020-01-07). Argentina Doesn't Recognize Guaido, Revokes Envoy's Credentials. telesurenglish.net Argentina's government said Tuesday it did not recognize lawmaker Juan Guaido as Venezuela's president and revoked the credentials of his representative in Buenos Aires. | RELATED: | Venezuelan Opposition Rejects Juan Guaido's Leadership | The new administration of Argentina's progressive President Alberto Fernandez sent a letter to Elisa Trotta Gamus, who represented Guaido in Argentina, to notify her that her "special mission" in Argentina had been terminated. | "I am writing to you…

news.un (2020-01-07). UN chief monitoring Venezuela developments 'with concern'. news.un.org The latest twist in Venezuela's ongoing political crisis "make urgently needed dialogue even more difficult to achieve", the UN Secretary-General has said.

teleSUR (2020-01-07). Bolivia's MAS to Launch Presidential Campaign in Argentina. telesurenglish.net The campaign for the presidential elections in Bolivia will start on Jan. 22 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where exiled President Evo Morales will lead an event that he hopes will attract more than 15,000 people. | RELATED: | Morales Slams De Facto Bolivian Gov't for Meddling in Venezuela | Morales announced it during a visit to Isla Maciel in Argentina where he also met with religious and Bolivian authorities residing there. | The Indigenous leader also confirmed that on Jan. 1…

teleSUR (2020-01-07). Venezuela Urges the US to Abide by International Law. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Foreign minister Jorge Arreaza urged Tuesday United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to respect international law as well as the sovereignty of the South American country with regards to the National Assembly's newly-elected leadership. | RELATED: | Argentina Doesn't Recognize Guaido, Revokes Envoy's Credentials | "Mr. Pompeo, consider for once that your strategy failed. You showed no skills as puppeteers and now you lost your main puppet. Respect international…

NationAction (2020-01-07). Take Action Now: No War With Iran. thenation.com Protest endless war, learn about the situation in Iran, and work towards peace at home and abroad.

Dimitri Lascaris (2020-01-07). Invoke U.N.'s Uniting for Peace Resolution before Trump Embroils Us in War with Iran. dissidentvoice.org In the early hours of January 3, 2020, the United States military assassinated Iran's most powerful military commander, General Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani's killing, accomplished by means of a drone strike in Baghdad, was done without the authorization of the Iraqi government. It thus constitutes a grave breach of Iraqi sovereignty. It also constitutes an act of …

Laura Savinkoff (2020-01-07). Canadian Peace Congress Condemns Imperial War Crimes. globalresearch.ca Dear Friends for Peace, | The Canadian Peace Congress condemns the murders of Iranian General Soleimani and others in the motorcade leaving Baghdad International Airport on January 3rd, 2020 as an act of war by the United States against Iraq and …

Fight Back (2020-01-07). Cleveland activists rally against U.S. attack on Iran. fightbacknews.org Cleveland, OH – Anti-war activists took to Market Square in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, January 4, at noon to denounce U.S. imperialism and aggression towards Iran following the murder of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani by the Trump regime. | Chanting slogans of "1, 2, 3, 4, we don't want your racist war! 5, 6, 7, 8, stop the killings, stop the hate!" and "We are people, we want peace! U.S. out of Middle East!" around 100 protesters rallied as prepared speeches were given by representatives from the Workers World Party, Cleveland State University's Middle East and Northern Africa student group, Pe…

Fight Back (2020-01-07). Grand Rapids, MI protest against war with Iran. fightbacknews.org Grand Rapids, MI – On January 4, about 35 people gathered at the intersection of Division and Fulton, the center point of Grand Rapids, to express their outrage and protest the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad's airport. | Signs read: "No war on Iran," "U.S. out of Iraq and the Middle East," "No war," "Bad president/bad decisions" and the iconic "Give peace a chance." The crowd chanted, "No more war" and "No war in Iran." | Organized by a small group of progressive activists, the protest attracted a diverse group of people from or…

Fight Back (2020-01-07). Milwaukee: Protesters stand against act of war on Iran, say, "Not in our name" fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – The four corners of 27th and West Oklahoma on Milwaukee's South Side were filled with protesters on the afternoon of January 4. Activists were gathered to stand against the U.S.'s acts of war against Iran. It was a chilly afternoon, the wind biting into those assembled, but loud chanting intermingled with the frequent honks from motorists on the busy Milwaukee streets echoed into the area. | "Honk for peace! Honk for peace! No more war in the Middle East!" chanted 100 demonstrators brave enough to stand against the imperialist war machine. Everyone held banners, flags or handmade signs. | Kellie L…

WSWS (2020-01-07). Maduro government ousts Guaidó as speaker of the Venezuelan National Assembly. wsws.org The move to sideline the opposition is largely based on calculations that it can exploit the war crisis in the Middle East and growing popular opposition to the lawlessness of US foreign policy.

Staff (2020-01-07). Headlines for January 7, 2020. democracynow.org John Bolton Willing to Testify in Senate Impeachment Trial, Confusion in Pentagon & Trump Administration over U.S. Policy on Iran, Julián Castro Endorses Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Can Now Deport Mexican Asylum Seekers to Guatemala, Wildfires Rage in Australia; India Suffered Hottest Decade on Record, Harvey Weinstein Charged with Rape in Los Angeles County, Mexico: 60,000 People Disappeared Since U.S.-Backed Drug War Began, Bolivia Sets May 3 Date for New Election, After Morales's Ouster, Confusion over Leader of National Assembly Reigns in Venezuela, Earthquake Knocks Out Power Across Puerto Rico, Men Sue Boy Scout…

Liberation Staff (2020-01-06). Hundreds of protesters for peace come out in Pacific Northwest Jan. 4. liberationnews.org Reports from Seattle, Spokane, Kennewick and Boise…

Max Blumenthal (2020-01-06). Iraqi PM reveals Soleimani was on peace mission when assassinated, exploding Trump's lie of 'imminent attacks'. thegrayzone.com The Trump administration claimed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was planning "imminent attacks" on US interests when it assassinated him. That…

Paul Dobson (2020-01-06). Venezuelan Government and Opposition Fraction Announce Release of 14 'Political Prisoners'. venezuelanalysis.com The National Roundtable for Peaceful Dialogue also offered its backing to the new National Assembly president, Luis Parra.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-01-06). As 'holiday truce' ends, is peace on the table for the Philippines? peoplesdispatch.org The 'holiday truce' between the Duterte government and the Maoist insurgents of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is set to be over on January 7. The truce was called in mid-December as the martial law declared on Mindanao in the southern Philippines to deal with the Islamic State faction in the Marawi region, was scheduled to end on December 31. | After multiple calls from civil society organizations, Congress and the Cabinet, the government eventually negotiated a truce with the CPP militants beginning on December 24. Despite calls from hardliners within the military ruling party, PDP-Laban, includin…

Staff (2020-01-06). How Soleimani's Assassination Violates International Law and Puts Peace Further Out of Reach. therealnews.com Phyllis Bennis says Congress must stop Trump from taking the U.S. to war without any justification or provocation.

John Ryan (2020-01-06). Censorship in Canada? Vanessa Beeley's Talks on Syria. dissidentvoice.org White Helmets Vanessa Beeley is a British journalist who was invited to Canada in the fall of 2019 to present talks in seven cities on the conflict in Syria. The sponsors of her speaking tour were several anti-war groups, including the Geopolitical Economy Research Group, the Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War, and Peace Alliance …

teleSUR (2020-01-06). Venezuelan National Assembly To Reactivate Legislative Agenda. telesurenglish.net The new President of the National Assembly (NA) of Venezuela Luis Parra said Monday that the new directive will work to "reactivate the legislative agenda" and move towards the formation of a National Electoral Council (CNE) to regulate the next round of elections in the country. | RELATED: | Morales Slams De Facto Bolivian Gov't for Meddling in Venezuela | The deputy of the Venezuelan opposition political party "Justice First" questioned the actions of lawmakers Juan Guaido wh…

UnistotenCamp (2020-01-05). Coastal Gaslink Evicted from Unist'ot'en Territory. dissidentvoice.org All Coastal Gaslink workers have now been peacefully evicted from Unist'ot'en and Gidimt'en territories. Under the authority of Anuk nu'at'en (Wet'suwet'en law), and with support of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs of all five clans, the Wet'suwet'en are standing up for the last of our lands and we need you to stand with us. We will …

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2020-01-05). Venezuela: Guaido Replaced as Parliament Head in Disputed Vote. venezuelanalysis.com Pro-Guaido opposition lawmakers have rejected the vote, forming a parallel parliament with US and international right-wing support.

news.un (2020-01-03). Sudan urged to step up protection, restore peace, following West Darfur violence. news.un.org Authorities in Sudan are being urged to restore peace and order in the wake of intercommunal clashes in West Darfur state which erupted on Sunday and left 65 people dead, 54 injured, and thousands displaced.

The Grayzone (2020-01-02). Top 20 The Grayzone stories of 2019: From Venezuela coup attempt to Russiagate delusions, information warfare to new cold war. thegrayzone.com 2019 was a big year for The Grayzone. We traveled the world and broke many stories, exposing the empire's schemes…

news.un (2020-01-02). UNICEF chief hopes 2020 will be 'a year of peace' for Syria's children. news.un.org Only an end to the war in Syria can bring safety to children there, the head of the UN child rights agency said on Thursday.

ANSWER (2020-01-01). Sat. Jan. 4 National Day of Action U.S. Troops Out of Iraq! liberationnews.org Initiators for this call include the ANSWER Coalition, CODEPINK, Popular Resistance, World Beyond War and many other anti-war and peace organizations.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-23). Venezuela Repels 'Terrorist' Attack on Military Bases, 1 Soldier Dead. venezuelanalysis.com The assailants stormed several military installations before being engaged by the Venezuelan army.

Joe Emersberger (2019-12-20). Notes on a private TV newscast in Bolivia. The contrast with Venezuela is clear as day. zcomm.org In August, I took detailed notes a news broadcast on one of Venezuela's largest TV networks. I summarized these notes in an interview I did with the Real News Network making the point that Venezuela's private media (which reaches 60-90% of households) is remarkably free — most especially when you consider the US is openly Read more…

The Mind Unleashed (2019-12-19). UN Peacekeepers Fathered Hundreds of Babies With Girls in Haiti as Young as 11. theantimedia.com Girls as young as 11 were impregnated by peacekeepers and left "in misery" to raise their children alone.

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-18). Venezuela: Guaido Introduces Remote Voting in Bid to Secure Reelection. venezuelanalysis.com The opposition leader has been under fire amid recent scandals.

Paul Dobson (2019-12-16). ALBA Summit: Venezuela Promises to Relaunch PetroCaribe in 2020. venezuelanalysis.com Heads of state also pledged to bolster various regional social programs including the Miracle Mission and Latin American Medical Schools.

Joe Emersberger (2019-12-16). Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela. zcomm.org Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodriguez, formerly of Torino Economics, answered a few questions of mine about his country. He was the economic adviser to Henri Falcon, the second place finisher in the May 2018 presidential election. His updated estimate for 2019 is that Venezuela's real GDP will contract by 25% . That's horrific, but less severe Read more…

Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-11). Venezuela Oil Production Continues Slow Recovery. venezuelanalysis.com According to state oil company PDVSA, production is again approaching one million barrels per day.

Paul Dobson (2019-12-09). Venezuela's Civilian Militia Surpasses Target, Reaches 3.3 Million Members. venezuelanalysis.com The body is due to be legally incorporated into the Armed Forces as a "combat unit."

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-05). Venezuela: Guaido Embattled as Opposition Splits over New Corruption Scandal. venezuelanalysis.com The latest scandal has further called into doubt Guaido's credibility as leader of the opposition.

Lucas Koerner (2019-12-04). TIAR Countries Blacklist Top Venezuelan Officials as US Slaps New Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Venezuela of "hijacking" mass anti-neoliberal protests in "our own backyard."

Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-04). Red Cross Chief: Venezuela Aid Being Politicized to 'Destabilize the Country'. venezuelanalysis.com Francesco Rocca slammed the underfunding of aid programs as a problem of "political will."

Paul Dobson (2019-12-02). Venezuela's PDVSA Secures Temporary Lease Extension for Curacao Refinery. venezuelanalysis.com Despite the extension, refinery owners are looking to end the 34-year cooperation under pressure from US sanctions.

Lucas Koerner (2019-11-28). US Vows to 'Reinforce' Sanctions, Accuses Venezuela and Cuba of Stirring Regional 'Strife'. venezuelanalysis.com Elliott Abrams reiterated support for Guaido and denied that sanctions are damaging the Venezuelan economy.

Paul Dobson (2019-11-25). Venezuela Unveils First Gold Processing Complex in Mining Arc. venezuelanalysis.com While already operational, the complex will reportedly be the 5th largest in the continent upon completion.

Lucas Koerner (2019-11-21). Colombia's US Ambassador Advocates 'Covert Actions' Against Venezuela in Leaked Audio. venezuelanalysis.com Top Colombian officials acknowledged failure of regime change in Venezuela and total disarray in Washington.