Erdogan sending Turkish troops to Libya ahead of Berlin peace talks
rt.com | 2020-01-16
Turkey is sending troops to Libya to ensure the stability of the UN-backed government in Tripoli, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced. The move comes ahead of a Berlin summit on the security situation in the country. | Ankara has already deployed forces to train troops loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA), as part of a security cooperation agreement between the two countries. | Erdogan also said that, as part of a maritime agreement, it would no longer be possible for other states to conduct oil exploration and drilling off the coast of Libya without the approval of Ankara and Tripoli. | T…
rt.com/news/478416-turkey-sends-troops-libya-erdogan/

Dr. Stephen Zunes speaks on Trump's Mideast Policy
Peace Action of San Mateo County | indybay.org | 2020-01-16
Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo | 300 E. Santa Inez Avenue | San Mateo, CA 94401…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/15/18829770.php

Haftar Agrees to Take Part in Berlin Conference on Libya – LNA Official
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-16
Earlier this week, the office of German chancellor Angela Merkel stated that Berlin will host Libya peace conference on Sunday and will invite members of the conflicting sides as well as representatives of 11 nations, who are trying to resolve the crisis.
sputniknews.com/world/202001161078051390-haftar-agrees-to-take-part-in-berlin-conference-on-libya—reports/

Russia, Turkey to bring peace to Libya: MP
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-16
The joint efforts by Russia and Turkey have the potential to bring peace to conflict-hit Libya, a Russian parliamentarian said Thursday. "The format that has been found, the format that the Russian and Turkish leaders have proposed for Libya, I think is rational," Leonid Slutsky told Anadolu Agency."The fact that we managed to get the signatures of Fayez al-Sarraj in the first meeting is a great success," he said, referring to the head of Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).Commenting on the position of eastern Libya-based commander Khalifa Haftar, who took two days to decide whether to sign…
yenisafak.com/en/news/russia-turkey-to-bring-peace-to-libya-mp-3509799

'Indian, Turkish partnership can evolve new global order'
yenisafak.com | 2020-01-16
Trade between Turkey and India has shown strong growth over recent years, however, both countries need to be more ambitious to increase trade and economic exchanges, Indian Ambassador to Turkey Sanjay Bhattacharyya told Anadolu Agency.Bhattacharyya, who came to Ankara in 2018, is departing after completing his term later this week. Ahead of his farewell, Indian Ambassador in a freewheeling interview spoke about several issues ranging opportunities challenges in relations with Turkey, India's issues with Pakistan, Kashmir crises, the Afghan peace process and also his country acquiring Russian-made S-400 missile de…
yenisafak.com/en/news/indian-turkish-partnership-can-evolve-new-global-order-3509789

Dr. King Understood: U.S. Is Threat to Global Humanity
Black Alliance for Peace | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-15
As the U.S. engages in its annual ritual of parading out the state-sanctioned "I have a dream" Dr. King, it attempts to accomplish the amazing feat of reconciling Dr. King's commitment to peace and principled non-violence with the normalized violence …
globalresearch.ca/dr-king-understood-u-s-threat-global-humanity/5700654

Implementing peace deal only path for stabilization in Mali: UN peacekeeping chief
news.un.org | 2020-01-15
Implementation of the 2015 peace agreement in Mali provides the only pathway for stabilization there, the head of UN peacekeeping told the Security Council on Wednesday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/01/1055362

UN peacekeepers protecting hundreds displaced by Central African Republic fighting
news.un.org | 2020-01-15
Fresh clashes in the Central African Republic's southeast have driven some 400 people to seek shelter at a UN base there, the United Nations Spokesperson said on Wednesday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/01/1055382

Trump Prosecutors Make Move to Ensure that Embassy Protectors are Convicted
Ajamu Baraka and Bahman Azad | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-01-15
As the trial approaches, the lawyers for the Trump Administration's prosecution of the four Venezuelan Embassy Protectors who were arrested last May are asking the court to make sure the jury is kept ignorant about the facts and circumstances surrounding the actions of the protectors. In a recently filed motion by government lawyers, state prosecutors …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/01/trump-prosecutors-make-move-to-ensure-that-embassy-protectors-are-convicted/

Venezuela: Oil Output Stabilizes as Government Eyes Foreign Investment
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-15
The Maduro government is reportedly looking to offer greater advantages to private companies in joint oil ventures.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14766

Long live teleSUR!
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-01-15
On January 11, far-right Venezuelan opposition leader and US-backed self-proclaimed "interim president of Venezuela", Juan Guaidó, threatened to seize the Latin American left-wing television and online news network, teleSUR. | In a tweet, Guaidó said that he would soon start "the process of reorganizing and rescue of Telesur to put it at the service of truth." "Since its creation, Telesur has been used to promote destabilization of the region, support terrorist groups, attack democracy, lie about Venezuela and defen…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/01/15/long-live-telesur/

China, Venezuela to Boost Bilateral Cooperation, Brotherhood
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-15
In response to an invitation from the Chinese government, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza Wednesday arrived in Beijing to strengthen strategic cooperation relations and brotherhood between the Bolivarian Nation and this Asian country. | RELATED: | Venezuela Asks Electoral Body to Invite UN, EU to Observe Polls | Venezuela and China have maintained diplomatic and commercial relations for 45 years, which were strengthened since the arrival of Hugo Chavez to the Presiden…
telesurenglish.net/news/China-Venezuela-to-Boost-Bilateral-Cooperation-Brotherhood-20200115-0007.html

US Deterrence: Code Language for Endless "Hot Wars" against Humanity
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-15
Washington's criminal class is bipartisan. | Both right wings of the US war party pose an unparalleled threat to world peace, stability, security, and humanity's survival. | The rhetoric of each wing differs, the agenda the same, notably since the neoliberal 90s, …
globalresearch.ca/us-deterrence-code-language-endless-wars-humanity/5700678

Fidel Castro's Message against Nuclear War: "In a Nuclear War the 'Collateral Damage' would be the Life of All Humanity."
Fidel Castro Ruz | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-15
A forceful message calling for World peace and the survival of humankind.
globalresearch.ca/video-fidel-s-message-against-nuclear-war-in-a-nuclear-war-the-collateral-damage-would-be-the-life-of-all-humanity/21541

US Sanctions Venezuela's New Parliament Leader, Senior Opposition Lawmakers
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-14
The legislature's new opposition leadership "categorically" rejected the sanctions.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14764

For Western Press, the only Coup in Venezuela is against Guaidó
Lucas Koerner | mronline.org | 2020-01-14
The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | Source…
mronline.org/2020/01/14/for-western-press-the-only-coup-in-venezuela-is-against-guaido/

Venezuela Asks Electoral Body to Invite UN, EU to Observe Polls
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-14
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro asked the National Electoral Council (CNE) Tuesday to invite the European Union (EU) and the United Nations as observers in the process of legislative elections scheduled for this year. | RELATED: | Venezuela and Red Cross Monitor Protection for Blockade Victims | During the presentation of his 2019 balance, the Venezuelan president was also firm in expressing that "what is definitive is that neither the Organization of American States (OAS…
telesurenglish.net/news/maduro-asks-nec-to-invite-un-to-observe-legislative-elections-20200114-0019.html

US issues unilateral coercive measures against Venezuelan legislators
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-01-14
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, announced on January 13, that it would impose unilateral coercive measures against seven opposition legislators of the National Assembly (AN) of Venezuela. | According to the official statement issued by the US agency, the punitive measure was taken due to the "failed attempt" of these seven parliamentarians "to illegitimately seize control of the National Assembly" and because they allegedly prevented the far-right opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president "Juan Guaidó and other deputies from participating in a consti…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/01/14/us-issues-unilateral-coercive-measures-against-venezuelan-legislators/

Venezuela Blames Sanctions After UN Voting Right Suspended
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-13
Venezuela, which has one of the highest UN contribution rates in the region, has not paid its dues since 2018.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14762

Under US pressure, social media companies censor critical content and suspend Venezuelan, Iranian, and Syrian accounts
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-13
As the US escalates its hybrid wars, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/12/us-pressure-social-media-censoring-suspending-venezuela-iran-syria/

Colombia: 'Significant strides' towards integrated peace, UN envoy tells Security Council
news.un.org | 2020-01-13
Colombia has continued to make "significant strides in its peace process", the top UN envoy in the country told the Security Council on Monday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/01/1055202

For Western Press, the Only Coup in Venezuela Is Against Guaidó
Lucas Koerner | fair.org | 2020-01-10
The Washington Post ( 1/5/20) described Venezuelan lawmakers voting against someone other than Washington's chosen candidate to head the assembly as "sedition within the opposition." | The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | In headline after headline, Venezue…
fair.org/home/for-western-press-the-only-coup-in-venezuela-is-against-guaido/

US peace activists, leftists oppose Iran war
Susan Price | greenleft.org.au | 2020-01-10
anti-war Susan PriceIssue 1248 United States US wars US aggression against Iran peace movementJanuary 10, 2020Former vetera…
greenleft.org.au/content/us-peace-activists-leftists-oppose-iran-war

Venezuela: Guaido installs parallel parliament, US threatens more sanctions
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-01-10
Venezuela Ricardo VazIssue 1248 Venezuela Juan Guaido US Vice President Mike PenceJanuary 10, 2020Opposition leader Juan Guaido installed a "parallel" parliament in Caracas on January 7. | The…
greenleft.org.au/content/venezuela-guaido-installs-parallel-parliament-us-threatens-more-sanctions

This might be the final episode of Juan Guaidó's surreal Venezuela regime-change reality show
Leonardo Flores | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-09
The farcical scene of Juan Guaido attempting to break into Venezuela's National Assembly as its members voted him out was…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/08/final-episode-juan-guaido-surreal-regime-change-reality-show/

Andrew Bacevich: The U.S. Needs to Abandon "Militarized Approach" to Middle East and Build Peace
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-09
We continue our conversation with Andrew Bacevich, president and co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He is a retired colonel, Vietnam War veteran and author of, most recently, of "The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory." Bacevich says the crisis with Iran, sparked by President Trump's assassination of top general Qassem Soleimani, is just the latest in a long series of ill-advised American actions in the Middle East. "The only conceivable way for us to begin to extricate ourselves from this terrible mess in the region … is to abandon this militarized approac…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/9/andrew_bacevich_trump_iran

Peace activists in South say 'No war on Iran'
Liberation Staff | liberationnews.org | 2020-01-09
Reports from North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky.
liberationnews.org/peace-activists-in-south-say-no-war-on-iran/

Venezuela: Guaido Installs Parallel Parliament After Washington Threatens More Sanctions
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-08
The Trump administration is reportedly mulling sanctions against opposition deputies who voted against Guaido.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14759

In the ongoing crisis, Congress must rein in Trump's war powers
Jon Rainwater | peaceaction.org | 2020-01-08
As we feared, President Trump's reckless assassination of Iran's Gen. Soleimani resulted in escalation

Will Soleimani's Assassination Set Back Iraq's October Revolution?
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-01-07
Soleimani's killing could open a path for peace if cooler heads prevail, argues professor of Middle East politics Sabah Alnasseri.
therealnews.com/stories/soleimani-assassination-iraq-october-revolution

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

Hundreds of protesters for peace come out in Pacific Northwest Jan. 4
Liberation Staff | liberationnews.org | 2020-01-06
Reports from Seattle, Spokane, Kennewick and Boise…
liberationnews.org/hundreds-of-protesters-for-peace-come-out-in-pacific-northwest-jan-4/

Venezuelan Government and Opposition Fraction Announce Release of 14 'Political Prisoners'
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-06
The National Roundtable for Peaceful Dialogue also offered its backing to the new National Assembly president, Luis Parra.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14757

Venezuela: Guaido Replaced as Parliament Head in Disputed Vote
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-05
Pro-Guaido opposition lawmakers have rejected the vote, forming a parallel parliament with US and international right-wing support.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14755

Sat. Jan. 4 National Day of Action U.S. Troops Out of Iraq!
ANSWER | liberationnews.org | 2020-01-01
Initiators for this call include the ANSWER Coalition, CODEPINK, Popular Resistance, World Beyond War and many other anti-war and peace organizations.
liberationnews.org/sat-jan-4-national-day-of-action-u-s-troops-out-of-iraq/

Venezuela Repels 'Terrorist' Attack on Military Bases, 1 Soldier Dead
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-23
The assailants stormed several military installations before being engaged by the Venezuelan army.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14752

Notes on a private TV newscast in Bolivia. The contrast with Venezuela is clear as day
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2019-12-20
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

Venezuela: Guaido Introduces Remote Voting in Bid to Secure Reelection
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-18
The opposition leader has been under fire amid recent scandals.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14749

Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2019-12-16
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…
zcomm.org/zblogs/francisco-rodriguez-answers-some-questions-i-asked-him-about-venezuela/

ALBA Summit: Venezuela Promises to Relaunch PetroCaribe in 2020
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-16
Heads of state also pledged to bolster various regional social programs including the Miracle Mission and Latin American Medical Schools.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14745