2020-02-24: News Headlines

Combined Sources (2020-02-24). Indian Communists: Trump's economic demands leave country vulnerable to U.S. corporations. peoplesworld.org Indian Communists have called for huge turnout at rallies opposing President Donald Trump's visit to the country, which started today. Protests have taken place in Ahmedabad, Trump's first stop on the trip, and a giant rally was organized by the All-India Peace and Solidarity Organization in Delhi, with support from the Communist Party of India-Marxist …

The Canary (2020-02-24). Julian Assange supporters protest outside court ahead of extradition hearing. thecanary.co Supporters of Julian Assange have gathered outside court as the WikiLeaks founder begins his fight against extradition to the US, where he is accused of helping to leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents.Demonstrators, including Assange's father John Shipton, arrived at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, with some holding placards calling for his immediate release.Some said they had arrived as early as 6am, with signs reading: "Don't shoot the messenger, free Assange" and "Free Julian Assange, Nobel Peace Prize nominee". Tents were erected on nearby grass.John Shipton, the father of Julian Assange, speaks…

teleSUR (2020-02-24). Palestine Blasts US Over West Bank Map Plans. telesurenglish.net Palestine on Monday said that the U.S.-Israeli team tasked with mapping the areas in the West Bank that would be annexed by Israel under the U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan has no legitimacy. | RELATED: | Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Palestinian president's spokesperson, said that the new maps under the U.S. Mideast peace plan would not give legitimacy to any side, said a statement published by official Palestini…

teleSUR (2020-02-24). Majority of Venezuelans Against U.S. Sanctions, Poll Reveals. telesurenglish.net More than 80% of Venezuelans disagree with the sanction measures imposed on Venezuela by the U.S government, as Hinteracles pollster indicates. | RELATED: | The survey, taken between January 29 to February 12, explored the opinion of Venezuelans in relation to the economic blockade imposed against the Bolivarian Republic by Washington. | To the question: "Who was the most affected by these measures", 84% of respondents affirme…

Pierre LeBlanc (2020-02-24). The Lima Group Is More than Just About Venezuela. Scheduling More Coups and Color Revolutions in Latin America? globalresearch.ca At the behest of Donald Trump and Chrystia Freeland, the Lima Group met in Ottawa on February 20th, 2020. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Franàßois-Philippe Champagne dutifully mouthed their set lines and good Samaritan posturing in …

Andrew Korybko (2020-02-24). Venezuela's Next Economic Shock Might Come from India's Compliance with US Sanctions. globalresearch.ca India is Venezuela's largest oil customer but the two companies that import its oil just declared that they'll comply with the US' latest sanctions against the Bolivarian Republic's Russian intermediary, which could lead to the South American state experiencing an …

Steve Sweeney (2020-02-24). US 'Looking Very Carefully' at Silencing Socialist News Network Telesur. globalresearch.ca US Special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams has said that the US is "looking very carefully" at taking "measures" against Telesur, in the latest threat to the socialist news network. | Mr Abrams said yesterday that the Trump administration was considering …

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-02-23). Turkish Foreign Ministry Condemns Israel's Colonial Expansion. imemc.org Turkish Foreign Ministry, on Friday, condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that more settlement units would be built on occupied Palestinian lands. Notably, the statement noted that Israel was encouraged by the US, which recently announced its so-called peace plan called "Deal of the Century," Anadolu Agency reported. The …

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-02-23). Israeli Forces Suppress Peaceful Protest in Kufur Qaddoum. imemc.org Violent confrontations flared up on Saturday afternoon when Israeli occupation forces (IOF) violently dispersed a peaceful Palestinian demonstration in Kufur Qaddoum village, east of Qalqilia, local sources said . The Palestinian Information Center reported that the IOF attacked the peaceful demonstrators by firing rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters …

teleSUR (2020-02-23). Venezuelan Heroism Defeated Last Year's Invasion: Maduro. telesurenglish.net The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, recalled this Sunday the victory of the Venezuelan people before the aggression of violent groups at the service of the right on February 23, 2019 on the border with Colombia. | RELATED: | The President praised the courage of the people who together with the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fanb) defended Venezuela's sovereignty against the attempts of the U.S. administra…

teleSUR (2020-02-22). Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas Set Triple Jump World Record: 15.43 m. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's 24-year-old athlete Yulimar Rojas Friday set a new triple jump indoor world record in Madrid, Spain, with a 15.43-meter mark. | RELATED: | This result was expected as she is not a rookie in athletics. She has already been twice the triple jump world champion and is the current Olympic runner-up in this specialty. | In Madrid, Rojas executed the best jump in the history of indoor athletics, reaching 15 meters…

teleSUR (2020-02-22). Washington Still Pondering a Naval Blockade Against Venezuela. telesurenglish.net The digital media Zero Hedge (ZH) Saturday published information holding that that the United States keeps on considering military actions as an option to overthrow RELATED: | More specifically, despite all the previous failed attempts to destabilize…

Alan Macleod (2020-02-21). As Media Amplifies Unrest in Venezuela and Beyond, Millions Are Quietly Revolting in Colombia. mintpressnews.com Despite protests of historic proportions fueled by anger over corruption and a brutal right-wing crackdown, the unrest in Colombia has garnered remarkably little international media attention compared to Venezuela.

Alan Macleod (2020-02-21). Venezuelan Embassy in Washington Reopens Under Watch of Anti-Maduro Thugs. mintpressnews.com The new embassy is a microcosm of Juan Guaidó's attempted premiership; backed by the U.S. but existing only in theory, with the Maduro government still holding office.

Lucas Koerner (2020-02-21). EXCHANGE: Left Media and Venezuela. mronline.org The sociologist never levels the "authoritarian" charge against his own government, despite the United States' murderous lawlessness at home and abroad—mass deportations, illegal wars, serial police killings, etc.—all in the absence of any credible external threat. |

news.un (2020-02-20). Central African Republic: Security Council reflects on peace deal anniversary. news.un.org One year after the signing of a peace deal in the Central African Republic (CAR), State authority is being extended throughout the country, violence against civilians has decreased, and an inclusive Government remains in place, the UN Security Council heard on Thursday.

pip.hinman (2020-02-20). The climate crisis and the need for peace. greenleft.org.au

Susan Price (2020-02-20). Venezuela files ICC lawsuit over US sanctions. greenleft.org.au

John Perry (2020-02-19). While Nicaragua returns to peace, media and international NGOs conjure epidemic of violence with dubious reporting. thegrayzone.com Media bias against Nicaragua's Sandinista government is unremitting, and international NGOs are feeding it by misreporting a violent land dispute…

news.un (2020-02-19). Amid 'devastating scale' of suffering in Syria's north-west, UN Security Council urged to find political way forward. news.un.org With progress stalled on both the peace and political fronts in Syria, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen urged ambassadors in the Security Council on Wednesday to "put their weight" into finding a solution to end nearly nine years of conflict.

news.un (2020-02-18). Hope for 'long-elusive progress' in negotiating peace in eastern Ukraine. news.un.org Marking the fifth anniversary of the 2015 Minsk II agreement, the UN political chief told the Security Council on Tuesday, that along with the Minsk Protocol and the Minsk memorandum, it remains "the only agreed framework" for a negotiated, peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Paul Kawika Martin (2020-02-13). Peace Action: Senate Reclaims War Powers to Thwart Iran War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — February 13, 2020 — In response to the Senate passing the bipartisan bill — S.J.Res.68 — that would thwart President Trump from going to war with Iran and end any current hostilities, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "It's about time …

Strategic Culture (2020-02-08). US Deploys 'Mini-Nukes' in Deplorable Threat to World Peace. theantimedia.com These so-called "mini-nukes" represent—despite the diminutive-sounding name—an increased risk of nuclear war.

Venezuela Analysis (2020-02-06). Embassy Protection Collective: "We Are Not the Ones Who Violated the Law" theantimedia.com In this exclusive interview, VA talks to the activists who defended the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC ahead of their trial.

CounterSpin (2020-01-31). Omar Baddar on Israel/Palestine 'Peace' Plan, Rainey Reitman on Greenwald Persecution. fair.org MP3 Link This week on CounterSpin: It is strange to think that you could create a plan to shape the relationship between two entities, in consultation with one but not the other, and then not just declare it, yourself, a "win-win," but also say to the unconsulted party, "You better take it, or else." Yet …

Jon Rainwater (2020-01-31). House Votes to Rein in Trump's Iran War Powers While Ending Endless Wars. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — January 30, 2020 — In response to two high-profile war powers votes on the House floor today, Peace Action released the following statement: "Our nation's endless wars are on autopilot, with Trump fitfully grabbing the steering wheel until his attention wanders somewhere else. Today's votes are a step toward Congress reclaiming its …

Jon Rainwater (2020-01-08). In the ongoing crisis, Congress must rein in Trump's war powers. peaceaction.org As we feared, President Trump's reckless assassination of Iran's Gen. Soleimani resulted in escalation — direct Iranian missile attacks on two military bases in Iraq. It's painful to watch more violence in a country that has already suffered far too much from endless war. All parties in the US/Iran conflict must cease military action and …

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

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

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …

Jon Rainwater (2019-09-25). Take Action to Avoid War with Iran. peaceaction.org photo credit Dear Groundswell Readers, We have to keep pushing Congress this week if we want to avoid war with Iran. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said recently that the U.K. might join a U.S.-led military effort in the Gulf. When other nations step up to join the "coalition of the willing" it's often a bad sign. …

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-07-18). Diplomacy Instead of a Disaster in Iran. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 18, 2019 — In response to reports of the U.S. shooting down an Iranian drone, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because of the Trump administration's policy of maximum provocation towards Iran, America stands on the precipice of another blunderous …

Peace Action (2019-07-11). Peace Action Endorses 'the Squad' — Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 11, 2019 — Peace Action, the nation's largest grassroots peace organization, has endorsed four progressive champions for the House of Representatives in the 2020 election, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for New York's 14th district, Rep. Ilhan Omar for Minnesota's 5th district, Rep. Ayanna Pressley for Massachusetts' 7th district, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib …

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-06-28). Most Senators Oppose War with Iran Without Congressional Approval. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — June 28, 2019 — In response to the Senate voting 50-40 in favor of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to block funding for military action against Iran without congressional approval, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because …

Peace Action (2019-06-25). Peace Action Endorses Ilhan Omar for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 25, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Ilhan Omar for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

Peace Action (2019-06-24). Peace Action Endorses Kara Eastman for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 24, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Kara Eastman for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …