2020-03-10: News Headlines

RT (2020-03-10). Libya's eastern commander Haftar committed to signing ceasefire — France. rt.com Libya's eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar has told France's president he will sign a ceasefire and stick to it if militias backed by the internationally recognized government respect it, Reuters reported, citing a French presidency official. | "Marshal Haftar assured [us] that he was committed to signing the ceasefire but this commitment would cease if the militias do not respect it," the official said late on Monday after Haftar met President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. | Despite a peace conference held in Berlin in January, violence has increased in Libya. The Libyan National Army led by Haftar and for…

teleSUR (2020-03-10). Chile Denounces Government Repression During Feminist Strike. telesurenglish.net The feminist general strike called in Chile on Monday as part of the celebrations of International Women's Day was repressed by the police of President Sebastian Piñera's government, according to the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH). | RELATED: | "Even though this was a peaceful day, which called to defend gender equality, the carabineros (Chilean police) attacked the demonstrators," the INDH president Sergio Micco to…

Jon Britton (2020-03-10). PSL Public Forum: A Women's Place is in the Struggle: Honoring IWD. indybay.org San Jose Peace & Justice Center, 48 S Seventh Street, San Jose, CA 95112…

WSWS (2020-03-10). Afghanistan "peace" deal stalls as Kabul rivals are both sworn in as president. wsws.org The swearing in of two rival presidents of the US-backed puppet regime has upended so-called intra-Afghan talks set to begin today.

teleSUR (2020-03-10). Uruguay Withdraws From Unasur and Returns to the US-Backed TIAR. telesurenglish.net Uruguay's Foreign Minister Ernesto Talvi Tuesday announced that his country withdraws from the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) and returns to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR). | RELATED: | "The Government of Uruguay decided to withdraw from Unasur, which has already been abandoned by most countries in the region with the exception of Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. It…

teleSUR (2020-03-10). Bachelet Condemns US Coercive Actions Against Venezuelan People. telesurenglish.net The RELATED: | In the oral update on the human rights situation in Venezuela, which took place at the UN H…

teleSUR (2020-03-10). US, Colombia, Brazil Hold Alliance to Attack Venezuela. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's RELATED: | "The White House is developing a chain of command t…

Reuters (2020-03-10). Fire Destroys Most Voting Machines in Venezuela's Capital. globalresearch.ca Venezuela's elections council said on Sunday that a fire over the weekend destroyed most of the voting machines stored in its main warehouse in the capital, Caracas, potentially complicating parliamentary elections scheduled for this year. | Nearly 50,000 voting machines and …

sputniknews (2020-03-10). Maduro Announces Start of Unexpected Military Drills in Venezuela. sputniknews.com BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Tuesday unexpectedly that new military drills would start in the country, following the plunge in global oil prices and the subsequent stock indices sharp decrease.

Whitney Webb (2020-03-09). How the New US-Afghanistan Peace Deal Rekindled a "Business Friendly Taliban" mintpressnews.com America's relationship with the Taliban has always been determined by how useful they are at advancing US interests in the region and the Trump administration's recent efforts to make "peace" with the group are no exception.

teleSUR (2020-03-09). Caricom Urges Clear Elections in Guyana To Avoid More Victims. telesurenglish.net The Caribbean Community (Caricom) issued a statement Sunday encouraging officials and political parties in Guyana to count each vote and complete the interrupted electoral process avoiding any more victims. | RELATED: | The organization urged to seek peace in the streets and the communities after one death was reported. "The loss of one life is already too much," said the statement. | "We ask the parties to focus not o…

Staff (2020-03-09). There Have Been Nearly 80 Attacks in Afghanistan Since US Signed "Peace Deal" truthout.org Since last month's U.S.-Taliban peace plan, there have been nearly 80 attacks in Afghanistan. The violence could derail the deal that calls for U.S. troops to withdraw over the next 14 months. This comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and top political leader Abdullah Abdullah both claimed that they won the presidential election at dual inauguration ceremonies today in Kabul, and members of the Taliban and the Afghan government were set to start direct negotiations on Tuesday. We speak with Was…

teleSUR (2020-03-09). Venezuela Committee Tasked to Appoint New CNE In Session. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Committee of Electoral Applications for the renewal of the National Electoral Council (CNE) was officially assembled Monday ahead of the programmed 2020 parliamentary elections. | RELATED: | Through his Twitter account, a lawmaker from the government's bloc (Bloque de la Patria) Francisco Torrealba announced the official formation and the names of the legislators that will make…

Staff (2020-03-09). "It's a Real Mess": Afghan Rivals Both Claim Presidency as Ongoing Attacks Could Derail Peace Deal. democracynow.org Since last month's U.S.-Taliban peace plan, there have been nearly 80 attacks in Afghanistan. The violence could derail the deal that calls for U.S. troops to withdraw over the next 14 months. This comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and top political leader Abdullah Abdullah both claimed that they won the presidential election at dual inauguration ceremonies today in Kabul, and members of the Taliban and the Afghan government were set to start direct negotiations on Tuesday. We speak with Washington Post reporter Craig Whitlock, who recently won the George Polk Award for Military Reporting for his in-depth in…

Jon Queally, staff writer (2020-03-09). Progressive Activist and Longtime Common Dreams Contributor Tom Turnipseed Dead at 83. commondreams.org A self-identified "reformed racist' who spent decades fighting for progressive causes has died. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/peace_cb1.jpg

news.un (2020-03-08). No sustainable development or peace without women: UN deputy chief. news.un.org The world will not be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if half the planet is left behind, the UN Deputy Secretary-General said in Papua New Guinea on Sunday: International Women's Day.

teleSUR (2020-03-08). Venezuela 2020 Elections Guarantee After Equipment Destroyed. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President of the National Electoral Council (CNE) Tibisay Lucena said Sunday that the electoral system is far from being destroyed and that the entity guarantees the celebration of parliamentary elections despite the fire that destroyed the institution's equipment. | RELATED: | The president of the electoral body reassured Venezuelans that "if there are small groups think…

Stephen Lendman (2020-03-08). Trump Regime Blocks UN Security Council Support for Syria Ceasefire Already Breached. globalresearch.ca The US under both right wings of its war party wants endless conflict, instability, and chaos continuing in all its war theaters — peace considered detrimental to its imperial ambitions. | On Friday, the Trump regime blocked a Security Council statement, …

Emily Apple (2020-03-08). One tweet shows exactly why Dominic Raab shouldn't be foreign secretary. thecanary.co One country is showing its intent to create chaos in the Middle East. From sparking conflict in the one area in Syria where there was previously peace, to creating a humanitarian crisis in an attempt to bribe Europe to support its war in the region, Turkey is engaged in a dangerous power game that is killing people and putting lives at risk. | But Turkey is a NATO ally. And the UK is desperate for post-Brexit trade partners. So it's perhaps no surprise that foreign secretary Dominic Raab is sucking up to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And in one tweet, Raab showed dangerous contempt for the thousands of…

Reza Marashi (2020-03-07). Nuclear Programs, Negotiations, and Naivety — Podcast Episode 12. iranian.com Episode Description: This week, Reza breaks down why advocates of abandoning the Iran nuclear deal now own the consequences, how America can help shape a peace deal in Afghanistan while still withdrawing its troops, and why Trump's effort to push China out of regional integration in Asia won't work. Siamak Naficy, Senior Lecturer at the Naval …

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-03-07). A "win-win" over Afghanistan and Syria. iranian.com Two peace agreements within a week are a bit too much. Hot on the heels of the US-Taliban peace agreement signed in Doha on February 9, Russia and Turkey have signed a peace agreement over the Syrian conflict in Moscow on March 6. On the face of it, the two are unconnected events but they …

Adam Wunische (2020-03-06). The US-Taliban Deal Changes Little on the Ground. thenation.com The US-Taliban Deal Changes Little on the Ground…

pip.hinman (2020-03-06). Oil firm dumps plans to drill the Bight, but fight not over. greenleft.org.au

news.un (2020-03-05). Nuclear non-proliferation treaty an essential pillar for peace and security. news.un.org Countries meeting in New York next month to review progress on nuclear non-proliferation are being urged by the UN Secretary-General to use the opportunity to strengthen global peace and security.

Staff (2020-03-02). Breakthrough U.S.-Taliban Deal Signed, But Airstrikes Likely to Continue & Mercenaries to Remain. democracynow.org The U.S. has signed a deal with the Taliban aimed at drawing down its military presence and ending its 18-year war in Afghanistan. The long-anticipated deal comes after a year and a half of negotiations and following a week-long partial truce. Officials hope the accord will set the stage for a more detailed peace plan that creates a power-sharing arrangement and lasting ceasefire, but the deal did not include a key player: the U.S.-backed Afghanistan government. The Taliban has long refused to speak to the government, calling it a "puppet regime." Under the deal, nearly 5,000 of the 12,000 U.S. troops still in Af…

Medea Benjamin (2020-03-02). Can the World's Second Superpower Rise From the Ashes of Twenty Years of War? zcomm.org If there is a lesson for peace-loving Americans in the Obama and Trump presidencies, it is that we cannot just walk out of the voting booth and leave it to a champion in the White House to end our wars and bring us peace. In the final analysis, it really is up to us…

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

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 …