US ramps up sanctions devastating Venezuela's health sector as coronavirus spreads
Leonardo Flores | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-17
Promising to "smash" Venezuela's government during a "maximum pressure March," Trump has imposed crushing sanctions that force Venezuela to spend…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/17/us-sanctions-venezuelas-health-sector-coronavirus/

The Taliban Scores a Coup
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-17
It threatened to disappear under the viral haze of COVID-19, but February 29 saw representatives from the US and Taliban, loftily acknowledged as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, sign the "Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan". After two decades of conflict, the agreement sets in motion the process that should see American troops leave Afghanistan …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/03/the-taliban-scores-a-coup/

Colombia: New Evidence in Case of Vote Buying
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-17
The Colombian Commission of Investigation and Accusation noticed several political figures involved in "àëeñe Hernandez's" case on vote-buying. Both Alvaro Uribe, current senator, and President Ivan Duque are implicated in the accusation. | RELATED: | Venezuela Urges Colombia to Cooperate Over Coronavirus Outbreak | Among those summoned to testify on March 26 are Interior Minister Alicia Arango, former President àÅlvaro Uribe's adviser María Claudia Daza and the wi…
telesurenglish.net/news/colombia-new-evidence-in-case-of-vote-buying-20200317-0009.html

Covid-19: Teachers' union accuses Government of creating 'chaos and confusion'
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-03-17
A lack of advice for schools amid the coronavirus pandemic is creating "chaos and confusion" and placing "intolerable pressure" on staff, a teachers' union has warned.The NASUWT, which represents teachers and head teachers, said there was a "rising sense of panic" as it called for a definitive decision on how to protect staff and pupils.Prime minister Boris Johnson stopped short of announcing school closures as he unveiled unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of Covid-19 on Monday.Although he added that the measures will remain under review, the union criticised Johnson for failing to giv…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2020/03/17/covid-19-teachers-union-accuses-government-of-creating-chaos-and-confusion/

Virus fight: France under lockdown, troops to enforce
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-17
In an effort to stem the further spread of coronavirus pandemic, a lockdown has been put in place in France starting at noon Tuesday.In a televised address to the nation Monday evening, President Emmanuel Macron announced that all people are to stay confined for next 15 days to avoid further infection and spread of the virus."Never has France had to take such decisions, albeit temporary, in time of peace. All our energy should be on one aim: to slow the progress of the virus."The unprecedented move came after government officials had warned the populace of the severity of the situation and that social gatherings…
yenisafak.com/en/world/virus-fight-france-under-lockdown-troops-to-enforce-3514187

Why sanctions against Iran and Venezuela during a pandemic are cruel
Vijay Prashad | mronline.org | 2020-03-16
In the midst of a pandemic, one would expect all countries to collaborate; that a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude would provide ample opportunity to end (or suspend) inhumane economic sanctions. Is this not the time for the imperialist bloc, led by the U.S., to end the sanctions against Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, and a series […] | Source…
mronline.org/2020/03/16/why-sanctions-against-iran-and-venezuela-during-a-pandemic-are-cruel/

Venezuela Initiates Social Quarantine to Contain COVID-19
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-16
A social quarantine began in Venezuela on Monday in seven states to contain the spread of the new coronavirus in the country, Bolivarian Republic's authorities said. | RELATED: | BioCubaFarma Guarantees Production of Drugs for COVID-19 | "From 5 a.m. local time, school and work activities were suspended in the states of La Guaira, Miranda, Cojedes, Zulia, Apure, and Táchira, as well as in the Capital District, where Caracas is located," Vice President Delcy Rodríguez reported. | Foo…
telesurenglish.net/news/venezuela-initiates-social-quarantine-to-contain-covid-19-20200316-0001.html

'Maximum-Pressure March': US Hybrid War on Venezuela Heats Up
Leonardo Flores | commondreams.org | 2020-03-16
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, President Donald Trump and U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien. (Photo: Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_and_bolsonaro.jpg …
commondreams.org/views/2020/03/16/maximum-pressure-march-us-hybrid-war-venezuela-heats?cd-origin=rss

Accomplishments of Venezuela hailed on International Women's Day
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-03-15
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following speech by Sarah Martin. Martin is a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). | Happy Women's Day everyone. Our sisters in Venezuela have a lot to celebrate. Just over 20 years ago Hugo Chavez was swept into power on the backs of powerful movements fighting for a better way of life for the vast majority of Venezuelans. The wealth from this oil and mineral rich country was lining the pockets of the oligarchs inside and outside the country while the vast majority of people, mostly black and brown were desperately poor. | Venezuelan women fought in tha…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/3/15/accomplishments-venezuela-hailed-international-women-s-day

Israeli Forces Shoot, Injure one Palestinian in Kufur Qaddoum
Ali Salam | imemc.org | 2020-03-15
A Palestinian young man suffered a shrapnel wound in his back, on Saturday, when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) fired towards a peaceful group, marching in Kufur Qaddoum town, east of Qalqilia, a local official reported. Morad Eshteiwi, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Colonies, said …
imemc.org/article/israeli-forces-shoot-injure-one-palestinian-in-kufur-qaddoum/

Corporate Media Condone Destruction of Venezuela's Voting Machines
Lucas Koerner | fair.org | 2020-03-15
The vast majority of Venezuela's voting machines were incinerated on March 7 in a fire that engulfed the main warehouse of the National Electoral Council. Corporate outlets followed the familiar script of blaming the victim, repeating the US State Department talking point that the Venezuelan electoral system is "rigged" and floating outlandish conspiracy theories.
fair.org/home/corporate-media-condone-destruction-of-venezuelas-voting-machines/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=corporate-media-condone-destruction-of-venezuelas-voting-machines

Venezuela Urges Colombia to Cooperate Over Coronavirus Outbreak
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-15
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez warned that one of the eight Venezuelans who tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday entered from Colombia, so she reiterated the call to the President of the neighboring country, Iván Duque, to coordinate joint actions that prevent the spread of this pandemic. | RELATED: | Colombia: Duque Closes Border With Venezuela, Thousands at Risk | "We want to alert the brother people of Norte de Santander that one of the eight Venezuelans who…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Urges-Colombia-to-Cooperate-Over-Coronavirus-Outbreak-20200315-0003.html

South Sudan: UN chief commends 'spirit of compromise and collaboration' as new cabinet is unveiled
news.un.org | 2020-03-14
Following the unveiling of a new unity cabinet in South Sudan on Thursday, the UN Secretary-General has commended the "spirit of compromise and collaboration" shown by President Salva Kiir and rival-turned-top deputy, Riek Machar, on what has been a rocky road towards forging lasting peace.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/03/1059451

Latest U.S. Military Strikes Are as Reckless as they are Cruel
Lilly Dragnev | peaceaction.org | 2020-03-13
Washington, D.C.

No, Venezuela does not have a six child per family policy
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2020-03-13
I respect UK journalist Andrew Buncombe. As I noted for FAIR last year, he was one of the few corporate journalists who reported on a study linking Trump's financial sanctions on Venezuela to thousands of deaths by the end of 2018. Since 2018, Trump has repeatedly intensified the sanctions and threatened Venezuela with military action, Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/no-venezuela-does-not-have-a-six-child-per-family-policy/

Congress Sends Bipartisan Bill to Trump Rebuking Iran War
Paul Kawika Martin | peaceaction.org | 2020-03-11
Washington, D.C.

"It's a Real Mess": Afghan Rivals Both Claim Presidency as Ongoing Attacks Could Derail Peace Deal
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-03-09
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/3/9/afghanistan_papers_craig_whitlock_washington_post

Can the World's Second Superpower Rise From the Ashes of Twenty Years of War?
Medea Benjamin | zcomm.org | 2020-03-02
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…
zcomm.org/zmagazine/can-the-worlds-second-superpower-rise-from-the-ashes-of-twenty-years-of-war/