Sanctions against Iran and Venezuela during a pandemic are cruel
Vijay Prashad | zcomm.org | 2020-03-18
Source: Independent Media Institute Swiftly moves the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), dashing across continents, skipping over oceans, terrifying populations in every country. The numbers of those infected rises, as do the numbers of those who have died. Hands are being washed, tests are being done, social distancing has become a new phrase. It is unclear how Read…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/sanctions-against-iran-and-venezuela-during-a-pandemic-are-cruel/
The Taliban Scores a Coup
Dr. Binoy Kampmark | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-18
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 …
globalresearch.ca/taliban-scores-coup/5706654
Stop Tightening the Thumb Screws: A Humanitarian Message
Kathy Kelly | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-18
Protester's sign decries sanctions, "a silent war" (Photo Credit: Campaign for Peace and Democracy, 2013) U.S. sanctions against Iran, cruelly strengthened in March of 2018, continue a collective punishment of extremely vulnerable people. Presently, the U.S. "maximum pressure" policy severely undermines Iranian efforts to cope with the ravages of COVID-19, causing hardship and tragedy while …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/03/stop-tightening-the-thumb-screws-a-humanitarian-message/
IMF rules out COVID-19 loan to Venezuela
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-18
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) rejected Venezuela's request for a $5-billion loan to fight the coronavirus pandemic.In a statement, the IMF said the request could not be evaluated because there was "no clarity" among its member states on who was the leader of the South American nation: the democratically elected President Nicolas Maduro or U.S.-backed lawmaker Juan Guaido."Unfortunately, the Fund is not in a position to consider this request […] There is no clarity on recognition at this time," said the statement.Maduro's government requested a $5-billion loan from the IMF to help deal with the novel cor…
yenisafak.com/en/world/imf-rules-out-covid-19-loan-to-venezuela-3514294
Guatemala Suspends All US Deportation Flights Over COVID-19
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-17
Guatemala's government announced Tuesday that it will temporarily stop receiving Hondurans and Salvadorans deported from the United States under the asylum cooperation agreement due to the coronavirus pandemic. | RELATED: | Venezuelan Migrants Face Difficult Conditions in Ecuador | "As of today, all flights under [the Asylum Cooperation Agreement] are suspended," Foreign Affairs Minister Pedro Brolo said, referring to the third safe country-type deal reached between Guatemala and the…
telesurenglish.net/news/Guatemala-Suspends-All-US-Deportation-Flights-Over-COVID-19-20200317-0018.html
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/
President Maduro Requests $5B to IMF to Help His People
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-17
Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza reported Tuesday that the government of President Nicolas Maduro asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a financing facility for US$5 billion from the emergency fund of the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI). | RELATED: | Venezuela Initiates Social Quarantine to Contain COVID-19 | These resources will be deplo…
telesurenglish.net/news/President-Maduro-Requests-5-Billion-to-Serve-His-People-20200317-0014.html
IMF Rejects Venezuela's Request for $5B in Virus Aid
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-17
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) rejected Tuesday Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's request for US$5 billion in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic in the Latin American country. | RELATED: | President Maduro Requests $5B to IMF to Help His People | An IMF spokesperson said the request can't be considered because there was "no clarity" among its 189 member states on who it recognizes as Venezuela's rightful leader: democratically elected President Maduro or U.S.-backed la…
telesurenglish.net/news/IMF-Rejects-Venezuelas-Request-for-5B-in-Virus-Aid-20200317-0022.html
COVID-19 Updates: Latin American Cases Rise, Isolation Reigns
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-17
Update 10: 19 pm. | The IMF rejects Venezuela's Request for US$5 Billion to Fight Coronavirus | The International Monetary Fund (IMF) rejected Tuesday Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's request for US$5 billion emergency funds in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic in the Latin American country. | Update 10: 10 pm. | Colombia declares state of emergency over coronavirus crisis | Colombia's President Ivan Duque declared Tuesday a state of emergency as the country intensifies measures to counter the coronavirus spreading in Latin America. Among the measures was an order for the elderly to stay home until th…
telesurenglish.net/news/Covid-Update-China-Claims-It-Has-Developed-a-Coronavirus-Vaccine-20200317-0001.html
Venezuela: American Teamsters tour printing factory
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-03-17
Maracay, Venezuela
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
Venezuelan Migrants Face Difficult Conditions in Ecuador
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-17
Social organizations Monday warned of the vulnerability faced by many Venezuelans in Ecuador due to mobility restrictions implemented to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | Ecuador: Citizens Reject Economic Decisions to Please the IMF | "The percentage of Venezuelans who work informally, as well as the percentage of those who work without a visa, is worrisome. Some of their employers have warned them that they will not be paid on the days they do not work," Daniel Regalado, the pre…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuelan-Migrants-Face-Difficult-Conditions-in-Ecuador-20200317-0012.html
Social Distancing? Peace and Social Justice Demand More Coming Together, Not More Distancing
Kevin Martin | commondreams.org | 2020-03-17
More war is never a good answer, and it makes even less sense at this time. (Photo: Erich Ferdinand/flickr/cc) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/peace_sign_0.jpeg …
commondreams.org/views/2020/03/17/social-distancing-peace-and-social-justice-demand-more-coming-together-not-more?cd-origin=rss
Stop Tightening the Thumb Screws, A Humanitarian Message
Kathy Kelly | commondreams.org | 2020-03-17
Protester's sign decries sanctions, "a silent war" (Photo: Campaign for Peace and Democracy, 2013) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/sanctions_are_silent_war.jpg …
commondreams.org/views/2020/03/17/stop-tightening-thumb-screws-humanitarian-message?cd-origin=rss
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/
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/
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
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/