2020-03-19: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Nirbhaya gang rape convicts executed at Delhi prison, bringing shocking 7+ year case to a close after countless delays
rt.com | 2020-03-20
The four men convicted for the grisly 2012 gang rape and murder of a young student in India have been executed by hanging, finally bringing the seven-year 'Nirbhaya' case to an end after a lengthy ordeal of appeals and delays. | The assailants were hanged at New Delhi's Tihar Jail 5: 30am local time Friday, following a marathon legal proceeding the night prior which saw last-ditch attempts to appeal their sentence shot down. | "Now I will get peace," Asha Devi, the mother of the victim,

IMF Refuses Aid to Venezuela in the Midst of the Coronavirus Crisis
Vijay Prashad, Paola Estrada, Ana Maldonado, and Zoe PC | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-19
On March 16, 2020, the chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva wrote a blog post on the Fund's website; it represents the kind of generosity necessary in the midst of a global pandemic. "The IMF stands ready to mobilize its $1 trillion lending capacity to help our membership," she wrote. Countries with…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/19/imf-refuses-aid-to-venezuela-in-the-midst-of-the-coronavirus-crisis/

IMF Refuses Aid to Venezuela in the Midst of the Coronavirus Crisis
Vijay Prashad | zcomm.org | 2020-03-19
The IMF denial of the $5 billion request from Venezuela follows Pence's sentiment. It is a violation of the spirit of international cooperation that is at the heart of the UN Charter…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/imf-refuses-aid-to-venezuela-in-the-midst-of-the-coronavirus-crisis/

NATO 'scales down' exercises, drawdown of US-led force in Afghanistan continues
rt.com | 2020-03-19
NATO is scaling down military exercises in Europe to curb the spread of the coronavirus, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said. However, alliance missions are continuing, including the drawdown of the US-led force in Afghanistan following a peace agreement last month, he added. | "Some of our exercises have been modified or cancelled… but our forces remain ready," Stoltenberg told a video news conference on Thursday. | The US Army has already announced a halt to movement of military personnel from the US to Europe and said it plans to scale down its Defender Europe 20 exercises, billed as NATO's b…
rt.com/newsline/483507-nato-exercises-afghanistan-drawdown/

Kabul orders Afghan forces to switch to 'active defense' as Taliban attacks continue
rt.com | 2020-03-19
The government in Kabul said on Thursday it has ordered Afghanistan's forces to switch to an "active defense posture" as the Taliban continued to attack even after the militants signed a deal with the US. "The Taliban continued high level of violence despite the peace agreement," acting Defense Minister Asadullah Kalid said in a video statement. | "An active defense posture will reduce the restrictions on Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and it will allow them to carry out operations against the Taliban plotting attacks against ANDSF," he said. Afghan government forces had previously been able to fi…
rt.com/newsline/483530-afghan-active-defense-taliban/

Cargo Arrives in Venezuela With Medical Aid From China
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-19
A special medicine and medical supplies shipment arrived in Venezuela from China on Thursday, March 19th, as the Asian nation continues to provide assistance to the Bolivarian Republic. . | RELATED: | Twitter Restricts Profiles of Venezuelan Officials | Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela, announced that the cargo arrived and assured it would allow thousands to be tested for possible Covid-19 cases and diagnose the positive ones. | The mandatary explained that so f…
telesurenglish.net/news/cargo-arrives-in-venezuela-with-medical-aid-from-china-20200319-0014.html

IMF denies loan to Venezuela as it braces for COVID-19
wsws.org | 2020-03-19
The loan request is only the latest appeal by the Maduro government for foreign finance and signal to world finance capital that it will defend profit interests.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/19/vene-m19.html

IMF denies loan to Venezuela as it braces for COVID-19
wsws.org | 2020-03-19
The loan request is only the latest appeal by the Maduro government for foreign finance and signal to world finance capital that it will defend profit interests.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/19/vene-m19.html

'Inhumane & reckless': Twitter silences Venezuela's anti-coronavirus chief as IMF denies emergency loan
rt.com | 2020-03-19
Amid crushing US sanctions and IMF rejection already making Venezuela's struggle with Covid-19 difficult, Twitter now seems to have hobbled the country's vice-president and head of coronavirus response, Delcy Rodriguez. | Both the personal and the official Twitter account belonging to Rodriguez were "temporarily restricted" on Thursday over "unusual activity," with old tweets still visible to those who choose to view them, but no new tweets available after Wednesday. | Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza called it an "i…
rt.com/news/483563-twitter-venezuela-coronavirus-sanctions/

Colombia: Senators Ask Duque for More Decision to Halt Covid-19
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-19
More than 60 Colombian lawmakers and senators Thursday asked President Ivan Duque to take more forceful measures in the face of the health emergency caused by the Covid-19. | RELATED: | Colombian and Venezuelan Ombudsmen Unite Against COVID-19 | They argued that while reconnecting water to thousands of homes is fine, Colombians need four things that the government is not doing. | Mandatory isolation is the most effective measure. However, for people to stay at home, the government mu…
telesurenglish.net/news/Colombia-Senators-Ask-Duque-for-More-Decision-to-Halt-Covid-19-20200319-0008.html

"Maximum-pressure March": US hybrid war on Venezuela heats up
Leonardo Flores | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-19
The first quarter of 2020 has seen the Trump administration escalate its rhetoric against Venezuela. At the State of the Union, President Trump promised to "smash" and destroy the Venezuelan government. This was followed by a renewed threat of a naval blockade on the country, which is an act of war under U.S. and international…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/19/maximum-pressure-march-us-hybrid-war-on-venezuela-heats-up/

Economists Demand Trump Immediately Lift Iran, Cuba, Venezuela Sanctions
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-03-19
A group of economists and policy experts on Wednesday called on President Donald Trump to immediately lift the United States' crippling sanctions against Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries, warning that the economic warfare

Economists Demand Trump Immediately Lift Iran, Cuba, Venezuela Sanctions
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-03-19
A group of economists and policy experts on Wednesday called on President Donald Trump to immediately lift the United States' crippling sanctions against Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries, warning that the economic warfare

Turkey 'neutralizes' 3 YPG/PKK terrorists in N. Syria
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-19
The Turkish army "neutralized" three YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Thursday."Our heroic commandos neutralized three YPG/PKK terrorists attempting to infiltrate into the area of the [Operation] Peace Spring region," the ministry said on Twitter.The ministry further affirmed its determination to "continue operations to sustain the peace and security in the region."Turkish authorities generally use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful operations across its b…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-neutralizes-3-ypg-pkk-terrorists-in-n-syria-3514382

Israel increases settlements in Palestine, says report
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-19
Israel has increased its activity to build settlements in the occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank area by 25%, since the U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office in 2017, said an annual report on settlement activity.According to Peace Now

In Ecuador, Coronavirus Threatens the Survival of Street Vendors
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-18
Indigenous women with their children in tow or Venezuelan migrants whose livelihood is as street vendors, cannot follow the measures adopted in Ecuador to tackle the novel coronavirus as they do not have other means of support. | RELATED: | US Should Lift Sanctions to Avoid More Deaths From COVID-19 | Among them is Jairo Arteaga, who offers a parking service arranged by the city council, and has to go out every day to look for cars that want to park on the street. | "O…
telesurenglish.net/news/In-Ecuador-Coronavirus-Threatens-the-Survival-of-Street-Vendors-20200318-0022.html

In Ecuador, Coronavirus Threatens the Survival of Street Vendors
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-18
Indigenous women with their children in tow or Venezuelan migrants whose livelihood is as street vendors, cannot follow the measures adopted in Ecuador to tackle the novel coronavirus as they do not have other means of support. | RELATED: | US Should Lift Sanctions to Avoid More Deaths From COVID-19 | Among them is Jairo Arteaga, who offers a parking service arranged by the city council, and has to go out every day to look for cars that want to park on the street. | "O…
telesurenglish.net/news/In-Ecuador-Coronavirus-Threatens-the-Survival-of-Street-Vendors-20200318-0022.html

Why sanctions against Iran and Venezuela during a pandemic are cruel
Vijay Prashad | mronline.org | 2020-03-18
The numbers of those infected rises, as do the numbers of those who have died. Hands are being washed, tests are being done, and social distance has become a new phrase. It is unclear how devastating this pandemic will be. | Source…
mronline.org/2020/03/18/why-sanctions-against-iran-and-venezuela-during-a-pandemic-are-cruel-2/

Women plough the way to peace in South Sudan resettlement project
news.un.org | 2020-03-18
Women who had been displaced by fighting in South Sudan are sowing seeds of peace, with support from the UN mission in the country, UNMISS.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/03/1059712

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

IMF rejects Venezuela coronavirus loan request over U.S. claims Maduro isn't president
Morning Star | peoplesworld.org | 2020-03-18
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has rejected Venezuela's request for a $5 billion emergency support package to help strengthen the country's health system in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. President Nicolas Maduro wrote to the global financial organization earlier this week asking for support as the country struggles to cope with crippling U.S. economic …
peoplesworld.org/article/imf-rejects-venezuela-coronavirus-loan-request-over-u-s-claims-maduro-isnt-president/

Colombian and Venezuelan Ombudsmen Unite Against COVID-19
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-18
The Ombudsman offices of both Colombia and Venezuela announced on March 17 a collaborative working project to restrain the Covid-19 from spreading in both South American nations. | RELATED: | IMF Rejects Venezuela's Request for $5B in Virus Aid | Both popular institutions confirmed their commitment to "promote fluid and constant dialogue with the purpose of watching over their common border, to prevent the virus from spreading and assume in an appropriate way the protection of people." In…
telesurenglish.net/news/colombian-and-venezuelan-ombudsmen-unite-against-covid19-20200318-0003.html

Twitter Restricts Profiles of Venezuelan Officials
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-18
Venezuelan VIce President Delcy Rodriguez denounced the restriction of the executive vice-presidency's official profile on Twitter this week. According to Rodríguez, the aforementioned account was used for informing citizens about the measures and actions against COVID-19. | RELATED: | Colombian and Venezuelan Ombudsmen Unite Against COVID-19 | "In the midst of the worst global pandemic, they are canceling an account where we are informing the population," Venezuelan Vice President…
telesurenglish.net/news/venezuela-government-functionaries-denounced-their-twitter-profiles-ban-20200318-0009.html

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/

'Literally Weaponizing Coronavirus': Despite One of World's Worst Outbreaks of Deadly Virus, US Hits Iran With 'Brutal' New Sanctions
Julia Conley, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-03-18
"How evil and heartless can this government get?" peace activist Medea Benjamin demanded to know on Wednesday after the State Department announced it would impose new sanctions on Iran as the country faces one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1204807196_1.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/03/18/literally-weaponizing-coronavirus-despite-one-worlds-worst-outbreaks-deadly-virus-us?cd-origin=rss

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/

Venezuela: American Teamsters tour printing factory
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-03-17
Maracay, Venezuela

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/

Central African Republic: UN peacekeeper killed; Mission deplores 'heinous act'
news.un.org | 2020-03-16
A United Nations peacekeeper from Burundi was killed on Sunday while attempting to stop an armed militant attack in the Central African Republic (CAR), according to a statement released by the UN Mission in the country, MINUSCA.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/03/1059492

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

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.

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/