Southcom boosts US military presence in Latin America, citing China, Russia 'threats'
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-31
Southern Command is ramping up the US military presence in Latin America to counter China, Russia, and Venezuela, after signing…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/30/southcom-latin-america-china-russia-threats-brazil/

Brazil's ex-President Lula on Venezuela: Maduro is democratic, Guaidó should be in prison, US blockade kills civilians
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-31
In comments ignored by English-language media, Lula da Silva slammed the US coup attempt against Venezuela, calling Nicolás Maduro a…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/30/brazil-lula-maduro-guaido-us-blockade/

Brazil's ex-President Lula on Venezuela: Maduro is democratic, Guaidó should be in prison, US blockade kills civilians
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-31
In comments ignored by English language media, Lula da Silva slammed the US coup attempt against Venezuela, calling Nicolás Maduro…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/30/brazil-lula-maduro-guaido-us-blockade/

UN Regrets Lack of Progress in Middle East Peace
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-31
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Monday said he regretted the lack of progress on the ground, expressing concern over Israeli settlements and its plans to annex Palestinian land. | RELATED: | Palestinian Shoemaker Starts West Bank's Mask Factory Overnight | The expansion of Israeli settlements continues to pose a significant obstacle to achieving a viable two-state solution, Mladenov told the Security Council via video teleconference…
telesurenglish.net/news/UN-Regrets-Lack-of-Progress-in-Middle-East-Peace-20200331-0003.html

Attempted coup & assassinations: Venezuelan prosecutors subpoena Guaido as 'among main perpetrators' in US-backed regime-change op
rt.com | 2020-03-31
Venezuela's prosecutors have summoned Juan Guaido over his role in the "attempted coup d'etat," as well as in alleged assassination attempts. Guaido is the main figure in US-backed efforts to oust President Nicolas Maduro. | The move was announced by Attorney General Tarek William Saab on Tuesday in a televised speech. The official described Guaido as "one of the main perpetrators" of a "new" attempted coup. | The move comes after a cache of weaponry, said to be smuggled into Venezuela, was seized in neighboring Co…
rt.com/news/484602-coup-assassinations-venezuela-guaido/

US military veterans who fought as mercenaries for Ukrainian fascists indicted on double murder charges
wsws.org | 2020-03-31
Alex Zwiefelhofer and Craig Lang are accused of orchestrating the double murder and robbery of Serafin and Deana Lorenzo to finance a trip to Venezuela for the purpose of killing "communists."
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/31/murd-m31.html

Russia sets up new oil company to potentially take over operations in Venezuela
rt.com | 2020-03-31
A company specializing in the production and transportation of oil and gas has been set up in Russia, according to the state registry data. The new firm could take over projects in Venezuela after Rosneft sold its assets there. | Roszarubezhneft, which is owned by the Federal Agency for Government Property Management, will have an authorized capital of 322.7 billion rubles (over $4 billion). | The company was registered in Moscow on March 28, after Russia's oil major Rosneft announced the sale of its assets in Venezuela. On Saturday, Rosneft signed an agreement with the newly established government-run company…
rt.com/business/484546-russia-new-oil-company-venezuela/

Beyond Chutzpah: US Charges Venezuela With Nacro-Terrorism
Roger Harris | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-31
According to the parable, the ungrateful son takes out a life insurance policy on his parents, murders them to collect, and is caught and found guilty. At his sentencing, the judge asks if he has anything to say on his behalf. The son replies: "Have mercy upon me because I am an orphan." That's chutzpah.
counterpunch.org/2020/03/31/beyond-chutzpah-us-charges-venezuela-with-nacro-terrorism/

Peace is the New Priority for Planet Earth after CoVid19 Crisis
DLI | indybay.org | 2020-03-31
For decades Peace activists have been clamoring that the misplaced US priority on Militarism (wasting Trillions of dollars and narrowly focusing on imagined foreign enemies and/or real terrorists spawned by US policies) will decisively harm the health of citizens and the Planet itself. Sadly, 60 years after President Eisenhower warned of the danger of the Military Industrial Complex overshadowing the health and welfare of our society, the Peace agenda is still being sidelined to near extinction, both by the political ruling elite of Pentagon-Wall Street hucksters, and the compliant mainstream media outlets.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/03/29/18831925.php

Right-Wing Media Joined Trump in Enabling Health Disaster
Karl Grossman | fair.org | 2020-03-31
"If Hitler succeeds in pointing the way of peace and order and an ethical development which has been destroyed throughout the world by war, he will have accomplished a measure of good not only for his own people but for all humanity."–William Randolph Hearst (New York Times, 8/23/1934) | The downplaying of the coronavirus by the right-wing press in the United States was preceded decades ago by the media owned by William Randolph Hearst enabling a different sort of toxicity by promoting a positive image of Nazism in the US.
fair.org/home/right-wing-media-joined-trump-in-enabling-health-disaster/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=right-wing-media-joined-trump-in-enabling-health-disaster

Bob Dylan's Midnight Message to JFK's Ghost
Edward Curtin | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-31
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ.

EU launches Libya military mission
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-31
EU foreign ministers approved on Tuesday the launch of a new military mission, Operation IRINI, to monitor the UN arms embargo on Libya.The new mission will operate in the air, sea, and through satellites to ensure that all countries respect the ban on providing arms for the parties involved in the Libyan conflict."Even in the time of coronavirus, the EU shows determination to promote peace on our neighborhood," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell pointed out at a press conference on Tuesday.The EU forces will also watch for the illegal oil exports, prevent human trafficking and contribute to the training of th…
yenisafak.com/en/world/eu-launches-libya-military-mission-3515565

Pompeo Calls on Maduro and Guaido to Step Aside for New Venezuela Elections
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-31
The US secretary of state also said that the two men need to establish a transitional government to arrange the polls.
sputniknews.com/latam/202003311078778105-pompeo-calls-on-maduro-and-guaido-to-step-aside-for-new-venezuela-elections-/

As the World Tackles the COVID-19 Pandemic, the U.S. Raises the Pressure on Venezuela
Vijay Prashad, Paola Estrada, Ana Maldonado, and Zoe PC | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-30
In a press conference on March 26, it was almost comical how little evidence the U.S. Department of Justice provided when it accused Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and several of the leaders of his government of narco-trafficking. The U.S. offered $15 million for the arrest of Maduro and $10 million for the others. Maduro, U.S.
counterpunch.org/2020/03/30/as-the-world-tackles-the-covid-19-pandemic-the-u-s-raises-the-pressure-on-venezuela/

IMF Conditions Emergency COVID-19 Loan to Venezuela on Regime Change
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-03-30
Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) blocked a request from Venezuela for an emergency loan to deal with the COVID–19 pandemic on the grounds that President Nicolas Maduro "lacked recognition." "IMF engagement with member countries is predicated on official government recognition by the international community, as reflected in the IMF's membership. There is no clarity on recognition at this time," a spokesperson for the international banking organization said. In…
mintpressnews.com/imf-conditions-emergency-coronavirus-loan-venezuela-regime-change/266185/

IMF Conditions Emergency COVID-19 Loan to Venezuela on Regime Change
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-03-30
Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) blocked a request from Venezuela for an emergency loan to deal with the COVID–19 pandemic on the grounds that President Nicolas Maduro "lacked recognition." "IMF engagement with member countries is predicated on official government recognition by the international community, as reflected in the IMF's membership. There is no clarity on recognition at this time," a spokesperson for the international banking organization said. In…
mintpressnews.com/imf-conditions-emergency-coronavirus-loan-venezuela-regime-change/266185/

Chinese Specialists Arrive in Venezuela to Combat Coronavirus
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-30
On Monday morning, a HAINAN Airlines flight from Beijing arrived in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, to deliver aid and transport several medical specialists to help fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. | RELATED: | China Gradually Back to Normal After the COVID-19 Pandemic | According to reports, the HAINAN Airlines aircraft arrived in Caracas at 2: 30 A.M. (local time) on Monday. The aircraft reportedly transported a large amount of humanitarian aid and eight specialist. | "
telesurenglish.net/news/Chinese-Specialists-Arrive-in-Venezuela-to-Combat-Coronavirus-20200330-0004.html

Peace is the New Priority for Planet Earth after CoVid19 Crisis
DLI | indybay.org | 2020-03-30
For decades Peace activists have been clamoring that the misplaced US priority on Militarism(wasting Trillions of dollars and narrowly focusing on imagined foreign enemies and/or real terrorists spawned by US policies)will decisively harm the health of citizens and the Planet itself. Sadly, 60 years after President Eisenhower warned of the danger of the Military Industrial Complex overshadowing the health and welfare of our society, the Peace agenda is still being sidelined to near extinction, both by the political ruling elite of Pentagon-Wall Street hucksters, and the compliant mainstream media outlets.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/03/29/18831925.php

Peace is the New Priority for Planet Earth after CoVid19 Crisis
DLI | indybay.org | 2020-03-30
For decades Peace activists have been clamoring that the misplaced US priority on Militarism (wasting Trillions of dollars and narrowly focusing on imagined foreign enemies and/or real terrorists spawned by US policies) will decisively harm the health of citizens and the Planet itself. Sadly, 60 years after President Eisenhower warned of the danger of the Military Industrial Complex overshadowing the health and welfare of our society, the Peace agenda is still being sidelined to near extinction, both by the political ruling elite of Pentagon-Wall Street hucksters, and the compliant mainstream media outlets.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/03/29/18831925.php

Going After Maduro
Ron Jacobs | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-30
The recent indictments of Nicolas Maduro and other Venezuelan government officials on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges is a sham. It is a politically motivated and hypocritical attack on the elected government of Venezuela. Obviously, it is another front in the ongoing US low-intensity war on the majority of Venezuelans. It is cynical in that Venezuela's neighbor Colombia has been literally governed by drug traffickers for most of the past thirty years, if not longer. | …
counterpunch.org/2020/03/30/going-after-maduro/

Beyond Chutzpah: the Hypocrisy of US Nacroterrorism Charges Against Venezuela
Roger D. Harris | mintpressnews.com | 2020-03-30
This latest escalation of the US hybrid war against Venezuela takes place amid a global pandemic, which the US apparently sees as an opportunity to further attack a people made more vulnerable by the health crisis.
mintpressnews.com/hypocrisy-nacroterrorism-charges-against-venezuela/266160/

Vigil for Peace in Yemen, a New Norm
Kathy Kelly | commondreams.org | 2020-03-29
Activists practice "physical distancing" at a Saturday morning vigil for Peace in Yemen, Union Square, New York City. (Photo credit: Bill Ofenloch) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/vigil-yemen-new-norm.jpg …
commondreams.org/views/2020/03/29/vigil-peace-yemen-new-norm?cd-origin=rss

Beyond Chutzpah: US Charges Venezuela with Nacro-Terrorism
Roger D. Harris | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-29
According to the parable, the ungrateful son takes out a life insurance policy on his parents, murders them to collect, and is caught and found guilty. At his sentencing, the judge asks if he has anything to say on his behalf. The son replies: "Have mercy upon me because I am an orphan." That's chutzpah. …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/03/beyond-chutzpah-us-charges-venezuela-with-nacro-terrorism/

Venezuela Never Part of US Drug Circuit: Ex-UN Anti-Drugs Chief
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-29
Former Vice Secretary of the United Nations and Former Executive Director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime Pino Arlacchi reminded Saturday that Venezuela has always been outside the main cocaine trafficking circuits between the world's main producer and consumer; Colombia and the United States. | RELATED: | The U.S. Harasses Venezuela Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic | "I have been dealing with the issue of drugs for forty years, and I have never encountered Venezuela. Before, durin…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Never-Part-of-US-Drug-Circuit-Ex-UN-Anti-Drugs-Arlacchi-20200329-0011.html

Evo Morales Expresses Solidarity With Venezuela Amid US Attacks
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-29
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales said that with the most recent attack by the United States government against Venezuela, Washington intends to distract public opinion about the collapse of the country's health services in the face of Covid-19. | RELATED: | Russia Calls to Lift 'Genocidal' Sanctions Against Venezuela | "The US is in a humanitarian crisis. The health services of its main cities are beginning to collapse," stressed the leader of the Movement to Socialism (MAS) o…
telesurenglish.net/news/Evo-Morales-Expresses-Solidarity-With-Venezuela-Amid-US-Attacks-20200329-0004.html

U.S. Imperialism Pulls Desperate Move in Venezuela
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-03-29
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). | For years, the criminal government of the United States has attempted to remove the democratically elected president of Venezuela and discredit the peoples' movement in that country that has been so successful in lifting millions of Venezuelans out of extreme poverty. Under the corrupt Trump administration alone, the United States has conducted multiple illegal attacks against President Nicolas Maduro and the people of Venezuela, including: failed assassination attempts by drone, poorly orchestrated mi…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/3/29/us-imperialism-pulls-desperate-move-venezuela

[World Report] Venezuelan migrants "struggling to survive" amid COVID-19
Joe Parkin Daniels | thelancet.com | 2020-03-28
Humanitarian organisations are concerned that border closures and health-care shortages are amplifying the challenges posed by COVID-19. Joe Parkin Daniels reports from Bogotá.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30718-2/fulltext?rss=yes

COVID-19: UN envoy hails strong Israel-Palestine cooperation
news.un.org | 2020-03-28
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has praised the coordination between the Israeli and Palestine authorities in reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/03/1060572

Vigil for Peace in Yemen, a New Norm
Kathy Kelly | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-28
For the past three years, several dozen New Yorkers have gathered each Saturday at Union Square, at 11: 00 a.m. to vigil for peace in Yemen. Now, however, due to the coronavirus, the vigil for peace is radically altered. Last week, in recognition of the city's coming shelter in place program, participants were asked to hold …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/03/vigil-for-peace-in-yemen-a-new-norm/

When death dealers make ventilators, we know it's time to end the arms trade
Eliza Egret | thecanary.co | 2020-03-28
Peace activists might be relieved to hear that UK arms companies are teaming up to make much-needed ventilators. Some of the country's biggest dealers in death

Trump's Narcoterrorism Indictment of Maduro Already Backfires
Leonardo Flores | commondreams.org | 2020-03-28
A U.S. Justice Department images displays charges against Venezuelan President Nicol√°s Maduro and other Venezuelan officials on March 26, 2020. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/charges-maduro-doj.jpg …
commondreams.org/views/2020/03/28/trumps-narcoterrorism-indictment-maduro-already-backfires?cd-origin=rss

Russia Calls to Lift 'Genocidal' Sanctions Against Venezuela
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-28
Russia's Foreing Minister Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Friday reiterated her country's call to lift the illegal economic sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela, which they consider as a "genocide tool" in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | Putin Urges G20 to Lift Sanctions on Goods Due to COVID-19 | "We will not tire of repeating our call to immediately cancel arbitrary unilateral sanctions that at the current juncture of the epidemic become almost a weapo…
telesurenglish.net/news/Russia-Calls-to-Lift-Genocidal-Sanctions-Against-Venezuela-20200328-0001.html

Peacekeeping radio stations provide COVID-19 information to vulnerable communities in conflict-affected countries
news.un.org | 2020-03-27
UN Peacekeeping radio stations have in recent decades helped build support for peace process in a dozen countries around the world including Cambodia, Croatia, Namibia and Timor-Leste.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/03/1060542

As the World tackles the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. raises the pressure on Venezuela
Vijay Prashad | mronline.org | 2020-03-26
In a press conference on March 26, it was almost comical how little evidence the U.S. Department of Justice provided when it accused Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and several of the leaders of his government of narco-trafficking. The U.S. offered $15 million for the arrest of Maduro and $10 million for the others. Maduro, U.S. …
mronline.org/2020/03/26/as-the-world-tackles-the-covid-19-pandemic-the-u-s-raises-the-pressure-on-venezuela/

Venezuela's Coronavirus Response Might Surprise You
Leonardo Flores | mintpressnews.com | 2020-03-25
Unlike in the United States where coronavirus treatment can cost up to $35,000 and where Trump seems more concerned about the economy than about peoples' lives, Venezuela is handling the crisis by placing value in health over profits.
mintpressnews.com/venezuelas-coronavirus-response-might-surprise-you/266036/

Media Struggle to Defend Washington's Cruelty Toward Venezuela and Iran as Coronavirus Spreads
Joe Emersberger | fair.org | 2020-03-25
AP (New York Times, 3/17/20) accepts the IMF's excuse that lack of "clarity" over Venezuela's "rightful leader" prevents it from giving the country coronavirus aid–even though in 2002, the IMF rapidly offered aid to a short-lived coup government. | An Associated Press article (New York Times, 3/17/20) headlined "IMF Rejects Maduro's Bid for Emergency Loan to Fight Virus" declared: The r…
fair.org/home/media-struggle-to-defend-washingtons-cruelty-toward-venezuela-and-iran-as-coronavirus-spreads/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=media-struggle-to-defend-washingtons-cruelty-toward-venezuela-and-iran-as-coronavirus-spreads

"Humanitarian Solidarity": Even Under U.S. Sanctions, Cuba Sends Doctor Brigade to Italy and More
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-03-24
As Italy's death toll soars past 6,000, Cuba has sent medical brigades to combat COVID-19. Cuba has also deployed doctors to Venezuela, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Suriname and Grenada. "The arrival of a medical brigade from Cuba to Italy is pretty historic. You have a leading European nation accepting support in the form of a medical team from a small Caribbean island," says our guest, Peter Kornbluh, director of the Cuba Documentation Project at the National Security Archive at George Washington University. "It just goes to the history of Cuba's deep and long-lasting commitment to humanitarian solidarity with other cou…
www.democracynow.org/2020/3/24/cuba_medical_diplomacy_italy_coronavirus

Peace Action Supports Wyden-Klobuchar Bill to Protect Democracy and Ensure Safe Elections
Lilly Dragnev | peaceaction.org | 2020-03-20
Statement of Jon Rainwater, Executive Director, Peace Action, on the introduction of the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act (NDEBA) by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). This bill would help ensure that elections can take place in a safe and secure way throughout the pandemic and beyond. March 19, 2020 Peace Action …
peaceaction.org/2020/03/20/peace-action-supports-wyden-klobuchar-bill-to-protect-democracy-and-ensure-safe-elections/

Expert: US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela during pandemic could be genocidal
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-20
Intensified US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela during the COVID-19 pandemic could amount to genocide, a former UN expert warns. Iran…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/20/expert-us-sanctions-on-iran-venezuela-during-pandemic-could-be-genocidal/