Monthly Archives: June 2020

2020-06-30: News Headlines

news.un (2020-06-30). Iran nuclear deal still best way to ensure peace, DiCarlo tells Security Council. news.un.org The UN regrets that the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is in doubt, but notwithstanding current challenges, that landmark deal is still the best way to ensure that Iran's nuclear programme proceeds along a peaceful path, the UN's top political official said on Tuesday.

Thierry Meyssan (2020-06-30). How the Big Two can establish peace in the Greater Middle East. thealtworld.com

| To make peace, it's quite simple: you just have to stop making war with each other. But in the Greater Middle East, it is much more complicated, because there are a multitude of actors for whom a solution, whatever it may be, must satisfy conflicting claims. Under these conditions, no peace can be totally just, but it can at least, and must, guarantee the security of all. | This article is a follow-up to : " Throughout 2011 an…

yenisafak (2020-06-30). 'Changing Kashmir demography threatens peace in S.Asia'. yenisafak.com Pakistan's prime minister on Tuesday said the granting of domicile certificates to thousands of Indian nationals in the Jammu and Kashmir region has imperiled "peace and security" in South Asia."First, India's attempt at illegal annexation of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and now its attempts to alter IOJK's [Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir] demographic structure incl[uding] by issuance of domicile certificates to 25,000 Indian nationals are all illegal, in violation of UNSC resolutions, and international law, including [the] 4th Geneva Convention," Imran Khan said in a series of tweets.He was referring to…

yenisafak (2020-06-30). Pompeo: US told Taliban not to attack Americans. yenisafak.com US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo had a video conference with Taliban Deputy and chief negotiator Mullah Baradar, the State Department said Tuesday.The two men discussed Monday the implementation of the US-Taliban peace agreement, according to a statement by spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus."The Secretary made clear the expectation for the Taliban to live up to their commitments, which include not attacking Americans," said Ortagus, who did not provide information about reports of Russian payments to Taliban militants for targeting American troops in Afghanistan.The New York Times reported late last week that a Russ…

sputniknews (2020-06-30). St. Louis Couple Who Pointed Weapons at BLM Protesters Offer Reason Why They Acted in That Fashion. sputniknews.com On Sunday, a white couple in St. Louis, Missouri, stole the spotlight on social media after the appeared in a viral video pointing firearms at unarmed and peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrators who were passing in the vicinity of the couple's mansion while en route to Mayor Lyda Krewson's house.

Staff (2020-06-30). #OccupyCityHall: Mayor's "Tone Deaf" Pledge to Move $1B from NYPD Budget Fails to Satisfy Protesters. democracynow.org New York police have closed in on peaceful protesters camped outside City Hall who are demanding $1 billion be cut from the police department's $6 billion budget, as the city approaches its July 1 budget deadline. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a budget deal that would move $1 billion in NYPD funding in an apparent nod to protesters' demands, but organizers say they're not satisfied. "All they've really done is shifted money from the NYPD budget over to school safety officers," says Bianca Cunningham with the #OccupyCityHall encampment, who adds that school safety officers still contribute to a school-to-prison p…

Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner (2020-06-30). Venezuela's Maduro Expels EU Ambassador Following New Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com The Venezuelan president demanded "respect" from European countries.

Ben Norton (2020-06-30). Trump used looted Venezuelan public money to build border wall with Mexico. mronline.org Around $24 billion of Venezuelan public money has been looted, and the Trump administration has used at least $601 million of it to construct a militarized wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Yves Engler (2020-06-30). How Venezuela helped defeat Canada's Security Council bid. mronline.org Was Canada defeated in its bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council because of Justin Trudeau's effort to overthrow Venezuela's government? Its intervention in the internal affairs of another sovereign country certainly didn't help.

_____ (2020-06-30). Trump's Second Thoughts On Juan Guaido Are Not Enough. popularresistance.org After nearly a year and a half of all-out efforts at regime change in Venezuela which took a major toll on the Venezuelan people, Donald Trump now tells the world he was never big on the strategy in the first place. On Friday, the U.S. president appeared to shove the blame onto advisers, and added "I think that I wasn't necessarily in favor" of the policy of recognizing Juan Guaidó as president, but "I was OK with it." | Trump's statements made it seem as if Guaidó's only sin was that he did not manage to seize power. This might-makes-right mindset belies what is happening on the ground in Venezuela which is much…

Yves Engler (2020-06-30). How Venezuela Helped Defeat UN Canada's Security Council Bid. globalresearch.ca Was Canada defeated in its bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council because of Justin Trudeau's effort to overthrow Venezuela's government? Its intervention in the internal affairs of another sovereign country certainly didn't help. | According to …

Alan Macleod (2020-06-29). Aurora Police Violently Crackdown on Peaceful Vigil for Black Man Killed in Police Chokehold. mintpressnews.com Police in Aurora, Colorado violently cracked down on a group of peaceful protesters holding a vigil for a young black man killed by police late last year, bringing renewed attention to the push for police reform that has swept the nation.

news.un (2020-06-29). Water cooperation between States 'key' to Blue Nile dam project. news.un.org The Blue Nile is "critical for the livelihoods and development" of Egyptians, Ethiopians and Sudanese, the top UN official for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told the Security Council on Monday, urging those States to reach a construction agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

sputniknews (2020-06-29). 'This Whole Thing is Garbage': Afghan War Vet Dismisses Shaky 'Russian Bounties' Claims. sputniknews.com On Friday, the New York Times reported on a US intelligence report claiming Russian operatives were offering the Taliban bounties to assassinate US soldiers in Afghanistan. However, as US lawmakers demand answers and action, one expert says serious skepticism about the report's veracity is missing, which threatens the increasingly fragile peace.

Sara Bakhtiar (2020-06-29). How to Reverse the US's Shockingly Low Global Peace Index Ranking. commondreams.org The U.S. insistence on global military domination has actively undermined both domestic and international peace. (Photo: bgrocker / Shutterstock.com) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-06-29_at_4.54.49_pm.png

RT (2020-06-29). 'Enough of European colonialism': Maduro says EU envoy to be expelled after block sanctions 11 Venezuelan officials. rt.com Venezualan President Nicolas Maduro has expelled the EU ambassador to the country, giving the diplomat 72 hours to pack up and leave, after Brussels imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials, including on members of parliament. | Maduro's decision to banish Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa comes after the European Council decided to spap a flurry of punitive sanctions on about a dozen of high-ranking Venezuelan officials. | The 11 Venezuelans that have been hit in the latest crackdown include lawmaker Luis Parra, who replaced opposition figurehead Juan Guaido at the helm of the National Assembly in January. | "I have…

Paul Dobson (2020-06-29). Venezuela Tightens Quarantine in COVID-19 Hotspots amid Record Daily Case Count. venezuelanalysis.com Thirty percent of the country returns to total lockdown as the national tally increases to 5,530.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-28). UN privileges status quo over both peace and justice: American scholar. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 29 (MNA) — Kevin Barret who has been known as one of America's best-known critics of the war on terror, says the United Nations cannot be considered as "a genuinely democratic international organization", arguing it has instead been as an "instrument of American and Western soft power".

Staff (2020-06-28). When War Against Black Americans Represents "Peace," We Must Redefine the Word. truthout.org The world now knows about police brutality, what we American Negroes* have experienced as a matter of course since the slave patrols. The "peace officers" that purportedly swore to uphold and defend the Constitution by serving and protecting citizens like George Floyd, murdered him. Maybe "peace officer" seems absurd. The term evokes the Orwellian phrase "war is peace." | But it makes sense if we deconstruct "peace." The Pax Romana ("Roman Peace") denoted Roman Empire; the king's peace spans B…

IMEMC Staff (2020-06-28). Israeli Troops Injure A number Of Palestinians In Alaghwar Area. imemc.org Israeli troops injured on Sunday morning a number of Palestinian residents in the Alaghwar area of the West Bank. Local Palestinian sources reported that the injuries, caused to the residents, came during Israeli army's crackdown on a local peaceful march in the Atouf neighborhood in the northern Alaghwar area of …

en.mehrnews (2020-06-28). VIDEO: Protesters in Colorado shut down highway. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 28 (MNA) — The protesters in US' Colorado shut down Highway 225 Saturday in a peaceful demonstration calling for justice in the death of Elijah McClain who died last August during a confrontation with Aurora police officers.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-28). Gasoline export to Venezuela trade deal: oil min. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 28 (MNA) — Stressing Iran has not given gasoline to Venezuela for free, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said that exporting gasoline to Venezuela was a trade deal.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-27). Iran, Iraq emphasize strengthening security, peace cooperation. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 27 (MNA) — The Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq stressed the need for bolstering the development, peace and security cooperation between the two nations.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-27). Trump's talks offer with Venezuela, Iran doesn't mean policy shift: Argentinian Prof. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 28 (MNA) — The head of the International Relations Area for the Observatory of International Trade at the National University of Lujan in Argentina believes that US hostile policies toward Iran and Venezuela will continue despite Donald Trump's willingness to talk with Tehran and Caracas.

Jenna McGuire, staff writer (2020-06-26). 'We Need More People Like' Regan Russell: Mourning and Justice Demanded Over Killing of Animal Rights Activist Regan Russell. commondreams.org "She was the most peaceful, logical, kind, compassionate person that I've ever met." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/allanimals.jpeg

2020-06-29: News Headlines

Alan MacLeod (2020-06-29). Aurora Police Violently Crackdown on Peaceful Vigil for Black Man Killed in Police Chokehold. thealtworld.com Police in Aurora, Colorado violently cracked down on a group of peaceful protesters holding a vigil for a young black man killed by police late last year, bringing renewed attention to the push for police reform that has swept the nation. | MPN— Clad in full riot gear, wielding batons and pepper spray, police in Aurora, Colo, broke up last night's vigil to the memory of 23-year-old massage therapist Elijah McClain — a man killed by the same police force last August. The day had begun with demonstrations organized by the local chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. At 8.30 p.m. a somber viol…

news.un (2020-06-29). Water cooperation between States 'key' to Blue Nile dam project. news.un.org The Blue Nile is "critical for the livelihoods and development" of Egyptians, Ethiopians and Sudanese, the top UN official for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told the Security Council on Monday, urging those States to reach a construction agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Ben Norton (2020-06-29). Trump used looted Venezuelan public money to build border wall with Mexico. thegrayzone.com An estimated $24 billion of Venezuelan public money has been looted, and the Trump administration has used at least $601…

IMEMC Staff (2020-06-28). Israeli Troops Injure A number Of Palestinians In Alaghwar Area. imemc.org Israeli troops injured on Sunday morning a number of Palestinian residents in the Alaghwar area of the West Bank. Local Palestinian sources reported that the injuries, caused to the residents, came during Israeli army's crackdown on a local peaceful march in the Atouf neighborhood in the northern Alaghwar area of …

Staff (2020-06-28). When War Against Black Americans Represents "Peace," We Must Redefine the Word. truthout.org The world now knows about police brutality, what we American Negroes* have experienced as a matter of course since the slave patrols. The "peace officers" that purportedly swore to uphold and defend the Constitution by serving and protecting citizens like George Floyd, murdered him. Maybe "peace officer" seems absurd. The term evokes the Orwellian phrase "war is peace." | But it makes sense if we deconstruct "peace." The Pax Romana ("Roman Peace") denoted Roman Empire; the king's peace spans B…

en.mehrnews (2020-06-28). UN privileges status quo over both peace and justice: American scholar. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 29 (MNA) — Kevin Barret who has been known as one of America's best-known critics of the war on terror, says the United Nations cannot be considered as "a genuinely democratic international organization", arguing it has instead been as an "instrument of American and Western soft power".

en.mehrnews (2020-06-28). VIDEO: Protesters in Colorado shut down highway. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 28 (MNA) — The protesters in US' Colorado shut down Highway 225 Saturday in a peaceful demonstration calling for justice in the death of Elijah McClain who died last August during a confrontation with Aurora police officers.

Steve Ellner (2020-06-28). Trump's Second Thoughts on Juan Guaido are Not Enough. zcomm.org After the president's change of heart on Venezuela, and the waning of Juan Guaidó and his party, the entire Washington political establishment have a lot of explaining to do…

en.mehrnews (2020-06-28). Gasoline export to Venezuela trade deal: oil min. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 28 (MNA) — Stressing Iran has not given gasoline to Venezuela for free, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said that exporting gasoline to Venezuela was a trade deal.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-27). Iran, Iraq emphasize strengthening security, peace cooperation. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 27 (MNA) — The Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq stressed the need for bolstering the development, peace and security cooperation between the two nations.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-27). Trump's talks offer with Venezuela, Iran doesn't mean policy shift: Argentinian Prof. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 28 (MNA) — The head of the International Relations Area for the Observatory of International Trade at the National University of Lujan in Argentina believes that US hostile policies toward Iran and Venezuela will continue despite Donald Trump's willingness to talk with Tehran and Caracas.

Tom Coburg (2020-06-26). US street-based projects are talking about more than just police reforms. They want outright liberation. thecanary.co On the west coast of America, authorities have threatened to send in police to retake Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). While on the east coast, the Black Lives Matter chair for Greater New York has called for armed "peace officers" to monitor police activity. | Meanwhile, all across the US, legislation is being introduced to

Danny Shaw (2020-06-26). Colombia's Other Pandemic: Unchecked State Violence in the Time of COVID-19. counterpunch.org The human rights group Indepaz reports that 800 activists have been killed in the past three and a half years in Colombia, since November 24, 2016, the date the government signed "the Peace Accord" with the FARC.[1] Taking advantage of society's fear and distraction, and the demobilization caused by the novel coronavirus, state and paramilitary

yenisafak (2020-06-26). Mines, mass graves: Haftar's human rights violations. yenisafak.com An Anadolu Agency team in Libya has monitored the evidence of mines, mass graves, and executions left behind by the militias of warlord Khalifa Haftar as they retreated from south of the capital Tripoli as well as the city of Tarhuna, to the southeast. Libya's internationally recognized government has been under attack by Haftar's forces since April 2019, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence.This March, the Libyan government launched Operation Peace Storm to counter attacks on the capital, and recently retook strategic locations, including Al-Watiya airbase and the city of Tarhuna, Haftar's final stronghol…

sputniknews (2020-06-26). Imran Khan on Pakistani-US Relations: 'We Will Not Fight Their War'. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday took credit for holding successful peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban on behalf of the US, stating that the world has acknowledged Islamabad's efforts toward reconciliation in the region.

Peaceful Protest for Black Lives Matter (2020-06-26). Saturday 6/27: Peaceful Protest for Black Lives Matter. indybay.org Santa Cruz Clock Tower | Pacific Ave. and Water St., Santa Cruz…

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-06-26). 'Outrageous and Chilling': Police Condemned for Charging Peaceful Environmentalists With 'Terrorizing' in Louisiana. commondreams.org At least 40 U.S. climate and environmental advocacy groups on Friday rallied behind two Louisiana Bucket Brigade activists who are facing felony "terrorizing" charges for leaving a box of plastic pellets collected from Texas waters near a Formosa Plastics facility on the doorstep of a fossil fuel lobbyist in December 2019. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/lbb.jpg

Jenna McGuire, staff writer (2020-06-26). 'We Need More People Like' Regan Russell: Mourning and Justice Demanded Over Killing of Animal Rights Activist Regan Russell. commondreams.org "She was the most peaceful, logical, kind, compassionate person that I've ever met." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/allanimals.jpeg

David Smilde (2020-06-26). Joe Biden Should Not Try to Out-Hawk Trump on Venezuela. commondreams.org Thousands gather in Caracas to protest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. April 2019 (Photo: Helena1 / Shutterstock.com) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-06-26_at_11.10.04_am.png

_____ (2020-06-26). The 'New' American Mercenary: A Pocket History. popularresistance.org Though the bizarre story has been subsumed by other events, last month's aborted invasion of Venezuela should've hardly shocked anyone. The United States has long used mercenaries to do its bidding. They have provided Washington distance and deniability for unsavory operations. During the Cold War, the U.S. hoped this would limit domestic and international protest. Policymakers also discerned mercenary alternatives to bloody, expensive quagmires like the Vietnam or Iraq Wars. Traditionally, most of these hired guns were foreigners — ex-soldiers of declining European empires. | Much of this parallels the lat…

_____ (2020-06-25). Racialized Militarism, Peacebuilding And Defunding The Military. popularresistance.org As the Canadian government prepares to spend $1 billion on Raytheon missiles and related equipment, award a $19 billion contract for new fighter jets in 2022, and increase spending to $32.7 billion a year on the military by 2026, it is both timely and necessary to have a conversation about peacebuilding and the structures of violence. In this regard, the Canadian Peace Initiative has a campaign to establish a federal Department of Peace. And Eriel Tchekwie Deranger has urged NGOs advocating for a Green New Deal to: "center the destructive intertwined roles of capitalism, consumerism, militarism and colonialism as…

San José Peace and Justice Center (2020-06-25). Tuesday 6/23: Community Meeting on Police Response at Protests. indybay.org Zoom online meeting | Register in advance for this meeting: bit.ly/ComMtg0623 (or us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApd-yvrjIvGtIy2_uCkP4yNI3-5dheaEDs) | After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.