Is the US Board of Peace Aimed at Undermining the UN?

Posted on January 26, 2026 by admin

Armed Conflicts, Civil Society, Crime & Justice, Democracy, Featured, Global, Headlines, Human Rights, IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse, TerraViva United Nations

Htet Myat Phone Naing. Credit: Elizabeth Haines/IPS

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 26 2026 (IPS) – Judging by the mixed signals coming out of the White House, is the Board of Peace, a creation of President Donald Trump, eventually aimed at replacing the UN Security Council or the United Nations itself?

At a ceremony in Davos, Switzerland last week, Trump formally ratified the Charter of the Board — establishing it as “an official international organization”.

Trump, who will be serving as the Board’s Chairman, was joined by Founding Members* “representing countries around the world who have committed to building a secure and prosperous future for Gaza that delivers lasting peace, stability, and opportunity for its people.”

Norman Solomon, executive director, Institute for Public Accuracy and national director, RootsAction.org, told IPS President Trump’s “Board of Peace” is being designed as a kind of global alliance akin to the “coalition of the willing” that fraudulently tried to give legitimacy to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Trump, he said, is recruiting submissive governments to fall in line with his leadership for pushing the planet ever more in the direction of war for domination and plunder.

The price that members of the Orwellian-named “Board of Peace” will pay is much more than the sought amount upwards of $1 billion each. In a global gangster mode, Trump is making plans and putting up structures on imperial whim, he pointed out.

“At the same time, the methods to his madness are transparent as he seeks to create new mechanisms for U.S. domination of as much of the world as possible”.

Trump continues to push the boundaries of doublespeak that cloaks U.S. agendas for gaining economic and military leverage over other countries. The gist of the message on behalf of Uncle Sam is: “no more Mr. Nice Guy.”

Whereas Trump’s predecessors in the White House have often relied on mere doubletalk and lofty rhetoric to obscure their actual priorities and agendas, Trump has dispensed with euphemisms enough to make crystal clear that he believes the U.S. government is the light of the world that all others should fall in line behind, said Solomon, author of “War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine”

Asked about the Board of Peace, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters last week: “Let’s be clear. We are committed to doing whatever we can to ensure the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2803, which as you will recall, welcomed the creation of the Board of Peace for Gaza”.

And as you know, he said, part of that resolution and the plan put forward by President Trump talked about the UN leading on humanitarian aid delivery.

“I think we have delivered a massive amount of humanitarian aid in Gaza, as much as we’ve been able to allow. And we’ve talked about the restrictions, but you know how much more we’ve been able to do since the ceasefire. As part of that, we’ve worked very well with the US authorities, and we will continue to do so.”

The UN, Dujarric reaffirmed, remains the only international organization with universal membership. “We’ve obviously saw the announcements made in Davos. The Secretary-General’s work continues with determination to implement the mandates given to us, all underpinned by international law, by the charter of the UN. I mean, our work continues.”

Asked about the similarities between the UN logo and the logo of the Board of Peace, he said he saw no copyright or trademark infringements.

In a statement released last week, Louis Charbonneau, UN Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the United States played a leading role in establishing the UN. Now, US President Donald Trump is undermining and defunding large parts of it.

For the past year, he said, the US government has taken a sledgehammer to UN programs and agencies because the Trump administration believes the institution is “anti-American” and has a “hostile agenda.”

In UN negotiations, US officials have tried to purge words like “gender,” “climate,” and “diversity” from resolutions and statements. Diplomats have described to Human Rights Watch how US officials aggressively oppose human rights language they see as “woke” or politically correct, he said.

In an apparent attempt to sideline the UN Security Council, Trump has proposed a so-called Board of Peace that he personally would preside over. Trump has reportedly offered seats on his board to leaders of abusive governments, including Belarus, China, Hungary, Israel, Russia, and Vietnam, Charbonneau pointed out.

Originally the Board of Peace was meant to oversee the administration of Gaza following over two years of onslaught and destruction by Israeli forces, with which the United States was complicit. But the board’s charter doesn’t even mention Gaza, suggesting that Trump’s ambitions for this body have expanded enormously since first conceived.

The board’s proposed charter doesn’t mention human rights. And it makes clear that Trump, as board chairman, would have supreme authority “to adopt resolutions or other directives” as he sees fit.

A seat on the Board of Peace doesn’t come cheap: there’s a US$1 billion membership fee. Some, like French President Emmanuel Macron, already turned down an offer to join. Trump responded with a threat to significantly increase tariffs on French wine and champagne.

“The UN system has its problems, but it’s better than a global Politburo. Rather than paying billions to join Trump’s board, governments should focus on strengthening the UN’s ability to uphold human rights,” he declared.

Elaborating further, Solomon said the entire “Board of Peace” project is a dangerous farce that seeks to reconstitute a unipolar world that has already largely fallen apart during this century in economic terms.

The criminality of Trump’s approach, supported by the Republican majority in Congress, is backed up by the nation’s military might. More than ever, U.S. foreign policy has very little to offer the world other than gangsterism, extortion and blackmail – along with threats of massive violence that sometimes turn into military attacks that shred all semblance of international law.

Every U.S. president in this century, as before, has disregarded actual international law and substituted the preferences of its military-industrial complex for foreign policy. Trump has taken that policy to an unabashed extreme, shamelessly adhering to George Orwell’s dystopian credo of “War Is Peace” while pushing to wreck what’s left of a constructive international order.

Incidentally, when Indonesia’s mercurial leader Sukarno decided to quit the UN and form the Conference of the New Emerging Forces (CONEFO) as an alternative, it did not last very long, as Sukarno’s successor, Suharto “resumed” Indonesia’s participation in the UN.

No lasting harm was done to the UN. And all was forgotten and forgiven.

In a further clarification, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters the Board of Peace has been authorized by the Security Council for its work on Gaza – strictly for that. “

“We’re not talking about the wider operations or any of the aspects that have been in the media for the last several days. What we’re talking about is the work on Gaza”.

“As you know, we have welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza and measures to support it, including the Board of Peace, and we’ll continue to work with all parties on the ground to make sure that the ceasefire is upheld. That is about Gaza.”

The larger aspects, he said, are things for anyone wanting to participate in this grouping to consider. Obviously, the UN has its own Charter, its own rules, and you can do your own compare and contrast between the respective organizations.

“As you’re well aware, he pointed out, the UN has coexisted alongside any number of organizations. There are regional organizations, subregional organizations, various defence alliances around the world. Some of them, we have relationship agreements with. Some of them, we don’t.

“We would have to see in terms of details what the Board of Peace becomes as it actually is established to know what sort of relationship we would have with it,” declared Haq.

The participants* at the signing event in Geneva last week included:

A long list of countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy and other European nations, were absent from the signing, and some have specifically rejected the invitation.

IPS UN Bureau Report

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Man U revenge against Arsenal in 2025/26 English Premier League

Posted on January 25, 2026 by admin

LONDON-(MaraviPost)-Manchester United exacted revenge on Arsenal on 25 January with a dramatic 3–2 Premier League victory at the Emirates Stadium, producing one of the most entertaining matches of the season between the two long time rivals.

The encounter began at a frantic pace, with both sides showing attacking intent from the opening whistle. Arsenal, backed by their home supporters, looked confident in possession and pressed high up the pitch.

Their positive start paid off midway through the first half when the hosts took the lead, putting United under early pressure and lifting the atmosphere inside the Emirates.

Before the break, United were rewarded for their persistence as they found the equaliser, ensuring the teams went into half time level and setting the stage for an intense second half.

After the restart, United emerged with renewed purpose. Their sharper movement and quicker decision making troubled Arsenal’s defence, leading to a second goal that swung momentum firmly in their favour.

Arsenal refused to give up and responded by pushing more players forward. The Gunners increased the tempo, searching desperately for a way back into the match.

Their efforts were eventually rewarded late in the game when they found an equaliser, reigniting hopes of salvaging at least a point from the contest.

With the score tied, the match became tense and open, as both teams sensed an opportunity to snatch a decisive goal in the closing minutes.

It was Manchester United who delivered the final blow. A late strike stunned the Emirates crowd and restored United’s lead at the most crucial moment.

The goal sealed a famous away victory for United, marking a rare success against Arsenal on their home turf and serving as revenge for their earlier defeat in the season.

Arsenal remains on position one with 50 points from 23 games while Manchester United is sitting on position 4 with 38 points from same number of games.

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Justin Baldoni’s Dad Shares Birthday Tribute After ‘Year Full of Turmoil’

Posted on January 25, 2026 by admin

Justin Baldoni’s dad Sam is still proud of his son, despite the sexual harassment allegations plaguing the 42-year-old director … which Sam seemed to refer to as “injustice.” Sam posted a tribute for Justin’s 42nd birthday Saturday, writing, “I…

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Brother Tungwarara is a bad cat!

Posted on January 25, 2026 by emandowa

Paul Tungwarara

AS I travelled through out the length and breadth of Zimbabwe, I am across a new phenomenon, a class of entrepreneurs carrying various titles.

One of these was a brother by the name of Paul Tungwarara, supposedly from Manicaland, an entrepreneur of sorts. One of his titles was “Dr” apparently denoting some much learning of sorts. Yet another title was that of “advisor”, a title which I later learned referred to his role of having the ear of Mukuru.

Having Mukuru’s ear is something to be envied or admired, but that was not the end of his titles. There was yet a fourth title, associated with state contracts, supposedly having to do with environmental rehabilitation of rivers.

While rehabilitating rivers, a very necessary survival task, along the Murodzi, Hunyani and other tributaries, there is gold to be found.

The point I am trying to make is that this brother is no small brother; he is everywhere, we can call him a very bad cat indeed.

If this was not enough, I was baffled by his hitherto unknown role as a 2030 advocate, a forest in which angels would fear to cross.

After consulting some wise men, it dawned on me that to take the brother seriously, as a political actor, is to be misled by puffery.

A rhetorician.

Before Brother Masiphula Sithole died, we had planned to write a book about Zimbabwe politics and philosophy.

In African politics, as exemplified by Brother Tungwarara, rhetoric and entertainment are closely aligned.

This gift is universal in the Afro-world. As I write, January 19th of an American holiday in honor of the Reverend Martin Luther King. The holiday usually reminds Americans of one of the finest speeches of the 20th Century- I have a dream speech.

That is my point. I have a dream speech, was not just a political speech, it was entertainment par excellence, the beauty, cadence of the words and presentation and style-the wave of the hand, the gesture, the drawl of the voice-the sigh-and the provocation and the finale-all those are combined in one speech.

Now listen to this brother, Tungwarara-never mind what he is saying-that Mukuru can rule till 2030-is not a serious argument.

But that is to miss the point.

Tungwarara is not a serious brother. He says so himself.

The argument is not whether Zanu PF can extend Mukuru’s tenure to 2030 and after that to 2035.

The argument is not whether Mukuru’s tenure has been accompanied by economic growth; the Trabablas through-way is his signature achievement.

The issue is that age takes its toll-Aristotle says that even a wise king grows old and infirm. Hastings Banda, once the Ngwazi of Malawi, at 94 was infirm and fragile like a baby.

And so was our own Robert Mugabe, at 94 he became a plaything in the hands of Grace, his younger wife.

Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, once a brilliant commander, at 84 years old, has become a laughing stock in Uganda.

Tungwarara’s argument is not a serious argument. But that does not mean that he is less formidable.

The brother’s gift lies in rhetoric and entertainment. After all, politics is partly entertainment.

“I asked the vice-president. Do you know this guy?” Supposedly a reference to Blessed Geza.

A sigh, calculated to draw attention and curiosity.

“I don’t know this guy,” the vice president replies. Again, a sigh and one can feel the tension.

The audience apparently knows the story and they fill in the gaps. Tungi does not say which of the two vice-presidents he consulted.

A trained voice shouts from the corner. “Speak, Advisor.” Now, I was not aware that the brother is an advisor.

A woman’s voice shouts from another corner. “Speak Prophet!”

So. Brother Tungi has been transformed from an advisor to a prophet.

Students of political science need to study the video renditions of Tungi’s speeches. Of course, Tungi wants Mukuru’s tenure to be extended. Such an extension is not harmful to his contracts.

But to argue that Tungi is a serious philosopher in the manner of Professor Lovemore Madhuku is to miss the point.

He is making a general point. Zanu PF is a fun party. It behooves anybody who is anybody who wants some attention to attend.

The attire is deliberate. A scandalously colorful scarf worn on an equally generous coat of many colors completes the picture of a luna park.

Tungi is what Afro-Americans call a bad cat.

He is full of smoke and stuff, and just like a cat chasing a snake, you can’t catch him nowhere.

.*Ken Mufuka is a Zimbabwean patriot.

‘Freedom Always Returns – but Only If We Hold Fast to Our Values and Sustain the Struggle’

Posted on January 23, 2026 by admin

Active Citizens, Civil Society, Crime & Justice, Europe, Featured, Gender Violence, Headlines, Human Rights, Press Freedom, TerraViva United Nations

Jan 23 2026 (IPS) –
CIVICUS speaks with Belarusian activist, blogger and journalist Mikola Dziadok about his experiences as a two-time political prisoner and the repression of dissent in Belarus. Mikola was jailed following mass protests in 2020.

Mikola Dziadok

Amid continued repression, Belarus experienced two limited waves of political prisoner releases in 2025. In September, authorities freed around 50 detainees following diplomatic engagement, and in December they pardoned and released over 120, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski and opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova. Many were forced into exile. Human rights groups stress that releases appear driven by geopolitical bargaining rather than systemic reform, with over 1,200 political prisoners believed to remain behind bars.

Why were you arrested following protests in 2020?

I was arrested because I was not silent and I was visible. During the 2020 uprising, I ran Telegram and YouTube channels where I shared political analysis, explained what was happening and gave people advice on how to resist repression. I talked about strategies to protect ourselves, counter state violence and survive under authoritarian pressure. The regime viewed this as extremely threatening.

By that time, I had around 17 years of experience in the anarchist movement, which is a part of a broader democratic movement in Belarus. But most people who joined the protests weren’t political at all: they’d never protested before, never faced repression, never dealt with police violence. They were desperate for guidance, particularly as there was an information war between regime propaganda, pro-Kremlin narratives and independent voices.

Authorities made a clear distinction between ‘ordinary people’ who apologised and promised never to protest again, who were released, and activists, organisers and others who spoke publicly, who were treated as enemies. I was imprisoned because I belonged to the second category.

What sparked the 2020 uprising?

By 2020, Belarus had already lived through five fraudulent elections. We only had one election the international community recognised as legitimate, held in 1994. After that, President Alexander Lukashenko changed the constitution so he could rule indefinitely.

For many years, people believed there was nothing they could do to make change happen. But in 2020, several things came together. The COVID-19 pandemic left the state’s complete failure exposed. As authorities did nothing to protect people, civil society stepped in. Grassroots initiatives provided information and medical help. People suddenly saw they could do what the state couldn’t. From the regime’s perspective, this was a very dangerous realisation.

But what truly ignited mass mobilisation was violence. In the first two days after the 9 August presidential election, over 7,000 protesters were detained. Thousands were beaten, humiliated, sexually abused and tortured. When they were released and showed their injuries, the images spread through social media and Telegram, and people were shocked. This brought hundreds of thousands onto the streets, protesting against both election fraud and violence against protesters.

What’s the situation of political prisoners?

Since 2020, over 50,000 people have spent time in detention, in a country of only nine million. There have been almost 4,000 officially recognised political prisoners, and there are now around 1,200, although the real number is higher. Many prisoners ask not to be named publicly because they fear retaliation against themselves or their families.

Repression has never subsided. Civil society organisations, human rights groups and independent media have been destroyed or forced into exile. Belarussians live under constant pressure, not a temporary crackdown.

Political prisoners are treated much worse than regular prisoners. I spent 10 years as a political prisoner: five years between 2010 and 2015, and another five years after 2020. During my second sentence, I spent two and a half years in solitary confinement. This is deliberate torture designed to break people physically and psychologically.

How did your release happen?

My release was a political transaction. Lukashenko has always used political prisoners as bargaining chips. He arrests people, waits for international pressure to reach its peak and then offers releases in exchange for concessions. This time, international negotiations, unexpectedly involving the USA, triggered a limited release.

The process itself was terrifying. I was taken suddenly from prison, handcuffed, hooded and transferred to the KGB prison in the centre of Minsk. I was placed in an isolation cell and not told what would happen. It was only when I saw other well-known political prisoners being brought into the same space that I realised we were going to be freed, most likely by forced expulsion.

No formal conditions were announced, but our passports were confiscated and we were forced into exile. We were transported under armed guard and handed over at the Lithuanian border. Many deportees still fear for relatives who remain in the country, because repression often continues through family members. That’s why I asked my wife to leave Belarus as quickly as possible.

What should the international community and civil society do now?

First, they should make sure Belarus continues receiving international attention. Lukashenko is afraid of isolation, sanctions and scrutiny. Any attempt to normalise relations with Belarus without real change will only strengthen repression and put remaining prisoners at greater risk.

Second, they should financially support independent Belarusian human rights organisations and media. Many are struggling to survive, particularly after recent funding cuts. Without them doing their job, abuses will remain hidden and prisoners will be forgotten.

Most importantly, activists should not lose hope. We are making history. Dictatorships fall and fear eventually breaks. Freedom always returns – but only if we hold fast to our values and sustain the struggle.

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SEE ALSO
‘Belarus is closer than ever to totalitarianism, with closed civic space and repression a part of daily life’ CIVICUS Lens | Interview with Human Rights House 14.Oct.2025
Belarus: ‘The work of human rights defenders in exile is crucial in keeping the democratic movement alive’ CIVICUS Lens | Interview with Natallia Satsunkevich 15.Feb.2025
Belarus: a sham election that fools no one CIVICUS Lens 31.Jan.2025

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Trade Minister Partridge hails MAGLA on responsible gambling initiatives

Posted on January 23, 2026 by admin

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, George Partridge, has commended the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) for its proactive leadership in promoting the responsible growth of the gambling industry while safeguarding young people and strengthening investor confidence.

The Minister made the remarks on Thursday during a strategic engagement with MAGLA management, which included a familiarisation tour aimed at deepening his understanding of the Authority’s operations, regulatory mandate, and strategic priorities.

Speaking during the engagement meeting, Partridge, said MAGLA’s approach demonstrates a strong commitment to balancing revenue generation, tourism development, and social responsibility, noting that gambling, when well regulated, can contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic growth.

“Gambling is an experience for both local and foreign consumers. It complements our tourism products and attracts more consumers, and when they spend more, government also benefits through increased revenue,” said Partridge.

He then applauded MAGLA for taking deliberate steps to address the social risks associated with gambling, particularly the protection of children and vulnerable groups.

“As a regulator of gambling, one of the major challenges is the negative effects of gambling on society and on children. We wanted to understand what MAGLA is doing to minimise these negative effects, and this is an area they are taking seriously,” he said.

The Minister also acknowledged operational challenges facing the Authority, including limitations in office infrastructure, and assured that government is aware of the impact such constraints can have on effective service delivery.

“They are operating from converted residential houses and are scattered across different locations, which makes administration a bit difficult. These are genuine concerns that government has taken note of,” said Partridge.

Commenting on the Minister’s visit, MAGLA Director General, Rachel Mijiga, described it as a strong show of government support for the gaming industry.

“We are grateful to the Minister for visiting MAGLA and for the guidance he has provided on how we can take the industry forward, particularly on responsible gambling and sustainable growth,” said Mijiga.

She said MAGLA is engaging betting operators on concerns surrounding the newly introduced betting tax and is working closely with key stakeholders to ensure a balanced approach.

“We are gathering insights from operators and will engage the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to arrive at a win-win situation for government, investors and the people of Malawi,” she said.

Looking ahead, Mijiga said MAGLA is projecting 60 percent growth in the gaming sector in the new financial year and will intensify responsible gambling initiatives.

“We will partner with responsible gambling agents and engage parents, guardians and school principals to ensure that under-18s do not participate in gambling,” she said.

She also highlighted the media’s role as a key partner in public awareness.

“The media shape public opinion and help us reach the youth and the wider public. They are a critical stakeholder in promoting responsible gambling,” said Mijiga.

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Is the US Board of Peace Aimed at Undermining the UN?

Man U revenge against Arsenal in 2025/26 English Premier League

Justin Baldoni’s Dad Shares Birthday Tribute After ‘Year Full of Turmoil’

Brother Tungwarara is a bad cat!

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‘Freedom Always Returns – but Only If We Hold Fast to Our Values and Sustain the Struggle’

Trade Minister Partridge hails MAGLA on responsible gambling initiatives