Faran Balanced: Hanging out with wrong 'crowd'? Bad Santa US will give you SANCTIONS for Christmas
rt.com | 2019-12-21
It's Christmastime and everybody is shopping for presents, but not the US, which has already given out its very special gift — sanctions — to those who it happens to dislike for the 'crime' of pursing an independent policy. | Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Germany– the list of countries who have been punished or threatened to be punished by the US for their "misbehavior" is longer than Santa's naughty list. But what have all these done to earn a lump of coal from the US? They have been doing business with China or Russia behind Washington's back, or dare to have their own policy.
rt.com/news/476538-sanctions-us-christmas-gift/

Chronicle of a Coup Foretold
Brian Mier | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-20
Will the US left work to normalize the impending coup attempt in Mexico the way it did for Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil and Nicaragua? Last July I gave a speech in the Left Forum in Brooklyn. When it was over, A young activist stood up and announced, in perfect English, that they were an anarchist from…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/20/chronicle-of-a-coup-foretold-2/

Colombia's FARC Demands Implementation of Peace Agreement
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-20
In the midst of today's persistent violence against former guerrillas, the Colombian FARC party demanded the "real implementation of the Peace Agreement" signed in 2016 by the Colombian State and the decommissioned FARC-EP. | RELATED: | Colombian Police to be Investigated for Excessive Use of Force | The recurrent demand followed the assassination o…
telesurenglish.net/news/Colombias-FARC-Demands-Implementation-of-Peace-Agreement-20191220-0006.html

Notes on a private TV newscast in Bolivia. The contrast with Venezuela is clear as day
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2019-12-20
In August, I took detailed notes a news broadcast on one of Venezuela's largest TV networks. I summarized these notes in an interview I did with the Real News Network making the point that Venezuela's private media (which reaches 60-90% of households) is remarkably free — most especially when you consider the US is openly Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/notes-on-a-private-tv-newscast-in-bolivia-the-contrast-with-venezuela-is-clear-as-day/

Colombia: Protests Against Tax Reform and Police Repression
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-19
Student groups, currently under constant mobilization in the country, demanded the repeal of the Tax Reform and the ending of repression by the National Police. | RELATED: | Colombia: Duque Ignores the National Strike Committee Requests | Holding banners with the face of Dilan Cruz, a young man who died as a result of the impact of an artifact on his head launched by agents of the Mobile Riot Squadron, hundreds of university students rejected the approval of the Executive for th…
telesurenglish.net/news/colombia-protests-against-tax-reform-and-police-repression-20191219-0021.html

Colombia's Bomba Estereo and More Show Support For Protests
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-19
Around 40 Colombian singers and bands joined forces on Sunday for a series of live performances in support of the social protests against the government of Ivan Duque with thousands filling the streets of Bogota under the slogan "Un Canto por Colombia" (A Song for Colombia). | RELATED: | Colombia: Duque Ignores the National Strike Committee Requests | "We don't want any presents, we just want what we're due," Lucia said at the start of her performance at the District Planetarium…
telesurenglish.net/news/Colombias-Bomba-Estereo-and-More-Show-Support-For-Protests-20191219-0019.html

Venezuela: Guaido Introduces Remote Voting in Bid to Secure Reelection
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-18
The opposition leader has been under fire amid recent scandals.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14749

Wednesday's Daily Brief: Global Refugee Forum, Venezuela human rights, breast cancer hopes
news.un.org | 2019-12-18
Our top stories for Wednesday include: First Global Refugee Forum ends in Geneva; Venezuela misery on multiple fronts, outlined by UN rights chief; and a breast cancer update that could make treatment affordable for millions more women.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1053971

Misery for Venezuelans continues ahead of 2020 elections: UN rights chief Bachelet
news.un.org | 2019-12-18
Demonstrations in Venezuela must be allowed to take place ahead of elections in 2020, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Wednesday, citing continued reports of harassment, threats, and detention by intelligence services and security forces.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1053791

US Venezuelan embassy protectors denied right to fair trial
The Grayzone | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-17
Four US activists protecting Venezuela's embassy in Washington, DC face prison time after the Trump administration illegally arrested them. And now…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/16/venezuelan-embassy-defenders-denied-right-fair-trial/

Why Elliott Abrams is Smurf villain Gargamel
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-16
Trump Administration Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abram is not only the spitting image of Gargamel; the Smurfs are a…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/16/elliott-abrams-smurf-villain-gargamel/

Why Elliott Abrams is Smurf villain Gargamel
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-16
Trump Administration Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abram is not only the spitting image of Gargamel; the Smurfs are a…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/16/elliott-abrams-smurf-villain-gargamel/

ALBA Summit: Venezuela Promises to Relaunch PetroCaribe in 2020
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-16
Heads of state also pledged to bolster various regional social programs including the Miracle Mission and Latin American Medical Schools.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14745

Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2019-12-16
Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodriguez, formerly of Torino Economics, answered a few questions of mine about his country. He was the economic adviser to Henri Falcon, the second place finisher in the May 2018 presidential election. His updated estimate for 2019 is that Venezuela's real GDP will contract by 25% . That's horrific, but less severe Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/francisco-rodriguez-answers-some-questions-i-asked-him-about-venezuela/

Gobierno de EEUU retira los cargos falsos contra periodista Max Blumenthal
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-14
El gobierno estadounidense desistió la causa basada en falsas acusaciones de agresión contra el editor de The Grayzone Max Blumenthal…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/14/gobierno-eeuu-retira-cargos-max-blumenthal-venezuela/

Venezuela Oil Production Continues Slow Recovery
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-11
According to state oil company PDVSA, production is again approaching one million barrels per day.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14744

Venezuela's Civilian Militia Surpasses Target, Reaches 3.3 Million Members
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-09
The body is due to be legally incorporated into the Armed Forces as a "combat unit."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14742

Venezuela: Guaido Embattled as Opposition Splits over New Corruption Scandal
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-05
The latest scandal has further called into doubt Guaido's credibility as leader of the opposition.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14739

TIAR Countries Blacklist Top Venezuelan Officials as US Slaps New Sanctions
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-04
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Venezuela of "hijacking" mass anti-neoliberal protests in "our own backyard."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14737

Red Cross Chief: Venezuela Aid Being Politicized to 'Destabilize the Country'
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-04
Francesco Rocca slammed the underfunding of aid programs as a problem of "political will."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14738

Massive Colombia strike hits neoliberal policies, repression
Cathy Rojas | liberationnews.org | 2019-12-04
All progressive people should stand in solidarity with all those advocating for the immediate end to the political persecution of human rights, social and political leaders in Colombia.
liberationnews.org/massive-colombia-strike-hits-neoliberal-policies-repression/

Venezuela's PDVSA Secures Temporary Lease Extension for Curacao Refinery
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-02
Despite the extension, refinery owners are looking to end the 34-year cooperation under pressure from US sanctions.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14736

American Indian Movement West: No to Bolivia coup! Hands off Venezuela, Cuba!
American Indian Movement West | liberationnews.org | 2019-12-01
"We declare our full solidarity and support to the heroic resistance of the Indigenous people against the fascist coup. While there is struggle, victory is assured."
liberationnews.org/american-indian-movement-west-no-to-bolivia-coup-hands-off-venezuela-cuba/

US Vows to 'Reinforce' Sanctions, Accuses Venezuela and Cuba of Stirring Regional 'Strife'
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-11-28
Elliott Abrams reiterated support for Guaido and denied that sanctions are damaging the Venezuelan economy.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14734

Venezuela Unveils First Gold Processing Complex in Mining Arc
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-11-25
While already operational, the complex will reportedly be the 5th largest in the continent upon completion.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14731

Colombia's US Ambassador Advocates 'Covert Actions' Against Venezuela in Leaked Audio
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-11-21
Top Colombian officials acknowledged failure of regime change in Venezuela and total disarray in Washington.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14728