Maduro says time for direct talks with Trump, blames Pompeo & co for US 'failure' in Venezuela
rt.com | 2020-01-19
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said he is open to talks with US President Donald Trump in the hope of repairing ties with the US, while blaming Trump's hawkish advisers for feeding him a distorted narrative. | In an interview with the Washington Post, published on Saturday, Maduro said that he would like to sit down with his US counterpart, suggesting that both countries would benefit from rapprochement based on mutual respect. | If there's respect between governments, no matter how big the United States is, and if there's a dialogue, an exchange of truthful information, then be sure we can create a n…
rt.com/news/478616-venezuela-maduro-direct-talks-trump/

Around The World in 8 Minutes: South African workers' struggle
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-01-19
We look at the struggle lead by NUMSA and NUM unions in South Africa, a run organized against dictatorship in Thailand and the mass assassinations of social leaders in Colombia.
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/01/19/around-the-world-in-8-minutes-south-african-workers-struggle/

Cracking Up the Walls of War and Authoritarianism
Justin Podur | zcomm.org | 2020-01-18
The sustained protests in Colombia are part of a larger trend against austerity and endless war…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/cracking-up-the-walls-of-war-and-authoritarianism/

Colombia: stories of pain and resistance
Zoe PC | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-01-18
The Colombian tragedy continues without an end in sight. The last two weeks have seen a worrying surge in assassinations of social leaders, human rights defenders and ex-combatants. 19 such leaders have been assassinated since the turn of the decade. The demand by organizations and movements for protection and justice for the leaders

Brazil's far-right government backed terror plot against Venezuela, top newspaper reveals
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-17
Brazil's extreme Bolsonaro government backed an attack on Venezuela in a plot to overthrow its elected president. The shocking terror…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/17/brazil-paper-reveals-bolsonaro-terror-plot-venezuela/

Brazil's far-right government backed terror plot against Venezuela, top newspaper reveals
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-17
Brazil's extreme Bolsonaro government backed an attack on Venezuela in a plot to overthrow its elected president. The shocking terror…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/17/brazil-paper-reveals-bolsonaro-terror-plot-venezuela/

Trump Prosecutors Make Move to Ensure that Embassy Protectors are Convicted
Ajamu Baraka | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-17
As the trial approaches, the lawyers for the Trump Administration's prosecution of the four Venezuelan Embassy Protectors who were arrested last May are asking the court to make sure the jury is kept ignorant about the facts and circumstances surrounding the actions of the protectors. In a recently filed motion by government lawyers, state prosecutors…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/17/trump-prosecutors-make-move-to-ensure-that-embassy-protectors-are-convicted/

'Protecting TeleSUR Is Protecting the Peoples' Voice' Villegas
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-17
The New Television of the South (teleSUR) president Patricia Villegas Thursday warned about the difficulties of doing progressive journalism in Latin America and stressed that "protecting teleSUR is protecting the voice of the peoples of the world". | RELATED: | Desperate Juan Guaido Vows Again to Plunder teleSUR's Signal | At teleSUR "we have been accustomed all this time to resist amid adversities," Villegas said and recalled that "we are a very powerful voice … the vision of…
telesurenglish.net/news/Protecting-TeleSUR-Is-Protecting-the-Peoples-Voice-Villegas-20200117-0004.html

What Really Happened With Venezuela's Parallel President?
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-01-17
Media reports and the Trump administration presented a very one-sided version of the election of Venezuela's National Assembly leadership, presenting it as a coup. But who is trying to overthrow whom?
therealnews.com/stories/what-happened-venezuela-juan-guaido-president

'Latin America in Constant Siege from US': Venezuela's FM
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-17
Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza warned Friday that the United States maintains a permanent siege against Latin America and the Caribbean because it wants to seize its natural resources and implement governments that respond to its domination interests. | RELATED: | Venezuela, China Have Signed More Than 500 Bilateral Agreements | "The region is a constant target of attempted coups, destabilization, terrorism, communicational war, economic, commercial and bankin…
telesurenglish.net/news/Latin-America-in-Constant-Siege-from-US-Venezuelas-FM-20200117-0016.html

Venezuela, China Have Signed More Than 500 Bilateral Agreements
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-17
Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza highlighted Friday that to date Venezuela and China have signed more than 500 bilateral cooperation agreements, many of them converted into projects. | RELATED: | 'Protecting TeleSUR Is Protecting the Peoples' Voice' Villegas | "We have come to reinforce this comprehensive strategic partnership, to check that it goes well, where we should strengthen, where it is necessary to rectify, accelerate or deepen," Arreaza expressed while…
telesurenglish.net/news/venezuela-signs-agreements-with-china-and-denounces-us-siege-20200117-0013.html

In Venezuela, reactionary Guaidó humiliated by assembly defeat
John Catalinotto | workers.org | 2020-01-17
The self-appointed "interim president" of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, received a humiliating setback in that country's National Assembly vote on Jan. 5. He was deposed as leader of the parliamentary body. Throughout 2019, Guaidó served as the designated puppet of U.S. imperialism in Venezuela. He made five attempts with a reactionary, . . . | Continue reading In Venezuela, reactionary Guaidó humiliated by assembly defeat at Workers.org…
workers.org/2020/01/45597/

Colombia: Armed Incursion to Jamundi Leaves Five Civilians Dead
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-17
Five young farmers were killed in the middle of a confrontation among illegal armed groups operating in the municipality of Jamundi, at the Cauca valley, in Colombia. | RELATED: | 17 Social Leaders Assassinated so Far This Year in Colombia | According to local media, the victims were traveling in three cars when members of those armed groups threw explosives into the vehicles destroying them. | On Thursday night, there was a clash among criminal organizations, one of which was ap…
telesurenglish.net/news/Colombia-Armed-Incursion-to-Jamundi-Leaves-Five-Civilians-Dead-20200117-0005.html

Trump Prosecutors Make Move to Ensure that Embassy Protectors are Convicted
Ajamu Baraka and Bahman Azad | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-01-15
As the trial approaches, the lawyers for the Trump Administration's prosecution of the four Venezuelan Embassy Protectors who were arrested last May are asking the court to make sure the jury is kept ignorant about the facts and circumstances surrounding the actions of the protectors. In a recently filed motion by government lawyers, state prosecutors …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/01/trump-prosecutors-make-move-to-ensure-that-embassy-protectors-are-convicted/

Venezuela: Oil Output Stabilizes as Government Eyes Foreign Investment
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-15
The Maduro government is reportedly looking to offer greater advantages to private companies in joint oil ventures.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14766

US Sanctions Venezuela's New Parliament Leader, Senior Opposition Lawmakers
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-14
The legislature's new opposition leadership "categorically" rejected the sanctions.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14764

Colombia: 'Staggering number' of human rights defenders killed in 2019
news.un.org | 2020-01-14
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, is "deeply troubled by the staggering number of human rights defenders killed in Colombia" last year, its spokesperson said on Tuesday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/01/1055272

Under US pressure, social media companies censor critical content and suspend Venezuelan, Iranian, and Syrian accounts
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-13
As the US escalates its hybrid wars, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/12/us-pressure-social-media-censoring-suspending-venezuela-iran-syria/

Colombia: 'Significant strides' towards integrated peace, UN envoy tells Security Council
news.un.org | 2020-01-13
Colombia has continued to make "significant strides in its peace process", the top UN envoy in the country told the Security Council on Monday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/01/1055202

Venezuela Blames Sanctions After UN Voting Right Suspended
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-13
Venezuela, which has one of the highest UN contribution rates in the region, has not paid its dues since 2018.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14762

Juan Guaidó's Top 5 Fails
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-11
Red Lines host Anya Parampil and Diego Sequera, an investigative journalist with the Venezuelan website Misión Verdad, reflect on Juan…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/11/juan-guaidos-top-5-fails/

For Western Press, the Only Coup in Venezuela Is Against Guaidó
Lucas Koerner | fair.org | 2020-01-10
The Washington Post ( 1/5/20) described Venezuelan lawmakers voting against someone other than Washington's chosen candidate to head the assembly as "sedition within the opposition." | The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | In headline after headline, Venezue…
fair.org/home/for-western-press-the-only-coup-in-venezuela-is-against-guaido/

For Western Press, the Only Coup in Venezuela Is Against Guaidó
Lucas Koerner | fair.org | 2020-01-10
The Washington Post ( 1/5/20) described Venezuelan lawmakers voting against someone other than Washington's chosen candidate to head the assembly as "sedition within the opposition." | The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | In headline after headline, Venezue…
fair.org/home/for-western-press-the-only-coup-in-venezuela-is-against-guaido/

Venezuela: Guaido installs parallel parliament, US threatens more sanctions
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-01-10
Venezuela Ricardo VazIssue 1248 Venezuela Juan Guaido US Vice President Mike PenceJanuary 10, 2020Opposition leader Juan Guaido installed a "parallel" parliament in Caracas on January 7. | The…
greenleft.org.au/content/venezuela-guaido-installs-parallel-parliament-us-threatens-more-sanctions

The end of Juan Guaidó: Venezuelan coup leader rejected by country's opposition
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-09
Red Lines host Anya Parampil breaks down recent events in Venezuela, after US-backed coup leader Juan Guaidó was replaced as…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/09/the-end-of-juan-guaido-venezuelan-coup-leader-rejected-by-countrys-opposition/

This might be the final episode of Juan Guaidó's surreal Venezuela regime-change reality show
Leonardo Flores | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-09
The farcical scene of Juan Guaido attempting to break into Venezuela's National Assembly as its members voted him out was…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/08/final-episode-juan-guaido-surreal-regime-change-reality-show/

Venezuela: Guaido Installs Parallel Parliament After Washington Threatens More Sanctions
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-08
The Trump administration is reportedly mulling sanctions against opposition deputies who voted against Guaido.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14759

Venezuelan Government and Opposition Fraction Announce Release of 14 'Political Prisoners'
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-06
The National Roundtable for Peaceful Dialogue also offered its backing to the new National Assembly president, Luis Parra.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14757

Venezuela: Guaido Replaced as Parliament Head in Disputed Vote
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-05
Pro-Guaido opposition lawmakers have rejected the vote, forming a parallel parliament with US and international right-wing support.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14755

Venezuela Repels 'Terrorist' Attack on Military Bases, 1 Soldier Dead
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-23
The assailants stormed several military installations before being engaged by the Venezuelan army.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14752

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