2020-01-22: News Headlines

RT (2020-01-22). Can cryptocurrencies protect countries from US sanctions? RT's Boom Bust finds out. rt.com RT's Boom Bust has sat in with the CEO of cryptocurrency aggregator Bitsian to discuss how nations facing tough US sanctions have been exploring cryptocurrencies in attempt to shield their economies from damage. | "These countries are looking at this as a way to avoid sanctions, but also these are countries, where their own sovereign currencies are facing huge amount of devaluation and lack of trust by their own people," Raakhee Miller told Boom Bust. | The CEO said that countries such as Venezuela and Iran face a "flight-to-quality" so bitcoin becomes more trustworthy for people to keep their assets. Howev…

Lucas Koerner (2020-01-22). How Western Left Media Helped Legitimate US Regime Change in Venezuela. fair.org In Jacobin ( It's been a year since Juan Guaidó began his US-anointed mandate as "interim president" of Venezuela. | Following the opposition leader's

Mario Murcia (2020-01-22). Colombia demonstrations resume demanding dignity for the people and end to right-wing violence. liberationnews.org Major national protests took place across Colombia January 21 within the context of the national strike movement that began on November 21.

Justin Podur (2020-01-22). The People of Colombia are Cracking the Walls of War and Authoritarianism. counterpunch.org The protests that started with the national strike called by Colombia's central union on November 21 to protest pension reforms and the broken promises of the peace accords have persisted for two months and grown into a protest against the whole establishment. And the protests have continued into the new year and show no signs

teleSUR (2020-01-22). Protests Continue In Colombia Against Ivan Duque's Policies. telesurenglish.net Several clashes between demonstrators and the police took place during rallies in Bogotá and several regions of the country, in the context of a day of protest in Colombia, where isolated cases of repression were reported. | The most serious incident happened in Bogota, when a g…

Joao Pedro Stedile (2020-01-22). 20 points to understand the drama of the right-wing opposition in Venezuela. peoplesdispatch.org The honeymoon of the Venezuelan right-wing opposition is definitively over. While one year ago, the different opposition sectors rallied behind Juan Guaidó in his self-proclaimed presidential ambitions, for the past several months the sectors have been embroiled in controversies over corruption and embezzlement. This cumulated in the loss of support for Guaidó as president of the National Assembly and the election of opposition legislator Luis Parra as president of the Assembly on January 5. | What happened to bring about this conflict and what is happening in Venezuela now? Joà£o Pedro Stedile, a member of…

Fight Back (2020-01-21). FRSO Delegation Visits Bolivarian University of Venezuela. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela—A Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) delegation visited the Bolivarian University of Venezuela on January 20, speaking to political science classes. | "Students asked about the movements for change in our country. They definitely had the impression people are protesting Trump, and movements are growing stronger. They are excited that socialist ideas are becoming popular in the U.S.," said Brad Sigal, a delegation member from Minneapolis. | Sigal continued, "Many of the students are attending the university because of the Bolivarian Revolution and the opportunities it opens up fo…

teleSUR (2020-01-21). Network for Defence of Humanity Voices Support for teleSUR. telesurenglish.net Our America, January 20, 2020 | Compañera Patricia Villegas | President of TELESUR | Caracas, Venezuela | Dear Patricia, | It is difficult to gather together so many elements and of such weak credibility, as those used today by the empire's lackeys with threats and attempts to silence Telesur. These efforts only reaffirm the certainty of the value of this station in the battle of the peoples for their right to truth. | How many times have we, as spectators, felt comforted to see that a Telesur team is in the place where transcendental events are happening for those who have been silenced, for those who ha…

WSWS (2020-01-21). Venezuela's Maduro offers Trump a "win-win" bargain. wsws.org In an interview with the Washington Post, the Venezuelan president "suggested that a bonanza could be waiting for U.S. oil companies" if the White House ends sanctions.

Justin Podur (2020-01-20). The people of Colombia are cracking up the walls of war and authoritarianism. mronline.org The protests that started with the national strike called by Colombia's central union on November 21 to protest pension reforms and the broken promises of the peace accords have persisted for two months and grown into a protest against the whole establishment. And the protests have continued into the new year and show no signs […] |

Ben Norton (2020-01-20). Brazil's far-right government backed terror plot against Venezuela, top newspaper reveals. mronline.org Brazil's extreme Bolsonaro government backed an attack on Venezuela in a plot to overthrow its elected president. The shocking terror operation has received no coverage in mainstream U.S. media. |

Fight Back (2020-01-20). Embassy Protectors speak out in Fort Lauderdale. fightbacknews.org Fort Lauderdale, FL — Over 60 people from South Florida's tri-county area gathered at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church of Fort Lauderdale to hear a panel and question-and-answer session featuring anti-war activists Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers. Zeese and Flowers are two of the four Embassy Protector activists who spent 37 days protecting international law and peace within the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, D.C. They are currently facing bogus federal charges brought by the Trump administration that, if convicted, would mean up to one year in prison and $100,000 fines each. | Also on th…

Orlenys Ortiz (2020-01-20). Cómo Juan Guaidó perdió el control de la Asamblea Nacional en Venezuela. thegrayzone.com øNo entiendes lo sucedido el 5 de enero en la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela? Echemos un vistazo cronológico al fracaso…

teleSUR, jg (2020-01-20). Venezuelan President Proposes Respectful Dialogue With US Gov't. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed once again that he welcomes dialogue with the United States as long as it is based on mutual respect between both governments. | In an exclusive interview with The Washington Post, published this weekend, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proposed dialogue with the United States, which would establish a different relationship between both countri…

Paul Dobson (2020-01-20). Venezuela Strengthens Cuba, China and Iran Ties Following Guatemala Row. venezuelanalysis.com Cuba and Venezuela have reportedly signed more than 1,400 agreements since 2000.

Paul Dobson (2020-01-20). Venezuela Strengthens Cuba, China, Iran Ties Despite Guatemala Rupture. venezuelanalysis.com Cuba and Venezuela have reportedly signed more than 1,400 agreements since 2000.

teleSUR (2020-01-20). Venezuelan FM Makes Official Visit to Iran to Boost Relations. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza met on Monday with his counterpart from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javad Zarif, to discuss a number of topics, including the strengthening of bilateral relations. | RELATED: | Heading a high-ranking delegation, Arreaza, arrived in Tehran on Sunday night for a three-day visit. Arreaza's visit to Iran comes just a week after he made his first official visit to China. | "The Minister o…

teleSUR (2020-01-19). One More Social Leader Killed In Colombia, 21 So Far in 2020. telesurenglish.net The Cordobexia Social Foundation denounced Saturday the assassination of social leader Luis Dario Rodriguez, the second activist killed in the northwestern department of Cordoba this week and the 21st so far in Colombia this year. | RELATED: | According to the statement released by the foundation, the social leader was murdered on Friday afternoon as he was returning home from a fishing trip in the municipality of Tierr…

John Catalinotto (2020-01-17). In Venezuela, reactionary Guaidó humiliated by assembly defeat. workers.org 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, . . . |

Staff (2020-01-17). What Really Happened With Venezuela's Parallel President? therealnews.com 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?

Ajamu Baraka and Bahman Azad (2020-01-15). Trump Prosecutors Make Move to Ensure that Embassy Protectors are Convicted. dissidentvoice.org 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 …

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

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

news.un (2020-01-14). Colombia: 'Staggering number' of human rights defenders killed in 2019. news.un.org 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.

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

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

Anya Parampil (2020-01-11). Juan Guaidó's top 5 fails. thegrayzone.com Anya Parampil reflects on Juan Guaidó's greatest failures throughout his first year as wannabe president of Venezuela along with Diego…

pip.hinman (2020-01-10). Venezuela: Guaido installs parallel parliament, US threatens more sanctions. greenleft.org.au The…

Lucas Koerner (2020-01-10). For Western Press, the Only Coup in Venezuela Is Against Guaidó. fair.org The Washington Post ( 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…

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

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

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

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

Joe Emersberger (2019-12-20). Notes on a private TV newscast in Bolivia. The contrast with Venezuela is clear as day. zcomm.org 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

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

Joe Emersberger (2019-12-16). Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela. zcomm.org 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

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

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