2020-05-12: News Headlines

Betsey Piette (2020-05-12). Sanctions = Health terrorism. workers.org A timely international webinar, sponsored by SanctionsKill.org on May 9, featured representatives from Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria and Venezuela, plus a statement from Zimbabwe addressing the deadly impact of U.S. sanctions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1,000 people from nearly every continent, including multiple U.S. cities, viewed the event. The . . . |

W. T. Whitney Jr. (2020-05-12). U.S. hand in recent assaults on Cuba, Venezuela. peoplesworld.org Secretary of State Pompeo loudly condemns Iranian border guards who abused Afghans crossing into Iran. He castigates China's supposed failings with the COVID 19 pandemic. He and President Trump rail against dictatorship they see in Venezuela. They protest Cuba's "slave doctors" — who actually "defend health care as a human right," according to Cuba's foreign …

Eds. (2020-05-12). Genocide and Military Occupation: The five most important keys to the Guaidó-Silvercorp contract. mronline.org Finally, the complete content of the contract signed by Juan Guaidó, Sergio Vergara and J.J. Rendón with the American mercenary firm Silvercorp, led by former military officer Jordan Goudreau, has been released.

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-12). Duque used Colombia's peace funds to pay for presidential approval poll. colombiareports.com Colombia's President Ivan Duque used money meant for the implementation of peace policies to pay for a poll over public approval of his peace policy, local media reported on Monday….

Maria Paez Victor (2020-05-12). What If Armed Terrorists Threatened the Prime Minister of Canada? counterpunch.org Fortunately, Canada is not a country that has suffered continuous threats of coup d'etats as Venezuela has these last 21 years. The Motive Be that as it may, as a matter of clarification and discernment, let us imagine the following: suppose a powerful foreign power — let's call it Statesland — intent on taking over

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-12). Colombia considering guaranteed minimum income as famine looms. colombiareports.com Almost half of Colombia's senators signed off on a proposal to urgently implement a guaranteed minimum income for more than 70% of the population. The radical proposal would temporarily guarantee…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-12). Colombia's farmers claim government lifting import tariffs puts domestic food production at risk. colombiareports.com Colombia's farmers' organizations said Monday that an emergency decree lifting import tariffs on corn and soy is threatening domestic food production. The organizations called on the State Council to declare…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-12). Colombia considering guaranteed minimum income as famine looms. colombiareports.com Almost half of Colombia's senators signed off on a proposal to urgently implement a guaranteed minimum income for more than 70% of the population. The radical proposal would temporarily guarantee…

Alan MacLeod (2020-05-11). Guaidó's mercenary hit contract on Venezuela's Maduro mirrors official US bounty, authorizes death squad killings. thegrayzone.com The leaked contract between Juan Guaidó and the Silvercorp USA mercenary firm closely resembles a DEA bounty placed on the…

teleSUR (2020-05-11). US-Based Advisers From Guaido's Team Quit Over Foiled Coup Plot. telesurenglish.net United States-based advisers to lawmaker Juan Guaido quit Monday over the foiled May 3 coup attempt and their involvement in hiring mercenaries to carry out the plot aimed at assassinating Venezuela's government officials and president. | RELATED: | Right-wing strategist Juan Jose Rendon and Sergio Vergara confirmed their resignations in public letters after the Miami-based adviser to Guaido, admitted Tuesday of hiring U.S…

Eds. (2020-05-11). U.S. ratchets up Hybrid Warfare in Venezuela. mronline.org Nino Pagliccia examines the recent mercenary incursion into the Venezuelan territory.

Paul Dobson (2020-05-11). Western Venezuela Rocked by Rolling Blackouts. venezuelanalysis.com Low water levels at hydroelectric dams, "terrorist sabotage" and damaged infrastructure have been blamed for the power cuts.

teleSUR (2020-05-11). Venezuela Captures 14 Mercenaries in the Last 24 Hours. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan State Security Forces captured In the last 24 hours a total of 14 mercenaries involved in an armed maritime incursion. | RELATED: | "At the end of Sunday, three mercenaries were captured in the mountain town of San Miguel, in the parish of Carayaca, Vargas state," the Strategic Region of Integral Defense Capital of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) reported on Monday on…

Leonardo Flores (2020-05-11). Botched Infiltration of Venezuela Leaves Guaidó Tainted Beyond Repair. commondreams.org The townspeople of Chuao, Venezuela, being honored for their role in the capture of eight mercenaries. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/chuao_bolivar.jpg

Leonardo Flores (2020-05-11). The Botched Infiltration of Venezuela Leaves Guaidó Tainted Beyond Repair. mintpressnews.com Given Guaidó's involvement, it is impossible for Washington to wash its hands of the plot. The Trump administration is responsible for giving him what little power he has, and therefore it is responsible for his actions.

teleSUR (2020-05-11). UN Condemns Killings of Ex-FARC, Social Leaders in Colombia. telesurenglish.net The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia condemned Saturday the murder of the 24th ex-combatant of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), expressing its "concern" over the systematic killings. | RELATED: | The Revolutionary Alternative Force for the Commons (FARC) party denounced that Wilder Marin's body was found "wrapped in a burning mattress" in the northwestern municipality of Bello. | The demobilized ex-combatant…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-11). ICC looking into Colombia's private sector terrorism support: report. colombiareports.com The International Criminal Court (ICC) is looking into Colombia's private sector's ties to paramilitary groups, newspaper El Tiempo reported on Sunday. The daily received a March 10 report from the…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-11). Colombia's military to surrender illegal spying evidence to prosecution. colombiareports.com Colombia's defense minister said Sunday that the military will provide the prosecution with evidence against 13 of its members who allegedly took part in the illegal spying on journalists, NGO's,…

teleSUR (2020-05-11). Colombia: Avianca Airlines Declares Bankruptcy Due to COVID-19. telesurenglish.net Colombian airline Avianca announced Sunday that they are declaring bankruptcy after an 80% income drop due to the health crisis. | RELATED: | Avianca Holdings airline representatives published a communication announcing voluntary bankruptcy declaration to protect future operations. "Today our wings are closed so that tomorrow we can all continue to fly "tweeted Anko van der Werff, Avianca president. | The compa…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-11). Colombia fails to regulate local coronavirus lockdown exemption plan. colombiareports.com Colombia's health ministry failed to publish regulation that would allow mayors to request exemption from national lockdown measures on Monday as promised last week. The regional relaxation of lockdown measures…

teleSUR (2020-05-10). Iran Slams Failed US Incursion to Overthrow Venezuelan Leader. telesurenglish.net The Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejected the U.S.-led armed incursion into Venezuela, which was intended to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. | RELATED: | Iran's Foreign Ministry called on Washington to stop meddling in the internal affairs of sovereign nations, now and forever, while also ending their inhuman blockade of these countries. | "The terrible report on the failed U.S.-led terrorist plo…

Howie Hawkins (2020-05-10). Fight COVID-19 Not Venezuela. dissidentvoice.org The Keystone Cops have nothing on the rag-tag group of soldiers of fortune who failed earlier this week in their implausible plot to kidnap Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, trigger a military coup, and install the US puppet, Juan Guaidó, in the presidency. We know all about the hair-brained scheme due to a falling out of …

teleSUR (2020-05-10). 3 Mercenaries Arrested in Venezuela With Ties to Foiled Coup. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's government announced Sunday that its Special Forces apprehended three mercenaries with ties to the foiled May 3 plot in the northern state of Aragua, which borders Caracas. | RELATED: | The detainees were identified as First Lieutenant Jairo Betemy, Army Second Sergeant Franco Jonathan, and Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) First Sergeant Evan Rincon, who are now in the custody of the corresponding authorities.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-05-10). [UPDATED] Venezuela Makes Fresh Arrests as Opposition Splinters over Failed Coup. venezuelanalysis.com Trump said the operation "was not a good attack," again denying any US involvement.

Anya Parampil (2020-05-08). Silvercorp co-founder speaks with The Grayzone: What did State Department know about failed Venezuela invasion? thegrayzone.com The Grayzone speaks to Drew White — a close friend and business partner of Silvercorp mercenary firm founder and failed…

Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner (2020-05-07). US Investigating Ex-Green Beret, Denies 'Direct' Involvement in Failed Venezuela Coup. venezuelanalysis.com New documents confirm that the Venezuelan opposition signed a contract with Florida-based Silvercorp to kidnap President Nicolas Maduro.

Lucas Koerner (2020-05-07). Guardian Blames Trump's Murderous US Exceptionalism on Hugo Chávez. fair.org What better time to vilify the popular former leader of a country under deadly US siege than a deadly pandemic? Such was clearly the reasoning of Guardian journalist Rory Carroll when he penned an op-ed headlined, "Blunder, Distraction, Denial: Trump Follows Chávez's Successful Template" (4/19/20). Seemingly immune to irony, Carroll compares Venezuela's late socialist …

Staff (2020-05-07). Headlines for May 7, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 73,400 as 41 States Begin Reopening | , White House Shelves Guidelines on Reopening, as Experts Warn U.S. Failing to Stem COVID-19 Deaths, Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. Children Going Hungry as Unemployment Surges to Great Depression Levels, State Budget Cuts Loom as Trump Rails Against "Blue State Bailouts" | , United Nations Seeks $6.7 Billion for Coronavirus Aid to Poor Countries | , EU Warns Pandemic Economic Recession Will Be Worst in History | , Closing Ceremony of Spanish Coronavirus Field Hospital Marred by Tightly Packed Crowds, Venezuelan TV Airs Video of Arrested U.S. Mercenary Co…

sputniknews (2020-05-12). Russia to Consider Caracas' Request for Help in Probe of Invasion If Asked – Lavrov. sputniknews.com MOSCOW(Sputnik) – Russia will consider Venezuela's request for help in investigation of a naval incursion if it receives such request, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday .

sputniknews (2020-05-12). US Mercenaries Went Ahead With Venezuela Invasion Despite Being Outed on TV Weeks Earlier — Video. sputniknews.com The fallout continues from 'Operation Gideon', the brazen May 3-4 attempt by a US security contractor to invade Venezuela, kidnap its president and take him back to the United States. The White House remains in damage control mode, denying any responsibility for the plot while seeking to bring the captured US mercenaries involved back home.

Staff (2020-05-06). U.S. Mercenaries Captured in Venezuela After Failed Coup Attempt Compared to a "Bad Rambo Movie" democracynow.org We look at an incredible story unfolding in Venezuela of a failed coup attempt. Did a former Green Beret mastermind it? Two Americans have been arrested in Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro claims the U.S. was behind the plot. "It looks like a bad Rambo movie, or a really bad telenovela," says Miguel Tinker Salas, author of "The Enduring Legacy: Oil, Culture, and Society in Venezuela." He notes that "the U.S. is seeking regime change … and the consequences for Venezuela could be very dire going forward."

Ryan Cristián (2020-05-06). A Massive "COVID-19" Cover Up Is Underway & 'US Mercenaries' Caught In Venezuelan Coup Attempt. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (5/5/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Ryan Cristián (2020-05-06). Horrifying Glimpse Into How DARPA Will "Save" You From COVID-19 & Venezuela Coup Tied Back To Trump. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (5/6/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2020-05-05). Venezuela: Two US Citizens Captured in Botched Coup Attempt. venezuelanalysis.com Two former green berets were arrested in a second failed assault on Venezuelan shores on Monday.

Staff (2020-05-05). Headlines for May 5, 2020. democracynow.org Dire Forecasts Warn U.S. Death Toll Could Surge in Coming Weeks as States Move to Relax Restrictions, China Rebukes Trump Admin Claim That Coronavirus Was Man-Made, Report Says Brooklyn Jail Destroying Medical Records to Hide Toll of COVID-19, J. Crew Files for Bankruptcy, Betsy DeVos Sued for Garnishing Wages of Student Loan Holders During Pandemic, EU, World Leaders Pledge Billions to Fund Coronavirus Vaccine; U.S. Sits Out, Questions Raised After 3 Doctors in Russia Fall from Hospital Windows, U.K. May Have Second-Highest Coronavirus Death Toll; France Identifies COVID-19 Case from December, Venezuela Detains…

Nic de la Riva (2020-05-05). Paramilitary invasions in Venezuela: Made in USA. liberationnews.org Attempted invasion taken care of swiftly and efficiently by the Venezuelan government.

Susan Price (2020-05-05). Venezuela thwarts invasion attempts by mercenaries. greenleft.org.au

Paul Dobson (2020-05-04). Venezuela: 45 Killed in Guanare Prison Riot. venezuelanalysis.com The government pledged to investigate the May 1 riot, which it described as an attempted breakout.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-05-03). Venezuelan Armed Forces: Paramilitary Incursion Neutralized. venezuelanalysis.com Former US green beret Jordan Goudreau, reported to have led preparations for a coup, confirmed the operation.

Joe Emersberger (2020-05-02). Remembering Henri Falcon's May 2018 Presidential campaign in Venezuela. zcomm.org Henri Falcon was a viable candidate — attacked by his own side Venezuela's opposition had a viable candidate in Henri Falcon, a two-time governor of the state of Lara. He was first elected governor of the state of Lara in 2008 as a pro-Chavez candidate.[1] He broke with Chavez in 2010 and was then re-elected

Lucas Koerner (2020-05-02). Former US Special Ops Soldier Led Plot to Invade Venezuela: Sources. venezuelanalysis.com AP reports that the Venezuelan opposition and Colombian authorities were aware of the plan.

Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner (2020-04-30). US to Mobilize Military Reservists in 'Anti-Drug' Operation Against Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com The Trump administration is also targeting oil-for-food deals involving the Venezuelan government and Mexican companies.

Venezuelanalysis (2020-04-27). Venezuela Rolls out Cabinet Change, Economic Measures to Combat Inflation. venezuelanalysis.com Measures include a 60 percent wage increase and a push to bring food prices under control.

Lucas Koerner (2020-04-23). Venezuela: Guaido to Use Funds Frozen in US to Pay Loyalists $5000 Monthly Salaries. venezuelanalysis.com Pro-Guaido lawmakers and diplomats will take nearly a third of an $80 million "Liberation Fund."

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2020-04-22). Trump Administration Orders Chevron to Shutter Venezuela Operations. venezuelanalysis.com The latest measures followed reports of fresh dialogue between the government and the opposition.

Paul Dobson (2020-04-20). US 'Plunders' $342m of Venezuelan Funds as COVID-19 Hotspot Breaks Out at Baseball Academy. venezuelanalysis.com The money has been transferred from a Venezuelan Central Bank account at Citibank to an account at the US Federal Reserve.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-04-16). Venezuelan Crude Production Falls amid Coronavirus Crisis. venezuelanalysis.com The Caribbean country has seen worsening gasoline shortages as the US ramps up secondary sanctions.

Paul Dobson (2020-04-13). Venezuela Extends COVID-19 Quarantine as Pope Criticizes Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com This is the first time the Pontiff has spoken out against the measures.

Lucas Koerner (2020-04-08). European Left Slams EU Support for Trump's Venezuela 'Transition' Plan. venezuelanalysis.com The European Union took "positive note" of Washington's initiative.

Paul Dobson (2020-04-06). Venezuela Braces for Migrant Return as Coronavirus Rattles Latin America. venezuelanalysis.com The Caribbean country's 159 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths is considerably lower than its neighbours' tallies.