Monthly Archives: April 2020

2020-04-30: News Headlines

Adriaan Alsema (2020-04-30). How to turn Colombia's prisons into coronavirus death camps and stay positive. colombiareports.com It took months of inaction, but Colombia's government finally turned Villavicencio's prison into the perfect coronavirus petri dish from where its prison chief infected at least three more prisons. The…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-04-30). ELN ends coronavirus ceasefire weeks ahead of expected peak in infections. colombiareports.com Despite calls for an extension, Colombia's ELN rebels end their unilateral ceasefire on Thursday, claiming that military offensives demonstrated President Ivan Duque is not interested in peace or in combating…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-04-30). Duque's approval rating surges to 52%, opponents see support skyrocket. colombiareports.com The approval rating of Colombia's President Ivan Duque surged to a record 52% in April after reaching an all-time low of 23% in February, according to pollster Invamer / Gallup….

Adriaan Alsema (2020-04-29). 'Coronavirus used as excuse to roll back Colombia's peace process and democracy'. colombiareports.com President Ivan Duque and his far-right party are using the coronavirus to cover up "assaults" on Colombia's peace process while promoting authoritarianism, the country's peace movement told the United Nations…

George Stone (2020-04-29). U.S. weaponizes COVID-19 crisis in bid to destabilize Venezuela. peoplesworld.org Venezuelans have been victim to intense U.S. interventionism since Hugo Chávez took power in 1999 and formally launched his "Bolivarian Revolution." They have shown no intention to relent in recent years and have arguably ramped up the pressure since Nicolás Maduro took over as president in 2013. In the midst of a global pandemic, the …

Adriaan Alsema (2020-04-29). Colombia's southeast in crisis as coronavirus breaks out and promised medical aid is missing. colombiareports.com The government of Colombia's southeastern Amazonas province urged for help on Tuesday after a coronavirus outbreak almost instantly collapsed its healthcare system. The National Health Institute (INS) reported that the…

teleSUR (2020-04-29). Colombia: Over 70 Indigenous Families Displaced in Urrao. telesurenglish.net Colombian Antioquia Indigenous Organization (OIA) said on Thursday that their native communities suffered from forced displacement due to the armed groups present in their territory. | RELATED: | According to OIA representatives, over 70 indigenous families left their homes in the southeast municipality of Urrao. As communication states, another 1,000 families could also be in displacement risk in Perdidas Valley and Andabu…

teleSUR (2020-04-28). Venezuela Leads Region in COVID-19 Tests Per Million People. telesurenglish.net Venezuela has become the country with most screening tests for COVID-19 per million inhabitants in Latin America and the Caribbean, Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Rodriguez announced Tuesday. | RELATED: | "Venezuela is the country in Latin America and the Caribbean that has carried out the most tests per million inhabitants. Today we are above 15,500 tests per million inhabitants," Rodriguez said duri…

Fight Back (2020-04-28). Venezuela: Solidarity vs. COVID-19 (and Capital). fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – These are hard days for people the world over. The COVID-19 virus has forced billions of people to stay at home, bringing the global economy to a near standstill. At the moment of writing, nearly 3 million people have been confirmed to have COVID-19 across the world, and over 200,000 people have died. | It is in a crisis like this that society is tested, that the strength of human organization must prove itself. And if there is one thing that every American can see, it is that our society has failed this test. "American exceptionalism" means that our economy and our way of life is superior, that it…

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.

Whitney Webb (2020-04-14). Driven By The Dramatic Collapse Of US Shale, The Trump Administration Takes Aim At Venezuela. thelastamericanvagabond.com President Trump has claimed that the U.S. no longer needs foreign oil and is "energy independent." Yet, now the U.S. shale oil industry faces near total ruin, meaning that another "war for oil" could be in our future. With Trump again taking aim at Venezuela, we may be closer to war than we think. On …

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.

Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner (2020-04-02). US Sends Navy Ships to Caribbean in 'Anti-Drug' Mission Targeting Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com Venezuela denounced an attack on one of its naval vessels in recent days.

Lucas Koerner (2020-03-31). Venezuela Blasts US 'Transition' Plan as 'Tutelage'. venezuelanalysis.com Washington has threatened to "increase" crippling sanctions until Caracas accepts the deal.

Paul Dobson (2020-03-30). Rosneft Dodges US Sanctions by Transferring Venezuela Operations to Russian State Firm. venezuelanalysis.com Moscow insists that its support for the Venezuelan government and role in its oil industry will remain unchanged.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-03-29). Former Venezuelan General Hands Himself over to US Authorities. venezuelanalysis.com Cliver Alcala had recently confessed to plotting a coup against the Venezuelan government.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-03-27). [UPDATED] Venezuela Registers First Coronavirus Deaths. venezuelanalysis.com There are 113 diagnosed cases as of Friday evening.

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2020-03-26). Venezuela Dismisses US Justice Department 'Narco-terrorism' Accusations. venezuelanalysis.com Cliver Alcala, also indicted, confessed to organizing a coup plot against the Maduro government.

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2020-03-25). UN, EU Urge Venezuela Sanctions Relief as Coronavirus Outbreak Intensifies. venezuelanalysis.com The South American nation has 91 reported COVID-19 cases so far.

Paul Dobson (2020-03-23). Venezuela Suspends Rent Payments, Protects Wages as Coronavirus Cases Rise to 77. venezuelanalysis.com The economic measures come as the country enters its seventh day of national lockdown.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-03-18). IMF Rejects Venezuela Emergency Fund Appeal. venezuelanalysis.com The Maduro government asked for a $5 billion loan to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Paul Dobson (2020-03-17). [UPDATED] Venezuela Imposes Nationwide Lockdown to Combat Coronavirus. venezuelanalysis.com The rising number of cases has forced a full quarantine across the country.

Susan Price (2020-04-28). Venezuela: Bolivarian Revolution stopping COVID-19 in its tracks. greenleft.org.au

Ben Norton (2020-04-20). Human Rights Watch cabildea por sanciones letales contra Nicaragua y Venezuela, mientras arrecia la crisis de Covid-19. thegrayzone.com Human Rights Watch está orgullosamente asumiendo el crédito por sanciones devastadoras contra Nicaragua, mientras busca escalar la guerra económica en…

Joe Emersberger (2020-03-13). No, Venezuela does not have a six child per family policy. zcomm.org I respect UK journalist Andrew Buncombe. As I noted for FAIR last year, he was one of the few corporate journalists who reported on a study linking Trump's financial sanctions on Venezuela to thousands of deaths by the end of 2018. Since 2018, Trump has repeatedly intensified the sanctions and threatened Venezuela with military action,

Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner (2020-03-12). [UPDATED] Venezuela Confirms Coronavirus Cases as US Slaps New Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com The Venezuelan president denounced the difficulties caused by US sanctions in tackling coronavirus.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-03-11). Venezuela Oil Output Steadies as Prices Tumble. venezuelanalysis.com Sanctions and a fall in oil prices could threaten Venezuela's main source of foreign currency.

Paul Dobson (2020-03-09). Venezuela: Nearly 50,000 Voting Machines Burnt in 'Terrorist Attack'. venezuelanalysis.com An unknown hard-right militant group has claimed responsibility for the fire which destroyed 99 percent of the country's automated machines.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-03-05). Venezuela's PDVSA to Restart Production in Joint Ventures Despite Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com Petrocedeño and Petromonagas facilities will be converted into blending plants.

Paul Dobson (2020-03-02). Venezuela Adopts Preventative Measures as Coronavirus Spreads in Latin America. venezuelanalysis.com No cases have been confirmed in the country so far, but fears concerning the capacity of Venezuela's sanctions-battered health system to respond remain.

Ricardo Vaz (2020-02-27). Venezuelan Foreign Minister Denounces Sanctions at UN as Trump Issues New Threats. venezuelanalysis.com Trump said there could be "serious sanctions" in the near future.

Paul Dobson (2020-02-24). Venezuela: Presidential Commission to Restructure Oil Industry. venezuelanalysis.com The vital industry will now be overseen by Economy Vice President Tareck El Aissami in efforts to increase output.

Venezuela Analysis (2020-02-06). Embassy Protection Collective: "We Are Not the Ones Who Violated the Law" theantimedia.com In this exclusive interview, VA talks to the activists who defended the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC ahead of their trial.

2020-04-30: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media! (Copy the text of the postee below, then paste it on social media and the story images will also appear.)

How to turn Colombia's prisons into coronavirus death camps and stay positive
Adriaan Alsema | colombiareports.com | 2020-04-30
It took months of inaction, but Colombia's government finally turned Villavicencio's prison into the perfect coronavirus petri dish from where its prison chief infected at least three more prisons. The…
colombiareports.com/how-to-turn-colombias-prisons-into-coronavirus-death-camps-and-stay-positive/

ELN ends coronavirus ceasefire weeks ahead of expected peak in infections
Adriaan Alsema | colombiareports.com | 2020-04-30
Despite calls for an extension, Colombia's ELN rebels end their unilateral ceasefire on Thursday, claiming that military offensives demonstrated President Ivan Duque is not interested in peace or in combating…
colombiareports.com/eln-ends-coronavirus-ceasefire-weeks-ahead-of-expected-peak-in-infections/

Duque's approval rating surges to 52%, opponents see support skyrocket
Adriaan Alsema | colombiareports.com | 2020-04-30
The approval rating of Colombia's President Ivan Duque surged to a record 52% in April after reaching an all-time low of 23% in February, according to pollster Invamer / Gallup….
colombiareports.com/duques-approval-rating-surges-to-52-opponents-see-support-skyrocket/

'Coronavirus used as excuse to roll back Colombia's peace process and democracy'
Adriaan Alsema | colombiareports.com | 2020-04-29
President Ivan Duque and his far-right party are using the coronavirus to cover up "assaults" on Colombia's peace process while promoting authoritarianism, the country's peace movement told the United Nations…
colombiareports.com/coronavirus-used-as-excuse-to-roll-back-colombias-peace-process-and-democracy/

Protests Mount in Panama Over Hunger Amid COVID-19 Lockdown
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-29
Hunger protests in Panama are increasing as despair grips people who do not have access to food distributed by the government, local media reported Wednesday. | RELATED: | Hunger Protests Grow in Colombia Amid Coronavirus Lockdown | The stay at home measures imposed by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus has led to layoffs in the Central American country plunging thousands of people into dire economic conditions. | Since the beginning of the outbreak, the leftist…
telesurenglish.net/news/Protests-Mount-in-Panama-Over-Hunger-Amid-COVID-19-Lockdown-20200429-0020.html

U.S. weaponizes COVID-19 crisis in bid to destabilize Venezuela
George Stone | peoplesworld.org | 2020-04-29
Venezuelans have been victim to intense U.S. interventionism since Hugo Chávez took power in 1999 and formally launched his "Bolivarian Revolution." They have shown no intention to relent in recent years and have arguably ramped up the pressure since Nicolás Maduro took over as president in 2013. In the midst of a global pandemic, the …
peoplesworld.org/article/u-s-weaponizes-covid-19-crisis-in-bid-to-destabilize-venezuela/

WTI Oil Price Increases by 30.6 Percent Due to Upturn in Demand
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-29
As of Wednesday noon, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil increased by 30.6 percent and reached USD16.12 per barrel, driven by the prospect of a rebound in the global demand and a very slight increase in the U.S. inventories. | RELATED: | Trump Orders U.S. Oil Companies to Halt Operations in Venezuela | Compared to what happened on Tuesday, the futures for oil delivery improved by US$3.78. At some times today, oil prices rose even more than 34 percent. | This…
telesurenglish.net/news/WTI-Oil-Price-Increases-by-30.6-Percent-Due-to-Upturn-in-Demand-20200429-0008.html

Colombia's southeast in crisis as coronavirus breaks out and promised medical aid is missing
Adriaan Alsema | colombiareports.com | 2020-04-29
The government of Colombia's southeastern Amazonas province urged for help on Tuesday after a coronavirus outbreak almost instantly collapsed its healthcare system. The National Health Institute (INS) reported that the…
colombiareports.com/colombias-southeast-in-crisis-as-coronavirus-breaks-out-and-promised-medical-aid-is-missing/

Colombia: Over 70 Indigenous Families Displaced in Urrao
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-29
Colombian Antioquia Indigenous Organization (OIA) said on Thursday that their native communities suffered from forced displacement due to the armed groups present in their territory. | RELATED: | Colombia: Bus Crowds Mark Gradual Opening Since Quarantine | According to OIA representatives, over 70 indigenous families left their homes in the southeast municipality of Urrao. As communication states, another 1,000 families could also be in displacement risk in Perdidas Valley and Andabu…
telesurenglish.net/news/-colombia-over-70-indigenous-families-displaced-in-urrao–20200429-0014.html

Venezuela Leads Region in COVID-19 Tests Per Million People
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-28
Venezuela has become the country with most screening tests for COVID-19 per million inhabitants in Latin America and the Caribbean, Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Rodriguez announced Tuesday. | RELATED: | Brazil and Colombia Are Epidemiological Threats to Venezuela | "Venezuela is the country in Latin America and the Caribbean that has carried out the most tests per million inhabitants. Today we are above 15,500 tests per million inhabitants," Rodriguez said duri…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Leads-Region-in-COVID-19-Tests-Per-Million-People-20200428-0021.html

Venezuela: Solidarity vs. COVID-19 (and Capital)
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-04-28
Chicago, IL – These are hard days for people the world over. The COVID-19 virus has forced billions of people to stay at home, bringing the global economy to a near standstill. At the moment of writing, nearly 3 million people have been confirmed to have COVID-19 across the world, and over 200,000 people have died. | It is in a crisis like this that society is tested, that the strength of human organization must prove itself. And if there is one thing that every American can see, it is that our society has failed this test. "American exceptionalism" means that our economy and our way of life is superior, that it…
fightbacknews.org/2020/4/28/venezuela-solidarity-vs-covid-19-and-capital

Venezuela Rolls out Cabinet Change, Economic Measures to Combat Inflation
venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-04-27
Measures include a 60 percent wage increase and a push to bring food prices under control.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14855

Venezuela: Guaido to Use Funds Frozen in US to Pay Loyalists $5000 Monthly Salaries
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-04-23
Pro-Guaido lawmakers and diplomats will take nearly a third of an $80 million "Liberation Fund."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14853

Trump Administration Orders Chevron to Shutter Venezuela Operations
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-04-22
The latest measures followed reports of fresh dialogue between the government and the opposition.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14852

US 'Plunders' $342m of Venezuelan Funds as COVID-19 Hotspot Breaks Out at Baseball Academy
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-04-20
The money has been transferred from a Venezuelan Central Bank account at Citibank to an account at the US Federal Reserve.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14850

Venezuelan Crude Production Falls amid Coronavirus Crisis
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-04-16
The Caribbean country has seen worsening gasoline shortages as the US ramps up secondary sanctions.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14847

Driven By The Dramatic Collapse Of US Shale, The Trump Administration Takes Aim At Venezuela
Whitney Webb | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-14
President Trump has claimed that the U.S. no longer needs foreign oil and is "energy independent." Yet, now the U.S. shale oil industry faces near total ruin, meaning that another "war for oil" could be in our future. With Trump again taking aim at Venezuela, we may be closer to war than we think. On …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/foreign-policy/driven-dramatic-collapse-us-shale-trump-administration-takes-aim-venezuela/

Venezuela Extends COVID-19 Quarantine as Pope Criticizes Sanctions
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-04-13
This is the first time the Pontiff has spoken out against the measures.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14842

European Left Slams EU Support for Trump's Venezuela 'Transition' Plan
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-04-08
The European Union took "positive note" of Washington's initiative.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14839

Venezuela Braces for Migrant Return as Coronavirus Rattles Latin America
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-04-06
The Caribbean country's 159 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths is considerably lower than its neighbours' tallies.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14835

US Sends Navy Ships to Caribbean in 'Anti-Drug' Mission Targeting Venezuela
Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-04-02
Venezuela denounced an attack on one of its naval vessels in recent days.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14832

Venezuela Blasts US 'Transition' Plan as 'Tutelage'
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-03-31
Washington has threatened to "increase" crippling sanctions until Caracas accepts the deal.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14830

Rosneft Dodges US Sanctions by Transferring Venezuela Operations to Russian State Firm
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-03-30
Moscow insists that its support for the Venezuelan government and role in its oil industry will remain unchanged.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14829

Venezuela: Bolivarian Revolution stopping COVID-19 in its tracks
Susan Price | greenleft.org.au | 2020-04-28
Healthcare Nelson DávilaIssue 1263 Venezuela COVID-19 Bolivarian revolution CaracasApril 28, 2020At the time of writing, 37 day…
greenleft.org.au/content/venezuela-bolivarian-revolution-stopping-covid-19-its-tracks

Human Rights Watch cabildea por sanciones letales contra Nicaragua y Venezuela, mientras arrecia la crisis de Covid-19
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-04-20
Human Rights Watch está orgullosamente asumiendo el crédito por sanciones devastadoras contra Nicaragua, mientras busca escalar la guerra económica en…
thegrayzone.com/2020/04/20/human-rights-watch-sanciones-nicaragua-venezuela/