Daily Archives: December 11, 2020

2020-12-11: News Headlines

Alan MacLeod (2020-12-11). U.S. media, pols rage after Venezuelans defy U.S. empire to re-elect socialists. mronline.org Despite the fact that the election was overseen by 1,500 international observers, U.S. pols and media pundits alike labeled it a sham before it even took place.

Vijay Prashad (2020-12-11). We don't listen to the dying Government of Donald Trump. mronline.org The night before the National Assembly elections in Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro spoke to a group of visitors at Miraflores Palace in Caracas.

Workers World Party (2020-12-11). PDF of December 10 issue. workers.org Download the 12-page PDF. Capitalist COVID catastrophe FIGHT or DIE! Message from Peltier; Reparations now! Justice for Breonna denied again; Disability rights; Workers demand justice; DEA surveillance; Editorial: New president — same wars; Commentary: Becoming a cadre; GLOBAL: China: global vaccines, science; India: worker & farmer uprising; Cuba; France; Palestine; Venezuela. . . . |

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-11). Nicolás Maduro: Despite everything, we were able to carry out elections in peace. peoplesdispatch.org Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro gave a press conference to international media on Tuesday, December 8 to discuss the parliamentary elections held last Sunday. During the press conference, which Peoples Dispatch participated in, Maduro discussed the electoral process wherein the alliance led by his party PSUV (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) won 68%. | In the press conference, Maduro celebrated the outcome of the elections, stating that beyond the electoral victory of PSUV, they marked a victory of the Venezuelan people who not only took part peacefully but also voted to constitute a plural and diverse Na…

_____ (2020-12-11). Free Elections In Venezuela Are A Blow To Regime Change. popularresistance.org Venezuela held legislative elections on December 6 and, as has become the norm, the U.S. and sectors of the opposition that boycotted the election are claiming fraud without presenting evidence. The coalition of parties supporting President Maduro won 68% of the vote and a supermajority in the National Assembly. All the evidence suggests the elections were free and fair. However, turnout was only 31%, a participation rate that was hampered by a partial opposition boycott of the election. | This call to abstain was made by Juan Guaidó and his allies, but a different faction of the opposition participated fully.

Mnar Muhawesh Adley (2020-12-11). Podcast Panel: US Meddling In Venezuela Elections, Economic Warfare & COVID-19. mintpressnews.com Observed by 1,500 international election observers from 34 countries, elections in Venezuela handed Nicholas Maduro a clear victory, sending a message to the US that it failed to influence the same elections that Mike Pompeo called illegitimate.

Ramzy Baroud (2020-12-11). 'Long Live the (Dead) Peace Process'. zcomm.org Abbas Prioritizes US Ties over Palestinian National Unity…

Peter Boyle (2020-12-11). Venezuela: Socialist election win masks deeper problems. greenleft.org.au The United Socialist Party of Venezuela's strategy has paid off, winning back control of the National Assembly in the December 6 elections. But it has come at a high price, writes Federico Fuentes.

news.un (2020-12-11). COVID-19 shows 'urgent need' for solidarity, UN chief tells Nobel forum. news.un.org The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for global solidarity and greater international cooperation, and must be turned into an opportunity for fundamental change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a keynote address to the Nobel Peace Prize Forum on Friday.

teleSUR (2020-12-10). The UK Supreme Court To Decide on Dispute Over Venezuelan Gold. telesurenglish.net United Kingdom's Supreme Court (SC) will decide on the access to the Venezuelan gold withheld in the Bank of England, following the approval of an appeal filed by opposition politician Juan Guaido's lawyers on Wednesday. | RELATED: | The Plaintiffs seek to revoke a ruling approved by the Court of Appeal, which ordered a detailed investigation aimed at explaining the diplomatic relations between the governments of Venezuela and…

Orinoco Tribune (2020-12-10). Evo Morales: In Venezuela there was a Democratic 'Fiesta' on December 6. mronline.org "There is peace, tranquility and yesterday there was a great democratic 'fiesta'," the former president of Bolivia and international observer of Venezuela's elections, Evo Morales, emphasized this Monday.

Staff (2020-12-10). As Food Insecurity Surges, Leading Scientist Says Hunger Is a Deliberate Choice by Those in Power. democracynow.org As the World Food Programme accepts the Nobel Peace Prize, we look at the growing global hunger crisis amid the pandemic, the climate crisis and war. In the United States, as many as 50 million people could experience food insecurity before the end of the year — including one in four children. "It's important to remember that hunger does not always happen because of natural disasters," says Ricardo Salvador, director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "It is often the result of things that we do to each other deliberately."

Leonardo Flores (2020-12-10). Low Turnout, but Free, Elections in Venezuela Are a Blow To Regime Change. mintpressnews.com After four years of sanctions, sabotaged industries, attempted coups, an assassination by drone attempt, a mercenary incursion and paramilitary attacks, among others, Venezuela managed to survive the Trump administration's maximum pressure.

Fight Back (2020-12-10). Colombia closes airspace to international observers to Venezuela elections. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela – 60 international observers of the Venezuelan election were stuck at the airport December 8, for a flight to Mexico. The flight kept getting delayed and delayed. After six hours of waiting, people were sleeping on the floors, tables and couches. Then the head of Conviasa's national flights spoke to the observers in the airport and said that Venezuela asked Colombia permission to have observers fly over Colombia to return home. Colombia approved it. Two hours before the flight was going to leave, they denied the flight route. He said, "This has happened many times. They do this to try to contro…

Cira Pascual Marquina (2020-12-10). Two Chavista Blocs, Two Voices: Venezuelan Parliamentary Candidates Speak. zcomm.org On Sunday Venezuelans will choose their new National Assembly and they have many options…

Lyn Neeley (2020-12-09). Venezuelan court convicts the CITGO Six. workers.org Venezuela's Supreme Court sentenced six top CITGO oil executives to prison for corruption, embezzlement, money laundering and conspiracy on Nov. 26. The former executives went behind the back of the Venezuelan state and signed an agreement with two U.S. based-international financial companies — for which they were detained in Nov. . . . |

Eds. (2020-12-09). Venezuela's PSUV retakes control of National Assembly despite low turnout. mronline.org With 99 percent of the votes counted, the PSUV has won 68 percent with a 30.5 percent participation rate.

A Guest Author (2020-12-09). Embassy Protection Collective help monitor Venezuelan elections. workers.org By Jose Szepara On Dec. 6, Venezuelans will turn out to vote in the country's National Assembly elections, and the world waits with bated breath as observers from all over the world wait for the final results. Election monitoring groups have made their way to Venezuela to act as impartial . . . |

Manuela Solé (2020-12-09). International Observers Present Report on Venezuelan Parliamentary Elections. venezuelanalysis.com The Latin American Council of Electoral Experts (CEELA) endorsed the legitimacy of Venezuela's National Assembly elections.

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-09). Terrorists' presence in Azerbaijan, threat to region security. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 09 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker said that the presence of terrorists and movements of the Zionist regime in the Republic of Azerbaijan is a threat to regional peace and security.

Media Lens (2020-12-08). Stuck in a Lift with John Pilger: News and How to Use It by Alan Rusbridger. dissidentvoice.org Noticing the way journalists seemed unable to resist commenting on our work, even if it was just to slag us off, Glenn Greenwald tweeted us in 2012: 'You are really deeper in the heads of the British establishment-serving commentariat than anyone else — congrats.' ((Greenwald, Twitter, 12 September 2012.)) If that was true then, our relationship …

Margaret Flowers (2020-12-08). Venezuela Votes to End Neocolonialism, Create Its Own Path. dissidentvoice.org On December 2, the Embassy Protection Collective (EPC) members, who were arrested in May 2019 when the United States illegally invaded the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC, completed their probation, ending the risk of the 30 days in prison that was being held over their heads. I am one of the four who were arrested. …

2020-12-11: 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.)

PDF of December 10 issue
Workers World Party | workers.org | 2020-12-11
Download the 12-page PDF. Capitalist COVID catastrophe FIGHT or DIE! Message from Peltier; Reparations now! Justice for Breonna denied again; Disability rights; Workers demand justice; DEA surveillance; Editorial: New president — same wars; Commentary: Becoming a cadre; GLOBAL: China: global vaccines, science; India: worker & farmer uprising; Cuba; France; Palestine; Venezuela. . . . | Continue reading PDF of December 10 issue at Workers.org
workers.org/2020/12/53165/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pdf-of-december-10-issue

U.S. media, pols rage after Venezuelans defy U.S. empire to re-elect socialists
Alan MacLeod | mronline.org | 2020-12-11
Despite the fact that the election was overseen by 1,500 international observers, U.S. pols and media pundits alike labeled it a sham before it even took place.
mronline.org/2020/12/11/u-s-media-pols-rage-after-venezuelans-defy-u-s-empire-to-re-elect-socialists/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=u-s-media-pols-rage-after-venezuelans-defy-u-s-empire-to-re-elect-socialists

Free Elections In Venezuela Are A Blow To Regime Change
_____ | popularresistance.org | 2020-12-11
Venezuela held legislative elections on December 6 and, as has become the norm, the U.S. and sectors of the opposition that boycotted the election are claiming fraud without presenting evidence. The coalition of parties supporting President Maduro won 68% of the vote and a supermajority in the National Assembly. All the evidence suggests the elections were free and fair. However, turnout was only 31%, a participation rate that was hampered by a partial opposition boycott of the election. | This call to abstain was made by Juan Guaidó and his allies, but a different faction of the opposition participated fully.
popularresistance.org/free-elections-in-venezuela-are-a-blow-to-regime-change/

Venezuela: Socialist election win masks deeper problems
Peter Boyle | greenleft.org.au | 2020-12-11
The United Socialist Party of Venezuela's strategy has paid off, winning back control of the National Assembly in the December 6 elections. But it has come at a high price, writes Federico Fuentes.
greenleft.org.au/content/venezuela-socialist-election-win-masks-deeper-problems

Nicolás Maduro: Despite everything, we were able to carry out elections in peace
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-12-11
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro gave a press conference to international media on Tuesday, December 8 to discuss the parliamentary elections held last Sunday. During the press conference, which Peoples Dispatch participated in, Maduro discussed the electoral process wherein the alliance led by his party PSUV (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) won 68%. | In the press conference, Maduro celebrated the outcome of the elections, stating that beyond the electoral victory of PSUV, they marked a victory of the Venezuelan people who not only took part peacefully but also voted to constitute a plural and diverse Na…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/12/11/nicolas-maduro-despite-everything-we-were-able-to-carry-out-elections-in-peace/

'Long Live the (Dead) Peace Process'
Ramzy Baroud | zcomm.org | 2020-12-11
Abbas Prioritizes US Ties over Palestinian National Unity…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/long-live-the-dead-peace-process/

We don't listen to the dying Government of Donald Trump
Vijay Prashad | mronline.org | 2020-12-11
The night before the National Assembly elections in Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro spoke to a group of visitors at Miraflores Palace in Caracas.
mronline.org/2020/12/11/we-dont-listen-to-the-dying-government-of-donald-trump/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=we-dont-listen-to-the-dying-government-of-donald-trump

Even the opposition believes Venezuela's election was legitimate
Vijay Prashad | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-12-11
Vijay Prashad spoke to leaders of five major opposition parties in Venezuela that participated in the elections on December 6 and rejected the boycott of the process promoted by US-backed Juan Guaidó.
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/12/11/even-the-opposition-believes-venezuelas-election-was-legitimate/

Podcast Panel: US Meddling In Venezuela Elections, Economic Warfare & COVID-19
Mnar Muhawesh Adley | mintpressnews.com | 2020-12-11
Observed by 1,500 international election observers from 34 countries, elections in Venezuela handed Nicholas Maduro a clear victory, sending a message to the US that it failed to influence the same elections that Mike Pompeo called illegitimate.
mintpressnews.com/podcast-panel-us-meddling-in-venezuela-elections-economic-warfare-covid-19/273567/

COVID-19 shows 'urgent need' for solidarity, UN chief tells Nobel forum
news.un.org | 2020-12-11
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for global solidarity and greater international cooperation, and must be turned into an opportunity for fundamental change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a keynote address to the Nobel Peace Prize Forum on Friday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/12/1079802

Bolivia: Lower Chamber Passes a Bill Taxing Large Fortunes
telesurenglish.net | 2020-12-11
Bolivia's Lower Chamber Thursday approved a bill that seeks to establish a tax on large fortunes in order to support social programs. | RELATED: | Bolivia Reopens its Diplomatic Office in Venezuela | The tax will be applied to citizens who have fortunes exceeding US$4.3 million. Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) lawmaker Omar Yujra noted that it will reach around 150 citizens who currently have those fortunes. | Also, a quota of US$86,200 will be applied to fortunes between US$5.7 million…
telesurenglish.net/news/Bolivia-Lower-Chamber-Passes-a-Bill-Taxing-Large-Fortunes-20201211-0001.html

$1.44 billion plan to respond to Venezuela refugee and migrant needs
news.un.org | 2020-12-10
In a $1.4 billion appeal launched on Thursday, the UN migration organization IOM and the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, warned that the pandemic has strained the capacity of Latin American and Caribbean countries to look after Venezuelan nationals.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/12/1079782

The UK Supreme Court To Decide on Dispute Over Venezuelan Gold
telesurenglish.net | 2020-12-10