Medical Opinion, Torture and Julian Assange
Binoy Kampmark | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-25
On November 27 this year, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer, delivered an address to the German Bundestag outlining his approach to understanding the mental health of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. These comprised two parts, the initial stage covering his diplomatic asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy, the second dealing with his formal detention in…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/25/medical-opinion-torture-and-julian-assange/

Bolivia's free territory of Chapare has ousted the coup regime and is bracing for a bloody re-invasion
Ollie Vargas | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-25
Spending time with the union members of Chapare, who run society in a collective fashion, offers special insights into the…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/24/bolivia-free-territory-chapare-coup-invasion/

Criminal War Monger Pelosi & Demos Appropriate Millions For War On Venezuela
repost | indybay.org | 2019-12-25
Criminal war monger Demo leader Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats joined Trump in supporting tens of millions of dollars to overthrow the Venezuelan government.
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/12/24/18829164.php

Haitian Women Raped by UN Chilean Peacekeepers Seek Justice
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-24
The Chilean Human Rights Commission (CCHDH) and about a dozen Haitian, women's rights and pro-immigrant organizations said on Monday that they were seeking justice for the women who were sexually abused by Chilean soldiers participating in UN peacekeeping operations in the Caribbean nation. | RELATED: | Hundreds of Haitian Children Fathered, Abandoned by UN Staff | A recent report published on the academic website The Conversation and cited by The New York Times said that Ha…
telesurenglish.net/news/Haitian-Women-Raped-by-UN-Chilean-Peacekeepers-Seek-Justice-20191224-0011.html

Lopez Obrador Ratifies Mexico's Environmental Commitments
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-24
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador today ratified his government's commitment to caring for the environment with prohibitions on the use of techniques that damage it and negative concessions. | RELATED: | Mexico Accuses Bolivia of Intimidating Its Diplomats in La Paz | In his morning press conference, the president specifically referred to avoiding the use of transgenic corn seed, banning hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the…
telesurenglish.net/news/Lopez-Obrador-Ratifies-Mexicos-Environmental-Commitments-20191224-0013.html

Bolivian De Facto Gov't has No Authority to Leave CELAC: Evo
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-24
The de facto government of Bolivia, headed by the self-proclaimed President Jeanine àÅñez, issued a statement announcing that she is evaluating the suspension of her country from the Community of American and Caribbean States (Celac). | RELATED: | Mexico Accuses Bolivia of Intimidating Its Diplomats in La Paz | The democratically elected President, Evo Morales, said through his Twitter account, that this coup board that governs Bolivia has no authority to remove the count…
telesurenglish.net/news/Bolivian-De-Facto-Govt-has-No-Authority-to-Leave-CELAC-Evo-20191224-0009.html

US-EU Interventionism in Latin America and the Klaus Barbie Affair
Stephen Sefton | globalresearch.ca | 2019-12-24
In a comprehensive way, Bolivia's coup leaders reincarnate the most sinister ghosts of Latin America and the Caribbean's imperialist torturers and mass murderers. The religious fanaticism of coup figureheads like Camacho and Añez, abject servants of their US owners, invokes …
globalresearch.ca/us-eu-klaus-barbie/5698433

After the Argentina Debacle, the IMF Endorses Weakening Capital Controls in Ecuador
Lara Merling | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-24
Over the past year, a rebranded International Monetary Fund (IMF) returned to Latin America with promises of loan agreements that would be different than the dreaded "structural adjustment programs" of the past. Behind statements about inclusive growth and protecting the most vulnerable, are policies similarto the structural adjustments of the Washington Consensus era. While the…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/24/after-the-argentina-debacle-the-imf-endorses-weakening-capital-controls-in-ecuador/

"Water is worth more than gold": Mendoza, Argentina rejects advance of extractive industry
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2019-12-24
The province of Mendoza has been suffering from water crisis for more than 11 years and mining activities would be further aggravate the crisis…
peoplesdispatch.org/2019/12/24/water-is-worth-more-than-gold-mendoza-argentina-rejects-advance-of-extractive-industry/

Venezuela's Indigenous Leaders Denounce Attack Against Army
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-24
The Venezuelan indigenous leaders grouped in the Council of General Caciques denounced the attack that took place last Sunday on the southern military headquarters in the South American country. | RELATED: | Venezuela Urges Brazil to Arrest Attackers of Military Base | Through a statement published on Monday, the organization rejected "the intention of the Venezuelan right to use actors outside the struggles of the Indigenous movement" to make public opinion believe that the Venez…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuelas-Indigenous-Leaders-Denounce-Attack-Against-Army-20191224-0006.html

ExxonMobil Begins Oil Production Off Guyana's Coast
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-24
United States oil company ExxonMobil announced Friday the start of crude production off the coast of Guyana, where the company has made a number of major discoveries in recent years. | RELATED: | Venezuela to Relaunch PetroCaribe Program in 2020 | Exxon reported that production is scheduled to reach 120,000 barrels per day in the coming months, however, it expects to increase production to over 750,000 barrels per day by 2025. Guyana is a major focus in the company's area of operation, and…
telesurenglish.net/news/exxonmobil-begins-production-on-the-liza-field-offshore-guyana-20191224-0017.html

Brazil's Bolsonaro Hospitalized After Falling in Bathroom
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-24
Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, fell at his presidential residence in the capital Brasilia on Monday and was taken to a hospital for a scan, according to a statement. | RELATED: | Venezuela Urges Brazil to Arrest Attackers of Military Base | Bolsonaro's office said the President fell in his bathroom, but did not specify the reason for his fall. The far-right leader was then rushed to the hospital, where the medical staff conducted a CT scan of his head. | "President…
telesurenglish.net/news/Brazils-Bolsonaro-Hospitalized-After-Falling-in-Bathroom-20191224-0001.html

The US Approves Bill That May Legislate Hybrid Warfare on Venezuela
Nino Pagliccia | counterpunch.org | 2019-12-24
On December 16 both houses in the US approved the appropriation bill to be signed by President Trump. Aside from the mind-boggling amount of $1.4 trillion that was approved in total our interest was in looking at the details concerning Venezuela. A press release issued by the organization Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) is…
counterpunch.org/2019/12/24/the-us-approves-bill-that-may-legislate-hybrid-warfare-on-venezuela/

Piñera Enacts Constitutional Reform For Plebiscite In 2020
teleSUR, jg-la | telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-24
Chilean President, Sebastián Piñera, enacted this Monday the constitutional reform that enables the plebiscite of April 26th, 2020 to carry out a new constitution in the country. | RELATED: | Chile Human Rights Abuses Worst Since Dictatorship: NHRI Warns | At the "Palacio de la Moneda", Piñera said that the reform "defines" the path to achieve a constit…
telesurenglish.net/news/pinera-enacts-constitutional-reform-for-plebiscite-in-2020-20191223-0019.html

Two Strong Quakes Shake Central Colombia, No Damage Reported
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-24
Two strong earthquakes, of magnitude 6.2 and magnitude 5.7, struck central Colombia on Tuesday, the Colombian Geological Service said, but there were no immediate reports of any injuries or major damage. | RELATED: | Colombia Holds National Strike, Concert & Marches in Medellin | The quakes were very close to each other and only minutes apart. The epicenters were located about 150 km (93 miles) south of the capital Bogota in the central province of Meta, and were very shallow, which…
telesurenglish.net/news/Two-Strong-Quakes-Shake-Central-Colombia-No-Damage-Reported-20191224-0016.html

Guardian corrects article about Julian Assange embassy 'escape plot' to Russia…a year later
rt.com | 2019-12-24
The Guardian has corrected an article describing a "plot" to "smuggle" WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange out of London, more than a year after publication. Russia called the article "disinformation and fake news" from the outset. | Assange is currently languishing in London's Belmarsh Prison, awaiting a hearing on his extradition to the US where he is facing espionage charges. However, in the runup to Christmas 2017 he was still safe inside the city's Ecuadorian embassy. At the time, Assange had become a thorn in the side of Ecuador's new president, Lenin Moreno, and Moreno was reportedly mulling a plan to offe…
rt.com/uk/476767-guardian-correction-assange-story/

Mexico says surveillance of embassy in Bolivia has eased after govt complaint
rt.com | 2019-12-24
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday that excessive monitoring of Mexico's diplomatic facilities in Bolivia had eased since his government issued a complaint about it a day earlier. | Mexico on Monday accused Bolivia of intimidating its diplomats in La Paz after a chill in relations since Lopez Obrador decided last month to give political asylum to former Bolivian president Evo Morales. Mexico's Foreign Ministry stated there was "excessive" surveillance of the Mexican ambassador's residence and Mexican embassy in Bolivia by about 150 Bolivian intelligence and security service personnel. | Lope…
rt.com/newsline/476761-mexico-surveillance-embassy-bolivia/

No patient too small: Russian vets perform successful surgery on a COCKROACH (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2019-12-24
Every life is precious for a true doctor and Russian veterinarians have proven this again, after successfully performing surgery on a cockroach. The insect some may find disgusting may, to others, be a favorite pet. | The Archimandrita cockroach originates in the South American jungle, but it has found true love and care in the cold city of Krasnoyarsk in the heart of Siberia. | When a female roach experienced serious health problems, the owner didn't give up on her. The man rushed to the vet clinic, despite it being a lot easier and cheaper to buy a new insect. | The local animal doctors had never dealt with…
rt.com/russia/476756-russia-veterinarians-cockroach-surgery/

Panama: President Cortizo Removes Constitutional Reform Package
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-23
Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen and his team of ministers will ask the National Assembly to withdraw the package of constitutional reforms Monday, and will announce a major national dialogue to draw up a new Constitution, official sources said. | RELATED: | Bolivia Joins US-Backed Lima Group Against Venezuela | This new dialogue will be coordin…
telesurenglish.net/news/panama-president-cortizo-removes-constitutional-reform-package-20191223-0018.html

Mexico denounces excessive security presence at embassy in Bolivia
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2019-12-23
In the afternoon on December 23, the Mexican government released a statement in which it alerted to an excessive presence of security forces at the installations of its diplomatic mission in La Paz, Bolivia. According to reports, as many as 150 civilian and uniformed officers arrived to the installations in the Bolivian capital on Monday December 23 and surrounded both the residency and the embassy itself. | On November 10, the democratically elected govern…
peoplesdispatch.org/2019/12/23/mexico-denounces-excessive-security-presence-at-embassy-in-bolivia/

Much work needed to 'target unacceptable levels' of racism in Ecuador: UN experts
news.un.org | 2019-12-23
Ecuador must implement and enforce laws and policies to protect the rights of Afro-Ecuadorians, the UN Working Group on People of African Descent said on Monday, calling for an end to the "discrimination, exclusion and extreme poverty they suffer."
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/12/1054201

Incoming government in Argentina passes measures to alleviate socio-economic crisis
Tanya Wadhwa | peoplesdispatch.org | 2019-12-23
Alberto Fernández froze the price of basic public services, reduced the prices of medicines, announced special bonuses for retirees, special and underprivileged people, suspended the ban on the sale of abortion pills…
peoplesdispatch.org/2019/12/23/incoming-government-in-argentina-passes-measures-to-alleviate-socio-economic-crisis/

Venezuela Urges Brazil to Arrest Attackers of Military Base
telesurenglish.net | 2019-12-23
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged Monday for the government of Brazil to not support "terrorist actions" against the South American country and required its authorities to arrest those involved in Sunday's attack to a military border outpost. | RELATED: | 'There Is No Virtual Congress' Venezuela's Supreme Justice Says | "I ask the Brazilian gover…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Urges-Brazil-to-Arrest-Attackers-of-Military-Base-20191223-0017.html

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

Venezuela denounces attack on a military base in the south of the country
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2019-12-23
During the early hours of Sunday morning, December 22, a Venezuelan military base in Gran Sabana municipality in the south of the country, bordering Brazil, was attacked by a group of terrorists. | The armed men killed a soldier and managed to steal 122 AK-103 rifles, 120 grenades, 3 anti-missile rocket launchers, 3 machine guns, 10 bazookas, 10 AK-103 ammunition boxes and 2 trucks from the base. | Immediately after the attack, military and police officials were deployed in the area to capture the perpetrators. The officials managed to capture six of the attackers and recovered all the stolen weapons and trucks,…
peoplesdispatch.org/2019/12/23/venezuela-denounces-attack-on-a-military-base-in-the-south-of-the-country/

The vanguard of Chavism has a woman's face: A chronicle of their resistance in 2019
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-12-23
In the middle of the year, we Venezuelans received a visit from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michel Bachelet, on the occasion of meeting with the different political actors in the country to "evaluate" the complex economic and social environment brought about by the White House's decision. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/12/23/the-vanguard-of-chavism-has-a-womans-face-a-chronicle-of-their-resistance-in-2019/

Chile: TV broadcast live when two armored cars crushed citizen
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-12-23
Real-time scenes evidenced once again how the Chilean state acts with rampant and absurd violence. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/12/23/chile-tv-broadcast-live-when-two-armored-cars-crushed-citizen/

Medical Opinion, Torture, and Julian Assange
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-12-21
On November 27 this year, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer, delivered an address to the German Bundestag outlining his approach to understanding the mental health of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. These comprised two parts, the initial stage covering his diplomatic asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy, the second dealing with his formal detention in …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/12/medical-opinion-torture-and-julian-assange/

Those who search for dawn don't fear the night; nor the hand that holds the dagger
Vijay Prashad | mronline.org | 2019-12-20
Jeanine àÅñez, the 'president' of Bolivia, walked into the Burned Palace (Palacio Quemado) with an enormous Bible in her hand. 'The Bible has returned to the Palace', she said as she seized power. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/12/20/those-who-search-for-dawn-dont-fear-the-night-nor-the-hand-that-holds-the-dagger/

Media, Human Rights Groups Silent Over Politically-Motivated Murder of Journalist in Bolivia
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2019-12-20
Sebastian Moro's last known words before he was found were denouncing the kidnappings of government officials and mob attacks on journalists and media outlets.
mintpressnews.com/human-rights-groups-media-murder-journalist-sebastian-moro-bolivia/263676/

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 — most especially when you consider the US is openly Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/notes-on-a-private-tv-newscast-in-bolivia-the-contrast-with-venezuela-is-clear-as-day/

Chileans Demand New Constitution as Protests Continue
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-12-19
For two months, Chileans have been protesting all over the country on a daily basis.
therealnews.com/stories/chileans-demand-new-constitution-protests-continue

Venezuela: Guaido Introduces Remote Voting in Bid to Secure Reelection
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-18
The opposition leader has been under fire amid recent scandals.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14749

US Venezuelan embassy protectors denied right to fair trial
The Grayzone | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-17
Four US activists protecting Venezuela's embassy in Washington, DC face prison time after the Trump administration illegally arrested them. And now…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/16/venezuelan-embassy-defenders-denied-right-fair-trial/

Reuters Shields OAS Over False Claims That Sparked Bolivia Coup
Joe Emersberger | fair.org | 2019-12-17
Reuters ( 12/4/19) highlights the findings of the Organization of American States–while omitting the criticism of those findings. | Organization of American States (OAS) election monitors published a "final report" on December 4– 22 days later than promised–on Bolivia's October 20 presidential election, won by President Evo Morales. The tardy release of the fin…
fair.org/home/reuters-shields-oas-over-false-claims-that-sparked-bolivia-coup/

Why Elliott Abrams is Smurf villain Gargamel
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-16
Trump Administration Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abram is not only the spitting image of Gargamel; the Smurfs are a…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/16/elliott-abrams-smurf-villain-gargamel/

Viral Chilean feminist anthem reveals powerful international sentiment against sexual violence
Candice Yanez | liberationnews.org | 2019-12-16
The protest song was first performed for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 20 in Valparaíso, Chile.
liberationnews.org/viral-chilean-feminist-anthem-reveals-powerful-international-sentiment-against-sexual-violence/

Argentines Celebrate Inauguration of New Center-Left Government
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-12-16
As President Alberto Fernandez and VP Cristina Fernandez take over in Argentina, expectations are high that the new government will reverse the neoliberal policies of the previous government and emphasize progressive social policies.
therealnews.com/stories/argentines-celebrate-inauguration-new-center-left-government

ALBA Summit: Venezuela Promises to Relaunch PetroCaribe in 2020
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-16
Heads of state also pledged to bolster various regional social programs including the Miracle Mission and Latin American Medical Schools.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14745

Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2019-12-16
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 Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/francisco-rodriguez-answers-some-questions-i-asked-him-about-venezuela/

While Evo's MAS party regroups, Bolivia's coup leaders are eating each other alive
Wyatt Reed | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-15
Humiliating scandals are destroying right-wing leader Luis Fernando Camacho and the right is fracturing as a more militant MAS party…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/15/mas-regroups-bolivia-coup-leaders-eating-alive/

123 Reuters articles on Bolivia since October 20, 2019 election with no mention of expert criticism of OAS audit UPDATED
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2019-12-15
'I'll be back' within a year, ousted Bolivian leader Morales vows Mexico says surveillance of embassy in Bolivia has eased after spat Mexico accuses Bolivia of intimidating its diplomats in La Paz Bolivia announces entry into Lima Group to resolve Venezuelan crisis Bolivia's ex-president Morales plans party rally on Argentina border Bolivian lawmakers appoint tribunal Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/112-reuters-articles-on-bolivia-since-october-20-2019-election-with-no-mention-of-expert-criticism-of-oas-audit/

Gobierno de EEUU retira los cargos falsos contra periodista Max Blumenthal
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-14
El gobierno estadounidense desistió la causa basada en falsas acusaciones de agresión contra el editor de The Grayzone Max Blumenthal…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/14/gobierno-eeuu-retira-cargos-max-blumenthal-venezuela/

COP25 Was Moved to Spain to Conceal Chilean Government's Human Rights Violations
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-12-13
The concept of "loss and damage" and carbon markets are a sticking point at the UN's climate summit, and protests are continuing in Chile, the original site of the talks. Oxfam's Nafkote Dabi and Gary Hughes of Biofuelwatch discuss the realities of COP25.
therealnews.com/stories/cop25-spain-chile-human-rights-violations

Latin America says 'No to neoliberalism': Ecuador's ex-foreign minister talks uprisings and Assange
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2019-12-12
The Grayzone premieres its new show Red Lines with Anya Parampil with an interview with the former foreign minister of…
thegrayzone.com/2019/12/12/latin-america-neoliberalism-ecuador-assange-guillaume-long/

Venezuela Oil Production Continues Slow Recovery
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-11
According to state oil company PDVSA, production is again approaching one million barrels per day.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14744

Iran False Flag, Bolivia's Coup Gov Seeks Israel's Help, Israel's Been In Yemen 'Since Day One'
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2019-12-09
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 (12/8/19). 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 …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/iran-false-flag-bolivias-coup-gov-seeks-israels-help-israels-been-in-yemen-since-day-one/

Venezuela's Civilian Militia Surpasses Target, Reaches 3.3 Million Members
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-09
The body is due to be legally incorporated into the Armed Forces as a "combat unit."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14742

Venezuela: Guaido Embattled as Opposition Splits over New Corruption Scandal
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-05
The latest scandal has further called into doubt Guaido's credibility as leader of the opposition.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14739

TIAR Countries Blacklist Top Venezuelan Officials as US Slaps New Sanctions
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-04
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Venezuela of "hijacking" mass anti-neoliberal protests in "our own backyard."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14737