2020-08-10: News Headlines

Staff (2020-08-10). Headlines for August 10, 2020. democracynow.org Lebanon Unrest Mounting as Death Toll from Catastrophic Port Blast Tops 200, Trump Signs Executive Orders After Coronavirus Bill Stalls, Dems Say They Are Unconstitutional , U.S. COVID-19 Cases Top 5 Million, with More Evidence of Infections in Children and Teens, Coronavirus Surging Across India, Brazil as Europe and Cuba Reimpose Containment Measures, Hong Kong Arrests Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Under National Security Law, Protesters Take to Streets of Belarus, Accuse Officials of Fraud After Lukashenko Claims 80% of Vote, Mauritius in State of "Environmental Emergency" as Tanker Leeches Fuel into Protected Areas,…

Joe Emersberger (2020-08-10). Reuters Ecuador Headlines since "Auditor General" Pablo Celi demands elimination of party allied with Rafael Correa. zcomm.org 21 articles on Reuters website that mention Ecuador since the country's super shady "auditor genera" Pablo Celi began demanding (on June 22) that various political parties be banned from participating in the 2021 elections. One of the four parties Celi targeted was Fuerza Compromiso Social which Correa and his allies have joined in order to

Kevin Zeese (2020-08-10). Era of US Domination of Latin America Coming to an End: Nicaragua, Venezuela, Bolivia. globalresearch.ca Despite its failings at home, the United States intervenes in countries across multiple continents seeking to control their governments and resources. | This week, we look at the US' latest efforts in Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Bolivia to undermine their independence and …

Bill Hackwell and Alicia Jrapko (2020-08-10). US: Crimes against Humanity at Home and Abroad. dissidentvoice.org Photo Credit: Albert Eisenstaedt This month marks the second year since former President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, announced to the world a campaign promoted by a group of Latin American writers and academics to declare August 9 as International Day of US Crimes against Humanity. Appropriately the day is to remember the second nuclear bomb …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-10). Tensions rise in Bolivia as far-right groups mobilize against national strike. peoplesdispatch.org Over 140 major highways and roads have been blocked by protesters across Bolivia to demand that the general elections be held on September 6 and for the de facto president, Jeanine àÅñez, to resign immediately…

Stephen Sefton (2020-08-10). Nicaragua — Singing in the Rain. The USAID Project to Destroy the Sandinista Movement. globalresearch.ca Only the most perverse kind of ideology-derived inertia explains the stupidity, incompetence and criminality of current US foreign policy towards Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Stupid for being based on the insane messianic 19th Century Monroe Doctrine vision of Manifest Destiny, …

Yanis Iqbal (2020-08-09). The Attack on Indigenous Rights in Brazil. globalresearch.ca On 5 August, 2020, the Brazilian Supreme Court

_____ (2020-08-09). How The US Failed At Its Foreign Policy Toward Venezuela. popularresistance.org On August 4, 2020, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on Venezuela. Appearing before the committee was U.S. State Department Special Representative Elliott Abrams. Abrams, who has had a long—and controversial—career in the formation of U.S. foreign policy, was assaulted by almost all the members of the Senate committee. The senators, almost without exception, suggested that Abrams had been—since 2019—responsible for a failed U.S. attempt to overthrow the Venezuelan government of President Nicolás Maduro.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-09). 3 years after Santiago Maldonado's disappearance, the pattern continues. peoplesdispatch.org On August 1, 2017, in a massive operation, the National Gendarmerie (police) of Argentina illegally invaded the Pu Lof Mapuche community in Cushamen in Chubut Province. They entered the community firing their guns, and burned the belongings of the inhabitants. | Among those who fled the brutal attack was Santiago Maldonado, a young artisan and anarchist. He had come to stand in solidarity with the community that was mobilizing to demand the liberation of their Weichafe or spiritual leader, Facundo Jones Huala. | According to testimonies, Santiago made it to the banks of the Chubut river but was unable to cross ov…

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-09). New US rep. for Iran indicates Trump's confusion. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 09 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Venezuela Hojjatollah Soltani said that the new US special representative for the Islamic Republic of Iran indicates Trump's confusion.

_____ (2020-08-08). CODEPINK Denounces Elliott Abrams' Appointment As US Special Representative For Iran. popularresistance.org The appointment of Elliott Abrams to replace Brian Hook as the next U.S. Special Representative for Iran is another low point for the Trump administration's disastrous policy towards Iran. The dangerous conflict resulting from Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement will be exacerbated by a man committed to Washington's failed policies of regime change, including in his present-day position as Trump's representative for Venezuela. | Elliott Abrams has made a career of lying and committing criminal acts that have led to the death and suffering of innocent people from Guatemala to Iraq.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-08). Brazilian liberation theologist Dom Pedro Casaldáliga passes away. peoplesdispatch.org Dom Pedro Casaldáliga Plá, a Catholic missionary and an iconic voice of liberation theology, died on the morning of August 8, Saturday, at the age of 92. He was the Bishop Emeritus of the Prelature of Sà£o Félix do Araguaia and famous for his defense of the rights of the indigenous people of Brazil. He died of a pulmonary embolism at the Santa Casa de Batatais Hospital in the State of Sà£o Paulo. | Dom Pedro Casaldáliga Plá was admitted to the hospital after complaining of respiratory problems. He had earlier been admitted to the Hospital Sà£o Félix do Araguaia in the State of Mato Grosso. Casal…

Manuela Solé (2020-08-08). Venezuela's Maduro Demands Investigation into Landlord Violence. venezuelanalysis.com The Venezuelan president ordered the armed forces to protect campesinos from landowner attacks.

Yves Engler (2020-08-08). Trudeau government remains silent on corruption and repression in Haiti. mronline.org One way to evaluate the seriousness of the Trudeau government's stated objectives in seeking to oust Venezuela's elected government is to examine their policies elsewhere in the region.

_____ (2020-08-08). Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Under House Arrest. popularresistance.org The Colombian Supreme Court of Justice has ordered the preventive home detention of Senator and former President Alvaro Uribe for the crimes of procedural fraud and bribery. The Latin American right-wing leader became the first former president to receive this type of arrest order, suspected of trying to manipulate the statement of a defendant who linked him to the creation of paramilitary groups. "The deprivation of my freedom causes me deep sadness for my wife, for my family and for the Colombians who still believe that I have done something good for the country," lamented Uribe…

WSWS (2020-08-08). Union prepares sellout of Renault strike in Brazil. wsws.org The movement that involved thousands of workers and their families is under threat of being shutdown with an agreement that validates the destruction of 747 jobs.

news.un (2020-08-08). Building a green economy, brick by brick. news.un.org In Uruguay, thousands of families earn a precarious livelihood making bricks, using traditional methods that are often inefficient and harmful to the environment. A UN project, in collaboration with the Uruguayan government, aims to make the industry less polluting, whilst preserving jobs for the many artisans who depend on it.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-08). UN experts renew call for removal of US anti-human sanctions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 08 (MNA) — A group of UN experts has once agian called for unilateral US sanctions to be lifted on countries including Iran, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, and Cuba.

_____ (2020-08-08). Venezuela And Trump's Irrational Electoral Policy. popularresistance.org Caracas, Venezuela – Elections always have an interesting effect on public policy, in particular if the person in charge of designing and implementing a certain policy is up for reelection. In politics, it is logical that an incumbent candidate decides to show successful policies and accomplishments while minimizing failures or shortcomings. However, what is irrational is that a candidate insists on presenting, preserving and deepening a policy that has proven to be a failure and that the candidate himself only supports half-heartedly.

Staff (2020-08-07). Headlines for August 7, 2020. democracynow.org Study Predicts U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Could Reach 300,000 by December, Georgia High Schoolers Suspended for Sharing Images of Unmasked Students in Crowded Halls, India's COVID-19 Cases Top 2 Million as WHO Warns of Worsening Outbreaks in Africa, Peru's Health System in Collapse as COVID-19 Death Toll Reaches 20,000, Congressional Talks on New Coronavirus Stimulus on Brink of Collapse, "Make Billionaires Pay Act" Would Tax Richest 0.001% to Fund Healthcare for Millions, Police Fire Tear Gas at Anti-Government Protesters as Anger Rages over Beirut Blast, New York Attorney General Files Suit to Dissolve NRA over Ex…

teleSUR (2020-08-07). Venezuela Ratifies Commitment Against Drug Trafficking. telesurenglish.net The President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro ratified on Friday Venezuela's commitment in the fight against drug trafficking, on the 15th anniversary of the expulsion of the United States (U.S.) Agency for Drug Control (DEA). | RELATED: | "On a day like today 15 years ago, Commander Hugo Chavez (1954-2013) cut off relations with the largest drug cartel on the continent, the DEA. Since then, we have reinforced th…

Vijay Prashad (2020-08-07). Do not reach for the sky just to surrender. mronline.org The novel coronavirus continues its march through the world, with 18 million confirmed cases and at least 685,000 deaths. Of these, the United States of America, Brazil, and India are the worst-hit, harbouring about half of the world's cases.

Tracy Keeling (2020-08-07). Bolivians start huge mobilisation for the 'return of democracy and sovereignty'. thecanary.co Bolivians are currently engaged in massive protests and a general strike. They are

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-07). National strike continues across Bolivia, demands grow for àÅñez to step down. peoplesdispatch.org Social movements and trade unions stress that their demand is no longer just democratic elections, but also the immediate removal of the entire coup-installed government…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-07). Brazilian movements intensify "Out Bolsonaro" campaign. peoplesdispatch.org The authoritarian nature of the Bolsonaro government has rapidly intensified. Bolsonaro, acting against all public health specialists, as well as international entities and protocols, has denied the pandemic and adopted incorrect and disastrous measures. His grave mismanagement of the virus has made Brazil the global epicenter of COVID-19.

Dan Beeton (2020-08-07). The Political Exile of Ecuador's Rafael Correa. cepr.net CEPR senior policy analyst and Ecuador's former foreign minister Guillaume Long talked to This Is Hell about lawfare, the barring of former president Rafael Correa's party from the ballot, and Ecuador's turn toward austerity and the IMF under Moreno. Ecuador's right-wing and its media were "unhappy with progressive governance and the return of … a …

Nicky Reid (2020-08-07). When the Chickens Came Home to Roost In Portlandistan. counterpunch.org Well folks, it's official, Donald Trump has declared war on America. Probably should have saw that coming. After all, I've long argued that our dayglow duce isn't an isolationist but merely the world's shittiest imperialist. After trying and failing miserably to bring fascism to Nicaragua and Venezuela, Trump has set his sites on targets much

teleSUR (2020-08-06). No Extradition: New Documentary On Julian Assange. telesurenglish.net On the eve of the premiere of his documentary about the founder of WikiLeaks, British-Chilean filmmaker Pablo Navarrete said Thursday in London: "I want people to have an idea of the injustice being done to Julian Assange." | RELATED: | The filmmaker and journalist followed John Shipton, Assange's father, over several months as he campaigned to prevent his son from being extradited to the United States (U.S.) and secure his…

teleSUR (2020-08-06). Cuba: President Rejects Lawfare Against Leftist Leaders. telesurenglish.net The President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel highlighted on Thursday the use of the judiciary in politics as a colonizing weapon over the peoples of Latin America. | RELATED: | On his official Twitter account, the president maintained that the case of former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, "proves how far the enemies go" in applying those tools. | "The use of the judiciary against left-wing leaders is an imperial m…

RT (2020-08-06). Biden says Latinos are 'incredibly diverse,' UNLIKE BLACK VOTERS. rt.com Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden took time out from a question asked by a Latina reporter to state that while black voters all think alike (with "notable exceptions"), Latino voters are "incredibly diverse" in opinion. | In the midst of answering a question on whether he would extend protected status for Venezuelan immigrants during a Wednesday town hall, Biden veered off on a self-congratulatory tangent touting his supposed knowledge of the Latino community. | What you all know but most people don't know, unlike the African American community with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an i…

teleSUR (2020-08-06). US Senate Hearing Unveils Trump's Plans Against Venezuela. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday held a hearing to discuss Donald Trump administration's policy towards Venezuela. The U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliot Abrams was summoned to answer questions about it. | RELATED: | At the meeting, Republican Senator Mitt Romney and other Democratic lawmakers referred to the failure of the U.S. actions carried out to prompt a government change i…

sputniknews (2020-08-06). Ex-Venezuelan Official Charged in Bribery, Money Laundering Scheme, US Justice Department Says. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – A former official at Citgo Petroleum Corporation, a Houston-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned energy company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, has been charged with involvement in a bribery and corruption scheme, the US Department of Justice said in a news release on Thursday.

Bryce Greene (2020-08-06). As Bolivian Regime Delays Elections a Third Time, Media Continue to Ignore Coup. commondreams.org Supporters of Evo Morales demonstrate in Cochabamba, Bolivia in November of 2019. (Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/evo_0.jpeg