2021-01-05: News Headlines

Ariel Dorfman (2021-01-05). America Can't Hide From This Drastic Reckoning. counterpunch.org What happens to a nation incapable of healing itself? I ask as an American citizen concerned about our damaged democracy but also as someone with roots in Chile, which after many years of dictatorship suffered the harmful consequences of failing to fully complete its democratic transition.

Rick Sterling (2021-01-05). Who to believe about Venezuela's election? Firsthand observation or PBS Newshour? dissidentvoice.org In early December I travelled to Venezuela to be an election observer at their national assembly election. I was part of a group of eight persons from Canada and US organized by CodePink. There were about two hundred international observers in total, including the Latin American Council of Electoral Experts. I have previously been an official …

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-05). 2021 begins with more assassinations in Colombia. peoplesdispatch.org The humanitarian tragedy in Colombia continues into 2021. In the first four days of this year, two social leaders, two former combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and a family member of an ex-combatant have been assassinated in the country. | The Common Alternative Revolutionary Forces (FARC) political party

Global Research News (2021-01-05). Selected Articles: Venezuela Elections: A Key Victory for Anti Imperialist Movement in Latin America. globalresearch.ca By On election day, Sunday December 6, we visited many different elections sites. Typically, the election voting takes place at a school, with five or ten …

Rick Sterling (2021-01-05). Who to Believe about Venezuela's Election? US Meddling. globalresearch.ca In early December I travelled to Venezuela to be an election observer at their national assembly election. I was part of a group of eight persons from Canada and US organized by CodePink. There were about two hundred international observers …

Nicolas Maduro (2021-01-05). "I intend to reconcile the Venezuelans" zcomm.org Interview on domestic policy, economics, and international policy…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-05). Venezuela's new National Assembly takes office today. peoplesdispatch.org The inauguration of the new congress marks the end of the body's submission to the US imperialism and the return of the revolutionary legacy of Simón Bolívar and Hugo Chávez…

Alison Bodine (2021-01-05). Venezuela Elections: A Key Victory for Anti Imperialist Movement in Latin America. globalresearch.ca The people of Venezuela have dealt another decisive blow against U.S. domination in Latin America. On December 6, 2020, more than 6.2 million Venezuelans voted for a new National Assembly in what was Venezuela's 25 election in the 21 …

_____ (2021-01-05). I Observed Venezuela's Elections Firsthand. popularresistance.org On election day, Sunday, December 6, we began a tour of election sites. Typically, the voting takes place at a school, with five to ten classrooms designated as "mesas," and each voter goes to his or her designated mesa." | The voting process was quick and efficient, with bio-safety sanitation at each step. Voters first showed their identity cards and confirmed their identity with fingerprint recognition. Step two was to cast a ballot on a touchscreen computer and receive a paper receipt. Step three was to verify that the receipt matches the voting choice and deposit the receipt in a ballot box. Finally, voters w…

Online News Editor (2021-01-05). New speaker of Venezuela's congress vows to promote "great national dialogue" laprensalatina.com Caracas, Jan 5 (efe-epa).- The new head of Venezuela's unicameral legislature said Tuesday he will promote a "great national dialogue" that includes all sectors of the crisis-ridden South American nation. Jorge Rodriguez said the goal is to achieve reconciliation in a country where the US-aligned opposition has long refused to accept the legitimacy of its …

Paul Dobson (2021-01-04). US Blockade Reportedly Hampers Venezuela's Covid-19 Vaccination. venezuelanalysis.com The country will maintain its week-on-week-off lockdown until vaccination begins around April.

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Venezuela Denounces Obstacles To Access COVID-19 Vaccines. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday denounced the blocking of resources by international banks and western nations against the country to prevent the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines, noting the moves are in line with the U.S. unilateral sanctions. | RELATED: | The Venezuelan assets to buy COVID-19 vaccines "have been stolen and frozen by the U.K, Portugal, Spain, and the U.S.," Maduro pointed out, recalling that his administration has ma…

Online News Editor (2021-01-04). Colombia's capital puts 2.5 mn people under strict quarantine. laprensalatina.com Bogota, Jan 4 (efe-epa).- Alarmed by the high number of Covid-19 patients in intensive-care units and the rapid spread of that respiratory disease, Colombia's capital is set to put 2.5 million residents of three hard-hit neighborhoods under new strict quarantines. Bogota, the main focal point of the pandemic in Colombia, has registered 480,219 confirmed coronavirus …

Jasmine Norden (2021-01-04). Argentina legalises abortion in historic victory for reproductive rights. thecanary.co Argentina has The new law will allow abortions until the 14th week of pregnancy, where they were previously only allowed if the mother's health was at risk or if she had been raped. | The Argentine Senate voted in favour of the bill at the end of December, after the lower house did the

sputniknews (2021-01-04). UK Court Ruling Against Assange's Extradition Victory for All Journalists, Lawyer Says. sputniknews.com MONTEVIDEO (Sputnik) – The decision of a UK court to block WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's extradition to the United States is a victory for all journalists, the whistleblower's Ecuadorean lawyer, Carlos Poveda, told Sputnik on Monday.

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Worldwide Activists Back UK Verdict Against Assange's Extradition. telesurenglish.net Human rights defenders, social activists, and political figures worldwide Monday reacted with joy to the United Kingdom Criminal Court's refusal to extradite Australian journalist Julian Assange to the U.S. | RELATED: | Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who denied the extradition on health grounds and high risk of Assange committing suicide, "accepted all the U.S. persecution motives," Former Consul of Ecuador in the U.K. Fidel Narvaez condemne…

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Venezuela's New Assembly: the People's Hope for Economic Upturn. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's new National Assembly (AN) on Tuesday will be settled with the aim of promoting laws to confront the U.S. administration's hostile policy towards the Venezuelan government and people. | RELATED: | "The new lawmakers are our country's hope to begin a new cycle of dialogue and reconciliation," President Nicolas Maduro said as he called "disastrous" the outgoing Assembly. | The main challenges of the AN will be…

teleSUR (2021-01-04). China and Argentina To Strengthen 'Belt and Road' Cooperation. telesurenglish.net China's President Xi Jinping said that his country stands ready to work with Argentina to promote the development of the "Belt and Road" Initiative. | RELATED: | "Argentina could become the biggest economy in Latin America to join the Belt and Road Initiative," Buenos Aires Times commented, adding that such action that would allow President Alberto Fernandez to "deepen trade and investment ties with China even further."

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Another Ex-Guerrilla Member Shot to Death in Caqueta, Colombia. telesurenglish.net A former member of the demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was shot to death by a group of armed men in Cartagena del Chaira municipality, Caqueta Department. | RELATED: | Duvan Arled, 34, was killed on Saturday night, minutes after he left a public establishment in the Antioquia neighborhood. The perpetrators fled after the attack. | The victim was taken to the municipality's hospital, where he later died due to the sev…

Fight Back (2021-01-04). Political prisoner Facundo Molares wins freedom! fightbacknews.org Political prisoner Facundo Molares, an Argentinian photojournalist who was incarcerated by the Bolivian Añez regime, is now safely home in his native Argentina. | Molares was arrested during a violent incident between armed forces backing the coup d'etat and protests for democracy in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia on November 19, 2019, two days after the unelected Añez government took over. Molares was documenting the confrontation for the magazine Centenario, but during this incident he had a health crisis and was rushed to the hospital. | The Añez coup regime arrested Facundo in his hospital bed. It is widely…

Rick Sterling (2021-01-04). I Observed Venezuela's Elections Firsthand: Here's What the US Media Got Wrong. mintpressnews.com Rick Sterling traveled to Venezuela in early December as part of a group of international election observers and says that some in the US media have gotten the story seriously wrong.

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Bolivia: Political Refugees Can Contest Subnational Elections. telesurenglish.net Bolivia's Constitutional Court ruled that candidates with asylum or political refugee status abroad may not be disqualified from competing in Feb. 7 sub-national elections, until a final decision is taken by relevant authorities on each case. | RELATED: | The ruling was approved taking into account a request submitted by Cochabamba lawmaker Freddy Gonzales on December 28, 2020. | He requested precautionary measure…

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Chilean High School Students Occupy the Ministry of Education. telesurenglish.net Student union leaders of the Coordinating Assembly of Secondary Students (ACES) took over the Ministry of Education (Mineduc) in protest of the country's University Transition Test (PTU). | The incident was recorded on Monday morning when the protesters arrived at the Mineduc headquarters and chained themselves to the front of the building. | RELATED: | After this action, Carabineros personnel arrested nine people, including a…

Mehr News Agency (2021-01-04). West refusing to unfreeze Caracas funds for vaccine purchase. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 04 (MNA) — Venezuelan President says the EU nations and the United States have refused Venezuela's request to unfreeze its assets so that the sanctions-hit country could purchase a coronavirus vaccine.

Mehr News Agency (2021-01-04). Gen. Soleimani flag-bearer of fight against terrorism: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 04 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Brazil pointed to sacrifice and braveries of Iran's top commander martyr Lt. Gen. Soleimani and said that he stood firmly in the face of a global threat against international peace and security.

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Chile: Piñera Seeks To Redeem Himself With Victims of Crime. telesurenglish.net Chile's President Sebastian Piñera Sunday signed a bill that seeks to implement a new institutional framework to strengthen victims' access to justice in case of human rights violations. | RELATED: | The project creates the National Service for Access to Justice (SNAJ) and an Ombudsman's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), thus unifying other existing legal defense public organizations and specialized aid programs such as "My Lawyer" (fo…

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Brazil to Import 2 Million Doses of AstraZeneca Vaccine. telesurenglish.net Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) Sunday authorized the "exceptional import" of 2 million doses of the vaccine produced by Oxford University and the United Kingdom-based laboratory AstraZeneca. | RELATED: | The doses that will arrive in the country in the next days will not be supplied to the entire population. The immunizer will be used in emergencies, such as patients at high risk of dying due to the disease. | "More doses will…

teleSUR, CE (2021-01-03). Ecuador's Leftists Launch Presidential Campaign. telesurenglish.net Ecuador's leftist Centro Democrático has launched its presidential campaign at an event in Quito on Saturday, with an official presentation of candidate Andres Arauz expected in the coming days. | RELATED: | The official event scheduled for Saturday was dialed back in response to recent medical reports on the tests performed on presidential candidate Arauz, who despite substantial improvements in health, may still have Covid-19, havin…

Mehr News Agency (2021-01-03). Morales hailes martyr Soleimani's braveries. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 03 (MNA) — In a tweet on Sunday, ex-Bolivian president Evo Morales hailed Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani's struggles against imperialism and in defense of the sovereignty of nations suffering from foreign aggression.

Michael Albert (2021-01-03). Participatory Economics, Ecology, and Anarchism. zcomm.org The following was written for a collection to be entitled Anarquismo contemporáneo y ecología (Contemporary anarchism and ecology) to be published In Chile…

The Grayzone (2021-01-02). Top 12 The Grayzone stories of 2020: From Julian Assange persecution to Bolivia coup defeat, corporate war on free speech to OPCW cover-up. thegrayzone.com 2020 was a chaotic year for the planet. While the Covid-19 pandemic dominated global politics, The Grayzone continued shining a light on the machinations of empire, from the persecution of imprisoned journalist Julian Assange to the defeat of a US-backed coup regime in Bolivia, from the growing corporate war on free speech to the OPCW's scandalous Syria cover-up. Throughout the year, The Grayzone's website had more than 5.24 million views and 2.48 million unique visitors. Our small, independently funded team …

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-02). Erika Farías on strengthening the Bolivarian Revolution amid the blockade. peoplesdispatch.org Erika Farías, mayor of Caracas, Venezuela, spoke to Peoples Dispatch about the challenges of sustaining the Bolivarian process amid the blockade and the efforts by the Venezuelan government to further build the revolution…

Online News Editor (2021-01-02). Píllaro's devils dance in virtual challenge to the pandemic. laprensalatina.com Quito, Jan 1 (efe-epa).- The devils of Píllaro, an Ecuadorian city nestled in the heart of the country's Andes mountains, stepped out on Friday to dance, in a virtual challenge to the coronavirus pandemic, which has also threatened the traditional New Year's celebration. The celebration, which involves people wearing giant devil masks dancing in the …

teleSUR, CE (2021-01-02). Taekwondo or Ballot Box: President Maduro Ready to Battle Opposition. telesurenglish.net The President of Venezuela is opting for prudence as the transition of power prepares to take place in the United States and as lobbying by extremists aims to continue the policies of hate and genocide towards Venezuela, namely the cruel economic sanctions (unilateral coercive measures) affecting all of the Venezuelan people in many areas of daily life. | RELATED: | President Nicolas Maduro joined Spanish journalist and professor, Ignacio Ramonet for…

teleSUR (2021-01-02). Bolivia's Coup Regime Policies Led to Worst Economy in Decades. telesurenglish.net Flagrant mismanagement of the Bolivian economy during the coup dictatorship of Jeanine Añez was catastrophic, according to year end figures. The economy sank to alarming levels under improvised coronavirus measures, as the regime enforced a near-total paralysis of activities as it scrambled to organize a response. | RELATED: | According to data from the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE), the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)…