(2020-02-03). Swiss humanitarian channel for Iran is 'not sign of US goodwill,' FM Zarif says. rt.com 
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that the Swiss humanitarian channel is not a sign of the United States' goodwill. "This is a small step and we thank the Swiss government for its efforts… but this channel is not a sign of America's goodwill at all," ISNA quoted Zarif as saying. | The Swiss and US governments on Thursday said a humanitarian channel to bring food and medicine to Iran has started trial operations to help supply Swiss goods to the population without tripping over US sanctions, Reuters reported. | Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday that Teh…
(2020-02-03). ACLU: Trump Is Expanding His Racist Travel Ban, This Time Targeting Africans. democracynow.org 
The Trump administration has expanded its contested travel ban to six additional countries — most of which are African nations. Under the new restrictions, nationals of Nigeria, Eritrea, Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan will no longer be able to obtain visas to live and work in the U.S., while Sudan and Tanzania will no longer be able to participate in the diversity visa lottery program. The ban, commonly referred to as the "Muslim ban," already affects citizens from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Venezuela and North Korea. The expansion is expected to affect more than 350 million people. Democrats say they will…
(2020-02-03). Guaido's Failed Foreign Tour Ends With A Flop. dissidentvoice.org 
President Maduro speaks to a massive crowd at Miraflores Palace on the anniversary of a failed Guaido coup (From Orinoco Tribune) Juan Guaidó proclaimed himself the president of Venezuela a year ago but despite multiple coup attempts, he never took power and his support there rapidly disappeared. Now, with his foreign tour concluding, Guaidó's support is shrinking around …
(2020-02-03). America: Land of Make-Believe. truthdig.com 
If what happens in courtrooms across the country to poor people of color is justice, what is happening in the Senate is a trial. If the blood-drenched debacles and endless quagmires in the Middle East are victories in the war on terror, our military is the greatest on earth. If the wholesale government surveillance of the public, the revoking of due process and having the world's largest prison population are liberty, we are the land of the free. If the president, an inept, vulgar and corrupt con artist, is the leader of the free world, we are a beacon for democracy and our enemies hate us for our values. If Jesu…
(2020-02-03). 'They will understand their mistake': Erdogan vows to continue military ops in Idlib after 6 Turkish soldiers killed. rt.com 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to continue retaliating heavily to any attacks against Turkish forces in Syria's Idlib Province, after six Turkish soldiers were killed. | "We have responded in kind to these attacks and will continue to do so, whether it is with our artillery or mortars," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul on Monday, adding that a military operation in Syria's northwestern Idlib Province is ongoing. | He said that the Turkish heavy howitzers and F-16 jets hit around 40 targets, "neutralizing" between 30 and 35 Syrian government soldiers. Sources told the Daily Sabah that Ankara…
(2020-02-03). Forum – Eyewitness Venezuela Report & Analysis of Palestine "Peace Plan" indybay.org 2969 Mission St. near 26th…
(2020-02-03). The U.S. War on Iran and Venezuela: Interview with Ajamu Baraka. globalresearch.ca The
(2020-02-02). Maduro Commemorates 21st Anniversary of Chavez's Inauguration. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro commemorated on Sunday the 21st anniversary of the first inauguration of the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Hugo Chávez, as president of the South American nation. | RELATED: | "On February 2 (1999), Comandante Chávez swore by the mandate of the people to transform Venezuela into a free and sovereign homeland," Maduro tweeted on Sunday. | During the swearing in as head of state, Chavez said he would…
(2020-02-01). As the UK fractures, one Twitter thread should be essential reading. thecanary.co It's the day after Brexit, and the UK seems as divided as ever. But a thread on Twitter not only highlights a growing problem in society, it could also serve as the antidote to our fractured country. | Loneliness: | Alex Tiffin is a disabled writer. He runs the 1/ "Over 9 million people in the UK — almost a fifth of the population — say they are always or…
(2020-01-30). US government censorship? Social media giants disappear accounts of Iranian and Venezuelan academics, journalists. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil talks with Professor Mohammad Marandi of the University of Tehran. Professor Marandi's Facebook and Instagram…
(2020-01-30). Cuba is Testing Products Against Cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. mintpressnews.com While demonized in the United States, the Cuban government has built a comprehensive nationalized healthcare system based on preventative medicine, rather than the curative model the U.S. employs…
(2020-01-30). Headlines for January 30, 2020. democracynow.org Rev. William Barber: Mitch McConnell Is Bringing Old Southern Justice to U.S. Senate, European Parliament Votes to Ratify Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, Coronavirus Death Toll Hits 170, Racial Justice Groups Call on Klobuchar to Suspend Campaign, French Firefighters Clash with Riot Police in Latest Protests Against Pension Overhaul, Cuban Man Dies in ICE Custody, Marking 6th Death Since October, Salvadoran General Admits U.S.-Trained Forces Carried Out 1981 Massacre, South Dakota Passes Bill Criminalizing Gender-Affirming Surgery, #DignidadLiteraria: Latino Writers Launch Campaign in Response to "American Dirt"
(2020-01-29). Ciudadano estadounidense detenido e interrogado por agentes del DHS sobre la solidaridad con Venezuela del movimiento antiguerra. thegrayzone.com Un ciudadano estadounidense que participó en el Colectivo de Protección de la Embajada de Venezuela fue detenido, registrado e interrogado…
(2019-12-20). Notes on a private TV newscast in Bolivia. The contrast with Venezuela is clear as day. zcomm.org 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
(2019-12-16). Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela. zcomm.org 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