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Maduro defies Europe's mafia ultimatum, says next election will take place in 2025


RT
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 18:04 UTC
venezuela election voter
© Reuters / Marco Bello
A Venezuelan soldier casts her vote at a polling station during the municipal legislators election in Caracas, Venezuela December 9, 2018.
President Nicolas Maduro has rejected an ultimatum issued by Europe which called for new elections in Venezuela within 8 days, saying instead that the next presidential elections will be held in 2025.

Germany, France and Spain said that they would recognize the self-proclaimed president of Venezuela unless new elections are held - but Maduro has stressed that Europe has no right to make such demands, telling RIA Novosti that the next elections will take place in 2025.

In an earlier interview with CNN Turk, Maduro slammed the European demand as "complete insolence."

"They should withdraw this ultimatum. No one can give us an ultimatum," Maduro said. "Venezuela is not tied to Europe. This is complete insolence."

Comment: He's right, actually. Venezuela's business is none of Europe's business.

See also:

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War Whore

US eyes anti-ICBM radar on Japan soil


The Japan News
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 17:35 UTC
icbm
© AP Photo / Mark Wright/Missile Defense Agency
The U.S. government is considering asking Japan to deploy a large stationary radar in this nation, to help reinforce the U.S. system aimed at intercepting intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs, see below) targeting U.S. territories, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

Washington intends to sound out Tokyo on the plan soon, according to multiple sources close to the Japanese and U.S. governments. The U.S. government is believed to envision possible attacks by China, Russia or North Korea.

According to the sources, the U.S. government is considering deploying in Japan a new radar called the Homeland Defense Radar (HDR). The HDR tracks ICBMs heading for the U.S. mainland as well as Hawaii, the U.S. territory of Guam and elsewhere, from locations close to the launch.

The U.S. government also plans to use the radar for monitoring killer satellites that attack satellites, and for observing space debris. It intends to share information obtained from the radar with the Self-Defense Forces, the sources said.

Comment: The US also recently approved the sale of Aegis Ashore batteries to Japan, which are used to defend against cruise missiles.

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Gold Coins

Is a mystery plane heading to Russia loaded with Venezuelan gold?


RT
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 17:21 UTC
plane
© Pexels
The Kremlin has called reports of 20 tons of Venezuelan gold heading to Russia fake news. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised the public against listening to rumors.

On Wednesday, a member of the Venezuelan opposition and former banker at the country's central bank, Jose Guerra, claimed he has information of the planned shipment of tons of gold bars, amounting to 20 percent of the bank's holdings. The lawmaker said that a Russian jet, which arrived from Moscow, was ready to transport the cargo.

The statement was then reported by Bloomberg, and then by other Western media. The rumors were fueled by other reports, claiming that a mystery Boeing 777, which can carry some 400 passengers and belonging to Russia's Nordwind Airlines, was spotted at the local airport after flying direct from Moscow.
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Yoda

Russia vows to defend its Venezuelan oil assets

Tsvetana Paraskova
oilprice.com
Tue, 29 Jan 2019 17:15 UTC
maduro
© Reuters
The head of Russia's Rosneft Igor Sechin, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's Oil Minister Eulogio del Pino
Russia will defend its interests in Venezuela within the international law using "all mechanisms available to us," Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russia's President Vladimir Putin, told Russian media on Tuesday.

Russia has kept close ties with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and has extended loans to Venezuela, including oil firm Rosneft lending money to Venezuela's state-held firm PDVSA. Rosneft has extended $6 billion of loans to PDVSA, which needs to be fully redeemed in crude oil supplies by the end of this year.

According to S&P Global Platts, as of November 2018, Venezuela had $3.1 billion outstanding loan to repay to Rosneft. The Russian company also has five joint upstream projects with PDVSA in Venezuela.

However, the US Treasury slapped another round of sweeping sanctions against PDVSA on Monday, in order to "help prevent further diverting of Venezuela's assets by Maduro and preserve these assets for the people of Venezuela."
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Magnify

Venezuela plot thickens... UN should be probing Washington and allies for regime-change crimes

Finian Cunningham
RT
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 19:54 UTC
maduro
© REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
Identical condemnations from the US and allies and the synchronicity show that Venezuela is being targeted for regime change in a concerted plot led by Washington.

Given the South American country is reckoned to possess the largest known oil reserves anywhere on the planet, that obviously makes it a major prize for US and European corporations and banks.

How dare the Venezuelan government aspire to harness its vast natural wealth for independent national development! Especially contemptible is a socialist government in the presumed backyard of Uncle Sam. Such temerity qualifies for urgent regime change.

It has emerged US Vice President Mike Pence phoned Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido last week urging him to make the unprecedented move to declare himself the "acting president", and denounce the incumbent leader Nicolas Maduro as a "usurper."

In addition, it was also reported that several weeks ago the Bank of England blocked the Venezuela government from repatriating $1.2 billion in gold reserves held in London. That extraordinary refusal by the British authorities had to have been a deliberate political decision, and was way before the tumultuous events in Venezuela last week, suggesting those events were not simply spontaneous.
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Vader

'Godfather' tactics: Bolton threatens 'serious consequences' if Venezuela arrests 'president' Guaido


RT
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 16:36 UTC
guaido
© Reuters/Carlos Barria
Self-proclaimed president of Venezuela Juan Guaido departs a rally in Caracas
National Security Advisor John Bolton has threatened the government in Caracas that he denounced as "illegitimate" not to lay a finger on Juan Guaido, the opposition figure Washington considers to be Venezuela's president.

"Let me reiterate - there will be serious consequences for those who attempt to subvert democracy and harm Guaido," Bolton tweeted on Tuesday, addressing the "illegitimate former" attorney general of Venezuela who he said threatened the self-proclaimed president.

Bolton's threats came after Venezuelan AG Tarek Saab announced that Guaido would be investigated for "serious crimes that threaten the constitutional order." The authorities may freeze Guaido's bank accounts and seek to prevent him from leaving the country, local media reported.

Comment: Who is Bolton to tell the Venezuelan government it's not entitled to arrest a traitor? The arrogance of the American Empire is on full display, and the world is taking note. The motivation is too clear to miss.

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Safe

No deal, no money: UK minister warns EU won't get a cent for Brexit divorce bill


RT
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 16:19 UTC
pro brexit protestors
© Reuters / Henry Nicholls
Pro-Brexit demonstrators protest outside the Houses of Parliament, in Westminster, London
A UK Brexit minister has warned the EU that if new arrangements on the Irish backstop cannot be agreed to seal a deal, then Britain will refuse to pay the divorce bill, as PM Theresa May prepares for showdown talks with Brussels.

In the wake of parliament giving May the green light to her deal if she can secure "alternative arrangements" to the contentious backstop - the insurance policy that avoids a hard border in Ireland in the event of no deal - UK ministers have been ramping up the pressure on the EU.

In an interview with the BBC on Wednesday, Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng insisted that compromises would have to be made on the backstop from the EU otherwise it would lead to a no-deal - meaning the UK would not hand over any of the £39 billion divorce bill money.

Comment:

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Light Saber

Trump continues to prepare the battlefield

Brian Cates
The Epoch Times
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 15:04 UTC
Donald Trump
© Carlos Barria-Pool/Getty Images
President Donald Trump speaks to the nation in his first-prime address from the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 8, 2019.
Updated: January 28

Commentary

A lot has happened since my last column. Transcripts from the congressional testimonies of three key Spygate participants-Bruce Ohr, Lisa Page, and James Baker-have been made public: two of which were revealed right here on the pages of The Epoch Times. In addition, there's been several other fascinating developments.

Let's briefly survey the current state of affairs.

Mueller Coming Up Empty

Special counsel Robert Mueller will be wrapping up his investigation into the 2016 election in the next couple of months, having found no collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. And with Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz staring over his shoulder with Page's and Peter Strzok's heads hypothetically mounted on the wall behind him, Mueller knows he's in no position to try to fake anything.

It's suddenly being reported at places such as ABC News that the usual anonymous sources who've spent almost two years furiously leaking about how Mueller has President Donald Trump and his Russian spies exactly where he wants them are suddenly changing their tune and telling their media contacts that perhaps it would be best to begin managing expectations and preparing their audience for something "anti-climactic."
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Blue Planet

If the world understood sovereignty, it could end all our problems

Caitlin Johnstone
caitlinjohnstone.com
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 00:01 UTC
bloomberg tweet
My own Australia has of course joined the chorus of US lackeys who are refusing to recognize Venezuela's only legitimate and elected government, recognizing instead the presidency of some guy named Juan who decided to name himself Venezuela's president with the blessing of the United States government. A statement from our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, reads as follows:
Australia recognises and supports the President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, in assuming the position of interim president, in accordance with the Venezuelan constitution and until elections are held. Australia calls for a transition to democracy in Venezuela as soon as possible.

Australia supported the Lima Group's early call for Nicolas Maduro to refrain from assuming the presidency on 10 January, relayed through our non-resident Ambassador to Venezuela.

We now urge all parties to work constructively towards a peaceful resolution of the situation, including a return to democracy, respect for the rule of law and upholding of human rights of the Venezuelan people.

Comment: See also:

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Megaphone

Venezuela crisis: New Zealand refuses to back Guaidó as interim president

Eleanor Ainge Roy
The Guardian
Tue, 29 Jan 2019 04:58 UTC
New Zealand Venezuela
© Miguel Gutierez/EPA
New Zealand says its concerns about the 2018 Venezuelan elections remains, but it has not taken sides in the current political crisis.
In a stark departure from its allies, the New Zealand government is refusing to take sides in the escalating Venezuelan leadership crisis, declining to give official recognition to either leader.

Last week opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself Venezuela's interim president, and quickly won the support of the US, the UK, Canada and some Latin American countries, who issued strong public statements recognising his authority. On Monday New Zealand's closest neighbour, Australia, recognised Guaidó as Venezuela's president. The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has also urged countries to "pick a side" in the crisis.

Oil-rich Venezuela is wracked with hyperinflation, rendering the bolivar currency practically worthless. Shortages in food staples and basic medicines are rampant and crime is widespread. More than 3 million Venezuelans have fled, causing consternation across the continent.

Comment: See also:

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