southfront--2020-07-08--‘Horror Without End’: Aide To Head Of Russian Space Agency Roscosmos Arrested For Treason

Safronov was born in Moscow in 1990 .
He graduated from Moscow ’ s Higher School of Economics in 2010 , obtaining a degree in journalism .
He worked as a special correspondent for Russia ’ s Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers and was covering military and military-technical cooperation as well as defense and space industries .
In May 2020 , Safronov was appointed advisor to the Roscosmos chief for information policy and was curating a number of Roscosmos programs .
Earlier , Safronov was involved in several scandals regarding the publication of supposedly sensetive data regarding the military industrial cooperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , the TASS news agency reported that in 2019 prosecutors wanted to bring a civil case against Kommersant for disclosing an unspecified sensetive data in one of Safronov articles .
The article , which remains unavailable , said that Egypt had signed a deal with Russia to buy more than 20 SU-35 multi-role fighter jets .
Following the publication of the article , US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened Egypt with sanctions if it went ahead with the purchase .
Safronov calims that he was forced to left Kommersant after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources ’ and speculating that Valentina Matviyenko , the chairwoman of the upper house of parliament , might leave her post .
The speclations appeared to be false and the article was removed .
Taking into account the public approach of the FSB in this case , it ’ s likely that the security service has overwhelming evidence confirming the treason .
Just a few days ago , on July 2 , Russian expert Vladimir Neelov , who has extensively written about private military contractors , was sentensed to seven years in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on training FSB staff to a German company .
“ The press service noted that the military expert was found guilty under the Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ( high treason ) .
The court hearing was held behind closed doors .
As the court established , the expert sold classified information on the training of FSB field operatives to a German consulting firm .
The defendant admitted partial guilt stating to the court that he did not believe that the data he had handed over was secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Neelov likely did this from selfish motives in order to receive money from the aforementioned German entity rather than to ‘ overthrow the Putin regime ’ or other loud words that mainstream media outlets like so much .
The case of Safronov looks similar .
However , it ’ s possible that his actinos were even more destructive .
The publication of data about the work for an intelligence agency of a NATO member states indicates that Safronov may have not only transferred classified data to the foreign intelligence , but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both the informational space and his access to the managing staff of Roscosmos .
The immediate reaction of so-called “ liberal media ” ( i.e .
hardcore anti-Russian media ) working in Russian that rushed to defend Safronov is telling itself .
They already described the situation as an act of ‘ censorship ’ and accused the FSB of manipulating the case in order to damage ‘ independent journalism ’ in Russia .
Apparently , in their view the term ‘ independent journalism ’ includes the need to work for foreign intelligence services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statehood .

Safronov was born in Moscow in 1990. He graduated from Moscow’s Higher School of Economics in 2010, obtaining a degree in journalism. He worked as a special correspondent for Russia’s Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers and was covering military and military-technical cooperation as well as defense and space industries. In May 2020, Safronov was appointed advisor to the Roscosmos chief for information policy and was curating a number of Roscosmos programs.
Earlier, Safronov was involved in several scandals regarding the publication of supposedly sensetive data regarding the military industrial cooperation of Russia with other states.
For example, the TASS news agency reported that in 2019 prosecutors wanted to bring a civil case against Kommersant for disclosing an unspecified sensetive data in one of Safronov articles. The article, which remains unavailable, said that Egypt had signed a deal with Russia to buy more than 20 SU-35 multi-role fighter jets. Following the publication of the article, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened Egypt with sanctions if it went ahead with the purchase.
Safronov calims that he was forced to left Kommersant after he published an article based on ‘anonymous sources’ and speculating that Valentina Matviyenko, the chairwoman of the upper house of parliament, might leave her post. The speclations appeared to be false and the article was removed.
Taking into account the public approach of the FSB in this case, it’s likely that the security service has overwhelming evidence confirming the treason.
Just a few days ago, on July 2, Russian expert Vladimir Neelov, who has extensively written about private military contractors, was sentensed to seven years in a maximum-security prison for treason and transmitting information on training FSB staff to a German company.
“The press service noted that the military expert was found guilty under the Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (high treason). The court hearing was held behind closed doors. As the court established, the expert sold classified information on the training of FSB field operatives to a German consulting firm. The defendant admitted partial guilt stating to the court that he did not believe that the data he had handed over was secret,” TASS wrote on the topic.
Neelov likely did this from selfish motives in order to receive money from the aforementioned German entity rather than to ‘overthrow the Putin regime’ or other loud words that mainstream media outlets like so much. The case of Safronov looks similar. However, it’s possible that his actinos were even more destructive. The publication of data about the work for an intelligence agency of a NATO member states indicates that Safronov may have not only transferred classified data to the foreign intelligence, but also worked to damage the Russian interests through both the informational space and his access to the managing staff of Roscosmos.
The immediate reaction of so-called “liberal media” (i.e. hardcore anti-Russian media) working in Russian that rushed to defend Safronov is telling itself. They already described the situation as an act of ‘censorship’ and accused the FSB of manipulating the case in order to damage ‘independent journalism’ in Russia.
Apparently, in their view the term ‘independent journalism’ includes the need to work for foreign intelligence services to make money and undermine the Russian statehood.


southfront--2020-07-08--Military Situation In Afghanistan On July 7, 2020 (Map Update)

now an amerikan created civil war—Tajiks vs Uzbeks , vs Hazara , vs Pashtuns—a US sponsored travesty where Pakistan and @ @ @ @ @ the Taliban export heroin

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
One Afghan soldier was killed, two others were wounded when a roadside mine hit a military vehicle in the Ahmad Kheil district of Paktia province;
At least 15 Taliban fighters were killed in clashes with Afghan troops on Baghlan-Samangan highway;
At least 10 police officers were killed in two incidents in Zabul province;
According to a spokesman for the Governor of Nangarhar, a police commander in the Kuz Kunar district was killed when a suicide bomber blew up his car in the district market.
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southfront--2020-07-08--Iran Built Extensive Underground Missile Complexes Along Its Southern Coast

Iran ’ s Armed Forces have developed extensive underground missile complexes along the country ’ s southern shores , including the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman , the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps ( IRGC ) Navy has revealed .
Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri made the remarks in a detailed interview published on Sunday , adding that the fortified underground cities accommodate naval vessels and missile batteries as well as living areas for their operating crews and support units .
In the interview Tangsiri stated : “ We have underground cities , which house both vessels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in southern Iran ] is equipped with arms .
But another thing I am going to say with certainty is that we are present everywhere in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman… This is not just a slogan .
We have long-range missiles and they [ any potential enemy ] should wait to hear further news about long-range missiles and vessels they can not even imagine.
” LINK Tangsiri acknowledged that Iran ’ s enemies know that there are underground cities belonging to the Army and the IRGC along the Persian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they do not have accurate information as to the locations , components and capabilities of the integrated defensive complexes .
He emphasized that the IRGC Navy has full spatial and information command and control in the Persian Gulf and that it monitors the location of every ship passing through the Gulf , the Strait of Hormuz or the Oman Sea .
Tangsiri also noted that the IRGC Navy has formed a marine Basij force , which is stationed along Iran ’ s 2,200-km coastline in order to protect Iran ’ s interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hormuz and the Oman Sea .
The marine force includes 428 flotillas capable of operating autonomously or jointly , consisting of more than 23,000 military personnel .
The IRGC ’ s chief commander Major General Hossein Salami warned in April that the Islamic Republic will target US ships if they were to threaten the safety of the country ’ s vessels or warships .
In May the IRGC Navy was involved in an incident with US forces in the Persian Gulf as US navy ships entered an area in which the Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been warned in advance not to approach .
Tangsiri said the US forces were confronted and pursued from the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman .
“ They had entered our training area while it had already been announced that drills would be held there … hence , they were ordered to leave.
” Commenting on the incident , the US Navy Central Command alleged that 11 IRGC vessels had “ harassed ” up to six US ships in the Persian Gulf , a claim that was rejected by Iranian officials .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign of ‘ maximum pressure ’ against Iran including an economic embargo and strict unilateral financial sanctions imposed against anyone trading with Iran , threatening to intercept Iranian fuel shipments to Venezuela , and conducting menacing military manoeuvres adjacent to Iran ’ s territorial waters and airspace .
The US has been conducting similar provocative military operations along the maritime borders of Russia , China and Venezuela on a regular basis this year , keeping tensions high with its geopolitical adversaries .
Although it appears that the US has been careful to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred earlier this year when a US drone assassinated IRGC Commander Qasem Soleimani while he was in Baghdad , to which Iran responded with force launching missiles against two US military bases in Iraq , Iran has suffered from a series of suspicious explosions at sensitive military installations over the last few weeks .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • US strategic bombers trained for strikes on Russia when they were intercepted over the Black Sea • Apocalypse soon ?
US still scrambling and surging to develop new high tech weapons systems • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oil Shipments To Venezuela US Nato Forces Poised For Possible Interception

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Iran’s Armed Forces have developed extensive underground missile complexes along the country’s southern shores, including the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has revealed.
Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri made the remarks in a detailed interview published on Sunday, adding that the fortified underground cities accommodate naval vessels and missile batteries as well as living areas for their operating crews and support units. In the interview Tangsiri stated:
“We have underground cities, which house both vessels and missiles. Our entire shoreline [in southern Iran] is equipped with arms. But another thing I am going to say with certainty is that we are present everywhere in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman… This is not just a slogan. We have long-range missiles and they [any potential enemy] should wait to hear further news about long-range missiles and vessels they cannot even imagine.” LINK
Tangsiri acknowledged that Iran’s enemies know that there are underground cities belonging to the Army and the IRGC along the Persian Gulf and Makran coasts, but claimed that they do not have accurate information as to the locations, components and capabilities of the integrated defensive complexes.
He emphasized that the IRGC Navy has full spatial and information command and control in the Persian Gulf and that it monitors the location of every ship passing through the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz or the Oman Sea.
Tangsiri also noted that the IRGC Navy has formed a marine Basij force, which is stationed along Iran’s 2,200-km coastline in order to protect Iran’s interests in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Oman Sea. The marine force includes 428 flotillas capable of operating autonomously or jointly, consisting of more than 23,000 military personnel.
The IRGC’s chief commander Major General Hossein Salami warned in April that the Islamic Republic will target US ships if they were to threaten the safety of the country’s vessels or warships.
“We declare to them that we are absolutely determined and serious in defending our national security, maritime borders and interests, and that any move [against us] will be effectively and swiftly met with a decisive, effective response,” Salami said.
In May the IRGC Navy was involved in an incident with US forces in the Persian Gulf as US navy ships entered an area in which the Iranian navy was conducting military exercises despite having been warned in advance not to approach.
Tangsiri said the US forces were confronted and pursued from the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman. “They had entered our training area while it had already been announced that drills would be held there … hence, they were ordered to leave.”
Commenting on the incident, the US Navy Central Command alleged that 11 IRGC vessels had “harassed” up to six US ships in the Persian Gulf, a claim that was rejected by Iranian officials.
The United States has not relented from its campaign of ‘maximum pressure’ against Iran including an economic embargo and strict unilateral financial sanctions imposed against anyone trading with Iran, threatening to intercept Iranian fuel shipments to Venezuela, and conducting menacing military manoeuvres adjacent to Iran’s territorial waters and airspace.
The US has been conducting similar provocative military operations along the maritime borders of Russia, China and Venezuela on a regular basis this year, keeping tensions high with its geopolitical adversaries.
Although it appears that the US has been careful to avoid another direct clash with Iran such as occurred earlier this year when a US drone assassinated IRGC Commander Qasem Soleimani while he was in Baghdad, to which Iran responded with force launching missiles against two US military bases in Iraq, Iran has suffered from a series of suspicious explosions at sensitive military installations over the last few weeks.
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southfront--2020-07-08--UH-60 Black Hawk Medium-Lift Utility Helicopter (Infographics)

Igor Sikorsky , an immigrant to the United States who was born in Kiev .
Before the helicopter came along @ @ @ @ @ flying boats , usually only prototypes .
His first production helicopter in 1942 , the @ @ @ @ @

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The UH-60 Black Hawk is a twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter developed and manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft.
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southfront--2020-07-08--‘They Messed With Wrong Guy’: Trump Supporters Show Video Of Fight Between Man And ‘BLM Gangsters’

Supporters of US President Donald Trump have been circulating a video supposedly showing a fist fight between a white man and several BLM gangsters .
The video rapidly became viral in Twitter and even reached the Russian-speaking segment of the social media .
Pro-Kremlin telegram accounts are actively sharing it as an example of the ‘ successful ’ resistance to ‘ BLM radicals ’ .
The issue with the situation is that the video originiated from China and first appeared online in 2011 .
The fake was filmed in in the People ’ s Square , Shanghai as a kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmed man is Hu Haoming and he ’ s a kung-fu trainer .
The plot of the video demonstrates that the authors were concerned by the question of street crime by migranst in 2011 already .
Since 2011 , the video has been widely circulating in social media under different titles and once became especially popular in 2016 when the migration crisis was actively developing in the EU .
Then , accounts circulating the video claimed that the incident happened in Germany .
The current level of social and political tensions in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of various fake news and speculations that contribute to the narratives of the sides involved in the standoff .
So , it ’ s expected that in the future more fake videos , photos and claims will appear online .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • ‘ Russians Take Knee Before Homeland , Flag And God ’ : Formula 1 Driver Refuses To Kneel For BLM Propaganda • Erasing History The Only Solution Offered As Cultural And Political Schisms Continue In The US • Shootings Surge In New York Following Disbanding Of @ @ @

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Supporters of US President Donald Trump have been circulating a video supposedly showing a fist fight between a white man and several BLM gangsters.
Looks Like BIack Lives Matter Messed With The Wrong Guy! @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/Ezl9pANqzN — Flightcrew ?? (@flightcrew) July 6, 2020
The video rapidly became viral in Twitter and even reached the Russian-speaking segment of the social media. Pro-Kremlin telegram accounts are actively sharing it as an example of the ‘successful’ resistance to ‘BLM radicals’.
The issue with the situation is that the video originiated from China and first appeared online in 2011. The fake was filmed in in the People’s Square, Shanghai as a kind of promo for kung-fu training. The filmed man is Hu Haoming and he’s a kung-fu trainer. The plot of the video demonstrates that the authors were concerned by the question of street crime by migranst in 2011 already.
Since 2011, the video has been widely circulating in social media under different titles and once became especially popular in 2016 when the migration crisis was actively developing in the EU. Then, accounts circulating the video claimed that the incident happened in Germany.
The current level of social and political tensions in the US set conditions for fast and successful spread of various fake news and speculations that contribute to the narratives of the sides involved in the standoff. So, it’s expected that in the future more fake videos, photos and claims will appear online.
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southfront--2020-07-08--In Video: Syrian Army Once Again Blocked US MIlitary Convoy Near Tell Tamr

Click to see the full-size image It is by now a good tradition of Syrian troops to start their morning @ @ @ @ @ convoy near Tell Tamr and forcing it to retreat .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ Operations Against ISIS In Central Syria

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It is by now a good tradition of Syrian troops to start their morning by blocking a US military convoy near Tell Tamr and forcing it to retreat.
SAA blocks Americans near Tal Tamr pic.twitter.com/x7mPhtXRFm — ZOKA (@200_zoka) July 8, 2020
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southfront--2020-07-08--Controversial Opposition Leader Guaido Disqualified As Venezuela Prepares For Legislative Elections

Venezuela ’ s Supreme Court has ordered the disqualification of opposition leader Juan Guaidó from his political party Voluntad Popular ( Popular Willpower ) .
The decision also removes Leopoldo López , the founder of Popular Willpower , as the party ’ s official leader .
Leopoldo López , Guaido ’ s political mentor and the opposition ’ s presidential candidate in the 2012 elections , vowed to continue fighting against the government in a series of tweets after the ruling .
Lopez was detained in 2014 for leading violent anti-government protests which resulted in 43 deaths and was sentenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2017 , he was granted permission to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest .
Shortly thereafter he appeared on a bridge alongside Guaido and a group of troops calling on the military to rise against Maduro .
The insurrection attempt failed and Lopez sought refuge in the Spanish Embassy , where he has remained for over a year .
The court ’ s decision earlier this week follows the disqualification of controversial leaders of two of Venezuela ’ s other main opposition political parties by the Supreme Court in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court affected Democratic Action and Justice First , and involved the disqualification of party leaders who had consistently urged boycotts of elections and attempted to incite military officers to carry out a coup and install them in power .
A new National Electoral Council , appointed last month , is pressing forward with plans to hold elections for the National Assembly on the 6th of December .
The National Assembly is the only branch of government still dominated by the opposition .
Many of the most high profile opposition leaders have indicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particular those backed by the US .
The electoral council recently released a list of the parties that will be permitted to run in the upcoming election – Popular Willpower is not among them .
The chief prosecutor has been urging the Supreme Court to declare the party a terrorist organization .
“ They want to make it quite clear that Guaidó is history , ” said Phil Gunson , a Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group .
Venezuela ’ s opposition has floundered over the last year as repeated attempts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurrections and mass rebellions have found successively less adherents .
From protests rallies between 2014 and 2017 that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets , many of whom were willing to set up barricades , destroy and loot public property and enter into violent confrontations with security forces , opposition support has plummeted and major protests have not taken place this year .
LINK The timetable for the legislative elections includes electoral registry sessions from July 13 to 26 , with electoral candidates and lists to be presented from August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself will be held from November 21 to December 6 .
The schedule could be altered if necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The membership of the National Assembly will be increased in the next term , with voters electing 277 deputies for the 2021-2026 period , 110 more than in the current period .
However , the 87 electoral districts that currently exist will not be changed .
Out of the 277 AN deputies , 48 will for the first time be elected from a national list , and the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a 52-48 split between electoral lists and individual nominations .
The objective of the reforms is to provide for greater proportional legislative representation to ensure more “ political pluralism.
” According to the National Electoral Council , 28 national political organizations , 52 regional parties and six parties representing Indigenous peoples have been approved to participate in the December election .
The changes to electoral norms had been one of the topics discussed in the National Dialogue Roundtable between the government and a host of small opposition parties .
Following the announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Nicolas Maduro called on Venezuelans to participate in the parliamentary elections , stressing that the government will put safety and healthcare protocols in place .
Leander Perez , a member of the Homeland for All ( PPT ) party , told news outlet Venezuelanalysis that the new rules could benefit smaller parties and that leftist organizations such as the PPT and the Venezuelan Communist Party have been demanding more proportional representation for years .
Opposition leader Juan Guaido reiterated that he will not take part in the elections .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Venezuela , ” a statement from Guaido ’ s press office read .
The opposition leader has rejected taking part in elections as long as Maduro remains in office , repeatedly urging Venezuela ’ s armed forces to oust the president and install him in power .
LINK The new leaders of the other major opposition parties , Democratic Action and Justice First , who took up their positions following the intervention by the country ’ s Supreme Court last month , have declared their intention to participate in the December contests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for a boycott of the elections .
The US government has also declared it would not recognize the upcoming legislative elections .
While the latest moves have been universally denounced and condemned by Western media outlets , the final decision as to whether the decision to disqualify opposition leaders who have sought to prevent and disrupt elections and have consistently called for armed insurrection and rebellion and US intervention will be made by Venezuelans between now and December .
A high turnout will vindicate the decision , a low turnout will signal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instability and will make the country even more vulnerable to foreign intervention .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Venezuela : US Maximum Pressure Continues , More Details Of Failed Mercenary Attack Revealed • As Showdown Looms Over Iran ’ s Oil Shipments To Venezuela US Nato Forces Poised For Possible Interception

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Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered the disqualification of opposition leader Juan Guaidó from his political party Voluntad Popular (Popular Willpower). The decision also removes Leopoldo López, the founder of Popular Willpower, as the party’s official leader.
Leopoldo López, Guaido’s political mentor and the opposition’s presidential candidate in the 2012 elections, vowed to continue fighting against the government in a series of tweets after the ruling. Lopez was detained in 2014 for leading violent anti-government protests which resulted in 43 deaths and was sentenced to nearly 14 years in jail.
In 2017, he was granted permission to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. Shortly thereafter he appeared on a bridge alongside Guaido and a group of troops calling on the military to rise against Maduro. The insurrection attempt failed and Lopez sought refuge in the Spanish Embassy, where he has remained for over a year.
The court’s decision earlier this week follows the disqualification of controversial leaders of two of Venezuela’s other main opposition political parties by the Supreme Court in June. The earlier decision of the Supreme Court affected Democratic Action and Justice First, and involved the disqualification of party leaders who had consistently urged boycotts of elections and attempted to incite military officers to carry out a coup and install them in power.
A new National Electoral Council, appointed last month, is pressing forward with plans to hold elections for the National Assembly on the 6th of December. The National Assembly is the only branch of government still dominated by the opposition. Many of the most high profile opposition leaders have indicated they will not participate in the election, particular those backed by the US.
The electoral council recently released a list of the parties that will be permitted to run in the upcoming election – Popular Willpower is not among them. The chief prosecutor has been urging the Supreme Court to declare the party a terrorist organization.
“They want to make it quite clear that Guaidó is history,” said Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.
Venezuela’s opposition has floundered over the last year as repeated attempts by US-backed opposition leaders to instigate armed insurrections and mass rebellions have found successively less adherents. From protests rallies between 2014 and 2017 that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets, many of whom were willing to set up barricades, destroy and loot public property and enter into violent confrontations with security forces, opposition support has plummeted and major protests have not taken place this year. LINK
The timetable for the legislative elections includes electoral registry sessions from July 13 to 26, with electoral candidates and lists to be presented from August 10 to 19 and the election campaign itself will be held from November 21 to December 6. The schedule could be altered if necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The membership of the National Assembly will be increased in the next term, with voters electing 277 deputies for the 2021-2026 period, 110 more than in the current period. However, the 87 electoral districts that currently exist will not be changed. Out of the 277 AN deputies, 48 will for the first time be elected from a national list, and the rest will be allocated among the 87 constituencies with a 52-48 split between electoral lists and individual nominations.
The objective of the reforms is to provide for greater proportional legislative representation to ensure more “political pluralism.”
According to the National Electoral Council, 28 national political organizations, 52 regional parties and six parties representing Indigenous peoples have been approved to participate in the December election. The changes to electoral norms had been one of the topics discussed in the National Dialogue Roundtable between the government and a host of small opposition parties.
Following the announcement of the schedule for the legislative elections, President Nicolas Maduro called on Venezuelans to participate in the parliamentary elections, stressing that the government will put safety and healthcare protocols in place.
“We have seen elections held around the world during this pandemic, and Venezuela is no exception,” he said in a televised address. Maduro went on to add that the participation of 86 political organizations “strengthens democracy and peace in the country.”
Leander Perez, a member of the Homeland for All (PPT) party, told news outlet Venezuelanalysis that the new rules could benefit smaller parties and that leftist organizations such as the PPT and the Venezuelan Communist Party have been demanding more proportional representation for years.
“The new rules encourage smaller parties to submit their own national lists and achieve representation in the AN. The previous setup forced them to run in large coalitions, the [government-led] Great Patriotic Pole and the [opposition alliance] MUD. We need to set up a bloc that will act independently from the [ruling] PSUV, in alliance with popular movements, to defend a leftist agenda such as: demanding higher salaries and the release of imprisoned trade unionists, opposing the evictions of farming communities, and denouncing privatizations.”
Opposition leader Juan Guaido reiterated that he will not take part in the elections. “There can be no elections in Maduro’s Venezuela,” a statement from Guaido’s press office read. The opposition leader has rejected taking part in elections as long as Maduro remains in office, repeatedly urging Venezuela’s armed forces to oust the president and install him in power. LINK
The new leaders of the other major opposition parties, Democratic Action and Justice First, who took up their positions following the intervention by the country’s Supreme Court last month, have declared their intention to participate in the December contests. All US-backed and Guaido-aligned leaders have called for a boycott of the elections.
The US government has also declared it would not recognize the upcoming legislative elections.
While the latest moves have been universally denounced and condemned by Western media outlets, the final decision as to whether the decision to disqualify opposition leaders who have sought to prevent and disrupt elections and have consistently called for armed insurrection and rebellion and US intervention will be made by Venezuelans between now and December. A high turnout will vindicate the decision, a low turnout will signal that Venezuela faces a continuation of political instability and will make the country even more vulnerable to foreign intervention.
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southfront--2020-07-08--‘Russians Take Knee Before Homeland, Flag And God’: Formula 1 Driver Refuses To Kneel For BLM Propag

‘Russians Take Knee Before Homeland, Flag And God’: Formula 1 Driver Refuses To Kneel For BLM Propaganda

Formula One paused before the start of the season in Austria on July 5 to propagandize the Black Lives Matter movement with drivers wearing black shirts with “ End Racism ” and “ Black Lives Matter ” messages .
Additionally , before the start of the Grand Prix pilots knelt in support of the BLM movement .
However , six drivers , including Russian Daniil Kvyat , remained standing .
According to Kvyat , the proposal of the organizers seemed to him strange , as it contradicts his Russian mentality .
He said that that Russians take a knee before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Grand Prix of Austria became the first stage F1 in 2020 .
The decision of the part of the drivers less committed to the current neo-liberal propaganda trend to not take knee faced a strong criticism in mainstream media .
Sky Sports commentators claimed that it was a “ monumental moment ” and it was supposedly appreciated by fans ( spoiler : No ) although some said that it “ wasn ’ t united ” .
CBS Sports editor Igor Melo said that all drivers not kneeling was a “ bad look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be safer to be an ethnic Russian in the United States amid the ongoing BLM riots .
Videos below show how rioters react to Russian ‘ Borsccht-loving ’ guys that come to check the safety of a Russian restaurant in San Diego : Another interesting fact is that BLM radicals and gangsters also prefer to avoid areas populated mostly by Latin Americans .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Erasing History The Only Solution Offered As Cultural And Political Schisms Continue In The US • Shootings Surge In New York Following Disbanding @ @ @ @

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Formula One paused before the start of the season in Austria on July 5 to propagandize the Black Lives Matter movement with drivers wearing black shirts with “End Racism” and “Black Lives Matter” messages. Additionally, before the start of the Grand Prix pilots knelt in support of the BLM movement. However, six drivers, including Russian Daniil Kvyat, remained standing.
According to Kvyat, the proposal of the organizers seemed to him strange, as it contradicts his Russian mentality. He said that that Russians take a knee before the homeland, the flag and God.
Grand Prix of Austria became the first stage F1 in 2020.
End Racism. One cause. One commitment. As individuals, we choose our own way to support the cause. As a group of drivers and a wider F1 family, we are united in its goal.#WeRaceAsOne pic.twitter.com/qjxYi1zWcJ — Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2020
The decision of the part of the drivers less committed to the current neo-liberal propaganda trend to not take knee faced a strong criticism in mainstream media. Sky Sports commentators claimed that it was a “monumental moment” and it was supposedly appreciated by fans (spoiler: No) although some said that it “wasn’t united”. CBS Sports editor Igor Melo said that all drivers not kneeling was a “bad look”.
The two future stars of F1 stood up. Bad look https://t.co/5lNq7QBi5Q — Igor Mello (@SuperIgor) July 5, 2020
Meanwhile, F-1 fans:
So proud of these respectful drivers. Respectful to the Austrian people standing during the Anthem… ⬇ Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Carlos Sainz (McLaren)
Daniil Kvyat (Scuderia AlphaTauri)
Kimi Raikkonen (Alpha Romeo)
Antonio Giovinazzi (Alpha Romeo) pic.twitter.com/ruU65kMfn4 — PoliticalPig (@politicalpig) July 5, 2020
Charles is correct, F1 drivers should not be branded 'racists' because they refuse to 'take the knee'; drivers should not be coerced into making blatantly political gestures if they do not feel it is appropriate. — Neil Kirby (@EarlKirby) July 5, 2020
Meanwhile, it also appears to be safer to be an ethnic Russian in the United States amid the ongoing BLM riots. Videos below show how rioters react to Russian ‘Borsccht-loving’ guys that come to check the safety of a Russian restaurant in San Diego:
Another interesting fact is that BLM radicals and gangsters also prefer to avoid areas populated mostly by Latin Americans.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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Since July 1, SouthFront has collected 312 USD. This is 6% of the monthly budget needed to keep SouthFront working and further.
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southfront--2020-07-08--Houthis Released New Video Of Their Successful Operations On Saudi Border (Videos 18+)

The Houthis are actively conducting defensive and offensive operations against Saudi-backed forces along the border with Saudi Arabia ’ s southern region .
On July 7 , the Yemeni group ’ s fighters foiled an infiltration attempt by Saudi-backed fighters in Qays Mount on the border with the Kingdom ’ s southern province of Jizan .
The infiltrators were caught in an ambush set by Houthi snipers .
At least two were killed and several others were injured in the failed infiltration attempt .
A day later , the Houthis raided positions of Saudi-backed forces in Murab ’ a al-Hamad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jizan .
The Yemeni group ’ s fighters targeted the positions with recoilless guns and sniper rifles before storming them .
During the raid , the Houthis destroyed an ammo depot of Saudi-backed forces .
The Houthis have been controlling a large strip of the border line with Saudi Arabia since the out break of the war in 2015 .
The Yemen group even succeeds to capture very small pockets within the Kingdom ’ s territory from time to time .
The Saudi-led coalition and its Yemen proxies failed to push the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their superior fire power .
The Houthis ’ better understanding of the border ’ s terrain and their excellent training is giving them a serious advantage .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • UK To Resume Arms Sales To Saudis , Declares Hundreds Of Documented War Crimes Are ‘ Isolated Incidents ’

5 ( 7 votes) Houthis Released New Video Of Their Successful Operations On Saudi Border (Videos 18+) 5 out of 5 based on 7 ratings. 7 user reviews.
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The Houthis are actively conducting defensive and offensive operations against Saudi-backed forces along the border with Saudi Arabia’s southern region.
On July 7, the Yemeni group’s fighters foiled an infiltration attempt by Saudi-backed fighters in Qays Mount on the border with the Kingdom’s southern province of Jizan. The infiltrators were caught in an ambush set by Houthi snipers. At least two were killed and several others were injured in the failed infiltration attempt.
A day later, the Houthis raided positions of Saudi-backed forces in Murab’a al-Hamad near the province of Najran, east of Jizan. The Yemeni group’s fighters targeted the positions with recoilless guns and sniper rifles before storming them. During the raid, the Houthis destroyed an ammo depot of Saudi-backed forces.
The Houthis have been controlling a large strip of the border line with Saudi Arabia since the out break of the war in 2015. The Yemen group even succeeds to capture very small pockets within the Kingdom’s territory from time to time.
The Saudi-led coalition and its Yemen proxies failed to push the Houthis away from the border, despite their superior fire power. The Houthis’ better understanding of the border’s terrain and their excellent training is giving them a serious advantage.
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southfront--2020-07-08--Military Situation In Afghanistan On July 8, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan : • A suicide bomber @ @ @ @ @ a building of the National Directorate of Security ’ s special unit in Ghazni province @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for the Ghazni governor , the Deh Yak Habibullah district police chief was killed @ @ @ @ @ • One Afghan soldier was killed , two others were wounded when a roadside mine @ @ @ @ @ in Ahmad Kheil district of Paktia province ; • 4 ANDSF soldiers were wounded and @ @ @ @ @ Taliban ambush attack in Zawa area of Khogyani , Nangarhar province .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
A suicide bomber detonated his explosive close to a building of the National Directorate of Security’s special unit in Ghazni province;
According to a spokesman for the Ghazni governor, the Deh Yak Habibullah district police chief was killed in a mine blast;
One Afghan soldier was killed, two others were wounded when a roadside mine explosion struck a military vehicle in Ahmad Kheil district of Paktia province;
4 ANDSF soldiers were wounded and one Humvee was destroyed in Taliban ambush attack in Zawa area of Khogyani, Nangarhar province.
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southfront--2020-07-08--Turkish Proxies Create Chaos In Northeastern Syria

Chaos is spreading through the Turkish-occupied part of northern Syria .
Late on July 7 , a car bomb explosion rocked the town of Tell Abyad killing at least seven people .
Pro-Turkish sources immediately accused the Kurdish People ’ s Protection Units ( YPG ) of plotting this attack .
However , such claims seem quite shaky given the ongoing armed confrontations between various Turkish-backed groups all vying for control over limited resources in the Turkish-occupied part of Syria .
Just recently , Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ayn were the site of armed confrontations between Turkish proxies .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employ IEDs , car bombs and night raids in their internal struggle while blaming their use on the YPG and even ISIS .
A new US convoy with weapons and equipment entered northeastern Syria from Iraq .
According to the available data , the convoy consisted of at least 27 vehicles and proceeded to the US military base at Qasraq Tal Baider .
On July 8 , sources close to the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces reported that some of the weapons will , as always , be delivered to the Kurdish group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and detained 3 others in an operation against the terrorist group ’ s cells in the countryside of al-Sukhna in Homs province .
Syrian state media claimed that the terrorists entered the government-controlled territory from the area of al-Tanf , which remains in the hands of the US-led coalition .
Syrian and Russian sources have consistently been accusing the US of indirectly and even directly assisting ISIS cells operating against the Syrian Army on the western bank of the Euphrates .
According to them , Washington has been doing this to undermine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controlled by the Damascus government and to instigate a new armed conflict in central Syria .
Meanwhile , at least one member of the National Defense Forces ( NDF ) reportedly died in an IED explosion in southern Raqqa , where the NDF and the army are also conducting a security operation against ISIS cells .
On July 7 , the Russian Military Police and the Turkish Army conducted another extended patrol along the M4 highway in southern Idlib .
The patrol started near Saraqib and covered about 66km reaching Bidama in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has apparently come to at least a partial understanding with al-Qaeda-linked groups in Greater Idlib .
This has allowed it to facilitate the implementation of joint patrols in the framework of the March agreement with Russia .
Now , Ankara will likely make another attempt to rebrand various terrorist organizations operating in Idlib as the so-called moderate opposition and neutralize factions which do not support this initiative .
In previous years , numerous efforts by the US , Turkey and other ‘ supporters of Syrian democracy ’ to do this have failed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own armed forces in the area and the terrorist groups have been weakened by a long string of losses to the Syrian Army .
So , the Erdogan government may really achieve this goal if it has enough time and the situation does not get out of control .

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Chaos is spreading through the Turkish-occupied part of northern Syria.
Late on July 7, a car bomb explosion rocked the town of Tell Abyad killing at least seven people. Pro-Turkish sources immediately accused the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) of plotting this attack. However, such claims seem quite shaky given the ongoing armed confrontations between various Turkish-backed groups all vying for control over limited resources in the Turkish-occupied part of Syria.
Just recently, Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ayn were the site of armed confrontations between Turkish proxies. It is likely that these same groups could employ IEDs, car bombs and night raids in their internal struggle while blaming their use on the YPG and even ISIS.
A new US convoy with weapons and equipment entered northeastern Syria from Iraq. According to the available data, the convoy consisted of at least 27 vehicles and proceeded to the US military base at Qasraq Tal Baider. On July 8, sources close to the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces reported that some of the weapons will, as always, be delivered to the Kurdish group.
The Syrian Army killed 3 ISIS members and detained 3 others in an operation against the terrorist group’s cells in the countryside of al-Sukhna in Homs province. Syrian state media claimed that the terrorists entered the government-controlled territory from the area of al-Tanf, which remains in the hands of the US-led coalition.
Syrian and Russian sources have consistently been accusing the US of indirectly and even directly assisting ISIS cells operating against the Syrian Army on the western bank of the Euphrates. According to them, Washington has been doing this to undermine the stability in the part of the country controlled by the Damascus government and to instigate a new armed conflict in central Syria.
Meanwhile, at least one member of the National Defense Forces (NDF) reportedly died in an IED explosion in southern Raqqa, where the NDF and the army are also conducting a security operation against ISIS cells.
On July 7, the Russian Military Police and the Turkish Army conducted another extended patrol along the M4 highway in southern Idlib. The patrol started near Saraqib and covered about 66km reaching Bidama in the western countryside of Jisr al-Shughur.
Turkey has apparently come to at least a partial understanding with al-Qaeda-linked groups in Greater Idlib. This has allowed it to facilitate the implementation of joint patrols in the framework of the March agreement with Russia.
Now, Ankara will likely make another attempt to rebrand various terrorist organizations operating in Idlib as the so-called moderate opposition and neutralize factions which do not support this initiative. In previous years, numerous efforts by the US, Turkey and other ‘supporters of Syrian democracy’ to do this have failed. However, this time Ankara has deployed its own armed forces in the area and the terrorist groups have been weakened by a long string of losses to the Syrian Army. So, the Erdogan government may really achieve this goal if it has enough time and the situation does not get out of control.
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southfront--2020-07-08--Pro-Government Fighters Killed During Operations Against ISIS In Central Syria

On July 8 , Liwa al-Quds , a Palestinian pro-government group , announced that two of its fighters had been killed while taking part in combing operations in central Syria .
The fighters , “ Mohamad Ra ’ if al-Maksur ” and “ Hassan Mohamad al-Masi , ” lost their lives in Rasm al-Hadel in southeast Hama .
The two fighters , who were a part of the engineer unit , were combing the area .
Opposition sources reported that Liwa al-Quds had suffered even more losses on the hands of ISIS terrorists in the central region .
The Deir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had ambushed a convoy of the Palestinian group near the town of Kobajjep in western Deir Ezzor .
According to Deir Ezzor 24 , a number of fighters were killed and injured .
Five vehicles were also destroyed .
These claims are yet to be confirmed , however .
The ISIS news agency , Amaq , has so far not reported any attack near Kobajjep .
Liwa al-Quds , which receives large support from Russia , is playing a key role in the ongoing operations against ISIS cells in the central region .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian Aerospace Forces , the group secured vast areas around the Homs desert this year .
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On July 8, Liwa al-Quds, a Palestinian pro-government group, announced that two of its fighters had been killed while taking part in combing operations in central Syria.
The fighters, “Mohamad Ra’if al-Maksur” and “Hassan Mohamad al-Masi,” lost their lives in Rasm al-Hadel in southeast Hama. The two fighters, who were a part of the engineer unit, were combing the area.
Opposition sources reported that Liwa al-Quds had suffered even more losses on the hands of ISIS terrorists in the central region.
The Deir Ezzor 24 blog claimed that ISIS cells had ambushed a convoy of the Palestinian group near the town of Kobajjep in western Deir Ezzor. According to Deir Ezzor 24, a number of fighters were killed and injured. Five vehicles were also destroyed.
These claims are yet to be confirmed, however. The ISIS news agency, Amaq, has so far not reported any attack near Kobajjep.
Liwa al-Quds, which receives large support from Russia, is playing a key role in the ongoing operations against ISIS cells in the central region. With support from the Syrian military and the Russian Aerospace Forces, the group secured vast areas around the Homs desert this year.
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southfront--2020-07-08--The Impact of the Economic War on Venezuela

It would be impossible to count each and every one of the ways in which the war on Venezuela declared by imperialism has harmed the country .
The aggressions that we , the Venezuelans , have experienced since 1999 have been not only economic ; they have been psychological as well .
There is no way to measure the consequences of the hate planted by the anti-democratic opposition , with its anti-socialist propaganda ; it has extended to the point of burning people alive for being Chavistas .
The outrage felt by the Venezuelan people when they see those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling themselves Venezuelan is also immeasurable .
Having said all that , but focusing on the economic effects , we have brought up to date the calculations made in March 2019 .
Up to that point the economic war had caused losses that totaled $ 125,000,000,000 .
( 125 billion dollars . )
We have calculated the corresponding damages for the year 2019 as a total of $ 68,000,000,000 .
( 68 billion dollars . )
Thus , the total economic losses between 2016 and 2019 total $ 194,000,000,000 .
For Venezuelans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approximately 16 months of national production .
With this money we would have been able to pay our entire foreign debt , which is 110 billion dollars , according to the Central Bank of Venezuela .
Or we might have had resources sufficient to import enough food and medicine for 45 years .
The break-down of these losses is as follows : 25 billion dollars corresponds to the money and material goods that have been looted from us , while 169 billion dollars represents what we have been unable to produce from 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack on Petróleos de Venezuela SA ( 64 billion dollars ) and of the attack on the Venezuelan bolivar ( 105 billion dollars . )
John Bolton confessed in January of 2019 that , “ We froze all the assets in U.S. territory of the state enterprise Petróleos de Venezuela SA ( Citgo ) .
Today ’ s measure totals $ 7 billion in assets blocked at this time .
Plus , over $ 11 billion lost in export proceeds over the next year , ” According to the Ministry of Foreign Relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looted 25 billion dollars from us .
They disguise this as “ sanctions ” while others elegantly call it unilateral coercive measures , but it is nothing more than a barefaced daylight robbery and an act of piracy .
About 5,400 million dollars are held in 50 banks , including the 31 tons of gold that the Bank of England has retained .
The assets and dividends of Citgo , amounting to 18 billion dollars , are also included .
They have not only robbed us but , in addition , in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they would turn control of the assets , property , and goods in bank accounts belonging to the Venezuelan government over to Guaidó and making him responsible for the administration of these resources .
We would like to know just how many of these dollars have been spent to protect the people of Venezuela in these times of quarantine ?
What is very clear to us is that 200 million of those dollars were allocated for a contract with SilverCorp whose objective was to pay mercenaries to kill Venezuelans .
With regard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of England , we must say that the bank is required to return it to its owner immediately upon request .
Now it seems , according to the English , that the owner is Guaidó , who they say is the “ interim president ” of Venezuela .
This is such a crude robbery that no one in their right senses would believe anything so absurd .
The whole world knows that it is not Guaidó who is seated in the UN General Assembly , nor in the UN Human Rights Council , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor in the meetings of OPEC .
Obviously he is not seated in the presidential palace of Miraflores either , nor does he give orders to the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela .
Is it Guaidó who is confronting COVID-19 in Venezuela and coordinating medical aid and protocols with the world Health Organization ?
William Brownfield , ex-ambassador of the U.S. in Venezuela , admitted , “ If we are going to sanction PDVSA , this will have an impact on the entire people , on the ordinary citizen .
The counter-argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the lack of food , safety , medicines , public health , that at this moment perhaps the greatest resolution would be to accelerate the collapse even if it produces a period of suffering of months or perhaps years.
” The attack on Petroleos de Venezuela is not being done casually ; it is a premeditated and precisely aimed action .
Anything that affects the petroleum industry will have repercussions not only in the industry itself , but chiefly on the national economy and thus on the Venezuelan people .
The petroleum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currency that enters Venezuela as a result of exports .
The decrease of these exports , whether due to a fall in the levels of petroleum production or by a decrease in petroleum prices , affects the influx of hard currency , and thus the imports of supplies , repair parts , machinery for national production .
Petroleos de Venezuela is the catalyst for our domestic production .
The price of petroleum fell for 4 consecutive years for the first time in history , for a 65 % decrease .
In addition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Venezuela , the difficulty or impossibility of getting supplies and repair parts , and the financial obstacles , among other reasons , have had an effect on petroleum production , which has decreased by 64 % .
– going from 2.8 million barrels a day in 2013 to one million in 2019 .
This has resulted in a 78 % fall in petroleum exports , which went from 85 billion dollars annually in 2013 to 19 billion dollars in 2019 .
“ We demonetized their currency and , through the international banking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worthless and then we go and say : ‘ Look how bad this government is , your currency is worthless.
’ Well , it wasn ’ t them ; it was us who made their currency useless , ” ( Sputnik 09-12-2019 ) .
The attack on the Venezuelan bolivar currency , a main weapon of the economic war , not only induced hyperinflation and with this the loss of the buying power of the working class , it also shrunk national production .
As wage earners see their buying power diminish due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this also decreases demand for goods and causes a decrease in production by sellers .
Since 2013 , imperialism has caused a criminal depreciation of the Venezuelan bolivar currency by 241,657 million percent , which has given rise to an increase in prices by 11,500 million percent from that year to this .
Each person can come to their own conclusions about what these economic losses of 194 billion dollars mean in terms of anguish , outrage , quality of life and lives of Venezuelans .
Draw your own conclusions as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thus of resistance shown by the Venezuelan people who have confronted the enemies of their country with high morale and with the best of strategies ; the union between civilians and the military .

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Source: Ultimas Noticias, translation Resumen Latinoamericano, North America bureau
It would be impossible to count each and every one of the ways in which the war on Venezuela declared by imperialism has harmed the country. The aggressions that we, the Venezuelans, have experienced since 1999 have been not only economic; they have been psychological as well. There is no way to measure the consequences of the hate planted by the anti-democratic opposition, with its anti-socialist propaganda; it has extended to the point of burning people alive for being Chavistas. The outrage felt by the Venezuelan people when they see those who have sold out their native land while calling themselves Venezuelan is also immeasurable.
Having said all that, but focusing on the economic effects, we have brought up to date the calculations made in March 2019. Up to that point the economic war had caused losses that totaled $125,000,000,000. (125 billion dollars.) We have calculated the corresponding damages for the year 2019 as a total of $68,000,000,000. (68 billion dollars.) Thus, the total economic losses between 2016 and 2019 total $194,000,000,000. For Venezuelans, these 194 billion dollars is equivalent to approximately 16 months of national production. With this money we would have been able to pay our entire foreign debt, which is 110 billion dollars, according to the Central Bank of Venezuela. Or we might have had resources sufficient to import enough food and medicine for 45 years.
The break-down of these losses is as follows: 25 billion dollars corresponds to the money and material goods that have been looted from us, while 169 billion dollars represents what we have been unable to produce from 2016 to 2019 as a result of the attack on Petróleos de Venezuela SA (64 billion dollars) and of the attack on the Venezuelan bolivar (105 billion dollars.) John Bolton confessed in January of 2019 that, “We froze all the assets in U.S. territory of the state enterprise Petróleos de Venezuela SA (Citgo). Today’s measure totals $7 billion in assets blocked at this time. Plus, over $11 billion lost in export proceeds over the next year,”
According to the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the U.S. and its allies have looted 25 billion dollars from us. They disguise this as “sanctions” while others elegantly call it unilateral coercive measures, but it is nothing more than a barefaced daylight robbery and an act of piracy. About 5,400 million dollars are held in 50 banks, including the 31 tons of gold that the Bank of England has retained. The assets and dividends of Citgo, amounting to 18 billion dollars, are also included.
They have not only robbed us but, in addition, in January 2019, the U.S. State Department announced that they would turn control of the assets, property, and goods in bank accounts belonging to the Venezuelan government over to Guaidó and making him responsible for the administration of these resources. We would like to know just how many of these dollars have been spent to protect the people of Venezuela in these times of quarantine? What is very clear to us is that 200 million of those dollars were allocated for a contract with SilverCorp whose objective was to pay mercenaries to kill Venezuelans.
With regard to the gold held by the Bank of England, we must say that the bank is required to return it to its owner immediately upon request. Now it seems, according to the English, that the owner is Guaidó, who they say is the “interim president” of Venezuela. This is such a crude robbery that no one in their right senses would believe anything so absurd. The whole world knows that it is not Guaidó who is seated in the UN General Assembly, nor in the UN Human Rights Council, nor in the UN Security Council, nor in the meetings of OPEC. Obviously he is not seated in the presidential palace of Miraflores either, nor does he give orders to the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.
Is it Guaidó who is confronting COVID-19 in Venezuela and coordinating medical aid and protocols with the world Health Organization?
William Brownfield, ex-ambassador of the U.S. in Venezuela, admitted, “If we are going to sanction PDVSA, this will have an impact on the entire people, on the ordinary citizen. The counter-argument is that the people suffer so much from the lack of food, safety, medicines, public health, that at this moment perhaps the greatest resolution would be to accelerate the collapse even if it produces a period of suffering of months or perhaps years.”
The attack on Petroleos de Venezuela is not being done casually; it is a premeditated and precisely aimed action. Anything that affects the petroleum industry will have repercussions not only in the industry itself, but chiefly on the national economy and thus on the Venezuelan people.
The petroleum industry generates 95% of the hard currency that enters Venezuela as a result of exports. The decrease of these exports, whether due to a fall in the levels of petroleum production or by a decrease in petroleum prices, affects the influx of hard currency, and thus the imports of supplies, repair parts, machinery for national production. Petroleos de Venezuela is the catalyst for our domestic production.
The price of petroleum fell for 4 consecutive years for the first time in history, for a 65% decrease. In addition, the commercial and financial blockade against Petroleos de Venezuela, the difficulty or impossibility of getting supplies and repair parts, and the financial obstacles, among other reasons, have had an effect on petroleum production, which has decreased by 64%. – going from 2.8 million barrels a day in 2013 to one million in 2019. This has resulted in a 78% fall in petroleum exports, which went from 85 billion dollars annually in 2013 to 19 billion dollars in 2019.
Republican Virginia State Senator Richard Black admitted, referring to Venezuela,
“We demonetized their currency and, through the international banking system, we made the Venezuelan currency worthless and then we go and say: ‘Look how bad this government is, your currency is worthless.’ Well, it wasn’t them; it was us who made their currency useless,” (Sputnik 09-12-2019).
The attack on the Venezuelan bolivar currency, a main weapon of the economic war, not only induced hyperinflation and with this the loss of the buying power of the working class, it also shrunk national production. As wage earners see their buying power diminish due to rapid and disproportionate increase in prices, this also decreases demand for goods and causes a decrease in production by sellers.
Since 2013, imperialism has caused a criminal depreciation of the Venezuelan bolivar currency by 241,657 million percent, which has given rise to an increase in prices by 11,500 million percent from that year to this.
Each person can come to their own conclusions about what these economic losses of 194 billion dollars mean in terms of anguish, outrage, quality of life and lives of Venezuelans. Draw your own conclusions as well about the immeasurable level of consciousness and thus of resistance shown by the Venezuelan people who have confronted the enemies of their country with high morale and with the best of strategies; the union between civilians and the military.
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southfront--2020-07-08--Syrian Army Destroyed Bulldozer, Killed Militant In Western Aleppo

On July 8 afternoon , the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) destroyed a bulldozer of the Turkish-backed National Front @ @ @ @ @ in the western Aleppo countryside .
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights @ @ @ @ @ fortifications near the 46th Regiment base when it was targeted with an anti-tank guided missile @ @ @ @ @ bulldozer ’ s driver was killed in the ATGM strike .
He was identified as @ @ @ @ @ a NFL militant from the town of al-Atarib .
Earlier today , the SAA artillery @ @ @ @ @ several towns in the southern countryside of Idlib .
These attacks appear to be a @ @ @ @ @ repeated violations of the ceasefire in the region .
The SAA is now responding with @ @ @ @ @ Greater Idlib .
The army and its allies could resume ground operations in the region @ @ @ @ @ to subdue the militants in the region .
Ankara , which maintain a large force @ @ @ @ @ ’ t seem willing to confront the militants .
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On July 8 afternoon, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) destroyed a bulldozer of the Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation (NFL) in the western Aleppo countryside.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the bulldozer was building fortifications near the 46th Regiment base when it was targeted with an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM).
The bulldozer’s driver was killed in the ATGM strike. He was identified as “Mohammad Ramah,” a NFL militant from the town of al-Atarib.
Earlier today, the SAA artillery shelled militants’ positions in several towns in the southern countryside of Idlib. These attacks appear to be a response to the militants’ repeated violations of the ceasefire in the region.
The SAA is now responding with more force to violations in Greater Idlib. The army and its allies could resume ground operations in the region soon, if Turkey fails to subdue the militants in the region. Ankara, which maintain a large force in the region, doesn’t seem willing to confront the militants.
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southfront--2020-07-08--ISIS Intensified Attacks On Egyptian Army In Sinai (Photos)

On July 5 , ISIS news agency , Amaq , released photos of a recent attack on a unit of the Egyptian military in the area of al-Magharah in the center of the Sinai Peninsula .
During the attack , which likely took place on June 22 , the terrorists targeted the unit ’ s armored vehicle with an improvised explosive device ( IED ) .
The terrorists then clashed with the survivors , before running away .
Amaq ’ s photos confirm that five to six service members of the Egyptian Armed Forces were killed in the well-planned attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ISIS cells in Sinai began intensified their IED attacks on Egyptian government forces in Sinai .
Explosive devices provided the terrorist group with a low-risk , low-cost method to inflict losses on its enemies .
In ISIS ’ most recent IED attacks , an armored vehicle of the Egyptian military was blown into pieces in the village of al-Sakadra near Sheikh Zuweid in northern Sinai .
Amaq also released photos of the attack .
The Egyptian military and security forces are conducting operations against ISIS remnants in Sinai on a regular basis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nevertheless , the group is still active in the region .
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On July 5, ISIS news agency, Amaq, released photos of a recent attack on a unit of the Egyptian military in the area of al-Magharah in the center of the Sinai Peninsula.
During the attack, which likely took place on June 22, the terrorists targeted the unit’s armored vehicle with an improvised explosive device (IED). The terrorists then clashed with the survivors, before running away.
Amaq’s photos confirm that five to six service members of the Egyptian Armed Forces were killed in the well-planned attack.
In the last few months, ISIS cells in Sinai began intensified their IED attacks on Egyptian government forces in Sinai. Explosive devices provided the terrorist group with a low-risk, low-cost method to inflict losses on its enemies.
In ISIS’ most recent IED attacks, an armored vehicle of the Egyptian military was blown into pieces in the village of al-Sakadra near Sheikh Zuweid in northern Sinai. Amaq also released photos of the attack.
The Egyptian military and security forces are conducting operations against ISIS remnants in Sinai on a regular basis. Heavy losses were inflicted on the terrorists. Nevertheless, the group is still active in the region.
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