Links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Common Dreams, to a news release from the Carter Center, and to commentary by a British observer. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Masked assailants ransack Venezuela opposition leader’s headquarters as post-election tensions mount, by Regina Garcia Cano, Joshua Goodman, Gabriela Sá Pessoa and E. Eduardo Castillo | AP  CARACAS — A half-dozen masked assailants ransacked the headquarters of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado today in the latest escalation of violence against opponents of Nicolás Maduro following the country’s disputed presidential election. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 1  U.S. recognizes Maduro’s opponent as winner in Venezuela election, by Kanishka Singh and Matt Spetalnick | Reuters  WASHINGTON — The United States on Thursday recognized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s opponent and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of Venezuela’s disputed presidential election, rejecting Maduro’s claim of victory. READ MORE . . .

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As Venezuela court probes election results, U.S. declares victory for right-wing opposition, by Jake Johnson | Common Dreams  The U.S. State Department has formally recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as the winner of Venezuela’s election as the nation’s highest legal body began an investigation of the vote at the request of President Nicolás Maduro, who . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 30  Carter Center statement on Venezuela election. News release from the Carter Center. ATLANTA — Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election did not meet international standards of electoral integrity and cannot be considered democratic. The Carter Center cannot verify or corroborate the results of the election declared by . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for news release in Spanish.

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FROM JULY 29  The relative value of life and death, by Craig Murray | CraigMurray.org.uk  Many congratulations to Nicolas Maduro on his re-election in Venezuela. I have to confess I got this wrong. I thought the huge . . . READ MORE . . .