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The pair remained silent today as chaos in the socialist country continues

JEREMY CORBYN and Diane Abbott have remained silent today after Venezuelas socialist President claimed victory in a sham vote to scrap the current parliament.

The pair have both spoken out in support of the regime, and praised the country as a model of socialism.

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Today President Maduro hailed yesterdays vote which will allow him to scrap the current National Assembly and replace it with his own Constituent Assembly as the hand of the people.

He claimed eight million people had backed the new assembly designed to radically change the countrys constitution.

But the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, slammed it as a sham election which would bring Venezuela another step toward dictatorship.

The countrys opposition say no ink was used to mark voters fingers and there was nothing to stop people voting twice.

The country has descended into crisis in recent months, with deadly clashes with the police killing 125 people, power and medicine shortages, and rampant inflation leaving thousands going hungry.

Once the richest country in Latin America, the now socialist administrations economy is on the verge of total collapse.

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Mr Maduro has stuffed the current parliament and Supreme Court with his own supporters and America, Mexico, Columbia and Panama have all sanctioned a number of their leaders.

France, Germany and Canada have withdrawn their ambassadors, and the US has told all embassy staff to leave the country.

Britains ambassador John Saville was last week forced to work from home because of the clashes but tweeted that he was still enjoying the London-like weather, pointing at a grey sky.

The countrys leader took great inspiration from his late mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chavez, who Mr Corbyn has repeatedly praised since he became President in 1999.

The Labour leader said as a backbencher: We also salute Chavez, and the people of Venezuela for turning the clock of history full circle I look forward to the development of Venezuela, the efficiency of Venezuela in providing good services and decency for all the people of that country.

The best form of solidarity is learning from it there is an alternative to austerity

Its called socialism, and its called social justice.

Mr Corbyn also tweeted when he died in 2013: Thanks Hugo Chavez for showing that the poor matter and wealth can be shared. He made massive contributions to Venezuela and a very wide world.

He also has deleted posts on his website in support of the countrys regime, the Express reported.

And, speaking a number of years ago, Diane Abbott said it showed another way of operating.

She said the countrys former President was successful at reducing poverty and that the poor really identify with him.

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn told the Express last week: Jeremy condemns political violence and human rights abuses whoever carries them out.

A dialogue process is needed to secure a peaceful way forward for Venezuela.

A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn declined to comment.

The Sun has reached out to Diane Abbott, and the Labour Party for comment.

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Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott previously backed crisis-hit socialist Venezuela as its PM claims victory over vote ... - The Sun

Remember this day, July 28, 2017. The day Donald Trump became a lame duck president. More significantly, the day the Tea Party revolution ended and Washington began the return to "regular order."

The coup de grace came at 1:30 a.m. on the Senate floor as John McCain became the third Republican to break ranks and defeat the third and final attempt to repeal Obamacare, which embodied the Democrats' promise that all American could -- and should -- have health insurance at a price they could afford. It was, as Tea Party Republicans had warned, another expensive government entitlement that, once granted, could never be taken away. Now John McCain had acknowledged that political reality.

Although it appeared to fall short by a single vote in the Senate, that was always going to be the margin of defeat for the seven-year effort to repeal Obamacare that had become the centerpiece of the Tea Party revolt. There were as many as 10 Republicans who had acknowledged that proposal cobbled together at the last minute by the Republican leadership was so bad that, earlier in the day, they had demanded assurances from the House of Representatives that it would never become law.

It was left to McCain, however, to do the deed so the others could protect themselves from the retribution of party leaders or the wrath of party Tea Party voters in the next Republican primary. Having just been diagnosed with brain cancer, the senior senator from Arizona had achieved that state of political liberation where he no longer had to worry about such things.

McCain was joined in his "no" vote by Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who earlier in the week had received a call from the secretary of the Interior warning that the administration would drop its support for expanded energy drilling and road construction in Alaska if she dared to defy the president and Republican leadership on the crucial vote. Murkowski did not take well to being muscled in that ham-handed fashion. As chair of the two relevant committees, she announced that she was indefinitely postponing sessions to consider nominations to Interior's top positions and to mark up its 2018 appropriations.

The collapse of the Obamacare repeal effort was hardly the only evidence of the waning influence of Trump and his Tea Party supporters.

In the hours before the vote, the attorney general of the United States had defiantly declared he had no intention of acceding to White House requests that he resign and dared the president to fire him.

"If he wants to make a change, he can certainly do so," Jeff Sessions told Fox News. The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged on by several Republican colleagues, had already warned the Republican president that anyone appointed to replace Sessions would not receive a confirmation hearing. And senators of both parties had indicated that they would use parliamentary slight of hand to keep the Senate in formal session through the normal summer recess to prevent Trump from replacing Sessions with a recess appointment.

Earlier in the day, military and civilian leaders at the Pentagon indicated they would "study" what to do about transgender members of the armed forces after the commander in chief had tweeted that they would no longer be allowed to serve.

And at the White House, the long-running tong war among members of the president's top staff finally broke out into the open, as the new communications chief let loose with a profanity-laced rant against a chief of staff whom he characterized as a paranoid schizophrenic leaker and chief strategist who spent his days engaged in political self-fellatio.

Hoping to demonstrate, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that the business of government was proceeding apace, the White House and the Republican leadership of the House and Senate issued a five-paragraph "statement of principles" for a long-promised reform of the tax code. Months in the making, the statement was a nothing-burger of political and economic platitudes that failed to resolve the central challenge of reducing tax rates without reducing tax revenue and exploding the federal deficit.

This is a Waterloo moment for Trump, the Tea Party and their alliance. They have been stopped in their tracks not only by Democratic opposition, but because of a mutiny within their own ranks. Although never particularly liked or respected, it is now clear that they are no longer feared. The bankruptcy of their ideas and their incompetence has been exposed. Their momentum has been dissipated. Their rejection of political norms has itself been scorned. Our long national nightmare may finally be coming to an end.

Steven Pearlstein is a Washington Post business and economics writer. He is also Robinson Professor of Public Affairs at George Mason University.

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Trump now a lame-duck president - Bucks County Courier Times

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Looks like Americans aren't quite willing to trade in their mocha Frappuccinos for matcha lattes just yet.

Starbucks announced Thursday that it will be shuttering all locations of Teavana, a tea-centric shop that currently boasts 379 locations throughout the country. The move will affect approximately 3,300 employees.

When Starbucks acquired Teavana in 2012, it seemed like a perfect marriage for the king of coffee chains to apply their successful model to the already successful Teavana brand. But it was an experiment that didnt work. Across the country, food traffic many malls and food courts (where most Teavana locations are found) has been steadily declining. With the change, Starbucks is deciding to put their focus back to their original brand pricey coffee beverages.

This is not new for Starbucks, theyve also bought, but then shuttered, bakery chain La Boulange.

But the move to shutter Teavana doesn't mean Starbucks is abandoning tea entirely. The coffee chain will continue to offer a wide variety of hot tea options at most locations, as well as iced green, black and other flavored, blended tea beverages, such as Shaken Berry Sangria tea or the new Shaken Iced Pina Colada Tea Infusion, a creamy and tropical beverage crafted with Teavana black tea, pineapple fruit and botanical blend, and coconut milk.

"Innovation is key, and we continue to innovate around tea, just this month introducing Teavana Infusions, a flavor platform made from real fruits and botanicals that strengthens our lineup of healthy, less indulgent, premium cold beverages," CEO Kevin Johnson said during the company's Q3 earnings call Thursday, reiterating the company's commitment to offer non-coffee beverages.

"We have big plans for tea in Starbucks retail and CPG (consumer packaged goods) globally."

So, maybe its not that were not so into tea, it's just that we don't need a special spot for it? Were all for the one-stop shop for all our beverage needs.

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The tea party is over: Starbucks to close all Teavana locations - Today.com

Energy Secretary Rick Perry said US coal will be a secure and reliable energy source for Ukraine, which he said has been reliant on and beholden to Russia to keep the heat on. That changes now.

WASHINGTON A Pennsylvania-based coal company has won a contract to supply coal to Ukraines state-owned power company in preparation for that countrys winter heating needs. Officials said the deal would bolster a key US ally often threatened by Russia.

The deal, potentially worth about $79 million, calls for Xcoal Energy and Resources to ship 700,000 tons of thermal coal to the Ukraine to heat homes and businesses. The first shipment is expected to leave the Port of Baltimore next month at a cost of $113 per metric ton.

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Energy Secretary Rick Perry said US coal will be a secure and reliable energy source for Ukraine, which he said has been reliant on and beholden to Russia to keep the heat on. That changes now.

The United States can offer Ukraine an alternative, and today we are pleased to announce that we will, Perry said, calling such deals crucial to the path forward to achieve energy dominance for the United States.

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Your afternoon shot of politics, sent straight from the desk of Joshua Miller.

President Trump has vowed to revive the struggling coal industry and has cited increases in US coal exports as evidence the strategy is working. The Energy Department said in July that coal exports have risen sharply in 2017 amid increased demand in Asia and Europe, but are still below capacity.

The deal comes amid increased tensions in US-Russia relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the United States will have to cut its diplomatic staff in Russia in response to new sanctions against Russia. Congress approved those because of Russian interference in the 2016 US election and its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the coal deal will allow Ukraine to diversify its energy sources ahead of the coming winter, noting that Russia has restricted some natural gas deliveries to Ukraine and other neighbors in a bid to choke off opposition to its ambitions.

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Perry was recently fooled by a pair of Russian pranksters impersonating the prime minister of Ukraine. Topics on the mid-July call included coal exports. Perry met with Ukraines president, Petro Poroshenko, in June.

WASHINGTON An Army medic who ran into danger to save wounded soldiers during a Vietnam War battle despite his own serious wounds on Monday became the first Medal of Honor recipient under President Trump, 48 years after the selfless acts of bravery for which James McCloughan is now nationally recognized.

McCloughan mouthed thank you as Trump placed the distinctive blue ribbon holding the medal around the neck of the former Army private first class. As the president and commander in chief shook McCloughans hand, Trump said very proud of you and then pulled the former soldier into an embrace.

I know I speak for every person here when I say we are in awe of your bravery and your actions, Trump said after describing McCloughans actions for an audience including numerous senior White House and administration officials.

Retired Marine General John Kelly, sworn in hours earlier to be the new White House chief of staff, attended.

McCloughan said in a brief statement on the White House driveway after the ceremony that it was humbling to receive the medal. Now 71 and retired, he pledged to do his best to represent the men he fought alongside as the caretaker of this symbol of courage and action beyond the call of duty.

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Pa. coal company wins $79 million deal to supply Ukraine - The Boston Globe

The departments of State and Defensehave drafted aproposalto send Ukraine weapons tohelp in its fight against Russia-backed separatists, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The proposal reportedly recommends sending antitank missiles and other armaments, which American military and diplomatic officials say would be used for defensive purposes as Kiev fights back against rebels in its eastern region widely believed to be supported by Moscow.

A senior administration official told the Journal thatPresident Trump has not been briefed on the plan, nor is his position on arming Ukraine known.

It could likely take months for the Trump administration to make its final decision on the plan, U.S. and Ukrainian officials tell the Journal.

The U.S. has been providingnon-lethal training and other aid to Kiev since Russiaannexed Crimea in 2014, but weapons would be a significant escalation.

The report comes at a time of increasing tensions between Moscow and Washington after Congress this month passed a new Russia sanctions bill, which led Russia to announce it will expel more than750 U.S. diplomats from the country by Sept. 1.

The Journal reports, citing officials, that Defense Secretary James Mattis supports the plan.

Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza confirmed to the newspaper that providing lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine" is still an option on the table.

A State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

European leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel opposed the Obama administration when they similarly considered supplying Kiev with arms.

But U.S. officials tell the Journal that the conflict has since escalated, pointing to increased cease-fire violations that have stood in the way of peace efforts.

Russian officials, who deny supporting separatists involved in the conflict, have said that supplying Ukraine with weapons would stall peace efforts.

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Report: Pentagon, State Dept. draft plan to send weapons to Ukraine - The Hill