(2020-02-28). Study Debunks Claims That Led to Bolivian Coup. truthdig.com A new study released by a pair of MIT researchers Thursday reveals that, contrary to claims from the U.S.-backed Organization of American States, there was no fraud in Bolivia's October 20, 2019 elections—an accusation used by the OAS and others as a pretext for supporting the coup in the country that deposed President Evo Morales and replaced him with an unelected right-wing government. | "Good lord,"
(2020-02-28). Analysis of the 2019 Bolivia Election: No Evidence of Irregular Trends or Fraud. counterpunch.org Disclosure: In December 2019, the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) contracted with the authors to see if the numerical and statistical results of CEPR's November 2019 study could be independently verified. Any analysis and interpretation of findings in this report express the sole views of the authors, researchers at MIT Election Data and
(2020-02-28). Colombian Authorities Update on Damage Caused by Heavy Rains. telesurenglish.net Colombia remains severely affected after heavy rains and landslides that hit the country last Tuesday, leaving eight dead and 14 missing persons so far. | RELATED: | The departments of Bogota, Cauca, Caldas, Cundinamarca, and Santander have also reported landslides, collapsed roads, destroyed homes, and about a hundred evacuees. | In the Piedacuesta municipality, in the state of Santander, "a landslide caused by torrential rains devastated four roads,…
(2020-02-27). 'OAS misled public': MIT study finds 'NO evidence of fraud' in Bolivian election that saw Evo Morales ousted in military coup. rt.com 
A new MIT study has found no evidence of fraud in Bolivia's 2019 election, despite allegations of serious irregularities by the Organization of American States (OAS), which led to the ousting of Evo Morales in a military coup. | John Curiel and Jack R. Williams examined the OAS's report and published their findings in the Washington Post on Thursday. "As specialists in election integrity, we find that the statistical evidence does not support the claim of fraud in Bolivia's October election," they wrote. | New research shows there was no fraud in Bolivia's October elections, which Evo won. | As usual, outlets…
(2020-02-27). It's just business: US & Britain buying more and more oil from Russia. rt.com 
Russia more than doubled crude oil supplies to the United States and Britain in 2019, data from the Federal Customs Service (FCS) has revealed. | A fall in prices for the Russian Urals oil, combined with US sanctions against Venezuela and Iran, were among the reasons for such an increase in purchases. | According to the data cited by business news outlet RBC, in October Russia became the second-largest supplier of oil and petroleum products to the United States. At the end of 2019, crude oil exports from Russia amounted to almost $2.2 billion, 2.4 times more than in 2018. In physical terms, the volume of oil e…
(2020-02-27). Venezuela's Rejects Michelle Bachelet's Report at UNHRC. telesurenglish.net The Venezuelan government rejected on Wednesda the methodologies used by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, but confirmed its willingness to dialogue and cooperation. | RELATED: | "There is still a long way to go to achieve balanced documents and adhere to the principles that should govern the treatment of human rights issues," said Deputy Minister for Multilateral Issues of…
(2020-02-27). In alliance with Workers' Party, Bolsonaro sends Brazilian army to contain police strike. wsws.org Bolsonaro's use of the army for domestic repression and his granting troops a license to kill with impunity are in continuity with policies pursued by the PT when it was in power.
(2020-02-27). New Study Finds No Evidence of OAS Fraud Claims, "Very Likely" Evo Morales Won Bolivia's October Elections in the First Round. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-02-27). UN Warns About Colombia's Endemic Violence. telesurenglish.net Last year, Colombia's continuous human rights violations were marked by record-breaking massacres and murders of social leaders that show that violence is endemic in that Latin American country, a United Nations (UN) report warned Wednesday. | RELATED: | The national homicide rate in Colombia has risen to 25/100,000 people in 2019 and 36 massacres have killed 133 people, the highest figures recorded since 2014, accor…
(2020-02-27). If Venezuelan Embassy Protectors Are Retried, Jury Should Hear About US Crimes. truthout.org On February 28, federal prosecutors will announce whether they plan to retry four people who spent 37 days in the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, D.C.,
(2020-02-27). 'The OAS Has a Lot to Answer For': New MIT Study Disputes Key Claim That Paved Way for Right-Wing Coup in Bolivia. commondreams.org The Organization of American States "greatly misled the media and the public about what happened in Bolivia's elections." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bolivia_0_0.jpg …
(2020-02-26). Like capitalism's previous calamities, climate change hits the poorest worst. peoplesworld.org 
Uruguayan ecologist Silvia Ribeiro, reporting on the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos (where one item on the agenda was "better capitalism"), notes that the "transnationals, the main causes of climate change, finally are recognizing the gravity of the situation … What they are doing is settling into a new wave of business opportunities, new …
(2020-02-26). As media amplifies unrest in Venezuela and beyond, millions are quietly revolting in Colombia. mronline.org 
Despite protests of historic proportions fueled by anger over corruption and a brutal right-wing crackdown, the unrest in Colombia has garnered remarkably little international media attention compared to Venezuela. |
(2020-02-26). Chile's U.S.-backed gov't is shooting anti-austerity protesters, blinding and maiming by the thousands. mronline.org Chile has responded to anti-neoliberal protests with brutally violent repression. 10,365 people have been detained; 3765 treated for wounds in hospitals; and 2122 shot, 445 in the eye according to a conservative estimate by the state-backed National Institute of Human Rights. |
(2020-02-26). Venezuela Reaffirms Cooperation With UN on Human Rights. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza ratified Wednesday his government's willingness to cooperate with the United Nations on human rights issues. | RELATED: | In a meeting with the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the top diplomat said that his government assumes the protection and respect for fundamental rights as a state policy. | This is part of the minister's agenda during th…
(2020-02-26). Four-Day Ecuador Carnival Leaves 55 Dead, 33 in Road Accidents. telesurenglish.net More than 50 people died, and more than 170 were injured in Ecuador during the country's four-day Carnival holiday, officials said on Tuesday. | RELATED: | Juan Zapata, director-general of Ecuador's security services, gave a preliminary estimate in a press conference as the event began Saturday. | "The [security services] have so far recorded 33 dead and 171 injuries (traffic accidents). Public Safety [has recorded…
(2020-02-26). Lula Counters Bolsonaro's and General's Call Against Democracy. telesurenglish.net Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called on Congress and Brazilian citizens to defend democracy against the calls for a coup by ultra-right-wing ruler Jair Bolsonaro and retired general Augusto Heleno. | RELATED: | Bolsonaro sent a message via WhatsApp to his close circle of allies in which he calls for "action" against Congress and follows the proposal of General Heleno, his advisor, and current Minist…
(2020-02-26). Brazil in Search for "Fake Enemies" globalresearch.ca Recently, the Brazilian Ministry of Defense published a dossier on possible threats to national security over the next two decades. The document, however, is far from showing any sign of seriousness, being full of unfounded predictions, which call into question …
(2020-02-26). First Coronavirus Infection Reported in Latin America. telesurenglish.net In the midst of the popular carnival parties in Brazil, the Ministry of Health confirmed on Wednesday the first case of the coronavirus infection of a Brazilian citizen resident that spent the first ten days of February in Italy. | RELATED: | "The initial diagnosis was confirmed," Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta explained in a press conference in Brasilia, adding that the emergency committee is meeting in Sao Paulo and thi…
(2020-02-26). Macri's Created Poverty Is the Highest of the Decade: Report. telesurenglish.net Multidimensional poverty in Argentina rose by 10 points in the last four years, from 27.2 percent of the population in 2015 to 37.5 percent in the third quarter of 2019, affecting 15.8 million people, according to the latest report of the Social Debt Observatory of the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA). | RELATED: | The report presented by the UCA analyzes the evolution of the material living conditions of the…
(2020-02-26). Chile Kicks Off Campaign for Constitutional Reform. telesurenglish.net On Wednesday, the campaign for the constitutional plebiscite on April 26 will begin in Chile, a process that calls for democratization and the end of the enclaves of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990), which persist in the Latin American country. | RELATED: | During the campaign, the country's political parties will broadcast their message house to house, in streets, on radio and television, to call on Chileans to vote for or against repealing the current…
(2020-02-26). Bolivia: Luis Arce Alerts About Risk of Fraud in May Elections. telesurenglish.net The candidate for the presidency of Bolivia for the Movement to Socialism (MAS), Luis Arce, denounces possible fraud in general elections called for May 3, given the changes made to the election system, also exposed by several political actors as 'nothing transparent'. | RELATED: | The alarms rang off because there will be no informing of preliminary ballot counts; therefore, the results of the votes will be announced once the review of…
(2020-02-26). Sure, but Venezuela is the Narco State… mronline.org 
Venezuelan analyst Oscar Forero contextualises the accusation that Venezuela is immersed in illegal drug activity. |
(2020-02-25). Call-In to save the life of Facundo Molares! fightbacknews.org Call-In to save the life of Facundo Molares!
| Call Bolivian Ambassador
| Walter Oscar Serrate Cuellar at
| 202-483-4410 ex. 4 | | When: Tuesday, February 25, 2020
| between 8 am and 4 pm Eastern time | Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Committee To Free Facundo Molares. | Demand, "We want Facundo Molares Schoenfeld released so he can go home to his family now!" | Tell them, "I am concerned for the health and well-being of Facundo Molares. Release him now and allow him to go home to his family!" | Facundo Molares is an Argentinian photojournalist illegally impri…
(2020-02-25). One in three Venezuelans not getting enough to eat, UN study finds. news.un.org Hyperinflation in Venezuela means that roughly one-third of the population — more than nine million people — do not get enough to eat and are in need of assistance, according to estimates published on Tuesday by the World Food Programme (WFP).
(2020-02-24). Chile's US-backed gov't is shooting anti-austerity protesters, blinding and maiming by the thousands. thegrayzone.com Chile has responded to anti-neoliberal protests with brutally violent repression. 10,365 people have been detained; 3765 treated for wounds in…
(2020-02-20). Venezuela files ICC lawsuit over US sanctions. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-02-06). Embassy Protection Collective: "We Are Not the Ones Who Violated the Law" theantimedia.com In this exclusive interview, VA talks to the activists who defended the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC ahead of their trial.
(2020-02-02). Why aren't Americans rising up like the people of Chile and Lebanon? zcomm.org The tinder for a revolutionary movement is everywhere…
(2019-12-20). Notes on a private TV newscast in Bolivia. The contrast with Venezuela is clear as day. zcomm.org In August, I took detailed notes a news broadcast on one of Venezuela's largest TV networks. I summarized these notes in an interview I did with the Real News Network making the point that Venezuela's private media (which reaches 60-90% of households) is remarkably free — most especially when you consider the US is openly
(2019-12-16). Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela. zcomm.org Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodriguez, formerly of Torino Economics, answered a few questions of mine about his country. He was the economic adviser to Henri Falcon, the second place finisher in the May 2018 presidential election. His updated estimate for 2019 is that Venezuela's real GDP will contract by 25% . That's horrific, but less severe