(2021-04-20). The Dirty Campaign Underlying Ecuador's "Free and Fair" Election. orinocotribune.com By Medea Benjamin and Leonardo Flores — Apr 16, 2021 | Ecuador's April 11 election that led to a 5-point victory by conservative banker Guillermo Lasso over progressive candidate Andrés Arauz was not what it appeared to be. On the surface, it was a surprisingly clean and professional election, as our CODEPINK official observer delegation witnessed. But a fraud-free process for casting and counting ballots does not mean that the election was free and fair. Behind the scenes was a monumentally unequal playing field and dirty campaign designed to quash an Arauz win. | For starters, Arauz—a 36-year-old fol…
(2021-04-20). The Dirty Campaign Underlying Ecuador's "Free and Fair" Election. counterpunch.org Ecuador's April 11 election that led to a 5-point victory by conservative banker Guillermo Lasso over progressive candidate Andrés Arauz was not what it appeared to be. On the surface, it was a surprisingly clean and professional election, as our CODEPINK official observer delegation witnessed. But a fraud-free process for casting and counting ballots does
(2021-04-20). Has the Biden Administration Quietly Given Up on Recognizing Juan Guaidó as the President of Venezuela? orinocotribune.com By Les Blough — Apr 11, 2021 | Has the Biden administration quietly given up on recognizing Juan Guaidó as the President of Venezuela? | Not yet, but they will. They know they picked the wrong horse for destabilization and "regime change" but they have to find a way to dump him while saving face. | Venezuelans, including the opposition, have no love for out-and-out traitors. Poor "Juanito" ("Little John", as he's known here) has found himself in a very very dark place, despised by his fellow citizens, impossible to show his face in the streets anymore, directly responsible for many deaths when grandstanding…
(2021-04-20). Bolivia's Fight for Food Sovereignty. orinocotribune.com 
Food security and food sovereignty are perhaps the most important issues facing Latin America and its campesino farmers. Being able to produce what one consumes is key in reducing poverty and guarding against hunger and external economic shocks. Since 2006, Bolivia has made it a priority. Evo Morales came through the ranks of the campesino social movements and was keenly aware of the poverty and other challenges facing the rural areas. After huge investments in rural communities, Bolivia now produces 95% of what it consumes. | To understand this issue and how Bolivia is grappling with it, Kawsachun News spoke exc…
(2021-04-20). President Maduro: US Escalates War, Prevents Vaccine Sales to Venezuela. orinocotribune.com The Venezuelan president denounced threats by the US towards COVID-19 vaccine distribution companies, preventing them from trading with the Bolivarian Republic. | "They have gone so far as to threaten the companies that distribute vaccines with sanctions, if they sell vaccines to Venezuela… Washington has escalated its war against the country," said Nicolás Maduro on Sunday, April 18, during a televised speech. | However, the president said, Venezuelan authorities continue to manage the doses they've acquired to combat the pandemic, despite the illegal economic and commercial blockade by the United States and E…
(2021-04-20). The Dirty Campaign Underlying Ecuador's 'Free And Fair' Election. popularresistance.org Ecuador's April 11 election that led to a 5-point victory by conservative banker Guillermo Lasso over progressive candidate Andrés Arauz was not what it appeared to be. On the surface, it was a surprisingly clean and professional election, as our CODEPINK official observer delegation witnessed. But a fraud-free process for casting and counting ballots does not mean that the election was free and fair. Behind the scenes was a monumentally unequal playing field and dirty campaign designed to quash an Arauz win. | For starters, Arauz—a 36-year-old follower of the political leanings of former president Rafael C…
(2021-04-20). Venezuela secures aid from UN food programme. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Venezuelan President Maduro announced that his country has signed several agreements with the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
(2021-04-20). National strike announced in Colombia in response to neoliberal "solidarity" measures. peoplesdispatch.org 
The government of president Iván Duque seeks to pass a new tax reform in the name of "solidarity" that increases the VAT on staple goods, fuel, and various public services, expands the tax collection base, increases the tax on agricultural inputs, and increases the tax on pensions…
(2021-04-20). Resistance against the policies imposed by the World Bank, the IMF and other creditors between 2007 and 2011. mronline.org 
Ecuador provides an example of a government which officially decided to investigate the process of indebtedness so as to identify illegitimate debt and suspend its repayment. | April 20, 2021 | Newswire…
(2021-04-20). Cape Verde Trends in Venezuela Due to Contradiction Between Alex Saab Case & Election. orinocotribune.com 
The ruling party of Cape Verde won the parliamentary elections on Sunday. The event was attended by international observers from ECOWAS, the organization that ordered the release of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab through its court. | Cape Verde's government did not recognize the ECOWAS resolution, though it should ostensibly abide by it. Analysts say they have not done so due to pressure from the US regime. | This situation, in which the government of Cape Verde invited electoral observers of ECOWAS, but does not comply with their judicial decisions, triggered a widespread reaction by Venezuelans on social media n…
(2021-04-20). "A Sign of Progress": How a Tiny Corporate Media Clique Inverted Reality During Brazil's 2016 Coup. orinocotribune.com By Brasil Wire — Apr 17, 2021 | On the fifth anniversary of Dilma Rousseff's impeachment, the role foreign media played in propagandising for it still warrants further investigation. | Little of international media coverage of Brazil's 2016 coup and its centrepiece, the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, has dated well. But one opinion piece in US newspaper the New York Times stands out as emblematic of the inverted reality being presented to the world, as Brazil's first female president was facing a right-wing plot to remove her and her progressive government from office. | Written by Op-Ed contributo…
(2021-04-20). Understanding Brazil's Crisis. globalresearch.ca The current Brazilian crisis gave its first signs with "spontaneous" demonstrations …
(2021-04-20). Workers Struggles: The Americas. wsws.org Chilean union federation calls for nationwide strike; Quebec teachers push contract demands…
(2021-04-20). World Food Programme reaches deal to supply food to 185,000 children in Venezuela. news.un.org The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has signed an agreement with the Government of Venezuela to begin operations to provide the most vulnerable children in the South American country with nutritious school meals, it announced on Tuesday.
(2021-04-19). El Nacional Newspaper to Pay Diosdado Cabello $13.6m Libel Damages. venezuelanalysis.com The Supreme Court ruled that the opposition newspaper landed unsubstantiated accusations that the socialist deputy was linked to drug cartels.
(2021-04-19). Venezuela Reports 1,287 New COVID-19 Cases on Sunday. orinocotribune.com 
Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, heading the working meeting with the presidential team for the prevention and control of COVID-19, this Sunday, April 18, reported that 1,287 new COVID-19 infections from community transmission were registered in the past 24 hours. Caracas was afflicted with the highest number of cases with 162, followed by Yaracuy with 157, and Anzoátegui with 150. | "We are ending the week of flexibility and we must maintain prevention measures," said Rodríguez. "This graph explains the reasons for the measures taken by President Maduro and the positive aspects of these timely actio…
(2021-04-19). Headlines for April 19, 2021. democracynow.org Police Brutalize Protesters in Minneapolis as Chauvin Trial Moves Toward Verdict, Protests Continue in Chicago over Police Killing of 13-Year-Old Adam Toledo, Florida Poised to Pass "Anti-Riot" Bill, Criminalizing Dissent & Blocking Cuts to Police Budgets, Four of the Indianapolis Mass Shooting Victims Were from Sikh Community; Gunman Bought Arms Legally, Mass Shootings in Texas, Wisconsin Claim at Least 6 Lives in One Day, Globe Tops 3 Million COVID Deaths as India and Brazil Struggle to Contain Devastating Surges, CDC to Issue Guidance for J&J Vaccine After Pause over Blood Clot Reports, Alexei Navalny Transfer…
(2021-04-19). Brazilian Cerrado Savanna: Wildcat Miners Descend on Indigenous Reserve. globalresearch.ca In a remote corner of Brazil's Roraima state, a makeshift mining …
(2021-04-19). Guaidó's Gag: He Names New Board of Directors at Telesur — They Treat Him as Crazy. orinocotribune.com 
Juan Guaidó added another farcical episode to the drama of his mock interim government by announcing that he has overhauled the executive board of Telesur. | This "decision" was funny enough to elicit a response from Venezuelan Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Latin America, Rander Peña, who wrote simply: "today's joke." Peña was followed by Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza, who facetiously call the former deputy's imaginary television station "TeleNarniaNorte." | Guaidó, US puppet for destabilizing Venezuela, announced that those in charge of running the Telesur parallel project will be Roberto Marrero…
(2021-04-19). Inflación en la Argentina: øProblema sin solución? globalizacion.ca La suba de los precios sigue siendo un problema en la Argentina. Muy pocos países presentan esta situación en la región y en el mundo, lo que genera debates sobre las causas y las formas de superación del problema. Una…
(2021-04-19). Paulo Freire's Brazil: 'Return to Grassroots Popular Education'. zcomm.org Interview on returning to the grassroots work of popular education…
(2021-04-19). Brazil's 'Lula' is ready and willing to defeat his country's fascist government. thecanary.co As The Canary has
(2021-04-19). Opinion poll suggests Pedro Castillo's victory in the upcoming Peruvian elections. peoplesdispatch.org According to the opinion poll conducted by Ipsos Peru, Pedro Castillo is leading the voting intention with 42% of the votes, while his rival Keiko Fujimori follows him with 31% of the votes…