(2020-02-18). It's official! India overtakes UK & France to become world's 5th LARGEST economy. rt.com 
India is developing into an open-market economy from its previous autarchic policies, US-based think tank World Population Review concludes in a report. | "India's economy is the fifth largest in the world, with a GDP of $2.94 trillion, overtaking the UK and France in 2019 to take the fifth spot," said the report, as quoted by the Press Trust of India. | To compare, the size of the UK economy is $2.83 trillion, while the French economy is $2.71 trillion. | Also on rt.com | | According to the…
(2020-02-18). Caricom: 'Only With Unity, We Can Fight Against Imperialism'. telesurenglish.net The Community of the Caribbean (Caricom) begins Tuesday its 31st Inter-Sessional Meeting to discuss common policies on security, climate change, tourism, and trade. Its country members will also discuss a regional approach to the coronavirus virus and other noncommunicable diseases. | RELATED: | During the opening remarks, outgoing Caricom Chairman Allen Chastanet emphasized the importance of acting cooperatively to face common problem…
(2020-02-18). Cuban Doctors Will Return to Assist the Poorest in Brazil. telesurenglish.net The Brazilian government will authorize 1,800 Cuban doctors who remained in the country after President Jair Bolsonaro ended the "Mais Medicos" (More Doctors) program to return to serve in the territory. | RELATED: | The lack of health personnel in the poor and remote areas of the Latin American giant, which Brazilian doctors avoid, has been the main reason for this decision, local…
(2020-02-18). Afro-Venezuelan socialist youth leader's message to the people of the U.S. fightbacknews.org In January, Fight Back! reporters participated in the World Anti-Imperialist Gathering in Caracas, Venezuela. While there, they interviewed delegates from Venezuela and from several other countries. In this interview, Ender Sabalsa, a leader of the youth sector and the Afro-descendent sector of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), gives his message to the people of the United States. | Ender Sabalsa: Revolutionary greetings to everyone reading this and to all the peoples of the world. My name is Ender Sabalsa. I'm a member of the youth sector of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). I'm also…
(2020-02-17). Mistrial Is Another Blow to US Coup In Venezuela. dissidentvoice.org 
Last week we, along with Adrienne Pine and David Paul, were unsuccessfully prosecuted by the Trump administration for our protection of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC from April 10 to May 16, 2019. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision and so we remain innocent of the charge of interfering with the …
(2020-02-17). Canadian PM Cancels Visit to Caribbean Over Rail Crisis. telesurenglish.net In Canada, indigenous demonstrations continue to suspend train service in some parts of the country, so Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has decided to cancel his attendance at the meeting of the Caribbean Community, or Caricom, that will begin today in Barbados. | RELATED: | On this two-day diplomatic trip, which was to begin this Monday, Trudeau would bring his proposal for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. In…
(2020-02-17). Aruban Authorities Deny Fake News About Venezuelan Gold Seizure. telesurenglish.net Aruba's Justice Minister Andin Bikker on Monday denied a fake News story that claimed the government of this Caribbean nation had confiscated a Venezuelan plane carrying more than 900 kilos of gold. | RELATED: | The story, which has already been reported around the world, relates how the Venezuelan aircraft was detained after an emergency landing in Aruba by the authorities of the Queen Beatrix Airport. It adds, moreov…
(2020-02-17). US Prevents Medical Supplies From Reaching Cuba. telesurenglish.net The U.S. blockade has affected the Cuban Health services by cutting the supplies entering the island natio, the Director of Trade for the MediCuba Company S.A., Solainy Fajardo said in a statement on Monday. | RELATED: | In an interview with local newspaper Juventud Rebelde, the functionary said that Cuba is compelled to buy these medical resources in distant markets located in third countries, which increases…
(2020-02-17). Colombia: Merlano Denounces Duque, Lawmakers of Electoral Fraud. telesurenglish.net Former Colombian congresswoman Aida Merlano exposed a major scheme of electoral fraud and corruption Monday during a live interview with Colombian news outlet RELATED: | Merlano, currently detained in Venezuela, went on air and reiterated that right-wing Presid…
(2020-02-17). Venezuelan VP Accuses Spanish Right-Wing of Supporting Guaido. telesurenglish.net The Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, accused the Spanish right-wing of supporting the self-proclaimed 'president', Juan Guaidó. In an interview with the Venezuelan news channel Televen, the functionary accused the right parties in Spain of having "a profound double standard" because of their backing of Guaidó, who is in favor of a coup d'état in the South American country. | RELATED: | Rodríguez explained tha…
(2020-02-17). Un mensaje al pueblo estadounidense de un joven venezolano afrodescendiente socialista. fightbacknews.org En enero unos periodistas de °Lucha y Resiste! participaron en el Encuentro Mundial Antiimperialista en Caracas, Venezuela. Allí hicieron entrevistas con delegados de Venezuela y de varios otros países. Esta es una entrevista con Ender Sabalsa, un líder de la Juventud PSUV (Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela) y del sector afrodescendiente en que él comparte un mensaje al pueblo de los Estados Unidos. | Ender: Un saludo revolucionario a todos los que nos están viendo y a todos los pueblos del mundo. Mi nombre es Ender Sabalsa, milito en la juventud del Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela, del sector afro…
(2020-02-17). Mistrial in Trump admin's biased case against Venezuelan embassy protectors is win for sovereignty. mronline.org The Trump administration's case against Venezuelan embassy protectors was severely biased, but ended up with a hung jury. The mistrial is a victory for sovereignty and democracy, and another failure in the coup attempt. |
(2020-02-17). Members of Narco-Paramilitary 'Rastrojos' Captured in Venezuela. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan authorities reported Monday the capture of 14 members of the narco-paramilitary group 'Los Rastrojos', in the city of Boca de Grita, in the state of Tachira, bordering Colombia. | RELATED: | Socialist leader and protector of the Venezuelan state of Tachira Freddy Bernal announced the result of the operation on his Twitter account, saying that during the operation 22,200 liters of oil were captured from a clan…
(2020-02-17). Sinn Fein's Victory is Ireland's 'Brexit Moment' When Left-Out Voters Turn on the Elite. counterpunch.org "People wanted to kick the government and Sinn Fein provided the shoe to do the kicking," says Christy Parker, a journalist from the beautiful but de-industrialised town of Youghal in county Cork. He speaks of the "chasm" between the elite benefiting from Ireland's impressive economic progress and the large part of the population that has been left behind.
(2020-02-15). Mistrial declared in case of anti-coup activists arrested in DC police raid on Venezuelan Embassy. rt.com 
Jurors who heard the case of four activists who were invited by Caracas to protect the Venezuelan Embassy in the US capital — only to be nabbed in a police raid on the compound — failed to reach a verdict due to a hung jury.
(2020-02-14). A view from Cuba: 'Parasite,' a political movie? peoplesworld.org 
In 2019, the euphorically intoned question on everyone's lips that defined the tiny world of cinematography was: Have you seen Parasite yet? In May last year, the latest film by the South Korean Bong Joon-ho not only unanimously won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, but it also got a standing ovation from …
(2020-02-14). Haiti Ten Years after the Earthquake. dissidentvoice.org January 12 marked 10 years since the 2010 earthquake in Haiti that killed more than 300,000 people, and left an estimated 1.3 million more homeless. Much of the greater Port-au-Prince region lay in ruins, including the presidential palace, 17 of 19 ministries, and many schools and hospitals. Entire neighborhoods leveled. Power out. Roads blocked with …
(2020-02-14). Mistrial Declared in Kafkaesque D.C. Trial of Venezuela Embassy Protectors. mintpressnews.com Judge Beryl Howell has declared a mistrial following a hung jury in the case of the four Venezuela Embassy Protectors charged with "interfering with the protective function of the State Department."
(2020-02-12). Headlines for February 12, 2020. democracynow.org Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire Primary, Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet Drop Out of Presidential Race, Federal Prosecutors Quit Roger Stone Case Amid Fight with DOJ Officials, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Rejects Trump's Middle East Plan in U.N. Speech, Trump Conditionally Approves Peace Deal with the Taliban, WHO Warns Coronavirus Poses "Grave Threat" to World, Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó Heckled and Protested Upon Return to Venezuela, Report: 40% of Guatemalan, Honduran & Salvadoran Migrants Fled After Relatives Killed, WSJ: ICE & CPB Use Cellphone Location Data from Games, Apps to Arrest Immigrants,…
(2020-02-12). Did Venezuelan coup leader Ricardo Hausmann stage fake IDB resignation to keep cushy Harvard job? thegrayzone.com Caught in a conflict of interest with his employer at Harvard, Ricardo Hausmann publicly resigned his job as Guaido's Inter-American…
(2020-02-12). Entrevista con lideresa estudiantil Sandinista Rosalía Bohórquez. fightbacknews.org En enero unos periodistas de °Lucha y Resiste! participaron en el Encuentro Mundial Antiimperialista en Caracas, Venezuela. Allí hicieron entrevistas con delegados de varios países. Esta es una entrevista con una lideresa del Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) y una miembro(a) de la UNEN – la Unión Nacional de Estudiantes de Nicaragua. Este es su mensaje al pueblo trabajador y progresista de los Estados Unidos. | Rosalía Bohórquez: Mi nombre es Rosalía Bohórquez, nicaragàºense y miembro del Frente Sandinista para la Liberación Nacional (FSLN). Igualmente soy estudiante y miembro de la UNEN…
(2020-02-12). Media Presents Anger and Jeers Against Juan Guaido as Hometown Hero's Welcome. mintpressnews.com Upon his return to Venezuela, Juan Guaido was greeted by an enraged mob hectoring, jeering and manhandling him, kicking his car and covering him in water and other liquids.
(2020-02-12). New Hampshire Primaries Paint a Picture of Modern Day Class War in America. mintpressnews.com While the primary totals for Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg were relatively close, their support came from radically different segments of the population.
(2020-02-12). Left Media and Venezuela: An Exchange. fair.org 
Critique, Solidarity and Movement Building: A Reply to Lucas Koerner: | by Gabriel Hetland FAIR.org ( Lucas Koerner's recent piece for Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, "How Western Left Media Helped Legitimate US Regime Change in Venezuela" (
(2020-02-11). A Victory for Vulture Funds: Puerto Rico's Unelected Financial Control Board Strikes Debt Deal. democracynow.org 
Puerto Rico's financial control board has struck a deal with bondholders to shed about $24 billion from its general obligation debt. The deal announced Sunday will cut the island's outstanding general obligation debt from $35 billion to about $11 billion; however, the island would have to pay about $3.8 billion upfront. The agreement will still need to be approved by Puerto Rico's Legislature. Puerto Rico's financial control board filed for bankruptcy in 2017 to attempt to restructure $129 billion in debt. The board, which is often referred to as "La Junta," is an unelected board that runs much of Puerto Rico's e…
(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.
(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