Economy, trade & employment

In an impassioned op-ed, Venezuelan economist Victor Álvarez argues that his country should follow the example of Norway and enact legislation to create a Sovereign Wealth Fund – to protect the country’s oil and mineral revenues both from the boom and bust myopia of its own governments and the ambition of the US to use Venezuela to subsidise its own industries.

The US attack on Venezuela has halted vital oil shipments to Cuba as a tightening US embargo is strangling the island's economy. Lack of fuel is collapsing the energy grid, halting all but essential transport and threatens to destroy the vital tourism industry. Cubans are resilient, but can they survive this crisis?

ATRATO by Juan Covelli runs until 22 February 2026 at the V&A Photography Centre in South Kensington, London. Admission is free.

Grace Livingstone, author of America’s Backyard, analyses the Chavista revolution, what went wrong,  the different factions in Venezuela today and the long history of US intervention in the country.  She explains why the US did not attempt immediate regime change and discusses Trump’s plans for the country.

LAB's Sue Branford witnessed the failure of successive Venezuelan governments to use the country's resource wealth wisely to invest in skills and diversify from dependency on a single commodity -- oil.

President Trump has unleashed a barrage of actions against Brazil in an attempt to prevent Lula from retaining support. He has stated his open support for previous president Jair Bolsonaro, now under indictment for inciting a coup against Brazil's democratic institutions. He has named and inveighed against Brazil's judges, notably Alexandre de Moraes. Military threats, disguised as anti-drug aid, may soon follow. Brazil now faces 50 per cent tariffs if they do not bend the knee.

I am the mole that destroys the state from within.’ The phrase, uttered by Argentinian President Javier Milei describes his ultra-libertarian populist mission. Reality, particularly the economy may not agree, argues Pablo Stafanoni.

Javier Milei's ultra neocon policies threaten to tear apart what remains of Argentina's textile industry. Bert Schouwenburg examines the efforts of UK orgqanisations to source clothing ethically and the impact on one Argentine textile co-operative.

Javier Milei's won a landslide victory in Argentina's presidential elections. He has promised to 'take a chainsaw' to the country's economy -- in dire trouble with inflation this year already at 143%. But can he convert a massive protest vote into real policies?

Glencore, owner of the vast Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia, is using the grotesque Investor State Dispute Settlement process to prevent the Colombian government from protecting its own citizens and environment. Jen Moore was part of an international delegation to study this problem.