On today's podcast

Venezuela

The Acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, formalized the signing of a new agreement with the companies Repsol of Spain and Eni of Italy for the development of the Cardon 4 consortium, one of the most important gas projects in the region.

The agreement seeks to increase gas production in Venezuela to ensure domestic supply and generate exports that will bring foreign currency and foreign investment.

United States- Middle East

The United States confirmed that four of the six crew members of a military tanker aircraft died after the aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday. The other two crew members are missing.

The U.S. reported that the incident occurred due to an accident in the air, while Iran claims that the aircraft was shot down by a missile launched by pro-Iranian militias while it was refueling a fighter jet in flight.

Latin America

And countries in Latin America are promoting a declaration against the war in the Middle East. The initiative, which has the support of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, seeks to consolidate a critical stance toward military interventions with special attention to the role of the U.S. and Israel and to open channels for dialogue and international alliances to resolve conflicts through agreements and diplomatic efforts

On today's podcast

Venezuela

The government of the United States formally recognized Delcy Rodriguez as the acting president and the only legitimate head of state of Venezuela.

Delcy Rodriguez said that the recognition is not only of a person or a government, but of a country, and of that country being able to recover its life and breath again.

Although the measure may not bring immediate benefits, it could open the door to negotiating the lifting of sanctions, the possible unfreezing of frozen funds, and the return of investment and trade.

Middle East

In the Middle East, Iranian forces and Hezbollah have launched a new wave of missile strikes against military targets in Israel.

At the same time, Iran continues to control maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, where the movement of oil and gas tankers remains largely paralyzed, disrupting one of the world's most critical energy routes through which about twenty percent of global oil and twenty five percent of global gas pass.

Climate change

And climate change continues to take its toll. In Ecuador, heavy rains that have been hitting the country since January have left at least eight people dead and more than forty-seven thousand affected in several provinces with Guayas, Manabi, and Esmeraldas the most impacted.

On today's podcast

Middle East

On the 11th day of the war in the Middle East, Iran launched a new wave of missiles at areas occupied by Israel and strategic centers and U.S. bases, in retaliation for the constant aggression by the U.S. and Israel.

Israel had to activate air raid sirens in Haifa, Galilee and the occupied Gaza Strip.

United States-Cuba

President Donald Trump, in a press conference on Monday, hardened his rhetoric against Cuba and warned the island of a possible intervention.

The U.S. government continues suggesting that, after Iran, Cuba could be the next target.

Venezuela

In Venezuela, the National Assembly approved in first discussion the Organic Mining Law.

The legislation includes the creation of the Superintendency of Mining Activity, an entity that will oversee regulation and promote incentives to encourage national and international investments in the sector.

On today's podcast

Oil - Price - United States

The eyes of the world today are on oil, whose price has surged past $100 a barrel due to the continuing war in the Middle East, which today enters its 10th day.

Despite the global inflationary pressure this increase represents, President Donald Trump said the higher price is, quote, a small price to pay for the security and peace of the U.S. and the world.

Analysts warn, however, that if the conflict worsens and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, oil prices could climb to more than $150 per barrel.

Iran - new Supreme Leader

Iran has a new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ali Khamenei. Long seen as a powerful but discreet figure, he served as an informal advisor to his father and is believed to favor a hard-line foreign policy while maintaining close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Venezuela

Venezuela's Acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, described Sunday's first National Popular Consultation of 2026 as a historic event, saying participation exceeded expectations.

Some 36,000 community projects were put to a vote in what the government calls a system of direct democratic participation.

Colombia

Colombia, following yesterday's legislative elections, the governing Historic Pact scored a major political victory.

The coalition will hold the largest bloc in the Senate, while its leading figure, Ivan Cepeda, emerged as a dominant voice of the left. As a presidential hopeful, he pledged a citizen uprising against corruption.

On today's podcast.

Middle East

On the fifth day, crossfire continues in the Middle East war.

Iran, with its missiles and drones, has reached Israeli territory, a US military base, a CIA station and embassies in the region.

And Israel, despite proclaiming that its attacks on Iran are directed at military or strategic targets, its bombings have largely struck civilian structures such as hospitals and schools.

Colombia

Colombians are preparing to go to the polls this Sunday, March 8, in legislative elections amid complaints of irregularities in the vote count and pressure.

President Gustavo Petro called on citizens not to sell their vote and to exercise their right to vote freely.

Peru

And in Peru, at least 41 deaths have been caused by the intense rains affecting several regions of the country.

Authorities also reported an increase in dengue and respiratory illnesses and have deployed medical brigades to the affected areas.

On today's podcast

Middle East

In the Middle East, attacks against Iran and Iran's retaliatory strikes continue on the fourth day of war. International media reports an explosion followed by a fire at the US embassy in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, while the United States government has urged its citizens in sixteen countries in the region to leave as soon as possible.

For its part, the Israeli army confirmed the invasion of Southern Lebanon and the deployment of its troops in the area. It added that its attacking positions of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah to prevent its fighters from entering Israeli territory.

World Economy

The joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran is having a direct impact on the global economy.

In Europe, gas prices have surged by more than fifty percent. Oil prices have also risen following Iran's partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and uncertainty over the length of the war is beginning to drive global inflation.

Brazil

And the government of Brazil has declared a state of public calamity in twenty-six municipalities across different regions of the country, mainly due to heavy rains and flooding with the aim of spinning up humanitarian assistance and access to federal resources to help the affected population

On today's podcast

Middle East-Military escalation

On the third day of the military escalation in the Middle East, the intense exchange of attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran continues, along with Iran's response, which announced the 10th wave of Operation True Promise, in which it attacked Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Dubai, and in Israel, it attacked the office of Benjamin Netanyahu, according to reports from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The fate of the Israeli Prime Minister remains unknown.

The U.S. Central Command reported that three American fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by friendly fire from Kuwait's air defenses.

The escalation between Hamas, Hezbollah, and Israel is increasing, while President Trump stated that this conflict will last at least four weeks, and Iran announced that it will not negotiate with the United States.

Middle East-Economy

The conflict in the Middle East is generating a strong impact on the global economy, causing stock markets declines due to rising uncertainty and geopolitical risk, as well as an increase of oil prices, after reports that maritime traffic has been virtually suspended in the Strait of Hormuz, through which at least 20% of the world's crude oil passes, increasing financial volatility and the risk of a global slowdown.

Brazil

And as a consequence of the climate crisis in southeastern Brazil, intense rains have left at least 72 dead. In recent hours, President Lula da Silva visited the region to coordinate assistance programs for the affected population.

On today's podcast

VENEZUELA

Venezuela's Acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, sent a message to President Trump urging him to end the blockade and sanctions against Venezuela as an act of goodwill in light of the improvement in bilateral relations.

Delcy Rodriguez affirmed that the bombings on January 3rd were the result of years of lies spread by transnational media corporations and requests for aggression filed by the extremist wing of the local opposition.

For his part, Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, requested on Thursday before the U.S. courts that the case against him be dismissed, arguing that the U.S. government has obstructed his access to a legal defense.

CUBA

One day after Cuba neutralized a boat arriving from Florida with ten-armed men on board, the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister revealed that Havana not only acted but also spoke with Washington.

Since authorities identified the U.S. origin of the boat, Cuba opened communication with the State Department and the U.S. Coast Guard through existing bilateral mechanisms and will request information about those involved, the vessel used and other details of the case.

Washington showed willingness to cooperate.

ARGENTINA

And for today, Friday, in Argentina, unions and social organizations have called for a general strike and a massive mobilization toward the Congress in Buenos Aires in rejection of the labor reform proposed by the far-right pro-U.S. Milei, which makes employment more precarious.

In Congress, after the lower house approved the bill in its initial stage, the Senate meets today to debate and seek final approval of the labor reform, which the International Monetary Fund has already publicly supported and expressed approval of it.