teleSUR's English Podcast

On today's podcast

United States - midterm elections

Four days before the United States midterm elections, The Cook Political Report, a publication specializing in election and political trend analysis, has revised its projections in 12 congressional districts now favouring Democrats. 

Meanwhile, more than 44 million Americans have already cast their ballots through early in-person voting or mail-in voting. 

North Korea - hacking

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange platform, confirmed that it suffered the largest cryptocurrency hack in history, with losses estimated in $6.3 billion. 

The North Korean hacking unit Trader Trade, linked to the Lazarus Group, is suspected of being behind the attack. Binance has pledged to cover all user losses.

El Salvador

And El Salvador's President Najib Bukele says that the deployment of 2,000 troops and military equipment to Haiti is not intended to be an invasion of another country. 

The president justifies the move by claiming that its sole purpose is to rescue four missing Salvadoran military personnel. 

On today's podcast

Brazil - Lula 

In Brazil, Bolsonaro's Liberal Party officially recognized Lula's victory on the presidential election, as Lula defeated the far-right candidate by more than 4 million votes. 

Meanwhile, Lula and his team are now working on the transition and building political support to advance their social and economic agenda in a Congress with a strong Bolsonaro-aligned and conservative presence.

United States - midterm elections

In the United States, with just one week to go before the U.S. midterm elections, Washington, D.C. began in-person early voting. 

More than 30 million Americans have already voted early, including President Donald Trump himself. 

France - protest

France is beginning another week of social mobilizations following last weekend's protests.

Student representatives met on Monday with the French Prime Minister, along with officials from the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. 

They agreed to reform university admissions, create 15,000 places, and increase student financial aid.

On today's podcast. 

Brazil - Lula wins

This Monday, Brazil's Superior Electoral Court officially declared Lula the winner of Sunday's presidential election, while Bolsonaro refuses to accept the results and calls for the election to be annulled.

Lula celebrated his victory by more than 4 million votes over the far-right pro-U.S. Bolsonaro, describing it as a defeat for denialism and lies. He said, and I quote, our country will not be anyone's backyard. 

United States - early votes

In the United States, more than 28 million citizens have already voted early in the midterms scheduled for November 3rd, with nearly half voting in person and the rest by mail.

According to voter registration records, 57% of those who have already voted are registered Democrats, 35% are Republicans, and 18% are independents or members of other parties. 

Europe - protests

And a wave of protests is sweeping across Europe, fuelled by the rising cost of living and increasing fuel and housing prices. 

This weekend, protests took place in France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, and Albania.

On today's podcast...

Brazil

Brazil heads into Sunday's presidential runoff with Lula and Bolsonaro in a statistical tie, according to the latest Quaest polls. 

The two candidates will face off again tomorrow, Friday, in a second televised debate, just 48 hours before an election that could shape the political future of Latin America.

El Salvador

El Salvador's president, Najib Bukele, has threatened to violate Haiti's sovereignty by launching a military operation on Haitian soil to rescue four Salvadoran soldiers kidnapped by gangs. 

The soldiers are part of a contingent of 78 troops El Salvador sent to the Caribbean nation in January 2025 to join the Kenya-led, UN-backed, multinational security support mission. 

Iran

And Iran reported that four vessels involved in what it described as illegal oil transfers were struck simultaneously and burst into flames in the northern Persian Gulf.

Iran also reported that three other ships involved in illegal activities struck mines on the night of October 21 in the western Strait of Hormuz, triggering accidents and fires. The vessels were detained, according to an official statement. 

On today's podcast...

Brazil

In Brazil, President Lula has asked the Superior Electoral Court to lift the confidentiality of business and family records belonging to his rival, Flavio Bolsonaro and demanded to know how he managed to buy a $2 million home on a monthly salary of $9,000 a month, the same as his own. 

Polls continue to show a statistical dead heat between the two candidates, with support for Bolsonaro trending downward ahead of this Sunday's October 25th runoff election.

Ecuador

Ecuador is beginning the third trial of crew members from fishing vessels bombed by the United States in the Pacific. 

Washington accuses the crew members of criminal conspiracy and alleged collaboration with drug traffickers, after 32 other crew members were found not guilty on a previous similar case. 

Mexico

And in Mexico, former Chihuahua State Attorney General Cesar Jauregui has been arrested on charges of treason after leading a clandestine anti-drug operation in Tarahumara Mountains involving U.S. agents allegedly linked to covert CIA networks whose presence in the country has not been officially registered. 

On today's podcast...

Venezuela

In Venezuela, the second national popular consultation was held on Sunday. 

This is a mechanism through which the population voted on initiatives that had previously been ranked as priorities within their communes and condominium associations.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez described participation in the consultation as extraordinary and said that the next step is to fulfill and implement the approved projects. 

She added that the investment funds needed for this purpose are already available. 

Brazil 

In Brazil, the first presidential debate between Lula and Bolsonaro took place ahead of this Sunday's presidential runoff.

Lula defended his achievements, including approval of a labor reform that reduces the work week to five days and 40 hours. He also accused the Bolsonaro family of dishonesty, while Bolsonaro denounced corruption in Lula's government. 

The second debate between the two candidates is scheduled for this Friday, just two days before the runoff election.

France

And in France, the government is convening a crisis cabinet meeting this Monday in response to a wave of protests that began with students and has since spread to other sectors of society. 

The weekend's unrest left one person dead, approximately 2,500 people detained, hundreds injured, public buildings stormed and set on fire, and numerous businesses looted. 

On today's podcast...

Brazil

In Brazil, following Lula's victory in the Senate, which approved his labor reform, establishing a five-day work week and two days of paid rest, Lula is now promoting a proposal to make public transportation free on weekends with the aim of helping families spend more quality time together. 

Meanwhile, a new poll shows a decline in support for far-right pro-U.S. Flavio Bolsonaro with the latest figures showing a statistical tie with Lula.

Cuba-U.S.

The United States Department of the Treasury has announced new sanctions against Cuba's International Trade Bank, accusing it of providing financial services to Iran's caravanning bank, which has been under U.S. sanctions since 2020.

 Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez described the sanctions as an aggressive measure and a criminal attempt to impose collective punishment on the Cuban people. He defended the bank, stating that both the institution and its operations are legitimate.

France

And France is experiencing an escalation in student protests this Friday over the deterioration of the education system, with demonstrations set to continue tomorrow Saturday. 

Also scheduled for Saturday are nationwide demonstrations against inflation, rising fuel prices and the loss of purchasing power. Some members of the Yellow Vests movement have called for mobilization alongside with students, workers and trade unions.

 On today's podcast...

 Venezuela-Italy 

Venezuela and Italy have signed an agreement to restore direct flights between Caracas and Rome. Flights are expected to begin next March with three flights per week and an estimated total of more than 90,000 available seats per year.

Brazil

In Brazil, the Senate is to set to vote this Wednesday on a constitutional reform proposed by President Lula. The proposal seeks to end the six-day work week with one day off, reduce working hours from 44 to 40 per week without cutting wages, and establish a five-day work week with two paid days off. 

France

And today in France, attention is focused on how the student movement will continue following yesterday's protests, which brought together hundreds of thousands of people.

A meeting between student representatives and the ministers of education and higher education is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, while another day of protests is planned for Saturday. 

On today's podcast...

Venezuela 

Venezuela's Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, participated today in the World Food Forum in Rome, at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 

In her address, the Venezuelan leader emphasized that food is an essential human right and noted that Venezuela is seeking to consolidate significant progress toward the goal of eradicating hunger.

Latin America

This Monday, October 12th, demonstrations are taking place in several countries across the Americas to commemorate more than five centuries of resistance to colonialism and to denounce the continued dispossession of indigenous people from their territories. 

Mobilizations are being held in countries including Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina. 

Brazil 

And in Brazil, grassroots organizations are calling for nationwide demonstrations in support of Lula re-election.

On Sunday, an event in Rio brought together one million supporters. Lula accused Meta, the U.S. technology company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, of interfering in Brazilian elections in favor of his rival, the far-right Flavio Bolsonaro.

On today's podcast

France - protests

student protests continue in France this Friday, denouncing the shortage of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, the deterioration of educational facilities and budget cuts, while violent police repression of the protests continue. 

Student mobilization has also spread to other European countries, including Belgium, Italy, Greece, Germany, Ireland and Austria.

Chile - heavy rains

In Chile, a red alert has been declared in several areas affected by the heavy rains and flooding that hit Santiago, the capital city. Authorities have had to resort to aerial operations to evacuate some of those affected amid a severe storm that experts link to the El Niño phenomenon and the global climate crisis. 

Yemen - Saudi Arabia

Yemeni armed forces have carried out strategic operations in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to neutralize military formations backed by Saudi Arabia in the region.

Among these operations, they shot down an unmanned reconnaissance and attack aircraft that was flying over strategic positions in the country. Yemeni forces say the actions are necessary to safeguard Yemen's national sovereignty.