On today's podcast

Sweden - Europe - Latin America

The left won the election in Sweden after the final count, holding the growing advance of the far right in Europe and paving the way for an agenda that champions social policies, inclusion and rights. 

For Latin America, the left's victory in Sweden takes on particular significance in a context marked by the hardening of security policies and by Washington's renewed attempts to reassert its influence in the hemisphere under the Monroe Doctrine.

United Stats - legislative elections

In the United States, the state of Virginia begins in-person early voting this Friday, almost seven weeks before the November 3rd midterm legislative elections. 

An estimated 200 million U.S. citizens are registered to vote. 

Central America - El Niño phenomenon

And the Central American Dry Corridor is on high alert due to the phenomenon known as Super El Niño. More than 10 million people in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador are facing the worst drought in decades. 

On today's podcast

United States -Venezuela

The United States government has removed Venezuela from the list of countries that have failed to combat drug trafficking. Trump attributed the change in status to greater cooperation with Acting president Delcy Rodriguez. 

Argentina  - environmental impact

In Argentina, the judiciary has ordered operations to be halted at two oil companies, Navitas and Rockhopper, following a precautionary measure over the lack of an environmental impact assessment. 

The oil project, operated by the two companies, is located in the Malvinas Basin, an area that Argentina considers part of its continental shelf. 

Rusia - parliamentary elections

And in Russia, the campaign for the country's first parliamentary elections is coming to an end. Voting for the state Duma gets underway today and runs through Sunday, the main day of voting. 

These are the first national parliamentary elections since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. 

On today's podcast

Ecuador

In Ecuador, indigenous labor, anti-mining and student organizations are holding a mobilization against mining and in defense of water in the southern city of Cuenca. 

In a statement, they denounce the advance of the extractivist model, territorial dispossession and the expansion of the mining frontier, which threatens water sources, ecosystems and the territories where indigenous communities live.

Bolivia

In Bolivia, Parliament is holding a session to consider a request by the neoliberal pro-U.S. Rodrigo Paz to extend the state of emergency for another 90 days. 

Paz is repeating the same measure that has already been implemented by his far-right pro-U.S. counterparts in the region, Bukele, Noboa, Cast and Fujimori, a measure that restricts human rights and fundamental freedoms. 

El Niño - hurricane season

And the phenomenon known as Super El Niño has brought the current Atlantic hurricane season to a standstill, with the ocean experiencing an unusual lull.

On today's podcast.

China

China responded to criticism from US secretary of state Marco during his tour of three South American countries reminding him that the Western Hemisphere is no one's backyard and supporting the economic autonomy of Latin American countries in the face of the White House national security doctrine. Rubio, for his part, ended his express tour in Peru, where he arrived from Ecuador, where he was decorated by Noboa. At the end of his three day visit, he left with agreements signed in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to guarantee US access in those countries to their critical mineral resources and strategic energy.

United States

President Trump, speaking yesterday at the Republican convention ahead of the midterm elections, elections offered $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans win the November congressional election, a promise that could cost more than $1,000,000,000,000. However, he did not explain where the money would come from, how the payments would be implemented, whether congressional approval would be required, or whether the proposal is even legal. The harshest criticism came from Le Monde, which described the proposal as a form of barely disgust, civic corruption, arguing that Trump appears to be willing to buy voter's favor with a $5,000 promise, conditional on Republicans retaining control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. 

Middle East

And the Israeli occupation regime took control of Mount Hermon on the border between Lebanon and Syria. The occupation is part of its regional hegemonic operations, and its ultimate objective is to overthrow the government of Iran.

On today's podcast. 

Colombia

During his tour of Colombia as he welcomed US secretary of state Marco Rubio, the far right pro US president Abelardo de la Espriella said, quote, there is not a single Latino in the world who does not feel represented by Marco Rubio, and added, Rubio has been an inspiration in the fight for freedom, democracy, and institutional order in Latin America. Rubio is making this tour of three Andean countries to consolidate in his own words an alignment with The United States and US interests. A political, military, and economic platform aligned with Washington that includes Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru in order to establish the same hemispheric alignment mechanism in those two countries as well, incorporating them into what is being called the shield of The Americas and challenging China's position in the region.

Guatemala

In Guatemala, transport workers took to the streets of the capital once again to protest the sharp increase in fuel prices, especially diesel. At the same time, the country's largest indigenous organization held a demonstration demanding concrete measures from the government to allow the Guatemalan people to cope with the rising cost of basin goods as a result of higher fuel prices.

United States

And the price of oil surpassed $100 a barrel, the biggest increase in more than a month as a result of the continuing exchange of attacks between The United States and Iran after Tehran attacked a US base in Jordan and US vessels near the Strait Of Hormuz in response to The United States attack on five Iranian oil tankers in Iranian waters. 

On today's podcast.

Cuba

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez presented on Monday at a press conference the report on the damage caused by The US blockade, which over the past six decades has amounted to a $178,000,000,000. Rodríguez is scheduled to present the document, which will be debated at the United Nations on October 28. 

Argentina

In Argentina, the far right pro US president, Javier Millet, has decided to take the Malvinas Islands dispute to court. His government has filed a criminal complaint against five oil companies for operating without authorization in the islands and violating law twenty six thousand six hundred and fifty nine, extending the legal action to executives and representatives of those companies. 

Canada-United States

And the deadline has arrived for Canada's tariffs on US products to take effect as prime minister Mark Carney seeks too much dollar for dollar the customs duties that The United States has imposed on Canadian products at the end of August. 

On today's podcast. 

United-States

Today, The United States celebrates Labor Day with demonstrations taking place in several cities across the country under the slogan workers over billionaires. Unions and coalitions are calling for workers to be prioritized over billionaires. Higher taxes on the wealthy, protections of health insurance for disadvantaged people, an end to ICE rates and attacks on immigrants, opposition to cuts to social programs, and protection on voting rights as a country's prepares for the November midterm elections.

Colombia

In Colombia, the far right pro US president de La Espiria is marking his first month in office. His administration has not been free of controversy, particularly over its handling of issues such as the armed conflict, foreign relations, and his government's response to the August 10 earthquake. 

Latam

And as a consequence of the climate crisis, Hurricane Lowell is moving northward toward the Hawaiian Islands, maintaining potentially life threatening conditions. Meanwhile, in Colombia, the authorities in Cundinamarca, in the central part of the country, reported that five wildfires remain active, spreading across numerous hectares. 

On today's podcast...

Venezuela

Venezuela is seeking to position itself as the world's largest oil producer. That was a statement made by the President of state-owned PDVSA (Petróleos de Venezuela) following the strengthening of strategic alliances between the interim government of President Rodríguez with the United States and other Western countries.

Colombia

In Colombia, former President Álvaro Uribe will appear before the prosecutor's office for questioning as part of an investigation into the case against him over the La Granja and El Aro massacres carried out 30 years ago in the Department of Antioquia by paramilitary forces. 

Climate change

And the United Nations Environment Programme has warned that global warming is likely to surpass the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement, reaching 1.8°C. 

The intensification of global warming threatens to trigger extreme weather events, putting ecosystems, health, food security, infrastructure, and the economy at risk. 

On today's podcast... 

Venezuela 

Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright led a ceremony on Wednesday to sign agreements aimed at promoting joint hydrocarbon production projects involving companies from several countries and Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA. 

The agreements also seek to finalize details surrounding the energy deal reached by the two governments on August 29th.

Among the companies signing energy agreements were Italy's ENI and U.S.-backed Chevron, as well as Asper Energy, General Electric, and Primavera Infinita. During the ceremony, Delcy Rodriguez said that increased production would translate into more jobs, higher wages, better public services, hospitals, food security, and greater well-being for a country that, as a whole, is seeking prosperity and a better future. 

That is the horizon Venezuela longs to reach, to development, the Acting President said.

Brazil

In Brazil, a Senate committee approved Wednesday a reduction of the working week from six to five days, one of the priorities of President and re-election candidate Lula. 

The measure now goes to the full Senate, where it will have to be voted on in two rounds. 

Latin America

And Gustavo Petro has warned Mexico and Brazil that algorithms and techno-fascism could influence or alter the upcoming elections in those countries.

The former president said that it is a phenomenon that has already taken hold in his own country, Colombia, to bring the current president's far-right candidate Abelardo de la Esprilla to power. 

According to Petro, the process involves Fernando Cerimedo, a digital strategist for the far-right who has also been involved in other elections across the region, allegedly seeking to force the victory of far-right candidates in countries including Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Honduras and El Salvador, resorting even to electoral fraud when he deemed necessary. 

On today's podcast...

Honduras

The justices in Honduras have decided to close a criminal case against former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was facing charges of fraud and money laundering. The case has been dismissed.

Hernández was convicted in the United States in 2024 of drug trafficking and sentenced to 45 years in prison for smuggling more than 400 tons of cocaine. 

He was later pardoned by President Trump, who announced the pardon just days before Honduras' recent presidential election and endorsed in that election far-right candidate Nasry Asfura, a close ally of Hernández, in an effort to influence the election in Asfura 's favor. 

Asfoura ultimately won among numerous allegations of electoral fraud.

Middle East

Iran responded to a second day of U.S. attacks on its territory by striking U.S. targets and military bases across the region, including Jordan. 

Tehran reiterated that there are no negotiations currently underway with Washington and that the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control. 

Himalayas

And it has now been one week since a massive flood that hit northern Nepal and the Tibetan region of China, leaving a combined death toll of more than 1,000 and more than 4,500 people missing.

 The numbers continue to rise.