On today's podcast:

Venezuela

Venezuela’s Acting President, Delcy Rodriguez, received the U.S. envoy, Laura Dogu, in a gesture that could be a first step toward restoring diplomatic relations and reopening the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela.

In addition, Delcy Rodriguez announced that Felix Plasencia will be Venezuela’s diplomatic representative in Washington.

A global mobilization is planned for February 3, with demonstrations in front of U.S. embassies in several countries demanding the return of President Nicolas Maduro and the First Lady.

More than 70 demonstrations are expected across four continents marking one month since kidnapping of pres. Maduro in violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and international law.

Colombia

Colombia goes to the streets this February 3rd in support of President Gustavo Petro.

The Colombian leader is scheduled to meet today at the White House after months of attacks by Trump, including calling him a criminal, a bad guy, and even threatening that he could suffer the same fate as Maduro.

Now, just hours before the meeting, Trump has made an 180-degree turn, saying that Petro is very kind and predicting they will have a good meeting.

Venezuela

In Venezuela, following the unanimous approval of the reform of the hydrocarbons law by the National Assembly, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez stated that the law reaffirms sovereignty over the country's energy resources and allows for a true qualitative leap in transforming oil reserves into the largest reserves of happiness.

After the approval of the law, Delcy Rodriguez received a call from President Trump informing her of the lifting of the air restrictions against Venezuela, allowing the return of international commercial flights.

Cuba

Cuba described the new escalation by the United States against the island as a brutal act of aggression. President Trump signed an executive order allowing the imposition of tariffs on imports from all countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced that in order to justify the blockade, it relies on a long list of lies that seek to portray Cuba as a threat to the national security of the US, which it's not.

Ecuador

And in Ecuador, Luisa Gonzalez, former presidential candidate for the Citizen’s Revolution, has strongly denounced that the raid on her home and those of other leaders of the carried out by the Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday, within the framework of the Caja Chica case for alleged money laundering, constitutes a political persecution orchestrated by President Daniel Noboa to cover up corruption in his government, his alleged ties to drug trafficking, and scandals involving his family.

Luisa Gonzalez affirmed, quote, they want to eliminate the opposition and President Novoa seeks to be left without a political adversary, with the ultimate goal of outlawing the Citizen’s Revolution Party and thus eradicating the opposition.

On today's podcast:

United States

In the United States, during a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Venezuela, at which Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared and laid out his narrative on the attack on Venezuela, Senator Rand Paul, from the same Republican Party as President Trump, confronted Rubio and told him, quote, "the drug trafficking raid is not an argument, it is a pretext. That is not a war, it's not an argument, it is a pretext.We are violating the Constitution by bombing a capital city, blockading a country and removing electoral officials. If someone invited the United States and captured its president, wouldn't that be an act of war?"

And Senator Rand Paul added, for 70 years, we have been going on the wrong direction.

ECUADOR

In Ecuador, a strike by students and educators in defense of public education.The protests demand that President Novoa increase investment in the sector.

IRAN

And Iran denied that there is any request for talks with the U.S. The government in Tehran emphasized that there are several countries that have expressed their willingness to serve as mediators amid tensions in the region.

On today's podcast:

Venezuela

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, said that communication with the United States government is based on respect and courtesy, and that differences will be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. She highlighted that progress has already been made in unlocking resources belonging to the Venezuelan state, which will be used for social protection programs for the population.

Peru

In Peru, the families of more than fifty victims killed between 2022 and 2023 by security forces under Dina Boluarte during protests against her government are holding a march to demand justice, reparations, and an end to impunity.

United States

In Minneapolis, Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was attacked while speaking at a town hall meeting, where she was demanding the abolition of ICE and the resignation or removal of the Secretary of Homeland Security. A man from the front row sprayed her with an unknown substance from a syringe, which caused her no harm.

The congresswoman, long a target of criticism and attacks by Trump, continued the event after the attacker was arrested and stated that she would not be intimidated.

Venezuela

Venezuela’s Acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, said the country aims to become a major global oil producer alongside Russia, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. She led a public consultation on reforming the Organic Hydrocarbons Law, which is nearly 25 years old. The reform seeks to strengthen and update the legal framework governing the energy sector, which Delcy Rodriguez claims is already producing positive results. Approval of the reform is expected soon.

United States

Senior federal immigration and security official Robert Bobino has been reassigned to live in Minneapolis in what is widely seen as a dismissal and demotion, rather than a routine transfer. Bobino has also been suspended from social media. His departure, along with that of other federal agents, is part of a partial pullback following strong local opposition. The move is interpreted as a sign that President Donald Trump has softened his confrontational stance after national and local pressure over the deployment of ICE and the National Guard in U.S. cities.

Meanwhile, the community is demanding an independent investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old citizen who was shot ten times while lying defenseless on the ground. The incident has been described by community members as an assassination carried out by immigration agents.

France

The French National Assembly approved a bill banning access to social media for children under the age of 15, following similar legislation already adopted in Australia.

Chile

Chile is also considering legislation to restrict access to social media for children under 15, moving in the same direction as France and Australia.

Venezuela

• On today's podcast, Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, stated that the country will move forward with consolidating its energy industry, highlighting the importance of the reform of the hydrocarbons law.
• It is expected that tomorrow, Venezuela's National Assembly will move ahead and possibly pass the reform, which seeks to modernize the legal framework of the oil sector in order to attract private and foreign investment with a goal of rapidly increasing crude oil production and generating revenue for the state.
• Delcy Rodriguez emphasized that this will translate into jobs, better wages, and greater financing capacity for the national economy.

United States

• In the United States, outrage and protests are growing nationwide following the third death in less than three weeks of a US citizen at the hands of immigration service agents, ICE, during protests against the brutal raids targeting immigrants in the city of Minneapolis.
• While videos of the incident show that the latest victim, Alex Pretti, a thirty seven year old nurse, was killed by ten shots fired by immigration agents, La Migra, while he was defenseless on the ground.
• The official narrative of the Trump government is to label him as a domestic terrorist who pose a threat.
• Former president Barack Obama reacted by describing Pretti's death as, quote, a heartbreaking tragedy that should be a wake up call to all Americans that many of our core values as a nations are increasingly under assault, said Obama.

United States (climate)

• And as a consequence of the climate crisis, a large part of the US was affected by an intense snowstorm that left more than seven hundred thousand households without electricity and paralyzed air traffic nationwide.

Indonesia

• Meanwhile, landslides left at least seventeen people dead in the province of West Java in Indonesia.

Mozambique

• And in Mozambique, flooding in the southern African country has left more than six hundred thousand people affected.

In today's podcast, Jorge Gestoso discusses three major news stories:

1. Venezuela's National Assembly approved a reform of the Organic Hydrocarbons Law aimed at attracting private and foreign investments to modernize oil production.
2. Mobilizations continue in Venezuela in support of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, demanding their release and respect for national sovereignty.
3. In Minnesota, a statewide protest called Truth and Freedom Day involves a shutdown, with calls for the public to avoid work and school, in response to aggressive immigration raids that recently affected a 5-year-old child and his father.
4. In Brazil, the Landless Workers' Movement is holding a National Meeting focusing on issues like agrarian reform and food sovereignty.

That's the news overview from Jorge Gestoso.

On today's podcast

United States
President Donald Trump said he has achieved his interest in Greenland and the Arctic after reaching a preliminary agreement with NATO. Through his social media platform, Truth Social, the US president explained that the deal includes talks about the missile defense system known as the Golden Dome.

Russia / Palestine
The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is holding talks with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmud Abas in Moscow. The leaders are expected to address the development of Russian Palestinian relations as well as current regional and international issues.

Venezuela
And Venezuela Acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, called for advancing political coexistence and strengthening regional unity in face of imperialism. At the same time, the head of state reiterated that diplomatic dialogue with Washington continues to address the most sensitive differences and noted that for this year, twenty twenty six, a thirty seven percent increase in foreign currency resources allocated to public administration is projected.