The News with Jorge Gestoso

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.