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The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 51 on Friday, March 6. The license authorizes US individuals and companies to conduct transactions with the Venezuelan state mining company, Minerven, related to Venezuelan-origin gold.

The license allows the export, sale, supply, storage, purchase, delivery, and transportation of Venezuelan-origin gold for import to the US, the refining of said gold in the US, and the resale or export from the US by an established US entity.

It is important to note that the issuance of this license does not imply lifting of the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the US against Venezuela, all of which remain in place.

Venezuela and Shell Sign Strategic Agreements for Oil and Gas Development

On Thursday, March 5, Venezuela announced that, following the dialogue established with US authorities, the two governments decided to restore their diplomatic and consular relations.

In a statement, the Venezuelan government reaffirmed its willingness to move forward to a stage of constructive dialogue, based on mutual respect, sovereign equality, and shared benefits for the peoples of both countries.

(IguanaTV) with Orinoco Tribune content

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

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From Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond via This RSS Feed.

In the mountainous coffee-growing region of Morán municipality, in Lara state, generations of campesino families have built their lives growing coffee. Steep slopes, misty mornings, and hard physical labor are part of daily life in this territory, where coffee is not only a crop but a way of organizing time, work, and community. In recent years, this long history of cooperation has taken a new form through the Vida Café Communal Economic Circuit, an initiative that brings together seven coffee-growing communes in a joint effort to sustain production, life, and collective organization under adverse conditions.

Communal economic circuits are initiatives promoted by the Bolivarian government to organize production, processing, distribution, and reinvestment at the territorial level. Vida Café is one such circuit: a relatively recent but robust project that brings together freely associated producers organized within their communes, while also addressing broader community needs such as infrastructure, communications, and access to healthcare and services.

This testimonial work explores the origins, functioning, and meaning of Vida Café through the voices of the people who built it. The first installment focused on the history of the territory and its long-standing practices of cooperation. This new installment delves into the organizational efforts behind the Communal Economic Circuit as part of a larger story about commune-building, collective resistance, and the ongoing effort to build economic sovereignty.

The following interviews were carried out in August 2025.

How Vida Café was born****Mauro Jiménez: There came a point—drawing on everything we had learned through years of commune-building and under the pressure of the blockade—when we realized that producing coffee was not enough. Our experience organizing in the territory had already taught us how to deliberate collectively, plan, and resolve common problems together. We had forged a solid communal practice. As producers, we often worked side by side and harvested good coffee, but when it came to selling it, each of us faced the intermediaries alone. That remained outside our collective control, and it meant an entire year of work could turn on a single negotiation, in which we had little leverage and no shared strategy.

The product of our labor was extracted at the final step of the process. Intermediaries imposed low prices on our crop, and at the beginning of the production cycle, precisely when we needed money to purchase inputs, they offered credit under harsh terms. By the time the harvest was delivered and accounts settled, we were left with razor-thin margins—barely enough to cover costs. When the next season came, we had little choice but to return to the same intermediary for credit, reproducing our dependency year after year.

Some time back, we had the PACCA and COPALAR projects, two efforts to bring producers together and improve our bargaining power in the market [see Part 1]. From those experiences, we learned that organization matters. Over time, we also came to understand something even more important: without connection among the communities across the territory, any economic structure remains fragile. If the communes are not economically linked, they stagnate. Chávez himself warned about that!

The idea of the Communal Economic Circuit grew out of this realization. It was never just about selling coffee together; it meant organizing all the links in a long chain—production, collection, processing, transport, and reinvestment—under a communal vision. That is how the conversations began among us, and with spokespeople from the Ministry of Communes. It’s how what would later be called “Vida Café” slowly took shape.

Norkys Ramos: By 2021–22, when we began designing the Communal Economic Circuit, many of the communes were already consolidated—though a commune is always an ongoing construction, always in the making. Yet on the economic front, producers were still operating largely in isolation when bringing their coffee to market. There was cooperation, but it had not crystallized into an integrated structure capable of collectively organizing production and commercialization.

Vida Café emerged as a way of weaving together what was already taking shape in the territory. Producers from seven communes—each with its own history and character—shared the same main product: coffee. We asked ourselves: if coffee shapes our culture as growers, if it organizes our daily life, and if we already cooperate in so many ways, why shouldn’t we also come together economically?

Kennedy Linares: The situation was anything but easy. We were living under the pressure of the economic war. Inputs were scarce, fuel unreliable, transport costs rising, and prices constantly shifting. If each producer tried to confront those difficulties alone, some of us could have been pushed to the brink, struggling simply to put food on the table. In that sense, the Economic Circuit was born as a defensive measure.

But it was never only defensive. From the beginning, it opened up a new horizon. Vida Café was a way of reorganizing the economy collectively—bringing production, transport, and reinvestment under communal coordination. In doing so, it not only protected us; it strengthened the communal connections in the territory.

Rafael Sequera: In our assemblies, we discussed this at length: a commune cannot exist only as a political entity. It has to sustain life materially. The Economic Circuit generates that material dimension. It connects producers with communal government and allows economic decisions to be made collectively, among those who actively participate in Vida Café.

Morelys Malvacias: For us, building the Communal Economic Circuit wasn’t an abstraction. We knew the producers, and we knew the needs. When we began to meet, the question was simple: How do we prevent coffee from leaving the territory without leaving value behind?

Mairelis Escalona: And how do we ensure that what is produced here benefits the community first? Those questions guided us from the beginning.

**What a Communal Economic Circuit means in practice****Ramos:**A Communal Economic Circuit is not a private company. It is not a cooperative. It connects producers. They remain producers on their parcels, but they associate freely with Vida Café through their communes. The Economic Circuit plans the use of our shared assets—including the grader for road repairs, the tractor-trailer, and a heavy-duty pickup belonging to the Sectores Unidos Commune—and it coordinates credit, transport, sales, and reinvestment. Decisions are not made individually; they are collectively deliberated in our Planning Table.

**Jiménez:**In practical terms, we organize coffee collection, manage transport logistics, coordinate processing at Café Cardenal [a coffee processing plant one hour from Morán], and handle financial planning. We also assess needs: who requires credit, which roads must be repaired, and what machinery should be prioritized. We do not eliminate individual initiative; we strengthen it through a collective structure.

Linares: If someone thinks this is about centralizing everything, they misunderstand it. Each commune participates. Each is represented. The Planning Body is not symbolic—it functions as the coordination body of Vida Café.

**Sequera:**The difference from previous projects of this kind is that here the economic factor is inseparable from communal self-government. It’s not just about better prices. It’s about sovereignty in production and, ultimately, about living better.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez Calls for Wide Participation in March 8 Communal Popular Consultation

**Planning Body (Mesa de Planificación)**Ramos: The Planning Body is where coordination happens. Each commune sends its spokespeople to the meetings. We review production forecasts, infrastructure needs, financial flows, and reinvestment priorities. It’s not always easy—there are many debates!—but that is what collective construction requires.

Jiménez: The Planning Body includes a financial committee, where transparency is fundamental. If people are going to trust the Circuit, they must understand how resources circulate and how decisions are made. That’s why the committee’s work has to be careful and precise. It’s not just about accounting; it’s about building trust and commitment. Without trust, you cannot consolidate a commune or strengthen the links between communes and producers.

Malvacias: Planning is not only about production; it’s about the territory. If a road collapses—as often happens in these mountains—distribution is affected. If telecommunications fail, coordination breaks down. Everything is interconnected!

Escalona: The Planning Body is led, in great measure, by women. That wasn’t imposed. It happened because we were already doing much of the organizational work in the communes. We assume responsibility. We don’t wait for someone else to solve problems. We lead by example.

Initial institutional support****Ramos: In the beginning, we had strong institutional backing. The Ministry of Communes not only supported but actively promoted the creation of the Economic Circuit. Producers received credit. Machinery was transferred to Vida Café. They accompanied us technically and politically. That support allowed us to take our first concrete steps.

Jiménez: The “Toronto” tractor-trailer we received through the Ministry of Communes changed everything. Before that, transportation costs cut into production. Now, with our own vehicles, we can organize coffee collection more efficiently and reduce dependence on private haulers.

Sequera: Two other machines, the dump truck and backhoe that were transferred into communal management, were also decisive. Roads in these mountains deteriorate quickly. If access isn’t maintained, coffee cannot leave the territory. Now, with the machinery operating under communal coordination, we can respond directly instead of waiting indefinitely for municipal intervention.

Malvacias: The Communal Economic Circuit was forged at a time of close coordination with the Ministry of Communes. That institutional support was fundamental.

Escalona: The situation today is different. All across the country, there are dozens of Communal Economic Circuits, but they are no longer so central to the Ministry’s vision. There are no hard feelings. What matters is that the structure that we built remains standing, and the support we received in those early years left us with assets that continue to help the region. All the credits we received were repaid in full and on time.

Along the way, we learned something essential: we could not depend indefinitely on external backing and needed our own roots. The creation of the Communal Economic Circuit was a qualitative leap. It made us less vulnerable as producers and strengthened our communes. Infrastructure is now better maintained. The surplus generated by our economic activity does not disappear into private hands; it returns to the community through fair credit, support for our health center, and the upkeep of shared goods and services.

Chávez spoke of the leap from the communal council to the commune, and then from the commune toward the communal state. For us, the Economic Circuit has been that necessary bridge—a step that allows the communal project to scale up. Without it, the seven communes that make up Vida Café could become little more than enlarged communal councils, addressing organizational needs, while leaving the economic sphere untouched. With the Economic Circuit, communal life began to shape production itself.

Reinvestment and logic of the Economic Circuit****Jiménez: The Economic Circuit functions in cycles. When producers need fertilizer or support for the harvest, credit is extended. The need to buy fertilizer is the main cause of indebtedness for small coffee growers here. If you cannot fertilize your plants properly, your harvest collapses, but if you borrow from intermediaries, that produces dependency.

We established a clear and transparent principle in our assemblies during the early days of Vida Café: repayment is made in green [untoasted] coffee at harvest time, under terms that we define—not by usurers. This breaks with the logic of “la dobla,” in which a lender provides money or inputs equivalent to one sack of green coffee and then demands two or even three in return, trapping the producer in a cycle of dependency year after year.

Once the coffee is collected, it is processed through our agreement with Café Cardenal and sold as “Café Cardenal: Hecho en Comuna” [Made in the Commune]. The first step is to settle outstanding credits. What remains does not go into individual pockets; the surplus returns to the Circuit.

Ramos: During harvest season, we keep a part of the surplus in green coffee. That way, when there is inflation, the coffee becomes a reserve of value. It protects us from devaluation.

From there, we organize what we call our “tres potes” [three funds]. The first fund is for road maintenance—without road access, coffee cannot leave the mountains. The second is for health services: the Economic Circuit helped repair the local ambulance, and it now supports maintenance of the medical center when needed. The third fund is for telecommunications, which is essential for coordination across this large territory.

That’s why we say that, at Vida Café, the economy is in the service of the community, not the other way around.

Sequera: The initial credits we received allowed us to buy fertilizer, organizing the repayment in green coffee. At the same time, vehicles and machinery were incorporated into the communal structure. The tractor-trailor is administered directly by the Economic Circuit. The dump truck and backhoe operate through our Empresa de Propiedad Social de Vialidad (EPS) [Communal Roadworks Social Property Enterprise].

An EPS is a communal enterprise whose assets are not privately owned but collectively managed for social benefit. Activating the Roadworks EPS gave us the operational capacity and legal structure to repair rural roads. In this mountainous territory where rain constantly damages the access routes, having a roadworks enterprise changes everything.

The headquarters of Vida Café, called El Rastrillo, was acquired through a non-returnable credit from the Ministry of Communes. It became a permanent space for assemblies and cultural activities.

Since then, the credit system has expanded to incorporate hundreds of producers, reinforcing the cycle of collective financing with repayment in green coffee.

Malvacias: All financial decisions pass through the Planning Table. Each commune sends its spokespeople. We evaluate production forecasts, credit needs, infrastructure priorities, and reinvestment plans.

Our Economic reports are presented in general assemblies. Producers know how much coffee was collected, how much was sold, how credits are functioning, and how the surplus is being distributed. Transparency is not something decorative here: it builds trust.

Vida Café is not simply a commercialization initiative. It is an economic structure that has the aim of building communal life —politically, economically, socially, culturally, and even spiritually.

In practice, the Economic Circuit intervenes at the most vulnerable point—fertilization—while organizing interest-free repayment of loans in coffee. It also coordinates processing through Café Cardenal, develops and maintains the communal enterprises such as the Roadworks EPS, and manages collective assets acquired through both state support and the efforts of the communes.

The gains from coffee sales are not privately accumulated. They circulate collectively and return to the territory as infrastructure and services, thereby reinforcing the material foundations of communal life.

The Communal Economic Circuit is not merely about marketing coffee under the label “Hecho en Comuna.” It is about transforming relations of production in the territory. It ensures that the value generated by communal labor remains under communal control, while turning economic coordination into a pillar of self-government. That is how autonomy deepens, how communal scaling up becomes possible, and how economic sovereignty ceases to be a slogan and becomes a lived reality.

(Monthly Review) by Cira Pascual Marquina and Chris Gilbert

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Jamaica’s Government announced the end of the historical agreement with Cuba on medical missions, while the U.S. presses other countries to cancel these colaboration programs.

Jamaica’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday its decision to end a long-standing agreement with Cuba that was related to medical missions on the island, following the expiration of their previous pact in February 2023 and an inability to reach new terms.

The announcement was made through a statement by Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, who had previously highlighted the importance of Cuban medical colaboration in the country health system. This decision comes amidst broader regional pressure from Washington on Havana’s medical programs.

The Government of Jamaica has expressed its willingness for the Ministry of Health and Wellness to contract these individuals directly to ensure the uninterrupted provision of valuable services by the Cuban medical professionals already in the country, and for their personal safety and welfare.

The Jamaican Ministry of Health and Wellness highlighted that Jamaicans have “significantly benefited” from the ophthalmological care program, as well as the general healthcare provided by Cuban nurses and doctors, a testament to the effectiveness and necessity of this cooperation.

In the past year, Washington’s pressure on Havana has led a dozen primarily Caribbean and Central American countries to cancel or reduce their contracts with Cuba. Initially, nations like Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago defended these programs, which are vital for their respective healthcare systems, but later had to adjust their ties with Havana and modify the terms of their contracts.

Text reads:

“Cuba regrets the decision of the Government of Jamaica to cease medical cooperation ceding to pressure from the United States.”

Cooperation Under U.S. Pressure
The Cuban Government expressed profound regret over Jamaica’s unilateral decision to terminate their decades-long health cooperation agreement, a move Havana attributes to pressure from the United States Government. This action effectively ends a program that has provided essential medical services to the Jamaican people, prompting Cuba to announce the immediate return of its medical brigade.

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially communicated its unilateral decision to Cuba’s Embassy in Kingston on March, 4. The Jamaica’s announcement comes a day after more than 150 Cuban medical staff left Honduras, following the sudden cancellation of a similar agreement by the new government.

Trump’s Venezuela Labyrinth

Cuba deeply laments what it describes as an “undervaluation of a fruitful and sustained history of collaboration that has yielded innumerable benefits for the Jamaican people.” As a direct consequence of this decision, Jamaicans will now be deprived of the basic and specialized health services previously provided by Cuban medical professionals.

In response to the step taken by the Jamaican government, the Cuban government has made the sovereign decision to proceed with the return of its Medical Brigade.

Faithful to the historical relations of brotherhood and solidarity that unite it with Jamaica, Cuba reiterates its unbreakable commitment to the Jamaican people, assuring them that they can always count on Cuba’s selfless cooperation in the future, despite this current setback in bilateral arrangements.

Text reads:

“The historical results of Cuban medical collaboration in Jamaica speak for themselves: More than 8,176,000 patients treated. 74,302 surgical interventions performed. 7,170 attended births. More than 90,000 lives saved.”

Undeniable Medical Achievements
Over the past 30 years, more than 4,700 Cuban collaborators have provided medical assistance across the Jamaican island. Prior to the recent announcement, the Cuban Medical Brigade was composed of 277 professionals, whose collective efforts have had a tangible and profound impact on strengthening its health system.

Statistical data highlights the significant scale of their work: more than 8,176,000 patients attended, 74,302 surgical interventions performed, 7,170 births assisted, and over 90,000 lives saved.

Furthermore, through the “Operation Miracle” program, which has been active in Jamaica since 2010, nearly 25,000 Jamaicans have had their vision restored or significantly improved.

Cuban cooperation has also been instrumental in vital projects for the control and prevention of diseases such as malaria and played a critical role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, providing expertise and direct support during a global health crisis.

A recent example of this unwavering dedication was evident after Hurricane Melissa severely impacted the Jamaican island. In those challenging circumstances, the Cuban Medical Brigade remained steadfast at their posts, with many of its members working for more than 72 continuous hours and actively participating in the recovery efforts of hospitals and communities.

Jamaica’s medical cooperation with Cuba dates back more than 50 years, evolving into a crucial pillar of its public health system. The Cuban medical brigades, which began over six decades ago, have sent 600,000 professionals to 165 countries, according to official data.

(Telesur) by Laura V. Mor

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From Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond via This RSS Feed.

Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Caracas and Washington have decided to restore diplomatic and consular relations. The announcement was made on Thursday evening by the Venezuelan and US governments in simultaneous statements.

In the Venezuelan statement shared by Foreign Minister Yván Gil, Venezuela “reaffirms its willingness to move forward in a new stage of constructive dialogue based on mutual respect, the sovereign equality of states, and cooperation between our peoples.” Venezuela also emphasized that these relations should result in the social and economic well-being of the Venezuelan people.

In January, Venezuela initiated an exploratory diplomatic process with the United States government, aimed at re-establishing diplomatic missions in both countries. At that time, Venezuela explained that the action was intended to address the consequences of the attack and kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Deputy Cilia Flores, as well as a work agenda of mutual interest. The presidential couple was kidnapped in the early hours of January 3 after US troops bombed populated areas of Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua states, killing over 100 people, 47 of whom were Venezuelan soldiers and 32 Cuban soldiers.

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A post shared by Yván Gil Pinto (@yvan.gilpinto)

On February 2, Félix Plasencia was appointed as the Venezuelan ambassador to the United States. The appointment was made by Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez after meeting the newly appointed US chargé d’affaires. Following the imperialist bombings of Venezuela, the acting president has emphasized diplomacy as the path to overcoming differences between the two nations.

Chavista analysts claim that the Chavista leadership has been forced to accept cooperation with the US in a strategic retreat aimed at recovering the Venezuelan economy and making it more difficult for the US to continue its economic suffocation strategy initiated in 2015. Additionally, analysts explain that Venezuelan authorities are working to address the security deficiencies evident during the January 3 US military aggression, as the US—dissatisfied after failing to achieve regime change—may attempt a final blow to eliminate Chavismo in the near future.

The full unofficial translation of the Venezuelan statement follows:

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela announces that, following the diplomatic dialogue established with the authorities of the United States of America, both governments have decided to re-establish their diplomatic and consular relations.

The Bolivarian Government reaffirms its willingness to move forward in a new stage of constructive dialogue, based on mutual respect, the sovereign equality of States, and cooperation between our peoples.

Venezuela expresses its confidence that this process will help strengthen understanding and open opportunities for a positive and mutually beneficial relationship. These relations should result in the social and economic well-being of the Venezuelan people.

This step accompanies the fruitful dialogue that Venezuelans maintain among themselves, aimed at strengthening coexistence, peace, and national understanding.

Finally, the Bolivarian Government evokes the words of our Liberator Simón Bolívar, who, from Angostura, within the framework of the birth of the new Republic, expressed his desire to establish “relations of friendship and good understanding” with the Government of the United States of North America.

Caracas, March 5, 2026

For its part, the US regime issued a short statement announcing the decision, while insisting on what most analysts claim is a renewed imperialist mantra: “… process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.”

Under international and diplomatic rules, the US statement is a clear intervention in Venezuela’s internal affairs and political system. Analysts interpret it as evidence of US intentions to inflict a final blow to the Bolivarian Revolution.

The full US statement follows:

The United States and Venezuela’s acting authorities have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations. This step will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela.

Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.

The United States remains committed to supporting the Venezuelan people and working with partners across the region to advance stability and prosperity. The United States and Venezuela’s interim authorities have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations. This step will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela.

The 2019 diplomatic rupture
On January 23, 2019, during a televised address, President Nicolás Maduro announced the complete break of diplomatic relations with the US. “I just signed the diplomatic note giving the US Embassy in Caracas and all its personnel 72 hours to leave Venezuela,” he said.

The United States Announces the Start of Military Operations in Ecuador

That same day, an unpopular Venezuelan far-right National Assembly deputy named Juan Guaidó proclaimed himself interim president of Venezuela in a US-led regime change operation that eventually failed after several years. Minutes later, the US regime recognized Guaidó as the legitimate president of Venezuela.

A few hours after President Maduro’s statements, the US Department of State issued an unprecedented communiqué on social media, defying the decision. The document stated that the US only recognized Guaidó as the “Venezuelan authority” and would not vacate its embassy in Caracas.

Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff

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By Miguel Manuel Fraga – Feb 25, 2026

The slanderous statements made by the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Barbados, which appear in the article published by Dominica News Online on February 18, misrepresent our country’s international medical cooperation with falsehoods. This attack is part of a disinformation campaign that distorts the nature and denies the impact of a humanitarian program recognized by the international community, including organizations such as the World Health Organization.

It is the repeated use of lies that has led to the US government lacking credibility even among its own citizens. This is not Cuba’s claim, according to the US-based research center Pew Research. In December 2025, the credibility of the US government stood at 17%.

For more than six decades, Cuba, a country with limited resources and under a cruel regime of sanctions imposed by the most powerful nation on the planet, has demonstrated that true solidarity translates into concrete actions and tangible results. That is why more than 605,000 Cuban health professionals have voluntarily participated in missions in 165 countries, treating more than 2.3 billion patients, performing around 17 million surgeries, assisting in more than 5 million births, and saving more than 12 million lives.

During the same period, the US has carried out military interventions and covert operations in more than 25 countries. Various estimates put the number of deaths resulting from these military actions in the millions. And here we must include the more than 100 fatalities that, between late 2025 and early 2026, US bombings have caused in our Caribbean Sea, in what United Nations experts have defined as extrajudicial killings.

This difference in action between Cuba and the US was best defined by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, who said that Cuba sends “doctors, not bombs.”

Cuba’s collaboration in the health sector has been recognized even by voices within the United States itself. In 2016, then-President Barack Obama, during his visit to Cuba, stated:

“We’ve played very different roles in the world. But no one should deny the service that thousands of Cuban doctors have delivered for the poor and suffering. (Applause.) Last year, American health care workers — and the U.S. military — worked side-by-side with Cubans to save lives and stamp out Ebola in West Africa. I believe that we should continue that kind of cooperation in other countries.”

Destroying Cuba’s International Medical Missions: Marco Rubio’s New Goal

It was not Cuba that ended this cooperation; it was a new U.S. administration that decided to escalate the bilateral conflict and, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, tightened its sanctions and even refused to sell Cuba oxygen for patients in this health emergency.

Our medical cooperation is not a business or an instrument of exploitation. It is solidarity that saves lives and responds to the request of sovereign governments whose citizens benefit from it. Participation in these missions is voluntary, regulated by bilateral agreements, respectful of international law and the rights of Cuban professionals, who return to their country with social and professional recognition.

The accusations of “forced labor” are baseless and respond to a political narrative.

The U.S. government is not only engaged in defamation but also threatens the countries where our collaborators provide their services.

History shows that where the U.S. manages to impose its will and eliminate the presence of Cuban health collaborators, the result is a deterioration in medical care and suffering for the population.

Today, as the US government continues to intensify its aggression and seeks to create a humanitarian crisis by attempting to prevent fuel from reaching Cuba, our resilient people are resisting, knowing that they are not alone because they have the solidarity of the world and will not give up.

Miguel Fraga is a Cuban diplomat currently working as ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Dominica.

(Resumen Latinoamericano – English)

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Venezuelans, including social movements and members of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), held a series of marches on Thursday, March 5, across Caracas to mark the 13th anniversary of the passing of President Hugo Chávez.

The marches began in the morning, departing from various points across the capital and converging on the Cuartel de la Montaña 4F, Chávez’s resting place in the 23 de Enero parish. Venezuelan authorities put special security arrangements in place along the routes to ensure the safe passage of the marchers to the historic site where their leader rests.

Foreign Affairs Minister Iván Gil Pinto highlighted Chávez’s vision of a multipolar world and his “promotion of brotherhood between our region and Africa,” noting that these principles of peace and mutual solidarity continue to guide Bolivarian diplomacy. Gil emphasized that Chávez was always a fervent defender of international dialogue and the sovereignty of peoples.

Social Movements of Venezuela March Against US-Zionist Aggression on Iran

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez honored Chávez’s memory, reflecting that politics is, above all, an act of tenderness and absolute dedication to the people. He stressed that the leader’s heart beat as one with the people, and that his historic call for national unity remains the foundational basis for achieving new victories against foreign domination.

The official commemoration began in the early hours with an emotional vigil at the Cuartel de la Montaña, attended by family members, friends, and leaders of the Caracas government. The day’s events concluded with nationwide cultural activities and forums on Chavismo’s impact on the integration of the peoples of the Global South.

The scale of Thursday’s mobilization speaks for itself: thirteen years after his passing, Hugo Chávez remains the central reference point in Venezuela’s ongoing struggle for independence and social justice.

(Telesur)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

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Cuba’s National Electrical System was fully reconnected, restoring a high percentage of power across the island after a massive outage, underscoring the fragility of the country’s energy infrastructure amid tightening U.S. sanctions.

Cuba’s national electricity system fully reconnected on March 5, at 05:01 A.M. local time, following a widespread outage triggered by a fault at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant on March 4.

The Cuban Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed the interlinkage of the National Electroenergetic System (SEN, in Spanish), successfully restoring power across the island, from its westernmost to southeasternmost points. This crucial reconnection came after a significant service interruption that had affected a vast segment of the country.

Authorities announced that the progressive incorporation of various generation units throughout the territory is ongoing to stabilize the supply.

A las 5 :01 de esta madrugada quedó interconectado el Sistema Eléctrico, SEN, desde #Guantánamo hasta #PinarDelRío
Continúa la incorporación de unidades de generación.

— Ministerio de Energía y Minas Cuba 🇨🇺 (@EnergiaMinasCub) March 5, 2026

Text reads: “At 5:01 this morning, the electrical system, SEN, was interconnected from Guantanamo to Pinar del Rio. The incorporation of generation units continues.”

Lazaro Guerra, Director of Electricity at Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines, reported that by 07:00 AM on March 5, the country had 590 megawatts (MW) of electricity served. Guerra specified that several additional generation units are expected to become operational during the day, including two from the Santa Cruz del Norte plant, unit three of the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant in the south-central region, and unit six of Nuevitas, located in Camagüey province on Cuba’s north coast.

While the malfunction at the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas was the direct cause of the system’s collapse on Wednesday, the fundamental underlying issue, according to Guerra, is the inherent weakness of the National Electroenergetic System. This vulnerability stems primarily from the persistent unavailability of fuel required for distributed generation.

The initial service interruption occurred just after noon on March 4, when an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras plant, caused by a boiler failure, led to a disconnection affecting a vast area from Camagüey in the central-eastern region to Pinar del Rio province. Emergency protocols were immediately activated to address the contingency and commence power restoration efforts in the impacted areas.

Further complicating the energy landscape, the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant began an estimated four-day maintenance period on the morning of March 5.

Ruben Campos Olmo, Director General of the plant, explained that this technical intervention is critically aimed at reducing water consumption in the high-temperature reheater. This component, he detailed, has shown significant weakening due to the prolonged and excessive operational demands placed upon it. The need for such repairs highlights the severe strain on Cuba´s energy infrastructure and the challenges in maintaining a consistent electricity supply.

According to the official information, 218 distribution circuits of the Cuban capital has electricity service at 1:00 P.M. local time, which represents 76.49% of the city. Meanwhile, the gradual synchronization of the loads of photovoltaic solar parks is ongoing in the provinces.

Failure in Cuba’s Electrical System Causes Disconnection in Several Provinces

U.S. Sanctions
Cuba’s energy crisis has sharply intensified in recent weeks, a situation directly attributed to the financial and commercial restrictions imposed by the United States Government.

As an example of the escalating instability, Havana, the island’s capital, experienced a power outage exceeding 19 hours on March 3, further underscoring the precarious situation.

This scenario is a direct consequence of the tightened sanctions targeting Cuba’s petroleum sector. Specifically, a recent Executive Order, declared as an alleged “emergency” measure and signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has significantly exacerbated the situation. This measure mandates the imposition of tariffs on nations that supply fuel to the island, effectively creating substantial obstacles for the import of essential energy resources.

The international community has largely condemned this interference policy. Various leaders and international organizations have rejected it, characterizing it as a strategy of economic suffocation that infringes upon Cuba’s sovereign right to maintain basic services for its population.

This ongoing U.S. policy severely compromises Cuba’s ability to ensure a stable power supply and maintain its national energy security, directly impacting the daily lives of millions of Cubans.

(teleSUR)

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From Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond via This RSS Feed.

By Peoples Dispatch – Mar 04, 2026

The Noboa administration claims that these are joint military operations against “drug trafficking and illegal mining.”

On March 3, theUS Southern Command announced on X that US military forces had participated in actions alongside Ecuadorian security forces: “Ecuadorian and US military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador. The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism. Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere.”

In addition,the commander general of the Southern Command, Francis L. Donovan, stated: “We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country.”

For his part,Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, a right-wing politician, wrote in a statement: “In March, we will carry out joint operations with our allies in the region, including the United States. The safety of Ecuadorians is our priority, and we will fight to achieve peace in every corner of the country.”

According to the US Embassy in Ecuador, the initial operation, carried out on March 3, dismantled an international drug trafficking network linked to the criminal group “Los Lobos” that operates in the provinces of Guayas, El Oro, and Loja. The operation led to the arrest of a key leader of the criminal group and the seizure of an undetermined amount of cocaine and more than USD 800,000.

“The investigation also revealed collaboration between Los Lobos and an Albanian drug trafficking organization, whose members traveled to Ecuador to negotiate and secure large-scale drug shipments. Once in Europe, the cocaine entered an extensive logistics network and was quickly distributed across several countries,”said the US Embassy in Ecuador.

That same day,Interior Minister John Reimberg reported that another operation had been carried out against the Albanian Mafia in the cities of Guayaquil, Machala, and Quito, where nearly USD 1 million in vehicles, jewelry, and weapons were seized. In addition to Ecuadorian security forces, Europol and the DEA participated in the operation, and coordinated actions were carried out in Belgium and the Netherlands.

However, US and Ecuadorian authorities have not confirmed whether US soldiers participated in joint military operations on Ecuadorian territory.A video shown by the Southern Command depicts a helicopter with soldiers, although it is unclear whether the images were taken in Ecuador or are merely for reference.

President of Ecuador Opens Up Military Bases for US Forces Despite Popular Opposition

A controversial decision
At the end of 2025, Daniel Noboa’s right-wing government suffered a shocking electoral defeat in the November referendum. Among the questions asked was whether foreign military bases should be allowed on Ecuadorian territory, thereby reforming the constitution that prohibits them.

However, Noboa’s government, as it has done on other occasions, has decided to find new ways to pursue its neoliberal project in the political and economic spheres, even against the majority position of the Ecuadorian people, which is why several critics of the government have labeled it “authoritarian” and “undemocratic.”

And while it is true that no foreign military bases have been established, the possible deployment of foreign military forces, in this case US forces, has not been consulted with the Ecuadorian people or Congress. On the contrary, the decision was made within the Carondelet Palace.

In fact, on March 2, one day before the announcement of joint military actions,President Noboa and his team met with the commander general of the Southern Command, Donovan, at the Presidential Palace in Quito. The senior US military official said: “Ecuador is one of the United States’ strongest partners in disrupting and dismantling designated terrorist organizations in the region”. Also present was Mark S. Schafer, head of Special Operations Command South. After the meeting, Noboa stated that “the next phase of the fight against organized crime” would begin.

However, it is not yet clear what these joint actions announced by both parties will consist of. Clearly, collaboration in the transfer of information and intelligence has already taken place in the past, in accordance with agreements signed several years ago, but the announcement by Washington and Quito seems to herald a much deeper and more active form of collaboration.

(Peoples Dispatch)

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From Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond via This RSS Feed.

Venezuela and the British multinational oil company Shell have signed an agreement outlining important opportunities in the hydrocarbon sector within Venezuelan territory. The document was signed by Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, the president of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), Héctor Obregón, and Shell’s regional vice president, Adam Lowmass.

The parties also signed a technical and financial alliance to boost hydrocarbon production. The agreement, made this Thursday, March 5, focuses on the comprehensive development of the Carito and Piritual production units, located in the Punta de Mata Division of Monagas state. These developments fall within the framework of the recently reformed Hydrocarbons Law, enacted by the acting president on January 29, following its unanimous approval by the National Assembly earlier that day.

As part of the signing ceremony, a private agreement was formalized between Shell and the Venezuelan private engineering firm Vepica. The event was attended by the US Secretary of the Interior and Chairman of the Energy Dominion Council, Doug Burgum, who arrived in Venezuela on Wednesday.

On February 26, as part of a sovereign policy of respectful relations and strategic cooperation, Acting President Rodríguez held a working meeting with representatives of Shell in the Simón Bolívar Hall of Miraflores Palace to evaluate gas projects. Lowmass, Cederic Cremers, president of Global Gas; Elías Nucette, vice president of Shell; Alfredo Urdaneta, Shell’s representative in Venezuela; and Héctor Obregón, president of PDVSA, among other Venezuelan officials, were present at the meeting.

New business models and economic opportunities
Following the signing, Rodríguez stated that the government is pleased to reach these agreements with Shell on oil and gas. She indicated that Venezuela is already implementing the Hydrocarbons Law with new business models.

She emphasized her satisfaction in witnessing the agreement between Shell and Vepica. “It makes me very happy to see Venezuelan companies joining the international energy and mining agenda,” she said. “This will also mean more jobs for our workers.”

In a call to the youth of Venezuela, Rodríguez stated that there are growing opportunities within the country. She urged those who left in search of better economic prospects to return to their homeland, noting that the government is dedicated to the happiness of the Venezuelan people.

Tactical Retreats: Why Venezuela’s Revolution Still Stands

“The cooperation that Venezuela can have with other countries is for the benefit of the country and its people,” Rodríguez added. “It shows that Venezuela has highly trained workers and top-level professionals to face all the challenges that our country needs to address.”

Addressing Secretary Burgum, the acting president noted that the steps being taken by both nations demonstrate the goodwill to build an agenda for cooperation in the energy and mining sectors. She added that these steps will strengthen relations between both countries for the benefit of the people of Venezuela and the United States. She concluded that the visit of the US official opens new paths and brings substantial work for the technical teams of both nations.

(Diario Vea) by Yuleidys Hernández Toledo

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/JRE/SF

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Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez paid a heartfelt tribute on Thursday to the commander of the Bolivarian Revolution and eternal symbol of Venezuelan dignity, President Hugo Chávez, on the 13th anniversary of his passing on March 5, 2013.

Rodríguez declared that the revolutionary leader’s presence lives on in every struggle and every victory of the Venezuelan people, that he did not merely lead them but became them, woven into the soul of the nation as undying hope and inexhaustible inspiration.

“Thirteen years after the passing of Commander Hugo Chávez, we feel his living presence in every struggle, and every victory of the people. He taught us to love this land deeply, to hold our heads high with dignity, and never to surrender,” she wrote.

His greatest legacy, Rodríguez affirmed, was not power but purpose: peace, equality, and social justice forged through consciousness and true unity among the people.

Orinoco Tribune also honored the founder of Chavismo, our guide and our beacon, taken from us too suddenly and under circumstances that remain deeply contested.

Thirteen years have passed since Commander Hugo Chávez’s death, and he continues to be a beacon of light and inspiration for true Chavismo. Those outside Venezuela, or those who are not truly Chavista, might find this hard to understand.

Today, we commemorate another anniversary of his sudden departure. We know in our bones that the Chavista leadership after Jan. 3 remains loyal to him, to the tectonic movement that enabled him, and to the historic legacy he tremendously helped to build.

¡Nosotros venceremos, no matter what!
¡Chávez vive, carajo!

Social Movements of Venezuela March Against US-Zionist Aggression on Iran

We at Orinoco Tribune also take this moment to speak plainly to those outside Venezuela, or to those who have not yet come to understand the true nature of Chavismo. Despite the difficult and at times controversial strategic decisions made by its leadership in the aftermath of the atrocious January 3 US military bombing of Venezuela, the heart of the Bolivarian movement has not wavered. The majority of Chavistas continue to stand with their leadership and remain steadfast in their commitment to the socialist and anti-imperialist ideals that Chávez gave his life to build.

Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff

OT/JRE/DZ

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Various images circulating on social media showed the arrival of US planes on the runway of the airport in the coastal Ecuadorian city of Manta on March 2. On the same day, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa held a meeting with General Francis L. Donovan, head of the US Southern Command, and Rear Admiral Mark A. Schafer, commander of US Southern Command Special Operations — part of a new, purportedly anti-crime offensive by the Ecuadorian government that includes curfews across four provinces beginning March 15.

The US also recently donated a Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules transport aircraft to strengthen the logistical capacity of the Ecuadorian Air Force. Similarly, several Boeing C-17 Globemaster strategic cargo planes of the US Air Force have been seen landing in Guayaquil for the transfer of specialized equipment. In addition, at the start of 2026, a B-52 bomber entered Ecuadorian airspace for the first time as part of a bilateral defense cooperation exercise.

This deployment is grounded in security agreements signed by former President Guillermo Lasso in 2023 and ratified by Daniel Noboa in 2024, which allow the movement of US Department of Defense aircraft and personnel within Ecuadorian territory for surveillance and control purposes.

This has been approved despite the Ecuadorian people’s rejection of foreign military bases on national territory, as made clear in the popular consultation of November 16, 2025.

The legal controversy centers on whether the presence of aircraft at Ecuadorian airports constitutes a foreign military base. Some argue that if aircraft are stationed there to carry out joint operations beyond national borders, receive supplies, and remain for several days within airport facilities, the use of that space may indeed qualify as a foreign military base. Ecuadorian authorities, however, characterize it as “strategic” collaboration.

Noboa himself justified the move on Tuesday via his X account: “We are starting a new phase against narco-terrorism and illegal mining. In March, we will conduct joint operations with our regional allies, including the United States. The safety of Ecuadorians is our priority, and we will fight to achieve peace in every corner of the country. To achieve that peace, we must act with force against criminals, wherever they may be. The pursuit of justice and national dignity will never be persecution, but rather a promise to Ecuadorians that we will fulfill.”

Regarding the meeting with the US Southern Command, the Ecuadorian presidency issued a statement indicating that the “visit is part of bilateral negotiations to strengthen cooperation and coordination in combating transnational threats that affect national and regional stability.”

“During this meeting, lines of technical and institutional coordination were reviewed, aimed at strengthening hemispheric security and addressing transnational organized crime and narco-terrorism, with a joint work approach that prioritizes the protection of citizens and the strengthening of state capacities, in strict respect for sovereignty and internal regulations,” the statement added.

It further explained that “joint initiatives are scheduled to strengthen controls, information exchange, and operational coordination, both at airports and port terminals, in order to identify risks and prevent criminal activities.”

This suggests the scope extends beyond joint operations against criminal gangs within Ecuadorian territory alone. Other political sectors have therefore questioned the legitimacy of these commitments, which could carry implications beyond Ecuador’s borders, particularly amid a military conflict between the US and Iran, as well as the political, commercial, and diplomatic tensions with Colombia that emerged following Ecuador’s imposition of tariffs in February.

Ecuador: President Noboa’s Family Business Links to Cocaine Trafficking to Europe Confirmed

Is it Colombia’s fault?

Noboa has continued to blame the Colombian government for insufficient cooperation in fighting crime along the shared border, claiming the situation has cost the Ecuadorian state around $400 million over the past year.

The military authorities of Gustavo Petro’s government, however, insist they have taken effective action, citing the seizure of more than 50 tons of drugs, the interdiction of 40 illicit vessels, and the rescue of 60 ships in distress.

A post by the Colombian Ministry of Defense, cited by Petro on February 27, read: “Decisive blow to drug trafficking on the border with Ecuador! As part of the Ayacucho Plus Plan, the Army and Police dismantled a criminal network that operated on an international scale. The structure used the territory of the neighboring country to send cocaine to Europe and the United States.”

Last week, during a police ceremony, Noboa announced that a curfew would be imposed across four Ecuadorian provinces from 11:00 p.m. on March 15 until midnight on March 30, 2026. Those provinces — Guayas, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, and El Oro — have the highest rates of criminal violence. States of emergency were declared throughout the same provinces in 2025, yet failed to reduce violent deaths.

Interior Minister John Reimberg has recently adopted the term “war” to describe the country’s security situation. On March 2, he stated emphatically, “We are at war,” urging citizens to “stay in your homes during the curfew; we are at war.”

For the government, Ecuador is at war against organized crime. For the population in the provinces under a state of emergency and curfew, this translates into an increased military presence and nighttime mobility restrictions during the second half of March, in addition to the loss of certain constitutional guarantees in the case of arbitrary detentions, as has already been reported in the past two years.

However, the figures for violent deaths and the criminal actions of organized gangs have not decreased. In fact, January 2026 is already considered the second most violent in the history of the country. January 2025 remains the most violent month in history, with 800 murders.

This January, 747 homicides were reported, representing a 6.6% reduction (53 fewer cases) compared to the same month of the previous year. Although there was a slight decrease compared to 2025, the figure for 2026 remains extremely high when compared to years like 2024 or 2023.

Moreover, while overall violent deaths fell slightly, certain other indicators worsened. For example, homicides of children and adolescents increased by 5%, rising from 48 cases in January 2025 to 50 cases in January 2026. Zone 8 (Guayaquil, Durán, and Samborondón) continues to experience the highest number of crimes, with 248 cases just in January, and 88% of the violent deaths during this period were committed with firearms.

(Diario Red) by Orlando Pérez

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/SC/DZ

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Every day, President Claudia Sheinbaum gives a morning presidential press conference and Mexico Solidarity Media posts English language summaries, translated by Mexico Solidarity’s Pedro Gellert. Previous press conference summaries are available here.

Violence declines in Jalisco thanks to security strategy

The Mexican government reported on progress in the National Security Strategy in Jalisco, with actions that have made it possible to locate and dismantle organized crime operations, make arrests, and seize assets. As a result, extortion fell by 26.8%.

Governor Pablo Lemus emphasized that, in coordination with the Mexican government, the daily average number of intentional homicides decreased by 47% in the last year. In addition, high-impact crimes declined by 25% between October 2024 and January 2026, which was the month with the lowest crime rate in the last 16 months.

Addressing the causes of crime and prevention for young people

The strategy also prioritizes attention to the causes of violence, with community actions in 15 municipalities that have generated 278 Peace Campaign Days, with the participation of more than 110,000 residents. In addition, controls at bus stations were reinforced to prevent the recruitment of young people by criminal groups, as part of preventive actions aimed at youth.

Plan Kukulcán: Mexico prepares for the 2026 World Cup

Plan Kukulcán, a coordinated security strategy to ensure safety at the 2026 World Cup, was presented. More than 99,000 personnel will participate, with anti-drone systems, aerial surveillance, and coordination with the United States, Canada, and FIFA.

Broad public support for electoral reform

President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted the results of an Enkoll poll showing public support for the proposed Electoral Reform. Results indicate that 85% of those surveyed support reducing the income of electoral body board members and 82% back cutting public financing for political parties. Sheinbaum noted that the proposal responds to the public’s demand for austerity and greater democracy.

Coordination with the United States and review of the USMCA

Sheinbaum affirmed that the relationship with the United States remains one of cooperation and respect for sovereignty, with intelligence sharing but each country remaining within its own territory.

The President also noted that the review of the USMCA is progressing favorably, with the support of U.S. companies due to the economic benefits of the trade agreement, and reiterated that coordination on immigration and economic issues will continue.

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  Mañanera

  People’s Mañanera March 6

  March 6, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on Jalisco security strategy, World Cup security, electoral reform and USMCA review.

• 

  Labor | News Briefs

  Experts Warn About Excessive Overtime with Reduced Working Hours

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  The increase in permitted overtime hours may be seen by companies as a permanent remedy to compensate for the reduction to a 40-hour workweek.

• 

  Analysis

  US Imperialism & Zionism Are the Enemies of Humanity

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  As the liberators of our America taught us, from Bolívar to Martí, and as Commanders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez reminded us in their unwavering struggle, the unity of the people is the only force capable of confronting & defeating imperialism.

The post People’s Mañanera March 6 appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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This article by Cristóbal Martínez Riojas originally appeared in the March 6, 2026 edition of El Economista.

Using overtime as a permanent solution to address the gradual reduction of the working day to 40 hours in companies could be a more costly measure and a setback to the objective of the legal change, warn labour law specialists.

“Technically it is not illegal as such, but it will generate a legal and economic consequence for companies,” warns Estefanía Rueda, partner at Littler.

The constitutional reform enacted this week, in addition to the 40-hour work week, establishes a new limit on overtime; double-paid hours will be limited to 12 per week, cannot exceed four hours per day, and cannot occur more than four times in a week.

While in the case of so-called “triple hours” the restriction will be 4 hours per week, before the reform there was no maximum for this model.

The increase in permitted overtime hours may be seen by companies as a permanent remedy to compensate for the reduction to a 40-hour workweek; that is, asking workers to work overtime.

“I would be concerned if some companies were viewing overtime as a permanent option. I would constantly point out and warn that overtime is just that, extraordinary, and should not be treated as ordinary on a regular basis,” said Mayeli Cabral, partner in the Labor Law department at Chevez Ruíz Zamarripa.

Estefanía Rueda agrees that, faced with the reduction of the working day, the solution for some employers is to increase the use of overtime.

“Especially because these are still within the limits allowed by law without constituting the crime of labour exploitation. So, in this sense, they represent a lower risk for employers to be able to ask employees to work that extra shift of up to 12 hours a week,” Rueda explains.

Using overtime to compensate for reduced working hours instead of taking other measures in processes and hiring more staff could go against the objective of the reform, which is to give workers more time for rest .

More Overtime Hours Limit Rest

Mayeli Cabral believes that companies should not lose sight of the fact that the foundation of this reform is to achieve more rest time for workers and that “this measure should not be abused. That time should be respected.”

Rueda argues that increasing the limit on allowed overtime hours, from 9 to 12 per week, contradicts the reduction of psychosocial risks from work in Standard 035.

This, he explains, is because increasing overtime hours creates a psychosocial risk due to a greater workload and a potentially lower balance between personal life and work.

“In their analyses, companies that are subject to this regulation (Standard 035) will identify a high risk and will have to establish corrective or control measures so that this level of risk can be reduced in the next evaluation,” Rueda adds.

As for the economic consequences, if companies use overtime to compensate for the reduction in working hours, they will also have to assume double payment for those hours.

“Since they are (used as) an everyday matter, it can also generate an increase in the base salary for social security contributions and allow employees to request that this overtime payment be included within their integrated salary,” Rueda warns.

Both specialists agree that companies need to start preparing now and not wait until January 1, 2027, the date on which the gradual reduction of the working day begins, to prepare scenarios that do not significantly impact costs or the “abuse” of overtime.

“I am in favor of not abusing overtime hours , but rather that the objective of the reform, which is rest time and more quality time, is truly fulfilled,” says Mayeli Cabral.

Among the preparation actions, the lawyer suggests starting by reviewing internal work processes to identify repetitive tasks, those that do not add value, and thereby investing in training and the use of technology.

“The best thing to do is to use this time to review which activities we can perhaps automate, making processes more efficient, even if they are still carried out by humans, but which can help us streamline our processes within companies to ensure that this reduction in working hours is real,” Rueda suggests.

• 

  Mañanera

  People’s Mañanera March 6

  March 6, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on Jalisco security strategy, World Cup security, electoral reform and USMCA review.

• 

  Labor | News Briefs

  Experts Warn About Excessive Overtime with Reduced Working Hours

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  The increase in permitted overtime hours may be seen by companies as a permanent remedy to compensate for the reduction to a 40-hour workweek.

• 

  Analysis

  US Imperialism & Zionism Are the Enemies of Humanity

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  As the liberators of our America taught us, from Bolívar to Martí, and as Commanders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez reminded us in their unwavering struggle, the unity of the people is the only force capable of confronting & defeating imperialism.

The post Experts Warn About Excessive Overtime with Reduced Working Hours appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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By Medea Benjamin – Mar 4, 2026

On our recent delegation to Venezuela, one quote echoed again and again — a warning written nearly two centuries ago by Simón Bolívar in 1829:

“The United States appears destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of liberty.”

For many Venezuelans, that line no longer feels like history. It feels like the present.

The January 3 U.S. military operation that seized President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores marked a dramatic escalation in a conflict that Venezuelans describe not as sudden but as cumulative — the culmination of decades of pressure, sanctions, and attempts at isolation. “We still haven’t totally processed what happened on January 3,” sanctions expert William Castillo told us. “But it was the culmination of over 25 years of aggression and 11 years of resisting devastating sanctions. A 20-year-old today has lived half his life in a blockaded country.”

Carlos Ron, former deputy foreign minister and now with the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, described the buildup to the invasion as the result of a carefully constructed narrative. “First there was the dangerous rhetoric describing Venezuelans in the United States as criminals,” he said. “Then endless references to the Tren de Aragua gang. Then the boat strikes blowing up alleged smugglers. Then the oil tanker seizures and naval blockade. The pressure wasn’t working, so they escalated to the January 3 invasion and kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and the deaths of over 100 people.”

While in the United States the events of January 3 have largely been forgotten, replaced by a devastating war with Iran, in Venezuela the reminders are everywhere. Huge banners draped from apartment buildings demand: “Bring them home.” Weekly protests call for their release.

In the Tiuna neighborhood of Caracas, we met Mileidy Chirinos, who lives in an apartment complex overlooking the site where Maduro was captured. From her rooftop, she told us about that dreadful night, when the sky lit up with explosions so loud her building shook and everyone ran outside screaming.

“Have your children ever woken up terrified to the sound of bombs?” she asked.

We shook our heads.

“Ours have,” she said. “And they are U.S. bombs. Now we understand what Palestinians in Gaza feel every day.”

She told us psychologists now visit weekly to help residents cope with the trauma.

Within days of the U.S. invasion, the National Assembly swore in Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president. President Trump publicly praised Rodríguez for “doing a good job,” emphasizing his strong relationship with her. But from the beginning, she has been negotiating with the United States with a gun to her head. She was told that any refusal to compromise would result not in the kidnapping of her and her team, but death and the continued bombing of Venezuela.

The presence of U.S. power looms large. Nuclear submarines still patrol offshore. Thousands of troops remain positioned nearby. Every statement and decision made by the government is scrutinized. And on February 2, despite Trump’s praise for Delcy Rodríguez, he renewed the 2015 executive order declaring Venezuela an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security.

The visits from the heads of the CIA and Southern Command have undoubtedly been difficult for the government to swallow. Delcy’s revolutionary father was tortured to death in 1976 by a Venezuelan government that worked closely with the CIA. The U.S. Southern Command coordinated the January 3 attack.

But the government is not without leverage.

“The United States thought the state was weak, that it didn’t have popular support, that the military was divided,” said Tania Díaz of the ruling PSUV party. “January 3rd could have triggered looting, military defections, or widespread destabilization. None of that happened.”

The United States has overwhelming military dominance, but it was also aware that millions of Venezuelans signed up to be part of the people’s militia. This militia, along with the army that remained loyal to the government, gave Washington pause about launching a prolonged war and attempting to replace Delcy Rodríguez with opposition leader María Corina Machado.

While Machado enjoys enthusiastic support among Venezuelan exiles in Miami and the Trump administration recognized her movement as the winner of the 2024 election, the picture inside Venezuela is very different.  The opposition remains deeply divided and Trump realized there was no viable faction ready to assume power.

Besides, as William Castillo put it bluntly: “Trump does not care about elections or human rights or political prisoners. He cares about three other things: oil, oil, and oil.”

Certainly, under the circumstances, the Venezuelan leadership has had little choice but to grant the United States significant influence over its oil exports. But while Trump boasts that this is the fruit of his “spectacular assault,” Maduro had long been open to cooperation with U.S. oil companies.

“Maduro was well aware that Venezuela needed investment in its oil facilities,” Castillo told us, “but the lack of investment is because of U.S. sanctions, not because of Maduro. Venezuela never stopped selling to the U.S.; it is the U.S. that stopped buying. And it also stopped selling spare parts needed to repair the infrastructure. So the U.S. started the fire that decimated our oil industry and now acts as if it’s the firefighter coming to the rescue.”

Venezuela Reports 8.7% Economy Growth in 2025 Despite US Aggression; Inflation Persists

In any case, the easing of oil sanctions — the only sanctions that have been partially lifted — is already bringing an infusion of much-needed dollars, and the government has been able to use these funds to support social programs.

But in Venezuela the conflict is not seen as simply about oil. Blanca Eekhout, head of the Simon Bolivar Institute, says U.S. actions represent a brazen return to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine originally warned European powers not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere, but over time it became a justification for repeated U.S. interventions across the region.

“We have gone back 200 years,” she said. “All rules of sovereignty have been violated. But while the Trump administration thinks it can control the hemisphere by force, it can’t.”

The historical contradiction is stark. In 1823, the young United States declared Latin America its sphere of influence. A year earlier, Bolívar envisioned a powerful, sovereign Latin America capable of charting its own destiny. That tension still echoes through the present.

Bolívar’s dream is also being battered by the resurgence of the right across the region. The left in Latin America is far weaker than during the days of Hugo Chávez. Bolivia’s Evo Morales and Ecuador’s Rafael Correa have been replaced by conservative leaders. Cuba remains under a suffocating U.S. siege. Progressive regional institutions like CELAC and ALBA have faded, and the vision of Latin American unity that once seemed within reach now feels far more fragile.

In Caracas, the situation is tangled, contradictory, and volatile. But amid the uncertainty, one thing felt clear: the Venezuelan left is not collapsing. It is recalibrating.

As Blanca told us before we left:

“They thought we would fall apart. But we are still here.”

And in the background, Bolívar’s warning continues to drift through the air — like a storm that never quite passes.

(CODEPINK)

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On Sunday, March 8, Colombians will go to the polls to elect members of the Senate and the House of Representatives for the 2026-2030 term. These are the first elections of this year’s electoral calendar, which will culminate with the election of President Gustavo Petro’s successor in May, or in June if there is a second round.

On March 8, more than 41 million Colombians in the electoral roll will also be able to participate in the inter-party consultations, which will define the presidential candidates of various parties or coalitions for the presidential elections of May.

These legislative elections will be crucial for the governance of the next president, who will take office on August 7, 2026. The Colombian Congress is composed of two chambers: the Senate (with 102 seats elected by popular vote plus an additional seat given to the second most voted presidential candidate) and the House of Representatives (183 seats).

The parliament not only legislates but also exercises essential political control over the government, approves or rejects structural reforms, and distributes public resources through the national budget.

Voters will elect the parliamentarians through a proportional system (D’Hondt method), with the option of open lists—where the voter marks a specific candidate and the order of the list is defined by individual preference, or closed lists—where the vote is for the party and the order is established by the party or the coalition.

Senate and House of Representatives elections
In the Senate, 102 members will be elected by popular vote: 100 in the national constituency (the entire country votes for the same list) and two in the special indigenous constituency. An extra seat is added for the presidential candidate who comes in second place in the first or second round, according to the Opposition Statute.

In the House of Representatives, there will be elections for 183 seats, with a more diverse and regional distribution: 161 by territorial constituencies (each department and Bogotá elect a number proportional to their population) and 16 Special Transitional Peace Constituencies (CITREP), reserved for victims of the armed conflict.

Moreover, there will be special seats for Afro-descendant communities, indigenous peoples, communities of the San Andrés and Providencia archipelago, Colombians residing abroad, and for the Opposition Statute for the vice-presidential candidate in second place.

Both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, the temporary seats for the Comunes block (signatories of the Peace Accords) will cease to exist in the new term.

The presidential race
Three interparty consultations (on separate ballots) will be held to elect single candidates for each coalition for the presidential race. The voter can only participate in one interparty consultation; marking more invalidates the vote.

For the center-right coalition La Gran Consulta por Colombia, there are nine pre-candidates; for the left, but without the endorsement of President Gustavo Petro, there is the Frente por la Vida coalition with five pre-candidates; and from the center, there is the coalition Consulta de las Soluciones with two pre-candidates but with a clear advantage for Claudia López, former mayor of Bogota.

Two of the candidates with the highest voter intention in the polls: Senator Iván Cepeda, candidate of the ruling party, and Sergio Fajardo, former mayor of Medellín, the second-largest city in the country, will not participate in these consultations and will compete directly in the May 31 presidential elections.

Cepeda, who won the internal consultation of the Historical Pact, Petro’s party, by a wide margin in October 2025 (with over 1.5 million votes), was barred from the Frente por la Vida consultation in a controversial decision by the National Electoral Council.

Left-Wing Candidate Iván Cepeda Leads Polls Ahead of Presidential Elections in Colombia

Historical Pact and Colombia Humana merge as a single party
The National Electoral Council, however, approved the merger of Historical Pact and Colombia Humana, closing weeks of legal uncertainty about the viability of their alliance and generating direct effects on the electoral scene.

With this decision, the two forces cease to operate as a coalition and instead consolidate legally as a single party.

In practical terms, the merger strengthens the Historical Pact on three fronts: legal, organizational, and symbolic. First, it reduces legal uncertainty amid the campaign. Second, it presents a cohesive political structure to the electorate, not a temporary alliance. And third, it consolidates the bloc as the main left-wing party in the country, which could influence the perception of stability and governability among its supporters.

Voting intention figures
A few days before the inter-party consultations, which is the major filter before the first round of the presidential elections, Cepeda continues to lead with a weighted polling of 33.9%, six points more than in January, showing that the voter intentions for him has not yet stagnated.

The far-right pre-candidate Abelardo de la Espriella is polling in second place, with 20.9%. However, the weekend’s marathon of opinion polls showed a halt in his momentum: voting intention for him dropped by 3.8 points.

(Telesur)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/SC/DZ

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This editorial by Gilberto López y Rivas originally appeared in the March 6, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper. The views expressed in this article are the authors’* own and do not necessarily reflect those ofMexico Solidarity Mediaor theMexico Solidarity Project.*

In a recent urgent statement, the Network of Intellectuals, Artists, and Social Movements in Defense of Humanity (REDH) denounced before the international community the joint bombings carried out by the governments of the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28. This constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and—according to preliminary figures—resulted in the deaths of 201 people, 160 of whom were children, and left approximately 700 wounded. Undoubtedly, these bombings of a civilian target are a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions, international humanitarian jurisdiction, and the Charter of the United Nations, and are a war crime committed with the arrogance of those who believe themselves to be above the law.

The REDH denounced this criminal alliance as the same one that has bombed Iraq, destroyed Libya, besieged Syria, blockaded Cuba and Venezuela, and is perpetrating genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the occupied territories. Its ultimate goal is not peace, security, or democracy, but rather the perpetuation of a world order based on the plunder of resources, geopolitical control, and the annihilation of any emancipatory political project that dares to challenge its hegemony.

It is essential to reiterate a historical truth that cannot be hidden: the Second World War is not solely the responsibility of the German, Italian, and Japanese fascists; it is also necessary to highlight the clear responsibility of the British, American, and French imperialists in the outbreak of the war.

Those who make up this Network for Human Rights believe that the attack against Iran is part of a global escalation of war that threatens to unleash a conflagration with unpredictable consequences for all of humanity. Imperialism, in its quest for domination, is playing with fire in a scenario whose gravity demands the firmest and most urgent response from the people.

The REDH expresses its unwavering and militant solidarity with the Iranian people. Their pain is our pain, their struggle is our struggle, because defending Iran’s sovereignty is part of defending the sovereignty of all peoples of the Global South. Therefore, we urgently call upon intellectuals, artists, social movements, dignified governments, and free peoples of the world to raise their voices and take action in solidarity. We demand an immediate end to the bombings and that those responsible for these crimes be brought to justice before international law. No more impunity.

The REDH believes that, as the liberators of our America taught us, from Bolívar to Martí, and as Commanders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez reminded us in their unwavering struggle, the unity of the people is the only force capable of confronting and defeating imperialism. In this moment of defining moments, the slogan must be singular: unity of the people against imperialism!

Donald Trump effigy burns

Certainly, humanity today faces extremely serious risks of apocalyptic proportions, such as those that led to the last world conflagration, with the aftermath of at least 75 million deaths (military and civilian) between 1939 and 1945. Among these human losses, the former Soviet Union stands out with between 26 and 27 million; China, between 15 and 20 million; Germany, between 7 and 9 million; Poland, between 5 and 6 million; Japan, nearly 3 million; and the United States and Great Britain, between 300,000 and 400,000 lives lost due to bombings, famines, diseases, and the Holocaust genocide, which ended the lives of some 6 million Jews, Communists, Roma, homosexuals, disabled people, and sectors of the population who, according to the criteria of the Nazi-fascist genocidal regime, were taken to forced labor, concentration, and extermination camps.

It is essential to reiterate a historical truth that cannot be hidden: the Second World War is not solely the responsibility of the German, Italian, and Japanese fascists, who, desiring a new division of the world, unleashed the most terrible war tragedy in recorded history; it is also necessary to highlight the clear responsibility of the British, American, and French imperialists in the outbreak of the war. England, the United States, and France encouraged and permitted the rearmament of Germany; they condoned the rapid growth of its armed forces and invoked a supposed neutrality in the face of fascist aggressions against Ethiopia in 1935, Spain in 1936, Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938, and Poland in 1939. All the Nazi-fascist aggressions of the pre-war period went unpunished, thus allowing the dreams of global expansion of the Axis powers to become a cruel reality. The English and French governments disregarded international mutual defense agreements with Poland and Czechoslovakia and the will of their people, shamelessly allowing the Nazi occupation of these countries.

In the 21st century, these traumatic experiences seem to be forgotten, and once again, humanity is in danger of a third world war which, if it were to take place, would cause the disappearance of the human species and the extinction of life on the planet.

• 

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  People’s Mañanera March 6

  March 6, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on Jalisco security strategy, World Cup security, electoral reform and USMCA review.

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  Analysis

  US Imperialism & Zionism Are the Enemies of Humanity

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  As the liberators of our America taught us, from Bolívar to Martí, and as Commanders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez reminded us in their unwavering struggle, the unity of the people is the only force capable of confronting & defeating imperialism.

The post US Imperialism & Zionism Are the Enemies of Humanity appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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This article by Wendy Vega appeared in the March 5, 2026 edition of El Sol de México.

As a symbol of the resilience of thousands of women who share the loss of missing relatives or who have been victims of femicide, the Glorieta de las Mujeres que Luchan (Roundabout of Women Who Fight) has become the stage for a struggle that is, unfortunately, never-ending.

Previously, a monument honoring the Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus stood on Paseo de la Reforma. However, after a series of protests against this figure, who has been accused of initiating a genocide against Indigenous peoples, the Mexico City government decided in 2021 to remove the more than 144-year-old statue.

With the removal of the Columbus statue, the space in the roundabout on Reforma was appropriated by different groups who sought to redefine the roundabout to give their struggle a place where they could express themselves without fear of being repressed by the authorities, as well as share with other people who are also facing difficult times.

The Glorieta de las Mujeres que Luchan (Roundabout of Women Who Fight) began to be a meeting point for activist and feminist groups who day after day seek justice for their missing relatives and the hundreds of women who have been victims of sexual violence and femicides.

Thanks to this reappropriation of the roundabout, the Broad Front of Women Who Fight was born, which named the space as it is now known.

In addition to its new name, a statue of a woman with her left fist raised was installed at the site, as a symbol of the struggle of all members of feminist collectives and searching mothers, as well as a recognition of their resistance within their struggle.

The statue now installed is known as the Antimonumenta and is surrounded by hundreds of names of women who have been victims of violence, abuse, femicide, and social activists who have died or were murdered during their struggle for justice.

The Anti-monument on Avenida Reforma is a critical meeting spot and site in Mexico City for political action.

Wendy Vega is a writer and photojournalist, graduated from UNAM.

• 

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  People’s Mañanera March 6

  March 6, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on Jalisco security strategy, World Cup security, electoral reform and USMCA review.

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  Labor | News Briefs

  Experts Warn About Excessive Overtime with Reduced Working Hours

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

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• 

  Analysis

  US Imperialism & Zionism Are the Enemies of Humanity

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  As the liberators of our America taught us, from Bolívar to Martí, and as Commanders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez reminded us in their unwavering struggle, the unity of the people is the only force capable of confronting & defeating imperialism.

The post How a Group of Mothers Created Mexico City’s Roundabout of Women Who Fight appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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On Thursday, March 5th students from UNAM, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, held a memorial on the campus in the south of Mexico City for the over 186 girls killed in the US-Israeli bombing of the Shajarat Tayyibah Primary School in Iran on February 28. Most of the girls murdered by US imperialism were between the ages of 7 and 12, and at least 95 other people were wounded in the attack.

“I hope we are heard in all media outlets. The reason we’re participating in this demonstration is to prevent these kinds of things from happening: I think it’s an injustice. It is not fair to me that the world remains silent in the face of these situations. I think many countries are already involved, and one of the most important things is that we must raise awareness in the world that these situations should not be happening,” an organizer commented.

The altar featured candles, flowers, and handwritten messages to honour the victims, to keep alive their memory, and to express solidarity with their families.

Attacks on schools and hospitals during conflict is one of the six grave violations identified and condemned by the UN Security Council, as under international humanitarian law, both schools and hospitals are protected civilian objects, and therefore benefit from the humanitarian principles of distinction and proportionality. Direct physical attacks and the closure of these institutions as a result of direct threats have Since 2011, a direct attack on a school is supposed to immediately include the perpetrators, in this case the US and Israel, on the list of the United Nation Secretary-General of parties to conflict committing grave violations against children in armed conflict.

Also on Thursday, only six days after the initial attack on the primary school, the US and Israel fired missiles and hit two more schools in the town of Parand, southwest of Tehran, as reported by the Fars news agency. Several nearby residential units also sustained damage.

Video courtesy PressTV.

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• 

  Mañanera

  People’s Mañanera March 6

  March 6, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on Jalisco security strategy, World Cup security, electoral reform and USMCA review.

• 

  Labor | News Briefs

  Experts Warn About Excessive Overtime with Reduced Working Hours

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  The increase in permitted overtime hours may be seen by companies as a permanent remedy to compensate for the reduction to a 40-hour workweek.

• 

  Analysis

  US Imperialism & Zionism Are the Enemies of Humanity

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  As the liberators of our America taught us, from Bolívar to Martí, and as Commanders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez reminded us in their unwavering struggle, the unity of the people is the only force capable of confronting & defeating imperialism.

The post UNAM Altar Honours Iranian Schoolgirls Murdered by US Imperialism appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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This article by Jorge Caballero originally appeared in the March 6, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

In the late 1970s, amidst a patriarchal society, the Cine Mujer Collective emerged, a group of feminist filmmakers who found in cinema the ideal political tool to denounce the gender issues that defined Mexican society at the time. Today, almost five decades after its formation, this documentary turns to the members of this group to explore some of their films, and at the same time contrast the reality portrayed by the collective with the landscape that Mexican women face today.

Directed by Andrea Gautier and Tabatta Salinas, the film tells the story of the nascent collective during the 1970s and 80s, bringing its members together to reflect on their fight against gender violence, sexism, and their advocacy for abortion rights, demonstrating that these issues remain relevant today. “It’s an exercise in historical memory that celebrates sisterhood and art as a form of resistance,” the filmmakers noted.

In an interview with La Jornada, Gautier and Salinas also spoke about the origin, development and projection of the documentary Rebeladas, mentioning that their artistic intention was “to avoid a strictly chronological narrative, privileging the dialogue between past and present to connect with new generations.”

In another point of agreement, they mentioned that in this generational discussion, Rebeladas shows “what can be learned from the Cine Mujer Collective, because we need to recover freshness, urgency, and be less self-demanding, proposing a more punk and less self-censored approach to activism and cultural creation. We need to recover a more visceral and less self-questioning attitude, following the examples of previous generations.”

Regarding the previous answer, Andrea and Tabatta elaborated on the loss of freshness due to fear of what others will say and “cancellation,” and emphasized the importance of daring to be different without overthinking political correctness in order to regain innocence and spontaneity.

The documentary, which premieres this March 6th in theaters nationwide, features testimonies from the collective such as María Novaro, María Eugenia Tamés, Sonia Fritz and Maricarmen de Lara, among others.

Specifically, Andrea recounted her investigative discovery in 2005, the first contact with members of the collective, and the process of compiling archives and interviews that led to resuming the film between 2016 and 2023.

“I was looking for information on women in film and I came across it at UNAM in 2005. Women who reclaimed cinema as a political and feminist tool, addressing taboo subjects of the time such as abortion, rape, domestic work, and sexual abuse. That’s how I discovered the work of the Cine Mujer Collective, and then I met Tabatta and we started working together. We began researching the Cine Mujer Collective, contacted them, and brought them together for the first time in academic meetings after the initial research and early audiovisual recordings were compiled. That was the basis for making Rebeladas.”

Later, the directors explained: “The project evolved from the idea to production. Then in 2016 we got the project off the ground, which was a difficult thing, and it began its festival circuit, premiering in 2023. We always kept in mind the preservation of the interviews over the years and made the stylistic decision to prioritize emotions and intergenerational dialogue in the documentary, opting for a non-chronological structure that prioritizes emotions and dialogue with the present instead of a traditional biopic.”

The interview covered the reception of Rebeladas at festivals, its premiere at DOCS MX, its participation in the Morelia International Film Festival, tours with Ambulante and presentations with collectives such as Colmena.

The premiere in commercial theaters in the country, they confessed: “has us excited and we want to thank the team for having reached this exhibition channel, and we are waiting to see the public’s response to an independent feminist documentary that always has difficulties getting out into the open.”

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• 

  Mañanera

  People’s Mañanera March 6

  March 6, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on Jalisco security strategy, World Cup security, electoral reform and USMCA review.

• 

  Labor | News Briefs

  Experts Warn About Excessive Overtime with Reduced Working Hours

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  The increase in permitted overtime hours may be seen by companies as a permanent remedy to compensate for the reduction to a 40-hour workweek.

• 

  Analysis

  US Imperialism & Zionism Are the Enemies of Humanity

  March 6, 2026March 6, 2026

  As the liberators of our America taught us, from Bolívar to Martí, and as Commanders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez reminded us in their unwavering struggle, the unity of the people is the only force capable of confronting & defeating imperialism.

The post Cine Mujer Collective Celebrates Sisterhood as Resistance in ‘Rebeladas’ Documentary appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced staging the 17th stage of its ongoing Operation True Promise 4 against Israeli and American targets throughout the region.

The Corps made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday, the fifth day since the launch of the operation in retaliation against unprovoked aggression against the Islamic Republic by Tel Aviv and Washington.

“With the successful destruction of more than seven advanced radars, the eyes of the US and the usurping Zionist regime in the region have been blinded,” the statement read.

It also hailed bypassing the US’s THAAD missile system, which has been deployed to try to protect the Israeli regime in the face of the reprisal, thus striking the building of the regime’s ministry of war as well as the Ben Gurion airport, its busiest air terminal.

Attesting to the success of the operation, the Corps stated, was the continuous sound of sirens and the prolonged confinement of illegal settlers inside shelters across the occupied territories over the past 100 hours.

This verifies “the steady and managed rhythm of Iranian projectile launches for harsh revenge against terrorist criminals,” the statement noted.

“In the coming days, the attacks will become more intense and widespread.”

So far throughout the operation, the IRGC has flown hundreds of ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones towards sensitive and strategic targets throughout the region.

The targets have featured those lying in the city of Tel Aviv and the holy occupied city of al-Quds as well as American outposts and interests scattered across regional countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.

Other highlights in the retaliation have seen the Corps target the US Navy’s Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier as well as an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean.

Striking US’s ‘largest data center’ in region
Also on Wednesday, the IRGC announced staging a “critical strike” against the largest American data center in the region.

Qatar Fully Shuts Down LNG Production as Global Energy Markets Brace for Impact

It identified the target as the Amazon data center in Bahrain, saying the strike was carried out to identify the role played by these centers in supporting the enemy’s military and intelligence activities.

According to Amazon’s official report, extensive damage has been inflicted on this center.

Amazon’s regional office in Bahrain, which was opened in 2019, is considered to be the gateway for advanced Amazon cloud services to the countries of the Persian Gulf and elsewhere throughout West Asia.

(PressTV)

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Ecuador has declared Cuba’s ambassador in Quito, Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez García, persona non grata, granting him 48 hours to leave the country in a move that raises questions about the future of bilateral relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility notified the Cuban Embassy of the decision on March 4, invoking Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows a state to declare members of a diplomatic mission as persona non grata without requiring to justify such declarations.

This recent measure applies not only to Ambassador Gutiérrez but also to consular, administrative, and support staff accredited in Quito.

🔴 #Atención || Se reporta presencia militar en los exteriores de la Embajada de Cuba en Quito. Esto, tras la decisión del gobierno de Ecuador de declarar persona ‘non grata’ al embajador de Cuba, Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez García, así como a toda la misión diplomática de ese país… pic.twitter.com/OPolzRdDq4

— Radio Pichincha (@radio_pichincha) March 4, 2026

The official communication did not specify the reasons behind the expulsion nor whether it signals a rupture in diplomatic ties, but the measure enters into force upon signing the decree and entrusts its execution to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility.

According to this, the Cuban mission has 48 hours to vacate Ecuadorian territory.

Simultaneously, President Daniel Noboa signed Executive Decree 317, terminating the functions of Ecuador’s ambassador to Cuba, José María Borja López. The decree also ended Borja’s concurrent responsibilities in Dominica, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The move underscores a significant shift in Ecuador’s foreign policy, coinciding with the meeting held on Monday between President Noboa and Francis L. Donovan, head of the US Southern Command, and Rear Admiral Mark A. Schafer, head of Special Operations Command South.

The expulsion comes amid growing Ecuadorian alignment with the US. Just one day earlier, both governments announced a joint military operation against “designated terrorist organizations” in Ecuador, an initiative praised as an alleged decisive step against narcoterrorism in the hemisphere, according to the US Southern Command.

The timing also reflects Washington’s increasing pressure on Cuba, as amid the commercial, economic, and financial blockade imposed against the country, the Trump administration has tightened new restrictions on oil shipments to the island.

Ecuador and the US maintain a security alliance that has grown stronger since far-right Daniel Noboa took office in 2023.

Cuban rejection
Cuba strongly rejects “the arbitrary and unjustified decision of the Government of Ecuador” to expel the entire staff of the Cuban Embassy in that country.

In an official statement, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that this measure “constitutes an unfriendly and unprecedented act that seriously damages the historic relations of friendship and cooperation between both countries and peoples.”

Failure in Cuba’s Electrical System Causes Disconnection in Several Provinces

The Ministry categorically reaffirmed that the staff of the Cuban Embassy in Quito has strictly respected the laws and regulations of the country, rejecting any interference in the internal affairs of the Ecuadorian State. It also assures that these actions demonstrate “the contempt of the current Ecuadorian Government for the diplomatic practices and courtesies observed by the international community.”

“It is no coincidence that this decision comes in a context marked by the intensification of US aggression against Cuba and the strong pressures exerted by Washington on third countries to align with that policy,” denounces the statement, in a context of an upcoming summit convened for next March 7 with a small group of government representatives from the region in Miami.

(Telesur)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/JRE/

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By Bruno Sgarzini – Mar 4, 2026

For a long time there has been talk of “militant or political” journalism as one that is done under political ideals. According to the conventional commandment, for example, any report, opinion column, report, covering a social struggle or reporting an injustice is militant. Or convey an alternative version of the facts of a party or a political awning stigmatized by traditional media.

It is not militant journalism, for example, what the multimedia corporation Clarín does in Argentina when it talks about “youth crime,” while entire cities run out of factories and thousands of young people run out of the jobs of their parents and grandparents. There are no “militant” journalists among those who forget to talk about the ghost cities that are created in front of Argentine society with huge pockets of poverty.

Neither are television anchors living in closed neighborhoods and on the air avoid naming Milei’s labor reform that takes away rights from his colleagues who work as producers and cameramen.

It is not militant journalism that of international news agencies that talk about a Cuba that “murders members of a boat,” without contextualizing the weapons carried by its crew or the shots that they threw to the Cuban maritime guards.

It is not the ones who reverse the facts at convenience: if Cuban military opens fire in response, they kill, if US nationals spend months with air strikes against boats in the Caribbean, instead, they are “narcos killed” in a “US military operation.” There are no murders, no extrajudicial executions, only criminals, or “narcos,” who lose their lives in remote bombings.

If there is an oil spill, or the pollution of a river by a mining company, it is an “environmental accident” that goes against “business social responsibility.” “Non-militant” journalism has its own semantics; in Gaza there is no genocide, but a war against “Hamas.”

Maduro is the leader of the Los Soles Cartel, not a head of state, Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, a legitimate president, not a businessman suspected of using his banana company for drug shipments and signaled by a drug leader of having ordered the murder of presidential candidate Daniel Villavicencio.

Manuel López Obrador or Claudia Sheinbaum, are under “narco control,” but Felipe Calderón and Enrique Peña Nieto had nothing to do with the links of their lieutenants with organized crime.

The killing of Ayatollah Khamenei is legitimate because it “murdered thousands of Iranians,” as well as an “attack on Tehran to destroy its nuclear program.” The United States and “Israel” “preemptively defend themselves” from Iran to avoid “being bombed in the future.”

But if Iran responds to rocket and drone shipments to US bases in seven countries, then that’s an “illegitimate and illegal” act that widens the conflict and puts the world at risk of a major war in the Middle East because of Tehran.

Rejecting Defeatism: Why Negotiation is Not Betrayal in the Face of US Imperialist Aggression Against Venezuela

The cruel “Islamic ayatollah regime” cultivates with its actions “chaos and destruction,” while Trump and Netanyahu fight it and detain it with preemptive strikes. According to this journalism is an existential war between civilization and barbarism.

With each fact, the hierarchy is reorganized according to the circumstantial interests of this journalism, which is not militant, but “corporate.”

(Diario Red)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/JRE/

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Canada must make “any sacrifice necessary” to protect its independence as US expansionist pressure intensifies, former Prime Minister Harper says.

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Historians and political observers criticize the Trump administration for attempting to justify its own foreign policy toward Latin America.

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Cuba’s National Electrical Union reported a massive power outage after a critical failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, whereupon the energy authorities immediately activated recovery protocols to restore service in affected areas.

Cuba’s National Electrical Union (UNE, in spanish) reported a widespread disconnection across the National Electrical System (SEN, in Spanish) on Wednesday, March 4, affecting power supply from the province of Camagüey in the center-east to Pinar del Rio in the western area of the island.

The state-owned company confirmed the interruption began at 12:41 P.M. local time, following an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant in western Matanzas province, attributed to a boiler malfunction.

Guiteras Plant Fails
The Cuban Electrical Union immediately activated recovery protocols to restore service to the affected areas across the island. The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, a crucial component of the country’s energy production, experienced a critical boiler fault that triggered its unexpected exit from the national electrical system, as authorities reported.

This singular event had a cascading effect, leading to the extensive disconnection that left a significant portion of the island without electricity. Authorities informed that they are currently working to assess the full extent of the damage and to bring the plant back online.

🚨 #AHORA || Se produjo una desconexión del Sistema Electroenergético Nacional desde Camagüey hasta Pinar del Río. Ya se encuentran activados todos los protocolos para el restablecimiento del SEN. pic.twitter.com/yMZK048Tey

— Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (@OSDE_UNE) March 4, 2026

Text reads: “There was a disconnection of the National Electrical Energy System from Camagüey to Pinar del Rio. All protocols for the restoration of the National Electrical System (SEN) are now activated.”

The reliance on aging infrastructure and the challenges in acquiring necessary parts for maintenance and upgrades significantly contribute to the frequency and severity of such outages, reinforced by the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against the nation.

Just the day before, on Tuesday, March 3, Havana experienced a prolonged power outage for approximately 19 hours, according to official data. The capital’s electrical company noted a maximum affectation, highlighting the persistent energy deficit in the country, which “depends on the availability conditions of the National Electrical System”.

Another Terror Attack on Cuba: The 66-Year War That Washington Refuses To End

U.S. Blockade Escalates
This scenario of instability is largely attributed to the intensifying oil siege imposed by the United States Government against the country.

A recent Executive Order signed by Donald Trump administration explicitly prohibits the importation of fuels by threatening to impose tariffs on goods from countries that directly or indirectly supply oil to Cuba. This measure has been widely condemned by various leaders and organizations worldwide, including the United Nations, as an attempt at economic suffocation designed to provoke extreme shortages among the Cuban population. Critics argue that this policy interferes with the island’s sovereign right to sustain its daily life and the functioning of its basic services, aiming to create social unrest and destabilize the government.

The restrictions imposed by the United States blockade severely affect the maintenance cycles and the acquisition of essential accessories needed to modernize Cuba’s energy infrastructure. Beyond the energy sector, these sanctions also impact the sustenance of basic and essential services such as healthcare, the production and distribution of food, and education.

The U.S. hostile policy limits Cuba’s capacity to respond effectively to technical failures in its aging power plants, exacerbating a challenging situation, as its authorities have repeatedly denounced it.

The consistent denial of access to global markets for crucial components and spare parts means that even minor technical glitches can lead to widespread and prolonged power outages, creating significant hardship for the Cuban people.

The UN and other international bodies have repeatedly called for an end to the genocidal blockade, citing its detrimental effects on Human Rights and the real development of the country.

This latest power outage serves as a stark reminder of the profound and far-reaching consequences of external economic pressures on Cuba’s ability to maintain vital services for its citizens.

(teleSUR)

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