November 12, 2026 from Beijing
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, in Beijing.
Havana reaffirms its commitment to the one-China principle and backs Xi Jinping’s four global initiatives, Beijing says,
China pledged on Wednesday to stand by Cuba against sanctions and foreign interference, days after Washington penalised two Chinese state-linked firms for allegedly supplying the Cuban military. (more…)
By Ricardo Vaz on November 11, 2026
Rodríguez assured ExxonMobil executives of “legal guarantees” for investments.
After refusing to abide by Chávez’s nationalization and pursuing international arbitration, ExxonMobil looks to reclaim its old assets and take over new ones.
The acting Delcy Rodríguez government and ExxonMobil signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday as the oil giant prepares to return to Venezuela nearly two decades after having its assets nationalized. (more…)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva shakes hands with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Türkiye on November 12 (Ricardo Stuckert/PR)
by Jamil Chade on November 12, 2026
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday, during the COP31 Climate Conference in Türkiye. It was their first interaction since the outbreak of the armed conflict between the U.S. and Iran began.
The meeting is highly symbolic, especially given the ongoing inability to reach an agreement that would bring the war to an end. It also serves to highlight Lula’s capacity to maintain relations not only with major Western powers but also with Tehran.
In an official statement, the Brazilian government noted that “the two leaders discussed conflicts in the Middle East, specifically the war involving Iran.”
“In this regard, President Pezeshkian provided an update on peace negotiations with the United States, highlighting mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan,” read the statement.
“Recalling Brazil’s role in negotiating the 2010 Tehran Declaration, President Lula encouraged the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict, while also affirming the right to the peaceful, civilian use of nuclear energy,” the statement read. “Expressing concern over the war’s impact on global fuel and food prices, President Lula also advocated for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
During the meeting, Lula signaled that he is disregarding U.S. sanctions against Iran and intends to expand trade.
“Both also discussed the diversification and expansion of bilateral trade, which totaled 3 billion dollars in 2025. President Lula indicated that Brazil is interested in increasing its imports of fertilizers from Iran,” the statement explained.
In his speech at the opening of COP31, Lula criticized the decision by certain governments to engage in wars, while setting aside the climate issue.
In April of this year, Lula criticized the U.S. war against Iran, going so far as to say that the arguments used by Trump were “lies.”
“The United States of North America took it upon itself to wage an unnecessary war in Iran, claiming that Iran possessed nuclear weapons or was attempting to develop them. It is a lie,” he said.
“I say it is a lie because, in 2010, I went to Iran to reach an agreement. We did reach an agreement. One that was subsequently rejected by both the U.S. and the European Union. We crafted an arrangement that would have allowed Iran to enrich uranium using the same methods as Brazil, since our own Constitution mandates that such activities be used exclusively for peaceful purposes,” the president said in Fortaleza, during a live interview with TV Cidade.
In September, at the UN General Assembly, Lula once again criticized Trump over the war. “Threatening civilizations with extinction will not bring stability to the Middle East,” he said. “The Strait of Hormuz has been turned into a trench of war, when it should remain a vital passage for international trade. Families all over the world are paying the price through rising costs for fuel, fertilizers, and food.”
On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his speech at COP31 to call for compensation for environmental damage caused by attacks by the U.S. and Israel. He said that the issue is linked to global efforts to combat climate change.
“We expect the global community to establish a genuine and meaningful connection between climate commitments in peacetime and accountability in wartime,” he said. “One that documents and assesses the environmental damage caused by military aggression and develops mechanisms for compensation.”
Source: Panamerican Dispatch
By Pedro Monzon Barata on November 11, 2026
collage by: Zeinab, el-Hajj
Washington’s 2026 executive orders turned the Cuba blockade from a bounded, bilateral punishment into a worldwide system of discipline, where banks, shippers and hotel chains in third countries comply out of fear of losing dollar access. (more…)
By Gabriela Castillo on November 10, 2026
Gabriella Castillo
What a joy to be back! And for those who may be reading my words for the first time, my name is Gabriela Castillo. I’m a Cuban diplomat and second secretary at the Cuban Embassy in the United States. I’m also a Black woman, a mother and a Cuban who is deeply proud of her roots. (more…)
By Luciano Vasapollo on November 9, 2026 from Rome
There are moments in a country’s history when the stature of a political leader is measured not by the strength of the institutions he represents, but by his ability to fully share in the suffering, the hardships, and the hopes of his people. Miguel Díaz-Canel is going through one of those moments. And he is doing so with a determination that commands respect, even beyond political affiliations and differing assessments of the Cuban government’s decisions. (more…)
November 10, 2026
foto: Brazil Decidesd Brazil, foto: EFE
The Tribunal Superior Electoral, the country’s highest court for electoral disputes, opened its examination of the case on November 10. The complaint was lodged by the coalition that backed Lula da Silva’s victorious campaign. (more…)
By Thania Saucedo on November 10, 2026
People protest outside the home of Paraguay’s ousted President Santiago Pena. foto: AP
Social movements and the popular sector are not limiting their criticism to individual accountability; they are also warning that this crisis is yet another example of the failure of the entire political and economic system. (more…)