International
María Corina Machado asks Norway to give her extreme support to guarantee free presidential elections
Opposition leader María Corina Machado asked Norway – a mediating country in the negotiations between the Government of Venezuela and the majority opposition – for its maximum support to ensure that “free and fair” presidential elections will be held in the Caribbean country on July 28, according to a communication released on Monday.
The letter, addressed to the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr, aims to urge his Government, in “its capacity as a facilitator of the process of dialogue and negotiation between political actors in Venezuela, to maximize the diplomatic resources at its disposal” so that the Barbados agreement – signed by both parties in October and which establishes electoral guarantees – is “fully complied with.”
In the communication, dated this Sunday, Machado, winner of the opposition primaries last October, assured that the agreement “has been completely violated by the regime presided over by Nicolás Maduro.”
The former liberal deputy, who became a presidential candidate of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – the main opposition coalition – after winning in the primaries, recently announced the decision of this bloc to appoint the historian Corina Yoris as a candidate for the upcoming elections in the face of the disqualification that prevents her from competing for public office in these and other elections until 2036.
Likewise, Machado condemned the “regimen” decision to also block the registration of Yoris’ candidacy and added that “there is no political or legal cause that prevents” such registration.
Machado denounced that the head of state “has sought to prevent, by all means,” his “participation as a presidential candidate,” despite the fact that the Barbados agreement established – he pointed out – that “each party could freely choose” its standard-bearer, in addition to “electoral guarantees for all the actors who participate in said elections” and the “promotion of a favorable political climate.”
Among the “most flagrant violations of the agreement,” Machado mentioned the ratification of his disqualification in January by the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), the arrest of “at least eight people linked” to his party, Vente Venezuela (VV), and Maduro’s qualification of this formation as a “terrorist” organization.
“To accuse us, they have forged evidence and forced some detainees to accuse their own companions of false armed conspiracies,” said the opponent, who warned that teams in her country “are at risk of upcoming forced disappearances” and that she herself “could be subject to unjustified detention.”
On Tuesday, the PUD reported the registration, on a provisional basis, of Edmundo González Urrutia, a candidate who can be replaced from this April 1, as long as he does not have any administrative sanction or impediment contemplated by the law, and that the National Electoral Council (CNE) admits the candidacy that replaces it.
Machado said on Sunday that the electoral schedule of the presidential elections establishes the replacement of candidates up to ten days before the process, so he asked for confidence from his followers.
International
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
The Chinese government emphasized on Monday the importance of “creating the conditions to return to the proper path of dialogue” between Iran and Israel, which have exchanged attacks in recent days resulting in more than 20 Israeli and over 220 Iranian deaths.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed deep concern at a press conference over the Israeli attacks on Iran and the “sudden escalation” of the military conflict.
Guo called on all parties to “take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent the region from descending into further turmoil,” stating that “force cannot bring lasting peace.”
“If the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to intensify or even expand, the countries of the Middle East will be the first to suffer the consequences,” he added, while noting that China “will continue to maintain communication with the relevant parties, promoting peace and dialogue.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke last Saturday with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts to condemn the Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory, which he described as a “violation of international law” with the potential to trigger “disastrous” consequences.
In both calls, Wang reiterated China’s rejection of the use of force, defended diplomacy as the only solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute, and offered China’s mediation to prevent further destabilization in the Middle East.
International
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Sunday the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter, 57, the main suspect in the killing of Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband in a Brooklyn Park suburb on Friday night.
Boelter, who also reportedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife early Saturday morning, was apprehended in Sibley County following an intensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers.
In a public statement, Governor Walz condemned Boelter’s “unthinkable actions,” which resulted in the death of a woman who “shaped the core of who we are as a state.”
“We cannot become numb to this. We are a deeply divided nation,” Walz said in a statement posted on his X account.
“We move forward not with hatred or violence, but with humility, grace, and civility,” he added.
Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, Walz said the entire state of Minnesota is in mourning. He also thanked law enforcement for their bravery and professionalism: “They have saved lives,” he emphasized.
“As we heal, we will not let fear win,” Walz concluded. “We must honor Melissa by moving forward with understanding, service, and above all, humanity.”
Throughout Sunday, police and sheriff units searched a rural area in Minnesota for Vance Luther Boelter, a security company director and preacher who, according to Governor Walz, acted out of politically motivated violence.
International
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Approximately 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating hostilities with Iran, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism reported on Monday.
The ministry has set up a virtual office to provide information via email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il) and phone (+972-53-583-5808), as well as a Facebook page called Israel Virtual Tourist Office.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz is in contact with hotels and accommodations across the country to offer support to tourists in need, the ministry added.
Many stranded travelers are considering crossing overland into Jordan or Egypt to seek flights from those countries. The Israel Airports Authority reminded the public that land border crossings remain open.
Three German tourists stranded in Jerusalem told EFE today that they have not received any assistance from their country’s embassy in Israel, and their primary option currently is to cross into Jordan to catch a flight from there.
Since early Friday morning, Israel launched operations against Iran, targeting military personnel and infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities, as well as numerous residential areas in Tehran.
In response, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have struck various locations across the country, leaving at least 24 dead so far, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian health officials report at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, including at least 17 senior military officials—nine from the Revolutionary Guard—and more than a dozen nuclear scientists.
The Israeli military has warned that many more “targets” remain, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Monday that it will continue missile attacks against Israel until its “destruction.”
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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