International
Maduro announces plans to build two maximum-security prisons for protesters
On Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced plans to prepare two maximum-security prisons to house protesters detained during demonstrations that erupted following his controversial re-election.
“I am preparing two prisons that I expect to have ready in 15 days; they are already being repaired,” Maduro stated during an event broadcast by the state channel VTV.
“All the ‘guarimberos’ (protesters) will be sent to Tocorón and Tocuyito, maximum-security prisons,” he added, referring to two facilities that had been under the control of criminal gangs for years before being taken over by law enforcement last year.
For instance, Tocorón was known as the operational center of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang.
Since the protests against Maduro’s re-election—deemed fraudulent by the opposition—erupted, more than 1,000 people have been detained. The opposition, led by María Corina Machado and her candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, reports a higher death toll, with at least 16 fatalities compared to the official count of 12, including one military personnel.
“We have over 1,200 detained and are looking for 1,000 more, and we will catch all of them because they were trained in the United States, in Texas; in Colombia, Peru, and Chile,” Maduro declared, facing international pressure for greater transparency in the electoral process.
Maduro refers to the protesters as “terrorists,” “criminals,” and members of “new generation gangs,” drawing comparisons to gangs in Haiti and Central American maras.
“They wanted to turn Venezuela into another Haiti,” the president remarked. “There is a lot of work to be done; let them build roads,” he added about the “re-education” plans for these prisons.
The protests have also led to clashes where statues of the late former president Hugo Chávez and large billboards featuring Maduro’s image were toppled.
International
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that trust between the United States and its Western allies has been “lost,” warning that the damage could persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.
“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.
Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.
“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.
He also criticized the war against Iran, describing it as “contrary to international law” and calling it “a political mistake with serious consequences.”
“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.
Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.
International
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has held talks with Iran—a claim denied by Tehran—and has temporarily paused his threat to target the country’s electrical infrastructure.
In his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched their offensive on February 28, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to address key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will meet in Cernay-la-Ville, close to Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris.
During the meeting, Rubio will hold discussions with his counterparts on “the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and threats to global peace and stability,” Pigott said.
France currently holds the presidency of the G7, whose members also include the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Although all G7 nations are close allies of the United States, none has offered explicit support for Washington’s military actions against Iran, a stance that has reportedly frustrated Trump.
Last Saturday, G7 foreign ministers called for an “immediate and unconditional end” to Iranian attacks against U.S. allies in the Middle East.
International
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
The Pentagon is planning to deploy nearly 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Persian Gulf, according to two senior officials cited Tuesday by Spanish newspaper El País.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah warned it would confront any attempt at occupation following Israel’s announcement that its military will take control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers from the border.
In recent hours, the Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut, while Iran and Hezbollah responded with attacks on Israel, leaving at least six people with minor injuries in Tel Aviv.
The escalation comes as global markets react to renewed instability. The price of oil rose again above $100 per barrel after a brief decline the previous day, following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a five-day truce on attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Despite the announcement, Iranian authorities reported that two projectiles struck a gas pipeline in Khorramshahr and administrative buildings at a gas facility in Isfahan early Tuesday.
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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