International
Ortega expels Brazil’s ambassador from Nicaragua for not attending the Sandinista anniversary
The former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) Arturo McFields Yescas confirmed on Wednesday that the Government chaired by DanielOrtega ordered the expulsion of the ambassador of Brazil to Nicaragua, Breno de Souza Brasil Días da Costa, for not attending the ceremony of celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution on July 19, to which he was invited.
McFields Yescas, who rebelled against the Ortega Government during a virtual session of the OAS in March 2022, said in X that “the dictatorship” launched an “ultimatum to the ambassador of Brazil to leave” Nicaragua.
The diplomat and journalist denationalized by Ortega, who was part of the Sandinista Government from 2011 to March 2022, commented that with that decision the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and his Nicaraguan counterpart, Daniel Ortega, “have another strong clash.”
He recalled that Lula and Ortega have a friendship of more than 40 years, and that precisely on the first anniversary of the Sandinista revolution, in 1980, during one of his visits to Nicaragua, Lula met the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
“Years later Lula and Castro would form the infamous Sao Paulo Forum. Today Ortega expels the ambassador of Brazil with ultimatum and insults,” he added.
According to McFields Yescas, “for many years Lula and Ortega had maintained a close friendship” both personally and politically.
“Today the honeymoon is broken. Ortega expels Lula’s ambassador in a vulgar and ordinary way. Lula had asked his ambassador not to participate in public events with the dictator of Nicaragua,” said the diplomat and journalist.
The news was revealed by the Brazilian newspaper Folha De S.Paulo, and the Nicaraguan platform Divergentes, which cited diplomatic sources from their countries.
Neither the Government of Nicaragua nor the Government of Brazil have confirmed or denied that information.
On July 22, Lula revealed that Ortega has not answered his phone since Pope Francis asked him to advocate for the situation of a bishop in that country.
“I talked to the pope and he asked me to talk to Ortega about a bishop who was imprisoned,” Lula said in an interview with foreign correspondents, in relation to the religious Rolando Álvarez, imprisoned for his opposition to the Nicaraguan Government.
“The concrete thing is that Ortega didn’t answer my phone and didn’t want to talk to me. So, I never talked to him again,” he added.
Lula regretted that this happens with “a guy who made a revolution like the one Ortega made to defeat (Anastasio) Somoza” Debayle and said that today he doesn’t know if that revolution was “because he wanted power or because he wanted to improve the life of his people.”
The Brazilian president said he was in favor of “an alternation in power” in every country, because it is “the healthiest” for a democracy.
According to Lula, “when a leader puts it in the head that he is essential or irreplaceable, that is where the spirit of the dictator begins to be born.”
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
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Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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