International

González Urrutia asks Maduro to stop “violence” and accept “what expressed” in the stest

The standard-bearer of Venezuela’s main opposition coalition, Edmundo González Urrutia, asked President Nicolás Maduro to stop the violence unleashed after the July 28 elections – whose official result gave the victory of the Chavista leader – and accept that he lost the elections, as assured by the anti-Chavista bloc and some international observers.

“I call on you on behalf of all Venezuelans to stop the violence and persecutions and immediately release all the compatriots arbitrarily detained,” said the diplomat, in a video he shared through X, alluding to the more than 2,400 arrests that have taken place in the context of the post-election protests.

“Enough of persecution and violence, enough of trying to sow terror, enough of disrespecting the will of Venezuelans for change. Accept what is expressed by our people and let’s all begin to get our country out of this crisis,” continued González Urrutia, who claims to have won the elections by a wide margin.

He reiterated that demanding compliance with the Constitution, “protesting peacefully to make the will of millions of Venezuelans respected,” having worked as an electoral witness on July 28 and reporting what happened that day “is not a crime.”

“Crime is not to accept the will of our people, crime is to disappear, persecute, imprison and unjustly condemn hundreds of innocent citizens, crime is to savagely repress peaceful protesters,” he stressed.

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This pronouncement comes hours after the PUD denounced, on the same social network, that “repression and political persecution have reached inhuman and critical levels,” since “dozens of adolescents, hundreds of women and men have been kidnapped for expressing their will for change and a better future.”

According to the NGO Foro Penal, which leads the defense of those considered political prisoners in the country, so far there have been 1,303 verified arrests, produced in the post-election situation, which includes 170 women, 116 adolescents, 14 indigenous people and 16 people with some disability.

In the context of the protests, violent and vandalism events were recorded, resulting in 24 civilians killed – according to the NGO Provea – as well as two soldiers killed and about a hundred security agents injured.

The National Electoral Council (CNE), which claims to have suffered a cyber attack on voting day, has not yet published the disaggregated results that confirm Maduro’s victory, a silence that has been questioned by numerous countries and organizations, including the Carter Center, which participated as an observer in the elections.

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International

Young Spanish Woman Receives Euthanasia After Legal Battle, Sparking Debate

A 25-year-old Spanish woman, Noelia Castillo, received euthanasia on Thursday following a prolonged legal dispute with her father.

She passed away at a care center in Sant Pere de Ribes, about 40 kilometers from Barcelona, where she had been living for some time, according to Spanish media reports.

In an interview broadcast a day earlier on Antena 3, Castillo expressed her exhaustion after enduring prolonged suffering. She indicated that her decision was influenced by a combination of personal circumstances and health-related challenges, including family conflicts and a condition of paraplegia following a previous incident that left her with lasting physical consequences.

Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, becoming one of the few countries that allow patients under strict conditions to seek medical assistance to end their lives in order to avoid what the law defines as unbearable suffering.

The case has reignited debate in Spain over the ethical, legal, and family dimensions surrounding euthanasia, as well as the broader issue of support for individuals in vulnerable situations.

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International

Over 300 U.S. Troops Wounded Since Start of Iran Conflict, CENTCOM Says

More than 300 U.S. service members have been injured since the start of the conflict with Iran on February 28, the United States Central Command confirmed on Friday.

“Since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 303 U.S. service members have been wounded. The vast majority of these injuries are minor, and 273 troops have already returned to duty,” said U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP, indicated that 10 American troops remain seriously injured.

According to the latest figures, an additional 13 U.S. service members have been killed since the conflict began, including seven in the Gulf region and six in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces warned on Friday that hotels hosting U.S. troops in the region could be considered legitimate military targets.

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“When U.S. forces enter a hotel, from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” said armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi in remarks broadcast on state television.

International

Iran rejects negotiations as tensions escalate with United States

Iran has no intention of entering negotiations and will continue to resist, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday night, dismissing recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about possible talks.

Speaking to state television, Araghchi argued that Washington’s call for negotiations reflects a position of weakness. He added that the Islamic Republic seeks to end the war on its own terms, ensuring that such a conflict does not recur in the future.

Meanwhile, the White House issued a stark warning, stating that Trump would “unleash hell” on Iran if it refuses to accept a deal to end the conflict. Despite Tehran’s rejection, U.S. officials maintained that discussions remain ongoing.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt reinforced the administration’s position, warning that failure to acknowledge what she described as Iran’s military defeat would result in even stronger action from Washington.

The increasingly aggressive rhetoric from both sides has diminished hopes for a near-term de-escalation in the conflict, which began following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.

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As tensions continue to rise, the prospect of a diplomatic resolution remains uncertain amid conflicting narratives and escalating threats from both governments.