International

Court orders Colombian presidential rivals to debate

afp

A Colombian court on Wednesday ordered the two men in this weekend’s presidential election runoff to hold a public debate, something one of them — maverick millionaire Rodolfo Hernandez — had avoided until now.

The Bogota High Court ruled that Hernandez and his leftist rival Gustavo Petro must arrange, by Thursday at the latest, a debate to be broadcast on public TV and radio ahead of Sunday’s vote.

The court ruled in favor of a group of lawyers seeking to compel Hernandez to debate Petro, a senator and former guerrilla hoping to become Colombia’s first-ever leftist president.

The judges found that public debates were “a right of the candidate” to get their ideas across, “but at the same time a duty” to the public.

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CEL

Hernandez, who has no ties to established parties and no obvious political leaning, came in surprise second place in a first election round on May 29, denying frontrunner Petro an outright win and beating out the rightwing candidate until then considered the leftist’s main competition.

Hernandez, 77, has consistently refused to address public gatherings or take part in debates, preferring to address supporters directly on Facebook or TikTok.

Petro, 62, on Wednesday declared himself “ready” to debate, but Hernandez has not commented on the court order.

Mauricio Urquijo, one of the lawyers who filed the suit, said sanctions for non-compliance could include even prison time.

Petro had also skipped some debates ahead of the first round of voting in May as a protest against alleged electoral fraud committed in the March legislative elections.

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Both candidates are seeking to rally a vast group of abstentionists — some 45 percent of the electorate and largely composed of young people — as well as undecided voters.

Opinion polls point to a neck-and-neck race.

International

Habeas Corpus at risk as Trump team eyes drastic border policy shift

The White House is reportedly considering suspending habeas corpus, the legal principle that protects individuals against arbitrary detention, as part of its efforts to escalate anti-immigration measures in the United States.

In remarks to reporters, Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, argued that the U.S. Constitution allows the suspension of habeas corpus “in times of invasion.”

“It’s an option we are actively considering, and it all depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” Miller stated.

The Trump administration has frequently invoked the notion of a “migrant invasion” to justify actions such as the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border and the deportation of foreign nationals—primarily Venezuelans—to El Salvador’s CECOT megaprison.

International

Maduro to Xi: Venezuela is a loyal friend to China

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro assured his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, during a meeting held in Moscow on the sidelines of the 80th anniversary of the Red Army’s victory in World War II, that China has “loyal friends” in the Caribbean nation.

“You know that in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela you have loyal friends and people willing to continue working for a new world,” said the South American leader, according to footage aired Friday by Venezuelan state broadcaster VTV.

Maduro, accompanied by several of his ministers including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, highlighted the “great results” of a 2023 agreement between China and Venezuela called the “All-Weather and All-Round Strategic Partnership.”

“I believe we can multiply the great results we’re already seeing, and I’m sure that strong and clear guidelines will emerge from this meeting to keep moving forward together,” Maduro added.

International

Iberojet reaffirms commitment to Honduras as Central American Hub

Spanish airline Iberojet and Palmerola International Airport, located in central Honduras, signed a three-year renewal of their exclusive agreement to operate direct flights between the Honduran terminal and the cities of Madrid and Barcelona.

With this renewal, Iberojet—part of the Spanish tourism group Ávoris Corporación Empresarial—reaffirms its commitment to Honduras as its main gateway to Central America from Europe.

The agreement was signed by Iberojet’s Commercial Director, Mario Domínguez, and Erick Spears, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Palmerola.

The signing ceremony took place at the residence of the Spanish Ambassador to Honduras, Diego Nuño García, who served as an honorary witness.