International
Venezuelan President reiterates call to vote in referendum in defense of Essequibo
November 28 |
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reiterated this Monday the call to all Venezuelans to vote in the consultative referendum to be held next Sunday, December 3, in defense of the Essequibo.
During the broadcast of his program Con Maduro Más, the head of state indicated that Venezuela has a commitment with history, so he urged everyone to go to the polls and fulfill “the oath with the Homeland”.
“My vote, your vote is for everyone, it is for everyone, it is for Venezuela, for peace, for dignity and respect for our Homeland”, he emphasized, while assuring that the exercise of the vote means to confront the illegal maneuvers to strip Venezuela of what belongs to it.
Likewise, he urged the Venezuela Toda campaign command to deploy more forcefully throughout the country so that people know how to exercise their right to vote.
The head of state also highlighted the role played by the National Assembly in this process, which has led it to call a referendum on the issue for the first time in the nation’s history.
“The National Assembly did what it had to do, debated the issue, consulted on the issue and for the first time in the history of Venezuela, a consultative referendum is called to decide a unique position of the country on the Essequiba Guyana”, he stressed.
Previously, the President participated in an act at the “El Libertador” Air Base, in Aragua State, where he assured that “the hour of justice is approaching”, when referring to the consultative referendum to be held next Sunday.
In this sense, he specified that Venezuelans will have the opportunity to do justice and express their will.
The head of state pointed out that the Monroe Doctrine has endorsed the history of plundering sovereign nations, since it was dictated by John Q. Adams and attributed to U.S. President James Monroe in 1823.
“It was with the Monroe Doctrine that they executed the plan to cut off one of Venezuela’s arms, trying to take away the Essequibo and, currently, it is with the Monroe Doctrine that they intend to continue with their vassalage and plundering (…) But in life the time of justice comes and if we have had to resist unjust aggressions, threats and plundering, the time of justice will come”, he stressed.
The President recalled that the Monroe Doctrine reaches its 200th anniversary in 2023, so its essence must be denounced with rebellion and confronted in all “the fields we have to confront it because we are not and never will be slaves of anyone, slaves of the gringos, a colony of no one. Independence or nothing!
Likewise, he warned that “nobody should make a mistake with Venezuela”, since 31 years ago the men-at-arms of the South American nation said no to liberalism.
In Aragua, the Venezuelan President held a meeting with triple jumper Yulimar Rojas, called Queen of the Triple Jump, who in recent days supported the struggle for the Essequibo territory and urged Venezuelans to vote on December 3.
Regarding the audiovisual message starring Rojas, the President expressed that it is a “beautiful message”, in a Meeting with the Social Movements in Defense of the Essequibo.
“National union, union of the whole soul, of the whole conscience, union to consolidate peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity. A beautiful gift that you have given to Venezuela, Yulimar, see you soon, Yulimar!”, he stressed.’
The meeting with Rojas was attended by the first combatant, Cilia Flores, and other representatives of the Venezuelan government.
International
U.S. to suspend visa processing for applicants from 75 countries
The United States announced on Wednesday that it will suspend visa processing for applicants from 75 nationalities, marking another move by President Donald Trump’s administration to curb the entry of migrants into the country.
“ The United States is freezing the processing of all visas for 75 countries, including Somalia, Russia and Iran,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X. According to Fox News, the measure will take effect on January 21 and will remain in force indefinitely.
Based on an internal State Department memorandum obtained by Fox News Digital, consular officers have been instructed to deny visa applications under existing law while the agency conducts an in-depth review of screening and vetting procedures. The stated goal is to tighten criteria to prevent the entry of foreigners who could eventually rely on public assistance.
The list of affected countries includes several nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Somalia and Yemen, among others. Fox News reported that exemptions to the suspension will be “very limited” and will only be granted once applicants pass an assessment related to the public charge requirement.
Other countries in the Americas subject to the suspension include Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The decision is based on a strict interpretation of the so-called “public charge” clause of U.S. immigration law. A cable sent to U.S. consulates worldwide in November 2025 had already signaled the shift, instructing officials to apply tougher standards when evaluating applicants, taking into account factors such as age, health status, English proficiency, financial situation, history of public assistance, and even the potential need for long-term medical care.
International
Peruvian Court Orders Definitive Dismissal of Money Laundering Case Against Keiko Fujimori
A court of Peru’s National Superior Court of Specialized Criminal Justice ordered the definitive dismissal of the criminal proceedings for alleged money laundering and criminal organization against presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori, authorities reported on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
The ruling was issued by the Tenth National Preparatory Investigation Court in compliance with a previous decision by the Constitutional Court (TC). The decision was confirmed by Fujimori’s attorney, Giuliana Loza, who said on social media platform X that “there was no money laundering nor criminal organization.”
According to the defense, the case was closed for lacking legal grounds and for violating due process. “The proceedings concluded because they lacked a legal basis and constituted clear prosecutorial persecution,” Loza stated.
Judge Wilson Verastegui, whose ruling was reported by local media, said the Constitutional Court determined that the facts alleged in the so-called ‘Cocktails Case’ do not constitute a criminal offense under the principle of legality. The court noted that the crime of illegal financing of political organizations was not in force at the time the alleged acts occurred.
The dismissal also applies to other leaders of the Fuerza Popular party, including Pier Figari, Ana Rosa Herz, Jaime Yoshiyama and José Chlimper, as well as the party itself.
Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori (1990–2000), had been under investigation for the alleged irregular financing of her 2011 and 2016 presidential campaigns, a case that exposed her to a possible 30-year prison sentence. However, one year ago the National Superior Court annulled the trial and returned the case to the intermediate stage.
Fujimori is currently pursuing her fourth presidential bid, ahead of Peru’s general elections scheduled for April.
International
Colombian Defense Chief Meets U.S. Officials to Advance Bilateral Narcotics Strategy
Colombia’s Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchez Suárez, is in the United States this Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, Colombian officials said, in a visit that comes as ties between Bogotá and Washington begin to ease after a period of diplomatic tension.
The trip is seen as a prelude to a scheduled visit by Colombian President Gustavo Petro to Washington, where he is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time in early February. Sánchez will remain in Washington through Wednesday, according to Colombian government sources.
During his stay, Sánchez is slated to meet with senior U.S. officials, including representatives from the Department of Defense, members of the U.S. Senate, and White House advisors, to outline a joint strategy to “defeat drug trafficking” and expand cooperation on intelligence against transnational crime.
According to a statement from the Colombian Defense Ministry, the agenda will include strengthening collaboration on technology, intelligence sharing, and efforts to disrupt criminal networks that operate across borders. Officials said the discussions will also help set the stage for Petro’s upcoming talks with Trump.
The visit follows a period of strained U.S.–Colombia relations last year, when Washington revoked Petro’s visa and withdrew Colombia’s certification as a key partner in anti-drug efforts — moves that coincided with disagreements over counter-narcotics strategy and broader diplomatic frictions. However, a recent phone call between Petro and Trump, described as cordial by officials, helped lower tensions and reopened channels for dialogue ahead of the presidential meeting.
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