International
Colombia will not send an observation mission for the presidential elections in Venezuela
The Colombian Government will not send an electoral observation mission to the presidential elections of Venezuela on July 28, as it does not have enough time to structure it, the Foreign Minister of Colombia, Luis Gilberto Murillo, reported on Thursday.
“We obviously intended to be able to send some technical observers. We had conversations with the Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to do so; however, due to the time, it was not possible to structure an observation with the technical characteristics required by the MOE,” Murillo explained to journalists.
Venezuelans are called to elect president in the elections to be held on July 28, for which they must be registered in the Electoral Registry.
Foreign Minister Murillo explained that “some Colombian personalities will be in that observation (…) in this we want to keep a lot of prudence, zero protagonism and also be able to contribute to what is within our reach on the part of the Government, the authorities and the Venezuelan people.”
He also said that the Colombian Government wants “this process to go well for the benefit of Venezuelans and also for the region where Colombia has a brotherhood with Venezuela and a closeness that is important to maintain it in good health.”
Regarding the elections in Venezuela, Murillo indicated that he has been talking with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil, as well as with other countries in the region.
“We had talks with Foreign Minister Mauro Viera of Brazil yesterday (Wednesday) on the subject, also with Minister (Josep) Borrell” of the European Union (EU), he said.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela annulled last Tuesday the invitation to the EU to send an observation mission for the presidential elections due to the ratification of sanctions by the community bloc to members of the Government and the ruling party.
The presidential race in Venezuela has accelerated, less than two months before the elections, with Chavismo and opposition in the streets, making a proselytizing that does not stop, despite the changing reality that is conditioning the political environment and the confidence of the electorate.
President Nicolás Maduro and former ambassador Edmundo González Urrutia are the clear contenders of this battle, in which eight other candidates compete who do not stand out in the voting intentions collected by the pollsters.
International
Portuguese Authorities Seize 2.6 Tons of Cocaine Worth More Than $550 Million in Drug Bust
Italian financial police reported Monday that Portuguese authorities intercepted a speedboat carrying more than 2.6 tons of cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding $550 million.
Four people — two Spanish nationals, one Albanian citizen, and a man from Gibraltar — were arrested in connection with the operation, according to Italian authorities.
The vessel was intercepted off the coast of Lisbon by Portugal’s maritime police following an investigation led by Italian authorities.
Italian financial police estimated that the seized shipment had a street value of approximately 500 million euros ($570 million), making it one of the largest drug seizures reported in the region in recent years.
Portuguese authorities said the interception took place on Thursday, about 90 kilometers (50 nautical miles) southwest of Cape Espichel, during an operation targeting international drug trafficking routes.
International
U.S. and Iran Maintain Ceasefire as Trump Expresses Optimism Over New Talks
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that there are “good chances” of reaching an agreement with Iran, as both sides maintained a ceasefire for the third consecutive day following weeks of escalating hostilities.
Trump expressed optimism about the possibility of resuming diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, which began in late February and has raised international concerns over its impact on global markets and energy supplies.
The fighting has remained suspended since Saturday, after the United States resumed airstrikes against Iran amid a dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. The renewed military action had previously caused the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement.
Asked about the prospects for negotiations aboard Air Force One, Trump said: “I have a lot of patience… We’ll see what happens. I think there are good chances that something could happen.”
The U.S. president also highlighted Washington’s military capabilities, saying: “We have a lot of ammunition,” while adding that he would like to have more resources due to U.S. support for Ukraine.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Trump was allowing diplomatic efforts more time, explaining that the president was “giving some space to the talks” while maintaining that Washington remains prepared to take action if necessary.
Meanwhile, tensions continue in other areas of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia reported that it intercepted drones launched from Iraq by groups allied with Tehran and urged the Iraqi government to take measures to prevent further attacks.
International
Police Investigate After Remains of Five Newborns Found in French Apartment
French authorities have opened a murder investigation after the discovery of human remains believed to belong to five newborn babies inside an apartment in the historic center of a city, the local prosecutor’s office reported Monday night.
According to prosecutors, a 32-year-old woman had given birth at home on Sunday to a healthy baby before being taken to a hospital for medical care.
The discovery was made after the woman’s 32-year-old partner began searching the residence after reportedly learning, once again and at a late stage, that she had been pregnant.
During the search, the man found what appeared to be human remains and informed the hospital, which then alerted prosecutors.
A forensic doctor determined that the remains likely belonged to five newborn infants. Authorities have not yet established the circumstances or motive behind the case.
Investigators have not been able to interview the mother, who remains hospitalized following the delivery.
Prosecutors also confirmed that the couple has two other children, aged eight and nine years old. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to clarify the events surrounding the discovery.
Portuguese Authorities Seize 2.6 Tons of Cocaine Worth More Than $550 Million in Drug Bust
U.S. and Iran Maintain Ceasefire as Trump Expresses Optimism Over New Talks
Police Investigate After Remains of Five Newborns Found in French Apartment
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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