International
The Government accuses the opposition of an alleged plan to tear down a bridge in Venezuela
The Government of Venezuela accused the opposition of an alleged plan to tear down a bridge in the south of the country, with the aim of “causing anxiety” in the population in the face of the presidential elections on July 28.
“We have detected and unveiled a serious plan to demolish (…) the first bridge over the Orinoco River, the Angostura Bridge,” said the executive vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who also reiterated the denunciation of plans to attack facilities of the national electricity system.
According to the official, members of the opposition elaborate these “perverse plans” because “they do not want an election, because they already know they are defeated” and, therefore, “they want to sabotage” the July elections.
“Efremism, which seeks to cause suffering to the people of Venezuela, who have attacked the national electricity system, which has promoted the terrible economic blockade against our homeland, (…) now has these perverse plans against the vital infrastructure of the nation,” he said.
According to Rodríguez, between 10% and 20% of the “guayas (thick and resistant wire) that support the bridge” have been cut, so the Executive decided to divert the circulation of cargo transport over the Orinoquia bridge – the second on the Orinoco River – and set, at 40 kilometers per hour, the maximum speed limit for private vehicles.
For his part, the Minister of Transport, Ramón Velásquez, reported plans to rehabilitate the bridge, which include the restitution of the wires, general maintenance, lighting and the installation of a surveillance system through cameras.
The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) activated a plan ordered by President Nicolás Maduro to protect the electrical system from alleged sabotage that, according to the head of state and candidate for re-election, prepares the majority opposition against this sector.
According to the president, the opposition is preparing an “electric war” by seeing himself, he assured, “lost” in the presidential elections, and claimed to have “six, eight, nine, ten proofs” – which he did not show – of these facts.
The Government also accuses the opposition of wanting to carry out a coup d’état and of looking for guarimbas (protests) in the country.
International
German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz
The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.
Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.
“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”
The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.
The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.
Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.
“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”
Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”
International
Mexico security chief meets DEA director in Washington to boost anti-drug cooperation
Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, met in Washington with the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Terrance Cole, to discuss cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal arms flows.
The Mexican official said Monday on social media that he attended the meeting in representation of the Mexican government’s Security Cabinet.
“In Washington, D.C., I represented the Security Cabinet to hold talks with DEA Director Terrance Cole on the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation to combat drug trafficking, curb the flow of weapons into our country, and reduce violence in Mexico through significant arrests,” García Harfuch wrote.
He added that, following instructions from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, the government will continue strengthening international cooperation on security matters.
For his part, Cole said the meeting focused on cross-border collaboration to tackle drug trafficking and to build safer communities on both sides of the border.
The meeting comes as Mexico and the United States begin a new round of dialogue on economic and security issues.
Earlier Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum said she will look for the “best moment” to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, adding that maintaining a good relationship with Washington is a priority for her administration.
International
Venezuela’s foreign minister accuses UN rights chief of “immoral bias”
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil criticized the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, accusing him of having an “immoral bias” and acting as an “echo chamber for falsehoods” regarding the situation in Venezuela.
Gil’s remarks came after Türk stated that his office had not received an official list from Venezuelan authorities detailing the release of political prisoners, nor authorization to carry out visits related to the issue.
“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights insists on a narrative biased against our country, repeating unfounded accusations while deliberately omitting the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the rights of the Venezuelan people,” Gil said in a message posted on his Telegram channel.
Without directly addressing the question of prisoner releases, the Venezuelan foreign minister also accused Türk of aligning with what he described as the “agenda of extremism in Venezuela.”
Gil added that, despite serious human rights violations occurring in other parts of the world, the UN official has chosen to maintain what he described as an “immoral bias” against Venezuela.
The criticism is part of a broader dispute between the Venezuelan government and the UN human rights office over reports and investigations concerning the human rights situation in the country.
German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz
Mexico security chief meets DEA director in Washington to boost anti-drug cooperation
Venezuela’s foreign minister accuses UN rights chief of “immoral bias”
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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