International

Candidate Edmundo González Urrutia demands that Chavismo cease “threats” and insults

The presidential candidate of Venezuela’s main opposition coalition, Edmundo González Urrutia, asked Chavismo this Sunday to cease “threats” and insults against his adversaries in the face of next Sunday’s elections.

“Enough of threats, enough of insults, the people want a change in peace, the people want reconciliation, the people want to vote. Long live free Venezuela,” said the former ambassador in a video posted on social networks.

Likewise, the standard-bearer of the Democratic United Platform (PUD) told the members of the ruling party – who support the candidacy of the current head of state, Nicolás Maduro – that “they will be able to try (to put) new obstacles,” but this, he assured, “will not stop “a people that is determined to vote and change.”

“They have wanted to sow the fear of change, they want fear not to allow them to express themselves next Sunday, but what they do not count on, is the courage of the Venezuelan people. Don’t believe in threats and manipulations, they’ve been on that for 25 years, how long do they want to stay in power?” said the former ambassador in the video.

To the Venezuelans he pointed out that there is one week left until “the most important day in the democratic history of the country,” when he will begin to march along “the path of reconciliation of all.”

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“That day will be the beginning of an era marked by peace, faith and hope for a better future for all. Let’s make that wish a reality,” asked González Urrutia, who leads the traditional and independent surveys.

The NGO Venezuelan Electoral Observatory (OEV) called this Saturday to condemn any speech that “incites division or violence” during the development of the electoral campaign, which ends next Thursday, and urged the use of a constructive and oriented language “towards the common good.”

Maduro, who is looking for a third consecutive six-year term in power, refers to his nine opponents as “patarucos” – alluding to the cowardly roosters that are not good for the fight -, while proclaiming himself as the “fine” specimen of the corral and the “only” with the ability to govern, and recently called opponents “children of his mother.”

In addition, the president and leaders of Chavismo usually refer to the opponent María Corina Machado – who supports the candidacy of González Urrutia – as “the sayona”, a character who, according to Venezuelan oral literature, appears in the form of a spectrum and punishes unfaithful men.

In May of this year, González Urrutia promised that, if he wins the elections, a president will rule in Venezuela who will not insult his political adversaries.

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International

Security Council to Hold Emergency Meeting on Middle East Crisis

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the “military escalation in the Middle East” following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes, just hours before an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.

“I call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation,” Guterres said in a statement.

The Security Council is scheduled to meet on Saturday at 21:00 GMT (4:00 p.m. in New York) to address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations announced.

The meeting, during which Guterres will deliver remarks, was convened at the request of France, Bahrain, Colombia, Russia and China, according to a diplomatic source.

International

Trump Floats “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba Amid Rising Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration is considering what he described as a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, as Washington continues to increase pressure on the island’s communist government.

“The Cuban government is talking to us and they have very serious problems, as you know. They have no money, they have nothing at this moment, but they are talking to us and maybe we will see a friendly takeover of Cuba,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Texas.

Earlier in the week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba needed a “radical change,” shortly after Washington eased restrictions on oil exports to the island for what officials described as “humanitarian reasons,” amid a deep economic crisis.

The United States has imposed an energy blockade on Cuba since January, citing what it calls an “extraordinary threat” posed by the communist-run island, located roughly 150 kilometers (90 miles) off the coast of Florida, to U.S. national security.

International

Argentina’s Senate Reviews Milei-Backed Labor Overhaul

Argentina’s Senate on Friday began reviewing the Labor Modernization Law promoted by the administration of President Javier Milei, a proposal that would significantly reshape labor rules across the country.

The upper chamber opened its final discussion of the contentious initiative, which revises the method used to calculate severance payments — lowering the amounts owed in dismissal cases — and introduces an “hour bank” mechanism that allows overtime to be offset with paid leave rather than extra wages.

The legislation also broadens the classification of essential services, a change that would place new limits on the right to strike in designated sectors.

The bill was initially approved by the Senate on February 11 and then moved to the Chamber of Deputies, where lawmakers passed it with amendments. It has now returned to the Senate for definitive approval.

Outside the Congress building in Buenos Aires, workers, trade unions and left-wing organizations staged demonstrations beginning at midday. The gathering later thinned out amid reports of disturbances and a strong police presence. Security forces had secured the area surrounding the legislature since early morning hours.

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Union leaders contend that the reform weakens labor protections, while many business representatives back the measure but stress that sustainable formal employment will require economic expansion, improved credit conditions, greater investment and a more dynamic domestic market.