International

Javier Milei: “Argentina will not recognize another fraud” in Venezuela

The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, announced in the early hours of Monday that his country “will not recognize another fraud” in Venezuela and added that the citizens of that country “chose to end the communist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro.”

“The data announce a crushing victory for the opposition and the world waits for it to recognize the defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence and death,” the ultraliberal ruler said in a message published on his social network account X.

“Argentina will not recognize another fraud, and hopes that the Armed Forces (of Venezuela) this time will defend democracy and popular will,” the president posted without the official results of the National Electoral Council (CNE) being known.

Also the Argentine chancellor, Diana Mondino, used that social network to ask the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, to “RECOGNIZE THE DEFEAT (sic).”

“The difference in votes against the Chavista dictatorship is overwhelming. They lost in all states by more than 35%. There is no fraud or violence that hides reality,” posted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship.

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Mondino and other members of the Milei Executive, such as the Ministers of Defense, Luis Petri, and Security, Patricia Bullrich, went during election day to accompany the Venezuelans residing in Argentina who concentrated around the embassy of that country in Buenos Aires.

Argentina is one of the countries that, according to the Government of Venezuela, would integrate an “intervention operation” of several Latin American countries against their presidential elections.

“Venezuela denounces and warns the world about an intervention operation against the electoral process, our right to free self-determination and the sovereignty of our homeland, on the part of a group of foreign governments and powers,” according to a statement, which also points to Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.

Likewise, the Venezuelan Executive accused former governors Iván Duque and Andrés Pastrana of Colombia, Mauricio Macri, of Argentina; and Óscar Arias, of Costa Rica, as well as US senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, whom he called “far-right hitmen politicians specialized in destabilizing governments in Latin America,” of being part of this alleged operation.

According to Nicolás Maduro’s Administration, “they intend to distort what has been expressed” this Sunday “in peace and with a civic spirit” in the Caribbean country, when millions of Venezuelans went out to vote for one of the ten candidates for the Presidency, including the current head of state, who is looking for a second re-election.

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Venezuela awaits a statement from the National Electoral Council (CNE) on the results of the elections, in which Maduro seeks his re-election and in which the standard-bearer of the main opposition coalition – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) -, Edmundo González Urrutia, also competed.

Nicolás Maduro said today to his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei: “Cowardly big, you can’t stand me a round!”

“No to the fascist Nazi of Milei!” proclaimed Maduro, to whom the CNE granted 51.2% of the votes compared to 44.2% of the opponent Edmundo González Urrutia.

While Maduro, re-releaded for a third six-year presidential killing, called the Argentine president a “vendepatrias”, the hundreds of Chavista followers who acclaimed the Bolivarian leader shouted “Milei, garbage, you are the dictatorship!”

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International

Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions

Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.

“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.

“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.

Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.

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Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.

International

Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight

The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.

Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.

Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.

In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.

While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.

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The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.

Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.

International

Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo

Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.

The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.

The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.

According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.

The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”

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However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”

These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.