International
Former candidate Márquez asks the Supreme Court of Venezuela for an investigation of the electoral body
Former Venezuelan opposition candidate Enrique Márquez asked the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) on Friday for an investigation for “conspiracy” of the National Electoral Council (CNE), which ratified President Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the July 28 presidential elections, a result questioned inside and outside the country.
“We accuse (…) the rectors of a serious crime, which is a conspiracy to destroy the bases of the republic, based on an alleged check (which affected – according to the CNE – the transmission of the results of the elections),” said Márquez, who made this request through a document that he consigned to the TSJ.
The former candidate expressed his “conviction” that the “five main rectors of the CNE are committing a criminal offense (…) by violating the popular sovereignty contained in the suffrage.”
Likewise, he asked for “counting the votes”, since “it is not enough” to publish the results, something that the CNE has not yet done.
“In the face of that immense doubt (…), I demand that the court generate a vote-by-vote count, order the CNE, or that the court do so. That he orders to bring all the boxes, all the electoral ballot boxes, because there it is (…) the vote of the Venezuelans to check what has happened,” Márquez said.
He recalled that, in 2013, the opponent Henrique Capriles asked the CNE to “open all the boxes” after losing the Presidency to Maduro, and the electoral institution allowed it.
Márquez said that next week he will go to the Prosecutor’s Office to request “an investigation” to “determine if there is a criminal offense” in the “way the CNE has behaved.”
“The CNE is jailed, but the cyber system is not under check, it is politically under a check,” said the opponent, who criticized that, after almost two weeks of the elections, the electoral entity has not published the disaggregated results, but “it can take them, supposedly, to the Electoral Chamber.”
This Thursday, Márquez attended an appearance before the TSJ, after this institution accepted a contentious appeal introduced by Maduro to “certify” the electoral results.
However, the opponent said that he was “surprised” by an audience that was “emputy,” since he was not asked any questions or allowed to “establish any type of verbal communication.”
“I was not asked for (the) minutes, I was not asked for anything. Everything was very strange, I confess it. And when I left I realized that the media had been put in a place, to which I did not have access. That’s why the press conference,” he reported.
He said that the contentious appeal “does not exist” and the “procedure they are using either.”
“We asked the (Electoral) Chamber to restore justice in this case. The president cannot exercise this type of resource and we make it clear in the document. We also made it clear (…) that the TSJ should never have accepted that document to the president. It is inadmissible because of all the vices it has (…). The Electoral Chamber is not acting in accordance with our Constitution and the laws,” he said.
International
Sheinbaum highlights anti-drug gains after U.S. says challenges remain
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday highlighted her government’s achievements in the fight against drug trafficking, after the United States said challenges remain in combating organized crime.
On Thursday, Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente held talks with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Following the meeting, the U.S. State Department said in a statement that “despite progress, challenges still exist” in addressing organized crime.
“There are very strong results from joint cooperation and from the work Mexico is doing: first, a 50% reduction in fentanyl seizures at the U.S. border,” Sheinbaum said during her regular morning press conference.
The president also said that authorities have seized nearly 320 tons of drugs and that there has been a “40% decrease in intentional homicides in Mexico” since the start of her administration on October 1, 2024.
Sheinbaum added that the United States should implement campaigns to reduce drug consumption within its territory and curb the flow of weapons into Mexico.
“There are many results and there will be more, but there must be mutual respect and shared responsibility, as well as respect for our sovereignties,” she said.
On Monday, Sheinbaum held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss security issues. She said she once again ruled out the presence of U.S. troops in Mexico to fight drug cartels.
Security has been a recurring issue used by Trump to threaten tariffs on Mexico and to pressure negotiations over the USMCA (T-MEC) free trade agreement, which are scheduled for 2026.
The agreement is crucial for Mexico’s economy, as about 80% of the country’s exports are destined for the United States.
International
Canada accuses Iran of killing its citizen during anti-government unrest
A Canadian citizen has died “at the hands of Iranian authorities,” the Canadian government said on Thursday, amid ongoing protests against the government in Tehran.
“I have just learned that a Canadian citizen has died in Iran at the hands of Iranian authorities,” Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, said, without providing further details. She added that Tehran’s response to what she described as “peaceful protests” has “led the regime to show a blatant disregard for human life.”
On Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions on Iranian security officials and individuals linked to the country’s banking networks, accusing them of orchestrating a violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations and laundering billions of dollars in oil revenues. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the measures following what were described as the largest anti-government protests in the history of the Islamic Republic, although demonstrations have reportedly eased in recent days amid heavy repression and a near week-long internet shutdown.
“The United States stands firmly with the Iranian people in their pursuit of freedom and justice,” Bessent said in a statement, adding that the sanctions were imposed at the direction of President Donald Trump.
Those sanctioned include Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, whom Washington accused of coordinating the repression and the use of force against protesters.
International
Ukraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
The Ukrainian government on Wednesday declared a nationwide energy state of emergency amid continued Russian military attacks and extreme winter weather, with nighttime temperatures dropping as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius.
“The consequences of Russian attacks and worsening weather conditions are severe (…) Overall, a state of emergency will be declared for Ukraine’s energy sector,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement posted on social media following a meeting with senior officials.
Zelensky announced the creation of a “permanent coordination headquarters” to manage the crisis in the capital, Kyiv, and tasked former defence minister and current energy chief Denys Shmyhal with overseeing support efforts for affected individuals and communities, including addressing power outages, heating shortages and other “practical issues.”
“There are many problems that require urgent solutions,” the president said, noting that repair crews, energy companies, municipal services and the State Emergency Service are working “around the clock” to restore electricity supplies. Kyiv has been particularly affected after Russian strikes last Friday disabled key parts of the power grid, as daytime temperatures hover around minus 12 degrees Celsius and plunge to minus 18 at night.
Zelensky added that public authorities will “maximize efforts with partners to obtain the necessary equipment and additional support,” while the government will ensure “maximum deregulation of all processes” to speed up the connection of backup power equipment to the grid. He also confirmed that work is underway to significantly increase electricity imports into Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader further instructed his Cabinet to review curfew regulations in light of the extreme cold, arguing that citizens must have the greatest possible access to assistance centers, while businesses should be given flexibility to plan their operations according to the state of the energy system.
Sheinbaum highlights anti-drug gains after U.S. says challenges remain
Canada accuses Iran of killing its citizen during anti-government unrest
Ukraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
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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