International
Correísmo again nominates Luisa González as a candidate for the Presidency of Ecuador
The Citizen Revolution (RC) movement, led by former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017), nominated Luisa González again this Saturday as a candidate for the Presidency of Ecuador for next February’s elections, in which the current head of State, Daniel Noboa, who beat González in last year’s ballot, will also participate.
At a convention in the coastal city of Guayaquil, González called for internal unity in his political movement and recalled that they have met with leftist groups in search of unity.
He commented that they have invited these political organizations to join “a homeland project, a project that has as its central axis the truth, justice, honesty, transparency, the commitments that are fulfilled and, in that unity, walk towards an Ecuador of change.”
González, who will have former Minister Diego Borja as a candidate for the Vice Presidency, referred to the need to work to combat insecurity in Ecuador, where violence has increased for about two years.
Correa, who participated in the convention through a videoconference by not being able to return to the country for being convicted in cases of corruption, asked the militancy for applause for his former vice president Jorge Glas, who is imprisoned in the highest security prison in the country in the context of a case that investigates alleged corruption and having yet to finish serving the sentence of two other cases, also of corruption.
“Martyr of the Citizen Revolution, an honest man, the great absentee,” Correa said about Glas, who was transferred to prison last April after the Police captured him at the Embassy of Mexico in Quito, the same day that Mexico granted him diplomatic asylum, which Ecuador considers illegal because it does not correspond to people convicted of common crimes.
Correa insisted on Glas’s innocence and his own and asserted that they must “recover the homeland” to which the governments following theirs “have delayed decades for development.”
After making an analysis of the situation, he lamented that “they have destroyed the institutionality of the country,” so he sees necessary “a constituent, because the institutionality is so damaged, the country is so taken by the worst, as long as they hated Correa, that so we win the elections, we will not be able to govern,” he said.
“We have to go to a Constituent Assembly and, of course, they will say that it is to seize justice. No, no, it’s to give justice to the people, power to the people,” he explained.
On security issues, he commented that now “organized crime has infiltrated the State, Armed Forces, National Police, Court of Justice, governments, politicians and politicians and that is why there is no real will to combat organized crime,” in his opinion.
In January, the president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, declared the “internal armed conflict” against criminal gangs, which he has come to call “terrorists,” and is based on the so-called Phoenix plan to combat insecurity, which continues to affect the nation.
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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