International

María Corina Machado thanks Borrell for demanding “the cessation of repression” in Venezuela

The opposition leader of Venezuela María Corina Machado thanked the high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, for demanding “the cessation of repression” in the South American country, which is going through a political crisis after the announced triumph of Nicolás Maduro in the elections on July 28, questioned by numerous nations.

“We appreciate your demand for an end to persecution and repression,” said in X the former deputy, who cited an article published by Borrell, in which he reiterates that, in the opinion of the EU, the candidate of the main anti-Chavista coalition, Edmundo González Urrutia, “seems to be the winner of the elections” and not Maduro, as announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE).

Machado stressed that the international community “has a great responsibility to support this demand and to contribute to an orderly and peaceful transition in Venezuela.”

“I thank, on behalf of millions of Venezuelans, the European Union and the high representative for this statement that explains to the world the critical situation that our country is experiencing and the need for the popular sovereignty expressed in the votes to be recognized and respected. We know that we have the support of the democratic world,” he added.

In his letter, Borrell stressed that the “most urgent thing is for the Venezuelan authorities to put an immediate end to arbitrary arrests and repression,” alluding to the more than 2,400 people who, according to the Executive, have been arrested in the context of the post-election protests.

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CEL

“The harassment and threats against the opposition democratic forces and journalists and the media must be stopped,” continued the high representative, who supports the request of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico – whose governments are allies of Maduro – that the CNE publish the disaggregated results, as established by the legal regulations.

The CNE, which claims to have suffered a cyber attack on the day of the voting, still does not disclose the results that confirm Maduro’s victory, while the Carter Center, which participated in the elections as an observer, assured that, based on the election records published by the opposition, González Urrutia won the contest by a large margin.

International

Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids

Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.

The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.

In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.

He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”

The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.

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CEL

The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.

International

Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win

Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.

“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.

In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”

International

Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains

Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.

The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.

“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”

Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.