International
Prosecution issues third subpoena to opposition candidate; arrest warrant threatened
This is the third subpoena issued by the prosecution this week. The previous two were ignored by the rival candidate in the presidential elections against Nicolás Maduro, who views the office as a “political accuser” aiming to subject him to a process “without guarantees of independence and due process.”
The subpoena warns, “Should you fail to appear before this office on the indicated date,” it will be considered as evidence of “flight risk” and “obstruction risk,” leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant.
González Urrutia, who turns 75 today, has been in hiding since July 30, when he was last seen in public. Since then, he has only communicated via social media.
Like the previous subpoenas, this one does not specify whether González Urrutia is being called as a defendant, witness, or expert, according to Venezuelan law.
It mentions “providing an interview regarding the events under investigation” related to the alleged crimes of “usurpation of functions” and “forgery of public documents,” which could theoretically carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
The subpoena focuses on the website where opposition leader María Corina Machado published copies of over 80% of the voting records, claiming they prove González’s victory on July 28 and expose Maduro’s fraud.
The documents were dismissed by the Chavismo government, and the Supreme Court ordered an investigation after validating the official results from the National Electoral Council (CNE), which declared Maduro the winner with 52% of the votes.
On Thursday, González Urrutia is participating via videoconference in a meeting of EU foreign ministers to present an overview of the situation in his country.
“The situation in Venezuela is critical. That is why I have invited the candidate who has presented results showing that [President Nicolás] Maduro did not win this election,” said Borrell upon arriving at the meeting.
“Repression continues in Venezuela. Members of the opposition teams have been arrested and disappeared. We are very concerned about the situation of opposition leaders,” added the head of European diplomacy.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
International
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
The Colombian government stated on Thursday that it would have no reason to reject a potential asylum request from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should he leave office, as regional tensions persist over the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean since August.
“In the current climate of tension, negotiations are necessary, and if the United States demands a transition or political change, that is something to be assessed. If such a transition results in him (Maduro) needing to live elsewhere or seek protection, Colombia would have no reason to deny it,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio in an interview with Caracol Radio.
However, Villavicencio noted that it is unlikely Maduro would choose Colombia as a refuge. “I believe he would opt for someplace more distant and calmer,” she added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also commented on Venezuela’s situation on Wednesday, arguing that the country needs a “democratic revolution” rather than “inefficient repression.” His remarks followed the recent detention and passport cancellation of Cardinal Baltazar Porras at the Caracas airport.
“The Maduro government must understand that responding to external aggression requires more than military preparations; it requires a democratic revolution. A country is defended with more democracy, not more inefficient repression,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), in a rare public criticism of the Venezuelan leader.
Petro also called for a general amnesty for political opponents and reiterated his call for forming a broad transitional government to address Venezuela’s prolonged crisis.
Since September, U.S. military forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels allegedly carrying drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in over 80 deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that attacks “inside Venezuela” will begin “soon,” while Maduro has urged Venezuelans to prepare for what he describes as an impending external aggression.
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
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
-
International4 days agoMexico City prepares for 13 million pilgrims at Basilica of Guadalupe
-
International3 days agoWashington declares State of Emergency as atmospheric river brings severe flooding
-
International3 days agoU.S. to require five-year social media history from tourists under Visa Waiver Program
-
Central America4 days agoHonduras’ electoral chief reports ongoing technical issues but says results remain intact
-
Central America4 days agoU.S. accuses Ortega regime of systematic human rights abuses in Nicaragua
-
Central America4 days agoU.S. finds no evidence of fraud in Honduras election despite delays
-
International2 days agoCuba battles out-of-control dengue and chikungunya epidemic as death toll rises to 44
-
Central America3 days ago
OAS and EU urge honduran political actors to respect vote results and avoid unrest
-
Central America2 days ago
Honduras election crisis deepens as CNE president denounces intimidation attempts
-
International2 days agoColombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
-
International21 hours agoSeveral people shot in attack on Brown University campus
-
International2 days agoEcuador on track for record violence as homicides hit highest level in Latin America again
-
International3 days agoSix ecuadorian soldiers jailed pending trial for alleged extrajudicial execution
-
International18 hours agoU.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty