International
Venezuelan opposition in Argentine embassy urges Brazil to expedite safe passage
Venezuelan opposition figures who are seeking asylum at the Argentine embassy in Caracas and have denounced harassment by Venezuelan security forces urged Brazil, which is guarding the embassy, to accelerate efforts to secure safe passage for them to leave the country.
Having spent nine months in asylum at the diplomatic mission and with less than a month before the planned presidential inauguration in Venezuela on January 10, Pedro Urruchurtu, who was the coordinator of International Relations for opposition leader María Corina Machado during the campaign, called on Brazil to “urgently intensify efforts and coordination with the region, understanding that this situation could clearly worsen.”
Brazil agreed to guard the Argentine embassy in August, after the Venezuelan government expelled Argentine diplomatic personnel following President Javier Milei’s statements that he would not recognize another “fraud” in Venezuela after the controversial July 28 elections.
The Venezuelan electoral body declared Nicolás Maduro the winner of the elections without presenting electoral records, while the opposition claims that their candidate, Edmundo González, who is in asylum in Spain, won with a significant lead based on more than 80% of the voting records they say they collected that day.
In a press conference via teleconference, Urruchurtu mentioned that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva “is a democrat, who has expressed his concern about the situation in Venezuela,” and while the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the importance of maintaining state-to-state relations, “this situation is an emergency.”
Since late March, Urruchurtu, Magally Meda, Omar González, Claudia Macero, Humberto Villalobos, and Fernando Martínez Mottola, political leaders or campaign collaborators of Machado, entered the Argentine embassy in Caracas after the Venezuelan prosecutor’s office issued a detention order against them for alleged violent acts intended to destabilize Maduro’s government.
The opposition leader stated that it was not only the long duration of their stay at the embassy, but also that “we are experiencing an unprecedented siege in the last decade of the opposition’s struggle in Venezuela.”
“We will have been without electricity for three weeks, and we cannot go out to get water, medicine, or light,” said Meda, who added that the situation “has been very exhausting, especially in the early mornings when they show up with hoods on,” which she described as “psychological harassment.”
For his part, Omar González referred to the constant presence of armed men, whom he claimed they have seen aiming assault rifles with telescopic sights and laser pointers, hidden in the vegetation of nearby residences. They determined the type of weaponry through photographs, he said.
“We are six completely unarmed civilians,” Urruchurtu 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
-
International3 days agoDeadly van accident near Brazil border leaves 11 dead in Bolivia
-
International3 days agoU.S. to host Danish and Greenlandic Foreign Ministers at the White House
-
Central America3 days agoU.S. and El Salvador maintain close partnership, embassy says
-
Central America3 days agoTaiwan’s $10 million donation after 2001 earthquakes allegedly diverted in El Salvador
-
International3 days agoDominican court postpones hearing in deadly nightclub collapse case
-
International3 days agoPolice hunt gunmen after fatal shooting in Corsica
-
International3 days agoEx-President accused of bid to establish dictatorship as verdict nears in South Korea
-
International3 days agoVenezuelan opposition leader dedicates Nobel Prize to Trump
-
International2 days agoColombian Defense Chief Meets U.S. Officials to Advance Bilateral Narcotics Strategy
-
International1 day agoIran closes airspace amid U.S. threats and deadly nationwide protests
-
Central America2 days agoBukele warns crime can become a ‘parallel government’ during visit to Costa Rica
-
International1 day agoUkraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
-
International2 days agoPeruvian Court Orders Definitive Dismissal of Money Laundering Case Against Keiko Fujimori
-
International1 day agoX moves to block Grok from creating sexualized images of real people amid legal scrutiny
-
International1 day agoFrance joins Denmark’s ‘Operation Arctic Resistance’ in Greenland amid U.S. tensions
-
International1 day agoU.S.–Denmark tensions escalate as Trump pushes NATO to back U.S. claim on Greenland
-
International1 day agoUK Intelligence estimates russian casualties in Ukraine at over 1.2 million
-
International1 day agoSwiss Canton of Valais Grants Emergency Aid to Victims of Crans-Montana Bar Tragedy
-
International2 days agoU.S. to suspend visa processing for applicants from 75 countries
-
International1 day agoHillary Clinton skips Epstein inquiry as house panel threatens contempt charges
-
International5 hours agoCanada accuses Iran of killing its citizen during anti-government unrest
-
International5 hours agoSheinbaum highlights anti-drug gains after U.S. says challenges remain