International

Lula calls for reconciliation and dialogue in his Christmas message

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, made this Monday a call for reconciliation, hope and joint work to build a more just and supportive country, in his annual Christmas message.

“This is the time to renew our hope. Hope in a fairer country. A Brazil without hunger, where every woman and every man has a decent job and time to see their children grow up,” Lula said.

In a brief message broadcast live on television, radio and social networks, Lula said that the basis of everything his Government does is in the dialogue and joint work it carries out with civil society and regional governments, “in the harmony” between the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary and in the “uncompromising” defense of democracy.

“We still have huge challenges ahead of us. But today Brazil has a strong economy, which continues to grow. An efficient government, which invests where it matters most: in the quality of life of the Brazilian population,” emphasized the Brazilian president in reference to the forecast that the country will end the year with a growth of 3.5%, above the 3.2% recorded in 2023.

The Brazilian president, however, stressed that although the fruits of what was sown in his first two years of management is already beginning to be harvested, “there is still much to do” and “we must continue to sow.”

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In 2025 “we will redouble our efforts for sowing. And may the harvest be increasingly generous,” he said.

In a country still politically polarized, Lula took the opportunity to defend reconciliation between the brothers and that families can celebrate Christmas together.

With the Panama hat that he has been using to hide the wounds of his recent surgery, the progressive leader also thanked the messages of affection and solidarity he received from the Brazilian population.

“Thanks to this chain of solidarity I am even more firm and strong to continue making Brazil work,” he said.

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International

White House says Cuba policy unchanged despite sanctioned fuel shipment

The White House said Monday that it has not changed its policy toward Cuba, despite allowing a sanctioned Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. officials emphasized that the decision was made as an exception and does not signal a broader shift in policy.

The administration added that similar decisions would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on humanitarian considerations.

The clarification comes amid ongoing restrictions related to U.S. sanctions policy, which continue to limit trade and financial flows involving Cuba.

International

Spain to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López

The Spanish government is expected to grant citizenship this Tuesday to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lópezthrough an extraordinary procedure known as “carta de naturaleza.”

The decision will be approved by royal decree, an exceptional legal mechanism used in special cases that require expedited resolution due to specific circumstances.

López has been living in Madrid since 2020, after leaving Venezuela following a prolonged political and legal conflict with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

According to government sources, López currently does not have a valid Venezuelan passport and faces difficulties in having his nationality fully recognized in his home country.

As a result, he applied for Spanish citizenship via a fast-track process at the end of 2025, after previously attempting to obtain it through regular procedures.

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The Spanish government justified the move based on López’s international relevance and foreign policy considerations.

López is the leader of the Voluntad Popular party and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an initiative launched in 2022 alongside figures such as Garry Kasparov and Masih Alinejad.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

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The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.