International
Maduro leads the march in Caracas for the 33 years of Hugo Chávez’s “rebellion”
Nicolás Maduro, who was sworn in for his third six-year term in power after elections questioned by the opposition, led this Tuesday a march that toured Caracas to commemorate the 33 years of what he called the “rebellion” of Hugo Chávez, between 1999 and 2013, in reference to the failed coup d’état that the deceased ruler led as a lieutenant colonel.
“February 4 (…) was the rebellion against all forms of domination (…) February 4, 1992, the day of awakening and the Bolivarian rebellion,” Maduro said at the end of the march, which started from Plaza Venezuela and culminated in Paseo Los Próceres, located near the main military complex and academies in the country, Fort Tiuna.
Maduro said that Chavismo has “resisted in a creative, heroic way” and is “advanceding” in its “own model,” so he said that “great, blessed times have come for Venezuela for now and forever.”
“There is no force on earth that will take away the destiny and the great future of Venezuela,” he said.
Together with the Chavista leader, the Minister of the Interior and also first vice president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello, pointed out that the soldiers of February 4 are with the revolution “in good times and in bad” and – he added – “if it is in bad times faster.”
“If the enemy made the mistake of making a mistake with us, he knows that he will have an immediate answer, a forceful answer, and we are going to show him that 33 years ago Hugo Chávez rose up with the people to never leave power again,” Cabello said, about the failed coup attempt against then-President Carlos Andrés Pérez, who died in 2010.
This Tuesday, which began with an event in the Mountain Barracks, a building located in the popular neighborhood of January 23 where Chávez’s remains rest, a PSUV congress is expected to begin to propose “to the high political command” the candidates for the regional and parliamentary elections of April 27.
The votes were called by the electoral body – controlled by Chavismo – and have been rejected by the majority opposition, which demands respect for the claimed triumph of Edmundo González Urrutia in the presidential elections of July last year.
In addition, Maduro criticized the Foreign Minister of Panama, Javier Martínez-Acha, of whom he said “is not able to defend” the Panama Canal, which US President Donald Trump has threatened to “recover.”
In an event in Caracas, the leader of Chavismo said that Martínez-Acha “lowered his pants” before the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on his recent official visit to Panama, a country that promised not to renew a trade agreement with China and to work with the US Navy to “optimize the priority” of the transit of its ships through the Channel.
“Where is that idiot? What is the name of the Panamanian chancellor’s imbecile? That he pulled down his pants in front of Marco Rubio when he visited him now and is not able to defend the Panama Canal,” Maduro said in a speech.
International
FBI Says It Disrupted Alleged Plot Targeting White House During UFC Event
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced Tuesday that it had disrupted an alleged plot to attack the White House during a major Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held in Washington over the weekend.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the threat was identified on June 10 through a joint investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies. According to Patel, swift action by authorities led to the arrest of several suspects before the alleged plan could be carried out.
“On June 10, the FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat targeting UFC America 250 in Washington. Thanks to the rapid response of the FBI and our partners, multiple individuals are now in custody, and the alleged attack plans were stopped before they could be executed,” Patel said.
He emphasized that the operation demonstrated the ability of security agencies to detect and prevent potential threats at large public gatherings. Patel added that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional details will be released as court proceedings move forward.
According to reports from U.S. media outlets, five individuals have been arrested so far. The suspects were identified as Tycen Proper of Ohio, Daniel Eskridge of Missouri, Abraham Hermosillo Álvarez of Nebraska, and Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas, both from California. Authorities are also investigating the possible involvement of 18 additional individuals.
Investigators allege that the plot involved the use of drones equipped with explosives to target buildings near the sporting event. The plan reportedly sought to trigger a mass evacuation and direct attendees toward areas where snipers were allegedly positioned. Authorities further claim that a second phase of the operation included an attempted assault on the White House.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that it worked closely with the FBI throughout the operation. Secret Service Director Sean Curran stated that security teams conducted extensive efforts to identify those involved and eliminate any threat to attendees and protected facilities.
The investigation reportedly uncovered communications conducted through the messaging application Signal, where several suspects allegedly discussed details related to the planned attack. A forensic analysis of one of the seized mobile phones revealed at least 23 users participating in conversations connected to the alleged planning activities.
Court documents also indicate that some of the suspects allegedly intended to target U.S. political figures. Among the reported targets were members of Congress who had received contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Investigators further stated that one of the primary suspects had posted antisemitic messages and expressions of support for Adolf Hitler on social media, evidence that is now part of the ongoing judicial investigation.
International
Brazil helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro kills six, including pilots and international figures
The Rio de Janeiro Civil Police confirmed on Monday the identities of three of the six victims killed in a helicopter collision that occurred the previous morning in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood.
All three identified victims are Brazilian nationals: the pilots of the aircraft, Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza, and music producer Lucas Brito.
The identities of the three foreign victims have not yet been officially confirmed. They include U.S. singer Oliver Tree, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim—known online as “Gaspi”—and Argentine producer Lucas Vignale, all of whom were listed on the flight manifest.
According to police, forensic experts from the Legal Medical Institute have already collected DNA samples in order to identify the foreign victims, whose bodies were severely burned.
One of the helicopters crashed into a private parking lot, triggering a fire that destroyed around twenty electric vehicles. That aircraft was carrying the pilot and four passengers, including the three foreign nationals.
The second helicopter, which had only the pilot on board, crashed approximately 100 meters away from the first impact site.
Rio de Janeiro’s deputy mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere, stated that both helicopters were operating transport flights toward Angra dos Reis on the Rio coastline and toward the mountainous region of the state.
Oliver Tree, 32, was in Brazil as part of an international tour. The artist, known for songs such as “Life Goes On” and “Miss You,” had performed to a large audience in São Paulo a week earlier and was scheduled to continue his tour in Europe.
Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim, 23, had built a following of more than two million on social media platforms, gaining popularity for humorous and often controversial video productions that had occasionally been removed by hosting platforms.
International
Mexico and U.S. Launch New Bilateral Security Group to Combat Fentanyl and Organized Crime
The governments of Mexico and the United States officially launched the Bilateral Implementation Group (BIG) on Friday, a new initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation on security issues and enhancing joint efforts against transnational crime.
In a statement, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson announced that he and Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco addressed officials from both countries who will lead what he described as a “new phase of bilateral cooperation.” The initiative seeks to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, illegal firearms, and human trafficking across the shared border.
Earlier this week, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that senior security officials from both nations would meet in Mexico City on June 12 to review and advance existing cooperation agreements.
Through social media, Ambassador Johnson explained that the new bilateral group is designed to improve coordination between the two governments by placing greater emphasis on implementation, accountability, and measurable results. The effort will also focus on combating transnational criminal organizations operating across North America.
“The participation of 15 U.S. government agencies, working alongside their Mexican counterparts, reflects the seriousness of this effort and our shared commitment to delivering measurable results,” Johnson said.
The ambassador also highlighted several achievements that he attributed to ongoing bilateral cooperation. According to Johnson, maritime drug trafficking into the United States has declined by more than 95 percent, while overdose deaths have fallen by 35 percent.
He further noted that Mexican authorities have seized more than 400 metric tons of illegal drugs and dismantled over 2,300 clandestine laboratories as part of their efforts to combat organized crime and narcotics production.
The launch of the Bilateral Implementation Group marks the latest step in the security partnership between Mexico and the United States, as both countries seek to address shared challenges related to drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and the activities of criminal networks operating across the region.
Costa Rican President Presents Security Reform Package to Fight Crime and Strengthen Prisons
FBI Says It Disrupted Alleged Plot Targeting White House During UFC Event
Nicaraguan media publishes photos of detained Indigenous leader amid calls for proof of life
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
-
Central America2 days agoNicaraguan media publishes photos of detained Indigenous leader amid calls for proof of life
-
Central America1 day agoCosta Rican President Presents Security Reform Package to Fight Crime and Strengthen Prisons
-
International5 days agoMexico and U.S. Launch New Bilateral Security Group to Combat Fentanyl and Organized Crime
-
International2 days agoBrazil helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro kills six, including pilots and international figures
-
International1 day agoFBI Says It Disrupted Alleged Plot Targeting White House During UFC Event