International

The IPA calls the White House’s veto of AP agency journalists arbitrary

The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) described on Wednesday as “arbitrary” the restriction imposed by the Government of Donald Trump on journalists from the American news agency The Associated Press (AP) to cover events in the White House.

The measure was adopted in retaliation for AP’s decision to continue using the name ‘Gulf of Mexico’ and not ‘Gulf of America’ as ordered by Trump.

The IAPA, based in Miami, stressed that it is a censorship and intimidation that violates freedom of the press.

The government prevented an AP reporter from attending a presidential event in the Oval Office on Tuesday, while another agency journalist was excluded from an event in the White House Diplomatic Room.

AP executive editor Julie Pace revealed that the White House warned the agency that it would not have access to the Oval Office if it does not align its editorial standards with Trump’s executive order of last January 20, which renamed the Gulf of Mexico as ‘Gulf of America’.

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AP condemned the Trump Administration’s measure as an attack on independent journalism. The agency recalled that it maintains the use of the name ‘Gulf of Mexico’, although it recognizes the new name imposed by the White House within the US sphere.

The US agency emphasized that this order is not valid outside the United States and that other countries and international organizations are not obliged to adopt it.

“It is alarming that the Trump government punishes AP for its independent journalism,” Pace said.

The president of the IAPA, José Roberto Dutriz, expressed his concern about this measure. “The restriction on journalistic coverage and the warning against AP demonstrate a disturbing intention to impose official criteria on information of public interest, with the threat of reprisals for those who do not bend to them,” he said in a statement.

He added that freedom of the press is guaranteed by the United States Constitution and must be respected without conditions.

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Carlos Jornet, president of the IAPA Commission on Freedom of the Press and Information, described the action as an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the style and editorial line of a media outlet.

“This is an arbitrary imposition by the government on journalistic work,” Jornet said.

“Prior censorship, interference or direct or indirect pressure on any informative expression violates the right to freedom of expression,” he added.

The White House Correspondents Association also protested on Tuesday against the decision of the Trump Administration and said that “it should not penalize journalists who work because it is not happy with the decisions of its editors.”

In contrast, AP announced that it will call Mount McKinley the elevation located in Alaska that previous President Barack Obama (2009-2017) had renamed Mount Denali out of respect for native traditions.

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“It is an area located only in the United States, and as president Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country,” AP said.

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.