International
The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, assures that he does not care if he is called a dictator
The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, assured on Sunday night, in his speech for the first year of his second consecutive term, that “he does not care that they call him dictator” and that he prefers that “to see how they kill Salvadorans.”
Personally, he has called me dictator in all the media that they have wanted and been able to. From Salvadoran pamphlets, to international pamphlets, the most prestigious (unspecified),” Bukele said during a solemn session of the Legislative Assembly held at the National Theater in San Salvador.
“You know what? I don’t care if they call me a dictator,” he said to deputies of Congress, representatives of the diplomatic corps in El Salvador and various institutions, and assured that “I mean that they call me dictator to see how they kill Salvadorans in the streets.”
And he continued: “I prefer these moments when I grab my cell phone and see: dictator, dictator, dictator… in the news and not see murder, murder, murder…)”.
“I prefer to be called a dictator but that Salvadorans can finally live in peace. Let them stay discussing their semantics and we will continue to focus on seeking results and contrary to the lies that they spread day and night, we have more results than any other government in our entire history,” he added.
The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, said on Sunday night, in his speech for the first year of his second consecutive term, that democracy, transparency, human rights and the rule of law “are terms” that are actually used to keep people submissive.
“Democracy, institutionality, transparency, human rights, the rule of law, sound good, they are great ideals in reality, but they are terms that are actually only used to keep us submissive,” Bukele said during a solemn session of the Legislative Assembly held at the National Theater in San Salvador.
“Sadly we are witnessing how our sister countries still believe in these international organizations, they still believe in these treaties that are supposedly to help us with our human rights and some politicians in the region (Latin America) unfortunately lend themselves to this game,” said the president.
“What they, the defenders of democracy and the rule of law, really want is that we are unable to punish the murderers in the name of a supposed ideal of human rights that is no more than the rights of criminals,” the president told deputies of Congress, representatives of the diplomatic corps in El Salvador and various institutions.
The first year of Bukele’s second consecutive term, identified as unconstitutional, is marked by alerts for “an authoritarian escalation”, the detention of human rights activists and the imprisonment of hundreds of Venezuelans, expelled from the United States and who do not face criminal proceedings in El Salvador.
In addition, Bukele defended the approval of a Foreign Agents Act that imposes a 30% tax on international donations to non-governmental organizations, compared to similar legislation used by countries such as Nicaragua to close organizations.
“A few days ago this Legislative Assembly approved the Foreign Agents Law: it is a law to protect international cooperation,” Bukele said in his first-year speech of his second consecutive mandate, prohibited by the Constitution.
The president pointed out, during a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly at the National Theater in San Salvador, that this law is “to ensure that those funds that come from abroad and that claim to be for social projects are really for that to help people.”
“Most developed countries prohibit foreign interference. We allow foreign interference. We only ask them to pay taxes just like everyone else,” Bukele pointed out to deputies of Congress, representatives of the diplomatic corps in El Salvador and various institutions.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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
