International
More than 200 deaths from the rains in Pakistan, which will continue at least until Friday
The torrential monsoon rains that since the end of June have already caused 234 deaths in Pakistan will continue at least until this Friday, according to the National Disaster Management Authority of this Asian country.
Pakistani authorities have issued a new warning on Wednesday warning of possible floods, landslides and flash floods of glacial lakes in northern Pakistan, the area most affected by the rains.
On Tuesday, 13 people died from thunderstorms and flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the Pakistani channel Geo TV.
In addition, the authorities reported the rescue of the 250 people who remained trapped on a road in the Karakorum mountain range, one of the most touristy points in Pakistan.
Officials have advised tourists to avoid the mountainous areas of the country due to the risk of collapses.
So far, most of the victims of the rains have lost their lives when their homes collapsed, in many cases, deficient infrastructure.
However, emergency teams have rescued almost half a thousand people in different regions.
The heavy rains have also affected agricultural land and electrical installations.
The monsoon affects South Asia every year between the months of June and September and is the main contribution of precipitation in Pakistan, which receives between 70 and 80% of its annual rainfall.
Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and often suffers from extreme events.
In 2022, unprecedented monsoon rains and melting glaciers submerged a third of the country, causing more than 1,700 deaths.
The monsoon was established on June 26 in Pakistan, after an early start in the Arabian Sea, off the southern coast of India.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
International
Díaz-Canel Calls for Talks With Washington Without Pressure as U.S. Tightens Oil Sanctions
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on Thursday that his government is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States, provided that talks take place on equal terms and without pressure.
“Cuba is prepared to hold a dialogue with the United States on any issue that either side wishes to discuss,” Díaz-Canel said during a press conference broadcast nationwide on radio and television.
He stressed, however, that such dialogue would only be possible “without pressure, without preconditions, on the basis of equality, and with full respect for our sovereignty, independence, and self-determination.” The Cuban leader added that discussions should avoid issues that could be interpreted as interference in the country’s internal affairs.
Díaz-Canel’s remarks come at a time when Cuba is facing growing pressure from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has implemented a series of measures that have restricted the island’s access to fuel needed to generate electricity.
Washington has sought to prevent Cuba from receiving oil from Venezuela, its main ally for more than two decades, and has stepped up pressure to reduce crude shipments from Mexico. In addition, Trump signed an executive order in late January allowing the United States to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba.
In that order, the U.S. president declared that Cuba represents an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy, accusing the island of aligning itself with hostile countries and actors.
International
HRW Warns Trump’s Influence Has Weakened Human Rights in Latin America
Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that the political influence and rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump have contributed to a deterioration of human rights conditions across Latin America and the Caribbean. In its World Report 2026, the organization stated that several governments in the region have committed abuses against migrants and citizens, or have used U.S. policies as justification to impose harsher repressive measures.
During the first year of Trump’s new term, HRW observed that multiple countries violated the rights of foreign nationals under direct pressure from Washington. Other governments deepened security strategies based on militarization, mass detentions and excessive use of force, according to the report.
“The impact of the Trump administration has undoubtedly been negative in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Juanita Goebertus, HRW’s Americas director. However, she emphasized that “governments in the region remain responsible for defending democracy and fundamental rights, regardless of who is in power in Washington.”
HRW also reported that the United States significantly reduced cooperation funding for human rights organizations and independent media. At the same time, countries such as El Salvador, Peru and Ecuador passed laws allowing the arbitrary closure of civil society organizations and media outlets, weakening democratic systems and institutional checks and balances.
The organization further criticized what it described as a “double standard” in U.S. foreign policy, which condemns human rights violations in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua while overlooking serious abuses committed by allies such as El Salvador, Peru and Ecuador. The report also included criticism of the U.S. military attack against Venezuela in early 2026, warning that it could strengthen Nicolás Maduro’s regime and respond primarily to U.S. political and commercial interests.
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Panama Will Not Be Threatened, President Says Amid Rising Tensions With China
Bukele’s Approval Rating Climbs to 91.9% in El Salvador, Survey Shows
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
-
International2 days agoEpstein Denies Being ‘the Devil’ in Newly Released Video Interview
-
International2 days agoSpain Seeks to Ban Social Media Access for Children Under 16
-
International2 days agoPetro Resumes Extraditions, Sends Top Criminal to U.S. Before White House Talks
-
International2 days agoMexico to Send Humanitarian Aid to Cuba Amid U.S. Threats Over Oil Shipments
-
International2 days agoHypothermia Linked to Most Deaths During New York’s Recent Cold Spell
-
International2 days agoMexico Arrests Suspect in Shooting of Sinaloa Lawmakers
-
International1 day agoDelcy Rodríguez Takes Control of Chavismo as Venezuela Enters a U.S.-Supervised Transition
-
Central America4 days agoCosta Rica Goes to the Polls as Voters Choose Continuity or Change
-
International1 day agoHRW Warns Trump’s Influence Has Weakened Human Rights in Latin America
-
Central America2 days agoLaura Fernández Says She Will ‘Never’ Allow Authoritarianism in Costa Rica
-
International2 days agoNFL Investigating Emails Linking Giants Executive to Jeffrey Epstein
-
International2 hours agoDíaz-Canel Calls for Talks With Washington Without Pressure as U.S. Tightens Oil Sanctions
-
Central America2 hours agoPanama Will Not Be Threatened, President Says Amid Rising Tensions With China
-
International2 hours agoVenezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
-
Central America2 hours agoBukele’s Approval Rating Climbs to 91.9% in El Salvador, Survey Shows