International
Delcy Rodríguez, key figure in U.S.-Venezuela transition, remains under EU sanctions
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who U.S. President Donald Trump has tasked with overseeing the new bilateral relationship and is positioned to lead the transition, is among 69 individuals sanctioned by the European Union for actions undermining democracy and the rule of law, human rights violations, and repression of civil society and political opposition in the country.
The EU first imposed sanctions in November 2017, with Rodríguez added to the list in June 2018. These measures include asset freezes, bans on receiving funds, and a prohibition on entering the European Union. On December 15, 2025, EU foreign ministers decided to extend these sanctions until January 10, 2027, citing “persistent actions that undermine democracy and the rule of law, as well as human rights violations and repression of civil society and democratic opposition.”
Other officials on the sanctions list include Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, former National Electoral Council President Tibisay Lucena, former National Guard Commander Antonio Benavides, Attorney General Tarek William Saab, and former Supreme Court President Maikel Moreno, the latter of whom was removed from the list following a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
On July 14, 2021, the CJEU rejected Rodríguez’s appeal, confirming her responsibility in Venezuela’s institutional erosion. Appeals from other senior officials were also dismissed, though the court accepted Moreno’s appeal, citing insufficient grounds from the European Council to sanction him.
Rodríguez was also involved in a diplomatic controversy in January 2020, when she made a stopover at Madrid Airportand met with then-Spanish Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos in the transit area, despite being barred from entering Europe. The encounter sparked debate in Spain and reached the European Parliament, which questioned whether the Spanish government had violated the sanctions regime. The European Commission clarified it has no authority to sanction member states, and Madrid prosecutors closed the case, ruling that Rodríguez had not attempted to enter Spanish territory.
In 2025, the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee kept a request open to review whether Spain had breached the sanctions framework. However, Brussels reiterated that enforcement is solely the responsibility of EU member states.
International
Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez sued in Florida over alleged kidnapping, torture and terrorism
U.S. citizens have revived a lawsuit in Miami against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following his capture, as well as against Vice President and now acting leader Delcy Rodríguez and other senior Chavista officials, whom they accuse of kidnapping, torture, and terrorism.
The plaintiffs — including U.S. citizens who were kidnapped in Venezuela and two minors — filed a motion over the weekend before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida asking the court to declare the defendants in default for failing to respond to the lawsuit initially filed on August 14, 2025, according to court documents made public on Monday.
The case, assigned to Judge Darrin P. Gayles, accuses the Venezuelan leaders of violating the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), the Florida Anti-Terrorism Act, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
In addition to Maduro and Rodríguez, the lawsuit names Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López; Attorney General Tarek William Saab; Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello; former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maikel Moreno; and National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez.
The complaint also lists the state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and former Electricity Minister Néstor Reverol as defendants.
According to the filing, Maduro “committed flagrant acts of terrorism against U.S. citizens,” citing the criminal case in New York in which Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in court for the first time on Monday following their arrest on Saturday.
The lawsuit claims that the plaintiffs “were held captive by Maduro” with “illegal material support” from the other defendants, whom it identifies as members of the Cartel of the Suns, a group designated by the United States as a terrorist organization last year.
International
U.S. faces worst flu season in decades as new strain spreads nationwide
The flu continues to take a heavy toll across the United States, with all but four states reporting high or very high levels of activity as a new viral strain known as subclade K continues to spread.
According to another key indicator — doctor visits for fever accompanied by cough or sore throat, common flu symptoms — the U.S. is experiencing its highest level of respiratory illness since at least the 1997–98 flu season, based on data released Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“This is definitely a standout year,” said Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “It’s the worst we’ve seen in at least 20 years. Most of the country is experiencing very high levels of activity, and we are still near the peak.”
Rivers noted that it is unusual to see such a severe flu season following another poor season the previous year, as intense seasons typically do not occur back to back.
Nationwide, approximately 8.2% of doctor visits during the final week of the year were for flu-like symptoms. At the same point last season — which was also severe — that figure stood at 6.7%.
In Massachusetts, where flu activity is reported as very high, health officials urged residents to get vaccinated.
“This is a moment for clarity, urgency, and action,” said Dr. Robbie Goldstein, Commissioner of Public Health, in a press release. “These viruses are serious, dangerous, and potentially deadly. We are seeing critically ill children, families grieving devastating losses, and hospitals under strain due to capacity.”
International
U.S. Energy Secretary to meet oil executives on reviving Venezuela’s crude industry
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is set to meet this week with executives from the American oil industry to discuss how to revive Venezuela’s crude oil sector, according to multiple media reports.
The meeting will take place on the sidelines of an energy conference organized by investment banking group Goldman Sachs in Miami.
Senior executives from major U.S. oil companies, including Chevron and ConocoPhillips, are expected to attend the symposium.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at 300 to 303 billion barrels, representing roughly one-fifth of known global reserves.
Following the controversial operation carried out on Saturday to detain Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, U.S. President Donald Trump has placed renewed emphasis on control over and exploitation of Venezuela’s vast oil resources.
Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez sued in Florida over alleged kidnapping, torture and terrorism
U.S. faces worst flu season in decades as new strain spreads nationwide
U.S. Energy Secretary to meet oil executives on reviving Venezuela’s crude industry
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
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